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

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202 HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

received Philip's letter <strong>of</strong> September 14th, through Vargas,<br />

with <strong>the</strong> news <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mission <strong>of</strong> Antonio de Toledo to France.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> following day he praised <strong>the</strong> king's good will in a<br />

Congregation <strong>of</strong> Cardinals, and once more emphasized <strong>the</strong><br />

necessity <strong>of</strong> speedily summoning <strong>the</strong> Council. As almost all<br />

<strong>the</strong> Cardinals agreed to <strong>the</strong> continuation, it was resolved<br />

to announce <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspension on <strong>the</strong> First<br />

Sunday in Advent, to appoint <strong>the</strong> legates and to decide<br />

upon <strong>the</strong> Festival <strong>of</strong> Easter as <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> opening.<br />

Morone and Seripando were chosen as <strong>the</strong> probable<br />

legates. 1<br />

Shortly after this, during <strong>the</strong> night between October 8th<br />

and gth, <strong>the</strong> news <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> non-success <strong>of</strong> Toledo's mission<br />

reached Rome. Vargas, who had an audience immediately<br />

afterwards, announces that he found <strong>the</strong> Pope much depressed,<br />

even though he had scarcely expected anything else. Pius<br />

IV. said to Vargas : "As <strong>the</strong> French national council is now<br />

definitely decided upon, I for my part will now delay no longer<br />

in summoning <strong>the</strong> General Council. I no longer count on<br />

France, and believe that <strong>the</strong> Emperor will continue to hold<br />

back, <strong>from</strong> fear <strong>of</strong> complications in Germany. <strong>The</strong> Spanish<br />

king is my only support. I shall <strong>the</strong>refore request his agreement<br />

to <strong>the</strong> opening <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council in Trent, as a continuation<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> former assembly <strong>the</strong>re ; it might <strong>the</strong>n later on be<br />

removed to a more suitable place, such as His Majesty would<br />

approve. I hope that after <strong>the</strong> opening <strong>the</strong> Emperor and<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs who still hesitate, will give <strong>the</strong>ir adherence." In a<br />

later conversation with Vargas on October loth, <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

declared that he would address an autograph letter to Philip<br />

II. This letter, dated October nth, declared his unalterable<br />

determination to proceed to <strong>the</strong> ccntinuation <strong>of</strong> th Council<br />

^ See <strong>the</strong> report <strong>of</strong> Vargas in Voss, loi seq., where <strong>the</strong> erroneous<br />

account by Sarpi is corrected. Cf. also <strong>the</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portuguese<br />

ambassador on October 8, 1560, in <strong>the</strong> Corpo dipl. Portug., IX.,<br />

48 seq. Morone had already been appointed as legate at <strong>the</strong><br />

beginning <strong>of</strong> June, 1560 ; see <strong>the</strong> report <strong>of</strong> Vargas in Voss, 45,<br />

n. 89.

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