§ 59.—Of the death of Pope Clement.
1314 a.d.
In the year 1314, on the 20th day of April, Pope Clement died; he was on his way to Bordeaux, in Gascony, and when he had passed the Rhone at Roquemaure, in Provence, he fell sick and died. This was a man very greedy of money, and a simoniac, which sold in his court every Inf. xix. 82-87. Par. xvii. 82, xxvii. 58-60, xxx. 142-148. Epist. v. 10: 167, 168. benefice for money, and was licentious; for it was openly said that he had as mistress the countess of Perigord, a most beautiful lady, daughter of the count of Foix. And he bequeathed to his nephews and family immense and boundless treasure; and it was said that while the said Pope was yet alive, one of his nephews, a cardinal, died, whom he greatly loved; and he constrained a great master of necromancy to tell him what had become of his nephew's soul. The said master having wrought his arts, caused a chaplain of the Pope, a very courageous man, to be conducted by the demons, which had him to hell, and showed him visibly a palace wherein was a bed of glowing fire, and thereon was the soul of the said nephew which was dead, and they said to him that for his simony he was thus judged. And he saw in his vision another palace being raised over against the first, which they told him was being prepared for Pope Clement. And the said chaplain brought back these tidings to the Pope, which was never afterwards glad, and he lived but a short time longer; and when he was dead, and his body had been left for the night in a church with many lights, his coffin caught fire and was burnt, and his body from the middle downwards.
§ 60.—How Uguccione da Faggiuola with the Pisans took the city of Lucca and stole the treasure of the Church. § 61.—How M. Peter, brother of King Robert, came to Florence as lord. § 62.—How King Robert went with a great armament against Sicily, and besieged the city of Trapali.
§ 63.—How the Paduans were discomfited at Vicenza by M. Cane della Scala.
1314 a.d.
Johannes de Virgilio. Carmen v. 28.
Par. xvii. 76-93.
In the said year 1314, on the 18th day of September, the Paduans went in full force to Vicenza, and took the suburbs, and besieged the city; but M. Cane, lord of Verona, suddenly came to Vicenza, and with a few followers fought against the Paduans; and they being in disorder, trusting in themselves too much after having taken the suburbs, were discomfited, and many of them were slain and taken prisoner.
§ 64.—How the Florentines made peace with the Aretines. § 65.—How a comet appeared in the heavens.
§ 66.—Of the death of Philip, king of France, and of his sons.
1314 a.d.