§ 46. THE EMPIRE AND PAPACY AT PEACE. 209
in his appointment of cardinals. Out of twelve whom he created, seven were Frenchmen, and three Neapolitans. It would seem as if he fell into despair at the self-seeking and worldliness of the papal court, and he exclaimed, " O God, while I rule over other men's souls, I am losing the salvation of my own." He was clearly not equal to the duties of the tiara. In vain did the Neapolitans seek by processions to dissuade him from resigning. Clement I. had abjured his office, as had also Gregory VI. though at the mandate of an emperor. Peter issued a bull declaring it to be the pope's right to abdicate. His own abdication he placed on the ground " of his humbleness, the quest of a better life and an easy conscience, on account of his frailty of body and want of knowledge, the badness of men, and a desire to return to the quietness of his former state." The real reason for his resigning is obscure. The story went that the ambitious Cardinal Gaetani, soon to become Coelestin's successor, was responsible for it. He played upon the hermit's credulity by speaking through a reed, inserted through the wall of the hermit's chamber, and declared it to be heaven's will that his reign should come to an end.1 As
i The author of the suggestion that Ccelestin should abdicate has given rise to a good deal of controversy in recent years. Was Benedict Gaetani (Boni face VIII.) the author, or did the suggestion come from the senile old pope himself. Hans Schulz, a Protestant, has recently called in question the old view that laid the blame on Benedict, and regards it as probable that Ccelestin was the first to propose abdication, and that Benedict being called in gave the plan his sanction. He says, however, that in the whole matter " Benedict's eye was directed to the papal crown as his own prize." See Herzog's Enc., IV. 203. Hergenrother-Kirsch, Kirchengesch., II. 312, and Finke, Aus den Tagen Bonifaz VIII., p. 39 sqq., both Roman Catholic historians, have adopted the same position, as does also Scholz, PuUizistik zur Zeit Philipp IV. und Bonifaz VIII., p. 3. The contemporary historians differ about the matter, but upon the whole are against the cardinal. The charge that he was at the bottom of the abdication and the main promoter of it was one of the chief charges brought against him by his enemy, Philip the Fair of France. One of the measures for humiliating Boniface proposed by the king was the canonization of Coelestin as one whom Boniface had abused. See Document of the year 1305, printed for the first tirne by Finke, p, xcviii. A tract p
210 THE MIDDLE AGES. A. I). 1216-1294.
the Italians say, the story, if not true, was well invented, si non e vero e ben trovato.
In abandoning the papacy the departing pontiff forfeited all freedom of movement. He attempted to flee across the Adriatic, but in vain. He was kept in confinement by Boni face VIII. in the castle of Fumone, near Anagni, until his death, May 19, 1296. What a world-wide contrast the sim plicity of the hermit's reign presents to the violent assertion and ambitious designs of Boniface, the first pope of a new period !
Cceleslin's sixth centenary was observed by pious admirers in Italy.1 Opinions have differed about him. Petrarch praised his humility. Dante, with relentless severity held him up as an example of moral cowardice, the one who made the great renunciation.
" Behold ! that abject one appeared in view Who, mean of soul, the great refusal made." 2 Vidi e cenobbi la ombra di colni Che fece per viltate il gran rifuto.
A new era for the papacy was at hand.
issued by one of Boniface's party attempted to parry this suggestion by declar ing that Boniface, who was then dead, had merits which entitled him to canon ization above Coelestin. The author said, " si canonizatio Celestini petitur, multo magis canonizacio sanctissimi patris domini Bonifacii, postulari debet et approbari."1"1 He continues, " Ccelestin's canonization is asked because he profited himself and died in sua simplicitate ; Boniface's ought to be asked for because he profited others and died for the freedom of the Church." See the document printed for the first time in Finke, p. Ixxxv, and which Finke puts in 1308. Ccelestin was canonized 1313 by Clement V.
1 A memorial volume was published under the title Celestin V ed il vi Centenario della sua incoronazione, Aquila, 1894.
2 Inferno, III. 58 sq.