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

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PHILIP II. AND THE COUNCIL. 187<br />

wait for <strong>the</strong> replies <strong>of</strong> your princes before announcing it<br />

publicly, and sending <strong>the</strong> legates."^<br />

<strong>The</strong> desire <strong>of</strong> Pius IV. to carry this important matter<br />

through, with <strong>the</strong> agreement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Catholic powers, was<br />

thoroughly justified, for <strong>the</strong> Holy See would require strong<br />

support during <strong>the</strong> Council, while <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> civil powers<br />

would be necessary later on, for <strong>the</strong> carrying into effect <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> measures decided upon.<br />

<strong>The</strong> first satisfactory answer came <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spanish govern-<br />

ment. Philip II. had postponed a decision in his reply to<br />

<strong>the</strong> nuncio, Raverta, even as late as April ist. At <strong>the</strong> begin-<br />

ning <strong>of</strong> May he yielded so far as to express his approval <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> convocation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council, but only on <strong>the</strong> condition<br />

that <strong>the</strong> Emperor should also approve. It was only when<br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r news arrived <strong>from</strong> Rome and France that Philip<br />

finally resolved, in a plenary meeting <strong>of</strong> his piivy council,<br />

to accept <strong>the</strong> Council unconditionally. Three days later<br />

he wrote to Vargas in Rome that, since a national council<br />

was being threatened in France, a thing which might have<br />

<strong>the</strong> gravest consequences, he gave his approval to <strong>the</strong> decision<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope to hold a general council. <strong>The</strong> agreement <strong>of</strong><br />

France and <strong>the</strong> Emperor, however, was necessary. He<br />

was glad that <strong>the</strong> Pope would continue <strong>the</strong> Council at Trent,<br />

but <strong>the</strong> reform <strong>of</strong> abuses would have to be undertaken.^<br />

<strong>The</strong> answer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French government was much less<br />

satisfactory, for <strong>the</strong> continuation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council was not at<br />

^ Cf. <strong>the</strong> report <strong>of</strong> Francis von Thurm to <strong>the</strong> Emperor <strong>of</strong> June 3,<br />

1560, in SicKEL, Konzil, 48, and *that <strong>of</strong> Mula on <strong>the</strong> same date,<br />

used by Reimann, loc. cit., 594 seq. Reimann rightly notes that<br />

" Pius IV. took <strong>the</strong> first step, <strong>from</strong> which it is evident that he<br />

was in earnest," and that Mocenigo (p. 25) is unjust to <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

when he doubts his sincerity. See also Dembinski, Ryzm, I.,<br />

37 seq. Cf. also <strong>the</strong> *Ietter <strong>of</strong> G. B. Ricasoli <strong>of</strong> June 3, 1560<br />

(State Archives, Florence), and <strong>the</strong> report <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portuguese<br />

ambassador <strong>of</strong> June 12, 1560, in <strong>the</strong> Corpo dipl. Portug., VIII.,<br />

464 seq. See also <strong>the</strong> account in Ehses, Berufung des Konzils,<br />

6 seq., and VIII., 29.<br />

2 Cf. Voss, 47 seq., 49 seq., 51 ; Ehses, Berufung des Konzils, 7.

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