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Marco Polo, Rustichello of Pisa - The Travels of Marco Polo, 1
NOTE 1. - The death of Pope Clement IV. occurred on St Andrew's Day (29th November), 1268; the
election of Tedaldo or Tebaldo of Piacenza, a member of the Visconti family, and Archdeacon of Liege,
did not take place till 1st September, 1271, owing to the factions among the cardinals. And it is said that
some of them, anxious only to get away, voted for Theobald in full belief that he was dead. The
conclave, in its inability to agree, had named a committee of six with full powers which the same day
elected Theobald, on the recommendation of the Cardinal Bishop of Portus (John de Toleto, said, in spite
of his name, to have been an Englishman). This facetious dignitary had suggested that the roof should be
taken off the Palace at Viterbo where they sat, to allow the divine influences to descend more freely on
their counsels (quia nequeunt ad nos per tot tecta ingredi). According to some, these doggerel
verses, current on the occasion, were extemporised by Cardinal John in the pious exuberance of his glee:
-
"Papatus munus tulit Archidiaconus unus
Quem Patrem Patrum fecit discordia Fratrum."
The Archdeacon, a man of great weight of character, in consequence of differences with his Bishop (of
Liege), who was a disorderly liver, had gone to the Holy Land, and during his stay there he contracted
great intimacy with Prince Edward of England (Edward I.). Some authors, e.g. John Villani (VIII. 39),
say that he was Legate in Syria; others, as Rainaldus, deny this; but Polo's statement, and the authority
which the Archdeacon took on himself in writing to the Kaan, seem to show that he had some such
position.
He took the name of Gregory X., and before his departure from Acre, preached a moving sermon on the
text, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem," etc. Prince Edward fitted him out for his voyage.
Gregory reigned barely four years, dying at Arezzo 10th January, 1276. His character stood high to the
last, and some of the Northern Martyrologies enrolled him among the saints, but there has never been
canonisation by Rome. The people of Arezzo used to celebrate his anniversary with torch-light
gatherings at his tomb, and plenty of miracles were alleged to have occurred there. The tomb still stands
in the Duomo at Arezzo, a handsome work by Margaritone, an artist in all branches, who was the Pope's
contemporary. There is an engraving of it in Gonnelli, Mon. Sepolc. di Toscana.
(Fra Pipino in Muratori, IX. 700; Rainaldi Annal. III. 252 seqq.;
Wadding, sub. an. 1217: Bollandists, 10th January; Palatii, Gesta Pontif. Roman. vol.
iii., and Fasti Cardinalium, I. 463, etc.)
CHAPTER XII. HOW THE TWO BROTHERS PRESENTED THEMSELVES BEFORE THE
NEW POPE.
And when they had been thus honourably conducted to Acre they proceeded to the presence of the Pope,
and paid their respects to him with humble reverence. He received them with great honour and
satisfaction, and gave them his blessing. He then appointed two Friars of the Order of Preachers to
accompany them to the Great Kaan, and to do whatever might be required of them. These were
unquestionably as learned Churchmen as were to be found in the Province at that day - one being called
Friar Nicolas of Vicenza, and the other Friar William of Tripoli.[NOTE 1] He delivered to them also
proper credentials, and letters in reply to the Great Kaan's messages [and gave them authority to ordain
priests and bishops, and to bestow every kind of absolution, as if given by himself in proper person;
sending by them also many fine vessels of crystal as presents to the Great Kaan].[NOTE 2] So when they
had got all that was needful, they took leave of the Pope, receiving his benediction; and the four set out
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