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

CHAPTER I.
The Conclave and Election of Pius V.
In the December of 1565, after a pontificate of less than six
years, the dreaded time of a vacancy in the Holy See had once
again come. This time, however, in strong contrast to what
had occurred at the death of Paul IV., the quiet of the Eternal
City remained undisturbed. No wild demonstrations of joy
disturbed the streets, and no hand was raised to destroy the
traces of the dead Medici Pope, whose body peacefully awaited
in the Pauline Chapel its removal to St. Peter's.^
The usual accommodation for the conclave was prepared,
with the addition of the apartments of Borromeo in the
Borgia Tower.- Five companies of infantry, under the command
of Hannibal von Hohenems, were held in readiness for
the protection of the Cardinals, and after the daily mass for
the repose of the soul of Pius IV., the Cardinals met in con-
sultation each day for five hours. ^ Everything proceeded
smoothly, and Pasquino could find scarcely any material for
his spiteful comments.^ It was said that never in the memory
of man had there been so peaceful a vacancy in the Holy See,
so that men hardly seemed to realize that the Pope was dead.*
^ *Fr. Tosabezzo to the Duke of Mantua, December 10, 1565,
Gonzaga Archives, Mantua.
2 *Avviso di Roma of Dec. 15, 1565, Urb. 1040, p. 152b, Vatican
Library. Artists such as Ant. Labacco and Giac. Barozzi da
Vignola took part in the preparation of the conclave ; see
Bertolotti, Art, Mod. 20.
3 *Avviso di Roma of December 15, 1565, loc. cit.
* Ibid. p. 153.
* *" Per Roma non si fa strepito nissuno, et vanno le cose
tanto quiete, che dal no esserci la persona di Papa, in poi non par
che il Papa sia morto " {loc. cit. p. 152b). *" Le cose passano
quiete piu che mai in sede vacante a memoria di huomo," wi'ote
Girolamo Oltramari on December 12, 1565. State Archives,
Modena.
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