OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 359

The execution of their design was opposed by chap.weighty and almost insuperable obstacles, A LXX 'king of France , who has deserved the epithet ofwise, was unwilling to release them from a localdependence: the cardinals, for the most part hissubjects, were attached to the language, man-ners, and climate of Avignon ; to their statelypalaces; above all, to the wines of Burgundy.

In their eyes, Italy was foreign or hostile; and Return ofthey reluctantly embarked at Marseilles , as if^anthey had been sold or banished into the land ofOct. n>-the Saracens. Urban the fifth resided three April 17 Jyears in the Vatican with safety and honour: hissanctity was protected by a guard of two thou-sand horse; and the king of Cyprus , the queenof Naples, and the emperors of the East andWest, devoutly saluted their common father inthe chair of St. Peter. But the joy of Petrarch and the Italians was soon turned into grief andindignation. Some reasons of public or privatemoment, his own impatience or the prayers ofthe cardinals, recalled Urban to France ; andthe approaching election was saved from thetyrannic patriotism of the Romans. Thepowers of heaven were interested in their cause:Bridgetof Sweden, a saint and pilgrim, disap-proved the return, and foretold the death, ofUrban the fifth : the migration of Gregory the Final re-eleventh was encouraged by St. Catherine of GregorySienna, the spouse of Christ and ambassa- XI i, , 377jdress of the Florentines; and the popes them- Jan 17 -selves, the great masters of human credulity,appear to have listened to these visionary fe-