should succeed him a Right for ever to chuse a Successour and certainly he could not mean a Successour to the Kingdom of Germany which was hereditary and independent of the Roman See and therefore it can onely have reference to the Imperial Dignity Now whereas by the decease of Otho the 3d. who died without issue this Right of the Emperour devolved to the States who succeeded to the Sovereign Authority for it is a sure Maxim That the King cannot die they therefore challenged and appropriated to themselves the same Right of chusing Emperours the which afterwards they resigned and transferred to the seven Electors who exercise the same power unto this day three of which viz. Mentz Triers and Colen are Ecclesiasticks being Arch-bishops and Arch-Chancellours to shew and keep in remembrance that the Ecclesiastical State had once a Right in the Election of Emperours But Historians are so much at variance in this point and relate it with such variety that we shall not search farther into this matter but proceed to our purpose of the Election of Popes and of the formality therein used in this Age. We have in our foregoing Discourse mentioned that Popes were antiently chosen by the Nobility Clergy and people of Rome which was certainly the Original Custom Though the Book of the Sacred Ceremonies used in the Church of Rome tells us That St. Peter named Clemens for his Successour provided that it might so seem good to the Senators of the Roman Church that is to the Presbyters of which St. Peter had constituted a College of twenty four before his death with power and Authority to decide and determine all matters of difficulty arising in the Church The which Presbyters having little or no regard to the nomination and appointment of St. Peter chose Linus and after him Cletus and then Clemens succeeded who was rather recommended than chosen by St. Peter that so it might more plainly appear that Popes had not a Right to Elect their Successours for if that priviledg was denied to St. Peter much more ought it to be unto those who succeeded him These twenty four Presbyters were in the time of Pope Sylvester the first called Cardinals that is Princes in the Church on whom Innocent the 4th at the Council of Lions bestowed the red Hat as a mark and badg of their Dignity afterwards Schisms and Dissentions arising amongst the Senators the Clergy and people of Rome were admitted to be present at the Election but to have no Voice or Suffrage therein afterwards the force and violence of the people was such that they would have a Voice and concur with others in their Votes This popular way of Election caused such heats and disturbances that the Emperours were constrained for keeping the peace to interpose by their Authority and to Order that no Election should stand good until it was confirmed by the Imperial approbation The Kingdom of the Lombards being overthrown in the year 776. the Roman Empire was translated from the Greek to the German Princes and then Charles the Great assumed and exercised this power of Electing or what is all one the confirming of Popes Afterwards a Series of pious Emperours succeeding and considering that the Supreme Bishop was Instituted and Ordained by Christ himself to be a Shepherd to the Emperour as well as to feed his other Flock and to purge and spiritually to judg them they renounced the power of confirming Popes and entirely transferred it to the Roman Presbyters the Clergy and the people This popular manner of Election produced parties Schisms and contentions which often broke forth into bloud and wounds so that there was scarce a Regular Election for a long time the strongest always possessing the Chair until he was subverted by another more powerful than himself so that in the space of few years nine several Men seized on the Papal Chair namely Benedict the 9th Sylvester the 3d. Gregory the 6th Clement the 2d Damasus the 2d Leo the 2d Victor the 2d Stephen the 9th and Benedict the 10th To which last Nicolas the 2d succeeding a person of unparallel'd Sanctity and Wisdom did in the year 1051. study to cure and prevent these riotous courses for the future which upon the choice of every Pope were ready to bring and precipitate every thing into confusion For a Remedy whereunto he established a Law which was afterwards confirmed by the Council of Lateran that the election of the Popes should entirely rest and remain in the power of the Cardinals the which Law or Canon was afterwards confirmed by Alexander the 3d. and by Gregory the 10th in the Council of Lions and at Vienna by Clement the 6th The which happy Constitution hath tended much to the peace and quiet of the Church and as a Rule hereof Alexander the 3d. instituted at a General Council that he onely should be esteemed to have been canonically elected who had obtained his Choice by at least two Thirds of the College of Cardinals This power of Election hath ever since that time rested in the power of the Cardinals who after the Octaves appointed for solemnizing the Funerals of the deceased Pope have on the 9th or 10th day entered the Conclave in order to a new Election The Conclave is for the most part held at the Vatican Palace where in a long Gallery are erected small Apartments or Cells made of boards covered with purple Cloth for every Cardinal which place is appointed for the more convenient conference each with other to every Cardinal is allowed no more than two Servants which are called his Conclavists unless in case of sickness or other infirmity when three may be admitted The Cardinals being entered the Conclave is strictly guarded with the City Militia to hinder all commerce and intercourse of Letters from without The Gallery also is very closely watched being kept by a Master of the Ceremonies so that when the Cardinals have their Dishes served up to them they are visited and inspected by him lest any Letters or Advices should be concealed within the Meat According to this first Institution the Cardinals have a free use of several dishes of Meat for the first three days and whilst they are eating or doing any thing else in their Cells the outward Curtains are to be open and undrawn unless in the Night when they sleep or at other times that they take their repose when great care is taken that no undecent noise or disturbance be given It hath been accustomary of late years for the Cardinals to premise certain particular points and Articles necessary and convenient for the better government of the Church which are subscribed by the whole Community and every one takes an Oath to observe them in case he should prove to be the person chosen and promoted to the Pontifical Dignity After which matters are performed they proceed to an Election There are three ways by which Popes are chosen namely by Scrutiny by Access or
agreement between Leo X. and Francis the First was made void and all Friars and other Religious were made subject to the Bishop of their Diocese So that France seemed in a manner to be lost onely Spain being a people not given much to innovation adhered to the Pope's Authority and to a Continuation of the Old Council The Feast of Easter approaching which was the time appointed for the opening the Council the Pope deputed the Cardinals of Mantoua Warmia Seripanda and Simonette to be his Legats and Presidents of the Council and hastned all the Bishops of Italy to repair unto Trent that so they might counterballance the number of the French and Spanish Bishops who came as was believed with no other intention than to gain one Point which was that a General Council in its Determinations was superiour and above the Authority of the Pope a Position which the Bishops of Italy who had the honour of being the Head of all the Clergy ought on no terms whatsoever to admit But as yet there was a very thin appearance of Bishops at Trent for the eyes of all were fixed on the issue which the Convention of the Estates at Orleans and the Conference at Poissy would produce which in every Act struck at the Pope's Authority and exposed unto the people the corruptions and abuses of the Roman Sea In fine after all the Queen Regent wrote a Letter to the Pope wherein she represented to him the great numbers of Protestants in France and the daily encrease of them to suppress which a Reformation in many things was necessary as namely to take away Images out of the Churches the Spittle and Exorcisms in Baptism to grant the Eucharistical Chalice to the Laiety to admit the Divine Service in the vulgar Tongue and expunge the late Festival of Corpus Christi out of the Kalendar All and every Point of which were such mortal blows to the Church that the Pope could not think thereof with any patience nor give other answer thereunto than that those and other matters should be deferred to the decision of the Council With these expectations and Discourses the time was protracted until the month of December by which time there was a considerable appearance of Bishops at Trent so that the Pope commanded without farther delay that the Council should be commenced but by reason of some other Obstructions and at the desire of the Emperor's Ambassadours it was again deferred until the middle of January following The first Session was held the 18th of January at which the first preliminary afforded great matter of Dispute for it was there to be made a standing Rule That nothing should be propounded but what was first moved by the Legats Proponentibus Legatis which being opposed by four Spanish Prelats was notwithstanding over-ruled by the greater number and the next Sessions appointed for the 26th of February following In the mean time on the 17th of January the Edict was made at St. Germaines whereby the Protestants had liberty given them to have their Churches or Temples without the Cities to live under the protection of the King in observance of their own Discipline Provided that they taught nothing contrary to the Doctrine of the Old and New Testament and to the Council of Nice At Trent after several Congregations held there another Sessions commenced the 26th of February at which some matters were determined in relation to Precedency and the Index Expurgatorius and then the Council adjourned until the 14th of March which time being come nothing passed at that Session worthy of observation onely they adjourned until the 14th of May and then again to the 4th of June At the beginning of this Session the Marquis of Pescara who was Ambassadour for Spain instantly urged that this Council might be declared a Continuation of the former under Paul and Julius but the Emperor's Ambassadours made such fierce opposition that nothing for that time was concluded therein after which the Marquis de Pescara departed from Trent upon pretence that the affairs of his Government required his presence at Milan though in reality it was to avoid a concurrence with the French Ambassadours who were then upon their Journey to Trent namely the Lord of Lansac Ferrier who was a President of Parliament and Fabre Lord of Pibrac one also of the Long-Robe who arrived two or three days after the departure of the Spanish Ambassadour And now misunderstandings encreased between the Court of Rome and the Council of Trent the Cardinal of Mantoua himself who was one of the Pope's Legats being suspected of not having had sufficient zeal for the Authority of the Court of Rome because he had not seconded the Votes of the Spanish Party who would have declared this present Council a Continuation of the former so that it came to be debated at Rome whether it were not necessary to recall the Cardinal of Mantoua from his Presidency or to place some other Collegue in Commission above him On the other side the Council was as much dissatisfied with the Court of Rome as the Court of Rome was with Trent because that many things were designed there to moderate the Papal Authority and give a greater latitude of Power to Princes and Arch-Bishops in the exercise both of the spiritual and temporal jurisdiction nor were the Prelats free from all variance amongst themselves whose interests several times interfering one with other administred subject of Dispute which ended in Reproaches and Obloquies of one against the other The French Ambassadours being admitted to Audience in a Congregation assembled the 26th of May Fibrac made a very eloquent and pathetical Oration wherein he reproved the indiscreet and ill-guided zeal of those who would not part with one insignificant ceremony to gain the common quiet and peace of the Church and the salvation of many souls He also openly declaimed against the violence imposed in the Council which ought to have been free And considering that preceding Councils had for some Ages past suffered their Opinions and Sentiments to be overswayed by a superiour Power and serve an interest for whose sake they were not assembled he did therefore now exhort the Fathers then present that they would take such measures as might without mixture of other considerations cure and heal the Diseases of the Church produce Peace and propagate Charity in the World and secure the Flock of Christ from usurpation and Oppression This Speech so startled the Council that the Prolocutor having nothing to reply gave an end to the Congregation of that Day On the 4th of June a Session was held in which the Commissions of Ambassadours were read and an Answer given by the Prolocutor to the Speech of Pibrac which was ill resented by the French and then the Session ended and another appointed on the 16th of July In the mean time several Congregations were held whereat the chief matter debated was the administration of the Sacrament of the Holy Communion to
they were both received with great honour and respect at the Court of Rome but if either of them had acquired a greater esteem than the other it was the Duke of Crequi a person extreamly handsom and well fashioned of a most antient and illustrious Family first Gentleman of the King's Bed-Chamber and in all things so well accomplished that the Court of Rome esteemed it self highly honoured by the presence and administration of so noble a Personage his onely fault was that he was haughty and of an humour so fierce as became a Camp better than the more polite and gentle comportments of an Italian Court or the conversation of Ecclesiastical Persons Howsoever his deportment was pleasing enough to the Pope and Cardinals so long as Don Mario and the Nephews comported themselves as they did at first within the limits of some reasonable modesty but so soon as they began to pass those terms and become insolent this Ambassadour could not long sustain their pride before their resentments broke forth into outragious violences as we shall have occasion to discourse when we come to the year 1662. In the year 1655. Christina Queen of Sweden renounced the Protestant Religion in which she had been educated and with it her Crown which she resigned to her kinsman Charles Gustavus conserving to herself a Rent of one hundred thousand Crowns a year out of the Dukedom of Pomerania and making publick profession of the Roman Catholick Religion she resolved to spend her days at Rome where she might enjoy it in the most pompous and triumphant manner and where she might not onely delight herself in conversation with grave Cardinals and the most learned Men in the World of whom she was a great Admirer but also being favoured by the Pope could on all occasions have recourse to him for Pardons Indulgences and his paternal Benediction Wherefore leaving her Kingdom she apparrelled herself in the habit of a Man in which disguise passing through Denmark and the lower Germany she came by way of Holland to Brussels where in the Privy-Chamber of the Arch-Duke Leopold at that time Governour of the Low-Countries and in presence of him and all his Nobles on the Eve of Christmas she solemnly abjured the Heresies of Luther and made profession of the Roman Catholick Faith The Plague raging that year at Rome she deferred her journey thither until health was restored to that City and Country at which time Alexander VII being created Pope she prosecuted her design of setling her Habitation in Rome which she having signified to the Pope and received his license she made at his desire an other solemn abjuration of Lutherism at Inspruck which might dispose and prepare her more solemn reception into Italy When the Queen was in Germany the Pope dispatched Luke Holsten a Hamburgher by Nation who was keeper of the Vatican Library to make her Majesty a Complement in his name the which Person was the more acceptable to her in respect of the fame and reputation he had acquired of being the most learned Man of that age When she approached near unto Rome he sent four Nuntios to meet her viz. the Arch-bishop of Thebes the Arch-bishop of Ravenna with the Dean and Clerk of the Apostolical Chamber where attendance was truly Royal and magnificent at her entrance into the City she was met by two Legats à Latere namely Cardinal John Charles de Medices Brother to the great Duke of Toscany and Cardinal Frederick Brother of the Lantgrave of Hessen who with a pompous train conducted her to the Vatican Palace where she was lodged with all the Royalty appertaining to a Queen Many and various were the Ceremonies which passed at the reception of this great Person after which on Christmas day she was confirmed by the Pope in St. Peter's Church who superadded the name of Alexandra to that of Christina In the year 1657. the Venetians were hardly pressed by the formidable Power of the Ottoman Arms and being unable by their own force to wage a War against that potent Enemy the Senate omitted no applications or addresses to persuade forein Princes to yield them succour either by Men or Money But Wars raging in all parts of Christendom administred trouble and care sufficient for every Prince to consult and provide for his own affairs and safety The Czar of Moscovy to whom the Venetians sent their Ambassadour promised fair and gave good words but with little other effect it being difficult to concert matters or engage affections or reconcile the Interest of Princes so remote Thus the Venetians becoming destitute of all succours from forein Powers addressed themselves to the Pope as their ultimate refuge in all their distresses beseeching his Holiness to grant them such sums of Mony as might supply their present occasions But alas Rome being but newly recovered from a languishing state of Pestilence and from other calamities before mentioned during which immense sums had been issued from the publick Treasury to sustain the Commonalty in their scarcity and want the Pope alledged just Causes to excuse the disbursment of Money from his Treasury which had of late years been miserably exhausted by the Avarice of those who had had the management of it Howsoever though the Pope pretended himself not able to issue out Money from his own Exchequer yet he hearkened to some Proposals and expedients for raising it by the sale of certain Lands and Rents belonging to the two Orders of the Crociferi and of the Santo Spirito which the Pope's Authority and the cause for which they were sold being for maintenance of a War against Infidels and of the Christian Cause against Turks was sufficient to warrant and hallow the sale and give a lawful Title to any Purchaser The Order of the Crociferi was very ancient and possessed several Monasteries dispersed in all parts of Italy but that of the Spirito Santo consisted of three Monasteries onely and all within the Dominion of the Republick by which they had been endowed under the protection and government of the Council of Ten howsoever the desolation of these Monasteries could not pass without the severe Censures and reflections of the World and though the Friers of those Orders were much fallen from the integrity of their antient institution and become corrupt and debauched in their lives and manners yet their clamours could not be suppressed nor the calumnies which they daily uttered against the Pope and the Republick be quieted Howsoever a Bull being passed and a Decree of the Senate for sale of the Lands together with those of some other smaller Monasteries the Pope's Nuntio with three Senators were commissionated to sell and pass the Title to the Purchasers whereby the Senate raised above a million of Ducats which were all employed to carry forward a War against the Turk Whilest this good correspondence passed between the Pope and the Republick and that the Venetians had daily need of succours and assistances from the Church
as they were leading him to Punishment disposed of what he had to Stephen the Arch-deacon and afterwards upon the fifth of May was beheaded Lucina with some of the Clergy buried his body by night in a Grotto of hers in the Via Appia nor far from the Coemetery of Calistus There are some who write that the Bishop suffered under Gallus and Volusianus but I rather give credit to Damasus who affirms Decius to have been the Author of his Martyrdom Cornelius held two Ordinations in the Month of December in which he made four Presbyters four Deacons seven Bishops He sat in the Chair two years three days and by his death the See was vacant thirty five days S. LUCIUS I. LUCIUS by birth a Roman his Father's Name Porphyrius was chosen Bishop when Gallus Hostilianus was Emperour Gallus associated to himself in the Government his Son Volusianus in whose times there arose so great a Plague to revenge the cause of Christianity that there were few Families much less Cities and Provinces which had not their share in the publick Calamity But while Gallus and Volusianus were engaging in a Civil War against Aemilianus who had attempted an alteration of the Government they were both kill'd at 〈◊〉 before they had compleated the second year of their Empire Aemilianus a person of obscure birth was slain e're he had possess'd his usurped Power three months and soon after Valerianus and Gallienus were chosen Emperours the former by the Army in Rhetia and Noricum the latter at Rome by the Senate Their Government proved very pernicious to the Roman State by the means of their own Pusillanimity and the 〈◊〉 they exercised against the Christians For both the Germans had marched forward as far as Ravenna laying all 〈◊〉 where ever they came with Fire and Sword and also Valerianus himself making War in Mesopotamia was taken Prisoner by the Parthians and forced to live in the most ignominious servitude for Sapores King of Persia made use of him for a Footstool when he got up on Horseback A Punishment which justly 〈◊〉 him for this reason that as soon as he was seiz'd of the Empire he was the eighth from Nero who commanded that the Christians should be put to Tortures be made to worship Idols or upon their refusal be put to death Gallienus being terrisied by this manifest Judgment of God suffered the Christians to live quietly But it was now too late for by the Divine Permission the Barbarians had already made Inroads upon the Roman borders and certain pernicious Tyrants arose who overthrew at home what was left undestroyed by the forein Enemy 〈◊〉 hereupon leaves the care of the Publick and spending his time very dissolutely at 〈◊〉 was there slain Lucius upon the death of Volusianus being released from banishment at his return to Rome ordained that every Bishop 〈◊〉 be accompanied where-ever he went with two Presbyters and three Deacons as witnesses of his Life and Actions In his time suffered Saint Cyprian who was first a Professor of Rhetorick and afterward as St. Hierem tells us at the persuasion of Coecilius the Presbyter from whom he took his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 becoming a Christian he gave his Estate to the Poor Having 〈◊〉 first ordained a Presbyter and then Bishop of Carthage he was 〈◊〉 to death under 〈◊〉 and Volusianus His Life and Martyrdom were 〈◊〉 well written by Pontius a Presbyter and his Companion in 〈◊〉 And it ought not to be forgotten that Cyprian before he 〈◊〉 was reconciled to the Opinion of the Church of Rome that 〈◊〉 were not to be re-baptized but to be receiv'd without any further Ceremony than that of Imposition of Hands a matter about which there had been formerly a great Controversie between him and Cornelius But to return to Lucius before his Martyrdom which he suffered at the command of Valerianus he delivered up his Ecclesiastical Power to 〈◊〉 the Arch-deacon He conferred holy Orders thrice in the month of December ordaining four Presbyters four Deacons seven Bishops He was interred in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia Aug. the 25th He was in the Chair three years three months three days and by his death the See was vacant thirty five days S. STEPHANUS I. STEPHANUS a Roman the Son of Julius was chosen Bishop when the Roman Empire seem'd to be utterly ruin'd and particularly at the time when Posthumus 〈◊〉 his Usurped Power in Gallia though not without great advantage to the Publick For he governed very well ten years together freed the Countrey from Hostility and restored that Province to its ancient Form But being afterwards kill'd at Mentz in a tumult of the Soldiers Victorinus succeeded him who was indeed an excellent Soldier but being exces ssively incontinent and adulterous was slain at Cologne Stephanus applying himself to the Regulation of the Church ordained that the Priests and other Ministers should not use their sacred Vestments any where but in the Church and during the performance of Divine Offices lest otherwise they should incur the Punishment of Belshazzar King of Babylon for touching the holy Vessels with prophane hands Concerning the Re-baptization of those who returned to the Faith he was of the same Judgment with Cornelius his Predecessor and thought it by no means lawful to communicate with those who re-baptized them Whereupon Dionysius who had formerly concurred in opinion about the matter with those of Carthage and the East both his and their Sentiments of it being now altered writes to Stephen and encourages him from the assurance that both the Asian and African Churches were now reconciled to the Judgment of the Roman See concerning it About the same time Malchion a Presbyter of Antioch a person of extraordinary Eloquence became very useful to the Church of God in writing against Paulus Samosatenus the Bishop of that place who endeavoured to revive the Opinion of Artemon affirming Christ to have been a meer man and that he had no Existence till he was conceived by the Virgin Mary An Opinion which being afterwards condemned in the Council of Antioch by general consent this Malchion in the name of the Synod wrote a large Epistle to the Christians concerning it As for Stephanus when he had by his Example and Persuasion converted a multitude of Gentiles to Christianity being seized by Gallienus as some say or else by those who upon the Edict of Decius were appointed to persecute the Christians he himself together with many others his Proselytes was hurried away to Martyrdom and having suffered he was interred in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia August the 2d after that he had at two Decembrian Ordinations made six Presbyters five Deacons three Bishops He was in the Chair seven years five months two days and the See was vacant two and twenty days S. SIXTUS II. SIXTUS an Athenian of a Philosopher became a Christian the Decian and Valerian Persecution yet continuing But it
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
Vrsins rather than Gibellins and of the party of Colonna yet this Alexander did contain himself within that happy neutrality that neither Faction had a prejudice to him or did violently oppose him so that all parties concurring with a common voice in his Election did without farther demur or delay salute and pay their respects and ceremonies of Worship to him as Universal Bishop the which Election was so free and easie neither constrained by an over-awing force of armed Bands nor by the power of a prevailing Party that for many ages the like had not been known to the great joy of good men who are always pleased with regular proceedings Alexander being thus chosen he took on himself the name of Paul the Third in consideration as some conjecture that he was born in the Reign of Paul the Second in Canino a place in Toscany which was the paternal seat of his Fathers Being now Pope he declared much against Nepotismo or advancing Favorites or Nephews to eminency or greatness and therefore expresly forbad his natural Son Pier-luigi to come to Rome or medling with the Affairs of the Church or State requiring him to promise unto himself no other benefit or advantage by his promotion to the Papal Sea than only to live a quiet and a commodious life Howsoever he was not so firm or constant to this resolution but that he promoted the Son of this Pier-luigi a youth of 14 years of age to the Dignity of Cardinal by the name of Cardinal Farnese and another also yet younger than the former named Ascagno Sforza his Sisters Son the which unreasonable promotions at a time and conjuncture of Affairs so unfit afforded just matter of discourse and obloquy to the Lutherans and Reformers of Religion who besides the impieties of former Popes had yet some thing material to object against the levity and weakness of the present Government howsoever as if he intended to make amends for this unripe fruit he assumed others of more mature age and wisdom to this Dignity whom he promoted either for their Virtues or Learning or Nobility of their Families amongst which John Maria de Monte Arezzo Arch-Bishop of Siponto was one who was afterwards made Pope by the name of Julius the Third He also created John Fisher Bishop of Rochester as also Renard de la Poole Cardinals together with many others to the number of seventy one during his Reign or time that he was Pope And as this Pope Paul the Third was very bountiful in these promotions so he was no less magnificent and stately in his Structures having in the first year laid the Foundations of that sumptuous Building at Rome called by the name of The Palace of the Farnesi which is one of the most noble and magnificent Edifices not only in Rome but in all Europe the which I the more willingly mention because that being my self at Rome I observed it to be most agreeable to the antique Buildings of old Rome and that besides the outward Magnificence it was rarely furnished within side with many excellent Statues as that of Hercules of Flora and a Gladiator esteemed the best pieces in the world which are in the Court or Area below Then above stairs you have the Statues of Julius Caesar and Augustus Homer Herodotus Pindarus Cicero Seneca and others but that of Caracalla is beyond them all he looks fierce and wants nothing but motion to make you believe it is alive there are also some Idol gods and a Statue of Socrates on a Pedestal of the same Marble but the most famed piece of Art is the Toro Farnese which is a furious Bull held by the Sons of Dirce who are tying their Mothers Hairs to the Horns of the Bull it was brought from Rhodes and esteemed at a very high value This Palace was begun by Antonio Gallo an excellent Architect and finished by Michael Angelo Buona rota Upon the Frontispiece of the Gate these Verses are engraven Tertius has Paulus struxit Farnesius aedes Quarum forma oculos ponitur ante tuos Aspicis immensos hospes qui frontis honores His similes dices Roma nec orbis habet Thus much had the pacifick and quiet spirit of Paul the Third effected that amidst the troubles and inquietudes of Government he was able to attend to such an expensive piece of Structure the which shews his aversion to War for stately Buildings and ornaments of Cities are always the happy effects of Peace and indeed the Maxim which this Pope observed of keeping himself in a discreet neutrality between the Emperor and the French King did marvellously contribute to his ease and prosperity for by that means he was courted by them both and lived without the troubles and expence of War until he was necessitated thereunto by other emergencies Moreover the first year of this Popes Government was so very happy in the seasonableness of the Weather and fruitfulness of the time accompanied with so many other auspicious circumstances as made those who had suffered in the late cloudy and tempestuous times of Adrian and Clement bless the returns of Romes glory and prosperity as if the Golden Age had again entered attributing all to the conduct and wisdom of Paul the Third of whose great Parts and Abilities they had received apparent instances in the Reign of Clement VII who so kindly accepted the solicitations and labors which this Alexander when he was Cardinal had performed to relieve him when he was besieged in the Castle of S. Angelo by bringing Lautrec to his assistance that he gained the primary station of authority and esteem with him so that being sick and oppressed with a pain in his stomach he would often say that if the succession to the Popedom were hereditary or could be disposed of by Will and Testament he should judg no other so worthy to be his Heir as this Alexander who now as we have said being elected Pope on the 12th of October was Crowned on the second of November following with all the Ceremonies usual at that Solemnity Being thus settled in his Pontificate he resolved to adhere to his ancient Principle and Maxim of Neutrality and therefore could never be persuaded to revoke or annul the League which was made between Clement the Seventh his Predecessor and Charles the Emperor at Bologna for tho that League was principally calculated and designed to drive the French out of Italy to which tho perhaps the dominion of the Imperialists might be equally grievous and oppressive yet considering that such a breach of Articles in favour of the French could not be performed without innovations which must necessarily produce Wars and disturbances in Italy nor effected without impeachment of that Neutrality which he had often avowed to be indispensably belonging to the Office of Popes who were the common Parents of all Christian Kings and therefore he would never give ear to those suggestions which the French Ministers and Faction would frequently inculcate in favour
regular management of Affairs during the vacancy of the Papal Chair The day following being the second day Cardinal Montalto acquainted the Congregation that he had received Orders from the Grand Duke to let them know that Cardinal de Medicis could not judg himself safe at Rome whilst the Power of the City and of the Militia remained in the hands of Taddeo Barberin his mortal Enemy and therefore he desired that either an other General of the Forces of the Church might be nominated or else that he might have license to enter Rome with his own Guards of Soldiers for defence and security of his Person and that otherwise in case of refusal he protested against the legality of the Conclave as not free nor secure to those Members who resorted to it After mature consideration of this Point the whole Congregation of Cardinals excepting some few agreed that it was not fit to remove Taddeo either from one or the other Office but in regard the Spanish Faction who were close Adherers to the House of Medicis were of Opinion that some satisfaction ought to be given to the Grand Duke herein it was concluded and agreed That the Sacred Colledg of Cardinals should by a Writing subscribed with their own hands give Security and Assurance to Cardinal de Medecis that nothing should be attempted in Rome against his Person Secondly That two other Cardinals should be joined in Commission with Taddeo the Prefect in the Government of the City And thirdly That a Lieutenant General should be created Independent of the Prefect with absolute Power over the Soldiery These Expedients having given satisfaction to Cardinal de Medicis and the Funeral Rites of Vrban being performed the Cardinals to the number of fifty five entered the Conclave The Persons which seemed to stand most fair for the Election were the Cardinals Pamphilio and Sachetti one of which Cardinal Barberin was desirous to promote though he was most inclined to the first for though Sachetti was esteemed for a great Lover and Friend of the Family of the Barberins in general yet Pamfilio was reputed to be more intimate with Cardinal Barberin and one who entertained a particular affection for his Person Howsoever Sachetti was the first in nomination but wanting the number of Votes required in the Scrutiny the Conclave proceeded to others all which by the contrariety of Factions and Interests were rejected But at length Pamfilio to whom Cardinal Barberin had passed some Promises and assurances of favour before the beginning of the Conclave was after a contest of six weeks by a general concurrence of all the Cardinals five only excepted assumed to the Pontifical Dignity to which the Power and Interest of the Barberins did much contribute who by the long Reign and Government of Vrban their Uncle had contracted great friendships as well as enmities Cardinal Pamfilio whose title was St. Eusebius was born at Rome his Father was Camillo Pamfilio his Mother Flaminia del Bufalo both antient Families of Rome His younger years were employed in profitable Studies in which he became so great a Proficient that at the years of twenty he took his Degree of Doctor of the Civil Law by vertue of which he was made one of the Advocates of the Consistory and thence promoted by Clement VIII to be Auditor of the Rota by Gregory XV. he was sent Nuntio to Naples by Vrban VIII he was sent with Cardinal Francisco his Nephew in quality of the first Minister of the Legation or Embassy into France and at his return was created Patriarch of Antioch Afterwards he was sent with Cardinal Francisco when he went Legate into Spain and bore the same Office and quality of the first Minister of the Legation as he had done in France in discharge of which he gave such testimonies of his Abilities and faithfulness that the Legate being intirely satisfied with his management and conduct of Affairs left him at his departure in the Residency of Nuntio in Ordinary for the Court of Rome In which Office he so well acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the Pope and contentment of his Catholick Majesty that in the year 1627. he was created Cardinal though by reason of his continuance in the Court of Spain his promotion was not published until the year 1629. And being returned to Rome in the year 1630. he received the Cardinals Hat in a full Consistory After which he was made Prefect of the Ecclesiastical Immunities and lastly Supreme Judg of the Inquisition and Protectour of the Kingdom of Poland And having risen by such degrees and steps of Honour he was at length elected Pope on the 15th of September 1644. calling himself by the name of Innocent X. in honour to the memory of Pope Innocent his Uncle by the Mothers side The Cardinals then present at the Conclave having after this Election performed according to the usual custom their acts of Adoration to the person of the Pope Francisco Barberino took the Cross and carried it before the Pope though that Office properly belonged to Cardinal de Medicis the Chief Deacon who perhaps for some dislike of the Choice and for want of concurrence in any thing pleasing to the Barberins had excused or absented himself And thus Cardinal Barberin carrying the Cross conducted the Pope before the High Altar of St. Peter where with a loud Voice he uttered these words Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum habemus Papam Eminentissimum Reverendissimum Joannem Baptistam Pamphilium qui sibi nomen imposuit Innocentius Decimus On the 4th of October Cardinal de Medicis set the tripple Crown on his Head with great applause and acclamations of the People for though this Cardinal had excused himself from carrying the Cross before him after his Election as his Office of Arch-Deacon did require upon imagnations perhaps that the Pope would become a favourer of the Barberins his mortal Enemies as his gratitude to that Family might require yet having in that Interval of time which was between his Election and Coronation discovered that his inclinations were otherwise disposed as we shall hereafter make appear he then altered his Affections to the Pope and became willing to plant the Crown upon his head On this occasion some Medals were stamped with the Image of our Lady with this Inscription Vnde venit Auxilium mihi But his own Motto was Da Servo Tuo Cor Docile ut Populum Tuum judicare possit And now all the Ceremonies of his Inauguration being past he began to apply his mind to the Government of Church and State and in the first place he ordained a Congregation to inspect and state the accounts of the Church and contrive some ways and means for payment of Debts and then according to the custom of former Popes he provided for a cheap year and to make Bread and other Victuals plentiful in the City than which nothing can be more acceptable to the People of Rome who always labour under the scarcity of