CHAPTER I

PAGE

Saints of the Church 1

A Friend in Rome—A Story of Two Ways of Loving—AglaË and Boniface—Become Christians—A New Life—Boniface Endures Terrible Tortures—Martyrdom—Death of AglaË—Church of St. Boniface—Alexis, the Pilgrim—His Travels—Return to Rome—A Ragged Beggar—His Death and Burial in St. Boniface’s Church—St. Alexis’ Monastery—Trials of the Church After Constantine—Rome’s Lowest Ebb—Growth of the Spiritual City—Benedict the Blessed, and Scholastica.

CHAPTER II

Founder of Monasticism 15

Norcia in the Sabines—A Matrona—The Twins, Benedict and Scholastica—Benedict Goes to Rome—Conversion of Placidus—Benedict’s Retirement to La Mentorella—Life in a Cave—Temptations—Visit of St. Francis—Benedict’s Ministering—Real Founder of Monastic Life—Growth of His Order—Placidus and Maurus—St. Benedict’s Personality and Conversions—His Ideal of the Religious Life—His Greatest Miracles—His Sister, Scholastica—The Last Day Together—His Ascension.

CHAPTER III

St. Gregory the Great 37

Birth and Lineage of St. Gregory—Path from the World to the Cloister—Prayer, Study, and Charity—His Cat—A Prophecy—A Cardinal Deacon—Mission to Constantinople—Eutyches’ Heresy—Rome in Pestilence—Gregory Elected Pope—His Unbelievable Accomplishments—His Life as Pope—Championship of the Oppressed—Bond with English-speaking People—The Great Procession During the Pestilence—Gregory’s Successors.

CHAPTER IV

Memories of the Pantheon 52

The Pantheon—Hadrian’s Best Monument—Long Idle—Consecrated as St. Mary of the Martyrs—The Cathedral, the Symbol of the Soul—Its Purification—Continuity of the Church—A Priest’s Visit—The Alabaster Square—Procession of the Martyrs’ Relics—Giovanni Borgi, the Workman—Italian Guilds—Giovanni’s Selflessness—His Rescue of the Forsaken Children—Care of Them—Crusade in Behalf of All the Waifs of Rome—His Work of Love—Giovanni’s Successor, Later Pius IX.

CHAPTER V

Early Life of Father Mastai 70

Birth in 1792—A Happy Family—His Youth—Epilepsy—The Church at the Time of Napoleon—Abduction of Pius to Avignon—Napoleon’s Downfall—Return of the Pope to Rome—His Reception—Prophecies Regarding Pius IX—His Journey to Chile—Ocean Trip—Across the Andes—Failure of Mission—Rounding Cape Horn—English Settlement on the Cape—“Love-of-the-Soil”—The Falkland Islands.

CHAPTER VI

Pope Pius IX 91

Director of Ospizio di San Michele—A Splendid Record—Archbishop of Spoleto—A Turbulent Populace—Order Restored—Revolution in Europe—Spoleto Saved—The Earthquake in Umbria—New Post at Imola—Secret Societies—A Cardinal—Attack upon the Three Prelates—The Cardinal’s Bravery—How the Saints Forgive—Pope Pius IX—His Charity and Justice—Defenders of the Poor—Anecdotes of the Cardinal’s Generosity.

CHAPTER VII

Captivity of Pope Pius VII 108

Lebzeltern, the Ambassador of the Austrian Emperor—Origin of His Mission—Napoleon’s Anger Against Pius VII—Arrest of the Pope—Protests from the Church—Napoleon Excommunicated—Vain Efforts to Evade the Bull—Instructions for the Mission—“Do All, or Else, Do Nothing”—Pius VII in His Sixty-eighth Year—The Interview—The Pope’s Position—His Generosity—Message to Napoleon—Continued Captivity—Return to Rome—Napoleon’s Expiation.

CHAPTER VIII

In Sabina 131

Castel Gandolfo—Its Gardens—The Sabine Hills—The Reverendo—An Expedition into the Hills-The Campagna in the Early Morning—“Our Lady of Good Counsel”—Ancient PrÆneste—Italy’s Landscape—Struggles of the Colonna—Destruction of Palestrina—Boniface’s Revenge and Expiation—Olevano, the Haunt of Artists—“Picturesque Utility”—The Wrong Train—Romance of a Pebble—The Work of the Saints.

CHAPTER IX

People of the Hills 152

The Apennines—View from a Peak—Real Hospitality—Polenta—Woods of Sabina—A Hill Family—The Cook—A Queer Adventure—People of the South—A Night Festival in the Abruzzi—The Journey—The Old Organ—Marion Crawford’s Boys—Juvenile Theatricals.

CHAPTER X

A Story of Venice 172

A Follower of the Condottieri—The Raw Recruit—Division of the Dukedom of Milan—Carmagnola’s Turn—Growth in Wealth and Power—Disaffection—Venice Acquires His Services—War with Milan—A Leisurely Campaign—Carmagnola at the Height of His Glory—Fortune Turns Against the Venetians—Stirrings of Suspicion—Reception in Venice—The Senate Chamber—Growing Dusk—The Attack—End of His Part in the World—Another Story of the North—St. Raniero, the Patron of Pisa—The Power of Temperance.

CHAPTER XI

Queen Joan of Naples 191

A Conspicuous Feminine Sinner—Marriage of State—Her Beauty—Her Hungarian Husband—Petrarch and the Monk—Joan’s Ascent to the Throne—The Naples Succession—Her Favourites—The Churches of Naples—Joan’s Lovers—Factions of Naples—Charles of Durazzo—A Bold Proposal—Charles’ Ambitious Plots—War of the Factions—Disappearance of Maria—Becomes the Wife of Charles—Joan’s Horror.

CHAPTER XII

A MediÆval Nightmare 208

Pact Between Charles and Andrew of Hungary—Joan’s Homage to the Papal Legate—Andrew Ignored—Arrival of Andrew’s Mother—Andrew Upheld by the Pope—His Reprisals—“The Man Must Die”—The Queen’s Conspiracy—Last Meeting of Charles and Andrew—The Hunting Expedition—The Banquet in the Monastery—The Murder—Tempest Breaks over Joan’s Head—An Evil Blow at Charles—Trial of Andrew’s Murderers—A Nightmare of Cruelty and Fear.

CHAPTER XIII

The Vampire-Monarch from Hungary 233

Charles’ Further Acts as Dictator—Rise of the Favoured Louis of Taranto—Civil War—A Scheme of the Empress of Constantinople—Interference of the King of Hungary—The Empress Again to the Rescue—Hungary’s Advance—Death of the Empress—Flight of the Neapolitan Nobles—Joan and Her Husband in Provence—Charles’ Well-merited Fate—The King of Hungary’s Vengeance—Government by Execution.

CHAPTER XIV

End of Joan’s Career 246

Joan Detained at Aix—Greeted as a Queen—Joan Pronounced Innocent—Plans to Regain Naples—Sale of a City—Return to Naples—Indecisive War—Proposal for Personal Conflict—Flight of the Royal Family—Maria’s Narrow Escape—Hungarians Repulsed—Pope Clement as Intermediary—Departure of the King of Hungary—Festivity in Naples—Death of Louis and Joan’s Further Marital Adventures—Joan in Trouble—Her Untimely End.

CHAPTER XV

Naples under Murat 263

Beauty of Naples—Figures of Its History—St. Januarius—Murat, King of Naples—Achievements as King—The Carbonari—England’s Promises—Napoleonic Diplomacy—Rise of the Bourbons—Alliance with Austria—Murat’s Indecision—Distrust of the Allies—Murat’s Statesmanship—Talleyrand’s Diplomacy—Naples, the Gay—Conspiracy in the Palace—The Escape from Elba—Ideal Government—War Against Murat—Advance of the Austrians—Murat Driven to Naples—Interview with His Wife—Last Instructions to His Ministers—Escape.

CHAPTER XVI

Murat’s Last Days 299

Naples in Anarchy—Entrance of Austrians—Murat’s Repulse by Napoleon and by Louis—His Demon of Ill-luck—Ship-wrecked—Aid in Corsica—Emperor of Austria’s Proposal—Attempt Against Naples—Murat Betrayed into Ferdinand’s Hands—Murat’s “Trial”—Letter to His Wife—Before His “Judges”—A Brave Death—Ferdinand, the “Butcher King.”

CHAPTER XVII

Italian Seas 315

Our Moods and the Seas—Memories in Landscapes—The Healing of the Sea—A Vision in the Bay of Naples—Marion Crawford’s Yacht Expected—The Family Together at Leghorn—Lady Paget—A Bathing Scene—Hugh Fraser—“Spannocchi” for Dinner—The Avenging Boatman—Livorno, An Anomaly—Sunset on the Mare Ligure—Bay of Spezia, a Splurge of Colour and Light—A Hail Storm in Venice—The Joy of a Gondola—Moods of Venice—A Giorgione Beauty—The Nurseries of Venice—Her Shops—Saints and Heresies of the Thirteenth Century.

CHAPTER XVIII

Southern Shores 339

Melancholy Ravenna—Early Byzantine Architecture—Forests of Stone-pine—Smiles and Tears—The Need of a Little Misfortune—Monte Gargano—Millions of Spanish Merinos—PrimÆval Forest—A Forest Miracle—Church of the Apparition of St. Michael—Other Apparitions of the Archangel—The Revelation to St. Aubert—The Great Round Church—Order of the Knights of St. Michael—A “Maiden” Fortress of France.