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

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l66 HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

protecting <strong>the</strong> Cardinal, but much too late to make <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

withdraw <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> course he had already entered upon.<br />

When Vargas handed him <strong>the</strong> letter on March 2nd, Pius IV.<br />

answered in general terms that he declined to postpone <strong>the</strong><br />

consistory.^ <strong>The</strong> consistory <strong>the</strong>refore took place on March<br />

3rd as arranged, and lasted for eight hours. <strong>The</strong> Governor, by<br />

order <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Procurator Fiscal, presented a summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

minutes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> proceedings against Cardinal Carlo Carafa, <strong>the</strong><br />

Duke <strong>of</strong> PaUano, <strong>the</strong> Count d'Alife, and Lionardo di Cardine,<br />

which took seven hours to read out, and demanded <strong>the</strong> condemnation<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> accused. <strong>The</strong> enumeration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fences<br />

made a deep impression, and many Cardinals who had<br />

intended to say a word in favour <strong>of</strong> Alfonso or Carlo Carafa<br />

remained silent. Este alone endeavoured to refute <strong>the</strong><br />

accusation concerning <strong>the</strong> alliance made with France, a thing<br />

which he understood perfectly. After <strong>the</strong> minutes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> case<br />

had been read out, <strong>the</strong> Pope handed to <strong>the</strong> Governor a sealed<br />

roll <strong>of</strong> paper, which was only to be opened by special order,<br />

with <strong>the</strong> words that he was pronouncing <strong>the</strong> final sentence.<br />

<strong>The</strong>reupon Cardinals Carpi, Famese, Este, Crispi and SaveHi<br />

arose, begging <strong>the</strong> Pope not to show <strong>the</strong> extremity <strong>of</strong> severity,<br />

and to have consideration for <strong>the</strong> dignity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sacred College.<br />

<strong>The</strong>ir pleading bore as little fruit as did a new attempt on <strong>the</strong><br />

part <strong>of</strong> Vargas to induce Pius IV. to show clemency."^ <strong>The</strong><br />

final step was taken on March 4th, when <strong>the</strong> sealed roll was<br />

opened in <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> advocates ; this contained<br />

1 C/. HiLLiGER, 17, and Angel, Disgrace, 151 seq. <strong>The</strong> text<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> Philip II., <strong>of</strong> February 11, 1561, in Dollinger,<br />

Beitrage, I., 353.<br />

2 <strong>The</strong> best report <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> consistory is in <strong>the</strong> *letter <strong>of</strong> Vargas<br />

<strong>of</strong> March 14, 1561 (Simancas Archives) used by Angel, /o:. cit.,<br />

152. Cf. also <strong>the</strong> report <strong>of</strong> N. Tiepolo in Nardugci, Cat. I., 322,<br />

<strong>the</strong> Florentine report in <strong>the</strong> Arch. stor. Ital., XII., 297, 298 n.,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> slightly divergent report <strong>of</strong> Fr. Tonina, <strong>of</strong> March 5, 1561<br />

(Gonzaga Archives, Mantua). See Appendix No. 14 ; cf. No. 13<br />

(Acta consist. Cam., Consistorial Archives). <strong>The</strong> Acta consist,<br />

in GuLiK-EuBEL, 38, report very laconically, as does Massarelli<br />

(in Merkle, II., 352).

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