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

420 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
Romae kal. octobr. [October ist] 1561^ in which there is
given as the reason fcr the edition the close approach of the
Council. There is no lack of praise for the reigning Pope :
" Cui enim aptius dicari de maximis pontificibus liber scriptus
potuit, qaam pontifici maximo ? et ei pontifici, qui divinitus
nobis in hac temporum hominunique pravitate datus est.
Qui pietate, religione, iustitia, prudentia et humanitate,
ecclesiae ipsi iam in senium vergenti et fere collapse pias
manus porrigere et earn iacentem attollere rursum atque
paene confectam restituere sua virtute et Dei beneficio et
potest et vult." The whole of the new life is written in this
sense. In the place of the dry and meagre first sketch we
have now a highly coloured and detailed account, full of such
plentiful eulogies of the Pope that one might almost call
it a panegyric. At the very beginning the Florentine origin
of the family is brought out, and at this point there is inserted,
in accordance with the " hint " which had been communicated
to him as above, the little story of the wonderful light which
had surrounded the cradle of Pius IV. In other places too
the " hints " are used almost word for word, while at the
same time many other changes are made, which obviously
may also be attributed to similar " hints " from the intimate
friends of the Pope. The account of the successive steps
in the rise of Pius IV. is much more exact than in the first
edition. In support of his own credibility Panvinio says
twice over that he is writing as an eye-witness (p. 316b and
317). Here too the contrast between Medici and Paul IV.,
passed over in the first editicn, is suitably emphasized, together
with the former's absence from Rome. In the second
edition the good qualities of Pius IV., and especially his
liberalit}^ are much more fully exemplified ; when speaking
of the Pope's nephews, Charles Borromeo is especially ex-
tolled and praised, having been altogether forgotten in the
first edition. The merits of Pius IV. in connection with the
success of the Council are brought out in high relief, and
painted in bright colouis, not without a hint at the contrast
to the conduct of the preceding Popes. When he speaks of
the decision of the question about the contimiatio or nova
^ The date is surprising, because the account goes to the end of 1562 ;
the right to^rint from Cosimo de' Medici is dated: Ap.l, 156'J, and that fi-om
Venice Aug. 21, 1561. Can Panvinio have chosen tliis earlier date in ordev
to malie people forget the first edition ?