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

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GENERAL WISH TO END THE COUNCIL. 357<br />

At <strong>the</strong> voting on <strong>the</strong> reform decree so many divergent<br />

votes were given in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> chapters III., V., and VI., that<br />

after <strong>the</strong> Session <strong>the</strong>se had to be once more referred to <strong>the</strong><br />

commission appointed for <strong>the</strong> drawing up <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> decree, and<br />

it was only on December 3rd that it was possible to pubhsh<br />

it in <strong>the</strong> amended form decided upon between November 12th<br />

and 15th. 1 <strong>The</strong> eighth Session had begun at half past nine<br />

in <strong>the</strong> morning, and had lasted until half past seven in <strong>the</strong><br />

evening.<br />

With general consent <strong>the</strong> next Session was fixed for December<br />

gth, with <strong>the</strong> power, if necessary, to anticipate that date.<br />

<strong>The</strong> still undecided chapter on <strong>the</strong> exemptions <strong>of</strong> ca<strong>the</strong>dral<br />

chapters, as well as o<strong>the</strong>r questions <strong>of</strong> reform which had not yet<br />

been dealt with, were to be treated in this Session. Pius IV.<br />

sanctioned all <strong>the</strong> decrees <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> XXIVth Session, and addressed<br />

letters <strong>of</strong> thanks to <strong>the</strong> persons principally concerned, at <strong>the</strong><br />

same time urging <strong>the</strong> speedy end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council.^<br />

<strong>The</strong> legates were in no need <strong>of</strong> any such exhortation. Sup-<br />

ported by <strong>the</strong> wish <strong>of</strong> Ferdinand I., Maximilian II., <strong>the</strong> Kings<br />

<strong>of</strong> Portugal and Poland, <strong>the</strong> Republic <strong>of</strong> Venice and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

Italian governments, <strong>the</strong>y did <strong>the</strong>ir utmost, in spite <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

opposition <strong>of</strong> di Luna, to bring about a successful conclusion<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council. Morone, above all, undisturbed by calumnies<br />

and enmit}^, worked for this end.^ He succeeded in finding<br />

a way out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> difficult question <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> exemption <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

ca<strong>the</strong>dral chapters ; that great abuses existed in this matter<br />

was undeniable, but <strong>the</strong> desire <strong>of</strong> Philip II. to have <strong>the</strong>m<br />

removed was by no means disinterested. He wished to have<br />

<strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chapters limited as much as possible, princi-<br />

pally because his influence, which in consequence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> royal<br />

pleased that <strong>the</strong> affair had been settled by a synodal decree and<br />

not by a brief (see Pall.wicini, 24, 2, i). As to <strong>the</strong> faculties<br />

granted to <strong>the</strong> bishops see Mergen<strong>the</strong>im, I., 84 seq.<br />

^ See <strong>The</strong>iner, XL, 475-6.<br />

2 Pallavicini, 24, 2.<br />

3 Ranke (Papste, I^, 222) is <strong>of</strong> opinion :<br />

" <strong>The</strong> Catholic Church<br />

owes to him, ra<strong>the</strong>r than to anyone else, <strong>the</strong> happy issue <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Council."

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