Page:History Of The Origin And Establishment Of The Inquisition In Portugal (IA historyoftheorig012210mbp).pdf/389

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Intervention of the Pope
569

an argument that was left in reserve for the inevitable future discussions.

But the court of Lisbon was not deceived by the information Balthasar gave it in this matter, perhaps because it had better reasons for believing that the replacement of the pontifical representative was not a matter of so much indifference as the attorney of the Inquisition at Rome had been led to believe. So it immediately made ready for the blow. Possibly this was the last fight it had to win, and one in which victory, when it had carried discouragement into the ranks of its adversaries, might settle once for all the fate, as yet somewhat doubtful, of the tribunal of faith.


Archives. A copy in Portuguese of the brief of the belief of Giovanni Ricci, bishop elect of Siponto, dated June 27, 1544, is in the collection of Sr. Moreira, Quad. 2, at the end.