Blanquerna

TU SOLUS ALTISSIMUS, JESU CHRISTE, CUM SANCTO SPIRITU IN GLORIA DEI PATRIS. AMEN

The Pope Blanquerna considered how he might bring peace and concord to the communities that are in great discord because they agree not in being obedient to one prince only who may rule them in peace and juStice. While the Pope considered thus, two friars learned in Arabic, who could not pass to a certain city wherein they desired to preach the Gospel, sent letters to the Pope telling him how that they were impeded, and saying that they could not go securely along the roads, and they begged the Pope that he would write to the prince of that land to give them escort, wherewith they might go to that city where they desired to be. When the Pope had 398

TV SOLUS ALTISSIMUS received the letter, he called the Cardinals, and spake to them these words:

2. “ Agreement was made among us that for so long as the Gloria in Excelsis Deo should laft, and be sung in Holy Church, there should be assigned to each clause a Cardinal to serve its office. Wherefore it is a thing moft needful that messengers be ordained who shall go to princes throughout the world, and treat concerning the manner wherein our friars may go through all the world to preach the Word of God, and that princes may have from us letters and prayers and thanks, that they may be favour¬ able to our friars through love of us. Likewise, it is necessary that we send messengers continually to the com¬ munes, and that we treat of peace throughout Lombardy and Tuscany and Venice, and that we treat likewise con¬ cerning the keeping of justice and charity between one commune and another. Wherefore I commit this office to the Cardinal who as yet has received none.”

3. Right pleasing to the Cardinal was this office of send¬ ing messengers, the which had been given to him by the Pope, and he sent his messengers through all the provinces, and commanded enquiry to be made as to which lands were bedt suited to the friars and to other men who had learned divers tongues, that by these roads they might go from one land to another. When the Cardinal had ordained all these things, the Pope sent his messengers bearing gifts from him to the princes of those lands, that they might cause the roads to be made safe for those that were sent by the Pope.

4. Along these roads the Cardinal eredted hotels and bridges and churches and other buildings, to the end that men might travel the more securely along these roads, and that, through the mingling of people from one country and another there might be charity and concord, and the Holy Roman Faith might be preached in the lands of pagans and of unbelievers. Great were the sums of money that the

BLANQUERNA

Chamberlain gave to the Cardinal to the end that he might accomplish the task aforementioned, wherefore he said to the Pope that he should gather together treasure from the possessions of Holy Church which might suffice for the officers of the Gloria in Excelsis Deo ; and the Pope made ordinance that the officers aforementioned should have all that was needful to them; and, through the example that Holy Church had of the officers of Gloria in Excelsis Deo , the income of the Church was greater than was the expen¬ diture which they disbursed in their offices.

j. “ Holy Father 1 ” said the Cardinal to the Pope. “ How may we order our messengers that they may bring peace to the communes ? ” The Pope answered and said to him that the messengers should go throughout the com¬ munes, and keep watch and see which commune did wrong to another; and the Pope made ordinance how that once in every year each power1 should come to a safe place whither all the other powers should come likewise, and that, after the manner of a chapter, they should hold dis¬ cussion in all friendship and make correction each of the other, and that they that refused to abide by the decisions of the definitors of the chapter should be fined. Where¬ fore, by reason of the ordinance which the Pope made in the manner aforementioned, the communes grew in peace and in concord.

6. It came to pass one day that two messengers from the king of India came to the Pope, beseeching him to give them Students to learn their language. So the Pope sent immediately to the Cardinal of Tu Solus Altissimus, and commanded him to procure that which the king of India besought of him ; for the procuring thereof accorded with his office. The Cardinal made treaty, and procured that which the Pope commanded him. Great was the benefit and good was the example that resulted from the office of the Cardinal. And because the Pope and the Cardinals

TU SOLUS ALTISS1MUS did their utmoft to serve in the offices which they had taken upon themselves, God gave to them blessing, and to their works fulfilment, and made them to be pleasing to men.

ENDED IS THE BOOK OF GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO

BEGINNETH THE FIFTH BOOK , WHICH IS OF THE LIFE OF THE HERMIT