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

THE SACRED COLLEGE. 1 55
filled with ambitious and unconscientious men, and that he
had not been able to effect any change.^
Death, however, was not so near to the zealous champion
of the purity of the Church as he supposed, and he was able
to set his hand to the reform of the supreme senate of the
Church, and that not in any hurried way, but after long
consideration.
Pius V. had allowed two years of his pontificate to elapse
without investing anyone with the purple, with the exception
of his nephew, Bonelh. Attempts, however, to induce him
to create new Cardinals had not been wanting. Those who
knew the Pope's ideas, and the considerations which would
have weight with him, pointed out to him into what unworthy
hands the government of the Church might fall if he did no
take steps in time to uicrease the number of the party of the
Cardinals of strict ecclesiastical views by quickly making some
appointments. But Pius V. refused to let himself be led
into any hasty action, even by these considerations. Month
after month went by, and men's expectations were still left
unfulfilled.^
* *" Essendo apparecchiato ogni bora che Die lo chiamasse, ma
gli doleva, clie lasciava il coUegio pieno d'huomini ambitioso et di
poca consciencia, al che havrebbe rimediato se Die grhavesse
date vita." Arco, May 25, 1566, State Archives, Vienna.
* *" Si presentono pratiche di fare card^' nuovi, et perche
rhumore del Papa non vi inclina, cercano di disponerlo con queste
ragioni, et la pratica e giudicata da questi santocci et frati domes-
tici del Papa, i quali vanno sforzandosi di dargli ad intendere che
sapendo S. S*^ quai siano que card^* che fanno pratiche di papato,
et in che male mani cascheria il governo de la chiesa quando cgli
toccasse ad uno di questi tali, e opera degna et debita di lei di
provedere a questo pericolo et danno de la sede apostolica. El
mode de provederci e di fare sei over otto card^ che impedissero
queste pratiche presenti, di maniera che se quest'humore sark
pronto mosso et aiutato, o da la M*^ deirimperatore o da altro
principe, et massimamente dal re cattolico, si pu6 tenere per fermo
che a settembre, o poco piu la si haveranno card's vivendo per6
il Papa, il che negano questi astrologi, i quali non vogliono che
passi agosto." Luzzara to the Duke of Mantua May 25 1566,
Gonzaga Archives, Mantua.