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

ILLNESS OF THE POPE. 361
The unexpected, however, did occur. On November 29th
and 30th the representative of Philip II., the Count di Lima,
summoned the Spanish bishops, and such Italians as were
subject to Spanish rule, to his house, in order to bring about,
through their means, a prolongation of the Council. Only
two or three of those who appeared, however, shared the
views of the envoy. ^ The last of these meetings finished at
seven o'clock in the evening. Two hours later, a courier,
sent from Rome by the Spanish ambassador, Requesens,
arrived at di Luna's house with the news that the Pope was
mortally ill. Soon afterwards Morone and Simonetta received
a letter from Cardinal Borromeo, dated November
27th, telling of the grave illness of the Pope, accompanied
by a certified statement from the physicians. A postscript
announced the very urgent wish of Pius IV. that the closing
of the Council should be hurried on in every possible way.^
Haste was absolutely necessary, for a schism was to be feared,
on account of the mutual dispute between the Council and
the Cardinals in Rome concerning the right of electing a
new Pope ; not only were the legates convinced of this,
but also Guise and Madruzzo.^ The legates, therefore,
immediately summoned the envoys and the most important
prelates, in order to lay the threatened danger before them.
All, with the exception of the representatives of Philip II.
and several of the Spaniards, declared themselves agreeable
to the last Session of the Council being held at once, and a
special meeting of the prelates, summoned on December
2nd, also agreed to this. A General Congregation was held
on the same day, which, with the utmost speed, prepared the
whole of the material waiting for publication. On account
dated Trent, November 16, 1563 (Graziani Archives, Citta di
Castello).
1 See Paleotto in Theiner, IL, 678 ; Mendoqa, 716 ; Palla-
viciNi, 24, 4; SusTA, IV., 415 seq., 420 seq.
* See SusTA, IV., 431 seq.
* Cf. the retrospect in the *Ietter of Hosius to Commendone,
dated Trent, December 7, 1563 (Graziani Archives, Citta di
Castello).