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

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142<br />

HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

shepherd constrained him to make <strong>the</strong>se rules, and he again<br />

urged Ormaneto to watch over <strong>the</strong> carrying out <strong>of</strong> his orders<br />

unless he wished to bring down punishment upon himself.^<br />

Ormaneto waited before taking any drastic steps until<br />

he had completely mastered <strong>the</strong> conditions obtaining in <strong>the</strong><br />

apostolic palace. <strong>The</strong>n, following <strong>the</strong> example <strong>of</strong> Cardinal<br />

Borromeo, he began his reform <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court in June, 1567, by<br />

dismissing about 150 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gentlemen and minor <strong>of</strong>ficials.<br />

Of <strong>the</strong> six physicians only three were retained, and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

'>{] employed in <strong>the</strong> stable only 18. So that none should go<br />

away discontented <strong>the</strong> gentlemen received 200 scudi each,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs 100. This reduction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court personnel<br />

made possible a saving <strong>of</strong> 5000 scudi a year, which was devoted<br />

to <strong>the</strong> assistance <strong>of</strong> monasteries and pious foundations.<br />

1 PoLANCO, October 21, 1566, loc. cit. ; cf. Mutinelli I., 57.<br />

*." Die dominica, 6 Octobris [1566] Papa fecerat intimari omnibus<br />

familiaribus suis quod hora 19 omnes reperirentur in aula Con-<br />

stantini, in qua convenerunt infiniti <strong>of</strong>fici .les, sed Papa, hoc forsan<br />

ignorans, hora 20^ in camera audientie fecit longum sermonem<br />

illis qui ibi reperiebantur circa morum reformationem, cum<br />

vellet Sanctitas Sua reformare mores depravatos aliorum, nemo<br />

posset dicere debuisse prius suos familiares deinde alios corrigere ;<br />

hortatus fuit omnes ad celebrandum sepe, dico presbiteros, et alios<br />

omnes quod communicarent saltern bis in mense. Dixit multa<br />

circa vestimenta ;<br />

prohibuit vestes de serico et rte velluto et caligas<br />

frappatas ac calciamenta et multa similia " (Firman us, Diarium<br />

XII. 31 p. 131, Papal Secret Archives). Cf. *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong><br />

October 12, 1566, Urb. 1040 p. 300*^, Vatican Library. *S. S**<br />

per dar esemipo ad altri nella riforma, comincia sempre da se et<br />

dalla sua famiglia, et dicono che fa vestire tutti li suoi staffieri et<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficiali di negro simplicemente con le calce all'antiqua." Avviso<br />

oi October 19, ibid, 306.<br />

^ *" Per principio di nova rifforma della casa, instituta da<br />

monsignore Ormaneto a imitatione di queUa che fece gia Borromeo,<br />

si sono licentiati delle 37 parafrenieri che S. S*^' havea 19, et se<br />

gli sono prima dati cento scudi dono per ciascuno, a quelli che<br />

restano vuole S. Beatitudine che si proveghi in modo che tutti<br />

possino star in Palazzo, et questa spesa che si scema. dei detti<br />

licentiati et altri che di mano in mano come piu comodi si ripar-

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