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

THE ELECTION OF GHISLIERI. 4I
was looked for as the next Pope.^ The Florentines, on the
other hand, thought that they had skilfully arranged everything
for the |[ election of Ricci,^ when suddenly and
unexpectedly they began to work for Ghislieri, whom they
like many others among the electors, had passed over. ^ Pacheco
wrote that the election was evidently the work of the Holy
Ghost, since many who, at their entry into the conclave, would
have cut off their feet rather than support Ghislieri, had been
the first to agree to his election.'* Among these was Mark
Sittich, who had previously so brusquely rejected the idea of
the election of a friar, but who now was all on fire for the
elevation of the Dominican.^
^ *" Et cosi sono in tal disordine et discordio [after the failure
with Sirleto], che per un pezzo non haveremo Papa, massime con
la venuta de' Frances! " (Avviso di Roma of January 5, 1566, Urb.
1040, p. i6ib, Vatican Library). Ibid. 161 : Crispi has the best ex-
pectations.since Dolera and Ricci, who were proposed together with
him to Cardinal Borromeo by Farnese have not attained success.
^ *" Quando noi pensavamo d'haver condotto le cose in buon
termine per la persona di Montepulciano, e venuta grida di palazzo
che Alessandrino e stato adorato Papa in questo punto, et I'effetto
e certissimo, perche di gia card. Capizucca di conclave e sceso
in s. Pietro a render gratie a Dio. ..." Serristori and Concini
to the Duke of Florence on January 7, 1566, " hore XXXIIL (!),"
State Archives, Florence, Medic. 3285 p. 9.
^ Card. Sforza to the Duke of Tuscany, on January 8, 1566,
State Archives, Florence.
* " Nos llevo el Spiritu Santo sin padecerse presion, como se a
visto oy en muchos hombres, que quando entraron en conclave
antes se cortaran las piernas que ir a hacer papa a Alexandrine,
y corrieron a hazerle los primeros." Pacheco to Philip IL on
January 7, 1566, Corresp. dipl. I. 80.
* Catena 20. Hilliger 145. P. Tiepolo adduces the election
of Pius V. as an example of the way in which a Papal election
often takes the most unexpected turn : " quasi usciti da loro
medesimi vanno dove mai non averiano creduti . . . corrono
come persone prive di consiglio, dubitando ciascuno d'esser
ultimo ; et pero si vede bene spesso riuscir pontefice chi meno
si era creduto, come e successo nel presente." Report of 1569,
in Alberi n, 4, 185.