Conferences that the Pope seemed to refuse nothing which might engage and oblige the Cardinal having at his instance granted an alienation from the Church of three hundred thousand Livers a year to the King of France which Bene had formerly been demanded and sollicited with great importunity but could never be obtained until this endearment happened between the Cardinal and the Pope For now their mutual intimacy and friendship began to be so great that the Pope opened his bosom and heart to him giving him to understand that the Council being become a burden to him which he could not support he had therefore sent a private Bull to his Legats either to prorogue or adjourn it to some other place as should be most agreeable to the state of Affairs but the Cardinal who professed to have the same Interest for that his occasions required his presence in France yet could not concur in Opinion either to have the Council prorogued or adjourned to an other place but rather to dispose matters in order to a Conclusion which might easily be effected by laying aside all those Points which might administer matter or cause of Dispute promising to contribute to this Design all the Power and Interest he had with the Ambassadours and Bishops that so every thing might terminate happily and to the satisfaction of the Court of Rome The Pope being overjoyed with these Promises was comforted in the highest degree by the consolatory expressions of the Cardinal in return for which he promised to use all his endeavours to create him his Successour by engaging such a number of Cardinals in his favour as should secure his Election promising in the mean time to make him the chief Instrument of all his grand Designs Thus was the one elevated in his hopes and expectations of high preferments and the other encouraged against the refractory opposition of the French Prelats who were now grown mutinous and the Papal Authority rendered contemptible to them For at that time Chatillion had voluntarily renounced his character of Cardinal and called himself by the title of Count de Beauvais and in contempt of that Dignity was married in the habit of a Cardinal as if he intended by that action to have rendered that Honour ridiculous The French Prelats also being disgusted five of them retired from Trent having easily obtained their license from the Legats whose chief endeavours and labour was now to appease the Sedition and mutinies of the Bishops who were come to that unbridled usurpation and entrenchments on the temporal jurisdiction of Princes and Magistrates that they constrained the Legats to read in the Congregation that Model of a Decree which they had projected for Reformation of Secular Magistrates the particulars of which were so licentious and extravagant as deserve to be noted for discovery of that Pride which reigned amongst the Clergy of those days the contents of which were these That a Clergy-man was not liable to the Sentence of a Secular Court nor could he be tryed at that Bar though he himself should consent thereunto that the Secular Judges should not intermedle with causes relating to Matrimony to Heresie to Tenths Advowsons or rights of Patronage nor with any other causes whether civil or criminal wherein the Ecclesiastical Censure was or might be concerned That no Injunction be issued out of a Secular Court to hinder the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical in points of Excommunication though taken out against the Emperor himself or against Kings Nor shall the Civil Law contradict or interfere with the Ecclesiastical in matters which relate to the Affairs Goods or possessions of the Church which is endued with a Power of constituting its own Courts and Officers of several degrees ranks and qualities That the Clergy shall be exempt from Taxes Imposts Tithes or Subsidies whatsoever That Princes or Magistrates shall not have Power to quarter Soldiers Officers or Horse within the Houses or on the possessions of the Clergy with several other Articles of like tenure which were so repugnant to the Power of Kings that is seemed to shake their Authority and set up an other Soveraignty within their own Kingdoms independant of the Regal Jurisdiction for which reason the French Ambassadours having made their Protest against these Articles in the space of fifteen days afterwards retired from Trent to Venice according to the Orders which they had received from France The news of this retreat of the Ambassadours was very unwelcome to the Court of Rome and especially to the Cardinal of Lorain who apprehended that this unexpected accident would much eclipse his Credit and Reputation with the Pope and defeat the hopes he had conceived of his new preferment which that he might still keep up he promised the Pope to write and accordingly did write unto the King in such terms as plainly evidenced how far he had abandoned the Principles he brought from France and sacrificed them to a new aad strange Interest which he had acquired at Rome After which the Pope wrote to the Legats to prepare for the following Session according to the time appointed and to commence immediately after the return of the Cardinal to Trent and then speedily to wind all things up so as to put a final conclusion to the Council in which there seemed no great difficulty for that the French and Germans being drawn off they had none to deal with but onely with the Spaniards Howsoever the Pope resenting highly the retirement of the five French Bishops accused them of Heresie and cited them to make their defence before the Tribunal of Inquisition at Rome in like manner he issued out Process against Jane Queen of Navarre Widow of Anthony of Bourbon upon an accusation of Heresie in order to depose her from her Crown and Dignity the which Decrees were divulged and affixed on all publick places And though the Cardinal did in dislike thereof represent unto the Pope that this manner of proceeding was contrary to the received Maxims of France and the liberties of the Gallican Church and that it was not seasonable to proceed with such rigour against a Queen who was an Ally of France and the Relict of one lately slain in Battel against the Hugenots and that it was too early to summon Bishops to receive judgment at Rome against which the Council of France had so lately protested yet the Cardinal having performed this Office in a cold and perfunctory manner as if he intended rather to acquit himself with his Master than gain his Point gave no satisfaction to the Government of France which therefore making use of the Ambassadour Monsieur d' Oisel in this Negotiation his endeavours succeeded so well that the Process against the Queen of Navarre and the five Bishops was superseded and the whole matter buried in silence And that the King might shew how little he regarded the Decrees of the Council he proceeded actually to alienate the Lands of the Church before the License and Grant of the Pope
speedily the which he accordingly did in the space of two days after in words to this effect That his Holiness would be pleased together with him to render thanks to God Almighty for being pleased to conserve the remnant of his Fleet from such dreadful storms and tempests and for bestowing on him Riches and Power sufficient to set out and equippe an other equal to the former That he had sent his Fleet to fight against the Enemies of Christ but not to Combat with the Seas and Winds and therefore saw no cause to blame his Officers either Civil or Military And in fine perceiving the subtil manner of the Pope to forestall his demands of succours or reparations he concluded his Letter in this manner That the loss did as well concern the Pope as himself by whose directions and encouragement he had undertaken that Enterprise That he having had the glory to have lost a Fleet in the service of Christ had already performed his part and that now for the future the next attempt belonged to the Church in which he promised to follow but not to precede It was believed that the King wrote with this resolution and indifferency of mind to the Pope to let him know that this misfortune did not abate his Courage or force in defence of his own Dominions for the King was jealous and had cause sufficient to suspect that the Gallies which the Pope had lately built and the vast sums of Money which he had lately amassed were with design on the Kingdom of Naples on which the Count Olivarez Ambassadour at Rome having always a vigilant Eye did constantly inculcate to the Pope in his Discourses That so much as his Master had lost in seeking the Conquest of others Kingdoms as much he did not doubt but to recover on any Prince who should attempt on his Dominions This year 1588. famous for the destruction of the Spanish Armada was signalized also towards the end thereof on the 23d of December by the death of the Duke of Guise a Prince of such popular esteem that he appeared greater than the King and to eclipsed the Sovereignty that not longer enduring to be so clouded he resolved to break through the obscurity by the destruction of the Duke whom the King caused to be assassinated by eight Executioners as he was entering into his Closet being thereunto called by his Command these Officers of the King's displeasure so effectually performed their work by the mortal stabs they gave him that he had not time to utter one word but onely breathed out his life with dying groans the same day the Cardinal his Brother was imprisoned and the next day being the Eve of Christmas was put to death the which misfortune to the House of Guise was followed by the imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon the Pope's Legat at Avignon the Arch-bishop of Lions and of the eldest Son of the Duke of Guise The news of the Duke's death was dispeeded to Rome with such diligence by an Express that the Pope received it on the 3d. of January 1589. at the same time that he was discoursing with the Cardinal Joyeuse touching the Affairs and interest of France The Pope at the arrival hereof did not seem troubled or in the least manner surprized for though the Duke was a zealous Defender of the Roman Catholick Religion yet considering that he was ambitious and popular and one who checked the Sovereign power the Pope who was a great Assertor of the Monarchical Authority in its Supreme degree received the news of his unhappy fate without any remorse or resentment and so shrinking up his shoulders said Had we been King of France we should have done the same And when the particulars were all recounted he added Such is commonly the destiny of Men who committed many Errors with subtil Arts but then know not how to conserve themselves with mature judgment and due caution But when about four days after that Intelligence came how that the Cardinal of Guise was likewise put to death and that the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions were imprisoned he then began to fume and storm like an enraged Bear venting his passion with ten thousand violent expressions against the King clapping his hands and stamping with his feet on the floor in such manner as affrighted all his Servants and Attendance Henry III. of France being acquainted with the humour of Sixtus and how apt he was to resent the least injuries towards Ecclesiastical persons and encroachment on his Authority dispatched Girolamo Gondi a Florentine Gentleman with all expedition to Rome to join with his Ambassadour the Marquess Pisani in making excuses for the death of the Cardinal and the imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon and Arch-Bishop of Lions being thereunto necessitated contrary to his own nature for the conservation of his own life and Crown Gondi being arrived at Rome and having consulted together with the Ambassadour the way and manner to address themselves unto the Pope and being admitted to Audience the Pope with a stern Countenance looked on them and with sharp and severe terms began to reproach the King wondering how he could dare to violate the immunities and priviledges of the Ecclesiastical State and the dignity of Cardinals and against all Laws both Divine and humane could entertain so much wickedness in his heart as to murther a Cardinal and imprison two others of eminent dignity in the Church as if they had been subjected to the Secular power The Ambassadours for Reply hereunto in modest terms but yet with grave and unmoved constancy began to relate the Treason and Plots of which the Cardinal was guilty contrary to the Faith and Allegiance which he owed unto the King with whom also the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions had been Complices It is true said they it would have best become the righteousness and judgment of a King to have proceeded in a juditiary way according to all the methods and rules of Law but the Cardinal assisted by the power of his Brother and by the Authority of the two other potent Prelates was become too strong for the Law or to be treated by the usual formalities of common Process for they having forced the King to abandon his Palace and fly in disguise through the streets of Paris there remained no mild terms of Accommodation but either the King must become a Subject unto them and divest himself of his Dignity and resign his Power into the hands of those Guardians as if he were in his pupillage or years of minority or else he must serve himself of those means which God appointed him for conservation of his Crown and Regal Office in which he was anointed In fine they concluded that the King was an obedient Son of the Church and was ready to satisfie the desires of his Holiness to the utmost of his power and to that end he had expresly sent this Gondi now present before him
humbly to beseech his Holiness to pardon what was past and as a testimony and evidence of his reconciliation to send him his Blessing But Sixtus having neither by these reasons nor yet by the gentle and submissive terms of the Ambassadours abated the fury and anger which appeared in his countenance Replyed with a loud Voice That he was well assured that Gondi was dispatched on an other Errand than this and that by any thing they had said there was no judgment to be made of sorrow or repentance in the King for the Crimes he had committed or of such obedience which they professed to the Apostolical Sea so long as contrary to the priviledges thereof he detained the Prelates in Prison and that in case he expected absolution he was to seek it with tears and by a Person express and employed to no other purpose and that there ought to be a Session of Prelates thereupon to consider whether such repentance were real and unfeigned And at last concluded with these sharp words You said he think you have to do with some poor simple Frier that is unacquainted with Men and the World but you shall find that you have to do with Sixtus who is ready to expend blood in defence of the Dignity of the Holy See After which he dismissed the two Ambassadours and the next day called a Consistory in which he appeared with a countenance full of Choler which boiled in his breast and then began to exclaim against his Legat Morosini residing at Paris as if he had consented to the death of the Cardinal or at least might have prevented both that and the imprisonment of the Prelats in case he had vigorously appeared against such indirect Counsels In the next place he railed against some Cardinals who had the boldness to excuse the murther which the King had committed wondering that Cardinals should so little esteem their Dignity and degree as to expose the sanctity of their purple to be profaned by the unhallowed violences of an usurped jurisdiction As to us said he it concerns little what affronts are put on the Cardinals dignity but we are sure that it is of a high consequence to you for we cannot believe that you would readily consent to be dispoiled of their Authority your liberties prerogatives and other priviledges with which you are adorned of which you will certainly be if this murther of a Cardinal be connived at or passed by without any resentment We therefore are resolved to perform our duty and do that which God and his Laws require at Our hands and if from thence as you may possibly object ill consequences ensue to the Kingdom of France we shall remain acquitted in the sight of God for justice must be done though the World should be ruined and dissolved thereby The Cardinals remaining all silent none daring to make a Reply The Pope proceeded and said We shall depute a Congregation of Cardinals to examine this case and search farther into this matter and accordingly the persons nominated were Anthony Sorbellone the Arch bishop of Santa Severina Facchinetto Lancilotto Sastagna and others the which Deputation was now the common Discourse and filled all the World with high expectation of the success and issue thereof The King being informed of these proceedings redoubled his Guards and cautions in the Court of Rome to which place he dispatched the Bishop of Mans a person of singular probity and eloquence to make his defence and having received his Instructions and being fully informed of all the reasons and arguments which might be produced in behalf of the King he arrived at Rome where having first consulted the Ambassadours he was with them admitted unto Audience with the Pope to whom he began with most profound humility to argue and plead That the King had not incurred the punishment of any Ecclesiastical Censure having in no manner violated or infringed the Liberties or Immunities of the Church For that the Cardinal having been found guilty of high Treason against the King was by the fundamental Laws and constitutions of France subjected to the Secular Power and in regard he was a Peer of that Realm his Cause was more immediately triable in the Parliament of Paris and in a grand Assembly of all the Princes and Officers of the Crown so that if the King had trespassed against any Laws it was against the priviledges of his own Parliaments and not against the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State In the next place he argued that a King of France according to the priviledges of the Gallican Church could not incur the Censure of Excommunication But these Arguments and ways of reasonings were in no wise pleasing to the humour of Sixtus being against the Idea and Scheme that he had figured to himself of the Power of the Church and Keys but rather served to inflame his passion and therefore setting aside all those Arguments as not worth an Answer he declared and sentenced That in case within a certain time limited the King did not free and set at liberty the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and that in case within the space of sixty days after such releasement the assurance thereof were not intimated to himself and the Apostolical See by writings under the King 's own hand and the Royal Signet That then in such case the King remained actually Excommunicated and incurred all the Ecclesiastical Censures as expressed in the Sacred Canons and Constitutions of the Church Farther The Pope cited the King to appear at Rome either in person or by his Proxy within the space of sixty days after intimation of these Summons should be given him to render an account and to give answer to the accusation charged upon him for having murthered the Cardinal of Guise and imprisoned the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and for default of such appearance that then the King did actually incur the pain of Excommunication from which he could not be absolved by any other person whatsoever than onely by the Pope himself unless at the point of death nor then neither unless upon a confident and faithful assurance and Vows to act and obey all matters and Injunctions whatsoever which should be enjoyned and commanded by the Holy Church Two Months and some few days after the Pope had issued out this Excommunication it happened that the King being at the Head of a great Army near St. Clou about two Leagues from Paris was on the first day of August 1589. stabbed in the Belly by a Dominican Frier who was a youth of about twenty three years of age and with him ended his quarrel with the Pope Such being the fate of Henry III. the news thereof flew speedily to Rome where the Spaniards caused a report to be spread that the Affairs of the King of Navarre were reduced to a mean and a low condition and almost desperate and that not onely those of the League but also the whole Kingdom
of which was consented unto by his Majesty and summoned to meet the first of October following Thus far concerning the Regale we have extracted in short by way of Epitome from the Treatise of Dr. Burnet on that Subject Now as to what follow'd The Assembly met at the time appinted at the opening of which the Bishop of Meaux preached a most Eloquent Sermon with much applause After which the point of the Regale was put to the question and argued learnedly on both sides and in conclusion the greatest part were of Opinion that the Right unto the Regalia were inherent in the Crown and that the pretensions thereunto were Usurpations by the Church as appears by this following Declaration The Declaration of the Clergy of the Gallican Church concerning the Ecclesiastical Power We the Arch-Bishops and Bishops Representatives of the Gallican Church being by command of his Majesty assembled at Paris together with others of the Clergy in the same manner delegated with us after long debate and mature consideration have thought fit to declare and determine these several particulars following 1. First That a Power is given by God to St. Peter and his Successours who are the Vicars of Christ and to the Church to order and regulate all Spiritual matters but not to intermeddle in Civil or Temporal matters according to that saying of our Lord My Kingdom is not of this World And again Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things which are Gods And agreeable hereunto is that of the Apostle Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God the powers which are are ordained of God and whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God Wherefore Kings and Princes by the Law of God are not liable in Temporal matters to the Ecclesiastical Power nor by the Power of the Keys can they be Deposed either directly or indirectly or can their Subjects be absolved from their Fealty and Obedience to them or from their Oaths of Allegiance the which we confirm and determine as principles not onely necessary for conservation of the publick peace and tranquillity but for the better government of the Church and as truths agreeable to the Word of God the tradition of the Fathers and to the example and practise of Saints and Holy Men. 2. Secondly That the Apostolical See and the Successours of St. Peter who are the Vicars of Christ have a full and plenary power in all Spiritual matters in such manner as is given to them by the Holy Oecumenical Synod of Constance which is received by the Apostolical See and in such manner as hath been confirmed by the constant use and practise of the Popes of Rome and the whole Church and observed by the Religion of the Gallican Church and decreed by the Authority of the General Councils in the fourth and fifth Sessions And the Gallican Church doth condemn the Opinions of those who esteeming those Decrees of doubtful Authority do endeavour to restrain them to certain times of Schism and to invalidate the present power thereof 3. Thirdly Hence it is that the 3d exercise of the Apostolical power is to be regulated by Canons established by the Spirit of God and thereunto all the World is to bear respect and Reverence Likewise the Rules Manners and Institutions received by the Kingdom and Church of France as also the customs of our Forefathers are to remain unalterable the which is a clear demonstration of the greatness of the Apostolical See that the Statutes and Ordinances thereof are established and confirmed by and with the consent of the Churches 4. Fourthly In questions of Faith the Pope is Chief Judg and his Decrees extend themselves to the Churches in general and to every one in particular nor can his judgment be repealed unless by the consent and determination of the Universal Church 5. Fifthly These particulars received from the Doctrine of our Fore-fathers we have by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost Decreed to send unto all the Gallican Churches and the Bishops presiding over them And we do all concur in the same sence and meaning of them Subscribed by Arch-Bishops and Bishops and Clergy as before related and registred as required by the King's Attorney General March 23. 1682. The Pope who during his Reign had not as yet assumed any to the degree of Cardinal to supply the places of those who were dead the College was diminished twenty six in their number which when the Pope considered and that old Men were every day dying and falling off he was inspired to replenish the places with a supply of sixteen new Cardinals which were these that follow 1. John Baptista Spinola of sixty seven years of Age a Genoese who was Governour of Rome and Secretary of the Congregation of Regulars 2. Anthony Pignatelli a Napolitan of sixty six years of age Bishop of Lecca and Master of the Pope's Chamber 3. Stephen Brancaccio a Napolitan of sixty four years of age 4. Stephen Agostini of sixty five years of age Arch-Bishop of Heraclea and Datary to the Pope 5. Francis Bonvisi of Luca aged sixty three years Arch-Bishop of Thessalonica and Nuntio residing at Vienna 6. Savo Mellini a Roman aged thirty seven years Arch-Bishop of Cesarea and Nuntio in Spain 7. Frederick Visconti of Milan aged sixty three Auditor of the Rota and Arch-Bishop of Milan 8. Marco Gallio of Como aged sixty nine years Bishop of Rimini and Vice-gerent of Rome 9. Flaminio del Tayo of Siena aged eighty years Auditor of the Rota and Chief Penitentiary 10. Raymond Capizucchi a Roman aged sixty nine years Master of the Palace 11. John Baptista de Luca a Napolitan aged sixty four years Auditor to the Pope 12. Laurentio Brancati of Laurea in Calabria aged sixty four years Library-keeper of the Vatican 13. Vrbano Lacchetti of Florence aged forty four years Auditor of the Apostolical Chamber 14. John Francisco Ginetti a Roman aged sixty years Treasurer of the Apostolical Chamber 15. Benedict Pamfilio aged twenty eight years Grand Prior of Rome 16. Michael Angelo Ricci aged sixty five years Secretary of the Congregation of Indulgences The other ten Hats remaining were kept in the hand of the Pope for a reserve wherewith to gratifie Kings and Princes whensoever they should desire to have some of their own Creatures preferred to that Dignity All the sixteen preceding Cardinals took their promotion very patiently and without much reluctancy excepting Tayo who was eighty years of age and Ricci both which made some modest refusals as unworthy of that great honour but the Pope instantly constraining them they with humility submitted And here it is observable that this Pope is not very forward to create Cardinals but rather inclinable to lessen and reduce their number which of late years hath increased to that degree as to become a burthen to the Church But to return unto the Assembly at Paris which after many Debates and deliberate
But such a Government as this was long in growing and required much time to bring it to a maturity because many difficulties interposed in the way For in the first place the very foundation of Christianity which was humility was diametrically opposite to Grandeur and Dominion then the Popes were chosen by the People to whom they were accountable for all their administrations and to the Clergy for their soundness in Faith and Orthodox Doctrine for which reason Pope Eugenius the first was Interdicted by the Clergy from celebrating Divine Service in Santa Maria Maggiore until he had disclaimed publickly the Heresie he held of one Operation or Will in Christ the Assertors of which were called Monothelites and this Choice of the People required a confirmation from the Emperour before the Pope could be legally invested in his Authority the which is apparent in all History and in regard the Seat of the Emperours was far distant a Power was delegated to the Exarch of Ravenna to confirm the suffrages of the people in case the person they had chosen was not obnoxious or displeasing to the Emperour and so it was when Severinus was made Pope that Isaacius the Exarch of Italy made a journey to Rome to confirm him though before his departure he plundered the Lateran of its Treasures in which attempt though he was opposed by some of the Clergy yet his Soldiers being too strong for them he carried away his prize upon a pretence that it was unreasonable the Clergy should grow rich and the State poor and that they should amass vast sums into their Coffers when the Soldiers who were their defence and guard were miserably necessitous and in a starving condition Nor had the See of Rome less difficulty in its advancement by reason of the long disputes and contentions between that and the Church of Constantinople for precedency to which several Princes gave encouragement who asserted that the Supremacy ought to be lodged at that place which was accounted and esteemed the Capital Seat of the Empire On the other side the Roman Bishops termed Constantinople but a Colony of Rome since the Greeks themselves stiled their Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Emperour of the Romans and the Constantinopolitans themselves even in that age were called Romans and not Greeks the which Controversie remained undecided until the time of Boniface the third who by great intercession and a powerful interest obtain'd of the Emperour Phocas that the See of Rome should be acknowledged and stiled the Head of all the Churches But notwithstanding this priviledg given to the See of Rome the Popes continued still in their dependence on the Emperor's confirmation without which their Election was not valid And though in the time of Mauritius the Emperour Pelagius the 2d was made Bishop of Rome without the Imperial consent and confirmation and though the same was excused by a cause of necessity occasioned by the Siege which the Lombards had laid to the City yet the Emperour was much displeased with this encroachment upon his Prerogative until such time as Gregory a Deacon a Person of great Piety and Learning was sent to Constantinople to appease his anger In this manner the Popes depended on the Emperours pleasure for their confirmation until about the year 705. when Benedict the second was created Pope a Person of so much piety and vertue and of compassion towards the poor that he gained an esteem aud veneration from all people of what degree soever and so great was his renown that the report of his Vertue and Devotion reaching the Ears of the Emperour he conceived such a high Opinion of his Sanctity that he sent him a Decree whereby he ordained and established that for the time to come He whom the Clergy and people of Rome should choose Pope should be immediately acknowledged without recourse to the Authority of the Emperour or his Exarchs according to former custom when the confirmation of the Emperour or his Lieutenant in Italy was esteemed necessary to the establishment of a Pope But whence this Temporal Power was derived in its first Original to the Popes hath been an enquiry of divers Authors There are those who pretend a Donation from the Emperour Constantine by which the City of Rome it self most part of Italy Africa and all the Islands of the Mediterranean Seas were conferred upon them But this Opinion is exploded by Guicciardin an Author without exception in this case And moreover in all History these particulars are very clear and apparent as namely That during the Exarchate the Popes had nothing to do with the Temporal Sword but lived as Subjects to the Emperour That after the overthrow of the Exarchate the Emperours neglecting Italy the Romans began to be governed by the advice and power of the Popes That Pepin of France having subdued the Kingdom of the Lombards gave unto Pope Gregory the 3d. and his Successours Ravenna Urbin Ancona Spoleto with many other Towns and Territories about Rome in testimony and remembrance of which there remains unto this day a Marble Stone ingraven in Latin with this Inscription thereupon and Englished thus Pepin the most pious King of France was the first who gave example to Posterity how and in what manner the Power and Authority of Holy Church was to be amplified and increased After which Charlemagne or Charles the Great the Son of Pepin having made his entrance into Rome in the time of Pope Adrian the first confirmed by Oath and amply enlarged the Donation which his Father Pepin had made to Gregory the 3d. which as our Platina saith contained in Liguria all that reaches from the long since demolished City Luna to the Alps the Isle of Corsica and the whole Tract between Luca and Parma together with Friuli the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Dukedoms of Spoleto and Beneventum And though the Popes having this Temporal Power began to set up for themselves maintaining That the Pontifical Dignity was to give Laws to the Emperours and not to receive them yet this Doctrine was not openly asserted during the Reign of Charlemagne who challenged and exercised the antient and original power to govern the Church to call Councils and to order the Papal Election The which Power continued for a long time in his posterity and so afterwards remained so long as wise and valiant Princes ruled but when weak Princes who were distracted with great and dangerous Wars governed then the Popes prevailed who were strong in their Councils being for the most part composed of subtil and designing Men Howsoever these turns of Fortune were carried in succeeding times with various changes and successes the Emperour sometimes tugging and plucking from the Pope and the Pope from the Emperour winning or losing ground as they were endued with abilities courage and understanding or as the circumstances of the World were ordered and disposed in different times So Hadrian the 3d. was a Man of so great a Spirit that
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
the Cardinals the Hymn is sung He hath put down the mighty from their Seats and hath exalted the humble and meek he hath raised the needy from the dust that he may set him amongst the Princes of his People After which several other Ceremonies being performed and the Pope receiving again the Adoration of the Cardinals and Prelats returns towards the Evening to his Palace of Monte-cavallo This is in short the sum of those Ceremonies practised at the Coronation of Popes which we have extracted from the Book entitled the Sacred Ceremonies used in the Roman Church The Popes Elected and Crowned as we have said are for the most part old and decrepit with age or of a weak and tender constitution that so they may not live long to the disappointment of others who live and breath passionate desires after this Sublime exaltation and being thus decayed with years and unable to support the weight of Government have commonly called to their aid some Nephew or near Relation with the Title of Cardinal-Nephew or Cardinal-Patron on whose Wit and dexterous management of Affairs the fortune and success of the Papal Dominion doth depend And indeed a person under such circumstances had need to be qualified with great endowments of Mind and Body for being always obliged to afford his personal attendance on the Pope who is to see and hear with his Eyes and Ears he can never be at leisure or free from thoughts and business either relating to the Palace within or direction of Affairs without He is ever the Chief or President of Councils he assists at all Congregations he appoints the days for Consistories of Chappels Visits Audiences and regulates every thing which relates to the Spiritual or Temporal Government The Pope being established in his Throne begins at first to cast about by what way and means to raise and establish his Family by strong Alliances with Princes and Noble Houses He also divides the great Offices of the Church amongst his Kindred one is made Governour in one place and an other in another The chief Favourite is made General of the Forces of the Church an other General of the Gallies a third Governour of the Castle of St. Angelo and in like manner all the preferments are dispensed amongst the Relations according to that degree and quality that every one possesses in the good will and esteem of the Pope But the great Atlas of State is the Cardinal-Nephew whofe Wisdom is most exerted in his comportment towards the Ministers of forein Princes and especially in taking true measures of Interest between France and Spain which is of such great concernment that in a Book called il Livello Politico it is affirmed That the Glory and happiness of the Popedom the security and honour of the Cardinal-Nephew the Grandieur and prosperity of the City of Rome consists in this one point of a happy correspondence with forein Ambassadours the failure in which hath produced many unhappy Events witness the Government of the Barberini who for not knowing the true means and Methods how and in what manner to maintain a right and good understanding with Christian Princes and especially with those of Italy reduced as is notorious to all the World the Church unto a most unhappy and turbulent Estate And farther in case we reflect with serious thoughts on the Reigns of divers Popes in these latter Ages we shall find the truth of this assertion proved by plain and manifest experience We shall find the Reigns of some Popes full of Lustre and Glory as those of Paul the 2d and Clement the 8th others buried in obscurity and abased with sordid meanness as those of Adrian the 6th and Gregory the 13th Others have passed away in a quiet silent and smooth currant of affairs as those of Celestine and Clement the 9th Others have been engulfed in a thousand troubles and intrigues as were the Reigns of Alexander the 6th Clement the 7th of Paul the 3d and 4th and Urban the 8th And if we will search into the depth hereof we shall find that the Ambition covetousness and exorbitances of the Cardinal-Nephews to be the original cause of all the troubles and misfortunes which have rendered the Lives of some Popes inglorious or perhaps infamous Though indeed to speak true it is almost impossible for a Cardinal-Nephew to hold the ballance of his deportment towards foreign Representatives residing in the Court of Rome so equal as not to give a cause or occasion of offence to some one or other considering that what is pleasing and acceptable to one dissatisfies and interferes with the interest of an other Howsoever there are some Men so dexterous and happy in their Negotiations that they carry all with a good Air and if they are enforced to disoblige some it is done with such circumstances and in such manner as takes off much of the anger and acrimony of the person offended Most Princes of Christendom who are of the Roman Religion maintain their Ambassadours Residents or Agents at the Court of Rome and though many of these Princes have no great zeal or kindness for that Court being disobliged perhaps by some action of the Cardinal-Nephew or some other prejudice taken against the Pope yet it may be that on some score of Interest of State or of their Clergy or for the sake or support of Monasteries or for the determination of differences which arise between them and their Subjects which are to be decided at the Spiritual Judicatures it is necessary for them to conserve an Agent or Resident at Rome The Emperour hath seldom maintained an Ambassadour at that Court because he ordinarily makes use of a Protector of the German Nation to manage his Affairs and in case any matter of great importance occurs which is to be addressed unto the Pope it is performed by some Cardinal in whom his Imperial Majesty reposes a great confidence unless he dispatches an Express The King of Poland follows almost the same Maxim but yet professes a profound Obedience to the Papal See and exercises the power and interest he hath there with such modesty and caution that though like other Kings he might pretend to a Right of nominating Cardinals of his own Nation yet he seldom imposes any but such as the Pope shall offer of his own accord unto him Portugal for the most part maintains a Resident at Rome The State of Venice and the G. Duke of Tuscany make greater applications than the other Princes of Italy to that Court perhaps from a sence of the Pope's temporal power whose Dominions border upon theirs rather than out of an affection to his Spiritual capacity But it is certain that amongst all the Christian Princes none so warmly interest themselves in the Affairs of the Roman Court as France and Spain the Kings of which do always maintain and keep up the honour of their respective Embassies with splendid Equipage And yet these two Kings do
in a different manner depend on the Court France hath no great Obligation or dependency upon Rome unless it be in some respects to the privileges of the Gallican Church But Spain is engaged in a kind of Partnership with Rome in Government and Jurisdiction and is beholden thereunto for a great part of its Revenue The Income of the Crusada granted by the Popes to the Kings of Spain is one of the chief branches of the Royal Revenue The Tribunals of the Inquisition are absolutely constituted by the Ecclesiastical Authority which gives such an unlimited power to the Nuntios Judges and Officers of the Pope within the Catholick Dominions as doth very much eclipse and diminish the greatness of that Monarch whereunto when we add the Tribute yearly paid by that King to the Pope for the Kingdom of Naples it seems as if they two held the reins of Government in partnership together onely with this difference that though the Pope hath intermixt his power with the Temporal yet the King dares not interpose in matters Ecclesiastical Hence we may see how dangerous it is for Kings to admit Partners with them in their Thrones Never was the Monarchy of Spain more abased and rendered inglorious than when the Inquisition was set up and an other power introduced to allay and attemper the Sovereign Authority wherefore France having no need of such dependencies hath always kept up and asserted the Right of Monarchy not suffering it to be debased by the Concessions of Regalia or other mean Compliances And indeed how much more happy now is the Crown of Great Britain than in the time of King John who was forced to yield that of England to the Pope and his Successours and how considerable and flourishing hath it been since it hath disowned all dependencies on forein power either in Church or State in defence of which may His Sacred Majesty King James the Second who is the Supreme Moderator and Governour thereof upon Earth live long and Reign happily and when it shall please the King of Kings to translate Him from a fading to an Immortal Crown there may never fail one of his Royal Line to sit upon His Throne and defend His Loyal People against all the Encroachments and Usurpations of forein Jurisdiction An Alphabetical TABLE OF THE POPES Whose Lives were written by B. Platina A ADeodatus Pag. 114 Adrian I. 145 II. 169 III. 172 IV. 240 V. 281 Agapetus I. 90 II. 183 Agatho 117 Alexander I. 15 II. 206 III. 242 IV. 269 V. 341 Anacletus 12 Anastasius I. 66 II. 83 III. 179 IV. 240 Anicetus 21 Anterus 33 B Benedict I. 97 II. 120 III. 166 IV. 177 V. 186 VI. 188 VII 189 VIII 196 IX 199 X. 204 XI 298 XII 310 Boniface I. 72 II. 89 III. 102 IV. 103 V. 105 VI. 174 VII 189 VIII 294 IX 330 C Caius 43 Calistus I. 28 II. 231 III. 383 Celestine I. 73 II. 236 III. 252 IV. 265 V. 293 Christopher 178 Clemens I. 11 II. 201 III. 251 IV. 275 V. 299 VI. 312 Cletus 9 Conon 122 Constans Constantine 128 Cornelius 35 D Damasus I. 61 II. 201 Deus-dedit 104 Dionysius 40 Donus I. 115 II. 188 E Eleutherius 24 Euaristus 14 Eugenius I. 112 II. 155 III. 238 IV. 357 Eusebius 48 Eutychianus 42 F Fabianus 34 Felix I. 41 II. 59 III. 80 Formosus 173 G Gelasius I. 81 II. 228 Gregory I. 99 II. 130 III. 134 IV. 157 V. 192 VI. 200 VII 207 VIII 250 IX 260 X. 278 XI 320 XII 339 H Hadrian V. Adrian  Hilarius 78 Honorius I. 196 II. 233 III. 258 IV. 288 Hormisda 85 Hyginus 19 I Innocent I. 68 II. 234 III. 254 IV. 265 V. 280 VI. 315 VII 336 John I. 86 II. 90 III. 95 IV. 109 V. 121 VI. 125 VII 127 VIII 165 IX 170 X. 176 XI 180 XII 182 XIII 184 XIV 187 XV. 190 XVI 191 XVII ibid. XVIII 193 XIX 195 XX. ibib XXI 198 XXII 282 XXIII 305 XXIV 343 Julius I. 56 L Landus 179 Leo I. 76 II. 119 III. 149 IV. 162 V. 177 VI. 181 VII 182 VIII 186 IX 202 Liberius 56 Linus 7 Lucius I. 37 II. 237 III. 247 M Marcellinus 44 Marcellus 47 Marcus 55 Martin I. 111 II. 171 III. 183 IV. 285 V. 347 Miltiades 49 N Nicolas I. 167 II. 205 III. 283 IV. 290 V. 373 P Paschal I. 154 II. 220 Paul I. 141 II. 401 Pelagius I. 94 II. 98 S. Peter 1 Pius I. 20 II. 389 Pontianus 31 R Romanus 175 S Sabinianus 101 Sergius I. 123 II. 160 III. 178 IV. 196 Severinus 108 Simplicius 79 Sisinnius 128 Sixtus I. 16 II. 39 III. 74 Soter 23 Stephen I. 38 II. 138 III. 142 IV. 153 V. 172 VI. 174 VII 181 VIII 183 IX 204 Sylverius 91 Sylvester I. 50 II. 194 III. 199 Symmachus 84 Syricius 64 T Telesphorus 18 Theodore I. 110 II. 175 U Valentine 157 Victor I. 25 II. 203 III. 215 Vigilius 92 Vitalianus 113 Vrban I. 30 II. 216 III. 248 IV. 273 V. 319 VI. 323 X Xistus V. Sixtus Z Zacharias 136 Zephyrinus 26 Zozimus 70 A TABLE Of those POPES Names whose Lives are written in the Continuation A A Drian VI. created Pope Jan. 9. 1522. Page 40 Alexander VI. created Pope August 11. 1492. p. 12. Alexander VII created Pope April 7. 1655. p. 320 C Clement VII created Pope November 19. 1523. p. 46 Clement VIII created Pope January 30. 1592. p. 211 Clement IX created Pope June 20. 1667. p. 344 Clement X. created Pope April 29 1670. p. 357 G Gregory XIII created Pope May 13. 1572. p. 163 Gregory XIV created Pope December 15. 1590. p. 207 Gregory XV. created Pope Feb. 21. 1621. p. 267 I Innocent VIII created Pope August 29. 1684. p. 8 Innocent IX created Pope October 29. 1591. p. 210 Innocent X. created Pope September 15. 1644. p. 293 Innocent XI created Pope September 21. 1676. p. 376 Julius II. created Pope November 1. 1503. p. 20 Julius III. created Pope Febr. 17. 1550. p. 88 L Leo X. created Pope March 11. 1513. p. 29 Leo XI created Pope April 1. 1605. p. 225 M Marcellus II. created Pope April 9. 1555. p. 107 P Paul III. created Pope October 12. 1534. p. 67 Paul IV. created Pope May 23. 1555. p. 109 Paul V. created Pope May 16. 1605. p. 227 Pius III. created Pope Septemb. 22. 1503. p. 19 Pius V. created Pope Decemb. 24. 1559. being Christmas Eve p. 119 Pius IV. created Pope January 7. 1566. p. 157 S Sixtus IV. created Pope August 9. 1471. p. 1. Sixtus V. created Pope April 24. 1585. p. 172 U Urban VII created Pope September 15. 1590. p. 205 Urban VIII created Pope August 6. 1623. p. 271 THE LIVES OF THE BISHOPS and POPES OF ROME S. PETER the Apostle AFTER the Death and Resurrection of Christ and the Completion of the days of Pentecost the Disciples received the Holy Ghost and being filled with the Spirit they published the wonderful works of God in divers Tongues though most of them
and was not yet punish'd according to his Demerits Those of the Clergy who had accompanied him from Rome were some of them banish'd others condemn'd to dig in the Mines But at the request of the Romans who had now a better Opinion of him and upon the importunity of Narses whom Justinian had sent to Rome to oppose the Goths Vigilius and all the others who were confin'd had liberty granted them to return into Italy But in their passage thither being come as far as Syracuse in 〈◊〉 Vigilius who had out-liv'd so many Calamities and Troubles died there of the Stone and his body was carried to Rome and buried in the Church of S. Marcellus in the Via Salaria He lived in the Pontificate at Rome and elsewhere seventeen years six months twenty six days and by his death the See was vacant three months five days PELAGIUS I. PELAGIUS a Roman lived in the time when Totilas King of the Goths advancing with a great Army from Treviso over-run and spoiled Italy in such a manner that from his salvage Cruelty he was called God's Scourge Coming as far as Mount Cassino in his way to Campania though he were in the habit of a common Soldier yet he was discovered by S. Benedict who spared not by threatning of divine Vengeance to terrifie him from raging so furiously against the Christians Moving thence towards Abruzzo he dismantled 〈◊〉 besieged Naples took Cumoe where yet he exercised an extraordinary Respect and Civility towards the Roman Women whom he found in it permitting them to go to Rome to their Friends without any violence or rudeness offered to them After this having taken Naples and made himself Master of all that part of Italy which lies towards Sicily he marches to Rome and having first seized the Port by which 〈◊〉 should come to the City he reduced them to such extremity for want of Provisions that some were forced to feed upon Mans-flesh At length forcing his entrance at the Gate which leads to Ostia he possessed himself of the City which having plundered he set on fire Some tell us that Totilas designed to save the Buildings of the City and sent Messengers about by Night to publish his pleasure in that particular but his Orders therein were not obeyed Justinian having Intelligence of these proceedings speedily dispatches Narses the Eunuch with a great Army into Italy 'T is said that this Narses was at first a Bookseller but being advanced to an Office near the Emperour's Person Justinian finding him to be a man of great merit raised him to the Dignity of a Patrician And indeed in all the accomplishments of Religion and Vertue and Clemency and Generosity and sweetness of temper he was a most exemplary and extraordinary Person Narses with the addition of some Auxiliary Forces from Alboinus King of the Lombards advances against the Goths routs them and makes a great slaughter in the pursuit of them Totilas lost his life ingloriously at Brissello and Theias who was chosen King in his stead though he behaved himself bravely yet was slain by Narses not far from Nocera And thus both the Name and Power of the Goths were extinct together in the seventy second year after that their King Theodoric first entred Italy Not long after died Justinian in the fortieth year of his Reign a Prince worthy to have his memory perpetuated to all Posterity and who according to the custom of preceding Emperours deserves the additional Titles of Alemanicus Gotthicus Wandalicus Persicus Africanus though he only advised but did not act in the successful Expeditions made against those Nations Pelagius in the midst of these disturbances not neglecting the Affairs of the Church ordained that Hereticks and Schismaticks might be suppressed by the Secular Power when they would not be reclaim'd by Reason and Argument Being accused that he was the occasion of the Calamities that befell Vigilius as having a greater interest with Justinian than Vigilius had in the sight of the Clergy and People he laid his hand upon the Cross and the Gospel and by a solemn Oath purged himself from that Charge Narses coming to Rome made a Procession from the Church of S. Pancras to S. Peter's with Thanksgiving for his late success and set himself with all possible application to repair the Damage which the City had receiv'd by the Goths In conjunction with Pelagius he ordained that no Person should be admitted to any holy Orders or Ecclesiastical Dignity by the way of canvassing or Birbery Pelagius making his Notary Valentinus a very religious person Treasurer of the Church begins the building of the Church of SS Philip and James Some tell us that the learned Monk Cassiodorus who had been first Consul then a Senator and afterwards renouncing all human Greatness embraced a Monastick life lived to this time and that Victor Bishop of Capua now wrote a Book concerning Easter in which he particularly discovered the mistakes of Dionysius the Roman Abbat who had with little care and skill composed a Paschal Cycle Moreover Sabinus Bishop of Canosa and Gregory Bishop of Langres and Vedastus a Scholar of S. Remigius and Bishop of Arras were Ornaments to the Pontificate of Pelagius and Herculanus Bishop of Perugia who had been put to Death by Totylas was Canonized Pelagius having at two Decembrian Ordinations made twenty six Presbyters eleven Deacons thirty nine Bishops died and was buried in S. Peter's He was in the Chair eleven years ten months twenty eight days The See was then vacant twenty six days JOHN III. JOHN the third the Son of Anastasius descended of a Noble Family lived in the time of Justine who succeeded Justinian but was in nothing like him For he was Covetous lewd rapacious a contemner of God and Men to such a degree that his Vices made him srantick so that his Wife Sophia managed all affairs till the time of Tiberius the second This Woman being prompted thereto by some envious persons who hated Narses recalls him out of Italy in these reproachful words That she would have the Eunuch come home and spin This he very highly resenting as well he might returns answer That he would spin such a Web as none of his Enemies should ever be able to unweave And he was as good as word For he presently sends and invites Alboinus King of the Lombards with all his people then possessed of Pannonia to come and seat themselves in the more plentiful Countrey of Italy Alboinus complying with the proposal of Narses and entring Italy with a vast number of men with their Wives and Children first possesses himself of Friuli and Marca Trivigiana thence passing into Insubria he takes and sacks Milain and at length makes himself Master of Pavia after it had held out a Siege of three years Being thus slush'd with Victory he goes to Verona which he constitutes the the Capital City of his Kingdom where being once at an Entertainment over-heated with Wine he compelled his Wife
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
had decreed But not long after Sergius Arch-bishop of Ravenna dying Michael Register of that Church with the Assistance of King Desiderius and Maurice Duke of Rimini whom he had corrupted with Bribes though a meer Laick possesses himself of the See in opposition to Leo the Arch-deacon whom the Clergy were very desirous to chuse Yea these Abettours of his presumed so far as to send Ambassadours to Pope Stephen to bribe him into the Consirmation of this Michael But Stephen not only resused their offers of Money but also published an Excommunication against him if he resigned not the See which he had against all Right usurped However he forcibly kept possession of it so long as he had any thing 〈◊〉 either of his own or belonging to the Church whereof to make a 〈◊〉 to greedy 〈◊〉 Upon which the Pope sending his Nun-tio's and King Charles his Ambassadours to Ravenna about that Affair who declared the Popes pleasure therein Michael was forthwith deposed and Leo chosen and confirmed by the Pope Who being for that Reason secretly despited and mischief'd by Desiderius begs Charles to oblige Desiderius to cease injuring him any farther This Charles performed with great diligence though he were not in a condition to restrain the Lombard by Force because upon the Death of his Brother who had reign'd jointly and amicably with him for two years he was necessarily engaged in several Wars at once The Aquitains against whom his Father had begun a War he brought into subjection and subdued the Gascons inhabiting part of Aquitain Then passing the Pyrenean Hills he routed the Saracens pursuing them to the River Betis as far as Granada the part of Spain wherein the Saracens are now seated In the mean time Stephen a most vigilant Pastor and true successour of Peter and imitatour of Christ having been in the Chair three years five months twenty seven days died and was buried in S. Peter's The See was then vacant nine days ADRIAN I. ADRIAN the first a Roman Son of Theodorus one of the prime Nobility entring upon the Pontificate degenerated not at all from his Ancestours being a Person who for his greatness of Mind Prudence Learning and Sanctity may be compared with the best of Popes and of whose Interest and Authority Desiderius King of the 〈◊〉 had such Apprehensions that he presently sent Ambassadours to treat of a Peace and Alliance with him But Adrian being acquainted with the extream Perfidiousness of that King deferred the concluding any thing therein to another time Now after the Death of Caroloman his Relict Bertha out of Envy towards the Grandeur of Hildegarda the Great Charles's Consort by the Advice of one Adoarius flies with her Sons into Italy to King Desiderius who received her very kindly and honourably both because he thought he should by this means be less in danger from the Power of France and also reckoned that the French upon setting up Caroloman's Sons would the sooner appear in Arms against King Charles if he should give him any Disturbance But not being able by Intreaties to prevail with Adrian to anoint these sons of Caroloman Kings he applies himself to forcible means and invading the State of Ravenna which was under the Popes Jurisdiction he takes Faenza and Comacchio Ravenna was at this time under the Government of its Arch-bishop and three Tribunes who forthwith desired Aid of Adrian The Pope at first sends to Desiderius admonishing him to contain himself within his own Territories and not to invade the Rights of the Church But understanding afterwards that this King had also possess'd himself of Urbin Senigaglia and Eugubio he then began to threaten him with the Approach of Divine Vengeance towards him for the Violation of Peace To which the Lombard made no other Reply than that Adrian ought to quit the Interest of the French King and to be of His side For it was his great Design to make a Breach between Chorles and the Pope which when he could not obtain by Solicitations and Promises he threatned to besiege Rome it self within a little time He was already come to Spoleto with Aldagasius Caroloman's Son but intended to march from thence to Rome though in a peaceable manner and as he pretended out of Devotion But Adrian having caused the Reliques of all the Churches without the Walls to be brought into the City sends three Bishops to Desiderius to forbid him entring the Confines of Rome upon pain of Excommunication who thereupon fearing lest he might incurr the divine Displeasure presently returned into Lombardy In the mean time Charles receiving from Adrian Intelligence of the injury which had been done him sends Ambassadours to Desiderius to persuade him to restore what he had wrongfully taken from the Pope or otherwise to let him know that he would soon visit him with such an Army as should oblige him to it Desiderius notwithstanding all this refuses it and so on both sides great Armies are prepared But Charles having sent some part of his Forces before to 〈◊〉 the Passes of the Alpes with wonderful Expedition leads the main Body of his Army over Monte Cenisio into Itely where encountring Desiderius he vanquishes and puts him to flight and then takes and spoils his whole Countrey Desiderius after so great an Overthrow despairing to get the better in a pitch'd Battel retreats to Pavia having sent his Wife and Children to Verona And the people of Spoleto Ricti and all the Lombards inhabiting those Parts hearing his Misfortune betake themfelves to Rome and commit their Persons and Estates to the Popes Protection taking an Oath of Fidelity to him and shavfng their Heads and Beards which among that People was the greatest sign and Token of a perfect Submission to his Power and Jurisdiction By their Example those of Ancona Osimo and 〈◊〉 did the like Now to such of these Lombards as were unwilling to return into their own Countrey the Vatican Hill was granted them to inhabit and seat themselves in whither afterwards there was from all parts a great concourse of other their Countrey-men who chose to live there But Charles leaving his Cousin-German Bernardus at the Siege of 〈◊〉 marches with part of his Army to Verona which City upon the inclination of Bertha and Caroloman's Sons to the French side in a little time after surrendred to him though Aldegisius Desiderius his Son escaping thence fled to the Emperour of Constantinople Almost all the Cities of Lombardy beyond the Po having in like manner yielded to Charles he goes towards Rome that he might there celebrate the Feast of Easter with the Pope At his Approach to the City he was in Complement met by three thousand Judges as 〈◊〉 tells us calling them Judges who were not Handycrafts-men or did not exercise any mean Trades Adrian with his Clergy expected him at the Steps of S Peter and at his coming embraced him with all imaginable Affection but could not restrain the humble King from kissing his Feet The usual
beautifying the Churches restoring the Aqueducts and such like publick Works which I need not particularly enumerate performed at his vast Expence But while he was employed in these matters there happened such an Inundation of the River Tyber as bore down a principal Gate and Bridg and several Buildings of the City and did otherwise great Damage In this Extremity Adrian took care to send Boats to convey Provisions to such as while the Waters were so high could not stir out of their Houses And afterwards he comforted with his Advice and supported with his Charity the principal sufferers in that Calamity nor did he spare any Cost in repairing the publick Loss In short Adrian left nothing undone that became a good Prince and excellent Pope defending the Christian Religion maintaining the Roman Liberty and asserting the Cause of the Poor the Orphans and Widows After he had held the Chair with great honour twenty three years ten months he died and was buried in S. Peters December the 27th LEO III. LEO the third a Roman Son of Azzupius was upon the account of Merit advanced to the Pontificate having been from his Youth so throughly educated and instructed in Ecclesiastical Learning that he deserved to be preferred before all others A modest upright and well-spoken Person and such a Favourer of learned Men that he encouraged them by the Proposal of generous Rewards to resort from all Parts to him and was wonderfully pleased with their Conversation Moreover to visit and exhort the sick to relieve the Poor to comfort the dejected and to reduce the erroneous by his Preaching and Admonition in which through his Art and Eloquence he had gained a great Perfection was his peculiar Providence He was naturally of a meek Temper a Lover of all Mankind slow to Anger ready to commiserate eminent for Piety and a vigorous Promoter and Defender of the Honour of God and his Church Hereupon he was as I have said unanimously elected to the Papal See on S. Stephen's day and the day following with general Acclamations seated in S. Peter's Chair At this time Irene Mother of Constantine the Emperour not being able to bear her Son 's ill Courses and being instigated thereto by certain of the Citizens returns to Constantinople puts out his Eyes and throws him into Prison where as an undutiful Son he miserably ended his days In the mean time Charles having Disturbance given him on many sides sends his Son Pipin against the Hungarians whom having worsted in several Engagements he at length totally subdued Adelphonsus likewise King of Asturia and Gallicia having received Auxiliary Forces from Charles vanquished the Saracens and took Lisbon upon the hearing of which Victory of his the Garrison of Barcelona forthwith yielded up to Charles Moreover the Bavarians who made Inroads upon the Inhabitants of Friuli were now overcome by Henry Charle's Lieutenant there At this time Leo with the Clergy and People being employed in the Solcmn Procession 〈◊〉 by Pope Gregory he was through the treachery of Paschal and Campulus two of the principal Clergy seized near the Church of S. Sylvester stripped of his Pontifical Habit so cruelly beaten and misused that it was thought he had been deprived both of his Sight and Speech and then closely imprisoned in the Monastery of S. Erasmus From whence yet soon after by the diligence of Albinus one belonging to his Bed-chamber he made his Escape and was secretly conveyed to the Vatican where he lay concealed till Vinigisius Duke of Spoleto being privately invited thereunto came and with a 〈◊〉 Guard of Soldiers to secure him on his way from any Violence which his Enemies might offer to him carried him off safely to Spoleto The Factious being not now able to wreak their malice upon the Persons of Leo and Albinus express their Rage in pulling down their Houses nay so hardy and daring were they as to go to Charles who was now making War upon the Saxons and to whom they understood Leo had repaired on purpose to complain of and accuse the Pope But Charles deferring the debate of the matter to another time sends the Pope to Rome with an honourable Retinue promising that himself would be there in a little time in order to the composing of the Affairs of Italy Leo in his passage being come as far as Ponte Molle was there in Honour met by the Clergy and People of Rome who congratulated his Return and introduced him into the City And Charles without making any long stay passing through Mentz and Noremberg into Friuli severely chastises the Citizens of Treviso for having put to Death Henry their Governour and having constituted another to succeed him in that Office he thence goes first to Ravenna and presently after to Rome where his Presence was earnestly desired and expected At his Entrance into the City all imaginable expressions of Honour as good reason was were made to him On the eighth day of his being there in the presence of the People and Clergy assembled in S. Peter's Church he asked all the Bishops who had come thither out of all the parts of Italy and France what their Opinion was concerning the Life aud Conversation of the Pope But Answer was made by all with one Voice that the Apostolick See the Head of all Churches ought to be judged by none especially not by a Laick Hereupon Charles laying aside any farther Enquiry into the matter Pope Leo who extreamly wished that he might be put upon that way of purging himself going up into the Pulpit and holding the Gospels in his hands declared upon his Oath that he was innocent of all those things which were laid to his Charge This was done on the thirteenth day of December A. D. 800. While things went thus at Rome Pipin by his Fathers Order advancing against the Beneventans who under Grimoald's Conduct made Inroads upon their Neighbours and having given them so many Defeats that at length they were scarce able to defend themselves within the Walls of their City he left the farther management of that War to Vinigisius Duke of Spoleto and returned to his Father who was now in a short time to be crowned Emperour For the Pope that he might make some Requital to Charles who had deserved so well of the Church and also because he saw that the Emperours of Constantinople were hardly able to maintain that Title upon which account Rome and all Italy had suffered great Calamities after Mass in S. Peter's Church with the Consent and at the Request of the People of Rome declares with a loud Voice the said Charles to be Emperour and put the Imperial Diadem upon his Head the People repeating thrice this Acclamation Long Life and Victory to Charles Augustus whom God has Crowned the Great and Pacifick Emperour Then the Pope annointed him and his Son Pipin whom in like manner he pronounced King of Italy Charles being now invested with Imperial Power gave Order that Campulus and Paschal the
wrote much in praise of the Blessed Virgin and of the Holy Cross and Albo Abbat of Fleury who afterward in Gascoign suffer'd Martyrdom for the faith of Christ Men famous for Learning Religion and Sanctity are said to have flourish'd This John died after he had been Pope ten years six months and ten days and the Sea was vacant six days GREGORY V. GREGORY the Fifth a Saxon Son of Otho before call'd Bruno by the Authority of Otho III. for Kinred sake was made Pope But upon the return of Otho into Germany being vex'd by the Roman factions he fled first into Tuscany and thence into Germany to the Emperor Mean while the Romans vest Crescentius with an absolute Consular Power who immediately creates Pope John a Greek Bishop of Piacenza not more wealthy than learned whose name I confess is by some left out of the Catalogue of Popes as not regularly created but others make him John XVII because he was chosen by the Clergy and People of Rome to whom of right the Election belongeth Crescentius upon the news of Otho's approach with his Army fortifies the Walls and Gates of the City with all diligence he fortifies too the Castle S. Angelo and places strong Guards in every Post that required so that for some time after it was called Crescentius's Castle taking the name of him that fortified it instead of that of the Builder At length the Emperor arriv'd and investing the City when the Romans perceived themselves unable to withstand so great Forces trusting to the clemency of Otho they opened their Gates to the Germans And now Crescentius and John being without Friends and at their wits end fled into Castle S. Angelo and defended themselves well till upon hopes of Pardon coming forth to address themselves to the Emperor Crescentius receiving many wounds from the Multitude was kill'd but John having his Eyes first put out lost both his Popedom and life together and Gregory after he had been expell'd nine months was restored He taking notice of the weakness of the Empire and the uncertainties of Chance and being willing to preserve the Empire among the Germans and that he should be preferred before other who excell'd in worth and Virtue with the consent of Otho he made a Decree concerning the Election of an Emperor An. Dom. 1002. which has continued in force to this day To wit that it should belong to the Germans alone to chuse a Prince who should be Coesar and King of the Romans till the Pope should have confirm'd him and then to have the Titles of Emperor and Augustus Ptolemy writes that at first the power of Election of Emperor was in the Arch-bishop of Mentz for Germany the Arch-bishop of Triers for France and the Arch-bishop of Cologn for Italy To these were added four Secular Princes the Marquess of Brandenburgh who after the Election is Chamberlain to the Emperor the Count Palatine who is chief Sewer the Duke of Saxony who is Sword-bearer and the King of Bohemia the seventh Elector and Cup bearer was added they say to prevent discord between parties for if the rest were equally divided his Vote turned the Scale This 't is said gave distaste to the French but because the Line of Charles the Great being extinct in Lewis the Son of Lotharius that Realm was fallen into the hands of Hugh Capet the chief Minister at that time the great affairs of that Kingdom for some time not being manag'd by Kings they wav'd all thoughts of retrieving the Empire but the main reason was that the new Possessors were well enough yet satisfied with their fortune and dar'd not attempt any thing further 'till they were certain that their late acquir'd Regal Power stood upon a good foundation Robert the Son and Successor of the Great Hugh is much and deservedly praised for his Courage Justice Modesty and Religion for though he exercised himself very much in the Art Military yet he found time so often to frequent the Churches of God and to celebrate the Divine Service as if he had been in holy Orders He is said to have made the Hymn Sancti spiritûs assit 〈◊〉 gratia and by these Arts not less powerful than his Arms he gain'd the hearts of the People and drew those honourable respects to his Family which they had before given to that of Charles the Great Robert a certain Bishop of Chartres is about this time said to have been in great repute for Learning and Sanctity he having written much and reduced the singing in Churches to a better method Gregory died after he had been Pope two years and five months The Sea was vacant fifteen days JOHN XVIII JOHN the Eighteenth Bishop of Piacenza by the power of Crescentius the Consul as we said whom he had corrupted with his Money in the time of Gregory V. was made Pope by a Faction for he brought so much Money with him from Constantinople that even the good Men might be brib'd to serve his ill ends much less might he prevail with the Covetousness and Ambition of Crescentius I wonder that Historians place this John in the number of the Popes he having got into the Chair while Gregory was alive unless that in writing the Lives of Popes it may be thought fit as in a continued History to set down the outrages of Usurpers and Tyrants as well as the worthy Actions of good and lawful Princes that Readers may observe the difference between good and bad and upon the sight of examples of both be deterred from vitious and encouraged to virtuous practices and lead a blessed and happy life in the Earth Which blessedness and felicity John wanted for being a Robber and a Thief in his Pontificate and coming not in as he ought by the Door He died with ignominy enough in the tenth month of his Usurpation The Sea was vacant twenty days SYLVESTER II. SYLVESTER the Second before called Gilbert a French Man got the Popedom as they say by ill Arts. When he was young he was entred and sworn a Monk of Fleury in the Diocese of Orleans but he left the Monastery to follow the Devil to whom he had wholly delivered himself up and went to Sevil in Spain to study humane Sciences being extreamly greedy of Knowledg and Learning in which he made such progress that of a Scholar he soon became an excellent Master Martinus writes that the Emperor Otho King Robert of France and Lotharius a Man of noble birth and great learning afterward Arch bishop of Sens were his Scholars Gilbertus therefore full of Ambition and push'd on with the diabolical desire of Rule by Simony first gets the Arch-bishoprick of Rhemes and then of Ravenna at last the Devil helping him with an extraordinary lift he got the Popedom upon this Condition that after his death he should be wholly the Devils by whose assistance he had arriv'd at so great a Dignity Being greedy of Rule he ask'd the Devil once how long he should enjoy the
order to Rome where he publickly interdicted Gregory from doing any thing for the future that belong'd to the Office of a Pope commanding the Cardinals to leave Gregory and come to him for they were like to have another Pope Gregory not able to endure such an affront upon God and the Church deprived Sigifred and the rest of the Clergy that took Henry's part of all their dignities and preferments and likewise laid a Curse upon the Emperour himself after he had degraded him from his Imperial Honour And of this Degradation or Deprivation the form was as followeth Blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles I beseech thee hearken unto me and heat thy servant whom thou hast educated from my infancy and preserved to this day from the hands of wicked men that hate and persecute me for the faith I have in Thee Thou art my best Witness Thou and the holy Mother of Jesus Christ together with Paul thy fellow Martyr that I did 〈◊〉 enter upon the Papacy without reluctance not that I thought it robbery lawfully to rise into thy Chair but I was more willing to spend my days in Pilgrimage than at that time to supply thy place for ostentation and vain-glory I must needs confess that it was thy goodness and not my deserts that brought me to the Cure of Christendom and gave me the power of loosing and binding and therefore in confidence of that and for the honour and safety of the Church I do deprive King Henry son to Henry who was formerly Emperour of all Imperial Power in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost for that He so boldly and rashly laid violent hands upon thy Church and I absolve all his Christian Subjects from their Oaths that bind 'em to pay Allegiance to true and lawful Kings For it is fit that he should lose his honour who would diminish the Honour of the Church And furthermore because he has contemn'd mine or rather thy admonitions concerning his own and his peoples salvation and separated himself from the Church of God which he would fain destroy I set him under a Curse as being well assured that thou art Peter upon whose Rock as a true foundation Christ Jesus our King has built his Church There were at that time a great many that talk'd of Peace when the Execration was past to whom Gregory made answer that he did not 〈◊〉 conditions of Peace if Henry would first make his peace with God You said he must needs know what injury he has done the Church and how often I have admonished him to reform his life and conversation And this I did in respect to Henry his Father's memory who was my very good Friend but to no purpose he having entertain'd principles quite contrary to his Father's Nevertheless some of those that were present continu'd to urge him and persuade him that a King ought not to have been anathematiz'd so hastily To whom the Pope reply'd When said he Christ committed his Church to Peter and said Feed my sheep did he except Kings No when he gave Peter the power to bind and loose he excepted none nor exempted any man from his Authority Wherefore he that says He cannot be bound by the Churches power must needs confess he cannot any more be absolved by it now whosoever is so impudent as to affirm this makes himself a perfect Separatist from Christ and his Church When Henry heard what Gregory had done he wrote many Letters to several Nations complaining that he was condemn'd by the Pope against all Law and Reason 〈◊〉 Gregory on the other hand demonstrated not only by words and Letters but also by Reason and Witnesses in the face of the World that he had done nothing but what was just and right But in the mean time part of the Kingdom revolted from Henry and the Saxons prepared for a War against him upon which the German Princes fearing some misfortune might 〈◊〉 their Country decreed in a publick Assembly that if Gregory would come into Germany Henry should humbly beg his pardon and the King swore he would do it Thereupon the Pope who was induced by the promises and prayers of the Arch-bishop of Treves Henry's Embassadour was going on his journey toward Augst but when he came to Vercelli was privately inform'd by the Bishop of that place who is Chancellour of all Italy that Henry was coming against him with an Army At which the Pope forbare to go any further but went to Canosso a Town near Rheggio under the Countess Matilda Henry also made thither as fast as he could with his whole Army and laying aside his regal Habit he went barefoot to the gate of the Town to move the Townsmens pity and desired to be let in But he was deny'd entrance and took it very patiently or at least seemed so to do though it were a sharp Winter and all things bound up in frost Notwithstanding he tarried in the Suburbs three days and begg'd pardon continually till at last by the intercession of Maude and Adelaus an Earl of Savoy together with the Abbat of Clugny he was introduced absolved and reconciled to the Church having sworn to a Peace and promised future obedience The form of the Kings Oath was this I King Henry do affirm that I will keep all the conditions and engagements that are in the Peace which our Lord Gregory the Seventh has drawn up according to his mind and will take care that the said Pope shall go where he pleases without the least molestation either to Him or his Attendants especially through all our Dominions and that I will be no hinderance to him in the exercise of his Pontifical authority in any place whatsoever and this I swear I will observe Done at Canosso January the 28. Indiction the 15th But when he had succeeded according to his wish and all people were gone to their several homes Henry moved toward Pavia but lost Cincius by the way who dy'd of a Fever and yet Henry though that Villain was gone did not desist from innovation For he broke the Peace and thereby vexed the German Princes to such a degree that they declared Rodolphus Duke of Saxony King and rejected Henry That moved Henry to petition the Pope that he would disposses Rodolphus of the Kingdom by Excommunication But seeing he could not obtain so great a favour he betook himself to his Arms and engaged him in a bloody Battel where the Victory was uncertain on both sides And then they each sent Embassadours to the Pope to beg of him that he would assist 'em to which he made no other answer but that he would have 'em quit their Arms. But notwithstanding Henry and Rodolphus fought a second time without any odds and therefore when they had engaged the third time and kill'd a great many men on both sides Henry who seemed to have a little the better of it would not hear Rodolphus's Embassadours that came to him for Peace but wrote to the
because I cry aloud and tell the people of their crimes and the Sons of the Church of their sins and have laid violent hands upon me even unto blood For the Kings of the Earth stood up and the Princes of the World with some Ecclesiasticks and others have conspired against the Lord and me his Anointed saying Let us break their bonds asunder and cast their yoke from us and this they did that they might either kill or banish me Of these one was King Henry as they call him Henry I say Son to Henry the Emperour who exalted his horns and lifted up his heel too proudly against the Church of God in a conspiracy with many Bishops of Italy Germany and France whose ambition your authority has yet opposed This same person came to me in Lombardy when he was rather forced by necessity than sober in his resolutions and begg'd to be absolv'd from his Anathema and accordingly I receiv'd him because I thought him a Penitent but only admitted him to the Communion of the Church not restored him to his Kingdom from which I had justly expelled him in the Council at Rome nor did I give the Subjects of the Kingdom leave to pay him their former Allegiance And this I did that if he delay'd his reconcilement with the neighbouring Nations whom he had always vexed and should refuse to restore as well Ecclesiastical as Secular Estates according to his word he might be forc'd to his duty by Anathema's and Arms. Some Bishops of Germany made use of this opportunity as also certain Princes who had been long tormented by this wild beast thought fit to chuse Rodolphus for their King and Governour since Henry had lost his Throne by his flagitious actions And truly Rodolphus like a modest and just King sent Embassadours to let me know he was forced to take the Government into his hand though he was not so desirous of Dominion but that he would rather obey us than those that had chosen him to the Kingdom That he would always be at Gods and our disposal and that we might believe him he offered his Sons for hostages for his performance Thereupon Henry began to rage and first to desire us that we would use our spiritual Sword to depose Rodolphus I answered him That I would see who had most right and would send Agents thither to examine the matter and then I my self would judg whose cause was the juster Henry would not suffer our Legates to determine the matter but kill'd a great many men both Ecclesiastical and Laick plunder'd and prophan'd Churches and by this means made himself obnoxious to an Anathema Wherefore I trusting in Gods mercy and judgment in the patronage of the blessed Virgin and relying upon your Authority do lay Henry and his accomplices under a Curse and once more deprive him of his regal Power interdicting all Christians whom I absolve from all Oaths of Allegiance to him from obeying Henry in any case whatever but command 'em to receive Rodolphus as their King whom many Princes of the Realm have chosen since Henry was deposed For it is fit that seeing Henry is deprived of his Power for his pride and contumacy Rodolphus who is beloved by all should be invested with the Kingly power and dignity for his Piety and Religion Go to then ye Princes of the holy Apostles and confirm what I have 〈◊〉 by your authority that all men at last may know that if you can bind and loose in Heaven that We also upon Earth can take away and give Kingdoms Principalities Empires and whatsoever is in the possession of Mortals For if you can judg of things divine what may we think of things prophane here below And if you may judg of Angels that govern proud Princes what may you not do to their Servants Let all Kings and Princes of the World take notice by his example what you can do in Heaven how God esteems you and then let 'em not contemn the Decrees of the Church And I 〈◊〉 you suddenly to execute judgment upon Henry that all may see that son of Iniquity did not lose his Kingdom by chance but by your permission and consent And this I have requested of you that he may repent and be saved in the day of Judgment by the help of your prayers Given at Rome the 5th of March Indiction III. After that he degraded Gilbert the Author of all this discord and Schism from the Church of Ravenna and commanded all Priests belonging to that Church to pay no obedience to him who was the cause of all their misfortunes and therefore Anathematized And that the people might not want a Governour he imitated Peter who used to send 〈◊〉 in his own room upon occasion and sent 'em another Arch bishop with full power to extirpate Gilbert's Faction and confirm mens minds in the faith But then Henry who was rather provoked than chastized by these Censures and had taken the Bishop of Ostia then Legate as he return'd home called a Council of the disaffected Bishops and chose Gilbert formerly Arch-bishop of Ravenna Pope and called him Clement But being teazed by the 〈◊〉 he left his new Pope for a time and went against them where he engaged and received a great overthrow Rodolphus though he was Conquerour yet was found dead at a little distance of a wound which he received They say Henry was so affrighted at that bloody ingagement that he could scarce be found in seventeen days and that the Germans in the mean time had put his Son Henry in his room by the name of Henry IV. Both these coming after with an united Body of Men into Italy to settle their Pope Clement in the Pontificate and to turn 〈◊〉 Gregory they easily subdu'd Maude who came to meet 'em with a small Army This same Maude when her first Husband died not long before that time was married to Azo Marquis d'Este her former Husbands near kinsman by blood and related to her in the third degree of Affinity But when the matter was known she was divorced from Azo at Gregory's persuasion Henry having conquer'd Maude at Parma march'd to Rome and her Husband Azo after an hostile manner and pitch'd his Camp in the Prati di Nerone and going into the Borgo di Sancto Pietro he and his Pope Clement prophaned St. Peter's Church and demolish'd the Portico and did the like by St. Pauls But seeing he could not get into the City he went to Tivoli from whence as from a Castle he made daily incursions upon the Romans till by wasting all that came near him he reduced them to such necessity that they desired Peace upon any terms of which notice being given to Henry by some deserters who got out of the Town he drew his men up and entred in whereupon the Pope who could not trust the People betook himself into the Castle St. Angelo where he was besieged for some time they within maintaining the place stoutly Gregory's Nephew
came in good time for Frederick having promised Peace to the Romans was very urgent with them of the two Popes to chuse the more worthy and to depose and reject the other which when Alexander knew must be done as the Emperour should please he embark'd in the Gallies and escap'd first to Gaieta and from thence to Benevent Frederick afterward was driven from the City by a Plague of which both Citizens and Soldiers died like Sheep and as he march'd back through Lombardy the Army of the Confederate Cities met him and urg'd him to a Battel which he carefully declin'd and arriv'd in Germany When he was departed the Associates built a City at their common charge near Roueretto upon the River Taro which from the name of the Pope they call'd Alexandria to inhabit which from all the Cities they sent fifteen thousand Men dividing the ground equally among 'em and setting out the dimensions of their Streets and Houses The Romans yet regretted the slaughter made among 'em by the Tusculans and their Friends and therefore upon the departure of Frederick they took Alba and demolish'd it and had done the like by Tusculum if the Pope had not terrified them with Threats and Anathema's from doing so great a mischief At this time Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople sent other Ambassadours with greater Promises than before if the Pope could be brought to comply with his desire to whom Alexander gave this Answer that he was not willing to unite what his Predecessors had thought good industriously to disjoin In the mean time Guy the Anti-Pope died in S. Peter's Church which was still strongly garrison'd by Frederick in whose room the seditious substituted John a Hungarian Abbat of Sirmio who had before the repute of a Thief to him Raino who was afraid of the Romans upon account of the mischief he had formerly done them deliver'd up Tusculum upon condition that he should have Monte-fiascone in lieu of it but when Raino went to take possession of it the Inhabitants would not receive him neither would the Tusculans submit to the Anti-Pope upon which he return'd to Tusculum but was forbidden entrance From thence therefore he went to Alexius who was then at Veruli and surrendred to him all his Title to the place which when the Tusculans heard upon mature deliberation by a publick Decree they acknowledg'd their subjection to the Pope and receiv'd him Here it was that the Ambassadours of Henry King of England were heard when they came to clear their King of the false Accusation of having conspir'd the death of S. Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury But the Pope not easily giving credit to the King's Ambassadours sent two Cardinals into England with plenary Power to examine the matter to whom Henry paid so great respect that though he was engag'd in a War with Ireland yet he came as far as Normandy to meet ' em Upon debating the case it came to this end that Henry should by an Oath because the matter of fact was not clear purge himself and promise to do Penance for the murther of that holy Man of which though he were not guilty nor conscious yet it seem'd that the great spite and grudg he bore him in his life-time had given some occasion to the assassination and moreover that he should raise and maintain two hundred Soldiers for a year to assist the Christians in the Holy Land that he should within three years himself with what force he could raise undertake an Expedition to the same purpose that he should conserve the Ecclesiastical immunities in his Realm and not oppose any Appeals that might be made by his Subjects to the Court of Rome All these Conditions he having sworn to perform he had and he deserv'd it the right and Title to the Crown of England confer'd upon him and his Heirs with the Pope's consent Hence it may be observ'd that all the English Kings acknowledg themselves to have receiv'd the Title to their Realms of the Pope of Rome But Alexander having long strugled with the Romans offered them if they would admit him into the City to leave the whole Civil Government to their own managery and to intermeddle onely in religious matters but this would not be granted by them so he retir'd to Segna and there being inform'd by the English Ambassadours of the Miracles wrought by S. Thomas Becket he canoniz'd him Frederick now returning into Italy by Moncenisi took Seculia by treachery and demolish'd it he took also Asti which surrendered for fear and laid close Siege four months to Alexandria but receiv'd so much loss from the Sallies of the besieged that he grew weary of it and on Easter day rose up from before it and went to Pavia where a Treaty for the peace of Italy was carried on by the mediation of the Pope which the Venetians were willing to embrace who though they had been favourers of Emanuel before yet had receiv'd from him a horrid affront contrary to the Law of Nations for he had with red hot plates of Brass blinded their Ambassadour Henry Dandalo by holding them before his Eyes Mean time Almeric King of Jerusalem raised his Siege from before Cairo though he was not without hopes of carrying the place but was bought off with a great sum of Money and afterward march'd against Ascalon but was forc'd to quit that Expedition being in great want of provisions and finding his Soldiers to be very much tired and broken with the great and tedious toils of War they had undergone He did not long outlive his return but died and left his Kingdom to his Son Baldwin who though he labour'd with a dangerous Leprosie yet he manag'd his Government with great constancy and Wisdom Alexander thinking now to enjoy a perfect Peace made the new City of Alexandria a Bishops Sea An. Dom. 1177. but soon after Frederick re-enters Italy with great Forces and put all into confusion till the Milaneses with the joint forces of the Confederates so broke his Troops with frequent Onsets that in one of them Frederick's Horse was kill'd under him and he narrowly scap'd with life himself many of those of Pavia and Como being on his side were lost The Bishop of Pavia also because he took the Emperour's part was by the Pope deprived of his Pall and the honour of bearing the Cross Frederic's great Men thought these mischiefs happen'd to 'em because they persecuted the Church of God and openly threatned to return into their own Country and leave that wicked Warfare except he would be reconcil'd to the Pope speedily A Treaty then was begun for the Peace of Italy when Saladine a Person of great courage succeeded Noradine then deceased in the Empire of the Saracens who having taken and slain the King of Egypt added that Country and Syria to his Dominion not that his success was alike when he fought with the Christians being defeated by Baldwin in two Battels one at Ascalon and another at Tiberias but
long for they soon altered their minds and clap'd him in Prison This affront gave great offence to the Bononians who seizing several Romans protested they would never release them but upon the delivery of their Brancaleon which so wrought upon the cautious Romans that they not onely released him but restor'd him to his former dignity setting up also another Court of men chosen out of every Ward in the City whom they called Banderese to whom they committed the Power of life and death The Pope plainly found the reason of this insolence of the Romans to be that they observ'd how Manfredus had plagu'd him and that he was not able to help himself That he might therefore at last free the Church from the tyranny of these men he sent Legates to Lewis King of France to exhort him that he would assoon as possible send his Cousin and Son-in-law Charles Earl of Provence and Anjou with an Army into Italy he intending upon the expulsion of Manfredus to create him King of both Sicilies And this no doubt he had done so high were his resentments of the Ingratitude of Manfredus if sickness had not taken him off from business Which yet was brought to pass as is supposed by the following Pope To the times of this Pope is ascribed Albertus a High German of the Order of Friers Predicant who for the vastness of his learning got the Surname of Magnus He Commented upon all the Works of Aristotle and explain'd the Christian Religion with great acuteness beside he wrought very accurately concerning the secrets of Nature He also put forth a Book de Coaequaevis wherein he endeavours to shew the little difference that is between Theology and Natural Philosophy He expounded a great part of the Holy Bible and illustrated the Gospels and S. Paul's Epistles with excellent Notes He began also a Body of Divinity but liv'd not to perfect it He was a man so modest and so much given to Study that he refused the Bishoprick of Ratisbon because it could not be manag'd without trouble and force of Arms sometimes as the Bishops of Germany are wont to do He liv'd therefore in private at Cologn reading onely some publick Lectures At length he died there in the eightieth year of his age leaving behind him many Scholars for the good of Posterity especially Thomas Aquinas who leaving his Countrey and his noble kinred for he deriv'd his pedigree from the Counts of Apulia and going to Cologn he made such progress in learning that after a few years he was made Professor at Paris where he published four Books upon the Sentences and wrote a Book against William de St. Amour a pernicious Fellow Beside he put forth two Books one de qualitate essentiis the other de principiis naturae At last he was sent for to Rome by Vrban but refusing those promotions that were offered him he gave himself wholly to Reading and Writing He set up a School at Rome and at the desire of Vrban he wrote several Pieces and ran through almost all Natural and Moral Philosophy with Commentaries and set forth a Book contra Gentiles He expounded the Book of Job and compiled the Catena aurea He composed also an Office for the Sacrament in which most of the Types of the old Testament are explained But to return to Vrban he died at Perugia in the third year first month and fourth day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Cathedral Church The Sea then was vacant five months CLEMENT IV. CLEMENT the fourth formerly called Guidodi Fulcodio a Narbonnese of S. Giles's deserv'd to be made Pope upon the account of his Holiness and Learning For he being without question the best Lawyer in France and pleading with great integrity in the Kings Court was created after the death of his Wife by whom he had several Children first of all Bishop of Pois and then of Harbonne and last of all a Cardinal by universal consent and afterward was chosen out as the onely Person whose sincerity and Authority had qualified him to compose the Differences between Henry King of England and Simon Earl of Montford As soon as he was chosen Pope some say he put on the Habit of a Religious Mendicant and went incognito to Perugia Thither immediately went the Cardinals who having chosen him Pope though in his absence attended upon him pompously to Viterbo In the mean time Charles whom we said Pope Vrban sent for to bestow a Kingdom upon him set out from Marseilles with thirty Ships and coming up the Tiber arriv'd at Rome Where he lived as a Senator so long by the Popes order till certain Cardinals sent from his Holiness came and declared him King of Jerusalem and Sicily in the Palace of St. Giovanni Laterano upon this condition that Charles should take an Oath to pay the Sea of Rome a yearly acknowledgment of forty thousand Crowns and should not accept of the Roman Empire though it were freely offer'd to him For there was at that time a great contest for the Empire between Alphonsus King of Castile who sought to procure it by Power and bribery too and the Earl of Corâ—wall the King of Englands Brother whom the Electors had no great thoughts of Therefore lest Manfred should hope to make use of any quarrels between Alphonsus and Charles to whom many people said the Empire was justly due though he could not challenge it the Pope animated Charles against Manfred as one that stood in Contempt of the Roman Church For Charles's Army was already gotten over the Alpes into Italy and marching through Romagnia had brought all the Soldiers of the Guelphs Party as far as Rome From whence Charles removed and took not onely Ceperane having beaten out Manfred's men but posted himself in a Forest near Cassino which Manfred himself had undertaken to defend although his mind was soon alter'd and he resolv'd to march for Benevento to expect the Enemy in plain and spacious places because his forces consisted most of Cavalry Thither also did Charles move and assoon as he had an opportunity to fight did not decline it though his Soldiers were very weary with travelling Each of them encouraged their men to engage But Charles coming to relieve a Troop of his Soldiers that were like to be worsted more eagerly than usually as in such cases Military Men will do he was knock'd down from his Horse at which the Enemy was so transported that Manfred fought carelesly out of rank and file and was kill'd which when Charles appeared again straight turn'd the fortune of the Day For many of his men that ran away were kill'd and a great many others taken Prisoners Charles having obtain'd so great a Victory removes to Benevento and marches into it upon a voluntary surrender of the Citizens From thence he went to storm Nocera de Pagani where both the modern and the ancient Saracens lived but sent his Mareschal into Tuscany with five hundred Horse to restore
to their Countrey by Gregory as he went into France At which the Pope was so angry that he interdicted them from all benefit of the Law and was very near doing the same thing by the Bologneses who had ejected the Lambertescii and the Asinelli Gibellins of noble Families but they suffer'd for it not long after For when they went to fight against the Forleses that had kindly entertain'd some persons whom they had banish'd 't is said eight thousand of the Bologneses were slain at one Sally from the Town Upon which misfortune some Cities of Romagna grew confident and immediately revolted from the Bologneses themselves Especially Cervia from whence they received a great Revenue out of Salt But Gregory when he had dismissed the Council at Lyons in which many Decrees were made relating to the choice of Popes the expedition against the Saracens the union of the Greek and Latin Churches and the peace of Christendom as he was going into Italy he met Alphonso King of Castile at Bellocadoro complaining grievously that he had given the Empire to Rodulphus But when the Pope had satisfied him he resign'd all his right to Rodulphus The Pope was very kindly receiv'd by all the Italians as he travell'd through Tuscany but shunn'd the Florentines on purpose and went to Arezzo lest they should have prevailed with him to take off his Interdiction At Arezzo he died in the fourth year second month and tenth day of his Pontificate and there he was buried He was a Man of an extraordinary Reputation through his whole Life for Prudence in the conduct of his Affairs for Courage and greatness of Mind that made him contemn Money and all mean things for humanity clemency bounty to poor Christians and those especially that fled for refuge into the bosom of the Apostolick Sea INNOCENT V. INNOCENT the fifth formerly called Peter of Tarantaise a Burgundian a Dominican a man very learned in holy Writ was created Pope at Arezzo in the year of our Lord 1275. From thence not long after he went to Rome where he was crown'd in S. Peter's Church and from that time immediately apply'd himself to compose the Affairs of Italy To this end he sent Legats men of great Authority to command not onely the people of Tuscany who conspir'd the ruin of those of Pisa but also the Genoeses and Venetians who were mortal Enemies to quit their Arms. Assistant to them were the Embassadors of Charles the King by whose Awe over them he hoped to have his business done more to his mind The People of Tuscany did as he commanded them but especially the Florentines whom the Pope absolv'd from Gregory's Interdiction upon that very score But the Genoeses and Venetians whose hatred was more inveterate were still in Arms perpetually butchering each other and yet Innocent if he had lived a little longer had brought them over to his Opinion so zealous he was in that matter But he died in the sixth month and second day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Lateran Church Now the secular Priests had no great reason to lament his death by reason of a Sentence which he gave just before he dy'd For when there arose a Dispute between the Priests of the Cathedral Church and the Friers Preachers concerning the body of Clement the fourth for each Order desired to have the disposing of it he gave judgment that it ought to be committed to the Friers for he said his Holiness had order'd it so whilst he was alive Upon this account Innocent was a little maligned but was otherwise a very good Man and such a Person from whom those of his time might have expected all the good imaginable ADRIAN V. ADRIAN the fifth a Genoese of the Family of the Flisci before called Othobon was made Pope at Rome in the Court of the Lateran He was Innocent the fourth's Nephew by whom he was created Cardinal Deacon of S. Adrian and sent Legat into England with plenary Power to compose the differences between that King and his Barons Assoon as he was made Pope he presently went to Viterbo and invites Rodulphus the Emperor into Italy to lessen the Power of Charles who at that time did what he pleas'd at Rome But Rodulphus being ingaged in the Bohemian War could not comply with Adrian In the mean time Charles was very cautious to avoid the envy of the World and turn'd all the stress of the War upon Achaia so to make his way toward the Empire of Constantinople But Adrian dying in the fortieth day of his Pontificate he came back into Italy This Pope died at Viterbo before his consecration and was buried in a Convent of Freres Minors He had an intention not onely more and more to secure the Churches Patrimony from Tyrants but also to reduce Gregory's Decree for the Choice of a Pope into a better method not totally to abolish it But Death obstructed his endeavours and withstood the greatness of his Mind The Sea at that time was vacant twenty eight days JOHN XXII JOHN the Twenty-Second a Spaniard born at Lisbon and formerly call'd Peter was made Pope being then Bishop of Frascati Who though he were reckon'd a very learned man yet by his ignorance in business and the unevenness of his Conversation he did the Popedom more injury than Honour or kindness For he did many things that argued him to be guilty of Folly and Levity and does not deserve commendations unless it be for one thing and that was that he assisted young Scholars especially the poorer sort with money and preferments At that time the Venetians infested those of Ancona for Merchandizing in Dalmatia without paying any custom to the Venetians and yet the Pope himself to whom they were tributary did not protect them as he should have done but onely seemed ready with his Tongue to say what he was too much a Coward ever to do Nevertheless the Anconeses though the Pope would not aid them took courage and made a Sally so briskly that they rais'd the Siege and drave the Venetians from the Town a good way not without considerable damage to them By the advice of John Cajetan who govern'd all things at that time for that he was made Pope by his assistance and the Votes he procured he sent Legats to Paleologus and all the Western Kings to exhort 'em in his name that they would make Peace with one another and bend their Forces against the Saracens and other Enemies of Christianity The Man was a Fool to promise himself a long Life and to tell every body he should live a great while because every body knew his life and Conversation he was so immodest and so sottish But behold as he was betraying his Folly to all that were about him a certain new Apartment that he had built in the Palace at Viterbo fell down all of the sudden and he was found among the Wood and the stones seven days after the fall of it but he
receiv'd the Sacraments of the Church and then died in the eighth month of his Pontificate and was buried at Viterbo He was a Man as I said before of great Learning but little Prudence For he wrote many Tracts in his life especially certain Rules relating to Physick for he was counted a very good Physician He wrote also another Book and called it Thesaurus Pauperum or the Poors Treasure and set out Problems in imitation of Aristotle But 't is certain however it comes to be so that many very learned Men are not at all fit for business Yet I need not doubt how it comes to pass but take it rather for a greater Wonder if he that takes pleasure in Contemplation should apply his mind to Wordly Affairs too NICOLAS III. NICOLAS the Third a Roman of the Family of the Vrsini formerly called John Cajetan was made Pope at last after the Election had been six months in suspence by reason of a great Contest that was among the Cardinals Now the King of Sicily as Senator had the guard of the Conclave at that time and was very urgent with 'em to chuse a French-man But Nicolas assoon as he began his Reign in the year 1278 resolv'd to restrain Charles's Power and took from him the Lieutenancy of Tuscany because he said that Rodulphus took it ill and would not perform his promise of going upon the Expedition into the holy Land upon any other terms since Tuscany was reckon'd to belong to the jurisdiction of the Empire Though the Pope gain'd this point yet he reduced Romagna and Bologna it self together with the Exarchate of Ravenna which at that time were under the Emperor and made 'em subject to himself And thither he sent Bertholdus his Nephew who was declared Earl of Romagna He sent also another Nephew of his that was a Cardinal called Latinus Legat into Tuscany who restored the Gibellins in all places and imposed what Officers he pleased upon the Citizens at Florence and in other parts of Tuscany But the Office of Senator which used to be granted or committed to Kings and Princes he discharg'd himself alone He would not see the Embassadors from the Venetians who at that time harass'd the Anconeses with War and so they departed But he called 'em back and chid 'em severely nay he threaten'd to ruin their City if they did not desist from besieging or storming Ancona At length when both parties had suffer'd great inconveniencies they made a Peace upon equal terms But this Pope had a mind to create two Kings both of the Vrsini one of Tuscany and the other of Lombardy to keep those Germans on the one side that inhabit part of the Alps and the French on the other side that lived in Sicily and Naples within their bounds And to bring it about he persuaded Peter King of Aragon to endeavour the recovery of the Kingdom of Sicily upon the title of his Wife Constantia who was heir to it And he took the Honour of Senator from Charles and conferr'd it upon himself and made an everlasting Edict that no King or Prince should dare to sue for or bear that Office This Nicolas as Authors say was a man of great courage and conduct and so perfect in his life and conversation that in Italian he was commonly called il Composto or Composto He was a lover and admirer of learned men especially of those who had Learning mingled with prudence and Religion But he was reckon'd impartial to all in the distribution of honours and dignities For at his first Ordination he chose a Bishop for Alba out of the Order of Minors for Ostia and Porto out of the Preachers The Bishops of Palestrina and Trescat were Seculars He created besides these two Cardinal-Priests that is to say Gerard with the Title of the Twelve Apostles and Jerome of the Order of Minors with the Title of S. Pudentiana To them he added two Deacons that is to say Jordan his Brother Cardinal of S. Eustachius a man of much Learning and innocence and James Colonna of S. Maries in Via lata a person of great Religion and gravity He adorn'd and enlarged the Papal Palace with other Buildings which he added For he built a convenient house nigh S Peters part of which is yet to be seen which Nicolas the fifth afterward repair'd to his great cost and charge He also walled S. Peter's Garden which now they call Belvedere Then he repair'd S. Peter's Church when it was ready to fall with age and adorn'd it with the Pictures of the Popes The same he did in S. Pauls More than all this he advanced divine Worship most wonderfully by encreasing the number of Canons and the provision that had been made for those who serv'd in Churches Again he divided the Ecclesiastick Orders and appointed to each their Offices He likewise assigned every one his Lodging that even Strangers might know where every Officer especially the chief Officer was to be found He finish'd the Lateran Palace which was begun before by Adrian the fifth He built the Sancta Sanctorum from the ground after the first Chappel was ruin'd with age and beautified the Church it self with Mosaic work as it is now to be seen and with plaister of Marble And thither he removed the Apostles heads till he had reqair'd St. John's Church at his own Charge But when it was finish'd he presently brought 'em back again in Silver Cases made by his Order and attended by all the People he laid 'em up in the Chappel which was built for the purpose The same day he consecrated the Church that is upon the eighth of July Some Historians say that no one ever said Mass with more Devotion than he for during the performance of that Divine Office he constantly wept He was very godly and such a Lover of the Friers Minors for that they contemn'd the World that he has explain'd many doubts relating to that Order in a decretal Epistle When Churches were void there never was a Pope that took care sooner or more deliberately giving them to the best and the fittest Men he could find For he first look'd into a mans life and his Learning and then gave immediately the vacant Seas to those that he thought worthy For he used to say Delays were dangerous because there were such men in the World as would commit Sacriledg with all their hearts He could not endure Proctors and Attornies because they liv'd upon the bloud of the Poor and those that went to Law but hated them as a Plague in which he imitated Gregory X. and John XXI But because there were great corruptions among Magistrates in all places he ordain'd that all Offices should be annual only and if any one durst to hold 'em longer he was liable to an Anathema from which he could not be absolv'd but by the Pope himself Besides these things he did a great many more for the good of the Clergy and all Christian People as it
appears in his Titles And yet he had his faults too amidst all these commendations For he is said to have lov'd his Relations to such a degree as that he would rob others to give to them For he took Castles from some Noble Romans and gave 'em to his own kindred particularly that at Soriano Where though he was a most temperate man yet he died suddenly in the third year eighth month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate Whose death they say some body foretold by a presage drawn from the swelling of the River Tiber. For it rose so high that it was four feet and more above the Altar in round S. Maries But his body was carried to Rome and buried in the Chappel of S. Nicolas which he built in S. Peter's in a Marble Tomb beautified with Fret-work still to be seen An. Dom. 1280. eight days after the Assumption This year Charles the King adorn'd and honour'd the Body of S. Magdalen which S. Maximin had buried in a Town of his own name with a more magnificent Tomb and a bigger Chappel and laid her head up in a Silver Case separate from her body Now they say that upon the death of Nicolas the Sea was vacant five months For whilst the Cardinals were about electing a new Pope at Viterbo and one Richard of the Family of the Hannibals which is the best in all Rome was Keeper of the Conclave two Cardinals of the Vrsini did what they could to hinder the Election unless Richard who was a bitter Enemy to the Vrsini would restore Vrsus Nephew to Nicolas lately deceased to his Government of Viterbo from which he had not long before deposed him For this reason the people of Viterbo sided with Richard went into the Conclave took the Cardinals and imprison'd them Which when it was known at Rome the same faction of the Hannibals drove the Vrsini out of the City who seeing they were forced to depart went all together and retir'd as far as Proeneste So that the French Cardinals when the Vrsini were gone out-voted the Italians and chose a French Pope about the end of the fifth month MARTIN IV. MARTIN the fourth formerly called Simon a Cardinal Priest of S. Caecilie and a French man of Tours being chosen Pope would not be crown'd at Viterbo because he thought that City ought not to be made use of in such a solemn occasion where the Cardinals had been so assaulted And therefore he went to Orvieto an ancient City and there performed all the Ceremonies upon the 23d day of March. And upon Easter day he created six Cardinals of which the Earl of Millain had the Title of S. Marcellin and Peter and Benedict Cajetanus had that of S. Nicolas in the Prison As for Charles the King he not onely receiv'd him kindly when he came to him but he gave him his former Senatorian Dignity whereof Nicolas had deprived him But this was not so very well approv'd on by all because it was like to cause great Tumults in the City the Vrsini being now restored and the Hannibali banish'd For Charles was a mighty Enemy to the Vrsini for Nicolas's sake whom he hated For this reason John to revenge the injuries done to his Brother Latinus and in defence of the Dignity conferr'd upon himself by the Romans got a good Army together and marching toward Viterbo spoiled all their Countrey far and near But Martin who was then in Montefiascone being concern'd at the misery of the Viterbeses sent Matthew a Cardinal of the Vrsine Family to Rome in all haste to compose the business who took John the Captain of the Roman People whom he met upon the Road along with him Thither came all the Heads of the Factions by command from the Legat especially Richard Hannibal to be absolved by the Legat from that Interdiction that he incurr'd at Viterbo for breaking into the Conclave and imprisoning the Cardinals Vrsini He therefore laid himself at the Cardinals feet with a Rope about his neck as the greatest sign of penitence and after he had beg'd pardon was absolv'd Peace being thus made between both the factions and the Roman Army called back from plundering the Viterboses the Pope immediately grants the Romans a Power to choose two Senators out of themselves that should govern the City Accordingly two were chosen Hannibal Son of Peter Hannibali and Pandulphus Savelli who ruled the City very well all the time they were in Office Especially at that time when Pope Martin at the request of Charles King of Sicily excommunicated Palaeologus for not keeping the Articles of Alliance made between them But then Palaeologus fearing Charles's Power made a private League with Peter King of Aragon who laid claim to the Kingdom of Sicily in right of his Wife Constantia Manfred's Daughter and Corradin's Niece Hereupon they prepared a great Navy at the common charge of 'em both which made the Pope send to Peter to know of him what he meant by all those preparations Peter told him that if he thought his Shirt could know what his intentions were he would tear it from his Body So the Legat went away without any satisfaction And Peter when he had gotten his Navy ready sails into Africa where he pillaged the Coast at Tunis extreamly and then returning into Sardinia expected to hear of some new commotions in Sicily by the contrivance of John Prochita according to an agreement they had made In the mean time new broils arose in Lombardy For the Viconti a noble Family there under the command of Luchino drave the Turriani another potent Family out of Millain Which Luchino was afterwards sent as Lieutenant to the Emperor into Tuscany where he resided at St. Miniato and plagued the Flâ—rentines and Luccases with grievous incursions not regarding the Popes interdictions with which he thought to have affrighted him from troubling these his Friends and Allies Those also of Perugia were now in Arms and did so press the Fuligneses that they took their City and demolish'd part of the Walls Thereupon the Pope excommunicated 'em but paying a good sum of money to him for penance they soon obtained his pardon In the mean time the Sicilians whose motions Peter attended in Sardinia could no longer endure the pride and licentiousness of the French and therefore were persuaded by John Prochita to enter into a Conspiracy against Charlâ—s that upon such a day in the Evening when they should hear such a Bell ring they should fall on and kill the French without respect to Sex or Age. In which action 't is said they were so true to their barbarous Promise that even those Sicilian Women were killed who were with Child by French men Hence comes it that the Sicilian Vespers is grown a By-word for any great Massacre At this time Guido Appius met with ill fortune when he was sent in the Popes name with eight hundred French Horse to recover Roâ—agna For as they sate before Forli and the Citizens would fain
return to Prison giving his two Sons for Hostages one of which was named Charles who was afterward created King of Hungary and called Marcellus and the other Lewis who when he had lived a good life in the Order of S. Francis was canoniz'd for a Saint Whilst these things were transacted in Europe the Great Turk made use of that occasion and whilst the Christians quarrell'd among themselves thought himself secure Wherefore he goes with fire and sword and razes Tripoli a famous City in Asia killing all the Christians that were there in Garison Said and Baruâ—i suffer'd the like Calamity having no body to assist ' em Aca of old called Ptolemaâ—s stood because they made a truce with the Sultan for two years And to defend it for time to come Nicolas the Pope did all he could to get Soldiers under Christ's Banner and paid them with his own money They were about one thousand five hundred but there were a great many more that follow'd 'em without being inrolled without Colours or any body to conduct ' em Who when they were come to Aca they did the Christians as much hurt as they did the Saracens But the Sultan demanded what was his due as he pretended which when the Christians refused to restore he threaten'd utter ruin to 'em all Then there arose a great question among the Christians who should have possession of Aca for the Patriarch of Constantinople the Templars of Germany the King of Cyprus and Charles King of Sicily did all lay claim to it Those also of Pisa had a mind to demand Aca and lawfully as they said themselves but that a War which brake out in Tuscany diverted them from such an ill design For they starv'd Earl Vgulinus in Prison where they kept him his two Sons and two Nieces and after that did so far animate the Gibellins against the Guelphs that they threaten'd equal destruction to 'em all They fell first upon those of Arezzo because the banish'd Gibellins desir'd it when William Petramala was Bishop of that place who was aided by Earl Feltri the Florentine But the Florentines did not think themselves strong enough and therefore they sent Charles the Second also thither with some forces as he was going through their Country to wait upon the Pope Their Camps were pitched near one another in the Country of Tipherno by which name they now call the City having alter'd the name of the Castle Immediately as the Battel was just begun there were a great many Florentines kill'd but not long after the case was alter'd and though William the Bishop and Earl Feltri were slain yet there fell of the Gibellini three thousand and two thousand were taken The Neighbours call the place where they fought Campaldino Charles having obtain'd so great a Victory goes straight to Nicolas and gets the favour to hold of him in Fee the Crown of both the Sicilies Which when James of Aragon understood he presently goes and attaques Cajetta But lest any thing should be wanting that might disturb the quiet of Christendom a fatal War broke out between Philip of France and Edward King of England which did not onely trouble the Christians in Asia very much but also gave our Enemies great confidence and hopes that they should totally obliterate the Christian Name throughout all Asia For the Sultan who at that time was sick had sent an hundred and fifty thousand men to Acra under the Command of his Son But the Siege continuing for two months the Father died in that time and the Son succeeded him who attaqued the Town with much greater resolution For he filled the Trenches and promised all the plunder to the Soldiers But when he had fought his way to the very Walls he was beaten back by the Christians who made a Sally upon him even to his Camp and had a great many of his men hurt in the Action Whilst they were thus employ'd in Asia Nicolas the Pope sends two Legats à Latere as they call 'em i. e. Benedictus Cajetanus and Gerard of Parma with all speed into France to make a Peace between the two Kings and animate 'em against the Saracens who then besieged Acra For he had made a Peace between James of Aragon and Charles who was a Captive upon those Conditions that I told you before that they might all be the more free to go against the common Enemy Nay he had begun to provide a Navy as thinking himself almost sure of a Peace but to no purpose For the Kings did not obey him when he gave 'em good advice nor did they that were in Garison at Ptolemais agree so well among themselves as to keep out the Enemy according to their power For having daily lost a great many of their men there were at that time but twelve thousand left who afterward made their escape in a Corsaire or a swift sailing Frigot kept for that purpose along with the Patriarch of Jerusalem And though at first they had good shipping yet at last they were Shipwreck'd near Cyprus But the Sultan enter'd the City when the Inhabitants had left it and destroy'd it immediately with fire and sword in the 196th year after Godfry had taken it But amidst so many Calamities the Island of Cyprus and Armenia the less formerly called Cilicia continued Christian At that time Nicolas was very urgent with Rodulphus the Emperor to send his Army into Asia for fear the Enemy should get the remaining part of it But Rodulphus soon after died and Adolphus Hasso was chosen to be his Successor who demanding the Rights of the Empire was kill'd in a fight at Spire by Albertus Son to Rodulphus He was indeed a brave Man but had neither men nor money enough and that was the reason that they said he was rather overpower'd by multitude than fairly Conquer'd But Nicolas the Pope through discontent as some suppose to see all things go cross to his expectation and being conscious that he had favour'd Parties more than became a Pope died at Rome in the fourth year first month and eighth day of his Pontificate near S. Maries the Great and is there buried at the upper end of the Church by Cardinal Columna as you may see upon the Pavement where his Picture is in Porphyry But after his death the Cardinals went to Perugia that they might choose a Pope with greater freedom but protracted the business by quarrels among themselves two years and three months In the mean while Michael Palaeologus Emperor of Constantinople dies but the Priests and the Monks would not suffer his body to be buried in an holy place because he joyned with the Western Church in the Council of Lions And indeed Andronicus Michael's Son would have declared himself of the same opinion as the Latins if he had been assisted by our Party But when the Sea was vacant Andronicus was destitute of Friends and so at last apostarized from the faith But Charles the Second King of Naples
a short time by the help of the Viconti and Vgutio Fagiolani who was sole Governour of Pisa and Lucca Wherefore they endeavour'd to bring over to their Party by Promises and Presents Petramala Bishop and Lord of Arezzo and Philip of Tarento a Prince and Brother to King Robert For Philip at that time was very strong in Cavalry and a very good Soldier JOHN XXIII JOHN the twenty third formerly called James of Caturco Bishop of Porto after a long debate between twenty three Cardinals was chosen Pope at Lyons and the fifth of September received the Pontifical Crown in the Cathedral Church there From thence he removed with the whole Court to Avignion where he made eight Cardinals in the Ember-week before Advent some of which were James of Caturco his Sisters Son and John Cajetan Cardinal Deacon of S. Theodores of the Family of the Vrsins Besides that he canoniz'd for a Confessor Lewis Bishop of Tholouse Son to Charles late King of Sicily though there are some that ascribe this Act to Boniface as I told you before He forced Hugo Bishop of Caturco to relinquish his Bishoprick and Priesthood and stripp'd him of all his Pontifical Ornaments as the Ring the Mitre the Coife the Cap and the Rocket And after he had deprived degraded and to use their own phrase deliver'd him over to the secular jurisdiction he was tortur'd to Death for conspiring against the Pope The Church of Tholouse which he loved entirely he made an Arch-bishoprick and improved six Castles that belong'd to it into so many Cities that the Arch-bishop might have something under him which was honourable and worth his governing He also joyn'd Limosa i. e. Wiselburg and the Abby of S. Pontius to the Arch-bishoprick of Narbonne nay so much addicted was he to Novelties that he divided some single Bishopricks into two and united others that were distinct turning Abbaties into Bishopricks and Bishopricks into Abbaties He likewise created new Dignities and new Societies in the Church and alter'd those which had been formerly constituted Yet he was so grateful that he confirmed the Design of setting forth that Book called Clementinae or Rules of Clement and commanded all Doctors in publick Schools to read it for Lectures He reduced the Order of Gramont which had been corrupted by some factious fellows into a better form by taking away such things as might be inconvenient and adding other things that might keep up the Grandeur of Religion He loved the Church of Saragoza so well that he made the City a Metropolis and assigned it the Covernment of five Cathedrals out of eleven which were under the Arch-bishop of Tarragona He also created a new Order of Knights to fight under Christ's Banner in Portugal and oppose the Saracens in Granada and Africa Boetica was the old name for Granada which lies to the Mediteranean and is so called I suppose from the abundance it yields of a sort of Grain that Dyers use Now the Head-quarters of this Order which the Pope constituted was in a Seaport Town in the Diocese of Sylva and the Knights had all the Templers goods by consent of the King of Portugal that they might be more at leisure to fight for Christ Their Censor and Moderator is the Abbot of a Monastery of Cistercians at Alcoasia in the Diocese of Lisbon who has the Power to list and disband a Knight as he pleases Afterward he made two S. Thomases that is to say Thomas Bishop of Hereford a man of a great Family a good Life extraordinary Learning and famous for his Miracles and Thomas Aquinas a celebrated Doctor of the Order of S. Dominick of whose Life and Writings I have formerly made several Remarks Not long after he created seven Cardinals at a second Ordination in the year 1322 and presently thereupon he set forth an Edict to declare all those for obstinate Hereticks who affirm'd that Christ and his Disciples had nothing which they could call their own Which certainly does not much agree with the Scripture that tells us in many places how Christ his Disciples and true followers had a real propriety in nothing as in that passage of the Gospel where it says He that does not sell all that he has and give to the Poor cannot be my Disciple Nay more than that He accounted every one an Heretick that said the Disciples as such had not Power to sell to give to bequeath and to get because when they enter'd into Religion they were to be under the Will of another Which is the reason that Slaves do not gain any thing for themselves but their Master or give the Poor what they formerly got if he command them And of these Positions he sent Apostolical Transcripts to all publick Schools that the Scholars might not dare to Dispute of that matter any more Moreover he condemned the Opinion of one Frier Peter of the Order of Minors who had animated a whole Convent of the third Order to imitate Christs poverty of which number many were condemned and burnt After that he made ten Cardinals more among whom he consider'd John Columna and his Brother Matthew who were of the Vrsin Family and of the Order of Preachers Whilst the Pope was imploy'd in these Affairs the Florentine Army was overcome in a bloody fight by Vgutio Fagiolani not far from the Mount Catino But those of Lucca not able to endure the Tyranny of Vgutio any longer took an occasion and turn'd Nerius his Son out of the City whilst he was going to punish Castruccio a person of a Noble Family and good courage whom he had put in Prison that he might get the spoils which Castruccio had taken from the Enemies Nerius being banish'd out of Lucca incensed his Father against that State upon whom those of Pisa shut their Gates as he was going out of the City to meet the Enemy Upon that he and his Son escaped to Malaspina after he had often attempted and been as often frustrated in the recovery of his Sovereignty but by Command from the Pope he came back at last into Romagna which was his native Countrey By this means Castruccio was promoted from extream misery to the greatest happiness for he was taken out of Prison and made sole Governour of Lucca But the Pope hearing that the Esteses had routed the Church Forces out of Ferrara and gotten it totally into their own hands and that the Viscounts by assistance of Lewis of Bavaria had made themselves Masters of Millain he said he would let the Esteses alone for a while but interdicted the Viscounts though he was not so angry with them as with Lewis who usurped the Title of Emperor At the same time the Gibellins of Genoa were banish'd by their Fellow-Citizens the Guelphs assisted by King Robert to whom they had committed the Government of their City and fled in great numbers to Savona But there too some time after Robert persecuted 'em every one in their Exile and reduced the Savoneses as
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
of Bavaria whom the Electors of the Empire having deposed Wenceslaus of Bohemia for his sloth had chosen Emperor to come into Italy upon condition that he should not have the promised reward till he was advanc'd as far as the Dutchy of Millain But when he was come to Brescia near the Lago di Grada and had receiv'd part of the Money he engaged with Galeatius and losing the day fled to Trent The Venetians and Florentines promised him great things to keep him from going back into Germany but all would not do At that time Boniface whether out of fear of the Power of the Viconti or out of covetousness to enlarge the Churches Patrimony was the first that imposed Annates or yearly payments upon Ecclesiastical Benefices upon this condition that whoever got a Benefice should pay half an years Revenue into the Apostolical Treasury Yet there are those who attribute this Invention to John XXII Now all Countreys admitted of this usage except the English who granted it onely in case of Bishopricks but not in other Benefices Being thus strengthened with Money and choosing Magistrates as he pleased both in the City and all over the Church Dominions the Pope restored Ladislaus a Youth Son to Charles King of Naples into his Fathers Kingdom which was usurp'd by such as sided at that time with Lewis of Anjou And to do it the more easily and honourably he abolish'd that deprivation of Charles which Vrban had promulged at Nocera and sent Cardinal Florentino to Cajeta which was the onely place that had continu'd Loyal to crown the Youth there where he had been so loyally preserv'd Galeatius thus rid of the Emperor sent his Army under the command of Albrick against John Bentivoglio who had turn'd out the Garison and made himself Master of Bologna At this time Francis Gonzaga fought in Galeatius's Army for they two were friends again as also Pandulphus Malatesta Charle's Brother and Ottobon Rossi of Parma The names of these Men terrified the Florentines so that they sent Bernardo their General to assist the Bolognians their Allies which so encourag'd the Bolognians that they engaged the Enemy before their Walls but had the worst and lost all their Horse as also Bernardo who was kill'd in the fight James Carrara was taken but preserv'd at the request of Francis Gonzaga Bentivoglio fled with a small number into the City which whilst he stoutly defended he fell into an Ambuscade where he was kill'd the Enemy not being able to take him alive so that now Galeatius easily became Master of Bologna and struck great terrour into the Florentines threatning suddenly to turn all the force of his Arms upon them But not long after he died at Marignan of a Fever Anno Dom. 1402. whose death long wish'd for by the Florentines freed them from many fears and was presignified by a Comet which appear'd some time before Upon this many Usurpers arose either those who were chief in their Cities or who had command among the Soldiery by corrupting the Garisons seiz'd their several Towns there being now no one Man of Authority and Power to correct their ambitions and excesses infinite mischiefs hapned That fatal Sedition too of the Guelphs and Gibellins was renew'd which ran through Italy two hundred years and above and raised such civil Wars among the several Cities that they fought till they had almost destroy'd each other Vgolinus Cavalcabos having vanquish'd the Gibellins was Lord of Cremona whilst Otho the third got Parma expelling the Rossi The Soardi seiz'd Bergamo the Rusconii took Como the Vignati possess'd themselves of Lodi and Fazino Cane an excellent General made himself Master of Vercelli Alessandria and many other Towns thereabout I omit others who having been expell'd by Galeatius then were in some hopes of recovering their usurped Dominions especially William Scala and Charles Viconti Son to Bernabos who sollicited all the Princes and People to revolt Upon this account Piras Ordelaphus was banish'd his Country and got possession of Forli and Albrick Earl of Cuni would have reduced Faenza then brought to extremity if he had not been sent for in haste by Ladislaus by the Popes advice and made Great Constable of Naples The Pope had sent his Brother also thither with a competenr Army to assist the King but he being expelled by the Neapolitans moved toward Perugia and soon made that City subject to the Pope Baltesar Cassa also a Neapolitan Cardinal of S. Eustachius compell'd the Bolognians to return to the Church-party after he had besieged them for some time in which expedition Brachius Montonius led the Church-forces as being a Person well skill'd in Military Affairs and left for that reason in Romagna by Albrick For he had fought under him from his youth and been a Commander as had Sfortia who was born in Cotignola a Town of Romagna By whose valour and prowess the Militia of Italy so improved that whoever wanted a Commander would make use of one of them Hence those Military Factions so increased that all the troubles of Italy for sixty years might be imputed to one of them For he that was oppress'd by the Brachians immediately hired the Sfortians to revenge his quarrel But Albrick from whom as from the Trojan Horse so many Generals did come made Naples yield to Ladislaus after a long Siege At which Victory all the Princes of the Kingdom and all the Cities surrender'd themselves to the King But Ladislaus over desirous of enlarging his Kingly power before he had laid a good foundation in Naples was sent for into Hungary to accept of that Kingdom by hereditary right and in order thereunto sent over his Forces But whilst he was besieging Zara his Friends sent him word that the Neapolitans were like to revolt wherefore having taken Zara and sold it to the Venetians he return'd to Naples and calling back Albrick out of Romagna he deposed all the Nobles and banish'd those that refused to obey him But he was very severe upon the Family of Sanseverino and put the chiefest of them to death Boniface being troubled at such a tedious confusion of Affairs at length died of a Pleurisie in the fourteenth year and the ninth month of his Pontificate Anno Dom. 1404. He was buried at S. Peters in a Marble Tomb of Mosaic work still to be seen with his Coat of Arms which shews also that he built much in S. Angelo the Capitol and the Vatican Nor had any thing been wanting to the glory of this Pope if he had not been too partial to his Relations Simony being often committed by reason that his Brethren and Friends who came to Rome in great multitudes to get Money ask'd for every thing that fell in his gift without any reason As for Indulgencies and those plenary too they were sold about at such a rate that the Authority of the Keys and the Popes Bulls was brought into contempt Boniface indeed endeavour'd to amend these things but was forced
Sieneses and sending them away to solicite their Fellow-Citizens he promised them to be there in such a time But Nicolas the Pope who was a lover of peace and quietness after he had kept his Coronation as the fashion is and made many Processions on foot in his own Person he sent Cardinal Morinensis to Ferrara a place which being neutral was fit for the Treaty that by the persuasion and Authority of his Legat the Factions might be the more induced to a composure Thither also did Alphonsa Philip the Venetians and Florentines send their Embassadours who after a long Debate gave Philip leave to choose whether he would make a Truce with the Venetians and Florentines for five years both sides keeping what they had or conclude a Peace and change Crema for those Towns which the Venetians had taken upon the River Adda leaving onely Cassan at the Pope's disposal as being his due by compact to make amends for the injuries which he first received But that also was afterward thrown in to make the Peace more lasting And one of Philip's Embassadours was sent to make the Proposal to him who found him dead of an Apoplexy the day before he came to Millain August 8. 1447. Morinensis hearing of Philip's death sent for all the Embassadours in haste to his House and urg'd for Peace as earnestly as ever The Venetians when they were ask'd if they would continue of their former Opinion made answer That they could not tell what they might do now Philip was dead but that they would write to the Senate concerning that Affair and do as they should order them In the mean time the other Embassadours that were there knowing the Venetians ambition to govern all Italy dissolv'd the Assembly and went every one to their own Home the Pope's Legat exhorting them to Concord but all in vain But the Venetians whose Camp was at Sorefina near Cremona in hopes to take that tumultuous City by surrender with the help of the Guelphs when they heard of Philip's death march'd presently to Lody which having taken they receiv'd those of Piacenza into their Alliance upon the same terms as them of Lodi and sent one thousand five hundred Horse thither immediately to assist the people of Piacenza if any body should molest ' em Francis Sfortia who at that time was beaten out of Ancona and quartered in Bologna to refresh his Army whose Arms Horses and Men were almost spent with this long War when he heard that the Venetians had seiz'd all upon his Father-in-law's death went great days Journeys till he came to Cremona and was chosen General by the universal consent of the Millaineses over all their Forces against the Venetians And having made a Bridg over the River Po which he fortified with Castles and Artillery to hinder the Venetians from coming with a Navy to Piacenza he passed the Adda at Picigitono and encamp'd not far from the Enemy who lay at Camurago And there they had some light Skirmishes to try I suppose the Enemies courage The People of Pavia were so much encouraged at Francis's coming and so glad to see him because they hated to be subject to the Millaineses upon an old grudg that was between them and on the other hand would rather suffer any thing than submit to the Venetians who had formerly despised their Alliance insomuch that they deliver'd their City up to Francis without any more ado by consent of the Governour of the Castle which was such an Addition to his grandieur that Sfortia presently affected to be Lord of the whole Dutchy of Millain These things passed in Lombardy and thereabouts whilst Alphonso at the same time fell down with his Army into the Sea-coast of Siena and had subdued them though the Pope was against it had not the Florentines who knew the King's intention sent a Messenger to Siena to advise them that Alphonso who was covetous of Dominion was no less their Enemy than the Florentines The Sieneses hearing what danger they were in they did not deny the King any kind of provisions but yet they would not suffer any of his Soldiers to come within their Walls So that the King when he observ'd their caution march'd down into Volaterra and Pisa and took many Castles there partly by surrender and partly by storm which yet the Florentines recover'd not long after all but Castiglione under the command of Sigismund Malatesta whom they had corrupted to come over from Alphonso to their side In the mean time Nicolas the Pope continually persuaded the King and the Venetians to Peace rather than War but they who were grown proud and unruly would not hearken to his good Advice Thereupon Francis raised a great Army out of the main strength of Italy uniting the Brachian and Sfortian Soldiers and pitch'd his Camp in the middle of Autumn at Piacenza in which was a good Garrison of Venetians and beating down part of the Walls with Cannon he stay'd before it so long till the Po rose to that prodigious heighth that his Galeoones came up to the very Walls and so attacking it both by Land and Water at last he took and plunder'd it This was a great Honour to Francis to take so great a City and that in the Winter-time when it rained so hard that the Soldiers were ready to leave their Tents Yet Nicolas was even then still talking of Peace and the Florentines were urgent with their Allies the Venetians because they fear'd the King's Power who was then with his Army in Tuscany But nothing was done in it because the Venetians were unwilling to restore Lodi to the Millaineses which they earnestly sought So that Nicolas after so many attempts to no purpose laid aside all thoughts of making Peace by such means and applying himself to religious exercises he order'd Days of Humiliation to be kept for appeasing God's anger and Prayers for the Peace of Christendom And at the Solemnities the Pope himself assisted with all the Clergy in Procession from S. Peter's to S. Mark 's with great Piety and Religion But the wrath of God was not abated for all that so much had Men probably deserved it For two years after there was such a Plague in almost all places that few survived out of great numbers And this Calamity was foretold by frequent Earthquakes and an Eclipse of the Sun nay it had been often foretold by the Friers Predicants especially one Robert a Franciscan and famous Preacher who so moved the people of Rome with his Sermons that the Women and Children ran about the City desiring God to be merciful unto them And least any misfortune should be lacking in Italy the Wars which we told you were begun before did so increase that one would have thought it impossible to have put an end to them For Francis Sfortia the next Summer having taken some Castles from the Venetians went with his Land and Sea-forces against their Navy which block'd up the Cremoneses and forced it to
withal he bids me not stir from the City For says he if you go into India Paul will fetch you back I obey'd his Commands and stayed three years in the City hoping to find some remedy for my misfortunes But Paul when he was Crown'd according to custom remembring that the Canons Regular were formerly turn'd out of St. Giovanni Laterano by Calixtus though Eugenius had placed 'em there he recall'd 'em to perform Divine Service apart from the Canons Secular And because he had a mind to extirpate the name of Seculars from that place if any one of 'em died he put no body into his place or if any Benefice were vacant he made them renounce their Canonships and so translated 'em to other Churches till at length the profits of that Church being reduced into one body might satisfie the Canons Regular without any charge to him he being before forc'd to keep 'em they were so poor But by this means Paul did much estrange the Citizens minds and affections from him because as they said he gave those Revenues which their Forefathers had setled instead of Citizens to foreiners Nor was Paul content to do so but he spoke to some Canons by themselves and threaten'd 'em till they quitted their Canonries Some indeed contemn'd his Menaces and expected an opportunity of vindicating their Liberty which happen'd not till he was dead It was now reported that the Turks had taken most part of Epirus and were coming into Sclavonia he therefore sent Nuncio's immediately to all Kings and Princes to advise 'em to compose their civil Discords and make War against the Turk the common Enemy but there was nothing done in it because they were up to the ears in blood one among another the Germans in one part and the English in an other some of whom desired a new King others would retain their old one And then the Spanish and French Princes fear'd their King's Power who attempted to bring them to a total subjection But more than this the King of Bohemia's Apostacy vexed Paul very much in that he withdrew himself from the Church of Christ by little and little and therefore he design'd to send the King of Hungary with an Army against him if the War which he had undertaken against the Turks would give him leisure and that he could compose the difference between the King and the Emperour For when Ladislaus King of Hungary and his Nephew was dead without issue the Emperour himself pretended a right to that Kingdom which Matthias Son to the Vaivod was in possession of Thereupon Paul thought it best to defer that matter till another time and apply'd himself to make up some breaches between certain Citizens of Rome For there was a quarrel between James Son to John Alberinus and Felix Nephew to Anthony Capharellus and therefore he sent for the two old Gentlemen the Father and Uncle of 'em and caused 'em to put in Sureties that they would be friends though they stood out a good while But James Son to Alberinus who could not endure that any Affront should be put upon his Father attempted soon after to murther Anthony Capharellus and gave him several such grievous wounds that he left him for dead At which Paul was very angry that Alberinus's Son had broken his Father's Oath and therefore he demolish'd their Houses confiscated all their goods and banished them from the City but he afterward recalled 'em and took 'em into favour restoring all their goods and made Peace between the parties after they had been both sometime in Prison In the year 1465. Alouisius Patavinus the Pope's Chamberlain dy'd He was Cardinal-Priest of St. Laurence a very rich Man and prudent in the management of business but not so wise towards his later end in that he left most of his Estate to his two Brothers who were call'd Scarampi Men that were good Gentlemen but yet not worthy of such a vast fortune as he had got out of the Church Revenues I know what People thought whereupon Paul who had given him free leave to make a Will and bequeath it to whom he pleased seized upon the Estate took the Scarampi who had fled and kept 'em though in no scandalous place till he had those things brought him which were carried away to Florence which done he freed the Scarampi to whom he gave a good share and was more liberal to the other Legatees than the Testator himself had been And thus Alouisius's Estate which he got with great industry and preserv'd with greater as if in the strength of so much Wealth he could have lived Mathusalem's Age was seized and distributed by one with whom he had had so many quarrels ill words and Animosities and before whom he would have chosen the Turk for his Executor Nor was Divine Providence thus satisfied but was pleased that his body also which was already buried should be made a prey for the Grave was open'd in the Night-time by those to whom he had given the Revenues of St. Laurence in Damaso and he stript of a Ring and all his Cloths But indeed Paul when he knew of it was very angry at them About that time Frederick a fine Youth Son to Ferdinand who passing to Millain to fetch Francis Sforza's Daughter his Brother's Wife to Naples arrived at Rome where he was met by the Nobility and Rhoderick the Vicechancelour and kindly entertain'd by the Pope himself who presented him with a Rose which the Popes use to give to some Christian Prince every year Ferdinand now minding to punish those of his own Kingdom who had revolted from him when he was engaged with the French sent some Forces to set upon the Duke of Sora but the Pope was desirous to divert that War and therefore sent the Arch-Bishop of Millain thither with all speed to pray him that he would send those Men to him as he was obliged by his Tenure to do because he had a Design to destroy and take off the Count Aversa's Sons that had denied Obedience to the Church For about that time the Count Aversa died when Paul was made Pope and his body was brought to Rome where it was buried in St. Maries the Great The King who was Deiphobus's bitter Enemy as having been attempted by him with Plots Poison and open force in the late War gave Order to the Captains of his Army cited to go where the Pope bad them upon the first Summons He had Deiphobus and Francis to him before and given 'em charge to clear the Road of Thieves who used to rob Travellers at the very Gates of Rome as it were and that they should restore Caprarola a Town so called to the Son of Securanza the greatest part of whose Estate they had possest themselves of they not onely refused to do either but threaten'd him and brag'd that they were Count Aversa's Sons nor would they spare any one that gave 'em a provocation Paul therefore having privately prepared all things that were
necessary for a War with assistance of the King's Forces he surprised and subdued 'em within fourteen days after he attaqued 'em reducing nine Castles under the jurisdiction of the Church of which some were so well fortified both by Art and Nature that they seemed impregnable Deiphobus fearing lest if he were taken he should be sent to the King made his escape But Francis his Brother and his Son were taken and kept five years in Castel St. Angelo till upon the Creation of Sixtus they were freed And hence afterward arose great enmity between the Pope and the King when Ferdinand demanded that Paul would remit the Tribute which he was to pay the Church as a reward for his great merits and would retrench or take off part of it for the future seeing his Uncle enjoy'd the Kingdom of Sicily though he paid Tribute for that and Naples too and told him That he ought to consider his Deserts and what might happen for that he had always some Batalions in Arms not more upon his own than upon the Pope's account as he found in the late War against the Aversans Paul on the other hand recounted the Churches merits toward Ferdinand and so they spun out the Debate a long time by these kind of wranglings each of 'em seeking an opportunity to recover their Right In the mean time the King was very cautious how he caused any new Commotions because he fear'd James Picenninus's Power who had Sulmona in Abruzzo and some other Towns in his possession whom afterward his Father-in-law Francis Sfortia sent to the King who gave him his word that he should come and go in safety when he pleased But all things did not go according to James's expectation for he was taken at Naples by Ferdinand as so was his Son and there thrown into Prison and not long after put to Death though there was a false report given out that he fell down in the Prison and broke his Leg as he was inconsiderately staring through the Window to see the King's Galleys that came from Ischia with Victory over the French There were who thought him still alive which I can never believe because there was no Man in all Italy more fit if you look upon him as a Soldier to subvert the Government of King Ferdinand The Duke of Millain's Daughter when she heard of it tarry'd by the way at Siena as she was going to her Husband at Naples to persuade the World that her Father was not any way concern'd with Ferdinand in contriving the Death of Picenninus But what People thought of it we very well know There were likewise some that said the Pope knew of it before hand because at that time the Arch-Bishop of Millain went often from the Pope to the King and from the King back again and because Paul said when he heard of his Imprisonment that the Judg of Appeals was taken off But that of Virgil is too true Nescia mens hominum fati sortisque futurae Little do Men their future Fortune know For Paul could not have made use of any one to fit to curb Ferdinand as James Picenninus was if he had been alive when their Debate arose about the Tribute for which a War was like to have been proclaimed For when he had kept his Daughter-in-laws and his Son's Wedding and that thereby and by the death of James his Kingdom was setled Ferdinand was instant with the Pope that he would retrench the Tribute and give him back certain Towns which belong'd to the Kingdom but were in possession of the Church Thereupon Paul sent to him Bartholomew Roverella Cardinal Priest of St. Clements as Legate who did in some measure satisfie the King And at that time I believe they both fear'd lest the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon which all Men were then astonish'd at might portend some changes in Government Nor can you think the heavenly Bodies have no efficacy for the year after Francis Sfortia Duke of Millain and Genoua died For he had gotten Genoua two years before being after a long War surrender'd by the Citizens For they having rejected the French Government which they had formerly courted kill'd six thousand of the French under the Nose of King Renatus who came with some Galleys well arm'd to retrieve the City that had now revolted from the French When Francis Sfortia Duke of Millain was dead Paul summon'd the Cardinals to consult what was to be done They all concluded that he must send Letters and Nuncioes to all the Princes of Italy and to all States to persuade 'em against Innovations and to maintain the establish'd Peace especially at that unhappy time when we were so threatned by the Turk the common Enemy And afterward he sent the Bishop of Conca to Millain to persuade that State to have regard to the Allegiance they had sworn to Galeatius Francis's Son At that time Galeatius was absent in France whither his Father had sent him with an Army to assist King Lewis against the Princes of his Kingdom that acknowledg'd not his Authority For Francis was bound by the League he made with him when he possest himself of Genoa to supply him with some Auxiliaries Besides the Allegiance which they had contracted obliged him to it for he had married the Sister of the Queen and the Duke of Savoy When he heard of his Father's Death he relinquish'd the War which he engaged in upon the King's account against the Duke of Burgundy and going from Lions return'd with a small Retinue and in a disguise to his own Country where he peaceably possess'd himself of his paternal inheritance by the help of his Mother who kept the people in Obedience till he came But Paul when the Affairs of Italy were thus composed hearing that the Rhodian Soldiers were ready to starve he summon'd the Grand Master and the great Clergymen to Rome to consider of a Relief who after frequent meetings in St. Peters died for grief and Age and was buried in that Church not far from St. Andrew's Chappel in whose room Charles Vrsin was chosen and sent immediately to defend the Island In the mean time when Paul heard that there were a great many Hereticks in Tagliacozzo he having heard their cause severely branded the Lord of the place eight Men and six Women which were caught and brought before him being those that were most obstinate but dealt more favourably with those that confessed their Error and begg'd pardon They were of those perverse sort of Hereticks who say there never was any true Vicar of Christ since St. Peter but who had imitated Christ's Poverty Then he encreased the number of Cardinals and made ten at one time of which number were Francis of Savona General of the Order of Minors M. Barbo Bishop of Vincenza whose Advice he always took in great Affairs Oliver Arch-Bishop of Naples Amicus Bishop of Aquila and Theodore Montferrat and the rest were partly French Hungarians and English Having thus
Affairs it is to be noted that about this time most mortal feuds and quarrels arose between this Pope Sixtus and the two Brothers of the House of Medicis Julian and Laurence the original of which proceeded from the great displeasure which Laurence took at the Pope for not conferring a Cardinals Cap on his Brother Julian in revenge of which he being very potent in Florence gave assistance both of men and mony to Nicolas Vitelli Count of Tiferno and Lord of the City of Castello whereby after he had been subdued and banished by the Pope and had resigned his Right and Possession to him he returned again with the favour of the people and re-assuming his Inheritance he demolished the Citadel which Sixtus for his better security had made and fortified with a good Garison Upon revolt of the City the Pope sent his Nephew Cardinal Julian with a strong Army against it and by a long Siege of three months became master of it Nor did Laurence de Medicis only show his indignation against the Pope by furnishing men and mony to Vitelli but likewise by disappointing him of the purchase of Imola the Prince whereof being reduced to great necessities for want of mony offered to sale to prevent which and that it should not fall into the hands of the Pope who now grew above measure great and powerful in Italy Laurence supplied the mony and so eased the Prince of those necessities which compelled him to a sale of his Patrimony The Pope growing very angry hereat and resolving to revenge these affronts entered into a secret conspiracy with Francis de Pazzi who was head of that Faction which was contrary to the House of Medicis whereby it was resolved that both the Brothers Laurence and Julian should be murdered and that the Commonwealth of Florence should be disposed of according to the pleasure of the Pope But that a design so impious as this should not seem to have entered into the heart of a Pope the whole management was committed to the conduct of Jeronimo Riario who in the first place prevailed with Ferdinand King of Naples to send an Army into Tuscany under the command of Alonso his Son and compel the Florentines either to extirpate the Family of the Medicis or force them to abandon their Country and that then under colour of the Papal Dignity the King of Naples might introduce his own Authority and set up for himself but to make all things sure in case this should fail Jeronimo communicated his design to John Baptista Montesecco a man very expert and ready in such attempts who quickly engaged several with him in the Conspiracy namely Bartholomew Salvian Arch-Bishop of Pisa who had conceived a private pique against Laurence also Francis de Pazzi and James Poggio whose Father was a famous Orator in his time And to put a better face on the matter and countenance the Plot Raphael Riario Cardinal of S. George a youth and Nephew of Jeronimo was sent to Pisa on pretence of his Studies under whose protection the Assassinates having performed their work might be the better secured Sunday being the 26th of April was the day appointed for this murder and accordingly the Conspirators who were many assaulted the two Brothers in the Church whilst they were hearing Mass Julian was there killed but Laurence having received a slight wound sled into the Vestery where he was saved from the violence of the Assassinates and in the mean time the Archbishop of Pisa and James Poggio endeavoured to possess themselves of the Palace belonging to that Signiory But the rumor hereof spreading quickly over all the City and that Julian was killed and Laurence still living the Party of the Medicis took courage and with Arms in their hands seized the Arch-Bishop of Pisa and James Poggio together with their Companions and putting a Halter about their necks they executed speedy Justice hanging them out at a window Antonio da Volterro and Stefano a Priest who attempted Laurence incurred the like fate Montesecco was tortured to make Confession which having done he was likewise put to death The Cardinal at the time of this Combustion flying to the High-Altar was scarce protected by the sacredness of the place and the earnest intercession of Laurence notwithstanding which having for some days been committed to safe custody until he had cleared his Innocence he was out of respect and favour to the Pope set at liberty Howsoever Sixtus was not so well pleased with the grace showed to the Cardinal but that he resented the severity they had used against a Priest and an Arch-Bishop to that degree that at the persuasion of Jeronimo Riario he interdicted the people of Florence and made War upon them Frederick Duke of Vrbin was made General of the Papal Army and Alfonso Duke of Calabria Son of Ferdinand King of Naples was also ready with another Army in favour and assistance of the Pope On the other side Lewis the 11th King of France sent a Succor of 300 Horse to Florence under the Command of Philip de Comines Lord of Argenton and farther to affright the Pope he ordered a Synod of Prelates assembled at Orleans to Decree that no more mony should be carried out of France to Rome for vacant Benefices The Venetians and Dukes of Milan Mantoua and Ferrara concerned themselves in the League that they might repress the ambition of the Pope whom they esteemed to be full of designs to advance his own power and glory in Italy Laurence de Medicis by his vigilance good address and conduct so well accommodated matters with Ferdinand King of Naples that he engaged that King to his Party and into an agreement of an Offensive and Defensive War with which Union and Alliances the Pope being discouraged the War concluded without any remarkable successes the Pope suppressing his resentments until a more seasonable time when he could with better effect reak his anger and revenge on his enemies which he had certainly performed with the first opportunity had he not been surprized with a suddain alarm from the Turk who having unexpectedly seized the City of Otranto put all Italy into fear and confusion This accident confirmed the Peace more firmly between Sixtus and the Florentines on whom by way of Penance for their late crime he imposed a charge of maintaining 15 Gallies against the Turk whose great force having entered into Italy would certainly in despight of all the power of that Country have made great devastations had not the death of Mahomet the Great who had taken Constantinople put a stop to the progress of his Arms and moved Bajazet his Son and Successor to recall Aâ—â—met Pasha his General with his Army out of Puglia and this happened in the year 1481. when the King of Cyprus and his Son being dead and the whole power remaining in the hands of the Queen who was of the noble Family of Cornaro the Venetian Senate laid claim to the Kingdom as devolving to
and monstrous cruelties to him making him the Author of all those Calamities and Miseries which in his Reign over-whelmed Italy rendering its condition slavish and contemptible to Forein Nations Howsoever his temper was not so altogether flagitious but that it admitted of some alloy and mixture of Virtue for he with great care attended to the government of the City and regulation of the Courts of Justice to which end he ordained Visitors of the Prisons to examin and know the causes for which persons were imprisoned and created four Judges for the tryal of all criminal matters so that Justice was the more punctually executed than in former times But not to remain too long on his personal qualities let us proceed to the important affairs of his Government And in the first place being created Pope he was according to custom saluted and congratulated in his Papal Dignity by the Ambassadors of Kings Princes and States whom he respectively treated with affability and respect persuading them to peace and concord amongst themselves and by the virtue of such union and confederacy to joyn and employ their Arms against the Turk who was the common Enemy of Christendom And at that time being about the year 1493. in honor to Ferdinand King of Spain he gave him the Title of Catholick in acknowledgment and memory of the many Victories he had obtained over the Moors and gave him a Title to all those Lands and Countries in America which were or should be discovered there And thus as he was civil to Kings so he was kind and more affectionate to his Family For in the first Consistory that he held he created John Borgia his Sisters Son Arch-Bishop of Montreat Valentine Borgia his Natural Son Arch-Bishop of Valentia At this time the Emperor Frederick died having reigned for the space of 54 years Likewise Ferdinand King of Naples being dead he sent his Legat with power to confirm his Son Alonso in the succession to the Kingdom and having contracted an Alliance with him he ordered him to be Crowned and invested with the Regalities At this time being the year 1494. Charles the Eighth King of France who was of a martial and ambitious spirit laid claim to the Kingdom of Naples by virtue of the last Will and Testament of René Duke of Anjou and Lorain and being encouraged in that enterprise by Lodowick Sforza the Guardian of John Galeas Duke of Milan he entered Italy with a puissant Army consisting of 25000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a great train of Artillery The Pope apprehending the great ruine and damage which this incursion of the French would bring upon Italy entered into League with the City of Florence and both agreed and resolved to leavy Soldiers and joyn in a defensive League with the King of Naples but the Venetians and Ferdinand King of Spain who were likewise moved to enter into the League did positively refuse to accept the proposals being more inclinable to be unconcerned and Spectators than Actors in that hazardous War Charles being entered into Italy marched victorious thro Lombardy and having overthrown the Army of Florence soon after became Master Of the City it self thence he proceeded towards Rome where he entered on the first of January 1494. without any opposition it being agreed that in case the Romans would peaceably open their Gates and give free admission to the French that no hurt or violence should be offered by them to the Inhabitants but that on the contrary if they made opposition they would put all into flame and confusion The Romans therefore finding themselves in no condition to resist readily gave a reception to the French affording them plenty of Victuals and Provisions and they on the other side performed their conditions severely punishing such as were guilty of Riots or Tumults The Pope at first being affrighted with the approach of the French fled for security into the Castle but at length finding all things quiet and secure from the outrages of their Ghests adventured abroad and much against his will and inclinations entered into a League with them But Charles not much confiding in the Faith which the Pope had given required for better security thereof and by way of Hostage that Cesar Borgia who was called Cardinal Valentino should under colour of being the Popes Legat accompany him in the War together with Zizimé the Brother of the Grand Seignior on pretence that having overcome the Kingdom of Naples he would make use of him in the War which he intended to make upon Constantinople but he died soon after of a Bloody-Flux at Capua Upon approach of the French near to Naples King Alonso being conscious of his ill government whereby he had contracted the hatred of his people and despairing of the success of his Affairs surrendred up the Kingdom into the hands of his Son Ferdinand and with great fear and ignominy embarked himself with the best part of his wealth and fled into the Island of Sicily and soon after Ferdinand considering the weakness of his Force and the inequality of the Match between him and the French betook himself also to the Island of Ischia Charles following the favourable course of his good and victorious fortune with great expedition made himself Master of all the Kingdom of Naples the which success giving an alarm to all the Christian Princes a general confederacy was agreed amongst them for intercepting the French on their return out of Italy so that the Pope the Emperor Maximilian the King of Spain Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan and the Venetians uniting their Forces for the common safety of Italy composed an Army of forty thousand men Notwithstanding which Charles boldly returned out of Italy and with great difficulty having passed the Apenine Mountains with sixteen pieces of weighty Cannons which were drawn over by 300 Swissers and having by the greater error and neglect of the Enemy passed all the narrow and inaccessible ways about Zerzana and Petra Santa at length descended into the Plains of Lombardy The Confederate Army to hinder the Kings farther passage had encamped themselves at Fornovo near Tarro and at no far distance from Parma and there both Armies were engaged The French did not consist of more than 9000 men and the Confederates of 40000 and yet the French had the advantage and won the Field and as Philip de Comines saith the King entered triumphant into Asti tho Panvinio and other Italian Writers relate the Battel to have been bloody but the success and advantage doubtful Howsoever the news hereof being reported at Naples to the great advantage of the Confederates King Ferdinand re-assumed his courage and adventured out of his retirement at Ischia and then the French Forces being grown weak and all Recruits failing them he recovered his Kingdom with the assistance of the Catholick King Not long after Charles the Eighth died and Lewis the Twelfth Duke of Orleans succeeded in his Throne Likewise Ferdinand dying without Issue Frederick his
other dissenting and Schismatical Cardinals Things being in this manner debated before the Pope he remained doubtful what to conclude or resolve fear and hope striving within him But whilst he thus remained in suspense the course of fortune began to turn for Monsieur de Palissa who succeeded Gaston de Foix in the command of the French Army on a suddain departed from Romagna and drew all his Forces into the Dutchy of Milan being alarmed by descent of the Swissers into Lombardy leaving only 300 Lances 300 Light-Horsemen and 6000 Foot with eight pieces of Artillery behind under command of the Legate of the Council This news delivered the Pope from the fear of being forced to leave Rome and confirmed the state of his affairs in such manner that he resolved to continue the War with better hopes and expectations of success For the Pope's affairs having regained their reputation the new Council lately convened was on the first of May opened in the Church of S. John Lateran at Rome to this Assembly the dissenting Cardinals were cited to give their attendance but they not appearing were on the 8th day of the Sessions declared contumacious and Excommunicated and deprived of all their Temporal and Spiritual Degrees Honors and Offices and the people absolved from their Submission and Obedience to them It was farther also declared That their Council held at Pisa and afterwards removed to Milan was but a Conventicle and an unlawful and Schismatical Meeting and all their Acts rendered void null and of none effect In the mean time the Cities of Lombardy being encouraged by the Swissers who were now come into Italy in favour of the Pope revolted and re-assuming their ancient Liberty assailed the French with open force and overthrew them The Venetians also joyning with them prosecuted their Victory in such manner that in the space of 70 days after the Battel of Ravenna the French Army was almost wholly defeated and the remainder by order of King Lewis was recalled to his assistance against the Kings of England and Spain who at that time miserably infested his Country so that in a short time all Italy was freed from the slavery of the French The dissenting Cardinals having lost their protection at Milan fled from thence to Lions where they were kindly received and entertained at the charge of King Lewis The French being thus driven out of Italy all the Cities and Towns belonging to the Pope did by consequence return to the Ecclesiastical State Parma and Piacenza being dependencies on the Exarchat of Ravenna voluntarily yielded to the Pope all the other Towns of Romagna followed their example together with Bologna which casting off all respect to the Family of the Bentivogli expelled them from their Confines with which the Pope not being satisfied pursued them with the thunder of his Excommunications Genoua being also abandoned by the French was possessed by Fregoso The Venetians seized on Crema and Brescia such of the Family of the Medices as had followed the Popes Party were re-instated in Florence Peter Joderini who had been created perpetual Gonfaloniere being expelled thence The State of Milan was resigned to Maximilian Sforza as the true and lawful Prince all which benefits and happy successes being procured by the Arms of the Swissers they were in the Council of Lateran adjudged and declared to be the Restorers of the Liberties of Italy And now all things being restored to this happy state the Pope required the Venetians in virtue of the late Articles to deliver Verona and Vicenza to Maximilian which they obstinately refusing to perform he entered into a League with the Emperor against them The Venetians on the other side being well acquainted with the temper of the Pope confederated themselves in an Alliance with Lewis the French King hoping by his assistance and protection to defend themselves from that League to this interest likewise the dissenting Cardinals adhered who instigating Lewis every day against the Pope and raising tumults in several places gave out a report that the Abbot of Clugni was to be created Pope in the place of Julio the which extremely incensed and moved him with choler and disdain for he had a mind always unquiet not sooner ending one enterprize before he began another his Plots and designs always increasing He determined now at the beginning of the Spring to attempt Ferrara a design so much desired He had bought the City of Siena for thirty thousand Ducats He agreed to lend the Emperor forty thousand Ducats receiving Modena in pawn He threatned Luca for seizing Garsagnana He testified some anger against the Cardinal de Medicis because he seemed more inclining to the Party of the Catholick King than to his and studied new Plots and Practices to alter the Estate of Florence And in this manner having a thousand irons in the fire he was continually plotting how he might drive the Spanish Army out of Italy by the help of the Swissers whom he always extolled and embraced it being his great design as he often uttered to expel all Forein Force out of Italy He had also moved Henry VIII King of England to make War upon France and in detestation of Lewis he had transferred by a publick Decree of the Council of Lateran the Title of Most Christian to the King of England for which there was a Bull prepared and written containing also in the same a deprivation and deposing of the King of France from all his Power and Dignities giving that Kingdom for a prey to any who could conquer it With these great thoughts and perhaps many other more secret intrigues he fell sick of a violent Fever caused perhaps by the violent agitations of his mind and in a few days died in the Vatican on the 21. of February 1513. the Council of Lateran still sitting He was aged above 70 years and held the Papal Chair for the space of nine years three months and five and twenty days and was buried in S. Peter's Church in the Chappel of his Uncle Pope Sixtus This Julius the Second had a spirit more agreeable to a Soldier or Martial Governor than a Pastor of the Church He was a Prince of incredible constancy and courage but so violent and of such unmeasurable apprehensions that the Discord of Princes and the Reverence which some of them bore to the Church preserved him from ruine more than his own moderation or discretion And yet nevertheless he was lamented by such who knew not how to distinguish between the tempers which are decent and agreeable to difference a temporal from a spiritual Prince for certainly had he been a Secular his inclinanations his industry and zeal to enlarge and advance his Dominions might have been more commendable than in him who pretended to be Vicar to the Prince of Peace LEO X. POPE Julio being dead and his Funerals performed according to the accustomed Rites the Cardinals being four and twenty in number entered the Conclave in a peaceable manner
peace with paying the Armies of his Enemy Nor was the advantage which he gained at the conclusion acquired by the valour of his Arms or Virtue and Conduct of his Captains for they being men of lewd lives cowardly and base were prosperous in nothing all their actions tending to increase disorders and multiply errors whereby the Pope being at length forced to crave the assistance of all men paid dearly for the purchase of Vrbin In this manner the year 1518. began and continued with peace and with an unusual calmness in all the Regions of Italy only the success of Sultan Selim Emperor of the Turks who had been victorious in Persia Syria and Egypt alarm'd the Pope and the Christian Princes who apprehending with great dread the progress of his Arms the number of his Ships and Gallies which he was building and all other Provisions necessary for War feared lest he should invest Rhodes the Bulwark of Christendom in the Eastern parts or perhaps fall into Hungaria which tho formerly defended by the Valor of the Inhabitants yet now lay exposed by its own Civil and Intestine Dissentions and by the minority of a King governed by Priests and Jesuitical Councils Nor was Italy free from the like fears of Invasion by that Potent Prince which had under meaner circumstances of power entered the City of Otranto and put all Italy into a fear and consternation And therefore now to obviate and prevent the like dangers at a distance the Pope caused most devout Processions with the solemn Pomp of Images and Relicks of Saints to be made at Rome and in person walked bare-foot with all his Court from S. Peters to the Minerva where Prayers were made to God that he would be pleased to divert the fury of this Common Enemy to Christendom And because Prayers without human endeavours are not available Letters were wrote to all Christian Princes to joyn in this War for the more orderly management of which the task and enterprise which every one was to undertake was allotted and contrived in the Consistory and an Universal Truce for five years was published amongst all Christian Princes and States with grievous censures on those who should be repugnant thereunto In pursuance of this method and design the Emperor and King of Poland were to invade the Turk on the parts of Servia and Bulgaria The French King Venetians and other Princes of Italy were to Embark at the Port of Brundusium and pass into Albania and invade Greece on that side The Kings of England Spain and Portugal were to Rendezvous at Carâ—agena in Spain and with a Fleet of 200 Sail enter the Heliespont and attack Constantinople it self and for carrying on of this Holy War voluntary Contributions were to be made and Impositions to be laid as well on the Clergy as the Laity Now tho these matters were begun with great expectation and the Universal Truce accepted with a specious show and mighty promises made of advancing this Enterprise with ostentation and bravery of words yet at length private Interests over-ruling the zeal for Religion and the Universal Union the minds of the Princes became slackned in the design and the thoughts of War vanished every one looking at the peril as uncertain and far distant The Peace still continuing in Italy until the year 1520. Martin Luther a Frier of the Order of S. Austin began to make some disturbances in Germany which greatly opposed the Authority of the Church of Rome The beginnings thereof had their original from certain Indulgences which Pope Leo exercised in a more ample and licentious manner than was customed and practised by former Popes For in the year 1100. being in the Reign of Vrban II. Plenary Indulgences for Pardon and Remission of Sins were bestowed on those only who went to the Holy War with intent to deliver the Sepulchre of Christ out of the hands of Infidels These Indulgences were afterwards in like manner dispensed unto those who either were not able or willing to undertake the design in person provided that they entertained or payed another at their own charge Afterwards Indulgences and Pardons of this nature became more common being enlarged to those who took part in the Wars against those who resisted the Secular Arms of the Pope tho the same were Christians and Princes who in defence of their own Kingdoms and States opposed the Encroachments and Extravagancies of the Ecclesiastical Claims But now Pope Leo by the Counsel of Cardinal Puccio bestowed his Indulgences in more ample form and dispersed them in all parts of the Christian World without distinction of times persons or places not only for the help of such who were yet living but with power to deliver the souls of the Dead from the pains of Purgatory it being manifestly known that the design of these Indulgences was only to obtain money from the people which the Collectors exacted with an unparallel'd impudence the matter became scandalous especially in Germany where the Officers set the Indulgences to sale at a small price and sometimes in a Tavern this power of redeeming Souls out of Purgatory were set for a Stake at a Game at Tables This shame and dishonor was increased in the Country of Saxony and other parts of Germany when it was known that the proceed and benefit of those Indulgences extorted with great rigor and avarice by the Bishop of Arembauld a man fit to be employed in such a Commission was not to be paid in to the Apostolical Chamber at Rome but given to Magdalen Sister to the Pope and devoted to the avarice of a Woman for then the matter became detestable and the cries and exclamations lowed in all parts of Germany Luther being supported by the favour of the Duke of Saxony took this occasion to contemn these Indulgences and preach every where against them which being a matter very plausible his Sermons were heard with great attention by the people and his Doctrin approved by his Auditors who came from all parts to hear him Having this encouragement he began to question the Power of the Church and the Authority of the Pope and as matters grew higher he disputed against Pardons and Penance and Purgatory upon which the Doctrin of Indulgences had its foundation on the truth of which Doctrins he laid so much stress and was so positive in the certainty of all his Conclusions that he would often say he would not refer or submit them to the judgment of Angels After these beginnings which seemed plausible and honest and which made great noise and were highly controverted in the world by the most acute and subtil Wits of that Age Luther proceeded to preach against Images in Churches against Prayers to Saints to question Transubstantiation in the Holy Eucharist and to allow Marriage to Priests Monks and Friers the which he not only maintained by force of Argument but confirmed by his own example The Pope in opposition hereunto sent many Religious and learned men into
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
to that King And whereas the former Pope was always averse to the instances which the Emperor and French King and other Princes made to him for a General Council to be held for reforming abuses crept into the Church and suppressing the Opinions of Luther which they called heretical and which began to dilate and spread themselves in all parts of Christendom Now this Paul the Third was of such a different sense herein to his Predecessor that he freely declared for a Council shewing himself willing to meet the desires of the Princes and promised in a short space to appoint the time and place where such a Council should be held and celebrated And farther to confirm and improve this good correspondence with the Christian Courts he dispeeded his Emissaries and Legates into all parts whose care it was as well to advance the private interests of his Family as the common benefit of the Church and particularly to solicit and promote such a good correspondence and peace between the Emperor and the King of France that uniting their Forces for the common safety of Christendom might joyntly make War upon the Turk and other enemies to the Christian Faith but herein his desires found little success for the French being beaten out of Italy could not support the prosperity of the Emperor against whom breathing nothing but revenge could never be induced to unite their Arms in a common Cause or joyn in a design then preparing by the Emperor against the Kingdom of Tunis which one Barbarosso had usurped who having by the help of Soldiers and a strong Fleet furnished and equipped at the expence of Soliman Emperor of the Turks droven Mulcasses King of Tunis out of his own Country did with the pyracies he committed very much infest the Coasts of Spain and Sicily and being arrived to a considerable power threatned to invade the Kingdom of Naples This growing greatness of Barbarosso and the daily Pyracies he committed were sufficient provocation to Charles the Fifth to wage War against him and being a Tyrant and an Infidel the Pope also became concerned in this Holy Cause to concur with the Emperor for whose assistance he furnished out nine Gallies which were fitted at Genoua besides three others which were the usual Guard of the Coast over this Fleet Virginio Orsinio a person of great quality was constituted Admiral to whom was joyned Paulo Giustiniano a Noble Venetian and one of great experience in Sea Affairs The preparations of the Emperor also were very great his Fleet was commanded by Prince Doria who was made Commander in Chief at Sea to whom the Pope made a present of a short Sword or Poniard with a Hilt set with Jewels and the Scabbard rarely Engraved and consecrated with the usual Ceremonies likewise a Cap of Velvet Embroidered with Pearls which were the accustomary Donatives which Popes made to Generals that were employed in a Holy War against Infidels The Marquiss Del Vasso was created General of the Italian and German Infantry and being on his Voyage towards Tunis he touched in his way thither at Civita Vecchia to which place the Pope went in person to bless the Army that he might evidence to the world the great zeal he had for the Christian cause the which office of Benediction he performed on the top of a high Tower from whence surveying the Fleet of Ships and Gallies he solemnly prayed with a Choire of Priests for the happy success of this enterprise making thousands of Crosses on the empty Air and then descending into the Church he delivered the Banner and Scepter of the Christian Religion into the hands of Viâ—ginio Orsino his General The success of this Expedition was that the Emperor having landed a great Army on the Coast of Tunis defeated Barbarosso and put his Forces to flight took the City of Tunis and restored Mulcasses the vanquished Prince to his Kingdom on conditions of Homage and Tribute for better security of which payment and performance he built two Castles at the Goleta which being Garrisoned with Spaniards served for Block Houses to that Port and having released twenty thousand Christians from Captivity which Barbarossa had by his depredations at Sea and Land taken and enslaved he returned with his Fleet to Sicily and then to Naples where he solemnly entered in a triumphant manner with such joy and festivals as are due to such successes Nor was this good news less welcome to Rome where Processions of Thanksgivings were made and Te Deum sang in the most solemn manner and farther to â—estifie the great joy which the Pope conceived for this success John Piccolomini and Alexander Cesarini were sent from him to congratulate with the Emperor for this glorious and happy Victory Whilst the Emperor was in his passage between Sicily and Naples advices were brought him of the decease of Francis Sforza who was the last Duke of Milan by whose death that Dutchy devolved to the Empire being afterwards governed by Antonio de Levae in form of a Province howsoever the Title thereunto was not so clear on the Emperors side but that the King of France laid his claim unto it not only by right of inheritance as descended from his Great-Grand-Mother Valentina but by virtue also of a concession granted by publick Act from Maximilian the Emperor to King Lewis XII of France on a valuable consideration of mony paid for it after Lodowick Sforza had been taken and droven from thence But this pretence seemed of little moment to the Emperor who judging this Dukedom of great importance to his State came from Naples to Rome with intent to persuade the Pope to joyn with him in a League against the French that so Italy might be more in repose and quiet by expulsion of the French who were always esteemed great disturbers of the peace of it On the 5th of April 1536. the Emperor came to Rome where being received by the Cardinals Bishops and all the Orders of the Clergy with the Citizens he was conducted to the Church of S. Peter where the Pope attended him on the steps of the Porch and the usual Ceremonies being passed he was lodged in that apartment of the Vatican Palace which was built by Innocent VIII During the residence which the Emperor made at Rome he entertained frequent Conferences with the Pope concerning a League to be entered into between them and the other Princes of Italy for expelling the French out of that Country who having been always known under the character and notion of the disturbers of their peace they could neyer hope or expect quietness whilst that restless people had any hold or possession in their Quarters And farther the Emperor in a publick Assembly of the Pope and all the Cardinals and Forein Ministers did most severely inveigh against Francis the French King as the most ungratetul and faithless of all the Princes of the Universe but being sharply answered and replied upon by Monsieur Bellay the Embassador of France
Assembling was deferred from May until the first of November following The month of November approaching near the Pope published an other Bull appointing the Council to be held at Vicenza a City under the Jurisdiction of the Venetians upon the first of May next in the year 1538. deputing for his Legates the Cardinals Campeggio Simonetta and Jeronimo Alexandro alledging for cause of such prolongation the nearness of the Winter which would be very incommodious to those who were to travel thither from remote parts Howsoever upon divers obstacles and inconveniences thereupon occurring the place for meeting of this Council was altered and the time deferred for some years after as will appear by the sequel hereof In the mean time Henry the Eighth King of England who in the year 1535. was by Act of Parliament Authorized Head of the Church of England did now absolutely throw off all Obedience to the Papal Sea at which time the whole Clergy of England was charged by the Kings Learned Council to be in a Praemunire for supporting and maintaining the Legantine power of Cardinal Wolsey and were thereupon called by Process into the Kings Bench but before that day of appearance came they in their Convocation concluded an humble submission in writing and offered the King a hundred thousand pounds to have their Pardon by Parliament which offer after some pause and deliberation was accepted and their pardon promised Until this time the Popes that is Clement VII and this present Paul the third had subtilly dissembled matters between them and Henry King of England intending if necessity had required to have confirmed his Divorce from Queen Catharine to which end Cardinal Campeggio was sent into England and joyned in Commission with the Cardinal of York with Authority to give Sentence in favour of the King and that the matter might receive a speedy dispatch and not be spun out by length of time required in the solemnity of Judgment and passing Sentence a Brief was ready framed and drawn up and the Bull or Seal thereunto affixed whereby the Marriage with Queen Catherine was made null and void in the most ample manner and with Terms and Clauses so full as nothing could be more expressive nor more large than that Instrument with instructions notwithstanding not to present or publish the same unless they received assurances that Henry would continue firm and constant in his Obedience to the Authority of the Church and in this manner things stood and thus far had proceeded in the year 1528. Clement the Seventh being then Pope and so remained in suspense until the time of this present Paul the Third when Henry bidding defiance to the Papal Authority proceeded to actions never to be reconciled with that Church whereupon the Pope issued out his Bull dated the 30th of August 1535. whereby he cited King Henry to appear personally before him and the College of Cardinals at Rome to give answer to all those Cruelties Sacrileges Adulteries and other Crimes whereof he stood accused and in case of refusal he pronounced him and all his Subjects to remain under censure of Excommunication declaring him actually deprived of his Crown and Kingdom his Subjects absolved from all Obedience all actions of Religion interdicted and forbidden to be performed or celebrated in his Dominions commanding all Ecclesiastical persons to depart from his Kingdoms and the Nobles to rise up in Rebellion against him But all this lightning and thunder of Excommunication did little terrifie the resolved mind of King Henry but rather incensed him to proceed in that course which since that time hath laid the happy beginning of that blessed Reformation under which by Gods mercy we enjoy the true and glorious light of the Gospel On these terms England stood in reference to the Pope when publication was made of a General Council to be held at Mantoua and then altered to Vicenza in which case King Henry judging himself concerned in despight of his Excommunication published a Manifesto in his own name and in the name of all his Nobility whereby he protested against any such Convocation assembled by the Popes Authority as being in it self of none effect excepting also against the place as unsecure and the Country as infested with continual Wars But whereas he was desirous of a General Council as being the only means whereby to reform the dissolute matters of the Clergy and suppress the exorbitant Tyrannies and Usurpations of the Clergy he should willingly give his consent thereunto provided that such Convocation were assembled by the Authority of the Christian Kings and Princes who had the sole power and disposal of such matters for as to the Pope he esteemed him only as a Bishop in his own Diocess with no farther extent of Jurisdiction than that which reacheth thereunto the which also was most reasonable at this time when the abuses of the Court of Rome were the chief matters to be reformed and to be presented to the cognisance and censure of such a Council Besides this great defection of England from the Papal Obedience which gave a fatal blow to the Church of Rome the Doctrin of Luther daily grew and dilated it self in all parts of Germany and France with much disturbance for allaying of which and establishment of the truth of the Gospel there was no other remedy mentioned and cried up by all parties but a General Council but this admitted of so many scruples disputes and nicities as to the time and place that nothing could as yet be resolved In the mean time the Turks taking advantage upon the discord amongst Christians entered Dalmatia with Fire and Sword and took the strong Town of Clissa which the pope had fortified with all sorts of Provisions and Ammunition which misfortune the Pope greatly resenting ordered solemn Processions to be made in Rome at which he was present in person and walked on foot and sent his Legates to most Christian Princes exhorting them to lay aside the Quarrels and Wars amongst themselves and unite together against the Common Enemy in order whereunto a League was made between the Pope the Emperor and the Venetians the conditions whereof were that the Emperor should set 82 Gallies to Sea and the Venetians the like number and the Pope 38 with which force of 200 Sail they agreed to invest the Turks Dominions in some parts of Greece Andrea D'Oria was constituted Admiral of the Emperors Fleet Vicenzo Capello of the Venetians and Marco Grimano Patriarch of Aquileia of the Popes and in case any descent were made or Forces landed then Fernando Gonzaga Vice-King of Sicily was to be Generalissimo or Commander in Chief but the success did not answer so great preparations which proved rather dishonorable than advantagious for this formidable Fleet being at Sea near the Promontory of Antium had sight of the Fleet of Barbarosso and might with much ease have charged and vanquished them but Andrea D'Oria the Emperors Admiral refused to engage so that leaving the
in that friendly manner that his Servants and Dependants were glad to be so happily mistaken but this good Nature being forced and constrained did soon vanish and then his fierce and supercilious temper returning to its natural course all his actions were influenced with a spirit of Pride and haughty severity An instance of which he gave to the Steward of his House when he demanded of him in what manner he was pleased to be served his Answer was short saying as became a Prince His Coronation he ordered with more Pomp and Ceremony than was ever before practised and in all things he affected Magnificence and State and was no less indulgent to his Nephews than the most tender and fondest of the Popes Soon after his Coronation he ordered the first Consistory to be publick that he might with the greater State and Pomp give Audience to the Ambassadours of England who in the time of Pope Julius had been dispatched thence from Queen Mary and Philip her Husband The Ambassadours being introduced to his presence and prostrating themselves at his feet did one after the other for so the Pope would have it confess and acknowledg the faults and errors of the Kingdom of England in having strayed and deviated from the flock of Christ and the Sheepfold of the Church but now repenting and returning again did humbly beg Absolution and to be received into the bosom of the Church though by the obstinacy and perseverance in their Errors they had rendered themselves unworthy of such mercy and indulgence The Pope having for some time beheld these Ambassadours at his feet and contemplated their humble posture with some satisfaction of spirit raised them at length from the floor and embraced them with the tenderness of a Father testifying great satisfaction in the happy conversion of this Kingdom and because the Queen and King were the happy Instruments of this blessed and religious work in reward of so much Piety he confirmed their right and title to Ireland and by virtue of that Power which he had received from God to dispose of all Earthly Crowns he conferred on them that Kingdom dignifying them amongst their other Titles with that of King and Queen of Ireland Which piece of vanity though ridiculous to others was extreamly pleasing to the Pope who fancied himself in that Throne of Fools Paradise to which the Devil had in his Pride exalted himself when he tempted our Saviour with all the Kingdoms of the Earth But then afterwards in private Conference with the Ambassadours he blamed England for having but in part shewed their penitence for that whilst they retained any thing of the goods of the Church and did not make restitution to the utmost farthing a Curse would remain on the Kingdom and the people remain in a perpetual snare and danger of Damnation He farther told them That the sooner and the more readily they paid the Peter-pence for collection of which he had sent an Officer into England the more easily would the Gates of Heaven be opened to them for how could they expect that St. Peter should turn his Keys whilest they denied him those Fees which were the dues of his Office In fine the Ambassadours having behaved themselves with humility which was the onely means to procure the favour of this Pope they departed from Rome laden with Praises Honours and Graces from his Holiness and then attending to a full Reformation in England he purged the Universities of Oxford and Cambridg of those Tenents and Lectures which had been there taught by Peter Martir and Bucer and deprived Cranmer of his Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury Having thus obtained his pleasure and Designs over England he next endeavoured to gain an Ascendant over the Emperor and King of France both of which courted him to that Degree that he expected to have them both at his Service and Devotion but in regard it was impossible to entertain them both in the same equality of respect and dearness both Parties strained to outvy each other in Proposals of advantage which might give them admission to his favour in pursuance of which the Cardinal of Lorain who was well acquainted with the humour of the Pope publickly declared in a full Consistory that besides the many steps which the King of France had made in Obedience to the Papal Chair he did acknowledg that the Gallican Church had need of Reformation towards which he was ready to afford all the aid and assistance to the Pope that he was able and to act therein by such ways and methods as his Holiness should direct whether it were by sending his Prelats to the Council or by any other means that should be esteemed more proper and expedient The which so took with the Pope that France for that time gained a preeminence in his favour And yet notwithstanding this Pride and rudeness in his nature he did several things at the beginning to gratify and please the People of Rome which he performed by abating the Taxes and Imposts laid on Provisions and in other things acted with such obliging circumstances that the People in acknowledgment for such abundant favours erected a Statue of Marble for him in the Capitol He regulated the Manners of the Jews and retrenched that liberty and freedom they used and for the better distinction of them ordered them to wear yellow Hats He published several severe Decrees against such as denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ and that he died for the redemption of Mankind In short besides many good Laws and Acts which he ordained against corrupt and dissolute Manners which were grievous to the Clergy who were unaccustomed to a Severity He selected a hundred Citizens of the Gentry of Rome which he created Knights of the Faith to be a standing Life-Guard to the Popes He repealed several Decrees of Julius III. and imprisoned many of those who had been his Creatures and familiar Friends Amongst the Counsellours and Familiar Confidents which he entertained there was none who had at first had a greater share in his favour than Osio whom he declared Datary and chief Notary or Register of Petitions and created Bishop of Riete but he being of a rude and morose temper did always clash against the humour of the Pope which was hard and inflexible like his which therefore ill according together Osio was by the instigation also of the Pope's Relations who were always busie at his ear deprived of his favour and sent Prisoner to the Castle where he remained for the space of four years In the next place by a new Decree he retrieved all those goods and Ecclesiastical Revenues which had been alienated from the Church since the time of Julius II. to his days He reformed also the abuses which were crept into the Office of the Penitentiaries and regulated the Habit and Tables of the Clergy and refused to admit any into Benefices but such as had been approved for holiness of Life and severity of Manners Towards the three Conservators
Tongue were all confirmed as likewise that the Mass might be performed without other Communicants than the Priest onely that it might be celebrated in honour of the Saints and that the Wine ought to be used with a mixture of Water To which particulars the Fathers gave their Placet 22 or 23 only excepted amongst which the chief was the Arch-Bishop of Granada who could by no means be persuaded to relish the Doctrine that Jesus Christ did offer himself in the first institution of the Holy Eucharist Moreover other Decrees were read and passed relating to the regulation of Bishopricks giving the Bishops full power to inspect the nature of Dispensations whether they were fairly or subreptitiously procured as also Authority to visit Hospitals and Colledges and survey the Buildings of religious Foundations with this clause and under this Character howsoever as being Delegates of the Holy Sea Likewise other things passed of no great moment with which this Session was concluded The Decrees of this Session were satisfactory to very few for the Emperor remained highly displeased that the matter of the Cup was referred to the Pope well knowing that the concession of this Point would have been much more acceptable to his Subjects from the Council than from the Pope against whom they had demonstrated a detestable aversion Exceptions were also made to that Decree which gives the Bishops a Power over religious Houses contrary to the intention of the Donors who desired that the Revenues and management thereof should be administred by Lay-persons for thus said they was the manner how the Clergy possessed themselves of the Lands and Revenues of Hospitals and Colledges and other religious Foundations making themselves Owners and absolute Masters of what they were onely Stewards and Administrators and this formerly the Parliament of Paris looked upon as an Usurpation and encroachment of the Clergy on the civil Right and Jurisdiction the like judgment also they gave of Wills and Testaments the inspection into which by the Bishop was judged an intrenchment of the Secular Power Howsoever the Pope remained extreamly satisfied with the conclusion of this Session all things having been managed according to his own Orders and Instructions And now for the future he resolved to stand upon his guard and countermine the Plots and Artifices of the Cardinal of Lorain who came as he was well assured with vast designs as did also the French Bishops who were armed with Maxims diametrically opposite to his Authority against whom and the other Ultramontanes he resolved to reinforce his numbers and power in the Council by new recruits of Italian Bishops The same day that this last Session was concluded the French Ambassadours received Letters from their Master requiring them to move the Council that a stop might be given to their proceedings in matters of Doctrine until the Bishops from France should arrive and that in the mean time they would prepare matters tending to the Reformation of manners and abuses crept into the Church which was the only Sovereign remedy capable to cure the distempers of the Church the which Instructions the Ambassadours having made known to the Legats by whom according to due Order all matters were proposed received this Answer from them That they could not invert the Rule and method already designed for decision of the Doctrines of Faith and reformation of Manners but were forced to proceed in their usual course without any delay and interruption and if their King had any thing to propose it might be done by them his Ambassadours whom he had deputed to represent his concernments at the Council This Answer did little please the Ambassadors so that they appeared openly discontented and the Pope on the other side fearing lest the power and wisdom of the Cardinal of Lorain should be stronger than his Auxiliaries of Italian Bishops endeavoured by his Legat in France to take him off persuading him that his Negotiations in the Council could procure him no reputation in regard that all things were already done and concluded And indeed they were much in the right for the Legats having a desire to dispatch and put a period to the Council were resolved to hearken unto no delays but to proceed to the two Articles of Doctrine namely the Sacraments as they called them of Ordination and Marriage which were the onely Points remaining to be examined and determined On which Points the Congregations began to treat on the 25th of September and continued their Discourses and Treatises thereupon until the second of October But all the Disputes which arose upon these Subjects seemed impertinent and loss of time to the Bishop of quinque Ecclesiae and the other Hungarian Prelats as also to the Polanders and Spaniards who at a private Conference amongst themselves concluded that their meeting was chiefly with design to reform abuses in manners which were crept into the Church rather than to determine matters of Faith that in this work it was necessary to begin the Reformation at the Court of Rome which was the Head and source from whence the streams ought to be derived in their purity reflecting with deep sense of displeasure on the encroachments which the Court of Rome made on their Episcopal Dignity and in order hereunto the Arch-Bishop of Braganca was of Opinion that the first thing to be done was to reduce the Cardinals to their primary Institution for that until the 10th Century they were mere Priests and onely began from that time to exalt their Dignities and yet until the 12th Century they were esteemed inferiour to Bishops though since that time by several degrees and steps they have so elevated and promoted their quality with Titles and extention of Power that a Bishop is esteemed to have had honour sufficient in being onely admitted a domestick Chaplain to a Cardinal and therefore to bring the Episcopal Dignity again into request it were necessary to have it expresly declared by the Council that that Hierarchy is Jure Divino and that Bishops hold their Power and Authority immediately from Jesus Christ and not from the Pope The which question came at a seasonable and an opportune time to be discussed for one Article under consideration being then to define that the Order of Episcopacy was above that of Priesthood it fell naturally into the Enquiry Whether that Superiority was by Divine Right or not Now the Legats at first not comprehending the meaning and design why this question was proposed with so much heat suffered it to proceed to a free examination but so soon as they discovered by the Bishop of Fortosa who was a Spaniard and yet Pensioner of Rome that the Arch-Bishops of Granada and Barganca intended on the consequences of this Determination to infer that their Order being established by Divine Right and not received from the Papal Chair their Power would seem more inherent in themselves and less dependant on the Supreme Bishop So that the Legats being awakened by this intimation denied
the principal Legats By this addition the Council began to be numerous the Prelats onely amounting to the number of two hundred and eighteen which though much inferiour to Antient Councils were howsoever a greater appearance than any that had yet been known in Trent The favourers of the Roman Party looked on this increase as a recruit of Auxiliaries which were come in to reinforce their Enemies and therefore to redouble their vigilance and augment their force the Pope dispeeded all the Power he had of Cardinals and Bishops to the Council fearing that the Union which was formed between the Spaniards French and Germans would be too powerful for his Italian Adherents The 23d of November was the day when the Cardinal of Lorain made his first appearance in the Congregation when as a Prologue to all the rest the King's Letters were first read containing little more than to pray and exhort the Council in general terms that they would bend all their labours and endeavours towards a Reformation and to those means which might restore Peace and Unity in the Church The Letters being read the Cardinal in an elaborate and pathetical Speech began to relate the calamities which the Wars about Religion had caused in France desiring the Council that for a remedy thereof they would be pleased to be indulgent to the Protestants in condescending to their weak and tender Consciences so far as was consistent with the Doctrines of Faith and then declaiming against the corruptions which were crept into the Church he instantly desired that an inspection might be made into the many abuses of which the Clergy were guilty to whom he ingeniously applyed the History of the Prophet Jonas We said he are the cause of all these storms we that have departed and fled from the face of God cast us into the Seas and the tempest will abate This Discourse was seconded by the French Ambassadour du Ferrier much to the same purpose and then concluded thus If you ask me why France is not in Peace and what is the cause of all these divisions which thus miserably rend and tear out the bowels of that distressed Nation I must answer you in the same manner as Jehu did to Joram 2 Kings c. 9. v. 22. when he asked Is it peace Jehu How can it be peace so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many In fine he frankly told them That in case they took not some course to reform the disorders in France all the bloud that was there spilt would be laid to their charge and though this plain dealing did infinitely displease the favourers of the Court of Rome yet they judged it seasonable to dissemble their Resentments fearing lest France in that doubtful state should make a total defection from the Sea of Rome And now it is curious and worthy our observation to consider that whilest the specious Proposal of Reformation was offered it was plausible and consented unto in general terms by every Party and Interest but when they descended to particulars and would apply the remedies to the respective abuses then there appeared a strange and prodigious diversity in their Opinions every one being willing to reform others but not himself or his Party easily observing the Moat in their Brothers Eye but not the Beam in their own The Court of Rome would gladly assent to a reformation of Princes and Bishops but not yield to any inspection which might be made into the corruptions of their Consistories or into the Power which they had usurped The Bishops could easily agree to a reformation of Manners in the Courts of the Pope and of their respective Princes but could not hear of having their Authority or Revenues retrenched The Kings and Princes instantly pressed to have a reformation of the Clergy both of the Head and of the Members but could not endure to hear of having their Regalia diminished or the Power of conferring and disposing Benefices according to their pleasure Wherefore it was impossible that all their different Interests could ever be reconciled or at the end concenter in a single Tertio or common agreement Wherefore being wearied with these Debates and finding out new Expedients which could never square with the form of such Dissenting Interests they again re-assumed the old and wearisom Debates about the being of Residencies and Episcopacy by Divine Right in which nothing of the former heats were abated The Bishop of Auranch declared positively that his Opinion was that Episcopacy was by Divine Right and that the Authority of the Pope differed not from that of an ordinary Bishop but onely in degree and was restrained within the limits of the Canons He farther applauded the Decrees of the Parliament of Paris which declared the abusive Bulls of the Pope to be void in their own nature and forbad to have them put into Execution and thus much said he the Power of my Master is able to verify and make good But the heats about Residencies began to abate it being made appear that if that Point were once gained it would not onely be an eclipse but a total ruin of the Papal Authority for if the Residence of Bishops were declared to be by Divine Right it would follow that the Pope thenceforth remains devested of all Power to transfer diminish divide or make any change or alteration in the Episcopal Seas All which though the Spaniards knew very well and that their aim was onely to advance their own Interest and Authority yet they would seem to maintain the contrary and that this Concession would serve to render the Papal Power more considerable and glorious In fine it was agreed to send this Point about Residencies to the Pope by the Bishop of Ventimille Thus was this whole year consumed in these Controversies the last day of December concluding with a Congregation at which it was resolved that the Session should be deferred for fifteen days At the beginning of this year 1563. the French proposed thirty four Articles in order to a Reformation the most part of which respected the Clergy tending to the correction of abuses in Ordinations and promotion of unworthy Persons both for their lives and knowledg to places of eminence and honour in the Church Some also related to the Court of Rome and to the retrenchment of its Revenue the exaction whereof was an agrievance to the People of France Other Articles forbad Plurality of Benefices and Moneys or rewards to be given for administration of the Sacraments It was also required that Divine Service might be rendred and performed in the French Tongue at least that the principal Prayers be pronounced both in the French and in the Latin Tongue That the Communion be delivered in both kinds That Bishops within their respective Dioceses have a jurisdiction over the Religious in Monasteries as well as over Seculars That all abuses be taken away in the superstitious worship of Images and the fond and vain
being once celebrated is of force and not to be again dissolved but by Authority and dispensation of the Church After divers debates thereupon the Bishop of Metz was so happy as to find a form of words for that Canon which contented all Parties which was this That though the Church hath ever forbidden and detested Clandestine Marriages yet whosoever denies Clandestine Marriage to be a Sacrament let him be Anathema The marriage of Priests admitted now of no farther difficulty for though the Emperor the King of France and the Duke of Bavaria demanded that priviledg in behalf of their People yet that Point was now laid aside and all instances in that matter were denied to be heard or admitted to farther question or examination in the Council After this the Legats proposed thirty eight Articles in order to a Reformation which contained the many abuses and encroachments which Secular Princes had made upon the Rights of the Church but the Cardinal of Lorain was for abbreviating the Articles and for cutting off all those which might administer matter of Controversie so that by a speedy dispatch thereof the Council might tend towards a conclusion which caused many to wonder that the zeal which he had so warmly evidenced at first for a Reformation should so soon vanish and be evaporated A Copy of these Articles being communicated to the Ambassadours every one made his observations reflections and additions thereunto as was most consistent with the affairs of their respective Masters For the chief Remarks and alterations of the Ambassadours tended to something which might abate the Power and Authority of the Pope over the Ordinaries and the jurisdiction of the Bishops themselves over the Civil and Municipal Courts But the French were the most severe of any in the rules of Reformation For they would have the number of Cardinals restrained to twenty four that the Nephews of Popes during the life of the Pope should not be capable to receive a Cardinals Hat that Cardinals should be made uncapable to hold Bishopricks that criminal causes against Bishops should not be judg'd at other Tribunals than such as are within the Dominions of France That Bishops should be endued with plenary Power to give absolution in all Cases That Ecclesiastical persons should not be concerned or intermedle in secular Affairs and in short that they do no act or thing which may infringe the Law of France or intrench on the Liberties of the Gallican Church These particulars for reformation of the Church thus delivered were to be prepared against the next Session and as resolved so to be enacted and for Reformation of the Courts of Princes it was by agreement of the Ambassadours reserved as the chief matter and subject for a subsequent Session These Proposals were in no manner acceptable to the Pope who could not endure such fatal attempts on the Power and prerogative of the Church to avoid which nothing could be a defence or remedy but onely the dissolution of the Council to which end he earnestly wrote to all his Nuncios residing in the Courts of forein Princes commanding them to use their utmost art and skill to persuade the respective Princes to be aiding and concurring herein And farther gave orders to his Legats at Trent to grant freely whatsoever could not be refused and with all decent speed to put a final end and conclusion to the Council but this Design encountred some rubs and obstructions from the Spanish Ambassadour and others of that Party who complained of the private Cabals which the Legats held with certain Cardinals and other Confidents in exclusion of the Spanish Interest But their complaints were little regarded by the Legats whose greatest incumbence then was to satisfy the Bishops without whose concurrence the Council could not be dissolved For now the intention of the Bishops being to make use of this occasion to enlarge their Power and obtain some priviledges which were derogatory to the Papal Chair made that point of gaining the good will of the Bishops to be the more difficult because that their pretences of subjecting Monasteries and regulation of Friers and certain priviledged Churches to the Episcopal Jurisdiction which were exempted from it by Orders of the Pope found most opposition from the Generals of the respective Orders and indeed the Ambassadours themselves did not much favour this Demand which seem'd too highly to advance and exalt the pride and power of the Bishops Whilest these things were under Debate the French Ambassadours received a large Pacquet from their Master in answer to the late Proposals projected for a Model to reform abuses in the Courts of Princes the which much displeased the King and his Ministers of State who wondered at the daring attempts of the Clergy on the King 's Royal Power and Authority under a pretence of Reformation contenting themselves in the mean time with a slight and superficial review of their own abuses and therefore persuaded the Fathers of the Council to attend unto matters purely Spiritual and to such Acts as might serve to reform corruptions crept into the Church and to correct the debauched lives of Priests and Monks the scandal of which had been the cause of all the Schism in the Church rather than to intermedle with the sacred Prerogative of Kings or abett and maintain the Clergy in their opposition and contumacy against their Sovereign Thus much the Ambassadours had Orders to signifie to the Council with farther Instructions that in case they should notwithstanding this intimation proceed to encroach on the King's Regalia that then they should make their Protest and retire to Venice all which the Ambassadours made known to the Cardinal of Lorain and declared to the Legats requiring the Bishops to supersede their pretensions to those honours and priviledges which were the sole Right and Prerogative of Kings The Bishops who were resolutely bent to maintain those Emoluments which so nearly concerned them protested before the Legats that they would neither enter more into the Congregation nor give their advice or Voice in any matter unless they were first secured of the Rights to which they pretended which a hundred of them obliged themselves by solemn Oath never to remit All which violent Contests took up so much time that when the 15th of September was come which was the day before the Session nothing was duly prepared in order to pass into a Canon and therefore the time was prorogued until the 11th of November that so in the interim the Cardinal of Lorain might have sufficient time to make his Journey to Rome where he was greatly desired by the Pope and all that Party The Cardinal being arrived at Rome was received with all the joy and honours imaginable he was lodged in the Pope's Palace and immediately in Person visited by him which was a Complement that never Pope had made before to any under that character of a Cardinal After which there passed such kindness between them at several private
arrived his hands and raised thereupon two millions and five hundred thousand Livres By this time the Cardinal of Lorain was returned and the eleventh of November came which was the day appointed for the Session after the usual ceremonies of which were performed the Article about Clandestine Marriages was read and after some Contests thereupon was passed by plurality of Voices but yet it did not pass the raillery of some witty Men who reflected on the words of the Canon which pronounces Anathema against those who deny Clandestine Marriage to be a true Sacrament and yet in the conclusion saith that the Church hath ever disapproved and detested it Afterwards the Decrees of General Reformation were read which are too long to be here inserted upon passing of which the Cardinal of Lorain declared that the French Nation did so far accept them as they were not prejudicial to the Priviledges Rights and antient Constitutions of the Kings of France Howsoever amongst all the Chapters of General Reformation there was not one Point of those many touched which the People of divers Nations required nothing being therein contained or resolved but what served to advance the Pope's Authority over the Clergy and warrant the Power of the Clergy in oppression of the People Amongst these Points of General Reformation there was one which made void all Titles or Rights to Benefices which were obtained by Simony which in the Opinion of some would have ruined the greatest part of the Pope's Annates or yearly Income had it been strictly observed but this was as duly obeyed as the Canon which prohibits Cardinals to enjoy plurality of benefices in both which time and experience have shewn us how little either the one or the other hath been regarded Another Chapter which ordained that those who had publickly sinned should do publick Penance seemed as if it designed to restore the Primitive Discipline but that was again spoiled by this clause Ni aliter Episcopo videatur with these and matters of the like nature this Session concluded And now the Scene of Affairs began much to change their face for every one growing weary of Disputes passed every thing almost without examination or contest The Pope was infinitely tired and fainted under the burthen of the Council The French who now expected no benefit from this Assembly followed the dictates of the Cardinal of Lorain who had intirely devoted himself to the Papal Interest The Germans had long since abandoned the Council despairing of any good or cure from it onely the Spaniards to whom delays have been always pleasing and to whom by force of gravity all fatigues of long continuance are rendered Ease were those who willingly would have protracted the longer course of the Council but not being able to stem the Torrent with which other Nations precipitated the Council to a conclusion they yielded to the same humour and concurred with the Cardinal of Lorain and others in their Design to put an end to the Council at the next Session The Points about Indulgences on which Luther had grounded his first quarrel with the Pope Adoration of Saints Purgatory Images and Fasts were all slubber'd over and passed in the space of fifteen days The greatest difficulty was that which related to the Reformation of Princes against which the Ambassadours of France had so seriously protested which being a knotty and insuperable Point it was resolved to leave it undecided and in lieu thereof to perform something for the better satisfaction of the Clergy allowing unto the Bishops some enlargement of Power over their respective Chapters But as to the Decree which was drawn up for reforming and moderating the Authority of Princes they thought fit in lieu thereof to renew the tenure of the Antient Canons not enforcing them with Menaces or Anathemas but onely with exhortations to Princes to conserve and maintain the Church in its priviledges concluding with gentle terms full of respect to the Sovereign Power The expressions of this Article being thus moderated to the satisfaction as the Cardinal of Lorain imagined of temporal Princes he endeavoured to persuade the French Ambassadours to return again from Venice to Trent which they absolutely refused to do for though the Article for reforming Princes ' was revoked yet several other Acts being pass'd to the prejudice of the Gallican Church the Ambassadours pretended that their return and presence would imply or argue a concurrence or an assent to all the Decrees of the Council Notwithstanding this refusal the Council proceeded forward to consider of the reformation of Friers Monks Abbots and other Religious in respect to whom few Rules were altered onely some additions were made according to the Proposals and desires of the Generals of the respective Orders All other things as we have said proceeded smoothly the Point of Indulgences being superficially touched for considering the many difficulties comprehended in that question which might if distinctly treated have taken up a long time in the examination of every Point it was thought fit to couch all in few words prohibiting the abuses thereof in general terms Thus did matters hasten towards an end but what did more eagerly precipitate a conclusion was the Pope's indisposition of health for it was feared in case the Pope should die during the Session that then the Council would by the example of that of Constance take upon themselves a Power of electing an other so that notwithstanding the opposition of the Spaniards who desired to proceed with gravity and phlegm until they could receive an answer of what they had wrote to Madrid the ultimate Session was appointed for the 9th of December but in regard that time seemed too long to Persons impatient of an end the day was shortned to the third of that month and to be continued on the day following in case the Affairs seemed too weighty and various to be ended at one sitting The Spanish Ambassadour with fourteen of his Bishops not being able to withstand this general Torrent promised to concur with the others on these two conditions First That the Pope should regulate all matters not determined by this Council And secondly That in the Chapters of Indulgences the word gratis should not be used lest it should prejudice the Indulgences granted by the Crusada of Spain All the difficulties being now overcome the Session was held on Friday the 3d. of December at which after the Sermon and usual Ceremonies all the Acts prepared according to form were read but being too long for the work of one day the remaining part was left until the day following at the conclusion of all fearing lest in any of the Decrees of Reformation some words should have escaped which might seem to entrench or diminish the Pope's Authority it was determined that the Interpretation of the Canons and the liberty to dispense with any of them should remain in the breast and at the free pleasure and will of the Pope in confirmation of which it was publickly declared
the Oar in the Gallies of the Turks Of the Christians after the fight was ended upon the numbers wanting in every Vessel the account of the slain amounted to seven thousand six hundred fifty six This signal Victory was attributed as much to the devout Prayers and Benediction of the Pope as to the valour of the Soldiers and conduct of the Captains the report of which as it filled all Europe with joy so it made way for the glories of Don John who was received into Messina with all the Triumphs and Festivals which that City could express also Antonio Colonna was with the like honour and triumph received at Rome Nor did the Venetian General want such encouragements and honours as that Republick commonly bestows in reward of Valour and Merit In memory of which signal Victory they stamped divers Medals with this Inscription Anno Magnae Navalis Victoriae Dei gratiâ contra Turcas This memorable Victory was obtained in the time of this Pius V. who was certainly one of the best of the Popes and therefore I know not why we may not say without offence to any that this happy success might be given in reward of the Devotion and Piety of this Pope for I am persuaded that God hath a particular care of godly Kings and Princes for whose sake as he often blesseth their people so he bestows some memorable blessings on them of signal Remark in their Reign On which persuasion I am apt to believe that as God bestowed this Victory on the Christians in the time of this Pius V. against that great Sultan Selim II. So now in these our days he hath given Victory and unexpected success to the Christians before the Walls of Vienna against Mahomet IV. in reward of the great Piety and Devotion of Leopold the Emperour whose Devotion and Prayers joyned to the Arms of the King of Poland and of other Princes have operated Miracles and delivered Germany in a wonderful manner from the power of the Turk And yet notwithstanding the religious temper of this Pope we find that he excommunicated Queen Elizabeth as far as his Bull would operate he deposed her from Royal Dignities and conferred her Crown on Mary Queen of Scots and persuaded Philip King of Spain to seize on the effects of the English Merchants at Antwerp and other parts of the Low-Countries and to assist the Catholick Subjects in England in their godly and religious Conspiracies as Gabutius calls them against the Queen their natural Sovereign Pius oblatam occasionem haud contemnendam esse ratus efflatigabat ab Rege ut Anglorum in Elizabetham pie conspirantium studia foveret Thus we see how far a mistaken zeal may transport good Men which though it may in some measure excuse from the aggravation of a Crime yet it cannot prove sufficient to set Men entirely upright at the great day of the just Ballance This Pope added also to his other Excellencies the Virtue of loving wife and learned Men and such as were endued with a vivacity and acuteness of parts for he scarce preferred any to considerable Dignity but such as were excellent in some degree or other and of the twenty one Cardinals which he created at three several times there were five of them at least who were Men of extraordinary Abilities and famous in their Generation He founded certain publick places for Learning and Piety amongst which he endowed a College in the University of Pavia for the Education of Youth and affixed over it the Arms of the Ghislers at Boschi the place of his Birth he built a Monastery for Dominican Friers and endowed it with a competent Revenue and to demonstrate his gratitude to his Antient Benefactors he created a Magnificent Sepulcre in memory of Paul V. by whom he was created Cardinal and in short he made many new Buildings and repaired several that were decayed in the Vatican and both within and without the City of Rome After all which about the middle of March 1572. he became indisposed by a stoppage of Urin of which he commonly had a fit in that Month the which illness encreasing upon him gave him notice that his end approached from which time converting all his thoughts to holy and pious meditations he spent the short remainder of his time in the preparation of his Soul for death which happened on the first of May following the same day he died his Body was embowel'd and three little stones found at the neck of his bladder which the Physitians declared to be the cause of his death He was generally lamented by all and especially by vertuous Men for considering his principles his Enemies had nothing worse to object than that he gave a Dispensation to Philip King of Spain to marry with the Daughter of his Sister and of Maximilian his near Kinsman and yet would never be induced to consent unto the Marriage of Margaret of Valois Sister of the King of France with Henry King of Navarre making the difference of Religion a greater bar to Marriage than the degrees of consanguinity forbidden by the Levitical Law The day after his death his Body being clothed in the habit of a Jacobin was carried into the Church of St. Peter where the people assembled in great numbers to render him Honour and Veneration every one touching their Beads and Rosaries at his Body in the same manner as was their practice at the Reliques of Saints and afterwards he was honourably buried in the same Church where his Body lay deposited until afterwards Sixtus V. in grateful remembrance of the benefits he had received from him transported it to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and erected a stately Monument over it in a Chappel built for that purpose with this Epitaph inscribed upon it Pio V. Pont. Max ex Ordine Praedicatorum Sixtus V. Pont. Max. ex Ordine Minorum grati animi monumentum posuit GREGORY XIII PIVS the Fifth being dead and his Funeral Rites after the accustomed manner being performed the Cardinals entred the Conclave and with common consent elected Hugo Buoncompagno who was Priest and Cardinal of S. Sixtus to the dignity of Pope he was born at Bologna of the antient Family of the Buoncompagni his Father was called Christopher and his Mother Agnola Marascalchi by whom he was at first educated in the Studies of the Civil Law in which having made great proficiency he took his degree of Doctor in the University of Bologna at the age of twenty eight years and in a short time was made Judg of the Court of Trade erected in that City for tryal of Mercantile Causes afterwards in hopes of better preferment he went to Rome where he was constituted an Assistant to the Senator who was Judg of the Court held in the Capitol and the year following he was made Clerk of the Signet for Dispensasations and other Beneficences In the time of Paul III. he was employed at the Council of Trent and made Vice-Auditor of the
him thence and secured him in the Nuntio's Prison The news of this Attempt allarm'd all the Protestant Cantons who by way of Reprisals seized the first Priest they could meet and confined him within their own Prison resolving not to set him at liberty without the release or enlargement of the other This Accident caused great disturbance and commotions both amongst the Protestants and Catholicks Diets being called on both sides matters ran so high that a general rupture or War was feared of all the Cantons The Nuntio being also sensible of these disorders and not knowing unto what they might amount wrote to the Pope the whole sum of this matter to which he returned answer in this manner We have sent you to pacifie and quiet matters and not to make disturbances to give ease and repose to the Catholicks and not to put Arms into the hands of the Hereticks to convert the one and not to put the others into danger no people will be contented to lose their own right the point of Jurisdiction is more nice and brittle than a Christal Glass and therefore those cases are to be managed tenderly and with severe caution troubles and disquiets are dangerous to Catholicks but to Hereticks it may be profitable to fish in troubled Waters to give to Hereticks is a great evil but to take from them is highly dangerous Be therefore prudent in this case both for your own quiet and for mine The Nuntio collecting from this Answer that it was the Pope's pleasure to accommodate these matters He ordered it so that the Priest should be set at liberty but by way of escape rather than by formal enlargement the like expedient the Protestants took as to the other Priest by which means these matters were pacified and concluded Henry III. King of France as before related having composed his quarrel with the Pope about reception of his Nuntio the Bishop of Nazaret so good and fair a correspondence passed between them that the King adventured to demand license of the Pope to raise a hundred thousand Crowns from the revenue of the Church Sixtus who was unwilling to deprive the Church of such a sum nor yet to disoblige the King by a plain and positive refusal entertained his Ambassadour the Marquess Pisani with a delatory Answer such as this We shall consider we shall do nothing rashly but with Mature consideration which being often repeated and the Ambassadours wearied with such insignificant puts off which according to the stile of Italy and Rome imported no less than a civil denial acquainted the King with their Sentiments in the case which were that nothing could be expected from the Pope's bounty or concession upon which advice and upon a belief that this refusal was instilled by such Instruments as were employed in the Catholick League and particularly by the Duke of Guise and his party the King resolved to stand on his own bottom and to steer a course between the League and the Hugonots for as he durst not confide in the Catholick League so he feared the issue of the War against his Protestant Subjects both which though to appearance were equally dangerous yet a peace with the latter seemed most safe and desireable in pursuance of this Counsel a peace being concluded with the Protestants by negotiation of the Queen the promotors of the League of which the Duke of Guise was the Chief dispatched an Express immediately to Rome giving the Pope to understand the matter in these precise words That the cause of Religion was betrayed That the Cause of the Hugonots was openly and publickly favoured That the measures of the War were broken and all expectation of good and benefit lost which might redound by means of the League to the Catholick Cause That the heart of the King seemed much estranged to the Catholick party resolving to espouse protect and maintain the Heresie in France The Pope so soon as he received this Intelligence called the French Ambassadour to whom with words full of disdain and fury he complained of the proceedings of the King whom he mentioned as one infected with Heresie and already alienated and estranged from the Papal Sea and having called a Consistory Letters were wrote to the Nuntio Nazaret with Orders to intimate the Pope's just complaints to the King giving him to understand how much he did resent the Resolution he had taken to the prejudice of the Catholick Church which was of such ill consequence as took deep impression in the mind of the Pope and would be recorded with everlasting Characters of Infamy in the Histories of his Reign The Nuntio having received these Instructions and being backed by the instigation of the Duke of Guise represented the Pope's sence in warm and passionate terms In return unto which the King contrary to the equal temper of his nature retorted an Answer in brisk and sharp Expressions That it was a fine and easie matter for the Pope to stand and behold at a distance the miseries and afflictions of his Country and to give Counsel without assistance or contribution to the War for want of which and of a license to alienate so much of the Lands of the Church as might serve to raise the sum of a hundred thousand Crowns he was forced for preservation of his Kingdom and Regal Dignity to accept those Conditions which they called ruinous to the Church And then moderating his passion a little in more gentle and mild terms he desired the Nuntio to assure the Pope That he would ever adhere and remain constant to the faith of the Catholick Church and act in every thing to the advancement of it so far as he was able and that the want onely of Money had forced him to this resolution These particulars being wrote to Rome quieted a little the mind of the Pope who did all the time before do nothing either in the Consistory with the Cardinals or in his Discourses with the forein Ministers but rail and storm against the French King But being now satisfied by his Nuntio that the King had changed his mind and would be induced to continue the War against the Protestants provided he could be assisted with Aid from the Church the Pope immediately appointed a Bull to be drawn up and sealed giving Authority and Power to the King not onely to raise a hundred thousand Crowns out of the Estate of the Church as the King had demanded but also twenty thousand Crowns more for better encouragement to continue and persevere in the assurances given enjoyning the Nuntio to raise those sums on the Clergy without any contradiction or delatory proceedings Thus as Sixtus was zealous and profuse in such Expences as he judged conducive to the support of the Papal Authority so he was no less generous in works which might tend to the honour and ornament of it In which consideration reflecting one day on the manner and garb in which he desired his Nuntios might live in the Courts of forein
gave Orders to all his People to treat the Ambassadour and his Retinue with all kindness and due respect and moreover wrote a Letter to the Pope complaining of the late design of his Nuntio attempting to publish Ecclesiastical Censures against forein Princes within his Kingdom which was a new and an unknown practice within his State and had been refused in the Case of Henry III. King of France and in the Cause of Cesare d' Este Duke of Ferrara much less could he be induced to allow of such proceedings against the State of Venice whose Cause was the same with that of his own Kingdom And considering that that State had merited well of Christendom by the opposition they made with their Arms against the common Enemy he exhorted his Holiness to supersede farther proceedings for Causes which ought to be stifled and which for better peace of the Church ought never to be brought into question or Dispute Francis Soranzo a Cavalier of Venice being at this time Ambassadour at the Emperor's Court did rightly inform the Imperial Ministers with the true state of the difference between the Pope and that Republick and in regard the Constitutions of all Germany were the same they could not do less than approve the Cause of the Venetians and condemn the Cause of the Pope which confirmed the Protestants in their reasons which they alledged for detaining Ecclesiastical Benefices in their own hands Howsoever the Great Chancellour and Marshal Prainer were of different Opinions taking part with the Pope against the affections sence and Interest of the whole Court When news came first to the Court of Spain of the differences between the Pope and the Venetians the constancy and firmness of that State to the Principles of their Government was highly applauded being the common Cause of all Secular Princes Howsoever the Nuntio made it his business to have the Venetian Ambassadour declared in all Pulpits to be under Excommunication The Genoeses also who were powerful in that Court being touched with envy on old grudges and for having lately yielded that Point of their liberty to the Pope which Venice still conserved did all the ill offices they were able against the Republick but above all the Ambassadour of Tuscany joyning with the Jesuits shewed himself an open Enemy and so prevailed with the King and Council that a Congregation of twelve Divines was held at Madrid in presence of the Cardinal of Toledo to consider whether the Ambassadour of Venice ought to be admitted into the Church at the time of Celebration of Divine Offices the result of which was that the Ambassadour should not be excluded every one concurring in that Opinion the Nuntio and Jesuits onely excepted So soon as the news came to Paris that the Monitory was published against Venice Barberino the Pope's Nuntio made urgent addresses to the King that Priuli the Venetian Ambassadour should be excluded from admission into the Church but his desire was positively rejected both because the King was willing to remain Neuter and because it was and is a Maxim of that Kingdom That Popes have no power over the Temporal Government of Princes and have no Authority on account for Secular matters to proceed against them or their Officers by Ecclesiastical Censures In England we may easily imagine what Opinion was conceived of these proceedings for when Giustiniano the Ambassadour of Venice had acquainted King James with the state of the difference between the Pope and the Republick the King did much applaud the Laws and Constitutions of Venice and the constancy and resolution of the Senate in the maintenance of them adding That he would gladly see a free Council established which was the onely means to reform the Church of God and put an end to all Controversies amongst Christians which had no other original or source than onely from the usurpation of Popes and ambition of the Clergy in which holy and sacred Design he did not doubt but that the French King and all other Christian Princes would readily concur and that perhaps a beginning thereof might arise from these troubles and labours of the Republick And farther the King added That the Popes exalting themselves above God were the ruin of the Church and that it was no wonder that their Pride admitted of no serious reflections or moderate advices being puffed up and elated by the common adulation and flattery which was used towards them The States of the Vnited Provinces wrote very obliging Letters to Venice proffering to assist them with Arms and Provisions in case they came to an open rupture and acts of hostility with the Pope In the mean time many effectual good Offices were performed both at Rome and Venice by the Dukes of Mantoua and Savoy and by Guicciardin Ambassadour of the Great Duke of Tuscany and more especially by Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour at Venice To all which instances and applications from several Princes the Senate thought fit to make this general Answer First they returned thanks for the good endeavours and labours towards a Mediation and then complained of the firm resolutions of the Pope which could not be shaken or made plyable by any reasonable terms which the Republick could offer That there could be no hopes of accommodation until the Pope by taking off his Censures did open a way to Treaties and terms of Peace That the Pope had proceeded so far in his injuries and affronts as were past all manner of reconciliation and yet the Republick which was truly Catholick would still bear their due respect to the Pope so far as was consistent with their liberty and with that right of Government which was committed to them by God But whilest matters were thus in Treaty at Venice and Rome and in the Courts of Princes the Jesuits who were vigilant and intent to do all the mischiefs they were able against the Republick did not cease to disperse Scandals and Libels as well without Italy as within and to preach and rail against them in their Pulpits and Schools endeavouring to possess their Auditories with the most malicious impressions they could beget or frame in minds of Men they also wrote Letters into all places defaming the Republick some who would not adventure into the Dominions of Venice treated on the Confines with their Disciples and Votaries and others in disguise entered within the Dominions sowing Division and Faction in all parts promising extraordinary Indulgences to all such as should observe the Interdict They also forged several Letters entitling one from the Republick of Genoua to the Senate of Venice another from the City of Verona to the City of Brescia which were most scandalous and abominable Papers Then in other Writings they justified themselves for having in their Sermons inveighed against the Republick calling it a Lutheran Heretical and tyrannical Government with infinite other abominable Epithets In fine it was proved that the Jesuits were the causes of all these disturbances having instigated the
Garrison at Ferrara with a thousand Foot he likewise banished all Strangers from Marca and Romagna and commanded the Natives thereof to return into their own Country But to the management of this War designed many difficulties occurred for in the first place there was an excessive scarcity of all Provisions in Rome and the Ecclesiastical State as also in Naples and Abruzzo by reason of which the People cryed out nothing but Peace and Bread and on the contrary there was great abundance of all things within the Dominions of Venice from whence the People of the Pope's Country receiving the most part of their Provisions were kindly affected to the Venetian State but notwithstanding all these difficulties the Pope resolved to proceed in his War and to recruit his Troops and for maintenance thereof new Impositions were laid on Salt Flesh and Paper with intention also to lay a Tax on Wine and Timber if occasion should require And in the mean time the Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan gave out that he would have an Army speedily in the Field consisting of twenty five thousand Men composed of Germans Napolitans Switzers and Spaniards Though the Venetians did not neglect all due care towards the provisions of War and to make their Defence whensoever they should be attacked yet with more especial regard they had an Eye to Plots and Conspiracies within the State giving Orders to their Sea-Captains to stop all Vessels which sailed in the Gulf unless such as had Passes from the King of Spain for his own particular Affairs which caused great embroils along the Coast of Romagna and the Marca d' Ancona which seemed as it were to be blocked up Orders were likewise given to hinder all exportation of Corn out of the Dominions of Venice and Sequestrations laid on the Revenues of the Clergy who had quitted or abandoned the Venetian Countries for which cause many Prelats at Rome were forced to retrench their Families But notwithstanding the Promises made by the Spaniards of administring Aid to the Pope which at the first heat were positive and large yet the Court at Madrid coming to make more mature reflections on the tenure of their former Letters thought fit to explicate their sence more at large and to signifie to the State of Venice That it was not the intention of his Catholick Majesty to make a War on the Republick but onely to demonstrate unto the World that that Crown would on all occasions be joyned to the Apostolical Sea And accordingly D. Inigo de Cardenas Ambassadour residing in Ordinary at Venice did on the 13th of July present a memorial to the Senate signifying That the King being desirous of doing good Offices in the mediation of Peace between the Pope and that Republick had commanded him his Ambassadour to interpose therein assuring him that whatsoever he should act in order thereunto would be most pleasing to his Majesty And that some Overtures might be made in order to this Accommodation Cardenas desired that for a beginning thereunto the Senate would give him leave in their name to desire and supplicate the Pope that he would be pleased to take off his Censures from them being much troubled that they had ever given his Holiness any cause of displeasure which being words of formality and Complement onely could not in reality be prejudicial to the right of their Cause and yet were in this state of things of importance and absolute necessity To which the Doge made Answer That neither by himself nor by the Senate was there ever any just cause of displeasure given to the Pope and therefore to Scandals and Disgusts voluntarily taken and not given there was no other remedy than voluntary Acknowledgments The same day the French Ambassadour urged the Senate to be the first to make Overtures of Peace to the Pope which could be no dishonour to the Republick considering with what respect and duty all Christian Princes treated the Pope and that it is Jus Commune to submit and humble themselves before his Holiness for other matters they might with all confidence rely on the directions of his Majesty herein whom they had always found a true Friend and a faithful Ally That considering on what terms the King of Spain stood with them and how he had declared himself of the Papal Party it was not now seasonable to disgust the King his Master and that therefore they would be pleased to think of some Answer which he might with confidence communicate to the King The Senate having taken these particulars into consideration gave almost the same Answer as they had newly done to the Spanish Ambassadour Adding onely to the French That by way of Mediation he would be pleased to represent unto the Pope That the Senate was troubled that his Holiness would take displeasure at the actions of a Republick which was entirely devoted and dedicated to the glory and service of God to the publick quiet and tranquillity of the World and to the maintenance of that liberty and Power which was committed to them by Divine Right These Negotiations being ineffectual and fruitless the Senate gave Order to Giustiniano their Ambassadour in England to inform King James with the progress and success of all these Affairs and differences with the Pope which when the King had rightly understood he returned this Answer That he was highly satisfied with the constancy of the People and unanimous resolution of the Senate in defence of their Native liberty and justice and of that Power which God hath bestowed upon Princes That the Declaration made by Spain in a Letter was ridiculous and that matters of such importance required more than words That he was highly sensible of the honour which the Republick had done him in sending him an Ambassadour Ordinary and Extraordinary wherefore that he might return them the like demonstrations of sincere Friendship he promised to grant and condescend to all the desires of the Senate for that he should be very ungrateful and unjust in case he should deny protection to that righteous Cause of the Republick which was engaged in the maintenance of that liberty and Authority which is the common Right of all Princes in the Universe And therefore in case the Senate should at any time be engaged in War for this Cause they might be assured and rely on the word of a Prince that he would assist them with all the power he was able and that he had given Commission to his Ambassadour at Venice to assure the Senate the like in his name And farther the Earl of Salisbury by the King's Order added That the King was not induced to grant them these succours on expectation that they should leave Communion with the Church of Rome but onely from a principle of Justice by which he esteemed himself obliged to vindicate the Cause of Princes and the Authority of the Secular Power as also from a Spirit of Animosity being resolved to take that side to which
Plenipotentiaries to be nominated and appointed by both sides and the place for Treaty to be Lions So on the twentieth of February an Instrument was signed by the Ambassadour Grimani and the Duke of Crequi and subscribed also by Monsieur Tellier Secretary of State and War whereby it was concerted and agreed to enter upon a Treaty at the place aforesaid and that Plenipotentiaries should be sent thither with Commissions from his Majesty Thus for some time whilest the troubles were a little appeased and quieted the Court of France passed the Carneval with their usual jollity and entertained it self with celebration of the marriage between Madmoiselle de Valois and the Duke of Savoy the Count de Soissons representing the person of the Duke at the ceremony of Espousals The which few days after was followed by the marriage of Madmoiselle Mariana Mancini Niece of Cardinal Mazarini with the Duke of Buglion great Chamberlain of France And now the Plenipotentiaries preparing for their meeting at Lions Aloisé Sagredo arrived at Paris in quality of Ambassadour for the Venetians and to succeed in the place of Grimani who was to be assisting in the Office of Mediation at Lions Grimani and Monsignor Rasponi Plenipotentiary from the Pope met at the time and place appointed but the Duke of Crequi on pretence of the Queen Mother's sickness or rather because he desired to be waited and attended for came not to Lions till towards the middle of May where entering on their Conference matters were proceeded to a hopeful condition of agreement when on a sudden they were unhappily interrupted by the Title which the Pope sent to Rasponi to be his Nuntio Extraordinary to all Christian Princes for whereas the French King had absolutely determined not to receive any person from the Pope with Title of Nuntio until the differences were accommodated between himself and Rome the Treaty was by Order of the King broken off upon that punctilio but afterwards was by Order renewed again at Bonvicino a place situate on the Frontiers of Savoy the Parochial Church of which is in the Dominions of France and on the other side of the Bridg which is the Territory of Savoy is an antient and famous Monastery of Carmelite Friers thither as we have said the Treaty was transferred where besides Crequi Rasponi and Grimani there were present the Agents for Modena and Parma and the twelve Consuls of Avigion Rasponi took his quarters on the side of Savoy and the other on that of France Here the particulars were again debated and the Pope was persuaded to condescend to all the pretensions of France excepting onely to the restitution of Castro on which the King peremptorily insisted because he had engaged his Honour and Authority therein by the Articles of Peace made at the Pyreneans The Pope on the other side insisted That it was not in his Power to pass an Act so prejudicial to the Apostolical Chair and contrary to the many Bulls of his Predecessours And thus whilest both sides insisted resolutely on this Point with many delays and punctilios which obstructed a conclusion the King dispatched an express to Rome to know the ultimate resolution of the Pope on that Point and when answer was returned that by reason of the Sentences passed by the Tribunals of Justice and that Castro was in the Camera annexed to the triple Crown and incorporated into the Dominions of the Church he could not assent to have it dismembred from St. Peter's Patrimony so soon I say as this news came the Treaty broke off every one returning to his Place and Country During this Treaty at Buonvicinio great preparations were making at Rome for a War and when it broke up without agreement then contrary to all expectation the Troops were disbanded and the Officers Reformed though in the mean time the French Troops began to march into Italy which was the occasion of a witty saying That at Rome they armed when they knew not with whom they were to have War and disarmed when they knew not with whom they should have Peace And yet it is probable and by most believed that there was never any real design of Rupture by either side but that the pretensions and preparations for this War were onely in appearance and made subservient to other Projects though to make it appear real the Duke of Beaufort was sent with a Fleet of Ships on the Coast of Italy the approach of which gave an Allarm at the very Gates of Rome but afterwards disappeared and stood off again into the Sea pretending to be driven to Calari in Sardinia by Tempests and contrary Winds And though neither the Pope nor King as was believed were in earnest in matter of a War yet the ill correspondence between them was judged prejudicial to Christendom and obstructive to those succours which were intended against the Turk who had then lately made himself Master of Newhausell and was triumphant in Hungary Wherefore the Venetians with more warm instances than ever laboured to renew the Treaty in which Office the Spaniards also judged themselves obliged to join because they desired to keep the Arms of France distant from Italy and both one and the other used their endeavours so effectually with the Pope and the King that they both consented to enter into another Treaty and accordingly the French King constituted Monsignore Bourlemont then at Florence to be his Plenipotentiary and the Pope ordained Rasponi with a like Power from him Pisa being the place appointed for the Treaty where after some few days of debate all matters came to be concluded and agreed in form and manner following That his Holiness to please the most Christian King had assented to dismember Castro from the Patrimony of the Church conditionally that the Duke of Parma within the space of eight years pay the sum of eight millions six hundred and nineteen Crowns to the Camera Of which sum having paid one half he shall be invested and restored into one half of the Principality And in case that any dispute shall arise touching the division of the moiety the same shall be determined by two Arbitrators indifferently chosen and they not agreeing the difference shall be referred to the Umpirage of a third Person Or otherwise the Camera making the division the Duke shall have Power to chuse or otherwise if the Duke makes the division then the choice shall be in the Power of the Camera That the Duke of Modena shall renounce all his pretensions to Comacchio And the Pope at the instance of the King shall in lieu thereof give and surrender unto the said Duke Mount d' Este which was valued at two hundred and fifty thousand Crowns or thereabouts and shall remit to him the Interest which he owes to the Montists which was estimated at fifty thousand Crowns together with a donative of forty thousand Crowns or in lieu thereof some Palace in Rome to the Duke's satisfaction And that the Pope shall
censure and condemn two Books the one of James Vernant who asserts the Pope's Power and Infallibility of the Pope in derogation of Councils Kings and Bishops and the other of Amadeus Guimenius who defends the Morals of the Jesuits the Pope being displeased with this confidence of the Sorbonists who being but a Colledg only should presume to determine Cases of such high nature complained to the King who in compliance with his Holiness assembled a Congregation of Bishops at Pontoise the which being met passed a Censure on the Sorbonists not condemning their Opinion but their presumption for that being but a private Colledg they should usurp a Power which appertained to the Congregation and not unto them The Pope not satisfied with these imperfect proceedings amends them at Rome and by a Bull condemns the Opinions of the Sorbonists under penalty of Excommunication But this Doctrine of the Pope's could not be digested by the Parliament of Paris who appeared Favourers of the Sorbonists howsoever lest these questions should engender discords and cause great trouble in the State they were silenced and by the King's Authority suppressed every one being under severe penalties forbidden to dispute or handle questions of this dangerous consequence Wherefore these Points being laid asleep rather than eradicated are sometimes revived and suffered to be started whensoever they are seasonable and judged commodious for the welfare of the State The same year likewise the Pope condemned the five Propositions of Cornelius Jansenius Bishop of Ypres concerning Grace and Free-Will and confirmed the Edict which Innocent X. had made against them Notwithstanding which so little regard was had thereunto that those Opinions are still maintained and defended both by words and Writings But now to proceed to his Acts and publick Works That Alexander VII might not appear less splendid in his publick Monuments than other Popes he repaired many Ruins enlarged and adorned many Streets much to the Ornament of the City and convenience of the Inhabitants The Pantheon which was a famous Temple of Old Rome built by M. Agrippa and afterwards by Boniface IV. dedicated to the Blessed Virgin he repaired and altered with much advantage for whereas formerly they descended unto it by steps he filled the low places with rubbish so that an entrance was made thereunto upon a level and having raised the Pillars which were almost buried in the Earth he therewith erected a stately Portico making it a magnificent structure which before was filled up with dirt and rubbish cast thereunto by the neighbouring Market The Forum or Market-place where the Columna Antoniana stands he cleansed and removed all rubbish from it and so beautified it on all sides that it is now a pleasant and convenient part of the City The Archigymnasium Romanum which was begun by Leo X. he finished and adorned with a sumptuous Library the Chamber for which he erected at his own charge and supplied it with excellent Books for the common use of learned Men. He also designed to build a Colledg wherein to entertain the most learned and famous Men of the Age invited thereunto from all parts of the World So that where any one was esteemed excellent and famous in any Science and especially if he were learned and an acute Disputant in Divinity he might be here entertained with a convenient subsistence to support which and make a Revenue for this Colledg he designed the desolation of some Monasteries which having formerly been ordained with holy Discipline and to a good end were now fallen from their original and primary Institution but whilest he was contemplating and contriving this design he became infirm and afflicted with a Chronical Distemper which abated the heat of his proceedings which afterwards ended and were wholly laid aside by his death He erected a noble and magnificent Hall adjoyning to the Vatican which he called an Archivium or a place to lodge all Papers and Writings relating to the Apostolical Sea that is all Papers rendering an account of the Negotiations of Nuntios in the Courts of forein Princes Likewise the Letters written to Popes from the Governours and Ministers of Provinces belonging to the Church such Letters also as had been written concerning the Rights and Priviledges of the Papal Chair for which there having formerly been no certain place allotted wherein to conserve them they were dispersed and scattered in divers places and many of them in the hands of such whose Uncles or Relations had been Popes The Vatican Library he encreased with an addition of all the Books of the Dukes of Vrbin both Manuscripts and Books printed And lest whilest he was intent to the adornment of Rome he should seem forgetful of his own City he beautified the Cathedral Church of Siena which by demolishing the Houses which stood near it he made a large and open Area to it removing all impediments which obscured or obstructed the Prospect The barbarous Latin which is written about the outside of this Church is very observable the words are these Omnis centenus Romae semper est Jubilenus Crimina laxantur cui paenitet ista donantur Et confirmavit Bonifacius roboravit Whilest Alexander was employed in these and other greater Works he was esteemed to have neglected those assistances which former Popes have usually given and contributed for support of those Princes which have been borderers and in War with the Turk who is the grand Enemy of Christendom Wherefore that he might give some instances to the contrary in the year 1666. he equipped his Fleet of Gallies under command of Bichi and having joined them with the Gallies of Malta which by their Institution are obliged to serve under the Standard of the Church they entered the Archipelago and committed some spoils on the Maritime Towns or places under Dominion of the Turk in which having passed that Summer without any action very memorable they returned towards the end of the year to their Winter quarters and this year the Pope recruited the Regiment which he maintained in Dalmatia with two hundred Soldiers During the twelve years of this Pope's Reign he created thirty eight Cardinals of which eight were made in the last year of his life namely Roberti his Nuntio in France Visconti his Nuntio in Spain Julio Spinola his Nuntio to the Emperour Caracciolo Auditor of the Camera likewise John Dolfino Patriarch of Aquileia was made Cardinal at the instance of the Venetians Ghidobald de Thun Arch-bishop of Saltzburg at the desire of the Emperour the Duke of Vendosme in compliance with France and the Duke of Montalto to please Spain And farther to exalt and dignifie the degree of Cardinals he appointed a Congregation of the Sacred Colledg to consider and direct some Formulary or Rules which might serve to augment the Prerogatives of Cardinals in opposition to the pretences of the Roman Barons one amongst which was that the little Bell which was carried and sounded before the Cardinals should be no more in use for that
which related to the welfare of the Church he took this Omen for an Admonition obliging him to govern with the same Spirit which animated his Predecessour Sylverius Wherefore attending to the welfare of his Subjects and to the advancement of the Christian Cause he eased as we have said his People of several Taxes and in lieu thereof charged himself with a Debt of a million of Crowns to extinguish which and to make that provision which the Venetians required against the Turk who that year hardly pressed the City of Candia he assented to the dissolution of certain Religious Houses which seemed superfluous and of little benefit or concernment to the Church namely the Canons of St. George in Alga the Gesuati the Jeronimites of Fiesole which being places remote and of no great use were formerly under the consideration of Innocent X. and Alexander VII and by both marked out with design to be reduced when the emergent pressures of the Republick should require a supply And now that time being come for the Vizier Kuperlee had for above the space of a whole year besieged the City of Candia had strongly intrenched himself and being daily re inforced with new supplies was in a probable and fair way to gain the Town and therewith to become Master of all the Island of Candia Wherefore the Pope issued his Bull granting licence to the Venetian Republick to sell the Lands and Revenues belonging to those places afore-mentioned within their Dominions and to make use of the Money to carry on their War and expel the Turks from the Kingdom of Candia In this conjuncture the Pope intended to avail himself of the urgencies and necessities of the Republick and to induce them thereby to consent to the abolition of certain Laws which were and had been very derogatory to the Power of the Court of Rome but the wise Republick adhering to the same principles which influenced them in the time of Paul V. declared their unshaken constancy and resolution to admit no innovation of such a nature as was demanded of which the Pope being well advised relinquished his pretensions it seeming unseasonable to take an advantage on the present emergencies of the Republick to obtain that from them which could not be granted without unhinging the whole frame of the publick Liberty And though the suppression of these Convents proceeded currently within the Dominions of the Republick yet on this occasion great difficulties and Disputes arose between the Court of Rome and the Governments of Milan and Naples For at Milan they pretended that these Convents being of Royal foundation could not be dissolved without the King's consent and at Naples they refused to admit that the Money arising from the dissolved Convents should be disposed according to the will and pleasure of the Court of Rome denying all Power to the Archbishop to intermeddle therein as Delegate to the Pope by vertue of his Ecclesiastical Authority and this Controversie was maintained with that heat that the Provost of Naples opposed the Arch bishop with armed Bands when he came to execute the Decrees of Rome on which the Pope made use of his thundering Excommunications howsoever they availed little for the heats were blown into a flame and the matters become so intriguesom as not to be composed until the time of Clement X. the succeeding Pope Howsoever this Pope being in an extraordinary manner zealous for the success of the Christian Cause against the Turk and sollicitous for the preservation of Candia omitted no means which might conduce to the safety of it And therefore after the example of his Predecessours he laboured to engage the Christian Princes in a holy League against the Turk but in regard that it could not possibly be performed until such time as a Peace was concluded between France and Spain the Pope recalled his Nephew Cardinal Rospigliosi from Bruxels where for the space of three years he had resided in quality of Internuntio by Commission from Alexander VII ordering him in his return home to pass through Paris and in a private manner to complement the King endeavouring to discover the inclinations of his Majesty to a Peace with Spain and how he was disposed to yield those succours which were necessarily required for the preservation of Candia In pursuance hereof Rospigliosi performed the Offices enjoined him by his Uncle so well that he inclined the mind of his Majesty to succour Candia which was languishing and almost ready to expire and to yield itself to the prevailing Arms of the Turk and hence it was that Count S. Paul the Duke of Beaufort and Monsieur la Fenillade with many other Cavaliers adventuring themselves in this generous Enterprise at least prolonged the fate though not able to divert it or rescue Candia from the subjection of it's unchristian Enemies Moreover Rospigliosi made those impressions of kindness and good correspondence between the King and the Pope as continued during the whole term of his Uncle's Reign and as an evidence of this friendship the Pope upon return of his Nephew at Rome dispatched the Arch-bishop of Thebes in quality of Legat in Extraordinary into France and Frederick Borromeo with a like Character into Spain which Legats finding a disposition in both Kings towards a Peace so well negotiated in behalf of the interest of Rome that Lewis XIV of France and the Queen Regent of Spain her Son being in his minority appointed Aquisgrane for the place to treat a Peace of which the Pope was by mutual consent of both Kings ordained the sole Umpire and Moderator The zeal which affected the Pope for the succour and relief of Candia was so great that he laboured with all his Power to bring the Peace between the two Crowns to a speedy issue but the French King proceeding in a prosperous course of his Arms concluded that his successes did merit and require the grant of such conditions from his Catholick Majesty as were not consistent with the honour and welfare of that Crown and therefore resolved to make an entire Conquest of the Franch Compte before he entered into farther Treaties or restrain himself within any narrower bounds or limits than those he designed Whereupon the Prince of Conde being declared General for this Expedition in the beginning of the year 1668. he marched to Digion in Burgundy to prepare military Affairs in a readiness to begin early the ensuing Campaign the King also notwithstanding the inconvenience of the Winter season thought fit to be there present in Person which gave that life to action that neither cold or rains or shortness of the days interrupted the progress of the War the Officers and Soldiers issuing from their Winter quarters with the same chearfulness as in the Summer readily invested the most considerable places of the Franch Compte which in a few days surrendred themselves to the victorious Arms of the French leaving the World to wonder at those effects of fear which a sudden surprize had
produced for those Cities and Fortresses which in other times had valiantly stood out for many months against the Sieges and storms of their Enemies did now shamefully yield so soon as they discovered the French Banners displayed before their Walls To this success the surprise of the action did much contribute for had the King deferred this enterprise until the Summer 't is more than probable that he might have encountred a greater opposition by the union of the German Princes who in a season fit for Armies to take the Field would scarce have suffered so considerable a part as the Franch Compte to be lopped off and dismembred from the Body of the Empire This sudden and unexpected success begat a jealousie in the neighbouring Princes and was the first moving Cause which gave beginning to the Triple League between England the Vnited Provinces and Sweden leaving a door open to other Princes to be comprehended as they should see cause in the same Agreement This Sacred Alliance became the common discourse of all Europe and many happy effects were expected as consequences thereof In which conjuncture our Clement IX renewing his former sollicitations for Peace procured a suspension of Arms and though he desired that Rome or Venice should be the places appointed for this Treaty yet Aquisgrane being esteemed a place more convenient for the Electoral Princes who were much concerned in this Accommodation it was by common consent ordained for the onely place of Treaty And now France at the instant pressures of so many powerful Princes inclining to hearken unto Propositions of Peace and the King calling to remembrance his Articles with the King of Portugal not to make a Peace with Spain in exclusion of him he immediately sent his Advices to Lisbon advising that King to dispatch his Plenipotentiary to Aquisgrane which was appointed for the place of Treaty This intimation being given to the Court of Portugal the Count Olivarez Son of the late Favourite being then a Prisoner at Lisbon taken at the Battel of Canal began to propose several Conditions in order to a Peace for which afterwards receiving a Commission from Madrid a Treaty was separately set on foot without concerning France in it At this time the Earl of Sandwich resided at the Court of Spain in quality of Ambassadour from his Majesty of Great Britain a Person so well affected by both Courts that by mutual consent of both Parties he was in the place of the King his Master chosen Umpire of the Peace between the two Kingdoms This Overture being acceptable to our gratious King he sent his Orders and Instructions to the Earl of Sandwich to remove from Madrid to Lisbon there to be Arbitrator of the Peace and in order thereunto to perform all the good Offices of Mediation The Plenipotentiaries being accordingly assembled at Lisbon after some few Conferences between the Earl of Sandwich and Count Olivarez a Peace was concluded and published in the month of March without any respect or consideration to the agreement contracted the year before with France or the endeavours of the Abbat of St. Romain to the contrary And indeed the People were grown so weary of a War which had continued for the space of twenty eight years that they were ready to have broken out into a common mutiny had the least interruption been given thereunto the Commonalty scarce tempering their rage against the French Minister for labouring to disappoint that happiness they had so long desired Some few days after the Peace was proclaimed a Sentence of Divorce declaring the Marriage void between the King Alphonso and the Queen was published grounded on the suppos'd impotency of the King her Husband whereby the Matrimonial knot was dissolved and both Parties freed and stated in a lawful separation with power to dispose of their own Persons The confirmation of this act of Divorce was a subject of serious consideration to the Pope but afterwards when it was to extend so far as to make the Prince lawful possessour of his Brother's Wife and Dominions it was so much the more weighty and worthy consideration but at length reasons of State and conveniences of that Kingdom overswayed the strict Rules and Canons of the Church But in the first place we must understand that this Divorce was the consequence of a general revolt of the People from their King for they being guided by a prevailing Party in opposition to the Conde de Cassel Meglior Chief Minister of State murmured against the Government and perhaps not without some cause for the King himself being given to Wine practised such extravagancies as were intolerable and which did not pass without some reflections on the Favourite though as to himself he managed all things with prudence and good conduct Moreover the Conde opposing the Peace with Castile on other terms than such as were agreeable to the method and Articles concluded with France became so displeasing to the People that he was displaced from his Office and the Prince admitted to the sole management and direction of Affairs But the Conspiracy stopped not its course at this period for the Queen hereupon retiring into a Monastery and declaring the dissatisfaction she had to the King her Husband demanded the justice of the Country upon the causes given to dissolve the Matrimonial knot by a sentence of lawful Divorce The People at this news were stirred with great commotions and being naturally enclined to Novelty joined with the Prince's Party to chuse him Governour of the Kingdom committing the Person of the King to safe custody until the States of Portugal should otherwise provide in cases of this great emergency The States being assembled about the beginning of the year approved the reasons for deposing the King and confirmed the Regency on the Prince and upon hearing the Cause between the King and Queen the Marriage was found void and null and accordingly an Instrument of Divorce was formed and published and license given to the Prince to take the Queen for his Wife on supposition that she was still a Virgin and unknown to his Brother The case though strange to scrupulous Ears and Consciences was not yet without former examples For in Poland John Casimiro succeeded to the Crown and to the Wife of his Brother Vladislaus And in former Histories of Portugal it is recorded that the Nobility desired John III. to match with the Queen Fâ—â—â—â—ora relict of King Emanuel his Father and therefore this case was not without a Precedent which after dissolution of the Marriage and publication of the Queen's divorce from Alfonso VI. might confirm and make lawful the espousals with the Prince his Brother A particular account of all these Occurrences being given at Paris by the Sicur Verius who then resided at Lisbon for the Crown of France The Cardinal Vandosme then Legat à Latere from the Pope to the most Christian King immediately dispatched a Brief of dispensation into Portugal in the name and by the Authority
of Pope Clement IX confirming the former Sentence given by the States and Justitiaries of that Kingdom leaving this example to the World that there may be a Case wherein a younger Brother may lawfully usurp the Dominion of his Elder and righteously possess himself of his Wife and of his Crown But the Prince Don Pedro not satisfied with the single dispensation of the Cardinal Vandosme who for the space of two months only was commissionated to be Legat à Latere at Paris to assist at the Baptism of the Dolfin in behalf of the Pope did for better assurance dispatch Father Villa a Jesuit the Queens Confessour unto Rome to procure a more authentick dispensation from the Pope himself The Case being new and strange and difficult to find a way how to make this matter with its present circumstances to become legal the Pope troubled within himself proposed the case in publick Consistory where after long debates on both sides the question still remained dubious and undecided until it was averred that the Queen was several months gone with Child the which circumstance altered the case and then the convenience of the Marriage was not farther alledged but the necessity thereof urged both for the reputation of the Queen and safety of that Kingdom which could not otherwise be setled but by the Pope's definitive Sentence confirming the legality of the Divorce and though the Pope hereupon granted his Bull dispensing both with the Marriage and translation of the Power yet the minds of the contrary Party were not so quieted but that several Conspiracies were contrived against the life of the Prince and particularly a certain Priest was apprehended with a Dagger in his Pocket and confessed that he designed therewith to stab the Prince judging it an action meritorious and pleasing to God to destroy a person guilty of Rebellion and Incest who had usurped the Kingdom and ravished away the Wife of his Brother Wherefore the Prince was in a manner constrained for his own security and for settlement of himself in the Administration of Affairs to remove the King from the Eyes of the people and accordingly he was transported into the Islands of Teraeras The French as we have said having gained their point by the Conquest of the Franch Comte the Spaniards having concluded a Peace with Portugal and the triple League being well formed and concluded the conjuncture of Affairs seemed propitious and tending towards the calm of Peace to improve which the Pope laboured with incessant sollicitations between both Kings to commence that Treaty which was once proposed to be held at Aquisgrana and now more instantly desired by him not only in relation to his Office of Mediator between Christian Princes but in zeal to the Christian Cause which then suffered in the City of Candia which with the whole Island was then in danger and ready to yield to the Arms of the Turks hoping that upon conclusion of the Peace the force of Christendom would be converted from itself and employed against the common Enemy as we may believe But the Intercession and good Offices of the Pope did not so effectually operate towards the conclusion of Peace as the Negotiations of the triple League were available by means of which the Peace was projected first on the 15th of April at St. Germans and afterwards concluded between both Crowns on the 27th of April at Aquisgrana otherwise called by the French Aux la Chappelle in form following That for the future and ever hereafter a good firm and inviolable Peace and a perpetual League and mutual friendship shall be established between the two Kings their Heirs and Successours and that as good Brothers they shall mutually to the utmost of their Power be assisting unto the welfare honour and reputation of each other and shall faithfully as far as is possible avoid every thing which may tend to the hurt loss or damage of each other That so soon as the Articles of this Treaty shall be exchanged and ratified the Peace shall be published and then all Acts of War and hostility shall cease and both Parties shall attend to the performance of the Covenants by surrender of Towns and Fortresses and release of Prisoners without delay Ransom or any charges whatsoever That the most Christian King and his Successours shall for ever hereafter remain lawfully possessed and Masters of Charles Stadt Binch Aeth Doway Scarp Fort Tornay Audemont Lille Armentiers Cotray Berguen Fuernes with all the Royalties Guards Castles Territories dependencies and Subjects with all the rights and immunities both Ecclesiastical and secular thereunto appertaining in the same form Title and plenary possession as they were formerly enjoyed claimed and possessed by his Catholick Majesty On the other side the most Christian King shall speedily after publication of the Peace withdraw all his Forces from the French Comte and shall really effectually entirely and faithfully restore and surrender to his Catholick Majesty all that Country without delay and without reserving any part or parcel thereof unto himself That all other places taken or to be taken until publication of the Peace shall in like manner be mutually restored and surrendred That the Treaty of the Pyreneans shall remain in its full force and Virtue excepting that part onely so far as concerns the Kingdom of Portugal with which Spain hath already concluded a Peace but as to all other matters and things nor expressed in this Treaty reference shall be had to the Pyrenean Peace That those Kings and Princes who are desirous to enter into the Guarantie for the Peace may respectively give their Instruments of Promise and Obligation to each King for maintenance and execution of whatsoever is contained and agreed in the aforesaid Treaty That this Treaty agreed and covenanted by the Plenipotentiaries shall be ratified by their Majesties respectively and registred in the Councils and Chambers or Courts of Justice in such manner as was observed in the Pyrenean Treaty and that Orders be accordingly issued within the space of three months after publication of this present Peace This was the substance of matters agreed at Aix la Chappelle so called by the French but antiently Aquisgrana from Grano as some think the Brother of Nero who for the convenience of some hot Waters arising near thereunto built a Town and a Fortress to which he gave his own name with the adjunction of Aqua in reference to the Waters it is now an Imperial Town situate between the Mosel and the Rhine famous for being the place where the Roman Emperours were first Crowned and Inaugurated and where Charles the Great was interred whose Monument is there to be seen But now having touched on the Treaty concluded at this place so far as concerned Clement IX who was a promoter thereof it will be impertinent to this History to recount the Councils the successes and proceedings which issued thereupon Nor will it be to our purpose to rehearse the Instrument by which the Triple League
good will and suffrage at his Election and according to the Politicks of former Popes he made some Laws and Orders for regulation of the Markets and for supplies of the City with Victuals and Provisions that the People might at the beginning of his Government find Peace and plenty But these plausible and specious appearances which cost little to the Pope great discontents arose in the Court of Rome by reason of the exorbitant Power of the Cardinal Nephew who assuming all matters into his own hands suffered no applications to be made unto the Pope but by his means and intercession nor would he suffer the Seals to pass for any Livings or Benefices without a payment of Mony for and in consideration thereof unto himself in which he was so strict that a Living of ten Crowns a year did not escape him without some acknowledgment And for better management of this Simonaical Traffick he appointed Brokers in the Palace to set up an Office and there publickly to profess and without shame to bargain and contract for Offices and Benefices This scandalous manner of dealing discouraged all Men of Virtue and Merit from hopes of obtaining Employments for since Money and not Desert was the step to all preferments good Men for the greatest part were excluded and none but a sort of progging and traffiquing Clergymen advanced to Benefices and Places of Trust Thus did this adopted Nephew play his part when a great swarm of Kindred appeared at Court pretending to be allied either by bloud or alliance to the Pope for though when he was onely a simple Prelat and had no great matter to dispose of few or none would own his Relation but being now advanced to the Pontifical Chair every Citizen of Rome would be his Kinsman and frame a Scheme or Tree of his Pedigree deducing their linage by one Branch or other from the Family of Altieri all which finding an adopted Nephew surreptitiously crept into the favour of their Kinsman and themselves excluded openly murmured against Paluzzi and complained of the injustice and ill fortune but he little regarded their clamours suffering none of them to approach the Pope or challenge kindred unless the Family of the Massimi of which he advanced some to Places of Trust and Profit The College of Cardinals though much divided in their inclinations yet the greatest part of them could not support the despotical Government of Altieri who though he could not absolutely restrain the Cardinals from access to the Pope yet he made their Audiences difficult to be obtained and often caused them upon I know not what excuses to be deferred until other days and times when he contrived to be always present that he might be a witness of their discourses and prevent that freedom which they designed with the Pope This design of Cardinal Altieri was greatly promoted by the retirement of Persons powerful for their Riches and Interest from Rome for soon after the Election of the Pope the Ambassadour of the most Christian King and the Cardinals of Retz and Boglion were returned into France and Cardinal de Este whose Power was sufficient to shake the mightiest Favourite was gone into his own Country Cardinal Antonio was sick and languishing in his Bed and the Flying Squadron whose pretences were onely pure zeal for the universal good of the Church were contented to let matters pass according to the humour of Altieri hoping that the Pope by reason of his age could not hold out long and that therefore it were better to employ their time in forming Parties against the next Conclave than to contrive means and Artifices to defeat and ruin the Power of Altieri but they were much deceived in their measures for the good old Man was so lusty and hearty living without much care that he was likely to out-live the youngest of the Squadron Nor was the Marquis of Astorgas Ambassadour for Spain much more concerned than others for he having other designs of gaining the good will and favour of the Citizens of Rome little cared in what nanner the Intrigues and Affairs of the Court succeeded Wherefore the onely dangerous and formidable Enemy was the Dean Cardinal Barberino a person of that Reputation and Wit as was only capable to stand in competition with the Power of Altieri But neither his Policy Art nor Interest could be available against this Cardinal Nephew who exercised a more absolute Power than any other Favourite had enjoyed in the Place before him the continuance of which being very uncertain he cast about him divers ways whereby to advance and establish the greatness of his Family which under the happy circumstances of his present flourishing condition was not difficult to procure For in Rome there are many Noble and rich Families which aspire to an alliance with the kindred of the Pope's Regnant which though it be an honour of no long continuance yet they have commonly had the opportunity to accumulate Riches during the life of the Pope and afterwards remained with the priviledg of being numbred amongst the Princes after his death The Prince Carbognano who was a principal branch of the House of Colonna which for its Power Riches and Nobility yields to none in Rome had two Sons the eldest of which was called the Duke of Basanello and the second Duke of Anticoli the first was married to the Sister of the Contestable Colonna but having no Children or Heirs the Riches and opulency of all that Family was to devolve by right of Inheritance to the Duke of Anticoli of which Cardinal Altieri having well considered treated of a marriage between him and Donna Tarquinia Great Niece to the Pope esteeming it the best and most advantageous Match in all Rome Prince Carbognano the Father who was of an open and easie temper gave ear to the Proposal with much satisfaction but the Duke of Basanello not suffering his younger Brother to be advanced by these means to a degree above himself refused to give his assent unto the Match unless he also might be received into en equal rank with his Brother and enjoy the honour of those prerogatives which appertain to Nephews and Princes allied to the Papal Throne Altieri declining all rubs and difficulties which might obstruct the Match entertained Basanello with hopes and expectations of the conditions he desired but so soon as the Marriage was celebrated and consummated he then excused himself saying that upon better thoughts he found that such an instance could not be given without drawing many ill consequences with it howsoever that the Pope would think upon it and do what was possible but in reality such words gave no satisfaction being interpreted for a flat and format denial Hence at first arose some coldness which afterwards proceeded to an open quarrel and defiance between Basanello on the one side and Altieri and Anticoli on the other so that both parties exercised their thoughts in ways of revenge upon each other The genius of Italians which
being the year following after the Inauguration of the Pope Don Pedro d' Aragon Vice-King of Naples appeared at Rome with a splendid Retinue to perform the Embassy of Obedience as they call it which is done by the yearly present of a white Genet this Ceremony was at other times performed by the Ambassadour of Spain residing at Rome but to shew a greater honour perhaps to the Pope the Vice-King was qualified with the Title of Ambassadour Extraordinary after whose return into Spain the Marquis of Astorgas was constituted Vice King of Naples and Father Nitardo Inquisitor-General of Spain was dignified with the Character of Ambassadour and because that honour is inconsistent with the simple condition of a religious person the Pope adorned him with the Title of Archbishop of Edessa who the year following with several others was promoted to the dignity of Cardinal This year also Pope Pius Quintus who was a Dominican or of the Order of Preachers was canonized being a hundred years after his decease There also happened a dispute concerning Precedency between Don Gasparo Altieri one of the Pope's Nephews and General of the Pope's Forces and commandator Bichi Ambassadour of Tuscany which difference was determined in favour of the latter In the mean time violent disturbances arose in Poland on occasion that King Michael had removed the Primate of that Kingdom and the Great General Sobieski from their places and Offices of Trust which afterwards were accommodated by the Pope's Nuntio Monsignor Bonvisi on terms more necessary than convenient or rather by the approach of the Turks who with a formidable force had taken the strong fortress of Keminiec and were entered into the bowels of Poland as far as Leopolis the news hereof made a great noise at Rome but little disturbed Cardinal Altieri who being intent to other designs did not much trouble his head with the thoughts of sending Nuntio's to the Christian Princes whose business was to incite them to administer help and succour to the afflicted Poland oppressed and almost over run with Mahometan Arms for his Opinion was as they say that the intercession of the Pope's Ministers in matters of that nature were only formalities and such as conduced little to real effects for that Princes well disposed and zealous for the Christian Cause or such as were united in the same common Interest which was to expel and drive an Enemy so powerful and dangerous far from them would move on the principles of their own safety without any other incitements or motives from their common Father the Pope and indeed Altieri searching for the nature of mankind within himself did conclude that not Religion but interest of State onely governed the World Howsoever that he might afford some testimonies of his care and affection towards Poland he raised the sum of three hundred thousand Crowns by impositions on Ecclesiastical Benefices in Italy of which he sent fifty thousand into Poland and the remainder he invested in buildings furniture and moveables for his own service Soon after which King Michael dying the confusions of that Kingdom increased and so other Seditions and Controversies amongst them was added that grand point of dispute concerning a Successour to the Crown for conservation of which though Altieri was not so liberal as to contribute great sums of Money yet to please and gratifie the Spaniards he was desirous to have a hand in the preferment of a King to them naming Prince Charles of Lorain as a person qualified with all Royal abilities and endowments required in a King and indeed though none was more worthy of a Crown than that generous Prince yet the Nobles of that Kingdom informed of the Pope's endeavours reflected thereon as prejudicial to their right of Election having never received Kings at the nomination or recommendation of Rome and therefore proceeded to the election of John Sobieski a person capable to sustain a Crown to the benefit and glory of that Kingdom which being invaded by the formidable Arms of the Turk could never be rescued from ruine and destruction but by the valour and fortune of Sobieski whom God raised not onely for the protection of Poland but for the defence of Germany having by his Heroick march from his own Country in the year 1683. to raise the Siege of Vienna signalized his Valour and prowess to such a degree as Romances describe Heroes and the generous Actions and atchievements of mighty Princes It hath been a priviledg granted by the See of Rome to the Kings of Poland immediately after their Election to bestow a Cardinal's Cap on any Person whom they should propose according to which Power the new King nominated the Bishop of Marseglia for that Person to whom he designed that honour It was indifferent to Altieri whether the Scarlet were bestowed on him or any other had not the Spaniards to whose Interest he was extreamly partial suggested the contrary pretending that the King ought to nominate a Subject of his own and not of a forein and stranger Prince for that in regard the French King was able to insinuate into all Courts by flattery and bribery he might easily obtain a nomination for one or other who should either by Nation or Interest be ingaged in that Faction and so in time the whole Conclave become French and entirely dedicated to the devotion of that King And whereas it might be objected that the refusal of the King of Polands desire would much disoblige him and the whole Nation which stood much on their points and Prerogatives The Spaniards answered That the Election of the Great Marshal Sobieski to the Crown of Poland having not been performed according to the usual Rules and Methods observed in that Kingdom could not continue or be confirmed for that the Nobles of Lituania had not given their Votes or suffrages thereunto that the greatest part of that Republick desired an unmarried Prince who might espouse the Widow of the deceased King and in fine that all the Nobility of Poland remained unsatisfied with this Election and being greatly divided in their Opinions some alteration might speedily be expected Altieri suffering himself to be thus misguided with these suggestions of the Spaniards wrote to the King of Poland in the name of the Pope desiring â—his Majesty to fix on some other person of a more indifferent temper and who was a Neuter and less engaged to either of the Crowns by which he would perform so signal a kindness to his Holiness as would ever oblige him to prefer the Interest of his Kingdom in matters of greater moment The King highly resented this manner of proceeding of the Court of Rome being astonished to find that those who had used all endeavours to disappoint him of his Election should now have the boldness to demand such a favour from him as he could not grant without dishonour to the Crown which he had lately received and therefore testified his resolutions to persist in the nomination he had
which by some side-wind or far-fetched notion of Spiritual Concernment reduced almost every thing under cognisance of the Church According to this natural course of worldly affairs Lewis the 14th the most Christian King being high and prosperous in his fortune resolved to put a period to the process for the Regale which had continued near thirty years and at last in the year 1673. came to a conclusion and Declaration was made That the King had Right of Regale in all his Dominions without distinction except onely in those Sees that had purchased their exemption from it And therefore all Bishops who had not yet registred their Oaths of Fidelity in the Chambers of Accounts were required to do it and to take out a Writ upon it for closing the Regale otherwise rheir Bishopricks were still to be looked on as under it All the Bishops of France unwilling to incurr the displeasure of their successful Monarch submitted excepting the Bishops of Alet and Pamiers It was now under the Reign of Clement X. an old doating Pope who having his parts and understanding enfeebled by old Age he committed the management of the Pontificate to the sole direction of Cardinal Paluzzi afterwards adopted by the Pope and called Altieri a Person who from his first beginning was distastful to the Court of France and not until this time well reconciled unto it as we have at large declared in the foregoing Life This was the time I say when open Claim to the Regale was renewed in favour of the King and when the Pope himself was scarce able to distinguish his Interest and Altieri was so thwarted and opposed by the Court of France that he had enough to do to conserve his own personal Interest much less to vindicate and contend for the Rights of the Church in a case so litigious as this In January 1676. the King 's Right was claimed in disposal of the Deanry of Alet the Dispute of which was left unto the Bishop to maintain for the Pope being under the foregoing Circumstances took little cognisance thereof either by himself or his Cardinal But this good Pope dying in the month of August next following the Controversie fell to the lot of Innocent the 11th to maintain and to dispute in opposition to the eldest Son of the Church This quarrel was increased by a Contest at Pamiers where one Paucet was provided in Right of the Regale to be Arch-deacon of Pamiers but was rejected by the Bishop and Chapter howsoever the Regale prevailed for the Arch-Bishop of Tholouse was on their side and gave judgment in favour of the Regalist But on the contrary the Bishop of Pamiers acquiesced not with this Sentence but made his appeal to the Pope who was now engaged in the Controversie and the matter lodged in his hands Wherefore the Pope in the year 1678 wrote his Brief to the French King and in soft and yet pressing terms complained of the Innovasions made on the Liberties of the Church and the Authority of the Council of Lions and after several Arguments to persuade him to desist from this Enterprise he concludes that he cannot forget those Popes his Predecessours who upon the like occasions had endured long and great afflictions But these Allegations satisfied not the King who pretended that the Rights of the Regale were inherent in the Crown and had been enjoyed by his Ancestors and by them derived down to himself The Pope on the other side affirmed that the Secular Powers had no right to things sacred but as it was derived to them by the Authority of the Church and that the Church had not granted any such Right having expresly limited it by the Council of Lions which hath now been observed four hundred years This Controversie seemed to lie dormant from September 1678. to December 1679. until it was again revived and stirred in the See of Pamiers in that point which concerned the vacant Benefices and the mean Profits for the King's Officers seized on them likewise so that the good old Bishop had nothing to live on the last twenty months of his life but the Oblations and Charities of his People On this occasion the Pope wrote to the Cardinal d' Estreé to interpose in this Affair as being a Person more than ordinarily concerned in the dignity of the Apostolical See To which the Cardinal made answer in the style of a Court-Bishop extolling the King's merit his zeal for the Faith and respect for the Apostolical Chair what he had done for the suppression of Calvinism and Heresie within his Dominions and how bravely he had defended the Christian Cause against the Turks and in fine he laid down the dangers which would follow if any dissention should arise between the King and the Church At length Cardinal d' Estreé was dispatched to Rome with a Letter of Credence and Orders to treat immediately with the Pope himself but it seems his Negotiations produced little alteration for the Pope continued steddy and constant to his Principles And on the other side the Parliament of Paris became as zealous for the King 's Right and Authority for which the King's Attorney General pleading made little esteem of the Pope's Censures which were passed for Obedience to the King's Orders The Church said he may indeed have an Authority to punish Men for Heresie and an ill life but the World was now too well enlightned not to discern that the Thunders of Rome had been for several Ages vainly employed for extending its Authority beyond all due bounds the limits of which were to be found in the Canons of the Church by which the Pope as well as others ought to govern himself And therefore desired that the last Brief sent by the Pope might be suppressed which was accordingly done by a Judgment of the Court of Parliament on the last of March 1681. And to give a farther Authority to this Judgment an Extraordinary Assembly was called of all the Bishops then residing at Paris where were present six Arch-Bishops twenty six Bishops and six that were named to Bishopricks to whom the Agents of the Clergy represented the Invasions made on the Liberties of the Gallican Church by the Pope's Briefs both in general concerning the Regale and in particular in the Affair at Pamiers and the Nunneries and concerning a Book of Gerbais a Dr. of Sorbonne De causis Majoribus which were equally contrary both to Church and State to the Canons and the Concordate by which the Pope upon a simple Complaint without any Appeal did by the plenitude of his Power judg at Rome concerning the validity of Elections and the Authority of Arch-Bishops and Primats c. The issue of which Assembly was this They asserted the Authority of National Churches for judging of all matters both of Faith and Manners and in the conclusion agreed to make an Address to the King praying him to give leave either for a National Council or an Assembly General the latter
Consultations held upon the point of the Regale At length by the Arch-bishop of Paris they offered these several Proposals by way of accommodation between his Majesty and the Pope That those on whom the King in Right of his Regality bestows any Ecclesiastical Benefices shall in the vacancy of the Sees have their approbation and Mission from the Vicars General That the Chapters which are in possession of bestowing Prebends and other Dignities shall continue to dispose of them whilst the See is vacant That in the Churches where the collation is alternative between the Bishops and the Chapters the same shall be observed during the vacancy of the Sees that are under the Regality the King having the turn which the Bishop should have had That where the Bishops dispose of the Prebends jointly with the Chapter the King shall in the vacancy of the See appoint a Commissioner who shall have the same power and place in the Chapter as the Bishop had Howsoever no farther proceedings were made in this matter because the Pope appeared resolute to maintain his priviledg and jurisdiction and the Cardinal d' Estrée who had ever since the beginning of this year been at Rome to try and bend the mind of the Pope gave little hopes to prevail with him wherefore it was thought fit that the Controversie should remain in suspence rather than be farther pressed to the breach of that amity which interceded between the common Father and the eldest Son of his Church so the King holds his Right and the Pope hath not relinquished his Claim but remains still in a capacity to reassume the same when either he or his Successours are strengthened with circumstances of time and force to make good their Demands It is known to all the World that in the Church of Rome vain and superstitious Opinions have been ever growing for divers Centuries of years some of the most wild and extravagant of which certain Popes have been weeding out but with that negligence and inattention that where one hath been destroyed twenty have arisen Hereof the present Pope Innocent the XI being sensible who is certainly one of the most understanding and most worthy of those that ever sate in the Papal Chair hath suppressed an Office called The Office of the Immaculate conception of the most Holy Virgin approved by Paul V. who granted unto whosoever should devoutly recite the same an hundred days Indulgence as may appear by his Bull of July 10th 1615. printed at Milan This Office he entirely abolished Decreeing That no person of what Order Degree or Condition soever should dare to keep read print or cause to be printed the said Book and requiring that whosoever should have the said Office in his keeping should forthwith deliver the same to the Ordinary or to the Inquisitors of the place The which Decree was published Feb. 19. 1678. Moreover this Pope in his Wisdom hath suppressed a multitude of idle and foolish Indulgences which many cheating Priests carried into remote Countries and raised Money thereupon from the ignorant people Of which kind were those Indulgences granted by John II. and Sixtus IV. to those who should recite the Prayer of Charity of our Lord Jesus Christ By Eugenius the 3d. to the Revelation made to St. Bernard of a blow or stroak on the shoulder of our Lord Jesus Christ By John the 22th to those who kiss the measure of the Soal of the foot of the Blessed Virgin By Leo the 10th to those who wear the Cord of St. Francis printted first at Rome and then at Milan Anno 1665. To them that shall say the Angelical Prayer when the Clock strikes to the Image of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary printed in a Circle with the Moon under her feet By Paul V. and Gregory XV. to those who say Blessed be the Holy Sacrament Likewise those Indulgences for fourscore thousand years copied out of the Antient Table which is said to be kept in the Lateran Church to those who say this truly pious Prayer O God who for the Redemption of the World c. Besides which this Pope suppressed a multitude of other Indulgences as vain and idle as the foregoing and declared that though according to the Doctrine of the Council of Trent the use of Indulgences may be useful to the people and doth Anathematize such as shall deny that there is not a power in the Church to grant them yet he is desirous that the Doctrine thereof be rightly understood and a moderation used in the granting of them lest by a too great facility or easiness the discipline of the Church be corrupted and enfeebled This Doctrine of Indulgences hath been a prickly and a contentious point and the Original cause of the present divisions and separations amongst Christians for from thence Luther began his quarrel and took the first rise and ground for a Reformation and indeed the matter on the part of the Church of Rome was so scandalous and abusive that the very common people in all their ignorance were able to discover the fraud and Cheat that was in them so that the wise and Learned Men at the Council of Trent knowing that this Doctrine was not solid and would not hold water they slightly touched thereupon and though it was the chief matter for which that Council was assembled yet nothing was farther determined therein than onely that Indulgences be used with such moderation as was approved by the Antient Custom of the Church of God Now it is a most certain and an undeniable truth that Indulgences were never in use with any Nation of the Eastern Churches either in the Primitive times or afterwards And indeed neither were they in practice in the Western Churches from times of Ancient date that is from before the time of Vrban II which was about the year of Christ 1095. and then also they were not very common and granted onely to remit the rigour and severity of Penance enjoined by the Confessour which reasons this Pope Innocent XI wisely considering and the many abuses of this Doctrine did attempt the means to regulate the extravagance thereof Besides the suppression of these Indulgences this Pope condemned sixty five Propositions about Cases of Morality which were scandalous and divers of them maintained by the subtle distinctions of the Jesuits the preamble to which condemnation saith that this present Innocent XI in pursuance of the same work commenced by his Predecessour Alexander VII did by and with the advice concurrence and assistance of the most Reverend and Eminent the Cardinals as also of the Inquisitors General and many other Divines gather and weed out from several Books Theses and other Papers lately written a great number of scandalous and pernicious Doctrines in Morality tending to the debauchery of Manners and to the encouragement of a loose and a dissolute life in Mankind But in nothing more hath the Vertue Piety and care of this Pope been conspicuous than in those large