A.D. 1244. # THE POPE BETEEATS TO GENOA. 229 of Sutri. But the emperor, who was already drawing back, intimated to him that he would do nothing with him concerning any agreement, unless he previously granted him letters of absolution. And when the pope answered and said that this would be quite inconsistent with reason, a contention arose between the emperor's ambassador and the pope himself ; and from that time forward the pope, as if he foresaw his own confusion, began to entertain the idea of a sudden and secret flight, without, however, admitting any one to his confidence, lest the lord the emperor should prepare to oppose a barrier to his flight. Some people, however, said that he had adopted this idea in order to meet the bearers of presents in their way, because those who were bringing him money did not venture to come through to him, on account of the guard established by the emperor. Accordingly, at the hour of men's first sleep, on the vigil of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the lord the pope, having left behind his papal insignia, armed himself with some light arms, and mounting on a swift horse, with his hands full, having scarcely a single chamberlain privy to his act, departed secretly, suddenly, alone, not sparing his horse's sidee or his own spurs, so that before one o'clock, having been torn along rather than carried, he had gone thirty-four miles without any one accompanying him, or, I should rather say, being able to keep up with him. But about midnight an outcry arose in the court—" Behold, the pope is gone !" And the pope had given positive notice the day before that he would be so condescending as to conclude all the business which required to be transacted in his court* on the day following the feast of the Apostles, to their honour, announcing it so distinctly as to make every one sure that he intended to do nothing of the sort. And that day he came to a castle on the sea-coast, which is called Civita Vecchia, where he was met by twenty-three gallies, well furnished with arms and armed men, from Genoa, who were ready to receive him, and to conduct him safe and uninjured to his own city, for pay. And before the iiext night, seven cardinals joined him ; and, late in the evening, the pope, attended by these seven cardinals and a few of the secular clergy, entered one of these gallies, and, in three days after, having encountered many dangers at sea from the people of Pisa and others who were lying in wait for him, he came to Leghorn, and, on the third day after that, they all reached Genoa, with great joy. And the citizens