Disagreeable messages reached Rome from France, and Spain, and Germany, complaining of the Pope's absolutism in Council, and demanding that the reform of the Church should be taken into serious and instant consideration.

His devoted adherent, Lainez, General of the Jesuits, embittered opposition by passionately preaching the doctrine of passive obedience.

Two dangers lay before him.

One was that the Council should break up in confusion, with discredit to Rome, and anarchy for the Catholic Church.

The other was that it should be prolonged in its dissensions by the princes, with a view of depressing and enfeebling the Papal authority.