Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/148

122 a constant succession of struggles. While these events were occupying the energies and engrossing the attention of the knights of St. John, changes of the most vital importance had been taking place in Europe, by which their future fortunes were greatly affected, and to which it will be necessary now to refer.

At the death of Pope Benedict XI., the conclave of cardinals assembled to elect his successor found themselves divided into two factions, which might be distinguished as French and Italian. Fortunately for the interests of Philip the Fair of France, the leader of the French party was Cardinal Dupré, a consummate politician, and one well versed in the intrigues of a court. Perceiving that his party was not sufficiently numerous to carry the election of a French nominee, and trusting that he might meet the views of his monarch in a different way, he, on behalf of his French colleagues, suggested to the adverse faction that he would leave to them the nomination of three candidates for the post, provided they would consent to the election of whichever one of the three he might select. The Italians, perceiving that by putting forward three of their own side as candidates, they could insure the election, acceded at once to the proposal, and submitted the names of three rampant Ultramontanes for Dupré’s choice. Amongst these was Bertrand de Got, archbishop of Bordeaux, a man of unprincipled character, loose morality, and overweening ambition. Dupré conceived that Philip might, if he acted judiciously, find a willing tool in the person of this prelate, although at that moment he was an open and avowed enemy. He therefore despatched a secret messenger to the king, informing him of the decision at which the cardinals had arrived, and that the nomination of the archbishop of Bordeaux lay within the power of the French party. Philip at once wrote to Bertrand, appointing a secret rendezvous, with a view to his acceptance of certain most advantageous offers. The result of this clandestine interview was that the king undertook to procure his nomination to the chair of St. Peter, he, on his side, pledging himself to carry out the views of the former on all matters relating to church government in France. It is generally supposed that one of the clauses of this secret treaty related to the Order of the