The Pageant of Popes, Book 6 · Part 3 – Part 13
125. Vrban the fourth.
VRban the fourth borne in Fraunce, and as some saye was first called Pantaleon being patriarch of Hierusalem. As sone as he was Pope by and by he commaūded souldiours out of Fraunce to subdue Manfred the ennemy of the Church: & for the furtherance therof hee requested Lewes kinge of Fraunce to send his brother Charles & the Earle of Anteganor wt an oast into Italye, and made him king of both Sicils. After many conflictes ye said Charles ouercame and slue Manfred at Beneuent, and receyued of ye Pope against all lawe and right the kingdome of Sicill wt the dukedome of Calabrie and Apulia, whereuppon arose many great slaughters. While this Pope was frō Rome at Pruse, ye Romaynes coueting their olde libertyes made a newe kinde of officers, callinge them Branderesies, who had power of life and death in their handes: they chose one Brācaleo a priuate parsō of Bononia to be Senatour, whō banished late before they restored. But touching Vrban it was not much more then this that he did, sauinge that hee ordayned an holye daye, namelye Corpus Christi daye, the fifte day after Trinitye sonday, vponupon this occasion as some (and most likely) do write, namelye Arnold Bostro, & Petrus Praemonstratensis. Anno 1264. (as they saye) a certaine woman called Eue in a Religious house in Leodia, with whom the Pope in time past had beene well acquainted, had a reuelation which she signifyed by wryting to the Pope, beseeching him that the sayd day might be kept holye in the honour of the Sacrament of the altar, to whom the Pope according to her desire, returned his aunsweare with this Bull to confirme the holy daye,
The Bull of Pope Vrban to Eue the Anchoresse for the establishing of the holy day called Corpus Christi daye.
BIshop Vrban seruaunt to the seruauntes of God, sendeth greeting and apostolicall bleshing to Eue our beloued daughter in Christe. VVe know O daughter, that thy soule hath longed with greate desire, that a solemne feast day might be appointed for the bodye of oure Lord Iesus Christ, in Gods Church to be celebrate of all faithfull Christians for euer. And therfore for thy ioye we signifie vntounto thee, that we hauehave thought it good for the establishing of the catholicke faith, that beside the dailye remembraunce which the Church maketh of so wonderfull a Sacrament, there should be more special and solemne recorde, appointing a certaine daye for it, namelye the fifte daye after Whitsontyde next ensuinge, that on the said daye the faithfull flocke do gather together to the Churches deuoutlye and effectuallye, and let that daye be to all Christiās ioyfull with new holines, and holye with much ioye, as is more set out in our apostolicall letters, sente for this cause through the world. And know ye that we hauehave caused this feast daye to be solemnized with all oure brethren Cardinals, bishops and archbishops, and other prelats then being at Rome, to giuegive example of celebratinge the same to all that shal see or vnderstand the same. Therfore let thy soule magnifye the Lorde, and thy spirite reioyce in God thy sauiour, for thine eyes hauehave seene his saluation, which we hauehave prepared before the face of al people. Moreouer reioyce because almighty God hath giuen the thy hartes desire, and the fulnes of the heauenly grace hath not disapointed the of the will of thy Iippes &c.
This Vrhan sate more then three yeares betweene the Guelphes & Gibelines, and prouoked their quarrels to be tryed by the edge of the sworde, to the confusion of manye through Italye. He being on a time vpbrayed that he was of base linage, aunsweared that no mā was noble by byrth, but that to be made noble by vertue is true nobility: finallye beinge at Pruse because in great attemptes he had not his desired successe, he dyed for griefe. Masseus sayth that a blazing starre appeared three nights before the death of this Pope, and ceased the same night that he dyed.
126 Clemens the fourth.
CLemens ye fourth called before Gui Fulcodius borne in Narbonie, ere he came to be Pope was a maryed man, and had 3. children by his wyfe, a sonne & two doughters. He (as his predecessour began) continued in sheddinge of bloud: he sent for Charles Earle of Angeow to bringe an armye into Italye where he slew Manfred, and was made kinge of Sicill and Hierusalem, but vppon this condition that he should paye yearelye to the Pope fortye thousande Crownes. This bargaine beinge made betweene them, great slaughter & bloudshed was committed in diuers places, for the said Pope betrayed Conradinus sonne to Conradus kinge of Sicill, and inheritour of the kingdomes to ye former Charles, so that as he passed through the fieldes of Viterbie with an oast of Germaynes, wher his abode was at that time, the Pope by report sayd: that the sayd Conradinus was as a lambe brought to the slaughter, shewing therby that he was of councell to the treason. Afterward when he foughte with Charles about Naples, & at the first conflict had sufficient victorye, yet then the treason reuealing it selfe, Conradinus & Frederick duke of Austria were taken: & being myserablye vsed in their captiuitye mocked and flouted, were in the ende beheaded by the Popes commaundement, because Conradinus claymed the kingdome which his auncetours possessed. Thus the kingdome of Naples came into the hand of the Frenchmen, and ye dukedome of Sweuia decayed and came to nought by ye wickednes of ye Pope. In the time of this Clemens one Octobonꝰ a Legate of his comminge into England, enrolled to perpetuall memorye the valuation of all Churches in the Realme so narrowly as he could possiblye gather the certaintye. Clemens dyed at Viterbium Anno 1270. & was buryed amonge the Dominickes, and the seate was voyde two yeares.
127. Gregorie the tenth.
GRegorie the tenth borne in Placentia in Lombardye, of the house of the countesse of Millen, was first called Theobaldus. He being an archdeacō, after the Cardinals discention (which had lasted almost two yeres) was ended, was chosen Pope: of whose election Iohn Cardinall of Portua wrote these Verses.
Papatus munus tulit archidiaconus vnus,
Quem patrem patrum fecit discordia fratrum,
One archdeacon against his hope,
by chaunce obtayned to be Pope,
The iarringe of brethren caused the rather,
that he was created of them the father.
This Pope amonge other thinges made peace betwene the Genewaies and Venetians: He excommunicated the Florentines for inuadinge such townes as belonged to the Popeship. Afterward he held a coūcel at Lions in Fraūce to the which came Michael Palaeologus Emperour of Greece, to reason of the opinions of the Church of Rome, for xii. of his auncetours had in times past conferred with them, and euer departed dissentinge from them. In this councell was decreed that the Pope beinge dead, the Cardinals should be shut vp in a certaine closet without meate or drincke, till with one consente they should agree vppon choyse of another. He made many decrees for the helping of the Holy land, and the maintayninge of Religious mē. Many noble and great parsonages both kinges & Earles, made themselues apparell with the Crosse on it, to go the voyage to Hierusalem, to whom the Pope verye craftely, to further their purpose promised to come visit them there. He aduaunced diuers of the begging fryers to greate Ecclesiasticall dignityes, as to bishoprickes, archbishoprickes and Cardinalships. After the Empyre had beene voyde a long time, at ye length he made Rodolph Earle of Hamboroughe Emperour, because he shoulde maintaine ciuill discention: and after yt Alphonsus kinge of Castile had bestowed houge summes of money in hope to be Emperour, (especially the duke of Cornewall being dead) ye Pope appeased him with wordes enoughe, but no recompence in money toward his charges. This Rodolph after he was chosen was charged by the electours that he shoulde go to Rome within a yeare to receiue the Crowne of the Pope, yet he neuer did it, excusing himselfe with pretence of priuate affayres: & vsed to saye oftentimes amonge his frendes, that the footinge of the Emperours goinge into Italye seemed glorious & triūphant: but in their returne out of Italye wretched, myserable, & ful of sorrow. Alluding to the fable of the Foxe, who being sent for to come to visit the sicke Lion, made aunsweare that he perceyued ye footesteps of many beastes goinge into the Lions denne, but he could finde fewe or none comming from it. But Rodolph sente his vicegerent into Italye whom the Cities for the most part receyued: but the Pope returning to Rome & iourneying hard by the Florentines, would not yet absolue them of their excommunication which had lasted almost 3. yeares. At length he came to Aretium Anno 1275. & dyed in his iourney in the fift yeare of his Popeship & is buried there, and neuer came to Rome nor sawe it.
128. Innocentius the fifte.
INnocentius the fift borne in Burgundie a dominican in profession, was cho…en by the Cardinals at Aretiū : who beinge chosen Pope and crowned in S. Peters Church, went about to establish peace in Italye. Therefore he sent great Embassadours, who should compell the He…rurians (entendinge to destroye the Pisans) to take peace: also the Venetians and Genewaies being at deadly enmitye, to fall to vnitye vponupon perill of his curse. Also he procured ye Embassadours of Charles king of Sicill to be present at ye peace makinge, the better to countenaunce his doinges: the Hetrurians obeyed, and especially the Florentines, and therefore the Pope did absolue them from the excommuni…atiō of Gregorie: But the Genewaies and Venetians cōtinued notwithstanding the slaughter of each other, whom yet Innocentius had broughte to his purpose if he had liued, he purposed it so earnestly. He dyed the same yeare that Gregorie dyed, in the second daye after he had raigned vi. monthes. This Pope (sayth Platina) did not a litle offende seculer priestes, because at Viterbium he did determine the dominicās should enioye the tombe of Clemens the fourth, for which they and the secular priestes had longe beene at sharpe debate.
129. Hadrian the fifte.
HAdrian the fifte a Genewaie borne before called Othobonus, was made Pope in Lateran porche: this mā was nephewe to Innocentius the fourth, and made Cardinall of S. Hadrian by him, and sent into England as Legate to gather vp the Popes money. But while he wente about to appease strife betweene the kinge & his barons, thereby to worke his owne matters more quietly, he was put into prison by the Citizens of London, and at length deliuered againe. Anno 1266. wt a great trayne of bishops and priestes, he helde one councell at Northampton and another at London: where after he had dispatched his matters touchinge papistrye according to his owne minde, he made lawes whereby England did longe after maintaine Papistrye. Also he denounced all those bishops to be wicked, who had taken parte with the Princes against kinge Henry the third, and yet those same bishops were partlye absolued by him for money, partlye compelled to go for absolution to the Pope. This Hadrian as sone as he was made Pope went forthwith to Viterbium, & sente for Rodolphe the Emperour into Italye, to breake the power of Charles kinge of Sicill: this Charles is he whom againste lawe and righte he had aduaunced before, who then ruled all at Rome according to his luste. But Rodolph beinge troubled with the Bohemian warre, could not satisfye the Popes desire: but Charles meaning to eschue the mallice, transported all the power of his armye into Achaia, purposinge to make a waye to attaine to the Empyre of Constantinople. Hadrian (sayth Platina) purposed to make the gouernemente of the Church to be safer from oppressours, & to alter the constitutiō of Gregory his predecessor, touchinge the restraint of the Cardinals for the election of the Pope. He dyed at Viterbium ere he were consecrate Pope 40. dayes after his election.
130. Iohn the xxij.
IOhn the xxii. a Portingale borne & a Phisition by profession called before Peter Portingale, was made Pope beinge first bishop of Tusculan. This man although he were counted very well learned, yet for want of skill in gouernment, & infirmitye in his maners (sayth Platina) did more hurt and dishonour to the Popeship then good. For he did many thinges that seemed to be both of a foolish and light minde: and was to be praysed in this thinge onelye, that he …uccoured with money and Ecclesiasticall lyuinges yonge men that were toward in learninge, & especiallye the poorest. At this time the Venetians spoyled the Anconitās, because they vsinge trafique into Dalmatia woulde paye them no tribute: & yet the Pope would not defende them as he ought to do, beinge tributaryes to the Church: and though in words he were hasty, yet in his doinges a slouggarde and dastard. The Anconitans therefore being destitute of the Popes ayde, gathering themselues together, brast out of the Citye vppon the Venetians besieging it, & draue them awaye with great damage. But the Pope vsinge the aduise of Iohn Caietan who thē ruled all, because by his ayde he came to be Pope, he sent his Embassadours both to Michael Paleologus, & the kinges of the West, to moue them in his name to make peace amōge themselues, and to prouide to send their powers against the Sarracens: which if Paleologus would not do & keepe the vnitye promised, he woulde giuegive his Empyre from him to Charles kinge of Sicill. He prophesyed by the course of the starres that he him selfe should liue longe, and tould this to eueryevery man in his vanitye, as one whose wante of discretion was euident to eueryevery man. But behould while he thus vaunted his cunninge in prophecyinge and constellations, openlye in a certaine chamber which for his pleasure hee had builded in his Pallaice at Viterbium the fourth day after fell downe sodainlye. Anno 1277. After this ruine wherein he perished myserablye, he was founde the seuenth day after hauinge raigned viii. monthes. Valerius called the place which fell downe Gamesters hall, and Stella calleth it the precious Chamber, for the Pope had builded it so gorgeouslye for his pleasure. After his death the seate was voide through great contention vi. monthes.
129. Nicolas the thirde.
NIcolas the third a Romaine, called first Iohn Caietan, after vi. monthes with great discention and brauling of the Cardinals obtayned the seate. Charles king of Sicil was as Senatour president in their consistorye, who was very vrgent to choose some Frenchman Pope: and therefore this Nicolas hauing gotten the place, purposinge to abate the power of Charles toke from him the Vicarship of Hetruria, & filled Italye full of broyles. And for his owne lucre hee perswaded Peter kinge of Aragon to clayme the kingdome of Sicill, sayinge that it belonged to him, by the inheritaunce of his wyfe Constance, which liked Peter: but note the sequeale. Peter with a great nauye went to Sardinia, and there wayted whē some motions should arise in Sicill, for the Sicillians making a conspiracy against Charles and the Frenchmen, appointed a daye that as soone as at eueninge a bell should be tould, the Frenchmen shoulde be forthwith murthered both man woman & child, wherein they were so cruell yt they slue euen women with child. But this horrible deede was not doone vnderunder Pope Nicolas, but in the time of his successour Martin the fourth. Also this Nicolas toke to himselfe ye Senatourship, which Clement the fourth had bestowed on Charles: and forbad for euer that any Prince or kinge should be so hardy to desire or take vppon him that dignitye. By his falsehoode it came to passe that Flaunders, & Bononia, & the royaltye of Rauenna, which longe time were vnderunder the Emperour, became subiect to the Pope. Amonge other buildinges yt he made aboute Rome, he enclosed a warrante of hares wt hye walles, wherein euen in his Popeship he vsed often to hunt. He bestowed syluer cases for the Apostles heades: he was reproued of many for making his nephewe Berthold Earle of Romundiala, & for another of his nephewes beinge a Dominican & Cardinall because he sente him Embassadour into Hetruria. For Platina and Stella and other complaine that he loued his kindred to well, so that he bestowed withoute lawe on them that which he had filched frō other: for he toke perforce from some nobles of Rome, certaine Castels and bestowed them on his freindes. He made the Gibelines being seditious mē magistrats at his owne lust in Florence and els where, to defende and maintaine his tyrannye. Also he purposed to make two kinges of the stocke of Vrsines, the one in Lombardye the other in Hetrury, but while he purposed this he dyed sodenly of an Apoplexye, without speakinge any worde Anno 1281. in the fourth yeare of his Popeship, and yet it was thoughte by his goed complexion he should hauehave liued much longer. Some saye that one foretolde the death of this Pope by ye rysinge of the riuer Tiber, which then happened. The report is that of a concubine he begat a sonne that had hayre and clawes like a beare: it is written in Iohn Noueomagus in illustrationibus Bedae.
130. Martin the fourth.
MArtin the fourth a Frenchman called before Simon, was nexte made Pope by the Cardinals of Fraunce, who then were the greater nomber. He woulde not be Crowned at Viterbium, because he thoughte that Citye was excommunicated, because they had made a tumult against the Cardinals, for the Viterbians entring into the consistorye apprehended the Cardinals, and put them in prison, dryuinge out and contemninge the house of Vrsins: therefore Martin going to an olde towne called Oruietus, did there kepte all his solemnitye, & made viii. Cardinals the same daye to strengthen his power. Also hee did not onelye entertaine curteouslye kinge Charles comminge to him, but also restored to him the dignitye of Senatorship which Pope Nicolas had taken frō him: which thinge displeased many, because it should make seditiō in the Citye, the Vrsine being now returned and their ennemyes driuē out: for Charles for the hatred conceyued against Nicolas, was sore bente against the Vrsines. But Pope Martin meaninge to worke warelye, did much set by Matthew de Aquisporta a Franciscā, of the house of ye Vrsines, a Cardinal & bishop of Portua. He excōmunicated Peter king of Aragon, who went about to inuade ye kingdome of Sicil wt his nauy against Charles: also he gaue his kingdome for a …ooty to one that did desire to enioy it: He released his subiectes from their allegeaunce, callinge him an vsurper of Church goodes. But Peter defyinge all this did by the helpe of Paleologus obtaine the kingdome of Sicill: the Sicilians also beinge able no longer to sustayne the pride & Iust of the Frenchmē, at the perswasion of Iohn Prochita, conspired against Charles, and ringinge the belles, did at once without anye regarde murther all the Frenchmen. Pope Martin amonge other thinges graunted to the Romaynes libertye to chose two Senatours of the nobilitye, and excommunicated Paleologus. He made warre against the Forolinians. He bestowed great pryuiledges vponupon the begging fryers: and as he was taking his accustomed recreation with his chapleins (as Carsulan testifyeth) a certaine secrete disease came vppon him, which after hee had sayd it panged him extreamlye, he dyed Anno 128…. and yet the Phisicions coulde finde no token of death in him. Some write that this Pope in the first yeare of his Popeship, receyued into his familiarity the concubine of his predecessour Nicolas: but to auoyde the like chaunce that his childe (if he shoulde hauehave anye by her) might not be like a beare, he commaunded all beares which were painted in his Pallaice by a Pope that was of Vrsine house, to be taken awaye or blotted oute, to auoyde in his concubine the sight thereof, which he thoughte wrought great effecte in conception.
131. Honorius the fourth.
HOnorius the fourth a Romaine of a noble familye was afore called Iacob, was next made Pope. He had a brother called Pandulphus a worthye man who at that time was Senatour in Rome, who did sharpely execute lawes against fensers, theeues, and murtherers. Honorius excommunicated Peter king of Aragon, because he helde at that time the kingdome of Sicill against Charles, & confirmed the curses and edict of Pope Martin, because for ye Popes lucre he woulde not leaue the kingdome. Also he raysed terrible warre against Gui Feltro who helde the towne Flaminia, and ouercomminge him, against all law and righte by tyrannye subdued the towne to Rome. Also he confirmed the sect of Augustine fryers which was refused at Paris, but withstoode by manye. Also he appointed to the Carmelites, that puttinge of their riche roabes, they shoulde weare white weedes, and commaunded they should be called our Ladyes brethren. After which he died quicklye Anno 1288. in the second yeare of his Popeship. The seat after this was voyde x. monthes for pestilences and earthquakes. This Pope was much troubled wyth the goute, both in his handes and his feete, so that he was fayne to make certaine instruments fit for the purpose to saye masse. The Grecians in his time forsakinge papistrye returned to their old fayth.
132. Nicolas the fourth.
NIcolas the fourth a Franciscane fryer borne in Picene, after tenne monthes was chosen Pope, at which time the Cardinals did not yet agree vppon one. This Pope (sayth Platina) loued all men a like, and thoughte that he ought no more dutye to his kindred then to other. He did nothinge of any great waight, but busyed himselfe in erectinge superstitious buildinges, and making newe ceremonyes aboute fryers and monkes, which are not worth the mencioning: finallye he seing Rome sore tormoyled in his time with ciuill discentions, burninges, slaughters & spoylinges, dyed for very griefe and sorrow thereof Anno 1291. He beinge deade the Cardinals wente to Peruse, that they might vse the more libertye in choosing a newe Pope: and yet they iarred so bitterly among them selues two yeares and 3. monthes, that they could neuer agree in yt election.
133. Celestine the fift.
CElestine the fifte borne at Esernia beside Sulmo, by profession an Anchore called before Peter Moronens, after the Cardinals had scoulded two yeares, he by the procurement of Charles the seconde kinge of Naples and the latine Cardinals was chosen Pope, who as sone as he was created went to Apulia, & callinge all the Cardinals thether, he created xii. newe Cardinals wherof two were Eremites. Ptolomeus Lucensis wryteth, that at his Coronation were two hundred Thousande men: because (sayth Massaeus) at the first time he sate in Consistory, he went about exactly to reforme the Church of Rome y• the clergy mighte be an example to other, he purchased such hatred that he doated & was a foole. Thereupon one of the clergye called Benedict, hyred one to set throughe an hoole in ye wall of the Popes chamber a greate hollow troncke, and throughe the same shoulde make an hydeous noyse manye nightes together, (as if it had beene the voyce of an Angell frō heauen) saying in the night time: Celestine, Celestine, giuegive ouer thy charge, for it is aboue thy habilitye. Beside this diuers perswaded him to giuegive ouer for his owne safetye. Kinge Charles vnderstanding of this spake with the Pope, desiringe him as earnestlye as he could, not to forsake that dignity, which came to him by the grace of God. But he gaue this answeare: I will do as it pleaseth God… And returning from Naples from the kinge, & perceyuing he coulde not be quiet, hee gaue ouer the Popeship on S. Lukes eue, and made haste to go liue an Eremites life in ye desert, sayth Massaeus: but first of all he made a decree with the consent of al, that the Pope might yeld vp his dignity. But Boniface who had thus beguiled the simple man, and now gat to be his successour, fearing least ye people woulde followe the same Celestine as Pope, & defye him, he therefore put Celestine in close prison till he dyed, Anno 1292. the x. daye of Maye after he had raigned one yeare and fiue monthes. Of this Celestine sprange a secte of monkes called Celestinians.