Lini4 432 LUMA
took rides for this pope (Valois, " La France et le grand the French court met with mater success at the for- schisme d'occident", 1, 72-74). About 24 June, 1378, eign courts. However, neither the pope of Rome nor he joined the other non-Italian ciurdinals at Aiiagni, the pope of Avignon would consent to this way, so where he became convinced of the invalidity of the that the schism remained as heretofore, while general vote for Urban* VI. He took part in the election of discontent reigned in all Christian countries. An em- Rob^ of Geneva (Clement VI^ at Fondi on 20 Sept., bassy undertaken by Pierre d'Ailly, Bishop of Cam- 1378, and became a zealous adherent of this antipope brai, to Benedict, by order of Charles VI of France, wfaoee legality he energetically defended, and to whom and Wenceslaus of Germany, accomplished nothing. he rendered sreat service. In May, 1398, a third assembly of the French clergy
Clement VII sent him as legate to Spain for the took place, and they resolved to withdraw from the
Kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Portugal, obedience of Benedict. This resolution was published
in order to win them over to the obedience of the 27 July, 1398, and immediately took effect. On 1
Avignon pope. Owing to his powerful relations, his Sept., two royal conmiissioners publicly announced
influence in the Province of Aragon was very great, the withdrawal of the obedience at Villeneuve, near
In 1393 Clement VII appointed him legate to France, Avienon, inviting all the French clergy to leave Bene-
Brabant, Flanders, Scotland. England, and Ireland, diet s curia, under penalty of the forfeiture of their
As such he stayed principally in Paris, but he did benefices in France. ^ Also those who were not French
not confine his activities to those countries that lost their benefices in France if they still remained
belonged to the Avignon obedience. He did not with the pope at Avignon. On 2 Sept. seventeen
then oppose the union; on the contrary, he famil- cardinals left Avignon and took up their abode at
larized himself with the endeavours of the Univer- Villeneuve, on French territ»r}'. They sent an envoy
rity of Paris, which strove to suppress the schism, to Benedict, summoning him to agree to the via ce^
in consequence of which, on his return to the Curia stonia. But he declared that he would rather suffer
at Avignon, a coolness arose between Clement VII death. Then ei/jhteen cardinals left him and with-
and himself. When the latter died, 16 Sept., 1394, drew their obedience; only five cardinals remained
Pedro de Luna was unanimously chosen, 28 Sept., to faithful to him.
succeed him. His desire to put an end to the schism, Geoffroy Boucicout occupied Avignon with troops,
even if he had to renounce the papal dignity (via and besieged the pope in his p^ce, out failed to take
ceaHonis) was a strong inducement for the cardinals the papal fortress by storm. Benedict was at last
of the Avignon obedience to unite their votes in his obliged to treat with his enemies; in an understanding
favour. After his election he solenmly renewed his with his cardinals he pledged himself to renounce the
promises given during the conclave, to work for the papacy if the Roman pope would do likewise. Never-
re-establishment of unity, and if necessary to renounce theless on 9 May, 1399, the pope had a notar>', in the
the papacv in order to put an end to the schism. As presence of two witnesses, draw up a protest oppos-
he was only a deacon, he was made a priest on 3 Oct., ing these stipidations as obtained from him by force,
and on 11 Oct. was consecrated bishop and enthroned w£uch proceedings he repeated later on. The negotia-
as pope. He took the name of Benedict XIII. tions as to the custodians of the pope in his palace at
The choice of Cardinal de Luna was welcomed by Avignon were long drawn out, owing to Benedict's
theFrenchcourt, and by the University of Paris; they clever policy; at laat Louis of Orleans was chosen.
hoped that the new pope, who was much esteemed be- Meanwnile a change took place in the public opinion
cause of his austere life and personal ability, would by in favour of the pope who was considered to be ill-
his own efforts restore Church unity. Nevertheless used. Advances were made between the latter and the
Benedict XIII sought to preserve entire freedom of cardinals, and many theologians, among them Gerson
action in his relations with the King of France and the and Nicholas de Clemanges, began to attack as unlaw-
University of Paris. The assembly of the French ful the aforesaid withdrawal of the French obedience.
clenpr wluch took place 3 Feb., 1395, and lasted until The negotiations which France had carried on with the
18 Feb., in order to confer on a means of putting an different princes in order to end the schism met with no
end to the schism, agreed that the only way was for success. On 12 March, 1403, Benedict secretly took
hotb. popes to abdicate (via cessionis), and the French flight from Avignon, and reached territory belonging
court behoved it could arbitrarily put this expedient to Louis II of Anjou, where he was safe. Avignon
in practice. A brilliant embassy, headed bv three of immediately submitted again to him, and his cardinals
the most powerful French princes, brought this resolu- likewise recognized him, so that in a short time bis
tion to Benedict XIII, ana sought to gain his consent, obedience was re-estabhshed in the whole of France. But the pope obstinately opposed it, in spite of the Benedict XIII now renewed the interrupted ncgo-
fact that the cardinals sidea with the embassy. He tiations with the Roman pope, and in 1404 sent four
insisted that personal negotiations between both popes envoys to Rome, to suggest to Boniface IX that some
was the best course to pursue (via discussionis)^ and safe spot should be chosen for a meeting between the
tenaciously clung to his opinion. Upon which the two pcmes and both colleges of carclinals, and thus b^
French court and the University of Pans sought to win mutual agreement put an end to the schism. To t liis
over the secular princes to the support of the via proposition Boniface would not listen. After the lat-
ceBsionis, But the different embassies of the year ter's death (1 Oct., 1404) Benedict's envoys continued
12^ met with Uttle success. Meanwhile Benedict to parley with the Roman cardinals. THese however
XIII sought to enter into an alliance with the Roman on 17 Oct., elected Innocent VTI, who also declined
po]3e Boniface IX. Ambassadors were sent from any further negotiations. Meanwhile Benedict XIII
Avignon to Rome and vice versa; but Boniface IX was trying to strengthen his position through exten-
refused to entertain the idea of resigning, being as sion of his obedience. In May, 1405, he went to
finnly convinced as Benedict that he was the legiti- Genoa, in order to enter into new negotiations with
mate pope. Innocent VII, but apain without results. Benedict
The Avignon pope had possessions in Italy, which understood how to ^in new adherents, and now hope<l
he held on to with all his power; seeking not only to with their aid to drive his adversary from Rome and
prejudice the kings ^nd princes of Scotland, Castile, thus keep the field as the only ]iope. However, hisposi-
A&a Aragon who l^longea to his obedience against the tion in Italy again became critical. While his a ttitudo
action of the French court-, but to win them oyer to in France caused great dissatisfaction, partly because
his own cause; he also tried to win back the King of of his taxation of benefices, and partly because of his
France. Another assembly of the French clergy met indifference to the restoration of ecclesiastical unity;
16 Aug., 1396. They again dcK^ided in favour of the also because of his departure from Avignon. He rV-
Al>dicationof both popes; this time the ambasaadon of turned to Marseilles by way oi Nice, and declared
