was only a temporary escape. In four years the See of Genoa was again vacant: the Chapter, supported by the popular voice, again elected him, and this time he had perforce to accept the archiepiscopal dignity. He fully justified the foresight of those who had elected him; unhappily, however, only six years of good works remained to him. The Archbishop was severe to himself and kindly to others. In his charity to the poor, particularly during those terrible pestilences that frequently ravaged mediæval towns, he emulated the examples of those alms-giving Saints whose beneficence and self-sacrifice he has recorded. Among fierce and angry factionists he appeared as an angel of peace and good-will. After three years of ceaseless efforts he succeeded in bringing about a solemn and complete (though, alas, not very durable) reconciliation between the local Guelfs and Ghibellines.[1] In his own Chronicle of Genoa, he has given us an account of what happened, saying too little, however, of his own part in bringing about the happy day :—
In the year of our Lord 1295, in the month of January, was concluded a general and universal peace in the City of Genoa, between those who called themselves Mascarati or Ghibellines and Rampini, between whom, truly, the evil spirit had for a long time been stirring up numerous divisions and party quarrels. For sixty years these mischievous dissensions had distracted the city. But, thanks to the special favour of our Lord, all the Genoese have at last eturned to peace and con-
- ↑ The Guelfs were a party who in Italian politics sided with the Popes. Their opponents the Ghibellines were partisans of the Emperors. Their quarrels naturally extended to local affairs and the whole field of public life.
