[hprints-00683151, v2] Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pius II ... - Hprints.org

hprints-00683151, version 2 - 19 Mar 2013
Undoubtedly, the young speaker and very junior participant in the council here gave
voice to the views of senior churchmen, quite possibly or probably the president of
council himself, Cardinal Cesarini, with whose permission he was speaking. Cesarini
would not have forgotten that one of the five aims of the Council, stated in his letter
of appointment, was to preserve the freedom of the Church from secular power.
National stereotypes
In the Renaissance, as in all other ages, national stereotyping was quite widespread,
and Piccolomini used it often in his writings. The French whom he disliked were
certainly not spared.
Today, national character is still being studied under such names as ‘cultural
differences’, ‘cultural identity’, or ‘cultural psychology’.
In the Audivi there is one instance of national stereotyping, in this case a positive
one.
Commenting on the faithfulness of the people of Pavia, Piccolomini compares them
to the Germans, about whose “faithfulness, seriousness and steadfastness” he could
never say enough: ”They keep their oaths firmly and honestly.” 96
Logistics and provisions
The Council of Basle had a large number of members – with their households.
Therefore, the matter of logistics, transport and provisions was undoubtedly an
important issue in the debates concerning the future location of the council.
Firstly, the matter of transport: it may surprise a modern reader that transport as
such does not seem to have posed a problem. They could ride, walk or be carried in
various types of vehicle, but this was an ordinary and commonplace procedure, and
though they would even cross mountains on the way to Italy, Piccolomini does not
find it necessary to comment on the hardships of the road. He does at some point
96 Section 65
34