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

14
HISTORY OF THE POPES.
indeed he is by no means worthy, though his chances are now
greater than they have ever been, now that his old rival,
Carpi, is dead. Five Cardinals are related to him, and there
are others in the Sacred College who would be generously
helped by him in their poverty ; he will be a source of much
anxiety to the representatives of Spain at the next conclave.
It would only be as a measure of desperation that the aged
Pisani would be elected, since he is bound to die before long,
and if he were Pope he would have to entrust the direction of
affairs to others.^ There are others, such as Madruzzo and
Corgna, who think they have a chance, but this is not really
the case. 2 Cicada has just as little chance, though he might
be put forward as a Spanish candidate for the sake of the
honour. 3 Paul IV. bestowed the purple on several men who
might very well attain to the supreme dignity. Rebiba, for
example, is a good theologian, a distinguished man, and full
of zeal for the cause of rehgion.""* Requesens accords similar
praise, in an even higher degree, to Cardinal Ghislieri.^ In
his opinion, Rebiba would be a very good Pope, but Ghislieri
would be the Pope called for by the times. ^ Requesens,
however, thought that these two would not receive any votes.
He speaks less disparagingly of the prospects of the Franciscan,
Dolera, whom he describes as learned and exemplary, the only
objection to whose election might be the fact that a religious
was not likely to be chosen.' Of the Cardinals created by
^ Ibid. 572 seq.
2 Ibid. 575, 577.
^Ibid. 578.
* Ibid.
* Ibid. 579. It is also stated in a letter from Cosimo to Maxi-
milian II. of December 2, 1565 : " L'Alessandrino e di vita
esemplare, non di meno ha del cervicioso e del rigido " therefore
Ghislieri is placed among the " sospetti " whose election is not to
be favoured. Bibl, I., 331.
* " Es teologo y muy buen hombre y de vida muy exemplar
y de gran celo en las cosas de la rehgion, y a mi juicio es el Cardenal
que en los tiempos de agora mas convendria que fuese Papa."
DOllinger, loc. cit., 579.
' Ibid. 579.