One of Philip the Fair’s huge lurchers was gazing at him balefully. Guillaume de Nogaret sat waiting in the King’s study chambers, trying his best not to move for fear that the bitch with a white coat and brindled markings on her head might interpret his slightest gesture as a threat. These animals allegedly killed their prey with a single bite. He understood the need for them, though not what induced the ladies to keep the more decorative of these four-legged creature as pets, even going so far as to dress them in embroidered coats to keep them warm in winter.86 It was true that to Monsieur de Nogaret’s mind God’s only true creature was man, and to a lesser extent woman, and the Almighty had put all other species on earth for him to use without ill-treating or doing violence to them.
The counsellor saw Philip the Fair’s tall, emaciated figure appear at the far end of the gloomy corridor he had been staring down. He stood up to the immediate accompaniment of unfriendly growls from the bitch, which moved forward, sniffing vigorously at the hem of his coat.
‘Down,’ he ordered in a hushed tone.
This had the effect of making the dog growl even more loudly. As soon as her master entered the room, she bounded over to him and placed herself between him and this man whose smell she did not care for.
‘There’s a good girl, Delmée,’ Philip said reassuringly, bending down to pat her. ‘Go and lie down, my beauty. Did you know, my dear Nogaret, that she is the fastest of all my hunting dogs, and that she can snap a hare’s spine with one bite?’
‘A truly fine animal,’ the counsellor conceded with such a lack of conviction that it brought a smile to Philip’s lips.
‘I sometimes wonder what other interests or amusements you have besides the affairs of state and the law.’
‘None, Sire, which do not relate to your affairs.’
‘Well, how do things stand regarding my pope? Benoît XI, or rather his sudden demise, has left me in an invidious position.’
Nogaret was in no way offended by this remark. And yet, if the Pope’s unexpected passing had left anybody in a delicate situation, it was he. His plan to provide Philip the Fair with a Holy Father who was more concerned with spiritual matters than France’s affairs of state was still not ready. Guillaume de Nogaret detested acting hastily, but the forthcoming election gave him no choice. He explained:
‘On my behalf Guillaume de Plaisians has approached Renaud de Cherlieu, Cardinal of Troyes, and Bertrand de Got,* Archbishop of Bordeaux. These are our two most promising candidates.’
‘And?’
‘It will doubtless come as no surprise to you, Sire, to learn that they are both, and I quote, “extremely interested in serving our Holy Mother Church”.’
‘Indeed, it comes as no surprise, Nogaret. The papal crown confers countless benefits, including, I suppose, money. What do they demand for deigning to rule over Christendom?’
‘They are both equally greedy … Privileges, titles for family members, various gifts and certain assurances from you.’
‘What assurances?’
‘That their authority in spiritual matters should remain established and that you should no longer interest yourself in the administration of the French Church.’
‘The French Church is in France and I am the ruler of France. The landed wealth of the French Church is so vast that it would make even my richest lords green with envy. Why should it enjoy even greater privilege?’
Nogaret equivocated:
‘Indeed, Sire … But we need a pope who will be well disposed towards you. Let us offer these assurances … Do you really think that the successful candidate will come complaining and risk the negotiations that led to his election being revealed?’
Philip the Fair’s pursed lips betrayed his ill humour.
‘Which one do we favour?’
‘If we have considered them both, it is because their willingness to serve us is unquestionable. Monseigneur de Got is certainly the shrewder of the two, though like Cherlieu a mild-mannered man, a trait, if I may say so, which influenced our choice.’
‘Indeed, we do not want a strong personality. And what do they intend to do about that scourge, Boniface VIII? You are aware, Nogaret, of how keen I am for him to be deposed, albeit posthumously, in revenge for poisoning my existence. He systematically opposed my every order, and I am convinced he even went so far as to instigate the rebellion in the Languedoc by backing that troublemaker Bernard Délicieux.* Boniface …’ the King said with contempt. ‘An arrogant blunder whose memory is a stain on Christianity!’
Their mutual loathing for Benoît XI’s predecessor created a further bond between the two men.
‘Plaisians has naturally broached the matter with tact and diplomacy. They both appeared to listen carefully to him, and in any event showed no hostility.’
‘How will we choose between the two, for we are unable to move two pawns at the same time?’
‘I would give my backing to the Archbishop of Bordeaux, Monseigneur de Got.’
‘And your reasons?’
‘You are better acquainted than I with his skill as a diplomat. Furthermore, the Gascons like him, which will earn us additional votes at no cost and with no need for open intervention. Finally and most importantly, Monseigneur de Got has come out in favour of reuniting all the military orders under one flag, and thus of ending the Templars’ autonomy. Our motives may differ, but we seek the same end.’
‘Let it be Monsieur de Got, then. We shall back him resolutely and discreetly, and make sure he shows his gratitude.’