ADRIAN IV. Pope, the only Englishman who ever had the honour of sitting in the papal chair. His name was Nicholas Brekelspere; and he was born at Langley, near St Alban's, in Hertfordshire. His father having left his family, and taken the habit of the monastery of St Alban's, Nicholas was obliged to submit to the lowest offices in that house for daily support. After some time, he desired to take the habit in that monastery, but was rejected by the abbot Richard. Upon this he resolved to try his fortune in another country, and accordingly went to Paris; where, though in very poor circumstances, he applied himself to his studies with great assiduity, and made a wonderful proficiency. But having still a strong inclination to a religious life, he left Paris, and removed to Provence, where he became a regular clerk in the monastery of St Rufus. He was not immediately allowed to take the habit; but passed some time, by way of trial, in recommending himself to the monks by a strict attention to all their commands. This behaviour, together with the beauty of his person, and prudent conversation, rendered him so acceptable to those religious, that after some time they entreated him to take the habit of the canonical order. Here he distinguished himself so much by his learning and strict observance of the monastic discipline, that upon the death of the abbot, he was chosen superior of that house; and we are told that he rebuilt the convent. Pope Eugenius III. being apprised of the great merit of Nicholas, and thinking he might be serviceable to the church in a higher station, created him cardinal-bishop of Alba in 1146. In 1148, his holiness sent him legate to Denmark and Norway; where, by his fervent preaching
high, and the south one not much less; but the north one was considerably lower. From the dimensions of the ditch, taken as it passes through a lime-stone quarry near Harlow hill, it appears to have been 9 feet deep, and 11 wide at the top, but somewhat narrower at the bottom. The north rampart was about 20 feet distant from the ditch.
ing and diligent instructions, he converted those barbarous nations to the Christian faith, and erected Up-
sal into an archiepiscopal see. When he returned to
Rome, he was received by the pope and cardinals with
great marks of honour; and Pope Anastasius, who
succeeded Eugenius, happening to die at this time,
Nicholas was unanimously chosen to the holy see, in
November 1154, and he took the name of Adrian.
When the news of his promotion reached England,
King Henry II. sent Robert abbot of St Alban's, and
three bishops, to Rome, to congratulate him on his
election; upon which occasion Adrian granted very
considerable privileges to the monastery of St Alban's,
particularly an exemption from all episcopal jurisdic-
tion, excepting to the see of Rome. Adrian, in the
beginning of his pontificate, boldly withstood the at-
tempts of the Roman people to recover their ancient
liberty under the consuls, and obliged those magistrates
to abdicate their authority, and leave the government
of the city to the pope. In 1155, he drove the he-
retic Arnaud of Bresse, and his followers, out of
Rome. The same year he excommunicated William
king of Sicily, who ravaged the territories of the
church, and absolved that prince's subjects from their
allegiance. About the same time, Frederick king of
the Romans, having entered Italy with a powerful
army, Adrian met him near Sutrium, and concluded
a peace with him. At this interview, Frederick con-
fented to hold the pope's stirrup whilst he mounted on
horseback. After which, his holiness conducted that
prince to Rome, and in St Peter's church placed the
imperial crown on his head, to the great mortification
of the Roman people, who assembled in a tumultuous
manner, and killed several of the Imperialists. The
next year a reconciliation was brought about between
the pope and the Sicilian king, that prince taking an
oath to do nothing farther to the prejudice of the
church, and Adrian granting him the title of King of
the two Sicilies. He built and fortified several castles,
and left the papal dominions in a more flourishing con-
dition than he found them. But notwithstanding all
his success, he was extremely sensible of the disquietudes
attending so high a station; and declared to his coun-
tryman John of Salisbury, that all the former hardships
of his life were mere amusement to the misfortunes of
the popedom; that he looked upon St Peter's chair to
be the most uneasy seat in the world; and that his
crown seemed to be clapped burning on his head*. He
died September 1. 1159, in the fourth year and tenth
month of his pontificate; and was buried in St Peter's
church, near the tomb of his predecessor Eugenius.
There are extant several letters, and some homilies,
written by Pope Adrian.