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

28o HISTORY OF THE POPES.
which came to him partly directly, and partly through Borro-
meo, from fathers of the Council who were known to be zealous
partisans of the Holy See. A profound impression was made
by several reports from Simonetta, who had from the first
been definitely opposed to the declaration that the duty of
residence was founded on divine right. The zeal of the Cardinal,
as well as his wide knowledge of canon law, were bound
to place his opinion above suspicion, and to give real justi-
fication to his apprehension of dangers, which the eyes of the
other legates had not detected. In addition to this there had
come to Rome other communications, which not only exagger-
ated, but even distorted occurrences which had taken place
in Trent ; among these there were even angry calumnies
against Cardinals Gonzaga and Seripando.^
Pius IV. considered the matter of such grave importance
that, contrary to his usual custom, he sought counsel from
the Cardinals. He formed six of them into a special commis-
sion, ^ and a consultation with them led to the conclusion that
the Pope could no longer maintain his former attitude of
reserve.^ A resolution was therefore come to, to avert the
dangers that threatened at Trent by an extraordinary step :
to associate with the legates who were there thiee new ones ;
Cardinals Cicada, de la Bourdaisiere, and Navagero were
proposed for this ofiice. Cicada seemed to be especially suited
for the defence of the rights of the Holy See, as not only was
he distinguished for his great knowledge of canon law, but
also for his great intrepidity. Bourdaisiere, as Bishop of
Angouleme, had always shown great zeal for religion, and as
the ambassador of France to the Holy See he had won in a
high degree the good-will and confidence of the Pope ; he
would be in a position to render valuable services in averting
the difficulties which were to be feared from the French
government. Navagero, too, possessed, in addition to a truly
^ See the testimony of Borromeo in his letter to Gonzaga of
May II, 1562, in Susta, II., 140, and Paleotto in Theiner, II.,
558-9. Cf. Pallavicini, 16, 5 and 8.
^ See Paleotto, loc. cit., 559.
' See Eder, I., 145.