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

THE CANDIDATURE OF SIRLETO. 37
and Requesens thought it necessary to ask an audience of
the conclave and to make a pubUc declaration that Phihp II.
had not nominated any Cardinal.^
In the meantime the choice of possible candidates had
become so restricted that Borromeo thought the time had
come when he must throw aside all reserve, abandon the
defensive attitude, which he had so far adopted, and once
again take into his own hands the management of the election.
On the morning of January 5th he put forward the name of
Sirleto as the man whose election should be attempted.^
This caused great excitement among the electors. Borromeo's
suggestion met with approval in some quarters, but Ricci,
for whom many were still working energetically, tried to
exclude Sirleto. This time Borromeo again failed ; it was a
disadvantage to him that he had omitted to give notice of his
proposal to at least the party leaders. Sforza, the head of
the Florentine party, was so annoyed that he openly informed
Borromeo that he would not have co-operated with him, even
though Sirleto was his friend, and worthy of the tiara. He
immediately, however, gave solid proof of this friendship,
for when Borromeo asked him at least to allow Cardinal
Medici to support Sirleto, he at once gave his consent. In
spite of this Medici's vote was lost, since, when Vitelli went
to him to tell him that the Pope was already elected, and that
Medici must come and pay him homage, he received the angry
reply that it was no use trying to effect the election by such
fictions, and he refused to go at all. Not even Farnese had
been told beforehand of the efforts which were being made for
Sirleto. Borromeo now went to him with fifteen Cardinals
and begged him to accompany them to the chapel, and to
elect Sirleto by paying him homage. Farnese replied that
he must first consult his party, and suggested that a ballot
would be the better way. Sirleto himself, who was ill in bed
during these negotiations, showed no desire for the supreme
dignity ; he even begged to be spared the burden of the
^ Loc. cit. 83.
^ Corn. Firmanus, *Diarium, XII., p. 32-325, Papal Secret
Archives.