Page:On papal conclaves (IA a549801700cartuoft).djvu/226

 210 Duke Alexander, who had meanwhile succeeded to the throne of Poland, deemed it prudent to defer repudiation, at least until the death of his father-in-law, who was advanced in years, and applied to the reigning Pope, Julius  to sanction a postponement of his persecuting zeal. This request Julius granted in a Brief, also given by Theiner, vol. ii. p. 319, which, from its ingenuous language, is the most astonishing Papal document we know. Without circumlocution, the Pope gives expression to the purely secular consideration that weighed in his decision,—'Considerans quod, illius pater Moscoviæ dux præfatus, qui tibi finitimus dicionis amplitudine ac viribus est potentior, iniquo id ferens animo, facile rursus belia et damna intollerabilia tibi ac terris regnicolisque ejus inferre posset;' the Pope graciously listens to the King's humble request that, by apostolical kindness, he might be indulged to put up with his wife ('uxorem præfatim tollerandi') until the death of the already decrepit Duke of Muscovy, or some other opportunity, by God's favour, should render repudiation free from risk ('donee per obitum dicti Moscoviæ ducis, qui jam etate decrepitus est, vel per aliam aliquam occasionem, dispensante Altissimo opportunitas offeratnr aliter in hac parte providendi'). Accordingly, Pope Julius assents, under certain provisos, to his retaining Helena as his wife until such time as he can send her away without fear of unpleasant consequences ('uxorem tuam velut hactellus tollerare et habitare cum eâdem libere et licite valeas, nec ad ipsam dimittendam tenearis, donce aliqna opportuna occasio aliter