INNOCENT THE XI who held the Pontificate 12 years 10 moneths and 22 days Aged 78 years and 3 Moneths Obiit Aug 12 0 1689 THE LIFE AND REIGN OF INNOCENT XI LATE Pope of ROME Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for Abel Roper in Fleet-street near Temple-Bar M DC XC TO THE READER THE length of the Reign of the late Pope Innocent XI in respect of the greater Number of his Predecessors and the various Transactions that have happened in Christendom in his time and his more than ordinary concern therein besides what passed more privately in the Conclave calls for a publick and particular Account to be given thereof This I have here endeavored to perform and can safely assure the Reader that my Collections are taken out of very good and Authentick Writings having purposely rejected such whose Favour or Malice might seem to byas their Pens to vain and fabulous Relations I shall detain thee no longer from reading that which I hope will be more acceptable than a long and tedious Preface only wishing it may fully answer thy Expectations and the Faithful Endeavours of Thy Servant T. L. THE LIFE Of the Late Pope Innocent XI INNOCENT the XI whose name was Benedictus Odescalchi was born at Como a City in the Dukedom of Milan in Italy Anno 1611. his Father was called Livio and his Mother Paula Castella both of Noble and Patrician Families in that City of Thirty thousand Crowns yearly Revenue belonging to the House of Odescalchi He had his Education among the Jesuites for Grammar and Humane Learning and after studied the Civil and Canon Laws at Rome and Naples and tho he was never esteemed for a Polemical Divine yet he had the reputation of one that knew the World and understood the nature of Mankind and the art of Government well being withal a Man of great sincerity and honesty very innocent in his Life and Coversation and discovering no inclination to side with any Party or Faction whatsoever because he esteemed it better to be a general friend to all than a particular one to some while he must stand expos'd to the hatred and envy of others These qualifications prepar'd the way to his several Advancements and at length rais'd him to the highest dignity in the Romish Church It is true it hath been reported of him that he was extreamly ignorant in all the parts of Learning and that he scarcely understood Latin insomuch that Cardinal Albici who oppos'd his Election should say in the Conclave to those that were for promoting him For the love of God let us at least have a Pope that is so Learned that he may be able to read the Gospel in the Mass But the same Cardinal expressed no greater esteem for his Judgment for when some others in his commendation said That he digested things well he scurrilously repli'd That nothing could be expected from his digestion but a Altho the contrary hath very much appear'd as will be found in the sequel of this Discourse In the time of Urban the VIII he was made one of the Prothonataries of the Apostolick Chamber and suddenly after President of the same he was also made chief Commissary for gathering the Taxes and Duties arising in the Province of Marchio which were laid on the People at the time of the Wars in Italy When this business was over he was constituted Governor of Macerata and the Province thereunto adjoyning By Innocent the X. he was made one of the Clarks of his Chamber and in the Year 1645. by him also made Cardinal which dignity is conferred by the Pope only by delivery of a Paper wherein the Names of such as are to be promoted are written into the Consistory of Cardinals with these words Habetis fratres The Romanists say That St. Peter constituted a College of twenty four Presbyters with Authority to decide and determine matters of difficulty arising in the Church these in the time of Pope Sylvester the I. were called Cardinals or Princes in the Church Innocent the IV. at the Council of Lions bestowed upon them the red Hat as a mark or badge of their Dignity anciently these were a check upon the Pope and a sort of a Council without whom he could do nothing in Temporals yet now they have quite lost that and they have no other share in affairs than that to which the Pope thinks fit to admit them It is true as to Spirituals they retain still a large share so that in Censures and Definitions the Pope can do nothing regularly without their concurrence tho some think they have not so good a Title to that as to share in the Temporal Principality For if the Pope derives any thing from St. Peter all that is singly in himself and how else also can the Infallibility so much pretended to rest in him yet because there was not so much to be gotten by acting arbitrarily in those matters and a summary way of exercising this Authority might have tempted the World to have enquired too much into the grounds on which it is built Therefore the Popes have let the Cardinals retain still a share in this supremacy over the Church tho they have no claim to it either by Divine or Ecclesiastical Warrant further at least than within the City and Diocess of Rome where they were Presbyters if that be true of Saint Peters constituting such a College of them to assist him in the Government of that Church But as for the endowments of the See of Rome to which they may justly lay claim as being in a manner the Chapter of that See there is so much to be got by this that the Popes have engrossed it wholly to themselves and to gratifie and advance their Creatures by However the Cardinals are great Princes make a considerable Figure in Rome and respect is paid them accordingly and that People might do it as they passed in the City a Bell used to be rung before them that all might know them but this hath been left off their Purple and Equipage sufficiently notifying them There are three different Classes of Cardinals viz. six entituled Cardinal Bishops fifty Priests and fourteen Deacon-Cardinals In the Year 1631. That the Grandeur of the Apostolical Chair might be advanc'd Pope Urban VIII bestowed the title of Eminence upon them and it was entred into the Records of the Congregation of Ceremonies That they should be styl'd Most Eminent and most Reverend But to return to our Cardinal He had presently the Deaconry of the Saints Cosma and Damianus bestowed upon him and taking Priests Orders he had the title conferr'd upon him of St. Onuphrius and by Innocent X. sent Legate to Ferrara wherein he acquitted himself with honour and was made Bishop of Noverase where he resided for some years but afterwards removed through dislike of the Air. And being at Rome he was employ'd in many affairs of the Church and appointed to serve in divers Congregations of Cardinals and
Bavaria Canonically chosen thereunto shall attain to a lawful Age hath thought fit if it shall so seem good to our Holy Father the Pope that the Administration of the Temporalties of the said Church be given to the aforesaid Joseph Clement and that the Administration of the Spiritualties be likewise committed to him on this Condition that he exercise the same joyntly with the Bishop of Hierapolis Suffragan and Canon of the said Church who shall be understood to be deputed to this Co-administration during the pleasure of his Holiness and the Apostolick See And Report being hereof made his Holiness favourably approved the Sentence of the Sacred Congregation Given at Rome the fifteenth of September 1688. Signed as the former In December following the Emperor's Minister by order of the Pope required the Cardinal of Fustenburg and his Party of the Canons to own Prince Clement of Bavaria as their Arch-bishop and Elector of Cologne on pain of Excommunication And afterward six of the Canons who had taken part with the Cardinal not appearing upon Summons of the Official of Cologne were by publick Sentence deprived of their Benefices and Ecclesiastical Dignities May 7. Cardinal Crescentio and on the Ninth Cardinal Felice Rospiglosi died at Rome whereby there were eight places void in the College of Cardinals In June there was a terrible Earth-quake in Naples and other Towns thereabout even perceived at Rome many Persons were destroyed by the fall of Buildings Palaces and eminent Structures A Famous Church of the Jesuits one of the finest in all Italy tumbled down and the neighbouring Town of Benevento was quite demolished The Pope therefore sent large Sums of Mony in particular 50000 Crowns unto Naples for the relief of People that suffered by this sad Calamity This Earthquake continued several days more or less with some Intervals the People feared it would last a whole Moon as one did in December 1456. and therefore many retired into the Country in hopes of more Security but by the violent Storms and Rain which followed the Earth-quake such sudden Floods arose that several were drowned and all People extreamly terrified by the frequent and violent Shakings of the Earth mighty Thunder and Lightning great Hail-stones Besides which a Mountain also split in sunder the Earth opened and out of it issued black Vapors and Flames of Fire the Sun appeared incircled with a Flame about it the Sea though at Calm strangely retired in three times All which Prodigies so terrified the Inhabitants of Naples that scarcely a third part of the People remained therein July 25. being St. James's day began publick Rejoycings at Rome for the Birth of the Queen of Englands Son There was held a Chappel of eighteen Cardinals who assisted at High Mass and Te Deum was sung with rare Musick in the English Church which was richly adorned and the Cardinal of Norfolk made great Expressions of Joy at his Palace Sir John Lydcot Agent at Rome then for King James the Second shewed all the Demonstrations of Joy usual on such extraordinary Occasions viz. A very large Picture or Emblem was set up over his Palace-gate relating to the Subject which consisted of an Effigies of a Child adorned as a Knight of the Garter and about it several Trophies relating to the Prince of Wales Kings of England and Warlike Exploits with the then King and Queen of England's Pictures on each side and the Pope's over it Not only the Windows of his House were illuminated but he had divers Pots of combustible Matter flaming set upon Posts before his House and distributed 1100 Lanthorns with the King's Arms upon them to be hung up with Lights in them before the Neighbouring Houses and a Fountain of Wine ran for three days upon the second day he provided a whole Ox the Belly whereof was fill'd with Fowls c. to be roasted for the common People and entertained divers Persons of Quality in his Palace with all Rarities The Wine and good Cheer had so fill'd the common Peoples Bellies and Heads that they made returns with shouting and noise so that it was said not only the Musick in the Palace was deaded by it but the Drums Trumpets yea the very Chambers and Mortars were not to be heard The Pope was God-father to this Child whose Baptism was defer'd to October 15. 1688. and was represented by his Nuntio in England for as King James had sent an Ambassador to complement the Pope so the like in return was done by him and his Nuntio made his publick Entrance at Windsor in the beginning of July 1687. but the Pope knew how to use his Mony otherwise than to be at so great Charge as the King of England's Ambassador had been at in Rome for his Nuntio had only four Pages twelve Footmen and three Coaches of his own when he made his publick Entry The Pope made Cardinal Pallavicino Legat of St. Vrban and upon his Creation he is reported to have made a learned Speech in the Consistory in relation to the Queen of England's Son and gave a piece of Mony to all that would fetch it at St. Peter's Church where there resorted about 30000 Persons In August the Lord Thomas Howard Envoy Extraordinary from the King of Great Britain had Audience of His Holiness The Pope confirmed the Election of the Baron of Plettenbergh to the Bishoprick of Munster 1689. The Difference between the Pope and the French King not being yet composed April 30. the Marquis of Laverdin left Rome and returned to Paris in July following and the 26th of the same Month the Pope's Nuntio left Paris in order to return to Rome And the Pope's Apprehensions encreasing that the French King might make some Attempt on Italy he made great Preparations to be in a Posture to defend himself by daily enlisting more Men providing Ammunition fortifying and reinforcing his Garisons and denying Audience to the Cardinals d'Estrees and d'Este they and the Duke of Savoy's Minister at that Court prepared themselves for their Departure The Pope resolved also to make use of his Spiritual Weapons and threw his weightiest Thunderbolt Excommunicating in the severest manner all Persons of what Degree or Quality soever that shall usurp possess or separate from the State of the Church any part of its Lands Dominions c. or that shall seize upon any part of its Revenue or that shall interrupt or hinder the Commerce on the Coasts and Seas of the Ecclesiastical Estate as likewise those who shall attempt the calling or appealing to future Councils or that shall write against the Pope or Church Which Bull was affixed at all the usual publick Places in Rome and was ordered to be sent into France that so that Crown might not pretend Ignorance At this time the French King declares War against Spain and before or since against the Emperor and some of the German Princes as likewise against England Scotland Holland c. So that though the Pope had all his Life-long
made Protector of several Colleges and Monasteries in all he behaved himself with singular prudence modesty and vertue which with the Endowments before mention'd were good Ingredients to capacitate him for the Papal Chair to which as we shall shew he was Elected the 21st of September 1676. and was Crowned with the usual Ceremonies on the 4th of October following But before we come to shew his Election it will not be impertinent to set forth the manner of Electing Popes being a thing in it self not only worth the Reading but also relating so nearly to this History that it might seem imperfect without it Popes were anciently chosen by the Nobility Clergy and People of Rome tho the Book of Sacred Ceremonies used in the Church of Rome tells us That Saint Peter named Clemens to be his Successor if it seem'd good to the Senators that is the Presbyters who were twenty four appointed by Saint Peter before his death to determine matters of difficulty in the Church and that they chose Linus whereby it might appear that Popes had not right to Elect their Successors that afterward Schisms and Dissentions arising among the Senators the Clergy and People of Rome were present at the Elections but had no voice and that after this the force and violence of the People was such that they would have a Voice and joyned in their Votes This popular way of Election caused such heats and disturbances that the Emperors were constrained for keeping the Peace to interpose by their Authority and order'd that no Election should stand good until it was confirmed by the Imperial approbation Charles the great assumed the Power of Electing or which is all one of confirming of Popes The truth is as the Power was sometimes the Emperors made Popes and sometimes the Popes made Emperors Some Emperors after Charles 's time transferred the Election wholly to the Roman Presbyters Clergy and the People which the Romans would have to be done out of Piety because the Pope was to be a Shepherd to the Emperor This popular manner of Election produced Parties Schisms and Contentions which often ended with blood so that there was scarce a regular Election for some years the strongest possessing the Chair till he was undermin'd by another so that there were often two or three Popes at one time and a great many in a few years until Nicholas II. Anno 1051. to prevent the Confusion which happened at every Popes death did establish a Law that the Elections should wholly rest in the Cardinals which Law or Canon was since confirm'd by Popes and Councils And as a rule to be observed herein Alexander III. instituted at a general Council that he only should be esteemed to be Canonically Elected who was chosen by at least two thirds of the College of Cardinals This Power of Election hath ever since rested in the Cardinals who appoint Octaves for solemnizing the Funeral of the deceased Pope and have on the ninth or tenth day after entred the Conclave to proceed to a new Election The Conclave is held in the Vatican Palace where in a long Gallery are erected small Apartments or Cells made of Boards covered with Purple Cloth for every Cardinal whereby they may have convenient conference one with another It has been endeavour'd in a hot season because the Vatican is ill air to Elect in another place but none was found convenient Each Cardinal hath two Servants and no more to attend him which are called his Conclavists unless in case of sickness or infirmity and then three may be admitted The Cardinals being entred the Conclave is strictly guarded by the City Militia to hinder all commerce or intercourse by Letters from without The Gallery is also very closely watched being kept by a Master of the Ceremonies who inspects their Meat lest any Letters be conveyed with it According to this first Institution for the first three days the Cardinals have free use of divers dishes of Meat whilst they are eating or doing any thing else in their Cells the outward Curtains are to be open and undrawn unless in the Night when they sleep or at other time repose themselves and then great care is taken that no noise or disturbance be given It hath been customary of late years for the Cardinals to premise certain particular Points or Articles necessary for the Government of the Church which are subscribed by the whole Community and every one takes an Oath to observe them in case he should prove to be the person chosen and promoted to the Pontifical Dignity After which matters are performed they proceed to an Election There have been three ways used in the Election 1. By Scrutiny 2. By Access 3. By Adoration The Scrutiny is When every Person writes in a Schroll of Paper the Name of that Person whom he gives his Voice for folding it into five several Pages or Colums on the first of which he writes these words Ego eligo in summun Pontificem Reverendissimum Dominum meum Cardinalem which is written by the hand of the Conclavist that the Cardinal may not be discovered by his own writing On this Fold two others are doubled down and some Wax dropped thereon and sealed with some private Seal made for that purpose On the Fourth the Cardinal writes his own Name and covers the same with the Fifth Folding Then all the Cardinals sitting in their order on Benches in the Chappel with the Schrolls they have prepared in their Hands take their turns to ascend to the Altar before which a Table is placed covered with a Purple Cloth and a Chalice with a Patina or Plate set thereon on the right side of which sits the first Cardinal Bishop and on the left the first Cardinal Deacon then every one kneeling makes a short Praver and arising puts his Schroll into the Chalice which being done and all the Cardinals returned to their Places the first Cardinal Bishop takes the Chalice with his Right Hand and turns out all the Schrolls upon the Patina or Plate which he holds in his Left Hand then setting the Chalice again on the Altar he takes the Schroll which comes first to hand and gives it to the Deacon Cardinal who reads it with an audible Voice the Cardinals noting with their Pen and Ink or Table-Book how many Voices every Person hath and the Papers being read the Master of the Ceremonies comes in with a Pan of Coals and burns all the Papers or Schrolls so that no Man is known for whom he gave his Vote In case any Person hath gained two thirds of the number there present then the Election is good and he is presently declared Pope and this way is most commonly practis'd in the choice of Popes When by reason no one hath two thirds the Election is not determined it s then tryed by Access in this manner All the Cardinals sitting in their Places one arises and goes to the Cardinal he would have elected and saith Ego accedo
ad reverendissimum Dominum meum and so all the rest the which is noted by the Cardinals both the Names of those that made the Access and the Persons to whom If two thirds agree in their Access to one Person then the Election is determined if not then the next day they proceed again to Scrutiny for it cannot be made twice in one day The third way by Adoration is almost like that of Access The Cardinal approaching him whom he desires to have created Pope with a profound Reverence and low Obeisance But both the Access and Adoration are to be proved if they hit and confirmed by the Scrutiny wherein they often differ from what they did by the former and so make it Null There was anciently another way of Election which was called Compromise and it was when the Divisions were high and scarce determinable by the Conclave that then the Cardinals with common consent refer'd all their Votes to the choice of three or five Cardinals giving them Power to elect any Person whom all or the Major part should chuse obliging themselves to rest satisfyed with the Choice made by them provided That their Election were concluded while a Candle did last burning and if Election were made in that time the Person so chosen was acknowledged Pope by all the rest but in the choice of Commissioners every Cardinal must agree There is another way of Election called by Inspiration that is When the Cardinals are assembled in the Chapter and every one hath taken his Place according to his Degree and Order Then the first Bishop Arises and in a short Speech exhorts the Fathers to provide such a Person for Government of the Church as by his Wisdom and Sanctity may be capable to sustain so great a burden Then he demands of them the manner by which they intend to proceed whether by Compromise or Scrutiny telling them if his Opinion or Vote might prevail he would choose no other than and accordingly did elect him for Supream Bishop and Head of the Universal Church If all then present without one opposing did agree this was looked on as by Inspiration and he was then without further Trouble or Scrutiny canonically Elected which was anciently frequently practised The Pope being legally chosen by any of the foregoing Methods he is conducted into the Sacristia or Vestry where being disrob'd by the Cardinal Deacons of his own Habit he is cloathed in his Pontificalibus or Papal Vestments and being thence brought forth with his Mitre on his Head adorned with Gold and Jewels into the Chappel is Seated on the Altar where the Cardinals perform the Ceremony of Adoration to him every one in his Order kissing his Feet Hands and Mouth While these Ceremonies are performing all the Doors and Gates of the Conclave are opened at which a multitude of People appearing the Pope shews himself and blesseth them And then the first Cardinal Deacon proclaims with a loud voice these words to the People Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum Papam habemus Reverendissimus Dominus Cardinalis Elect us est in Summum Pontificem elegit sibi nomen This being said the Pope descends into St. Peter's Church the Cardinals leading the way with a Cross born before them and going directly to the High Altar he takes off his Mitre kneels and prays a while and then returns Thanks to God and the Blessed Apostles and rising seats himself on the Altar and the first Bishop kneels and sings Te Deum And then again the Cardinals perform the Act of Adoration as before which with the short Office for that Solemnity being finished the Pope again blesseth the People and in the same Order they return to his Apartment where he takes his Repose and the Cardinals go to their respective Lodgings The Pope ever since Sergius's time who was the first that did it Anno 843. change their Baptismal Name for such other as liketh them best This Sergius's Name was Bocca di Porco or Hog-snout which for shame he changed and so it hath continued ever since unless some few that would not do it Others give a more favourable Account viz. That his Name was Peter and out of his profound respect to that great Apostle he would not bear his Name in the Chair Generally there are great Intriegues and Divisions about the Elections of Popes partly occasioned by the endeavours that Great Princes use to have one of their Friends or Favourites set up and partly through the aspiring of the Cardinals unto the Chair where they are not only great themselves but seldom sail though their Reign be short to raise their Families exceedingly so that many of the great Houses in Italy are beholden for their Fortunes to the Favour and Bounty of the Bishops of Rome who did originally advance them to such Places of Trust and Employments whereby they gained that State and Dignity they or their Posterities now enjoy and considering how short a time they may have to make their Fortunes which generally depends on the uncertainty of an Old Man's Life the People are heavily oppressed all Preferments bestowed upon them that will give most and the Welfare of the Commonweal lightly regarded so that the People are become extreamly miserable that live in the Pope's Dominions It is time now to return to the principal Subject of this short History Clement X. having breathed his last Altieri the Cardinal Chamberlain gave Notice thereof to the Chief Officers of the Houshold whereupon all the Prelates and Grooms of the Bed-chamber in decent and mourning Habits repair to the Palace of Monte Cavallo and found their late Master laid upon a Pallet covered with Crimson Velvet In their Presence Altieri whose Office it was to do it brake the Sigillum Piscatorium or the Pope's Seal in pieces which is presently done to prevent the use of it after his Death The Notaries of the Camera took an Inventory of the Goods found in the Palace which remain to his Successor and therefore when a Pope draweth near his end his Relations carry away and possess themselves of what they can during his Life The Body of the Pope was then deliver'd to those who were to embalm it and then the Bell of the Capitol was rung out that the City might all be assur'd of his Death During the time that the Funeral Obsequies were Solemnizing the Cardinals began to work in forming Parties against the Election The Second of August several Cardinals assembled in St. Peter's and two by two in grave Order in form of Procession entred the Conclave more coming in next day they make up the number of Fifty Two and on the Third of August the Conclave was shut and Guards set by the Marshal of the Conclave On the Fourth the Mass of Veni Creator was sung and the Cardinals began the choice by way of Scrutiny The Persons nominated were Vidone Barberigo Odescalchi Spinola and Cerri wherein appeared near an equality of Votes Odescalchi had Eleven
the Bishop of Hostea to Consecrate the Pope of late years the first Cardinal Bishop performs that function in Consecrating a Pope he is anointed with Oyl on his Head and the Palms of his Hands his Consecration is not always the day of his Coronation This Preludium being over and the Pope himself having celebrated Mass he goes to the stairs ascending to the Altar of Saint Peter and Saint Paul where a Throne is erected for him on which being seated and encompassed by his Prelates and the People order'd to keep distance the Dean-Cardinal takes the Mitre off the Popes Head and placeth it on the left Hand and having the Triple-Crown ready he sets that on his Head the People crying out Lord have mercy upon us Then the Dean publisheth the Pardons and Indulgences which the Pope grants them proclaiming them on the right Hand in Latin on the left in the vulgar Language So the People pray and the Pope answers them The Pope and his Cardinals then go and dine at the Palace of the Arch-Presbyters of Saint Peters and the other Prelates at the Houses of the Canons After Dinner the Cardinals mount their Mules and the Pope his Horse and march in solemn Procession to the Lateran attended with a very great Train of the Nobles and Officers in due rank and order the Pope being alighted is met by the chief Canon of the Church who offers the Cross to be kissed by him which the Dean-Cardinal taking from his Hands holds to the Popes Mouth Then they take the Triple Crown from off his Head for the burden of it consisting of Gold and Jewels is too heavy for an old Man to bear long and deliver it to the custody of the Auditor of the Rota and the Mitre is again placed on the Popes Head Then he is conducted to the Sedes Stercoraria on which he seems rather to lye then to sit from which he is honorably raised by the Cardinals and this Hymn is sung He hath put down the mighty from their seats and hath exalted the humble and meek tho some have been the proudest Men in their Age. He hath raised the needy from the dust that he may set him among the Princes of his People tho he were never so rich a Prince before After this several short Ceremonies are perform'd and Adoration again paid by the Cardinals and Prelates and by this it is Evening and the Pope returns to his Palace of Monte Cavallo commonly sufficiently tired with the Fatigues of the Day The buisness the French Cardinals came for being over they prepare for their return and if the French King had then known how this Pope would have acted they would have had no thanks for their labour as will sufficiently appear in the sequel of this History But to make all fair with the Court of Rome before their 〈◊〉 they by the Kings Order paid their Visits to the Cardinâ—◠〈◊〉 the last Promotion and so a good Correspondence was reneweâ— established The Pope no sooner 〈◊〉 upon the affairs of Government but he cast in his thoughts how to 〈◊〉 a Reformation of several abuses and grievous Corruptions that 〈◊〉 both in the Court and Church of Rome For the later the Power 〈◊〉 Interest of the Traffiking Religious whose chief gain lies in the â—â—…rruptions of the Christian Religion he had little hopes of doing 〈◊〉 in it at least wise at his first entrance and if ever he could it must 〈◊〉 gradually effected But as to his Court that lay in his own Powâ—â— and therefore in the first place he declares against Nepotism and â—â—…used to receive his Nephew Don Livio into any part of the Government forbidding him to receive or return Visits under the notion of Nephew to the Pope Had a Pope a mind to flatter or gain upon the Clergy and People of Rome he could not have pitcht upon one thing so much to oblige them For these Nephews having the management of the affairs bestow'd all Benefices Offices c. on them that bid most exercising a Tyrannical Power over great and small rich and poor for the agrandizing themselves and heaping up riches for their posterities tho for that end they also exhausted the Treasure of the Apostolical Chamber without any regard to the Weal-publick or the oppression of the People or damage the Church sustain'd But it was hop'd this Pope did it in sincerity which made it the more grateful And that his Nephew might not complain of the severity of his Uncle and look upon himself more unfortunate than any had been who were so nearly allied to the Papal Chair he relinquish'd unto him in present all his Temporal Estate amounting unto thirty thousand Crowns of yearly Revenue He was not satisfi'd in denying himself that in which his Predecessors were extreamly solicitous I mean their advancing their Kindred and Nephews many of their Families being still known by the Princes they advanced but to continue it to Posterity he drew up a Bull perpetually to abrogate Nepotism which yet he could never procure the Conclave to pass tho it hath been long experienced to be grosly scandalous among them so hard a matter it is to reform Rome so that he hath only left his Example and Endeavours herein to be admired by Posterity I have here inserted it in English as followeth The Minutes or preparation of a Bull which our most holy Father Innocent XI was about making for the moderating some abuses in the Apostolick See Innocent Pope Servant of the Servants of God for a perpetual memory hereof HAving often considered in our mind that the holy Synod of Trent treading in the steps of the holy Fathers does altogether forbid that any one should study to enrich their Relations or Friends out of the Revenues of the Church and doth admonish them as much as may be that they absolutely lay aside all worldly affections to Brothers Nephews and other of their kindred which has occasioned many mischiefs in the Church And the same holy Synod decreeing That these things which are spoken in relation to Bishops ought to be observed not only by all having Ecclesiastical Benefices as well Secular as Regular but even by the Cardinals of the Church of Rome themselves who being of Council to the Pope for the administration of the affairs of the Vniversal Church ought above all to excel in those eminent vertues and regularity of living which may deservedly turn the Eyes of all upon them But the reason holding much stronger that the Pope himself who is placed by the most High in his House as a shining light on a Candlestick should keep the wholsom Constitutions of the Fathers in such manner as to provoke by his Example all other Prelates to the observing of them Having seriously considered these things among the manifold and weighty cares of our Pastoral Charge which as far as our frailty permits we dayly sustain for the Church in order to the Salvation of Souls and the promoting the
Works of Piety We have observed this wholsom discipline establisht by the Fathers all along from the beginning of our Popedom and with the Lords help shall observe it as long as we live But to declare to our Successors what we think unlawful we have forever firmly Decreed to establish the same Discipline in this holy See from which Bishops and other Prelates of Churches ought to take Examples of Truth being partly led to it by the present Exigencies and narrowness of the Pontifical Treasury which we do not doubt but is sufficiently known to our Brethren Therefore for the glory of Almighty God the honour of this Apostolical See and the good example of Prelates and Governors in the Church and also that the Apostolical Chamber may have no damage We do for ever Establish and Decree That it shall not be lawful neither for Vs nor for any of our Successors Popes of Rome by any manner of pretext or colour directly or indirectly or by any sort of Title of Bounty or Free-Gift or for Gain and Advantage in whole or in part to dispose of Monies Places of the Montes void or not void set to Sale and dispos'd of in consideration of their Price or any manner of Rights that do any ways belong to the Apostolical See and Chamber in favour of Brothers Nephews or others related by Blood or Marriage or the intimate Acquaintance or Favourites as well of Our Self as of every Roman Bishop Our Successor for the time being respectively and likewise that nothing of this shall be done in favour of those that may be any ways made choice of and taken into the Family of any Pope in the room of Nephews or other near Relations Moreover We Decree That it shall not be lawful neither for Vs nor for any of the Popes of Rome Our Successors by Apostolical Grant to enrich Brothers Nephews and Relations by Blood or Marriage or any that may be received or chosen in their place or Favourites aforesaid with Churches Monasteries or any other Benefices or Pensions of what kind or quality soever nor with any manner of Ecclesiastical Incoms Fruits Revenues Perquisites Rights or Profits beyond the merits of any one of them and the decent maintenance of that Dignity they obtain in the Church that so a due moderation and the Rules of distributive Justice being in all things observed there may be no occasion of complaining or cavilling left to any one but the Ecclesiastical Revenue may be distributed to those that labour in the Church of God according to every ones merit But if the aforesaid Brothers Nephews and other Relations by Blood or Marriage or those that are chosen and received in their Place should fall into want the Pope for the time being in his tender concern may relieve their Poverty out of the Revenues of the See and Chamber aforesaid in the same manner as he relieves poor Strangers out of the Goods of the Church which are God's but so as the Goods of the See and Chamber may not be bestowed on those or havock't or imbezel'd for the sake of those But if which God forbid the measure of kindness equally here and wholsomly prescribed should be exceeded towards Brothers Nephews and other Relations by Blood or Marriage and Favourites the Bishops of Rome successively may and ought either at the Instance of any one or by their own proper motion to take away those things that were unduly obtained from them and to revoke and annul what is given or freely granted in the way above-mentioned and herein must be no place for ill-will or favor but all things must be reduced to the rule of Apostolical Equity besides other Punishments which may be inflicted at the Will of the Pope And that as little damage as is possible may accrue to the Apostolical Chamber We do suppress and abolish the Office of General of the Roman Church and the Stipend or Emolument of the Superintendent of the State of the Church and also of the Government of the City Beneventum which was used to be paid by the said Chamber adhering in this both to the sense of the College of Cardinals our Brethren in a late Conclave wherein We by the Grace of God were raised to the Popedom and also by a Secret Decree made by Vs in Our Consistory the 16th of December 1676. And do We also Establish and Decree That other Military Offices which have been estimated according to the changes of the times and as we at this present do estimate them shall not be bestowed with a Salary or Stipend And that all things as is aforesaid may for ever remain in their full strength We will and command That as all and singular the Cardinals present have promised and sworn as much as in them lies to observe this Bull and never to withstand it nor to consent to any Pope's acting against it so likewise that this shall be done by the Cardinals now absent from the Consistory and Court of Rome whensoever they shall repair to the said Court and shall be promised and sworn to by all future Cardinals when they receive the Hat and this Oath shall be added to that which is taken of course by all the Cardinals And we Decree That those that do otherwise shall thereby incur the pain of Perjury and perpetual Infamy Juris Facti Moreover We Decree and Ordain the Cardinals in the Vacancy of the Apostolical See promise by Oath the Observation of the Bull of Pius V. of happy memory our Predecessor De non infoedandis c. and of Sixtus V. concerning the aforesaid Monies reposited in the Castle of St. Angelo and likewise the Constitutions of other Roman Bishops our Predecessors So every one that shall be Elected Pope after he is elected to the Papl Dignity shall promise and swear inviolably to observe this our present Bull according to the express form and tenor of the aforesaid Bull of Sixtus V. our Predecessor in the 11th Section And We will that these Our Letters be drawn into a Libel and added to the aforesaid Decrees of Pius and Sixtus V. c. for Entry and Publishing c. But since Princes are not able to undergo the Burthen of Government without Officers and assistants and that as these are so must they expect the eyents of their Governments This Pope without any respect to his own Relations chose such as he thought were Men of Sincerity and adequate to the Imployments he intrusted them with In the first place he made Cardinal Cibo his Secretary of State being a person endued with a great and generous Soul a clear Understanding Zealous for the welfare of the Church and dexterous in the management of Publick affairs The Family of the Altieri having before enjoy'd it he continued in their Military Employments as he did the other Officers But since they were at Peace with all the World for ease of the Chamber much indebted he caus'd the Officers of the Papal Army
places which ended sometimes in scuffles and fightings so that several were kill'd and some wounded against such a torrent there was no resistance to be made by a few Spaniards but they were forced to retire and keep close The Pope used severity against such as were found guilty of these Riots tho the Spaniards not thinking that sufficient satisfaction refused or durst not appear at Court and the Vice-Roy of Naples refused to give Audience to the Popes Nuntio there without any colour or ground The Pope was hereat disturbed and in pursuing of his Decree for depriving all places and persons of the priviledge of harbouring Outlaws and Criminals he publishd an Edict forbidding all Persons to affix the Arms of any Ambassador Prince or Noble Man over their Shops looking upon it as a Mark or Sign that they had renounced his Protection and put themselves under the Persons whose Arms they had so affixed and declared he would Govern at Rome as other Princes did in their Dominions This his courage and resolution surprized many who thought it as indeed it was no small thing to take away that which had been allow'd by his Predecessors wherein were so many great Persons concern'd besides the incensing of those Desperadoes who were hereby covered from Justice The Circumstances of the Spaniard would not admit him to contend but desires Audience which the Pope denies till his Nuntio were heard at Naples which being done and the Spaniard desiring by Letter that his Ambassador might have Audience on some emergent Occasion at the perswasion of Cardinals Cibo and Barbarino it was at last granted and the Ambassador departed well satisfy'd with the proceedings of the Court. And this had better issue for Rome than the contest between Paul V. and the Venetians for he intending to make all Kingdoms truckle to him begins with the States of Venice who he thought would not stand upon Points of honour as Crowned Heads might do but he took wrong measures for neither his Spiritual nor Temporal weapons could bring them to recede from their rights and so with shame he desisted The Contests between Popes and Princes have been the troubles of the Court and City of Rome but tho this Pope hath had some share in them yet he hath held his own without War or Bloodshed And it was no mean concern to enter the lists with one that then appear'd and ever since until now the greatest Monarch in Europe I mean the French King who stil'd himself Lewis le Grand The Contest was about the Regalia wherein I shall follow Sir Paul Rycaut's History of this matter who hath for the most part extracted it from the now Bishop of Sarum's tract on that Subject so far as he carries it The point of the Regalia had been an ancient dispute for many Ages in France which was in some sort determined in the Year 1431. by the Council of Basil where it was ordained that Cathedral Churches and others should have a freedom of Elections This afterwards was confirmed by a general Assembly of French Clergy at Bourges and address'd to King Charles the Seventh desiring him to protect that Council At that time the Council of Basil sent to the King an Abstract of their Decrees consisting of Thirty Seven Articles by which Decennial Councils and the Authority of the Councils above the Pope was established c. together with an Abstract of the Decree they had made concerning Elections All which were considered at that Assembly at Bourges where the Dauphin and the chief Nobility of France were present and by their Advice the famous Pragmatick Sanction was made in Confirmation of those Articles which was observed during the Reign of Charles the Seventh But Lewis the Eleventh esteeming it the Interest of France to maintain a good correspondency with the Pope was inclinable to wave the advantage of this Sanction In the beginning of Charles VIII an Assembly of States being called at Tours the Third Estate petition'd that the Pragmatick Sanction might be again renewed and confirmed calling those which were preferred by the Court Court-Bishops so it was again put into force and practice much to the displeasure of the Pope notwithstanding which Lewis XII made a perpetual Edict in confirmation of it Francis I. succeeding to the Crown and having vast Designs in Italy thought it not his Interest to stand at a distance with the Pope and therefore was willing to treat with him about the Abolition of the Pragmatick Sanction on such terms as might reconcile his own Prerogative with the Popes Authority This Design occasion'd an Interview between the King and Pope at Bologna and thence the Concordat was produced which was afterward put into the form of a Bull and confirmed by the Council of Lateran The Sum of which was The King and the Pope agreed to divide the Promotion to all Prelacies between them for the King was to nominate the Person within Six Months after a Vacancy and the Pope was to confirm him if no lawful exception did lie against him When the Emperors were low by adverse Fortune the Popes forced them to be beholding to them and not without some far-fetch'd Notion would make advantage for themselves and sometimes Emperors and Princes have retaliated the like measure to Popes Lewis XIV in the year 1673. being high and Prosperous in his Fortune resolved to put a Period to the Process for the Regale which had continued near Thirty years and made this Declaration That the King had Right of Regale in all his Dominions except only in those Sees that had purchased their Exemption from it And therefore all Bishops who had not yet Registred their Oaths of Fidelity in the Chamber of Accounts were required to do it and to take out a Writ upon it for closing the Regale otherwise their Bishopricks were still to be looked upon as under it All the Bishops of France unwilling to incur the Displeasure of their successful Monarch submitted excepting the Bishops of Alet and Pamiers It was now under the Reign of Clement X an old doting Pope who committed the management of the Pontificate to Altieri a Person from his beginning distastful to the Court of France This was the time for France to move the Pope who knew not his own Interest and Altieri was not able to contend in so litigious a case against so powerful a Prince In January 1676. The Kings Right was claimed in disposal of the Deanry of Alet the Dispute was left to the Bishops to maintain neither the Pope nor his Cardinals taking cognizance of it This Pope dying in August following left the Contest to our Innocent XI more able to maintain it than his Predecessor Another Case also happened one Pawcet was provided in right of the Regale to be Arch-Deacon of Pamiers but was rejected by the Bishop and Chapter howsoever the Regale prevailed for the Archbishop of Tholouse gave Judgment in favour of the Regalist but on the contrary the Bishop
of Pamiers acquiesced not in this Sentence but appealed to the Pope who was now engaged in the Controversie and the matter lodged in his Hands 1678. Wherefore the Pope writ his Brief to the French King and in soft and yet pressing Terms complained of the Innovations made on the Liberties of the Church and the Authority of the Council of Lions And after several Arguments to perswade him to desist from this Enterprize he concludes He cannot forget those Popes his Predecessors whom upon the like Occasion had endured long and great Afflictions But these Allegations satisfy'd not the King who pretended That the Rights of the Regale were inherent in the Crown and had been enjoyed by his Ancestors and by them derived down to himself The Pope on the other side replyed That the Secular Power had no Right to things Sacred but as it was derived to them by the Authority of the Church and that the Church had not granted any such Right having expresly limited it by the Council of Lyons which hath now been observed 400 years This Controversie seemed to lie dormant from September 1678. unto December 1679. when it was again revived in the See of Pamiers in that point which concerned the Vacant Benefices and the mean Profits for the Kings Officers seized on them so that the good old Bishop had nothing to live on the last twenty Months of his Life but the Oblations and Charity of his People This occasioned the Pope to write to Cardinal D'Estree to interpose in this Affair as being a Person more than ordinarily concerned in the Dignity of the Apostolical See to which the Cardinal answer'd in the Style of a Court-Bishop extolling the Kings Merit his Zeal for the Faith and respect for the Apostolical Chair what he had done for the suppressing of Calvinists and Heresie within his Dominions and how bravely he had defended the Christian Cause against the Turks and in fine he laid down the dangers which would follow if any Dissention should arise between that King and the Church At length Cardinal D'Estree was dispatched to Rome with a Letter of Credence and Orders to treat immediately with the Pope himself but it seems his Negotiation produced little Alteration for the Pope continued steady and constant to his Principles And on the other side the Parliament of Paris became as zealous for the Kings Right and Authority for which the Kings Attorney General pleading made little esteem of the Popes Censures in respect of the Kings Orders The Church said he may indeed have an Authority to punish Men for Heresie and an ill Life but the World was now too well enlightned not to discern that the Thunders of Rome had been for several Ages vainly employed for extending its Authority beyond all due Bounds the Limits whereof were to be found in the Canons of the Church by which the Pope as well as others ought to govern himself And therefore desired that the last Brief sent by the Pope might be suppressed which was accordingly done by a Judgment of the Court of Parliament on the last of March 1681. And to give a farther Authority to this Judgment an extraordinary Assembly was called of all the Bishops then residing at Paris where were present Six Archbishops Twenty Six Bishops and Six that were named to Bishopricks to whom the Agents of the Clergy represented the Invasions made on the Liberties of the Gallican Church by the Popes Briefs both in general concerning the Regale and in particular in the Affair at Pamiers and the Nunneries and concerning a Book of Gerbais a Doctor of the Sorbonne De Gausis Majoribus which were equally contrary both to Church and State to the Canons and the Concordate by which the Pope upon a simple Complaint without any Appeal did by the plenitude of his Power judge at Rome concerning the validity of Elections and the Authority of arch-Arch-Bishops and Primates c. The issue of this Assembly was They asserted the Authority of National Churches for judging all matters both of Faith and Manners and in the conclusion agreed to make an Address to the King praying him to give leave either for a National Counsel or an Assembly General the later of which was consented unto by his Majesty and summoned to meet the first of October following which met accordingly and at the opening thereof the Bishop of Meaux preached a most eloquent Sermon with much Applause after which the point of the Regale was put to the Question and argued learnedly on both sides and in conclusion the greatest part were of opinion that the Rights unto the Regale were inherent in the Crown and that the pretensions thereunto were Usurpations by the Church as appears by this following Declaration The Declaration of the Clergy of the Gallican Church concerning Ecclesiastical Power WE the Archbishops and Bishops Representatives of the Gallican Church being by Command of His Majesty Assembled at Paris together with others of the Clergy in the same manner delegated with us after long Debate and mature Consideration have thought fit to declare and determine these several particulars following I. That a Power is given by God to St. Peter and his Successors who are the Vicars of Christ and to the Church to Order and Regulate all Spiritual Matters but not to intermeddle in Civil or Temporal matters according to that Saying of our Lord My Kingdom is not of this World And again Give unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods And Agreeable hereunto is that of the Apostle Let every Soul be Subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers which are are ordained of God and whosoever resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God Wherefore Kings and Princes by the Law of God are not liable in temporal matters to the Ecclesiastical Power nor by the Power of the Keys can they be deposed either directly or indirectly or can their Subjects be absolved from their Fealty and Obedience to them or from their Oaths of Allegiance the which We confirm and determine as Principles not only necessary for conservation of the Publick Peace and Tranquility but for the better Government of the Church and as Truths agreeable to the Word of God the Tradition of the Fathers and to the Example and Practice of Saints and Holy Men. II. That the Apostolical See and the Successors of St. Peter who are the Vicars of Christ have a full and plenary Power in all Spiritual matters in such manner as is given to them by the Oecumenical Synod of Constance which is received by the Apostolical See and in such manner as hath been confirmed by the constant use and practice of the Popes of Rome and the whole Church and observed by the Religion of the Gallican Church and Decreed by the Authority of the General Councils in the Fourth and Fifth Sessions And the Gallican Church doth condemn the Opinion of those who esteemed
laboured Peace among Christian Princes yet now he liv'd to see them all engag'd but he had this to solace himself with that there was so much work cut out for France that his Arms were like to be diverted from him so that he might dye in Peace which he did accordingly And he had yet greater satisfaction since he had a fair prospect that as he had been instrumental to free a great part of Christendom from the Slavery of the Grand Seignior so now he saw so many great Princes joyn'd together to rescue their Countries from the Tyranny and Usurpation of France which two had design'd to share Christendom between them and none but himself had before so couragiously and vigorously according to the Methods of the Papal See opposed the Encroachments of France as he had done He was sensible that this was not a Religious War as the Jesuits would insinuate who have laboured the Exaltation of France but that the French King had ravish'd something from most of his Neighbours as well Papists as Protestants and that none of them were able to cope with him singly but upon any Fraction that he made with any particular Prince he would give Laws to them and they were forced to truckle and submit to him who would be Judge as well as Party in all Differences betwixt them and that it had long been his Method that if any Princes were at Variance to side with one of them and force the other to a Peace upon what Terms he pleased wherein on pretence of his Arms assisting he would not fail to be a considerable Gainer by the Bargain He saw also that he never observed any Peace or Truce though ratified by the most solemn Oaths further than it was for his own Interest All these Perfidious and Tyrannical Actions the Pope detested and therefore had he lived would in all Probability as well have assisted the French King's Enemies as he had done the Grand Seigniors I have already given an account of what pass'd as Matter of Fact in the Differences between the French King and the Pope wherein sometimes the French Allegations were more publick than the Popes as by the Marquess of Laverdin's Protestation c. for which reason I shall here insert a short Account of what was alledged on the Pope's side whereby the unreasonableness of the French King's Demands will farther appear especially considering his pretended Zeal for the Roman Catholick Religion and his affecting to be called the Eldest Son of the Church First That the French King was so far from having a true cause to complain of the Pope's unfair Dealings towards him that the Pope hath shewed him on divers Occasions the most effectual Marks of particular Esteem and paternal Affection that he might or could do without giving up the Churches Rights whereas the Pope received from the French King and his Subjects on his account and by his allowance witnessed by his Protection of them divers and several Injuries Contumelies Reproaches as well as Slights and Oppositions both by Words and Writings Secondly In the Matter of the Regale The French King extended his Power over more than half the Churches and Parishes of his Kingdom contrary to the express Dispensation of the second General Council of Lyons and the immemorial Possession and Rights of those Churches confirmed and authorized by the Acts and Ordinances of his Royal Predecessors and the Sentiments and Arrests of the Parliament of Paris the Registers of the Chambers of Accounts and the uniform Judgments and agreeing Opinions of the most famous and celebrated French Lawyers He endeavoured to subject divers Monasteries to his Nomination where they were Elective even to the almost Destruction of some of them and where he did suffer others to elect by his uncontrolable Power and absolute Authority he forced the Electors to choose whom he pleased and disinvested the Bishop of Pamiers of his Revenues because he defended the Canonical Liberty of the Church and persecuted the Canons and other Ecclesiasticks by Imprisoning and Banishing them because they would not obey the Schismatical Vicars which the Arch-bishop of Tholouse named in opposition to those Canonically elected and confirmed by the See of Rome with divers other Obtrusions on Religious Houses and Churches contrary to all Rules of Right and Justice Thirdly He suffered Books Dedicated to him and Licensed to be published both at Paris and by his Ambassador at Rome contrary to the Apostolical See and injurious to the Pope's Person Fourthly By his Edicts he confirmed the Propositions made by his Assembly in Derogation of the Pope's Authority and forced them to be Registred in the Sorbon against the Doctor 's Will. As to the Pope he was always ready for an Accommodation but that the King ever insisted upon having his Demands first accurately satisfied That the Pope never refused his Bull of Confirmation where the King regularly Nominated unless to such Persons of whom he is the sole Judge that were Court-Church-Men and had signed the Propositions which were Diametrically contrary to the Apostolical See or were notoriously Scandalous That the Pope denied not Audience to the French King's Ambassador if he would have communicated his Commission to Cardinal Cibo as the French King hears no Ambassadors c. before they have conferred with his Secretary or chief Minister of State but withall the French King had never returned answer to the Pope's Brief touching the Regalia which had been presented eight Years before the Ambassador was refused the immediate Access to the Pope he required And Lastly As to the business of the Franchises they have been found to be so great an Evil in the Government that the Pope was resolved to Extirpate their pretended Priviledges and that he is the sole Judge of what concerns his Temporal Government and no one ought to intermeddle therein but leave it to himself who is resolved to be Master in Rome as other Princes are in their Dominions And thus the Pope left these Differences undertermined What may further occur therein we must expect in the new Pontificate In the beginning of this year the Turkish Envoys came to Vienna to Treat of Peace The Diet in Poland ordered an Ambassador to be sent thither to Treat on their King's part notwithstanding the French Ambassador in that Court had laboured the contrary The Venetians had one there also and on the twelfth of March 1688 9. the Emperor's Commissioners having before received the Envoys Proposals gave their Answer by way of Demand viz. That the Turks should yield the Emperor to enjoy all the Countries Towns and Fortresses that he had gained during the War That Transilvania and Wallachia which have put themselves under the Emperor's Protection shall be freed from the Annual Tribute they formerly paid the Port. And that Count Teckely be deliver'd up to the Emperor The Envoys declar'd they had no Instructions to intermeddle in the last Demand The Venetians demanded the Island of Negropont and the Dutchy