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

THE pope's instructions TO SIMONETTA. 259
shall willingly and gladly die."^ A second autograph letter
from the Pope, accrediting Cardinal Simonetta, was addressed
to the Cardinal of Mantua alone, in order to emphasize the
peculiar position of that prelate as head of the legates, and
the first in point of rank.^
In the instructions given to Simonetta, the intentions of
the Pope, as to which the legate was to inform his colleagues,
were set forth in greater detail. They were to the following
effect : immediately after his arrival, the Council was to be
opened, and the work taken in hand by the prelates who
were present. The Council was to be principally engaged
in finishing the little that still remained to be dealt with as
regards dogma, especially the doctrine of the Sacraments ;
this was the most important thing. The reform of abuses
was already settled, or at least so far advanced that it could
easily be brought to a close. In this connection it was taken
for granted that only such reforms were to be dealt with at
Trent as did not affect the Roman court, for the Pope looked
upon these as his own prerogative.^ As far as the question
^ The credentials, dated November 19, 1561, in part in PallaviciNi,
15, 13, 2, and complete in Susta, I., 113 seq. ; in San
Carlo, 89, they are given in phototype from the original.
2 The letter, dated November 20, 1561, in §usta, I., 115.
^ Cf. Eder, I., 121 seq., who rightly remarks that the work of
reform which had at that time been energetically undertaken
in Rome aimed at withdrawing from the Council the " Reformatio
Capita." For this reform work cf. Sickel, 242 ; Susta, I.,
119; *Avvisi di Roma of December 6, 13, and 20, 1561, and
January 10, 1562 (Urb. 1039, pp. 317b seq., 319b, 325b, 310,
Vatican Library). On December 20, 1561, Tonina gives the
lollowing account of this work : *Sopra la bolla del conclave,
del qual S. S*^ ad ogni hora ragiona, non vi e cardinale che concorri
nella opinione sua, di farlo in Castello, patendo questa sua opinione
molte contrarieta che si adducono de incomodi, pericoli, et che
anco il luoco non sia capace, pero si crede che non se ne fara
altro. Circa la bolla della riforma a questa si attende et si crede
pure che in cio si fara qualche profitto, ancora che portara tempo,
perche dovendosi reforrhare ogniuno in casa sua ci bisognano
molte considerationi, rnolto tempo et rnolto che fare, in riandare