But the Pope expected to be paid for it,--to have 30,000 ducats (15,000 pounds), almost a King's ransom at that time, for the "Pallium" to Mainz; PALLIUM, or little Bit of woollen Cloth, on sale by the Pope, without which Mainz could not be held.

Albert, with all his dignities, was dreadfully short of money at the time.

Chapter of Mainz could or would do little or nothing, having been drained lately; Magdeburg, Halberstadt, the like.

Albert tried various shifts; tried a little stroke of trade in relics,--gathered in the Mainz district "some hundreds of fractional sacred bones, and three whole bodies," which he sent to Halle for pious purchase;--but nothing came of this branch.
The 15,000 pounds remained unpaid; and Pope Leo, building St.Peter's, "furnishing a sister's toilet," and doing worse things, was in extreme need of it.

What is to be done?
"I could borrow the money from the Fuggers of Augsburg," said the Archbishop hesitatingly; "but then-- ?"--"I could help you to repay it." said his Holiness: "Could repay the half of it,--if only we had (but they always make such clamor about these things) an Indulgence published in Germany!"-- "Well; it must be!" answered Albert at last, agreeing to take the clamor on himself, and to do the feat; being at his wits'-end for money.