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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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SUDDEN TURN OF AFFAIRS. 55<br />

When Panvinio visited, various Cardinals on <strong>the</strong> afternoon<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> following day, <strong>the</strong> feast <strong>of</strong> Christmas, <strong>the</strong> position was<br />

considerably altered. Madruzzo and Truchsess regarded <strong>the</strong><br />

election <strong>of</strong> Medici, with which <strong>the</strong>y were not particularly<br />

pleased, as being practically certain, Cesi being no longer<br />

spoken <strong>of</strong>.^ Panvinio believed, never<strong>the</strong>less, that <strong>the</strong> election<br />

would still take some time, and in <strong>the</strong> evening begged Cardinal<br />

Farnese to allow him to go into <strong>the</strong> city. Farnese, however,<br />

encouraged him to remain, as he thought <strong>the</strong> election was<br />

actually impending.-<br />

Affairs had almost suddenly taken a turn. On December<br />

2ist it had been seriously debated whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> conclave<br />

should not be dissolved before Christmas and. only resumed<br />

after <strong>the</strong> Epiphany,^ but as early as <strong>the</strong> following day <strong>the</strong><br />

decisive moment was approaching. After dinner Carafa and<br />

Vitelli accidentally met Cardinal Guise, and a conversation<br />

ensued during <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> which Guise at last asked Carafa<br />

why <strong>the</strong> election was being postponed, to which <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

replied that it was not his fault. <strong>The</strong>n Guise made <strong>the</strong> remark<br />

that as far as he was concerned, who was soon leaving Rome,<br />

it was immaterial who was Pope, provided that <strong>the</strong> Cardinal<br />

elected was fitted for <strong>the</strong> position ;<br />

as, however, <strong>the</strong> candidates<br />

proposed by <strong>the</strong> French had been rejected, <strong>the</strong> honour <strong>of</strong> his<br />

nation made it necessary that <strong>the</strong>y should not accept <strong>the</strong><br />

candidates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spaniards, but must give <strong>the</strong>ir votes to<br />

someone else. In saying this Guise had clearly indicated Cesi,<br />

who had, hi<strong>the</strong>rto, nei<strong>the</strong>r been seriously proposed nor rejected.<br />

Vitelli <strong>the</strong>reupon remarked that it was not right to reject a<br />

worthy candidate on such grounds, as it was <strong>of</strong> no consequence<br />

to which party he belonged as long as he was worthy. Guise<br />

answered that he quite understood <strong>the</strong> meaning <strong>of</strong> this rejoinder<br />

: Vitelli intended by what he said to recommend<br />

Medici. He on his side, and as a pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> his good will, would<br />

propose two candidates on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French, Cesi and<br />

Medici. Let <strong>the</strong>m select one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se two, and <strong>the</strong> French<br />

would vote for him. At <strong>the</strong> same time, Guise added a con-<br />

^Ibid.. 578. ^ Ibid., 579. ^ Ibid., 580-1.

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