22.06.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

40<br />

HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

Chapel. At first <strong>the</strong>re was considerable excitement and<br />

dispute as to <strong>the</strong> manner in which <strong>the</strong> election was to be<br />

effected. Some maintained that <strong>the</strong>y should be provided with<br />

black and white ballot balls, and vote with <strong>the</strong>m ; o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />

desired that <strong>the</strong> chapel should be arranged in <strong>the</strong> usual way<br />

for <strong>the</strong> scrutiny, while o<strong>the</strong>rs again wished that <strong>the</strong> Cardinals<br />

should merely declare <strong>the</strong>mselves one after ano<strong>the</strong>r and openly<br />

for Ghislieri. This last proposal met with general approval.<br />

When <strong>the</strong> excitement had abated, all took <strong>the</strong>ir seats in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

accustomed places, when Pisani rose and said : "I,<br />

Cardinal Francesco Pisani, Dean <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sacred College,<br />

elect as Pope my most reverend lord Michele, known<br />

as Cardinal Alessandrino." Morone followed, and gave his<br />

vote in similar terms, and <strong>the</strong>n all <strong>the</strong> rest in <strong>the</strong>ir turn.<br />

Luigi d'Este and Guido Ferreri voted in <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

sick relatives, Ippolito d'Este and Pier Francesco Ferreri.<br />

All <strong>the</strong>n rose and approached <strong>the</strong> newly-elected Pope. When<br />

Pisani asked him if he accepted <strong>the</strong> election, Ghislieri stood<br />

for a moment in silence, while <strong>the</strong> Cardinals waited for his<br />

reply. At length he answered with <strong>the</strong> simple words : "I<br />

am willing."^ It would have been natural that he should<br />

have taken <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> his patron, Paul IV., but out <strong>of</strong> con-<br />

sideration for Borromeo he took <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dead Pope,^<br />

even though he had met with little favour during <strong>the</strong> late<br />

pontificate. By this magnanimous act <strong>the</strong> new Pope dis-<br />

played a forgetfulness <strong>of</strong> self not unlike that <strong>of</strong> Charles<br />

Borromeo.<br />

<strong>The</strong> election was generally unexpected.^ Only a few days<br />

before <strong>the</strong> Spanish ambassador had written that, save for a<br />

miracle, <strong>the</strong> conclave would be indefinitely protracted, especi-<br />

ally as <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French Cardinals was imminent.*<br />

This was also <strong>the</strong> general opinion in <strong>the</strong> city, where Crispi<br />

^ *" Mi contento sii " Corn. Firmanus, loc. cit., p. 35b.<br />

*Requesens to Philip II., January 7, 1566, Corresp. dipl., I.,<br />

78. Catena, 22.<br />

' " Cosa que no se pens6," Requesens, loc. cit. 77 ; " inaspet-<br />

tatamente " Serristori, January 23, 1566, Legaz. di Serristori, 420.<br />

* Requesens to Philip II., January 3, 1566, Corresp. dipl., I., 73,

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!