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Article CHAPTER II. ← Page 2 of 4 Article CHAPTER II. Page 2 of 4 →
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Chapter Ii.
do by his sanction , resolved to remove Benedict . For this purpose he hacl him poisoned afc Perugia on the 7 fch July , 1304 . His next anxiety Avas to have a Pope appointed Avho should be a creature of his own , aud for this purpose he Avas lavish
both of bribes and promises . The Cardinals assembled in solemn conclave at Perugia , on the 17 th of July , 1304 , to elect a successor to Benedict . * The conclave was divided . The
larger and more influential party , Avho Avere indignant at the treatment which Boniface had received at Philip's hands , whom they accused of having caused his death , were inimical to the king . They desired , therefore , to raise to the
tiara one Avho , Avhile a subject of France , should be an enemy oi the king , and who would defend the memory of Boniface , their general benefactor . The lesser faction Avas that of Colonnas , staunch friends of the king , and bitter enemies of the
deceased Boniface . They desired a Pope who should favour Philip , and be at the same time a creature of their OAvn . They thus made common cause with the kino * .
The interests of these parties being so conflicting , the conclave became the scene of stormy argument and bitter recrimination , and no means could be devised to bring about a reconciliation , or at least the nomination of some party equally
trusted by both . The obstinacy on both sides was unconquerable , and they were actu * dlly ten months engaged in the debate , Avithout advancing a step . At length , impressed by the great scandal as well as by the danger which Avould arise to
the universal church from being so long Avithout a pastor , the Colonna party shewed a disposition to end the matter in a friendly spirit . Thereupon the opposite faction proposed the Archbishop of Bordeaux ; the Colonnas made no
objection , but asked time to consider and determine upon the advisability of his election . Bertrand de Gotte , Archbishop of Bourdeaux , belonged to one of the best families of Guienne , a province then in possession of England . He was
the son of Beraud , Lord of Gotte , and had been one of the most zealous partisans of Pope Boniface , who , in 1300 , gave him the prebendcy of Bourdeaux , and , in 1301 , the bishopric of Comminges , finally elevating him to the archbishopric of Bourdeaux in the following year . His attachment to the Pope rendered him odious to the King of
Chapter Ii.
France , and to punish him for it , the Count de Valois , the brother of the King , laid waste the lands of his diocese , and seriously injured both his rights and revenues . He bitterly complained of these ravages , and shoAved great resentment
to-Avards the king . From his being a declared enemy of the king , and the many causes of hatred which would prevent a reconciliation between them , the faction of Boniface considered themselves safe in proposing him for the papacy .
The Colonnas , on their part , seeing that it Avould be impossible to overcome the firmness of the Boniface party , Avere disposed to agree to the election of the Archbishop of Bourdeaux , trusting : that the hatred Avhich he entertained towards
the king of France would soon be appeased , and that Philip would easily find means to effect a reconciliation . The Cardinal d'Osfcia , one of the Colonna party , had kept the king advised of all the proceedings of the conclave , and upon
their resolving to elect the Archbishop of Bourdeaux to the papal throne , he despatched a courier to Philip , warning him that the election could no longer be delayed , and counselling him to be reconciled to the Archbishop . In the meamvhile , he engaged to put off the election
till he should receive an answer . The courier travelled with the utmost despatch , and reached Paris about the middle of May , 1305 . The news which he brought delighted the king . He kneAV that while the Archbishop Avas one of
the greatest minds of that age , and a prelate of infinite spirit and sagacity , he Avas at the same time both avaricious and ambitious . The king readily conceived that , by means of these two latter qualities , he could easily mould the Archbishop to his
will . He despatched a sure and swift messenger to the Archbishop , bearing a letter full of the most gracious and friendly expressions . He begged the Archbishop to grant him an interview , and to meet him Avithout delay at an abbey
situated in the midst of a Avood , near St . Jean d'Angeli , where Philip proposed waiting for him , having an affair of the greatest importance to communicate , and which particularly related to himself . This letter astonished the Archbishop ;
the terms upon which Philip and he stood precluded any thoughts of a friendly relationship ; still he was agreeably surprised at its receipt , and resolved to meet the king . His Avily character , and his ambition , led him to augur that this interview , solicited by Philip , would be produc-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chapter Ii.
do by his sanction , resolved to remove Benedict . For this purpose he hacl him poisoned afc Perugia on the 7 fch July , 1304 . His next anxiety Avas to have a Pope appointed Avho should be a creature of his own , aud for this purpose he Avas lavish
both of bribes and promises . The Cardinals assembled in solemn conclave at Perugia , on the 17 th of July , 1304 , to elect a successor to Benedict . * The conclave was divided . The
larger and more influential party , Avho Avere indignant at the treatment which Boniface had received at Philip's hands , whom they accused of having caused his death , were inimical to the king . They desired , therefore , to raise to the
tiara one Avho , Avhile a subject of France , should be an enemy oi the king , and who would defend the memory of Boniface , their general benefactor . The lesser faction Avas that of Colonnas , staunch friends of the king , and bitter enemies of the
deceased Boniface . They desired a Pope who should favour Philip , and be at the same time a creature of their OAvn . They thus made common cause with the kino * .
The interests of these parties being so conflicting , the conclave became the scene of stormy argument and bitter recrimination , and no means could be devised to bring about a reconciliation , or at least the nomination of some party equally
trusted by both . The obstinacy on both sides was unconquerable , and they were actu * dlly ten months engaged in the debate , Avithout advancing a step . At length , impressed by the great scandal as well as by the danger which Avould arise to
the universal church from being so long Avithout a pastor , the Colonna party shewed a disposition to end the matter in a friendly spirit . Thereupon the opposite faction proposed the Archbishop of Bordeaux ; the Colonnas made no
objection , but asked time to consider and determine upon the advisability of his election . Bertrand de Gotte , Archbishop of Bourdeaux , belonged to one of the best families of Guienne , a province then in possession of England . He was
the son of Beraud , Lord of Gotte , and had been one of the most zealous partisans of Pope Boniface , who , in 1300 , gave him the prebendcy of Bourdeaux , and , in 1301 , the bishopric of Comminges , finally elevating him to the archbishopric of Bourdeaux in the following year . His attachment to the Pope rendered him odious to the King of
Chapter Ii.
France , and to punish him for it , the Count de Valois , the brother of the King , laid waste the lands of his diocese , and seriously injured both his rights and revenues . He bitterly complained of these ravages , and shoAved great resentment
to-Avards the king . From his being a declared enemy of the king , and the many causes of hatred which would prevent a reconciliation between them , the faction of Boniface considered themselves safe in proposing him for the papacy .
The Colonnas , on their part , seeing that it Avould be impossible to overcome the firmness of the Boniface party , Avere disposed to agree to the election of the Archbishop of Bourdeaux , trusting : that the hatred Avhich he entertained towards
the king of France would soon be appeased , and that Philip would easily find means to effect a reconciliation . The Cardinal d'Osfcia , one of the Colonna party , had kept the king advised of all the proceedings of the conclave , and upon
their resolving to elect the Archbishop of Bourdeaux to the papal throne , he despatched a courier to Philip , warning him that the election could no longer be delayed , and counselling him to be reconciled to the Archbishop . In the meamvhile , he engaged to put off the election
till he should receive an answer . The courier travelled with the utmost despatch , and reached Paris about the middle of May , 1305 . The news which he brought delighted the king . He kneAV that while the Archbishop Avas one of
the greatest minds of that age , and a prelate of infinite spirit and sagacity , he Avas at the same time both avaricious and ambitious . The king readily conceived that , by means of these two latter qualities , he could easily mould the Archbishop to his
will . He despatched a sure and swift messenger to the Archbishop , bearing a letter full of the most gracious and friendly expressions . He begged the Archbishop to grant him an interview , and to meet him Avithout delay at an abbey
situated in the midst of a Avood , near St . Jean d'Angeli , where Philip proposed waiting for him , having an affair of the greatest importance to communicate , and which particularly related to himself . This letter astonished the Archbishop ;
the terms upon which Philip and he stood precluded any thoughts of a friendly relationship ; still he was agreeably surprised at its receipt , and resolved to meet the king . His Avily character , and his ambition , led him to augur that this interview , solicited by Philip , would be produc-