extracted from their own books which are Printed by the Permission and Approbation of the Superiours of their Society Written in French by a Serbon Doctor and faithfully Englished in Folio Il CARDINALISMO di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF CARDINALS In III. Parts PART I. BOOK I. The Contents In which is discoursed concerning the weakness of Humane Vnderstanding The manner of God's speaking to Men in old time and at present The Excellencies of the H. Scripture How R. Catholicks live in Protestant Countries and Protestants in those of R. Catholicks Of turning from one Religion to another Of those who relinquish the Church wherein they were born and know not for what reason The promiscuous admission of Doctors in the Vniversitie of Valenza applyed by a Protestant Preacher in discourse with a R. Catholick Of some Missionary Priests who receive licentious persons for Converts What answers the Priests and Friars of Italy make to their Superiors when these go about to punish their Miscarriages An Example of a certain Florentine who went to Geneva to change his Religion Another of a Neapolitane to the same purpose Of those Missionary Priests who buy their Faculty of Mission from some Courtier at Rome What remedy is requisite in these matters Of the Protestant Ministers who are contented to live in their Pastoral charge without thrusting themselves into matters of State Of Liberty of Conscience so much talk'd of amongst Christians What Authority the Emperors and Magistrates had over Church-men in the Primitive times In what particulars the several parties of Christian Professors lament their miseries in these dayes Of the zeal of Princes towards their Subjects What Effect the Magistrate's diligence in visiting the people's Actions produceth Of the neglect of Princes in observing the wayes and proceedings of Church-men How the respect given antiently by the people to Princes and Magistrates differs from what is given to them at this day Of Church-men who assume authority to pry into the actions of Soveraign Princes A Parallel between the Princes and people in reference to the Exercise of Religion Of the Policy of Church-men how exquisite to preserve their Grandeur Some Examples of Preachers as to the matter of Ecclesiastical Grandeur Of the disaffection of Ecclesiasticks to the Soveraignty of Princes Of some Differences wont to arise between R. Catholicks and Protestants in the Elections of Preachers The Example of Moses appointed a Preacher to Pharoah Of the Vigilance of France in maintaining the Gallicane Rites Of a Book printed at Rome in diminution of the Soveraignty of Princes The Jesuites question'd by the Parliament of Paris concerning the Impression of the said Book Their Answer to the Parliament The great Devotion of the Venetians to the service of God and the preservation of their Liberties and Privileges Of some pretendedly scrupulous whâ— blame the Venetians for being too jealous of their Soveraignty Of the danger wherein all Princes would be were it not for the resistance which France and Venice make to the ambition of Church-men Of some discourses concerning the Authority of the Pope Of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and Temporal compared together What effects the Excommunication of the Venetians by Paul V. produc'd to the Church Of the blame those Popes incurr who by their Excommunications forbid Subjects to obey their Natural Princes What Obedience both people and Magistrates owe to the Pope The Opinion of a Dominican Divine The heady Opinions of the Roman Divines concerning the Popes Authority The subjection of such Princes as are constrained by the Pope to obey the caprichio of those Divines who write accommodately to the Pope's humour How easily the Popes may Excommunicate Soveraign Princes and what mischief that easiness produceth How the Popes deal with Princes who have deserv'd well of the Church The chief causes which mov'd Paul V. and Urban VIII to thunder out Excommunications against the Venetians the Commonwealth of Lucca and the Duke of Parma In what manner the Pope ought to be honour'd by Princes and their people Of the difference betwixt being of the Church in the dayes of the Apostles and now Of the effects wrought in the persons of Popes by the H. Ghost Of the Offences arising daily between Popes and Princes by reason of the misdemeanours of Churchmen VVhat great fear Popes of the Primitive Church had of falling into any Error prejudicial to the publick good of Christendome How little now adayes they regard the Vniversal Good Of the great zeal wherewith of old they exercis'd their Pastoral charge VVhat Esteem all people had of Popes in consideration of their holy Lives VVhat kind of persons ascend the Papal Throne in these times VVhat persecutions they suffer who either by tongue or pen reprove the faults of Popes and Churchmen Of the praises attributed to the Popes by some writers Of the Flatteries which sound well in the Popes ears Of those who are look'd upon well or ill by the Pope Of those who write of the Pope's Impeccability Sâ—me Reasons and Instances proving the Pope fallible like other men Some Conclusions and Disputes maintain'd at Paris by the Jesuits in defence of the Popes power and Infallibility The cause why Popes are deficient in Miracles The corruption of the Age. Some deserving persons kept farr from the Court. Of the scandals committed by Churchmen in Rome Of a Bull of Boniface VIII Of an Opinion written by John XXII VVhat was the judgement of Paul II. concerning the Infallibility of the Pope Of a Book written by Pope Adrian VI. The Error Princes commit in suffering publick disputes touching the Popes Infallibility to be held in their Dominions Of some disgusts given by Alexander VII to the most Christian King A Bull put forth by the said Alexander against some Decrees of the Parliament of Paris which rejected the Popes Infallibility The censure of the Faculty of Sorbonne of writings which defended the Papal Infallibity Of Odoardo Farness Duke of Parma who of a friend became an Enemy to Urban VVhat the Author thinks the Pope conceives of him The Popes desire that no Pens were in the world but those which write in their favour Of the Rodomontadoes which the Roman Theologues write in magnification of the Pope The Opinion of a certain Theologue That a Pope cannot be damn'd though never so wicked The Impeccability of the Pope which the Jesuits begin to teach Of the Opinion of those who hold the Pope not subject to General Councils Of the Title of Eternity which some Flatterers would apply to the person of the Pope The Obligation of people to reverence and honour the Popes whilst they are good and to blame and avoid them when they are wicked Divers other particulars touching the Popes Grandeur THE dulness of Humane Understanding renders us uncapable of comprehending the mysterious conduct of Divine Providence whose Counsels and Designs are as to us involv'd in a most profound night of impenetrable Obscurity The Apostle St. Paul after a Transport even into
Novelty is with great penalty forbidden as well to the Bishops as Friars they are not permitted to exercise any publique Function or to publish any Order whatsoever though from Rome its self without notice given to the Senate and their License obtain'd and from hence it is that the Service of God and the Majesty of the Church is carry'd on with that Order that they have made themselves Emulated at Rome as well as in other States and all by the Authority the Senate keeps over the Clergy looking on them as Subjects not Equals as other Princes do And without question had it not pleas'd God by opposing the powers of those two Countries France and Spain against their ambition and by their means to put a stop to that torrent that was overflowing all Christendome the present Princes of Italy had been either chased out of their Dominions or forc'd to have ow'd their Liberties to the Liberality of the Popes If the Princes of Italy would but yet take their natural Liberties into consideration and follow the Examples of France and Venice it would not be too late and doubtless of all Nations they are most worthy to be imitated though the Ecclesiasticks are not asham'd to asperse the former with Heresie and the other with Atheism But indeed the Priests and Pontificians esteem none other Christians but such as believe them to be as they would be believ'd themselves Some there are who making judgement of things from their outward appearances do imagine the Spaniard much more Zealous for the Catholick Religion than the French but they are certainly mistaken for that zeal the Spaniard pretends to the Apostolick Chair and the Service of the Church is but a Copy of his Countenance and rather the formal result of his Policy and Interest than an ingenuous effect of his piety and Devotion The Spaniards have indeed a great Reverence for the Pope but none at all for the Church The French have much for the Church but little for the Pope for which reason the Popes look upon the Spaniards as Saints for being on their side and on the French as Devils for being on Gods And this Influence and Authority of the Popes over the Consciences of the Spaniard besides a natural animosity that is betwixt them is a great impediment to their Union in Religion the Spaniards as it were in a Bridle are manag'd by the Pope but the French keep close to their Gallican Church Others there are that think the Conscience of the Venetian of the largest size but for what reason Because in their Dominions they will not suffer the Priesthood to Usurp that unlimited and irregular power they exercise with so much detriment to the Soveraignty of Princes in other States and indeed what mieseries what calamities do we see dayly spring up in Christendome by their â—â—ars what anxieties and perturbation in peoples minds and yet because the Venetian distinguishes betwixt Gods Service and the Popes betwixt the power of Princes and the power of the Church betwixt Spiritual things and Temporal they are aspers'd with largeness of Conscience But would to God that Zeal and Sincerity for Religion that raigns in the hearts of that Senate raign'd also in the Courts of all other Princes in Christendome and doubtless their affairs would have better success Some few years since it was my fortune to Travel upon the Road with two Roman Abbots one of them after several other discourses happen'd to fall upon the Authority of the Pope and to declare what great power God Almighty had given him over all people in the world I who Travell'd on purpose to make observation of the proceedings of the Ecclesiasticks and of the Jurisdiction every where but especially in some principalities of Italy to the prejudice of Princes was very glad of the occasion as hoping thereby to receive some matter for my pen. It is the custom of the Italians to constrain and reserve themselves as much as possibly and keep their opinions close from the rest of the world but it is my humour on the other side to speak freely what I think and to write all I know whether it be good or bad which though they look upon as imprudence I cannot dislike However with these Abbots I thought it best to conceal my own and attend an opportunity of discovering their Judgements At last one of the Abbots took occasion very seriously to bewayl the extravagant liberty which the French and the Venetian assumed concluding that were it not for the repugnancie of these two States the Pope would be absolute Monarch of the whole World or at least the greatest Prince would fear the censure of the smallest Priest whereas by observing how little the French and the Venetian regard the Authority of the Church all others in like manner despise the solemnest Excommunication though from the Pope himself Being always delighted to hear other men speak I made him no answer at all thereby in a manner inticing him to proceed in his discourse but when he came to complain heavily of the French and Venetian for suffering Stationers to Print and Vend books frequently in their Dominions so much to the prejudice of the Pontifical Authority I could not forbear giving him this answer Dear Sir shall it be lawfull for the Pope to cause to be printed so many thousand books at Rome in favour of his own Authority and in prejudice of the Supremacy and Majesty of Princes and shall it be unlawful for Princes to permit the reading of such books as are written in the defence of their falling Authority and in diminution of the Papal The Abbot reply'd with the passion and insolence of a Priest That Princes could not in Conscience challenge their Authority but from the Pope's blessing and benignity who as Christ's Vicar upon Earth has power to dispose of all things in this world which are bestow'd by Heaven whence Princes are styled Sons and the Pope Father because as a Father he gives them their patrimony But this by your leave is a mistake reply'd I. True it is Princes are Sons of the Church indeed but not of the Pope and they are oblig'd to defend that Church which is their Mother but not that Pope who is their Enemy The Goods of this world do indeed belong unto the Lord but not at all to the Pope who by pretending to a Vniversal Dominion is so far from being Christs Vicar that he goes contrary to the Doctrine of our Saviour who besides the command he has left us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars has declared that his Kingdom is not of this world and how then could the Pope who is but his Vicar confer or take away any Kingdoms here That which netled the Abbot most was my calling the Pope an Enemy to Princes to which he answered And why an Enemy I pray you I reply'd may not he too properly be call'd my Enemy that seeks to rob me of my birth-right
persons is the most vile and abject man in the world of as great esteem in the Church as the greatest Monarch The good Father as if he had recollected himself and found out a most profound way of satisfying the Quaere return'd this answer That the people were not the Members of the Church's body figur'd by Nebuchadnezzars Statue as he had said before but the Guts rather as he had found upon second thoughts This Answer set three or four Protestants that were in my Company and had heard our discourse into a great laughter which indeed it deserv'd and I my self having had my share â—ook my leave as perceiving him fuller of smoak than of meat and indeed I entred into that Dialogue only to pass away the time and take off the tediousness of the way But I have been too long in this digression to return therefore where I left I must needs assert that almost all the discourses of all the Roman Divines are altogether of the same strein and deliver'd almost in the very same words upon all occasions for in hopes of a Cardinals Cap or some other preferment from the Pope they all conspire to advance his Prerogative contrary to the interest of Temporal Princes whose cause is so clear that the whole world wonders it could ever be brought in question To what misery are poor Princes brought who not only lye at the mercy of the Pope chief Sheepherd of Christ's Flock and his Vicar General upon Earth but are inslav'd and prostituted to the caprichio and fantastical humour of every pedantick Theologer who undertakes to assassinate their rights of Soveraignty Nor are the Popes indeed so much to be blam'd by Princes as the Theologers and themselves the Theologers in that they dare infuse such principles of ambition into the Hearts of Popes which otherwise perhaps they had never been inclin'd to And themselves for admitting without any consideration such Books and such Divines into their Dominions as diffuse Doctrines into the people utterly destructive to their Soveraignty Nor can I imagine how Princes are able to endure so many Bulls Decrees Writs and Ordinances to be pasted up dayly at every corner of their Streets and so many books to be printed and publish'd expresly against their Supremacy neither can I on the other side conceive why the Pope should suffer himself to be flatter'd by his Divines to the perpetual disturbance of all the Princes of Christendome by the intrenchment their discourses and writings make upon their Soveraignty How deplorable a thing is it and almost above the patience of a Saint to see a Prince though never so good never so holy and never so innocent Excommunicated by a Pope perhaps a thousand times more wicked and perverse who nevertheless cannot be Excommunicated by any other That is should be lawfull for the Pope to inhibit the Subjects conversation with his Prince though never so worthy and no body should have power to prohibit Subjects conversing with the Pope though never so bad I remember being in discourse with a great Churchman of Spolito about ten years since he told me That the Pope had not only an Arbitrary Power of Excommunicating what Princes he pleas'd without any occasion but that his Authority was so great that he could fetch a Saint out of Paradice if he thought good and cast him headlong into Hell I gave him no answer but smil'd to my self and wish'd him in Paradice and some Pope his Enemy who might remove his Quarters for him and give him the gentle toss to the Devil For these two last Ages especially there have been Barbarous Tyrannical Cruel Scandalous and Lascivious Popes in the Church of God that flea'd and devour'd this Flock instead of nourishing and preserving them Yet the people were constrain'd not only to obey and converse with them but upon their very knees to adore them Yet during this time even such Popes have taken the liberty to Excommunicate Princes motu proprio to interdict the people to suspend the proceeding of Courts to forbid Commerce and in short to form a new Scheme of Government rendring the people without a Prince and the Prince without a people than which if a greater Calamity can befall any Nation let the world judge In respect therefore of these manner of peoceedings with Christian Princes it is obvious that the Subjects in the Dominions of the Church have better times of it and injoy more privileges than Temporal Princes themselves do for these though born to command rather than to obey may fall under the displeasure of some capricious Pope be Excommunicated and deprived of the Obedience of their Subjects as Odoardo Duke of Parma was for not condescending to the humour of the Barbarini whereas the Popes Subjects know no such matter Because though the Pope may dispense with the Obedience of other Princes Subjects yet 't is not to be imagin'd he is so foolish as to Excommunicate himself and discharge his own Subjects from their Allegiance Pope Alexander the sixth whose memory is scandalous to the Church to this day Tyrannis'd over the people at his pleasure took delight to threaten his Neighbour Princes and clapt several great Prelats in prison and all to satisfie the impetuosity of his Revenge and took away the Jewels and Plate from the Altars to inrich his Bastards so that those miserable poor Romans that liv'd in the time of Nero and seem'd born for nothing but to see their own Bowels pull'd out by their Governours were not under half that affliction that the Church was under in the time of this Pope The Cryes of the people for the innumerable Extortions and Oppressions that were committed upon them and the Tears and Compassionate Groans that were heard for the Expulsion of Justice and Equity were enough to have melted and wrought pity in the very Marble it self But alas are there such great Iniquities committed and shall no punishment follow Shall the Pope satisfie the Exorbitance of his nature in the destruction of the people and no remedy 't is too true Is there no Temporal Prince that will appear for the Glory of God for the Honour of the Church and for the Interest of the Saints Fye say his Theologers what against the Head of the Church Christs Vicar and Gods Vicegerent upon Earth God forbid he cannot sin by virtue of his being Pope so they believe and those actions that to humane appearance seem wicked are indeed effects of Sanctity in the person of Alexander the sixth and such like Popes A Churchman of Note Travelling in Cardinal Chigi's Train into France had occasion one day to discourse with certain Protestants of that Kingdom with whom himself introduc'd a dispute about the power and impeccability of the Pope The Protestants declin'd it as much as they could knowing very well it could not be done without exasperating the Churchman but at last being press'd on all sides they were oblig'd to say something against the Churchman's positions
all to bestow that upon a few and many times the most undeserving that by distributive justice ought to be divided amongst all can certainly be the production of no good To leave virtue it self after a long and painful peregrination unrewarded and forsaken cannot sound well in the ears nor heart of an Ecclesiastical Prince that ought to be a Protection and Assylum to the learned and deserving especially your Holiness who has rais'd the Fabrick of your fortunes upon the foundation of virtue and worth Rome abounds with persons of all sorts of Learning at this day more than ever but they want incouragement and are buried as it were in sorrow there being no body that will so much as trouble themselves to represent their parts and capacities to him that can reward them Your Holiness that in the beginning of your Papacy with so much praise to your self did own and caress them will find what advantage it will be to continue the b 〈…〉 actions of a Mecenas and to allure them by your countenance and esteem which is the most grateful aliment of virtue encouraging them with favours and providing them employments that they may not consume and pine away in the Lethargy of idleness I speak not most Holy Father of those Pensions wherewith the Bishopricks and Parishes are by the Ministers of your Holiness so extravagantly charg'd that to the scardâ—l of the whole world to the disparagement and contempt of the innocent Clergy and to the prejudice of the reputation of the Church several poor Bishops are rendred subject to interdictions and censures or reduc'd to that indigence they are forc'd of loving Shepherds to become ravenous Woolfs by their rapacities and extortions to satisfie the exorbitant pensions that are charg'd upon them squeezing as it were out of the extream necessities of the Church and her already too much afflicted and exhausted Flock all that are constrain'd to contribute to the Profit Luxury Lasciviousness and Intemperance of those who God know had but little virtue to advance them May your Holiness for the love of Christ open your eyes in a business of that importance which carries along with it consequences so pernicious to the Church Let not your Holiness for the love of God suffer so many poor Churches Spouses of Christ to remain robb'd and dispoil'd of their Dower nor that at the Lords Table Uâ—us essâ—riet alius vero ebrius sit but rather let the bread of the Church be distributed equally amongst her Ministers according to their merits Although in the Courts of Rome there are many Prelats and Ministers to be seen that have integrity of manners joynâ—d to the nobility of their birth he nevertheless that for so many years though undeservedly has had the direction of the Signiture may perhaps have seen further into some things than they vâ—z that the Dependencies and Relations of the Popes and Cardinals do not suffer the poor Prelats to act according to the Dictates of Equity and Conscience I do most humbly beseech that your Holiness in your great Prudence would provide for the extirpating of this custom of recommendation that the condition of all people may be consider'd and that Liberetur pauper a Potente pauper cui non adest Adjutor Neither would it be less gratefull to God Almighty if your Holiness would provide against the tediousness and delays in matters of Law which sometimes are so long that besides the ruine and extinguishment of many Families they become the dishonor of the Courts of Rome when those causes that might have been determin'd in a few dayes are by several years suspence grown old and inveterate Though I believe the Ministers and Governours of the State and all they that administer justice to the people in our Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction are of themselves inclin'd to do all things equitable and right yet it would be a greater stimulation if your Holiness would cause it to be inculcated into them that justice is not attended by interest or passion but is the only instrument for the conservation of peace quiet and human Society and that they search all enormity to the bottom and destroy it root and brance Legibus enim delicta 〈…〉 r quanto melius provideri ne pâ—ccareâ—â—r But above all let that scandalous authority that the Ministers arrogate to themselves of making Buts and Marks for their Persecutions of all such as have recourse to the highest Tribunals at Rome oftentimes making use of threats to deter them from such appeals This in my judgement is a matter of great consequence th 〈…〉 s the Supreme Authority of the Prince and takes away without cause the confidence his Subjects have in him or otherwise occasions such jealousies as have been the subverson of States and Kingdoms both Protestant and Catholick Above all it is necessary that care be taken not to afflict the poor people with their severities and vexations as they have formerly nor with their Cavalcades their troubles being too much already with their Subsidies and Taxes with the frequent Comâ—â—ssions to the Commissaries of the Buildings of the Archives of Saltpeter of Gunpowder of the Streets with their solemn Ridings Reprisals and other cruel inventions to exact innumerable sums from the people which being little or no advantage to the Pope are of no other use but by the inrichment of some few ill Conscienc'd Ministers to contract the Odium of the people and imploy the tongues of the discontented These afflictions do very much exceed what the people of Israel suffer'd in Egypt they cannot be mention'd but with admiration and scandal to Foreign Nations especially if they consider them as effects of the immoderate inclinations of the Popes to their own Kindred and Families And your Holiness may ascribe it to your good fortune that you employ'd your gracious care in Foreign parts that they might not have so full and exact notice of it as would have drawn tears of pitty and compassion from the eyes of all that heard it and perhaps for the better because the wound thereby would have been open'd and render'd more casâ—c for the Cure And indeed who is there that could hear with dry eyes that a people not conquer'd by the Sword but by the Munisicence and Piety of some Prince by way of Donation annex'd to the Patrimony of Saint Peter or that otherwise in confidence of the Piety of their Successors submitted themselves freely to the See of Rome should be now under a harder and more insufferable Yoak and treated with more inhumanity than the very Slaves in Africk or Syria The Debt upon the Chamber according to the account I made of it some nights since by my self amounts to above fifty millions of Roman Crowns and that not only without any hopes of lessening but with assurance it will be increas'd insomuch that the People not being able to comport themselves under so excessive a burthen desperate of any relief do many of them leave their Native
false opinion some people had that Cardinal Francisco bought the Papacy in the last Conclave with the disbursment of a round sum of money Of Cardinal Ginetti of the difference of his manners and inclinations from Cardinal Barbarino's Of his immoderate covetousness Of the Vicarship and other Benefices conferr'd upon him by Pope Urban the eighth Of the number of Nephews that he hath and of their virtues and vices Of some particulars of Cardinal d'Arach and how little he was regarded in the Court of Rome Of his zeal in the reprehension of the iniquities of that Court in their secret Congregations Of Cardinal Antonio Barbarino and the reason why he was call'd Romano Of the Dignities conferr'd upon him before his Cardinalship Of his inclination towards Women Of the prudence he us'd in defence of the French Interest Of the grëat severity Cardinal Palotta us'd in his administrations of justice Of his sentencing Cecca Buffona a famous Courtezan and Cardinal Anthonio's Mistress to be whipp'd Of the animosities it begot and the great persecutions that follow'd thereupon Of the dis-intereâ—t he shew'd towards the Crowns Of the manner how Cardinal Brancaccio obtain'd the Cap. Of a notable saying of a witty man Of the great number of his Kindred Of the assiduity wherewith Cardinal Carpegna was alwayes ready to serve the Barbarini Of his humour that was something melancholly Of one of his Brothers call'd Don Mario Of the difference betwixt the Youth and the Age of Cardinal Durazzo Of the way by which he arriv'd at the Cardinalship Of his affability in conversation and other particulars of his nature Of his death Of the advancement of Mr. Julio Gabrielli from being Clerk of the Chamber to the Cardinalship Of his Bishoprick of Ascoli and his Legation from Urban Of his nature and his ignorance in letters Of the great merit of the House of Ursino and the promotion of Virginio Ursino to the Cardinalship Of his protection of Portugal and the great ardour with which he defended the Interest of France Of the good life of Cardinal d' Este Of his art in equivocating and his affability in conversation Of Cardinal Facchinetti and his reputation in the Colledge Of Urbans promotion of Girolamo Grimaldi a Genoese to the Cardinalship Of the esteem they had for him in the Court of Rome and in Paris Of Cardinal Rosetti and his Negotiation into England Of that which exalted Cardinal Donghi to the Cardinalship and of the reputation he got in his Legation to Ferrara Of the principal causes that mov'd the Pope to conferr a Cap upon Monsignor Rondanini Of the fortune Nicolo Ludovisi had to he advanc'd to the Cardinalship and other particulars of his nature Of the kindness Innocent had for the Cardinal Cibo and of the esteem he had in the Court for his good behaviour Of the great respect and reputation Cardinal Sforza is in Of his humour that has more of a Souldier in it than of a Prelate Of the Cap that was given to Cardinal Odescalco upon the importunity of Donna Olimpia and of the opinion they have of him at the Court. Of the promotion of Monsignor Raggi to the Cardinalship of his comportment and what they thought of him at Court before his promotion Of Cardinal Maldachini his humour his promotion and other particulars of his life Of the promotion and Persecution of Cardinal Rhetz Of the ambition Cardinal Homodei had for the Cardinalship and of his virtues Of Cardinal Ottobuono and his qualities Of the Cardinal Imperial and his qualities Of Cardinal Borromeo and of his promotion Of Cardinal Santa Croce Of the Cardinal d'Hassia Of the Cardinal Charles Barbarino Of the Cardinal Spada Of Cardinal Albici Of Cardinal Aquaviva Of Cardinal Pio. Of Cardinal Gualtieri Of Cardinal Azolini and several particulars of the Cardinals aforesaid Of the number of Cardinals created by Pope Urban the eight Of the saying of a great Wit upon the number of those Cardinals Of the number of Cardinals created by Pope Innocent Of the principal end the Popes ought to have in the promotion of Cardinals Of the causes that render the Court of Rome so Majestick Of the opinion of a Tuscan Gentleman thereupon Of the glory wherewith Innocent began his promotions Of the Cardinal Princes created by Innocent the tenth Of the little inclination Urban had for the creation of Cardinal Princes and the disgust given to the creatures of Paul the fifth Of the zeal wherewith Alexander the seventh began his Papacy Of his intention at first to make many Cardinal Princes Of the discourse he held thereupon with his Domestiques Of the power given to Signour Majetta Ambassador from the Duke of Savoy Of the misery the Colledge is in at this present for not having a greater number of Cardinal Princes Of the great pleasure the Popes take at the news of the death of any Cardinal Of the Cardinals that are created by the Douzanes and oblig'd to follow the interest of the Nephews Of the cause why the Cardinal Princes do wear the Purple and of the great honour to receive it THE Magnificence of the Cardinalitial Colledge is so great and its splendor so immense the Cardinals themselves could not wish it to be greater The respect and observance that is paid them is very little different from what is given to Kings and in some things they exceed the condition of Princes Yet the Grandeur of the Sacred Colledge would have been much greater if after its first institution or at least after the multitude of Prerogatives conferr'd upon it by so many several Popes by whom it hath been inrich'd it had maintain'd and continu'd its antient virtue and decorum But I know not how it is come to pass that the Popes either repenting that they had rais'd the Cardinals to so high a pitch of magnificence or that they did not regard as it is too likely the pulique benefit of the Church postponing it to their own private interests It is sufficient that they have endeavour'd not the conservation or advancement of the Cardinalitial Majesty but the abasement and destruction of it and that two several wayes but one much more pernicious than the other The first is in having admitted into the Colledge persons of mean extraction and of as little virtue with which they are not able to cover in the least the baseness of their birth for certainly it would be a less evil had they either virtue or learning to attone for their natural defects Nor would this be so despicable and dishonourable for the reputation of the Colledge were the Caps given only to persons of mean extraction but the worst is they are conferr'd upon most infamous persons abounding with all wickedness and mischief and perhaps fitter for the Galleys than the Colledge The second is that the same Popes who with so many Bulls and Ordinances have ingâ—andiz'd the Colledge either forgetful of their former policy or blinded by some Mundane passion have for a certain
not endure to have it mention'd upon any occasion Alexander the seventh was not well pleas'd neither to see him cheek by jowle amongst so many select persons and therefore gave himself over to use him ill sending him away without any respect to a place that was a greater distance from Rome but the rest of the Cardinals looking upon the misusage of his person as a reflection upon the Order in general they made their complaint to his Holiness and he was immediately set at liberty Donna Olimpia perswaded him to espouse the interest of Spain which he did but finding by degrees the little esteem the Spaniards had for him by their several times neglecting to call him to their Assemblies in which the intrigues of that Court were transacted and all because they knew he had not judgement enough to give them any Councel he turn'd to the French who receiv'd him very readily if for no other reason to secure his voice in the Conclave And this is certain his negotiating with the French has not a little instructed him in his Complements it being the general observation of the Court that since his Voyage into France he is grown much more conversable than formerly In the last Conclave of Rospigliosi he suffer'd himself to be transported into some expressions rather dictated to him than spoken by him against the Spaniards The Spaniards were nettled and bit their thumbs as the Italians use to do in private though in publick they seem'd but to laugh at it Some say the Spanish Ambassador having notice of it from one of the Conclave who being no great friend of Maldachini's had told the story a little too sharply reply'd laughing The voice of an Ass reaches not to Heaven which coming likewise to Maldachini's ears displeas'd him exceedingly so that he fell a railing against all that belong'd to Spain which the Spaniards likewise understanding for the Spyes in Rome will not fail to do that good office to mortifie and rebuke him they resolv'd to stop the Rents of those Abbeys and Benefices that he held in the Kingdom of Naples and other Catholick States and he finding himself in this manner necessitated to renounce has within few months resign'd three Abbeys into the hands of the Pope one of which is given to Monsignor Strada the second to Monsignor Polini both of them of the Privy-Chamber and the third to a Son of the Marquess Astalli Nephew to the Cardinal aforesaid whose Father is of the Faction of Spain In short I would not swear this Cardinal should not be Pope if there was need of nothing but his own single voice but otherwise I fear he will dye without it GIO. FRANCISCO GONDI a Frenchman call'd Cardinal di Retz he was promoted to the Cardinalship the 19th of February in the year 1652. at the instance of the King of France with whom he was afterwards disgusted having receiv'd some considerable affronts though he was Archbishop of Paris The Court cry'd out exceedingly against Mazarine who govern'd all at that time and was the principal cause of the persecuting this person and that upon good grounds The Ecclesiasticks pretended that the greatest Princes that are cannot repress the power of a Cardinal when they are treating of matters of State no though the Cardinals be contriving the ruine or disturbance of the Publique Peace But this is a doctrine the Princes do but laugh at and amongst the rest the Kings of France who upon any such occasion do fly presently to their Gallican Rites It was strange to Innocent that after the Crown of France had with so much instance and importunity recommended this person to be promoted and after he was advanc'd to so honourable a Dignity he should be slighted and ill used immediately by the same Crown of which he made frequent complaints to Mazarine who wanted not his pretences to excuse them However the Politicians look'd upon it as a great over-sight in Mazarine to present that person to the Cardinalship without pre-considering what might follow and indeed they that understood the Spirit of the man inclin'd alwayes to disturb and perplex the quiet of his Superiours were much scandaliz'd to see Mazarine instead of keeping him at a distance by some politick pretence to endeavour to make him equal in Dignity to himself and by consequence to give him greater opportunity and encouragement to undertake what in effect he did enterprize But Mazarine was oblig'd to do what he did for private and occult reasons not imagining the said person could have been able to have kindled so great a Conflagration as he did The timid though unquiet Nature with which he observ'd Gondi to be govern'd perswaded him that he was not to be parted from that Country where he manag'd all so as the judgement of so great a Head-piece as Mazarine is many times deceiv'd he finding by experience that the most timerous man if back'd and supported grows most troublesome and ambitious The Spaniards endeavour'd what they could to fetch over this Cardinal to their party promising him as is reported much more than he could hope for in France but he that had his aim upon France and not upon Spain kept himself close to the interest of that Crown demonstrating upon several occasions that his adherance to the Male-contents was not from any animosity to that Kingdom but only from a desire to humble the fortunes of Cardinal Mazarine At the time that accident happen'd to the Duke of Crequy in Rome which was the twentieth of August 63. amongst all the Cardinals there was none that stuck so zealously to the French party as he to the admiration of every body that a person that had been turn'd out of his Church and other Benefices had been imprison'd persecuted and banish'd should appear with such ardour in defence of that interest that was the cause of his troubles and which is worse resolv'd never to readmit him to the Dignities he had lost But his proceedings in this point were prudent enough for having voluntarily disoblig'd his Most Christian Majesty it was but reason he should be voluntarily oblig'd And the King of France unwilling to let the constancy or generosity of Retz with which he maintain'd the just Priviledges of his Crown to go unrewarded he admitted him again into his favour which he enjoys to this day but with some conditional limitations as retaining still in his mind the prejudice he did formerly to the Crown though he often declar'd that all his designs were against Mazarine LVIGI HOMODEI from his very first entrance into the Prelacy had an ambitious hankering after a Cap and it cost him and his Family no small quantity of money before he did compass his ends It was thought very strange his Family being like to extinguish for want of Heirs that he would suffer it to perish rather than marry it is reported that a friend of his advising him to marry he reply'd That he had higher thoughts However things have
Cardinal cry'd out as loud as they could some of them long may Rotomagensis live others long may the Genoese and others the Medanese So that it was not known which of them was Pope a thing very displeasing to the said Cardinals who began to curse those who were the occasion of their exclusion as receiving no ordinary disturbance from so unusual an affront The people were obstreperous and in a tumult but when they were assured Cardinal Aeneas Piccolomini was the person which was plac'd in the Chair of Saint Peter as universal Father and Governour of the Church they immediately laid down the arms they had taken up to satisfie their vehemence and passion having no confidence but in their sword and the face of the City was alter'd in a moment so that that City which a little before seem'd dedicated to Mars in the twinkling of an eye became I will not say the City of Venus the Mother of the Trojan Aeneas but a Paradice of Peace and an Epitomy of tranquility which every one expected from the Exaltation of such a Pope This Election was generally to the satisfaction of all the Princes of Christendom particularly Ferdinand King of Sicily was very well pleas'd to see so good a friend of his Fathers admitted to the Government of the Church Borso Duke of Modena was so much over-joyed at this Election of Pius as one with whom he had a mutual correspondence and friendship from the time he obtain'd that Dukedom from Frederick the Emperour in which concession also Aeneas had been instrumental that in testimony of his congratulation he made Tournements or Tiltings hoping under his Pontificate to meliorate his fortune and augment his Estate To that end in Ferrara and in all other places of his Dominion he commanded solemn Festivals to be kept for the Election of that Pope which the people fail'd not to observe Francis Sforza Duke of Milan though perhaps his wishes were to have seen another Pope nevertheless understanding Aeneas was Elected he made his expressions of joy having receiv'd him honourably in his own lodgings in Milan and treated him with great generosity a little before his Election The Marquesses of Mantoa Monâ—â—rrat and Salussi who were all Aeneas his great friends were very much pleas'd and order'd their Subjects to make demonstration of their joy The Venetians and the Florentines were the only people dissatisfied with this Election the Florentine from a natural fear and animosity they had to the Sieneses their Neighbours with whom they had frequent disputes about their Confines took so great a disgust at the assumption of Aeneas that as he was walking in the Street and saluted by those which met him with a Dio vi salvi they reply'd with great contumacy ci salvera perche no the Venetian likewise had no great correspondence with him yet for all that both the one and other dispatch'd most sumptuous Embassies to him to congratulate and pay him the usual obedience The Nobility of Siena being jealous of the house of Piccolomini as well for other considerable respects as for fear the Pope should usurp upon the liberty of the City and make it a Principality hereditary to his own Family receiv'd but little delight at the news of Aeneas his Election However the generallity of the people seeing a fellow Citizen of theirs exalted above the Cardinals of all other Cities celebrated his Eâ—ection for several days with bone-fires and such other transcendant Expressions of their joy as seem'd madness and extravagance as commonly most of your popular solemnities are But that which was most remarkable and most for the glory and reputation of the Pope was that almost all the Barons of Rome assembled themselves on horseback to Congratulate and on the 28 of August about shutting in of the Evening they made a solemn Cavalcade every one with his lighted Torch in his hand attended with a great number of Lacqueys and Grooms with Torches likewise which train being disposed into order extended all along from the Castle of Saint Angelo to the Church of Saint Peter The Ceremony was so Pompous his Holiness stood at the Window all the while to behold so illustrious a spectacle design'd and dedicated to the honour of his Exaltation But above all the Princes of Christendom Frederick the Emperour was the most satisfied and not without reason because it was by his instance and mediation Aeneas was made a Cardinal and therefore transported with joy he not only dispatch'd Ambassadors to congratulate his Creation but he commanded Justs and Tiltings to be celebrated for several days The King of Spain did the same and indeed all the Princes of Christendom except the Kings of France of Scotland of Denmark of Poland Hungary and Cyprus who for several reasons had no great opinion of that Election But all the rest of the world I mean of Christendome were glad I will not omit though I shall mention it but by the way to remember the great zeal this Pope exprest towards the recovery of the Holy Land especially when he saw the Turk had got possession of Greece and Sclavonia it brought tears of compassion from his Eyes as oft as he heard of the miseries which the poor Christians suffered who were under the Dominion I may say Bondage of the Barbarians This zeal carry'd him in person to the Councel of Mantua in which he negotiated the cause of Christ so well with his most excellent eloquence that all the Cardinals and Fathers concluded that enterprise into the East was necessary in which he confaederated with the King of Hungary the Venetian and the Duke of Burgundie as knowing those Princes most dispos'd to so sacred a work against which all good Popes ought principally to bend their whole power and designs and lay aside deprive themselves of their passion to their Nephews rather than see the Church ruin'd by its barbarous Enemies Pius sent his Legates about through all Christendome injoyning the Bishops to excite and inanimate their Subjects to an expedition of that advantage and importance to the Church In the City of Siena as he was making his journey to Ancona he understood that Philip Duke of Burgundy who had promis'd to go himself with an numerous Army had chang'd his resolution and united with several other Princes and People as well Italians as strangers and out of envious and ambitious ends were using all possible means to divert others from so holy a design pretending and declaring that the consequence of that expedition could be nothing but certain danger and uncertain reward This news troubled his Holiness to the very soul so that he sent away Legates immediately to try if he could reduce them to more rational resolutions at least to sit still and not discourage others if they would do no good themselves From Siena he return'd to Rome upon some new occasion and afterwards departed again for Ancona in which Port the whole Christian Army was to Rendezvouz at least that of
to be of a turbulent head and a pungent if not virulent tongue In short though in all the rest there were some visible hopes of Exaltation to be found yet in this Cardinal there was not the least spark or inclination to be discover'd first because he was abominated by the Spaniards as a person of too deep a reach for 't is a maxim amongst them to have a care of such persons as by the greatness of their parts or designs may disturb the present quiet of Italy during the minority of their King Some people believe that for the same reasons for which the Spaniards hated him the French lov'd him but yet with very good Policy he was but little or not at all mention'd in the Conclave The other impediment was a pique Chigi had taken against him Albici having been always an enemy to his Government murmuring continually against it as well in publick as in private Cardinal Chigi for all that dissembled it very well yet he could not contain from saying one day to a friend of Albici's who recommended him to him for a Pope but he spake as by the by That when he gave his voice for Albici there should not be another Cardinal in the Colledge These following Memoires of this Cardinal came too late to my hands to put them into my second Part which indeed was their proper place but coming from a good hand I have chosen rather to insert them here than to suffer them to be lost I desire the Reader therefore would compare what is written of this Cardinal in the second Part with what follows Francesco Cardinal of Albici was born in Cesenna the 25th of October 1593. he is descended of Albici's in Florence a person of great learning in all kinds of Sciences but in the Law and Ecclesiastical History he has but few equals in this age He is so great a lover of Justice that when he was young and exercising his Advocateship in Cesenna because he would not do that which was unjust he was forc'd to fly to avoid the mischief which was threatned to him by the person which desir'd to have had sentence in his favour contrary to Law and Justice Upon this occasion he came to Rome where he exercis'd his profession with great applause Monsignour Monti a Milanese being declar'd Nuntio of Naples by Vrban the eight the advocate Albici was propos'd to Cardinal Francisco Barbarino to be Auditor of the said Nuntiature Monsignour Meltio Lieutenant to A. C. who was a Cardinal afterwards was desir'd to give his Character of him which he did so much to his advantage that he was sent to Naples and afterwards into Spain with the said Monti where he carry'd himself with great commendation after three years he was call'd back again to Rome by Vrban made Assessor of the S. Office and sent with Monsignour Macchiavelli Assistant into Germany to Cardinal Ginetti who went Legate a Latere from Vrban the eighth There was some unkindness betwixt the said Legate and Albici by reason of the sordidness wherewith the Legate used all his attendants in his Legation Whilst he was in Germany the charge of Assessor dâ—l S. Officio was kept voyd and restor'd to him at his return to Rome Vrban at the request of D. Anna Colonna gave him the Canonship of Saint Peter and amongst the rest of the favours which he did him he declar'd himself his Kinsman upon occasion of a Marriage betwixt one of the house of Barbarino and a Lady of the Albici's He had thoughts of making him a Cardinal if death had not prevented his making another promotion He was afterwards made a Cardinal by Innocent the tenth for the pains he took in the cause of Jansenius condemn'd by Innocent although his Emulators whisper'd about the Court that he was created only to obstruct the Assumption of Cardinal Fiorenzuola to the Papacy But that report could not continue long it being well known what joy the whole Court and all the Princes had at his Promotion and amongst the rest there was a Prince who congratulated with his Eminence that by his bare merits without Bribery or Subornation he had attain'd to the dignity of the Purple At that time he was the only Instrument that made Alexander the 7th Secretary of State at Colonia as appears in a book Printed by the said Pope before his Ascension to the Papacy in which he has inserted one of the many secrets which were writ to him by Albici and after the said Chigi was made a Cardinal he omitted not any thing that might contribute to the assumption of his friend to the Papacy gratitude and friendship being one of his most singular virtues and amongst other of his policies he express'd more than ordinary civilities to a Kinsman of Alexander who did not return that gratitude which such a friend did deserve only in the latter part of his Pontificate upon the instance of Cardinal Chigi his Nephew who knew very well the affection of such a friend deserv'd a greater recompence than this he made one of his Nephews resign the Title of an Abbey to him and this obligation he owed not to the Pope but to his Nephew The Cardinal is of a good complection and lusty though he be in the 75th year of his age He is courteous in his Speech a lover of Poverty indifferent as to the Princes for being ask'd one day by Cardinal Aragon whether he was French or Spaniard he reply'd That where Justice was thore were his inclinations He is belov'd of the Cardinals but it is for fear he is resolute and studious enough At present he has four Nephews Sons of his Son first the Abbot Rinaldo then Nicolo a Layman marryed to a Daughter of the Marquess Calcagnini of Ferrara the next is Lutio Arroni a youth of many good qualities and lastly Logo an Abbot He uses his Pen very willingly in defence of such as are accused as he did in the Papacy of Innocent the 10th in behalf of Horatio Falconieri for which being reprehended by a Prelate who was his friend he reply'd That it was Justice that he defended That he could not abandon his friend in his distress That such was his practice formerly and such it should be for the time to come In the Pontificate of Alexander he made several Sermons which by several were interpreted as intended against the Government of Alexander and being rebuk'd for it by some of his Relations he gave one of them this answer That Pulpits were invented for the reprehension not for the incouragement of Vice He is a person of a quick resolution and 〈…〉 Upon an occasion in the time of Alexander the 7th who fram'd a Congrega 〈…〉 for adjâ—sâ—ing the matters of Ceremony betwixt the Cardinals and Roman Barons by 〈…〉 〈…〉 ey were grown but little consider'd this Cardinal said If I were to advise his Holiness I would tell him that he ought first to set a value upon the Cardinals and when