. i. p. 51.

** Father Paul, lib. i. Guicciard.

Charles, apprised of the timid disposition of the holy father, threw out
perpetual menaces of summoning a general council; which he represented
as necessary to reform the church, and correct those enormous abuses
which the ambition and avarice of the court of Rome had introduced
into every branch of ecclesiastical administration. The power of the
sovereign pontiff himself, he said, required limitation; his conduct
called aloud for amendment; and even his title to the throne which he
filled might justly be called in question. That pope had always passed
for the natural son of Julian of Medicis, who was of the sovereign
family of Florence; and though Leo X., his kinsman, had declared him
legitimate, upon a pretended promise of marriage between his father and
mother, few believed that declaration to be founded on any just reason
or authority.[*] The canon law, indeed, had been entirely silent with
regard to the promotion of bastards to the papal throne; but, what was
still dangerous, the people had entertained a violent prepossession,
that this stain in the birth of any person was incompatible with so holy
an office. And in another point the canon law was express and positive,
that no man guilty of simony could attain that dignity. A severe bull
of Julius II. had added new sanctions to this law, by declaring that
a simoniacal election could not be rendered valid, even by a posterior
consent of the cardinals. But unfortunately Clement had given to
Cardinal Colonna a billet, containing promises of advancing that
cardinal, in case he himself should attain the papal dignity by his
concurrence; and this billet Colonna, who was in entire dependence on
the emperor, threatened every moment to expose to public view.[**]

While Charles terrified the pope with these menaces, he also allured him
by hopes, which were no less prevalent over his affections. At the time
when the emperor's forces sacked Rome, and reduced Clement to captivity,
the Florentines, passionate for their ancient liberty, had taken
advantage of his distresses, and revolting against the family of
Medicis, had entirely abolished their authority in Florence, and
reestablished the democracy. The better to protect themselves in their
freedom, they had entered into the alliance with France, England, and
Venice, against the emperor; and Clement found that by this interest,
the hands of his confederates were tied from