Popes used to name Cardinals in private when it was thought that their public promulgation might be attended with injurious consequences. In these cases, however, the Cardinals in Consistory were informed by the Pope of the names of those whom he designated fur participation in this honour. Consequently, there was here an established clandestine concert amongst the principal parties interested in the matter, so that the secret was one only against the outer world. Nevertheless it was ruled that a nomination of this nature did not suffice to entitle an individual to act as Cardinal. On two occasions Martin V. made such nominations, admitting duly the Sacred College to a knowledge of them. Yet when, on the Pope's decease (1431), Dominic Capranica, one of the prelates so named, in the name of himself and his companions, claimed the right to take part in the Conclave, the claim was rejected, though the authenticity of the alleged nomination was not disputed. This precedent was rendered the more conclusive for the indispensable necessity of a promulgation in public to constitute a full Cardinal, that Martin V. shortly before death had held
