ON SAINT GREGORY BISHOP OF OSTIA, IN ITALY,
DEAD ON A SPANISH LEGATION.
THE YEAR 1044.
CommentaryGregory, Bishop of Ostia, dead on a Spanish Legation (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
Ostia, a most ancient colony of the Romans, founded at the mouth of the river Tiber by Ancus Martius King of the Romans, has been raised to so great Ecclesiastical dignity, that its Bishops are in a certain manner by their very nature also Cardinals, The Bishop of Tiberine Ostia and surpass in dignity all the Bishops of the World whatsoever, the one Roman Pontiff alone excepted, and for a long time now are held the Deans of the Purpled. Among these Bishops in the eleventh century of Christ flourished two, eminent both in sanctity of life and in splendor of doctrine. Of these one was B. Peter Damian, Prior of the desert of Holy Cross of Fons Avellanus, who departed life in the year 1072, on the XXIII of February, on which day we illustrated his Acts. The other somewhat older than this one (for two intervened between each) is B. Gregory, who died most holily on this IX of May on a Spanish Legation. Some compendium of the things done by him Ferdinand Ughelli edited in tome 1 of Italia Sacra among the Bishops of Ostia, which we here give, and is of this kind.
[2] Blessed Gregory, a monk of S. Benedict, and Abbot of SS. Cosmas and Damian at Mica-Aurea, was chosen Bishop of Ostia, and so also Cardinal and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church. created in the year 1034 About the year 1034 he succeeded Peter: who discharged the same office most amply under four Pontiffs succeeding one another, displaying surely those examples of virtues, which seem to befit a most holy man. But when everywhere and always his sanctity had become known to mortals, then truly especially in the kingdom of Navarre by the sending of the Pontiff it shone forth. For when God, sent into Spain by Benedict IX, irritated by the crimes of mortality, in the times of Benedict the Ninth, had most foully devastated the borders of Navarre with a dense column of locusts, nor did any battle-lines seem equal to the disaster daily more savage, at last destitute of all human help, Legates being sent to the Roman Pontiff they obtained divine aid. Which that he might more holily prepare against that depredatory pest, he proclaimed a prayer of three days and a public fast. From the admonition of an Angel, who affirmed that the destroying locust would be put to flight by the benediction of Gregory of Ostia, he sent the same as Legate into Navarre. Who by the benediction and sign of the Cross, as if he had brought standards into battle, the locusts thence put to flight destroyed that army of locusts even to the last man: and shining besides with many miracles, put to flight worse sins than the locusts. Having therefore sojourned for some time in the Spains, by divine instinct he initiated S. Dominic, commonly called della Calzada, a Priest, and joined himself as an indefatigable companion to him enunciating the word of God. At length Gregory of Ostia, when for the greater glory of God he had undertaken many labors, in the year 1044 he dies, oppressed by death flew to the heavens, in the year one thousand forty-four, on the seventh of the Ides of May, and was buried at Lucerinum, a castle of the Navarrese dominion: where the memory of the same is solemnly kept among those peoples every year.
[3] Thus far Ughelli, who before this B. Gregory Bishop of Ostia establishes that there were four other Bishops likewise of Ostia, called by the name of Gregory, and in the Bishop XXIV, Gregory IV, writes these things: Constantine Cajetan the Benedictine Abbot, in the Life of Gregory Bishop of Ostia (which he recently indeed at length prescribed, which printed at Rome is in the hands of the pious) wanders by the whole heaven, while he has B. Gregory, from Abbot of SS. Cosmas and Damian at Mica-Aurea, created Bishop of Ostia by John XVIII in the year 1004, and to have flown to heaven in the year 1044. For as we clearly saw, He seems to be distinguished from the elder Gregory likewise Bishop of Ostia after Gregory Bishop of Ostia librarian of the Holy Roman Church, who in the year 1005 subscribed to the diploma of John XVIII, a certain Peter of Ostia ruled the Church in the year 1026, of whom there is mention in the year 1028. Whence either B. Gregory yielded to fate before the year 1026, or after Peter, the year 1028 elapsed, obtained the See of Ostia, it must be confessed. For I, convicted by an evident reason, after Peter, who in the year 1003 dwelt among mortals, place Gregory in the year 1005, after Gregory, Peter, after him B. Gregory, called to the Episcopal See of Ostia by Benedict the Ninth about the year 1034; sent into Spain, there to have closed his last day in the year 1054. These things again Ughelli. But Tamajus Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology on this IX of May reprints the Life of B. Gregory written by Constantine Cajetan, but then recedes from his opinion, and adheres to Ughelli, who subjoins discrepancies among the Gregories Bishops of Ostia. We leave to the curious investigators of the antiquities of Ostia the said controversy concerning the duplicated Peters and Gregories, and since the reader can recur to the said editions of Cajetan, we omit that Life as amplified with many words: in which very many things are indicated concerning S. Dominic of the Calzada, which are more accurately related from older Acts on the XII of May, his birthday. In those things also nothing is had concerning the priesthood conferred on him by B. Gregory, and sermons held to the people: nor that he sat under 4 Pontiffs. but it is said that B. Dominic, that he might refresh his soul with salutary doctrines, made his disciple, accompanied him even to his death. Neither also did B. Gregory, now Bishop of Ostia, discharge the office of Librarian under four Pontiffs succeeding him, as from Cajetan Ughelli, not sufficiently mindful of himself, seems to have derived. He is recorded above to have been made Bishop of Ostia in the year 1034, when already then the Pontiff was Benedict IX, by the testimony of Ughelli himself, intruded into the Apostolic See in the year 1032. By this Pontiff in the year 1039 B. Gregory sent into Spain, would have died there in the year 1044, before in the place of the said Benedict, expelled from the Pontificate, and other schismatics removed, Gregory VI was constituted legitimate Pontiff. But neither under Benedict IX nor under any of his predecessors ought Gregory to be believed to have been Librarian, unless documents are produced, in which he subscribes with a title of this kind: but none are produced hitherto: but well others by others subscribed with the title of Chancellor, who was also called Librarian.
[4] The same B. Gregory Thomas de Trugillo celebrates, in the Treasury of Preachers on this IX of May, and among other things, which are worthy of relation, writes these: When the holy Bishop had come to Navarre, by his holy preaching and most upright life, he amended and corrected vices: and the sins and iniquities ceasing, the plague also ceased. But the holy man instituted also many processions, he institutes pious works: fasts, prayers, alms, sacrifices, and other works of this kind holy, by which the wrath of the Lord might be appeased. Whence this glorious Saint is an Advocate for us against locusts, and blight and other animalcules of this kind, which are wont to infest the crops. Hence it comes about that water, with which his bones shall have been washed or touched, if it be sprinkled through vineyards, gardens, crops and wild trees, and other plants of this kind, is wont to be the greatest remedy against such noxious animalcules. But this glorious Pontiff died, glorious for miracles after death. and his body was buried in the same kingdom of Navarre, namely at Berrueca: where he shone with many miracles, and God by his intercession and merits is wont to succor many. Thus Trugillus, whom cited Joannes Marietta related some Acts of this Saint in book 5 on the Saints of Spain chapter 68, and asserts that he preached at Calahorra and Logroño, and that his body is preserved in a church dedicated to him on a high rock of Navarre, not far from the said Logroño: and that to it in suppliant procession many peoples of the neighboring dominions hasten, that by his intercession they may be freed, especially from the infestation of locusts, taking with them water consecrated by the touch of his sacred Relics. Thus there. That the church dedicated to him, The body found in the 13th century. was before known under the name of S. Salvator de Pinava, is indicated from Cajetan in Tamajus Salazar on the X day of May, on which he celebrates the finding of the sacred body of S. Gregory, made in the presence of the Bishops Peter of Pamplona surnamed Ximenius de Gazolaz, created in the year 1266, and Sanctius Haxius or Hachius, who ruled the Church of Bayonne from the year 1256 until the year 1275. Then are subjoined miracles written by Aegidius of Calahorra a coeval author, which we subjoin and are of this kind.
[5] In the year of the Lord 1298 the armor-bearer of a certain Navarrese Knight, A dumb and blind man is healed in the year 1298 who was called Fortunius de Almozavia, deaf and dumb, very religious toward S. Gregory, in his church kept vigils, gave himself with more impense zeal to prayers, that he might be able to recover hearing and speech. On the eighth day when the Clerics of the land of Berrueca and Valdega and other places, had come there in troops, for the cause of obtaining rain; he by the merits and intercession of the Saint was made partaker of his vow. In the year of the Lord 1302 on the III day of June a certain man of Olite ascended to the church, in which the body of S. Gregory is laid, the plague of locusts extinguished in the year 1302 Vicus by name, offering five solidi: and affirmed, that in past times the inhabitants of the place, afflicted with a grave pestilence and plague of locusts, had vowed the said sum to the Saint for the expense of lamps, and the vineyards and fields being lustrated with water sanctified by the Relics of the blessed man, the calamity had altogether ceased. The like to this the guardian of the monastery of S. Francis of Estella recounted before the same Aegidius and the Vicar of Piedra-millera, called Petrus Joannes, and Michael Sanctius the Cleric, Vicar of S. Gregory. A prodigy of this kind happened in Falces, whose villagers for that very cause yearly offer eight bushels of wheat to the church of S. Gregory.
[6] In the year of the Lord 1310 on the XII day of March, in the villa of Arellano, a grain slipped into the ear falls out in the year 1310 when into the ear of a certain Priest, Pyrrhus by name, a grain of barley had fallen, and could by no means be extracted; he with never intermitted prayers to God sought to be freed from that trouble. Nevertheless he used the work of a surgeon, if in any way he could bring a remedy to the laboring ear: but when it had happened contrary to what he had hoped; piously commending himself to S. Gregory, he betook himself to his church not without inconvenience, a brother being taken as a companion. Keeping vigil therefore before the altar of the Saint, he vowed that he would offer to him a certain measure of wheat in each year of his life, if he should drive away the disease. The vow being made the grain of barley immediately went out from the man's ear, and his pain was assuaged.
[7] a deaf woman is cured in the year 1312 In the year 1312 in the place of Viana, the wife of the treasurer of S. Gregory, so grew deaf, that through the space of seven months she could find no remedy for the disease. It seemed therefore good to implore the divine help. Wherefore both took care that many expiatory victims be offered to God: and various prayers also and vigils they performed, both in the church of Viana and elsewhere. But when neither thus the faculty of hearing was restored to the woman
restored; the husband, who, as we have said, was the treasurer of S. Gregory, persuaded his wife, that she should betake herself to his church, and there await the supernal remedy on account of the merits of the Saint. And when the woman had obeyed her husband, with many tears and groans she asked the Saint, that he should either obtain hearing for her, or a swift departure from this life. But the Saint restored to the woman the pristine sense of her ears. For on the fourth night, while she was in the church keeping vigil after the custom, about the sixth hour she perceived by hearing the crowing of the cock, and a little after the sound of the bells, by which the signal was given of rising to perform the matins hours: and in this manner she knew herself by the merits of S. Gregory to be free from deafness. She therefore rendered great thanks to God and the Saint for the received benefit: and returned home with great cheerfulness, persevered in each year to bestow an alms for wax candles to be kindled before the sacred Body.
[8] In the year of the Lord 1322 on the XIII day of March, a Saturday, to this church a certain woman came from the place of Amescoa, an energumen is freed in the year 1322 seized by a demon: who when she had kept vigil before the altar of S. Gregory, at that hour in which the Abbot of the church was celebrating the sacrifice of Mass, was so tortured and convulsed by the malign spirit, that those who were present reputed her dead. But a little after the demon left the woman, and made so great a crash and gnashing, that the temple seemed to fall: and departing gave such an indication, that the fractures of the walls can even now easily be perceived.
[9] In the year of the Lord 1323 on the day of Saturday, on which the anniversary congratulation of S. Gregory the Pope is celebrated, hearing is recovered in the year 1323. a certain inhabitant of the villa of Estella, Perrus Garsiae by name, a butcher of that place, long before lacking hearing, came to the church of our S. Gregory with others about to intercede. And when he had spent the whole night keeping vigil, and had supplicated the Saint, that he would deign to apply a medicinal hand to his disease, nor yet had felt any help; attributing this to his crimes, he took his way homeward overwhelmed with sadness. But having entered the boundary of the villa of Estella, he heard the sound of the bells, and plainly ascertained that he had obtained what he had sought. Wherefore giving the greatest thanks to God and the Saint, he sent an alms as great as he could to the church.
[10] A Confraternity instituted. Thus far those miracles: after which related it is added, that some men of the chief nobility coming together into one, constituted a confraternity under the protection of S. Gregory, and that they obey certain laws, and are exercised in spiritual meditations. Nay, says Tamajus Salazar, it was an ancient custom among the Spaniards of Calahorra, the Navarrese and the Aragonese, of celebrating the feast day dedicated to this most holy Prelate: ancient hymns and therefore in several churches are found certain very old Prayers, deprecations and hymns, by which they begged to be freed from the ruin of locusts, and paid the due thanks for his succor, with devout humility. Tamajus subjoins five hymns of this kind, between which he interposes a Prayer, and another after the miracles, and a third after the Life of S. Epitacius Bishop and Martyr, edited by him separately in the year 1646. and prayers Of these by a Presbyter, clothed in surplice and stole, the Cross going before, the following Prayer is wont to be devoutly recited. O God, who didst confer on B. Gregory, Thy Confessor and Pontiff, against the pest of locusts, a special grace, grant propitiously, that we who devoutly ask Thy benefits, may by his merits and prayers be mercifully freed from the corrosion and consumption of them and of whatsoever other pests, in our fruits and cattle, and from pest and epidemic in our bodies. Through the Lord etc.
[11] And that far and wide the water, with which the fruits are sprinkled, may be carried; the rite of water to be blessed. the peoples come to the place of the sepulcher with urns, and enclose in the urns the water introduced through the opening of the shin-bone of the holy Confessor, sanctified by the ministry of the Presbyters: and to those carrying it away is granted by the minister specially constituted for it a certificate, strengthened by the sign of the basilica itself. The sign itself is exhibited by Tamajus, and is the image of S. Gregory clothed in Pontifical vestments with locusts flying on this side and that. Ferrarius related him on the VII day of this month of May.
ON B. NICHOLAS ALBERGATI CARDINAL OF THE HOLY ROMAN CHURCH AND BISHOP OF BOLOGNA,
OF THE CARTHUSIAN ORDER.
THE YEAR 1443
PrefaceNicholas Albergati, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Bishop of Bologna, of the Carthusian Order (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
Ferdinand Ughelli in tome 2 of Italia Sacra among the Archbishops of Bologna, adorns Nicholas Albergati with an illustrious eulogy, and concludes it with these words: The Carthusians, of old adorned him with the title of Blessed, and related him into the album of certain Saints of the Order. When we in the year 1660 about to go to Rome stayed for some days at Bologna, The testimony of the Carthusian house of Bologna. we entered into acquaintance with R. D. Simon Santagatha, a Presbyter, most loving of our studies: who indeed in the year 1662 on the IV day of February transmitted to us, then delaying for some months at Florence, a writing, which at his request the most Religious Fathers of the Carthusian house of Bologna had drawn up under this title: The public cult given to Blessed Nicholas Albergati, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Bishop of Bologna, assumed from the assembly of the Carthusians. And then these things are subjoined. Blessed Nicholas Albergati, Images with rays, in veneration. not only in the Carthusian house of Bologna and Florence, but also in the whole Order and in many churches of his fatherland, is painted with coruscating and shining rays, especially in the temple of the most Blessed Virgin Mary of Liberty, of S. Stephen, of S. Agnes of the nuns of the sacred Order of Preachers, of S. Clare of the Capuchin Fathers' Order. Elsewhere also the images of Blessed Nicholas are decorated with the greatest honor, veneration and cult accustomed to the other Blessed, are printed, effigied, exposed, everywhere affixed and sold publicly, as the images of a Blessed and Glorious Bishop, through whom celestial graces, favors, benefits are received: as in the heavens with the divine Majesty the friends of true divinity most powerfully avail.
[2] election as Protector of the Confraternity of 33 men, For indeed the venerable Society of Thirty-three, instituted in honor of the years of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and fortunately denominated from Perseverance, in the year 1639 inspired by the divine Spirit, and at his guidance, chose Blessed Nicholas as Protector, not without the interest of all Graces whatsoever. But the confreres each carrying in their hand the vivific Cross, the proper insignia of Blessed Nicholas; a banner going before, in which is the image of the Blessed, on the first Sunday of each month make pilgrimage to the most blessed Mother of God of S. Luke outside the city. And that they may attain the desired and sublime gift of Perseverance, which they cannot merit; they have recourse to the more efficacious helps of right prayer, and rightly directing their intentions, after various exercises of good works, oblations, acts of contrition and gratitude, and invocations of the Saints, their souls and voices lifted to heaven, public invocation. with a greater office of religion they say the common prayers, Our Actions etc., and after the Amen, they cry out, B. Nicholas Protector pray for us. Every year on Septuagesima Sunday, on which they make pilgrimage in the aforesaid manner, they visit some churches; both that they may detain themselves in the observance of the divine commandments, and for obtaining for others the one gift of divine Perseverance, especially at this time more prone to allurements. The supplication performed they hear a R. Dominican Father, enunciating the virtues and praises of Blessed Nicholas. They proceed to S. Anne of the Carthusian Fathers, venerate the exposed skull of the same, give the greatest thanks they can to Blessed Nicholas the exceptional bestower and donor of the holy Relics. There a solemn Mass is sung, and the bestowal of Indulgences is granted by the Cardinal Legates. Lastly they beseech their Protector wreathed with glory, that with more fervent charity he protect them, and for his devout sons study to obtain the gifts of grace, glory, perseverance. On the ninth of May, the Birthday of Blessed Nicholas, an altar erected. in the church of S. Anne with the celebration of many Masses, every honor or cult is rendered to B. Nicholas, as great as may perpetually be exhibited at the altar of the same Blessed. The Masses are celebrated of S. Gregory Nazianzen, no mention is made of Blessed Nicholas. This very thing the said Society follows up for their Blessed Protector in their proper Oratory, with a wonderful frequency and veneration of the people: nor on this day only, but through the whole year at the altar of the same Blessed it devoutly performs Masses, divine offices, and Ecclesiastical prayers. In no Mass is made a commemoration of B. Nicholas. Authors most glorious in genius and doctrine have handed down in writings the life and deeds of the same Blessed, and inserted the perennial name of the Blessed into their Annals. Thus far the testimony of the Fathers of the Carthusian house of Bologna.
[3] In the name of the Fathers of the Carthusian house of Florence, with whom the Body of B. Nicholas Albergati is preserved, Veneration at Florence D. Bonaventura Moschi wrote to us in the year 1675, that the suspension of mortality, which on account of contagion was raging, in those days, in which the venerable body of B. Nicholas exhumed remained, was attributed to him; as also various healings, granted at the Relics of the same Blessed, but that these were not signed by legitimate attestation. That images of the same with rays are in veneration, and that some one of him radiated and old was in the chamber of Pope Urban VIII, and with Pope Urban VIII. given by Cardinal Ludovisius to him asking for it: and that he gave answer to a certain Prelate, of leaving the coruscating crown to the aforesaid image, his Decree concerning the taking away of rays notwithstanding. Thus he, who transmitted to us a similar image with rays sculptured.
[4] The Life of B. Nicholas Albergati first of all wrote Jacobus Zenus, who by the testimony of Ughelli in tome V of Italia Sacra was a noble Venetian, a most grave Jurisconsult, and nobly cultivated in other disciplines, and most studious of venerable antiquity, from Subdeacon of Nicholas the Fifth Pontiff created Bishop of Belluno and Feltre in the province of the March of Treviso in the year 1447, and afterward declared Bishop of Padua in the year 1460, The Life written by Jacobus Zeno, and among several monuments of his genius, left also Lives of the supreme Pontiffs: those namely, which deduced even to Martin V we have written by hand, and in the preliminary Diatribe to the first tome of April we cite oftener. This author therefore, below at number 18 asserts that he at Florence, in the time of the general Council held in the year 1429, from his own knowledge, met the Cardinal Albergati, and saluted him, and describes there his manner of living: and as he says in the Preface, on account of the highest reputation of virtue and sanctity, embraced him with a singular and especial observance and veneration… and bore the memory of the pious Father, as if fixed and implanted in his heart with an adamantine nail, so that even after his death Nicholas never departed from his breast. This is the first knowledge of the author as an eyewitness, and received from Pope Nicholas V, to which was added a second, received from Thomas of Sarzana (who afterward was Supreme Pontiff and called Nicholas V), and the more certain for this, that he from his early age nourished and educated with Nicholas himself, is said to have been partaker and conscious of all secrets in the Preface to Peter Barbus the Cardinal, afterward also Supreme Pontiff and called Paul II; who having embraced B. Nicholas as a sole parent, imitated his virtues, and is said to have celebrated his praises in the same Preface.
[5] Poggius of Florence delivered the funeral Oration,
since, as he himself says, The funeral Oration is omitted, he had now been engaged forty years in the Roman Curia, namely as Pocciantius concerning the Writers of Florence hands down, having obtained the office of Secretary, a man of most eminent genius and chief among orators. Lest the bulk of the work increase too much, we shall omit this oration, bringing forth from it from time to time some things in the Notes, where toward the end, Let us console ourselves, says the author, knowing him placed in the number of the Blessed. there is added a Life collected by Sigonius from ancient monuments. But in place of this Oration is given another Life, written by Carolus Sigonius a most erudite man and grave historian faithfully from monuments preserved in the family of the Albergati, and dedicated to Gabriel Palaeottus Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Bishop of Bologna; hitherto with the former Life and funeral Oration brought to light by Georgius Garnefeltius the Cologne Carthusian. He distinguished each Life into chapters, which for the former Life we turn into numbers, and illustrate each one distinguished after our manner with annotations.
[6] Garnefeltius subjoined seventeen testimonies of celebrated men, who made mention of Nicholas Albergati with the praise of sanctity: these can be seen in him: and several others can be added. For after the year 1618, in which Garnefeltius published his, very many illustrious writers extolled the virtues of B. Nicholas. Among these two are eminent concerning the Life of Blessed Nicholas Albergati: other lives written by Bonaventura Caballus are indicated: of these one, who published it in Italian at Rome in the year 1654, with the approval after various others of Vincentius Candidus Master of the sacred Apostolic Palace, of the Order of Preachers, is Bonaventura Caballus a Professor of the Order of Minors of the strict Observance, and he inscribed this Life to the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lord, D. Nicholas Ludovisius Prince of Piombino, and inserted in it an elegant image of the Blessed, with rays after the manner of Saints or Blessed encircling the head, and both in the title and at each leaf prefixed these words: The Life of B. Nicholas Albergati. The other is, Ludovicus Donius D'Attichy, Bishop of Autun, who under this title, The Idea of a perfect Prelate in the Life of B. Nicholas Albergati etc. edited the Life in his city of Autun in the year 1656 and inscribed it to the most Illustrious Prince of the Church D. Nicholas of the Counts Guidii of Bagno, and Donius d'Attichy, Archbishop of Athens, Nuncio of our holy Lord Pope Alexander VII and of the Holy See to the most Christian King of the Franks Louis XIV, and similarly at each leaf in the title wrote, The Life of B. Nicholas Cardinal Albergati. But both of these took the argument of their writing from the above-indicated authors Zeno, Poggio, Sigonius. Odoricus Raynaldus in the Ecclesiastical Annals tome XVII, printed at Rome with the approval of Raimundus Capisucchus Master of the sacred Apostolic Palace in the year 1659, and the eulogies of others. and in the Compendium of the Annals printed at Rome in the year 1667 with the approval of Hyacinthus Libellus likewise Master of the sacred Apostolic Palace, describes the deeds of the same Nicholas with the title of Blessed. The same with a similar title of Blessed adorn Ferrarius in the general Catalogue of Saints, Masinus in Bologna perlustrated, Celsus Faleonius in the Historical memoirs of the Church of Bologna, Gaspar Bombacius, on the Men illustrious for fame of sanctity of the city of Bologna and others: whom, lest prolixity beget tedium to the reader, we willingly omit to name all.
[7] in the Life of B. Peter Petronius Another illustrious Carthusian flourished at Siena, but older than B. Nicholas Albergati by eighty years, B. Peter Petronus; whose Acts were written in Italian by S. John Columbinus, Founder of the Order of the Jesuates, and adorned in Latin by Bartholomew of Siena a monk of the Carthusian house of Florence, and distinguished into three books, which on the XXIX of May we insert into this our work. In this in book 3 chapter 10 are indicated some Carthusians throughout Italy, excelling in holiness. there is extant a eulogy of B. Nicholas. But eminent among all is B. Nicholas Albergati, whose illustrious eulogy, which can there be read, when the interpreter had written, he concludes with these words: Who of us, embracing in mind and reason the most illustrious deeds and most excellent virtues either of Nicholas or of Peter, would not shake himself, and rouse himself at some time to the perfection of his profession? Since no greater exhortation, and no keener excitation to all zeal of sanctity and virtue is wont to be applied, than the examples of good men, and especially of those to whom together with the obedience of God it was never not most ancient, to guard to the last the primeval Spirit of their Order. Thus there Bartholomew: who subjoined Annotations to this Life of B. Peter, from which and others we have formed our Annotations, the rest making less to our purpose being passed over: but hither we transfer the eulogy of B. Nicholas Albergati received thence, which is of this kind.
[8] Although the Bishop of Feltre, more abundantly and more elegantly than the rest, consecrated the deeds and acts of our most ample Nicholas with the renowned monuments of letters, and dedicated them to Peter Barbus, then Cardinal of Saint Mark, who afterward rejoicing in the name of Paul the Second, was supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church; nevertheless, when he treated of the rejecting of the Bishopric of the Church of Bologna, which the citizens had determined to commit to our Nicholas; he so touched the matter with a wonderful parsimony of words, that he seemed to pass over it in a moment with a dry foot, just as to be ignorant of it. Nor surely is it wonderful, where from the Ms. Chronicle of the Carthusian house of Montello since within the Carthusian enclosures, and so within the inmost ridges of the mountains, and the abrupt and horrid rocks with snow and ice, that is in the Great Charterhouse, that whole affair, on account of the inflexible pertinacity of the man, and the highest moderation of his soul, was transacted. But in what manner, and by what reckoning, from the most ancient Chronicle written by hand on parchment of the Carthusian house of Montello, which a man better than probity itself Archangelus of Lucca, then Procurator of the same Carthusian house, delivered to me to examine, we gather sufficiently abundantly, whose these very words are.
[9] it is written how he was elected Bishop by the people of Bologna, In the time of John de Griffomonte the Prior, namely in this year one thousand four hundred and seventeen, when the renowned city Bologna adorned with every science, was widowed of its Bishop; the people came together, as is the custom of that City in like cases, to an election; and counsel being entered upon they solemnly agreed almost all in the Man then Venerable Lord Nicholas of Bologna, Prior of our house: whom at length much resisting, fearing lest he secretly take to flight, the people surrounding the house on every side, by force, though honest, they led to the Palace of the Lords, enclosing him under faithful and honest custody, until he should grant them the desired assent. But he desiring by a pious deceit to deceive the people itself, longing for delay and liberation; imitating once the most Holy Hugh Bishop of Lincoln of the aforesaid Order, before he was led out of the monastery; said, that he by no means assented to them, unless first the consent of the Prior of the great Charterhouse were present. While therefore solemn messengers were being prepared, the elect himself sent on secretly a faithful messenger to the Lord of the Charterhouse, asking and beseeching with tearful letters, that he would not grant consent, fearing lest perhaps he should be oppressed by the heaviness of so great a rule. But when the messengers had with hastened step arrived at the said Prior of the Charterhouse and had faithfully set forth the wishes of the people of Bologna; the man himself full of God, sweetly and kindly receiving them, is said to have given a similar apology: I will try, saying, as the Lord shall give, it was granted to them by the wonderful consent of the greater Charterhouse. what may be His will, and then I will give not only my, but God's answer. And when more than usual before the Most High he had sent forth a flaming deprecation, he proposed to the Lord such a paradigm: Lord, if it is Thy will, which is invariable, that our Brother assume the Prelacy of Bologna, give a sign for good to Thy servant asking: that tomorrow the whole namely Convent of our Charterhouse, no one disagreeing, being interrogated may consent: but if not, let the other part wholly contradict. A wonderful thing altogether, and unusual in our times! In the morning therefore when it grew light, and the Mass of the Paraclete Spirit being conventually chanted, the Brethren of the House of the Charterhouse being gathered, the Reverend Father Prior proposed to all hearing the wishes of the aforesaid people concerning the fact of the election. Then all, no one disagreeing, with one voice gave to the Prior a most sweet answer: That the elect Bishop namely should intrepidly altogether assume the offered rule, because it was the will of the Lord. Which when the Father of the Charterhouse had heard: Truly, said he, it is the will of the Lord, since I proposed such a proposition to the Lord: and so to the Ambassadors, of the will of the Most High and of the Convent, even then tenacious of the institute he granted assent and answers. But they having received the epistles of the pious Father, with great joy returned to their own. And so the Father himself very reverend at length unwilling tearfully took the office of the Prelacy: and relying on the great help of God, purged the city committed to him wonderfully from the many filths of sins, and assumed into the infulae did not decline the Carthusian purpose. His life and sanctity, as fame sounds most frequently almost through all Italy, if I should wish to write altogether, I would exceed a volume; and therefore I leave to others the things to be written, who behold daily with their eyes, how great miracles the Lord works through His servant, and magnificent in the aforesaid city. But let it suffice to have written these few things for our posterity for the sake of example.
[10] Thus far that Author of incorrupt faith. Moreover that this our Cardinal Nicholas, having ended his fate at Siena, was carried to the Carthusian house of Florence, as he had provided by testament (Thomas of Sarzana accompanying the bier and rendering the last offices of charity to his Maecenas, whom afterward for four years that age saw and venerated as Bishop of the whole Catholic Church, distinguished with the name of Nicholas the Fifth) the Bishop of Feltre, the epitaph of the same. at that time Archdeacon of the Holy Roman Church, and colleague of the same Thomas, and bound to him by wonderful familiarity, has handed down more abundantly. Besides on a marble bust before the high altar of the temple of the same Carthusian house this Epitaph is read engraved. The sepulcher of the most worthy of all praise the most Reverend Father Nicholas, of the title of Holy Cross in Jerusalem Presbyter Cardinal. He born at Bologna, first from Carthusian Prior, the people of Bologna asking, made Bishop by Martin V Pontiff; after very many legations undertaken, and performed with the commendation of all, ended his day at Siena; in the LXVIII year of his age. A most pious and most mild man, by integrity of life, and singular virtue, approved by the testimony of all. Marianus Volaterranus, an alumnus of the same Carthusian house of Florence, added these verses, just as that age bore:
The land of the Charterhouse covers me, which took me as an alumnus, And gave that I should be a Father. My native Bologna at length Held me as her Pastor by right called. Compelled I took the burdens of the Hinge of the Church, And the red tiara shone for me unto the title of the Cross. A thousand four hundred, four times ten years, And three also the Solar cycle had run, when Nicholas, Seeking heaven in mind, beneath this stone in body I am enclosed.
LIFE
By the coeval author Jacobus Zeno, Bishop first of Feltre and Belluno, then of Padua.
Nicholas Albergati, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Bishop of Bologna, of the Carthusian Order (B.)
BHL Number: 6096
BY JAC. ZENO THE COEVAL
PROLOGUE.
To the most Reverend D. Peter Barbus the Venetian, of the Title of S. Mark Presbyter Cardinal, then Pope Paul II.
The author seized with love of virtue How great a power virtue or the opinion and faith of virtue has especially with a well-instituted soul, most Reverend Father, although very many other things are a proof; yet from this most of all can it be understood, thinking often within myself I have observed,
that it so allures men to love, and binds them with benevolence and admiration, that those, who in any way are endowed with it, we are compelled almost necessarily, by a certain inborn right of nature as it were, not only to love, but to cherish and venerate and even admire. For so great is its authority, so great its dignity, so great its sweetness and beauty, that although it be not permitted to discern it with the corporeal eyes, yet with the mind and soul we contemplate it in the very human bodies, as in certain vessels and workshops, not without pleasure, and judge those worthy of veneration and honor and well-deserving, whom we have judged to follow and embrace it. This when I had often otherwise learned both by reason and by experience, most Reverend Father, yet most of all especially at that time, when, the course of my studies and labors being completed, to which almost a boy I had come, I as a young man betook myself to Eugenius the fourth of happy recollection the supreme Pontiff, your Uncle, at that time residing at Florence. he loves those endowed with it For when I had found very many most excellent Fathers, some of whom have been called to a better life, some still and among men dwell with us, in that place with the Pontiff; yet among all I so embraced that Nicholas of ever pious and to-be-celebrated memory Cardinal of holy Cross, on account of the highest reputation of virtue and sanctity, with a singular and especial observance and veneration, most of all B. Nicholas, that I could not but most devoutly dedicate myself wholly to him. For so, as you excellently know, that man full of God shone forth as it were with the splendor of all virtue and holiness, that he seemed deservedly to be the ornament and adornment of the Ecclesiastical Order, and of the whole Clergy. Nor surely could anything be said or excogitated of all things, which pertain to virtue and a holy and exemplary life, which was not in him accumulately heaped up. Religion, faith, piety, doctrine, integrity, humanity, prudence, holiness, charity, patience, all had poured themselves forth in troops, and placed themselves in the soul of Nicholas, as in a most pure and most choice vessel. But how fervent a zealot of virtue he himself was, and an indefatigable favorer and lover of the men cultivating it; how strong a shield and champion of the Church, the Pontiff, and Ecclesiastical salvation he existed, who could easily explain in words? Therefore deservedly was he of so great name, of so great authority with all, that nothing more worthy could be preached and celebrated through the whole world, than concerning his life, sanctity, virtue. For not only had the fame of his praise, name, glory filled the Christian peoples, but even to barbarous and foreign and Gentile nations the voice and constant opinion of his true and solid virtue had penetrated. But how much the most excellent Pontiff esteemed him, how much the Fathers held him, held a Saint by all: how much the whole Curia cherished and venerated him, who is ignorant, since nothing more precious could be in the mouth of all than the name of Saint Nicholas? But especially among the rest I observed, that you most of all, most Reverend Father, for your best and excellent nature, and the innate and inborn humanity and piety to you, were wont so to love, cherish, observe and even venerate that most excellent Father, that although you were equal to him in dignity and office (since Pope Eugenius had already raised you well-deserving to the Cardinalitial summit) yet you, having embraced him as a sole parent with the highest veneration, could not be satiated in imitating his virtues, but in celebrating his praises. Which since they were so, I, provoked and allured not moderately both by his singular virtue, and also by your example, whose virtues he himself observed, bore the memory of that pious Father Nicholas himself from that time, as if with an adamantine nail, ever fixed and implanted in my heart, so that even after his death Nicholas never departed from my breast. There was added to this also a familiarity not vulgar, which I had for some time with Thomas a most excellent Theologian, with whom by reason of public office and the opinion of virtue I conversed longer most benevolently. For me, as you well know (since you were the author of that thing, as of the rest of my honors) Pope Eugenius, you directing and persuading, in the office of Subdiaconate, which through those times was held more worthy, had given as Colleague and companion to him. For that Thomas (who from his early age and tender nails nourished and educated with Nicholas himself, and from Thomas his inseparable companion. was partaker and conscious of all secrets) by the commemoration and preaching of his assiduous virtues, not only confirmed me in his most dedicated observance, but even vehemently led me. For so he explained to me his life, morals, deeds, more seriously; that neither he in speaking, nor I in hearing could be fatigued and satiated; nor did almost any day pass, in which there was not made by us a most studious discourse concerning the holiness of Nicholas: so equally we contended in piety and observance. And since I knew the memory of man to be slippery and weak, but esteemed it altogether unworthy that so glorious a knowledge of excellent things should be obliterated and deleted by oblivion; I applied studious diligence, that what I had received from him concerning the life and morals of Nicholas, I should commit to letters; that at least with me the present and recent illustrious monuments of Nicholas might ever flourish. In that manner it was soon effected, that of almost all things, whatsoever could be related worthy of memory concerning Nicholas, there was with me a recent knowledge. Therefore when I myself often, both otherwise before, and most of all at this time, read over these very things written by me concerning the life and deeds of Nicholas, not without great fruit and the highest pleasure; and it often also came into mind, how much you had been most devoted and most dedicated to him; I thought the matter would be pleasing to you, most Reverend Father, if I should make and render these also common to you, lest I alone should enjoy that pleasure, which to you also by every right and duty was owed. afterward when Pope he learned of Nicholas. Wherefore each several thing as it was related to me by Thomas, digested in order I have more studiously narrated; and to you, who had cherished him living with so great piety and observance, I judged it deservedly to be dedicated. For I thought it would be the more pleasing to you, that these things from Thomas himself, who afterward as Supreme Pontiff embraced you with so great piety and charity, whose notable authority as Pontiff prevailed especially with you, flowed as it were from a most fecund fountain; so that reading these, you seem to read and behold Thomas himself (who also took the name of Nicholas from this Nicholas) not without an affection of piety. For as for what pertains to me, I think nothing is to be offered or attributed to me by you: since I am so bound to you by every kind of offices and benefits and the right of blood, that dedicating myself and all mine, I ought not to be wearied day and night in obeying you and gratifying your dignity. Therefore to read the history of the most Holy Cardinal, most Reverend Father, you will deign with your accustomed most clement piety: and as by the nobility of morals and the generosity of lineage of soul, by notable prudence, mercy and piety, and especially clemency and singular benignity, and every kind of virtues you most excel, so in loving and protecting me, than which nothing among men can be dearer to me, that you may exceed and surpass both yourself and all the rest, I demand with suppliant beseeching and incessant deprecation. Fare happily.
CHAPTER I.
Lineage, studies, entrance into the Carthusian Order. The Bishopric of Bologna. The Legation to Pope Martin V.
[1] Born at Bologna of noble stock, Among the rest of the families of the city of Bologna, the stock of the Albergati has been wont to be held sufficiently excellent and illustrious, especially for this, that it has brought to light men most learned in divine and human things, and Jurisconsults of most celebrated name very many. From it Nicholas a drew his origin, his father being Peter Nicholas, his mother Philippa. Whom when, scarcely when he had come forth from the cradle, his parents had presented to be instructed and formed in the first elements; when in these, he studies civil law: as much as seemed sufficient, he had profited, they willed him to apply work to civil studies (which by a certain peculiar right flourish greatly in that city). He came to these about the eleventh year of his age and persisted longer. For nine continuous years he was a hearer of Civil Law; and gave great hope of virtue and doctrine, even in that age.
[2] And when now both in genius, and morals, and civil disciplines he so grew famous, that he seemed to be decorated with a notable laurel as a reward of his studies; he himself, all human things despised, civil studies left, honors, parents, riches, the family estate not greatly esteemed, made a Carthusian, dedicated and vowed himself wholly to the immortal God; and determined to enter Religion, and thenceforth to lead a Regular life. For there is at Bologna, a little outside the gates of the city, a Carthusian Monastery situated in a sufficiently pleasant place: this Nicholas, when he assiduously frequented it, taken with the excellence of the monastic and solitary life, where consulting for his salvation he might serve the immortal God, especially chose. Therefore the Religious habit b being taken (those things being performed, which Religion observes in morals) he passed some years in it, with all humility, abstinence, and sincerity of life; but when his virtue, prudence, he is set over various monasteries: and holiness of morals had been perceived and explored, those who presided in Religion raised Nicholas to religious dignities: and set him over several monasteries c according to the variety of times; so that a whole decade he never lacked a prefecture of this kind; and he administered those magistracies in such a manner, that in religion and among the people nothing more divine could be preached than the name of Nicholas. For he himself was a doer and preacher of the most holy works, and drew very many to a religious and holy life and divine ministries, by his persuasion and example. He bore before him the highest humility, and the most harsh abstinence, and altogether abdicated from secular and earthly things, flew to the celestial and divine alone. All the citizens at once venerated and admired him, and he seemed to be happy, who could enjoy his consort or be refreshed by his doctrine.
[3] It happened that about those times, he who presided over the people of Bologna d as Bishop met his fatal day. Wherefore the citizens with the Clerics and all the Ecclesiastics being constrained, elected Bishop he long resists: chose Nicholas as their Prelate and Pontiff. And when they had brought to him the decree of his election, Nicholas, prostrate on the ground, began to ask and beseech, that they should not deprive him of his quiet and peace: that he was altogether unequal to so great a burden, inexperienced, unskilled, most unworthy. But they with great force, every prayer and persuasion, beseeching that he assent to the election made of him, yet by no means could he be led to comply: but the more ardently they insisted, the more obstinately he himself refused. In this manner, when a whole half-year the Church of Bologna lay desolate of a Pastor, they willing none but Nicholas, but he most constantly declining; the citizens at length excogitated new arts
that they might obtain their desire. from obedience he is consecrated. For they applied work, that those who excelled in that Religion with the greatest authority, who had the power of commanding, those by their authority commanding, should compel Nicholas to obey: whom since he could not but obey, he was compelled to assume the care of the people of Bologna, and to be Bishop e.
[4] But through those times the Fathers were celebrating the Council of Constance; which at length being completed f, when Martin of that name the V Supreme Pontiff, he is sent as legate to Pope Martin V, who had been assumed to the Roman See, had come into Italy; the people of Bologna willed Nicholas to go to congratulate the Pontiff. Having set out therefore, he found Martin residing at Mantua. To whom when he had exhibited the accustomed reverence, and set forth the mandates of his people; he was held in great honor by Martin: for he gave Nicholas a place to stay in the palace, in which he dwelt, and from the Pontifical treasury supplied the necessaries, and decorated him with many ornaments, and willingly gave the Apostolic letters concerning the Bishopric. But the things which were opportune being finished, when departing from Mantua he had come to Bologna, he for some time exercised the quiet care of his sheep. But he was most pious toward the needy and poor, suffered no one to go away empty; nor was it only sufficient for him to bestow on those, who had come about to ask, but through the city assiduously sought out he ministered the necessaries. In divine ministries and services he was always engaged with accurate and indefatigable zeal; and lived religiously and most abstinently: since he always most uprightly preserved to the end the Carthusian rite of living, which he had instituted.
[5] But it was not permitted him longer to enjoy the gotten quiet. and again For a little after, when Martin had come to Ferrara, again, that he should go to the Pontiff, they willed. For the people of Bologna dreaded the mind and intention of Martin, and took care by every art, lest they should be compelled to fall into his free power. But Martin omitted nothing, by which he might conciliate to himself their alienated minds, and reduce the city into fealty: for he promised that he would come to Bologna, and remain there longer, and afford the best conditions. But they seemed to be of harder and harsher minds daily. Wherefore when he had resided some time at the city of Ferrara, and saw that by no composition the minds of the people of Bologna could be conciliated, the matter being now almost despaired of, departing from Ferrara, he came to Florence, that by force and arms he might subdue the rebelling and insolent people of Bologna; especially because at Bologna in those days disturbances had been stirred up. g For the Zambeccari had expelled the Canetuli (who are of the other faction) from the city, and the whole state fluctuated with intestine discord; by hope of which things the Pontiff being led, easily trusted, that the city could be reduced into his power.
[6] and a third time sent But the people of Bologna, both those who had thrust out the other faction, and those who feared lest war be brought by the Pontiff, again resolved to send Nicholas to Florence to the Pontiff. But to Nicholas indeed that counsel was by no means approved: for he said he feared, lest by the Pontiff, who had placed all his cares in recovering Bologna, something be enjoined, which he should both be compelled to keep unwilling, and which kept should bring detriment to the city: that he did not so much trust in the love of the Pontiff, but that he judged the obtaining of that city to be far dearer to him: and so that they should not send him, he besought: for he suspected that they would do penance for this thing, because he understood into what part the matter might turn. But when they on the contrary insisted more obstinately, and boasted that they understood from these that Nicholas was less friendly to their faction, in that twice he had gone to the Pontiff, before the adversaries were driven from the city, now obstinately refused; and reiterated very many things of this kind with hostile speeches; at length compelled to obey, he desired three of the chief citizens of the City to be given him as companions. Having set out therefore to the Pontiff, he set forth what had been enjoined, and conducted the affair of his citizens with all faith and diligence. Martin at this last coming of Nicholas raised into the best hope of the matter to be accomplished, contrives something such. He commands letters of interdict to be secretly expedited; and Nicholas being called to him, by a most grave and most exact command enjoins, he returns with the mandate of interdict, that immediately, no delay being made anywhere, he set out to Bologna, and exhibit those letters to the people of Bologna, as soon as he shall have arrived at Bologna; and let him beware, lest he read anything written in them, before he shall have arrived at Bologna: that he execute these things altogether as soon as possible, he most strictly and most earnestly commands; he adds besides penalties, if he had not obeyed. Nicholas bound by so grave a command, although he might by conjecture follow what the matter was, or what the letters carried; yet could by no means do otherwise than think he must obey the Supreme Pontiff, to whom he owed all things, especially commanding so strictly.
[7] On account of this his life is endangered, Therefore approaching Bologna, those who were to be summoned for that matter being assembled, fulfilling the mandates of the Pontiff, he published the letters, completed the commands of the Pontiff. Then truly the minds of all began to be inflamed against him, voices to be raised, all to cry out, and to rage against their Bishop with teeth and hands: and they broke forth into so great an onset of fury and savage rage against him, that they conspired against his life and head. The matter therefore being composed among them, very many of the Princes of the state having set out to the Pontifical house, led satellites and executioners for the sake of slaughtering Nicholas: and when they had fallen into most grave discourses concerning this cause, snatching the letters from the hands of the Prelate, they made an onset upon him. Yet of those, who had come as executioners with study devoted to this matter, no one dared to lay a hand on him: and so great a terror invaded them, that they experienced nothing at all violent: but the Pontifical letters being recovered by those who were present of the family of Nicholas, the matter unaccomplished he departed thence. But Nicholas terrified by so rash and sacrilegious a daring of most wicked men, judged that he must consult for his safety, as becomes a prudent man. Therefore as soon as the day shone, his garments being changed, unknown he departed from the city, he departed to Florence until the city was subdued. came to Florence, and inhabited for several months the Carthusian monastery, which is distant two miles from the city. Yet the interdict was rightly kept at Bologna, and for a whole half-year nothing religious was publicly celebrated in that city. But Martin the supreme Pontiff, an army being prepared, judging that Bologna must be occupied by force and arms, set Gabriel Condulmarius the Venetian, Cardinal of the holy Roman Church, over the army as legate. He is the one, who after Martin was supreme Pontiff: who with an excellent army and a strong band having assailed Bologna, in no great time reduced it into the power of the Church and the Pontiff. Wherefore, the city being received into fealty, when Martin had given it the Cardinal of saint Eustace as president and governor, Nicholas came with him to Bologna; and for some time rested in the proper See of his Prelacy.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
The Cardinalitial dignity, the legation of peace to the French and English: likewise to the Venetians and Florentines with the Duke of Milan. These accomplished.
[8] He is sent as legate of peace to the French and English: But, since through those times a most harsh war between the French and English had flourished very long, which bred greater and graver daily the greatest calamities, innumerable disasters, slaughters, depredations, plunderings of cities, devastations of regions and fields, and very many things of this kind, which wars are wont to beget; nor to that day could so atrocious a discord be settled by any lasting peace; the Supreme Pontiff, considering where a fit man to accomplish so difficult a work of peace might be sought; although he had with him very many endowed with excellence of every kind; yet because in the highest virtue and integrity of Nicholas his confidence was most ample, him, although residing at Bologna, he especially chose whom he should destine for a matter through those times most great. Nicholas, the opinion of the Supreme Pontiff being known, and the letters and mandates being received, although he had preferred more pleasantly to exercise the care of his sheep, yet since he could by no means do otherwise than obey the Prince of all human things; as he had been commanded by the Pontiff, set out into Gaul for the cause of treating peace; and having undertaken a grave and almost despaired matter, with wonderful difficulties, journeys, perils, and innumerable perturbations he prosecuted it longer. And when, aided by divine grace, he had brought the conditions of peace to that state, that a desired now and most pleasing issue could be hoped; it happened that about the same time both a the Kings themselves of France and England, who among themselves then contended in a most keen and most savage war, paid the duty of the last fate. Therefore the things being everywhere perturbed and changed by the death of the most powerful Kings, the peace not accomplished, he was compelled to return. And now the b eighteenth month had elapsed, since he had come into Gaul: which space of time he had consumed for the most part in traversing the region c for the sake of peace. So coming to Rome to the Pontiff, when he had set forth what had followed, he judged nothing more holy, than immediately to betake himself as soon as possible to feeding his sheep. Therefore when he had come to Bologna, d he spent a two-year period with the people committed to him.
[9] But through that time it was the opinion of Martin the Supreme Pontiff, Created Cardinal to assume Cardinals for the rule of the Roman Church. Wherefore since most of all he had long before cast his mind and eyes on Nicholas, he raised him summoned to Rome to the Cardinalitial summit e, and gave him the Sacerdotal title of Holy Cross in Jerusalem. The Venetians at that time and the Florentines waged a most keen war against Philip Duke of the Insubrians, undertaken however, as it seemed, for the sake of the Florentines. Martin, as becomes the best Supreme Pontiff, was held anxious and solicitous by the cause of that war, and desired it to be settled and composed by peace. [he is sent as Legate of peace to the Venetians and Florentines with the Duke of Milan.] But now so great was the opinion and authority concerning the sanctity and virtue of Nicholas, that there was no one, who seemed more fit to accomplish peace. Therefore the care of treating and accomplishing that peace being enjoined and committed to him by the supreme Pontiff, Nicholas undertaking the commands, and obeying the mandates, departing from Rome, came to Venice; whither when also the orators of Duke Philip had come together, the reasons of the dissensions being known and fully perceived,
he brought the cause of peace so far with much and grave difficulty, that the Venetians and Florentines with the Orators of Philip came together, and decreed a firm peace. The conditions were stated for the most part: for executing all things a truce of twenty days was prescribed. But that the matter might be more swiftly and clearly accomplished, nor, as far as in it lay, be hindered by any perturbation; he judged that work and labor must not be spared, but that he must set out to the f Insubrians. But Philip began at first to keep some of those things, of which fealty had been given, as had been agreed; but the greater and graver, among which was the restitution of some towns, he deferred by putting them back: and seemed to do this on purpose, until the prefixed day should glide by: for he afterward more evidently disclosed his mind both by the matter itself and by deeds: for the Venetians being sent by Nicholas, who should receive the towns to be restored, the restitution was openly denied. But Nicholas bearing this with a most grieved and most indignant mind, and foreseeing that he was being defrauded of the execution of the peace, yet judging that he must not desist, but try even all extreme things; with letters, messengers, and all arts dealing with Philip, as far as it could be done, by admonishing, persuading, asking, now with prayers, now with persuasions, exhortations, for the most part also with admonitions and rebukes, as the matter required, he consumed very much work and many days. For indeed when now all things tried fell into vain, nor could Philip seem by any means to be led to keep the conditions; he determined to leave the work despaired, and to return to the Pontiff at Rome. From the g Insubrians therefore making his journey by Bologna, he came to Rome: he reported to the Pontiff what had followed, the peace composed, but not kept, and by whose fault this had happened.
[10] For that reason Martin, the Orators of all parties being commanded to come to him, that they should accomplish what had been agreed, dealt with them for some time; and at length obtained, that they should all confirm equally with concordant minds the first conditions already prescribed. Wherefore lest by any occasion the good of peace could be hindered, again to the Venetians and Insubrians: again he committed to Nicholas the begun work to be accomplished, and commanded that he set out to the h Insubrians and to Philip. Therefore by command of the Pontiff again having set out from Rome, he came into the Insubrian borders. Philip had then gone out from Milan, which almost never else he had been wont to do, and had betaken himself to the town of Pizicatorium i, which is distant five and thirty miles from Milan. But when after the accustomed honors they had begun equally to confer and treat concerning the things of peace, and had protracted several days and discourses upon these causes and conditions, Philip seemed to think nothing right, nothing thoroughly upright. Which when Nicholas with singular prudence observed, although anxious with grief and trouble, whatever could be done, said, treated, or persuaded he tried; nor the more by that could anything profit, or Philip seem able to be bent to keep the fealty of the things agreed; since he had no longer what he might do, he judged that the supreme Pontiff must be certified and consulted. There was then with Nicholas Thomas, most erudite both in sacred and secular letters, born of the town of Sarzana of the Genoese region, who had rendered him long service. Him for his singular virtues, and the exceptional excellence of doctrine, faith, and diligence Nicholas uniquely loved, and set as chief with him, and in faith and authority no one with him was more agreeable and dearer. But he is the one, who after Eugenius a little before presided over the citadel of the supreme Apostolate. This Thomas he commands to go to Martin the supreme Pontiff; and to make known what mind, what words, what acts, what hope, what opinion concerning Philip could be conceived. He himself when he had determined to come to Venice, because the city grievously labored with pestilence, came to Mathemaucum k, which is distant five miles from Venice. To that place for the sake of Nicholas the Venetian Prince and the whole Senate came, and the highest honors were rendered to Nicholas, and discourses concerning the state of affairs were conferred, and counsel taken.
[11] Thence departing while he awaited the mandates of the Pontiff, that notable disaster inflicted on Philip was announced, by which at Machilonium l (for so is the name of the place) all his military forces by the Captains of the Venetians were routed, he procures and establishes peace. and almost destroyed to the last man. By that calamity when that ferocious mind of Philip, which through the previous times could by no means be bent, was rendered milder and more compressed; and was led suppliantly to seek the peace so long spurned, and of his own accord to ask it; again it came to mention and treating of peace. The city of Ferrara seemed convenient and fit where they might meet. Thither Nicholas set out. The Orators of the parties also followed there. The matter was conducted very long, and concerning the issue of the peace it often seemed to be despaired. For grave dissensions seemed to be among the parties, nor could they come into one opinion. Philip seemed to evade, and although he had appeared very prone and inclined to peace, yet did not desist to seek and ask a renewal. The Venetians although they seemed of more modest minds, yet because they thought that, the victory gotten, the forces of Philip could easily be extinguished, came more slowly and more tepidly. The minds of the Florentines were altogether most prompt and most ardent for peace: who, fatigued and wearied by the lasting war, and emptied by almost intolerable expenses, had fixed all hope of quiet in peace. In so great a variety of things and minds, when, the matter for the most part despaired, the Orators of the parties seemed about to depart the business unaccomplished; yet so great was in Nicholas the prudence, so great the diligence and most patient tolerance, that all difficulties being overcome, to the peace at length (since after a half-year from when it had begun to be agitated) a desired and convenient end was given. The conditions were stated and prescribed, the assent of all parties rendered: it only remained, that the things agreed should be entirely kept. For that reason Nicholas, broken by no labor, having set out again into the Insubrians, traversed almost the whole province, not without most grave inconveniences, for the happy issue of affairs; often sheltered by a rustic little hut for the difficulty of the places, sometimes lacked even the vilest food, the whole region everywhere exhausted by the lastingness of the wars and the rapacity and atrocity of the soldiers, and wonderfully emptied of things necessary for use. But although all things seemed straitened, yet he could not be led to depart thence sooner, than he had beheld the things agreed kept and executed.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
The Bologna rebellion dissipated, the Legations resumed, also to the Council of Basel.
[12] The towns therefore being delivered and at length restored, and the affairs, as it seemed, pacified and quieted, from the a Insubrians he came to Bologna, with this mind, that a little after he might return to Rome and the Pontiff: but while he drew out his stay at Bologna, devoted to composing certain causes of the Church and his fatherland, which were imminent; certain dissensions arisen concerning the Bergamasque and Cremonese field, were announced: and that he should render those controversies quiet, before he departed, he was supplicated. Wherefore the gravity of affairs detaining Nicholas at Bologna, it was effected, that the Orators of the parties were sent to him at Bologna. There was sent by the Venetians Sanctius Venerius, of the Equestrian order, a man at that time excelling in authority among the Venetians. While Nicholas was engaged at Bologna in knowing and composing these causes, the people of Bologna rebellious to the Pontiff, the state suffered changes of things, and there was grave tumult within the city, and by those crying out, May the People and liberty live, there was a rush to arms: and by that tumult it was effected, that, falling away from the Pontiff and the Church, the people of Bologna vindicated themselves into liberty. Very grave and most bitter to Nicholas was that change made of the city; and, as was fitting, affected him with the greatest grief; and the more, because he himself could not succor so great a disease and the now fallen affair. But grief was added to grief, and perturbation to perturbation. For those who presided over the supreme affairs in the city (whether because they trusted that by the work of Nicholas, whom they understood to be most pleasing to the Pontiff, the controversies could be composed; or because, since they esteemed him most zealous of the Ecclesiastical parties, and on that account suspect, and most adverse to their changes, they contrived something savage for his destruction) decreed by their counsels that he must be summoned to them. Which work when they had enjoined on a certain most vile man as messenger, and he obeying the mandates, having set out to the Pontiff, had admonished him to come; into stupor and exceeding grief that levity and madness of the citizens led Nicholas: yet he contained himself, and answered the messenger nothing grave or unworthy, nor that he was detained by anything more than occupations, so that he could not come. To him indignant within himself at this stolidity of his citizens, it is announced that six of the chief citizens are coming to him: wherefore since he feared lest anything violent be done, he commanded the whole household to be called away, and as soon as the citizens had entered, the doors to be closed. Now they were at the sight of their Pontiff, he severely chastises: and seemed to wish to propose I know not what, but Nicholas first turned to them, having undertaken to rebuke them harshly and most sharply (as the matter and fault required); He said, that he esteemed the citizens of Bologna altogether alienated in mind, and that he was affected with the greatest
grief by this, since the care of them was entrusted to him; that it had been the custom for sons to go to their father, citizens to their Prelate; that it was against the order of nature and right, nor ever heard, that a superior, summoned, should come to inferiors. That the people of Bologna, when their Bishop was a simple one, had always exhibited the honors due to him: now when he shone also with the Cardinalitial summit, and excelled also with the power of a Legation, that they had been led into so stolid a madness, that they did not blush to summon him to them through a most vile messenger. That he esteemed this injury inflicted not on himself, but on the Apostolic See, whose vices in that dignity and legation he bore: that he was spurned by the people of Bologna, were not he himself for his own sake, but for their errors and perverters, and broken morals, a care and a heart's concern to him: for that he feared, lest they should soon feel God an angry avenger: and that therefore, that they should turn to the right way and saner morals, he exhorted. These things and things of this kind when he had admonished with the highest gravity and authority and paternal charity, the citizens who had come, were made so mute and tongueless, that not even any word came forth from the mouth of any one; but as they had come, with bowed necks they departed.
[13] But indeed it was a formidable matter, and greater commotions seemed to be expected from that beginning. he departs to Modena, Which Nicholas fearing, lest occasion of offending be afforded to rashness, judging that provision must be made, that if perhaps any graver tumult should rush on, the people of Bologna could not use him at their pleasure; the President of the Carthusian monastery being called to him, and his garments changed, as soon as the day began to decline, almost at the first darkness, having accompanied him as an inferior, he came to the monastery of the Charterhouse, and spent that night there in it. But the next day, as soon as the light could be received, having entered the city; when he had found horses prepared for him outside the gate, which leads to Modena, as he had determined; he set out for Modena with a constant journey. The people of Bologna, when they were made certain of the departure of Nicholas, began to be agitated with wonderful furies; and to break forth into contumelious voices, calling him a public enemy and a traitor to his fatherland: yet did not desist, but sent orators to him at Modena. But at Rome, when the defection of the people of Bologna was announced, it affected the minds of the Pontiff and the Ecclesiastics with grief and perturbation. And when Pope Martin considered that by the work of Nicholas remedies could be applied to the falling affairs; immediately to him with letters hastily written and drawn up, he enjoined by stricter mandates, that he should not return to Rome, nor depart from the region without his command. For that reason when he had drawn out his stay at Modena for several months, nor could the hardened minds of the people of Bologna seem able to be moved; for the sake of composing the controversy (which we have said arose on occasion of the Cremonese and Bergamasque field) he came to Ferrara, which being settled by a congruous execution, the Pontiff being first consulted, he returned to Rome, and for a two-year period b was with Martin in the Curia, eminent for holiness of life and gravity of counsels.
[14] But by no means was it permitted him to enjoy a lasting quiet. Legate of peace to the Venetians and Insubrians For when the Insubrian war had been renewed far more keenly; and the Venetians against Philip had prepared both vast land military forces, and a most ample fleet of the Po; Pope Martin fearing so many calamities and desiring to meet them, a colloquy being held with the Brethren after the custom, chose Nicholas (whom he should send again to accomplish peace between the Venetians and Philip). This addition also being employed, that, after he had extinguished the Insubrian quarrels, he should take his way to settling the pernicious war, which between the English and French had already before flourished. So now a third time for the cause of the Insubrian war, having set out from Rome, he first turned aside into the Veronese; and at the town of Piscaria c, of the Veronese field indeed, but over which then the Mantuan Prince presided, he stopped: for all things were in arms, and the whole region round about boiled with military crashes: wherefore judging that town very opportune in that ardor of war for treating peace, he had determined thence to summon the orators of the parties, on account of the death of Martin V he halts: and to conduct the matter through messengers and letters. While Nicholas meditates and prepares these things, he received a most troublesome message concerning the funeral of Martin the supreme Pontiff: for he in the thirteenth d year of his Pontificate seized by apoplexy had met his last fatal day at Rome at the Basilica of the holy Apostles, where he resided. By that so grave and most mournful message, Nicholas affected with bitter grief, revolved with anxious and doubtful mind what he should do, what counsel must be taken; whether it were better to set out to Rome for the sake of creating a new Pontiff, or to remain at Piscaria and prosecute the begun work with few, or to await the creation of a new Pontiff and his commands. The better counsel seemed, to await new mandates from a new Pontiff; both because he himself could not be at Rome in time, and because he did not doubt that the Church would soon be provided for by the Fathers.
[15] Nor was there a lasting delay, when he knew Gabriel Condulmarius the Venetian, who was of the Fathers, chosen and given as supreme Pontiff to the Roman See. He is the one, who was called Eugenius the Fourth. To him, as was fitting, when he had drawn up both messengers and congratulatory letters; he interspersed also concerning his affairs, which pertained to the cause: and when he had signified the conditions of the war, and in what state all things were, and what concerning peace could be confided to be done and hoped (whose issue he judged most difficult, and almost impossible); he sought with the highest prayers from the Pontiff, that he would deign to absolve him also from the French legation, and make and give him the faculty and power of returning to Rome. Eugenius assented at first indeed, the Legate goes into Gaul: and signified that he was willing to comply with the prayers of Nicholas. To him therefore preparing to set out to Rome, the opinion suddenly changed, letters were delivered by the Pontiff, by which it was commanded that he altogether proceed into Gaul, and that as suddenly as possible (for so the matter required). Therefore about to satisfy the commands of the Pontiff, departing from Piscaria, the Alps being surmounted he came into the Gallic borders. Wars roared on every side, and through the whole Gallic region the crashes of arms resounded: no voice of peace could be heard, no hope of accomplishing concord seemed to be. Which although they were by no means obscure to Nicholas, yet judging that all things first must be tried and experienced, he undertook to go to the Princes, to exhort, admonish, and persuade; and those whom he himself could not approach, to address through messengers and letters; whatever could be done or thought, with incredible diligence and patience e, he accomplished. For a triennium f continuous on that account sojourning in Gaul, he traversed the whole of Gaul; nor was there almost any notable city of Gaul, which he did not approach for the sake of peace.
[16] While Nicholas protracts his stay in Gaul, in Germany a vast war was stirred up against Pope Eugenius and the Church. For when Martin, before he departed life, and to the Council of Basel. had proclaimed a universal Council to be gathered at Basel; it, Eugenius being now created, had so begun and increased, that even very many of the Fathers, the Pontiff being unwilling and not commanding, having taken to flight, as if falling away from the Pontiff, sought Basel. And now almost the whole world had begun to flock thither and be gathered there, and many things now seemed to be begun against Eugenius: and although Eugenius had deputed very many illustrious Prelates thither in his name; yet since he greatly confided in the singular virtue and sanctity of Nicholas, he thought he must be recalled from Gaul, and destined for Basel, that in the Pontifical name he might preside over the Synod. Therefore this Pontifical decree being had and received, Nicholas passing from Gaul into Germany, came to Basel: for it is a noble and illustrious city of Germany, which the river Rhine flows past, the middle of it on the other side. At the beginning of his coming received with the greatest and most ample honors, he filled the whole city and the Fathers and the Ecclesiastical orders with incredible pleasure: and as soon as possible turned to performing the things which were imminent, having protected the parts of the Pontiff with singular faith and prudence, he brought the Pontifical affairs to the best and most convenient state in a short time. He himself was in that place of the highest authority, to him all, as almost to the Supreme Pontiff, flocked; and his house was so wont to be frequented by the assiduous concourse of all, that another separate Council seemed to be conducted with Nicholas. He effected at length by most approved arts, that although the minds of many were grave against the Pontiff, yet the studies of the malignant were rendered vain. But he remained in that place a few days less than a whole year: who if he had persisted longer, could surely have given an end to the perturbations and calamities, which followed.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
Other Legations. Acts in the Council of Florence. Death, burial.
[17] But since on account of the Insubrian war, which daily grew more vehemently grievous, He tries in vain to reconcile the Venetians and Insubrians. the whole Synod had decreed to send two of the Fathers into Italy for the sake of settling affairs; Nicholas especially was chosen, who should be deputed for that work of peace; given as companion to him the other of the Fathers a the Cardinal of S. Peter ad vincula, born of the Spains. With a most frequent concourse therefore of all orders, and with no less grief of the well-disposed led outside the city, when they had descended into Italy, they sought first Padua, thence Venice, where they had determined to attend to treating peace. All diligence indeed was employed by these, and nothing omitted which could pertain to accomplishing the matter: but so inflamed were the minds of the parties, so headlong and ardent the zeal for war, that their attempts falling into vain, nothing could profit. Meanwhile while these things were done, Eugenius the Supreme Pontiff, affected with injuries and contumelies by the Romans, having even suffered violence, unknown had consulted for himself by flight, and from the Roman flight indeed had come to Florence b. Wherefore Nicholas, since the works of peace did not succeed, by no means determining that he must return to Basel c, came to the Pontiff at Florence; and the actions of the former times being set forth, had determined to remain with the Pontiff at Florence. But since through the former times the King of the French d and the Prince of the Burgundians had torn one another with a most keen and lasting war, not in vain likewise the French and Burgundians. and a hope of accomplishing peace between them seemed offered; it pleased the Pontiff, that Nicholas (whom on account of holiness of life he knew to be of glorious name and most ample authority with them, and on that account confided would be most fit and most opportune for this peace) should again seek the Gallic regions. From Florence
therefore carried into Gaul, he stopped at Arras e, the city of the Prince of the Burgundians. Thence with most strenuous zeal watching to accomplish peace, in the sixteenth month after he had come there, with many and grave difficulties overcome, at length he bound the Princes themselves with a perpetual and salutary peace. The Princes therefore being pacified and settled, and the controversies lulled to sleep, returning into Italy, he came to Bologna, and found the Pontiff residing there with the Curia. But since for the sake of the Greeks the Pontiff had proclaimed a Council at Ferrara, thither also Nicholas, he receives the Emperor and the Patriarch of Constantinople, as was fitting, followed Eugenius; and sent by the Pontiff to Venice to meet the Emperor of the Greeks f and the Patriarch of Constantinople, who for the cause of celebrating the union came to the Council of Ferrara, led the Greeks to Ferrara, and indefatigably attended to celebrating the union.
[18] When Nicholas was so wholly absorbed in the reasons and disputations of the faith, he carries the mandates of the Pontiff to the Germans, that he desired and panted after almost nothing more; another pilgrimage besides was enjoined. For since in Germany affairs were disturbed and perturbed against the Pontiff, and a new colloquy proclaimed for a fixed day by the German Princes; Eugenius judged it worth the trouble, that Nicholas go to the appointed place and day g. He therefore, although he could have seemed broken by so many former journeys and departures, yet ever fresh and entire in mind, nor terrified by any labors or perils, while he could obey the Pontiff only and the Church or anyone's salvation, moving from Ferrara, came again into Germany; and was no moderate help to the Pontiff's affairs now falling among the Germans; and what had been mandated by the Pontiff, as far as it could be done, he discharged entirely and inviolately. But when he understood that there was no need of his stay in these places, seeking Italy again, he sought Florence. For from Ferrara to Florence Eugenius had transferred the Council h. But this was the last end of his legations, he is present at the Council of Florence, journeyings, and pilgrimages. But he dwelt at Florence at the house of the holy Spirit (for so they call the place of the Augustinians at Florence), and there we met and saluted him sojourning, when first we came to the Curia. But he dwelt sufficiently narrowly, and with a household ingenuous indeed, and most well and most honorably mannered and instituted, but not too sumptuous and adorned; but altogether modest, and which signified the holiness of the Prelate. But he himself was of the greatest veneration with all, nor was anything more worthy or more divine in the mouth of men.
[19] The Pontiff, when he had conferred on him the most worthy place of supreme Penitentiary, used his counsel especially most of all in the gravest matters: nor did he love and esteem him only, but cherished him also with pious veneration; and when anything arduous was imminent, he desired to hear him before, and accomplished almost all things by the counsel of Nicholas. But to Nicholas inhered the highest and singular virtues; Penitentiary of the Pope, most simple humility and excellent clemency, charity toward all and paternal piety, a burning zeal of faith and religion. By common usage he led an austere and sufficiently harsh life: he excels in every kind of virtue. nor did he feed on flesh, nor lie on a bed. The rule of the Charterhouse he kept inviolate even to the end: to sacred letters, after he dedicated himself to the immortal God, he applied exceptional work; nor did he cease from the reading of the sacred volumes, when through his occupations it was permitted. Learned men, devoted to virtues, he followed with great love; and conferred very much help on needy and poor Clerics for the studies of letters. But on all the poor, whatever of alms he could, he was wont assiduously to distribute. He wished none of his kinsmen to be with him at home, saying that they perturbed the rest of the household. To those, who ministered to him, he was wont to exhibit monthly salaries, lest he be compelled to supplicate for the undeserving, and to satisfy concerning those spiritual things. He was copious in books, which he almost all bequeathed at his death to sacred places and monasteries.
[20] But he met death at Siena, when the Pontiff resided there. For when Eugenius had determined to set out to Rome, departing from Florence, he came to Siena: whom Nicholas as soon as possible followed, so that he accompanied the Pontiff entering Siena: but a few months after, seized by the disease of the stone, he fell into horrid and terrible torments of pains; Oppressed by the disease of the stone, so that he was compelled to emit continually pitiable cries. And although affected with a most grave and extreme disease, yet he could not suffer, that anything be changed for him of the accustomed observance of the Charterhouse. But when he knew that this sickness would be fatal to him, fortified with the Ecclesiastical Sacraments, and the most sacred Body of the Lord devoutly and most affectionately received, not unmindful of the sepulcher of his body, fortified with the sacred viaticum he dies, he gave order that he be laid in the Carthusian monastery, which is near the city of Florence. So when he had for some time tearfully labored, at length consumed by the fervor of the sickness and the horridness of the torments, he rendered his spirit i to the immortal God. It is incredible to say, with how great grief, with what tears and sighs this death of Nicholas filled the Pontiff, the Fathers, the Curia and the whole city, and the people: for all with concordant and consonant voice judged him the splendor and ornament of the Church, and did not cease to preach it. But when into the Basilica, which is dedicated to Augustine the Doctor (for among the religious devoted to Augustine, with a great concourse to the body to be venerated. he had been lodged at Siena), the lifeless body was carried, and placed in the middle of the Basilica; so great a concourse of the whole people and of all orders was made of those kissing his hands and feet, that they began to press themselves, and could scarcely be contained in the sacred building: and he seemed happy to himself, to whom it had been permitted to touch him. But, when for the sake of preventing the stench (since, as we have said, the corpse was to be led to the Carthusian place of Florence) the belly being cut they had drawn out the entrails; wonderful to say, a stone of vast magnitude for a human body was found: but its form had more of roundness than of length, and seemed altogether most like in quantity to a goose egg: and the stone cut from him to be seen: but it appeared to have come to that magnitude from most minute little sands gradually concreted, which indeed the Physicians judged ought to have been done over a very long time. They wished also to experience its weight, and proved it, as they asserted, of two pounds. This we ourselves saw, and handled with our hands, and experienced most solid. From it several gypsum forms, to its effigy, were cast, and as a portent sent down to various places of the world.
[21] The Pope is present at the obsequies. But as for what pertains to the funeral, most exact and most splendid ones were celebrated in the chief Basilica of Siena: and among many other things this was chief and singular and most worthy of memory in them, that the Supreme Pontiff Eugenius himself wished to stand by in person and be present, and to adorn the funeral: a thing never before celebrated in the memory of the fathers; for neither does the Pontifical and Curial custom hold, that at the funerals of a Cardinal the Roman Pontiff anywhere be present; nor had any of the most ancient known it to have been done before for any cause. But what moved the Pontiff Eugenius, to wish so much of honor and ornament expended on Nicholas, was not only the sanctity and immaculate integrity, and the glory and opinion concerning him of the whole world, and of all men; but because he esteemed himself bound and most obligated to him by the most ample merits of Nicholas concerning the Church and the Pontiff; since he had ever been an indefatigable and most strong favorer and champion of his parts, had averted innumerable detriments which could have been brought, had by his counsels conferred no vulgar emoluments on Eugenius, and by his authority and presence had ever procured for him incredible favors and the zeal of Princes and other men. The funeral being excellently celebrated, Thomas the Apostolic Subdeacon (who presided over the household, the body is carried to Florence. and had remained longest with Nicholas, than whom no one was dearer to him) some companions of the household being taken, carried the body to the Carthusian place; which is a little distant from Florence (as we have said it was instituted by Nicholas while living), and piously and most religiously laid it in the sepulcher, where it lies to the present day; his soul, as it is rightly to be judged, blessed in the heavens with glorious felicity.
ANNOTATIONS.
b. In the year 1434.
h. In the year 1439.
LIFE II
By the Author Carolus Sigonius.
Nicholas Albergati, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Bishop of Bologna, of the Carthusian Order (B.)
BY CAR. SIGON.
PREFACE.
To the most Illustrious and most Reverend in Christ Father, Lord Gabriel Palaeottus, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Bishop of Bologna.
When at the pious impulse of your most Illustrious and most Reverend Amplitude I lately dug out the Bishops of the Church of Bologna, your predecessors, from the old monuments; and briefly committed to letters and memory their illustrious deeds and sayings, which I could find in the great darkness of former times: I fell especially upon one, whose acts, as little known to men, so seemed to me most ample for writing and commemorating. But this one was F. Nicholas Albergati, Cardinal, a citizen of Bologna, and an illustrious monk of the Carthusian family: a man long and much engaged in the greatest affairs of the Christian Commonwealth more than a hundred years before with notable praise of virtue and counsel. But although he was endowed with such faith, integrity, diligence, gravity, and wisdom in conducting all affairs, that men could deservedly admire so great a disposition of virtue, yet to the ears of almost all foreigners he is unheard; because those who consigned anything concerning him to letters, everywhere wrote it under the name of the Cardinal of holy Cross. But I, that I might consult for the memory of a most Holy and most wise man, and at the same time vindicate his excellent and many actions from the oblivion of men and the silence of letters, determined to separate the life of this Nicholas, and to treat of his affairs apart with a somewhat more ample oration, than that writing of the Bishops requires; especially aided by many monuments, as hidden, so illustrious (which still are preserved in this city and family). But this whatever it is, I wished to publish it wholly especially in the name of your Amplitude: because you in administering this same Church, which he held, have hitherto so expressed by the judgment of all the highest prudence and singular virtue both of other excellent Bishops, and especially of this most excellent and most religious one, that you seem to have come to those same singular zeals of piety and offices of sanctity not so much by the exceptional counsel of your own mind, as by some especial choice of imitation.
CHAPTER I.
Birth, studies, Carthusian and Episcopal life.
[1] Born of the ancient Albergati family Nicholas therefore was born at Bologna of the Albergati family: whose antiquity can especially be drawn from the old constitutions of the city, in which the Albergati about the year of Christ one thousand
two hundred are reported to have inhabited a house of most celebrated name, in the same part of the city, in which now also they dwell, which already then was called Seragotia: in the space of which century the people of Novara also concelebrate William Albergati, Bishop of Novara, a man endowed with notable piety, Nicholas IV, the Pontiff of that name, sitting a. Thence in the dissensions and discords, which afterward emerged at Bologna, civil, frequent and most honorable mention of the Albergati is found. For in the year one thousand three hundred thirty-four, for restoring the old state of the city, they especially among certain other families are narrated to have been present, and soon of these Peter Nicholas is especially praised: who, when it first pleased that Tribunes of the people be created at Bologna, for the sake of the new administration, was one of those, to whom the insignia of inaugurating the magistracy, and indeed with the greatest authority at that time were delivered. The same also, that he might as it were follow the vestiges of his ancestors, was zealous for that faction, which called Maltraversa, professed to hinder the counsels and machinations of those two, which between themselves at that time in Italy fought with deadly hatred (the Ghibellines and Guelfs b I mean, so first called under Frederick the Second German Emperor by name). But by popular envy he was driven and thrust from the city, nor restored except after seven years. From him therefore, in the year one thousand three hundred seventy-five, was born Nicholas, born in the year 1375 concerning whom we have undertaken to write. He was instructed in letters by his Father, as the boyish age is wont to be imbued. Then made more strengthened, he betook himself to knowing civil law, after the manner of the young men of Bologna. and after the studies of Law Which study not yet completed, called by the divine spirit to graver things, he burned with a certain incredible desire of Religion, which is contained in the pious worship of God, and devoted himself to the stricter discipline of the Carthusian monks. Which thing seems to have happened by a certain divine counsel.
[2] A Carthusian Monk For when (as the history commonly received among those monks by hand is reported) on a certain day outside the city, he had withdrawn to that Monastery to visit it for recreation's sake, as happens, by chance a savage tempest having arisen he was shut out by the walls, and compelled to pass the night there. Which at first bearing ill, at length he received as a singular benefit. For in the dead of night, when he knew by the not obscure indication of the bell that the Fathers gathered into the church for the Matins lauds, he himself also moved by the novelty of the thing approached. But there placed, by that humble and pious chant of the monks through the silence of the night he was so allured, that immediately a keen desire came on him of taking up their habit, and of leading the solitary life among them with the praise of God: which after some days he obtained from those Fathers with no very great difficulty. But made a Monk, he so proved himself in all order, assiduity, obedience, humility, and all the offices of the monastic profession, that he was judged by all to have betaken himself to the zeal of Religion not by human impulse, but by divine instinct. Nay even after some years he gave such documents of prudence and at the same time diligence, and then Prior: that he was set first over the Florentine, then over the Bolognese monastery.
[3] And at that time indeed, celebrated for the notable fame of integrity and wisdom, at length from the popular government. he was also chosen Bishop of the Church of Bologna, with great consent of the people: to which thing God opened this occasion. In the year of the Lord 1415, the Pontifical comitia being long protracted not without great murmuring of the peoples in the Council of Constance, when after seven months there was still no Pontiff in the Church, the Cantelli and Bentivogli, two families at that time prevailing at Bologna in wealth and clientages, judged the time offered for recovering the old liberty: and their counsels being secretly composed among themselves, the following year on the day before the Nones of January with armed factions they crept into the palace; and the Legate, whom John XXIII the abdicated Pontiff had set, being thrust out, they brought back the popular Commonwealth, which they had called the state of liberty: soon (since the Council of Six Hundred could not conveniently be convoked for sudden consultations) they constituted sixteen men, who adorned with the authority of the Council should provide for all things, which required a swift explication of counsel. So the next c year, John the Bishop having died on the 4th of the Nones of January, the Magistrates, with whom the Commonwealth itself had been placed, the Bishop of Bologna is elected: interpreting that the right of electing the Bishop had fallen back to them; the Sixty men, without whose command nothing could be established, being called, named several men of exceptional doctrine and probity: who, each being diligently and accurately weighed, preferred one, Nicholas Albergati, Prior of the Charterhouse. But their judgment, then the Elders and the rest of the Magistrates, and at length the whole Council of Six Hundred so approved, that no one plainly dissented concerning his dignity and merits. Therefore the Council being dismissed at the third hour of the night, many, the gate of the city being opened, with great haste, that they might forestall the fruit of so great a message, went to the Charterhouse, and disclosed to Nicholas the judgment and decree of the city; and congratulating him on the honor both privately and publicly, invited him that the next day he should come into the city to receive the dignity, and to give thanks to the Council itself.
[4] But he, who given to the studies of the solitary life, in mind far shrank from the Episcopal office; and content with secret leisure, fled the light and frequency of men; nor was ignorant of the difficulties and rough places of discharging the Episcopal office; began to refuse, and to assert that he would neither accept that honor, nor for that cause move a foot from his monastery. Then after he saw himself assailed by the demands and pressed by the prayers of his citizens and friends, acting in the public and private name; that he might in some way repel their onset from himself, he added that it was not permitted him to accept a burden of this kind without the consent of his Superior; who not unless having the consent of the Prior and General Chapter, if his authority should intervene, he would be in the power of the City judging so well of him. These things being reported the next day into the city, the people, that they might remove this impediment, immediately ordered Antoninus Albergatus the Jurisconsult, joined to him by close kinship, to hasten to the Charterhouse in Gaul; and to ask Nicholas as Bishop of the Superior himself, who sat there, in place of a chief benefit. He having set out in the month of January, returned in May, and brought back the assent of the Superior and the General Chapter, agreeing with the very will of the people. This opinion being received, the Council, new messengers being sent, asked Nicholas to come to it; whose will he, judging it base not to obey, came. But there beseeched to receive the Church, which was offered with so great zeal of the citizens: first he excused himself as unworthy, and not equal to sustaining so great a burden: then wearied by their prayers, he added that he would thus assent, if the judgment of the Clergy should confirm the prerogative of the people: for it did not seem just, that anyone should preside over the Clergy, of the Clergy of Bologna, whom the testimony of the Clergy itself had not approved. Which thing being heard, the Council immediately ordered the Canons to assemble, and to choose Nicholas put forward by it. So the Canons, the Chapter being called, confirmed by their opinion the comitia of the people. But when Nicholas observed that this had happened beyond his opinion, returned into the Council, that by another kind of delay he might procure some help for the decree of his mind, asserted that he would by no means enter an honor of this kind, the Roman See being vacant, without d the authority of the Archbishop of Ravenna; and immediately destined Peter Ramponus and Andrew Brunus, Canons, and of the Archbishop of Ravenna, as his Procurators to the Archbishop. But these also having set out in the month of May to Ferrara, where the Archbishop was, with no difficulty obtained his assent.
[5] he admits the Bishopric: By which decrees Nicholas overcome, at length betook himself to supplications, and beseeched that they should not force him to desert the discipline he had taken up and the purpose of a more secret life he had undertaken. But the people, having spurned his prayers, and the more vehemently kindled to summon him, called the Archbishop to consecrate him. He when at the end of June had come, summoned the man to him into the Palace, and benignly and courteously addressed, when he perceived him still resisting the right zeal of the people, not lightly moved, more vehemently accused his pertinacity; and announced to him that, if he did not obey, he would find the reckoning of the sheep committed to him by God in the sight of the divine Judge. That surely not without the divine Deity so great a consent of the people had been moved toward him, which, were he by any reason to despise it, he would commit a grave wickedness. By which words, as if emitted from the mouth of God himself, Nicholas terrified, and not daring to resist further, showed that he would do, what the people asked and he persuaded. consecrated, So things being arranged on the 4th of the Nones of July he received from the Archbishop in the church of the Charterhouse, with a great frequency of the people, who eagerly flowed together, standing by, the solemn consecration. Which done, the Gate of S. Stephen, as is the custom, the whole poured out to meet him, with the Magistrates having entered the city, even to the church of S. Stephen, on horseback under a silken canopy he proceeded: thence his shoes laid aside, on foot he hastened to the Basilica of S. Peter, and entered the possession of the Church, the people themselves assiduously applauding for joy. Then imitating the example of Petronius, and of those Bishops who flourished in ancient times, he so undertook the parts of a Bishop, that he yet did not forget that he was a monk; nor did he remember himself more the successor of holy Zama the first Bishop of the Church of Bologna, than the emulator of blessed Bruno the Institutor of the Carthusian Order. he lives as before a Carthusian, For with the Episcopal dignity at the same time he preserved also the monastic discipline in all kinds of offices. Since the same humility in his heart, the same vileness especially in his inner garment, the same modesty in his look, the same slenderness in food and drink, the same harshness in haircloth and fastings, the same assiduity in pouring out prayers to God the Bishop held, which the enrolled monk had taken up. For both he perpetually abstained from flesh, and did not place himself on a mattress; but kept the same food, attire, and bed, with which he first bound himself by the bond of the monastic law.
[6] But he reserved for himself so much of the faculties of the Church, as was enough for his household (which esteemed more for morals than number he fed); the rest he was wont to impart to sustaining the needy, and especially to placing marriageable maidens, who lacked a dowry. But to erudite men, or those having some praise of more cultivated genius, he marvelously studied; and was not only at hand to those oppressed by the straits of the family estate, but even raised those whom he judged fit, to Ecclesiastical honors and dignities. For so great is the splendor of virtue, among his domestics he had Nicholas V and Pius II, that they obtain no less praise, who honor virtue, than those who have attained it. Of whom two from his house, as if proceeded from a certain workshop of doctrine to sanctity, afterward attained the Supreme Pontificate; one Thomas of Sarzana, whom from a domestic master of boys he took to himself as minister for writing letters, and afterward decorated with the Canonical dignity: but the other Aeneas Sylvius, Piccolomini, of Siena, whom in his legations he had not so much a companion of pilgrimages and journeys, as an author and partaker of his actions and counsels: Nicholas V was the former, this Pius II, called in the Pontificate. The third was e Francis Philelphus, a man
conspicuous for notable knowledge of Greek and Latin letters and the nobility of his writings, and Philelphus, whom not sufficiently furnished with the goods of fortune he had among his intimate friends, and having embraced fostered him so, that he increased him with many conveniences and honors. But to his own, that is to those joined to him by consanguinity, he never imparted anything of ecclesiastical benignity, either because he perceived them sufficiently provided with the family money not to need benefits of this kind, or because he had persuaded himself that the goods of the Church were to be conferred, not to enrich the families of Bishops, but to sustain the crowds of the needy.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
The morals of the people of Bologna amended. Acts for the public peace.
[7] Then to amending the Clergy, whom from the depraved discipline of the age he thought too dissolute, he chastised their too lax and soft habit; and as he made it more straitened and harder, so graver and more honest; and ordered them to be present at the sacred offices with greater frequency and more notable modesty. Moreover since he saw the Jews dwelling without distinction among the Christians, judging it a thing of bad example, and a marvelous incitement to corrupting our discipline; he ordered them to wear a yellow circle on the breast, that they might be distinguished from the rest, and on feast days to have their shops closed, he restrains the Jews: and in the Lenten time to abstain from selling meats: since the matter had gone to such license, that they rashly mingled themselves with the Christians, and even on the very day of Easter had their shops open for the cause of selling, and through the very days of the Christian fast publicly ate meats bought from our people, and in a certain manner mocked our institutes. Soon he restrained their too grave and too free usuries. For when they had instituted to exact six denarii on each pound, he established that they be content with four. Meanwhile after the long dissensions of the Fathers, he is confirmed by Martin V. Martin the Fifth on the third of the Ides of November was declared Pontiff. Which as he himself heard, immediately from him he demanded the Apostolic confirmation of the Episcopal dignity, conferred by the people and Clergy, and committed himself wholly to his authority and judgment. Which Martin, moved by the discovered virtue and sanctity of the man, without any refusal, although not moderately offended at the city alienated from him, assented to. Then the following year, that he might recall the old discipline of the Clergy, on the 13th of the Kalends of June he restored to the Synod the excellent constitutions, formerly edited by a Bishop Bernard, which had begun to grow obsolete through the lost contumacy of the age. Then turned to renewing the monasteries, he reforms the Clergy, which had perished by the sad calamity of former times; he restored two Canonries, afflicted by the recent wars, and emptied of Regular Canons, the Pontiff's decree being received: of which one was S. Gregory outside the gate of S. Vitalis, which reduced to one Prior and Canon, and the Regular Canons, he transferred from the old Canons of S. Augustine to b the new ones of S. George in Alga: the other c S. Mary at the Rhine, and S. Salvator in the city. For when Francis Ghiselerius the Prior of them had asked, that since his monasteries were utterly exhausted of Canons on account of the wars, it might be permitted him to join Stephen, John, and Dominic of Siena, and some other Canons d of the monastery of S. Ambrose of Gubbio (of the same order, but of another habit and observance), by the mandate of the Pontiff e the matter being known, he contracted them into one, and called them Regular Canons of S. Salvator. There are still read with them the letters of Martin, given to this effect f at Fribourg of the diocese of Lausanne on the Nones of July.
[8] he condemns games of dice: These things being done, at last his eyes being cast on the morals of the laity, he observed games of dice with great grief of soul to be so commonly celebrated through the city, that not only did the citizens come together at it with notable contempt of the divine law and great loss of patrimonies, but even had a public tax instituted from that thing. Which custom he so disapproved, that a graver edict being proposed, he condemned both the tax and those assemblies. But the poor of the city, for the implanted zeal of charity, having pitied, he relieved by the tribute to be conferred on the fabric of S. Petronius. he restores the basilica and Bishop's palace. At last having contemplated the Basilica and the Bishop's palace, since he saw many parts growing obsolete by age to need restoration, he did not think even this was to be omitted by him. Therefore the gable of the bell-tower from wooden he made of stone, and covered the whole with leaden plates. But in the Bishop's palace he built a notable hall and many chambers, and furnished a library for public use with a great furniture of books; of which things even now the vestiges are seen. But these afterward. But all these praises with the people that singular humanity and admirable affability heaped up, that the approaches to him lay open no less as Bishop, than if as a private man he had acted in his house, or as a monk still resided in a humble cell. benevolent toward his subjects, By which and other illustrious institutes of this kind toward the opinion of a holier life, he attained such fame of virtue and innocence among all men, that not only the citizens admired him, but venerated him even with a cult unusual in those times: since they both bowed the knee to him passing by, and inclined their heads, and when he proceeded in public supplications many accompanied him with bare feet for the sake of his honor and reverence.
[9] he is greatly esteemed by Martin V. These things being known, Pope Martin began to attribute so much to him on that account, that when he wished to bind him by the solemn oath of fidelity, and yet to relieve him of the labor of approaching him, he ordered the oath to be taken before the Bishops of Modena and Imola. There are still extant the very letters to those Bishops g, given h at Geneva on the 6th of the Kalends of August, which it pleased to insert into this history together with others, which are preserved among the Albergati, from which we have almost woven this commentary: but these are they: Since we lately the election, concerning the person of our Brother Nicholas Bishop of Bologna, by the beloved sons of the Chapter of the Church of Bologna to the same Church, then destitute of the solace of a Pastor, as well as the confirmation of an election of this kind and the imparting of consecration, he is freed from the Roman journey. made to the same Nicholas the Bishop, by our venerable brother Thomas Archbishop of Ravenna, by ordinary authority, the Apostolic See being vacant, by the counsel of our Brethren, by Apostolic authority have judged to be ratified, and also approved; we, willing to spare the labors and expenses of the same Bishop sojourning in those parts, lest by this he be compelled to labor personally by coming to the Roman Curia, to your Fraternity, by the authority of these presents, commit and mandate, that from the same Bishop, in our name and that of the Roman Church, you receive, or one of you receive, the oath of due fidelity, according to the form, which we send enclosed under our Bull. But this oath Martin the more studiously required, because bearing most bitterly that Bologna was removed from the authority of the Church, he was not ignorant how much weight the regarded authority of Nicholas the Bishop would have for recovering it.
[10] Therefore when a little after he had come from Constance to Mantua, he is summoned to Mantua. and day and night thought of recovering Bologna; he immediately ordered him to come to him i, and benignly especially received, held him with him for many days in the same house; and indulged with wonderful liberality all things which he asked; and at length his counsel being disclosed k, destined an Orator to the people of Bologna, asking that they should restore to him the city of the lately Pontifical dominion, from which by the insane counsel of some they had departed. Mediator between him and the people of Bologna. For he (since being shut out by intestine tumults he could not go to Rome) had determined to constitute at Bologna the Pontifical seat and court, to his honor and convenience. Which demand the people at first most eloquently refused: then by a saner counsel, lest by a more unclement answer it should bring the necessity of waging war, judged that very thing to be amended; and the following year sent back the same Nicholas with two other Orators, who should promise him, that the people would yearly give a tribute of seven thousand gold pieces, and a certain number of horsemen at his arbitration for six months; if he would permit them to use their own Commonwealth and liberty, and content with the sacred obedience of the city, demand nothing besides. Which condition he, deterred by the difficulty of taking the city by force, for the present accepted; and thence crossed to Florence by the way of Ravenna; in which city he remained more than a year, and liberally treated, returned this favor, that he raised the Church to the Archiepiscopal summit.
[11] The next l year Antony Bentivoglio, son of John (who in former years had held the dominion of the city for some
months) son, desiring to recover his fatherland by his own authority, on the 7th of the Kalends of February, his own faction aiding, burst into the Palace; and having obtained power, the Canetuli, opposing themselves to his undertakings, first from the forum, then by decree of the Council he expelled from the city: who having set out to Martin at Florence, accused Antony as rashly vindicating to himself the dominion of a Pontifical city, and promised that they themselves would be at hand to recover it. By which things Martin, led into a hope not slight of recovering the city, on the day before the Kalends of March sent Orators to Bologna, who in his words should announce, that unless they should of their own accord give him the city, he would subdue it by whatever force. To whom the Council answered, he is sent again to the Pontiff, that the people of Bologna were of such mind, that they would not depart from the ancient possession of their city and the liberty of the state, and for it would pour out all their fortunes and even their very blood: but that they humbly besought the Pontiff, to be willing to abide by the conditions agreed with him at Mantua, in which he himself expressly promised, that he would be content with a certain tribute and the sacred obedience of the city. Then they having set out, on the day before the Nones of March, again he sent away Nicholas the Bishop with two others, and ordered them to report the same things in person to the Pontiff. To whom when they had set forth their mandates, Martin thus answered: Go and report to your people, that unless it shall have delivered the city into my power by the third day of Easter, I will interdict to it the sacred offices, will inflict the most atrocious execrations the Church can, and will send a most firm army to devastate the field and assault the city. And soon, two Orators being dismissed, he retained Nicholas, and after five days commanded him to seek home, and to promulgate the interdict of the sacred offices in the solemn manner of the Church. So Nicholas returned to his fatherland on the 7th of the Kalends of April (since he thought it impious for a Bishop, bound by the knot of an oath, to repudiate the Pontifical authority) discharged his mandates, although unwilling. For the next day, while attendance was given to the Sacred things, he came into the Basilica of S. Peter: and silence being indicated, the Interdict, which he had brought with him, at the high altar he pronounced; he promulgates the interdict: then took care that it be affixed to the doors of the Basilica of Saint Petronius, and the posts of the Palace: at length the Rectors and Masters of the gymnasium themselves being summoned, in the name of the Pontiff he inhibited the office of public professorships. By which things being perceived, the city so changed its mind toward him; that, whom before it bore in its eyes, and raised with the highest praises to the heavens, then plainly alienated, it set to tearing with harsher maledictions, as an enemy of the public dignity, and more zealous for the Pontiff than for his fatherland. he flees from the city:
[12] Which things when Nicholas had all ascertained by the narration of very many, and feared also the snares of some; which were therefore said to be contrived for him; having gone out of the city, he hastened to the Charterhouse, and thence to Florence. Then in the month of May, Martin, Orators being sent to Bologna, openly declared war (unless they should be obedient to his word). And soon, when he saw his admonitions and threats despised, he sent Braccio of Perugia, his Captain, with a most strong army into the field. Which done, Braccio reduced almost all the castles, in the space of two months, into his power either by force or by pact, and led away many captives, and diverted elsewhere the water of the Rhine flowing into the city, and at length the whole field being widely devastated, despoiled the city of its greatest conveniences. But when he showed that he would shortly move his camp also to the city, Antony Bentivoglio, who acted as Prince in the city, fearing lest he should bring the state into greater danger, took up the counsel of surrendering the city, and on the day before the Ides of July went out into the camp (in which was the Cardinal m the Pontiff's Legate), he delivers it to the Pontiff, and the conditions being agreed having returned into the city, a report being made concerning ending the war, by the authority of the Council determined the surrender. So on the 12th of the Kalends of August Braccio with the Cardinal Legate, and part of the equestrian forces having entered, received the possession of the city. Then on the 7th of the Ides of August Orators sent by the Council to Florence delivered the city to the Pontiff on fair conditions, as they wished. After, on the 7th of the Kalends of September Alfonsus Deacon Cardinal of S. Eustace, the Legate, entered the city, and began to administer it in the name of the Pontiff according to the pact. At the same time also Nicholas the Bishop returned to his Church, and benignly received by the people, the Magistrates being called, recited the decree of the Pontiff; by which the Hundred n and the Plebs were ordered to restore the towns, thirty-five years before taken from the Bishop: he returns, and soon, they not resisting, through the Bishop of Imola his Vicar, he entered solemn possession of them. Then the affairs of the city being composed, he betook himself to celebrating again at leisure the former offices of a good and pious Pastor, daily more confirming the opinion of his exceptional prudence and probity.
ANNOTATIONS.
l. In the year 1420.
CHAPTER III.
The Legate of peace sent into Gaul. The Cardinal procures it for the Venetians with the Duke of Milan.
[13] Therefore two years after, when a matter had occurred, on account of Gaul infested by the Burgundian and the Englishman, which required the work and authority of an excellent and singular man with the French Princes, raging in arms among themselves; Martin judged him for transacting it for the dignity of the Church the most fit of all. But the matter was of this kind. An old war was waged between John Duke of Burgundy and Charles the sixth King of France: which, mutual offenses being kindled on both sides, had gone so far, that John, the seat of the French Kingdom at Paris being occupied, brought King Charles and the Queen and Catherine the daughter into his power. Which crime being perpetrated, it was added, that when Duke John, and Charles the Dauphin, son of King Charles himself, had come together in the town of a Monsterioli, about to treat of a common peace; an altercation by chance arisen concerning past injuries, John by one of the companions of the Dauphin, a sword being suddenly drawn, through anger was b killed. Which thing being heard, Philip son of John, who was at Paris, exasperated, delivered King Charles with the Queen and daughter to Henry King of England (the old enemy of Charles himself, and then having an armed army in Gaul). From which a war more atrocious than before broke out anew, the Burgundian and the Englishman against the one Dauphin, allied by a common league of arms. a Legate of peace is sent, Which the Pontiff perceiving vehemently to hinder the quiet and advantage of Christians, judging that a messenger must be sent by him to settle discords of this kind, and to conciliate minds if he could, esteemed no one preferable to Nicholas himself; in whom not only the highest diligence, but also a singular innocence shone, which he thought would conciliate to him very much of authority and faith with the Transalpine Kings. Wherefore lest he should impose on him the necessary burden of going to Rome (for thither a little before he had come from Florence), he sent letters to Bologna, together with a commentary of the matter itself to be treated, which still are preserved among the Canons in these words:
[14] Since long ago, by the grave and atrocious dissension of the French Princes a pestiferous war stirred up has flourished in the kingdom of France and the neighboring parts, with these letters of Martin V, and flourishes at present, with the extermination of those nations, and the gravest loss of the whole Christian Commonwealth: we desiring to impose an end on so great evils, and to appease the hardened hearts of the Princes, and for this pious cause of so necessary and holy peace to destine an Apostolic Nuncio to those parts, who in the sight of the Princes and peoples may be a just and fit preacher and persuader of peace and charity; we choose you for this holy work out of all the Prelates, the most worthy Nuncio of so great a peace, about to set out to our most dear son in Christ Henry the illustrious King of England, and to our beloved sons the noble men the Dauphin etc. and the Duke of Burgundy, and about to treat peace and concord among them. For after the mercy of almighty God we much confide and hope in this so great affair concerning your wisdom and singular virtue, that beyond the profound senses of your natural genius the holy Spirit will minister grace to your devotion and humanity; that our words from your mouth may be heard with fruit. Wherefore we exhort your Fraternity in the Lord and affectionately ask, that in the procuring of so great and so common a good you aid us, and do not flee this pious labor: but for the quiet of so many peoples and the salvation of the faithful, undertake it with a prompt and glad mind. But for this cause we did not wish you to come to us, and to double the labor of the journey: but for your information we send instructions of things to be done enclosed with the present, and our letters, with copies of those letters which we write to the Princes themselves upon this matter; willing, that to the aforesaid instructions in saying, and doing, and treating this business, you add and diminish, according to what shall seem expedient to your circumspection and prudence. Given at Rome at S. Peter's, the 6th of the Ides of February in the V year of our Pontificate.
[15] These letters being received, Nicholas, not daring to oppose the honest will of the Pontiff in a matter of so great moment, prepared himself for the journey; and on the 7th of the Kalends of April having set out with the exceptional flower of the Nobility of Bologna, hastened into Gaul; and there received with liberal offices, on account of the exceptional opinion of his virtue and divulged sanctity, undertook to treat the matter with each party with the greatest care. the matter unaccomplished he returns: But when from one side the captivity of his parents and sister, from the other
the slaying of the father, not only occupied the very breasts of the young men, but even inflamed them to avenge, and impelled them to accomplish the matter by arms for the obtaining of the dignity of each; he could effect nothing. Wherefore the death also of King Henry following deterred him, and the next year he returned to Bologna on the 6th of the Ides of August the matter unaccomplished. he becomes interpreter of a new Legate, The same year Martin sent Gabriel Condulmerius the Cardinal as Legate into the city: and the next (because he was present for the Florentines against the Duke of Milan joined to him by league) recalled him; and substituted for him Ludovicus Archbishop of Arles. Who having set out to Bologna on the 5th of the Ides of June, the Council being convoked, set forth the will of the Pontiff, by which he abrogated the legation to Gabriel, and ordered the Florentine soldiers hired by him to be dismissed. Which when he had published in Latin (for he was French), Nicholas the Bishop, who had come summoned, reported it in the Italian tongue.
[16] But a two-year period intervening, the same, the Roman affairs being at length settled, since he had judged that the number of the Cardinals, diminished by the death of very many, must be increased by him, among the rest, whom he thought were to be decorated with that honor, for the sake of virtue, destined in mind Nicholas himself, and the counsel being dissembled ordered him to come to him. Then on the 9th of the Kalends of June he declared the same a Cardinal with the rest, and to him now coming to the city sent the very insignia of the dignity to meet him. he is created Cardinal. Which he marveling, spurned them, with the same greatness of mind as before the Bishopric. But a little after having advanced into the sight of the Pontiff, when he still turned away from himself an honor of this kind, yet moved by the threat of the sacred anathema he assented: and so on the Ides of June he was called Presbyter of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem. Which title he held so agreeable, that afterward for his family insignia he bore that very effigy of the Cross alone: of which thing as very many vestiges still appear in the Bishop's palace, so Francis Philelphus is the author, saying in his epistles: You have imitated him, whose cross you bear for a sign, Christ the Best and Greatest. Whom afterward Thomas his disciple imitated, when he came to the Pontificate, took the keys themselves d for the sign of his family. But Nicholas so bore this honor, that, S. Antoninus being witness, just as he had been a notable exemplar of Bishops, so he was a most glorious mirror of Cardinals; nor did he take a greater splendor of dignity from the brightness of the sacred Purple, than he himself by the clarity of his virtue delivered to it.
[17] Nor indeed did Martin think it enough to have honored him with this ornament, but even added the notable and especially magnificent office of a legation. But of this legation to be decreed this material was given. Philip Duke of Milan, designated Legate between the Venetians and the Duke of Milan. long before aspiring in mind to the domination of Italy, had brought a deadly war against the Florentines, and had allied the counsels of this war with Martin himself. Wherefore the Florentines compelled, had joined themselves to the Venetians, who long before held the resources of the Duke himself suspect, and a very great army being gathered, having assailed the dominion of Philip, had taken from him Bergamo and Brescia with a great part of the Cremonese Castles. Therefore Martin, Philip his ally being brought into the greatest difficulties of his affairs, desiring to consult and to repel the imminent evils of Italy, determined to conciliate peace between them, and therefore for treating and transacting it decreed Nicholas the Cardinal, a man of authority and wisdom approved in many matters. Wherefore Nicholas having set out from Rome with these mandates, on the 15th of the Kalends of October went to Bologna, received by the Magistrates and the whole city coming to meet and congratulating, and honored with all the honors, which are due to a Bishop and a Cardinal Legate a Latere sent by the Pontiff; soon the Orators of those, to whom the war pertained, being ordered to come together with their mandates at Ferrara, he himself went there also on the 13th of the Kalends. Where having experienced the highest humanity and hospitality of Nicholas the Marquis e toward him, the Procurators of each party being summoned, undertook to give work to that cognizance with singular equanimity of mind. But the cause of each being treated with great ardor of minds and contention of parties, and distracted by various injected demands and complaints; since the peace could not be brought to the wished issue, unless he himself came into colloquy and meeting with the Princes; first he went to Venice, then to Milan. But having set out to Venice, he goes to each one: and honored with the highest honors by that Senate, so conducted the cause with Francis Foscari the Duke, that the Senate, the cities and towns gotten by war being retained, promised that it would compose peace. Then on the day before the Kalends of October (letters being taken from him concerning a safe journey through Lombardy, which still are read among the Albergati) he departed to Milan to Philip: and having addressed the man (although most gravely complaining concerning the avarice of the Venetians and the pride of the Florentines) led him to dismiss Bergamo and Brescia. Wherefore the following year having set out from Bergamo, proceeding to establish the Venetians in the possession of the other places, he went to Brescia. But that city, bearing a branch of olive, he entered, received by the Bishop, Clergy, and all the Magistrates: who even to the rivulet Mella f with crosses and banners, giving thanks to God by chanting solemn hymns, came forth to meet him.
[18] But when he had gone out thence into the Brescian field, that he might order the very camps placed by the city, which were held by Philip's guards, to be delivered to the Venetian Magistrates being present according to the pact; he found all with closed gates, asserting, that they would receive neither the Venetians, nor their friends within the towns: which was thought to have been done from the tacit mandate of Philip, raised by some secret hope of well managing the affair offered. Which when Nicholas saw, vehemently moved, he wished to return to Philip; but the Prefects of the Venetians prohibited him: who said the matter must be decided not by words, but by arms, and to each of the resisting towns, then by the authority of the Senate led the army. So Nicholas the matter vain g on the 6th of the Ides of February returned to Bologna. Then on the 6th of the Kalends of March having set out to Rome to render an account of the hindered legation, there he passed four months; through which the Venetians took from Philip, vainly resisting, all the Brescian camps. Which when he himself heard, on the 18th of the Kalends of September he betook himself thither with this counsel, that he might again bring words concerning peace, and take care that the Cremonese towns belonging to the Oglio, he accomplishes peace: which demanded by the Venetians still made a controversy, be restored. Therefore after three days he returned to Milan to Philip, while again at Ferrara he sat to hear the parties, and the matter known for the greater part the following [h] year on the 15th of the Kalends of May settled: and soon on the day before the Nones published the peace made, with the greatest gladness of the peoples. Then on the Ides he betook himself to Bologna, and in a place removed outside the city, he sat at S. Mary of the Green Valley, that he might more conveniently compose the rest of the controversy. So on the 15th of the Kalends of June, the armies being dismissed on both sides, the wretched states at length at some time breathed again from the lasting calamities of war.
[19] Meanwhile Nicholas hearing swords everywhere with impunity carried by the citizens in the city, and in a certain manner a pernicious approach opened to civil tumult; solicitous for the lot of his city, on the Kalends of August betook himself into the city very early in the morning, and attendance being given to the divine thing, implored the opportune help of the divine Deity. Then at the second hour of the following night, the Canetuli enemies of the Church, long before restored to their fatherland, with their faction armed rushed into the forum: and it being occupied, for the terror of their adversaries, cast fire into certain wooden shops, and strove to take the Palace with the Legate. Which thing being perceived, he tries to compose the Bologna sedition, the Bentivogli, the signal of the bell of their region being given, immediately prepared themselves with the Pontifical party, and undertook to run forth into the forum against the Canetuli. Which when Nicholas heard, hastening to meet the imminent sedition and bloody contest, and to preserve the Ecclesiastical state, betook himself to meet them at the church of S. Donatus; and undertook to beg them for the safety of the fatherland and the safety of their children, that they should for a little while restrain the conceived impulse of mind, and attempt nothing new until his return to them: for he would lead the Canetuli to lay down arms, and take saner counsels. Then having advanced into the forum, he called aside Baptista Canetulus, the Prince of the faction; and many words being made, at length so composed the matter with him, that he should create Elders, and instruct them with certain public taxes for sustaining the necessary expenses; but the Pontiff should have a hundred horsemen and as many footmen hired, who should take an oath to the Legate; but the urban and military offices should lie open to the citizens themselves: and on these conditions Baptista and his companions promised, fealty being interposed, that they would depart from arms, nor attempt anything else in the city. Then he went to the Palace, that he might take care that these pacts be confirmed by the subscription of the Legate himself; and having advanced to the doors, ordered them to be opened to him and his by the guards. Which the attentive Canetuli when they perceived open, suddenly, fealty being violated, made an onset into them, and the stations vainly resisting being overcome, occupied the very door. But the companions of Nicholas, but circumvented by deceit, when they saw the danger and indignity, drew him back from the doors bloodless, and almost crushed in that crowd, and led him home (lest he be killed by the Canetuli hostile to his head). Meanwhile the Palace being taken by them, and foully plundered, and the Legate given into custody: which when the Bentivogli heard, judging that no more must be attempted by them, by the gate of S. Donatus poured themselves headlong from the city.
[20] Then on the Nones of August the Magistrates, with whom the Commonwealth had been entrusted, holding for certain that Martin inflamed with anger would assault the city with arms, and would prosecute this injury by whatever force; thinking that the Hundred and the Plebs would be castles accommodated to them for that war, ordered Nicholas to come to them; with this counsel surely, that they might demand those castles from him; and if he should refuse, having got the man in their power, compel him to afford them. But he, moved by the pride of the edict and the evident indignity of the matter, by which the Episcopal and Cardinalitial dignity was forced into order, denied that he would go; and soon perceiving snares to be prepared for him on that account, toward night the habit of a Friar Preacher i being taken, with one companion went to the monastery of S. Dominic: and afterward that he might rescue himself from these waves, he flees to Modena. very early in the morning through the gate of S. Mamas went out of the city, and went away to the Charterhouse and thence to Modena. Then on the 10th of the Kalends of September the Legate, who was kept with the Canetuli, was dismissed from the city, but on the 4th of the Ides of September the household of the Bishop was driven from the Bishop's palace; the next day the Council being convoked, and many words against the Bishop and the Pontiff, according to each one's disposition and liberty, most gravely said; it was decreed, that in the place of Nicholas another Bishop be put forth: and immediately Bartholomew Zambeccarius, son of Charles, Abbot of S. Bartolo of Ferrara, was named. Who, professing that he would deliver the Hundred and the Plebs to the people, immediately went to the Bishop's palace, no Canon accompanying, but the Magistrates alone following. Then it was commanded to the Canons, that they should elect him after the custom. They denying that they could elect him who had been elected by the people; the Standard-bearer answered, that the nomination was the people's, but the election the Canons'. Of which thing when the Canons had referred the judgment to the Jurisconsults, they answered, that, the See of a Bishop not being vacant, the Canons could not celebrate an election. Nevertheless
Bartholomew acted as Bishop, and a Vicar being constituted, exercised jurisdiction for a whole year.
ANNOTATIONS.
c. In the year 1426.
g. In the year 1427.
h. In the year 1428.
CHAPTER IV.
The return to the Bishopric. The Legation into Gaul and to the Council of Basel.
[21] These things being known, Martin more vehemently inflamed on the 6th of the Kalends of September promulgated an edict, in which he unfolded the gravest detestations against the Canetuli, and an Interdict of the sacred things on the city: because they had basely driven out his Legate, and the very Bishop of the city and Cardinal, to his contumely, in these words: For our beloved son Nicholas, Presbyter Cardinal of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem, perpetual Administrator of the Church of Bologna, deputed by Apostolic authority, their fellow-citizen and father of their souls, they so handled, against all the debt of charity toward a neighbor and the reverence of so great a Father, that the aforesaid Lord Nicholas the Cardinal was compelled clandestinely, and as if unknown, to depart from the city and diocese aforesaid; nor in the manner, in which it became a Cardinal to proceed; but his habit changed (because otherwise they would by no means have permitted him to depart thence) deprived him of liberty, to our dishonor and reproach, and the disparagement and contempt of the Apostolic See. Then he ordered the Captains with their military forces to invade the people of Bologna; who the field being plundered having advanced to the city, set to assaulting more keenly from diverse parts; whence the war, with various detriments to be inflicted, was protracted into the next a year. By which at length the Canetuli being impelled, they destined Orators, on the 15th of the Kalends of July, to Imola, that with b Lucidus Cardinal of Ostia the Legate, and Nicholas the Bishop placed there, and the offered peace, they might treat of a composition: who having set out, obtained nothing fair. Then on the 3rd of the Kalends of September again sent, they brought back peace on conditions sufficiently convenient; in which this especially was contained, that Bartholomew should dismiss the Bishopric to Nicholas; but the Pontiff should take care that the Abbey of S. Bartolo, taken from Bartholomew, be restored by the Marquis. So on the 7th of the Kalends of October the Legate having entered the city, the next day ordered the Magistrates themselves to take the oath of fidelity before him, and restored Nicholas to his See. But the next c year, since he saw he had slender resources against the flourishing Canetuli for retaining the dignity, and again rejected having gone out of the city, he went away to Cento, and left Baptista the moderator of the city, as he was contriving. Which thing being heard, Martin inflamed, vomited forth the venom long before conceived in mind, and a Nuncio being sent into the city on the 6th of the Nones of July, demanded the whole dominion of the city without any exception; if they should not give it, he showed that he would prosecute with a deadly war. To whom the people answered, that they were prepared to keep the conditions agreed a little before with him, nor would they take anything away from them. So the war was renewed much more keenly than before.
[22] Meanwhile, the contest swelling between the new Kings, Charles and Henry of France and England, Martin altogether studying to try, whether by any equity he could lead the matter to quiet; destined Nicholas as Legate for that matter into France, and afterward for heaping up his authority distinguished him with this new privilege, on the 5th of the Kalends of December: Since we destine you to pacify the kingdom of France, he is destined Legate into Gaul: the office of a full legation being committed to you, that we may destine you as an Angel of peace; we willing to grant you those things, through which you may be able to provide for the salvation of souls, to your circumspection all and singular persons, both Ecclesiastical and Secular, who deviating from the documents of the Catholic faith and holy Mother Church, shall have in any way fallen into heresy, after they shall have returned to the true and Catholic faith, and abjured their errors, both of reconciling and of dispensing by the tenor of these presents, we grant full and free faculty. Then he wrote these letters to Henry King of England, on the 2nd of the Kalends of January, asking, that he should show himself exorable to settling the matter. For procuring peace we destine our beloved son Nicholas, Presbyter Cardinal of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem, Legate of the Apostolic See, as an Angel of peace; hoping in the Lord, that his setting out, will be both acceptable to God Himself, and salutary to men. But we exhort your clemency, and with paternal charity ask, that all memory of injuries being abolished, and the fires of hatreds extinguished, and every other affection laid aside, you show yourself exorable and appeased to the Cardinal.
[23] Nay even desiring to terminate the Bologna war, he sent to the same a most full mandate of composing affairs with the people of Bologna. But he, all things being prepared for the journey, the following year d on the day before the Nones of February went to Ferrara, and communicated the mandate, which he had, with the Marquis. But the Marquis indicated to the people of Bologna, that Nicholas was with him, and had a free mandate from the Pontiff for composing peace; that he would use it, if they would lend ears to words concerning composition; and if they should bring themselves to deliver the whole dominion of the city to the Pontiff, he had brought a most ample faculty of making peace. To whom they wrote back, that they did not refuse the offered conditions: but desired suitable sponsors and guarantors for so great matters. Wherefore the undertaking vain Nicholas Eugenius IV being constituted Pope. went away to Venice, and thence proceeded to go into Gaul. Meanwhile Martin, Julian Cesarini Cardinal being sent as Legate, instituted a Council at Basel, to rout the heresy of the Hussites, and to settle the Church; as the Council of Constance had decreed should be done; and this done, on the 10th of the Kalends of March he died; whom immediately Eugenius IV, who had been Gabriel Condulmerius the Cardinal, succeeded. He both decreed the Council to be continued, and peace on convenient conditions being restored to the people of Bologna, received the city; and to Nicholas, whom likewise he esteemed most of all, confirmed the office of pacifying France.
[24] But Nicholas first deterred by the premature death of Martin, somewhat later undertook the matter; he goes into Gaul. then found the cause more hindered than all opinion. For neither could he impel the Princes (especially the King of England) to put forth a place, to which they should send Orators for the sake of discussing the matter: although he with his whole breast applied himself to that care, and spared neither labors, nor perils, nor any expenses for the sake of obtaining the matter; which Charles himself afterward confirmed in an epistle to the Council of Basel: When in former time, says he, by the pious and devout supplication of our most dear and beloved friend the Cardinal of holy Cross, the very matter was agitated with no small disputation by various assignations; although he himself spared not labor, perils, and expenses, yet it did not come to the wished port. Wherefore when many months having passed he had profited nothing, Eugenius the matter being known, kindled with no greater admiration than labor, six days after, on the Ides of May, wrote to him: We marvel and grieve, that although your circumspection, by our commission, has procured and procures the peace of the kingdom of France with so great zeal and diligence, and with so great inconvenience and labor of your person; there has not yet been concord among those Princes, whose consent is necessary, concerning the place, in which the Orators of the parties for treating peace ought to come together with you. But Philip Duke of Burgundy is much to be commended, who is prepared to obey my will, to whom we write upon this; and likewise our most dear son in Christ Charles the illustrious King of the French, exhorting him to peace, lest from a slight discrepancy the practice of so great a good be left; for the obtaining of which, let your singular goodness not be loath to labor, until you shall have accomplished, or at least manifestly known, that it cannot be concluded by the hands of men. For if you shall not have done it, by our authority and that of the Church, and your prudence and diligence, we do not see by what man it can be done. and to the Council of Basel. But Nicholas, when he perceived that he could not lead the King of England, in various ways tergiversating, to equity, thence by the authority of the Pontiff departed; and just as prudent physicians, when they see the sick refusing salutary remedies and resisting their diligence, leave them as desperate to be healed by the extreme help of God, thinking they have satisfied their office, when they shall have employed their industry and faith; so he himself after he observed that he could not by speaking extinguish the Princes inflamed with inexpiable offenses, committed the care of soothing them to God Himself, the sole curer of human infirmities.
[25] But when from the journey having advanced to Basel, he had heard that the Fathers convoked in the Council, by a new example, had established, that the Pontiff lacked the right of dismissing the Council; but, as if subject to the decrees of the Council itself, ought to be obedient to its word; and many other things, to weaken that sacrosanct power, were insidiously preparing; the more vehemently (as S. Antoninus wrote) the man of ancient probity was inflamed, and gravely rebuked the Council and its deed, and admonished, that it should remain in the authority of the Supreme Pontiff the Vicar of Christ Himself; having returned to Bologna, and thence went to Bologna to revisit his Church. Which done, immediately he sent letters to Francis Philelphus, desiring to know his state; and if the times should require, to relieve him with some notable benefit; which custom he had instituted from the beginning of his Bishopric, he deals with Philelphus his friend: nor afterward by any intervening shipwreck of his fortunes had he abandoned it. This most erudite man, and (as those times bore, in which the manner of speaking had not yet been so cultivated and polished) most eloquent, was engaged at Florence amid the savage waves of civil discords, and was compelled to labor for his safety, in great envy of his rivals; and therefore those letters being received exhilarated, he so answered, that he committed himself wholly to Nicholas, as to the most ample Patron of all the learned; for thus he wrote: Thomas of Sarzana, a very humane and erudite man, Secretary of your Amplitude, most clement Father, gave letters to me in your name; by which, what was to me clearer than the sun (as they say), he showed not less amicably than eloquently, how great is your charity toward me; he admonished, that I should signify to you, how much Florence delights me; besides if in any matter I should wish to use your work and help, I should not spare the writing pen; for that you would always be prepared, to do me good. As I give you and hold immortal thanks, most humane Father, that
from that day on which you first saw me at Bologna, and received me into your clientage, you have shown yourself to me ever a Patron, a Father, beneficent: and that indeed by no merits of mine toward you, but by your meekness and benignity alone. You have surely imitated him, whose cross you bear for a sign, Christ the Best and Greatest; who that he might do good to all mortals, spared not himself, etc. He then sets forth the slippery state of his affairs, and at the end infers; Which since they are so, I ask and beg your Clemency again and again, that you consult for this my desire; whatever you yourself shall determine concerning me, I will undoubtedly follow; and I will give work, that your opinion concerning me may never deceive you; for I shall never be wanting either to faith, or to industry, or to diligence. From Florence the 10th of the Kalends of October in the Christian birth year 1432.
[26] he takes care that the image of the Mother of God be carried about. But meanwhile while Nicholas discharges the office of a vigilant and pious Pastor in administering his Church, he obtained occasion of instituting an illustrious thing, and notable for the memory of posterity. For the next year, when assiduous and vehement rains, and foul and immoderate tempests had cast the greatest care on all, lest, as had often happened, they should extinguish the crops now ripening; the other helps being vainly implored, he himself together with the Elders decreed, that the f image from the face of the Virgin Mother of God, painted by the hand of S. Luke (which several years before brought from Constantinople, was kept in the church of S. Mary of Monte-guardia) should be carried within the walls, and it being religiously borne in pomp, a supplication should be made after the custom with the sacred and profane orders employed. That care being committed to the devout of the Hospital of S. Mary of death, they on the 4th of the Nones of July [g] carried the image, and placed it in the church of the Virgins of S. Matthias; who kept it on Monte-guardia. But the next day, the third and fourth, the Bishop ordered it thence taken to be borne in pomp, and by all to the three temples solemn prayers to God to be made. Which done, the light of the wished serenity immediately shone. Wherefore the image by public decree, increased by the religion of the citizens, brought back to the Mount, and begun to be guarded more diligently and more holily, is carried into the city every year to this very day.
[27] he is sent back to the Council of Basel, The same year Pope Eugenius, having ascertained that the Bishops of the Council of Basel were attempting nothing else, than either utterly to overturn the Pontifical power, or certainly to bind it with the strictest bonds; both applied other remedies to their rash undertakings, and added new Legates to the old, who should interrupt their slippery and dangerous counsels, and fight more keenly for the Pontifical dignity. But among the rest (by whose prudence, faith, and virtue he thought the affair of the Church either fallen could be restored, or falling sustained) Nicholas himself obtained the chief place. Therefore on the 18th of the Kalends of January, he gave letters to him, by which he granted him most full power of establishing all things in his name, according to his faith and judgment, which he himself should think to pertain to the salvation and dignity of the Church. But Nicholas having set out omitted no office either of piety, or of prudence, by which he might either accurately heal the wounds imposed on the Church, or maturely meet those to be imposed. But having found the minds of those Fathers ulcerated against the Apostolic See, he could not repel all their hostile darts: of which thing those things are an argument, which they did. For the following [h] year, in Session XVII, they admitted him indeed as Legate of the Pontiff, but so, that he could neither urge them unwilling to act, nor invert the manner of acting hitherto observed. Then on the 5th of the Ides of May to him demanding certain things in the name of the Pontiff, with greater liberty than was fitting they refused. And at last, that they might remove that more provident and keener man himself from the Council, and much more inflame the grief of Eugenius, they destined him with i Peter Cardinal of S. Peter ad vincula, on the 8th of the Kalends of August Legate to pacify Eugenius and the other Princes of Italy, and to recover the goods of the Church occupied.
[28] by this one he is sent back into Italy with letters Of this Legation neither in the acts, nor anywhere else is mention found, but among the writings of the Cardinal himself, left to the family of the Albergati, certain monuments are preserved, which it seemed most opportune to relate in this place. The sacrosanct general Synod of Basel, legitimately gathered in the holy Spirit, representing the universal Church, to the beloved sons of the Church Nicholas of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem, and John of S. Peter ad vincula, Presbyter Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, our and the universal Church's Legates, greeting and the benediction of almighty God. To three most holy works especially, namely the extirpation of heresies, the reformation of morals, and peace among all the worshippers of Christ to be procured by the Lord as author, here in the holy Spirit legitimately gathered, concerning those things, through which the desirable tranquillity of that true peace and perfect quiet may be able to follow, God propitious, into the several parts of the world, we willingly extend the cares of our vigilance. Therefore lifting our eyes round about, and considering, about what we are anxious from our inmost hearts, how many fomentations of discords, whirlwinds of wars, calamities and tumults have hitherto (alas, grief) tearfully shaken diverse parts of Italy; so that unless it be quickly met, we see almost all Italy itself with innumerable wars and discords at present everywhere blazing and boiling up: but that the raging fury of so great wars may be suppressed, and the fire already prepared extinguished, and the wars flourishing today be silenced, and the several fomentations of discords in Italy itself, lest worse thence happen, by Almighty God inspiring from heaven, be happily changed into the good of salutary concord and firmer unity; taking special confidence from the industry of your circumspection (whom powerful in deed equally and word, in matters more tried and arduous, with exceptional probity, fidelity, greatness of counsel, elegance of morals, clarity of science, and other titles of great virtues, the Lord the bestower of them has manifoldly distinguished), that the things which we shall judge to be committed to you, you will take care to fulfill with most exact and most vigilant work; you and each of you in solidum, as angels of peace, in the name of the universal Church and ours, to the parts of Italy God propitious we have judged to be destined and destine, by your diligence and skillful and indefatigable work, both with the most holy Lord Pope Eugenius the Fourth, and among whatsoever Princes of Italy, dominions, communities, provinces, cities, lands and places, and Captains of armed peoples, that the discords, differences, dissensions, and wars, at present flourishing and which in any manner in future shall happen to arise, be taken out of the way and utterly extinguished: undoubtedly holding, that, the peace-making King of Kings inspiring, Italy itself, from the almost daily tumults of wars, you will lead back to the goal of salutary concord and the precious treasure of peace. Again, since some cities, lands, castles and places, pertaining to the Holy Roman Church, have been and are detained occupied by certain ones, whose recovery is known to pertain to the peace, quiet and good of the same Roman Church; with all skillful care and diligence, by whatsoever possible and more accommodated means, you will labor to reintegrate and lead back these places of this kind to the obedience and subjection of the same Holy Roman Church and the said Lord Pope Eugenius and the sacred College of Cardinals, and to rule, protect, and govern them, etc. At the end: For we will hold ratified the sentences, which you or one of you shall duly have given, and the penalties which you shall have inflicted on the rebellious, as well as all other things whatsoever you or one of you shall have done in the premises and about the premises, and will cause them, the Lord being author, to be inviolably observed until condign satisfaction. Given at Basel, the 8th of the Ides of August in the year of the Nativity 1434.
ANNOTATIONS.
d. In the year 1431.
g. In the year 1433.
h. 1434.
CHAPTER V.
The French peace accomplished. Various Legations.
[29] But this business Nicholas indeed unwilling undertook, He returns to Pope Eugenius. but to oppose the headlong zeal or rather cupidity of so many Fathers, representing (as they asserted) the universal Church, he thought he could not but with greater detriment of affairs. Therefore to Eugenius (who, driven from Rome by the Colonna, had come to Florence on the 9th of the Kalends of July) he immediately went, and with him more accurately deliberated concerning the whole matter. But while he was there, again the Fathers wrote letters to him, calling him Legate of the Sacred Council and the Universal Church: by which they commended to him as Procurator the Cardinal of Prospero Colonna, a capital enemy and foe of Eugenius, that by his help he might obtain certain Ecclesiastical benefices from Eugenius: which deed Eugenius bore most indignantly of all. Therefore that he might return an equal trouble and grief to those, by whom he was provoked; he ordered Nicholas to return to Basel, and as Legate not only to be present at all their actions, but also accurately to preside, sent back by him to Basel: and, as far as he could, to oppose himself (if they should deflect from the right). Then the next [b] year on the 3rd of the Kalends of March he gave letters to him, which indeed are not read interwoven in the Acts, by which he by name indulged the power of settling the arisen controversy, or rather discord, concerning the Annates (as they called it). Which precept when he had cared for with the highest faith and singular industry, God disclosed to him an occasion of undertaking a new labor for the Christian Commonwealth.
[30] For it pleased Eugenius that he should set out again into Gaul, to ratify the peace (which had not yet been able to coalesce) among those Princes. With an indignant mind surely the best man heard, that that region, most devoted to Catholic piety from ancient time, was devastated by the foulest hatred of the Princes themselves, and by the unsound counsels of men deformed with utter destruction.
Therefore thinking that all things must be tried by him, if in any way he could heal so great an evil; he determined that no one was fitter for it, than he, who had treated that matter and cause with the highest industry. Therefore thus to him, for the sake of adorning that power as is the custom, he wrote: To the beloved son Nicholas, Presbyter Cardinal of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem, Legate of the Apostolic See, greeting and Apostolic benediction. he is ordered to set out into Gaul, Since we destine you to pacify the kingdom of France, the office of a full Legation being committed to you, that we may destine you as an Angel of peace; we willing to grant you those things, through which you may be able to render yourself agreeable to the persons of those parties, to your circumspection we give the power of dispensing with twenty-five Ecclesiastical persons, consisting within the limits of the said kingdom and the adjacent parts and suffering a defect of age, concerning whom it shall seem to your circumspection, that any of them, after he shall have completed the twenty-second year of his age, may be promoted to the Priesthood. Then on the 6th of the Nones of May, he exhorted Rene c Duke of Anjou, that he should be present to Nicholas for accomplishing peace: From the singular affection, says he, which we have for the good state and quiet of the kingdom of France, we send again for procuring and composing its peace our beloved son Nicholas, Presbyter Cardinal of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem, Legate of the Apostolic See; a man surely as you know, excelling in every kind of virtues, who has hitherto laudably treated that material. But since we know the zeal, which you also have for the said peace; we exhort in the Lord your Excellency, that toward this good of peace you apply your counsel and work, assisting the same Legate, with counsel, aid, and favor, in whatsoever matters you can, that this holy conclusion may be able to be made.
[31] Meanwhile Nicholas, some erudite men being taken into his company (among whom especially Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini is named) came into France; and the matter having undertaken with notable greatness of mind, sent letters to the Princes themselves; signifying that it pleased him, that they should make a truce of four months among themselves, by which it might more freely and safely be commerced to and fro by the parties, and disputed concerning the conditions of entering concord; and that the same should send Orators with full mandates, to a certain day which he signified, to Nevers; for that he would come there on that day to hear the parties and decide the controversies. To which letters Charles the King from Amboise on the 4th of the Ides of June, he goes to Nevers. in the French (as is found written among the Albergati) tongue, in this manner especially wrote back: We have received your letters, and what you enjoin concerning making a truce of four months, we have understood; and likewise the day, on which the Orators from each party ought to come together, we have understood: all which we exceedingly approve. Therefore we send also letters witnesses of the public faith, for the security of the adverse party, and we judge the city of Nevers most fit for meeting. These things being so settled, then a meeting was held at Nevers; in which when, various disputations being held, a hope not slight had been offered, that the matter would easily come to agreement; it seemed to all expedient, that another meeting be held on the Kalends of July at Arras, and that for the sake of stabilizing the matter the Council of Basel also be asked to send its Legates there. But Charles the King taking the care of that matter upon himself, thus wrote to the Synod: On recent days most recently was celebrated, in the matter of composing peace with the Duke of Burgundy, at the city of Nevers a meeting; and to the same on our part, with decent and sufficient power, we sent the Duke of Bourbon and the Count of Richemont our Constable, and our faithful Counsellors the Archbishop of Reims our Chancellor, and Christopher de Harcourt our kinsman. And since the matter itself after long disputation had the best disposition toward those things which are of peace; all the parties also desiring, with the same and unanimous consent and favor of peace and unity, to act more excellently, agreed on another day and meeting at our city of Arras, on the first day of the month of July next at hand: consenting also, that the matter so great may have an ampler and more certain efficacy, that on the part of our most Holy Father, the Cardinals of S. Cross and of Arles, on the part of the sacred Council of Basel the Cardinals of Cyprus and of S. Peter ad Vincula, be sent to the same assignation and place. Wherefore we ask your friendship, that on that day you be willing on your part to send the aforesaid Cardinals of Cyprus and of S. Peter.
[32] Then on the Kalends of July the very arbiters of peace came together at Arras, then to Arras, Nicholas Cardinal of S. Cross, and the Cardinal [d] of Cyprus, attended by six Bishops, for Charles the Duke of Bourbon, and the Count of Richemont the Constable, the Archbishop e of Reims and Christopher de Harcourt; for the Englishman f the Cardinal of Winchester and the Archdeacon of York; but for the Burgundian the Bishops of Cambrai [g] and of Arras. There when all had sat in order, Nicholas beginning to speak, where the English departing, first commemorated in a long and prepared oration the conveniences of peace and the detriments of war, and especially what from the present discord had been brought on wretched Gaul, slaughters, fires, vexations, plunderings, devastations, and the rest of the kinds of calamities of this sort: then taught with how great desire of this composition Pope Eugenius burned, for the quiet and tranquillity not of Gaul alone, but also of the whole Christian Commonwealth: and exhorted all so to contract a firm and true concord, the controversies which had hitherto brought delay being removed. But when he had finished speaking, the English Legates being ordered to say their opinion, asserted that they were prepared to end the matter, and therefore to offer to Charles, whatever their King possessed in France beyond and on this side the Loire; with this that for the advantage of each party an exchange of some towns be made between them. Which condition the French received with willing minds, and on the contrary promised to Henry, whatever Charles held in the Duchy of Aquitaine and the whole Duchy of Normandy. But this condition the English proudly repudiated, and immediately having gone out of the meeting, said they would return another day.
[33] Then they having set out, Nicholas undaunted brought up the mention of repairing the old grace between the French and the Burgundian out of zeal, and besought each with many words to terminate the former controversies [h]. Then Nicholas Raulinus the Burgundian, in the name of his Prince, made a long-meditated oration, by which he set forth those things, peace concluded between the French and the Burgundians. which the Duke of Burgundy demanded from King Charles. All which although they seemed very grave, yet the French Orators, in the name of their King, approved. But these especially were, that Charles should confess the slaying of Duke John to have been iniquitously perpetrated, and should promise that he would avenge it to the best of his power, and would take care that sacred rites be done every year for his salvation and that of those who with him or for him had been slain: and in the place, where he had been buried, would found a church and monastery; but where he had fallen, would erect a stone cross, which should propagate the memory of the deed, at that expense, which should have seemed good to Nicholas the Cardinal. Many other things also were added, which committed to the acts of the Council of Basel, it seemed alien to interpose in this place. These being received the Orators of both parties swore in the sight of the Legates that they would give work, that they would most holily keep these things: and so the peace was divulged through heralds with great congratulation of all the peoples. These things being performed with great pleasure of each party, Nicholas excellently praised by all, betook himself into Italy: and the skull of S. Anne mother of the B. Virgin, received as a gift from King Henry, on the day before the Kalends of December brought to Bologna, and received with great honor by all, gave it as a gift to his Carthusian monks: who founded for him an oratory of S. Anne in the way of S. Isaiah, where now also it is preserved. Then on the Nones of December he went to the Pontiff at Florence, and reported all things done by him: from which Eugenius with the whole college of Cardinals took a great fruit of gladness.
[34] The next year Eugenius, having at length obtained the free dominion of the city of Bologna, came from Florence on account of a new Council proclaimed, to Bologna, having among the rest of the Cardinals Nicholas also himself in his company. There when he desired to abrogate the Council of Basel (to which long before, for the sake of contumely, not of honor, he had been ordered by the Fathers to be present), and at the same time to grant something of honor to the friendly city; he proclaimed another Council at Bologna for the next year: which year when it came, then his counsel being changed for just causes, on the 14th of the Kalends of October a new edict being proposed, he transferred it to Ferrara, to which edict Nicholas also subscribed. But in that year which followed, the message of the death of the Emperor Sigismund [i] being received, he paid the obsequies to him after the custom in the Basilica of S. Petronius, and soon on the 6th of the Kalends of February went to Ferrara, and on the 4th of the Nones received John Palaeologus the Emperor of Constantinople arriving: whom after four days Joseph the Patriarch of Constantinople followed. At that time, the discord between Eugenius and the Council of Basel daily swelling more manifest, since the Council vindicated to itself the chief place and authority in the Church above the Pontiff, and confounded all things to draw the peoples into its opinion; Eugenius brought into suspicion, lest Germany should incline to the contrary parts, or certainly lest in any way it should fall away from his authority this occasion being seized; thought it not alien, a grave Legation being sent, to contain those Princes in faith and duty. But the office of this Legation he mandated to Nicholas himself also, who seemed destined by Divine counsel to pacify the whole world; and soon granted the power of summoning to himself all the Ecclesiastical Princes, and of expiating men of all contracted stains of sins.
[35] Of this legation there is no mention in the acts of the Councils; he is sent into Germany, but the letters of the Pontiff preserved among the Albergati bear most copious testimony, all given on the Ides of September at Ferrara, of which one is of this kind: To the beloved son Nicholas of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem, Legate of the Apostolic See, greeting and Apostolic benediction. Since we destine you to the parts of Germany, for performing certain businesses concerning the good of the Church, the peace and quiet of the Christian people, the office of a full Legation being committed to you, that we may destine you as an Angel of peace, and you can probably bring great utility to the Church and prosperity to the businesses, if the Prelates and Religious of those parts by your mandate be gathered together; to your circumspection of convoking and gathering together by our authority the Prelates and Religious of whatsoever orders, exempt and not exempt, consisting in the aforesaid parts, as often as it shall seem expedient to you, to a congruous and fit place and a certain time, and of enjoining on them on our part those things which you shall have perceived will be necessary and useful for the execution of businesses of this kind and our and the Roman curia's state; also of ordaining and disposing other things, which in the premises, and about them, shall have been necessary and opportune, full faculty, by the tenor of these presents, we grant. Given at Ferrara in the year of the Incarnation 1438, the 3rd of the Ides of September. But by others he permitted, that he, by himself or another fit
Presbyter his Penitentiary, might be able to hear the confessions of whatsoever persons, and the confessions heard to bring due absolution for things committed, even in cases reserved to the greater Penitentiary. Then others to k Otho and Stephen, Counts Palatine of the Rhine, [l] Guidinus Duke of Brunswick, and the Bishop of Worms, he wrote all by the same example in these words: For certain businesses, concerning the honor of God, the peace of the Church, and the good of the Christian Commonwealth, our beloved son Nicholas, Presbyter Cardinal of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem, Legate of the Apostolic See, and our venerable Brethren John Archbishop of Tarento, Peter Bishop of Digne, and Antonius Bishop of Urbino, as well as our beloved sons Francis de Capitibus Listae Doctor of both Laws and Knight, John de Turrecremata master of the sacred Palace, and Nicholas de Cusa Doctor of Decrees, our Orators to the parts of Germany we send: to whom about the premises some things to be referred to you on our part we have committed. Wherefore to the aforesaid Legate and Orators, in the premises to be referred to your nobility, be willing to impart full faith, and to assist them in all opportune things (when you shall have been requested by them), as we confide and hope in the Lord concerning your devotion.
[36] These mandates and letters being received Nicholas, did not however (as I think) proceed into Germany. For he was present at the first session, which after the 8th of the Ides of October was held in the Council at Ferrara, he is present at the Council of Ferrara, related among the six Latin Doctors, who with as many Greeks disputed concerning the procession of the Holy Spirit, since the Greeks affirmed it to proceed from the Father only, the Latins from the Father and the Son. The Greeks were Mark of Ephesus, Isidore the Russian, Bessarion of Nicaea, Theodore Xanthopulus, Silvester Balsamon, Gregory Gemistus: but the Latins he himself Nicholas Cardinal of the title of S. Cross, Julian Caesarius Cardinal of the title of S. Sabina, Andrew Archbishop of Colossae, and the Bishop of Forlì, and two Monks illustrious in Theology. From which arises a suspicion, that he either did not go out from Ferrara, or certainly was immediately recalled by Eugenius from the journey and returned; for neither, if he had come into Germany, and delivered those letters written above to the Princes, could he have left their autographs to his kinsmen, as we have said he did. Garimbertus however writes that he went to m Albert the Emperor, and returned from him: of which thing since I find no indication in the German annals, nor besides have anything certain drawn from elsewhere, I would neither affirm the matter by my opinion, nor pass it over as vain. That year the people of Bologna, ill treated by the Prefects of Eugenius, again withdrew themselves from the Ecclesiastical dominion. For the Bentivogli being authors, it expelled from the city the Governor imposed by him, and Nicholas Picininus, Prefect of the Duke of Milan, having his quarters not far off, first summoned for the sake of help: then constituted him both keeper of liberty and administrator of the city against the neighboring peoples, secretly conspiring against it with Eugenius. Who when he had striven to turn away the towns of Cento and the Plebs from the authority of Nicholas the Bishop, fell from his purpose: those towns choosing rather to obey the Bishop, than the people. That matter vehemently perturbed Eugenius. Therefore since long before there had begun to be labored at Ferrara with pestilence, and daily more savagely that plague raged, the following [n] year beginning he hastened to Florence by transverse journeys, lest he should touch the Bolognese field, and there convoked the Council; whom the Emperor, the Patriarch, and the rest studiously followed. There the first session was held on the 4th of the Kalends of March, the last on the day before the Kalends of July: in which the question concerning the Holy Spirit, then at Florence. and concerning the primacy of the Roman Church, was transacted with the Greeks according to the opinion of our men. At that session also Nicholas was present, and the council being completed on the same day he with the rest of his colleagues subscribed: just as the acts of the Council itself demonstrate.
ANNOTATIONS.
b. In the year 1435.
i. In the year 1438.
n. In the year 1439.
CHAPTER VI.
Sickness, death, obsequies.
[37] made supreme Treasurer of the Pope: But while he was there, by no means unmindful of his Church, which assiduously stuck to him in his marrow, he commended it to two Priests, whom they call Mansionarii; and he himself with the highest honor of the Pontifical Treasury, Jordanus Ursinus the Chamberlain being dead, was increased by Eugenius: which thing brought the cause, that he could never afterward depart from the Pontifical Court. Then on the day before the Kalends of September he received the Emperor, returning from the Council, at Bologna with royal apparatus: which festal day the city having gone forth to meet with great gladness concelebrated. The same year also the Basel Fathers; after they saw Eugenius, though often cited by them, not present, proceeded to such madness, that they abrogated the Pontificate to him, and substituted for him [b] Amadeus Duke of Savoy, called Felix V. Which done they not only vehemently struck the mind of Eugenius, sick with many perturbations; but also most gravely wounded the whole Christian Commonwealth, scarcely now sticking to its very bones. But Eugenius, when through the following three years he had remained at Florence, at length in the year one thousand four hundred forty-three, on the Nones of March went to Siena; and there stopped for the space of some months. Meanwhile Nicholas, who never departed from his side, by the pains of the stone, began to be grievously tried by the stone: which from his former manner of living, and the undertaking of past labors he had contracted; with which for some days, by patience more and virtue, than by remission of pain or any hope of life, he wrestled, which he said he would willingly exchange for a better and more desirable one. But when so affected he lay sick, Eugenius, who uniquely loved him, often by night alone visited him, and bade him be of good and confident mind. But that most valiant man and mindful of the Divine mercy, did not need consolation; since he himself had learned to confirm himself and others, either by the opportune reading of the sacred Letters, or by the illustrious institution of life from his very early boyhood. Then overcome by the gravity of the disease (for the inmost heat of a most burning fever had been added) and the pertinacity of pain, on the 7th of the Ides of May, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, he died; and by fever he dies on the 9th of May, duly expiated by all the Sacraments of the Church, which again and again he himself asked. Which when Eugenius perceived, vehemently afflicted with the desire of his friend, immediately ordered the bladder to be opened and the stone to be extracted, and retained it with him for the conceived opinion of his sanctity: then he being carried into the Basilica of the city, poured out solemn prayers over him, and there committed him to honest burial.
[38] The obsequies are made for him at Bologna. This death's message being brought to Bologna; immediately a great grief invaded all the citizens. Therefore the shops were closed, a cessation of business proclaimed, and all signs of intimate and various sadness put forth, which could be put forth for adorning the death of some supreme Prince. The obsequies also for three days were magnificently performed in the Basilica, which the Elders and Magistrates, bringing their presence, but the artificers ceasing from their works until the third hour, honored. Then the corpse was translated to Florence to the Carthusian monastery, and in it this eulogy such as it is was engraved; The sepulcher of the most worthy of all praise and most Reverend Father Nicholas, Presbyter Cardinal of the title of S. Cross in Jerusalem. He born at Bologna, the eulogy sculptured at Florence first from Carthusian Prior, the people of Bologna asking, Bishop: then by Martin the Pontiff designated Cardinal: after very many legations undertaken, ended his day at Siena, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, a most pious and most mild man, by integrity of life and singular virtue approved by the testimony of all. But on the steps these verses were added:
The land of the Charterhouse covers me, whom it took as an alumnus, And gave that I should be a Father; my native Bologna at length Held me as her Pastor by right called; Compelled I took the burdens of the Hinge of the Church, And in the title of the Cross the red tiara shone for me. A thousand, four hundred, four times ten years, And three also the solar cycle had run, when Nicholas, Seeking heaven in mind, beneath this stone in body I am enclosed.
The Relics in honor: Today also for the perennial memory of his sanctity those monks guard the stone, taken from his bladder, and the Pontifical surplice, and the sandals, in the sanctuary with great veneration; but the people of Bologna show the silver cross, which the Legate bore before him, and another which performing the sacred rites he bore on his breast; likewise his incense-box and censer, left to his Church.
[39] But that is memorable, that a few days after his death the same to Thomas of Sarzana, his familiar, bearing his death impatiently, and accompanying it with weeping and tears, offered himself in sleep, and ordered him to put off grief and to live without care: for that it went excellently with him by the benefit of Christ, but that he would soon attain the Supreme Pontificate. Which Francis Philelphus handed down to memory in an oration to c Pope Sixtus, in these words: Nicholas V, when he bore more grievously the death of Nicholas Albergati, a vision made concerning his salvation. of a most wise especially and holy man, Cardinal of Bologna,
at length thought this one came to him through sleep, and thus addressed him anxious: Thomas my son, why dost thou longer groan? why dost thou so afflict thyself? Lay aside thy tears, and collect thyself; for it is well with us by the benignity of Jesus. Therefore arise, and gird thyself; for in a short time the grave office of Peter of guiding the little ship must be undergone by thee. Which vision of sleep he indeed bore before him not dissemblingly: for both to some other familiars, and also to me, when he made this journey seeking Germany as Legate from Eugenius, when amid our talking we had fallen into discourse concerning the meekness and gravity of Nicholas, he related that whole dream openly as if jesting: for he added when this shall have happened, my Philelphus, thou wilt receive the fruit of our old acquaintance. But who showed benevolence to him living, the same afterward also to him dead humanely and piously rendered his memory. For created Pontiff, he called himself from him Nicholas V, and an icon being painted by the hand of an exceptional painter, in it he took care that S. Nicholas the Bishop, in memory of his Father and Patron himself, be represented, which now also in the high altar of the Carthusian house of Bologna, with letters signifying it, is seen.
[40] But Nicholas, was without doubt both in his own and the Fathers' memory great, or rather supreme and singular; but the greater and more admirable for this, that almost in solitude and in corners, far from the conversation of the civil crowd and the forensic multitude and from the very art of conducting affairs educated, yet he was destitute and rude in none of those things, which they are wont to hold, who have worn out their whole age in common intercourse, as well as in the erudite course of the gymnasia and courts, and have assiduously exercised themselves in various meditations and treatments of public cares and businesses. From which we can easily conjecture, that a certain excellent disposition of genius and judgment shone in him: who all things, which he had undertaken, prudently and conveniently performed. For he who by nature seemed made only for leisure and contemplation, gave such documents of prudence and of a certain erudite counsel, which scarcely many tossed about in the courts of Princes could attain. But whoever he was, he is called Blessed and Saint: he surely begot for himself that opinion of sanctity by the perpetual and constant innocence of his life, that by his monks even to this day he is called Blessed Nicholas, the surname received from his ancestors. Wherefore Francis Philelphus, afterward writing to Pope Nicholas V, called him Saint conveniently to this opinion: The rest, says he, if that most holy spirit of Saint Nicholas the Cardinal of Bologna, once a Father to thee, while he was among the living; but now of thy holiness a son (to whom thou knowest me to have been most dear), intent on higher and better obediences shall have deferred to bring to thy memory those things, which concerned me; all things to thee, Father, the most Ample Cardinal of Milan Henry will in my words set forth in person. And Saint Antoninus Archbishop of Florence, his contemporary, did not hesitate to call the same a most religious Man, who briefly comprised the life of this man in these words.
[41] Pope Martin created several Cardinals, and among the rest the most religious Man Lord Nicholas, of the order of the Carthusians. This Nicholas at Bologna, when he was Prior of the said Order, he is praised by S. Antoninus. by one voice of the Clergy and people was called to be Bishop of Bologna, the Church being vacant. Whom much resisting Martin, created Pontiff at Constance, confirmed and instituted. But made Bishop he dismissed nothing of the observance and austerity of his Order; and serving the Lord in exceptional humility, bestowed his revenues on the poor, and on the repair of the Church and the amplifying of divine worship. The Lord wrought many good works through him in his diocese of Bologna: of which the citizens ungrateful and unmindful, because he subjected the city rebellious to the Church, by the mandate of Pope Martin, to interdict, intended death for him: but secretly fleeing with his habit changed, he escaped the onset of their fury. Who afterward created Presbyter Cardinal by the Pontiff, just as in the Episcopate he had been a notable exemplar of Bishops, so in the Cardinalate he was a mirror of Cardinals. And destined Legate for this, between the Florentines and Venetians allied on one part, and the Duke of Milan on the other part, now wearied with expenses and the labors of a lasting war, he composed peace; and Legate afterward sent into Transalpine Gaul, labored sufficiently to set concord between the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy. At length returned, when Eugenius the successor of Martin resided with his Curia at Siena, falling sick from the stone, by no remedy could it be brought about, that he should cast it out. Nor wonderful; for the body after death being disemboweled, a stone was found incarnate in the neck of the bladder, thick after the manner of a small hen's egg. His obsequies being honorably exhibited at the funeral, the Pontiff being present, the body was carried to the Carthusian monastery of S. Lawrence near Florence, and there in the Church buried, just as he himself had mandated. Thus far Saint Antoninus.
ANNOTATIONS.
May II: 10. May
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