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

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NEW PALACE OF THE HOLY OFFICE. 289<br />

<strong>The</strong> Pope, our iiiforinant adds, is occupying himself on <strong>the</strong><br />

subject <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inquisition more anxiously than anything else.^<br />

On September 2nd, 1566, <strong>the</strong> first stone <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new building<br />

was laid witii great solemnity, amid salvos <strong>of</strong> cannon <strong>from</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Castle <strong>of</strong> St. Angelo,- and <strong>the</strong>n was pushed forward with<br />

all speed. <strong>The</strong> builders <strong>of</strong> St. Peter's were instructed to<br />

interrupt <strong>the</strong>ir labours on <strong>the</strong> basilica, and assist with <strong>the</strong><br />

building <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new palace <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Office.^ In July,<br />

1567, <strong>the</strong> Pope paid a visit to <strong>the</strong> building,'* but it was not<br />

until 1569 that he was able to place over <strong>the</strong> iron doors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

completed edifice his own coat <strong>of</strong> arms, toge<strong>the</strong>r with those<br />

<strong>of</strong> Cardinals Pacheco. Rebiba, Gambara and Chiesa, with an<br />

inscription proclaiming that <strong>the</strong> palace was to be used for<br />

<strong>the</strong> warfare against heresy, and <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Catholic<br />

religion.^ Even before <strong>the</strong> first stone was laid <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> revenues <strong>of</strong> St. Peter's (State Archives, Vienna). <strong>The</strong><br />

*Diarium <strong>of</strong> C. Firmanus on July i, 1566, gives as <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> architects " domini " Pino and Sallustio. Papal Secret<br />

Archives.<br />

^ * " A niuna cosa piu attende S. S*^^ che all' inquisizione."<br />

Ciregiola, loo. cit.<br />

^ *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> September 7, 1566, Urb. 1040, p. 282,<br />

Vatican Library.<br />

^ * " La fabrica della Inquisizione tuttavia si soUicita, et per<br />

formarla presto, hanno levato li muratori et scarpellini di S. Pietro,<br />

nel qual hora si fa niente." (Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> October 5, 1566,<br />

loc. cit. 295). <strong>The</strong> Imperial secretary, Francesco Strozzi, also<br />

wrote on October 26, 1566, to Maximilian II. that in spite <strong>of</strong> his<br />

poverty and niggardliness (towards <strong>the</strong> Emperor) <strong>the</strong> Pope was<br />

pushing forv/ard " gagliardamente " <strong>the</strong> building <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> palace <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Inquisition ;<br />

all <strong>the</strong> builders in Rome had been made to assist<br />

and it was becoming like a fortress. State Archives, Vienna.<br />

* *Report <strong>of</strong> B. Pia <strong>of</strong> July 19, 1567, Gonzaga Archives, Mantua.<br />

® " Pius V. P.M. Congregationis sanctae inquisitionis domura<br />

banc qua haereticae pravitatis sectatores cautius coercerentur a<br />

fundamentis in augmentum cathoUcae religionis erexit anno<br />

J569." (CiACONius, III., 992. BucHELius, Iter Italicum [1587-<br />

1588], in Arch. d. Soc. Rom., XXIII. [1900], 49). For <strong>the</strong> palace<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inquisition c/. Lanciani, IV., 21-23.<br />

VOL. XVII. 19

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