the Guelphs that had been banished into their own Cities He was no sooner come thither but the Gibbelins departed on their own accord and he without any disturbance appointed a certain number of Officers at Florence which the neighbouring Natives call the Heads of the Guelphian Faction Thence he moved against the Sienneses and made all the Gibellins of Tuscany but especially those of Pisa his Enemies because he besieged Poggibonci which the Gibellines stoutly defended Now when Charles had reduced both Kingdoms all but Nocera de Pagani he at last grants the Saracens a Peace and let 'em live in Italy upon their own terms as they thought good But he himself with his Army upon the Popes invitation went to Viterbo where Henry banish'd by his Brother the King of Castile was not long before arrived Of whom when the Pope had heard Charles's good Character he was so pleased with it that he presented him with great things and made him a Senator of the City After that Charles marched into Tuscany to suppress the Gibellins who desired Corradin a young Man Nephew to Conrad of Schwaben to come into Italy and assist them against the Guelphs And seeing that he could not take Poggibonci by storm because it was so well fortified both by Art and Nature he resolved to starve it into a Surrender And by that means after a long Siege he took it and then going against them of Pisa he took a Town of theirs called Mutrone and gave it to the State of Lucca Charles at that time was very likely to have done greater things but that his friends called him hastily home to his Kingdom by reason of some factious People that favour'd Corradin's Party but most of all upon account of the Saracens whom he presently shut up in the strong Castles of Nocera de Pagani that he might go the safer against Corradin whom the men of Pisa endeavour'd to make their King after they had not only laid waste all the Countrey of Lucca but conquer'd and kill'd Charles's Mareschal at Arezzo by the assistance chiefly of Guido of Montferrat and all the Gibellin faction on that side the Alpes They say that as the Youth passed through the Countrey near Viterbo toward the Kingdom the Pope who pitied his condition said in a Prophetick manner that Corradin himself was led as a Sacrifice to the slaughter So then he went toward Rome and was met at Ponte Molle by Henry the Senator together with all the people of Rome who saluted him with loud acclamations by the name of Emperor but whether out of fear or love is not well known At Rome he dismissed Guido of Montferrat and went himself in all haste with his Army toward the Kingdom where when he understood how Charles had taken possession of Compagna di Roma and the great Road that goes through it he turn'd away to the Mountains called Tagliacocii toward Marsi And there he encamp'd first of all near the Lake being fortified with an old Conduit and ruinated Houses Charles mov'd that way too and pitch'd his Tents within ten furlongs of him at the entrance of an hollow Vale where by advice of Alardus a Neapolitane who had been an old Soldier in Germany he immediately sent away part of his Army under the command of his Marshal who was disguis'd like a King with a design to provoke the Enemy But he himself staid the mean while on the other side the Hill with his best Soldiers in Ambuscade to wait for a good occasion of doing his business effectually They fought full three whole hours without being able to say who should have the better of it till the Marshal who behav'd himself very bravely fell At whose death the French began to give back but the Germans were more brisk than ever and pursu'd them to all places without any manner of Order By this means Charles came upon 'em in a Confusion routed 'em and made 'em run for 't but kill'd a great many of 'em as they fled Henry the Senator was taken Prisoner at Rieti whilst he endeavour'd to escape and Corradin being discover'd at the same time with the Duke of Austria as he attempted to pass the Tiber and go by Boat into Tuscany was brought to Charles and put to death as the Pope we told you had prophesied it would shortly happen Charles therefore in the year 1268 after so great a Victory and having made himself absolute in the Kingdom went to Rome where for some time he acted as a Senator by the Popes permission and sent his Marshal into Tuscany by whose pains and care a Peace was made between the Sieneses and the Florentines But when Clement was dead in the third year of his Popedom and twenty first day and buried at Viterbo there was such a Difference presently not onely between the People of Italy whom the godly Pope whilst alive had by his Authority and awe upon them kept within some kind of measures but also between the Cardinals about the choice of a new Pope that the Sea was void two years At that time Charles who took a great care that the Church should not suffer any damage went with part of his Army into Tuscany where he took Poggibonci the place from whence all the Troubles sprang and sold it to the Florentines Which when they had demolish'd they built a new Town not far from thence upon a plain ground which they call Poggibonci whereas the old one was called antiently Bonitium After that Charles made Peace with those of Pisa whose Ships he design'd to make use of to carry him over into Africk and then intended to return to his Kingdom leaving Ruffus Earl of Anguillara with part of his Army in Tuscany to keep the Tuscans in Order In the mean time King Lewis set sail from Marseilles and was follow'd by three of his Sons Theobald King of Navarre and the Earl of Champaigne together with an Apostolical Legate All these arrived at Tunis the very same time and besieging the City they destroyed all that ever came to their hands But a Plague happening in the Camp which for a good while had infected none but inconsiderable Persons at last took off Lewis with his youngest Son and the Legate To him succeeded Philip his Son who began now to think of going homeward But Charles King of Sicily coming up to him a Peace was concluded upon this Condition that the Captives on both sides should be dismissed and the King of the Countrey should pay Charles a certain Tribute besides that he should suffer the Gospel to be freely preach'd in his Dominions Then they brought back their forces into Sicily where the King of Navarre and the Earl of Campaigne died at Trapani which made Philip and Charles partly for Devotion and partly to avoid the Contagion sail to Civitavecchâ—a with an intent to go from thence by Land to Viterbo where the Cardinals were still contending about the choice of a Pope For they imagin'd
in corporal strength for he himself could discern rather more of the Affairs of the City than those that were in it besides put 'em all together He lived in the Mount di S. Sabina and built him a curious Palace there whose ruins are yet to be seen which drew many of the Romans to live by him so that the Mount began from his time to be very full of Inhabitants He was resolved to injure no Man whilst he was Pope but on the contrary to do what good he could to all and therefore being provoked by the indignities which Peter King of Aragon offer'd to him by endeavouring to get the Kingdom of Sicily he confirmed Martin's Interdictions against Peter But Rodulphus the Emperor having a great mind to raise money sent his Chancellour one of the Family of the Flisci into Tuscany to make all the Country free especially those who would buy their Liberty Those of Lucca paid upon that account 12000 l. The Florentines six thousand and as soon as they were made perfectly free they created a certain kind of Officers which they call Arts-masters with a Sword-Bearer This Sale did not displease Honorius though it look'd too mean for such a great Prince because by that means the Patrimony of the Church would be more secure he thought when the Emperor had no more power to oppress those free Cities But whilst the King of France besieged Girona and Peter of Aragon was sollicitous how to hinder the carriage of Provisions from Narbonne into the Enemies Camp he was engaged in a sharp Conflict where he received a deadly Wound of which not long after he dy'd for want of looking to So that Girona was surrender'd upon Terms and submitted to the King of France though he did not long survive the Conquest For he died of a Fever which he caught in the Camp as he was besieging Perpignano His Navy too not long after that was taken and burnt in the Port of Narbonne by Roger Loria Peter of Aragon had two Sons Ferdinand and James whereof he left Ferdinand his eldest Son King of Aragon by his Will and James King of Sicily But when the old Kings were dead in that manner as I have told you the Wars devolved upon the young ones who attempted on both sides to make those of Pisa and the Genoeses who were excellent Seamen of their Party But these two States heing incens'd and arm'd against each other engaged so furiously at Malora an Island near the Port of Pisa that those of Pisa lost forty Ships or Gallies and twelve thousand men which were partly slain and partly taken Honorius took this misfortune of theirs so much to heart that he had like to have interdicted the Genoeses who pursu'd the men of Pisa with too much animosity And that unhappy day gave such a shock to those of Pisa that they never retrieved themselves since But Edward King of England went at that time into Gascoigne to make peace between Charles a Youth Son to the King of France who I told you was taken in War and Ferdinand King of Aragon The business went as he would have it and they treated about Charles's freedom when at the same time the Apostolical Legate and the Earl of Arras with the assistance of the Earl of Avellino possess themselves of the City Catina and send over thither an Army raised out of Tuscany For this reason Edward return'd home without success But Roger Loria advanced King Ferdinand's fortune by taking the French Fleet as it came back out of Sicily Honorius could not engage in this War because he was invaded in Romagna by Guido Feltrini But at length when he had conquer'd Guido he recover'd all Romagna in a short time and not long after dy'd two years and a day after he was made Pope His body was carried in great State from S. Sabina to S. Peter's and buried in a Marble Tomb which is yet extant among those that Pope Pius collected as the Arms of his Family and the Inscription declare And indeed he deserv'd all the honour paid to his dead Corps because he was a very upright Man and a great lover of Christian Piety For he confirm'd not onely the Order of the Carmelites which was not very well approved of in some Councils and chang'd their black Cloaks for white ones but he did the same also by the order of Eremites which was disapproved on at Paris But the onely Cardinal he made during his Pontificate was John Boccamatius Bishop of Frascati for he would say that none but good and learned men ought to be taken into so great a Society not those that were illiterate and ignorant in the manage of humane Affairs He loved Courtiers so as that he would go every year especially in the Summer to Tivoli on purpose to avoid the Heat of the Town which causes many Diseases When Honorius was dead the Sea was vacant ten months For the Conclave being summon'd to meet at St. Sabina a great many of the Cardinals were taken sick of a sudden Out of whom there died Jordan Vrsin Earl of Millain Hugh an English man Gervase of Anjou Dean of Paris and Antherius an excellent Person For this reason they dismiss'd the Conclave and deferr'd the matter till a more seasonable time especially because of the Earthquakes which were then so great that they thought Heaven it self would be angry with 'em if they did it at that time NICOLAS IV. NICOLAS the fourth of Principato-citra an Ascolese formerly called Jerome a Brother and General of the Order of Friers Minors and after that a Cardinal Priest was made Pope at St. Sabina the tenth month after Honorius's death and placed not onely in Peter's Sea but in the Saint's own Chair After that he went to Rieti to avoid some Tumults at Rome and there he created Cardinals of almost all Religions For he loved all men alike nor did he think that he ow'd more to his Relations than to any good man The difference between Virtue and Vice caused him to incline more to one man than another Some of those that he made Cardinals were called Neapolio Petrus Columna Hugo Colionius a famous Doctor of the Order of Preachers Matthaeus Aquasparta General of the Minors and Bishop of Porto About a year after he came back to Rome when City broils were somewhat appeased and lived at S. Maries the Great which Church he and James Columna repaired as appears upon the great Portico where the Image of our Saviour the Pope and James the Cardinal are yet to be seen The same Pope repaired the front and the back-part of the Lateran and adorn'd it with Fret-work as the Inscription tells us In the mean time the Kings of Aragon and Sicily conclude a Peace upon these terms That King Charles should be set at Liberty and settle James of Aragon in the Kingdom of Sicily at his own charge And if he did not do so in three years time he promised to return to Prison giving his two Sons for Hostages one of which was named Charles who was afterward created King of Hungary and called Marcellus and the other Lewis who
animosities arisen in the Kingdom of Naples For King Robert dying without Issue male bequeathed Johanna Daughter of Andrew his Nephew for a Wife to King Charles of Hungary's Son who came at that time a Youth to Naples But Johanna hating him for a dull fellow kill'd him by surprise in the City which was generally against the Match and was married to his Cousin German one Lewis Son to a former Prince of Tarento who was known to be Robert's Brother But Lewis King of Hungary and Brother of her first Husband resolving to revenge so great a piece of Villany came into Italy with a very well order'd Army and first attaqued the Sulmoneses who had the boldness to oppose him But in the mean while the manner of choosing Senators at Rome was alter'd by Apostolical Authority and Nicolas de Renty Citizen of Rome and publick Notary a man very earnest and high for Liberty when he had taken the Capitol gain'd so much good will and Authority among all the people that he could incline them to what he pleased And that he might work upon them the more effectually he used this Motto Nicolas the severe and merciful Patron of Liberty Peace and Justice and the illustrious Redeemer of the Sacred State of Rome With these great Words he created such an admiration of himself that all the people of Italy desired by their Embassadors to enter into League and friendship with him Beside that some forein Nations look'd upon the glory of the Roman Empire to be now reviving But his vain Boasting continu'd not long for whilst he was kind to some Citizens and an Enemy to others he all on the sudden was accounted instead of a Patron a Tyrant So that in the seventh month of his Government of his own accord without any bodies knowledg on a dark Night he went disguised from Rome into Bohemia to Charles the Son of John whom Clement a little before had made the Electors put in nomination for Emperor because he was so fine a Scholar besides that he had a mind to affront the Bavarian by setting up a Competitor So the Tribune i.e. Nicolas was taken by Charles and carry'd to Avignion for a Present to the Pope But Lewis having gotten into Sulmona after a long Siege makes himself easily master of the whole Kingdom since Johanna and the Adulterer Lewis were fled for fear into Narbonne and had left onely the Duke of Durazzo Nephew to King Robert to protect the Kingdom who was conquer'd and taken by Charles and put to Death But the Plague being very hot all over Italy Charles left sufficient Garisons there and return'd into Hungary in the third month after his arrival which was just about the time when John the Arch-Bishop a man of great courage and conduct received from the Pope the Lieutenancy of Millain upon the death of his Brother Luchino But Clement kept Nicolas in Prison and sent some Cardinals to Rome to settle the State of the City to whom Francis Petrarcha wrote persuading them to chuse Senators impartially out of the Commonalty if they would appease the Tumults since it did not sufficiently appear in Rome who were of the Senatorian and who of the Plebeian rank because they were almost all Foreigners and born of strange Parents Upon this Petro Sarra of Columna and John Vrsini were declared Senators At this time the Plague raged so all over Italy for three years that there was scarce one man in ten that escaped Nor is that any wonder for there was such a concourse of men from all places to Rome at the Jubilee which was then celebrated that they not onely brought the Contagion along with 'em but by the throng and bustle and sweating that was among 'em infected all places and persons At that time the Town of Colle and Geminiano were made subject to the Florentines and Bologna to the Arch-Bishop of Millain by the voluntary surrender of the Citizens At which the Pope being disturb'd sent a Legate into Italy to instigate the Florentines and Mastino Scala against the Viconti But when Mastino was dead the Arch-Bishop endeavour'd to draw Canegrande Son to Mastino and all the Gibellins in Romagna and Tuscany to make an Alliance with him and sent his Nephew Bernabos to Bologna to keep the Citizens in Obedience In the mean time the Florentines without any resistance set upon the Pistoians and the Prateses and at length reduced 'em by main force But after that being harrass'd by the Arch-Bishop's force under the command of John Aulegius they could hardly defend themselves within their Walls At that time Anguillara and Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro belonging to the Church revolted to the Viscounts and then also we read that the Genoeses and Venetians fought a Sea-Battel in which the Genoeses at first were conquer'd but afterward they were more victorious under the Command of Admiral Philip Auria and not onely took the Island Scio from the Venetians but kill'd a great many men in Vbaea now called Necroponte But Clement resolving at last to consult the quiet of Italy Decreed that Lewis Prince of Taranto should be King of Naples renew'd the Peace with the Hungarian bought the City of Avignion of Queen Joan whose Inheritance it was and paid for it by remitting of a certain Fee that amounted to rather more than the price of it and was due from her to the Church of Rome upon the account of the Kingdom of Naples But whilst Olegio Viconti besieged Scarperia in Muciallia those of Siena Arezzo and Perugia being affrighted enter'd into a new Confederacy with the Florentines against the Viconti The Pisans could not shew their friendship to the Viconti for the Gambacorti a Noble Family that were Allies of Florence who being now unable to withstand the Viconti alone call'd Charles the Emperor into Italy At this the Pope was concern'd and fearing Italy might be destroy'd with fire and sword as the Emperor threaten'd he deliver'd Bologni ro the Viconti upon Condition that they should pay the Church twelve thousand pound a year and made Peace between the Viconti and the Florentines upon these terms That neither of 'em should molest those of Pisa Lucca Siena or Perugia and that Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro should be subject to the Church and the Viconti should preserve the Liberty of the Cortoneses He also endeavour'd to compose the differences between Philip of France and Edward of England but in vain for they were so incens'd to fight that in one Battel Edward kill'd twenty thousand French and after eleventh months Siege victoriously took Calais by storm The same success he had against the Scots But the Pope having done the Duty of a good Shepherd seeing he could not advantage Christendom abroad he consulted how to do the Church some good at home For he chose excellent Persons for Cardinals especially Giles a Spaniard who was Arch-Bishop of Toledo Nicolas Cappocius a Roman Citizen Rainaldo Vrsina Protonotary of the Church of
of Bavaria whom the Electors of the Empire having deposed Wenceslaus of Bohemia for his sloth had chosen Emperor to come into Italy upon condition that he should not have the promised reward till he was advanc'd as far as the Dutchy of Millain But when he was come to Brescia near the Lago di Grada and had receiv'd part of the Money he engaged with Galeatius and losing the day fled to Trent The Venetians and Florentines promised him great things to keep him from going back into Germany but all would not do At that time Boniface whether out of fear of the Power of the Viconti or out of covetousness to enlarge the Churches Patrimony was the first that imposed Annates or yearly payments upon Ecclesiastical Benefices upon this condition that whoever got a Benefice should pay half an years Revenue into the Apostolical Treasury Yet there are those who attribute this Invention to John XXII Now all Countreys admitted of this usage except the English who granted it onely in case of Bishopricks but not in other Benefices Being thus strengthened with Money and choosing Magistrates as he pleased both in the City and all over the Church Dominions the Pope restored Ladislaus a Youth Son to Charles King of Naples into his Fathers Kingdom which was usurp'd by such as sided at that time with Lewis of Anjou And to do it the more easily and honourably he abolish'd that deprivation of Charles which Vrban had promulged at Nocera and sent Cardinal Florentino to Cajeta which was the onely place that had continu'd Loyal to crown the Youth there where he had been so loyally preserv'd Galeatius thus rid of the Emperor sent his Army under the command of Albrick against John Bentivoglio who had turn'd out the Garison and made himself Master of Bologna At this time Francis Gonzaga fought in Galeatius's Army for they two were friends again as also Pandulphus Malatesta Charle's Brother and Ottobon Rossi of Parma The names of these Men terrified the Florentines so that they sent Bernardo their General to assist the Bolognians their Allies which so encourag'd the Bolognians that they engaged the Enemy before their Walls but had the worst and lost all their Horse as also Bernardo who was kill'd in the fight James Carrara was taken but preserv'd at the request of Francis Gonzaga Bentivoglio fled with a small number into the City which whilst he stoutly defended he fell into an Ambuscade where he was kill'd the Enemy not being able to take him alive so that now Galeatius easily became Master of Bologna and struck great terrour into the Florentines threatning suddenly to turn all the force of his Arms upon them But not long after he died at Marignan of a Fever Anno Dom. 1402. whose death long wish'd for by the Florentines freed them from many fears and was presignified by a Comet which appear'd some time before Upon this many Usurpers arose either those who were chief in their Cities or who had command among the Soldiery by corrupting the Garisons seiz'd their several Towns there being now no one Man of Authority and Power to correct their ambitions and excesses infinite mischiefs hapned That fatal Sedition too of the Guelphs and Gibellins was renew'd which ran through Italy two hundred years and above and raised such civil Wars among the several Cities that they fought till they had almost destroy'd each other Vgolinus Cavalcabos having vanquish'd the Gibellins was Lord of Cremona whilst Otho the third got Parma expelling the Rossi The Soardi seiz'd Bergamo the Rusconii took Como the Vignati possess'd themselves of Lodi and Fazino Cane an excellent General made himself Master of Vercelli Alessandria and many other Towns thereabout I omit others who having been expell'd by Galeatius then were in some hopes of recovering their usurped Dominions especially William Scala and Charles Viconti Son to Bernabos who sollicited all the Princes and People to revolt Upon this account Piras Ordelaphus was banish'd his Country and got possession of Forli and Albrick Earl of Cuni would have reduced Faenza then brought to extremity if he had not been sent for in haste by Ladislaus by the Popes advice and made Great Constable of Naples The Pope had sent his Brother also thither with a competenr Army to assist the King but he being expelled by the Neapolitans moved toward Perugia and soon made that City subject to the Pope Baltesar Cassa also a Neapolitan Cardinal of S. Eustachius compell'd the Bolognians to return to the Church-party after he had besieged them for some time in which expedition Brachius Montonius led the Church-forces as being a Person well skill'd in Military Affairs and left for that reason in Romagna by Albrick For he had fought under him from his youth and been a Commander as had Sfortia who was born in Cotignola a Town of Romagna By whose valour and prowess the Militia of Italy so improved that whoever wanted a Commander would make use of one of them Hence those Military Factions so increased that all the troubles of Italy for sixty years might be imputed to one of them For he that was oppress'd by the Brachians immediately hired the Sfortians to revenge his quarrel But Albrick from whom as from the Trojan Horse so many Generals did come made Naples yield to Ladislaus after a long Siege At which Victory all the Princes of the Kingdom and all the Cities surrender'd themselves to the King But Ladislaus over desirous of enlarging his Kingly power before he had laid a good foundation in Naples was sent for into Hungary to accept of that Kingdom by hereditary right and in order thereunto sent over his Forces But whilst he was besieging Zara his Friends sent him word that the Neapolitans were like to revolt wherefore having taken Zara and sold it to the Venetians he return'd to Naples and calling back Albrick out of Romagna he deposed all the Nobles and banish'd those that refused to obey him But he was very severe upon the Family of Sanseverino and put the chiefest of them to death Boniface being troubled at such a tedious confusion of Affairs at length died of a Pleurisie in the fourteenth year and the ninth month of his Pontificate Anno Dom. 1404. He was buried at S. Peters in a Marble Tomb of Mosaic work still to be seen with his Coat of Arms which shews also that he built much in S. Angelo the Capitol and the Vatican Nor had any thing been wanting to the glory of this Pope if he had not been too partial to his Relations Simony being often committed by reason that his Brethren and Friends who came to Rome in great multitudes to get Money ask'd for every thing that fell in his gift without any reason As for Indulgencies and those plenary too they were sold about at such a rate that the Authority of the Keys and the Popes Bulls was brought into contempt Boniface indeed endeavour'd to amend these things but was forced
which end Bessarion was Commissionated to be his Legat to Lewis XI of France Roderigo Borgia Vice-Chancellor to go his Legat into Spain Marco Barbo into Germany and Hungary and Oliviere Carafa to Venice and the Knights of Rhodes to every of which Legats he assigned a Pension of 500 Crowns in Gold per Month but the success answered not the charge all the Legats returning without any effect or fruit of their Negotiations For Lewis the 11th had already levied War against Charles of Burgundy and the Duke of Brittany Ferdinand King of Aragon made War on the King of Portugal to decide the dispute between them for the Kingdom of Castile The Kings of Hungary and Poland were in actual Wars fighting for the Kingdom of Bohemia so that the Oratorical persuasions of these Ministers of Peace were not able to prevail on the incensed and resolved minds of these warlike Princes And being now fixed and established in his Apostolical Seat he received with a serenity of countenance and chearful affability the Addresses and Congratulations which Forein Princes by their respective Ministers made to him at his first promotion to the Papal Dignity which Ceremony being performed he published and declared two persons to be by him created Cardinals namely Peter Riario and Julian della Rovere the first was of a mean Family at Savona and educated by this Sixtus in the Franciscan Order and made Bishop of Trevisi The other was Son of his Brother Raphael della Rovere whom he had constituted Bishop of Carpentras The first took the Title of S. Sixtus and the other of S. Peter ad Vincola who was afterwards Pope Julian the second And such was the affection which this Pope indulged to his own natural Relations that he never refused to grant their demands or yield to the most exorbitant of their desires for which he was much blamed and hardly censured with many reflections on his conduct and wisdom for he had enriched this Peter Riario with several fat Benefices on the Revenue of which he might have lived with splendor and greatness But so exorbitant were his expences that in the space of two years only he spent two hundred thousand Crowns of Gold leaving a debt of seventy thousand Crowns with three hundred pounds weight of wrought Plate and then being discontented with disappointments of his ambitious desires he died at 28 years of age and was buried in the Church of the holy Apostles His Brother Jeronimo tho as we have said of mean extraction was yet by the favour of this Pope made Prince of Imola and Forli and married to Catherine natural Daughter of Galeazzo Duke of Milan and on this account and reason Ascanius the Son of Galeazzo was created Cardinal And farther did the affection of this Pope extend towards his Nephews and Relations that he married Leonard his Brothers Son to the natural Daughter of Ferdinand King of Naples and ordained him Governor of Rome and he dying soon after his place was bestowed on John the Brother of Cardinal Julian with augmentation of the Signiories of Sora and Senegaglia on the reputation of which he married Jane the Daughter of Frederick Duke of Vrbin by whom he had one Son called Francisco Maria who succeeded in the Dukedom of Vrbin after his Uncle Guy Vbald who died without issue This Pope moreover created his Brother Christopher and Domenico della Rovere Cardinals as also Jeronimo Basso his Sisters Son Raphael Sanson a youth of 17 years of age Son of his Sister the Wife of Peter Riario also Schiafinato of Milan who was his Chancellor and Bishop of Parma likewise John Baptista Cibo of Genoua who afterwards succceeded in the Popedom under the name of Innocent VIII and besides these he raised many others to the number of 34 whom he successively created Cardinals during his Reign And so free and liberal was Sixtus in his Promotions and Gifts that nothing was asked of him which he denied which liberality gave occasion oftentimes to many Disputes when the free nature of the Pope had given Donations to three or four persons of the same thing to prevent which for the future the Privy Signet was given to John de Montemirabile a severe and reserved person and one well practised in the Affairs of the Court who keeping an account of all matters which had passed the Seal vacated such Donations as were not regularly granted It is doubtful amongst the Writers of Ecclesiastical History whether it was this Pope Sixtus or Paul the Second that reduced the year of Jubile to 25 howsoever it is certain that this Pope in the year 1475. did Celebrate the Jubile which brought a great concourse of people to Rome amongst which were several Kings and Princes present such as the Kings of Denmark Sweden and Norway of Bosna and Walachia the Dukes of Calabria and Saxony with many others of great Quality who in person made their Pilgrimages to Rome to gain the Indulgences Pardons and Privileges which were granted at that Solemnity About this time Mathias King of Hungary being desirous to create an Alliance between himself and Casimir King of Poland did in the year 1476. make demand of his Daughter in Marriage but before Casimir would assent thereunto he sent his Son Vladislaus to Frederick the Emperor then at Vienna to desire that he might be established and confirmed in the right of the Kingdom of Bohemia notwithstanding that it had formerly been given away by Paul the Second to Mathias King of Hungary On which Quarrel the Knights of the Teutonick Order did not only at the instigation of Balthasar the Popes Legat make War against the King of Poland with assistance of the King of Hungary but likewise the Legat Excommunicated Vladislaus the new King of Bohemia and his Father Casimir upon pretence that they favoured the Doctrin of the Hussites That long continued Difference and Dispute between the Secular Priests and the Mendicant Friers which had lasted for above two hundred years was afterwards by the Sentence of this Pope determined in this manner That the Seculars should never hereafter tax or impeach the Mendicants as Authors of Heresie but honor and respect them as those by whose Preaching the truth of the Gospel had been greatly enlightned That all Communicants should be obliged to hear Mass said by their Parochial Priests every Sunday and solemn Festival without which the Mendicants were not admitted to Preach That the Mendicants should not declare the people disobliged from making their Confessions to their Parochial Priest at least every Easter according as they are directed by the Ecclesiastical Canons provided still that the Mendicants retain their Privilege of hearing Confessions and enjoyning Penance These and some other particulars being declared and determined by this Pope the animosity and hatred between the Seculars and the Religious was much abated and the long continued Controversie brought to an issue But to pass now from the matters of Spiritual Government to temporal and secular
and monstrous cruelties to him making him the Author of all those Calamities and Miseries which in his Reign over-whelmed Italy rendering its condition slavish and contemptible to Forein Nations Howsoever his temper was not so altogether flagitious but that it admitted of some alloy and mixture of Virtue for he with great care attended to the government of the City and regulation of the Courts of Justice to which end he ordained Visitors of the Prisons to examin and know the causes for which persons were imprisoned and created four Judges for the tryal of all criminal matters so that Justice was the more punctually executed than in former times But not to remain too long on his personal qualities let us proceed to the important affairs of his Government And in the first place being created Pope he was according to custom saluted and congratulated in his Papal Dignity by the Ambassadors of Kings Princes and States whom he respectively treated with affability and respect persuading them to peace and concord amongst themselves and by the virtue of such union and confederacy to joyn and employ their Arms against the Turk who was the common Enemy of Christendom And at that time being about the year 1493. in honor to Ferdinand King of Spain he gave him the Title of Catholick in acknowledgment and memory of the many Victories he had obtained over the Moors and gave him a Title to all those Lands and Countries in America which were or should be discovered there And thus as he was civil to Kings so he was kind and more affectionate to his Family For in the first Consistory that he held he created John Borgia his Sisters Son Arch-Bishop of Montreat Valentine Borgia his Natural Son Arch-Bishop of Valentia At this time the Emperor Frederick died having reigned for the space of 54 years Likewise Ferdinand King of Naples being dead he sent his Legat with power to confirm his Son Alonso in the succession to the Kingdom and having contracted an Alliance with him he ordered him to be Crowned and invested with the Regalities At this time being the year 1494. Charles the Eighth King of France who was of a martial and ambitious spirit laid claim to the Kingdom of Naples by virtue of the last Will and Testament of René Duke of Anjou and Lorain and being encouraged in that enterprise by Lodowick Sforza the Guardian of John Galeas Duke of Milan he entered Italy with a puissant Army consisting of 25000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a great train of Artillery The Pope apprehending the great ruine and damage which this incursion of the French would bring upon Italy entered into League with the City of Florence and both agreed and resolved to leavy Soldiers and joyn in a defensive League with the King of Naples but the Venetians and Ferdinand King of Spain who were likewise moved to enter into the League did positively refuse to accept the proposals being more inclinable to be unconcerned and Spectators than Actors in that hazardous War Charles being entered into Italy marched victorious thro Lombardy and having overthrown the Army of Florence soon after became Master Of the City it self thence he proceeded towards Rome where he entered on the first of January 1494. without any opposition it being agreed that in case the Romans would peaceably open their Gates and give free admission to the French that no hurt or violence should be offered by them to the Inhabitants but that on the contrary if they made opposition they would put all into flame and confusion The Romans therefore finding themselves in no condition to resist readily gave a reception to the French affording them plenty of Victuals and Provisions and they on the other side performed their conditions severely punishing such as were guilty of Riots or Tumults The Pope at first being affrighted with the approach of the French fled for security into the Castle but at length finding all things quiet and secure from the outrages of their Ghests adventured abroad and much against his will and inclinations entered into a League with them But Charles not much confiding in the Faith which the Pope had given required for better security thereof and by way of Hostage that Cesar Borgia who was called Cardinal Valentino should under colour of being the Popes Legat accompany him in the War together with Zizimé the Brother of the Grand Seignior on pretence that having overcome the Kingdom of Naples he would make use of him in the War which he intended to make upon Constantinople but he died soon after of a Bloody-Flux at Capua Upon approach of the French near to Naples King Alonso being conscious of his ill government whereby he had contracted the hatred of his people and despairing of the success of his Affairs surrendred up the Kingdom into the hands of his Son Ferdinand and with great fear and ignominy embarked himself with the best part of his wealth and fled into the Island of Sicily and soon after Ferdinand considering the weakness of his Force and the inequality of the Match between him and the French betook himself also to the Island of Ischia Charles following the favourable course of his good and victorious fortune with great expedition made himself Master of all the Kingdom of Naples the which success giving an alarm to all the Christian Princes a general confederacy was agreed amongst them for intercepting the French on their return out of Italy so that the Pope the Emperor Maximilian the King of Spain Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan and the Venetians uniting their Forces for the common safety of Italy composed an Army of forty thousand men Notwithstanding which Charles boldly returned out of Italy and with great difficulty having passed the Apenine Mountains with sixteen pieces of weighty Cannons which were drawn over by 300 Swissers and having by the greater error and neglect of the Enemy passed all the narrow and inaccessible ways about Zerzana and Petra Santa at length descended into the Plains of Lombardy The Confederate Army to hinder the Kings farther passage had encamped themselves at Fornovo near Tarro and at no far distance from Parma and there both Armies were engaged The French did not consist of more than 9000 men and the Confederates of 40000 and yet the French had the advantage and won the Field and as Philip de Comines saith the King entered triumphant into Asti tho Panvinio and other Italian Writers relate the Battel to have been bloody but the success and advantage doubtful Howsoever the news hereof being reported at Naples to the great advantage of the Confederates King Ferdinand re-assumed his courage and adventured out of his retirement at Ischia and then the French Forces being grown weak and all Recruits failing them he recovered his Kingdom with the assistance of the Catholick King Not long after Charles the Eighth died and Lewis the Twelfth Duke of Orleans succeeded in his Throne Likewise Ferdinand dying without Issue Frederick his
Salutations and Respects having pass'd on both sides they entred the Church and being come up to the Altar Charles and the Pope the Romans and the French took a mutual Oath to maintain a perpetual Friendship and to be Enemies to the Enemies of each other After which Charles making his Entrance into the City devoutly visited all the Churches and made several Presents to them Four days after his being there he by Oath confirmed and amply enlarged the Donation of his Father Pipin to Gregory the third containing according to Anastasius in 〈◊〉 all that reaches from the long since demolished City Luna to the Alpes the Isle of Corfica and the whole Tract between Luca and Parma together with Friuli the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Dukedoms of Spoleto and Benevent These Affairs being thus setled Charles taking his leave of Adrian returns into Lombardy and becomes Master of Pavia on the sixth month after the investing of it Towards Desiderius however he was so favourable as that though he berest him of his Kingdom yet he spared his Life and only confined him with his Wife and Children to Lyons Advancing thence again Arachis Duke of Benevent who was Son-in-law to Desiderius and had been an Abettour of his rash Proceedings he soon forced him to sue for a Peace and received his two Sons for Hostages After this in his Passage farther he religiously visited Mount Cassino and confirmed all the Grants which had been made by other Princes to the Monastery of S. Benedict And so the Affairs of all Italy being composed and strong Guards left in the most important places of Lombardy he returns with great Spoil and mighty Glory into his Kingdom or France carrying with him his Brother Caroloman's Relict and Sons whom he always treated with Respect and Honour and also Paul a Deacon of the Church of Aquileia a Person for his Parts and Learning highly belov'd by Desiderius to whom he gave his Freedom and had for some time a great Esteem for him But understanding afterwards that the man was assisting to a Design of Desiderius's his Flight he banish'd him into the Island of Tremiti from whence after some years making his Escape and coming to Arachis at the Request of Adelperga Daughter to Desiderius and the Wife of Arachis he added two Books to the History of Eutropius giving an account of what passed from the time of the Emperour Julian to that of Justinian the first After the Death of Arachis he betook himself to the Monastery of Cassino where leading the remainder of his life very devoutly he oftentimes wrote elegant and obliging Letters to Charles and received again the like from that King who had preserved him for the sake of his Learning Thus ended the Kingdom of the Lombards in the two hundred and fourth year after their coming into Italy and in the year of our Lord seven hundred seventy six Charles now without any delay marches against the idolatrous Saxons who during his absence in Italy had rebelled uttterly subdues that People with whom he had been engaged in War for thirty years before and compells them to receive Christianity Then turning his Army against the Spaniards who were also fallen away from the Faith he took the Cities of Pampelona and Saragoza and permitted his Souldiers to plunder them not granting a Peace to these Spaniards but upon condition they would entirely embrace the Christian Doctrine After this returning into France matters having went according to his mind as he passed the Pyrenean Hills he fell into an Ambuscade of the Gascons in engaging with whom though he gallantly defended himself yet he lost Anselmus and Egibardus two brave Commanders Some tell us that in this Encounter Rolandus Charles's Sister's Son perished after he had made a great slaughter of the Enemy though whether he died of Thirst as is commonly said or of the wounds he received is uncertain At length these Gascons were vanquished by Charles and received from him the deserved Punishment of their Revolt and Perfidy At this time Taxillo Duke of Bojaria Desiderius's Son-in-law having gained the Huns to be on his side made an Attempt of War against the French which yet Charles by his great Expedition almost made an end of before it was quite begun and to him also upon Hostages given he granted a Peace While these things were transacting in France Constantine Emperour of the East was seized with a Leprosy from whence perhaps arose the groundless Opinion of the Leprosy of Constantine the Great through the confusion of their Names and dying left Leo the fourth his Successour who so strangely doated upon precious Stones that robbing the Church of S. Sophia of its Jewels he made with them a Crown of a vast weight and value which he wore so often that either through the Weight or from the coldness of the Stones in it he shortly fell sick and died The same I believe to have happened in our Time to Paul the Second who so effeminately prided himself in such Ornaments almost exhausting the Treasury of the 〈◊〉 to purchase Jewels at any rate that as often as he appeared publickly instead of wearing a plain Mitre he looked like the Picture of Cybele with Turrets on her Head from whence what with the weight of the Jewels and the sweat of his gross Body I am apt to think arose that Apoplexy of which he died suddenly After the Death of Leo his Relict Irene and his Son Constantine managing the Empire in a Council of three 〈◊〉 and fifty Bishops held the second time at Nice it was 〈◊〉 that whosoever mantained that the Images of the Saints were to be destroyed should be censured with perpetual Excommunication But young Constantine through the persuasion of some ill men about him treading in the Footsteps of his Father soon after revoked this Constitution and wholly deprived his Mother of any share in the Administration of Affairs Then putting away his Wife he received to his Bed and caused to be crowned Empress Theodora one of her Maids Moreover he gave Order to those Commanders he had in Italy to give disturbance to their Neighbours but they were at the first Message terrified from any Attempts by the prevailing Authority of Charles who at this time was advancing with his Forces against the Sclaves and Hunns or we may call them Hungarians because by their Incursions they had molested all the Countrey about the Danow whom having vanquished he marched into Franconia the Countrey of his Ancestours from whence the Franks or French derive their Name which Province he having with ease brought to his Devotion two years after Theophylact and Stephen two Bishops of great Note held a Synod of Frank and German Bishops wherein that which the Greeks called the Seventh Synod and the Felician Heresie touching the Destruction of Images was condemned Adrian being now by the Interest and Power of Charles secured from the fear of any warlike Incursions applies himself to the repairing the City
appears in his Titles And yet he had his faults too amidst all these commendations For he is said to have lov'd his Relations to such a degree as that he would rob others to give to them For he took Castles from some Noble Romans and gave 'em to his own kindred particularly that at Soriano Where though he was a most temperate man yet he died suddenly in the third year eighth month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate Whose death they say some body foretold by a presage drawn from the swelling of the River Tiber. For it rose so high that it was four feet and more above the Altar in round S. Maries But his body was carried to Rome and buried in the Chappel of S. Nicolas which he built in S. Peter's in a Marble Tomb beautified with Fret-work still to be seen An. Dom. 1280. eight days after the Assumption This year Charles the King adorn'd and honour'd the Body of S. Magdalen which S. Maximin had buried in a Town of his own name with a more magnificent Tomb and a bigger Chappel and laid her head up in a Silver Case separate from her body Now they say that upon the death of Nicolas the Sea was vacant five months For whilst the Cardinals were about electing a new Pope at Viterbo and one Richard of the Family of the Hannibals which is the best in all Rome was Keeper of the Conclave two Cardinals of the Vrsini did what they could to hinder the Election unless Richard who was a bitter Enemy to the Vrsini would restore Vrsus Nephew to Nicolas lately deceased to his Government of Viterbo from which he had not long before deposed him For this reason the people of Viterbo sided with Richard went into the Conclave took the Cardinals and imprison'd them Which when it was known at Rome the same faction of the Hannibals drove the Vrsini out of the City who seeing they were forced to depart went all together and retir'd as far as Proeneste So that the French Cardinals when the Vrsini were gone out-voted the Italians and chose a French Pope about the end of the fifth month MARTIN IV. MARTIN the fourth formerly called Simon a Cardinal Priest of S. Caecilie and a French man of Tours being chosen Pope would not be crown'd at Viterbo because he thought that City ought not to be made use of in such a solemn occasion where the Cardinals had been so assaulted And therefore he went to Orvieto an ancient City and there performed all the Ceremonies upon the 23d day of March. And upon Easter day he created six Cardinals of which the Earl of Millain had the Title of S. Marcellin and Peter and Benedict Cajetanus had that of S. Nicolas in the Prison As for Charles the King he not onely receiv'd him kindly when he came to him but he gave him his former Senatorian Dignity whereof Nicolas had deprived him But this was not so very well approv'd on by all because it was like to cause great Tumults in the City the Vrsini being now restored and the Hannibali banish'd For Charles was a mighty Enemy to the Vrsini for Nicolas's sake whom he hated For this reason John to revenge the injuries done to his Brother Latinus and in defence of the Dignity conferr'd upon himself by the Romans got a good Army together and marching toward Viterbo spoiled all their Countrey far and near But Martin who was then in Montefiascone being concern'd at the misery of the Viterbeses sent Matthew a Cardinal of the Vrsine Family to Rome in all haste to compose the business who took John the Captain of the Roman People whom he met upon the Road along with him Thither came all the Heads of the Factions by command from the Legat especially Richard Hannibal to be absolved by the Legat from that Interdiction that he incurr'd at Viterbo for breaking into the Conclave and imprisoning the Cardinals Vrsini He therefore laid himself at the Cardinals feet with a Rope about his neck as the greatest sign of penitence and after he had beg'd pardon was absolv'd Peace being thus made between both the factions and the Roman Army called back from plundering the Viterboses the Pope immediately grants the Romans a Power to choose two Senators out of themselves that should govern the City Accordingly two were chosen Hannibal Son of Peter Hannibali and Pandulphus Savelli who ruled the City very well all the time they were in Office Especially at that time when Pope Martin at the request of Charles King of Sicily excommunicated Palaeologus for not keeping the Articles of Alliance made between them But then Palaeologus fearing Charles's Power made a private League with Peter King of Aragon who laid claim to the Kingdom of Sicily in right of his Wife Constantia Manfred's Daughter and Corradin's Niece Hereupon they prepared a great Navy at the common charge of 'em both which made the Pope send to Peter to know of him what he meant by all those preparations Peter told him that if he thought his Shirt could know what his intentions were he would tear it from his Body So the Legat went away without any satisfaction And Peter when he had gotten his Navy ready sails into Africa where he pillaged the Coast at Tunis extreamly and then returning into Sardinia expected to hear of some new commotions in Sicily by the contrivance of John Prochita according to an agreement they had made In the mean time new broils arose in Lombardy For the Viconti a noble Family there under the command of Luchino drave the Turriani another potent Family out of Millain Which Luchino was afterwards sent as Lieutenant to the Emperor into Tuscany where he resided at St. Miniato and plagued the Flâ—rentines and Luccases with grievous incursions not regarding the Popes interdictions with which he thought to have affrighted him from troubling these his Friends and Allies Those also of Perugia were now in Arms and did so press the Fuligneses that they took their City and demolish'd part of the Walls Thereupon the Pope excommunicated 'em but paying a good sum of money to him for penance they soon obtained his pardon In the mean time the Sicilians whose motions Peter attended in Sardinia could no longer endure the pride and licentiousness of the French and therefore were persuaded by John Prochita to enter into a Conspiracy against Charlâ—s that upon such a day in the Evening when they should hear such a Bell ring they should fall on and kill the French without respect to Sex or Age. In which action 't is said they were so true to their barbarous Promise that even those Sicilian Women were killed who were with Child by French men Hence comes it that the Sicilian Vespers is grown a By-word for any great Massacre At this time Guido Appius met with ill fortune when he was sent in the Popes name with eight hundred French Horse to recover Roâ—agna For as they sate before Forli and the Citizens would fain
Uncle became his Successor Lewis XII continuing his claim by right of Inheritance to the Kingdom of Naples and also to the Dukedom of Milan in right of his Grandmother the Daughter of John Galeazzo entered into a League with the Pope which was fatal to Italy and with them the King of Spain the Florentines and the Venetians were all combined against Duke Lodowick Sforza and King Frederick on conditions that Lewis having conquered Milan should cause Cremona to be restored to the Venetians and that Caesar Borgia who was the Popes bastard Son having renounced his Cardinals Cap and taking Carlotta de Alebretto Daughter to the King of Navar and Kinswoman to the King of France for his Wife should be invested in Romagna Marca and Vmbria and that the Kings of Spain and France should equally divide the Kingdom of Naples between them Lewis entering Italy with a powerful Army drove out the Duke of Milan from his State and shortly after took Cardinal Ascanius Prisoner whom he sent into France where he died in a short time afterwards The Venetians by virtue of the League had Cremona consigned to them and all matters succeeded so prosperously for Lewis in Italy that Frederick King of Naples being thereby wholly dis-animated cast himself with all humble confidence into the arms of King Lewis who treated him basely and with the highest indignities imaginable In the mean time the French and the Spaniards being to divide the spoils of the Kingdom such differences arose betwixt them as being only to be decided by the Sword the French were all cut in pieces by the valor of Gonsalvo a brave Captain by which means that Kingdom fell into the hands of Spain In the mean time Pope Alexander being attentive to nothing more than to raise and enrich his Bastard Children encouraged and countenanced his Son Caesar Borgia in the grievous oppressions he laid on all the Barons of the Ecclesiastical State for he designing and aspiring to make himself sole and absolute master of it made the Family of the Orsini the most remarkable examples of his insolent indignities spoiling and harassing their Country for the space of a whole Summer As yet Caesar Borgia had not renounced his Cardinals Cap and therefore continuing still under the notion of a Prelate Guido Vbaldo di Vrbino and John Borgia an other of the Popes Bastards were made Generals of the Ecclesiastical Army who over-running several Countries reduced Braciano by Siege and proceeded every where victoriously until Charles the natural Son of Virginio Orsino joyning Battel with them routed their Army and took the Duke of Vrbin prisoner After this a Peace being concluded with the Orsini and the Pope perceiving that his business did not thrive well by War he endeavoured to advance his designs by fortifying the interest of his Family with great and potent alliances and in the first place he gave his Daughter Lucretia in Marriage to John Sforza Lord of Pesaro breaking his promise to a certain Nobleman of Spain to whom he had formerly contracted her then he took her from Sforza and gave her to Lewis of Aragon Bastard Son of Alfonso King of Naples who being killed she was given to Alfonso da Esté Duke of Ferrara with whom afterwards she ended her days This Pope had also three Sons Geoffery the youngest was made Prince of Squillaci Caesar who was the second was Cardinal and John the eldest was sent into Spain and there made Duke of Candia but he rambling one night in his pleasures about the Streets of Rome was by the treachery of his Brother the Cardinal assassinated and his body thrown into the â—ybar which kindness he did him after they had supped the same night together at the Table of their Mother Vanoccia with which horrid act the Pope was not so much displeased as he was terrified fearing that upon the least displeasure the spirit of this miscreant would be provoked to add parricide to the murder of his Brother After this he made little account of his Scarlet or degree of Cardinal but turning his thoughts wholly to War he was made General of the Popes Army and uniting his Forces with the French and joyning with their interest he became master of a considerable Principality in Italy for having expelled Sforza from Milan and imprisoned the Chiefs of that Family with assistance of Lewis the 12th he with great cruelty and blood possessed himself of all the Cities of Romagna Bologna only excepted banishing or putting to death all the ancient Lords and persons of quality belonging to it He also took Imola and Forli banishing all the Children of Riario to whom the Inheritance belonged only their Mother Catherina he took prisoner and carried her in triumph with him to Rome Next he took Sinigaglia by force of Arms and by treachery surprized the State of Vrbin for being with all his Army at Cagli where he was kindly received upon the signal given he seized that City and marched immediately with the same design to Vrbin Guido Vbaldo da Feltro Prince of that State surprized with this suddain attempt and fearing to fall into the cruel hands of this Tyrant left the City and with some few of his domesticks saved himself by flight Then this Borgia turned his Arms upon Camerino which he took and put many of the ancient Lords and Barons of it to death with the like cruelty and wickedness he treated all the Lords and Barons about the parts of Rome particularly that noble Family of the Gaetani which were Lords of ancient possessions in the Volsci of which he put James the Son of Honorato Gaetano to death then Protonotary of Rome He also ordered that Cola Gaetano a youth who was the only Son and hopes of the Family should be removed out of the world He in the next place by assistance of the French attacked the Family of Colonna and seized on all their State forcing them to fly into Puglia and Sicily for refuge His next and last work was to subdue the Orsini but they having always been constant and firm friends to the Pope in all times and against all Factions he wanted some colourable pretence to fix a quarrel on them but at length the occasion which he sought the Orsini themselves administred for they growing jealous of the successes and fortune of Borgia and fearing lest his insatiable avarice should transport him also to an appetite of devouring them they considered it prudence to provide in time against a danger so apparent and imminent as this wherefore consulting with others who were possessed with the like apprehensions and fears such as Bentivolio Lord of Bologna Paolo Baglione the Usurper of Perugia Vitellozzo Vitelli Lord of the City of Castello Liverotto Lord Fermo Pandolfo Petrucci of Siena they appointed a Council to be held at Perugia where they agreed upon an alliance and confederacy together against Borgia and accordingly setting out an Army into the Field they took Vrbino and Camerino and overthrew
fame of a wickedness without example to have a Pope killed by the hand of a Cardinal he changed the Plot of the Dagger to Poison which by the help of Baptista Vercelli a famous Chirurgeon and his familiar Confident he hoped to effect in this manner The Pope being greatly afflicted with an old Fistula in his Fundament this Baptista was to be preferred as an able man for this work and then in dressing of the Wound he was to have injected Poison into it but Baptista being long in getting admission to the Popes privacy Alfonso grew impatient of delays and not being able to contain himself continually uttered something of passion which gave the Pope just cause of suspicion that this Alfonso was practising something against his life at length by some Letters which were intercepted the Conspiracy was detected which the Pope dissembling invited Alfonso to Rome with promises of Reconciliation and Preferment and for his encouragement thereunto he gave him Letters of safe conduct and his promise to the Spanish Embassador not to violate the same But so soon as Alfonso arrived the Pope so little esteemed the Faith he had given that he caused him to be Arrested with his Friend Cardinal De Sauli a Genoese one so familiar and intimate with him that it was believed that one could not be guilty or designing any action without the privity and consent of the other These two Cardinals being committed to Prison in the Castle of S. Angelo the Spanish Embassador complained of the breach of Faith which being given to the Kings Embassador ought to have been observed with the same sacred fidelity as given to the King himself Whereunto the Pope made answer that in matters of a Conspiracy designing against the life of the Pope no safe conduct was sufficient unless in some clause of it the Crime it self had been specified with a peculiar Proviso and that in cases of Poisoning which is detestable to God and man no sufficient provision can be made for security of the Offender unless the Crime it self be first mentioned and pardoned The matter being fully examined and Alfonso and Bandinello in a full Consistory being found guilty they were by publick sentence of the Consistory deprived of the Dignity of Cardinals and delivered over to the Secular Power which being done the night following Alfonso was Strangled but the Sentence of Bandinello was changed to a perpetual Imprisonment from which afterwards for a certain sum of money he gained a release The success which the Pope had against the Duke of Vrbin was different to that which he had against Alfonso Duke of Ferrara for he being a watchful man and a good Soldier defended himself against all the contrivances and attempts of the Pope Towards the end of the year 1517. the King of Spain died leaving his Nephew Charles of Austria sole Heir of all his Kingdoms and Dominions in Naples Sicily and Spain between whom and the French King there passed as yet a fair and amicable correspondence Notwithstanding which things were troublesom in Italy and 〈◊〉 â—espight of all the endeavours of the Pope who desired nothing so much 〈◊〉 peace all things were unquiet and tended to War for the Switzers 〈◊〉 â—hose minds were rather inflamed with indignation in remembrance of their late Defeat at Marignan than abated or humbled entered into a League with Maximilian the Emperor to drive the French out of all their Possessions in Italy in opposition whereunto the French joyning with the Venetians recovered Brescia out of the hands of the Spaniards and Verona from the Emperor and the Venetians by the support of this Alliance made no account of any amity with others nor offered their Obedience to the Pope notwithstanding the endeavours of Altobello Bishop of Pola whom he had commissionated to be his Legate at Venice not without some just reflections as a matter unworthy the Pontificial Majesty Francisco Maria Duke of Vrbin continued still his War against the Pope for recovery of his State but his success was ill both against the City of Osimo and also before the Town of Corinaldo from whence with great blemish of honor he was forced to raise his Siege Nor was he more fortunate in his attempt to recover Pesaro for having put to Sea several Ships to cut off all Provisions from the Town they were encountred by another Fleet set out by those of Rimini consisting of sixteen Sail with Barks and Brigantines which going in convoy with Vessels laden with Provisions to Pesaro met the Navy of Francisco Maria and engaging with them sunk the Admiral and destroyed their whole Fleet with which ill success Francisco Maria despairing of his enterprize departed thence At Rimini he also was worsted and forced to return with his Army into Tuscany where being in great want of Provisions and the Soldiers without Pay lived by Prey and Pillage whereby they began to be no less terrible to their friends than to their enemies and to grow weary of the War having no hope to better their condition either by a Battel or protraction of time The Pope also on the other side became poor having exhausted his Treasury and doubtful of the Faith of his Allies especially of the King of France who was slow and backward in the payment of those monies agreed by Articles so that Peace being the best expedient for good to both parties propositions were made for a Peace between the Legate and Francisco Maria which by the Mediation of Monsieur D'Escut General of the French Forces in Italy and Don Hugo de Monaco Vice-King of Sicily was accorded on these conditions That the Pope should pay to the Spanish Footmen five and forty thousand Ducats and to the Gascoins and Germans threescore thousand and that upon such payment they should all depart within eight days out of the State of the Church the Jurisdiction of Florence and the Territories of Vrbin That Francisco Maria should leave and abandon all his Possessions in that State within the term aforesaid with Licence to carry with him all his moveables and Artillery with his famous Library which with great charge and diligence had been collected by Frederick his Grandfather by the Mothers side That the Pope should absolve him of all Censures and pardon all the Subjects of the State of Vrbin and those who had been enemies in this War the Spaniards Gascoins and Germans having received their monies marched to the Kingdom of Naples and Francisco Maria abandoned of all his Allies returned to Mantua accompanied only with one hundred Horse and six hundred Footmen In this manner ended the War with Vrbin which tho it continued but eight months yet had exhausted the Coffers of the Pope of eight hundred thousand Ducats the greatest part of which he had drawn from the Commonwealth of Florence on the score of his great interest in that City and indeed his Charges were the greater because that with much ignominy he was forced to purchase his
perpetual banishment Thus by the punishment and degradation of several Cardinals the College being wanting and unprovided of its due numbers the Pope with much liberality created one and thirty at one time all persons of quality belonging to several Countries of Christendom some of which were advanced for their Virtue and Merit and others by the Favour and Interest of great Personages This Pope created two and forty Cardinals in all during the time of his Reign besides the restauration of the four rebellious Cardinals deprived by Julio amongst these Cardinals which he had ordained Julio de Medici his Kinsman was one whom he made his Vice-Chancellor and was afterwards Pope under the name of Clement VII About this time Maximilian the Emperor dying Charles King of Spain Naples and Sicily was elected to the great regret and indignation of Francis King of France who with much envy and emulation was displeased to see the Imperial Dignity added to the many Kingdoms and Estates holden by the King of Spain And because according to the ancient Rule and Canon the King of Naples was excluded from all capacity of being Emperor a Dispensation was purchased from the Pope with expence of 7000 Ducats qualifying the King of Naples for the Election Afterwards the Pope having favoured the cause of Charles and he by his assistance being Elected Emperor an Alliance and League was agreed between them to drive the French out of Italy a design ever pleasing to the Popes and particularly to Leo who was impatient of the infamous loss of Parma and Piacenza which being gained with so much glory and trouble by Julio he hoped to regain and restore to the Possessions of the Church In pursuance of this enterprize a considerable Army of Germans and Switzers were sent by the Emperor into Italy and joyned with the Forces of the Pope Prospero Colonna was made Generalissimo and Frederico Gonzaga of Mantoua General of the Army of the Church and Julio de Medici Legate of the whole Army The success proved agreeable to the preparations for the French were droven out of Italy which had long groaned under their pride and tyranny after which Milan was according to Articles surrendred into the hands of Francis Sforza the true and natural Lord and Parma and Piacenza restored to the Church with the news of which the Pope conceived such extremity of joy that he died suddenly on the first of December 1521. at the Village of Magliana where he used often for recreation to retire himself from whence the next day his body was removed to Rome not without suspicion of having been poisoned by his Chamberlain Malâ—spina who thereupon being imprisoned was afterwards released by Cardinal De Medicis so soon as he came to Rome no farther proceedings being made thereupon lest the matter being examined should reflect too far in disgrace of the French King Thus died Leo X. at the age of 45 years 11 months and one day having held the Papal Chair for the space of eight years and twenty days having at the hour of his death testified the great satisfaction he received by the restitution of Parma and Piacenza to the Ecclesiastical State without the effusion of the least drop of blood This Pope was esteemed a great lover of Justice having been severe against Thieves and Robbers He was a great lover of his Recreation and Pleasures spending much time in Hunting and Banquets and was more delighted with Musick than became the gravity and severity of a Pope He was highly magnificent in his Buildings and munificent in his gifts with which and by his Wars he had consumed so profusely beyond his Revenue that for maintenance of this charge he was forced to exact mony for making Cardinals and to set several Offices of his Court to sale He was a great lover of Learning and learned men to whom he was very liberal in his gifts imitating therein the spirit of his Father Laurence de Medicis He enlarged the Power of the Potesta or Civil Magistracy of Rome and bestowed on them several Privileges and Immunities for which reason by a Solemn Decree they made Julian his Brother a Citizen of Rome and treated him at the Campidoglio with Feasting and other Entertainments where they also erected a Statue of Marble and dedicated it to Leo with this Inscription Optimo Principi Leoni X. Med. Joan. Pont. Max. ob restitutam instauratamque Vrbem aucta Sacra bonasque artes adscitos Patres sublatum vectigal datum congiarium S.P.Q.R. In fine the face of the City of Rome was never more pleasant nor chearful than in the time of Leo X. His body was buried for that present in a Sepulchre of Brick erected in S. Peter's Church and for afterwards by direction of Paul III. translated to the Minerva together with the body of Clement VII ADRIAN VI. POPE Leo being dead and his Obsequies solemnly performed the Cardinals on the 16th of December 1521. assembled in the Chappel of Sixtus Quartus in S. Peter's Church and thence adjourned to the Vatican where 29 Cardinals entered into the Conclave and having sang Veni Spiritus they for some days were employed in giving Audiences to Forein Ministers in ordering matters for the more orderly Government of the City and regulating the Conclave in relation to their choice so on the 20th they began seriously to proceed to an Election Cardinal De Medicis aspiring to that dignity seemed to stand the most fair for it because that by the reputation of his greatness and by the interest of his Revenues and his glory lately acquired in the Conquest of Milan he had obtained the Voices of 15 Cardinals howsoever many considerations crossed his desires for it seemed irregular and against the common Policy for one of the same Family to succeed in the place of the Pope deceased for that such Presidents might soon bring the Popedom to a state of being disposed by Succession for which cause all the ancient Cardinals who pretended to be of the French action and all those who were enemies to Leo and discontented by him stood in opposition against him Moreover all the Cardinals who were Competitors and lived in hopes of succeeding could not endure and suffer the Election of a person under the age of fifty years These difficulties occurring retarded the Election for several days at length as they made scrutiny according to the custom of the Conclave Cardinal Adrian a Hollander by Nation was proposed one who had been School-master to the Emperor and by his means made Cardinal under Pope Leo so soon as he was nominated the Cardinal S. Sixtus began to recount and amplifie his Virtues in a long Oration which so took that the Cardinals began to yield and give up their Voices for him the residue followed from one to another seeming guided rather by chance than Counsel so that by the common Suffrages of all the Cardinals Adrian was Elected and Created Pope on the 9th of January 1522. the parties themselves not being
Imperial Faction Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alva then Vice-King of Naples being alarmed by these proceedings resolved not to attend the assaults of the Enemy but rather that he might be beforehand with them made Incursions into the State of the Church and without much resistance took Pontecorvo Frosolone Anagna Marino Valmontone Palestrina Tivoli Ostia Gave Genazzano Nettuno Albano Vicovaro Monte Fortino and in short made himself Master of all the Campania of Rome the Pope on the other side with the aid and assistance of the French and Switzers recovered several of those places again but the War being continued for the space of a whole year with great fury and resolution on both sides that Country became most miserably harassed and laid desolate by fire and sword By the vast expences of this War the Pope's Treasury being much exhausted many exorbitant ways were contrived to replenish it again as namely the Tithes upon all Benefices were doubled the Gabelles and Customs were raised to an intolerable degree half a years Revenue was exacted from all Offices and the Debts which particular Persons owed to their Creditors were required to be paid into the Treasury upon which the Debtors being discharged Debentures were given from the Pope to the Creditors and the same charged as a Debt upon the Church He farther seized on all the Horses in Rome to serve in the War and compelled all the Friers of what order soever to labour on the Works and carry Earth to the Fortifications many of the Churches he converted into Granaries and Store-houses wherein to lay Provisions besides many other Exactions and agrievances which he imposed on the People who were by this time possessed with a detestable hatred against his Person and his Actions Howsoever neither the Cries nor Exclamations of his Subjects nor the miseries of his Country were able to incline the fierce and resolute Spirit of the Pope to any terms of Peace whilst he found himself seconded by the French and Switzers Howsoever in the Month of August following the French having received a Defeat at the Battel of St. Quintin in which a great part of the Nobility of France were taken Prisoners and thereby also the expectation of the Pope being in some measure defeated his haughty Spirit began to abate and hearken to some terms and proposals of Accommodation for then the sad Spectacle of Italy laid wast with fire and sword appeared before him and the dreadful apprehension of Treason against his Person which was plotted to betray Rome into the hands of Mark Anthony Colonna and Ascanio della Corona who at the beginning of the War revolted to the Spanish Party did much affright him so that as I say the Pope's mind being become more flexible a Peace was concluded on the thirteenth of September 1557. by the mediation of the Venetians the Duke of Florence and Cardinal Sforza and signed by the Cardinal Caraffa in behalf of the Pope and by the Duke of Alva in the name of Philip King of Spain Which being concluded the Duke of Alva coming to Rome with Christian humility kissed the feet of the Pope and received absolution and being treated with high honour obtained the freedom of all those who had been imprisoned on account of the late War Matters being by these means reduced to some tolerable quiet the Pope dispatched his Legats both to Spain and France to labour a cementing of that Peace which he himself of late had been an Instrument to break recommending more particularly in their Instructions the confirmation of the Dukedom of Paliano on his Nephew So that now being wearied with War the fatigues and expence and unquietudes of which he had never before been acquainted with the Pope betook himself to his more agreeable trade of regulating the Manners of Men and the corruptions and abuses crept into the Church but in regard the particulars hereof were various and burthensom he committed the greatest part of that trouble to the Conduct of Cardinal Caraffa Attending himself with sedulity and attention to the Court of Inquisition as the sole Tribunal then capable to suppress Heresies and the present distempers of the Age and therefore to the cognisance of that Court he reduced several Crimes triable at other Bars of Judicature so that the Prisons of the Inquisition were filled with Malefactors and in this way of Judicial proceedings he was the more passionate because he had been the first that persuaded Paul III. to erect that Court and had contrived the Methods and Rules for the proceedings thereof and therefore coming now himself to the Popedom he put all those Orders into practice which he had formerly meditated constituting Cardinal Alessandrino Inquisitor General together with sixteen Cardinals who were made Judges of the Court whose first work was to publish an Index Expurgatorius of all Books in the least manner suspected or attainted of Heresie forbidding all Persons under pain of Excommunication to read them or have them in their possession He recalled Cardinal Poole from his Office of Legat in England on account as some believe of an old Pique that had been between them and having accused Cardinal Morone of Heresie by reason as some believe of his friendship to Poole he imprisoned him in the Castle together with the Bishop of Cava and had as was certainly believed deprived them of all their Revenue and Dignities had not his malice against them been interrupted by his Death acting in every thing with a bitterness agreeable to the virulency of his nature About this time the Emperor Charles V. being wearied with the turmoils and troubles of this World renounced his Imperial Crown to his Brother Ferdinand of Austria who was already elected King of the Romans and his Kingdom of Spain and other Dominions to his Son Philip II. But this Abdication the Pope would not understand not admitting on the score of old grudges which he owed to Charles that according to antient Canons an Emperor could make such a renunciation without consulting first and taking the advice and consent of the Pope and for that reason he would never acknowledg Ferdinand for Emperour nor under that Notion and Character receive Ambassadours from him In this manner with a froward severity acting all his Affairs he would admit of no excuses that any Man made for a failure in his Duty and particularly having commanded all Monks Friers Abbots and Priors to return to their Monasteries he would not admit an Excuse from any Non-Residentiary unless he had obtained a License on occasion of some publick Service for the Church and for discovery of such Trespassers he employed Officers or Visitors as severe as himself who upon strict enquiry having found any Non-Residentaries they immediately proceeded against them as Disobedient and Delinquents committing some of them to Chains and others to the Gallies This Severity howsoever was much applauded when after an unknown and unpractised manner of Justice he spared not the Crimes of his Nephews
first year of his Reign had been celebrated with the like glory as was the former his beginning would have been too happy and auspitious Therefore that the ensuing year might prove more fortunate he intended to make it his chief employment of the whole Winter to offer his Prayers and supplications to God with fasting Masses and Processions that he would be pleased to favour and assist the Cause and Arms of the Christians against the Enemies of the Cross of Christ But whilst the Pope was meditating of these things and contriving means to prosecute the War with most advantage the Venetians unexpectedly about the beginning of the year 1573. clapt up a Peace with the Turks by the mediation of their Bailo who then with the French Ambassadour at Constantinople had treated the Conditions with good success to which Sultan Selim the more readily inclined for having done right to his honour by the Conquest of Cyprus and by taking several Fortresses in Dalmatia he more easily condescended to terms of Peace without diminution or disparagement as was supposed to the greatness of his Power But both the Pope and the Spaniards were not satisfied with the Venetians for having without their consent and privity and contrary to the Articles of their League made this Peace with the Turk In excuse for which the Venetians dispatched their Ambassadours to the Pope and King of Spain giving them to understand that the extream urgency of their Affairs which by many circumstances were rendered difficult had forced them to an Accommodation with the Turk and in like terms they expressed themselves to Cardinal Buoncompagno the Pope's Nephew whom Gregory had in the year 1574. sent unto Venice to complement Henry King of Poland who by the death of Charles IX was returning by that way into France to take possession of that Kingdom In this manner the Pope being eased of his expensive War against the Turk converted the current of his Treasure to the assistance of Henry III. against his Protestant Subjects in France for supply of which he raised the sum of four hundred thousand Crowns by Impositions which he laid on Cities belonging to the Church and confirmed the Bull given by Pius V. for sale of Church-Lands of which there remaining as yet to the value of fifty thousand Crowns of yearly Rent unsold he constituted the Cardinals of Bourbon Guise and Lewis d' Eâ—â—e Commissioners for the Sales Nor was this Pope in other matters esteemed less generous and magnificent for to the Duke of Bruswick who came to visit him at Rome he made a Present of seven thousand Crowns and erected many Churches there from the foundation and built Colleges and Churches to the number of twenty seven in divers remote parts of the World for Seminaries and places of Worship and Religion And for the more solemn and ornamental Celebration of the Jubilee in the year 1575. he enlarged the Street leading from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore to the Lateran for the more commodious passage of Pilgrims and having repaired the Portico or Porch of S. Maries which was become ruinous he caused this Inscription to he engraven over it Gregorius XIII Pont. Max. Eugenii labantem Porticum refecit magnificentius restituit Viam rectam ad Lateranum aperuit Anno Jubilei MD. LXXV In this year arose dangerous Discords and civil Dissentions between the antient and the new Nobility of Genoua to which latter the Commonalty of the City adhered having by them been possessed with an Opinion that the Antient Nobles in favour of whom most of their Laws ran intended to usurp such an Authority over them as should be little different from Slavery this jealousie made so deep an impression in the minds of the people that they betook themselves to Arms and had proceeded to blood and ruin had not a stop been made thereunto by the Wisdom and Oratory of Senarega the Chancellour who being a moderate Person and one of whose prudence and honesty the people had a great Opinion persuaded both Parties to remit their differences to the Pope the Emperor Maximilian and the King of Spain The which being accorded on all hands Senarega was in behalf of the New Nobility dispeeded to the Pope with whom whilst he was stating the case between both Parties Intelligence was brought to Rome that Don John d' Austria was then at Gaeta preparing a very great Fleet against Genoua in expectation and with probable hopes to prevail by the means and advantages of those intestine Discords of the City But the Pope at the request and upon the applications made by Senarega dispatched a Letter to Don John exhorting him to desist from his Design which was so displeasing to him that in case he persisted therein he was resolved to raise all the force of Italy to oppose his Enterprise the which Menaces having given a stop to the proceedings of Don John several persons were substituted Arbitrators in these differences by the Pope the Emperor and the King of Spain namely Cardinal Morone Castacciaro Borgia and Idiaquez who taking the state of the whole matter into their consideration rectified and reformed many antient Statutes established new in their places and so governed all things with that even hand that an accord was made and concluded in the Month of May 1576. with that satisfaction to both Parties that the Citizens and Inhabitants who had retired from Genoua for fear of the civil Dissensions returned again to enjoy their repose and ease according to their accustomed Liberty Nor was the Pope less concerned for the Peace of Poland where great differences arose amongst the Nobility as hath been accustomary about the election of a King For Henry III. of France having as we have said resigned his Elective Government to take possession of his hereditary Kingdom of France the Election of a new King administred great cause of dispute and argument by reason of the many powerful Princes which stood in competition and were Candidates for the Election as namely the Emperor Maximilian II. and Ernest his Son with his Brother the Arch Duke of Austria Stephen Battori Prince of Transilvania Alphonso II. Duke of Ferrara together with the Great Duke of Moscovy The Contests between these mighty Rivals proceeded to that degree that nothing but force of Arms could determine the Controversie which the Arch-bishop of Gnesne with many other Associates intending to prove forsook the place of Election and with armed Bands declared for Maximilian the Emperor against whom an other party appeared in favour of Anne Daughter of the Royal Family of Jagellona in Poland intending in right of her to confer in Marriage the Crown upon Battori Prince of Transilvania but these dissentions were soon after concluded by the death of Maximilian the Emperor Battori being after his Marriage with Anne by general consent of all the Nobles received and crowned King of Poland and thereupon sent his Ambassadours to Rome to pay his respects and obedience to the
which they knew or of which they could accuse their Judges who had for the space of five or six years sat in the Seat of Judicature By these means every day one poor Judg or other who perhaps also was out of employment was dragged away to Prison and close shut up for what Crime he knew not or perhaps had forgot the Sentence he had passed in the Case for which he was accused These and many such like cases of severity strook such a terrour into the minds of those who sat on the Tribunals of Justice or managed any publick employment that every one became cautious and nice in the Sentences he gave or how by fear or bribery he remitted the least scruple or severity which the Law enjoyned or required Farther he gave strict charge to all Sindics and Governours of Towns and Castles to give in a particular List or account of all Felons within their respective Precincts who had for the space of ten years past been accused or branded with Capital Crimes and also of all such who had been convicted for scandalous and infamous persons and Incorrigible during the time of their Sindicate In which Lists he required such an exact impartiality that upon Information given against the Sindic of Albano how in the List of the Dissolute and Incorrigible he had omitted to insert the name of his Nephew he was sentenced by the Pope himself to undergo the Strapado in the publick Market-place from which punishment all the Intercession and Prayers and Interest which the Spanish Ambassadour could make in his behalf was not able to deliver him By these means the Lists of Dissolute Persons which were immediately directed to the hand of the Pope were so very exact that no person was exempted who was guilty of the least Crime Which when the Pope saw and observed every Week as they were sent him he was greatly pleased and especially with those which were filled with a great number of names for in reading of them he would often say Oh happy Gallies which I intend to build O happy I who have first found Men for my Gallies before I found Gallies for my Men. The which severity of the Pope from whom there could never be any expectation of Pardon so terrified all sorts and conditions of People that every one comported himself with the greatest modesty and gravity imaginable that an Oath or a rude or uncivil word was not heard through any of the streets of Rome but every one being alarm'd and dreading as if he had always a Constable or a Pursuivant at his back walked with his beads in his hand repeating a Pater-Noster or some other Prayer with a sorrowful and penitential countenance By these Methods all the Banditi who being grown licentious under the gentle Government of other Popes and who spoiled and destroyed all Italy were now by the Justice of this Pope almost wholly extirpated for such as fled out of the State of the Church to the Dominions of other Princes he so prosecuted by laying Fines on any who secured or succoured them and setting a price on the head of every considerable Bandito that in a short time he reduced them to a small number and totally suppressed the pride and insolence of that pest of mankind And thus resolutely was Sixtus bent to punish the Enormities of wicked Men that whereas it had been the custom of former Popes to shew acts of mercy and pardon on the day of their Coronation opening the Prison Gates and enlarging the Prisoners this Sixtus absolutely refused to grant releasement to any though instantly urged by the Cardinals alledging That there were Rogues sufficient about the streets without ransacking the Prisons for them That he had taken a resolution when he was first made Pope to chastise the wicked and not suffer their Villanies to corrupt and intermix with the Vertues of good Men. By these severities all people lived in quiet and peace one with the other no Sword was drawn in the City nor quarelsom words or uncivil language uttered it being a common saying to Men at variance together Remember these are the times of Sixtus Thus when the Banditi were suppressed the good and benefit was so great to all Italy that the Citizens of Rome erected a Statue of Brass to the memory of this Rome on which these words were engraven Sixto V. Pont. Max. ob quietem publicam compressa Sicariorum Exulumque licentiâ restitutam Annonae inopiam sublevatam urbem edificiis viis aquaeductu illustratam SPQR And farther to demonstrate the inflexible humour of this Pope it is observable that a poor Youth of about seventeen years of age making a resistance against the Bayliffs who came to distrain an Ass for some Duties owing and by Law ordained to be paid in which seizure though the Officers made a mistake for that the Ass did not belong to the party who owed the Mony yet because he offended against the course of Justice by making opposition to it he was condemned to die nor could the persuasions or Intercessions of the G. Duke's Ambassadour nor of the Cardinal of Medici prevail in his behalf or mitigate the rigour of the Sentence and when the Governour of Rome alledged that the youth being under age could not by Law be put to death for this Crime the Pope replyed If he want years I will lend him ten of mine Nor did Sixtus exercise this severity onely towards his own People but he was brisk and haughty towards all Christian Princes for in a few days after his Coronation or at most in two months after he quarrelled with Henry III. King of France with Henry King of Navarre and with Philip II. King of Spain The occasion of his quarrel with Spain seemed to have had no other cause or foundation than his own pride and desire of usurpation and which happened in this manner It had been the custom ever since the time of the Emperour Charles V. for the King of Spain by his Ambassadour at Rome to present yearly on the 29th day of June which is the Festival of St. Peter a white Horse with a Purse of seven thousand Ducats in Gold to the Pope for a Tribute and acknowledgment for the Kingdom of Naples which that King holds as feudatary to the Ecclesiastical State And now on the usual day Sixtus appearing on a Throne with pomp and mignificence to receive his Tribute which the Ambassadour in a quaint Speech and with fine Complements presented he seemed not very well satisfied therewith but returned this tart and Satyrical Reply You think now said he that you have made a fine Speech and indeed so you have for you have made us change a Kingdom for a Beast and still seeming uneasie as he was about to rise he added these suspitious words But we believe that this business will not proceed long in this manner These words immediately touched the Ambassadour to the quick and giving him just cause of reflection
being the year following after the Inauguration of the Pope Don Pedro d' Aragon Vice-King of Naples appeared at Rome with a splendid Retinue to perform the Embassy of Obedience as they call it which is done by the yearly present of a white Genet this Ceremony was at other times performed by the Ambassadour of Spain residing at Rome but to shew a greater honour perhaps to the Pope the Vice-King was qualified with the Title of Ambassadour Extraordinary after whose return into Spain the Marquis of Astorgas was constituted Vice King of Naples and Father Nitardo Inquisitor-General of Spain was dignified with the Character of Ambassadour and because that honour is inconsistent with the simple condition of a religious person the Pope adorned him with the Title of Archbishop of Edessa who the year following with several others was promoted to the dignity of Cardinal This year also Pope Pius Quintus who was a Dominican or of the Order of Preachers was canonized being a hundred years after his decease There also happened a dispute concerning Precedency between Don Gasparo Altieri one of the Pope's Nephews and General of the Pope's Forces and commandator Bichi Ambassadour of Tuscany which difference was determined in favour of the latter In the mean time violent disturbances arose in Poland on occasion that King Michael had removed the Primate of that Kingdom and the Great General Sobieski from their places and Offices of Trust which afterwards were accommodated by the Pope's Nuntio Monsignor Bonvisi on terms more necessary than convenient or rather by the approach of the Turks who with a formidable force had taken the strong fortress of Keminiec and were entered into the bowels of Poland as far as Leopolis the news hereof made a great noise at Rome but little disturbed Cardinal Altieri who being intent to other designs did not much trouble his head with the thoughts of sending Nuntio's to the Christian Princes whose business was to incite them to administer help and succour to the afflicted Poland oppressed and almost over run with Mahometan Arms for his Opinion was as they say that the intercession of the Pope's Ministers in matters of that nature were only formalities and such as conduced little to real effects for that Princes well disposed and zealous for the Christian Cause or such as were united in the same common Interest which was to expel and drive an Enemy so powerful and dangerous far from them would move on the principles of their own safety without any other incitements or motives from their common Father the Pope and indeed Altieri searching for the nature of mankind within himself did conclude that not Religion but interest of State onely governed the World Howsoever that he might afford some testimonies of his care and affection towards Poland he raised the sum of three hundred thousand Crowns by impositions on Ecclesiastical Benefices in Italy of which he sent fifty thousand into Poland and the remainder he invested in buildings furniture and moveables for his own service Soon after which King Michael dying the confusions of that Kingdom increased and so other Seditions and Controversies amongst them was added that grand point of dispute concerning a Successour to the Crown for conservation of which though Altieri was not so liberal as to contribute great sums of Money yet to please and gratifie the Spaniards he was desirous to have a hand in the preferment of a King to them naming Prince Charles of Lorain as a person qualified with all Royal abilities and endowments required in a King and indeed though none was more worthy of a Crown than that generous Prince yet the Nobles of that Kingdom informed of the Pope's endeavours reflected thereon as prejudicial to their right of Election having never received Kings at the nomination or recommendation of Rome and therefore proceeded to the election of John Sobieski a person capable to sustain a Crown to the benefit and glory of that Kingdom which being invaded by the formidable Arms of the Turk could never be rescued from ruine and destruction but by the valour and fortune of Sobieski whom God raised not onely for the protection of Poland but for the defence of Germany having by his Heroick march from his own Country in the year 1683. to raise the Siege of Vienna signalized his Valour and prowess to such a degree as Romances describe Heroes and the generous Actions and atchievements of mighty Princes It hath been a priviledg granted by the See of Rome to the Kings of Poland immediately after their Election to bestow a Cardinal's Cap on any Person whom they should propose according to which Power the new King nominated the Bishop of Marseglia for that Person to whom he designed that honour It was indifferent to Altieri whether the Scarlet were bestowed on him or any other had not the Spaniards to whose Interest he was extreamly partial suggested the contrary pretending that the King ought to nominate a Subject of his own and not of a forein and stranger Prince for that in regard the French King was able to insinuate into all Courts by flattery and bribery he might easily obtain a nomination for one or other who should either by Nation or Interest be ingaged in that Faction and so in time the whole Conclave become French and entirely dedicated to the devotion of that King And whereas it might be objected that the refusal of the King of Polands desire would much disoblige him and the whole Nation which stood much on their points and Prerogatives The Spaniards answered That the Election of the Great Marshal Sobieski to the Crown of Poland having not been performed according to the usual Rules and Methods observed in that Kingdom could not continue or be confirmed for that the Nobles of Lituania had not given their Votes or suffrages thereunto that the greatest part of that Republick desired an unmarried Prince who might espouse the Widow of the deceased King and in fine that all the Nobility of Poland remained unsatisfied with this Election and being greatly divided in their Opinions some alteration might speedily be expected Altieri suffering himself to be thus misguided with these suggestions of the Spaniards wrote to the King of Poland in the name of the Pope desiring â—his Majesty to fix on some other person of a more indifferent temper and who was a Neuter and less engaged to either of the Crowns by which he would perform so signal a kindness to his Holiness as would ever oblige him to prefer the Interest of his Kingdom in matters of greater moment The King highly resented this manner of proceeding of the Court of Rome being astonished to find that those who had used all endeavours to disappoint him of his Election should now have the boldness to demand such a favour from him as he could not grant without dishonour to the Crown which he had lately received and therefore testified his resolutions to persist in the nomination he had
limited 205. dignified with the Title of Eminence 278 Casimir King of Poland 3 Castagna John Battista created Pope by the name of Vrban VII 205 Castro utterly demolish'd with an Inscription 315 Charles King of Spain 33. Emperour 39. Crown'd 61. renounces his Imperial Dignity 116 Charles VIII of France assists the Pope 10. claims the Kingdom of Naples and enters Italy 13. gains and loses Naples 14. dies ibid. Charles IX King of France 126 Chigi Fabio created Pope under the name of Alexander VII 321 Christina Queen of Sweden 319. abjures the Reformed Religion and comes to Rome 327 Cibo John Battista made Pope with the name of Innocent VIII 8 Colonneses and Vrsini a fewd between 'em 9. reconcil'd 10. both suffer much from Caesar Borgia 16. Colonneses vigorous Imperialists 52 Congo an Embassie from thence to the Pope 262 Conventus the word gives offence at the Council of Trent 94 Congregation for propagating the faith instituted 270 Cortesans used unkindly by Pius V. 158 Council against the Pope's mind appointed at Pisa 25. Another call'd at the Lâ—teran 25. that at Pisa declar'd a Conventicle 27. its acts and decrees abjur'd 31 General Council indicted at Mantua 7â— then at Vicenza ibid. after all at Trent 78. begun there 80. prorogu'd to Bologna 85. transferr'd to Trent 90.93 debates there 94 to 103. prorogu'd for two years 104. renew'd 125.127 transactions there from 128 to 156. Cranmer Arch bishop of Canterbury depriv'd 111 Duke of Crequi the French Ambassadour affronted at Rome 332. a quarrel thereupon 333 to 340 Cyprus demanded by the Turks of the Venetians 160. invaded and taken by them 161 D Dalmatia invaded by the Turks 75 D'aubusson Master of Rhodes 6 Denmark the Pope's Nuntio denied admittance there by the King 126 Diet at Regenspurg 77. at Noremberg 80. at Worms 82. at Auspurg 85 Divorce of Henry VIII and Queen Katharine debated 59. Of Henry IV. of France and Margaret Dutchess of Valois 221. Of Alphonso of Portugal and his Queen 351 E Elizabeth Queen of England denies admittance to the Pope's Nuntio 126. Excommunicated 159 and deposed by the Pope 162. well esteem'd by Sixtus V. 182. yet much hated 197 Eminence the Title bestowed on Cardinals when 278 England the States of Affairs there upon throwing off subjection to the Pope 74. returning to its Obedience how ordered by the Pope 111 F Fachinetti Cardinal chosen Pope and nam'd Innocent IX 210 Faenza taken by the Venetians 22 Farnese Alexander Pope under the name of Paul III. 67 Farnese Prince Alexander a Commander against the Turks 165. Governour of Flanders 197 Ferdinand I. King of Naples defeated by the Pope's Forces 6. makes War again 9. violates his faith 10. his death 13. Ferdinand II. quits his Kingdom 14 Ferdinand of Spain honour'd with the Title of Catholic King 13 Ferrara the Dukedom devolves to the Church 215 Fisher Bishop of Rochester made a Cardinal 68 Florence surrendred to the Imperialists 62 Florentines favour the House of Medici against the Pope 5. join with the King of Naples 9 Franche Compte seiz'd upon by the French King 349 Francis I. King of France 31. taken Prisoner 48. maintains unchristian correspondences with the Turks 63 Francis II. K. of France 118. dies 126 Friers Mendicant and Secular Priests a Dispute between 'em determin'd 4 G Gaston de Foix a French Commander slain 26 Geneva the City hated by the Pope 124 Genoa taken by the French 88. the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Ghisler Anthony made Pope by the name of Pius V 157 Gonsalvo a brave Commander recovers Naples from the French 15 Gregorian Account when begun 169 Guise the Duke thereof assassinated 199. and the Cardinal put to death ibid. Gunpowder Treason in England 261 H Hats red granted to be worn by Cardinals Friers 209 Henry VIII King of England 25 28. writes a Book against Martin Luther 37. his Divorce debated 59. throws off all subjection to the See of Rome 64. Excommunicated 66 Henry II. King of France slain 118 Henry III. of France assassinated 202 Henry King of Navarre excommunicated by the Pope 181. acknowledged King of France 202. professes the Catholick Fath 214. marries Mary de Medicis 222. murther'd by Ravillac 203 I James I. King of Great Britain 223 Jansenius his Opinions 318. determinations of the Pope upon them 318.341 Japannese Ambassadours to Gregory XIII 171. kindly receiv'd by Sixtus V. 176 Jesuits College at Rome by whom built 170. their Services to the Church 171. not openly favour'd by Sixtus V. 148 Jew at Rome converted by Pius V. 159 Ignatius Loyola canoniz'd 262.270 Index expurgatorius by whom publish'd 116 Indulgences restrain'd by the Pope 214.384 Inquisition by whom contriv'd 110 Interim of Charles V. what 87 Interview of the King of England and French King of Boloign 64. of the Pope and French King at Marseilles 65 Inundation of the Tiber 218.326 Don John of Austria General of the Fleet against the Turks 161.165 Italy divided into Factions 6. embroil'd in War 9. invaded by the French and their Confederates 23 clear'd of them 27 Jubilee celebrated by Sixtus IV. 3. by Paul III. 83. by Julius III. 90. by Gregory XIII 166. by Vrban VIII 275 K Key of the H. Sepulchre presented to the Pope by Bajazet Emperour of the Turks 11 Kinred unreasonably preferred by Pope Sixtus IV. 2.3 and by Alexander VI. 12. not much regarded by Adrian VI. 45. nor Paul III. at first 68. indulged by Paul IV. 110.114 disregarded by Pius V. 159. too much indulged by Vrban VIII 293. the present Pope Innocent XI not fond of 'em 382 Knighthood a new Order instituted by Paul V. 266 L Lance which pierced Christ's side presented to the Pope by the Grand Signior 11 Lautrec General of the French in Italy 57. successful 56. dies 59 League of several Princes and States against the K. of Naples and D. of Milan 14. Of many Italian Lords against Borgia 16. League of Cambray against the Venetians 22. Of the Pope and King of Spain with the Venetians 25. Of the King of England and the French King 57. the Triple League 350 Lepanto the Battel there 161 Letter Apostolical publishing the Jubilee 218 Lewis XI of France favours the Medici against the Pope 5 Lewis XII enters Italy and possesses himself of Milan 15. gains and loses Naples ibid. is excommunicated 25. dies 31 Lucca the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Lucretia the Pope's Bastard how bestow'd by him 15 Ludovisio Alexander chosen Pope and nam'd Gregory XV. 267 Luther his first appearance in Germany 36.37 his Sectators increase 62 M Mahomet the Great dies 6 Malatesta Robert General of the Pope s Forces 6 Malta a Controversie there between the Master and the Knights 169 Mantua the troubles there 279.280 Marignano General for the Emperour retakes Siena 105 Marriages of several Princes of the same name 217. Of Lewis XIV and Maria Teresa Infanta of Spain 330 Mary Queen of England her acknowledgment of
arriving in Spain ravage all the Countrey except Granada which was inhabited by those of their own Nation already and at length with their Wives and Children pass as far as Aquitain designing to possess themselves of that Province also Charles Martell the Son of Pipin was at this time famous throughout the World This Pipin after the Death of Grimoald had two other Sons left Caroloman and Charles Martell which Charles this Brother also dying gain'd afterwards to himself the Kingdom of France though not without great opposition especially of Eudo Duke of Aquitain and Chilperic whom some of the French upon the Death of Theodoric had set up to be their King But Martell having passed the River Seine and advanced to Orleans at the first Attaque puts them to flight and becomes sole Possessour of the Kingdom of France After this he passed the Rhine and conquered the Saxons Alemans Sueves and Boiarians But having Intelligence that the Saracens had been invited by Eudo into France by great Marches he comes forth against them and obliging them to fight gains a mighty Victory not far from Tours Historians write that in this Battel there were slain of the Saracens three hundred and sixty thousand but of the French only one thousand one hundred and fifty and 't is said that Eudo hereupon came over to Martel's side The Saracens being by this means through Martel's Valour diverted from any farther Attempts upon the Spaniards and French turn all the Rage and Indignation which upon so great an Overthrow had been raised in them upon the Constantinopolitans whose City they besieged by Sea and Land the space of three years But suffering all the extremities of War being pinched with Hunger and Cold and a Pestilence moreover raging among them they raised the Siege and return'd home 'T is said that of this Plague there died in Constantinople three hundred thousand As for the Affairs of Italy the Lombards now under the Conduct of Luithprandus after a long Siege took and sack'd Ravenna carrying away from thence to Pavia all things of considerable value and amongst the rest as I believe the famous Statue on Horseback in Brass Thus according to the usual Vicissitude of humane Affairs it so fell out that what Theodoric and other Kings of the Goths and after them the Exarchs had taken from Rome and carried to Ravenna was by others afterwards scattered about and dispersed into several places In the mean time there was at Rome a Plot laid by some seditious people against the Pope the Heads of the Conspiracy being Basilius Jordanus a Notary John a Sub-deacon surnamed Lurion and Marinus an Officer of the Guards who at this time was Governour of Rome under the Emperour But upon the Emperour 's recalling Marinus the business was deferred to another time The Conspiratours tampered also with Paul the Exarch being willing in a matter of so great importance to have him to head them The whole Design being at length discovered by the people of Rome they appear in Arms kill John Lurion and dissipate the other Conspiratours Basilius was confined to a Monastery where he died The forementioned Paul being highly enraged at the Pope for prohibiting his levying new Taxes did by the Emperour's Order seek all ways both secret and open of taking away the good mans life but the Romans and Lombards taking up Arms defended him The Emperour Leo hereupon publishes an Edict commanding all those who were Subjects of the Roman Empire to rase out and take away all the Pictures and Images of Saints Martyrs and Angels out of their Churches with design as he ptofessed thereby to prevent Idolatry and declaring that whosoever refused so to do should be accounted a publick Enemy But Gregory not only not obeyed this Order but also encouraged all Catholicks to stand up stoutly against it Whereupon the people of Italy were so animated that they were near chusing another Emperour had not Gregory by his authority interposed to prevent it Notwithstanding which there arose such a Dissention at Ravenna some pleading for Obedience to the Emperour others to the Pope that Paul the Exarch together with his Son was slam in the Tumult To succeed in whose place the Emperour sends Eutychius an Eunuch who by Gifts and Promises was to endeavour to break the Friendship and Alliance between the Lombards and the Pope But that Attempt having been often made in vain was drop'd for a time and the Pope being freed of this trouble began to visit the Hospitals and Churches and to repair those of them which through age or neglect had fallen to decay Moreover he made a Peace between the King of the Lombards and the Dukes of Spoleto and Beneventum which that King had intended to crush but having marched in a peaceable manner as far as Rome to confer with the Pope about the matter Gregory by his Christian Counsel so mollified his mind that laying aside all thoughts of War he offered up his Sword and other Arms in the Church of S. Peter The Emperour Leo now in another wild humour commanded all the Images either of Wood Brass or Marble to be brought to him which he forthwith caused to be burnt and seiz'd upon and put to Death those who refused to bring them Germanus the Patriarch who vigorously opposed it he banished and put into his place Anastasius an Heretick whom Gregory afterwards in a Synod deprived and interdicted the Exercise of sacred Offices if he refused to return to the Catholick Faith Furthermore as became a pious Prelate he oftentimes by Letters admonished the Emperour to quit the erroneous Opinions into which some ill men had seduced him and at length to embrace the Truth and to cease the destroying of the Images of the Saints by whose Example and Memory men might be excited to the Imitation of their Virtues Some write that in this Popes time Boniface came out of Britain to Rome and for his sanctity was of a Monk made a Bishop and sent into Germany that by his Preaching and Example he might confirm that People in the Faith which he performed so well that he was deservedly made Bishop of Mentz but passing thence into Africa he was for his preaching the Word of God put to Death by the Enemies of Christianity 'T is said also that S. Aegidius a Grecian was now famous for the holy Life he led and the miracles he wrought and that Petronax a Citizen of Brescia did by Vow repair at his own Charge the Monastery of S. Benedict which was almost quite left desolate As for Gregory who by his good Example excited all men to the practice of Piety and Virtue having been in the Chair sixteen years nine months eleven days he died and was buried in S. Peter's February the 11th By his Death the See was vacant thirty five days He is said to have consecrated during his Pontificate one hundred forty eight Bishops GREGORY III. GREGORT the third a Syrian his Fathers
Brother who had before as we have already said taken the habit of a Monk and indeed the Lombards generally except those of Tuscany were on his side But Desiderius by making large Promises to the Pope and the Romans wrought them into a favour of his Pretensions and accordingly they with all speed sent Ambassadours and among them Holcadus the Abbat to Rachis to require him to lay down his Arms and submit to Desiderius And so Faenza and Ferrara were at last delivered to the Pope and the name of the Exarchate which had continued from the time of Narses to the taking of Ravenna by Aistulphus an hundred and seventy years was extinguished Things being now peaceably setled and the Jurisdiction of the Church greatly encreased Stephen holding a Synod takes an account of his several Flocks and their Pastors gently chastises those who had offended directs such as had gone astray teaches and instructs the ignorant and finally sets before them the Duty of a Bishop of a Presbyter and of all Orders in the Clergy Moreover he appointed Litanies for the appeasing of the Divine Anger the Procession on the first Saturday to be to S. Marie's ad Proesepe on the second to S. Peter's in the Vatican on the third to S. Paul's in the Via Ostiensis He also repaired several Churches which had been damaged by Aistulphus while he layed Siege to the City yet he did not recover the Reliques of the Saints which that King had carried with him to Pavia and there reposited not dishonourably in divers Churches The good man having by these means proved serviceable to God his Countrey and the Church died in the fifth year and first month of his Pontificate and was buried April the 26th with general lamentation as for the loss of a Common Father The See was then vacant thirty two days PAUL I. PAUL a Roman son of 〈◊〉 Brother of Stephen the second became well skill'd and practiced in all things belonging to a Churchman by his having been educated in the Lateran Palace under Pope Gregory the second and Pope Zachay by which latter he was together with his Brother ordained Deacon and when upon the Vacancy of the Popedom by the Death of Stephen some persons proposed Theophylact the Arch-Deacon for his Successour yet others stood for Paul as one who both for the Integrity of his Life and great Learning deserved to succeed his Brother in that Dignity After a long Dispute therefore Theophylact was rejected and Paul by general suffrage chosen in the time of Constantine and Leo. This Paul was a person of an extraordinary meek and merciful Temper and who in Imitation of our Saviour never returned to any man evil for evil but on the contrary by doing good to them he overcame those ill men that had oftentimes injur'd him He was of so kind and compassionate a Nature as that he would go about by night with only two or three Attendants to the Houses of poor sick people assisting them with his Counsel and relieving them with his Alms. He also frequently visited the Prisons and paying their Creditors discharged thence multitudes of poor Debtours The Fatherless and Widows that were over-reach'd by the tricks of Lawyers he defended by his Authority and supported by his Charity Moreover having assembled the Clergy and People of Rome he did with great solemnity translate the Body of S. Petronilla S. Peter's Daughter with her Tomb of Marble upon which was this Inscription Petronilloe Filioe dulcissimoe from the Via Appia into the Vatican and placed it at the upper end of the Church dedicated to her Father At this time the Emperour Constantine having in all places plucked down the Images and put to death Constantine Patriarch of Constantinople for opposing him therein and made Nicetas an Eunuch his Abettour in the Sacriledg Patriach in his stead the Pope consulting by all means the Interest of Religion sends Nuntios to Constantinople to advise the Emperour to restore and set up again the Images he had taken away or upon his refusal so to do to threaten him with the Censure of Excommunication But Constantine persisting obstinately in what he had done not only despised this good Counsel but also granted Peace to Sabinus King of the Bulgarians because he also made the like havock of Images with himself though he were before engaged in a War against him Having also associated to himself into part of the Empire his Son Leo the fourth whom he had married to the most beautiful Athenian Lady Irene he enters into a League with the Saracens thereby to despite and provoke the Orthodox Christians In the mean time Pipin entirely subdues Taxillo Duke of the Bojarians and admits of a League with the Saxons but upon this Condition that they should be obliged to send three hundred Horsemen to his Assistance as often as he should have occasion to make an Expedition Against the Aquitains he maintained a tedious War which at length he committed to the management of his young Son Charles himself being so worn out with Age that he could not be present at it This War being ended Charles takes by Storm Bourbon Clermont and several other Towns of Auvergne But Pipin who as we have said was now very old not long after dies leaving in the Kingdom his two Sons Charles and Caroloman Some tell us that Aistulphus King of the Lombards who as is above declared had carried away the Bodies of divers Saints from Rome to Pavia died at this time and that he had built Chappels to those Saints aud also a Cloister for Virgins in which his own Daughters became Nuns He was an extraordinary Lover of the Monks and died in their Arms in the sixth year and fifth month of his Reign At the beginning of his Government he was fierce and rash in the end moderate and a person of such Learning that he reduc'd and form'd the Edicts of the Lombards into Laws He was as has been said succeeded by Duke Desiderius the Valour of the Lombards beginning now to dissolve and lose it self in Luxury Our Paul having repaired some old decayed Churches died in S. Paul's in the Via Ostiensis in the tenth year and first month of his Pontificate and his Body was with very great Solemnity carried into the Vatican The See was then vacant one year one month STEPHEN III. STEPHEN the third a Sicilian Son of Olibrius entred upon the Pontificate A. D. 768. a learned man and in the management of Affairs especially those belonging to the Church very active and steddy Coming to Rome very young by appointment of Pope Gregory III. he took Orders and became a Monk in the Monastery of S. Chrysogonus where he was inured to the stricter way of living and instructed in Ecclesiastical Learning Being afterwards called by Pope Zachary into the Lateran Palace and his Life and Learning generally approved of he was constituted Parish-Priest of S. Caetilia and for his great Integrity and readiness in Business both
done without great slaughter of his own men he granted them that part of Prance to live in which lies beyond the River Seine and is still call'd from the name of the people Normandy They were bound to pay a yearly tribute to the Crown of France to mind them that they stood possess'd of the Countrey not by their own power but by the bounty of the Emperor Charles At this time William surnam'd the Godly Duke of Aquitain and Earl of Auvergne not having any Heirs male began magnificently to build the Monastery of Clugny in his Fathers Mannor in a Village of Burgundy and made Berno Abbot of the place having set out an Income for the maintenance of the Monks But he dying left it unfinish'd having constituted Ebbo Earl of Poictou his Heir who should take care according to his Last Will of the whole matter And now Hadrian of whom for his courage and haughty Spirit the Clergy and People of Rome had conceived so great hopes died in the first year and second month of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church with the general lamentation of the People for the unseasonable loss of such a Father STEPHEN V. STEPHEN the fifth a Roman Son of one Hadrian of the Via lata was made Pope at the time when the Normans assisted by the Danes contrary to their Treaties had well-nigh over-run all France For fear of these Invaders the body of S. Martin was carried from Tours to Auxerre and plac'd in the Church of S. German which begot a feud among the Monks who could not agree by the name of which of the two Saints the Church should be call'd to solve this doubt they took this way They set a Leper in the midst between the two Saints Bodies who grew whole onely on that side which was towards S. Martin and then turning the other side towards him he was quite healed This Miracle determin'd the Controversie which S. German is thought to have suffered his new Guest to perform 〈◊〉 it should be thought that the Body had lost any of its Sanctity by being translated Authors say that during this Popes time Charles the Gross who had been Emperor twelve years was deposed by his Nobles for his sloth and dulness and Arnulphus his Nephew was set up in his stead who was the seventh Emperor from Charles the Great This troublesom state of things tempted the Huns a Scythian Nation according to Vincentius and Martinus to make a descent into Tannonia where joyning their Brother-Tribe the Hungari they possess'd themselves of the Countrey driving thence the Gepidi and Avares and from hence marching with their forces into Germany they pierc'd as far as Burgundy destroying all with fire and sword Stephen in this confusion of Affairs was yet not a little comforted with the sanctity of Luithprandus Deacon of Pavia Waldrad of Bavaria and Bernard of Picardy by whose lives and conversation the Christian Religion got so great Reverence that many Monasteries and Churches were sumptuously built throughout France In the sixth year and eleventh day of his Papacy he died and the Sea was vacant five days FORMOSUS FORMOSUS Bishop of Porto succeeded Stephen and in the beginning of his Pontificate adorned S. Peter's Church with some slight Paintings This Formosus had formerly for fear of Pope John left his Bishoprick and fled to France and denying to return when he was recall'd he was anathematized and then coming to Rome he was depriv'd of all his Preferments Ecclesiastical and put on profane manners with his secular habit Some think the reason that Formosus was thus persecuted was for that he was a Party if not Ring-leader of the Faction that put John into Prison However Formosus was so enraged at this hard usage that he swore he would never return either to Rome or to his Bishoprick but Pope Martin who succeeded John absolv'd him from his Oath and restor'd him to his Countrey and to his former Dignity whence not long after he came to the Popedom rather by bribery than for the sake of any good that was in him many men opposing his Election Arnulphus now the seventh Emperor from Charles the Great as we said before marching valiantly against the still rebellious Normans gave them several Overthrows but was too much puffed up with his success and became so intolerably imperious to all men especially to the Clergy that it pleased God he died soon after of the lousie Disease In whose room Lewis was put up for Emperor but we read not that he was ever Crowned for as Martinus writes Berengarius Duke of Friuli descended of the old Kings of Lombardy renewing his claim to the Kingdom of his Ancestors and bringing his pretensions to the decision of War though at first he was overcome by Lewis yet giving him Battel again at Verona Lewis was vanquished and with great slaughter of his men being taken Prisoner had his eyes put out And thus the Empire which the Franks had enjoy'd almost 100 years was transferred to the Lombards Constantine the Son of Leo being Emperor of the East I know not how it fell out that at this same time that the Emperors shewed so little Courage the Popes too were as greatly wanting in Virtue and Integrity which render'd those times very miserable Subjects being very apt as Plato says to follow the Examples of their Princes I return to Formosus whose times left they should have been the most unhappy that ever were were honour'd with the Learning and good Life of Remigius of Auxerre who wrote divers Commentaries especially upon the Gospel of S. Matthew and S. Paul's Epistles Some say indeed that Author was not the person of whom I speak but Remigius of Rhemes however that be 't is certain they were both very learned men Formosus died in the fifth year and sixth month of his Pontificate and the Sea was vacant two days BONIFACE VI. BONIFACE the sixth a Tuscan was created Pope in the room of the deceased Formosus but how long he continued in the Papacy is a great question for some Writers say longer others say shorter I am of opinion with the most that he sate but twenty six days and that which makes me think so is that Historians make little or no mention at all of him and how can it be that as some say he should sit twelve years in the Chair of S. Peter and yet his Reign be past over unregarded I have plac'd him therefore in the Catalogue of Popes not for any thing done by him for he did nothing indeed what could be expected to be done in so short a time but because he was regularly and canonically elected Pope He died as I said before in the 26. day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church STEPHEN VI. STEPHEN the sixth a Roman Bishop of Anagni being made Pope persecuted the memory of Formosus with so much spite that he abrogated his Decrees and rescinded all he had done
wrote much in praise of the Blessed Virgin and of the Holy Cross and Albo Abbat of Fleury who afterward in Gascoign suffer'd Martyrdom for the faith of Christ Men famous for Learning Religion and Sanctity are said to have flourish'd This John died after he had been Pope ten years six months and ten days and the Sea was vacant six days GREGORY V. GREGORY the Fifth a Saxon Son of Otho before call'd Bruno by the Authority of Otho III. for Kinred sake was made Pope But upon the return of Otho into Germany being vex'd by the Roman factions he fled first into Tuscany and thence into Germany to the Emperor Mean while the Romans vest Crescentius with an absolute Consular Power who immediately creates Pope John a Greek Bishop of Piacenza not more wealthy than learned whose name I confess is by some left out of the Catalogue of Popes as not regularly created but others make him John XVII because he was chosen by the Clergy and People of Rome to whom of right the Election belongeth Crescentius upon the news of Otho's approach with his Army fortifies the Walls and Gates of the City with all diligence he fortifies too the Castle S. Angelo and places strong Guards in every Post that required so that for some time after it was called Crescentius's Castle taking the name of him that fortified it instead of that of the Builder At length the Emperor arriv'd and investing the City when the Romans perceived themselves unable to withstand so great Forces trusting to the clemency of Otho they opened their Gates to the Germans And now Crescentius and John being without Friends and at their wits end fled into Castle S. Angelo and defended themselves well till upon hopes of Pardon coming forth to address themselves to the Emperor Crescentius receiving many wounds from the Multitude was kill'd but John having his Eyes first put out lost both his Popedom and life together and Gregory after he had been expell'd nine months was restored He taking notice of the weakness of the Empire and the uncertainties of Chance and being willing to preserve the Empire among the Germans and that he should be preferred before other who excell'd in worth and Virtue with the consent of Otho he made a Decree concerning the Election of an Emperor An. Dom. 1002. which has continued in force to this day To wit that it should belong to the Germans alone to chuse a Prince who should be Coesar and King of the Romans till the Pope should have confirm'd him and then to have the Titles of Emperor and Augustus Ptolemy writes that at first the power of Election of Emperor was in the Arch-bishop of Mentz for Germany the Arch-bishop of Triers for France and the Arch-bishop of Cologn for Italy To these were added four Secular Princes the Marquess of Brandenburgh who after the Election is Chamberlain to the Emperor the Count Palatine who is chief Sewer the Duke of Saxony who is Sword-bearer and the King of Bohemia the seventh Elector and Cup bearer was added they say to prevent discord between parties for if the rest were equally divided his Vote turned the Scale This 't is said gave distaste to the French but because the Line of Charles the Great being extinct in Lewis the Son of Lotharius that Realm was fallen into the hands of Hugh Capet the chief Minister at that time the great affairs of that Kingdom for some time not being manag'd by Kings they wav'd all thoughts of retrieving the Empire but the main reason was that the new Possessors were well enough yet satisfied with their fortune and dar'd not attempt any thing further 'till they were certain that their late acquir'd Regal Power stood upon a good foundation Robert the Son and Successor of the Great Hugh is much and deservedly praised for his Courage Justice Modesty and Religion for though he exercised himself very much in the Art Military yet he found time so often to frequent the Churches of God and to celebrate the Divine Service as if he had been in holy Orders He is said to have made the Hymn Sancti spiritûs assit 〈◊〉 gratia and by these Arts not less powerful than his Arms he gain'd the hearts of the People and drew those honourable respects to his Family which they had before given to that of Charles the Great Robert a certain Bishop of Chartres is about this time said to have been in great repute for Learning and Sanctity he having written much and reduced the singing in Churches to a better method Gregory died after he had been Pope two years and five months The Sea was vacant fifteen days JOHN XVIII JOHN the Eighteenth Bishop of Piacenza by the power of Crescentius the Consul as we said whom he had corrupted with his Money in the time of Gregory V. was made Pope by a Faction for he brought so much Money with him from Constantinople that even the good Men might be brib'd to serve his ill ends much less might he prevail with the Covetousness and Ambition of Crescentius I wonder that Historians place this John in the number of the Popes he having got into the Chair while Gregory was alive unless that in writing the Lives of Popes it may be thought fit as in a continued History to set down the outrages of Usurpers and Tyrants as well as the worthy Actions of good and lawful Princes that Readers may observe the difference between good and bad and upon the sight of examples of both be deterred from vitious and encouraged to virtuous practices and lead a blessed and happy life in the Earth Which blessedness and felicity John wanted for being a Robber and a Thief in his Pontificate and coming not in as he ought by the Door He died with ignominy enough in the tenth month of his Usurpation The Sea was vacant twenty days SYLVESTER II. SYLVESTER the Second before called Gilbert a French Man got the Popedom as they say by ill Arts. When he was young he was entred and sworn a Monk of Fleury in the Diocese of Orleans but he left the Monastery to follow the Devil to whom he had wholly delivered himself up and went to Sevil in Spain to study humane Sciences being extreamly greedy of Knowledg and Learning in which he made such progress that of a Scholar he soon became an excellent Master Martinus writes that the Emperor Otho King Robert of France and Lotharius a Man of noble birth and great learning afterward Arch bishop of Sens were his Scholars Gilbertus therefore full of Ambition and push'd on with the diabolical desire of Rule by Simony first gets the Arch-bishoprick of Rhemes and then of Ravenna at last the Devil helping him with an extraordinary lift he got the Popedom upon this Condition that after his death he should be wholly the Devils by whose assistance he had arriv'd at so great a Dignity Being greedy of Rule he ask'd the Devil once how long he should enjoy the
long for they soon altered their minds and clap'd him in Prison This affront gave great offence to the Bononians who seizing several Romans protested they would never release them but upon the delivery of their Brancaleon which so wrought upon the cautious Romans that they not onely released him but restor'd him to his former dignity setting up also another Court of men chosen out of every Ward in the City whom they called Banderese to whom they committed the Power of life and death The Pope plainly found the reason of this insolence of the Romans to be that they observ'd how Manfredus had plagu'd him and that he was not able to help himself That he might therefore at last free the Church from the tyranny of these men he sent Legates to Lewis King of France to exhort him that he would assoon as possible send his Cousin and Son-in-law Charles Earl of Provence and Anjou with an Army into Italy he intending upon the expulsion of Manfredus to create him King of both Sicilies And this no doubt he had done so high were his resentments of the Ingratitude of Manfredus if sickness had not taken him off from business Which yet was brought to pass as is supposed by the following Pope To the times of this Pope is ascribed Albertus a High German of the Order of Friers Predicant who for the vastness of his learning got the Surname of Magnus He Commented upon all the Works of Aristotle and explain'd the Christian Religion with great acuteness beside he wrought very accurately concerning the secrets of Nature He also put forth a Book de Coaequaevis wherein he endeavours to shew the little difference that is between Theology and Natural Philosophy He expounded a great part of the Holy Bible and illustrated the Gospels and S. Paul's Epistles with excellent Notes He began also a Body of Divinity but liv'd not to perfect it He was a man so modest and so much given to Study that he refused the Bishoprick of Ratisbon because it could not be manag'd without trouble and force of Arms sometimes as the Bishops of Germany are wont to do He liv'd therefore in private at Cologn reading onely some publick Lectures At length he died there in the eightieth year of his age leaving behind him many Scholars for the good of Posterity especially Thomas Aquinas who leaving his Countrey and his noble kinred for he deriv'd his pedigree from the Counts of Apulia and going to Cologn he made such progress in learning that after a few years he was made Professor at Paris where he published four Books upon the Sentences and wrote a Book against William de St. Amour a pernicious Fellow Beside he put forth two Books one de qualitate essentiis the other de principiis naturae At last he was sent for to Rome by Vrban but refusing those promotions that were offered him he gave himself wholly to Reading and Writing He set up a School at Rome and at the desire of Vrban he wrote several Pieces and ran through almost all Natural and Moral Philosophy with Commentaries and set forth a Book contra Gentiles He expounded the Book of Job and compiled the Catena aurea He composed also an Office for the Sacrament in which most of the Types of the old Testament are explained But to return to Vrban he died at Perugia in the third year first month and fourth day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Cathedral Church The Sea then was vacant five months CLEMENT IV. CLEMENT the fourth formerly called Guidodi Fulcodio a Narbonnese of S. Giles's deserv'd to be made Pope upon the account of his Holiness and Learning For he being without question the best Lawyer in France and pleading with great integrity in the Kings Court was created after the death of his Wife by whom he had several Children first of all Bishop of Pois and then of Harbonne and last of all a Cardinal by universal consent and afterward was chosen out as the onely Person whose sincerity and Authority had qualified him to compose the Differences between Henry King of England and Simon Earl of Montford As soon as he was chosen Pope some say he put on the Habit of a Religious Mendicant and went incognito to Perugia Thither immediately went the Cardinals who having chosen him Pope though in his absence attended upon him pompously to Viterbo In the mean time Charles whom we said Pope Vrban sent for to bestow a Kingdom upon him set out from Marseilles with thirty Ships and coming up the Tiber arriv'd at Rome Where he lived as a Senator so long by the Popes order till certain Cardinals sent from his Holiness came and declared him King of Jerusalem and Sicily in the Palace of St. Giovanni Laterano upon this condition that Charles should take an Oath to pay the Sea of Rome a yearly acknowledgment of forty thousand Crowns and should not accept of the Roman Empire though it were freely offer'd to him For there was at that time a great contest for the Empire between Alphonsus King of Castile who sought to procure it by Power and bribery too and the Earl of Corâ—wall the King of Englands Brother whom the Electors had no great thoughts of Therefore lest Manfred should hope to make use of any quarrels between Alphonsus and Charles to whom many people said the Empire was justly due though he could not challenge it the Pope animated Charles against Manfred as one that stood in Contempt of the Roman Church For Charles's Army was already gotten over the Alpes into Italy and marching through Romagnia had brought all the Soldiers of the Guelphs Party as far as Rome From whence Charles removed and took not onely Ceperane having beaten out Manfred's men but posted himself in a Forest near Cassino which Manfred himself had undertaken to defend although his mind was soon alter'd and he resolv'd to march for Benevento to expect the Enemy in plain and spacious places because his forces consisted most of Cavalry Thither also did Charles move and assoon as he had an opportunity to fight did not decline it though his Soldiers were very weary with travelling Each of them encouraged their men to engage But Charles coming to relieve a Troop of his Soldiers that were like to be worsted more eagerly than usually as in such cases Military Men will do he was knock'd down from his Horse at which the Enemy was so transported that Manfred fought carelesly out of rank and file and was kill'd which when Charles appeared again straight turn'd the fortune of the Day For many of his men that ran away were kill'd and a great many others taken Prisoners Charles having obtain'd so great a Victory removes to Benevento and marches into it upon a voluntary surrender of the Citizens From thence he went to storm Nocera de Pagani where both the modern and the ancient Saracens lived but sent his Mareschal into Tuscany with five hundred Horse to restore
have sâ—lâ—ied out one Guido Bonatus an excellent Astrologer exhored his fellow Citizens to wait till such time as the Stars should promise good luck and make their Sally when he gave 'em the Signal They did as he would have them and breaking forth in the very nick of time they kill'd Guido and almost all his French men Thus was that City freed from a great Siege But Charles when he heard how the Sicilians had revolted and of their cruelty too went over into Sicily with a very considerable Army And first he besieged Messina which he had certainly taken by Surrender but that the French desirous of Revenge had threaten'd to raze the City Besides Peter of Aragon who expected as I told you such commotions no sooner heard of it but he comes over with all speed from Sardinia into Sicily and arriving at Palermo he was very kindly received by the Citizens and all the other Sicilians who also saluted him by the name of King whilst all the Rabble flock'd about him Charles was frighted at this and therefore leaving Messina he went immediately into Calabria to stay for his Son the Prince of Salerno who he knew would come very shortly out of the Province of Narbonne with some Recruits Charles expostulated with Peter of Aragon that he who was his Relation nay of the same bloud too should dare to invade his Kingdom To which he reply'd that he was so compassionate as that he could not deny his assistance to a miserable people that were so hardly used though he said too that the Kingdom belong'd to him by right of inheritance as he was Husband to Constantia Monford's Daughter and Corradins Niece At last when words grew high on both sides it came to a Duel upon this condition though that each King should have an hundred men along with him as being to engage in such a weighty Combat and the place where they were to fight was to be Bourdeaux For both these Kings were akin to the King of England who with the assistance of Pope Martin at length made up the difference But when Peter for all that made War upon Charles Martin sent Gerard Cardinal of Parma his Legat to Naples not onely to keep the People in Allegiance to him but to assist him who was but a youth with good counsel and the awe of his presence But when Peter had sent Rogeris Lorias his Admiral to Naples Charles moved toward the Enemy and not far from Naples was conquer'd with the loss of a great many men nor onely so but he was taken and carry'd first into Sicily and then into Aragon But this without question had never happen'd if he would but have hearken'd to the Legat as he should have done who was of a contrary opinion who dissuaded him and told him that such a mighty Kingdom as that was ought not to be hazarded at that rate For not long after his Father Charles came with a great Navy which would have made him able to have coped with the Enemy before he was a Conqueror But Martin being concern'd very much for Charles's misfortune excommunicates Peter of Aragon and gives his Kingdom for a prey to any one that can or will take possession of it absolving his Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance to him and exciting all Christians against him as an Usurper of the Churches Patrimony according to his opinion Nay he would have sent the Church-Militia to help Charles but that he was fain to wage War in Romagna himself against the Forleses who by the aid of Guido Earl of Monford were so bold as to revolt from the Church and attaque some Forts thereabouts But when Guido himself repented of what he had done and had made Peace with the Pope he not onely demolish'd the Walls of Forli in revenge to Guido Appius but he recover'd a great part of Romagna in a short time He had also taken Vrbino as sure as he attempted it but that Rubeus Anguillarius Earl of Tuscany died in the action There were at that time two Generals that commanded the Camp one of which was sent into Tuscany to defend that part of the Countrey that lies toward the Soane and the other whom they call Earl of Giovenazzo continu'd the Siege by the Popes Order whilst Guido Montefeltranus supplied the very Townsmen with necessaries under-hand But in the mean time when Martin was at a loss from which of the two States Pisa or Genoa he should desire Auxiliaries against Peter of Aragon there arose immediately such a quarrel between them about the possession of Corsica that they themselves were fain to beg assistance one against another Then the Pope sent word to the Apostolical Legat that he should keep the people in order till Charles came with a supply After which Charles went into Naples and having setled the peoples minds sailed into Africa where he died of a Fever upon which occasion all the weight of the Government devolv'd upon the Legat. At that time there was a rumour and almost a currant Report that Philip Son of the French King and Earl of Artois was coming to receive that Kingdom But that did not frighten Peter from spoiling the Country because he was sure he came with a small number For his Father Philip was going into Aragon with a great Army to take possession of Peter's Kingdom which Martin the Pope by heavy Censures first laid upon him had exposed as a booty to any one that could get it But the Pope being surrounded with so many cares and those increased too by new tumults at Orvieto for the Gibellins had banish'd the Guelphs he went to Perugia where not long after he died of an hectick Fever in the fourth year and first month of his Pontificate and was buried in the Cathedral At whose Tomb many sick blind deaf and lame people that are brought thither recover from God their former health by the merits of this most holy Pope HONORIVS IV. HONORIVS the fourth a Roman of the Race of the Sabini a very noble Family formerly called James a Cardinal Deacon was made Pope at Perugia and came to Rome in the year 1285. when his Brother Pandulphus was Senator For Pandulphus was esteemed a Person of so much severity and Justice that whenever the Citizens of Rome had a mind to purge the City of Robbers Ruffians Thieves and Parricides of which at that time there were great numbers in Rome among the Seditious they desired no other Senator than Pandulphus And he though mightily tormented with the Gout both in his feet and his hands yet in courage and constancy of mind he was inferiour to none of those that had their health Honorius also was sometimes troubled with the same Distemper insomuch that he was forced to make use of certain Instruments made for the purpose to support him when he performed the Priestly Office But he was a Man of that Conduct and Prudence that he did not seem much deficient
wholesom advice of those who gave 'em good Counsel At length the Genoeses when they saw themselves so begirt at Chioza that they could not sally forth for the Venetian nor get provisions from Matthew Ruffus or the Lord of Padua who had promised them shortly to supply them they surrender'd the Town on the first of July 1380. At which time there were taken of the Enemy 4340. though more died in the Siege by Famine and the Sword Yet the Genoeses though they had receiv'd such a fatal blow could not lie still but with thirty eight Galleys compelled the Triesteses to revolt from the Venetians to the Patriarch of Aquilegia They likewise took Justinople but not the Castle And when they had recruited their Navy they went for Venice again but no body encountring them they return'd into Istria took the City Pola and burn'd it Many slaughters followed on both sides But the Venetians were overcome in a Land fight by Carrara whilst James Caballus an excellent Commander defended Treviso stoutly which was almost forc'd by Famine to a surrender And now both sides being well tired with such a long and bloody War the Duke of Savoy upon the 23d of September 1381. makes Peace between them upon these terms that the Venetians every tenth year should pay the King of Hungary seven thousand pounds provided he kept all his part of Dalmatia free from Pirates and suffer no Salt to be made in his Dominions there and that the Patriarch of Aquilegia should have the same Power in Friuli as before the War But the Venetians and the Genoeses were order'd to send home each others Captives without any mention of the Spoils which were taken on either side The Padueses were commanded to draw off from the Siege of Treviso and to demolish the Towers and Forts which they had raised in Fens and at the mouths of several Rivers upon which account bounds were set out between the Venetians and those of Padua In the mean while Charles whom we told you the Pope sent for out of Hungary to go against Joan came into Italy with eight thousand Horse and first reduced Arezzo which had been long embroiled by the seditions of the Guelphs and Gibellins From thence moving toward Florence he was repell'd by John Hawkwood who at that time quarter'd at Sâ—agia But the Florentines fearing they should not be able to endure the shock of such a mighty King they purchased a Peace of him at the rate of 40000 l. and discharged Hawkwood without his pay who sold Bagnavallo to Nicolas and Albert d' Este that they might the better keep Faenza in obedience which notwithstanding they soon after lost by treachery to Astorgius Manfredus But Charles after he had visited Vrban at Rome went into his Kingdom and having conquer'd all Joans Forces took Naples by surrender The Queen was besieged in Castelnovo when the Guelphs of Arezzo made a Tumult and forced James Caracciolo a Citizen of Naples who was sent thither by the King to fly into the Castle The Gibellins also fled thither too whose good that just Man consulted as much as the Guelphs For he desired to carry every thing alike with equity in all cases Wherefore having sent for Albrick Barbianus from Todi upon the account of an injury which he reviv'd he went into the City and whilst he strove to reduce the Guelphs he plunder'd the Gibellins also And Ferraback another General who follow'd Albrick took all the remaining spoil that he could find in Arezzo Whilst these things were transacted in Naples and Arezzo a new cloud of War overcast Italy For Lewis of Anjou of the Blood Royal of France enter'd Italy with thirty thousand Horse and posted himself not far from Bologna being set on by Clement the Anti-Pope not so much to free Queen Joan who was besieged as by force to depose Vrban For this reason Charles left Arezzo and sent for Albrick and Ferraback to whom also the Frorentines sent John Hawkwood at the request of Vrban Lewis going through Marci was come as far as the Forest of Cassino expecting twelve thousand Horse which were already come into Italy under the command of Andegranius and marching through Viacenza Lucca Florence and Siena were arrived at Arezzo where they were let in by the Guelphs and sack'd the City after Albrick had given 'em a fatal blow The Gibellins defended the Castle which was besieged forty days and had been taken by the French had not Lewis of Anjou died in the mean time Then Andegranius seeing how things went by advice of the people of Arezzo that were besieged in the Castle sold the City to the Florentines and so return'd into France And the Anjouen Soldiers now destitute of their General wandered home by two or three in a Company begging by the way Vrban being now deliver'd from the fear of the French went to Naples and as'd leave of the King to make his Nephew Prince of Campania which when he could not obtain being of a clownish and uncivil temper which he would have had to be interpreted a blunt down-right honesty he began to threaten him and provoked the King so far that he set a Guard upon him for some days and would not suffer him to walk the Streets This affront he seemed to wink at for a time and with the Kings good leave went to Nocera to avoid as he himself said the heat of that City Where when he had fortified the Town he made some new Cardinals and imprison'd seven of the old ones charging upon them a Conspiracy with the King and the Anti-Pope against him Besides that He commanded a Process to speak in their phrase against the King and sent him a Citation to appear and had this answer from him That he would come very shortly to Nocera and acquit himself of all Crimes objected not with Words but with Weapons And in order thereunto he came to Nocera with a competent Army and besieged the Town But Raymund Balcianus of the Family of the Vrsins and Son to the Earl of Nola who was afterward Prince of Taranto was concern'd at the indignity with his own Forces which he commanded under the King he carried Vrban and the whole Court to the next Shore and put 'em on board certain Genoese Galleys prepared for the purpose By the way as the Pope sailed to Genoa he took seven Cardinals at Nocera of which he put five into Baggs and drowned them in the Sea But upon the death of Lewis King of Hungary the Nobility of that Country sent presently for Charles who going thither called a Convention of the Estates for the setling of Affairs but whilst he was busie upon it the Queen who ow'd him a grudg procur'd him to be murther'd in the year 1385. This was just about the time when John Galeatius put Viscount Bernabos his Uncle by the side of his Father Galeatius into Prison at Monza where he kept him as long as he liv'd and enjoy'd his Estate
For formerly when they divided their Patrimony Pavia Vercelli Novara Tortona Alessandria and other places toward the Apennine Mountains and the Alps fell to Galeatius and Piacenza Cremona Parma Lauden Brescia and Pergamo to Bernabos Millain being common to both Vrban had now pass'd a whole year at Genoa when news was brought him that the Florentines incited the Cities belonging to the Church to assert their Liberty as they had done formerly upon which he went first to Lucca and then to Siena and Perugia And those Cities being confirm'd in their Allegiance by his coming he went as far as Ferentino under pretence of seeing Naples but his true Design was to turn Ladislaus a very Child and John both Sons to Charles out of their paternal Inheritance For many Noblemen that favour'd Lewis of Anjou gave him hope of enjoying that Kingdom but those of Gajetta were very faithful and preserving the Children alive saved the Kingdom too to their great Honour The Pope therefore return'd to Rome not being able to effect his Design but was receiv'd into the City with great pomp though not long after the Banderesii laid wait for him which yet he escaped and frustrated He created in one day twenty nine Cardinals of which three were Romans the rest almost all Neapolitans In the mean while Antonius Scala of Verona and Francis the elder Lord of Padua were engaged in a bloody War in which John Vbaldin lead the Army of the Carrareses and John Ordelafo that of the Scaligeri But Galeatius Viconti with the assistance of the Carrareses conquer'd the Scaligeri and took Verona and Vincenza Nor was he so contented but in a few months he besieged and took Padua and imprison'd Francis Carrara at Monza Francis his Son escaping by flight The Florentines also willing now to encrease their Dominions took Monte-Pulciano and Lusignano two Towns in the Territories of Siena by Stratagem rather than by strength And afterward sent Charles Son to Bernabos and Antony Scala with five thousand Horse into the Country of Siena to forage This mov'd Galeatius to such a degree that he dispatch'd Embassadors to Florence to complain that contrary to the League heretofore made between them the Florentines had entertain'd in pay his Enemies Charles Viconti and Antony Scala and that against all right and justice they had harass'd his Friends and Allies the Sienneses In fine his Embassadors were commanded to declare War against them except they drew off their Forces from the Siennois and disbanded those Officers But lest Galeatius should have been as good as his word Peter Gambacorta Lord of Pisa a Friend both to him and to the Florentines interposed and undertook to make up the business In the mean time Vrban dy'd at Rome in the eleventh year and eighth month of his unhappy Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church where there was but little mourning for him as being a rustical and an inexorable Man His Sepulchre or Tomb is yet to be seen with a very rude and silly Inscription upon it BONIFACE IX BONIFACE the Ninth a Neapolitan formerly called Peter Tomacello was made Pope at Rome by general consent of the Cardinals in the year 1389. Who though he were not above thirty years old when he enter'd upon the Popedom yet he lived so strictly at that florid Age and in those wicked times that no act of Lust or inordinate pleasure could be charged upon him for he seemed to have changed his Youth into Age. And then he was a Person of such courage and conduct that he was the first who invested all the Power of Rome in the Pope alone so that he created Magistrates as he pleased and fortified the Castle of S. Angelo which is situate near the Tiber as you go to the Vatican and set guards upon all the Bridges cross the Tiber. Whilst this Boniface IX was in the Chair Galeatius made War upon the Florentines and Bolognians by his Generals John Vbaldin and Lantedescus Petramala who in the Valley of Arno plunder'd and spoil'd all far and near James Vermes likewise enter'd the Territories of Bolognia upon his own account and did the City great damage The Florentines in the mean time to prevent with their utmost these evils sent Jown Hawkwood Charles Son to Bernabos and Antony Scala with four thousand Horse and two thousand Foot to aid the Bolognian their friends and Allies And sollicited Stephen Duke of Bavaria to whom Francis the younger was fled fot refuge both by Letters and Messengers to come and assist ' em Beside they hired James Earl of Armeniac for a great deal of Money to come down into Italy against Viconti and divert him from their borders to defend his own Francis the younger also at their Intreaty disguising himself and favoured by the Venetians got into Padua and took the City before any body was aware The Duke of Bavaria follow'd him at the heels and entering the Town storm'd the Castle without any intermission And the Veroneses startled at this turn of Affairs beat out the Guards of the Viconti and invited Antony Scala to their side who just about that time died in Tuscany leaving one onely Child a little Boy Which when they heard they repented of what they had done and immediately sent for Vgulot Blancardus who was with Galeatius's Army in Cremona having begg'd pardon for their Crime and paid some thousands of pounds to atone for their Error Blaneard being let in could not keep the Soldiers from sacking the wealthy City but the Wife of Galeatius out of pity for the Noble Town after three days stay'd any further plundering The Duke of Bavaria now complaining that the Subsidies promised him by the Florentines were not fairly paid him raised the Siege of the Castle at Padua and went into Germany Thereupon the Florentines having procured passage for their Troops of Albert d' Este who was fallen out with Galeatius a good while before sent John Hawkwood to assist young Carrara by whose Valour and skill the Castle of Padua was quickly brought to surrender So that the Forces of Galeatius who were sent for their relief retired into the Country of Vicenza By this time the Earl of Armagnac a Pensioner of the Florentines was arriv'd in Italy by the way of Turin with twenty thousand Horse and having taken Castellaccio by storm he gave the plunder to his Soldiers To oppose this Enemy Galeatius was necessitated to recall his men out of the Country of Vicenza while the Milaneses who were posted in the Suburbs of Alexandria were furiously set upon by those of Armagnac without any order but the Italians drew out the Battel so long fighting for some time before the Gates till their men whom they had sent about to fall upon their Enemy in the Reer could have time to surprise ' em While the fight continued they came about So that the Enemy was attaqu'd in the Reer Front and Flank in such a dreadful manner for the Towns-People
in Humanity and Divinity that he soon became a publick Reader and wrote very acutely and learnedly upon the Books of the Sentences He was also reckon'd a great Orator and a great Preacher And therefore he was sent for by John Galeatius Duke of Millain and made his chief Counsellor After that at Galeatius's request he was made Bishop of Vincenza then translated to Novara and last of all being made Arch-Bishop of Millain he was created Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles by Innocent VII From which step he rose to the Pontifical Dignity and was deservedly stiled Alexander because he might compare with any Prince for liberality and greatness of mind For he was so munificent to the poor and all that deserved his bounty that in a short time he left himself nothing That made him use to say in a joke that he was a rich Bishop a poor Cardinal and a beggarly Pope For he was free from that desire of getting which increaseth usually with a Mans Estate and his Age. But it is a Vice that cannot be found among good Men that contemn the World who the older they grow the less Viaticum or provision they know they shall want for their Journey and therefore they restrain their Desires bridle their Covetousness and extinquish all evil lusts Nay Alexander was a Person of that Courage as to depose that powerful King Ladislaus who in the absence of several Popes had for a long time much spoil'd and harass'd the Church Dominions and taken some Towns by force at Pisa in the Council there by approbation of all that were present and declared his Kingdom to belong to Lewis Duke of Anjou But when the Council of Pisa brake up the Pope went to Bologna of which Baldesar Cossa Cardinal of S. Eustachius was Governour Him Alexander confirm'd in his Office because by his industry and conduct the Council was held at Pisa and because he was a Man fit to oppose Usurpers or such as encroached upon the Church Revenues Yet there was more of rusticity boldness and worldliness in him than his profession required He led a military Life and his manners were Soldier-like and he took the liberty of doing many things not fit to be named But when Alexander was very sick and knew his death was very near he exhorted the Cardinals that visited him to Concord and Peace and to defend the Honour of the Church And swore by that Death he was just now about to undergo and by the Conscience of his well-acted Life that he did not think or believe that any thing was Decreed in the Pisan Council but with all justice and integrity without any deceit or fraud This said and the People weeping that stood by he repeated that saying of our Saviour with much ado My peace I give unto you my peace I leave with you and immediately dy'd in the eighth month of his Pontificate and was buried at Bologna in the Church of the Friers Minors in which year there was a Famine and a Plague JOHN XXIV JOHN the Twenty Fourth a Noble Neapolitan formerly called Cossa Baldesar was chosen Pope at Bologna by general consent though some say the Election was carried by force because he was not only Legate of Bologna but had Soldiers in the City and Country planted for the purpose so that if he could not get it by fair means he would by foul However it was it is most certain that he was made Pope and always aspired to that Dignity For when he was a Youth and studied Civil Law at Bologna for some years he took his Degree there according to Custom and then went to Rome And being ask'd by some Friends whether he was going he answer'd To the Pontificate When he came to Rome he was entertain'd by Boniface IX and made one of his Privy Chamber Then he was made Cardinal of S. Eustachius's and sent as Legate à Latere to Bologna which he in a short space subjected to the Church together with a great part of Romagna beating aut some Usurpers and putting others to death But after nine years when he had enlarged the City of Bologna in a wonderful manner by a long Peace and gotten a great deal of Money Alexander died and then he used Bribery especially to the Cardinals that Gregory had made who were yet poor and so was made Pope Thereupon he sent Agents to the Electors of the Empire to desire of 'em that they would choose Sigismund of Lucenburg King of Hungary and Bohemia Emperor as being a person very stout and fit as he said for all brave Actions For this was his way to get into Sigismunds's favour And that succeeding according to his mind he told 'em before-hand that whereas it had been order'd in an Assembly at Pisa that a Council should be call'd at such a certain time he would hold it at Rome and no where else And that all might have the freer access thither he endeavour'd to settle Italy especially that part near the Alps in which the War did daily encrease by the instigation of Fazinus Canis who could not keep his mercenary Soldiers under his Command without employment For he used to maintain them by rapine and plunder At that juncture it happen'd that the Pavians whom Philip could not contain in awe by reason of his Minority were grown factious and took up Arms. Then the Gibellins under the conduct of the Beccarian Family brought Fazinus and his Army into the City and were to have the Guelphs Estates for doing it But Fazinus entering the Town with his Soldiers spared neither one nor the other but plunder'd both And when the Gibellins complain'd that their goods too were plunder'd against his Promise he reply'd The Gibellins in their Persons should be safe but their Goods were Guelphs which he would give as Spoil to the Soldiers deriding the folly and covetousness of both Factions When he went from thence he left a good Garison both at the Gates and in the Fort pretending to be Philips Protector till he grew of Age and so went against Pandulphus Malatesta where he teazed the Brescians and the Bergameses with frequent inroads and ravagings nor did he spare those of Cremona at that time govern'd by Cabrinus Fundulus During these transactions the King of Hungary who was going as he pretended to Rome freely to receive the Imperial Crown sent twelve thousand Horse and eight thousand Foot against the Venetians and seizing Friuli he set upon Treviso Against this great Army the Venetians sent Charles Malatesta to keep them off not so much by fighting as by protracting of the time The Venetians had like also to have lost Verona the same year by treachery of some of the Citizens who had more mind to try what they could get by violence than to preserve their Liberty But those that were guilty were punish'd and there was an end of that Fazinus Canis died the same year after which several persons conspiring together kill'd John Maria
and was buried in the Church of Recanati Now though two Popes were removed there remained a third who gave 'em more trouble than the other two and that was Peter Luna called Benedict XIII as I told you before But to force him to resign Sigismund went personally with some Agents of the Council to the Kings of England and France and perswaded them for the sake of Christianity so much endanger'd by the Schism to assist him now that the other two had laid down in the removal of Benedict who answering him to his mind he went straight to Ferdinand King of Aragon whose Subjects generally stood for Benedict who agreed among other Articles either to persuade Benedict to resign or to cause his People to withdraw their subjection to him as Gregory and John had done in the Council and to submit to the Council But Benedict kept in his strong Castle and would not comply persisting that he was Christ's true Vicar and that the City of Constance where Pope John had been forc'd even by his own Friends to exauctorate himself was not a place of Freedom requisite for a General Council The Spanish Nobility seeing Benedicts obstinacy followed the Order of the Council and came over to the rest Now things were carried in the Council by the Suffrages of five Nations Italy France Germany Spain and England And whatsoever was Decreed by their Votes was confirm'd and publish'd by a Beadle publick Notary before the Court as a general Act. By this Authority Benedict when the matter had been bandied for some time was deprived of the Popedom the Nations that were of his side being either absent or rejected especially the Scots and the Earl of Armagnac In the same Council the Heresie of John Wickliffe was condemned and two of his followers to wit John Hus and Jerome his disciple as heads of the Heresie were burnt because they affirm'd among other Errors That Ecclesiastical Men ought to be poor for that all People were offended at their great wealth and Luxury Matters being thus composed and mention made concerning Reforming the Church and manners of the Clergy they thought that could not be done whilst the Sea was vacant Then they Discours'd about electing a new Pope that the Decrees of that Council might have the more Authority And in order to it they resolv'd to choose six good Men out of every Nation who together with the Cardinals should go into the Conclave and choose a new Pope Novemb. 8. 1417. they went into the Conclave and by consent of 32 Cardinals and all the several Nations contrary to the expectation of all Men in the presence of many of the Schismaticks Otho Columna a Nobleman of Rome and Cardinal Deacon of S. George was made Pope upon S. Martins day Novem. 11. when the Sea had been without a true Pope for four years And this was done so much to the satisfaction of all Men that the joy was inexpressible The Emperor was so mightily pleased at it that he went into the Conclave and gave 'em thanks without any respect to his own Dignity for choosing so good a Man and one so fit to support Christianity which was almost decay'd And then falling down prostrate before the Pope he kiss'd his feet with great Veneration whilst the Pope on the contrary embraced him and valued him as a Brother and gave him thanks that by his means and industry Peace was restored once more to the Church of God But the reason why he would be called Pope Martin was because the Election was upon S. Martins day Whilst these things were transacted at Constance Ladislaus dying as he was going against the Florentines the cry at Rome was To Arms and for Liberty Whereupon Peter Mattheucii was forced against his Will to assume the Government of the City though afterward he relinquish'd the Office when he understood that a Legate whom Pope John had design'd to send thither would shortly come with a Senator of Bologna As soon as they were come they put Paul Palonius and John Cincius two seditious Citizens to death The year following Brachius Montonius came with an Army to Rome and getting into the City began to storm the Castle S. Angelo which was defended by a strong Garison of Queen Joans who succeeded her Brother Ladislaus in the Kingdom But when Sfortia the Queens General came up he not onely raised the Siege but beat Brachius out of the City the Romans siding with neither Party John Columna was kill'd in that fight by a private Soldier that formerly had fought under Paul Vrsin whom Lewis Columna in Brachius's Army had formerly kill'd at Fuligno Now the Soldier had a mind to kill Lewis to revenge Pauls death but John who was innocent died for it as he was going to save Lewis Whilst Rome was in this tempestuous condition rowing to and fro it conceived at length some hope of quiet upon Martin's being chosen MARTIN V. MARTIN the Fifth a Roman formerly called Otho Columna was made Pope in the Council by the general consent of all the Nations and Cardinals at a time when he as well as the Church was in a declining condition For he had been well educated by his Parents care from his Childhood and when he grew up he studied the Canon Law at Perugia from whence he return'd to the City and for his integrity and learning was made Referendary by Pope Vrban VI. Which place he acquitted with so much humanity justice and mildness that he was created Cardinal Deacon by Innocent VII Nor did that make him forego his natural Disposition For he was more courteous than before and lent his assistance to all that wanted it yet so as not to meddle much in publick matters So that when there were many Debates in the Council of Constance by reason of the Factions he took the middle way and seemed to incline to neither Party but always studied the general good Being therefore beloved by the Emperor the Cardinals and indeed by all Men he was chosen Pope In which Office he was not idle but active and careful hearing refuting and approving persuading disuading exhorting or deterring those that came before him according to reason and the merits of the Cause For he was very accessible and never denied a reasonable request besides that he was a Man of great prudence in Debates For he would tell what ought to be done as soon as a thing was proposed to him He was short in his Speeches and wary in his Actions insomuch that people saw a thing effected before they could imagine he had thought of it His Discourse was full of Sentences nor did any word come from him so often as Justice frequently turning to his Attendants and Familiars especially them that govern'd Cities and Provinces and saying Love Justice ye that judg the Earth Indeed the Church of God wanted such a Pope at that time to sit at the Helm and steer S. Peter's Boat then batter'd with Waves of Schism and
the Cardinals to send some Bishops before to Pavia to begin it that seeming to be the most commodious place for it Thither therefore he immediately sent Peter Donatus Arch-Bishop of Candia James Camplo Bishop of Spoleto Peter Rosatius Abbot of Aquilegia Frier Leonard a Florentine and General of the Preachers to open the Council But they found no body yet come from France or Germany onely two Abbots of Burgundy therefore they thought fit to defer it till one at least should be come from each Nation little of moment being to be transacted without universal consent But while they waited their coming on a sudden Pavia was visited so severely with a Plague that with the Popes leave the Presidents of the Council remov'd to Sienna whither people came from all Nations more readily and in greater numbers than to Pavia Alphonsus King of Aragon who was an Enemy to Martin for giving the Title of King of Naples and Sicily to Lewis which himself desired sent his Embassador to the Council with Order to delay it as much as he could and to bring about the Cause of the Anti-pope Peter Luna yet alive in Panischola either by Promises or Bribes to those who had greatest Authority in the Council Wherefore Martin who knew very well how great a calamity such a thing would bring upon the Church and what danger there was in delays commanded the Council to be immediately dissolv'd approving first of the Decrees made in it that concern'd matters of Faith And lest he might seem to fear a General Council he order'd that another should be held at Basil seven years after Thus did that prudent subtil Man root out the seeds of Schism and Discord that were sown in the Council of Siena Alphonso then complain'd of Martin publickly that by his means he was put by the Kingdom which Joan designed for him and Lewis was made Heir in his room Martin easily confuted this charge and told him that Lewis was confirm'd Heir to Joan by Alexander V. and John XXIII long before and that all the blame ought to be laid on the Queen and not upon him whose business it was to strengthen rather than weaken the Churches Feudataries unless they had committed some heinous Offence against the Sea of Rome and that he did not see why Lewis might not be lawful Heir to Joan who was Crown'd by his Order But when Brachius saw the Pope involv'd in so many Affairs and so distracted by reason of the quarrel between him and Alphonso he got many of the Church-Towns by force and laid close Siege to Aquila a City in the Kingdom of Naples The Pope was angry at that and raising a good sufficient Army he attempted to relieve Aquila assisted by the Army of the Queen and Lewis and not far from Aquila he conquer'd and kill'd Brachius in the open Field The Sfortians were in that Battel under the conduct of Francis Son to Sforza who some years before going over the River Piscara which the Ancients call'd Aternus was drown'd Brachius's body was brought to Rome and buried in an unhallow'd place without the Porta di Sancto Lorenzo Upon this Victory there was so great tranquillity besides that Perugia Todi and Assisi with some other Towns which Brachius had possession of were reduced to the Church that they thought Augustus's happy days were come again into the World Then people lived at ease and could walk even in the Night through the Woods without any danger no Robbers being abroad no Russians and Thieves for he cut off Tartalia Lauellus and other Usurpers that got their living rather by Rapine than War But the Hereticks of Bohemia who plagu'd the Catholicks of Germany continually with Heresie and Arms seemed to interrupt this Peace and happiness To make them therefore submit to Reason and to the Church he admonish'd them first of all very gravely and when that would not do he sent Legats into Germany to stir up the Catholicks to Arms. And first he sent Henry Cardinal of S. Eusebius thither alone then Bartholomew of Piacenza and last of all he recall'd them and sent Julian Caesarinus Cardinal of S. Angelo who receiv'd great damage from the Enemy not by his own fault but by the cowardise of his Soldiers However Martin was not discouraged at it but made greater preparations against the Hereticks onely before he set about such a grand Affair he resolv'd to compose and quiet Italy For when the Peace was made by Martin between Philip and the Venetians the Florentines bore a grudg at Ladislaus Son to Paul Guinisius Lord of Lucca for the assistance he gave Philip in the preceding War and now he not being mention'd in the Articles of that Peace they laid hold on it as a fair opportunity to subdue the City and having raised an Army under Nicolas Fortebrachius and taken some Castles thereabout they laid Siege to it Whereupon Philip by the entreaty of Paul and for fear lest if Lucca fell into the hands of the Florentines he should find them the sharper as being the nearer Enemies he first sent Francis Sforza into Parma with a great body of Horse to raise Foot-soldiers there Who passing the Apennine in the beginning of Spring put the Florentines into such a fright that before he came into the Cloudy Vale as the Inhabitants call it the Enemies had removed their Camp and raised their Siege from before Lucca out of fear And his coming was so much the more welcome to the Lucceses because when their Enemies were subdu'd and the Usurper taken they thought to become absolute freemen by Francis's assistance But the Florentines bribing Francis with fifty thousand pounds he left the people of Lucca in a worse condition than ever having promised for that Sum not to serve Philip for six months Then the Lucceses were besieged more close than before Whereupon Philip at the request of Martin who also pitied the case of the Lucceses sent Nicolas Piceninus thither with a great Body of Horse presently who vanquish'd and routed the Enemy and not only raised the Siege but march'd thence and took many Castles belonging to Pisa and Volaterra by storm and did the Sieneses a kindness who then made War upon the Florentines Martin being now undisturb'd by any forein Foe apply'd his mind to adorn the City and Churches of Rome and to that purpose repaired the Portico of S. Peters which was falling down and paved the Lateran Church with Mosaic work cieled it anew and began those Paintings there which were done by the hand of the famous Gentilis He likewise repaired the old Palace that was ready to fall near the Twelve Apostles where he lived some years The Cardinals follow'd his Example and re-edified their Churches as fast as they could so that now Rome look'd something like a City He also created certain Cardinals of which his Nephew Prosper Columna Cardinal of S. George was one In the mean time Peter Luna dy'd at Panischola but lest the
quiet of Christendom availed little resolved to enjoy and give himself up to Buildings and other divertisements so that placing all his thoughts on a Country-house Gardens and Vineyards which he had erected and made without the Porta del popolo at Rome he was so enamoured of his new Paradise where he continually made Feasts and Banquets that he seemed wholly to have cast off all care of the Church and sense of the miseries of Christendom and what was most undecent and misbecoming a Person of above seventy years of age and of his gravity and function he immersed himself in pleasures as if there had been no other Life to the great scandal of the World and damage and greater danger of Rome In this year 1554. Edward the Sixth King of England died and the Queen Mary succeeding immediately sent her Ambassadours to Rome to signifie to the Pope the conversion of her whole Kingdom from Heresie to the Catholick Church and to acknowledg and Vow all Obedience to the Papal Sea desiring to have the Excommunication taken off and a general Pardon and Absolution given to her Catholick Subjects on which grateful Message the Ambassadours coming were recieved with great kindness and solemn Processions of Thanksgiving celebrated at which the Pope assisted in Person The same year Philip Son of the Emperor Charles the Fifth was married to Queen Mary the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples being setled upon him together with Milan Flanders and some other of the United Provinces with which news Philip dispatched his Ambassadour the Marquis de Pescara to the Pope to acquaint him therewith and according to the custom of former Kings to do homage for the Kingdom of Naples which he held in Fee from the Pope And now Pope Julius the Third being by reason of his great age and the torment of the Gout which miserably afflicted him become very infirm was persuaded by the Physitians to change his Diet and his usual regimen of living the which ill agreeing with his habit of Body brought him to a Fever with which taking his Bed in the month of February 1555. he lingred therewith until the 23d of March and then died at his Palace being aged seventy seven years six months and fourteen days he was afterwards carried without any great Pomp or State to the Church of S. Peter where his Corps having been publickly exposed for three days to the view of the People he was afterwards buried in an ordinary Sepulcre of Bricks near the Altar of S. Andrew After which the Sea was vacant seventeen days This Julius was tall of Stature of a plain Country Visage his Nose great his Eyes shewed him to be Cholerick and hasty but soon pleased his Diet was gross and plain being much pleased with a sort of large Onions which were sent him from Gaeta the alteration of which Diet hastned his Death When he was first Pope he so strangely favoured a young Boy whom he called Innocentius that without any apparent motive for it he bestowed upon him a Cardinals Hat which when the reason was asked He replied What reason had you to choose me Pope Fortune favours whom she pleases He was very facetious in his Discourse but more familiar in his Conversation than was decent for without respect to the Majesty of his Office and gravity of his Function He would often shoot such Bolts and use such Expressions as were unseemly and which those that heard pitied and blushed for him MARCELLVS II. JULIVS the Third dying on the 23d of March and his Funeral Obsequies being performed after the accustomed manner the Cardinals to the number of thirty seven entred the Conclave and without much faction or dispute chose Marcellus Cervinus Cardinal of St. Cross at Jerusalem to be Pope of which publication was made with the usual Ceremonies on the 9th of April 1555. the Sea having been vacant for the space onely of eighteen days His Father was Robert or as some call him Richard Treasurer of the Marquisat of Ancona and the place of his birth was Montfano his Father pretended to great Skill or knowledg in Astrology by which Art calculating the Nativity of his Son at the time of his birth it appeared that the Stars under which he was born would be very propitious to him in his promotion to Ecclesiastical preferments for which reason Marcellus being first sent to have his Education in the University of Siena he came from thence to Rome where he dwelt with Felix the Datary of Clement the 7th afterwards he obtained the Office of Secretary to Paul the Third and by him created Cardinal of St. Cross of Jerusalem and lastly as we have said elected Pope on the 9th of April The day following he was consecrated Bishop by the Cardinal of Naples and the very same day without much Pomp or Solemnity was Crowned with the Pontifical Miter by the Cardinal of Pisa who was Arch-Deacon And as he refused to change his Name calling himself no other than Marcellus the Second in imitation of Adrian the Sixth so he survived a much less time than he having possessed the Papal Chair not above twenty one days after his Election so that there remains little more observable of him than that after his Choice he would give no invitation or encouragement to his Kindred or Relations of coming to Rome in hopes of benefit and preferment by his greatness howsoever his intentions were good and his Designs great having drawn a Scheme and method whereby to restore Peace and Unity in the Church and the Papal Power to its antient lustre This Design of his he communicated to the Cardinal of Mantoua maintaining that there was no other way to reconcile differences in Religion but onely by a General Council and that the reason why hitherto that means had been ineffectual was no other than because they began at the wrong end and proceeded not with the due method for that first they should begin with an entire reformation of Manners which would supersede and quiet all superficial Debates and disputations about words and reduce Controversies to such a substantial issue as would be easily determinable by a Council That for want hereof his five immediate Predecessors had much erred for that they abhorred the name of Reformation not out of a dislike to that desirable State but from a belief that it would be a means to abate and diminish the Papal Authority whereas on the contrary he was really persuaded that a Reformation was the onely means to render it more Glorious and powerful as most plainly appeared and was proved by the Histories of past-times in which those Popes onely were famous and renowned who had supported their Papal Chair by an exactness in Manners and purity of Life that Reformation respected the entrinsecal and circumstantial appendages of Religion and served onely to retrench the luxury and superfluous pomp of the Clergy which made the Prelats envied and contemptible when as a modest train and decent comportment