pope felix iv wished boniface to succeed him, partially to avoid the riots that had occurred on his own accession. further, richards describes him as being part of the pro-gothic party of clergy, bishops and aristocrats, and his "principal concern, however, was to ensure that the pro-gothic party remained in control of the papacy." during the sixth century a tradition had evolved where popes would informally nominate their successors, but felix went even further and issued a "praeceptum" formally nominating boniface, and on his sickbed gave his "pallium" to him, on the condition that should felix recover boniface would return it. however, the senate was outraged that it had been preempted from the process, and issued an edict forbidding anyone from accepting the nomination or discussing it during pope's felix's life, on pain of exile and confiscation of property. richards notes that the clergy did not voice a similar outrage, "perhaps because the majority of the clergy agreed on this occasion with the senate in censuring the action of pope felix".