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

146 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
their displeasure, and on various grounds. They, however,
were almost alone in taking up this attitude. The Roman
people, for th^^ most part, were of opinion that, in view of the
undoubted guilt of the Carafa, the Pope was thoroughly
there was
justified in proceeding thus severely against them ;
a feeling of universal joy that at last punishment was to
overtake the family. The Carafa, writes Cardinal Truchsess,^
have many accusers, but few defenders. Cardinal Alfonso,
whom most people considered innocent, was the only one
to receive any sympathy, but the Romans were so filled with
hatred for the other members of the family that they wished
to light a bonfire on the Capitol, but this the Pope forbade.
Outside the Eternal City, also, people learned with pleasure
of the proceedings of Pius IV. against the Carafa. In strictly
religious circles, people saw in their imprisonment a well-
deserved punishment from heaven for the grave injury they
had inflicted on the Church. ^
1 Besides Ricasoli's *report of June 7, 1 560 (see Ancel, Disgrace,
91) of. also the *Avviso di Roma of June 8, which states : " Pochi
sono che non se rallegrino della prigionia delU Caraffi, massimamente
il populo Romano, gia di lore tanto offeso " (Urb. 1039,
Vatican Library). See also the letter of Camillo Borromeo in
the Arch. stor. Lomb., XIX. (1903). 357 n. and that of G. Salvago
in the Atti Lig., XIII, 763, as well as the correspondence of
Card. O. Truchsess, 172-3.
2 Giovan Maria Gonzaga writes on June 8 from Rome to the
Duke of Mantua :
*In
cam bio di far card^' hieri S.Sta mando
Caraffa et Napoli in castello, et questo fu anche in cambio de fare
concistorio dove erano venuti ; medemamente vi fu menato il
ducha de Paliano et quale era in case de Caraffa et vi era venuto
soramente et senza salvo condotto. Molti signori et dependenti
di questi sig" Carafii sono stati posti pregione. Hanno scritto
tutte le robe de li dui rev°^, et si dice che in casa de Napoli vi era
una gran quantita de gioie et da vinti millia scudi. La presa di
Caraffa e piaciuta a tutti generalraente et maxime alii Romani,
quali se non le fusse stato vietato da S. S**^ volevano far fuochi
in Campidoglio per demostracione de I'alegrezza. (Gonzaga
Archives, Mantua).
? See Seripando in Merkle, II. ,
460.
^