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

THE ATTITUDE OF BORROMEO. 21
he suggested Boncompagni, Mula and Commendone, of whom,
it would seem, Mula was the one wished for by Pius IV. ^
Pacheco was doubtful whether any of the younger Cardinals
would have any chance of success, and said that in the event
of Borromeo's chosen candidate meeting with insuperable
difficulties, the wishes of Philip II. should be taken into
account, pointing out at the same time that it would be easier
to get votes for Dolera than for Ricci.^
We may question whether Borromeo let Pacheco fully into
the secret of his own wishes. Later on his friends learned from
him that he had from the first thought of the man who was
actually elected, but that he had never made his idea known
to anyone ; he also said that he had at first, in order to show
them honour, put forward the names of those to whom he or
his party were under an obligation. It was only later that
he directed all his efforts to the election of a Pope of holy life
and profound theological learning. ^
The decision, however, was by no means entirely in the hands
of Borromeo ; there were opposed to him Este and Farnese,
who both surpassed him in experience and political skill, and
without whose help he could not attain his ends. The Floren-
^ Giac. Soranzo, October 30, 1565, in Alberi, II., 4, 157.
HiLLiGER, 115.
* Pacheco, loc. cit.
^ " Antequam ingrederetur conclave, plures ille quidem animo
sibi proposuit, qui viderentur pontificatu digni, neque eum, qui
postea electus est, ut eius intimi deinde cognoverunt, praeter-
misit, sed tamen mentem suam patefecit nemini." (Bascape,
I., I, c. 9, p. 21). It cannot be established whether Bascape,
who was one of Borromeo's confidants, includes Morone among
the number of those proposed, merely for the sake of the honour.
For the rest it was very soon understood in Rome that Borromeo
was bound to feel drawn to Ghislieri. Lionardo Conosciuti
wrote on December 19, 1565, to Modena that in all probabihty
Borromeo will make a " mina fratesca " that is to say either
for Dolera or Ghislieri, " h quali ancorache si creda che non
siano per giungere al segno, si tien per fermo almeno che darano
da sospicare alii degni di questo grado." (State Archives,
Modena).