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

12
HISTORY OF THE POPES.
sequently, Leo X. tried to persuade Charles to renounce
the candidature which was so hateful to France, and accept
instead the nomination of Eberhard to the Archbishopric
of Valencia. As this compromise was not accepted, the
Pope offered two other cardinals' hats, but neither to this
alternative would the Emperor consent. Thereupon the
Pope tried to conciliate Francis by the promise of the
appointment of two French Cardinals if he would give up
his opposition to the elevation of Eberhard de la Mark.
But this proposal was declined. Francis maintained his
pretensions that the Pope must make no appointment
against his wishes, even at the risk of a quarrel being
caused between Charles and the Holy See. The French
King carried his arrogance still further by requiring of the
Pope a declaration of his intentions toward the Duke of
Ferrara, and demanding the restoration of Modena and
Reggio to that prince. In vain did the King's best friend,
the prudent Cardinal Bibbiena, warn him against going
too far; Francis remained firm in his contention that on
no account should Eberhard be made a Cardinal.*
In the autumn, Leo X. believed that he had at last found
a way of pacifying the exacting French King.j- A Con-
sistory was held on the 17th of September, at which the
requests for Cardinals' hats made by the Emperor, France,
and England were considered. The Pope proposed that
Jean d'Orleans, Archbishop of Toulouse, should be raised
to the purple ; and this was the only elevation decided
on. The publication of this decision was left in the
* Cf. Letter of Bibbiena, May 19, 1520, in MOLINI, I., 84-85 ;
Sanuto, XXVIII., 137, 395, 435; XXIX., 123, 144, 164; Bergen-
ROTH, II., n. 282, 283, 284; Baumgarten, Karl V., I., 289-290.
About Eberhard de la Mark, cf. Demarteau in the Confer, de la
Soc. de Liege, III., 75 seq.
t About the threats of the French, see NiTTi, 324.