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

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30 HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

von Thurm, to Cardinals Madruzzo, Truchsess and Morone<br />

that <strong>the</strong>y should support <strong>the</strong> candidature <strong>of</strong> Gonzaga.i<br />

Considering <strong>the</strong> means <strong>of</strong> communication <strong>of</strong> that time, an<br />

answer <strong>from</strong> Spain could not be expected to arrive in Rome<br />

in less than four weeks so that, as September had passed without<br />

any result as far as <strong>the</strong> election was concerned, <strong>the</strong> like was to<br />

be expected in October. <strong>The</strong> parties, as Curzio Gonzaga wrote<br />

to Mantua on October 4th, were standing firmly opposed to<br />

one ano<strong>the</strong>r ;<br />

<strong>the</strong> business <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> election could only proceed<br />

when an answer had been received <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Catholic<br />

King. 2<br />

<strong>The</strong> great consideration extended to <strong>the</strong> princes gave much<br />

scandal in Rome, and indeed throughout <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> Italy.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Conservators <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city appeared before <strong>the</strong> Cardinals on<br />

October 4th and reproached <strong>the</strong>m for seeking instructions<br />

<strong>from</strong> abroad, <strong>the</strong>reby quite misunderstanding <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />

dignity and position.^ <strong>The</strong>y begged <strong>the</strong>m to hasten <strong>the</strong><br />

election as mach as possible, since public security in Rome<br />

was so greatly endangered by <strong>the</strong> long duration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conclave<br />

that honest people were no longer sure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir lives. <strong>The</strong>n<br />

<strong>the</strong> Conservators endeavoured to justify <strong>the</strong> people for an<br />

occurrence which had taken place during <strong>the</strong> preceding night.<br />

<strong>The</strong> day before, some persons belonging to <strong>the</strong> French embassy<br />

had shot a gentleman-at-arms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prefect <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

districts in <strong>the</strong> open street because <strong>the</strong> said prefect had<br />

deprived one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir number <strong>of</strong> a prohibited weapon without<br />

regard for <strong>the</strong> French privileges. In revenge for this <strong>the</strong><br />

people had, during <strong>the</strong> following night almost stormed and<br />

burned down <strong>the</strong> dwelling <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French ambassador.* <strong>The</strong><br />

Conservators concluded by declaring that if a Pope were not<br />

speedily given to <strong>the</strong> city <strong>the</strong>y would make use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> authority<br />

^Letter <strong>of</strong> October 14, 1559, m S. Brunner in <strong>the</strong> Studien<br />

und Mitteilungen aus dem Benediktiner-und Zisterzienserorden,<br />

VI., 2, 389 (1885) ; Wahrmund, 260. Cf. Giacomo Soranzo on<br />

October 20, 1559, in Turba, III., 107.<br />

" *Gonzaga Archives, Mantua.<br />

» GuiDUS, 617.<br />

^Ihid.. 616.

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