Towards the end of 1350, Jean le Bon, King of France grew
angry and dissatisfied with Humbert the Irresolute, who had
ceded to him the rich Province of the Dauphine ; then, repenting,
wished to take it back again.
John appealed to Pope Clement. The latter espoused his
cause ; invited Humbert to his court, represented the fleeting
nature of all earthly possessions, dilated upon the joys of
a religious life, and persuaded him to take orders : first as
a bishop, next as Patriarch of Alexandria. The Dauphine,
loveliest of provinces, became irrevocably united to France : a
very pearl in its crown.
Thus Avignon in the fourteenth century enclosed within its
walls all the elements of a powerful and mighty kingdom.
Princes and crowned heads went to and fro in homage to the
papal throne. The cardinals, of whom most were French, did
not neglect their own affairs. They too lived in great pomp,
and built themselves strong castles with battlemented towers.
The place was overrun with every species of religious order, and
monks were said to be as plentiful as soldiers : a strange medley
of conflicting elements.
Streets were ever full of life and movement. The inhabi-
tants alone numbered 80,000. Convents and monasteries sprang
up in every direction ; churches without number. Three hundred
church bells were for ever more or less ringing ; the air was full
of sound ; and Avignon was called I'Isle Sonnante.
AU this formed the bright side of Avignon. Peace and
prosperity reigned; she had aU that heart could desire; far
too much, it may be, in the way of luxury and self-indulgence.
No man's hand was agaiast her.
