Louis Gayet, Le grand schisme d'Occident Les Origines volume 2 (Paris-Florence-Berlin 1889), "Pièces justificatives", pp. 162-168:

1. Reverendissimus in Christo Pater D(ominus) Geraldus, miseratione divina tituli S. Clementis sacrosancte R. E. presbyter cardinalis Majoris monasterii vulgariter nuncupatus, juratus manu ad pectus more prelati, interrogatus per dictos DD. Ambaxiatores [Regis Aragonum] dixit se scire super predictis, quod vivente adhuc S. M. D. Gregorio papa XI, antequam esset infirmus sua qua decessit, unus cardinalis romanus conspiravit in mortem suam, cupiens ut in Urbe romana, de qua ipse erat oriundus et in qua plures et potentiores habebat amicos, celebraretur romani pontificis electio, ad finem quod ipse posset esse papa, et hoc scivit dictus D. Gregorius ante mortem suam, etiam hic testes semel conferendo secum de ista materia dixit sibi: Certe Pater Sanctissime, non sustinuisset illud cardinalis Majoris monasterii, imo fecisset inde vindictam et veniret negotium ad quod venire posset. Et dictus D. Gregorius respondit: Taceatis, quia pro numc prevaleret hujusmodi negotium dissimulare. Et hac de causa dictus D. Gregorius quando fuit infirmus et vidit quod appropinquabat ad mortem, dubitans ne DD. cardinalibus post ejus mortem super electione fienda de romano pontifice impressio fieret, vocavit aliquos DD. cardinales, de quorum numero ipse testis fuit unus, et dixit eis, quod ipse senciebat mortem suam vicinam, et quod dubitabat de impressione fienda cardinalibus, ob quod rogabat eos quod vellet eligere aliquem probum virum de collegio et non different electionem nec exspectarent ingressum conclavis, [163] nam ipse pro illa vice suspendebat rigores et ceremonias cap. Ubi Majus et aliorum decretorum seu capitulorum super his confectorum et de his mandavit fieri bullas, quarum unam, ut sibi videtur, habuit D. Lemovicensis [Cardinal Jean de Cros].

2. Dixit etiam, quod mortuo dicto D. Gregorio, durante novena quam cardinales faciebant in ecclesia S. Marie Nove, in qua corpus dicti D. Gregorii sepultum fuit, fama erat publica in Urbe et per plures, de quibus non recordatur ad presens, dictis DD. cardinalibus dicebatur, quod romani plura tenebant consilia de modis tenendis per eos circa electionem fiendam tunc in Urbe de romano pontifice, in quibus consiliis concludebatur quod rogarent DD. cardinales ut eligerent papam romanum vel italicum; et quod, si ad hoc non possent bono modo inducere DD. cardinales, quod omnino ad hoc compellerent eos. Et ita erat communis sermo et forma publica de his in urbe.

3. Dixit etiam quod, die qua DD. cardinales intrarunt conclave, hic testis, qui hospitabatur retro ecclesiam S. Petri, associatus multis romanis cum quibus existendo in Roma familiaritatem contraxerat, ivit ad conclave, et eundo vidit plateam S. Petri plenam populo in maxima parte armata clamante et vociferante: Romanum volumus vel italicum. Et cum ingressus fuit conclave, vidit quod hora tarda, postquam illi qui ipsum et alios DD. cardinales associaverunt paucis exceptis recesserant et exiverant conclave, venerunt aliqui officiales Urbis et omnino, licet eis diceretur quod non debebat fieri, intrare voluerunt conclave, et in illud intraverunt et suplicarunt DD. cardinalibus instanter ut pro complacendo romano populo eligerent papam romanum [164] vel italicum, et cum per cardinales eis darentur bona verba generalia, ipsi officiales replicarunt: Videte Domini, pluries vobis super istam materiam supplicavimus ex parte populi romani, et semper nos duxistis per verba generalia. Nunc autem volumus habere specialia, et certificamus vos, quod si non eligatis papam romanum vel italicum, nos non possumus vos tenere securos, ymo dubitamus de maximo scandalo. Nam videmus corda populi nimium sublevata. Et tunc DD. cardinales, qui de his fuerunt non sine causa perterriti, responderunt quod ille erat malus modus et quod ipsi officiales, qui summe desiderabant habere curiam in Italia, causa essent perdendi eam et quod ipsi DD. cardinales providerent romane ecclesie ut melius possent. Tunc officiales ipsi de conclave exiverunt, et fuerunt firmate porte conclavis cum barris ligneis, quia romani non permiserunt eas murari cum lapidibus et cemento, ut est de more, et per totam illam noctem magnus fuit rumor in populo, in tantum quod fix Domini dormierunt, ut hic deponens postea ab eis dici audivit.

[Marginal note: Quia in clamoribus et percussionibus portarum etiam aliquando percutiendo de subtus solarium conclavis, et comminationibus ibi tum in solatio et circumquaque conclave quos per totam noctem continuaverunt et in petitione romani vel italici persistentes,]

Ipse tamen aliqualiter dormivit. In crastinum autem circa auroram omnes DD. surrexerunt et dictis horis suis congregaverunt se in capella conclavis in qua tunc due misse fuerunt dicte et cum earum ultima diceretur, populus, qui per aliquam pausam a clamoribus quieverat, maximos clamores resumpsit vociferando valide: Romanum volumus vel italicum. Et plurex ex eis subjungebant minas diversi mode. Tunc etiam pulsate ferunt campane S. Petri ad martellum et clamores ac vociferationes continue augmentabantur, propter quod omnes DD. cardinales, non sine causa, quamplurimum timuerunt. Vidit etiam hic testis quod in illo instanti [Marginal note: antequam ad electionem incepissent [165] adhuc Domini procedere]. Dominus episcopus Massiliensis [Guilelmus de la Voulte], qui loco camerarii custodiebat conclave, vocavit ad posterlam conclavis aliquos de DD. cardinalibus et dixit eis quod populus erat in tantum comotus, quod nisi cito expedirent se de eligendo papam romanum vel italicum, omnis erant in maximo periculo mortis. Et hac de causa DD. cardinales cupientes periculum evadere in quo erant (timore mortis alias non facturi, ut audivit ab eis qui erant Anagnie per juramentum et de se scit ex certa scientia) sine aliqua discussione persone elegerunt dictum D. Barensem in papam. Aliqui tamen eorum fuerunt qui nec ipsum nec alium eligere voluerunt, propter impressionem nimian quam videbant.

Et facta illa electione per modum predictum, de mandato DD. cardinalium fuerunt vocati certi prelati italici et romani, inter quos fuit D. B(artholomeus), ut ascenderent palatium. Et postea comedere voluerunt, populo tunc a clamoribus aliquantulum quiescente. Sumpto autem, post aliquam pausam, clamor populi invaluit et tunc fractum fuit conclave, et populus intravit cum maximo furore armatus, petens papam romanum. Et DD. cardinales tunc quam 0plurimum timuerunt et aliqui eorum per quoddam foramen quod fecerant fugerunt subtus conclave. Aliqui autem finxerunt quod D. S. Petri esset electus in papam, et tunc populus irruit in D. S. Petri, et eum precise iuvitum in una cathedra posuerunt, ipsumque adoraverunt ut papam. Et dum populus ipsum D. S. petri adorabat, DD. cardinales exiverunt conclave, et aliqui eorum ad domos suas, aliqui alutem ad loca alia fugerunt. Ipse vero deponens, multis associatus romanis, ivit ad domum suam. Volebant etiam illa nocte pro ejus securitate secum remanere in dicto hospicio, sed ipse testis noluit, ymo fecit eos, licet invitos, reddire ad domos suas.

In crastinum autem de mane venerunt ad hunc testem qui ham missam suam audiverat, bandarenses Urbis et quidam alii officiales romani, et rogaverunt eum ac requisiverunt ex parte dicti D. B(artholomeus), tunc in palatio apo[166]stolico existens, et romani populi ut iret ad dictum palatium pro perficiendo illa que agenda erant circa electionem D. B. Et subjunxerunt quod alias videbant paratum scandalum prout fuerat die tunc proxime lapsa. Propterquod idem deponens timens furorem populi accessit ad palatium et reperit ibi D. Florent(inum) [Cardinal Pietro Corsini] et dictum D. B(artholomeum) qui existens in habitu consueto plures sibi facientes reverentiam osculabatur. Et dictus deponens, facta prius ipsi B. salutatione tali quali uti consueverat ante dictam electionem, sibi dixit quod male faciebat recipiendo aliquos ad pacis osculum quousque foret debite installatus de quo idem B. modicum curavit.

4.Et vidit hic testis quod ex eo quia quidam nuncius qui, ut apparebat, per ipsum B. missus fuerat ad illos sex DD. cardinales qui erant in castro S. Angeli [Marginal note: ut audivit, e3tiam ad instantes et iteratas requisitiones officialium Urbis et dicti B. timore ducti, qui alias non venissent, Et ita credit etiam deponens] ut venirent ad eum, retulit ibi publice dicto D. B. quod ipsi DD. cardinales ad eum venire nolebant.Idem D. B. dixit bandarensibus tunc in sui presentia constitutis, ut irent ad dictos sex DD. cardinales eosque ad eum venire facerent, alias nichil erat quod factum erat.Quod bandarenses se obtulerunt libere adimplere. Et post aliquam pausam D. Mediolanensis [Simon de Borsano (Simone Brossano)] et subsequenter D. de Luna, et quia instabat nimis hora prandii et dicti DD. sex DD. cardinales qui erant in palatio, videlicet D. Florent.{Corsini], S. Petri [Todeschini] qui in palatio illa nocte remanserat, Mediolanensis [Borsano]; ipse deponens [Gérard du Puy] et de Luna pransi fuerunt in palatio et dictus D. B. pransus fuit cum eis, quem sedere fecerunt illo ordine quo sedere consueverat ante electionem predictam. Post prandium autem aliquo elapso tempore, accesserunt ad palatium dicti sex DD. cardinales qui erant in castro S. Angeli et una cum dictis DD. cardinalibus jam in palatio existentibus, dictum D. B. intronizaverunt et adoraverunt ut papam, ipsumque in festo pasche coronaverunt. [167] Et dum fuerant Rome omnes actus pertinentes ad papam cum eo fecerunt. Durabat tamen metus in animis eorum ita quod super istam materiam loqui unus alteri non audebat. Alia autem que circa predicta intervenerunt, in casu facto per DD. cardinales expresse sunt, ad quem casum se retulit totaliter ipse D. cardinalis deponens.

5. Interrogatus quis scire debet super conspirationem factam contra dictum D. Gregorium de qua supra, deposuit et dixit quod D. cardinalis Arelatensis [Pierre de Cros, OSB], olim sedis apostolice camerarius, debet scire plura super ista.

6. Interrogatus si, ante ingressum conclavis, fuit habitum inter ipsos DD. cardinales collegialiter vel particulariter de eligendo dictum D. B., et dixit quod non, quod ipse testis fuerit, nisi quod recordatur quod semel durante novena dicti D. Gregorii, D. Lemovicensis [Cardinal Jean de Cros] dixit huic testi haec vel similia verba: Videtur vobis bonum quod eligeremus D. B. in papam, casu quo [Marginal note: cogeremur ad italicum] de aliquo eligendo de collegio non valeamus concordare, antequam fieret nobis impressio. Et hic testis respondit: Nescio, quia non novi eum nec scio si est ad hoc sufficiens, sed quando erimus in conclavi loquemur magis late.

7. Interrogatus si ipse testis unquam supplicavit dicto D. B. post electionem pro beneficiis vel aliis; et dixit quod sic secundum quod alii, non tamen intendens super hoc sibi tribuere jus aliquod in papatu. {Note: at the word 'quod' the words 'quod non' are effaced]

8. Interrogatus si unquam scripsit sibi de Anagnia ut summo pontifici, et dixit quod non.

9. Interrogatus si, dum erat Rome, ipse scripsit Regibus, principibus, prelatis, consanguineis, familiaribus, vel aliis, notificando elevamen dicti D. B.; et dixit quod non.

10. Interrogatus si unquam ipse Dominus deponens tenuit dic[168]tum D. B. pro vero papa; et dixit quod semper dubitavit, et erat pro oppinione communiter quod non, dum fuit Romae, sed cum fuit in Anagnia et locutus fuit de ista materia cum aliis DD. cardinalibus, et scivit intentionem Dominorum per eorum juramenta, indubie tunc eum habuit pro non papa sed pro intruso, et vidit subtilitates juris facientes pro hujusmodi negotio, tunc non habuit dictum D. B. pro papa.

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Cardinal Gérard du Puy, OSBClun., stated in his deposition:

• that he knew, that, when Pope Gregory XI was still alive and before he died of his illness, a Roman Cardinal conspired to bring about the Pope's death. This Cardinal had many powerful friends in the City, and he knew that the election of a Roman would be celebrated. Pope Gregory knew this, and even once Cardinal du Puy discussed the matter with him. The Pope told him to keep quiet, that for the moment it was better to pretend not to know about it. But when the Pope was ill and saw his death approaching, he summoned several cardinals, one of whom was du Puy, and told them that he was worried about pressure being brought to bear on the cardinals; that they ought to elect someone honest (probum) from the College of Cardinals. He told them not to put off the election and not to wait for the beginning of a conclave. He suspended the regulations and ceremonies required by Gregory X's Constitution Ubi majus and the other decrees and constitutions. He ordered bulls to be prepared, one of which (according to du Puy) was in the possession of Cardinal Jean de Cros. [Note: There were only two Roman cardinals, Giacomo Orsini and Francesco Todeschini. When Todeschini was pointed out as Pope at the abortive conclave, he vigorously resisted. It is more likely that du Puy is referring to Orsini as the conspirator.]
• that, during the Novendiales, it was learned that the Romans were holding meetings, discussing how to induce the Cardinals to elect a Roman or Italian pope. If the Cardinals would not listen to them, they would compel the Cardinals to do so.
• that, on the day when the Cardinals were entering Conclave, du Puy, who was living in quarters behind St. Peter's Basilica, as he was going to the Conclave saw that the Piazza San Pietro was full of people who, for the most part, were armed and shouting: "We want a Roman or an Italian."
• After the Conclave had begun, and most of the friends and associates of the Cardinals had departed, Officials of the City wanted to enter the Conclave and did enter the Conclave and insistently asked the Cardinals that they should elect a Roman pope or an Italian to quieten the People. When the Cardinals replied in generalities, the Officials replied: You see, Lords, that we have supplicated you many times on this matter in the name of the People, and you have always replied in generalities. Now, however, we want to have specifics and we assure you that if you do not elect a Roman pope or an Italian one, we are not able to guarantee your security, indeed we fear a great scandal. For we see that the hearts of the Popele are far too stirred up." The Cardinals, who were terrified, replied that this was a bad business, and the officials, who so eagerly wanted to have the Curia in Italy, were going to be the cause of losing it. The Cardinals would see to the Roman Church as best they could. Then the magistrates left the Conclave and the gate of the Conclave was closed tightly with wooden bars, because the Romans would not allow it to be done with stones and cement according to the tradition.
• During the night there was such a great uproar from the People that the Cardinals could scarcely sleep. (There were noises and breaking down of doors below the Conclave area, and the People kept demanding a Roman or an Italian). Cardinal du Puy did sleep a little.
• In the morning, however, the Cardinals got up and at the appointed hour assembled in the Chapel where two masses were said. When they were finished, the People, who had been a bit quieter during them, resumed their very loud shouting. Then the bell of St. Peter's was rung, and the uproar grew even more, which understandably caused all the Cardinals to be thoroughly afraid.
• At that point the Bishop of Marseille [Guilelmus de la Voulte], who was Custodian of the Conclave, in the absence of the Camerlengo, called some of the Cardinals to the postern gate of the Conclave, and told them that the people were in such a state that if they didn't get the business done and elect a Roman or Italian pope, they would all be in greatest danger of death. For this reason, the Cardinals, without any discussion of personalities, chose the Archbishop of Bari as pope. Nevertheless, some of them wanted to elect neither Bari nor anyone else, because of the excessive pressure which they saw.
• After the election was done, on instructions from the Cardinals, certain Italian and Roman prelates were summoned to come to the Apostolic Palace, among whom was Lord Bartolomeo. Then the Cardinals went to lunch, since the shouts of the People seemed to be diminishing somewhat. After they had eaten, however, the cries grew louder and then the Conclave was broken into, and the armed populace entered with extreme furor, seeking their Roman pope. The Cardinals were thoroughly frightened, Some of them fled entirely from the Conclave through a passage they had made, and escaped below the Conclave. Others, however, pretended that the Cardinal of St. Peter's [Todeschini] had been elected Pope. The people rushed upon Todeschini and placed him in a chair and began to 'adore' him. The Cardinals exited the Conclave and some fled to their homes, others to other places. Du Puy, helped by some Romans, went to his own house. They wanted him for his own security to stay with them in the hospitium, but he refused and made them go to his house, though they did not wish to do so.
• Next morning, the Bandarenses of the City and some of the Roman magistrates came to Du Puy, who had just heard Mass and asked and demanded, on behalf of Lord Bartolomeo, who was then at the Apostolic Palace, and the Roman people, to come to the palace to finish carrying out the ceremonies that had to be done for Lord Bartolomeo's election. They added that otherwise they foresaw an uproar in store just like on the previous day. Du Puy, fearing the wrath of the mob, went to the Apostolic Palace and found there Cardinal Corsini and Lord Bartolomeo who, dressed in his usual vesture, was being kissed by people making obeisance. Du Puy, greeting Lord Bartolomeo as he had before the election. He said to Bartolomeo that he disapproved of such obeisances being done before his being installed.
• At that point a messenger appeared. The messenger had been sent by Bartolomeo to the six cardinals who were in the Castel S. Angelo, summoning them to the Apostolic Palace (Du Puy later heard that out of fear of Bartolomeo and the repeated insistent demands of the municipal officials, that they had not come before). The messenger reported to Bartolomeo in public that the Lords Cardinals did not want to come to him. Bartolomeo told the Bandarenses, who were at the moment at his audience, to go to the six cardinals and make them come to him. The Bandarenses gladly offered themselves to carry out the mission.
• After some pause, and because the lunch hour was upon them and the six cardinals had not come though asked several times, Cardinal Simon de Borsano and Cardinal Pedro de Luna and all the other cardinals who were in the Apostolic Palace, du Puy himself, Corsini, and Todeschini, went to lunch along with Lord Bartolomeo. They made Bartolomeo sit at table in the place that he usually occupied before the election.
• After lunch, after the passage of some time, the six Cardinals who were in the Castel S. Angelo arrived, and, along with the cardinals then present in the Apostolic Palace enthroned Bartolomeo and did obeisance to him as Pope. They crowned him on Easter Sunday. And, while they were in Rome, they carried out all acts pertaining to the Pope with him. Fear, however, remained in their minds, such that one did not dare to speak with another about the Conclave.
  
  
• Asked as to who ought to know about the conspiracy against Pope Gregory, mentioned in the deposition, he said that the Cardinal of Arles [Pierre de Cros, OSB, who was elevated by the Avignon Pope Clement VII on December 23, 1383], former Camerlengo of the Apostolic Camera, ought to know more about the matter.
• Asked if, before entry into Conclave there had been discussions, either as a group or individually, among Lords Cardinals about electing Lord Bartolomeo, du Puy replied, "No". He did remember that during the Novendiales for Pope Gregory, Cardinal Jean de Cros had said to him something like this: "Does it seem a good thing to you that we elect Lord Bartolomeo as pope, in case (compelled to elect an Italian) we are not able to agree on electing a member of the College of Cardinals, before any extreme pressure is applied to us?" Du Puy replied, "I don't know, because I don't know whether he is up to the job, but when we are in Conclave, let us speak more extensively." (or "we can speak more extensively")
• Asked whether he himself had ever asked Lord Bartolomeo after the election for benifices or other things, he answered, "Yes, just like everybody else, not intending, however, to provide thereby any legal justification for his papacy."
• Asked if he had ever written from Anagni to him as Supreme Pontiff, du Puy replied, "No."
• Asked if, while he was in Rome, he wrote to Kings, princes, prelates, his own relatives, or others, giving notice of the elevation of Lord Bartolomeo, du Puy replied, "No."
• Asked if he ever considered Lord Bartolomoe as true pope, du Puy replied that he had always doubted and he was of the general opinion, while he was in Rome, that he was not. But when he was at Anagni, and had spoken about the subject with other Cardinals, and knew the intention of the Cardinals through their sworn statement, undoubtedly then he considered him not to be pope but an intruder, and he saw the fine points of the law working in the matter, then he did not hold Lord Bartolomeo as pope.

 

© 2010 John Paul Adams