receive the due reward of his labours And being arrived at Rome after his continuance there some weeks he resolved cunningly to try his fortune by craving leave as he did to go unto his Residence to the end that by the answer the Pope should give him he might conjecture what his good or bad disposition was towards him and so might afterwards direct his life accordingly But Urban not onely gave him his benediction with both hands but 〈…〉 sayd unto him My Lord goe the more cheerfully because we will not forget your deserts Which Caraffa hearing absented himself from the Court and arriving at his Residence he never went from it untill his Holyness after some ten or eleven years past of his Papacy caused him to be called to the Court in the year 1642. so as all the world was perswaded that it was to promote him unto the Scarlet Gown but being arrived there it was published that he was come to visit the Temple of the Apostles and not called by his Holyness and the occasion thereof was because the Colonnesi foreseeing that the Scarlet Gown was designed for him upon his arrival returned anew to press the Pope that he should not promote him and among the rest Donna Anna Barbarina Wife to Don Tadeo went unto him and with reiterated prayers and much weeping perswaded Urban not to make him Cardinal as indeed he did not But Urban himself repented him of it for he was heard one day to utter these precise words God forgive him who was the cause that I did not make Pier Luigi Caraffa Cardinal and this he sayd many times according to report howsoever he was fain to goe away from Rome as he came but Innocent the tenth when as in the second Promotion he promoted his Nephew gave him the Scarlet Gown because he knew him worthy of that dignity and Caraffa himself expected it from his hands as soon as he heard of his Holyness assumption to the Papacy for he well remembred these words which he spake to him when as in the time of Urban he was departing towards the Residence of his Church My Lord it grieves me much that your Lordship goes from Court with so little satisfaction not having received the deserved reward of your labours Unto whom Caraffa answered I will pray our Lord God that he will make me worthy to receive it from your hands to this Pamphilio replyed I have no such pretension but be assured if it should happen to be so you shall be one of the first I will think upon as indeed it fell out for after the promotion of his Nephew he was the next that he gave the Hat unto being at that time in his bishoprick of Tricaria and besides his Merits there was a certain obligation of kindred between them for whilst Innocent was a Prelate and Nuntio at Naples having brought along with him thither all his Family together with his brother and his wife his Nephew called Camillo Pamphilio the now Husband of the Princess Rossano was born in the sayd city of Naples and the Prince Don Tiberio Caraffa this Cardinals brother was his Godfather This person is most deserving both for his own good qualities and the services he hath done to the Apostolick Sea He is exceeding well verst in all matters of the Consistories and Congregations his Votes are held in great esteem and the Pope makes much account of him so doth the sacred College and every one else He is a man of approved goodness of life and hath alwayes shunned conversations for the avoyding of scandals he seeks as much as may be to live retired devoutly reverencing God and making all his Family to doe the like and it is held for certain by them which know him that he is still a Virgin This Cardinal hath in the sacred College no Enemies either secret or open unless it be the Colonnesi who as before would not have had him Cardinal so doe they not now for certain desire he should rise to the Papacy but will use all their force and power to keep him from it He would be a good Pope for the benefit not onely of the Roman Church but of all Christendome He hath many and divers Nephews but the most beloved and nearest to him are the Sonnes of the Count Celano of the House of Piccolomini and those of the Marquess of Ansé Howbeit if ever he should come to be Pope Teatino would be the reigning Cardinal unto whom he hath resigned the Bishoprick of Tricario a man Learned of good Life and great Authority The Prince of Bisignano Don Tiberio Caraffa his Brother is Knight of the Golden-Fleece He is curteous affable of an exemplary life and very charitable so that for his noble qualities he is well looked upon and universally beloved of all the City of Naples which calls him Pater Patriae for that he favours the poor so much VII Federico Sforza FEderico Sforza four and forty years of age a Roman Nobleman and Brother to the Duke of that Surname He was a Prelate in the College of the participating Protonotaries in the time of Urban and had no other imployment than to be Vice-Legat in Avignon being sent thither by the Cardinal Antonio the Legat with an intent to promote him also to the Cardinalship but it did not follow for some private interests Innocent the tenth for that he would not see a House so renowned and so well affected unto him to be without the Scarlet Gown made him Cardinal He is a man of good understanding but not very rich and therefore somewhat miserable His Holyness after the flight of the Cardinal Antonio made him Vicechamberlain of the holy Church He is a jovial Lord loves Comedies and Feasts and in particular when he was a Prelate he delighted much in company His Inclination is French for two reasons the first because he was Vice-Legat at Avignon and the second for that there is continually seen in his Palace great store of French but he seems to be neutral except it be for the Pope Others say that he will become Spanish in regard of the feudes and estates which Duke Sforza his brother possesseth in the State of Milan being lately too left heir of many Gastles by the death of a Milanese Lord his Kinsman He is no great friend of Cardinal Antonio because he caused him upon hope of making him Cardinal to sell him at a very low rate the Palace of Sforza's Court since called Cardinal Antonio's but being afterwards given by the said Antonio to the Queen of France it is now named the Royal Palace where the Ambassador of the most Christian King resides and where also the Princes and Lords that come out of France doe usually lodge VIII Tiberio Cenci TIberio Cenci a Roman fifty five years old he was a Bishop and promoted to the Scarlet Gown at the instance of the Prince Borghese Nephew to Paul the fifth as the nearest of his Kinsmen that was capable of that
things he he was ambitious of This Cardinal was even from his birth ever bountifull and hath with donatives and magnanimitie drawn many to his devotion insomuch that although he hath commited some errors and excesses yet is he not therefore so rigorously envyed whilst being possest of the goods of fortune he hath also made others partakers thereof and hath prodigally spent his own He hath not been a little taken with the beauties of women on whom he hath wasted great summes of Gold La Checa Buffona in temporibus was his Mistriss who out of the confidence that she had in the protection of the Cardinal Antonio went up and down masked in the Carneval time for which the Governor of Rome caused her without any respect at all to be whipped thorough the City He got with child the Daughter of the Marquess of Couré Ambassador of France To a Neapolitan Curtesan which dwelt in the Giulian street he gave for the first time a thousand crownes but not to say more this alone shall serve for a closing up of so many indignities this Cardinal hath committed that to a Pedant which had the charge of a very fair boy the Sonne of a Gentleman whom he let him enjoy several times he gave for a reward thereof a Bishoprick nella Marca di Marcantonio I will not speak of his bardache whom being but the Sonne of a barber he hath reduced to such a pass as not content with having inriched him he hath caused him to be adorned with the title of a Marquess The said Cardinal was sent Legate Apostolical and Generalissimo into the States of Bologna Ferrara and Romagna against the Princes of Italy where he caried himself valiantly and with the satisfaction not onely of all those people but also of the souldierie and if any one hath traduced his good name saying that he was privy to the death of the convert Nunnes of Magdalens in Bologna he lies for Antonio was not of Councel with that fact but indeed after the Delinquents were discovered in stead of chastising he favoured and protected them the one being Carlo Poscente and the other Manente his Secretary nay more he sent Carlo Poscente for his Vice-Duke into the state of Segni and also kept the Archbishop of Bologna from proceeding against them enjoyning him to speak no more thereof I cannot deny but Antonio committed an error in having so little regard to his reputation for as Legate Apostolical à Latere as General and as the Popes Nephew he might with all rigor have taken information of the matter and then arraigned and condemned them to the punishment which the heynousness of their offence requited and afterwards he might graciously have pardoned them for so he had shewed himself a just Judge and they too as if they had been sufficiently chastised had not incurred that which after the death of the Pope his Uncle arrived unto them being both of them first confined unto his Palace and after that sent prisoners to Bologna where they were put to death Antonio himself was necessitated to fly into France very much pittied by most men whereas every one wished all the mischief they could devise to Francesco and Tadeo This Cardinal is Chamberlain of the holy Church Archpriest della Basilica disanta Maria Maggiore hath many Abbacies and Protections and will alwaies be at the devotion of the French King by whom he is defended and protected in these his misfortunes but it is believed that he is now returned again into the Popes favor by the mediation of the Crown of France XXII Girolamo Colonna GIrolamo Colonna of the Title di Santo Eustachio and of a most antient and noble Roman family which hath had many Popes and a world of Cardinals He was promoted to the Scarlet Cown by Urban the eighth together with Cardinal Antonio at the instance of the Prince Prefect of Donna Anna Barberina and of the Constable in regard of the affinitie that was contracted between them This Cardinal is richly furnished with the goods of fortune and estates he is understanding prudent well esteemed of in the Court and reverenced in the sacred Colledge both for his blood and wisedom And his carriage doth not displease although he goes proudly and stately through the City like another Martin the fifth but withall he is courteous honours every one is exceeding liberal and well affected to the Pope who therefore loves him as also for that he was very partial in his election Urban the eighth made him Archbishop of Bologna which Archbishoprick after he had held it certain years he resigned in the time of Innocent the tenth unto my Lord Albergati a Bolognese Gentleman who is now a Cardinal by the name of Lodovisio Colonna Albeit the Colonesi and the Barberini have matched together yet have there no effects of friendship past betwixt them for divers private interests Neither are the Colonesi any great friends to the House of the Gaetani also a most antient and noble Roman family for that Don Gregorio Gaetano the brother of the Duke of Sermoneta and Uncle of the Prince of Caserta was in a manner treacherously killed by Don Carlo Colonna who for that fact was by Urban the eighth condemned to death and afterwards pardoned to the end no future Pope should take any further cognizance of that cause and to save his life that was in danger by reason of that enmity he made himself a fryer of the order of Saint Benedict and then was by Urban the eighth preferred to be Archbishop in partibus infidelium The said House of Colonna likewise doth not much love the House of the Cesarini although the occasion of Don Gregorio Gaetanoe's death proceeded from Don Carlo his defending the reputation of the Duke Cesarino his Nephew who being under age pretended that he had received an affront from the said Gregorio Gaetano in making him by force to stay in his way that his Caroach might have the precedence The House of the Constable Colonna holds little correspondence with the house of the Prince of Galliclano and of the Prince of Carbognano alias Duke of Bassanella all of the house of Colonna who though they be all sprung out of one stock yet doth each of them pretend to be better then the other for the preheminence the truth is that the house of the Prince of Carbognano is the right family derived from Sciano Colonna and therefore with reason is the Piatza where his Palace is scitunted called the Piatza of Sciana These Lords at first were all for the Catholique Crown but upon the matching of the Constable Colonnaes House with the Pope the Spaniards for their own interest honoured them with such Titles and States as the Duke of of Bassanello of a differing House was therewith to distasted that he set up the ames of the most Christian King and took to wife the base daughter of the Duke of Parma The Prince of Gallieano was made a prisoner at Naples upon
Court and little cares what he spends knowing well that after his decease his estate is to fall unto divers Families and in part cular to the Savelli as his neerest kinred Sixtus quintus made a Bull wherein he declared that the Scarlet Gown should be given to his descendants without any demand or instance at all and indeed the Roman Church can ow no less to that blood of his seeing it hath received so many benefits from that worthy high Bishop of eternal memorie All the Popes indevoured but Sixtus quintus alone setled the Papal power reduced unto obedience all the Barons how great and potent soever they were rooted the Banditi and theeves out of the Ecclesiastical State bridled the Christian Princes in a few years adorned Rome with sumptuous fabricks and inriched the Adrian Mole with a huge summe of Gold intending to perform some great enterprise which succeeded not by reason of his ensuing death This Cardinal holds good correspondence with all the sacred Colledge except it be with the Cardinal Trivultio his kinsman for there fell ought some difference between them in the past Conclave because the said Trivultio had heard that Montalto was united with the French faction but now it is thought they are reconciled He is much esteemed of by the Pope is well conditioned studious learned and worthy of the Papacie for his goodness and excellent qualities He is of kinne to very near all the Roman Nobilitie and was not long since honored by the Catholique King with the charge of conducting the Emperors Daughter his new Spouse out of Germany into Spain in which imployment the Cardinal stood not upon expence but shewed himself exceeding splendid and liberal XXXII Giulio Mazzarini GIulio Mazzarini the Sonne of Pier Mazzarini a Sicilian who being a Merchant became bankrupt for certain summes of mony and therefore fled with all his family to Rome where the said Giulio was born as also his brother named Michael who made himself a Frier of the Dominican Order Giulio served for sometime the Colonnesies Nephewes and afterwards Sachetti who employed him in the managing of his monies wherewith trading for his Master and with gaming he got together no little summes for himself Then he became a soldier but returning again to the Court he applied himself anew to the same Cardinals The affection which Sachetti bore to this man brought him into such esteem with the Cardinal Antonio as he employed him in all his services and putting himself into the Prelacie he was at his instance sent by the Pope Nuncio Apostolical into Savoy and also to take in his Holiness name out of the hands of the French the City of Casale to be kept by him in deposito till such time as the Spantards and Germanes should go out of and leave the City of Mantoua which they had seized upon because the Duke thereof had declared himself French and would not acknowledge to hold of the Emperor Mazzarini goes accordingly and takes the City of Casale in deposito but after he had caused the Spaniards and Germans to issue out of Mantoua he gave Casale again unto the French by meanes whereof both the Emperor and the King of Spain remain'd flouted and cheated and from this difference sprung the bloody Warre in the State of Milan and Monferrato The said Mazzarini by this treason done unto the Spaniards got the favour of the Cardinal Richelieu together with that of the most Christian King who finding him to be a man of a wit proper for the designes of his Crown demanded the purple Gown of the Pope for him in reward of the betraying the King of Spain his Lord whose Vassal he is Urban at that time denyed to give it him because he had also deceived him in consigning the City of Casale anew into the hands of the French without his knowledge and answered the most Christian King that he would grant it unto him for any other person that he would nominate But his Majestie persisted still with great obstinacie in that his demand which Urban seeing could do no less then content him and in this manner was he promotd to the Scarlet Gown After the decease of the Cardinal Richelieu he had the whole Command but his Masters favor got him much hatred with the Grandees of the Kingdom His Majestie greatly honored him made him a Councellor of State with authority to sit in Parliament and also at his death left him one of the Executors of his Testament This Cardinal is grown so rich that he is held to be the wealthiest feuditary Prince that is He had often craved leave of that King to return unto Rome and take the Hat at such time as Urban lived but it would never be granted to him He hath been so high in the Court of France that the Princes of the blood could by no means endure it which hath been the cause of such revolutions in that Kingdome and of such intestine Wars as have followed thereupon but this matter is so well known to every one that I will passe from it to discourse of that which further concernes him This Cardinal is he that though a far off did in the Conclave so oppose the election of Innocent the tenth and not contented therewith labored also to terrifie him by sending great armies into Italy the operations whereof hath manifested to the World that the Cardinal had indeed other thoughts then the sole acquisition of Piombino The Catholique King hath declared him and all his kinred Rebells and Traitors At such time as this Cardinal served in the Warres he was a very vitious gamster and oftentimes received many hurts about women but now he lives with much gravitie and whosoever hath to deal with him finds him alwaies in apparance gentle in speech and gratefull for benefits received wherefore he hath openly defended Barberino so far forth that he hath incurred the hatred of the Parliament of Paris for it With his authority he caused his brother being in a manner but a youth to be elected General of the Order of the Dominicans made him Master of the sacred Palace procured him the Archbishoprick of Aix in France and finally not contented herewith he obtained the Scarlet Gown for him with all which honors the said Michael is past into a better life XXXIII Marc ' Antonio Bragadino MArc ' Antonio Bragadino a Nobleman of Venice he was made Bishop of the City of Vicenza upon the nomination of the Republique which knew him to be a good man and of great integritie This Bishoprick of his enjoyes the tytle of Duke Marquesse and Count. All the time of his residence at his Church he was held in great esteem and lived with great reputation I my self have often seen him in that City as he was going with his Clergy to the Domo and me thought that even then he shewed and looked like a Cardinal as within less then two years after he was made one at the instance of the
snatched it out of his hand saying you shall serve me no longer and turning him about to another Gentleman of his there present he gave it to him and said you shall serve me hereafter for the Master of my Chamber which Filomarini seeing and hearing remained as one dead to find himself so disgraced by his Lord saying in his mind Is this my Guerdon for so many yeares service which I have done to the Pope and his Nephews cursed be he which trusteth in the deceitful hopes of the World Now the monday morning came appointed for the sitting of the Consistory where preparation being made for things necessary thereunto Filomarini also began to go about as he used to doe at other times but Barberino with bitter words commanded him to get him from that place as he did retiring to his lodging very melancholick and exceedingly cast down The time of the Consistory being come which lasted six whole hours together his holinesse in the beginning propounded the Archbishoprick of Naples for Filomarim and afterward together with many others promoted him to the Scarlet Gown The Consistory being finished there was heard according to the usual custome crying out long live Cardinal such a one Filomarini who knew nothing of that which had past desirous to hear somewhat went out of his lodging and presently met with some Prelates and Cardinals which did all reverence unto him saying your Eminencies servant my Lord Cardinal Ascanio he thinking he was mocked answered each of them I had as lieve be flouted by you as another but at length Barberino himself was forced to goe to him and give him the Title of Eminencie Filomarini hearing what he and the rest had said unto him began to come to himself again and call to mind the Popes words when he told him that it was not a morsel for him and that he had destinated it to a Cardinal This Lord got the Hat with the sweat of four and twenty years service and in the last Conclave he met sufficiently with Barberino when as he told him that his obligation for the Scarlet Gown was due to the good memory of Urban and that he being dead his obligation was also extinct knowing well that he had alwaies opposed him in his attaining to the Hat and that therefore he was obliged to give his vote for the Catholick King his Lord. Urban tooke the greater affection to this Cardinal because when he was grievously sick in his last infirmity he had demanded of his Physitian in what state of health his holinesse was and being put in good hope thereof by him he gave him a chain of Gold which the Physitian shewed to the Pope who thereby perceiving the love he bore to him promoted him afterwards to the Scarlet Gown In the time of the Warre of the Barberini he sent twelve thousand Piastre to the relief of the Papal Army for which he got no litle credit with the Pope and sacred Colledge He is a very intelligent man and given to Astrologie but is exceeding proud so that in regard thereof there is no Cavalier how mean soever that Courts and visits him And I well remember that the Countesse of Saponara at such time as he was Master of the Chamber to Barberino sent him certain letters superscribed with the Title of my Lord and because they had not the Title of most illustrious he returned them back saying that they were not sent unto him and as much he did when as he was illustrious saying that they were not directed to him in summe no man knowes how to negotiate with him and therefore every one abstaines from writing unto him XXXIX Gieronimo Verospi GIeronimo Verospi a Roman Gentleman He was Auditor della Rota as in like manner his Uncle had been who during the time of his being so faling at odds with the great Duke of Toscan madly undertook w th certain Musketiers to dispute the difference that was between them about some waters without regarding the danger of his life that hung over his head after which returning to Rome he was by Urban thought worthy of the Scarlet Gown and having obtained it he lived but a while for some disgusts that were given him broke his heart and so he dyed Urban after the death of that Cardinal seeing his house as it were ruined undone and bearing a great affection to it promoted the present Geronimo Verospi his Nephew to the Hat he conferred also upon him the Church of Osimo nella Marca and further confirmed the Auditors place della Rota on his brother besides many other benefits and graces Francesco and Antonio both made great suite to have the Scarlet Gown as well for Verospi as for Gabrieli because they were but small friends to Pamphilio and as such they shewed themselves obstinate against his election and therefore after his assumption the said Verospi hath alwaies absented himself from the Court to avoid those disgusts which might happen unto him residing continually at his Bishoprick He is a poor Cardinal and hath many brothers who all live together with their Mother except it be one which hath ever kept himself apart from the rest and after the death of Urban he went to serve Cardinal Antonio in the place of Master of his Chamber before he left the Court of Rome to go into France This Cardinal is learned but the Auditor della Rota his brother is more intelligent his vote will be altogether for the Barberini and his inclination is more to France then to Spain although to maintain himself in the common pretensions he seemes in apparance to be neutral If this same Lord should be Pope he would spoil the seat of Peter to accommodate his bretheren which are many XL. Gaspare Matthei GAspare Matthei brother to the Duke of that surname He was a Prelate of a most Noble and antient Roman family and was sent by Vrban the eighth Nuneio to the Emperors Majestie in which Charge he carried himself with much satisfaction of both parts He was promoted to the Scarlet Gown as other Nuncioes were Upon his return to Rome he was presently set upon by Sachetti for the repayment of six thousand crownes lent him at his going into Germany causing him to be cited for it in regard whereof he is no great friend to him but greatly opposed his fortune in the Conclave and behaved himself with much vigilancie care affection towards the House of Austria in favor of the Cardinal Phamphilio And he it was also that made a great coil saying they would have no forreign but Roman Popes and in the same Conclave he defended the reputation of the house of Austria threatning the Cardinal Rapacioli who had spoken amisse against the Austrians he shewed himself also averse to the Cardinal Fiorenzola for the same cause This Cardinal is poor intelligent opinnative haughty proud full of resentment and lookes more like a souldier then a Cardinal He speakes freely against any one whatsoever he be
length of the way he could not come to the last Conclave nor can he be at the next unlesse he sets forth two monthes before the death of the Pope He is a Lord of a good disposition splendid and charitable His vote according to his obligation to the Catholique King will alwaies be for the Spanish faction When he was young he delighted in taking all the pleasure that possibly he could never standing upon mony LX. Giulio Cardinal Roma GIulio Cardinal Roma of a Noble Family in the state of Milan who having put himself into the Prelacie was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by Paul the fifth because he knew him to be both learned and deserving The City of Rome in regard of his excellent qualities expects great things from him for being a good and consciencious man it is believed that he will be Pope if he live but should that come to passe I doubt he would be too rigorous especially when Ecclesiastical matters are concerned for he could be contented to put not onely his house but his own life in jeopardie for the Maintenance of the Churches decorum being naturally stiffe and obstinate in favor of the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction Francesco Barberino would willingly have stickled in the last Conclave for his advancement to the Papacie but that he could not trust him because he was a Milanese fearing least as one of that Country he should deal with him and all the house of the Barberini as Pius quartus who was likewise a Milanese did with the Caraffeschi and bring him to make restitution of the mony taken out of Castle Angelo as also render a strict accompt of his administration This Cardinal is head of the Congregations which are held in his own house He is a very knowing Lord of a good disposition and of an exemplary life In negotiating he shewes himself very affectionate is much respected of the sacred Colledge and is greatly esteemed in the Court He is beloved of the Catholique King and is exceedingly desired by the Great Duke and the Republique of Venice but little enough by the Crown of France A Table of the Cardinals 1. GIovanni Carlo de Medici pag. 1 2. Domenico Cecchini pag. 2 3. Nicolo Albergati pag. 4 4. Horatio Giustiniano pag. 7 5. Alderano Cibo pag. 9 6. Pier Luigi Caraffa pag. 11 7. Federico Sforza pag. 15 8. Tiberio Cenci pag. 17 9. Benedetto Odescalcho pag. 21 10. Fabritio Savelli pag. 23 11. Francesco Cherubino pag. 27 12. Christofforo Vidman pag. 28 13. Lorenzo Roggi pag. 30 14. Francesco Maidalchini pag. 36 15. Francesco Barberino pag. 41 16. Ernesto Adalberto d'Arach pag. 50 17. Giulio Sachetti pag. 51 18. Bernardino Spada pag. 55 19. Fe derico Cornaro pag. 63 20. Martio Ginetti pag. 65 21. Antonio Barberino pag. 86 22. Girolamo Colonna pag. 72 23. Cirriaco Rocci pag. 76 24. Giovanni Battista Palotta pag. 78 25. Theodoro Trivultio pag. 83 26. Steffano Durazzo pag. 89 27. Marc ' Antonio Franciotti pag. 87 28. Federico Carpegna pag. 90 29. Francesco Maria Brancaccio pag. 91 30. Rinaldo d'Este pag. 95 31. Francesco Peretti alias Cardinal Montalto pag. 99 32. Giulio Mazzarini pag. 102 33. Marc ' Antonio Bragadini pag. 106 34. Pietro Donato Cesis pag. 108 35. Francesco Maria Machiavelli pag. 110 36. Verginio Orsini pag. 112 37. Giulio Gabrielli pag. 115 38. Ascanio Filomarini pag. 117 39. Gieronimo Verospi pag. 124 40. Gaspare Matthei pag. 126 41 Girolamo Grimaldi pag. 127 42. Cesare Fachinetti pag. 131 43. Francesco Rapaccioli pag. 132 44. Giovanni Giacomo Panzirolo pag. 134 45. Mattheo Theodoli pag. 136 46. Fausto Poli. pag. 139 47. Lellio Falconieri pag. 141 48 Francesco Adriano Ceva pag. 143 49. Angelo Giorio pag. 146 50 Vicenzo Costaguti pag. 146 51. Paolo Emilio Rondanino pag. 148 52. Giovanni Steffano Donghi pag. 150 53. Carlo Roscetti pag. 151 54. Giovanni de lugo pag. 152 55. Alfonso della Queva pag. 154 56. Marcello Lanti pag. 157 57. Carlo de Medici pag. 158 58. Baldassare di Sandova pag. 160 59. Agostino Spinola pag. 162 60. Giulio Cardinal Roma pag. 163 FINIS
to some vacant Sea he may attain thereunto for he is much esteemed of and reputed very deserving by all the Princes unto whom his vertues merits and excellent qualities are well known besides he is highly regarded by Innocent the tenth the now reigning Pope but for his too free speech no small hatred was conceived against him by some of his Holinesse principal kindred for he was one day desired by the Pope to tell him what was said of him in Rome and Palotta answered Blessed Father all the City murmures at your Sister-in-law the Lady Olimpia 's too frequent comming to and abiding in the Palace whereunto the Pope replyed well we will remedy it and the next time Donna Olimpia came to him he told her what Palotta had said and therefore desired her to forbear comming so often to the Apostolical Palace Hereupon Donna Olimpia took such a spleen against the said Palotta that meeting him upon a time she drew the Curtain of her Caroach against the very face of him which Palotta seeing begged leave of his Holinesse to go unto Calderola his Country about some affairs that he had there and gave it out in the Court that he went to visit the Fortresse of Marina nella Marca His Votes as well in the Congregations as in the Consistory are greatly esteemed He hath no Enemy nor any that is contrary to him He honors all and where he can do any service he doth it willingly he is affable in entertainment leades an holy and retired life loves not light conversations and is very studious He hath many Nephews whereof one is in Flanders another was a student in Bologna ' where he slew a scholler that was his Rival for which his Uncle cares not much for him but his darling is he that is in the English Colledge who is a youth reasonably well learned and that in case he should become Pope would be he that shall reign This Cardinal is not of any faction but he is thought to be devoted to the House of Austria XXV Theodoro Trivultio THeodoro Trivultio of a most noble family of the City of Milan he was a Prince and had a wife by whom he had children but after her death he resigned his Principality to his eldest Son and went to Rome where puting himself into the Prelacie he bought the Clerk of the Chambers place and after some years he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by Urban the eighth both to make mony by the sale of that Office and also to shew that he would promote a vassal of the Catholique King This Cardinal merited the Hat as he was a Prince yet was he fain to make use of the Prelacie before he could attain unto it He is a good soldier and is much beloved and reverenced by the King of Spain being reputed the most faithfull Italian Vassal that he hath for when he sees that his Majesties Ministers in the State of Milan do not behave themselves with that fidelity as they ought he speedily advertises the Catholique King of it He is not very rich but is alwaies supplyed as he hath occasion by his said Majesty At such time as he lived in the Court after the assumption of Innocent the tenth he shewed himself very bountiful so farre as he was able but he contracted many debts which before his departure from the Court he satisfied very punctually He used to go up and down the City with a great and stately train but to speak without passion there was much boast but litle rost He could not part from the Court so soon as he purposed to have done for want of mony and therefore he was fain to stay the comming of four thousand crownes from Naples which were sent him by the Vice-Roy It is thought he will not return again to the Court before he hath established some good revenue for the maintaining of himself there He is a Lord indifferently well esteemed of in the Roman Court full of resentment very stirring and will talk enough especially when the interest of Kings is in question wherefore he is much favoured by their Ministers He alwaies keeps his promise being never worse then his word he is very well accomplished and lacks nothing but the possibility of mony XXVI Steffano Durazzo STeffano Durazzo a Noble man of Genoua of the new Nobility he put himself into the Prelacie and bought one after another both the Clerk of the Chambers and the Apostolical General Treasurors place which he possessed but a little time for that he was promoted by Urban to the Scarlet Gown His holiness imployed him in many Charges and in particular before the Warre he sent him Legate to the City of Ferrara which Government he left when as Antonio came thither to the assistance of the Army and went to his Archbishoprick of Genoua from whence he never parted but at such time as upon the vacancie of the Sea he repaired to the Conclave He had a great deal of controversie about the getting of that Archbishoprick but it was Urbans pleasure that in spight of his competitors he should enjoy it In his Legateship of Ferrara he carried himself very wisely and to the satisfaction of those people as the Citizens themselves say but he was not much Courted by the Nobilitie He is a rich Cardinal because he is a Genouese whose Wealth doth multiply with Merchandising Whilst he was a Prelate he gamed away no small summes of mony and spent little less upon Women He is purblind and squints with one eye In negotiating he is exceeding affable but when the humor takes him one must leave off negotiating with him He seemes to be devoted to the House of Austria but indeed is wholly French and holds but little esteem in the Court. XXVII Marc ' Antonio Franciotti MArc ' Antonio Franciotti a principal Gentleman of the Common-wealth of Lucca he came to Rome where putting himself into the Prelacie he bought the Clerk of the Chambers place and afterwards that also of the Auditor thereof but within a while he was by Urban promoted to the Scarlet Gown and honored with many worthy Charges and in particular was created Bishop of Lucca his Country He was sent Legate to Ravenna and Romagna where he was very well regarded by that Nobilitie and people He grievously afflicted his Country for the cause which I will here now deliver The brother of this Cardinal being one of the Ministers in the Government of the Common-wealth was discoverd to have plotted some such thing against his Country as to have made himself Master of it and in particular there were found in his house a great many of Armes not onely common but also prohibited and the suspition grew so much the greater by how much they are in that City exceeding vigilant and carefull to see that no man enters armed into it not so much as with a knife Now the transgressors of this Law being alwaies rigorously punished the said Cardinals brother was together with
his servants committed to prison where being thoroughly examined and sifted the treason which they had contrived was made manifest in such manner as they purposed within a short time to put them all to death The Cardinal finding no other way to repair the ruine of his Family had recourse unto Pope Urban unto whom he recounted the matter quite otherwise then as indeed it was saying that his brother was made a prisoner out of the hatred and enmity that the Nobles and Magistrates of Lucca bore unto him and that they had charged him with rebellion because some of the servants of the Bishops Palace were found Armed Hereupon the Pope dispatched away an express post with letters that commanded them to set the Delinquents at liberty but the Common-wealth refusing to obey his Holiness seeing their contumacy interdicted and excommunicated them so that for a long time the exercise of the Divine Offices were not used the Church dores remaining continually shut up The Common-wealth published many protestations and writings whereof they caused copies to be presented to all Christian Princes but it nothing availed them wherefore in the end they were constrained to yield unto the Popes power and in this manner was the said Cardinals brother and all his complices set free This Cardinal hath good abilities is intelligent and capable of the Papacie but is not ripe enough for it He is poor and much affected to the Crown of Spain both he and all his House living under the protection thereof He is a wise man and experimented in matters of the Court he is well esteemed of by the present Pope in the sacred Colledge he hath no Enemies of consideration and is friend enough to the Barberini he may also with time break his Lance in Peters chair XXVIII Federico Carpegna FEderico Carpegna a Noble man of the City of Vrbin He was a poor Prelate but Barberino having made use of him in some affairs of his was so pleased with his carriage therein that he took an affection to him and at his instance he was by the Pope promoted to the Scarlet Gown and therefore he is and alwaies will be faithfull and affected to them The Count Carpegna his brother continually assisted in the Warre of Urban against the Princes of Italy This Cardinals endowments are mean but he is able for business and he may one day have some hope in the common pretensions of the Scarlet Gownes if the Barberini do not spoil his promotion because he is too much their servant His vote will ever be as that of the Barberini is and therefore in time to come he will alwaies be French besides the affection he hath still born to that Crown although he makes no open profession thereof He is a man studious melancholick and somewhat charitable He hath many brothers whereof the Count is one and another is a Canon of Santa Maria in Via lata XXIX Frencesco Maria Brancaccio FRancesco Maria Brancaccio a Neopolitan Cavalier he was Bishop of the City of Capuccio in the Kingdom of Naples where by reason of certain Ecclesiastical jurisdictions he fell into some difference with a Spanish Captain of foot who was sent unto that City by the Vice-Roy of Naples and passing from words to blowes he caused him to be killed by a bardash of his with a musket shot for which Brancaccio was cited to appeare befor the Vice-Roy to render an account of the man-slaughter committed by him Brancaccio obeying went to Naples but the very same night he came thither that he might not put himself into the secular power of the Royall Court he stole away in a felouque and fled towards Rome where being arrived he imparted the whole matter unto Urban the eighth who for the hate that he bore to the Spaniards not onely commended him for that he had done but also defended him Which the Vice-Roy seeing caused all his goods and the revenues of his Bishoprick to be sequestred so that this Prelate remained in Rome in such necessity and miserie as he could hardly make shift to live but after that his processe was compiled and that the Pope had absolved him he craved leave to return unto the residence of his Church although the Kings Ministers had expressly forbidden him so to doe saying that his Catholique Majestie desired of the Pope another Prelate for that City had withall ordained that the inhabitants therof should not permit him to enter into the possession of it upon pain of rebellion It was the fortune of this Lord that whilst he was leaving the Court and departing to his residence the Pope was upon the point of promoting Cardinals with an intent to give the Hat unto my Lord Pier Luigi Caraffa Bishop of Tricario and to my Lord Caraffa Bish of Aversa but both their promotions were hindred by the Colonnesi the Barberini too prest their Uncle to confer the Scarlet Gown on Serlupi their Cousin but his holiness being molested and vext with these controversies would needs make the proverb good Inter duos litigantes tertius gaudet and in stead of the rest made Brancaccio Cardinal Others say that he promoted him to despight the Spaniards by whom he was exceedingly hated to the end that as a Prince of the holy Church he might be honored and upon restoring of him to his Bishoprick he might also be reverenced A litle after his departure to the residence of his said Church and upon his arrival at Naples he found two other Cardinals there namely Aldobrandino and Boncompagno the one of them being come thither to have his part in the tiltings hunting and other festivals which in that City were to be made for some victories of Spain and for the birth of a Son of the Kings and the other was Archbishop of Naples Brancaccio having continued there some monthes the Count of Monte-Rei at that time Vice-Roy of that Kingdome presented him with a paper from his Catholique Majestie whereby he enjoyned him to depart with all speed not onely from Naples but also quite out of the whole Kingdom insomuch that the poor Cardinal was forced to get him away in all hast towards Rome with all his family Which Urban seeing moved with indignation against the Spaniards and with compassion to the Cardinal he conferred the Bishoprick of Viterbo on him and giving him many Pensions he not long after bestowed on his Vicar the Bishoprick of Aramo in Regno This Cardinal is much obliged to the Barberini but in the Conclave that he might not damnifie his kinsmen he shewed himself affected to the Crown of Spain and gave his vote to the Albernoz with which stratagem and to free himself from his obligation he doth seek to draw unto him his kinsmen and Nephewes and accordingly hath already begun so to do having maried one of them to one of the house of the Ursini He is not well looked upon by Innocent the tenth nor the Pamphilian family for that he hath inconsiderately manifested
the Palace where he dwelt to cut him and all his Family in pieces but being forewarned thereof he fled with all speed in a Gondola towards Rome where a few monthes after he was by Gregory the fifteenth with the assent of the Catholique King promoted to the Scarlet Gown and after some yeares he was by his Majestie made Governor of Flanders and the Low-Countries where he carried himself with the little satisfaction of those people by seeking the ruine of that Country for the inriching of himself but the Catholique King being advertised of his ill Government deprived him of that Charge and disgraced him in such manner as he was also bereft of all the revenues and profits which he enjoyed in the Kingdomes of Spain by reason wherof he was so exhausted that he ran mightily in debt After the assumption of Innocent the tenth followed the death of Cardinal Crescentio whereby the Bishoprick of Palestina became void which by way of senioritie appertained unto the said Cardinal della Queva who therefore was desired by Cardianl Carlo de Medici to resign it unto him to the end that remaining in that City which bore the Title of Don Tadeos Principalitie he might crosse and vex the Barberini and this he promised Don Carlo to doe but never performed it for the Barberini prevented this disorder by giving Queva I know not how many thousands of crownes not to resigne the Bishoprick so that he was not so good as his word to the said Prince Cardinal for which he was very much blamed of every one He is a very learned man and a great wit He is somewhat esteemed in the Colledge but little respected in the Court having no other train but his own Caroches as one that is not capable of the Papacie because he is a Spaniard and the very Spaniards themselves too make no great reckoning of him holding him as inconfident although he strives with all ardor to shew himself more affectionate and diligent in the Kings service and affairs then any other person whatsoever He is of a good and exemplary life and for his knowledge and doctrine is beloved of his holiness LVI Marcello Lanti MArcello Lanti a Roman Nobleman Deane of the sacred Colledge and Nephew to Paul the fifth being the Son of a Sister of his He was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by the said Paul is a very old man of an holy conversation of a most innocent life and marvellous charitable He is of kinne to the greatest part of the Roman Nobilitie and also to the Great Duke of Toscan He hath enjoyed the Scarlet Gown forty years and yet is for all that ignorant testy obstinate He was not nominated in the last Conclave for that the Barberini durst not conside in him by reason of his affinitie with the Borghesi and Great Duke as aforesaid he is head of the Congregation of the Bishops and Regulars and if he live to a vacant Sea he may chance get into Peters Chair He makes open profession of his devotion to the house of Austria although the Marquesse his brother lately dead was alwaies French This Cardinal would not be amisse for the good and Government of the Church for he is a peaceable man is excedingly well esteemed of by the Sacred Colledge and Roman Court is also greatly respected by the Princes and hath not any Cardinal his Enemy wherefore he may very well attain to the Papacie as is much desired of all he should but whilst the Barberini live he will hardly come to be Pope for they have been sufficiently punished by the election of Innocent the tenth Pamphilio LVII Carlo de Medeci CArlo de Medeci a Florentine Uncle to the Great Duke of Toscan and brother to the late Queen Mother of France He was promoted to the Scarlet Gown as a great Prince and therefore he is in high esteem and Authoritie with the sacred Colledge and all the Court He was the principal Author of the election of Innocent the tenth who out of his Obligation and Gratitude beares a great affection to this Prince He was and is an Enemy to all the house of the Barberini for divers occasions but the chiefest was their War with the Great Duke He is a Lord of a clear understanding beloved of every one courteous splendid and delighting in pleasures and recreations He is mightily affected to the Family of Austria so that he could be contented as one may say to have even his skinne plucked over his eares for the King of Spain He is of a great age but appeares not to be so by reason of the corpulencie of his body No more is or ought to be said of this Cardinal being a great Prince and as such a one I leave him LVIII Baldassare di Sandoval BAldassare di Sandoval a Spaniard and Bishop of Sivil He was promoted to the Scarlet Gown at the instance of the Catholique King by whom he was afterwards sent Ambassador to Rome in which Charge he carried him self with the satisfaction and commendation of both the parties Upon the end of that imployment he returned into Spain where being kept from receiving audience of the King by the Count-Duke he one day bastinadoed him with the same battoon wherewith he sustained himself being lame of the goute in revenge whereof the Count-Duke caused the horses of his Caroach to be cudgeld whilst he was in it Sandoval was he that in his first Audience discovered the misdemeanors of the said Count-Duke and also the losse of the Kingdom of Portugal of Catalogna and other States whereof the King perceiving the truth turned him out of his favor and reduced him to those termes that he was fain to live exiled from the Court in a Country house of his This Cardinal is very highly esteemed and exceedingly beloved of the King is very old of a good conversation bountiful of great authority and well liked of every one He is a great friend of Innocent the tenths having held a strickt correspondence with him at such time as he was Nuntioia Naples and in Spain which he continued with him whilst he was at Rome He was not present in the last Conclave by reason of the lenggth of the voyage and his great age which is such as he can stand no man in any stead hereafter because he will never be able to come into the Conclave again LIX Agostino Spinola AGostino Spinola a Genouese of the old Nobilitie and brother to the late Marquesse Spinola that most famous Captain He was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by Paul the fifth at the instance of the Catholique King He was Archbishop of Compostella from which he is removed and hath the Archbishoprick of Toledo in lieu thereof conferred on him with a pension of ten thousand Crownes a year He is exceedingly beloved of his Catholique Majestie for his brothers merits is of kinne to the greatest part of the Genouese Nobilitie is very rich and so old that in regard of the