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

26o HISTORY OF THE POPES.
rich benefices and in the enjoyment of their ecclesiastical
privileges, without ever drawing a sword. If they could no
longer win laurels on Portuguese soil, let the Knights go to
Africa and there measure themselves against the infidel in
warfare in defence of the Christian faith. It would seem that
his first exhortation to this effect, addressed to the Order of
Christ,^ did not fall on deaf ears. 2 When similar appeals to the
Orders of S. Giacomo della Spada and di Avis^ had no effect,
Pius V. withdrew from them their ecclesiastical privileges,*
and ordered that no one be allowed to put on the habit of the
Knights of these Orders unless they had served for three years
in the wars in Africa, and that the offices which had a revenue
of more than 100,000 reals should not be conferred on account
of seniority, but solely for merit. A seminary must also be
established for the training of the young Knights in Africa.
Pius V.'s anxiety for the revival of the religious life was by
no means exhausted with the ordinances already mentioned.
On July 3rd, 1568, he wrote^ that in virtue of his office it was
his duty to exact from the religious Orders, even more than
from any other part of the Church, that they should keep
themselves in a high state of efficiency, or return to it, and to
this end, especially in the years 1567 and 1568, he issued a
number of ordinances aimed at removing abuses in the Orders.^
^ Of May 29, 1566, Corpo dipl. Portug., X., 214.
^ In a brief of June 28, 1569, it is held up as an example to the
other military Orders. Laderchi, 1569, n. 330.
* Of June 28, 1569, which mentions another of September 13,
1568 ;
ibid.
^August 28, 1570, in Laderchi, 1570, n. 135. Cf. Corpo dipl.
Portug., X., 355. For the reform of the Order of St. Lazarus cf.
bull of January 26, 1567, Bull. Rom., VII., 516-533 ; Laderchi,
1567, n. 26.
5 Bull. Rom., VII., 679.
* Many such letters e.g. in Wadding, XX. ( = W.) and specially
in the Archives of Briefs, Rome. Thus, in addition to those
already quoted or to be quoted later on, we find :
For 1567 : *January 15, to the Capuchin nuns at Naples
concerning the wise administration of their convent ; *January