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

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STRICTNESS OF THE POPE. 63<br />

based upon <strong>close</strong> personal observation,^ " Pius V. is almost<br />

entirely free <strong>from</strong> passions, and in this stands out in strong<br />

contrast to all o<strong>the</strong>r men. Nothing is so near to his heart<br />

as <strong>the</strong> wish to restore <strong>the</strong> Holy See to its former greatness and<br />

its ancient splendour, by <strong>the</strong> improvement <strong>of</strong> morals and <strong>the</strong><br />

rooting out <strong>of</strong> abuses. When it is necessary, no trouble is<br />

too great for him, and no measures are too strict. Even when<br />

he grants a favour, like a good confessor, he adds <strong>the</strong>reto some<br />

good advice. As soon as he detects anything in <strong>the</strong> nature<br />

<strong>of</strong> a pr<strong>of</strong>anation <strong>of</strong> holy things he is seized with a righteous<br />

anger, his countenance is inflamed, and <strong>the</strong> culprit has to<br />

listen to many stern rebukes, though his heat disappears<br />

as soon as he sees signs <strong>of</strong> repentance. He is quite inexorable<br />

in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> smallest <strong>of</strong>fence against <strong>the</strong> divine law, or<br />

against <strong>the</strong> precepts and teaching <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church."^<br />

Pius V.'s strictness in all that concerned reform, <strong>the</strong> admin-<br />

istration <strong>of</strong> justice, and <strong>the</strong> Inquisition, recalled <strong>the</strong> days <strong>of</strong><br />

Paul IV. Himself as pious as he was humble, and as grave<br />

as he was severe, Pius V. expected much <strong>from</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs. Above<br />

all, he insisted on absolute truthfulness ; <strong>the</strong> man who had<br />

once told him a lie lost liis favour for ever.^ He Uked people<br />

to speak frankly to him and to tell him <strong>of</strong> his mistakes, but<br />

he had no opinion <strong>of</strong> those who always agreed with him or<br />

^ See <strong>the</strong> " Informatione delle qualita di Pio V." in Anal.<br />

Bolland., XXXIII., 192. When <strong>the</strong> secretary <strong>of</strong> State, Bonelh,<br />

was ill, an *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> July 12, 1570, reports with what<br />

calm Pius V. bore adversities. Urb. 1041, p. 304, Vatican<br />

Library.<br />

* See <strong>the</strong> Informatione, etc., loc. cit. 193 ; Tiepolo, 175 seq. ;<br />

Soriano, 200 ; Catena, 28 seq. *" II papa " Serristori reports<br />

to Florence on February 7, 1567, " e di natura molto sensitiva et in<br />

un' tratto si accende et viene in collera, poi facilmente, come<br />

vede V.E., si lascia piegare de un poco di humilta et submissione."<br />

(State Archives, Florence, Medic. 3287, p. 40). Cf. also <strong>the</strong><br />

reports <strong>of</strong> C. Luzzara <strong>of</strong> May 15, and June 12, 1566, Gonzaga<br />

Archives, Mantua, <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong> Arco <strong>of</strong> May 18, 1566, and *that<br />

<strong>of</strong> Strozzi <strong>of</strong> September 28, 1566, State Archives, Vienna.<br />

2 Soriano, 201. Catena, 31.

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