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

THE CASE OF CARRANZA. 35
As far back as July 28th, 1568, in an autograph letter to
the Pope, PhiUp II, had made complaints of the direction
in which the discussions of Carranza's case had seemed at
that time to be tending.^ He now renewed his protests
in a stronger form. His letter of October 26th, 1569,2 ad-
dressed to the Spanish ambassador in Rome, but really
intended for the Pope, to whom it was to be presented, bears
at its head the name of the king, but it is really the Inquisition
which is speaking by the mouth of the king, and its language,
as though conscious of its power even against the head of
Christianit)^ is in striking contrast to the reverence otherwise
shown to the Vicar of Christ. In the first place we find
enumerated the departures from the usual procedure which
had been allowed in Rome, in order to favour Carranza and
to keep from the Pope a full understanding of his errors,
and this, moreover, in an affair which had become " the
spectacle of all the nations." Trials of bishops in Spain had
always come before the Inquisition, and the exception m.ade
for Carranza " contrary to the privileges and authority of
the Holy Office " had been founded upon the firm confidence
that ttie pnidence, secrecy and due order to which they were
accustomed in Spain would be observed in his case.^ In a
covering letter* the ambassador had further supplementary
instructions. In this we read : Carry out the task with all
the diligence and zeal which I look for in you, and which
the nature of the case, as you will see for yourself, demands ;
you must ask the Pope to listen to you attentively and without
interruption, as the nature of the communication demands.
He was then to point out that no one ought to favour the
Inquisition or strive so much for the preservation of rehgion
in the Spanish dominions as the Pope, in obedience to whom
that realm had been kept by the Inquisition and by true
religion ;
^ Ibid. vii.
that the Pope's attitude had ruined the Holy Office,
^ Extract, ibid. xi. This important document, however, is not
given in its context.
* " la cautela, secrete y orden acostumbrados en Espana ' ibid,
? Extract, ibid. xii.