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

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CARDINAL ESPINOSA. 157<br />

Catholic King.^ O<strong>the</strong>rwise <strong>the</strong> Pope's choice was received<br />

with general satisfaction, <strong>the</strong> reform party in particular re-<br />

joicing that <strong>the</strong> supreme ecclesiastical dignity had been con-<br />

ferred on men <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own way <strong>of</strong> thinking. 2<br />

No less great was <strong>the</strong> satisfaction <strong>of</strong> Philip II. when, on<br />

Maundy Thursday, 1568, a special courier <strong>from</strong> Bonelh informed<br />

him that <strong>the</strong> red hat had been bestowed upon his<br />

trusted servant, <strong>the</strong> first minister <strong>of</strong> Spain, Diego de Espinosa.^<br />

Born in 1512 <strong>of</strong> a noble family which had fallen into reduced<br />

circumstances, Espinosa, after a distinguished course <strong>of</strong><br />

studies in law at Salamanca, first received <strong>the</strong> post <strong>of</strong> judge<br />

in <strong>the</strong> court <strong>of</strong> appeals <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> archiepiscopal curia <strong>of</strong> Saragossa,<br />

and afterwards, purely on account <strong>of</strong> his merits, passed <strong>from</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong>fice to <strong>of</strong>fice until, at 43, he was appointed President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Royal Council <strong>of</strong> Castille. Honour and position were hca];cd<br />

upon him, and <strong>the</strong> king's favour raised <strong>the</strong> President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Royal Council to that <strong>of</strong> President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> State and<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> camera di grazia ; in 1558 he received <strong>the</strong> very rich<br />

bishopric <strong>of</strong> Siguenza, which had <strong>the</strong> enormous revenue <strong>of</strong><br />

36,000 ducats a year. Later on, Pius V. regretted that he had<br />

consented to <strong>the</strong> appointment <strong>of</strong> Espinosa as Grand Inquisitor,<br />

because this <strong>of</strong>fice, united to all his o<strong>the</strong>r dignities, made him<br />

almost a Pope in Spain. In 1567, Philip II. asked for <strong>the</strong><br />

cardinalate for his favourite in an autograph letter, in order<br />

that, during <strong>the</strong> king's projected journey to Flanders Espinosa<br />

might act with greater authority as regent in Spain. When<br />

<strong>the</strong> cardinal's hat was sent to him at <strong>the</strong> Ascension, 1568,<br />

Philip honoured him in every way as a prince <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church.<br />

When Espinosa went to consult him <strong>the</strong> king went to meet him<br />

in <strong>the</strong> ante-chamber, saluted him with uncovered head, and<br />

made him sii; in a chair but little lower than his own. Espinosa<br />

retained his dignities till his death, but his health failed prc-<br />

cit.<br />

^ *Arco, March 27, 1568, State Archives, Vienna.<br />

^ *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> March 27, 1568, loc. cit. Graziani, loc.<br />

^ For Espinosa cf. especially Serrano in Corresp. dipl., II.,<br />

Ixxv-lxxxiv. See also Ciaconius, III., 103 1 ; Cardei.la, V,,<br />

114 seq.

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