any Tax or Imposition on Christian Princes and require from them whatsoever they judged for the common good and welfare of Christendom But the Pope did not think this ground to have sufficient foundation on which to build and commence a quarrel but rather on the matters which did more neerly relate to the Interest of the Papal Sea It was not long before an occasion of this nature offered it self by means of one Scipio Saraceno a Prebend of Vicenza who had contemptuously torn off and broken the Seals which the Magistrates had fixed on the Episcopal Chancery during the vacancy of that Office and likewise finding that he could not debauch a Lady of known Vertue whom he tempted in the Churches and Streets and in all places where he could have any convenience to meet her he became so enraged with lust and malice that he besmeared with filthiness and tar the Gate and front of her House which being a high affront and disgrace to the Lady she with the advice of her Friends cited this insolent Prebend before the Court of Justice at Venice who as readily and willingly appeared being encouraged and bolstred up by the Bishop of Citta Nuova a person of great esteem in Venice and one who was Director of the Affairs of all the Nuntios and Papal Ministers at that place The Nuntio who was desirous to obtain a licentious exemption of all Priests from the Secular Power embraced the cause of the Prebendary with all readiness imaginable and immediately dispatched the news hereof to the Pope and to the Bishop of Vicenza who was then at Rome where after divers Consultations it was resolved as an essential Point relating to the Ecclesiastical liberty that the Cause of the Prebend should be maintained and defended and therefore the Pope who was glad of this occasion to assert the Authority and Rites of the Churches stormed and raved with the Venetian Ambassadour telling him that he would not endure or suffer the imprisonment of an Ecclesiastical Person by the Precepts of a Secular Tribunal nor would he admit that a Judg of temporal matters should take cognisance of any Cause wherein a Priest or Churchman was concerned Of all which the Ambassadour gave advice to the Senate The Pope at an other Audience complained to the said Ambassadour that the Senate of Venice had since the death of Clement VIII made a Statute of Mortmain whereby Lay-persons were forbidden and restrained from bequeathing or bestowing their Estates on the Church which Statute though it were founded on an old Law yet the new one was more restrictive but both of them being against the antient Canons Councils and Imperial Laws were in themselves void and null being scandalous and impious in that they made the state and condition of Churchmen worse than that of infamous persons and therefore those who made these Laws did incur the Censures of the Church in the like terms the Nuntio at Venice explained the mind of the Pope unto the Senate and when the Ambassadours arrived at Rome to congratulate the Pope for his exaltation to that dignity he could not refrain even before the Ceremony was ended to make his resentments and complaints of those Laws made in derogation of the Rites and immunities belonging to the Church And thus we have laid down the true state of the quarrel between the Pope and the Venetians to which we shall add a third Point namely a Law made at Venice in the year 1603. prohibiting the building of Churches without consent and license for it obtained from the Senate which the Pope termed a piece of Heresie These being the three Points in Controversie the Senate for answer thereunto commanded their Ambassadour to represent in their name unto his Holiness That the just Right and Title they had to judg Ecclesiastical Persons in Secular Causes was founded in the natural Power of the Supreme Prince and confirmed by an uninterrupted course of a thousand years the which may be proved by the Pontifical Briefs extant in their publick Archives or Records That the Law of Mort-main or Statute restraining Laymen from alienation of their Estates to the Church was not onely enacted at Venice or peculiar to the Cities under that Metropolis but exercised in other Christian Kingdoms and States and that this Law was more conducing to the welfare of Venice than to any other people being that which could onely conserve its Forces entire against the common Enemy of Christendom which would otherwise be enfeebled by those daily Legacies and Endowments which were bequeathed and conferred on the Church The Pope was so netled with this way of reasoning that he sat all the time uneasie in his Seat shrugging his shoulders and turning his head which intimated the unquietness of his mind At length he replyed That those arguments were invalid and of no force for that there was no foundation to be made on the accustomed course of their Judicature which was so much the worse by how much more they pretended Antiquity And as to the Briefs there was no authentick Register or Record of them but what was found at Rome and that the others were forged Copies and cheats imposed on the Clergy And as to their Acts and Ordinances he was so well acquainted and versed in them since the time of his youthful Studies and that having passed the Offices of Vice-Legat Auditor of the Chamber and Vicar of the Pope he was sufficiently assured that that Law could not stand and that the old Act made in the year 1536. which takes from the Laiety a power of disposing of their own private Estates was in it self void and of no force and a tyrannical imposition on the Subject That the Senate themselves were so sensible of this injurious Law that they were ashamed to issue forth any Copies of it and if in case a Law of this nature were found in any other Country it was established by the Authority and with the concurrence of the Popes and then he concluded that he was resolved not to make a long work of it for that in case he were not obeyed he would make use of such Remedies as he thought convenient being so positive in this matter and zealous for the Church that he was ready to spill his blood in this righteous Cause and in the defence thereof That in case it were necessary to give a stop to the alienation of Lands or a restraint of building Churches he would always have been ready to have followed the sentiments of the State and to have concurred in just causes with the desires of the Secular Council but as to the point of drawing the Clergy to the Secular Tribunals he would never admit that such as were his Subjects should be liable to the sentence of an other Jurisdiction this in fine was his resolution on the three foregoing Cases in which he was resolved to be obeyed and make use of that Power which God had given him over all things and over all
to act in any thing without the counsel and advice of them and consent of the people and that he would examine the Causes and the merits thereof in their presence and moreover he reproves certain Priests for their irregular proceedings in cases of judgment threatning to give an account thereof unto the people This charity and plain dealings of the Bishops gained them such reputation that their advice and sentence was almost in all matters followed and admitted by the people whose charity in after-Ages growing cold and careless of the mutual good and benefit each of other came by degrees to cast off this burdensom Office of Judgment and to remit it solely to the Incumbence of the Bishop who also degenerating from the primitive humility easily gave way to the allurements of ambition and under the disguise of Charity and Vertue embraced the Authority of passing sentence without the assistance or consultation with co-ordinate Judges So soon as the persecutions ceased great loads of business Cases and Trials at Law devolved upon the Bishop so that then he was forced to erect a Tribunal of Justice and contrive Methods and rules for Judicial proceedings howsoever in those times of simplicity and innocence things were not so wholly corrupted but that though the antient Discipline of remitting matters to the determination of the Church did cease yet sincerity and uprightness in passing Sentence still continued The which when Constantine the Emperour observed and considered the great difference there was between the captious and litigious proceedings of secular Advocats and Proctors who made Law-suits and wranglings their benefit and Trade and the honest and conscientious Methods and determinations of the Clergy he ordained that the Sentence of the Bishop should be definitive and without appeal with power to grant an injunction to all proceedings at Common Law in case the party agrieved should desire to have recourse to the Episcopal judgment and jurisdiction in his case Hence it came to pass that the Sentence of the Bishop was made a judgment of Court and put in execution by the hands of the secular Magistrate and this jurisdiction was farther amplified and increased in the year 365. by the Decree of the Emperour Valens But the extent of this Authority established by the Law of Constantine being afterwards abused by the corruption of succeeding Bishops was recalled by the Emperours Arcadius and Honorius and confined to causes purely religious without Courts or formal processes of Law and without power to intermeddle in civil differences unless the parties concerned should on both sides agree to remit their case by way of Arbitration or compromise to the Sentence of the Bishop But in regard the Bishops of Rome had for a long time been powerful in that City little notice was taken of this Injunction until in the year 452. it was again enforced and renewed by Valentinian the Emperour But not long afterwards the succeeding Emperours restored part of that Authority which had been taken from them and Justinian again erected their Courts of Judicature to which he assigned all Causes about Religion complaints and differences between the Clergy Ecclesiastical Fines and forfeitures with power to determine Cases between Lay-persons who should by way of Umpirage or Arbitration refer themselves to the Episcopal Court and in this manner did that charitable correction and that plain and sincere way of ending and composing differences between Brethren instituted by Christ Jesus begin to degenerate into that Dominion which our Saviour had forbidden to his Apostles And farther to strengthen and confirm this Episcopal Authority so soon as the Empire was divided and that the Western Provinces were separated from the Eastern Dominions then were many of the Bishops taken into the Councils of Princes whereby the Secular Power being annexed to their Spiritual capacity served much to advance and raise the reputation and Authority of the Episcopal Dignity so that two hundred years had not passed in this manner before the Bishops arrogated to themselves a Power to judg the Clergy in all Cases both Criminal and Civil And to extend their Jurisdiction farther they framed a Term called Mixed Actions in which the Bishop as well as the Secular Magistrate might grant Process that is in matters where the Judg had not been diligent or cold and remiss or dilatory in his proceedings then the Bishop might take the Causes out of his hands by which pretence and usurpation little business remained for the Secular Courts And farther by vertue hereof they established a general standing Rule as unalterable as a fundamental of Faith that in Cases where the Magistrate was remiss or delayed to do Justice those Causes did ipso facto devolve to the cognizance of the Bishop Had the Prelats stuck at this point and not proceeded farther it had been pretty tolerable for then a Power might have remained still in the hands of the Civil Magistrate to moderate and retrench the excesses of Ecclesiastical encroachments as occasion served but those who had imposed this yoak on the people thought fit for their own security to rivet it in such manner about their necks that it could never be shaken off again having to that purpose forged a principle in their own Shops under the Title of a fundamental point of Faith That the Bishops power of judging in Causes as well temporal as spiritual took not its Original and Authority from the Decrees or connivence of Emperours or from the will and pleasure of the people or by custom or prescription but from a right inherent in the Episcopal Dignity and conferred thereupon by the institution of Christ himself As appears in the History of the Council of Trent wrote by Father Paul Sarpi This was certainly a bold and a hardy Assertion which could so easily have been refuted by those who had read the Codes of Theodosius and Justinian with the Capitularies of Charles the Great and Concessions and Ordinances of succeeding Princes both of the Eastern and Western Empire in reading and considering which a Man must be strangely blind or stupid who cannot observe by what ways and Methods the excess and exorbitance of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction was introduced into the World And indeed it is strange to consider that on the bare foundation of that Spiritual Power to bind and loose given by Christ to his Church and by that Ordinance of St. Paul to compose differences between the Brethren and prevent their going to Law before Infidels should by a long tract of time and by several Artifices and subtil contrivances be erected a Temporal Tribunal the most extensive and most considerable of any that ever was in the World and that in the midst of divers Kingdoms and Principalities of Europe there should be an other State established independent on the Publick which is such a Model and form of Political Government as never any of the Antient Legislators could ever fansie or imagine to be consistent with the Sovereignty of a Temporal Prince
because I cry aloud and tell the people of their crimes and the Sons of the Church of their sins and have laid violent hands upon me even unto blood For the Kings of the Earth stood up and the Princes of the World with some Ecclesiasticks and others have conspired against the Lord and me his Anointed saying Let us break their bonds asunder and cast their yoke from us and this they did that they might either kill or banish me Of these one was King Henry as they call him Henry I say Son to Henry the Emperour who exalted his horns and lifted up his heel too proudly against the Church of God in a conspiracy with many Bishops of Italy Germany and France whose ambition your authority has yet opposed This same person came to me in Lombardy when he was rather forced by necessity than sober in his resolutions and begg'd to be absolv'd from his Anathema and accordingly I receiv'd him because I thought him a Penitent but only admitted him to the Communion of the Church not restored him to his Kingdom from which I had justly expelled him in the Council at Rome nor did I give the Subjects of the Kingdom leave to pay him their former Allegiance And this I did that if he delay'd his reconcilement with the neighbouring Nations whom he had always vexed and should refuse to restore as well Ecclesiastical as Secular Estates according to his word he might be forc'd to his duty by Anathema's and Arms. Some Bishops of Germany made use of this opportunity as also certain Princes who had been long tormented by this wild beast thought fit to chuse Rodolphus for their King and Governour since Henry had lost his Throne by his flagitious actions And truly Rodolphus like a modest and just King sent Embassadours to let me know he was forced to take the Government into his hand though he was not so desirous of Dominion but that he would rather obey us than those that had chosen him to the Kingdom That he would always be at Gods and our disposal and that we might believe him he offered his Sons for hostages for his performance Thereupon Henry began to rage and first to desire us that we would use our spiritual Sword to depose Rodolphus I answered him That I would see who had most right and would send Agents thither to examine the matter and then I my self would judg whose cause was the juster Henry would not suffer our Legates to determine the matter but kill'd a great many men both Ecclesiastical and Laick plunder'd and prophan'd Churches and by this means made himself obnoxious to an Anathema Wherefore I trusting in Gods mercy and judgment in the patronage of the blessed Virgin and relying upon your Authority do lay Henry and his accomplices under a Curse and once more deprive him of his regal Power interdicting all Christians whom I absolve from all Oaths of Allegiance to him from obeying Henry in any case whatever but command 'em to receive Rodolphus as their King whom many Princes of the Realm have chosen since Henry was deposed For it is fit that seeing Henry is deprived of his Power for his pride and contumacy Rodolphus who is beloved by all should be invested with the Kingly power and dignity for his Piety and Religion Go to then ye Princes of the holy Apostles and confirm what I have 〈◊〉 by your authority that all men at last may know that if you can bind and loose in Heaven that We also upon Earth can take away and give Kingdoms Principalities Empires and whatsoever is in the possession of Mortals For if you can judg of things divine what may we think of things prophane here below And if you may judg of Angels that govern proud Princes what may you not do to their Servants Let all Kings and Princes of the World take notice by his example what you can do in Heaven how God esteems you and then let 'em not contemn the Decrees of the Church And I 〈◊〉 you suddenly to execute judgment upon Henry that all may see that son of Iniquity did not lose his Kingdom by chance but by your permission and consent And this I have requested of you that he may repent and be saved in the day of Judgment by the help of your prayers Given at Rome the 5th of March Indiction III. After that he degraded Gilbert the Author of all this discord and Schism from the Church of Ravenna and commanded all Priests belonging to that Church to pay no obedience to him who was the cause of all their misfortunes and therefore Anathematized And that the people might not want a Governour he imitated Peter who used to send 〈◊〉 in his own room upon occasion and sent 'em another Arch bishop with full power to extirpate Gilbert's Faction and confirm mens minds in the faith But then Henry who was rather provoked than chastized by these Censures and had taken the Bishop of Ostia then Legate as he return'd home called a Council of the disaffected Bishops and chose Gilbert formerly Arch-bishop of Ravenna Pope and called him Clement But being teazed by the 〈◊〉 he left his new Pope for a time and went against them where he engaged and received a great overthrow Rodolphus though he was Conquerour yet was found dead at a little distance of a wound which he received They say Henry was so affrighted at that bloody ingagement that he could scarce be found in seventeen days and that the Germans in the mean time had put his Son Henry in his room by the name of Henry IV. Both these coming after with an united Body of Men into Italy to settle their Pope Clement in the Pontificate and to turn 〈◊〉 Gregory they easily subdu'd Maude who came to meet 'em with a small Army This same Maude when her first Husband died not long before that time was married to Azo Marquis d'Este her former Husbands near kinsman by blood and related to her in the third degree of Affinity But when the matter was known she was divorced from Azo at Gregory's persuasion Henry having conquer'd Maude at Parma march'd to Rome and her Husband Azo after an hostile manner and pitch'd his Camp in the Prati di Nerone and going into the Borgo di Sancto Pietro he and his Pope Clement prophaned St. Peter's Church and demolish'd the Portico and did the like by St. Pauls But seeing he could not get into the City he went to Tivoli from whence as from a Castle he made daily incursions upon the Romans till by wasting all that came near him he reduced them to such necessity that they desired Peace upon any terms of which notice being given to Henry by some deserters who got out of the Town he drew his men up and entred in whereupon the Pope who could not trust the People betook himself into the Castle St. Angelo where he was besieged for some time they within maintaining the place stoutly Gregory's Nephew
good as my word and would often boast what a kindness he had for me and what great things he would do for me as soon as Borsius d' Este was gone who coming to the City with a great Equipage was very magnificently and splendidly received by him The same he had often promised to the Ambassadours of Venice and Milan who had spoken on my behalf For two years I was led on or rather beguil'd with these hopes till at length I resolv'd to go with the Cardinal of Mantua to Bononia of which he was Legat. But Paul forbad me and after his jesting manner said I had wit enough already and wanted Wealth rather than Learning And now while I was in expectation that I should be reliev'd after so many troubles and afflictions behold the Pope dies of an Apoplexy about two hours within night being alone in his Chamber having been well that day and held a Consistory His death happened July 28. 1471. in the sixth year and tenth month of his Pontificate As to his Personage it was Majestic and becoming a Pope for he was so portly and tall that he was easily distinguishable from the rest when at Mass In his dress though he was not curious yet he was not reputed negligent Nay 't is said that when he was to appear in public he would use to paint his face In his Pontifical Vestments he outwent all his Predecessors especially in his Regno or Mitre upon which he laid out a great deal of Mony in purchasing at vast rates Diamonds Sapphyrs Emeralds Chrysoliths Jaspers Unions and all manner of precious stones wherewith adorn'd like another Aaron he would appear abroad somewhat more august than a Man delighting to be seen and admir'd by every one To this purpose sometimes by deferring some usual Solemnities he would keep Strangers in Town that so he might be view'd by greater numbers But lest he alone should seem to differ from the rest he made a Decree that none but Cardinals should under a Penalty wear red Caps to whom he had in the first year of his Popedom given Cloth of that colour to make Horse-Cloths or Mule-Cloths of when they rode He was also about to order that Cardinals Caps should be of Silk Scarlet but some Persons hindred it by telling him well that the Ecclesiastical Pomp was rather to be diminished than encreased to the detriment of the Christian Religion Before he was made Pope he used to give out that if ever he came to that good fortune he would give each Cardinal a Castle in the Country where they might retire conveniently to avoid the Summer-heats of the City but when he was once got into the Chair he thought of nothing less However he endeavour'd by his Authority and by force too to augment the Power of the Papacy For he sent the Bishop of Tricarico into France to hear the Cause of quarrel between the Duke of Burgundy and the People of Liege and upon their reconciliation to take off the Interdict laid upon the Liegeois for wrongfully expelling their Bishop but while the Legat took great pains to subject all matters to the Pope's Judgment he and their Bishop too were clapt up by the Liegeois Hereupon the Duke of Burgundy makes Peace with the French King with whom he was before at War and with his aid gives those of Liege several great defeats and at length sacks their City and sets free the imprison'd Bishops Moreover Paul hearing of the Apostasie of the King of Bohemia he by his Legat Lorenzo Roverella Bishop of Ferrara raised the Hungarians and Germans upon him so that he had certainly cut off both the King George and his Progeny and utterly rooted out the Heretics had not the Polanders who laid claim to that Kingdom held Matthias King of Hungary employ'd in War lest he should have made himself Master of it He undertook two Wars of no great moment in Italy which being not openly declared but begun by picqueering Parties he afterwards abandon'd For first he attempted the seizing the Signeury of Tolfa by cunning wiles which failing with open force under the conduct of Vianesius he set upon it and besieged it but the King's Army in which the Vrsini serv'd returning from the War they had now ended with Bartholomew of Bergamo on a sudden he raised the Siege in great disorder though the Enemy was not within sixty miles of the place so that after a long contention in which he had extreamly disobliged and almost enrag'd the Vrsini against him he was fain to purchase Tolfa for seventeen thousand Ducats of Gold for fear of that potent Family who were related to the Lords of the place After the same manner he set upon Robert Malatesta Son of Sigismund when having taken the Suburbs of Rimini by a Stratagem and for sometime having besieged the City Lorenzo Arch-Bishop of Spalato being the chief in the Enterprise Frederick D. of Vrbin came upon him with the King's Forces and those of the Florentines who forc'd him to raise his Siege and foil'd his Army shamefully so that he accepted of a Peace upon very dishonourable terms Lorenzo charg'd the reason of the loss of Rimini upon the niggardliness of his pay to the Soldiers and to the great slowness of his Resolution while through ignorance in affairs of that nature he deliberated long about actions which should be done in a moment Paul was indeed so awkward at business that except he were driven to it he would not enter upon any Affair however plain and unencumbred nor when begun would he bring it to peofection This humour of his he was wont to boast had done him great service in many concerns whereas to speak truth it had been very mischievous both to himself and the Church of Rome He yet was very diligent in getting Mony so that he generally intrusted the disposal of Bishopricks and Benefices to such Courtiers whose Places being saleable nothing could be bestowed without a Present All Offices indeed in his time were set to sale whereby it came to pass that he who had a mind to a Bishoprick or Benefice would purchase of him at a good rate some other Office and so get what he would have in spight of any other Candidates who could pretend upon the score of either Learning or good Life to be capable of whatsoever honour or preferment Beside when Bishopricks were vacant he would remove the more worthy as he call'd them to the more wealthy Seat by these Translations raising vast Sums of Mony because more Annates became due at the same time He also allow'd the purchasing of Salaries With these Moneys he would sometimes be very liberal giving exhibitions to the poorer Cardinals and Bishops and to Princes or Noblemen that were driven out of their Country and relieving poor Maidens Widows and sick People He took great care too that Corn and all manner of Victuals should be afforded cheaper at Rome than formerly He was at the charge of several
endowed it with a plentiful Revenue But amongst all the magnificent structures which he hath raised there is none so famous and worthy of his Name as the Vatican Library being about three hundred and eighteen foot in length and sixty nine in breadth on the Walls are painted all the General Councils in Fresco with the famous Libraries mentioned by antient Authors as also the manner of raising the Guglia or Obelisque before St. Peters At the entry to this Library are two Statues of Marble that on the right hand represents Aristides an antient Philosopher of Smyrna that on the lest is Hypolitus who first invented the perpetual Kalendar he lived fourteen hundred years ago The Books are all kept in Presses containing twenty thousand Manuscripts and sixteen thousand Books which are printed round about thee first Chamber the Pictures are placed of all those who have been Library-keepers since Sixtus V. The Books commonly shewn here to Strangers are The antient Copy of the Septuagint a vast Bible in Hebrew a little Book written on the bark of a Tree certain Sermons with Annotations wrote by Thomas Aquinas and with his own hand an old Terence wrote one thousand two hundred years ago a Letter which Henry VIII of England wrote to Anne of Bolen with his own hand as also his Book against Luther hereunto is added the Duke of Vrbin's Library bequeathed to this place as also that of the Prince Palatine Frederick transported from Heidelberg to the Vatican after that Town was plundered by the Duke of Bavaria All which and many other rare Works of the like nature were performed at the charge of this Pope which are now extant at Rome and commonly seen and observed by Travellers Besides all which he built several other Colleges Monasteries and places of Charity at Bologna and in his own Country And at a vast expence he turned the poor Village of Montalto where he was born into a City encompassing it about with a Wall to perform which he was forced to cut through a Rock and threw down a high Hill to make it equal to the lower Level and to give some more esteem and honour to this place he made it a Bishoprick endowing it with a thousand Crowns of yearly Revenue besides many other priviledges and immunities which he bestowed both on the Diocese and the Government of the City during the time of which Work he built a Bridg at Rome over the Tybur which was of great use and benefit to the Trade and Commerce of the City called at this day il ponte Sisto tras Tevere Thus far have we discoursed concerning the humour and disposition of this Pope his Conduct and Wisdom in the management of Affairs relating to Rome and the Church together with his Munificence and greatness of his Soul in matters of building and stately Structures which have perpetuated his memory to these times Let us now proceed to other particulars which may demonstrate his dexterity and conduct of Affairs relating to Negotiations with forein Princes and in what manner he studied to fortifie the Ecclesiastical State as well with the Sword of St. Paul as the Keys of St. Peter In order whereunto in the first place he formed and setled the Militia of the Church in so good a method that he was able within the space of one Month to bring twenty thousand fighting Men into the Field and in the next place he consulted with the most knowing Enginiers in what manner the Ecclesiastical State might be most commodiously and with most advantage fortified the which was executed with most Labour and Art on that side which borders on the Kingdom of Naples which was a just cause of jealousie to the Spaniards who by the words and actions of this Pope had long suspected that his Intentions and Designs tended towards that Kingdom the possession of which he had for a long time swallowed in his thoughts resolving not longer to content himself with the bare feud or tribute for it the which jealousie was encreased when they found the Pope intent in building ten new Gallies for defraying the cost of which and of their maintenance he imposed a new Tax on the people of Rome and the whole Ecclesiastical State About this time the Cantons of Switzerland which continued firm to the Church of Rome sent their Ambassadours to the Pope not onely to make their acknowledgments of Obedience to the Papal Sea but likewise to inform his Holiness of the unhappy state and condition of their Country caused by the neighbourhood of the Protestant Cantons who daily sent Preachers into their Dominions who seducing many from the Catholick Doctrine their numbers and force did daily encrease For prevention of which and to confirm the doubtful in the Catholick Religion they desired that the Pope would be pleased to send his Nuntio into those parts which would be an encouragement to the people to continue in the way of truth as well as an honour to their Country The Pope with all readiness embracing the Proposition dispatched Baptista Santorio Bishop of Fricarico and Steward of his Houshold to be and remain his Nuntio within the Dominions of the Catholick Cantons Santorio being there arrived found all things in great disorder the people living without as it were any respect or dependance on the Roman Sea by reason that for many years the Popes had not thought this Country worthy the charge or maintenance of a Nuntio therein But now Santorio appearing there with the Character and in the quality of a Nuntio caused speedily a Diet to be convened in the Month of October 1586. at which two things were agreed and concluded highly advantageous to the Papal Authority The first was that all the Deputies which were present in great numbers received the Communion from the hand of the Nuntio and then entered into strict League and Confederacy together solemnly swearing before the Altar to maintain and uphold the Papal Authority and to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in the defence thereof In the second place they gave full power and Authority unto the Nuntio to exercise a free and Arbitrary Jurisdiction over all Ecclesiastical persons within their Dominions subjecting them to his Courts as well in criminal as in civil Causes which was a concession that the Wise Republick of Venice did never judge fit to grant notwithstanding all the bluster and noise with which the Popes required and challenged it from them But this Power given to the Nuntio was the cause soon after of some disturbance amongst the Cantons for it happened That one day the Nuntio having Complaints brought him against a certain Priest for scandal and misbehaviour he immediately issued out his Warrant to the chief Constable and his Officers to take and seize the person of that Priest and put him into safe custody the Priest hearing of this prosecution fled into the Dominions of the Protestant Cantons where the Officers pursuing him took him and by violence and force brought
worth mention died after he had been Pope two years and was buried in S. Peter's Church This Pope we may commend in this one instance that he did not persecute with ignominy and scandal the memory of any of his Predecessors for he lived quietly and soberly and had nothing chargeable upon him that was blame-worthy LANDUS LANDUS a Roman succeeded Anastasius but his life was so obscure that some do not reckon him for a Pope especially Vincentius the Historian But Martin and Cusentinus are of another mind together with Gothifredus who writes that this Landus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Authority hindred a Battel between Berengarius and 〈◊〉 Son of Count Guido though others say that Rodulphus overcame Berengarius near Verona and enjoy'd the Empire three years There was indeed at this time a great contention for the Empire between the Italians Germans and French which was the cause of many cruel Wars which were not ended without great destruction of men and mischief to each Countrey The Romans and Italians labour'd might and main to preserve the Empire in their own Countrey against the Power of those barbarous people but they wanted some man that could lead them on in so great an Enterprise for those noble Spirits who had rendred the name of Italy famous through the World were now not onely extinct but even those virtuous Inclinations were quite stisled which gave life to such glorious actions Landus died in the sixth month and twenty first day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peters's Church JOHN XI JOHN the eleventh a Roman natural Son to Pope Sergius in the year 909. succeeded He was before Arch-bishop of Ravenna and had been deposed by the people in a Tumult but upon the death of Landus he obtain'd the Papal Chair and shew'd more of the Spirit of a Soldier than of a Clergy-man Indeed the Church and all Italy had then need of such a Pope For the Greeks as we said before being vanquish'd by Landulphus had call'd the Saracens into Italy who marching through Calabria and Apulia into Lucaia and Campania threaten'd sudden destruction to the City of Rome The nearness of the danger alarm'd Pope John who taking Albericus Marquess of Tuscany to his assistance musters up an Army fights the Saracens and gets the better and beats them out of the territories of the City but not looking upon his Victory as considerable except he follow'd the pursuit he attaques them at Minturnoe upon the shore of the River Garigliano and conquers them with so great a slaughter that they resolv'd to leave Italy onely burning first all those places on that shore which were in their hands But they alter'd their minds afterward and fortifying Mount Gargano they harass'd the Countrey thereabout with their Incursions Mean while John taking all the honour of this action to himself makes his entrance into Rome after the manner of a Triumph which gave so great distast to Albericus that a Tumult arose upon it in which Albericus was repulsed and flying to Orta fortified the Town and Castle and enticed the Hungari into Italy who brought more destruction and ruin upon the Countrey than the Saracens had done before for they carried away the Youth of both Sexes killing all that were stricken in years nor did they spare the very Tuscans for whose indemnity Albericus had agreed in the Treaty with them nay they were more cruel to them than to other Italians for they burnt and demolish'd all the Towns they had possess'd 'T is my Opinion that Berengarius who then held Lombardy onely gave them liberty of passage into Tuscany upon condition they march'd quietly through his Countrey without hurting his Subjects But the Hungari having once tasted the sweet Spoils of Italy did frequently visit it afterward which Calamities so much enraged the Romans that not being able to wreak their spite upon the Enemy who was too mighty and fierce for them they took Albericus and beheaded him John also in a Mutiny of the Soldiers was by the followers of Count Guido taken and put in Prison In his room another John was put up but because he seiz'd the Chair by force and was soon deposed he deserves not to be among the Popes LEO VI. LEO the sixth a Roman was canonically elected Pope acted nothing tyrannically in his whole life but liv'd soberly and modestly taking care of Religion as far as an Age of so corrupt manners would bear For he made it his endeavour to quiet the minds of the Citizens who through the rashness and folly of former Popes were inclining to Tumults to compose the Affairs of Italy to make Peace with forein Enemies and to drive the Barbarians from the skirts of his Countrey than which nothing could be done to better purpose or more commendably in so short a time for in the seventh month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate he died and was buried in S. Peters's Church to the great grief of the Citizens of Rome STEPHEN VII STEPHEN the seventh a Roman according to some Authors came to be Pope at the time when the Hungari who were over-running Germany and Saxony were by Henry King of Germany overcome with a great slaughter near Merspurg 'T is said also that at this time Rodulphus King of Burgundy made his descent into Italy with a great Army against Berengarius II. who by the treachery of his own men was driven out of his Kingdom and fled to the Hungarians for refuge who taking up Arms in his cause the third year after his expulsion under the conduct of one Salardus invade Italy with huge forces and take Pavia by storm destroying the greatest part of it with fire and sword The Italians hereupon finding Rodulphus to want strength and courage call in Hugh Count of Arles It was not without contention that Rodulphus gave place to him but his Enemies bearing hard upon him he retreated into Burgundy After this 〈◊〉 finding occasion to mistrust those Persons that call'd him in banish'd many of them who fled to Arnoldus Duke of Bavaria a man 〈◊〉 of Rule and persuade him to make War upon Italy He passes the Alpes and is immediately receiv'd within the Walls of Verona by the Citizens with great kindness and friendship but Hugh marching against him beats him in a pitch'd Battel and soon re-takes Verona Mean while Berengarius dies in Bavaria or as others say in 〈◊〉 and Berengarius III. Grand-son of Berengarius I. by his Daughter comes into Italy and in the year 935. gets the Empire Some there are that ascribe these Actions I have mention'd to the time of this Pope but I would rather assign them to some of those Popes that preceded and succeeded because though I have set them down in short yet they must needs require a long time to be brought about But in so great a diversity of opinions concerning times I chose rather to place them somewhere than utterly to omit things which were certainly once done for the uncertainty
soon after gathering his forces together he march'd into Cilicia to meet with Emanuel whose Army by a feigned flight he drew into narrow and difficult ways where he set upon 'em and vanquish'd 'em taking the Emperour Prisoner whom he set at large again upon condition that he should quit whatsoever he had taken in Asia At this time Alexander was met at Venice by Frederic there to treat of a Peace where in S. Mark 's Porch the Emperour kiss'd the Pope's feet and from thence they went together to the high Altar and having perform'd the mutual Ceremonies of Civility they discours'd a great while upon the Articles of the Peace which the next day was concluded Hence the Emperour with the good leave of the Pope departed first to Ravenna and then to Bertinoro which Town he design'd to keep in his hands because of the commodiousness of its situation but the Pope at last persuaded him to restore it to the Church Alexander also left Venice having first made several Presents and conferr'd many honours upon that State for the services they had done him and with thirteen Gallies of William King of Sicily and four of the Venetians he sail'd first to Siponto and from thence to Troia and Benevent and then passing S. Germano he went to Anagni where he staid not long but came to Tusculum to treat with the Romans about deposing the Consuls they had set up before a Peace should be concluded but because the Consuls had been so chosen for fifty years it was found to be a difficult thing to alter the custom wherefore they agreed that thereafter no one that was chosen Consul should enter upon his Office till he had taken an Oath to be dictated by the Pope that he would be true to the Church of Rome and never attempt any thing that should be a violation of the Pontifical Dignity Thus all matters being settled the Pope went the third time to Rome all the great Men of the City coming forth to attend and congratulate him soon after he held a Council in the Lateran partly to find a way to reform the great licentiousness of that Court but chiefly that it might be decreed that no Man under pain of an Anathema should furnish the Infidels with Iron Wood or any sort of Arms. At this time died Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople leaving his Son Alexius heir of his Empire under the Guardianship of Andronicus one of the blood Royal who for some years shew'd great prudence and fidelity in his publick Administrations and by his consent the young Emperour was married to Agnes Daughter to Philip King of France Baldwin IV. also King of Jerusalem to strengthen himself by the Alliance married his Sister Sibyl to William surnam'd Long-sword Marquess of Montferrat an excellent Soldier not doubting but that upon occasion William and other Princes of Christendom would come to his assistance if his affairs were in any danger Mean time Alexander after having undergone so many and continual labours when now he seem'd to be at rest from all his troubles died at Rome when he had been Pope twenty one years nineteen days having yet liv'd to see four Anti-Popes go before him who with their factions had almost destroy'd the Church of Rome LVCIVS III. LVCIVS the Third a Tuscan of a noble Family of the City of Lucca was made Pope by general consent at the time when Andronicus who we told you was Guardian to Alexius having driven out the Latins who favour'd the young Emperour and drown'd him in the Sea where he was wont for his recreation carelesly sometimes to venture in a little Bark usurp'd the Empire of Constantinople and to secure his Empire thus unjustly gotten he added another great wickedness for in a short time he cut off all the Nobility whose Virtue rendred them suspected to him Now also William surnamed Long-sword dying at Jerusalem King Baldwin taking care of his Nephew married his Sister Sibyl again to Guy of Lusignan a Picard upon condition that after his own decease Guy should enjoy the Kingdom during the nonage of his Nephew Baldwin after which he should resign it to him All which was confirm'd by the Pope's Authority who thought it very necessary for the Christian Cause that the Princes of Asia should be knit together with the strictest bonds of Amity and Friendship to enable them the better to resist the insults of the Turks and Saracens but he was quickly after expell'd the City of Rome while by the favour of some Citizens he attempted to abolish the Office of the Consuls and his Friends in that affair being taken had their Eyes put out Upon this horrid affront the Pope betook himself to Verona and call'd a Council where the exorbitant pride and licentiousness of the Romans was condemned and all Christian Princes were exhorted to afford assistance to the holy War especially because Saladine had entred and wasted the Territories of Jerusalem encouraged by the dissension among the Christian Commanders who had turn'd out Guy of Lusignan for his Arrogance from the Government and had substituted Bertrand Count of Tripoli Protector in his room so that all things seem'd to threaten a Civil War But the Pope incessantly persuaded them by Letters and Ambassadours to lay by their Animosities and with one heart and the same mind to oppose the common Enemy at least so long as till fresh Auxiliary forces could be sent to ' em For by the instance of Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem who came for that purpose first to Verona and thence went to Philip King of France upon the same Errand a good number of Soldiers under the Cross were listed and sent away But William King of Sicily in an ill time designing to revenge the wrongs offered to the Latins by Andronicus Emperour of Constantinople passing into Greece with his Army confounded all things for he took Thessalonica the chief City of Macedonia by storm and harassing many other of his Territories he took and plundered several Cities Adronicus not appearing against him being hated of God and Man for the many murthers and banishments he had been the Author of The Constantinopolitans were hereby reduc'd to necessity and forc'd to fetch from Pelopennesus and to set up for Emperour one Isaac who was of the blood Royal and he overthrew Andronicus in Battel took him and with various Tortures put him to death Upon which it became easie for Pope Lucius to persuade King William to make Peace with Isaac and with Promises and Rewards to prevail with him to turn his Arms against the Asians but while this matter was transacting by Internuntio's this excellent Pope died in the fourth year second month and eighteenth day of his Papacy at Verona and was buried with great Pomp before the Altar of the Cathedral Church This Pope had a great regard for his own Country and conser'd upon it many advantages both Civil and Spiritual before he died particularly he obtain'd of Frederick the Emperour with
manner in Lombardy the Emperor went through Piacenza to Genoa along with Amadeus of Savoy attended by the Agents from Pisa and Genoa Thither came Embassadors from Robert of Naples and Frederick King of Sicily not long after the former to make a shew of friendship and the latter to assure him of the real love which they had for him For Robert had sent his Mareschal into Tuscany with two thousand Horse to assist the Floretines and those of Lucca if need were against the Emperor But Henry went by Sea to Pisa and having sent his Land-forces before him did the men of Lucca a great deal of damage Hitherto I thought fit to relate all the inconveniences which were brought upon the Italians which some impute wholly to Clement who solicited Henry to come with an Army into Italy Whilst others tell us that Clement did it for the advantage of the Country because of the civil Discords among 'em which were the cause of much blood-shed in every City nay in every little Castle The Citizens were slain old men murther'd young Children dash'd against the ground with a boundless cruelty Whereupon Clement used that saying of Homer Let there be but one chief Lord one Judg of all matters Henry went on toward Rome and sent Lewis of Savoy Son to Amadeus with five hundred Horse before who taking up his quarters at one Stephen Columna's House near the Lateran put the Vrsin Faction in a terrible fear But Henry came first to Viterbo and thence to Rome where he was very kindly received not onely by all the Nobility but by the Citizens in general After that being Crown'd by three Cardinals he made the Romans swear Allegiance to him as the custom is and made a great Feast to which he invited all the Noblemen of the City except the Vrsins But lest in such a concourse of people there should arise any tumult through the animosities of some men he planted his Soldiers in the Theatres Baths and other fortified places in the strength of which Guards he was so confident that he had the courage to demand of the people a Tribute which they never used to pay Hereupon all the Citizens of both Factions fled to the Vrsins who had set good Guards about their House which stood near the Tiber and hard by Hadrians Bridg. At that the Emperor was so enraged that he summoned the Sea-Archers whom the men of Pisa had sent him to march into the City against the Romans but they were surprised and soon routed by John the Brother of King Robert who had placed his Sea-forces under the Mount di S. Sabina He also let in the Horse who quarter'd not far off and by the aid of the Roman people forced the Emperour himself to retreat as far as Tivoli After him John Robert's Brother went away by Command from the Cardinals and left the City quiet But Henry going from Perugia arrived at Arezzo where he accused Robert the King of Treason and because he did not appear upon Summons deprived him of his Kingdom against the mind of Clement who thought he had done a thing of such consequence in a very improper place besides that it was none of his Prerogative For he said It was Popes peculiar Province to dispose of the Kingdom of Sicily on both sides the Pharo The Emperor marching from Arezzo led his Army toward Florence and Lucca who were Allies to Robert But seeing he was not able to storm a Town he possess'd himself of Poggibonci which when he had fortified he declared War against the Seneses because they were so niggardly and sparing in supplying him with Provisions But falling sick he went to the Bath at Macerata from whence he came back to Bonconvento much weaker than he was before There after some days he died but it was suspected he was poison'd by a Monk at Florence who was induced by large Rewards and Promises to give him the Eucharist dipped in Poison The State of Pisa now that the Emperor was dead feared the power of the Florentines and therefore chose Vgutio Fagiolano their Captain and sole Governor who not long after reduced those of Lucca and took away their Lands from 'em by the assistance of the Cavalry that had served under Henry In the mean time Clement was very much troubled not onely at all the other evils that Italy underwent but that S. Constantines Church should be burnt down Wherefore he sent Money to the Clergy and people of Rome toward the repair of that Church though there was such scarcity and Dearth in his Country at that time that he could hardly buy himself Victuals and Drink Which miseries were foretold by frequent Eclipses of the Sun several Comets and the Plague which was almost Epidemical But Clement apply'd himself to settle the State of the Church and therefore he exercised his Episcopal Function three times not onely in making several Cardinals who were excellent Men but in three Councils which he called in several places and at several times he did many things with prudence and deliberation For he suppress'd Dulcinus's Sect as I told you that opposed the Churchmen and took off the Templers who were fallen into very great Errors as denying Christ c. and gave their goods to the Knights of Jerusalem He likewise withstood the King of France at Poictou when he made unreasonable and unhandsom Demands for the King would have had Boniface censur'd and Nogaretius and Sarra absolv'd The first request he never obtein'd but the second he at last had granted to him upon Nogaretius's Promise that he would go against the Saracens for Penance Which expedition Clement himself had a great mind to as appears by his Councils Afterwards he canonized Caelestin the fifth by the name of Peter the Confessor because approved by Miracles and set forth the Clementines which he composed during the Council at Vienna But in succeeding time he was afflicted with divers Diseases for he was troubled sometimes with a Dysentery sometimes with a pain in his Stomach or his Sides of which he dy'd in the eighth year tenth month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate The Sea was then vacant two years three months and seventeen days whilst the Cardinals were at a stand whom they should choose Nor was there less Discord among the Electors of the Empire upon the Death of Henry some proposing Lewis of Bavaria others Frederick Duke of Austria And these two engaging in War one against the other Frederick was Conquer'd at which Lewis grew so proud that he not onely called himself Emperor without Authority from Rome but favour'd the Viconti in Lombardy so far that they got into Millain And this he did to make his own passage more easie toward Rome where he was to receive a golden Crown according to the usual Custom Then began the people of Tuscany and all the Guelphs to tremble when they saw Lewis Emperor and that he was likely to recover all the rights of the Empire in
and monstrous cruelties to him making him the Author of all those Calamities and Miseries which in his Reign over-whelmed Italy rendering its condition slavish and contemptible to Forein Nations Howsoever his temper was not so altogether flagitious but that it admitted of some alloy and mixture of Virtue for he with great care attended to the government of the City and regulation of the Courts of Justice to which end he ordained Visitors of the Prisons to examin and know the causes for which persons were imprisoned and created four Judges for the tryal of all criminal matters so that Justice was the more punctually executed than in former times But not to remain too long on his personal qualities let us proceed to the important affairs of his Government And in the first place being created Pope he was according to custom saluted and congratulated in his Papal Dignity by the Ambassadors of Kings Princes and States whom he respectively treated with affability and respect persuading them to peace and concord amongst themselves and by the virtue of such union and confederacy to joyn and employ their Arms against the Turk who was the common Enemy of Christendom And at that time being about the year 1493. in honor to Ferdinand King of Spain he gave him the Title of Catholick in acknowledgment and memory of the many Victories he had obtained over the Moors and gave him a Title to all those Lands and Countries in America which were or should be discovered there And thus as he was civil to Kings so he was kind and more affectionate to his Family For in the first Consistory that he held he created John Borgia his Sisters Son Arch-Bishop of Montreat Valentine Borgia his Natural Son Arch-Bishop of Valentia At this time the Emperor Frederick died having reigned for the space of 54 years Likewise Ferdinand King of Naples being dead he sent his Legat with power to confirm his Son Alonso in the succession to the Kingdom and having contracted an Alliance with him he ordered him to be Crowned and invested with the Regalities At this time being the year 1494. Charles the Eighth King of France who was of a martial and ambitious spirit laid claim to the Kingdom of Naples by virtue of the last Will and Testament of René Duke of Anjou and Lorain and being encouraged in that enterprise by Lodowick Sforza the Guardian of John Galeas Duke of Milan he entered Italy with a puissant Army consisting of 25000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a great train of Artillery The Pope apprehending the great ruine and damage which this incursion of the French would bring upon Italy entered into League with the City of Florence and both agreed and resolved to leavy Soldiers and joyn in a defensive League with the King of Naples but the Venetians and Ferdinand King of Spain who were likewise moved to enter into the League did positively refuse to accept the proposals being more inclinable to be unconcerned and Spectators than Actors in that hazardous War Charles being entered into Italy marched victorious thro Lombardy and having overthrown the Army of Florence soon after became Master Of the City it self thence he proceeded towards Rome where he entered on the first of January 1494. without any opposition it being agreed that in case the Romans would peaceably open their Gates and give free admission to the French that no hurt or violence should be offered by them to the Inhabitants but that on the contrary if they made opposition they would put all into flame and confusion The Romans therefore finding themselves in no condition to resist readily gave a reception to the French affording them plenty of Victuals and Provisions and they on the other side performed their conditions severely punishing such as were guilty of Riots or Tumults The Pope at first being affrighted with the approach of the French fled for security into the Castle but at length finding all things quiet and secure from the outrages of their Ghests adventured abroad and much against his will and inclinations entered into a League with them But Charles not much confiding in the Faith which the Pope had given required for better security thereof and by way of Hostage that Cesar Borgia who was called Cardinal Valentino should under colour of being the Popes Legat accompany him in the War together with Zizimé the Brother of the Grand Seignior on pretence that having overcome the Kingdom of Naples he would make use of him in the War which he intended to make upon Constantinople but he died soon after of a Bloody-Flux at Capua Upon approach of the French near to Naples King Alonso being conscious of his ill government whereby he had contracted the hatred of his people and despairing of the success of his Affairs surrendred up the Kingdom into the hands of his Son Ferdinand and with great fear and ignominy embarked himself with the best part of his wealth and fled into the Island of Sicily and soon after Ferdinand considering the weakness of his Force and the inequality of the Match between him and the French betook himself also to the Island of Ischia Charles following the favourable course of his good and victorious fortune with great expedition made himself Master of all the Kingdom of Naples the which success giving an alarm to all the Christian Princes a general confederacy was agreed amongst them for intercepting the French on their return out of Italy so that the Pope the Emperor Maximilian the King of Spain Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan and the Venetians uniting their Forces for the common safety of Italy composed an Army of forty thousand men Notwithstanding which Charles boldly returned out of Italy and with great difficulty having passed the Apenine Mountains with sixteen pieces of weighty Cannons which were drawn over by 300 Swissers and having by the greater error and neglect of the Enemy passed all the narrow and inaccessible ways about Zerzana and Petra Santa at length descended into the Plains of Lombardy The Confederate Army to hinder the Kings farther passage had encamped themselves at Fornovo near Tarro and at no far distance from Parma and there both Armies were engaged The French did not consist of more than 9000 men and the Confederates of 40000 and yet the French had the advantage and won the Field and as Philip de Comines saith the King entered triumphant into Asti tho Panvinio and other Italian Writers relate the Battel to have been bloody but the success and advantage doubtful Howsoever the news hereof being reported at Naples to the great advantage of the Confederates King Ferdinand re-assumed his courage and adventured out of his retirement at Ischia and then the French Forces being grown weak and all Recruits failing them he recovered his Kingdom with the assistance of the Catholick King Not long after Charles the Eighth died and Lewis the Twelfth Duke of Orleans succeeded in his Throne Likewise Ferdinand dying without Issue Frederick his
of Riches At any time of vacation from business he gave himself up wholly to delights and pleasures especially to Women whom he loved in excess but the Mistriss of his Affection was the fair Vanoccia a Roman Lady whom in the time of his private fortune and condition he kept and owned as a lawful Wife He was a great lover of Plays and Comedies and would be always a spectator of Shows and pleasant divertisements In his time he created 43 Cardinals of which 18 were Spaniards In the year 1500. he celebrated the Jubilee according to ancient customs giving Bulls and Indulgences for Sins to all those who personally visited the Church of Rome and to such also who being hindered by their occasions were made partakers of his bountiful remissions Thus he who could so easily pardon the sins of others must expect the final Sentence of him who is the just Judg and renders to every one according to his demerit PIVS III. ALEXANDER the Sixth being now deceased the Duke Valentino seized on all his Plate and Jewels and whatsoever was of value and fortified himself in the Vatican and Castle of S. Angelo with 12000 men supposing that he might be able by such a force to over-awe the Cardinals in their Suffrages and force them to elect such a person as was most acceptable to himself The Cardinals to avoid the awe of such a force assembled themselves in the Minerva which is a Convent in Rome but that place also was presently surrounded by a Band of Soldiers commanded by one Captain Coreglia by order of Borgia who himself at that time lay sick in bed The news of this restraint on the Cardinals put all Rome into an alarm and great confusion so that the Citizens shut their Shops chained up their Streets and took Arms in their hands all things seeming in that fear and dread as if Hannibal had been at the Gates of the City so that Coreglia finding himself in some danger gave way to the present necessity and setting fire to the Palace of the Orsini retired without doing other damage In the mean time the Cardinals having gathered a force of 4000 Foot resolved contrary to custom to suspend the Election until such time as the Cardinals resident in foreign parts beyond the Alps could convene in some other place where they might be more secure and free in their Voices Prospero Colonna coming then to Rome with Fabius Orsino the Son of him whom Borgia had put to death were by order of the Cardinals sent to Borgia to intreat him that he would be pleased to remain quiet and suffer the Election to proceed free and without disturbance The like request also the Embassadors of France and Spain made to him with which suffering himself to be persuaded he withdrew his force from Rome and departed thence in a Horse-litter being in a weak state and condition of health Howsoever his own Soldiers kept the Castle tho the Governor of it at the instance of Cardinal Bernardino Carvagiale promised to act every thing by the order and direction of the College In this manner the Vatican being cleared the Cardinals employed themselves nine days in performing the solemn Obsequies of the Pope during which time the French Army was persuaded also to quit the Town at the instance of the Cardinal of Rouen who had great interest with that Party So that all things being left free without appearance of any Commotion or Disorders during the Election the Cardinals entered into the Conclave to the number of 38 where the disagreement which at other times kept things in delay was now the cause that matters were put to a speedy issue and a new Pope created in a few days Cardinal Amboise the Arch-Bishop of Rouen being supported by the interest of France and the power of Borgia seemed to stand the fairest of any for the Election but the French Forces being withdrawn to engage the Spaniards in the Campagna of Rome the greatest tho not the best number of the Cardinals agreed in the Election and on the 21. day of September 1503. chose Francis Piccolomini Cardinal of Siena for their Pope who to renew the memory of Pius the Second his Uncle took upon him the name of Pius the Third and was solemnly Crowned on the 8th of October following the Sea having been vacant six months and three days Cesar Borgia who had during this Election remained with his Army at Nepe so soon as he received intelligence that the Pope was Created returned to Rome attended with 150 men at Arms with the like number of Horsemen and 800 Foot and having paid his Reverence and Obeysance to the Pope he returned his thanks to the College of Cardinals for having Elected a person so wise so religious and good and so worthy of the Papal Chair Borgia having performed this Ceremony took up his Lodgings in the Vatican where the Vrsini thirsty of Revenge assaulted him with armed force and he as valiantly defending himself many were killed on both sides and at length Borgia by order of the Pope was for his better security sent to the Castle of S. Angelo whence without license from the Pope he had not liberty to go abroad all his people forsaking him and lying where their fear or fortune led them These troubles to a person aged and sick as this Pope was hastned the accomplishment of his days so that he expired his last breath on the 18th of October 1503. being the 26th day after his Election not without some suspicion of Poison for having a sore Leg it was imagined that by the suggestion and contrivance of Pandolfo Petrucci the Tyrant of Siena some Poison being injected to the Wound he was thereby greatly afflicted and more speedily brought to his end being aged 74 years 5 months and 10 days He was afterwards buried in the Chappel of S. Andrew belonging to S. Peter's Church under a fair Monument of Marble near to the Sepulchre of his Uncle After which the Sea was vacant 14 days only JVLIVS II. THE Funeral Obsequies of Pope Pius being performed the very first night that the Cardinals entered into the Conclave being the 9th day of October Julian de la Rovere Bishop Cardinal of Ostia was Elected Pope with the common consent of 37 Suffrages all of them so unanimously concurring together that before his choice all reports fixed and concentred upon him and afterwards he gave himself the name of Julius the Second He was born in Savona within the Dominions of Genoua his Fathers name was Raphael the Brother of Sixtus the Fourth whose Pedigree we have already mentioned he had two Brothers Bartholomew who was a Frier of the Order of S. Francis Bishop of Ferrara and Patriarch of Antioch and John who was Prefect of Rome and Duke of Sora and Senegaglia and he himself from Bishop of Carpentras was at the same time with Peter Riario created Cardinal of S. Peter ad Vincula by the said Sixtus the Fourth Having obtained
the Pope delegated to consult thereof and tho the Marriage was the main point which moved the Pope to undertake this Journey yet it was in the last place and as it were accidentally and by the by treated of The first thing assumed was the proposal about a General Council but that was soon rejected and executed with the same reasons and replies as were given to the Emperor In the next place the King of Englands case was warmly insisted upon by the Commissioners of the French King as it had been formerly agreed between the two Kings at Bulloin but those instances produced little effect for the Ministers of the King of England being in a huff were always to the diminution of the Popes Authority appealing to a Council with which the Pope referred their Cause to be farther debated at his return to Rome and the French King being desirous in all things to satisfie and comply with the Pope he told him that it would not be displeasing to him in case he proceeded against that King according to the Rule of Justice and the ancient Canons of Ecclesiastical Censure by which fair and friendly compliance the Pope would not refuse at the instance of the French King to create four Cardinals tho much against his own inclinations fearing thereby to have rendered the French Faction too strong which already was more prevalent in the Court of Rome than the Pope desired In the last place tho the first in design the Marriage between the Duke of Orleans and the Pope's Niece was treated and concluded and the parties married by the Pope himself by which a strict and firm Alliance and friendship being created between the French King and the Pope it seemed as if all those professions of amity and good will which had lately interceded at Bologna between the Emperor and the Pope had vanished or signified little and now amongst other Articles it being capitulated that the Duke of Orleans should be invested in the Dukedom of Milan it was with no less wonder considered that the interest of Francis Sforza the true and right Heir to that Dutchy and for which both this and other Popes had so earnestly contended could so easily be made void and transferred over to a Forein Prince who could pretend no other right thereunto than the might and power of his own Arms. With entertainment of these Affairs a months time being spent at Marseille the Pope returned to Rome where so soon as he arrived he foretold his own death acquainting his Friends and Domesticks about his person that he had not long to live and therefore in order to his Burial he commanded the Ring to be provided and the Vestments in which Popes were usually interred howsoever before his death he thundered out his Bulls of Excommunication against Henry VIII King of England and all the people of his Realm with which the King being highly incensed immediately withdrew his Obedience from the Papal Sea and declared himself Head under Jesus Christ of the Church of England forbidding mony to be transported out of England to Rome and commanded the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to renounce his Title of Legate from the Pope the which was the beginning of that blessed Reformation which hath purged the Church of England from Errors rendred it pure in its Doctrin introduced the true and glorious light of the Gospel which will with Gods assistance for ever remain sure and immovable in despight of all the contrivances either of the Fanatical irreligious malice or the power or policies of the Roman Church And moreover it was the beginning of that liberty which we now enjoy and the enrichment of this flourishing Nation which now keeps its Treasures and Acquisitions to its self which in former days were emptied into the Coffers of the Pope to make Foreiners opulent and its people poor But to return to Pope Clement being taken with a pain in his stomach a Fever ensued upon it of which according to his own prediction he departed this life the 25th day of September 1534. leaving behind him in the Castle of S. Angelo many Jewels in the Pontifical Chamber infinite Offices but a very small sum of mony he had at divers Ordinations created three and thirty Cardinals all which except Cardinal De Medicis were made to please others rather than himself He had been exalted to the Popedom with wonderful felicity and with the general applauses and grand expectations of the world but in a short time he fell strangely in their opinion for being of a temper naturally irresolute and diffident suffered himself to be divided by his two familiar friends men differing in their humors affections and interests which laid him low in the esteem of mankind and hated and detested by the Romans and yet he was sober abstemious and a greater conqueror of himself but accounted covetous of no fidelity or faithfulness to his word nor readily inclined to do any man a good office unless forced thereunto by some constraining necessity and yet he was grave and well advised in his actions if timorousness had not oftentimes corrupted his judgment He proved such diversity of fortunes that it is hard to determin whether his bad or his good fortune was greatest for what evil can be compared to the sacking of Rome which he beheld with his own eyes his own and the long imprisonment of the Cardinals the desolation of his own Country of which he was an instrument for the promotion only of the Family of the Medices He died in the 67th year of his age having held the Papal Chair ten years ten months and seven days His Corps were first interred in the Church of S. Peter but afterwards transported to the Minerva by his own Relations and laid by the Body of Pope Leo the tenth over which they erected a stately Monument of Marble PAVL III. THE Funeral Rites of Clement VII being performed with due solemnity the Cardinals entered the Conclave the 12th of October 1534. and the same day towards night agreed unanimously in their Election and published Alexander Farnese Dean of the College of Cardinals to be with general consent chosen Pope The motives which the Cardinals might have to hasten with such facility and unanimous assent this election might be various for his family was great and ancient He had been forty years a Cardinal and thereby acquired a competent knowledg of the Affairs of the world and of the practices of the Court of Rome and being 68 years of age and of a weak and tender constitution of body the more robust and ambitious Cardinals expected that his Reign could not be long before he made way for one of them And in regard that in all the actions and negotiations of his life he had ever shewed an indifferency not inclining either to the Imperial or French Faction the parties of neither side did make it their business or concernment to oppose him for tho the Family of Farnese were Guelfs and
Enemy they all divided themselves into three Squadrons under their respective Commanders sailing away in manner of a flight to the great ignominy and shame of the Christian Arms which inglorious action did greatly displease the Pope and more especially the Venetians who instead of some great benefit which they expected in return for all their expence and hazard lost Castlenuovo which was soon afterwards taken by the Enemy Howsoever this publick Disgrace was in some manner repaired by the favour and good will of the Emperor towards the Pope whh bestowed on his Son Pier-luigi the City of Novara and gave Margaret of Austria the Widow of Alexander de Medicis in marriage to his Nephew Ottavio with a Portion of 250 thousand Ducats It happened about this time that Francis Naria da Meltro Duke of Camerin died the Pope immediately resolved to make seizure of Camerino pretending that that place was devolved to the Church ever since the death of John Maria Varano whom Leo X. had made Duke of that place for that he leaving no Heirs Male Feltro had by Usurpation taken possession of that place in right only of Julia the Daughter of John Maria Varano whom his Son Guido Vbaldo had taken to Wife and held the same in despight of Clement the late Pope And now whereas the present Duke was a youth of tender age and no experience the Pope made use of this opportunity to lay his claim which he had concealed during the life of the old Duke and to make it good raised an Army and marched against Camerino with which this young Duke being terrified surrendred the place without other difficulty to the Pope who having satisfied all pretenders to any Arrears by disbursement of great sums of mony he invested his Nephew Ottavio Farnese in the place creating him Duke of Camerino chief Prefect of Rome and Censuary of the Church By this and other expences the Chamber was greatly exhausted of its Treasure to recruit which the Pope laid new Gabels and Impositions on all Commodities in his Dominions and especially upon Salt the which so discontented the People of Perugia that from a mutiny they took Arms and appeared in open Rebellion but being soon queâ—led by the Popes Forces all their Immunities and Privileges were seized whereby they were forced to send their Messengers to Rome with all humility and submission to beg Pardon from the Pope promising all Loyalty and Obedience for the future Ascanius Colonna making also some disturbance on the like occasion was for his contumacy deprived of his Estate in Campagna Paliano was dismantled and his Fortress of Rocca entirely demolished Things being thus reduced and settled in the Temporal State he converted his thoughts to the quiet and security of the Church and considering that disturbances in the world proceeded commonly from want of good Instruction and corruption of manners he commanded the Bishops to their respective Diocesses enjoyning them to reside there and teach their Flocks with good Lectures by their own exemplary lives In the year 1540. he augmented and enlarged the Immunities and Privileges of the Chamber and the Authority of the Referendaries He gave liberty to Clergy men to dispose of their Estates by Testament without leave or interruption of the Apostolical Chamber He gave liberty also to Jews which were converted to Christianity to dispose of their Estates according to their own will and pleasure and reformed many abuses in the administration of Civil and Criminal Causes and towards the end of this year constituted Cardinal Farnese his Nephew Legate at Avignon in the place of the Cardinal D'Auch deceased The Pope as we have declared before shewing himself unresolved in the matter of a Council being very wavering as to the time and place tho he seemed always ready to agree thereunto and from the first time that he was created Pope evidenced an earnest desire above all things to comply with the Christian Princes in that particular at length the Emperor and Princes of Germany finding their Country tossed and embroiled with various disputes of Religion resolved to call a Diet at Regensburg supposing that a National Assembly might settle and determin Controversies in want and for defect of a General Council and in pursuance thereof a Diet was opened at Regensburg about the beginning of March 1541. At this Diet the Emperor himself was present with great hopes that all Controversies about Religion would be here determined and Germany united in the same opinion Hereunto the Pope sent Cardinal Gaspar Contarini to be his Legat a person of excellent prudence and learning accompanied with several others well instructed in the Interest of the Court of Rome and with publick Notaries skilful in drawing up Authentick Acts and Forms of Law to whom above all things it was committed in charge not to receive any Papers or Memorials which might tend to the least abatement or diminution of the Papal Authority but in such case to break up abruptly referring those matters to the determination of a General Council In short after long Conferences and Debates the Diet broke up on the 28th of July the Emperor referring all that had been done or transacted there to a General Council or to a National Synod of Germany or to a Diet of the Empire promising to go himself into Italy to treat with the Pope on that matter and in case the Pope should appear refractory thereunto that then notwithstanding he would within the space of eighteen months by virtue of his own Authority issue forth his Writs for calling a Diet of the Empire for setling the Affairs of Religion and prevail with the Pope to send his Legat to it And in the mean time he commanded the Protestants not to receive any other new Doctrins than such as had already been debated and enjoyned the Bishops to reform the abuses of their Churches He forbad also the dissolution of Monasteries or any seizure to be made on the Estate of the Church and any person or persons whatsoever to change or alter his or their Religion And for the better satisfaction and contentment of the Protestants that in those points which were still under Controversie he left every man free and at liberty in his own judgment and farther that such Monasteries as were not yet demolished should still remain but howsoever should be reduced to a Godly and Christian way of practice That the Goods of the Church should not be seized but left for maintainance of the Ministers without any distinction or difference relating to their Sect in Religion He also prorogued the Assembly at Ausburg until such time as the points there in Controversie could come to the decision of a General Council or a Diet of the Empire After this the Emperor passed into Italy and at Luca met the Pope where in a long discourse he treated at large concerning a Council and the management of a War against the Turks the result of which was this That
the Pope should send a Nuntio into Germany to advise the Diet which was to be held at Spira on the beginning of the next year following and assure them of his resolution to assemble a General Council at Vicenza at the time formerly prefixed But in regard this City was under the Dominion of the Venetians the Pope thought fit to intimate first this intention to the Senate before he signified this resolution at Spira the which was advisedly considered for the Venetians rejected the proposal being jealous of the ill consequences which the concourse of such multitudes might produce to their State and in regard they had lately made a Peace with the Sultan they apprehended that a Treaty and Consultation held in one of their Towns for uniting in a Confederacy against him and carrying on a War might be the occasion of a Rupture and breach of the Peace which lately they had with great charge and much labour concluded upon which answer from the Venetians the Pope was forced to take other measures In the mean time the Cardinal Coutarini lay under the severe censure of the Pope having been accused for behaving himself with too much easiness at Regensburg in matters which concerned the interest of the Church for that he seemed as if he had been a little shaken and staggered with the subtil Arguments against the Doctrin of Transubstantiation and heard with too much indifferency the discourses which tended to the diminution of the Papal Authority But the Cardinal Fregosa being his friend defended him in despight of all his enemies until such time as returning to the Pope at Luca he rendered such an account of all matters transacted in his Embassy as gave the Pope entire satisfaction This was the state of Affairs towards the end of the year 1541. when at the beginning of 1542. the Pope dispatched John Mora the Bishop of Modena to the Diet held at Spira under Ferdinand the Emperors brother giving them to understand that the Pope continued his resolution of holding a General Council which he had for some time deferred in expectation of that good issue which it was hoped the Diets and National Conventions would have produced in the settlement of Religion but seeing that those means had failed he now again re-assumed his former deliberation about a Council which he should gladly cause to be assembled in Germany were not the fatigues of so long a Journey and the alteration of Air dangerous to a person of his age and therefore after he had thought of Mantoua Vicenza Ferrara Bologna and Piacenza for places proper and convenient for such a Convention He did at length pitch upon Trent as a City without exception being situated on the Frontiers of Germany and therefore did now unalterably appoint a Council there to be opened on the 13th of August next ensuing desiring all those there present at this Diet that they would lay aside all Animosities and Factions and appear at this Council with clear and sincere souls to favour the cause of God and the truth of the Gospel Upon this proposal Ferdinand and the other Princes which favoured the Cause of the Roman Church returned their thanks to the Pope saying that since there was no City in Germany judged convenient for this Council that they were contented with this assignment of Trent where they promised to come and there to be assistant But the Protestants refused to accept of this intimation alledging that the Pope had neither Authority to indict a Council nor that Trent was a place convenient for it which was the cause that no farther resolution was taken hereupon at this Diet. Howsoever the Pope proceeded forward in his intention and published his Bull dated the two and twentieth of May for assembling a Council at Trent to meet on the first of November following the which was dispatched from Rome to all the Princes of Christendom but without any great success For in the month of July Francis the French King had denounced War against the Emperor having in a Manifesto published his reasons for it in such severe terms as greatly reflected on the honor of the Emperor and which so much provoked him to anger in that ill humor wherein he was newly returned from his unhappy adventure before Algier into Spain that when the Bull was delivered ro him he gave this answer that he was in no manner satisfied therewith in regard that it made no distinction in the terms and stile thereof between him and the King of France for tho he had refused no pains nor spared expence to compass the assembling of a Council and that the French King on the contrary had endeavoured by his Embassadors at Spira to nourish discords and so to embroil the affairs of Religion as to put them into a condition beyond all hopes or possibility of accommodation yet this Bull treated the disservices of the French with the same equality of merit as it did the unwearied zeal of Him the Emperor whose great incumbence it had always been to render faithful and effectual Offices of Duty to the Church And then rehearsing the many provocations the French King had given him he desired the Pope to consider if the Behaviour of that King towards him did correspond with a design or intention of advancing the interest of Christendom or did appear with such a face or guise of Peace and Reconciliation as was necessary at such a time when a General Council was to be convened of which we may then conceive the most promising assurances of success when it commences with Candor Friendship and Charity which are the best and most excellent dispositions towards the establishment of truth and peace But seeing that the French King hath ever countermined and disturbed this course some other way was to be found for the settlement of Religion besides a Council and in the mean time he desired that the Pope would attribute the disappointment thereof to the French King only to whom it was necessary that he should declare himself a publick enemy in case he ever hoped to expect good from a Council in the settlement of Peace and Religion in the world The French King being well assured that the War which he had commenced at this unseasonable time would certainly be interpreted as prejudicial to Religion and as if he favoured the Protestant cause did therefore to forestal such suggestions publish most severe Edicts against the Protestants forbidding them to assemble at any Meetings causing all their Books written in defence of their Doctrin to be burnt and enjoyning the Sorbonists to make severe inquisitions concerning such who observed not Fish days or days of Abstinence or said not their Prayers in Latin or in any manner contradicted or withstood the Principles or Doctrins of the Catholick Church Moreover he wrote an Apology for himself to the Pope in answer to what the Emperor had accused him of recalling to memory the hard and sacrilegious usage which he had practised against
imaginations which Men conceive of Reliques Pilgrimages and Indulgences That the Doctrine and practice of Penance should be again renewed and established according to the custom of the Primitive Church All or most of which Articles were ungrateful to the Legats both for the substance of them and circumstances with which they were delivered the Ambassadours at the same time declaring that in case they were not granted such provisions would be made in France by a National Council as were agreeable to the State of their Affairs Howsoever the Legats seemed favourably to accept them and dispatched them to the Pope by the Bishops of Viterbo And now by this time the Pope was ready to make a return of the conclusions he had made in the Point about Residencies dispatched from Trent by the Bishop of Ventimille the matter of which though couched with great Art and in such ambiguous terms as might admit of various interpretations yet that artificial fraud could not pass on such subtil Heads who for their Learning and experience were chosen out of the wisest Men of Europe for they easily discovered the Pope's intent to advance himself above an Universal Council they could have been contented to have admitted him the Chief super Ecclesias Vniversas but not super Ecclesiam Vniversalem that is over all Churches in particular but not over the Universal Church as it was aggregated into one body in a General Council Hereupon great Contests arose the Pensioners of Rome produced in favour of the Pope's Authority a Canon made by the Council of Florence which having been received by the Spaniards gave them some trouble in what manner to make an Answer thereunto But the French who had never received the Articles of that Council for Canonical opposed the Councils of Constance and Basil against it which had determined that General Councils were superiour to the Pope but the Italians who maintained that the Council of Basil was Schismatical and that the Canons of Constance were partly received and partly rejected so heated their French Opponents that Reasons and Arguments being on both sides declined the Dispute ended with high words and reproaches of one against the other Which the Legats well observing and that there could be no good issue of such high Contests desired time to remit these matters to the Pope's Censures and so proceeded again to the Point about Residencies the which having already caused inextricable difficulties for the Pope's words did not please the Council the Cardinal of Lorain proposed something by way of Accommodation putting in some gentler terms which might serve the turn of both Parties but the Legats penetrating with their accustomary Acuteness into the words found that the sense would bear an Interpretation which might be expounded in favour of the Opinion that Residencies were constituted by Divine Right Wherefore slighting or laying aside the words which the Cardinal had projected they framed another according to their own humour and presented it to the Congregation the which so incensed the Cardinal of Lorain that from thence forward he began to deal plainly and express himself in free and high terms protesting that for the future he would meddle no farther for that he observed a secret Combination which in Cabinet Consults assumed to its self an Authority to dispose matters differing from the Sentiments of the General Council That the Legats sought nothing more than occasions to break up the Council in discontent That nothing was acted but according to the will of the Legats who moved by such measures only as they received from the Pope whose resolution in every thing they expected from Rome according to that old saying That the Holy Ghost was brought every week from Rome to Trent in the Courriers Portmantle That he for his part was resolved to have patience until the next Session at which if matters were not managed with more fair proceedings he was resolved to retire into France with his French Nation then at the Council where renouncing all farther applications to Rome or Trent they were resolved to assemble a National Council by which they would establish such a form of Concordat as should be agreeable to the present state of their Country and which might secure the safety of the King and the quiet of his People To the same purpose the French Ambassadour expressed himself at Rome but the Pope who had been long used to such kind of Menaces and a noise about National Councils little regarded their Censures or Threats but briskly answered That the Council was free even to a licentiousness that if there were Parties and Factions they were unknown to him and were only made by the Vltramontane Bishops whose design was to trample on the Authority of the Papal Chair And in this manner such distractions and Disputes arose at Trent occasioned by the Power and Interest which the Cardinal of Lorain had there with the greatest part of the Clergy that the Congregations were for some time suspended until the Cardinal of Ventimille returned from Rome freighted with abundance of Complements and Salutes and especially with supplies of Mony for the Pope's Pensioners and then the Congregations being again commenced and with them the Discords renewed it was agreed that the next Session should be deferred until the 22th of April which was presently after Easter The Cardinal of Lorain though he seemed outwardly to consent hereunto with some reluctancy and onely in compliance with the rest of the Council yet in reality he was well enough pleased hoping that a short time would put an end to the life of this Pope who was very aged and infirm when he imagined that his Greatness and Authority would be very instrumental in promoting such a Person to the Papacy as would be facil and easie in granting every thing agreeable to his desires And now to allay a little the heats about the Divine Right of Episcopacy and Residencies the Council diverted their thoughts and Discourse to eight several Points relating to Marriage During which time and the Interval between that and the next Session the Cardinal of Lorain took the opportunity to visit the Emperor's Court at Inspruck which administred great cause of jealousie to the Pope who not onely observed the Cardinal's dissaffection from his proceedings in the Council but likewise from his Letter wherein complaining of the many Factions and Intrigues which his Italian Bishops had caused he concludes that if matters were carried on with the same Measures there would remain nothing more for him either to consider or act than onely to pray unto God to direct the Council with his Holy Inspiration The Cardinal of Lorain being arrived at Inspruck where he remained five days had frequent Conferences with the Emperor and his Son the King of the Romans touching the many disorders and corruptions of the Council at Trent as also of the means how and in what manner the Cup might be restored to the Laiety how Marriage might be granted and dispensed
Papal Chair In the year 1576. a grievous Pestilence afflicted most parts of Italy especially Trent Milan and Venice it is recorded of Cardinal Borromeo who was Arch-Bishop of Milan that he was in a most pious manner charitable to the Poor and others of his City at that time of common Calamity to whom he not onely contributed a maintenance for their food and Medicines for their sickness but in person visited such as were afflicted with the Pestilence and administred to them the Sacraments of the Church and other spiritual comforts for which and other works of like piety he was afterwards canonized for a Saint Nor was Venice less afflicted with this spreading Contagion of which most of the Friers and other Religious whose duty it was to visit the sick died of the same Disease for which reason the Pope sent his Indulgences into the aforementioned places that all such who died with a sorrow for their sins should obtain the same pardon as if they had confessed and communicated and received the other Sacraments of the Church required for dying persons It will not be very pertinent to this History to relate the Troubles which happened in Portugal in the days of this Pope which in reality were very great caused by the rashness of Sebastian King of that Country who suffering himself to be persuaded by Mahomet King of the Moors who was expelled his Kingdom transported an Army of thirty thousand Men into Africa to restore again the expelled King to his Government But as this Design was commenced against the Opinion and counsel of the King of Spain and the other Friends of King Sebastian so accordingly the success was unfortunate for his whole Army was defeated near the City of Alquivir and himself slain in the year 1578. Sebastian dying in this manner without Issue Cardinal Henriquez Uncle to the deceased and Son of King Emanuel was Crowned King but he being at that time Aged and infirm and unfit for Matrimony convened an Assembly of eleven Barons of the Land to consider of a Successour that so future Contests and civil Wars for the Crown might if possible be avoided Whilst this matter was under consideration the Cardinal King died and then all things were in confusion the Commonalty cryed up for Don Antonio who was the bastard Son of Don Alvize Brother to the Cardinal but the Nobility declared for King Philip of Spain to whom the right of succession to the Crown did legally appertain according to the Opinion of all the Doctors of the Civil Law this Controversie came at length to be decided by the Sword in which King Philip having the advantage sent an Army of thirty thousand Men under the Command of the Duke of Alva into Portugal where having taken several Towns at length made himself Master of Lisbon where Philip soon after arriving was acknowledged King and Fealty paid him by all the Nobles and Commonalty of the Land and having remained some short time at Lisbon returned in peace to his Court at Madrid Whilst these things were in action the Pope sent Cardinal Riario to accommodate differences and moderate between both Parties but coming too late after the Controversie was decided he changed his Office of Mediation to Complements and joy for the successes of the Conquerour About this time Pope Gregory confirmed the Excommunication which Pius V. had published against Elizabeth Queen of England and outed Gilbert Truckhesius Bishop of Cologna of his Arch-Bishoprick for marrying and for adhering to the Confession of Augsbourg He also rectified the Kalendar which we call the New Stile or Gregorian Account differing ten days from that which we use in England called the Julian Account the which was to commence in all places where they would receive it in the year 1583. About this time also there happened an irreconcileable difference between the Grand Master of Malta and the chief Knights of that Order which arose to that degree and height that the Knights deposed their Master put him into Prison and having accused him of many enormous Crimes they created Marturin Romagasso a Gascon to succeed him in his place On the other side the Grand Master appealed to the Pope and complaining of the many injuries he had susteined desired that he might be removed to Rome and his cause heard before the Apostolical Tribunal The Pope highly resenting this insolence and indignity which the Knights had exercised towards their Master dispatched his Legat to Malta who by virtue of a Writ from the Pope brought the Grand Master to Rome and with him came three hundred Knights on three Gallies where being arrived the Pope favoured the Cause of the Master and in evidence thereof sent eight hundred Horse to meet him which with great pomp and triumph conducted him to the Palace of Cardinal d' Este where he was lodged with much honour After a few days allotted for his refreshment he was admitted to Audience with the Pope and having in humble manner kissed his feet he repeated the Hymn of Nunc dimittis or Lord lettest thou now thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation Which piece of flattery so pleased the Pope that he would give no credence to the Calumnies and charge of his Accusers but dismissed his Cause and returned him back to his Lodging with honour and entire satisfaction After which Romagasso his Rival coming to Rome to hear and see how matters were carried and finding himself discountenanced both by the Clergy and by the Princes conceived so sad a resentment of this miscarriage that falling sick with grief he soon after departed this life about the beginning of November 1581. Two Months after which the Grand Master being also transported with a different passion died at Rome both which accidents so happily concurring obviated all the difficulties which might offer about a new Election Hugh de Verdal a Gascon being chosen by common consent without trouble or other tumult The year 1583. began with two unfortunate Calamities which much afflicted the Pope and the City of Rome the first was Famine and want of Bread-corn which so miserably pinched the poor for the space of two Months that many of them were starved to death The other was a sad and doleful Tragedy which began at Rome and ended at Padoua the cause and matter thereof in short was this The Head Bayliff of Rome with his Followers understanding that a certain Bandito was come for a Spy to Rome and for Sanctuary was fled to the Palace of the Orsini by one means or other he seized and brought him from that place but it happened that as he was carrying him from thence Raimond Orsini Savillo and Rustici being on Horse-back with their Servants unhappily met the Bayliff and commanded him to release the Prisoner who was illegally seized within the priviledges of the Orsini The Bayliff refusing so to do Rustici strook him over the Head with his Cane which so incensed the Bayliff that
Princes he thought it would be more magnificent to buy or purchase Palaces for them in the Capital Cities and Courts rather than to rent Houses which appeared mean and low in the Eyes of the World The Venetians so soon as they understood the Pope's Design herein which they were extreamly forward to gratifie immediately wrote to their Ambassadour residing at Rome ordering him to acquaint the Pope that the Senate out of their good will and affection to the Papal Sea had resolved to bestow on the Nuntios Apostolical a Palace wherein to reside at Venice and to remain to them and their Successours for ever And accordingly gave possession to Matteucci the Pope's Nuntio then residing of a magnificent Palace in the square of St. Francis at Venice and by Deeds and conveyances under the Seal of St. Mark passed over the right and title thereof unto the present Nuntio and his Successours for ever The Pope having received the news hereof confirmed by the authentick Copy of the Deed was so greatly pleased that with a Letter full of kind Expressions he returned his thanks to the Republick for their generous Present and lest he should seem to be backward or defective in the like liberal returns he assigned to the Minister of Venice an other Palace at Rome in lieu of that which they had presented to his Nuntio at Venice Other Princes according to this Example were inclined to accommodate the Papal Minister with a Habitation in expectation of a like exchange at Rome but the truth was the Pope began to grow sensible of an inconvenience in this sort of Presents for that he could neither find Palaces in Rome sufficient to receive so many Ministers as were sent him from forein Princes in lieu of those which were allotted to his Nuntios in the respective Courts nor situation of places so fitted to the humour and rank of each Representative but that the condition of the Palace being more or less magnificent might administer cause of exception and quarrel to the respective Ministers for which reason the Pope considering better of this matter refused after the Present made him by Venice to accept the like from any other Prince declining the Obligation with a Complement and an Excuse and that rather than put the Prince to so great an Expence he was resolved to purchase Houses for the convenience of his Nuntios with his own Money Thus as Sixtus was haughty in his nature and affected high and glorious matters so he was severe and morose judging every criminal action or misbehaviour in Men to proceed from a contempt or want of fear which Men ought to bear towards his Government Several instances of which might be given but because we would not enlarge into many particulars we shall only mention one Story not unpleasant to be related which was this The Statue of Pasquine into the hand of which all Libels are put at Rome from whence they are called Pasquils was one day covered with a very dirty Shirt and that other Statue called Marforio asking the reason of it Pasquine answered because his Landress had left him to be made a Princess alluding to the Lady Camilla the Pope's Sister who from a Landress was promoted to be a great Lady The report of this Pasquil was immediately brought to the Pope who conceiving thereat a secret indignation endeavoured by his Spies to detect the Author of it but this being a secret known only to the Party himself the discovery seemed impossible by other means than the Confession of the Author to procure which the Pope published an Edict wherein he promised upon the word of a Pope to give two thousand Pistols together with the safety of his life to any person who should reveal the matter and confess himself to be the Author of this Pasquil and on the contrary threatned the Gallows and Torments to whomsoever should be discovered and by sufficient testimony be proved guilty The Author being more covetous of the two thousand Pistols than wise went directly to the Pope and confessed and acknowledged himself to be the Person who made the Pasquil which when the Pope heard he admired not a little at the boldness of the Man and earnestly looking on him gave him this Answer We are obliged to maintain the word and faith we have given you and therefore we order that the Money promised you shall be paid which being performed and a Receipt given for it the Pope farther added It is true said he We promised you the Money and your life both which we have performed but howsoever we have reserved another Reward for you in our breast which is a Sentence that both your Hands and Tongue be cut off that so you may not be able to speak or write more Satyrs of this kind In pursuance of this intention of the Pope this person was taken into custody and immediately his Confession produced as a testimony against him before the Judges by which being convicted immediately without delay his Hands were cut off and his Tongue bored through which sort of severe poceedings affrighted all Rome which was not accustomed to such Cruelties the which action with several others of the like nature strook an awe and fear into the minds of all Men so that generally people walk'd with great circumspection lest they should fall into the merciless and unrelenting hands of Sixtus Cardinal Buoncompagno who was constituted Gran Penitentiary by Gregory XIII dying this year with great Riches that Office by his decease becoming vacant it was expected that the Pope would have conferred the place on Cardinal Montalto his Nephew but to convince the World that merit and not affection prevailed in his mind he readily conferred that Office on Cardinal Aldobrandino a person of singular prudence and Learning and one whom he gladly found an occasion to gratifie the services he had performed to the Church the choice of a person so deserving was acceptable to all Men and of whom the Pope conceived such an esteem that he communicated to him all the secrets of his Counsels being confidently assured of the prudence sincerity and profoundness of his judgment The year 1587. being the third year of the Pontificate of Sixtus was now entered when the People of Rome reflecting on the great plenty and abundance of all provisions within the City caused by the care and wise contrivance of the Pope whilest all the neighbouring Dominions laboured under want and scarcity And also beholding the City of Rome by the munificence of this Pope adorned with stately Edifices the Citizens received so much satisfaction thereby that they erected a Statue of Brass to him in the Capitol with this Inscription Sixto V. Pont. Max. ob quietem publicam compressâ Sicariorum Exulumque licentiâ restitutam Annonae inopiam sublevatam urbem Edificiis Viis Aquaeductu illustratam S.P.Q.R. Sixtus for his divertisement did often use to walk about the City Incognito or in disguise in which kind of perambulation
which though it be a year of repentance yet it is also a year of Jubilee and of spiritual joy and comfort Now because the love of Christ for whom we are Ambassadours to all Nations constraineth us and the zeal which we have for your Souls doth consume our spirit we exhort and beseech you all by the blood which Jesus Christ hath spilt and by his coming in the last day of Judgment especially at this time of Jubilee That every one be converted from the evil of his way and turn unto the Lord with a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned because the Lord is gracious and merciful full of compassion and long-suffering Wherefore according to the duty of our Pastoral Office we do call and chearfully invite you Our dear Children in Christ namely the Emperor the Kings and Catholick Princes with all the faithful of Christ wheresoever dispersed in the most remote parts of the World that they would be present at this joyful solemnity of the Jubilee though we cannot but at the same time be miserably afflicted with consideration of the great numbers of people who have separated themselves from the union and Communion of the Catholick and Apostolical Church within the last Age of one hundred years past did with one mind and heart celebrate this holy year of Jubilee for the eternal salvation of whose souls we would gladly and willingly spill our blood and give our lives Wherefore you who are obedient Children and Catholick and beloved of God and us Venite Ascendite ad locum quem elegit Dominus Come unto this spiritual Jerusalem and to this holy Mount of Sion not according to the letter but Allegorically and by spiritual understanding because that from this place the holy light of Evangelical truth hath from the first beginning of the Primitive Church been diffused through all Nations This is that happy City whose faith the Apostle praises and commends in these words I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole World This is the City where the Chief of the Apostles Peter and Paul did vent their Doctrine with the effusion of their blood that Rome being the sacred Seat of St. Peter might become the capital City of the World the Mother of all the Faithful and the Majesty of all the other Churches Here is the Rock of Faith placed and from hence springs the fountain of the Priestly unity from hence are derived the clear streams of the purest Doctrine here are found the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven with full power to bind and loose and lastly here is conserved that Treasure of Indulgences which shall never fail of which the Roman High Priest is the principal keeper and Dispenser And though he doth dispense some part hereof every year as occasion doth require yet more especially in this Holy year of Jubilee a greater affluence thereof is dispersed when according to the solemnity of the most antient Churches of Rome when the gates are opened by the pious and liberal hands that so entering into the presence of God with joy and having cast off from their shoulders the yoke of sin and the tyranny of the Enemy you may be reconciled unto God by means of the Sacrament and therefore come you as true Children Heirs of Heaven and Possessours of Paradise Given at Rome near St. Peters in the year of our Lord's Incarnation 1599. June 18. in the 8th year of our Pontificate The Copy of this Letter being sent to all Christian Princes in communion with the Court of Rome the Pope busily employed himself in making preparations and provisions for entertainment of Pilgrims who in the following year of Jubilee crouded in those numbers to gain the Indulgences and Pardons as of Men and Women the account made amounted unto three Millions of Persons But the Pope was not so busily employed in his preparations for the Jubilee but that he attended to the decision of the Controversie of the Marquisat of Saluces which as we have said was at the late Treaty at Vervins put into his hands and power to be concluded and determined in the space of one year In order unto which the President Bruslard was dispatched to Rome in behalf of the French King and the Count d' Archonas of the Duke of Savoy and both met there about the beginning of this year 1599. the Cause being pleaded before the Pope both Parties pressed the Arguments so home in favour of the right of their respective matters that the Pope esteeming the Point difficult to be decided required some longer time before he would undertake to pass his judgment and in the interim proposed that the Marquisat should remain in his hands as a Depositary and an indifferent person between both Parties And though neither the King nor the Duke were well pleased with these delatory proceedings yet the King was contented to allow two Months for such determination but the Duke who had been possessed by the suggestions of his Minister at Rome that the Pope required to be the Depositary with design to bestow the Marquisat on one of his Nephews conceived such a jealousie of the Pope's intentions that he began to decline the Umpirage which when the Pope understood he with great indignation refused to interpose farther resolving neither to meddle with the Arbitration nor the Deposite The King who knew well in what manner to do right unto himself by his Sword was not much concerned for the rejection which the Pope had made of the Arbitration and the Duke being contented to have his Cause pass by other formalities than that of the Consistory judged his right more secure and more easily convincing by a personal Treaty with the King himself which matter being now taken out of the hand of the Pope we leave to the temporal determination of these Princes and proceed to other matters more agreeable to this History Henry IV. of France being in good favour and correspondence with Clement VIII treated with him about obtaining a Divorce or rather a dissolution of marriage between him and Margaret Dutchess of Valois to which this Pope might perhaps be more inclinable and easie on some reflections he made on the ill consequences which the delays of the like Divorce to Henry VIII of England produced to the Papal Power The Cardinal d' Ossac with the President Monsieur de Silery having Orders to prosecute this matter in the Court of Rome represented to the Pope the state of the marriage with Queen Margaret and that though the King their Master had ever since his conversion to the Catholick Religion entertained reverend and obedient thoughts towards the Papal Sea and might on score of being the eldest Son of the Church expected more than ordinary favours yet on consideration of the Nullity of this Marriage he desired nothing more than common justice The Pope who was very desirous to favour and
convenient to erect more a license to build was not onely granted but contributions made thereunto by the publick liberality and munificence so when it was necessary to set bounds and limits thereunto this Senate made use of their own Power alone without any diminution to the Canons of the Church And whereas the Pope hath a Power to restrain the Clergy from alienating their Lands and Estates to the Laiety without his consent and dispensation so also hath the temporal Prince the like Authority to forbid and inhibit all Lay-persons from making alienation of their Estates unto the Church Nor do Ecclesiastical persons lose any thing by this restriction but rather procure a benefit for when the temporal Power is weakned by such alienation this State which is the Bulwark of Christendom will not be able to withstand the common Enemy nor afford due protection either to the Clergy or Laiety And therefore the Senate doth not believe that they have incurred the Ecclesiastical Censure considering that Secular Princes have received that Power from God of making Laws which no other humane Authority is able to take from them and much less have the Briefs of your Holiness any place or prevalence in matters purely temporal which are clearly distinct from those which are spiritual to which the Papal Power doth singly extend Nor can this Senate imagine that your Holiness who is full of Piety and Religion will persist in these your Comminations until the cause hath first been fully examined and discussed And thus much they thought fit in short to make known unto your Holiness referring all things to be treated and explained more at large by their Ambassadour Extraordinary These Letters of the Senate being arrived at Rome were presented to the Pope by the hands of the Ambassadour who immediately opened and read them but the Contents so little pleased him that he was angry and froward all the time that they were in reading and in fine he told the Ambassadour that those Letters were no Answer to his Admonitory Briefs that the Answer was frivolous and insignificant that the matter was clear and evident on his side and that therefore he was resolved to proceed unto Sentence that the Senate must resolve to submit and obey for his cause was the cause of God Et Portae Inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam If the Monks of Padoua had purchased more Lands than were requisite or consistent with the welfare of the State upon address made to him he could have applyed a Remedy but the Senate proceeding in another manner were Tyrants Usurpers and Men of Principles different from their Ancestours wherefore he exhorted them not to deceive themselves with the thoughts of protracting the time in hopes of deciding the Dispute by his death for that in case he received not satisfaction therein in the space of fifteen days he would then proceed to execution of his Sentence The fifteen days were scarce expired when the Ambassadour Nani acquainted the Pope that Duodo was dispatched from Venice in quality of Ambassadour Extraordinary to inform his Holiness more amply of all matters to which the Pope replied that there was no need of farther expostulations the matter was clear and he would be obeyed But notwithstanding the Pope's hast time was protracted till towards the end of March when Duodo the Ambassadour Extraordinary arrived at Rome to whom the Pope would not have patience to grant all the methods of Complements but immediately at his arrival admitted him to Audience when the Ambassadour largely discoursing on every point in Controversie concluded that the Senate could not yield to the Demands of his Holiness without betraying that Power which God had put into their hands But the Pope making no reply to the Arguments in particular adhered close to the Conclusion that Ecclesiastical persons were exempted Jure Divino from the Secular Dominion that he had heard enough from Nani of this kind of reasoning that the Cause was God's and must prevail This resolution of the Pope being made known at Venice the Senate thought fit to communicate these their differences to the Ministers of forein Princes desiring their Opinions on those Points From which the Spanish Ambassadour excused him not desiring to concern his Master in those matters which might yield the least displeasure to the Pope but the Imperial and French Ambassadours were much more frank and open in their Opinions for the first did allow and approve the reasons of the Senate alledging the Customs of his own Country the French Comte where the same things were practised and Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour declared that he could not understand those Papal Laws which deny unto Princes the Government of their own State and therefore the Republick was much to be commended for preferring their liberty before any other respect At Rome the Cardinals of Verona and Vicenza used all the Interest and persuasions they were able to induce the Pope to defer the promulgation of his Sentence for some time putting him in mind that the Spiritual Arms were not to be exercised but in cases where they were sure to prevail Then said the Pope I shall make use of the Temporal and in the mean time to manifest to the World my patience and tenderness towards them I shall grant them the term of twenty four days to consider and repent and accordingly having formed and printed his Monitory on the 17th of April he caused it to be read and published in the Consistory After which he added That he had greatly studied this Point and having consulted with the most famous Canonists the general Opinion of them all was that the Republick acted contrary to the Authority of the Apostolick Sea and against the liberties and immunities of the Church alledging in his favour the Council of Simmaco and of Lions under Pope Gregory with other Decrees made by the Councils of Constance and Basil and that the same was so declared in the case against Henry II. against the Kings of Castile and other Kings and caused a Constitution made by Innocent III. to be read and to proceed the more regularly in this important matter the Votes of the Cardinals were distinctly required the number of Cardinals then present in the Consistory were forty one all which did either in few words assent or more at large produce the Authority of the Canonists in confirmation of the Pope's reasons And indeed little less than this free concurrence could be expected from them for though some few out of a zeal towards the Ecclesiastical liberty might really be possessed with this Opinion yet the generality were guided by other Principles some perhaps were unwilling to displease the Pope in expectation of preferments of themselves or Friends others had a prospect of arising to the Popedom and for that cause were willing to exalt its Power every one had some consideration or other for his own benefit but not such consideration as was required in study of the
indifferency between the Pope and the Republick serving God and Mammon or otherwise should have intimation to depart The which Order was signified to them by the Patriarchal Vicar with positive Orders immediately to depart and to consign into his hands all the Plate Vestments and goods belonging to their Church and in like manner Orders were given to all Governours to execute the same Decree in their respective jurisdictions This Command being signified to the Jesuits they assembled all their Votaries into their Church and gathered great Contributions from them and persuaded the Capucins that when they departed they should march two and two in a rank as in Procession with a Crucifix on the breast of every one which perhaps might move some disturbance in the minds of the Commonalty who beholding so many Crucifixes departing from them might apprehend also that Christ himself and the light of the Gospel was leaving their City which Opinion might be the beginning of some happy Sedition The Jesuits themselves were hastned away and forced to depart about two hours in the Night every one carrying his Christ as they called it about his Neck the People flocked in great numbers to see their departure and accompanied them to the Boats shouting and crying aloud Let them go to the Devil In divers parts of the City they had concealed and hid away the Vessels and pretious Ornaments of their Church and their best Houshold-stuff with their Library leaving their College empty and void of all Furniture whatsoever or of any thing of moment unless the Library given to them by the late Arch-bishop Lewis Molino with an other Library of prohibited Books And though the Jesuits of Venice had burnt many of their Papers yet at Padoua they left divers Copies of a certain Book containing eighteen Rules with this title Regulae aliquot servandae ut cum Orthodoxâ Ecclesiâ verè sentiamus In the seventeenth Rule of which they were commanded not to insist overmuch in their Sermons on the force and energy of the grace of God And in the third Rule they were enjoyned to believe according as the Hierarchy of the Church believed that is if the Church determined any thing to be white they should believe it so to be though the colour appeared black to the sight of their own eyes And lastly they left unto their Disciples and Votaries certain Rules whereby to govern themselves during this Interdict But though the Jesuits Capuchins and other Orders of St. Francis Reformed had abandoned Venice and were retired to other Convents in Milan Mantoua Bologna and Ferrara yet the Capuchins of Brescia and Bergamo where were no Jesuits to seduce them remained in excellent Concord and Obedience and securing themselves with that Protection which they received from the Senate remained resolute and constant to their Principles against all the Censures of Excommunication and other Spiritual penalties issued against them by their Superiours and in regard many of them were sober and learned Men they retorted all those Spiritual Arms with great force and power of argument and reason It was certainly believed at Rome that this Monitory would have produced three notable Effects First it was given for granted that all the Religious Orders would immediately abandon the Dominions of Venice by which the Interdict must of necessity have been observed Secondly That the City and People finding themselves deprived of all the Divine Offices would rise in a mutiny against the Government and compel them to give satisfaction to the Pope Thirdly That it would beget a misunderstanding amongst the Nobility and cause them to divide into several Factions towards which the Jesuits though absent did labour with all the Art and industry imaginable But the Court of Rome against their expectations finding that all matters had a contrary effect that Mass and other Offices of the Church were Celebrated without interruption that the people frequented the Churches with greater Devotion than before that the Senate were unanimous in their Counsels and the Commonalty quiet and obedient they began to repent them of this proceeding and many severely blamed the Pope for being over-rash and hasty for that though there might be reason in the merit of his Cause yet the prosecution of it was of that importance as ought to have been attempered with prudence and the consequences well weighed before matters were screwed up to that Degree as admitted of no indifferent terms or accommodation Wherefore now it concerned the Pope and Clergy to labour with Art and power of the Spiritual Arms in vindication of their Cause in order whereunto the Cardinals were set at work to prevail with the refractory Friers and Monks to leave their Dwellings and Party and come over to them promising in reward of that good Service honours and preferments in the Church and on the contrary threatned them with Censures and punishments both Spiritual and Temporal Howsoever they observed a different manner in treating with the rich Friers and the poor Mendicants For to the Poor they said that if they could not observe the Inderdict they should then depart and leave all they had for sake of the Gospel and if that were not permitted they should then seek after the glorious Crown of Martyrdom But to the Rich they thought better than to use this hard saying Durus est hic sermo for though they were commanded to observe the Interdict yet were advised not to leave or abandon their Monasteries and Revenues and the better to inculcate these persuasions Commissaries were appointed out of the same Orders privately to convey themselves into the Dominions of Venice to instil and foment this Doctrine in the minds of the Regulars but the ways were so obstructed by the diligence and watchfulness of the Governours in their respective Dominions that not a Frier durst adventure to steal in and engage in that Errand Seeing therefore that this course would not take the next expedient was to raise a dust and disturbance in the Court of forein Princes And in the first place the Jesuits who were and still are very prevalent in Poland laboured to put an affront on Foscarini Ambassadour for the Republick to that King causing two of the Gentlemen belonging to his Retinue to be disturbed at Mass and expelled the Church And the Nuntio made very warm Instances to the King that the Monitory against Venice might be affixed in all publick places of his Dominions but the King on the contrary did not onely refuse to grant this request but highly resented the late Affront offered to the two Venetian Gentlemen in satisfaction for which by the King's Order the Marshal of the Court and the Cardinal of Cracow having assembled the Friers together and duly reprehended their insolence commanding them the next day to sing High Mass in their Church to which having invited the Ambassadour they obliged the Friers to ask his Pardon for the affront offered to his Servants And farther the King with approbation of his Council
Garrison at Ferrara with a thousand Foot he likewise banished all Strangers from Marca and Romagna and commanded the Natives thereof to return into their own Country But to the management of this War designed many difficulties occurred for in the first place there was an excessive scarcity of all Provisions in Rome and the Ecclesiastical State as also in Naples and Abruzzo by reason of which the People cryed out nothing but Peace and Bread and on the contrary there was great abundance of all things within the Dominions of Venice from whence the People of the Pope's Country receiving the most part of their Provisions were kindly affected to the Venetian State but notwithstanding all these difficulties the Pope resolved to proceed in his War and to recruit his Troops and for maintenance thereof new Impositions were laid on Salt Flesh and Paper with intention also to lay a Tax on Wine and Timber if occasion should require And in the mean time the Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan gave out that he would have an Army speedily in the Field consisting of twenty five thousand Men composed of Germans Napolitans Switzers and Spaniards Though the Venetians did not neglect all due care towards the provisions of War and to make their Defence whensoever they should be attacked yet with more especial regard they had an Eye to Plots and Conspiracies within the State giving Orders to their Sea-Captains to stop all Vessels which sailed in the Gulf unless such as had Passes from the King of Spain for his own particular Affairs which caused great embroils along the Coast of Romagna and the Marca d' Ancona which seemed as it were to be blocked up Orders were likewise given to hinder all exportation of Corn out of the Dominions of Venice and Sequestrations laid on the Revenues of the Clergy who had quitted or abandoned the Venetian Countries for which cause many Prelats at Rome were forced to retrench their Families But notwithstanding the Promises made by the Spaniards of administring Aid to the Pope which at the first heat were positive and large yet the Court at Madrid coming to make more mature reflections on the tenure of their former Letters thought fit to explicate their sence more at large and to signifie to the State of Venice That it was not the intention of his Catholick Majesty to make a War on the Republick but onely to demonstrate unto the World that that Crown would on all occasions be joyned to the Apostolical Sea And accordingly D. Inigo de Cardenas Ambassadour residing in Ordinary at Venice did on the 13th of July present a memorial to the Senate signifying That the King being desirous of doing good Offices in the mediation of Peace between the Pope and that Republick had commanded him his Ambassadour to interpose therein assuring him that whatsoever he should act in order thereunto would be most pleasing to his Majesty And that some Overtures might be made in order to this Accommodation Cardenas desired that for a beginning thereunto the Senate would give him leave in their name to desire and supplicate the Pope that he would be pleased to take off his Censures from them being much troubled that they had ever given his Holiness any cause of displeasure which being words of formality and Complement onely could not in reality be prejudicial to the right of their Cause and yet were in this state of things of importance and absolute necessity To which the Doge made Answer That neither by himself nor by the Senate was there ever any just cause of displeasure given to the Pope and therefore to Scandals and Disgusts voluntarily taken and not given there was no other remedy than voluntary Acknowledgments The same day the French Ambassadour urged the Senate to be the first to make Overtures of Peace to the Pope which could be no dishonour to the Republick considering with what respect and duty all Christian Princes treated the Pope and that it is Jus Commune to submit and humble themselves before his Holiness for other matters they might with all confidence rely on the directions of his Majesty herein whom they had always found a true Friend and a faithful Ally That considering on what terms the King of Spain stood with them and how he had declared himself of the Papal Party it was not now seasonable to disgust the King his Master and that therefore they would be pleased to think of some Answer which he might with confidence communicate to the King The Senate having taken these particulars into consideration gave almost the same Answer as they had newly done to the Spanish Ambassadour Adding onely to the French That by way of Mediation he would be pleased to represent unto the Pope That the Senate was troubled that his Holiness would take displeasure at the actions of a Republick which was entirely devoted and dedicated to the glory and service of God to the publick quiet and tranquillity of the World and to the maintenance of that liberty and Power which was committed to them by Divine Right These Negotiations being ineffectual and fruitless the Senate gave Order to Giustiniano their Ambassadour in England to inform King James with the progress and success of all these Affairs and differences with the Pope which when the King had rightly understood he returned this Answer That he was highly satisfied with the constancy of the People and unanimous resolution of the Senate in defence of their Native liberty and justice and of that Power which God hath bestowed upon Princes That the Declaration made by Spain in a Letter was ridiculous and that matters of such importance required more than words That he was highly sensible of the honour which the Republick had done him in sending him an Ambassadour Ordinary and Extraordinary wherefore that he might return them the like demonstrations of sincere Friendship he promised to grant and condescend to all the desires of the Senate for that he should be very ungrateful and unjust in case he should deny protection to that righteous Cause of the Republick which was engaged in the maintenance of that liberty and Authority which is the common Right of all Princes in the Universe And therefore in case the Senate should at any time be engaged in War for this Cause they might be assured and rely on the word of a Prince that he would assist them with all the power he was able and that he had given Commission to his Ambassadour at Venice to assure the Senate the like in his name And farther the Earl of Salisbury by the King's Order added That the King was not induced to grant them these succours on expectation that they should leave Communion with the Church of Rome but onely from a principle of Justice by which he esteemed himself obliged to vindicate the Cause of Princes and the Authority of the Secular Power as also from a Spirit of Animosity being resolved to take that side to which
Spain was declared an Enemy in return for which the Senate made their due acknowledgments to the King Whilest these things were in Treaty the Spaniards endeavoured to raise a War between the Turk and the Venetians supposing thereby to drive the Senate to those streights as would inevitably compel them to a composition with the Pope To perform which the Marquiss of Santa Croce having received the Nuntio's Benediction departed from Naples with a Fleet of twenty six Gallies and having advice that the Venetian Armata was then at Corfu he privately crossed the Gulf and on the 10th of August arrived at Durazzo a City of Albania which being empty almost of all its People at that season of the year when the Inhabitants are for the most part in their Fields and Gardens gathering their Fruits he easily surprized the place sacked and burnt it carrying away Captives about one hundred fifty five Men Women and Children together with thirty pieces of Canon The news hereof coming to Venice did much trouble the Senate who apprehending lest the Turks should attribute this act of Hostility ro the Venetians would in revenge thereof make War upon them to prevent which they immediately dispatched advice to their Bailo at Constantinople giving him to undestand the truth of this Aggression which being performed by the Spaniards and not by them ought to be represented to the Grand Signior in such manner as might not be occasion of any Rupture The Grand Signior being rightly informed of the truth of this matter did believe that this attempt was performed by the Spaniards with Artifice and design and therefore gave Order to the Captain Pasha or Admiral of his Gallies to entertain a perfect good correspondence with the Venetians and joyn with them to the confusion of the Pope and the Spaniards Some few days after this the Turkish Fleet consisting of fifty five Gallies came to an Anchor not far from Corfu commanded by Gieffier Pasha to whom General Pasqualigo who then commanded the Venetian Fleet and was at Corfu sent a Complement by his Secretary to the Pasha which was in like manner returned with many obliging Expressions telling him of the great Esteem and honour which the Grand Signior had for the Republick and as a demonstration thereof had given him Commission to joyn with the Venetian Fleet and to make War on the Pope and the King of Spain in such manner as he should receive direction from the Venetians acting a part or in the same body with them as they should think convenient and necessary and in farther assurance hereof he dispeeded three Gallies commanded by the Bei of Damiata to inform Pasqualigo of these Resolutions which he had received in Commission from his Master the Grand Signior to which friendly offer Pasqualigo returned a like courteous acknowledgment saying howsoever that he could neither do nor act any thing herein without Orders and directions from the Senate and in the mean time whilest these Advices were in going and Answers expected he prevailed with the Turks to withdraw their Forces from those Seas promising to give them timely notice in case there should be occasion to desire their Assistance About this time being in the Month of August the Pope in justification of these his proceedings employed Scipio Gobellucci to write the reasons and arguments which moved and directed him in this Cause which Papers were dispersed over Mantoua Milan Cremona and Ferrara and Copies thereof sent into Spain and other parts which Writings the Senate taking into consideration It was proposed that they should be answered by some learned Hand and that all the Letters Reasons and Proceedings in this Cause should be printed and published to the World but this Proposal was generally disliked by the Senate as a matter which would exasperate and keep alive the difference and rub on the Sore which already smarted too much that the Cause of the Senate was sufficiently known to the World and that silence would look more like contempt esteeming such Pamphlets not worthy the publick notice or consideration and would argue greater reverence to the Apostolical Sea than to expose and lay it open even in those matters wherein the Republick had received most manifest Injuries Howsoever it was impossible to restrain the Wit and Pens of some working Heads and Spirits who still were writing Papers on one side and the other which being as yet onely in Manuscript could not be so publick to common view as when they were issued from the Press howsoever in Milan there was a scandalous Pamphlet printed and set out by some Churchmen in which against the Rules of all Sense and Reason it was intimated that during this Interdict all Marriages being a Sacrament of the Church were invalid the copulation adulterous and the Children Bastards the which Paper being spread over all Bergamo Brescia and Crema it was thought fit that in confutation hereof a Treatise wrote about one hundred and fifty years ago by Gerson should be re-printed and divulged which was so opposite to the matter in hand and so properly accommodated to the present times and differences that nothing could then have been better nor more fitly applyed to which was annexed a Letter without name exhorting all Curates to attend their Flock and Charge without fear of giving any offence to God by not observing the Interdict This Treatise of Gerson being wrote so many years past carried such Authority and weight that Bellarmine esteemed it worth his Answer and Baronius cryed it down with such passion as if the belief thereof had been a total subversion of the Christian Religion The Authority of these two learned Cardinals was so great and considerable that the Senate of Venice thought fit for the better ease of pious and tender Consciences to give a License to certain learned Writers to publish their Reasons and Arguments in defence of the Republick restraining themselves always within the compass of those Rules which the Laws prescribe that is That nothing should be asserted contrary to Faith good Customs and manners and the Authority of the Prince for perusal and approbation of which five Divines were appointed to assemble in the House of the Patriarchal Vicar and to allow all writings of that nature with their Imprimatur before any Printer should dare to put them in the Press or publish the same Thus were all the Wits set at work in writing some on one side and some on the other the chief Heads which those who wrote in favour of the Republick were these That God had constituted two sorts of Government in the World one Spiritual and the other Temporal The Spiritual was committed to the Apostles and their Successours the Temporal unto Princes and both were restrained within such limits as that one ought not to meddle or interfere with the other That the Pope hath no Power to annull the temporal Laws made by Princes nor to depose them or free their Subjects from their Allegiance to them
differences And whereas this Republick hath always endeavoured to maintain a perfect good understanding with the Apostolical Chair so now more especially it remains satisfied in having at length obtained this their most just desire of which it is thought fit to give them notice Adding farther That all matters being performed on both sides which were most equal and the censures taken off the Protest also was revoked In the Evening the Senate assembled for choice of an Ambassadour to be sent to Rome and reside with his Holiness the Person elected was the Cavalier Contarini who in Company with three others had formerly been employed to congratulate with the Pope for his assumption to the Papal Chair and herewith ended this great Controversie between the Pope and the Venetians which had disturbed all Christendom and might have been the ruin and destruction of the Papal Authority had not the Pope wisely in time been made sensible thereof and granted every thing almost which the Venetians required In the beginning and progress of this whole matter we may observe the spirit of this Paul V. who aspired to make himself as great as Sixtus V. and seemed to follow much of his way and method but he undertok an Enterprise which was too difficult and out of his power his Errour in which was grounded on a mistake that he was better able to cope or deal with a Republick than with a Monarch for that the first being composed of divers Heads and humours might sooner admit a division in Councils than in a single person and that many of them being zealous and most of them superstitious in Religion might be affected by Ecclesiastical Censures and terrified by Excommunications But the contrary was made to appear by the effects which most evidently have signalized the Wisdom and Constancy of this Republick which would never be obliged to become pliant and flexible by all the fires of Hell and damnation which the Pope could threaten And indeed it farther appears that as the Republick was of Opinion that the Censures of the Pope were invalid when they were not established on just and legal causes so likewise they believed that they could not depart from the least scruple of their temporal Power which God had given them without betraying that Trust which God had committed to their charge and herein they were so resolute and constant that lest they should seem to acknowledg a fault in any one step of the late transactions they would not so much as accept of the Cardinals Blessing lest it should seem to be given in form of Absolution This Controversie being ended which had hitherto allayed all the joy and contentment which the Pope conceived for his late exaltation to the Papal Dignity the Venetians in pursuance of the Articles agreed dispatched the four Ambassadours to Rome namely Francisco Molino Procurator of St. Mark John Mocenigo Peter Dudo Francisco Contareno all Knights and Senatours of Chief Renown whom the Pope received with all imaginable honour being overjoyed to have put an end to a business so full of danger to himself and in which his measures having failed him he no longer argued in defence of his Cause nor entertained the Ambassadours with Expostulations concerning matters past which having had little foundation in any reasons he was desirous to pretermit and to have buried in silence Soon after the promotion of this Pope in the Month of November 1605. that diabolical Plot of the Gun-powder Treason to blow up the King and Queen of England all the Nobles and Commons assembled in Parliament was happily and by God's immediate Providence discovered the particulars of which being recorded in our Chronicles and believed to have been contrived at Rome we shall not need to relate in this place onely that King James for security of himself and his Dominions issued forth a Proclamation commanding all Roman Priests Seminaries and Jesuits as being the chief Incendiaries of troubles to depart the Kingdom of England and not to return upon pain of the severity of those Laws which were made against them as also all Recusants to return home to their Dwellings and not to remain in London or come within ten miles of the Court without special License After which Proclamation the Oath of Allegiance was presently administred to all sorts of people and their names certified to the Lords of the Council who refused to take it The form of this Oath administred to the Recusants in England was brought to Rome and examined and discussed by the College of Cardinals who after mature and serious deliberation did unanimously concur that the said Oath could not be lawfully taken by any true Catholick with a safe Conscience Wherefore the Pope signified so much by his Brief exhorting his people in England to refuse the said Oath and with patience constancy and faith to suffer those persecutions which for this cause were laid upon them In the year 1607. the King of Congo sent an Ambassadour to this Pope called Anthony Emanuel Vunthi for so the Jesuits and other Missionaries into those parts had named him he was received honourably at Rome where the Pope promised to furnish him with several learned and godly Preachers which should return with him into his own Country and there labour to encrease and propagate the Gospel but this Ambassadour falling sick soon after his arrival at Rome was buried in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and with him ceased the design of sending Apostles into those parts Howsoever the Arch-Bishop of Goa in imitation of the late Ambassadour from Congo procured Letters from the King of Persia to this Pope dated at Spahaun the 20th day of January 1608. and were afterwards followed by an Ambassadour called Ali Golikek Mordar who arrived at Rome in the year 1609. and was received into the Vatican where the Pope sate on his Throne and on each side the Cardinals in form and manner of a Consistory Those Writers who favour the Papal Cause pretend that the King of Persia sent then to acknowledg Obedience to the Pope who for that cause returned solemn thanks to God for having enlightned those remote parts with the rays of his Gospel and that the Sun of Righteousness was arisen in those parts after so long a Night of obscure Gentilism and false Religion But the success of following times proved the mistake of this matter the King 's of Persia continuing still in the Doctrine of their Prophet Ali and therefore it may with more reason be asserted and believed that this Ambassadour from Persia was sent in favour and at the instigation of some of the Persian Subjects who were or had been Christians of the Armenian Church which by some Friers crept in amongst them had been seduced from their own to the Roman Church which was not difficult to perform if we consider the poverty of those poor Armenians who were easily inclined to the profession of that Faith upon promises of preferments in the Church so that
was excluded Campori made the greater bustle and so also did Aquino but great and strong Parties opposing against them vacated their Elections At length Cardinal Borghese naming Ludovisio was followed by a general concurrence of almost all the Cardinals almost we may say because Campori upon the news thereof turned pale and ready to fall into a swoon Aldobrandino also and Aquino fell sick and were carried out of the Conclave and Aquino having now lost all hopes of being made Pope took it so grievously to heart that in two days he departed this life Thus Ludovisio being elected he was conducted into the Chappel Parlina where he was vested in his Pontificalibus and acknowledged and adored for Pope on the 21th of February 1621. and took the name of Gregory XV. This Pope was born at Bologna on the third of January 1554. his Father was Count Pompeo Ludovisio and his Mother Camilla Blanchina he was in his youthful years educated in the Jesuits Colledg at Rome where he was instructed in all sorts of Humane and Philosophical Learning returning afterwards to Bologna he studied the Civil Law in which he arrived to the degree of Doctor and thence again setling himself at Rome he gained the friendship of three succeeding Popes by Gregory XIII he was chosen and created Principal Judg of the Capitol by Clement VIII he was made Referendary of both Signatures and presided in all Civil Causes in the place of Deputy to Cardinal Rusticuccio the Pope's Vicar he was afterwards assumed into Commission with the Auditors of the Rota which Office one of his Ancestors named Lodowick Ludovisio had about one hundred and fifty years before with great satisfaction and prudence admitted He was likewise by the same Clement VIII adjoyned in Commission with Maffeo Barbarini Clerk of the Apostolical Chamber who afterwards was Pope and sent to Beneventum to appease Tumults and Seditions arisen between the Officers of the Pope and those of the King of Spain And lastly Paul V. created him Arch-bishop of Bologna upon promotion to which Prelacy he wrote a Letter to his Diocesans full of Charity and paternal affection which was printed at Bologna and is extant at this day About this time a War was begun between Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy and Ferdinand Duke of Mantoua grounded on certain differences about some places in the Dutchy of Montferrat which were the cause of great trouble in Milan and other places of Italy in regard that Philip III. King of Spain took part with the Duke of Mantoua to appease which disturbances and compose which differences Pope Paul employed this Alexander Ludovisio qualifying him with the Title of his Nuntio in those three Provinces to confer with the Ambassadours of France and Spain in which negotiation he so well acquitted himself and with such honour towards the Papal Sea that Peace being concluded and all Disputes ended the Pope in reward of the pains and prudence of Ludovisio on the 20th of November 1616. promoted him to the degree of Cardinal with which Title he resided in his Diocese until news came of the death of Paul V when he immediately repaired to Rome and entred the Conclave on the 8th of February with the other Cardinal and on the 21th of that month was himself created Pope Some few days after which being crowned in St. Peter's Church with the usual pomp he took possession of the Sovereign Power of the Church in the Church of St. John de Lateran which Ceremonies being past he published Jubilies and Pardons over all Christendom to all such who should with sincere minds pray for the prosperity and happiness of his Reign At this time a War began to be inflamed between the Inhabitants and Neighbours of the Valteline in which the Kings of Spain and France became involved the causes and original of which doth not appertain to this History Spain being desirous to interest Gregory in this Cause offered to deposite the Forts of the Valteline in his hands making great ostentations of their desires to Peace and quietness but in Rome the Opinions and Counsels upon an offer of such importance were doubtful and divided for those who penetrated the most deeply into matters of Policy were not willing that the Authority of the Church and Power of the Pope should be so far engaged or that the professed neutrality and mediation should run so much hazard for that being once accepted by the Pope the Conditions of Peace would be rendered more difficult and perhaps impossible for if in case an agreement should happen between two Kings of restoring all things to their former estate it would be difficult to conceive with what decency the Pope could restore into the hands of the Protestants whom he esteemed Hereticks those places which were committed to his Guardianship and custody The Venetian Republick being of the same Opinion sent Soranzo Ambassadour Extraordinary to Rome to disuade the Pope from lending his Name and Authority to the interests of Spain but he yielding an Ear to his Nephews who were overcome by Pensions and Benefices from Spain was possessed with an Opinion and belief that at the appearing of his Colours all the Arms of the Enemy would out of Veneration fall from their hands upon which the glorious memorial of Peace preserved and Religion protected would remain as an Ornament to his Name and a Crown upon his Sepulcre But the French shewed themselves displeased that Gregory had not expected the sence of that Crown upon the matter before he resolved to accept the Deposite howsoever in the French Councils the Opinion prevailed that the Pope should accept of the Deposite with certain limitations and reserves and it was declared that the Deposite should remain until the end of July it being now the month of May within which time the Forts being demolished and all restraints upon the Grisons and Armies removed which did oppress them affairs should be restored to their former State which not being performed the League should supplicate the Pope to join himself to their Arms thereby to obtain the effect In pursuance of these resolutions the Duke of Fiano the Pope's own Brother a dull and sottish Man was sent with fifteen thousand Foot and five hundred Horse to take possession of the Towns to be deposited but had been resisted in the Valley had not the Governour of Milan removed all obstacles but these matters came to no maturity for amidst these transactions the Pope departed this life In the year 1622. Lewis XIII of France was involved in great Wars against his Protestant Subjects and rendered himself Master of the Provinces of Poictou Xantonge Gascony Dauphino and Languedoc Philip IV. King of Spain was employed in Wars against the Hollanders likewise the Emperour Ferdinand II. waged Wars with the Protestants in Germany and with assistance of Marquis Spinola and the Duke of Bavaria despoiled the Prince Palatine of the Rhine of his Dominions and having the plunder of Heidelberg the Duke of Bavaria
the success soon quieted their minds and the Great Duke to shew a confidence in his people put Arms into their hands which had not been accustomary for many years past Thus did matters pass with various successes but most commonly in favour of the Confederates until the season proper for action ended when the Winter approaching the Treaties interrupted by the War were again reassumed And indeed Vrban discovered not only an inclination but a desire of Peace for being burthened with years and weary of the cares which War carries with it was desirous to end his days in calmness and quiet and though his Nephews endeavoured to disguise matters which were the most tragical and sad yet the clamours of the people which had suffered under the devastations and pressures of War had come to his Ears wherefore he consented to a Treaty with the restitution of Castro entreating the Cardinal Bichi who was sent by the Court of France for the Office of Mediation to hasten the Peace that the short residue of his life might terminate in quietness The Congregation of State erected purposely for direction of the Military Affairs concurred in their desires with the Pope to which Cardinal Barberin though much against his will was forced to condescend knowing that with the restitution of Castro a dishonourable Peace was to be the consequence of an unhappy War With these dispositions towards a Peace Cardinal Bichi departed from Rome and in his way to Venice passed through Florence where in Discourse he understood from the Great Duke that saving his own Rights and Interests the Confederates would be satisfied with the full restoration of the Duke of Parma The Cardinal being arrived at Venice was followed by the Dukes of Modena and Parma Gondi and Testi were already there debating with Nani and Gussoni whom the Senate had deputed for that purpose It was now the beginning of the year 1644. when the Cardinal Bichi proposed That Absolution and Pardon should be demanded by France for Duke Edward and that Castro should be restored to him and that the rights of the Montists should remain as before and that the Confederates should restore that which they possessed belonging to the Church And to take off the diffidence which the Confederates conceived of non-performance of Articles by the Barberins he proposed the word of France for Guarantie upon declaration and promise that their Arms should be employed against him that should fail in execution of the Agreement Vrban falling extreamly sick whilst matters were in Treaty Bichi hastned the conclusion considering that his death would cause great alteration in the Treaty and as a preparation thereunto proposed a cessation of Arms to which the Confederates assented being sensible that such an accident could not happen without great revolutions in the Dominions of the Church and that with the death of the Pope the Authority of the Nephews ceasing those motives would vanish which had been the Original and cause of the War but the Pope's recovery altered all those Counsels which were contrived in case of his death and induced them to hasten a conclusion of the Peace The Articles therefore proposed by the Cardinal being debated in several Assemblies were at last concluded and agreed and subscribed at Venice by Cardinal Bichi for France by Giovanni Nani for Venice by Battista Gondi for the Great Duke and by the Marquis Fassoni for Modena and though the Duke of Parma refused to subscribe upon certain difficulties he made yet being over-ruled by the Confederates he was forced to concur The Cardinal with this Agreement posted in all hast to Rome being entertained in all places of the Ecclesiastical State with the Acclamations and Prayers of the People longing for Peace The Articles subscribed by the Confederates began with a Preamble and Declaration That they had entered into this War with no other Design than for the restoration of Prince Edward reserving in all other matters their most constant Obedience to the Pope and the Holy See That all acts of Hostility be suspended and that the Confederate Princes withdraw their Forces into their own Dominions That all Fortifications raised during this present War shall be demolished on one side and the other To the Persons and Places which had served or rendred themselves to any other Party Pardon was granted Prisoners were set at liberty the Religious Persons who had withdrawn themselves were permitted to return and the Sequestration was taken off from the Rents of the Knights of Malta and all Rights were clearly reserved to the Parties as aforesaid For execution of all which Hostages were given to the French King and the King for satisfaction of both Parties declared that he having become Guarantie for the Peace his Arms should be employed against those who observed not the Articles and in favour of those who executed the Accord Thus Castro was rendered and the Accord on all sides executed and Peace ensued to the satisfaction of the Pope and quiet of Italy but Vrban did not long enjoy the happiness of this Peace for being entered into the seventy seventh year of his age he died on the 29th of July in the year 1644. having reigned twenty one years wanting eight days He was certainly a Person of high prudence generosity and fit for Business in his youth he was esteemed a great Poet and excellently well versed in all the Books of Antient Poesie He was very munificent in his publick Buildings and in his own private Concernments he was no less splendid having in his life-time erected a stately Monument for himself in a corner of St. Peter's Church near the Sepulchre of Paul III. and adorned it with pillars of Marbles according to the contrivance and direction of Cavalier Bernini with this Inscription Vrbani VIII Barberini Florent Pont. Max. In Vaticano Tumulum Excitavit Ornavit Johannes Laurentius Berninus Eques His greatest fault was Nepotisme or too great a fondness for his Nephews and indulgence to his whole Family which he was resolved to make Rich and Great and indeed he had opportunity so to do in the long time of his Pontificate having reigned almost twenty one years during which at nine several Creations he made seventy four Cardinals of which number of seventy four three were his own Nephews viz. Francisco Barberino Antonio Barberino the Capuchin commonly known by the name of Cardinal Barberino to distinguish him from the other Cardinal Antonio the younger Brother of Cardinal Francisco who was Prior of the Order of Jerusalem and a Knight of the Great Cross of Malta and made General of the Ecclesiastical Army in the place of Taddeo Barberino the Prefect who for his cowardise and ill success was recalled from that Charge INNOCENT X. URBAN VIII having as is said breathed his last on the 29th of July the Cardinals then residing in Rome to the number of thirty nine assembled at a Congregation in order to dispose and settle matters for the more quiet and
and prejudice not allowing them for true and legal excepting against the sum with which they had charged themselves which the Auditors would have to be eight Millions But Counsel pleading in behalf of the Barberins desired for justification of them it might be permitted to examine the Books of Accounts which were remaining in the Apostolical Chamber to which for their own discharge they referred themselves But this Demand gave no satisfaction or stop to the proceedings of Court whereby in an extraordinary manner and without form of Law the Estate belonging to the Barberins in the Monte was sequestred with all the other Rents belonging to them within the City of Rome or any other place within the Ecclesiastical Dominions wherefore the Barberins being apprehensive of farther proceedings against their Persons after consideration held with their Friends both Cardinal Francisco and Taddeo the Prefect retired from Rome and other parts within the Dominions of the Church to places of Sanctuary and Refuge In the mean time proceedings of Court against them were carried on with greater rigour and severity so that the news of their arrival in France was the common Discourse of all Rome and their resolution therein greatly applauded by all indifferent persons to be prudent and agreeable to their present circumstances considering that the French King had espoused their quarrel and taken them into his care and protection But the little esteem and great neglect which the Pope seemed to shew to those instances which the King made in behalf of the Barberins were so highly resented by his Majesty that both the Senate of Venice and the Great Duke though an Enemy to them greatly fearing that this Cause might introduce the French Arms into Italy interceded with the Pope to moderate the anger he had conceived against the Barberins and to allow of some Conditions and expedients of Reconciliation but all their good Offices were not able to give any stop or arrest of judgment seisure being made of their Estates and Revenue without any other reason than quia hic placet The news hereof being extreamly ill resented at the Court of France it was judged fit to send the Bishop of Angiers to Rome to confer with Cardinal Grimaldi upon this matter that so a greater Authority might be given to his Negotiations The Ambassadour of Venice being recalled from Rome by the Senate before his departure thence consulted with Cardinal Grimaldi and the Bishop of Angiers in what manner to govern his Discourse at his last Audience and having taken his directions from them he warmly applied himself to the Pope representing the danger of a War with France and that it was not prudent for the Cause of a private Family and to gratifie some particular grudges to engage the Church and all Italy in publick calamities but the Pope seeming regardless of all those considerations replied That it became not his greatness to capitulate with his Subjects but in case the Barberins would voluntarily come in and throw themselves at the feet of his mercy he would shew them such favour as the World might take notice how much the instances of his most Christian Majesty and the Republick of Venice in their behalf had prevailed upon him But these general terms and uncertain expressions giving no satisfaction to the French Court the King wrote to his Ambassadours at Munster where the general Peace of Christendom was then in Treaty Ordering them to give that Assembly to understand the Passion he conceived for the Cause of the Barberins was such as would obstruct all proceedings unless some Expedients were contrived and some Conditions provided for their security and restoration by which the Pope was made sensible that the King resolved to carry these matters to the highest extremity The Abbot of St. Nicolas having now for some time remained at Rome and informed himself of the true state of the Controversie with the Barberins he demanded Audience and being thereunto admitted he presented his Letters of Credence which the Pope received with many obliging expressions letting fall a few tears from his Eyes when he declared how much he loved the French Interest and how affectionate he had shewed himself thereunto even to a Passion of which his Christian Majesty was so sensible that had the whole Power of the Conclave been in the King he was persuaded he would have created him Pope in exclusion of all others in the World But the Abbat was little surprised with those tears esteeming them no indications of his mind but his usual preparations to important Treaties proceeded to discourse in favour of the Barberins whom he beseeched to receive again into his grace and good will which though his Master might expect from him as a point of Justice yet he would take it as an act of kindness and Obligation to himself That the Barberins should make their submission in such humble terms as he should require and direct and all things ordered to the greater reputation and glory of his Holiness that the refusal hereof would disturb the quiet of Christendom obstruct the general Peace in Treaty at Munster and hinder the succours which were then preparing to give the Catholicks in England and in fine would be the cause of great confusion and disturbance in Europe In answer hereunto the Pope desired the Abbat to represent unto the Queen Regent how much the Barberins had ruined the Church by the expence of more than twenty Millions which they had charged upon the People by unsupportable Impositions to maintain a War against the Duke of Parma for which no justifiable account could be given that they had so abused the Authority and Government of the Church in the last years of their Uncle's Pontificate that all the World cryed out for justice and vengeance against them and if now after all these mischiefs they should find refuge and protection for their crimes in France the Nephews of Popes would for the future become licentious and not fear what they acted or designed when after the example of the Barberins they might hope to find a Sanctuary and impunity for their crimes if not in France yet at least in Spain or Germany or some other Prince where they were able to make an Interest or a friendship That the Avarice and ambition of the Barberins was beyond all example having purchased a Revenue of above two hundred and fifty thousand Crowns a year besides their many Benefices and immense Riches which they had concealed and the magnificent furniture of their Palaces which out of respect to their Majesties of France he had suffered to remain without seisure or confiscation With these and the like Arguments was the cause of the Barberins debated between the Pope and the Abbat without any effect and the Audience ending without satisfaction to either side the Cardinals of the French Interest concluded that nothing would be done until such time as that the success of the Siege of Orbetello were known and the Fate of
they were both received with great honour and respect at the Court of Rome but if either of them had acquired a greater esteem than the other it was the Duke of Crequi a person extreamly handsom and well fashioned of a most antient and illustrious Family first Gentleman of the King's Bed-Chamber and in all things so well accomplished that the Court of Rome esteemed it self highly honoured by the presence and administration of so noble a Personage his onely fault was that he was haughty and of an humour so fierce as became a Camp better than the more polite and gentle comportments of an Italian Court or the conversation of Ecclesiastical Persons Howsoever his deportment was pleasing enough to the Pope and Cardinals so long as Don Mario and the Nephews comported themselves as they did at first within the limits of some reasonable modesty but so soon as they began to pass those terms and become insolent this Ambassadour could not long sustain their pride before their resentments broke forth into outragious violences as we shall have occasion to discourse when we come to the year 1662. In the year 1655. Christina Queen of Sweden renounced the Protestant Religion in which she had been educated and with it her Crown which she resigned to her kinsman Charles Gustavus conserving to herself a Rent of one hundred thousand Crowns a year out of the Dukedom of Pomerania and making publick profession of the Roman Catholick Religion she resolved to spend her days at Rome where she might enjoy it in the most pompous and triumphant manner and where she might not onely delight herself in conversation with grave Cardinals and the most learned Men in the World of whom she was a great Admirer but also being favoured by the Pope could on all occasions have recourse to him for Pardons Indulgences and his paternal Benediction Wherefore leaving her Kingdom she apparrelled herself in the habit of a Man in which disguise passing through Denmark and the lower Germany she came by way of Holland to Brussels where in the Privy-Chamber of the Arch-Duke Leopold at that time Governour of the Low-Countries and in presence of him and all his Nobles on the Eve of Christmas she solemnly abjured the Heresies of Luther and made profession of the Roman Catholick Faith The Plague raging that year at Rome she deferred her journey thither until health was restored to that City and Country at which time Alexander VII being created Pope she prosecuted her design of setling her Habitation in Rome which she having signified to the Pope and received his license she made at his desire an other solemn abjuration of Lutherism at Inspruck which might dispose and prepare her more solemn reception into Italy When the Queen was in Germany the Pope dispatched Luke Holsten a Hamburgher by Nation who was keeper of the Vatican Library to make her Majesty a Complement in his name the which Person was the more acceptable to her in respect of the fame and reputation he had acquired of being the most learned Man of that age When she approached near unto Rome he sent four Nuntios to meet her viz. the Arch-bishop of Thebes the Arch-bishop of Ravenna with the Dean and Clerk of the Apostolical Chamber where attendance was truly Royal and magnificent at her entrance into the City she was met by two Legats à Latere namely Cardinal John Charles de Medices Brother to the great Duke of Toscany and Cardinal Frederick Brother of the Lantgrave of Hessen who with a pompous train conducted her to the Vatican Palace where she was lodged with all the Royalty appertaining to a Queen Many and various were the Ceremonies which passed at the reception of this great Person after which on Christmas day she was confirmed by the Pope in St. Peter's Church who superadded the name of Alexandra to that of Christina In the year 1657. the Venetians were hardly pressed by the formidable Power of the Ottoman Arms and being unable by their own force to wage a War against that potent Enemy the Senate omitted no applications or addresses to persuade forein Princes to yield them succour either by Men or Money But Wars raging in all parts of Christendom administred trouble and care sufficient for every Prince to consult and provide for his own affairs and safety The Czar of Moscovy to whom the Venetians sent their Ambassadour promised fair and gave good words but with little other effect it being difficult to concert matters or engage affections or reconcile the Interest of Princes so remote Thus the Venetians becoming destitute of all succours from forein Powers addressed themselves to the Pope as their ultimate refuge in all their distresses beseeching his Holiness to grant them such sums of Mony as might supply their present occasions But alas Rome being but newly recovered from a languishing state of Pestilence and from other calamities before mentioned during which immense sums had been issued from the publick Treasury to sustain the Commonalty in their scarcity and want the Pope alledged just Causes to excuse the disbursment of Money from his Treasury which had of late years been miserably exhausted by the Avarice of those who had had the management of it Howsoever though the Pope pretended himself not able to issue out Money from his own Exchequer yet he hearkened to some Proposals and expedients for raising it by the sale of certain Lands and Rents belonging to the two Orders of the Crociferi and of the Santo Spirito which the Pope's Authority and the cause for which they were sold being for maintenance of a War against Infidels and of the Christian Cause against Turks was sufficient to warrant and hallow the sale and give a lawful Title to any Purchaser The Order of the Crociferi was very ancient and possessed several Monasteries dispersed in all parts of Italy but that of the Spirito Santo consisted of three Monasteries onely and all within the Dominion of the Republick by which they had been endowed under the protection and government of the Council of Ten howsoever the desolation of these Monasteries could not pass without the severe Censures and reflections of the World and though the Friers of those Orders were much fallen from the integrity of their antient institution and become corrupt and debauched in their lives and manners yet their clamours could not be suppressed nor the calumnies which they daily uttered against the Pope and the Republick be quieted Howsoever a Bull being passed and a Decree of the Senate for sale of the Lands together with those of some other smaller Monasteries the Pope's Nuntio with three Senators were commissionated to sell and pass the Title to the Purchasers whereby the Senate raised above a million of Ducats which were all employed to carry forward a War against the Turk Whilest this good correspondence passed between the Pope and the Republick and that the Venetians had daily need of succours and assistances from the Church
it was thought a convenient season in the heat of these Negotiations for the Pope to propose the restoration of the Jesuits to their possessions on the Dominions of Venice from whence they had been banished on occasion of the differences between Paul V. and the Venetians Carlo Carafa Bishop of Antwerp then Nuntio at Venice represented the Pope's desires herein at a full Senate laying before them the conveniences they might expect and benefits they might reap by closing with the Pope's demands in this Case which seemed to be much changed since the first Original Decree and bando against them for that those Jesuits who had fomented the divisions and Sedition were already dead and that those who were to supply their places would be more cautious and careful for the future in what manner they incurred the displeasure of the Republick these considerations being seconded by warm instances of the French Ambassadour to the same purpose the matter was carried in the Senate for restoration of the Jesuits and though the antient Decrees of the Senate in this case were positive and rigorous to the contrary and that Cavalier Soranzo greatly opposed the admission yet the pressure of Affairs and the necessity of gratifying the Pope was such that the former Decrees were repealed and the Laws against the Jesuits made void and in this manner and on this occasion in the year 1657. they again restored to their possessions within the Venetian Dominions the Church of the Crociferi being conferred upon them in the City of Venice The whole Court of Rome being gratified by this concession not onely the Pope but the Cardinals also concurred in their liberal contributions towards maintenance of the War against the Turk of which five especially were signally bountiful and munificent above the others namely Antonio Barberino who gave one hundred thousand Ducats in Gold Cardinal Mazarine gave two hundred thousand Francisco Barberino and Flavio Ghigi agreed to maintain three Gallies at their own expence and lastly Cardinal Nicholas who was a Count of the Bath not having sufficient Estate in ready Money to make such a contribution as he desired sold his Palace and Houshold-stuff and Vineyards that he might be registred amongst the Benefactors to this War At this time also the Ottoman Arms prevailed against the Emperour in the upper parts of Hungary so that Varadin was taken and the Turks became very formidable Wherefore that Pope Alexander might not seem less sollicitous for conservation of the Emperour than he was for the Venetians he issued considerable sums out of his Treasury and laid a Decimation on the Revenue of the Clergy over all Italy wherewith to assist the Imperial Arms and farther wrote Letters to the Kings of France and Spain then busily employed in a Treaty at the Pyreneans that having concluded a Peace amongst themselves and confirmed and strengthned the Alliance by the ties and Obligations of a Marriage they would have respect to the Wars in Hungary which were carried on by the Turk to the destruction and ruin of the Christian Cause But we are not here to omit that this Treaty of the Pyreneans which was held in the Island of Pheasants where the Marriage was concluded between the present King Lewis XIV and Maria Teresa Infanta of Spain was acted and carried on between Cardinal Mazarini and Don Luis d' Haro without the mediation and concurrence of this Pope Alexander which seems the more strange in regard that this very Pope was Nuntio at Munster and once managed that Treaty there in behalf of Innocent X. with great applause and proof of his abilities and integrity and was personally known to the Cardinal many therefore and various were the reflections on this Point by the Politicians of those times and many Writers on this Subject have assigned divers Causes and reasons for it Some would have it that during the time that Cardinal Mazarine and the Pope then in quality of Nuntio were together in Germany several differences had arisen between them not then reconciled and that the Nuntio had always shewn some partiality towards the Court of Spain for which cause Mazarine had opposed the election of him to be Pope and though afterwards he had been sweetned by the character and commendations which Sachetti had given of him yet still some acrimony remained on the spirits of the Pope because he observed an aversion in the Cardinal to treat the Peace in any part where the Pope did reside he also observed with what indignity to the Papal Sea he had treated the Cardinal of Retz and with what neglect and almost contempt he comported himself towards his Nuntio at Paris Moreover the Pope was not a little displeased to observe what backwardness and delay was used by the Court of France no onely in sending the Extraordinary Embassy of Obedience to Rome but the Ordinary also of Residency nor was the Pope ignorant of those slight and contemptible expressions which both the Cardinal and his Favourite the Bishop of Omodei publickly uttered with ill reflections on his Person On the other side the Cardinal complained of the Pope's Ingratitude for that after he had so freely concurred in his Election he always evidenced an aversness to comply with him in the most reasonable Demands and ever favoured that Party which interfered with the Interest of France so that the Cardinal would often say that the Pope offered him frequently injuries that so if at any time he did him right it might seem to proceed from favour rather than from the motives of Justice These matters and the like occasioning coldness of correspondence it is no wonder that Writers should attribute the reason of the Pope's exclusion from this Treaty of Peace to the preceding Causes Whenas the most reasonable Obstacle might be the Pope's incapacity to moderate and concur in the terms of this Peace for whereas the foundation of this Peace between the two Crowns was established on the Articles concluded and agreed at the Treaty of Munster which the Pope having condemned disanulled and protested against it could not be expected that the Pope should be called and made a Party to that Treaty unless they had resolved to raise difficulties by that opposition and obstructions which would have been made by the Pope and his Ministers In short the Marriage being celebrated between the most Christian King and the Infanta Maria Teresa the onely cause and Object of the Peace was afterwards the original of many quarrels and disorders in Christendom For the Spaniards not having been so strict and wary as the importance of the matter required did not take care to pen the Instrument of Renuntiation which the Infanta signed to the Dominions of her Father and all her Paternal Inheritance with such strict terms but that there was still a Gate open to pretensions nor was the form of the Oath so strict and expressive but that there was place left for evasions as the ambition of Men and their desire of
Consultations held upon the point of the Regale At length by the Arch-bishop of Paris they offered these several Proposals by way of accommodation between his Majesty and the Pope That those on whom the King in Right of his Regality bestows any Ecclesiastical Benefices shall in the vacancy of the Sees have their approbation and Mission from the Vicars General That the Chapters which are in possession of bestowing Prebends and other Dignities shall continue to dispose of them whilst the See is vacant That in the Churches where the collation is alternative between the Bishops and the Chapters the same shall be observed during the vacancy of the Sees that are under the Regality the King having the turn which the Bishop should have had That where the Bishops dispose of the Prebends jointly with the Chapter the King shall in the vacancy of the See appoint a Commissioner who shall have the same power and place in the Chapter as the Bishop had Howsoever no farther proceedings were made in this matter because the Pope appeared resolute to maintain his priviledg and jurisdiction and the Cardinal d' Estrée who had ever since the beginning of this year been at Rome to try and bend the mind of the Pope gave little hopes to prevail with him wherefore it was thought fit that the Controversie should remain in suspence rather than be farther pressed to the breach of that amity which interceded between the common Father and the eldest Son of his Church so the King holds his Right and the Pope hath not relinquished his Claim but remains still in a capacity to reassume the same when either he or his Successours are strengthened with circumstances of time and force to make good their Demands It is known to all the World that in the Church of Rome vain and superstitious Opinions have been ever growing for divers Centuries of years some of the most wild and extravagant of which certain Popes have been weeding out but with that negligence and inattention that where one hath been destroyed twenty have arisen Hereof the present Pope Innocent the XI being sensible who is certainly one of the most understanding and most worthy of those that ever sate in the Papal Chair hath suppressed an Office called The Office of the Immaculate conception of the most Holy Virgin approved by Paul V. who granted unto whosoever should devoutly recite the same an hundred days Indulgence as may appear by his Bull of July 10th 1615. printed at Milan This Office he entirely abolished Decreeing That no person of what Order Degree or Condition soever should dare to keep read print or cause to be printed the said Book and requiring that whosoever should have the said Office in his keeping should forthwith deliver the same to the Ordinary or to the Inquisitors of the place The which Decree was published Feb. 19. 1678. Moreover this Pope in his Wisdom hath suppressed a multitude of idle and foolish Indulgences which many cheating Priests carried into remote Countries and raised Money thereupon from the ignorant people Of which kind were those Indulgences granted by John II. and Sixtus IV. to those who should recite the Prayer of Charity of our Lord Jesus Christ By Eugenius the 3d. to the Revelation made to St. Bernard of a blow or stroak on the shoulder of our Lord Jesus Christ By John the 22th to those who kiss the measure of the Soal of the foot of the Blessed Virgin By Leo the 10th to those who wear the Cord of St. Francis printted first at Rome and then at Milan Anno 1665. To them that shall say the Angelical Prayer when the Clock strikes to the Image of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary printed in a Circle with the Moon under her feet By Paul V. and Gregory XV. to those who say Blessed be the Holy Sacrament Likewise those Indulgences for fourscore thousand years copied out of the Antient Table which is said to be kept in the Lateran Church to those who say this truly pious Prayer O God who for the Redemption of the World c. Besides which this Pope suppressed a multitude of other Indulgences as vain and idle as the foregoing and declared that though according to the Doctrine of the Council of Trent the use of Indulgences may be useful to the people and doth Anathematize such as shall deny that there is not a power in the Church to grant them yet he is desirous that the Doctrine thereof be rightly understood and a moderation used in the granting of them lest by a too great facility or easiness the discipline of the Church be corrupted and enfeebled This Doctrine of Indulgences hath been a prickly and a contentious point and the Original cause of the present divisions and separations amongst Christians for from thence Luther began his quarrel and took the first rise and ground for a Reformation and indeed the matter on the part of the Church of Rome was so scandalous and abusive that the very common people in all their ignorance were able to discover the fraud and Cheat that was in them so that the wise and Learned Men at the Council of Trent knowing that this Doctrine was not solid and would not hold water they slightly touched thereupon and though it was the chief matter for which that Council was assembled yet nothing was farther determined therein than onely that Indulgences be used with such moderation as was approved by the Antient Custom of the Church of God Now it is a most certain and an undeniable truth that Indulgences were never in use with any Nation of the Eastern Churches either in the Primitive times or afterwards And indeed neither were they in practice in the Western Churches from times of Ancient date that is from before the time of Vrban II which was about the year of Christ 1095. and then also they were not very common and granted onely to remit the rigour and severity of Penance enjoined by the Confessour which reasons this Pope Innocent XI wisely considering and the many abuses of this Doctrine did attempt the means to regulate the extravagance thereof Besides the suppression of these Indulgences this Pope condemned sixty five Propositions about Cases of Morality which were scandalous and divers of them maintained by the subtle distinctions of the Jesuits the preamble to which condemnation saith that this present Innocent XI in pursuance of the same work commenced by his Predecessour Alexander VII did by and with the advice concurrence and assistance of the most Reverend and Eminent the Cardinals as also of the Inquisitors General and many other Divines gather and weed out from several Books Theses and other Papers lately written a great number of scandalous and pernicious Doctrines in Morality tending to the debauchery of Manners and to the encouragement of a loose and a dissolute life in Mankind But in nothing more hath the Vertue Piety and care of this Pope been conspicuous than in those large
case or to find out the truth of the matter under debate For Popes in the Consistory are always sure to find the Cardinals pliant and ready to yield assent unto whatsoever they propose that is Assentiri in Assentari The Consistory being risen the Monitory was affixed in all the publick places of Rome of which a multitude of Copies both in Latin and Italian were printed and dispatched into all the Cities of Italy especially into the Dominions of Venice and dispersed into all parts by the Jesuits accompanied with seditious Letters and Pamphlets derogatory to the honour of the Republick The Monitory was directed to the Patriarchs Arch-bishops Bishops Vicars and all Ecclesiastics either Secular or Regular who held any Dignities and preferments of the Church within the Dominion of Venice and therein it was exposed That whereas some Months past he was given to understand that is the Pope how that the Doge and Senate of Venice had for many years past made several Decrees in prejudice of the Apostolical Sea and priviledges of the Church notwithstanding that the same were repugnant to the General Councils and to the antient Canons and Constitutions of the Popes of Rome and now more lately a Law was made in the year 1602. whereby Ecclesiastical persons are incapacitated to appropriate to themselves any Lands or Estates Secondly He mentioned the Law made in the year 1603. which restrains and prohibits the erecting or building any Churches or religious Houses without the leave or license of the Senate Thirdly He mentioned the Law in 1605. which extends these Laws over all the Dominions of the Republick which formerly were terminated to the City of Venice onely and lastly the imprisonment of the Canon of Vicenza and the Abbot of Nervesa by which particular offences the Ecclesiastical liberty being infringed the Doge and Senate of Venice have to the danger of their own Souls and scandal of the World incurred the Ecclesiastical Censures to the forfeiture of their Lands and Jurisdiction from which they cannot be absolved but by the Pope himself who being satisfied with their repentance demonstrated by a repeal of those Laws and restauration of all things to their pristine condition hath the sole power to receive them again into the bosom of the Church And whereas the Doge and Senate after many fatherly Admonitions have not repealed those Laws nor released the Prisoners he could in no wise suffer that the liberties and immunities of the Church and the Authority of the Apostolical Sea should be violated and infringed And though those Laws are in themselves void and of none effect yet by the example of ten Popes and more his Predecessours in confirmation hereof and by and with the consent and counsel of the Cardinals with whom he had advised hereupon he doth farther declare those Laws to be null and cancelled and doth farther declare and denounce Excommunication against the Doge and Senate in general in such manner as if they had been particularly named and against their Successours Councellours Adherents and Abettors in case the said Doge and Senate shall not within the space of twenty four days after the publication hereof assigning eight days for each term of Admonition repeal cancel and make void the aforesaid Decrees with all Writs and Orders proceeding thereupon and without farther delay or Excuse shall not restore all things to their former and original condition with promise never to do or perform the like again And shall not consign into the hands of his Nuntio both the Canon and the Abbot giving advice and notice of all unto the Pope himself and for default thereof the Excommunication to remain in force from whence no Absolution can be granted but by the Pope himself unless at the point of death from which State in case the person so absolved shall recover and still continue and persist in the same obstinacy he shall again be liable to the same Excommunication as before and in case he die his body notwithstanding shall not be interred in any consecrated place until obedience be yielded unto these Commands by all others concerned And in case after the expiration of twenty four days the Doge and Senate shall still persist in their contumacy for other three days then he did Interdict all their Dominion forbidding all Masses and divine Offices to be performed therein unless in such places manner and cases as are granted by the Common Law And farther he did deprive the Doge and Senate of all their Revenue and possessions which they hold of the Roman Church or other Churches and of all the priviledges granted them in favour thereof reserving still unto himself and his Successours a Power to aggravate and encrease the Censures and penalties against them their Adherents and Abettors therein c. And to proceed unto farther punishments and Remedies in case of continuance in such like contumacy Notwithstanding c. Commanding all Patriarchs Arch-bishops and Bishops and other Inferiour Clergy upon penalty c. That after the receipt of these Letters or notice thereof given that they publish the same in the respective Churches at such times as when the greatest concourse of people is present and to affix the same at the Church doors c. After publication was made of this severe Excommunication thundered out against a Republick of such greatness and esteem in the World all the Ambassadours and Ministers of foreign Princes residing at Rome were greatly troubled and concerned considering that an Act of this nature had some oblique reflection on every Prince that professed obedience or devotion for the Papal Sea Wherefore every one of those Ministers residing at Rome made their applications and addresses to the Pope desiring him to moderate and prorogue the Sentence until the matter were examined and considered by the Republick and ways or means contrived for an accommodation To whom the Pope returned this general Answer That the way to compose and accommodate these differences were to incline the Republick to a resolution of becoming obedient but that word Obedient would not well pass with the Ministers who made some reflections thereon as unbeseeming the degree of Sovereign Princes and therefore persuaded the Pope rather to use some more moderate and gentle terms and enlarge the time allotted for termination of the Sentence The news hereof being come to Venice the Senate immediately and in the first place ordered that Prayers should be made in all Churches and Chappels imploring the Divine assistance in that great emergency of Affairs and in the next place they resolved to recall their Ambassadour Extraordinary from Rome leaving Nani to reside there lest they should seem to despise and stand in open defiance against the Apostolical Sea Sir Henry Wotton was at that time Resident for the King of England at Venice when the Senate thought fit to communicate to him the rigour of the Pope's Sentence for until then they had never mentioned any thing with him of their Controversie