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

EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE. 45
necessity of concluding the election at the earliest possible
moment. The Cardinal Dean, du Bellay, answered him, and
took the opportunity of including several unpleasant truths
in his remarks. He drew attention to the fact that the cause
of the delay was to be attributed, for the most part, to the
unjustifiable influence which was being exercised from outside ;
as soon, he continued, as the Cardinals were allowed full
liberty, the election would quickly be settled, but that it was
quite useless to exhort the Cardinals in public to the greatest
possible haste, and then in secret to do everything possible
to drag on the election to an interminable length. ^
Du Bellay had given utterance to these hints in a rather
irritated manner,- and Vargas, therefore, naturally endeav-
oured, with the support of Pacheco and Farnese, to defend his
sovereign from all shadow of blame. ^ To this defence du Bellay
answered that the Cardinals who were unwilling to obey orders
were threatened on the part of the Spanish court with the loss
of their revenues, whereupon Pacheco twice called out in a
loud voice that this was not true.* Then followed the delivery
of the royal message, which was drawn up in dignified terms.
The king, it was stated, did not wish to interfere in the election
in any way likely to hinder it ; it was not his business to lay
down rules to the Cardinals for the election ;
they must only
keep in view the service of God, and choose, without any con-
sideration for him, the candidate most likely to be useful in
the present parlous condition of the Church. Du Bellay
answered Vargas' defence in courteous terms, but did not fail
to express the hope that deeds might correspond to words,
^" Si quid nunc ab ipsis peccaretur, tolerabilius videri debeat,
quod non magis ipsorum culpa acciderit, quam eorum, qui sese in
electic^is negotio, quod ad eos nulla ex parte pertineret, immiscere
tarn soUicite vellent. Nihil enim intra parietes conclavis dissidii
esse, quod non extrinsecus importaretur." Guidus, 624.
^ " non sine stomacho prolata." Guidus, 624.
" Ibid.
* MuLLER, 182 seq. Cf. in order to appreciate the accusation,
ibid., 199, and Merkle, II., 624, n. 5.
^ Wahrmund, 84.
^