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

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THE BULL SENT TO FRANCE. 217<br />

<strong>The</strong> great question was whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> formal concessions<br />

adopted by Papal diplomacy, and which attempted to provide<br />

a <strong>middle</strong> course between two powerfully opposed attitudes,<br />

would satisfy <strong>the</strong> great Catholic powers. It was soon evident<br />

that this was by no means <strong>the</strong> case. <strong>The</strong> long negotiations<br />

were again renewed, and repeated missions <strong>of</strong> nuncios<br />

extiaordinary became necessary in order to secure <strong>the</strong><br />

acceptance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bull and <strong>the</strong> bringing into being <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Council.<br />

<strong>The</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conciliar bull to France was entrusted<br />

to <strong>the</strong> secretary <strong>of</strong> Cardinal d'Este, Niquet, Abbot <strong>of</strong> St.<br />

Gildas, who had come to Rome on September 24th, 1560, with<br />

dispatches <strong>from</strong> Francis II. to his ambassador, Bourdaisiere.<br />

When Niquet reached Paris on December 17th, 1560, Francis<br />

II. was dead, and his younger bro<strong>the</strong>r, Charles IX., <strong>the</strong>n only<br />

ten years old, had succeeded him (December 5th, 1560).<br />

Affairs <strong>of</strong> state were now in <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Queen-Mo<strong>the</strong>r,<br />

Ca<strong>the</strong>rine de' Medici, but <strong>the</strong> change <strong>of</strong> government had led<br />

to no alteration in <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council. People<br />

appeared to be glad at <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong> a general council being at<br />

last summoned, but objected to <strong>the</strong> words " under repeal <strong>of</strong><br />

each and every suspension " and expressed <strong>the</strong> fear that <strong>the</strong><br />

Protestants, and, out <strong>of</strong> consideration for <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong> Catholics<br />

<strong>of</strong> Germany as well, would not acknowledge a council which<br />

took for granted <strong>the</strong> validity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> former decrees. It was,<br />

however, decided to delay making an answer until <strong>the</strong><br />

Emperor's attitude could be ascertained. <strong>The</strong> French<br />

ambassador in Vienna, Bochetel, Bishop <strong>of</strong> Rennes, was<br />

instructed to discuss <strong>the</strong> matter with him. Should<br />

Ferdinand not accept <strong>the</strong> bull, <strong>the</strong>y resolved, in union with<br />

him, to demand an alteration <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope. In this<br />

event, Bourdaisiere, <strong>the</strong> ambassador in Rome, was in-<br />

structed to act in concert with <strong>the</strong> representative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Emperor.^<br />

While <strong>the</strong> French government was raising difficulties because<br />

1 C/". Le Plat, IV., 668 seq. ; Pallavicini, 15, i, 5 seq. ;<br />

Reimann, Unterhandlungen, 614 seq.; Sickel, Konzil, 154 n.

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