Chair six years one month twenty six days And because it was long before there came certain intelligence of his Death the See was vacant fourteen months EUGENIUS I. EUGENIUS a Roman Son of Ruffinianus succeeded Martine about the time that in the place of Paul the Heretick Peter was made Patriarch of Constantinople Who though he were a little more Orthodox than Paul yet did not in all things agree in Doctrine with the Roman Church His Letters sent to Rome in which he denied two Operations and Wills in Christ were so exploded that the Clergy took upon them to interdict the Pope's celebrating Mass in S. Maria Maggiore till he had first publickly declared his dislike of them In the mean time Grimoaldus Duke of Beneventum leaving his Son to govern at home and marching with a great Army into Lombardy forced Pertheri and Gundibert the two Sons of Aripertus to quit Pavia and Milain Of which Clodoveus the French King having intelligence he out of compassion to the young Princes immediately sends a considerable Force into Italy to recover their Right for them Beyond the Po Battel is joyn'd and the Dispute managed very briskly on both sides the young Princes being eager to retrieve their paternal possessions and he endeavouring as much to keep what he had gain'd by War At length Fortune inclin'd to Grimoaldus his side and the French were routed and driven out of Italy We are told by some that the French were out-witted by the Enemy after this manner The Lombards dissembled a Flight leaving their Tents furnished with plenty of all manner of Provisions and especially of Wine but not far off they made a halt watching their opportunity the French entring their Tents and thinking they had been really fled fall to feasting and eat and drink to such excess that the Enemy coming upon them and finding them dead asleep and lying about like beasts they made such a slaughter of them that there was scarce one left alive to carry the News to Clodoveus Grimoaldus growing confident upon this Victory quickly makes himself Master of the whole Province As for Pope Eugenius who was a person of very great Piety Religion Meekness Humanity and Munificence having been in the Chair two years nine months he died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter June the 2d The See was then vacant one month twenty eight days VITALIANUS I. VITALIANUS born at Segna a Town of the Volsci the Son of Anastasius entred upon the Pontificate at the time when Caesarea the Persian Queen attended only with a few of her Confidents and without the knowledg of her Husband came to Constantinople in the year 683. She was very honourably received by the Emperour and not long after baptized for the sake of which it was that she came thither The Persian King having intelligence hereof forthwith sends Ambassadours to Constantinople to demand his Wife of the Emperour To them the Emperour answered That it was in the Queen's choice to stay or go and therefore they should enquire of her pleasure The Queen being ask'd made Answer That she would never return into her Countrey unless the King would become a Christian Who being acquainted herewith comes forthwith in a peaceable manner with forty thousand men to Constantinople where being received by the Emperour with all expressions of kindness he together with his Soldiers were baptized and then he returned with his Queen into his own Kingdom After this Constantius having associated to himself in the Government his Son Constantine and prepared a great Fleet setting sail from Constantinople arrives at Tarentum bringing with him in Ships of burden a great Force of Land-Soldiers From thence he advanced by Land into Abruzzo with design to besiege Beneventum But understanding that that City was very strongly Garison'd and plentifully furnished with Provisions by the care of Rhomoaldus he marched to Lucera which he took and plundered and then levell'd with the ground Passing from hence to Acherontia and not being not able to make himself Master of so well fortified a place he again attempts the Siege of Beneventum but soon raises it upon intelligence that Grimoaldus would suddenly be there with a great Army to assist his Son Rhomoaldus Hereupon Constantius moving first towards Naples though very much incommoded in his passage and having left 〈◊〉 a Roman Citizen with twenty thousand men at Formiae to oppose the Enemy at length he comes to Rome the Pope and Clergy and People in honour to him going six miles out of the City to meet him And being conducted through the City with great Acclamations to the Church of S. Peter he there made a very rich Present In the mean time Rhomoaldus presuming upon the Supplies he receiv'd from his Father joins Battel with Saburrus conquers him and puts to the Sword a great number of the Greeks Constantius being enraged and growing almost desperate upon this misfortune on the fifth day after his entrance into the City falls a plundering takes away all the Statues of Brass and Marble set up in the principal parts of the City and the rich Ornaments of the Churches and lades his Ships with them and in seven days did more damage to Rome than the barbarous Nations had done before in two hundred and fifty eight years so that ill men ignorant of History have no reason to say that the Statues and Monuments of Antiquity were demolished by Pope Gregorie's Order On the twelfth day the vile and perfidious paultry Greek 〈◊〉 Rome with a vengeance to him goes towards Naples thence to Sicily being so severe in his exaction of Tribute wherever he came as to take away Children out of the embraces of their Parents who could not pay him But the covetous wretch staying some time in Sicily as he was bathing for pleasure at Syracuse was slain and Mezentius who is thought to have been the contriver of his Death was by the Soldiers made Emperour in his stead This Constantius was a person of a strange 〈◊〉 and inconstancy of Mind For at first hearing that Vitalianus was chosen Pope he sent his Ambassadours to congratulate him and to make a Present of the Gospels written in letters of Gold and set with Jewels to S. Peter Whereas afterwards his mind being changed he cast off all regard to God and Man and turned all things both divine and humane topsy-turvy But Vitalianus being intent upon sacred things composed Ecclesiastical Canons and regulated singing in the Church introducing Organs to be used with the Vocal Musick He also sent with ample Power of binding and loosing Theodorus an Arch-bishop and Adrian an Abbat two very learned and pious men into England that by their Preaching and Example they might keep that people stedfast in the Faith which the good men did what they could to perform This Theodorus also wrote a Book shewing by what Pennance every sin may be wash'd off though some ascribe that Work to Pope Theodorus Now Vitalianus having govern'd the Church
Pope again that he would please to Anathematize Rodolphus who endeavour'd to get possession of his Kingdom Which Gregory refusing to do Henry was so angry that he studied day and night to ruin the Pope In the mean while lest Sedition should be wanting in Christendom Michael and Andronicus his Son who had been by force depriv'd of the Empire of Constantinople by Nicephorus Bucamor came for refuge to Gregory who not only excommunicated Nicephorus but employ'd Rogerius a feudatary of the Roman Church to restore Michael with whom he discours'd at Ceperano to the Empire In pursuance of which command he got a Navy and leaving his younger Son Rogerius in Italy he took Boëmund his other Son along with him and sailed first to Valona but pitch'd his Camp near Durazzo resolving to make sure of that City which was so convenient for the carrying on of the War But Dominick Sylvius Duke of Venice who was of Nicephorus's party beat Rogerius from the Siege with great loss on both sides But not long after Nicephorus was betray'd by Alexius Mega General of his Forces and made a Prisoner the City being given up for three days to be plunder'd by the Soldiers according to compact Nicephorus himself was taken in the Church of Sancta Sophia but his life 〈◊〉 upon condition that he would take upon him the habit of a Monk for as long as he lived Gregory seeing that Henry was incited against the Church by some seditious Bishops called a great Synod and forbad Gilbert Arch-bishop of Ravenna for his pride and malice the exercise of his Episcopal or Priestly function under pain of an Anathema or Curse For when he was summon'd to appear before the Sea Apostolick being conscious of his crimes he would not obey the Citation for which alone he deserv'd the penalty of an Anathema He likewise censured Roland of Treviso for that when he was Legat in order to a Peace between him and Henry he sowed the seeds of discord and not unity to get a Bishoprick by the bargain 〈◊〉 did he spare Hugo Cardinal of St. Clements who had seditiously and heretically conspired with Cadolus Bishop of Parma In fine he chose three at the same Assembly to wit Bernard the Deacon the other Bernard Abbat of Marseilles and Odo Arch-bishop of Treves to go Legates à Latere from the Sea Apostolick to compose all differences between Henry and Rodolphus For the wise Pope saw that such a quarrel unless it were timely ended would occasion great calamities one time or other to Christendon But because he well knew that there would not be lacking such mischievous men as would endeavour to hinder it because it was their interest to foment rather than remove the dissention he gave the Legates Letters Apostolical to the several Princes and States written after this manner We taking notice of the weakness covetousness and ambition of mankind do charge all manner of persons whether Kings Arch-bishops Bishops Dukes Counts Marquesses or Knights that either out of pride cunning or covetousness they give no hindrance to our Legats whilst they negotiate the Peace And whosoever shall be so rash as to contravene this Order which I hope none will and shall hinder our Legats from composing a Peace I bind him under an Anathema both in Spirituals and Temporals by Apostolick Power and take away from him the advantage of any Victory he has gain'd that he may at least be confounded and be converted by a double penance He likewise commanded the Legates to call a Diet in Germany and deliberately examine who of the two Kings had the right and accordingly by the consent of all good Men to assign him the Kingdom whose cause was justest and that He when he should hear what they had determin'd would confirm it by the authority of God and S. Peter than which there cannot be greater But in the mean while Gregory lest the Church of Rome should suffer by Simony called a Council and therein confirm'd the Decrees of his Predecessors made to put a stop to that evil in these words We following the example of our Predecessors as we have formerly in other Councils do decree and ordain by the authority of Almighty God that whoever for the future accepts of a Bishoprick an Abbacy or any other Ecclesiastical preferment from a Layman shall not by any means be esteemed a Bishop an Abbat or a Clergy man nor let the same person dare to approach the Apostolical Sea before he has repented and left the place that he gain'd by ambition and contumacy which is the sin of Idolatry And under the same Censures we bind Kings Dukes and Princes who shall dare to confer Bishopricks or other Ecclesiastical Dignities upon any person against Law and Reason Furthermore we confirm the sentence of Anathema which was justly given against Theobald Archbishop of Milan and Gilbert Arch-bishop of Ravenna as also against Roland Arch-bishop of Treviso and we lay the same Censure upon Peter who was formerly Bishop of Redona but is now an Usurper in the Church 〈◊〉 Narbonne Moreover we deny S. Peter's favour and entrance into the Church to all such till they have repented and satisfied for their offences be they Normans Italians or any other Nation who have in the least injured or violated the Marcha di Termo in Ancona the Dutchy of Spoleto Campagna di Roma Sabina Tivoli Palestrina Frascati or Alba or the parts that lie toward the Tuscan Sea Add to these the Monastery of St. Benedict and all the Country of Cassino as also Benevent in Abruzzo But if any one pretends a just cause for taking what he has not yet restored let him demand justice of us or our Officers and if they are not satisfied we grant them leave to take back as much as will satisfie them not excessively like Robbers but as becomes Christians and such Men who only retake what is their own and desire not other mens goods fearing the anger of God and the Curse of S. Peter After that he confirmed the Curse against Henry afresh in these words Blessed Peter and thou Paul Doctor of the Gentiles I beseech you to hearken unto me a little and hear me in mercy for you are Disciples and Lovers of Truth and what I say is true I undertake this cause for Truths sake that my Brethren whose salvation I desire may obey me more willingly and that they may know how I rely upon your assistance next to that of Christ and his Virgin Mother whilst I resist the wicked and am a present guard continually to the faithful For I did not ascend this Sea willingly but against my inclinations even with tears in my eyes that they should think such a worthless Man as me fit to sit in such a lofty Throne But this I say because I did not chuse you but you me and imposed this heavy burden upon my shoulders But the Sons of Belial are risen up against me since I have ascended the Mount
the Council of Basil was at the heighth King Alphonso who was then at War in Naples being desired to send some body thither he order'd Alphonso Borgia to go who taking it ill that a thing of such pernicious consequence should be committed to his management he got leave of the Queen to go into Italy to the King with Ferdinand the King's Son and exhort him that after so many dangerous expeditions and difficulties with which he was even at that time surrounded he would return into his own Country But the King told him he would not but sent him to Eugenius who was then at Florence to treat concerning a Peace For Viteleschus having enter'd the Kingdom of Naples in Eugenius's name with an Army plunder'd and spoil'd all that came before him to hinder the King from taking Naples which at that time he laid Siege to But the business taking up time and the Pope intending in the mean time to make twenty Cardinals among the rest design'd the Bishop of Valenza should be one though he refused the honour with all the earnestness imaginable because he said it was not fit for him to receive especially till he had done the business that he came for Afterward Eugenius return'd to Rome the Patriarch of Aquilegia whom he sent to Tarracina to the King having made a Peace between the Pope and the King upon Conditions at the making of which the Bishop of Valenza was present and interposed his Authority and care for which the Pope began to love him so well that he soon after made him Cardinal Sanctorum quatuor and sent for him to Rome where he used no less modesty in his Cardinalate than he had before in his Bishoprick being always free and far from pomp and vain-glory When he spoke in the Senate he was reckon'd so grave and sincere a person that he never spake any thing out of flattery or to win favour But Eugenius dying and Nicolas after him this Alphonso Borgia as I told you was made Pope in S. Peter's Palace taking upon him the name of Calistus and immediately proclaimed War against the Turks shewing his own hand-writing whereby he had vowed to do so even before his Pontificate in a Book of his to this purpose I Calixtus do vow to God and the Holy Trinity that I will persecute the Turks those Enemies of Christianity with War Curses Interdictions Execrations and by all the ways I am able All that were by admired at it that he should arrogate to himself the name of Pope before he had the honour conferr'd and that a Man who was so old and decrepit should have so much courage But that he might really perform his promise he sent Preachers through all Europe to animate all Christians against the Turks and to persuade such as were able to lend their helping hand in that momentous Expedition And of these he sent sixteen Gallies full built at Rome over whom the Patriarch of Aquilegia was Admiral and harass'd the Sea-coasts of Asia for three years together where he took several Islands and did the Enemy a great deal of damage King Alphonso and the Duke of Burgundy also took upon them the Cross and profess'd that they would either go against the Enemy in their own persons or at least would raise Men to send Yet this Affair as it was moved at an heat so it as easily cooled again whilst the Princes indulged their pleasures and neglected that which would have gain'd them immortal Fame Whilst the Pope was Crown'd in the Lateran two Soldiers one under the Earl Aversus and the other under Neapolio Vrsin Men of diverse factions and parties who quarrelling about a young Lad did so wound each other that they both dy'd upon the spot For that reason Neapolio raising the Vrsine Faction invaded the House where the Count Aversus lived but the Count being from home he would have gone to the Lateran to seise him but was with much ado kept back by his Brother Latinus the Pope's Chamberlain And indeed Neapolio could not have gone thither without great damage to the City because all the Faction of the Colonneses who favour'd the Count were then in Arms. The Pope also had sent John Baruncellus and Laelius de Valle two Advocates of the Consistory to both of 'em to make 'em Friends so that by this means the present disturbance was appeased but the old grudg betwixt them still remain'd For they had many trials of Skill to the great disadvantage of their Adherents The Pope however apply'd his mind to his Pontifical Affairs and Canoniz'd S. Vincent a Spaniard of the Order of Preachers and S. Edmund of England and upon that occasion said Prayers and Thanksgivings from Ecclesia Minervae to S. Peter's with a long train of Clergy and Laity following him But lest any thing should be wanting to disturb the Church some Country Fellows of Palombara a Town in Sabina who were formerly banish'd thence by James Sebellus Lord of the place return'd home and killing two Sons of James's promised to surrender the Town to the Church which Calixtus not only refused to accept but sent Cardinal Columna thither to appease them Neapolio fearing the Cardinal should seise Palombara in his own name he went thither with his Army and besieged the Town for some days Though when Matthew Poianus and Francis Sabellus with other Commanders came up by order from the Pope and the Cardinal they raised the Siege enter'd Palombara and hang'd twenty of the Country Fellows of those especially that had made the disturbance and quarter'd 'em to give example to others and warn 'em never to attempt so great a piece of Villany against their rightful Lords Soon after appeared a Comet for some days hairy and red of which when the Astrologers said that it portended a great Plague Dearth or some mighty Slaughter Calixtus appointed a Fast for several days to pray to God that if any judgment hung over them he would be pleased to avert and turn it upon the Turks the Enemies to Christianity He gave order likewise that God should be supplicated every day and that a Bell should be rung about Noon to give people notice when they should joyn in Prayer for the Christians against the Turks So that the Christians assisted by the Prayers of the whole Church fought against the Turks at Belgrade under the conduct of John the Vaivod an excellent Person and John Capistranus of the Order of Minors bearing the holy Cross and conquer'd 'em when they besieged Belgrade six thousand of the Enemies being slain by a few of our Men as Carviagalla Cardinal of S. Angelo wrote to the Pope and to Dominick Capranicus Cardinal of S. Crosses besides that all their Carriages and an hundred and sixty Guns were taken a blow that so much scar'd the Turk that he retir'd in haste to Constantinople And no doubt but that cruel barbarous Nation had been destroyed if the Christian Princes would but have laid aside their
Furthermore he exterminated some Tyrants who studied innovations out of the Church Dominions but never medled with any one till he had first sent an Embassadour or Legate to 'em to reduce 'em if it were possible by fair means After that he sent Frederick of Vrbino his General with Alexander Sfortia to Tagliacozzo to stop James Picennenus who fought under Renatus from going into Puglia to assist the French against Ferdinand And besides he succour'd Ferdinand at Sarno when he had like to have lost his Kingdom for fear the French when they had once gotten that Kingdom would make use of their Victory to subvert the Liberty of Italy He slighted the Threat and Promises of the French Embassadours that endeavour'd to bring him over from Ferdinand to Renatus and by his Censures as well as Arms he tamed the fury of Sigismund Malatesta who was a Feudatary of the Church and yet contemning the League which the Pope had made between him and Ferdinand storm'd and took all the Castles which he had given for caution against Law and Reason and having driven the Churches Legate as far as Nulasture he made War upon the Anconeses But his extravagance was corrected the year after at Sinigaglia under the conduct of Frederick of Vrbino and Neapolio Vrsin in a sharp engagement wherein they retook Sinigaglia the Town called Fortunae Fanum was taken by Nicolas of Pistoia Cardinal Legate of St. Cecilys and great part of Rimini taken from him lest he should rebel any more Ferdinand also had the same happy success not long after at Troja a Town in Puglia by which the Prince of Tarento and many others who being desirous of change were on the French side were so consternated that they came all upon their knees to the King and begg'd pardon of him but some few continued obstinate whom the King afterward prosecuted so severely that he either drove 'em out of the Kingdom or brought 'em to know themselves When this was over Pius now freed from two great and troublesom Wars renew'd the thoughts of his Expedition into Asia which had been so long omitted from the time of the Mantuan Council through the ambition and avarice of the several Kings and Princes and makes the King of Hungary the Duke of Burgundy and the Venetians his Confederates because they seemed more inclined to it than any body else He likewise sent Nuncioes with Letters Apostolick to the several Nations of Christendom to exhort the Princes and people to so great and necessary a War Himself in the mean time went to Siena with a design to go as soon as the Season permitted to the Baths at Petriolana that seemed best for his Distemper And there he heard the Duke of Burgundy who had vowed to come with a Navy well Man'd had desisted from his resolution as also that many other Princes and people not onely Foreiners but of Italy led by ambition and envy endeavour'd to frustrate that great Design because they saw that they were likely to have the richest spoils and rewards that underwent the greatest brunt of that War Thereupon as it became a Pope to do he try'd to persuade 'em by kind words at a distance and soon after leaving the Bath he went to Rome where he lay sick for some days of the Gout and a Fever and therefore could not be at Ancona upon the seventh of June as he had publickly declared he would But when his distemper was somewhat asswaged he gave Audience to certain Embassadours that came from the King of France and Duke of Burgundy to excuse their delay And then calling all the Cardinals before him he appointed a day to hear the charge against the King of Bohemia who was said to be heretically inclined and when he had done he was carried in a Litter through Sabina Ombria and the Marcha till he came to the City of Ancona By the way be found great numbers of Men that came out of Germany Spain and France intending for the War against the Turks of whom he sent a great part especially of the Germans having absolv'd 'em back into their own Country because he thought 'em unfit for the toil of War and because they had not brought their pay along with 'em as he had order'd in the Letters Apostolical But in the mean time whilst he waited at Ancona for the Navy that was a building in the several Ports of the Tyrrhene and Adriatick Seas and also for the Duke of Venice his Ally he was afflicted with a tedious Fever and dy'd in the year 1464. upon the 13th of August about three of the Clock in the Night six years wanting six days after he was made Pope He was a Man of such constancy and courage of mind that in all his sickness which was long and painful he never omitted any business that concern'd his understanding onely whether it were to hear the causes of several Nations to inhibit to decree to judg to sign to admonish to chastise or correct And that day whereon he dy'd about two hours before he expired he call'd the Cardinals about him and with a resolute Heart and a good audible Voice exhorted 'em to Unity in the choice of a new Pope commending to their care in a grave Speech the honour of God the dignity of the Church the War which he had undertaken against the Turks the salvation of his Soul all his Family and especially his Nephews if they proved worthy of commendations He desired all the Sacraments of his own accord and shew'd great tokens of a true Christian But besides that he dispued very acutely with Laurentius Roverella Bishop of Ferrara a learned Divine whether it were lawful for him to receive the Extreme Unction again having been anointed once before at Basil when he was sick of the Plague Nor could he be entreated by all his domestick Servants to forbear saying the Canonical Prayers though he were in such an Agony He repeated the Athanasian Creed with great strength and Emphasis and when he had done he said it was most true and most holy He was not affraid to die nor did he shew any sign of trouble or inconstancy to his last breath But indeed he may be said rather to have been kill'd than to have died he was so tortur'd with tedious Diseases He commanded his Friends to carry his Body to Rome where those that embalm'd him affirmed that his heart was very sound and vivid His funeral pomp from Ancona to Rome was made up of his Family who were all in mourning and in tears And when that was over he was buried in St. Peter's at the Altar of St. Andrew in a Tomb which was built at the charge of Francis Cardinal of Siena with this Epitaph Pius II. Pont. Max. natione Tuscus patriâ Senensis gente Pocolhominea He enjoy'd the Sea onely six years But though his Pontificate were short yet it was full of great Actions He held a Council at Mantua to maintain the Faith resisted all
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
Uncle became his Successor Lewis XII continuing his claim by right of Inheritance to the Kingdom of Naples and also to the Dukedom of Milan in right of his Grandmother the Daughter of John Galeazzo entered into a League with the Pope which was fatal to Italy and with them the King of Spain the Florentines and the Venetians were all combined against Duke Lodowick Sforza and King Frederick on conditions that Lewis having conquered Milan should cause Cremona to be restored to the Venetians and that Caesar Borgia who was the Popes bastard Son having renounced his Cardinals Cap and taking Carlotta de Alebretto Daughter to the King of Navar and Kinswoman to the King of France for his Wife should be invested in Romagna Marca and Vmbria and that the Kings of Spain and France should equally divide the Kingdom of Naples between them Lewis entering Italy with a powerful Army drove out the Duke of Milan from his State and shortly after took Cardinal Ascanius Prisoner whom he sent into France where he died in a short time afterwards The Venetians by virtue of the League had Cremona consigned to them and all matters succeeded so prosperously for Lewis in Italy that Frederick King of Naples being thereby wholly dis-animated cast himself with all humble confidence into the arms of King Lewis who treated him basely and with the highest indignities imaginable In the mean time the French and the Spaniards being to divide the spoils of the Kingdom such differences arose betwixt them as being only to be decided by the Sword the French were all cut in pieces by the valor of Gonsalvo a brave Captain by which means that Kingdom fell into the hands of Spain In the mean time Pope Alexander being attentive to nothing more than to raise and enrich his Bastard Children encouraged and countenanced his Son Caesar Borgia in the grievous oppressions he laid on all the Barons of the Ecclesiastical State for he designing and aspiring to make himself sole and absolute master of it made the Family of the Orsini the most remarkable examples of his insolent indignities spoiling and harassing their Country for the space of a whole Summer As yet Caesar Borgia had not renounced his Cardinals Cap and therefore continuing still under the notion of a Prelate Guido Vbaldo di Vrbino and John Borgia an other of the Popes Bastards were made Generals of the Ecclesiastical Army who over-running several Countries reduced Braciano by Siege and proceeded every where victoriously until Charles the natural Son of Virginio Orsino joyning Battel with them routed their Army and took the Duke of Vrbin prisoner After this a Peace being concluded with the Orsini and the Pope perceiving that his business did not thrive well by War he endeavoured to advance his designs by fortifying the interest of his Family with great and potent alliances and in the first place he gave his Daughter Lucretia in Marriage to John Sforza Lord of Pesaro breaking his promise to a certain Nobleman of Spain to whom he had formerly contracted her then he took her from Sforza and gave her to Lewis of Aragon Bastard Son of Alfonso King of Naples who being killed she was given to Alfonso da Esté Duke of Ferrara with whom afterwards she ended her days This Pope had also three Sons Geoffery the youngest was made Prince of Squillaci Caesar who was the second was Cardinal and John the eldest was sent into Spain and there made Duke of Candia but he rambling one night in his pleasures about the Streets of Rome was by the treachery of his Brother the Cardinal assassinated and his body thrown into the â—ybar which kindness he did him after they had supped the same night together at the Table of their Mother Vanoccia with which horrid act the Pope was not so much displeased as he was terrified fearing that upon the least displeasure the spirit of this miscreant would be provoked to add parricide to the murder of his Brother After this he made little account of his Scarlet or degree of Cardinal but turning his thoughts wholly to War he was made General of the Popes Army and uniting his Forces with the French and joyning with their interest he became master of a considerable Principality in Italy for having expelled Sforza from Milan and imprisoned the Chiefs of that Family with assistance of Lewis the 12th he with great cruelty and blood possessed himself of all the Cities of Romagna Bologna only excepted banishing or putting to death all the ancient Lords and persons of quality belonging to it He also took Imola and Forli banishing all the Children of Riario to whom the Inheritance belonged only their Mother Catherina he took prisoner and carried her in triumph with him to Rome Next he took Sinigaglia by force of Arms and by treachery surprized the State of Vrbin for being with all his Army at Cagli where he was kindly received upon the signal given he seized that City and marched immediately with the same design to Vrbin Guido Vbaldo da Feltro Prince of that State surprized with this suddain attempt and fearing to fall into the cruel hands of this Tyrant left the City and with some few of his domesticks saved himself by flight Then this Borgia turned his Arms upon Camerino which he took and put many of the ancient Lords and Barons of it to death with the like cruelty and wickedness he treated all the Lords and Barons about the parts of Rome particularly that noble Family of the Gaetani which were Lords of ancient possessions in the Volsci of which he put James the Son of Honorato Gaetano to death then Protonotary of Rome He also ordered that Cola Gaetano a youth who was the only Son and hopes of the Family should be removed out of the world He in the next place by assistance of the French attacked the Family of Colonna and seized on all their State forcing them to fly into Puglia and Sicily for refuge His next and last work was to subdue the Orsini but they having always been constant and firm friends to the Pope in all times and against all Factions he wanted some colourable pretence to fix a quarrel on them but at length the occasion which he sought the Orsini themselves administred for they growing jealous of the successes and fortune of Borgia and fearing lest his insatiable avarice should transport him also to an appetite of devouring them they considered it prudence to provide in time against a danger so apparent and imminent as this wherefore consulting with others who were possessed with the like apprehensions and fears such as Bentivolio Lord of Bologna Paolo Baglione the Usurper of Perugia Vitellozzo Vitelli Lord of the City of Castello Liverotto Lord Fermo Pandolfo Petrucci of Siena they appointed a Council to be held at Perugia where they agreed upon an alliance and confederacy together against Borgia and accordingly setting out an Army into the Field they took Vrbino and Camerino and overthrew
taken from the Church during the time of the last Sede Vacante on conditions that he should hold those Lands of the Church with obligation of assisting the Pope with a certain number of men to be ready at his command when his occasions should require and in case at any time he acted any thing to the damage and prejudice of the Church that then he should incur severe Forfeitures and Penalties and lose his Investiture and be actually deprived of all those Liberties Immunities and Rights to which he pretended and laid a claim After these Affairs the Pope re-assumed the thoughts so often meditated by his Predecessors of driving the French out of Italy the which was also greatly desired by the Emperor Charles on supposition that the matter was practicable and easie in case they could induce the Venetians to separate from the French King to incline them hereunto Embassadors were dispatched from the Emperor and the King of England who at the same time sent a Herald to denounce War against the French King in case he would not make a Truce with the Emperor in all parts of the world for three years in which also the Pope the Duke of Milan and the Florentines were to be comprehended The pretence of this Truce was grounded on agreement of all Christian Princes to turn their Forces against the Turk who was now grown formidable in Hungary to which place Cardinal Cajetan war sent his Legate with a supply of fifty thousand Crowns to carry on that War But this design was disappointed by a discovery made by some Letters intercepted by Cardinal Julio de Medicis wrote from Francis Soderino one of the old Cardinals and much trusted by the Pope in all his secrets to Francis the first King of France wherein he persuaded him to invade the Kingdom of Sicily laying down the Plot and Design as easie and hopeful The Pope being greatly moved and enraged against Soderino who was Cardinal of Volterra for this perfidious disturbance of the quiet of Italy and disappointment of the Holy War greatly inveighed against him in a full Assembly of the Cardinals and afterwards committed him Prisoner to the Castle Soderino's Letters were then produced and read being full of reflections on the Pope saying That he was a person to whom no Faith or Credence could be given for tho he pretended the quiet and peace of Italy and the benefit of the Church yet he designed it no farther than was consistent with the advancement of his own Charles the Emperor to whose concernmentr all other considerations were to yield and give place The Pope took measures of the affections of all the other Cardinals by this character which Soderino had given of him and believing them to be all of the same humor entertained a like jealousie and suspicion of the Cardinals in general so that he made Confidents of none but of such men only as were of his own Country his Secretaries that were most intimate with him and privy to all his designs and secrets were William Eikenwort whom he had made Chief Datary and Bishop of Tortosa and the only Cardinal created by him and Theodorick Hetius both Dutch-men and John Rufus who had been his old Acquaintants and Creatures by whose counsels and advice he contrived and acted all matters which had relation to the Government and seldom communicated his Counsels and designs to the College but only to his Dutch-men whom he often praised for their sincere and real intentions without â—â—aud or artifice and for being truly faithful to the Church and loyal to him This ill correspondence between the Pope and his Cardinals was augmented by the offence he gave to the College by disanulling all the Acts and Ordinances they had made during the vacancy of the See and before he came to Rome which being made in favour to themselves and for their own benefit he made void for the greater good and emolument of the Church revoking and taking into his hands those Benefices which the Cardinals had out of favour and courtesie voted and bestowed on each other and such Offices as Pope Leo the tenth had conferred on able and good men in reward of their Learning and Virtue he took away to raise mony wherewith to supply and satisfie the urgent necessities of the Church This manner of proceeding added to the fuel of the last discontents made Adrian appear not only distrustful but covetous in a high degree and every day seem more odious and wearisome to the Clergy and Grandees of Rome of which the Pope being sensible would often say that the happy conjuncture of Affairs was greatly conducing to a Prince who desired to illustrate his Virtues and Actions to the most advantage witness the happy state of affairs in the time of the late Pope Leo which were so flourishing and chearful that they seemed to be the golden days which afterwards by that licentiousness which was crept into Rome during the long vacancy of the Sea and absence of this Pope were changed and altered by a total corruption of manners to which a contagion of Pestilence supervening joyned with Famine and War which greatly afflicted Italy the miseries of men caused them to retort their remembrances on the late more chearful days of Leo and by such unreasonable comparisons to pass a judgment between the Wisdom and Worth of Leo and Adrian making the unavoidable miseries of those times a matter and subject of odium and detestation of the present Pope tho in reality he was a person of a severe life of great temperance and desirous to reform abuses which were crept into the Church and correct and severely chastise the dissolute manners in the City such as Simony Extortion and Sodomy to which end he called to his assistance Caraffa Arch-Bishop of Chieti and Marcello Gazella of Gaeta both persons of gravity and sobriety and of singular Wisdom and Learning with whom he consulted touching a reformation of manners and amendment of abuses and to set by his own example rules of moderation and temperance he appeared extremely severe towards his own Relations and Kindred an instance whereof he gave in his deportment towards a Cousin of his whom he having setled in his Studies at Siena came one time from thence to Rom without the order or command of the Pope at which he conceived so much anger that he presently returned him back again on a hired Horse reproving and telling him that he should learn modesty and temperance by his example several Relations also of his being in a mean condition travelled afoot through Germany and came to Rome in expectation of arising to some considerable Preferments but he disappointed them of their hopes and returned them back again with no greater largess than a plain Suit of Cloth to each and with so much mony as might serve to bear their charges and expences back into their own Country And in this manner whilst Adrian was intent to introduce honesty of life and
desirous of the repose and quiet of Italy proposed to Francis the French King in behalf of the Vice-King of Naples a Truce for five years with condition that during that time he should quietly enjoy all the Country on the other side of the River Adda the Town of Loda only excepted yet he could not prevail the French King refusing this fair offer which afterwards turned to his great misfortune Wherefore the Pope finding the difficulty or impossibility almost of making this Peace he remained doubtful to which of these two Princes it was most to the interest of the Church and security of Italy for him to incline in which suspense the Count Carpy arriving at Rome with character of Embassador from the King of France so well mannaged his design that he persuaded the Pope to lay aside and forget those ancient discontents and animosities which arose between his Master the King and Pope Leo the 10th his Kinsman and to enter into a firm Alliance with him as the most secure and wholesome means to preserve the quiet of Italy Clement hereby being well affected towards France dispatched an Embassador to the King for confirmation of the Alliance advising him to undertake the Conquest of Naples which he represented as an enterprise easily effected in regard that there was no Garrison there all the Emperors Forces being at that time employed in the Dukedom of Milan The King well approving this design ordered John Stuart Duke of Albania who was of the Blood of the Kings of Scotland and his Lieutenant-General in Italy to march with a considerable force into the Kingdom of Naples asking license of the Pope to pass thro his Dominions But the Pope seeming outwardly and in appearance averse hereunto persuaded the King to desist from this design as a matter of jealousie to the Venetians and all Italy with arguments also inciting to Peace and accommodation as best became the Office and quality of a Pope But the Duke of Albania without attending an answer had as assured of the Popes consent passed the River Po but before he had marched five days he was called back again by the King who understanding that some Forces and new Supplies were already arrived in the Enemies Camp and more daily expected he judged it more advisable to keep his Army entire until the new Recruits of Switzers and Grisons were come which he had sent to levy rather than to weaken his Army by that considerable detachment which the enterprise of Naples would require during which time the King continued the Siege of Pavia But the Switzers and Grisons being at length arrived in the Kings Camp the Duke of Albania repassed the Po to invade the Kingdom of Naples in which design that the Pope might seem to have had no contrivance he dispatched away Paul Vettorio Captain of his Gallies to the Vice-Roy letting him know that tho he had used all diligence to divert the King from his purpose to invade Naples yet he could not prevail nor could oppose or obstruct his passage thro his Country unless he would draw upon himself the difficulties of that War which he was not able to master and that tho he was forced to secure himself by new Articles and Contracts yet he would never assent or agree co any thing which might be prejudicial to the interest of the Emperor In fine he exhorted both Parties to a Peace and in order thereunto proposed several expedients for accommodation but nothing prevailed the Duke of Albania continuing his march and the King the Siege of Pavia And now the Imperialists drawing near to the relief of Pavia the treaties and practices of Princes and the endeavours and studies of Embassadors availed little all the difficulties and dangers of many months being reduced to the fortune and success of a few hours In short the Battel of Pavia was fought on the 24. of February 1525. in which the French Army was entirely defeated and the King himself taken Prisoner and all the flower of the Nobility of France either slain or taken of which the Duke of Albania having received intelligence he raised his Camp from Monte Rotondo near Aquila where he was lodged and returned into France but the greatest part of this Soldiery being composed of Italians and Corsicans returning to Rome were for the most part rifled and pillaged in their way by the people of Campagna who were Subjects to the Prince Colonna and by some Imperialists who belayed the ways for them killing them within the very Walls of Rome to which place they fled for sanctuary All the Princes of Italy especially the Pope being extremely affected with this unexpected success obtained by the Imperial Forces conducted chiefly by the valour and wisdom of the Marquess of Pescara remained doubtful in what manner to govern and mannage their affairs for the ballance being now no longer in an equality but carried down with too much weight on the side of the Emperor his Captains were elevated with this Victory that they became insolent beyond all human sufferance seeming to aspire to an universal Monarchy the which insolences were also rendered more intolerable by the complaints brought daily to Rome from Parma and Piacenza which Countries the Imperialists had exposed to plunder and desolation and the suspicions and jealousies of the Pope were increased by the refusal the Emperor made of restoring Francis Sforza to his right of the possession of Milan whom the Imperialists besieged in the Castle and afterwards banished from the precincts of that Country And farther these misunderstandings were increased for want of a faithful compliance on the Emperors side with the Pope who having paid a considerable sum of mony to Charles de Lanoia the Emperors Agent on condition to have Reggio restored to the Popedom which after the death of Adrian had been seized by Alfonso Duke of Ferrara when these conditions came to be performed and the ancient League renewed with Charles the Fifth he disowned the agreement lest thereby the Pope should grow more potent and enlarge his Dominions endeavouring to lessen his power by the loss of his mony and exclusion from the possession of Reggio All these umbrages and matters of displeasure being revolved in the mind of Clement with extreme melancholy and desire of redress administred cause sufficient to him of ill will towards the Emperor moving in him at the same time compassion of the unfortunate state of Francis the French King then a Prisoner in respect to whom he sent the Bishop of Pistoia to condole with him for his unhappy success Whilst the Pope meditated on these matters with some sort of indignation and fear the Venetians who were troubled at the same time with the like thoughts unexpectedly sent with many pressing instances to persuade the Pope to joyn with them in the good cause for preventing the total servitude of all Italy which they proposed to effect by a force of ten thousand Switzers which they might cause in
The next day being the 25th of January which was the day of the Session all things were managed with great Order and Solemnity and after Mass was ended the Council sat and in the first place determined all points relating to the Sacrifice of the Mass and Sacrament of Ordination that those material Points might be passed before the arrival of the Protestants in expectation of whom as was then declared and in hopes that they came provided with real and peaceable intentions to acquiesce in the truth and confirm the Decrees of their Mother the Church and not to ruine and destroy its fundamental Principles they had prorogued their next Session until the 19th of March following and as to the form of the Safe Conduct it appeared to them so large and ample that nothing could be devised or imagined to render it more extensive or of greater validity With this and the like tenderness of brotherly compassion the Council seemed to outward appearance to treat the Protestants though the chief motive thereunto was to please the Emperor who apprehending great confusions and Wars in Germany on the score of Religion was earnest by all the Sollicitations his Ministers could make to bring matters to some tolerable accommodation The Emperor also being desirous to abate something of the Authority and arrogance of the Church imagined that the Protestants might be made use of as the happy Instruments to effect the same and that the depression of the Papal Power might encrease the grandeur of the Imperial The Pope and his Party discovering these secret agitations did after this last Session think little of the farther proceedings of the Council and therefore on force of this jealousie entertained private Treaties with France managed by the Cardinal Tournon in behalf of that King in pursuance and execution of which it was believed that an entire and absolute dissolution of the Council would necessarily follow of it self without any Act of the Pope therein Howsoever these matters not as yet discovered the Protestants testified their dislike of the Narrowness of the Passport as not comprehending that amplitude which their Princes required And also observing that the general Congregation proceeded to prepare all matters in Controversie concerning Marriage adoration of Images worship of Saints Purgatory and the like which they called Minute Points to be offered against the next Session all which were to be passed without the intervention of the Protestants they took just offence against the proceedings and complained thereof to the Emperor's Ministers of which also the Emperor himself taking notice dispatched an Express both to Trent and Rome giving them notice that this hasty precipitation of Affairs gave just cause to suspect that nothing was intended fairly towards the Protestants who on these due and reasonable Resentments would become more obdurate in their Opinions to prevent which he laid his Commands on the Prelats not to act or join in any farther proceedings which resolution being signified at a General Congregation all Synodical actions and Decrees were ordered to surcease until the pleasure of the Council should be known to the contrary The Pope being greatly incensed at this and other actions of the Emperor gave license to this Prorogation for a few days onely and that afterwards they should again assemble and reassume their Debates with such Christian fortitude as became their Ecclesiastical functions without respect to any worldly consideration During this vacation a Frier preaching on the Parable of the Tares sowed amongst the Wheat applyed that Doctrine to the present dissenting Opinions which he called Heresies and which ought as he said to be extirpated with fire and the gallows at which and other affronts the Protestants taking particular exceptions greatly complained of their ill usage which tended to make the breach wider and the Elector of Triers took this pretence to depart feigning also an excuse of his health though in reality a secret intelligence which he held with the French King was the cause thereof About the beginning of March the Ambassadours of Saxony received Letters from their Prince to prosecute their Demands with new instances to the Council giving them to understand that for the more effectual dispatch thereof he intended personally to wait on the Emperor which was cause of great amusement to the Papal Party but in a few days it was generally bruited that a League was made between the French King and the Protestant Princes to make War upon the Emperor which news giving an Alarm to the Electors of Mâ—tz and Cologne they departed taking Auspruck in their way homewards entered into serious and private consultations with the Emperor The Ambassadours likewise of Maurice Duke of Saxony fearing least in those rumours their Pesons were not safe privately withdrew from Trent and by different ways returned to their own Country Notwithstanding which the Ambassadours and Divines of Wirtemberg and two of Strasbourg remained still in Trent where not having been able to procure License for their Confession to be received and read in Council they printed several Copies of them and caused them to be dispersed in all places which gave publick offence to the whole Council nor could the Interest of the Imperial Ambassadours prevail farther for the Papal Party suspecting that all those instances made by the Emperour in behalf of the Protestants tended to no other end than to depress the Court of Rome embraced all occasions of excuses and delays for now the Emperor's interest was grown weak at Trent by the retirement of the German Bishops who upon the Alarm of Wars in their Country were retired to their own homes indeed the report of Wars raised by the French King in confederacy with the Princes of Germany against the Emperor was confirmed and Manifests and Protests in defence of Religion and the liberty of Germany were printed and published and in pursuance thereof on the first of April the Elector of Saxony laid siege to Augsbourg the which combustions had so great influence on the Affairs of Trent that the Italian Bishops departed as did also the Protestants and a small number of Prelats remaining and the Legat greatly indisposed in his health the Council broke up being prorogued for the space of two years during which time it was hoped and expected that the present storms would be blown over and Men return to a more mild and calm temper of spirit In this manner the Gown gave way to the Sword which commonly decides the most knotty difficulties and puts an end to long Disputes of Councils and the Schools For now Henry II. King of France having joyned his Arms with Maurice Duke of Saxony and other discontented Princes of Germany made War on the Emperor the King was inveterately angry for the injury he had received in the matter of Parma the Duke incensed by reason of the ill treatment of his Father-in-law Philip the Lantgrave of Hesse whom the Emperor suffered to languish in a tedious imprisonment and all in general
first year of his Reign had been celebrated with the like glory as was the former his beginning would have been too happy and auspitious Therefore that the ensuing year might prove more fortunate he intended to make it his chief employment of the whole Winter to offer his Prayers and supplications to God with fasting Masses and Processions that he would be pleased to favour and assist the Cause and Arms of the Christians against the Enemies of the Cross of Christ But whilst the Pope was meditating of these things and contriving means to prosecute the War with most advantage the Venetians unexpectedly about the beginning of the year 1573. clapt up a Peace with the Turks by the mediation of their Bailo who then with the French Ambassadour at Constantinople had treated the Conditions with good success to which Sultan Selim the more readily inclined for having done right to his honour by the Conquest of Cyprus and by taking several Fortresses in Dalmatia he more easily condescended to terms of Peace without diminution or disparagement as was supposed to the greatness of his Power But both the Pope and the Spaniards were not satisfied with the Venetians for having without their consent and privity and contrary to the Articles of their League made this Peace with the Turk In excuse for which the Venetians dispatched their Ambassadours to the Pope and King of Spain giving them to understand that the extream urgency of their Affairs which by many circumstances were rendered difficult had forced them to an Accommodation with the Turk and in like terms they expressed themselves to Cardinal Buoncompagno the Pope's Nephew whom Gregory had in the year 1574. sent unto Venice to complement Henry King of Poland who by the death of Charles IX was returning by that way into France to take possession of that Kingdom In this manner the Pope being eased of his expensive War against the Turk converted the current of his Treasure to the assistance of Henry III. against his Protestant Subjects in France for supply of which he raised the sum of four hundred thousand Crowns by Impositions which he laid on Cities belonging to the Church and confirmed the Bull given by Pius V. for sale of Church-Lands of which there remaining as yet to the value of fifty thousand Crowns of yearly Rent unsold he constituted the Cardinals of Bourbon Guise and Lewis d' Eâ—â—e Commissioners for the Sales Nor was this Pope in other matters esteemed less generous and magnificent for to the Duke of Bruswick who came to visit him at Rome he made a Present of seven thousand Crowns and erected many Churches there from the foundation and built Colleges and Churches to the number of twenty seven in divers remote parts of the World for Seminaries and places of Worship and Religion And for the more solemn and ornamental Celebration of the Jubilee in the year 1575. he enlarged the Street leading from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore to the Lateran for the more commodious passage of Pilgrims and having repaired the Portico or Porch of S. Maries which was become ruinous he caused this Inscription to he engraven over it Gregorius XIII Pont. Max. Eugenii labantem Porticum refecit magnificentius restituit Viam rectam ad Lateranum aperuit Anno Jubilei MD. LXXV In this year arose dangerous Discords and civil Dissentions between the antient and the new Nobility of Genoua to which latter the Commonalty of the City adhered having by them been possessed with an Opinion that the Antient Nobles in favour of whom most of their Laws ran intended to usurp such an Authority over them as should be little different from Slavery this jealousie made so deep an impression in the minds of the people that they betook themselves to Arms and had proceeded to blood and ruin had not a stop been made thereunto by the Wisdom and Oratory of Senarega the Chancellour who being a moderate Person and one of whose prudence and honesty the people had a great Opinion persuaded both Parties to remit their differences to the Pope the Emperor Maximilian and the King of Spain The which being accorded on all hands Senarega was in behalf of the New Nobility dispeeded to the Pope with whom whilst he was stating the case between both Parties Intelligence was brought to Rome that Don John d' Austria was then at Gaeta preparing a very great Fleet against Genoua in expectation and with probable hopes to prevail by the means and advantages of those intestine Discords of the City But the Pope at the request and upon the applications made by Senarega dispatched a Letter to Don John exhorting him to desist from his Design which was so displeasing to him that in case he persisted therein he was resolved to raise all the force of Italy to oppose his Enterprise the which Menaces having given a stop to the proceedings of Don John several persons were substituted Arbitrators in these differences by the Pope the Emperor and the King of Spain namely Cardinal Morone Castacciaro Borgia and Idiaquez who taking the state of the whole matter into their consideration rectified and reformed many antient Statutes established new in their places and so governed all things with that even hand that an accord was made and concluded in the Month of May 1576. with that satisfaction to both Parties that the Citizens and Inhabitants who had retired from Genoua for fear of the civil Dissensions returned again to enjoy their repose and ease according to their accustomed Liberty Nor was the Pope less concerned for the Peace of Poland where great differences arose amongst the Nobility as hath been accustomary about the election of a King For Henry III. of France having as we have said resigned his Elective Government to take possession of his hereditary Kingdom of France the Election of a new King administred great cause of dispute and argument by reason of the many powerful Princes which stood in competition and were Candidates for the Election as namely the Emperor Maximilian II. and Ernest his Son with his Brother the Arch Duke of Austria Stephen Battori Prince of Transilvania Alphonso II. Duke of Ferrara together with the Great Duke of Moscovy The Contests between these mighty Rivals proceeded to that degree that nothing but force of Arms could determine the Controversie which the Arch-bishop of Gnesne with many other Associates intending to prove forsook the place of Election and with armed Bands declared for Maximilian the Emperor against whom an other party appeared in favour of Anne Daughter of the Royal Family of Jagellona in Poland intending in right of her to confer in Marriage the Crown upon Battori Prince of Transilvania but these dissentions were soon after concluded by the death of Maximilian the Emperor Battori being after his Marriage with Anne by general consent of all the Nobles received and crowned King of Poland and thereupon sent his Ambassadours to Rome to pay his respects and obedience to the
which they knew or of which they could accuse their Judges who had for the space of five or six years sat in the Seat of Judicature By these means every day one poor Judg or other who perhaps also was out of employment was dragged away to Prison and close shut up for what Crime he knew not or perhaps had forgot the Sentence he had passed in the Case for which he was accused These and many such like cases of severity strook such a terrour into the minds of those who sat on the Tribunals of Justice or managed any publick employment that every one became cautious and nice in the Sentences he gave or how by fear or bribery he remitted the least scruple or severity which the Law enjoyned or required Farther he gave strict charge to all Sindics and Governours of Towns and Castles to give in a particular List or account of all Felons within their respective Precincts who had for the space of ten years past been accused or branded with Capital Crimes and also of all such who had been convicted for scandalous and infamous persons and Incorrigible during the time of their Sindicate In which Lists he required such an exact impartiality that upon Information given against the Sindic of Albano how in the List of the Dissolute and Incorrigible he had omitted to insert the name of his Nephew he was sentenced by the Pope himself to undergo the Strapado in the publick Market-place from which punishment all the Intercession and Prayers and Interest which the Spanish Ambassadour could make in his behalf was not able to deliver him By these means the Lists of Dissolute Persons which were immediately directed to the hand of the Pope were so very exact that no person was exempted who was guilty of the least Crime Which when the Pope saw and observed every Week as they were sent him he was greatly pleased and especially with those which were filled with a great number of names for in reading of them he would often say Oh happy Gallies which I intend to build O happy I who have first found Men for my Gallies before I found Gallies for my Men. The which severity of the Pope from whom there could never be any expectation of Pardon so terrified all sorts and conditions of People that every one comported himself with the greatest modesty and gravity imaginable that an Oath or a rude or uncivil word was not heard through any of the streets of Rome but every one being alarm'd and dreading as if he had always a Constable or a Pursuivant at his back walked with his beads in his hand repeating a Pater-Noster or some other Prayer with a sorrowful and penitential countenance By these Methods all the Banditi who being grown licentious under the gentle Government of other Popes and who spoiled and destroyed all Italy were now by the Justice of this Pope almost wholly extirpated for such as fled out of the State of the Church to the Dominions of other Princes he so prosecuted by laying Fines on any who secured or succoured them and setting a price on the head of every considerable Bandito that in a short time he reduced them to a small number and totally suppressed the pride and insolence of that pest of mankind And thus resolutely was Sixtus bent to punish the Enormities of wicked Men that whereas it had been the custom of former Popes to shew acts of mercy and pardon on the day of their Coronation opening the Prison Gates and enlarging the Prisoners this Sixtus absolutely refused to grant releasement to any though instantly urged by the Cardinals alledging That there were Rogues sufficient about the streets without ransacking the Prisons for them That he had taken a resolution when he was first made Pope to chastise the wicked and not suffer their Villanies to corrupt and intermix with the Vertues of good Men. By these severities all people lived in quiet and peace one with the other no Sword was drawn in the City nor quarelsom words or uncivil language uttered it being a common saying to Men at variance together Remember these are the times of Sixtus Thus when the Banditi were suppressed the good and benefit was so great to all Italy that the Citizens of Rome erected a Statue of Brass to the memory of this Rome on which these words were engraven Sixto V. Pont. Max. ob quietem publicam compressa Sicariorum Exulumque licentiâ restitutam Annonae inopiam sublevatam urbem edificiis viis aquaeductu illustratam SPQR And farther to demonstrate the inflexible humour of this Pope it is observable that a poor Youth of about seventeen years of age making a resistance against the Bayliffs who came to distrain an Ass for some Duties owing and by Law ordained to be paid in which seizure though the Officers made a mistake for that the Ass did not belong to the party who owed the Mony yet because he offended against the course of Justice by making opposition to it he was condemned to die nor could the persuasions or Intercessions of the G. Duke's Ambassadour nor of the Cardinal of Medici prevail in his behalf or mitigate the rigour of the Sentence and when the Governour of Rome alledged that the youth being under age could not by Law be put to death for this Crime the Pope replyed If he want years I will lend him ten of mine Nor did Sixtus exercise this severity onely towards his own People but he was brisk and haughty towards all Christian Princes for in a few days after his Coronation or at most in two months after he quarrelled with Henry III. King of France with Henry King of Navarre and with Philip II. King of Spain The occasion of his quarrel with Spain seemed to have had no other cause or foundation than his own pride and desire of usurpation and which happened in this manner It had been the custom ever since the time of the Emperour Charles V. for the King of Spain by his Ambassadour at Rome to present yearly on the 29th day of June which is the Festival of St. Peter a white Horse with a Purse of seven thousand Ducats in Gold to the Pope for a Tribute and acknowledgment for the Kingdom of Naples which that King holds as feudatary to the Ecclesiastical State And now on the usual day Sixtus appearing on a Throne with pomp and mignificence to receive his Tribute which the Ambassadour in a quaint Speech and with fine Complements presented he seemed not very well satisfied therewith but returned this tart and Satyrical Reply You think now said he that you have made a fine Speech and indeed so you have for you have made us change a Kingdom for a Beast and still seeming uneasie as he was about to rise he added these suspitious words But we believe that this business will not proceed long in this manner These words immediately touched the Ambassadour to the quick and giving him just cause of reflection
thereupon he dispatched them for Spain by the first Post and to the Duke of Ossuna then Vice-King of Naples the which administred not onely cause of jealousie and incited the Vice-King to be watchful against the least commotions but was the cause of misunderstanding and ill correspondence between Sixtus and Philip of Spain But the quarrel which he had with the French King was of another nature and grounded on more substantial differences and considering the fierce resolution of Sixtus might have produced more prejudicial consequences The Dispute had its beginning from a Message sent by the Pope to the French Ambassadour signifying to him by break of day in the morning that it was the Pope's pleasure that in tâ—â— space of two days time he should depart from Rome and from the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State the occasion of this intimation was this The Pope for reasons best known to himself had recalled from the Court of France his Nuntio the Bishop of Bergamo with intention to dispeed Fabio Mirto the Arch-bishop of Nazaret to reside in his place for he being a Person of prudence and noted for his admirable conduct and dexterity in the management of Affairs the Pope took an extraordinary liking to him especially for having managed the Office of Nuntio at other times with great success but the French King so soon as he received Intelligence that this Arch-bishop of Nazaret was coming Nuntio to Paris and understood by his Character that he was a Person zealous and entirely devoted to the Interest of the Pope he immediately dispatched an Express to him with Letters desiring him that wheresoever those Letters should be delivered to his hands he should remain and abide until new Orders should come to the Pope whom he had instantly desired that the Bishop of Bergamo might still continue in his Office The Arch-bishop of Nazaret being proceeded as far as Lions when he received the King's Orders seemed greatly surprized with this unexpected interruption saying that his Master the Pope who was impatient of Injuries would highly resent an Affront of this nature and that whereas he had Instructions to return back from what place soever he found the least difficulty or interruption in his Journey he was resolved the next day to set his face towards Rome the which would produce an ill correspondence with France for the Bishop of Bergamo would certainly be recalled and the Kingdom left without the residence of a Nuntio So soon as this News was brought to Rome the Pope resented it in a fierce manner and with high words against the French King threatned revenge with Thunderbolts of Excommunication and other Ecclesiastical Censures and in the heat of this fury without the consultation of a Consistory he sent immediately to the French Ambassadour to depart from Rome and out of the Dominion of the Church On the other side when this news arrived at the French Court the King expressed his resentments thereof to his Council and calling together all the Ministers of forein Princes he in their presence stated the difference in the case between himself and the Pope protesting against the Injuries he had received In fine after several Letters which passed by Expresses between the King and the Pope without any good understanding on either side for the Pope was resolved not to yield his Point at length by the mediation of forein Ambassadours at Paris and the interposition of Cardinal d' Este and other Cardinals at Rome the matter was accommodated so that the King received the Arch-bishop of Nazaret at Paris and the Pope recalled the French Ambassadour the Sieur St. Godart to Rome whom in his fury he had lately dispeeded from thence But such quarrels as these were like the fallings out of Friends which are easily reconcileable and of small importance in respect of those grand Feuds which were commenced between the Pope and Henry King of Navarre on the score of Religion for in regard that in the Reign of Gregory XIII a League was made against the Protestant Religion and directed against the Person of the said Henry which Pope Gregory refused to subscribe but now this Sixtus V. who was of a towring Spirit and one who delighted out of the pride of his heart to mortifie Princes and contend with great Personages not onely subscribed to the League in a most solemn manner but with terrible maledictions issued out his Bulls of Excommunication against the person of Henry King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde declaring them guilty of Heresie and to be the chief Fomenters and Protectors of the heretical party and that consequently the said Henry his Heirs and all descended from him was by the just Censures of the Canonical Law rendered uncapable to succeed in the right of any Principality and particularly to the Crown of France and accordingly he did absolve all his Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance and the Obedience they had sworn to him Notwithstanding all these Menaces of the Pope and the power of the League Henry comported himself with that Courage and generosity of mind that the Pope could not but much admire the heroick spirit of that King and conceived such an extraordinary Opinion of his Abilities and worth that he would frequently say that there were onely two Princes in the World namely the King of Navarre and Elizabeth Queen of England whose friendship and correspondence he would court and desire but that the guilt of Heresie had rendered them uncapable of his Acquaintance And in such esteem those two were with him notwithstanding the prejudice he had to them for the cause of Religion that in his ordinary Discourse he would use this saying That to make things go well in the World there was need onely of three Persons viz. Elizabeth Henry and Sixtus It is said also that Queen Elizabeth conceived such an esteem for this Pope Sixtus that she would often commend his Talent and excellent Qualities for Government And that when some would discourse of her Marrying she would often say that if she did marry she would have no other Husband than Pope Sixtus which being reported to him again he replyed thereupon That if they two should lie one night together they should beget an other Alexander for the World The Duke of Ossuna in the time of this Sixtus was Vice King of Naples a Person esteemed the wisest Governour and the best Politician of his Age and yet was highly blamed by this Pope for not revenging the murther of Starace who in a popular Insurrection was assassinated by the people for no other reason than that he was esteemed a Confident and a Creature of Ossuna upon which neglect and default the Pope entertaining Discourses frequently with the Spanish Ambassadour would often say That two Instruments were necessary for the people that is Bread and cold Iron repeating those words often Bread I say and cold Iron But Ossuna who had no need of those Admonitions not long after or so
Briga But being pursued thither by the Enemy he was there besieged and afterwards taken Prisoner towards the end of January 1588. The Pope who was greatly concerned for this disgrace of Maximilian dispeeded Cardinal Aldobrandino into Poland to treat a Peace and an Accommodation between Maximilian and the Prince the which after various difficulties and Disputes was happily concluded about the beginning of March 1589. The Articles of which were that Maximilian should renounce all Title and pretence to the Crown of Poland by reason of the late Election or any other demand whatsoever and that the Prince of Sweden should remain the lawful and undoubted King which being agreed the Prince took possession and was named Sigismond III. The Pope who was no less zealous for the success of the King's Arms in France against his Protestant Subjects sent a Sword to the Duke of Guise who was chief of the Catholick League as he had lately done to the Prince Farnese who was Governour of Flanders the which was delivered by a Bishop who was purposely sent to present it and therewith to tender his paternal love and benediction to the Duke assuring him that he possessed a large room in the heart and breast of the Pope The Ceremony of delivering this Sword was performed with such pomp and triumph at Paris and with such popular acclamations of the multitude in favour of Guise as administred just cause of jealousie and fear to the King and though Guise was ambitious enough to be pleased therewith yet being immoderate and irregular his modesty told him that they were undecent The King in the mean time being eclipsed by the popular grandeur of Guise and by the troubles of a Civil War with which his Kingdom was infested did seem to resent the favours which the Pope shewed to Guise as unseasonable of which when Sixtus had knowledg and of the popular acclamations at the delivery of his Sword he was much troubled for he being of a humour always desirous to maintain Sovereignty in its highest degree of Honour and Power did by a Letter to the King exhort him to maintain his Prerogatives and conserve the honour of his Crown against the Insolencies and rebellions of his Subjects adding That a Canker in the bowels of his State was curable onely by cauterizing and by fire and Sword and that it was necessary to vent some of that blood which was too redundant in the veins of his Subjects The King made frequent reflections on this Letter and often gave it to the Duke of Guise to read and consider and being one day in Parliament where many Debates arose touching the ways and means by which the Civil Wars might be accommodated and a good understanding produced between him and his Subjects the King declared the great aversion of his mind to blood or other extremities which though he might justly by the Counsels and persuasions of the Pope yet he was more tender of the lives of his Subjects than to cure his troubles by such severe Remedies and to confirm the truth thereof he produced the Pope's Letter causing it publickly to be read in that Assembly which when the Parliament heard they Blessed themselves and as well the Catholicks as Protestants remained astonished and scandalized at this cruelty of the Universal Pastor who with such little remorse could suck the blood of Christ's Sheep as if he had rather been the Wolf than Shepherd of the Christian Flock Which when the Pope understood and was informed of all the Satyrs and Libels which the Protestants had composed on this occasion he was greatly disturbed that the King should so publickly expose his Counsels which he designed for his secret directions and having signified his resentment thereof by his Nuntio he would never afterwards adventure to write him a Letter but on all occasions of business referred himself by word of mouth to the report of his Nuntio And now Sixtus whose thoughts were ever employed on means which might enlarge or make great the Church did much incite Philip II. King of Spain to make War on Elizabeth Queen of England pressing him to re-assume his Right to that Kingdom which he had once governed and for encouragement thereunto he promised Count Olivarez the King's Ambassadour at Rome that so soon as the Spanish Army should be landed on any part of the English shoar he would immediately contribute a million of Crowns to that Design Nor was the Pope moved hereunto out of a zeal onely to Religion but out of a secular Design supposing that the chief Flower of the Nobility and Soldiery of Naples being drained thence on this Enterprize he might have a more facil passage to the possession of that Kingdom In pursuance therefore of this Design a great and wonderful Fleet of vast Caracks to the number of one hundred and fifty Sail being set to Sea on which were twenty three thousand Land Soldiers with two thousand pieces of Cannon of which the Duke of Medina Sidonia was made General they entered the Channel of England where being met by a small Fleet of Ships under the Command of Sir Francis Drake several broad-sides passed between them but at length the Divine Providence assisting England and defending the Protestant Cause the valour of the English and the successful direction of the Fire-ships prevailed with admirable fortune over the Spaniards against whom also God himself fighting as we may say by his Storms and Tempests totally defeated and destroyed this invincible Armada as we may more at large read in our Chronicles of England Sixtus having received the news of this unhappy defeat wrote Letters to Philip to condole with him for the loss and therewith taking an occasion to blame the management and conduct of his Officers he attributed the miscarriage of all to the want of care and experience of the Chief Commanders by which reflection of disgrace his intent was to prevent all Demands from him of reparation for this loss and on this subject he proceeded in a publick Consistory to blame and tax every Individual Chief both in the Army and in the Council of ill administration onely he took upon him to excuse Alexander Farnese Governour of the Low-Countries and to answer the aspersions which his Enemies had charged upon him declaring him to be the onely person who for his personal Valour and excellency of his Conduct was the most approved Captain of that Age. This Letter of Condolance wrote by the Pope was dispatched to his Nuntio at Madrid to be delivered to the King whose constancy of mind and evenness of temper was such that though the Nuntio well knew he had no need of Cordials or consolatory Exhortations yet the Commands of his Master were to be obeyed and the formality observed Whilest King Philip was reading the Letter he often smiled as if the Stile had rather been to congratulate his Victory than to condole for his loss Howsoever he thanked the Nuntio and promised to return an Answer thereunto
had declared the Cardinal of Bourbon to be King by the name of Charles XI Upon this grand Crisis of Affairs the Pope resolved to dispeed Cardinal Cajetan in quality of his Legat into France with a numerous train of Prelats famous for their Wisdom and Learning intending to furnish him with the sum of a hundred thousand Pistols to defray the charge and pomp of his sublime Character Whilest things were thus preparing Advices came from the Duke of Luxemburg that Henry of Vandosme King of Navarre having been victorious in many bloody Battels was acknowledged by all the Nobility to be the true and lawful King of France and that he namely the Duke of Luxemburg was designed Ambassadour by the said Nobility unto his Holiness to inform him of the reasons which moved them to such an acknowledgment and to demand his Counsel and direction as the common Father how and in what manner they might apply such remedies as might tend to a happy and a well grounded peace The Pope discovering hereby that the Agents of the League had falsely represented the state of Affairs to him immediately dispatched a Letter in answer to the Duke of Luxemburg acquainting him that his Person should be welcome at Rome and civilly treated together with an other to the Nobility of France in the Camp of Navarre exhorting them to remain firm and constant to the Catholick Religion adding that as to the person of the King it was indifferent to him who it was that reigned provided he were a true Son of the Church and such as the Nobility desired And now the Legat being upon departure the Pope altered many particulars of his former Instructions and expresly warned him to keep as much as was possible an even and steady hand in all the pretensions of Secular Princes but that he should be sure always to incline towards the side of the Church and Religion that he should not shew himself an open Enemy to the King of Navarre until his case was desperate and past all hopes of being reclaimed to the Church but that so soon as he found him wavering he should then encourage him but stand a Neuter until he professed himself a true Convert and from that time to declare for his Person and Interest But the Legat not well observing these Rules but running quite contrary in favour of the League and making his aboad at Paris which had declared it self against the King of Navarre did greatly incur the displeasure of the Pope who not approving his Negotiations gave a stop to those sums of Money which he had designed for him In short therefore this deportment which the Pope used towards Henry did greatly contribute towards his establishment for the World observing that so wise a person as the Pope professing no other quarrel to him than onely on the score of Religion and that this scruple being removed he was ready to side with him against all other Interests and that he had induced the wise and politick Senate of Venice to acknowledg him for King of France there is no doubt but that these favourable appearances did bring great reputation to the Arms of Henry and much facilitated his ascent to the Crown Having in this manner laid down the Methods and ways of proceedings in Secular Affairs and with forein Princes let us now before we conclude the Life of this great Man return to the treatment which he exercised towards his own People and the rules he observed in the maintenance and nourishment of his own natural Body Sixtus having now for five years observed many things relating to Government nothing appeared more extravagant than the gallantry which people used in their Clothing which was become so excessive that for the regulation thereof he constituted Cardinal Aldobrandino to be the Reformer by whose care and wisdom such sumptuary Laws were enacted as reduced all persons into a modesty of dress and habit which being imposed with severe penalties on the Transgressour which Sixtus would never remit all the Rules were observed and obeyed during the time of this Pope who did not supervive for many Months after It is observable that this Sixtus when he was a Frier and a Cardinal and not incumbred with a load of business was very temperate and abstemious in his Diet but being made Pope and burdened with an intense application of mind to business he seemed to want greater nourishment to keep up his spirits which otherwise might have sunk under the weight of Affairs and therefore did eat much and drink often of divers sorts of delicious and exquisite Wines and would often sit two or three hours at Meals discoursing of Theological and political Subjects howsoever his Diet was ordinary and course and his Table as frugal as of any Pope that ever preceded him He slept little having his mind always intent to Studies or businesses giving Audiences to forein Ambassadours or hearing the Consults and Advices of his Cardinals or administring Justice so that he was never observed to be idle or at leisure He was ever chiding in a clamorous manner with his Servants and yet he loved them preferring many of them to high degrees and dignities having made three of them Cardinals and Bishops besides Castruccio Ardas as he was forward to advance those who had merited well from him so he was rigorous and severe against any who offended either out of negligence or malice An example of which he shewed in the condemnation of Bellochio his Cup-bearer to the Gallies for having affixed the Annulus Piscatorius or the Pope's Seal to a certain writing which Sixtus had refused to pass nor could he be dissuaded by all the Intreaties which the Friends of Bellochio used and being cast into the Gallies he died miserably in two Months time of his disgrace and servitude He was extreamly tender and affectionate to his own Kindred and Relations and in an especial manner to his Sister Camilla one of whose Grandsons by a Daughter a youth very young he raised to be a Cardinal in the first Month that he was made Pope who so well improved himself by time in the dexterous management of all Affairs that he became so very useful to his Uncle the Pope that he bestowed a Revenue upon him of an hundred thousand Crowns of yearly Rent The Palace of Montalto is to this day to be seen at Rome rarely furnished and famous for the abundance of rare Pictures Statues and Urns and the Garden one of the best in all Rome He was infinitely covetous and contriving for Money for raising of which he laid Taxes on those things which were never before charged and sold those Offices which were never until his time set to sale so that he advanced the Papal Revenue to above six hundred thousand Crowns a year above the ordinary Income and in the first year of his Reign he laid up a million of Gold in the Castle of St. Angelo ordaining that this Money should never be employed
which though it be a year of repentance yet it is also a year of Jubilee and of spiritual joy and comfort Now because the love of Christ for whom we are Ambassadours to all Nations constraineth us and the zeal which we have for your Souls doth consume our spirit we exhort and beseech you all by the blood which Jesus Christ hath spilt and by his coming in the last day of Judgment especially at this time of Jubilee That every one be converted from the evil of his way and turn unto the Lord with a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned because the Lord is gracious and merciful full of compassion and long-suffering Wherefore according to the duty of our Pastoral Office we do call and chearfully invite you Our dear Children in Christ namely the Emperor the Kings and Catholick Princes with all the faithful of Christ wheresoever dispersed in the most remote parts of the World that they would be present at this joyful solemnity of the Jubilee though we cannot but at the same time be miserably afflicted with consideration of the great numbers of people who have separated themselves from the union and Communion of the Catholick and Apostolical Church within the last Age of one hundred years past did with one mind and heart celebrate this holy year of Jubilee for the eternal salvation of whose souls we would gladly and willingly spill our blood and give our lives Wherefore you who are obedient Children and Catholick and beloved of God and us Venite Ascendite ad locum quem elegit Dominus Come unto this spiritual Jerusalem and to this holy Mount of Sion not according to the letter but Allegorically and by spiritual understanding because that from this place the holy light of Evangelical truth hath from the first beginning of the Primitive Church been diffused through all Nations This is that happy City whose faith the Apostle praises and commends in these words I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole World This is the City where the Chief of the Apostles Peter and Paul did vent their Doctrine with the effusion of their blood that Rome being the sacred Seat of St. Peter might become the capital City of the World the Mother of all the Faithful and the Majesty of all the other Churches Here is the Rock of Faith placed and from hence springs the fountain of the Priestly unity from hence are derived the clear streams of the purest Doctrine here are found the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven with full power to bind and loose and lastly here is conserved that Treasure of Indulgences which shall never fail of which the Roman High Priest is the principal keeper and Dispenser And though he doth dispense some part hereof every year as occasion doth require yet more especially in this Holy year of Jubilee a greater affluence thereof is dispersed when according to the solemnity of the most antient Churches of Rome when the gates are opened by the pious and liberal hands that so entering into the presence of God with joy and having cast off from their shoulders the yoke of sin and the tyranny of the Enemy you may be reconciled unto God by means of the Sacrament and therefore come you as true Children Heirs of Heaven and Possessours of Paradise Given at Rome near St. Peters in the year of our Lord's Incarnation 1599. June 18. in the 8th year of our Pontificate The Copy of this Letter being sent to all Christian Princes in communion with the Court of Rome the Pope busily employed himself in making preparations and provisions for entertainment of Pilgrims who in the following year of Jubilee crouded in those numbers to gain the Indulgences and Pardons as of Men and Women the account made amounted unto three Millions of Persons But the Pope was not so busily employed in his preparations for the Jubilee but that he attended to the decision of the Controversie of the Marquisat of Saluces which as we have said was at the late Treaty at Vervins put into his hands and power to be concluded and determined in the space of one year In order unto which the President Bruslard was dispatched to Rome in behalf of the French King and the Count d' Archonas of the Duke of Savoy and both met there about the beginning of this year 1599. the Cause being pleaded before the Pope both Parties pressed the Arguments so home in favour of the right of their respective matters that the Pope esteeming the Point difficult to be decided required some longer time before he would undertake to pass his judgment and in the interim proposed that the Marquisat should remain in his hands as a Depositary and an indifferent person between both Parties And though neither the King nor the Duke were well pleased with these delatory proceedings yet the King was contented to allow two Months for such determination but the Duke who had been possessed by the suggestions of his Minister at Rome that the Pope required to be the Depositary with design to bestow the Marquisat on one of his Nephews conceived such a jealousie of the Pope's intentions that he began to decline the Umpirage which when the Pope understood he with great indignation refused to interpose farther resolving neither to meddle with the Arbitration nor the Deposite The King who knew well in what manner to do right unto himself by his Sword was not much concerned for the rejection which the Pope had made of the Arbitration and the Duke being contented to have his Cause pass by other formalities than that of the Consistory judged his right more secure and more easily convincing by a personal Treaty with the King himself which matter being now taken out of the hand of the Pope we leave to the temporal determination of these Princes and proceed to other matters more agreeable to this History Henry IV. of France being in good favour and correspondence with Clement VIII treated with him about obtaining a Divorce or rather a dissolution of marriage between him and Margaret Dutchess of Valois to which this Pope might perhaps be more inclinable and easie on some reflections he made on the ill consequences which the delays of the like Divorce to Henry VIII of England produced to the Papal Power The Cardinal d' Ossac with the President Monsieur de Silery having Orders to prosecute this matter in the Court of Rome represented to the Pope the state of the marriage with Queen Margaret and that though the King their Master had ever since his conversion to the Catholick Religion entertained reverend and obedient thoughts towards the Papal Sea and might on score of being the eldest Son of the Church expected more than ordinary favours yet on consideration of the Nullity of this Marriage he desired nothing more than common justice The Pope who was very desirous to favour and
was excluded Campori made the greater bustle and so also did Aquino but great and strong Parties opposing against them vacated their Elections At length Cardinal Borghese naming Ludovisio was followed by a general concurrence of almost all the Cardinals almost we may say because Campori upon the news thereof turned pale and ready to fall into a swoon Aldobrandino also and Aquino fell sick and were carried out of the Conclave and Aquino having now lost all hopes of being made Pope took it so grievously to heart that in two days he departed this life Thus Ludovisio being elected he was conducted into the Chappel Parlina where he was vested in his Pontificalibus and acknowledged and adored for Pope on the 21th of February 1621. and took the name of Gregory XV. This Pope was born at Bologna on the third of January 1554. his Father was Count Pompeo Ludovisio and his Mother Camilla Blanchina he was in his youthful years educated in the Jesuits Colledg at Rome where he was instructed in all sorts of Humane and Philosophical Learning returning afterwards to Bologna he studied the Civil Law in which he arrived to the degree of Doctor and thence again setling himself at Rome he gained the friendship of three succeeding Popes by Gregory XIII he was chosen and created Principal Judg of the Capitol by Clement VIII he was made Referendary of both Signatures and presided in all Civil Causes in the place of Deputy to Cardinal Rusticuccio the Pope's Vicar he was afterwards assumed into Commission with the Auditors of the Rota which Office one of his Ancestors named Lodowick Ludovisio had about one hundred and fifty years before with great satisfaction and prudence admitted He was likewise by the same Clement VIII adjoyned in Commission with Maffeo Barbarini Clerk of the Apostolical Chamber who afterwards was Pope and sent to Beneventum to appease Tumults and Seditions arisen between the Officers of the Pope and those of the King of Spain And lastly Paul V. created him Arch-bishop of Bologna upon promotion to which Prelacy he wrote a Letter to his Diocesans full of Charity and paternal affection which was printed at Bologna and is extant at this day About this time a War was begun between Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy and Ferdinand Duke of Mantoua grounded on certain differences about some places in the Dutchy of Montferrat which were the cause of great trouble in Milan and other places of Italy in regard that Philip III. King of Spain took part with the Duke of Mantoua to appease which disturbances and compose which differences Pope Paul employed this Alexander Ludovisio qualifying him with the Title of his Nuntio in those three Provinces to confer with the Ambassadours of France and Spain in which negotiation he so well acquitted himself and with such honour towards the Papal Sea that Peace being concluded and all Disputes ended the Pope in reward of the pains and prudence of Ludovisio on the 20th of November 1616. promoted him to the degree of Cardinal with which Title he resided in his Diocese until news came of the death of Paul V when he immediately repaired to Rome and entred the Conclave on the 8th of February with the other Cardinal and on the 21th of that month was himself created Pope Some few days after which being crowned in St. Peter's Church with the usual pomp he took possession of the Sovereign Power of the Church in the Church of St. John de Lateran which Ceremonies being past he published Jubilies and Pardons over all Christendom to all such who should with sincere minds pray for the prosperity and happiness of his Reign At this time a War began to be inflamed between the Inhabitants and Neighbours of the Valteline in which the Kings of Spain and France became involved the causes and original of which doth not appertain to this History Spain being desirous to interest Gregory in this Cause offered to deposite the Forts of the Valteline in his hands making great ostentations of their desires to Peace and quietness but in Rome the Opinions and Counsels upon an offer of such importance were doubtful and divided for those who penetrated the most deeply into matters of Policy were not willing that the Authority of the Church and Power of the Pope should be so far engaged or that the professed neutrality and mediation should run so much hazard for that being once accepted by the Pope the Conditions of Peace would be rendered more difficult and perhaps impossible for if in case an agreement should happen between two Kings of restoring all things to their former estate it would be difficult to conceive with what decency the Pope could restore into the hands of the Protestants whom he esteemed Hereticks those places which were committed to his Guardianship and custody The Venetian Republick being of the same Opinion sent Soranzo Ambassadour Extraordinary to Rome to disuade the Pope from lending his Name and Authority to the interests of Spain but he yielding an Ear to his Nephews who were overcome by Pensions and Benefices from Spain was possessed with an Opinion and belief that at the appearing of his Colours all the Arms of the Enemy would out of Veneration fall from their hands upon which the glorious memorial of Peace preserved and Religion protected would remain as an Ornament to his Name and a Crown upon his Sepulcre But the French shewed themselves displeased that Gregory had not expected the sence of that Crown upon the matter before he resolved to accept the Deposite howsoever in the French Councils the Opinion prevailed that the Pope should accept of the Deposite with certain limitations and reserves and it was declared that the Deposite should remain until the end of July it being now the month of May within which time the Forts being demolished and all restraints upon the Grisons and Armies removed which did oppress them affairs should be restored to their former State which not being performed the League should supplicate the Pope to join himself to their Arms thereby to obtain the effect In pursuance of these resolutions the Duke of Fiano the Pope's own Brother a dull and sottish Man was sent with fifteen thousand Foot and five hundred Horse to take possession of the Towns to be deposited but had been resisted in the Valley had not the Governour of Milan removed all obstacles but these matters came to no maturity for amidst these transactions the Pope departed this life In the year 1622. Lewis XIII of France was involved in great Wars against his Protestant Subjects and rendered himself Master of the Provinces of Poictou Xantonge Gascony Dauphino and Languedoc Philip IV. King of Spain was employed in Wars against the Hollanders likewise the Emperour Ferdinand II. waged Wars with the Protestants in Germany and with assistance of Marquis Spinola and the Duke of Bavaria despoiled the Prince Palatine of the Rhine of his Dominions and having the plunder of Heidelberg the Duke of Bavaria
to Luca and thence to Ligorne from whence passing into France he added more fuel to the Fire encreasing the differences which were as yet too fresh and new to be reconciled The two Alternatives were as follow That Castro and Rociglione should be restored to the Duke of Parma and the Valley of Comachio to the Duke of Modena the most Christian King requiring no other satisfaction for the late injuries he received than that he might be able to do justice to the two Princes his Allies and Friends who had resigned themselves to his defence and protection And to the end that Ambassadours from his Majesty and other Princes might for the future live quietly at Rome with their Families and enjoy the priviledges and immunities which appertain to them according to the Law of Nations no Design should be enterprised against them without the consent and knowledg of the Sacred Colledg That the Processes at Law against the Duke Cesarini should be superseded and reparations made him for all detriment done to his Estate and disparagement to his Honour And that likewise proceedings at Law whether Civil or criminal against any Person on this occasion should cease after the twentieth of August That all Corps of Guard after that time and quarters of Soldiers be removed out of Rome and after this That the manner how the Duke Cesarini is to be received into Rome be treated and agreed with himself But in case the Pope did not judg fit to assent and agree to these Proposals then this Alternative was offered That Don Mario be banished to Siena for five years That Cardinal Ghigi be sent Legat into France to make the Pope's excuse at his first Audience upon the matters which lately happened in Rome That at his second Audience he shall supplicate his Majesties Pardon both for himself and his whole Family and that the form and circumstances of this Address shall be ordered and concerted with the Ambassadour Crequi That Cardinal Imperiale be degraded and deprived of his Hat That the Captain of the Guards be cashiered and for ever banished That a Pyramid be erected amidst the late quarters of the Corsi at Rome with an Inscription specifying the Crime for which they were banished and for which they were rendered uncapable for ever more to serve or bear Arms in Rome These were the first draughts of those Proposals which France offered in order to an Accommodation which being brought to Rome did greatly trouble the mind of the Pope with many melancholly and distracted thoughts of which he eased himself in a full Consistory complaining of the hard terms exacted from him by the King of France For reply whereunto some of the Cardinals and particularly Azzolino spake loudly against the Proposals encouraging the Pope to a fortitude of mind and to stand stiff upon his terms rather demanding satisfaction from the King than yielding to terms derogatory to his Honour Howsoever the Pope being streightned in his thoughts and being divided between the apprehensions he conceived of a War against the Church and the tenderness he had for his Relations his own Honour and the reputation of the Sacred Colledg which he esteemed wounded in the person of Cardinal Imperiale he inclined rather to the second Alternative than to the first and accordingly he designed to send Cardinal Chigi his Legat into France and Imperiale was to be removed from his Government in Rome and sent Legat into the Marca But because this change appeared to the King rather a promotion than a punishment he was sent to Genoua there to reside until he could contrive means to reconcile himself to the King but because the Brief did not denote this dismission under the term of Banishment exceptions were made thereunto as dissentaneous from the pleasure of his Majesty but as to Don Mario the Pope seemed to grant whatsoever was desired and to sacrifice him and all his Relations for the quietness and peace of the Church but this was only a flourish and an excess of words as afterwards appeared in the sequel when matters came to be put in execution As to the Corsi whatsoever was demanded was condescended unto But things being in this imperfect manner agreed this year ended with fears and apprehensions of an ensuing War And in the mean time Avignon revolting from the Pope the Inhabitants pulled down the Arms of the Church and expelled the Papal Officers from the City the People crying aloud for France and their return to that Dominion from whence they had been unjustly alienated by connivance or indulgence of former Kings and now they erected the Arms of France in all publick places and restored or renewed the Antient Inscriptions which vindicated and attested the Right which the Kings of France held unto that City To augment all these difficulties Spain seemed inclining to the concernments of France for which reason the Venetians appeared the most proper Instruments to be employed in the Offices of Mediation and accordingly the Ambassadour of that Republick residing at Paris called Luigi Grimani received Instructions to treat in favour of the Pope and indeed the way of Treaty was the onely remedy which Rome could propose for the King of Spain to the great admiration of the World had granted leave for the French Troops to march through Milan into the Ecclesiastical State The Duke of Savoy adhered to the French Interest Genoua being weak and unable to resist durst not deny a compliance the Duke of Parma and Modena for their own convenience and hopes of benefit became parties in combination against the Pope So that France nourishing vast Designs by this conjuncture of Affairs kept up their dissatisfactions in the Court of Rome which they pretended to have been augmented and enflamed by that honourable treatment and reception which the Pope had given to Charles Duke of Loraine who was fled from France and shrouded himself under the protection of the Church About the beginning of this year Cardinal d' Este and the Duke of Crequi arrived at Paris where they gave a full relation of all matters which had lately passed in that Outrage committed by the Corsi with all the particulars of the Treaty which had been acted at St. Quirico But they represented things in such severe terms as greatly exasperated the mind of hâ—â— Majesty and caused him to reject all the Briefs Papers and Letters which were sent from the Pope and Cardinals for their 〈…〉 so that nothing was now discoursed of at Paris but War and the manner how to carry and manage the French Arms in Italy which were so feared and apprehended at Rome that all the consultations of the Consistory were to facilitate the Negotiations and give such satisfaction as might prevent a War In the mean time Aloisé Grimani Ambassadour for the Republick of Venice then residing at Paris used all means possible to bring matters to a reasonable understanding in which he so well succeeded that he procured a new Deputation for
Lent first Instituted 18 Leo Emperour 78.79 his Edict against Images 132 S. Leo his body translated 125 Leodegarius Bishop of Autun 122 Leontius makes himself Emperour 124. deposed ibid. Lewis surnam'd the Godly Emperour 153 Lewis King of Bavaria 154 Lewis Son of Lotharius 100. Crown'd King of Italy 161. being Emperor he comes to Rome 167 Lewis King of France engages in the holy War 267 Lewis of the French Bloud Royal canoniz'd 295 Libanius the Orator 71 Licinius Emperour 49 Lions a Council there 280 Lombards their coming into Italy 96 Lotharingia Lorain why so call'd 160 Lotharius Emperour 154.160 Lucca made a free City 289. taken by the Germans and sold 308 Lucifer Bishop of Cagliari 59 Lucina a Roman Lady leaves the Church her Heir 47 Lucius King of Britain 24 Lucius an Heretical Bishop violent against the Orthodox 64 Luithprandus King of the Lombards 129. takes Ravenna 131. besieges Rome 134. his character 136 Luke the Evangelist 10 Lupus Duke of Friuli 114 M Macarius Bishop of Antioch a Monothelite 117 Macedonius a Heretick 61 Mahomet the Impostor 105 Malchion an eloquent Presbyter 38 Manes a Persian Impostor 41 Manfred Prince of Tarento 267. made King of Sicily 270. is kill'd 275 Manichees their Heresie 42 Marcion the Heretick 19 S. Mark employ'd by S. Peter to write his Gospel 4. his Body translated to Venice 158 Marriages a Decree concerning them 23 S. Martin's body works a Miracle 172 Martyrs their Acts ordain'd to be written and preserv'd 33 34. Masses yearly to be celebrated upon their account 41 Mathild or Maud a noble Countess 204. her death 206 Mauritius Emperour 98 Maxentius Emperour 48 49 Maximian Herculeus Emperour 44.48 Maximian Galerius Caesar 44. Emperour 47 Maximine Emperour 33.49 Maximus the Tyrant 77. a learned Christian of that name 127 Melito Bishop of Sardis 20 Merlin the British Prophet 79 Messalina Wife to the Emperour Claudius put to death for Adultery 3 Mezelindis a Woman of incomparable chastity 116 Milain taken by Sforza 377 Minutius Felix when he liv'd 31 Modestus a Christian Writer 25 Monothelites a Council held concerning them 117 Montanists Hereticks 21 Guido Montfort murthers Henry Son of Richard of Cornwall 273 Simon Montfort 256 Moors invade Calabria 176 N Names of Popes when first chang'd 160 Naples taken by Belisarius 91. besieg'd 253 Narses the Eunuch 94 Nepos a Heretick 39 Nero Emperour his Vices 6. kills himself 7 Nerva Cocceius Emperour his character 12 Nectorius his Heresie 74 Nice in Bithynia a Council there 51 Nicetas an Eunuch Patriarch of Constantinople 141 S. Nicolas his Body translated 216 Nicopolis taken by the Christians 218 Nogaret a French Cavalier 298 Normans have a part of France allow'd them to inhabit 172 Novatianus his Heresie 34. opposed by whom 36 O Odoacer King of the Heruli invades Italy 79 Olympius the Exarch 111 Optatus Milevitanus when he liv'd 66 Holy Orders not to be conferr'd at once 65. not upon maim'd or infirm persons 67. nor Foreiners without Testimonials ibid. nor on Servants 71. nor Debtors 72 Organs introduced first into the Church 114 Origen a learned Christian 27.29.32 Ostia the Harbour there by whom made 3 Otho Emperour an Account of his life 7 Otho II. Emperour 184 conquers Boleslaus King of Bohemia 183 comes to Rome 185 Otho Abbat of Clugny 207 Otho Duke of Burgundy engag'd in the Holy War 251 P Palaeologus Michael assumes the Empire of Constantinople 272 Pallavicino a powerful Gibelline 270.273 Pamphilus a learned Presbyter 43 Pantheon given to the Christians 103 Papias Bishop of Hierapolis 14 Papias the Lombard Glossographer 257 Paris when and by whom made an University 152 Parishes Rome when first so divided 14 Paschal an Arch-deacon endeavours to make himself Pope 123. convict of Sorcery ibid. S. Paul the Apostle 5. beheaded 6 Paulus Samosatenus a Heretick 26.40 Paulus Diaconus when he liv'd 147 Pelagius his Heresie condemn'd 69 Pepin Duke of Austrasia 124. King of France 137.141 his death 142 Pepin Son of Charlemagne 149.150 dies at Milan 151 Pepin Son of Lewis the Godly King of Aquitain 154 Perinus King of Cyprus 321 Pertheris King of the Lombards 120 Peter an Hermite excites the Christian Princes to the Holy War 217 Peter Abelardus a learned Men 238 Peter of Verona canoniz'd 268 Peter King of Aragon 287. his Kingdom given away by the Pope 288 Peter Luna Anti-Pope 338. his death 356 Petrarcha a learned Man 311 S. Petronilla S. Peter's Daughter her body translated 141 S. Philip the Apostle 10 Philip the Emperour 34 Philip King of France engag'd in the Holy War 251. returns home 253 Philippicus Emperour of Constantinople 129. deposed and his Eyes put out 130 Philo Judaeus when he liv'd 8 Phocas Emperour 101 Photinus a learned Bishop 18. Another of that name an Ebionite 65 Photinians Hereticks condemn'd 52 Picenninus a great Commander 361 Pisans overthrown by the Venetians 253. by the Genoeses 289. their City taken by the Florentines 339 Pistoia taken and rased 301 Plague through Europe 98 Platina the Author of this History imprison'd by Pope Paul II. 403. and tortur'd 410 Pliny the second occasions a persecution of the Christians to be stay'd 13 Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna 19 Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus 26 Posthumus an Usurper in Gallia 38 Pragmatic Sanction 396 Presbyters not to be ordain'd but by a Bishop 65 Primates who are to bear that Title 22 Priscian the Grammarian 88 Priscilla a Roman Matron builds a Cemetery 47 Priscillian his Heresie condemn'd 69 Probus Emperour 43 Projectus a Bishop martyr'd 116 Ptolemais besieged by the Christians 251. taken 253. retaken by the Infidels 292 Q Quadragesimal Fast See Lent Quadratus a learned Disciple 14 Quintilian's Works when and by whom found out 382 Quintillus Emperour 40 Quotiliani Hereticks 25 R Rabanus a learned Monk 159 Racherius Bishop of Verona 182 Rachis King of the Lombards 137 Ravenna the Church there reconcil'd to that of Rome 116. the pride of their Bishops repress'd by the Pope 119. the City taken by the Lombards 131. the Exarchate extinguish'd 140 Raymund a Commander in the holy War 217. a Debate between him and Boemund 220 Reggio surprizsed by treachery 320 Remigius Bishop of Rhemes 80 Rhodes taken by the Turks 111 Rhomoaldus Duke of Beneventum 119 Richard King of England engaged in the holy War 251. strikes up a Peace with Saladine 253. is taken Prisoner 254 Robert Guiscardi a great General 202. defeats the Saracens 203. and Greeks 204 Rodulphus King of Burgundy 181. of Habspurg Emperour 280. sells to several Cities of Italy their freedom 289 Rome sack'd by the Vandals 77. besieg'd by the Lombards 96 Rothifredus King of the Normans 171 Ruffinus a Roman General 70 S Sabellius Author of the Sabellian Heresie 39. his Heresie condemn'd 52 Sabinus King of the Bulgarians 141 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper various Decrees about it 16.17.20.27.125 Saladine King of Egypt 246. defeats the Christians 249. takes Jerusalem 250. his death and Character 254 Sanctuaries in
Churches first ordain'd 106 Saracens why so call'd 107. their insult upon Libya and Africa 121.124 and Spain 126. and France 131. defeated 132. enter France again 134. and are again overthrown 135. Shipwrack'd 162. routed by Pope Leo 163. driven out of Italy 171. returning again they are vanquish'd by Pope John XI 180. driven out of Sicily 196. besiege Toledo 256. are allow'd a City in Italy to inhabit 264.276 take Sardinia 300 Saxons converted to Christianity 125.147 Scaligeri Lords of Verona 300 Schisms in the Church 36.58.72.84.89.91.121.122.141.143.166.177.186.190.192.199.206.209.229.233.234.242.308.325.365 Sclavi receive the Christian faith 187 Scotus the learned Schoolman 164 S. Sebastian his body translated 159 Sedes stercoraria the reason of it 165 Serapion surnam'd Scholiastes 59 Severians Hereticks 21 Severus the Emperour his Character 26 Sforza defeats the Venetians 376. takes Milan 377 Sicardus Duke of Beneventum 157 Sicily deliver'd from the Moors 158 Siconolfus Prince of Beneventum 161 Sigebert of Gemblours 226 Sigismund King of Bohemia and Hungary chosen Emperour 343. comes to Rome 359 Simeon a Disciple crucified 13 Simon Magus an account of him 3.4 Sophronia a chast Virgin 50 Spaniards forc'd to receive the faith 147 Stanislaus Bishop of Cracow Canoniz'd 268 Stilico a Roman General 70 Stone upon which Christ sate brought to Venice 232 Strabo Brother to Venerable Bede 126 Sueropylus Prince of Dalmatia 187 Syracuse a Church there falling down kills many 216 T Tacitus Emperour of Rome 42 Tamberlane vanquishes the Turks 338 Tarsus taken by the Christians 218 Tartars ravage as far as Europe 259.267 some of their Noblemen receive the faith 280 Tatianus a learned Christian 21 Taxillo Duke of the Boiarians 141.148 Tertullian the famous Christian Writer 29 Theoderick King of the Goths 75. invades Italy 79. his Actions 81. imprisons Pope John 87 Theodolinda Queen of the Lombards 99 Theodore Bishop of Ravenna 116 Theodorus a Heretick 92 Theodosius Emperour 66.68 Another of the same name 73. Another 130 Theodotion a learned Christian 23 Theophilus Bishop of Antioch 20 Thomas Becket Canoniz'd 245 Thomas Cantilupe Bishop of Hereford Canoniz'd 306 Thomas Aquinas Canoniz'd ibid. Tiberias taken by the Christians 222 Tiberius Emperour 1. Another 97. Another 124 Titus the Emperour takes Jerusalem 9. his Character 10 Toledo besieged by the Saracens 256 Totilas King of the Goths his Actions 94 Toto Duke of Nepi 142 Trajan Emperour his Character 13.14 Transamundus Duke of Spoleto 136 Translation of the Bible of S. Jerom 64 Treasure how found by a Saracen 202 Trebellius Prince of the Bulgarians 126.128 Tripoli taken by the Turks and rased 291 Tryphon a learned Christian 31 Turks their first successes 139. take Edessa 236. Baruti and Tripoli 291. routed by the Christians at Belgrade 386 Turriani a powerful Family in Lombardy 286.302 U Valens a Roman Emperour 94. overthrown by the Goths 65 Valentinian the Emperour 64.74 Valentinian Hereticks 18 Valerianus Emperour 37 Vandals ravage as far as Africa 73 Venetians forbidden to sell Christian Slaves 138. the first Increase of that Commonwealth 157. they take Comachio and burn it 184. fight successfully against the Saracens 232. ravage the borders of Greece ibid. defeat the Pisans 253. seize several Islands in the Archipelague 256. rout the Genoeses 271. a mortal hatred between 'em 281.326 put to flight by the Anconeses 2â—â— set under an Interdict by the Pope 301. defeated by Francis Sforza 376 Veramundus Patriarch of Constantinople 232 Vespasian Emperour 9 S. Vgibert a Nobleman of Lorain 182 Vgutio Fagiolano Governour of Pisa and Lucca 304 Viconti a powerful Family in Lombardy 286.302 make themselves Masters of Milan 307 Victorinus an Usurper in Gallia 38. Another of that name Bishop of Poictiers 43. Another 65 S. Vincent his body translated 165 Vinigisius Duke of Spoleto 150 Vitellius Emperour a short account of his Life 8 Viterbo made a Bishop's Sea 254 Vitiges a Gothish King in Italy 91. besieges Rome ibid. Vldericus King of Bohemia 199 Vrsini and Hannibali two factions at Rome 285 Vsun-Cassan King of Persia his Message to the Pope 388 W Holy War several Expeditions to it 217.251.254.255.258.262.267 Holy Water when first ordered 16. Water to be mix'd with the Wine in the Sacrament ibid. Wenceslaus King of Bohemia murthered by his Brother 183 Whites and Blacks two Factions in Italy 297. a History of the Whites 335 Wickliff his Opinions condemn'd 346 William Earl of Angoulesm surnam'd Sector-ferri 176. Count of Calabria 231. King of Sicily 243 William surnam'd Longsword 247 Women ordered not to touch the Elements or Vessels of the Altar 17.23 not the consecrated Pall or Incense 72 Z Zara taken by the Venetians 355. AN INDEX Of the Principal matter contain'd in the Continuation of the Lives of the POPES A AColti a Conspirator against Pius IV. 156 Adrian Schoolmaster to Charles V. chosen Pope 41 Aldebrandino Cardinal created Pope and nam'd Clement VIII 211 Alexandra superadded by the Pope to the name of Christina Queen of Sweden 327 Alfonso Cardinal of Siena strangled 33 Alphonsus King of Naples 13. surrenders his Crown to his Son 14 Altieri Cardinal chosen Pope and nam'd Clement X. 360 Armada of the Spaniards against England destroy'd 198 Articles of Peace between the Emperour and Pope 54.55 between the Spaniards and French 353 Aurange the Prince thereof General of the Imperial Army 57 B Bajazet Emperour of the Turks his Present to the Pope 11 Banditi their insolence 172. severely punish'd by Sixtus V. 179 Barberino Cardinal Maffeo chosen Pope and call'd Vrban VIII 272. his Family how preferr'd 276. the animosities of Innocent X. against them 296. to 311 Barbarossa overthrown by Charles V. 70. appears upon the coast of Italy 81 Battel of Ravenna 26. of Pavia 48 of Lepanto 161 Battory Stephen K. of Poland 194 Belvedere at Rome by whom built 11 Bessarion Cardinal an Intimado of Sixtus IV. 1. Legat to the King of France 2 Bologna taken by the French 24 Borghese Camillo chosen Pope and call'd Paul V. 227 Borgia Caesar the Pope's Bastard made a Cardinal 13.14 spoils the Country of the Orsini 15. procures the assassination of his Brother ibid. his abominable cruelty and rapine 16.17 made Duke Valentino 17. his Cup bearer mistakes his bottles 18. imprison'd 20. enlarg'd 21. is cut in pieces 22 Borri an Enthusiastical Heret 331 Borromeo Charles a holy man a Confident of Pius IV. 121. Canoniz'd 203 Bourbon Charles Duke thereof slain before the Walls of Rome 56 Buda taken by the Turks 52 Buoncompagno Hugh chosen Pope with the name of Gregory XIII 163 C Camilla a poor Sister of Sixtus V. how receiv'd by him 176. a Pasquil upon her 161 Candia much press'd by the Turks 349.355 relief for it attempted in vain 356 Caraffa John made Pope by the name of Paul IV. 109. the Family hated by the People 118. and punish'd by the Pope 121 Cardinals exil'd by Julius II. how receiv'd by Leo X. 30. some under that Character very young 29.68.90.107.204 number of Cardinals
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
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
Pontificate the Enemy of mankind answer'd as he is wont ambiguously that he should live long if he came not near Jerusalem So that when in the fourth year first month and tenth day of his Papacy he was at Rome at Mass in the Church of Holy Cross in Jerusalem it came into his mind that now he must die where he heartily repenting confess'd his fault before the people exhorting them all to lay aside Ambition and to withstand the Stratagems of the Devil betaking themselves to a holy and pious life then he desired them that after his death they would lay the trunk of his Body however torn and dismembred as it deserved to be in a Cart and there to bury it where the Horses should of their own accord carry it and then as 't is said that wicked Men might see that yet there was some room for pardon left with God for them if they at any time repent by the Divinc Will and Providence the Horses of their own accord went to the Church of the Lateran where his body was buried Martinus writes beside that as well from the clattering of this Pope's bones as from the Sweat or rather moisture of his Tomb People are wont to gather Presages and those most manifest of the approaching death of any Pope and that this is hinted in the Epitaph on his Tomb. Whether it be true or no let the Pope's whom it concerns look to 't JOHN XIX JOHN the Nineteenth whose Surname and Family because of their baseness are not recorded died four months and twenty days after he was made Pope So that because of the shortness of his Pontificate there was nothing memorable done either by himself or any other in the time unless that many Prodigies Apparitions and Comets were seen and many Towns ruin'd by Earth-quakes foreshewing the Calamities that were to come Some ease in which yet was given by Hugh the Viceroy of Italy under Otho and Governour of Tuscany for he manag'd his Province with so great Justice and Integrity that no one complain'd for want of an excellent Prince Who afterward dying at Pistoia the Tuscans universally bewailed him as a publick Parent not suffering any manner of Respect to be wanting to his Funeral In this place I therefore thought good to mention the deserv'd praises of Hugo that Governours of Countries may know that it is much better by a just and generous administration to acquire glory and honour than by unjust ways to heap up Riches with everlasting shame and ignominy JOHN XX. JOHN the Twentieth a Roman of the Ward of Port-Metropolitan being made Pope indulg'd himself in an easie way of living and did nothing worth mentioning But Robert King of France deserv'd the highest commendations who at this time led a Life as devout as Kingly excelling all the cotemporary Christian Kings in Knowledg and religious living and being himself excell'd by no Man in controversial Learning he not owning that Opinion which the Princes of our times have embrac'd that it is not worth a Potentates while to be learned but that it behoves them that are to rule the Nations to take their rules of Government from the precepts of others which yet cannot be done without reading and study What else indeed is an illiterate Prince but the Image of a Lion commanding the other beasts 'T is necessary they should be able to moderate their own passions as well as the peoples who would be thought fit to govern others With great reason therefore it is that we speak well of Robert whose devotion was such that as ost as he had leisure from his warlike Employments he would sing the canonical hours with the Priests and so great were his merits in this way that once when he had beleaguer'd a Town of his Enemies and neglected the Siege to attend the canonical hours the Walls miraculously sell down and his Men immediately rushing in took the place But John according to some Authors having sate in the Chair four years and four months died and was buried in S. Peter's Church The Sea was then vacant nineteen days SERGIUS IV. SERGIUS the Fourth a Roman Son of Martin succeeded a Man of a most holy life and sweet conversation both before and in his Pontificate He was charitable to the poor chearful among his Friends and Acquaintants merciful to those who were faulty and mild even with the perverse Beside he was so prudent that in all the time he sate in the Chair nothing was committed which could reflect any charge of negligence upon his Government For placing all his thoughts in Heaven which all Popes ought to do and having a mind imbued with much natural goodness he brought about all things to his mind By his counsel and advice the Princes of Italy entred into a League for driving the Saracens out of Sicily and accordingly made equal preparations of Men. There were then in Italy most of the Sons of Tancred the great Duke of Normandy among whom was William surnam'd Ferrebach a Man of so great courage that taking for his Companion in the Expedition Malochus General of the Forces of Michael Catalaicus Emperor of Constantinople he in a short time clear'd that Island of Saracens the Princes of Capoua and Salerno lending some assistance Afterward Malochus using injustice in the division of the Spoil William thought good to dissemble for the time but returning into Italy with forty thousand Normans who were just come from the Holy War he seizes upon all Apulia which was subject to the Greeks and at Melfi meets Malochus with his Army fights and defeats him and thus by the valour of William the Kingdom of Apulia was transferred from the Greeks to the Normans for he dying without Heirs his Brother Drogo succeeded him and to him succeeded Humfrey a younger Brother from whom descended Robert Guiscardi and his Brother Roger. While this past in Apulia Italy and almost all the World too labouring under a Famine and Pestilence the holy Man Sergius died in the second year and fifteenth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church The Sea was then vacant eight days BENEDICT VIII BENEDICT the Eighth born at Frascato his Father's name was Gregory as soon as he was made Pope Crown'd Henry I. of Bavaria Emperor in the room of Otho III. deceased according to the Decree of Gregory V. Some say that Otho died at Rome and that his body was carried into Germany others say 't was buried in S. Peter's Church However that may be 't is certain that Henry Duke of Bavaria who was an excellent and a most holy person was now created Emperor and that he had an Empress equally praise-worthy for Charity Devotion and Affability But whilst he was employed in composing the affairs of Germany the Saracens entred Italy took Capua and besieg'd Bari the Inhabitants whereof being reduced to extremity for want of Provisions the Venetians with their Fleet reliev'd them and with the assistance of the Greeks set upon
strong place in Syria and fortified it that it might be a receptacle for the Christians in their War against the Infidels Boemund also the younger dying Tancred who was his Uncle and Guardian was by all the Christians declar'd Prince of Antioch which Principality having setled he was sent for by Baldwin King of Jerusalem to come with all his force to aid him against the Turks Saracens and Arabs who with a great Army had invaded his Kingdom Tancred arriving there and observing the small forces of the Christians dissuaded Baldwin from joyning Battel with the Enemy by that means putting the whole affair of Christendom under a great hazard but all in vain for Baldwin giving them an opportunity of fighting was overcome with great slaughter himself and a few Men retreating with great difficulty to Jerusalem and Tancred by several by-ways escaping to Antioch The Enemies puff'd up with this great Victory seiz'd Mount Tabor and pulling down the Monestery there put all the Monks to the sword Gelasius in the mean time could not be at rest from a forein Enemy for the Emperor Henry had entred Italy with his Army wasting all as he march'd was just about to enter Rome in a hostile manner to escape whom the Pope at first retir'd to the House of Volcamino a noble Citizen but not deeming that altogether safe he went with his Attendants aboard a couple of Gallies prepar'd for that purpose and sail'd down the Tiber to Ostia the German Soldiers pursuing him and shooting at him with Darts and Arrows Coming to Ostia he dared not venture any whither by Sea it was so stormy but he travell'd hy Land to Ardea accompanied still wherever he went by Hugh Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles an illustrious Prelate Soon after the Sea growing more calm he return'd to 〈◊〉 from whence he sail'd first to Terracina and then to Gaeta where he was very kindly entertain'd by his Countrymen Hither came to meet him William Duke of Puglia Robert Prince of Capua and Richard of Aquila who all promised him their utmost service as became loyal Feudataries of the Church of God Henry hearing these Princes were raising an Army against him set up for an Anti pope Maurice Archbishop of Braga by the name of Gregory to oppose Gelasius and recommended him to the Family of Frangipani and not content to have acted so pernicious a thing he entred the Country of Anagni and plunder'd and ruin'd all before him he had just laid Siege to Turricolo a strong place when on a sudden news was brought that Gelasius with the Princes of Puglia approach'd with a great Army whereupon he decamp'd and as he retreated out of Italy he sill'd all places with slaughter and rapine 〈◊〉 upon his retreat dismiss'd the 〈◊〉 Princes supposing now that Henry was gone all things would be in a peaceable condition at Rome hereafter but he was very much deceiv'd in his opinion for he was soon after inform'd that the Anti-pope upheld by the power of the Frangipani continued still at Rome out of fear of which Family he staid privately a while in the House of a Friend but afterward as he was saying Mass in the Church of Praxede his Enemies with their Party rush'd in and he had much ado to escape out of their hands by flight some of the Corsi and Normanni two great Families with his Nephew Crescentius fighting briskly in his defence The next day guarded by his Retinue and Friends in Arms he return'd to the City from S. Paul's whither he had fled and consulting with his Cardinals he resolv'd to leave the City lest the Uproars every day encreasing some great mischief might ensue Having therefore left to Peter Bishop of Porto the Vicegerency in Ecclesiastical affairs at Rome and to Hugo Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles the care of Benevento he sail'd first to Pisa not conceiving the way by Land to be secure for himself and the Cardinals who accompanied him where he in the audience of the whole City related the causes of his departure from Rome and was received with great kindness by the Pisans thence setting sail for France he arrived at S. Giles's and was there entertain'd by the Abbat of Clugni and his Monks with many others who came for that purpose very magnificently and splendidly Then he cross'd the middle of France with a venerable rather than sumptuous attendance which now adays is the fashion by the way dedicating the Churches of S. Cecily in Stagello S. Sylvester in Burgundy and S. Stephen in Tornay and with Stones determining the Bounds of each Church Coming at last to the Monastery of Clugni he was taken with a Plurisie and died having been Pope one year and five days He was a most holy Man and very praise-worthy both for his life and doctrin so that I cannot doubt considering the integrity of his life and his religious constancy amidst the many storms and troubles he underwent but that he now enjoys Eternity among the blessed in Heaven He was buried in the Porch of the said Monastery Some write that in his time the Order of Knights Templers first began who living not far from the Holy Sepulcre entertain'd Pilgrims and accompanied them in Arms in their journeys to and from the holy Places which by their means might be visited with all safety These Knights Cusentinus commends highly for their holy Christian Lives CALISTUS II. CALISTUS the Second first named Guy a Burgundian Arch-bishop of Vienna descended of the Blood Royal of France was chosen Pope by those Cardinals who were at Clugni at the death of Gelasius but he would not take upon him the 〈◊〉 till he heard the Election was approv'd by those Cardinals also who were left at Rome and elsewhere in Italy which being certified to him by Letters and Messengers he went to Rome and the Nobility and People meeting him congratulated his Promotion and their own good fortune not doubting but he would be a restorer of peace and tranquillity to the City of Rome Here he settled matters to his mind and went to Benevento where all the Princes thereabout were met to salute him according to custom of whom the principal were William Duke of Puglia Jordan Count of 〈◊〉 Arnulphus Count of Ariano and Robert Count of Lauretello all Men of great honour and without doubt the most powerful Lords of that part of Italy who took their Oath of fealty to the Pope But Calistus having nothing more in his thoughts than the holy War where it was much fear'd the Christian Cause would not be able to sustain it self against so many barbarous Nations returning to Rome dispatch'd away Lambert Bishop of Ostia a Saxon Cardinal of S. Stephen in monte Celio and Gregory Cardinal of S. Angelo to the Emperour to treat of a Peace which having procured without much difficulty they hang'd up a Table of the Articles thereof in the Lateran Church to the incredible joy of all People But this lasted not long for Roger Count
his pay Eugenius answered him that he had taken as much spoil out of the Castle especially out of the Town as would satisfie him At which Nicolas was so angry that he went into the parts about Rome and raised such tumults taking and driving away such numbers of Men and Cattel that Eugenius was some time at a stand what to do The Romans flock'd to him with their complaints but the Pope who at that time wanted both advice and health sent 'em to Francis the Chamberlain who being devoted to idleness and pleasure gave 'em no other answer but that they over-valued their Cattel for they often complain'd of the loss of them and told 'em that the Venetians lived more like Citizens than they without Beasts and flocks of Cattel The Romans were displeased at this answer and therefore when Nicolas had taken Tivoli beating Count Tagliacotius out of it and Subiaco and drawn all the Colonneses to his party Stephen Colonna who was always of the other side being kill'd by the Prince they threw off the yoke of Subjection and crying out Arms Arms Liberty Liberty they beat out all Eugenius's Officers and taking Francis the Chamberlain Prisoner they created a new Magistracy of their own choosing consisting of seven Romans whom they called Governors who had power of life and death But Eugenius in such an Hurry not knowing what to do resolv'd to flee for 't And immediately changing his Habit for that of a Monk went on shipboard in a small Vessel along with Arsenius the Monk down the Tiber to Ostia Whereupon certain Romans that knew of his going threw Stones and shot Arrows at him for they would fain have kept him there till they had got possession of S. Angelo Nevertheless Eugenius went away upon the 7th of July and sailed to Pisa first and then to Florence in Galleys laid on purpose for his passage and then the Romans betook themselves to storm the Castle raising Mounds and Bulwarks in all places that might make it more accessible to the Enemy On the other side those of the Castle made some sallies upon them and the Governor thinking it fit to use some stratagem with the people of Rome He by the assistance and advice of Baldesar Aufido a cunning Captain that defended the lower part of the Castle bad one of his Soldiers that sallied out that he should suffer himself to be taken by the Enemy and then blame the cruelty and covetousness of him the Governor and promise them that if they would give him such a reward he would kill the Governor and betray the Castle The Soldier did exactly as he was bid and when he was taken said all the ill things he could devise against Antony Ridio the Governor and swore he would bring the matter about to their mind Thereupon being dismissed he went into the Castle and hung up Anthonies Clothes with somewhat like his Head on top of them which was visible a great way off Baldesar presently cry'd out the wicked Fellow was justly punish'd and that some of the chief Roman Commanders might now come in and if they paid the reward take the Castle They not being aware of the trick went in and were strait taken Immediately there was a joyful noise in the Castle and Darts and Bullets were thrown and shot upon the Romans without The Romans being thus deluded advised concerning the enter-change of their Captives and in order to it set the Chamberlain Eugenius's Nephew at Liberty and unanimously submitted to Eugenius within five months after they thought to have gain'd their freedom Then there were Magistrates made in the name of the Church who fortified the Capitol with strong Guards and other provisions And after upon the arrival of John Viteleschus whom they call'd the Patriarch Francis his Nephew being gone to Eugenius a sudden dread seiz'd the Romans to such a degree that they durst not so much as open their mouths for fear For Viteleschus was an imperious and cruel Man and lived like a Tyrant rather than a Christian These things were transacted at Rome whilst Alphonso besieged Naples and Cajetta which was stoutly defended by the Genoese Merchants and the Genoeses thinking it their duty to assist their Countrymen fitted out a Navy with all speed by the leave and good liking of Duke Philip Viconti who lent 'em some Foot-Soldiers and meeting their Enemy Alphonso not far from Cajetta they engaged with him After a long and a sharp conflict they defeated Alphonso and took him Prisoner and all his retinue of which some were Princes Alphonso was brought to Millain to Philip but was entertain'd not as a Captive or an Enemy of the Genoeses but as a King and a Friend And when he had been treated honourably for some days and presented by Philip with many great gifts he went into his Kingdom and took Cajetta presently Upon that the Genoeses were so enraged that he should free Alphonso so easily whom they had taken with such hazard that by the advice of Thomas Fregoso they revolted from Philip and made the said Thomas their Duke Then Picenninus who was sent against the Genoeses receiving news that they persisted in their obstinacy took Sarzana and marching toward Pisa under pretence to go and help Alphonso spoiled many Castles belonging to the Pisans But the Florentines stopped his career by sending for Francis Sfortia with the Pope's good liking who was then in possession of Ancona and endeavour'd by the assistance of the Florentines and Venetians to be made Lord of it But Eugenius was against that and said that it became a Pope to preserve the Church-patrimony even by War rather than alienate it So they deferred that business till another opportunity yet Francis in hopes of it did not onely beat Picenninus from the Siege of Barga taking Lewis Gonzaga who fought under Picenninus but he laid close Siege to Lucca in the name of the Florentines Picenninus was hinder'd from passing the Apennine to their relief and therefore promised to free them another way Wherefore he march'd through Bologna without any molestation onely taking a Town belonging to the Florentines called Oriolo and being mindful of the Lucceses he went thither and in the absence of Francis Sfortia vanquish'd the Florentines and raised the Siege of Lucca The Pope being almost distracted with care as well because he was surrounded with War as that the Council of Basil begun by the Decree of Pope Martin increased daily by the conflux of all the Princes of Spain France Germany and Hungary who referr'd the case of all Christendom to that Council he contrived how to dissolve it and to that purpose would have removed it from Basil to Bologna by general consent of the Cardinals that were there on his side But the Emperor other Princes and Prelates then at Basil did not onely disobey the Pope but admonish'd him several times to come himself with his Cardinals to Basil which was a convenient place that Martin had chosen to hold
by censure of Excommunication to come in and in the space of one years time to purge themselves of the contumacy with which they stood charged In pursuance of which Decree the Embassador and other Agents from France did in the name of the King abjure all the Acts and Decrees made and ordained by the Conventicle at Pisa promising to acknowledg and hold for true and sacred all those Acts and conclusions which should be declared by the Council of Lateran and that six of those Prelates which were present at the Convention of Pisa should repair to Rome and in the name and behalf of all the Gallican Church renounce and disown that Convention and promise to submit and hold and esteem for Sacred and Obligatory whatsoever should be determined in their case or in any other matter by the Lateran Council and that then upon such submission the Council should grant a full and plenary Pardon and Absolution for all those Crimes committed by them against the Church of Rome But whilst these things were in Treaty Lewis XII being surprized by a Fever died the first day of January 1515. at Paris in whose place Francis de Valois the first of that name Duke of Angolesme succeeded Francis having made a Peace with the King of England assumed the Title of Duke of Milan as appertaining to him not only by the ancient right of the Dukes of Orleans but also as comprehended in the Investiture made by the Emperor in the Treaty of Cambray to recover which he made a League with the Venetians and passing into Italy with a powerful Army declared War against Maximilian Sforza Duke of Milan who on the other side had made an Alliance with the Emperor the Switzers and the King of Spain The Pope being jealous of the French believing that so soon as they were become Masters of Milan they would also design upon Piacenza and Parma favoured the cause of Duke Sforza and encouraged the Switzers by his Legate the Cardinal of Sedan to continue firm and constant in defence of Italy against the French Arms that so their ancient glory which had been in former years crowned with so much success might be maintained by them and the Title of Restorers of the Italian Liberty be for ever continued to their Honor. The Switzers having their valour provoked by such incitements as these encountred the French Army which under the auspicious Conduct of King Francis was passed into Italy near Marignan where after a sharp conflict the Venetians coming in to the assistance of the French the Switzers were overthrown and forced to retreat into Milan which afterwards was surrendred and Duke Sforza being taken Prisoner was sent into France with an allowance of five and thirty thousand Crowns a year which he agreed to receive in lieu of his Dukedom After this success Parma and Piacenza which had been annexed to the Church by the Arms of Julius II. fell into the possession of the French for Leo not having the courage to defend them made them a Sacrifice to the Conqueror and the price of his Peace with France the which was concluded at Bologna where an interview was appointed between the King and Pope Leo. The Pope entered the City on the 8th of December 1515. and the King two days after having been received on the Confines of the Country of Reggia by the Cardinals of Fieschi and Medicis whom the Pope had appointed to be his Legates Apostolical to him The King so soon as he entered was immediately conducted into the Consistory where before the Pope by a Speech delivered by his Chancellor he professed all Obedience to the Papal Chair and afterwards was lodged three days in the same Palace with the Pope during which time all the signs of good will and amity interceded between them and all matters agreed which had relation to Naples Modena and other controversies and thus all things being amicably concluded the King returned to Milan and in a short time after into France leaving the Duke of Bourbon Lieutenant in his place The Pope also went to Florence where having passed the Winter he in the Spring returned to Rome And now Pope Leo being a little at repose designed the assistance of Maximilian the Emperor with whom he was in League to make his Brother Julian Lord of Siena and Lucca and thereunto to adjoyn the Dukedoms of Vrbin and Ferrara but Julian unexpectedly dying the same fortune was intended for Laurence his Nephew Son of his Brother Peter de Medicis and in the mean time until this design could be ripened and put in practice the Pope committed to him the Government of Florence with condition that he should act nothing without the privity and consent of the Citizens And now to prepare a way for taking the Dutchy of Vrbin from Francisco Maria de la Rovere the Pope began with his Church Censures causing the Accusations against him to be published wherein he expressed that being in Pay and under a Sallary from the Church he had denied him the Service of those Regiments for which he had received Pay and had secretly compounded with the Enemy That he had killed the Cardinal of Pavia for which he was alsolved by Grace and not by Justice as also for many other Murders committed by him These and other were the Crimes which were alledged against him but yet nothing animated the Pope so much with anger and disdain against him as that he had denied unto his Brother Julian his aid and assistance to return to Florence The success of the War was this So soon as Renzo di Cere the Popes General with a considerable Army showed himself upon the Frontiers of the Dutchy the City of Vrbin with other Towns belonging to it surrendred to the Pope the Duke himself retiring to Pesaro which also yielded together with Sinigaglia and in the space of four days all submitted to the obedience of the Pope and then the Duke with all his Family saved himself in Mantua These successes were followed by new designs upon Siena from whence by force of Arms he compelled the Prince Borghese and Cardinal Alfonso his Brother both Sons of Pandolfo Petrucci to retire and make place for Raphael Petrucci his old Friend and Companion in his Exile at which the Cardinal was so enraged and excited beyond all patience that he conspired against the life of the Pope which not succeeding proved afterwards the cause of his own destruction For this Alfonso Cardinal of Siena revolving often in his mind the ingratitude of this Pope who by the labors and dangers of Pandolfo Petrucci his Father was with all his Family restored to the Government of Florence and yet had in recompense of these benefits caused him and his Brother Borghese to be thrust out of Siena the which thoughts boiling in his mind he resolved once with his own hand to stab the Pope but being diverted from that intention by the danger of the Fact and by the ill
Germany to hinder if possible by their Preaching and Disputations the farther spreading of these Doctrins The Emperor Charles the Fifth in a Diet at Ratisbon made a publick and solemn Edict against Luther and his Conclusions the University of Paris condemned them and the King of England Henry VIII wrote a Book against them for which he afterwards received from this Pope Leo the Title of Defender of the Faith But Luther being a man of great courage and supported by the favour of the Duke of Saxony little regarded either the Arguments of the School-men or the Authority of the Princes saying That the Prophet forbad to trust in men or Princes before whose judgment the Word of God and the sentence of Scripture was to be preferred These disturbances in Germany were followed by the like in Switzerland where Zuinglius by force of Argument disputed in favour of the Doctrin of Luther which caused such confusions and discord that for the settlement and quiet thereof the Senate of Zurich convened all the Preachers and Doctors of their Country and requested the Bishop of Constance to depute such wise and learned persons as he should think fit to assist at this Conference for determination of the matters in question Great numbers of people being assembled at this Convocation Zuinglius proposed his Thesis and all the points in dispute and offered to answer the Arguments of any Opponent which should be set up against him Peter Faber a man holy in his life and of profound judgment having heard and weighed all the strength of Argument which the Jacobins and others had alledged refused as Moderator in those Controversies to determin any thing in those matters which more properly belonged to the cognizance of that General Council which was shortly by Authority of the Pope and the consent of all the Christian Princes to meet and assemble consisting of all the Prelates of Christendom This Sentence gave Zuinglius advantage to advance his Doctrin and say that these were but delays to amuse the people and lull them in their ignorance that doubtful matters were proper to be treated and discussed and determined by the Authority of General Councils but that matters certain and clear by Scripture which was the Word of God and the rule of our lives and confirmed by the practice of the Primitive Christians stood in need of no other Authority than their own plain evidence to confirm them In fine the Assembly broke up and the Senate concluded with this result that the Gospel should be Preached according to the Canon of the Old and new Testament and not according to the Decrees and Constitutions of men This matter began daily in the Court of Rome to seem of greater importance fearing lest it should greatly shake the Power of the Popes and abate the profits of the Church of Rome and discompose the Union of the Christian Religion for which occasion many Consistories were summoned at Rome and many Consultations held in the Chamber of the Pope amongst the Cardinals and Divines for remedy of this growing evil The Duke of Saxony and Luther were at these Meetings condemned and Excommunications thundered out against them with most grievous Anathemaes the which served only to exasperate the Duke of Saxony and caused him to become a more severe and vehement Protector of that Cause which began now to dilate and spread more diffusely amongst the people by how much the more it was persecuted by vigorous and violent courses At length the Court of Rome as well as other People and Nations did conclude that the only means to quiet mens minds and settle them in a true Belief and Faith was to establish all doubts and Controversies by the Authority of a General Council the which was desired by Princes and Lords of Countries in hopes that thereby the disorderly lives of Priests and Friers would be regulated and reduced to their Primitive Constitutions and that the Regalia and Temporal Jurisdictions which had long been usurped by the Ecclesiastical Power would at length be restored to the Secular Dignity of Princes But to reduce matters to this estate they did not judg it necessary that Ecclesiasticks should be the sole Members to compose such an Assembly whose interest it was to maintain their own Corruptions and determin all matters in favour of themselves against the Rights and Prerogatives of Christian Princes in whose Affairs their consents and Suffrages ought to be consulted The common people also who had some competent knowledg in the Affairs of the world were desirous of a Council in hopes and expectation that the libidinous Power of the Church which had for a long time tyrannized over them might at length be limited and moderated and that the Exactions which were charged upon them under the specious pretences of Alms and Indulgences might not be forced and distrained by the violence and rudenesses of the Episcopal Officers The Court of Rome did likewise desire a Council in hopes the Authority of the Church which began to be shaken by the opposition of Adversaries and the encroachments which Princes made on its Jurisdiction might thereby be confirmed but they were for having it regulated according to the practices of modern times which should not touch on the present Abuses and evil customs introduced in favour of the Papal Power but such an one as was called by the preceding Pope and Assembled at the Lateran which had produced many happy and advantageous successes for it had extinguished the Schisms of the Cardinals reduced the Kingdom of France which before was separated to an Union and abolished that Sanction which highly entrenched on the Temporal and Spiritual Monarchy of Rome and lastly had conferred the collation of Benefices on the Pope which was the great foundation of the Papal Grandeur Howsoever Pope Leo still doubted that this remedy was not entirely adapted to the nature of this evil for tho the power of a Council might have an influence over Princes and great Prelates against whom their Decrees and Determinations might avail yet could not reach the minds of the common people or produce that real alteration and change which was necessary for the quiet and settlement of the Ecclesiastical State In this condition of affairs Leo died about the end of the year 1521. But these Divisions and Dissentions in Spiritual Controversies did not only disquiet the Pope but likewise the Plots of certain Cardinals which designed against his Life and Government of which a discovery being made several of them were deprived of their Hats and Ecclesiastical Benefices and Alfonso Petrucci being chief in the number of the Conspirators was taken and strangled by a Negro Slave in the Castle of St. Angelo at Rome Adrian da Cornetro being fled and escaped from Justice was for ever without hopes of Restauration deprived of the Character and Honor of Cardinal Raphael Riario and Bendinello Sauli were suspended but afterwards restored to the Dignity of Cardinals Saderini was condemned to live in
a short time to descend into Italy which being added to the Italian Bands would be able to make head against the Imperial Army and for their parts they promised according to their custom far greater matters than they were able to perform and for farther encouragement hereunto they represented the state of the Imperial Army in Italy to be tumultuous and inclinable to Sedition having for want of pay seized the Artillery and fortified themselves in Pavia Farther it was not to be doubted but that Loüisa the Queen Mother and Regent of France would concur with these Counsels and be assistant to this design with all the power of that Kingdom Moreover it was not to be doubted but that the Duke of Ferrara who favoured and depended on the French felicity would also enter into this League the conjunction of whom was of great importance considering that he was a Prince very rich his Town of Ferrara strong and furnished with all stores of Ammunition But the Pope considering the difficulty of this enterprise and the uncertain concurrence of those many circumstances which were required to make it successful did for some time suspend his resolution until the Arch-Bishop of Capua who had been his ancient Secretary and Counsellor brought him such agreeable propositions from Don Carlos de Lanoy Vice-Roy of Naples as gave him assurances of an advantageous accommodation with the Emperor for then disposing his mind wholly to the thoughts of peace he labored to get the Venetians comprehended in the same terms of accord but in regard the chief points insisted upon by the Imperialists were sums of mony to be paid their Army already mutining for want of their Arrears the Venetians who judged it a piece of folly and cowardise to compound with their enemies on the condition of putting weapons into their hands absolutely refused any agreement on such terms which made well for the Pope and facilitated his negotiations with the Vice-Roy who interpreting this refusal of the Venetians to be an indication of new stirs and commotions intended against the Imperial interest in Italy was the more ready to condescend to the more easie terms with the Pope In short therefore 25 thousand Ducats being by the Popes order paid by the Florentines to the Marquiss of Pescara Chief of the Emperors Forces in Milan a Confederacy was concluded at Rome between the Pope and the Florentines on the one side and the Emperor on the other viz. That the Pope and the Emperor should be in a perpetual League and Alliance and that the Dutchy of Milan should be always defended by the Arms of the Pope and the Emperor with such numbers of men as should be agreed by a certain Article and that the same should be possessed and governed under the Emperor by Francis Sforza particularly nominated in that Capitulation That the Emperor should take into his protection all the Estate which the Church held and particularly should have a care of the House of Medicis to maintain and preserve them in all the Dignities and Offices which they hold in that City to which Treaty the greatness of that illustrious Family is in some measure obliged That the Florentines should presently pay to the Emperor a hundred thousand Ducats more in recompence of that which they had engaged to contribute to the last War in virtue of that Agreement made with Pope Adrian which was not to expire until one year after the death of one of the Confederates That the Duke of Ferrara should immediately render to the Church Reggia Rubiera and other Towns which he had unjustly seized and usurped during the last vacancy of the Papal Sea of which so soon as the Pope was possessed he was in consideration thereof to pay unto the Emperor one hundred thousand Ducats Lastly as to Modena and those Towns consideration was to be had and the matter examined whether they of right appertained to the Church or the Emperor and being found only belonging to the Ecclesiastical State they should be freed from all acknowledgment and dependance on the Empire In this manner this Alliance was concluded and determined and the designs of uniting with France and Venice which were at first laid open as the fairest game were now diverted by far different measures Matters being thus agreed and concluded in the year 1525. between the Pope and the Vice-Roy the Cardinal Salviati was sent to the Emperors Court with Character of Legate for confirmation of the Articles his reception was very honorable but in debating of particulars on the Commission the Vice-Roy who for the common safety and quiet of Italy allowed that the Investiture might be given to the Duke of Milan did dissuade the restitution of Reggia and Rubiera which being a scruple started after the Accord did ill affect the mind of the Pope and confirmed the opinion he had of the Emperors designs not to endure any increase of power and greatness in the Church And farther whilst these things were debating there fell out in Lombardy several events which hindred the Investiture of Sforza in the Dutchy of Milan and therewith broke all the agreements and measures which were formerly taken for the Emperor not willing to yield to this Investiture made pretences of forfeiture thereof by Sforza and earnestly pressed the taking of the Castle of Milan so that now the Pope having no expectations from the Emperor began to incline again and be biassed on the side of France and the other Confederates knowing that whilst his successes were prosperous and towering in Italy the Emperor might easily dispose of the Pope and oppress him at his pleasure which he would certainly do either out of revenge or ambition which is known to be almost natural in Emperors against the Pope Wherefore a League and Union being proposed between the Pope the French the Venetians and Duke of Ferrara with hopes also that the King of England would joyn in it all things were designed and laid down in a regular manner and form for carrying on the War and suppressing the suspected greatness of the Emperor But this Pope Clement who was of a temper naturally slow and irresolute weighing the consequences of these matters with his Servants and Ministers of his Councils found them so divided each of them abounding in his own sence that belabouring the Pope on all sides he became much more perplexed and distracted in his thoughts after than before his consultations The truth was there were two men of great Authority with him one Nicolas Scomberg a German and John Matthew Giberto a Genoese Scomberg was much honored and almost feared by the Pope but Giberto was more favoured and beloved these two having been ancient and intimate friends to him whilst he was Cardinal agreed well together but afterwards Ambition and different Interests put them at variance for Scomberg being a German naturally affected the interest of the Emperor but Giberto loved no man but the Pope and tho he had formerly been an enemy
League if they pleased That the Pope should pay forty thousand Ducats in the space of two and twenty days and the residue in a month after That the Vice-Roy of Naples should come to Rome to confirm the Articles it being judged a good expedient to cause the Duke of Bourbon to observe the accord The Capitulations of Peace being in this manner signed both parties speedily retired their Forces and the Pope resolving sincerely to keep and execute the Articles was also persuaded that the other party would do the like of which being assured by the coming of the Vice-Roy to Rome he unadvisedly disbanded all his Soldiers excepting only 200 Horse and 2000 Foot which he still continued in his Pay being of those valiant Black Bands which had been commanded by John de Medici Matters continued in this posture for the space of eight days by which time the news of this accord being made known to the Duke of Bourbon and his Army the Soldiery became enraged and the Duke raised infinite difficulties about standing to the Agreement and especially the Spanish Soldiery were so violent therein that a Gentleman sent by the Vice-Roy to the Duke to persuade him to accept the Agreement had been killed by them had he not conveyed himself away from their fury wherefore the Duke either not being willing or not able to restrain his Soldiery marched with all speed imaginable to the Walls of Rome to which without farther demur applying his Ladders at the side of the Vatican was the first that he might give courage and example to his Soldiery to scale the Walls in which attempt being shot by a Cannon-Bullet he fell dead from the Walls and lest his body lying exposed to the view of the Soldiery should give them cause of discouragement the Prince of Orange who was near to him covered his Corps with his Cloak Howsoever the storm succeeded more prosperously towards the Mount of S. Spirito where they entered on the 14th of May 1527. with the slaughter of some few who had the courage to make any resistance and passing the Bridg of Sistus the whole Army consisting of Germans Italians and Spaniards to the number of 40000 entered the City where they committed all the slaughter rapin and violence which enraged and licentious Soldiers were capable to act without respect to things sacred or prophane or to those Cardinals who had the name and report of being inclined to the Emperors Faction Rome never saw so sad and dismal a day no not when they had been sacked by the Goths and other barbarous Nations for whomsoever they met they killed and cut to pieces the Streets ran with blood the Altars were despoiled the Churches and Monasteries plundered the Nuns and Women ravished and the Palaces of the Pope Cardinals and Princes rifled and sacked so that it is impossible to express what Wealth and Riches lay in heaps and what precious Commodities belonging to Merchants were made the prey of common Soldiers And what made the spoil yet more great was the number of Prisoners every one of which was forced to cut his ransom and redeem himself at a certain price and to augment the ignominy as well as the desolation of this miserable fortune the Prelates were taken by the Soldiers and in all their Pontificalibus and Habits were set upon Asses and Mules and led through the streets with contempt and derision The Pope amidst these distractions fled to the Castle of S. Angelo his usual Sanctuary where being streightly Besieged with great numbers of those who retired thither for refuge he soon began to want Provisions so that Famin constrained him to yield himself into the hands of his Enemies upon discretion and on conditions of doing whatsoever the Emperor should as a Conqueror impose upon him And in the mean time until Messengers could be sent into Spain and return to Rome with the Emperors pleasure it was agreed that the Pope should pay to the Army 400000 Ducats for raising of which all the Vessels of Gold and Silver belonging to the Churches which were saved from the rapin of the Enemy were to be melted down and coined and farther for raising mony divers Cardinals Caps were set to sale as by publick out-cry to whomsoever would give most who upon payment of the sums agreed were to enter into the College and dignity of Cardinals The persons who with their mony had purchased this quality were Marino Grimano and Francis Cornaro both Venetians likewise Sanseverino Carrafa and Parmerio Neapolitans and Cardona a Spaniard and for an Auxiliary help to these payments an impost of mony was to be charged upon the whole state of the Church It was farther agreed that the Pope should deliver into the hands of the Emperor to hold them so long as he pleased the Castle of S. Angelo Ostia Civita Vechia Castellano with the Cities of Parma Piacenza and Modena That the Pope and the thirteen Cardinals with him should remain Prisoners in the Castle of S. Angelo until the monies were paid and afterwards should go to Naples or Gaietta Gaietta until the pleasure and determination of the Emperor was arrived The Duke of Bourbon being dead the Prince of Aurange was made General in his place to whom whilst things were acting in this manner advices came that Monsieur De Lautrec with a very great Army by order of Francis the French King to which also Henry the Eighth of England had joyned his Forces was marching towards Rome with design to rescue the Pope from those insolent hands under which he was a Prisoner The news of which caused great tumults and mutinies amongst the Soldiery who being desirous to depart quietly with their prey before they were forced to disgorge it again used all imaginable insolences towards the Pope to compel him to a payment of their Arrears with the monies promised but he not being master of one peny was constrained to deliver into their hands the persons of several rich men which they had named for security of the mony promised But the ill fortune of Clement stopped not here for so soon as the news of the Popes imprisonment was heard at Florence the Inhabitants judged it a seasonable opportunity to recover their liberty and thereupon betaking themselves to Arms they forced the Cardinal of Cortona with Hippolito and Alexander de Medicis to abandon the City and so reassumed unto themselves the free administration of a Common-wealth under the Authority of a Gonfalonnier created according to their ancient â—oâ—â—titution for the space of a year for indeed the hatred they had conâ—â—ived against the House of Medicis was for many reasons great and â—eâ—ous especially because they had been forced with their own mony to bear out the pride and greatness of that Family in all the Wars they made in defence of the Dutchy of Vrbin and in the Wars which Pope Leo made against the French for which reasons they persecuted those Citizens that had been friends to the Medices
under the Emperor and by Angelo de Medici Legat for the Pope and in the mean time Monsieur de Thermes General of the French Forces was raising Men in Mirandola and making preparations of Ammunition and provisions for a War and Peter Sirozzi and Oratio Farnese Captains of Henry the French King made incursions as far as Bologna spoiling and laying waste the Country round about wherefore the Imperialists having joined the Popes Army laid siege to Mirandola so that Parma and Mirandola were both besieged at the same time in this manner the War continued for the space of a whole year without any memorable action on either side onely fire and sword and miserable devastations raged in all parts of Italy of which the Pope being touched with an inward compassion and being naturally inclined to Peace having began this War more in compliance with the Emperour than his own humour or affections or with intention to possess himself of Parma did at the instance of certain French Cardinals make a Peace with which the Siege was raised both from before Parma and Mirandola howsoever with this accommodation on the Popes side the Wars did not end between Henry of France and Charles the Emperour but being continued from one year to another produced nothing but slaughter ruin and miseries to their People In the mean time the Pope having proclaimed that the Council held at Bologna should be transferred to Trent commanding by his Indictions and Bulls all Patriarchs Arch-Bishops and Bishops to repair thither and having sent thither Cardinal Crescentio to preside as his Legat together with his two Assistants before named the eleventh Sessions was commenced on the first of May 1551. Howsoever before it could be agreed to transfer the Council again to Trent many and serious Debates were held thereupon and the reasons of Paul the third for adjourning it to Bologna being very forcible it had still been continued there had not the considerations of pleasing the Emperour prevailed which in that conjuncture was esteemed necessary and also it was resolved that all the Acts and determinations which had been concluded and agreed in the former Sessions should be esteemed authentick and ratified and not farther to be called into question or debate either in any Diet or in this Council for which reasons the Protestants refused to appear at Trent alledging that the place was neither secure for them nor the Council free in such manner as that every one might deliver his Sence and debate his Opinions and that unless the conclusions made in the Council might be again examined and that the Divines who composed the Confession of Augsburg might have a Decisive as well as a deliberative Voice and that unless the Pope not being permitted to preside in the Council the Bishops might be absolved from their Oath which obliges to the Papal Sea and suffered freely to give their own true and real Sentiments it could not be expected that any happy result should issue from this Council and therefore they were resolved to absent themselves and not give their attendance according to the citations and summons from the Pope Wherefore the Emperour entering into a closer Treaty with the Ecclesiastical Electors and others inclining to the Church of Rome advised them to attend personally the General Council to which all due and humble obedience was to be given promising them all security and safety both in going and returning For as he was in the quality of Emperour so he was Advocate of the Church and the Defender of Councils the which Office that he might be in a better capacity to perform he would take up his residence at some place on the Frontiers where he would be assistant to their Liberty that every one might have a freedom to propose and speak what he in Conscience judged most agreeable to the Word of God and the Doctrine of the Ancient Fathers This Declaration of the Emperour seemed to be made and erected as a Battery or Counter-work to the Popes Bull. For whereas the Pope pretended to govern and direct Councils the Emperour resolved to take the care and charge to see them orderly and regularly directed The Pope pretended to preside and to be himself the Rule and have the casting Voice and the Emperour commands that all Decisions be made according to Scriptures and the Holy Fathers The Pope directs that the conclusions made at former Sessions stand in force the Emperour leaves them free to be disputed and debated as every Mans conscience directed In short the Court of Rome not being able to digest these contradictions complained much of the encroachments which the Emperour made on the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and that his Declaration was an other Convocation of a Council The Emperour having declared his resolution to grant his Passes and safe conduct to all such as should go to this Council The Protestant Princes began to discourse in all parts of Germany of sending the most acute and learned Men amongst them to Trent and accordingly Maurice Duke of Saxony commanded Melancthon and other Divines of singular note and reputation to repair thither In like manner the Duke of Wirtemberg provided others of equal Learning but considering that a safe Conduct or Passeport from the Emperour was not sufficient as had been formerly experienced at the Councils of Constance and Basil the Emperour was desired by those Princes to obtain by the means of his Ambassadours safe conducts under the publick Seal of the Council which the Emperour promised to do and accordingly gave order to Count Monfort one of his three Ambassadours residing at Trent to procure the same the which afterwards gave occasion of much Debate and Dispute in what manner and with what Expressions it was to be formed The Pope though to outward appearance seemed very desirous to have the Council commence and be continued at Trent according to the time appointed yet did not seem much concerned or greatly pressing to have the Catholick Prelats assemble onely the Emperour seemed most urgent conceiving the determinations of a Council to be the onely means to quiet and appease the disturbances in Germany and therefore instantly pressed the Electors of Cologne Triers and Metz together with several Bishops of Spain and such as were in his Dominions of Italy to hasten their Journey unto Trent so that during the space of eight months that the Council continued the whole Assembly of Persons actually present comprehending also the Presidents and Princes did not exceed the number of sixty four Time being protracted unprofitably from the first of May to the first of September a Sessions was then held at which it was declared that considering the small appearance of Bishops by reason of the absence of the German Nation the Sessions of the Council had been until that time deferred But now in regard that two of the Electors were already come which gave hopes that many others of the same Country would follow their example and speedily
endowed it with a plentiful Revenue But amongst all the magnificent structures which he hath raised there is none so famous and worthy of his Name as the Vatican Library being about three hundred and eighteen foot in length and sixty nine in breadth on the Walls are painted all the General Councils in Fresco with the famous Libraries mentioned by antient Authors as also the manner of raising the Guglia or Obelisque before St. Peters At the entry to this Library are two Statues of Marble that on the right hand represents Aristides an antient Philosopher of Smyrna that on the lest is Hypolitus who first invented the perpetual Kalendar he lived fourteen hundred years ago The Books are all kept in Presses containing twenty thousand Manuscripts and sixteen thousand Books which are printed round about thee first Chamber the Pictures are placed of all those who have been Library-keepers since Sixtus V. The Books commonly shewn here to Strangers are The antient Copy of the Septuagint a vast Bible in Hebrew a little Book written on the bark of a Tree certain Sermons with Annotations wrote by Thomas Aquinas and with his own hand an old Terence wrote one thousand two hundred years ago a Letter which Henry VIII of England wrote to Anne of Bolen with his own hand as also his Book against Luther hereunto is added the Duke of Vrbin's Library bequeathed to this place as also that of the Prince Palatine Frederick transported from Heidelberg to the Vatican after that Town was plundered by the Duke of Bavaria All which and many other rare Works of the like nature were performed at the charge of this Pope which are now extant at Rome and commonly seen and observed by Travellers Besides all which he built several other Colleges Monasteries and places of Charity at Bologna and in his own Country And at a vast expence he turned the poor Village of Montalto where he was born into a City encompassing it about with a Wall to perform which he was forced to cut through a Rock and threw down a high Hill to make it equal to the lower Level and to give some more esteem and honour to this place he made it a Bishoprick endowing it with a thousand Crowns of yearly Revenue besides many other priviledges and immunities which he bestowed both on the Diocese and the Government of the City during the time of which Work he built a Bridg at Rome over the Tybur which was of great use and benefit to the Trade and Commerce of the City called at this day il ponte Sisto tras Tevere Thus far have we discoursed concerning the humour and disposition of this Pope his Conduct and Wisdom in the management of Affairs relating to Rome and the Church together with his Munificence and greatness of his Soul in matters of building and stately Structures which have perpetuated his memory to these times Let us now proceed to other particulars which may demonstrate his dexterity and conduct of Affairs relating to Negotiations with forein Princes and in what manner he studied to fortifie the Ecclesiastical State as well with the Sword of St. Paul as the Keys of St. Peter In order whereunto in the first place he formed and setled the Militia of the Church in so good a method that he was able within the space of one Month to bring twenty thousand fighting Men into the Field and in the next place he consulted with the most knowing Enginiers in what manner the Ecclesiastical State might be most commodiously and with most advantage fortified the which was executed with most Labour and Art on that side which borders on the Kingdom of Naples which was a just cause of jealousie to the Spaniards who by the words and actions of this Pope had long suspected that his Intentions and Designs tended towards that Kingdom the possession of which he had for a long time swallowed in his thoughts resolving not longer to content himself with the bare feud or tribute for it the which jealousie was encreased when they found the Pope intent in building ten new Gallies for defraying the cost of which and of their maintenance he imposed a new Tax on the people of Rome and the whole Ecclesiastical State About this time the Cantons of Switzerland which continued firm to the Church of Rome sent their Ambassadours to the Pope not onely to make their acknowledgments of Obedience to the Papal Sea but likewise to inform his Holiness of the unhappy state and condition of their Country caused by the neighbourhood of the Protestant Cantons who daily sent Preachers into their Dominions who seducing many from the Catholick Doctrine their numbers and force did daily encrease For prevention of which and to confirm the doubtful in the Catholick Religion they desired that the Pope would be pleased to send his Nuntio into those parts which would be an encouragement to the people to continue in the way of truth as well as an honour to their Country The Pope with all readiness embracing the Proposition dispatched Baptista Santorio Bishop of Fricarico and Steward of his Houshold to be and remain his Nuntio within the Dominions of the Catholick Cantons Santorio being there arrived found all things in great disorder the people living without as it were any respect or dependance on the Roman Sea by reason that for many years the Popes had not thought this Country worthy the charge or maintenance of a Nuntio therein But now Santorio appearing there with the Character and in the quality of a Nuntio caused speedily a Diet to be convened in the Month of October 1586. at which two things were agreed and concluded highly advantageous to the Papal Authority The first was that all the Deputies which were present in great numbers received the Communion from the hand of the Nuntio and then entered into strict League and Confederacy together solemnly swearing before the Altar to maintain and uphold the Papal Authority and to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in the defence thereof In the second place they gave full power and Authority unto the Nuntio to exercise a free and Arbitrary Jurisdiction over all Ecclesiastical persons within their Dominions subjecting them to his Courts as well in criminal as in civil Causes which was a concession that the Wise Republick of Venice did never judge fit to grant notwithstanding all the bluster and noise with which the Popes required and challenged it from them But this Power given to the Nuntio was the cause soon after of some disturbance amongst the Cantons for it happened That one day the Nuntio having Complaints brought him against a certain Priest for scandal and misbehaviour he immediately issued out his Warrant to the chief Constable and his Officers to take and seize the person of that Priest and put him into safe custody the Priest hearing of this prosecution fled into the Dominions of the Protestant Cantons where the Officers pursuing him took him and by violence and force brought
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
them with the Spiritual Artillery of Excommunication which he caused to be thundered out and affixed in all the publick places of Ferrara The Cardinal being proud of the honour to be so great a General used such diligence in raising and providing his Army that in less than two Months after his departure from Rome he had compleated his Leavies and appointed his general Rendezvouz at Rimini With the unexpected news of this speedy dispatch Cesare d' Este was much surprized and being now in great fear and doubt of his success began to consult of what moderate and reasonable propositions he might offer unto the Pope wherefore he desired his Friends at Rome to intercede for him and by their hands offered many and various expedients condescending every day to Conditions more favourable to the Pope than the former but the Pope refusing all other terms than those which made him Master of the City and jurisdiction of Ferrara he was at length obliged to yield thereunto whereby that Dominion devolved to the Church and the delivery thereof was agreed by Articles signed at Faenza of which when the Pope received advice he sang Te Deum and rendered thanks publickly to God and with the general concurrence and Counsel of the Cardinals in a full Consistory he constituted Cardinal Aldobrandino his Legat at Ferrara giving him order to take possession of the City which about the end of February 1598. was accordingly surrendered with all quietness and peace not so much as with a Sword drawn or a Musket fired before which time Don Cesare retired to Reggio and Modena of which Cities he was shortly after created Duke by the Emperor and invested in the Government thereof and also made Prince of the Roman Empire Afterwards the Pope resolving to make a Journey to Ferrara to settle and establish Affairs in his new Dominions he caused on Sunday being the 12th of April according to the usual Custom when Popes travel the Sacrament of the Altar to be carried the day before his departure and then the next day after Mass laying his Vestments aside and clothing himself with his shorter Garments the Antiphona was sung In viam pacis with other short Prayers for the happy success of this Journey and then mounting into his Horse-litter he was accompanied to the Gate of the City by the Cardinals where turning towards them he gave them his Benediction and proceeded on his way in this order First after the Baggage belonging to the Kitchin the Horse-litters and Horses appertaining to the Pope preceded led by the Grooms of the Stables clothed in red next followed the Carriages with the Robes next to them a Squadron of Light-Horsemen with four Trumpets before them then the Pope's Family with the Guard of Switzers on foot armed with Carbines and Halberts after followed the Governour of Rome who accompanied his Holiness as far as Ponte Molle then went the Standard-bearer carrying a Crucifix and immediately after him went the Pope in his Litter and then followed the Cardinals Baronius Arigoni Monte and St. Georgio on Mules with Ombrelles in in their hands with a great number of other Prelats some on Horses and others in Coaches In this manner they travelled until Thursday in the Evening being treated on the way by several Cardinals when they arrived at Loretto and there for Devotion and for refreshment remained until Sunday When the Pope being on his departure presented to the Lady of Loretto a stately Cross with six Silver Candlesticks and two Bases of massive Silver with a thousand Crowns in Money and rich Vestments with which the Pope was clothed when he said Mass in that Chappel Departing on Sunday from Loretto they arrived that Evening at Ancona where being received with Triumphant Arches and splendid entertainment they were pleased to remain until the Friday following during which time Cardinal Aldobrandino arrived and was received by the Pope with all the demonstrations of kindness and respect imaginable On Thursday being Ascension day and the day before the Pope's departure the Sacrament of the Altar took its journey forward for Sinigaglia where the day following it arrived as also did the Pope being received by the Duke of Vrbin with a sumptuous and splendid entertainment From Sinigaglia they came to Fano which being the City where the Pope was born he was received with all demonstrations of joy and triumph from thence they travelled to Pesaro where the Duke of that place was not wanting in his respects and duty and next day to Rimini where the Duke of Modena came to kiss the feet of the Pope On Tuesday they came to Ravexna on Thursday they arrived at the Church of St. George not far distant from Ferrara where was a stately Monastery possessed by Monks of the Order of Mount Olivet the Sacrament being there arrived in the Morning was met about a Mile distant from the Church by the Clergy and Religious of Ferrara with all reverence and devotion where the Pope coming afterwards about an hour before Sun-setting retired into the Convent where his Lodgings were prepared being the very same in which Clement VII had formerly been received and here all things were prepared for the solemn Cavalcade and entry into Ferrara We shall not need to entertain the Reader with the Order and sumptuous manner of this Cavalcade as we have done of the Pope's Journey to this place it is sufficient to mention that the Entry into Ferrara was truly Royal and Magnificent and what might suit with the State and glory of the greatest Monarch of Europe During the time of the Pope's residence in that place which was from the Months of April until the middle of December following several matters and actions of importance succeeded and particularly a contract of Marriage between four persons of the same Name Family and bearing the same Escutcheons and Arms to wit between Philip III. King of Spain and Margaret of Austria Sister of the Arch-Duke Ferdinand of Austria and between the Arch-Duke of Austria Albert late Cardinal with the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia Sister of the King of Spain the which most illustrious Persons were joyned together by the hands of the Pope during the time that the Pope resided at Ferrara For though in the life of Philip II. the Marriage was agreed between his Son and the Lady Margaret yet not being celebrated before his death the consummation thereof was deferred until the days of mourning for the deceased King were accomplished which happening to be at the time when Pope Clement was at Ferrara it was thought fit that the Lady Margaret in her passage to Spain should take Ferrara in her way which accordingly she did being splendidly treated by the State of Venice as she journied through their Dominions and being conducted by the Governour of Milan with a numerous train she entered the City of Ferrara where she was magnificently received by the whole College of Cardinals and lodged at the expences of the Pope
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
with such Solemnity beyond what was usual that one Mascardus thought it worthy his description in a particular Treatise of that pompous Subject in memory of which the People of Rome erected a Triumphal Arch in the Capitol with this Inscription on the one side thereof Vrbano Octavo Barberino Pont. Max. Antiquae Gloriae Restitutori Authori Novae SPQR In Veteris Capitolii ruderibus Hoc qualecunque Recidivae Majestis specimen Ponit At the beginning of his Pontificate he confirmed the Decree of Pius V. against alienation of Church-Lands as also of the Towns Places and Demesnes belonging to the Church And for imploring the blessing of God on his Rule and Government He ordered Prayers of forty hours continuance to be held in the Churches of St. Peter St. John of Lateran and St. Mary ad praesepe vulgarly called Santa Maria Maggiore and in two other Churches in several quarters of the City He instituted also a new Order of Militia with the Title of Knights of the Conception of our Lady who took the Vow and observed the Rules of St. Francis under the protection of St. Michael and St. Basil This Order was first honoured by Charles Gonzaga and Vladislaus IV. King of Poland who took this Knighthood on occasion of a War against the Turks and Gonzaga coming to Rome with a Noble Retinue received the Cross and Habit from the Pope Of this Order were seventy Knights whose Banner was a Red Cross carrying a Flag fastned to it with a Golden Chain in which was a bright Image of the Virgin with the Devil under her feet with these words Vince Hoc Insigni Vere Nostro And further at the beginning of his Reign he appointed a select number of religious and grave Men to visit all the Monasteries both of Men and Women as also all Colleges and Hospitals and other publick places to take an account and knowledg of the abuses and disorders committed therein and to give their Opinions and advices for a redress of them and of their proceedings herein their Instructions were to render weekly an account unto the Pope He exhorted also all Bishops to reside in their respective Dioceses and not to excuse the Cardinâ—ls from the like Duty and Obligation he admonished them in a full Consistory to watch personally over their Flock and Charge for default of which and of strict Discipline a depravity of Manners and loosness of life was spread amongst the people Vt nostrae conscientiae consulamus vos monitos esse volumus à caeteris Episcopis in hâc parte non differre Cardinales Episcopos iisque non suffra gari qâ—od dicitur Pontifex scit tolerat quia in nobis nulla est tolerantia nulla conniventia But this earnestness of the Pope in this Point was believed to proceed from a desire he had to rid himself from some troublesom Cardinals who were always projecting and forming matters for Intrigues in the Court. And now according to the Bull of Paul II. reducing the Jubilies to every twenty five years the time was return'd in this year 1625. for a Jubily the last having been held in the year 1600. under Clement VIII To make a preparation hereunto a Bull was issued under the date of the 29th of April 1624. to advise the World that the following year was the holy year of Jubily that so all those who were desirous to gain the benefit of Indulgences might have timely notice so to dispose their Affairs as with convenience to repair to the Holy City and obtain the fruits of the Holy year and accordingly on the 24th of December 1624. he opened the Holy Gate in conformity to the Ceremonies described in other places But before the beginning of this Jubily the Republick of Venice sent their Ambassadours to kiss the Pope's feet and make tender of their Obedience to the Apostolical Sea the like was performed by Ambassadours from the Duke of Florence the Republicks of Genoua Luca and other Princes of Italy And when in the month of July 1625. the Ambassadours from the Catholick King came to perform their Obeysance Don Bartolines de Castro uttered himself in this manner By this Man meaning the Duke of Alcala who was Ambassador in chief who is chosen out of the principal Ministers of State King Philip doth offer and present to you most Holy Father all that duty and obedience which may evidence the subjection and reverence which he acknowledges due to your Holiness and the Apostolical Sea and therewith subjects all his Kingdoms Provinces Islands Seas and People as a most obedient Son and offers them at your holy Feet Then Vrban VIII he adores on his knees Thee he acknowledges to be the Vicar of Christ Our Lord and the Successour of St. Peter To Thee who art the Head of the Catholick Church and of all the Christian Commonwealth he willingly and freely offers all obedience promising and vowing to lend all his Force Riches and Strength both by Sea and Land in defence of the Apostolical Sea and Orthodox Religion from which no Power or other consideration whatsoever shall be able to divert or separate his Resolutions The year of Jubily passing with these Ceremonies and acts of Devotion at the end thereof being the 24th of December 1625. the Gate of the Church of St. John de Lateran was shut by Cardinal Levi Arch-deacon of that Church that of Santa Maria Maggiore by Cardinal Millin the Arch deacon also of that Church that of St. Paul by Cardinal de Monte Dean of the Sacred College and during the time that these three Cardinals were employed in these Ceremonies the Pope assisted at the Vespers in St. Peter's Church which being ended he himself shut the Gates of the Church of the Vatican with the ordinary Solemnity in memory of which this Inscription was engraved Vrbanus VIII Pont. Max. Portam Sanctam reseravit Et Clausit Anno M.DC. XXV Howsoever in favour to Pilgrims the Pope thought sit to continue the benefit and priviledg of his Indulgences until the first day of the year 1626. And now the Pope who at the beginning of his Pontificate had created Francis Barberino his Nephew Cardinal Deacon of St. Onufrio was still designing greater honours for him and in the year 1624. gave him the Title of Cardinal of St. Agatha and made him Pretor of the Cities of Tiburtia and Firmiana Patron and Protector of Aragon Portugal England Scotland c. Library-keeper of the Apostolical Sea and Vice-Chancellour of the Holy Church of Rome and farther to exalt him with higher honours in the year 1625. he sent him into France with the character of Legat à Latere and to make his reception more splendid he dispatched Bernardino Mari a Patrician of Rome into France to intreat Lewis XIII that he would be pleased to receive his Nephew under that degree and quality At his departure from Rome the Pope delivered to him a Cross with his Benediction and the Cardinals accompanied him to the gate
most Eminent and most Reverend but as to the Order of the Knights of St. George instituted by Paul V. he wholly abolished it The Illyrian Colledg founded at Loreto by Gregory XIII but translated afterwards to Rome by Clement VIII consisting in all but of twelve persons he restored again to Loreto with augmentation of the Revenue and of the Scholars to the number of thirty six And in regard his hand was now employed in giving and taking away Honours he was pleased to declare that the Commonwealth of Venice was a crowned Head and was to be treated with a Dignity equal to that of Kings About this time great combustions and terrible Wars threatned Italy for the House of Gonzaga which reigned in Mantua was now considered without issue male and as a dead Corps without hopes of any branches springing from thence neither could Ferdinand the elder Brother nor Vincenzo the present Duke leave after them any other than the young Princess Mary their Niece who as a Woman was excluded from the Investiture of the Dutchy had yet some reason though doubtful to pretend to that of Montferrat In her marriage therefore the pledges of Peace or the seeds of great contention seeming to be lodged many believed it expedient to marry her to Charles Duke of Rhetel Son of the Duke of Nevers the nearest and lawful Heir for this Branch though transplanted to a forein Soil was sprung from the same Root enjoying in France the revenue of three large Dukedoms viz. Nevers Rhetel and Maine The Spaniards who were jealous of this House and above any thing apprehended this Succession lest it should introduce the French into Italy promised the pretensions of Ferrand Prince of Guastalla a branch also of the House of Gonzaga but derived farther than that of Nevers but by how much the Austrians favoured Guastalla with benefits and declarations by so much the more was France earnest to strengthen the rights of Nevers with whom the Venetians also concurring in Opinion put the Duke in mind to establish the Succession in his life-time and therewith confirm the Peace of Italy Nor was Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy less attentive to his interest and game than the others designing upon the death of Vincenzo now crazy and infirm not so much with age as with riot and luxurious living to revive his pretended title to Montferrat and colour it with the marriage of Mary to his Son Maurice To pervent which Vincenzo with great secrecy called to him Rhetel that he might marry him to the Princess declaring him immediately upon his arrival Lieutenant General and his Heir by solemn Testament To perfect this Marriage nothing was now wanting but the Pope's Dispensation in matter of consanguinity or nearness of kindred which being obtained the Bull seasonably arriv'd the night before that Duke Vincenzo died so that the marriage was consummated whilst the Corps were yet warm and the day following the Bridegroom together with his mourning assumed the Title of Prince of Mantua and having in his power the Garrison and the Cittadel called Porto required from the people an Oath of Fidelity in the name of his Father Guastalla in the mean time published a Patent from the Emperour empowering him to take possession of Mantua until the right should be declared and commanding the Governour of Milan to maintain this Decree by force if need should require Guastalla also had thoughts of going himself to Mantua but the passage was already stop'd by the anticipations of Rhetel wherefore he practised upon Casal endeavouring to alienate the minds of that people from their new Prince but all in vain because the name of Nevers was universally cryed up both at Casal and in the Country of Montferrat The interest of Princes being now discovered reason or justice were no longer debated in the cause of Mantua but calculations made of Force opportunity and advantage The Republick of Venice resolved to joyn with Nevers as the safest interest in which to maintain the liberty of Italy howsoever being willing to decline the assistance of France and other Strangers they designed a middle party composed of a League with the Pope and other Princes of Italy by which they believed it easie to protect the Justice of Nevers by Negotiation and defend themselves on all occasions against violence This Remonstrance of the Venetians Vrban approved and offered his interposition with powerful Offices But what said he can be promised from Reason without Arms in dealing with him who places Reason and Justice in nothing but Arms the excess of Power in Princes makes little account of the Pope's Prayers and their Mediation is reduced to almost nothing else but to adorn the Frontispiece of Treaties with his Name The intentions of Vrban were in reality conformable to his expressions for he desired to maintain Nevers in the succession of Mantua but abhorred to engage himself so far as to be obliged to come to the extremity of taking up Arms. But whilest these things were in meditation and discourse between the Pope and other the Friends of Rhetel the Duke of Savoy taking the advantage of the diversion which the Arms of Lewis XIII found against his Protestant Subjects in France entered with his Army into Montferrat and hoped to be speedily Master both of that Country and of the strong Fortress of Casal which was besieged already by Marquis Spinola Lieutenant General of the Spanish Forces in Italy as was Mantua also at the same time by the Forces of the Emperour At length on the 18th of July 1630. in the Night the City of Mantua was by treachery taken by the Germans and for the space of three days committed to the pillage and cruelty of the Soldiers with all the outrages which lust impiety and licence could suggest to merciless Conquerours the Princess Mary retired into a Monastery where being respected for her Sex and Quality she obtained licence to be carried to the Empress to whom she was nearly related the Duke retired hastily into Porto where the Ammunition for full accomplishment of the Treason taking fire he was forced to surrender on condition that he should be convoyed by two Companies of German Horse into the Country of Ferrara to remain at Melara where the Duke was supplied with Mony for his maintenance from the Venetians The taking of Mantua in this terrible manner increased the hopes of the Spaniards who besieged Casal that they should speedily become Masters of that important place but their expectations were disappointed by the coming of the French Troops under the command of Mareschal Schomberg sent by Lewis XIII for relief of his Ally the Duke of Mantua Thoiras who was Governour of Casal defended the place with great gallantry which gave such discouragement to the Enemy that upon approach of the French Troops the Siege was raised and the Town conserved to its lawful Master In this manner was France Spain and the Emperor engaged in a bloody War within the confines of
Italy But Pope Vrban after various troubles and Negotiations established the Peace of Italy and by the dexterous management of Cardinal Mazarine then his Nuntio appeased the differences between Spain and France and therewith established an universal Peace In the life of Sixtus IV. we have shewed how that that Pope married John his Nephew and Brother to Cardinal Julian to Jane the Daughter of Frederick Duke of Vrbin by whom he had one Son called Francisco Maria della Rovere who succeeded in that Dukedom And whereas for want of Heirs male that Dutchy did of right devolve to the Demesnes of the Church yet Sixtus to advance the honour of his own Family de la Rovere was pleased still to continue that Fief in separation from the Church the which remained in such condition until the year 1632. when Francisco Maria della Rovere the last Duke of Vrbin dying this Pope Vrban assumed the property and without difficulty united it to the patrimony of the Church for this Pope having an Eye thereunto in the life of the Duke who was then grown very old kept a Prèlate in that Country which assisted in all affairs by which means after his death Taddeo Barberino the Pope's Nephew Prince of Palestrina entred peaceably with his Soldiers and took such quiet possession thereof as if the old Dominion had been continued rather than a new one introduced The Pope expecting this accident was already in Arms under pretence of the commotions in Italy so that in case amidst these confusions any one should have designed to disturb his peaceable possession he was in a condition to maintain his right with a puissant Force But the Princes were so far from invading the Dutchy that they universally concurred in the confirmation of his Title advising him to invest one of his Nephews in the Principality But the Pope considering the severe Bulls of his Predecessours against such alienations feared that he might entail a patrimony of unquietness and trouble to his posterity and therefore resolved to annex that Dominion to the Church against the persuasions of divers Princes who were willing to see the Ecclesiastical State increase in Temporal Power in memory of which Union of this Principality to the Church without Arms or effusion of bloud but only by prudence and gentleness these words are engraven in the Vatican Civitates Ditiones Ducat us Vrbini Nomine comprehensae quas à Romanis Pontificibus Feltria prius deinde Ruveria familia beneficiario Jure possidebat in Francisco Maria II. extinctâ utriusque sobole in liberam Apostolicae Sedis Dominationem concessere Vrbano VIII Pont. Max. Anno Salutis MDCXXXII Regio autem Virorum tum Militari studio tum insigni Opificio Doctrinae laude praestantium multitudine celeberrima est But that the Pope might not displease his Nephew Taddeo by this disappointment he conferred upon him the Pretorship of Rome which had long been enjoyed by the Family of Rovere This Office and Dignity which still retained the antient and venerable Name of Praetor Praetorii and in the times of the Caesars was in great esteem and Authority conserved now little more than an empty name without power for which reason forein Ambassadours who were the Representatives of the Emperour and Kings refused to give precedency of place to this Prefect or Governour at such times when at the most solemn Functions they assisted at the Chair of the Pope The Barberins depending on the greatness of their Uncle who was ever partial in the Cause and Interest of his kinred obstinately maintained their pretended Right by which the Controversie arose so high that the Ambassadours by Order of their respective Princes abstained from the Churches and from all solemn Meetings at which they might be present with the Prefect From this common distast of Princes arose an other of a private nature between the Cavalier Giovanni Pesari Ambassadour for the Republick of Venice and Taddeo the Prefect the occasion was this the Prefect casually meeting in the street with Pesari caused his Coach to stop as the custom is always in Rome that when the Coaches of Cardinals Ambassadours and other Great Men meet they always stop and send Messages of Complement one to the other but Pesari not observing it by reason that it was in the dusk of the Evening drove on without notice of the Prefect which though Pesari sent afterwards expresly to excuse yet the Prefect was so offended that he purposely designed to meet him an other time and that he might requite the late neglect he corrupted the Ambassadours Coachman to stay his Horses feigning that his Hat was fallen off and so in the mean time the Prefect passed without notice of the Ambassadour Pesari intended to have chastised his Servant for this piece of treachery but that he was rescued by some armed Men from the punishment he deserved The Court of Rome which is always talkative and figuring a strange kind of effects from such shadows and appearances made great account of these Formalities discoursing of them with the same direful apprehensions as Men in other parts use to conclude from bloudy Battels and important Conquests But the Senate of Venice having notice hereof was well assured that by support of the Uncle the party of the Barberins would be too strong in Rome ordered their Ambassadour Pesari that for evidence of a publick Resentment he should immediately leave the City without taking the least notice either of the Pope or his Nephews and in the mean time at Venice the Nuntio was suspended from Audience To this disgust an other quarrel was annexed occasioned by a Bull made the last year by Vrban whereby he Decreed to Cardinals the Ecclesiastical Electors and the Great Master of Malta the Title of Eminence forbidding them to receive any other unless from Kings The Republick of Venice which have always adhered to their antient Forms and Stile and will upon no occasion whatsoever be induced to alter and change their Customs would never give other Title to them than of Reverendissimo Illustrissimo which gave great disgust and mortification to the Pope and served to increase the former discontent To these were added other sharp contests between those of Loreo Subjects to the Venetians and those of Ferrara where Cardinal Palotta the Pope's Legat encroached on the undoubted confines of the Venetians and imprisoning the Venetian Subjects shewed an intention to attempt greater Novelties and by erecting and changing the High ways diverted the course of the Waters in such manner as made the River Po almost useless The Venetians provoked by these mischiefs laboured to repair themselves with like returns for Luca Pesaro Captain of the Gulf entring into the Sacca di Goro with some Gallies and armed Barks stopped the Ships which with Victuals and Merchandise passed by Sea towards Ferrara He destroyed also the works which were lately made in the River to divert its course The Troops also encreased on both sides and the
were concealed and covered until at length in the year 1639. Duke Edward going to Rome the antient discontents brake forth more openly for in the first place the Duke thought he was not treated with that Ceremony and respect which was due to his condition and quality then that his Brother Prince Francisco Maria was not created Cardinal as was promised but what was most important of all was the disappointment of many favours and concessions expected from the Pope and particularly an abatement of half per cent on the revenue which the Duke paid to Monti which is an Annual rent antiently assigned by the Farnesi Dukes of Parma upon the revenues of Castro a Dukedom they held in Fief of the Church for though the Pope had made this Grant and had not recalled it yet is was crossed by the Nephews and with sundry delays difficulties and excuses prolonged and diminished The Duke resenting these neglects and unkindnesses departed angrily from Rome without taking leave either of the Pope or Nephews inveighing violently against Cardinal Francisco and his Government The Cardinal to requite the Duke persuaded the Pope to recal the Grant he had given for exportation of Corn out of the Ecclesiastical State into the Country of Castro by which the people were not onely ready to be famished but the best revenues of Castro ceased for the Duke having farmed the Exportation of Corn to certain Merchants for ninety seven thousand Crowns per annum the Exportation being forbidden the Merchants renounced the agreement whereupon the sum failing to pay the Montists they complained to the Courts of Justice and obtained that the Duke being a Vassal and subject to the Church should be juridically cited The Duke imputed all to the malice and covetousness of the Barberins to despoil him of his Country and believing that he should be overborn by his Enemies who were both Judges and Parties resolved to fortifie himself against force and accordingly dispatched a Gentleman of Montferrat to be Governour with a Garrison to Castro causing Half-moons and Redoubts to be cast up about the place This being judged a Crime by the Barberins and a rebellion against his Sovereign a Monitory was published by the Auditor of the Chamber limiting unto the Duke thirty days to demolish the fortifications of Castro and disband the Garrison and otherwise declared him to have incurred Rebellion and Excommunication The quarrel being thus begun the Barbarins raised six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse with all speed under the command of Taddeo the Prefect of Rome appointing their Rendezvouz at Viterbo where they fortified their Camp with a train of Artillery and provided it with all sorts of Victuals and Ammunition These preparations administred occasions of various Discourse and reflections to the people who attributed the blame of all to the pride and ambition of the Nephews for the World would not be induced to believe that the Pope who when he was young cultivated peace in all parts and was naturally of a quiet Spirit must needs be affected with strange thoughts and designs if now in the extremity of his age he should be persuaded to disturb it and so much the more in a conjuncture when all Christendom was torn in pieces with War and Dissension and stood rather in need of his paternal mediation to produce Concord amongst Princes than to see him the Author and contriver of War in Italy The Viceroy of Naples seemed above all jealous of the event of this War believing that the Barberins had engaged the French in the Design Ferdinand the Grand Duke of Tuscany was also displeased to see the Pope armed on his Confines with intention to make new Conquests Wherefore both the Viceroy and the Grand Duke interposed in the Offices of mediation to which the Pope making some short replies that his resolution was onely to humble his Vassal and make himself obeyed gave no place or opportunity for Treaty The Senate of Venice kept themselves silent for a while which the Barberins interpreted as indeed it was an effect of their discontent rather than a token of their satisfaction but being at length sollicited much by the Duke of Parma to interess themselves in the quarrel after various Debates it was resolved with general consent to intreat the Pope that he would yield to the instances and common satisfaction of the Princes who with unanimous desires interposed themselves for the Peace by giving time and expedients for a Treaty To the Duke they gave Counsel of moderation and to humble himself in such decent sort to the Pope as might pacifie him and bring him honourably off from his Engagements and Enterprise But in the mean time the Barberins that they might prevent the importunities of Princes hastned their march towards Castro upon an Opinion that having once taken the place the fervour with which the Mediators interposed for a Peace would be abated and matters reduced to such intricacies as that in the end the glory of the Counsels and the merit of the Enterprise would fall out to their advantage Howsoever to make the matter more plausible another Bull was published in which the time prescribed to Prince Edward was prolonged for fifteen days and yet at the same time on the 27th of September 1641. the Pope's Army entered the the territories of Castro and appearing before Rocca Montalto which is towards the Sea the Guard consisting of fifty Soldiers abandoned the place and soon after Castro it self surrendered upon conditions of life and enjoyment of goods to the Soldiers and Inhabitants and so the Garrison being two hundred and fifty in number marched forth on the seventh day after the Siege was laid which news much troubled the Duke coming to him just at the time that he in person and Count Palmia by permission of the Grand Duke was conducting Forces through Tuscany for relief of the place Duke Edward being thus foiled made new applications to the Senate of Venice fearing lest he should be attacqued in his Dominions of Parma and Piacenza and in the mean time to keep himself from those prejudices which in the way of Judicature the Acts which had past might bring upon him he caused a Protest to be presented to the Auditor della Camera wherein he declared that the Barberins being his Enemies he had no other Judg left him but Force nor hope of favour but from his Friends But the Barberins being flattered by all upon these successes and elated with vanity and pride denied to give admittance to any Treaty the Pope seemed to hear with trouble the Offices brought to him by Order of the Senate of Venice scorning to admit Mediators betwixt Sovereign and Vassal Nor were the French either silent or unactive upon this occasion but laying hold on this turbulent conjuncture of Affairs proffered the Pope the powerful Forces of their Crown to drive the Spaniards out of Italy and raising his thoughts to a more noble Design than that of Castro proffered
Ceremonial The investiture of his Dominions should be given to his eldest Son with restitution of all that was past except Castro and Montalto with so much of the Country round about as was within Cannon shot These Propositions being transmitted from the Great Duke to the Venetians were by common consent rejected seeming unreasonable to be offered to the Duke of Parma and dishonourable to the League wherefore the Treaties at Venice were more closely confirmed between Gondi the Great Duke's Secretary the Duke of Modena and the Senate being resolved not to abandom their first intentions of protecting the Duke of Parma But amidst these Negotiations Duke Edward moved by the fury and impatience of his disposition dispeeded three thousand Foot to cross the Appenines with design to embark them on some Tartanes and other Vessels which were laid ready to receive them at that place where the River Magra falls into the Mediterranean Sea that so surprising the Rock of Montalto they might easily make themselves Masters also of the City of Castro but not only the Snows on the Mountains hindred the passage of the Soldiers so long that the design was discovered at Rome and provisions made against it but also the Soldiers being embarked were encountred with such a storm of contrary Winds as drove them to Genoua and Porto fino where being unprovided of Victuals and Mony part of them perished and the remainder was received into pay by the Spanish Ambassadour who seasonably sent them to strengthen the Governour of Milan who besieged Fortona Duke Edward angred with this ill success designed to enter the Country of Ferrara which beyond the Po confines with the Republick but being disappointed herein he demanded passage through Tuscany to go with one thousand five hundred Horse and a few Foot for recovery of Castro but the Great Duke denied it until matters were agreed and better ordered on more solid and more probable grounds at Venice because that he going forth with weak Forces and often foiled his unhappy success diminished the vigour and reputation of the Arms of the Confederates equally with his own Thus the minds of Men being on all sides irritated the War proceeded and the hot Spirit of Duke Edward not being capable of restraint he with six weak Regiments of Foot and as many of Horse composed of several Nations and one of Dragoons entered the Country of Ferrara and came to Bondeno defended by Mauriconi a Neapolitan with five hundred Foot and four hundred Horse but he no sooner heard a Volley of the Duke's Men which in the duskiness of the Evening approached his Fort but he immediately abandoned his Post and ran away to Ferrara where he was followed by his Garrison then the Duke attaqued la Stellata which making some small resistance afterwards surrendred But Cardinal Antonio that he might hinder the Duke's farther progress encamped at Osteria Nuova a convenient place between Ferrara and Bologna Wherefore the Confederates hastned the result of all their Counsels thinking they had no time to lose but to close with this conjuncture before the people were delivered from their present fears or that Cardinal Antonio should have defeated or made the Duke of Parma to retire Wherefore it was agreed That their Forces should be encreased to eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand six hundred Horse These were to be divided into two Bodies one in Toscany and the other in the Dominions of Modena and in both the colours of the League were to be displayed What was taken was to be held in the name of all until the Duke of Parma was restored to his own Dominions It was also farther agreed That the Venetians should seize the Banks of the Po and when there was occasion of taking the Field the Troops in Modena with those of Parma if they could joyn should at the same time second the Enterprise From Venice and Florence the Nuntios were to be discharged and the Revenues of the Barberins were to be sequestred And now several feats of Arms passed with various successes for Cardinal Antonio had removed his Camp to Cento where he so well fortified himself that he equally defended the territories of Ferrara and Bologna The Confederates to make some advance desired to dislodg him but the Cardinal being better fortified than was imagined gave some demur unto their Counsels in what manner to act But in the mean time the Venetians employed part of their Forces at Sea infesting the Coast with six Gallies and some armed Barks even to the City of Ancona they took also the Tower of Premiero which being recovered afterwards by the Ecclesiasticks was demolished the Proveditor Delfino surprised also in the Night that small Fort called delle Bochette which the Pope as we have said had lately built The Towers likewise of del Abbate and di Goro were rendered as was Arriano a great Town which in a fear drove out their Garrison and yielded to Delfino Cardinal Antonio on the other side intending to carry the War into Modena took in Spilimberto Vignivola and St. Cesario open places of the Ftontier but the Duke with the Proveditor Corraro followed him with all their Army desirous to draw him to a Battel and to provoke him thereunto they resolved to invest Crevalcuore a good Town in the Country of Ferrara but not strong in the view and sight of the Cardinal but this Exploit being put into execution with one thousand Foot and four hundred Horse only the Cardinal opposing them with a great Force constrained them to retire in disorder leaving one of their Cannon sticking in the mire The Great Duke of Toscany in the mean time coming in person as far as St. Casciano had put the Army into the Field under the command of Prince Mathias but with direction of Alexander del Borro a valiant and experienced Soldier Cardinal Antonio sent a Body of five or six thousand Men against them commanded by the Duke of Savelli notwithstanding which the Florentines advanced into the Ecclesiastical State and having taken the strong Pass of Buterone attacked the City della Pieve where a Garrison of one thousand five hundred Men without force of Cannon soon capitulated and surrendered on conditions that they might march forth with their Swords only From thence Borri with two thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse made an Incursion as far as Orvieto forcing Savelli to retire farther into the Country Howsoever not long after the Cardinal sent Valanze to enter Toscany with three thousand Foot and one thousand Horse which he did with such expedition that he attacked Pistoia before the Great Duke could supply it with such succours as it required yet the courage of the Inhabitants and Soldiers was such that they repulsed the Enemy and preserved their City Howsoever the news hereof strook a terrour into the hearts of the people of Florence who for a long time had not been accustomed to so near an approach of the Enemy but the news of
that place determined For now the Faction of the Barberins and particularly Cardinal Grimaldi being sensible that nothing would operate so easily with the Pope as the near approach of the French Arms to the Dominions of the Church prevailed with Cardinal Mazarine to send a Fleet to the Siege of Orbetello In pursuance of this design which was kept with great secrecy the French Fleet commanded by the Duke de Breze and assisted with some Troopes by Prince Thomas of Savoy landed their Forces at the Port of St. Steffano of which they easily made themselves Masters as also of the Lands of Talamone which the Spaniard had guarded with a very inconsiderable Garrison and afterwards the Duke de Breze came to an Anchor before the Port of Orbetello The news of the French Arms before Orbetello alarm'd the City of Rome with great terrour and so sensibly affrighted the Pope himself that he evidently discovered a mind much more flexible to the Cause of the Barberins than formerly moderating his Sentence and granting many things in their favour which he had lately refused The other Princes also of Italy who were their implacable Enemies growing sensible of the near approach of danger became earnest Intercessours with the Pope to give all the satisfaction he was able to the Crown of France to which the Pope lending a gentle Ear was contented that the surrender which Cardinal Antonio should make of himself at his City of Avignon should be esteemed as a point of submission and from thence receiving Letters from him he ordered the Commissioners of the Chamber to take off the Sequestrations which were laid on their Revenue and Estate for which first step of Grace Cardinal Grimaldi returned thanks to the Pope in a full Consistory But no sooner was Orbetello succoured by the Marquis of Torrecuso who was dispeeded with a considerable body of Men by the Vice-King of Naples and the French forced to raise their Siege and return to Tolon with the loss of the Duke of Breze their Admiral but the Pope reassuming again his antient displeasure and hatred against the Barberins retracted all the favours and concessions he had lately granted to them and inveighing against Cardinal Mazarine with bitter words called him a Betrayer of his Country and unworthy the Purple with which the Church had cloathed him having for the sake of his own ambitious desires and envy to the flourishing Estate of the House of Pamfilio endeavoured to involve Italy in a most ruinous and dangerous War But these invectives which the Papal party used against the Cardinal served to no other end than to provoke his choler and whet his desires of revenge so that having fitted out another Fleet not inferiour in number and strength to the former commanded by the Mareschals de Milliarey and Plessis Praslin they quitted the design against Orbetello and Portohercole and sailed to Piombino and Portolongone in the Island of Elba the first being a place bordering on Tuscany and opening a passage into the Dominions of the Pope was esteemed convenient and advantageous against the Princes of Italy and such as might curb the Pope and render him more respectful to the Interest of France the other being situate between Naples and Milan was judged of great importance for intercepting succours and correspondencies between one and the other Territory The first attempt therefore was made upon Piombino which being defended by some few Troops of Spanish Horse and a weak Garrison within upon appearance of a Battery of five Pieces of Cannon raised against it capitulated and surrendered itself The success of Piombino strook a terrour into the Defendants of Portolongone which notwithstanding was for some time defended by the Garrison but the French having prepared some Mines and being ready to make a general storm the Defendants demanded a Parly and surrendered upon honourable Conditions the which places the French looked upon as so considerable as might be worth the labour and charge of stronger Fortifications The news hereof being brought to Rome did immediately silence the Party opposite to Mazarine and again mollifie the mind of the Pope in such manner that he began to give favourable Audiences to the French Ministers and to hearken again with some gentleness to those Proposals which were made in behalf of the Barberins howsoever he could not frame his mind to the promotion of Frier Michael Mazarin to the degree of Cardinal for his heart was so full of distance against his Brother the Chief Minister of France that he could not contain his resentments but ever vented them so often as he had occasion to discourse with any of the French Nation It happened at that time that the Duke of Guise being at Rome was admitted to Audience with the Pope and received with all the expressions of joy and tenderness imaginable it being the custom of Innocent to abound in his excessive demonstrations of love towards that Nation which he inwardly abhorred and detested The Duke having this opportunity took the liberty to lay before Innocent the present State of all Europe and particularly that of France which was now governed entirely by Cardinal Mazarin a Person so wedded to the Interest of that Crown that it were injustice to separate one from the other and that indeed he was so riveted in the favour of the Queen Regent and of all the great Men of that Court some few persons only excepted that his Holiness could not exercise effects of his displeasure against the person of the Cardinal without disobliging the noble Court and Nation of France That the Cardinal desired nothing more than the favour of his Holiness and to live in peace and amity with the Court of Rome on which condition and upon the least demonstration of kindness the Cardinal would be ready to yield all obsequious submission to his most Holy Person and would adore and reverence him with highest esteem But to make the first step herein he told him that it was necessary to call Frier Mazarin from Aix where he was Arch-bishop unto Rome and freely and generously to confer upon him the Dignity of Cardinal for that by this means obliging the Arch-bishop and detaining him by preferments near his Person he would easily become his Creature and probably so influence his Brother that all misunderstandings and disgusts between the Courts of France and Rome being reconciled a happy correspondence and peace would ensue for the future The Pope approving this Discourse and proposal of the Duke immediately gave order to call Frier Mazarin then residing at his Arch-bishoprick of Aix unto Rome with promises of advancement of which the Duke gave advice to Cardinal Mazarin his Brother but this Expedient was so little satisfactory to the Cardinal who was ever suspicious of the Pope's good inclinations to himself and Family that he endeavoured to dissuade his Brother from the danger of an affront being perhaps unwilling to receive any Obligations from the Pope whom he believed
for confirmation of the Barberins in their engagements to France that the Queen should match the Princess with one of the most illustrious Families of the Kingdom not that any Portion was required from her Majesty for that this Lady had sufficient of her own Estate bestowed by her Uncle Vrban VIII to make her acceptable to the greatest Peer of France onely that she would be pleased as a Jewel from her Cabinet and with other obliging circumstances to bestow her on some great Lord that was most devoted to the Interest of her Majesty And farther the Ambassadour pressed that it was necessary to give the Cardinal Barberin some speedy answer hereunto lest despairing of any substantial benefit from France he should close with the Spaniards who had promised to restore him forty thousand Crowns a year which he held in Abbies within the Dominions of his Catholick Majesty so soon as he had given testimony of his detachment from the French Interest That the Cardinal apprehended that Mazarine had no real kindness for him and would never assent to the marriage of the Princess Palestrina with any considerable Match which he reserved for one of his own Nieces The substance of the Ambassadour's Letter being well considered it was judged necessary to gratifie the Barberins with some thing more than words and accordingly Cardinal Barberin was made Grand Almoner of France and Cardinal Antonio created Bishop of Poictiers which the French Ambassadour signified to the Pope with such formality as gave matter of discourse to all the Court But notwithstanding all these evidences of favour the constancy of the Barberins was not able to withstand the favourable conjuncture which offered it self for an entire reconciliation with the Pope for none was more ready to embrace this offer than Cardinal Antonio who now having been almost eight years an Exile from Rome and State and living in forein parts at the expence of some Millions besides the sequestration of his Revenue from the Church was infinitely desirous to close with any reasonable Propositions which might restore him to favour and his Estate The design hereof was projected by Donna Olympia who made this Proposition to Cardinal Francisco that in case he would assent to the marriage of the Son of Taddeo the Prefect with the Daughter of her Daughter by Prince Justiniani she would restore the Barberins to all their Offices Revenues and intimate favour with the Pope provided that this Reconciliation should be valued the price of her Portion The Barberins looking on this unexpected Offer as a blessing from Heaven made this speedy and short Answer That they should esteem themselves much honoured and happy in such an Alliance for having been for almost eight years under a Cloud and a great part of their Revenue seized they began to fear that if Innocent should die his Successour would detain their Revenues and confer them on his own Relations Donna Olympia had contrived to have the match with the eldest Son of Don Taddeo but the Barberini though very earnest to have the matter concluded yet pretended that the eldest resolving to be a Cardinal had relinquished his Birthright to his youngest Brother who in recompence thereof had made a resignation of his Abby to him that was the elder This was a subtle Masterpiece of their Art for by this means being restored they got another Red Cap a thing not known of before to have three Cardinals at the same time of the same name and Family These resolutions being carried on with great secrecy advices thereof were dispeeded in Characters to Cardinal Antonio who wearied with the promises and expectations of France and with the delays of Cardinal Mazarine who as he was persuaded designed no good to his Family joyfully embraced the Proposition and immediately with privacy conveyed his Niece the Princess Palestrina unto Padoua the unexpected news whereof and the strange change of Affairs in the Court of Rome surprised the whole World but more especially the Queen Regent of France and Cardinal Mazarine the chief Minister who now began too late to consider of the cold entertainment given the Barberins and that more substantial preferments should have been bestowed on them to confirm and ever oblige them to the Interest of France for indeed they were were grown very high in their own imaginations and could not stoop to a mean or to an indifferent way of living for when they considered of the long Râ—â—gn of twenty years of their Uncle during which they had missed of the Dukedom of Vrbin which devolved to the Church in the year 1631. by the decease of that Duke who died without Heirs and when they farther considered how they were defeated of their project designed upon the Republick of Lucca and succeeded not in their War against the Duke of Parma whom they intended with all the Farnesi to drive out of Castro and all their Principality by force of Arms when I say they considered these matters they could not with patience read the Histories of Sixtus IV. Alexander VI. Clement VII Paul III. who had not reigned half the time of Vrban VIII and yet were able to make their Nephews free Princes they could not but much reproach their own fortune and conduct to repair which they resolved to close with this present favourable opportunity breaking through all their ties and promises and engagements to France And now Cardinal Antonio being returned to Rome the Scene was miraculously changed for not only was Charles the eldest Son of Taddeo created Cardinal and their Niece married to the Duke of Modena a Prince of a noble descent but Cardinal Barberin was admitted to the Cabinet-Counsel which was composed of the Pope Donna Olympia the Cardinal-Patron and Monsignor Azzolini who was Guard of the Briefs a place of great care and trust they now governed with Donna Olympia all the important Affairs of the Church and were in such high esteem with the Pope who denied them no favours that being Men well practised in the Government and in the manner of Popes Favourites they so well managed their own affairs that in the two last years of Innocent's Reign they licked themselves whole and repaired the losses which their eight years absence and disgrace had brought upon their Estates Nor is it to be wondred that the Pope should add an other Cardinal to this Family though there were two already of great esteem therein since there was this justice and reason for it It hath been an antient and common custom for Popes to bestow their own Cardinals Hat on the kindred of that Pope from whom he had received his so that Innocent who was created Cardinal by Vrban VIII and being obliged to relinquish his Red Hat so soon as he was created Pope was also obliged to bestow it on one of the Barberins at their instance but they being under a cloud of his disfavour could not obtain this just request until after their reconciliation when it was not farther to
was that he never knew how to make choice of a wise Chief or Directour of his own Party Cardinal Pamfilio was ever esteemed as a Partisan of Spain and of the Medices His whole Family Mother Children Daughters Sons in law and Daughters in law were engaged in mortal Feuds one against another The Faction of the Barberins was not well united for the greatest part of the Creatures of Vrban VIII entertained a secret rancour and venom against Cardinal Francis Barberin who after having vowed himself a thousand times to the Interest of the Pope of Donna Olympia and that Family turned his Coat and endeavoured with all obsequious diligence to be received into the Service and friendship of Spain Thus having continued the History of the Barberins with almost an uninterrupted course or mixture of other Affairs we must return a little back to other passages of moment which intervened in the Reign of this present Pope After the death of Edward Duke of Parma which happened in the year 1649. the Montists wanting the usual payments agreed by the Duke in the time of Vrban VIII and afterwards confirmed by him at the conclusion of the late Peace made their complaints to the present Pope upon which license was obtained and Briefs were issued from the Camera to proceed against the Lands and Estate possessed by that Duke in the state of Castro The prosecution of this matter was more violently carried on by the persuasions of Donna Olympia because she was dissatisfied with that Duke for not selling to her his Naboth's Vineyard which was a certain Castle in the Dominion of Castro and because as she supposed he had been instrumental in persuading the Princess of Rossano who was his kinswoman to take Sanctuary under the protection of France from the Wiles and Plots of her Step-mother The Officers and Soldiers of the Duke made resistance against the Commissioners of the Camera who came to make seisures for payment of the Montists which greatly enraged the Pope who was impatient and frowned at the least opposition made to his Commands but the Great Duke of Toscany apprehensive that the consequences hereof might be an engagement to a second War he endeavoured by means of Cardinal Albornozzi to compose the differences making divers propositions to facilitate the payments and satisfie the Montists but whilest these matters were depending it unfortunately happened that the Bishop of Castro was murdered by certain Assassinates who attended his passage on the confines of the Ecelesiastical State The Pope being furiously enraged by the perpetration of this impious fact which he attributed to the machinations of the Duke of Parma immediately dispeeded certain Troops under the command of David Vidman and Girolamo Gabriel to lay Siege unto the City of Castro At that time the French being Masters of Piombino and Portolongone and having an Army in Lombardy under the command of the Duke of Modena and Mareschal du Plessis Praslin kept the Spaniards in awe and gave countenance to the designs of the Duke of Parma in maintenance of his right invaded by the Pope the Duke encouraged by hopes given him by the French and with an opinion that the Pope who was aged and loved ease and quietness would gladly compound upon reasonable terms so soon as he found himself pressed by any vigorous opposition he therefore imitating the example of his Father raised a considerable Army which he committed to the conduct of Marquis Gaufrid with Orders to march directly into the Dominions of the Pope and lest in their passage thither they should commit Violences or acts of Hostility or burden the people he furnished Money sufficient to defray all the charges necessary for maintenance of the Army whereby he might make appear the caution he used to give no offence and that his War was onely defensive and designed to no other end than to protect and maintain his own Subjects and Estate This tenderness of doing hurt to any had been well accepted and interpreted if the success had answered the hopes and expectations of the Duke but the contrary happened out for so soon as Gaufrid was entered into the Dominions of the Church he was encountred by the Marquis Mattei a knowing and an experienced Captain to whom the Pope had committed the charge and defence of those Countries and being strengthened by a considerable force and with many Gentlemen Voluntiers who came from Ferrara and Bologna to signalize their Valour he gave Battel to the Enemy and soon routed and defeated the Army of Parma the General Gaufrid shamefully flying fell under the heavy displeasure and disgrace of his Prince and being accused by his Enemies of many enormous Crimes and miscarriages and of not having observed the Orders of his Master he was with much ignominy put to death whereby he gave a new Example to the World of the mutability of fortune which from an obscure beginning and birth being raised on a sudden to the highest degree of reputation and esteem with his Master was with as swift a turn tumbled and precipitated down to an abyss of shame and dishonour The Garrison of Castro losing all hopes of relief and succours by this defeat surrendered the Town upon Articles into the hands of the Pope who being enraged for the murder committed on the Bishop commanded for expiation of that Offence that the City should be demolished and accordingly it was so entirely ruined that not one stone remained upon another The Duke in the mean time being terrified with these acts of severity and with the victorious Arms of the Pamfilians who threatned the other Dominions of Parma and finding that neither French nor Spaniards nor other Princes did much take his cause and sufferings to heart he resolved to compound with the Pope by a sale of the Dukedom of Castro and Ronciglione with all the Territories and dependences thereunto belonging with Power howsoever of Redemption within the space of eight years And thus ended these differences for the present which several years afterwards broke out into new troubles and will ever remain an occasion of quarrel and scandal until such time as equal expedients and proportionate to justice are given for mutual satisfaction After the City was thus destroyed the Pope set up a Pillar with this Inscription Here was CASTRO and several Crosses in the places where Churches had been with the same Motto The Bishoprick of Castro with all the Benefices and emoluments thereof was afterwards annexed to the neighbouring Metropolis of Aquapendente It is very certain that this Pope was extreamly rigorous in doing justice well vers'd in business and might have deserved the character of a skilful and an understanding Person had he not blemished his Reign with his unpardonable weakness towards a rapatious Woman and therefore we shall as well repeat his good actions as his bad and give the Reader some instances of his Vertues as well as of his Vices He was a severe lover of Justice in his Officers and would
Dominion should govern and transport them from whence great confusions and bloudy Wars have arisen as the Annals of our times are able to attest In the beginning of this year a quarrel arose at Rome between the Contestabile Colonna and the Cavalier Chiaia Captain of the Pope's Guards caused by a Dispute they had for a Bank or Seat at a Comedy An other quarrel this Colonna maintained with the Ambassadour of Toscany for not resigning to him the principal place at a Visit which they made to the Princess Farnese An other quarrel he created not long after at Milan with the Prince of Avellino on occasion of a Dispute about the Title of Excellency all which had proceeded farther than to words had they been to be managed by other measures than those of wise and cautious Italians About this time the Duke of Bracciano Father of the Cardinal of that name dying at Rome the Duke of Nerula his Brother a Person of great parts and abilities succeeded to the Estate and to the Inheritance taking on himself the Title of Highness which he caused his Subjects to inscribe in all the Memorials and Writings they made to him Howsoever such as were Foreiners and independent to the Duke refused to give him other Title than that of Excellency until the Cardinal de Retz was persuaded to pass that Complement upon him and then the Prince Pamfilio and all the Princes of Rome who were in any wise considerable for Birth Riches or Power began to assume the honour of Highness to prevent which and the many Controversies which might arise from these beginnings the Pope gave Order that Title of Highness should be given to no Prince who was Vassal or Feudatary of the Church unless to the Duke of Parma onely and as to all the Families descended from Popes as also to all the Roman Barons they were not to pretend to a Title above that of Colonna and Orsina which was no other than that of Excellency In the year 1661. one Francis Borri born at Milan vented strange and unheard of Heresies and Enthusiastical Doctrines at Rome drawing unto himself many followers and Disciples by a feigned Hypocrisie and disimulation tending to sublime Notions and elevations of a spiritual Life The Doctrines he taught which he pretended to have received from Divine Inspiration were That the Blessed Virgin was really a Goddess because she was Mother of the Word Eternal which was God And to express this Mystery to his Disciples he maintained that the Blessed Virgin was the Holy Ghost Incarnate in the Womb of St. Anne And for this reason he stiled the Blessed Virgin most Holy Goddess and onely Daughter of the Most High He taught farther That in the Holy Eucharist there was not only the Natural Body of Christ but that of the Virgin Mary joined with it That besides Hell and Purgatory and Limbo there was a fourth place appointed for the receptacle of Infidels That the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote by Solomon was not Scripture but a Treatise full of Errours composed by him at the time when he remained in Original Sin And that it was not necessary to make confession of secret sins in the Ear of a Priest These and many other wild Fancies being figments formed in the hot and disturbed brain of Borri the Inquisition had no sooner notice of but they sent out Warrants to take him of which he having notice fled first to Inspruck howsoever his Heresies were examined and condemned by the Inquisition and he who was the Author of them was burnt in Effigie of which when Borri had notice he went to Strasbourg where to be revenged of the Pope he burn'd him also in Effigie Thence passing through Holland he vented a thousand chimerical Opinions at Roterdam Thence he went to Coppenhagen in Denmark where he made profession of Chymistry and wherein ha was so excellent an Operator that he created a real belief in King Frederick III. that he had the Philosopher's Stone by which he was able to turn any metal into Gold but that King dying his Son Christian V. was far from such a belief and discovering him to be an Impostor gave him five hundred Crowns and a Passport and so dismissed him from his Dominions Borri afterwards designing to travel into Turky was in Moravia on his way thither seised by the Emperour's command and sent to Rome where being sentenced by the Inquisition he was in the year 1670. condemned to perpetual imprisonment The which Story I the more willingly mention because I remember in the year 1678. to have seen him at Rome a Prisoner in the Castle of St. Angelo The Duke of Crequi who as we have said resided at Rome with character of Ambassadour Extraordinary from his most Christian Majesty was at first received and caressed with all the ceremony and respect which that Court was able to express but afterwards the Duke in the greatness of his Spirit not being able to support the pride and disdain which he observed to be lodged in the breast of Don Mario the Brother and the Cardinal Ghigi Nephew to the Pope he retired to evidence the little esteem he had for them by preferring other Cardinals before them in his Visits The Pope highly resenting this neglect and want of due respect received the Ambassadour at all his Audiences with much coldness and indifferency refusing to grant him any thing which he demanded of favour to the King his Master or his Subjects The Pope also plainly told the Ambassadour that he had deferred to make the Complement which he owed to the Ambassadress his Lady until first he had done him right in performance of that honour which was due to his Kindred and Relations Whilest this ill correspondence continued between the Pope and the Ambassadour it happened that a quarrel arose between two French men and three Corsi who were of the Pope's Guard which had lately been recruited with one hundred and fifty Soldiers of the same Country of Corsica The cause of which was this Two French Men to shew their bravery undertook to disarm the Night Petrol of three Corsi which they easily effected because the Officer which was with them commanded them not to fire their Carbines or make resistance for which default he was cashiered the Service and declared uncapable of farther Office and the Soldiers also were punished for cowardise and neglect of their duty It is reported also that Don Mario upbraided the Corsi with ignominious terms saying that they knew not how to make use of their Arms and that upon any other default of this nature he would shave their heads and send them to the Gallies The Corsi to excuse themselves laid some fault on Cardinal Imperiale the Governour who to acquit himself and recover his honour ordered the Bailiffs and Officers which he had employed to make search for some persons in a House adjoyning to the Palace of Farnese where the French Ambassadour lodged to make farther search
for them into the very House of his Excellency during the time that he was at Mass in his Chappel The Ambassadour had just reason to resent this Affront and indignity offered to his Sanctuary the Houses of forein Ministers being so esteemed at Rome but the quarrel was higher enflamed by a certain French Man who that Evening as he passed through the quarters of the Corsi uttered some indiscreet words of scorn and contempt against them for which they pursued him as far as the Ambassadour's Stables who hearing a noise sent some of his Servants to appease the tumult but his endeavours rather enflamed than quieted the disturbance for the Corsi being gathered in great numbers began to fire their Carbines at the Ambassadour himself whilst he looked out at his Windows killing some of his Lacquies with three or four more who casually happened to be then present with the Ambassadour And not content with this outrage put themselves into a Body and in Military order with their Colours flying and Drums beating came and presented themselves again before the Palace Farnese on which appearance the Ambassadour caused the Gates to be shut During this tumult it happened that the Lady Ambassadress returned home whom when the Corsi espied these barbarous beasts fired a Volley of shot into her Coach and killed a Page who attended at the Boot with which unexpected accident the Lady being affrighted fled for refuge into the Palace of Cardinal d' Este who soon afterwards with a Guard of two hundred Men convoyed her safe to the Duke her Husband though Cardinal Imperiale the Governour had ordered the Captain of the Corsi to obstruct the passage of Cardinal d' Este but when this Cardinal sent Imperiale word that he should answer the least disorder which should happen hereupon with the loss of his life he considered better upon it and desisted from giving farther interruption The Duke of Crequi passed all the Night following in consultation with the Ambassadours of Spain Venice Malta and with others whom he esteemed well affected to the Crown of France all which agreed that the Dignity and Character of sacred Embassies was wounded and violated by this outrage On the other side the Cardinal Imperiale Don Mario and others of that faction held long conferences concerning the management of this Affair for to justifie it the matter was too foul and barbarous to admit of any plea or excuse and therefore it was resolved to give it the name of a Riot and tumult raised by insolence of the Soldiery and that all the Family of the Ghigi both Men and Women should make their Visits of Condolence to the Ambassadour and his Lady expressing abundance of sorrow and trouble for the late misfortune which they solely attributed to the insolence and fury of Soldiers and not to any design or premeditated Act of the Commanders But this Wound was too fresh and sore to be salved with a remedy of such vain excuses considering that the Gates of Rome were by express Order left open all the Night to afford means and opportunity for the Corsi to retire and make their escape The news of what had passed at Rome was brought to the King whilst he was performing the Ceremonies of his Birth-day at St. Germains which though it disturbed his Majesty and took much off from the Revels and jollity of the day yet no sudden resolution was taken until some days after In the mean time Letters arrived both from the Pope and the Queen of Sweden representing the matter as a mere accident caused by a sudden and an unreasonable outrage of the Soldiery for which neither the Pope nor his Kinred nor the Commanders could be accountable and with this account the King began to be so well satisfied that he had once thoughts to pass it by and shew no farther resentments of it But whilest this was meditating Letters came from the Duke of Crequi advising that by reason of the ill treatment he received from the Court of Rome the common provisions for the support of his House were in a great measure restrained so that he should be forced with his Family to leave Rome and to retire into the Dominions of the Duke of Toscany This Advice and new matter of Affront so enraged the mind of the King that he immediately commanded the Nuntio to depart his Dominions which was executed so effectually that he was conducted by a Guard to the confines of Savoy In the mean time the Pope being desirous to excuse and protect Cardinal Imperiale was contented to take the blame upon himself and to mannage the matter he constituted a select Congregation of Cardinals viz. Rospigliosi Chigi Borromeo Imperiale Pio Sachetti Corrado and Farnese to examine and discourse the matters in Dispute in a Political manner and to give their Opinions by what ways and means things might best admit of an Accommodation The Cardinal Chigi also obtained licence to be admitted to a Visit with the French Ambassadour but it signified little for the Ambassadour appeared sullen and reserved saying that he had no quarrel with the Corsi nor had he reason to blame them for executing onely the commands of their Masters On the first of September Crequi departed from Rome in company with the Duke of Cesarini who having shewed some concernment and partiality for the French Party lay under the displeasure and indignation of the Pope So soon as the Ambassadour was gone discontents slew yet higher than before for it was not onely advised to commit Cardinal d' Este into the Prison of St. Angelo but also to deprive both him and Mancini of the degree and dignity of Cardinals But howsoever it was thought necessary to appease the King by some pleasing Lenitives and by means which might pacifie his just Anger and displeasure To which end the Pope dispatched divers affectionate Letters to him full of sorrow and resentment for the late unhappy mischiefs divers Proposals were also dispatched to the Duke of Crequi tending to an Accommodation and Edicts published against the Corsi who were criminals in this Action desiring all Princes into whose Dominions they were fled not to allow or grant them protection And farther in detestation of this late fact a Company of the Corsi which were not concerned in the Riot were disbanded and cashiered from service of the Pope In the mean time Crequi remained at Radocofani which is within the Dominions of the Great Duke expecting Orders from the King in what manner he was to behave and govern himself which being come with the forms of adjustment and some private instructions in favour of the Dukes of Parma and Modena the Abbat Rospigliosi Nephew of the Cardinal of that name was dispatched to the Ambassadour with Instructions and Proposals but this Treaty taking no effect Rasponi was employed but then the Duke proposed two Alternatives the one was totally excluded and the other admitted of so many exceptions that Crequi despairing of any reconciliation went
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
is naturally ready in such contrivances prompted Basanello to a matter wherein he might most sensibly wound Altieri for knowing that the expectation of Riches was the sole aim and desire of the Cardinal he laboured to disappoint his hopes by defeating his Brother Anticoli of all that Estate which descended to him by the death of the Prince Gallicano which amounted unto three thousand Pistols a year besides Plate Jewels and other Riches and were bequeathed to Basanello and at his absolute disposal without regard to any descendency but that so much Riches might not be lost or be alienated from the Family of Colonna he settled them upon the Duke of Sonnino Brother of his Wife and of the Constable Colonna This unexpected defeat to the prejudice of Anticoli touched Altieri in the most sensible part which was his own interest and honour in return of which he contrived a Revenge spun with a like thread and of the same nature with the former in which because most of the Roman Princes and forein Ministers were concerned it may not be impertinent to this History to make a short relation thereof Prince Cesarini lately deceased had left immense Riches to his Family but wanting Heirs male and leaving only two Daughters the Inheritance descended to Monsignor Cesarini Brother to the Prince who was Clerk of the Camera which to enjoy with so many Seignories Baronies and Lordships thereunto belonging this good Prelat made no scruple to abandon his Offices and the expectations of a Cardinals Cap to enter into a fair Revenue of above sixteen thousand Pistols per annum but having wasted his body by the sins of his youth he found himself not fit to marry and consequently without hopes of legitimate Heirs for which reason these Riches descending to the two Daughters the Prince their Father left in his Will and Testament that such as should have the fortune to marry his Daughters should be persons devoted and sincerely adhering to the party and interest of France The Duke of Sonnino formerly called Abbat of Colonna and Brother of the Constable had forsaken his Ecclesiastical preferment to marry with the second Daughter on condition that the eldest engaging herself by promise to be a Nun should renounce all right and title to the moiety of the Estate with her younger Sister The condition of this Affair being known to Altieri he took his advantage to reek his revenge on the House of Colonna judging it a proper means to pay them off in the same coin for as the Duke of Bassanello had formerly defeated Anticoli of the Estate of Prince Gallicano so now he contrived to deprive Sonnino of the Inheritance belonging to the Princess Cesarini and which should inevitably have devolved unto him in case the Princess had remained constant to her resolution and had renounced the World within the inclosures of a Nunnery But Altieri suggesting to the young Lady the pleasures and conveniencies of marriage made easie impression into her frail heart causing her to waver and stagger in her late resolutions and whereas the Vow she had made of perpetual chastity was the chief scruple which obstructed the change of her Will that knot was easily untied by the solution of her spiritual Father and Confessor and other Priests and Friers who were made the Instruments of this design and in case there should still remain any scruple of Conscience the infallible power of the Pope himself was at hand to clear the doubts and dispense with all the Engagements Vows and Promises to God or Man by which she supposed herself bound and obliged and to make all this good the Pope proffered to take her into his protection The Princess Cesarini being thus overcome and resolved to marry the Cardinal provided her with a Husband giving her the opportunity to see Don Frederico Sforza his Nephew who was a brisk young Gallant and capable to make impression in the tender heart of a Lady disposed towards the thoughts of marriage The Constable of Colonna on the other side despairing of all hopes to persuade the Princess to the continuance of her Vow concurred with the other party in his assent to her marriage provided she would accept of Don Lelio Orsini This Proposal much alarm'd the Cardinal as also the Duke of Gravina who though he was one branch of the House of Orsini yet having married one of the Pope's Nieces with a considerable Portion in ready Mony and with assurances of a Cardinal's Cap for his Brother who was a Dominican Frier was easily persuaded to concur with Altieri in the advancement of the Pope's Family The Intrigues of this Affair were various and admitted of more particulars than are required in this History but in short the power of Altieri was not onely superiour to that of Colonna and his plots more subtle and his labours more indefatigable for he was the most assiduous Man in the World to promote his own interest but also he had a greater Ascendant over the affections of the Princess in the person of Sforza who was young gentle and of good address whereas Don Lelio was a Man in years and of a weak and infirm complexion and so given over and inclined to devotion that they gave him the name of Mangia Santi or the Saint-Eater wholly and intirely applying his mind to gain Indulgences and Jubilies and Pardons howsoever upon the proposals of this Marriage he strained his humour into the Mode of a Gallant feigning a brisk and aiery behaviour which being forced and affected became him so ill that it seemed almost ridiculous and could stand in no competition with the more natural garb and comeliness of Don Frederico Howsoever the Interest which was made in behalf of Don Lelio by importunity of the Mother and the persuasion of other Friends was so prevalent that the young Lady remained in a doubtful condition which of the offers she should embrace This indifferency much troubled Altieri and therefore to secure his point against all attempts and affaults of the Mother and others he removed the Princess from the Monastery of St. Katharine of Siena wherein she resided to that of S. Anne on the other side of the Tiber where Sforza had an Aunt that lived a profess'd Nun and for better security from secret practices Guards were set by express Order from the Pope to hinder all communication with the Princess But not onely was it thought necessary to prevent all private suggestions but the affection of the Lady towards Sforza was to be kept up by some lively representations of Love which were constantly to be instilled into her mind by some able and proper Instrument to perform this Office none seemed more able nor better qualified than Monsignor Altoviti the Patriarch of Alexandria who was highly esteemed in the City and of great reputation for the devotion and sanctity of his life and for the experience he had in the affairs of the Court of Rome moreover he was superintendent over this
made to which Altieri not judging fit to condescend remained firm in his denial and therein being resolved until the death of this Pope an ill correspondence passed between Poland and Rome during the Reign of this Clement X. Though all these difficulties were made in exception to the person of the Bishop of Marseille yet Altieri was more easie and favourable to the Family of the late Pope and accordingly about the beginning of the year 1673. Felice Rospigliosi was advanced to the degree of Cardinal whereby the Pope in gratitude to Clement IX returned the Hat he had received from him to a person of the same name and Family at the same time also he promoted Peter Basadonna Knight and Procurator of St. Mark for the Republick of Venice to the same degree together with Monsignor Nerli a Florentine and then Nuntio at Paris this year also the College of Cardinals lost four of their number three of which were principal Members and Persons great in their worth and Offices viz. Frederick Borromeo Secretary of State Imperiali à bury and an active Cardinal as also Cualtieri and Roberti In this year the most Christian King designed to reform the Order of St. Lazarus and cast it into some other model for that this Order being almost worn out and the constitutions of it either abrogated or out of use his Majesty judged it more convenient to renew it again and establish it upon some other foundation and in pursuance of this resolution a new Chief or General was appointed for this Order This right of Regalia or Jus Patronatus which his Majesty had on this occasion exercised in the Gallican Church greatly offended Cardinal Altieri who to vindicate the Papal Authority in opposition to the King 's usurped pretences persuaded a certain Gascon who was come to seek preferment at Rome to accept the honour of Abbat of the Order of St. Lazarus and to qualifie him for this dignity the Title of Abbat of Colombiere was conferred upon him This simple Gascon for no other would be so vain as to accept of an Employment so intriguesom and difficult as this not having the Talent or capacity to manage an Affair of this weight and moment signed and dispatched away the Orders requisite for regulation of his Abby and though his friends and acquaintance dissuaded him from an Enterprise so offensive to the King yet this bold Gascon persisted in his folly being therein encouraged by the Creatures of Altieri The Duke d' Estreé then Ambassadour for France at Rome highly resented this pretence of the Pope in derogation to the Right of his Master but more especially was offended with the Gascon who had conspired with the Cardinal to deprive the King of his Right and Prerogative Wherefore the Duke being highly incensed seized the Scrivener who had drawn up the Abbat's Memorial to the Pope and after severe words and Reproofs caused him to be imprisoned the Abbat in the mean time fearing the like treatment retired into a priviledged place within the jurisdiction of the Pope's Palace and under the protection of the Cardinal who allowed him a Pension for his necessary maintenance At length the Abbat instigated by his Friends and encouraged by Altieri departed from Rome and passed the Alps into France where so soon as he was arrived he was seiz'd by the King's command and committed to Prison where we shall leave him to the Law and the disposal of the Order of St. Lazarus to the pleasure of his Majesty This and other discontents encreased the ill correspondence between the Duke d' Estreé Ambassadour of France and the Cardinal which Altieri though an Italian could not conceal or dissemble for being passionately affected to the Interest of Spain received the news of the French Conquests and successes against Holland with regret and displeasure either disapproving the intelligence as false or otherwise relating it with such circumstances as much abated and eclipsed the glory of those Victories all which served to inflame the differences between the Duke and the Cardinal But none was of greater consequence than that which intervened between the Cardinal and all the Ambassadours and Representatives for forein Princes residing in the Court of Rome the occasion and matter whereof was this It being now the year 1674. immediately preceding the year of Jubily when more than ordinary provisions are made for entertainment and sustenance of Pilgrims who croud in great numbers to obtain the Indulgences Pardons and Dispensations which are granted at that holy time It happened that the Farmers and Collectors of the Customs and Impositions which are laid on all sorts of Victuals and Provisions made complaints of the great damage which the Pope suffered in that branch of his Revenue from the abuses and frauds of forein Ministers who having all provisions for their Families allowed to them free from Taxes and Impost did under that pretence colour the goods and provisions of others and thereby raised considerable sums of Money to their own advantage which belonged and appertained to the Apostolical Chamber The Farmers had often complained of these abuses in the times of other Popes and though many remedies and expedients were proposed for prevention of the Cheat yet they produced nothing besides Affronts and blows to the Officers At length Altieri who esteemed himself more politick and powerful than all the Nephews of preceding Popes resolved on occasion of the approaching Jubily to raise the Farm on provisions to a more exorbitant price than ever was known and to obviate the complaints of the Customers he published an Edict That all Ambassadours and Cardidinals should for the future pay the Taxes and Impositions on their Domestick provisions in such manner as all other persons not exempted by priviledges were obliged to pay This Edict being published greatly surprized not only the Ministers from forein Princes but the whole College of Cardinals who finding themselves hereby deprived of their chief benefit and priviledg murmured and talked loud against the arbitrary and irregular Government of Cardinal Altieri who little regarding the empty air of words returned no other answer than that the Pope was Master of his own Family and Dominions The Ambassadours then residing at Rome were the Cardinal Landgrave of Hesse for the Emperour the Duke d' Estreé for France Cardinal Nitardo for Spain besides the Representatives of Venice the Grand Duke Genoua and other lesser Princes all these being disobliged and sensibly touched by the loss or suspension of their priviledg entered into consultation together of the method whereby to proceed when after some debate they agreed to go together to the Palace of Monte Cavallo where the Pope was then lodged and there without any previous Ceremony or notice taken of the Cardinal Nephew to demand Audience immediately of the Pope Accordingly these forein Ministers being on their way thither which made a great noise and combustion in the City of Rome the Cardinal at the alarm roused up
request for a Fountain was taken into consideration for that being agreeable to the Munificent humour of Sixtus was received and immediately ordered to be put in execution by bringing Water to the Convent from the Pope's Gardens at Monte-cavallo which flows there in plentiful streams But now to proceed unto more serious matters Towards the end of this year 1587. Stephen Battory Prince of Transilvania and King of Poland having reigned in that Kingdom for the space of nine years departed this life his death was universally lamented by all having proved a most excellent Prince and a zealous Champion of the Christian Religion against the Turk for he recovered the Dukedoms of Suevia and Smolensko from the Moscovites and united them again to the Crown of Poland He also behaved himself with constant resolution against the Turk who having in the year 1584. demanded according to antient Articles assistance of some Polish Troops against the Persians Battory resolutely denied them to him saying That whereas the white Eagle of Poland had lately moulted her feathers and was displumed and become weak she had now recovered her wings and her train and had sharpned both her beak and her talons Which brisk Reply and bravery of Battory in all the actions of his Reign did calm the spirit of the Turks and checked those frequent Incursions which they made into Poland But Battori as we have said dying this year the Nobility of that Kingdom were very desirous to elect a King who might in Wisdom and Courage prove equal to the valour of the deceased Prince Many there were who offered themselves Candidates for that Election Ridolphus the Son of Maximilian the Emperor was one who for being of the House of Austria seemed qualified for that Crown Some cast their eyes on the Duke of Parma who for his prudence and experience in War was one of the most renowned Captains of those days but being an Italian it was suspected that his humour would not be agrreable to the customs of Poland The Vaivod of Transilvania and Cardinal Battori were others who appeared fitly qualified for this Dignity the first being a young Man and full of spirit assisted with the advantage of his own Riches and in great reputation with the Turk appeared with a lustre deserving a Crown but having been Nephew to the late King his Alliance prejudiced his pretentions not being consistent with the policy of that Nation to have a succession in the same Family the same consideration also was an impediment to the Cardinal though otherwise a Prince of excellent Endowments The Duke of Ferrara was an other proposed but he as well as the Duke of Parma was an Italian whose humour was inconsistent with the Poles Many Nobles also of Poland it self seemed fitly qualified both in Riches and Vertue for that Dignity amongst which Zamowski the Grand Chancellour had a most considerable party for he having managed all the Affairs of that Kingdom during the Reign of Battori who communicated all his Counsels with him and entrusted him with the greatest secrets of State by which he became the most experienced in Affairs and high in Reputation living little inferiour to the Royal pomp howsoever the Nobles not enduring at that time subjection to any of their own degree and Country and having never for the space of six hundred years admitted a Prince of their own to reign over them they would neither now introduce a Novelty repugnant to their antient customs and constitutions Upon the preceding considerations the election falling on none of the foregoing Princes the Votes came at length to concenter between the Prince of Sweden and the Arch-Duke of Austria called Maximilian Brother of the Emperor Ridolphus a person of that affable and obliging deportment as took much with the humour of the Polanders Howsoever the contrary party and the most prevalent objected that being Brother to the Emperor he might be too potent and in time by the power of Germany subvert the Government and turn it from an elective to an hereditary Kingdom wherefore totally declining Maximilian this party resolutely fixed on the Prince of Sweden a youth of twenty years of age greatly favoured by the Poles for being descended from the Family of Jagellona which for having added the Dukedom of Lituania to their Commonwealth was so highly esteemed by them that the merit to that Family could be no otherwise extinguished than by transferring the Crown to the Prince thereof But these considerations in favour of Sweden were turned to quite contrary Sentiments by the differing party so that the whole body of the Nobility being divided between these two Princes the Election still remained in suspense both designing to determine the Dispute by force of Arms. Whilest the Election remained under these doubtful circumstances Sixtus wrote to the Arch-bishop of Naples then Nuntio residing at the place of Election secretly to favour the side of Maximilian but yet with such caution as not too far to engage himself but that in case fortune favoured the Prince of Sweden he might without a blemish declare himself for that party that so he might own in some measure his Election unto him Maximilian to make good his cause appearing before Cracovia with an Army of sixteen thousand fighting Men demanded of the Citizens to receive him in but they refused it and sent with all diligence to the Prince of Sweden to expedite his March for that delays in this case were dangerous and that the day of his Coronation was fixed to be celebrated on the Feast of St. Luke then near approaching In the mean time they repaired their Fortifications and strengthened their Suburbs making daily Sallies on the Forces of Maximilian and most commonly were successful therein to the great encouragement of the Citizens In a short time after Ambassadours arrived at Cracon from the Prince of Sweden advising that the Prince though detained by contrary Winds was come as far as Donzilca and that though it was impossible for him to be so soon with them as St. Luke's day yet certainly he would not fail to be there by St. Martin's which was on the 15th of November and be ready to receive that Dignity on the Sunday following for according to the custom of that Country the Coronation must always be solemnized on the Lord's Day During all this time the Army of Maximilian was greatly weakned for want of provisions and having neither Wine nor good Beer they were forced to drink bad Waters which with the cold and moisture of the season caused Fluxes and Dysenteries and other distempers amongst the Soldiery which reduced them to small numbers Howsoever Maximilian leaving the City of Cracovia marched towards Pietricovia with intention to stop the march of the Prince of Sweden but finding that the Army of his Enemy was greater than his own and that he received the worst in many Skirmishes he retreated to Bellone and thence to Pitschen of the frontiers of Silesia belonging to the Duke of
sent the Library antiently belonging to the Princes Palatines to Rome which by this Pope was transmitted into the Vatican with this Inscription Sum De Bibliotheca Quam Heidelberga Capta Spolium Fecit Et Pont. Max. Greg. XV. Trophaeum Misit Maximilianus Vtriusque Bavariae Dux S.R. Imperii Archi-Dapifer Et Princeps Elector Anno M.DCXXIII Besides which several Standards taken at the Battel of Prague were sent to Rome and there by the Pope's order hanged up in the Church of Sancta Maria de Victoria The success of the Catholick Princes being to the great comfort of the Pope thus fortunate he encouraged the Duke of Savoy to make War upon Geneva and render himself Master of that place whereby he would not only do justice to his own Right and Title but also overthrow the capital Seat of Heresie and Calvinism With the like zeal did the Pope require of the four Venetian Ambassadours sent according to custom to congratulate his promotion to the Papal Chair that the Republick would again admit into their State those Religious People of the Society of Jesus which had been banished from thence in the time of his Predecessor Paul V. But this request being repugnant to many Laws and formalities and the indissoluble bonds of Government could not be obtained though it was pressed more home by the Marquis de Coevre who passed from Rome to Venice in the name of his Master King Lewis III. and seconded with earnest importunity by the Bishop of Monte Fiascorie the Pope's Nuntio and the powerful Letters of the Cardinal Ludovisio For the Senate declared that they could not depart from their first resolution which being founded on Decrees and solid considerations could in no wise be altered and therefore Princes in Amity with them ought not to press them unto that which was neither permitted to them to grant nor could they deny without doing a displeasure to themselves In this year Osman the Emperour of the Turks invaded Poland with a powerful Army but King Sigismond III. being assisted with Mony from the Pope made a vigorous resistance and gained a signal Victory against the Enemy In this year also Antonius de Dominis who was Arch-bishop of Spalato in Dalmatia deserting his Bishoprick and all his Ecclesiastical Preferments for the sake of the Gospel and the true Protestant Religion went into England where he wrote a Book against the Ecclesiastical State but being unconstant and wavering in his Principles he returned to Rome where he renounced all the Principles of the Protestant Faith and yet afterwards in the year 1624. in the time of Vrban VIII being troubled in Conscience for his Apostacy and reassuming again the Profession he made in opposition to the Roman Church he was imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo where he died after which his Body was burn'd together with his Writings The Congregation de Propaganda Fide was first instituted by this Gregory V. as appears by his Letters Patents for the same dated the 10th of July 1622. and for maintenance thereof he setled a certain Revenue to support such as employed themselves in that important work In the same year also he canonized Ignatius Loyola first Founder of the Jesuits who was formerly beatified likewise Philip Neri Founder of the Oratorians called in French les Peres d' Oratoire with Isidore a Spaniard who had been a Husbandman Teresia a Nun that reformed the Order of the Carmelites and Francis Xaverius a Jesuit whom they call Apostle of the Indies Moreover this Pope at the instance and desire of King Lewis XIII advanced the Bishoprick of Paris to be an Arch-bishoprick But what is more observable in his time was a Diploma which he made for the more orderly and easie Election of Popes by way of secret Suffrages which divers had attempted to perform but could never be perfected until this Pope wrote and published the same the which Rule was afterwards practised at the Election of Vrban VIII the succeeding Pope This Pope had created eleven Cardinals during the time of his Reign which lasted only two years five months and twenty nine days he departing this life on the 8th of July 1623. after which the Sea was vacant twenty eight days his Body was carried to the Church of S. Peter where it was deposited only for some time and afterwards translated to the Roman College of Jesuits where it was buried in a most magnificent Chappel erected by his Nephew Cardinal Ludovisio with this Epitaph inscribed thereupon Gregorius XV. Pontifex Ter Maximus Terrarum Orbis bene-merentissimus Multa brevi jaculatus Imperio Quot Mensium tot Lustrorum aequavit Annos Immortali dignus Nomine Rebus praeclare Gestis Romae pro Româ Pietatem auxit novo Cultu Religionis Religioni Aras extruxit Nova Sanctorum Apotheosi Inter quos Ignatium Societatis Jesu Fundatorem Franciscum Xaverium Antesignanum Gemellum Numen Coeli Albo Vtriusque Orbis gemellum veluti Castorem Festa Omnium Acclamatione intulit Fecisset plura ni Eato abreptus praepropero Objisset Lugendus semper quod imperasset parum An. Sal. MDCXXIII VRBAN VIII GREGORY XV. being dead and his Funeral Rites according to Custom being performed on the 19th of July early in the morning the Cardinals to the number of fifty four entered the Conclave It was the common Opinion of most people that the Election would be long and take up much time before it were determined because that as the Rules and Methods prescribed by the Bull of Gregory V. for Election of Popes which as yet had not been put in practice might increase the difficulty so also it was observed that the Cardinals were much divided in their Opinions and Votes there being many persons at that time who for their Age Vertues and Services formerly rendered to the Ecclesiastical State stood Candidates and esteemed themselves worthy of the Papal Dignity namely four Princes viz. Farnese Este Savoy and Medici and four Nephews of Popes Bourghese Ludovisio Buoncompagno and Aldobrandino howsoever contrary to common Opinion and beyond expectation of all the Cardinals agreed and on the 6th of August being Sunday and the day of the Festival observed in remembrance of the Transfiguration of Christ they all concurred with common Voice in the Election of Maffeo Barberini who was the fourth Pope which the City of Florence had given to the Church namely three of the House of Medicis Aldobrandino and this Barberini who was the fifth This Pope was of the age of fifty six years when he was chosen much to the wonder of the Electors themselves who were amazed to have deceived their own hopes by promoting a Person who for his complexion and vigour might out live the greater part of them This Family of Barberini had flourished for the space of five hundred years in the little Republick of Simi-Fontana which was situated between Florence and Siena and not above two miles distant from the Town of Barberini but this Republick being afterwards