26.06.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

ADVOCATES OF THE CARAFA. 155<br />

were also allowed to hold conversations, not only with <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

defenders, but also with <strong>the</strong>n friends, and to arrange for fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />

examinations <strong>of</strong> witnesses ; all this, however, must be done<br />

in <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> a notary. ^<br />

Among <strong>the</strong> advocates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Carafa <strong>the</strong>re was in <strong>the</strong> first<br />

place <strong>the</strong> celebrated Marcantonio Borghese, who had also<br />

skilfully defended Cardinal Morone against <strong>the</strong> accusations<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inquisition.^ Besides him, o<strong>the</strong>rs were also appointed,<br />

<strong>of</strong> whom <strong>the</strong> Neapolitan, Felice Scalaleone, appears to have<br />

been <strong>the</strong> most active and fearless.^ <strong>The</strong> detailed legal<br />

opinions in which <strong>the</strong>se jurists elucidated <strong>the</strong> accusations<br />

brought against <strong>the</strong> Carafa are still in existence ; ten <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m<br />

deal with <strong>the</strong> defence <strong>of</strong> each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two Cardinals, and eight<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs with that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Duke <strong>of</strong> Paliano. <strong>The</strong> easiest defence<br />

was that <strong>of</strong> Cardinal Alfonso ;<br />

<strong>the</strong> most that could be proved<br />

against him was that he had kept silence at <strong>the</strong> murder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Duchess Violante, <strong>the</strong> enrichment after <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> Paul IV.<br />

not having overstepped <strong>the</strong> limits <strong>of</strong> what was usual in such<br />

cases.^<br />

As far as <strong>the</strong> political accusations made against Carlo Carafa<br />

were concerned, whereby he had jeopardized <strong>the</strong> highest<br />

interests <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church, <strong>the</strong> efforts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> defence were con-<br />

centrated upon proving that <strong>the</strong> Cardinal, as <strong>the</strong> chief minister<br />

<strong>of</strong> Paul IV., had only carried out <strong>the</strong> Pope's intentions, great<br />

stress being also laid upon <strong>the</strong> extraordinarily wide authority,<br />

free <strong>from</strong> all control, which " <strong>from</strong> time immemorial " had<br />

^ See Angel, loc. cit., 129 seq. According to an *Avviso di<br />

Roma <strong>of</strong> October 5, 1560, seven advocates were appointed for<br />

Cardinal Carafa (Urb. 1039, p. 206b, Vatican Library).<br />

^ Cf. Vol. XIV. <strong>of</strong> this work, p. 305. A letter <strong>from</strong> Cardinal C.<br />

Carafa to Borghese in Duruy, 418.<br />

' *E qui un avvocato di Napoli, huomo di gran stima in quell'<br />

essercitio, il quale scrive et parla assai liberamente, reported<br />

Mula on October 26, 1560 (Court Library, Vienna). At <strong>the</strong><br />

beginning <strong>of</strong> February, 1561, Scalaleone threatened to go away ;<br />

see *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> February i, 1561 (Urb. 1039, p. 245b,<br />

Vatican Library).<br />

* See Ancel, Disgrace, 141 seq.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!