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

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INFLUENTIAL CARDINALS. 75<br />

position, and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact that he had never had any ulterior<br />

ends, gave Pius V. a great freedom <strong>of</strong> action, which <strong>from</strong><br />

time to time showed itself in altoge<strong>the</strong>r unexpected decisions.<br />

And since this only came to be understood by degrees,^ <strong>the</strong><br />

diplomatists at first tried to guess which <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cardinals<br />

would attain to <strong>the</strong> greatest influence.^ For <strong>the</strong>ir part <strong>the</strong><br />

Cardinals were filled with <strong>the</strong> deepest jealousy <strong>of</strong> Reumano.<br />

Pius V. was accustomed to give his confidence only to those<br />

who sought nothing for <strong>the</strong>mselves.^ He very soon discovered<br />

that <strong>the</strong> ambitious Farnese thought more <strong>of</strong> his own interests<br />

than <strong>of</strong> those <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church,* and his opinion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dis-<br />

interestedness <strong>of</strong> Vitelli, whom he still trusted at <strong>the</strong> beginning<br />

<strong>of</strong> February,^ was also soon destroyed, and <strong>the</strong>refore Pius V.<br />

^ From a*report <strong>of</strong> Serristori <strong>of</strong> February 7, 1567, (State Archives.<br />

Florence, Medic. 3287, p. 40), it is clear with what dislike <strong>the</strong> Car-<br />

dinals viewed <strong>the</strong> independence <strong>of</strong> Pius V. On June 19, 1568,<br />

Cusano *reports that <strong>the</strong> Cardinals were complaining <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strictness<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope ; on July 10 he *announces that <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

decides all important matters himself, and that only matters<br />

<strong>of</strong> small importance are raised in <strong>the</strong> consistory (State Archives,<br />

Vienna). In an *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> January 4, 1570, we read :<br />

*" Le resolutioni cosi repentine del Papa fanno suspettare tutta<br />

la corte che si habbia da fare una promotione all'improviso senza<br />

saputa d'alcuno." Urb. 1041, p. 204b. Ibid, an *Avviso di<br />

Roma <strong>of</strong> May 13, 1570 : *" L'impenetrabil mente del Papa "<br />

causes <strong>the</strong> most divergent rmours in <strong>the</strong> court concerning a<br />

nomination <strong>of</strong> Cardinals. Vatican Library.<br />

" When Cardinal Scotti was assigned apartments in <strong>the</strong> Vatican,<br />

Cusano (*letter <strong>of</strong> March 2, 1566, State Archives, Vienna) was <strong>of</strong><br />

opinion that he would attain to <strong>the</strong> most influential position.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Florentines were afraid <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> Farnese, and<br />

were working against him ; see Legaz. di Serristori, 421, 423<br />

seq. HiLLiGER, 151.<br />

" See <strong>the</strong> *letter <strong>of</strong> CaUgari to Commendone <strong>of</strong> February 2,<br />

1566, in Lett, di princ, XXIII. , n. 88, Papal Secret Archives.<br />

* *" S'intende che Farnese s'andava apparechiando la via al<br />

papato il che venuto alle orechie del Papa ha detto che fa male<br />

et che ce lo farti intendere." Arco on February 16, 1566, State<br />

Archives, Vienna.<br />

* See <strong>the</strong> *letter <strong>of</strong> Caligari mentioned in n. 3.

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