150 THE MIDDLE AGES. A.D. 1294-1517.
rode in and out of the town every day. He states that 80,000 witnessed the coronation of Martin V. The lodgings of the more distinguished personages were marked with their coats of arms. Bakers, beadles, grooms, scribes, goldsmiths, merchantmen of every sort, even to traffickers from the Orient, flocked together to serve the dukes and prelates and the learned university masters and doctors. Thej-e were in ati tendance on the council, 33 cardinals, 5 patriarchs, 47 archbishops, 145 bishops, 93 titular bishops, 217 doctors of theology, 361 doctors in both laws, 171 doctors of medicine, besides a great number of masters of arts from the 37 univecsities_represented, 83 kings and princes represented by envoys, 38 dukes, 173 counts, 71 barons, more than 1500 knights, 142 writers of bulls, 1700 buglers, fiddlers, and players on other musical instruments. 700 women of the street practised their trade openly or in rented houses, while the number of those who practised it secretly was a matter of conjecture.^ There were 36,000 beds for strangers. 500 are said to have been drowned in the lake during the progress of the council. Huss wrote, "This council is a scene of foulness, for it is a common saying among the Swiss that a generation will not suffice to cleanse Constance from the sins which the council has committed in this city.'"^
The English and Scotch delegation, which numbered less than a dozen persons, was accompanied by 700 or 800 mounted men, splendidly accoutred, and headed by fifers and other musicians, and made a great sensation by their entry into the city. The French delegation was marked by its university men and other men of learning. ^
1 Offene Iluren in den Hurenhdusern und solche, die selber Illiuser gemiethet hatten und in den Sld/len lagen und wo sie mochten, doren toaren liber 700 und die heimlichen, die lass ich helibnen. Kichental, p. 215. The numbers above are taken from Richental, whose account, from p. 154 to 215, is taken up with the lists of names. See also Van tier Ilardt, V. 50-53, who gives 18,000 prelates and priests and 80,000 laymen. A later hand has attached to RichentaPs narrative the figures 72,4G0.
2 Workman : Letters of ITnss, p. 2G3.
8 U.sk, p. 304 ; Kymer, Foidrr., IX. 107; Richental, p. 34, .speaks of the French as die Schulpfaffen und die gelehrten Leute aus Frankreich,
§ 16. THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE. 1414-1418. 151
The streets and surroundings presented the spectacle of a merry fair. There were tournaments, dances, acrobatic shows, processions, musical displays. But in spite of the congestion, good order seems to have been maintained. By order of the city council, persons were forbidden to be out after curfew without a light. Chains were to be stretched across some of the streets, and all shouting at night was forbidden. It is said that during the council's jDrogress only two persons were punished for street brawls. A check was put upon extortionate rates by a strict tariff. The price of a white loaf was fixed at a penny, and a bed for two persons, with sheets and pillows, at a gulden and a half a month, the linen to be washed every two weeks. Fixed prices were put upon grains, meat, eggs, birds, and other articles of food.^ The bankers present were a great number, among them the young Cosimo de' Medici of Florence.
Among the notables in attendance, the pope and Sigismund occupied the chief place^ The most inordinate praise was heaped upon the king. He was compared to Daniel, who rescued Susanna, and to David. He was fond of pleasure, very popular with women, always in debt and calling for money, but a deadly foe of heretics, so that whenever he roared, it was said, the Wyclifites fled.^ There can be no doubt that to Sigismund were due the continuance and succ^s of the cpuEiciL His queen, Barbara, the daughter of a Styrian count, was tall and fair, but of questionable reputation, and her gallantries became the talk of the town.
The jiext most eminent persons were Cardinals D'Ailly, Zabarella, Fillastre, John of Ragusa, and Hallum, bishop of Salisbury, who died during the session of the council, and was
1 Kichenta,!, p. 39 sqq., gives an elaborate list of these regulations.
2 So de Vrie, the poet-historian of the council, Hardt, 1. 193. The following description is from the accomplished pen of ^neas Sylvius, afterwards Pius II: "He was tall, with bright eyes, broad forehead, pleasantly rosy cheeks, and a long, thick beard. He was witty in conversation, given to wine and women, and thousands of love intrigues are laid to his charge. He had a large mind and formed many plans, but was changeable. He was prone to anger, but ready to forgive. He could not keep his money, but spent lavishly. He made more promises than he kept, and often deceived."