Chapter Ii.

tive of considerable benefit to himself , for he was well aware , thafc a King like Philip , would not put himself about to be reconciled to an enenxy , Avithout good grounds . Six days after the receipt of the letter he set out for the abbey , Avhere he was

receivedbythe king , Avho had already arrived , withevery symptom of respect and friendliness . The Archbishop complained bitterly of the conduct of the Count cle Yalois ; but the king apologised for his brother , ancl promised to make every redress

in his power . He then informed the Archbishop of the doings of the conclave afc Perugia , that they were ready to elect a Pope , that he was master of the election , and should they agree upon certain terms to be arranged between them , he could place the tiara upon the Archbishop's brow . He

shewed him the proofs . At the brilliant prospect of seeing himself clothed Avith the highest dignity of the Christian Avorld , the ambitious Gascon was thunderstruck . It was a reality which transcended his wildest dreams . The prelate , filled

with the liveliest joy , bis ambition dazzled , hy the magnificence of the offer , flung himself abjectly at the feet of the king—what a position for a vicegerent of God ! and implored him to raise him . to this great dignity , assuring him , thafc if placed

in the chair of St . Peter , he would be his sfcedfast friend , Avould ever be filled with the greatest devotion and gratitude , and ready to clo for his majesty and for France all that could be done b y the wielder of the Keys . This scene may Avell be added to our compassionate contempt for the frailty of human nature .

The King Avas delighted Avith this acquiescent disposition of the Archbishop , which proved how little he hacl mistaken his character . He replied thafc he Avould have him elected Pope , provided that he would promise him six favours These

were : —1 . A complete reconciliation Avifch the Church . 2 . Admission to the Holy Communion for himself and his friends , and absolution for Nogaret who had arrested Pope Boniface . 3 . The tithes of the clergy of France for five

years , to defray the expenses of his Avar in Flanders . 4 . The condemnation of the memory of Pope Boniface . 5 , The conferring of the dignity of cardinal upon James and Peter Colonna . The sixth favour Avas a great and secret one ,

which he AVO aid not confide to the Archbishop at the time , but he reserved the right to demand it at a suitable time and place . There Avas nothing to which the Archbishop , led on by his ambition .

Chapter Ii.

would not have subscribed , so thafc he might be elevated to the papal throne . He agreed to everything , and by the most solemn oath of the church upon the sacred Host , swore to perform his part of the treaty . This terrible oath

he appears to have taken Avithout scruple , although one of the favours he was sworn to grant Avas unknown to him . He gave his brother and two of his nephew as hostages to the king , for the fulfilment of . the treaty . * The

condition which the king kept secret Avas the persecution of the Templars , a project which never left his mind au instant . It must not be supposed

that he believed in the guilt of the Order . Other reasons than religion and justice prompted his hatred . He was poor , ancl they Avere rich ; he had to destroy the hive and slaughter the bees before he could gather the honey ; but he was

careful to give them no Avarning of his design , for , had they become aAvare of it , their stings Avould have been sharp set , and turned against his person . On the contrary , he Avas friendly Avith them , seemed to have forgot all the disputes

about the sounding of the money , and on several occasions took up his residence in the Temple . But it was the purring of the tiger , secure of his prey .

After this convention between the king and the Archbishop , a convention of which there are few parallels in history , Philip sent back the courier to the Cardinal d'Ostia . He Avrote to him thafc he Avas reconciled to the Archbishop of Bourdeaux ,

and to proceed afc once Avith his election . The Archbishop had , meanwhile , returned to Bourdeaux , there to -await the summons Avhich should call upon him to mount the chair of St . Peter . Upon the receipt of the king ' s letter , the Colonnas

agreed to the wishes of the party of Boniface ; and the conclave being unanimous , the Archbishop AA as elected Sovereign Pontiff on the Sth of June . The sacred college sent one of their most celebrated members to Bourdeaux , to

announce to the Archbishop his elevation . He took the name of Clement V . Clement , instead of proceeding to Rome , there to be annointed and crowned , summoned the cardinals to repair to Lyons . To this he was urg-ed by many weighty

reasons . The continual seditions of the people of Rome , ancl the constant hostilities carried on between the petty princes , made Italy disagree-