[Footnote50:ThetroublesofRome，fromthedeparturetothereturnofRienzi，arerelatedbyMatteoVillanil。ii。c。47，l。
iii。c。33，57，78andThomasFortifiocca，l。iii。c。1—4。I
haveslightlypassedoverthesesecondarycharacters，whoimitatedtheoriginaltribune。]
Afteranexileofsevenyears，thefirstdelivererwasagainrestoredtohiscountry。Inthedisguiseofamonkorapilgrim，heescapedfromthecastleofSt。Angelo，imploredthefriendshipofthekingofHungaryatNaples，temptedtheambitionofeveryboldadventurer，mingledatRomewiththepilgrimsofthejubilee，layconcealedamongthehermitsoftheApennine，andwanderedthroughthecitiesofItaly，Germany，andBohemia。Hispersonwasinvisible，hisnamewasyetformidable；andtheanxietyofthecourtofAvignonsupposes，andevenmagnifies，hispersonalmerit。TheemperorCharlestheFourthgaveaudiencetoastranger，whofranklyrevealedhimselfasthetribuneoftherepublic；andastonishedanassemblyofambassadorsandprinces，bytheeloquenceofapatriotandthevisionsofaprophet，thedownfalloftyrannyandthekingdomoftheHolyGhost。^51
Whateverhadbeenhishopes，Rienzifoundhimselfacaptive；buthesupportedacharacterofindependenceanddignity，andobeyed，ashisownchoice，theirresistiblesummonsofthesupremepontiff。ThezealofPetrarch，whichhadbeencooledbytheunworthyconduct，wasrekindledbythesufferingsandthepresence，ofhisfriend；andheboldlycomplainsofthetimes，inwhichthesaviorofRomewasdeliveredbyheremperorintothehandsofherbishop。Rienziwastransportedslowly，butinsafecustody，fromPraguetoAvignon:hisentranceintothecitywasthatofamalefactor；inhisprisonhewaschainedbytheleg；
andfourcardinalswerenamedtoinquireintothecrimesofheresyandrebellion。Buthistrialandcondemnationwouldhaveinvolvedsomequestions，whichitwasmoreprudenttoleaveundertheveilofmystery:thetemporalsupremacyofthepopes；thedutyofresidence；thecivilandecclesiasticalprivilegesoftheclergyandpeopleofRome。ThereigningpontiffwelldeservedtheappellationofClement:thestrangevicissitudesandmagnanimousspiritofthecaptiveexcitedhispityandesteem；
andPetrarchbelievesthatherespectedintheherothenameandsacredcharacterofapoet。^52Rienziwasindulgedwithaneasyconfinementandtheuseofbooks；andintheassiduousstudyofLivyandtheBible，hesoughtthecauseandtheconsolationofhismisfortunes。
[Footnote51:Thesevisions，ofwhichthefriendsandenemiesofRienziseemalikeignorant，aresurelymagnifiedbythezealofPollistore，aDominicaninquisitor，Rer。Ital。tom。xxv。c。36，p。819。Hadthetribunetaught，thatChristwassucceededbytheHolyGhost，thatthetyrannyofthepopewouldbeabolished，hemighthavebeenconvictedofheresyandtreason，withoutoffendingtheRomanpeople。
Note:Sofarfromhavingmagnifiedthesevisions，PollistoreismorethanconfirmedbythedocumentspublishedbyPapencordt。
TheadoptionofallthewilddoctrinesoftheFratricelli，theSpirituals，inwhich，forthetimeatleast，Rienziappearstohavebeeninearnest；hismagnificentofferstotheemperor，andthewholehistoryofhislife，fromhisfirstescapefromRometohisimprisonmentatAvignon，areamongthemostcuriouschaptersofhiseventfullife。—M。1845。]
[Footnote52:Theastonishment，theenvyalmost，ofPetrarchisaproof，ifnotofthetruthofthisincrediblefact，atleastofhisownveracity。TheabbedeSadeMemoires，tom。iii。p。242
quotesthevithepistleofthexiiithbookofPetrarch，butitisoftheroyalMs。，whichheconsulted，andnotoftheordinaryBasiledition，p。920。]
ThesucceedingpontificateofInnocenttheSixthopenedanewprospectofhisdeliveranceandrestoration；andthecourtofAvignonwaspersuaded，thatthesuccessfulrebelcouldaloneappeaseandreformtheanarchyofthemetropolis。Afterasolemnprofessionoffidelity，theRomantribunewassentintoItaly，withthetitleofsenator；butthedeathofBaroncelliappearedtosupersedetheuseofhismission；andthelegate，CardinalAlbornoz，^53aconsummatestatesman，allowedhimwithreluctance，andwithoutaid，toundertaketheperilousexperiment。Hisfirstreceptionwasequaltohiswishes:thedayofhisentrancewasapublicfestival；andhiseloquenceandauthorityrevivedthelawsofthegoodestate。Butthismomentarysunshinewassooncloudedbyhisownvicesandthoseofthepeople:intheCapitol，hemightoftenregrettheprisonofAvignon；andafterasecondadministrationoffourmonths，RienziwasmassacredinatumultwhichhadbeenfomentedbytheRomanbarons。InthesocietyoftheGermansandBohemians，heissaidtohavecontractedthehabitsofintemperanceandcruelty:
adversityhadchilledhisenthusiasm，withoutfortifyinghisreasonorvirtue；andthatyouthfulhope，thatlivelyassurance，whichisthepledgeofsuccess，wasnowsucceededbythecoldimpotenceofdistrustanddespair。Thetribunehadreignedwithabsolutedominion，bythechoice，andinthehearts，oftheRomans:thesenatorwastheservileministerofaforeigncourt；
andwhilehewassuspectedbythepeople，hewasabandonedbytheprince。ThelegateAlbornoz，whoseemeddesirousofhisruin，inflexiblyrefusedallsuppliesofmenandmoney；afaithfulsubjectcouldnolongerpresumetotouchtherevenuesoftheapostolicalchamber；andthefirstideaofataxwasthesignalofclamorandsedition。Evenhisjusticewastaintedwiththeguiltorreproachofselfishcruelty:themostvirtuouscitizenofRomewassacrificedtohisjealousy；andintheexecutionofapublicrobber，fromwhosepursehehadbeenassisted，themagistratetoomuchforgot，ortoomuchremembered，theobligationsofthedebtor。^54Acivilwarexhaustedhistreasures，andthepatienceofthecity:theColonnamaintainedtheirhostilestationatPalestrina；andhismercenariessoondespisedaleaderwhoseignoranceandfearwereenviousofallsubordinatemerit。Inthedeath，asinthelife，ofRienzi，theheroandthecowardwerestrangelymingled。WhentheCapitolwasinvestedbyafuriousmultitude，whenhewasbaselydesertedbyhiscivilandmilitaryservants，theintrepidsenator，wavingthebannerofliberty，presentedhimselfonthebalcony，addressedhiseloquencetothevariouspassionsoftheRomans，andlaboredtopersuadethem，thatinthesamecausehimselfandtherepublicmusteitherstandorfall。Hisorationwasinterruptedbyavolleyofimprecationsandstones；andafteranarrowhadtranspiercedhishand，hesunkintoabjectdespair，andfledweepingtotheinnerchambers，fromwhencehewasletdownbyasheetbeforethewindowsoftheprison。Destituteofaidorhope，hewasbesiegedtilltheevening:thedoorsoftheCapitolweredestroyedwithaxesandfire；andwhilethesenatorattemptedtoescapeinaplebeianhabit，hewasdiscoveredanddraggedtotheplatformofthepalace，thefatalsceneofhisjudgmentsandexecutions。Awholehour，withoutvoiceormotion，hestoodamidstthemultitudehalfnakedandhalfdead:theirragewashushedintocuriosityandwonder:thelastfeelingsofreverenceandcompassionyetstruggledinhisfavor；andtheymighthaveprevailed，ifaboldassassinhadnotplungedadaggerinhisbreast。Hefellsenselesswiththefirststroke:theimpotentrevengeofhisenemiesinflictedathousandwounds:andthesenator\'sbodywasabandonedtothedogs，totheJews，andtotheflames。Posteritywillcomparethevirtuesandfailingsofthisextraordinaryman；butinalongperiodofanarchyandservitude，thenameofRienzihasoftenbeencelebratedasthedelivererofhiscountry，andthelastoftheRomanpatriots。^55
[Footnote53:Aegidius，orGilesAlbornoz，anobleSpaniard，archbishopofToledo，andcardinallegateinItaly，A。D。1353
—1367，restored，byhisarmsandcounsels，thetemporaldominionofthepopes。HislifehasbeenseparatelywrittenbySepulveda；
butDrydencouldnotreasonablysuppose，thathisname，orthatofWolsey，hadreachedtheearsoftheMuftiinDonSebastian。]
[Footnote54:FromMatteoVillaniandFortifiocca，theP。duCerceaup。344—394hasextractedthelifeanddeathofthechevalierMontreal，thelifeofarobberandthedeathofahero。
Attheheadofafreecompany，thefirstthatdesolatedItaly，hebecamerichandformidablebehadmoneyinallthebanks，—
60，000ducatsinPaduaalone。]
[Footnote55:Theexile，secondgovernment，anddeathofRienzi，areminutelyrelatedbytheanonymousRoman，whoappearsneitherhisfriendnorhisenemy，l。iii。c。12—25。Petrarch，wholovedthetribune，wasindifferenttothefateofthesenator。]
ThefirstandmostgenerouswishofPetrarchwastherestorationofafreerepublic；butaftertheexileanddeathofhisplebeianhero，heturnedhiseyesfromthetribune，totheking，oftheRomans。TheCapitolwasyetstainedwiththebloodofRienzi，whenCharlestheFourthdescendedfromtheAlpstoobtaintheItalianandImperialcrowns。InhispassagethroughMilanhereceivedthevisit，andrepaidtheflattery，ofthepoet—laureate；acceptedamedalofAugustus；andpromised，withoutasmile，toimitatethefounderoftheRomanmonarchy。A
falseapplicationofthenameandmaximsofantiquitywasthesourceofthehopesanddisappointmentsofPetrarch；yethecouldnotoverlookthedifferenceoftimesandcharacters；theimmeasurabledistancebetweenthefirstCaesarsandaBohemianprince，whobythefavoroftheclergyhadbeenelectedthetitularheadoftheGermanaristocracy。InsteadofrestoringtoRomehergloryandherprovinces，hehadboundhimselfbyasecrettreatywiththepope，toevacuatethecityonthedayofhiscoronation；andhisshamefulretreatwaspursuedbythereproachesofthepatriotbard。^56
[Footnote56:ThehopesandthedisappointmentofPetrarchareagreeablydescribedinhisownwordsbytheFrenchbiographer，Memoires，tom。iii。p。375—413；butthedeep，thoughsecret，woundwasthecoronationofZanubi，thepoet—laureate，byCharlesIV。]
Afterthelossoflibertyandempire，histhirdandmorehumblewishwastoreconciletheshepherdwithhisflock；torecalltheRomanbishoptohisancientandpeculiardiocese。Inthefervorofyouth，withtheauthorityofage，Petrarchaddressedhisexhortationstofivesuccessivepopes，andhiseloquencewasalwaysinspiredbytheenthusiasmofsentimentandthefreedomoflanguage。^57ThesonofacitizenofFlorenceinvariablypreferredthecountryofhisbirthtothatofhiseducation；andItaly，inhiseyes，wasthequeenandgardenoftheworld。Amidstherdomesticfactions，shewasdoubtlesssuperiortoFrancebothinartandscience，inwealthandpoliteness；butthedifferencecouldscarcelysupporttheepithetofbarbarous，whichhepromiscuouslybestowsonthecountriesbeyondtheAlps。Avignon，themysticBabylon，thesinkofviceandcorruption，wastheobjectofhishatredandcontempt；butheforgetsthatherscandalousviceswerenotthegrowthofthesoil，andthatineveryresidencetheywouldadheretothepowerandluxuryofthepapalcourt。HeconfessesthatthesuccessorofSt。Peteristhebishopoftheuniversalchurch；yetitwasnotonthebanksoftheRhone，butoftheTyber，thattheapostlehadfixedhiseverlastingthrone；andwhileeverycityintheChristianworldwasblessedwithabishop，themetropolisalonewasdesolateandforlorn。SincetheremovaloftheHolySee，thesacredbuildingsoftheLateranandtheVatican，theiraltarsandtheirsaints，wereleftinastateofpovertyanddecay；andRomewasoftenpaintedundertheimageofadisconsolatematron，asifthewanderinghusbandcouldbereclaimedbythehomelyportraitoftheageandinfirmitiesofhisweepingspouse。^58Butthecloudwhichhungoverthesevenhillswouldbedispelledbythepresenceoftheirlawfulsovereign:eternalfame，theprosperityofRome，andthepeaceofItaly，wouldbetherecompenseofthepopewhoshoulddaretoembracethisgenerousresolution。OfthefivewhomPetrarchexhorted，thethreefirst，JohntheTwenty—second，BenedicttheTwelfth，andClementtheSixth，wereimportunedoramusedbytheboldnessoftheorator；butthememorablechangewhichhadbeenattemptedbyUrbantheFifthwasfinallyaccomplishedbyGregorytheEleventh。Theexecutionoftheirdesignwasopposedbyweightyandalmostinsuperableobstacles。AkingofFrance，whohasdeservedtheepithetofwise，wasunwillingtoreleasethemfromalocaldependence:thecardinals，forthemostparthissubjects，wereattachedtothelanguage，manners，andclimateofAvignon；totheirstatelypalaces；aboveall，tothewinesofBurgundy。Intheireyes，Italywasforeignorhostile；andtheyreluctantlyembarkedatMarseilles，asiftheyhadbeensoldorbanishedintothelandoftheSaracens。UrbantheFifthresidedthreeyearsintheVaticanwithsafetyandhonor:hissanctitywasprotectedbyaguardoftwothousandhorse；andthekingofCyprus，thequeenofNaples，andtheemperorsoftheEastandWest，devoutlysalutedtheircommonfatherinthechairofSt。Peter。ButthejoyofPetrarchandtheItalianswassoonturnedintogriefandindignation。Somereasonsofpublicorprivatemoment，hisownimpatienceortheprayersofthecardinals，recalledUrbantoFrance；andtheapproachingelectionwassavedfromthetyrannicpatriotismoftheRomans。Thepowersofheavenwereinterestedintheircause:
BridgetofSweden，asaintandpilgrim，disapprovedthereturn，andforetoldthedeath，ofUrbantheFifth:themigrationofGregorytheEleventhwasencouragedbySt。CatharineofSienna，thespouseofChristandambassadressoftheFlorentines；andthepopesthemselves，thegreatmastersofhumancredulity，appeartohavelistenedtothesevisionaryfemales。^59Yetthosecelestialadmonitionsweresupportedbysomeargumentsoftemporalpolicy。
TheresidentsofAvignonhadbeeninvadedbyhostileviolence:attheheadofthirtythousandrobbers，aherohadextortedransomandabsolutionfromthevicarofChristandthesacredcollege；
andthemaximoftheFrenchwarriors，tosparethepeopleandplunderthechurch，wasanewheresyofthemostdangerousimport。^60WhilethepopewasdrivenfromAvignon，hewasstrenuouslyinvitedtoRome。Thesenateandpeopleacknowledgedhimastheirlawfulsovereign，andlaidathisfeetthekeysofthegates，thebridges，andthefortresses；ofthequarteratleastbeyondtheTyber。^61Butthisloyalofferwasaccompaniedbyadeclaration，thattheycouldnolongersufferthescandalandcalamityofhisabsence；andthathisobstinacywouldfinallyprovokethemtoreviveandasserttheprimitiverightofelection。TheabbotofMountCassinhadbeenconsulted，whetherhewouldacceptthetriplecrown^62fromtheclergyandpeople:
\"IamacitizenofRome，\"^63repliedthatvenerableecclesiastic，\"andmyfirstlawis，thevoiceofmycountry。\"^64
[Footnote57:See，inhisaccurateandamusingbiographer，theapplicationofPetrarchandRometoBenedictXII。intheyear1334，Memoires，tom。i。p。261—265，toClementVI。in1342，tom。ii。p。45—47，andtoUrbanV。in1366，tom。iii。p。677
—691:hispraisep。711—715andexcusep。771ofthelastofthesepontiffs。HisangrycontroversyontherespectivemeritsofFranceandItalymaybefound，Opp。p。1068—1085。]
[Footnote58:Squalidasedquoniamfacies，neglectaquecultuCaesaries；multisquemalislassatasenectusEripuitsolitameffigiem:vetusaccipenomen；
Romavocor。
Carm。l。2，p。77。
Hespinsthisallegorybeyondallmeasureorpatience。TheEpistlestoUrbanVinprosearemoresimpleandpersuasive，Senilium，l。vii。p。811—827l。ix。epist。i。p。844—854。]
[Footnote59:IhavenotleisuretoexpatiateonthelegendsofSt。BridgetorSt。Catharine，thelastofwhichmightfurnishsomeamusingstories。TheireffectonthemindofGregoryXI。isattestedbythelastsolemnwordsofthedyingpope，whoadmonishedtheassistants，utcaverentabhominibus，siveviris，sivemulieribus，subspeciereligionisloquentibusvisionessuicapitis，quiapertalesipseseductus，&c。，Baluz。NotadVit。
Pap。Avenionensium，tom。i。p。1224。]
[Footnote60:ThispredatoryexpeditionisrelatedbyFroissard，Chronique，tom。i。p。230，andinthelifeofDuGuesclin，CollectionGeneraledesMemoiresHistoriques，tom。iv。c。16，p。
107—113。Asearlyastheyear1361，thecourtofAvignonhadbeenmolestedbysimilarfreebooters，whoafterwardspassedtheAlps，MemoiressurPetrarque，tom。iii。p。563—569。]
[Footnote61:Fleuryalleges，fromtheannalsofOdericusRaynaldus，theoriginaltreatywhichwassignedthe21stofDecember，1376，betweenGregoryXI。andtheRomans，Hist。
Eccles。tom。xx。p。275。]
[Footnote62:ThefirstcrownorregnumDucange，Gloss。Latin。
tom。v。p。702ontheepiscopalmitreofthepopes，isascribedtothegiftofConstantine，orClovis。ThesecondwasaddedbyBonifaceVIII。，astheemblemnotonlyofaspiritual，butofatemporal，kingdom。ThethreestatesofthechurcharerepresentedbythetriplecrownwhichwasintroducedbyJohnXXII。orBenedictXII。，MemoiressurPetrarque，tom。i。p。258，259。]
[Footnote63:BaluzeNot。adPap。Avenion。tom。i。p。1194，1195producestheoriginalevidencewhichatteststhethreatsoftheRomanambassadors，andtheresignationoftheabbotofMountCassin，qui，ultroseofferens，responditsecivemRomanumesse，etilludvellequodipsivellent。]
[Footnote64:ThereturnofthepopesfromAvignontoRome，andtheirreceptionbythepeople，arerelatedintheoriginallivesofUrbanV。andGregoryXI。，inBaluzeVit。PaparumAvenionensium，tom。i。p。363—486andMuratori，Script。Rer。
Italicarum，tom。iii。P。i。p。613—712。Inthedisputesoftheschism，everycircumstancewasseverely，thoughpartially，scrutinized；moreespeciallyinthegreatinquest，whichdecidedtheobedienceofCastile，andtowhichBaluze，inhisnotes，sooftenandsolargelyappealsfromaMs。volumeintheHarleylibrary，p。1281，&c。]
Ifsuperstitionwillinterpretanuntimelydeath，^65ifthemeritofcounselsbejudgedfromtheevent，theheavensmayseemtofrownonameasureofsuchapparentseasonandpropriety。
GregorytheEleventhdidnotsurviveabovefourteenmonthshisreturntotheVatican；andhisdeceasewasfollowedbythegreatschismoftheWest，whichdistractedtheLatinchurchabovefortyyears。Thesacredcollegewasthencomposedoftwenty—twocardinals:sixofthesehadremainedatAvignon；elevenFrenchmen，oneSpaniard，andfourItalians，enteredtheconclaveintheusualform。Theirchoicewasnotyetlimitedtothepurple；andtheirunanimousvotesacquiescedinthearchbishopofBari，asubjectofNaples，conspicuousforhiszealandlearning，whoascendedthethroneofSt。PeterunderthenameofUrbantheSixth。Theepistleofthesacredcollegeaffirmshisfree，andregular，election；whichhadbeeninspired，asusual，bytheHolyGhost；hewasadored，invested，andcrowned，withthecustomaryrites；histemporalauthoritywasobeyedatRomeandAvignon，andhisecclesiasticalsupremacywasacknowledgedintheLatinworld。