782 THE MIDDLE AGES. A.D. 1049-1294.
More precise regulations were shown to be necessary by the long pontifical vacancy of nearly three years following the death of Clement IV. (d. 1268). The law, as perfected under Gregory X., is, with slight modifications, still in force. It provides that, within ten days of a pope's decease and in the same building where he expired, the cardinals shall assemble to choose a successor. The conclave, — from davis, mean ing key, — or room of meeting, has given its name to the assembly itself. During the progress of the vote, the as sembled ecclesiastics are kept secluded from the outside world and receive food through a window. If after three days no conclusion has been reached, the fare is reduced to a single dish for supper and a single dish for dinner. Should eight days pass without a choice, the fare is reduced to bread and wine. The secular authorities are intrusted with the duty of guarding the conclave against interruption and violence.
The committees, or congregations, into which the cardinals are now grouped is of late origin. The oldest, the Holy Office or Congregation of the Inquisition, was established 1542. The red hat was conferred upon them, as a sign of their office, by Innocent IV., 1245; the purple mantle, two hundred years later, by Paul II., 1464. They wear a sap phire ring and by the enactment of Urban VIII., 1630, are addressed as " Eminence." In 1586 their number was limited by Sixtus V. to seventy. The exact membership within this limit is dependent upon the pleasure of the reigning pontiff. The largest number at any time was under Pius IV., 1559, when there were seventy-six. In the latter half of the thirteenth century the number often ran very low and at one time was reduced to seven. Since Urban VI., 1378-1382, none but a cardinal has been elevated to the papal dignity. The pope's right to abdicate is based upon the precedents of Gregory VI., 1046, Coalestin V., 1294, and Gregory XII., 1415.
The pope's coronation and enthronement were an occasion of increasing pomp and ostentation and were usually cele brated with a procession through the city from St. Peter's to the Lateran in which the nobility and civil authorities as
§ 124. THE POPE AND THE CURIA. 783
well as the pope and the higher and lower clergy took part. The tiara, or triple crown, seems not to have been used till the reign of Urban V., 1362-1372. This crown is regarded as symbolical of the pope's rule over heaven, earth, and the lower world ; or of his earthly power and his power to loose for time and eternity ; or of Rome, the Western patriarchate and the whole earth.
To this period belongs the development of the system of papal legates which proved to be an important instrumen tality in the extention of the pope's jurisdiction. These officials are constantly met with from the pontificate of Gregory VII. Clement IV. likened them to the Roman proconsuls. They were appointed to represent the Apostolic see on special occasions, and took precedence of the bishops in the regions to which they were sent, presided at synods, and claimed for themselves the respect due to the pope himself.
Gregory VII., in commending a legate, quoted Luke 10 : 16, "whosoever heareth you, heareth me also."1 He was represented by Cardinal Hugo in Spain and by other legates in Sardinia, France, Denmark, Poland, and England.2 Hildebrand himself had represented the popes on special missions, and Adrian IV. won distinction by his successful adminis tration of the legatine office in Northern Europe. Papal legates were present at the coronation of William the Conqueror, 1070.
Legates had the reputation of living like princes and de pended for their support upon the countries to which they were despatched. Their encroachment upon the prerogatives of the episcopate and their demands for money called forth bitter complaint from one end of Europe to the other. Barbarossa wrote Adrian IV., refusing to receive the papal legates because they came to him as plunderers and not as priests.3 John of Salisbury and Matthew Paris joined St.
1 Beg., II. 44, Migne, 148. 392.
2 Reg., I. 7; I. 29, VIII. 10 ; II. 32 ; II. 51 ; II. 73 ; I. 70, Migne, 148. 290, 312, 387, 405, 423, 345.
3 Hefele, V. 565. The permanent nuntiatures at Catholic courts were first established in the 16th century. Such are now maintained at Munich, Vienna, Lisbon, Madrid, and Brussels.