Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga

After a time, Philip yielded to the representations and arguments of this learned and holy man, and agreed to remove the truculent governor from Milan and appoint him to command the troops in Flanders.

Everyone hoped that when Don Luis de Requesens left Italy, peace would be restored, and church and state would no longer be at loggerheads.

Unfortunately, an episode occurred that postponed for a time this happy result.

The fact that he was under the censure of the Church caused Don Luis poignant suffering, not only because his conscience condemned him, but also because his friends and acquaintances stood afar off and looked on him askance.

Instead, he endeavored in a roundabout and underhand way to become reconciled with Holy Church.

He persuaded friends of his in Rome to ask the Pope to remove the sentence of excommunication.

They told Gregory XIII that Don Luis de Requesens had been appointed commander of the Spanish army in Flanders.

This was true, but they also told him that Don Luis had left Milan and was on his way to the Low Countries.