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

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.<br />

ARREST OF REBIBA. l6l<br />

<strong>The</strong> second letter had hardly reached <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

when ano<strong>the</strong>r event occurred. During <strong>the</strong> night between<br />

February 7th and 8th, Cardinal Scipione Rebiba, who had<br />

enjoyed <strong>the</strong> special confidence <strong>of</strong> Paul IV., was arrested.<br />

He was accused <strong>of</strong> having grossly neglected his duty during<br />

his legation in <strong>the</strong> year 1556 by not having continued his<br />

journey to Brussels, <strong>of</strong> having extorted a brief concerning<br />

certain benefices <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> dying Pope, and <strong>of</strong> having been<br />

accessory to <strong>the</strong> murder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Duchess <strong>of</strong> Paliano, by sanction-<br />

ing <strong>the</strong> proceedings <strong>of</strong> Carlo Carafa.^ This new arrest caused<br />

<strong>the</strong> greatest sensation. Four members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> College <strong>of</strong><br />

Cardinals were now in <strong>the</strong> Castle <strong>of</strong> St. Angelo, and it was<br />

expected that yet o<strong>the</strong>r Cardinals and prelates who had played<br />

an important part under Paul IV. would be caUed to account.<br />

On February 21st it was reported that <strong>the</strong> advocates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Carafa had appeared before <strong>the</strong> Pope and <strong>the</strong> Cardinals and had<br />

spoken with <strong>the</strong>m for several hours. <strong>The</strong>y complained<br />

bitterly <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> biased conduct <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Procurator Fiscal and<br />

<strong>the</strong> Governor. <strong>The</strong>reupon <strong>the</strong> Pope decided to go through<br />

<strong>the</strong> documents once more, saying that he wished to temper<br />

Mula, on February 8, 1561 (Papal Secret Archives, loc. oil. 443).<br />

It is <strong>the</strong>refore a mistake when Fr. Tonina, in a *letter <strong>of</strong> January<br />

29, 1 561, maintains that <strong>the</strong> Cardinal had been tortured. (Gonzaga<br />

Archives, Mantua). An *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> February 15, 1561<br />

(Urb. 1039, p. 252b, Vatican Library) makes <strong>the</strong> same statement.<br />

It was difficult to know <strong>the</strong> truth, for everything took place in<br />

<strong>the</strong> strictest secrecy ; *Delli Carafa le cose vanno secretissime,<br />

writes Tonina on February 15, 1561 (Gonzaga Archives,<br />

Mantua)<br />

1 Cf. besides Mula's **report <strong>of</strong> February 8, 1561 (Papal Secret<br />

Archives) <strong>the</strong> *Avvisi di Roma <strong>of</strong> February 8 and 15, (Urb. 1039,<br />

pp. 251, 252b, Vatican Library) and <strong>the</strong> *letter <strong>of</strong> Vargas <strong>of</strong><br />

February 15, 1561 (Simancas Archives) translated and commented<br />

on in Angel, Disgrace, 146 n. 3. See also Massarelli in<br />

Merkle, II., 351 ; BoNDONUS, 539, and <strong>the</strong> report <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portu-<br />

guese ambassador <strong>of</strong> February i6, 1561, in <strong>the</strong> Corpo dipl. Portug.,<br />

IX., 184.<br />

2 *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> February 8, 1561 (Urb. 1039, Vatican<br />

Library)<br />

VOL. XV. II<br />

^

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