I'm currently playing as Spain at turn 107 or so (M/VH settings - Gold Edition (with latest patch).

I have a fairly large empire spanning all of Iberia and N.Africa (to Tunis), Southern France and Northern Italy as well as Sicily. To get it, I have been fairly ruthless and I've done some fairly devious backstabing so that my reputation is now at "despicable". Sacking, assassinating and executing prisoners was pretty much the norm.

15 turns ago a HRE assassin was executed after a botched assassination attempt which brought our countries to war. I gave them a spanking and took Bern (after offering ceasefires several times). I have the forces to annihilate the HRE if need be but the whole game I've been trying to be a good Spaniard and stay in the graces of the pope.

The pope has ordered a ceasefire but I'm damned if I can get one. I could crush them easily but they won't accept a ceasefire even when I offer 10,000 florins and the offer reads "very generous". Currently relations with HRE are at very poor.

How can I get a ceasefire from these guys?

Currently it's looking much more appealing to ignore the pope and invade and execute everyone I come across. It's like the game encourages you to be a fiend.

Thanks,

M