pretext of rebellion a little before the rising of that people for that there were many saddles armes and much ammunition found in his Castles which he possessed in the Province of Abruzzo and whilst all things seemed to be composed and that he was ready to be absolved and set at libertie a new conspiracie of divers Princes and Barons of the Kingdom of Naples against the Catholique King was discovered amongst whom the Prince of Gallicano was included for a certain Neapoletan Apostate Theatin named Andrea Paolucci being intercepted and apprehended with letters about him to several Neapolitan Lords from France and put to the torture named many and in particular the said Prince of Gallicano The Constable also brother to the Cardinal was not long since at such time as Gallicano was a prisoner summoned by the Vice-Roy to come to Naples and he put himself in the way to have gone thither but in the midst of his journey he returned and in his stead sent a gentleman of his family to feign that he was so indisposed in his health as he could not come himself for had he gone in person I am perswaded he likewise would have fallen into the same labyrinth This House hath ever been devoted to that of Austria and the present Cardinal will alwaies be of the Spanish faction if disgusts do not arise from new discoveries He is a haughty Lord and very sensible insomuch as he was for a good while distasted with the old Cardinal de Medici about precedence but the differences between them were composed by Innocent the tenth immediately upon his creation XXII Cirriaco Rocci CIrriaco Rocci a Roman his Original descent was from the City of Cremona in the state of Milan He was a Prelate sent Nuntio by Urban the eighth to the Emperors Majestie after which he promoted him to the Scarlet Gown This Cardinal in not very intelligent but seeemes to know much he is an old man pretends greatly to the Papacie and is not ashamed to speak of it to every one promising in that case Dignities Graces and Favors In the last Conclave he indeavoured much for his exaltation thereunto reposing all his hopes in the hands of Cardinal Spada his kinsman but for all that he would not propound him knowing full well that for his respect he would have been excluded and so he should have had his fortune discomposed for the future as the Barberini did in the person of Sachetti and the reason of it is that if Rocci were Pope the said Cardinal Spada would command all who is not much desired of any and in particular abhorred of the Barberini because they know him to be of a too stirring and fantastical a humor He hath one Nephew that is the Abbot Rocci who would be he that should reign but in regard of his young years he would not be fit for the Government He is a very affable Lord of a good life and most devoted to the House of Austria making open profession thereof wherefore he will alwaies be Spanish though he be the Barberinies creature He is well regarded of the present Pope Innocent the tenth XXIV Giovanni Battista Palotta GIovanni Battista Palotta is of an honest family of the little Country of Calderola nella Marca He is Nephew to the late Cardinal Palotta unto whom he is no way inferior and is well accommodated with the goods of fortune for the Cardinal his Uncle left him a great estate Having put himself into the Prelacie he was by Urban the eighth exercised in divers Charges and in particular was made Lord Governor of Rome wherein he carried himself with much integrity and to the great satisfaction of the people being severe and so upright that in point of justice he made no reckoning of his Holiness Nephewes For whereas it was the custome a little before the Carnival time to make proclamation that no woman whatsoever should during the said Carnival goe thorough the Course masked on pain of being whipped or suffring some such other punishment as to the Governor should seem meet the famous Checa Buffona was seen going in that time thorough the Course masked and albeit she was oftentimes admonished to forbear doing so yet would she not desist Whereat Palotta being displeased caused her suddainly to be imprisoned and then having ordained that she should be publiquely whipped thorough the City to avoid the intercessions that might be made to him in her behalf he shut himself up in his Cabinet and gave order to his servants not to come at him or disturb him during the space of two houres for any cause or message whatsoever but that they should in the mean time entertain those that came to speak with him whereupon arrived a Gentleman from Cardinal Antonio who kept a great coil to speak with the said Palotta the Governor but he was put of with good words untill the prefixed time was past and then he was admitted to the presence of the Governor unto whom he brought an order from Cardinal Antonio for the speedy setting at liberty of the said Checa Buffona Palotta answered that his Eminencie should be obeyed and presently made a Warrant for the releasing of her out of prison but when it came thither Checa had already been whipped thorough the City which Antonio understanding took on like a mad man and mightily threatned to be revenged Palotta foreseeing the danger he was likely to incur acquainted the Pope with the business who commended him for that he had done but his Holinesse knowing well that Antonio was wreakful and vindicative to take away the inconvenience that might arise upon that occasion deprived Palotta of his Government and sent him Collector into the Kingdome of Portugal where having remained some months he took upon him to maintain certain Eccesiastical jurisdictions and excommunicated all the Royal Councell of the City of Lisbon for which he was forced to leape out of a window to save himself by flight towards Rome and there being arrived he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown for divers respects The first was for the merit of his labors his Holiness knowing him to be a man of great abilities and knowledge and the second for to shield him from the malice of Antonio who for all that together with his brother Francesco hath given him hundreds of disgusts continually contrarying him in the cause and suite depending between the General of the Augustinian Order and the said Palotta who desired to have chastised him for divers misdemeanors committed by him in his place and Antonio to crosse Palotta protected and defended him and in the end to despight him got him by an Apostolical brieve to be confirmed in the Generalship for seaven years more besides many other abuses no way deserved by the said Cardinal who is a person capable of the Papacie and Rome would be happy if he should come to be Pope that so it might see the pride of the Barberini brought down If he lives
Lodovisio Nevertheless at this present the French having deprived the Prince Lodovisio of the Principalitie of Piombino the said Orsini indeavour all that ever they may to obtain it for that the Duke of Braccianoes Wife is of the Appian house from whom the Spaniards formerly took away the said Principalitie and sold it to the Prince Lodovisio for the sum of five hundred thousand Crownes being worth threescore thousand a year The Orsini were heretofore devoted to the house of Austria but now have declared themselves French insomuch that the Duke of Bracciano and the Cardinal have set up the Armes of the most Christian King from whom they have a Pension of two and twenty thousand Crownes a year besides the Duke of Bracciano continually expects the Brieve of the. Investiture of Piombino For which cause it is believed that the friendship and familiaritie which hath been between Innocent the tenth and them will turn into hatred and difference and all-ready there is a beginning thereof for his holiness hath caused the Duke of Bracciano to be cited to make payment of his debts to the Montisti his Creditors otherwise threatning to make sale of his goods to satisfie them This Cardinal is a man proud enough and for matter of precedence he by making stay of his Caroach affronted ill intreated the family of the Resident of the deceased Queen Mother Maria de Medici He is a Lord full of resentment and Vindicative and therefore is feared in the Court and reverenced in the Colledge XXXVII Giulio Gabrielli GIulio Gabrielli a Roman Nobleman he was Clerk of the Chamber and was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by Urban the eighth for the making of mony by sale of that Office and afterwards was sent as it were in exile unto a miserable Bishoprick charged with pensions in the City of Ascoli the greatest part of his meanes he acknowledgeth from the house of Lancelloti He hath received many disgusts from Barberino yet can he not for all that separate himself from him He seemes to be devoted to the house of Austria but is internally French He is an intelligent man studious curious and affable in his dealing He is a poor Cardinal and therefore give not much almes He is but young in regard whereof nothing is to be said of him concerning the Papacie He is well qualified leades a retired life hath no enemies in the sacred Colledge and in the Court carries a good port he hath some Nephewes which are of no ill condition He is a kinne to divers Noble Roman Families and in particular to the Altieri Lancelloti and Coccini This Cardinal hath in his Bishoprick been at some variance with the people thereof insomuch that they rose up tumultuously against him about some taxes imposed by him upon them XXXVIII Ascanio Filomarini AScanio Filomarini a Neapolitan Cavalier born in a little Village subject to Benevento called Chianchisella He was so poor that to repair the miserie he was in he resolved to goe and serve some Cardinal in the Court of Rome where being arrived he addressed himself to a Cardinal his Countriman and friend to the end that with his authoritie he might be preferred to the place of Master of the Chamber to some person that was capable of the Papacie but he to gull him rather then otherwise recommended him to Barberino that was not in a predicament of being Pope who entertained him for Master of his Chamber and it was his fortune to have the same inclination that his Lord had both of them delighted in Astrologie for which cause Maffeo carried the greater affection unto him In processe of time Gregory the fifteenth hapned to die and after long contestation in the Conclave amongst the Cardinals of several 〈◊〉 factions they elected the said Maffeo Barberino for Pope by the name of Urban the eighth who after he had promoted Francesco Barberino his Nephew to the Scarlet Gown appointed the said Fidomarini to be his superintendant with the Title of Master of his Chamber and authoritie to wear purple in regard Francesco was by reason of his youth too unapt and not fit for the Government Barberino some time being past not able longer to endure to see himself under the charge of the Master of his Chamber began to withdraw himself from it with the greatest arrogancie that might be and had indeed driven him out of his Court had it not been for the Pope his Uncle who protected him howsoever he would not make use of him in any thing but about the Chamber Filomarini having served the Popes house for the space of ten years resolved to trie his fortune to see if he could get the Scarlet Gown because it had been often promised to him by his holinesse but it little availed him wherefore when he saw that the Pope had made many promotions and that he was still excluded he began to fall from the hope which continually he had of it The truth is that Urban had an intent to promote him but he was by Francesco with a malicious policie kept from it for he would say to his holiness Father Filomarini is to me a right hand for the Government of my affairs and I shall not be able to meet with such another as he is wherefore you may be pleased to preferre him some other time and this he did alwaies at such time as the promotions were to be made more for the hate that he bore him then for any other end hoping that by meanes of this suspension his Uncle comming to die he should not see a servant of his exalted to the same Dignitie that he was in The Arch-bishoprick of Naples becomming void by the death of the Cardinal Buoncompagno Filomarini seeing that four and twenty years were already past and he had not been remunerated with any thing determined to craveit for a reward of his labors as indeed he did saying Blessed Father I have long served your Holinesse and your House and never had any occasion to demand any grace of you till now that the Church of Naples is void which I humbly beseech your Holinesse to bestow on me And this he spake even with tears in his eyes because he had lost all hope of the Scarlet Gown the Pope to make himself merry with him answered him thus This is not a morsell for you my Ascanio but for a Cardinal and wee have already so destinaled it Which Filomarini hearing made no reply but shrinking up his shoulders took his leave Not long after this Urban communicated unto Francesco the promotion of the Cardinals which he meant to make and in particular of Filomarini but Francesco having used all the perswasions he might to divert him from it and not prevailing resolved to give him all the disgusts in the mean time that possibly he could and for a beginning one day when Barberino was going forth into the City Filomarini brought his cloak as he was wont to put it on him but Francesco in a rage
THE SCARLET GOWN Or the HISTORY Of all the present CARDINALS OF ROME Wherein is set forth the LIFE BIRTH Interest Possibility rich Offices Dignities and charges of every Cardinal now living Also their Merits Vertues and Vices Together with the cariage of the POPE and Court of ROME Written originally in Italian and translated into English by H. C. Gent. LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his shop at the Prince's Armes in St Pauls Church-yard 1653. A CARDINAL in his HABIT as hee sitts in the CONSISTORY J. Cross Sculpsit To the Right Honorable and every way Noble Lord John EARLE OF RVTLAND Lord Rosse of Hamlake Trusbut and Belvoire My LORD THis small Treatise which I have presumed to recommend unto the world under your Honours Patronage besides the noveltie of the subject so little or not at all touched upon in any Booke at leastwise that I have seen speaking our Tongue cannot be but well received as I conceive by all such as any way pretend to the knowledge of forraigne affaires both for that it treates of so principall and active a body and society of men as that of the Colledge of Cadinalls Princes Fellowes as they are reputed and the greate Councell and Consistory of that mysterious Head the Pope of Rome as also because it discovers many particularities of the practique as wel in the elections of the said Cardinalls as likewise of their severall interests and hopes they may conceive to themselves of arriving one day at Peters Chaire and also what kind of Pope each of them is like to prove in case he should attaine to that honour Moreover I make no question but that it will be a very pleasing thing to most men to have such a lively character by them as my Author bere gives of every one of those Arch-politicians and Councellors who have such an influence into all the debates and results of that pragmatique Superintendent Court and Consistory which Lords and Lawes it or would willingly doe so over the whole world Of no lesse satisfaction too suppose I it will bee to see so clearely chalked out all the severall applications of all the Popish Princes and States especially of the two great Kings of France and Spaine by their Ministers ever Ledger about this Court to the most politique and powerfull of these Cardinals out-vying each other in the offer of pensions or indeavoring by the gift of spirituall dignities and preferments unto them to insure and ingage them as much as possible they may to the espousing the interests of that Crown for which they serve and yet what poore hold notwithstanding either of these Princes hath of them and how apt they are upon very slight motives to range themselves on the quite contrary faction is a matter not unworthy of observation These and severall other Remarques touching the now Cardinalls the Pope at this day regnant and his particular family are presented in this little Tract which I would willingly make my selfe beleeve will bee as delightfull to the judicious as it was pleasing to mee in the translating thereof As for common and perfunctory Readers I shall say as Antimachus Clarius said when in the very interim as he was reciting a peece which hee had made all but Plato left him unus mihi Plato instar multorum for so as your Honour be pleased to approve of and favorablely receive it the paines I have taken therein are abundantly satisfied what reception soever it may finde of others as having attained the maine end I proposed to my selfe in the publishing of it which was that it might be as acceptable to your Lordship as it is heartily desired it should bee by him who in all himble affection is My Lord Your Honours most devoted Servant Henry Cogan THE JUST WEIGHT OF THE Scarlet Gowns I. Giovanni Carlo de Medici THE Prince Giovanni Carlo de Medici is Brother to the great Duke of Toscan and Nephew to the Cardinal Carlo de Med ci at this day called the Cardinal of Toscan He was promoted by Innocent the tenth in the first Promotion together with his Holyness Nephew at the instance of the great Duke and the Cardinal aforesaid He is a Prince of no mean Understanding and an expert Souldier but more at Sea than on Land because he was for some time imployed in the charge of Generalissimo at Sea commanding the Catholique Fleets for which cause he alwaies hath been and will be most devoted to the House of Austria besides the open profession all his House makes thereof which live under the protection of that Crown He is a jovial Lord and loves Women a little too much He is by nature Covetous nothing Bountifull but rather Niggardly All the House of Medici is no great friend of the Family of the Barbarini for divers publique and private causes and in particular for the War made with those Princes to all the world known II. Domenico Cecchini DOmenico Cecchini a Roman Gentleman about fifty three years of age He hath been long a Prelate and alwayes held good correspondence with the Cardinal Pamphilio who coming to be Pope promoted him joyntly though he did not name him in the first Promotion but he was the first named in the second Before he was Cardinal his Holyness conferred upon him the charge of Datarie Apostolical an Office verily of great profit which he exercises still now that he is Cardinal He is a Learned man and well verst in the matters of the Court It is said that this Cardinal was promoted by his Holyness to gratifie him for some services he had done him in divers occurrences and particularly in the sute depending between the Marquess Giustiniano and his Father for that he had twice pronounced Sentence in favour of the Marquess Nephew to his Holyness besides several other causes for which he merited the Popes grace This personage is old but not enough for the Papacy He is a man Affable Prudent and repleat with Virtuous qualities In the time of his Prelateship he was alwaies accounted Just no notable defect being known in him When he was young he took some recreation but without scandal howbeit now that he is Cardinal he shews himself more lascivious although he thinks his secrets intelligences are not penetrated into whilst he is very much pleased with women He pretends enough unto the Papacy is well looked upon in the Court being loved and reverenced of all and maintains himself neutral III. Nicolò Albergati NIcolò Albergati of the Bolognese Nobility forty years of age He was Archbishop of Bologna which dignity was resigned unto him in the beginning of the Papacy of Innocent the tenth by the Cardinal Colonna being so charged with Pensions that of the great Revenues of that Church the poor Lord could hardly receive two thousand Crowns a year The Prince Lodovisio who took to Wife the Popes Niepce was desirous to have a Cardinal in his House for the new raising up the
memory of his decayed Family but because he had no Brothers nor other Kinsmen he besought his Holyness to grant him the grace to make the sayd Nicolò Albergati his Cousen by a Feminine line Cardinal and with a Brieve declare him Brother to his Excellency upon condition that he should call himself the Cardinal Lodivisio as accordingly his Holyness vouchsafed to gratifie him The said Prince is since dead without Heirs so that the Lodovisian Family remains extinct The Cardinal aforesaid is very poor and therefore is now relieved and lodged as the Prince's Brother in his house When as he was going to the residence of his Church the Pope ordained him to pass by Florence with the title of Legat Apostolical and there in the name of his Holyness to Christen a Son that was born to the great Duke in which voyage he was by him sumptuously entertained and afterwards at his departure from that City he was by his Highness presented with very fair and rich Hangings of Tapestry and his servants also with great gifts but when his Eminencie would in some sort have recompenced the same to his Highness Courtiers they were expresly forbidden by him from taking of any thing This Cardinal is of great understanding rarely qualified and of an holy conversation never omitting any Function which is to be performed by him in his Church and being of an Exemplary life he is much esteeemed of by all the City I am perswaded that he will continually maintain himself in that conceit which he hath at this present that at length he may become Pope and that happning he would make the Church happy He is affected to the Crown of Spain for that the Prince Lodovisio was much interessed with that Majesty in regard all his Estate lay in the Kingdome of Naples The French will much oppose him for divers respects the chief are because he is of the Spanish Faction and that which is of greater consequence for that the said French have deprived the Prince Lodovisio his Brother of the Principality of Piombino which his Excellency bought of King Philip the fourth for the summe of five hundred thousand Crowns and now it is said that they will confer it on the Father of the Cardinal Mazarino IV. Horatio Ginstiniano HOratio Giustiniano seventy yeares of age and Father of the Congregation of the Lord Philippo Neri He is by birth a Genouese and Cousen to the deceased Marquess Giustiniano whom he perswaded to make the present Prince his heir at such time as he served him in the place of his Chamberlain though he were far from that Line seeing the Prince is a native of Sicilia and the deceased Marquess was a Genouese In the beginning of the Papacy of Innocent the tenth it was held for an undoubted matter of every one that the Prince would demand the Scarlet Gown either for his Father or his Brother howbeit they were not onely not promoted but by an Order ore tenus of his Holyness they were banished from Rome with a Declaration that they should return into Sicilia their country And what was the occasion of these motives could not be truly penetrated into but for so much as I can understand it was because the Father of the said Prince having cōmenced a sute against his Son upon pretence that he was to administer the goods which the Marquess had left behind him against the will of his Holyness who in the time when he was Cardinal had with reiterated instances prayed him to desist from his pretension but with much arrogance he went peevishly on in his obstinate purpose The Prince as it is sayd out of his gratitude to his benefactors demanded the Scarlet Gown for Giustiniano who had besides been an intimate friend of his Holyness whilst he was Cardinal He is a man old in years of good conversation affable of access and of an exemplary life but of mean understanding and pretends not much to the Papacy wherefore he declares not himself of any Faction remaining independent and neutral He seldom cuts his Beard it may be for that he would seem older than he is He is a poor Cardinal having nothing else than that his poor Patrimony which he enjoyes in his Congregation and what he comes to be supplyed with by his Holyness He is Bishop of Nocera in Umbria He would not be any good Pope either for the poor or for the people since as a Genouese he would encrease Taxes and Impositions This Cardinal is not much favoured in the sacred College and although he shews himself neutral yet is he inwardly much devoted to the Catholique King but outwardly is French Our holy Father hath declared him grand Penitentiary V. Cibò CIbò thirty five years of age He was a Prelate and Sonne to the Prince of Massa Canara and as soon as the Cardinal Pamphilio was made Pope his Holyness declared him Steward of the Apostolical Palace and because the said Cibò his Palace was near unto that of his Holynes he made him a liberal tender thereof to the end he might enlarge it with his but the Pope refused to accept of it as a gift but took it by way of sale the rather because that Palace was subject to a strict Feoffment in trust The said Cibò held great correspondence of friendship and confidence with the abovesaid Pamphilio who knowing his merit did in contemplation of Innocent the eighth of the most noble Family of the Cibòes in Genoua that was the original of the greatness of the Pamphilian House by exalting that Family unto Ecclesiastical dignities and Prelatures promote him the sayd Cibò to the Scarlet Gown and for that cause also took upon him the name of Innocent the tenth This young Cardinal is of much integrity virtue and goodness of life He hath in all the time of his Prelateship alwayes imitated the behaviour and carriage of the Cardinal Pamphilio retiring himself not onely from universal commerce but also from that of Prelates except it be in urgent occasions He is by nature Studious and little given to Mirth but is much delighted with hearing of Musique He is devoted to the House of Austria for that his Progenitors lived under the protection of that Crown He is loved and well regarded as well by the Pope as by all the sacred College He pretends enough to the Papacy for which end it is believed he lives so retired VI. Pier Luigi Caraffa PIer Luigi Caraffa was by Urban the eighth made Bishop of Tricario in Rego and afterwards by the same Pope sent Nuntio into Germany and to Liege in Elanders at which time Sachetti the Bishop of Gravina was by him also sent into Spain with a purpose to promote both of them to the Scarlet Gown but at the instance of the Colonnesi Caraffa remained excluded Sachetti being onely promoted And after he had abode a long time in that his employment of Nuntio he was recalled to the Court where the poor Lord thought to
receive the due reward of his labours And being arrived at Rome after his continuance there some weeks he resolved cunningly to try his fortune by craving leave as he did to go unto his Residence to the end that by the answer the Pope should give him he might conjecture what his good or bad disposition was towards him and so might afterwards direct his life accordingly But Urban not onely gave him his benediction with both hands but 〈…〉 sayd unto him My Lord goe the more cheerfully because we will not forget your deserts Which Caraffa hearing absented himself from the Court and arriving at his Residence he never went from it untill his Holyness after some ten or eleven years past of his Papacy caused him to be called to the Court in the year 1642. so as all the world was perswaded that it was to promote him unto the Scarlet Gown but being arrived there it was published that he was come to visit the Temple of the Apostles and not called by his Holyness and the occasion thereof was because the Colonnesi foreseeing that the Scarlet Gown was designed for him upon his arrival returned anew to press the Pope that he should not promote him and among the rest Donna Anna Barbarina Wife to Don Tadeo went unto him and with reiterated prayers and much weeping perswaded Urban not to make him Cardinal as indeed he did not But Urban himself repented him of it for he was heard one day to utter these precise words God forgive him who was the cause that I did not make Pier Luigi Caraffa Cardinal and this he sayd many times according to report howsoever he was fain to goe away from Rome as he came but Innocent the tenth when as in the second Promotion he promoted his Nephew gave him the Scarlet Gown because he knew him worthy of that dignity and Caraffa himself expected it from his hands as soon as he heard of his Holyness assumption to the Papacy for he well remembred these words which he spake to him when as in the time of Urban he was departing towards the Residence of his Church My Lord it grieves me much that your Lordship goes from Court with so little satisfaction not having received the deserved reward of your labours Unto whom Caraffa answered I will pray our Lord God that he will make me worthy to receive it from your hands to this Pamphilio replyed I have no such pretension but be assured if it should happen to be so you shall be one of the first I will think upon as indeed it fell out for after the promotion of his Nephew he was the next that he gave the Hat unto being at that time in his bishoprick of Tricaria and besides his Merits there was a certain obligation of kindred between them for whilst Innocent was a Prelate and Nuntio at Naples having brought along with him thither all his Family together with his brother and his wife his Nephew called Camillo Pamphilio the now Husband of the Princess Rossano was born in the sayd city of Naples and the Prince Don Tiberio Caraffa this Cardinals brother was his Godfather This person is most deserving both for his own good qualities and the services he hath done to the Apostolick Sea He is exceeding well verst in all matters of the Consistories and Congregations his Votes are held in great esteem and the Pope makes much account of him so doth the sacred College and every one else He is a man of approved goodness of life and hath alwayes shunned conversations for the avoyding of scandals he seeks as much as may be to live retired devoutly reverencing God and making all his Family to doe the like and it is held for certain by them which know him that he is still a Virgin This Cardinal hath in the sacred College no Enemies either secret or open unless it be the Colonnesi who as before would not have had him Cardinal so doe they not now for certain desire he should rise to the Papacy but will use all their force and power to keep him from it He would be a good Pope for the benefit not onely of the Roman Church but of all Christendome He hath many and divers Nephews but the most beloved and nearest to him are the Sonnes of the Count Celano of the House of Piccolomini and those of the Marquess of Ansé Howbeit if ever he should come to be Pope Teatino would be the reigning Cardinal unto whom he hath resigned the Bishoprick of Tricario a man Learned of good Life and great Authority The Prince of Bisignano Don Tiberio Caraffa his Brother is Knight of the Golden-Fleece He is curteous affable of an exemplary life and very charitable so that for his noble qualities he is well looked upon and universally beloved of all the City of Naples which calls him Pater Patriae for that he favours the poor so much VII Federico Sforza FEderico Sforza four and forty years of age a Roman Nobleman and Brother to the Duke of that Surname He was a Prelate in the College of the participating Protonotaries in the time of Urban and had no other imployment than to be Vice-Legat in Avignon being sent thither by the Cardinal Antonio the Legat with an intent to promote him also to the Cardinalship but it did not follow for some private interests Innocent the tenth for that he would not see a House so renowned and so well affected unto him to be without the Scarlet Gown made him Cardinal He is a man of good understanding but not very rich and therefore somewhat miserable His Holyness after the flight of the Cardinal Antonio made him Vicechamberlain of the holy Church He is a jovial Lord loves Comedies and Feasts and in particular when he was a Prelate he delighted much in company His Inclination is French for two reasons the first because he was Vice-Legat at Avignon and the second for that there is continually seen in his Palace great store of French but he seems to be neutral except it be for the Pope Others say that he will become Spanish in regard of the feudes and estates which Duke Sforza his brother possesseth in the State of Milan being lately too left heir of many Gastles by the death of a Milanese Lord his Kinsman He is no great friend of Cardinal Antonio because he caused him upon hope of making him Cardinal to sell him at a very low rate the Palace of Sforza's Court since called Cardinal Antonio's but being afterwards given by the said Antonio to the Queen of France it is now named the Royal Palace where the Ambassador of the most Christian King resides and where also the Princes and Lords that come out of France doe usually lodge VIII Tiberio Cenci TIberio Cenci a Roman fifty five years old he was a Bishop and promoted to the Scarlet Gown at the instance of the Prince Borghese Nephew to Paul the fifth as the nearest of his Kinsmen that was capable of that
Raggi adhered to the adverse party and therefore began to demonstrate unto his honourable Lordship many lively reasons for the maintainance thereof alledging divers Authors and in particular said that the Codice in such a Law made good his Plea My Lord Raggi in regard that which the Proctor affirmed was prejudicial to the party he favoured conceived according to his ignorant opinion that the Codice was some witness to be produced in judgement and therefore said unto the Proctor these precise words I will throughly chastise this Codice and then demanded of him where he was because he would have him apprehended and sent to the Gallyes The Proctor answered that he was to be found in his Clients Advocates house whereupon he commanded a Notary to send some Officers along with the Proctor to the said Advocates house to apprehend the Codice which being accordingly performed the Codice was delivered unto them who thought it was some prohibited book and that therefore they were ordered to seize upon it so they carried it to my Lord Raggi who was then Auditor of the Chamber and the Proctor being arrived there with them opened the book and found out the Law by him before cited which Raggi seeing remained like a statue quite besides himself Now the sport and pastime that was made of this matter throughout the City came to the eares of Urban the eighth who was ready to burst with laughing at it Another time it hapned that another Proctor came before him to defend another cause at his house which was just opposite to the Capranick College where were divers mad wags who as often as they saw him look out of his window cryed out Bragone bragone that is great breeches or slops so that after he was made Cardinal the common people ever after called him as they had done Bragone Now whilst the Proctor was attentive in pleading of his cause he answered the Scholars of the said Colledge saying the Galleys the Galleys The Proctor beleeving that he spake in that manner against his Client answered My honorable Lord the poor man my Client deserves not the punishment of the Galleys but in the mean time Raggi seeing those too insolent Scholars continue on still mocking him cryed out with a loud voice Not the Galleys but the Gallows which the Proctor hearing said as it were vext My Lord since you will needs send to the Galleys and hang one that no waies deserves it you may doe as you please and so went away from him Before he was made Cardinal he caused a Cardinals garments to be made for him and putting them on he walked up and down his house and asked of his friends how they became him and whether he did not walk gravely enough in them And out of the great desire he had to be a Cardinal he went one day to the Pope who loved him for his harmless simplicity and after he had kissed his foot he said Holy Father make me a Cardinal and so give satisfaction to the poor old man my Father After he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown he went to thank his Holyness and imbracing him said I cannot chuse but hugge and kiss you for joy that you have made me a Cardinal Pope Urban the eighth delighted so much in this man as can hardly be exprest the truth whereof doth appear by the effects for he not onely made him a Cardinal but also at his instance gave the Treasurorship General to Lorenzo Raggi his Nephew unto whom for a closing up of all other his extravagancies he said openly Nephew if you will arrive unto that which I have attained unto you must labour to carry your self and do as I have done Whereat not onely all the standers by but even his Nephew himself could not forbear laughing Not long after the Treasurorship was conferred on Lorenzo the Cardinal his Uncle died and made his Brother the Marquesse Raggi his heir for which cause there hath been a good while some distast between the two brothers the Treasuror and the Marquess The said Lorenzo Raggi was in the time of Urban Superintendant of the Impositions laid upon the State Ecclesiastical during which charge of his there fell out many disorders for in the Barbarini War the Souldiers could not have their pay so that two dayes after Innocent the tenth was assumed to the Papacy those Souldiers that were appointed for the guard of the Conclave began to mutinie because his Holyness having ordained that every one of them should have four moneths pay and so be dismissed Raggi would give them but two wherewith they being very much incensed fell furiously to assaulting the house he was in which they sacked and plundered all the money they found in it chasing the said Raggi into Don Tadeos Palace where he shut up himself for fear of his life but the souldiers besieged him in it and were bringing two peeces of Cannon to beat down the gates had not Innocent the tenth newly elected with his prudence given remedy thereunto Howsoever his Holyness was much offended with him for this business and every body thought that he would have deprived him of his charge and made him resign up his Treasurors place but afterwards at the intercession of divers persons the matter went no further and in the end he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown in the secret consistory of the fourth of October 1647. This Cardinal is young about some five and twenty years of age and of a good conversation but ambitious and covetous He is not over-learned nor ignorant but holds the mean betwixt both XIV Francesco Maidalchini FRancesco Maidalchini a native of the City of Viterbo and Nephew by her Brother to the Lady Olimpia the Sister-in-law of Pope Innocent the tenth This Cardinal was a youth void of all manner of conversation not being able to carry himself with any civility and therefore he was kept in a Colledge to learn not onely humane letters but also good manners Suddenly upon the making of Innocent the tenth Pope the Lady Donna Olimpia his Aunt procured an Abbots place for him with which he lived reasonably well but altogether unknown to the world Afterwards the Lord Camillo Pamphilio Sonne to the same Lady Donna Olimpia and the Popes onely Nephew being promoted to the Scarlet Gown it hapned that by the death of the Prince Don Paolo Borghese the Lady Donna Olimpia Aldobrandina Princess of Rossana his Wife became a Widdow with whose beauty and riches the Cardinal Pamphilio was so taken as he abandoned the Scarlet Gown and married her But the poor Prince Don Camillo was much troubled thereupon for that by the Papal Buls it was ordered that the Cardinals which renounced their Hats and took Wives should not enter into the Roman Court for a certain prefixed time of some moneths Howbeit he obeyed in hope he should obtain of the Pope his Uncle a dispensation for his return unto the Court But Donna Olimpia his Mother considering that
himself too much interressed in certain differences about territories between some of his Church and others the creatures of Donna Olimpia in the City of Vitenbo His Nephew being Governor of Spoleti was deprived thereof and never since hath had any charge at all To conclude this Cardinal is poor and proud XXX Rinaldo d'Este RInaldo d'Este a Modenese and brother to the Duke of Modena This Prince was promoted to the Scarlet Gown at the instance of the Emperour by Vrban the eighth after which promotion the warre of Italy fell out between the Duke of Parma and the Barberini in regard whereof though all differences were wholly composed yet hath he still shewed himselfe an enemy to the Barberini and therefore in all the time that they raigned he would never come to take the Hat which afterwards he received from the hands of Innocent the tenth being present in the conclave at his election Some moneths being past the said Cardinall tooke notice that the Austrians made divers Congregations about the interest of that Crown in the Pallace of Albernoz whereunto his Eminencie was never called nor invited as if they accompted him altogether indiffident now one day there was a consistory to be held concerning the interest of Portugal wherin some course was to be taken for the provision of those Churches in the name of that King and the Spanish Ministers had by the Catholique Kings order forbidden all the Cardinalls of their faction from going to it especially the Cardinall of Este was by the Duke of Savelli the Emperours Embassadour advised by no meanes to come at it but he would not obey giving him this for an answer That as the Spaniards had esteemed his person of no consideration in their Congregations so his presence would be of as little consideration in the Consistorie therefore he would goe unto it Upon this occasion then he openly declared himselfe distasted with the Spaniards and he had a brieve granted to him for the protection of the Kingdome of France whereupon this Cardinall of Este published a manifest containing the reasons he had for his declaring himselfe French which was answered by the Spaniards and replyed unto by the Cardinall who tooke downe the Austrian Armes from his Pallace and in the place thereof set up the most Christian Kings This Este began to defend the interest of the Barberini because they had offered him the Abbacie of Honantala whereunto hee made some claime wherefore the Pope said one day unto him these words My Lord I see you labour much to protect the Barberini and I doe not know the cause of such a mutation for you alwaies contraried them heretofore and now you stand for them but I veriâ—y beleeve you doe it out of interest for that they will resigne unto you the Abbacie whereunto you have so long pretended or for some other end howsoever know that though it be in them to resigne it the passing of the Brieve thereof is in us Este hearing this thus answered I doe not pretend blessed Father to defend the Barberini for any interest of mine but to supplicate your Holiness for just things wherefore when as my abiding at court shall be displeasing unto you to give you satisfaction I will be gone To this the Pope said without any other reply Bee you blessed which in plaine termes is as much as to say God be with you and at the same instant the Cardinall getting into a Caroach with sixe horses went to Caprarola and from thence to Modena his Country Afterwards Este understanding that the Admirall of Castile was come to Rome as Embassador extraordinary from the Catholique King to yeeld obedience to the Pope and that he had declared hee would visit all the Cardinalls except him the said Este hee repaired againe to the Court where by reason of divers differences that fell out between him and that Ambassador they came to armes and waged what on the one side and what on the other above six hundred persons so that there was a great combustion in Rome and some daily slaine as is more amply delivered in a little printed relation thereof but the Pope raised men to suppresse this tumult and so it was quieted by the meanes of certaine interposing Princes but first this poore Lord for the maintayning of his souldiers was fain to pawne his jewells to the Cardinall Queva for the sum of two and twenty thousand crowns by reason the mony which he expected from France came not time enough to him and for that the Duke his brother could not supply him sufficiently in regard his state was much exhausted by the former warre with the Barberini This Cardinall is bountifull enough but his purse failes him and will not permit him to doe as he would do he is of a good life very conversable merry and friendly XXXI Francesco Peretti FRancesco Peretti alias Cardinall Montalto he is the Nephewes Son of Sixtus quintus of happie memorie This Lord was the onely sonne of the Prince Perétti who being old proposed to give a wife to Francesco that was in love with a Lady of the House of Cesi wherewith he acquainted his father who put him in good hope and accordingly went treated and concluded the marriage not for his Son but for himselfe for the old dotard being infinitly taken with the Angelicall sight of a most beautifull Lady thought her more fitter for himselfe than for his sonne Francesco seeing he was in this sort betrayed and ill intreated by his Father departed in a manner desperate and secretly from the Court and made himselfe a Priest by which meanes the father deceasing not long after without heires and all his States falling to Francesco upon his death the family of the Peretti will be extinct This Lord used much diligence to get the Scarlet Gowne but could not attaine it because Urban was displeased with him for that he would neither give nor sell unto him the delicious Villa of Mentana Montalto would not give it unto him least the World should say that so deserving a person as himself attained to the Hat by briberie and so was contented rather to be without it The most part of the States he possesseth are scituated in the Kingdom of Naples for which cause he is devoted to the Catholique Crown and hath many times supplyed that Majestie with mony for the service of his Warres Hs is Prince of the City of Venafro and Count of Celano enjoying also many places in the State of the Church The King of Spain did oftentimes desire the Scarlet Gown of Pope Urban for this Lord but was by him continually refused at length being earnestly prest by the King of France who demanded it also for Giulio Mazzarini the Pope that he might not seem to be too much affected to the French did at one and the same time promote both Mazzarino and Montalto as declared Nationals and nominated by France and Spain He is a rich Lord and bountifull keepes a Royal
Signoria of Venice which highly account of him He is a Lord endowed with many excellent qualities is very courteous in salutes and entertainments loves not light conversations is a man studious and curious but his curiositie ceases when matters of interest are handled All the time that he was at Court he was never seen to give any alms for which he was blamed but it may well be that he delights to give in secret that he may not appear vain-glorious This Cardinal cannot be Pope in hast for two reasons the one is because he is a Venetian and the other is because he is too young He is not devoted to any Crown but onely to his Republique and his vote will be alwaies at the disposing thereof XXXI Pietro Donato Cesis PIetro Donato Cesis of a most Noble Roman Family he was Clerk of the Chamber was also made Treasuror General of the holy Church and afterwards promoted by Urban to the Scarlet Gown and sent by him Legate to Perugia at such time as the War was made against the Princes of Italy The Apostolicall Chamber whilst he had the administration of it was well served and not oppressed as it had been by so many others which robbed it In this said Legateship he caried himself very wisely but with rigor He is a man of a good and sincere life and may be one day Pope being a Roman He hath no hair on his Chin so that he seems to be an Eunuch and comming to be greyhaired he would look like one of those antient Popes and not without cause was there a Pasquil made of him during the Vacancie of the Sea which said Cesis is made Pope verily he will be a Pope de Malangonate He would be no bad Pope for that he is a lover of the poor and a man of conscience He is learned and naturally merry in conversation He was Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Angelo à Sazanella in the Kingdom of Naples He is much devoted to the house of Austria and in particular to the Catholique King making open profession thereof and having his Majesties armes set over his gate and is loved and esteemed of that Crown as also of the great Duke He is not much reckoned of in the Court but is reverenced in the sacred Colledge He hath no enemies except it be the Barberini who fear him for the abuses they have done to the Duke of Cesis besides other disgusts received in his own person from them There hath some distast also past between him and the Cardinal Theodoli in a Chappel held by the Cardinals for the love of Lerida His Government would be good for the holy Church for some of his confidents have reported that if ever he should attain to that degree he would with all his interest make a league against the Turke and would also if God gave himlise lay up as many millions of Gold in the Castle as Sixtus quintus did for the benefit of the Apostolick Sea His kindred are the Orsini the Duke Acquasparta the Duke of Cesis the Soovelli and others XXXV Francesco Maria Machiavelli FFrancesco Maria Machiavelli a Noble man of Florence and Cousin to the Barberini He was a first but a simple Prelate then was made Bishop of Ferrara and afterwards promoted to the Scarlet Gowne for divers reasons but the most intimate of them was because he was a kinne to the Barberini by the mothers side another was for that the Cavalier Matthia Machiavelli who was Captain of the light-horse of his Holinesse guard and had done many services for the Pope in the past Warre against the Princes of Italy was an earnest suitor to him for it This Cardinal is very affable in his demeanor of a good disposition curteous and a friend to the poor but yet spends not much upon them of his own purse He is not disliked of by the great Duke of Toscan though he be the Barberinies Cousin because he hath never distasted that Prince but hath held good correspondence with him by all manner of services if not openly at leastwise secretly for otherwise he had lost the Popes favor He is neither Spanish nor French feigning himself neutral but in effect is wholly Austrian and in the past Conclave he alwaies sided with Albernoz against Francesco He was not displeased to see the Barberini persecuted by the Pope knowing their misdeanors deserved that and worse He is well regarded by his holinesse and is now resident at his Church of Ferara He is a man of an indifferent understanding hath no considerable enemies nor any contrarietie but such as he may have by reason of his affinitie with the Barberini he is of a goodly presence and young he maintaines himself in his Bishoprick with much decorum and gravitie carrying himself with the great satisfaction of the people there by whom he is loved reverenced and served XXXVI Verginio Orsini Verginio Orsini a Roman Nephew to the Duke of Bracciano and the brother of the Duke of Santo Gemini he was onely an Abbot and thought to have cast off his Clerical habit and have maried the Princess Lodovisia but Urban envying this match and whilst it was a making up promoted him in a Consistory to the Scarlet Gown Others say that the Duke of Bracciano finding his house without the red Hat courted the Cardinal Antonio a long time with donatives and exorbitant expences and in the end with a great summe of Gold drew him to get his Holiness to promote him howsoever the Scarlet Gown was due to him as a deserving Lord and of a most antient family which as one may say hath had as many Cardinals as daies and the Roman Church is exceedingly obliged to this house their ancestors having fought for it and kept the Barbarians far enough from Rome maintaining the Apostolical Sea in all securitie This House as also that of the Colonnesi alone have a place with the Ambassadors in the Chappel but in regard of precedencie they never meet there both together This Cardinal according to his authority is not very rich no more than his ancestors were who warred a long time with the Colonnesi in such sort as they put not only the neighbouring Princes in fear but also the very Popes themselves who were fain to observe them but they have now reduced them to that passe as the Orsini may with just reason say sastiditum in ques opprebrium gentibus abjectio plebis howsoever this Lord is bountiful as farre forth as his small abilitie will extend carrying along with him the liberalitie of his race He was much beloved and regarded of Innocent the tenth because at such time as the assuming of Cardinal Pamphilio to the Papacie was in agitation he being not entred into the Conclave by reason of some indisposition of his when there was need of his vote he presently entred and gave it for him the said Orsini too were great furtherers of the match between his holinesse Neece and the Prince