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

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DAILY LIFE OF THE POPE. ^J<br />

new building <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> basilica, in which he took <strong>the</strong> greatest<br />

interest.^ Taking <strong>the</strong> same lively interest in all <strong>the</strong> new<br />

edifices he was having built in Rome, he appeared now here and<br />

now <strong>the</strong>re.- <strong>The</strong> reports <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mantuan ambassador con-<br />

stantly tell in <strong>the</strong> years 1561 and 1562 how vigorous, energetic<br />

and cheerful <strong>the</strong> Pope was.^ He used to walk so quickly<br />

that, as Girolamo Soranzo relates, in <strong>the</strong> year 1563, he tired<br />

everyone out, no matter how young <strong>the</strong>y might be. When<br />

he was inspecting <strong>the</strong> work at <strong>the</strong> Palazzo Colonna in August,<br />

1564, this man <strong>of</strong> sixty-five even climbed <strong>the</strong> unsteady scaffold-<br />

ing, without <strong>the</strong> least fear <strong>of</strong> falling stones.'*<br />

Gout and catarrh were <strong>the</strong> only illnesses which troubled<br />

Piuj IV., and when he was not suffering <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong>se, he almost<br />

always got up before daybreak. As soon as he was dressed<br />

he went for a long walk, during which he read his breviary.^<br />

During <strong>the</strong> next two or three hours, <strong>the</strong> most important<br />

business was transacted, and <strong>the</strong>n he received <strong>the</strong> ambassadors.<br />

After <strong>the</strong>se duties were over, <strong>the</strong> Pope heard mass, and <strong>the</strong>n,<br />

if <strong>the</strong>re was time before dinner, His Holiness granted audiences<br />

to <strong>the</strong> Cardinals and o<strong>the</strong>r persons. He was by no means<br />

disinclined for <strong>the</strong> pleasures <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> table, ^ although his repasts<br />

^ See last Chapter, Vol. XVI, <strong>of</strong> this work, <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong><br />

Fr. Tonina, Gonzaga Archives, Mantua. Cf. also <strong>the</strong> *report<br />

<strong>of</strong> Tonina <strong>of</strong> December 3, 1561, in App. No. 19.<br />

^ <strong>The</strong> Florentine ambassadors *report on August 2, 1561, that<br />

<strong>the</strong> Pope walks too much, so that his nephews fear for his health.<br />

(State Arch., Florence).<br />

.<br />

^See <strong>the</strong> *reports <strong>of</strong> Fr. Tonina <strong>of</strong> July 23 and 27, and August 2,<br />

1561, March 4 and 18, April 2, May 18, and October 31, 1562<br />

(Gonzaga Archives, Mantua)<br />

* See in Appendix No. 36 <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong> Fr. Tonina <strong>of</strong> August<br />

12, 1564 (Gonzaga Archives, Mantua).<br />

^ " Quella mattina," *reports Serristori on June 20, 1561, '" sul<br />

spuntar del sole trovai S.S. diceva I'<strong>of</strong>fitio nel suo giardino di<br />

Monte Cavallo." (State Archives, Florence).<br />

* Pius IV. ate five times a day ; see <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong> Fr. Tonina<br />

<strong>of</strong> July 2, 1562 (Gonzaga Archives, Mantua). After his illness in<br />

December, 1563, his appetite failed ; see <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong> Serristori,<br />

<strong>of</strong> December 17, 1563. (State Archives, Florence).

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