he began by little and little to take upon him exceedingly and apply himself wholly to the execution of it But the Pope his Unckle who understood his debility too well to commit such a charge intirely to him he left him no liberty at all but in appearance dispatching all things himself and using all possible care to instruct him in such things as were requisite in that place It seem'd to the Cardinal that with the authority and superintendency that was given him he had receiv'd trouble enough to break his brain a thing he abhorr'd in his very nature insomuch that as often as his business increas'd so often would he be disgusted and repine at his Cousin Agostino that injoy'd all the felicities and applauses of the Court without the least disturbance at all and therefore without any respect to the admonitions of his Father who exhorted him to acquaint himself by all possible diligence in the mysteries of the Court he exercis'd the office of Padrone only in taking recreations and turning his back upon all business that would give him any trouble to the no small dissatisfaction of his Unckle who was forc'd thereby to swallow more of it himself In short he began to be so well known to all the publique Ministers that were resident in the Court for his weakness and indexterity in politick affairs that in matters of importance they thought it better to make their addresses immediately to his Holiness than to make use of the interposition of the Cardinal Padrone who for the most part was entertaining himself with his ordinary pastimes to which he was inclin'd more naturally than to the troubles of the Court and indeed all those that had a mind to try their fortunes and to negotiate with him lost their labour and their time he forgetting every circumstance of what he was inform'd so strange an addiction he had to his sports and so strange an aversion to any thing of business Towards the latter end of the Pontificate of his Unckle by reason he was tyr'd with the multitudes of business he had undertaken at the beginning of his Papacy and began to allow his Nephew more reins he shew'd himself diligent enough in his office of Padronancy but yet without renouncing his ordinary recreations He is indifferently well vers'd in the History of Italy and discourses of it upon occasion with some sort of judgement They that have business go away contented still but not satisfi'd for being very civil and courtly he sends them off well furnish'd with complements and good words though in strictness they signifie nothing yet some few months before the death of his Unckle when he had absolute authority to dispose of things as he pleas'd he precipitated as it were the businesses that were before him using at that time more deeds than words and yet nevertheless the greatest satisfaction any of them had was fair promises and civil usage he shewing himself indifferent to all though otherwise he was of a nature that would truckle to the first difficulty that appear'd In the time of the Padronancy of this Cardinal he shew'd no great covetousness but chose rather to spend than to lay up and that as was suppos'd for two reasons the first for that he had no other Nephew for his Brother his branch determining in himself and envying also on the other side Don Agostino his Cousin he contented himself to be careless of getting lest thereby he should render his Cousins branch more considerable The other reason was because he saw his Father Don Mario so anxious and greedy whose Estate he knew would fall to him as the only Male of his time as indeed afterwards it did But the last year he chang'd his opinion and gave himself with that fury to the filling his Coffers as if he car'd not for the ill name he would leave amongst the people In his Legation into France he gave more instances of generosity then of any thing else endeavouring to give every body satisfaction and truly all the French that had any thing to do with him were well pleas'd with the humanity of his entertainment though in strictness he kept not his word with his Majesty in the business of Castro and of the next Conclave At the beginning of his Unckles Pontificate not knowing which way was most fit for him to follow whether the interest of France or of Spain he carried himself with a certain indifference to both But the Spaniards found a way though not wholly yet in great part to gain him so that in many things he favour'd the Spanish interest to the utmost of his power yet so as not to disoblige the French whom if he did not love he did not hate at all But after the attempt upon the Duke of Crequy he became for the Spaniard clearly at his heart though he durst not do any thing to provoke the King of France whose anger he dreads exceedingly After the death of his Unckle it was impossible but he must receive some affront both from the people and the Colledge yet he knew how to swallow all with prudence endeavouring with large presents to gain the favour of the Nephews regnant GIROLAMO BONVISI a Noble man of Lucca repair'd to Rome with design to try his fortune as others of his Countrymen were wont to that end he apply'd himself to the courting of the Barbarini then regnant with all patience and assiduity for he knew very well how to gain their affection Cardinal Antonio knowing him to be inclin'd to secrecy began to have confidence in him and to entrust him in matters of no ordinary importance and particularly in the time of the Wars with the Princes of Italy he made use of him as of a well-affected Minister which being ill understood by some Courtiers they made sport with it in their discourse He bought the Chiericatura di Camera in which he gain'd some reputation especially in the Assemblies da Cameranti being very well practis'd in matters concerning the profession of Law Afterwards being grown into particular favour he discharg'd himself in several Offices that he executed with good reputation But being troubled at the inconstancy of the Court to see persons preferr'd to eminent degrees that were less deserving than himself he took a resolution to leave them and return into his own Country as he did afterwards and remain'd for a long time out of Rome to the great admiration of many because he had at first express'd such constancy to the Court. The principal cause of his absence was because he could not endure that insatiable liberty that Donna Olimpia us'd in getting of money with so much diminution of the Treasure of the Church and particularly when he saw the bartering for the Taxes upon Provisions he generously refus'd the Prefecture that he might not be instrumental in so infamous a business which Innocent and Donna Olimpia especially taking in dudgeon they began to contrive some way of doing him a displeasure
honourably But all that money would be reserv'd either for the Chamber or for the Nephews or for the Pope because Princes receive not the Cap out of any regard to the profit of the Cardinalship but by their being Cardinals to adde profit to the Church On the other side the Court of Rome is so far Majestick and reckon'd among the principal of the World by how far the Cardinals do render it so for by how much the persons are considerable that carry the Purple by so much is the Court more splendid and magnificent because the Court is made magnificent by the Cardinals To this purpose I remember I was speaking one day with a Foreign Gentleman of the Grandeur of the Court of Rome and I having said that its greatest ornament and glory consisted in the persons of the Cardinals who resembling Kings the Court by consequence was adorn'd with as many Kings as Cardinals But he having been in Rome and holding particular intelligence had good information of the interests and policies of the Popes answered me thus Sir the habit makes not the Monk but the Monk the habit An ill man though he wears a Religious habit is but an ill man still but a good man in the worst habit shall be esteem'd good notwithstanding In like manner it is not the Purple that makes the Cardinal but the Cardinal the Purple so that the Cardinals would be Kings indeed if the Popes would choose them amongst the Princes and not amongst such as they too often do To speak the truth how can that Cardinal be an honour to the Court that cannot read how can he adde splendor to the Papacy that cannot write how can he give Majesty to an Imperial City that is but the off-spring of a Country Village how can he merit the Title of a King that never convers'd but with the vilest of the people Yet of such kind of stuff the Popes make their Cardinals too often and then how can that Court be thought great or serviceable to the Church if they that serve it are Kings indeed by name but Scoundrils in fact Let that Cap be bestow'd on those that know how to wear it let him be advanc'd to the Cardinalship that has deserv'd to be a King In short those Popes that desire to see the Church and the Court shining in Majesty and splendor let not them conferr that honour upon the quantity but the quality of the Persons Innocent the tenth began his promotions with the greatest glory in the World having open'd his Creation by giving his first Cap to the most Serene Prince Gio. Carlo di Medici Brother to the Great Duke of Tuscany and that on the 14th of November 1644. a person of that worth that for those twenty years he liv'd a Cardinal he may be said to have been the glory of the Colledge The next year continuing in that good humour he created Francisco Maria Farnese Brother to the Duke of Parma who joyning the Highness of his Birth to the Eminence of the Cardinalship added honour to the Order and had done it more had not the untimeliness of his death prevented it The third year he gave the Cap to Giovanni Casimiro the King of Polands Brother which he afterwards resign'd in the year 1648. being call'd back to receive that Crown in the room of his Brother that was lately dead by that means making it clear that the Purple can produce a Scepter if the Purple be taken from the Scepters And last of all in the last year but one of his Pontificate ambitious perhaps to immortalize his Name by admitting the most Eminent persons into the Colledge he created Prince Frederick Lantgrave of Hassia Cardinal of whom we have spoken already in his proper place Paul the fifth had a particular aim thorow the whole course of his Popedom to ennoble the Court to adde new Majesty to the Colledge and to select such persons as were proper by their own grandeur to defend the honour of the Church and accordingly in three promotions he advanc'd five Princes of very great quality to the Cardinalship viz. Mauritio Son to the Duke of Savoy who renounc'd it afterwards to marry one of the Neeces holding it less scandal to subject himself to a Lady than to be a slave to the Nipotisme of Vrban the eighth Ferdinando and Vicenzo Gonsaga both Sons to the Duke of Mantoa Carlo di Medici Son to the Duke of Tuscany and Ferdinando Infante di Spagna who as Histories report immortaliz'd the honour of the Cardinalship by fighting for the Faith of Christ Vrban the eighth that lived Pope so long although he created three Princes Cardinals viz. Nicolo Francisco Brother to the Duke of Lorain Gio. Alberto Brother to the King of Poland and Rinald d'Este Brother to the Duke of Modena yet for all that he was either diverted by his Kindred afterwards or else his own inclinations were not fix'd upon such Noble objects and he endeavour'd to keep at a distance from the Colledge such persons as deserv'd the Cap not only for the glory of their Birth but for the many services they had perform'd for the Church In this manner Vrban kept several Princes as far from the Cardinalship as was possible and amongst the rest Francisco Maria Farnese Brother to the Duke of Parma who as many wayes deserv'd it as any one But the Pope postponing the publick interest of the Church to the fancy and Capriccio of his Kindred depriv'd the Colledge of so Honourable a Member the Church of so considerable a Protector his own Family of so potent a support and his own person of the acquisition of a Fame more immortal than that of his being Pope For when the Popes do give occasion and matter to have it immortaliz'd they immortalize their own Names themselves nor can they find any more honourable way than by filling the Cardinalitial Colledge with persons of Honour But that which is most considerable is he not only disoblig'd the Cardinal Princes that were created by Paulus but those few also that he created himself being forc'd thereto for certain pittifull and poor-spirited reasons in so much that they were leaving of the Court and retiring out of Rome rather than to see the Prerogative of their Births prostituted to a few persons that had not wit nor education enough to use them civilly especially such as had deserv'd their promotion by their other virtues And it is most certain I beg the pardon of their relations that are living because I write only the common opinion and what is declar'd in several Histories the Church would have been in great perplexity to see it self out of all hopes of being serv'd by Princes if another Vrban had succeeded the former and not an Innocent But that God that governs all things above the comprehension of man put clear other thoughts into the heart of Innocent who by his Divine providence was call'd to the Papacy than what were in Vrban for as
false opinion some people had that Cardinal Francisco bought the Papacy in the last Conclave with the disbursment of a round sum of money Of Cardinal Ginetti of the difference of his manners and inclinations from Cardinal Barbarino's Of his immoderate covetousness Of the Vicarship and other Benefices conferr'd upon him by Pope Urban the eighth Of the number of Nephews that he hath and of their virtues and vices Of some particulars of Cardinal d'Arach and how little he was regarded in the Court of Rome Of his zeal in the reprehension of the iniquities of that Court in their secret Congregations Of Cardinal Antonio Barbarino and the reason why he was call'd Romano Of the Dignities conferr'd upon him before his Cardinalship Of his inclination towards Women Of the prudence he us'd in defence of the French Interest Of the grëat severity Cardinal Palotta us'd in his administrations of justice Of his sentencing Cecca Buffona a famous Courtezan and Cardinal Anthonio's Mistress to be whipp'd Of the animosities it begot and the great persecutions that follow'd thereupon Of the dis-intereâ—t he shew'd towards the Crowns Of the manner how Cardinal Brancaccio obtain'd the Cap. Of a notable saying of a witty man Of the great number of his Kindred Of the assiduity wherewith Cardinal Carpegna was alwayes ready to serve the Barbarini Of his humour that was something melancholly Of one of his Brothers call'd Don Mario Of the difference betwixt the Youth and the Age of Cardinal Durazzo Of the way by which he arriv'd at the Cardinalship Of his affability in conversation and other particulars of his nature Of his death Of the advancement of Mr. Julio Gabrielli from being Clerk of the Chamber to the Cardinalship Of his Bishoprick of Ascoli and his Legation from Urban Of his nature and his ignorance in letters Of the great merit of the House of Ursino and the promotion of Virginio Ursino to the Cardinalship Of his protection of Portugal and the great ardour with which he defended the Interest of France Of the good life of Cardinal d' Este Of his art in equivocating and his affability in conversation Of Cardinal Facchinetti and his reputation in the Colledge Of Urbans promotion of Girolamo Grimaldi a Genoese to the Cardinalship Of the esteem they had for him in the Court of Rome and in Paris Of Cardinal Rosetti and his Negotiation into England Of that which exalted Cardinal Donghi to the Cardinalship and of the reputation he got in his Legation to Ferrara Of the principal causes that mov'd the Pope to conferr a Cap upon Monsignor Rondanini Of the fortune Nicolo Ludovisi had to he advanc'd to the Cardinalship and other particulars of his nature Of the kindness Innocent had for the Cardinal Cibo and of the esteem he had in the Court for his good behaviour Of the great respect and reputation Cardinal Sforza is in Of his humour that has more of a Souldier in it than of a Prelate Of the Cap that was given to Cardinal Odescalco upon the importunity of Donna Olimpia and of the opinion they have of him at the Court. Of the promotion of Monsignor Raggi to the Cardinalship of his comportment and what they thought of him at Court before his promotion Of Cardinal Maldachini his humour his promotion and other particulars of his life Of the promotion and Persecution of Cardinal Rhetz Of the ambition Cardinal Homodei had for the Cardinalship and of his virtues Of Cardinal Ottobuono and his qualities Of the Cardinal Imperial and his qualities Of Cardinal Borromeo and of his promotion Of Cardinal Santa Croce Of the Cardinal d'Hassia Of the Cardinal Charles Barbarino Of the Cardinal Spada Of Cardinal Albici Of Cardinal Aquaviva Of Cardinal Pio. Of Cardinal Gualtieri Of Cardinal Azolini and several particulars of the Cardinals aforesaid Of the number of Cardinals created by Pope Urban the eight Of the saying of a great Wit upon the number of those Cardinals Of the number of Cardinals created by Pope Innocent Of the principal end the Popes ought to have in the promotion of Cardinals Of the causes that render the Court of Rome so Majestick Of the opinion of a Tuscan Gentleman thereupon Of the glory wherewith Innocent began his promotions Of the Cardinal Princes created by Innocent the tenth Of the little inclination Urban had for the creation of Cardinal Princes and the disgust given to the creatures of Paul the fifth Of the zeal wherewith Alexander the seventh began his Papacy Of his intention at first to make many Cardinal Princes Of the discourse he held thereupon with his Domestiques Of the power given to Signour Majetta Ambassador from the Duke of Savoy Of the misery the Colledge is in at this present for not having a greater number of Cardinal Princes Of the great pleasure the Popes take at the news of the death of any Cardinal Of the Cardinals that are created by the Douzanes and oblig'd to follow the interest of the Nephews Of the cause why the Cardinal Princes do wear the Purple and of the great honour to receive it THE Magnificence of the Cardinalitial Colledge is so great and its splendor so immense the Cardinals themselves could not wish it to be greater The respect and observance that is paid them is very little different from what is given to Kings and in some things they exceed the condition of Princes Yet the Grandeur of the Sacred Colledge would have been much greater if after its first institution or at least after the multitude of Prerogatives conferr'd upon it by so many several Popes by whom it hath been inrich'd it had maintain'd and continu'd its antient virtue and decorum But I know not how it is come to pass that the Popes either repenting that they had rais'd the Cardinals to so high a pitch of magnificence or that they did not regard as it is too likely the pulique benefit of the Church postponing it to their own private interests It is sufficient that they have endeavour'd not the conservation or advancement of the Cardinalitial Majesty but the abasement and destruction of it and that two several wayes but one much more pernicious than the other The first is in having admitted into the Colledge persons of mean extraction and of as little virtue with which they are not able to cover in the least the baseness of their birth for certainly it would be a less evil had they either virtue or learning to attone for their natural defects Nor would this be so despicable and dishonourable for the reputation of the Colledge were the Caps given only to persons of mean extraction but the worst is they are conferr'd upon most infamous persons abounding with all wickedness and mischief and perhaps fitter for the Galleys than the Colledge The second is that the same Popes who with so many Bulls and Ordinances have ingâ—andiz'd the Colledge either forgetful of their former policy or blinded by some Mundane passion have for a certain
far from being hateful he is exceedingly grateful to the people of Rome He uses great prudence in defending the interest of France to which Crown he is infinitely oblig'd he speaks of the French with very great respect but so as to give no just offence to the Spaniard Though he receives great emoluments from France yet he spends much more than he receives in regaling the French GIO. BATTISTA PALLOTTA of Caldâ—rola in the Province of Marca is the Nephew of the late Cardinal Pallotta who left him not only his Estate which was great but his Maximes also and a certain austere way of proceeding in his distribution of Justice The house of Pallotta deduces its nobility no further than from the dignity of these two Cardinals and particularly of him that is living who had Benefices and dignities conferr'd on him as soon as he had taken the Ecclesiastical Habit upon him Vrban the eight loved him so well he thought him a proper person to do the Church good Service and therefore as it were in the beginning of his Papacy he declar'd him Governour of the City of Rome in which office he gain'd the affection of the whole City exercising all things impartially without respect of persons not regarding so much as the Nephews themselves which was evident enough when he order'd Cecca Buffona a famous Courtezan and very dear to to Cardinal Antonio to be whipp'd thorough Rome Cecca Buffona believ'd under the protection of that Cardinal she might do what she pleas'd so that she made no scruple to transgress against a severe order of the Governour Pallotta but he was not long in revenging it and that he might do it with the less trouble and impediment he charg'd his Servants that for the space of two hours nobody should be introduc'd to his Cabinet where he shut himself up whilst justice was executing upon her Cardinal Antonio having the news of her Imprisonment dispatch'd a Gentleman to Pallotta who was very civilly entertain'd by his Domesticks till the two hours were expir'd and then he being brought into the presence of Pallotta presented him with an order from the Cardinal Antonio for the immediate inlargement of the Prisoner Cecca Pallotta reply'd his Eminence was his Padrone and without more ado gave order for her dismission He arriv'd with his order at the Prison just as the Officer brought her back from being whipp'd which put the Cardinal into such a rage he swore he would be reveng'd Pallotta own'd all to his Holiness who was well pleas'd with the action but knowing well his Nephews humour to prevent any mischief he might contrive against Pallotta he sent him in the quality of Collettore into Portugal where in the maintenance of some Punctilio of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction he excommunicated the Royal Councel of the City of Lisbon who sending their Officers to carry him to Prison he was forc'd to leap out of a window to escape with no small danger of breaking his neck and so posting to Rome a few months after his arrival he was promoted to the Cardinalship in spight of Cardinal Antonio who did his utmost to prevent it But his promotion notwithstanding did not secure him against persecution for he did not only meet with many troubles and affronts during the time of Pope Vrban by means of Cardinal Antonio who studyed day and night which way to do him an injury but was forc'd likewise to retire out of Rome in the Papacy of Innocent the tenth by the contumelyes he receiv'd from Donna Olimpia incens'd against him for being one of those that endeavour'd her expulsion His great zeal not induring to see a woman domineering in the Vatican In the Congregations and Consistories his judgement is as much regarded as any mans nay even by the Barbarini his profess'd Enemies themselves his conversation is pleasant his life Angelical and retir'd from all vain company He is inclin'd to do good to all people there is no body comes to him but he goes satisfi'd away he gives his Letters of recommendation very freely provided it be not to restrain the hand of Justice in that case he by no means concerns himself for any one nor will hinder the course of Justice that is alwayes to be free In his Legation of Ferrara he gain'd the ill will of the Venetian by some controversies that they had but certainly they had no reason to complain of him because he upon all occasions speaks well of them For the Crowns indeed he shews no great concern as shunning all occasions of giving jealousie either to the one or the other yet 't is generally believ'd he is inclining to the Spanish party He is more fear'd than belov'd in the Court he is a man of great integrity and irreprehensible in his conversation In his transactions he is something too long and irresolute and too much given to the affairs of the Fryers Not only his Lodgings but his Palace is perpetually full of Solicitors in private affairs as well as publick and it is believ'd by every body that if he were Pope he would go very far in the reformation of the Fryers But this tediousness and delay in his affairs may be excus'd by a certain abhorrence and impatience of idleness that he has in his nature that spurs him on to be doing though it be never so little and raises him business out of every trifle Yet were his imployments greater he would appear no less resolute than he was in his Government of Rome For my part I think him not likely to come to the Papacy and that out of chastisement to the People that are not worthy of so good a Pope for this I dare affirm that in the whole Colledge of Cardinals there are not any more deserving the Chair than Pallotta Farnese and Elci for their integrity justice love of the people for their impartiality and that they are not lovers of their Kindred only Pallotta is seventy years old and were it not for the Gout wherewith he is often tormented he would be very healthfull and strong FRANCISCO MARIA BRANCACCIO is a great Lord and Knight of Nido in Naples which is as much as to say one of the principal Nobility He receiv'd the Cap from Vrban the eighth at a time when he little expected it and was created more in despight of the Spaniard than for any merits of his own for they going about to violate some of the Immunities of the Church Brancaccio undertook to defend them and caus'd the Captain of a Company of Spanish Foot that was over-active against him to be shot The Spaniards resenting much the death of their Captain who was Nephew to the President of that Province sent out immediately to take the Cardinal that was then Bishop of Carpasio Prisoner but he to avoid the violence of the Kings Officers escap'd by night and arrived safely at Rome where within certain months he was made Cardinal and gave occasion to a witty person to say That he
Emperour Of Otho's seeking revenge for the said Bull. Of the deposal of John the XIII from the Papacy and of his restauration to the See Of Pope Benedict's banishment to Hambourg by the Emperour Of Leo's restauration to the Papacy after he had been deprived by the people Of a Declaration of Leo's against the priviledges of Charles the Great Of the hatred conceiv'd thereupon by the Romans against the Pope Of the Popes being imprison'd by the people and of the revenge the Emperour took upon the Authors thereof Of the Popes imbezzlement of the Treasure of St. Peter Of his flight to Constantinople Of the Election of the Pope return'd into the hands of the people Of the Emperours resolution to have one of his kinsmen Pope Of Pope Gregories being driven out of Rome by the fury of the people and what follow'd thereupon Of the Election of the Emperour transferr'd by Pope Gregory upon certain Princes of Germany and upon what grounds Of the exclusion of the people from the Pontifical Election Of the Creation of three Popes at once Of the Schism appeas'd by Pope Alexander Of the Election of the Pope remaining only in the hands of the Cardinals Of the Assumption ef Pope Alexander and the Schisms in his time Of the service the Venetian did to the Church against the Emperour Of the obligation the Popes do profess to the Venetian Of the absoluteness of the Cardinals authority in the Pontifical Election Of the place where they assembled to Elect. Of the manner of their proceeding in the Election and the ill consequences thereupon Of a two years and nine months vacancy of the See Of the Assumption of Pope Gregory the X. Of the Reconciliation of the Venetian and Genoese Of the Conclave introduc'd by Gregory the X. Of certain tumults in Viterbo Of the Apostolick See being transferr'd into France by Clement the V. Of Saint Bridgets Letter to Gregory the XI Of the return of the Apostolick See into Italy Of the indignation of the Italians to see the Pontificate so long in the hands of the French Of a Schism that lasted 15. years Of certain accidents in the Papacy of Eugenius Of Amadeo Duke of Savoy's Creation Of his virtues and renuntiation of the Papacy Of what happen'd in the Conclave of Eugenius and of the exaltation of Nicholas the V. Of the Assumption of Calisto the III and of his death Of many politick discourses at the Creation of Eneas Piccolomini who was afterward Pius the II. And of some particulars in relation thereunto THE Church has been and not improperly resembled in the first cryes of its Infancy to a Ship tumbl'd by the Waves and batter'd by the Winds because She was to be nourish'd and brought up in the midst of the proud Billows of so many Ecclesiastical Disputes so many Theological Opinions so many Dissentions and Politick Reasons and expos'd by the ambitions of their own Mariners to thousands of Dangers and Storms which Schisme and Heresie have constantly produc'd with such fury as would have doubtless not only hindred her happy and victorious entrance into the Haven of Safety but have hazarded to have sunk and overwhelm'd her in those very Waves had not a favourable Gate of Protection been oppos'd by that Redeemer who has not nor will not endure to see that Vessel perish which he built at the expence of three and thirty years sweat with the Wood of his own Cross joyn'd together and rivetted with the Nails of his Hands and Feet cemented it with his Divine Blood which by the blows and stripes that they gave him was become pitch in the hands of the Jews setting up that Spear that pierc'd his side for a Mast stretching out that Linnen in which his most Sacred body was involved for its Sails recommending it to the Vigilance and Government of the Apostles and their Successors and finally for their greater incouragement to Lanch out into the Sea of this World he not only offer'd himself to become a Lanthorn to their feet but gave them a Motto worthy of such a Builder Et Portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam But though the Gates of Hell have had no power to destroy her they have been sufficient notwithstanding to give her great tryals that by her agitations and tempests in this world her victories and triumphs might be the more glorious in Heaven and that by those wrecks and persecutions the Church Militant and Triumphant might be distinguish'd The greatest Calamities this great Ship of Christianity has suffer'd have by the judgement of the most pious and devout persons proceeded from the investiture of the Supreme dignity in the persons of the Ecclesiasticks who being ambitious of advancing themselves one above another and being sensible upon the score of their own merits they cannot obtain the charges they pretend too they have betaken themselves to compass the end of their pretensions by imploring the recommendations of Secular Princes Which tend to mix Heaven and Earth together Rome which was built as it were to Lord it over all the Nations in the Universe and give an ample testimony and relation of thousands of wrecks the Church has suffer'd by the recourse the Ecclesiasticks have almost alwayes had to the Seculars and from hence it is that in these times there is a certain natural instinct and inclination in the minds of all Politicians to inform themselves distinctly of all particularities in the Court of Rome as if a man could not any way render himself more acceptable in his conversation than by his discourses of that And indeed the Pontifical dignity which is the most considerable the Majesty of so many Cardinals who are the Senators of the Christian Commonwealth the splendour of so many Bishops who receive all their aliment from the Popes do render it worthy to be numbred amongst the most famous Cities of the world and to be call'd the true Mother of Nations By this means the Popes being ingrandiz'd and rais'd to so eminent a degree as to be acknowledg'd above all other Monarchs whatsoever every one endeavours to inform himself of the quality of the great jurisdiction the Popes do at present enjoy in so much that the greatest part of the Writers now adayes do tire themselves out with relations of the Pontifical State From the mutations and evil events which have follow'd the Election of Popes I will not say in Rome but in all Christendome it may be clearly argued of what moment the said Election is seeing that for so many ages with her private interests and her publick she has oblig'd the principal Monarchies of the Universe to interpose with the whole power both of their Pen and their Sword In the Infancy of the Church there was nothing desir'd of Rome but Prayers and Orations and Preachings and Administration of the Sacraments because Rome expected nothing from the faithfull but the zeal of a good Conscience the safety of their Souls and to be frequent in Holy
in force Martin would have it confirm'd by a Bull and authenticated in the usual form and besides that every one might know how well he was inclin'd to the meeting of Councels and to take away those suspicions which some people would have conceiv'd of the rectitude of his mind he declar'd by the consent of the whole Councel of Constance Pavia to be a proper place and accordingly he sent out his Briefs every way and it follow'd in the month of April the next year At length being desirous to put an end to the Councel in the year 1418. he made a publique Assembly after which by common consent but especially of Sigismond Ibaldo Cardinal of San Vito by Order from his Holiness pronounc'd these words of dismission Domini ite in pace and therewithall all of them had liberty to depart to their houses In the mean time the Pope was intreated by the Emperour first of all to remain in Germany for a while and afterwards he was invited by the Princes of France to retire into those parts But Martin excus'd himself to them all demonstrating that he could not do it by reason that the Patrimony of Saint Peter which was in Italy did suffer much by the absence of the Pope and Rome the head of the Christian Religion was as being without a Pastor involv'd in such civil seditions as caus'd the Churches of the Saints to go utterly to ruine for which reason it was necessary for him to hasten his journey to Rome as indeed he did travelling by Milan as the nearest way He was Pope 14 years and died of an Apoplexy the 20. of Febr. 1421. The first of March the Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave with a general agreement to choose Gabriel Condulmera a Venetian Pope who in his Legation della Marca given him by Pope Martin gave great essays of his prudence in the correction of those who under pretence of ill Ministers had rebell'd against the Church Before their entrance into the Conclave things seem'd not a little imbroil'd one part of the Cardinals pretending to Elect Cardinal Cesarino another propos'd Anthonio Cassino both of them persons of greater parties than parts But those kind of projects remain'd without for as soon as they were enter'd the Conclave in the first scrutiny which follow'd the very next day after their entrance Condulmera was chosen Pope by the consent of all but 3 in 40. which was the number in the Conclave This was the most expeditious and peaceable Election that had ever happen'd before for it is certain there was never any Pope chosen in the first scrutiny but he Being demanded what name he would be call'd by he took a little time to resolve them and desiring to retire into a private place he staid there a considering above half an hour from whence some of the Cardinals took occasion to say That it was easier for them to choose a Pope than for him to choose a Name Some there were that believ'd that he would draw lots for his Name as if the goodness of the person consisted in his Name it is sufficient that about half an hour after he came forth and declar'd he would be call'd Eugenius the 4th The People receiv'd the Election with great applause but a while after taking disgust they took up Armes against him and he was forc'd out of Rome in the habit of a Monk to escape the fury of the people There were many accidents which happen'd in the Papacy of Eugenius in which he commonly remain'd Victor He chastis'd those Cardinals who under the name of the Council endeavour'd to depose him In the Wars he was alwayes neutral and unconcern'd and it was he who drew over the Jacobites to the Christian Faith But that which afflicted him most was to see that he had lost the obedience of the Germans which happen'd in this manner Philip de Florentini had taken a prejudice against Eugenius because it was he that had caus'd Sforza to be sent into the service of the Venetian to be reveng'd he fell in treaty with those who were assembled in the Council of Basi to cite Eugenius which they did three several times and because Eugenius refus'd to appear and his design did not take he made him be declar'd divested of the Papacy and got Amadeo Duke of Savoy his Father-in-Law to be created in his place who liv'd then in the company of some Gentlemen in Ripalta like a Hermit Amadeo having receiv'd the news of this new Election which was made by 26 Cardinals after he had caus'd himself to be shav'd stript of his Hermitical habit and taken upon him the name of Felix he went immediately for Basil accompanied with a multitude of the Gentry of his own Country where being arriv'd and consecrated he began to exercise the functions of a Pope ordaining confirming consecrating administring the Sacraments excommunicating creating Cardinals and Bishops granting pardons and indulgences and in short deporting himself as he had been Pope indeed By reason of this Schism great seditions were hatch'd in the Church the Christians dividing themselves into three factions one was for Felix another for Eugenius and a third being neuter was for neither of the two one side maintain'd that the Pope was to be inferiour to a Council another asserted the contrary and there wanted not others who deny'd the greatest part of the Popes Authority making a dispute whether he should be call'd the Head of the Church or not About this time Eugenius dyed on the 23. of February 1496. after whose death the King of Aragon dispatch'd Ambassadors to the Sacred Colledge to assure them that they need not have any apprehension of him he being resolv'd to give them assistance upon occasion in the Election of a Pope to which he did exhort the Cardinals At the same time Cardinal Capuano arriv'd at Rome a person of great worth and whom the people cry'd up as a fit person to be chosen Pope But the opinion of the people and of the Colledge did not agree in which there were very few for Capuano's Election It was order'd that the Conclave should be kept in the Church della Minerva though the Canons oppos'd it so that the obsequies of Eugenius being over the Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave the command of their Guards was given to the Ambassador of the Order of Saint John which is as much as to say of the Knights of Malta then of Rhodes but the Keys were kept by the three Archbishops of Ravenna Aquileia and Sermoneta besides the Bishop of Ancona When the Cardinals were entring into the Conclave many of the Roman Barons came to them and Gio. Battista Savelli amongst the rest pretending a right they had to be present at the Election But they were refus'd and made sensible that they had not now the same reason for that as in former times they had had There were but 18. Cardinals in the Conclave though there were 23. living so that the two thirds
Italy By the way he met great numbers of Soldiers design'd for Asia but more for their pay and profit than to gain glory by the design These kind of people were not at all welcome to his Holiness he caus'd a Muster to be made and selecting those he lik'd best he sent the rest back again loaden with indulgences and Pardons as judging them fitter to pray to God in a Cell than to draw a sword against the Turk This Holy and Zealous Pope being arrived at Aâ—cona but tyr'd with the length of his journey was receiv'd with great demonstrations of affection whilst he lay in expectation of his forces which was dispatch'd from several Ports of Italy being worn out with a tedious feaver he saw his end approaching and calling therefore all the Cardinals together who were then present in his Court he exhorted them not only to the hastning of a Successor but that they should give the Keys to such a one as would zealously pursue the design against the Turk In short he departed this life earnestly recommending this honourable enterprize in which he did resolve to have imploy'd his whole force and to have spent the whole Treasure of the Church And here would I have those Popes to reflect upon themselves whose thoughts reach no further than their recreations at the Castle of Gondolfo and the Promenades of Monte Cavallo But what do I say I would have this Pope be an example to all those who contrive more to destroy the Treasure of the Church for the accommodation of their Nephews than to ruine the Turk by incommoding their Nephews or themselves Asia laughs Europe mourns and both the tears of the one and the exsultation of the other will be judg'd and rewarded in Heaven because they are regarded so little by the Popes and the Cardinals on Earth Il CARDINALISMO di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF CARDINALS In III. Parts PART III. BOOK II. The Contents Wherein is discours'd of a Decree of Paul the 2d which forbids the Creation of the Pope without the whole body of the Cardinals Of the death of Pius the second and Cardinal Barbi his assumption to the Papacy Of the name of Formoso refus'd by the Cardinals to the said Barbi and why Of the reasons why he would be call'd Paulus the second Of the time he was Pope and the number of Cardinals which were present in the Conclave Of the creation of Sixtus 4th and of his death Of the assumption of Cardinal Cibo call'd Innocent the eight of his death and of the time of his Papacy Of the detestable courses us'd by Cardinal Roderigo Borgia to obtain the Pontificate Of the Cardinals suborn'd and of his ingratitude to those who Elected him Pope Of the violent death of Alexander the 6th and the disturbances his Son Duke Valentino gave to the Church Of the Election of the Cardinal of Siena call'd Pius the third of his death and the time he was Pope Of the assumption of Julius the second and of what he did for Duke Valentine who was against him of the time he was Pope and of the Vacancy of the Chair after his death Of the number of the Cardinals in the Conclave of Julius the second in which Pope Leo the tenth of the house of Medici was Elected Of the creation of Adrian the sixth and of the differences amongst the Cardinals about the names of other pretenders of his life and of his death Of the factions of the Cardinals of the house of Medici and Colonna and of the disputes which hapned in the Conclave before the Election of Clement the seventh Of the sacking of Rome in the days of this Pope Of the assumption of Paul the third of the house of Farnese Of the introduction of the factions of the Nephews and the Crowns into the Conclave How the interests of Princes were brought into the Conclave How the liberty of the Cardinals was reduc'd to a slavery and servitude to the Nephews of the Popes Of the Cardinals which do adhere to the faction of the Nipotismo and of the reasons which mov'd them to it Of the opinion of a certain Roman Abbot concerning the Debates of the Conclave Of certain reasons which make the Popedom appear not Elective but hereditary to the Nephews Of the death of Paul the third and the controversies which follow'd in his Conclave Of the French exclusion of Cardinal Polo and of the endeavours of the Imperials for his creation Of the creation of Cardinal di Monte by the name of Julius the third of his death and the time he lived Of the great but short differences which arose at the creation of Cardinal Caraffa who took upon him the name of Paul the fourth of his death and the barbarity the people us'd to his Statue Of the Exaltation of the Cardinal di Medici who was call'd Pius the fourth Of the number of Cardinals and of the factions in the Conclave wherein Pius the fifth was created Of the time he was Pope and of the Cardinals which entred into the Conclave after his death Of the creation of Cardinal Boncompagno call'd Gregory the thirteenth of his life death and the ingress of the Cardinals into the Conclave Of the course Sixtus the fifth us'd to compass the Papacy some particulors about his Government and the time he was Pope Of the creation of Cardinal Castagna with the name of Urban the seventh Of the good will Sixtus the fifth had always that Castagna should succeed him in the Papacy Of the promotion of the Cardinal of Cremona under the name of Gregory the thirteenth Of the peaceable Conclave in which Cardinal Facchinetto was created with the name of Innocent the ninth and of the shortness of his life Of the creation of Cardinal Aldobrandino and the differences which hapned in his Conclave by the inclusion and exclusion of other persons Of the name of Clement the eight which he assum'd and of the time he was Pope Of a Report in Rome that the Cardinals were fighting in the Conclave of Leo and of the resolution taken to choose the Cardinal Borghese who would be call'd Paulus the fifth Of the life and death of Paul and of the creation of Cardinal Ludovisio with the name of Gregory the fifteenth Of the number of Cardinals present in the Conclave of Gregory where Urban the eighth was created Of many particulars hapning at the creation of Innocent the tenth Of his death and the exaltation of Alexander the seventh Of the form of the Scrutiny used in the Conclave and the difference between Adoration and Accession Of the manner of the Engagement wherewith the Pope was sometime Elected and of several other particulars of all Conclaves in general THUS far we have spoken of the Election of the Popes in a general way for till the Pontificate of Paul the 2d who succeeded Pius the 2d the Cardinals had liberty to choose persons out of the Conclave which being look'd upon by Paul