Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 3.djvu/610

 594 INTELLECT AND FAITH. he convinced of its truth that he would take steps to burn all who denied it, including the pope himself. Even Robert of Naples joined in remonstrance. Haughty and obstinate as John had proved himself, he could not resist single-handed the indignation of all Europe, and he yielded. He purchased peace by political concessions, and wrote humbly to Philippe and Robert that he had never positively denied the Beatific Vision, but had treated it simply as an open question, subject to discussion. Even this was not enough. All his ambitious schemes had broken down. In Germany, Louis of Bavaria was posing as the defender of the faith. In France, even the weak Philippe de Yalois had resumed his ascendency over Avignon. In Italy, John's son, Cardinal Ber- tram! , had been forced to fly, and Lombardy had freed itself. For the wretched old man there was nothing left but to recant and die. He had convoked a consistory for December 2, 1234, to choose a successor to Louis of Bavaria, but before daybreak he was seized with a fatal flux which stretched him hopeless on his bed. Towards evening of the next day he assembled the cardi- nals and exhorted them to select a worthy successor to the chair of St. Peter, when his kindred urged him to save his soul and the reputation of the Church by withdrawing from his opinions as to the Beatific Vision. The s'ecrets of that awful death-bed have never been revealed, but after he passed away on the 5th, a bull was promulgated over his name in which he professed his belief as to the Divine Vision, and, if he had in that or anything else held opinions in conflict with those of the Church, he revoked all that he might have said or done, and submitted himself to its judgment. Humiliating as was this. Michele da Cesena pronounced it insufficient, as he made no formal confession of error and re- cantation, whence it was to be inferred that he died a contuma- cious heretic. Even Paris was not satisfied, although conclusions were not expressed so openly.* de Spina Fortalic. Fidei Lib. it. Consid. xii. — Yitodurani Chron. (Eccard. Corp. Hist. I. 1806-7).— Martene Thesaur. I. 1383.— D'Argentre I. i. 316-17. 319-22.— Isambert, Anc. Loix Franc. IV. 387.— Guillel. Nangiac. Contin. ami. 1333.— Ray- nald. ann. 1334, No. 27, 37, etc.— Wadding, ann. 1334, No. 14.— Villani, XI. 19.— Baluz. et Mansi, III. 350.— Grandes Chroniques, ann. 1334 (V. 97).
 * W. Pieger, Die Politik des P;ibstes Johann XXII. pp. 14, 66, 69.— Alphons.