they least thought of it He did much affect this sort of Generosity or rather Soverainty for he never suffered any of his Relations to put their hands into his Coffers nay he was so absolute that once he banished a Kinsman of his because he found his House better furnished than it could be by those Gratifications which he had received from the Pope who used no more words with him but these We have given you so much and you have so much How came you by the rest And so without delay he banish'd him and divided his Fortune amongst his other Relations If the Nephews of other Popes become rich it is by the abuse they make of that Authority which they usurp in the Pope's Name But it was not so with the Nipotismo of Sixtus for he never gave blindly but with his eyes open and discreetly And if there were any Error committed in their growing rich it was the Pope that was the Author of it and not they who were meerly passive and did but receive their Uncles Liberalities There is no doubt but that under this Pope the Church received much more benefit than damage for the Nipotismo having no Power could not be otherwise than good and innocent and the Pope himself was so wise and vertuous a Prince that there were few Miscarriages in his time if we except that only occasion in which Sixtus by his too hasty Excommunication of King Henry the Third of France brought the Church in danger of losing for ever so noble and flourishing a part of Christendom as it had hapned already by the rashness of one Pope that the Kingdom of England was entirely lost only because Clement the Seventh would not yield a little of his Authority And indeed I think the greatest blemish upon the Reputation of Sixtus is that he suffer'd himself to be so far transported with anger as to Excommunicate Henry the Third of France for having caused the Cardinal of Guise to be killed and the Cardinal of Bourbon to be shut up in a close Prison with the Archbishop of Lyons who were indeed all three Traytors to the Kingdom and Conspirators against the Royal Person of Henry The Consistory of Cardinals did oppose this violent Resolution of Sixtus by remonstrating to him the terrible consequence of it and the danger that all the Church would incur by the loss of so noble a Christian Kingdom But the Pope laughing at all this answered the Cardinals in this manner If therefore you will have it so we will bring it to pass that from henceforward you shall be neither honour'd nor reverenc'd by Princes nor Kings but despis'd vilified and exposed to the hands both of the Oppressor and the Executioner Certainly if the killing of Cardinals be conniv'd at and pass'd over without resentment and chastisement it may very easily become the Case of every one of you However we will rather do that which Justice requires though you little care that Reason be done for the Violence committed not so much against you as the Sacred Purple Nevertheless the Pope was wary not to precipitate things so suddenly but suffered five Months to pass after the death of the Cardinal of Guise during which interval he made by Letters several Admonitions to the King all which proved to no purpose the King being resolute not to free the Cardinal out of Prison which the Pope so vehemently urged Whereupon seeing he could not prevail he thundered out the greater Excommunication with all the accustomed Forms against the King and against all those who in the said matter should afford Counsel to or in any manner whatsoever assist him Besides which he also cited the said King to make his personal Appearance at Rome within the term of seventy days there to give account of the Death of the Cardinal of Guise and the Imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon The King conceived great indignation upon this proceeding of the Pope and began to advise with the Prelates Bishops and Counsellors of greatest trust with him how to ward off such a Storm and things were carried so far that the Council-Royal seem'd resolv'd to create a Patriarch in France particularly for the Gallicane Church who should not in any wise be subject to or have so much as the least Communication with the Church of Rome And 't is likely the French who affect Novelties would not have been backward to close with this Resolution But whilst Matters went on in this manner it so came to pass that the King as he lay with a great Army at S. Cloud two Leagues from Paris was on the first day of August in the year 1569. wounded in the belly with a two-edged Knife by a Dominican Fryar named Jaques Clement Native of the City of Lans and of the age of twenty three years as he was receiving Letters from the hand of the said Friar who was upon his knees of which Wound he died within fourteen hours in regard his Entrals were pierc'd having imploy'd this short in ordering such things as concerned his Soul This Murder hapned seventy eight days after the Summons by the Pope for his Appearance at Rome within seventy days and his Holiness rejoyced not a little at it since hereby the displeasure which the Consistory of Cardinals the People and Nobility had conceiv'd against him as one that car'd not much to see the destruction of a Kingdom which would breed disturbance to the common quiet of Italy from Age to Age both by Sea and Land Great were the Stirs which succeeded in France after the King's death inasmuch as Henry King of Navar next Heir to the Crown began to endeâ—vour the possession thereof by warring against the Lords of the Ligue who were back'd and upheld by the Spaniards by whom the Succession of Henry was infinitely opposed In these Commotions and Broils of France the Pope gave not those Assistances to the Ligue which they expected and required and this upon several accounts but especially because he would not condescend to the Instances of the Cardinals and the Spaniards who much solicited him giving them this Answer When we were against the dead Henry all you were our Opponents Now that you would persecute the living Henry we will not side with you for the sake of our own Interest It was not a little displeasing to the King of Spain that the Pope did not succour the Ligue nor declare Excommunicate those Princes and Prelates that followed the side of Navar so that the King resolv'd to make some Protestations to the Pope concerning this Tergiversation But his Holiness wanted not Pretexts to fence with and in a manner made sport with those Spanish Cardinals who importun'd him either to unite with the Ligue or send considerable Assistance to it Gregory the Thirteenth had Nephews who did not degenerate from the Name of Buoncompagno that is to say they little car'd to do good and less to do evil Nevertheless according to the Instinct which
Pope Alexander the Seaventh I Chantry sculp Il Nipotismo di Roma OR THE HISTORY OF THE POPES NEPHEWS From the time of Sixtus the IV. to the Death of the last Pope ALEXANDER the VII In two Parts Written Originally in Italian in the year 1667. and Englished by W. A. LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Miter near Temple-Bar in Fleet-street 1669. The Author to the READER· Kind Reader I Should have much to say to thee and not a few Ceremonies to Complement thee withall if two Considerations did not make me resolve to hold my peace and abstain from that courtship which would become a Preface The first is because I will not as the Proverb sayes reckon without mine Hoste and fill thy ears with excuses before I know whether thy intention be to hear them or no. Secondly because I think it will not be amiss to forbear Ceremonies in the presence of so many whose business it hath been to be most accomplish'd in performing of them What danger would there be for once to let a Reader judge of a Book without all those troublesome informations from the Author For in a word either the Reader hath parts and learning and then his own judgment needs no instruction from the Authors or he hath none and is illiterate and then the Author loses his time in excusing himself to one whose abilities cannot reach his subject But this our age being so far different from ancient times wherein little notice was taken of the Author though much of the thing written it will be as just for him to inform his Reader as for a Suppliant to inform his Judge though never so learned and to be recommended to him though his case be never so just A Friend of mine calls the Advice to the Reader the Sauce of the Book because it is that part which gives us a stomach to read the rest I must confess it is for his satisfaction that I give you mine I know not how excellent it may prove to thy Palate but my intention is not at least to put too much Salt in it and indeed with what can I season it or what Ingredients have I left to compound it withall If I praise my own work I shall incur the censure of an interessed Judge if I dispraise it I shall do my self an injury To tell thee that this Book comes from Rome is in vain because the very Title of it discovers the place of its birth and to entreat thee to read it would be just the way to stifte thy curiosity for now adayes every body desires the reading of those Books which are prohibited and I am certain that it were a good way to inâ—ite the publick curiosity of the world for any Books to intreat them that they would be pleased to let them alone for that without doubt would encrease their desire of seeing it I think I had best do as those Hunters who for fear of raising the Partridge too soon talk to one another so softly and so low that they scarce hear themselves speak Therefore Reader take notice this is that famous Nipotismo di Roma so much desired and wished for by all the ingenious of Europe before it was brought forth by the Author I give thee warning to read it in private and keep it to thy self for if the news of thy reading it come to the Inquisitors ears without doubt thou runnest the hazard of an Excommunication for they have sworn to indure no Books in Italy but those that shall slatter the Court of Rome It is indeed a good policy for them and for those Church men who having pretensions to the highest Ecclesiastical Honours stand all day before the Nipotismo with their Caps in their hands I know that in Rome this History will produce the same effect that our Nails do upon a Sore that is the more they scratch it the worse they make it Yet the itching pleases every body and the more we scratch the more we have a mind to scratch still Neither do I doubt but that there will be some flatterers and false friends of the Nephews of the Popes who will express their dislike of this Treatise but it will be only in appearance and not from their hearts which may be forgiven them for seldome in Rome do the Tongue and the Heart correspond In the dayes of Innocent the eighth some body made a Book intituled The Abuses of the Churchmen very satyrical fbr in it were all the Ecclesiasticks Vices but none of their Vertues which indeed was somewhat severe This Book was put into the Popes hands who by judging things without passion shewed himself to deserve his elevation to so great a dignity for having read it in the presence of some Prelates of the holy Office he turned to them and said This Book speaks truth and if we have a mind that the Author should be found a lyar we had best reform our selves first I wish to God that in this our Age there were many such Innocents and that all men were of so sound a judgment as to profit by good things and laugh only at ill ones or rather avoid them For my part I think that if ever there hath been a Book in this world free from a flattering design and interest that this is one of those for the Church of God will profit by it the Romans will draw no small pleasure nor less advantage from the reading of it and I hope that it will be a kind of Looking-glass to the Nephews that are to come whereby they may guide their actions and steer their intentions to a better course then their Predecessors There passed not long ago by this Town a certain Prelate of Tuscany to whom I gave a sight of this Manuscript before it was printed he took such delight in perusing of it that he entreated me to hasten the publication of it with these words For Gods sake Sir inrich Rome with so great a Treasure as this is bestow so good an example upon Princes Politicks and illustrate all Christendome with the demonstration of so much zeal This was the opinion of a sincere Prelate But besides it is most certain that the Nephews as well those that now bear sway as those that are out of date and those that are to come if they will judge without pre-occupation will find that this History is of no small concern to the promoting of their interest considering that the good which is said of them doth much surpass the ill and that it demonstrates how necessary a thing the Nipotismo is to the City of Rome I do not pretend to any thanks or retribution for the good that shall happen to them neither would I be content that the harm if there be any should reflect upon me As for the Book Reader it is in thy hands and must stand or fall by thy verdict I therefore only desire thee to pronounce sincerely whether it be not as necessary for
Monastery the other was Julian son of Raphad de la Rovere brother to the Pope and had been first Bishop of Carpentras then was made Cardinal by his Brother and at last came to be Pope under the name of Julius the second as we shall relate in due place Sixtus gave to the Cardinal Peter Riario all that was in his power to give adding Abby upon Abby and revenue upon revenue till he had made him so rich in Church lands that he lived most splendidly and seemed to be born to waste a greater fortune Plays Balls Dances and such pastimes were the ornament which he bestowed upon his Ecclesiastical dignity being perswaded that pomp and vanity were becoming the majesty of a Cardinal He lived but two years in this loose life in which time 't is thought he spent in Treats and Balls and such like diversions above two hundred thousand Duckats of gold besides seventy thousand which he owed at his death and which were never payed He dyed at the age of 28. years to the great regret of his Uncle his disease having been caused by his debauchery as the Physitians restâ—fiâ—d Six months before he dyed the Pope whose continual study it was how to make him great declared and proclaim'd him his Legat over all Italy not that any urgent business did require such a Function but only that he might give him an occasion of shewing his Grandeur and receiving more pleasure in those triumphs and receptions he was upon this score to have bestowed upon him by the Italian Princes who to humour the Pope forgot no honour they could think of towards the person of his Legat and could not indeed have done more to the Pope himself particularly in Venice Milan and Padua he was received with so extraordinary a pomp that it was almost incredible Great was the delight which he took in these publick honours but much greater were the pleasures which he tasted in secret having ordinarily amongst his Attendants five or six Russians whose business it was to satisfie his appetite though never so inordinate Being at last come back to Rome to the possession of his old Mistresses he ended his dayes amongst them and went to a new world whether of pleasure or of pain God knows But the Popes affection to his kindred was not buryed in his grave for he made his Brother Jerome succeed in his favour and fortune which he rather increased then diminished for he made him Lord and Soveraign of Inola and Forli and gave him the government of all the state of the Church besides other important Offices This Jerome was a quite contrary disposition to his Brother being naturally severe in words and deeds and averse from all pleasures but hunting He married Catharina natural daughter to Galeazzo Duke of Milan and Sixtus made Ascanius the son of the said Duke Cardinal into the bargain contrary to the young mans inclination which was rather to marriage then to a single life But the inordinate passion of this Pope did not rest in all this for his ambition of having kindred to advance was such that not being content with that great number of true Nephews that he had he substituted and adopted some that were no relation to him at all to whom he gave an infinity of places and commands He gave to Leonard his brothers son a natural daughter of King Ferdinand in marriage and made him Prefect of Rome And he being dead he immediately transferred that honour and place to another Nephew called John de la Rovere brother to the Cardinal Julian giving him besides the Propriety of the States of Sora and Sinigaglia This John had by Giovanna daughter to Frederick Duke of Vrbin a son who was Francesco Maria della Rovere who after the death of Guido Vbaldo his Uncle who dyed without male issue succeeded by adoption and in the right of his Wife to the Dukedom of Vrbin Besides these Sixtus made Cardinals the two brothers Christopher and Dominic de la Rovere who lived in Tuâ—in under the protection of the Duke of Savoy though they were Soveraigns of Vico Nuovo and other Estates in Italy Besides he made Jerome Batto his sisters Son Cardinal as likewise Raphael Samson son to a sister of Pictro Riario whom he promoted to that Dignity when he was but seventeen years old upon condition that he should change his name and take that of the Popes Family This Pope had so much kindred and was so inclined to advance them that he often granted the same thing to two different persons having forgot that he had granted it to the first But amongst all his inventions to enrich them this was one of the best In the beginning of his Pontificat he made as if he had a design to pay the debts left upon the Church by the precedent Popes Eugenius Nicolas Calistus Pius and Paul but pretending want of money to do it he compassed his design by this means Paul the second his predecessour had alwayes had a great inclination for the publick pomp and state of the Popedom and therefore strove to make the Ornaments of the Popes person and head the richest that was possible for him to which end in the Miter which serves at their Coronation and other publick ceremonies he had caused above the worth of a million in precious Stones to be set having bought up all the world over the best Diamonds Saphires Rubyes Emeraulds Chrysolites c. that could be had for money so that afterwards when he came out in publick he looked like another Aaron with a Majesty more divine then humane being himself very tall and of a comely port and presence Sixtus who having been brought up in the severity of a Monastick life did little esteem that outward pomp which Paul his predecessour so much prized caused these precious Stones to be sold under pretence of discharging such debts as the Church was lyable to for his predecessours The Jewels were soon sold and the money consigned into the hands of his Nephews but the debts were never payed though the Jewels had been sold to that end And that which is worth relating is that the Pope answered every one that came to demand any thing due to them that he had already payed the others that he was sorry it was not their fortune to come sooner and that the money had proved short to discharge so many debts So that the poor Creditors were fain to go away cheated and yet knew not whom to complain of The Romans murmured strangely against this greediness of the Pope and his kindred and so much the more because that they had not yet been accustomed to see a Popes passion for his kindred make him rob and plunder the Church They wondred what example Sixtus could have for his proceedings for none of his predecessours had hitherto shewed so little moderation but in providing for their kindred had kept some measures Neither could his education furnish him with this ambition and
Son to side with the French who failed not to settle his Grand-child Octavio though with this condition that he should renounce Camerino and restore it to the Church and be content with Parma and Placentia for which he should pay every year seven thousand Crowns to the Apostolick Chamber Thus the Nipotismo was in great credit and Authority in Pauls time for this Pope spared nothing to make them great alienating the Churches Lands and maintaining them in the possession of their acquisitions with the Churches Mony which stirr'd the indignation of all Christendome and made the Hereticks who by this time were multiplied like Grashoppers take from them an occasion to deny the Popes authority and primacâ— Julius the third who succeeded Paul preserv'd his Nipotismo in a handsome condition and rank but was not so furiously transported with Ambition to settle them in Dukedomes and Principalities His humour was gâ—y and merry a good companion and one that lov'd to eat and drink well with his friends And yet though this jovial inclination of his made him little enclin'd to warlike attempts he nevertheless sent great Succours to the Duke of Florence Câ—smâ— in his Warre against the Sienezes and this because the said Duke had promis'd him to make his Brother Baldwin Marquis of Monte san Sabino which thing was not only executed but besides the Dukes Daughter was promised in Marriage to Fabian de monti Baldovin his Son she was afterwards married to Alfonse Duke of Ferrara Giulio made also five of his Nephews Cardinals to wit Christopher di Monte Fulvio de la Corgâ—â—â— Innocentia de monte Geronimo Simoncello and Roberto de Monte pulcrano To these he was very liberal but to say true not prodigal as his Predecessors had been 'T is true he did what he could to make his Brother Baldwin Duke of 〈◊〉 and dâ—prive the Church of so good a State but the Cardinals oppos'd him so vigorously that he was fain to desist from his design Julius being dead the very name of the Nipotiâ—â—â— dyed with him for in the year 1555 Marcelius the Second was made Pope who would never endure that any of his kindred should come neer Rome no not his own Brother Nay more he would never suffer that two Nephewes of his who before his Election liv'd with him following their Studies in Rome under his care should receive any visits as his Nephews and he forbid him to stir out of doors least in going to School they should be owned in the streets and receive the Complements of persons of quality They that knew much of his mind while he was Cardinal said after his death That his intention was altogether bent to apply some remedy to the ambition of the Popes and that he had particularly resolved to give to his Brother and Kindred but just as much as would maintain them like ordinary Gentlemen but not so much as a simple Barony much less Dukedomes and Principalities and to this he would have the advice and consent of the whole Colledge of Cardinals having a firme purpose of making most secure decrees by which the Popes should be bound and kindred from giving any thing to their Kindred without the consent of all the Cardinals But while he was intent upon so good a work he was surprized by death twenty dayes after his election so that in so short a time he did neither good nor harme to the Church To him succeeded Paul the Fourth of the House and Family of Caraffa in the same year 1555. This Pope was one of the most fantasticall ill humour'd men that all the World could afford He presently made his Brothers Son Carlo Caraffa Cardinal and to him he gave so much Authority that it seemed that the Popes Will depended upon his pleasure He excommunicated Mark Antonia Colomna and Ascanio his Son under divers pretexts but indeed only to take from them those offices and honours which they had in Rome and to seize upon all their Revenues within the Territories of the Church which was severely executed the Pope at the same time giving the investiture of all their estates to Giovani Count of Montorio his Brothers Son giving him the Title of Duke of Paliano which place he immediatly went about to fortifie that it might hold out against the forces the Colonesses were raising to recover their lands as at last they did A little after he made Antonio Caraffa the Earles brother Marquess of Montebello a place which he had deprived the right owner the Earl of Bagno of as being contumacious and for having as the Pope said ingrossed that money which the King of France had sent for the War in Italy The Nephewes of this Pope became at last so insolent by their Uncles indulgence that they did rob spoyl ravish kill and in a word commit all sorts of crimes with impunity Exercising so many cheats and frauds upon the poor people that not only they made all the World cry out against them but at last moved the indignation of their own Uncle and provoked him to be severe to them driving them away out of Rome and depriving them of all honour and dignity Pius the Fourth of Milan of the Family of the Medici but of that branch that was then setled in Milan was chosen Pauls Successor and no sooner had he taken possession of the Popedome but he fell to frame a process and impeachment against the Nipotismo of his Predecessor with a design to punish them severely which he executed but with an affront to the holy Character of a Pope for he made as if he had pardon'd them all their misdemeanours which he confirmed with an Oath to which the Caraffas trusting came to Rome but no sooner were they there but by the Popes order they were clap'd up in prison and having undergone a new tryal were all condemned to die The Cardinal Carlo Caraffa was strangled the Earls of Montorio and of Alife and Leonardo di Cardine were beheaded Thus the City was as it were purged of these abominations which this Nipotismo had defiled it with After this the good Pope Pius that he might not come short of the Piety of his Predecessors introduced a new Nipotismo for above five and twenty Nephewes brothers and sisters children came in upon him of whom he refus'd none but raised as high as it was possible for him to do making them all rich and allying them with great families but his kindness did particularly extend to Giovani Antonio Sarbellone his Nephew who seemed to be born to heap riches together But Pius the Fifth who succeeded Pius the Fourth was not at all of this Humour for he was absolutely averse from any such unjust wayes of advancing his kindred having hardly condescended to make Michael Bonello his Sisters son Cardinal and certainly he had never done it if all the Cardinals unanimously had not raised in him a Scruple of Conscience by saying That he refused to promote one who was most worthy
of that Honour Therefore at last and as it were by force he declar'd him Cardinal but with a strict Order not to meddle with state affairs without Commission Gregory the Thirteenth of the Family of the Buon Compagni who was chosen Pope after the death of Pius in the year 1572. followed not so good a path but declin'd to a great indulgence for his Relations First he presently made Philippo Buoncompagno his Nephew Cardinal to whom he gave many Abbyes which were vacant in his Predecessors time Besides he call'd about him all his Nephewes and Cozens to whom he gave Offices Dignities Governments and Lordships enough to make him great ' Tâ—â— true he shewed no great ambition of making them great Princes because he saw little probâ—â—ility of a good success but he heaped Abbâ—es and Prelatures upon them as many as they pleased He dyed 1585 the tenth of April and had for Successor upon the 24th of the same Month Sixtus the Fifth of the poor Family of the Peretti having been a Monk of that conventual Order of which Sixtus the fourth who lov'd his kindred so well was In his first beginning he seem'd a little averse from his kindred not that he despised them but he shewed no desire of making them Princes but they that made any foundation upon this exteriour were much deceiv'd for there never was a Pope that had a greater love for his relations then this and all well considered we shall find that Sixtus the fifth gave away much more to his Nipoâ—â—smo then Sixtus the Fourth for his Family of 〈◊〉 was very Noble and liv'd splendidly before his assumption to the pontificat whereas the Fâ—mily of Pâ—retti was so poor that they had not bread to eat being fain to beg here and there One of Sixtus the Fifth his Sisters was a Laundress in Etsâ—â—li and câ—me to see her Brother in 〈◊〉 upon an Ass which was led by a Halter by hâ—r â—ldest Son and with all this he left him all 〈◊〉 and great He lov'd this Sister of his Camdâ—a most tenderly insomuch that he could never see her enough and for her sake in the first month of his Popedome he made one of her Sons Cardinal giving him his own Cardinals Cap and câ—lling him by the name of Cardinal Mâ—ncealto though he was but one and twenty years old To him Sixtus gave in Abbyes and Church-lands above five and thirty thousand Duckats a yeâ—â— which was no small revenue in the hands of one who lov'd much to be thrifty To the other Brother who had led the Asse he gave the chiefest offices and places of Rome and married him with great pomp and solemnity to a rich Roman Lady He assigned 20 thousand Crowns a year to his said sister Camilla who drawing allwayes before her Eyes her ancient poor condition could never be brought to lead a great Ladyes life but liv'd allwayes like a country Woman Her two Daughters were both married one to Virginio Vrtino and the other to the high Constable of the Kingdome of Naples Caâ—onna to one of which he gave for portion a hundred thousand Crowns and made a Cardinal of the family of the Colonna together with great Offices and Revenues Besides this he made Alexander Beretto his brothers Son Cardinal and assign'd him a revenue of twenty thousand Duckats in Offices within Rome and in the Popes Territories in which he had great number of Benefices In a word Sixtus when he dyed left to his Family the sum of a hundred and fifty thousand Duckats yearly revenue besides money in speâ—â—e and the wonder of this was that it was all done without any prejudice to the Church but so much to the contrary for he surpassed in the stateliness of his edifices in Rome the ancient Romans and yet left behind him five millions of Crowns to the Church to the astonishment of all Christendome There is little or nothing to be said of Vrban the seventh who succeeded Sixtus in the year 1590 because he liv'd but 13 dayes after his election But his kindred of the house of Castagna in Genoa having suddenly heard the news of his elevation hastened to Rome but three dayes journey from Genoa they receiv'd the newes of his death Whereupon they were forced to return home and keep close for a great while to avoyd the derision and mocking of their Enemies And this was because that they had gone out of the City in great pompe and state beginning allready to carry themselves like so many Princes but their pretensions vanishd with the Popes death Nevertheless the Pope in so short a time shewed himself kind for he left them some considerable Legacies having given away to the company of the Nuntiâ—ta whose Protector he had been all that was in his power to distribute But that which Vrban could not compass in thirteen dayeâ— Gregory the fourteenth his Successor did in ten months This Pope was of the family Sfondrata of Milan and very desirous of adding to the greatness of his family And because that Paulo Emilio Sfondrato was at the time of his creation in Milan the Pope refus'd to dispatch any business before his coming to Rome where presently he was made Cardinal and had twelve thousand Crowns a year assigned him the same day besides a great number of Abbies and Offices which his Uncle gave him a little after The Pope was used to pass most part of his time with this Cardinal no business passing but what was sifted between them the Pope often saying to him Nephew make a good purse before I die And the Nephew who understood the means did not fail to obey him and out of every hundred take ninety for himself the rest he left to the Church and that was alwayes the worst money Two moneths after he made the Count Sfondrati another of his Nephews General of the holy Church and sent him to the Wars of France having first married him with the daughter of the Prince of Massa and made him Duke of Monte Marciano which Dutchy the Pope pretended to be devolved to the Church ever since the death of Alfonso Picolomini Duke of the said place whom the great Duke of Florence put to death and the Pope immediately confiscated all that he enjoyed in the Territories of the Church pretending that the said Alfonso was a Rebel to the Church Whereupon he gave his Nephew the investiture of the Dutchy Innocentius the ninth succeeded to Gregory the fourteenth in the year 1509. who lived but two months and by consequence was not in a capacity of leaving much to his Relations many of them nevertheless were already come from Bologne the Popes native Country amongst whom he made one Cardinal and that was Antonio Fachinetti but he gave him no other Office then that of a Referendary there being no other of any consideration vacant 'T is true I believe that he thought not of dying so soon for else he would have provided more largely for this Cardinal and
pretend that he appear'd in greater Splendour then he did at the Court of France as well to win their good will as to please his own ambition in being seen in such pomp in a place where most Ambassadours of Princes were to meet nay and many Princes themselves To say truth the Pope deserves no small praises for his noble inclination in honouring sometimes one Prince sometimes another but particularly for the zeal and piety he hath shewed in the choice of those persons that he hath promoted to be Cardinals for in three or four promotions he hath alwayes picked out those who were most worthy of this eminent Dignity having in that little regard to any bodies recommendation if the Subjects themselves did not answer the expectation conceiv'd of them and whosoever would enquire into the life of these his Creatures will be satisfied of their integrity and learning and confess that many of them are worthy of the Popedom and it may be it may fall upon some of them after the death of Alexander who now thinks of little less then of dying for at his first coming to be Pope he thought so much of it that now being weary of those thoughts he thinks of nothing but living All his drift now is to oblige the Cardinals to a good correspondence with Don Agostino but he perpetually disobliging them with his haughty carriage 't is thought that after the Popes death they will little regard his recommendations in the choice of a Successour if things do not much change I would say something of the future Conclave but I think it is to no purpose for the Pope doth little think of leaving this world though the Cardinals pretenders do every day long for his death that they may bring another Nipotismo in play And some are very much convinced that he cannot live long considering the augmentation of his late indispositions whereupon those Cardinals that compose the flying Squadron have often met in secret to agree about a Successour but indeed I think that we ought to wish that Alexander may live yet for in the present conjuncture of affairs his death would do no less then bring trouble to Italy and all Christendome which God forbid The Pope doth every day endeavour to get a protection for his Nipotismo and would fain have the Spaniards declare Cardinal Chigi Protector of that Crown and the Popes Nuntio in Spain hath made great instances to obtain it that they the Family of the Chigi might be strengthened but I do not think he will obtain it for the Spaniards are too great lovers of themselves to protect a decaying Power which will rather be a burden then a help to their Monarchy FINIS Il Nipotismo di Roma OR THE HISTORY OF THE POPES NEPHEWS FROM The time of SIXTUS IV. to the Death of the last Pope ALEXANDER VII The Second Part. Written Originally in Italian in the year 1667. and Englished by W. A. LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Miter near Temple-Bar in Fleet-street 1669. THE PRINTER TO THE READER TO satisfie the curiosity of an infinite number of Persons who having seen scarce any thing else of the Nipotismo besides the Title do enquire after the Book with much earnestness I have made hast to Print this Second Part that so you might have it compleat and I doubt not but you will be infinitely pleased with it It is true my intention was in conformity to the Authors to have waited yet a little longer because that Affairs in Rome seem inclinable to a change But it was beyond my power to keep the Rain which was already in the air from falling to the ground and I was forced to yield to the curiosity of so many Inquisitive persons To which the Author was the more willing because he had a desire to be rid of this Nipotismo that he might give himself up to the composing of some other Books of no less curiosity And I on my side have been desirous to free my Press that I might set it on work again for a Book which no doubt will be very welcome to you It is Intituled Europa Morta and comes from an Author who is a sworn Enemy of Flattery The Subject of the Book is all Politicks and very sharply handled shewing the defects of all the Kingdoms and Republicks of Europe which they are now subject to for want of men of that worth and vertue in whom it was anciently so abounding Divers Persons that have read the Manuscript are very pressing for the publishing of it which I hope will be done within this two months at least And I doubt not but I shall satisfie that expectation which I now raise in you for there you shall meet with the relation of some Accidents which hitherto have been kept close from the ears of the Vulgar In it Praises are dispensed with measure and blame with justice and so I hope this Nipotismo will custom you to the Lecture of such Books and make your pleasure the greater when you shall meet with the Europa Morta which is Vniversal Farewel Il Nipotismo di Roma OR THE HISTORY OF The Pope's NEPHEWS The Second Part. The FIRST BOOK The Contents IN which is treated of the mischief which the Popedome brings upon the Popes Of two particular Examples about that Of two Protestant Gentlemen that went to Rome to see the Court and the Church-mens way of living and what came of it Of the scandal which the Hereticks receive from the Popes Kindred Of the particular reasons which move the Popes to the advancement of their Kindred which are the love they bear to their own Bloud the conservation of their Persons and the Policy of their Government Of the aime of those Popes that introduc'd the title of Cardinal Padrone Of the difficulties which the Princes find in having access and treating with the Pope Of a particular case in Sixtus the fifth's time Of the care the Popes take to prevent their being poysoned Of the miseries of the Ecclesiastick State Of the mischief the Church endures because the Popedom is not Hereditary Of the Popes Nephews who look upon the Popedom as their own Of the principal reasons which oblige the Popes to call their Kindred about them Of the difficulty the Popes would meet with in diving into Princes Secrets without the assistance of their Nephews How Urban did instruct his Nephews How Cardinal Astalli was introduced into the Nipotismo Of the opinion of Cardinal Mazarine about that business Of the great Authority which Gregory the 15 th gave to Cardinal Ludovisio his Nephew Of the Republick of Venice which obliges the Kindred of their dead Duke to satisfie by Fines for those Errors which the Duke did commit while he was alive Of some particularities about the Accident that befel the Duke of Crequy Of a Discourse held to Monsignor Rasponi by the Pope Of the way that the Popes have to conceal the Secrets of their Court. Of the reasons why
Sacristan has drunk some of it before him So that it is evident That the Popes do use many more preventions than any other Prince Now if it be thus with them can they do better than to call about them their proper Kindred into whose hands they may commit their Persons Who will take a greater care of their preservation than they who hope for Riches and Honour to their Family And who will take the pains to contribute to the lasting of any Empire but he that has the greatest share in the enjoyments of it Those Popes who at first seemed averse from their Relations having in a small time come to know the difficulty of their own preservation in the hands of Strangers have immediately called them to Rome and thrown themselves into their Arms as a place of Refuge against so many who had an interest to destroy them and by all sorts of Favours sought to make it their Kindreds Interest to love and take care of them It may be that Urban the Eighth who lived 23 Years Pope had not attained to half that Age if the Barberins had not used all imaginable means to prolong his life which else would have been plotted against by both Princes and private persons But no body durst undertake that which seemed impossible And without doubt the care they took of him did exceed the desire he had of living for old age was become a burden to him at last Innocent the Tenth after the Design of getting the Kingdom of Naples from the Spaniard was discovered stood in perpetual fear lest to be revenged they should plot his death which it may be they had done if Donna Olympia had not taken the care to dress his Meat and feed him with her own hands and in acknowledgment of her kindness he would often say to her Sister do you take care of me and I 'le take care that the Popedom shall be yours Pius the Third of the Family of Picolomini of Siena had not died by poyson procured him by Pandolfo Petruccii Tyrant of the said place if he had had some of his Relations neer him whereupon he was forced to trust his life in Strangers hands and lose it miserably before he could see any of his Kindred about him Buthere some body will say That indeed it would not be amiss that the Pope should resign the care of his Person to his Kindred but not give them an unlimited Power over Church and State That it is fit they do not want necessaries but that he should not go about to content their insatiability To this we will answer in time and Place it is enough for the present to have proved That they are the most necessary Instruments of the Popes preservation And because the obligation of him that receives his life from another is infinite therefore the Popes do think that they cannot repay but by infinite Gifts and Favours Now we will pass to the third Reason which is The Reason of State The State or Politick Government of the Church is the most unfortunate and miserable in the World for it is neither Commonwealth nor Monarchy and as an ingenious Prelate said It is neither from God nor the Devil And the causes of its Misery are divers but particularly one is Because the Supreme Governour always dying without Heirs there is no body left to take pity of the grievances which are continually introduc'd by the Governours of Provinces who rule as they please Many compare all the Ecclesiastick State to a Town taken by an Enemy who being out of hopes to keep it any time falls to plundering and destroying it carrying away all that 's good and leaving to the poor Citizens nothing but the liberty of venting their complaints Just so do the Church-men who are in authority in one Pope's life for foreseeing that their power is like to expire with him and be resigned up to his Successor they make Hay while the Sun shines and use all manner of Extortions and Violences in their respective places for fear else of departing with their hands empty And the people are so far from obtaining redress from those that succeed them that they had rather be under the Government of their old Masters for the new ones come with intention to do as much if not worse than the others In the time of Francesco Maria della Rovere last Duke of Urbin his Creatures seeing him past hopes of having any Heirs and that after his death the Estate was like to fall to the Church as being a Feife of it they applyed themselves to make their advantage by all means that is they plunder'd and ruin'd it that they might leave it bare to the Church-men their Successors Particularly when they saw the Duke languishing in a decrepit Age they then bestirr'd themselves and flew about like so many Bees to suck the rest of the Honey But he hapning to live longer than they expected they were at a loss and had drained all the State so dry that they themselves were fain to sit and look upon the desolate condition of that Dukedom without being able to make it worse It came thus lean and impoverished into the Church-mens hands who for all they have such good Stomachs were fain to forbear eating for the first seven years till it had gathered a little flesh again and then they fell to devouring of it afresh and have since continued to do so no sooner perceiving it to be a little recruited but they extenuate it with Taxes Impositions and Extortions That which hapned once to the Dutchy of Urbin happens often to the whole state of the Church for as soon as the Governours and other subordinate Officers see the Pope drawing to his end and by consequence that their time of getting is also ready to expire every new Pope advancing new Creatures there is no sort of Violence Theft Robbery or Extortion that they do not commit in their respective charges which they no sooner resign to new Officers but that they who come in poor and must maintain the Decorum of their places invent some new way of vexing the poor people and enriching themselves giving afterwards a little respite to the people to breath in and by that time the Pope is a dying and then they fall on a fresh So that it appears that the Popedom being Elective and not Hereditary causes all these misfortunes to the State and people for this makes every body think of the present and none of the future there being no future amongst Church-men But if this inconveniency be great it would without doubt prove much more intolerable if the Popes had no Kindred to help them in the Government of the State and Church For though it seem that a Nipotismo is directly bent upon its own profit and advantage yet for divers reasons and respects they do preserve many places from ruine and many Subjects from oppression Whereas if the Pope were without them he would be forced
above 300 years together in greatness and I believe will so continue because it stands not on the same foundation with other Families of Popes First because as I said before it has rather given Popes to the Church than receiv'd Being from the Popes without need of whom it kept it self long in grandeur And though at first view the great height of this House may seem to be of right attributed to the force which Clement the seventh us'd to enslave his Countrey and render his Kindred Princes Yet this is not pertinent to the question for Clement took not from the Church to give to them but only destroy'd a Republick which was an obstacle to the eyes of all Popes and where his Family was already in chief command Besides the Medici were therein as much oblig'd to the House of Austria by whose Force and Power they undoubtedly receiv'd the Principality which they possess with so much glory And accordingly Ferdinand the second and his Ancestors have alwayes shewed themselves most grateful for the benefit The Family of Farnese which is that of Paul the third Successor to Clement came out of Germany into Italy in company of the Emperours who often made this Voyage attended by a great number of Dutch Gentlemen here the chief of this Family gave in divers cases great proofs of their valour and were therefore preferr'd by the chief and most Potent Princes of Italy to greater Dignities and Offices than those which they had possess'd at home as well Civil as Military whereof they acquitted themselves well The Popes especially were ambitious to have them at their service and by their means obtain'd sundry Victories without which 't is likely the Church would have been in great distress In the Papacy of Paschal the second in the year 1100. Pietro Farnese Captain of the Cavalry of the Church did wonders in its service having obtain'd a most glorious Victory against the Pope's Enemies on the Coasts of Tuscany restoring to Costano the name of Orbitello a very ancient Colony and replenishing the same with much people Prudentio Son of this Pietro under the Papacy of Lucius the second and Pepone and Panuccio Sons of Prudentio under the Papacy of Innocent the third effected great things in defence of the Church which was greatly afflicted with the Schism of the Emperors The Grandfather of Paul the third was Ramecio Farnese who overcame subdu'd and destroy'd all the Rebels of the Holy Church which in great numbers molested the State Ecclesiastical and almost all Christendom he being Captain of the Papal Army in the time of Eugenio the fourth who indeed was a very worthy Pope if for nothing else yet for the good intention he had to reward the valour of this great Captain and I think he rewarded him abundantly by this testimony which he gave him The Church is ours because Farnese hath given it us In short in the Civil Broils which continu'd for aboue four Ages between the Popes and the Emperors the Family of Farnese with incredible valour and felicity reliev'd the drooping state of the Holy Church Nevertheless the last Popes Vrban and Innocent ingrateful for these benefits went about to ruine this well deserving Family Now if they persecute those who with their own Blood and Fortunes have serv'd the Church what man will ever serve it for the future These two Cities were indeed separated from the Church and given to the Farnesi who at first found great opposition and became Masters of it with great difficulty and that not before the time of Pope Julius the third in the year 1550. which Pope gave them investiture in despite of Charles the fifth who could never be perswaded to consent and assigned them a considerable summe of money for the keeping them Within this last forty years the Popes have persecuted these innocent Princes in that manner that without the assistance of Forreign Crowns and some of the Princes of Italy they had been exterminate before this and received so notable a loss that had it been compared with what they had received from Paulus the third it would doubtless have been found they had received less than they had lost from whence it may be justly said they have not enjoyed that Principality which they possest as a feud of the Church in that peace and repose for this last half age as they ought in reason to have done For those Popes that gave it them first gave them also priviledges to enjoy it without molestation and therefore those Popes that have of late troubled the Farnesi with so much expense ought in reason if there be any such thing in Rome to have forfeited their feudale Rights Julius the third he also failed not to do his part towards the raising of his Family which was of the De Montes by giving them several offices and sums of money by which means in a short time they became very great but half an age was not past but it began by degrees to decay and shrink into that mediocrity it is in at this day which is but small in respect of the condition it was in after the death of Julius who saw them advanc'd but did not live to see their declension it being a general Maxime amongst all the Popes Nephews that they see them advanc'd but to the highest pitch of honour but live not to see them fall to the lowest point of disgrace But the greatest Family of all was the Caraffi rais'd to that height by Paul the fourth though of it self for several Ages before very illustrious The authority they had in Rome with the command of several Lands and Castles belonging to the Church made this name like to be eternal and being fortified with such strong banks not at all subject to the injury of time But if ever any Family of the Popes were in a short time precipitated from the greatest height to the lowest of meanness it was this of the Caraffi from Paul the fourth which continued not four year in that Splendour and Eminence the Pope had plac'd it he himself having laid the foundation of their greatness and ruine Notwithstanding Paul the fourth left his Nephews no small store of Riches although they were banisht from Rome which they enjoyed till Pius the fourth was preferr'd to the Chair who being Pope and not able to endure their insolencies he got them into his hands and forming a Process against them he hang'd some of them beheaded others and sequestred their Estates destroying in that manner the House of the Caraffi with no small gust to the Romans who frequently declared their dissatisfaction with the behaviour of the Caraffi But some will object that the House of Caraffi do at this present flourish in Naples in great honour and wealth and may be reckoned amongst the Principal there as well for Splendour and Magnificence as Wealth of which they enjoy not a little To this may be answered with the same reason I have alledged before
where I spake of the house of Borgia divided into two Branches one in Spain the other in Naples for the House of the Caraffi when Paul the fourth was made Pope was divided also into two Branches one of them remaining in Rome by the acquisition of a new Estate the other in Naples in possession of what they had got before The Lords of the Caraffi enjoy at present in Naples many Signiories as particularly the Dutchy of Matalone which they had enjoyed a hundred years before Paul the fourth without interruption being anciently Dukes from the time of Ferdinando first King of Naples and reckon'd amongst his principal Favourites and are still esteem'd of very well by the Crown of Spain though in the revolutions of Naples upon I know not what considerations the affection Philip the fourth had for a long time for the Duke of Matalone was observed to grow cold This Branch that remained in Naples received no benefit or advantage by that which was establish'd in Rome which last being extinguish'd by the two Popes aforesaid by the death and sequestration of so many Caraffi the other remained in Naples daily augmenting by the favours and priledges they receive from the Crown of Spain Neither are the Neopolitan Caraffi of the same condition with the Roman they having nothing as many believe or at least very little of the Church Lands in their possession which continued not long to the other House not so much as to the second Generation and therefore these Lords are still so considerable in Naples because their Estates sprang rather from the reward of their valour than the oppression of the poor All this notwithwanding the People of Naples were always disaffected to the House of Matalone for which reason in the Revolution of Masanello Don Joseph Caraffa was slain by the fury of the People his heart pull'd out of his breast and his body drawn all about the City with this Exclamation This is he that betray'd the most faithful People of Naples Besides there were several Palaces of the Dukes full of inestimable Furniture burnt without being able to preserve one and I being then in Naples heard several cry We must burn all to purge the House of Caraffa from the Leprosie of the rest of the Caraffi alluding to them who in the time of Paul the Fourth had made themselves odious to all the World as well as to Rome The Family of the Buoncompagni was considerable above thirty years after the death of Gregory the Thirteenth which was the Person rais'd them to that height for though before they were in some degree of Nobility yet their Estate was but narrow and small however in the twelve years of his Papacy he let them get so much that without any great difficulty they liv'd like Princes after the death of that Pope who died in March 1585. Giacomo Buoncompagno General for the Holy Church left many Sons all rich and allied to good Houses notwithstanding in a short time all was consumed and though there was not one lavish or profuse person in the Family though they had several Cardinalships and other Charges in Rome yet could not all prevent their growing worse every day And had not two Marriages sustained them and put them into the condition they are in which yet is but mean in respect of the gâ—andeur they were in before they had certainly before this been destroy'd But the greatest wonder in the particular of the sudden destruction of the Popes Families was in the House of Peretti rais'd by Sixtus the Fifth That Pope to immortalize his Name and the Grandeur of his House which was but of very low extraction married two of his Nephews or Nephews Sons I know not which into the principallest Families in Rome giving each of them considerable Estates in Land and an infinite quantity of Money and that it might not meet with any untoward accident to subvert it he settled their Estates in the surest and best places he could thinking thereby to secure and establish his Family Ten years after the death of Sixtus there were seven Males of the House of Peretti alive that is in the year 1600. all of them very rich but particularly they which had the Inheritance of Cardinal Montalto who left his Nephews an Estate of a hundred thousand Crowns in yearly Rent besides what they had afore Many People conceiv'd this Family was establish'd for ever and who would not have thought so considering the number and fertility of the Males their Alliance with the greatest Families their Riches and in short their enjoyment of all things necessary to the immortalizing a Family Yet the Name the Wealth the Granduer of this House did all vanish like smoak at the death of Cardinal Froncesco Peretti who died in the beginning of Innocent the Tenth's Papacy with no small trouble to the Romans who loved his person exceedingly having found him full of actions of generosity and nobleness to all that had to do with him And so was the House of Peretti extinct not being able to continue half an Age. Yet notwithstanding the death of the Cardinal was the rise of another Family from the Pope which is called the Savelli into which one of his Sisters was married who remained Heir to a vast and inestimable Patrimony Some People are confident That if the House of Peretti had continued the Savelli would have been in an ill condition so as there was no great hurt done to lose one Family and have another rais'd The House of che Sfondrati yielded to the Papacy Gregory the Fourteenth who though sprung from Milan himself yet nevertheless as to his Original he may not improperly be styl'd both the Son and the Father of Cremona a Town considering its Antiquity amongst the principal of Italy besides that it has in all times produc'd men very eminent both in Learning and Wars In this City amongst the most considerable Citizens was this House of Sfondrati always enjoying the greatest Office in the Council which procur'd no small envy in the hearts of many insomuch as some people excited the Cambiaghi which was then a Family of great credit and esteem in the City to oppose themselves against the Ambition of the Sfondrati who at that time appear'd to carry all before them The Cambiaghi back'd and supported by other of the Citizens endeavour'd what they could the diminution of the Sfondrati and from hence arose not to say Civil Wars great feuds and animosities between them which continued till such time as Girolamo Sfondrati was called to Milan where meeting with greater Advancements he resolved to leave Cremona for ever And from this Family now become Milanese Gregory the Fourteenth descended who would always acknowledge Cremona to be his Country yet would declare often whilst he was a young Student there He would never return to Cremona till he was made Bishop of that place Afterwards arriving at a competency of years and other qualifications he begg'd