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

28 lilSTORV OF THE POPES.
Carpi and Pacheco, and had recommended Puteo and Medici.^
At the meeting between the three leaders, however, Farnese
and Carafa had definitely refused to support Puteo, ^ and
remained, as they had been before, in favour, in the first
instance, of Carpi and Pacheco.
The uncertainty of the position was very much increased
by the fact that when Sforza entered into this new compact
he did not immediately break off his former understanding
with the French. He could not very weU do this, for among
the adherents who had remained faithful to him at the time
of the rupture in the Spanish party were many personal friends
of Gonzaga, whom he dared not offend,-^ and he was, moreover,
afraid that if he deserted the French, Carafa would at once
join them and bring the election to a conclusion without his
help.* Sforza, therefore, worked with the French for Gonzaga
and with his new allies for Carpi and Pacheco, but he was not
sincere with either party, and, since his double dealing could
not remain concealed he lost the confidence of his own party
as well as of the French.^ A coolness between Sforza and
Vargas was also growing from day to day. Sforza, as well as
Madruzzo, was justly indignant at the arrogant manner in
which the ambassador sought to force his views on them.^
The confusion was so great, as Madruzzo wrote to Philip IT.
on October 2nth, that it could not have been worse. '^
In order to find a way out of this state of confusion the
divided Spanish party had, above all, to become clear as to
their attitude towards Gonzaga. No information on this
point was to be obtained from Vargas, for his instructions on
this very matter were insufficient.^ They had, therefore, to
140.
^ Vargas on September 28, in Dollinger, I., 269 seq. ; Mxjller,
2 Vargas on October 3, in Dollinger, I., 271.
'MiJLLER, 146 * Ibid, 145. ^ Ibid., 143, 147.
« C/., SusTA, Pius IV., 131. ' Wahrmund, 82.
* MuLLER, 129.
" De cuantas cartas tenia Don Juan Figueroa
para en sede vacante, no me he podido aprovechar de ninguna,"
writes Vargas on November 5, 1559, in Dollinger, Beitrage, I.,
289.