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

42 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
if they flattered themselves by remembering that Charles V.
had shown the greatest favour to the very men who had
formerly been his opponents, but that now they were living
in a new world. Should Este become Pope, then war, vexation
and schism would be inevitable, as he was openly purchasing
the tiara in the most shameful manner. ^
It is probable, however, that Carafa had only supported
Este in this attempt in the hope that thereby Sforza would
be forced to the election of Este's rival. Carpi. As several
who had at first promised Este their votes did not now keep
their word, Carafa also drew back, so that the Cardinal of
Ferrara had far less than the required number of votes. His
friends, however, did not relax their efforts on his behalf,^
and Este spoke to Duke Cosimo of Florence as late as December
3rd in very optimistic terms about his election.^ He only
really abandoned hope in the concluding days of the conclave.
The principal reason why Este could no longer put off his
open canvassing fof the tiara was that his two most zealous
adherents. Cardinals Capodiferro and Dandino, were sick
unto death and were given up by the physicians.* Many
other Cardinals were also seriously threatened in their health
by the long confinement in the bad air of a closed apartment,
over crowded with people.^ The consequences of the long
^ Ibid., 306.
- The highest number of votes gained by Este was at the
beginning of December (on the i and 4) but they never exceeded
12 or 13. See *List of scrutinies (State Library, Munich) in
Appendix No. i.
' Petrucelli, 151.
* GuiDus, 623.
^ " Deinde (November 30) fuerunt intromissi 12 fachini, qui . . .
deberent purgare conclave, in quo fetor erat insupportabilis,
et multi cupiebant exire timentes aliquam contagiosam infirni-
itatem " (Bondonus, 526). The *Avvisi of December 2 (Urb.
1039. P-
105b, Vatican Library) notes that many were ill in the
conclave. " Gran puzzone e in conclavi " : December 11, ibid.
p. io6b. " Dentro hay muchos enfermos " : Vargas
on November
29. 1559. in DoLLiNGER, Beitrage, L, 303. Cf. Mijller, 201 ;
SusTA, Pius IV., 144.