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

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268 HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

bishop <strong>of</strong> Patras. Two decrees were published :<br />

one<br />

which<br />

announced <strong>the</strong> reform <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Index, and dealt with <strong>the</strong> invitation<br />

<strong>of</strong> all to <strong>the</strong> Council (De hbrorum delectu et omnibus<br />

ad concilium fide publica invitandis) ; in its second part it<br />

contained an invitation to <strong>the</strong> Protestants to present <strong>the</strong>m-<br />

selves at Trent, which was expressed in a noble spirit<br />

<strong>of</strong> peace ;^ by <strong>the</strong> second decree, <strong>the</strong> next Session <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Council was, in accordance with <strong>the</strong> wishes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor,<br />

postponed till May 14th. In order that <strong>the</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> safe-<br />

conduct for <strong>the</strong> Protestants should be granted as soon as<br />

possible, it was resolved that a General Congregation should<br />

have <strong>the</strong> power to issue this with full validity. <strong>The</strong>y acted<br />

on this decision on March 2nd and 4th, and on <strong>the</strong> latter day<br />

<strong>the</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> safe-conduct was solemnly granted, which fact<br />

was made public on <strong>the</strong> 8th, by a notice affixed to <strong>the</strong> doors<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ca<strong>the</strong>dral in Trent. <strong>The</strong> designation " heretic " was<br />

in this replaced by <strong>the</strong> milder description " those who do not<br />

agree wdth us in faith, and beUeve o<strong>the</strong>rwise than <strong>the</strong> Holy<br />

Roman Church teaches. "-<br />

Pius IV. was most anxious that <strong>the</strong> Council should quickly<br />

be brought to completion by <strong>the</strong> immediate treatment <strong>of</strong><br />

dogmatic questions. It was only after a consultation with<br />

five Cardinals that he had yielded to <strong>the</strong> request <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Emperor to postpone <strong>the</strong> next Session <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council to a later<br />

date. A letter <strong>from</strong> Borromeo <strong>of</strong> February 20th gave per-<br />

mission for <strong>the</strong> next Session to be postponed till <strong>the</strong> beginning<br />

<strong>of</strong> May at <strong>the</strong> latest ;<br />

in <strong>the</strong> meantime, in order to meet <strong>the</strong><br />

wishes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor in this respect as well, <strong>the</strong>y should not<br />

deal with dogma, but only with letters <strong>of</strong> safe-conduct and<br />

similar matters, as well as with several general points <strong>of</strong><br />

reform ;<br />

<strong>the</strong> Pope would himself undertake <strong>the</strong> reform <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

^<strong>The</strong> opinion <strong>of</strong> Knopfler in <strong>the</strong> Freiburger Kirchenlex, XL,<br />

2090.<br />

2 See Rayxaldus, 1562, n. 22-3 ; <strong>The</strong>ixer, I., 692 ; Paleotto,<br />

in <strong>The</strong>ixer, IL, 545 seq. ; Musoxxi, loz. cit., 10 seq. ; report<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> legates <strong>of</strong> March 9, in Susta, II. , 46; Cf. Pallavicixi,<br />

15, I-

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