CANTO 11.

of Boniface VIII, was for some time generally considered an antipope. Most men disapproved of the abdication on the score of its being an innovation ; and even those who attributed infallibility to the Popes in other respects, denied it to them here. But to such as had an opportunity of looking behind the scenes, the abdication was invalid on a stronger plea -the fraud by which it had been obtained. From the moment of Celestine's accession, Cardinal Caetan attached himself to his person; scarcely leaving him for an instant either by night or day for he even slept in the same chamber (1) - he endeavoured by every means to play upon the Pontiff's infirmities; so that he at last obtained an entire ascendancy over his weak understanding, and employed it in a way to render the holy Father ridiculous as well as miserable. By his advice Charles II seems to have succeeded in his request for twelve new Cardinals. After which, the purpled conspirator, seeing his companions repentant for their choice, undertook to engage Celestine to abdicate, if they promised to elect whomsoever he, the Cardinal, should point out a proposition that was universally agreed to. Nor content with this, he waited upon Charles II one night, and, fearing he might ophis election, said to him: "Sire, your Pope

pose

(1) . . . habitando di di e di notte con lui, perchè il Papa si fidava molto di lui. Buti. Comento. Bib. Ricc. M. S. Cod. 1006.

CANTO III.

Celestine has both the will and the power to serve you, but does not know how; put me in his place and, besides the will and the power, I'll know how to be useful to you. (1)" The Simonical bargain was struck; and the twelve new-made Cardinals were to give him their votes. The probability is that this entire plan was in Caetan's head even previous to the nomination of Morrone. There now only remained to prevail on him to abdicate. From his installation, his timidity and scruples had been sedulously fomented by the wily Cardinal; who, far from engaging him to preside in the Consistory, encouraged him to shut himself up for the most part of every day in a cell which he had built in the Palace in resemblance of his hermitage on the mountain (2); as if the only way to save his soul was to retire from the Court, instead of labouring to reform it. The Cardinal, with the most affected tenderness and piety, never ceased intreating him to reflect on his weakness and inexperience, and how impossible it were for his slight shoulders to bear up with the public burthens, or for such a feeble hand to curb the Simony and all the inordinate vices of the sacred College; and not only unvealing to him the foibles, perhaps crimes, of his ecclesiastical courtiers, but even

(1) Gio. Villani. Lib. vin. Cap. 6. - Sismondi. Hist. des Republiques Ital. vol. iv. p. 79.

.

(2) ... arctam et eremeticam camerulam Benvenuti Im. Com. ap. Mur. Autiq. Ital. T. 1. p. 1038.

CANTO III.

inventing others, and painting them in the most horrific colours, and, after inveighing against the odious cares of business, recalling to his mind the tranquillity and innocence of his eremitical life, he at last cajoled the trembling Pontiff into the issuing of the Bull of abdication. Nor were moral considerations alone employed as if salvation were incompatible with the guidance of a realin whether spiritual or temporal; the chronicles of the time enumerate the facetious mechanical contrivances to which his Eminence had recourse in order to dupe his High-priest and sovereign (4). This he did: and, in a full meeting of Cardinals, Celestine taking the Papal crown from his head, and laying down the mantle, solemnly abdicated his high station. Scarcely had the mantle left his hand, when Cardinal Caetan took it up; and, reminding the by-standers of their promise, he asked whether they remained faithful to it, and would elect that man Pope on whom he should put the mantle? They replied in the affirmative;

(1) Amongst others was an apparition of pretended angels, while his Eminence roared through a speaking-trumpet' abdicate! Celestine, abdicate!' as if it was a voice from heaven. Ginguèné (Hist. Litt. d'Italie. Vol. 2. p. 205 ) cites the Pecorone (Gior. XIII. Nov. 2.) for this, not seeming aware that it was matter of real history, before it was borrowed by novellists. As soon as the tale was bruited, the whole clergy of Naples went in a body to conjure his Holiness not to abdicate; but their voice was considered less impressive than one directly from Paradise, Mr. Cary is inexact: viltà does not mean "base fear" here, but baseness of soul in general; not menaces, but craft was employed; it was the head rather than heart of Celestine that failed.

CANTO III.

some perhaps inveigled by false, and private promises in favour of themselves, and others prepared to give their votes as he should decide, in obedience to their patron, Charles II; but none surely suspecting what was to succeed, and that one hitherto known for the most fawning pretences to religion and humility should all at once assume a sacrilegious boldness that has been seldom equalled. For having made them swear to maintain their promise, and registered their oaths, and with notarial precision having obtained from each such security as rendered them irrevoca ble fatte le cautele he rose from his usual bending posture, and lifting up those lids which had for so many years half covered his down-cast eyes, ( then mild as a novice's, but now flashing with fire, that indicated the daring and abysses of an unfathomable ambition) he flung the mantle of supremacy over his own shoulders, grasped eagerly at the Tiara, put it on his elevated brow, and striding to the chair of S. Peter, while even his feeble voice was transformed into one of loud command, thrust forth his toe as he sat down, and called upon the thunder-stricken conclave to kneel to their Lord and master, the maker and remover of kings, the chief of Christendom and the world (1).

(1) Buti. Comento. Bib. Ricc. M. S. Cod. 1006. Sismondi appears not have known these particulars; and refers Boniface's election entirely to the influence of Charles II. This influence were in fact quite sufficient of itself; but the story of the mantle is too characteristic both of the man and the conclave not to give it

CANTO III.

Thus began to be verified the second part of the saying of his unfortunate predecessor, that' as he entered the Popedom like a fox, he would reign like a lion, and die like a dog (1). Nor was the third part to be less true. As to the deposed vicar of God, his hopes of returning to his hermitage were dissappointed. Well aware of the necessity of securing his person, in order to prevent his retracting an abdication which many considered null and void from the beginning, Boniface carried him away to Rome and had him kept in strict confinement. At last however he escaped, to the great dismay of the Pontiff, but it was only to his hermitage. Thither messengers (2) were soon dispatched to bring him back; so the poor old man again fled and sought an asylm in a gloomy forest of Apulia. There he remained some months: and though herbs, roots, and water sufficed to keep life together in a few recluses who there aspired to

(1) Intrasti ut vulpes: regnabis ut leo : morireris ut canis. Benvenuti Im. Com. ap. Mur. Antiq. Ital. T. 1. p. 1219.

(2) Boniface's camerista and the Abbot of Monte-Cassino. The wretched old man, pleading the promises which had preceded his abdication, intreated to be allowed to finish his days in that rude spot, binding himself never to open his lips to a mortal, except his brother hermits. But while the Camerista was returning with this answer, he met another coming with possitive orders that the victim should be carried to Rome at whatever cost by force if necessary. But in the mean time he had escaped, having been warned of his danger by a friend. Guided by a single friar he penetrated by unknown paths into the fastnesses of the forest. Every thing conspired against the decrepit fugitive; it was lent, and the usual severities of that desert were, as far as possible, increased.