THE INTRIGUES OF THE CONCLAVE At the Choosing of a POPE AS ALSO A particular Relation of what past at the Election of SIXTUS V. and CLEMENT VIII To which is added An Historical Essay To Demonstrate That according to the Principles of the Church of Rome there has not been nor can be any True and Lawful POPE since the Election of SIXTVS V. Written by a Gentleman of Rome LICENS'D J. F. March 4. 1690 1. LONDON Printed for Largley 〈◊〉 at Sir Edmonbury Godfrey's Head near 〈◊〉 Bridge MDCXCI THE INTRIGUES OF THE Conclave c. THE Doctrine of the Pope's Infallibility upon which hang almost all the Articles of the Romish Religion is a Banter of that Nature that I think the Assertors of it who are generally well enough acquainted with the Court of Rome are much more to be wondered at than the Soothsayers were by Cato if they hold their Countenance when they look upon one another I am sure nothing can equal their Impudence who pretend to be serious in maintaining such a Cause but the Impertinence of those who by Dint of solid Argumenrs endeavor to confute them since there is no considering Person but must know that it is impossible that they themselves shou'd believe what they wou'd fain Put upon the rest of Mankind When we shall here take a View of the CONCLAVE where this Infallible Pope is Forged and behold what scandalous Qualifications generally recommend Persons to St. Peter's Chair as they call it What base and detestable Practices are used by the Managers of the several Parties and Factions to promote those whom they think likely to prove subservient to their private and commonly wicked and abominable Designs I am sure none will imagin that they who are concern'd herein tho' their Blasphemous Cant is all the while of nothing but Divine Inspiration can think their Proceedings to be influenced by the Holy Ghost or indeed desire they should For the better understanding of the following Relation and for the Reader 's satisfaction I shall before we go any further give a short Account of the Manner of the Election of Popes in former Ages together with a more particular Description of the Proceedings of the Conclave in our Times But by the way I cannot forbear taking notice of a very Formal Story that is told us in the Book of the Sacred Ceremonies now used by the Church of Rome which says that St. Peter whil'st Bishop of that See instituted a College of Four and twenty Senators who afterwards in the time of Pope Sylvester were named Cardinals that is Princes of the Church These and no other were to have a Vote or Suffrage in the Election of their Bishop and if any other usurped that Right it was by Intrusion or Violence Now I wou'd fain know whether all those Popes which by the Confession of the said Book itself were chosen either by the Clergy and People in general or nominated by the Emperors for so many Ages together are to be accounted more duly Elected than they that are stiled Schismaticks and Antipopes If not what will become of that uninterrupted Succession which of late Years has been so much boasted of It is certain that for the first Five Centuries the Bishops of Rome were Chosen by the joint consent of the Clergy and People to whom they were accountable for their Administration and so far were they from arrogating that unlimited Authority over the Church which the Popes of the later Ages have pretended to that they were subject in matters of Faith to the Censures of the Clergy of their own Diocess by whom Eugenius the First was interdicted from Celebrating Divine Service until he had renounced the Heresie of the Monothelites After the Death of Simplicius Odoacer King of the Heruli makes a Law under pretence of remedying the Disorders that often happen'd at the Elections of Popes by which he forbad both People and Clergy to proceed to the Choice of any until they first knew his pleasure concerning the Person that was to be Elected This Law was Twenty Years afterwards abolished at the Fourth Council of Rome by the consent of Theodorick King of the Goths But this Arrian Prince toward the later Years of his Reign was so far from preserving those Priviledges which he had restored to the Romans that he took upon him to Create the Popes himself Felix the Fourth deriving his Authority wholly from his Nomination The Gothish Kings that succeeded him followed his Example herein only sometimes they were content to approve of the Person whom the Clergy recommended to them When Justinian had driven the Goths out of Italy he retain'd the same Power over the Popes that they before had assumed both he and his Successors obliging the New Elect to come and demand a Confirmation from them for which they were to pay a round Sum of Money before they could exercise even their Spiritual Function And because of the Distance between Constantinople the then Seat of the Empire and Rome the Exarch of Ravenna had often power delegated to him to enquire into the Merits of the Person Nominated and if he found nothing Objected against him he was to approve of his Election Thus Isacius the Exarch made a Journey on purpose to Confirm Severinm This Custom continued until Constantine the Emperor Sirnamed Pogonatus out of the great Veneration he had for the Sanctity of Benedict the second sent him a Decree wherein it was established That he whom the People and Clergy of Rome should Chuse should for the time to come be forthwith acknowledged for St. Peter's Successor without expecting the Authority of the Emperor or his Exarchs But this Decree was never as I can find much regarded by that Emperor's Successors for the Popes were never Consecrated without their Consent and Approbation When the Empire of the West fell into the hands of Charles the Great he retain'd the same right still and transfer'd it to those of his Race The German Emperors kept it as long as they could but when they grew weak and feeble the Popes instead of submitting to their Approbation pretended that they had a Right to dispose of even the Empire it self so that at last tho' not without a great deal of Squabling it was carried and Decreed by Nicholas the Second That the Election of the Popes should entirely remain in the power of the Cardinals This Canon was afterwards confirmed by several Popes and Councils Alexander the Third ordained That he only should be esteemed Canonically Elected that had the Votes of at least Two Thirds of the College of Cardinals and this is that way of Election that has obtain'd ever since and which we are now going to describe After the Funeral Rites of the Deceased Pope are Celebrated the Cardinals enter the Conclave which is held for the most part in the Vatican where in a long Gallery are erected small Apartments called Cells hung with Purple Cloth for the reception of every Cardinal
Seal upon it But when he came to be Sixtus the Fifth he made it his Chief Care and Study to Mortifie those that had Ad anced him Matthei was made a Cardinal amongst the first that he promoted Este finding himself deceived in this as well as his other Expectations was so Netled thereat that to be Revenged of the Pope he sent the Original Contract made between them to Philip the Second King of Spain His Catholick Majesty was so far concern'd at the Scandal that must necessarily arise from hence to Holy Church that in the Year 1589 he sent the Duke of Sessa his Ambassador to Sixtus to intimate to him the necessity of a General Council concerning his Simoniacal Election and to require the Cardinals Created by his Predecessors to appear at the said Council which he design'd to hold at Sevil. But upon the Duke of Sessa's coming to Rome the Pope Dies so the design of this Council for a New Election came to nothing Sixtus his Simoniacal Entrance into the Chair being thus Notorious to all the World it necessarily follows that all the pretended Cardinals of his Creation had no lawful Authority to Act as such Yet we find after his Death that of Fifty Three Cardinals that made up the Conclave Twenty Five of his making bore the greatest sway therein who under the Conduct of Montalto Nephew to Sixtus were the Authors of Vrban the Seventh's Election A few Days after they did the like for Gregory the Fourteenth and next to him for Innocent the Ninth But let any unprejudiced Romanift in the World Judg of the Validity of their Election We have already seen how powerful that Party was in the Conclave of Clement the Eighth who was himself one of Sixtus his Creatures and owed his Advancement wholy to the rest so that he was under a double Incapacity of being Chosen The Spaniards tho' they above all other Roman Catholicks are the most Devoted to the Holy See were sensible enough of the Unlawfulness of Clement's Election especially when he began to Act contrary to their Interest for when he Absolved Henry the Fourth and thereby acknowledged him King of France They did not stick in several Books written by them to that purpose publickly to Aver That he had no Authority to admit that Prince into the Communion of the Church he having nothing to do therein himself for if Sixtus say they was guilty of Simony then by the 〈◊〉 of Julius the Second he was no true and lawful Pope and consequently could not make Cardinals nor they who derived their Power from him Elect a Pope Now I might carry down the same Argument to prove the Invalidity of the Election of all the succeeding Popes but left it should be worn Thred-bare the Conclave of this Clement has furnished us with a fresh one but in the first place it will be covenient to premise that according to the Canons He that hath the Suffrages of Two Parts in Three of the Cardinals ought from that very Moment to be accounted duly Elected and he that is set up during his Life is no other than an Antipope As for the Ceremonies of Inthronisation Adoration or Kissing the Foot they are no more than the Effects and Consequences of a true Election and no way Essential to it which as the Canon In Nomine Domini does allow may be omitted if opposed either by Force or Cunning of any that Dissent from the rest This we have seen to have been exactly the Case of San Sevarina he was taken from his Cell by above Two Thirds of the Cardinals and carried by them into the Chappel and there placed in the Pontifical Chair and publickly Acknowledged and Adored as Pope and ought certainly to have continued so notwithstanding his being Cheated of his Right by the Infidelity of his Followers and the Tricks of his Adversaries who made shift to cause Aldobrandino to Jostle him out of the Holy Chair But tho' He kept possession of it yet was his Title very much question'd and disputed at Rome as well as in Spain nor can I see any Reason in the World why he ought not to be counted an 〈◊〉 and Antipope Iâ— I thought it worth the while I might proceed to make out that none of the succeeding Popes had any better Title But I think there is enough said not only to prove a Failure in the Succession but to Unchurch the whole Communion â—o as it is impossible for it to be ever restored For allowing the abovementioned Persons to have been Intruders into the Holy Chair neither the Cardinals of their Creation nor those whom they Elect can have any other Authority than what they received from them And the Holy See and Sacred College being thus become Heretical and Schismatick this Contagion of necessity must diffuse itself into the whole Communion For the Fountain Head being once poysoned it is impossible for the streams that flow from it to be uncorrupted So that according to the present Constitutions of that Church it is not in the power even of a General Council to Reform it I shall conclude with my Advice to our Romish Friends that they would henceforward cease to cavil at some pretended Irregularities which they would fain make us believe they have espied in the Conduct of our Reformers since our Church is not at all founded upon the sandy Foundation of Human Authority And tho' we have the greatest Veneration imaginable for those great Men yet we still acknowledge them to have been Men and consequently not exempt from a possibility of Erring FINIS
Sevarina look'd as if he thought none of his own Creatures fit for the Papacy amongst whom there was a great Number of very worthy Men wherefore he thought fit to tell him that if he would nominate one of them he should command his Vote which in point of Honour and Gratitude to his Vncle Sisto was wholly at his Service otherwise he would make bold to follow the Dictates of his Conscience But I should grow tedious if I went to relate the last Efforts and Struglings of Santa Sevarina's dying Party his Opponents following their Blow so closely that it was impossible for him to recover any strength or rally again his scattered Forces The endeavors of Madruzzo and Montalto proving ineffectual their Zeal began to cool especially the formers since the other Faction the better to draw him off had persuaded him to set up for himself But this had like to have raised Civil Dissentions betwixt them two and a Mutiny amongst Montalto's Creatures who openly declared against Madruzzo which made him peaceably lay aside his Pretensions rather than lose his Credit by vainly persuing them And this he was the rather induced to do for fear lest by breaking with Montalto he should thereby incite him to set up one who might espouse contrary Interests to those of his Catholick Majesty After him Como and Paleotto were named as persons recommended by the King of Spain but Montalto having had some Clashings with them in former Conclaves was resolved not to trust them with the Sovereign Power Next to these old Colonna began to conceive some small hopes of himself he expecting the Excludents to side with him because he was of their Party the Spanish Votes because he was one of the persons nominated by that King and Montalto's by reason of the Affinity between their Families But he finding his Friends begin to forsake him at a dead lift imitated Madruzzo's prudence and retreated whilst his Honour was safe Some were of opinion that Rusticucci's old Age and the expectation of his approaching death might somewhat recommend him but his hopes as well as his Brethrens soon vanished into smoke There were several other little Pretenders not worth the naming whose business was soon done because they were none of Montalto's Creatures whose Intrigues had that success as that now he found it absolutely in his power alone to make whom he pleas'd the greatest part of the College continually importuning him to name the person that should be Pope Hereupon he at last discovers his Design which he had long kept secret and proposes Aldobrandine his Choice was immediately confirmed with almost an universal Consent of the Cardinals only Madruzzo stood out for some small time alledging That derogated from his Master's Honour to have one chosen who was not recommonded by him and that Aldobrandino not having yet declared himself for any Faction it was to be suspected that instead of favouring Spain he would rather stand Neuter But the true Reason was that which in Italy is generally the cause of an irreconcileable Enmity he thought that he had formerly injured him when in the Conclave of Vrban VII he was the onely person that worked his Exclusion But finding now that it was not in his power to serve him such a Trick again he thought it most conducive to his own and Master's Interest by a ready Compliance to expiate his former Offence His affected Forwardness in seeming to promote what he could not hinder at last put an End to this tedious Intriguing and Turbulent Conclave AN ESSAY To Prove that according to the Vndeniable Principles Of the Present Church of Rome There has not been a True and Lawful POPE ever since SIXTVS the Fifth I Suppose that from a bare Relation of these Two Conclaves any Man of Sense may perceive by what Spirit the Elections of Popes are generally influenced But if Roman Catholicks would be guided by the Dictates of Right Reason I don't know of any Controversie depending betwixt them and us that had not been long since determined To comply therefore with their Humour I shall here endeavour to prove from such Maxims which cannot be question'd without denying all the Authority that ever they pretended to be in their Church that there has been no Pope duly Elected and consequently had any lawful Jurisdiction ever since the Election of Sixtus the Fifth whereby I hope to make it evident that either there never was any such thing as Infallibility in Pope or Councils or both together or if there was it serves now only to demonstrate that it is at this present totally extinquished There are none I am sure can deny but that Simony is Decreed by the Universal Consent of Innumerable Popes Canons and Councils to contain Heresie in it so that he that is guilty of the former must also be a Heretick and that if any Person gets into the Pontifical Chair by Simony he becomes thereby Heretical his Election is Null and Void and he is not only not Head of the Church but Inferior to all other Christians Julius the Second in his Bull to this Purpose Decrees That whosoever procures the Suffrage of any Cardinal by any Promise Obligation or Compact made by himself or others tho' his ELECTION be accomplished by the Vnanimous Consent of the whole College of Cardinals and Confirmed by Adoration it is yet Void and of no Effect and the Person so infected with Simoniacal Heresie is to be accounted by all Men as no Pope or Bishop of Rome but an Apostate and Arch-Heretick and Incapable of all manner of Jurisdiction and Authority in Matters both Ecclesiastical and Temporal and from that time forward deprived even without any Declaration of his Cardinalship and all other Benefices or Dignities whatsoever nor can any subsequent Acts of Obedience done to him by the Cardinals Inthronisation or continuance of Time make good his Vnlawful Assumption to the Pontifical Chair Now from these Principles which are founded upon the greatest Authority in the Romish Church I suppose it easie to shew That there has scarce a Pope been Chosen for several Hundreds of Years whose Election has not been Tainted with Simony which if made out upon any one is sufficient to Prove an Interruption in the Succession and then all those Prerogatives which by it the Popes pretend to derive from St. Peter fall to the ground We have already seen in the Conclave of Sixtus Compacts Promises and Obligations with a Witness but I have reserved one passage for this place which to take away all Contradiction will clearly Evidence that his Election was carried directly contrary to the Bull of Julius Cardinal d' Este before he would engage himself and Followers to Espouse Montalto's Interest Bargained with him That if he were Pope he would never raise to the Purple Hieronymo Matthei a Roman Bishop whom Este Mortally Hated which Montalto not only promised him but in a formal Instrument drawn up for that Purpose gave him his Hand and
been excluded once before for they were resolv'd never to trust one whom they had offended Another cause of his Misfortune was his Familiarity with Cardinal Como who had formerly disobliged most of the Sacred College whilst he was Secretary of State to Pius and Gregory they therefore now thought fit to take their Revenge upon his Friend Besides Farnese humbly conceived himself to be far the better Man of the two and therefore knew no reason why Sirlet should be prefer'd before him Castagna's turn came next but the old Cardinals thought their Honour was concern'd not to let one of the last Promotion get the start of them and so they excluded him tho' for his Vertue Learning and Moderation he was counted a Person as Worthy as any to fill the Holy Chair The Person next mention'd was Savelli who for his Vertue was esteem'd not much inferior to the former but the prodigious number of his Bastards was feard would be a Charge and Scandal to the Holy See But Medici supported him as far as he could with his Credit until Colonna and Cesis Savelli's declared Enemies told him plainly that they would abandon his Interest and go over to Farnese if he persisted Medici thereupon thought it more convenient to forsake his Friend then cause a Rebellion amongst his Creatures and thereby give Farnese for whom he had no great Affection an occasion of becoming Master of the Election By this time several Intrigues were on foot in behalf of Della Torre who was then absent from Rome But Farnese and San Sisto who expected him every Hour did what they could to protract the time till he came they had laid a Design that when he entered the Conclave they and their whole Party should meet and receive him at the Door and Crying out Long Live the Pope carry him to the Chappel and there fall to Adoration Thinking not without reason that it was impossible for any Cardinal to have the Courage to oppose them Medici being informed of their contrivance was not a little disquieted thereat for he saw plainly that should Della Torre be chosen Pope Farnese having so much Influence over him must necessarily engross all the power to himself and consequently would cause such a Number of Cardinals to be made who being wholly at his Devotion should Elect him if he surviv'd the Pope as in all probability he would he being the Younger and more Healthy of the Two These Considerations set Medici's Wits at work but not being able to find amongst his own Friends a sufficient number to form an Exclusion he began to grow desperate till at last he perceived that Aleslandrino and Este were practising under-hand in Montalto's Favour the former because he was a Creature of Pius the Fifth his Uncle the other engaged thereto by Rusticucci who had great Influence over him To these Medici to rid himself of the fear of Farnese makes secret proposals of a Union offering his own and Friends Votes for Montalto This Motion was readily received and agreed to Medici had Credit in the Court of Spain and was sure of the Spanish Faction Alessandrino had many Friends amongst them and Este was Chief of the French Faction so that now both Crowns agreed in the Choice of one Person Montalto all this while kept himself close in his Chamber insomuch that there was so little Notice taken of him that he seemd to be abandond and forgotten by all Mankind He seldom came out except it were to Mass or into the Paolina to assist at the Scrutinies but he seemd so little concernd at the Intrigues there that he was thought not so much as to mind what he was doing But he knew very well that nothing could better advance his own Affairs than this seeming neglect of them nor indeed was he less Industrious than those who make the greatest noise and stir when ever he met with any of Buon Compagno's Party he would say That the Cardinals ought to make choice of one that was agreeable to him the Sacred College owing that Deference to the memory of his Vncle who had govern'd the Church with so much Zeal and Charity When he had any occasion to speak to a Friend of Farnese he Launched out in his praise saying withal That he was Astonish'd and could not comprehend the meaning of People that he was not yet Chosen To those that depend upon Medici he spoke of him As one of the greatest Deserts in the whole College In short he always took an occasion to speak well of every Body but would never want a Panegyrick for those whom he thought either his Enemies or to have any Credit or Authority in the Conclave Alessandrino Medici and Este having made the League we have spoken of amongst themselves came privately to Montalto's Chamber to inform him thereof Alessandrino speaking in the name of the rest Bids him be of good Courage for they were come to bring him the good News of their Resolution to make him Pope which he no sooner heard but he fell a Coughing as if he were ready to give up the Ghost as soon as he found himself able to speak he told them That if that were their Intention God knows his Reign could be but short since Life it self was a Burthen to him and consequently the Cares of the Church would be much too heavy for him to bear without a great deal of Succors and Assistance The Cardinals told him That God without doubt would give him Force sufficient to Govern his Church But he continuing his Discourse told them That he was resolv'd never to accept of the Papacy of which his want of Experience renderd him Vnworthy unless they would promise him before hand to take upon them the Government Conjointly with him for he could not in Conscience undertake it alone Medici told him That they would take care that he should not want Assistance Ay says he after some time spent in spitting and spawling if you make me Pope you will do the same as if you placed your selves in the Chair we shall divide the Pontificat bewixt us I will have the Name and Title I will be Pope in appearance and you shall have the Power and Authority Nothing could give greater Encouragement to these young Cardinals to prosecute the Enterprize they had undertaken than the sly Old Man's Discourse who now thought they had gotten a Pope after their own Heart And as soon as they had parted from him began to reckon amongst themselves the great Advantages they should make of a silly Old Coxcomb that had neither Sense nor Understanding who had as they vainly imagin'd to themselves so fully discover'd the great weakness both of his Body and Mind They promised to themselves nothing less than an Absolute Power both in Church and State For how can he say they undertake to concern himself in any Business of Moment when Pope who whilst a Cardinal was content to be led by the Nose by others and to whom
him What he would be pleased to have to Supper He putting on such a Stern Countenance as seemd to reprove the Fellows Impudence replyed Is this a Question to be asked a Soveraign Prince Go continues he and provide me a Magnificent and Royal Entertainment out of which I shall chuse what pleases me best The Cardinals that were Invited being all come except Este who suspecting the Entertainment they were like to have excused himself Alessandrino seeing the Pope stirring about busily began to wonder that he had not taken any Repose after that Days Fatigue But he told him That Business was his chief Repose But Your Holiness replys Alessandrino something too familiarly did not seem to have so much strength Yesterday nor the Day before He smartly taking him up Answered Yesterday and the Day before I was not Pope but now I am Rusticucci seeing some of his Robes not sit as they should began to put them in Order but he told them That it did not become him to be so Familiar with the Pope But these Two Cardinals who had promised themselves so much Authority could not yet contain from medling But as they were giving Orders for what they thought convenient about the Popes Apartment His Holiness very seriously desired them not to put themselves to so much trouble for he being Master there would take care to Command things to be done according to his own pleasure When they were sat down to the Table he presently began in a long Discourse to Preach to them concerning the Power that Christ had given to St. Peter in making him his Vicar upon Earth He often repeating Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I Build my Church upon which words he would say How profound are the Judgments of God! Jesus Christ has left upon Earth but one Peter one Sovereign Pontife one Onely Vicar one Head To him only has he entrusted the Care of his Flock Thou art Peter that is Thou only art the High-priest to Thee will I give the Keys of Heaven Which is as much as to say Thou shalt have an Absolute Power over all things without Exception to Bind and to Loose It is to Thee only to Thee alone that have given Power and Authority to Govern my Church to Thee that art my Vicar and not unto others that are thy Inferiors and Servants It was no hard matter for the Cardinals to comprehend the meaning of all this They plainly saw that his Discourse was only leveld at those Castles in the Air which they had been so long Building but that which Mortified them the most they were forced to let him run on without daring to give him the least Interruption for if any did but offer to Mutter he was sure to give him a severe Reprimand and put him in mind of his Distance At last Rusticucci something bolder than the rest ventur'd to say It is a great surprize to me Most Holy Father when I consider that you often used to say in the Conclave That it was impossible for you to Govern the Church without Assistance but now your Discourse tends the quite contrary way You say true Answers Sisto very gravely but I said it then because I believ'd so but to Day God has endued me with so much strength that I believe no such thing With this Compliment he dismiss'd them And now I shall take my leave of him being afraid that I have straid too far from my Subject my Title Page informing me that I have no business at present out of the Conclave I shall therefore now give the Reader an Account of what passed in it at the Election of Clement the Eighth The Sacred College was at that time divided into Three Principal Factions The First of which was the Spanish whereof Madruzzo was the Leader His Catholick Majesty had Nominated Five to them out of which they were to procure the Election of one Viz. Colonna Como Paliotto Santa Sevarina and Madruzzo himself Santa Sevarina was the Man who in outward appearance stood the fairest in the Opinion of this Party tho' it was not doubted but many of them had By-Ends of their own which subdivided them into many petty Factions one whereof favoured Madruzzo who secretly aspired to the Papal Dignity himself The Second Faction was of those who were Creatures of Sisto Quinto and consequently were obliged by what they call Honour and Gratitude at Rome blindly to submit themselves to the Conduct of Montalto his Nephew who tho' he had in a former Conclave Vigorously opposed the Exaltation of Santa Sevarina yet now contrary to the Maxims of his Nation he appeared as stoutly in his behalf and join'd Forces with the Spaniards Venetians and Florentines It is uncertain whether he did this the better to make his Court to the King of Spain and the Great Duke who tho' of different Interests yet both appeared Zealously in the behalf of Santa Sevarina or else to ingratiate himself with the Spanish Faction so that if the Person they had pitch'd upon fail'd one of his Creatures might serve The Third Party was that of the Creatures of Gregory the Fourteenth who tho' at first despicable upon the account of their inconsiderable Number being no more than Fifteen against Thirty Seven yet by their Courage and Conduct and firm Adherence to one another we shall find them perform Miracles in the Conclave It is requisite for the better understanding of the subsequent Relation that I here give the Reader a List of the Names of these Persons who have so far signaliz'd themselves They were Arragona Old Colonna Paleotto Como Altemps Canano Mondovi Lancidotto Ascoli Sforza Sfondrati Pallavicino Boromeo Aquaviva and Platta But here we must take notice that young Colonna who was of the Adverse Party had promis'd his Uncle that at any time when he could invest him in or deprive him of the Papacy he would decline his Vote for Santa Sevarina This little Party being Exasperated at the Bravado of their Adversaries who publickly gave out that they had the Papacy in their Hands bound themselves under a solemn Oath to use their utmost endeavors to work the Exclusion of Santa Severina This Enterprize seem'd to every Body else almost impossible to succeed but they resolv'd that nothing should discourage them in their Resolution and in order to effect their design they were not wanting to inform the Cardinals of the great Severity of Santa Severina's Life a Topick which they not without reason thought would Create an extream Aversion to him in the Minds of the Sacred College They likewise did what they could to raise Jealousies betwixt him and Montalto and the Spaniards and Florentines They thought to take off Montalto by telling him how he would advance his Glory and Interest by the Exaltation of one of his own Creatures The same Arguments were used to Debauch Madruzzo They told the other Competitors how easie a matter it was to attain their Desires by their Assistance