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

220 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
On January 5th, 1561, Commendone, as well as Hosius
and Delfino, had an audience with the Emperor. ^ The latter
did not conceal his objections to the wording of the Papal
briefs, but, nevertheless, declared himself ready to further
the Council. He then recommended the nuncios to proceed
without delay to the Diet summoned by the Protestant princes
for January 24th at Naumburg. He requested to be informed
in writing as to what the Pope wished him to communicate
to the princes. The nuncios, who had been forbidden to
undertake written negotiations, so as to avoid protracted
and dangerous correspondence, had scruples about complying
with this request. As Ferdinand, however, insisted on having
at least Commendone 's proposal in writing, they felt bound
to give way, so as not to endanger further negotiations. They
therefore gave him a note from Commendone, drawn up in the
shortest possible terms, to which the Emperor, in his turn,
gave a written reply on January 8th. He praised the Pope's
resolve to invite the German princes by means of the two
nuncios ;
from the Catholic states of the Empire, and especially
from the ecclesiastical ones, he thought that the Pope's
representatives would be sure to meet with ready obedience.
With regard to the Protestants, he repeated his advice that
they should visit the Diet at Naumburg, and exhorted them
to act there in a spirit of clemency ; he intended himself to
send envoys to Naumburg. ^
There was no possibility of the nuncios seeking fresh instruc-
tions as to their course of action from Rome, and as the
Emperor's representations were very urgent, they resolved,
hoping for subsequent approval, to modify their programme,
and to repair together to the Diet of the princes at Naumburg,
^See the report to Borromeo of January 9, 1561 ; January
9 and 13, 1 561, composed by Delfino in the names of Hosius and
Commendone as well as himself, in the Miscall, di stor. Ital., VI.,
20 seq., in Ehses, VIII., 128, n. 80, 131, n. 82.
^ The note of the 5, and the Emperor's reply of January 8 in
Raynaldus, 1 561, n. 20, more correctly in Planck, Anecdota
fasc. 21, and Ehses, VIII., 123 seq. Cf. Reimann, Commendone,
241.