fited by the Lucchese at the stronghold of Asciano._

Sec. 50.--_Of the death of Pope Gregory, and of three other Popes after
him._

[Sidenote: 1275 A.D.]

[Sidenote: 1276 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Purg. xix. 98-145.]

[Sidenote: Par. xii. 134, 135.]

[Sidenote: 1277 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 69-87.]

[Sidenote: 1280 A.D.]

In the year of Christ 1275, on the eighteenth day of the month of
December, when Pope Gregory X. was returning from the council at
Lyons-on-Rhone, he arrived in the country of Florence; and forasmuch
as the city of Florence was under interdict, and her inhabitants
excommunicate, because they had not observed the treaty of peace which
he had made between the Guelfs and Ghibellines, as was aforesaid, he
was not minded to enter into Florence, but by cunning he was led past
the old walls, and some said that he could have done no other, because
the river Arno was so swollen by rain that he could not cross the
ford, but needs must cross over the Rubaconte Bridge, so that
unwittingly, and not being able to do otherwise, he entered into
Florence; and whilst he was passing over the bridge, and through the
Borgo San Nicolo, he took off the interdict, and passed on, blessing
the folk; but so soon as he was without he renewed the interdict, and
excommunicated the city afresh, with a wrathful mind repeating that
verse of the Psalter which says: "In camo et fraeno maxillas eorum
constringe" [Ps. xxxiii. 9]; wherefore the Guelfs which were governing
Florence were in great doubt and fear. And the said Pope departing
from Florence, went to the abbey at Ripole, and from there straightway
he departed to Arezzo; and being come to Arezzo, he fell sick, and as
it pleased God, he passed from this life on the tenth day of the
following month of January, and was buried in Arezzo with great
honour; at whose death the Guelfs of Florence rejoiced greatly, by
reason of the evil will which the said Pope had towards them. And when
the Pope was dead, straightway the cardinals were shut up, and on the
twentieth day of the said month of January they proclaimed as Pope,
Innocent V. a Burgundian, which had been a preaching friar and then a
cardinal; and he lived as Pope until the following June, so that he
did little, and died in the city of Viterbo, and was there buried
honourably. And after him, on the twelfth day of July, Cardinal
Ottobuono dal Fiesco, of the city of Genoa, was elected, which lived
as Pope but twenty-nine d