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

278 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
current of the imminent translation of the Coimcil, or of its
sudden ending. ^ No such plans, however, were contemplated.
The cause of the delay was the embarrassment of the Pope
as to the attitude he should adopt with regard to the question
of the duty of residence, as to which such great differences of
opinion prevailed among the fathers. In view of the great
number who held that opinion, and the attitude of Vargas, a
plain rejection of the divine authority for the duty of residence
did not seem to be opportune, especially because many saw in a
declaration of the divine right one of the most efficacious means
of restoring ecclesiastical discipline, now so fallen into decay,
and thus they would incur the suspicion that the Curia was
seeking to thwart the work of reform. Above all, however, the
most vital interests of the Holy See were involved in the ques-
tion. If he gave way, he would have to bear in mind that
those fathers who had spoken out openly against the definition,
thinking thereby to render an important service to the Pope,
must not lightly be thrown over. A hurried definition was
therefore to be avoided, because the laying down of an article
of faith called for complete security, and of that, in the face
of such violent opposition, there could be no question.
On account of the difficulties which stood in the way of a
definite decision, either in one sense or the other, Pius IV.
thought it best to leave the question open for the time being,
and to send Pendaso back to Trent only with decisions as to
the reforms that were to be undertaken (May srd).^ When he
was near Mantua, Pendaso injured himself by a fall from his
horse to such a degree that he was unable to continue his
journey. He therefore dictated to Giovanni Francesco
Arrivabene, who had been sent to meet him by the legates,
his instructions, which were to the following effect : the Pope
is resolved on the reform of the whole Church, and especially
of the Roman Curia. That of the Penitentiaria is already in
hand, and that of the other offices will follow, in spite of the
financial losses involved. The Pope earnestly admonished the
1 See Colleccion de docum. ined., IX., 151,
2 Cf. Pallavicini, 16, 5.
* See SusTA, II., io8.
^