solemn Entry of the Queen of Sweedland I heard an Expression of a Roman that gave me so great scandal that from my Cradle I was not in greater perplexity than at that time and all upon occasion of the Grandeur the Pope had usurp'd under pretence of Religion Being one day in St. Peters Church to see the aforesaid Queen Baptiz'd and observing the Pope and Cardinals with most incredible Majesty walking about in most sumptuous Habits I turn'd about to my Camerade and told him in my judgement I did believe there could not be richer Cloaths seen in the whole World The Roman heard me and crowding himself towards us gave me this answer The Habits Sir of the Pope Cardinals and Prelats are very rich indeed but my Wife shews her bare breech for it Neither my Camerade nor I gave him any answer suspecting him for some Court Spye that use to insinuate themselves as it were by accident into peoples company and speak ill of the Pope to make discovery of what their affections are But this poor Roman spake as he thought by the rest of his discourse making it plain how miserable the people of Rome were that were forc'd to deny themselves bread to enable them to pay the Taxes and Impositions laid upon them by the Pope So as the poor man concluded that the Catholick Religion in the Ecclesiastick State was the cause of the distress of the people and of all the pleasures and extravagancies in the Ecclesiasticks To this purpose I remember a certain Sermon I heard in a Covent in Rome and in the presence of two Cardinals one of them Sacchetti but the others name I have forgot The Sermon and the whole design of it made such an impression in me I think of it a hundred times a day and shall in this place insert the most memorable part of it The Preacher was a bare-footed Franciscan he seem'd a poor pittiful creature to look on but he was the more experienc'd in morality and declaim'd with that zeal and vigor against vice he rais'd devotion in the hearts of his whole Auditory The first Sunday in Lent this Holy Father being got into the Pulpit in the presence of two Cardinals and a very great Auditory besides after an Ave Maria and two or three cringes with his knee as is usual rising up again upon his feet he put his Cappuce or Cowle upon his head and pulling it down so low that we could scarce see his eyes in which posture having paus'd a while without speaking a word fixing his eyes upon the Cardinals that stood before him without naming any Text at all he breaks out abruptly into these words St. Peter was a fool St. Paul was a fool all the Apostles were fools the Martyrs were fools and all the Primitive Saints of the Church of Jesus Christ our Redeemer were fools The Cardinals at these words grew as insensible as Statues the people on the other side stood gaping in expectation of what would follow most of us imagining there was some mystery in the business and I among the rest admiring what freak this should be was very well contented to attend whilst the Father after some moments of silence which he had used on purpose to observe the distraction of the people began his discourse as followeth You that are Prelats do not you believe you shall be sav'd Yes good Father we do I know your answer And you of the common sort of people you are certain of Paradice Without question you will say yes Yes say I By turning night into day by feasting sporting and luxury with travelling all day in your Coaches and seeing Comedyes at night with wearing of Purple and Scarlet Silver and Gold and having your Silken trains carryed after you in the Street yes by spoyling the Walls of the Church to adorn the Walls of your Chambers and by taking from Christ to bestow upon the World is it in this manner O Romans you would be Saved The Apostles certainly and all the Saints of the Primitive Church might have been Saved the same way and then as certainly they were mad-men and fools to wander up and down in solitude and misery begging their bread for the love of God They were out of their wits to run up and down bare-foot and bare-legg'd preaching of Repentance and lying whole weeks together upon the ground and at last indure Injuries Imprisonments Persecutions and Death you are mistaken O Romans the Apostles and Primitive Saints were full of Sanctity and Prudence it is you are the fools to propose a new way of Salvation to your selves invented by your own intemperance and vanity you you are the fools you are the mad-men that think to save your Souls by ways not only contrary to the Precepts of the Gospel but against all reason whatsoever And these were the express words that he us'd which as soon as I went home I set down in writing lest I should forget them After this the Father named this Text Ductus est Jesus in Desertum admiring his patience which he apply'd with several places of Scripture and arguments of his own very proper for such select matter to us with great fervour and zeal I went home very well satisfi'd with the Preacher but in great apprehension for him believing as an Article of my Faith he would have been burnt next day in the Inquisition I was beginning a Psalm of Mercy for his Soul but my memory was too weak to go thorow with it but if I had my labour had been but lost the good Father had no need of it at all for he continued his Preaching in the same Church and with a greater concourse than before to my no small admiration for this I am certain of a Heretick nor the worst Enemy the Church of Rome had not only durst not but could not have found out more ignominious language against the City of Rome when two Cardinals were present To speak the truth that Sermon put a thousand thoughts into my head about matters of Religion which indeed are those I do most naturally apply my self to I would willingly have given any thing I had been absent and have repented me several times of going to Church that day and not without reason for from that day to this it has still run in my thoughts with what difference and contrariety they live now to the manner they lived in the minority of the Church when this City flourish'd with Godly men and Martyrs If a Heretick be ask'd whether he thinks to be saved or not I mean such a one as would cheat his own Father minds nothing but Roguery a continual Swearer and Debaucher one that goes to Church only for fear of the Magistrate ask such a one what he thinks of his Salvation and he will tell you he is most certain of it if you ask by what means he will answer with greater arrogance still by vertue of the blood of our Saviour that was
those that are first promoted to the Cardinalship and because it falls out sometimes that there are several made at one promotion in that case they have the preceedence that are first nam'd But when it happens that he that was but a Cardinal Deacon becomes a Priest he passes presently into the place of his promotion above all the Cardinal Priests that shall be promoted after him but not above those that were created before him The consequence is not the same amongst the Cardinal Bishops for if they from Deacons are advanc'd to be Bishops they take place according to the date of their orders or promotion As to the Cardinals habits which are altogether Majestick they have been prescrib'd them at several times by several Popes For a long tract of time they went habited like simple Priests or Monks till at last Innocent the fourth in the year 1250. order'd them to wear the red Cap in token of their readiness to spend their blood for the service of Christ the head of the Church a while after him succeeded Boniface the ninth who enjoyn'd them to wear Red and Purple habits in the fashion they wear them now saving that they are a little larger than formerly Paulus the second a Venetian that took great care of the Pontifical habits to make them the more splendid he added the Silken Mitre the Red Bonnet the Red Cloath for their Mules and the Gilt Staff Gregory the fourteenth gave the Red Bonnet to the Regular Cardinals allowing them as to the rest to go habited in the same colour as others of their Order did but as to the fashion and matter they were constrain'd to go like the rest of the Cardinals that is without Rochets or Cassocks of Cloath and when others had their Caps of Red they had theirs of water'd Chamblet and when others wore their Purple theirs was without watering but their Cap and Bonnet both of a fashion There are three colours the Cardinals make use of Purple Red and Murrey but of this last they make use but two dayes in a year which are the fourth Sunday in Lent and the third of Advent The substance commonly is wav'd Chamblet or Wool according to the season of the year they wear Cassocks also but very light alwayes and either of Taffaty or Sarcenet I could set down the times also the Cardinals wear Purple and Scarlet but I look upon it as superfluous and not much material to the Reader Only this I shall mention that though the Cardinals be in Mourning they leave not off notwithstanding their Scarlet habits or Red Cap in the exercise of all those Functions that others do wear them in with this difference only that whereas others wear Purple Chamblet they wear Purple Say's But upon their solemn Festivals they are constantly in Red unless they be in very deep Mourning walking up and down the City or making their Visits in that habit though there are several Visits they are oblig'd to make in their Scarlet Robes The same measures they observe in their Cavalcades or solemn Ridings they affect much to have the Trappings of their Mules of the same colour with their Clothes They use not to wear Black upon any occasion of Mourning either in their Clothes Coaches or Furniture of their Houses nor do the New Cardinals wear Mourning often and if they should they must pull them off till they have made receiv'd and return'd their Visits The Cardinals have commonly a Silver or Gilt Mace carried before them not so much to signifie the greatness of their Dignity as the excellence of it The Barber of the house or some other Assistant of the Chamber do carry it ordinarily as often as the Red Cloak is carried abroad unless it be when they go to preach in the Palace or upon Good Friday then a Groom carries it cover'd to the place where he goes and when the Cardinal takes his Cloak the Barber takes the Mace Their Cavalcades whether Pontifical or private are pompous and magnificent when they ride in their Pontificalibus they have their Mantles and Red Caps upon their heads and their Foot-cloaths and Trappings of their Mules suitable with their Clothes the splendor and magnificence of which sight puts the poor Prelate that has not necessary accoutrements perhaps out of his wits A certain Bishop of Naples that happen'd upon such a solemn occasion to be a spectator with me observing some of their Mules to be furnish'd so richly he turn'd to me and told me that In Rome it is better to be a Cardinals Mule than a Prelate of the Church And the times of these Pontifical Ridings are not seldom every time his Holiness rides with any solemnity they are oblig'd to attend him in their Robes on the Annuntiation day they do the same the day the Pope is invested they do so too upon occasion of any publick Consistory if a Cap be given to any Cardinal when they accompany any Cardinal that goes Legat a latere to any Foreign State and when he returns when they are to meet any King or Queen and lastly when they go to any Chappel or particular Consistory they march with the same magnificence and decorum They ride privately when they accompany his Holiness either out or into the City if the Pope be a Horse-back or in his Litter the Cardinals ride in colours suitable to the season and the garniture of the Mules are but ordinary The Ceremony of sending the Cap to such Cardinals as are absent from Rome is very curious and happens but rarely because for the most part the Popes will have them to receive them from their own hands not that it is necessary to the Orders of the Church but out of an ambition they have to receive their thanks and acknowledgements from the new Cardinals from their own mouths and to treat with them about the interest of their Families and the obligations they have to their Kindred for which reason some Popes do give the new Cardinals to understand that they took the resolution of creating them Cardinals upon several considerations but especially at the instant request of their Nephews though indeed there was no such matter But when by the incessant importunity of some King the Pope is constrain'd to send a Cap to some Cardinal out of Rome he sends it by one of his Chamber or some other Gentleman express with a Breve directed to the Nuntio Bishop or other Prelat of that place where the Cardinal is that is to receive it who is oblig'd to go forth to meet it with all his Family and Friends as not regarding the person that brings it but the quality of him that sends it and entring the City again the Cap is carry'd before him upon a Mace expos'd to the sight of all people as it is usually done when the Pope makes his Cavalcade to take possession in Saint John de Lateran the day of the Annuntiation Being entred into the City in this manner and
that by this means there were two scrutinies ineffectual after this there began strong practices in the behalf of Cardinal Bessarione of Constantinople a Grecian who was one of the chief which had oppos'd themselves against the Latine Church he had disputed much against Purgatory unleaven'd bread and against the very person of the Holy Ghost who he maintain'd proceeded from the Father alone and not from the Father and Son Cardinal Bettone Archbishop of Avignon being advic'd of this and discovering the two thirds of the Cardinals declar'd in the design he fail'd not to use his utmost endeavour to frustrate that Enterprise and with great zeal he exprest himself in words like these Most illustrious Lords what shall we make a Pope upon a present appearance only without reflection on what is past or what 's to come shall we prefer a Grecian to the Latine Church and establish a Neophite in the highest place of the Vatican who is it that can assure us his conversion is true heterodox opinions in matters of Religion though renounc'd and alter'd with the tongue do yet leave a muddiness and disturbance upon the heart shall we give the Keys of Heaven to him who for so many years and with so many arguments deny'd there was a Purgatory shall we make him head of the Catholick Church who oppos'd it with so much audacity Is it possible our Church of Rome should be so poor and indigent that there cannot be one person found out who was born in her bosom and is worthy of the Government of the Flock of Christ what will the rest of the Nations say to see us goe up and down begging our Popes of this Country and of that Rouze up your zeal most noble Companions and permit not a thing so scandalous in the Church of Christ this I am sure of he which is a friend to Christianity will not give his voice for such a Pope These words being spoken with great energy had such an effect upon the hearts of the Cardinals that they began to change their designs and place them upon Cardinal Alphonso Borgia of the City of Valenza in Spain a person of great experience in Politick affairs and of maturity in respect of his age The usual scrutiny being made the said Cardinal was chosen Pope and took the name of Calisto the 3d. verifying the Prediction of Beato Vincenzo who upon his death-bed prognosticated that not long after his death a Countryman of his of Valenza should succeed in the Papacy Calisto lived three years and died the sixth of August 1458. and on the 20th of the same month Cardinal Aeneas Piccolomini of Siena was created Pope by 18 Cardinals which were present in that Conclave in which there were but two Competitors for the Papacy viz. Cardinal Rotomagensis and Aeneas aforesaid so that for the four dayes time in which it was debated in the Conclave they had no other difficulty but to make choice either of the one or the other of these two because Pietro Barbo and the Cardinal of Pavia who likewise made some pretensions were excluded at the first But that which was most curious and worthy to be remembred was to see each of these two persons driving on his own promotion magnifying his own virtues and debasing the qualifications of his adversary Rotomagensis in this manner went from one Cardinal to another and said What have you to doe with Aeneas what reason is it that moves you to think him worthy of the Papacy what passion is it that blinds you so as to confer an Office of that Majesty and importance upon a Gouâ—y Beggar how can he that is poor and infirm himself relieve or support the Church which is as weak as infirm and as poor as he Where is his learning where is his knowledge will you make him a Pope because he is a Poet It is not long since he came out of Germany and who can assure you but he may have thoughts of transferring the See into Germany for my part I should not have ambition'd it if I had not seen a person stand for it of much weaker parts than I am I am the antienter Cardinal of the two for it is scarce two years since he was made a Cardinal and in my Conscience there is none of you but knows I have Learning and Parts enough to govern the Church of Christ very well to the Government of which learning and parts are absolutely necessary Besides all this I am of Royal Extraction and have friends faculties and wealth wherewithall to accommodate and alleviate the necessities of the Church and last of all you your selves will have advantage by my Election by reason of the many Benefices I hold which upon my renuntiation will be divided amongst you Thr Cardinal of Avignon an audacious rash and avaricious person was there in favour of Cardinal William Rotomagensis whose interest he pursu'd with all imaginable zeal not so much as he was a Frenchman as because upon his promotion he pretended the Church of the said William his Pallace and Chancery He assembled therefore several Cardinals in a House of Office as in a private and secret place and began with many fair promises to inveigle them into the Net and taking an Oath of each of them he agreed with them about the way Rotomagensis was to be chosen The business was held as good as done nor was there any thing expected but day to meet in the chapel about the Scrutiny Cardinal of Bologna seeing things at this pass went to Cardinal Aeneas after midnight and spake thus to him I am come to bring you news that the Pope is made that several Cardinals having met privately in the necessary house they have determin'd among themselves to make Rotomagensis Pope as will follow as soon as a is day For my part I am resolved to have a care of coming again into the noose having experimented already how inconvenient it is to have a Pope to ones Enemy and this I can say from Calisto the 3ds kindness who never look't upon me with a good eye for having spoke against his Election My advice is therefore that you put your own things in order that you get up immediately out of your bed and tender your service to Rotomagensis as you desire not to have him your Enemy Aeneas lost not his courage at the tydings but animating himself ratheâ— the more he reply'd Avoid Satan seeing you come hither â—ut to give that devilish counsel to me which you have taken your self Keep therefore such Councels to your self my conscience does not serve me to choose a person who to my knowledge is not only not 〈…〉 but the most unworthy of all God keep me from falling into so great a crime and if â—thers shall choose him let it lye upon them to give an accompt of it at the latter day I know well enough how inconvenient it is not to have the Pope to be ones friend but yet â—iâ—
the 5th Torres Mondovi Santi Quattro and Castagna created by Gregory the 13th The same day the Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave they swore to the observation of certain decrees resolv'd by them in the Congregation and a while after the friends of Cardinal Cesis began their practises with more fury than fruit Cardinal San Sisto opposing them publickly After that there were some endeavours for Sirletto Cardinal Medici and Altemps using all their art in his behalf but 't was impossible he was presently excluded Farnese Este and Sforza declaring against him Sirletto being excluded as a person improper for the management of affairs though otherwise of great learning San Sisto attempted for Cardinal Castagna his Creature and a person certainly of very great worth but all the antient Cardinals were against him as being one of the last Cardinals that were created Farnese also and Savelli were mention'd but in vain they finding great obstacles too but especially Savelli who was reputed a person of too Majestick a nature and rigid to excess In the mean time Cardinal Este Medici and Alexandrino being agreed privately concluded to make Montalto Pope who being look'd upon by all people as a person affectionate bountiful learned quiet and one zealous in the service of God they thought he would meet with little opposition especially there being none that gave the Cardinals so much honour as he reputing himself inferiour to them all and that so much that he oftentimes suffered himself to be call'd Asino della Marca by pretending either not to understand or not to regard and this happen'd in the Congregations by reason he never contended with any one to establish his own opinion but alwayes commended the opinions of other people Este Medici and Alexandrino went one night to Montalto's Chamber where they found him a bed pretending himself as careless and indifferent as if there were not another person with him in the Conclave being enter'd they told him they came to give him notice of their resolution to make him Pope the next morning betimes Montalto reply'd Me Pope a poor old man full of infirmities how can I think of the Papacy who have scarce time to consider of my death so short do I look upon my days and so grievons my distempers The three Cardinals as it were by consent told him that God would give him life and strength for the well Government of the Church To which Montalto reply'd with a sickly and weak voice That he would never have accepted so great a charge as the Papacy was if their most illustrious Lordships did not first promise to assist him with their vertue and experience confessing his own faculties very unable for the government of the Church without their help and assistance These words inflam'd the desires of these Cardinals to hasten the exaâ—tation of Montalto concluding they should at their pleasure command both Church and Court 100 as soon as he was received to the Papacy and they were the more confident because they knew he had but two Nephews sons to a Sister of his call'd Camilla wâ—o were young and inexperient in all kind of Politicks and learning San Sisto understanding the practice of Montalto and knowing the animosâ—ty he had born towards Gregory his Unkle he had thoughts of opposing him but he was overcome by the perswasions of the three Cardinals aforesaid and concur'd with them So that on Wednesday the 24th of April after thirteen days vacancy of the See by common consent they chose him Pope who call'd himself Sisto in complacency to Cardinal San Sisto as some suppose but the truth is it was to renew the memory of Sista the 4th who was a Fryer of the same Conventual Order of Franciscâ—ns which he was of The Cardinals Este Medici and Alexandrino were ready to biâ—e their thumbs repenting very much that they had made a Pope who declar'd as soon as he was asâ—â—m'd that he had no need of Companions in the Government and drove them all three out of Rome Five years and four months Sextus reigned in an absolute Monarchical way and with a Majesty much contrary to the humility he pretended when he was a Cardinal and with a manner so austere he was a terrour to the remotest of his Enemies he dy'd of a Malignant Feaver the 27 of August at night in the year 1590. His Ex 〈…〉 ies of nine days being over and the usual solemnities performed on Friday the 7th oâ— September 54 Cardinals enter'd the Conclave divided into several factions but particularly under these three heads Montalto who commanded the Creatures of Sextus his Unkle Sforza who conducted Gregory the 13th's Creatures and the Cardinal Ascanio Colonna who had twelve Cardinals of several places at his devotion For six days together Montalto and Ascanio Colonna us'd all their art to make Marco Antonio Colonna Pope who was a Cardinal of great worth and signal verâ—â—e against whom Sforza and Borromeo oppos'd themselves with such violence that all the friends of Colonna despair'd of his success However Montalto being incourag'd by his Creatures resolv'd to persist and tire out the Cardinals with the tediousness of the Conclave rather than recede one step from his resolution although the Spaniards declar'd themselves averse who exhorting him to name some other person could get no answer but this that when he should see the interests of Colonna desperate he would throw himself upon his knees before the Image of the Holy Ghost and would draw lots as it were for a Cardinal to name These passages being related to Cardinal Marco Antonio Colonna he went to Montalto and told him that it was not suitable to the mind of a Christian to let the Church continue in her Widdowhood for his sake or that he should go about to obtrude a Pastor upon the Flock of Christ adding other reasons also which so wrought upon Montalto that he became inclinable to favour the interest of San Marcello a Cardinal of Genoa call'd Gio. Battisto Castagna which designs were laid by Cardinal Sforza and the other Genoese Cardinals who had got 25 votes to whom Montalto being joyn'd they publish'd all night long San Marcello to be Pope and on the next morning the 15 of Sept. being Sunday the Scrutiny was made in which all the votes were in his favour he being made Pope 18 dayes after the vacancy of the See and interrogated about his name declar'd he would be call'd Vrban the 7th But here we must not omit the opinion Sextus the 5th had alwayes that the Cardinal Castagna was to succeed him in the Papacy and many times he gave him a hint thereof amongst the rest going with the said Cardinal to see a Street which he had order'd to be made from Santa Maria Maggiore to Trinita de Monti and I know not how much beyond turning to San Marcello he told him in the presence of several Prelats This way is begun by us but will be finishâ—d by you Another time not long
qualities merits and adherences of the Papable Cardinals of the aforesaid Conclave as also of their number and of whose creation which will give some light to the Reader and enable him to consider of the adherences and hopes both of one party and the other but I will not omit to insert what pass'd betwixt Cardinal Sforza and N. the day before they enter'd into the Conclave which will serve to give some illustration of the qualities of some of them Cardinal Sforza and Cardinal N. being in discourse Sforza demanded of N. what his judgement was as to the new Election the other wanted not an answer but reply'd immediately My Lord I believe if the French shall make the Pope Cardinal Farnese will be the man if the Spaniard Cardinal Rospigliosi if the People of Rome Cardinal Barbarino if the Holy Ghost Cardinal Odescalco if the Devil either your Eminence or I. Then it shall be Rospigliosi reply'd Sforza smiling and so they pass'd to other discourse But to return to the Papable Cardinals they were twenty in number and no more the rest of the Cardinals being all declar'd Spaniards or French or too young for youth by reason of the inexperience wherewith it is usually accompany'd and for fear of a tedious Reign a potent exception against any of them all is enough to hinder the best persons exaltation as we see dayly by frequent examples Of these twenty Papable Cardinals eight were created by Vrban Barbarino Ginetti Palotta Brancaccio Carpegna Gabrieli Durazzo and Facchinetti Three by Innocent Odescalco Albici and Spada call'd commonly Santa Susanna and nine by Alexander Bonvisi Rospigliosi Farnese Caraffa Elci Celsi Bonelli Litta and Bandinelli But this last was mention'd without the Conclave not within for he dyed at the beginning of it so as there remain'd then but nineteen all persons of competent age the youngest of them being above 56. Barbarino was in his 70th year which was no small advantage to him his creatures and some other of Innocents his Correspondents as Raggi Santa Croce Spada and Pio seem'd to concur willingly in him the Spaniards were not against him though they would never declare possitively for him and it appear'd to be some advantage too that Sforza was not head of the Faction who upon several scores had but very little affection for him so that if he had persever'd in the good management of the business which he began with Chigi and had obtain'd his concurrence and his creatures he had been certainly Pope as most people believe But one which penetrated deeper into the Machinations of the Priests was of opinion Chigi could not have done it without disgusting several of his creatures and losing their votes for himself and indeed being agreed with Barbarino he endeavour'd to discover the intentions of the principal of his creatures and to draw them to joyn with him for the exaltation of the said Barbarino but he found so great repugnancy from the beginning especially in Cardinal Celsi who was upon several accounts an implacable enemy to Barbarino that he had much adoe to appease them by obliging himself to speak no more of the exaltation of Barbarino It is reported that in the heat of their dispute Celsi should speak openly to Chigi in this manner your creatures follow you because you have promis'd them all not to suffer the Papacy to fall but amongst your creatures and if it happens to light amongst the creatures of Urban your Eminence will be left alone in the Conclave and if you lose it now you will lose it for ever Barbarino was advis'd by some persons to open his purse and to leave all the hopes of his pretensions to the operation of his Coyn according to the abominable example of Alexander the 6th and some there were who suppos'd the business was concluded but that report proceeded only from the malice of his enemies to fully and obfuscate the reputation of a man who certainly for more Papacies than one would not have defil'd or eclips'd the lustre of the esteem which he enjoy'd amongst the people Ginetti's pretensions were founded only upon the benevolence of the Spaniard towards whom he had alwayes carry'd himself with great circumspection and his great age which was 82. but in other respects there was but little appearance for him Palotta was put into the number of the Candidates not that it was believ'd he could be exalted in that conjuncture because Barbarino was his profess'd enemy and he was hated by the Spaniards for the integrity of his life they being alwayes jealous of a person of worth or parts extraordinary But in consideration of his merits only true it is every one thought there was but little hopes of his exaltation perhaps as a judgement upon all Christendome as well as the people of Rome who were not worthy of so excellent a Prince for this I dare affirm that of all the Sacred Colledge he only and Farnese are the most proper to undergoe the charge of the Papacy in respect of their uprightness of mind their integrity in matters of Justice the love of the people and which is yet more that they are disinterested and no passionate promotors of their Kindred His being 70 years old and having the Gout gave him but little assistance because his complection was strong and in other respects he was perfectly sound In the last Conclave but this there was some talk of Carpegna because the two Medici's endeavour'd his promotion but in this of Clement the 9th he remain'd in his ordinary infirmity which is only in a desire of pretending and no more there being no Medici's then to advance him nor indeed did he put himself much forward as conscious perhaps that he had nothing but his being a Cardinal and a Servant to the Great Duke to recommend him Cardinal Rossetti who had the management and interest of the Great Duke made some kind of proffer but he durst go no further for he was sure never to compass his designs and he did well for there was need of better heads than his in the Apostolick Chair Brancaccio was discours'd of as an excellent Lord not only in respect of his birth being a Gentleman of one of the best Families in Naples but in consideration of several good qualities that were in him but there were two things and very important which hinder'd his friends from entring into treaty for him the first was that they saw Chigi's Faction resolv'd to have no other Pope but a creature of Alexanders and there was but small hopes to see the Papacy amongst Vrbans seeing Barbarino had try'd the impediment the second because the Spaniards had no great kindness for him and although they pretended to be reconciled yet the quarrel continued at the heart still and 't is most certain they would never have concurr'd in this man whilst there was any body else to create and a third reason was the great fondness Brancaccio express'd alwayes to his Kindred it