§ 11. RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PAPACY IN ROME. Ill
of the mission was not accomplished; but her unselfish appeal^ confirmed Gregory in his decision to return to Rome^^— a decision he had already formed before Catherine's visit, as the pope's own last words indicate.^
As early as 1374, Gregory wrote to the emperor that it was his intention to re-establish the papacy on the Tiber. ^ A member of the papal household, Bertrand Raffini, was sent ahead to prepare the Vatican for his reception. The journey was delayed. It was hard for the pope to get away from France. His departure was vigorously resisted by his relatives as well as by the French cardinals and the French king, who sent a delegation to Avignon, headed by his brother, the duke of Anjou, to dissuade Gregory from his purpose. ■ The journeyjwas begun SeptjL3,_13L6. Six cardinals were left behind at Avignon to take care of the papal business. The fleet which sailed from Marseilles was provided by Joanna of Naples, Peter IV. of Aragon, the Knights of St. John, and the Italian republics, but the vessels were not sufficient to carry the large party and the heavy cargo of personal baggage and supplies. The pope was obliged to rent a number of additional galleys and boats. Fernandez of Heredia, who had just been elected grand-master of the Knights of St. John, acted as admiral. A strong force of mercenaries was also required for protection by sea and at the frequent stopping places along the coast, and for service, if necessary, in Rome itself. The expenses of this peaceful A rmada — vessels, mercenaries, and cargo — are carefully tabulated in the ledgers preserved in Avignon and the Vatican. ^ The first entries of
1 Mirot, p. 101, is quite sure Catherine had no influence in bringing Gregory to his original decision. So also Pastor and Gardner.
2 Later biographers tell of a vow made by Gregory at the opening of his pontificate to return to Rome, but no contemporary writer has any reference to it, Mirot, p. 52.
3 Kirsch, pp. 169-264, gives a copy of these ledger entries. One set contains the expenses of preparation, one set the expenses from Marseilles to Rome, and a third set, the expenses after arriving in Rome. Still another gives the expenses of repairing the Vatican — the wages of workmen and the prices paid for lumber, lead, iron, keys, etc. On the back of this last volume, which is in the Vatican, are written the words, " Expensae. palatii apostolici, 1370-1380."
112 THE MIDDLE AGES. A.D. 1204-1517.
expense are for the large consignments of Burgundy and other wines which were to be used on the way, or stored away in the vaults of the Vatican. ^ The cost of the journey was heavy, and it should occasion no surprise that the pope was obliged to increase the funds at his control at this time by borrowing 30,000 gold florins from the king of Navarre.^ The papal moneys, amounting to 85,713 florins, were carried from Avignon to Marseilles in twelve chests on pack horses and mules, and in boats. To this amount were added later 41,527 florins, or, in all, about $300,000 of our present coinage. The cost of the boats and mercenaries was very large, and several times the boatmen made increased demands for their services and craft to which the papal party was forced to accede. Ray mund of Turenne, who was in command of the mercenaries, received 700 florins a month for his " own person," each captain with a banner 24 florins, and each lance with three men under him 18 florins monthly. Nor were the obligations of charity to be overlooked. Durandus Andreas, the papal eleemosynary, received 100 florins to be distributed in alms on the journey, and still another 100 to be distributed after the party's arrival at Rome.^
^he elements seemed to war with the expedition. The fleet had no sooner set sail from Marseilles than a fierce storm arose which lasted several weeks and made the journey tedious. Urban V. was three days in reaching Genoa, Gregory sixteen. From Genoa, the vessels continued southwards the full distance to Ostia, anchorage being made every night off towns. From Ostia, Gregory went up the Tiber by boat, landing at Rome Dec. 16, 1377. The journey was made by night and the banks were lit up by torches, sliowing the feverish expectation of the people. Disembarking at St. Paul's, the pope proceedeiijbhe,, next day, Jan. 17, to ^Si. Peter's, accompanied by rejoicing-
1 Kirsch, pp. xviii, 171, Mirot, p. 112 sq., says, Les vins paraissent avoir tenu line grancle place dansle retour, et, a la veille du depart, on s'occupa taut d'' assurer le service dela houteillerie dnrant le voyage, que de garnir en prevision de Varrivee, les caves du Vatican.
2 Kirsch, p. 184. For other loans made by Gregory, e.g. 30,000 florins in 1374 and 60,000 in 1376. see Mirot, p. 36.
8 Kirsch, pp. xx, xxii, 179.