wrote much in praise of the Blessed Virgin and of the Holy Cross and Albo Abbat of Fleury who afterward in Gascoign suffer'd Martyrdom for the faith of Christ Men famous for Learning Religion and Sanctity are said to have flourish'd This John died after he had been Pope ten years six months and ten days and the Sea was vacant six days GREGORY V. GREGORY the Fifth a Saxon Son of Otho before call'd Bruno by the Authority of Otho III. for Kinred sake was made Pope But upon the return of Otho into Germany being vex'd by the Roman factions he fled first into Tuscany and thence into Germany to the Emperor Mean while the Romans vest Crescentius with an absolute Consular Power who immediately creates Pope John a Greek Bishop of Piacenza not more wealthy than learned whose name I confess is by some left out of the Catalogue of Popes as not regularly created but others make him John XVII because he was chosen by the Clergy and People of Rome to whom of right the Election belongeth Crescentius upon the news of Otho's approach with his Army fortifies the Walls and Gates of the City with all diligence he fortifies too the Castle S. Angelo and places strong Guards in every Post that required so that for some time after it was called Crescentius's Castle taking the name of him that fortified it instead of that of the Builder At length the Emperor arriv'd and investing the City when the Romans perceived themselves unable to withstand so great Forces trusting to the clemency of Otho they opened their Gates to the Germans And now Crescentius and John being without Friends and at their wits end fled into Castle S. Angelo and defended themselves well till upon hopes of Pardon coming forth to address themselves to the Emperor Crescentius receiving many wounds from the Multitude was kill'd but John having his Eyes first put out lost both his Popedom and life together and Gregory after he had been expell'd nine months was restored He taking notice of the weakness of the Empire and the uncertainties of Chance and being willing to preserve the Empire among the Germans and that he should be preferred before other who excell'd in worth and Virtue with the consent of Otho he made a Decree concerning the Election of an Emperor An. Dom. 1002. which has continued in force to this day To wit that it should belong to the Germans alone to chuse a Prince who should be Coesar and King of the Romans till the Pope should have confirm'd him and then to have the Titles of Emperor and Augustus Ptolemy writes that at first the power of Election of Emperor was in the Arch-bishop of Mentz for Germany the Arch-bishop of Triers for France and the Arch-bishop of Cologn for Italy To these were added four Secular Princes the Marquess of Brandenburgh who after the Election is Chamberlain to the Emperor the Count Palatine who is chief Sewer the Duke of Saxony who is Sword-bearer and the King of Bohemia the seventh Elector and Cup bearer was added they say to prevent discord between parties for if the rest were equally divided his Vote turned the Scale This 't is said gave distaste to the French but because the Line of Charles the Great being extinct in Lewis the Son of Lotharius that Realm was fallen into the hands of Hugh Capet the chief Minister at that time the great affairs of that Kingdom for some time not being manag'd by Kings they wav'd all thoughts of retrieving the Empire but the main reason was that the new Possessors were well enough yet satisfied with their fortune and dar'd not attempt any thing further 'till they were certain that their late acquir'd Regal Power stood upon a good foundation Robert the Son and Successor of the Great Hugh is much and deservedly praised for his Courage Justice Modesty and Religion for though he exercised himself very much in the Art Military yet he found time so often to frequent the Churches of God and to celebrate the Divine Service as if he had been in holy Orders He is said to have made the Hymn Sancti spiritûs assit 〈◊〉 gratia and by these Arts not less powerful than his Arms he gain'd the hearts of the People and drew those honourable respects to his Family which they had before given to that of Charles the Great Robert a certain Bishop of Chartres is about this time said to have been in great repute for Learning and Sanctity he having written much and reduced the singing in Churches to a better method Gregory died after he had been Pope two years and five months The Sea was vacant fifteen days JOHN XVIII JOHN the Eighteenth Bishop of Piacenza by the power of Crescentius the Consul as we said whom he had corrupted with his Money in the time of Gregory V. was made Pope by a Faction for he brought so much Money with him from Constantinople that even the good Men might be brib'd to serve his ill ends much less might he prevail with the Covetousness and Ambition of Crescentius I wonder that Historians place this John in the number of the Popes he having got into the Chair while Gregory was alive unless that in writing the Lives of Popes it may be thought fit as in a continued History to set down the outrages of Usurpers and Tyrants as well as the worthy Actions of good and lawful Princes that Readers may observe the difference between good and bad and upon the sight of examples of both be deterred from vitious and encouraged to virtuous practices and lead a blessed and happy life in the Earth Which blessedness and felicity John wanted for being a Robber and a Thief in his Pontificate and coming not in as he ought by the Door He died with ignominy enough in the tenth month of his Usurpation The Sea was vacant twenty days SYLVESTER II. SYLVESTER the Second before called Gilbert a French Man got the Popedom as they say by ill Arts. When he was young he was entred and sworn a Monk of Fleury in the Diocese of Orleans but he left the Monastery to follow the Devil to whom he had wholly delivered himself up and went to Sevil in Spain to study humane Sciences being extreamly greedy of Knowledg and Learning in which he made such progress that of a Scholar he soon became an excellent Master Martinus writes that the Emperor Otho King Robert of France and Lotharius a Man of noble birth and great learning afterward Arch bishop of Sens were his Scholars Gilbertus therefore full of Ambition and push'd on with the diabolical desire of Rule by Simony first gets the Arch-bishoprick of Rhemes and then of Ravenna at last the Devil helping him with an extraordinary lift he got the Popedom upon this Condition that after his death he should be wholly the Devils by whose assistance he had arriv'd at so great a Dignity Being greedy of Rule he ask'd the Devil once how long he should enjoy the
Conferences that the Pope seemed to refuse nothing which might engage and oblige the Cardinal having at his instance granted an alienation from the Church of three hundred thousand Livers a year to the King of France which Bene had formerly been demanded and sollicited with great importunity but could never be obtained until this endearment happened between the Cardinal and the Pope For now their mutual intimacy and friendship began to be so great that the Pope opened his bosom and heart to him giving him to understand that the Council being become a burden to him which he could not support he had therefore sent a private Bull to his Legats either to prorogue or adjourn it to some other place as should be most agreeable to the state of Affairs but the Cardinal who professed to have the same Interest for that his occasions required his presence in France yet could not concur in Opinion either to have the Council prorogued or adjourned to an other place but rather to dispose matters in order to a Conclusion which might easily be effected by laying aside all those Points which might administer matter or cause of Dispute promising to contribute to this Design all the Power and Interest he had with the Ambassadours and Bishops that so every thing might terminate happily and to the satisfaction of the Court of Rome The Pope being overjoyed with these Promises was comforted in the highest degree by the consolatory expressions of the Cardinal in return for which he promised to use all his endeavours to create him his Successour by engaging such a number of Cardinals in his favour as should secure his Election promising in the mean time to make him the chief Instrument of all his grand Designs Thus was the one elevated in his hopes and expectations of high preferments and the other encouraged against the refractory opposition of the French Prelats who were now grown mutinous and the Papal Authority rendered contemptible to them For at that time Chatillion had voluntarily renounced his character of Cardinal and called himself by the title of Count de Beauvais and in contempt of that Dignity was married in the habit of a Cardinal as if he intended by that action to have rendered that Honour ridiculous The French Prelats also being disgusted five of them retired from Trent having easily obtained their license from the Legats whose chief endeavours and labour was now to appease the Sedition and mutinies of the Bishops who were come to that unbridled usurpation and entrenchments on the temporal jurisdiction of Princes and Magistrates that they constrained the Legats to read in the Congregation that Model of a Decree which they had projected for Reformation of Secular Magistrates the particulars of which were so licentious and extravagant as deserve to be noted for discovery of that Pride which reigned amongst the Clergy of those days the contents of which were these That a Clergy-man was not liable to the Sentence of a Secular Court nor could he be tryed at that Bar though he himself should consent thereunto that the Secular Judges should not intermedle with causes relating to Matrimony to Heresie to Tenths Advowsons or rights of Patronage nor with any other causes whether civil or criminal wherein the Ecclesiastical Censure was or might be concerned That no Injunction be issued out of a Secular Court to hinder the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical in points of Excommunication though taken out against the Emperor himself or against Kings Nor shall the Civil Law contradict or interfere with the Ecclesiastical in matters which relate to the Affairs Goods or possessions of the Church which is endued with a Power of constituting its own Courts and Officers of several degrees ranks and qualities That the Clergy shall be exempt from Taxes Imposts Tithes or Subsidies whatsoever That Princes or Magistrates shall not have Power to quarter Soldiers Officers or Horse within the Houses or on the possessions of the Clergy with several other Articles of like tenure which were so repugnant to the Power of Kings that is seemed to shake their Authority and set up an other Soveraignty within their own Kingdoms independant of the Regal Jurisdiction for which reason the French Ambassadours having made their Protest against these Articles in the space of fifteen days afterwards retired from Trent to Venice according to the Orders which they had received from France The news of this retreat of the Ambassadours was very unwelcome to the Court of Rome and especially to the Cardinal of Lorain who apprehended that this unexpected accident would much eclipse his Credit and Reputation with the Pope and defeat the hopes he had conceived of his new preferment which that he might still keep up he promised the Pope to write and accordingly did write unto the King in such terms as plainly evidenced how far he had abandoned the Principles he brought from France and sacrificed them to a new aad strange Interest which he had acquired at Rome After which the Pope wrote to the Legats to prepare for the following Session according to the time appointed and to commence immediately after the return of the Cardinal to Trent and then speedily to wind all things up so as to put a final conclusion to the Council in which there seemed no great difficulty for that the French and Germans being drawn off they had none to deal with but onely with the Spaniards Howsoever the Pope resenting highly the retirement of the five French Bishops accused them of Heresie and cited them to make their defence before the Tribunal of Inquisition at Rome in like manner he issued out Process against Jane Queen of Navarre Widow of Anthony of Bourbon upon an accusation of Heresie in order to depose her from her Crown and Dignity the which Decrees were divulged and affixed on all publick places And though the Cardinal did in dislike thereof represent unto the Pope that this manner of proceeding was contrary to the received Maxims of France and the liberties of the Gallican Church and that it was not seasonable to proceed with such rigour against a Queen who was an Ally of France and the Relict of one lately slain in Battel against the Hugenots and that it was too early to summon Bishops to receive judgment at Rome against which the Council of France had so lately protested yet the Cardinal having performed this Office in a cold and perfunctory manner as if he intended rather to acquit himself with his Master than gain his Point gave no satisfaction to the Government of France which therefore making use of the Ambassadour Monsieur d' Oisel in this Negotiation his endeavours succeeded so well that the Process against the Queen of Navarre and the five Bishops was superseded and the whole matter buried in silence And that the King might shew how little he regarded the Decrees of the Council he proceeded actually to alienate the Lands of the Church before the License and Grant of the Pope
in a different manner depend on the Court France hath no great Obligation or dependency upon Rome unless it be in some respects to the privileges of the Gallican Church But Spain is engaged in a kind of Partnership with Rome in Government and Jurisdiction and is beholden thereunto for a great part of its Revenue The Income of the Crusada granted by the Popes to the Kings of Spain is one of the chief branches of the Royal Revenue The Tribunals of the Inquisition are absolutely constituted by the Ecclesiastical Authority which gives such an unlimited power to the Nuntios Judges and Officers of the Pope within the Catholick Dominions as doth very much eclipse and diminish the greatness of that Monarch whereunto when we add the Tribute yearly paid by that King to the Pope for the Kingdom of Naples it seems as if they two held the reins of Government in partnership together onely with this difference that though the Pope hath intermixt his power with the Temporal yet the King dares not interpose in matters Ecclesiastical Hence we may see how dangerous it is for Kings to admit Partners with them in their Thrones Never was the Monarchy of Spain more abased and rendered inglorious than when the Inquisition was set up and an other power introduced to allay and attemper the Sovereign Authority wherefore France having no need of such dependencies hath always kept up and asserted the Right of Monarchy not suffering it to be debased by the Concessions of Regalia or other mean Compliances And indeed how much more happy now is the Crown of Great Britain than in the time of King John who was forced to yield that of England to the Pope and his Successours and how considerable and flourishing hath it been since it hath disowned all dependencies on forein power either in Church or State in defence of which may His Sacred Majesty King James the Second who is the Supreme Moderator and Governour thereof upon Earth live long and Reign happily and when it shall please the King of Kings to translate Him from a fading to an Immortal Crown there may never fail one of his Royal Line to sit upon His Throne and defend His Loyal People against all the Encroachments and Usurpations of forein Jurisdiction An Alphabetical TABLE OF THE POPES Whose Lives were written by B. Platina A ADeodatus Pag. 114 Adrian I. 145 II. 169 III. 172 IV. 240 V. 281 Agapetus I. 90 II. 183 Agatho 117 Alexander I. 15 II. 206 III. 242 IV. 269 V. 341 Anacletus 12 Anastasius I. 66 II. 83 III. 179 IV. 240 Anicetus 21 Anterus 33 B Benedict I. 97 II. 120 III. 166 IV. 177 V. 186 VI. 188 VII 189 VIII 196 IX 199 X. 204 XI 298 XII 310 Boniface I. 72 II. 89 III. 102 IV. 103 V. 105 VI. 174 VII 189 VIII 294 IX 330 C Caius 43 Calistus I. 28 II. 231 III. 383 Celestine I. 73 II. 236 III. 252 IV. 265 V. 293 Christopher 178 Clemens I. 11 II. 201 III. 251 IV. 275 V. 299 VI. 312 Cletus 9 Conon 122 Constans Constantine 128 Cornelius 35 D Damasus I. 61 II. 201 Deus-dedit 104 Dionysius 40 Donus I. 115 II. 188 E Eleutherius 24 Euaristus 14 Eugenius I. 112 II. 155 III. 238 IV. 357 Eusebius 48 Eutychianus 42 F Fabianus 34 Felix I. 41 II. 59 III. 80 Formosus 173 G Gelasius I. 81 II. 228 Gregory I. 99 II. 130 III. 134 IV. 157 V. 192 VI. 200 VII 207 VIII 250 IX 260 X. 278 XI 320 XII 339 H Hadrian V. Adrian  Hilarius 78 Honorius I. 196 II. 233 III. 258 IV. 288 Hormisda 85 Hyginus 19 I Innocent I. 68 II. 234 III. 254 IV. 265 V. 280 VI. 315 VII 336 John I. 86 II. 90 III. 95 IV. 109 V. 121 VI. 125 VII 127 VIII 165 IX 170 X. 176 XI 180 XII 182 XIII 184 XIV 187 XV. 190 XVI 191 XVII ibid. XVIII 193 XIX 195 XX. ibib XXI 198 XXII 282 XXIII 305 XXIV 343 Julius I. 56 L Landus 179 Leo I. 76 II. 119 III. 149 IV. 162 V. 177 VI. 181 VII 182 VIII 186 IX 202 Liberius 56 Linus 7 Lucius I. 37 II. 237 III. 247 M Marcellinus 44 Marcellus 47 Marcus 55 Martin I. 111 II. 171 III. 183 IV. 285 V. 347 Miltiades 49 N Nicolas I. 167 II. 205 III. 283 IV. 290 V. 373 P Paschal I. 154 II. 220 Paul I. 141 II. 401 Pelagius I. 94 II. 98 S. Peter 1 Pius I. 20 II. 389 Pontianus 31 R Romanus 175 S Sabinianus 101 Sergius I. 123 II. 160 III. 178 IV. 196 Severinus 108 Simplicius 79 Sisinnius 128 Sixtus I. 16 II. 39 III. 74 Soter 23 Stephen I. 38 II. 138 III. 142 IV. 153 V. 172 VI. 174 VII 181 VIII 183 IX 204 Sylverius 91 Sylvester I. 50 II. 194 III. 199 Symmachus 84 Syricius 64 T Telesphorus 18 Theodore I. 110 II. 175 U Valentine 157 Victor I. 25 II. 203 III. 215 Vigilius 92 Vitalianus 113 Vrban I. 30 II. 216 III. 248 IV. 273 V. 319 VI. 323 X Xistus V. Sixtus Z Zacharias 136 Zephyrinus 26 Zozimus 70 A TABLE Of those POPES Names whose Lives are written in the Continuation A A Drian VI. created Pope Jan. 9. 1522. Page 40 Alexander VI. created Pope August 11. 1492. p. 12. Alexander VII created Pope April 7. 1655. p. 320 C Clement VII created Pope November 19. 1523. p. 46 Clement VIII created Pope January 30. 1592. p. 211 Clement IX created Pope June 20. 1667. p. 344 Clement X. created Pope April 29 1670. p. 357 G Gregory XIII created Pope May 13. 1572. p. 163 Gregory XIV created Pope December 15. 1590. p. 207 Gregory XV. created Pope Feb. 21. 1621. p. 267 I Innocent VIII created Pope August 29. 1684. p. 8 Innocent IX created Pope October 29. 1591. p. 210 Innocent X. created Pope September 15. 1644. p. 293 Innocent XI created Pope September 21. 1676. p. 376 Julius II. created Pope November 1. 1503. p. 20 Julius III. created Pope Febr. 17. 1550. p. 88 L Leo X. created Pope March 11. 1513. p. 29 Leo XI created Pope April 1. 1605. p. 225 M Marcellus II. created Pope April 9. 1555. p. 107 P Paul III. created Pope October 12. 1534. p. 67 Paul IV. created Pope May 23. 1555. p. 109 Paul V. created Pope May 16. 1605. p. 227 Pius III. created Pope Septemb. 22. 1503. p. 19 Pius V. created Pope Decemb. 24. 1559. being Christmas Eve p. 119 Pius IV. created Pope January 7. 1566. p. 157 S Sixtus IV. created Pope August 9. 1471. p. 1. Sixtus V. created Pope April 24. 1585. p. 172 U Urban VII created Pope September 15. 1590. p. 205 Urban VIII created Pope August 6. 1623. p. 271 THE LIVES OF THE BISHOPS and POPES OF ROME S. PETER the Apostle AFTER the Death and Resurrection of Christ and the Completion of the days of Pentecost the Disciples received the Holy Ghost and being filled with the Spirit they published the wonderful works of God in divers Tongues though most of them
appears in his Titles And yet he had his faults too amidst all these commendations For he is said to have lov'd his Relations to such a degree as that he would rob others to give to them For he took Castles from some Noble Romans and gave 'em to his own kindred particularly that at Soriano Where though he was a most temperate man yet he died suddenly in the third year eighth month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate Whose death they say some body foretold by a presage drawn from the swelling of the River Tiber. For it rose so high that it was four feet and more above the Altar in round S. Maries But his body was carried to Rome and buried in the Chappel of S. Nicolas which he built in S. Peter's in a Marble Tomb beautified with Fret-work still to be seen An. Dom. 1280. eight days after the Assumption This year Charles the King adorn'd and honour'd the Body of S. Magdalen which S. Maximin had buried in a Town of his own name with a more magnificent Tomb and a bigger Chappel and laid her head up in a Silver Case separate from her body Now they say that upon the death of Nicolas the Sea was vacant five months For whilst the Cardinals were about electing a new Pope at Viterbo and one Richard of the Family of the Hannibals which is the best in all Rome was Keeper of the Conclave two Cardinals of the Vrsini did what they could to hinder the Election unless Richard who was a bitter Enemy to the Vrsini would restore Vrsus Nephew to Nicolas lately deceased to his Government of Viterbo from which he had not long before deposed him For this reason the people of Viterbo sided with Richard went into the Conclave took the Cardinals and imprison'd them Which when it was known at Rome the same faction of the Hannibals drove the Vrsini out of the City who seeing they were forced to depart went all together and retir'd as far as Proeneste So that the French Cardinals when the Vrsini were gone out-voted the Italians and chose a French Pope about the end of the fifth month MARTIN IV. MARTIN the fourth formerly called Simon a Cardinal Priest of S. Caecilie and a French man of Tours being chosen Pope would not be crown'd at Viterbo because he thought that City ought not to be made use of in such a solemn occasion where the Cardinals had been so assaulted And therefore he went to Orvieto an ancient City and there performed all the Ceremonies upon the 23d day of March. And upon Easter day he created six Cardinals of which the Earl of Millain had the Title of S. Marcellin and Peter and Benedict Cajetanus had that of S. Nicolas in the Prison As for Charles the King he not onely receiv'd him kindly when he came to him but he gave him his former Senatorian Dignity whereof Nicolas had deprived him But this was not so very well approv'd on by all because it was like to cause great Tumults in the City the Vrsini being now restored and the Hannibali banish'd For Charles was a mighty Enemy to the Vrsini for Nicolas's sake whom he hated For this reason John to revenge the injuries done to his Brother Latinus and in defence of the Dignity conferr'd upon himself by the Romans got a good Army together and marching toward Viterbo spoiled all their Countrey far and near But Martin who was then in Montefiascone being concern'd at the misery of the Viterbeses sent Matthew a Cardinal of the Vrsine Family to Rome in all haste to compose the business who took John the Captain of the Roman People whom he met upon the Road along with him Thither came all the Heads of the Factions by command from the Legat especially Richard Hannibal to be absolved by the Legat from that Interdiction that he incurr'd at Viterbo for breaking into the Conclave and imprisoning the Cardinals Vrsini He therefore laid himself at the Cardinals feet with a Rope about his neck as the greatest sign of penitence and after he had beg'd pardon was absolv'd Peace being thus made between both the factions and the Roman Army called back from plundering the Viterboses the Pope immediately grants the Romans a Power to choose two Senators out of themselves that should govern the City Accordingly two were chosen Hannibal Son of Peter Hannibali and Pandulphus Savelli who ruled the City very well all the time they were in Office Especially at that time when Pope Martin at the request of Charles King of Sicily excommunicated Palaeologus for not keeping the Articles of Alliance made between them But then Palaeologus fearing Charles's Power made a private League with Peter King of Aragon who laid claim to the Kingdom of Sicily in right of his Wife Constantia Manfred's Daughter and Corradin's Niece Hereupon they prepared a great Navy at the common charge of 'em both which made the Pope send to Peter to know of him what he meant by all those preparations Peter told him that if he thought his Shirt could know what his intentions were he would tear it from his Body So the Legat went away without any satisfaction And Peter when he had gotten his Navy ready sails into Africa where he pillaged the Coast at Tunis extreamly and then returning into Sardinia expected to hear of some new commotions in Sicily by the contrivance of John Prochita according to an agreement they had made In the mean time new broils arose in Lombardy For the Viconti a noble Family there under the command of Luchino drave the Turriani another potent Family out of Millain Which Luchino was afterwards sent as Lieutenant to the Emperor into Tuscany where he resided at St. Miniato and plagued the Flâ—rentines and Luccases with grievous incursions not regarding the Popes interdictions with which he thought to have affrighted him from troubling these his Friends and Allies Those also of Perugia were now in Arms and did so press the Fuligneses that they took their City and demolish'd part of the Walls Thereupon the Pope excommunicated 'em but paying a good sum of money to him for penance they soon obtained his pardon In the mean time the Sicilians whose motions Peter attended in Sardinia could no longer endure the pride and licentiousness of the French and therefore were persuaded by John Prochita to enter into a Conspiracy against Charlâ—s that upon such a day in the Evening when they should hear such a Bell ring they should fall on and kill the French without respect to Sex or Age. In which action 't is said they were so true to their barbarous Promise that even those Sicilian Women were killed who were with Child by French men Hence comes it that the Sicilian Vespers is grown a By-word for any great Massacre At this time Guido Appius met with ill fortune when he was sent in the Popes name with eight hundred French Horse to recover Roâ—agna For as they sate before Forli and the Citizens would fain
of Bavaria whom the Electors of the Empire having deposed Wenceslaus of Bohemia for his sloth had chosen Emperor to come into Italy upon condition that he should not have the promised reward till he was advanc'd as far as the Dutchy of Millain But when he was come to Brescia near the Lago di Grada and had receiv'd part of the Money he engaged with Galeatius and losing the day fled to Trent The Venetians and Florentines promised him great things to keep him from going back into Germany but all would not do At that time Boniface whether out of fear of the Power of the Viconti or out of covetousness to enlarge the Churches Patrimony was the first that imposed Annates or yearly payments upon Ecclesiastical Benefices upon this condition that whoever got a Benefice should pay half an years Revenue into the Apostolical Treasury Yet there are those who attribute this Invention to John XXII Now all Countreys admitted of this usage except the English who granted it onely in case of Bishopricks but not in other Benefices Being thus strengthened with Money and choosing Magistrates as he pleased both in the City and all over the Church Dominions the Pope restored Ladislaus a Youth Son to Charles King of Naples into his Fathers Kingdom which was usurp'd by such as sided at that time with Lewis of Anjou And to do it the more easily and honourably he abolish'd that deprivation of Charles which Vrban had promulged at Nocera and sent Cardinal Florentino to Cajeta which was the onely place that had continu'd Loyal to crown the Youth there where he had been so loyally preserv'd Galeatius thus rid of the Emperor sent his Army under the command of Albrick against John Bentivoglio who had turn'd out the Garison and made himself Master of Bologna At this time Francis Gonzaga fought in Galeatius's Army for they two were friends again as also Pandulphus Malatesta Charle's Brother and Ottobon Rossi of Parma The names of these Men terrified the Florentines so that they sent Bernardo their General to assist the Bolognians their Allies which so encourag'd the Bolognians that they engaged the Enemy before their Walls but had the worst and lost all their Horse as also Bernardo who was kill'd in the fight James Carrara was taken but preserv'd at the request of Francis Gonzaga Bentivoglio fled with a small number into the City which whilst he stoutly defended he fell into an Ambuscade where he was kill'd the Enemy not being able to take him alive so that now Galeatius easily became Master of Bologna and struck great terrour into the Florentines threatning suddenly to turn all the force of his Arms upon them But not long after he died at Marignan of a Fever Anno Dom. 1402. whose death long wish'd for by the Florentines freed them from many fears and was presignified by a Comet which appear'd some time before Upon this many Usurpers arose either those who were chief in their Cities or who had command among the Soldiery by corrupting the Garisons seiz'd their several Towns there being now no one Man of Authority and Power to correct their ambitions and excesses infinite mischiefs hapned That fatal Sedition too of the Guelphs and Gibellins was renew'd which ran through Italy two hundred years and above and raised such civil Wars among the several Cities that they fought till they had almost destroy'd each other Vgolinus Cavalcabos having vanquish'd the Gibellins was Lord of Cremona whilst Otho the third got Parma expelling the Rossi The Soardi seiz'd Bergamo the Rusconii took Como the Vignati possess'd themselves of Lodi and Fazino Cane an excellent General made himself Master of Vercelli Alessandria and many other Towns thereabout I omit others who having been expell'd by Galeatius then were in some hopes of recovering their usurped Dominions especially William Scala and Charles Viconti Son to Bernabos who sollicited all the Princes and People to revolt Upon this account Piras Ordelaphus was banish'd his Country and got possession of Forli and Albrick Earl of Cuni would have reduced Faenza then brought to extremity if he had not been sent for in haste by Ladislaus by the Popes advice and made Great Constable of Naples The Pope had sent his Brother also thither with a competenr Army to assist the King but he being expelled by the Neapolitans moved toward Perugia and soon made that City subject to the Pope Baltesar Cassa also a Neapolitan Cardinal of S. Eustachius compell'd the Bolognians to return to the Church-party after he had besieged them for some time in which expedition Brachius Montonius led the Church-forces as being a Person well skill'd in Military Affairs and left for that reason in Romagna by Albrick For he had fought under him from his youth and been a Commander as had Sfortia who was born in Cotignola a Town of Romagna By whose valour and prowess the Militia of Italy so improved that whoever wanted a Commander would make use of one of them Hence those Military Factions so increased that all the troubles of Italy for sixty years might be imputed to one of them For he that was oppress'd by the Brachians immediately hired the Sfortians to revenge his quarrel But Albrick from whom as from the Trojan Horse so many Generals did come made Naples yield to Ladislaus after a long Siege At which Victory all the Princes of the Kingdom and all the Cities surrender'd themselves to the King But Ladislaus over desirous of enlarging his Kingly power before he had laid a good foundation in Naples was sent for into Hungary to accept of that Kingdom by hereditary right and in order thereunto sent over his Forces But whilst he was besieging Zara his Friends sent him word that the Neapolitans were like to revolt wherefore having taken Zara and sold it to the Venetians he return'd to Naples and calling back Albrick out of Romagna he deposed all the Nobles and banish'd those that refused to obey him But he was very severe upon the Family of Sanseverino and put the chiefest of them to death Boniface being troubled at such a tedious confusion of Affairs at length died of a Pleurisie in the fourteenth year and the ninth month of his Pontificate Anno Dom. 1404. He was buried at S. Peters in a Marble Tomb of Mosaic work still to be seen with his Coat of Arms which shews also that he built much in S. Angelo the Capitol and the Vatican Nor had any thing been wanting to the glory of this Pope if he had not been too partial to his Relations Simony being often committed by reason that his Brethren and Friends who came to Rome in great multitudes to get Money ask'd for every thing that fell in his gift without any reason As for Indulgencies and those plenary too they were sold about at such a rate that the Authority of the Keys and the Popes Bulls was brought into contempt Boniface indeed endeavour'd to amend these things but was forced
Affairs it is to be noted that about this time most mortal feuds and quarrels arose between this Pope Sixtus and the two Brothers of the House of Medicis Julian and Laurence the original of which proceeded from the great displeasure which Laurence took at the Pope for not conferring a Cardinals Cap on his Brother Julian in revenge of which he being very potent in Florence gave assistance both of men and mony to Nicolas Vitelli Count of Tiferno and Lord of the City of Castello whereby after he had been subdued and banished by the Pope and had resigned his Right and Possession to him he returned again with the favour of the people and re-assuming his Inheritance he demolished the Citadel which Sixtus for his better security had made and fortified with a good Garison Upon revolt of the City the Pope sent his Nephew Cardinal Julian with a strong Army against it and by a long Siege of three months became master of it Nor did Laurence de Medicis only show his indignation against the Pope by furnishing men and mony to Vitelli but likewise by disappointing him of the purchase of Imola the Prince whereof being reduced to great necessities for want of mony offered to sale to prevent which and that it should not fall into the hands of the Pope who now grew above measure great and powerful in Italy Laurence supplied the mony and so eased the Prince of those necessities which compelled him to a sale of his Patrimony The Pope growing very angry hereat and resolving to revenge these affronts entered into a secret conspiracy with Francis de Pazzi who was head of that Faction which was contrary to the House of Medicis whereby it was resolved that both the Brothers Laurence and Julian should be murdered and that the Commonwealth of Florence should be disposed of according to the pleasure of the Pope But that a design so impious as this should not seem to have entered into the heart of a Pope the whole management was committed to the conduct of Jeronimo Riario who in the first place prevailed with Ferdinand King of Naples to send an Army into Tuscany under the command of Alonso his Son and compel the Florentines either to extirpate the Family of the Medicis or force them to abandon their Country and that then under colour of the Papal Dignity the King of Naples might introduce his own Authority and set up for himself but to make all things sure in case this should fail Jeronimo communicated his design to John Baptista Montesecco a man very expert and ready in such attempts who quickly engaged several with him in the Conspiracy namely Bartholomew Salvian Arch-Bishop of Pisa who had conceived a private pique against Laurence also Francis de Pazzi and James Poggio whose Father was a famous Orator in his time And to put a better face on the matter and countenance the Plot Raphael Riario Cardinal of S. George a youth and Nephew of Jeronimo was sent to Pisa on pretence of his Studies under whose protection the Assassinates having performed their work might be the better secured Sunday being the 26th of April was the day appointed for this murder and accordingly the Conspirators who were many assaulted the two Brothers in the Church whilst they were hearing Mass Julian was there killed but Laurence having received a slight wound sled into the Vestery where he was saved from the violence of the Assassinates and in the mean time the Archbishop of Pisa and James Poggio endeavoured to possess themselves of the Palace belonging to that Signiory But the rumor hereof spreading quickly over all the City and that Julian was killed and Laurence still living the Party of the Medicis took courage and with Arms in their hands seized the Arch-Bishop of Pisa and James Poggio together with their Companions and putting a Halter about their necks they executed speedy Justice hanging them out at a window Antonio da Volterro and Stefano a Priest who attempted Laurence incurred the like fate Montesecco was tortured to make Confession which having done he was likewise put to death The Cardinal at the time of this Combustion flying to the High-Altar was scarce protected by the sacredness of the place and the earnest intercession of Laurence notwithstanding which having for some days been committed to safe custody until he had cleared his Innocence he was out of respect and favour to the Pope set at liberty Howsoever Sixtus was not so well pleased with the grace showed to the Cardinal but that he resented the severity they had used against a Priest and an Arch-Bishop to that degree that at the persuasion of Jeronimo Riario he interdicted the people of Florence and made War upon them Frederick Duke of Vrbin was made General of the Papal Army and Alfonso Duke of Calabria Son of Ferdinand King of Naples was also ready with another Army in favour and assistance of the Pope On the other side Lewis the 11th King of France sent a Succor of 300 Horse to Florence under the Command of Philip de Comines Lord of Argenton and farther to affright the Pope he ordered a Synod of Prelates assembled at Orleans to Decree that no more mony should be carried out of France to Rome for vacant Benefices The Venetians and Dukes of Milan Mantoua and Ferrara concerned themselves in the League that they might repress the ambition of the Pope whom they esteemed to be full of designs to advance his own power and glory in Italy Laurence de Medicis by his vigilance good address and conduct so well accommodated matters with Ferdinand King of Naples that he engaged that King to his Party and into an agreement of an Offensive and Defensive War with which Union and Alliances the Pope being discouraged the War concluded without any remarkable successes the Pope suppressing his resentments until a more seasonable time when he could with better effect reak his anger and revenge on his enemies which he had certainly performed with the first opportunity had he not been surprized with a suddain alarm from the Turk who having unexpectedly seized the City of Otranto put all Italy into fear and confusion This accident confirmed the Peace more firmly between Sixtus and the Florentines on whom by way of Penance for their late crime he imposed a charge of maintaining 15 Gallies against the Turk whose great force having entered into Italy would certainly in despight of all the power of that Country have made great devastations had not the death of Mahomet the Great who had taken Constantinople put a stop to the progress of his Arms and moved Bajazet his Son and Successor to recall Aâ—â—met Pasha his General with his Army out of Puglia and this happened in the year 1481. when the King of Cyprus and his Son being dead and the whole power remaining in the hands of the Queen who was of the noble Family of Cornaro the Venetian Senate laid claim to the Kingdom as devolving to
them by right of inheritance which for many years they maintained against the power of the Turk who made many attempts to make seizure of it About the same time also Dabuson the Great Master of Rhodes valiantly defended his City against Mahomet causing him to raise his Siege and retire with disgrace The fear of the Turk by their Retreat out of Italy being extinguished Sixtus re-assumed his former designs and in order thereunto favoured the party of the Venetians who made War upon Hercules da Este Duke of Ferrara by these means all Italy was put into a new flame of War being divided into diverse Parties and Factions On one side were the Pope the Venetians Genoueses and those of Siena with other Cities allied in a Confederacy On the other were Ferdinand King of Naples the Florentines Lodowick Sforza Protector of the State of Milan during the minority of the young Duke The Pope in favour of his own Party managed his War with the Spiritual as well as with the Temporal Arms for in the year 1482. he Excommunicated all his Enemies and as many as took their part or favoured their Cause and encouraged René Duke of Lorain and Anjou to return into Italy and recover his Kingdom of Naples But René being otherwise employed could not make use of this opportunity which was offered and therewith Ferdinand being enraged entered the Dominions of the Pope with a great Army and approached to the Gates of Rome with which Sixtus being greatly incensed issued out an Army against him under the command of Robert Malatesta and both Armies joyning Battel in a place called Campo Morto near Velitri Sixtus had the fortune of the day and to overthrow his Enemy many were slain on the place many principal Officers taken and carried in triumph into Rome and Ferdinand himself narrowly escaped by flight Three days after which Victory Malatesta died not without some suspicion of being poisoned Not long after a Peace being concluded between Pope Sixtus and the King of Naples all the Prisoners were set at liberty amongst which were the Cardinals Colonna and Savelli who at the beginning of the War were as disaffected persons committed to custody This War being in this manner ended the Pope turned his Arms upon the Venetians in favour of Hercules Duke of Ferrara lest that State being too powerful for him should augment their Force by the addition of that Dukedom and in regard that State would not give ear to his admonitions and desist from prosecution of their War at his command the Pope made use of his spiritual Arms Excommunicating all the Subjects under the Dominions of Venice and entering into League with all the Confederate Princes of Italy waged the most dangerous War that ever the Venetians had sustained and certainly had proved fatal to them had not Lodowick Sâ—forza Duke of Milan made a separate Peace with them against the sense and opinion of all the other Confederates Sixtus having by these many Wars and several ways exhausted his Treasury contrived by sale of new Offices never before known to replenish his Coffers he also imposed new Taxes and raised the old ones but that which most reflected on his Reputation and blemished him with the character of a covetous person was that he decimated the Prelates and laid new impositions on the Clergy but to do this Pope justice and give him his due never was any more generous or munificent in his gifts or more delighted to do good offices than this for he freely and at his own charge maintain'd Andrew Paleologo Prince of the Morea with Leonard di Focco Despor of Albania who had been deposed and exterminated their Dominions by the Turk he likewise with great magnificence and courtesie treated the Queens of Cyprus and Bosna whom the Turk had forced to abandon their Dominions and fly for refuge under his protection Also when the Kings of Denmark Swedeland Norway and Gothland with the Dukes of Saxony and Calabria being moved and guided by their Devotion came to visit the Roman Sea he received them with great State and treated them with a magnificence becoming Kings And when in the year of Jubile Ferdinand of Aragon King of Naples came to gain Indulgences at Rome he remitted to him the yearly Tribute which he was obliged to pay for that Kingdom and in lieu thereof contented himself with the yearly acknowledgment of a White Horse with its Furniture which is continued to this day And farther to demonstrate his generous and great Soul he re-built the Hospital of S. Spirito for maintainance and education of young Children he built the Church of S. Mary of Peace he adorned the Basilicon of S. Peter with new Windows making the Church more lightsome and pleasant than before he repaired the Palace of Lateran as also the Churches of the Holy Apostles with several other Churches The Pons Janicularis or the Bridg of Janicula being ruined he took up all the Stones and built an other Bridg over Tybur in the place thereof which since that time is called by the name of Ponte Sesto or the Bridg of Sixtus He cleared all the Common sewers of Rome making conveyances for the sullage of the City to run into the Tybur he repaired many Aquaeducts and Fountains and brought the brazen Statue of M. Aurelius from an obscure place and erected it in the more open Area of the Capitol It was he that reduced the Vatican Library into such a condition as hath made it famous through all the world for he not only brought Books thither from all parts of Europe but left also certain Rents and Revenues for the increase of them with Pensions also to the Library-keepers and under-Officers On the Pedestal of his Statue in the Library these Verses are written Templa Domum expositis vicos fora maenia pontes Virgineam Trivii quod reparatis aquam Prisc a licet Nautis Statuas dare commoda Portus Et Vaticanum cingere Christe jugum Plus tamen urbs debet nam quae squalore latebat Cernitur in celebri Bibliotheca loco In short there was nothing which tended to the glory and ornament of the City which was neglected by him and such was his zeal and power in defence of the Privileges of the Church that he would never suffer them to be infringed nor did any Prince offer him an injury or indignity which he did not return with due revenge As for instance appears by the War he made in confederacy with Venice and Genoua against the Duke of Ferrara and his Allies the which he managed with so much heat that when the Venetians made a separate Peace without his consent or approbation he so highly resented it that it brought him to a fit of the Gout which increased on him with that violence that he died thereof on the 13th of August 1484. having held the Pontifical Sea for the space of 13 years and four days having arrived the age of 70 years and 22 days At
and monstrous cruelties to him making him the Author of all those Calamities and Miseries which in his Reign over-whelmed Italy rendering its condition slavish and contemptible to Forein Nations Howsoever his temper was not so altogether flagitious but that it admitted of some alloy and mixture of Virtue for he with great care attended to the government of the City and regulation of the Courts of Justice to which end he ordained Visitors of the Prisons to examin and know the causes for which persons were imprisoned and created four Judges for the tryal of all criminal matters so that Justice was the more punctually executed than in former times But not to remain too long on his personal qualities let us proceed to the important affairs of his Government And in the first place being created Pope he was according to custom saluted and congratulated in his Papal Dignity by the Ambassadors of Kings Princes and States whom he respectively treated with affability and respect persuading them to peace and concord amongst themselves and by the virtue of such union and confederacy to joyn and employ their Arms against the Turk who was the common Enemy of Christendom And at that time being about the year 1493. in honor to Ferdinand King of Spain he gave him the Title of Catholick in acknowledgment and memory of the many Victories he had obtained over the Moors and gave him a Title to all those Lands and Countries in America which were or should be discovered there And thus as he was civil to Kings so he was kind and more affectionate to his Family For in the first Consistory that he held he created John Borgia his Sisters Son Arch-Bishop of Montreat Valentine Borgia his Natural Son Arch-Bishop of Valentia At this time the Emperor Frederick died having reigned for the space of 54 years Likewise Ferdinand King of Naples being dead he sent his Legat with power to confirm his Son Alonso in the succession to the Kingdom and having contracted an Alliance with him he ordered him to be Crowned and invested with the Regalities At this time being the year 1494. Charles the Eighth King of France who was of a martial and ambitious spirit laid claim to the Kingdom of Naples by virtue of the last Will and Testament of René Duke of Anjou and Lorain and being encouraged in that enterprise by Lodowick Sforza the Guardian of John Galeas Duke of Milan he entered Italy with a puissant Army consisting of 25000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a great train of Artillery The Pope apprehending the great ruine and damage which this incursion of the French would bring upon Italy entered into League with the City of Florence and both agreed and resolved to leavy Soldiers and joyn in a defensive League with the King of Naples but the Venetians and Ferdinand King of Spain who were likewise moved to enter into the League did positively refuse to accept the proposals being more inclinable to be unconcerned and Spectators than Actors in that hazardous War Charles being entered into Italy marched victorious thro Lombardy and having overthrown the Army of Florence soon after became Master Of the City it self thence he proceeded towards Rome where he entered on the first of January 1494. without any opposition it being agreed that in case the Romans would peaceably open their Gates and give free admission to the French that no hurt or violence should be offered by them to the Inhabitants but that on the contrary if they made opposition they would put all into flame and confusion The Romans therefore finding themselves in no condition to resist readily gave a reception to the French affording them plenty of Victuals and Provisions and they on the other side performed their conditions severely punishing such as were guilty of Riots or Tumults The Pope at first being affrighted with the approach of the French fled for security into the Castle but at length finding all things quiet and secure from the outrages of their Ghests adventured abroad and much against his will and inclinations entered into a League with them But Charles not much confiding in the Faith which the Pope had given required for better security thereof and by way of Hostage that Cesar Borgia who was called Cardinal Valentino should under colour of being the Popes Legat accompany him in the War together with Zizimé the Brother of the Grand Seignior on pretence that having overcome the Kingdom of Naples he would make use of him in the War which he intended to make upon Constantinople but he died soon after of a Bloody-Flux at Capua Upon approach of the French near to Naples King Alonso being conscious of his ill government whereby he had contracted the hatred of his people and despairing of the success of his Affairs surrendred up the Kingdom into the hands of his Son Ferdinand and with great fear and ignominy embarked himself with the best part of his wealth and fled into the Island of Sicily and soon after Ferdinand considering the weakness of his Force and the inequality of the Match between him and the French betook himself also to the Island of Ischia Charles following the favourable course of his good and victorious fortune with great expedition made himself Master of all the Kingdom of Naples the which success giving an alarm to all the Christian Princes a general confederacy was agreed amongst them for intercepting the French on their return out of Italy so that the Pope the Emperor Maximilian the King of Spain Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan and the Venetians uniting their Forces for the common safety of Italy composed an Army of forty thousand men Notwithstanding which Charles boldly returned out of Italy and with great difficulty having passed the Apenine Mountains with sixteen pieces of weighty Cannons which were drawn over by 300 Swissers and having by the greater error and neglect of the Enemy passed all the narrow and inaccessible ways about Zerzana and Petra Santa at length descended into the Plains of Lombardy The Confederate Army to hinder the Kings farther passage had encamped themselves at Fornovo near Tarro and at no far distance from Parma and there both Armies were engaged The French did not consist of more than 9000 men and the Confederates of 40000 and yet the French had the advantage and won the Field and as Philip de Comines saith the King entered triumphant into Asti tho Panvinio and other Italian Writers relate the Battel to have been bloody but the success and advantage doubtful Howsoever the news hereof being reported at Naples to the great advantage of the Confederates King Ferdinand re-assumed his courage and adventured out of his retirement at Ischia and then the French Forces being grown weak and all Recruits failing them he recovered his Kingdom with the assistance of the Catholick King Not long after Charles the Eighth died and Lewis the Twelfth Duke of Orleans succeeded in his Throne Likewise Ferdinand dying without Issue Frederick his
other dissenting and Schismatical Cardinals Things being in this manner debated before the Pope he remained doubtful what to conclude or resolve fear and hope striving within him But whilst he thus remained in suspense the course of fortune began to turn for Monsieur de Palissa who succeeded Gaston de Foix in the command of the French Army on a suddain departed from Romagna and drew all his Forces into the Dutchy of Milan being alarmed by descent of the Swissers into Lombardy leaving only 300 Lances 300 Light-Horsemen and 6000 Foot with eight pieces of Artillery behind under command of the Legate of the Council This news delivered the Pope from the fear of being forced to leave Rome and confirmed the state of his affairs in such manner that he resolved to continue the War with better hopes and expectations of success For the Pope's affairs having regained their reputation the new Council lately convened was on the first of May opened in the Church of S. John Lateran at Rome to this Assembly the dissenting Cardinals were cited to give their attendance but they not appearing were on the 8th day of the Sessions declared contumacious and Excommunicated and deprived of all their Temporal and Spiritual Degrees Honors and Offices and the people absolved from their Submission and Obedience to them It was farther also declared That their Council held at Pisa and afterwards removed to Milan was but a Conventicle and an unlawful and Schismatical Meeting and all their Acts rendered void null and of none effect In the mean time the Cities of Lombardy being encouraged by the Swissers who were now come into Italy in favour of the Pope revolted and re-assuming their ancient Liberty assailed the French with open force and overthrew them The Venetians also joyning with them prosecuted their Victory in such manner that in the space of 70 days after the Battel of Ravenna the French Army was almost wholly defeated and the remainder by order of King Lewis was recalled to his assistance against the Kings of England and Spain who at that time miserably infested his Country so that in a short time all Italy was freed from the slavery of the French The dissenting Cardinals having lost their protection at Milan fled from thence to Lions where they were kindly received and entertained at the charge of King Lewis The French being thus driven out of Italy all the Cities and Towns belonging to the Pope did by consequence return to the Ecclesiastical State Parma and Piacenza being dependencies on the Exarchat of Ravenna voluntarily yielded to the Pope all the other Towns of Romagna followed their example together with Bologna which casting off all respect to the Family of the Bentivogli expelled them from their Confines with which the Pope not being satisfied pursued them with the thunder of his Excommunications Genoua being also abandoned by the French was possessed by Fregoso The Venetians seized on Crema and Brescia such of the Family of the Medices as had followed the Popes Party were re-instated in Florence Peter Joderini who had been created perpetual Gonfaloniere being expelled thence The State of Milan was resigned to Maximilian Sforza as the true and lawful Prince all which benefits and happy successes being procured by the Arms of the Swissers they were in the Council of Lateran adjudged and declared to be the Restorers of the Liberties of Italy And now all things being restored to this happy state the Pope required the Venetians in virtue of the late Articles to deliver Verona and Vicenza to Maximilian which they obstinately refusing to perform he entered into a League with the Emperor against them The Venetians on the other side being well acquainted with the temper of the Pope confederated themselves in an Alliance with Lewis the French King hoping by his assistance and protection to defend themselves from that League to this interest likewise the dissenting Cardinals adhered who instigating Lewis every day against the Pope and raising tumults in several places gave out a report that the Abbot of Clugni was to be created Pope in the place of Julio the which extremely incensed and moved him with choler and disdain for he had a mind always unquiet not sooner ending one enterprize before he began another his Plots and designs always increasing He determined now at the beginning of the Spring to attempt Ferrara a design so much desired He had bought the City of Siena for thirty thousand Ducats He agreed to lend the Emperor forty thousand Ducats receiving Modena in pawn He threatned Luca for seizing Garsagnana He testified some anger against the Cardinal de Medicis because he seemed more inclining to the Party of the Catholick King than to his and studied new Plots and Practices to alter the Estate of Florence And in this manner having a thousand irons in the fire he was continually plotting how he might drive the Spanish Army out of Italy by the help of the Swissers whom he always extolled and embraced it being his great design as he often uttered to expel all Forein Force out of Italy He had also moved Henry VIII King of England to make War upon France and in detestation of Lewis he had transferred by a publick Decree of the Council of Lateran the Title of Most Christian to the King of England for which there was a Bull prepared and written containing also in the same a deprivation and deposing of the King of France from all his Power and Dignities giving that Kingdom for a prey to any who could conquer it With these great thoughts and perhaps many other more secret intrigues he fell sick of a violent Fever caused perhaps by the violent agitations of his mind and in a few days died in the Vatican on the 21. of February 1513. the Council of Lateran still sitting He was aged above 70 years and held the Papal Chair for the space of nine years three months and five and twenty days and was buried in S. Peter's Church in the Chappel of his Uncle Pope Sixtus This Julius the Second had a spirit more agreeable to a Soldier or Martial Governor than a Pastor of the Church He was a Prince of incredible constancy and courage but so violent and of such unmeasurable apprehensions that the Discord of Princes and the Reverence which some of them bore to the Church preserved him from ruine more than his own moderation or discretion And yet nevertheless he was lamented by such who knew not how to distinguish between the tempers which are decent and agreeable to difference a temporal from a spiritual Prince for certainly had he been a Secular his inclinanations his industry and zeal to enlarge and advance his Dominions might have been more commendable than in him who pretended to be Vicar to the Prince of Peace LEO X. POPE Julio being dead and his Funerals performed according to the accustomed Rites the Cardinals being four and twenty in number entered the Conclave in a peaceable manner
to that King And whereas the former Pope was always averse to the instances which the Emperor and French King and other Princes made to him for a General Council to be held for reforming abuses crept into the Church and suppressing the Opinions of Luther which they called heretical and which began to dilate and spread themselves in all parts of Christendom Now this Paul the Third was of such a different sense herein to his Predecessor that he freely declared for a Council shewing himself willing to meet the desires of the Princes and promised in a short space to appoint the time and place where such a Council should be held and celebrated And farther to confirm and improve this good correspondence with the Christian Courts he dispeeded his Emissaries and Legates into all parts whose care it was as well to advance the private interests of his Family as the common benefit of the Church and particularly to solicit and promote such a good correspondence and peace between the Emperor and the King of France that uniting their Forces for the common safety of Christendom might joyntly make War upon the Turk and other enemies to the Christian Faith but herein his desires found little success for the French being beaten out of Italy could not support the prosperity of the Emperor against whom breathing nothing but revenge could never be induced to unite their Arms in a common Cause or joyn in a design then preparing by the Emperor against the Kingdom of Tunis which one Barbarosso had usurped who having by the help of Soldiers and a strong Fleet furnished and equipped at the expence of Soliman Emperor of the Turks droven Mulcasses King of Tunis out of his own Country did with the pyracies he committed very much infest the Coasts of Spain and Sicily and being arrived to a considerable power threatned to invade the Kingdom of Naples This growing greatness of Barbarosso and the daily Pyracies he committed were sufficient provocation to Charles the Fifth to wage War against him and being a Tyrant and an Infidel the Pope also became concerned in this Holy Cause to concur with the Emperor for whose assistance he furnished out nine Gallies which were fitted at Genoua besides three others which were the usual Guard of the Coast over this Fleet Virginio Orsinio a person of great quality was constituted Admiral to whom was joyned Paulo Giustiniano a Noble Venetian and one of great experience in Sea Affairs The preparations of the Emperor also were very great his Fleet was commanded by Prince Doria who was made Commander in Chief at Sea to whom the Pope made a present of a short Sword or Poniard with a Hilt set with Jewels and the Scabbard rarely Engraved and consecrated with the usual Ceremonies likewise a Cap of Velvet Embroidered with Pearls which were the accustomary Donatives which Popes made to Generals that were employed in a Holy War against Infidels The Marquiss Del Vasso was created General of the Italian and German Infantry and being on his Voyage towards Tunis he touched in his way thither at Civita Vecchia to which place the Pope went in person to bless the Army that he might evidence to the world the great zeal he had for the Christian cause the which office of Benediction he performed on the top of a high Tower from whence surveying the Fleet of Ships and Gallies he solemnly prayed with a Choire of Priests for the happy success of this enterprise making thousands of Crosses on the empty Air and then descending into the Church he delivered the Banner and Scepter of the Christian Religion into the hands of Viâ—ginio Orsino his General The success of this Expedition was that the Emperor having landed a great Army on the Coast of Tunis defeated Barbarosso and put his Forces to flight took the City of Tunis and restored Mulcasses the vanquished Prince to his Kingdom on conditions of Homage and Tribute for better security of which payment and performance he built two Castles at the Goleta which being Garrisoned with Spaniards served for Block Houses to that Port and having released twenty thousand Christians from Captivity which Barbarossa had by his depredations at Sea and Land taken and enslaved he returned with his Fleet to Sicily and then to Naples where he solemnly entered in a triumphant manner with such joy and festivals as are due to such successes Nor was this good news less welcome to Rome where Processions of Thanksgivings were made and Te Deum sang in the most solemn manner and farther to â—estifie the great joy which the Pope conceived for this success John Piccolomini and Alexander Cesarini were sent from him to congratulate with the Emperor for this glorious and happy Victory Whilst the Emperor was in his passage between Sicily and Naples advices were brought him of the decease of Francis Sforza who was the last Duke of Milan by whose death that Dutchy devolved to the Empire being afterwards governed by Antonio de Levae in form of a Province howsoever the Title thereunto was not so clear on the Emperors side but that the King of France laid his claim unto it not only by right of inheritance as descended from his Great-Grand-Mother Valentina but by virtue also of a concession granted by publick Act from Maximilian the Emperor to King Lewis XII of France on a valuable consideration of mony paid for it after Lodowick Sforza had been taken and droven from thence But this pretence seemed of little moment to the Emperor who judging this Dukedom of great importance to his State came from Naples to Rome with intent to persuade the Pope to joyn with him in a League against the French that so Italy might be more in repose and quiet by expulsion of the French who were always esteemed great disturbers of the peace of it On the 5th of April 1536. the Emperor came to Rome where being received by the Cardinals Bishops and all the Orders of the Clergy with the Citizens he was conducted to the Church of S. Peter where the Pope attended him on the steps of the Porch and the usual Ceremonies being passed he was lodged in that apartment of the Vatican Palace which was built by Innocent VIII During the residence which the Emperor made at Rome he entertained frequent Conferences with the Pope concerning a League to be entered into between them and the other Princes of Italy for expelling the French out of that Country who having been always known under the character and notion of the disturbers of their peace they could neyer hope or expect quietness whilst that restless people had any hold or possession in their Quarters And farther the Emperor in a publick Assembly of the Pope and all the Cardinals and Forein Ministers did most severely inveigh against Francis the French King as the most ungratetul and faithless of all the Princes of the Universe but being sharply answered and replied upon by Monsieur Bellay the Embassador of France
in that friendly manner that his Servants and Dependants were glad to be so happily mistaken but this good Nature being forced and constrained did soon vanish and then his fierce and supercilious temper returning to its natural course all his actions were influenced with a spirit of Pride and haughty severity An instance of which he gave to the Steward of his House when he demanded of him in what manner he was pleased to be served his Answer was short saying as became a Prince His Coronation he ordered with more Pomp and Ceremony than was ever before practised and in all things he affected Magnificence and State and was no less indulgent to his Nephews than the most tender and fondest of the Popes Soon after his Coronation he ordered the first Consistory to be publick that he might with the greater State and Pomp give Audience to the Ambassadours of England who in the time of Pope Julius had been dispatched thence from Queen Mary and Philip her Husband The Ambassadours being introduced to his presence and prostrating themselves at his feet did one after the other for so the Pope would have it confess and acknowledg the faults and errors of the Kingdom of England in having strayed and deviated from the flock of Christ and the Sheepfold of the Church but now repenting and returning again did humbly beg Absolution and to be received into the bosom of the Church though by the obstinacy and perseverance in their Errors they had rendered themselves unworthy of such mercy and indulgence The Pope having for some time beheld these Ambassadours at his feet and contemplated their humble posture with some satisfaction of spirit raised them at length from the floor and embraced them with the tenderness of a Father testifying great satisfaction in the happy conversion of this Kingdom and because the Queen and King were the happy Instruments of this blessed and religious work in reward of so much Piety he confirmed their right and title to Ireland and by virtue of that Power which he had received from God to dispose of all Earthly Crowns he conferred on them that Kingdom dignifying them amongst their other Titles with that of King and Queen of Ireland Which piece of vanity though ridiculous to others was extreamly pleasing to the Pope who fancied himself in that Throne of Fools Paradise to which the Devil had in his Pride exalted himself when he tempted our Saviour with all the Kingdoms of the Earth But then afterwards in private Conference with the Ambassadours he blamed England for having but in part shewed their penitence for that whilst they retained any thing of the goods of the Church and did not make restitution to the utmost farthing a Curse would remain on the Kingdom and the people remain in a perpetual snare and danger of Damnation He farther told them That the sooner and the more readily they paid the Peter-pence for collection of which he had sent an Officer into England the more easily would the Gates of Heaven be opened to them for how could they expect that St. Peter should turn his Keys whilest they denied him those Fees which were the dues of his Office In fine the Ambassadours having behaved themselves with humility which was the onely means to procure the favour of this Pope they departed from Rome laden with Praises Honours and Graces from his Holiness and then attending to a full Reformation in England he purged the Universities of Oxford and Cambridg of those Tenents and Lectures which had been there taught by Peter Martir and Bucer and deprived Cranmer of his Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury Having thus obtained his pleasure and Designs over England he next endeavoured to gain an Ascendant over the Emperor and King of France both of which courted him to that Degree that he expected to have them both at his Service and Devotion but in regard it was impossible to entertain them both in the same equality of respect and dearness both Parties strained to outvy each other in Proposals of advantage which might give them admission to his favour in pursuance of which the Cardinal of Lorain who was well acquainted with the humour of the Pope publickly declared in a full Consistory that besides the many steps which the King of France had made in Obedience to the Papal Chair he did acknowledg that the Gallican Church had need of Reformation towards which he was ready to afford all the aid and assistance to the Pope that he was able and to act therein by such ways and methods as his Holiness should direct whether it were by sending his Prelats to the Council or by any other means that should be esteemed more proper and expedient The which so took with the Pope that France for that time gained a preeminence in his favour And yet notwithstanding this Pride and rudeness in his nature he did several things at the beginning to gratify and please the People of Rome which he performed by abating the Taxes and Imposts laid on Provisions and in other things acted with such obliging circumstances that the People in acknowledgment for such abundant favours erected a Statue of Marble for him in the Capitol He regulated the Manners of the Jews and retrenched that liberty and freedom they used and for the better distinction of them ordered them to wear yellow Hats He published several severe Decrees against such as denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ and that he died for the redemption of Mankind In short besides many good Laws and Acts which he ordained against corrupt and dissolute Manners which were grievous to the Clergy who were unaccustomed to a Severity He selected a hundred Citizens of the Gentry of Rome which he created Knights of the Faith to be a standing Life-Guard to the Popes He repealed several Decrees of Julius III. and imprisoned many of those who had been his Creatures and familiar Friends Amongst the Counsellours and Familiar Confidents which he entertained there was none who had at first had a greater share in his favour than Osio whom he declared Datary and chief Notary or Register of Petitions and created Bishop of Riete but he being of a rude and morose temper did always clash against the humour of the Pope which was hard and inflexible like his which therefore ill according together Osio was by the instigation also of the Pope's Relations who were always busie at his ear deprived of his favour and sent Prisoner to the Castle where he remained for the space of four years In the next place by a new Decree he retrieved all those goods and Ecclesiastical Revenues which had been alienated from the Church since the time of Julius II. to his days He reformed also the abuses which were crept into the Office of the Penitentiaries and regulated the Habit and Tables of the Clergy and refused to admit any into Benefices but such as had been approved for holiness of Life and severity of Manners Towards the three Conservators
September in the ninety first year of his Age. Besides him there were also Gelasius Successour to Euzoius in the Bishoprick of Caesarea Palestinae a man of excellent Parts Dexter Son of Pacianus who compiled an History inscribed to S. Hierem Amphilochius who wrote concerning the Holy Ghost in an 〈◊〉 style and 〈◊〉 commended by S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his learned Book of the Destruction of 〈◊〉 'T is said also that at this time Lucianus a Preshyter directed by a divine Revelation found out the Sepulchres of S. Stephen the Protomartyr and Gamaliel S. Paul's Master of which he gave an account to all the Churches by an Epistle in Greek which was afterwards translated into Latin by 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 and sent to Orosius Some likewise tell us that John Cassianus and Maximine two very learned Men lived in this Age but though it be doubtful of them it is not so concerning Eutropius S. Austin's Scholar who in a handsom style Epitomised the Roman History from the building of the City to his own times and who moreover wrote to his two Sisters Recluses concerning Chastity and the Love of Religion to whom we may add Juvenal the Bishop of Constantinople and Heros a Disciple of S. Martin the wrongfully deposed Bishop of Arles both men of great reputation for Sanctity As for Boniface himself having at one Ordination made thirteen Presbyters three Deacons thirty six Bishops he died October the 25th and was buried in the Via Salaria near the body of S. Felicitas the Martyr He fat in the Chair three years eight months sevendays Boniface being dead some of the Clergy recall'd Eulalius but he either through indignation at his former repulse or from contempt of Worldly greatness disdained the revocation and died the year following The See was then vacant nine days CAELESTINUS I. CAELESTINE a Campanian lived in the times of Theodosius the younger This Theodosius upon the death of that excellent Prince Honorius creates the Son of his Aunt Placidia Valentinian Coesar and commits to his charge the Western Empire Who being immediately by the universal consent of all Italy acknowledged their Emperour and actually entring upon the Government at Ravenna was wonderfully prosperous in subduing the Enemies of the Roman State and particularly John the Usurper In the mean time the Vandals Alemans and Goths a barbarous and salvage people passing over out of Spain into Africa under the conduct of their King Gensericus not only miserably depopulated and harrassed that Province with Fire and Sword but also corrupted the Catholick Faith there with the mixture of Arianism and banish'd some Orthodox Bishops during which Troubles S. Augustine Bishop of Hippo died in the third month of the Siege of that City August 28. in the seventy seventh year of his Age. The Vandals having taken Carthage fail'd to Sicily and made the like havock in that Island as also did the Picts and Scots in the Island of Britain In this Extremity the Britains implored the Aid of Aetius a Patrician and a famous Soldier but he not only denied them his assistance but having other ambitious Designs to carry on solicited the Huns to invade Italy The Britains being thus deserted by Aetius call over the Saxons or English to their help whom they soon found more their Enemies than Assistants for being in a little time over run by them they lost both their Countrey and their Name While these things were transacting Theodosius dying at Constantinople in the twenty seventh year of his and his Uncle Honorius's Reign Bleda and Attila two Brothers Kings of the Hunns invading Illyricum lay'd waste and burn'd all places to which they came Notwithstanding our Coelestine ordained several Rites appertaining to divine Worship as that besides the Epistle and Gospel before the Mass the Psalms of David should be sung by all alternately Martinus Cassinas tells us that the Psalm Judica me Deus Give sentence with me O God and defend my cause c. which is used at the beginning of the Sacrifice was introduced by him as likewise the Gradual is ascribed to him Many other Ecclesiastical Constitutions he made to be seen in the Archives of the Church He also dedicated and enriched the Julian Church At this time Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople endeavoured to sow a new Errour in the Church asserting that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary a meer Man and that the Divinity was conferred upon him of Merit To this impious Doctrine Cyril Bishop of Alexandria and our Coelestine opposed themselves very strenuously For in a Synod of two hundred Bishops held at Ephesus Nestorius himself and the Heresie denominated from him together with the Pelagians who were great favourers of the Nestorian Party were by universal consent condemned in thirteen Canons level'd against their foolish Opinions Moreover Coelestine sent Germanus Bishop of Auxerre into England to oppose the Pelagian Heresie and reduce the Inhabitants to the Orthodox Faith and Palladius whom he had made a Bishop to the Scots who desired to be instructed in the Christian Religion And indeed it cannot be denied but that by his endeavours and the industry of those whom he employed to that purpose a great part of the West were converted to Christianity 'T is said that at this time the Devil assumed humane shape and pretended himself to be Moses and imposed upon a multitude of Jews by undertaking to conduct them out of the Island of Crete into the Land of Promise through the Sea as upon dry Land in imitation of the ancient Miracle wrought for that People at the red Sea Many of them follow'd this false Moses and perished in the Waters those only being reported to have been saved who presently own'd Christ to be the true God Our Coelestine having at three Decembrian Ordinations made thirty two Presbyters twelve Deacons sixty two Bishops died and was buried in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Via Salaria April the 6th He sat in the Chair eight years ten months seventeen days and by his death the See was vacant twenty one days SIXTUS III. SIXTUS the third a Roman Son of Sixtus lived in the time of Valentinian Who being Governour of the Western Empire entred into a League with Gensericus King of the Vandals whom he permitted to inhabit part of Africa confining themselves within certain Boundaries agreed upon between them Genseric being afterwards instigated by the Arians became very zealous in propagating their Errours and violently persecuted the Orthodox Bishops And Valentinian going to Constantinople and there marrying Theodosius's Daughter the Vandals in the mean time under Genseric's Conduct re-took and sack'd Carthage in the five hundred eighty fourth year since its first being in the hands of the Romans While these things weret ransacting in Afric Attila King of the Huns not contented to have invaded the two Hungaries miserably harasses Macedonia Mysia Achaia and the Thraces and then that he might have no sharer in the Kingdom puts to death his Brother Bleda
the determination of the Apostolick See unless an account were first given them why Acacius was Excommunicated But Justine soon forc'd them out of the Church and City too and Hormisda dealt in the same manner with the Manichees who began to spring up afresh in Rome whose Books he caused to be burn'd before the Gates of S. John Lateran About this time Transamund King of the Vandals dying in Afric his Son 〈◊〉 whom he had by the Captive Daughter of Valentinian succeeded him in the Kingdom He inherited none of his Fathers Errours but following the Counsel of his religious Mother re-call'd all the Catholicks whom Transamund had banish'd and permitted them the free exercise of their Religion At this time also several rich Presents were sent to Rome for the Ornament of the Churches there by Clodoveus King of France and Justine the Emperour King Theodoric also richly adorn'd the Church of S. Peter nor was Hormisda himself behind these Princes in bounty and munificence to the Church Having setled things according to his mind and ordained twenty one Presbyters fifty five Bishops he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church August the 6th in the Consulship of Maximus He sat in the Chair nine years eighteen days and by his death the See was vacant six days JOHN I. IOHN by birth a Tuscan Son of Constantius was in the Chair from the Consulship of Maximus to that of Olybrius in the time of King Theodoric and the Emperour Justine Who out of his great zeal for the Orthodox Faith and that he might utterly extinguish the name of Hereticks banish'd the Arians and gave their Churches to the Catholicks This was so highly resented by Theodoric that he sends John himself with Theodorus and the two Agapeti his Ambassadours to Justine to advise him to restore the Arians or upon his refusal to let him know that he would pull down all the Catholick Churches in Italy These Ambassadours were at first very kindly and honourably received But having given an account of their Embassie and finding Justine wholly averse to grant what they desired they betook themselves to Tears and Prayers humbly beseeching him to prevent the ruin of Italy and all the Orthodox Christians in it by which means the good Prince was prevailed upon to recall the Arians and to grant them a Toleration Some write that it was in this Bishops time that Symmachus and Boethius were brought back from Exile imprison'd and slain by the cruelty and rage of Theodoric However certain it is that they were put to death by Theodoric's order and it matters not much whether it were in the Pontificate of Hormisda or John Which John returning from Constantinople Theodoric was so highly incens'd against him for his agreement with the Emperour Justine both in Faith and manners that it was a chance that he had not taken away his life immediately but throw him into Prison he did at Ravenna where through stench and nastiness and want of necessary provision the good man at length died A Cruelty for which the divine Vengeance sorely punished Theodoric not long after for he died suddenly of a fit of an Apoplexy and his Soul if you will take the word of a devout Hermit who reported it was cast into the flames of the Island Lipara Theodoric was succeeded in the Kingdom by his Daughter Amalasuntha with her Son Athalaric whom she had by her Husband Eucherius A Woman who with a prudence above her Sex rectified her Fathers ill Decrees restored the confiscated Estates of Boethius and Symmachus to their Children and caused her Son to be instructed in all kinds of good Literature though she were herein opposed by the Goths who cried out that their King was not to be bred a Scholar but a Soldier Much about this time died Justine being very Aged leaving the Empire to his Sisters Son Justinian and Clodoveus King of France leaving four Sons his Successors in that Kingdon Persons of Note and esteem at this time were Benedict of Nursia who setled among the Italians the Rules and Canons of the Monastick life and Bridget a devout Virgin of Scotland and John Presbyter of Antioch who wrote much against those that held that Christ should be worshipped in one Nature only To these Isidore adds one Cyprignius a Spanish Bishop who wrote elegantly upon the Apocalypse Our John before he went to Constantinople had repaired three Coemeteries namely that of Nereus and Achilleus in the Via Ardeatina that of the Martyrs SS Felix and Adauctus and that of Priscilla He also adorn'd the Altar of S. Peters with Gold and Jewels He likewise brought with him from Constantinople a Paten of Gold and a Chalice of Gold set with precious stones the Presents of the Emperour Justine but these I suppose to have been lost together with his life At several Ordinations he consecrated fifteen Bishops 'T is said that his Body was brought from Ravenna to Rome and buried in S. Peter's Church July the 27th Olybrius being then Consul He sat in the Chair two years eight months and by his death the Seewas vacant fifty eight days FELIX IV. FELIX the fourth a Sammite the Son of Costorius lived in the time of the Emperour Justinian Whose General Belisarius was victorious over the Persians and passing into Afric by his singular courage and conduct subdued and almost quite rooted out the Vandals whose King Gilimer he took Prisoner and brought him home with him in Triumph About this time Amalasuntha having a long time lived very uneasily with her malecontented Goths and having buried her wayward and unruly Son Athalaric associates her kinsman Theodatus in the Government This Theodatus was so great a Proficient in Greek and Latin Learning that he wrote an elegant History of his own times and was throughly skilled in the Platonick Philosophy And though he were not naturally of an active Martial temper yet at the desire of Amalasuntha he undertook a War against the Burgundians and Alemanni and manag'd it very succcesfully Felix in the mean while being careful of the affairs of the Church excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople for Heresie and built in the Via Sacra near the Forum Romanum the Church of S. Cosmus and Damianus as appears from the Verses yet remaining wrought in Mosaick work He also re-built the Church of S. Saturninus in the Via Salaria which had been consumed by fire Some write that in this Age lived Cassiodorus who while he was a Senator wrote several things in Politicks and when he became a Monk composed a Comment upon the Psalms 'T is said also that Priscian of Caesarea the famous Grammarian now wrote his Book of Grammar Arator likewise a Sub-Deacon of Rome translated the Gospels into Hexameter Verse and Justinian Bishop of Valence was had in great esteem for what he preach'd and wrote concerning the Christian Faith As for Felix himself having ordained fifty five Presbyters four Deacons twenty nine Bishops he
Popedom or any other Bishoprick should undergo the same Penalty He decreed likewise that the choice of any Bishop should be by the Clergy and People and that the Election should then stand good when it were approved by the Civil Magistrate and when the Pope had interposed his Authority in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Command An Institution in part very necessary for our times especially so many corruptions daily creeping in For it is probable that the Election being free the Clergy and People will chuse and the Magistrate approve of no other than such an one as deserves and is fit to be Governour in the Church Though if I may speak it without offence to any that are good the truth is multitudes do now aspire to the Dignity of Bishops not as they ought to do for the sake of the publick good but that they may satisfie their own Covetousness and Ambition For the great Question is what any Bishoprick is worth not how great a Flock there is to take the charge of But enough of this I return to Boniface whose Decrees as it appears were extinct with his Life He died in the ninth month of his Pontificate and was buried in the Church of S. Peter The See was then vacant one month six days BONIFACE IV. BONIFACE the fourth born in Valeria a City of the Marsi the Son of John a Physician obtained of the Emperour Phocas the Pantheon a Temple so called because it was dedicated to Cybele and all the Gods and having cast out all the Heathen Images that were in it he consecrated it on May the 12th in honour to the Blessed Virgin and all the Martyrs 〈◊〉 it was afterwards called S. Maria Rotunda and Virgo ad Martyres At this time the Persians under the Conduct of their King 〈◊〉 making an irruption into the Roman Provinces and having routed Phocas's Army possess themselves of Jerusalem prophane and pillage the Churches of the Christians carry away the Wood of our Saviour's Cross and take Captive Zacharias the holy Patriarch of that City Hereupon Phocas falling into contempt with all men but especially the Senate was deprived of his Empire and Life by Heraclius General of the Forces and Governour of the Province of Afrique Now also Caganus King of the Avares forcing his entrance through Pannonia and Illyricum into Italy was so much too hard for the Lombards that he was very near making himself Master of the Province it self and through the treachery of Romilda who was enamour'd of him he did actually take Friuli and sack'd it in such a manner that scarce any footsteps of it were left remaining While things went thus in Italy John Bishop of Girone proved a great Defence to Christianity both by his Preaching and Writings He being a Goth born in Portugal so soon as he came to the years of discretion travelled to Constantinople and parted thence so well skill'd in Greek and Latin Learning that at his return into Portugal he was able easily to 〈◊〉 the Arian Heresie which very much prevailed there For this reason he was by the Hereticks confined in Barcellona But afterwards upon the death of King Lemungildus who countenanced those Hereticks he came back into his own Countrey and both wrote very much concerning the Christian Religioon and also founded a Monastery and prescribed Rules of living which the Monks thereof were to guide themselves by Eutropius also Bishop of Valentia was now by his Learning and Example very instrumental to keep the Spaniards sound in the Faith Moreover Columbanus an Abbat a very holy man by descent a Goth coming first out of Scotland into Burgundy built there the stately Monastery of Luxevil and thence passing into Italy built another fair one at Bobio Pope Boniface that he might not be behind-hand in this matter with either of them converted his Father's House into a Monastery and gave his Estate for the maintenance of the Monks in it But not long after he died having been in the Chair six years eight months seventeen days and was buried in the Church of S. Peter in a time of Dearth Pestilence and great Innundation of Waters By his Death the See was vacant seven months twenty 〈◊〉 days DEUS-DEDIT I. DEUS-DEDIT a Roman Son of Stephen a Sub-deacon being unanimously chosen to the Pontificate proved a great Lover and Encourager of the Clergy 'T is reported that he was a person of so great Sanctity that meeting with a man who had a Leprosie he cured him of that Disease with a Kiss He ordained that the Son should not marry any Woman to whom his Father had been Godfather At this time Heraclius with a great Army recovered several Provinces which the Persians had possess'd themselves of dismounted and slew their General in a single Combat vanquish'd their King Chosdroës and took his Son Prisoner whom having first Christned he released and sent home again Entring Persia he took a strong Tower in which 〈◊〉 's Treasure lay part of which he distributed among his Soldiers and assign'd another part for the repairing of the Churches which the Persians had pillaged and spoil'd Returning to Jerusalem with seven Elephants loaded with other great Booty he brought along with him the Cross of our Blessed Saviour which the Persians had taken away and laid it up in the place where it was before Those of the Persians whom he had taken Prisoners he suffered to return into their own Countrey After this being arrived at Constantinople and taking delight in study he applied himself to Astrology But yet this great Emperour against all Law both Divine and Humane married his own Sister's Daughter and to add one Crime to another as is usual when men once become guilty he falls off to the Eutychian Heresie This happened at the time when Anastasius a Persian being converted to Christianity and having entred upon a Monastick Life was seized by his own Countrey-men and suffered Martyrdom for the sake of his Religion whose body was afterwards conveyed to Rome and reposited in the Monastery of S. Paul 'T is said that at this time Sisebute King of the Goths reduced several Cities of Spain which had revolted to the Romans and that by Torment he forced all the Jews which he discovered in his Kingdom to profess the belief of Christianity This it is reported he did at the request of Heraclius who had been fore-warn'd to beware of the Circumcised but yet afterwards he being not sufficiently careful to prevent his Fate was crush'd by the Saracens who observed Circumcision Thus things went in the East nor did the West want it's Assertours of the Christian Faith For Arnulphus Bishop of Metz by his Piety and Prudence kept Dagobert the French King within the bounds of his Duty being therein assisted by Amandus an excellent person and a vigorous defender of the Christian Religion Among the Spaniards Isidore Bishop of Sevil successour to Leander wrote several things very beneficial to the State of Christianity particularly of the
Chair six years one month twenty six days And because it was long before there came certain intelligence of his Death the See was vacant fourteen months EUGENIUS I. EUGENIUS a Roman Son of Ruffinianus succeeded Martine about the time that in the place of Paul the Heretick Peter was made Patriarch of Constantinople Who though he were a little more Orthodox than Paul yet did not in all things agree in Doctrine with the Roman Church His Letters sent to Rome in which he denied two Operations and Wills in Christ were so exploded that the Clergy took upon them to interdict the Pope's celebrating Mass in S. Maria Maggiore till he had first publickly declared his dislike of them In the mean time Grimoaldus Duke of Beneventum leaving his Son to govern at home and marching with a great Army into Lombardy forced Pertheri and Gundibert the two Sons of Aripertus to quit Pavia and Milain Of which Clodoveus the French King having intelligence he out of compassion to the young Princes immediately sends a considerable Force into Italy to recover their Right for them Beyond the Po Battel is joyn'd and the Dispute managed very briskly on both sides the young Princes being eager to retrieve their paternal possessions and he endeavouring as much to keep what he had gain'd by War At length Fortune inclin'd to Grimoaldus his side and the French were routed and driven out of Italy We are told by some that the French were out-witted by the Enemy after this manner The Lombards dissembled a Flight leaving their Tents furnished with plenty of all manner of Provisions and especially of Wine but not far off they made a halt watching their opportunity the French entring their Tents and thinking they had been really fled fall to feasting and eat and drink to such excess that the Enemy coming upon them and finding them dead asleep and lying about like beasts they made such a slaughter of them that there was scarce one left alive to carry the News to Clodoveus Grimoaldus growing confident upon this Victory quickly makes himself Master of the whole Province As for Pope Eugenius who was a person of very great Piety Religion Meekness Humanity and Munificence having been in the Chair two years nine months he died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter June the 2d The See was then vacant one month twenty eight days VITALIANUS I. VITALIANUS born at Segna a Town of the Volsci the Son of Anastasius entred upon the Pontificate at the time when Caesarea the Persian Queen attended only with a few of her Confidents and without the knowledg of her Husband came to Constantinople in the year 683. She was very honourably received by the Emperour and not long after baptized for the sake of which it was that she came thither The Persian King having intelligence hereof forthwith sends Ambassadours to Constantinople to demand his Wife of the Emperour To them the Emperour answered That it was in the Queen's choice to stay or go and therefore they should enquire of her pleasure The Queen being ask'd made Answer That she would never return into her Countrey unless the King would become a Christian Who being acquainted herewith comes forthwith in a peaceable manner with forty thousand men to Constantinople where being received by the Emperour with all expressions of kindness he together with his Soldiers were baptized and then he returned with his Queen into his own Kingdom After this Constantius having associated to himself in the Government his Son Constantine and prepared a great Fleet setting sail from Constantinople arrives at Tarentum bringing with him in Ships of burden a great Force of Land-Soldiers From thence he advanced by Land into Abruzzo with design to besiege Beneventum But understanding that that City was very strongly Garison'd and plentifully furnished with Provisions by the care of Rhomoaldus he marched to Lucera which he took and plundered and then levell'd with the ground Passing from hence to Acherontia and not being not able to make himself Master of so well fortified a place he again attempts the Siege of Beneventum but soon raises it upon intelligence that Grimoaldus would suddenly be there with a great Army to assist his Son Rhomoaldus Hereupon Constantius moving first towards Naples though very much incommoded in his passage and having left 〈◊〉 a Roman Citizen with twenty thousand men at Formiae to oppose the Enemy at length he comes to Rome the Pope and Clergy and People in honour to him going six miles out of the City to meet him And being conducted through the City with great Acclamations to the Church of S. Peter he there made a very rich Present In the mean time Rhomoaldus presuming upon the Supplies he receiv'd from his Father joins Battel with Saburrus conquers him and puts to the Sword a great number of the Greeks Constantius being enraged and growing almost desperate upon this misfortune on the fifth day after his entrance into the City falls a plundering takes away all the Statues of Brass and Marble set up in the principal parts of the City and the rich Ornaments of the Churches and lades his Ships with them and in seven days did more damage to Rome than the barbarous Nations had done before in two hundred and fifty eight years so that ill men ignorant of History have no reason to say that the Statues and Monuments of Antiquity were demolished by Pope Gregorie's Order On the twelfth day the vile and perfidious paultry Greek 〈◊〉 Rome with a vengeance to him goes towards Naples thence to Sicily being so severe in his exaction of Tribute wherever he came as to take away Children out of the embraces of their Parents who could not pay him But the covetous wretch staying some time in Sicily as he was bathing for pleasure at Syracuse was slain and Mezentius who is thought to have been the contriver of his Death was by the Soldiers made Emperour in his stead This Constantius was a person of a strange 〈◊〉 and inconstancy of Mind For at first hearing that Vitalianus was chosen Pope he sent his Ambassadours to congratulate him and to make a Present of the Gospels written in letters of Gold and set with Jewels to S. Peter Whereas afterwards his mind being changed he cast off all regard to God and Man and turned all things both divine and humane topsy-turvy But Vitalianus being intent upon sacred things composed Ecclesiastical Canons and regulated singing in the Church introducing Organs to be used with the Vocal Musick He also sent with ample Power of binding and loosing Theodorus an Arch-bishop and Adrian an Abbat two very learned and pious men into England that by their Preaching and Example they might keep that people stedfast in the Faith which the good men did what they could to perform This Theodorus also wrote a Book shewing by what Pennance every sin may be wash'd off though some ascribe that Work to Pope Theodorus Now Vitalianus having govern'd the Church
arriving in Spain ravage all the Countrey except Granada which was inhabited by those of their own Nation already and at length with their Wives and Children pass as far as Aquitain designing to possess themselves of that Province also Charles Martell the Son of Pipin was at this time famous throughout the World This Pipin after the Death of Grimoald had two other Sons left Caroloman and Charles Martell which Charles this Brother also dying gain'd afterwards to himself the Kingdom of France though not without great opposition especially of Eudo Duke of Aquitain and Chilperic whom some of the French upon the Death of Theodoric had set up to be their King But Martell having passed the River Seine and advanced to Orleans at the first Attaque puts them to flight and becomes sole Possessour of the Kingdom of France After this he passed the Rhine and conquered the Saxons Alemans Sueves and Boiarians But having Intelligence that the Saracens had been invited by Eudo into France by great Marches he comes forth against them and obliging them to fight gains a mighty Victory not far from Tours Historians write that in this Battel there were slain of the Saracens three hundred and sixty thousand but of the French only one thousand one hundred and fifty and 't is said that Eudo hereupon came over to Martel's side The Saracens being by this means through Martel's Valour diverted from any farther Attempts upon the Spaniards and French turn all the Rage and Indignation which upon so great an Overthrow had been raised in them upon the Constantinopolitans whose City they besieged by Sea and Land the space of three years But suffering all the extremities of War being pinched with Hunger and Cold and a Pestilence moreover raging among them they raised the Siege and return'd home 'T is said that of this Plague there died in Constantinople three hundred thousand As for the Affairs of Italy the Lombards now under the Conduct of Luithprandus after a long Siege took and sack'd Ravenna carrying away from thence to Pavia all things of considerable value and amongst the rest as I believe the famous Statue on Horseback in Brass Thus according to the usual Vicissitude of humane Affairs it so fell out that what Theodoric and other Kings of the Goths and after them the Exarchs had taken from Rome and carried to Ravenna was by others afterwards scattered about and dispersed into several places In the mean time there was at Rome a Plot laid by some seditious people against the Pope the Heads of the Conspiracy being Basilius Jordanus a Notary John a Sub-deacon surnamed Lurion and Marinus an Officer of the Guards who at this time was Governour of Rome under the Emperour But upon the Emperour 's recalling Marinus the business was deferred to another time The Conspiratours tampered also with Paul the Exarch being willing in a matter of so great importance to have him to head them The whole Design being at length discovered by the people of Rome they appear in Arms kill John Lurion and dissipate the other Conspiratours Basilius was confined to a Monastery where he died The forementioned Paul being highly enraged at the Pope for prohibiting his levying new Taxes did by the Emperour's Order seek all ways both secret and open of taking away the good mans life but the Romans and Lombards taking up Arms defended him The Emperour Leo hereupon publishes an Edict commanding all those who were Subjects of the Roman Empire to rase out and take away all the Pictures and Images of Saints Martyrs and Angels out of their Churches with design as he ptofessed thereby to prevent Idolatry and declaring that whosoever refused so to do should be accounted a publick Enemy But Gregory not only not obeyed this Order but also encouraged all Catholicks to stand up stoutly against it Whereupon the people of Italy were so animated that they were near chusing another Emperour had not Gregory by his authority interposed to prevent it Notwithstanding which there arose such a Dissention at Ravenna some pleading for Obedience to the Emperour others to the Pope that Paul the Exarch together with his Son was slam in the Tumult To succeed in whose place the Emperour sends Eutychius an Eunuch who by Gifts and Promises was to endeavour to break the Friendship and Alliance between the Lombards and the Pope But that Attempt having been often made in vain was drop'd for a time and the Pope being freed of this trouble began to visit the Hospitals and Churches and to repair those of them which through age or neglect had fallen to decay Moreover he made a Peace between the King of the Lombards and the Dukes of Spoleto and Beneventum which that King had intended to crush but having marched in a peaceable manner as far as Rome to confer with the Pope about the matter Gregory by his Christian Counsel so mollified his mind that laying aside all thoughts of War he offered up his Sword and other Arms in the Church of S. Peter The Emperour Leo now in another wild humour commanded all the Images either of Wood Brass or Marble to be brought to him which he forthwith caused to be burnt and seiz'd upon and put to Death those who refused to bring them Germanus the Patriarch who vigorously opposed it he banished and put into his place Anastasius an Heretick whom Gregory afterwards in a Synod deprived and interdicted the Exercise of sacred Offices if he refused to return to the Catholick Faith Furthermore as became a pious Prelate he oftentimes by Letters admonished the Emperour to quit the erroneous Opinions into which some ill men had seduced him and at length to embrace the Truth and to cease the destroying of the Images of the Saints by whose Example and Memory men might be excited to the Imitation of their Virtues Some write that in this Popes time Boniface came out of Britain to Rome and for his sanctity was of a Monk made a Bishop and sent into Germany that by his Preaching and Example he might confirm that People in the Faith which he performed so well that he was deservedly made Bishop of Mentz but passing thence into Africa he was for his preaching the Word of God put to Death by the Enemies of Christianity 'T is said also that S. Aegidius a Grecian was now famous for the holy Life he led and the miracles he wrought and that Petronax a Citizen of Brescia did by Vow repair at his own Charge the Monastery of S. Benedict which was almost quite left desolate As for Gregory who by his good Example excited all men to the practice of Piety and Virtue having been in the Chair sixteen years nine months eleven days he died and was buried in S. Peter's February the 11th By his Death the See was vacant thirty five days He is said to have consecrated during his Pontificate one hundred forty eight Bishops GREGORY III. GREGORT the third a Syrian his Fathers
15th By his Death the See was vacant twelve days STEPHEN II. STEPHEN the Second a Roman Son of Constantine from one Degree in the Church to another ascended at length to the Papal Dignity although upon the Death of Zachary the People presently made Choice of another Stephen a Priest who on the third day of his Pontificate awaking out of Sleep and beginning to settle his domestick affairs was suddenly seiz'd with a fit of an Apoplexy of which he died After whom our Stephen the Second for we reckon not his short-liv'd Predecessour of that name in the List was unanimously elected by the Clergy and People in the Church of S. Mary ad Proesepe and being highly beloved by all was carried upon mens shoulders to S. Saviour's called also the Constantinian Church and from thence into the Lateran Palace He was a Person of extraordinary Piety and Prudence a Lover of the Clergy a Repairer of Churches a diligent Preacher and Writer of the Doctrine of Christianity a Father of the Poor a zealous Defender of Orphans and Widows and in going through with any thing he undertook hardy and resolute but not obstinate For Aistulphus now making Inrodes upon the Borders of the Romans he at first endeavoured by Persuasions and Presents to bring him off But that covetous Prince requiring the payment of a Tribute of so much a head yearly from the People the Pope thereupon was forced to seek for help from abroad and accordingly he sent Nuntio's to Constantine the Emperour of Constantinople to desire Aid of him against Aistulphus who gave disturbance to all Italy and had already taken Ravenna the Seat of the Exarchate and a great part of Romagna But finding no hope of succours from him he resolves to go to Pipin of France and therefore sends to that King to desire that he would prevail with Aistulphus to permit him safe passage through his Countrey which Aistulphus at Pipin's Request consented to Stephen now reaching the Borders of the Kingdom of France Pipin's Son Charles who from his mighty Atchievements was afterwards surnamed the Great in token of honour goes forth an hundred miles to meet him Pipin himself met him three miles from the City alighting off his Horse kiss'd his feet and led the Horse upon which he rode by the Bridle till he had conducted him into the City and brought him to his Apartment Aistulphus now fearing that the Pope was practising against him sends Caroloman a Monk to his Brother Pipin to persuade him not to make War upon the Lombards in Stephen's Quarrel which Pipin not only refused to grant but also confined the Monk to a Monastery in Vienne where not long after he died of Grief But it not being a fit season of the year to undertake an Expedition and Pipin allowing much to the ancient Friendship there had been between them he sends Ambassadours to Aistulphus to advise him to restore the Places he had taken or otherwise to let him know that he should be obliged in a short time to recover them by force of Arms. Aistulphus hearkned not to this good Counsel whereupon Pipin the Spring now approaching advances with an Army against the Lombards and having sent before some light-harnessed Soldiers to force Aistulphus's Guards to quit the Passes of the Alps he marches down into the Plain of the State of Milain and having without any opposition sacked and harassed all places he came to at length he invests Pavia the Seat-Royal of the Kings of Lombardy which Aistulphus and those that were in Garrison with him defended But Stephen moved with Compassion at the numerous Calamities which this obstinate man had brought upon himself and his People voluntarily offers Aistulphus a Peace upon condition he would restore what he had taken which Aistulphus at length consented to and promised upon Oath more than was demanded Pipin reckoning that the Pope had now satisfaction raises the Siege and returns into France leaving Varrenus the Arbitratour of this Peace between them Stephen and Varrenus go to Rome not doubting but that Aistulphus would in a little time perform his promise instead of which he presently mustering up from all parts what Forces he could with a tumultuary Rout rather than a just Army follows them and besieges Rome laying waste and burning the Suburbs and Places adjacent insomuch that the People of Rome suffered more Damage by the Outrages he then committed than they had received in three hundred forty four years before from the declining of the Empire Hereupon Pipin being again sued to by the Pope to aid the distressed City of Rome against the Perfidiousness and Cruelty of Aistulphus he with all possible expedition raises an Army for that purpose In the mean time the Turks willing to mend their Quarters over-run and conquer the Alanes first then the Colchians and Armenians after them the People of the Lesser Asia and lastly the Persians and Saracens An. Dom. 755. Some Writers tell us that these were of the Race of those Scythians whom Alexander the Great kept within the Hyperborean Mountains with Iron-Bars meaning by that Metaphor that he had shut up that wild Nation there as into a Prison But after much mischief done and received on both sides a Peace being concluded between the Saracens and Turks it was agreed that the Turks which dwelt in Persia should be called Saracens and by this means the Saracens did more patiently suffer the Turks to bear sway in Asia especially apprehending moreover that they might soon be brought to embrace the Mahumetan Religion But we return to Pipin who coming again with his Army into Italy was met by Gregory principal Secretary to the Emperour Constantine the fourth who desired him in his Master's name that is he should prove victorious over the Lombards he would not give the Exarchate of Ravenna to the Pope or the Romans it belonging of right to the Emperour To which Pipin answered that he came into Italy to do the Pope and People a kindness and that he should consult their advantage to the utmost of his Power After this he marched to Pavia and reduced Aistulphus to such extremity that he was forced to accept of the former Conditions of Peace Hereby the Exarchate was restored to the Romans together with all the Tract contained between the Po and Apennine from Piacentino to the Gulf of Venice and whateyer lies between the River Isara the Apennine and the Adriatick with all that Aistulphus had taken in Tuscany and Sabina Pipin stayed at the Foot of the Alps till Conditions should be performed having left Holcadus an Abbat with part of his Army to oblige Aistulphus to perform what he had promis'd and moved no farther till he understood that Aistulphus had died of an Apoplexy while he was hunting before the surrendry was fully made Upon his Death Desiderius Duke of Tuscany forthwith raises an Army of Lombards with design to possess himself of the Kingdom The same also did Rachis Aistulphus's
Salutations and Respects having pass'd on both sides they entred the Church and being come up to the Altar Charles and the Pope the Romans and the French took a mutual Oath to maintain a perpetual Friendship and to be Enemies to the Enemies of each other After which Charles making his Entrance into the City devoutly visited all the Churches and made several Presents to them Four days after his being there he by Oath confirmed and amply enlarged the Donation of his Father Pipin to Gregory the third containing according to Anastasius in 〈◊〉 all that reaches from the long since demolished City Luna to the Alpes the Isle of Corfica and the whole Tract between Luca and Parma together with Friuli the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Dukedoms of Spoleto and Benevent These Affairs being thus setled Charles taking his leave of Adrian returns into Lombardy and becomes Master of Pavia on the sixth month after the investing of it Towards Desiderius however he was so favourable as that though he berest him of his Kingdom yet he spared his Life and only confined him with his Wife and Children to Lyons Advancing thence again Arachis Duke of Benevent who was Son-in-law to Desiderius and had been an Abettour of his rash Proceedings he soon forced him to sue for a Peace and received his two Sons for Hostages After this in his Passage farther he religiously visited Mount Cassino and confirmed all the Grants which had been made by other Princes to the Monastery of S. Benedict And so the Affairs of all Italy being composed and strong Guards left in the most important places of Lombardy he returns with great Spoil and mighty Glory into his Kingdom or France carrying with him his Brother Caroloman's Relict and Sons whom he always treated with Respect and Honour and also Paul a Deacon of the Church of Aquileia a Person for his Parts and Learning highly belov'd by Desiderius to whom he gave his Freedom and had for some time a great Esteem for him But understanding afterwards that the man was assisting to a Design of Desiderius's his Flight he banish'd him into the Island of Tremiti from whence after some years making his Escape and coming to Arachis at the Request of Adelperga Daughter to Desiderius and the Wife of Arachis he added two Books to the History of Eutropius giving an account of what passed from the time of the Emperour Julian to that of Justinian the first After the Death of Arachis he betook himself to the Monastery of Cassino where leading the remainder of his life very devoutly he oftentimes wrote elegant and obliging Letters to Charles and received again the like from that King who had preserved him for the sake of his Learning Thus ended the Kingdom of the Lombards in the two hundred and fourth year after their coming into Italy and in the year of our Lord seven hundred seventy six Charles now without any delay marches against the idolatrous Saxons who during his absence in Italy had rebelled uttterly subdues that People with whom he had been engaged in War for thirty years before and compells them to receive Christianity Then turning his Army against the Spaniards who were also fallen away from the Faith he took the Cities of Pampelona and Saragoza and permitted his Souldiers to plunder them not granting a Peace to these Spaniards but upon condition they would entirely embrace the Christian Doctrine After this returning into France matters having went according to his mind as he passed the Pyrenean Hills he fell into an Ambuscade of the Gascons in engaging with whom though he gallantly defended himself yet he lost Anselmus and Egibardus two brave Commanders Some tell us that in this Encounter Rolandus Charles's Sister's Son perished after he had made a great slaughter of the Enemy though whether he died of Thirst as is commonly said or of the wounds he received is uncertain At length these Gascons were vanquished by Charles and received from him the deserved Punishment of their Revolt and Perfidy At this time Taxillo Duke of Bojaria Desiderius's Son-in-law having gained the Huns to be on his side made an Attempt of War against the French which yet Charles by his great Expedition almost made an end of before it was quite begun and to him also upon Hostages given he granted a Peace While these things were transacting in France Constantine Emperour of the East was seized with a Leprosy from whence perhaps arose the groundless Opinion of the Leprosy of Constantine the Great through the confusion of their Names and dying left Leo the fourth his Successour who so strangely doated upon precious Stones that robbing the Church of S. Sophia of its Jewels he made with them a Crown of a vast weight and value which he wore so often that either through the Weight or from the coldness of the Stones in it he shortly fell sick and died The same I believe to have happened in our Time to Paul the Second who so effeminately prided himself in such Ornaments almost exhausting the Treasury of the 〈◊〉 to purchase Jewels at any rate that as often as he appeared publickly instead of wearing a plain Mitre he looked like the Picture of Cybele with Turrets on her Head from whence what with the weight of the Jewels and the sweat of his gross Body I am apt to think arose that Apoplexy of which he died suddenly After the Death of Leo his Relict Irene and his Son Constantine managing the Empire in a Council of three 〈◊〉 and fifty Bishops held the second time at Nice it was 〈◊〉 that whosoever mantained that the Images of the Saints were to be destroyed should be censured with perpetual Excommunication But young Constantine through the persuasion of some ill men about him treading in the Footsteps of his Father soon after revoked this Constitution and wholly deprived his Mother of any share in the Administration of Affairs Then putting away his Wife he received to his Bed and caused to be crowned Empress Theodora one of her Maids Moreover he gave Order to those Commanders he had in Italy to give disturbance to their Neighbours but they were at the first Message terrified from any Attempts by the prevailing Authority of Charles who at this time was advancing with his Forces against the Sclaves and Hunns or we may call them Hungarians because by their Incursions they had molested all the Countrey about the Danow whom having vanquished he marched into Franconia the Countrey of his Ancestours from whence the Franks or French derive their Name which Province he having with ease brought to his Devotion two years after Theophylact and Stephen two Bishops of great Note held a Synod of Frank and German Bishops wherein that which the Greeks called the Seventh Synod and the Felician Heresie touching the Destruction of Images was condemned Adrian being now by the Interest and Power of Charles secured from the fear of any warlike Incursions applies himself to the repairing the City
done without great slaughter of his own men he granted them that part of Prance to live in which lies beyond the River Seine and is still call'd from the name of the people Normandy They were bound to pay a yearly tribute to the Crown of France to mind them that they stood possess'd of the Countrey not by their own power but by the bounty of the Emperor Charles At this time William surnam'd the Godly Duke of Aquitain and Earl of Auvergne not having any Heirs male began magnificently to build the Monastery of Clugny in his Fathers Mannor in a Village of Burgundy and made Berno Abbot of the place having set out an Income for the maintenance of the Monks But he dying left it unfinish'd having constituted Ebbo Earl of Poictou his Heir who should take care according to his Last Will of the whole matter And now Hadrian of whom for his courage and haughty Spirit the Clergy and People of Rome had conceived so great hopes died in the first year and second month of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church with the general lamentation of the People for the unseasonable loss of such a Father STEPHEN V. STEPHEN the fifth a Roman Son of one Hadrian of the Via lata was made Pope at the time when the Normans assisted by the Danes contrary to their Treaties had well-nigh over-run all France For fear of these Invaders the body of S. Martin was carried from Tours to Auxerre and plac'd in the Church of S. German which begot a feud among the Monks who could not agree by the name of which of the two Saints the Church should be call'd to solve this doubt they took this way They set a Leper in the midst between the two Saints Bodies who grew whole onely on that side which was towards S. Martin and then turning the other side towards him he was quite healed This Miracle determin'd the Controversie which S. German is thought to have suffered his new Guest to perform 〈◊〉 it should be thought that the Body had lost any of its Sanctity by being translated Authors say that during this Popes time Charles the Gross who had been Emperor twelve years was deposed by his Nobles for his sloth and dulness and Arnulphus his Nephew was set up in his stead who was the seventh Emperor from Charles the Great This troublesom state of things tempted the Huns a Scythian Nation according to Vincentius and Martinus to make a descent into Tannonia where joyning their Brother-Tribe the Hungari they possess'd themselves of the Countrey driving thence the Gepidi and Avares and from hence marching with their forces into Germany they pierc'd as far as Burgundy destroying all with fire and sword Stephen in this confusion of Affairs was yet not a little comforted with the sanctity of Luithprandus Deacon of Pavia Waldrad of Bavaria and Bernard of Picardy by whose lives and conversation the Christian Religion got so great Reverence that many Monasteries and Churches were sumptuously built throughout France In the sixth year and eleventh day of his Papacy he died and the Sea was vacant five days FORMOSUS FORMOSUS Bishop of Porto succeeded Stephen and in the beginning of his Pontificate adorned S. Peter's Church with some slight Paintings This Formosus had formerly for fear of Pope John left his Bishoprick and fled to France and denying to return when he was recall'd he was anathematized and then coming to Rome he was depriv'd of all his Preferments Ecclesiastical and put on profane manners with his secular habit Some think the reason that Formosus was thus persecuted was for that he was a Party if not Ring-leader of the Faction that put John into Prison However Formosus was so enraged at this hard usage that he swore he would never return either to Rome or to his Bishoprick but Pope Martin who succeeded John absolv'd him from his Oath and restor'd him to his Countrey and to his former Dignity whence not long after he came to the Popedom rather by bribery than for the sake of any good that was in him many men opposing his Election Arnulphus now the seventh Emperor from Charles the Great as we said before marching valiantly against the still rebellious Normans gave them several Overthrows but was too much puffed up with his success and became so intolerably imperious to all men especially to the Clergy that it pleased God he died soon after of the lousie Disease In whose room Lewis was put up for Emperor but we read not that he was ever Crowned for as Martinus writes Berengarius Duke of Friuli descended of the old Kings of Lombardy renewing his claim to the Kingdom of his Ancestors and bringing his pretensions to the decision of War though at first he was overcome by Lewis yet giving him Battel again at Verona Lewis was vanquished and with great slaughter of his men being taken Prisoner had his eyes put out And thus the Empire which the Franks had enjoy'd almost 100 years was transferred to the Lombards Constantine the Son of Leo being Emperor of the East I know not how it fell out that at this same time that the Emperors shewed so little Courage the Popes too were as greatly wanting in Virtue and Integrity which render'd those times very miserable Subjects being very apt as Plato says to follow the Examples of their Princes I return to Formosus whose times left they should have been the most unhappy that ever were were honour'd with the Learning and good Life of Remigius of Auxerre who wrote divers Commentaries especially upon the Gospel of S. Matthew and S. Paul's Epistles Some say indeed that Author was not the person of whom I speak but Remigius of Rhemes however that be 't is certain they were both very learned men Formosus died in the fifth year and sixth month of his Pontificate and the Sea was vacant two days BONIFACE VI. BONIFACE the sixth a Tuscan was created Pope in the room of the deceased Formosus but how long he continued in the Papacy is a great question for some Writers say longer others say shorter I am of opinion with the most that he sate but twenty six days and that which makes me think so is that Historians make little or no mention at all of him and how can it be that as some say he should sit twelve years in the Chair of S. Peter and yet his Reign be past over unregarded I have plac'd him therefore in the Catalogue of Popes not for any thing done by him for he did nothing indeed what could be expected to be done in so short a time but because he was regularly and canonically elected Pope He died as I said before in the 26. day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church STEPHEN VI. STEPHEN the sixth a Roman Bishop of Anagni being made Pope persecuted the memory of Formosus with so much spite that he abrogated his Decrees and rescinded all he had done
worth mention died after he had been Pope two years and was buried in S. Peter's Church This Pope we may commend in this one instance that he did not persecute with ignominy and scandal the memory of any of his Predecessors for he lived quietly and soberly and had nothing chargeable upon him that was blame-worthy LANDUS LANDUS a Roman succeeded Anastasius but his life was so obscure that some do not reckon him for a Pope especially Vincentius the Historian But Martin and Cusentinus are of another mind together with Gothifredus who writes that this Landus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Authority hindred a Battel between Berengarius and 〈◊〉 Son of Count Guido though others say that Rodulphus overcame Berengarius near Verona and enjoy'd the Empire three years There was indeed at this time a great contention for the Empire between the Italians Germans and French which was the cause of many cruel Wars which were not ended without great destruction of men and mischief to each Countrey The Romans and Italians labour'd might and main to preserve the Empire in their own Countrey against the Power of those barbarous people but they wanted some man that could lead them on in so great an Enterprise for those noble Spirits who had rendred the name of Italy famous through the World were now not onely extinct but even those virtuous Inclinations were quite stisled which gave life to such glorious actions Landus died in the sixth month and twenty first day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peters's Church JOHN XI JOHN the eleventh a Roman natural Son to Pope Sergius in the year 909. succeeded He was before Arch-bishop of Ravenna and had been deposed by the people in a Tumult but upon the death of Landus he obtain'd the Papal Chair and shew'd more of the Spirit of a Soldier than of a Clergy-man Indeed the Church and all Italy had then need of such a Pope For the Greeks as we said before being vanquish'd by Landulphus had call'd the Saracens into Italy who marching through Calabria and Apulia into Lucaia and Campania threaten'd sudden destruction to the City of Rome The nearness of the danger alarm'd Pope John who taking Albericus Marquess of Tuscany to his assistance musters up an Army fights the Saracens and gets the better and beats them out of the territories of the City but not looking upon his Victory as considerable except he follow'd the pursuit he attaques them at Minturnoe upon the shore of the River Garigliano and conquers them with so great a slaughter that they resolv'd to leave Italy onely burning first all those places on that shore which were in their hands But they alter'd their minds afterward and fortifying Mount Gargano they harass'd the Countrey thereabout with their Incursions Mean while John taking all the honour of this action to himself makes his entrance into Rome after the manner of a Triumph which gave so great distast to Albericus that a Tumult arose upon it in which Albericus was repulsed and flying to Orta fortified the Town and Castle and enticed the Hungari into Italy who brought more destruction and ruin upon the Countrey than the Saracens had done before for they carried away the Youth of both Sexes killing all that were stricken in years nor did they spare the very Tuscans for whose indemnity Albericus had agreed in the Treaty with them nay they were more cruel to them than to other Italians for they burnt and demolish'd all the Towns they had possess'd 'T is my Opinion that Berengarius who then held Lombardy onely gave them liberty of passage into Tuscany upon condition they march'd quietly through his Countrey without hurting his Subjects But the Hungari having once tasted the sweet Spoils of Italy did frequently visit it afterward which Calamities so much enraged the Romans that not being able to wreak their spite upon the Enemy who was too mighty and fierce for them they took Albericus and beheaded him John also in a Mutiny of the Soldiers was by the followers of Count Guido taken and put in Prison In his room another John was put up but because he seiz'd the Chair by force and was soon deposed he deserves not to be among the Popes LEO VI. LEO the sixth a Roman was canonically elected Pope acted nothing tyrannically in his whole life but liv'd soberly and modestly taking care of Religion as far as an Age of so corrupt manners would bear For he made it his endeavour to quiet the minds of the Citizens who through the rashness and folly of former Popes were inclining to Tumults to compose the Affairs of Italy to make Peace with forein Enemies and to drive the Barbarians from the skirts of his Countrey than which nothing could be done to better purpose or more commendably in so short a time for in the seventh month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate he died and was buried in S. Peters's Church to the great grief of the Citizens of Rome STEPHEN VII STEPHEN the seventh a Roman according to some Authors came to be Pope at the time when the Hungari who were over-running Germany and Saxony were by Henry King of Germany overcome with a great slaughter near Merspurg 'T is said also that at this time Rodulphus King of Burgundy made his descent into Italy with a great Army against Berengarius II. who by the treachery of his own men was driven out of his Kingdom and fled to the Hungarians for refuge who taking up Arms in his cause the third year after his expulsion under the conduct of one Salardus invade Italy with huge forces and take Pavia by storm destroying the greatest part of it with fire and sword The Italians hereupon finding Rodulphus to want strength and courage call in Hugh Count of Arles It was not without contention that Rodulphus gave place to him but his Enemies bearing hard upon him he retreated into Burgundy After this 〈◊〉 finding occasion to mistrust those Persons that call'd him in banish'd many of them who fled to Arnoldus Duke of Bavaria a man 〈◊〉 of Rule and persuade him to make War upon Italy He passes the Alpes and is immediately receiv'd within the Walls of Verona by the Citizens with great kindness and friendship but Hugh marching against him beats him in a pitch'd Battel and soon re-takes Verona Mean while Berengarius dies in Bavaria or as others say in 〈◊〉 and Berengarius III. Grand-son of Berengarius I. by his Daughter comes into Italy and in the year 935. gets the Empire Some there are that ascribe these Actions I have mention'd to the time of this Pope but I would rather assign them to some of those Popes that preceded and succeeded because though I have set them down in short yet they must needs require a long time to be brought about But in so great a diversity of opinions concerning times I chose rather to place them somewhere than utterly to omit things which were certainly once done for the uncertainty
of Writers For the sake of Posterity we would not be so superstitious as to disbelieve that which various Authors have here or there thought good to record To the times of this Pope may justly also be ascribed S. Ugibert a Nobleman of Lorain who in a short time at his own charge built the Monastery of Gemblours after a magnificent manner At this time also 't is said that Spireneus Duke of Bohemia first received the Christian faith Those that were then call'd Dukes being now upon the encrease of their wealth and strength entitled Kings of Bohemia But Stephen having led a peaceable and a religious life died in the second year first month and twelfth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church JOHN XII JOHN the twelfth a Roman Son as some say of Pope Sergius came to be Pope when a Fountain at Genoa streamed blood in great quantities as Vincentius and Martinus relate a sure presage of the ensuing Calamities for soon after Genoa was taken and sack'd by the Saracens who came from Afric and the Hungarians entring Italy utterly destroy'd all things far and near but as they passed laden with Prey by the Confines of Sulmona the people of Tagliacozzo on a sudden taking Arms they were routed by them and lost their lives and plunder together Racherius who of a Monk had been made Bishop of Verona was now a great Writer but was banish'd to Pavia by King Hugh because he inveigh'd against his manner of living with too great freedom John died after he had been Pope four years ten months and fifteen days The Sea was vacant twelve days LEO VII LEO the seventh a Roman was created Pope during the reigns of Hugh and Lotharius in Italy but did nothing worthy 〈◊〉 mentioning But his time was made famous by the Lives of Spireneus according to Martinus Duke of Bohemia a man of signal Devotion and Justice and of his Son Wenceslaus who degenerated not at all from his Father killed by his Brother 〈◊〉 who desired to reign This Wenceslaus was afterwards justly canonized for a Saint upon proof made of the holiness of his Life and of Miracles wrought by him both while he liv'd and after his death Leo after he had sate three years six months and ten days died and was buried in S. Peter's Church The Sea was then vacant 3 days STEPHEN VIII STEPHEN the eighth a German coming to the Papacy was so molested by the Romans with Factions that he could do nothing remarkable nay as Martinus relates they wounded him so foully in one Tumult that he was asham'd to appear abroad King Hugh prepared to avenge his quarrel but died in the mean time to whom succeeded his Son Lotharius but he made no mention of the matter either because he had a kindness for the Citizens of Rome or because his Reign was short for he out-liv'd his Father but two years Otho King of Germany did now undertake to revenge the murther of Winceslaus King of Bohemia upon Boleslaus his Brother who had killed him and marching against him after several Battels won and lost at last took him Captive Stephen died when he had been Pope three years four months and twelve days The Sea was vacant ten days MARTIN III. MARTIN the third a Roman imitated the meekness and peaceable carriage of Stephen for being made Pope he laid aside thoughts of War and employ'd his mind in religious matters repairing Churches that were ready to fall with age and relieving the poor with his Charity Not but that in his time Europe was very much torn with cruel Wars For Otho attempting to enter Italy against the will of Lotharius much blood was spilt on both sides but Pope Martin persuaded them to lay down their Arms because among other reasons there was a great famine in the Land by reason the Trees were felled the standing Corn trodden down and even the Husbandmen with their Cattel were in this grievous War taken away At Constantinople also were great Tumults the Citizens making their Emperor a Prisoner and shaving his head banish'd him to a certain Island but soon after Constantine Son of Leo getting the Empire punish'd these sactious Citizens after the same shameful manner and banish'd them to the same Island Martin died in the third year sixth month and tenth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church the Roman Sea was vacant twelve days AGAPETUS II. AGAPETUS the second a Roman was created Pope at a time when Italy was full of Warlike hurly-burly for the Hungarians having invaded Italy with a 〈◊〉 Force had over-run all the Countrey beyond the River Po Henry Duke of Bavaria takes up Arms immediately and getting an Army together marches against them and in two fierce Battels routs them though not without great damage to the Inhabitants thereabouts and seizes all the Country from Aquileia to Pavia from whence yet he soon departed into Austria when he heard that Berengarius was coming against him with a great Army Berengarius being therefore now Master of Italy takes to himself the name of Emperor and calls his Son Albertus King of Italy casting into Prison Alunda Lotharius's Brothers Daughter lest she should lay claim to the City of Pavia which was her Dowry Pope Agapetus and the great men of Italy observing the arrogance of Berengarius and that he made pretensions to every thing without regard to right and justice sent for Otho King of Germany into Italy who entring by the way of Friuli with fifty thousand men quickly dethron'd Berengarius and Albertus and taking Alunda out of Prison married her of whom he had a Son afterwards succeeding him by the name of Otho II. And now Otho leaving Italy shew'd a great deal of moderation by permitting to Berengarius and his Son the Government of a Province and making Peace between him and the Pope This Otho assisted Lewis King of France with a great Army against Hugh Earl of Paris though his Brother-in-law who with the help of some of the great men of that Countrey had well-nigh outed him of his Kingdom But Albertus Son of Berengarius who then was Governour of Ravenna aided with some Forces and Ships from Comachio pirated upon the Merchants of Venice much against the mind of Pope Agapetus at which the Venetians were so enraged that they immediately rigg'd out a Navy and took Comachio and burnt it Whilst these things were doing Pope Agapetus a harmless man and a great lover of the Church died in the ninth year seventh month and tenth day of his Pontificate about the same time that Otho Abbot of Clugny also slept in the Lord whose Disciple Do maielus is supposed to be that wonderfully holy man and great restorer of Monastic Discipline JOHN XIII JOHN the thirteenth a Roman by the power of his Father Albericus of the Via lata gets into the Chair His name was before Octavian he was one that from his youth up had been debauch'd with
order to Rome where he publickly interdicted Gregory from doing any thing for the future that belong'd to the Office of a Pope commanding the Cardinals to leave Gregory and come to him for they were like to have another Pope Gregory not able to endure such an affront upon God and the Church deprived Sigifred and the rest of the Clergy that took Henry's part of all their dignities and preferments and likewise laid a Curse upon the Emperour himself after he had degraded him from his Imperial Honour And of this Degradation or Deprivation the form was as followeth Blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles I beseech thee hearken unto me and heat thy servant whom thou hast educated from my infancy and preserved to this day from the hands of wicked men that hate and persecute me for the faith I have in Thee Thou art my best Witness Thou and the holy Mother of Jesus Christ together with Paul thy fellow Martyr that I did 〈◊〉 enter upon the Papacy without reluctance not that I thought it robbery lawfully to rise into thy Chair but I was more willing to spend my days in Pilgrimage than at that time to supply thy place for ostentation and vain-glory I must needs confess that it was thy goodness and not my deserts that brought me to the Cure of Christendom and gave me the power of loosing and binding and therefore in confidence of that and for the honour and safety of the Church I do deprive King Henry son to Henry who was formerly Emperour of all Imperial Power in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost for that He so boldly and rashly laid violent hands upon thy Church and I absolve all his Christian Subjects from their Oaths that bind 'em to pay Allegiance to true and lawful Kings For it is fit that he should lose his honour who would diminish the Honour of the Church And furthermore because he has contemn'd mine or rather thy admonitions concerning his own and his peoples salvation and separated himself from the Church of God which he would fain destroy I set him under a Curse as being well assured that thou art Peter upon whose Rock as a true foundation Christ Jesus our King has built his Church There were at that time a great many that talk'd of Peace when the Execration was past to whom Gregory made answer that he did not 〈◊〉 conditions of Peace if Henry would first make his peace with God You said he must needs know what injury he has done the Church and how often I have admonished him to reform his life and conversation And this I did in respect to Henry his Father's memory who was my very good Friend but to no purpose he having entertain'd principles quite contrary to his Father's Nevertheless some of those that were present continu'd to urge him and persuade him that a King ought not to have been anathematiz'd so hastily To whom the Pope reply'd When said he Christ committed his Church to Peter and said Feed my sheep did he except Kings No when he gave Peter the power to bind and loose he excepted none nor exempted any man from his Authority Wherefore he that says He cannot be bound by the Churches power must needs confess he cannot any more be absolved by it now whosoever is so impudent as to affirm this makes himself a perfect Separatist from Christ and his Church When Henry heard what Gregory had done he wrote many Letters to several Nations complaining that he was condemn'd by the Pope against all Law and Reason 〈◊〉 Gregory on the other hand demonstrated not only by words and Letters but also by Reason and Witnesses in the face of the World that he had done nothing but what was just and right But in the mean time part of the Kingdom revolted from Henry and the Saxons prepared for a War against him upon which the German Princes fearing some misfortune might 〈◊〉 their Country decreed in a publick Assembly that if Gregory would come into Germany Henry should humbly beg his pardon and the King swore he would do it Thereupon the Pope who was induced by the promises and prayers of the Arch-bishop of Treves Henry's Embassadour was going on his journey toward Augst but when he came to Vercelli was privately inform'd by the Bishop of that place who is Chancellour of all Italy that Henry was coming against him with an Army At which the Pope forbare to go any further but went to Canosso a Town near Rheggio under the Countess Matilda Henry also made thither as fast as he could with his whole Army and laying aside his regal Habit he went barefoot to the gate of the Town to move the Townsmens pity and desired to be let in But he was deny'd entrance and took it very patiently or at least seemed so to do though it were a sharp Winter and all things bound up in frost Notwithstanding he tarried in the Suburbs three days and begg'd pardon continually till at last by the intercession of Maude and Adelaus an Earl of Savoy together with the Abbat of Clugny he was introduced absolved and reconciled to the Church having sworn to a Peace and promised future obedience The form of the Kings Oath was this I King Henry do affirm that I will keep all the conditions and engagements that are in the Peace which our Lord Gregory the Seventh has drawn up according to his mind and will take care that the said Pope shall go where he pleases without the least molestation either to Him or his Attendants especially through all our Dominions and that I will be no hinderance to him in the exercise of his Pontifical authority in any place whatsoever and this I swear I will observe Done at Canosso January the 28. Indiction the 15th But when he had succeeded according to his wish and all people were gone to their several homes Henry moved toward Pavia but lost Cincius by the way who dy'd of a Fever and yet Henry though that Villain was gone did not desist from innovation For he broke the Peace and thereby vexed the German Princes to such a degree that they declared Rodolphus Duke of Saxony King and rejected Henry That moved Henry to petition the Pope that he would disposses Rodolphus of the Kingdom by Excommunication But seeing he could not obtain so great a favour he betook himself to his Arms and engaged him in a bloody Battel where the Victory was uncertain on both sides And then they each sent Embassadours to the Pope to beg of him that he would assist 'em to which he made no other answer but that he would have 'em quit their Arms. But notwithstanding Henry and Rodolphus fought a second time without any odds and therefore when they had engaged the third time and kill'd a great many men on both sides Henry who seemed to have a little the better of it would not hear Rodolphus's Embassadours that came to him for Peace but wrote to the
Pope again that he would please to Anathematize Rodolphus who endeavour'd to get possession of his Kingdom Which Gregory refusing to do Henry was so angry that he studied day and night to ruin the Pope In the mean while lest Sedition should be wanting in Christendom Michael and Andronicus his Son who had been by force depriv'd of the Empire of Constantinople by Nicephorus Bucamor came for refuge to Gregory who not only excommunicated Nicephorus but employ'd Rogerius a feudatary of the Roman Church to restore Michael with whom he discours'd at Ceperano to the Empire In pursuance of which command he got a Navy and leaving his younger Son Rogerius in Italy he took Boëmund his other Son along with him and sailed first to Valona but pitch'd his Camp near Durazzo resolving to make sure of that City which was so convenient for the carrying on of the War But Dominick Sylvius Duke of Venice who was of Nicephorus's party beat Rogerius from the Siege with great loss on both sides But not long after Nicephorus was betray'd by Alexius Mega General of his Forces and made a Prisoner the City being given up for three days to be plunder'd by the Soldiers according to compact Nicephorus himself was taken in the Church of Sancta Sophia but his life 〈◊〉 upon condition that he would take upon him the habit of a Monk for as long as he lived Gregory seeing that Henry was incited against the Church by some seditious Bishops called a great Synod and forbad Gilbert Arch-bishop of Ravenna for his pride and malice the exercise of his Episcopal or Priestly function under pain of an Anathema or Curse For when he was summon'd to appear before the Sea Apostolick being conscious of his crimes he would not obey the Citation for which alone he deserv'd the penalty of an Anathema He likewise censured Roland of Treviso for that when he was Legat in order to a Peace between him and Henry he sowed the seeds of discord and not unity to get a Bishoprick by the bargain 〈◊〉 did he spare Hugo Cardinal of St. Clements who had seditiously and heretically conspired with Cadolus Bishop of Parma In fine he chose three at the same Assembly to wit Bernard the Deacon the other Bernard Abbat of Marseilles and Odo Arch-bishop of Treves to go Legates à Latere from the Sea Apostolick to compose all differences between Henry and Rodolphus For the wise Pope saw that such a quarrel unless it were timely ended would occasion great calamities one time or other to Christendon But because he well knew that there would not be lacking such mischievous men as would endeavour to hinder it because it was their interest to foment rather than remove the dissention he gave the Legates Letters Apostolical to the several Princes and States written after this manner We taking notice of the weakness covetousness and ambition of mankind do charge all manner of persons whether Kings Arch-bishops Bishops Dukes Counts Marquesses or Knights that either out of pride cunning or covetousness they give no hindrance to our Legats whilst they negotiate the Peace And whosoever shall be so rash as to contravene this Order which I hope none will and shall hinder our Legats from composing a Peace I bind him under an Anathema both in Spirituals and Temporals by Apostolick Power and take away from him the advantage of any Victory he has gain'd that he may at least be confounded and be converted by a double penance He likewise commanded the Legates to call a Diet in Germany and deliberately examine who of the two Kings had the right and accordingly by the consent of all good Men to assign him the Kingdom whose cause was justest and that He when he should hear what they had determin'd would confirm it by the authority of God and S. Peter than which there cannot be greater But in the mean while Gregory lest the Church of Rome should suffer by Simony called a Council and therein confirm'd the Decrees of his Predecessors made to put a stop to that evil in these words We following the example of our Predecessors as we have formerly in other Councils do decree and ordain by the authority of Almighty God that whoever for the future accepts of a Bishoprick an Abbacy or any other Ecclesiastical preferment from a Layman shall not by any means be esteemed a Bishop an Abbat or a Clergy man nor let the same person dare to approach the Apostolical Sea before he has repented and left the place that he gain'd by ambition and contumacy which is the sin of Idolatry And under the same Censures we bind Kings Dukes and Princes who shall dare to confer Bishopricks or other Ecclesiastical Dignities upon any person against Law and Reason Furthermore we confirm the sentence of Anathema which was justly given against Theobald Archbishop of Milan and Gilbert Arch-bishop of Ravenna as also against Roland Arch-bishop of Treviso and we lay the same Censure upon Peter who was formerly Bishop of Redona but is now an Usurper in the Church 〈◊〉 Narbonne Moreover we deny S. Peter's favour and entrance into the Church to all such till they have repented and satisfied for their offences be they Normans Italians or any other Nation who have in the least injured or violated the Marcha di Termo in Ancona the Dutchy of Spoleto Campagna di Roma Sabina Tivoli Palestrina Frascati or Alba or the parts that lie toward the Tuscan Sea Add to these the Monastery of St. Benedict and all the Country of Cassino as also Benevent in Abruzzo But if any one pretends a just cause for taking what he has not yet restored let him demand justice of us or our Officers and if they are not satisfied we grant them leave to take back as much as will satisfie them not excessively like Robbers but as becomes Christians and such Men who only retake what is their own and desire not other mens goods fearing the anger of God and the Curse of S. Peter After that he confirmed the Curse against Henry afresh in these words Blessed Peter and thou Paul Doctor of the Gentiles I beseech you to hearken unto me a little and hear me in mercy for you are Disciples and Lovers of Truth and what I say is true I undertake this cause for Truths sake that my Brethren whose salvation I desire may obey me more willingly and that they may know how I rely upon your assistance next to that of Christ and his Virgin Mother whilst I resist the wicked and am a present guard continually to the faithful For I did not ascend this Sea willingly but against my inclinations even with tears in my eyes that they should think such a worthless Man as me fit to sit in such a lofty Throne But this I say because I did not chuse you but you me and imposed this heavy burden upon my shoulders But the Sons of Belial are risen up against me since I have ascended the Mount
because I cry aloud and tell the people of their crimes and the Sons of the Church of their sins and have laid violent hands upon me even unto blood For the Kings of the Earth stood up and the Princes of the World with some Ecclesiasticks and others have conspired against the Lord and me his Anointed saying Let us break their bonds asunder and cast their yoke from us and this they did that they might either kill or banish me Of these one was King Henry as they call him Henry I say Son to Henry the Emperour who exalted his horns and lifted up his heel too proudly against the Church of God in a conspiracy with many Bishops of Italy Germany and France whose ambition your authority has yet opposed This same person came to me in Lombardy when he was rather forced by necessity than sober in his resolutions and begg'd to be absolv'd from his Anathema and accordingly I receiv'd him because I thought him a Penitent but only admitted him to the Communion of the Church not restored him to his Kingdom from which I had justly expelled him in the Council at Rome nor did I give the Subjects of the Kingdom leave to pay him their former Allegiance And this I did that if he delay'd his reconcilement with the neighbouring Nations whom he had always vexed and should refuse to restore as well Ecclesiastical as Secular Estates according to his word he might be forc'd to his duty by Anathema's and Arms. Some Bishops of Germany made use of this opportunity as also certain Princes who had been long tormented by this wild beast thought fit to chuse Rodolphus for their King and Governour since Henry had lost his Throne by his flagitious actions And truly Rodolphus like a modest and just King sent Embassadours to let me know he was forced to take the Government into his hand though he was not so desirous of Dominion but that he would rather obey us than those that had chosen him to the Kingdom That he would always be at Gods and our disposal and that we might believe him he offered his Sons for hostages for his performance Thereupon Henry began to rage and first to desire us that we would use our spiritual Sword to depose Rodolphus I answered him That I would see who had most right and would send Agents thither to examine the matter and then I my self would judg whose cause was the juster Henry would not suffer our Legates to determine the matter but kill'd a great many men both Ecclesiastical and Laick plunder'd and prophan'd Churches and by this means made himself obnoxious to an Anathema Wherefore I trusting in Gods mercy and judgment in the patronage of the blessed Virgin and relying upon your Authority do lay Henry and his accomplices under a Curse and once more deprive him of his regal Power interdicting all Christians whom I absolve from all Oaths of Allegiance to him from obeying Henry in any case whatever but command 'em to receive Rodolphus as their King whom many Princes of the Realm have chosen since Henry was deposed For it is fit that seeing Henry is deprived of his Power for his pride and contumacy Rodolphus who is beloved by all should be invested with the Kingly power and dignity for his Piety and Religion Go to then ye Princes of the holy Apostles and confirm what I have 〈◊〉 by your authority that all men at last may know that if you can bind and loose in Heaven that We also upon Earth can take away and give Kingdoms Principalities Empires and whatsoever is in the possession of Mortals For if you can judg of things divine what may we think of things prophane here below And if you may judg of Angels that govern proud Princes what may you not do to their Servants Let all Kings and Princes of the World take notice by his example what you can do in Heaven how God esteems you and then let 'em not contemn the Decrees of the Church And I 〈◊〉 you suddenly to execute judgment upon Henry that all may see that son of Iniquity did not lose his Kingdom by chance but by your permission and consent And this I have requested of you that he may repent and be saved in the day of Judgment by the help of your prayers Given at Rome the 5th of March Indiction III. After that he degraded Gilbert the Author of all this discord and Schism from the Church of Ravenna and commanded all Priests belonging to that Church to pay no obedience to him who was the cause of all their misfortunes and therefore Anathematized And that the people might not want a Governour he imitated Peter who used to send 〈◊〉 in his own room upon occasion and sent 'em another Arch bishop with full power to extirpate Gilbert's Faction and confirm mens minds in the faith But then Henry who was rather provoked than chastized by these Censures and had taken the Bishop of Ostia then Legate as he return'd home called a Council of the disaffected Bishops and chose Gilbert formerly Arch-bishop of Ravenna Pope and called him Clement But being teazed by the 〈◊〉 he left his new Pope for a time and went against them where he engaged and received a great overthrow Rodolphus though he was Conquerour yet was found dead at a little distance of a wound which he received They say Henry was so affrighted at that bloody ingagement that he could scarce be found in seventeen days and that the Germans in the mean time had put his Son Henry in his room by the name of Henry IV. Both these coming after with an united Body of Men into Italy to settle their Pope Clement in the Pontificate and to turn 〈◊〉 Gregory they easily subdu'd Maude who came to meet 'em with a small Army This same Maude when her first Husband died not long before that time was married to Azo Marquis d'Este her former Husbands near kinsman by blood and related to her in the third degree of Affinity But when the matter was known she was divorced from Azo at Gregory's persuasion Henry having conquer'd Maude at Parma march'd to Rome and her Husband Azo after an hostile manner and pitch'd his Camp in the Prati di Nerone and going into the Borgo di Sancto Pietro he and his Pope Clement prophaned St. Peter's Church and demolish'd the Portico and did the like by St. Pauls But seeing he could not get into the City he went to Tivoli from whence as from a Castle he made daily incursions upon the Romans till by wasting all that came near him he reduced them to such necessity that they desired Peace upon any terms of which notice being given to Henry by some deserters who got out of the Town he drew his men up and entred in whereupon the Pope who could not trust the People betook himself into the Castle St. Angelo where he was besieged for some time they within maintaining the place stoutly Gregory's Nephew
strong place in Syria and fortified it that it might be a receptacle for the Christians in their War against the Infidels Boemund also the younger dying Tancred who was his Uncle and Guardian was by all the Christians declar'd Prince of Antioch which Principality having setled he was sent for by Baldwin King of Jerusalem to come with all his force to aid him against the Turks Saracens and Arabs who with a great Army had invaded his Kingdom Tancred arriving there and observing the small forces of the Christians dissuaded Baldwin from joyning Battel with the Enemy by that means putting the whole affair of Christendom under a great hazard but all in vain for Baldwin giving them an opportunity of fighting was overcome with great slaughter himself and a few Men retreating with great difficulty to Jerusalem and Tancred by several by-ways escaping to Antioch The Enemies puff'd up with this great Victory seiz'd Mount Tabor and pulling down the Monestery there put all the Monks to the sword Gelasius in the mean time could not be at rest from a forein Enemy for the Emperor Henry had entred Italy with his Army wasting all as he march'd was just about to enter Rome in a hostile manner to escape whom the Pope at first retir'd to the House of Volcamino a noble Citizen but not deeming that altogether safe he went with his Attendants aboard a couple of Gallies prepar'd for that purpose and sail'd down the Tiber to Ostia the German Soldiers pursuing him and shooting at him with Darts and Arrows Coming to Ostia he dared not venture any whither by Sea it was so stormy but he travell'd hy Land to Ardea accompanied still wherever he went by Hugh Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles an illustrious Prelate Soon after the Sea growing more calm he return'd to 〈◊〉 from whence he sail'd first to Terracina and then to Gaeta where he was very kindly entertain'd by his Countrymen Hither came to meet him William Duke of Puglia Robert Prince of Capua and Richard of Aquila who all promised him their utmost service as became loyal Feudataries of the Church of God Henry hearing these Princes were raising an Army against him set up for an Anti pope Maurice Archbishop of Braga by the name of Gregory to oppose Gelasius and recommended him to the Family of Frangipani and not content to have acted so pernicious a thing he entred the Country of Anagni and plunder'd and ruin'd all before him he had just laid Siege to Turricolo a strong place when on a sudden news was brought that Gelasius with the Princes of Puglia approach'd with a great Army whereupon he decamp'd and as he retreated out of Italy he sill'd all places with slaughter and rapine 〈◊〉 upon his retreat dismiss'd the 〈◊〉 Princes supposing now that Henry was gone all things would be in a peaceable condition at Rome hereafter but he was very much deceiv'd in his opinion for he was soon after inform'd that the Anti-pope upheld by the power of the Frangipani continued still at Rome out of fear of which Family he staid privately a while in the House of a Friend but afterward as he was saying Mass in the Church of Praxede his Enemies with their Party rush'd in and he had much ado to escape out of their hands by flight some of the Corsi and Normanni two great Families with his Nephew Crescentius fighting briskly in his defence The next day guarded by his Retinue and Friends in Arms he return'd to the City from S. Paul's whither he had fled and consulting with his Cardinals he resolv'd to leave the City lest the Uproars every day encreasing some great mischief might ensue Having therefore left to Peter Bishop of Porto the Vicegerency in Ecclesiastical affairs at Rome and to Hugo Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles the care of Benevento he sail'd first to Pisa not conceiving the way by Land to be secure for himself and the Cardinals who accompanied him where he in the audience of the whole City related the causes of his departure from Rome and was received with great kindness by the Pisans thence setting sail for France he arrived at S. Giles's and was there entertain'd by the Abbat of Clugni and his Monks with many others who came for that purpose very magnificently and splendidly Then he cross'd the middle of France with a venerable rather than sumptuous attendance which now adays is the fashion by the way dedicating the Churches of S. Cecily in Stagello S. Sylvester in Burgundy and S. Stephen in Tornay and with Stones determining the Bounds of each Church Coming at last to the Monastery of Clugni he was taken with a Plurisie and died having been Pope one year and five days He was a most holy Man and very praise-worthy both for his life and doctrin so that I cannot doubt considering the integrity of his life and his religious constancy amidst the many storms and troubles he underwent but that he now enjoys Eternity among the blessed in Heaven He was buried in the Porch of the said Monastery Some write that in his time the Order of Knights Templers first began who living not far from the Holy Sepulcre entertain'd Pilgrims and accompanied them in Arms in their journeys to and from the holy Places which by their means might be visited with all safety These Knights Cusentinus commends highly for their holy Christian Lives CALISTUS II. CALISTUS the Second first named Guy a Burgundian Arch-bishop of Vienna descended of the Blood Royal of France was chosen Pope by those Cardinals who were at Clugni at the death of Gelasius but he would not take upon him the 〈◊〉 till he heard the Election was approv'd by those Cardinals also who were left at Rome and elsewhere in Italy which being certified to him by Letters and Messengers he went to Rome and the Nobility and People meeting him congratulated his Promotion and their own good fortune not doubting but he would be a restorer of peace and tranquillity to the City of Rome Here he settled matters to his mind and went to Benevento where all the Princes thereabout were met to salute him according to custom of whom the principal were William Duke of Puglia Jordan Count of 〈◊〉 Arnulphus Count of Ariano and Robert Count of Lauretello all Men of great honour and without doubt the most powerful Lords of that part of Italy who took their Oath of fealty to the Pope But Calistus having nothing more in his thoughts than the holy War where it was much fear'd the Christian Cause would not be able to sustain it self against so many barbarous Nations returning to Rome dispatch'd away Lambert Bishop of Ostia a Saxon Cardinal of S. Stephen in monte Celio and Gregory Cardinal of S. Angelo to the Emperour to treat of a Peace which having procured without much difficulty they hang'd up a Table of the Articles thereof in the Lateran Church to the incredible joy of all People But this lasted not long for Roger Count
the Pope Hereupon the Emperour Lotharius having repress'd his own Rebels once more advances towards Rome with his Army and the Pisans on the Pope's behalf fit out a powerful Fleet and with these Forces they not onely quell'd the Sedition at Rome but attack'd Roger so stoutly both by Sea and Land that they stripp'd him of all that he held in Italy and drove him to his own Sicily in a short time John Emperour of Constantinople who had no kindness for Roger hearing of these great successes sent Ambassadours to congratulate Lotharius upon that occasion one of which Embassie was a Sophister who would undertake to prove that the Latin Church profess'd a great Error in declaring contrary as he said to the opinion of the Nicene Council which was that the Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father that the said Holy Ghost did proceed from the Father and the Son But among those who manag'd the Controversie was one Peter a Deacon a learned Man and a great Disputant who replied thus If the Latins says he are to be condemn'd because they add that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son also why are not the Greeks much more to be condemn'd who say the H.G. proceeds from the Father alone whereas the Council said no more than that it proceeded from the Father The bold man was so gravel'd with this acute Answer that he laid down the Controversie and disputed no more The Emperour Lotharius being about to depart and Innocent fearing that when he was gone Roger would attempt to regain what he had lost in Italy he created Raino one of Lotharius's Commanders left by him to secure the Country with some Troops Duke of Puglia The Anti-Pope soon after died and was buried privately by his Friends and the Cardinals who had been his Sectators were reconcil'd to the Pope so that the Church seem'd to be in a likelihood of enjoying a little Tranquillity when on a sudden some Citizens of Rome seeking to enlarge their Power by tumults set up several Senators of their own to take into their hands the whole Government of the affairs and territories of the City Whilst the Pope withstood these attempts he holding a Council in the Lateran wherein it was ordain'd that no Lay-man should lay violent hands on a Clergy-man he died having been Pope fourteen years seven months and thirteen days A.D. 1114. At which time were in great esteem Gilbert an English Man a Person of so great knowledg that he was call'd the universal Scholar and Ambert Arch-bishop of Rhemes not inferiour to his Master Gilbert for parts and learning That piece of Mosaic work which is still to be seen in the Vault of S. Mary in Trastevere was done by this Pope CELESTINE II. CELESTINE the Second at first nam'd Guido Cardinal Priest of S. Mark a Tuscan born at Citta di Castello called by the Antients Tiphernum was by universal consent chosen Pope in the room of the deceased Innocent at the time when Baldwin King of Jerusalem dying Fulk Earl of Anjou his Son-in-law succeeded him in that Kingdom which with the help of his two valiant Sons he defended stoutly for some time For when the Turks who inhabited near the Persian Gulph had made incursions into the territories of Antioch he not onely defeated them but slew three thousand of their number and took as many Prisoners Which loss so enrag'd Alaph the Turk that with some Babylonian Auxiliaries he sate down before Edessa a City of Mesopotamia called by Jews Arach which we told you Baldwin had beg'd of his Brother Godfrey and took it the Barbarians plundering and spoiling all without mercy putting all those Christians to the sword who would not deny the Faith and ravishing the principal Women even upon S. John Baptist's Altar because they knew it was had in high reverence by the Christians But while an Army was raising King Fulk I know not by what ill luck fell from his Horse as he was riding too rashly after a Hare and died of his fall to whom Baldwin the third of that name succeeded in the Throne And Celestine after he had sate five months died and was buried in the Lateran He was happy in one thing that he was not pestered with any Seditions in his Pontificate which yet perhaps is to be attributed to the shortness of his time LVCIVS II. LVCIVS the Second a Bononian his Father's name was Albert came to the Popedom at that time when the news of the taking of Edessa was brought to Italy This Edessa was the City to which Holy Scripture says Tobias sent his Son and which the Apostle Thaddaeus converted to the faith of Christ being since honoured with the reliques of S. Thomas and hence it was that Agbarus King of the place sent a Letter to our Saviour to which he vouchsafed to write an Answer with his own hand Upon the tidings of this great loss Bernard Abbat of Clairvaux a personage famous for Sanctity and Learning as I have said before took to heart the defence of Christianity and by Letters and Messengers animated all Christian Princes to take upon them the Cross and Banner of Christ against the Saracens and prevailed upon Conrade of Schwaben who had succeeded Lotharius in the Empire to engage in the Expedition While provision was thus made for the defence of the Christian Religion in France and Germany Roger by the Pope's negligence returns into Italy and regains all that he had lost without meeting any resistance which success gave him so much courage and strength that passing with a Fleet into Africa he so plagu'd the King of Tunis that to buy his peace he made him promise him a yearly tribute which he paid for thirty years afterward Conrade having in the mean while got together a great Army under the Cross march'd to Constantinople where Emanuel II. Emperour of the Greeks over-persuaded him to take his journey straight on to Iconium without taking care of provision assuring him that himself would supply the Army with whatsoever should be necessary Whereupon that City well fortified both by Art and Nature was closely besieg'd a great while but the wicked Emperour shew'd them a Greek Trick and mix'd Lime with their Meal with which the bread was made for the whole Army of the Christians and this kill'd so many of the Soldiers that they were forc'd to raise the Siege and return into France without having done any thing Some advantage yet this Expedition may be said to have given the Christians because King Baldwin IV. of Jerusalem took such courage upon it as to besiege and take by storm the City of Ascalon having also a little before rebuilt the antient City Gaza then almost deserted by the Enemy giving it for a dwelling place to the Knights Templars Beside the same Baldwin gave a bold repulse to some Turkish Chieftains who infested the Inhabitants of Jericho of whom in one single Battel he is said to have kill'd five thousand Moreover Noradine Governour
soon after gathering his forces together he march'd into Cilicia to meet with Emanuel whose Army by a feigned flight he drew into narrow and difficult ways where he set upon 'em and vanquish'd 'em taking the Emperour Prisoner whom he set at large again upon condition that he should quit whatsoever he had taken in Asia At this time Alexander was met at Venice by Frederic there to treat of a Peace where in S. Mark 's Porch the Emperour kiss'd the Pope's feet and from thence they went together to the high Altar and having perform'd the mutual Ceremonies of Civility they discours'd a great while upon the Articles of the Peace which the next day was concluded Hence the Emperour with the good leave of the Pope departed first to Ravenna and then to Bertinoro which Town he design'd to keep in his hands because of the commodiousness of its situation but the Pope at last persuaded him to restore it to the Church Alexander also left Venice having first made several Presents and conferr'd many honours upon that State for the services they had done him and with thirteen Gallies of William King of Sicily and four of the Venetians he sail'd first to Siponto and from thence to Troia and Benevent and then passing S. Germano he went to Anagni where he staid not long but came to Tusculum to treat with the Romans about deposing the Consuls they had set up before a Peace should be concluded but because the Consuls had been so chosen for fifty years it was found to be a difficult thing to alter the custom wherefore they agreed that thereafter no one that was chosen Consul should enter upon his Office till he had taken an Oath to be dictated by the Pope that he would be true to the Church of Rome and never attempt any thing that should be a violation of the Pontifical Dignity Thus all matters being settled the Pope went the third time to Rome all the great Men of the City coming forth to attend and congratulate him soon after he held a Council in the Lateran partly to find a way to reform the great licentiousness of that Court but chiefly that it might be decreed that no Man under pain of an Anathema should furnish the Infidels with Iron Wood or any sort of Arms. At this time died Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople leaving his Son Alexius heir of his Empire under the Guardianship of Andronicus one of the blood Royal who for some years shew'd great prudence and fidelity in his publick Administrations and by his consent the young Emperour was married to Agnes Daughter to Philip King of France Baldwin IV. also King of Jerusalem to strengthen himself by the Alliance married his Sister Sibyl to William surnam'd Long-sword Marquess of Montferrat an excellent Soldier not doubting but that upon occasion William and other Princes of Christendom would come to his assistance if his affairs were in any danger Mean time Alexander after having undergone so many and continual labours when now he seem'd to be at rest from all his troubles died at Rome when he had been Pope twenty one years nineteen days having yet liv'd to see four Anti-Popes go before him who with their factions had almost destroy'd the Church of Rome LVCIVS III. LVCIVS the Third a Tuscan of a noble Family of the City of Lucca was made Pope by general consent at the time when Andronicus who we told you was Guardian to Alexius having driven out the Latins who favour'd the young Emperour and drown'd him in the Sea where he was wont for his recreation carelesly sometimes to venture in a little Bark usurp'd the Empire of Constantinople and to secure his Empire thus unjustly gotten he added another great wickedness for in a short time he cut off all the Nobility whose Virtue rendred them suspected to him Now also William surnamed Long-sword dying at Jerusalem King Baldwin taking care of his Nephew married his Sister Sibyl again to Guy of Lusignan a Picard upon condition that after his own decease Guy should enjoy the Kingdom during the nonage of his Nephew Baldwin after which he should resign it to him All which was confirm'd by the Pope's Authority who thought it very necessary for the Christian Cause that the Princes of Asia should be knit together with the strictest bonds of Amity and Friendship to enable them the better to resist the insults of the Turks and Saracens but he was quickly after expell'd the City of Rome while by the favour of some Citizens he attempted to abolish the Office of the Consuls and his Friends in that affair being taken had their Eyes put out Upon this horrid affront the Pope betook himself to Verona and call'd a Council where the exorbitant pride and licentiousness of the Romans was condemned and all Christian Princes were exhorted to afford assistance to the holy War especially because Saladine had entred and wasted the Territories of Jerusalem encouraged by the dissension among the Christian Commanders who had turn'd out Guy of Lusignan for his Arrogance from the Government and had substituted Bertrand Count of Tripoli Protector in his room so that all things seem'd to threaten a Civil War But the Pope incessantly persuaded them by Letters and Ambassadours to lay by their Animosities and with one heart and the same mind to oppose the common Enemy at least so long as till fresh Auxiliary forces could be sent to ' em For by the instance of Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem who came for that purpose first to Verona and thence went to Philip King of France upon the same Errand a good number of Soldiers under the Cross were listed and sent away But William King of Sicily in an ill time designing to revenge the wrongs offered to the Latins by Andronicus Emperour of Constantinople passing into Greece with his Army confounded all things for he took Thessalonica the chief City of Macedonia by storm and harassing many other of his Territories he took and plundered several Cities Adronicus not appearing against him being hated of God and Man for the many murthers and banishments he had been the Author of The Constantinopolitans were hereby reduc'd to necessity and forc'd to fetch from Pelopennesus and to set up for Emperour one Isaac who was of the blood Royal and he overthrew Andronicus in Battel took him and with various Tortures put him to death Upon which it became easie for Pope Lucius to persuade King William to make Peace with Isaac and with Promises and Rewards to prevail with him to turn his Arms against the Asians but while this matter was transacting by Internuntio's this excellent Pope died in the fourth year second month and eighteenth day of his Papacy at Verona and was buried with great Pomp before the Altar of the Cathedral Church This Pope had a great regard for his own Country and conser'd upon it many advantages both Civil and Spiritual before he died particularly he obtain'd of Frederick the Emperour with
matter he died at Pisa the fifty seventh day of his Pontificate CLEMENT III. CLEMENT the Third a Roman Son of John surnam'd the Scholar as soon as he was made Pope sent forth a Bull to encourage Men to go to the Holy War for Saladine following the course of his Victories had taken twenty five Towns in the Principality of Antioch and at last had by bribing the Patriarch rendred himself Master of Antioch it self This gave the alarm to the Christian Princes so that now complying with the Pope's exhortations they raised Men the chief of those who engaged in the Expedition were the Emperour Frederic Philip King of France Richard King of England and Otho Duke of Burgundy beside many Arch-bishops and Bishops who accompanied them The Venetians and Pisans set forth their several Fleets well equip'd that of Venice was under the command of the Arch-bishop of Ravenna and that of Pisa under their own Arch-bishop And William King of Sicily having clear'd the Sea of Pirates took care to supply them by the way out of Puglia and Sicily with all sorts of Provisions Beside these the Friselanders Danes and Flemings with a Fleet of fifty Gallies landing on the African shore did the Saracens much mischief taking and plundering Siluma one of their Cities Bela also King of Poland out of good will to the Christian Cause made Peace with the Hungarians that so the passage through that Country might be more easie and safe for those who were to take their way through it to this great Expedition At last they all arriv'd at Tyre and from thence they march'd unanimously to Ptolemais and besieg'd it where Saladine with a great Army came and beat up their quarters so that having the Enemy before them and behind they were forc'd to fight The Battel was long and bloody and the Victory inclin'd to the Christians side when the mischance of a Horse slipping out of the hand of a common Soldier gave them an occasion of flight our Men thinking that the Saracens had got the better but Geoffrey of Lusignan who was left to guard the Camp in the nick of time giving a brisk Onset shock'd their pursuit and gave the Christians an opportunity to rally However 't is certain the Christians lost two thousand men that day beside that the Master of the Templers and Andrew Earl of Bremen died afterward of their wounds In the mean time the Siege lasting long the Christians were reduc'd to so great a want of all things that they were forc'd to procure Victuals of the Enemy which Saladine having notice of laid hold on the opportunity and deserted his Camp which he left without any Guard but furnish'd with all manner of necessaries which when the Christians altogether in disorder enter'd and fell to plundering Saladine return'd and kill'd many of them ere they were aware or prepared to receive him Yet did not the Christians quit this tedious and toilsom Siege though to their other distresses this was added that a Dysentery rag'd in their Camp of which Disease Sibyl the Wife of Guy with four Sons which she had by him all died While matters went thus in Asia William King of Sicily died at Palermo not leaving behind him any lawful Heir so that that Kingdom fell to the Church but the Noblemen of the Island set up Tancred in his room natural Son of Roger the Norman by a Concubine a Man of so great cowardize and sloth that William would not believe him to be Roger's Bastard Pope Clement not willing to lose his right sends away an Army thither with all speed between whom and Tancred who opposed them the Country was fill'd with slaughters and outrages Frederic the Emperour was now by the way of Hungary and Thrace march'd with his Army as far as Constantinople in order to advance against the Enemies of Christ where Isaac the Emperour of the Greeks fearing his Power persuaded him to cross the Bosporus which he did and Clement still hastening him on by Letters and Nuntio's he sate down before Philomena a City of the Turks and took it then he wasted the Country about Iconium and possess'd himself of all Armenia minor but going one time into a rapid stream to wash himself without regarding the depth he was drown'd and his Soldiers retreating towards Antioch either were lost or died so that his Army came to nothing The two Kings Philip and Richard having pass'd the Gallic and Tyrrhene Seas arriv'd together at Messina after which they met with different fortune for Philip had a good Voyage and coming safe to Ptolemais brought great strength and courage to the Christian forces but Richard being born by contrary Winds to the coast of Cyprus and being by the Greeks denied the liberty of landing he entred the Island by force and conquering it he plac'd therein Garisons of his own and then went to Ptolemais That City was then stoutly attack'd but Saladine had put in it so strong a Garison that with their frequent Sallies they did the Christians much damage Pope Clement now thought good to defer his Controversie with Tancred till the Christians should have more success against the Saracens and betook himself to regulate some Ecclesiastical Affairs and with great severity animadverted upon the scandalous lives of Clergy-men Moreover he built the Monastery of S. Laurence without the Walls and with great expence repair'd the Lateran Palace and adorn'd the Church there with excellent Mosaic work not long after dying when he had been Pope three years and five months and was buried in the Lateran Church with great Funeral Pomp. CELESTINE III. CELESTINE the Third a Roman Son of Peter surnam'd Bubo succeeded to the Chair who grudging that Tancred should enjoy the Kingdom of Sicily secretly gets away Constantia Daughter to the late King Roger out of a Nunnery at Palermo and though she was under the Vow of Chastity yet granting her the Apostostical Dispensation gives her to Wife to Henry VI. Son of Frederic Barbarossa upon these terms that he should be empowered to attempt the recovery of both the Sicilies which he should enjoy in the name of a Dowry with his said Wife paying a yearly tribute to the Pope as Feudatary of the Church Henry was so sensible of this extraordinary kindness of the Pope that he restor'd to him Tusculum which he had before strengthen'd with a good Garison which Celestine immediately bestowing upon the Romans they so spoil'd and ruin'd it that the very stones of the demolish'd City were brought to Rome and many of them were for a long time to be seen in the Campidoglio as Monuments of this great devastation Henry and his Wife Constantia laying Siege to Naples were forc'd to raise it by reason of a Plague which rag'd in their Army but the Christians who had now for two years besieg'd Ptolemais had it surrendred to them upon condition that they restoring that piece of our Lord's Cross which we before told you was lost should march
out freely every Man with his own Clothes but when they could not make good the agreement because the piece of the Cross was not to be found Richard put many of the Barbarians to death Saladine was so dismay'd at these losses that despairing of being able to defend them all he dismantled several Cities in that Region and was upon the point of delivering up Jerusalem itself if it had not been for a difference which arose between Philip and Richard concerning Precedency upon which Philip pretending himself sick departed home from Asia Richard then apply'd himself more vigorously to the War though at this time Conrade of Montferrat was assassinated in the Market-place of Tyre by two Saracen Ruffians who had bound themselves under an Oath and Vow to destroy all the Enemies of their Religion after the same manner but as they ran away they were caught and put to death with the most exquisite Torments and Henry Earl of Champagne taking Queen Isabel to Wife entred upon the Dominion of Tyre Richard giving some fair words to Guy of Lusignan persuaded him to pass over to him his Kingdom of Jerusalem which the Kings of England still put among their Titles and herewith taking courage he march'd his Army to beleaguer the City of Jerusalem but Saladine in his Journey falling in with his Rear forc'd him to a Battel in a very disadvantageous place in which though he at last came off Conqueror yet it was with great loss of men Saladine after this encamp'd not far from Bethlehem in a commodious place to intercept any manner of Provisions that might be sent from Egypt to the Christian Army as they should lie before Jerusalem wherefore and because the Winter was coming on Richard puts off his designs for this so necessary Siege the Pope yet urging him and continually supplying him with Money and retreats to Ascalon which as well as Gaza he fortifies again they having before been slighted by Saladine In the mean time the Sea-forces by degrees leave him and the Pisans sailing into the Adriatic seiz'd Pola with intent to Winter there but the Venetians reinforcing their own Fleet set upon 'em took the Place and sack'd it and drove out the Pisans and had pursued them to extremity if Celestine out of care for the good of Christendom had not mediated between them Spring now came on and Richard was preparing for the Siege of Jerusalem when on a sudden news was brought him that King Philip had invaded Normandy and intended to pass into England to procure that Kingdom for his Brother John Richard then laid by those thoughts and strook up a Peace with Saladine upon these Articles That Saladine should enjoy all but Tyre and Ptolemais to which with their Territories remaining in the hands of the Christians he should give no molestation Richard having thus settled Affairs there returning into Europe was taken by his Enemies from whom he was ransom'd with a vast sum of Money and at last arriving in England he had many a Battel with the King of France much against the Pope's mind who was griev'd that so fierce a War should be raised among Christians at so unseasonable a time when Saladine being now dead it was thought to have been a very fit time to have recovered Jerusalem It is reported of that illustrious Prince that one Ceremony at his Funeral was this His Shirt was hung upon the end of a Pike and carried before the Corps and one with a loud Voice cryed Behold Saladine the mighty Lord of Asia of all his Realms and of all his Wealth takes no more than this along with him A spectacle well befitting so great a Man to whom nothing was wanting but the Character of a Christian to have rendred him a most consummate Prince Upon the death of Saladine as was said before Celestine had fresh hopes that Jerusalem might be regain'd and so urg'd the Emperour Henry who Tancred being dead succeeded to the Kingdom of Sicily to undertake the Enterprize that though he could not go in person yet he sent thither with great speed a good Army under the Arch-bishop of Mentz and the Duke of Saxony The King of France would have gone too but that the Saracens who inhabited Mauritania now the Moors had cross'd the Streights and having taken the King of Castile Prisoner had possess'd themselves of that part of Spain now call'd Granado where the French fear'd they would hardly continue long quiet but go near to infest the neighbouring Nations and therefore would not draw their forces out of Europe The Germans however arriving in Asia fortified Berylus which had been deserted by the Saracens and rais'd their Siege from before Joppa from whence when they were about to go to Jerusalem Celestine this most holy Pope who never let slip any opportunity for the recovery of the Holy Land died upon which they desisted Notwithstanding all these troubles and these great charges of War our Pope built two Palaces one near S. Peter's the other near S. John in the Lateran fit for the reception of Popes The brasen Gates yet remaining in the Lateran over against the Sancta Sanctorum which were made by his Order and at his charge Moreover he made Viterbo a City raising the Church there to a Bishops Sea to which Diocese he added Toscanella and Centum-cellae Celestine died when he had been Pope six years seven months and eleven days to the great grief of all good Men and was buried in St. Peter's Church INNOCENT III. INNOCENT the Third born in Anagni Son of Trasimund of the Family of the Conti was for his great Learning and many Virtues made a Cardinal by Celestine and upon his death was by general consent chosen Pope Which he had no sooner arriv'd to but he applied his thoughts to the Holy War and by Letters Messengers large Promises and Largesses endeavour'd to contain the Germans within the bounds of their duty who after the decease of their Emperour Henry were all in a mutiny but 't was to no purpose for they disdaining any Commander left Asia and to the extream damage of the Christian Cause return'd to Europe whereby those of Joppa especially suffered most for being destitute of help the Turks and Saracens came upon 'em and while they were about to yield they took the City by force and cut them all off rasing it to the ground In Germany also all things seem'd to threaten confusion some of the Electors stickling hard for Otho Duke of Saxony others standing resolutely for Philip a German Duke of Tuscany who was left by Henry upon his death bed Guardian to his young Son And to improve this mischief to the height the King of France took part with Philip and the King of England was for Otho Innocent then to obviate the impending miseries that must follow upon such a state of Affairs confirms Otho in the Empire as duly elected by those who had just suffrage Philip notwithstanding would not lay down his
pretensions but strengthen'd himself with good Garisons both in Tuscany in Italy and Schwaben in Germany The like with a more than Womanly fortitude also did Constantia the relict of Henry in Sicily on the behalf of her Son Frederic II. yet a Child rendring the Frontier-places defensible against any Enemy Though these Animosities every day grew higher yet Innocent still thought of renewing the War in the Holy Land and to that Expedition he stir'd up Boniface Marquess of Montferrat Baldwin Earl of Flanders Henry Count S. Paul and Lewis of Savoy who all arriving at Venice could not persuade that State to rig out their Fleet for the Service till they had all promised to recover Zara for them which again was revolted to the Hungarians the Fleet then being fitted out they first routed those of Trieste who piratically infested the Sea and then after a long Siege re-took Zara. While these things were acted in the Adriatic Alexius dethrones his Brother Isaac Emperor of Constantinople who had been a good Friend to the Latins and putting out his Eyes throws him in Prison But his young Son Alexius escap'd by flight to the Christian Camp and begs the assistance of those Commanders for his Father against the Usurper which they consented to give him on condition that his end being atchiev'd the Greek Church should be subjected to the Latin and that thirty thousand Marks of Gold should be paid for the damage which Emanuel the late Emperour had done to the French and Venetians and thus when they had agreed they set sail from Zara and passing by Candy that Island submitted itself which young Alexius bestow'd upon his Kinsman Boniface of Montferrat Hence they proceeded to Constantinople which while they besieged by Sea and Land Theodore Lascari Son-in-law to Alexius endeavouring to sally forth was driven back and the City after two days close Siege was taken by storm Alexius got away in the night leaving behind him a great quantity of Gold in the custody of Irene a Nun. Isaac the Father with his Son Alexius then entred the City but liv'd not long after the Father dying of sickness and the Son being poison'd Upon this Boniface of Montferrat gets the Kingdom of Thessaly but wanting Money he was persuaded by Baldwin to sell Candy to the Venetians which he did and having receiv'd a vast sum for it he beleaguer'd Adrianople then opprest by the Usurper but this gave so much distast to the Walachians who live on the further side of the Danube and to the Bulgarians that fearing the number of his Enemies he took his way to Constantinople intending to go meet the Turkish Sultan of Iconium who having taken the City Satellia from the Greeks did much and continually incommode the Christians Innocent encompass'd thus with Enemies raised what Forces soever he could to reinforce from time to time our Armies but when he heard that Hilminoline a Saracen with a great Fleet had cross'd the Streights into Spain and had sate down with his Army before Toledo he publish'd a Bull inciting all those that could bear Arms to oppose this torrent whereupon numbers of French men got together in order to assist the Spaniards but perceiving they were not welcome to them they return'd home so that Hilminoline in a short time over-run all Spain after a hostile manner and came as far as Arles and Avignon filling all places where he came with spoil and slaughter This Calamity roused the four Kings of Spain that is of Castile Aragon Portugal and Navarre so that joyning their forces together they set upon the Saracens and gave them a total rout leaving nothing to 'em of what they had but onely Granado At this time sprung up a Heresie at Tholouse which by Innocent's means the blessed Dominic who was afterwards made a Saint repress'd with the aid of Simon Montfort for it had gone so far that he had need of the help of the Arm of Flesh as well as of Arguments and spiritual Weapons Mean time Otho Emperour of the Romans was every where worsted by Philip and at last besieg'd by him in the City of Cologn where he making in Person a successless Sally the Citizens shut him out and surrendred to Philip who yet did not long out-live the Action being soon after treacherously made away by the Count Palatine Upon his death the Electors chose the Duke of Saxony Emperour nam'd Otho V. who the next year was crown'd by Innocent at Rome The Venetians now being very powerful at Sea and the State having greater matters in hand private Men had leave to make themselves Masters of what Islands they pleased provided they continued their Allegiance to the Government upon which many Citizens entred upon several Isles in the Ionian and Aegaean Seas and at the publick charge were seiz'd Corfu Modone and Corone Otho having as is aforesaid receiv'd the Imperial Crown of the Pope against all justice and right possesses himself of Montefiascone Radicofano and several other Towns belonging to the Church and then marches into the Kingdom of Naples designing to take that Kingdom from Frederic II. who was young and as yet under Guardians which so angred the Pope that having first admonish'd him without any effect he excommunicated him at last and depriv'd him of his Imperial Title and the King of Bohemia with the Arch bishops of Mentz and Triers by the persuasion of the Duke of Austria and Landgrave of Turingia chuse Frederick King of Sicily then in the twentieth year of his age Emperour in his stead Otho hereupon returns into Germany to take care of his Paternal Estate by which means Innocent had an opportunity to his mind to recover whatsoever he had taken from the Church Those of Candy now rebelling against the Venetians they were by force of Arms reduc'd An. Dom. 1214. and brought into the constitution of a Colony many Citizens being sent to live among 'em and to observe ' em At this time Frederic II. came to Rome to receive the Imperial Diadem but could not prevail with him to bestow it upon him so he return'd into Germany and there was by the Arch-bishop of Mentz Crown'd King of Germany and then made an Alliance and League with the King of France which added so much to the strength of that King that he invaded the Realm of John King of England with such success that John was fain to make use of Divine aids as well as humane force to resist him by making his Kingdoms of England and Ireland tributary to the Church of Rome in the payment of one hundred Marks yearly which for some years after was perform'd Frederic now in pursuit of Otho who had been totally defeated by the King of France takes in Aquisgrane and there by Authority receiv'd from Pope Innocent he sets up the Standard of the Holy Cross promising speedily to march to the assistance of the Christians against the Saracens in Asia beside that he might shew with what a grateful mind
Cubit in depth This so terrified the Christians that they were glad to accept of Peace upon condition that Damiata should be re deliver'd to the Egyptians the Prisoners on both sides be discharg'd and the piece of the Holy Cross then in the hands of those Barbarians should be restor'd to the Christians and they suffer'd to retire quietly to Acon and Tyre Thus was Damiata which was begun to be inhabited by the Christians upon the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin deliver'd up according to the Articles on the Birth-day of the same An. Dom. 1221. In which year the Tartars a Nation of Scythia or as others will have it of the mountainous parts of India leaving their own Country ravag'd through Parthia Media Persia Assyria and came as far as Sarmatia where not far from Palus Meotis driving out the old Inhabitants they seated themselves The Christian Commanders finding at this time that nothing was to be attempted in Asia the Enemy being too powerful they together with John Colonna return'd into Italy and were soon follow'd by John King of Jerusalem who came to Rome and was by the Pope kindly entertain'd and had large Presents made to him Afterward he gave his Daughter which he had by his Wife Jole in marriage to the Emperor Frederic though he was under the Pope's Anathema and pass'd over all the Title he had by hereditary right to the Kingdom of Jerusalem to him by way of Dowry Hence it is that all the succeeding Kings of Sicily and Naples use the Title of that Kingdom also though they make their claim to it with words only and not with Arms. John then took a Journey into France where he had better luck than he was wont to have for Philip King of France bequeath'd in his last Will forty thousand pounds in Silver to him and as much to the grand Master of the Templers and with the help of this Money he went into Spain to perform a Vow he had made to S. James of Compostella where he took to Wife Berengaria Sister to the King of Spain This year died S. Dominic that holy Man at Bononia and Frederic declar'd his Son Henry a Boy but of ten years old King of Germany Our Honorius being a little quiet from forein troubles repair'd the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls that is call'd Sancta Sanctorum and the Church of S. Vivian beside he built a Palace at Casa Marii and adorn'd the Cibory Altar-Canopy or Covering of S. Peter with excellent workmanship He also compil'd the Decretal Epistles and confirm'd the Order of S. Francis who within two years after was canoniz'd by Pope Gregory After this blessed manner did Honorius lead his life and as became a careful and a good Shepherd and dying when he had been Pope ten years seven months and thirteen days he was buried in the Church of S. Mary Maggiore After his death there happened so great Earthquakes that in the Monti Salvii five thousand persons were slain by the falls of Houses and by the Stones that were thrown into the Vales from the tops of the Mountains GREGORY IX GREGORY the Ninth born at Anagni a City of Campania of the Family of the Conti and Nephew to Innocent III. was created Pope at the Settizonio a place in Rome so call'd from seven rows of Pillars there plac'd by the Emperour Severus Which was no sooner done but he dispatch'd away monitory Letters to require Frederic the Emperour under pain of an Anathema that he should with the first opportunity march with his Army into Asia there to endeavour the recovery of the holy City Frederic receiv'd the Admonition and indeed promised so to do accordingly giving out Orders that all who had entred themselves of the Crusado should by a day appointed repair to Brundusium with their Arms. Great numbers met there from all Countries particularly from Germany came the Lantgrave of Hesse who waiting there for the arrival of Frederic out of Sicily where he staid and prolong'd the time feigning himself sick died himself and a great number of his Soldiers and as soon as the news of his death was brought to Frederic he then immediately set sail for Brundusium and seiz'd into his hands whatsoever the Lantgrave had left of value which act plainly detected the fraudulence of his pretence However he continued to make the World believe that he was really intent upon the holy Expedition and after the rapacious action aforesaid upon the goods of the Lantgrave he hoisted Sail and commanded the rest that were there to follow him but in a little while after return'd to Brundusium forc'd as he pretended by the tempestuous weather 1. The noise of this Expedition mov'd John King of Jerusalem and Berengaria his Wife knowing well that they did what would be very acceptable to the Pope to take a journey to Bononia meaning to make use of some Shipping of the Venetians to carry him to Asia but the Pope understood well enough the tricks of Ferdinand and what little credit was to be given him and lest John should quite lose his labour and come for nothing he confer'd upon him the Government of the Exarchate of Ravenna and ratified the Sentence of Excommunication which was pronounc'd by his Predecessor Honorius III. against the Emperour Frederic and had done worse things against him if himself had not been under some fearful apprehensions of an Invasion from the Moors who were then out at Sea with a powerful Fleet but were afterwards vanquish'd by Ferdinand of Aragon with so great loss on their side that in a short time he possess'd himself of Majorca one of the Islands call'd the Baleares and took the City Valentia driving out the Saracens and compelling the Inhabitants to receive the Christian Religion At last yet Frederic was what by the intreaties of his Friends and the threats of the Pope wrought upon to begin his Voyage sailing first to Cyprus which afforded some hopes to the Christian Soldiers that were in Asia whom he had so often deceiv'd But while he staid there sending out Spies to bring him an account of the strength of the Soldan's Forces his General Rainaldo whom he had left in Sicily invades the Pope's Territories and takes several Towns in the Marca di Ancona The Pope was then at Perugia designing to go to Assisi there in person to examine the truth of those reports which had been of Miracles wrought by that holy Man S. Francis and when he found what he had heard concerning him to be really true he canoniz'd him with great solemnity in the presence of great numbers of Christian People who came together for that end While these things were acting by the Pope another Commander of the Emperours by siding with a Faction seizes Fuligno but was quickly expell'd by the Power of some good Men who stood up for the holy Church By this time Frederic was got to Acon and from thence solicited the Pope earnestly by Letters
receiv'd the Sacraments of the Church and then died in the eighth month of his Pontificate and was buried at Viterbo He was a Man as I said before of great Learning but little Prudence For he wrote many Tracts in his life especially certain Rules relating to Physick for he was counted a very good Physician He wrote also another Book and called it Thesaurus Pauperum or the Poors Treasure and set out Problems in imitation of Aristotle But 't is certain however it comes to be so that many very learned Men are not at all fit for business Yet I need not doubt how it comes to pass but take it rather for a greater Wonder if he that takes pleasure in Contemplation should apply his mind to Wordly Affairs too NICOLAS III. NICOLAS the Third a Roman of the Family of the Vrsini formerly called John Cajetan was made Pope at last after the Election had been six months in suspence by reason of a great Contest that was among the Cardinals Now the King of Sicily as Senator had the guard of the Conclave at that time and was very urgent with 'em to chuse a French-man But Nicolas assoon as he began his Reign in the year 1278 resolv'd to restrain Charles's Power and took from him the Lieutenancy of Tuscany because he said that Rodulphus took it ill and would not perform his promise of going upon the Expedition into the holy Land upon any other terms since Tuscany was reckon'd to belong to the jurisdiction of the Empire Though the Pope gain'd this point yet he reduced Romagna and Bologna it self together with the Exarchate of Ravenna which at that time were under the Emperor and made 'em subject to himself And thither he sent Bertholdus his Nephew who was declared Earl of Romagna He sent also another Nephew of his that was a Cardinal called Latinus Legat into Tuscany who restored the Gibellins in all places and imposed what Officers he pleased upon the Citizens at Florence and in other parts of Tuscany But the Office of Senator which used to be granted or committed to Kings and Princes he discharg'd himself alone He would not see the Embassadors from the Venetians who at that time harass'd the Anconeses with War and so they departed But he called 'em back and chid 'em severely nay he threaten'd to ruin their City if they did not desist from besieging or storming Ancona At length when both parties had suffer'd great inconveniencies they made a Peace upon equal terms But this Pope had a mind to create two Kings both of the Vrsini one of Tuscany and the other of Lombardy to keep those Germans on the one side that inhabit part of the Alps and the French on the other side that lived in Sicily and Naples within their bounds And to bring it about he persuaded Peter King of Aragon to endeavour the recovery of the Kingdom of Sicily upon the title of his Wife Constantia who was heir to it And he took the Honour of Senator from Charles and conferr'd it upon himself and made an everlasting Edict that no King or Prince should dare to sue for or bear that Office This Nicolas as Authors say was a man of great courage and conduct and so perfect in his life and conversation that in Italian he was commonly called il Composto or Composto He was a lover and admirer of learned men especially of those who had Learning mingled with prudence and Religion But he was reckon'd impartial to all in the distribution of honours and dignities For at his first Ordination he chose a Bishop for Alba out of the Order of Minors for Ostia and Porto out of the Preachers The Bishops of Palestrina and Trescat were Seculars He created besides these two Cardinal-Priests that is to say Gerard with the Title of the Twelve Apostles and Jerome of the Order of Minors with the Title of S. Pudentiana To them he added two Deacons that is to say Jordan his Brother Cardinal of S. Eustachius a man of much Learning and innocence and James Colonna of S. Maries in Via lata a person of great Religion and gravity He adorn'd and enlarged the Papal Palace with other Buildings which he added For he built a convenient house nigh S Peters part of which is yet to be seen which Nicolas the fifth afterward repair'd to his great cost and charge He also walled S. Peter's Garden which now they call Belvedere Then he repair'd S. Peter's Church when it was ready to fall with age and adorn'd it with the Pictures of the Popes The same he did in S. Pauls More than all this he advanced divine Worship most wonderfully by encreasing the number of Canons and the provision that had been made for those who serv'd in Churches Again he divided the Ecclesiastick Orders and appointed to each their Offices He likewise assigned every one his Lodging that even Strangers might know where every Officer especially the chief Officer was to be found He finish'd the Lateran Palace which was begun before by Adrian the fifth He built the Sancta Sanctorum from the ground after the first Chappel was ruin'd with age and beautified the Church it self with Mosaic work as it is now to be seen and with plaister of Marble And thither he removed the Apostles heads till he had reqair'd St. John's Church at his own Charge But when it was finish'd he presently brought 'em back again in Silver Cases made by his Order and attended by all the People he laid 'em up in the Chappel which was built for the purpose The same day he consecrated the Church that is upon the eighth of July Some Historians say that no one ever said Mass with more Devotion than he for during the performance of that Divine Office he constantly wept He was very godly and such a Lover of the Friers Minors for that they contemn'd the World that he has explain'd many doubts relating to that Order in a decretal Epistle When Churches were void there never was a Pope that took care sooner or more deliberately giving them to the best and the fittest Men he could find For he first look'd into a mans life and his Learning and then gave immediately the vacant Seas to those that he thought worthy For he used to say Delays were dangerous because there were such men in the World as would commit Sacriledg with all their hearts He could not endure Proctors and Attornies because they liv'd upon the bloud of the Poor and those that went to Law but hated them as a Plague in which he imitated Gregory X. and John XXI But because there were great corruptions among Magistrates in all places he ordain'd that all Offices should be annual only and if any one durst to hold 'em longer he was liable to an Anathema from which he could not be absolv'd but by the Pope himself Besides these things he did a great many more for the good of the Clergy and all Christian People as it
have sâ—lâ—ied out one Guido Bonatus an excellent Astrologer exhored his fellow Citizens to wait till such time as the Stars should promise good luck and make their Sally when he gave 'em the Signal They did as he would have them and breaking forth in the very nick of time they kill'd Guido and almost all his French men Thus was that City freed from a great Siege But Charles when he heard how the Sicilians had revolted and of their cruelty too went over into Sicily with a very considerable Army And first he besieged Messina which he had certainly taken by Surrender but that the French desirous of Revenge had threaten'd to raze the City Besides Peter of Aragon who expected as I told you such commotions no sooner heard of it but he comes over with all speed from Sardinia into Sicily and arriving at Palermo he was very kindly received by the Citizens and all the other Sicilians who also saluted him by the name of King whilst all the Rabble flock'd about him Charles was frighted at this and therefore leaving Messina he went immediately into Calabria to stay for his Son the Prince of Salerno who he knew would come very shortly out of the Province of Narbonne with some Recruits Charles expostulated with Peter of Aragon that he who was his Relation nay of the same bloud too should dare to invade his Kingdom To which he reply'd that he was so compassionate as that he could not deny his assistance to a miserable people that were so hardly used though he said too that the Kingdom belong'd to him by right of inheritance as he was Husband to Constantia Monford's Daughter and Corradins Niece At last when words grew high on both sides it came to a Duel upon this condition though that each King should have an hundred men along with him as being to engage in such a weighty Combat and the place where they were to fight was to be Bourdeaux For both these Kings were akin to the King of England who with the assistance of Pope Martin at length made up the difference But when Peter for all that made War upon Charles Martin sent Gerard Cardinal of Parma his Legat to Naples not onely to keep the People in Allegiance to him but to assist him who was but a youth with good counsel and the awe of his presence But when Peter had sent Rogeris Lorias his Admiral to Naples Charles moved toward the Enemy and not far from Naples was conquer'd with the loss of a great many men nor onely so but he was taken and carry'd first into Sicily and then into Aragon But this without question had never happen'd if he would but have hearken'd to the Legat as he should have done who was of a contrary opinion who dissuaded him and told him that such a mighty Kingdom as that was ought not to be hazarded at that rate For not long after his Father Charles came with a great Navy which would have made him able to have coped with the Enemy before he was a Conqueror But Martin being concern'd very much for Charles's misfortune excommunicates Peter of Aragon and gives his Kingdom for a prey to any one that can or will take possession of it absolving his Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance to him and exciting all Christians against him as an Usurper of the Churches Patrimony according to his opinion Nay he would have sent the Church-Militia to help Charles but that he was fain to wage War in Romagna himself against the Forleses who by the aid of Guido Earl of Monford were so bold as to revolt from the Church and attaque some Forts thereabouts But when Guido himself repented of what he had done and had made Peace with the Pope he not onely demolish'd the Walls of Forli in revenge to Guido Appius but he recover'd a great part of Romagna in a short time He had also taken Vrbino as sure as he attempted it but that Rubeus Anguillarius Earl of Tuscany died in the action There were at that time two Generals that commanded the Camp one of which was sent into Tuscany to defend that part of the Countrey that lies toward the Soane and the other whom they call Earl of Giovenazzo continu'd the Siege by the Popes Order whilst Guido Montefeltranus supplied the very Townsmen with necessaries under-hand But in the mean time when Martin was at a loss from which of the two States Pisa or Genoa he should desire Auxiliaries against Peter of Aragon there arose immediately such a quarrel between them about the possession of Corsica that they themselves were fain to beg assistance one against another Then the Pope sent word to the Apostolical Legat that he should keep the people in order till Charles came with a supply After which Charles went into Naples and having setled the peoples minds sailed into Africa where he died of a Fever upon which occasion all the weight of the Government devolv'd upon the Legat. At that time there was a rumour and almost a currant Report that Philip Son of the French King and Earl of Artois was coming to receive that Kingdom But that did not frighten Peter from spoiling the Country because he was sure he came with a small number For his Father Philip was going into Aragon with a great Army to take possession of Peter's Kingdom which Martin the Pope by heavy Censures first laid upon him had exposed as a booty to any one that could get it But the Pope being surrounded with so many cares and those increased too by new tumults at Orvieto for the Gibellins had banish'd the Guelphs he went to Perugia where not long after he died of an hectick Fever in the fourth year and first month of his Pontificate and was buried in the Cathedral At whose Tomb many sick blind deaf and lame people that are brought thither recover from God their former health by the merits of this most holy Pope HONORIVS IV. HONORIVS the fourth a Roman of the Race of the Sabini a very noble Family formerly called James a Cardinal Deacon was made Pope at Perugia and came to Rome in the year 1285. when his Brother Pandulphus was Senator For Pandulphus was esteemed a Person of so much severity and Justice that whenever the Citizens of Rome had a mind to purge the City of Robbers Ruffians Thieves and Parricides of which at that time there were great numbers in Rome among the Seditious they desired no other Senator than Pandulphus And he though mightily tormented with the Gout both in his feet and his hands yet in courage and constancy of mind he was inferiour to none of those that had their health Honorius also was sometimes troubled with the same Distemper insomuch that he was forced to make use of certain Instruments made for the purpose to support him when he performed the Priestly Office But he was a Man of that Conduct and Prudence that he did not seem much deficient
in corporal strength for he himself could discern rather more of the Affairs of the City than those that were in it besides put 'em all together He lived in the Mount di S. Sabina and built him a curious Palace there whose ruins are yet to be seen which drew many of the Romans to live by him so that the Mount began from his time to be very full of Inhabitants He was resolved to injure no Man whilst he was Pope but on the contrary to do what good he could to all and therefore being provoked by the indignities which Peter King of Aragon offer'd to him by endeavouring to get the Kingdom of Sicily he confirmed Martin's Interdictions against Peter But Rodulphus the Emperor having a great mind to raise money sent his Chancellour one of the Family of the Flisci into Tuscany to make all the Country free especially those who would buy their Liberty Those of Lucca paid upon that account 12000 l. The Florentines six thousand and as soon as they were made perfectly free they created a certain kind of Officers which they call Arts-masters with a Sword-Bearer This Sale did not displease Honorius though it look'd too mean for such a great Prince because by that means the Patrimony of the Church would be more secure he thought when the Emperor had no more power to oppress those free Cities But whilst the King of France besieged Girona and Peter of Aragon was sollicitous how to hinder the carriage of Provisions from Narbonne into the Enemies Camp he was engaged in a sharp Conflict where he received a deadly Wound of which not long after he dy'd for want of looking to So that Girona was surrender'd upon Terms and submitted to the King of France though he did not long survive the Conquest For he died of a Fever which he caught in the Camp as he was besieging Perpignano His Navy too not long after that was taken and burnt in the Port of Narbonne by Roger Loria Peter of Aragon had two Sons Ferdinand and James whereof he left Ferdinand his eldest Son King of Aragon by his Will and James King of Sicily But when the old Kings were dead in that manner as I have told you the Wars devolved upon the young ones who attempted on both sides to make those of Pisa and the Genoeses who were excellent Seamen of their Party But these two States heing incens'd and arm'd against each other engaged so furiously at Malora an Island near the Port of Pisa that those of Pisa lost forty Ships or Gallies and twelve thousand men which were partly slain and partly taken Honorius took this misfortune of theirs so much to heart that he had like to have interdicted the Genoeses who pursu'd the men of Pisa with too much animosity And that unhappy day gave such a shock to those of Pisa that they never retrieved themselves since But Edward King of England went at that time into Gascoigne to make peace between Charles a Youth Son to the King of France who I told you was taken in War and Ferdinand King of Aragon The business went as he would have it and they treated about Charles's freedom when at the same time the Apostolical Legate and the Earl of Arras with the assistance of the Earl of Avellino possess themselves of the City Catina and send over thither an Army raised out of Tuscany For this reason Edward return'd home without success But Roger Loria advanced King Ferdinand's fortune by taking the French Fleet as it came back out of Sicily Honorius could not engage in this War because he was invaded in Romagna by Guido Feltrini But at length when he had conquer'd Guido he recover'd all Romagna in a short time and not long after dy'd two years and a day after he was made Pope His body was carried in great State from S. Sabina to S. Peter's and buried in a Marble Tomb which is yet extant among those that Pope Pius collected as the Arms of his Family and the Inscription declare And indeed he deserv'd all the honour paid to his dead Corps because he was a very upright Man and a great lover of Christian Piety For he confirm'd not onely the Order of the Carmelites which was not very well approved of in some Councils and chang'd their black Cloaks for white ones but he did the same also by the order of Eremites which was disapproved on at Paris But the onely Cardinal he made during his Pontificate was John Boccamatius Bishop of Frascati for he would say that none but good and learned men ought to be taken into so great a Society not those that were illiterate and ignorant in the manage of humane Affairs He loved Courtiers so as that he would go every year especially in the Summer to Tivoli on purpose to avoid the Heat of the Town which causes many Diseases When Honorius was dead the Sea was vacant ten months For the Conclave being summon'd to meet at St. Sabina a great many of the Cardinals were taken sick of a sudden Out of whom there died Jordan Vrsin Earl of Millain Hugh an English man Gervase of Anjou Dean of Paris and Antherius an excellent Person For this reason they dismiss'd the Conclave and deferr'd the matter till a more seasonable time especially because of the Earthquakes which were then so great that they thought Heaven it self would be angry with 'em if they did it at that time NICOLAS IV. NICOLAS the fourth of Principato-citra an Ascolese formerly called Jerome a Brother and General of the Order of Friers Minors and after that a Cardinal Priest was made Pope at St. Sabina the tenth month after Honorius's death and placed not onely in Peter's Sea but in the Saint's own Chair After that he went to Rieti to avoid some Tumults at Rome and there he created Cardinals of almost all Religions For he loved all men alike nor did he think that he ow'd more to his Relations than to any good man The difference between Virtue and Vice caused him to incline more to one man than another Some of those that he made Cardinals were called Neapolio Petrus Columna Hugo Colionius a famous Doctor of the Order of Preachers Matthaeus Aquasparta General of the Minors and Bishop of Porto About a year after he came back to Rome when City broils were somewhat appeased and lived at S. Maries the Great which Church he and James Columna repaired as appears upon the great Portico where the Image of our Saviour the Pope and James the Cardinal are yet to be seen The same Pope repaired the front and the back-part of the Lateran and adorn'd it with Fret-work as the Inscription tells us In the mean time the Kings of Aragon and Sicily conclude a Peace upon these terms That King Charles should be set at Liberty and settle James of Aragon in the Kingdom of Sicily at his own charge And if he did not do so in three years time he promised to
Pope having long premeditated of his Expedition to Jerusalem he sends the Bishop of Apamea to Philip King of France to exhort him into the same Design He went but when he came thither and could do no good by fair words he was fain to make use of Menaces At which Philip was very angry and threw him into Prison Which when the Pope understood he sent the Arch-Deacon of Narbonne an excellent person thither immediately to command Philip in his name to set the Bishop of Apamea at Liberty If he would not do it he bid him declare publickly that the Kingdom of France was fallen to the Church by Philips contumacy and forasmuch as he had broken the Law of Nations and order'd him farther to lay a Curse upon him and absolve all the French from their Allegiance The Arch-Deacon did all this very chearfully and compelled the King to dismiss the Bishop But the King having a mind to take some part of a Revenge for the injuries offer'd to him by the Pope set forth an Edict that no man should go out of his Kingdom to Rome or send money thither The second year after the Jubilee Charles of Valois went to Charles the Second his Cousin At whose coming Frederick of Aragon was concern'd and desired a Peace which he obtained upon condition that he restoring what he had taken in Italy should keep Sicily as long as he lived But when Charles of Valois went out of Tuscany the Whites who were driven out of Florence went in great numbers to Forli among whom there was one Dante 's Aldegerius a very learned Man and an excellent Poet in his Mother-Tongue this Person endeavoured to return into his own Country several times but in vain although he were assisted by the Bolognians and Canegrandis Governour of Verona with whom he lived afterward for some time in all the freedom of conversation There are some Authors that tell us how Boniface about this time caused the body of one Hermanius that had been worship'd in Ferrara as a Saint for twenty years to be taken out of the ground and burnt because he had made a strict inquiry into his Heretical Opinions I suppose he was one of the Fratricelli or Holy-Brotherhood whose Sect at that time was very numerous In the mean time Philip King of France taking Boniface's Arrogance very ill called an Assembly at Paris of the Clergy and Nobility and recounting the injuries that Boniface had done to him his Ambition and Cheats which he had used to get the Popedom which he was unjustly possessed of he appealed to the Sea Apostolick which he said was then vacant and to the next Council At which Boniface being startled called a General Council wherein he declared Philip and his Kingdom subject to Albert the Emperor whom in the beginning of his Pontificate he had repulsed Then Philip thinking to tame his pride sent Sarra of Columna who was known and redeemed from the Pirates at Marseilles with Nogaretius a French Cavalier and a trusty Soul to Rome for no other end as he declared himself but to publish his Appeal But he had a quite different Design For Sarra putting on the disguise of a Slave went into Campagna di Roma where gathering to him as many friends as he could he sent Nogaretius with two hundred French Horse which he had listed out of Charles of Valois's Army before to Ferentino to assist him if need were But himself went into Anagni privately in the Night and by the assistance of the Gibellines whom Boniface had teazed extreamly for a long time he broke the Door open and took the Pope by surprise in the House where he was born and so brought him to Rome where thirty five days after he died for grief in the eighth year ninth month and seventeenth day of his Pontificate He was buried in S. Peter's in a Tomb that he built himself before he died which is yet to be seen in a Chappel which he made of Fret-work He likewise built the Pulpit and the Portico in the Lateran where Curses are pronounced upon the Sacrament and where he laid that Curse upon Philip King of France and the Columneses Thus died Boniface who made it his business rather to infuse terrour than Religion into Emperors Kings Princes Nations and States and would pretend to give and take away Kingdoms to banish and to recall men as he thought fitting to satisfie his pride and covetousness which was unspeakable Therefore let other Princes as well Religious as Secular learn by his Example to govern the Clergy and the Laity not proudly and disdainfully as this party of whom we speak but holyly and modestly as Christ our King and his Disciples and true Followers And let 'em desire rather to be beloved than feared which is usually the just bane of Tyrants Some say he cherish'd the Feuds among the Italians especially between the Genoeses and the Venetians who were two States very powerful at Sea BENEDICT XI BENEDICT the eleventh an Italian of Treviso formerly call'd Nicolas Cardinal of Ostia was made Pope the first of November at Rome For he enter'd himself into the Order of Preachers when he was but young and so far prevailed upon the Fraternity both by his Virtue and Learning that they preferr'd him gradually through all Offices till he was made General From which Station he was chosen Pope and in that place also gave great demonstration of his Virtue For he lived after such a manner that he may well be reckon'd among the number of those that are in Bliss But as soon as he got into the Apostolical Chair he cites Nogaretius and Sarra and all those of Anagni that conspired to take Boniface to come before him but they not appearing he laid an heavy Curse upon them He likewise heard King Philip's cause and absolv'd him from Boniface's Censures And after that he receiv'd John and James the two Cardinals of Columna into favour whom Boniface persecuted for being of the Guelphian Faction more than became a Pope to do Nay he gave 'em their goods again onely he enjoyn'd 'em to let the Red Hat that Boniface had taken from 'em lie by for some short time Having setled the Affairs of the City in this manner and made some Cardinals of whom Nicolas a Pratese of the Order of Preachers was one he immediately applies himself to procure a general Peace in Italy And because there were greater tumults in Tuscany than any where else he sent Nicolas Bishop of Ostia thither with full Commission who made new Officers in Florence and put 'em into the House which they had built for the reception of Magistrates now called the Palais of their Lords But at that time Nicolas thought he might do more than so and therefore spoke about recalling the persons that were banish'd Which Proposal not taking effect as he would have had it he declared a Curse upon them and went to Prato But not long after Benedict dying Tuscany was
Florentines and the other people of that Province to break up their Siege of Pistoia They all obey'd him save onely the Florentines and those of Lucca so that he interdicted those two States But Robert went away for Avignion to complement the Pope and then the Pistoieses tired out by this long Siege at length concluded upon a Surrender The Florentines and those of Lucca pulled down the Walls of the City as soon as they had taken it and filling up the Trenches divided the Country among them leaving to the Citizens their lives onely the City it self remaining equally subject to both But it was not long before the Florentines made themselves sole Masters of it by Walling it round within the Trenches contrary to the Articles agreed upon by them and those of Lucca And that they might make all things the more secure they bought Aciano a Castle belonging to the Vbaldini which they pulled down and in the Plain not far distant they built Scarparia as some few years before they had done Castel-Franco and S. Johns in the Valley of Arno. Cardinal Vrsin was now sent into Tuscany to compose the differences whom the Florentines and those of Lucca contemned and thereby put him into such a passion that he publickly reiterated his Curses and his Interdiction For that reason the Florentines revenged themselves upon the Clergy by exactions very long and very much Nay farther they used such severity upon this occasion that they put Cursio Donato an eminent Citizen and one that had deserved well of the Publick to death for marrying Vgutio Fagiolanis Daughter such Enemies they were to all Nobility But afterward they were receiv'd into the Popes favour for assisting Pelagura the Legat in the recovery of Ferrara and the Castle of Thedaldo which was in possession of the Venetians in the year 1309. Charles the Second of Naples dying the same year his Son Robert was sent by the Pope to be his Successor but he went to Bologna to Pelagura who presently in the name of the Church made him Governour of Ferrara while it was yet in Arms. But he was to go on toward Naples and so left Dego Catelano an eminent Person with a Troop of Horse in the Garison This Dego seeing he could not contein the People of Ferrara within their Duty by fair or foul words sent his Horse down upon them from the Castle and kill'd a great many of them hanging up eight and twenty of the House of Este who aspir'd to the Dominion At that time Henry of Lucenburgh was chosen Emperor by the Germans and confirm'd by the Pope upon condition that he should come into Italy within two years and receive his Crown at Rome This the Pope did to the end that the commotions in Italy would be suppress'd by the arrival of the Emperor Who promised to perform what the Pope had injoyn'd him and immediately sent Agents into Italy to all the States and Princes there but chiefly to the Florentines who at that time harass'd them of Arezzo The Florentines made answer That so great a Prince as he was did not do prudently in endeavouring to bring Foreiners into Italy which was a Country that as Emperor he ought to defend from such with his utmost power And that he did not do well to protect them of Arezzo who he knew had banish'd the Guelphs their fellow Citizens whereas it was the Emperors prerogative alone to banish or to recall from Exile They say that Dante 's then told the Florentines They were blind for making such a foolish answer to the Emperor than which nothing could be more to the disadvantage of their State especially when so great and Warlike a Prince with so great an Army approached them But indeed they were encouraged by the promises of King Robert who as he went into his Kingdom gave them assurance that he would always be a Patron to the Guelphin Faction The Emperor was now advanc'd as far as Piedmont where in the Plains all the Princes or Governors of Cities came to meet him There were at that time two principal Factions in Millain the Turriani and the Viconti Guido Turriano was Head of the Guelphs as being Captain of the people to use their own word and Maffeo Viconti of the Gibellins And Guido fearing lest the Viconti should get into Henry's favour before him upon the account of their Faction he raised an Army and encamped in the Country of Millain to see as he himself said who durst come into that City without his leave When at the same time Maffeo sent Agents to the Emperor to invite him to Millain which was a City he told him that was the very Mansion-house of the Roman Empire Thereupon Henry drew his Forces near to the City and made a great bustle though Guido was got in before him But he allay'd all Tumults by a composition which he made upon these Terms That Guido should have Marcelli and Maffeo be Captain General of his Horse And thus the Emperor having gotten possession of Millain almost all the adjacent Cities surrendred presently except Alessandria Then he received the Iron Crown at Millain according to custom but put the Citizens to so much expence that the Commonalty finding themselves rather oppressed than vested with the Liberty they expected betook themselves to their Arms The Germans seeing their men kill'd by both Factions went out of the Suburbs into the City and called the Heads of the Parties to ' em But Galeatius Son to Maffeo Viconti left his Father at home and went with a considerable number of Suppliants to wait upon the Emperor and told him That the Turriani affecting Sovereignty had made that uproar in the City Whereupon the Germans joyning the Gibellin Faction drave the Turriani after some small resistance at S. Martes New-street out of the City from whence they fled in great numbers to Vercelli by the persuasion of Guido Thirty of this Faction being kill'd of which four were Turriano's After this Henry moved toward Cremona and Crema and called the Guelphs before him there who had turn'd out the Gibellins but he dealt mildly with the Cremoneses because they rendered themselves so freely though he was a little severer upon the Cremeses and demolish'd their Walls Which strook such terror into those of Parma who by the persuasion of one Gilbert Correggio had received the Rossi into their Town that immediately they drove out the Guelphs and took in the Emperors Lieutenant Those of Brescia defended themselves for some time but being smartly attaqued by Henry they fled in the Night to the Mountains and left the City quite empty The Germans enter'd it presently and pulled down the Walls At which Calamities of their Neighbours the people of Mantua Verona Vicenza Padua Treviso and Venice were so affrighted that they immediately submitted to the Emperors Orders Those also of Piacenza turn'd out Albertus Scotus Captain of the Guelphs and took in the Emperors Governour Having setled Affairs after this
manner in Lombardy the Emperor went through Piacenza to Genoa along with Amadeus of Savoy attended by the Agents from Pisa and Genoa Thither came Embassadors from Robert of Naples and Frederick King of Sicily not long after the former to make a shew of friendship and the latter to assure him of the real love which they had for him For Robert had sent his Mareschal into Tuscany with two thousand Horse to assist the Floretines and those of Lucca if need were against the Emperor But Henry went by Sea to Pisa and having sent his Land-forces before him did the men of Lucca a great deal of damage Hitherto I thought fit to relate all the inconveniences which were brought upon the Italians which some impute wholly to Clement who solicited Henry to come with an Army into Italy Whilst others tell us that Clement did it for the advantage of the Country because of the civil Discords among 'em which were the cause of much blood-shed in every City nay in every little Castle The Citizens were slain old men murther'd young Children dash'd against the ground with a boundless cruelty Whereupon Clement used that saying of Homer Let there be but one chief Lord one Judg of all matters Henry went on toward Rome and sent Lewis of Savoy Son to Amadeus with five hundred Horse before who taking up his quarters at one Stephen Columna's House near the Lateran put the Vrsin Faction in a terrible fear But Henry came first to Viterbo and thence to Rome where he was very kindly received not onely by all the Nobility but by the Citizens in general After that being Crown'd by three Cardinals he made the Romans swear Allegiance to him as the custom is and made a great Feast to which he invited all the Noblemen of the City except the Vrsins But lest in such a concourse of people there should arise any tumult through the animosities of some men he planted his Soldiers in the Theatres Baths and other fortified places in the strength of which Guards he was so confident that he had the courage to demand of the people a Tribute which they never used to pay Hereupon all the Citizens of both Factions fled to the Vrsins who had set good Guards about their House which stood near the Tiber and hard by Hadrians Bridg. At that the Emperor was so enraged that he summoned the Sea-Archers whom the men of Pisa had sent him to march into the City against the Romans but they were surprised and soon routed by John the Brother of King Robert who had placed his Sea-forces under the Mount di S. Sabina He also let in the Horse who quarter'd not far off and by the aid of the Roman people forced the Emperour himself to retreat as far as Tivoli After him John Robert's Brother went away by Command from the Cardinals and left the City quiet But Henry going from Perugia arrived at Arezzo where he accused Robert the King of Treason and because he did not appear upon Summons deprived him of his Kingdom against the mind of Clement who thought he had done a thing of such consequence in a very improper place besides that it was none of his Prerogative For he said It was Popes peculiar Province to dispose of the Kingdom of Sicily on both sides the Pharo The Emperor marching from Arezzo led his Army toward Florence and Lucca who were Allies to Robert But seeing he was not able to storm a Town he possess'd himself of Poggibonci which when he had fortified he declared War against the Seneses because they were so niggardly and sparing in supplying him with Provisions But falling sick he went to the Bath at Macerata from whence he came back to Bonconvento much weaker than he was before There after some days he died but it was suspected he was poison'd by a Monk at Florence who was induced by large Rewards and Promises to give him the Eucharist dipped in Poison The State of Pisa now that the Emperor was dead feared the power of the Florentines and therefore chose Vgutio Fagiolano their Captain and sole Governor who not long after reduced those of Lucca and took away their Lands from 'em by the assistance of the Cavalry that had served under Henry In the mean time Clement was very much troubled not onely at all the other evils that Italy underwent but that S. Constantines Church should be burnt down Wherefore he sent Money to the Clergy and people of Rome toward the repair of that Church though there was such scarcity and Dearth in his Country at that time that he could hardly buy himself Victuals and Drink Which miseries were foretold by frequent Eclipses of the Sun several Comets and the Plague which was almost Epidemical But Clement apply'd himself to settle the State of the Church and therefore he exercised his Episcopal Function three times not onely in making several Cardinals who were excellent Men but in three Councils which he called in several places and at several times he did many things with prudence and deliberation For he suppress'd Dulcinus's Sect as I told you that opposed the Churchmen and took off the Templers who were fallen into very great Errors as denying Christ c. and gave their goods to the Knights of Jerusalem He likewise withstood the King of France at Poictou when he made unreasonable and unhandsom Demands for the King would have had Boniface censur'd and Nogaretius and Sarra absolv'd The first request he never obtein'd but the second he at last had granted to him upon Nogaretius's Promise that he would go against the Saracens for Penance Which expedition Clement himself had a great mind to as appears by his Councils Afterwards he canonized Caelestin the fifth by the name of Peter the Confessor because approved by Miracles and set forth the Clementines which he composed during the Council at Vienna But in succeeding time he was afflicted with divers Diseases for he was troubled sometimes with a Dysentery sometimes with a pain in his Stomach or his Sides of which he dy'd in the eighth year tenth month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate The Sea was then vacant two years three months and seventeen days whilst the Cardinals were at a stand whom they should choose Nor was there less Discord among the Electors of the Empire upon the Death of Henry some proposing Lewis of Bavaria others Frederick Duke of Austria And these two engaging in War one against the other Frederick was Conquer'd at which Lewis grew so proud that he not onely called himself Emperor without Authority from Rome but favour'd the Viconti in Lombardy so far that they got into Millain And this he did to make his own passage more easie toward Rome where he was to receive a golden Crown according to the usual Custom Then began the people of Tuscany and all the Guelphs to tremble when they saw Lewis Emperor and that he was likely to recover all the rights of the Empire in
animosities arisen in the Kingdom of Naples For King Robert dying without Issue male bequeathed Johanna Daughter of Andrew his Nephew for a Wife to King Charles of Hungary's Son who came at that time a Youth to Naples But Johanna hating him for a dull fellow kill'd him by surprise in the City which was generally against the Match and was married to his Cousin German one Lewis Son to a former Prince of Tarento who was known to be Robert's Brother But Lewis King of Hungary and Brother of her first Husband resolving to revenge so great a piece of Villany came into Italy with a very well order'd Army and first attaqued the Sulmoneses who had the boldness to oppose him But in the mean while the manner of choosing Senators at Rome was alter'd by Apostolical Authority and Nicolas de Renty Citizen of Rome and publick Notary a man very earnest and high for Liberty when he had taken the Capitol gain'd so much good will and Authority among all the people that he could incline them to what he pleased And that he might work upon them the more effectually he used this Motto Nicolas the severe and merciful Patron of Liberty Peace and Justice and the illustrious Redeemer of the Sacred State of Rome With these great Words he created such an admiration of himself that all the people of Italy desired by their Embassadors to enter into League and friendship with him Beside that some forein Nations look'd upon the glory of the Roman Empire to be now reviving But his vain Boasting continu'd not long for whilst he was kind to some Citizens and an Enemy to others he all on the sudden was accounted instead of a Patron a Tyrant So that in the seventh month of his Government of his own accord without any bodies knowledg on a dark Night he went disguised from Rome into Bohemia to Charles the Son of John whom Clement a little before had made the Electors put in nomination for Emperor because he was so fine a Scholar besides that he had a mind to affront the Bavarian by setting up a Competitor So the Tribune i.e. Nicolas was taken by Charles and carry'd to Avignion for a Present to the Pope But Lewis having gotten into Sulmona after a long Siege makes himself easily master of the whole Kingdom since Johanna and the Adulterer Lewis were fled for fear into Narbonne and had left onely the Duke of Durazzo Nephew to King Robert to protect the Kingdom who was conquer'd and taken by Charles and put to Death But the Plague being very hot all over Italy Charles left sufficient Garisons there and return'd into Hungary in the third month after his arrival which was just about the time when John the Arch-Bishop a man of great courage and conduct received from the Pope the Lieutenancy of Millain upon the death of his Brother Luchino But Clement kept Nicolas in Prison and sent some Cardinals to Rome to settle the State of the City to whom Francis Petrarcha wrote persuading them to chuse Senators impartially out of the Commonalty if they would appease the Tumults since it did not sufficiently appear in Rome who were of the Senatorian and who of the Plebeian rank because they were almost all Foreigners and born of strange Parents Upon this Petro Sarra of Columna and John Vrsini were declared Senators At this time the Plague raged so all over Italy for three years that there was scarce one man in ten that escaped Nor is that any wonder for there was such a concourse of men from all places to Rome at the Jubilee which was then celebrated that they not onely brought the Contagion along with 'em but by the throng and bustle and sweating that was among 'em infected all places and persons At that time the Town of Colle and Geminiano were made subject to the Florentines and Bologna to the Arch-Bishop of Millain by the voluntary surrender of the Citizens At which the Pope being disturb'd sent a Legate into Italy to instigate the Florentines and Mastino Scala against the Viconti But when Mastino was dead the Arch-Bishop endeavour'd to draw Canegrande Son to Mastino and all the Gibellins in Romagna and Tuscany to make an Alliance with him and sent his Nephew Bernabos to Bologna to keep the Citizens in Obedience In the mean time the Florentines without any resistance set upon the Pistoians and the Prateses and at length reduced 'em by main force But after that being harrass'd by the Arch-Bishop's force under the command of John Aulegius they could hardly defend themselves within their Walls At that time Anguillara and Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro belonging to the Church revolted to the Viscounts and then also we read that the Genoeses and Venetians fought a Sea-Battel in which the Genoeses at first were conquer'd but afterward they were more victorious under the Command of Admiral Philip Auria and not onely took the Island Scio from the Venetians but kill'd a great many men in Vbaea now called Necroponte But Clement resolving at last to consult the quiet of Italy Decreed that Lewis Prince of Taranto should be King of Naples renew'd the Peace with the Hungarian bought the City of Avignion of Queen Joan whose Inheritance it was and paid for it by remitting of a certain Fee that amounted to rather more than the price of it and was due from her to the Church of Rome upon the account of the Kingdom of Naples But whilst Olegio Viconti besieged Scarperia in Muciallia those of Siena Arezzo and Perugia being affrighted enter'd into a new Confederacy with the Florentines against the Viconti The Pisans could not shew their friendship to the Viconti for the Gambacorti a Noble Family that were Allies of Florence who being now unable to withstand the Viconti alone call'd Charles the Emperor into Italy At this the Pope was concern'd and fearing Italy might be destroy'd with fire and sword as the Emperor threaten'd he deliver'd Bologni ro the Viconti upon Condition that they should pay the Church twelve thousand pound a year and made Peace between the Viconti and the Florentines upon these terms That neither of 'em should molest those of Pisa Lucca Siena or Perugia and that Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro should be subject to the Church and the Viconti should preserve the Liberty of the Cortoneses He also endeavour'd to compose the differences between Philip of France and Edward of England but in vain for they were so incens'd to fight that in one Battel Edward kill'd twenty thousand French and after eleventh months Siege victoriously took Calais by storm The same success he had against the Scots But the Pope having done the Duty of a good Shepherd seeing he could not advantage Christendom abroad he consulted how to do the Church some good at home For he chose excellent Persons for Cardinals especially Giles a Spaniard who was Arch-Bishop of Toledo Nicolas Cappocius a Roman Citizen Rainaldo Vrsina Protonotary of the Church of
in Humanity and Divinity that he soon became a publick Reader and wrote very acutely and learnedly upon the Books of the Sentences He was also reckon'd a great Orator and a great Preacher And therefore he was sent for by John Galeatius Duke of Millain and made his chief Counsellor After that at Galeatius's request he was made Bishop of Vincenza then translated to Novara and last of all being made Arch-Bishop of Millain he was created Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles by Innocent VII From which step he rose to the Pontifical Dignity and was deservedly stiled Alexander because he might compare with any Prince for liberality and greatness of mind For he was so munificent to the poor and all that deserved his bounty that in a short time he left himself nothing That made him use to say in a joke that he was a rich Bishop a poor Cardinal and a beggarly Pope For he was free from that desire of getting which increaseth usually with a Mans Estate and his Age. But it is a Vice that cannot be found among good Men that contemn the World who the older they grow the less Viaticum or provision they know they shall want for their Journey and therefore they restrain their Desires bridle their Covetousness and extinquish all evil lusts Nay Alexander was a Person of that Courage as to depose that powerful King Ladislaus who in the absence of several Popes had for a long time much spoil'd and harass'd the Church Dominions and taken some Towns by force at Pisa in the Council there by approbation of all that were present and declared his Kingdom to belong to Lewis Duke of Anjou But when the Council of Pisa brake up the Pope went to Bologna of which Baldesar Cossa Cardinal of S. Eustachius was Governour Him Alexander confirm'd in his Office because by his industry and conduct the Council was held at Pisa and because he was a Man fit to oppose Usurpers or such as encroached upon the Church Revenues Yet there was more of rusticity boldness and worldliness in him than his profession required He led a military Life and his manners were Soldier-like and he took the liberty of doing many things not fit to be named But when Alexander was very sick and knew his death was very near he exhorted the Cardinals that visited him to Concord and Peace and to defend the Honour of the Church And swore by that Death he was just now about to undergo and by the Conscience of his well-acted Life that he did not think or believe that any thing was Decreed in the Pisan Council but with all justice and integrity without any deceit or fraud This said and the People weeping that stood by he repeated that saying of our Saviour with much ado My peace I give unto you my peace I leave with you and immediately dy'd in the eighth month of his Pontificate and was buried at Bologna in the Church of the Friers Minors in which year there was a Famine and a Plague JOHN XXIV JOHN the Twenty Fourth a Noble Neapolitan formerly called Cossa Baldesar was chosen Pope at Bologna by general consent though some say the Election was carried by force because he was not only Legate of Bologna but had Soldiers in the City and Country planted for the purpose so that if he could not get it by fair means he would by foul However it was it is most certain that he was made Pope and always aspired to that Dignity For when he was a Youth and studied Civil Law at Bologna for some years he took his Degree there according to Custom and then went to Rome And being ask'd by some Friends whether he was going he answer'd To the Pontificate When he came to Rome he was entertain'd by Boniface IX and made one of his Privy Chamber Then he was made Cardinal of S. Eustachius's and sent as Legate à Latere to Bologna which he in a short space subjected to the Church together with a great part of Romagna beating aut some Usurpers and putting others to death But after nine years when he had enlarged the City of Bologna in a wonderful manner by a long Peace and gotten a great deal of Money Alexander died and then he used Bribery especially to the Cardinals that Gregory had made who were yet poor and so was made Pope Thereupon he sent Agents to the Electors of the Empire to desire of 'em that they would choose Sigismund of Lucenburg King of Hungary and Bohemia Emperor as being a person very stout and fit as he said for all brave Actions For this was his way to get into Sigismunds's favour And that succeeding according to his mind he told 'em before-hand that whereas it had been order'd in an Assembly at Pisa that a Council should be call'd at such a certain time he would hold it at Rome and no where else And that all might have the freer access thither he endeavour'd to settle Italy especially that part near the Alps in which the War did daily encrease by the instigation of Fazinus Canis who could not keep his mercenary Soldiers under his Command without employment For he used to maintain them by rapine and plunder At that juncture it happen'd that the Pavians whom Philip could not contain in awe by reason of his Minority were grown factious and took up Arms. Then the Gibellins under the conduct of the Beccarian Family brought Fazinus and his Army into the City and were to have the Guelphs Estates for doing it But Fazinus entering the Town with his Soldiers spared neither one nor the other but plunder'd both And when the Gibellins complain'd that their goods too were plunder'd against his Promise he reply'd The Gibellins in their Persons should be safe but their Goods were Guelphs which he would give as Spoil to the Soldiers deriding the folly and covetousness of both Factions When he went from thence he left a good Garison both at the Gates and in the Fort pretending to be Philips Protector till he grew of Age and so went against Pandulphus Malatesta where he teazed the Brescians and the Bergameses with frequent inroads and ravagings nor did he spare those of Cremona at that time govern'd by Cabrinus Fundulus During these transactions the King of Hungary who was going as he pretended to Rome freely to receive the Imperial Crown sent twelve thousand Horse and eight thousand Foot against the Venetians and seizing Friuli he set upon Treviso Against this great Army the Venetians sent Charles Malatesta to keep them off not so much by fighting as by protracting of the time The Venetians had like also to have lost Verona the same year by treachery of some of the Citizens who had more mind to try what they could get by violence than to preserve their Liberty But those that were guilty were punish'd and there was an end of that Fazinus Canis died the same year after which several persons conspiring together kill'd John Maria
Montonius an excellent Soldier had so far got possession of Perugia the Dutchy of Spoleto and great part of the Churches Patrimony by help of the Usurpers round about that he could not get safe to Rome But when Brachius upon Admonition would not comply the Pope used first of all spiritual Weapons that is Censures against him and interdicted all his Adherents nor were the Priests allowed to do their Office in the usual places At which misfortune of their Friend Brachius the Florentines were concern'd and treated with Martin for Peace upon Condition that Brachius should throw himself at the Popes feet and ask pardon which he did And that he should restore some Towns to the Church and fight under the Pope till he had reduced Bologna which was then in Rebellion and made it subject to Martin In which War Gabriel Condelmer Cardinal-Priest of S. Clements and Legate was General who by his industry and Brachius's Valour subdu'd Bologna in a short time and made it tributary to the Church Whilst these things were transacted in Bologna the four Cardinals formerly of Peter Luna's party the Anti-Pope came to Martin at Florence where they were receiv'd most honourably by the whole Consistory and retein'd their former Dignities Three were Cardinal-Deacons but the fourth who was formerly a Canon Regular was a Cardinal-Priest Baldesar Cossa being still a Prisoner at Heidelberg in Germany under the Count Palatine some Citizens of Florence of which Cosmus was one were urgent with Pope Martin to set him at liberty The Pope promised he would but whilst his Legate went thither to perform it Baldesar being impatient of staying any longer gave the Count Palatine thirty thousand pounds to free him And coming into Italy he went directly toward Florence but call'd upon Peter Rubeus a Baron of Parma and an old Friend of his where he understood that there was wait laid for him Thereupon he fled by Night along with the Legate whom he met by the way to Thomas Fregosos another old Friend of his and gave people a suspition that the Schism would be renew'd For he was a Man of great Courage and very cunning nor could he endure a private life Besides there were not wanting such as would incite the bold Man to innovations they were generally at that time so much affected with Novelties But God Almighty took pity on his Church and put Baldesar upon a resolution of going to Martin at Florence without any Articles of Agreement or any Caution between them When he came thither and had kiss'd the Popes foot to the admiration of all that saw it he saluted him in the presence and hearing of all the Company by the name of Christ's true Vicar and a true Pope canonically elected This was strange to all that saw it and brought to pass it should seem rather by Gods providence than any humane skill That a Man covetous of Dominion and in such an high Station before should be so supple in a place where he might be free because he was loved by all But it made every body cry for joy especially those Cardinals that had acknowledged him as the true Pope But Martin considering the vicissitude or changeableness of humane Affairs made him a Cardinal in few days and then Bishop of Frascati after which he shew'd him as much respect as any other Cardinal both in publick and private But Baldesar some think died of grief in a few months after at Florence as being unable to endure a private life and was buried most honourably in S. Johns Church nor far from the Cathedral at the great cost and charges of Cosmo di Medices who grew so rich with Baldesars Money that he was look'd upon as the chief Man in Florence of a Citizen nay perhaps the richest in Italy or the World Upon his Tomb were written these words BALDESARIS COSSAE JOHANNIS XXIII QVONDAM PAPAE CORPVS HOC TVMVLO CONDITVM During these Actions at Florence the Emperor of Constantinople's Agents came to the Pope and promised that the Greeks would come over to the Latins in all points of Faith upon reasonable terms The Pope receiv'd them very kindly and splendidly and made Peter Fontesiccus a Spaniard Cardinal of S. Angelo and a very learned Man Legate à Latere to go to Constantinople and settle matters there But before he sent the good Man away he dispatch'd Frier Anthony Massanus thither who was General of the Minors to find how the Emperor and the Greeks were affected and tell him what he might trust to Now the Romans were urgent to have him come to Rome and therefore taking his leave very kindly of the Florentines he made their City a Metropolis For though before even from its foundation almost it had only had the honour of a Bishoprick he made it an Arch-Bishoprick and the Mother-Church to Volaterra Pistoia and Fiesola He also gave a bigger Altar to S. Mary the New belonging to the Order of Preachers where he lived all the while he was at Florence that Convent being very commodious for his reception At last parting from Florence he came to Rome where all the people met him and the Nobility look'd upon him as the good Genius or Father of their Country And that day the Romans put in their Calendar as a lucky one When he came he found the City of Rome so ruinated that it look'd nothing like a City You might have seen the Houses ready to totter the Churches fallen down the Streets empty the City full of Dirt and Mire and in exteam want of all sorts of provisions What should I say more There was neither the face of a City nor any sign of civility there the Citizens seeming rather Sojourners and Vagabonds The good Pope was troubled to see it and apply'd himself to adorning of the City and reforming the Citizens manners so that in a short time it looked much better than before For this reason he was called by the People not onely the True Pope but Father of his Country But lest that publick joy should last too long without interruption the year following in November on St. Andrews Eve the Tiber swell'd so high that it came in at the Porta del popolo overflow'd the whole City which lies upon a level and filled the Church of S. Mary the round as far as the great Altar Two days after it fell but took much Cattel along with it and did great damage to the Citizens who sailed about the Streets as upon the Tiber. Now King Lewis Son to Lewis came to Rome and obtain'd of Martin to be invested King of Naples by general consent of the Cardinals For he having been invited thither and adopted by Queen Joan Sister to Ladislaus expected by this means to get the Kingdom without fighting but was driven out of Naples by a contrary Faction and retired to Calabria And now the time for the Council drawing near according to the Decree at Constance Martin was pleased by consent of
his pay Eugenius answered him that he had taken as much spoil out of the Castle especially out of the Town as would satisfie him At which Nicolas was so angry that he went into the parts about Rome and raised such tumults taking and driving away such numbers of Men and Cattel that Eugenius was some time at a stand what to do The Romans flock'd to him with their complaints but the Pope who at that time wanted both advice and health sent 'em to Francis the Chamberlain who being devoted to idleness and pleasure gave 'em no other answer but that they over-valued their Cattel for they often complain'd of the loss of them and told 'em that the Venetians lived more like Citizens than they without Beasts and flocks of Cattel The Romans were displeased at this answer and therefore when Nicolas had taken Tivoli beating Count Tagliacotius out of it and Subiaco and drawn all the Colonneses to his party Stephen Colonna who was always of the other side being kill'd by the Prince they threw off the yoke of Subjection and crying out Arms Arms Liberty Liberty they beat out all Eugenius's Officers and taking Francis the Chamberlain Prisoner they created a new Magistracy of their own choosing consisting of seven Romans whom they called Governors who had power of life and death But Eugenius in such an Hurry not knowing what to do resolv'd to flee for 't And immediately changing his Habit for that of a Monk went on shipboard in a small Vessel along with Arsenius the Monk down the Tiber to Ostia Whereupon certain Romans that knew of his going threw Stones and shot Arrows at him for they would fain have kept him there till they had got possession of S. Angelo Nevertheless Eugenius went away upon the 7th of July and sailed to Pisa first and then to Florence in Galleys laid on purpose for his passage and then the Romans betook themselves to storm the Castle raising Mounds and Bulwarks in all places that might make it more accessible to the Enemy On the other side those of the Castle made some sallies upon them and the Governor thinking it fit to use some stratagem with the people of Rome He by the assistance and advice of Baldesar Aufido a cunning Captain that defended the lower part of the Castle bad one of his Soldiers that sallied out that he should suffer himself to be taken by the Enemy and then blame the cruelty and covetousness of him the Governor and promise them that if they would give him such a reward he would kill the Governor and betray the Castle The Soldier did exactly as he was bid and when he was taken said all the ill things he could devise against Antony Ridio the Governor and swore he would bring the matter about to their mind Thereupon being dismissed he went into the Castle and hung up Anthonies Clothes with somewhat like his Head on top of them which was visible a great way off Baldesar presently cry'd out the wicked Fellow was justly punish'd and that some of the chief Roman Commanders might now come in and if they paid the reward take the Castle They not being aware of the trick went in and were strait taken Immediately there was a joyful noise in the Castle and Darts and Bullets were thrown and shot upon the Romans without The Romans being thus deluded advised concerning the enter-change of their Captives and in order to it set the Chamberlain Eugenius's Nephew at Liberty and unanimously submitted to Eugenius within five months after they thought to have gain'd their freedom Then there were Magistrates made in the name of the Church who fortified the Capitol with strong Guards and other provisions And after upon the arrival of John Viteleschus whom they call'd the Patriarch Francis his Nephew being gone to Eugenius a sudden dread seiz'd the Romans to such a degree that they durst not so much as open their mouths for fear For Viteleschus was an imperious and cruel Man and lived like a Tyrant rather than a Christian These things were transacted at Rome whilst Alphonso besieged Naples and Cajetta which was stoutly defended by the Genoese Merchants and the Genoeses thinking it their duty to assist their Countrymen fitted out a Navy with all speed by the leave and good liking of Duke Philip Viconti who lent 'em some Foot-Soldiers and meeting their Enemy Alphonso not far from Cajetta they engaged with him After a long and a sharp conflict they defeated Alphonso and took him Prisoner and all his retinue of which some were Princes Alphonso was brought to Millain to Philip but was entertain'd not as a Captive or an Enemy of the Genoeses but as a King and a Friend And when he had been treated honourably for some days and presented by Philip with many great gifts he went into his Kingdom and took Cajetta presently Upon that the Genoeses were so enraged that he should free Alphonso so easily whom they had taken with such hazard that by the advice of Thomas Fregoso they revolted from Philip and made the said Thomas their Duke Then Picenninus who was sent against the Genoeses receiving news that they persisted in their obstinacy took Sarzana and marching toward Pisa under pretence to go and help Alphonso spoiled many Castles belonging to the Pisans But the Florentines stopped his career by sending for Francis Sfortia with the Pope's good liking who was then in possession of Ancona and endeavour'd by the assistance of the Florentines and Venetians to be made Lord of it But Eugenius was against that and said that it became a Pope to preserve the Church-patrimony even by War rather than alienate it So they deferred that business till another opportunity yet Francis in hopes of it did not onely beat Picenninus from the Siege of Barga taking Lewis Gonzaga who fought under Picenninus but he laid close Siege to Lucca in the name of the Florentines Picenninus was hinder'd from passing the Apennine to their relief and therefore promised to free them another way Wherefore he march'd through Bologna without any molestation onely taking a Town belonging to the Florentines called Oriolo and being mindful of the Lucceses he went thither and in the absence of Francis Sfortia vanquish'd the Florentines and raised the Siege of Lucca The Pope being almost distracted with care as well because he was surrounded with War as that the Council of Basil begun by the Decree of Pope Martin increased daily by the conflux of all the Princes of Spain France Germany and Hungary who referr'd the case of all Christendom to that Council he contrived how to dissolve it and to that purpose would have removed it from Basil to Bologna by general consent of the Cardinals that were there on his side But the Emperor other Princes and Prelates then at Basil did not onely disobey the Pope but admonish'd him several times to come himself with his Cardinals to Basil which was a convenient place that Martin had chosen to hold
the Council of Basil was at the heighth King Alphonso who was then at War in Naples being desired to send some body thither he order'd Alphonso Borgia to go who taking it ill that a thing of such pernicious consequence should be committed to his management he got leave of the Queen to go into Italy to the King with Ferdinand the King's Son and exhort him that after so many dangerous expeditions and difficulties with which he was even at that time surrounded he would return into his own Country But the King told him he would not but sent him to Eugenius who was then at Florence to treat concerning a Peace For Viteleschus having enter'd the Kingdom of Naples in Eugenius's name with an Army plunder'd and spoil'd all that came before him to hinder the King from taking Naples which at that time he laid Siege to But the business taking up time and the Pope intending in the mean time to make twenty Cardinals among the rest design'd the Bishop of Valenza should be one though he refused the honour with all the earnestness imaginable because he said it was not fit for him to receive especially till he had done the business that he came for Afterward Eugenius return'd to Rome the Patriarch of Aquilegia whom he sent to Tarracina to the King having made a Peace between the Pope and the King upon Conditions at the making of which the Bishop of Valenza was present and interposed his Authority and care for which the Pope began to love him so well that he soon after made him Cardinal Sanctorum quatuor and sent for him to Rome where he used no less modesty in his Cardinalate than he had before in his Bishoprick being always free and far from pomp and vain-glory When he spoke in the Senate he was reckon'd so grave and sincere a person that he never spake any thing out of flattery or to win favour But Eugenius dying and Nicolas after him this Alphonso Borgia as I told you was made Pope in S. Peter's Palace taking upon him the name of Calistus and immediately proclaimed War against the Turks shewing his own hand-writing whereby he had vowed to do so even before his Pontificate in a Book of his to this purpose I Calixtus do vow to God and the Holy Trinity that I will persecute the Turks those Enemies of Christianity with War Curses Interdictions Execrations and by all the ways I am able All that were by admired at it that he should arrogate to himself the name of Pope before he had the honour conferr'd and that a Man who was so old and decrepit should have so much courage But that he might really perform his promise he sent Preachers through all Europe to animate all Christians against the Turks and to persuade such as were able to lend their helping hand in that momentous Expedition And of these he sent sixteen Gallies full built at Rome over whom the Patriarch of Aquilegia was Admiral and harass'd the Sea-coasts of Asia for three years together where he took several Islands and did the Enemy a great deal of damage King Alphonso and the Duke of Burgundy also took upon them the Cross and profess'd that they would either go against the Enemy in their own persons or at least would raise Men to send Yet this Affair as it was moved at an heat so it as easily cooled again whilst the Princes indulged their pleasures and neglected that which would have gain'd them immortal Fame Whilst the Pope was Crown'd in the Lateran two Soldiers one under the Earl Aversus and the other under Neapolio Vrsin Men of diverse factions and parties who quarrelling about a young Lad did so wound each other that they both dy'd upon the spot For that reason Neapolio raising the Vrsine Faction invaded the House where the Count Aversus lived but the Count being from home he would have gone to the Lateran to seise him but was with much ado kept back by his Brother Latinus the Pope's Chamberlain And indeed Neapolio could not have gone thither without great damage to the City because all the Faction of the Colonneses who favour'd the Count were then in Arms. The Pope also had sent John Baruncellus and Laelius de Valle two Advocates of the Consistory to both of 'em to make 'em Friends so that by this means the present disturbance was appeased but the old grudg betwixt them still remain'd For they had many trials of Skill to the great disadvantage of their Adherents The Pope however apply'd his mind to his Pontifical Affairs and Canoniz'd S. Vincent a Spaniard of the Order of Preachers and S. Edmund of England and upon that occasion said Prayers and Thanksgivings from Ecclesia Minervae to S. Peter's with a long train of Clergy and Laity following him But lest any thing should be wanting to disturb the Church some Country Fellows of Palombara a Town in Sabina who were formerly banish'd thence by James Sebellus Lord of the place return'd home and killing two Sons of James's promised to surrender the Town to the Church which Calixtus not only refused to accept but sent Cardinal Columna thither to appease them Neapolio fearing the Cardinal should seise Palombara in his own name he went thither with his Army and besieged the Town for some days Though when Matthew Poianus and Francis Sabellus with other Commanders came up by order from the Pope and the Cardinal they raised the Siege enter'd Palombara and hang'd twenty of the Country Fellows of those especially that had made the disturbance and quarter'd 'em to give example to others and warn 'em never to attempt so great a piece of Villany against their rightful Lords Soon after appeared a Comet for some days hairy and red of which when the Astrologers said that it portended a great Plague Dearth or some mighty Slaughter Calixtus appointed a Fast for several days to pray to God that if any judgment hung over them he would be pleased to avert and turn it upon the Turks the Enemies to Christianity He gave order likewise that God should be supplicated every day and that a Bell should be rung about Noon to give people notice when they should joyn in Prayer for the Christians against the Turks So that the Christians assisted by the Prayers of the whole Church fought against the Turks at Belgrade under the conduct of John the Vaivod an excellent Person and John Capistranus of the Order of Minors bearing the holy Cross and conquer'd 'em when they besieged Belgrade six thousand of the Enemies being slain by a few of our Men as Carviagalla Cardinal of S. Angelo wrote to the Pope and to Dominick Capranicus Cardinal of S. Crosses besides that all their Carriages and an hundred and sixty Guns were taken a blow that so much scar'd the Turk that he retir'd in haste to Constantinople And no doubt but that cruel barbarous Nation had been destroyed if the Christian Princes would but have laid aside their
though one Prince may possibly keep peace with another yet there always is an immortal jealousie between Prince and People So that he thought it better for him to agree with the Pope than give way to their desires whose minds are led by Appetite and Fancy not by Reason The Emperour was persuaded and slighting the peoples petition sent Aeneas to Calixtus He when he came to Rome and had given Frederick's Oath to the Pope as the custom is commended them both in an Oration whereof the greatest part inforced a War against the Turks so mighty zealous he was for it For he was a wise Man and foresaw what afterward came to pass That the Barbarians would not be quiet when they had gotten all Greece they were so puft up with their Victory For that reason he apply'd himself to make peace in Italy before he made War with the Turk and so exhorted the Pope to do the same with all earnestness At that time the Sieneses were hard put to it by Count Petilian and James Picenninus who carry'd on that War more upon Alphonso's account than their own Wherefore Aeneas to make a final conclusion of it went by command from the Pope and at the request of his Fellow-Citizens and Countrymen to Alphonso at Naples where almost all the Embassadours of Italy were met to treat of Peace but had done nothing in it to that time But when Aeneas came he said he would agree to a Peace then without any more ado since that person was arrived whom he loved above all mankind Having obtein'd a Peace and freed his Country from the Enemy he stay'd with Alphonso some months because he loved his Conversation and in that time took his opportunity to make an elegant and a large Discourse to him by which he induced him to engage by Sea against the Turk And having so done he went for Rome with a design to go into his own Country but was stopp'd by the Pope and not long after made a Cardinal Now he was in such favour with Calixtus and bore such a sway that he persuaded him to send Embassadours to Siena which was all in an uproar among themselves to exhort the People to peace and unity But whilst he was at the Bath at Viterbo upon account of his health and had begun the History of Bohemia Calixtus died and then he return'd to Rome where he was so much desired that great part of the people ran out to meet him and saluted him prophetically by the name of Pope For indeed he was chosen Pope by universal consent not onely of the people but the Cardinals and having received the Papal Crown upon the fifth of September he went into St. Peter's Church in his pontifical Robes where he gave thanks to Almighty God and immediatly betook himself first to settle the Churches Patrimony and then to endeavour the advantage of all Christendom in general For he ended the War in Ombria which broke out before his Pontificate under the command of that seditious Innovator James Picenninus as soon as he was Pope and took back Assisi and Nocera from the Enemy He likewise made a Truce which seemed a difficult thing to do between Sigismund Malatesta and King Ferdinand that all might safely pass to Mantua where he had order'd a general Council And having made the Prince of Columna Governour of the City in the room of Borgia who was dead and left Nicolas Cusa Cardinal of St. Peter's in vinculis his Legate at Rome he departed the City in the midst of Winter and pass'd through those Cities which seemed more inclining to War than Peace exhorting the People to unity and concord In fine they met at Mantua from all quarters where there was a great number of Princes and Embassadours For of all Europe there was no Nation but sent either Princes or Embassadours thither and in that famous Assembly it was enacted by Pius who made an Oration himself that a War should be proclaimed against the Turks which they all agreed to He proposed Methods for carrying it on and shew'd the danger of Christendom nor could they forbear to weep when they heard the calamities laid open to which poor Christians were exposed who lay under the bondage of Barbarians Beside he moved them to consider that the Turks having already possessed themselves of Greece and Schlavonia would shortly get into the innermost parts of Europe And indeed he omitted nothing that might excite their resolutions for he was an excellent Orator and seemed to draw his Arguments from new Topicks still though he spake of the same thing such an elegant and copious faculty he had He confuted the complaints of the French and the calumnies of King Renatus for his having confirm'd Ferdinand Alphonso's Son in the Kingdom of Naples in three several Speeches These things were transacted in the Council at Mantua whilst almost all Europe employ'd their thoughts and Weapons in civil Discords and neglected the forein War The Germans arose partly against one another and partly against the Hungarians by whose assistance that great and necessary War might have been in a great measure managed and ended England also was divided into two Factions whereof the one would keep their old King whilst the other strove to banish him and set up a new one In like manner did the Spaniards rise to help those of Barcellona whom the King of Aragon assisted by the French oppress'd And lest any thing should be lacking to disturb the World Italy the chief of Europe laid by all thoughts of forein War and bent all its strength upon intestine quarrels For at that time there was a War in Puglia John Renatus's Son endeavouring to drive Ferdinand out of his Kingdom which occasion'd a double Faction through all the Province whilst some favour'd Ferdinand and others Renatus Pius therefore to allay these heats dismiss'd the Council at Mantua and came back into Tuscany where he easily regain'd Viterbo which was in the possession of the adverse Party Those of Ancona who had harass'd one another miserably about their bounds and limits he quieted partly by fear and partly by reason as likewise the Ombrians who had embru'd their hands in each others blood upon the like account He also setled the State of Siena which had been engaged in great tumults for three years before and restored several worthy Persons who had been banish'd thence giving the Government of that Republick as formerly to the Nobility But he was very severe upon the Sabini for their falshood in supplying a common Enemy with provisions and letting him pass through their Country At Rome he suppress'd the shameful Riots of Ruffian-like Men and imprison'd Tiburtius Son to Angelus Massianus who we told you was put to death by Nicolas for a Conspiracy and hang'd up by the Capitol and his Accomplices who possessing themselves of the Church of St. Maria Rotunda would sally from thence as from a Castle and commit outrages upon the Citizens
Furthermore he exterminated some Tyrants who studied innovations out of the Church Dominions but never medled with any one till he had first sent an Embassadour or Legate to 'em to reduce 'em if it were possible by fair means After that he sent Frederick of Vrbino his General with Alexander Sfortia to Tagliacozzo to stop James Picennenus who fought under Renatus from going into Puglia to assist the French against Ferdinand And besides he succour'd Ferdinand at Sarno when he had like to have lost his Kingdom for fear the French when they had once gotten that Kingdom would make use of their Victory to subvert the Liberty of Italy He slighted the Threat and Promises of the French Embassadours that endeavour'd to bring him over from Ferdinand to Renatus and by his Censures as well as Arms he tamed the fury of Sigismund Malatesta who was a Feudatary of the Church and yet contemning the League which the Pope had made between him and Ferdinand storm'd and took all the Castles which he had given for caution against Law and Reason and having driven the Churches Legate as far as Nulasture he made War upon the Anconeses But his extravagance was corrected the year after at Sinigaglia under the conduct of Frederick of Vrbino and Neapolio Vrsin in a sharp engagement wherein they retook Sinigaglia the Town called Fortunae Fanum was taken by Nicolas of Pistoia Cardinal Legate of St. Cecilys and great part of Rimini taken from him lest he should rebel any more Ferdinand also had the same happy success not long after at Troja a Town in Puglia by which the Prince of Tarento and many others who being desirous of change were on the French side were so consternated that they came all upon their knees to the King and begg'd pardon of him but some few continued obstinate whom the King afterward prosecuted so severely that he either drove 'em out of the Kingdom or brought 'em to know themselves When this was over Pius now freed from two great and troublesom Wars renew'd the thoughts of his Expedition into Asia which had been so long omitted from the time of the Mantuan Council through the ambition and avarice of the several Kings and Princes and makes the King of Hungary the Duke of Burgundy and the Venetians his Confederates because they seemed more inclined to it than any body else He likewise sent Nuncioes with Letters Apostolick to the several Nations of Christendom to exhort the Princes and people to so great and necessary a War Himself in the mean time went to Siena with a design to go as soon as the Season permitted to the Baths at Petriolana that seemed best for his Distemper And there he heard the Duke of Burgundy who had vowed to come with a Navy well Man'd had desisted from his resolution as also that many other Princes and people not onely Foreiners but of Italy led by ambition and envy endeavour'd to frustrate that great Design because they saw that they were likely to have the richest spoils and rewards that underwent the greatest brunt of that War Thereupon as it became a Pope to do he try'd to persuade 'em by kind words at a distance and soon after leaving the Bath he went to Rome where he lay sick for some days of the Gout and a Fever and therefore could not be at Ancona upon the seventh of June as he had publickly declared he would But when his distemper was somewhat asswaged he gave Audience to certain Embassadours that came from the King of France and Duke of Burgundy to excuse their delay And then calling all the Cardinals before him he appointed a day to hear the charge against the King of Bohemia who was said to be heretically inclined and when he had done he was carried in a Litter through Sabina Ombria and the Marcha till he came to the City of Ancona By the way be found great numbers of Men that came out of Germany Spain and France intending for the War against the Turks of whom he sent a great part especially of the Germans having absolv'd 'em back into their own Country because he thought 'em unfit for the toil of War and because they had not brought their pay along with 'em as he had order'd in the Letters Apostolical But in the mean time whilst he waited at Ancona for the Navy that was a building in the several Ports of the Tyrrhene and Adriatick Seas and also for the Duke of Venice his Ally he was afflicted with a tedious Fever and dy'd in the year 1464. upon the 13th of August about three of the Clock in the Night six years wanting six days after he was made Pope He was a Man of such constancy and courage of mind that in all his sickness which was long and painful he never omitted any business that concern'd his understanding onely whether it were to hear the causes of several Nations to inhibit to decree to judg to sign to admonish to chastise or correct And that day whereon he dy'd about two hours before he expired he call'd the Cardinals about him and with a resolute Heart and a good audible Voice exhorted 'em to Unity in the choice of a new Pope commending to their care in a grave Speech the honour of God the dignity of the Church the War which he had undertaken against the Turks the salvation of his Soul all his Family and especially his Nephews if they proved worthy of commendations He desired all the Sacraments of his own accord and shew'd great tokens of a true Christian But besides that he dispued very acutely with Laurentius Roverella Bishop of Ferrara a learned Divine whether it were lawful for him to receive the Extreme Unction again having been anointed once before at Basil when he was sick of the Plague Nor could he be entreated by all his domestick Servants to forbear saying the Canonical Prayers though he were in such an Agony He repeated the Athanasian Creed with great strength and Emphasis and when he had done he said it was most true and most holy He was not affraid to die nor did he shew any sign of trouble or inconstancy to his last breath But indeed he may be said rather to have been kill'd than to have died he was so tortur'd with tedious Diseases He commanded his Friends to carry his Body to Rome where those that embalm'd him affirmed that his heart was very sound and vivid His funeral pomp from Ancona to Rome was made up of his Family who were all in mourning and in tears And when that was over he was buried in St. Peter's at the Altar of St. Andrew in a Tomb which was built at the charge of Francis Cardinal of Siena with this Epitaph Pius II. Pont. Max. natione Tuscus patriâ Senensis gente Pocolhominea He enjoy'd the Sea onely six years But though his Pontificate were short yet it was full of great Actions He held a Council at Mantua to maintain the Faith resisted all
withal he bids me not stir from the City For says he if you go into India Paul will fetch you back I obey'd his Commands and stayed three years in the City hoping to find some remedy for my misfortunes But Paul when he was Crown'd according to custom remembring that the Canons Regular were formerly turn'd out of St. Giovanni Laterano by Calixtus though Eugenius had placed 'em there he recall'd 'em to perform Divine Service apart from the Canons Secular And because he had a mind to extirpate the name of Seculars from that place if any one of 'em died he put no body into his place or if any Benefice were vacant he made them renounce their Canonships and so translated 'em to other Churches till at length the profits of that Church being reduced into one body might satisfie the Canons Regular without any charge to him he being before forc'd to keep 'em they were so poor But by this means Paul did much estrange the Citizens minds and affections from him because as they said he gave those Revenues which their Forefathers had setled instead of Citizens to foreiners Nor was Paul content to do so but he spoke to some Canons by themselves and threaten'd 'em till they quitted their Canonries Some indeed contemn'd his Menaces and expected an opportunity of vindicating their Liberty which happen'd not till he was dead It was now reported that the Turks had taken most part of Epirus and were coming into Sclavonia he therefore sent Nuncio's immediately to all Kings and Princes to advise 'em to compose their civil Discords and make War against the Turk the common Enemy but there was nothing done in it because they were up to the ears in blood one among another the Germans in one part and the English in an other some of whom desired a new King others would retain their old one And then the Spanish and French Princes fear'd their King's Power who attempted to bring them to a total subjection But more than this the King of Bohemia's Apostacy vexed Paul very much in that he withdrew himself from the Church of Christ by little and little and therefore he design'd to send the King of Hungary with an Army against him if the War which he had undertaken against the Turks would give him leisure and that he could compose the difference between the King and the Emperour For when Ladislaus King of Hungary and his Nephew was dead without issue the Emperour himself pretended a right to that Kingdom which Matthias Son to the Vaivod was in possession of Thereupon Paul thought it best to defer that matter till another time and apply'd himself to make up some breaches between certain Citizens of Rome For there was a quarrel between James Son to John Alberinus and Felix Nephew to Anthony Capharellus and therefore he sent for the two old Gentlemen the Father and Uncle of 'em and caused 'em to put in Sureties that they would be friends though they stood out a good while But James Son to Alberinus who could not endure that any Affront should be put upon his Father attempted soon after to murther Anthony Capharellus and gave him several such grievous wounds that he left him for dead At which Paul was very angry that Alberinus's Son had broken his Father's Oath and therefore he demolish'd their Houses confiscated all their goods and banished them from the City but he afterward recalled 'em and took 'em into favour restoring all their goods and made Peace between the parties after they had been both sometime in Prison In the year 1465. Alouisius Patavinus the Pope's Chamberlain dy'd He was Cardinal-Priest of St. Laurence a very rich Man and prudent in the management of business but not so wise towards his later end in that he left most of his Estate to his two Brothers who were call'd Scarampi Men that were good Gentlemen but yet not worthy of such a vast fortune as he had got out of the Church Revenues I know what People thought whereupon Paul who had given him free leave to make a Will and bequeath it to whom he pleased seized upon the Estate took the Scarampi who had fled and kept 'em though in no scandalous place till he had those things brought him which were carried away to Florence which done he freed the Scarampi to whom he gave a good share and was more liberal to the other Legatees than the Testator himself had been And thus Alouisius's Estate which he got with great industry and preserv'd with greater as if in the strength of so much Wealth he could have lived Mathusalem's Age was seized and distributed by one with whom he had had so many quarrels ill words and Animosities and before whom he would have chosen the Turk for his Executor Nor was Divine Providence thus satisfied but was pleased that his body also which was already buried should be made a prey for the Grave was open'd in the Night-time by those to whom he had given the Revenues of St. Laurence in Damaso and he stript of a Ring and all his Cloths But indeed Paul when he knew of it was very angry at them About that time Frederick a fine Youth Son to Ferdinand who passing to Millain to fetch Francis Sforza's Daughter his Brother's Wife to Naples arrived at Rome where he was met by the Nobility and Rhoderick the Vicechancelour and kindly entertain'd by the Pope himself who presented him with a Rose which the Popes use to give to some Christian Prince every year Ferdinand now minding to punish those of his own Kingdom who had revolted from him when he was engaged with the French sent some Forces to set upon the Duke of Sora but the Pope was desirous to divert that War and therefore sent the Arch-Bishop of Millain thither with all speed to pray him that he would send those Men to him as he was obliged by his Tenure to do because he had a Design to destroy and take off the Count Aversa's Sons that had denied Obedience to the Church For about that time the Count Aversa died when Paul was made Pope and his body was brought to Rome where it was buried in St. Maries the Great The King who was Deiphobus's bitter Enemy as having been attempted by him with Plots Poison and open force in the late War gave Order to the Captains of his Army cited to go where the Pope bad them upon the first Summons He had Deiphobus and Francis to him before and given 'em charge to clear the Road of Thieves who used to rob Travellers at the very Gates of Rome as it were and that they should restore Caprarola a Town so called to the Son of Securanza the greatest part of whose Estate they had possest themselves of they not onely refused to do either but threaten'd him and brag'd that they were Count Aversa's Sons nor would they spare any one that gave 'em a provocation Paul therefore having privately prepared all things that were
necessary for a War with assistance of the King's Forces he surprised and subdued 'em within fourteen days after he attaqued 'em reducing nine Castles under the jurisdiction of the Church of which some were so well fortified both by Art and Nature that they seemed impregnable Deiphobus fearing lest if he were taken he should be sent to the King made his escape But Francis his Brother and his Son were taken and kept five years in Castel St. Angelo till upon the Creation of Sixtus they were freed And hence afterward arose great enmity between the Pope and the King when Ferdinand demanded that Paul would remit the Tribute which he was to pay the Church as a reward for his great merits and would retrench or take off part of it for the future seeing his Uncle enjoy'd the Kingdom of Sicily though he paid Tribute for that and Naples too and told him That he ought to consider his Deserts and what might happen for that he had always some Batalions in Arms not more upon his own than upon the Pope's account as he found in the late War against the Aversans Paul on the other hand recounted the Churches merits toward Ferdinand and so they spun out the Debate a long time by these kind of wranglings each of 'em seeking an opportunity to recover their Right In the mean time the King was very cautious how he caused any new Commotions because he fear'd James Picenninus's Power who had Sulmona in Abruzzo and some other Towns in his possession whom afterward his Father-in-law Francis Sfortia sent to the King who gave him his word that he should come and go in safety when he pleased But all things did not go according to James's expectation for he was taken at Naples by Ferdinand as so was his Son and there thrown into Prison and not long after put to Death though there was a false report given out that he fell down in the Prison and broke his Leg as he was inconsiderately staring through the Window to see the King's Galleys that came from Ischia with Victory over the French There were who thought him still alive which I can never believe because there was no Man in all Italy more fit if you look upon him as a Soldier to subvert the Government of King Ferdinand The Duke of Millain's Daughter when she heard of it tarry'd by the way at Siena as she was going to her Husband at Naples to persuade the World that her Father was not any way concern'd with Ferdinand in contriving the Death of Picenninus But what People thought of it we very well know There were likewise some that said the Pope knew of it before hand because at that time the Arch-Bishop of Millain went often from the Pope to the King and from the King back again and because Paul said when he heard of his Imprisonment that the Judg of Appeals was taken off But that of Virgil is too true Nescia mens hominum fati sortisque futurae Little do Men their future Fortune know For Paul could not have made use of any one to fit to curb Ferdinand as James Picenninus was if he had been alive when their Debate arose about the Tribute for which a War was like to have been proclaimed For when he had kept his Daughter-in-laws and his Son's Wedding and that thereby and by the death of James his Kingdom was setled Ferdinand was instant with the Pope that he would retrench the Tribute and give him back certain Towns which belong'd to the Kingdom but were in possession of the Church Thereupon Paul sent to him Bartholomew Roverella Cardinal Priest of St. Clements as Legate who did in some measure satisfie the King And at that time I believe they both fear'd lest the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon which all Men were then astonish'd at might portend some changes in Government Nor can you think the heavenly Bodies have no efficacy for the year after Francis Sfortia Duke of Millain and Genoua died For he had gotten Genoua two years before being after a long War surrender'd by the Citizens For they having rejected the French Government which they had formerly courted kill'd six thousand of the French under the Nose of King Renatus who came with some Galleys well arm'd to retrieve the City that had now revolted from the French When Francis Sfortia Duke of Millain was dead Paul summon'd the Cardinals to consult what was to be done They all concluded that he must send Letters and Nuncioes to all the Princes of Italy and to all States to persuade 'em against Innovations and to maintain the establish'd Peace especially at that unhappy time when we were so threatned by the Turk the common Enemy And afterward he sent the Bishop of Conca to Millain to persuade that State to have regard to the Allegiance they had sworn to Galeatius Francis's Son At that time Galeatius was absent in France whither his Father had sent him with an Army to assist King Lewis against the Princes of his Kingdom that acknowledg'd not his Authority For Francis was bound by the League he made with him when he possest himself of Genoa to supply him with some Auxiliaries Besides the Allegiance which they had contracted obliged him to it for he had married the Sister of the Queen and the Duke of Savoy When he heard of his Father's Death he relinquish'd the War which he engaged in upon the King's account against the Duke of Burgundy and going from Lions return'd with a small Retinue and in a disguise to his own Country where he peaceably possess'd himself of his paternal inheritance by the help of his Mother who kept the people in Obedience till he came But Paul when the Affairs of Italy were thus composed hearing that the Rhodian Soldiers were ready to starve he summon'd the Grand Master and the great Clergymen to Rome to consider of a Relief who after frequent meetings in St. Peters died for grief and Age and was buried in that Church not far from St. Andrew's Chappel in whose room Charles Vrsin was chosen and sent immediately to defend the Island In the mean time when Paul heard that there were a great many Hereticks in Tagliacozzo he having heard their cause severely branded the Lord of the place eight Men and six Women which were caught and brought before him being those that were most obstinate but dealt more favourably with those that confessed their Error and begg'd pardon They were of those perverse sort of Hereticks who say there never was any true Vicar of Christ since St. Peter but who had imitated Christ's Poverty Then he encreased the number of Cardinals and made ten at one time of which number were Francis of Savona General of the Order of Minors M. Barbo Bishop of Vincenza whose Advice he always took in great Affairs Oliver Arch-Bishop of Naples Amicus Bishop of Aquila and Theodore Montferrat and the rest were partly French Hungarians and English Having thus
good as my word and would often boast what a kindness he had for me and what great things he would do for me as soon as Borsius d' Este was gone who coming to the City with a great Equipage was very magnificently and splendidly received by him The same he had often promised to the Ambassadours of Venice and Milan who had spoken on my behalf For two years I was led on or rather beguil'd with these hopes till at length I resolv'd to go with the Cardinal of Mantua to Bononia of which he was Legat. But Paul forbad me and after his jesting manner said I had wit enough already and wanted Wealth rather than Learning And now while I was in expectation that I should be reliev'd after so many troubles and afflictions behold the Pope dies of an Apoplexy about two hours within night being alone in his Chamber having been well that day and held a Consistory His death happened July 28. 1471. in the sixth year and tenth month of his Pontificate As to his Personage it was Majestic and becoming a Pope for he was so portly and tall that he was easily distinguishable from the rest when at Mass In his dress though he was not curious yet he was not reputed negligent Nay 't is said that when he was to appear in public he would use to paint his face In his Pontifical Vestments he outwent all his Predecessors especially in his Regno or Mitre upon which he laid out a great deal of Mony in purchasing at vast rates Diamonds Sapphyrs Emeralds Chrysoliths Jaspers Unions and all manner of precious stones wherewith adorn'd like another Aaron he would appear abroad somewhat more august than a Man delighting to be seen and admir'd by every one To this purpose sometimes by deferring some usual Solemnities he would keep Strangers in Town that so he might be view'd by greater numbers But lest he alone should seem to differ from the rest he made a Decree that none but Cardinals should under a Penalty wear red Caps to whom he had in the first year of his Popedom given Cloth of that colour to make Horse-Cloths or Mule-Cloths of when they rode He was also about to order that Cardinals Caps should be of Silk Scarlet but some Persons hindred it by telling him well that the Ecclesiastical Pomp was rather to be diminished than encreased to the detriment of the Christian Religion Before he was made Pope he used to give out that if ever he came to that good fortune he would give each Cardinal a Castle in the Country where they might retire conveniently to avoid the Summer-heats of the City but when he was once got into the Chair he thought of nothing less However he endeavour'd by his Authority and by force too to augment the Power of the Papacy For he sent the Bishop of Tricarico into France to hear the Cause of quarrel between the Duke of Burgundy and the People of Liege and upon their reconciliation to take off the Interdict laid upon the Liegeois for wrongfully expelling their Bishop but while the Legat took great pains to subject all matters to the Pope's Judgment he and their Bishop too were clapt up by the Liegeois Hereupon the Duke of Burgundy makes Peace with the French King with whom he was before at War and with his aid gives those of Liege several great defeats and at length sacks their City and sets free the imprison'd Bishops Moreover Paul hearing of the Apostasie of the King of Bohemia he by his Legat Lorenzo Roverella Bishop of Ferrara raised the Hungarians and Germans upon him so that he had certainly cut off both the King George and his Progeny and utterly rooted out the Heretics had not the Polanders who laid claim to that Kingdom held Matthias King of Hungary employ'd in War lest he should have made himself Master of it He undertook two Wars of no great moment in Italy which being not openly declared but begun by picqueering Parties he afterwards abandon'd For first he attempted the seizing the Signeury of Tolfa by cunning wiles which failing with open force under the conduct of Vianesius he set upon it and besieged it but the King's Army in which the Vrsini serv'd returning from the War they had now ended with Bartholomew of Bergamo on a sudden he raised the Siege in great disorder though the Enemy was not within sixty miles of the place so that after a long contention in which he had extreamly disobliged and almost enrag'd the Vrsini against him he was fain to purchase Tolfa for seventeen thousand Ducats of Gold for fear of that potent Family who were related to the Lords of the place After the same manner he set upon Robert Malatesta Son of Sigismund when having taken the Suburbs of Rimini by a Stratagem and for sometime having besieged the City Lorenzo Arch-Bishop of Spalato being the chief in the Enterprise Frederick D. of Vrbin came upon him with the King's Forces and those of the Florentines who forc'd him to raise his Siege and foil'd his Army shamefully so that he accepted of a Peace upon very dishonourable terms Lorenzo charg'd the reason of the loss of Rimini upon the niggardliness of his pay to the Soldiers and to the great slowness of his Resolution while through ignorance in affairs of that nature he deliberated long about actions which should be done in a moment Paul was indeed so awkward at business that except he were driven to it he would not enter upon any Affair however plain and unencumbred nor when begun would he bring it to peofection This humour of his he was wont to boast had done him great service in many concerns whereas to speak truth it had been very mischievous both to himself and the Church of Rome He yet was very diligent in getting Mony so that he generally intrusted the disposal of Bishopricks and Benefices to such Courtiers whose Places being saleable nothing could be bestowed without a Present All Offices indeed in his time were set to sale whereby it came to pass that he who had a mind to a Bishoprick or Benefice would purchase of him at a good rate some other Office and so get what he would have in spight of any other Candidates who could pretend upon the score of either Learning or good Life to be capable of whatsoever honour or preferment Beside when Bishopricks were vacant he would remove the more worthy as he call'd them to the more wealthy Seat by these Translations raising vast Sums of Mony because more Annates became due at the same time He also allow'd the purchasing of Salaries With these Moneys he would sometimes be very liberal giving exhibitions to the poorer Cardinals and Bishops and to Princes or Noblemen that were driven out of their Country and relieving poor Maidens Widows and sick People He took great care too that Corn and all manner of Victuals should be afforded cheaper at Rome than formerly He was at the charge of several
which end Bessarion was Commissionated to be his Legat to Lewis XI of France Roderigo Borgia Vice-Chancellor to go his Legat into Spain Marco Barbo into Germany and Hungary and Oliviere Carafa to Venice and the Knights of Rhodes to every of which Legats he assigned a Pension of 500 Crowns in Gold per Month but the success answered not the charge all the Legats returning without any effect or fruit of their Negotiations For Lewis the 11th had already levied War against Charles of Burgundy and the Duke of Brittany Ferdinand King of Aragon made War on the King of Portugal to decide the dispute between them for the Kingdom of Castile The Kings of Hungary and Poland were in actual Wars fighting for the Kingdom of Bohemia so that the Oratorical persuasions of these Ministers of Peace were not able to prevail on the incensed and resolved minds of these warlike Princes And being now fixed and established in his Apostolical Seat he received with a serenity of countenance and chearful affability the Addresses and Congratulations which Forein Princes by their respective Ministers made to him at his first promotion to the Papal Dignity which Ceremony being performed he published and declared two persons to be by him created Cardinals namely Peter Riario and Julian della Rovere the first was of a mean Family at Savona and educated by this Sixtus in the Franciscan Order and made Bishop of Trevisi The other was Son of his Brother Raphael della Rovere whom he had constituted Bishop of Carpentras The first took the Title of S. Sixtus and the other of S. Peter ad Vincola who was afterwards Pope Julian the second And such was the affection which this Pope indulged to his own natural Relations that he never refused to grant their demands or yield to the most exorbitant of their desires for which he was much blamed and hardly censured with many reflections on his conduct and wisdom for he had enriched this Peter Riario with several fat Benefices on the Revenue of which he might have lived with splendor and greatness But so exorbitant were his expences that in the space of two years only he spent two hundred thousand Crowns of Gold leaving a debt of seventy thousand Crowns with three hundred pounds weight of wrought Plate and then being discontented with disappointments of his ambitious desires he died at 28 years of age and was buried in the Church of the holy Apostles His Brother Jeronimo tho as we have said of mean extraction was yet by the favour of this Pope made Prince of Imola and Forli and married to Catherine natural Daughter of Galeazzo Duke of Milan and on this account and reason Ascanius the Son of Galeazzo was created Cardinal And farther did the affection of this Pope extend towards his Nephews and Relations that he married Leonard his Brothers Son to the natural Daughter of Ferdinand King of Naples and ordained him Governor of Rome and he dying soon after his place was bestowed on John the Brother of Cardinal Julian with augmentation of the Signiories of Sora and Senegaglia on the reputation of which he married Jane the Daughter of Frederick Duke of Vrbin by whom he had one Son called Francisco Maria who succeeded in the Dukedom of Vrbin after his Uncle Guy Vbald who died without issue This Pope moreover created his Brother Christopher and Domenico della Rovere Cardinals as also Jeronimo Basso his Sisters Son Raphael Sanson a youth of 17 years of age Son of his Sister the Wife of Peter Riario also Schiafinato of Milan who was his Chancellor and Bishop of Parma likewise John Baptista Cibo of Genoua who afterwards succceeded in the Popedom under the name of Innocent VIII and besides these he raised many others to the number of 34 whom he successively created Cardinals during his Reign And so free and liberal was Sixtus in his Promotions and Gifts that nothing was asked of him which he denied which liberality gave occasion oftentimes to many Disputes when the free nature of the Pope had given Donations to three or four persons of the same thing to prevent which for the future the Privy Signet was given to John de Montemirabile a severe and reserved person and one well practised in the Affairs of the Court who keeping an account of all matters which had passed the Seal vacated such Donations as were not regularly granted It is doubtful amongst the Writers of Ecclesiastical History whether it was this Pope Sixtus or Paul the Second that reduced the year of Jubile to 25 howsoever it is certain that this Pope in the year 1475. did Celebrate the Jubile which brought a great concourse of people to Rome amongst which were several Kings and Princes present such as the Kings of Denmark Sweden and Norway of Bosna and Walachia the Dukes of Calabria and Saxony with many others of great Quality who in person made their Pilgrimages to Rome to gain the Indulgences Pardons and Privileges which were granted at that Solemnity About this time Mathias King of Hungary being desirous to create an Alliance between himself and Casimir King of Poland did in the year 1476. make demand of his Daughter in Marriage but before Casimir would assent thereunto he sent his Son Vladislaus to Frederick the Emperor then at Vienna to desire that he might be established and confirmed in the right of the Kingdom of Bohemia notwithstanding that it had formerly been given away by Paul the Second to Mathias King of Hungary On which Quarrel the Knights of the Teutonick Order did not only at the instigation of Balthasar the Popes Legat make War against the King of Poland with assistance of the King of Hungary but likewise the Legat Excommunicated Vladislaus the new King of Bohemia and his Father Casimir upon pretence that they favoured the Doctrin of the Hussites That long continued Difference and Dispute between the Secular Priests and the Mendicant Friers which had lasted for above two hundred years was afterwards by the Sentence of this Pope determined in this manner That the Seculars should never hereafter tax or impeach the Mendicants as Authors of Heresie but honor and respect them as those by whose Preaching the truth of the Gospel had been greatly enlightned That all Communicants should be obliged to hear Mass said by their Parochial Priests every Sunday and solemn Festival without which the Mendicants were not admitted to Preach That the Mendicants should not declare the people disobliged from making their Confessions to their Parochial Priest at least every Easter according as they are directed by the Ecclesiastical Canons provided still that the Mendicants retain their Privilege of hearing Confessions and enjoyning Penance These and some other particulars being declared and determined by this Pope the animosity and hatred between the Seculars and the Religious was much abated and the long continued Controversie brought to an issue But to pass now from the matters of Spiritual Government to temporal and secular
reason disposed his affairs for a second War in order whereunto he in the first place Excommunicated Ferdinand absolved his Subjects from their Obedience and deprived him of his Kingdom but because this would prove insignificant unless it were made good by some more effectual means he sent to the King of France for the aid he had formerly promised and having raised a considerable Army of Switzers and Italians under the command of Francis Cibo and having also the countenance of all Italy in detestation of this false treatment Ferdinand being terrified therewith inclined to a Peace and really to accept with unfeigned devotion and obedience such conditions as the Pope should be pleased to impose upon him and in farther pursuance of this Peace the Vrsini were induced to prostrate themselves at the feet of the Pope in which humble posture he generously granted to them all those Petitions and requests which they submissively offered to him and at the same time bestowed the like favours in the pardon of Cardinal Baldri a Frenchman who had treacherously conspired against him And farther to evidence his natural inclinations to Peace he reconciled the enmities of Colonna and Vrsini two potent Families in Rome who by their Dissentions and Wars had miserably spoiled and vexed each other This Peace produced a League between the King the Venetians the Florentines and the Duke of Milan and in short begat a general peace in all Christendom which continued for the space of five years during which time great preparations were made against the Turk which had in all probability happily succeeded had not that honorable and glorious design been unhappily interrupted by the Death of this Pope Yet some time before his decease being in the year 1488. he had the honor to have Zizimé the Brother of Bajazet Emperor of the Turks to be his Prisoner being taken and sent to Rome by the Knights of Rhodes And tho this Sultan was splendidly received and treated yet he could not be induced either by fair persuasions or ruder menaces to prostrate or humble himself at the feet of the Pope wherefore being remanded back to safe custody in the Vatican he lived there for all the time of this Pope during which his Brother Bajazet Emperor of the Turks sent yearly to Rome forty thousand Crowns for his maintainance and to render his Brother more acceptable there he sent with an honorable Embassy the Key of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem to the Pope together with the Lance with which Longinus pierced the side of our Saviour both which he received with great humility and devotion lodging the Key in a Chappel in S. Peter's Church where it is to be seen unto this day and laid the Spear in a Marble Chest which he purposely erected in a Chappel within the Church of the Vatican In the time of this Pope Innocent there was but one Creation of Cardinals at which eight only were made amongst which Laurence Cibo the natural Son of his Brother was one In the year 1489. he permitted that the Mass might be celebrated in Norway without Wine because that the Country being cold and the distance far the Wine was either frozen or turned Vinegar before it could be brought thither This Pope as we have said was generous and magnificent in all his actions performing many things at his own cost and charge for the honor and adornment of the City For he built a house of pleasure and delight for recreation of the Popes called the Belvedere he re-built the Deanry of S. Narcis from the foundation he made many Galleries in the Palace of the Vatican he erected a Fountain in the front before S. Peters and adorned many other places in the City and having disposed all things in order to the quiet and happiness of Italy he ended his days and died the 25th day of July 1491. being about the age of sixty years He was buried in a Sepulchre of Brass near the Altar which he had lately made for the Spear Lionel Bishop of Concordia Preached his Funeral Sermon wherein he recounted the most memorable passages of his life Over his Tomb this Epitaph was Engraven Ego autem in Innocentia mea Ingressus sum Redime me Domine miserere mei ALEXANDER VI. INNOCENT being deceased Roderigo who was made a Bishop and afterwards Cardinal Albano and Porto by Sixtus was elected Pope calling himself by the name of Alexander the Sixth and fate in the Papal Chair for the space of eleven years and upwards he was born at Valentia in Spain his Father was Geoffery Lenzola a rich and noble Gentleman and his Mother was the Sister of Pope Calixtus the Fourth by the favour of which Uncle he was designed from his Youth to be created Arch-Bishop of Valentia and in the year 1456. was actually made Cardinal-Deacon of S. Nicolas and Chancellor of the Roman Church and was afterwards by Sixtus the Fourth employed upon many important Affairs and Embassies for the Church and particularly to intercede and mediate in the differences between the Kings of Spain Portugal and Aragon who had all pretensions to the Kingdom of Castile by which Offices and places having gained great honor and interest he was by the suffrages of two and twenty Cardinals elected Pope But several Writers such as Guicciardin Onufrius and others brand the Election of this Pope with the infamy of Simonaical corruption for reporting that most of the Cardinals were bribed by sums of Mony and promises of Offices and high Preferments to give their Votes in his favour those who were most active and had taken the greatest Bribes for this promotion were the Cardinal Ascagnus who in reward had the Office of Chancellor conferred upon him likewise Julian Bishop of Ostia and Raphael Riario who were busie and talking Cardinals But Alexander who was an excellent dissembler until his turn was served and who loved the Treason but not the Traytor or the Office but not the corrupt ways to it hated this abominable practice in his heart so that by violent deaths by Banishment and other various calamities he found means to bring all those unto ruine who had thus basely conspired to his promotion and particularly Baptista Orsino to whom was given the magnificent Palace of Borgia and John Michael on whom was conferred the Bishoprick of Porto with all the Wardrobe of the Pope which was of inestimable value were both put to death one being publickly executed in the Castle and the other secretly made away by Poison This sort of treatment towards his Friends induced Guichardin in his History of this Pope to represent him under the notion of a person without Truth without Faith or Religion of an unsatiable avarice and insuperable pride and passionate in the raising and advancement of his Bastard Sons which were many in number to places of dignity and profit the which character is farther confirmed by all the Italian Poets and Historians of those times who ascribe strange
Uncle became his Successor Lewis XII continuing his claim by right of Inheritance to the Kingdom of Naples and also to the Dukedom of Milan in right of his Grandmother the Daughter of John Galeazzo entered into a League with the Pope which was fatal to Italy and with them the King of Spain the Florentines and the Venetians were all combined against Duke Lodowick Sforza and King Frederick on conditions that Lewis having conquered Milan should cause Cremona to be restored to the Venetians and that Caesar Borgia who was the Popes bastard Son having renounced his Cardinals Cap and taking Carlotta de Alebretto Daughter to the King of Navar and Kinswoman to the King of France for his Wife should be invested in Romagna Marca and Vmbria and that the Kings of Spain and France should equally divide the Kingdom of Naples between them Lewis entering Italy with a powerful Army drove out the Duke of Milan from his State and shortly after took Cardinal Ascanius Prisoner whom he sent into France where he died in a short time afterwards The Venetians by virtue of the League had Cremona consigned to them and all matters succeeded so prosperously for Lewis in Italy that Frederick King of Naples being thereby wholly dis-animated cast himself with all humble confidence into the arms of King Lewis who treated him basely and with the highest indignities imaginable In the mean time the French and the Spaniards being to divide the spoils of the Kingdom such differences arose betwixt them as being only to be decided by the Sword the French were all cut in pieces by the valor of Gonsalvo a brave Captain by which means that Kingdom fell into the hands of Spain In the mean time Pope Alexander being attentive to nothing more than to raise and enrich his Bastard Children encouraged and countenanced his Son Caesar Borgia in the grievous oppressions he laid on all the Barons of the Ecclesiastical State for he designing and aspiring to make himself sole and absolute master of it made the Family of the Orsini the most remarkable examples of his insolent indignities spoiling and harassing their Country for the space of a whole Summer As yet Caesar Borgia had not renounced his Cardinals Cap and therefore continuing still under the notion of a Prelate Guido Vbaldo di Vrbino and John Borgia an other of the Popes Bastards were made Generals of the Ecclesiastical Army who over-running several Countries reduced Braciano by Siege and proceeded every where victoriously until Charles the natural Son of Virginio Orsino joyning Battel with them routed their Army and took the Duke of Vrbin prisoner After this a Peace being concluded with the Orsini and the Pope perceiving that his business did not thrive well by War he endeavoured to advance his designs by fortifying the interest of his Family with great and potent alliances and in the first place he gave his Daughter Lucretia in Marriage to John Sforza Lord of Pesaro breaking his promise to a certain Nobleman of Spain to whom he had formerly contracted her then he took her from Sforza and gave her to Lewis of Aragon Bastard Son of Alfonso King of Naples who being killed she was given to Alfonso da Esté Duke of Ferrara with whom afterwards she ended her days This Pope had also three Sons Geoffery the youngest was made Prince of Squillaci Caesar who was the second was Cardinal and John the eldest was sent into Spain and there made Duke of Candia but he rambling one night in his pleasures about the Streets of Rome was by the treachery of his Brother the Cardinal assassinated and his body thrown into the â—ybar which kindness he did him after they had supped the same night together at the Table of their Mother Vanoccia with which horrid act the Pope was not so much displeased as he was terrified fearing that upon the least displeasure the spirit of this miscreant would be provoked to add parricide to the murder of his Brother After this he made little account of his Scarlet or degree of Cardinal but turning his thoughts wholly to War he was made General of the Popes Army and uniting his Forces with the French and joyning with their interest he became master of a considerable Principality in Italy for having expelled Sforza from Milan and imprisoned the Chiefs of that Family with assistance of Lewis the 12th he with great cruelty and blood possessed himself of all the Cities of Romagna Bologna only excepted banishing or putting to death all the ancient Lords and persons of quality belonging to it He also took Imola and Forli banishing all the Children of Riario to whom the Inheritance belonged only their Mother Catherina he took prisoner and carried her in triumph with him to Rome Next he took Sinigaglia by force of Arms and by treachery surprized the State of Vrbin for being with all his Army at Cagli where he was kindly received upon the signal given he seized that City and marched immediately with the same design to Vrbin Guido Vbaldo da Feltro Prince of that State surprized with this suddain attempt and fearing to fall into the cruel hands of this Tyrant left the City and with some few of his domesticks saved himself by flight Then this Borgia turned his Arms upon Camerino which he took and put many of the ancient Lords and Barons of it to death with the like cruelty and wickedness he treated all the Lords and Barons about the parts of Rome particularly that noble Family of the Gaetani which were Lords of ancient possessions in the Volsci of which he put James the Son of Honorato Gaetano to death then Protonotary of Rome He also ordered that Cola Gaetano a youth who was the only Son and hopes of the Family should be removed out of the world He in the next place by assistance of the French attacked the Family of Colonna and seized on all their State forcing them to fly into Puglia and Sicily for refuge His next and last work was to subdue the Orsini but they having always been constant and firm friends to the Pope in all times and against all Factions he wanted some colourable pretence to fix a quarrel on them but at length the occasion which he sought the Orsini themselves administred for they growing jealous of the successes and fortune of Borgia and fearing lest his insatiable avarice should transport him also to an appetite of devouring them they considered it prudence to provide in time against a danger so apparent and imminent as this wherefore consulting with others who were possessed with the like apprehensions and fears such as Bentivolio Lord of Bologna Paolo Baglione the Usurper of Perugia Vitellozzo Vitelli Lord of the City of Castello Liverotto Lord Fermo Pandolfo Petrucci of Siena they appointed a Council to be held at Perugia where they agreed upon an alliance and confederacy together against Borgia and accordingly setting out an Army into the Field they took Vrbino and Camerino and overthrew
fame of a wickedness without example to have a Pope killed by the hand of a Cardinal he changed the Plot of the Dagger to Poison which by the help of Baptista Vercelli a famous Chirurgeon and his familiar Confident he hoped to effect in this manner The Pope being greatly afflicted with an old Fistula in his Fundament this Baptista was to be preferred as an able man for this work and then in dressing of the Wound he was to have injected Poison into it but Baptista being long in getting admission to the Popes privacy Alfonso grew impatient of delays and not being able to contain himself continually uttered something of passion which gave the Pope just cause of suspicion that this Alfonso was practising something against his life at length by some Letters which were intercepted the Conspiracy was detected which the Pope dissembling invited Alfonso to Rome with promises of Reconciliation and Preferment and for his encouragement thereunto he gave him Letters of safe conduct and his promise to the Spanish Embassador not to violate the same But so soon as Alfonso arrived the Pope so little esteemed the Faith he had given that he caused him to be Arrested with his Friend Cardinal De Sauli a Genoese one so familiar and intimate with him that it was believed that one could not be guilty or designing any action without the privity and consent of the other These two Cardinals being committed to Prison in the Castle of S. Angelo the Spanish Embassador complained of the breach of Faith which being given to the Kings Embassador ought to have been observed with the same sacred fidelity as given to the King himself Whereunto the Pope made answer that in matters of a Conspiracy designing against the life of the Pope no safe conduct was sufficient unless in some clause of it the Crime it self had been specified with a peculiar Proviso and that in cases of Poisoning which is detestable to God and man no sufficient provision can be made for security of the Offender unless the Crime it self be first mentioned and pardoned The matter being fully examined and Alfonso and Bandinello in a full Consistory being found guilty they were by publick sentence of the Consistory deprived of the Dignity of Cardinals and delivered over to the Secular Power which being done the night following Alfonso was Strangled but the Sentence of Bandinello was changed to a perpetual Imprisonment from which afterwards for a certain sum of money he gained a release The success which the Pope had against the Duke of Vrbin was different to that which he had against Alfonso Duke of Ferrara for he being a watchful man and a good Soldier defended himself against all the contrivances and attempts of the Pope Towards the end of the year 1517. the King of Spain died leaving his Nephew Charles of Austria sole Heir of all his Kingdoms and Dominions in Naples Sicily and Spain between whom and the French King there passed as yet a fair and amicable correspondence Notwithstanding which things were troublesom in Italy and 〈◊〉 â—espight of all the endeavours of the Pope who desired nothing so much 〈◊〉 peace all things were unquiet and tended to War for the Switzers 〈◊〉 â—hose minds were rather inflamed with indignation in remembrance of their late Defeat at Marignan than abated or humbled entered into a League with Maximilian the Emperor to drive the French out of all their Possessions in Italy in opposition whereunto the French joyning with the Venetians recovered Brescia out of the hands of the Spaniards and Verona from the Emperor and the Venetians by the support of this Alliance made no account of any amity with others nor offered their Obedience to the Pope notwithstanding the endeavours of Altobello Bishop of Pola whom he had commissionated to be his Legate at Venice not without some just reflections as a matter unworthy the Pontificial Majesty Francisco Maria Duke of Vrbin continued still his War against the Pope for recovery of his State but his success was ill both against the City of Osimo and also before the Town of Corinaldo from whence with great blemish of honor he was forced to raise his Siege Nor was he more fortunate in his attempt to recover Pesaro for having put to Sea several Ships to cut off all Provisions from the Town they were encountred by another Fleet set out by those of Rimini consisting of sixteen Sail with Barks and Brigantines which going in convoy with Vessels laden with Provisions to Pesaro met the Navy of Francisco Maria and engaging with them sunk the Admiral and destroyed their whole Fleet with which ill success Francisco Maria despairing of his enterprize departed thence At Rimini he also was worsted and forced to return with his Army into Tuscany where being in great want of Provisions and the Soldiers without Pay lived by Prey and Pillage whereby they began to be no less terrible to their friends than to their enemies and to grow weary of the War having no hope to better their condition either by a Battel or protraction of time The Pope also on the other side became poor having exhausted his Treasury and doubtful of the Faith of his Allies especially of the King of France who was slow and backward in the payment of those monies agreed by Articles so that Peace being the best expedient for good to both parties propositions were made for a Peace between the Legate and Francisco Maria which by the Mediation of Monsieur D'Escut General of the French Forces in Italy and Don Hugo de Monaco Vice-King of Sicily was accorded on these conditions That the Pope should pay to the Spanish Footmen five and forty thousand Ducats and to the Gascoins and Germans threescore thousand and that upon such payment they should all depart within eight days out of the State of the Church the Jurisdiction of Florence and the Territories of Vrbin That Francisco Maria should leave and abandon all his Possessions in that State within the term aforesaid with Licence to carry with him all his moveables and Artillery with his famous Library which with great charge and diligence had been collected by Frederick his Grandfather by the Mothers side That the Pope should absolve him of all Censures and pardon all the Subjects of the State of Vrbin and those who had been enemies in this War the Spaniards Gascoins and Germans having received their monies marched to the Kingdom of Naples and Francisco Maria abandoned of all his Allies returned to Mantua accompanied only with one hundred Horse and six hundred Footmen In this manner ended the War with Vrbin which tho it continued but eight months yet had exhausted the Coffers of the Pope of eight hundred thousand Ducats the greatest part of which he had drawn from the Commonwealth of Florence on the score of his great interest in that City and indeed his Charges were the greater because that with much ignominy he was forced to purchase his
perpetual banishment Thus by the punishment and degradation of several Cardinals the College being wanting and unprovided of its due numbers the Pope with much liberality created one and thirty at one time all persons of quality belonging to several Countries of Christendom some of which were advanced for their Virtue and Merit and others by the Favour and Interest of great Personages This Pope created two and forty Cardinals in all during the time of his Reign besides the restauration of the four rebellious Cardinals deprived by Julio amongst these Cardinals which he had ordained Julio de Medici his Kinsman was one whom he made his Vice-Chancellor and was afterwards Pope under the name of Clement VII About this time Maximilian the Emperor dying Charles King of Spain Naples and Sicily was elected to the great regret and indignation of Francis King of France who with much envy and emulation was displeased to see the Imperial Dignity added to the many Kingdoms and Estates holden by the King of Spain And because according to the ancient Rule and Canon the King of Naples was excluded from all capacity of being Emperor a Dispensation was purchased from the Pope with expence of 7000 Ducats qualifying the King of Naples for the Election Afterwards the Pope having favoured the cause of Charles and he by his assistance being Elected Emperor an Alliance and League was agreed between them to drive the French out of Italy a design ever pleasing to the Popes and particularly to Leo who was impatient of the infamous loss of Parma and Piacenza which being gained with so much glory and trouble by Julio he hoped to regain and restore to the Possessions of the Church In pursuance of this enterprize a considerable Army of Germans and Switzers were sent by the Emperor into Italy and joyned with the Forces of the Pope Prospero Colonna was made Generalissimo and Frederico Gonzaga of Mantoua General of the Army of the Church and Julio de Medici Legate of the whole Army The success proved agreeable to the preparations for the French were droven out of Italy which had long groaned under their pride and tyranny after which Milan was according to Articles surrendred into the hands of Francis Sforza the true and natural Lord and Parma and Piacenza restored to the Church with the news of which the Pope conceived such extremity of joy that he died suddenly on the first of December 1521. at the Village of Magliana where he used often for recreation to retire himself from whence the next day his body was removed to Rome not without suspicion of having been poisoned by his Chamberlain Malâ—spina who thereupon being imprisoned was afterwards released by Cardinal De Medicis so soon as he came to Rome no farther proceedings being made thereupon lest the matter being examined should reflect too far in disgrace of the French King Thus died Leo X. at the age of 45 years 11 months and one day having held the Papal Chair for the space of eight years and twenty days having at the hour of his death testified the great satisfaction he received by the restitution of Parma and Piacenza to the Ecclesiastical State without the effusion of the least drop of blood This Pope was esteemed a great lover of Justice having been severe against Thieves and Robbers He was a great lover of his Recreation and Pleasures spending much time in Hunting and Banquets and was more delighted with Musick than became the gravity and severity of a Pope He was highly magnificent in his Buildings and munificent in his gifts with which and by his Wars he had consumed so profusely beyond his Revenue that for maintenance of this charge he was forced to exact mony for making Cardinals and to set several Offices of his Court to sale He was a great lover of Learning and learned men to whom he was very liberal in his gifts imitating therein the spirit of his Father Laurence de Medicis He enlarged the Power of the Potesta or Civil Magistracy of Rome and bestowed on them several Privileges and Immunities for which reason by a Solemn Decree they made Julian his Brother a Citizen of Rome and treated him at the Campidoglio with Feasting and other Entertainments where they also erected a Statue of Marble and dedicated it to Leo with this Inscription Optimo Principi Leoni X. Med. Joan. Pont. Max. ob restitutam instauratamque Vrbem aucta Sacra bonasque artes adscitos Patres sublatum vectigal datum congiarium S.P.Q.R. In fine the face of the City of Rome was never more pleasant nor chearful than in the time of Leo X. His body was buried for that present in a Sepulchre of Brick erected in S. Peter's Church and for afterwards by direction of Paul III. translated to the Minerva together with the body of Clement VII ADRIAN VI. POPE Leo being dead and his Obsequies solemnly performed the Cardinals on the 16th of December 1521. assembled in the Chappel of Sixtus Quartus in S. Peter's Church and thence adjourned to the Vatican where 29 Cardinals entered into the Conclave and having sang Veni Spiritus they for some days were employed in giving Audiences to Forein Ministers in ordering matters for the more orderly Government of the City and regulating the Conclave in relation to their choice so on the 20th they began seriously to proceed to an Election Cardinal De Medicis aspiring to that dignity seemed to stand the most fair for it because that by the reputation of his greatness and by the interest of his Revenues and his glory lately acquired in the Conquest of Milan he had obtained the Voices of 15 Cardinals howsoever many considerations crossed his desires for it seemed irregular and against the common Policy for one of the same Family to succeed in the place of the Pope deceased for that such Presidents might soon bring the Popedom to a state of being disposed by Succession for which cause all the ancient Cardinals who pretended to be of the French action and all those who were enemies to Leo and discontented by him stood in opposition against him Moreover all the Cardinals who were Competitors and lived in hopes of succeeding could not endure and suffer the Election of a person under the age of fifty years These difficulties occurring retarded the Election for several days at length as they made scrutiny according to the custom of the Conclave Cardinal Adrian a Hollander by Nation was proposed one who had been School-master to the Emperor and by his means made Cardinal under Pope Leo so soon as he was nominated the Cardinal S. Sixtus began to recount and amplifie his Virtues in a long Oration which so took that the Cardinals began to yield and give up their Voices for him the residue followed from one to another seeming guided rather by chance than Counsel so that by the common Suffrages of all the Cardinals Adrian was Elected and Created Pope on the 9th of January 1522. the parties themselves not being
taken from the Church during the time of the last Sede Vacante on conditions that he should hold those Lands of the Church with obligation of assisting the Pope with a certain number of men to be ready at his command when his occasions should require and in case at any time he acted any thing to the damage and prejudice of the Church that then he should incur severe Forfeitures and Penalties and lose his Investiture and be actually deprived of all those Liberties Immunities and Rights to which he pretended and laid a claim After these Affairs the Pope re-assumed the thoughts so often meditated by his Predecessors of driving the French out of Italy the which was also greatly desired by the Emperor Charles on supposition that the matter was practicable and easie in case they could induce the Venetians to separate from the French King to incline them hereunto Embassadors were dispatched from the Emperor and the King of England who at the same time sent a Herald to denounce War against the French King in case he would not make a Truce with the Emperor in all parts of the world for three years in which also the Pope the Duke of Milan and the Florentines were to be comprehended The pretence of this Truce was grounded on agreement of all Christian Princes to turn their Forces against the Turk who was now grown formidable in Hungary to which place Cardinal Cajetan war sent his Legate with a supply of fifty thousand Crowns to carry on that War But this design was disappointed by a discovery made by some Letters intercepted by Cardinal Julio de Medicis wrote from Francis Soderino one of the old Cardinals and much trusted by the Pope in all his secrets to Francis the first King of France wherein he persuaded him to invade the Kingdom of Sicily laying down the Plot and Design as easie and hopeful The Pope being greatly moved and enraged against Soderino who was Cardinal of Volterra for this perfidious disturbance of the quiet of Italy and disappointment of the Holy War greatly inveighed against him in a full Assembly of the Cardinals and afterwards committed him Prisoner to the Castle Soderino's Letters were then produced and read being full of reflections on the Pope saying That he was a person to whom no Faith or Credence could be given for tho he pretended the quiet and peace of Italy and the benefit of the Church yet he designed it no farther than was consistent with the advancement of his own Charles the Emperor to whose concernmentr all other considerations were to yield and give place The Pope took measures of the affections of all the other Cardinals by this character which Soderino had given of him and believing them to be all of the same humor entertained a like jealousie and suspicion of the Cardinals in general so that he made Confidents of none but of such men only as were of his own Country his Secretaries that were most intimate with him and privy to all his designs and secrets were William Eikenwort whom he had made Chief Datary and Bishop of Tortosa and the only Cardinal created by him and Theodorick Hetius both Dutch-men and John Rufus who had been his old Acquaintants and Creatures by whose counsels and advice he contrived and acted all matters which had relation to the Government and seldom communicated his Counsels and designs to the College but only to his Dutch-men whom he often praised for their sincere and real intentions without â—â—aud or artifice and for being truly faithful to the Church and loyal to him This ill correspondence between the Pope and his Cardinals was augmented by the offence he gave to the College by disanulling all the Acts and Ordinances they had made during the vacancy of the See and before he came to Rome which being made in favour to themselves and for their own benefit he made void for the greater good and emolument of the Church revoking and taking into his hands those Benefices which the Cardinals had out of favour and courtesie voted and bestowed on each other and such Offices as Pope Leo the tenth had conferred on able and good men in reward of their Learning and Virtue he took away to raise mony wherewith to supply and satisfie the urgent necessities of the Church This manner of proceeding added to the fuel of the last discontents made Adrian appear not only distrustful but covetous in a high degree and every day seem more odious and wearisome to the Clergy and Grandees of Rome of which the Pope being sensible would often say that the happy conjuncture of Affairs was greatly conducing to a Prince who desired to illustrate his Virtues and Actions to the most advantage witness the happy state of affairs in the time of the late Pope Leo which were so flourishing and chearful that they seemed to be the golden days which afterwards by that licentiousness which was crept into Rome during the long vacancy of the Sea and absence of this Pope were changed and altered by a total corruption of manners to which a contagion of Pestilence supervening joyned with Famine and War which greatly afflicted Italy the miseries of men caused them to retort their remembrances on the late more chearful days of Leo and by such unreasonable comparisons to pass a judgment between the Wisdom and Worth of Leo and Adrian making the unavoidable miseries of those times a matter and subject of odium and detestation of the present Pope tho in reality he was a person of a severe life of great temperance and desirous to reform abuses which were crept into the Church and correct and severely chastise the dissolute manners in the City such as Simony Extortion and Sodomy to which end he called to his assistance Caraffa Arch-Bishop of Chieti and Marcello Gazella of Gaeta both persons of gravity and sobriety and of singular Wisdom and Learning with whom he consulted touching a reformation of manners and amendment of abuses and to set by his own example rules of moderation and temperance he appeared extremely severe towards his own Relations and Kindred an instance whereof he gave in his deportment towards a Cousin of his whom he having setled in his Studies at Siena came one time from thence to Rom without the order or command of the Pope at which he conceived so much anger that he presently returned him back again on a hired Horse reproving and telling him that he should learn modesty and temperance by his example several Relations also of his being in a mean condition travelled afoot through Germany and came to Rome in expectation of arising to some considerable Preferments but he disappointed them of their hopes and returned them back again with no greater largess than a plain Suit of Cloth to each and with so much mony as might serve to bear their charges and expences back into their own Country And in this manner whilst Adrian was intent to introduce honesty of life and
desirous of the repose and quiet of Italy proposed to Francis the French King in behalf of the Vice-King of Naples a Truce for five years with condition that during that time he should quietly enjoy all the Country on the other side of the River Adda the Town of Loda only excepted yet he could not prevail the French King refusing this fair offer which afterwards turned to his great misfortune Wherefore the Pope finding the difficulty or impossibility almost of making this Peace he remained doubtful to which of these two Princes it was most to the interest of the Church and security of Italy for him to incline in which suspense the Count Carpy arriving at Rome with character of Embassador from the King of France so well mannaged his design that he persuaded the Pope to lay aside and forget those ancient discontents and animosities which arose between his Master the King and Pope Leo the 10th his Kinsman and to enter into a firm Alliance with him as the most secure and wholesome means to preserve the quiet of Italy Clement hereby being well affected towards France dispatched an Embassador to the King for confirmation of the Alliance advising him to undertake the Conquest of Naples which he represented as an enterprise easily effected in regard that there was no Garrison there all the Emperors Forces being at that time employed in the Dukedom of Milan The King well approving this design ordered John Stuart Duke of Albania who was of the Blood of the Kings of Scotland and his Lieutenant-General in Italy to march with a considerable force into the Kingdom of Naples asking license of the Pope to pass thro his Dominions But the Pope seeming outwardly and in appearance averse hereunto persuaded the King to desist from this design as a matter of jealousie to the Venetians and all Italy with arguments also inciting to Peace and accommodation as best became the Office and quality of a Pope But the Duke of Albania without attending an answer had as assured of the Popes consent passed the River Po but before he had marched five days he was called back again by the King who understanding that some Forces and new Supplies were already arrived in the Enemies Camp and more daily expected he judged it more advisable to keep his Army entire until the new Recruits of Switzers and Grisons were come which he had sent to levy rather than to weaken his Army by that considerable detachment which the enterprise of Naples would require during which time the King continued the Siege of Pavia But the Switzers and Grisons being at length arrived in the Kings Camp the Duke of Albania repassed the Po to invade the Kingdom of Naples in which design that the Pope might seem to have had no contrivance he dispatched away Paul Vettorio Captain of his Gallies to the Vice-Roy letting him know that tho he had used all diligence to divert the King from his purpose to invade Naples yet he could not prevail nor could oppose or obstruct his passage thro his Country unless he would draw upon himself the difficulties of that War which he was not able to master and that tho he was forced to secure himself by new Articles and Contracts yet he would never assent or agree co any thing which might be prejudicial to the interest of the Emperor In fine he exhorted both Parties to a Peace and in order thereunto proposed several expedients for accommodation but nothing prevailed the Duke of Albania continuing his march and the King the Siege of Pavia And now the Imperialists drawing near to the relief of Pavia the treaties and practices of Princes and the endeavours and studies of Embassadors availed little all the difficulties and dangers of many months being reduced to the fortune and success of a few hours In short the Battel of Pavia was fought on the 24. of February 1525. in which the French Army was entirely defeated and the King himself taken Prisoner and all the flower of the Nobility of France either slain or taken of which the Duke of Albania having received intelligence he raised his Camp from Monte Rotondo near Aquila where he was lodged and returned into France but the greatest part of this Soldiery being composed of Italians and Corsicans returning to Rome were for the most part rifled and pillaged in their way by the people of Campagna who were Subjects to the Prince Colonna and by some Imperialists who belayed the ways for them killing them within the very Walls of Rome to which place they fled for sanctuary All the Princes of Italy especially the Pope being extremely affected with this unexpected success obtained by the Imperial Forces conducted chiefly by the valour and wisdom of the Marquess of Pescara remained doubtful in what manner to govern and mannage their affairs for the ballance being now no longer in an equality but carried down with too much weight on the side of the Emperor his Captains were elevated with this Victory that they became insolent beyond all human sufferance seeming to aspire to an universal Monarchy the which insolences were also rendered more intolerable by the complaints brought daily to Rome from Parma and Piacenza which Countries the Imperialists had exposed to plunder and desolation and the suspicions and jealousies of the Pope were increased by the refusal the Emperor made of restoring Francis Sforza to his right of the possession of Milan whom the Imperialists besieged in the Castle and afterwards banished from the precincts of that Country And farther these misunderstandings were increased for want of a faithful compliance on the Emperors side with the Pope who having paid a considerable sum of mony to Charles de Lanoia the Emperors Agent on condition to have Reggio restored to the Popedom which after the death of Adrian had been seized by Alfonso Duke of Ferrara when these conditions came to be performed and the ancient League renewed with Charles the Fifth he disowned the agreement lest thereby the Pope should grow more potent and enlarge his Dominions endeavouring to lessen his power by the loss of his mony and exclusion from the possession of Reggio All these umbrages and matters of displeasure being revolved in the mind of Clement with extreme melancholy and desire of redress administred cause sufficient to him of ill will towards the Emperor moving in him at the same time compassion of the unfortunate state of Francis the French King then a Prisoner in respect to whom he sent the Bishop of Pistoia to condole with him for his unhappy success Whilst the Pope meditated on these matters with some sort of indignation and fear the Venetians who were troubled at the same time with the like thoughts unexpectedly sent with many pressing instances to persuade the Pope to joyn with them in the good cause for preventing the total servitude of all Italy which they proposed to effect by a force of ten thousand Switzers which they might cause in
whom he had made Superiors over those contrivances Thus the people being full of hatred and disdain against the Pope refused in the time of his greatest exigency to afford him any relief and defence against his enemies who therefore without opposition entered into the new Suburbs which being sacked by them they passed no farther for fear of the Cannon from the Castle then they proceeded to the Popes Palace and the great Church of S. Peters which they plundered and rifled laying their Sacrilegious hands on every thing that was rich or of value but at length the tumult being appeased for this Riot did not continue above three hours by reason that they did no hurt or damage to any particular person the Pope who found himself within the Walls of the Castle without any provision or sustenance for himself or his defendants sent to Don Hugo de Moncada desiring that he might have a parly and treaty with him for the better understanding of matters between them Tho Cardinal Pompeo was greatly averse to all proposals or addresses for accommodation yet Don Hugo under the Popes Faith having received the Cardinals Cibo and Rodolfo who were of the Popes kindred as Hostages for his security went into the Castle to treat and discourse with the Pope where after many words had passed an agreement was concluded in these terms That a Truce should be made between the Pope and the Confederates on one side and of the Emperor on the other for the space of four months That in the mean time the Pope should withdraw his Army out of the Dukedom of Milan causing them immediately to retire on the side of the River Po towards Rome and call home his Fleet at Sea under the command of Andrew Doria That he should pardon the Cardinal Pompeo with all others of the Family of Colonna and for security hereof should deliver Philip Strozzi a wealthy person who had married the Daughter of Peter de Medicis and one of the Sons of James Salviati for Hostages and to send them to Naples within the space of two months on penalty of thirty thousand Ducats for default thereof And lastly that Don Hugo should depart from Rome with his whole Army causing every thing to be restored which had sacrilegiously been robbed and plundered from the holy places The Truce being thus concluded much to the dissatisfaction of Cardinal Pompeo and others of the Family of Colonna Don Hugo chearfully departed from Rome supposing that he had thereby performed sufficient service for the Emperor and the Pope as readily accepted the Agreement wanting provisions in the Castle and all other means to make a resistance But the Pope so soon as he found himself at liberty and freed of those fears and dangers which encompassed him having no regard to that Faith he had given under such compulsive circumstances as Imprisonment and Arms nor care of the Hostages he had delivered resolved not longer to maintain the Truce and thereupon recalled his Forces to Rome being two thousand Switzers and seven Companies of Italian Infantry under the command of John de Medicis to which adding new Levies as an Auxiliary force he in the first place deprived Pompeo of his Cardinals Hat and published both him and all the Family of Colonna Excommunicated and enemies to the Church and so farther prosecuting them by Arms he demolished and laid wast Jubiaco which was the Country House and only place of Pleasure in which Pompeo delighted and divertised himself and sent Vitelli with his Companies to burn and destroy all the Towns and Countries of the Colonnians as namely Marina Montfortin Gallicano and Tagarolo Whilst these things were in action the Emperor judging it not time to sit quiet and secure commanded Charles de Lonoia Vice-King of Naples to put in a readiness six thousand Spaniards and ordered thirty Sail of stout men of War to be speedily equipped and sent to the Coast of Italy and wrote also to his Brother Ferdinand to persuade George Franispergio a Captain of great authority and renown in Augusta that he would speedily with three Regiments of Germans pass into Italy whose march aed passage over the Po whilst John de Medicis endeavoured to hinder he was unhappily killed by a shot from one of the Enemies Sakers which breaking his thigh a little above his knee he was carried to Mantoua where he died within a few days after to the great prejudice of the Enterprise and loss to the Pope for being a young man of nine and twenty years of age whose Arms alone the Enemy feared whose time and years his Experience and Virtue surpassed and being of a most excellent temper neither too forward and precipitate nor yet too wary and diffident gave evident indications of becoming with time one of the most eminent Captains in the world In this manner the Truce being absolutely broken a most cruel War began again in Italy for the Imperialists entering the Ecclesiastical State had some skirmishes with the Popes Forces about Frosolone and matters pressing hard to their disadvantage the French King was intreated to make a diversion by attempting the subjection of the Kingdom of Naples Hereupon it being determined to invade Naples both by Sea and Land Monsieur De Vaudemont who by the ancient Right of King René laid claim to that Kingdom was appointed for that enterprise and being arrived with his Fleet he at the first on-set took Salerno and thence with great courage and hopes marching to Naples it self was repulsed by the Forces under the command of Don Hugo de Moncada Howsoever the Pope re-inforcing his Army with new Levies under the command of his Legate Augustin Trivultio one greatly affected to the French interest the Imperialists were worsted and at length forced to raise their Siege from before Frosolene and retire farther within the Jurisdiction of that Kingdom But this good fortune passed no farther For after various successes and many troubles and desolations in Italy the Pope wanting mony grew weary of the War and being disappointed by the French King who was great in his promises but little in his performances having always failed in his times of payment and neither complied in the supplies of men or mony he resolved to close with the propositions made him by Francis de Quignones in behalf of the Emperor in reward of which mediation he was afterwards promoted to the dignity of Cardinal In short the Articles agreed were these That there should be a cessation of Arms for eight months the Pope paying 60000 Ducats to the Imperial Army That whatsoever had been taken from the Church the Kingdom of Naples and the Family of Colonna should be made good and rendered That Pompeo Colonna should be restored to the dignity of Cardinal and absolved from all Ecclesiastical censures which condition was more grievous to the Pope than all the rest That the French King and the Venetians should have liberty within a certain time to enter into the
quiet of Christendom availed little resolved to enjoy and give himself up to Buildings and other divertisements so that placing all his thoughts on a Country-house Gardens and Vineyards which he had erected and made without the Porta del popolo at Rome he was so enamoured of his new Paradise where he continually made Feasts and Banquets that he seemed wholly to have cast off all care of the Church and sense of the miseries of Christendom and what was most undecent and misbecoming a Person of above seventy years of age and of his gravity and function he immersed himself in pleasures as if there had been no other Life to the great scandal of the World and damage and greater danger of Rome In this year 1554. Edward the Sixth King of England died and the Queen Mary succeeding immediately sent her Ambassadours to Rome to signifie to the Pope the conversion of her whole Kingdom from Heresie to the Catholick Church and to acknowledg and Vow all Obedience to the Papal Sea desiring to have the Excommunication taken off and a general Pardon and Absolution given to her Catholick Subjects on which grateful Message the Ambassadours coming were recieved with great kindness and solemn Processions of Thanksgiving celebrated at which the Pope assisted in Person The same year Philip Son of the Emperor Charles the Fifth was married to Queen Mary the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples being setled upon him together with Milan Flanders and some other of the United Provinces with which news Philip dispatched his Ambassadour the Marquis de Pescara to the Pope to acquaint him therewith and according to the custom of former Kings to do homage for the Kingdom of Naples which he held in Fee from the Pope And now Pope Julius the Third being by reason of his great age and the torment of the Gout which miserably afflicted him become very infirm was persuaded by the Physitians to change his Diet and his usual regimen of living the which ill agreeing with his habit of Body brought him to a Fever with which taking his Bed in the month of February 1555. he lingred therewith until the 23d of March and then died at his Palace being aged seventy seven years six months and fourteen days he was afterwards carried without any great Pomp or State to the Church of S. Peter where his Corps having been publickly exposed for three days to the view of the People he was afterwards buried in an ordinary Sepulcre of Bricks near the Altar of S. Andrew After which the Sea was vacant seventeen days This Julius was tall of Stature of a plain Country Visage his Nose great his Eyes shewed him to be Cholerick and hasty but soon pleased his Diet was gross and plain being much pleased with a sort of large Onions which were sent him from Gaeta the alteration of which Diet hastned his Death When he was first Pope he so strangely favoured a young Boy whom he called Innocentius that without any apparent motive for it he bestowed upon him a Cardinals Hat which when the reason was asked He replied What reason had you to choose me Pope Fortune favours whom she pleases He was very facetious in his Discourse but more familiar in his Conversation than was decent for without respect to the Majesty of his Office and gravity of his Function He would often shoot such Bolts and use such Expressions as were unseemly and which those that heard pitied and blushed for him MARCELLVS II. JULIVS the Third dying on the 23d of March and his Funeral Obsequies being performed after the accustomed manner the Cardinals to the number of thirty seven entred the Conclave and without much faction or dispute chose Marcellus Cervinus Cardinal of St. Cross at Jerusalem to be Pope of which publication was made with the usual Ceremonies on the 9th of April 1555. the Sea having been vacant for the space onely of eighteen days His Father was Robert or as some call him Richard Treasurer of the Marquisat of Ancona and the place of his birth was Montfano his Father pretended to great Skill or knowledg in Astrology by which Art calculating the Nativity of his Son at the time of his birth it appeared that the Stars under which he was born would be very propitious to him in his promotion to Ecclesiastical preferments for which reason Marcellus being first sent to have his Education in the University of Siena he came from thence to Rome where he dwelt with Felix the Datary of Clement the 7th afterwards he obtained the Office of Secretary to Paul the Third and by him created Cardinal of St. Cross of Jerusalem and lastly as we have said elected Pope on the 9th of April The day following he was consecrated Bishop by the Cardinal of Naples and the very same day without much Pomp or Solemnity was Crowned with the Pontifical Miter by the Cardinal of Pisa who was Arch-Deacon And as he refused to change his Name calling himself no other than Marcellus the Second in imitation of Adrian the Sixth so he survived a much less time than he having possessed the Papal Chair not above twenty one days after his Election so that there remains little more observable of him than that after his Choice he would give no invitation or encouragement to his Kindred or Relations of coming to Rome in hopes of benefit and preferment by his greatness howsoever his intentions were good and his Designs great having drawn a Scheme and method whereby to restore Peace and Unity in the Church and the Papal Power to its antient lustre This Design of his he communicated to the Cardinal of Mantoua maintaining that there was no other way to reconcile differences in Religion but onely by a General Council and that the reason why hitherto that means had been ineffectual was no other than because they began at the wrong end and proceeded not with the due method for that first they should begin with an entire reformation of Manners which would supersede and quiet all superficial Debates and disputations about words and reduce Controversies to such a substantial issue as would be easily determinable by a Council That for want hereof his five immediate Predecessors had much erred for that they abhorred the name of Reformation not out of a dislike to that desirable State but from a belief that it would be a means to abate and diminish the Papal Authority whereas on the contrary he was really persuaded that a Reformation was the onely means to render it more Glorious and powerful as most plainly appeared and was proved by the Histories of past-times in which those Popes onely were famous and renowned who had supported their Papal Chair by an exactness in Manners and purity of Life that Reformation respected the entrinsecal and circumstantial appendages of Religion and served onely to retrench the luxury and superfluous pomp of the Clergy which made the Prelats envied and contemptible when as a modest train and decent comportment
Imperial Faction Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alva then Vice-King of Naples being alarmed by these proceedings resolved not to attend the assaults of the Enemy but rather that he might be beforehand with them made Incursions into the State of the Church and without much resistance took Pontecorvo Frosolone Anagna Marino Valmontone Palestrina Tivoli Ostia Gave Genazzano Nettuno Albano Vicovaro Monte Fortino and in short made himself Master of all the Campania of Rome the Pope on the other side with the aid and assistance of the French and Switzers recovered several of those places again but the War being continued for the space of a whole year with great fury and resolution on both sides that Country became most miserably harassed and laid desolate by fire and sword By the vast expences of this War the Pope's Treasury being much exhausted many exorbitant ways were contrived to replenish it again as namely the Tithes upon all Benefices were doubled the Gabelles and Customs were raised to an intolerable degree half a years Revenue was exacted from all Offices and the Debts which particular Persons owed to their Creditors were required to be paid into the Treasury upon which the Debtors being discharged Debentures were given from the Pope to the Creditors and the same charged as a Debt upon the Church He farther seized on all the Horses in Rome to serve in the War and compelled all the Friers of what order soever to labour on the Works and carry Earth to the Fortifications many of the Churches he converted into Granaries and Store-houses wherein to lay Provisions besides many other Exactions and agrievances which he imposed on the People who were by this time possessed with a detestable hatred against his Person and his Actions Howsoever neither the Cries nor Exclamations of his Subjects nor the miseries of his Country were able to incline the fierce and resolute Spirit of the Pope to any terms of Peace whilst he found himself seconded by the French and Switzers Howsoever in the Month of August following the French having received a Defeat at the Battel of St. Quintin in which a great part of the Nobility of France were taken Prisoners and thereby also the expectation of the Pope being in some measure defeated his haughty Spirit began to abate and hearken to some terms and proposals of Accommodation for then the sad Spectacle of Italy laid wast with fire and sword appeared before him and the dreadful apprehension of Treason against his Person which was plotted to betray Rome into the hands of Mark Anthony Colonna and Ascanio della Corona who at the beginning of the War revolted to the Spanish Party did much affright him so that as I say the Pope's mind being become more flexible a Peace was concluded on the thirteenth of September 1557. by the mediation of the Venetians the Duke of Florence and Cardinal Sforza and signed by the Cardinal Caraffa in behalf of the Pope and by the Duke of Alva in the name of Philip King of Spain Which being concluded the Duke of Alva coming to Rome with Christian humility kissed the feet of the Pope and received absolution and being treated with high honour obtained the freedom of all those who had been imprisoned on account of the late War Matters being by these means reduced to some tolerable quiet the Pope dispatched his Legats both to Spain and France to labour a cementing of that Peace which he himself of late had been an Instrument to break recommending more particularly in their Instructions the confirmation of the Dukedom of Paliano on his Nephew So that now being wearied with War the fatigues and expence and unquietudes of which he had never before been acquainted with the Pope betook himself to his more agreeable trade of regulating the Manners of Men and the corruptions and abuses crept into the Church but in regard the particulars hereof were various and burthensom he committed the greatest part of that trouble to the Conduct of Cardinal Caraffa Attending himself with sedulity and attention to the Court of Inquisition as the sole Tribunal then capable to suppress Heresies and the present distempers of the Age and therefore to the cognisance of that Court he reduced several Crimes triable at other Bars of Judicature so that the Prisons of the Inquisition were filled with Malefactors and in this way of Judicial proceedings he was the more passionate because he had been the first that persuaded Paul III. to erect that Court and had contrived the Methods and Rules for the proceedings thereof and therefore coming now himself to the Popedom he put all those Orders into practice which he had formerly meditated constituting Cardinal Alessandrino Inquisitor General together with sixteen Cardinals who were made Judges of the Court whose first work was to publish an Index Expurgatorius of all Books in the least manner suspected or attainted of Heresie forbidding all Persons under pain of Excommunication to read them or have them in their possession He recalled Cardinal Poole from his Office of Legat in England on account as some believe of an old Pique that had been between them and having accused Cardinal Morone of Heresie by reason as some believe of his friendship to Poole he imprisoned him in the Castle together with the Bishop of Cava and had as was certainly believed deprived them of all their Revenue and Dignities had not his malice against them been interrupted by his Death acting in every thing with a bitterness agreeable to the virulency of his nature About this time the Emperor Charles V. being wearied with the turmoils and troubles of this World renounced his Imperial Crown to his Brother Ferdinand of Austria who was already elected King of the Romans and his Kingdom of Spain and other Dominions to his Son Philip II. But this Abdication the Pope would not understand not admitting on the score of old grudges which he owed to Charles that according to antient Canons an Emperor could make such a renunciation without consulting first and taking the advice and consent of the Pope and for that reason he would never acknowledg Ferdinand for Emperour nor under that Notion and Character receive Ambassadours from him In this manner with a froward severity acting all his Affairs he would admit of no excuses that any Man made for a failure in his Duty and particularly having commanded all Monks Friers Abbots and Priors to return to their Monasteries he would not admit an Excuse from any Non-Residentiary unless he had obtained a License on occasion of some publick Service for the Church and for discovery of such Trespassers he employed Officers or Visitors as severe as himself who upon strict enquiry having found any Non-Residentaries they immediately proceeded against them as Disobedient and Delinquents committing some of them to Chains and others to the Gallies This Severity howsoever was much applauded when after an unknown and unpractised manner of Justice he spared not the Crimes of his Nephews
whilest the Civil Wars continued and whilest Geneva remained in League with the Swisses who had promised to afford their utmost succour and aid unto that place and as to the National Synod they persisted in their resolution promising the Pope that nothing should be attempted therein derogatory to his Power and the Authority of the Church But this assurance did little satisfy the jealousie of the Pope who suspected the very Prelats to be tainted with Heresie and to have an inclination to set up a Gallican Church as they called it separate and independant of the Roman Sea The fear and jealousie hereof constrained the Pope positively to resolve on a General Council and to hasten the convocation thereof with all speed possible supposing that the convention of a General Council would break the former Measures and invalidate the Authority of all National Synods This being agreed the next thing proposed was the place which the Pope would have had to be his own Town of Bologna but that he knew it would be generally disliked by the Prelats nor would the Spaniards consent to have it held at Milan for though they were zealous Catholicks yet in matters of worldly interest they distrusted the Pope as much as other Princes In fine Trent was agreed to be the most commodious and least subject to exceptions of any howsoever the French were of another Opinion as was also the Emperour who proposed Wormes Triers Constance or Hagunaw as more convenient for that the Protestants did so abhor the name of Trent that they would take a prejudice to any thing formed there nor would they endure to have the Council stiled a Continuation of a former but one new and established on its own foundation nor was this the only scruple of the Emperor for he declared that he could not answer for the Empire unless it were first prepared and disposed by a General Diet nor would the Clergy of his hereditary Countries be induced to be present at the Council unless the Cup in the Sacrament were first granted to the Laiety and License for the Priests to marry but all these matters being diametrically opposite to the Papal interest the Pope declared his resolution was rather to give his life than his assent thereunto In the mean time the numbers of those of the Reformed Religion encreased greatly in France so that it was resolved in case a General Council were not speedily assembled that a National Synod should meet at Meaux on the 13th of January 1561. for the tumults and combustions about Religion were so pressing that they required a speedy and an effectual cure the fear of which so touched the Pope as did also the Declaration of the Emperor that taking no notice of the exceptions of either he resolved to surmount the difficulties and therewith signed the Bull for calling a Council to commence on Easter day 1561. giving this Title thereunto Indictio Concilii Tridentini as if it had been to be a New and not the continuation of a former Council howsoever in the body of the Bull the word Continuation being mentioned it gave great scandal and offence to all though the Pope's Legats endeavoured to smooth it over by saying that the Continuation could be no impediment to any revision of what had formerly passed nor hinder the Council from repealing any Act which had been Decreed and ordained in the times of Paul and Julius III. And now Francis II. King of France being dead and his Brother Charles IX a Youth of ten years of age succeeding gave great expectations of a happy change to the Protestants for that the King of Navarre having declared himself of the Reformed Religion to whom of right as first Prince of the Blood the Government belonged during the minority of the King and that he was ruled much by the Counsels of the Admiral de Coligny who was the grand Protector of the Reformed gave them hopes that the severity of proceedings against them would be abated and liberty of Conscience granted to the whole Kingdom the which though it did not take effect fully to their desires yet at an Assembly of the Estates at Orleance it was ordained That an Arrest of judgment should be given and all penal Processes stopped which were made against any for account of Religion and at the same time Orders were given to the Prelats to prepare themselves for their Journey to Trent At this time the Protestant Princes were assembled at Naumbourg with intention to guard themselves from the Plots which would be contrived against them in the Council of Trent and to take off the reproach of Divisions and disagreement in the points of Faith amongst themselves But such was the variety then of Opinions that it was difficult to concur in one Symbol of Faith for the Confession of Augsburg had lately been printed in several Editions and every one with some difference from an other And as to a General Council they petitioned the Emperour that such an one might be convened as was free and where the Pope might not preside and overawe the Votes of the Protestants the which request they made rather in excuse for their not going to Trent than out of any prospect of a concession to their grant In the mean time the Pope having sent two Nuntios to the Emperor he advised them to go to Naumbourg accompanied with two of his Ambassadours and receive the sense of the Assembly which was there convened The Protestants received the Ambassadours with great respect and heard the Nuntios with equal civilities but still continuing firm to their Principles declared that they could not acknowledg the Pope's jurisdiction and therefore could not esteem themselves obliged to make known unto the Pope the Opinion they had of a Council having already signified their thoughts thereof unto the Emperor with the like coldness they were received at Norimberg Frankfort Ausbourg and other Protestant Towns Elizabeth Queen of England at the same time refused to admit the Abbot Martininguez sent by the Pope within her Dominions And the King of Denmark in like manner denied entrance to the Nuncios within his State saying That neither his Father nor he having ever had to do with the Pope he knew no business his Nuntios could have with him Thus did these Nuntios meet Oppositions in all parts nor did they find any encouraging compliance in the Emperor himself who insisted on the Indiction of a new Council which was not founded on the Continuation or basis of a former France likewise made many exceptions to the Bull of Indiction being for a New and not for a Continuation of the Old Council Nor was this all many other things concurring in that Kingdom to the diminution of the Pope's Authority for not onely were the penal Laws against the Protestants taken away but also at a Convention of the Estates at Orleance the Pope's Annates or yearly Revenue was taken off and all Moneys forbidden to be carried to Rome the
first year of his Reign had been celebrated with the like glory as was the former his beginning would have been too happy and auspitious Therefore that the ensuing year might prove more fortunate he intended to make it his chief employment of the whole Winter to offer his Prayers and supplications to God with fasting Masses and Processions that he would be pleased to favour and assist the Cause and Arms of the Christians against the Enemies of the Cross of Christ But whilst the Pope was meditating of these things and contriving means to prosecute the War with most advantage the Venetians unexpectedly about the beginning of the year 1573. clapt up a Peace with the Turks by the mediation of their Bailo who then with the French Ambassadour at Constantinople had treated the Conditions with good success to which Sultan Selim the more readily inclined for having done right to his honour by the Conquest of Cyprus and by taking several Fortresses in Dalmatia he more easily condescended to terms of Peace without diminution or disparagement as was supposed to the greatness of his Power But both the Pope and the Spaniards were not satisfied with the Venetians for having without their consent and privity and contrary to the Articles of their League made this Peace with the Turk In excuse for which the Venetians dispatched their Ambassadours to the Pope and King of Spain giving them to understand that the extream urgency of their Affairs which by many circumstances were rendered difficult had forced them to an Accommodation with the Turk and in like terms they expressed themselves to Cardinal Buoncompagno the Pope's Nephew whom Gregory had in the year 1574. sent unto Venice to complement Henry King of Poland who by the death of Charles IX was returning by that way into France to take possession of that Kingdom In this manner the Pope being eased of his expensive War against the Turk converted the current of his Treasure to the assistance of Henry III. against his Protestant Subjects in France for supply of which he raised the sum of four hundred thousand Crowns by Impositions which he laid on Cities belonging to the Church and confirmed the Bull given by Pius V. for sale of Church-Lands of which there remaining as yet to the value of fifty thousand Crowns of yearly Rent unsold he constituted the Cardinals of Bourbon Guise and Lewis d' Eâ—â—e Commissioners for the Sales Nor was this Pope in other matters esteemed less generous and magnificent for to the Duke of Bruswick who came to visit him at Rome he made a Present of seven thousand Crowns and erected many Churches there from the foundation and built Colleges and Churches to the number of twenty seven in divers remote parts of the World for Seminaries and places of Worship and Religion And for the more solemn and ornamental Celebration of the Jubilee in the year 1575. he enlarged the Street leading from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore to the Lateran for the more commodious passage of Pilgrims and having repaired the Portico or Porch of S. Maries which was become ruinous he caused this Inscription to he engraven over it Gregorius XIII Pont. Max. Eugenii labantem Porticum refecit magnificentius restituit Viam rectam ad Lateranum aperuit Anno Jubilei MD. LXXV In this year arose dangerous Discords and civil Dissentions between the antient and the new Nobility of Genoua to which latter the Commonalty of the City adhered having by them been possessed with an Opinion that the Antient Nobles in favour of whom most of their Laws ran intended to usurp such an Authority over them as should be little different from Slavery this jealousie made so deep an impression in the minds of the people that they betook themselves to Arms and had proceeded to blood and ruin had not a stop been made thereunto by the Wisdom and Oratory of Senarega the Chancellour who being a moderate Person and one of whose prudence and honesty the people had a great Opinion persuaded both Parties to remit their differences to the Pope the Emperor Maximilian and the King of Spain The which being accorded on all hands Senarega was in behalf of the New Nobility dispeeded to the Pope with whom whilst he was stating the case between both Parties Intelligence was brought to Rome that Don John d' Austria was then at Gaeta preparing a very great Fleet against Genoua in expectation and with probable hopes to prevail by the means and advantages of those intestine Discords of the City But the Pope at the request and upon the applications made by Senarega dispatched a Letter to Don John exhorting him to desist from his Design which was so displeasing to him that in case he persisted therein he was resolved to raise all the force of Italy to oppose his Enterprise the which Menaces having given a stop to the proceedings of Don John several persons were substituted Arbitrators in these differences by the Pope the Emperor and the King of Spain namely Cardinal Morone Castacciaro Borgia and Idiaquez who taking the state of the whole matter into their consideration rectified and reformed many antient Statutes established new in their places and so governed all things with that even hand that an accord was made and concluded in the Month of May 1576. with that satisfaction to both Parties that the Citizens and Inhabitants who had retired from Genoua for fear of the civil Dissensions returned again to enjoy their repose and ease according to their accustomed Liberty Nor was the Pope less concerned for the Peace of Poland where great differences arose amongst the Nobility as hath been accustomary about the election of a King For Henry III. of France having as we have said resigned his Elective Government to take possession of his hereditary Kingdom of France the Election of a new King administred great cause of dispute and argument by reason of the many powerful Princes which stood in competition and were Candidates for the Election as namely the Emperor Maximilian II. and Ernest his Son with his Brother the Arch Duke of Austria Stephen Battori Prince of Transilvania Alphonso II. Duke of Ferrara together with the Great Duke of Moscovy The Contests between these mighty Rivals proceeded to that degree that nothing but force of Arms could determine the Controversie which the Arch-bishop of Gnesne with many other Associates intending to prove forsook the place of Election and with armed Bands declared for Maximilian the Emperor against whom an other party appeared in favour of Anne Daughter of the Royal Family of Jagellona in Poland intending in right of her to confer in Marriage the Crown upon Battori Prince of Transilvania but these dissentions were soon after concluded by the death of Maximilian the Emperor Battori being after his Marriage with Anne by general consent of all the Nobles received and crowned King of Poland and thereupon sent his Ambassadours to Rome to pay his respects and obedience to the
Papal Chair In the year 1576. a grievous Pestilence afflicted most parts of Italy especially Trent Milan and Venice it is recorded of Cardinal Borromeo who was Arch-Bishop of Milan that he was in a most pious manner charitable to the Poor and others of his City at that time of common Calamity to whom he not onely contributed a maintenance for their food and Medicines for their sickness but in person visited such as were afflicted with the Pestilence and administred to them the Sacraments of the Church and other spiritual comforts for which and other works of like piety he was afterwards canonized for a Saint Nor was Venice less afflicted with this spreading Contagion of which most of the Friers and other Religious whose duty it was to visit the sick died of the same Disease for which reason the Pope sent his Indulgences into the aforementioned places that all such who died with a sorrow for their sins should obtain the same pardon as if they had confessed and communicated and received the other Sacraments of the Church required for dying persons It will not be very pertinent to this History to relate the Troubles which happened in Portugal in the days of this Pope which in reality were very great caused by the rashness of Sebastian King of that Country who suffering himself to be persuaded by Mahomet King of the Moors who was expelled his Kingdom transported an Army of thirty thousand Men into Africa to restore again the expelled King to his Government But as this Design was commenced against the Opinion and counsel of the King of Spain and the other Friends of King Sebastian so accordingly the success was unfortunate for his whole Army was defeated near the City of Alquivir and himself slain in the year 1578. Sebastian dying in this manner without Issue Cardinal Henriquez Uncle to the deceased and Son of King Emanuel was Crowned King but he being at that time Aged and infirm and unfit for Matrimony convened an Assembly of eleven Barons of the Land to consider of a Successour that so future Contests and civil Wars for the Crown might if possible be avoided Whilst this matter was under consideration the Cardinal King died and then all things were in confusion the Commonalty cryed up for Don Antonio who was the bastard Son of Don Alvize Brother to the Cardinal but the Nobility declared for King Philip of Spain to whom the right of succession to the Crown did legally appertain according to the Opinion of all the Doctors of the Civil Law this Controversie came at length to be decided by the Sword in which King Philip having the advantage sent an Army of thirty thousand Men under the Command of the Duke of Alva into Portugal where having taken several Towns at length made himself Master of Lisbon where Philip soon after arriving was acknowledged King and Fealty paid him by all the Nobles and Commonalty of the Land and having remained some short time at Lisbon returned in peace to his Court at Madrid Whilst these things were in action the Pope sent Cardinal Riario to accommodate differences and moderate between both Parties but coming too late after the Controversie was decided he changed his Office of Mediation to Complements and joy for the successes of the Conquerour About this time Pope Gregory confirmed the Excommunication which Pius V. had published against Elizabeth Queen of England and outed Gilbert Truckhesius Bishop of Cologna of his Arch-Bishoprick for marrying and for adhering to the Confession of Augsbourg He also rectified the Kalendar which we call the New Stile or Gregorian Account differing ten days from that which we use in England called the Julian Account the which was to commence in all places where they would receive it in the year 1583. About this time also there happened an irreconcileable difference between the Grand Master of Malta and the chief Knights of that Order which arose to that degree and height that the Knights deposed their Master put him into Prison and having accused him of many enormous Crimes they created Marturin Romagasso a Gascon to succeed him in his place On the other side the Grand Master appealed to the Pope and complaining of the many injuries he had susteined desired that he might be removed to Rome and his cause heard before the Apostolical Tribunal The Pope highly resenting this insolence and indignity which the Knights had exercised towards their Master dispatched his Legat to Malta who by virtue of a Writ from the Pope brought the Grand Master to Rome and with him came three hundred Knights on three Gallies where being arrived the Pope favoured the Cause of the Master and in evidence thereof sent eight hundred Horse to meet him which with great pomp and triumph conducted him to the Palace of Cardinal d' Este where he was lodged with much honour After a few days allotted for his refreshment he was admitted to Audience with the Pope and having in humble manner kissed his feet he repeated the Hymn of Nunc dimittis or Lord lettest thou now thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation Which piece of flattery so pleased the Pope that he would give no credence to the Calumnies and charge of his Accusers but dismissed his Cause and returned him back to his Lodging with honour and entire satisfaction After which Romagasso his Rival coming to Rome to hear and see how matters were carried and finding himself discountenanced both by the Clergy and by the Princes conceived so sad a resentment of this miscarriage that falling sick with grief he soon after departed this life about the beginning of November 1581. Two Months after which the Grand Master being also transported with a different passion died at Rome both which accidents so happily concurring obviated all the difficulties which might offer about a new Election Hugh de Verdal a Gascon being chosen by common consent without trouble or other tumult The year 1583. began with two unfortunate Calamities which much afflicted the Pope and the City of Rome the first was Famine and want of Bread-corn which so miserably pinched the poor for the space of two Months that many of them were starved to death The other was a sad and doleful Tragedy which began at Rome and ended at Padoua the cause and matter thereof in short was this The Head Bayliff of Rome with his Followers understanding that a certain Bandito was come for a Spy to Rome and for Sanctuary was fled to the Palace of the Orsini by one means or other he seized and brought him from that place but it happened that as he was carrying him from thence Raimond Orsini Savillo and Rustici being on Horse-back with their Servants unhappily met the Bayliff and commanded him to release the Prisoner who was illegally seized within the priviledges of the Orsini The Bayliff refusing so to do Rustici strook him over the Head with his Cane which so incensed the Bayliff that
which they knew or of which they could accuse their Judges who had for the space of five or six years sat in the Seat of Judicature By these means every day one poor Judg or other who perhaps also was out of employment was dragged away to Prison and close shut up for what Crime he knew not or perhaps had forgot the Sentence he had passed in the Case for which he was accused These and many such like cases of severity strook such a terrour into the minds of those who sat on the Tribunals of Justice or managed any publick employment that every one became cautious and nice in the Sentences he gave or how by fear or bribery he remitted the least scruple or severity which the Law enjoyned or required Farther he gave strict charge to all Sindics and Governours of Towns and Castles to give in a particular List or account of all Felons within their respective Precincts who had for the space of ten years past been accused or branded with Capital Crimes and also of all such who had been convicted for scandalous and infamous persons and Incorrigible during the time of their Sindicate In which Lists he required such an exact impartiality that upon Information given against the Sindic of Albano how in the List of the Dissolute and Incorrigible he had omitted to insert the name of his Nephew he was sentenced by the Pope himself to undergo the Strapado in the publick Market-place from which punishment all the Intercession and Prayers and Interest which the Spanish Ambassadour could make in his behalf was not able to deliver him By these means the Lists of Dissolute Persons which were immediately directed to the hand of the Pope were so very exact that no person was exempted who was guilty of the least Crime Which when the Pope saw and observed every Week as they were sent him he was greatly pleased and especially with those which were filled with a great number of names for in reading of them he would often say Oh happy Gallies which I intend to build O happy I who have first found Men for my Gallies before I found Gallies for my Men. The which severity of the Pope from whom there could never be any expectation of Pardon so terrified all sorts and conditions of People that every one comported himself with the greatest modesty and gravity imaginable that an Oath or a rude or uncivil word was not heard through any of the streets of Rome but every one being alarm'd and dreading as if he had always a Constable or a Pursuivant at his back walked with his beads in his hand repeating a Pater-Noster or some other Prayer with a sorrowful and penitential countenance By these Methods all the Banditi who being grown licentious under the gentle Government of other Popes and who spoiled and destroyed all Italy were now by the Justice of this Pope almost wholly extirpated for such as fled out of the State of the Church to the Dominions of other Princes he so prosecuted by laying Fines on any who secured or succoured them and setting a price on the head of every considerable Bandito that in a short time he reduced them to a small number and totally suppressed the pride and insolence of that pest of mankind And thus resolutely was Sixtus bent to punish the Enormities of wicked Men that whereas it had been the custom of former Popes to shew acts of mercy and pardon on the day of their Coronation opening the Prison Gates and enlarging the Prisoners this Sixtus absolutely refused to grant releasement to any though instantly urged by the Cardinals alledging That there were Rogues sufficient about the streets without ransacking the Prisons for them That he had taken a resolution when he was first made Pope to chastise the wicked and not suffer their Villanies to corrupt and intermix with the Vertues of good Men. By these severities all people lived in quiet and peace one with the other no Sword was drawn in the City nor quarelsom words or uncivil language uttered it being a common saying to Men at variance together Remember these are the times of Sixtus Thus when the Banditi were suppressed the good and benefit was so great to all Italy that the Citizens of Rome erected a Statue of Brass to the memory of this Rome on which these words were engraven Sixto V. Pont. Max. ob quietem publicam compressa Sicariorum Exulumque licentiâ restitutam Annonae inopiam sublevatam urbem edificiis viis aquaeductu illustratam SPQR And farther to demonstrate the inflexible humour of this Pope it is observable that a poor Youth of about seventeen years of age making a resistance against the Bayliffs who came to distrain an Ass for some Duties owing and by Law ordained to be paid in which seizure though the Officers made a mistake for that the Ass did not belong to the party who owed the Mony yet because he offended against the course of Justice by making opposition to it he was condemned to die nor could the persuasions or Intercessions of the G. Duke's Ambassadour nor of the Cardinal of Medici prevail in his behalf or mitigate the rigour of the Sentence and when the Governour of Rome alledged that the youth being under age could not by Law be put to death for this Crime the Pope replyed If he want years I will lend him ten of mine Nor did Sixtus exercise this severity onely towards his own People but he was brisk and haughty towards all Christian Princes for in a few days after his Coronation or at most in two months after he quarrelled with Henry III. King of France with Henry King of Navarre and with Philip II. King of Spain The occasion of his quarrel with Spain seemed to have had no other cause or foundation than his own pride and desire of usurpation and which happened in this manner It had been the custom ever since the time of the Emperour Charles V. for the King of Spain by his Ambassadour at Rome to present yearly on the 29th day of June which is the Festival of St. Peter a white Horse with a Purse of seven thousand Ducats in Gold to the Pope for a Tribute and acknowledgment for the Kingdom of Naples which that King holds as feudatary to the Ecclesiastical State And now on the usual day Sixtus appearing on a Throne with pomp and mignificence to receive his Tribute which the Ambassadour in a quaint Speech and with fine Complements presented he seemed not very well satisfied therewith but returned this tart and Satyrical Reply You think now said he that you have made a fine Speech and indeed so you have for you have made us change a Kingdom for a Beast and still seeming uneasie as he was about to rise he added these suspitious words But we believe that this business will not proceed long in this manner These words immediately touched the Ambassadour to the quick and giving him just cause of reflection
soon as it was convenient revenged the blood of his Friend Starace in such a signal manner that the Pope changed his Note and began to applaud him and â—estow the Character on him of a most Excellent Governour These Commotions happened at Naples some few days after Sixtus was elected Pope and before he was scarce warm in his Chair for had he been well setled therein it may reasonably be collected from some sayings of his that he would rather have nourished and somented those broils then instigated the vice-Vice-King to punish the Authors of them for having always had an ambition to convert the feud of that Kingdom into an actual possession he would have made use of those late disturbances to inflame the minds of the people and exasperate them against the Government as a means to introduce his own Authority into the place thereof and so much may be collected from his words one day to Cardinal Rusticucci when discoursing of the death of Starace This Man said he might have done us great Service had he lived at least one year longer Sixtus all this time would not suffer or endure any Counsellour to advise or direct him in his Affairs but affected to manage all by his own wisdom and conduct howsoever he was desirous of Confidents and familiar Acquaintance with whom he might discourse matters and use for Spies to inform him of all passages in the World amongst this sort of Creatures his Nephew Cardinal Montalto possessed a considerable share of his affection for though he was but a young Man yet he was of a mature judgment and for his years well practised in the Affairs of the World howsoever he gave him this caution that he should beware how the kindness he had for him did encourage him to a confidence of making any request for Benefits or favours either for himself or others the like Admonition he gave also to his Sister and his other Nephews whom he tenderly loved and laboured to make rich oftentimes forbidding them to ask any thing of him For said he I charge you never to make any motion to me in behalf of any for we resolve to do all our selves and consider that what bribes soever you take are but unlawful and ill-gotten goods but what Money you receive from us will be hallowed and blessed Notwithstanding this severity and morose humour of Sixtus he would sometimes divertise himself with more pleasant and delightful entertainments amongst which he took a particular contentment to read a Book of Memoirs or recital of several passages which in the time when he was a young Frier he had wrote for his own remembrance the which being now Pope he was much pleased to read and contemplate One whereof was That being at Macerata he had occasion to buy a pair of shooes for which the Shoo-maker demanded seven Giulios or three shillings and six pence English Frier Montalto desirous to get them cheaper offered him three shillings and assured him that some time or other he would bring him the other six pence Yes said the Shoo-maker and when when you are Pope I warrant you Yes said he stay but till then and I promise to pay you the Money with full Interest until that time The Shoo-maker laughing delivered him the shooes and said since I find you disposed to accept the Popedom be sure you remember to pay this Debt when you are exalted to that Dignity Sixtus as I say reading this passage in his Book immediately wrote to Macerata to know if this Shoo-maker were living which when he understood he ordered the Governour of the place to send him up by one of his Officers The poor Shoo-maker surprized and affrighted with the news that the Pope desired to see him in Rome for he neither remembred any thing either of the shooes or of the Giulio it being a matter of forty years standing so that at every step he made he was still thinking and wondring at these Summons recalling to mind all the sins he had committed in his life considering for which of them he was thither cited Being come to Rome and introduced to the Pope's presence He asked him whether he remembred ever to have seen him at Macerata the poor Shoo-maker trembling told him No. Nor do you remember ever to have sold me a pair of shooes No said the poor Fellow shrinking up his shoulders but said the Pope we well remember that we are your Debtor and have sent for you to pay you your Money for we owe you a Giulio on account of a pair of shooes which we are now to pay you with Interest according to agreement and so calling for the Steward of his House to pay him the Giulio with the Interest upon it for forty years which amounted to two Giulios more he then dismissed the Shoo-maker bidding him go in peace The Shoo-maker having received his three Giulios murmured and complained very much that the Pope should send for him and bring hâ—m from so remote a place and from his Trade and Employment which was above twenty Crowns charge and damage to him onely to give him three Giulios or eighteen pence which he always carried in his hand and complained to every one he met The news of the Shoo-maker's laments being brought to the Pope by his Spies he presently sent for him again and demanded of him if he had a Son the Shoo-maker answering yes and that he was an honest good Priest of the Order of the Servi whereupon the Pope caused him to be called to Rome and before the departure of his Father invested him in a small Bishoprick within the Kingdom of Naples and then bid the Shoo-maker make up his Account and see to what sum the Interest of his Giulio had amounted Many are the stories of this nature recounted of this Pope which we shall omit contenting our selves to have given the Reader this familiar Tale which seems too light and frivolous for History yet since it is our end and design to give a Character of the Popes their humour and disposition may some times be more clearly shewn by familiar passages than by the more profound transactions of business The Jesuits who formerly were in high esteem with Gregory XIII and influenced his Counsels in such manner as that he acted nothing but by their pleasure and direction were very studious to insinuate themselves in the like good Opinion of Sixtus and to that end courted Cardinal Montalto inviting him often to the Recreations and Exercises of their Schools that if possible they might prefer a Confessor to the Pope which motion when it was made to Sixtus he in great indignation answered That it were better that the Jesuits confessed to the Pope than the Pope to the Jesuits Howsoever they still continued their courtship towards him and invited him one day to hear Mass in the new Chappel built by Gregory and being introduced thereunto by way of the Cloisters he was detained a while by the young
him thence and secured him in the Nuntio's Prison The news of this Attempt allarm'd all the Protestant Cantons who by way of Reprisals seized the first Priest they could meet and confined him within their own Prison resolving not to set him at liberty without the release or enlargement of the other This Accident caused great disturbance and commotions both amongst the Protestants and Catholicks Diets being called on both sides matters ran so high that a general rupture or War was feared of all the Cantons The Nuntio being also sensible of these disorders and not knowing unto what they might amount wrote to the Pope the whole sum of this matter to which he returned answer in this manner We have sent you to pacifie and quiet matters and not to make disturbances to give ease and repose to the Catholicks and not to put Arms into the hands of the Hereticks to convert the one and not to put the others into danger no people will be contented to lose their own right the point of Jurisdiction is more nice and brittle than a Christal Glass and therefore those cases are to be managed tenderly and with severe caution troubles and disquiets are dangerous to Catholicks but to Hereticks it may be profitable to fish in troubled Waters to give to Hereticks is a great evil but to take from them is highly dangerous Be therefore prudent in this case both for your own quiet and for mine The Nuntio collecting from this Answer that it was the Pope's pleasure to accommodate these matters He ordered it so that the Priest should be set at liberty but by way of escape rather than by formal enlargement the like expedient the Protestants took as to the other Priest by which means these matters were pacified and concluded Henry III. King of France as before related having composed his quarrel with the Pope about reception of his Nuntio the Bishop of Nazaret so good and fair a correspondence passed between them that the King adventured to demand license of the Pope to raise a hundred thousand Crowns from the revenue of the Church Sixtus who was unwilling to deprive the Church of such a sum nor yet to disoblige the King by a plain and positive refusal entertained his Ambassadour the Marquess Pisani with a delatory Answer such as this We shall consider we shall do nothing rashly but with Mature consideration which being often repeated and the Ambassadours wearied with such insignificant puts off which according to the stile of Italy and Rome imported no less than a civil denial acquainted the King with their Sentiments in the case which were that nothing could be expected from the Pope's bounty or concession upon which advice and upon a belief that this refusal was instilled by such Instruments as were employed in the Catholick League and particularly by the Duke of Guise and his party the King resolved to stand on his own bottom and to steer a course between the League and the Hugonots for as he durst not confide in the Catholick League so he feared the issue of the War against his Protestant Subjects both which though to appearance were equally dangerous yet a peace with the latter seemed most safe and desireable in pursuance of this Counsel a peace being concluded with the Protestants by negotiation of the Queen the promotors of the League of which the Duke of Guise was the Chief dispatched an Express immediately to Rome giving the Pope to understand the matter in these precise words That the cause of Religion was betrayed That the Cause of the Hugonots was openly and publickly favoured That the measures of the War were broken and all expectation of good and benefit lost which might redound by means of the League to the Catholick Cause That the heart of the King seemed much estranged to the Catholick party resolving to espouse protect and maintain the Heresie in France The Pope so soon as he received this Intelligence called the French Ambassadour to whom with words full of disdain and fury he complained of the proceedings of the King whom he mentioned as one infected with Heresie and already alienated and estranged from the Papal Sea and having called a Consistory Letters were wrote to the Nuntio Nazaret with Orders to intimate the Pope's just complaints to the King giving him to understand how much he did resent the Resolution he had taken to the prejudice of the Catholick Church which was of such ill consequence as took deep impression in the mind of the Pope and would be recorded with everlasting Characters of Infamy in the Histories of his Reign The Nuntio having received these Instructions and being backed by the instigation of the Duke of Guise represented the Pope's sence in warm and passionate terms In return unto which the King contrary to the equal temper of his nature retorted an Answer in brisk and sharp Expressions That it was a fine and easie matter for the Pope to stand and behold at a distance the miseries and afflictions of his Country and to give Counsel without assistance or contribution to the War for want of which and of a license to alienate so much of the Lands of the Church as might serve to raise the sum of a hundred thousand Crowns he was forced for preservation of his Kingdom and Regal Dignity to accept those Conditions which they called ruinous to the Church And then moderating his passion a little in more gentle and mild terms he desired the Nuntio to assure the Pope That he would ever adhere and remain constant to the faith of the Catholick Church and act in every thing to the advancement of it so far as he was able and that the want onely of Money had forced him to this resolution These particulars being wrote to Rome quieted a little the mind of the Pope who did all the time before do nothing either in the Consistory with the Cardinals or in his Discourses with the forein Ministers but rail and storm against the French King But being now satisfied by his Nuntio that the King had changed his mind and would be induced to continue the War against the Protestants provided he could be assisted with Aid from the Church the Pope immediately appointed a Bull to be drawn up and sealed giving Authority and Power to the King not onely to raise a hundred thousand Crowns out of the Estate of the Church as the King had demanded but also twenty thousand Crowns more for better encouragement to continue and persevere in the assurances given enjoyning the Nuntio to raise those sums on the Clergy without any contradiction or delatory proceedings Thus as Sixtus was zealous and profuse in such Expences as he judged conducive to the support of the Papal Authority so he was no less generous in works which might tend to the honour and ornament of it In which consideration reflecting one day on the manner and garb in which he desired his Nuntios might live in the Courts of forein
request for a Fountain was taken into consideration for that being agreeable to the Munificent humour of Sixtus was received and immediately ordered to be put in execution by bringing Water to the Convent from the Pope's Gardens at Monte-cavallo which flows there in plentiful streams But now to proceed unto more serious matters Towards the end of this year 1587. Stephen Battory Prince of Transilvania and King of Poland having reigned in that Kingdom for the space of nine years departed this life his death was universally lamented by all having proved a most excellent Prince and a zealous Champion of the Christian Religion against the Turk for he recovered the Dukedoms of Suevia and Smolensko from the Moscovites and united them again to the Crown of Poland He also behaved himself with constant resolution against the Turk who having in the year 1584. demanded according to antient Articles assistance of some Polish Troops against the Persians Battory resolutely denied them to him saying That whereas the white Eagle of Poland had lately moulted her feathers and was displumed and become weak she had now recovered her wings and her train and had sharpned both her beak and her talons Which brisk Reply and bravery of Battory in all the actions of his Reign did calm the spirit of the Turks and checked those frequent Incursions which they made into Poland But Battori as we have said dying this year the Nobility of that Kingdom were very desirous to elect a King who might in Wisdom and Courage prove equal to the valour of the deceased Prince Many there were who offered themselves Candidates for that Election Ridolphus the Son of Maximilian the Emperor was one who for being of the House of Austria seemed qualified for that Crown Some cast their eyes on the Duke of Parma who for his prudence and experience in War was one of the most renowned Captains of those days but being an Italian it was suspected that his humour would not be agrreable to the customs of Poland The Vaivod of Transilvania and Cardinal Battori were others who appeared fitly qualified for this Dignity the first being a young Man and full of spirit assisted with the advantage of his own Riches and in great reputation with the Turk appeared with a lustre deserving a Crown but having been Nephew to the late King his Alliance prejudiced his pretentions not being consistent with the policy of that Nation to have a succession in the same Family the same consideration also was an impediment to the Cardinal though otherwise a Prince of excellent Endowments The Duke of Ferrara was an other proposed but he as well as the Duke of Parma was an Italian whose humour was inconsistent with the Poles Many Nobles also of Poland it self seemed fitly qualified both in Riches and Vertue for that Dignity amongst which Zamowski the Grand Chancellour had a most considerable party for he having managed all the Affairs of that Kingdom during the Reign of Battori who communicated all his Counsels with him and entrusted him with the greatest secrets of State by which he became the most experienced in Affairs and high in Reputation living little inferiour to the Royal pomp howsoever the Nobles not enduring at that time subjection to any of their own degree and Country and having never for the space of six hundred years admitted a Prince of their own to reign over them they would neither now introduce a Novelty repugnant to their antient customs and constitutions Upon the preceding considerations the election falling on none of the foregoing Princes the Votes came at length to concenter between the Prince of Sweden and the Arch-Duke of Austria called Maximilian Brother of the Emperor Ridolphus a person of that affable and obliging deportment as took much with the humour of the Polanders Howsoever the contrary party and the most prevalent objected that being Brother to the Emperor he might be too potent and in time by the power of Germany subvert the Government and turn it from an elective to an hereditary Kingdom wherefore totally declining Maximilian this party resolutely fixed on the Prince of Sweden a youth of twenty years of age greatly favoured by the Poles for being descended from the Family of Jagellona which for having added the Dukedom of Lituania to their Commonwealth was so highly esteemed by them that the merit to that Family could be no otherwise extinguished than by transferring the Crown to the Prince thereof But these considerations in favour of Sweden were turned to quite contrary Sentiments by the differing party so that the whole body of the Nobility being divided between these two Princes the Election still remained in suspense both designing to determine the Dispute by force of Arms. Whilest the Election remained under these doubtful circumstances Sixtus wrote to the Arch-bishop of Naples then Nuntio residing at the place of Election secretly to favour the side of Maximilian but yet with such caution as not too far to engage himself but that in case fortune favoured the Prince of Sweden he might without a blemish declare himself for that party that so he might own in some measure his Election unto him Maximilian to make good his cause appearing before Cracovia with an Army of sixteen thousand fighting Men demanded of the Citizens to receive him in but they refused it and sent with all diligence to the Prince of Sweden to expedite his March for that delays in this case were dangerous and that the day of his Coronation was fixed to be celebrated on the Feast of St. Luke then near approaching In the mean time they repaired their Fortifications and strengthened their Suburbs making daily Sallies on the Forces of Maximilian and most commonly were successful therein to the great encouragement of the Citizens In a short time after Ambassadours arrived at Cracon from the Prince of Sweden advising that the Prince though detained by contrary Winds was come as far as Donzilca and that though it was impossible for him to be so soon with them as St. Luke's day yet certainly he would not fail to be there by St. Martin's which was on the 15th of November and be ready to receive that Dignity on the Sunday following for according to the custom of that Country the Coronation must always be solemnized on the Lord's Day During all this time the Army of Maximilian was greatly weakned for want of provisions and having neither Wine nor good Beer they were forced to drink bad Waters which with the cold and moisture of the season caused Fluxes and Dysenteries and other distempers amongst the Soldiery which reduced them to small numbers Howsoever Maximilian leaving the City of Cracovia marched towards Pietricovia with intention to stop the march of the Prince of Sweden but finding that the Army of his Enemy was greater than his own and that he received the worst in many Skirmishes he retreated to Bellone and thence to Pitschen of the frontiers of Silesia belonging to the Duke of
Briga But being pursued thither by the Enemy he was there besieged and afterwards taken Prisoner towards the end of January 1588. The Pope who was greatly concerned for this disgrace of Maximilian dispeeded Cardinal Aldobrandino into Poland to treat a Peace and an Accommodation between Maximilian and the Prince the which after various difficulties and Disputes was happily concluded about the beginning of March 1589. The Articles of which were that Maximilian should renounce all Title and pretence to the Crown of Poland by reason of the late Election or any other demand whatsoever and that the Prince of Sweden should remain the lawful and undoubted King which being agreed the Prince took possession and was named Sigismond III. The Pope who was no less zealous for the success of the King's Arms in France against his Protestant Subjects sent a Sword to the Duke of Guise who was chief of the Catholick League as he had lately done to the Prince Farnese who was Governour of Flanders the which was delivered by a Bishop who was purposely sent to present it and therewith to tender his paternal love and benediction to the Duke assuring him that he possessed a large room in the heart and breast of the Pope The Ceremony of delivering this Sword was performed with such pomp and triumph at Paris and with such popular acclamations of the multitude in favour of Guise as administred just cause of jealousie and fear to the King and though Guise was ambitious enough to be pleased therewith yet being immoderate and irregular his modesty told him that they were undecent The King in the mean time being eclipsed by the popular grandeur of Guise and by the troubles of a Civil War with which his Kingdom was infested did seem to resent the favours which the Pope shewed to Guise as unseasonable of which when Sixtus had knowledg and of the popular acclamations at the delivery of his Sword he was much troubled for he being of a humour always desirous to maintain Sovereignty in its highest degree of Honour and Power did by a Letter to the King exhort him to maintain his Prerogatives and conserve the honour of his Crown against the Insolencies and rebellions of his Subjects adding That a Canker in the bowels of his State was curable onely by cauterizing and by fire and Sword and that it was necessary to vent some of that blood which was too redundant in the veins of his Subjects The King made frequent reflections on this Letter and often gave it to the Duke of Guise to read and consider and being one day in Parliament where many Debates arose touching the ways and means by which the Civil Wars might be accommodated and a good understanding produced between him and his Subjects the King declared the great aversion of his mind to blood or other extremities which though he might justly by the Counsels and persuasions of the Pope yet he was more tender of the lives of his Subjects than to cure his troubles by such severe Remedies and to confirm the truth thereof he produced the Pope's Letter causing it publickly to be read in that Assembly which when the Parliament heard they Blessed themselves and as well the Catholicks as Protestants remained astonished and scandalized at this cruelty of the Universal Pastor who with such little remorse could suck the blood of Christ's Sheep as if he had rather been the Wolf than Shepherd of the Christian Flock Which when the Pope understood and was informed of all the Satyrs and Libels which the Protestants had composed on this occasion he was greatly disturbed that the King should so publickly expose his Counsels which he designed for his secret directions and having signified his resentment thereof by his Nuntio he would never afterwards adventure to write him a Letter but on all occasions of business referred himself by word of mouth to the report of his Nuntio And now Sixtus whose thoughts were ever employed on means which might enlarge or make great the Church did much incite Philip II. King of Spain to make War on Elizabeth Queen of England pressing him to re-assume his Right to that Kingdom which he had once governed and for encouragement thereunto he promised Count Olivarez the King's Ambassadour at Rome that so soon as the Spanish Army should be landed on any part of the English shoar he would immediately contribute a million of Crowns to that Design Nor was the Pope moved hereunto out of a zeal onely to Religion but out of a secular Design supposing that the chief Flower of the Nobility and Soldiery of Naples being drained thence on this Enterprize he might have a more facil passage to the possession of that Kingdom In pursuance therefore of this Design a great and wonderful Fleet of vast Caracks to the number of one hundred and fifty Sail being set to Sea on which were twenty three thousand Land Soldiers with two thousand pieces of Cannon of which the Duke of Medina Sidonia was made General they entered the Channel of England where being met by a small Fleet of Ships under the Command of Sir Francis Drake several broad-sides passed between them but at length the Divine Providence assisting England and defending the Protestant Cause the valour of the English and the successful direction of the Fire-ships prevailed with admirable fortune over the Spaniards against whom also God himself fighting as we may say by his Storms and Tempests totally defeated and destroyed this invincible Armada as we may more at large read in our Chronicles of England Sixtus having received the news of this unhappy defeat wrote Letters to Philip to condole with him for the loss and therewith taking an occasion to blame the management and conduct of his Officers he attributed the miscarriage of all to the want of care and experience of the Chief Commanders by which reflection of disgrace his intent was to prevent all Demands from him of reparation for this loss and on this subject he proceeded in a publick Consistory to blame and tax every Individual Chief both in the Army and in the Council of ill administration onely he took upon him to excuse Alexander Farnese Governour of the Low-Countries and to answer the aspersions which his Enemies had charged upon him declaring him to be the onely person who for his personal Valour and excellency of his Conduct was the most approved Captain of that Age. This Letter of Condolance wrote by the Pope was dispatched to his Nuntio at Madrid to be delivered to the King whose constancy of mind and evenness of temper was such that though the Nuntio well knew he had no need of Cordials or consolatory Exhortations yet the Commands of his Master were to be obeyed and the formality observed Whilest King Philip was reading the Letter he often smiled as if the Stile had rather been to congratulate his Victory than to condole for his loss Howsoever he thanked the Nuntio and promised to return an Answer thereunto
speedily the which he accordingly did in the space of two days after in words to this effect That his Holiness would be pleased together with him to render thanks to God Almighty for being pleased to conserve the remnant of his Fleet from such dreadful storms and tempests and for bestowing on him Riches and Power sufficient to set out and equippe an other equal to the former That he had sent his Fleet to fight against the Enemies of Christ but not to Combat with the Seas and Winds and therefore saw no cause to blame his Officers either Civil or Military And in fine perceiving the subtil manner of the Pope to forestall his demands of succours or reparations he concluded his Letter in this manner That the loss did as well concern the Pope as himself by whose directions and encouragement he had undertaken that Enterprise That he having had the glory to have lost a Fleet in the service of Christ had already performed his part and that now for the future the next attempt belonged to the Church in which he promised to follow but not to precede It was believed that the King wrote with this resolution and indifferency of mind to the Pope to let him know that this misfortune did not abate his Courage or force in defence of his own Dominions for the King was jealous and had cause sufficient to suspect that the Gallies which the Pope had lately built and the vast sums of Money which he had lately amassed were with design on the Kingdom of Naples on which the Count Olivarez Ambassadour at Rome having always a vigilant Eye did constantly inculcate to the Pope in his Discourses That so much as his Master had lost in seeking the Conquest of others Kingdoms as much he did not doubt but to recover on any Prince who should attempt on his Dominions This year 1588. famous for the destruction of the Spanish Armada was signalized also towards the end thereof on the 23d of December by the death of the Duke of Guise a Prince of such popular esteem that he appeared greater than the King and to eclipsed the Sovereignty that not longer enduring to be so clouded he resolved to break through the obscurity by the destruction of the Duke whom the King caused to be assassinated by eight Executioners as he was entering into his Closet being thereunto called by his Command these Officers of the King's displeasure so effectually performed their work by the mortal stabs they gave him that he had not time to utter one word but onely breathed out his life with dying groans the same day the Cardinal his Brother was imprisoned and the next day being the Eve of Christmas was put to death the which misfortune to the House of Guise was followed by the imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon the Pope's Legat at Avignon the Arch-bishop of Lions and of the eldest Son of the Duke of Guise The news of the Duke's death was dispeeded to Rome with such diligence by an Express that the Pope received it on the 3d. of January 1589. at the same time that he was discoursing with the Cardinal Joyeuse touching the Affairs and interest of France The Pope at the arrival hereof did not seem troubled or in the least manner surprized for though the Duke was a zealous Defender of the Roman Catholick Religion yet considering that he was ambitious and popular and one who checked the Sovereign power the Pope who was a great Assertor of the Monarchical Authority in its Supreme degree received the news of his unhappy fate without any remorse or resentment and so shrinking up his shoulders said Had we been King of France we should have done the same And when the particulars were all recounted he added Such is commonly the destiny of Men who committed many Errors with subtil Arts but then know not how to conserve themselves with mature judgment and due caution But when about four days after that Intelligence came how that the Cardinal of Guise was likewise put to death and that the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions were imprisoned he then began to fume and storm like an enraged Bear venting his passion with ten thousand violent expressions against the King clapping his hands and stamping with his feet on the floor in such manner as affrighted all his Servants and Attendance Henry III. of France being acquainted with the humour of Sixtus and how apt he was to resent the least injuries towards Ecclesiastical persons and encroachment on his Authority dispatched Girolamo Gondi a Florentine Gentleman with all expedition to Rome to join with his Ambassadour the Marquess Pisani in making excuses for the death of the Cardinal and the imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon and Arch-Bishop of Lions being thereunto necessitated contrary to his own nature for the conservation of his own life and Crown Gondi being arrived at Rome and having consulted together with the Ambassadour the way and manner to address themselves unto the Pope and being admitted to Audience the Pope with a stern Countenance looked on them and with sharp and severe terms began to reproach the King wondering how he could dare to violate the immunities and priviledges of the Ecclesiastical State and the dignity of Cardinals and against all Laws both Divine and humane could entertain so much wickedness in his heart as to murther a Cardinal and imprison two others of eminent dignity in the Church as if they had been subjected to the Secular power The Ambassadours for Reply hereunto in modest terms but yet with grave and unmoved constancy began to relate the Treason and Plots of which the Cardinal was guilty contrary to the Faith and Allegiance which he owed unto the King with whom also the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions had been Complices It is true said they it would have best become the righteousness and judgment of a King to have proceeded in a juditiary way according to all the methods and rules of Law but the Cardinal assisted by the power of his Brother and by the Authority of the two other potent Prelates was become too strong for the Law or to be treated by the usual formalities of common Process for they having forced the King to abandon his Palace and fly in disguise through the streets of Paris there remained no mild terms of Accommodation but either the King must become a Subject unto them and divest himself of his Dignity and resign his Power into the hands of those Guardians as if he were in his pupillage or years of minority or else he must serve himself of those means which God appointed him for conservation of his Crown and Regal Office in which he was anointed In fine they concluded that the King was an obedient Son of the Church and was ready to satisfie the desires of his Holiness to the utmost of his power and to that end he had expresly sent this Gondi now present before him
humbly to beseech his Holiness to pardon what was past and as a testimony and evidence of his reconciliation to send him his Blessing But Sixtus having neither by these reasons nor yet by the gentle and submissive terms of the Ambassadours abated the fury and anger which appeared in his countenance Replyed with a loud Voice That he was well assured that Gondi was dispatched on an other Errand than this and that by any thing they had said there was no judgment to be made of sorrow or repentance in the King for the Crimes he had committed or of such obedience which they professed to the Apostolical Sea so long as contrary to the priviledges thereof he detained the Prelates in Prison and that in case he expected absolution he was to seek it with tears and by a Person express and employed to no other purpose and that there ought to be a Session of Prelates thereupon to consider whether such repentance were real and unfeigned And at last concluded with these sharp words You said he think you have to do with some poor simple Frier that is unacquainted with Men and the World but you shall find that you have to do with Sixtus who is ready to expend blood in defence of the Dignity of the Holy See After which he dismissed the two Ambassadours and the next day called a Consistory in which he appeared with a countenance full of Choler which boiled in his breast and then began to exclaim against his Legat Morosini residing at Paris as if he had consented to the death of the Cardinal or at least might have prevented both that and the imprisonment of the Prelats in case he had vigorously appeared against such indirect Counsels In the next place he railed against some Cardinals who had the boldness to excuse the murther which the King had committed wondering that Cardinals should so little esteem their Dignity and degree as to expose the sanctity of their purple to be profaned by the unhallowed violences of an usurped jurisdiction As to us said he it concerns little what affronts are put on the Cardinals dignity but we are sure that it is of a high consequence to you for we cannot believe that you would readily consent to be dispoiled of their Authority your liberties prerogatives and other priviledges with which you are adorned of which you will certainly be if this murther of a Cardinal be connived at or passed by without any resentment We therefore are resolved to perform our duty and do that which God and his Laws require at Our hands and if from thence as you may possibly object ill consequences ensue to the Kingdom of France we shall remain acquitted in the sight of God for justice must be done though the World should be ruined and dissolved thereby The Cardinals remaining all silent none daring to make a Reply The Pope proceeded and said We shall depute a Congregation of Cardinals to examine this case and search farther into this matter and accordingly the persons nominated were Anthony Sorbellone the Arch bishop of Santa Severina Facchinetto Lancilotto Sastagna and others the which Deputation was now the common Discourse and filled all the World with high expectation of the success and issue thereof The King being informed of these proceedings redoubled his Guards and cautions in the Court of Rome to which place he dispatched the Bishop of Mans a person of singular probity and eloquence to make his defence and having received his Instructions and being fully informed of all the reasons and arguments which might be produced in behalf of the King he arrived at Rome where having first consulted the Ambassadours he was with them admitted unto Audience with the Pope to whom he began with most profound humility to argue and plead That the King had not incurred the punishment of any Ecclesiastical Censure having in no manner violated or infringed the Liberties or Immunities of the Church For that the Cardinal having been found guilty of high Treason against the King was by the fundamental Laws and constitutions of France subjected to the Secular Power and in regard he was a Peer of that Realm his Cause was more immediately triable in the Parliament of Paris and in a grand Assembly of all the Princes and Officers of the Crown so that if the King had trespassed against any Laws it was against the priviledges of his own Parliaments and not against the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State In the next place he argued that a King of France according to the priviledges of the Gallican Church could not incur the Censure of Excommunication But these Arguments and ways of reasonings were in no wise pleasing to the humour of Sixtus being against the Idea and Scheme that he had figured to himself of the Power of the Church and Keys but rather served to inflame his passion and therefore setting aside all those Arguments as not worth an Answer he declared and sentenced That in case within a certain time limited the King did not free and set at liberty the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and that in case within the space of sixty days after such releasement the assurance thereof were not intimated to himself and the Apostolical See by writings under the King 's own hand and the Royal Signet That then in such case the King remained actually Excommunicated and incurred all the Ecclesiastical Censures as expressed in the Sacred Canons and Constitutions of the Church Farther The Pope cited the King to appear at Rome either in person or by his Proxy within the space of sixty days after intimation of these Summons should be given him to render an account and to give answer to the accusation charged upon him for having murthered the Cardinal of Guise and imprisoned the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and for default of such appearance that then the King did actually incur the pain of Excommunication from which he could not be absolved by any other person whatsoever than onely by the Pope himself unless at the point of death nor then neither unless upon a confident and faithful assurance and Vows to act and obey all matters and Injunctions whatsoever which should be enjoyned and commanded by the Holy Church Two Months and some few days after the Pope had issued out this Excommunication it happened that the King being at the Head of a great Army near St. Clou about two Leagues from Paris was on the first day of August 1589. stabbed in the Belly by a Dominican Frier who was a youth of about twenty three years of age and with him ended his quarrel with the Pope Such being the fate of Henry III. the news thereof flew speedily to Rome where the Spaniards caused a report to be spread that the Affairs of the King of Navarre were reduced to a mean and a low condition and almost desperate and that not onely those of the League but also the whole Kingdom
oblige the King referred the disquisition and examination of the Marriage to the Cardinal Joyeuse the Bishop of Modena who was Nuntio for the Pope in France and the Arch-bishop of Arles whom he delegated to consider of those reasons which were offered to invalidate the legality of the Marriage In the mean time Henry treating a Contract of marriage with his Mistris Gabriele d' Estrees God disposed otherwise of that intention and the Delegates who were willing to comply with the desires of the King declared the Marriage Null having been in the third degree of consanguinity by which both parties were set at liberty and put in the same estate and condition as before their Matrimony Of which the King having received information from his Ambassadour Monsieur de Sillery then residing at Rome he immediately dispatched the Sieur d' Alincourt Governour of Pontois to render his humble thanks to the Pope for his obliging determination and to demand his Counsel concerning the Alliance which he intended to make with the House de Medicis having placed his affections on the Princess Mary Niece to the Grand Duke of Florence The Sieur de Sillery taking Post upon this Errand arrived at Rome the 6th of February being Ash-wednesday in the year 1600. and the year of Jubilee which made that Lent the more Solemn and devout than that of common years for it was commanded that Prayers of forty hours continuance should be made in the Churches of the Jesuits the Pope himself with the Colledg of Cardinals began the first hour and every hour afterwards was employed in Prayers and ended with an Exhortation made by some Cardinal or Learned Prelat To gain the Indulgences of this Jubilee though many personages of great quality did resort to Rome yet none was of higher dignity than the Duke de Bar who Incognito and with a small train and equipage travelled to Rome to gain a Dispensation for his Marriage which he had celebrated between himself and the Princess Catharine the Onely Sister of the French King for having performed the same within the degrees of consanguinity forbidden by the Church the Bishop of Lorain and others had refused to admit him to the Sacrament and Communion of the Church Thus we see whilest the King sues for a Divorce the Duke desires a confirmation and dispensation of his Marriage and both were granted though the same reasons and considerations were in both cases the same ground which might dissolve the one might null the other and the same salve might serve for both Cures In short the Duke de Bar applyed himself with all the humility and submission imaginable to the Papal Chair and carrying with him the King 's recommendatory Letters to the Cardinals Aldobrandino Ossac and his Ambassadour he obtained as much favour in his Cause as he could expect or desire On the other side in pursuance of the late Divorce the Sieurs de Sillery and Alincourt went to Florence to treat a new Marriage between the King and the Princess Mary de Medicis As the Duke of Florence received the honour of this Match with great readiness it being an addition to the grandeur of his House so the Pope to forward the same contributed on his part a hundred thousand Crowns with many Jewels by way of Dowry or Portion which was agreed to be six hundred thousand Crowns in ready Mony So soon as the Articles were signed the Duke of Florence published the intended Marriage and the King to bring it to a consummation being then at Lions in order to his Journey to Grenoble deputed Bellegarde his Grand Escuyer with Commission to the Grand Duke to espouse Mary de Medicis in his name and the Pope to have a farther hand in this work deputed his Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandino to be his Legat at Florence and to be present at the Nuptials which he accordingly performed and bestowed the Benediction in the Pope's Name The Cardinal having performed this piece of service hastned away by order of the Pope to Tortona there to find the Duke and stipulate with him the conditions of a firm Peace for the King had already commenced a War and taken several places both in Savoy and Bresse The Cardinal representing before the Duke the danger and inequality of a War with France persuaded him to resign his pretensions and interest to the Marquisat of Saluses and having obtained this promise he proceeded to Lions where managing this Affair with the King a Peace was concluded and published in the year 1601. on Conditions that the Duke should quit all claim to the Marquisat of Saluces in exchange for Bresse and some other Countries In the mean time the Queen embarqued at Ligorne with seventeen Gallies arrived happily at Marseille and thence was conducted with great honour and pomp to Lions where meeting with the King the marriage was consummated and the Nuptial Benediction given by Cardinal Aldobrandino the Pope's Legat before the great Altar of St. John's Church in the City of Lions All these kindnesses passed between the Pope and the King the Pope resolved to make use of this good Correspondence to intercede in behalf of the Jesuits whose whole Order having for certain reasons been banished and exterminated from the Dominions of France was now at the instance and desire of the King restored again under certain Conditions to their possessions and habitations in that Kingdom And in regard the Emperor was at the same time hardly pressed by the Turk the Pope as at other times furnished him with a hundred thousand Crowns which was a seasonable Recruit and supply in those exegencies of the Empire And now it was about the year 1603. that Elizabeth Queen of England dying and James VI. King of Scotland succeeding to the Crown when the Pope conceived great hopes and expectations that by means of this King whom he fancied to be a favourer of the Roman Church the Kingdoms of Great Britain would submit unto and acknowledg the Papal Authority but what ground or reasons there were for such an Opinion or why the Roman Catholicks in England had conceived and for forty years together had framed such a fancy to themselves no rational account can be given but this conceit soon vanishing by the contrary effects which appeared the Papists of England made two Remonstrances to the new King in favour of their Religion desiring at least that a liberty of Conscience might be granted to them but these had no more effect than the Declaration which the Protestants made the same year in favour of their Religion in France The Cardinals Bonvisi and Ossac dying this year at Rome Henry the French King did greatly urge the Pope for a promotion of Cardinals recommending several of his own Creatures and Friends to that Dignity And though the Pope was very desirous to have reduced the Order of Cardinals to their ancient number yet being overcome by the instances of some Friends he bestowed a Cardinals Cap on the
Son of one of his Nephews being a Youth of about fourteen or fifteen years of age and suffering himself to be prevailed with by the passion of Princes he created in this very year at least eighteen Cardinals amongst which there were not above two French and two Spaniards The first which was found in this List was Serafim Olivari Patriarch of Alexandria who was originally of Italian extract but born at Lions and proved to be a Prelat of Incomparable parts and Learning being always educated amongst Men and business the Bishop of Eureux was an other promoted to this Dignity which were the two French-Men who received this honour by the recommendations of their King all the others were Italians unless the Bishop of Cracovia who was a Polander and Madrutio Bishop of Trent who was a German and two Spaniards Cardinal Aldobrandino preferred also his Secretary Erminio to this honour and the Pope himself forced Anselme Marzat a Capucin to accept the red Hat which he had often refused protesting that such preferments were against the Rules and a violation to the Orders of St. Francis but the express commandment of the Pope prevailing he unwillingly or at least seemed so from the mere consideration of obedience submitted to the promotion About this time three Questions were moved and discussed at Rome the first was managed by a notable Disputant and a great Sophister his position was this That it was not an essential or a fundamental point of Faith to believe that Clement VIII was the true and lawful Successor of St. Peter it was a bold Thesis for that time and place for he was imprisoned for his impertinence and it had cost him dearer had not the Spanish Ambassadour interceded for him An other published an Opinion That Confessions wrote in Letters and sent by the Post were as available as those which were whispered into the Ear of the Priest A third was about Grace and Free-will in such manner as held and maintained by Pelagius which latter was debated in the presence of the Pope and Cardinals but remained without determination by reason of more important matters which at that time lay before the Consistory For then the Canonizing of Ignatius Loyola for a Saint was first propounded and also the Deputies of the Clergy of the City of Milan presented themselves before the Pope and Cardinals desiring that their antient Arch-bishop Charles Borromeo might be canonized Upon these two motions the Pope constituted a certain Committee of Cardinals to enquire into the sanctity of the Lives and of the Miracles which were done at the Invocation of the Names and at the Sepulcres of these Saints After which an Ambassadour was introduced into the Consistory from the Emperor representing the many occasions of advantage which were lost in Hungary for want of Money to carry on the War to which the Pope gave Answer That his Coffers at the present were empty but howsoever he would lay a Tax of decimation on the Clergy whereby to supply the urgencies of the Emperor against the common Enemy Thus did this Pope who in reality merited the name of a good Man employ his whole time in the Consistory either designing to make peace between Christian Princes or to carrry on a War against the Turk who is the common Enemy of Christians and in these good works of Piety he incessantly laboured being frequently in consultation concerning the temporal and spiritual Affairs in the Church in discharge of which his fortune was to be assisted with many wise and able Cardinals such as Joyeuse Serafim Olivari and Perron and other Counsellours who amongst several other matters advised him to take a Guard of Corsi or Men of the Isle of Corsica who being quartered in several parts of the City might be ready to suppress the Banditi who began again to be troublesom and to infest Rome as well as other parts of Italy from which time until the reign of Alexander VII this Guard was maintained when upon some Affronts and violences offered to the French Ambassadour they were disbanded and dismissed never afterwards to appear in Rome The Arch-bishoprick of Ravenna in this year 1605. becoming vacant the Pope bestowed it on his Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandino who was no sooner received into that City with such pomp and solemnity as became the dignity of that Episcopal Sea than news arrived of the Pope's indisposition which speedily posted the Cardinal back to Rome for the Pope falling ill on the 10th of February his sickness still increased notwithstanding all the Remedies and care which Aldobrandino and his Physitians could use for after he had sat in the Papal Chair for the space of thirteen years one month and three days he expired his last breath on the third of March in the sixty ninth year of his Age and was interred in St. Peter's Church and the Sea was vacant twenty nine days LEO XI CLEMENT the Eighth having departed this Life and his Funeral Obsequies being performed the Cardinals to the number of sixty one entered the Conclave on the 14th of March and having according to the accustomed manner sung the Hymn of Veni Creator and celebrated the Mass of Spiritus Sanctus and every Cardinal having received the Sacrament from the hand of the Dean of the Conclave they immediately made the first Scrutiny whereby it might appear unto whom the plurality of Votes was most probable to incline but at first the Conclave was so divided that no person had any considerable number of Votes bestowed on him for Bellarmine who had the most accounted but eleven and Baronius but eight and all others an inferiour number at length after several other Scrutinies Baronius by the assistance of Cardinal Aldobrandino arrived to thirty thirty one and thirty two and thirty seven but still wanting some few more to make the number arise unto two thirds of the Conclave the Election was imperfect nor could he arise higher by reason that the Spanish faction opposed him out of a pique and exception they had taken against him for what he had wrote in the 11th Tome of his Ecclesiastical Annals disproving the title of the King of Spain to the Kingdom of Sicily Whereupon Cardinal Joyeuse concurring with Aldobrandino without whom nothing was to be done in the Conclave nominated Alexander de Medicis who was no sooner proposed than a strange concurrence and union appeared in the minds of all the Cardinals towards him so that he was as it were elected by an unanimous consent and saluted Pope on the first of April 1605. calling himself by the name of Leo XI He was then of the age of seventy years or thereabouts of a chearful and sanguine Aspect grave in his Speech and deportment and of a strong and vigorous Complexion only he sometimes was subject to pains of the Cholick he was a great lover of the virtuosi and Learned Men and zealous for the interest of the Church After his Election he seemed not in the least
gave Orders to all his People to treat the Ambassadour and his Retinue with all kindness and due respect and moreover wrote a Letter to the Pope complaining of the late design of his Nuntio attempting to publish Ecclesiastical Censures against forein Princes within his Kingdom which was a new and an unknown practice within his State and had been refused in the Case of Henry III. King of France and in the Cause of Cesare d' Este Duke of Ferrara much less could he be induced to allow of such proceedings against the State of Venice whose Cause was the same with that of his own Kingdom And considering that that State had merited well of Christendom by the opposition they made with their Arms against the common Enemy he exhorted his Holiness to supersede farther proceedings for Causes which ought to be stifled and which for better peace of the Church ought never to be brought into question or Dispute Francis Soranzo a Cavalier of Venice being at this time Ambassadour at the Emperor's Court did rightly inform the Imperial Ministers with the true state of the difference between the Pope and that Republick and in regard the Constitutions of all Germany were the same they could not do less than approve the Cause of the Venetians and condemn the Cause of the Pope which confirmed the Protestants in their reasons which they alledged for detaining Ecclesiastical Benefices in their own hands Howsoever the Great Chancellour and Marshal Prainer were of different Opinions taking part with the Pope against the affections sence and Interest of the whole Court When news came first to the Court of Spain of the differences between the Pope and the Venetians the constancy and firmness of that State to the Principles of their Government was highly applauded being the common Cause of all Secular Princes Howsoever the Nuntio made it his business to have the Venetian Ambassadour declared in all Pulpits to be under Excommunication The Genoeses also who were powerful in that Court being touched with envy on old grudges and for having lately yielded that Point of their liberty to the Pope which Venice still conserved did all the ill offices they were able against the Republick but above all the Ambassadour of Tuscany joyning with the Jesuits shewed himself an open Enemy and so prevailed with the King and Council that a Congregation of twelve Divines was held at Madrid in presence of the Cardinal of Toledo to consider whether the Ambassadour of Venice ought to be admitted into the Church at the time of Celebration of Divine Offices the result of which was that the Ambassadour should not be excluded every one concurring in that Opinion the Nuntio and Jesuits onely excepted So soon as the news came to Paris that the Monitory was published against Venice Barberino the Pope's Nuntio made urgent addresses to the King that Priuli the Venetian Ambassadour should be excluded from admission into the Church but his desire was positively rejected both because the King was willing to remain Neuter and because it was and is a Maxim of that Kingdom That Popes have no power over the Temporal Government of Princes and have no Authority on account for Secular matters to proceed against them or their Officers by Ecclesiastical Censures In England we may easily imagine what Opinion was conceived of these proceedings for when Giustiniano the Ambassadour of Venice had acquainted King James with the state of the difference between the Pope and the Republick the King did much applaud the Laws and Constitutions of Venice and the constancy and resolution of the Senate in the maintenance of them adding That he would gladly see a free Council established which was the onely means to reform the Church of God and put an end to all Controversies amongst Christians which had no other original or source than onely from the usurpation of Popes and ambition of the Clergy in which holy and sacred Design he did not doubt but that the French King and all other Christian Princes would readily concur and that perhaps a beginning thereof might arise from these troubles and labours of the Republick And farther the King added That the Popes exalting themselves above God were the ruin of the Church and that it was no wonder that their Pride admitted of no serious reflections or moderate advices being puffed up and elated by the common adulation and flattery which was used towards them The States of the Vnited Provinces wrote very obliging Letters to Venice proffering to assist them with Arms and Provisions in case they came to an open rupture and acts of hostility with the Pope In the mean time many effectual good Offices were performed both at Rome and Venice by the Dukes of Mantoua and Savoy and by Guicciardin Ambassadour of the Great Duke of Tuscany and more especially by Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour at Venice To all which instances and applications from several Princes the Senate thought fit to make this general Answer First they returned thanks for the good endeavours and labours towards a Mediation and then complained of the firm resolutions of the Pope which could not be shaken or made plyable by any reasonable terms which the Republick could offer That there could be no hopes of accommodation until the Pope by taking off his Censures did open a way to Treaties and terms of Peace That the Pope had proceeded so far in his injuries and affronts as were past all manner of reconciliation and yet the Republick which was truly Catholick would still bear their due respect to the Pope so far as was consistent with their liberty and with that right of Government which was committed to them by God But whilest matters were thus in Treaty at Venice and Rome and in the Courts of Princes the Jesuits who were vigilant and intent to do all the mischiefs they were able against the Republick did not cease to disperse Scandals and Libels as well without Italy as within and to preach and rail against them in their Pulpits and Schools endeavouring to possess their Auditories with the most malicious impressions they could beget or frame in minds of Men they also wrote Letters into all places defaming the Republick some who would not adventure into the Dominions of Venice treated on the Confines with their Disciples and Votaries and others in disguise entered within the Dominions sowing Division and Faction in all parts promising extraordinary Indulgences to all such as should observe the Interdict They also forged several Letters entitling one from the Republick of Genoua to the Senate of Venice another from the City of Verona to the City of Brescia which were most scandalous and abominable Papers Then in other Writings they justified themselves for having in their Sermons inveighed against the Republick calling it a Lutheran Heretical and tyrannical Government with infinite other abominable Epithets In fine it was proved that the Jesuits were the causes of all these disturbances having instigated the
differences And whereas this Republick hath always endeavoured to maintain a perfect good understanding with the Apostolical Chair so now more especially it remains satisfied in having at length obtained this their most just desire of which it is thought fit to give them notice Adding farther That all matters being performed on both sides which were most equal and the censures taken off the Protest also was revoked In the Evening the Senate assembled for choice of an Ambassadour to be sent to Rome and reside with his Holiness the Person elected was the Cavalier Contarini who in Company with three others had formerly been employed to congratulate with the Pope for his assumption to the Papal Chair and herewith ended this great Controversie between the Pope and the Venetians which had disturbed all Christendom and might have been the ruin and destruction of the Papal Authority had not the Pope wisely in time been made sensible thereof and granted every thing almost which the Venetians required In the beginning and progress of this whole matter we may observe the spirit of this Paul V. who aspired to make himself as great as Sixtus V. and seemed to follow much of his way and method but he undertok an Enterprise which was too difficult and out of his power his Errour in which was grounded on a mistake that he was better able to cope or deal with a Republick than with a Monarch for that the first being composed of divers Heads and humours might sooner admit a division in Councils than in a single person and that many of them being zealous and most of them superstitious in Religion might be affected by Ecclesiastical Censures and terrified by Excommunications But the contrary was made to appear by the effects which most evidently have signalized the Wisdom and Constancy of this Republick which would never be obliged to become pliant and flexible by all the fires of Hell and damnation which the Pope could threaten And indeed it farther appears that as the Republick was of Opinion that the Censures of the Pope were invalid when they were not established on just and legal causes so likewise they believed that they could not depart from the least scruple of their temporal Power which God had given them without betraying that Trust which God had committed to their charge and herein they were so resolute and constant that lest they should seem to acknowledg a fault in any one step of the late transactions they would not so much as accept of the Cardinals Blessing lest it should seem to be given in form of Absolution This Controversie being ended which had hitherto allayed all the joy and contentment which the Pope conceived for his late exaltation to the Papal Dignity the Venetians in pursuance of the Articles agreed dispatched the four Ambassadours to Rome namely Francisco Molino Procurator of St. Mark John Mocenigo Peter Dudo Francisco Contareno all Knights and Senatours of Chief Renown whom the Pope received with all imaginable honour being overjoyed to have put an end to a business so full of danger to himself and in which his measures having failed him he no longer argued in defence of his Cause nor entertained the Ambassadours with Expostulations concerning matters past which having had little foundation in any reasons he was desirous to pretermit and to have buried in silence Soon after the promotion of this Pope in the Month of November 1605. that diabolical Plot of the Gun-powder Treason to blow up the King and Queen of England all the Nobles and Commons assembled in Parliament was happily and by God's immediate Providence discovered the particulars of which being recorded in our Chronicles and believed to have been contrived at Rome we shall not need to relate in this place onely that King James for security of himself and his Dominions issued forth a Proclamation commanding all Roman Priests Seminaries and Jesuits as being the chief Incendiaries of troubles to depart the Kingdom of England and not to return upon pain of the severity of those Laws which were made against them as also all Recusants to return home to their Dwellings and not to remain in London or come within ten miles of the Court without special License After which Proclamation the Oath of Allegiance was presently administred to all sorts of people and their names certified to the Lords of the Council who refused to take it The form of this Oath administred to the Recusants in England was brought to Rome and examined and discussed by the College of Cardinals who after mature and serious deliberation did unanimously concur that the said Oath could not be lawfully taken by any true Catholick with a safe Conscience Wherefore the Pope signified so much by his Brief exhorting his people in England to refuse the said Oath and with patience constancy and faith to suffer those persecutions which for this cause were laid upon them In the year 1607. the King of Congo sent an Ambassadour to this Pope called Anthony Emanuel Vunthi for so the Jesuits and other Missionaries into those parts had named him he was received honourably at Rome where the Pope promised to furnish him with several learned and godly Preachers which should return with him into his own Country and there labour to encrease and propagate the Gospel but this Ambassadour falling sick soon after his arrival at Rome was buried in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and with him ceased the design of sending Apostles into those parts Howsoever the Arch-Bishop of Goa in imitation of the late Ambassadour from Congo procured Letters from the King of Persia to this Pope dated at Spahaun the 20th day of January 1608. and were afterwards followed by an Ambassadour called Ali Golikek Mordar who arrived at Rome in the year 1609. and was received into the Vatican where the Pope sate on his Throne and on each side the Cardinals in form and manner of a Consistory Those Writers who favour the Papal Cause pretend that the King of Persia sent then to acknowledg Obedience to the Pope who for that cause returned solemn thanks to God for having enlightned those remote parts with the rays of his Gospel and that the Sun of Righteousness was arisen in those parts after so long a Night of obscure Gentilism and false Religion But the success of following times proved the mistake of this matter the King 's of Persia continuing still in the Doctrine of their Prophet Ali and therefore it may with more reason be asserted and believed that this Ambassadour from Persia was sent in favour and at the instigation of some of the Persian Subjects who were or had been Christians of the Armenian Church which by some Friers crept in amongst them had been seduced from their own to the Roman Church which was not difficult to perform if we consider the poverty of those poor Armenians who were easily inclined to the profession of that Faith upon promises of preferments in the Church so that
with such Solemnity beyond what was usual that one Mascardus thought it worthy his description in a particular Treatise of that pompous Subject in memory of which the People of Rome erected a Triumphal Arch in the Capitol with this Inscription on the one side thereof Vrbano Octavo Barberino Pont. Max. Antiquae Gloriae Restitutori Authori Novae SPQR In Veteris Capitolii ruderibus Hoc qualecunque Recidivae Majestis specimen Ponit At the beginning of his Pontificate he confirmed the Decree of Pius V. against alienation of Church-Lands as also of the Towns Places and Demesnes belonging to the Church And for imploring the blessing of God on his Rule and Government He ordered Prayers of forty hours continuance to be held in the Churches of St. Peter St. John of Lateran and St. Mary ad praesepe vulgarly called Santa Maria Maggiore and in two other Churches in several quarters of the City He instituted also a new Order of Militia with the Title of Knights of the Conception of our Lady who took the Vow and observed the Rules of St. Francis under the protection of St. Michael and St. Basil This Order was first honoured by Charles Gonzaga and Vladislaus IV. King of Poland who took this Knighthood on occasion of a War against the Turks and Gonzaga coming to Rome with a Noble Retinue received the Cross and Habit from the Pope Of this Order were seventy Knights whose Banner was a Red Cross carrying a Flag fastned to it with a Golden Chain in which was a bright Image of the Virgin with the Devil under her feet with these words Vince Hoc Insigni Vere Nostro And further at the beginning of his Reign he appointed a select number of religious and grave Men to visit all the Monasteries both of Men and Women as also all Colleges and Hospitals and other publick places to take an account and knowledg of the abuses and disorders committed therein and to give their Opinions and advices for a redress of them and of their proceedings herein their Instructions were to render weekly an account unto the Pope He exhorted also all Bishops to reside in their respective Dioceses and not to excuse the Cardinâ—ls from the like Duty and Obligation he admonished them in a full Consistory to watch personally over their Flock and Charge for default of which and of strict Discipline a depravity of Manners and loosness of life was spread amongst the people Vt nostrae conscientiae consulamus vos monitos esse volumus à caeteris Episcopis in hâc parte non differre Cardinales Episcopos iisque non suffra gari qâ—od dicitur Pontifex scit tolerat quia in nobis nulla est tolerantia nulla conniventia But this earnestness of the Pope in this Point was believed to proceed from a desire he had to rid himself from some troublesom Cardinals who were always projecting and forming matters for Intrigues in the Court. And now according to the Bull of Paul II. reducing the Jubilies to every twenty five years the time was return'd in this year 1625. for a Jubily the last having been held in the year 1600. under Clement VIII To make a preparation hereunto a Bull was issued under the date of the 29th of April 1624. to advise the World that the following year was the holy year of Jubily that so all those who were desirous to gain the benefit of Indulgences might have timely notice so to dispose their Affairs as with convenience to repair to the Holy City and obtain the fruits of the Holy year and accordingly on the 24th of December 1624. he opened the Holy Gate in conformity to the Ceremonies described in other places But before the beginning of this Jubily the Republick of Venice sent their Ambassadours to kiss the Pope's feet and make tender of their Obedience to the Apostolical Sea the like was performed by Ambassadours from the Duke of Florence the Republicks of Genoua Luca and other Princes of Italy And when in the month of July 1625. the Ambassadours from the Catholick King came to perform their Obeysance Don Bartolines de Castro uttered himself in this manner By this Man meaning the Duke of Alcala who was Ambassador in chief who is chosen out of the principal Ministers of State King Philip doth offer and present to you most Holy Father all that duty and obedience which may evidence the subjection and reverence which he acknowledges due to your Holiness and the Apostolical Sea and therewith subjects all his Kingdoms Provinces Islands Seas and People as a most obedient Son and offers them at your holy Feet Then Vrban VIII he adores on his knees Thee he acknowledges to be the Vicar of Christ Our Lord and the Successour of St. Peter To Thee who art the Head of the Catholick Church and of all the Christian Commonwealth he willingly and freely offers all obedience promising and vowing to lend all his Force Riches and Strength both by Sea and Land in defence of the Apostolical Sea and Orthodox Religion from which no Power or other consideration whatsoever shall be able to divert or separate his Resolutions The year of Jubily passing with these Ceremonies and acts of Devotion at the end thereof being the 24th of December 1625. the Gate of the Church of St. John de Lateran was shut by Cardinal Levi Arch-deacon of that Church that of Santa Maria Maggiore by Cardinal Millin the Arch deacon also of that Church that of St. Paul by Cardinal de Monte Dean of the Sacred College and during the time that these three Cardinals were employed in these Ceremonies the Pope assisted at the Vespers in St. Peter's Church which being ended he himself shut the Gates of the Church of the Vatican with the ordinary Solemnity in memory of which this Inscription was engraved Vrbanus VIII Pont. Max. Portam Sanctam reseravit Et Clausit Anno M.DC. XXV Howsoever in favour to Pilgrims the Pope thought sit to continue the benefit and priviledg of his Indulgences until the first day of the year 1626. And now the Pope who at the beginning of his Pontificate had created Francis Barberino his Nephew Cardinal Deacon of St. Onufrio was still designing greater honours for him and in the year 1624. gave him the Title of Cardinal of St. Agatha and made him Pretor of the Cities of Tiburtia and Firmiana Patron and Protector of Aragon Portugal England Scotland c. Library-keeper of the Apostolical Sea and Vice-Chancellour of the Holy Church of Rome and farther to exalt him with higher honours in the year 1625. he sent him into France with the character of Legat à Latere and to make his reception more splendid he dispatched Bernardino Mari a Patrician of Rome into France to intreat Lewis XIII that he would be pleased to receive his Nephew under that degree and quality At his departure from Rome the Pope delivered to him a Cross with his Benediction and the Cardinals accompanied him to the gate
of St. Angelo At his arrival in the Suburbs of Paris he was visited in the name of the King and Queen by the Duke of Nemours and other chief Peers of France and at his entry he was accompanied by the Duke of Orleans the King 's only Brother with a great train of Nobility of the first rank and Order in that Kingdom This Legat who was young and but lately admitted into the Order of Priesthood reserved his first Mass wherewith to treat the King and Queen which he offered to them as the first fruits of his Sarifices celebrating it at Fontainbleau on the 15th of August which is the day of the Festival of the Assumption of our Lady Being returned afterwards to Rome his presence was desired by Philip III. King of Spain under the same quality and character at his Court to be Godfather in place of the Pope to the Daughter of the King who was afterwards baptized with the name of Maria Clara Eugenia But not to confer all the stock of honour on one single person of his Kinred the Pope called Anthony Barberini his other Nephew Son of another Brother from his Capuchin's Cell to rank him together with the Cardinals it was he who was called for a long time Cardinal Antonio he was esteemed a very upright Man and one who observed the rules of S. Francis notwithstanding that his degree of Cardinal excused him in a great measure from the severity of them During the absence of Francisco Barberino in France Antonio was Chief Minister with the Pope in his stead which at his return he did most voluntarily resign into the hands of Francisco in the execution of which it is reported of him that he would never be present at the consultations of War which at that time infested Italy upon a Dispute concerning the Valteline saying that his Order obliged him to the exercise of Peace and works of Charity the affairs of War being incompatible with his Vow and his Profession In the year 1626. this Pope had the honour to consecrate the great Basilicon of St. Peter's Church which having been created by Constantine the Great was afterwards enlarged and adorned by the munificence of many other Popes and now being compleatly finished by this he with great Pomp in presence and with the assistance of twenty two Cardinals of which three were Bishops performed all the Ceremonies and rites of consecration in memory of which this Inscription was engraven over the Walls Vrbanus VIII Pontif. Max. Vaticanam Basilicam A Constantino Magno Extructam A Beato Silvestro Dedicatam In Amplissimi Templi Formam Religiosâ multorum Pontificum Magnificentiâ Redactam Solemni ritu consecravit Sepulcrum Apostolicum Area Mole Decoravit O Deum Aras Et Sacella Statuis Ac Multiplicibus Operibus Ornavit And indeed that Area Moles or the Corinthian Brass with which he made the high Altar was fetched from the roof of the Pantheon called now the Rotunda from the form of it built by Agrippina the which Brass not only served for the high Altar for out of the surplusage of it there was founded a great Cannon now in the Castle of St. Angelo which gave occasion to that Libell which was put into the hands of Pasquin Quod non fecerunt Barbari fecerunt Barberini And indeed it seems strange that the Romans who are so curious should destroy such a piece of Antiquity for as I remember I took off this Inscription from the Architrave of the Portico M. Agrippa L.F. Cos. Tertium fecit And undeneath in lesser Letters Imp. Caes. L. Septimius Severius Pius Pertinax Arabicus Adiabenicus Parthicus Maximus Pont. Max. Trib. Pop. XI Cos. III. P.P. PROCos Imp. Caes. M. Aurelius Antoninus Pius Faelix Aug Trib. Potest V. Cos. PROCos Pantheum vetustate corruptum cum omni cultu restituêrunt This Temple formerly dedicated to all the Gods was now dedicated to all Saints Now as to matters of political Government and his management thereof the Pope found himself much engaged by Gregory his Predecessour who as we have said in his life had accepted the Valteline in Deposite which bringing an unseasonable charge upon him he complained thereof but found no way to get out for Ludovisio had strongly tied the knot both of business and decency And though Vrban by reason of employments exercised in France was judged inclinable and in a manner partial to that Court yet it was fit that he should appear serviceable at least in name to the designs of Spain and indeed he was so in reality for though the Deposite of the Valteline was said to be in the hands of the Pope yet Leopold continued in possession and enjoyed the conveniencies and advantages and the Grisons groaned under the burden to remedy which the Pope proposed divers expedients but the preliminary to all and his chief condition was a reimbursement of the Money which he had expended before he would quit or part with his Trust The Confederates readily accepted the proffer and willingly would have reimbursed the Pope provided the Valley were put into their hands and rendred to the first Owner when the Forts were razed and Religion restored But the Pope being fearful to offend Spain proposed that a strong body of Soldiery belonging to the Valteline should be razed and united either to the Catholick Cantons of Helvetia or as a fourth League to the three Cantons of the Grisons But the Confederates proposing to themselves the end of restoring things to their former state judged that by these means they should be wanting to the protection which they had promised to the Grisons and that the Spaniards should still enjoy the predominancy and liberty of passage to the exclusion of all others upon which considerations and several others the Dispute still continued until the year 1627 when the Pope acquainted the Cardinals in a full Consistory that the Disputes and Wars arisen about the Valteline were composed and ended on the conditions that the Fortifications of those places which were committed to his Trust were by consent of the Kings of France and Spain to be ruined and demolished To which he added these words At length said he we have attained that which we much wished and desired for by mutual consent of both Kings the Peace is concluded and established we have omitted nothing which might conduce to the good of the Church and it hath been our principal care that the Catholick Religion should suffer no detriment the Kings themselves are witnesses hereof and God himself knows that we have always had his glory and honour before our eyes And now that the Grandeur of the Apostolical Chair be advanced and the Consistory gratified and pleased Vrban in the year 1631. bestowed the Title of Eminence upon the Cardinals forbidding them to receive any other distinction of honour and for establishment thereof a Decree was made and entred into the Records of the Congregation of Ceremonies that the Titles of Cardinals should be the
produced for those Cities and Fortresses which in other times had valiantly stood out for many months against the Sieges and storms of their Enemies did now shamefully yield so soon as they discovered the French Banners displayed before their Walls To this success the surprise of the action did much contribute for had the King deferred this enterprise until the Summer 't is more than probable that he might have encountred a greater opposition by the union of the German Princes who in a season fit for Armies to take the Field would scarce have suffered so considerable a part as the Franch Compte to be lopped off and dismembred from the Body of the Empire This sudden and unexpected success begat a jealousie in the neighbouring Princes and was the first moving Cause which gave beginning to the Triple League between England the Vnited Provinces and Sweden leaving a door open to other Princes to be comprehended as they should see cause in the same Agreement This Sacred Alliance became the common discourse of all Europe and many happy effects were expected as consequences thereof In which conjuncture our Clement IX renewing his former sollicitations for Peace procured a suspension of Arms and though he desired that Rome or Venice should be the places appointed for this Treaty yet Aquisgrane being esteemed a place more convenient for the Electoral Princes who were much concerned in this Accommodation it was by common consent ordained for the onely place of Treaty And now France at the instant pressures of so many powerful Princes inclining to hearken unto Propositions of Peace and the King calling to remembrance his Articles with the King of Portugal not to make a Peace with Spain in exclusion of him he immediately sent his Advices to Lisbon advising that King to dispatch his Plenipotentiary to Aquisgrane which was appointed for the place of Treaty This intimation being given to the Court of Portugal the Count Olivarez Son of the late Favourite being then a Prisoner at Lisbon taken at the Battel of Canal began to propose several Conditions in order to a Peace for which afterwards receiving a Commission from Madrid a Treaty was separately set on foot without concerning France in it At this time the Earl of Sandwich resided at the Court of Spain in quality of Ambassadour from his Majesty of Great Britain a Person so well affected by both Courts that by mutual consent of both Parties he was in the place of the King his Master chosen Umpire of the Peace between the two Kingdoms This Overture being acceptable to our gratious King he sent his Orders and Instructions to the Earl of Sandwich to remove from Madrid to Lisbon there to be Arbitrator of the Peace and in order thereunto to perform all the good Offices of Mediation The Plenipotentiaries being accordingly assembled at Lisbon after some few Conferences between the Earl of Sandwich and Count Olivarez a Peace was concluded and published in the month of March without any respect or consideration to the agreement contracted the year before with France or the endeavours of the Abbat of St. Romain to the contrary And indeed the People were grown so weary of a War which had continued for the space of twenty eight years that they were ready to have broken out into a common mutiny had the least interruption been given thereunto the Commonalty scarce tempering their rage against the French Minister for labouring to disappoint that happiness they had so long desired Some few days after the Peace was proclaimed a Sentence of Divorce declaring the Marriage void between the King Alphonso and the Queen was published grounded on the suppos'd impotency of the King her Husband whereby the Matrimonial knot was dissolved and both Parties freed and stated in a lawful separation with power to dispose of their own Persons The confirmation of this act of Divorce was a subject of serious consideration to the Pope but afterwards when it was to extend so far as to make the Prince lawful possessour of his Brother's Wife and Dominions it was so much the more weighty and worthy consideration but at length reasons of State and conveniences of that Kingdom overswayed the strict Rules and Canons of the Church But in the first place we must understand that this Divorce was the consequence of a general revolt of the People from their King for they being guided by a prevailing Party in opposition to the Conde de Cassel Meglior Chief Minister of State murmured against the Government and perhaps not without some cause for the King himself being given to Wine practised such extravagancies as were intolerable and which did not pass without some reflections on the Favourite though as to himself he managed all things with prudence and good conduct Moreover the Conde opposing the Peace with Castile on other terms than such as were agreeable to the method and Articles concluded with France became so displeasing to the People that he was displaced from his Office and the Prince admitted to the sole management and direction of Affairs But the Conspiracy stopped not its course at this period for the Queen hereupon retiring into a Monastery and declaring the dissatisfaction she had to the King her Husband demanded the justice of the Country upon the causes given to dissolve the Matrimonial knot by a sentence of lawful Divorce The People at this news were stirred with great commotions and being naturally enclined to Novelty joined with the Prince's Party to chuse him Governour of the Kingdom committing the Person of the King to safe custody until the States of Portugal should otherwise provide in cases of this great emergency The States being assembled about the beginning of the year approved the reasons for deposing the King and confirmed the Regency on the Prince and upon hearing the Cause between the King and Queen the Marriage was found void and null and accordingly an Instrument of Divorce was formed and published and license given to the Prince to take the Queen for his Wife on supposition that she was still a Virgin and unknown to his Brother The case though strange to scrupulous Ears and Consciences was not yet without former examples For in Poland John Casimiro succeeded to the Crown and to the Wife of his Brother Vladislaus And in former Histories of Portugal it is recorded that the Nobility desired John III. to match with the Queen Fâ—â—â—â—ora relict of King Emanuel his Father and therefore this case was not without a Precedent which after dissolution of the Marriage and publication of the Queen's divorce from Alfonso VI. might confirm and make lawful the espousals with the Prince his Brother A particular account of all these Occurrences being given at Paris by the Sicur Verius who then resided at Lisbon for the Crown of France The Cardinal Vandosme then Legat à Latere from the Pope to the most Christian King immediately dispatched a Brief of dispensation into Portugal in the name and by the Authority
being the year following after the Inauguration of the Pope Don Pedro d' Aragon Vice-King of Naples appeared at Rome with a splendid Retinue to perform the Embassy of Obedience as they call it which is done by the yearly present of a white Genet this Ceremony was at other times performed by the Ambassadour of Spain residing at Rome but to shew a greater honour perhaps to the Pope the Vice-King was qualified with the Title of Ambassadour Extraordinary after whose return into Spain the Marquis of Astorgas was constituted Vice King of Naples and Father Nitardo Inquisitor-General of Spain was dignified with the Character of Ambassadour and because that honour is inconsistent with the simple condition of a religious person the Pope adorned him with the Title of Archbishop of Edessa who the year following with several others was promoted to the dignity of Cardinal This year also Pope Pius Quintus who was a Dominican or of the Order of Preachers was canonized being a hundred years after his decease There also happened a dispute concerning Precedency between Don Gasparo Altieri one of the Pope's Nephews and General of the Pope's Forces and commandator Bichi Ambassadour of Tuscany which difference was determined in favour of the latter In the mean time violent disturbances arose in Poland on occasion that King Michael had removed the Primate of that Kingdom and the Great General Sobieski from their places and Offices of Trust which afterwards were accommodated by the Pope's Nuntio Monsignor Bonvisi on terms more necessary than convenient or rather by the approach of the Turks who with a formidable force had taken the strong fortress of Keminiec and were entered into the bowels of Poland as far as Leopolis the news hereof made a great noise at Rome but little disturbed Cardinal Altieri who being intent to other designs did not much trouble his head with the thoughts of sending Nuntio's to the Christian Princes whose business was to incite them to administer help and succour to the afflicted Poland oppressed and almost over run with Mahometan Arms for his Opinion was as they say that the intercession of the Pope's Ministers in matters of that nature were only formalities and such as conduced little to real effects for that Princes well disposed and zealous for the Christian Cause or such as were united in the same common Interest which was to expel and drive an Enemy so powerful and dangerous far from them would move on the principles of their own safety without any other incitements or motives from their common Father the Pope and indeed Altieri searching for the nature of mankind within himself did conclude that not Religion but interest of State onely governed the World Howsoever that he might afford some testimonies of his care and affection towards Poland he raised the sum of three hundred thousand Crowns by impositions on Ecclesiastical Benefices in Italy of which he sent fifty thousand into Poland and the remainder he invested in buildings furniture and moveables for his own service Soon after which King Michael dying the confusions of that Kingdom increased and so other Seditions and Controversies amongst them was added that grand point of dispute concerning a Successour to the Crown for conservation of which though Altieri was not so liberal as to contribute great sums of Money yet to please and gratifie the Spaniards he was desirous to have a hand in the preferment of a King to them naming Prince Charles of Lorain as a person qualified with all Royal abilities and endowments required in a King and indeed though none was more worthy of a Crown than that generous Prince yet the Nobles of that Kingdom informed of the Pope's endeavours reflected thereon as prejudicial to their right of Election having never received Kings at the nomination or recommendation of Rome and therefore proceeded to the election of John Sobieski a person capable to sustain a Crown to the benefit and glory of that Kingdom which being invaded by the formidable Arms of the Turk could never be rescued from ruine and destruction but by the valour and fortune of Sobieski whom God raised not onely for the protection of Poland but for the defence of Germany having by his Heroick march from his own Country in the year 1683. to raise the Siege of Vienna signalized his Valour and prowess to such a degree as Romances describe Heroes and the generous Actions and atchievements of mighty Princes It hath been a priviledg granted by the See of Rome to the Kings of Poland immediately after their Election to bestow a Cardinal's Cap on any Person whom they should propose according to which Power the new King nominated the Bishop of Marseglia for that Person to whom he designed that honour It was indifferent to Altieri whether the Scarlet were bestowed on him or any other had not the Spaniards to whose Interest he was extreamly partial suggested the contrary pretending that the King ought to nominate a Subject of his own and not of a forein and stranger Prince for that in regard the French King was able to insinuate into all Courts by flattery and bribery he might easily obtain a nomination for one or other who should either by Nation or Interest be ingaged in that Faction and so in time the whole Conclave become French and entirely dedicated to the devotion of that King And whereas it might be objected that the refusal of the King of Polands desire would much disoblige him and the whole Nation which stood much on their points and Prerogatives The Spaniards answered That the Election of the Great Marshal Sobieski to the Crown of Poland having not been performed according to the usual Rules and Methods observed in that Kingdom could not continue or be confirmed for that the Nobles of Lituania had not given their Votes or suffrages thereunto that the greatest part of that Republick desired an unmarried Prince who might espouse the Widow of the deceased King and in fine that all the Nobility of Poland remained unsatisfied with this Election and being greatly divided in their Opinions some alteration might speedily be expected Altieri suffering himself to be thus misguided with these suggestions of the Spaniards wrote to the King of Poland in the name of the Pope desiring â—his Majesty to fix on some other person of a more indifferent temper and who was a Neuter and less engaged to either of the Crowns by which he would perform so signal a kindness to his Holiness as would ever oblige him to prefer the Interest of his Kingdom in matters of greater moment The King highly resented this manner of proceeding of the Court of Rome being astonished to find that those who had used all endeavours to disappoint him of his Election should now have the boldness to demand such a favour from him as he could not grant without dishonour to the Crown which he had lately received and therefore testified his resolutions to persist in the nomination he had
conjectures as these could have no foundation nor gain belief amongst those who understand the constitution of Rome and the nature of the Cardinal who was more inclined to heap up for himself than sow for others But the more probable Opinion was that Spain was desirous to stand fair with the Pope because France was at odds with him giving thereby a testimony to the World of the unquietness of that Nation which is contentedy with nothing of moderation and in fine that their behaviour towards all is insolent and insupportable The year 1675. which was the Jubily or holy year being entered the City of Rome was after the usual manner filled with multitudes of Pilgrims and Strangers who crowded to obtain the benefit of Pardons and Indulgences which are plentifully issued and bestowed at that time That year six Cardinals were created namely Alexander Crescentio a Roman Marescotti of Bologna Rocci a Roman Albritii a Neapolitan Spada a Roman and Philip Howard of the Illustrious Family of Norfolk who was a Dominican having been Great Almoner to the Queen of England this advancement was much facilitated by her Majesties recommendations The which promotions the French King would not own because the Bishop of Marseglia whom the King of Poland had recommended as we have related at the beginning of this Pope's Reign was rejected to please the humour of the Spaniards And indeed herein his most Christian Majesty seemed to have just cause of discontent for though in the year 1671. Cesar d' Estreé Brother of the Duke of that name and called Bishop of Laon was created Cardinal yet that honour being conferredat the nomination of the King of Portugal in recompence of some services rendered to that Crown and united onely to the bare recommendations of France it was not esteemed as a favour done to that King but to Portugal onely of which Kingdom d' Estreé was made Protectour Howsoever Altieri would not understand it for other than a favour done to France without which and the interest of the Duke d' Estreé his Brother then Ambassadour at Rome it had scarce been obtained for that Duke amongst other Commissions brought from Rome had particular instructions to demand of the Pope the restitution of Castro and Ronciglione to the Duke of Parma according to the Treaty of Pisa but that being a morsel not easily digested by the Pope Monsieur d' Estreé made his way thereupon to gain the Cardinal's Cap for his Brother by a relaxation of that demand About the beginning of the year 1676. there arose a Controversie between the Pope and the Vice-King of Naples concerning the seizure of certain Banditi within the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State by Officers from the Vice-King upon which Dispute the Son of the Duke of Sora was banished from Rome upon pain of death in case he should return This Pope Canonized Cajetan Tienne founder of the Order of Regular Clarks Francis Borgia General of the Jesuits Philip Beniti restorer of the Order of the Servillians Lewis Bertran and Rose of St. Mary both of the Dominican Order Under these Circumstances Altieri remained with France when Pope Clement the 10th died some few hours before whose death Altieri pressed him to fill up the four vacant places of Cardinals and though the Queen of Sweden and Cardinal Barbarino joyned with him in the same request yet the Pope would not hearken to them nor grant their desire And when at last Altieri became more importunate with him than before designing to supply the four vacant places with Creatures of his own who might be able to fortifie his Interest against the next Conclave the good Pope turned to him and with some Anger said You may well content your self that you have been Pope for six years Suffer me now to follow my own inclinations and be Pope for six hours onely It was now generally concluded and believed that Altieri was so fallen into disreputation with the whole College of Cardinals and with the People of Rome and so hated by all the Prelates that immediately after the Pope's death he would be removed from all his Offices and deprived of his Suffrage in the ensuing Conclave But Altieri had so well feathered his Nest during his Reign under his reputed Uncle that his Riches procured him Friends and reconciled the minds of those who were most estranged from him so that he conserved his Office of Chamberlain with other honourable Charges and obtained a confirmation for his Nephew Don Gasparo in his place of General and afterwards entered triumphant into the Conclave onely his main task was in what manner to reconcile himself to the favour of the most Christian King in regard the Cardinals of that Party declared that they would neither act nor treat with Altieri until he had first given satisfaction to his Majesty INNOCENT XI SO soon as Clement X. had expired his last breath Altieri who was Cardinal Chamberlain gave notice thereof to all the Officers of the Houshold upon which news all the Prelates and Grooms of the Bedchamber in decent and mourning Habits repaired to the Palace of Monte-Cavallo where they found the Body of the Pope laid out on a Pallet covered with Crimson Velvet and there in presence of them all Altieri whose Office it was brake the Sigillum Piscatorium or the Pope's Seal in pieces and the Notaries of the Camera took an Inventory of all the Goods found in the Palace After which the body of the Pope was dedivered to those who were to embalm it and then the Bell of the Capitol was rung out to give notice of the death of the Pope to all the City And now Cardinal Altieri having nothing more to do at Monte-Cavallo repaired to his own new Palace near the Jesu attended with a numerous train where he received the Visits of Cardinals Princes Ambassadours Prelates and Nobles who came to condole with him for the death of his Uncle During the time that the Funeral Obsequies were solemnizing the Cardinals were busied in forming Parties against the time of Election the first day of which was the second of August when a considerable number of Cardinals being assembled in St. Peter's entered in form of Procession two by two with gravity and Order into the Conclave the next day some others were added to them in all to the number of fifty two so on the third day of August the Conclave was shut and Guards set by the Prince Savelli to whose Office it appertained as Marshal of the Conclave On the 4th instant the Mass of Veni Creator being sung the Cardinals began the Choice by way of Scrutiny The Persons nominated were Vidone Barberigo Odescalchi Spinola and Cerri all which had almost an equality of Votes Odescalchi had eleven but proceeding towards the Evening by way of Accession seven Votes only appeared for him On the sixth day in the Morning Scrutiny being made twenty seven Votes were given for Cardinal Corsini but in the Evening
Assistances and Contributions he made to the Emperour whereby to enable him to carry forward his War against the Turk who is the formidable Enemy of all Christendom Nor did he onely furnish him with great sums of Money at divers times but invited and instantly exhorted the King of Poland to undertake that Heroick Act whereby the City of Vienna was delivered and all Austria rescued from desolation and from being a prey to the Mahometan Arms And farther his Negotiations prevailed to engage the Venetians in the same War and to complicate a triple League between these Princes Thus have we seen that during the Reign of this Pope nothing hath been acted by him but what was designed to the common Good of his Church and State for having laid aside all the private considerations of his Nephews and Family his cares have been diverted towards the Common Good so that being freed from the importunities of a Cardinal Patron and the unsatiable Avarice of Favourites and other dependencies his Government is much less subject to Pasquils or libellous Censures but on the contrary applauded and honoured by all wise and good Men so that continuing in this steddy course through the whole remainder of his Reign he may be esteemed and numbered in the rank and degree of the good Popes FINIS AN INDEX Of the principal matters in the Lives of the POPES written by B. Platina For the Names of the Popes themselves see the Table at the beginning of the Book A. ABimelech Chieftain of the Saracens 121 124. Abraxas of Basilides the Heretick 16. Acephali Hereticks 77. Adauctus a pious Roman 45. Adelphonsus King of Asturia and Gallicia 149. Adrian Emperour his qualities and works 15 16 17 19. S. Aegidius a Grecian 133. Aelius Pertinax Emperour 25. Aemilianus Emperour 37. Aeneas Sylvius created Pope 389. Aetius a Roman General 75. Agarens who they are 108. Agrippa Castor a learned Christian 16. Aisprandus gets the Kingdom of Lombardy 129. Aistulphus King of the Lombards 137 139 his death 140. Alalchis Duke of Trent 120. Alaric King of the Goths takes Rome 70. Albericus Marquess of Tuscany 180. Albert Duke of Austria chosen Emperour 363. Alboinus 94. Aldeprandus King of the Lombards 137. Alexander Severus Emperour 31. Alexander Bishop of Cappadocia 35. Alexius Emperor of Constantinople his treachery to the Christian Forces 217. Allocephalis a nick-name for Ravenna 116. Almeric King of Jerusalem 242. Amadeus Duke of Savoy set up for an Anti-Pope submits 377. Amalasunta Queen of Italy 87. S. Ambrose chosen Bishop of Milan 66. appears to the Emperor Conrade 198. Amoreus a King of the Saracens 135. Anastasius gets the Empire of Constantinople 130. Anastasius a Heretick 133. Anastasius the Library-keeper 171. Anatolius Bishop of Laodicea 42. Andrew Earl of Bremen 251. Andrew King of Hungary 258. Angelot a Cardinal murther'd 369. Antioch besieg'd by the Christians 219. taken 220. Anti-Pope See Schism Antoninus Pius Emperour his Virtues 18. Ant. Verus Emperour 20 21. Antoninus Heliogabalus his vicious life 30. Antony the Hermit 54. S. Antony Canoniz'd 262. Apelles a Heretick 23. Apollinaris Bishop of Hierapolis 21. Another Bishop of Laodicea his heretical Opinion 69. Apollonius a learned Christian martyr'd 24. Aquila translated the Old Testament 17. Aquileia destroy'd 76. Arator a Christian Poet 88. Arcadius Emperour 70. Arioaldus 〈◊〉 of the Lombards 106. Aristides a Philosopher converted to Christianity 15. Arithpertus King of the Lombards 127. loses his Kingdom and life 129. Arius the Heretick 51 56 his death 57. Arnulphus Emperour 173. Another of that name Patriarch of Jerusalem 221. Another a great Preacher murther'd by the procurement of some Priests 234. Asterius an Arian Philosopher 59. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria 56. Athaulphus King of the Goths 71. Athimus a King of the Saracens 134. Attila King of the Hunns invades Illyricum 73 fights the joint Forces of the Romans Goths c. 75. Audoenus Bishop of Roan 122. S. Augustin Bishop of Hippo 71 his body translated 135. Avignon taken by the Saracens 134. re-taken 135. Aurelianus Emperour 41. Aurelius Commodus Emperour 20 23 24. B Babylas the Martyr his Body remov'd 62. Baianus Prince of the Bulgarians 188. Balahac a King of the Persians 232. Baldequan King of Damascus 233. Baldus a great Lawyer 320. Baldwin of Bulloign 217. gets a Signiory in Asia 218. made King of Jerusalem 224. taken Prisoner 232. Baldwin Emperour of Constantinople 265. Baltasar Cossa Anti Pope reconcil'd to the Pope 352. Banderesii what 320. Bardesanes a Christian Writer 25. S. Barnabas the Apostle 5. S. Bartholomew his body translated 158 190. Baruti taken by the Turks and rased 291. Basil the learned Bishop of Caesarea 67. Basilides the Heretick his death 16. Bassianus See Caracalla Bede the Venerable when he lived 126. Belisarius 88. comes into Italy 91. beats Vitiges from Rome and takes him Prisoner 92. S. Benedict 87. his body translated 137. Berengarius I. King of Italy 173. made Emperour 178. the second of that name 181. the third 184. Berengarius of Tours a learned Man 190. condemned for a Heretick 203. recants 205. Bernard Abbat of Clairvaux 227. Bernardus King of Italy 154. Beryllus a Heretick 32. Bishop not to be ordain'd by fewer than three Bishops 13 22. to be attended by seven Deacons when Preaching 14. the accusation of a Layman not to be admitted against him ibid. when cited by the See Apostolick to be receiv'd again by his Flock without a Certificate 17. not to be censur'd by the Metropolitan without consent of his fellow-Bishops 19. Bishops of Rome allow'd to wear a golden Diadem 51. Blastus a Heretick 25. Blood of Christ a Relique at Mantua 151. Bocca di Porco a name not fit for a Pope 160. Bodies of Saints translated 163. Boemund a great General engaged in the Holy War 217. wounded 220 dies 225. Constantine Son of Heraclius 110. routed by the Bulgarians 117. Another of the same name Leprous 148 Constantine an Anti-Pope 142 Constantius Caesar 44. Emperour 47. Another of the same name 58 59. Another who spoils Rome 114 Constitutions See Decrees Corporal to be made of fine Linen onely 17 Council of Nice 51. Of Constantinople 117 169. Of Lions 280. Of Constance 345. Of Basil 362. General Councils where and when holden 118 Court of Rome when remov'd to France 300. returns to Rome 322 Crescentius Consul of Rome 192 Holy Cross found by Helena Constantine's Mother 48. brought from Jerusalem to Constantinople 108 Cunigunda Empress 197 Cup in the Holy Sacrament Orders of Pius I. if any be spilt 20 21 S. Cyprian Bishop of Carthage 36. martyr'd 37 S. Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem 69 D J. Damascenus a learned Divine 81 Damrata besieged by the Christians and retaken 258. deliver'd 259 Dante 's Aligerius a learned Man 297 Deacons appointed to attend a Bishop when he Preaches 14 Decius Emperour 35 Decrees of Anacletus 13. Euaristus 14. Alexander I. 16. Sixtus I. 17. Telesphorus 18. Hyginus 19. Pius I. 20. Anicetus 22.
Lent first Instituted 18 Leo Emperour 78.79 his Edict against Images 132 S. Leo his body translated 125 Leodegarius Bishop of Autun 122 Leontius makes himself Emperour 124. deposed ibid. Lewis surnam'd the Godly Emperour 153 Lewis King of Bavaria 154 Lewis Son of Lotharius 100. Crown'd King of Italy 161. being Emperor he comes to Rome 167 Lewis King of France engages in the holy War 267 Lewis of the French Bloud Royal canoniz'd 295 Libanius the Orator 71 Licinius Emperour 49 Lions a Council there 280 Lombards their coming into Italy 96 Lotharingia Lorain why so call'd 160 Lotharius Emperour 154.160 Lucca made a free City 289. taken by the Germans and sold 308 Lucifer Bishop of Cagliari 59 Lucina a Roman Lady leaves the Church her Heir 47 Lucius King of Britain 24 Lucius an Heretical Bishop violent against the Orthodox 64 Luithprandus King of the Lombards 129. takes Ravenna 131. besieges Rome 134. his character 136 Luke the Evangelist 10 Lupus Duke of Friuli 114 M Macarius Bishop of Antioch a Monothelite 117 Macedonius a Heretick 61 Mahomet the Impostor 105 Malchion an eloquent Presbyter 38 Manes a Persian Impostor 41 Manfred Prince of Tarento 267. made King of Sicily 270. is kill'd 275 Manichees their Heresie 42 Marcion the Heretick 19 S. Mark employ'd by S. Peter to write his Gospel 4. his Body translated to Venice 158 Marriages a Decree concerning them 23 S. Martin's body works a Miracle 172 Martyrs their Acts ordain'd to be written and preserv'd 33 34. Masses yearly to be celebrated upon their account 41 Mathild or Maud a noble Countess 204. her death 206 Mauritius Emperour 98 Maxentius Emperour 48 49 Maximian Herculeus Emperour 44.48 Maximian Galerius Caesar 44. Emperour 47 Maximine Emperour 33.49 Maximus the Tyrant 77. a learned Christian of that name 127 Melito Bishop of Sardis 20 Merlin the British Prophet 79 Messalina Wife to the Emperour Claudius put to death for Adultery 3 Mezelindis a Woman of incomparable chastity 116 Milain taken by Sforza 377 Minutius Felix when he liv'd 31 Modestus a Christian Writer 25 Monothelites a Council held concerning them 117 Montanists Hereticks 21 Guido Montfort murthers Henry Son of Richard of Cornwall 273 Simon Montfort 256 Moors invade Calabria 176 N Names of Popes when first chang'd 160 Naples taken by Belisarius 91. besieg'd 253 Narses the Eunuch 94 Nepos a Heretick 39 Nero Emperour his Vices 6. kills himself 7 Nerva Cocceius Emperour his character 12 Nectorius his Heresie 74 Nice in Bithynia a Council there 51 Nicetas an Eunuch Patriarch of Constantinople 141 S. Nicolas his Body translated 216 Nicopolis taken by the Christians 218 Nogaret a French Cavalier 298 Normans have a part of France allow'd them to inhabit 172 Novatianus his Heresie 34. opposed by whom 36 O Odoacer King of the Heruli invades Italy 79 Olympius the Exarch 111 Optatus Milevitanus when he liv'd 66 Holy Orders not to be conferr'd at once 65. not upon maim'd or infirm persons 67. nor Foreiners without Testimonials ibid. nor on Servants 71. nor Debtors 72 Organs introduced first into the Church 114 Origen a learned Christian 27.29.32 Ostia the Harbour there by whom made 3 Otho Emperour an Account of his life 7 Otho II. Emperour 184 conquers Boleslaus King of Bohemia 183 comes to Rome 185 Otho Abbat of Clugny 207 Otho Duke of Burgundy engag'd in the Holy War 251 P Palaeologus Michael assumes the Empire of Constantinople 272 Pallavicino a powerful Gibelline 270.273 Pamphilus a learned Presbyter 43 Pantheon given to the Christians 103 Papias Bishop of Hierapolis 14 Papias the Lombard Glossographer 257 Paris when and by whom made an University 152 Parishes Rome when first so divided 14 Paschal an Arch-deacon endeavours to make himself Pope 123. convict of Sorcery ibid. S. Paul the Apostle 5. beheaded 6 Paulus Samosatenus a Heretick 26.40 Paulus Diaconus when he liv'd 147 Pelagius his Heresie condemn'd 69 Pepin Duke of Austrasia 124. King of France 137.141 his death 142 Pepin Son of Charlemagne 149.150 dies at Milan 151 Pepin Son of Lewis the Godly King of Aquitain 154 Perinus King of Cyprus 321 Pertheris King of the Lombards 120 Peter an Hermite excites the Christian Princes to the Holy War 217 Peter Abelardus a learned Men 238 Peter of Verona canoniz'd 268 Peter King of Aragon 287. his Kingdom given away by the Pope 288 Peter Luna Anti-Pope 338. his death 356 Petrarcha a learned Man 311 S. Petronilla S. Peter's Daughter her body translated 141 S. Philip the Apostle 10 Philip the Emperour 34 Philip King of France engag'd in the Holy War 251. returns home 253 Philippicus Emperour of Constantinople 129. deposed and his Eyes put out 130 Philo Judaeus when he liv'd 8 Phocas Emperour 101 Photinus a learned Bishop 18. Another of that name an Ebionite 65 Photinians Hereticks condemn'd 52 Picenninus a great Commander 361 Pisans overthrown by the Venetians 253. by the Genoeses 289. their City taken by the Florentines 339 Pistoia taken and rased 301 Plague through Europe 98 Platina the Author of this History imprison'd by Pope Paul II. 403. and tortur'd 410 Pliny the second occasions a persecution of the Christians to be stay'd 13 Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna 19 Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus 26 Posthumus an Usurper in Gallia 38 Pragmatic Sanction 396 Presbyters not to be ordain'd but by a Bishop 65 Primates who are to bear that Title 22 Priscian the Grammarian 88 Priscilla a Roman Matron builds a Cemetery 47 Priscillian his Heresie condemn'd 69 Probus Emperour 43 Projectus a Bishop martyr'd 116 Ptolemais besieged by the Christians 251. taken 253. retaken by the Infidels 292 Q Quadragesimal Fast See Lent Quadratus a learned Disciple 14 Quintilian's Works when and by whom found out 382 Quintillus Emperour 40 Quotiliani Hereticks 25 R Rabanus a learned Monk 159 Racherius Bishop of Verona 182 Rachis King of the Lombards 137 Ravenna the Church there reconcil'd to that of Rome 116. the pride of their Bishops repress'd by the Pope 119. the City taken by the Lombards 131. the Exarchate extinguish'd 140 Raymund a Commander in the holy War 217. a Debate between him and Boemund 220 Reggio surprizsed by treachery 320 Remigius Bishop of Rhemes 80 Rhodes taken by the Turks 111 Rhomoaldus Duke of Beneventum 119 Richard King of England engaged in the holy War 251. strikes up a Peace with Saladine 253. is taken Prisoner 254 Robert Guiscardi a great General 202. defeats the Saracens 203. and Greeks 204 Rodulphus King of Burgundy 181. of Habspurg Emperour 280. sells to several Cities of Italy their freedom 289 Rome sack'd by the Vandals 77. besieg'd by the Lombards 96 Rothifredus King of the Normans 171 Ruffinus a Roman General 70 S Sabellius Author of the Sabellian Heresie 39. his Heresie condemn'd 52 Sabinus King of the Bulgarians 141 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper various Decrees about it 16.17.20.27.125 Saladine King of Egypt 246. defeats the Christians 249. takes Jerusalem 250. his death and Character 254 Sanctuaries in
limited 205. dignified with the Title of Eminence 278 Casimir King of Poland 3 Castagna John Battista created Pope by the name of Vrban VII 205 Castro utterly demolish'd with an Inscription 315 Charles King of Spain 33. Emperour 39. Crown'd 61. renounces his Imperial Dignity 116 Charles VIII of France assists the Pope 10. claims the Kingdom of Naples and enters Italy 13. gains and loses Naples 14. dies ibid. Charles IX King of France 126 Chigi Fabio created Pope under the name of Alexander VII 321 Christina Queen of Sweden 319. abjures the Reformed Religion and comes to Rome 327 Cibo John Battista made Pope with the name of Innocent VIII 8 Colonneses and Vrsini a fewd between 'em 9. reconcil'd 10. both suffer much from Caesar Borgia 16. Colonneses vigorous Imperialists 52 Congo an Embassie from thence to the Pope 262 Conventus the word gives offence at the Council of Trent 94 Congregation for propagating the faith instituted 270 Cortesans used unkindly by Pius V. 158 Council against the Pope's mind appointed at Pisa 25. Another call'd at the Lâ—teran 25. that at Pisa declar'd a Conventicle 27. its acts and decrees abjur'd 31 General Council indicted at Mantua 7â— then at Vicenza ibid. after all at Trent 78. begun there 80. prorogu'd to Bologna 85. transferr'd to Trent 90.93 debates there 94 to 103. prorogu'd for two years 104. renew'd 125.127 transactions there from 128 to 156. Cranmer Arch bishop of Canterbury depriv'd 111 Duke of Crequi the French Ambassadour affronted at Rome 332. a quarrel thereupon 333 to 340 Cyprus demanded by the Turks of the Venetians 160. invaded and taken by them 161 D Dalmatia invaded by the Turks 75 D'aubusson Master of Rhodes 6 Denmark the Pope's Nuntio denied admittance there by the King 126 Diet at Regenspurg 77. at Noremberg 80. at Worms 82. at Auspurg 85 Divorce of Henry VIII and Queen Katharine debated 59. Of Henry IV. of France and Margaret Dutchess of Valois 221. Of Alphonso of Portugal and his Queen 351 E Elizabeth Queen of England denies admittance to the Pope's Nuntio 126. Excommunicated 159 and deposed by the Pope 162. well esteem'd by Sixtus V. 182. yet much hated 197 Eminence the Title bestowed on Cardinals when 278 England the States of Affairs there upon throwing off subjection to the Pope 74. returning to its Obedience how ordered by the Pope 111 F Fachinetti Cardinal chosen Pope and nam'd Innocent IX 210 Faenza taken by the Venetians 22 Farnese Alexander Pope under the name of Paul III. 67 Farnese Prince Alexander a Commander against the Turks 165. Governour of Flanders 197 Ferdinand I. King of Naples defeated by the Pope's Forces 6. makes War again 9. violates his faith 10. his death 13. Ferdinand II. quits his Kingdom 14 Ferdinand of Spain honour'd with the Title of Catholic King 13 Ferrara the Dukedom devolves to the Church 215 Fisher Bishop of Rochester made a Cardinal 68 Florence surrendred to the Imperialists 62 Florentines favour the House of Medici against the Pope 5. join with the King of Naples 9 Franche Compte seiz'd upon by the French King 349 Francis I. King of France 31. taken Prisoner 48. maintains unchristian correspondences with the Turks 63 Francis II. K. of France 118. dies 126 Friers Mendicant and Secular Priests a Dispute between 'em determin'd 4 G Gaston de Foix a French Commander slain 26 Geneva the City hated by the Pope 124 Genoa taken by the French 88. the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Ghisler Anthony made Pope by the name of Pius V 157 Gonsalvo a brave Commander recovers Naples from the French 15 Gregorian Account when begun 169 Guise the Duke thereof assassinated 199. and the Cardinal put to death ibid. Gunpowder Treason in England 261 H Hats red granted to be worn by Cardinals Friers 209 Henry VIII King of England 25 28. writes a Book against Martin Luther 37. his Divorce debated 59. throws off all subjection to the See of Rome 64. Excommunicated 66 Henry II. King of France slain 118 Henry III. of France assassinated 202 Henry King of Navarre excommunicated by the Pope 181. acknowledged King of France 202. professes the Catholick Fath 214. marries Mary de Medicis 222. murther'd by Ravillac 203 I James I. King of Great Britain 223 Jansenius his Opinions 318. determinations of the Pope upon them 318.341 Japannese Ambassadours to Gregory XIII 171. kindly receiv'd by Sixtus V. 176 Jesuits College at Rome by whom built 170. their Services to the Church 171. not openly favour'd by Sixtus V. 148 Jew at Rome converted by Pius V. 159 Ignatius Loyola canoniz'd 262.270 Index expurgatorius by whom publish'd 116 Indulgences restrain'd by the Pope 214.384 Inquisition by whom contriv'd 110 Interim of Charles V. what 87 Interview of the King of England and French King of Boloign 64. of the Pope and French King at Marseilles 65 Inundation of the Tiber 218.326 Don John of Austria General of the Fleet against the Turks 161.165 Italy divided into Factions 6. embroil'd in War 9. invaded by the French and their Confederates 23 clear'd of them 27 Jubilee celebrated by Sixtus IV. 3. by Paul III. 83. by Julius III. 90. by Gregory XIII 166. by Vrban VIII 275 K Key of the H. Sepulchre presented to the Pope by Bajazet Emperour of the Turks 11 Kinred unreasonably preferred by Pope Sixtus IV. 2.3 and by Alexander VI. 12. not much regarded by Adrian VI. 45. nor Paul III. at first 68. indulged by Paul IV. 110.114 disregarded by Pius V. 159. too much indulged by Vrban VIII 293. the present Pope Innocent XI not fond of 'em 382 Knighthood a new Order instituted by Paul V. 266 L Lance which pierced Christ's side presented to the Pope by the Grand Signior 11 Lautrec General of the French in Italy 57. successful 56. dies 59 League of several Princes and States against the K. of Naples and D. of Milan 14. Of many Italian Lords against Borgia 16. League of Cambray against the Venetians 22. Of the Pope and King of Spain with the Venetians 25. Of the King of England and the French King 57. the Triple League 350 Lepanto the Battel there 161 Letter Apostolical publishing the Jubilee 218 Lewis XI of France favours the Medici against the Pope 5 Lewis XII enters Italy and possesses himself of Milan 15. gains and loses Naples ibid. is excommunicated 25. dies 31 Lucca the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Lucretia the Pope's Bastard how bestow'd by him 15 Ludovisio Alexander chosen Pope and nam'd Gregory XV. 267 Luther his first appearance in Germany 36.37 his Sectators increase 62 M Mahomet the Great dies 6 Malatesta Robert General of the Pope s Forces 6 Malta a Controversie there between the Master and the Knights 169 Mantua the troubles there 279.280 Marignano General for the Emperour retakes Siena 105 Marriages of several Princes of the same name 217. Of Lewis XIV and Maria Teresa Infanta of Spain 330 Mary Queen of England her acknowledgment of
indifferency between the Pope and the Republick serving God and Mammon or otherwise should have intimation to depart The which Order was signified to them by the Patriarchal Vicar with positive Orders immediately to depart and to consign into his hands all the Plate Vestments and goods belonging to their Church and in like manner Orders were given to all Governours to execute the same Decree in their respective jurisdictions This Command being signified to the Jesuits they assembled all their Votaries into their Church and gathered great Contributions from them and persuaded the Capucins that when they departed they should march two and two in a rank as in Procession with a Crucifix on the breast of every one which perhaps might move some disturbance in the minds of the Commonalty who beholding so many Crucifixes departing from them might apprehend also that Christ himself and the light of the Gospel was leaving their City which Opinion might be the beginning of some happy Sedition The Jesuits themselves were hastned away and forced to depart about two hours in the Night every one carrying his Christ as they called it about his Neck the People flocked in great numbers to see their departure and accompanied them to the Boats shouting and crying aloud Let them go to the Devil In divers parts of the City they had concealed and hid away the Vessels and pretious Ornaments of their Church and their best Houshold-stuff with their Library leaving their College empty and void of all Furniture whatsoever or of any thing of moment unless the Library given to them by the late Arch-bishop Lewis Molino with an other Library of prohibited Books And though the Jesuits of Venice had burnt many of their Papers yet at Padoua they left divers Copies of a certain Book containing eighteen Rules with this title Regulae aliquot servandae ut cum Orthodoxâ Ecclesiâ verè sentiamus In the seventeenth Rule of which they were commanded not to insist overmuch in their Sermons on the force and energy of the grace of God And in the third Rule they were enjoyned to believe according as the Hierarchy of the Church believed that is if the Church determined any thing to be white they should believe it so to be though the colour appeared black to the sight of their own eyes And lastly they left unto their Disciples and Votaries certain Rules whereby to govern themselves during this Interdict But though the Jesuits Capuchins and other Orders of St. Francis Reformed had abandoned Venice and were retired to other Convents in Milan Mantoua Bologna and Ferrara yet the Capuchins of Brescia and Bergamo where were no Jesuits to seduce them remained in excellent Concord and Obedience and securing themselves with that Protection which they received from the Senate remained resolute and constant to their Principles against all the Censures of Excommunication and other Spiritual penalties issued against them by their Superiours and in regard many of them were sober and learned Men they retorted all those Spiritual Arms with great force and power of argument and reason It was certainly believed at Rome that this Monitory would have produced three notable Effects First it was given for granted that all the Religious Orders would immediately abandon the Dominions of Venice by which the Interdict must of necessity have been observed Secondly That the City and People finding themselves deprived of all the Divine Offices would rise in a mutiny against the Government and compel them to give satisfaction to the Pope Thirdly That it would beget a misunderstanding amongst the Nobility and cause them to divide into several Factions towards which the Jesuits though absent did labour with all the Art and industry imaginable But the Court of Rome against their expectations finding that all matters had a contrary effect that Mass and other Offices of the Church were Celebrated without interruption that the people frequented the Churches with greater Devotion than before that the Senate were unanimous in their Counsels and the Commonalty quiet and obedient they began to repent them of this proceeding and many severely blamed the Pope for being over-rash and hasty for that though there might be reason in the merit of his Cause yet the prosecution of it was of that importance as ought to have been attempered with prudence and the consequences well weighed before matters were screwed up to that Degree as admitted of no indifferent terms or accommodation Wherefore now it concerned the Pope and Clergy to labour with Art and power of the Spiritual Arms in vindication of their Cause in order whereunto the Cardinals were set at work to prevail with the refractory Friers and Monks to leave their Dwellings and Party and come over to them promising in reward of that good Service honours and preferments in the Church and on the contrary threatned them with Censures and punishments both Spiritual and Temporal Howsoever they observed a different manner in treating with the rich Friers and the poor Mendicants For to the Poor they said that if they could not observe the Inderdict they should then depart and leave all they had for sake of the Gospel and if that were not permitted they should then seek after the glorious Crown of Martyrdom But to the Rich they thought better than to use this hard saying Durus est hic sermo for though they were commanded to observe the Interdict yet were advised not to leave or abandon their Monasteries and Revenues and the better to inculcate these persuasions Commissaries were appointed out of the same Orders privately to convey themselves into the Dominions of Venice to instil and foment this Doctrine in the minds of the Regulars but the ways were so obstructed by the diligence and watchfulness of the Governours in their respective Dominions that not a Frier durst adventure to steal in and engage in that Errand Seeing therefore that this course would not take the next expedient was to raise a dust and disturbance in the Court of forein Princes And in the first place the Jesuits who were and still are very prevalent in Poland laboured to put an affront on Foscarini Ambassadour for the Republick to that King causing two of the Gentlemen belonging to his Retinue to be disturbed at Mass and expelled the Church And the Nuntio made very warm Instances to the King that the Monitory against Venice might be affixed in all publick places of his Dominions but the King on the contrary did not onely refuse to grant this request but highly resented the late Affront offered to the two Venetian Gentlemen in satisfaction for which by the King's Order the Marshal of the Court and the Cardinal of Cracow having assembled the Friers together and duly reprehended their insolence commanding them the next day to sing High Mass in their Church to which having invited the Ambassadour they obliged the Friers to ask his Pardon for the affront offered to his Servants And farther the King with approbation of his Council
of Pope Clement IX confirming the former Sentence given by the States and Justitiaries of that Kingdom leaving this example to the World that there may be a Case wherein a younger Brother may lawfully usurp the Dominion of his Elder and righteously possess himself of his Wife and of his Crown But the Prince Don Pedro not satisfied with the single dispensation of the Cardinal Vandosme who for the space of two months only was commissionated to be Legat à Latere at Paris to assist at the Baptism of the Dolfin in behalf of the Pope did for better assurance dispatch Father Villa a Jesuit the Queens Confessour unto Rome to procure a more authentick dispensation from the Pope himself The Case being new and strange and difficult to find a way how to make this matter with its present circumstances to become legal the Pope troubled within himself proposed the case in publick Consistory where after long debates on both sides the question still remained dubious and undecided until it was averred that the Queen was several months gone with Child the which circumstance altered the case and then the convenience of the Marriage was not farther alledged but the necessity thereof urged both for the reputation of the Queen and safety of that Kingdom which could not otherwise be setled but by the Pope's definitive Sentence confirming the legality of the Divorce and though the Pope hereupon granted his Bull dispensing both with the Marriage and translation of the Power yet the minds of the contrary Party were not so quieted but that several Conspiracies were contrived against the life of the Prince and particularly a certain Priest was apprehended with a Dagger in his Pocket and confessed that he designed therewith to stab the Prince judging it an action meritorious and pleasing to God to destroy a person guilty of Rebellion and Incest who had usurped the Kingdom and ravished away the Wife of his Brother Wherefore the Prince was in a manner constrained for his own security and for settlement of himself in the Administration of Affairs to remove the King from the Eyes of the people and accordingly he was transported into the Islands of Teraeras The French as we have said having gained their point by the Conquest of the Franch Comte the Spaniards having concluded a Peace with Portugal and the triple League being well formed and concluded the conjuncture of Affairs seemed propitious and tending towards the calm of Peace to improve which the Pope laboured with incessant sollicitations between both Kings to commence that Treaty which was once proposed to be held at Aquisgrana and now more instantly desired by him not only in relation to his Office of Mediator between Christian Princes but in zeal to the Christian Cause which then suffered in the City of Candia which with the whole Island was then in danger and ready to yield to the Arms of the Turks hoping that upon conclusion of the Peace the force of Christendom would be converted from itself and employed against the common Enemy as we may believe But the Intercession and good Offices of the Pope did not so effectually operate towards the conclusion of Peace as the Negotiations of the triple League were available by means of which the Peace was projected first on the 15th of April at St. Germans and afterwards concluded between both Crowns on the 27th of April at Aquisgrana otherwise called by the French Aux la Chappelle in form following That for the future and ever hereafter a good firm and inviolable Peace and a perpetual League and mutual friendship shall be established between the two Kings their Heirs and Successours and that as good Brothers they shall mutually to the utmost of their Power be assisting unto the welfare honour and reputation of each other and shall faithfully as far as is possible avoid every thing which may tend to the hurt loss or damage of each other That so soon as the Articles of this Treaty shall be exchanged and ratified the Peace shall be published and then all Acts of War and hostility shall cease and both Parties shall attend to the performance of the Covenants by surrender of Towns and Fortresses and release of Prisoners without delay Ransom or any charges whatsoever That the most Christian King and his Successours shall for ever hereafter remain lawfully possessed and Masters of Charles Stadt Binch Aeth Doway Scarp Fort Tornay Audemont Lille Armentiers Cotray Berguen Fuernes with all the Royalties Guards Castles Territories dependencies and Subjects with all the rights and immunities both Ecclesiastical and secular thereunto appertaining in the same form Title and plenary possession as they were formerly enjoyed claimed and possessed by his Catholick Majesty On the other side the most Christian King shall speedily after publication of the Peace withdraw all his Forces from the French Comte and shall really effectually entirely and faithfully restore and surrender to his Catholick Majesty all that Country without delay and without reserving any part or parcel thereof unto himself That all other places taken or to be taken until publication of the Peace shall in like manner be mutually restored and surrendred That the Treaty of the Pyreneans shall remain in its full force and Virtue excepting that part onely so far as concerns the Kingdom of Portugal with which Spain hath already concluded a Peace but as to all other matters and things nor expressed in this Treaty reference shall be had to the Pyrenean Peace That those Kings and Princes who are desirous to enter into the Guarantie for the Peace may respectively give their Instruments of Promise and Obligation to each King for maintenance and execution of whatsoever is contained and agreed in the aforesaid Treaty That this Treaty agreed and covenanted by the Plenipotentiaries shall be ratified by their Majesties respectively and registred in the Councils and Chambers or Courts of Justice in such manner as was observed in the Pyrenean Treaty and that Orders be accordingly issued within the space of three months after publication of this present Peace This was the substance of matters agreed at Aix la Chappelle so called by the French but antiently Aquisgrana from Grano as some think the Brother of Nero who for the convenience of some hot Waters arising near thereunto built a Town and a Fortress to which he gave his own name with the adjunction of Aqua in reference to the Waters it is now an Imperial Town situate between the Mosel and the Rhine famous for being the place where the Roman Emperours were first Crowned and Inaugurated and where Charles the Great was interred whose Monument is there to be seen But now having touched on the Treaty concluded at this place so far as concerned Clement IX who was a promoter thereof it will be impertinent to this History to recount the Councils the successes and proceedings which issued thereupon Nor will it be to our purpose to rehearse the Instrument by which the Triple League