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

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SUPPRESSION OF THE HUMILIATE 24"<br />

Soon afterwards <strong>the</strong> responsibility for this crime began to<br />

be attributed to <strong>the</strong> HumiUati. Before long Borromeo<br />

learned fur<strong>the</strong>r particulars when a provost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Humiliati,<br />

named Bartolomeo, struck with remorse, secretly informed<br />

<strong>the</strong> Cardinal that he had actually heard some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> HumiHati<br />

planning his assassination. If <strong>the</strong> matter had been dealt with<br />

in accordance with Borromeo's wishes, a judicial inquiry<br />

would have been held, but Pius V. was determined upon <strong>the</strong><br />

punishment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> assassins. <strong>The</strong> bishop who was sent to try<br />

<strong>the</strong> case declared that all who did not inform him <strong>of</strong> what <strong>the</strong>y<br />

knew about <strong>the</strong> matter were excommunicated. At this point<br />

Borromeo thought it a matter <strong>of</strong> conscience to urge Bartolomeo<br />

to comply with this demand. With <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> several con-<br />

fessions made before <strong>the</strong> Papal commissary, <strong>the</strong> full truth<br />

was at length discovered, namely that <strong>the</strong> affair had been<br />

carried out by one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Humiliati, and had been planned by<br />

three dignitaries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> order, <strong>the</strong> provosts <strong>of</strong> Vercelli, Cara-<br />

vaggio and Verona.^<br />

Pius v., who had previously had thoughts <strong>of</strong> abolishing <strong>the</strong><br />

Order, now determined to expiate <strong>the</strong> crime by <strong>the</strong> suppression<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole institute. At a consistory which he held on <strong>the</strong><br />

subject on February 7th, 1570, none <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cardinals spoke<br />

openly in favour <strong>of</strong> its continuance, and Pius V. declared that,<br />

with <strong>the</strong> exception <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> General, he did not know <strong>of</strong> a single<br />

worthy man in <strong>the</strong> whole order. ^ A bull <strong>of</strong> February 7th,<br />

1571, suppressed <strong>the</strong> Order,^ and ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> following day<br />

in style). Contemporary report in Sala, Docum., III., 418. Cf-<br />

BASCAPfe, I, 2, c. 12, p. 50 ; E. Anfosso, Storia dell' archibugiata<br />

t'rata al card. Borromeo in Milano, 1569, INlilan, 1913.<br />

1 Bascape, loc. cit., p. 50 seq. A *brief <strong>of</strong> July 13, 1570, on <strong>the</strong><br />

attempt in <strong>the</strong> Archives <strong>of</strong> Briefs, Rome.<br />

2 Saniori, Diaro, 320 seq. For <strong>the</strong> steps taken by <strong>the</strong> General<br />

an behalf <strong>of</strong> his Order *Avvisi di Roma <strong>of</strong> September 23 and 27,<br />

1570, Urb. 1041, p. 343, 348, Vatican Eibrary. <strong>The</strong>re was also<br />

on idea <strong>of</strong> incorporating <strong>the</strong> Humiliati with <strong>the</strong> Barnabites and<br />

thus helping <strong>the</strong>ir reform. Cf. Sala, Docum., E, 263 :>eq.: S.<br />

Alessandro Sauli, 104 seqq.<br />

*Bull. Rom., VIE, 885. On March 6 <strong>the</strong> bull was puLlicly<br />

posted :<br />

see *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> March 7, 1571, Urb. 1042, p. 28,<br />

Vatican Eibrary.

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