Pius held out flattering visions of succession to the Papacy, and proved convincingly that nothing could sustain the House of Guise or base the Catholic faith in France except alliance with the Papal See.

Lorraine, who had probably seen enough of episcopal _canaillerie_ in the Council, and felt his inner self expand in the rich climate of pontifical Rome, allowed his ambition to be caressed, confessed himself convinced, and returned to Trent intoxicated with his visit, the devoted friend of Rome.
[Footnote 47: Sarpi says that Don Luigi resided in the lodgings of Count Federigo Borromeo, a deceased nephew of the Pope.] Menaces, meanwhile, had been astutely mingled with cajoleries.

The French and the Imperial Courts were growing anxious on the subject of reform in secular establishments.

Pius had threatened to raise the whole question of national Churches and the monarch's right of interfering in their administration.

This was tantamount to flinging a burning torch into the powder-magazine of Huguenot and Lutheran grievances.