He was none the less heir of the Austrian House, which for generations had worn the imperial crown; as such, too, he was a German prince, and the Germanic constitution forbade any other the sovereignty of the Holy Roman Empire.

Against this was the fact that his enormous dominions, including Naples and Spain, would preclude his continued residence in Germany and might threaten the liberties of the German people.
[Footnote 256: For details of the sums promised to the various German princes see _L.

and P._, iii., 36, etc.; it has been said that there was really little or no bribery at this election.] [Footnote 257: _Ven.

Cal._, ii., 1165, 1187; _L.
and P._, ii., 4159; iii., 130.] [Footnote 258: _Sp.

Cal._, ii., 267.] But was there no third candidate?
Leo at heart regarded the election of either as an absolute evil.[259] He had always dreaded Maximilian's claims to the temporal power of the Church, though Maximilian held not a foot of Italian soil.