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

THE SPANISH CARDINALS. 17
without scruple, but the medieval ideas of loyalty to the
sovereign were so deeply rooted in the men of that time, that
the Cardinals hardly dared to use their liberty, and sought
by every means to learn the king's wishes. Pacheco, who was
in Florence at the time of the death of Pius IV., wrote at once
to Philip when he heard the nev/s to send Requesens to Rome.
Wlien Pacheco arrived in Rome, the other Spanish Cardinals
had already sought information from Pedro de Avila as to
the king's wishes, and they nov/ asked for further instructions
from Pacheco ;
since they both had to admit their ignorance
on the subject, they anxiously wrote to Requesens, who could
not possibly arrive before the beginning of the conclave, to
send them in writing the information which they would no
longer be able to receive orally once the Cardinals had gone
into conclave.^ In his letter to the king^ Pacheco went so
far as to say : " Among the chastisements with which we are
threatened by God is the fact that it has seemed good in the
eyes of your Majesty and the royal council to leave us our
liberty, since, if a Pope were to be chosen who was unworthy
and not sincerely Christian, I am convinced that all that
remains of Christendom would fall to pieces." Since Requesens
was unable to give any definite information, they held to the
former royal instructions which the ambassador had left behind
him in Rome on his departure in 1564, by which Carpi, who
was since dead, Ricci and Dolera were named as candidates.^
Requesens arrived in Rome on December 21st,* and on the
23rd he had an audience at the doors of the conclave, at which,
in a long speech, he exhorted the Cardinals to choose a good
Pope.^ He was able, by means of Correggio, who arrived
late, and with whom he spoke in Florence, and again in Rome,
to inform Borromeo and Mark Sittich of the exclusion of
^ To Philip II., December 20, 1565, Corresp. dipl., I., 51 seq ;
cf. 60 seq.
2 Ibid. 54.
' Ibid. 52.
* Requesens to Philip II,, Dec. 30, 1565, ibid. 60.
* Ibid. 62 seq.
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