Page:On papal conclaves (IA a549801700cartuoft).djvu/158

 142 hearted desertion. Before this appeal reached Cardinal Altieri, he had, however, already taken an irrevocable step, by sending his absolute renunciation of the Cardinalate to the Pope, in imitation of Cardinal Antici, who, on the 7th March, had done the same in two letters, one addressed to the Pope, and the other to the two consuls of Rome. Still Pius declined to accept these renunciations. He persisted to regard the two renegades as still Cardinals, and canonically not relieved from their obligations, until the consideration of the consequences that might follow from their claiming, in virtue of this refusal on his part, to take part in the Conclave, induced him from his prison at the Certosa, by two briefs of the 7th September 1798, to declare Altieri and Antici, on their own renunciation, stripped of all the privileges and rights appertaining to their former dignity, especially of any voice, active or passive, in Papal elections. The Pope's decisive step was brought about mainly by Cardinal Antonelli's energetic representations. Altieri died soon after, in 1800, without seeing any turn in Pontifical fortunes which might have made him regret his step as hasty.