Charles had reason to appear exacting and terrible. He had at length obtained from Rome an unexpected concession--a council. Clement VII. had laid the Emperor's request before a Congregation: "How will men who reject the ancient councils submit to a new one?" they had replied. Clement himself had no wish for such an assembly. His birth and his conduct made him equally dread it.[794] However, his promises at the Castle of St. Angelo and at Bologna rendered it impossible for him to give a decided refusal. He answered, therefore, that "the remedy would be worse than the disease;[795] but that if the Emperor, who was so good a Catholic, judged a council absolutely necessary, he would consent to it, under the express condition, however, that the Protestants should submit in the meanwhile to the doctrines and rites of the Church." Then as the place of meeting he appointed Rome! [794] In eam (concilii celebrationem) Pontificis animus haud propendebatur. (Pallavicini. i. p. 251.) [795] Al contrario, remedio e piu pericoloso e per partorir maggiori mali. (Lettere de Principe, ii. p. 197.) Scarcely had the news of this concession spread abroad, than the fear of a Reformation froze the Papal court. The public charges of the Papacy, which were altogether venal, immediately fell, says a cardinal, and were offered at the lowest price,[796] without even being able to find purchasers.[797] The Papacy was compromised; the merchandise was in great danger; and the _price current_ immediately declined on the Roman exchange. [796] Evulgatus concilii rumor......publica Roma munera......jam in vilissimum pretium decidissent. (Pallav. i. p. 251.) [797] Che non se non trovano danari. (Lett. di Prin. iii. p. 5.) On Wednesday, 7th September, at two in the afternoon, the Protestant princes and deputies having been introduced into the chamber of Charles the Fifth, the Count-palatine said to them, "that the Emperor, considering their small number, had not expected they would uphold new sects against the ancient usages of the Universal Church; that, nevertheless, being desirous of appearing to the last full of kindness, he would require of his Holiness the convocation of a council; but that in the meanwhile they should return immediately into the bosom of the Catholic Church, and restore everything to its ancient footing."[798] [798] Interim restitui debere omnia Papistis. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 355. See also _Erklärung des Kaisers Karl_, v. Urkunden, ii. p. 391.) [Sidenote: MENACES.]