Consequently, when Alva entered Rome in peaceful pomp, he did homage for his master to the Pope, who was generously willing to absolve him for his past offences.

Paul IV.
publicly exulted in the abasement of his conquerors, declaring that it would teach kings in future the obedience they owed to the Chief of the Church.

But Alva did not conceal his discontent.

It would have been better, he said, to have sent the Pope to sue for peace and pardon at Brussels, than to allow him to obtain the one and grant the other on these terms.
Paul's ambition to expel the Spaniards from Italy exposed him to the worst abuses of that Papal nepotism which he had denounced in others.

He judged it necessary to surround himself with trusty and powerful agents of his own kindred.[25] [Footnote 25: New men--and Popes were always _novi homines_--are compelled to take this course, and suffer when they take it.