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

no HISTORY OF THE POPES.
Unfortunately, his subordinates did not always act up to
the noble aims of the Pope/ who, moreover, was not always
very happy in the steps he took in his capacity of temporal
ruler. For example, an edict concerning the coinage which
he issued in July, 1571, caused great consternation. ^ His
true sphere was to be found in his care for spiritual matters,
and, like Cardinal Bonelli, he was, in view of all that had to
be done in that direction, unable to devote sufficient attention
to the temporal administration. Therefore, in April, 1568,
Cardinal Chiesa was appointed to assist the Cardinal nephew,
and in the January of the following year, Cardinals Alciati
and Paleotto were Hkewise appointed.^ In July, 1570, it was
rumoured that the Pope intended to withdraw altogether
from temporal affairs, and leave them to these four Cardinals.*
The attitude of Pius V, towards art has been misjudged in
more than one respect. He laid himself open to this by an
enactment by which he placed himself in direct opposition
to the Popes of the age of the Renaissance. On February loth,
1566, it was learned in the city that the Pope had made over
to the Roman people all the antique statues which were in the
theatre of the Belvedere and its surroundings, and had
charged some of the nobles to have them moved to the Capitol.
It was further said that the priceless treasures which stood in
the cortile of the Belvedere, and which had been protected
from rain and risk of injury by screens in the time of Pius IV.,
were to share the same fate. The Pope's reason for this was
that it was unfitting that the successor of St. Peter should
1 Cf. RoDOCANACHi, Institutions, 280.
^ See *Avviso di Roma of July 18, 1571, Urb. 1042, p. 90,
Vatican Library.
^ See the *Avvisi di Roma of April 3, 1568, and January 15,
1569, Urb. 1040, p. 479, and 1041, p. 4, Vatican Library.
* An *Avviso di Roma of July 8, 1570 (Urb. 1041, p. 307,
Vatican Library) reports : " S'e sparso voce per la corte chel
Papa non voglia piu intervenire alii negotii profani et secolari,
ma deputarvi sopra 4 cardinali cioe Cesi, Thiano, Montalto et
Piacenza, et che Sua S*^ voglia attender solamente alle cose
spirituali et dell' inquisitione."