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

3l6 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
which was at once put forward. Although he had kept his
intention secret, Cardinal Bourdaisiere had succeeded in gain-
ing admission to the Pope before the consistory of March 7th,
to represent to him the necessity of appointing Guise. Pius IV.
answered him shortly and decidedly that as the Cardinal of
Lorraine was looked upon as the head of a party in the Council,
it was impossible to consider it advisable to make him a
president, since not the least suspicion of partiality must
attach to the holder of such a dignity.^
Pius IV. had shown great wisdom in his choice of the new
legates to the Council. Of the three who were still at Trent,
two, Hosius and Seripando, were theologians, while Simonetta
was a canonist. As the necessity of a good understanding
with the great powers, for the progress and conclusion of the
Council, had been growing more and more evident since the
arrival of the French, there was urgent need of skUled diplo-
matists. From this point of view, among all the Cardinals,
Morone and Navagero seemed the most suitable. Navagero
had had a splendid career as Venetian ambassador, while
Morone was certainly the most able diplomatist who was at
that time at the disposal of the Holy See. In addition to this,
Morone had been for many years, and in quite a special way,
entrusted with ecclesiastical affairs, for which reason Paul III.
had destined him for the office of legate at the first announcement
of the Council of Trent. He had enjoyed the friendship
of Pius IV. for many years, and possessed his confidence in
the highest degree. Morone was also, with the exception of
Borromeo, more closely acquainted with the progress of
the Council up till now than any other member of the
Sacred College, and in addition to aU this he possessed,
in a high degree, the respect and confidence of the
Emperor, 2
On March 24th, 1563, Morone left the Eternal City, and on
^ See Pallavicini, 20, 6, 4-5 ; Le Plat, V., 713 ; Baguenault
DE PUCHESSE, 346 ; SuSTA, III., 27O.
2 See Pallavicini, loc. cit. ; Sickel, Beitrage, I., 57 seq. ;
Ehses in the Histor. Jahrbuch, XXXVII., 57 seq.