The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

82 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
for the attainment of his ambitious plan of being created
King of Tuscany.^ All details were discussed at their meeting
in July, 1558, in the very probable event of Paul IV., who
was far advanced in age, soon closing his eyes in death. This
probability seemed very near its reaHzation when, at the
end of August, the Carafa Pope was attacked by a very severe
illness.'^ Medici, who was then at the baths of Lucca, heard,
as excitedly as his patron, the news from Rome, which, however,
soon announced that the iron constitution of the Pope
had again surmounted the crisis. Only now did Medici,
who had hitherto remained in the neighbourhood of Florence,
betake himself to Milan. In a letter to the Duke of Florence
at the beginning of October, he laid stress on the fact that all
his hopes for the future were in the hands of His Highne.'s.^
His expectations were not to be disappointed.
While Cosimo was making his preparations for the next
conclave, Cardinal Medici remained, from October i8th, 1558,
till the death of Paul IV., partly in hi" native city of Milan,
and partly on the beautiful shore