^04

THE DECLINE AND FALL

chap, the popes enjoyed an honourable and tranquil

.state, to which they long had been strangers:

but Italy deplored their absence; and Rome , insolitude and poverty, might repent of the un-governable freedom which had driven from theVatican the successor of St. Peter. Her repent-ance was tardy and fruitless: after the death ofthe old members, the sacred college was filledwith French cardinals, p who beheld Rome andItaly with abhorrence and contempt, and perpe-tuated a series of national, and even provincial,popes, attached by the most indissoluble ties totheir native country.

of the ju'bi- The progress of industry had produced andlee or holy enriched the Italian republics: the era of their

vear, . 1 #

a d. i3oo. liberty is the most nourishing period of popula-tion and agriculture, of manufactures and com-merce; and their mechanic labours were gradu-ally refined into the arts of elegance and genius.But the position of Rome was less favourable,the territory less fruitful; the character of the in-habitants was debased by indolence and elatedby pride; and they fondly conceived that thetribute of subjects must for ever nourish the me-tropolis of the church and empire. This preju-dice was encouraged in some degree by the re-sort of pilgrims to the shrines of the apostles;and the last legacy of the popes, the institution

p Clement V. immediately promoted ten cardinals, nine French andone English (Vita 4ta. p. G3, et Bahiz. p. 625, &c.) In 1331, thepope refused two candidates recommended by the king of France , quodxx Cardinales, de quibus xvii de Kegno Franciae originem traxissenoicuntur in meraorato collegio existaut (Tbomassin, Discipline deTEglise, tom. i, p 1281).