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

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INTERFERENCE OF THE ENVOYS. 275<br />

admonish <strong>the</strong> prelates to settle <strong>the</strong> matter according to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

consciences. 1<br />

On <strong>the</strong> same April 20th a commission was appointed to draw<br />

up a decree embodying <strong>the</strong> points <strong>of</strong> reform already dealt with.<br />

From April 21st to <strong>the</strong> 24th, six more <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> twelve articles<br />

were discussed. On April 28th, a letter <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> French envoy,<br />

Lansac, was read, in which he announced his arrival, but<br />

begged that <strong>the</strong> Session <strong>of</strong> May 14th might be postponed, as he<br />

could not be in Trent by <strong>the</strong>n.- Almost all <strong>the</strong> Spanish<br />

prelates protested against a postponement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Session, but<br />

<strong>the</strong>y were by no means in <strong>the</strong> majority. At length a way was<br />

found to please both parties ; it was resolved on April 30th<br />

to hold <strong>the</strong> Session fixed for May 14th on that day, but only<br />

to read <strong>the</strong> mandates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> newly arrived envoys ;<br />

<strong>the</strong> publi-<br />

cation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> decrees already determined on was to take place<br />

at a Session to be held eight days later.<br />

About this time various circumstances contributed to render<br />

<strong>the</strong> position <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council exceedingly difficult, not <strong>the</strong> least<br />

<strong>of</strong> which were <strong>the</strong> many acts <strong>of</strong> interference on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

princes and <strong>the</strong>ir representatives. <strong>The</strong> matter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> con-<br />

tinuation on <strong>the</strong> one hand, and <strong>the</strong> question as to <strong>the</strong> duty<br />

<strong>of</strong> residence on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, were <strong>the</strong> subjects which disturbed<br />

<strong>the</strong> peaceful carrying on <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> deliberations.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Spanish ambassador in Rome, Vargas, had handed an<br />

autograph letter <strong>from</strong> his master to <strong>the</strong> Pope on April 19th,<br />

making at <strong>the</strong> same time a protest, both verbally and in writing,<br />

against <strong>the</strong> exclusive right <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> legates to bring forward<br />

proposals, and against <strong>the</strong> postponement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> explicit<br />

declaration <strong>of</strong> continuation."* Cardinal Borromeo informed<br />

^<strong>The</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> Gonzaga and Seripando <strong>of</strong> April 23, 1562, un-<br />

fortunately only preserved in a summary, in Susta, II., 90 seq.<br />

2 SeeRAYNALDUS, 1562, n. 44 ; Le Plat, V., 162. C/. <strong>The</strong>iner,<br />

I., 714 seq.<br />

' See Pallavicini, 16, 5, 13. All <strong>the</strong> material concerning <strong>the</strong><br />

Congregations and Sessions down to <strong>the</strong> XXIInd. on September 1 7,<br />

1562, is now in a detailed edition in Ehses, VIII.<br />

* See Dollinger, Beitrage, I., 415; Colleccion de docum.<br />

ined., IX., 141. <strong>The</strong> autograph letter <strong>of</strong> Philip II., <strong>of</strong> March 30,<br />

1562, in Susta, II., 94 seq.<br />

^

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