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

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PARTIES IN THE CONCLAVE. I3<br />

and, as a matter <strong>of</strong> fact, in <strong>the</strong> conclave he left Este in <strong>the</strong><br />

lurch and worked directly against him . ^ According to Cosimo 's<br />

view, Cardinal de' Medici was, as a matter <strong>of</strong> course, <strong>the</strong> only<br />

possible candidate, 2 but this preference, which was well known<br />

in <strong>the</strong> conclave <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> first, ra<strong>the</strong>r prejudiced than helped<br />

<strong>the</strong> Cardinal in <strong>the</strong> eyes <strong>of</strong> many, for a Pope who had at<br />

his command <strong>the</strong> whole influence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> powerful Florentine<br />

Duke was to be dreaded.^ Cosimo, however, refrained <strong>from</strong><br />

openly influencing <strong>the</strong> Cardinals during October and Novem-<br />

ber ; it was only towards <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conclave that he<br />

interfered decisively.<br />

<strong>The</strong> peculiar party conditions existing among <strong>the</strong> electors<br />

made it possible for diplomacy to play an important part in<br />

<strong>the</strong> election, to an even greater extent than was usually <strong>the</strong><br />

case. It is to be ascribed to <strong>the</strong> confusion and <strong>the</strong> obstacles<br />

which were constantly being raised in this way that <strong>the</strong> Papal<br />

throne remained unoccupied for more than four months.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Cardinals were divided into three almost equal parties.<br />

<strong>The</strong> French interests were under <strong>the</strong> skilful direction <strong>of</strong> Car-<br />

dinals Ippolito d'Este <strong>of</strong> Ferrara and Louis de Guise, and were<br />

represented by Cardinals Tournon, du Bellay, Armagnac,<br />

1 MuLLER, 57, 62.<br />

^ Cosimo to Concini on September 21, 1559, in Petrucelli, 129.<br />

" Quelli che piu di tutti sono in predicamento per il giudicio<br />

comune sono Carpi, Puteo, Morone et Medeghino," wrote Fra<br />

Taddeo Perugino to <strong>the</strong> Archbishop <strong>of</strong> Salerno as early as August<br />

25, 1559 (SusTA, Pius IV., 123). Navagero recognised Medici<br />

as <strong>the</strong> candidate most likely to be successful as early as 1558<br />

(see Alberi, I., 3, 413).<br />

3 *" Medici e molto favorito dal Duca di Firenze, il cui favore<br />

in luogo di giovamento gli noce {cf. <strong>the</strong> statement in Susta,<br />

Pius IV., 127, n. 2), perche la grandezza di quel Duca e molto<br />

temuta di tutta questa corte et si dubita che havendo un papa<br />

creatura sua et tanto piii della natura di Medici che sarebbe troppo<br />

grande." Capilupi on September 2, 1559 (Gonzaga Archives,<br />

Mantua). Concerning Puteo Capilupi writes that he was held<br />

" in molta consideratione "in spite <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hostility <strong>of</strong> Este and<br />

Farnese.

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