THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, the restoration of the good estate , his favourite, lm- expression, was entertained among the peopleas a desirable, a possible, and at length as anapproaching event; and while all had the dis-position to applaud, some had the courage toassist their promised deliverer.

He a>-^ A prophecy, or rather a summons, affixed ongovern- the church-door of St. George, was the first pub-Rom e ? f lie evidence of his designs; a nocturnal assem-May'ao 47 ’ kty °f an hundred citizens on mount Aventine,the first step to their execution. After an oathof secrecy and aid, he represented to the conspi-rators the importance and facility of their enter-prise; that the nobles, without union or resources,were strong only in the fear of their imaginarystrength; that all power, as well as right, was inthe hands of the people; that the revenues of theapostolical chamber might relieve the public dis-tress; and that the pope himself would approvetheir victory over the common enemies of go-vernment and freedom. After securing a faith-ful band to protect his first declaration, he pro-claimed through the city, by sound of trumpet,that on the evening of the following day all per-sons should assemble without arms before thechurch of St. Angelo, to provide for the re-esta-blishment of the good estate. The whole nightwas employed in the celebration of thirty massesof the Holy Ghost; and in the morning, Rienzi,bareheaded, but in complete armour, issued fromthe church, encompassed by the hundred conspi-rators. The pope’s vicar, the simple bishop ofOrvieto , who had been persuaded to sustain apart in this singular ceremony, marched on his