DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0055
IMPERIAL ELECTION
85
monarch that he was entirely on his side, and, when
he found there was little hope of his success, tried to
induce the electors to choose a third candidate in the
shape of Henry VIII. of England or Frederick of
Saxony. Only at the moment when the seven electors
were already assembled at Frankfort, the Pope, see
ing the choice of Charles to be inevitable, ordered
the Legate Cajetan to withdraw his opposition,
because ' he had no wish to run his head against
a wall. ^
Castiglione s daily letters to Mantua reflect current
opinion in Rome at this critical time. One day the
French boasted that their Ring was certain of success;
another day the Spaniards were equally confident.
On June 10, the Pope told Marco Minio that
the French and Spanish ambassadors had both of
them confidently assured him that their respective
monarchs would be elected, and added with a smile:
' One of the two, at least, will soon have cause
to blush!'
On the 16th the French envoy told Castiglione
that without doubt his King would be Emperor. On
the 28th the Count wrote to the Marchesana:
' Here we live in hourly expectation of hearing
news of the Emperors election, and in the banks
many wagers have been laid on this result. His
Holiness, however, is remarkably well and lively, and
amuses himself in his usual manner/
While wise men looked grave, and gloomy fore-
bodings of war were heard on all sides, the Pope
spent the evenings in the company of his favourite
musicians, and ordered the Feast of San Giovanni to
be celebrated by public games, as was the custom in
i Brown, ii. 1257.
8—2
85
monarch that he was entirely on his side, and, when
he found there was little hope of his success, tried to
induce the electors to choose a third candidate in the
shape of Henry VIII. of England or Frederick of
Saxony. Only at the moment when the seven electors
were already assembled at Frankfort, the Pope, see
ing the choice of Charles to be inevitable, ordered
the Legate Cajetan to withdraw his opposition,
because ' he had no wish to run his head against
a wall. ^
Castiglione s daily letters to Mantua reflect current
opinion in Rome at this critical time. One day the
French boasted that their Ring was certain of success;
another day the Spaniards were equally confident.
On June 10, the Pope told Marco Minio that
the French and Spanish ambassadors had both of
them confidently assured him that their respective
monarchs would be elected, and added with a smile:
' One of the two, at least, will soon have cause
to blush!'
On the 16th the French envoy told Castiglione
that without doubt his King would be Emperor. On
the 28th the Count wrote to the Marchesana:
' Here we live in hourly expectation of hearing
news of the Emperors election, and in the banks
many wagers have been laid on this result. His
Holiness, however, is remarkably well and lively, and
amuses himself in his usual manner/
While wise men looked grave, and gloomy fore-
bodings of war were heard on all sides, the Pope
spent the evenings in the company of his favourite
musicians, and ordered the Feast of San Giovanni to
be celebrated by public games, as was the custom in
i Brown, ii. 1257.
8—2