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

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224<br />

HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

where heresy was threatening to take a stronger and stronger<br />

hold.i<br />

Pius V. watched with special care over all that pertained<br />

to <strong>the</strong> proper celebration <strong>of</strong> divine worship. An abuse had<br />

crept in in Rome by which <strong>the</strong> churches and <strong>the</strong>ir porticoes<br />

were disfigured by all kinds <strong>of</strong> buildings, by <strong>the</strong> setting aside<br />

for dwelHng purposes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more remote parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> churches<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves, and by <strong>the</strong> opening <strong>of</strong> windows <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> adjoining<br />

houses which looked into <strong>the</strong> interiors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> churches. An<br />

edict <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cardinal Vicar, Savelli, on November 28th, 1566,<br />

ordered <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> all such constructions within fourteen<br />

days ; at <strong>the</strong> same time a stop was put to all burials under<br />

<strong>the</strong> pavements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> churches. ^ <strong>The</strong> Romans at that time<br />

were far <strong>from</strong> strict in <strong>the</strong>ir behaviour in church and during<br />

<strong>the</strong> services,^ and Pius V. found himself obliged to order by<br />

a bull, that which is generally taken for granted among good<br />

Christians, namely, that <strong>the</strong>y should go to church modestly<br />

and reverently, speak in a low voice, pay attention to <strong>the</strong><br />

services, and always bend <strong>the</strong> knee before <strong>the</strong> Blessed Sacra-<br />

ment. If we may judge <strong>from</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r prohibition contained<br />

in <strong>the</strong> bull, disturbances and quarrels, and even acts <strong>of</strong> violence<br />

were by no means uncommon in <strong>the</strong> churches ; very <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

ladies <strong>of</strong> ill fame held <strong>the</strong>ir court <strong>the</strong>re with <strong>the</strong>ir admirers,<br />

amid much chattering and laughter, while beggars pestered<br />

<strong>the</strong> worshippers during <strong>the</strong> functions and sermons ; <strong>the</strong><br />

courts, too, made use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> precincts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> churches for<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir business.^ For example, <strong>the</strong> disputations with which<br />

<strong>the</strong> judges who were entering upon <strong>the</strong>ir term <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice, were<br />

accustomed to prove <strong>the</strong>ir worth were usually held in <strong>the</strong><br />

church <strong>of</strong> Sant'Eustachio.^ Festival days were pr<strong>of</strong>aned<br />

in all sorts <strong>of</strong> ways b}' servile work, markets, etc.® Hi<strong>the</strong>rto,<br />

^ May 18, 1569, ibid. 179.<br />

2 Laderchi, 1566, n. 68.<br />

* C/. Tacchi Venturi, I., 177 seqq.<br />

* Bull <strong>of</strong> April I. 1566, Bull. Rom., VII., 435 seq.<br />

^ *Strozzi, December 21, 1566, State Archives, Vienna.<br />

Laderchi, 1566, n. 66.<br />

« Bull. Rom., VII., 436. *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> November 2,<br />

1566 Urb. 1040 p. 315 Vatican Library.

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