The oration "Si ea quae justa" of Enea Silvio Piccolomini (1438, Basel)

In 1438, the Council of Basel undertook to systematically confer ecclesiastical offices and benefices instead of the Pope whom it had deposed. It therefore became necessary to establish proper procedures, especially for the appointment of bishops. The Committee of Twelve drafted a decree according to which the commissioners charged with hearing testimonies concerning the candidates for episcopal office should report back to Council under oath. Their motion was resisted and obstructed by many Council Fathers, and therefore Piccolomini took it upon himself to defend the motion in a speech to the General Congreation. He was not successful and the proposed decree was not passed