augmented the College he apply'd himself wholly to settle the peace of Italy For certain Florentines who were banish'd by Peter Medices's Faction in a civil Tumult as Detesalvus Neronius Angelus Accioiolus and Nicolas Soderinus had persuaded Bartholomew of Bergamo who had a good Army of Horse and Foot to march into Tuscany and restore them and all the other banish'd Persons to their Country the Venetians under-hand lending their assistance these seem'd to be able and to design to overthrow the State of Italy at first dash But Galeatius D. of Milan with the Forces of the King and of the Florentine people posting himself in his way he slacken'd his march and endeavour'd to get the better rather by protracting the War than by fighting One fierce Battel however under the conduct of the Count of Vrbin they fought in the Territories of Bologna near a Town call'd Ricardina where no doubt the Bergamese had been utterly ruin'd if Galeatius had been there but he was gone to Florence a little before to settle matters relating to the War Those that were present at this Battel say that it was fought with the greatest obstinacy and the most numerous slaughters of any in our Age. But now the Venetians bethink themselves for their own safety rather than that of the Bergamese and though they sent some Forces to his assistance yet they sought earnestly a Peace and referr'd the whole matter to the Pope who also lying under great apprehensions if the King of Naples and Duke of Millain should obtain a compleat Victory urg'd on the Peace too It was indeed the Opinion of many Men of Understanding that the Pope was not altogether against Bartholomew's Design knowing that if an alteration were made in the Government of Florence he might with greater facility make War upon Ferdinand whom he so hated that he endeavour'd to raise him up more Enemies in Italy Having hereupon called together the Embassadours of the several Princes he mediated a Peace upon these terms That each Party should restore what they had taken in the War That Bartholomew should retire with his Forces into Lombardy and That for the rest the Conditions of that Peace should be observed which had been made at Lodi between Francis Sforza and the Venetians One Point was yet to be Disputed Whether the Duke of Savoy and his Brother Philip should be included in this Peace who that year taking pay of the Venetians had ravag'd Galeatius's Country with their Forces Galeatius denied to yield to it professing no Man should ever be his Ally and Friend who was an Enemy to the King of France But Paul with Promises and fair words made shift to get Galeatius's Embassador to sign it contrary to his Master's order which so enrag'd Galeatius that he banish'd the said Embassador Lorenzo da Pesaro and so infested the Savoyards that they were forced to sue for Peace which by the intercession of the Queen of France and Duchess of Milan both Sisters to the Duke of Savoy they at last procur'd upon conditions proposed by the King of France Affairs thus setled Paul had a little leisure and instituted sumptuous Plays and made noble Feasts after the ancient manner for the people of Rome Vianesius of Bologna Vice-Chamberlain to his Holiness taking care of them He proposed eight Cloaks to be run for each day in the Carneval old Men middle-ag'd young Men nay Jews took their fortune in the Races as also did even Horses Mares Asses Buffals to the incredible pleasure of the Spectators The Race was from Domitian's Arch to St. Mark 's Church where the Pope himself stood to behold it with great satisfaction who after the sport was over gave to every Boy that ran daub'd all over with Dirt a Carlin a piece of Money But Paul amidst all this publick Jollity was on a sudden seiz'd with a terrour unexpected for news was brought him that several young Men whose Ring-leader was one Callimaco had form'd a Plot against him and the Narrative of it was no sooner made out to him when he being already almost dead with fear comes a Fellow that call'd himself the Philosopher a sad Wretch and a banish'd Man who first begging pardon for his life and liberty to live in his Country shams a Story upon him that he saw in the Wood of Velitre one Luca Tozzo a Citizen of Rome but banish'd with a great number of other Banditi and that they were just coming upon him This made Paul tremble for fear apprehending that now being attack'd both without and within he should surely be undone and therefore he clapt up a great many both Citizens and Courtiers Vianesius gave him occasions of fear and so did any one about him who from a turn of Affairs could probably expect an augmentation either of Dignity or Estate They broke up Mens Houses without distinction and drag'd to Prison any body they suspected and lest I should have miss'd my share in so great a calamity they came by Night and set a Guard about my House broke open the Windows and Doors and seiz'd my Servant Demetrius a Lucchese who told them I sup'd that Night with the Cardinal of Mantua hither then they fly and taking me in his Chamber they bring me before Paul who as soon as he saw me Are you too says he in the Plot with Callimaco against me But I conscious of my Innocence answer'd him so fearlesly that no sign of guilt appear'd in me He being negligently drest and looking pale urg'd me still and sometimes threatned me with Torments and sometimes with Death unless I would confess I seeing all places full of outrage and tumults and fearing lest we should suffer mischief by reason of the terrour and rage that I saw had possess'd them shew'd many reasons why I could not believe Callimaco would attempt nor so much as to think of any such Design being without cunning an ill speaker unactive regardless without Wealth wanting Forces Dependents Ammunition and beside being almost blind more drowsie than P. Lentulus and more unfit for action by means of his corpulence than L. Crassus Moreover he was no Citizen of Rome that he should concern himself for the liberty of his Country nor was he a Prelate that upon the taking off of Paul he should expect the Papacy What could Callimaco do What dare he do Was he good either at Discourse or Action Had he listed any Men to assist him in bringing about so important a Design unless you will make Glaucus and Petreius the Companions of his flight to be other Gabinii and Statilii At this Paul turns him to Vianesius and looking sternly upon me says he this Man is to be forced with the Rack to confess the truth for he understands the true Art of Plotting Would to God Paul had dealt more considerately with me he had not then applyed tortures to me For when the Truth is to be gathered from circumstances the matter of fact not being sufficiently
that which was of greatest importance to him was the success of the League against Henry King of Navarre to support and strengthen which he dispatched the Bishop of Viterbo into France with Instructions and Money to favour the Party and Interest of the Allies against the King and his Protestant Party who stood Excommunicated by Pope Sixtus Iâ— is not our part here to relate all the passages and successes of that War being that which appertains to the History of France we can onely say that Henry IV. being victorious in all the Battels which he fought and having entered all the Provinces of that Kingdom with Triumph we may imagine that France stood at that time on its vertical point of becoming all Protestant But certainly that wise King considering that Victory in War is not sufficient to settle a Prince quiet and secure in his Throne unless his inauguration be attended with the affection of his People and a concurrence or conformity with the professed and established Religion of the Country did suffer himself to be overborn by those arguments which were produced in favour of the Church of Rome whose greatest weight consisted in those considerations which had respect to the Union and peace of the Kingdom And thereupon all the pretences of opposition to their lawful Sovereign being taken off from the people Meaux Lion Orleans and Bourges with other places which stood in Rebellion against him submitted to his pleasure and the King was received into Paris with all joy and triumph imaginable The King having made profession of the Roman Catholick Faith was absolved by the Arch-bishop of Bourges in the Church at St. Denys at which the Pope was highly displeased in regard the absolution of Monarchs in cases of Heresie could not be performed but by the Pope himself in Person or by immediate Deputation from him Howsoever the Duke of Nevers being sent Ambassadour to Rome carrying with him from the Nuntio Attestations of the King 's sincere conversion which was confirmed not long afterwards by the Sieur du Perron the Excommunication was taken off which Pope Sixtus had thundred against him and having received him for the eldest Son of the Church the Pope solemnly gave him his Absolution and blessing in the year 1595. In this year Pope Clement restrained the liberal Grants of Indulgences which having for Money been issued to every Chapman they became common even to contempt for remedy of which he imposed a greater difficulty on the concessions of them He also at that time relieved the people of Rome by abatements on the price of Corn having caused great quantities to be imported from Sicily he likewise suppressed by his Naval Force the many Pirats which infested the Mediterranean Sea and concluded a League between himself the Emperor the Prince of Transilvania and the Princes of Germany against the Turk for the effectual prosecution of which he afterwards in the year 1597. sent ten thousand Men into Hungary paid at his own charge under the conduct of Francis Aldebrandino which being joyned with six thousand which the Emperour sent into Transilvania and other Forces raised and paid by the circles of the Empire composed a strong and formidable Army against the Turk Howsoever the Wars between France and Spain still continuing without any probable appearance of accommodation the Turk availed himself of those unhappy divisions and forced the Emperor to raise the Siege of Raab and shamefully caused the Transilvanians to retreat from Temeswar and being victorious in all parts of Hungary threatned to enter Germany by force of Arms with which the Pope being greatly alarm'd and fearing the success of the common Enemy of Christendom bended all his thoughts towards making a Peace between Spain and France which he hoped to effect in that juncture of time when the circumstances of Christendom made it almost necessary to put an end unto the War In this grand Affair he employed Cardinal Alexander de Medicis who was afterwards his Successour to be his Legat to Henry IV. of France and by his Nuntio who resided with Philip II. in the Court of Spain he used many instances and warm Exhortations persuading both of them that laying aside the hatred and animosities which were between them they would seriously apply themselves to embrace such Conditions which might produce Amity and a Christian peace between them that so they might join in a League against the Turk who was now victorious and breathed out ruin and destruction to all Christendom but because these two Princes were high spirited and haughty as not to be the first to condescend and ask a peace the General of the Cordelier Friers was employed by the Pope to carry the Offers and proposals of mediation between one and the other in which he had such success that labouring with the Legat and Monsieur de Sillery who was aftewards made Chancellour of France they agreed at St. Quintin on the most difficult and disputable Points and Conditions which were afterwards perfected and concluded at Vervins in the year 1598. But that which had like to have interrupted and spoiled all this Treaty was the restitution of the Marquisat of Salluces which the French King demanded of the Duke of Savoy but lest this pretension should frustrate and defeat the former Agreement the King was contented to constitute the Pope sole Arbitrator and Judg of this difference promising to stand to his Umpirage and Award provided that his Sentence were published in one year after the Date of this present Peace But this Peace did not produce that union of Arms against the common Enemy as the Pope expected the Kings resolving to make use of this Peace for the quiet and repose of their Subjects and therefore taking no notice of any preparations against the Turk they dispatched their respective Letters to the Pope freighted with Salutes and Thanks for the good Offices he had performed towards the happy establishment and conclusion of a Peace But before this Peace was agreed in the Month of October 1599. Alfonso d' Este the second of that Name Duke of Ferrara died without issue Male by which the City of Ferrara and the Territory thereunto belonging devolved to the Papal Chair which the Pope made known to the Cardinals in a full Consistory with his Claim thereunto according to antient Articles agreed between the Ancestors of the Duke of Ferrara and the Sea of Rome But news coming afterwards that Cesare d' Este Bastard brother of the Duke deceased had made seisure and taken possession of the Dukedom by vertue of his Brother's Testament resolving to defend his Title thereunto by force of Arms the Pope was greatly troubled and incensed and immediately gave Orders to raise an Army of twenty five thousand Foot and three thousand Horse to march under the Command of his Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandino John Francis Aldobrandino being as we have said at that time in Hungary and to make these temporal Arms the more available he accompanied
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
Gregory having well discharged his Duty towards God and Men died in the tenth year eighth Month and twenty fourth day of his Pontificate and was with general lamentation buried in S. Peter's November the 28th The See was then vacant only eight days ZACHARIAS I. ZACHARIAS a Grecian the Son of Polychronius is reckoned in the number of the best Popes For he was a Person of a very mild Disposition and wonderfully sweet Conversation every way deserving a Lover of the Clergy and People of Rome slow to Anger but very forward to exercise Mercy and Clemency rendring to no man evil for evil but in Imitation of our Saviour overcoming evil with good and that to such a degree that after his arriving to the Papal Dignity he preferred and enriched those who had envied and hated him At the beginning of his Pontificate finding Italy enflamed in War in order to procure a Peace he forthwith sends Legates to Luithprandus King of the Lombards who now made War upon Transamundus Duke of Spoleto But these Legates not effecting the Design he himself goes in person accompanied with the Roman Clergy into Sabina and 't is said that in sign of honour the King met him eight miles from Narni and alighting off his Horse accompanied him on Foot into the City The day following while they were at Mass the Pope made publickly an Elegant Oration wherein he set forth the Duty of a Christian King both in the time of Peace and War and 't is reported that the King was so wrought upon by it that he presently put the sole Power of accommodating matters into the Pope's hands The King had already deposed Transamund and invested Agrandus his Nephew in the Dukedom Yet at the Pope's Intercession Transamund was received into favour but he quitting all Pretensions to the Dukedom entred into holy Orders All the Towns which had been taken in Sabina were restored as also Narni and Ancona and whatever places the Lombards had for thirty years past made themselves Masters of in Tuscany Moreover all who had been made Prisoners during the War were set at Liberty Luithprandus having been treated by the Pope with all imaginable expressions of Indearment and Respect marched thence peaceably with his Army and not long after died in the thirty second year of his Reign He was a person who deserved that Kingdom both for his extraordinary Wisdom and Prudence and also for his Valour and warlike Temper in which no man excell'd him so eminent also for Justice and Clemency that it is hard to judg whether of these two Vertues were more conspicuous in him His Nephew Aldeprandus succeeded him in the Kingdom which having held only six months he also died and Duke Rachis a Prince whose Piety and Integrity deserve the highest praise was unanimously chosen in his stead By him also a League was renewed with the Pope to whose Legates the devout and religious King graciously granted whatever they desired But having reigned four years he quitted his Government and betook himself to a Monastick Life encouraging his Wife and his Sons to do the like His Brother Aistulphus succeeded him whose crafty and fierce Temper threatned disturbance to all Italy but especially to the Pope and the Romans whom he designed by Force to bring under his Jurisdiction In the mean time Charles Martel being seiz'd with a violent sickness at the persuasion of his Friends divided his Acquests between his two Sons of whom Caroloman the elder had Austrasia and Suevia and 〈◊〉 Burgundy and part of France And so that valiant and wise man died at Cressey sur Serre in the thirty fifth year of his Office of Mayre of the Palace and was buried at Paris in the Church of S. Dennis He had had by a former Wife another Son named Grypho whose rapacious Temper suited with his Name he prevailed with the warlike Saxons to assist him in making War upon his Brethren But 〈◊〉 and Pipin entring Saxony with an Army force their Prince Theodoric to submission After this Expedition Caroloman comes to Rome and there renouncing the Pomp and Glory of Empire he goes to Mount Cassino and takes the habit of a Monk of S. Benedict But Pipin being of an aspiring Mind sends Ambassadours to the Pope desiring that by his Authority he would confirm to him the Kingdom of France The Pope upon the score of former good Services performed by his Family and the ancient Friendship which had been between them and the Popes his Predecessours yields to his Request and accordingly confirms him An. Dom. 753. and so from Mayre of the Palace who was the first Officer of the Kingdom Pipin was advanc'd to the Kingdom of France it self from whom the succeeding Kings derive their Original 'T is reported that Caroloman who as we have said had taken the habit of a Monk came now with others of the same Order from Mount Cassino to Pope Zachary desiring that by his mediation they might gain leave to remove the Body of S. Benedict which had by 〈◊〉 been carried away to the Abbey of Fleury in the Kingdom of France The Pope granted their Desire and thereupon sent a Message to King Pipin who upon Information in the matter freely gave way to it Zachary now enjoying Peace on every side set himself to the repairing of several decayed Churches The Tower and Portico before the Lateran Church he built from the ground made the Windows and Gates of Brass and upon the Frontispiece of the Portico caused a Map of the World to be delineated He renewed the defaced Images of the Saints enlarged and beautified the Lateran Palace repaired the Palatine Library and assigned to every Church a Revenue for the maintenance of Oyl for their Lamps He gave to S. Peter's an Altar-Cloth embroidered with Gold and set with Jewels having the Essigies of our Blessed Saviour wrought upon it He built the Church of S. George in Velabro and reposited the head of that Saint therein as also the Church of S. Coecilia in the Via Tiburtina six miles from the City and in it an Oratory in honour to S. Cyrus the Abbat setling a maintenance for the Priests that ministred in it He re-built the Roof of the Church of S. Eusebius which happened in his time to tumble down He also gave order that his Servants should daily distribute and give out at the Lateran Palace Alms to the Poor of all sorts Moreover he forbad the Venetians upon pain of Excommunication the selling of Christian Slaves to Saracens and Heathens which those Merchants were before wont to do Finally that we may not think that his Advancement to so great a Dignity made him neglect his Studies he translated out of Latin into Greek four Books of Gregory in Dialogue that so the Grecians might be instructed in the Rules of good living But having with such Integrity to the Satisfaction of all men governed the Church ten years three months he died and was buried in S. Peter's March 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
and endeavoured to regain the City which was his paternal Inheritance but had been so many years possess'd by that Usurper Yet there was a report that Pandulphus had bought the City of Cabrinus and promised to give him Riviera di Salo for it But John Francisco strove all he could to keep him from this War and sent Embassadors to tell him that he did contrary to all Law and Reason in violating of Leagues defending a Tyrant and taking up Arms against him who gave him the Government of Brescia And that Martin's Authority ought not to be slighted to say nothing of his own by whose Arbitrement the Peace was made But if he slighted the Authority of Men at least he should reverence that of God whom they had invoked as a witness to the League which he had broken Soon after the Pope went away from Mantoua in the fourth month after he came thither and passing through Ferrara and Romagna he came to Florence without calling at Bologna which he shun'd on purpose For when they of Bologna heard that Baldesar Cossa was forced to lay down the Pontificate they expelled the Church-Officers and asserted their Liberty At that time Carmignola press'd hard upon Pandulphus by his breach of the Peace made justly obnoxious to a War and in a short space took a great part of the Country of Brescia and pitch'd his Camp at Montclere there to encounter Lewis Meliorat Nephew to Innocent VII who was said to be coming with a great Body of Horse to help Pandulphus For they two were kindred by Marriage and Lewis did it in respect to his Relation So they joined Battel wherein Lewis was basely routed and not long after Carmignola reduced Brescia and made it subject to Philip who also within a little while was Master of Cremona and put Cabrinus the Usurper to Death Nicolas d' Este being mov'd at Philip's great success went of his own accord and did what he might have been forced to that is he went to Millain and restored Parma which he possess'd himself of when Otho the Third died to Philip but kept Rheggio at the request of Pope Martin as a Fee Thither also went John Francis Prince of Mantoua to congratulate Philip's Successes But when he saw Philip look gruffly upon him and understood that he design'd to renew his Claim to all that he held of the Cremoneses and the Brescians he went from Millain in haste and enter'd into Alliance with the Florentines and Venetians For those two States were very timorous and took pains to draw over whom they could to their Party because Philip who loved Dominion had broken the League with them and not onely given Sarzana upon the River Magra to Thomas Fregoso whom he had expelled from his Principality lest he should join with the Bandittoes of Genoa against him but also had incited the Bolognians who were Allies of the Florentines to revolt and in order to it hired their Soldiers to fight under him nay he had got possession of Forli under colour of the non-age of Theobald or to gratifie the Prince of Ferrara whereas there was a proviso in the League that Philip should not meddle with Bologna and Romagna They feared likewise lest all would be carried by the power of the three mighty Princes to wit Philip Pope Martin and King Lewis whom they knew to be Confederates Whereas on the other side Philip laid all the fault upon the Venetians because they had endeavour'd to keep Pandulphus in the Government of Brescia and because the Florentines and Genoeses had assisted some of his Enemies with Money and Ammunition and had bought Legorne which he had lately Conquer'd of the Genoeses for an hundred thousand pounds These seeds of Discord might seem enough to raise a War at that time but nothing did more set on the Venetians than the Authority of Carmignola a person mightily famed for warlike Discipline as any of that Age. This person could not endure as he used to say himself the insolence of Philip and therefore came over to the Venetians and animating them to War promised to assist 'em with his utmost Whereupon these two States assisted by the Princes of Mantoua and Ferrara and going Partners in the charge of the War set out an Army of twelve thousand Horse and eight thousand Foot over whom Carmignola was General And then setting upon Philip from every quarter at once with Boats upon the River as well as Ships upon the Sea they were invited into the Town by the Guelphs of Brescia who were against Philip. And having seized some part of it they reduced it all into their own power within seven months Then Carmignola led them to take the Castles which belonged to Brescia when Pope Martin very much concerned for Philips misfortune sent the Cardinal of S. Crosses to the Venetians to mediate between them and Philip. But that did not succeed because the Venetians and Florentines made unreasonable Demands and so they began again mighty preparations for a War They fought thrice in that year first at Cotolengo a Castle of Brescia the second time at the upper part of Cremona in which two places they parted pretty equal and neither had the better on 't and the third time at Maclodio where Philip was defeated and Charles Malatesta the General taken This was so great an overthrow that if Carmignola would have kept the Soldiers that he took and have pursu'd 'em whilst they were in such a consternation it had been no great pains to have turn'd Philip out of his Principality Charles I told you was taken in that Battel but was sent away safe by the Prince of Mantoua his Kinsman But Carmignola employing the Army against the Towns belonging to the Brescians which had continu'd in their Allegiance to Philip he gave him time to breath upon it For he not onely made Peace with Amadens Duke of Savoy who lay hard upon him yielding him Vercelli but he instigated the Emperor Sigismund and Branorus Scala against the Venetians But Pope Martin seeing Philip in such dangerous Circumstances sent the Cardinal of S. Crosses again to make peace between him and the Venetians who staying at Ferrara till the several Embassadors of the Princes and Cities came with instructions he made a Peace upon these Conditions That the Venetians should keep Brescia and all the Towns belonging to the Brescians or Cremoneses which they had taken that Philip should surrender Bergamo and all that appertain'd to it to the Venetians and that he should not molest their Allies or those of the Florentines or perswade any of 'em to revolt Martin approved of this Peace for fear Philip should be quite turn'd out of his Dutchy For as he could not be his Friend though he loved him well upon the account of Religion so neither could he then especially because at that time the Church-Treasury had been exhausted for several years by the War against Brachius For when he went to Florence he found Brachius
thank him for his kindness which was Divine rather than humane That Alliance was begun by Calixtus and is preserv'd to this day between all Christians and that Prince who vexes the Turk with continual War He laid out but little in building because he dy'd too soon and gather'd up all the Money that he could to maintain that great and perillous War against the Turks Onely he repair'd St. Prisca upon the Mount Aventine as also the City Walls that were broken down almost to the ground Yet some Hangings of Gold there are which he bought He was sparing in his Diet very modest in his Discourse and very accessible as much as his Age would suffer him to be for he was eighty years old and yet as studious as ever For he either read himself or heard those that did whenever his important Affairs would give him leave He composed the Office for the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ and order'd it to be said in the same manner and with the same Indulgences for which Corpus Christi Day is so much valued He receiv'd all Embassadours that came to him with great kindness but would not yield to any of their Proposals or Demands which were not consistent with Virtue and Justice And that was the cause why he fell out and had a long quarrel with Alphonso who sometimes would ask him to give Bishopricks to such as either upon the score of their Age or ignorance in Books as well as Men ought not to have them When Calixtus dy'd he left 115000 l. behind him which he had heaped together to make warlike preparations against the Turk As Calixtus was going to be buried Dominick Cardinal of St. Crosses and chief Poenitentiary died also a Man of gravity and great Wisdom and was buried in Minerva's Temple to the grief of all good Men. PIVS II. PIVS the Second before called Aeneas Picolhomineus an Italian of Siena and born at Corsignano whose Father 's name was Sylvius and his Mother 's Victoria was chosen Pope by general consent of the Cardinals August 20. 1458. Formerly his Father and the rest of the Nobility being banish'd or expelled the Republick of Siena by the Commonalty of that place he went to Corsignano the Seat of his Family and there had a Child by his Wife Which Child as soon as it was born the Father christen'd Aeneas Sylvius Now his Mother when she was big with Child dreamed that she had brought forth a Boy with a Mitre on his head as which she was affraid as people are apt to think the worst of things that her dream betokened some dishonour to their Child and Family nor could she be eas'd of her fear till she heard her Son was made Bishop of Trieste And upon that news she was freed from all fear and gave God thanks that she saw her Son more happy than she expected As soon as he was capable of learning any thing he having a good memory and being very docile went through his Grammar at Corsignano where he lived but poorly being forced to undergo all the troubles of a rural employment But when he was eighteen years of age he went to Siena where by the help of his Friends he first learn'd the Poets and then the Orators in which he was so skilful that in a short time he put forth Poems in Latin and Italian of which if the Subject was Love it is to be ascribed to his Youth Thence he apply'd himself to the Civil Law the study of which not long after he was forced to leave For there arose a War between the Sieneses and the Florentines which made him fear a Dearth and seeing the Commonalty of Siena suspected the Nobility he chose as it were a voluntary Exile and follow'd that excellent person Dominick Capranicus who then passed through Siena in his way to the Council at Basil to complain of the injury Eugenius had done him in denying him a Cardinals Hat which Martin even in his absence had bestow'd upon him for his Virtue and Integrity In his Retinue he went and after long tedious Journeys over the Alps that reach to heaven almost and are cover'd with Snow he travailed over Ponte del Inferno the Lake of Lucern and through Switzerland till he at last came to Basil In which Assembly though he had much to do being Dominick's Secretary yet he stole always some hours for his Book After that he was forced not without tears to leave Dominick because he was extream poor Eugenius denying him the Revenue of his Benefices and of his Paternal Estate too he went to wait upon Bartholomew Bishop of Novara with whom he came to Florence where Pope Eugenius at that time was But he was forced to leave Bartholomew also he being accused by the Pope of high Treason and betook himself to Nicolas Cardinal of St. Crosses and a very excellent and religious person in all Mens judgments who going to Artois by order from Eugenius where there was a Convention of all the French Princes he made a Peace between the Duke of Burgundy an Ally of England and the King of France After that Nicolas returning into Italy made a Peace between the Venetians and Philip Duke of Millain to their great satisfaction and Aeneas who was not very acceptable to Eugenius went to Basil and was in great esteem among all Men. He was made a Secretary in that famous Council and Abbreviatour of the Pope's Breves as also a Duodecimvir or one of the Twelve who in that great Assembly were as Censors For nothing could be done relating to the publick but what pass'd their graver approbation and if any were admitted to the Council that were not fit they were removed by their Order There were in that Council four Sub Conventions or Committees one debated concerning Faith another of Peace a third of Reformation and the other of promiscuous matters Over each of these there was a several President plac'd every month and Aeneas was often Chairman of the Committee for Faith of which he was a Member and was also chosen twice one of the Collators or disposers of Benefices He made several Speeches in that Assembly but one more remarkably elegant to prove that Pavia was preferable to Avignion Vdine or Florence for a place convenient to hold a Council in by reason of its plenty situation magnificence of the Houses good Air and the liberality of Philip their Duke When any thing was to be done by the several Nations together he was the onely person chosen for Italy to manage their business he was a Man so courteous and ingenuous He went also on several Embassies from the Council to Strasburgh three times to Trent once to Constance twice to Frankfort once and into Savoy twice But when upon a long Debate the Council chose Felix Pope and deposed Eugenius and eight were chosen out of every Nation to be managers of the Council Affairs Aeneas who was the Pope's Secretary refused to be one
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
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
manner altered or transported conserving still a Majesty becoming the gravity and seriousness of the Papal Chair unto which he was promoted Nor did he ascend unto this height on a sudden but by degrees and previous dispositions for besides the advantages of his birth being the Son of Octaviano de Medicis Cousin of Cosmo Great Duke of Tuscany he had exercised many honourable and important Offices for in the first place he had been Arch-bishop of Florence and Francis the Great Duke of Florence had sent him his Ambassadour at Rome Gregory XIII created him Cardinal under the Title of St. John and St. Paul and the 13th of December 1593. Clement VIII deputed him his Legat to Henry IV. King of France and Navarre in which Office he was a good Instrument in making the Peace between this Henry and Philip II. King of Spain in recompence of which and to evidence the respect he had for him King Henry presented him with a Jewel of ten thousand Crowns and finally being chosen Pope to the general satisfaction of all Rome he was on the 2d of April carried with the usual pomp to the Church of St. Peters where Te Deum was solemnly sang after which the people of Rome coming to salute him he promised to abate their Subsidies and Taxes to adorn the City to treat the Nobility with favour and respect and conserve and maintain the priviledges of all People respectively according to their qualities and conditions On the 10th of April being Easter day he was solemnly Crowned but the day of Procession to St. John de Lateran where the Pope takes the possession was deferred until the seventeenth instant when the Florentines and the several Orders of the City did endeavour to outvy each other in such demonstrations as might evidence the satisfaction and contentment they received by this Election amongst which the Florentines erected a Triumphal Arch with this Inscription on the one side thereof Leoni XI Florentino P.O.M. Florentini ad declarandam fidem laetitiam animi alacritatem And on the other side Dignus est Leo in virtute Agni accipere librum solvere septem signacula ejus But this joy and contentment did not continue long for the Pope being wearied with the tedious length of these Ceremonies and over-heated with the Weather and weight of his Vestments took an extream cold which turned to a Fever which encreasing daily on him he expired his last breath on the 25th day after his Election and in the seventieth year of his age the same Evening his Body was carried to the Chappel of Sixtus and the next day being the 28th of April to the Church of St. Peters where according to the usual custom great numbers of people thronged to kiss his feet The sadness at Rome for this sudden accident was certainly very great but none had so much reason to lament this loss as his own Family who had not time to receive the honours designed for them and particularly his great Nephew Octaviano on whom he intended to bestow his own Cardinals Hat After which the Papal Sea was vacant for nineteen days PAVL V. LEO the Eleventh being deceased the same Cardinals who had elected the preceding Pope to the number of sixty one entered the Conclave on the 8th of May where the day following the first Scrutiny was made but without effect by reason of the diversity of Votes and divisions amongst the Cardinals Sauli was then proposed but excluded Bellarmine was then next who in all probability might have carried the Prize had not the Scrutiny been deferred after the Pratica was made for him Camerino and Clemente were also put to the Votes but excluded only Cardinal Tosco had gained so great a Party being assisted by Aldobrandino Montalto and others of the best Interest that his Election had certainly been perfected had not Baronius and Farugio crossed the matter which caused a loud cry for Baronius but by a like accident of contradiction as well Baronius as Tosco was excluded at length after diversity of Successes Cardinal Borghese being nominated such unanimous consent appeared in all the Conclave that every one seemed to assent having no other objection against him than the small number of his years having scarce attained to the age of fifty three but that scruple not availing he was conducted to the Chappel of Paolino where he was elected and having vested himself in his Pontifical garments was worshiped as Pope on the 16th of May which being performed he took on himself the name of Paul V. This Camillo for so was his Christian Name was born at Rome his Father was Antonio Borghese of Siena but his Mother was a Roman Lady His Studies were chiefly in the Civil Law in which having taken his degree of Doctor he became so famous that he was made Referendary both of one and the other Signet In the year 1588. he was constituted Vice Legat of Bologna Gregory IV. made him Auditor of the Chamber which is an Office that requires great dexterity and experience in Affairs Clement VIII created him Cardinal with the title of St. Chrusogono and afterwards made him his Vicar which is one of the four principal Dignities of Rome In this manner he still advanced in greatness and honour until he came to the height of the Papal Dignity seeming to have arisen thereunto rather by the force of his own merits and Virtue than by fortune or the favour and recommendation of Friends or Patrons On the 29th of May being Whit-sunday he was Crowned with all the usual Ceremonies and then he bestowed freely his general Indulgences exhorting all people to pray for the encrease of God's Church the tranquillity and peace of the Christian State and extirpation of Heresie He abated or took off some of the Taxes which lay most heavy on the People moderated the price of Provisions at Rome and contrived a great abundance of all things necessary or convenient for humane life And to give some indication to the World of his magnificence and generous Mind he built a Chappel in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore just opposite to that of Sixtus V. which he enriched and adorned with Porphiry and Marble and endowed afterwards with a considerable Revenue Paul V. being thus setled in the Papal Chair and invested with all the Power attendant on that supreme degree made it the scope and chief end of all his designs and Counsel to scrue up the Ecclesiastical Authority to the sublime pitch of greatness or to use his own words to restore it to that State from which his Predecessours and particularly Clement VIII had by their remissness or want of care suffered it to elapse and decay And indeed his own natural disposition and the course of his life seemed to have fitted him for such a work as this for having been educated a Lawyer and made Auditor of the Chamber whose title is Sententiarum censurarum intus extra latarum universalis Executor he made
most Eminent and most Reverend but as to the Order of the Knights of St. George instituted by Paul V. he wholly abolished it The Illyrian Colledg founded at Loreto by Gregory XIII but translated afterwards to Rome by Clement VIII consisting in all but of twelve persons he restored again to Loreto with augmentation of the Revenue and of the Scholars to the number of thirty six And in regard his hand was now employed in giving and taking away Honours he was pleased to declare that the Commonwealth of Venice was a crowned Head and was to be treated with a Dignity equal to that of Kings About this time great combustions and terrible Wars threatned Italy for the House of Gonzaga which reigned in Mantua was now considered without issue male and as a dead Corps without hopes of any branches springing from thence neither could Ferdinand the elder Brother nor Vincenzo the present Duke leave after them any other than the young Princess Mary their Niece who as a Woman was excluded from the Investiture of the Dutchy had yet some reason though doubtful to pretend to that of Montferrat In her marriage therefore the pledges of Peace or the seeds of great contention seeming to be lodged many believed it expedient to marry her to Charles Duke of Rhetel Son of the Duke of Nevers the nearest and lawful Heir for this Branch though transplanted to a forein Soil was sprung from the same Root enjoying in France the revenue of three large Dukedoms viz. Nevers Rhetel and Maine The Spaniards who were jealous of this House and above any thing apprehended this Succession lest it should introduce the French into Italy promised the pretensions of Ferrand Prince of Guastalla a branch also of the House of Gonzaga but derived farther than that of Nevers but by how much the Austrians favoured Guastalla with benefits and declarations by so much the more was France earnest to strengthen the rights of Nevers with whom the Venetians also concurring in Opinion put the Duke in mind to establish the Succession in his life-time and therewith confirm the Peace of Italy Nor was Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy less attentive to his interest and game than the others designing upon the death of Vincenzo now crazy and infirm not so much with age as with riot and luxurious living to revive his pretended title to Montferrat and colour it with the marriage of Mary to his Son Maurice To pervent which Vincenzo with great secrecy called to him Rhetel that he might marry him to the Princess declaring him immediately upon his arrival Lieutenant General and his Heir by solemn Testament To perfect this Marriage nothing was now wanting but the Pope's Dispensation in matter of consanguinity or nearness of kindred which being obtained the Bull seasonably arriv'd the night before that Duke Vincenzo died so that the marriage was consummated whilst the Corps were yet warm and the day following the Bridegroom together with his mourning assumed the Title of Prince of Mantua and having in his power the Garrison and the Cittadel called Porto required from the people an Oath of Fidelity in the name of his Father Guastalla in the mean time published a Patent from the Emperour empowering him to take possession of Mantua until the right should be declared and commanding the Governour of Milan to maintain this Decree by force if need should require Guastalla also had thoughts of going himself to Mantua but the passage was already stop'd by the anticipations of Rhetel wherefore he practised upon Casal endeavouring to alienate the minds of that people from their new Prince but all in vain because the name of Nevers was universally cryed up both at Casal and in the Country of Montferrat The interest of Princes being now discovered reason or justice were no longer debated in the cause of Mantua but calculations made of Force opportunity and advantage The Republick of Venice resolved to joyn with Nevers as the safest interest in which to maintain the liberty of Italy howsoever being willing to decline the assistance of France and other Strangers they designed a middle party composed of a League with the Pope and other Princes of Italy by which they believed it easie to protect the Justice of Nevers by Negotiation and defend themselves on all occasions against violence This Remonstrance of the Venetians Vrban approved and offered his interposition with powerful Offices But what said he can be promised from Reason without Arms in dealing with him who places Reason and Justice in nothing but Arms the excess of Power in Princes makes little account of the Pope's Prayers and their Mediation is reduced to almost nothing else but to adorn the Frontispiece of Treaties with his Name The intentions of Vrban were in reality conformable to his expressions for he desired to maintain Nevers in the succession of Mantua but abhorred to engage himself so far as to be obliged to come to the extremity of taking up Arms. But whilest these things were in meditation and discourse between the Pope and other the Friends of Rhetel the Duke of Savoy taking the advantage of the diversion which the Arms of Lewis XIII found against his Protestant Subjects in France entered with his Army into Montferrat and hoped to be speedily Master both of that Country and of the strong Fortress of Casal which was besieged already by Marquis Spinola Lieutenant General of the Spanish Forces in Italy as was Mantua also at the same time by the Forces of the Emperour At length on the 18th of July 1630. in the Night the City of Mantua was by treachery taken by the Germans and for the space of three days committed to the pillage and cruelty of the Soldiers with all the outrages which lust impiety and licence could suggest to merciless Conquerours the Princess Mary retired into a Monastery where being respected for her Sex and Quality she obtained licence to be carried to the Empress to whom she was nearly related the Duke retired hastily into Porto where the Ammunition for full accomplishment of the Treason taking fire he was forced to surrender on condition that he should be convoyed by two Companies of German Horse into the Country of Ferrara to remain at Melara where the Duke was supplied with Mony for his maintenance from the Venetians The taking of Mantua in this terrible manner increased the hopes of the Spaniards who besieged Casal that they should speedily become Masters of that important place but their expectations were disappointed by the coming of the French Troops under the command of Mareschal Schomberg sent by Lewis XIII for relief of his Ally the Duke of Mantua Thoiras who was Governour of Casal defended the place with great gallantry which gave such discouragement to the Enemy that upon approach of the French Troops the Siege was raised and the Town conserved to its lawful Master In this manner was France Spain and the Emperor engaged in a bloody War within the confines of
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
discoursed of several Affairs between themselves and Justinian having confirmed the Popes Decrees Constantine at his taking leave advises him not to proceed too severely against Philippicus then an Exile in Pontus apprehending some mischief might arise thereupon because he understood that Philippicus was a Person of great Fortitude and Prudence But Justinian not following the Popes good Counsel sends a Fleet to Pontus with design to dispatch Philippicus who upon a Revolt of the Soldiers to him with the same Fleet makes towards Constantinople and at twelve miles distance from the City engaging with Justinian and Tiberius got the Victory and slew them and with universal Acclamation was declared Emperour This Philippicus afterwards banishing Cyrus the Patriarch into Pontus for his consenting in belief with the Pope puts one John a Monk and an Arch-Heretick into his place whose Opinions he forthwith sent in writing to Rome requiring all to subscribe their Assent to them But Constantine holding a Synod not only condemned the Opinions of Philippicus and John the Monk but also appointed the Images of those holy Fathers who had been present at the Councils universally approved of to be painted in the Portico of S. Peter's upon Intelligence that in a way of Contempt they had been rub'd off from the Walls of S. Sophia by Philippicus his Order Moreover the same Pope ordained That the name of no Heretical Emperour should be inserted in any Publick or Private Writings or impress'd upon Brass or Silver or Lead But Anastasius surnamed Arthemius by force of Arms deposes Philippicus in the first year and sixth month of his Empire and seizing him puts out his Eyes This 〈◊〉 sends Letters to Pope Constantine in which he promises to be a zealous Defendour of the Catholick Faith and the sixth Synod But he also within three years being flighted by the Soldiers was deposed and compelled by Theodosius who succeeded him to take Holy Orders that so he might never afterwards pretend or aspire to the Empire Theodosius a Catholick Emperour forthwith gave order for the restoring of the Images of the Holy Fathers which as we have said had been destroyed by Philippicus And Felix who had been banished into Pontus quitting his former Obstinacy returned home and was restored to his See of which he had been deprived At this time also it was declared that the Bishop of Pavia was subject only to the See of Rome and not to the Arch-Bishop of Milain concerning which matter there had been a great and long Controversie between the two Prelates Some write that two Kings of the Saxons under the Obligation of a religious Vow came now to Rome and that they there died as I think of the Pestilence Not long after them died Constantine having been in the Chair seven years twenty days and was buried in S. Peter's February the 11th The See was then vacant one month eleven days GREGORY II. GREGORY the Second a Roman Son of Marcellus entring into Holy Orders in the time of Sergius was upon the Reputation of his great Fidelity and Integrity made the Popes Almoner and Library-keeper Being afterwards ordained Deacon he attended Pope Constantine to Constantinople where there being a warm Debate concerning some Articles of Religion he disputed so smartly that all men admired his Learning Wit and Eloquence by which he easily confuted those who held any erroneous Opinions Soon after his being created Pope he re-built the Walls of the City which in several places were fallen down through age and repaired the decayed Churches of S. Peter and S. Laurence without the Walls laying in the Water anew by mending the battered and disjoyned Pipes which formerly had conveyed it into them He repaired also and enriched with Presents of Gold and Silver divers other Churches which it would be tedious to enumerate Yet I will not pass by in Silence his reviving a Monastery in the Via Ostiensis not far from S. Paul's whose Ruines are yet to be seen and also that of S. Andrew setling Monks therein who were to be continually employed in the exercise of Devotion Moreover it was the peculiar Commendation of this Pope that through his means the Germans were converted to Christianity he having sent among them Boniface a Monk to bring them out of darkness by setting up the light of the Truth Of these Germans a great number came to Rome and were baptized with the Popes own Hands He also by his Authority compelled Luithprandus who at first resused it to confirm the Donation of Arithpertus of which we have spoken before which Luithprandus did at the beginning of his Reign both possess himself of a great part of Boiaria and also besiege and take 〈◊〉 In the time of this Pope there was such an Inundation of the River Tiber which flowed into the City through the Porta del popolo that in the Via Lata the Water was almost a mans height and from Ponte Molle to the Steps of S. Peter's men rowed about in large Boats This Inundation continued seven days to the great Loss and Damage of the Citizens it having born down Houses and rooted up Trees Corn Plants and Herbs The Moon also being now in an Ecclipse appeared of a bloody colour till midnight and there was seen a Comet with its Tail extending towards the North betokening some future Calamity Whereupon Gregory that he might avert the displeasure of Almighty God from the Christians ordered frequent Litanies in Procession through the whole City While the Pope was thus employed at Rome there came Advice that the Lombards under the Duke of Beneventum had surpriz'd the Fort of Cuma at which Gregory being very much disturbed sends to admonish them to restore this Fort which contrary to the Articles of Peace they had unjustly possess'd themselves of or otherwise they would soon feel the Indignation of Almighty God upon them But after several Messages of the like nature they not quitting it he encourages the Neapolitans upon the promise of a sum of Money and the sending some Roman Soldiers for their assistance to recover it by Force Theodunus the Arch-Deacon having the management of this Affair the Neapolitans set briskly to the Work and re-take the Fort killing three hundred of those who were in Garrison therein and taking five hundred Prisoners whom they carried to Naples where the Soldiers forthwith received the reward which had been promised them Gregory now enjoying Peace applyed himself to Church-work For he repaired the Church of S. Cross in Jerusalem which had long lain neglected and newarch'd and roof'd the Porches on every side of it he built from the foundations the Oratory of S. Susanna on Mount Coelius and after the Death of his Mother dedicated his Fathers House to the honour of S. Agatha building it into a Monastery which he plentifully endowed for the maintenance of the Monks therein The Saracens now encouraged by the Discord they observed among the Christians setting sail from Septa in Afrique and
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
wholesom advice of those who gave 'em good Counsel At length the Genoeses when they saw themselves so begirt at Chioza that they could not sally forth for the Venetian nor get provisions from Matthew Ruffus or the Lord of Padua who had promised them shortly to supply them they surrender'd the Town on the first of July 1380. At which time there were taken of the Enemy 4340. though more died in the Siege by Famine and the Sword Yet the Genoeses though they had receiv'd such a fatal blow could not lie still but with thirty eight Galleys compelled the Triesteses to revolt from the Venetians to the Patriarch of Aquilegia They likewise took Justinople but not the Castle And when they had recruited their Navy they went for Venice again but no body encountring them they return'd into Istria took the City Pola and burn'd it Many slaughters followed on both sides But the Venetians were overcome in a Land fight by Carrara whilst James Caballus an excellent Commander defended Treviso stoutly which was almost forc'd by Famine to a surrender And now both sides being well tired with such a long and bloody War the Duke of Savoy upon the 23d of September 1381. makes Peace between them upon these terms that the Venetians every tenth year should pay the King of Hungary seven thousand pounds provided he kept all his part of Dalmatia free from Pirates and suffer no Salt to be made in his Dominions there and that the Patriarch of Aquilegia should have the same Power in Friuli as before the War But the Venetians and the Genoeses were order'd to send home each others Captives without any mention of the Spoils which were taken on either side The Padueses were commanded to draw off from the Siege of Treviso and to demolish the Towers and Forts which they had raised in Fens and at the mouths of several Rivers upon which account bounds were set out between the Venetians and those of Padua In the mean while Charles whom we told you the Pope sent for out of Hungary to go against Joan came into Italy with eight thousand Horse and first reduced Arezzo which had been long embroiled by the seditions of the Guelphs and Gibellins From thence moving toward Florence he was repell'd by John Hawkwood who at that time quarter'd at Sâ—agia But the Florentines fearing they should not be able to endure the shock of such a mighty King they purchased a Peace of him at the rate of 40000 l. and discharged Hawkwood without his pay who sold Bagnavallo to Nicolas and Albert d' Este that they might the better keep Faenza in obedience which notwithstanding they soon after lost by treachery to Astorgius Manfredus But Charles after he had visited Vrban at Rome went into his Kingdom and having conquer'd all Joans Forces took Naples by surrender The Queen was besieged in Castelnovo when the Guelphs of Arezzo made a Tumult and forced James Caracciolo a Citizen of Naples who was sent thither by the King to fly into the Castle The Gibellins also fled thither too whose good that just Man consulted as much as the Guelphs For he desired to carry every thing alike with equity in all cases Wherefore having sent for Albrick Barbianus from Todi upon the account of an injury which he reviv'd he went into the City and whilst he strove to reduce the Guelphs he plunder'd the Gibellins also And Ferraback another General who follow'd Albrick took all the remaining spoil that he could find in Arezzo Whilst these things were transacted in Naples and Arezzo a new cloud of War overcast Italy For Lewis of Anjou of the Blood Royal of France enter'd Italy with thirty thousand Horse and posted himself not far from Bologna being set on by Clement the Anti-Pope not so much to free Queen Joan who was besieged as by force to depose Vrban For this reason Charles left Arezzo and sent for Albrick and Ferraback to whom also the Frorentines sent John Hawkwood at the request of Vrban Lewis going through Marci was come as far as the Forest of Cassino expecting twelve thousand Horse which were already come into Italy under the command of Andegranius and marching through Viacenza Lucca Florence and Siena were arrived at Arezzo where they were let in by the Guelphs and sack'd the City after Albrick had given 'em a fatal blow The Gibellins defended the Castle which was besieged forty days and had been taken by the French had not Lewis of Anjou died in the mean time Then Andegranius seeing how things went by advice of the people of Arezzo that were besieged in the Castle sold the City to the Florentines and so return'd into France And the Anjouen Soldiers now destitute of their General wandered home by two or three in a Company begging by the way Vrban being now deliver'd from the fear of the French went to Naples and as'd leave of the King to make his Nephew Prince of Campania which when he could not obtain being of a clownish and uncivil temper which he would have had to be interpreted a blunt down-right honesty he began to threaten him and provoked the King so far that he set a Guard upon him for some days and would not suffer him to walk the Streets This affront he seemed to wink at for a time and with the Kings good leave went to Nocera to avoid as he himself said the heat of that City Where when he had fortified the Town he made some new Cardinals and imprison'd seven of the old ones charging upon them a Conspiracy with the King and the Anti-Pope against him Besides that He commanded a Process to speak in their phrase against the King and sent him a Citation to appear and had this answer from him That he would come very shortly to Nocera and acquit himself of all Crimes objected not with Words but with Weapons And in order thereunto he came to Nocera with a competent Army and besieged the Town But Raymund Balcianus of the Family of the Vrsins and Son to the Earl of Nola who was afterward Prince of Taranto was concern'd at the indignity with his own Forces which he commanded under the King he carried Vrban and the whole Court to the next Shore and put 'em on board certain Genoese Galleys prepared for the purpose By the way as the Pope sailed to Genoa he took seven Cardinals at Nocera of which he put five into Baggs and drowned them in the Sea But upon the death of Lewis King of Hungary the Nobility of that Country sent presently for Charles who going thither called a Convention of the Estates for the setling of Affairs but whilst he was busie upon it the Queen who ow'd him a grudg procur'd him to be murther'd in the year 1385. This was just about the time when John Galeatius put Viscount Bernabos his Uncle by the side of his Father Galeatius into Prison at Monza where he kept him as long as he liv'd and enjoy'd his Estate
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
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
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
without any appearance of outward force over-awing their Election or practices of Simony and corruption or other bad Arts by which it was manifest that the two former Popes had acquired their Dignity and so on the 11th of March being the seventh day after the Cardinals entered the Conclave John de Medicis of that great and illustrious Family in Florence now Dukes of Tuscany was by the common Suffrages of 23 Cardinals elected Pope taking upon himself the name of Leo X. At the age of 13 years he was made a Cardinal by Innocent VIII and now was about the age of 37 years when he was created Pope a thing rare and unusual to have a Pope so young and which had not otherwise been practicable but by the concurrence of the young Cardinals such as the Cardinal of Aragon Gonzaga Cornaro Petrucci c. the Conclave before they came to this Election proposed and with many warm Debates considered of the ways how the Secular Power which the late Popes had exercised in a disorderly manner sacrificing all to their lust and ambition might be restrained within some limits and bounds of moderation but those rules and terms agreed upon were speedily relaxed and dispensed with so soon as a new Lord or Governor appeared whom every one courted being desirous with humble obsequiousness to gratifie and freeing him from all the clogs and limits to his power endeavoured to testifie the confidence they had in him Being thus chosen on the 11th of March he was crowned on the 19th and on the 11th of April following in a most pompous and solemn manner he went to visit the Church of S. John Lateran and with such magnificence and State as was never equalled by former Popes The world conceived great joy and expectations of good at the first news of his Election for being a person of unspotted Chastity of exemplary Piety and unblemished in his manners and the Papal Dignity obtained fairly by him without Simony Corruption or evil Arts it was reasonable to expect and presage from such happy beginnings times of more calmness and blessings to the Church than under the turbulent Reigns of the two former Popes The exiled Cardinals of which those of greatest note were S. Croia and S. Severin hearing of the death of Julius II. began their Journey towards Rome and being landed at Livorn they went to Pisa and thence had safe conduct to Florence The Pope having received intelligence of their arrival in that City sent the Bishop of Orvietto to advise them not to proceed farther until such time as it should be determined in what manner they should be received at Rome For considering they had been judicially deprived and their deprivation confirmed in the Council of Lateran that they should forbear to go in the habit of Cardinals but present and offer themselves in some other modest and penitential dress whereby they might testifie their repentance and humility which would be the best motive and arguments to restore them again to their pristine condition the which being accordingly agreed the Cardinals renouncing their late Schism with all submission and humility returned to Rome and kissed the feet of the Pope Notwithstanding which it was judged fit that the Council of Lateran should still be continued until many disorders which had crept lately into the Church were wholly redressed And now Leo being setled in the Papal Chair shewed himself desirous to continue and conserve the Peace of Christendom which he thought would be most easily effected by persuading the warlike and martial spirits of those times to spend their fury upon the Turk and in the mean time endeavoured to accommodate and compose the differences between Maximilian the Emperor and the Venetians touching Verona and Piacenza by an amicable agreement At the same time also he hired the Switzers with a great sum of mony to assist Sforza Duke of Milan against the French for notwithstanding his inclinations in the general were towards a peace yet his dislikes to that Nation and the displeasures he had taken on many accounts against Charles the 12th moved him with earnest desires to chase the French out of Italy To perform which the Switzers were esteemed the only instruments capable for this exploit and to engage them therein a largess was sent them of 42 thousand Ducats with pretence in case the matter should come to light that twenty thousand of them were upon account of their yearly Pensions and that the other twenty two thousand were due on Arrear by preceding Popes to the three Cantons The Switzers being satisfied and animated with this payment resolved to accept of no conditions with the French who being now in Lombardy had forced Milan to surrender with all other Cities belonging to that Dutchy except Novaro and Coma which being defended by the Switzers held out as yet in the name of Maximilian Sforza Wherefore the French having no other work remaining besieged Novaro and had so battered the Walls and made such breaches that they were ready to enter their men Howsoever fearing the Resolution of the Besieged who all the time of the Siege had not so much as shut their Gates against the Enemy and understanding that Relief was coming to the Town and an Army under the command of that renowned Captain Altosasso they retired at two miles distance from the Walls of Novaro with which the Switzers were so encouraged that not staying for the Relief expected they made a Sally on the Enemy and gave them a total Defeat taking all their Baggage with two and twenty pieces of Artillery remaining a prey to the Conquerors After which the City of Milan with all the places belonging to it returned again into the possession and power of their Duke the people of Milan giving two hundred thousand Ducats as a Reward to the Switzers for the restoration of their Liberty All things now putting on a face of Liberty and Peace in Italy the French King seemed willing to demonstrate a filial obedience and submission to the Church and declared himself well pleased with the Pope for receiving the Dissenting and Schismatical Cardinals to pardon and Grace The Pope was also in like manner successful in his Negotiations of Peace between the Emperor and the Venetians for both Parties having referred the determination of their case to his Arbitration and compromise a Peace ensued tho the Sentence and Determination was not Pronounced and Published until the year following Lewis likewise the French King at the persuasions and instigation of the Clergy was very desirous to come in and be reconciled to the Papal See and to that end sent the Bishop of Marseilles his Embassador to Rome to treat and conclude all matters in dispute either relating to Spiritual or Temporal Affairs At the arrival of this Embassador the Pope by a Decree of the Lateran Council which still continued gave Licence to the Bishop of France and other Prelates against whom his Predecessor Pope Julius had proceeded
by censure of Excommunication to come in and in the space of one years time to purge themselves of the contumacy with which they stood charged In pursuance of which Decree the Embassador and other Agents from France did in the name of the King abjure all the Acts and Decrees made and ordained by the Conventicle at Pisa promising to acknowledg and hold for true and sacred all those Acts and conclusions which should be declared by the Council of Lateran and that six of those Prelates which were present at the Convention of Pisa should repair to Rome and in the name and behalf of all the Gallican Church renounce and disown that Convention and promise to submit and hold and esteem for Sacred and Obligatory whatsoever should be determined in their case or in any other matter by the Lateran Council and that then upon such submission the Council should grant a full and plenary Pardon and Absolution for all those Crimes committed by them against the Church of Rome But whilst these things were in Treaty Lewis XII being surprized by a Fever died the first day of January 1515. at Paris in whose place Francis de Valois the first of that name Duke of Angolesme succeeded Francis having made a Peace with the King of England assumed the Title of Duke of Milan as appertaining to him not only by the ancient right of the Dukes of Orleans but also as comprehended in the Investiture made by the Emperor in the Treaty of Cambray to recover which he made a League with the Venetians and passing into Italy with a powerful Army declared War against Maximilian Sforza Duke of Milan who on the other side had made an Alliance with the Emperor the Switzers and the King of Spain The Pope being jealous of the French believing that so soon as they were become Masters of Milan they would also design upon Piacenza and Parma favoured the cause of Duke Sforza and encouraged the Switzers by his Legate the Cardinal of Sedan to continue firm and constant in defence of Italy against the French Arms that so their ancient glory which had been in former years crowned with so much success might be maintained by them and the Title of Restorers of the Italian Liberty be for ever continued to their Honor. The Switzers having their valour provoked by such incitements as these encountred the French Army which under the auspicious Conduct of King Francis was passed into Italy near Marignan where after a sharp conflict the Venetians coming in to the assistance of the French the Switzers were overthrown and forced to retreat into Milan which afterwards was surrendred and Duke Sforza being taken Prisoner was sent into France with an allowance of five and thirty thousand Crowns a year which he agreed to receive in lieu of his Dukedom After this success Parma and Piacenza which had been annexed to the Church by the Arms of Julius II. fell into the possession of the French for Leo not having the courage to defend them made them a Sacrifice to the Conqueror and the price of his Peace with France the which was concluded at Bologna where an interview was appointed between the King and Pope Leo. The Pope entered the City on the 8th of December 1515. and the King two days after having been received on the Confines of the Country of Reggia by the Cardinals of Fieschi and Medicis whom the Pope had appointed to be his Legates Apostolical to him The King so soon as he entered was immediately conducted into the Consistory where before the Pope by a Speech delivered by his Chancellor he professed all Obedience to the Papal Chair and afterwards was lodged three days in the same Palace with the Pope during which time all the signs of good will and amity interceded between them and all matters agreed which had relation to Naples Modena and other controversies and thus all things being amicably concluded the King returned to Milan and in a short time after into France leaving the Duke of Bourbon Lieutenant in his place The Pope also went to Florence where having passed the Winter he in the Spring returned to Rome And now Pope Leo being a little at repose designed the assistance of Maximilian the Emperor with whom he was in League to make his Brother Julian Lord of Siena and Lucca and thereunto to adjoyn the Dukedoms of Vrbin and Ferrara but Julian unexpectedly dying the same fortune was intended for Laurence his Nephew Son of his Brother Peter de Medicis and in the mean time until this design could be ripened and put in practice the Pope committed to him the Government of Florence with condition that he should act nothing without the privity and consent of the Citizens And now to prepare a way for taking the Dutchy of Vrbin from Francisco Maria de la Rovere the Pope began with his Church Censures causing the Accusations against him to be published wherein he expressed that being in Pay and under a Sallary from the Church he had denied him the Service of those Regiments for which he had received Pay and had secretly compounded with the Enemy That he had killed the Cardinal of Pavia for which he was alsolved by Grace and not by Justice as also for many other Murders committed by him These and other were the Crimes which were alledged against him but yet nothing animated the Pope so much with anger and disdain against him as that he had denied unto his Brother Julian his aid and assistance to return to Florence The success of the War was this So soon as Renzo di Cere the Popes General with a considerable Army showed himself upon the Frontiers of the Dutchy the City of Vrbin with other Towns belonging to it surrendred to the Pope the Duke himself retiring to Pesaro which also yielded together with Sinigaglia and in the space of four days all submitted to the obedience of the Pope and then the Duke with all his Family saved himself in Mantua These successes were followed by new designs upon Siena from whence by force of Arms he compelled the Prince Borghese and Cardinal Alfonso his Brother both Sons of Pandolfo Petrucci to retire and make place for Raphael Petrucci his old Friend and Companion in his Exile at which the Cardinal was so enraged and excited beyond all patience that he conspired against the life of the Pope which not succeeding proved afterwards the cause of his own destruction For this Alfonso Cardinal of Siena revolving often in his mind the ingratitude of this Pope who by the labors and dangers of Pandolfo Petrucci his Father was with all his Family restored to the Government of Florence and yet had in recompense of these benefits caused him and his Brother Borghese to be thrust out of Siena the which thoughts boiling in his mind he resolved once with his own hand to stab the Pope but being diverted from that intention by the danger of the Fact and by the ill
League if they pleased That the Pope should pay forty thousand Ducats in the space of two and twenty days and the residue in a month after That the Vice-Roy of Naples should come to Rome to confirm the Articles it being judged a good expedient to cause the Duke of Bourbon to observe the accord The Capitulations of Peace being in this manner signed both parties speedily retired their Forces and the Pope resolving sincerely to keep and execute the Articles was also persuaded that the other party would do the like of which being assured by the coming of the Vice-Roy to Rome he unadvisedly disbanded all his Soldiers excepting only 200 Horse and 2000 Foot which he still continued in his Pay being of those valiant Black Bands which had been commanded by John de Medici Matters continued in this posture for the space of eight days by which time the news of this accord being made known to the Duke of Bourbon and his Army the Soldiery became enraged and the Duke raised infinite difficulties about standing to the Agreement and especially the Spanish Soldiery were so violent therein that a Gentleman sent by the Vice-Roy to the Duke to persuade him to accept the Agreement had been killed by them had he not conveyed himself away from their fury wherefore the Duke either not being willing or not able to restrain his Soldiery marched with all speed imaginable to the Walls of Rome to which without farther demur applying his Ladders at the side of the Vatican was the first that he might give courage and example to his Soldiery to scale the Walls in which attempt being shot by a Cannon-Bullet he fell dead from the Walls and lest his body lying exposed to the view of the Soldiery should give them cause of discouragement the Prince of Orange who was near to him covered his Corps with his Cloak Howsoever the storm succeeded more prosperously towards the Mount of S. Spirito where they entered on the 14th of May 1527. with the slaughter of some few who had the courage to make any resistance and passing the Bridg of Sistus the whole Army consisting of Germans Italians and Spaniards to the number of 40000 entered the City where they committed all the slaughter rapin and violence which enraged and licentious Soldiers were capable to act without respect to things sacred or prophane or to those Cardinals who had the name and report of being inclined to the Emperors Faction Rome never saw so sad and dismal a day no not when they had been sacked by the Goths and other barbarous Nations for whomsoever they met they killed and cut to pieces the Streets ran with blood the Altars were despoiled the Churches and Monasteries plundered the Nuns and Women ravished and the Palaces of the Pope Cardinals and Princes rifled and sacked so that it is impossible to express what Wealth and Riches lay in heaps and what precious Commodities belonging to Merchants were made the prey of common Soldiers And what made the spoil yet more great was the number of Prisoners every one of which was forced to cut his ransom and redeem himself at a certain price and to augment the ignominy as well as the desolation of this miserable fortune the Prelates were taken by the Soldiers and in all their Pontificalibus and Habits were set upon Asses and Mules and led through the streets with contempt and derision The Pope amidst these distractions fled to the Castle of S. Angelo his usual Sanctuary where being streightly Besieged with great numbers of those who retired thither for refuge he soon began to want Provisions so that Famin constrained him to yield himself into the hands of his Enemies upon discretion and on conditions of doing whatsoever the Emperor should as a Conqueror impose upon him And in the mean time until Messengers could be sent into Spain and return to Rome with the Emperors pleasure it was agreed that the Pope should pay to the Army 400000 Ducats for raising of which all the Vessels of Gold and Silver belonging to the Churches which were saved from the rapin of the Enemy were to be melted down and coined and farther for raising mony divers Cardinals Caps were set to sale as by publick out-cry to whomsoever would give most who upon payment of the sums agreed were to enter into the College and dignity of Cardinals The persons who with their mony had purchased this quality were Marino Grimano and Francis Cornaro both Venetians likewise Sanseverino Carrafa and Parmerio Neapolitans and Cardona a Spaniard and for an Auxiliary help to these payments an impost of mony was to be charged upon the whole state of the Church It was farther agreed that the Pope should deliver into the hands of the Emperor to hold them so long as he pleased the Castle of S. Angelo Ostia Civita Vechia Castellano with the Cities of Parma Piacenza and Modena That the Pope and the thirteen Cardinals with him should remain Prisoners in the Castle of S. Angelo until the monies were paid and afterwards should go to Naples or Gaietta Gaietta until the pleasure and determination of the Emperor was arrived The Duke of Bourbon being dead the Prince of Aurange was made General in his place to whom whilst things were acting in this manner advices came that Monsieur De Lautrec with a very great Army by order of Francis the French King to which also Henry the Eighth of England had joyned his Forces was marching towards Rome with design to rescue the Pope from those insolent hands under which he was a Prisoner The news of which caused great tumults and mutinies amongst the Soldiery who being desirous to depart quietly with their prey before they were forced to disgorge it again used all imaginable insolences towards the Pope to compel him to a payment of their Arrears with the monies promised but he not being master of one peny was constrained to deliver into their hands the persons of several rich men which they had named for security of the mony promised But the ill fortune of Clement stopped not here for so soon as the news of the Popes imprisonment was heard at Florence the Inhabitants judged it a seasonable opportunity to recover their liberty and thereupon betaking themselves to Arms they forced the Cardinal of Cortona with Hippolito and Alexander de Medicis to abandon the City and so reassumed unto themselves the free administration of a Common-wealth under the Authority of a Gonfalonnier created according to their ancient â—oâ—â—titution for the space of a year for indeed the hatred they had conâ—â—ived against the House of Medicis was for many reasons great and â—eâ—ous especially because they had been forced with their own mony to bear out the pride and greatness of that Family in all the Wars they made in defence of the Dutchy of Vrbin and in the Wars which Pope Leo made against the French for which reasons they persecuted those Citizens that had been friends to the Medices
opinion of the Emperor he called for a review of the cause of Divorce between Henry VIII of England and Catharine his Queen and Aunt to the Emperor for which having at the time of those great oppressions he lay under from the Emperor granted a Bull did now on terms of reconciliation cause the same to be revoked And now the Pope following his resolution and closely attending a fair conclusion with the Emperor a Peace was concluded between them at Barcelona much to the advantage of the Pope proceeding perhaps as may be believed from a sense the Emperor might have conceived of the unjust and hard usage he had exercised towards him and because the urgency of his Affairs did call him into Italy he might imagin that the countenance and favor of the Pope might be useful and for these reasons it was accorded and agreed That a perpetual Peace and Confederation be made between the Emperor and the Pope That the Pope should grant free passage to the Emperors Army through the Ecclesiastical State in case it should depart out of the Kingdom of Naples That the Emperor should re-instate the Son of Laurence de Medicis in the same condition of greatness and power at Florence as they had been in before their expulsion thence or their Predecessors had enjoyed at any time before That the Emperor should by such ways and terms as were most convenient either by force of Arms or otherwise cause the possession of Cervia Modena Reggio and Rubiera to be restored to the Pope That these particulars being performed the Pope should in consideration thereof yield unto the Emperor the whole and absolute Investitute of the Kingdom of Naples with the Tribute only of a White Horse yearly to be given in acknowledgment of Fealty together with the nomination of four and twenty Cathedral Churches which had formerly been in dispute but now were determined to belong to the Emperor the Churches only which were not under Patronage to be reserved to the Pope That when the Emperor should have passed into Italy that the Pope and he should have an interview and meet at Bologna or some other convenient place to consult about their Affairs and matters relating to the Peace and settlement of the Church And that the Emperor and his Brother Ferdinand should exercise their Temporal Arms against the Lutherans and others who had revolted from the Roman Church and second the Spiritual Weapons of Excommunications and Ecclesiastical censures which were issued against them That the Pope should grant Plenary Absolution to all those who had lately been injurious to the Apostolical Sea or had by any violent or hostile acts committed outrages against it And lastly to confirm and consummate all these Articles by the more endearing terms of Alliance the Emperor was to give Margaret of Austria his natural Daughter in Marriage to Alexander de Medicis Son of Laurence late Duke of Vrbin with twenty thousand Ducats of yearly Revenue on whom the Pope intended to establish the temporal greatness of his Family having not long since created Hippolito Cardinal who was the Son of Julian This Peace was soon afterwards followed by another between the Emperor and the French King treated at Cambray of which the Pope was the chief Mediator by the Arch-Bishop of Capua who was sent thither as Legate The conclusion of this grand Affair did much facilitate the Emperors design upon Florence which he committed to the charge and management of the Prince of Orange who in pursuance of those commands having mustered his Forces about Aquila he was desired by the Pope to come to Rome that he might the better consult and resolve with him upon the provisions and ways of carrying on the War The Prince of Orange accordingly coming was received by the Pope with great respect to whom towards payment of the Army thirty thousand Ducats were issued out of the Popes Treasury and soon after forty thousand more with which and with three pieces of Cannon taken out of the Castle S. Angelo the Prince departing he encamped before Perusa which was in the first place to be reduced to the obedience of the Church This place being held by Malatesta Baillon was surrendred upon composition and thence the Prince entering on the Lands and Country belonging to the Florentines encamped before Spella which was in a short time delivered to him Whilst these things were acting the Emperor departed from Barcelona with a great Fleet wherein were a thousand Horsemen and nine thousand Foot with which he arrived at Genoua to the great terror of all Italy and especially of the Florentines who thereupon made choice of four Embassadors to congratulate his arrival and endeavour to make some agreement with them for composition of their Affairs When these Embassadors were admitted to the presence of the Emperor and that the Ceremonies of Congratulation were past they declared That their City was not ambitious or desirous of great enlargements or extents of jurisdictions but only to conserve their own with their Rights and liberties being willing to be beholding to the power of any mighty Monarch who would be pleased to take them into his protection That they had associated and entered into Confederacy with France it was no matter of their own choice but in obedience and compliance with the Pope who at that time commanded them but that now they had thrown off all considerations of his Temporal Power or his Families over them and that their Commission extending no farther than to a Treaty with the Emperor they could not give ear to any thing which had reference to the Pope This answer being unpleasing to the Emperor the Embassadors were refused farther Audience at Piacenza tho they had followed the Court of the Emperor with that expectation from Genoua to that place so that their Negotiation was at an end for that time By this time being about the beginning of the year 1530. the Pope arrived first at Bologna and the Emperor soon after came to him where he was received by the Pope with great honor and lodged in the same Palace with him and such signs of familiarity and friendship passed as if there had never happened any of those disgusts and violent actions between them which we have formerly mentioned or at least that they had with a real and unfeigned pardon been entirely forgotten Thus matters appearing fair and clear between them the Emperor intended to pass some time in Italy in regard his Affairs in other parts seemed not much to require his presence for that Soliman the Magnificent who was then Grand Signior and had besieged Vienna was forced to raise his Camp and return to Constantinople and the Peace being newly concluded with France nothing seemed in outward appearance which might give him cause of avocation or diversion from the Affairs of Italy Wherefore it was resolved that the Emperor should proceed to Rome and there be Crowned taking Siena in his way for better dispatch
after that Controversie had been opened heard and examined by many Doctors and Testimonies and Writings produced the Emperor according to the counsel and report made him pronounced that Modena and Reggio appertained of right to the Duke of Ferrara who paying a hundred thousand Ducats to the Pope the Tributes should be reduced to their ancient custom and he invested in the Jurisdiction of Ferrara But the Pope would neither allow that part of the Sentence nor accept the payment of the mony wherein the Duke was condemned refusing the Tribute which was offered to him according to the usual custom so that there was neither open War nor a setled Peace between the Pope and the Duke of Ferrara for having a regard and some respect to the Emperors Award and Sentence he feared to assail him with open force contriving in the mean time secret plots and devices wherewith to ensnare him Matters thus continued with some tranquillity until the year 1532. which was more signal for Forein Wars than for the Commotions of Italy For Francis the French King not forgetting the sufferings he had sustained by the Emperor contrived all ways imaginable for his revenge not being scrupulous or ashamed of secret practices and treaties with Soliman Emperor of the Turks in despight of his Title of Most Christian to stir him up and incite him to a War against Charles the Emperor inviting him to make a second attempt by laying siege to Vienna Soliman being full of anger and disdain for the late foil he had received before that City was easily persuaded to try his fortune in another Expedition but the Princes and Free Towns of Germany concurring with their Forces and uniting them to the Imperial Troops composed a most formidable Army which being conducted by Charles the Emperor who was the greatest Captain of his age and his name terrible to the Turks Soliman made only some incursions into Hungary and then returned again to Constantinople But before this news came and whilst these things were in action Henry VIII King of England and Francis the French King being both highly displeased with the Emperor met together at Boloign in France where they held several Consultations how to improve the present state of Affairs to their own advantage And giving it for granted that the Turk would Winter in Hungary and afford the Emperor sufficient employment for the year following they resolved to make use of this conjuncture of Affairs to their mutual benefit in pursuance of which it was determined between them that the French King was to invade the State of Milan and the Pope was to be induced to assist in the same design and to determin the cause of Divorce of Queen Catharine in favour of King Henry then depending in the Court of Rome with which message and instructions the Cardinals of Ternon and Gramont were sent Embassadors to the Pope But King Henry having not the patience to attend the result contemned the authority of a Divorce by the Papal Power contenting and satifying his own Conscience with what had before been disputed and determined in the Courts of England about that matter and having understood that the Legate Campeius had been sent into England with a Bull of Divorce which afterwards upon change of the Pope's mind he had burnt the King was so enraged thereat that he resolved not to have farther dealings with the Pope and thereupon Proclamation was published that no person of what estate or condition soever should purchase or attempt to purchase from the Court of Rome any thing prejudicial to the Jurisdiction or Prerogative of this Realm upon pain of Imprisonment or other punishment according to the pleasure of the King But the retirement of the Turks out of Hungary put a period to the design of Invading the Dutchy of Milan and to the expectation the King of England had of receiving a favourable sentence at Rome in the point of Divorce for the result of the Interview of these two Kings being known at Rome hastned the Pope to make a League with the Emperor which was concluded at a second meeting at Bologna where the same Ceremonies and terms of amity and friendship passed between them as had been formerly at the first After which the Emperor by the way of Genoua passed into Spain and the Pope returned to Rome accompanied thither by the two Cardinals Ternon and Gramont the which according to their Commission insisted greatly to have the Divorce of Queen Catharine confirmed by the Popes Authority alledging the great damage and ruine that an obstinate persistance to the contrary might bring to the Church but the Cardinals of the Emperors Faction labouring to the contrary and the Pope understanding what Henry had already acted in that point in England issued an Excommunication against him and his whole Realm unless before the end of September following he did revoke all the Acts he had made to the prejudice of the Apostolical Sea and the Papal Authority These French Cardinals finding their Negotiations in reference to England to be unsuccessful and desperate treated notwithstanding an interview between the Pope and the French King to be held at Marseille colouring their design with the specious pretence of finding some expedient to accommodate matters between King Henry and the Pope a Charity so great and Christian and of that high importance as might challenge the labors and endeavours of the most Christian King and farther it was pretended that a League and Union between the Christian Princes was there to be negotiated against the Turk But the desire of the Pope being in reallity to marry his Niece Catharine de Medicis to the second Son of the King of France was easily persuaded to condescend to a proposition so agreeable to his own inclinations in pursuance whereof the Pope with a great retinue of Cardinals Embarked at Pisa on his own Gallies and in a few days of prosperous Navigation he landed at Marseille where being saluted with three hundred pieces of Cannon at his arrival he was lodged for the first night in the Palace of the Duke of Montmorency Grand Master and Mareschal of France The next day he made his entry through the City habited in his Pontifical Vestments and carried in his Chair upon mens shoulders before him a White Horse was led by two men with silken Reins carrying the Sacrament of the Altar then followed the Cardinals in their Habits mounted upon their Mules after which came Catharine de Medicis Dutchess of Vrbin attended with a great number of Ladies and Gentlemen both of the French and Italian Nation in which equipage the Pope passed the Streets to the Lodgings which were provided for him The day following the French King came and with great solemnity went to perform the Offices of Duty and Obedience to the Pope These Solemnities and Ceremonies being past matters of publick concernment were in the first place taken into consideration by those who were by the King and
being jealous and fearful of the Emperor's growing greatness whatsoever there might be of Religion pretended in the case united their Arms upon different considerations The Duke with a strong Army marched to Oenipont in Rhetia and with such expedition that the Emperor was forced to rise and retire from thence at midnight to Villaco in the Dukedom of Austria on the confines of Italy by which means the Duke became Master of Oenepont a place distant about three days Journey from Trent But in regard the successes of this War were various and not pertinent to our present Treatise we shall proceed to matters more nearly relating to the Life and reign of this Pope Julius III. The Council of Trent being dissolved and the Pope quiet in Rome he made choice of a certain number of Cardinals in resemblance of a Council to inspect the present Errors and abuses which were crept into the Church and the dissolute and corrupt manners of the Clergy and to consider of means to correct and reform them but whilest they attended to these matters they found themselves so engulfed and immers'd in difficulties which were past their wisedom to redress that after several meetings being unable to conclude any thing the business grew cold and frequent delays and adjournments from one week to another put an end thereunto without any effect onely it was agreed that the prorogation of the Council which at first was limited unto two years only should now be farther enlarged to the term of Ten. The Pope who had been in repose until now was also disturbed by the commotion of his Neighbours for Vrtado de Mendoza who after having been Ambassadour from the Emperor to the Pope was now constituted Governour of Siena to secure which from the civil Discords which then arose and to keep the City in obedience to his Master he began to lay the foundations of a Cittadel of which the Inhabitants being apprehensive lest it should subject them to a perpetual slavery resolved secretly to resign themselves into the protection of France and having secretly for that purpose dispatched their Ambassadours to Henry the Second they received such favourable assurance of aid and defence from him that the People in a tumultuous manner arose in Arms and being encouraged by the Count Petigliano and Farnese who maintained the French interest in that part of Tuscany they raised their Forces with such expedition that falling on the Spaniards in a kind of surprize they cut them to pieces and having demolished and subverted the very foundation of the Cittadel they returned to their antient form of Government seeming to outward appearance to have recovered their pristine Liberty The news of this revolt of Siena was brought to the Emperor whilest he was at the siege of Metz the principal City of Lorain upon receipt of which he instantly dispatched his Orders to Don Pedro de Toledo Vice-King of Naples that he should in Person attend this War and endeavour the recovery of Siena Don Pedro having received these Orders in the depth of the Winter which was the beginning of the year 1553. began his march with a formidable Army of twenty thousand Men composed of Italians Spaniards and Germans The Pope remembring the times of Clement VII when a Napolitan Army sacked Rome and fearing to be surprized with the like calamity levied speedily eight thousand Men the conduct of which he committed to Camillo Orsino So that now all Christendom being in Arms the Pope sent his Legats to the Emperor and the French King to pacify and mediate their differences in order to a general Peace but so far were the spirits of these Princes exasperated against each other that no gentle remedies were available or any other tryal but such as should be determined by the judgment of the Sword and now no preparations being made but for War the Pope constituted Guido Vbaldo Duke of Vrbin General of all the Forces of the Church whilest Cardinal da Este and Monsieur de Termes an excellent Soldier defended Siena with a strong Garison in the name of the French King The Imperial Army being on their march took Montechio add besieged Montalcino a Fortress belonging to Siena where happened many Skirmishes and Rencounters with great slaughter on both sides and Wars being begun in Siena Montalcino Orbitello Grossetto Chiusi and many other places all Tuscany was in Arms Fire Sword Rapine and Violence raging in every part thereof but amidst of these Combustions Don Pedro dying after a tedious sickness at Florence the French gained the advantage and the Imperialists having placed strong Garisons in the Fortresses which they had taken returned again with their Troops to Naples And this was the issue of the first years War But then the second was more fatal to Siena proving the final overthrow of the Liberty and Government of that Republick For Henry King of France on whose protection Siena depended being incensed against Cosmo de Medicis Duke of Florence for favouring the Emperor's Party against the People of Siena did about the beginning of the year 1554. send Peter Strozzi one banished from Florence and the mortal Enemy of Duke Cosmo with a formidable Army into Tuscany but the Arms of the Duke prevailed and obtained such success against those of Strozzi that the Marquess Marignano who was the Duke's General adventured to attempt Siena in which he was so successful that he surprized the Bastion next adjoyning to the Post Camollia putting all the Country round which was the most fruitful and flourishing Soil of Italy to fire and sword to the relief whereof Strozzi coming with all his force was overthrown by Marignano which unhappiness reduced Siena to its ultimate extremity and being at last constrained to surrender by reason of Famine many were made Prisoners the City sacked and plundered and the Spoils and Booty brought to Florence many of the People especially those of the Nobility disdaining to become Subjects to the Duke of Florence retired to Montalcino a place strong and impregnable by nature setting themselves in the form of a Republick under the protection of France The People of Siena lamenting their unhappy fate accused Pope Julius in a great measure to be the Author of it for that he had by his Money bought up great stores of Provision Victuals and Ammunition in Marca Vmbria and Tuscany and therewith relieved and supported the Army of Florence and that not considering the publick interest of Italy nor the common justice of mankind he for gaining a poor and inconsiderable Title of Marquis of Mount Sabino with a little Land to his Brother Baldwin and on the promise of obtaining the Daughter of Duke Cosmo for Wife to his Brother's Son had basely and ungratefully betrayed the City where he was born and exposed it to utter ruin and desolation But all this obloquy and defamation little moved the mind of the Pope who perceiving that all his sollicitude and care for the general Peace and
secrecy on which the King might with confidence establish this his promise and assurance On this last Point the Cardinal insisted with more than ordinary pressures declaring that the season of the year which was now only proper for Consultations and Treaties was but short and that the time of War and action approached and therefore it was necessary to come to a determination and that the Senate would more especially declare themselves concerning the Laws for as the King did not desire nor approve that any Decree or Law should be made and recorded for suspension of these Laws nor any other thing which might prejudice the dignity of the State and the publick Liberty so he also did consider That as the Pope had passed these Censures openly and in the sight of the World so he could not take them off without some apparent reasons and causes which might salve his reputation and his honour And because the King his Master did well know that the Republick was extreamly averse to such suspension he was willing to touch that Point very tenderly and ease them therein by taking the whole burden on his own shoulders giving his word to the Pope that those Laws should be suspended during this Treaty without any Decree or Declaration on part of the Republick conditionally that as the Pope shall hereupon without farther delay take off the Censures so the Republick shall promise unto the King not to execute these Laws during the time of this Treaty the which being assented unto by the Senate he did not doubt but to give satisfaction unto the Pope and maintain and secure their Liberty and conclude all with a happy and blessed Peace As to that Article which concerned the Jesuits his Master's desire was that they should be restored it being an ordinary concession and grant in the conclusion of all Treaties that such as have been Parties Fomenters or Abettors on either side should be remitted and included in the Articles for that indeed it was not consistent with the honour of the Pope that those who had suffered for his Cause and for their Obedience to the Apostolical Sea should be excluded and suffer for the performance of their duty To this Speech of the Cardinal the Senate made this Answer That the expulsion of the Jesuits was resolved and decreed upon very sound and mature considerations and the Law against them so firmly established as could not be repealed and yet to salve the Pope's reputation herein all other Religious such as Friers and others who were Parties and Abettors of the Pope's Cause should be included and restored to their pristine state and condition but as to the Point of giving their word to the King for non-execution or suspension of the Laws during this Treaty they could not recede from the determination so often repeated which was That in the use of these Laws they will not depart from their antient Piety and Religion professed But the Cardinal insisted and desired to have had some thing more plain and agreeable to his Proposition but howsoever being well acquainted with the Pope's mind to agree almost on any terms he made this Reply to the Senate that though he expected to receive an Answer more satisfactory to his Demands yet considering that it was the King's pleasure that the Republick should have entire contentment he rested satisfied with this Answer which he desired might be kept as a Secret lest being divulged it might be interrupted by the contrivances of unquiet and malitious spirits Howsoever the Senate resolved to communicate all that passed to Don Francisco the Spanish Ambassadour who had offered a like Equivolent and having been to make the Cardinal a Visit had desired to joyn with him in this Negotiation which the Cardinal refusing Don Francisco was very urgent to know all particulars which the Senate very readily communicated to him Thus were the Treaties so far proceeded as administred great hopes of Peace had not the great preparations made for War by the Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan and the disturbances amongst the Grisons rendered all things cloudy and tending to a storm howsoever the Cardinal Joyeuse with such Answer and Proposals as he had obtained from the Senate resolved for Rome and accordingly departed from Venice on the 17th of March The Cardinal was no sooner departed but the Marquess de Castiglione arrived at Venice with Character of Ambassadour from the Emperor to the Pope And though the Duke of Savoy was employed for the Emperour and then resided at Venice in quality of his Ambassadour yet Castiglione had Orders in his way to stop there and encline the Senate as well as he was able towards a Peace but this Marquess could obtain nothing more than what was delivered to the Ministers of France and Spain of which the Ambassadour Don Francisco made collections in writing with the proceedings of all the Treaty Copies of which he sent with diligence to Rome and were not onely shewed to the Pope but dispersed through all the Court to the intent that it might be made known to the World that the French were not able to procure or gain other terms from the Senate than such as had been already granted to the Ministers of Spain and other Princes Of which the Senate having information thought fit for prevention of false Reports to send authentick Copies of all proceedings to their Ministers in forein Courts and particularly that of their last resolution The arrival of the Cardinal at Rome filled all the Town with Discourse every one speaking variously as his passion guided some being of Opinion that the matters were all concluded others of different sentiments believed that they were impossible and indeed the Pope himself being distracted by both sides remained unresolved for the space of three or four days during which time he confessed himself to have been as it were tormented on the wrack For he considered that to yield unto the Venetians almost in every Point was a scandalous diminution to the Papal Power and to abandon the Jesuits his faithful Officers was yet more hard and intolerable for if for two Clergymen onely there had been such a clutter how much more ought he to be concerned for a whole Order and for the conservation and re-establishment of his most beloved Emissaries But in regard the Venetians seemed resolute in that Point the Cardinal Perron persuaded the Pope to wave the Dispute lest when all other Points were agreed it should be said that the particular Cause of the Jesuits should become the Universal Concernment of the whole Church and that it was necessary in the first place to establish the Papal Authority in Venice before he could hope to gain admission for the Jesuits and that herein he would do well to follow the Example of Clement VIII who in a Controversie he had with France on the same Subject was contented to wave the Point concerning the restoration of the Jesuits and in the time obtained
were concealed and covered until at length in the year 1639. Duke Edward going to Rome the antient discontents brake forth more openly for in the first place the Duke thought he was not treated with that Ceremony and respect which was due to his condition and quality then that his Brother Prince Francisco Maria was not created Cardinal as was promised but what was most important of all was the disappointment of many favours and concessions expected from the Pope and particularly an abatement of half per cent on the revenue which the Duke paid to Monti which is an Annual rent antiently assigned by the Farnesi Dukes of Parma upon the revenues of Castro a Dukedom they held in Fief of the Church for though the Pope had made this Grant and had not recalled it yet is was crossed by the Nephews and with sundry delays difficulties and excuses prolonged and diminished The Duke resenting these neglects and unkindnesses departed angrily from Rome without taking leave either of the Pope or Nephews inveighing violently against Cardinal Francisco and his Government The Cardinal to requite the Duke persuaded the Pope to recal the Grant he had given for exportation of Corn out of the Ecclesiastical State into the Country of Castro by which the people were not onely ready to be famished but the best revenues of Castro ceased for the Duke having farmed the Exportation of Corn to certain Merchants for ninety seven thousand Crowns per annum the Exportation being forbidden the Merchants renounced the agreement whereupon the sum failing to pay the Montists they complained to the Courts of Justice and obtained that the Duke being a Vassal and subject to the Church should be juridically cited The Duke imputed all to the malice and covetousness of the Barberins to despoil him of his Country and believing that he should be overborn by his Enemies who were both Judges and Parties resolved to fortifie himself against force and accordingly dispatched a Gentleman of Montferrat to be Governour with a Garrison to Castro causing Half-moons and Redoubts to be cast up about the place This being judged a Crime by the Barberins and a rebellion against his Sovereign a Monitory was published by the Auditor of the Chamber limiting unto the Duke thirty days to demolish the fortifications of Castro and disband the Garrison and otherwise declared him to have incurred Rebellion and Excommunication The quarrel being thus begun the Barbarins raised six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse with all speed under the command of Taddeo the Prefect of Rome appointing their Rendezvouz at Viterbo where they fortified their Camp with a train of Artillery and provided it with all sorts of Victuals and Ammunition These preparations administred occasions of various Discourse and reflections to the people who attributed the blame of all to the pride and ambition of the Nephews for the World would not be induced to believe that the Pope who when he was young cultivated peace in all parts and was naturally of a quiet Spirit must needs be affected with strange thoughts and designs if now in the extremity of his age he should be persuaded to disturb it and so much the more in a conjuncture when all Christendom was torn in pieces with War and Dissension and stood rather in need of his paternal mediation to produce Concord amongst Princes than to see him the Author and contriver of War in Italy The Viceroy of Naples seemed above all jealous of the event of this War believing that the Barberins had engaged the French in the Design Ferdinand the Grand Duke of Tuscany was also displeased to see the Pope armed on his Confines with intention to make new Conquests Wherefore both the Viceroy and the Grand Duke interposed in the Offices of mediation to which the Pope making some short replies that his resolution was onely to humble his Vassal and make himself obeyed gave no place or opportunity for Treaty The Senate of Venice kept themselves silent for a while which the Barberins interpreted as indeed it was an effect of their discontent rather than a token of their satisfaction but being at length sollicited much by the Duke of Parma to interess themselves in the quarrel after various Debates it was resolved with general consent to intreat the Pope that he would yield to the instances and common satisfaction of the Princes who with unanimous desires interposed themselves for the Peace by giving time and expedients for a Treaty To the Duke they gave Counsel of moderation and to humble himself in such decent sort to the Pope as might pacifie him and bring him honourably off from his Engagements and Enterprise But in the mean time the Barberins that they might prevent the importunities of Princes hastned their march towards Castro upon an Opinion that having once taken the place the fervour with which the Mediators interposed for a Peace would be abated and matters reduced to such intricacies as that in the end the glory of the Counsels and the merit of the Enterprise would fall out to their advantage Howsoever to make the matter more plausible another Bull was published in which the time prescribed to Prince Edward was prolonged for fifteen days and yet at the same time on the 27th of September 1641. the Pope's Army entered the the territories of Castro and appearing before Rocca Montalto which is towards the Sea the Guard consisting of fifty Soldiers abandoned the place and soon after Castro it self surrendered upon conditions of life and enjoyment of goods to the Soldiers and Inhabitants and so the Garrison being two hundred and fifty in number marched forth on the seventh day after the Siege was laid which news much troubled the Duke coming to him just at the time that he in person and Count Palmia by permission of the Grand Duke was conducting Forces through Tuscany for relief of the place Duke Edward being thus foiled made new applications to the Senate of Venice fearing lest he should be attacqued in his Dominions of Parma and Piacenza and in the mean time to keep himself from those prejudices which in the way of Judicature the Acts which had past might bring upon him he caused a Protest to be presented to the Auditor della Camera wherein he declared that the Barberins being his Enemies he had no other Judg left him but Force nor hope of favour but from his Friends But the Barberins being flattered by all upon these successes and elated with vanity and pride denied to give admittance to any Treaty the Pope seemed to hear with trouble the Offices brought to him by Order of the Senate of Venice scorning to admit Mediators betwixt Sovereign and Vassal Nor were the French either silent or unactive upon this occasion but laying hold on this turbulent conjuncture of Affairs proffered the Pope the powerful Forces of their Crown to drive the Spaniards out of Italy and raising his thoughts to a more noble Design than that of Castro proffered
the success soon quieted their minds and the Great Duke to shew a confidence in his people put Arms into their hands which had not been accustomary for many years past Thus did matters pass with various successes but most commonly in favour of the Confederates until the season proper for action ended when the Winter approaching the Treaties interrupted by the War were again reassumed And indeed Vrban discovered not only an inclination but a desire of Peace for being burthened with years and weary of the cares which War carries with it was desirous to end his days in calmness and quiet and though his Nephews endeavoured to disguise matters which were the most tragical and sad yet the clamours of the people which had suffered under the devastations and pressures of War had come to his Ears wherefore he consented to a Treaty with the restitution of Castro entreating the Cardinal Bichi who was sent by the Court of France for the Office of Mediation to hasten the Peace that the short residue of his life might terminate in quietness The Congregation of State erected purposely for direction of the Military Affairs concurred in their desires with the Pope to which Cardinal Barberin though much against his will was forced to condescend knowing that with the restitution of Castro a dishonourable Peace was to be the consequence of an unhappy War With these dispositions towards a Peace Cardinal Bichi departed from Rome and in his way to Venice passed through Florence where in Discourse he understood from the Great Duke that saving his own Rights and Interests the Confederates would be satisfied with the full restoration of the Duke of Parma The Cardinal being arrived at Venice was followed by the Dukes of Modena and Parma Gondi and Testi were already there debating with Nani and Gussoni whom the Senate had deputed for that purpose It was now the beginning of the year 1644. when the Cardinal Bichi proposed That Absolution and Pardon should be demanded by France for Duke Edward and that Castro should be restored to him and that the rights of the Montists should remain as before and that the Confederates should restore that which they possessed belonging to the Church And to take off the diffidence which the Confederates conceived of non-performance of Articles by the Barberins he proposed the word of France for Guarantie upon declaration and promise that their Arms should be employed against him that should fail in execution of the Agreement Vrban falling extreamly sick whilst matters were in Treaty Bichi hastned the conclusion considering that his death would cause great alteration in the Treaty and as a preparation thereunto proposed a cessation of Arms to which the Confederates assented being sensible that such an accident could not happen without great revolutions in the Dominions of the Church and that with the death of the Pope the Authority of the Nephews ceasing those motives would vanish which had been the Original and cause of the War but the Pope's recovery altered all those Counsels which were contrived in case of his death and induced them to hasten a conclusion of the Peace The Articles therefore proposed by the Cardinal being debated in several Assemblies were at last concluded and agreed and subscribed at Venice by Cardinal Bichi for France by Giovanni Nani for Venice by Battista Gondi for the Great Duke and by the Marquis Fassoni for Modena and though the Duke of Parma refused to subscribe upon certain difficulties he made yet being over-ruled by the Confederates he was forced to concur The Cardinal with this Agreement posted in all hast to Rome being entertained in all places of the Ecclesiastical State with the Acclamations and Prayers of the People longing for Peace The Articles subscribed by the Confederates began with a Preamble and Declaration That they had entered into this War with no other Design than for the restoration of Prince Edward reserving in all other matters their most constant Obedience to the Pope and the Holy See That all acts of Hostility be suspended and that the Confederate Princes withdraw their Forces into their own Dominions That all Fortifications raised during this present War shall be demolished on one side and the other To the Persons and Places which had served or rendred themselves to any other Party Pardon was granted Prisoners were set at liberty the Religious Persons who had withdrawn themselves were permitted to return and the Sequestration was taken off from the Rents of the Knights of Malta and all Rights were clearly reserved to the Parties as aforesaid For execution of all which Hostages were given to the French King and the King for satisfaction of both Parties declared that he having become Guarantie for the Peace his Arms should be employed against those who observed not the Articles and in favour of those who executed the Accord Thus Castro was rendered and the Accord on all sides executed and Peace ensued to the satisfaction of the Pope and quiet of Italy but Vrban did not long enjoy the happiness of this Peace for being entered into the seventy seventh year of his age he died on the 29th of July in the year 1644. having reigned twenty one years wanting eight days He was certainly a Person of high prudence generosity and fit for Business in his youth he was esteemed a great Poet and excellently well versed in all the Books of Antient Poesie He was very munificent in his publick Buildings and in his own private Concernments he was no less splendid having in his life-time erected a stately Monument for himself in a corner of St. Peter's Church near the Sepulchre of Paul III. and adorned it with pillars of Marbles according to the contrivance and direction of Cavalier Bernini with this Inscription Vrbani VIII Barberini Florent Pont. Max. In Vaticano Tumulum Excitavit Ornavit Johannes Laurentius Berninus Eques His greatest fault was Nepotisme or too great a fondness for his Nephews and indulgence to his whole Family which he was resolved to make Rich and Great and indeed he had opportunity so to do in the long time of his Pontificate having reigned almost twenty one years during which at nine several Creations he made seventy four Cardinals of which number of seventy four three were his own Nephews viz. Francisco Barberino Antonio Barberino the Capuchin commonly known by the name of Cardinal Barberino to distinguish him from the other Cardinal Antonio the younger Brother of Cardinal Francisco who was Prior of the Order of Jerusalem and a Knight of the Great Cross of Malta and made General of the Ecclesiastical Army in the place of Taddeo Barberino the Prefect who for his cowardise and ill success was recalled from that Charge INNOCENT X. URBAN VIII having as is said breathed his last on the 29th of July the Cardinals then residing in Rome to the number of thirty nine assembled at a Congregation in order to dispose and settle matters for the more quiet and
could never be heartily reconciled to his Person and Interest but the Arch-bishop was so ambitious of the Scarlet that contrary to the persuasions of his Brother he posted to Rome where after some few months he was created Cardinal to the great satisfaction and joy of the Duke of Guise and of all the French Party who expected from thence the happy fruits of Peace and of a perfect understanding between France and the Papal Sea Howsoever the mind of the Pope was not yet quieted nor could he forget his quarrel to the Barberins though he seemed to be so far appeased as to admit of the return of Cardinal Barberin to Rome which grant was obtained by the Marquis de Fontena who succeeded the Abbat of St. Nicholas in the Agency for France but howsoever he could not so far prevail as to obtain the like favour for Cardinal Antonio whom the Pope detested and would not hear of his admission until he had given in his Accounts and answered the Crimes of which he was legally accused as his Brother had already performed Nor would the Pope admit the Son of Taddeo the Prefect a youth of about eighteen years of age to execute that Office during the absence of his Father retired as we have said to the Court of France though pressed with the most warm instances imaginable by the Marquis de Fontena the Pope positively refusing it as a judged case already by the College of Cardinals in the time of Sixtus IV. when the Son of Antonio Colonna though in joint commission with his Brother was declared uncapable to exercise that charge in the time of his Minority For indeed the Pope did not much consider the applications made from France in any Affair nor was he greatly concerned to satisfie their Ministers knowing that the Civil Wars at that time had so employed the hearts and hands of that Kingdom that no mischief could be derived from thence Nor did Innocent shew himself much more favourable to any Nation for the Emperour could obtain no other help in his Wars against Sweden than a few Indulgences so that he was forced to patch up a Peace to the disadvantage of the Empire and the Roman Religion The Spaniards received nothing but flat denials to all demands as the Conte d' Ognate and the Duke dell ' Infantado who were then Ambassadours did often complain The French required nothing besides the restoration of the Barberins for if the Spaniards could obtain nothing who had been chief Instruments in the Pope's Election what could the French expect who remained as out-lawed people and as Enemies to himself and party Nor did Innocent after the Example of other Popes interest and concern himself much in the quarrels between the Christian Princes or like those who esteeming themselves the universal Fathers interposed by their Agents in the Offices of Peace and Mediation but Innocent casting off those cares and by the advice and counsel of Donna Olympia being desirous to excuse the charge and expence of Nuntios in forein Courts as useless and unnecessary took up new Maxims and grounds of State having an Opinion that the intercessions of Popes availed little with Princes until their own conveniences and pressures by War inclined them to a Peace It is reported that Innocent looking out one day at his Window saw two Porters at Fifty-cuffs some that were standers by would have parted them but the Pope forbad it giving Order that they should fight it out They after half an hours scuffle being weary and out of breath gave over of themselves and without other mediation parted which when the Pope saw he turned to Panâ—irolo who was then living So said he will the French and Spaniards do for when they are well wearied with beating one another they will part and agree of themselves without the mediation of others But Innocent was not so wholly averse from sending Nuntios into forein parts but that with concurrence and approbation of his Olympia he was ready to spend Money in Negotiations which were judged beneficial and necessary for the welfare of the Ecclesiastical State in pursuance of which aim considering it of absolute necessity to have a Minister at the Treaty of Munster where the general peace of Christendom was in debate he appointed Fabio Chigi a Senese to be present at that Meeting who with Aloisio Contareni a Senator of Venice and both Men of experience were by general consent admitted Mediators The Emperour's Commissioners were Lodowick Count of Nassau and Isaac Volmar Doctor of the Civil Law to them afterwards Count Trotmansdorff a person of extraordinary Abilites was superadded Avossie and Servient appeared in behalf of France Count Pignoranda and one Antonio â Sequanis who with his two Pages in a slashed Suit and a tattered Coach was of greater importance to the Work than half the Meeting besides were Commissioners for the Spaniard and Count Oxensterne and John Sauge Osnabrugge for the Swede who being Protestants had a Seat appointed for them apart that they might not mingle with the Catholicks Paw of Amsterdam and Knute the Zelander Commissioners for Holland were of greater eminency than those from the other Provinces to Avossie and Servient Longueville of the bloud Royal of France was afterwards added entering Munster with a train like an Emperour These were the chief Ministers which graced the Meeting at Munster besides several Accessories sent by their respective Princes Fabio Chigi being of a mild and patient temper did diligently remove all such things as he judged might obstruct or retard the business of Peace but Contareni though a Man of able parts yet being passionate did sometimes proceed with more violence than wariness It will not be pertinent to this History to relate the particulars of this Treaty what jugling and what Sophistry was practised How much Money how much time was idly thrown away how many Letters were written in Ciphers and how many deciphered what insisting upon Punctilios never did an Assembly more gloriously play the Mad-men as if this Serious Meeting had been held about the place of Princes not for the peace of Christendom In short therefore as to what concerns our purpose The Hollanders impatient for a peace looking on the French successes with a jealous Eye resolved to improve the present opportunity and without the advice and consent of the French to strike up a perpetual Peace with Spain The French resenting this manner of proceeding by the Hollanders sent to the Hague to complain but without any effect that people after their usual custom preferring their quiet and ease from War before the Leagues and faith and promises made with and given to their Allies And thus this Assembly the most famous next to that of Trent for the resort of divers Nations was dissolved without any effect Chigi the Pope's Nuntio labouring much toward the general Peace had still in his Eye the design of conserving the Revenue and immunities of the Church free and entire
was that he never knew how to make choice of a wise Chief or Directour of his own Party Cardinal Pamfilio was ever esteemed as a Partisan of Spain and of the Medices His whole Family Mother Children Daughters Sons in law and Daughters in law were engaged in mortal Feuds one against another The Faction of the Barberins was not well united for the greatest part of the Creatures of Vrban VIII entertained a secret rancour and venom against Cardinal Francis Barberin who after having vowed himself a thousand times to the Interest of the Pope of Donna Olympia and that Family turned his Coat and endeavoured with all obsequious diligence to be received into the Service and friendship of Spain Thus having continued the History of the Barberins with almost an uninterrupted course or mixture of other Affairs we must return a little back to other passages of moment which intervened in the Reign of this present Pope After the death of Edward Duke of Parma which happened in the year 1649. the Montists wanting the usual payments agreed by the Duke in the time of Vrban VIII and afterwards confirmed by him at the conclusion of the late Peace made their complaints to the present Pope upon which license was obtained and Briefs were issued from the Camera to proceed against the Lands and Estate possessed by that Duke in the state of Castro The prosecution of this matter was more violently carried on by the persuasions of Donna Olympia because she was dissatisfied with that Duke for not selling to her his Naboth's Vineyard which was a certain Castle in the Dominion of Castro and because as she supposed he had been instrumental in persuading the Princess of Rossano who was his kinswoman to take Sanctuary under the protection of France from the Wiles and Plots of her Step-mother The Officers and Soldiers of the Duke made resistance against the Commissioners of the Camera who came to make seisures for payment of the Montists which greatly enraged the Pope who was impatient and frowned at the least opposition made to his Commands but the Great Duke of Toscany apprehensive that the consequences hereof might be an engagement to a second War he endeavoured by means of Cardinal Albornozzi to compose the differences making divers propositions to facilitate the payments and satisfie the Montists but whilest these matters were depending it unfortunately happened that the Bishop of Castro was murdered by certain Assassinates who attended his passage on the confines of the Ecelesiastical State The Pope being furiously enraged by the perpetration of this impious fact which he attributed to the machinations of the Duke of Parma immediately dispeeded certain Troops under the command of David Vidman and Girolamo Gabriel to lay Siege unto the City of Castro At that time the French being Masters of Piombino and Portolongone and having an Army in Lombardy under the command of the Duke of Modena and Mareschal du Plessis Praslin kept the Spaniards in awe and gave countenance to the designs of the Duke of Parma in maintenance of his right invaded by the Pope the Duke encouraged by hopes given him by the French and with an opinion that the Pope who was aged and loved ease and quietness would gladly compound upon reasonable terms so soon as he found himself pressed by any vigorous opposition he therefore imitating the example of his Father raised a considerable Army which he committed to the conduct of Marquis Gaufrid with Orders to march directly into the Dominions of the Pope and lest in their passage thither they should commit Violences or acts of Hostility or burden the people he furnished Money sufficient to defray all the charges necessary for maintenance of the Army whereby he might make appear the caution he used to give no offence and that his War was onely defensive and designed to no other end than to protect and maintain his own Subjects and Estate This tenderness of doing hurt to any had been well accepted and interpreted if the success had answered the hopes and expectations of the Duke but the contrary happened out for so soon as Gaufrid was entered into the Dominions of the Church he was encountred by the Marquis Mattei a knowing and an experienced Captain to whom the Pope had committed the charge and defence of those Countries and being strengthened by a considerable force and with many Gentlemen Voluntiers who came from Ferrara and Bologna to signalize their Valour he gave Battel to the Enemy and soon routed and defeated the Army of Parma the General Gaufrid shamefully flying fell under the heavy displeasure and disgrace of his Prince and being accused by his Enemies of many enormous Crimes and miscarriages and of not having observed the Orders of his Master he was with much ignominy put to death whereby he gave a new Example to the World of the mutability of fortune which from an obscure beginning and birth being raised on a sudden to the highest degree of reputation and esteem with his Master was with as swift a turn tumbled and precipitated down to an abyss of shame and dishonour The Garrison of Castro losing all hopes of relief and succours by this defeat surrendered the Town upon Articles into the hands of the Pope who being enraged for the murder committed on the Bishop commanded for expiation of that Offence that the City should be demolished and accordingly it was so entirely ruined that not one stone remained upon another The Duke in the mean time being terrified with these acts of severity and with the victorious Arms of the Pamfilians who threatned the other Dominions of Parma and finding that neither French nor Spaniards nor other Princes did much take his cause and sufferings to heart he resolved to compound with the Pope by a sale of the Dukedom of Castro and Ronciglione with all the Territories and dependences thereunto belonging with Power howsoever of Redemption within the space of eight years And thus ended these differences for the present which several years afterwards broke out into new troubles and will ever remain an occasion of quarrel and scandal until such time as equal expedients and proportionate to justice are given for mutual satisfaction After the City was thus destroyed the Pope set up a Pillar with this Inscription Here was CASTRO and several Crosses in the places where Churches had been with the same Motto The Bishoprick of Castro with all the Benefices and emoluments thereof was afterwards annexed to the neighbouring Metropolis of Aquapendente It is very certain that this Pope was extreamly rigorous in doing justice well vers'd in business and might have deserved the character of a skilful and an understanding Person had he not blemished his Reign with his unpardonable weakness towards a rapatious Woman and therefore we shall as well repeat his good actions as his bad and give the Reader some instances of his Vertues as well as of his Vices He was a severe lover of Justice in his Officers and would
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