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

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358<br />

HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

and above suspicion that <strong>the</strong>y would suffer <strong>the</strong>mselves to be<br />

guided by anything but <strong>the</strong> love <strong>of</strong> truth and justice. In<br />

saying this <strong>the</strong> king was but complying with his duty <strong>of</strong><br />

serving His Holiness, and he does so in order that <strong>the</strong> Pope<br />

may realize that o<strong>the</strong>r duty which, should <strong>the</strong> matter turn<br />

out o<strong>the</strong>rwise, <strong>the</strong> king would feel bound to perform. " May<br />

Our Lord preserve <strong>the</strong> sacred person <strong>of</strong> your Holiness, as<br />

is so necessary for us. Aranjuez, May nth, 1571. Your<br />

Holiness' very humble son : <strong>the</strong> King."<br />

It certainly called for all Pius V.'s command <strong>of</strong> himself<br />

to reply, not only gravely and firmly, but also with dignified<br />

gentleness, to a document which almost in every Hne concealed<br />

a sharp pin-prick. In his reply he assures <strong>the</strong> king that <strong>the</strong><br />

archbishop is not being judged with any partiality o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

than that which is due to <strong>the</strong> love <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> truth ;<br />

he is at peace<br />

in <strong>the</strong> consciousness that God has given him this grace. <strong>The</strong><br />

interpretation which <strong>the</strong> king sets upon <strong>the</strong> Pope's conduct<br />

he gladly attributes to his praiseworthy zeal, but at <strong>the</strong> same<br />

time he gives him a paternal exhortation not to lend his ear<br />

to those who would make him presume to attribute <strong>the</strong> super-<br />

natural jurisdiction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> one true Judge to his own tribunal<br />

or to any o<strong>the</strong>r. In reference to Philip's words which claimed<br />

that zeal for <strong>the</strong> faith, <strong>the</strong> Church, and reUgion was what had<br />

guided his actions, he points out that it is not possible to<br />

fight for <strong>the</strong> Church if one's hand is raised against <strong>the</strong> Church,<br />

and still less for religion and <strong>the</strong> faith, if one takes up a position<br />

opposed to religion and faith. ^ For <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>the</strong> Pope re-<br />

^ " La torniamo di nuovo paternamente ad avertire a non<br />

prestar mai boni orecchi a chi volesse estendere questo suo buon<br />

zelo a presumere di volere alligare al suo ne ad altro iuditio la<br />

soprannatural giuridittione del judice proprio, ne a chi tentasse<br />

perniciosamente insinuate che si potesse pugnare per la Chiesa<br />

contra Chiesa, ne per religione contra religione, ne per la fede<br />

contra la fede." Letter <strong>of</strong> August 12, 15 71, Corresp. dipl., IV.,<br />

408. <strong>The</strong> king's letter <strong>of</strong> May 11 did not reach <strong>the</strong> Pope until<br />

July 31 {ibid.) ; Philip's autograph reply <strong>of</strong> September 10, 1571<br />

{ibid. 437) sought to justify and excuse <strong>the</strong> attitude which he had<br />

taken up ;<br />

if he thinks for <strong>the</strong> peace <strong>of</strong> his Idngdom and makes

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