The news of the institution of this reform commission spread rapidly, naturally making a twofold impression of fear and of joy. The following words of the pious Camaldulese, Pietro Delphino, to a prior of his Order 12 express the feelings of all good Christians at the time: "If, as you tell me", he says, "the death of the duke of Gandia has turned the mind of the Pontiff and of the cardinals to the reform of the Church, I shall believe the golden age to have returned ".

Perrens wrote of late in a work crowned by the French Academy 18 that, in consequence of the Pope's inconstancy, the commission never came together, or busied itself with other matters. But the ambassador Alex. Braccio informed the Florentines, on the 22d of June, 1497, that the six cardinals, designated for the reform of the holy Church, set to work at once and assembled in the Palace every morning 14, as they continued to do. Their extensive labors, which are proof of their fidelity to duty, are preserved by several copies, particularly in two manuscript folio volumes of the Vatican Library, namely, in Codex 3883 of the "Vaticana Latina, comprising one hundred and seventy-three leaves or three hundred and forty-six pages, under the title of " Propositiones et Avisamenta pro Reformatione ", and in Codex 3884, containing one hundred and thirty-two leaves.

This latter volume bears the misleading title of " Constitution of Reform of the Roman Court ", and this may have caused Pastor to say 15 that the reform bull commences with decisions regarding the Pope and his court, continues with the reform of the College of Cardinals and further speaks of dockage and provisioning of the City, to be finally taken up again by matters spiritual. In fact, however, we find nothing

in a definite form but a project of Introduction to some possible bull of reform, and, on folio 104vo of the mentioned Codex 3883, there is even a suggestion of cardinal de Costa, that, not one, but four bulls should be issued: a first, concerning the Pope and the Palace; a second, about the cardinals; a third, regarding the officials of the Roman court, and a fourth bull, for the reform of the Church generally.

The preparatory labors of the reform commission were performed mainly by cardinals Caraffa 16, George de Costa 17 and Francis Piccolomini 18; but it is evident from the style of some paragraphs that several others contributed to them. They consist of disconnected counsels, suggestions and propositions, some of which were approved by vote 19, and, as conclusions, registered in a special volume 20; but all were gathered, as time went on, without any logical order, as we may see at a glance from their one hundred and twenty-five sub-titles, published by Pastor 21. While the constitutions of former Pontiffs were carefully looked up and partially renewed 22, several new laws were recommended, a few of which were encroaching upon the Pope's God-given supreme authority 23, but were subject to further consideration and correction.

We here summarize the most important projects of the reform commission, reducing them to four groups, according to the bulls proposed by cardinal de Costa.

In regard to the Pope and the Palace," there is no suggestion affecting the daily, moral life of the Pontiff; but several projects of laws relating to his public policies and the members of his court. Rules are proposed:

To prescribe the high qualifications, the number, the mode

16. Cod. 3884, fo 110.

17. Cod. 3883, fo 104vo. 18. Ibid., fo 169.

19. Cod. 3884, fo 12.

20. Cod. 3883, fiis 90, 107.

21. Gesch. der Päpste, Bd. III,

s. 834, seq.

22. Cod. 3883, fiis 130, 149, etc. 23. Cod. 3884, fo 27.

of admission and the disinterestedness of the Prothonotaries and of the other papal officials 24.

To order the Master of the Sacred Palace to direct a daily school of sciences, of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic and Chaldaic, of theology and of canon and civil law; at the expense of the papal treasury

25

To prevent the abuse of forgery and the sale of indulgences 26.

To abolish the statutes and customs of various countries opposing ecclesiastical liberties, especially those subjecting clerics to civil courts. It was remarked here that "Our Holy Father had already sent to France a bull regarding this abuse " 27

To make a change in some pontifical acts," according to the intentions of Our Holy Father, as in granting benefices 28

To prevent the exactions of the officials of the papal treaSury 29.

To establish at the Sacred Palace an eleemosinary chaplain, who should let no beggar go hungry, and should care for impoverished prelates and other honest people 3o.

30

To forbid granting the degree of doctor by bull of favor. It was noticed here that the Pope had already issued a letter against that abuse 31.

To order that ecclesiastics only be appointed as governors of cities, and as guardians of castles of the Pontifical States 32. To prevent the Pontiff from granting to any emperor, king or temporal authority a right to collect any tithes from ecclesiastical persons or places. Pope Alexander VI did so in

2.

24. Vatic. Lat. Cod. 3884, fiis 1,

25. Ibid., fis 2, 43vo and 44vo. 26. Ibid., fo 12vo.

27. Ibid., fo 24.

28. Ibid., fo 27.

29. Ibid., fo 36.
30. Ibid., fo 43vo.

31. Ibid., fo 44vo.

32. Ibid., fo 77, and Vatic., Lat. Cod. 3883, fo 106.

regard to America; but because of exceptional circumstances, and only in favor of the Church 33.

To refuse to illegitimates the care of souls, before the age of twenty-five years, and higher dignities in collegiate churches, unless they be specially qualified 34.

To prevent the Pope from moving his court to other cities or countries, without the consent of a majority of the cardinals 35.

To oblige him to celebrate a general council as soon as easily feasible 36.

To forbid the Penitentiaries accepting any gifts from their. penitents, even when freely offered 37.

To enact that all officials of the Palace be under the censorship of a cardinal, to be appointed by the Pope, and who is to report to him. The Pontiff shall then most severely punish all delinquents 38.

To declare illicit any alienation of lands or cities of the Church domain, in any way or form, or the reduction of the yearly tribute from them 39.

To prevent the Pontiff from transferring any bishop, or removing from his see, without a trial at the Roman court and the advice of the majority of the Sacred College 4o.

41

To impose a number of Apostolic duties upon the Pope— all of which pope Alexander VI was observing exemplarily 11. To prevent the Pope from surrounding himself with men-atarms when walking through the City. He should be satisfied with his escort, and proceed, as former Pontiffs did, wearing the red cape 42.

33. Ibid., fo 90; Cod. 3883,

fo 139.

34. Ibid., fo 92vo.

35. Ibid., fo 112.

36. Ibid.

37. Vatic. Lat. Cod. 3883, "

38. Ibid., fo 105vo.
39. Ibid.

40. Ibid., fo 107.

41. Ibid., f° 169.

42. Ibid., fo 169 or 170.

To allow none but priests to live in the Palace 43.

It was proposed that the Pope should prepare a Constitution to prevent all abuses at future Conclaves 44.

In regard to the Cardinals it was proposed :

That the banquets, given by them, should consist of one boiled meat and of one roasted, commencing with some pastry and ending with some pie or fruit. During the repast Holy Scripture should be read, but there should be no music, no secular songs and no tales from histrions 45.

46

47

That cardinals should not act as envoys of princes That they should excel others by a clean life and holiness *. That henceforth the cardinals should have but one diocese or archdiocese, and, if they should receive from it or from benefices, such as commendams, dignities or pensions, any more than six thousand ducats, net revenue, they could not accept any more prebends; and, if they had any benefices bringing their income to a larger sum, they should resign them in favor of other clerics 48.

That they should reform the clergy of their title churches 49. That, while visiting in the city, the cardinals should not be accompanied by more than twenty horses 50.

That they should procure due divine service in their commendams 51.

That the number of cardinals should not exceed twentyfour, and that they should be assumed proportionately from all nations; that they should be doctors in theology or law, of excellent morals and experienced in affairs. A very few, however, of ducal or princely origin and of sufficient learning,