_ 420 _ and gave it out throughout Rome that His Holiness was taking this excuse to visit on the way the dukes of Florence, Urbino, and Ferrara, with an understanding with the Signoria of Venice, for the purpose of joining them all in a league against the King of Spain. This rumor, among many others, came to the notice of His Holiness, and it seemed to him necessary that he should not go so that people should not persist in this opinion, and he put off his journey; and I was spared the perils of going, if I could not help it, or those of remaining, if Your Highness should order the contrary. His Holiness was angered by this lie, and I saw that he told the tale, and what they said about him, with a sincere heart. Four times in September, His Holiness intimated that he intended to create some cardinals, and he was so pestered with requests for cardinal's hats that he did not dare make any firm resolve, and he put off the creation until December. But I think that as he has to proclaim the Council soon, as I have written, and as this matter (as he must fulfil his promises) is so different from what must be discussed there, he will wish to anticipate it by first making some cardinals. Because the college is very short of outstanding people to attend the council, he has summoned Archbishop
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