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

DAILY LIFE OF THE POPE. 89
knowledge of literature, and had always been interested in the
works of poets and historians. When he gathered around
him the most celebrated of the humanists of the time he was
fond of showing off his excellent memory by quoting whole
pages from the old writers. When conversing with the am-
bassadors Pius IV. also liked sometimes to introduce a verse
from Horace, or to cite examples from history.^ According
to the learned opinion of Girolamo Soranzo the Pope knew
Latin so well that he expressed himself in it at the consistories
with the greatest fluency and pertinenc3^ His handwriting
was also as clear and decided as his style,- although he com-
mitted little more than business communications and legal
documents to paper, and his knowledge of canon law was as
wide as it was profound, while he was intimately acquainted
with everything connected with finance and the conduct of
affairs. Although he was a master in his understanding of the
business of the Curia as a jurist and administrator, he had
little deep theological knowledge. He was perfectly well
aware of this himself, and left all knotty points in this matter
for solution by experts.^ The reproaches levelled against him
when he was a Cardinal in the conclave, concerning his remark
with regard to the concessions to be granted to the Germans
in the matters of communion under both kinds, and the mar-
riage of priests,* must be attributed to the want on his part
of a thorough theological training. Pius IV. himself referred
openly to his want of theological knowledge, and especially
when he had promised more than he could perform. This
frequently happened, because, kind-hearted as he was, he
found it very hard to refuse requests,^ and in difficult cases he
extravagantly with two dwarfs and a favourite of Leo X., " cant6
certi versi elegi latini sonando poi con la lira," is described by
Tonina in his *report of November 27, 1560.
^Examples in Mula's *reports of September 24 and October 26,
1560 (State Library, Vienna).
^ See GiROL. Soranzo, 74 ; Susta, Pius IV., 38.
^ GiROL. Soranzo, 74; Gi.\c. Soranzo, 129-30.
* Cf. supra p. 33.
* Susta, Pius IV., 39.