The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-24
ADRIAN, TIE ENGLISH POPE.
IN THREE CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER I.

There is nothing new under the sun, wrote |
Solomon, and in its essential meaning there is no
truer aphorism in the whole Book Of Wisdom. OF
this every hour of the worlds life bears testi-
mony but there is one especial period in that
mulhtudnous existence which, illustrated by
passing events, yiyidly demonstrates its truth
Seven centuries have been added to a past
eternity since the same conflict was raging
in Rome, Italy, Germany, France, with
respect to the temporal as distinguished
from the spiritual power of the POpes, as
that which now agitates the public mind Of
Europe. The incidents of the struggle, too, bear
o wonderful resemblance to one another In
glancing over the angry polemics of that tenn
pestuous time, one faucies he must have before
him the singing sarcasms of Edmond About,
letters from the Turin correspondent of the ID'eS
Mazznis passionate philippics, and the fiery pro-
tests of Montalembert and Dupanloup. Yes
seven hundred years ago the Pope was driven
from Rome by the people of the Eternal City,
who insisted that he should abdicatc his temporal
functon-be Pontin, not King and Roman
republic was proclaimed and established which
lasted fifty years. showing that though the same
things may be written many times in the worlds
history, the text often varies in subordinate
details.
The banished Popes forced their way back to
Rome with the help of foreign troops; were again
expelled; and to make confusion worse con-
founded, the conclave was divided (ll30) as to
who should succeed n deceased POntih in 81.
Peters chaT-One half nominating Innocent the
Second, the other Anaceutus the SecOnd-POpe
and antelope, as they are termed. 1t was de-
Hghtful hurly-burly, in which three OF the most
conspicuous cOmbatants were St. Bernard-un-
ouaiiing champion of the temporal power; Abe.
lard-Heloise Abelard-and his famous disciple,
Arnold of Brescia, a far abler man, opposed to
him. The Guephs-as the champions of King
PontiG were called-ultimately triumphed over
their antagonists the GhtOellines. But the victory
was achieved neither by the zeal and eloquence
of st. Bernard, nor by the efforts of the savage
soldiery enlisted on the side Of the Popes.
lie who abolished the Roman republic of those
days. brought back the Roman people to its ale
glance TO the temporal as well as spiritual GOmi
nion of the Pontifs, compelled the mighty empe-
ror of the West 10 hold his stirrup when he
mounted his palfrey was, when Abelard lectured,
st. Bernard prayed, preached and prosecuted,
Nicholas Breakspeare, once wretched, half
starved English boy, tending swine in the woods
around ST. Adams, HertfOrdshire, and destined
in the fulness of time to be the one hundred and
sixty-seyenth Pope, and the only Englishman
who has ever worn the tiara. The purpose OF
this paper is to sketch in brief outline that mar
Vellous career. However feebly done, it can
hardly fail to excite interest and convey instruc-
tion.
at Langley, village in the neighborhood Of ST.
Adams, in the beginning of the eleventh century
The condition in life OF the family was that OF
laborers, but not yilliens-ddscripta glebe-and
one would suppose that Robert Breakspeare, the
father, must have in some way obtained snat-
tering of cerkly lore, as he, having in middle age
taken sanctuary in the monastery OF st. Adams,
was in due time cOnsecrated priest and admit
ted into the brotherhood. Learning, however,
was net in those days an Indispensable qualihca-
tion for the priestly office; 1t was enough to be
able to read the church services, and he may
have acquired that faculty during his noyitiate.
He had committed some oAense against the
forest laws, and would have been strung mp 10
the nearest tree had he not fed 70 sanctuary. In
those evil AaVg mOuaSIefieg the only refuge
of the oppressed Saxon. The great mass OF the
monks were Englishmen by blood as well rs
birth, and it was from a sentiment OF nationality,
as well as Christian compassion, that the poor
hunted labOrer Of Langley was enrolled member
of the fraternity at st. Adams, and permitted TO
supersede, as the Romish canon law has IL, the
marriage Yow-hs wife being aliye-by higher,
yet more sacred obligation.
The compelled deserton of his wife and son by
the husband and father threw the maintenance OF
himself and his mother upon Nicholas Break
speare--a frail support, though Nicholas was
then stout handsome lad some seventeen
years Of age, and did not spare himself in minis,
tering to his mothers wants. His employment
as swineherd barely provided himself with coarse
distressful food and ragged raiment and 70 exc
out his mothers means he was tain, after his
regular daily task was done, his herd Of swine
driven home, 10 employ himself in any Of the
most repulsiye menial work at the monastery
which he could obtain; work paid for, not in
coin, but by increase Of the daily dole b his mo
ther which she, in common with the poor Of the
tery Nicholas himself remained as ill-ted, az
ill-clad as ever. SO altogether tattered and tori
was the appearance Of the future Pope, that hi
father, q stern, morose man, sought by threats
sometimes by violence, to prevent him from
coming to the monastery, either for dole or Il
labor.
The uses Of adversely were blessed to Ncholo
Breakspeare, His clear, powerful, though untu
tored intellect early perceived that two power
Dominated ChrIsieudOm, and only twO--3 war
like, territorial aristOcraCy, and the Church, Hi
father securely buCdered from the vengeance o
great baron by the clerical power, was an In
struciye lesson and the young swineherd intui
lively seized the iudisputable truth, that in thos
days, when every one believed in the absolute
privilege Of the priest TO send soul direct Z
paradise, or Shut II up in hell forever, the powe
Of the keys, iudiciOusly welded, would away
prove an oyermatch for steel and gold combined
Those who could kill the body were to be feared
but how infinitely more so those who could slay
the soul. II was by that conviction the career o
Nicholas Breakspeare was shaped. Guiding him
self by il, he found his way to the pontifca
throne, and, seated thereon, welded scepr
absolute, triumphant as that Of Hildebrant
(Gregory the SEVENTY, the Car Peter Of tn
Romish Church, TO borrow phrase from Mon
sieur Guizot. Nicholas BreakspeQre, the swine
herd determined TO be "cler6"
But how TO obtain admission TO the priesthood
That was the question, and one very difficult 0
satisfactory solution. The Abbot Of the monas
Lery, Abbot Richard was not his friend, RQbel