The Pageant of Popes, Book 5 · Part 36
116. Celestine the thirde.
CElestine the third was borne in Rome, he being an old man at Easter time after the death of Clement, was made Pope by the bishops and Cardinals, the next day he crowned Henry the sixt Emperour. This Celestine grudging that Tancred did enioye the kingdome of Sicilia, maryed vntounto the sayd Emperour a Nonne out of Panormitā Nonnery called Constance, the doughter of Roger, vppon this condition, that he shoulde chalenge the kingdome of both Sicils for a dowrye, and should driue out Tancred and possesse it himselfe, alwayes prouided, that ye Pope should hauehave his yearelye tribute oute of it. And thus the Sueuian Captaynes became Lordes of Sicill, but thereuppon ensued bloudy warres. After ye death of this Henry through the greate diuision in the Empire, there arose such debate through all Germany (while the Pope was at defiaunce wt the Sueuians for ye soueraignitye of Sicill which he sought ambitiouslye) so that one parishe was not at amitye with another: whereby the Popes purse was excessiuely fed to appease the sciesme amonge those spirituall men. Such were the practises of these holye fathers, while they set the Princes of the world on worke to conquer the holye land. Of the attonement of this strife Abbas Vspergensis wryteth thus, which is worthy to be noted, therby to discerne the holines of Rome, and how it grew to this riche estate. There was scāt (sayth he) one bishopricke or Ecclesiasticall dignity or parishe Church which was not at a braul, & the matter was brought to Rome to be determined, but not wt emptye hands. Reioyce O mother Rome because the conduites of al treasures on the earth are opened, ye moūtaines and whole riuers of money might flowe into thy handes: Reioyce vponupon the iniquitie of the sonnes of men, because thou art rewarded for so many mischiefes: Reioyce vponupon thine assistante companion Ladye Discention, who hath burst loose frō the pit of bottomlesse hell, that she might heape vppon thee many gubs of goulde. Thou hast that which thou doest thirst after: because thou hast daunted the vvorld by the malice of mākinde, not by holy religiō. Men are haled and drawne vntounto thee, not by deuocion or pure cōscience, but by treachery and working mischiefes manifolde, and the deciding of controuersies gotten with bloud. Thus sayth that abbot euen in those times when & wher the Popes pride flourished ranckly euen in his ruffe. Pope Celestine perceyuing the aduauntage hereof for his estate, was still vrgent to sende out the Christian Princes to fighte for the holye lande, while he at home with theyr treasures builded for his ease & pleasure (as Platina mentioneth) diuers stately Pallacies and Temples. Amonge many decrees he made that an oath made by feare and cō pulsion, should be of none effecte. It is sayd before that this Pope Celestine did crowne the Emperour Henry ye sixte, which because it was done after so straunge a sort as hath not beene hearde, it shall not be amisse briefely to declare ye maner of it as it is reported by Rogerus Houedenus, Ranulphus, Rogerus Cestrensis and other, of whom the first liued at that time, reportinge it as followeth. The Pope was going frō Lateran to S. Peters Church, where the Emperour and his wyfe Constantia mette him in the way: but the Romaynes did shut the gates against the Emperour & Empresse, comming with a great troupe of armed souldiours. And Celestine standinge vppon the stayres of S. Peters Church, toke an oath of the Emperour (his armye being shut out) that he should defend and restore the libertyes and patrimonye of the Church to the vttermost, yeldinge to Rome ye Citye Tuscalanum. After this he did annoynte him Emperour and her Empresse in the Church: while he sitting in his pontificall chayre and holding the Emperiall crowne betweene his feete, caused the Emperour to stoupe and bowe downe his heade to his feete, & so put the crowne on: And it being thus put on, he caused the Emperour stil to hould downe his head, while he with his foote did spurne ye Crowne of his head againe, sayinge: I hauehave power to make and vnmake Emperours at my pleasure: Then the Cardinals toke it vp and sette it vppon the Emperours head. And in like maner the Empresse was both crowned and vncrowned with the Popes foote. Celestine dyed Anno. 1198. In his time one Cyrill an Hermite had a strange vision reuealed vntounto him as hee was at masse, as Mantuā writeth Fastorum. lib. 5. (if a man will beleeue eueryevery vaine fantasye.)
As Cyrill in his holye weede was earlye saying masse,
Beholde a child with glorious shape before him present was.
And houering in the ayre on hye with siluer plate in hand,
Which he vppon the alter layde, where Cyrill still did stand.
And sayd vntounto him holye s…er, God doth to the disclose
These secretes: and do thou reueale vntounto the Romaynes those.
The written verses out of Greeke he turnes to latine tongue,
Which straite were set in scholes and yet are cited vsus amonge.
But touching the truth of this fantasticall dreame, it shall folow in Gregorie the ix. for that age toke into credit three straunge & monstrous myracles, so yt then the worlde did greatlye esteeme of ye secte of begginge fryers, while Sathan wrought in Antichrist the full mistery of his iniquitye. The myracles are these, first the vpholding of Lateran Church reuealed in a vision to a Dominicke Fryer at Rome, the fiue Seraphical woundes of S. Fraunces in a certaine hill of Lauernia, and the Oracle of this Cyrill.