false opinion some people had that Cardinal Francisco bought the Papacy in the last Conclave with the disbursment of a round sum of money Of Cardinal Ginetti of the difference of his manners and inclinations from Cardinal Barbarino's Of his immoderate covetousness Of the Vicarship and other Benefices conferr'd upon him by Pope Urban the eighth Of the number of Nephews that he hath and of their virtues and vices Of some particulars of Cardinal d'Arach and how little he was regarded in the Court of Rome Of his zeal in the reprehension of the iniquities of that Court in their secret Congregations Of Cardinal Antonio Barbarino and the reason why he was call'd Romano Of the Dignities conferr'd upon him before his Cardinalship Of his inclination towards Women Of the prudence he us'd in defence of the French Interest Of the grëat severity Cardinal Palotta us'd in his administrations of justice Of his sentencing Cecca Buffona a famous Courtezan and Cardinal Anthonio's Mistress to be whipp'd Of the animosities it begot and the great persecutions that follow'd thereupon Of the dis-intereâ—t he shew'd towards the Crowns Of the manner how Cardinal Brancaccio obtain'd the Cap. Of a notable saying of a witty man Of the great number of his Kindred Of the assiduity wherewith Cardinal Carpegna was alwayes ready to serve the Barbarini Of his humour that was something melancholly Of one of his Brothers call'd Don Mario Of the difference betwixt the Youth and the Age of Cardinal Durazzo Of the way by which he arriv'd at the Cardinalship Of his affability in conversation and other particulars of his nature Of his death Of the advancement of Mr. Julio Gabrielli from being Clerk of the Chamber to the Cardinalship Of his Bishoprick of Ascoli and his Legation from Urban Of his nature and his ignorance in letters Of the great merit of the House of Ursino and the promotion of Virginio Ursino to the Cardinalship Of his protection of Portugal and the great ardour with which he defended the Interest of France Of the good life of Cardinal d' Este Of his art in equivocating and his affability in conversation Of Cardinal Facchinetti and his reputation in the Colledge Of Urbans promotion of Girolamo Grimaldi a Genoese to the Cardinalship Of the esteem they had for him in the Court of Rome and in Paris Of Cardinal Rosetti and his Negotiation into England Of that which exalted Cardinal Donghi to the Cardinalship and of the reputation he got in his Legation to Ferrara Of the principal causes that mov'd the Pope to conferr a Cap upon Monsignor Rondanini Of the fortune Nicolo Ludovisi had to he advanc'd to the Cardinalship and other particulars of his nature Of the kindness Innocent had for the Cardinal Cibo and of the esteem he had in the Court for his good behaviour Of the great respect and reputation Cardinal Sforza is in Of his humour that has more of a Souldier in it than of a Prelate Of the Cap that was given to Cardinal Odescalco upon the importunity of Donna Olimpia and of the opinion they have of him at the Court. Of the promotion of Monsignor Raggi to the Cardinalship of his comportment and what they thought of him at Court before his promotion Of Cardinal Maldachini his humour his promotion and other particulars of his life Of the promotion and Persecution of Cardinal Rhetz Of the ambition Cardinal Homodei had for the Cardinalship and of his virtues Of Cardinal Ottobuono and his qualities Of the Cardinal Imperial and his qualities Of Cardinal Borromeo and of his promotion Of Cardinal Santa Croce Of the Cardinal d'Hassia Of the Cardinal Charles Barbarino Of the Cardinal Spada Of Cardinal Albici Of Cardinal Aquaviva Of Cardinal Pio. Of Cardinal Gualtieri Of Cardinal Azolini and several particulars of the Cardinals aforesaid Of the number of Cardinals created by Pope Urban the eight Of the saying of a great Wit upon the number of those Cardinals Of the number of Cardinals created by Pope Innocent Of the principal end the Popes ought to have in the promotion of Cardinals Of the causes that render the Court of Rome so Majestick Of the opinion of a Tuscan Gentleman thereupon Of the glory wherewith Innocent began his promotions Of the Cardinal Princes created by Innocent the tenth Of the little inclination Urban had for the creation of Cardinal Princes and the disgust given to the creatures of Paul the fifth Of the zeal wherewith Alexander the seventh began his Papacy Of his intention at first to make many Cardinal Princes Of the discourse he held thereupon with his Domestiques Of the power given to Signour Majetta Ambassador from the Duke of Savoy Of the misery the Colledge is in at this present for not having a greater number of Cardinal Princes Of the great pleasure the Popes take at the news of the death of any Cardinal Of the Cardinals that are created by the Douzanes and oblig'd to follow the interest of the Nephews Of the cause why the Cardinal Princes do wear the Purple and of the great honour to receive it THE Magnificence of the Cardinalitial Colledge is so great and its splendor so immense the Cardinals themselves could not wish it to be greater The respect and observance that is paid them is very little different from what is given to Kings and in some things they exceed the condition of Princes Yet the Grandeur of the Sacred Colledge would have been much greater if after its first institution or at least after the multitude of Prerogatives conferr'd upon it by so many several Popes by whom it hath been inrich'd it had maintain'd and continu'd its antient virtue and decorum But I know not how it is come to pass that the Popes either repenting that they had rais'd the Cardinals to so high a pitch of magnificence or that they did not regard as it is too likely the pulique benefit of the Church postponing it to their own private interests It is sufficient that they have endeavour'd not the conservation or advancement of the Cardinalitial Majesty but the abasement and destruction of it and that two several wayes but one much more pernicious than the other The first is in having admitted into the Colledge persons of mean extraction and of as little virtue with which they are not able to cover in the least the baseness of their birth for certainly it would be a less evil had they either virtue or learning to attone for their natural defects Nor would this be so despicable and dishonourable for the reputation of the Colledge were the Caps given only to persons of mean extraction but the worst is they are conferr'd upon most infamous persons abounding with all wickedness and mischief and perhaps fitter for the Galleys than the Colledge The second is that the same Popes who with so many Bulls and Ordinances have ingâ—andiz'd the Colledge either forgetful of their former policy or blinded by some Mundane passion have for a certain
stopt by the mediation of the Venetian who taking up arms likewise constrain'd the Emperour to acknowledge Pope Alexander the true Successor of Saint Peter and after he had restor'd all those Cities and Lands which he had illegally usurp'd with all humility to kiss his Holinesses foot To the Articles of agreement betwixt the Pope and the Emperor there was one annext in which the Emperour renounc'd all the right of Election to which he pretended in the vacancy of the Chair obliging himself by Oath to leave the Election free to the Cardinals for the future For all this Alexander fail'd not to chastise some of those who had been of that schism so that some of those nine Cardinals which follow'd the interest of the Emperour dyed in despair seeing themselves bitterly persecuted by the Pope and those who had stuck to his party rewarded abundantly But Alexander besides that endeavoured what he could to ingrandize the Title of Cardinal and that they might more strongly preserve their faculty of Election he constituted a new form of Elections contrary to what was formerly by the majority of voices for till the time of this Pope it was sufficient to create one Pope if he had the advantage but of one voice But Alexander declar'd that no body should be admitted for Pope who had not two thirds of the votes of all the Cardinals then present at the Election which custome continues to this day After the death of Alexander the Cardinals continued in the creation of Popes for above sixty years that is from the creation of Lucius the 3d. who was Alexanders Successor to the time of Gregory the ninth in great quiet and tranquility and without any obstruction either from Emperour or people But the said Gregory being at wars with the Emperour Frederick about the year of our Lord 1239. the greatest part of the Cardinals were taken prisoners by the Emperours Army for which reason after the death of Gregory which happen'd in the year 1241. the Church was necessitated to remain without a Pastor the space of twenty months till that the Cardinals being by the intercession of several Princes discharg'd of their imprisonment assembled themselves as formerly for the creation of a Successor which was Innocent the 4th a Genoese call'd Simbaldo Fieschi before he was a person very well qualify'd chosen by common consent without any discrepancy of voices at all This Innocent was no sooner crown'd but he began to think of revenging the injury the Emperour had done to the Cardinals in keeping them prisoners so long In order to this he ordain'd a Councel should meet at Lyons and commanded that Frederick should be there present within so many days and because Fredericks Embassadors insisted upon longer time making it appear by good reasons that it was not possible to perform such a journey in the time that was assign'd The Pope being inraged at their answer declar'd the Emperour a contumacious and disobedient son of the universal Father and accordingly he Excommunicated him depriv'd him of his Imperial dignity declar'd him a Schismatick and having absolv'd them from their Oaths of Fidelity which they had given to the Emperour he excited all the Princes to depose him from his Empire and chose another in his place as it follow'd in effect Henry Landgrave of Turingia being elected presently after Frederick prepar'd himself both for defence and revenge but he dying the next year made an end of that quarrel In that Councel the Pope gave the Cardinal the Cap and red Mantle in token of their readiness to spend their blood in the service of the Church But to say the truth before they received the Red Cap there were several Cardinals that suffer'd Martyrdom But since the time they received it to this day there has not been so much as one so that we may believe the Cap took away their desire to be Martyrs The Lord Cardinals proceeded with great freedom and liberty in the Election of Popes being become absolutely soveraign in that affair They created several Popes with great satisfaction to all Christendom because they were chosen with great unanimity But by the death of Clement the fourth who dy'd at Viterbo the face of things was alter'd the Church to the great scandal of all Christians remaining two years without a Pastor because the Cardinals could not agree in the election of a Successor The Causes of so long a dissention are variously represented by several Historiografers but the chief were as follow The first and most forcible of all was the contrariety in the Natures of the Cardinals which were present at the Election at Viterbo who were 18 in number all obstinate and untractible and had sworn each of them never to yeild to his Companion in the least All of them believ'd themselves worthy of the Papacy and which was of most importance and gave the greatest delay to the Election every one negotiated for himself without speaking a word of other Pretenders so that it was not possible amongst eighteen several Competitors that they should come to any resolution But that impediment being remov'd in which the Cardinals continued obstinate for above ten months there arose another which lasted above a year and was the second occasion of the tediousness of the Election and that is the Cardinals were divided into two factions one of them Italians the other French these would have a Pope of their own Nation and the Italians would have him of theirs neither of them complying with the other and the number of the French being equal to the Italians there being no way to be found of gaining the two thirds of their Votes they remain'd whole weeks obstinate and doing nothing unless it were heaping dissention upon dissention The other reason was that this delay growing redious to the Princes and in particular to Philip King of France and Charles King of Sicily these two Princes resolv'd to come in person to Viterbo and sollicite the Cardinals to expedite the creation of the Pope upon this occasion the Cardinals which were adherents to these two Crowns having notice of their resolutions would do nothing till they were arriv'd who when they did come serv'd for nothing but to protract the Election though their desire was to hasten it each of them recommending different persons But the Cardinals being resolute not to depend upon any body whatsoever lest they should again reduce themselves into subjection the Princes finding all their intercessions ineffectual return'd as they came leaving the whole business to the Cardinals In the first Assembly after the Kings were departed John Cardinal of Porto observing the pertinacity of the Cardinals whilst they were together inv 〈…〉 the Holy Ghost cry'd out publiquely and with a loud voice Let us uncover my Lords the 〈…〉 Chamber perhaps the holy spirit will not come where we are thorow â—o 〈…〉 it would be necessary to have a Holy Ghost for every one seeing there is no two will agree The Holy
not endure to have it mention'd upon any occasion Alexander the seventh was not well pleas'd neither to see him cheek by jowle amongst so many select persons and therefore gave himself over to use him ill sending him away without any respect to a place that was a greater distance from Rome but the rest of the Cardinals looking upon the misusage of his person as a reflection upon the Order in general they made their complaint to his Holiness and he was immediately set at liberty Donna Olimpia perswaded him to espouse the interest of Spain which he did but finding by degrees the little esteem the Spaniards had for him by their several times neglecting to call him to their Assemblies in which the intrigues of that Court were transacted and all because they knew he had not judgement enough to give them any Councel he turn'd to the French who receiv'd him very readily if for no other reason to secure his voice in the Conclave And this is certain his negotiating with the French has not a little instructed him in his Complements it being the general observation of the Court that since his Voyage into France he is grown much more conversable than formerly In the last Conclave of Rospigliosi he suffer'd himself to be transported into some expressions rather dictated to him than spoken by him against the Spaniards The Spaniards were nettled and bit their thumbs as the Italians use to do in private though in publick they seem'd but to laugh at it Some say the Spanish Ambassador having notice of it from one of the Conclave who being no great friend of Maldachini's had told the story a little too sharply reply'd laughing The voice of an Ass reaches not to Heaven which coming likewise to Maldachini's ears displeas'd him exceedingly so that he fell a railing against all that belong'd to Spain which the Spaniards likewise understanding for the Spyes in Rome will not fail to do that good office to mortifie and rebuke him they resolv'd to stop the Rents of those Abbeys and Benefices that he held in the Kingdom of Naples and other Catholick States and he finding himself in this manner necessitated to renounce has within few months resign'd three Abbeys into the hands of the Pope one of which is given to Monsignor Strada the second to Monsignor Polini both of them of the Privy-Chamber and the third to a Son of the Marquess Astalli Nephew to the Cardinal aforesaid whose Father is of the Faction of Spain In short I would not swear this Cardinal should not be Pope if there was need of nothing but his own single voice but otherwise I fear he will dye without it GIO. FRANCISCO GONDI a Frenchman call'd Cardinal di Retz he was promoted to the Cardinalship the 19th of February in the year 1652. at the instance of the King of France with whom he was afterwards disgusted having receiv'd some considerable affronts though he was Archbishop of Paris The Court cry'd out exceedingly against Mazarine who govern'd all at that time and was the principal cause of the persecuting this person and that upon good grounds The Ecclesiasticks pretended that the greatest Princes that are cannot repress the power of a Cardinal when they are treating of matters of State no though the Cardinals be contriving the ruine or disturbance of the Publique Peace But this is a doctrine the Princes do but laugh at and amongst the rest the Kings of France who upon any such occasion do fly presently to their Gallican Rites It was strange to Innocent that after the Crown of France had with so much instance and importunity recommended this person to be promoted and after he was advanc'd to so honourable a Dignity he should be slighted and ill used immediately by the same Crown of which he made frequent complaints to Mazarine who wanted not his pretences to excuse them However the Politicians look'd upon it as a great over-sight in Mazarine to present that person to the Cardinalship without pre-considering what might follow and indeed they that understood the Spirit of the man inclin'd alwayes to disturb and perplex the quiet of his Superiours were much scandaliz'd to see Mazarine instead of keeping him at a distance by some politick pretence to endeavour to make him equal in Dignity to himself and by consequence to give him greater opportunity and encouragement to undertake what in effect he did enterprize But Mazarine was oblig'd to do what he did for private and occult reasons not imagining the said person could have been able to have kindled so great a Conflagration as he did The timid though unquiet Nature with which he observ'd Gondi to be govern'd perswaded him that he was not to be parted from that Country where he manag'd all so as the judgement of so great a Head-piece as Mazarine is many times deceiv'd he finding by experience that the most timerous man if back'd and supported grows most troublesome and ambitious The Spaniards endeavour'd what they could to fetch over this Cardinal to their party promising him as is reported much more than he could hope for in France but he that had his aim upon France and not upon Spain kept himself close to the interest of that Crown demonstrating upon several occasions that his adherance to the Male-contents was not from any animosity to that Kingdom but only from a desire to humble the fortunes of Cardinal Mazarine At the time that accident happen'd to the Duke of Crequy in Rome which was the twentieth of August 63. amongst all the Cardinals there was none that stuck so zealously to the French party as he to the admiration of every body that a person that had been turn'd out of his Church and other Benefices had been imprison'd persecuted and banish'd should appear with such ardour in defence of that interest that was the cause of his troubles and which is worse resolv'd never to readmit him to the Dignities he had lost But his proceedings in this point were prudent enough for having voluntarily disoblig'd his Most Christian Majesty it was but reason he should be voluntarily oblig'd And the King of France unwilling to let the constancy or generosity of Retz with which he maintain'd the just Priviledges of his Crown to go unrewarded he admitted him again into his favour which he enjoys to this day but with some conditional limitations as retaining still in his mind the prejudice he did formerly to the Crown though he often declar'd that all his designs were against Mazarine LVIGI HOMODEI from his very first entrance into the Prelacy had an ambitious hankering after a Cap and it cost him and his Family no small quantity of money before he did compass his ends It was thought very strange his Family being like to extinguish for want of Heirs that he would suffer it to perish rather than marry it is reported that a friend of his advising him to marry he reply'd That he had higher thoughts However things have
however they gain'd but little upon him their discourses being only in general terms It is not known what good success he would have had in the management of the Congregations because he stay'd not long in Rome after the assumption of Clement the ninth being immediately sent Legat to Romagna where he order'd his affairs with great regularity and justice but 't is suppos'd he would have done very well because he is a person of sound judgement modest in his opinion and one that will give both God and Caesar their due which is as much as to say he is both a good States-man and a good Church-man too and would be much better were he not addicted so much to the benefit of his own Family GIVLIO SPINOLA a Genoese is a person of excellent parts generous magnanimous and full of civility and meekness he is an enemy to prodigality yet loves not covetousness the darling of his Country-men He arriv'ed at the Prelacy though he was otherwise deserving enough by the ordinary way of the Genoeses who have taken an oath as it were to buy all the offices that are to be sold in Rome by the Church In his very first imployments he express'd himself a person of worth and indeed he is not a little learned nor a little conversant amongst learned men his delight is to be discoursing amongst such as are experienc'd in Politicks and Ecclesiastical affairs observing with great diligence which way he may make the most profit of them and this he loves as his Recreations In his youth he was not so chast altogether as he should have been having suffer'd himself to be carry'd away too much with the love of Women to the scandal of all that had affection for him but since he took the habit of a Prelate upon him he has been more circumspect and if he has not girt himself so close with the girdle of Chastity as he ought yet he has brought himself to so formal and exterior modesty and so seeming a prudence in covering those frailties which cannot be forsaken by those that carry them along with them that at present he is esteem'd chast whether he be so or no. He being a person descended from a Family so famous through all Europe in several respects particularly in consideration of the Marquiss Spinola the great Captain and Cardinal Agostino Spinola a most noble person and very beneficial to the poor had no great difficulty to obtain a reputation at Court which every body is ambitious of at Rome many people admir'd rather that he was imploy'd no sooner in more considerable affairs seeing that to the Nobility of his Birth he wanted not the good endowments of mind Alexander having experienc'd him in some intricate business and found him a person of worth he sent him Nuntio into Germany in Caraffa's place who was created Cardinal In which he comported himself so well to the satisfaction both of the Emperour and Pope especially in matters of Religion and the differences betwixt the Catholick and Protestant that in the last Promotion of Pope Alexander he deservedly obtain'd a Cap and a while after he left the Imperial Court to be present at the Conclave in Rome His voice will alwayes be in favour of the house of Austria as well from his natural inclination as from the obligations the Family of Spinola has alwayes receiv'd from the Catholick Crown from whence it acknowledges the greatest part of its fortunes He delights much in walking in Comedyes and Balls and perhaps his dignity has alter'd his humours however he is assiduous enough in business and is very sincere and affectionate in what eyer he undertakes he is very apt to be angry if things succeed not according to his designs he looks closely enough to the people of his Court and allows them not such latitude as other Prelates and Cardinals do allow to their Courts 'T is suppos'd he would do very well in the management of some Legation which he might have if there was any regard had of the desert of a person but in those cases the Popes aim no further than to satisfie them they are pleas'd with not those that deserve it He uses great prudence in gaining upon such Princes Ministers as are resident in Rome and speaks of the merit of his Countrey so as gives occasion of jealousie to all that envy them VITALIANO VISCONTI of Milan is a Gentleman of an illustrious Family and descended from the antient Dukes of Milan He devotes himself to the service of the Church that sometime or other he may come to the Cardinalship for which he had alwayes a particular fancy His friends did what they could to have perswaded him to the Warrs but he lik'd the Cross better as that which brings ordinarily more profit more honour and less danger The beginning of his Prelacy was not so successful as he look'd for so that he was often changing his profession being weary as he said to see things go on so slowly but he had no reason for he thought honours would have been shower'd down upon his head though it came as fast as he could reasonably expect Pope Alexander who had the first occasion to try him in matters of trust did it in his Papacy honouring and loading him with offices till that when Monsignour Bonelli that was Nuntio in Spain was created Cardinal he gave that Nuntiature to Visconti though there were others that put hard for it But the Pope who knew well enough the merits of the cause declar'd Visconti Nuntio at one blow satisfying his own inclination and the Spaniards too who were not displeas'd to have for their Nuntio a Prelate not only born their Subject but bound by many obligations to the Catholick Crown In this Nuntiature which lasted but three years Philip the fourth King of Spain dy'd upon which occasion the Nuntio shew'd himself both a faithfull Pastor and a great Politician assisting in many things with favour to the Church and without any prejudice to the Crown of Spain Before he ended his dayes Alexander thought good to promote him to the Cardinalship as well to recompence his services to the Church as that he might not see so honourable a Family without the dignity of a Cardinal which had had heretofore the Soveraignty of Milan From the advice of his Promotion resolv'd to the news of the unhappy and dying condition of the Pope there were but few dayes past so that either out of his own desire to be in the Conclave or otherwise to comply with the importunity of the Spanish Ambassador at Rome who press'd him earnestly to make hast that the Spanish interest might be made stronger thereby he resolv'd to take Post and make his journey by land But the Counsel of Madrid would not admit his Auditor to propose it and therefore he was forc'd to stay in Spain and expect new orders from the new Pope with great disgust to the Ambassador at Rome The Spaniards caress him much
Cardinal cry'd out as loud as they could some of them long may Rotomagensis live others long may the Genoese and others the Medanese So that it was not known which of them was Pope a thing very displeasing to the said Cardinals who began to curse those who were the occasion of their exclusion as receiving no ordinary disturbance from so unusual an affront The people were obstreperous and in a tumult but when they were assured Cardinal Aeneas Piccolomini was the person which was plac'd in the Chair of Saint Peter as universal Father and Governour of the Church they immediately laid down the arms they had taken up to satisfie their vehemence and passion having no confidence but in their sword and the face of the City was alter'd in a moment so that that City which a little before seem'd dedicated to Mars in the twinkling of an eye became I will not say the City of Venus the Mother of the Trojan Aeneas but a Paradice of Peace and an Epitomy of tranquility which every one expected from the Exaltation of such a Pope This Election was generally to the satisfaction of all the Princes of Christendom particularly Ferdinand King of Sicily was very well pleas'd to see so good a friend of his Fathers admitted to the Government of the Church Borso Duke of Modena was so much over-joyed at this Election of Pius as one with whom he had a mutual correspondence and friendship from the time he obtain'd that Dukedom from Frederick the Emperour in which concession also Aeneas had been instrumental that in testimony of his congratulation he made Tournements or Tiltings hoping under his Pontificate to meliorate his fortune and augment his Estate To that end in Ferrara and in all other places of his Dominion he commanded solemn Festivals to be kept for the Election of that Pope which the people fail'd not to observe Francis Sforza Duke of Milan though perhaps his wishes were to have seen another Pope nevertheless understanding Aeneas was Elected he made his expressions of joy having receiv'd him honourably in his own lodgings in Milan and treated him with great generosity a little before his Election The Marquesses of Mantoa Monâ—â—rrat and Salussi who were all Aeneas his great friends were very much pleas'd and order'd their Subjects to make demonstration of their joy The Venetians and the Florentines were the only people dissatisfied with this Election the Florentine from a natural fear and animosity they had to the Sieneses their Neighbours with whom they had frequent disputes about their Confines took so great a disgust at the assumption of Aeneas that as he was walking in the Street and saluted by those which met him with a Dio vi salvi they reply'd with great contumacy ci salvera perche no the Venetian likewise had no great correspondence with him yet for all that both the one and other dispatch'd most sumptuous Embassies to him to congratulate and pay him the usual obedience The Nobility of Siena being jealous of the house of Piccolomini as well for other considerable respects as for fear the Pope should usurp upon the liberty of the City and make it a Principality hereditary to his own Family receiv'd but little delight at the news of Aeneas his Election However the generallity of the people seeing a fellow Citizen of theirs exalted above the Cardinals of all other Cities celebrated his Eâ—ection for several days with bone-fires and such other transcendant Expressions of their joy as seem'd madness and extravagance as commonly most of your popular solemnities are But that which was most remarkable and most for the glory and reputation of the Pope was that almost all the Barons of Rome assembled themselves on horseback to Congratulate and on the 28 of August about shutting in of the Evening they made a solemn Cavalcade every one with his lighted Torch in his hand attended with a great number of Lacqueys and Grooms with Torches likewise which train being disposed into order extended all along from the Castle of Saint Angelo to the Church of Saint Peter The Ceremony was so Pompous his Holiness stood at the Window all the while to behold so illustrious a spectacle design'd and dedicated to the honour of his Exaltation But above all the Princes of Christendom Frederick the Emperour was the most satisfied and not without reason because it was by his instance and mediation Aeneas was made a Cardinal and therefore transported with joy he not only dispatch'd Ambassadors to congratulate his Creation but he commanded Justs and Tiltings to be celebrated for several days The King of Spain did the same and indeed all the Princes of Christendom except the Kings of France of Scotland of Denmark of Poland Hungary and Cyprus who for several reasons had no great opinion of that Election But all the rest of the world I mean of Christendome were glad I will not omit though I shall mention it but by the way to remember the great zeal this Pope exprest towards the recovery of the Holy Land especially when he saw the Turk had got possession of Greece and Sclavonia it brought tears of compassion from his Eyes as oft as he heard of the miseries which the poor Christians suffered who were under the Dominion I may say Bondage of the Barbarians This zeal carry'd him in person to the Councel of Mantua in which he negotiated the cause of Christ so well with his most excellent eloquence that all the Cardinals and Fathers concluded that enterprise into the East was necessary in which he confaederated with the King of Hungary the Venetian and the Duke of Burgundie as knowing those Princes most dispos'd to so sacred a work against which all good Popes ought principally to bend their whole power and designs and lay aside deprive themselves of their passion to their Nephews rather than see the Church ruin'd by its barbarous Enemies Pius sent his Legates about through all Christendome injoyning the Bishops to excite and inanimate their Subjects to an expedition of that advantage and importance to the Church In the City of Siena as he was making his journey to Ancona he understood that Philip Duke of Burgundy who had promis'd to go himself with an numerous Army had chang'd his resolution and united with several other Princes and People as well Italians as strangers and out of envious and ambitious ends were using all possible means to divert others from so holy a design pretending and declaring that the consequence of that expedition could be nothing but certain danger and uncertain reward This news troubled his Holiness to the very soul so that he sent away Legates immediately to try if he could reduce them to more rational resolutions at least to sit still and not discourage others if they would do no good themselves From Siena he return'd to Rome upon some new occasion and afterwards departed again for Ancona in which Port the whole Christian Army was to Rendezvouz at least that of
those without in the custody of two principal Prelates so that neither these nor the other can open either gate or window unless they come all four together and when they are open'd there is a cloath drawn at some distance from the gate that they which are without can see nothing within The Captain of the first Guard is to have a care there be no insult or attempt made upon the Pallace and he sends Petrols of Souldiers constantly about to secure every place The Barons of the second guard suffer not any body to enter but at feeding times and then they are very curious that no intelligence be conveyed in The third are to obviate and oppose any outrage that may be made and the Prelates and those of the fourth Guard do see that there be nothing wanting which is necessary that no Letters nor Notes be sent in or out and examine the meat and the drink As soon as the Cardinals are shut up the Chamberlain with two Cardinals which he pleases to choose having lighted their Torches shall make diligent search through all places in the Conclave whether there be any remaining in the Conclave who are not deputed or allowed No person can enter into the Conclave upon the most urgent occasion whatsoever without license from the Colledge nor can a Cardinal that goes out come back again No body can go out as he pleases a Cardinal may be constrained by the Colledge not to go forth and if he does go without leave he must not be receiv'd again if he be not admitted de novo by the whole Colledge If a Cardinal arrives when the rest are enter'd he puts himself in the same condition in which he finds the Conclave and his Servants are to be sworn by the Chamberlain as the Servants of the other Cardinals were And last of all every body withdrawing this first day of the Conclave which is the 11th after the death of the Pope in the Chappel of Saint Nicholas which is at the upper end of the Royal Hall as aforesaid on the left hand towards the entrance the Chairs being plac'd and all people put at a distance by the Governour of the Conclave the Dean makes an Exhortation to these Lords and afterwards reads the Bulls of Julius the 2d and Pius the 4th which treat of this Election prescribe the order thereof and prohibite all Simoniacal and undue practises as also the Bull of Pius the 5th that the Goods of the Church cannot be alienated and which every Cardinal swears that if it happens he shall be created Pope he will observe strictly and confirm as soon as he is Crown'd There are other Orders made as they please they swear to keep secret the transactions and argumentations they promise their Conclavists their Priviledges they enter into discourses about the person they think proper for a Charge that makes even the Angels tremble at the weight of it And almost alwayes the first day of the Conclave is spent in these kind of things without coming to an Election which is perform'd afterwards with more leisure and opportunity for the most part by Scrutiny or Adoration There are many other Ceremonies and particularities partly hinted and partly omitted by me as well because they have been described by several Authors already as also to avoid being tedious to the Reader in obvious things and such as are common to every body that make profession to enquire into the interests of the Court of Rome It is sufficient that I have selected the most curious matters seeing that many are moved by their meer curiosity in that which regards their information of the affairs of Rome and particularly of the interests of the Conclaves in general and of this Conclave in particular Il CARDINALISMO di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF CARDINALS In III. Parts PART III. BOOK III. The Contents In which is discours'd of the difference betwixt the Election of the Pope and of the Emperor Of some particulars which render the Election of the Pope difficult in the Conclave Of the time the Papable Cardinals had to negotiate their interests in the long languishing of Alexander the 7th Of the great fear some Cardinals were in of not arriving time enough in Rome for the Election of a new Pope Of Cardinal Rosetti's distrusting the infirmities of Alexander the 7th and the cause Of an answer which Alexander gave to Cardinal Barbarino after his recovery from his infirmity Of the Reasons that moved the French Cardinals to mend their paces to come in time to the Conclave Of the arrival of the Marquiss di San Romano the Catholick Kings Ambassador Of the diligence used by the French in sifting and investigating the transactions of the Spaniards Of the arrival of Cardinal Grimaldi in Rome Of the great broyls and contests amongst the Cardinals about obtaining the Papacy whilst the Pope was yet alive Of the Spyes the Spanish Ambassador kept Of the apprehension Chigi had that his Creatures would be perverted by the French and Spaniard Of a Letter writ by Chigi to the Cardinal Gabriele Of the great fault the Court found with Chigi for alienating Cardinal Nini from his devotion Of the reconciliation of these two persons by the mediation of Cardinal Rasponi and Corsini Of the Assembly that was in the House of Cardinal Albici to treat of the Papacy Of the great train of Followers that was most eminently visible in the Houses of Cardinal Rospigliosi and Farnese as persons which were esteem'd nearest to the Papacy Of the practises which Cardinal Imperiale began in the behalf of Bonelli his Kinsman Of the death and funeral of Pope Alexander Of the passage of the Chamberlain to the Apostolical Palace Of certain villanies committed at the windows and doors of Chigi's Palace Of the great number of Gabels impos'd by Alexander Of the Obsequies perform'd for the said Pope Of the difference betwixt certain Cardinals for place Of the Conclave Of the number of Lodgings in the Palace of the Vatican Of the great silence and taciturnity which was observ'd in Cardinal Chigi Of an Oration made in a Congregation by the French Ambassadors and the Venetian Of the alienation shew'd by Alexander from the French interest towards his latter dayes Of several persons which believ'd that Cardinal Chigi to gain the favour of the King of France would condescend to the Election of a French Pope Of the number of Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave Of those Cardinals who remain'd without Of the qualities merits and adherences of the Papable Cardinals Of the answer one Cardinal gave to another who ask'd him his judgement about the Election of a new Pope Of the facilities and contradictions in the Election of Rospigliosi Of the division of the Cardinals in the Conclave Of the great Faction the Barbarini had after the death of Urban the 8th Of the weakness of the Faction of the Barbarini Of the number of Urban's Creatures which were present in the Conclave
to be of a turbulent head and a pungent if not virulent tongue In short though in all the rest there were some visible hopes of Exaltation to be found yet in this Cardinal there was not the least spark or inclination to be discover'd first because he was abominated by the Spaniards as a person of too deep a reach for 't is a maxim amongst them to have a care of such persons as by the greatness of their parts or designs may disturb the present quiet of Italy during the minority of their King Some people believe that for the same reasons for which the Spaniards hated him the French lov'd him but yet with very good Policy he was but little or not at all mention'd in the Conclave The other impediment was a pique Chigi had taken against him Albici having been always an enemy to his Government murmuring continually against it as well in publick as in private Cardinal Chigi for all that dissembled it very well yet he could not contain from saying one day to a friend of Albici's who recommended him to him for a Pope but he spake as by the by That when he gave his voice for Albici there should not be another Cardinal in the Colledge These following Memoires of this Cardinal came too late to my hands to put them into my second Part which indeed was their proper place but coming from a good hand I have chosen rather to insert them here than to suffer them to be lost I desire the Reader therefore would compare what is written of this Cardinal in the second Part with what follows Francesco Cardinal of Albici was born in Cesenna the 25th of October 1593. he is descended of Albici's in Florence a person of great learning in all kinds of Sciences but in the Law and Ecclesiastical History he has but few equals in this age He is so great a lover of Justice that when he was young and exercising his Advocateship in Cesenna because he would not do that which was unjust he was forc'd to fly to avoid the mischief which was threatned to him by the person which desir'd to have had sentence in his favour contrary to Law and Justice Upon this occasion he came to Rome where he exercis'd his profession with great applause Monsignour Monti a Milanese being declar'd Nuntio of Naples by Vrban the eight the advocate Albici was propos'd to Cardinal Francisco Barbarino to be Auditor of the said Nuntiature Monsignour Meltio Lieutenant to A. C. who was a Cardinal afterwards was desir'd to give his Character of him which he did so much to his advantage that he was sent to Naples and afterwards into Spain with the said Monti where he carry'd himself with great commendation after three years he was call'd back again to Rome by Vrban made Assessor of the S. Office and sent with Monsignour Macchiavelli Assistant into Germany to Cardinal Ginetti who went Legate a Latere from Vrban the eighth There was some unkindness betwixt the said Legate and Albici by reason of the sordidness wherewith the Legate used all his attendants in his Legation Whilst he was in Germany the charge of Assessor dâ—l S. Officio was kept voyd and restor'd to him at his return to Rome Vrban at the request of D. Anna Colonna gave him the Canonship of Saint Peter and amongst the rest of the favours which he did him he declar'd himself his Kinsman upon occasion of a Marriage betwixt one of the house of Barbarino and a Lady of the Albici's He had thoughts of making him a Cardinal if death had not prevented his making another promotion He was afterwards made a Cardinal by Innocent the tenth for the pains he took in the cause of Jansenius condemn'd by Innocent although his Emulators whisper'd about the Court that he was created only to obstruct the Assumption of Cardinal Fiorenzuola to the Papacy But that report could not continue long it being well known what joy the whole Court and all the Princes had at his Promotion and amongst the rest there was a Prince who congratulated with his Eminence that by his bare merits without Bribery or Subornation he had attain'd to the dignity of the Purple At that time he was the only Instrument that made Alexander the 7th Secretary of State at Colonia as appears in a book Printed by the said Pope before his Ascension to the Papacy in which he has inserted one of the many secrets which were writ to him by Albici and after the said Chigi was made a Cardinal he omitted not any thing that might contribute to the assumption of his friend to the Papacy gratitude and friendship being one of his most singular virtues and amongst other of his policies he express'd more than ordinary civilities to a Kinsman of Alexander who did not return that gratitude which such a friend did deserve only in the latter part of his Pontificate upon the instance of Cardinal Chigi his Nephew who knew very well the affection of such a friend deserv'd a greater recompence than this he made one of his Nephews resign the Title of an Abbey to him and this obligation he owed not to the Pope but to his Nephew The Cardinal is of a good complection and lusty though he be in the 75th year of his age He is courteous in his Speech a lover of Poverty indifferent as to the Princes for being ask'd one day by Cardinal Aragon whether he was French or Spaniard he reply'd That where Justice was thore were his inclinations He is belov'd of the Cardinals but it is for fear he is resolute and studious enough At present he has four Nephews Sons of his Son first the Abbot Rinaldo then Nicolo a Layman marryed to a Daughter of the Marquess Calcagnini of Ferrara the next is Lutio Arroni a youth of many good qualities and lastly Logo an Abbot He uses his Pen very willingly in defence of such as are accused as he did in the Papacy of Innocent the 10th in behalf of Horatio Falconieri for which being reprehended by a Prelate who was his friend he reply'd That it was Justice that he defended That he could not abandon his friend in his distress That such was his practice formerly and such it should be for the time to come In the Pontificate of Alexander he made several Sermons which by several were interpreted as intended against the Government of Alexander and being rebuk'd for it by some of his Relations he gave one of them this answer That Pulpits were invented for the reprehension not for the incouragement of Vice He is a person of a quick resolution and 〈…〉 Upon an occasion in the time of Alexander the 7th who fram'd a Congrega 〈…〉 for adjâ—sâ—ing the matters of Ceremony betwixt the Cardinals and Roman Barons by 〈…〉 〈…〉 ey were grown but little consider'd this Cardinal said If I were to advise his Holiness I would tell him that he ought first to set a value upon the Cardinals and when