their designs it being ordinary in the Conclaves for them to lose all who are found to have most likelyhood at the beginning And this fortify'd the opinion of them who judg'd the progress of the Conclave very long founding their fancy upon the dispatch of a Courier into France from the French Ambassador after he had had a long conference with the Ambassador of Spain inferring from hence the great difficulty of pitching a person of equal satisfaction and merit the Ministers and Cardinals of Crown declaring alway publickly that they would exclude none of the meritorious in general but when afterwards they began to talk of coming to a strict Scrutiny then they began to discover their particular propensions to the persons propos'd every one endeavouring under-hand to favour them who they themselves believ'd most deserving It may be said and said truly that Rospigliosi enter'd Pope into the Conclave because almost all the pretendants came into the Conclave with an absolute intention to advance every one his own proper interest and in case they fail'd there not to desert the person of the said Rospigliosi Barbarino would have joyn'd with Rospigliosi the first day had he not been confident of bringing his own affairs to a good issue and indeed there were many that perswaded him to it in respect of the great confidence the Spaniards had in him which confidence had its true foundation in the time when the said Barbarino bought certain lands in the Kingdome of Naples for the Prince his Nephew which Prince as head of the house of the Barbarini would have alwayes held his Kindred oblig'd to the affection of the Catholick King Besides he could not be jealous of the King of France the dependance of Cardinal Antonio Barbarino being so notorious upon that Crown where likewise all the Family of the Barbarini was receiv'd at the time of its persecution by Innocent yet for all this the Rhetorick of Cardinal Anthonio nor the subtlety and insinuations of all the friends of Cardinal Francisco had no power upon the Spirits of the French who excluded him but as secretly as was possible in consideration of the Lands that were bought already in Naples and for the inclination the said Barbarino had alwayes shewn and profess'd to the Crown of Spain The French therefore began publiquely to favour Farnese which gave the Spaniards some occasion of jealousie though they had promis'd to concur because they would have had Farnese rely'd more upon them than upon the French insomuch that they endeavour'd to exclude him which was easie enough by reason the Cardinals were generally against him in respect of their particular interests so that for eight dayes together there was no discourse but of the exclusion both of the one and the other the Scrutinies serving only to fulfill the Bull which appoints the same to be made every day with the same Oath and in the best form and so their votes were given to several persons but in small numbers expecting still when two thirds should agree which would have been 42. at the least Whilst the French were jugling I know not whether in earnest or that it might be thought so for Farnese Cardinal Imperiale and Azolino did what they could to exclude him though Farnese endeavour'd to take them off by very considerable offers and Cardinal Este who was most troubled at the designs of Farnese found a convenient opportunity to speak to him as he did At first the Crown of France would not be interested at all speaking in a way that seem'd to proceed from its own proper motion insisting upon the necessity the Church had to have such a person in the Vatican making him believe with good arguments that a Pope being to be made for the benefit of the Church they need go no farther than his particulars Imperiale and Azolini abominated the affectionate Councels of this Prince declaring publickly that they would upon no account whatever concur with Farnese whereupon d'Este was oblig'd to tell them that the French would have endeavour'd to have assisted him with other votes upon which Imperiale seem'd not to make so much esteem of them as he ought to have done remaining firm in his resolution to the contrary and reiterating his protestations never to concur in Farnese whereupon d'Este was oblig'd to reply upon Imperiale that he had promis'd the King of France to concur in the first Conclave in any person which should be propos'd by the French Faction and that having broke his promise the King of France would shew his resentment as he had opportunity Some will have it that they recriminated and grew very sharp in their expressions to one another but for all that Imperiale kept on in his way and persisted in the exclusion of Farnese and from this rupture the disorders increas'd On the 9th it was publickly talk'd thorough the whole City that Cardinal Rospigliosi would be made Pope without all doubt and that the next morning he would be publish'd and it was so confidently reported that some who were more easie to believe than patient to inform themselves laid great wagers upon it By many it was look'd upon as noise only and popular air by others it was believ'd to be true supposing the Cardinals were resolv'd in that manner to deposite the Papacy in the hand of that person who not being likely to live longer than four or five years in respect of and the number of Pretenders in probability growing less in the mean time by the death of the most antient and the rest growing older they imagin'd there would be less difficulty in the next Election and the way would be facilitated to the remaining Pretenders It is enough that his Election was held so certain that the Artillery in the Castle of Saint Angelo were already put in order and one of his Domesticks receiv'd publick congratulations from several that went to his house The Governour of the Conclave who understood well enough which way things went had sent Souldiers to secure the Goods of that Cardinal in the Convent of the Cruciferous Fryers whose Protector he was and they accordingly had adorn'd the Church to that purpose and invited several persons to the Solemnity All this proceeded from the garulity of Vgo Serughi Agent for the Congregation de Propaganda Fide to whom one of the Conclavists gave notice by a Billet that there were great contrivances for Rospigliosi and that for certain he would be proclaim'd Pope the next morning the Conclavist deceiving himself perhaps upon a conference betwixt Cardinal Barbarino and Chigi that they might seem to make Rospigliosi Pope but neither the one nor the other intended it in earnest resolving upon this at the instigation of Cardinal Azolino who being a person of great sagacity seem'd very desirous to have Rospigliosi exalted because he saw things so well dispos'd for him so that he thought it best to conciliate the affection of one that could not fail of being
Secular Councel which in reason they ought not to come near that the Secular Magistrate may for the greater benefit of the people have an eye over the actions of the Ecclesiasticks and an inspection into all things transacted in their Consistories and Congregations which they hold now so privately the Civil Magistrate can scarce know whether it be matter of Religion that is before them or whether they be contriving if not the destruction at least the subduction of the Temporal Power to the Spiritual In some places these Princes do not only neglect the concerns of their own Consciences but are much more incurious of regarding visiting or giving out seasonable orders that the Sacred and Religious offices might be administred with decency and decorum and that the Religion profess'd by the people might not suffer by the Critticismes or Speculations of any Malancholly Divine But the people observing their neglect or aversion to all this cannot be brought easily to believe that their Princes are of the Religion they profess themselves it being impossible in their judgements that they who receiv'd their Authority immediately from Heaven should be so forgetful in their returns and so careless in matters of Devotion But that which is most scandalous and blame-worthy now is that the people do not well understand whether they be to comport themselves with more Veneration towards their Bishop or towards their Prince towards their Ecclesiastical Governours or towards their Civil for the people observing their Princes driving only at their own Interest the ostentation of their Court the augmentation of their Revenue and the advancement of their power and in things relating to the benefit and conservation of the Church too careless and remiss And beholding the Bishop on the other side with his Clergy reforming this Statute and that commanding Processions renewing of Orders introducing of Ceremonies as he pleases assembling excommunicating and in short manifesting himself not only a Minister but a Patron and Defender of Religion they are perswaded that as the Soul is to be considered before the body so their Bishop whose Office it is to respect the profit and salvation of that ought in reason to have more Reverence than the Prince that regards only what belongs to the body To speak impartially and without passion what is it these Princes do in their Dominions as to matters of Religion They go to Mass on Sundays and their Subjects do as much They hear Sermons in Lent and their Subjects do the same They receive Indulgencies They Worship the Altar They profess themselves sons of the Church their Subjects do no otherwise They are afraid of being Excommunicated as their Subjects are They regard not what is done in the Ecclesiastical Synods or Assemblies and their Subject are as indifferent as they How therefore can the people respect their Princes whilst their Princes behave themselves no otherwise or how can they have any care of their Princes whilst their Princes are so careless of themselves If a Prince should seem zealous to his Subjects and watchfull over the safety of his people and with his whole power to intend the Government of the Church the propagation of Religion showing his care and solicitude as well in Ecclesiastical Councels as in Civil or at least advising and consulting with the Bishop in the administration of such things as are necessary for the Regiment and well Ordering of the Church It is most certain that as such a Bishop as should incite him and put him forward in so good a design would with just reason receive great reverence from the people so such a Prince would receive likewise no less honor from them and be esteem'd their Lord in their Temporals and Spirituals The Policy of the Churchmen has in all ages been very considerable but for these two or three hundred years last past it has been very much augmented to the prejudice and diminution of the Civil Authority against which the Ecclesiasticks do principally direct their designs And there is one thing that still perplexes the hearts and spirits of the wisest States-men which is that four little ragged inconsiderable Priests should by their cunning and industry advance themselves to that height to set their naked feet upon the Crown'd heads of Monarchs whilst the whole force of their Dominions was too weak to defend their Supremacy or to preserve them from the arrogance of the Clergy And indeed so industrious have they been in the maintenance of their Grandeur and Majesty and making themselves considerable in the World that they have introduc'd several great Dignities into the Church as Abbats Bishops Arch-bishops Patriarchs and at last Cardinals which is a degree so high that the greatest Princes in Christendome do not only glory in their correspondence but express a kind of reverence and awe they have for them whilst they give them preceedence and receive them into their Dominions as if they were Crown'd Kings and not Persons Ministerial and Subservient in the Church Nor indeed is the respect they give them improper or inexcusable the Cardinals being not only great and magnificent and acknowledg'd of principal dignity in the Church of Rome but which is above all Electors of the Pope who is one of the greatest Monarchs in Christendom Yet that which astonishes me most is that both the Historians and Priests of the Roman Church are not asham'd with their pens as well as tongues to inculcate into the people a business so repugnant to the reputation and right of Supremacy in Princes a thing I cannot think of without some trouble and regret though indeed matters of that nature are fitter to be laugh'd at than otherwise Baronius Peter de Prisse the Sorbonist Gabriel Biel Azolinus Caluus Cadana and others maintain that the Hierarchy and Divinity are of the same nature That the Priests are more great than the Angels or Virgin Mary and that Kings are oblig'd to give them preceedence as the first born of the Kingdom of Heaven In the great Church at Florence where the Great Duke himself was present it is not many years since I heard a certain wooden footed Frier Preach Orator good enough and of the Order of St. Francis His Text was Super Cathedram Mosis sederunt Scribae Pharisaei The Scribes and the Pharisees sat in Moses Chair which he apply'd only to the Sacerdotal Office and had the day before invited his Highness thither to oblige him perhaps to believe those impertinent time-spenders the Priests and the Friers and such other raffle to be such as he should perswade him in his Pulpit The sum of all was this excellent Orator insisted much upon the dignity of the Priesthood amongst the rest I remember these Expressions only Tour Princes are not to be nam'd the same day with your Priests I cannot but smile at their comparison one single Priest is of more value than all the Princes in Europe though their Principalities be reckon'd into the bargain Another Dominican
lodg'd at the expence of the Cardinal the first Festival day that happens they come all to the Cardinals house as well he that brought the Cap as he that is to give it him and in short all such as are desirous to serve the Cardinal in the performance of that ceremony The Cardinal in the mean time riding with his Cappuchins hood and a black Cap upon his head with all his Train and the Mace before by express order from his Holiness to Church where being arriv'd he makes a short prayer at the Altar and hears Mass That done the Prelat design'd for that office dresses him in his Robes very solemnly and then disposes him into some eminent place where all the people may see him Then he that carryes the Mace who is the same that brought it from Rome puts it upon the Altar and presents the Prelat with the Bull who receiving it with great reverence and ordering it to be read by one of his Familiars he makes an Oration in praise of his Holiness and of his own readiness to execute his commands That Oration being ended which must be short if it be thought good the Cardinal advances to the Altar and falling down upon his knees he swears to all the particulars contain'd in the Popes Bull in manner and form as is ordained at Rome The Prelat orders the Miter to be taken out upon this and says some prayers over the Cardinal which are to be found in the Ritual for that purpose that done the Cardinal puts off his hood and the Prelat the Miter and then he that brought the Cap delivers it to the Prelat who receives it and puts it upon the Cardinals head and gives him an Osculum Pacis which Cap is presently taken off again and given to him that brought it After which they sing a Te Deum and blesses the people and then all of them accompany him back to his house he riding with his red Cap upon his head and shewing all courtesie imaginable to such as have favour'd him in that ceremony feasting and entertaining them within whilst the Conduits run with Wine at his Gate The Cardinals receive and make visits with the greatest circumspection in the world their Masters of Ceremonies studying and contriving from morning to night after what manner it is to be done lest they should be any way defective in their office Those who go to Audience of the Pope wear the same habits they do when they go to any Congregation held in the presence of the Pope at which times they kiss not his feet unless at their first Audience only or when they have been six months at least out of Rome or when they take their leaves and are sent Legats into any place or when they return The Pope gives them the privilege of setting before him upon a back'd chair he makes them be cover'd and uses them as Brethren whereas the Ambassadors of Princes do commonly stand bare and if at any time they be permitted to sit down it is upon a chair without a back Many do much admire the manner of receiving Ambassadors at Rome and I much more that Kings should be oblig'd to receive and treat his Nuntio's like their equals almosts suffering them to be cover'd in their presence alwayes and placing them in the most honourable seats whilst the good Pope without any reflection upon the Majesty of a King entertains their Ambassadors with so little Decorum that one would in his presence believe them some inferiour Officers of the Kings Chamber rather than the Representatives of the Majesty of a King In my judgement it was sufficient if the Ambassadors look'd upon them as Gods Vice-Gerents upon Earth whilst they are upon matters of Religion or dress'd up in their Pontificalibus and performing some Ecclesiastical duty at such times I could allow them to advance themselves above other people But that as a Temporal Prince he should receive Ambassadors and negotiate with them of matters of Policy and State only without paying them that honour one Prince does usually to the Ministers of another in my opinion is not suitable to the dignity of a King for what greater indecency can there be than to see a Cardinal the most wretched and despicable creature perhaps that is to be seen standing with his Cap on his head or else sitting on his back'd Chair cheek by jole with his Holiness and the Ambassador of a King and one of the greatest Lords of his Kingdom to stand sneaking at a distance and uncover'd or else setting on a a stool like a School-boy But I shall leave the care of these things to themselves who if they saw the difference that is made they would doubtless find out some way to redress it and proceed to the ceremonies the Cardinals use commonly in their visits If at any time the Cardinals be ill they receive no visits unless their distempers be such as will permit them to receive their Visitants in habits suitable to such visits and 't is the same case at the death of any of their kindred though never so near they seldom give audience to any body for which reason some of them to avoid the importunity of such as will visit them though they know the custom to the contrary do retire into some private place either within the City or without I speak this of the generality of Cardinals for there are some of them in spight of all customs will be visited in case of sickness or condoling and without any great absurdity it being at their choise to receive them or not though others with good reason forbear it If they that make the visit be Cardinals the Cardinal meets them in the waiting Chamber or perhaps a little further but no further to be sure than the top of the Stairs if they be Princes with the Title of Serenissimo they are receiv'd as the Cardinals if they be Ambassadors of some King two or three Chambers off if there be so many if less they go but to the first which is that that is next the Chamber of his Audience if they be Brothers or Nephews of the Pope that is living they receive them as they do the Ambassadors of Kings if they be Ambassadors from Savoy Tuscany Dukes and Peers of France Grandees of Spain Nephews to preceedent Popes Generals for the Church or Heads of some of the most eminent Families in Rome they meet them a Chamber and a half and no more The Agents of Serene Princes the Ambassadors of Malta Bologna and Ferara have half a Stanza or a little more but the Malta Ambassador has usually some paces more than those of Bologna and Ferara and not without reason All these are permitted to sit down and be cover'd without any distinction yet the Cardinals and Serene Princes set alwayes right against the Cardinal that they visit both of them with their sides towards the door but the rest sit a little of one side and not directly
in the presence of their Deputies and oftentimes ordain'd that businesses of the Church should not be handled in any other Assemblies but their own Councils whereunto such Bishops were call'd as were esteemed necessary and fit for regulating sacred matters The terror which Tyrannical Emperors spread abroad in the world so aw'd the Ecclesiasticks that lest they should see Christianity extinguish'd they humbled themselves to very Tyrants judging it better to overcome by humility than to break by pride They humbled themselves to good Emperors likewise because they saw them zealous in defence of the Faith and the propagation of the name of Christ and therefore they scrupled not to engage them in the care and Spiritual Government of the Church to the end the interest of Christian Religion might have the more strength and Majesty This Correspondence and Union of Secular and Spiritual Power of Magistrate and Priest Prince and Bishop not only kept the Laity in awe but oblig'd them to a prompt Obedience the Subject being not a little edifi'd by seeing his Soveraign interessed in the Government of the Christian Religion And indeed how could it be otherwise but that the Prince's zeal should produce great ardour and affection in the Breasts of the people For generally the Subject bears a certain occult hatred yet not so occult but that it is discernable against the Majesty whereunto he is subordinate which hatred is suppress'd either by force of the Sword or by reciprocal Affection and Love which is the less durable when it is not deeply rooted and therefore 't is expedient for a Prince to know with what kind of love his people is to be oblig'd in order to the extinguishing of that hatred which seems naturally seated in their breasts Now what greater instance of love and benignity can a Prince show to his Subjects or a Magistrate to his Citizens than to declare himself zealous not only in preserving of their privileges abstaining from lading them with impositions and taxes dispensing favours liberally executing justice impartially honouring the well-deserving and punishing the guilty but also in watching that together with external privileges they may enjoy those of the Soul inviolate which are alwayes the dearest to the Commonalty and consequently aptest to cause in them good or ill sentiments towards those who carefully protect them or supinely betray them There is no people in the world so barbarous but they rejoyce more to see their Religion which concerns the good of their Souls zealously and vigorously maintain'd than the privileges of the State which referr only to the commodity of the Body and 't is certain that a people is more sensible of injuries done to their Consciences than of the spoiling of their goods which are nothing but corruptible things whose value depends much upon humane fancy and avarice Those popular Revolutions are easie to be quieted which arise from the grievances and Taxes laid by Princes upon their Subjects for when these impositions are taken away the arms fall out of the hands of the incensed multitude Whereof we have seen sundry Examples in our times particularly in the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and the Dutchy of Milan But when the Subject draws his Sword against his Prince or the Citizen against the Magistrate upon account of Religion 't is a hard matter if not impossible to appease the tumult because in this case his Soul is engag'd and sets his hands on work and suppose the Prince should promise to yield to the demands of the people they will scarce take his word And indeed 't is a common saying That the wounds given to the Conscience in matter of Religion are hardly to be cur'd by the same hand that inflicted them I find that two effects are produc'd by the diligence of a Prince or Magistrate in taking good heed to the deportment of Churchmen and to the preservation of the Laws and Ordinances of Religion First it increases the people's devotion towards the service of God and kindles more ardour in their breasts to frequent the Sacraments and this by virtue of their Superiors example so that when Subjects behold their Princes full of zeal and vigilant for the good of their souls they become so inamor'd on them that in requital they would even spend their blood for the service of their Princes which is for the advantage of the Prince as well of the people And 't is certain that 't is more easie for a Soveragin who takes care for preserving the Laws and Religion to obtain supplies of mony from his people than for another Prince who thinks of nothing less than of Religion The second effect is That the spiritual service of the Church is carried on with better order and the number of pious Souls is alwayes more multiply'd when Churchmen find that Princes keep an eye upon them and for the fear of being corrected in case of deviating from their duty makes them bestirr themselves to perform their charge with all imaginable zeal and diligence and if they be not really religious yet they become wary of being accounted scandalous or negligent Not but that they are of a nature weak and apt to fall into great miscarriages but they know that they are under the Magistrates eye and feel his goad at their sides which keeps them both from tripping and jading And to speak truth if we compare the present obedience and respect that is paid by Subjects to their Princes and Magistrates with the alacrity of former times we shall find the present to come much short and in probability too unlikely to continue so as there being great Armies in some places and strong Cittadels and Fortification in others to keep them in subjection I am of opinion that that reverence the Princes receive is not radicated in the heart of the Subject but proceeding as it were ab extra may more properly be reckon'd the policy of the Prince than the affection or good nature of the Subject For my part I believe and have many others of the same faith with me that the respect obedience honor and affection the people of this Age do bear to their Magistrates is either forc'd or miraculous Forc'd because the Princes understanding their own Power and Supremacy or to speak more properly knowing the humour of the people very little inclining to obedience they do either actually force them by the power of their Arms or fright and terrifie them into an unwilling allegiance Miraculous because Religion having naturally the strongest influence upon the People there is nothing moves and actuates them like that either into tumult or obedience So as the Magistrate interrupting and even opposing that zeal and fervour of Religion the Layity ought to enjoy as freely as the Ecclesiasticks no wonder if their obedience be a Miracle A great reason is that the Ecclesiasticks are permitted to pry and peep into the actions of Princes and Magistrates To have a finger and intelligence in the most secret
of Placenza Preaching upon the same Text before the same Duke reiterated three or four times That those Princes that had the honour to wear Crowns upon their heads ought not to come in competition with the Priests They wearing their Miters to show that as the high Priest which is God himself intitled himself King of Heaven so the Priests who are but inferior Deities ought to be receiv'd by all the world as Kings and Supreme Lords of the Earth In Cenoa in the presence of the Duke and by consequence of the whole Senate there was a Carmelite with great gravity and as if he had been actuated by some Spirit delivered this Doctrine That Kings Princes and Senators were as good as nothing That the Priest was all in all That if their Dignity was much greater than it was it was to be thrown down at the feet of the Priests forasmuch as their Office was but Humane and the Priests Divine they were men and not Gods but the Priests both Gods and Men. Not much unlike this was the discourse held by a Franciscan in a Church in Milan in the presence of the Marquess Caracena having made a parallel before betwixt God and a Priest he pronounc'd this very boldly That God as he was God had preceedence of a Priest but that a Priest as God and Priest too was to have preceedence of our Saviour so as those two were to be united before a Priest could be equall'd But that which in my judgement savour'd most of Buffonry and Blasphemy in the whole Sermon was another Comparison he had betwixt a King and a Priest in these very termes That Kings were made up of Humane flesh but Priests of the Spirit of God That Kings were indeed above other men but that Priests were Superiour to Kings That Kings did converse with their Courtiers but Priests with Angels the Courtiers of Heaven That Kings had a Temporal Jurisdiction but that the Authority of the Priesthood was Spiritual And lastly That Kings could command the Creature 't was true but 't was the Priest that commanded the Creator That Kings had much trouble and difficulty to make the people obey them but that the Priests by virtue of the words of Consecration constrain'd God Almighty himself to descend into their hands upon the very first signal Never in my whole life was my mind under greater disturbance than at that time to hear that Beast of a Priest deseminate such Doctrine and that which aggravated my indignation was that I could not resolve with my self whose indiscretion was greatest the Franciscan in preaching after that rate or Carazens in hearing him Before this time I made it my business to magnifie the Valour and Prudence of that person after this I could never have that reverence for him to see him prostitute his attention to such wicked discourse and with patience endure such insufferable insolence the whole Sermon being but a drol and derision of Kings and their Ministers as if he had design'd to mock and jeer the veneration they had for their lawfull Prince out of the breasts of the people But this was Venial in respect of what was maintain'd by another Father who deserv'd the next day to have ascended again but to the Gallows and not the Pulpit and I am confident my Reader will be of the same mind God Almighty be my witness if I add or diminish any thing in my Relation Being in the City of Naples in Lent 1647. it was my fortune to hear a Franciscan Preach in the Church dedicated to Saint Mary but with more Volubility than Virtue True it is I was not present at the beginning I came time enough to understand that the principal drift of his discourse was to evince the people that the Religious which he restrain'd to their Preachers and Priests were oblig'd to reprehend the Errors and Enormities of all people but especially of Kings and advancing in this manner with great Oratory he pronounc'd the Priests to be as Gods to all Princes and to prove it produc'd that place of Scripture where God Almighty commanded Moses to go unto Pharaoh said this to him I have made thee a God to Pharaoh and Aaron thy Brother shall be thy Prophet c. From which words he drew several consequences and amongst the rest this That the Princes of this Age were the Pharaohs of Christendome and the Priests the Gods of those Pharaohs and in the height of his Rapture he cryed out two or three times Ah Pharaohs Pharaohs why will you be disobedient to the Priests that are your Gods From such kind of discourses as this it is that all the Tumults and Revolutions of the people do proceed as was too lately manifest in the Kingdom of Naples Nay would to God that furious Rebellion had not been hatch'd in the Studies of the Priest where 't is to be fear'd the ruine of Secular Monarchie is principally contriv'd For my part I could swear without much scruple that the Ecclesiasticks are the greatest Rebels because in their Commotions they pervert the zeal of the people towards God joyning it with their passion and indignation towards man In the presence of Madam Royall in Turin a certain Priest that is still living and therefore I will not name him in a Sermon he was preaching upon the Excellence of the Sacerdotal dignity could not hold from crying out twice or thrice Princes Princes so many Priests so many Princes But that which pleas'd me most of all was the conclusion of his Sermon in which casting up his eyes very gratefully to Heaven he us'd this Expression O Lord I give thee thanks thou hast decreed me to be a Priest and not a Prince I believe my Priesthood of more value than all the Principalities in the world as I am a Priest I am a Prince whereas had I been a Prince I should have been nothing And these are the excellent Harangues the Italian Preachers do frequently make in the presence of their Soveraigns From hence it is the Grandeur and Lordlyness of the Cardinals does spring From such discourses as these it is that the Sacerdotal Monarchy is sprung which gnaws and devours insensibly the very bowells of Secular Principalities whilst the Ecclesiasticks advance themselves dayly by preaching up themselves Monarchs and Gods upon Earth whereby they secure what they have got are adding hourly new dignities to their Priesthood and that to such a height that at this time it may be said as properly at Rome as the good Father said at Turin Princes Princes as many Princes as Cardinals God Almighty has been pleas'd I should be a poor man not a Prince so as my condition is to obey not to command Yet had the Divine Providence seen it fit to have alter'd my Station and brought me forth a Prince into the world I should not certainly have suffer'd such liberty of publique discourse within my Dominions or that Christians by such Gibberish should be brought into a
When Christ came down from Heaven for the Redemption of man-kind he acknowledg'd with his own most holy Lipps that he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Now that Kings and Princes have been been alwayes acknowledg'd as Gods Ministers by the people there are a thousand places of Scripture that prove whereas the Popes can hardly produce one Text to confirm that Authority they challenge over Princes And to speak impartially and without interest what reason have the Romanists to withdraw themselves as they do from their obedience to their Soveraigns are they more holy than the Apostles are they more zealous than St. Peter or more politique than St. Paul Yet these who were the founders of Christianity as I may say and the propagators of our Faith paid tribute to Kings obey'd their Magistrates never enterpris'd any thing without leave of the Governours of places whether they went and in short have not only left us their Examples to walk by but this express praecept and command That we give Obedience to all powers for there is no power but from God The Abbot was touch'd to the quick he fix'd his eyes upon me repeated my words one after another and gave me so many tokens of his indignation that I was very well satisfy'd he could have wish'd me in the Inquisition however I took no notice and he thought fit to change the discourse and I in compliance with him took occasion to commend the Countrey through which we travell'd By this relation it is manifest what is the principal thing that the Churchmen drives at namely the ruine of the Authority of Princes and the exaltation of the Pope who is their Prince and Supreme Nor indeed can I see with what policy I had almost said Conscience Princes suffer books to be printed and sold in their Territories which speak with that liberty or rather insolence in behalf of the Majesty and Jurisdiction not only of the Pope but of all Ecclesiasticks against their own Soveraignty and such books as these are the great Volume of Sorbou Bellarmine Toletus Diana Candidus Palavicino and the aforesaid Santerelli with hundreds of other Ecclesiastical Writers whose preferrment depending upon the Church they are by their own interest prompted to such expressions whilst on the other side they prohibit books which directly offend not the Church they profess but only the Authority of the Pope and that too in nothing but what respects their incroachments upon the Civil power And in this manner the Jurisdiction of the Pope and the Ecclesiasticks and the Majesty and Soveraignty of Princes stand as it were in a ballance the Subjects of each party contending with might and main to gain upon the other and to make their own side preponderant the former endeavour daily to lighten the latter and 't were good that the Ministers of Princes would use the like diligence to diminish the Papal power lest in time it swallow up both Princes and Principalities too That the Pope should be Reverenc'd as first Minister in the Church That he should be acknowledg'd Superior to the rest of the Bishops That he should be esteem'd as Christs Vicar in Spirituals and respected as Successor to the Apostles I do hold very reasonable but that he should impugne the Soveraignty of Princes justifie Rebellion exempt four pittiful Ecclesiasticks from Obedience to their Soveraigns and excite others to the same height of disobedience is in my judgement intollerable St. Peter receiv'd the Keys of Ecclesiastical power from the hands of our Saviour and his office was acknowledg'd independant in Spiritual affairs Yet whilst he had the Government of the Church both at Rome and at Antioch he was imprison'd and several times persecuted by Temporal Princes and yet he never threatned any Temporal Minister with his Censures and Excommunications all which notwithstanding the Popes at present do not only make no scruple of menacing with their Bulls and Arms the lesser Princes that are near them but with their Armies and Excommunications they have the confidence to infest the greatest Monarchs in Europe and such as have deserved very well of the Church But the most Reverend Casuists of the Church of Rome will tell me the Pope may lawfully and with a good Conscience dispence with the Obedience a Subject owes to his Prince What has he Authority to invert the order of Nature I am certain he that fears God will not say so When Pope Vrban at the instance of his Nephews Excommunicated Odoardo Farnise Duke of Parma a Prince that had deserv'd very well of the Church he was not content to interdict him the Sacrament but he Excommunicated all such as paid him the ordinary obedience and respect that was due to him as a Duke decreeing expresly that he should be look'd upon as an Enemy and not as a Prince by this means subverting his Authority and to the universal scandal of Christendome making a Prince a Subject and his Subjects Princes Paul the fifth did no less to the Senate of Venice by the fulminations of his Interdict pronouncing all people Excommunicate that should any wayes obey them All the Historians and all the Orators in the world shall never perswade me that there can be any thing more barbarous and Tyrannical than to forbid a Subjects Obedience to his Prince to restrain the people from communicating their interests to their Prince to prohibit to a Magistrate the protection of his Subjects to chase the Judges from the Throne of Justice to shut up the doors of Churches and give Liberty to Vice to imprison Princes and put their Subjects in confusion Oh God what greater barbarity and injustice can be thought of amongst men than to bring a State to be without Justice a people without a Prince and a Prince without a people Nero Heliogabalus Tarquin Caligula and Dionisius who were in a manner the Founders and Contrivers of Tyranny never arriv'd at that perfection of wickedness as to divide betwixt the Subject and his Prince and yet this Cruelty which was too great to be practis'd amidst Barbarism is familiar now where Holiness reigns And perhaps the Divine providence has order'd that Christians should suffer more now in the time of Christianity than formerly under all the Tyranny and Iniquity of Heathenish Ages Whence it is that so many Kingdoms have been lost from the Christian Faith so many Nations have revolted from the Papal Obedience and so many Provinces have deserted the Roman Church but from these practises and actions of the Court of Rome The Protestants make no scruple to deny both the Spiritual Authority of the Pope and his Temporal too and for what reason but because they observe with what audacity and arrogance under pretence of his Spiritual power he Usurps upon the Temporal as if Christ had given him Spiritual Dominion for nothing else but the subversion of the Civil Though for my part I am far enough from thinking as they do It is one thing to
Bishops and the Regulars This Congregation meets the Friday in every week in the Cardinals house that is head of that Congregation and that with no small trouble for they have so many Letters of complaints sometimes it is scarce possible to read them The Congregation of the Councel has the power of interpreting the Orders and Decrees of the Councel of Trent so that if any difference happens in Christendome about that they apply themselves to this Congregation which gives them all seasonable resolution It is held in the antientest Cardinals house though the head be another Cardinal and that he has the power of assembling them they meet ordinarily once a week that is on Sunday or Thursday if it be no Holyday The Congregation of the Ecclesiastical immunities was instituted by Vrban the eight who having had many controversies of that nature whilst he was Nuntio and before he was Pope he took an Oath as soon he was created to erect this Court to prevent those inconveniences for the future Which Congregation has power to resolve such doubts as happen in the confusion and diversity of offences and to determine who are and who are not to enjoy the privileges of the Church This Congregation meets every Tuesday in the eldest Cardinals house in which there are present several Cardinals one Auditor di Rota one Clerk of the Chamber one out of each Signature and a Secretary that uses to be a Referendary to one Signature or the other The Prefect of this Congregation has for his Pension about seven hundred Ducats a year and the keeping of those Seals that are necessary In the Congregation of State all those Cardinals that have been Apostolical Nuntioes are present and the Secretary of State to his Holiness with them and it is generally held before the Pope or the Cardinal Nephew The Congregation de propaganda fide was erected by Gregory the fifteenth of happy memory to investigate and find out all possible wayes for the propagating the Catholick Faith in all parts of the World and to advise what may be conducible to so profitable a work It uses to meet on Mundays once a moneth before the Pope and many times in the Palace de propaganda fide There are present several Cardinals the Apostolick Protonotary his Holiness his Secretary of State one Judge that uses to be Referendary of one of the Signatures the Assessor of the Holy Office the Secretary of the same Congregation who has built a Palace of no ordinary greatness in the Piazza della Santissima Trinita di monti for the entertainment of all those that have receiv'd the Catholick Faith and come to see Rome besides that they lodge several poor Bishops there and provide them with all things necessary for a livelihood There is a Press in this Congregation also for all Foreign Languages where they print daily their Missals Breviaries and such other Books The Jurisdiction of the Congregation of Rights respects the differences in Rights Ceremonies Preceedencies Canonization of Saints and such like affairs The antientest of the deputed Cardinals is head of this Congregation and has power to convene them in his own house once a month or oftner as he pleases and it is to be observed that all Congregations are conve'd by their Heads The Congregation del Acque has the care of all Rivers Bridges and such things The antientest Cardinal is head of it and calls it upon occasion at his own house there being no precise or determinate day appointed The Cardinal Chamberlain is head of the Congregations di fonte di strade and there being no fix'd day he calls them too as he thinks it convenient but they meet in the antientest deputed Cardinals house alwayes and being assembled they consider of the Aquaducts and Conveyances of water into Rome and the manner of distributing it thorough the whole City as also the Commodities of the Streets The Congregation del Judices hath Jurisdiction in over-seeing the Press in printing and correcting of books it has a Cardinal to its head who assembles them at his own house as occasion requires though there be a day appointed There is the Congregation della Consulta for the Government of the Church and the head of that is the Cardinal Nephew of the present Pope they meet twice a week in his house viz. Tuesdays and Fridays There are present six Cardinals six Prelats a Secretary that uses to be a great Confident of the Nephews in this Congregation they consult of the Government of the Church all Deputies Prefects Governours Provosts and other Officers whatever directing their accounts thither of any thing considerable that happens in their Governments and this Congregation deliberates and decrees what is to be done in the case The Secretary draws up the Order and the Cardinal that is head subscribes it first and then the rest of the Prelats that are present The several Provinces are divided amongst them and every one reads the Letters in the Councel that come out of their particular Provinces but it is to be understood the Legat of Avignon the Governour of Benevento in the Kingdom of Naples and of the City of Ceneda in the Dominions of the Venetian being all free Governments are not subject to the Decrees of this Councel the Governour di Fermo and that State and the Governour of Spoleti are exempt likwise The Prelats of this Congregation have three parts of the Palace and each of them a thousand crowns a year entertainment and the Secretary two thousand that is Roman crowns The Cardinal Nephew to the Pope is head also of the Congregation of Grace and good Government the Communities upon any grievance or oppression repair thither for remedy with other Subjects for present relief and determinations in writing manu Regia This Congregation meets on Sundays at the same place where the Congregation della Consulta meets by turns that is the Congregation for good Government one Sunday and the Congregation for Relief another There are five or six Cardinals present alwayes seven or eight Prelats one Secretary which is alwayes the same with the Secretary in the other Congregation all the Letters or Orders that pass in this Congregation are sign'd by the Cardinal Nephew all the Prelats have the same Emolument the Prelats of the Congregation della Consulta have they are habited in Purple and have the Title of his Holinesses familiar and Domestick Congregation The Congregation of the Treasury have a particular Jurisdiction over all Moneys to be coyn'd in that State as likewise of Foreign Moneys to observe which way they may be spent in the Territories of the Church There are present four Cardinals chosen all of them at the discretion of the Pope and some Officers of his Chamber The head of them is he the Pope thinks good to depute and that head has power to assemble them at his own house as oft as he pleases for there is no set day appointed The Congregation for
all to bestow that upon a few and many times the most undeserving that by distributive justice ought to be divided amongst all can certainly be the production of no good To leave virtue it self after a long and painful peregrination unrewarded and forsaken cannot sound well in the ears nor heart of an Ecclesiastical Prince that ought to be a Protection and Assylum to the learned and deserving especially your Holiness who has rais'd the Fabrick of your fortunes upon the foundation of virtue and worth Rome abounds with persons of all sorts of Learning at this day more than ever but they want incouragement and are buried as it were in sorrow there being no body that will so much as trouble themselves to represent their parts and capacities to him that can reward them Your Holiness that in the beginning of your Papacy with so much praise to your self did own and caress them will find what advantage it will be to continue the b 〈…〉 actions of a Mecenas and to allure them by your countenance and esteem which is the most grateful aliment of virtue encouraging them with favours and providing them employments that they may not consume and pine away in the Lethargy of idleness I speak not most Holy Father of those Pensions wherewith the Bishopricks and Parishes are by the Ministers of your Holiness so extravagantly charg'd that to the scardâ—l of the whole world to the disparagement and contempt of the innocent Clergy and to the prejudice of the reputation of the Church several poor Bishops are rendred subject to interdictions and censures or reduc'd to that indigence they are forc'd of loving Shepherds to become ravenous Woolfs by their rapacities and extortions to satisfie the exorbitant pensions that are charg'd upon them squeezing as it were out of the extream necessities of the Church and her already too much afflicted and exhausted Flock all that are constrain'd to contribute to the Profit Luxury Lasciviousness and Intemperance of those who God know had but little virtue to advance them May your Holiness for the love of Christ open your eyes in a business of that importance which carries along with it consequences so pernicious to the Church Let not your Holiness for the love of God suffer so many poor Churches Spouses of Christ to remain robb'd and dispoil'd of their Dower nor that at the Lords Table Uâ—us essâ—riet alius vero ebrius sit but rather let the bread of the Church be distributed equally amongst her Ministers according to their merits Although in the Courts of Rome there are many Prelats and Ministers to be seen that have integrity of manners joynâ—d to the nobility of their birth he nevertheless that for so many years though undeservedly has had the direction of the Signiture may perhaps have seen further into some things than they vâ—z that the Dependencies and Relations of the Popes and Cardinals do not suffer the poor Prelats to act according to the Dictates of Equity and Conscience I do most humbly beseech that your Holiness in your great Prudence would provide for the extirpating of this custom of recommendation that the condition of all people may be consider'd and that Liberetur pauper a Potente pauper cui non adest Adjutor Neither would it be less gratefull to God Almighty if your Holiness would provide against the tediousness and delays in matters of Law which sometimes are so long that besides the ruine and extinguishment of many Families they become the dishonor of the Courts of Rome when those causes that might have been determin'd in a few dayes are by several years suspence grown old and inveterate Though I believe the Ministers and Governours of the State and all they that administer justice to the people in our Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction are of themselves inclin'd to do all things equitable and right yet it would be a greater stimulation if your Holiness would cause it to be inculcated into them that justice is not attended by interest or passion but is the only instrument for the conservation of peace quiet and human Society and that they search all enormity to the bottom and destroy it root and brance Legibus enim delicta 〈…〉 r quanto melius provideri ne pâ—ccareâ—â—r But above all let that scandalous authority that the Ministers arrogate to themselves of making Buts and Marks for their Persecutions of all such as have recourse to the highest Tribunals at Rome oftentimes making use of threats to deter them from such appeals This in my judgement is a matter of great consequence th 〈…〉 s the Supreme Authority of the Prince and takes away without cause the confidence his Subjects have in him or otherwise occasions such jealousies as have been the subverson of States and Kingdoms both Protestant and Catholick Above all it is necessary that care be taken not to afflict the poor people with their severities and vexations as they have formerly nor with their Cavalcades their troubles being too much already with their Subsidies and Taxes with the frequent Comâ—â—ssions to the Commissaries of the Buildings of the Archives of Saltpeter of Gunpowder of the Streets with their solemn Ridings Reprisals and other cruel inventions to exact innumerable sums from the people which being little or no advantage to the Pope are of no other use but by the inrichment of some few ill Conscienc'd Ministers to contract the Odium of the people and imploy the tongues of the discontented These afflictions do very much exceed what the people of Israel suffer'd in Egypt they cannot be mention'd but with admiration and scandal to Foreign Nations especially if they consider them as effects of the immoderate inclinations of the Popes to their own Kindred and Families And your Holiness may ascribe it to your good fortune that you employ'd your gracious care in Foreign parts that they might not have so full and exact notice of it as would have drawn tears of pitty and compassion from the eyes of all that heard it and perhaps for the better because the wound thereby would have been open'd and render'd more casâ—c for the Cure And indeed who is there that could hear with dry eyes that a people not conquer'd by the Sword but by the Munisicence and Piety of some Prince by way of Donation annex'd to the Patrimony of Saint Peter or that otherwise in confidence of the Piety of their Successors submitted themselves freely to the See of Rome should be now under a harder and more insufferable Yoak and treated with more inhumanity than the very Slaves in Africk or Syria The Debt upon the Chamber according to the account I made of it some nights since by my self amounts to above fifty millions of Roman Crowns and that not only without any hopes of lessening but with assurance it will be increas'd insomuch that the People not being able to comport themselves under so excessive a burthen desperate of any relief do many of them leave their Native
out of the minds of the Cardinals for the scandals of their Church are the ediâ—ications of ours disturbances in their Church giving ours repose He that has ears to hear let him hear he that has zeal enough to make reflection upon these words let him make it whilst I betake my self to more deep considerations It is not above a hundred and sixty years since this Nipotismo began to Lord it over the Church and the Cardinals in Rome They insinuated by degrees and multiply'd their authority dayly to that pass that at present of a custom it is become a necessity there being little difference either in their Grandeur or Command betwixt a Pope and a Nephew so strangely is their Majesty confounded About the same time Luther and Calvin one after another began to appear preaching with great vehemence against the errors of the Catholick Church and the exorbitant covetousness of those that govern'd it and in a short time putting the whole world into disorder introducing Reformations in those very Kingdoms that were thought the most Catholick Against this Torrent that ran down with great Victory and Triumph the Emperour Charles the fifth thought good to oppose his zeal perhaps more ambitious of gaining Success to his arms than Provinces to the Pope so that with his Sword in his hand Tryumphing thorough Germany he conquer'd their Captains but not their Preachers he subdued their Soldiers but not their Consciences the Reformists increasing every day It was not Luther and Calvin only that oppos'd themselves against the abuses in the Church or that made themselves heads of the Religious and Reformists There were other persons that appear'd of greater learning of better extraction and of more eminence and credit Nevertheless the Popes of those times knew how to find a remedy and with most accurate diligence they hindred its growth crushing the Brat as it were in the Cradle And yet the Popes then had not so many thousands of men were not in that esteem amongst the Princes had not so many Cities and Provinces under their Dominion nor so many thousand Crowns to expend nor in short made use of their Spiritual and Temporal arms so easily And O God who is it that can dive into the secrets of Heaven or understand why the Church should in its poverty be able to oppose it self to the very face of its Persecutors and so weak and unable now the Popes are grown rich to put a stop to an inundation that sprang from so small a beginning Oh God why have the Popes that pretend to an universal Monarchy given place and submitted to too weak and unarmed men that their hearts should be able to endure to see themselves devour'd without so much as speaking a word that they should be contented to condescend though with shame rather than to contend with honour In this condition do things stand though it ought to be otherwise did not our experience teach us all this it would very hardly be believ'd did not example confirm our Faith our Faith would stagger to believe it did not our eyes behold the Enemies of Rome multiply'd daily and Rome it self neglected these relations would be counted false though they be never so true But let admiration cease when reason appears the minds of the faithful are disturb'd and wander in the very sight of that light that directs them Let all amazement cease seeing the cause of these evâ—s is so manifest He that would know why the Popes for so many ages have shewn themselves so zealous in defence of the Church that is committed to their custody let him go no further than Rome Let him visit the Coffers of the Popes and he shall see that and the reason why being really besotted and asleep notwithstanding their pretences of vigilance they have been this hundred and fifty years purging the Church of Christ of so many Persecutors to the great scandal of Christendome and the great derision of the Hereticks Before the said hundred and fifty years the Popes had no other thoughts than the espousing the interest of the Church so far have some of them been from preferring their own Families that they would sooner have expos'd all their Kindred to the greatest misfortune than in the least have been deficient in their Pastoral Cure As soon as they were sensible of any new Heresie that was broach'd they stirr'd up immediately zeal in their breasts and indignation in their hearts they united their Prayers sent Ambassadors every where and open'd their Treasures of Indulgences to the Reformists and of Gold to the Soldiers The people being fortify'd in this manner and the Princes excited they cheerfully drew their Swords against the Hereticks postponing their own to defend the interest of Christ They glory'd in exposing themselves to a thousand inconveniencies and disasters and to spend their bloods in the preservation of the Christian Faith They emptied their Chests of their Treasure to replenish the Flock of Christ They rais'd Armies of Christians to destroy the barbarous Enemies of Christendome And in a word they thought of nothing but following the example of those Bishops that follow'd the example of Christ But for these hundred and fifty years last past things have gone clear otherwise the Princes are grown cold the Infidels multiply'd the Hereticks increas'd the Credit of the Clergy diminish'd and the Church on all sides afflicted and why so because the Popes of Pastors of Christs Flock being become Monarchs of the Church have had no other thoughts but to make Princes of their Nephews casting off Gods Interest lest they should destroy the Interest of their Kindred History does shew us as the curious may observe in a hundred places and clearly evince that for the space of fifteen ages the Princes took a pride to spend their Treasure in opposition of those that oppos'd the Religion of Christ the reason that excited them was the example of the Popes who having but little gave all they had notwithstanding to the supply and reimbursement of those Princes that imploy'd theirs against the Enemies of Christ And in truth till within these fifteen hundred years the Emperours Kings Princes and Commonwealths did strive and contend to joyn themselves in Leagues with the Popes against the Hereticks and Infidels and rejoyc'd more to be acknowledg'd Defendors of the Faith and Persecutors of the Infidels with their Swords in their hands than Princes with their Scepters and the same glory the Popes took likewise not spending their dayes in pleasure in their Castle of Gondolfo nor strutting in their Gardens of Monte Cavallo but in solliciting and uniting the Princes in a League against the Infidels offering on their part for their supply not only to sell their Consecrated Vessels from their Altars but their very Clothes from their backs But how comes it things being thus manag'd that the Armes of the Christians advanc'd not victoriously to the farthest extremities of Asia How could Heresie reign so long if the Sword of
him little to spend he made use of the House of the Prince his Cousin as if he had been his own Brother The Pope having an eye upon his indigence gave him some other means to sustain himself and among the rest made him Chief Penitentiary and sent him Apostolick Legate to Florence to Christen a Son of the Great Dukes In which Legation he was presented with very fine Arras Hangings and other curiosities for his Chamber the Grand Duke very well understanding what he had principally need of Many believe that in time being a little ripened with age he may raise his fortunes in some Conclave or other and this their opinion is founded upon the exemplanariness of life which he pretends to though many suspect it to be but forc'd from the exactness with which he has govern'd his own Church upon the reputation all his Brothers carry in Bolonia being esteem'd persons of judgement and integrity and upon the affection the Spaniards bear to him whose interest upon all occasion he takes great glory to espouse These reasons amongst the common people do ascertain him to be Pope but they that understand him better and converse with him often are of another opinion and do find him uncapable of governing such a Kingdom by reason of his invincible obstinacy which is so natural and so great in him that amongst many it is counted perfect madness for he renders himself thereby unacceptable to all that deal with him especially when they treat of matters of Conscience he is so refractory all the arguments in the world are not able â—o alter his opinion This is the judgement of him amongst the Cardinals but it may be when he grows riper in years this obstacle may be remov'd for excessive obstinacy is doubtless an obstacle to any that pretend to the Papacy as may easily be prov'd by the example of Sextus the fifth who was the most fantastical and gâ—ddy headed person in all the Cloysters yet when he came to be Cardinal ambitious of fishing in the Sea of Saint Peter he offer'd violence to his nature counterfeiting meekness so much that he was counted ignorant submitting alwayes his own opinion to the judgement of the other Cardinals If he will do so the Papacy 't is possible may fall into his hands whereas otherwise he will fall out of the hands of the Papacy as he fell out of the Padronage When Innocent took his resolution to create a Cardinal Padrone for his assistance in his Pastoral Cure the Prince with all the importunity he was able recommended the said Cardinal Ludovisi his Kinsman but Innocent knew him too well deny'd to satisfie the Prince and promoted Astalli to the peace not that his Talents were greater than the others but because Panzirolo who had great influence upon his Holiness had told him that he was a person able to distinguish betwixt good and evil that he was solid in his Councils and not peremptory in his opinions as Ludovisi was it is enough to say that Ludovisi was laid aside and Astalli receiv'd into the place and indeed it was better for him to have been rejected than to have run the same fortune with Astalli which will be memorable in all Ages ALDARANO CIBO da Massa di Carrara was promoted to the Cardinalship the 6. of March 1645. Innocent alwayes lov'd him very well and look'd upon him as worthy of preferment insomuch that as soon as he was created Pope he declar'd him Maggior-domo of the Apostolical Pallace he having in his Prelacy gain'd some reputation and afterwards made him Cardinal in the year aforesaid both for his particular inclination to his person and a respect he bore him as he was descended from the Noble Family of the Cibo in Genoa from whence Innocent the eighth was descended But the principal motive according to the common opinion was because Innocent was perswaded by Donna Olimpia to get Monsignor Cibo's Palace that was joyning â— his own and laying them together to make a magnificent one for the Family of Pamfilio which design being apprehended by Cibo he made his Holiness a present of it refuring any consideration And though the Pope paid for it would by no means accept it as a gift yet it left an obligation upon him that he was offer'd it so that for this reason and the other he created him a Cardinal in which dignity he has comported himself so well he has the applause of the whole Court and will increase iâ— dayly he being esteem'd a person of great justice and integrity and in his Church di Jâ—si where he ordinarily resides his reputation is so great amongst the people of that Country that they swear there cannot a more worthy Pastor be found in the whole Universe In two Lâ—gations that he perform'd he signaliz'd himself so that he acquir'd the reputation of a great Statesman and a person proper for the highest imployments He is very studious and indeed a little too much for his study makes him something Melancholly his diversion is Musick which delights him exceedingly especially if it be Spiritual Musick He is Spaniard both in his inclination and interest his Family being all under the protection of that Crown He is as retir'd as he can possibly which makes all people suspect he aspires to the Papacy and in my opinion were merits rightly consider'd he might obtain it but the mischief is in the Conclaves at present the interest of factions and nor the merit of the person carryes it would the Cardinal satisfie their own Consciences and give their voices for so worthy a person there might be some good expected from such an Election the Church would certainly be better serv'd and the State better govern'd provided he chang'd not his humour as Alexander the seventh did who of a Saint of a Cardinal became a Devil of a Pope as soon as he receiv'd the Keys which will make the Cardinals consider for the time to come before they give their Votes for an honest man that is for such an one as counterfits and pretends honesty only which I cannot believe of this person FEDERICO SFORZA a Roman is a most considerable person in respect of the Nobility of his Family that have formerly been Dukes of Milan with the Title of Soveraignty besides an infinite number of Cardinals that have render'd it conspicuous with their Scarlet In the Pontificate of Vrban he took upon him the Habit of a Prelat with hopes to obtain what he has now got but he could not reach it in that Popes dayes nor get any higher than to be Vice-Legal of Avignon which was given him by Cardinal Antonio with promise also of a Cap but that promise vanish'd into smoak Cardinal Antonio finding excuses enough to withdraw himself from his word Innocent the tenth that so noble a Family might not be without that Purple created him a Cardinal 1645. and because he knew he was disgusted at the manner of Antonio's proceeding with him he
not endure to have it mention'd upon any occasion Alexander the seventh was not well pleas'd neither to see him cheek by jowle amongst so many select persons and therefore gave himself over to use him ill sending him away without any respect to a place that was a greater distance from Rome but the rest of the Cardinals looking upon the misusage of his person as a reflection upon the Order in general they made their complaint to his Holiness and he was immediately set at liberty Donna Olimpia perswaded him to espouse the interest of Spain which he did but finding by degrees the little esteem the Spaniards had for him by their several times neglecting to call him to their Assemblies in which the intrigues of that Court were transacted and all because they knew he had not judgement enough to give them any Councel he turn'd to the French who receiv'd him very readily if for no other reason to secure his voice in the Conclave And this is certain his negotiating with the French has not a little instructed him in his Complements it being the general observation of the Court that since his Voyage into France he is grown much more conversable than formerly In the last Conclave of Rospigliosi he suffer'd himself to be transported into some expressions rather dictated to him than spoken by him against the Spaniards The Spaniards were nettled and bit their thumbs as the Italians use to do in private though in publick they seem'd but to laugh at it Some say the Spanish Ambassador having notice of it from one of the Conclave who being no great friend of Maldachini's had told the story a little too sharply reply'd laughing The voice of an Ass reaches not to Heaven which coming likewise to Maldachini's ears displeas'd him exceedingly so that he fell a railing against all that belong'd to Spain which the Spaniards likewise understanding for the Spyes in Rome will not fail to do that good office to mortifie and rebuke him they resolv'd to stop the Rents of those Abbeys and Benefices that he held in the Kingdom of Naples and other Catholick States and he finding himself in this manner necessitated to renounce has within few months resign'd three Abbeys into the hands of the Pope one of which is given to Monsignor Strada the second to Monsignor Polini both of them of the Privy-Chamber and the third to a Son of the Marquess Astalli Nephew to the Cardinal aforesaid whose Father is of the Faction of Spain In short I would not swear this Cardinal should not be Pope if there was need of nothing but his own single voice but otherwise I fear he will dye without it GIO. FRANCISCO GONDI a Frenchman call'd Cardinal di Retz he was promoted to the Cardinalship the 19th of February in the year 1652. at the instance of the King of France with whom he was afterwards disgusted having receiv'd some considerable affronts though he was Archbishop of Paris The Court cry'd out exceedingly against Mazarine who govern'd all at that time and was the principal cause of the persecuting this person and that upon good grounds The Ecclesiasticks pretended that the greatest Princes that are cannot repress the power of a Cardinal when they are treating of matters of State no though the Cardinals be contriving the ruine or disturbance of the Publique Peace But this is a doctrine the Princes do but laugh at and amongst the rest the Kings of France who upon any such occasion do fly presently to their Gallican Rites It was strange to Innocent that after the Crown of France had with so much instance and importunity recommended this person to be promoted and after he was advanc'd to so honourable a Dignity he should be slighted and ill used immediately by the same Crown of which he made frequent complaints to Mazarine who wanted not his pretences to excuse them However the Politicians look'd upon it as a great over-sight in Mazarine to present that person to the Cardinalship without pre-considering what might follow and indeed they that understood the Spirit of the man inclin'd alwayes to disturb and perplex the quiet of his Superiours were much scandaliz'd to see Mazarine instead of keeping him at a distance by some politick pretence to endeavour to make him equal in Dignity to himself and by consequence to give him greater opportunity and encouragement to undertake what in effect he did enterprize But Mazarine was oblig'd to do what he did for private and occult reasons not imagining the said person could have been able to have kindled so great a Conflagration as he did The timid though unquiet Nature with which he observ'd Gondi to be govern'd perswaded him that he was not to be parted from that Country where he manag'd all so as the judgement of so great a Head-piece as Mazarine is many times deceiv'd he finding by experience that the most timerous man if back'd and supported grows most troublesome and ambitious The Spaniards endeavour'd what they could to fetch over this Cardinal to their party promising him as is reported much more than he could hope for in France but he that had his aim upon France and not upon Spain kept himself close to the interest of that Crown demonstrating upon several occasions that his adherance to the Male-contents was not from any animosity to that Kingdom but only from a desire to humble the fortunes of Cardinal Mazarine At the time that accident happen'd to the Duke of Crequy in Rome which was the twentieth of August 63. amongst all the Cardinals there was none that stuck so zealously to the French party as he to the admiration of every body that a person that had been turn'd out of his Church and other Benefices had been imprison'd persecuted and banish'd should appear with such ardour in defence of that interest that was the cause of his troubles and which is worse resolv'd never to readmit him to the Dignities he had lost But his proceedings in this point were prudent enough for having voluntarily disoblig'd his Most Christian Majesty it was but reason he should be voluntarily oblig'd And the King of France unwilling to let the constancy or generosity of Retz with which he maintain'd the just Priviledges of his Crown to go unrewarded he admitted him again into his favour which he enjoys to this day but with some conditional limitations as retaining still in his mind the prejudice he did formerly to the Crown though he often declar'd that all his designs were against Mazarine LVIGI HOMODEI from his very first entrance into the Prelacy had an ambitious hankering after a Cap and it cost him and his Family no small quantity of money before he did compass his ends It was thought very strange his Family being like to extinguish for want of Heirs that he would suffer it to perish rather than marry it is reported that a friend of his advising him to marry he reply'd That he had higher thoughts However things have
done all this to a good end having an ambition to make himself thought an honest man and zealous for the Church without observing that when Zeal is not accompany'd with moral Prudence to moderate the impulses of Nature it becomes odious even to good men and instead of Zeal discovers it self to be Tyranny But this is an infirmity peculiar in this present age to those Ecclesiasticks that if by weakness of Age or strength of Continence they forbear those publick scandals of the Flesh they presently swell and boast up the excellency of their Nature with which they come afterwards to a certain heat and arrogance they call Zeal and of this sort is the Zeal of this Cardinal esteem'd who to speak truth has but few frailties to correct either that his infirmities do debilitate his Nature or his virtue over-power it it is sufficient that there are no considerable faults to be found in him unless it be that he is but little inclin'd to do kindnesses for any body and that he is too fierce in the conâ—utation of him that refuses to yield at the first dash especially if it be in matters of Conscience in which he is scrupulous to the highest As for his Negotiations he cannot expect much having had no occasion to be exercis'd in great affairs besides his temper is too tender and would not suffer him to take such imployments upon him though perhaps he would force himself rather than be behind the rest his brain being stimulated by the same thing that excites the whole Colledge to the Papacy In time he might make an offer at the Papacy as others do I know not whether he would obtain it but this I know that many persons inferiour to him have leap'd into the Vatican CARLO GVALTIERI of Orvietta was by the mediation of Donna Olimpia promoted to the Cardinalship the 2. of March 1654. not that he was a person worthy of a Cap or that the Pope had made use of him in any considerable affair but because it was his fortune to be ally'd to the House of Pamphilia Innocent was really in his own mind averse from introducing persons of so small virtue as this and Maldachino into the Sacred Colledge amongst so many Eminent persons and so many great Princes But Donna Olimpia who was Paramount and did what she pleas'd cast such a mist before the eyes of that Innocent Pope that he discern'd not what he did himself by the promotion of those two persons uniting them and fixing them upon her and which is of greater importance leaving so many persons that for many years together had worn themselves out in the service of the Church which his poor Holiness forgot till the errour was committed and all the Streets of Rome in a tumult to have it remedy'd If the qualities of Maldachino and Gualtieri were compar'd Gualtieri's though they are good for little or nothing are yet less ridiculous than the former Donna Olimpia imploy'd him in her secret affairs that is she made him negotiate the selling of Benefices in which she did very ill to entrust things of great importance in the hands of a person of no experience and less judgement but as bad as he was he knew well enough to make his advantages of the Election she gave him from whom he learn'd also a great dexterity in shearing of his Flock and in his Church of Fermo of which he is Bishop he disdains not from time to time to receive presents from his Clerks not that he demands them but when they are offer'd he never refuses them The Pope gave him this Bishoprick not to recompence any desert he had found in him nor that he thought him worthy to execute that Pastoral charge but only to send him packing from Rome it going against the hair to see in the Consistories and publique meetings such a creature sitting amongst so many Cardinals of renoun and he had done better yet had he by as honourable a banishment sent Maldachino as far from the Court. If there be any thing good in this Gualtieri it is that he is not envious and that knowing his own ignorance he takes kindly the advice of any one that knows more than himself being very seldome obstinate in his opinion but in case of anger or some particular passion DECIO AZZOLINI is the last Cardinal of the Creation of Innocent the tenth he is of a Sicilian Race though born in the City of Fermo in the Marquisat of Ancona where we have said Gualtieri was Bishop It would be a long story if we should set down the whole cause of his Exaltation and we should be forc'd to repeat much of what has been said already I shall only say that being conscious of his incapacity of arriving at that Grandeur his ambition prompted him to as having no means nor merits to advance him nor any thing besides a simple Prelature he took upon him that way which takes very oft in the Court of Rome and that is in plain terms he turn'd Spy in which he improv'd himself so well it was generally believ'd there was not any one more dexterous in discovering the corruptions of others than he and this he manifested when Pope Innocent was in transaction of something with the Barbarini upon the acquisition of the Kingdom of Naples the Barbarini having a great thirst after certain Principalities of that Crown which falling into the hands of the Church they doubted not by the power of their purse to have a competent share thereof Cardinal Astalli having notice of all though the Barbarini had render'd him so suspicious to the Pope that he was kept at a distance from this design he gave immediate intelligence to the Spaniard with whom he kept a strict correspondence Which being smelt by Azzolini after his wonted manner being Clerk of the Breves a charge of no ordinary importance and confidence he gave a private account of it to the Pope who us'd Astalli very ill upon it depriving him as every body knows of all he had given him except his Cap by way of recompence making Azzolini Cardinal the 2d of March 1654. and so it was first discover'd that the ruine and fall of Astalli was occasion'd in great part by the Relations whether true or false of this person who has since made the mystery of a Spy so honourable that at present in hopes of great rewards there are Prelats of greater reputation than he have undertaken the same way But most of them find themselves mistaken every one not being of Innocents mind to love the Treason and not the Traitor In the last Conclave he bestirr'd himself very much for the interest of Rospigliosi to whom he gave relation several times of all the obstructions he met with wherewith Rospigliosi was so well satisfy'd that the very night of his Election he declar'd the said Azzolini his Secretary of State a place of great trust and which he had executed himself thorough the whole Pontificate
and offended parties have said that he was a Phalaris or a person of a cruel and carnal nature because ordinarily they go together and your cruel people are observ'd to be most carnal Many are of opinion that if his life corresponded to his parts there would not be a more worthy person in the whole Colledge He has certainly a sound judgement a brain capable of any thing he is more learned than ordinary curious in all kind of History politick dextrous in treaties and business assiduous in what he undertakes not obstinate in his opinion in short he is a person of general parts which in the Congregations and Consistories he dayly discovers He has but one Brother an antient man too but inclin'd as much to pleasure as this is to severity He has great store of friends and adherents in Rome his nearest are Caraffelli and Capranica with whom he holds very good correspondence the great affection he bears to Ravizza a person odious to the Romans has given some check to his reputation and the rather because he appear'd in his defence against Cardinal Chigi PAVLO SAVELLI a Roman is the Nephew of the late Cardinal Fabrisio Savelli that serv'd a long time in the wars of Germany in the quality of General This Family is the most considerable in Rome and that not only for its antientness and nobility but for the great Prerogatives it enjoys as the office of Marisciallo di Santa Chiesa and to that Marshalship belongs the keeping of the Conclave During the vacation of the See the said Savelli has no small authority and jurisdiction in Rome He may raise Souldiers for a Guard for himself at the charge of the Apostolical Chamber upon any emergency or apprehension and chastise those that transgress the orders of the Conclave as he did in the Conclave of Vrban the eight when he sent several little Clarks to the Galeys for conveying Letters to the Cardinals in the Conclave and threatned others with death Though this Family has had two Popes of it and a great number of Cardinals yet it has been in great danger of falling and this is most certain had it not been for the inheritance of Montalto it would have been very low But so opulent an estate falling to them by a marriage contracted with a Sister of Montalto that happen'd to be the last of the house of Perretii and the Prince Savelli was sufficient to make him lift up his head again though to speak truth he had never abated of his usual splendour unless in some small retrenchments of his Court. This Paulo that we speak of purchas'd the Chiericatura di Camera with firm confidence to be chosen a Cardinal as indeed it fell out for Alexander retaining the same inclination to the Roman Families as Innocent had that he might not see so honourable a house without a Cap at the death of Cardinal Fabritio he made him a Cardinal 1664. with the Title of Santa Maria della Scala This Cardinal has no great knowledge in the most considerable affairs of State but he has capacity enough to inform himself If he would read History a little more he would do much better in the Congregations though his judgement already is none of the worst He is a Spaniard but concerns not himself too farr in defence of that Crown His Conversation is good and grateful yet some there are that think him proud but I could never see but he was humble enough ALPHONSO LITTA a Milanese has been imploy'd in several important affairs in which he has alwayes express'd himself by the honourableness of his success a man of great parts and experience He is certainly a man very proper for business indefatigable in searching and perpending of every thing he undertakes that he may not afterward be at a loss when he comes to give his judgement or vote so that this is most sure that he that loses any thing in his presence may be satisfy'd very well for he is not us'd to do things blindfold as others do even in Rome it self He has given tokens of his parts and good life from his very youth yet he fell into some light miscarriages but not considerable he is a person of good learning great practice no ordinary experience and has a strange head for solid and profound business Whilst he was Archbishop of Milan he shew'd himself an excellent Pastor conciliating the affection of the whole people there but for all this some there be that believe that he fail'd in a little punctilio of prudence when he appear'd so stiff for the immunities of the Church and other things in which he might have wink'd with more discretion In short he has so much disoblig'd the Spaniards that they are grown his implacable enemies and doubtless were not their fortune at present so low they would handle him so as to force him to leave the Church as they have done before to other Prelats in the Kingdom of Naples Did things therefore go as they would have they would not fail to give him a lift for it is not their custom to pardon till they be reveng'd His promotion to the Cardinalship was no welcome news to the Spaniards who had not concern'd themselves at all in his assistance but rather by their private suggestions done what they could to obstruct it But Pope Alexander knowing his deserts very well and the high services he had done the Church that he being Pope might not seem ungrateful the last promotion but one he made him a Cardinal with the Title di Santa Croce in Jerusalem giving him the Archbishoprick with it Very few Cardinals there have been that have attain'd that dignity upon the bare account of their merits as this person has done to his immortal reputation He holds the same Maxime with other people that to be Pope it is necessary to be at odds with the Spaniard and therefore being Cardinal he is the more incens'd against them Don Lewis d'Haro Governour of Milan with whom he had some variance writ several Letters to the Spanish Ambassador at Rome in the time of the vacancy of the See against the promotion of Litta insomuch that it is the opinion of many wise men that a Cardinal that is born a Subject to a Prince and has considerable dignities in his Principalities cannot but be thought imprudent if he quarrels and contends with that Prince But for my part I do not question but there were many considerable reasons to work a person of his discretion and worth to such a resolution NERIO CORSINI a Florentine was Treasurer and afterwards Cardinal with the Title of Santi Neri Achillo which Title was given him for its correspondence with his name His Kindred are but of indifferent quality but he endeavours what he can to advance them upon all occasions The Great Duke loves him very well but imployes him not in any business of consequence perhaps for his private interest In his Treasurership he
select persons of piety for the service of the Church and that he will fill up the Sacred Colledge with Cardinals illustrious by their Blood their Virtues and their Bounty THE ITALIAN PRINTER TO THE READER THE absence of the Author has been the occasion that certain little Errors if you will not Christen them great ones have slip'd in this Third Part. The truth is when the Author sent the Manuscript to my hands by one of his Friends we being at great distance from one another I promis'd to do my endeavour to Correct it and I was as good as my word doing all that I was able though my good will was above my abilities yet I believe there is scarce any Error to be found which your discretion may not correct in the reading and that is it I do most humbly intreat I am oblig'd also in the behalf of the Author to admonish that if you find any palpable Error in point of History you would dispence with it because the time was so short from the Composition to the Printing The curiosity and impatience of some persons made me snatch the Manuscript out of the hands of the Corrector and perhaps some of my Workmen printed some of them before he saw them at all I am to desire you likewise from the Author himself that you would not censure him that he has inserted into this Third Part some things which have been written by other men he believ'd he has done for the best and truly I am of opinion you will not say the contrary there being no reason a thing should be left out where it will stand well because it was in another place where perhaps it stood worse Your Bricklayers and your Writers are in my judgement alike or rather your Writers and your Bricklayers the Bricklayers think Old Materials much better to build with than New as finishing more exquisitely with a mixture of Old and New The Old is New to him that begins and the New is Old to him that finishes Whilst this whole Work was a Printing I gave it leaf by leaf to a Friend of mine very well vers'd in the greatest Curiosities to peruse He told me this Third Part was the best and more necessary to be publish'd than all the rest and I do easily perswade my self you will be of his opinion But you must read it impartially or it will scarce turn to accompt Have a care of doing as he did who read Books only to satisfie his Friend Yet in this Work I shall be oblig'd to you if you will correct the Errors of the Press as you go along The Conclave of Clement the 9th after which the Politick Aphorisms do follow was taken out of the hands of a Conclavist who indeed had no intention to publish them but only to shew it to his Friends I suppose it is conformable to the truth of the History being the person who collected it is very impartial I had two of them in my hands which I shew'd to a Friend of mine a Virtuoso and well skill'd in the Interests of the Court of Rome that he might judge which of the two were the best and most proper to be publish'd having kept them some dayes in his hands he return'd them both to me with his opinion in writing that this was to be preferr'd Those who know already how passages have gone may read it for Observation and those who know nothing for their Curiosity Of the Politick Aphorisms I shall say nothing because they carry their Subtilty and Excellence in the very Name of the Author Some would have had the Author taken pains to make a Table of the most Considerable Matters with reference to the several Pages but the Author did not think it convenient to lengthen it out unnecessarily with another Table seeing in every Book there was one large enough before However I have made an Index of some proper Names especially of the Cardinals and Popes but left out for the greater ease of the Reader some such Sirnames and Names as are many times multiply'd according to the necessity of the History If you find no satisfaction in this Cardinalisme you will find it perhaps in his EVROPA MORTA which the Author has promis'd a while ago and I do promise on my part to use my utmost endeavours to facilitate the Reading by a carefull and faithfull Correction of the Press May you live happy in the mean time and be as candid in Correcting the Errors as I am affectionate in declaring my self Your Servant Il CARDINALISMO di Santa Chiesa OF THE HISTORY OF CARDINALS In III. Parts PART III. BOOK I. The Contents In which is discours'd of the resemblance of the Church to a Ship and the reason why Of the City of Rome born to Lord it over other Nations Of what is requisite for the understanding of the Pontifical Election Of the age of Holiness in the Church Of the reasons why there were no difficulties in the infancy of the Church about the Election of Popes Of a Pidgeon that sate upon the head of Fabianus Romanus and made him be declar'd Pope The reason why Sanctity decay'd in the Church Of the felicity of Peace experimented by the Ecclesiasticks Of the introduction of Pride Of the Emperours and how little they regarded the Spiritual affairs of the Church Of a dissention at the Election of Pope Simacus Of certain scandals which sprang up during Pope Bonifaces vacancy of the See Of Pelagius Romanus and his succeeding of Virgilius Of certain Priviledges granted by the Pope to Attila King of the Goths call'd FLAGELLUM DEI. Of the authority assum'd by the Emperours in the Election of the Pope Of the Reception given by the Emperour to Constantine the first at Constantinople Of the great hatred Philippus call'd Bardono bore to the Pontifical Grandeur Of the Election of Pope Zachary a Grecian without any Communication with the Emperour Of the deposal of Chilperick by the Pope his being stripp'd of all Title to the kingdome of France and the reason wherefore Of the Emperours being declared excluded from all right in the Pontifical Election Of Berrha's the Widdow of Charlemains journey to Rome to demand justice of the Pope and of the success of her journey Of a particular alliance betwixt Charles the Great and the Pope Of a popular tumult that happen'd in Rome against the person of Pope Adrian Of the Creation of Pope Stephen by the people against the consent of the Emperour Of the Popes journey into France to clear himself to that King of the accusations against him Of the industry Pope Pascal us'd to increase his authority Of the Election of Eugenius the second a most eloquent man Of the threatnings of King Lewis against the Pope Of the reason why the Popes chang'd their Names at first Of the desire the Romans had to shake off the Yoke of the Empire Of two Popes successors to Adrian Of Adrian the third's Bull against the
that of Montalto which consisted of twenty The Spaniards had no great difficulty to exclude all the Competitors which they did not affect and to include one of their own followers Montalto being oblig'd in several respects to gratifie that Crown from which he had receiv'd many Advantages and injoy'd many priviledges in the Kingdoms the Spaniards were possess'd of besides which his Brother Don Michael had bought the Principality of Celano in the Catholick State all which put together ingag'd him not to relinquish his affection to Spain The Spaniards being secure in all this and knowing according to the subtilty of their principles that they were able without controversie to govern the Conclave and make a Pope at their pleasure they signify'd to Montalto his Catholick Majesties intention to make Antonio Facchinetti who was Cardinal di Santiquattro Pope and therefore they desir'd his most Illustrious Lordship to concur with them in the Election of a person so exquisitely worthy and proper for the Government of the Church in such times as those Montalto immediately consented without making any trial of his creatures or attempting to try the fortune of his friends so that his answer being return'd and favourable to their designs the Spaniards Mendozza Sforza Borromeo Gaetano the two Colonna's Ascanio and Marco Antonio Mattei Lancelotto and others went to the Chamber of Montalto and taking him out with the greatest part of the followers who were already come together at the congratulations of the others into the Chamber of Facchinetti where several others were met before and particularly Sfondrato and his Adherents the 29th of October in the morning Medozza and Sforza took Santi Quattro under the arm and conducted him to Paulina's Chappel whether even those who had the Gout and kept their beds made themselves be carry'd to have the honour to give him their votes which votes were given open and he afterwards publish'd to the people by the name of Innocent the 9th This Conclave may be said to be the best and most peaceable that ever was seen many things concurring to make it wonderfull the first was the shortness of time the See being vacant but 13 dayes and the Conclave continued but three the second the quality of the person as being most worthy of so honourable a dignity the third that though there were seventeen Cardinals pretenders and of great reputation in the Colledge yet there was but one as it were spoken of and last of all that all Factions should comply with the Spaniards and make a Pope according to their directions Innocent lived but two months and dy'd the 29th of December and the usual dayes of solemnizing his obsequies being past 52 Cardinals enter'd the Conclave on the 10th of January all of them divided in their inclination so that many believ'd it was impossible but the Election of this Pope must be with great difficulties and disturbances seeing things in so ill a way Yet the Spaniards made no doubt to finish it in three dayes as they had done the Conclave before having gain'd the Venetians already and looking upon Montalto as their own who as they presum'd could do no less than follow the inclinations of their King seeing that he injoy'd an annual Rent of above 50000. Crowns in his Dominions The first day therefore the Spaniards began their practices very eagerly for Santa Severina having gain'd Montalto also who promis'd to imploy all his interest with his party in favour of the said Santa Severina There were 32 Cardinals in the Conclave for the Election of that person and twenty for his Exclusion but they so united and firm for his Exclusion that there was never seen in a Conclave so invincible a combination The Spaniards try'd all wayes promises offers threats stratagems and at last with Montalto they left no stone unturned that might mollifie the excluders and prevail with them to give their votes for Montalto but all was to no purpose and therefore seeing things desperate they took up another expedient but with no small displeasure to Santa Severina who was already by several saluted Pope But before they came to any other resolution having gain'd three Cardinals more to their 32. and made them up 35. which was exactly two thirds which were necessary to the Creation of a Pope they pitch'd upon a day when the excluders were careless and dispers'd and without much noise shut themselves into the Chappel with intention to make Santa Severina Pope with open votes but it being understood by Sforza Sfondrato Aquaviva Borromeo and Altemps who were the chief of the Excluders they flew immediately to the Chappel beating impetuously at the doors and protesting a Nullity so fiercely that they which were within to prevent the inconvenience which might follow open'd the doors where when they were enter'd they doubl'd the cryes of their protestation of Nullity Santa Severina full of humility and moderation said If I be the occasion of all these rumours open the door of the Conclave for I will go out with all my heart if that may quiet this storm Cardinal Sforza's coming into the Chappel turn'd some of their votes insomuch that the favourors of Santa Severina persisting still to come to a Scrutiny of 35 which they thought they had they had but 28 only that stuck to him Santa Severina by this means being perfectly out of hopes Madruccio was propos'd but without any success after him Como and Peleotto were in nomination but with as little fortune as the other in sundry respects after which it was negotiated for Colonna Salviati Mondovi and Rusticucci but to no more purpose than the rest The excluders of Santa Severina to free themselves from a continual jealousie wherewith they were agitated resolv'd to send to Montalto and to let him know then when he resolv'd to create a Pope out of his own creatures that they would condescend with all their hearts and he should have all their votes which message was carry'd to Montalto by Cardinal Borromeo and receiv'd with great satisfaction Montalto had already plac'd his thoughts upon Cardinal Aldobrandiâ—o for the worthiness of his qualities and for the great esteem the Sacred Colledge had of his person he made choice of him and propos'd him to them from the bottom of his heart his inclinations being known all those Cardinals who sent first to him and made him that proposition embracing the tydings with great joy desir'd him to proceed in the design with all possible expedition Montalto began immediately to set his Engines a work and to communicate his resolutions to his creatures which he found all most readily dispos'd afterwards he went to Madruccio who had a great party in the Conclave but had no good correspondence with Albrandino yet considering the merit of the person and waving his particular passions he declar'd himself in favour of Aldobrandino and went to him to his Chamber where he found him full of so much modesty that though he saw himself as good as
being confidently believ'd he would have run a great hazard of being misled by his love to them who were numerous the Family of the Brancaccio being divided into several houses in that Kingdome would have afforded persons enough to have fill'd up not only the Governments but all the Offices and Benefices belonging to the Apostolick See so that these obstructions were sufficient to keep him still in his Cardinalship Durazzo had nothing to speak for him but his age being 75. his infirmities and decrepitancy which many times are sufficient alone to open a door to the Pontificate for the Cardinal Pretenders when they find they cannot reach it themselves they endeavour to create some old and decrepid man that they may have another vacancy quickly and their old hopes be renew'd It was reported there was a Kinsman of Durazzo's come to Rome with 50000 dubles to work upon the minds of some of the poorer Cardinals but this story was known to be a lye and only the invention of his Enemyes to disgrace him for he was generally taken for a man of a most irreprehensible life though illiterate and of no great parts but the worst thing in him of all was that he was of Genoa which is no small impediment During the weakness of the Pope which in effect serv'd for a Conclave there were many so confident Gabrielle was made Pope that they laid wagers on it And the grounds of that opinion were that they saw the Spaniards inclin'd to him and doubtless had they sound things better dispos'd towards him they would not have fail'd to have favoured him he having express'd himself alwayes very well towards that Crown to this they joyn'd the affinity and allyance he had with the new Cardinal Vandome who they thought would prevail with the French Faction to concur and indeed he attempted it but rather to satisfie him as it is suppos'd than out of any desire he had to it in earnest Besides this the Letter which was writ to him with so much affection by Cardinal Chigi made them believe he would joyn with him with all his creatures and all these reasons being put together his friends would needs fancy him Pope But they found themselves out in their confidence not being able to dive into the most profound and recluse mysteries of State First because the French would never have concurr'd at the importunity of a new made Cardinal though of never so great quality in a person who upon divers occasions had shewn himself too partial to the Spaniard besides this the Spaniards themselves who protected him and pretended to advance him would not have had him Pope as not knowing his humour for their policy consists in preferring such persons to the Papacy as they know very well and are acquainted with the very bottom of their qualities lest they should run upon such rocks as they have formerly done and particularly in the Papacy of Paul the 4th and Sixtus the 5th Barbarino had promis'd him his assistance but it was when he saw his own hopes desperate so Gabrielle's hopes and his vanish'd together His age was 73 years but it did him no good his complection was so healthfull and strong Facchinetti knowing his years too few had not courage to venture in a Conclave in which he saw so many other persons of greater maturity and merits than himself and yet he is an excellent person indifferently well learned of a good judgement and solid but something too resolute He was consider'd as Innocent the ninths Nephews Son and one that has kept a good correspondence with the Baloncse Gentlemen his Country-men In his Nuntiature into Spain he gave great satisfaction to that Court nor was he ingratefull when he was come back again to Rome insomuch that the Spaniards held him as a Confident He recommended himself to them with great modesty declaring he had not much to pretend in a Conclave so rich in other persons of merit yet if there should happen such contests and competitions as there usually do he desir'd the Spaniards as his friends would be mindfull of him but no great controversie arriving his friends had no occasion to concern themselves in his behalf Odescalco's hopes consisted in the good opinion the whole Colledge had of him as a person of Integrity Generosity and Charity and one that was well affected by the Spaniards as one of the Subjects of that Crown but there were many more potent obstacles to obstruct them The first was in his age which was but 56 years as strong and as lusty as was possible an obstacle so great that as often as he was mention'd the 22 years Papacy of Vrban was immediately remembred and by consequence took away the good inclinations the Cardinals had to his person and to his advancement the Cardinals being resolv'd they would never again see the Keys of St. Peter grow rusty in the hands of one man The second was that Sforzá had lost the management of the Spanish Faction who was his very great friend and would not have fail'd doubtless to have us'd his utmost endeavour to have drawn the Spaniards to a concurrence I say his utmost endeavours because though the Spaniard may love Odescalco very well as a subject and well deserving person of that Crown yet 't is most certain at their hearts they had rather he should remain a Cardinal than be made Pope and the reason is because they look upon him as an obstinate person too rigid and severe to his first impressions which agrees not with the Spanish Policy that requires an honest down right Pope easie to be commanded and not refractory to command The other obstacle was the aversion of the French who would never have consented to the Election of a Milanese at a time when there was a breach betwixt the two Crowns and indeed when any friend of Odescalcoes propos'd him to any Cardinal of the French they answer'd him according to the modesty of the French He is a worthy person but let us talk of some body else Yet there was no body declar'd himself his Enemy but Cardinal Imperiale and that upon an accident which happen'd in Rome the 20th of August 1662. at which time Odescalco either that he believ'd in his Conscience things ought to be so or that he had a mind to oblige the French and take away the suspicion that Crown had of him as he was a Spaniard that he might not have their Negative in the Conclave or for any thing else it is enough he was one of those which decreed his banishment and so much the more reason had Imperiale to be angry by how much he was inform'd Odescalco was the promoter of the business and all these things consider'd together at the very first put all Odescalcoes pretensions out of his head Albici had little or no thoughts of demanding the Papacy not that he dislik'd the morsel but because he knew very well the Cardinals would not choose him as knowing him
qualities merits and adherences of the Papable Cardinals of the aforesaid Conclave as also of their number and of whose creation which will give some light to the Reader and enable him to consider of the adherences and hopes both of one party and the other but I will not omit to insert what pass'd betwixt Cardinal Sforza and N. the day before they enter'd into the Conclave which will serve to give some illustration of the qualities of some of them Cardinal Sforza and Cardinal N. being in discourse Sforza demanded of N. what his judgement was as to the new Election the other wanted not an answer but reply'd immediately My Lord I believe if the French shall make the Pope Cardinal Farnese will be the man if the Spaniard Cardinal Rospigliosi if the People of Rome Cardinal Barbarino if the Holy Ghost Cardinal Odescalco if the Devil either your Eminence or I. Then it shall be Rospigliosi reply'd Sforza smiling and so they pass'd to other discourse But to return to the Papable Cardinals they were twenty in number and no more the rest of the Cardinals being all declar'd Spaniards or French or too young for youth by reason of the inexperience wherewith it is usually accompany'd and for fear of a tedious Reign a potent exception against any of them all is enough to hinder the best persons exaltation as we see dayly by frequent examples Of these twenty Papable Cardinals eight were created by Vrban Barbarino Ginetti Palotta Brancaccio Carpegna Gabrieli Durazzo and Facchinetti Three by Innocent Odescalco Albici and Spada call'd commonly Santa Susanna and nine by Alexander Bonvisi Rospigliosi Farnese Caraffa Elci Celsi Bonelli Litta and Bandinelli But this last was mention'd without the Conclave not within for he dyed at the beginning of it so as there remain'd then but nineteen all persons of competent age the youngest of them being above 56. Barbarino was in his 70th year which was no small advantage to him his creatures and some other of Innocents his Correspondents as Raggi Santa Croce Spada and Pio seem'd to concur willingly in him the Spaniards were not against him though they would never declare possitively for him and it appear'd to be some advantage too that Sforza was not head of the Faction who upon several scores had but very little affection for him so that if he had persever'd in the good management of the business which he began with Chigi and had obtain'd his concurrence and his creatures he had been certainly Pope as most people believe But one which penetrated deeper into the Machinations of the Priests was of opinion Chigi could not have done it without disgusting several of his creatures and losing their votes for himself and indeed being agreed with Barbarino he endeavour'd to discover the intentions of the principal of his creatures and to draw them to joyn with him for the exaltation of the said Barbarino but he found so great repugnancy from the beginning especially in Cardinal Celsi who was upon several accounts an implacable enemy to Barbarino that he had much adoe to appease them by obliging himself to speak no more of the exaltation of Barbarino It is reported that in the heat of their dispute Celsi should speak openly to Chigi in this manner your creatures follow you because you have promis'd them all not to suffer the Papacy to fall but amongst your creatures and if it happens to light amongst the creatures of Urban your Eminence will be left alone in the Conclave and if you lose it now you will lose it for ever Barbarino was advis'd by some persons to open his purse and to leave all the hopes of his pretensions to the operation of his Coyn according to the abominable example of Alexander the 6th and some there were who suppos'd the business was concluded but that report proceeded only from the malice of his enemies to fully and obfuscate the reputation of a man who certainly for more Papacies than one would not have defil'd or eclips'd the lustre of the esteem which he enjoy'd amongst the people Ginetti's pretensions were founded only upon the benevolence of the Spaniard towards whom he had alwayes carry'd himself with great circumspection and his great age which was 82. but in other respects there was but little appearance for him Palotta was put into the number of the Candidates not that it was believ'd he could be exalted in that conjuncture because Barbarino was his profess'd enemy and he was hated by the Spaniards for the integrity of his life they being alwayes jealous of a person of worth or parts extraordinary But in consideration of his merits only true it is every one thought there was but little hopes of his exaltation perhaps as a judgement upon all Christendome as well as the people of Rome who were not worthy of so excellent a Prince for this I dare affirm that of all the Sacred Colledge he only and Farnese are the most proper to undergoe the charge of the Papacy in respect of their uprightness of mind their integrity in matters of Justice the love of the people and which is yet more that they are disinterested and no passionate promotors of their Kindred His being 70 years old and having the Gout gave him but little assistance because his complection was strong and in other respects he was perfectly sound In the last Conclave but this there was some talk of Carpegna because the two Medici's endeavour'd his promotion but in this of Clement the 9th he remain'd in his ordinary infirmity which is only in a desire of pretending and no more there being no Medici's then to advance him nor indeed did he put himself much forward as conscious perhaps that he had nothing but his being a Cardinal and a Servant to the Great Duke to recommend him Cardinal Rossetti who had the management and interest of the Great Duke made some kind of proffer but he durst go no further for he was sure never to compass his designs and he did well for there was need of better heads than his in the Apostolick Chair Brancaccio was discours'd of as an excellent Lord not only in respect of his birth being a Gentleman of one of the best Families in Naples but in consideration of several good qualities that were in him but there were two things and very important which hinder'd his friends from entring into treaty for him the first was that they saw Chigi's Faction resolv'd to have no other Pope but a creature of Alexanders and there was but small hopes to see the Papacy amongst Vrbans seeing Barbarino had try'd the impediment the second because the Spaniards had no great kindness for him and although they pretended to be reconciled yet the quarrel continued at the heart still and 't is most certain they would never have concurr'd in this man whilst there was any body else to create and a third reason was the great fondness Brancaccio express'd alwayes to his Kindred it