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

364 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
in peace and dignity. The twenty-first and last chapter
contained the clause that the authority of the Apostolic See
must be held inviolate against all the decisions of the Council.
The acceptance of the reform decree took place with an
almost miraculous unanimity ; it was only with regard to
the last two chapters that some remarks were made. After
it had lasted from eight o'clock in the morning until nearly
five in the evening, the Session, as had been previously
arranged in the General Congregation, was adjourned till
the following day. Besides the four legates, there were
present the two Cardinals, twenty-five archbishops, a hundred
and fifty bishops, seven abbots, seven generals of orders,
and eleven envoys of the princes.
After the Session, a large majority, among whom was
Guise, expressed a wish for a decree on indulgences. Morone
was opposed to this as he feared a further delay in concluding
the Council, as well as undue precipitancy in the matter,
but he was forced at last to yield to the general desire. A
decree on indulgences was framed during the night on the
basis of the previous discussions, and this was presented
very early on December 4th to a General Congregation, in
spite of further opposition on the part of Morone. ^ Then they
repaired to the Cathedral, where the Archbishop of Catania
celebrated High Mass, after which, before anything else,
the decree on indulgences was read. This declared that
indulgences were salutary and that the Church had the power
to grant them ; the abuses committed by the collectors of
money for indulgences was met by a regulation which very
strictly forbade all manner of gain in the matter. With
regard to the other abuses in the matter of indulgences, which
on account of their multiplicity were not specifically men-
tioned, the bishops were to discuss these in the provincial
synods, and to refer them to the Pope in order that he might
remove them. The next decree dealt with the observance
of fast and feast days ; another dealt with the publication
of the Index, the catechism, the breviary and the missal,
1 See Theiner, II., 680.