2-A.D. 1370), a really upright man, spent some of his
episcopate at Rome, and his {109} successor, Gregory XI. (A.D.
1370-A.D. 1378) removed thither with his court two years before his
death. The Cardinals however still clung to Avignon, and though, in
compliance with the earnest wishes of the Roman people, they elected an
Italian to be Pope under the name of Urban VI. (A.D. 1378-A.D. 1389),
yet they were so offended at his zealous but indiscreet endeavours to
reform the evils around him, that they declared him deposed, and set up
an anti-Pope at Avignon. [Sidenote: The consequent schism.] The schism
thus begun lasted nearly forty years (A.D. 1378-A.D. 1417), England,
Germany, North Italy, Poland, and the Scandinavian kingdoms siding with
the true Popes, while France, Scotland, Spain, and South Italy held
with the anti-Popes. [Sidenote: Its results.] The troubles and
corruptions of the Church now multiplied, Popes and anti-Popes alike
made the acquisition of power and revenue their great object, and
wickedness was left unrebuked both in Clergy and laity. A great
impulse was given to the sale of indulgences or pardons, an evil
practice which brought in large sums of money to the papal exchequer,
and at the same time led to such abuses as probably to become a
principal proximate cause of the Reformation.

[Sidenote: Council of Pisa.]

At length there was an universal longing for the cessation of the great
schism in the Western Church, and a Council was held at Pisa, A.D.
1409, where it was agreed by the Cardinals belonging to the two parties
to depose both Pope and anti-Pope, and to elect another who took the
name of Alexander V., with an understanding that he was at once to
reform and pacify the Church. But neither Pope nor anti-Pope would
resign, so that there were three claimants instead of two, and very
soon after his {110} election Alexander V. died. John XXIII. (A.D.
1410-A.D. 1415) was elected in his place, but he proved to be
thoroughly devoid of principle, and the Council of Pisa having proved
unsuccessful in promoting unity or reformation, another was convoked at
Constance, A.D. 1414, under the presidency of the Emperor Sigismund I.
[Sidenote: Council of Constance.] This Council was attended by the
representatives of all the monarchs of the West, as well as by a very
large number of Bishops and Clergy, and it was decreed that the three
claimants to the papal throne should be deposed. John XXIII. was
thr