convened at Worms to succeed to the brief pontificate of Damasus II.

On his way to Rome to be crowned the Pope-elect paid a visit to Cluny, where he made the acquaintance of Hildebrand, who was his junior by eleven years. Bruno was so much impressed with his conversation and ascetic appearance that he invited him to be his companion to the Eternal City. "I cannot go with you," briefly replied the monk. "But why not?" inquired the Bishop, astonished at the refusal delivered in a manner which appeared disrespectful and which was altogether foreign to the habitual courtesy of Hildebrand. Because," said he, "without being canonically instituted, you are going to lay hands on the See of St Peter. Never did Peter nor his Master give to earthly monarch the power to choose the Shepherd of the World."

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Bruno was silent at the unexpected reply which carried with it a conviction of its truth. The remark, uttered with that impressive earnestness for which Hildebrand was remarkable, opened out to the Bishop the consideration of a question, the importance of which he had overlooked. "His soul kindled at the words of the Prior, and he saw duty by a new light." His conscience was troubled by the idea that he had been, without any spiritual preparation, about to fill a position to which he had no right.

Dismissing his followers, he remained with Hildebrand during the night, and the early matins bell found them still in serious consultation. With his usual fertility of resource the monk devised a plan by which the Bishop might be elected to the Papal chair, not merely by the nomination of the Emperor, but also by the free votes of the Roman people and clergy. "Thus," counselled Hildebrand, "you shall taste with a peaceful conscience the joy of having entered the fold of Jesus Christ by the door like the Good Shepherd, and not by the window like the robber in the Gospel."

The next morning Bruno, acting on the advice of his friend, dismissed his attendants and the retinue with which

Bruno's Humility

the Emperor had furnished him. Accompanied only by Hildebrand he set out from the monastery attired in the simple garb of a pilgrim with "sandalled feet, staff in hand, and a scrip on his shoulder."

The crowds, who on the previous evening had beheld the arrival of the Bishop with his courtly train of French and German knights, were waiting in readiness to witness his departure. Great was their surprise, therefore, to see him emerge on foot and unaccompanied except by the black-robed Benedictine prior.

The story of Bruno's humility preceded him, and on his arrival in Rome crowds of excited citizens flocked to meet the pilgrim and escorted him with deafening plaudits to the Church of St Peter.

Bruno, however, had lost the self-confidence with which he had started from Germany to enter upon his pontifical career. His conscience had been wounded to the quick by the severe comments of the simple monk, who in that neverto-be-forgotten interview had communicated to him a share of his own enthusiastic devotion to the cause of the Church. He no longer considered himself worthy of the tiara, and with a new-born modesty hesitated to accept the honour which he had before considered within his grasp.

From the pulpit he made an impassioned appeal to the citizens and begged, nay, implored them to choose one better qualified by age and experience to fill the vacant throne.

But the people had already made their decision and nothing he could urge would convince them of his unfitness. Not even when, with the view of impressing his unworthiness upon them, he made a public confession of all his

sins.

As the review of his past life with all its weaknesses and errors passed before him, for he spared himself nothing, the remembrance wrung tears of penitential sorrow from his eyes, and his hearers wept in sympathy. Their opinion however remained unchanged, and far from regretting their choice they were all the more determined that such courage and

humility in avowing his faults should have "the reward of the highest place."

Bruno's entreaties were of no avail, and on the first Sunday in Lent, 1049, he was publicly enthroned and amid the acclamations of the people crowned under the title of Leo IX,1

His first act was to call a council at Rome on March 26, which was attended by a large concourse of Bishops from all parts of the Christian world.

It was, we learn, rather a stormy gathering, for the decrees laid down at the conclave did not meet with the approbation of many present. Among the laws passed were those especially directed against simony. All positions gained by gifts were declared null and void whether they were held by Bishops, priests or heads of monastic institutions, and clerics were warned under threat of excommunication to lead continent lives.

The word simony is derived from the name of Simon the Magician who offered the Apostles money to purchase from them the power of performing miracles and of communicating the gifts of the Holy Ghost. St Peter, it may be remembered, took upon himself as Head of the Church to denounce the impostor, and in words which have been handed down to us in Holy Writ administered a stern rebuke to the Magician for his presumption.2

Simony formed one of the worst evils of the age with which the Church was burdened, and against which Leo like his predecessors issued severe and stringent laws. It had been

1It may here be remarked that a Pope on his coronation takes a new name, generally that of some saintly predecessor whose virtues he most particularly wishes to imitate. He retains his Christian name, however, for the signature of ecclesiastical documents.

2 Peter said unto him, "Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven to thee.

"For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." Acts viii. 18-26.

laid down from the earliest Christian times that those placed in positions which enabled them to dispense the spiritual benefits of the Church were but the agents and not the owners of the heavenly treasures, and that they could not make exchange for temporal gifts.

Favoured by the baneful practice Bishops and other Church dignitaries were chosen for their adherence to the political factions which elected them rather than for their own fitness. Ecclesiastical benefices were left vacant in order that the revenues might be appropriated by the powerful and extravagant nobles of that period, whose vices went unchecked and unreproved by these time-serving prelates.

From Italy the Pontiff proceeded to Germany where he was joyfully welcomed by the nobles who had shared his youthful sports and by the Emperor with whom he celebrated the Feast of St Peter and St Paul at Cologne.

Before entering the cloister Leo, when Count of Hapsburg, had been trained with his relative Henry in all the warlike exercise of the day. He had exhibited such proficiency in these passages of arms that he became famous for his military skill and feats of daring, and young as he was had already gained some glory in the field.

When therefore on his return to Rome, he found the new settlers, the Normans, had besieged and laid waste Apulia, then belonging to the Church, the memory of old days came upon him and revived his martial spirit. Then we are told was seen the strange sight of a Pope of Rome riding to do battle at the head of an army, which included seven hundred Suabians.

His soldiers were, however, unable to resist the impetuous rush of the fierce and well-accoutred Normans, who numbered some three thousand. They were defeated at the outset, and Leo was taken prisoner.

Great was the consternation of those valiant children of the Church on becoming aware of the identity of their captive. They treated him with the utmost respect, waiting

upon him with bended knee and offering him all the hospitality which their camp afforded.

The Pontiff, who had resigned himself to his fate, was surprised and touched by these unlooked-for evidences of submission to the Holy See. In his joy at his unexpected treatment, he conferred upon the chief the title of Count of Apulia, and bestowed on him and his followers the lands they had seized to be held as fiefs of the Church.

By this graceful and diplomatic act he so won the affection of his captors, already impressed by "his virtues and manly bearing," that they became henceforth the most zealous adherents and firm champions of St Peter's chair.

Leo was no less taken by the appearance and simple piety of their leader, Robert Guiscard, or Wiseheart, heir of the celebrated Tancred, whose twelve sons were equally renowned for their courage and chivalry.

On the Pope's return to Rome he was, at his request, accompanied by Robert and a retinue of Normans, who appeared to be on the best possible terms with their late antagonists.

Tidings of the capture of the Pontiff had naturally caused universal consternation in Rome, but the anxieties of the Cardinals were soon relieved by assurances of his safety. When he appeared within sight of the city, the people deserted their houses, and with loud demonstrations of welcome hurried to the gates to greet him.

Great was their joy and astonishment to behold him riding at the head of the long cavalcade by the side of Duke Robert, who paid him the deference due rather to a conqueror than to a prisoner of war.

There was one who would have responded to Leo's call to arms, and whose martial power would probably have changed the tide of war, but alas! death had laid him low and the courtly Boniface would ride forth to battle no more.

The Margrave had been accidentally shot by one of his friends while hunting in the forest, and at first the hurt was thought to be but trivial. But though, under the never