But such a Government as this was long in growing and required much time to bring it to a maturity because many difficulties interposed in the way For in the first place the very foundation of Christianity which was humility was diametrically opposite to Grandeur and Dominion then the Popes were chosen by the People to whom they were accountable for all their administrations and to the Clergy for their soundness in Faith and Orthodox Doctrine for which reason Pope Eugenius the first was Interdicted by the Clergy from celebrating Divine Service in Santa Maria Maggiore until he had disclaimed publickly the Heresie he held of one Operation or Will in Christ the Assertors of which were called Monothelites and this Choice of the People required a confirmation from the Emperour before the Pope could be legally invested in his Authority the which is apparent in all History and in regard the Seat of the Emperours was far distant a Power was delegated to the Exarch of Ravenna to confirm the suffrages of the people in case the person they had chosen was not obnoxious or displeasing to the Emperour and so it was when Severinus was made Pope that Isaacius the Exarch of Italy made a journey to Rome to confirm him though before his departure he plundered the Lateran of its Treasures in which attempt though he was opposed by some of the Clergy yet his Soldiers being too strong for them he carried away his prize upon a pretence that it was unreasonable the Clergy should grow rich and the State poor and that they should amass vast sums into their Coffers when the Soldiers who were their defence and guard were miserably necessitous and in a starving condition Nor had the See of Rome less difficulty in its advancement by reason of the long disputes and contentions between that and the Church of Constantinople for precedency to which several Princes gave encouragement who asserted that the Supremacy ought to be lodged at that place which was accounted and esteemed the Capital Seat of the Empire On the other side the Roman Bishops termed Constantinople but a Colony of Rome since the Greeks themselves stiled their Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Emperour of the Romans and the Constantinopolitans themselves even in that age were called Romans and not Greeks the which Controversie remained undecided until the time of Boniface the third who by great intercession and a powerful interest obtain'd of the Emperour Phocas that the See of Rome should be acknowledged and stiled the Head of all the Churches But notwithstanding this priviledg given to the See of Rome the Popes continued still in their dependence on the Emperor's confirmation without which their Election was not valid And though in the time of Mauritius the Emperour Pelagius the 2d was made Bishop of Rome without the Imperial consent and confirmation and though the same was excused by a cause of necessity occasioned by the Siege which the Lombards had laid to the City yet the Emperour was much displeased with this encroachment upon his Prerogative until such time as Gregory a Deacon a Person of great Piety and Learning was sent to Constantinople to appease his anger In this manner the Popes depended on the Emperours pleasure for their confirmation until about the year 705. when Benedict the second was created Pope a Person of so much piety and vertue and of compassion towards the poor that he gained an esteem aud veneration from all people of what degree soever and so great was his renown that the report of his Vertue and Devotion reaching the Ears of the Emperour he conceived such a high Opinion of his Sanctity that he sent him a Decree whereby he ordained and established that for the time to come He whom the Clergy and people of Rome should choose Pope should be immediately acknowledged without recourse to the Authority of the Emperour or his Exarchs according to former custom when the confirmation of the Emperour or his Lieutenant in Italy was esteemed necessary to the establishment of a Pope But whence this Temporal Power was derived in its first Original to the Popes hath been an enquiry of divers Authors There are those who pretend a Donation from the Emperour Constantine by which the City of Rome it self most part of Italy Africa and all the Islands of the Mediterranean Seas were conferred upon them But this Opinion is exploded by Guicciardin an Author without exception in this case And moreover in all History these particulars are very clear and apparent as namely That during the Exarchate the Popes had nothing to do with the Temporal Sword but lived as Subjects to the Emperour That after the overthrow of the Exarchate the Emperours neglecting Italy the Romans began to be governed by the advice and power of the Popes That Pepin of France having subdued the Kingdom of the Lombards gave unto Pope Gregory the 3d. and his Successours Ravenna Urbin Ancona Spoleto with many other Towns and Territories about Rome in testimony and remembrance of which there remains unto this day a Marble Stone ingraven in Latin with this Inscription thereupon and Englished thus Pepin the most pious King of France was the first who gave example to Posterity how and in what manner the Power and Authority of Holy Church was to be amplified and increased After which Charlemagne or Charles the Great the Son of Pepin having made his entrance into Rome in the time of Pope Adrian the first confirmed by Oath and amply enlarged the Donation which his Father Pepin had made to Gregory the 3d. which as our Platina saith contained in Liguria all that reaches from the long since demolished City Luna to the Alps the Isle of Corsica and the whole Tract between Luca and Parma together with Friuli the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Dukedoms of Spoleto and Beneventum And though the Popes having this Temporal Power began to set up for themselves maintaining That the Pontifical Dignity was to give Laws to the Emperours and not to receive them yet this Doctrine was not openly asserted during the Reign of Charlemagne who challenged and exercised the antient and original power to govern the Church to call Councils and to order the Papal Election The which Power continued for a long time in his posterity and so afterwards remained so long as wise and valiant Princes ruled but when weak Princes who were distracted with great and dangerous Wars governed then the Popes prevailed who were strong in their Councils being for the most part composed of subtil and designing Men Howsoever these turns of Fortune were carried in succeeding times with various changes and successes the Emperour sometimes tugging and plucking from the Pope and the Pope from the Emperour winning or losing ground as they were endued with abilities courage and understanding or as the circumstances of the World were ordered and disposed in different times So Hadrian the 3d. was a Man of so great a Spirit that
our Saviour was crucified whereas at other times the celebration of the Mass was forbidden till the third hour or between the hours of nine and twelve a Clock the time when as St. Mark tells us he was fastned to the Cross. He also appointed that the Hymn Glory be to God on High should be sung before the Sacrifice In his time Justinus a Philosopher of Neapolis a City of Palestine labour'd successfully in the defending Christianity presented to Antoninus and his Sons a book which he had written against the Gentiles and held a Dialogue with Tryphon a principal Jew He wrote also very warmly against Marcion who adhering to the Heresie of Cerdo affirmed that there were two Gods the one good the other just as two contrary principles of Creation and Goodness He opposed likewise Crescens the Cynick as a person gluttonous fearful of Death given over to Luxury and lust and a blasphemer of Christ. But being at length by this mans treacherous practices betray'd he suffered in the cause of Christianity Eusebius writing of this Cynick allows him only to have been a vain-glorious Pretender but not a Philosopher At the same time the Valentinian Hereticks prevail'd who were the followers of one Valentinus a Platonist and held that Christ took nothing of the body of the Virgin but passed clean through her as through a Pipe Now also Photinus Bishop of Lyons a man of singular Learning and Piety as Isidore tells us suffered Martyrdom with great resolution being ninety years old Telesphorus having at four Decembrian Ordinations made fifteen Presbyters eight Deacons thirteen Bishops died a Martyr and was buried in the Vatican near Saint Peter He was in the Chair eleven years three months twenty two days By his Death the See was vacant seven days S. HYGINUS HYGINUS an Athenian Son of a Philosopher succeeded Telesphorus during the Empire of Antoninus Pius Wâ—â—â—se extraordinary merit compels me to add something farther in his praise 〈…〉 I come to give an account of Hyginus He was so far from the vanity of valuing himself upon the glory of his Arms that he made it his business rather to defend the Provinces of the Empire than to encrease them and had often that saying of Scipio in his mouth that he had rather save one Citizen than destroy a thousand Enemies being herein of a quite contrary temper to that of Domitian who from a consciousness of his own cruelty did so hate and fear a multitude that he would expose the Roman Army to the fury of its Enemies on purpose that it might return home thinner and less formidable Moreover Pius was so famous for his Justice that several Princes and Nations did at his Command cease their Hostilities making him the Arbitratour of their differences and standing to his determination as to the Justice of their Pretensions For these admirable qualities the Romans after his much lamented death in honor to his memory appointed Cirque-shews built a Temple and 〈…〉 a Flamen with an Order called by his name At this time Hyginus prudently setled and confirm'd the several Orders and Degrees of the Clergy and ordain'd the Solemn Consecration of Churches the number of which he would not have encreas'd or diminish'd without leave of the Metropolitan or Bishop He forbad also that the Timber or other Materials prepared for the building any Church should be converted to prophane uses yet allowing that with the Bishop's consent they might be made use of towards the erecting any other Church or Religious House He likewise ordained that at least one Godfather or one Godmother should be present at Baptism and that no Metropolitan should condemn or censure any Bishop of his Province until the cause were first heard and discussed by the other Bishops of the Province though some make this latter an Institution of Pelagius not Hyginus In his time lived Polycarp a Disciple of St. John the Apostle and by him made Bishop of Smyrna the most celebrated man for Religion and learning in all Asia He coming to Rome reduc'd to the Orthodox Faith multitudes who had been seduc'd into the Errours of Marcion and Valentinus the former of which by chance meeting him and asking whether he knew him Polycarp answered that he knew him to be the first-born of the Devil For this Heretick denied the Father of our blessed Saviour to be God the Creatour who by his Son made the World But afterwards in the time of M. Antoninus and L. Aurclius Commodus who raised the fourth Persecution Polycarp was burnt at Smyrna by order of the Proconsul Melito also an Asian Bishop of Sardis and a Disciple of Fronto the Oratour presented to M. Antoninus a book written in desence of the Christian Doctrine Tertullian highly extols his Parts and says that most of the Christians look'd upon him as a Prophet Moreover Theophilus Bishop of Antioch wrote a book against the Heresie of Hermogenes who asserted an uncreated eternal matter co-eval to God himself As for Hyginus himself having deserved well of the Church and at three Decembrian Ordinations made fifteen Presbyters five Deacons six Bishops he died and was buried in the Vatican by S. Peter January 11. He was in the Chair four years three months four days The See was then vacant four days S. PIUS I. PIUS an Italian of Aquileia son of Ruffinus lived to the time of M. Antoninus Verus who together with his Brother L. Aurelius Commodus jointly exercis'd the Government nineteen years These two Princes undertook a War against the Parthians and manag'd it with such admirable courage and success that they had the honour of a Triumph decreed to them But not long after Commodus dying of an Apoplexy Antoninus was sole Emperour a person who so excell'd in all good qualities that it is more easie to admire than to describe him for both because from his very youth no change of his Fortune made any alteration in his mind or his countenance and because it is hard to determine whether the sweetness of his natural temper or the knowledg he learnt from Cornelius Fronto were more conspicuous in him he deservedly gain'd the surname of Philosopher And indeed as Capitolinus tells us he was often wont to use that saying of Plato That then the World would be happy when either Philosophers were Princes or Princes would be Philosophers He was so great a lover of Learning that even when he was Emperour he would be present at the Lectures of Apollonius the Philosopher and Sextus Plutarch's Nephew and he set up the Statue of his Tutour Fronto in the Senate-house as a Testimony of the Honour he had for him At this time Pius maintain'd a strict friendship and familiarity with Hermes who wrote the book called Pastor in which book he introduces an Angel in the form of a Shepherd who commanded him to persuade all Christians to keep the Feast of Easter on a Sunday which Pius accordingly did Moreover he ordained that every
September in the ninety first year of his Age. Besides him there were also Gelasius Successour to Euzoius in the Bishoprick of Caesarea Palestinae a man of excellent Parts Dexter Son of Pacianus who compiled an History inscribed to S. Hierem Amphilochius who wrote concerning the Holy Ghost in an 〈◊〉 style and 〈◊〉 commended by S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his learned Book of the Destruction of 〈◊〉 'T is said also that at this time Lucianus a Preshyter directed by a divine Revelation found out the Sepulchres of S. Stephen the Protomartyr and Gamaliel S. Paul's Master of which he gave an account to all the Churches by an Epistle in Greek which was afterwards translated into Latin by 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 and sent to Orosius Some likewise tell us that John Cassianus and Maximine two very learned Men lived in this Age but though it be doubtful of them it is not so concerning Eutropius S. Austin's Scholar who in a handsom style Epitomised the Roman History from the building of the City to his own times and who moreover wrote to his two Sisters Recluses concerning Chastity and the Love of Religion to whom we may add Juvenal the Bishop of Constantinople and Heros a Disciple of S. Martin the wrongfully deposed Bishop of Arles both men of great reputation for Sanctity As for Boniface himself having at one Ordination made thirteen Presbyters three Deacons thirty six Bishops he died October the 25th and was buried in the Via Salaria near the body of S. Felicitas the Martyr He fat in the Chair three years eight months sevendays Boniface being dead some of the Clergy recall'd Eulalius but he either through indignation at his former repulse or from contempt of Worldly greatness disdained the revocation and died the year following The See was then vacant nine days CAELESTINUS I. CAELESTINE a Campanian lived in the times of Theodosius the younger This Theodosius upon the death of that excellent Prince Honorius creates the Son of his Aunt Placidia Valentinian Coesar and commits to his charge the Western Empire Who being immediately by the universal consent of all Italy acknowledged their Emperour and actually entring upon the Government at Ravenna was wonderfully prosperous in subduing the Enemies of the Roman State and particularly John the Usurper In the mean time the Vandals Alemans and Goths a barbarous and salvage people passing over out of Spain into Africa under the conduct of their King Gensericus not only miserably depopulated and harrassed that Province with Fire and Sword but also corrupted the Catholick Faith there with the mixture of Arianism and banish'd some Orthodox Bishops during which Troubles S. Augustine Bishop of Hippo died in the third month of the Siege of that City August 28. in the seventy seventh year of his Age. The Vandals having taken Carthage fail'd to Sicily and made the like havock in that Island as also did the Picts and Scots in the Island of Britain In this Extremity the Britains implored the Aid of Aetius a Patrician and a famous Soldier but he not only denied them his assistance but having other ambitious Designs to carry on solicited the Huns to invade Italy The Britains being thus deserted by Aetius call over the Saxons or English to their help whom they soon found more their Enemies than Assistants for being in a little time over run by them they lost both their Countrey and their Name While these things were transacting Theodosius dying at Constantinople in the twenty seventh year of his and his Uncle Honorius's Reign Bleda and Attila two Brothers Kings of the Hunns invading Illyricum lay'd waste and burn'd all places to which they came Notwithstanding our Coelestine ordained several Rites appertaining to divine Worship as that besides the Epistle and Gospel before the Mass the Psalms of David should be sung by all alternately Martinus Cassinas tells us that the Psalm Judica me Deus Give sentence with me O God and defend my cause c. which is used at the beginning of the Sacrifice was introduced by him as likewise the Gradual is ascribed to him Many other Ecclesiastical Constitutions he made to be seen in the Archives of the Church He also dedicated and enriched the Julian Church At this time Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople endeavoured to sow a new Errour in the Church asserting that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary a meer Man and that the Divinity was conferred upon him of Merit To this impious Doctrine Cyril Bishop of Alexandria and our Coelestine opposed themselves very strenuously For in a Synod of two hundred Bishops held at Ephesus Nestorius himself and the Heresie denominated from him together with the Pelagians who were great favourers of the Nestorian Party were by universal consent condemned in thirteen Canons level'd against their foolish Opinions Moreover Coelestine sent Germanus Bishop of Auxerre into England to oppose the Pelagian Heresie and reduce the Inhabitants to the Orthodox Faith and Palladius whom he had made a Bishop to the Scots who desired to be instructed in the Christian Religion And indeed it cannot be denied but that by his endeavours and the industry of those whom he employed to that purpose a great part of the West were converted to Christianity 'T is said that at this time the Devil assumed humane shape and pretended himself to be Moses and imposed upon a multitude of Jews by undertaking to conduct them out of the Island of Crete into the Land of Promise through the Sea as upon dry Land in imitation of the ancient Miracle wrought for that People at the red Sea Many of them follow'd this false Moses and perished in the Waters those only being reported to have been saved who presently own'd Christ to be the true God Our Coelestine having at three Decembrian Ordinations made thirty two Presbyters twelve Deacons sixty two Bishops died and was buried in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Via Salaria April the 6th He sat in the Chair eight years ten months seventeen days and by his death the See was vacant twenty one days SIXTUS III. SIXTUS the third a Roman Son of Sixtus lived in the time of Valentinian Who being Governour of the Western Empire entred into a League with Gensericus King of the Vandals whom he permitted to inhabit part of Africa confining themselves within certain Boundaries agreed upon between them Genseric being afterwards instigated by the Arians became very zealous in propagating their Errours and violently persecuted the Orthodox Bishops And Valentinian going to Constantinople and there marrying Theodosius's Daughter the Vandals in the mean time under Genseric's Conduct re-took and sack'd Carthage in the five hundred eighty fourth year since its first being in the hands of the Romans While these things weret ransacting in Afric Attila King of the Huns not contented to have invaded the two Hungaries miserably harasses Macedonia Mysia Achaia and the Thraces and then that he might have no sharer in the Kingdom puts to death his Brother Bleda
Manichees were condemned Moreover the Books of the Manichees were publickly burnt and the pride and heretical Opinions of Dioscorus discountenanced and suppress'd In the mean time Valentinian being treacherously murdered Maximus usurps the Empire and against her will marries Eudoxia the Widow of Valentinian Upon this occasion the Vandals being called out of Afric Genseric being their Leader force their entrance into the City of Rome throw the Body of Maximus who had been kill'd in the Tumult by one Ursus a Roman Soldier into the River Tyber plunder and burn the City pillage the Churches and refuse to hearken to Bishop Leo begging them what ever spoils they carried away only to spare the City it self and the Temples However on the fourteenth day from their entrance into Rome they left it and taking away with them Eudoxia and her Daughter with a great number of other Captives they return'd into Africa Leo being now very intent upon making good the damages sustain'd from this People prevailed upon Demetria a pious Virgin to build upon her own ground in the Via Latina three miles from the City a Church to S. Stephen and did the same himself in the Via Appia in honour to S. Cornelius The Churches which had been in any part ruined he repaired and those of the sacred Vessels belonging to them which had been bruised and broken he caused to be mended and those which had been taken away to be made anew Moreover he built three Apartments in the Churches of S. John S. Peter and S. Paul appointed certain of the Roman Clergy whom he called Cubicularii to keep and take charge of the Sepulchres of the Apostles built a Monastery near S. Peters introduced into the Canon of the Mass the Clause Hoc sanctum sacrificium this holy Sacrifice c. and ordained that no Recluse should be capable of receiving the Consecrated Veils unless it did appear that she had preserv'd her Chastity spotless for the space of forty years But while the good man was employed in these things there started up of a sudden the Heresie of the Acephali so called because they were a company of foolish undisciplin'd Schismaticks or if it be not a quibble because they wanted both Brains and Head These men decried the Council of Chalcedon denied the propriety of two Substances in Christ and asserted that there could be but one Nature in one Person But our Leo abundantly confuted their absurd Doctrines in his elegant and learned Epistles written to the Faithful upon that Argument Men of Note in his time were Paulinus Bishop of Nola Prosper of Aquitain a learned man and Mamercus Bishop of Vienne who as 't is said was the first that appointed processionary Supplications or Litanies upon the occasion of the frequent Earthquakes with which Gaul was at that time very much afflicted To conclude Leo having ordained eighty one Presbyters thirty one Deacons and eighty one Bishops died and was buried in the Vatican near S. Peter April the 10th He sat in the Chair twenty one years one month thirteen days and by his death the See was vacant eight days HILARIUS I. HILARIUS a Sardinian the Son of Crispinus continued in the Chair till the time of the Emperour Leo Who being chosen Emperour upon the death of Marcianus creates his Son of his own name Augustus During his Reign the Roman State suffered very much by reason of certain Ambitious men who endeavoured to get the Government into their own hands And Genseric the Vandal King being tempted with so fair an opportunity sails out of Afrique into Italy with design to gain the Empire for himself Leo having intelligence hereof sends Basilicus a Patrician with a mighty Fleet to the Assistance of Anthemius the Emperour of the West These two with joint force and courage meet Genseric near Populonia and force him to an Engagement at Sea in which being routed with a great slaughter of his men he was glad to make an inglorious flight into Africa again In the mean time Ricimer a Patrician having on the Mountains of Trent conquer'd Biorgus King of the Alanes and being puff'd up with that Victory was purposed to attempt the City of Rome had not 〈◊〉 Bishop of Pavia made him and Anthemius Friends Hilary notwithstanding this confused state of things did not neglect the care of Ecclesiastical Affairs For he ordained that no Bishop should chuse his own Successour a Constitution which belongs as well to all other Ecclesiastical Degrees as that of Episcopacy he also made a Decretal which he dispersed throughout Christendom and wrote certain Epistles concerning the Catholick Faith by which the three Synods of Nice Ephesus and Chalcedon were confirmed and the Hereticks Eutyches Nestorius and Dioscorus with their Adherents condemned In the Baptistery of the Lateran Church he built three Oratories which were adorned with Gold and precious Stones their Gates of Brass covered with wrought Silver those he dedicated to S. John Baptist S. John Evangelist and S. Cross. In the last of these was reposited some of the wood of the Cross nclosed in Gold and set with Jewels and a Golden Agnus upon a Pillar of Onyx He added moreover the Oratory of S. Stephen built two Libraries adjoyning and founded a Monastery I shall not here recite the almost numberless Donations which he made to several Churches of Gold Silver Marble and Jewels Some tell us that Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes lived in his time both great supporters of the Christian cause which was now very much undermined by the endeavours of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Pelagians Gennadius also Bishop of Constantinople did great service to the Church by the integrity of his Life and the excellency of his Parts and Learning During the Pontificate of our Hilary Victorinus of Aquitain a famous Arithmetician reduced the Easter account to the course of the Moon far out-doing Eusebius and Theophilus who had attempted it before him And among those that flourished at this time by some is reckoned Merline the famous English Bard concerning whom we are told more than enough As for Hilary himself having performed the duty of a good Bishop both in building and adorning of Churches and also in Teaching Admonishing Censuring and giving Alms where need required and having also ordained twenty five Presbyters five Deacons twenty two Bishops he died and was buried in the Sepulchre of S. Laurence near the body of Bishop Sixtus He sat in the Chair seven years three months ten days and by his death the See was vacant ten days SIMPICIUS I. SIMPLICIUS Son of Castinus born at Tivoli was Bishop during the Reigns of Leo the second and Zeno. For Leo the first falling sick makes choice of Leo the second Son of Zeno Isauricus and his own Nephew by Ariadne his Sister to be his Successour who not long after being seiz'd by a violent Distemper and apprehending himself to be at the point of death leaves the Empire to his
THE LIVES OF THE POPES From the time of our Saviour Jesus Christ TO THE REIGN OF SIXTUS IV. Written Originally in Latine by BAPTISTA PLATINA Native of Cremona And Translated into ENGLISH And the same History continued from the Year 1471. to this present time wherein the most remarkable Passages of Christendom both in Church and State are Treated of and Described By PAUL RYCAUT Esq LONDON Printed for Christopher Wilkinson at the Black Boy over against S. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet 1685. TO THE READER THE History of Platina of the Lives of the Popes being rendred into English by an unknown hand was delivered to me by the Bookseller and considering that Platina was an Author of good Reputation and Authority in the World I often wished that he had lived in that Age in which he might have deduced his History from ancient to the present times or that some other of our learned men would have continued the same in the Language of our own Country for since our Tongue is so well refined and so copious it ought justly to comprehend all those Histories Sciences and Arts which are related and made known in forreign Languages But observing that this Work was neglected and not thought worthy the labour of better Pens I essayed to do it in my own rude and plain Style without affectation or ornament more than what the simplicity of naked truth would afford me in search of which I have always had recourse to the best and to the most impartial Authors who have neither disguised the Vices of Men by flattery nor out of prejudice branded those Actions with shame and obloquy which might have admitted of a fairer character Nor have I mixed any thing of Religion in this History but where the nature of the relation could not subsist without it for in regard the Court and not the Church of Rome is the subject on which I treat I have made the Points of Religion accidental only to the following Discourses But as to Platina himself Trithemius in his Treatise of Ecclesiastical Writers gives him this Character He was born sayes he at Cremona was Breviary to the Pope and a man learned in all Sciences he was an excellent Philosopher and a famous Orator of an acute and ready wit and perswasive eloquence he was couragious and so constant to his principles that under Pope Paul II. he was deprived of his Estate and Preferments and after having endured the wrack or torture he was cruelly cast into Prison where he remained during the Reign of this Paul II. afterwards he was set at liberty by Sixtus IV. to whom he dedicated this following History of the Popes He died at Rome of the Plague Aged 60 years A. D. 1481. Frederick III. being Emperour and Sixtus IV. being Pope AN INTRODUCTION To the following HISTORY THIS continuation of Plaetina the subject of which is the Lives and Reigns of the Popes is a Treatise purely historical collected from feveral Latin French and Italian Authors whose design being solely to transmit matter of Fact to posterity did not intermeddle with points of Religion but as they accidentally occurred in the connexion of History there being a vast difference between the Church of Rome and the Court of Rome To this latter Notion which consists of a Pope who is Sovereign and of seventy Cardinals or more who are his Counsellours besides a great number of Prelats we shall confine our Discourse And whereas the Pope is a Prince who hath a Temporal Dominion under his Government and Jurisdiction it is no wonder if he and the Creatures and Confidents who attend him in all his Counsels should act by Maximes purely civil and political whence it is that Popes are approached with so much more awe and profound Reverence than is performed towards Kings and Emperours because the Spiritual comes in to maintain and uphold the Authority of the Temporal and both being united do mutually support each other hence proceed all the flatteries used in that Court all the contrivances which Ambition can suggest to raise Families and make those great who are in Authority And in short nothing is omitted which the Wit of Man and the Artifices of the most refined Heads in the World such as those are at Rome can devise to conserve and exalt the Interest and Authority of that Court. The Original of this Jurisdiction which is encreased to such a degree of Power and Greatness as is become suspected by Kings and formidable to its people sprang at first from those words of our Saviour to his Apostles Whose sins ye shall forgive on Earth shall be forgiven in Heaven and whose sins ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven the which large and extensive priviledg was attended with a Commission to feed Christs Flock to preach the Gospel and to administer the Sacraments and with an exhortation to all the faithful to love one the other and to pardon and forgive each other their offences The Primitive Church which was always zealous to reconcile the Brethren and procure pardon of the Offender from the person offended did ordain according to the Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians that the Saints or Christians should not maintain a process of Law one against the other at the Bar or Tribunals of Infidels but that they should rather appoint and constitute some of the Faithful who were Men of approved wisdom and integrity to hear and examine and determine all their differences This manner of trial was certainly submitted unto with great charity of the both parties and with an unbiassed sentence of the Judg for the first had no power over them to enforce execution unless the constraint of their own Consciences which bore witness that the adjudgment was from God Nor did the Ecclesiastical Judg pronounce sentence without regret sorrow and grief for the Delinquent as appears by the words of St. Paul 2 Cor. chap. 2. where the sorrow of the Offender is said to be so great as to require comfort and that the Judg also did partake in the like affliction and anguish of heart with him This dispensation of the Ecclesiastical Censures being a work of great Charity was an Office onely proper for such as had attained to a good esteem for piety and to the degree and dignity of a Bishop But as the Faithful encreased and the Churches became numerous so the deliberations on Causes were too heavy and burdensom for the Bishop alone and therefore though the Bills and Processes at Law were received by the hands of the Bishop they were yet afterwards transferred to the consideration of the Ancients who were called Presbyters which being digested by them received their ultimate determination and sentence from the General Assembly of the Church the which practice was in use in the year of our Lord 250. as appears by the Epistles of St. Cyprian wherein he writes to the Presbyters of his Diocese of Carthage that he intended not
as well as lay in his power fourteen years six months died and was buried in S. Peter's January the 27th The See was then vacant four months fifteen days ADEODATUS I. ADEODATUS a Roman Son of Jovinian was of a Monk created Pope at the time when Lupus Duke of Friuli endeavoured to posses himself of the Kingdom of Italy For Grimoaldus being as we have said called by his Son Rhomoaldus Duke of Beneventum to aid him against Constantius the Emperour at his departure commended his People to the care of Lupus and so according to the Proverb left the Sheep to the keeping of the Wolf For Lupus taking the advantage of Grimoaldus his absence involves all Tuscany Romandiola and a great part of Lombardy in tumult and confusion Hereupon Grimoaldus by gifts and promises prevails with Caganus to advance with his Avares against Lupus which he did and in the first Engagement had the worst of it But the next day renewing the Fight he overcame and slew Lupus and then sack'd and laid waste all Friuli Grimoaldus upon Constantius his leaving Italy returns into Lombardy and in his way on the Saturday before Easter takes Forlimpopoli puts all the Inhabitants of it to the sword plunders it and then levels it to the ground upon the score of an injury which he had received there from the people of Ravenna in his passage to the Aid of his Son Now Arnefites the Son of Lupus being assisted by the Dalmatians endeavoured to recover his Father's Dukedom but near the River Natisone he was vanquish'd and slain by the Lombards The Inhabitants of Vderzo had a share in his Misfortune being forced to quit their Countrey for having countenanced him in his pretensions At this time Sicily also was in a bad condition for Soldiers were sent thither out of all the Provinces of Italy to make head against Mezentius by whose treachery Constantius had been murdered Who being overcome and slain and the Soldiers again dispersed the Saracens arriving with a great Fleet surprize Syracuse and possess themselves of the whole Island After some time they return to Alexandria loaded with spoil and carry away with them those Ornaments of the City of Rome which Constantius had brought to Syracuse with design to transmit them to Constantinople These miseries and Calamities had been portended by a Comet which appeared three months together by great Rains and frequent Thunders such as had not been at any time known before But such is the blindness of Mankind that though they be warn'd of future Evils yet they do not as they ought provide against them 'T is reported that all the standing Corn which had been lodg'd by the continued Rains grew yet up again and came to maturity especially in Lombardy In the mean time Adeodatus being a person of great Piety and Humanity merciful towards Offenders bountiful to the poor hospitable towards strangers and compassionate towards all in Calamity repaired and dedicated the Church of S. Peter in the Via Portuensis He also added to the Building and Revenues of the Monastery of S. Erasmus on Mons Coelius wherein himself had been a Monk Moreover he appointed frequent Litanies upon the account of those Prodigies which we have said appear'd at that time At length having been in the Chair four years two months five days he died and was with general lamentation buried in S. Peter's June the 26th The See was then vacant four months twenty days DONUS I. DONUS a Roman Son of Mauritius was made Pope at the time when Grimoaldus King of the Lombards drawing a Bow high to shoot at a Pigeon and thereby straining his Nerves and Veins though it were nine days after he had been let Blood in the Arm yet thereupon it fell a bleeding afresh and could not be stanch'd till he died There were in this King several excellent Endowments both of Body and Mind He was a person of great Wisdom and Prudence in all Affairs and added several things very useful to Rhotaris his Edict which afterwards receiv'd the Form of a Law He was of a middle Stature strong Constitution had a bald head and long beard and was every way fitted for Action He was buried at Pavia in the Church of S. Ambrose which he had built at his own charge Pertharis Son of King Aripertus who as we have said had been deprived of his Right by Grimoaldus passing now during his Exile out of France into Britain was prompted by a Voice which he knew not from whence it came that Grimoaldus being dead he should seek to recover his paternal Inheritance Encouraged by this Voice though the Author of it were uncertain he returned into Italy and within three months after Grimoaldus's Death became repossess'd of his Father's Kingdom without any opposition About the same time died Dagobert the French King a subtil and crafty Prince and who was equally fitted for Counsel and Action whose Soul when it had been carried by Devils almost as far as the Island of Lipara is reported to have been delivered out of their Clutches by Dennis and Maurice the Martyrs and Martin the Confessour Saints for whom as his Patrons he had all his life-time a great veneration and had been very liberal in beautifying and enriching their Churches Now Pope Donus consulting the honour of the Church paved the Porch of S. Peter's called Paradise with Marble which he took as I suppose from the Pyramide over against Castel S. Angelo Moreover he repaired and dedicated in the Via Ostiensis the Church of the Apostles and in the Via Appia that of S. Euphemia He also appointed the several degrees of honour and distance to be yielded to the several Orders of the Clergy And discovering in the Boethian Monastery a Company of Syrian Monks who were of the Nestorian Heresie them he censured and dispersed into divers other Monasteries assigning their own to Roman Monks By his eminent Learning and Piety and through the submission of Theodorus Bishop of 〈◊〉 he reduced to Obedience to the Apostolick See the Church of Ravenna which had for a considerable time separated it self from that of Rome and upon that account had got the name of Allocephalis Some tell us that in his time Projectus a Bishop underwent the torment and acquired the glory of Martyrdom for the cause of Christianity and that Mezelindis a Woman of incomparable Chastity being solicited by her Lover Ardenius and upon her not yielding to his desires put to divers Torments by him yet prayed so fervently even for her Persecutor whom God for this Crime had struck with blindness that upon her Prayers his Sight was restored to him Our Donus having been in the Chair five years ten days died and was buried in S. Peter's April the 10th The See was then vacant two months sixteen days AGATHO I. AGATHO a Sicilian was Anno Dom. 702. of a Monk made Pope a person of great Piety and who cured a Leper whom he chanced to meet with only by a
gave Orders to all his People to treat the Ambassadour and his Retinue with all kindness and due respect and moreover wrote a Letter to the Pope complaining of the late design of his Nuntio attempting to publish Ecclesiastical Censures against forein Princes within his Kingdom which was a new and an unknown practice within his State and had been refused in the Case of Henry III. King of France and in the Cause of Cesare d' Este Duke of Ferrara much less could he be induced to allow of such proceedings against the State of Venice whose Cause was the same with that of his own Kingdom And considering that that State had merited well of Christendom by the opposition they made with their Arms against the common Enemy he exhorted his Holiness to supersede farther proceedings for Causes which ought to be stifled and which for better peace of the Church ought never to be brought into question or Dispute Francis Soranzo a Cavalier of Venice being at this time Ambassadour at the Emperor's Court did rightly inform the Imperial Ministers with the true state of the difference between the Pope and that Republick and in regard the Constitutions of all Germany were the same they could not do less than approve the Cause of the Venetians and condemn the Cause of the Pope which confirmed the Protestants in their reasons which they alledged for detaining Ecclesiastical Benefices in their own hands Howsoever the Great Chancellour and Marshal Prainer were of different Opinions taking part with the Pope against the affections sence and Interest of the whole Court When news came first to the Court of Spain of the differences between the Pope and the Venetians the constancy and firmness of that State to the Principles of their Government was highly applauded being the common Cause of all Secular Princes Howsoever the Nuntio made it his business to have the Venetian Ambassadour declared in all Pulpits to be under Excommunication The Genoeses also who were powerful in that Court being touched with envy on old grudges and for having lately yielded that Point of their liberty to the Pope which Venice still conserved did all the ill offices they were able against the Republick but above all the Ambassadour of Tuscany joyning with the Jesuits shewed himself an open Enemy and so prevailed with the King and Council that a Congregation of twelve Divines was held at Madrid in presence of the Cardinal of Toledo to consider whether the Ambassadour of Venice ought to be admitted into the Church at the time of Celebration of Divine Offices the result of which was that the Ambassadour should not be excluded every one concurring in that Opinion the Nuntio and Jesuits onely excepted So soon as the news came to Paris that the Monitory was published against Venice Barberino the Pope's Nuntio made urgent addresses to the King that Priuli the Venetian Ambassadour should be excluded from admission into the Church but his desire was positively rejected both because the King was willing to remain Neuter and because it was and is a Maxim of that Kingdom That Popes have no power over the Temporal Government of Princes and have no Authority on account for Secular matters to proceed against them or their Officers by Ecclesiastical Censures In England we may easily imagine what Opinion was conceived of these proceedings for when Giustiniano the Ambassadour of Venice had acquainted King James with the state of the difference between the Pope and the Republick the King did much applaud the Laws and Constitutions of Venice and the constancy and resolution of the Senate in the maintenance of them adding That he would gladly see a free Council established which was the onely means to reform the Church of God and put an end to all Controversies amongst Christians which had no other original or source than onely from the usurpation of Popes and ambition of the Clergy in which holy and sacred Design he did not doubt but that the French King and all other Christian Princes would readily concur and that perhaps a beginning thereof might arise from these troubles and labours of the Republick And farther the King added That the Popes exalting themselves above God were the ruin of the Church and that it was no wonder that their Pride admitted of no serious reflections or moderate advices being puffed up and elated by the common adulation and flattery which was used towards them The States of the Vnited Provinces wrote very obliging Letters to Venice proffering to assist them with Arms and Provisions in case they came to an open rupture and acts of hostility with the Pope In the mean time many effectual good Offices were performed both at Rome and Venice by the Dukes of Mantoua and Savoy and by Guicciardin Ambassadour of the Great Duke of Tuscany and more especially by Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour at Venice To all which instances and applications from several Princes the Senate thought fit to make this general Answer First they returned thanks for the good endeavours and labours towards a Mediation and then complained of the firm resolutions of the Pope which could not be shaken or made plyable by any reasonable terms which the Republick could offer That there could be no hopes of accommodation until the Pope by taking off his Censures did open a way to Treaties and terms of Peace That the Pope had proceeded so far in his injuries and affronts as were past all manner of reconciliation and yet the Republick which was truly Catholick would still bear their due respect to the Pope so far as was consistent with their liberty and with that right of Government which was committed to them by God But whilest matters were thus in Treaty at Venice and Rome and in the Courts of Princes the Jesuits who were vigilant and intent to do all the mischiefs they were able against the Republick did not cease to disperse Scandals and Libels as well without Italy as within and to preach and rail against them in their Pulpits and Schools endeavouring to possess their Auditories with the most malicious impressions they could beget or frame in minds of Men they also wrote Letters into all places defaming the Republick some who would not adventure into the Dominions of Venice treated on the Confines with their Disciples and Votaries and others in disguise entered within the Dominions sowing Division and Faction in all parts promising extraordinary Indulgences to all such as should observe the Interdict They also forged several Letters entitling one from the Republick of Genoua to the Senate of Venice another from the City of Verona to the City of Brescia which were most scandalous and abominable Papers Then in other Writings they justified themselves for having in their Sermons inveighed against the Republick calling it a Lutheran Heretical and tyrannical Government with infinite other abominable Epithets In fine it was proved that the Jesuits were the causes of all these disturbances having instigated the
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
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
as they were leading him to Punishment disposed of what he had to Stephen the Arch-deacon and afterwards upon the fifth of May was beheaded Lucina with some of the Clergy buried his body by night in a Grotto of hers in the Via Appia nor far from the Coemetery of Calistus There are some who write that the Bishop suffered under Gallus and Volusianus but I rather give credit to Damasus who affirms Decius to have been the Author of his Martyrdom Cornelius held two Ordinations in the Month of December in which he made four Presbyters four Deacons seven Bishops He sat in the Chair two years three days and by his death the See was vacant thirty five days S. LUCIUS I. LUCIUS by birth a Roman his Father's Name Porphyrius was chosen Bishop when Gallus Hostilianus was Emperour Gallus associated to himself in the Government his Son Volusianus in whose times there arose so great a Plague to revenge the cause of Christianity that there were few Families much less Cities and Provinces which had not their share in the publick Calamity But while Gallus and Volusianus were engaging in a Civil War against Aemilianus who had attempted an alteration of the Government they were both kill'd at 〈◊〉 before they had compleated the second year of their Empire Aemilianus a person of obscure birth was slain e're he had possess'd his usurped Power three months and soon after Valerianus and Gallienus were chosen Emperours the former by the Army in Rhetia and Noricum the latter at Rome by the Senate Their Government proved very pernicious to the Roman State by the means of their own Pusillanimity and the 〈◊〉 they exercised against the Christians For both the Germans had marched forward as far as Ravenna laying all 〈◊〉 where ever they came with Fire and Sword and also Valerianus himself making War in Mesopotamia was taken Prisoner by the Parthians and forced to live in the most ignominious servitude for Sapores King of Persia made use of him for a Footstool when he got up on Horseback A Punishment which justly 〈◊〉 him for this reason that as soon as he was seiz'd of the Empire he was the eighth from Nero who commanded that the Christians should be put to Tortures be made to worship Idols or upon their refusal be put to death Gallienus being terrisied by this manifest Judgment of God suffered the Christians to live quietly But it was now too late for by the Divine Permission the Barbarians had already made Inroads upon the Roman borders and certain pernicious Tyrants arose who overthrew at home what was left undestroyed by the forein Enemy 〈◊〉 hereupon leaves the care of the Publick and spending his time very dissolutely at 〈◊〉 was there slain Lucius upon the death of Volusianus being released from banishment at his return to Rome ordained that every Bishop 〈◊〉 be accompanied where-ever he went with two Presbyters and three Deacons as witnesses of his Life and Actions In his time suffered Saint Cyprian who was first a Professor of Rhetorick and afterward as St. Hierem tells us at the persuasion of Coecilius the Presbyter from whom he took his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 becoming a Christian he gave his Estate to the Poor Having 〈◊〉 first ordained a Presbyter and then Bishop of Carthage he was 〈◊〉 to death under 〈◊〉 and Volusianus His Life and Martyrdom were 〈◊〉 well written by Pontius a Presbyter and his Companion in 〈◊〉 And it ought not to be forgotten that Cyprian before he 〈◊〉 was reconciled to the Opinion of the Church of Rome that 〈◊〉 were not to be re-baptized but to be receiv'd without any further Ceremony than that of Imposition of Hands a matter about which there had been formerly a great Controversie between him and Cornelius But to return to Lucius before his Martyrdom which he suffered at the command of Valerianus he delivered up his Ecclesiastical Power to 〈◊〉 the Arch-deacon He conferred holy Orders thrice in the month of December ordaining four Presbyters four Deacons seven Bishops He was interred in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia Aug. the 25th He was in the Chair three years three months three days and by his death the See was vacant thirty five days S. STEPHANUS I. STEPHANUS a Roman the Son of Julius was chosen Bishop when the Roman Empire seem'd to be utterly ruin'd and particularly at the time when Posthumus 〈◊〉 his Usurped Power in Gallia though not without great advantage to the Publick For he governed very well ten years together freed the Countrey from Hostility and restored that Province to its ancient Form But being afterwards kill'd at Mentz in a tumult of the Soldiers Victorinus succeeded him who was indeed an excellent Soldier but being exces ssively incontinent and adulterous was slain at Cologne Stephanus applying himself to the Regulation of the Church ordained that the Priests and other Ministers should not use their sacred Vestments any where but in the Church and during the performance of Divine Offices lest otherwise they should incur the Punishment of Belshazzar King of Babylon for touching the holy Vessels with prophane hands Concerning the Re-baptization of those who returned to the Faith he was of the same Judgment with Cornelius his Predecessor and thought it by no means lawful to communicate with those who re-baptized them Whereupon Dionysius who had formerly concurred in opinion about the matter with those of Carthage and the East both his and their Sentiments of it being now altered writes to Stephen and encourages him from the assurance that both the Asian and African Churches were now reconciled to the Judgment of the Roman See concerning it About the same time Malchion a Presbyter of Antioch a person of extraordinary Eloquence became very useful to the Church of God in writing against Paulus Samosatenus the Bishop of that place who endeavoured to revive the Opinion of Artemon affirming Christ to have been a meer man and that he had no Existence till he was conceived by the Virgin Mary An Opinion which being afterwards condemned in the Council of Antioch by general consent this Malchion in the name of the Synod wrote a large Epistle to the Christians concerning it As for Stephanus when he had by his Example and Persuasion converted a multitude of Gentiles to Christianity being seized by Gallienus as some say or else by those who upon the Edict of Decius were appointed to persecute the Christians he himself together with many others his Proselytes was hurried away to Martyrdom and having suffered he was interred in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia August the 2d after that he had at two Decembrian Ordinations made six Presbyters five Deacons three Bishops He was in the Chair seven years five months two days and the See was vacant two and twenty days S. SIXTUS II. SIXTUS an Athenian of a Philosopher became a Christian the Decian and Valerian Persecution yet continuing But it
undertook to appoint Felix an Arian to be 〈◊〉 in the room of Liberius this S. Hierom tells us though I much marvel at it since as we have already said it is evident that Felix was a Catholick and a constant Opposer of the Arians At length after Felix had done all that in him lay for the propagation and defence of the true Faith he was seized by his Enemies and together with many other Orthodox Believers was slain and buried in a Church which himself had built in the Via Aurelia two miles from the City November the 20th He was in the Chair only one year four months two days through the means of a Sedition raised by Liberius whom I have inserted into the number of Bishops more upon the Authority of Damasus than for any deserts of his own DAMASUS I. DAMASUS a Spaniard Son of Antonius lived in the Reign of Julian Who was certainly an extraordinary person if we regard his fitness either for Civil or Military affairs He had his Education under Eubulus the Sophist and Libanius the 〈◊〉 and made such proficiency in the liberal Arts that no Prince was his Superiour in them He had a capacious Memory and a happy Eloquence was bountiful towards his Friends just to Foreiners and very desirous of Fame But all these qualities were at last sullied by his Persecution of the Christians which yet he managed more craftily than others had done for he did not persecute at first with Force and Torture but by Rewards and Honours and Caresses and Persuasions he seduc'd greater numbers of them than if he had exercised any manner of Cruelties against them He forbad the Christians the study of Heathen Authors and denied access to the publick Schools to any but those who worship'd the Gentile Gods Indeed he granted a Dispensation to one person named 〈◊〉 a most learned man to teach the Christians publickly but he with disdain refused to accept of that Indulgence He prohibited the conferring Military 〈◊〉 upon any but Heathens and ordered that no Christians should be admitted to the Government or Jurisdiction of Provinces upon pretence that the Laws of their Religion forbad them the use of their own Swords He openly opposed and banished Athanasius at the instigation of his 〈◊〉 and South-sayers with whose Arts he was wonderfully pleased they complaining to him that Athanasius was the cause why their Profession was in no greater esteem At a certain time as he was sacrificing to Apollo at Daphne in the Suburbs of Antioch near the Castalian Fountain and no Answers were given him to those things concerning which he enquired expostulating with the Priests about the cause of that silence the Devils replyed that the Sepulchre of Babylas the Martyr was too near and therefore no responses could be given Hereupon Julian commanded the Galileans for so he called the Christians to remove the Martyrs Tomb farther off This they applyed themselves to with wondrous exultation and chearfulness but rehearsing at the same time that of the Psalmist 〈◊〉 be all they that serve graven Images that boast themselves of Idols They hereby so 〈◊〉 the rage of Julian that he forthwith commanded multitudes of them to be put to death which he did not before intend I much wonder that Julian should act after this manner having had before experience of the vanity of diabolical Arts. For entring once into a Cave in company with a Magician and being sorely 〈◊〉 when he heard the Demons howl in the surprize he used the sign of the Cross at which the Demons immediately 〈◊〉 Upon this telling his Companion that certainly there must needs be something miraculous in the Sign of the Cross the Sorcerer made him this Answer That indeed the Demons themselves did dread that kind of punishment By this slight account of the matter Julian became more 〈◊〉 than before so strangely was he addicted to Magical delusions though he had formerly to decline the displeasure of Constantius seignedly embraced the Christian Religion publickly read the holy Scriptures and built a Church in honour to the Martyrs Moreover this Emperour on pur pose to spite the Christians permitted the Jews to rebuild their Temple at 〈◊〉 upon their declaring that they could not sacrifice in any other place By which concession they were so mightily 〈◊〉 up that they used all their endeavours to raise it more magnificent than the former But while they were carrying on the Work the new Fabrick fell down in an Earthquake by the fall of which multitudes of the Jews were crush'd to death and the Prophesie a second time verified That there should not be left one stone upon another On the following day the very Iron Tools with which the Workmen wrought were consumed by fire from Heaven a Miracle by which many of the Jews were so wrought upon that they became Proselytes to Christianity After this Julian undertakes an Expedition against the Persians of whom he had Intelligence that they were endeavouring a Change in the Government but before he set forth he spared not to threaten what havock he would make among the 〈◊〉 at his return But having vanquished the Enemy and returning Conquerour with his Army though in some disorder he died of a Wound given him near 〈◊〉 Whether he received it from any of his own men or from the Enemy is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us that he was pierced through with an Arrow sent no 〈◊〉 knew from whence as also that when he was just expiring with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lift up to 〈◊〉 he cried out Thou 〈◊〉 overcome me O 〈◊〉 for so in contempt he was wont to call our Saviour the 〈◊〉 or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon which was grounded that Answer of a young 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the Sophist asking him by way of derision What he thought the Carpenters Son was doing To whom the youth replyed That he was making a Coffin for Julian a witty and Prophetick Reply for soon after his saying so Julians dead body was coffin'd up and brought away We are told that this Emperour had once been in holy Orders but that afterwards he fell away from the Faith for which reason he is commonly call'd the Apostate He died in the 〈◊〉 month of his Reign and in the thirty second year of his Age. Him Jovinian succeeded who being voted Emperor by the Army refused to own that Title till they should all with a loud Voice confess themselves to be Christians This they having done and he having commended them for it he took the Government upon him and freed his Army out of the hands of the barbarous with no other composition but that of leaving Nisibis and part of Mesopotamia free to Sapores the 〈◊〉 King But in the eighth month of his Reign whether from some crudity upon his stomach as some will have it or from the faint and suffocating steam of burning Coals as others or by what means soever certain it is that he died suddenly Damasus being chosen to the Pontificate was
Father Zeno. In the mean time Odoacer invading Italy with a great Army of his Heruli and Turingians conquers and takes Prisoner Orestes a Noble Roman near Pavia and then causes him to be put to death in the sight of his whole Army at Placentia Hereupon Zeno pitying the calamitous state of Italy speedily sends Theodoric King of the Goths a man whom he had before very much esteem'd with a mighty force to oppose him who having in a pitch'd Battel not far from Aquileia near the River Sontio overcome Odoacer's Captains and having oftentimes the like success against Odoacer himself at length he besieg'd him three years together in Ravenna and reduc'd him to that extremity that with the advice of John the Bishop of that City he consented to admit Theodoric as his Partner in the Empire But the day following both Odoacer and his Son were contrary to promise and agreement slain by which means Theodorick possess'd himself of the Government of all Italy without any opposition In the mean time Simplicius dedicated the Churches of S. Stephen the Protomartyr on Mons Caolius and that of S. Andrew the Apostle not far from S. Maries the Great in which there appear to this day some footsteps of Antiquity which I have many a time beheld with sorrow for their neglect to whose charge such noble piles of building now ready to fall are committed That this Church was of his founding appears by certain Verses wrought in Mosaick work which I have seen in it He dedicated also another Church to S. Stephen near the Licinian Palace where the Virgins body had been buried He also appointed the Weekly-waitings of the Presbyters in their turns at the Churches of S. Peter S. Paul and S. Laurence the Martyr for the receiving of Penitents and baptizing of Proselytes Moreover he divided the City among the Presbyters into five Precincts or Regions the first of S. Peter 2. S. Paul 3. S. Laurence 4. S. John Lateran 5. S. Maria Maggiore He also ordained that no Clergy-man should hold a Benefice of any Lay-man a Constitution which was afterwards confirm'd by Gregory and other Popes At this time the Bishop of Rome's Primacy was countenanced by the Letters of Acacius Bishop of Constantinople and Timothy a learned man in which they beg him to censure Peter Mog Bishop of Alexandria an assertour of the Eutychian Heresie Which was accordingly done but with Proviso that he should be receiv'd into the Communion of the Church again if within a certain time prefix'd he retracted his Errours Some say that during his Pontificate lived Remigius Bishop of Reims who as History tells us baptized Clodoveus the French King Now also Theodorus Bishop 〈◊〉 Syria wrote largely against Eutyches and compiled ten Books of 〈◊〉 History in imitation of Eusebius Coesariensis At this time almost all Egypt was infected with the heretical Doctrine of Dioscorus concerning whom we have already spoken and Huneric King of the Vandals a Zealot 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Faction raised a Persecution against the Orthodox Christians in Afrique Upon this Eudocia Niece to Theodosius a Catholick Lady and Wife to Huneric left her heretical Husband upon pretence of a Pilgrimage to Hierusalem to perform a Vow which she had made but upon so long a Journey the effect of which prov'd intolerable to the tenderness of her sex she there soon died 'T is said that at this time were found the bones of the Prophet Elisha which were carried into Alexandria as also the body of S. Barnabas the Apostle together with the Gospel of S. Matthew written with his own hand As for Simplicius himself having by his Constitutions and Donations very muchpromoted the interest of the Church of Rome and having at several Ordinations made fifty eight Presbyters eleven Deacons eighty six Bishops he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church on the second day of March He was inthe Chair fifteen years one month seven days and by his death the See was vacant twenty six days FELIX III. FELIX by birth a Roman Son of Felix a Presbyter was Bishop from the time of Odoacer whose power in Italy lasted fourteen years till the Reign of Theodoric Who though he made Ravenna the seat of the Empire yet the City of Rome was much indebted to his Bounty For he re-built the Sepulchre of Octavius exhibited shews to the people according to ancient custom repaired the publick Buildings and Churches and indeed neglected nothing that became a good and generous Prince And to confirm and establish the Empire he married Andefleda Daughter of Clodoveus King of France and gave in marriage his Sister to Huneric King of the Vandals and one of his Daughters to Alaric King of the Visigoths and the other to King Gondibate Felix now fully understanding that Peter Mog the Eutychian who had been banished for his heretical Opinions upon the complaint and at the desire of Acacius was by the same Acacius recall'd from Exile suspected that there was a private Agreement between them and therefore excommunicated them both by the authority of the Apostolick See which was confirm'd in a Synod of the Orthodox But three years after the Emperour Zeno testifying that they were penitent Felix sends two Bishops Messenus and Vitalis with full power upon enquiry into the truth of their repentance to absolve them These Legates arriving at the City Heraclea were soon corrupted with bribes and neglected to act according to their Commission Whereupon Felix out of a just indignation having first called a Council upon that occasion excommunicates them too as Simoniacks and betrayers of the trust reposed in them Though Messenus who confess'd his fault and begg'd time to evince the sincerity of his repentance had it accordingly granted him The same Felix also built the Church of S. Agapetus near that of S. Laurence and ordained that Churches should be consecrated by none but Bishops 'T is said that at this time Theodorus a Greek Presbyter wrote against the Hereticks a Book of the Harmony of the Old and new Testament and some reckon among the men of Note in this Age the Learned and famous Divine John Damascene who wrote the Book of Sentences imitating therein Gregory Nazianzene Gregory Nyssene and Didymus of Alexandria and compiled also certain Treatises of Medicin in which he gives an account of the Causes and Cure of Diseases Our Felix having at two Decembrian Ordinations made twenty eight Presbyters five Deacons thirty Bishops died and was buried in the Church of S. Paul He sat in the Chair eight years eleven months seventeen days and by his death the See was vacant five days GELASIUS I. GELASIUS an African Son of Valerius was Bishop of Rome at the time when Theodoric made War upon his Wives Father Clodoveus the French King for that he had slain his Daughter's Husband Alaric King of the Visigoths and seiz'd Gascoigne They were both allied to him by marriage but the cause of Alaric seem'd to him the more just
not been driven from its Walls by the great Rains which sell so violently and incessantly and made such an Inundation that men look'd upon it as a second Noah's Floud This was the only cause why Pelagius was made Bishop of Rome without the consent of the Emperour the City being so closely besieged that none could pass to know his pleasure therein For at this time the Roman Clergie's Election of a Bishop was not valid unless they had the Emperour's Approbation Hereupon Gregory a Deacon a man of great Piety and Learning was sent to Constantinople to appease the Emperour where having effected what he came for he neglected not to employ his time and parts but both wrote Books of Morals upon Job and also at a Disputation in the presence of the Emperour himself he so basfled Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople that he was forced to retract what he had written in a Book of his concerning the Resurrection in which he asserted that our Bodies in that glory of the Resurrection should become more thin and subtile than the Wind or Air and so not tangible Which is contrary to that of our Saviour Handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have As for Pelagius having at the request of the Citizens of Rome recalled Gregory turned his Fathers House into an Hospital for poor old men and entirely built the Coemetery of Hermes the Martyr and the Church of Laurence the Martyr he died of the Pestilence which at that time was very epidemical throughout Europe after he had been in the Chair ten years two months ten days and was buried in S. Peter's in the 〈◊〉 The See was then vacant six months twenty eight days GREGORY I. GREGORT a Roman Son of Gordianus one of the Senato rian Order was against his will unanimously chosen Bishop of Rome Anno Dom. 590. Now because as I have already said the consent of the Emperour was required herein he dispatches Messengers with Letters 〈◊〉 Mauritius that he would not suffer this Election of the Clergy and People of Rome to stand good These Letters were intercepted and torn by the 〈◊〉 and others written by which the Emperour was requested to confirm him who was by universal suffrage thus chosen There could nothing be more pleasing and acceptable to the Emperour than the News of this Choice for the conversation of Gregory while he was at Constantinople had been very grateful to him and moreover he had Christned his Son Mauritius therefore speedily sends word back to Rome that he did confirm the Election of Gregory and that in such a 〈◊〉 state of things they should compel that holy man to undertake the Government of the Church He therefore not consulting his own inclination but the 〈◊〉 of Mankind and the honour of God which as he was a most devout and religious man he had ever preferred before all other things without any regard to Riches or Pleasures or Ambition or Power takes the burden of the Pontificate upon him And he behaved himself so well in it that no one of his Successours down to our times has been his Equal much less Superiour either for Sanctity of Life or for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in managing Affairs or for his Learning and Writings He composed a Book of the Sacraments wrote Commentaries upon 〈◊〉 and as I have already said upon Job and Homilies upon the Gospels four Books in Dialogue and that which he called the Pastoral to 〈◊〉 Bishop of Ravenna concerning the way of governing the Church Moreover he introduced several Rites and made several Additions to the Offices of the Roman Church and particularly he first instituted the greater Litanies or 〈◊〉 and appointed a great part of the Stations And that the good man might not in any thing be wanting to the Church he held in S. Peter's a Synod of twenty four Bishops wherein he took away many things which might prove pernicious and added many which might be beneficial to Religion He also 〈◊〉 into England Auguscine Melitus and John and with these divers other Monks all persons of approved lives by whose Preaching the 〈◊〉 were then first entirely converted to Christianity By his means likewise the Goths returned to the Union of the Catholick Church We are told by some Writers that Gregory sent his Dialogues concerning Morals to Theudelinda Queen of the Lombards by the reading of which she might smooth and polish the rugged temper of her Husband 〈◊〉 and bring him to a better sense of Religion and Morality She was an excellent Lady and a zealous Christian and not only built the Church of S. John Baptist at Monza a Town ten miles distant from Milain but also furnished it with Vessels of Gold and liberally endowed it T is said that at the time when 〈◊〉 was put to death by his Father Levigild King of the Goths because he professed the Catholick Faith the 〈◊〉 Coat of Christ which fell by Lot to one of the Soldiers was found in the City Zaphat laid up in a Marble Chest there Thomas being then Bishop of Jerusalem John Bishop of Constantinople and Gregory Bishop of Antioch In the mean time Mauritius having in 〈◊〉 and Terra di Lavoro by his General Romanus the Exarch gain'd the better of the Lombards who from a confidence grounded upon their former successes were now degenerated into all manner of Vice makes a Law that no person who had listed himself in the Roman Army should be at liberty to withdraw and take upon him a Religious life till either the War were ended or the man himself 〈◊〉 or disabled Gregory being moved hereat admonishes him not to oppose the Religion of that God by whose bounty he had been raised from a very mean condition to the highest Degree of Dignity Moreover John Bishop of Constantinople having in a Synod which he held procured himself to be styled the Oecumenical i. e. Universal Bishop and Mauritius hereupon requiring Gregory to yield obedience to John He being a person of great Courage and Constancy returns answer That the Power of binding and loosing was committed to Peter and his Successours not to the Bishops of Constantinople and therefore warns him to desist from provoking the wrath of God against himself by being too 〈◊〉 in sowing Dissention in the Church But Mauritius not content with the mischief he had done already re-calls his Soldiers which were in Italy and encourages the Lombards to assault the Romans without any regard to the League they had entred into with them Hereupon Agilulphus moving from Lombardy and laying waste all Tuscany through which he passed invests and very much annoys the City of Rome one whole year in which time Severus Bishop of Aquileia becoming Heretical was the occasion of many Evils For after his Death the Patriarchate of Aquileia was divided into two Agilulphus King of the Lombards constituting John of Aquileia and our Gregory Candianus of Grado Bishops to the people of Friuli But Agilulphus
of his Pontificate was short but the Reputation he gain'd therein so great that one would think he had lived longer than he did by the celebrated Name which he had deservedly acquired in so little time BENEDICT II. BENEDICT the second a Roman his Father's Name John being from his Youth brought up to the Clergy was so intent upon the study of Holy Writ that he became an extraordinary Proficient in Divinity He was likewise a person of great Compassion Charity and good Will towards all espcially the Poor Virtues by which he so won the Hearts of men that he was pitch'd upon as the only person who by general consent was fit to succeed in the Place of Leo deceased The Emperour Constantine out of the Veneration he had for this mans Sanctity sent him a Decree in which it was established that for the time to come He whom the Clergy and People of Rome should chuse Pope should be forthwith acknowledged Christ's true Vicar without expecting the Authority of the Emperour or his Exarchs according to former usage when the confirmation of the Emperour or his Vicegerent in Italy was necessary to the creation of a Pope Pertheris now King of the Lombards in imitation of the Religion and Charity of Benedict built a Monastery in honour to S. Agatha at Pavia and his Wife Rhodelinda prompted by the Example of her Husband built the Church of S. Mary ad Perticas without the Walls of Pavia This they did out of a Principle of Emulation understanding that Pope Benedict had with vast expence repaired beautified and enriched the Churches of S. Peter at Rome that of S. Laurence in Lucina that of S. Valentine in the Via Flaminia and that of S. Mary ad Martyres Pertheris had designed greater things of this Nature but he was diverted by Alalchis Duke of Trent who being pust'd up by a great Victory which he had gain'd over the Bavarians turns his Arms against his King But Pertheris raising an Army at the first Engagement routs him besieges Trent whither he had fled for Refuge and though Alalchis had first made his escape thence by night takes the City However Pertheris was a Prince of so great Clemency as to receive him again into favour upon his submission and to make him Duke of Brescia Some tell us that in Benedict's time an extraordinary Star was seen near the Vergiliae several Nights together in a clear Sky between Christmas and Epiphany I deny not but that a Comet then appeared and portended something but it 's Neighbourhood to this Constellation is incoherent unless we make that prodigious too For the Vergiliae rise at the Vernal Equinox when the Sun enters the Sign Aries about the twenty fourth of March and begin to set at the Autumnal Equinox But that out of Vesuvius a Mountain in Campania so great a 〈◊〉 did at this time burst forth that it burnt up all the places round about it may seem less wonderful considering that Pliny the Natural Historian leaving the Ships which he commanded under Trajan and approaching too near it out of curiosity to find out the causes of it's burning lost his life by that means However 't is certain that not long after these things there followed Slaughters Rapines Fires the Death of great Men and particularly of Pope Benedict who as he was universally beloved in his life-life-time so after his Death he was famous for his Piety and the good Offices he had done to mankind He was in the Chair only ten months twelve days and was buried in S Peter's May the 15th By his Death the See was vacant two months fifteen days JOHN V. JOHN the fifth by Nation a Syrian born at Antioch his Father's Name Cyriacus was created Pope about the time when the Emperour Constantine died in the seventeenth year of his Reign and left the Empire to his Son Justinian the second The Saracens now invaded Lybia and Africa and possess'd themselves easily of all the places that lay towards the Sea But Justinian having in some measure setled the affairs of his Empire and raised a competent Army advancing against these Saracens struck such a terrour into Abimelech their Chief that without engaging he sued for a Peace and was glad to restore all his Acquests in Africa And a Peace it is said by some was granted them for ten years but upon Condition that they should pay a thousand pieces of Gold and a Slave of their own Nation on Horseback every day to the Emperour At this time John a person of great Piety and Goodness being by general suffrage chosen Pope in the Constantinian Church was consecrated in the same manner with Leo the second by the three Bishops of Ostia Porto and Veletri a Precedent which so obtained that it was afterwards constantly practised His Pontificate was rendred remarkable by two extraordinary persons Felix the Uncle of Flavianus and John Bishop of Bergamo men of such eminent Learning and Sanctity that they received from Princes themselves marks of the highest respect and Veneration Pope John who both before and during his Pontificate was a sickly man having written a Book concerning the Dignity of the Pall died in the first year after his coming to the Chair and was buried in S. Peter's August the 2d By his Death the See was vacant two months nineteen days CONON I. CONON by birth a Thracian educated in Sicily and thence entring into Orders at Rome was of a Presbyter made Pope For there happening a Controversie about the Election the Citizens being for Peter an Arch-bishop and the Soldiers for one Theodorus a Priest at length after a long Contention both Parties agreed in the Choice of Conon And indeed he did every way deserve so great a Dignity being a man of great Learning and very good Life pious and devout of a comely Person and most Venerable or as some called it Angelical Aspect of wonderful Simplicity and Sincerity Modesty and Justice Resolution and Prudence For these excellent Endowments of his all persons concern'd with mighty acclamations of Applause immediately confirm'd his Election as did also Theodorus Exarch of Ravenna who being deceased was not long after succeeded in the Exarchate by John Platina whom I believe to have given the name to the place of my Nativity called Platina within the Territory of Cremona For there being frequent Wars between the Exarchs and the Kings of Lombardy it is not improbable considering that that place was scituated almost in the mid-way between Ravenna and Pavia one of which was the Seat of the Lombard Kings the other of the Exarchs there might at some time be a Battel fought or a Camp pitched there from whence we know that names are oftentimes given to places as particularly in the same Countrey there is Vitelliana a Town so called from Vitellius his encamping there and Bebrignano not far from Bebriacum famous for the defeat which Otho there received I return to Conon who presently after his entrance upon
name John was unammously elected Pope in the Year seven hundred fifty nine He was a Person of singular Learning very well skill'd in the Greek and Latin Tongues and of such an Insight into the Sense of Holy Writ that no man was more ready at the expounding of the abstruse and difficult places in it Nor 〈◊〉 he work upon the People merely by his Preaching and Eloquence but in all respects he gave them such a prevailing Example that it is difficult to determine whether he spake or lived better He was so valiant a 〈◊〉 of the Catholick Faith that he thereby contracted the displeasure and hatred of the greatest Princes but by no Force or Power or Menace was removed one step from his Resolution Finally his good-will towards all men was such that he cherished and relieved the Poor redeemed Captives releas'd insolvent Debtours and asserted the Cause of Widows and Orphans against potent Oppressours in such a manner that he deserved the Name of a common Father and 〈◊〉 Soon after his entrance upon the Pontificate with the Consent of the Clergy of Rome he excommunicated and deposed the Emperour Leo for his having rased the Pictures of the Saints out of the Churches and destroyed their Images and also for not being Orthodox in Opinion concerning the Consubstantiality of the Son with the Father In the mean time Luithprandus King of the Lombards from an ambitious desire of enlarging his Dominions having possess'd himself of all the Towns round about lays Siege to Rome it self whereupon Gregory forthwith dispatches Messengers by Sea it not being safe for them to pass by Land to Charles Prince of the French to pray him that he would speedily aid the distressed City and Church of Rome Indeed formerly the Popes when they were in any great Danger from abroad had been wont to seek for succour from the Emperour of Constantinople but Gregory now declined it both for the Causes we have just before mentioned and also especially because Leo was now hard put to it to defend Constantinople it self against the Saracens and therefore little able to protect others By which means it came to pass that the Constantinopolitan Emperours being for the time to come unapplied to the Protection of the Church was from henceforward put into other hands Upon Gregorie's Request Charles undertaking the Church's Patronage desires Luithprandus as his Friend and particularly upon the account of his Son Pipin his near Allie to quit his Enterprize and not give the Pope any disturbance whereupon Luithprandus raises the Siege The 〈◊〉 of Italy being thus composed Charles turns his Army with success against the Burgundians crushes the Idolatrous Prison's takes Lions Arles and Marseilles from the 〈◊〉 who thereupon invite to their Aid Athimus the King of the Saracens Who passing the Rhone takes Avignon by Storm intending to make use of the convenience of that place for a Citadel But Charles upon Intelligence hereof hastens thither with his Army and re-takes Avignon putting to the Sword all the Saracens who were in Garrison in it From thence he marched to Narbonne whither he understood that Athimus had fled But having advice that Amoreus another Saracen King of Spain was coming with a great Army to the Aid of Athimus he quitted the Siege of Narbonne and march'd to the Valley of Corbiere not far off wherein there was a fair Plain very commodious to joyn Battel in Amoreus thinking that Charles having been routed had fled thither enters the Valley and prepares to engage which Charles did not decline though the number of the Adversaries Army was incredibly great The 〈◊〉 having continued for some time very warm and Amoreus himself having been slain at the beginning of the Engagement at length the Saracens were forced to betake themselves to slight and a great part of them were kill'd in the Fens and 〈◊〉 thereabouts Athimus as good luck would have it making his Escape by Sea towards the farther part of Spain in Rage and Despair lay'd 〈◊〉 by Fire and Sword all the Islands which he arrived at in his passage Much about this time the Body of S. Augustine which two hundred and fifty years before when the Vandals wasted Africa had been carried away from Hippo into Sardinia was by the care of Luithprandus translated thence to Pavia and reposited in a very honourable place of Interrment The Saracens being now pretty well tamed kept themselves within the Pyrenean Hills upon which all the Visigoths who possessed the hither parts of Spain and part of France being not able to defend themselves were subdued by Charles and so that People who had domineer'd for almost three hundred years were utterly extinguished except some few who were saved by the People of Barcelona Some write that Charles was in this War assisted by Luithprandus with Men who after the Victory returned home laden with Booty In the mean while Pope Gregory not neglecting to improve the time of Peace he now enjoyed applyed himself to Church-work The Altar of S. Peter's he made more stately by erecting a Row of six Pillars of Onyx on each hand of it where as many of the same magnitude and figure had formerly stood but were now decayed through 〈◊〉 Upon these Pillars were Architraves gilt with Silver on which he set up the Images of our Saviour and the Apostles at equal distances He built also an Oratory in the same Church in which he reposited some of the Reliques of almost all the Saints and ordered Mass to be therein daily performed in the Canon of which he added these words which were engraven upon the Marble round the Oratory Quorum Solennitas in conspectu tuoe Majeslatis celebratur Domine Deus noster toto in Orbe terrarum c. i. e. Whose Anniversaries are celebrated in the sight of thy Majesty O Lord our God throughout all the World c. which Clause is not in the general Canon now used Moreover he gave to this Church several Vessels of Silver and caused to be made at his own Charge the Image of the Blessed Virgin with our Saviour in her Arms of Gold which he placed in the Church of S. Mary ad Proesepe He also repaired the Roof of the Church of S. Chrysogonus appointing Monks for the daily performance of divine Service therein and setling an Estate for their Maintenance Several Monasteries he either repaired or built from the ground to the Recluses whereof he prescribed Rules of strict and holy living He re-built also the ruined Walls of the City of Rome and in like manner those of the almost desolate Civita Vecchia Furthermore he ordained the Celebration of Mass in the Church of S Peter almost without Intermission both by the Priests in Weekly Attendance and by the Monks upon which account we may observe the Cells of the Monks and the Houses of the Secular Priests to be in several places contiguous each of them striving to out do the other in diligence at their Devotion Our
person was deposed and Ignatius restor'd who had been wrongfully turn'd out before In this Council a long debate was held whether the Bulgarians whose Embassadors were present should be subject to the Roman or Constantinopolitan Sea And by the favour of the Emperor Basilius they were adjudged to the Sea of Rome whereupon the Bulgarians making their 〈◊〉 to Hadrian that some man of good life and ability might be sent into their Countrey by whose authority and example they might be retain'd in the Christian Faith he sent three most religious men with plenary power to settle the Churches there as they should see fit They were Sylvester the Sub-deacon Leopardus of Ancona and Dominic of Trevisa who soon composed the whole Affair to the Popes mind though 't was not long ere the Bulgarians corrupted with gifts and promises by the Constantinopolitans expel'd the Latin Priests and receiv'd the Greeks and this Sedition gave occasion to many quarrels betwixt the Greeks and Latins Hadrian still opposing himself to all the Enemies of the Church as much as was possible when he was about to anoint Charles Emperor in the room of Lewis now deceased died himself in the fifth year ninth month and twelfth day of his Popedom A little before his death it rain'd bloud for three days together at Brescia and France was miserably wasted with Locusts both certain presages of his much lamented death JOHN IX JOHN the ninth a Roman Son of Gundo as soon as he was made Pope declared Charles surnamed the Bald who came to Rome for that purpose Emperor which so enraged the Sons of his elder Brother Lewis King of Germany Charles surnam'd the Gross and Caroloman that levying an Army they invade Italy resolving to deprive their Uncle of his Crown and Life Charles hereupon makes haste towards Verona with his forces intending to cut off the passage of his Nephews by Trent but was taken ill at Mantua and there poisoned as 't was thought by one Zedechias a Jew whom he made use of for a Physician Upon this news Pope John used his utmost endeavour that Charles his Son Lewis surnamed the Stammerer King of France might be made Emperor but the great men of Rome opposed it desiring rather that Charles III. King of Germany might succeed who with his Brother Caroloman had now over-run a great part of Italy So great was the Sedition that though many favour'd Lewis yet they took the Pope and clap'd him in prison But by the help of some Friends he soon made his escape into France to Lewis where he slaid a year anointed him King and ended some Controversies depending between the Ecclesiastics For Gibertus Bishop of Nismes had by force turn'd Leo an Abbot out of his Monastery This Monastery was dedicated to S. Peter and in it lay buried the body of S. Giles it is situate in a place call'd Flaviano from a Valley of that name given to S. Giles by a certain King nam'd Flavius and he built there a Monastery to the honour of SS Peter and Paul The Pope in the presence of many Bishops and Judges heard the Cause and adjudg'd the Monastery to Leo. This was done at Arles from whence John departing with the approbation of Lewis he held a Council at Troyes where he made several Decrees about religious affairs and appointed a Bishop for the Flemings who having left their Woods and fastnesses now betook themselves to an orderly way of living But Italy all this while being harrass'd by the Saracens who had taken and plundered the Monastery of Monte-Cassino John was call'd home to Rome and with the help of some Christian Princes drave the greatest part of them out of Italy and Sicily and at last that he might live the more quietly in the City he plac'd the Imperial Crown on the head of Charles III. who quickly after marching against the Normans then infesting the borders of France and Lorain defeated them so that their King Rothifredus was forc'd to sue for peace and to become a Christian the Emperour himself being his Godfather and taking him into favour This writes Anastasius the Roman Library-keeper who was then highly in vogue being so skilful in both Tongues that by the persuasion of the Emperor Charles he translated out of Greek into elegant Latin the seventh General Council and Dionysius the Areopagite's Book de Hierarchiâ with the lives of several Saints Some say that this Charles built many Monasteries and was liberal to the Church but 't is certain that it was his particular commendation that he put many learned men upon writing for Milo a Monk of S. Amand wrote the Life of that Saint very exactly and Joannes Scotus did very solidly and acutely handle many points of our Religion nor was our Pope John without desert in the same way having while he was Deacon excellently composed the Life of Gregory I. in four Books When he had sate ten years and two days he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church MARTIN II. MARTIN the second a Frenchman Son of Palumbus succeeded John Some perhaps deceiv'd by the likeness of the names call him Marinus This Martin the story of whose Life is so short because of the small time he held the Chair was Pope at the time when the Sons of Basilius Leo and Alexander were Emperors in the East and Charles III. in the West who we told you was crowned by John VIII and who broke the forces of the Normans infesting France in so many Battels that he forced them to submit to him and receive the Christian Faith Some write that 't was this Martin that with his tricks of which somewhat will be said in the Life of Formosus did so plague Pope John with Seditions as to get him thrown into prison and force him to fly But having by ill means gotten the Popedom he soon died having sate but one year and five days and in that time doing nothing remarkable either because his time was short or because no occasion offered it self from whence he could acquire repute except we may suppose it to be the Will of God that those who attain to Power by indirect means should lose that true glory which is the chief aim of every good Prince HADRIAN III. HADRIAN the third a Roman Son of Benedict was a man of so great a Spirit that immediately upon his entrance on the Popedom An. Dom. 895. he proposed to the Senate and People that a Law should pass that no regard should hereafter be given to the Authority of the Emperor in the creation of any Pope but that the Election of the Clergy and People should be free this Institution was rather attempted than begun before by Nicolas I. as was said but I believe Hadrian took now the opportunity when the Emperor Charles was march'd with his Army out of Italy against the Rebellious Normans He went with a design utterly to extirpate that unquiet people but perceiving that would be difficult and not to be
into Prison in order to a Trial for their Treason who being by torture forced to confess the Consuls were banish'd into Germany the Decarchons were hang'd up and Peter the Praetor the cause and Ring-leader of all the mischief was several times drag'd most ignominiously and whipt with Rods through the most publick places of the City and then sent Prisoner to Germany Others say his Punishment was thus Being delivered to suffer at the will of the Pope his Beard was first shav'd off then he was hang'd by his hair upon the head of the Statue of Constantine's Horse for the terror of all such ill Men from whence being taken he was set upon an Ass with his face backward and his hands tied under his tail and so led through the City being as he went whipt almost to death with Rods and then banish'd into Germany The like severity for examples sake was used by the Emperor against Count Geffrey and his Son who were kill'd as I said before by John Prince of Capua their carcasses being drag'd out of their Graves and denied Christian burial At this time the Selavi who when Hadrian III. was Pope under Sueropylus Prince of Dalmatia had received the Christian Faith cross'd the Sea into Italy gave the Saracens a great rout at Monte Gargano and drove them thence and the Hungarians by their example so broke their remaining force by recovering Cosenza out of their hands that it became easie for Otho Son of the great Otho who came for that purpose with his Army to make a perfect Conquest of them nor was he content to have vanquish'd the Saracens but he subdued too the Greeks who had made a League with the Moors and drove them out of almost all Apulia and Calabria Some say indeed that 〈◊〉 made this War upon the Greeks because Nicephorus Emperor of Constantinople had denied to give him to Wife his Daughter who had been espoused to him before This is certain that Otho who was a generous young Man deposed Nicephorus and made his Son John Emperor himself marrying his Sister Theophania who together with her Husband were crown'd by this Pope in the Lateran Church with an Imperial Diadem by the consent of Otho the Father who had made his Son his Partner in the Empire During the great and universal rejoycing upon this occasion Pope John raised the Church of Capua to a Metropolitan Sea But Otho 〈◊〉 worn with old Age returning into Germany died at Vienna whom John also follow'd not long after he dying after he had sate six years eleven months and five days after which the Sea was vacant thirteen days BENEDICT VI. BENEDICT the Sixth a Roman succeeded John in his Office and in his troubles for being taken Prisoner by Cincio a potent Citizen he was put into Castle S. Angelo a Jail for Malefactors or rather for innocent persons where in a little while he was strangled or as Cusentinus says famish'd I cannot but admire that the actors of so great an outrage were never punish'd neither by the Citizens of the adverse Party nor by the Emperor Otho who was reputed an excellent Man and a stout defender of the Church of Rome But I am afraid Cincius did not worse by him than he deserv'd not but that how faulty soever Benedict might be it was ill done of Cincius to lay violent hands upon the Pope since the censure of him did not belong to a private Man But see the turn of humane affairs The Popes of our times make nothing to clap up Citizens into the same place and there starve 'em whether they deserve it or are onely a little too powerful than they desire I believe Otho was too much taken up with other business so that he could not help him He died when he had been Pope one year and six months DONUS II. DONUS the Second a Roman a Man of great moderation and though there were nothing done by him worthy of high commendation yet he was never charg'd with any injustice or dishonourable action There were however many memorable actions of great of holy Men which render his times not altogether obscure For in his time Baianus a great Magician Prince of the Bulgarians so harrass'd with War Basilius and his Son Constantine Emperor of Constantinople that he narrowly miss'd of taking the Town which by the negligence of the Greeks was left almost empty but at last upon hard terms a Peace was concluded between ' em Adalbertus also a Bohemian Bishop of Prague flourish'd now who was a Man of so great Sanctity that he by the impulse of the Divine Spirit travell'd into Hungary and baptiz'd the King thereof and by his good life and godly example taught the Bishops of the Country to seek the grace of God from whence passing into Prussia preaching the Gospel of Christ with great diligence he was there crown'd with Martyrdom At this time too S. Edward King of England was for his Sanctity in great honour but was murthered by the fraud and villany of his Stepmother Richardus the Historian adds to these S. Maiolus Abbot of Clugni who left a great Name behind him for his Miracles and holy life Donus died in the first year of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church whereupon the Sea was vacant two days BONIFACE VII BONIFACE the Seventh whose Family and Country I suppose because of their baseness Writers mention not got the Popedom by ill arts and lost it as ill for he was no sooner got into the Chair but the honest part of the Citizens confederating he was forc'd out of the City taking with him the most precious things out of the Church of S. Peter and fled to Constantinople where he onely tarried till by the sale of what he had so sacrilegiously got he had amass'd vast sums of Mony with which he returns to Rome not doubting but by the help of that to retrieve his dignity by bribing the Citizens He met yet with great opposition from all good Men but especially from John a Deacon Cardinal whom by the assistance of some wicked Bravo's he caught and put out his Eyes But his Enemies encreasing about him whether for fear or remorse for his great wickedness this Author of so many mischiefs miserably ended his life Observe I beseech you how these Popes did degenerate from their Predecessors who left the Church so ample and magnificent at the expence of their blood The Pope of Rome the Father and Protector of things sacred does himself steal 'em away and he that should punish sacriledg is the Author of it but thus it must needs fall out in any Government where the Pride and Covetousness of ill Men shall prevail over the Virtue and Wisdom of the good To great benefices none of the Clergy ought to be chosen but such of whose Life and Learning there is a certainty not those who having nothing of Virtue or Religion seek by Ambition and Simony to get into places of Power
debated Upon the receit of this Answer Alexander went to Anagnia and Octavian to Segna This the Emperour took so heinously that he sent two Bishops to Alexander to cite him before a Council by the name of Cardinal and not of Pope Alexander stood upon his right and rejected them whereupon they went to Octavian and brought him to Pavia with intent to set him up against Alexander which they did for holding a Council Frederick confirms him in the Papacy leads him sitting upon a white Horse through the streets of Pavia and performs the usual adoration to him Alexander was much mov'd at this and having first admonish'd them to no purpose he sets them both under an Anathema and writes Letters to all the Princes and Nations of Christendom in justification of himself for so doing Then returning to Rome in the second year of his Pontificate he finds he had many Adversaries there who took the boldness to oppose him because Frederick's Army had now possess'd themselves of all St. Peter's Patrimony but Orvieto and Anagnia Wherefore Alexander by the persuasion of King Philip of France went to Terracina and there embark'd in a Ship provided for him by Order of William King of Sicily and arriv'd in France where in a Council holden at Clermont he pronounc'd the Anathema before laid upon the Emperour and Octavian While these things were doing in Europe Baldwin III. died at Jerusalem and his Brother Almeric step'd into the Throne lest if an Interregnum should have been among so barbarous and treacherous a People it might have given occasion to some mischievous revolution and having settled his affairs for the time he led his Army against the Egyptians and defeated their General Drogon with a great slaughter he laid Siege to Alexandria of which Tiracino Lieutenant to the Soldan of the Saracens had traiterously made himself Lord which Siege he urg'd on with so great diligence that the Alexandrians could hold out no longer and yet were not willing to be made subject to the Christians but offer'd to yield upon condition they might be freed of this new Lord and be restor'd to the Dominion of the Soldan Almeric was content and receiving a vast sum of Money redeliver'd the City to the Soldan who ungratefully put off the performance of the full bargain which caused Almeric to march against him and to lay Siege to Cairo Mean time in Europe Frederick acts very tyrannically for he sack'd Tortono and laid Milan even with the ground from whence he translated the bodies of the Magi to Cologn of which I think Rodolphus was then Arch Bishop and did great mischief to the Cremoneses Upon this those of Verona Vicenza Padoua and Venice resolv'd unanimously to stop all manner of assistance that Frederick should stand in need of while he thus harass'd Lombardy This angred Frederick so that he was about to invest Verona with his Army but hearing that the other Cities had sent thither their Auxiliary Troops he retreated to Pavia from whence by Letters and Ambassadours he exhorted the King of France that to put an end to the Schism he would bring Alexander before a general Council where also he would appear with Victor The City of Dyon situate where the River Savo divides France from Germany was the place appointed for the Council whither Frederick having composed his Affairs in Italy for a time arriv'd together with Octavian and the Kings of Scotland and Bohemia and attended by great numbers of armed Men. But when Alexander refused to go to that Council which himself did not call but had begun another at Tours Frederick full of rage and threats returns into Germany having sent Octavian into Italy intending speedily to follow him but he dying at Luca Guy of Crema was set up for Anti-Pope in his stead The Romans had now chosen Consuls who were Friends to Alexander they immediatey recall him out of France and he taking Ship arrives first in Sicily and thence comes to Rome where he was very kindly receiv'd with universal acclamations and the People of Lombardy were by the arrival of Alexander put in hopes of retrieving their liberty so that they took up Arms against Frederic who had used them so tyrannically and drove several of his Garrisons out of their Towns An. Dom. 1165. Frederic hereupon marches with a numerous Army into Italy and without doing damage to any one contrary to all expectation enters the Territory of Bononia where he divides his Army and sends some Battalions to Luca to be a Guard to the Anti-Pope who then resided there whilst he invests Ancona with his Army and after a Siege of some time takes it In the mean time the associated Cities of Lombardy re-edifie Milan and fortifie it and receive those of Lodi who had been Enemies to the Milaneses into their Confederacy the more to enable them to resist Frederick if he should invade them But Frederick had somewhat of greater moment to think of for upon the death of William the Norman King of Sicily Emanuel Emperour of Greece had sent Ambassadours to the Pope to offer him a great Army to be employ'd against Frederick and to promise a perfect agreement of all the Grecians with the Church of Rome that so the Eastern and Western Churches might be all one if he would suffer the Roman Empire then divided to be again reduc'd into one body What Answer these Ambassadours receiv'd is not certain for by reason of a War then begun between the Romans and those of Tusculum and Alba the Pope could not give them a positive resolution The cause of this was that the Romans being too rigorous in the exaction of their Gabels the Tusculans and Albans denied to pay them which enraged the People of Rome so that they march'd out contrary to the Pope's will against them tumultuously but at that time Raino who had been sttip'd of the Dukedom of Puglia by Roger bore the chief sway among the Tusculans a Man well skill'd in the Arts of War who sending for the German Soldiers from Nepi and Sutri made so great a slaughter among the Romans that they afterwards had much ado to defend their Walls much less could they meet an Enemy in the Field Frederick took this occasion to avenge the wrongs as he call'd 'em which Alexander had done him and leaving Ancona leads his Army to Rome and encamps in the Prati di Nerone from whence he made an Attack upon the Vatican Suburb but was stoutly repell'd by the Friends of Alexander The next day he attempted to set fire to S. Peter's Church and had effected it if those who had the care of it would have suffered it and the Pope not thinking himself safe in the Lateran into which he saw the Germans would soon enter remov'd to the House of the Frangipani near the Palladio William King of Sicily Son of the Great William hearing of the Pope's danger sent him a good sum of Money and two Gallies well man'd which
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
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
desirous of the repose and quiet of Italy proposed to Francis the French King in behalf of the Vice-King of Naples a Truce for five years with condition that during that time he should quietly enjoy all the Country on the other side of the River Adda the Town of Loda only excepted yet he could not prevail the French King refusing this fair offer which afterwards turned to his great misfortune Wherefore the Pope finding the difficulty or impossibility almost of making this Peace he remained doubtful to which of these two Princes it was most to the interest of the Church and security of Italy for him to incline in which suspense the Count Carpy arriving at Rome with character of Embassador from the King of France so well mannaged his design that he persuaded the Pope to lay aside and forget those ancient discontents and animosities which arose between his Master the King and Pope Leo the 10th his Kinsman and to enter into a firm Alliance with him as the most secure and wholesome means to preserve the quiet of Italy Clement hereby being well affected towards France dispatched an Embassador to the King for confirmation of the Alliance advising him to undertake the Conquest of Naples which he represented as an enterprise easily effected in regard that there was no Garrison there all the Emperors Forces being at that time employed in the Dukedom of Milan The King well approving this design ordered John Stuart Duke of Albania who was of the Blood of the Kings of Scotland and his Lieutenant-General in Italy to march with a considerable force into the Kingdom of Naples asking license of the Pope to pass thro his Dominions But the Pope seeming outwardly and in appearance averse hereunto persuaded the King to desist from this design as a matter of jealousie to the Venetians and all Italy with arguments also inciting to Peace and accommodation as best became the Office and quality of a Pope But the Duke of Albania without attending an answer had as assured of the Popes consent passed the River Po but before he had marched five days he was called back again by the King who understanding that some Forces and new Supplies were already arrived in the Enemies Camp and more daily expected he judged it more advisable to keep his Army entire until the new Recruits of Switzers and Grisons were come which he had sent to levy rather than to weaken his Army by that considerable detachment which the enterprise of Naples would require during which time the King continued the Siege of Pavia But the Switzers and Grisons being at length arrived in the Kings Camp the Duke of Albania repassed the Po to invade the Kingdom of Naples in which design that the Pope might seem to have had no contrivance he dispatched away Paul Vettorio Captain of his Gallies to the Vice-Roy letting him know that tho he had used all diligence to divert the King from his purpose to invade Naples yet he could not prevail nor could oppose or obstruct his passage thro his Country unless he would draw upon himself the difficulties of that War which he was not able to master and that tho he was forced to secure himself by new Articles and Contracts yet he would never assent or agree co any thing which might be prejudicial to the interest of the Emperor In fine he exhorted both Parties to a Peace and in order thereunto proposed several expedients for accommodation but nothing prevailed the Duke of Albania continuing his march and the King the Siege of Pavia And now the Imperialists drawing near to the relief of Pavia the treaties and practices of Princes and the endeavours and studies of Embassadors availed little all the difficulties and dangers of many months being reduced to the fortune and success of a few hours In short the Battel of Pavia was fought on the 24. of February 1525. in which the French Army was entirely defeated and the King himself taken Prisoner and all the flower of the Nobility of France either slain or taken of which the Duke of Albania having received intelligence he raised his Camp from Monte Rotondo near Aquila where he was lodged and returned into France but the greatest part of this Soldiery being composed of Italians and Corsicans returning to Rome were for the most part rifled and pillaged in their way by the people of Campagna who were Subjects to the Prince Colonna and by some Imperialists who belayed the ways for them killing them within the very Walls of Rome to which place they fled for sanctuary All the Princes of Italy especially the Pope being extremely affected with this unexpected success obtained by the Imperial Forces conducted chiefly by the valour and wisdom of the Marquess of Pescara remained doubtful in what manner to govern and mannage their affairs for the ballance being now no longer in an equality but carried down with too much weight on the side of the Emperor his Captains were elevated with this Victory that they became insolent beyond all human sufferance seeming to aspire to an universal Monarchy the which insolences were also rendered more intolerable by the complaints brought daily to Rome from Parma and Piacenza which Countries the Imperialists had exposed to plunder and desolation and the suspicions and jealousies of the Pope were increased by the refusal the Emperor made of restoring Francis Sforza to his right of the possession of Milan whom the Imperialists besieged in the Castle and afterwards banished from the precincts of that Country And farther these misunderstandings were increased for want of a faithful compliance on the Emperors side with the Pope who having paid a considerable sum of mony to Charles de Lanoia the Emperors Agent on condition to have Reggio restored to the Popedom which after the death of Adrian had been seized by Alfonso Duke of Ferrara when these conditions came to be performed and the ancient League renewed with Charles the Fifth he disowned the agreement lest thereby the Pope should grow more potent and enlarge his Dominions endeavouring to lessen his power by the loss of his mony and exclusion from the possession of Reggio All these umbrages and matters of displeasure being revolved in the mind of Clement with extreme melancholy and desire of redress administred cause sufficient to him of ill will towards the Emperor moving in him at the same time compassion of the unfortunate state of Francis the French King then a Prisoner in respect to whom he sent the Bishop of Pistoia to condole with him for his unhappy success Whilst the Pope meditated on these matters with some sort of indignation and fear the Venetians who were troubled at the same time with the like thoughts unexpectedly sent with many pressing instances to persuade the Pope to joyn with them in the good cause for preventing the total servitude of all Italy which they proposed to effect by a force of ten thousand Switzers which they might cause in
opinion of the Emperor he called for a review of the cause of Divorce between Henry VIII of England and Catharine his Queen and Aunt to the Emperor for which having at the time of those great oppressions he lay under from the Emperor granted a Bull did now on terms of reconciliation cause the same to be revoked And now the Pope following his resolution and closely attending a fair conclusion with the Emperor a Peace was concluded between them at Barcelona much to the advantage of the Pope proceeding perhaps as may be believed from a sense the Emperor might have conceived of the unjust and hard usage he had exercised towards him and because the urgency of his Affairs did call him into Italy he might imagin that the countenance and favor of the Pope might be useful and for these reasons it was accorded and agreed That a perpetual Peace and Confederation be made between the Emperor and the Pope That the Pope should grant free passage to the Emperors Army through the Ecclesiastical State in case it should depart out of the Kingdom of Naples That the Emperor should re-instate the Son of Laurence de Medicis in the same condition of greatness and power at Florence as they had been in before their expulsion thence or their Predecessors had enjoyed at any time before That the Emperor should by such ways and terms as were most convenient either by force of Arms or otherwise cause the possession of Cervia Modena Reggio and Rubiera to be restored to the Pope That these particulars being performed the Pope should in consideration thereof yield unto the Emperor the whole and absolute Investitute of the Kingdom of Naples with the Tribute only of a White Horse yearly to be given in acknowledgment of Fealty together with the nomination of four and twenty Cathedral Churches which had formerly been in dispute but now were determined to belong to the Emperor the Churches only which were not under Patronage to be reserved to the Pope That when the Emperor should have passed into Italy that the Pope and he should have an interview and meet at Bologna or some other convenient place to consult about their Affairs and matters relating to the Peace and settlement of the Church And that the Emperor and his Brother Ferdinand should exercise their Temporal Arms against the Lutherans and others who had revolted from the Roman Church and second the Spiritual Weapons of Excommunications and Ecclesiastical censures which were issued against them That the Pope should grant Plenary Absolution to all those who had lately been injurious to the Apostolical Sea or had by any violent or hostile acts committed outrages against it And lastly to confirm and consummate all these Articles by the more endearing terms of Alliance the Emperor was to give Margaret of Austria his natural Daughter in Marriage to Alexander de Medicis Son of Laurence late Duke of Vrbin with twenty thousand Ducats of yearly Revenue on whom the Pope intended to establish the temporal greatness of his Family having not long since created Hippolito Cardinal who was the Son of Julian This Peace was soon afterwards followed by another between the Emperor and the French King treated at Cambray of which the Pope was the chief Mediator by the Arch-Bishop of Capua who was sent thither as Legate The conclusion of this grand Affair did much facilitate the Emperors design upon Florence which he committed to the charge and management of the Prince of Orange who in pursuance of those commands having mustered his Forces about Aquila he was desired by the Pope to come to Rome that he might the better consult and resolve with him upon the provisions and ways of carrying on the War The Prince of Orange accordingly coming was received by the Pope with great respect to whom towards payment of the Army thirty thousand Ducats were issued out of the Popes Treasury and soon after forty thousand more with which and with three pieces of Cannon taken out of the Castle S. Angelo the Prince departing he encamped before Perusa which was in the first place to be reduced to the obedience of the Church This place being held by Malatesta Baillon was surrendred upon composition and thence the Prince entering on the Lands and Country belonging to the Florentines encamped before Spella which was in a short time delivered to him Whilst these things were acting the Emperor departed from Barcelona with a great Fleet wherein were a thousand Horsemen and nine thousand Foot with which he arrived at Genoua to the great terror of all Italy and especially of the Florentines who thereupon made choice of four Embassadors to congratulate his arrival and endeavour to make some agreement with them for composition of their Affairs When these Embassadors were admitted to the presence of the Emperor and that the Ceremonies of Congratulation were past they declared That their City was not ambitious or desirous of great enlargements or extents of jurisdictions but only to conserve their own with their Rights and liberties being willing to be beholding to the power of any mighty Monarch who would be pleased to take them into his protection That they had associated and entered into Confederacy with France it was no matter of their own choice but in obedience and compliance with the Pope who at that time commanded them but that now they had thrown off all considerations of his Temporal Power or his Families over them and that their Commission extending no farther than to a Treaty with the Emperor they could not give ear to any thing which had reference to the Pope This answer being unpleasing to the Emperor the Embassadors were refused farther Audience at Piacenza tho they had followed the Court of the Emperor with that expectation from Genoua to that place so that their Negotiation was at an end for that time By this time being about the beginning of the year 1530. the Pope arrived first at Bologna and the Emperor soon after came to him where he was received by the Pope with great honor and lodged in the same Palace with him and such signs of familiarity and friendship passed as if there had never happened any of those disgusts and violent actions between them which we have formerly mentioned or at least that they had with a real and unfeigned pardon been entirely forgotten Thus matters appearing fair and clear between them the Emperor intended to pass some time in Italy in regard his Affairs in other parts seemed not much to require his presence for that Soliman the Magnificent who was then Grand Signior and had besieged Vienna was forced to raise his Camp and return to Constantinople and the Peace being newly concluded with France nothing seemed in outward appearance which might give him cause of avocation or diversion from the Affairs of Italy Wherefore it was resolved that the Emperor should proceed to Rome and there be Crowned taking Siena in his way for better dispatch
Assembling was deferred from May until the first of November following The month of November approaching near the Pope published an other Bull appointing the Council to be held at Vicenza a City under the Jurisdiction of the Venetians upon the first of May next in the year 1538. deputing for his Legates the Cardinals Campeggio Simonetta and Jeronimo Alexandro alledging for cause of such prolongation the nearness of the Winter which would be very incommodious to those who were to travel thither from remote parts Howsoever upon divers obstacles and inconveniences thereupon occurring the place for meeting of this Council was altered and the time deferred for some years after as will appear by the sequel hereof In the mean time Henry the Eighth King of England who in the year 1535. was by Act of Parliament Authorized Head of the Church of England did now absolutely throw off all Obedience to the Papal Sea at which time the whole Clergy of England was charged by the Kings Learned Council to be in a Praemunire for supporting and maintaining the Legantine power of Cardinal Wolsey and were thereupon called by Process into the Kings Bench but before that day of appearance came they in their Convocation concluded an humble submission in writing and offered the King a hundred thousand pounds to have their Pardon by Parliament which offer after some pause and deliberation was accepted and their pardon promised Until this time the Popes that is Clement VII and this present Paul the third had subtilly dissembled matters between them and Henry King of England intending if necessity had required to have confirmed his Divorce from Queen Catharine to which end Cardinal Campeggio was sent into England and joyned in Commission with the Cardinal of York with Authority to give Sentence in favour of the King and that the matter might receive a speedy dispatch and not be spun out by length of time required in the solemnity of Judgment and passing Sentence a Brief was ready framed and drawn up and the Bull or Seal thereunto affixed whereby the Marriage with Queen Catherine was made null and void in the most ample manner and with Terms and Clauses so full as nothing could be more expressive nor more large than that Instrument with instructions notwithstanding not to present or publish the same unless they received assurances that Henry would continue firm and constant in his Obedience to the Authority of the Church and in this manner things stood and thus far had proceeded in the year 1528. Clement the Seventh being then Pope and so remained in suspense until the time of this present Paul the Third when Henry bidding defiance to the Papal Authority proceeded to actions never to be reconciled with that Church whereupon the Pope issued out his Bull dated the 30th of August 1535. whereby he cited King Henry to appear personally before him and the College of Cardinals at Rome to give answer to all those Cruelties Sacrileges Adulteries and other Crimes whereof he stood accused and in case of refusal he pronounced him and all his Subjects to remain under censure of Excommunication declaring him actually deprived of his Crown and Kingdom his Subjects absolved from all Obedience all actions of Religion interdicted and forbidden to be performed or celebrated in his Dominions commanding all Ecclesiastical persons to depart from his Kingdoms and the Nobles to rise up in Rebellion against him But all this lightning and thunder of Excommunication did little terrifie the resolved mind of King Henry but rather incensed him to proceed in that course which since that time hath laid the happy beginning of that blessed Reformation under which by Gods mercy we enjoy the true and glorious light of the Gospel On these terms England stood in reference to the Pope when publication was made of a General Council to be held at Mantoua and then altered to Vicenza in which case King Henry judging himself concerned in despight of his Excommunication published a Manifesto in his own name and in the name of all his Nobility whereby he protested against any such Convocation assembled by the Popes Authority as being in it self of none effect excepting also against the place as unsecure and the Country as infested with continual Wars But whereas he was desirous of a General Council as being the only means whereby to reform the dissolute matters of the Clergy and suppress the exorbitant Tyrannies and Usurpations of the Clergy he should willingly give his consent thereunto provided that such Convocation were assembled by the Authority of the Christian Kings and Princes who had the sole power and disposal of such matters for as to the Pope he esteemed him only as a Bishop in his own Diocess with no farther extent of Jurisdiction than that which reacheth thereunto the which also was most reasonable at this time when the abuses of the Court of Rome were the chief matters to be reformed and to be presented to the cognisance and censure of such a Council Besides this great defection of England from the Papal Obedience which gave a fatal blow to the Church of Rome the Doctrin of Luther daily grew and dilated it self in all parts of Germany and France with much disturbance for allaying of which and establishment of the truth of the Gospel there was no other remedy mentioned and cried up by all parties but a General Council but this admitted of so many scruples disputes and nicities as to the time and place that nothing could as yet be resolved In the mean time the Turks taking advantage upon the discord amongst Christians entered Dalmatia with Fire and Sword and took the strong Town of Clissa which the pope had fortified with all sorts of Provisions and Ammunition which misfortune the Pope greatly resenting ordered solemn Processions to be made in Rome at which he was present in person and walked on foot and sent his Legates to most Christian Princes exhorting them to lay aside the Quarrels and Wars amongst themselves and unite together against the Common Enemy in order whereunto a League was made between the Pope the Emperor and the Venetians the conditions whereof were that the Emperor should set 82 Gallies to Sea and the Venetians the like number and the Pope 38 with which force of 200 Sail they agreed to invest the Turks Dominions in some parts of Greece Andrea D'Oria was constituted Admiral of the Emperors Fleet Vicenzo Capello of the Venetians and Marco Grimano Patriarch of Aquileia of the Popes and in case any descent were made or Forces landed then Fernando Gonzaga Vice-King of Sicily was to be Generalissimo or Commander in Chief but the success did not answer so great preparations which proved rather dishonorable than advantagious for this formidable Fleet being at Sea near the Promontory of Antium had sight of the Fleet of Barbarosso and might with much ease have charged and vanquished them but Andrea D'Oria the Emperors Admiral refused to engage so that leaving the
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
attend the Summons of the Holy Council it was resolved in expectation thereof to adjourn for the space of forty days that is from the first of September to the eleventh of October At which time these particular Articles would be then treated and discussed First of the Sacraments in general and next of Baptism the Eucharist and confirmation in particular After which the Count de Monfort made a Speech in behalf of his Master the Emperour and several Commissions and Letters of Credence from divers Princes were publickly read by the Secretary of the Council After which Amiot Abbot of Bellosane presented a Letter from Henry the French King directed to the Council and delivered to be read by the Secretary the Superscription whereof was this Sanctissimis in Christo Patribus Conventus Tridentini Against which the Spanish Prelats took great exception cryed out with a loud Voice That that Letter was not directed to them who were a General Council and not an Assembly as that Superscription would insinuate and therefore desired that the Letter might not be read but that in case the Bearer had any thing to propose from his Master he might be heard by a Committee or at some private House the word Conventus gave great Scandal and an occasion of much noise and disturbance until such time as the Arch-Bishop of Metz rising from his Seat asked them how they would be able to admit audience to the Protestants who stiled them Conventum Malignantium when they so ill relished the title of Sanctissimum Conventum howsoever the Spaniards continued their Exclamations until the Legat and his Assistants together with the Emperours Ambassadors retiring a while into secret Conference returned again and gave their assent to have the Letter read being willing to have the word Conventus taken in the largest and most favourable sense The Contents and substance of which Letter dated the 13th of August was to this effect That the King out of due respect to that Council and according to the custom of his Ancestors had thought fit to signifie to them the reasons why he had not sent any of his Bishops to that Assembly convened by Pope Julius the 3d. under the title of a General Council the which was caused by the Obligation he had upon him both in justice and honour to assist the Duke of Parma for which cause there being a necessity laid upon him of making War against the Pope and the Ecclesiastical State there could be no security or safety either to his Ambassadours or Bishops in any Dominions of the Church whilest this misunderstanding between him and the Pope remained and therefore he hoped they would accept this as a just reason and excuse to whom he appealed as favourable and impartial Judges in the case c. After the Letter a Protest was read containing all the Particulars of which Mounsieur de Termes Ambassadour for France complained at Rome to the Pope in name of the King the substance whereof was this That having taken upon him the protection of Parma he had endeavoured to represent his Reasons for it to the Pope and Cardinals giving them to understand that his principal Motives thereunto were reasonable pious and Royal and such as had no mixture of interest but purely respected the welfare and benefit of the Church as might appear by the Articles of agreement with Parma which onely respected the Church and the peace and liberty of Italy of which having informed the Pope his Holiness seemed not willing to understand the same seeming more inclinable to gratifie his own humour than prevent those mischiefs which would embroil all Europe and interrupt the proceedings of the present Council which he could not esteem or stile with the Character of General but of a particular Convention assembled onely to serve a turn and promote private interests so long as he who was the most Christian King and the eldest Son of the Church was excluded thence not being able to send his Ambassadours or Bishops thither with that security to their Persons and freedom in their Votes as was required in a General Council c. This Protest being read the Answer thereunto was deferred until the eleventh of October In the mean time this Protest afforded matter of Discourse to all Christendom some were of Opinion that the Pope hereupon would be induced to dissolve the Council which could have no Authority or be termed General so long as the French Nation which was a principal Member was excluded from it But the Pope was of another Opinion pretending that his sincere endeavours of persuading that Nation to join themselves to it was sufficient and the Imperialists who cared not much for their Company judged that scruple immaterial since that being cited and required to appear thereat as members of the Catholick Church their causeless and obstinate absence ought not to prejudice the proceedings of the Council for in regard the greater part include the Minor the whole body of France was obliged to own those Acts of the Council to be Canonical and Obligatory having by their absence when they might have been present or by their silence assented thereunto Howsoever the Parliament of Paris was of an other Judgment for tho it be true that the greater number carries the point in those Assemblies where is a common concurrence in Votes But where one part absents it self and refuses to joyn the Acts of the other cannot oblige the dissenting Party and in that case that Rule takes place Prohibentis potior est conditio of which nature are all such Ecclesiastical Assemblies which how numerous soever they may be their Acts have onely an Authority to oblige their own Countries but not such as have dissented or are not concurring with them which was the sense and Opinion of ancient times as we may read in the Treatises wrote by S. Hilarius Athanasius Theodoret and Victorinus expresly upon this Point for which reasons certains Canons have been received in some Churches which have been rejected in others and as St. Gregory testifies that upon the same account the Canons of the second Council of Constantinople and of the first of Ephesus were not received by the Church of Rome But lest the French King should by this manner of Nonconformity seem Schismatical or be suspected of an intention to alienate the minds of his People from the Catholick Religion he published divers severe Edicts against the Protestants promising rewards to such who should detect and accuse them Now according to the Promise made to the Abbot of Bellozare that an Answer should be given to the Letters and Protest of the French King his Master on the eleventh of October following the Cryer of the Council at the Church-gate made Proclamation that in case any were there present for the most Christian King he should then appear But the Abbot knowing well that no Answer would be given him but such as was forged at Rome by the Spanish Party had by Order
of Rome he behaved himself with great respect enlarging their Power and Authority adjoyning thereunto the jurisdiction of Tivoli which belonged to the Cardinal of Ferrara and to the People he enlarged their Priviledges and confirmed all their former Immunities by a new Charter But all this indulgence and kindness towards the Citizens was but in order to some Design of a higher nature which soon after discovered it self for whilest he was thus busied in matters of Government and things laudable enough in themselves he suffered some reports of a Plot against his Life to take impression in his mind which being suggested by many probable circumstances he immediately seized on the Persons of as many as were suspected to be guilty thereof and committed them to Prison and then joyning with the French and Switzers he commenced a War against Philip King of Spain by which those antient Feuds and Animosities between those Kings which had for some time been extinguished or as it were raked up in the Embers began again to revive and be enflamed The original and cause whereof was this Ever since the time that Rome had been sacked by the Spaniards who had plundered and sequestred the Estate and Rents of the Family of Caraffa this Pope Paul the 4th conceived an implacable anger and an inveterate hatred against that whole Nation the which also was encreased by that ill treatment and injustice which the Vice-King of Naples once used towards his own Person for he being created by Paul III. Arch bishop of Naples was debarred from the possession and benefits thereof by the Vice-King on no other pretence than that he was suspected to favour the French Party the which so enraged his impetuous spirit that with all the arguments which subtilty and malice could draw from the Topicks of Religion and publick good to the Church he endeavoured to persuade Paul III to a War against Naples promising him to assist him with the whole Estate of his Family and with all the interest he had which he pretended to be very great in that Kingdom but Paul III. being too prudent to give ear to his persuasions and Discourses commended his Piety and zeal towards the Church but refused to engage himself in that hazardous War So that the anger and fury of this Paul IV. being suppressed until he became Pope did then burst forth and vent it self so that then with thoughts full of disdain against the Spaniards and with imagination that the Napolitans would gladly shake off their yoke and be eased of the Spanish Servitude and that France would enter into the Alliance with him he positively resolved on a War swallowing already into his thoughts the enjoyment and addition of that Rich Kingdom to the Dominions of the Church This Design was promoted by a stricter Union with France occasioned in this manner Henry King of France had taken from Charles Sforza Prior of Lombardy two Gallies the which coming afterwards into the Port of Civita Vecchia Alexander the Brother of Charles and Chief Clark of the Camera or Chamberlain made seizure of them and without any respect to that Protection under which they were within the Pope's Harbour he carried them away by force to Gaeta of which the French Ministers at Rome complaining to the Pope he conceived not onely anger and indignation against Alexander but suspecting that such an action could not be contrived without the privity of his Brother the Cardinal he loudly exclaimed against him and clapt his Secretary Lotini into Prison who was lately returned with some secret Negotiations from the Emperour Charles V. the which serving to encrease and heighten the differences between them many Cabals and Consults were formed amongst the Cardinals of the Imperial Faction at which the Pope being alarm'd he reinforced his Guards and levied Soldiers and to break the seditious Meetings clapt the Cardinal and Camilla Colonna and the Abbot of Brisegna who was a Spaniard into Prison Mark Anthony Colonna who upon these stories was fled from Rome was cited to appear there and give answer to the Accusations charged against him but afterwards the Gallies being again restored to the French King Cardinal Sforza and Camillo Colonna upon Bail given were freed from Imprisonment but Alexander Sforza who was Chamberlain not appearing upon the Summons was deprived of his Office and because Mark Anthony Colonna did not appear at the time prefixed by the Summons all his Estate within the Territories of the Church was sequestred and seized to the use of the Pope with which Joan of Aragon the Mother of Colonna being greatly affrighted escaped secretly from Rome about the beginning of the year 1556. contrary to the Command and Injunction of the Pope with which he was so incensed that he then resolved to act and put all those mischiefs into practice against the House of Colonna which he had before onely meditated and contrived in his thoughts and in pursuance thereof he in the first place excommunicated Mark Anthony and his Father Ascanio Colonna and having confiscated all their Estate within the Dominions of the Church he bestowed it on his Nephew John Count of Montorio whom he created Duke of Paliano and not long after he declared Anthony Carafa an other Nephew to be Marquis of Montebello having lately dispossessed Count Bagno of that Marquisate for having converted those Moneys which the King of France sent to the Pope for carrying on the War in Italy to his own use All which served to incense the spirits of a great and powerful Faction and raise those Wars which ended in miserable desolation of Italy But the Pope who was of Opinion and often said that a happy Peace was onely to be procured by a calamitous War did in Order thereunto fortifie Paliano with all provisions requisite thereunto for that being a place situate on the frontiers of Naples was of great importance in that conjuncture And lest the Truce which was made for five years between the Emperor and France should be an obstruction to this War he dispatched Charles Caraffa his Legat to Henry II. pretending that his Message was in order to a farther accommodation and to convert the Truce into an everlasting Peace but the Negotiations of Caraffa being of an other nature he possessed Henry with great hopes and expectation of success by a War with Naples wherefore though at first he sent but two thousand Men for assistance of the Pope seeming to reserve some little respect to the Truce so lately concluded yet afterwards the Popes forces not being able to withstand the Power of the Imperialists a greater Army of twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse were sent to Naples under the conduct of Francis Duke of Guise With these Auxiliary aids the spirit of the Pope being highly swelled and become implacable he imprisoned Juliano Sesarini Camillo Colonna with his Bother the Arch-Bishop of Taranto and divers others whom he suspected to be in any manner affected and inclinable to the
the Oar in the Gallies of the Turks Of the Christians after the fight was ended upon the numbers wanting in every Vessel the account of the slain amounted to seven thousand six hundred fifty six This signal Victory was attributed as much to the devout Prayers and Benediction of the Pope as to the valour of the Soldiers and conduct of the Captains the report of which as it filled all Europe with joy so it made way for the glories of Don John who was received into Messina with all the Triumphs and Festivals which that City could express also Antonio Colonna was with the like honour and triumph received at Rome Nor did the Venetian General want such encouragements and honours as that Republick commonly bestows in reward of Valour and Merit In memory of which signal Victory they stamped divers Medals with this Inscription Anno Magnae Navalis Victoriae Dei gratiâ contra Turcas This memorable Victory was obtained in the time of this Pius V. who was certainly one of the best of the Popes and therefore I know not why we may not say without offence to any that this happy success might be given in reward of the Devotion and Piety of this Pope for I am persuaded that God hath a particular care of godly Kings and Princes for whose sake as he often blesseth their people so he bestows some memorable blessings on them of signal Remark in their Reign On which persuasion I am apt to believe that as God bestowed this Victory on the Christians in the time of this Pius V. against that great Sultan Selim II. So now in these our days he hath given Victory and unexpected success to the Christians before the Walls of Vienna against Mahomet IV. in reward of the great Piety and Devotion of Leopold the Emperour whose Devotion and Prayers joyned to the Arms of the King of Poland and of other Princes have operated Miracles and delivered Germany in a wonderful manner from the power of the Turk And yet notwithstanding the religious temper of this Pope we find that he excommunicated Queen Elizabeth as far as his Bull would operate he deposed her from Royal Dignities and conferred her Crown on Mary Queen of Scots and persuaded Philip King of Spain to seize on the effects of the English Merchants at Antwerp and other parts of the Low-Countries and to assist the Catholick Subjects in England in their godly and religious Conspiracies as Gabutius calls them against the Queen their natural Sovereign Pius oblatam occasionem haud contemnendam esse ratus efflatigabat ab Rege ut Anglorum in Elizabetham pie conspirantium studia foveret Thus we see how far a mistaken zeal may transport good Men which though it may in some measure excuse from the aggravation of a Crime yet it cannot prove sufficient to set Men entirely upright at the great day of the just Ballance This Pope added also to his other Excellencies the Virtue of loving wife and learned Men and such as were endued with a vivacity and acuteness of parts for he scarce preferred any to considerable Dignity but such as were excellent in some degree or other and of the twenty one Cardinals which he created at three several times there were five of them at least who were Men of extraordinary Abilities and famous in their Generation He founded certain publick places for Learning and Piety amongst which he endowed a College in the University of Pavia for the Education of Youth and affixed over it the Arms of the Ghislers at Boschi the place of his Birth he built a Monastery for Dominican Friers and endowed it with a competent Revenue and to demonstrate his gratitude to his Antient Benefactors he created a Magnificent Sepulcre in memory of Paul V. by whom he was created Cardinal and in short he made many new Buildings and repaired several that were decayed in the Vatican and both within and without the City of Rome After all which about the middle of March 1572. he became indisposed by a stoppage of Urin of which he commonly had a fit in that Month the which illness encreasing upon him gave him notice that his end approached from which time converting all his thoughts to holy and pious meditations he spent the short remainder of his time in the preparation of his Soul for death which happened on the first of May following the same day he died his Body was embowel'd and three little stones found at the neck of his bladder which the Physitians declared to be the cause of his death He was generally lamented by all and especially by vertuous Men for considering his principles his Enemies had nothing worse to object than that he gave a Dispensation to Philip King of Spain to marry with the Daughter of his Sister and of Maximilian his near Kinsman and yet would never be induced to consent unto the Marriage of Margaret of Valois Sister of the King of France with Henry King of Navarre making the difference of Religion a greater bar to Marriage than the degrees of consanguinity forbidden by the Levitical Law The day after his death his Body being clothed in the habit of a Jacobin was carried into the Church of St. Peter where the people assembled in great numbers to render him Honour and Veneration every one touching their Beads and Rosaries at his Body in the same manner as was their practice at the Reliques of Saints and afterwards he was honourably buried in the same Church where his Body lay deposited until afterwards Sixtus V. in grateful remembrance of the benefits he had received from him transported it to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and erected a stately Monument over it in a Chappel built for that purpose with this Epitaph inscribed upon it Pio V. Pont. Max ex Ordine Praedicatorum Sixtus V. Pont. Max. ex Ordine Minorum grati animi monumentum posuit GREGORY XIII PIVS the Fifth being dead and his Funeral Rites after the accustomed manner being performed the Cardinals entred the Conclave and with common consent elected Hugo Buoncompagno who was Priest and Cardinal of S. Sixtus to the dignity of Pope he was born at Bologna of the antient Family of the Buoncompagni his Father was called Christopher and his Mother Agnola Marascalchi by whom he was at first educated in the Studies of the Civil Law in which having made great proficiency he took his degree of Doctor in the University of Bologna at the age of twenty eight years and in a short time was made Judg of the Court of Trade erected in that City for tryal of Mercantile Causes afterwards in hopes of better preferment he went to Rome where he was constituted an Assistant to the Senator who was Judg of the Court held in the Capitol and the year following he was made Clerk of the Signet for Dispensasations and other Beneficences In the time of Paul III. he was employed at the Council of Trent and made Vice-Auditor of the
which they knew or of which they could accuse their Judges who had for the space of five or six years sat in the Seat of Judicature By these means every day one poor Judg or other who perhaps also was out of employment was dragged away to Prison and close shut up for what Crime he knew not or perhaps had forgot the Sentence he had passed in the Case for which he was accused These and many such like cases of severity strook such a terrour into the minds of those who sat on the Tribunals of Justice or managed any publick employment that every one became cautious and nice in the Sentences he gave or how by fear or bribery he remitted the least scruple or severity which the Law enjoyned or required Farther he gave strict charge to all Sindics and Governours of Towns and Castles to give in a particular List or account of all Felons within their respective Precincts who had for the space of ten years past been accused or branded with Capital Crimes and also of all such who had been convicted for scandalous and infamous persons and Incorrigible during the time of their Sindicate In which Lists he required such an exact impartiality that upon Information given against the Sindic of Albano how in the List of the Dissolute and Incorrigible he had omitted to insert the name of his Nephew he was sentenced by the Pope himself to undergo the Strapado in the publick Market-place from which punishment all the Intercession and Prayers and Interest which the Spanish Ambassadour could make in his behalf was not able to deliver him By these means the Lists of Dissolute Persons which were immediately directed to the hand of the Pope were so very exact that no person was exempted who was guilty of the least Crime Which when the Pope saw and observed every Week as they were sent him he was greatly pleased and especially with those which were filled with a great number of names for in reading of them he would often say Oh happy Gallies which I intend to build O happy I who have first found Men for my Gallies before I found Gallies for my Men. The which severity of the Pope from whom there could never be any expectation of Pardon so terrified all sorts and conditions of People that every one comported himself with the greatest modesty and gravity imaginable that an Oath or a rude or uncivil word was not heard through any of the streets of Rome but every one being alarm'd and dreading as if he had always a Constable or a Pursuivant at his back walked with his beads in his hand repeating a Pater-Noster or some other Prayer with a sorrowful and penitential countenance By these Methods all the Banditi who being grown licentious under the gentle Government of other Popes and who spoiled and destroyed all Italy were now by the Justice of this Pope almost wholly extirpated for such as fled out of the State of the Church to the Dominions of other Princes he so prosecuted by laying Fines on any who secured or succoured them and setting a price on the head of every considerable Bandito that in a short time he reduced them to a small number and totally suppressed the pride and insolence of that pest of mankind And thus resolutely was Sixtus bent to punish the Enormities of wicked Men that whereas it had been the custom of former Popes to shew acts of mercy and pardon on the day of their Coronation opening the Prison Gates and enlarging the Prisoners this Sixtus absolutely refused to grant releasement to any though instantly urged by the Cardinals alledging That there were Rogues sufficient about the streets without ransacking the Prisons for them That he had taken a resolution when he was first made Pope to chastise the wicked and not suffer their Villanies to corrupt and intermix with the Vertues of good Men. By these severities all people lived in quiet and peace one with the other no Sword was drawn in the City nor quarelsom words or uncivil language uttered it being a common saying to Men at variance together Remember these are the times of Sixtus Thus when the Banditi were suppressed the good and benefit was so great to all Italy that the Citizens of Rome erected a Statue of Brass to the memory of this Rome on which these words were engraven Sixto V. Pont. Max. ob quietem publicam compressa Sicariorum Exulumque licentiâ restitutam Annonae inopiam sublevatam urbem edificiis viis aquaeductu illustratam SPQR And farther to demonstrate the inflexible humour of this Pope it is observable that a poor Youth of about seventeen years of age making a resistance against the Bayliffs who came to distrain an Ass for some Duties owing and by Law ordained to be paid in which seizure though the Officers made a mistake for that the Ass did not belong to the party who owed the Mony yet because he offended against the course of Justice by making opposition to it he was condemned to die nor could the persuasions or Intercessions of the G. Duke's Ambassadour nor of the Cardinal of Medici prevail in his behalf or mitigate the rigour of the Sentence and when the Governour of Rome alledged that the youth being under age could not by Law be put to death for this Crime the Pope replyed If he want years I will lend him ten of mine Nor did Sixtus exercise this severity onely towards his own People but he was brisk and haughty towards all Christian Princes for in a few days after his Coronation or at most in two months after he quarrelled with Henry III. King of France with Henry King of Navarre and with Philip II. King of Spain The occasion of his quarrel with Spain seemed to have had no other cause or foundation than his own pride and desire of usurpation and which happened in this manner It had been the custom ever since the time of the Emperour Charles V. for the King of Spain by his Ambassadour at Rome to present yearly on the 29th day of June which is the Festival of St. Peter a white Horse with a Purse of seven thousand Ducats in Gold to the Pope for a Tribute and acknowledgment for the Kingdom of Naples which that King holds as feudatary to the Ecclesiastical State And now on the usual day Sixtus appearing on a Throne with pomp and mignificence to receive his Tribute which the Ambassadour in a quaint Speech and with fine Complements presented he seemed not very well satisfied therewith but returned this tart and Satyrical Reply You think now said he that you have made a fine Speech and indeed so you have for you have made us change a Kingdom for a Beast and still seeming uneasie as he was about to rise he added these suspitious words But we believe that this business will not proceed long in this manner These words immediately touched the Ambassadour to the quick and giving him just cause of reflection
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
Briga But being pursued thither by the Enemy he was there besieged and afterwards taken Prisoner towards the end of January 1588. The Pope who was greatly concerned for this disgrace of Maximilian dispeeded Cardinal Aldobrandino into Poland to treat a Peace and an Accommodation between Maximilian and the Prince the which after various difficulties and Disputes was happily concluded about the beginning of March 1589. The Articles of which were that Maximilian should renounce all Title and pretence to the Crown of Poland by reason of the late Election or any other demand whatsoever and that the Prince of Sweden should remain the lawful and undoubted King which being agreed the Prince took possession and was named Sigismond III. The Pope who was no less zealous for the success of the King's Arms in France against his Protestant Subjects sent a Sword to the Duke of Guise who was chief of the Catholick League as he had lately done to the Prince Farnese who was Governour of Flanders the which was delivered by a Bishop who was purposely sent to present it and therewith to tender his paternal love and benediction to the Duke assuring him that he possessed a large room in the heart and breast of the Pope The Ceremony of delivering this Sword was performed with such pomp and triumph at Paris and with such popular acclamations of the multitude in favour of Guise as administred just cause of jealousie and fear to the King and though Guise was ambitious enough to be pleased therewith yet being immoderate and irregular his modesty told him that they were undecent The King in the mean time being eclipsed by the popular grandeur of Guise and by the troubles of a Civil War with which his Kingdom was infested did seem to resent the favours which the Pope shewed to Guise as unseasonable of which when Sixtus had knowledg and of the popular acclamations at the delivery of his Sword he was much troubled for he being of a humour always desirous to maintain Sovereignty in its highest degree of Honour and Power did by a Letter to the King exhort him to maintain his Prerogatives and conserve the honour of his Crown against the Insolencies and rebellions of his Subjects adding That a Canker in the bowels of his State was curable onely by cauterizing and by fire and Sword and that it was necessary to vent some of that blood which was too redundant in the veins of his Subjects The King made frequent reflections on this Letter and often gave it to the Duke of Guise to read and consider and being one day in Parliament where many Debates arose touching the ways and means by which the Civil Wars might be accommodated and a good understanding produced between him and his Subjects the King declared the great aversion of his mind to blood or other extremities which though he might justly by the Counsels and persuasions of the Pope yet he was more tender of the lives of his Subjects than to cure his troubles by such severe Remedies and to confirm the truth thereof he produced the Pope's Letter causing it publickly to be read in that Assembly which when the Parliament heard they Blessed themselves and as well the Catholicks as Protestants remained astonished and scandalized at this cruelty of the Universal Pastor who with such little remorse could suck the blood of Christ's Sheep as if he had rather been the Wolf than Shepherd of the Christian Flock Which when the Pope understood and was informed of all the Satyrs and Libels which the Protestants had composed on this occasion he was greatly disturbed that the King should so publickly expose his Counsels which he designed for his secret directions and having signified his resentment thereof by his Nuntio he would never afterwards adventure to write him a Letter but on all occasions of business referred himself by word of mouth to the report of his Nuntio And now Sixtus whose thoughts were ever employed on means which might enlarge or make great the Church did much incite Philip II. King of Spain to make War on Elizabeth Queen of England pressing him to re-assume his Right to that Kingdom which he had once governed and for encouragement thereunto he promised Count Olivarez the King's Ambassadour at Rome that so soon as the Spanish Army should be landed on any part of the English shoar he would immediately contribute a million of Crowns to that Design Nor was the Pope moved hereunto out of a zeal onely to Religion but out of a secular Design supposing that the chief Flower of the Nobility and Soldiery of Naples being drained thence on this Enterprize he might have a more facil passage to the possession of that Kingdom In pursuance therefore of this Design a great and wonderful Fleet of vast Caracks to the number of one hundred and fifty Sail being set to Sea on which were twenty three thousand Land Soldiers with two thousand pieces of Cannon of which the Duke of Medina Sidonia was made General they entered the Channel of England where being met by a small Fleet of Ships under the Command of Sir Francis Drake several broad-sides passed between them but at length the Divine Providence assisting England and defending the Protestant Cause the valour of the English and the successful direction of the Fire-ships prevailed with admirable fortune over the Spaniards against whom also God himself fighting as we may say by his Storms and Tempests totally defeated and destroyed this invincible Armada as we may more at large read in our Chronicles of England Sixtus having received the news of this unhappy defeat wrote Letters to Philip to condole with him for the loss and therewith taking an occasion to blame the management and conduct of his Officers he attributed the miscarriage of all to the want of care and experience of the Chief Commanders by which reflection of disgrace his intent was to prevent all Demands from him of reparation for this loss and on this subject he proceeded in a publick Consistory to blame and tax every Individual Chief both in the Army and in the Council of ill administration onely he took upon him to excuse Alexander Farnese Governour of the Low-Countries and to answer the aspersions which his Enemies had charged upon him declaring him to be the onely person who for his personal Valour and excellency of his Conduct was the most approved Captain of that Age. This Letter of Condolance wrote by the Pope was dispatched to his Nuntio at Madrid to be delivered to the King whose constancy of mind and evenness of temper was such that though the Nuntio well knew he had no need of Cordials or consolatory Exhortations yet the Commands of his Master were to be obeyed and the formality observed Whilest King Philip was reading the Letter he often smiled as if the Stile had rather been to congratulate his Victory than to condole for his loss Howsoever he thanked the Nuntio and promised to return an Answer thereunto
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
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
Pope to this Design upon assurances that they were able to divide the Senate and by confusion of their Councils to make way for the Pope's Authority It was farther proved That they had kept correspondence with the Enemies of the Republick to the great damage and prejudice of the State always interposing and insinuating themselves into publick Affairs That they were always contriving to inveigle sick and dying Persons persuading them for the sake of their Souls to bestow their Estates and Inheritance on them to the ruin and destruction of their lawful Heirs and Families And farther the Senate took into their consideration their Principles which were always Monarchical in prejudice and depression of Aristocracy and dangerous to the Maxims and principles of their Government It was farther also alledged that the Jesuits had been the Causes and Instruments of all the tolerations seditious disorders and evil successes which had happened in our age in all the Kingdoms and Provinces of the World and herein not only some particular persons were culpable but even the whole Society and order of them were dangerous and rotten in their Principles and destructive to the Government under which they lived All which being proved and made good in the Senate against them It was deliberated and carried in the Affirmative by Decree of the 14th of June That the Jesuits who from their first beginning had been received into Venice and there cherished and favoured and having in recompence of such Indulgence and respect returned nothing but Ingratitude being at present the Authors of all the troubles incumbent on the Republick vilifying the same with all the Obloquy which could be uttered from the blackest Tongue of malice and having been false Traitors and Men of insupportable Insolences the most Serene Republick did therefore spue them out and banish them for ever the precincts of the State and did Decree and Enact that they should never be again received without a concurrence of five Sixths at least of the Senate the number of which was to consist of one hundred and eighty Votes In passing of which Act it is most apparent that their Crimes were as enormous as they were clear and evidently proved for the Scrutiny being made by the Ballot their banishment was pass'd with an unanimous concurrence and a Decree made for their eternal Exclusion though perhaps some few might be excepted who had been their Votaries and Penitents This perpetual banishment of the Jesuits made the breach wider and more difficult to be reconciled and the Pope being sensible that the hopes he conceived from the contrivances of the Jesuits were vain and fruitless he applied himself to some other new Inventions one of which was a Jubilee which was published on the 19th of June inviting all Christian people to pray unto God for the unity and peace of the Church granting Indulgences Absolutions and Remissions unto all excepting such as belonged to Venice and the Interdicted Churches to which none of those graces blessings and pardons were to be dispensed Now in regard that nothing is so desireable in Italy as the benefit of a Jubilee It was conceived to be a most admirable Artifice to make the Venetian People sensible of their separation from the Church when they should find themselves uncapable to receive the Indulgences and excluded from all the priviledges of the faithful upon which advantage the Jesuits shewed all their Art in the Towns bordering on the Dominions of the Republick preaching up the Blessings of a Jubilee and lamenting the miseries of that People who by their disobedience and contumacy had extruded themselves from without the Pale and become unworthy of such mysterious graces Notwithstanding which the World was so well satisfied with the Cause and ground of this Jubilee that though at other times Men were fond of this priviledg and held it in great esteem and Devotion yet the Indulgences granted hereby were coldly received in every place nor did the Venetian Commonalty so much repine at this loss as to quarrel or mutiny with their Government for want of that Spiritual Benefit Thus when all religious Arts failed and the Weapons of the Church were not keen enough to do Execution the Pope resolved to try what might be effected by the temporal Sword but in regard his own was not sharp enough for the Venetians he applied himself to the Spanish Ambassadour at Rome desiring to write to his Master the King giving him to understand that he did entirely cast himself under his Protection desiring his favour and Aid against his Enemies and therewith delivered him two Letters one directed to the King wherein he exposed the Reasons for his proceedings against the Venetians and another to the Duke of Lerma chief Minister of State in which he recommended himself and his Affairs to his care and defence and with many obliging Expressions and acknowledgments called him the Basis of the Crown of Spain on which the Catholick Monarchy was established and on which the foundation of the Church solely was reposed and depending This kind Letter so pleased the Duke of Lerma that an Answer equally pleasing was returned from the King to the Pope and with much formality delivered by the Spanish Ambassadour attended with three Cardinals the substance of which was That the King was extreamly troubled to observe that the breach and differences between him and the Venetians were so widened and so far proceeded but in regard the honour of his Holiness was far engaged he was resolved to vindicate the Dignity of the Apostolical See with his Arms and accordingly had wrote to his Ministers and Officers in Italy and other Princes depending on his Crown This Letter being read was the subject of great joy and satisfaction to the Pope and all his Party and was proclaimed through all Italy much to the reputation of the Papal Cause howsoever the triumph and joy hereof was somewhat attempered by the Proposals which were made by Spain in recompence of the troubles and inconveniencies they were to receive by a War the which Demands were A release of the yearly Tribute for the Kingdom of Naples a surrender of Ferrara for a Garrison to offend the Enemy and of Ancona for an Arsenal and maritime Provisions The which Conditions being grievous and difficult to the Pope were only answered in general terms but the report hereof was like a Trumpet of War which alarm'd all parts of the Venetian Dominions and caused the Senate to write immediately to their Proveditor General in Candia to send all the Gallies under his Command into the Gulph Orders also were given to the Proveditor General in Dalmatia to raise four hundred Albaneses and Croats under four Captains and to embark them on ten Vessels which were built for that purpose placing forty on each Vessel Likewise thirty Captains were nominated and appointed to be ready as occasion should require The Pope on the other side repaired his Fortifications at Rimini and Ancona and reinforced his
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
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
nam'd Sancta Maria ad Nives because that in the heats of the month of August it was revealed in a Vision to those who first founded this Church that they should build it in that place where at that season they found Snow which it seems appeared within the compass of that Church and gave measures for all the dimensions of it there being no Snow in any other part of all the City or Country And in regard the Vatican Palace was esteemed to be situate in an unhealthy Air and almost pestilential in the heats of the Summer it was accustomary for the Popes in the hot season of the year to remove themselves to a small House on the Mons Quirinus hiring to the great inconvenience of the Inhabitants several Houses for accommodation of the Servants and followers of the Court But this Pope Paul who was of a great and large Soul not enduring to be confin'd within so narrow a compass bought several Houses belonging to the Neighbourhood the which having pulled down he in the place thereof erected that large and stately Palace now called Monte Cavallo from the two Horses which are erected on a Pedestal before this Palace in memory of which Building on the Eastern side thereof there is this Inscription engraved Paulus Quintus Pont. Max. Anno Salutis MDCXI Pont. Sui VII There was no Pope that was ever more magnificent in Building than this or who delighted more in publick Works which tended to the common benefit of the City either for use or Ornament for he enlarged the ways on the Mount Quirinus leading to this Palace which were before very narrow and inconvenient and brought several Aqueducts to it with plentiful streams many streets of the City which were before crooked he made direct and streight with much Beauty and Ornament All that part of the City which is situate on the other side of the Tybur called at present Frastevere suffering much for want of Water he refreshed with admirable Streams flowing in great abundance Ex Agro Braccianensi which he brought by Aqueducts at thirty five miles distance partly under ground and part with arched Work which was divided into four Fountains or rather Rivers of Water falling from the top of that Hill where is now a Church and Monastery of Franiscan Friers and there they shewed us a Chappel built over that place where St. Peter as they said was crucified and the very hole where his Cross was fixed On the high Altar of this Church was that excellent and famed Piece of our Saviour's Ascension made by Raphael Vrbin he was himself so pleased with it and so much admired it that he ordered it should be carried next to his Coffin when he went to be buried Besides all these and many other publick Works which this Pope performed he was much to be commended for his charitable Gifts and Alms to the Poor amongst which it was none of his least acts of Charity that he established a Revenue out of which every month there was raised a convenient Portion whereby to bestow an honest and vertuous Maid in Marriage He was greatly pleased with Frescati a Village about ten miles distant from Rome called anciently Villa Tusculana where Cicero was much delighted and made it the place of his retirement and Studies and for that reason this Pope enlarged the Papal Palace there and brought it into great reputation with the Cardinals and Nobles of Rome During the Wars between the Emperour and the Count Palatine of the Rhine which happened in the Reign of this Pope he laid a Tax on all the Clergy towards the maintenance and support of the Catholick Cause and a new Order of Knighthood was created under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin St. Michael and St. Francis who entered into a Vow to make War against the Hereticks and extirpate them and the Heresies they professed And about this time began that great Controversie between the Jesuits and the Dominicans concerning the immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin which was rather smothered than decided Thus did this Pope Paul V. pass his time in Peace for the quarrel he had with the Venetians having given him some taste of the inquietudes of War he ever afterwards attended to a pacifick and reposed Life which produced those excellent effects of Peace such as great Structures and munificence towards the Poor which by unquiet Spirits are always diverted by the expences of War And thus having consumed his days he departed this life on the 24th of January 1621. and in the seventieth year of his Age having reigned fifteen years eight months and thirteen days he was buried for a while in the Church of St. Peter but his Body was in a short time after removed from thence to his Chappel which he had erected and added to the great Church of Santa Maria Maggiore During his Reign he created sixty Cardinals The Epitaph on his Monument is as followeth Paulus V. Pont. Max. Patria Romanus ex Burgesia Familia Cui perpetua Vitae innocentia sectata Virtus Bononiae Prolegato praefuit mox à Gregorio XIV Causarum Cam. Apost Auditor Creatus à Clemente VIII Ad Philippum II. Hispaniarum Regem de gravissimis rebus Legatus In Amplissimum Ordinem cooptatus inter Generales Inquisitores Adscriptus Et Vrbis Vicarius Electus cum omnes tantorum Munerum Partes Summa cum laude obivisset Ad Summum Pontificatum Leone XI è Vivis Erepto Florens Adhuc Aetate Incredibili Patrum Consensu Evectus Est Cumque Vigili Solicitudini Securitatem Annonae Copiam Justitiam Et Quietem Populis Ecclesiasticae Ditionis Concordiam Vero Et Pacem Vniverso Christiano Orbi Semper Praestitisset Religionem Summa Pietate Coluissit Vrbem Magnificentissimis Adificiis Ornasset Atque Gregoriis Omnium Virtutum Officiis Aditum Sibi Ad Immortalitatem Aperuisset E Mortalibus Raptus Grave Cunctis Sui Desiderium Reliquit Sedit in Potificatu Annos XV. Menses VIII Dies XIII Obiit Anno Sal. MDCXXI Die XXII Januarii GREGORY XV. THE Funeral Obsequies of Paul V. having been celebrated for the space of nine days according to the usual Form and Custom the Cardinals on the tenth day being the eighth of February entered the Conclave to the number of fifty to which two others were added who arrived at Rome a few days after the death of the Pope one of which was Cardinal Alexander Ludovisio Arch-bishop of Bologna who after many and various Factions and diversity of Opinions in the Conclave was chosen Pope the first and most antient Party was that of Montalto the second of Aldobrandino the third of Borghese the fourth was that of the Spanish Faction the fifth was of the French besides which were Bonti Sforza Farnese Medici and Este all which stood on their own bottoms and formed distinct Parties of their own When the first Scrutiny was made Bellarmine had far the greater number of Votes but falling short of two Thirds he
to leave the disposal of the Conquests to his own pleasure and the Crown of Naples to his Nephews But Vrban looking on these Propositions as more specious than easie absolutely refused them and in despight of all the applications and addresses made by several Princes in favour of Parma the Duke was declared to have incurred the greater Excommunication and in vertue thereof to be deprived of his Dominions and Fiefs and of the Dignity he held of the Holy Sea and condemned in all charges done or to be done in pursuance of which Sentence his Palaces and Goods in Rome were exposed to sale and Castro taken into the possession of the Camera though not annexed to the Popedom by vertue of the rigorous Bull ordained by Pius Quintus which forbids all alienations of Lands or Goods which were once united to the Papal Chair The Princes were highly moved to find all their intercessions and instances so little esteemed by the Barberins and much more alarm'd when they understood that the Pope demanded passage for his Army through the Dominions of Modena against Parma and Piacenza which being places unprovided for War and the Duke of Modena not having force to resist the powerful Army of the Pope consisting of eighteen or nineteen thousand Men consented to grant a passage provided That there should be six days before the Army moved and that in other four it should have passed his Confines The Venetians and the Grand Duke who were averse to Arms and not inclined to use them but as their last remedy yet not being willing that the Duke should perish or the Barberins be accustomed to the happy issue of their Counsels sent a supply of seventy thousand Crowns to Parma which gave courage to the Soldiery and credit to the cause amongst the Subjects who thence conceived some hopes of greater succours In the mean time all the Offices and warm instances imaginable of mediation were employed at Rome by the Ministers of Venice and Florence which produced nothing but uncertain and ambiguous answers and to the Ambassadour of France it was plainly declared that a suspension of Arms should be granted when promises and assurances should be given by the Duke's Friends that he should testifie due respect and obedience to the Ecclesiastical State and that no words or instances should be made for the restitution of Castro which by reason of the Debt to the Montists and the charge of the War was already forfeited to the Camera and condemned thereby But such Answers as these not satisfying the Princes the Venetians resolved to send three thousand Foot and three hundred Horse to joyn with two thousand Men sent by the Grand Duke to oppose the march of the Pope's Army into the State of Parma The news of these Forces and their march and the rumour of Treaties and Leagues forming in favour of Parma greatly perplexed the Barberins because that their Army which was composed of new Men and which expected to enter the Country of Parma as to an easie and secure Triumph was so terrified with the noise of an Enemy marching to oppose them that they ran away in full Troops so that their numbers were very much diminished in a short time Vrban growing sensible of the opposition which was making against the farther progress of his Arms by the Neighbouring Princes did voluntarily and of his own accord offer to the French Ambassadour a suspension of Arms for fifteen days During this cessation the Venetians the Grand Duke and the Duke of Modena entered into a League to assist and give succours to the Duke of Parma as occasion should require who being encouraged by such Seconds entered boldly into the Eccleâ—â—astâ—cal State with three thousand Horse without Foot or Cannon or other preparations for defence of his Camp which was looked upon as so rash and inconsiderate an attempt that the other Confederates gave those Troops over for lost and destroyed But Duke Edward entering resolutely into the Bolognese strook such terrour into the people and the Army of the Pope that all was in a moment seen in confusion and disorder for the Prefect retired flying into Ferrara the Soldiers quitted their Quarters the Authority threats or intreaties of the Officers prevailing nothing against their cowardise and fears Thus without bloud and without a Battel Edward prevailed and became Master of the Field which is a passage the more memorable because that in an Enemies Country nothing could have been more done by an Army never so powerful For Bologna it self a great and populous City sent Letters to him full of respect the Governour of Smola sent the Keyes of the Town to meet him Faenza opened its Gates and the Governour descended from the Walls to meet and pacifie him Furli seemed as if it would make some resistance but soon surrendred at discretion where he lodged only for one whole day to refresh his Soldiers wearied with their march and incommoded with the Rains Upon these successes the fear and terrour which possessed the minds of the people at Rome is not to be expressed for that City being composed of a cowardly sort of Inhabitants such as Priests who are unaccustomed to danger and Strangers who are pleased with Reports and Novelties seemed distracted by various affectations for some feared plunder others desired disorder and all reproached the Government During these troubles and distractions Guards were placed in the streets and the command of them given to several Prelates Soldiers were levied in all places and the Coach-Horses in Rome seised to mount the Soldiers The Prefect also was recalled to Court and great murmurings against him for having shewn as much baseness in danger as he exercised Avarice in the Government in his place Cardinal Antonio was sent but Cardinal Francisco attended to the Arts of Negotiation intending with hopes of Peace to amuse the Duke and frustrate the League Cardinal Antonio made his head quarters at Viterbo whilest the Duke of Parma was at Aqua Pendente and the Cardinal having put considerable Garrisons into the Towns advanced with seven thousand Foot and two thousand Horse to Montefiascone intending to streighten the Duke in his quarters and obstruct his passage into the State of Castro But the Duke mounting on Horseback and making a shew as if he would advance towards him though much inferiour to the Enemy in force yet the Cardinal retired and would not stand the shock chusing rather to overcome with Prudence than run the hazard of Fortune So that now the month of October being come and the Rains having fallen in great abundance the approach of the Winter seemed a season more proper for Treaty than for War In the management of which Cardinal Barberino laying more stress on tricks and delusions than on the substantial points of solid Reason in Treaties dispatched the Abbat de Bagni to the Great Duke at Florence with Proposals That absolution of the Censures should be given to Edward with the forms contained in the
to the protection of France being no longer a secret both the Prefect and Cardinal Francisco with that whole Family loudly professed themselves Servants to his most Christian Majesty and in testimony thereof replaced the Arms of France again over their Gates The reception also of the Barberins to favour was signified by the King in a Letter to the Pope which was delivered by the hand of Cardinal Grimaldi who was at that time employed in the Affairs of France but this Letter operated little of good but served rather to irritate the mind of the Pope for within three days afterwards he erected a Congregation of five Cardinals all Enemies to the Barberins to inspect the Affairs of that Family and to proceed by the methods of Law against them so that Cardinal Francisco who was esteemed innocent and unblameable in his Conversation and had not as yet been attacked by any was cited to make his personal appearance before this Court where an Act was intimated unto him which annulled and made void the Dispensation which his Uncle Vrban had made to indemnifie his Nephews and exempt them from rendering an account of the publick Moneys which had passed through their hands and in pursuance hereof Taddeo the Prefect was enjoyned to bring in all the Accounts of Expences and Moneys which had issued out of the Chamber during the time of his Uncle though the Books and Receipts were in the hands and Office of the Paymasters And in regard that Cardinal Antonio was absent in France a Brief was sent him to appear personally at Rome within the space of two months under pain of Excommunication and forfeiture of all his Estate Revenues and Benefices which he held of the Church and in the mean time Cardinal Francisco and the Prefect were obliged in a Bond of thirty thousand Crowns to advertise Cardinal Antonio of these proceedings and not to remove any of their Goods Housholdstuff Jewels c. out of their Houses at Rome or any other place sequestring also the whole revenue of Cardinal Antonio And whereas Cardinal Francisco had been superintendent over the Revenues of the Church he was ordered not only to give an account of the Moneys but of all other managements and transactions during the Government of his Uncle These violent and severe proceedings against the Nephews of a former Pope seemed a Policy disagreeable to the inclinations and designs of Innocent who intended to advance his Nephew Cardinal Pamfilio and was as passionate towards his Relations as ever Vrban had been and more perhaps than he for being wholly guided by the directions of Donna Olympia Mildachini a Woman of untamed Pride and unsatiable Avarice it was not to be imagined that the Revenues of the Church should be better employed or used with more moderation than they were in the times of the late Vrban This Donna Olympia was but of an ordinary extraction in Rome but being married to Signior Pamfilio Brother to this Pope made the off-spring which came from her to be illustrious and for governing one who governed the Church hath made herself famous in all the Histories of Italy and the Ecclestastical State She was a Woman which naturally affected Rule and Dominion and therefore because her Husband crossed her desires and would subject her to Obedience she had a quarrel to him and held him in abhorrence and detestation though his person was comely and handsom enough to be beloved on the other side none was more pleasing and acceptable to her than her Husband's Brother first Abbat and then Cardinal Pamfilio for though he was one of the most ugly and ill-favoured persons in the World yet because he never entered on any Affair either publick or private before he first consulted his Sister-in-law making her his Oracle and presenting her with the entire disposal of his Will she became perfectly enamoured of his Person and Soul and would never be separated from his company After he was created Pope she then took upon herself the State and Garb of a Princess and seizing with absolute Dominion and Authority on the person of the Pope exerted her Power to such a degree that she made the whole Court of Rome subservient to her Beck and obsequious to her Commands The greediness of the Barberins in amassing Money was the most exorbitant that ever had been known before in Rome but when this Woman came she swept with both hands making the rapine and extortion which had been used before seem to be attempered with some qualifications of modesty and mercy For no Judg of criminal Causes being made without her recommendations they all received their Instructions from her which she gave with such Rules and Methods as conduced to her Avarice She ordered them to bleed the Purse rather than the Veins of Malefactors that all the Fines and redemptions of the Guilty should be sent to her that she might employ them to the use and benefit of the Poor by which means and to satisfie the Judges who would always have their share in the Booty the Fines were raised beyond all the measures of Justice and though complaints hereof were made unto the Pope yet neither were the oppressed relieved nor the Judges punished We have said before that the Pope had created his Nephew Don Camillo Cardinal who was the Son of Donna Olympia and at her instigation was declared Cardinal Patron being a Title commonly conferred on the Pope's nearest Relation the which was done to disappoint the match between Camillo and the Daughter of the Prefect But this young Gallant being of a gay and light temper and uncapable of serious thoughts and business was weary of his Cardinal's Hat which against the consent and without the knowledg of the Pope and his Mother he laid aside to marry the Princess Rossana who by the death of her Husband the Prince was become a Widow The news of this Wedding was strangely surprising to all Rome but more especially to the Pope and his Sister who after a conference of two hours together in private resolved that Prince Camillo and his Lady should be banished from Rome The disgrace of these two personages was as surprising to the World as was the Marriage for there was in reality no Objection to the match especially since he was the onely branch of the House of Pamfilio whose noble change to joyn himself with a Lady of Beauty Quality Riches and Understanding was conducing to that common desire of mankind which is to keep up and perpetuate their Families wherefore there being no just reason why the Pope should be displeased at the match the cause of banishing the new married couple was attributed solely to Donna Olympia who being jealous of having the Princess Partner or Corrival with her in the Government thought fit to keep her at a distance from the Court But the World in the mean time could not but remain astonished at this passage for it was wonderful to see a Pope so sensless as to
punish his Nephew for having directed his love to a Princess of equal quality with himself whilest he himself was so besotted as to be given up to the extravagancy of an aspiring Woman permitting her to govern his Person Church State and Court with an Imperious hand and yet at the same time not to indulge his Nephew the love of a young Noble and beautiful Lady who brought a considerable Patrimony to the House of Pamfilio Nor was Donna Olympia more kind or less jealous of Nicolo Ludovisio Prince of Piombino who was married to her second Daughter on hopes that as Nephew to the Pope he should enter into Offices and Affairs for this Prince having been Nephew to Gregory XV. and Brother to that Cardinal Patron who since the time of his Uncle absolutely disposed of all the Affairs of the Church did now hope to find the same fortune and reap the same benefit under this Innocent X. But Donna Olympia was too wise to admit a Nephew into the privacies of the Pope or a Partner with her in business for she entirely bestowed all Benefices whether great or small the Officers of the Datary being charged to keep them in hand till she had fully informed herself of the value whatsoever Bishoprick fell void they that pretended to it were to address themselves to her Abbeys Canons and all other Dignities and Governments Ecclesiastical or Civil were all conferred at the pleasure and command of Donna Olympia there was no appearing with empty hands before her The Rates of all Places were set an Office of one thousand Crowns a year for three years was valued at one years Revenue and for six years at double and so proportionably if for life then it was valued at twelve years and the moiety thereof to be paid in hand Cardinal Panzirolo who was then the great Favourite of the Pope and who transacted all Affairs durst yet act nothing without the consent of this Lady for such an absolute Ascendant she had over the Pope that his Soul seemed to be animated with hers and his Will subservient to her dictates and strange it was to see her sit in Council with the Pope with bundles of Memorials in her hands to receive his Assent for formally onely unto that which she had already determined so that it is believed she had charmed him with some strange diabolical Arts Histories having never given us an Example of the like nature And now to give farther instances and miracles of her Power she introduced into the place of Cardinal Pamfilio who had laid aside his Scarlet to marry with the Princess Rosana a certain Nephew of hers Son to her Brother a youth of about eighteen years of age who was afterwards called Cardinal Maldochino Olympia intended once to have made him Cardinal Patron but he was so great a Sot and so stupid a Fool that he was uncapable of Business abhorred by the Pope and a shame to the College and Dignity of Cardinals The Office of Cardinal Patron was ever esteemed of great Honour and importance and when managed by a Wise and dexterous Person was of great ease and relief to him who sate in the Papal Chair for if the Pope were sick or absent he gave Audience to Ambassadours and presided in the Council subscribed Letters to the Nuntios Legats and Governours of Provinces But this help being as yet wanting to Innocent for want of a Cardinal Nephew endued with some tolerable understanding Olympia contrived to adopt Camillo Astalli Brother of Marquis Astalli who had married her Niece into the Family of the Pope with whom she so prevailed that he created him Cardinal Patron and gave him the name of Pamfilio though not of the bloud nor allied to his Family It was wonderful to the Court to see a young Man of twenty seven years of age raised on a sudden to so important a preferment 'T was true he was endued with a gentile behaviour and good address and with qualities of mind sufficient to make himself acceptable but yet neither his years nor his practice in Affairs enabled him to support the great burden of Church and State In making of this Creature as well Panzirolo as Olympia was believed to concur she with a design to advance the Brother of him that had married her Niece but he to have an influence over all his actions being well assured that this young Man would act nothing without his direction But whilest Olympia thus governed all Affairs the Court of Rome became scandalous nothing but libellous Jests to the disparagement of the Pope were daily put into the hands of Pasquin at Rome In the Courts of the Emperour of France and Spain the Nuntios seemed to lose much of that Reverence which was formerly given them and when any of those Princes were refused the demands they made and expected from the Pope it was often said with raillery That if Donna Olympia had made the request it would readily have been granted It was the common Discourse in the Pulpits of Geneva that a Woman was Head of the Church and the Universal Bishop and that now the mystery of the Whore of Babylon was plainly discovered In the Protestant Countries the Comedies and Farces represented the Loves and Intrigues of Innocent X. and Donna Olympia upon the Stage all which the young Cardinal Patron at the instigation of Panzirolo made known to the Pope who being conscious of the truth thereof and inwardly ashamed resolved often to forbid Olympia the Court and all concernment or intermedling in Affairs but knowing not how to come out with it his inward grief suppressed his words but at length taking courage and resolution he burst out into tears and therewith into words Interdicting Olympia all farther communication with the Court. After this Cardinal Astalli I should have said Pamfilio gained ground in the affections of the Pope and being guided by Panzirolo took daily deeper root in his esteem Panzirolo likewise himself kept in great credit and unshaken by his Adversaries but being tired with the burden of business and continual watches until after midnight in consultations with the Pope he fell sick and died Nature effecting that which his Enemies endeavoured The Cardinal Patron above all lamented his loss presaging thereby the mischief which afterwards ensued for now Donna Olympia began though Incognita to frequent the Court and by degrees to repossess her first Station But we shall for a while leave this Lady weaving her Webbs and managing Intrigues and return again to the Barberins whose Cause was taken into the defence and protection of France In the month therefore of January 1746. Cardinal Barberin and Taddeo the Prefect in compliance with the Pope's Brief presented their accounts having had but fifteen days time allotted to bring them in and in failure thereof were to forfeit five hundred Crowns a day for every day until they were delivered The Accounts being given the Pope cast his eyes upon them with much indignation
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
was established between the King of Great Britain the King of Sweden and the States of the Vnited Provinces with the various Acts and successes thereupon Nor is it to our purpose to declare the disturbances given to this Peace by the pretensions which the French made to the dependencies which were so comprehensive as took in almost all the Dominions belonging to the Spaniards in the Low Countries for the better interpretation understanding and limitation of which word Dependencies a meeting was appointed at Lisle at which the Commissioners for both Crowns were to be present and debate the Controversie Wherefore to return now to the Affairs of Italy and the actions of Clement IX we find him after the conclusion of this Peace extreamly intent and zealous for the relief of Candia and urgent both with France and Spain to send succours thereunto In pursuance of which his endeavours in France as we have said were very successful great succours being sent to Candia as we have related in our History of the Turks and indeed the correspondence was so good between his Christian Majesty and this Pope during the whole time of his Reign that nothing seemed to be denied which was requested by either for the Pope at the King's desire granted a Bull allowing him to nominate and constitute such persons as he should judg fit in all Churches Benefices and Monasteries and in all Bishopricks and Arch-bishopricks within his own Dominions In return of which kindness and as a signal of this good correspondence the French King allowed the Pope to demolish the Pillar which was erected at Rome in the time of Alexander VII for a memorial of the banishment of the Corsi and to deface the Inscription engraven thereon In like manner the Pope gave license to the French to take away and demolish the Cross which was erected at Rome over against the Church of St. Anthony in the time of Clement VIII in memory of the conversion of Henry IV. to the Roman Faith So that now the other particulars concluded at the Treaty of Pisa not as yet executed began to wear out and to be forgotten and the late warm interposition of France in behalf of the Duke of Parma for what related to Castro became cold and remiss For though in the days of Alexander VII the Duke had provided his Money according to the time allotted him by the Treaty upon payment of which Castro was to have been redeemed yet the Pope found out ways to avoid the receiving thereof pretending that other Creditors were ready to attach and sequester the Money so soon as it should be brought within the Walls of the City but this being only an excuse and an artificial pretence of the Pope the Duke of Parma resolved to expect the arrival of the Duke of Chaunes at Rome then coming in quality of Ambassadour from France to whom making his complaint he might most properly by his means challenge a performance of that part of the Treaty which was in his favour concluded and agreed at Pisa But this Expedient failing and the Ambassadour taking this matter a little to heart the Duke supplied his Money at Rome by Letters of Credit and Bills of Exchange which though refused by the Court notwithstanding the many addresses Processes made according to the Methods and formalities of Law yet all proved ineffectual and little regarded by the Interest of France even to the very time of this present Pope of which coldness and unconcernment of his Christian Majesty in this matter wherein he once shewed so much zeal and affection various causes have been assigned of which none seems to be more probable than the engagements of France in the Low Countries during the time of Alexander VII and afterwards the kind correspondence held with this Clement IX of which the Crown of France being entirely satisfied was unwilling to be importunate or disturb the quiet of the Church for the sake of a forein Prince whose interest had no influence or concernment at that time with the welfare and conveniencies of France As the Pope was instant with his most Christian Majesty to send Forces into Candia and obtained by his sollicitations a strong Fleet under the command of the Duke of Beaufort which carried the Banner of the Church so also he was not remiss or backward to send and engage his own Fleet of Gallies under the conduct and command of his Nephew Vincenzo Rospigliosi which with the Gallies of France and Malta made up the number of twenty nine Nor was Clement less urgent with Spain than with other Princes to enter and engage in this common cause of Christianity so that having occasion to send the Abbat Arroldi who was Bishop of Milan in quality of his Internuntio to Bruxels he gave him particular Instructions to sollicite the Catholick Princes of Germany to concur with the rest in contribution towards the relief of Candia in which Act the Internuntio so well succeeded that the Electour of Bavaria the Bishop of Argentina or Strasburg and several other Princes of the Rhine administred effectual succours to the present necessity of that languishing place But the successes of this War and the fate of Candia have been our Subject and Theme in an other History In the mean time whilst these Affairs were in agitation the Cardinals Palotta and Farnese two of the chief Ornaments of the College departed this life in place of whom the Pope promoted Prince Leopold of Toscany to the dignity of Cardinal a Person though of excellent qualifications of mind and of unblameable conversation in the days of his youth yet reasons of State had prevented his just advancement and Title to the Purple until the time of his old Age. After which he promoted Portocarrero with seven others to the same degree of Cardinals viz. Altieri who was Master of the Camera Nerli who was Secretary of the Briefs Pallavicino Dean of the Clerks of the Camera Certi Dean of the Ruota Bonaccorsi Treasurer General Acciaoli Auditor General of the Camera and Father Buona Abbat of St. Bernard in Piedmont besides which he created James Rospigliosi his Brother's Son and Emanuel Theodosio who draws his pedigree from the Dukes of Aquitaine so that during his Reign at three promotions he created twelve Cardinals and not more The most important Affair during the Reign of this Pope was the Siege of Candia which as we have said so affected him that he employed all his thoughts and endeavours towards the relief thereof Nicholas the fifth was not so much troubled for the loss of Constantinople nor Hadrian VI. for the subjection of Rhodes nor Pius Quintus for the surrender of Cyprus as our Clement IX for the ill success and conclusion of the Cretian War in which the Duke of Beaufort being lost with many French Cavaliers and other generous Heroes from divers parts of Christendom the City was delivered into the hands of the Turks the fatal news of which being brought to him
From him they passed to Cardinal Pio and then to Odescalchi against which last were not many exceptions only that the French Party esteemed him too much inclined to the Spanish Interest and though the reputation of Odescalchi was high and his merits great yet his time being not yet come all endeavours for him vanished into Air he also himself beseeched Chigi as it were upon his knees to desist from farther actions in his favour howsoever the Conclave being impatient of farther delay seemed generally inclined to make choice of Odescalchi yet some esteemed him too young others too morose and austere and Chigi himself freely discoursing with Celsi taxed him for want of practice in business and that having addicted himself much to speculation and study imagined that he would prove unpleasant in his humour and that Abbat Marc Antonio being his Brother it was more than probable he would be created Cardinal and Favourite who also being a Person of an austere life and severe Vertue might concur with the Pope in designs to reform the Vices and luxury of the Clergy Which considerations being weighty and prevalent with the Conclave his exclusion was publickly declared After which every one was at a stand and in expectation of what time and the power of Barberino and others would produce Chigi had laboured to the utmost of his power to advance one of his Friends but all proving ineffectual he gave them at least the satisfaction that nothing had been wanting on his part Medici was well contented with the exclusion of Nerli who was a Creature of Rospigliosi because Altieri who was under the same notion of a Friend and dependant on that Family was still in nomination In the mean time the aged Cardinals zealous for the honour and sanctity of the Conclave exclaimed against the delatory proceedings which gave scandal to the World and cause of complaint to the People who by reason thereof were impoverished by a deadness of Trade and oppressed by the extortions of the Mons Pietatis which during the vacancy of the Sea exacted four times more from indigent Persons than the known rates allowed by Law and the justice of the Popes The Ambassadour of Spain more concerned than any other for these delays having Audience in the Conclave requested the Cardinals in the name of his Master to agree in their Election for whereas they had an Authority free and independent of temporal Crowns and secular considerations they were obliged to proceed in the speedy choice of a Successour to St. Peter and of a Pastor to the Universal Church and not suffer the same to become subservient to Intrigues and private Interests which as they were daily more scandalous they gave occasion to the World of discourse as if the inspirations of the Holy Ghost were banished the Conclave the divine Illuminations damped and eclipsed by the interposition of Secular designs It was strange to observe how on a sudden after this discourse the humour of the Conclave was altered the old Cardinals weary of their restraint would yield to the Election of any provided they might gain their liberty and the young Men were ready to give their suffrages for whomsoever the Leaders of their Party and Interest should direct so that now merit and Vertue and experience in Government were laid aside and a Pope chosen by those who were most obstinate and tenacious of their Opinion and could hold out longest Thus different Interests began to agree and Chigi and Medici to entertain discourse with Barberino proposing to pitch upon the Creature or favourite of the House of Rospigliosi to which both these leading Factions were well inclined the Person nominated was Cardinal Emilio Altieri generally grateful to the whole Conclave for his great Age having passed the years of eighty Chigi took occasion hereupon to complement Barberino declaring that rather by divine Inspiration than humane fansie he had fixed on the sole Person of the World whom he had reserved in his breast as the most worthy of this Dignity for that he was a Man who never concerned himself in embroils and Intrigues of different Parties never was a Pensioner of France or Spain or depended on the favour of Italian Princes or was obliged by any of the Roman Families Barberino on the other side vowed that the nomination he had made of Altieri was rather an effect of his good wishes towards Chigi than to his own Family for that he was not ignorant of the great Obligations which Cardinal Paluzzi the Creature of Emilio Altieri had unto him by whose means onely he was first preferred to be Auditor of the Camera then to be a Prelate and lastly to be a Cardinal all which were such good Offices as would certainly oblige Altieri in case that to the preceding kindnesses which he had performed towards his Favourite he should add that also of being an Instrument to advance himself unto the Papacy In the mean time great Interests were made for Odescalchi and his Party was so earnest thereupon that they designed secretly to elect him by Accession as a more ready way than by Treaties or making Parties But Barberino was zealous for Altieri and instant to have his Election passed without other dispute or consideration Howsoever Chigi was a little wavering because he doubted whither Paluzzi would prove constant to him and bear him the same respect in the time of his prosperity and under the circumstances of the Pope's favour as he had testified to him in his former condition of fortune wherefore that he might secure him the better he addressed himself to Paluzzi persuading him to believe that his endeavours for the promotion of Altieri were in a great measure founded on that friendship and good will which he owed to him and for that reason before he would engage his Party and Interest in his Election he would be assured that Altieri should promise to adopt Paluzzi and create him Cardinal Nephew than which nothing could be more just and due to a Person of his Wisdom and Talents and practised in all Affairs of the Court of Rome Having said thus much Chigi conducted Paluzzi to Medici and they together with Buglion and Barberino went to the lodging of Altieri to whom the Dean Cardinal Barberino with a loud Voice and profound reverence made the same Complements as were accustomary to Popes elect with which Altieri being surpriz'd made Answer with tears in his Eyes That he was unfit for the performance of so great a function which might more easily be sustained by any of their Eminencies than by himself and pointing to Cardinal Brancacci Behold said he the Man whose Virtues Godliness and Abilities have rendered worthy of this high Exaltation By this time the Cell or Lodging was filled with Cardinals who with one Voice two onely excepted proclaimed Altieri Pope on the twenty eighth day of April and having performed the usual Ceremonies of Adoration and other matters practised at the Election of Popes he
conjectures as these could have no foundation nor gain belief amongst those who understand the constitution of Rome and the nature of the Cardinal who was more inclined to heap up for himself than sow for others But the more probable Opinion was that Spain was desirous to stand fair with the Pope because France was at odds with him giving thereby a testimony to the World of the unquietness of that Nation which is contentedy with nothing of moderation and in fine that their behaviour towards all is insolent and insupportable The year 1675. which was the Jubily or holy year being entered the City of Rome was after the usual manner filled with multitudes of Pilgrims and Strangers who crowded to obtain the benefit of Pardons and Indulgences which are plentifully issued and bestowed at that time That year six Cardinals were created namely Alexander Crescentio a Roman Marescotti of Bologna Rocci a Roman Albritii a Neapolitan Spada a Roman and Philip Howard of the Illustrious Family of Norfolk who was a Dominican having been Great Almoner to the Queen of England this advancement was much facilitated by her Majesties recommendations The which promotions the French King would not own because the Bishop of Marseglia whom the King of Poland had recommended as we have related at the beginning of this Pope's Reign was rejected to please the humour of the Spaniards And indeed herein his most Christian Majesty seemed to have just cause of discontent for though in the year 1671. Cesar d' Estreé Brother of the Duke of that name and called Bishop of Laon was created Cardinal yet that honour being conferredat the nomination of the King of Portugal in recompence of some services rendered to that Crown and united onely to the bare recommendations of France it was not esteemed as a favour done to that King but to Portugal onely of which Kingdom d' Estreé was made Protectour Howsoever Altieri would not understand it for other than a favour done to France without which and the interest of the Duke d' Estreé his Brother then Ambassadour at Rome it had scarce been obtained for that Duke amongst other Commissions brought from Rome had particular instructions to demand of the Pope the restitution of Castro and Ronciglione to the Duke of Parma according to the Treaty of Pisa but that being a morsel not easily digested by the Pope Monsieur d' Estreé made his way thereupon to gain the Cardinal's Cap for his Brother by a relaxation of that demand About the beginning of the year 1676. there arose a Controversie between the Pope and the Vice-King of Naples concerning the seizure of certain Banditi within the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State by Officers from the Vice-King upon which Dispute the Son of the Duke of Sora was banished from Rome upon pain of death in case he should return This Pope Canonized Cajetan Tienne founder of the Order of Regular Clarks Francis Borgia General of the Jesuits Philip Beniti restorer of the Order of the Servillians Lewis Bertran and Rose of St. Mary both of the Dominican Order Under these Circumstances Altieri remained with France when Pope Clement the 10th died some few hours before whose death Altieri pressed him to fill up the four vacant places of Cardinals and though the Queen of Sweden and Cardinal Barbarino joyned with him in the same request yet the Pope would not hearken to them nor grant their desire And when at last Altieri became more importunate with him than before designing to supply the four vacant places with Creatures of his own who might be able to fortifie his Interest against the next Conclave the good Pope turned to him and with some Anger said You may well content your self that you have been Pope for six years Suffer me now to follow my own inclinations and be Pope for six hours onely It was now generally concluded and believed that Altieri was so fallen into disreputation with the whole College of Cardinals and with the People of Rome and so hated by all the Prelates that immediately after the Pope's death he would be removed from all his Offices and deprived of his Suffrage in the ensuing Conclave But Altieri had so well feathered his Nest during his Reign under his reputed Uncle that his Riches procured him Friends and reconciled the minds of those who were most estranged from him so that he conserved his Office of Chamberlain with other honourable Charges and obtained a confirmation for his Nephew Don Gasparo in his place of General and afterwards entered triumphant into the Conclave onely his main task was in what manner to reconcile himself to the favour of the most Christian King in regard the Cardinals of that Party declared that they would neither act nor treat with Altieri until he had first given satisfaction to his Majesty INNOCENT XI SO soon as Clement X. had expired his last breath Altieri who was Cardinal Chamberlain gave notice thereof to all the Officers of the Houshold upon which news all the Prelates and Grooms of the Bedchamber in decent and mourning Habits repaired to the Palace of Monte-Cavallo where they found the Body of the Pope laid out on a Pallet covered with Crimson Velvet and there in presence of them all Altieri whose Office it was brake the Sigillum Piscatorium or the Pope's Seal in pieces and the Notaries of the Camera took an Inventory of all the Goods found in the Palace After which the body of the Pope was dedivered to those who were to embalm it and then the Bell of the Capitol was rung out to give notice of the death of the Pope to all the City And now Cardinal Altieri having nothing more to do at Monte-Cavallo repaired to his own new Palace near the Jesu attended with a numerous train where he received the Visits of Cardinals Princes Ambassadours Prelates and Nobles who came to condole with him for the death of his Uncle During the time that the Funeral Obsequies were solemnizing the Cardinals were busied in forming Parties against the time of Election the first day of which was the second of August when a considerable number of Cardinals being assembled in St. Peter's entered in form of Procession two by two with gravity and Order into the Conclave the next day some others were added to them in all to the number of fifty two so on the third day of August the Conclave was shut and Guards set by the Prince Savelli to whose Office it appertained as Marshal of the Conclave On the 4th instant the Mass of Veni Creator being sung the Cardinals began the Choice by way of Scrutiny The Persons nominated were Vidone Barberigo Odescalchi Spinola and Cerri all which had almost an equality of Votes Odescalchi had eleven but proceeding towards the Evening by way of Accession seven Votes only appeared for him On the sixth day in the Morning Scrutiny being made twenty seven Votes were given for Cardinal Corsini but in the Evening
which by some side-wind or far-fetched notion of Spiritual Concernment reduced almost every thing under cognisance of the Church According to this natural course of worldly affairs Lewis the 14th the most Christian King being high and prosperous in his fortune resolved to put a period to the process for the Regale which had continued near thirty years and at last in the year 1673. came to a conclusion and Declaration was made That the King had Right of Regale in all his Dominions without distinction except onely in those Sees that had purchased their exemption from it And therefore all Bishops who had not yet registred their Oaths of Fidelity in the Chambers of Accounts were required to do it and to take out a Writ upon it for closing the Regale otherwise rheir Bishopricks were still to be looked on as under it All the Bishops of France unwilling to incurr the displeasure of their successful Monarch submitted excepting the Bishops of Alet and Pamiers It was now under the Reign of Clement X. an old doating Pope who having his parts and understanding enfeebled by old Age he committed the management of the Pontificate to the sole direction of Cardinal Paluzzi afterwards adopted by the Pope and called Altieri a Person who from his first beginning was distastful to the Court of France and not until this time well reconciled unto it as we have at large declared in the foregoing Life This was the time I say when open Claim to the Regale was renewed in favour of the King and when the Pope himself was scarce able to distinguish his Interest and Altieri was so thwarted and opposed by the Court of France that he had enough to do to conserve his own personal Interest much less to vindicate and contend for the Rights of the Church in a case so litigious as this In January 1676. the King 's Right was claimed in disposal of the Deanry of Alet the Dispute of which was left unto the Bishop to maintain for the Pope being under the foregoing Circumstances took little cognisance thereof either by himself or his Cardinal But this good Pope dying in the month of August next following the Controversie fell to the lot of Innocent the 11th to maintain and to dispute in opposition to the eldest Son of the Church This quarrel was increased by a Contest at Pamiers where one Paucet was provided in Right of the Regale to be Arch-deacon of Pamiers but was rejected by the Bishop and Chapter howsoever the Regale prevailed for the Arch-Bishop of Tholouse was on their side and gave judgment in favour of the Regalist But on the contrary the Bishop of Pamiers acquiesced not with this Sentence but made his appeal to the Pope who was now engaged in the Controversie and the matter lodged in his hands Wherefore the Pope in the year 1678 wrote his Brief to the French King and in soft and yet pressing terms complained of the Innovasions made on the Liberties of the Church and the Authority of the Council of Lions and after several Arguments to persuade him to desist from this Enterprise he concludes that he cannot forget those Popes his Predecessours who upon the like occasions had endured long and great afflictions But these Allegations satisfied not the King who pretended that the Rights of the Regale were inherent in the Crown and had been enjoyed by his Ancestors and by them derived down to himself The Pope on the other side affirmed that the Secular Powers had no right to things sacred but as it was derived to them by the Authority of the Church and that the Church had not granted any such Right having expresly limited it by the Council of Lions which hath now been observed four hundred years This Controversie seemed to lie dormant from September 1678. to December 1679. until it was again revived and stirred in the See of Pamiers in that point which concerned the vacant Benefices and the mean Profits for the King's Officers seized on them likewise so that the good old Bishop had nothing to live on the last twenty months of his life but the Oblations and Charities of his People On this occasion the Pope wrote to the Cardinal d' Estreé to interpose in this Affair as being a Person more than ordinarily concerned in the dignity of the Apostolical See To which the Cardinal made answer in the style of a court-Court-Bishop extolling the King's merit his zeal for the Faith and respect for the Apostolical Chair what he had done for the suppression of Calvinism and Heresie within his Dominions and how bravely he had defended the Christian Cause against the Turks and in fine he laid down the dangers which would follow if any dissention should arise between the King and the Church At length Cardinal d' Estreé was dispatched to Rome with a Letter of Credence and Orders to treat immediately with the Pope himself but it seems his Negotiations produced little alteration for the Pope continued steddy and constant to his Principles And on the other side the Parliament of Paris became as zealous for the King 's Right and Authority for which the King's Attorney General pleading made little esteem of the Pope's Censures which were passed for Obedience to the King's Orders The Church said he may indeed have an Authority to punish Men for Heresie and an ill life but the World was now too well enlightned not to discern that the Thunders of Rome had been for several Ages vainly employed for extending its Authority beyond all due bounds the limits of which were to be found in the Canons of the Church by which the Pope as well as others ought to govern himself And therefore desired that the last Brief sent by the Pope might be suppressed which was accordingly done by a Judgment of the Court of Parliament on the last of March 1681. And to give a farther Authority to this Judgment an Extraordinary Assembly was called of all the Bishops then residing at Paris where were present six Arch-Bishops twenty six Bishops and six that were named to Bishopricks to whom the Agents of the Clergy represented the Invasions made on the Liberties of the Gallican Church by the Pope's Briefs both in general concerning the Regale and in particular in the Affair at Pamiers and the Nunneries and concerning a Book of Gerbais a Dr. of Sorbonne De causis Majoribus which were equally contrary both to Church and State to the Canons and the Concordate by which the Pope upon a simple Complaint without any Appeal did by the plenitude of his Power judg at Rome concerning the validity of Elections and the Authority of Arch-Bishops and Primats c. The issue of which Assembly was this They asserted the Authority of National Churches for judging of all matters both of Faith and Manners and in the conclusion agreed to make an Address to the King praying him to give leave either for a National Council or an Assembly General the latter
a short time to descend into Italy which being added to the Italian Bands would be able to make head against the Imperial Army and for their parts they promised according to their custom far greater matters than they were able to perform and for farther encouragement hereunto they represented the state of the Imperial Army in Italy to be tumultuous and inclinable to Sedition having for want of pay seized the Artillery and fortified themselves in Pavia Farther it was not to be doubted but that Loüisa the Queen Mother and Regent of France would concur with these Counsels and be assistant to this design with all the power of that Kingdom Moreover it was not to be doubted but that the Duke of Ferrara who favoured and depended on the French felicity would also enter into this League the conjunction of whom was of great importance considering that he was a Prince very rich his Town of Ferrara strong and furnished with all stores of Ammunition But the Pope considering the difficulty of this enterprise and the uncertain concurrence of those many circumstances which were required to make it successful did for some time suspend his resolution until the Arch-Bishop of Capua who had been his ancient Secretary and Counsellor brought him such agreeable propositions from Don Carlos de Lanoy Vice-Roy of Naples as gave him assurances of an advantageous accommodation with the Emperor for then disposing his mind wholly to the thoughts of peace he labored to get the Venetians comprehended in the same terms of accord but in regard the chief points insisted upon by the Imperialists were sums of mony to be paid their Army already mutining for want of their Arrears the Venetians who judged it a piece of folly and cowardise to compound with their enemies on the condition of putting weapons into their hands absolutely refused any agreement on such terms which made well for the Pope and facilitated his negotiations with the Vice-Roy who interpreting this refusal of the Venetians to be an indication of new stirs and commotions intended against the Imperial interest in Italy was the more ready to condescend to the more easie terms with the Pope In short therefore 25 thousand Ducats being by the Popes order paid by the Florentines to the Marquiss of Pescara Chief of the Emperors Forces in Milan a Confederacy was concluded at Rome between the Pope and the Florentines on the one side and the Emperor on the other viz. That the Pope and the Emperor should be in a perpetual League and Alliance and that the Dutchy of Milan should be always defended by the Arms of the Pope and the Emperor with such numbers of men as should be agreed by a certain Article and that the same should be possessed and governed under the Emperor by Francis Sforza particularly nominated in that Capitulation That the Emperor should take into his protection all the Estate which the Church held and particularly should have a care of the House of Medicis to maintain and preserve them in all the Dignities and Offices which they hold in that City to which Treaty the greatness of that illustrious Family is in some measure obliged That the Florentines should presently pay to the Emperor a hundred thousand Ducats more in recompence of that which they had engaged to contribute to the last War in virtue of that Agreement made with Pope Adrian which was not to expire until one year after the death of one of the Confederates That the Duke of Ferrara should immediately render to the Church Reggia Rubiera and other Towns which he had unjustly seized and usurped during the last vacancy of the Papal Sea of which so soon as the Pope was possessed he was in consideration thereof to pay unto the Emperor one hundred thousand Ducats Lastly as to Modena and those Towns consideration was to be had and the matter examined whether they of right appertained to the Church or the Emperor and being found only belonging to the Ecclesiastical State they should be freed from all acknowledgment and dependance on the Empire In this manner this Alliance was concluded and determined and the designs of uniting with France and Venice which were at first laid open as the fairest game were now diverted by far different measures Matters being thus agreed and concluded in the year 1525. between the Pope and the Vice-Roy the Cardinal Salviati was sent to the Emperors Court with Character of Legate for confirmation of the Articles his reception was very honorable but in debating of particulars on the Commission the Vice-Roy who for the common safety and quiet of Italy allowed that the Investiture might be given to the Duke of Milan did dissuade the restitution of Reggia and Rubiera which being a scruple started after the Accord did ill affect the mind of the Pope and confirmed the opinion he had of the Emperors designs not to endure any increase of power and greatness in the Church And farther whilst these things were debating there fell out in Lombardy several events which hindred the Investiture of Sforza in the Dutchy of Milan and therewith broke all the agreements and measures which were formerly taken for the Emperor not willing to yield to this Investiture made pretences of forfeiture thereof by Sforza and earnestly pressed the taking of the Castle of Milan so that now the Pope having no expectations from the Emperor began to incline again and be biassed on the side of France and the other Confederates knowing that whilst his successes were prosperous and towering in Italy the Emperor might easily dispose of the Pope and oppress him at his pleasure which he would certainly do either out of revenge or ambition which is known to be almost natural in Emperors against the Pope Wherefore a League and Union being proposed between the Pope the French the Venetians and Duke of Ferrara with hopes also that the King of England would joyn in it all things were designed and laid down in a regular manner and form for carrying on the War and suppressing the suspected greatness of the Emperor But this Pope Clement who was of a temper naturally slow and irresolute weighing the consequences of these matters with his Servants and Ministers of his Councils found them so divided each of them abounding in his own sence that belabouring the Pope on all sides he became much more perplexed and distracted in his thoughts after than before his consultations The truth was there were two men of great Authority with him one Nicolas Scomberg a German and John Matthew Giberto a Genoese Scomberg was much honored and almost feared by the Pope but Giberto was more favoured and beloved these two having been ancient and intimate friends to him whilst he was Cardinal agreed well together but afterwards Ambition and different Interests put them at variance for Scomberg being a German naturally affected the interest of the Emperor but Giberto loved no man but the Pope and tho he had formerly been an enemy