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

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DANGER OF A DISSOLUTION. 283<br />

expressly declared to be a new one, and not a continuation.<br />

At <strong>the</strong> same time a letter, dated May 22nd, arrived <strong>from</strong><br />

Ferdinand I. to his envoys, and ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>from</strong> Delfino to <strong>the</strong><br />

legates, announcing that <strong>the</strong> Emperor not only refused his<br />

consent to an express declaration <strong>of</strong> continuation, but threat-<br />

ening, if this were made, to recall his representatives.^<br />

<strong>The</strong> legates, who reported <strong>the</strong> attitude taken up by <strong>the</strong><br />

Emperor to Rome on May 26th, ^ had reason to fear <strong>the</strong> disso-<br />

lution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council. While <strong>the</strong>y were still seeking to find<br />

a way out <strong>of</strong> this exceedingly difficult position, <strong>the</strong>y received,<br />

on <strong>the</strong> evening <strong>of</strong> June 2nd, a letter <strong>from</strong> Pius IV., dated May<br />

30th, 3 wh^ch filled <strong>the</strong>m with dismay, for it contained express<br />

orders that, in accordance with <strong>the</strong> promise made to <strong>the</strong><br />

Spanish king, <strong>the</strong>y were to hold to <strong>the</strong> express declaration<br />

<strong>of</strong> continuation which had already been ordained. <strong>The</strong> legates<br />

were convinced that <strong>the</strong> carrying out <strong>of</strong> this command would<br />

not only lead to <strong>the</strong> dissolution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council, but would also,<br />

since <strong>the</strong> representative <strong>of</strong> Spain, <strong>the</strong> Marquis <strong>of</strong> Pescara, had<br />

agreed to a postponement, throw <strong>the</strong> whole blame for this<br />

upon <strong>the</strong> Pope.* <strong>The</strong>y <strong>the</strong>refore resolved not to carry out<br />

<strong>the</strong> order, which had been issued under <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> Vargas,^<br />

and to justify this step in Rome through Cardinal Mark<br />

Sittich. His mission, however, was not required, as, on <strong>the</strong><br />

following day, a second letter <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope arrived, dated<br />

May 31st, which revoked <strong>the</strong> first one, and left it to <strong>the</strong><br />

discretion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> legates to refrain <strong>from</strong> making an express<br />

declaration <strong>of</strong> continuation at <strong>the</strong> next Session, so long as<br />

<strong>the</strong> actual carrying on <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> labours <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council was taken<br />

in hand.^<br />

^ See SiCKEL, Konzil, 314; Steinherz, III., 52 seq.<br />

^ SusTA, II., 164 seq.<br />

^ SusTA, II., 175 seq. Cf. SiCKEL, Berichte, III., 131.<br />

* See Seripand I Comment., 467 ; Musotti, I., i^seq. ; Paleotto<br />

in <strong>The</strong>iner, II., 560. Cf. Pallavicini, 16, 12, 2 and 3. See<br />

also SiCKEL, Berichte, III., 138 seq.<br />

^ Cf. Collecci6n de docum. ined., IX., 232 seq. ; Susta, II., 178.<br />

* See SusTA, II., 180 seq., 183, 471. Tonina *reported on<br />

May 20, 1562, that <strong>the</strong> Pope held congregations about <strong>the</strong> Council<br />

every day (Gonzaga Archives, Mantua).

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