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

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ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE CARAFA. I39<br />

and <strong>the</strong> latter Procurator-Fiscal.^ Pius IV. issued a decree<br />

on April 3rd, probably on <strong>the</strong> advice <strong>of</strong> Pallantieri, which<br />

renewed severe penalties against those who had usurped<br />

Church property.- This measure was connected with certain<br />

accusations which had been made against Cardinal Alfonso<br />

Carafa, that he had used his influence during <strong>the</strong> illness <strong>of</strong><br />

Paul IV. to induce <strong>the</strong> Pope to give him presents. In <strong>the</strong><br />

meantime Pallantieri was hard at work so that <strong>the</strong> excesses<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family should not remain un-<br />

punished, and <strong>the</strong> time now seemed to have come when he<br />

would be able to take revenge for his deposition, and his<br />

more than two years' imprisonment in <strong>the</strong> Castle <strong>of</strong> St.<br />

Angelo. An enterprising and vindictive man, hke this<br />

experienced lawyer, was <strong>the</strong> most suitable person to collect<br />

<strong>from</strong> all sources pro<strong>of</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excesses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Carafa. <strong>The</strong>ir<br />

creditors were next set in motion, and immediately began<br />

to assail <strong>the</strong> Pope with <strong>the</strong>ir complaints. At <strong>the</strong> beginning<br />

<strong>of</strong> April Pius IV. informed Cardinals Carlo and Alfonso Carafa<br />

that he must insist on <strong>the</strong>ir satisfying <strong>the</strong>ir creditors, whereupon<br />

both <strong>the</strong> Cardinals betook <strong>the</strong>mselves to Gallese tc<br />

discuss with <strong>the</strong> Duke <strong>of</strong> Paliano how this was to be effected.^<br />

A short time afterwards Cardinal Alfonso was called to account,<br />

in virtue <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> decree <strong>of</strong> April 3rd. He declared that he<br />

had received a casket <strong>of</strong> jewels <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> dying Pope as a<br />

present, and that this had been effected by means <strong>of</strong> a brief.<br />

<strong>The</strong> latter was dated on <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> Paul IV., and<br />

<strong>the</strong> enemies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Carafa said that it was an extortion which<br />

must be made good. Pius IV. ordered that it must be clearly<br />

shown how <strong>the</strong> casket came into <strong>the</strong> Cardinal's possession,<br />

as <strong>the</strong> brief did not appear to be very au<strong>the</strong>ntic, and it was<br />

already reported that <strong>the</strong> Pope would decide <strong>the</strong> dispute<br />

between Alfonso Carafa and <strong>the</strong> Cardinal Camerlengo in<br />

favour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter."*<br />

^ See Anxel, Disgrace, 81.<br />

* Bull. Rom., VII., 18 seq. <strong>The</strong> date given by Ancel (p. 83)<br />

viz. April 2, is erroneous.<br />

3 *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> April 6, 1 560 (Urb. 1039, p. 145b. Vatican<br />

Library)<br />

.<br />

* *Avvisi di Roma <strong>of</strong> April 13 and 27, 1^60,' ibid., pp. i [O, 151b.

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