Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	concern_v	zeal_n	zealous_a	94	3	8.8044	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47954	Il nipotismo di Roma, or, The history of the popes nephews from the time of Sixtus the IV to the death of the last Pope Alexander the VII in two parts / written originally in Italian in the year 1667 ; and Englished by W.A.; Nipotismo di Roma. English	Leti, Gregorio, 1630-1701.; Aglionby, William, d. 1705.	1669 (1669)	Wing L1335; ESTC R2244	180,003	346

men in the world Of services performed by the House of Farnese Some examples concerning the same A notable saying of Eugenio the fourth concerning the Farnese Of the Ambition the Popes had to be served by them O the ingratitude of Urban the eighth and Innocent the tenth towards the Family of Farnese Of the interest that moved Paul the third to make them great Of the great persecution it hath receiv'd for above these forty years Of the Government of Parma and Piacenza how it came to the hands of the Farnesi Of the house of Monte how little a while it lasted in great splendor although raised by Julius the third Of the House of Caraffa Of its fall how near to the birth of its good fortune Of the disdain of Paul the fourth and Pius the fourth to the Caraffies Of the glory in which the House of Caraffa shines now in Naples Of the House of Buon Compagnii of Gregory the thirteenth Of the House of Perotti of Sixtus the fifth To what greatness raised How long it continued in that state Of its failing Of the House of Sfondrata of Gregory the fourteenth Of its rise and fall Of the house of Aldobrandina what it was and what it is Of the Family of Burghesi and Ludovisi and of some other particulars touching the failing of the Pontificial Families THe difficulties which the Ministers of Princes meet with in their treaties with the Pope's Nephews are so great that the most refined Wits and politick Heads of the Universe cannot easily fathom them every one losing himself in an Abyss of wonder to see the Court of Rome in all her own concerns and with all persons so selfish and singular whilst she alone glories in the Title of Universal It would be no great matter if the Nephews would rest satisfied with embroyling and discomposing the minds only of the principal Ministers of State and did not likewise make themselves the unhappy instruments of bringing Treaties and Negotiations of the greatest weight to irreparable confusion the ruine whereof must necessarily draw the consequence of damage to the Pontifical State disorder to Christianity and perpetual distaste to those Princes who know themselves obliged to send their Agents to a Court where they shall rather receive occasion of disgust than profit For the Church-men cannot treat with any Prince without wounding his reputation with secret reproaches and back-biting language There are two things Ignorance and malice the usual Patrimony of Popes Nephews which are predominant in the Nipotismo which subvert and drown even those appearances of good that might otherwise be found in the Court of Rome And the mischief of it is that these two are inseparable and go alwaies hand in hand together in the Nipotismo their ignorance is not accompanied with that honest simplicity which often is seen in some of weak understanding but quite contrary an ignorant Nephew no sooner marches into the Vatican which thing God knows too often happens but Artificial Malice displaies her Banners and if by chance within the Camp there happens to be found out any one that 's good and vertuous she doth her utmost to make him pass for an ignorant lack wit Whence the Church Christendom and the Court do all suffer by the malice and ignorance of those Lordly Nephews who matter not by which of these two abject qualities they govern There have been several Princes in our Age who finding themselves deluded in some of their affairs have blam'd their own Officers judging the errors which occasioned their damage and were indeed committed by the Nipotismo to be caused by the inability of their Ministers as if it had been in their power to overwhelm the Course of nature and thwart a malicious Ignorance Odoardo Farnese Duke of Parma a Prince truly worthy of a Crown seeing the business of Castro and his other Affairs with the Church not to succeed according to his desire rebuked his Minister who was at Rome believing him a person of very slender experience in the management of the matters committed to his charge But when it hapned that his occasions drew himself thither and consequently oblig'd him to treate personally with the Nephews of Pope Urban he speedily reform'd the ill impression made in his mind agaainst his Ministers knowing then very well by his own experience that all the damages he sustain'd in that affair were derived from the ill-will was borne him by the Barberini Whereupon as he went from Rome he let these words fall That the Church indeed is a holy body of which the Princes are the Members and the Pope the Head but the Nephews by their ill management do daily discompose the Members not at all regarding how thereby they prejudiced the Head And to say the truth the Pope's Nephews cannot oftentimes distinguish what difference there is betwixt a Prince and his Minister nor what respect the Court ought to shew to them which come to honour it The Church-mens understanding to accommodate the Church so well to the benefit of their proper interest makes many believe the subtilty of them in politick affairs to be very great And truly the conceipt is not ordinary which most men have of the politick understanding of the Ecclesiasticks every one knowing that the City of Rome in the Art of Governing and making others reasons conform to its will hath ever been in all times and ages the truest School of Policy and almost if not altogether the Mistris of all Nations as she who at her birth from the belly of the rest by a special gift of nature brought with her into the world the most polite Endowments and refined Customs she could bestow upon her Such were alwaies the Customs of Rome who for the space of more than twelve Ages past knew very well to frame conformable maximes to their own designs But after that the Nipotismo began to take possession of an Authority not limited otherwise than by their own passions every thing began to put on a new countenance And having renounced the true and ancient Rules of Government and found new methods of deport to those who make addresses to them the Agents and Ministers of Foraign Princes who come thither to negotiate their Masters affairs mistake the way that others use to walk in with so much reputation From whence it happens that there are very few return from their Negotiations there without just occasion of complaint not only that they have not met with due civilities but that they have likewise been deluded in all their transactions The Court of Rome indeed whilst the Popes liv'd without the Nipotismo were instrumental in the world to resolve the greatest intricacies of Christendom but after they were introduced they served only to confound and entangle the easiest matters who interposing in things not at all concerning them they ruin'd others business and affairs besides their own For they will do nothing now in Rome without pretence of perfect Zeal unto Religion and yet that

forsook their Country and withdrew into Protestant Princes Territories where they might freely follow the Rites of their Religion Particularly they went to Geneva where great numbers resorted every day and above all many Lucheses of which some are now aggregated amongst the principal Families of that City This Pope though so zealous for the Church was nevertheless very Indulgent to his Family who did usurp a power and authority as prejudicial to the Church as it was offensive to Princes with whom the Borgheses as well as the Barberins would often enter into contest In the time of this Pope Italy had like to have seen sixteen Cities of it become Protestants as Monsieur De Lion the French King's Embassadour told the Pope and thus the occasion was Paul and his Kindred for I know not what reasons did bear a secret grudge to the State of Venice and did wait for nothing more than for some occasion of shewing their spleen and it falling out that the State of Venice according to their ancient Form of Government did put some Church-men in Prison the Pope upon the notice of it excommunicated not only the Senate but the whole Nation of the Venetians as if they had been guilty of their Magistrates fault But these wise Senators were not so easily daunted but resolving either to preserve their power and authority within their Government or to hazard the ruine of it set some of their Divines on work to write against the Pope's authority and his Excommunication which writings did then and have since produced so great an effect in the minds of most men that now there is not any little Prince of Italy that cares for the Popes Excommunication as it has been clearly seen by the examples of the Duke of Parma the Commonwealth of Lucca the Duke Charles of Lorain and many others The constancy of the Venetians was invincible in this occasion and so great that they sent the Pope word That if he did not recall his Excommunication they would provide for their own preservation by such remedies as should become the dignity of their State and its ancient Majesty And that they might the sooner bring the Pope to their desires they politickly sent to Geneva to require that City to send them some of their most able Ministers to instruct them in the Protestant Religion This Artifice having frighted the Pope into a condescendency he was fain to come to an agreement very disadvantageous for the honour of the Sea of Rome If this Pope had not been so unjustly severe towards the State of Venice he would have left a much better name behind him For to say truth he did the Church much more good than evil but it was and will be a great spot to his reputation to have gone about to undo the Bulwark of Christendom for such has the State of Venice alwaies been reputed We must be forced to skip Leo the eleventh for his short life gave him no time to do good and hindred him from doing any harm to the Church and come to Clement the eighth who was a Pope that lived both with his Kindred and for them a good while Christendom was involved in great troubles when he came to the Pontificate there being nothing but Wars and Divisions The Turks did assault Germany and the Protestants did torment the rest of the Catholick Princes besides that the banish'd Criminals of the Kingdom of Naples had made themselves Masters of a great part of it and spread themselves over all the Country The Pope's main end amongst all these disorders was first to provide for his Kindred and that care took up so much of his time and treasure that he was not in a condition to succour those Princes that were fighting for the defence of that Religion of which he was the Head In the mean time the Spaniards who had a mind to hinder Henry King of Navar from possessing the Crown of France which he was lawful Heir of foreseeing that of themselves they would not be able to resist Henry's Right nor hold out against so generous and warlike a Prince they did their utmost Endeavours to get the Pope on their side and declare against the King of Navar as against an Heretick and by consequent incapable of receiving the Crown At first the Pope refused to engage openly in a business which would be necessarily expensive and troublesom and therefore for a while he let the Spaniards alone hoping that of themselves they would be strong enough to effect the Work without him But they having perceived his intention soon made a breach in it by the means of the Nipotismo which they gained and at whose perswasion the Pope sent an Army under the Conduct of Appio Conti who was kill'd in an Encounter by some of Henry's Forces The Catholick Princes of the Realm of France who were on Henry's side together with the greatest part of the Nation sent upon this the Marquis of Pisani to Rome to desire the Pope to recall his Army and not to oppose a Prince who had promised to be instructed in the Catholick Religion But the Pope not only refused their Request but would not so much as endure that the Marquis should set his foot in any part of the State of the Church Things being in this posture Henry at last resolved to dash all his Adversaries Machines to pieces at one blow and therefore he solemnly renounced his Heresie and was reconciled to the Church So in spite of the Pope and the Spaniards he obtained a Crown which could never have encompassed a more worthy Head than his After this the Pope's Army was fain to retire having done little or nothing The same hapned in Flanders whither he sent another Army to help the Spaniards against the Vnited Provinces who since the death of the Duke of Parma had obtained many Victories but it was with as little success as the first So that the Pope weary of spending the Treasure of the Church to no purpose commanded his Forces home leaving the Spaniards to look after their own Affairs The Expences of this Pope were exorbitant for he did undertake every thing rashly and more out of Capriccio than ripe judgment and deliberation So that he undoubtedly did the Church more hurt than good There is little to be said of Innocent the Ninth Gregory the Fourteenth and Urban the Seventh for the greatest mischief they did the Church was that they liv'd so little We will therefore come to Sixtus the Fifth The Nipotismo of this Pope was one of the most innocent ones that ever was seen for he hindred them from taking any part in the Government So that they were in the Court like Beggars at a Church door of whom few People take notice Not that he was so severe as to hinder them from a share in his Fortune for he did bestow large Revenues upon them all observing nevertheless to refuse always every thing that they begg'd and to give them when

Zeal hath certainly the least shew in any of their concerns Good serves them only for the shadow but Evil for the substance Kindnesses from them as honey from Bees being seldom got without the sting of prejudice There are some that have fansied the Courting and flattering the Nipotismo to be the only way to arrive at the end of their unbridled designs but these found themselves deceived for all the merit or other insinuation in the world is not able to move the obstinacy of those who except it proceed from some capricious fancie or other inclination of their own have no regard to remunerate or gratifie either Subject Prince or Prelate Yet it is more easie to obtain than keep their favours But he that doth had better be without them since 't is so hard to judge whether the Tap they draw their favours from be sweet or sower 'T is hard to express the difficulties the Ministers of Princes meet with in their treating with the Nephews which are so great that some of them have caused an infinitie of Masses to be celebrated to the Holy Ghost before they began their Negotiations with them I my self knew one who vowed to make himself a Capuchin Frier if he could effect a certain business with them but I believe he had no great intention to put on that habit because his demand was for his own advantage and the Nephews are never wont to grant any thing to any one but what is to their prejudice 'T is my opinion that to be well prepa●ed to treate in Rome one ought to be well provided of that double spirit which Elisha so earnestly desired of Elijah whilst double dealing and hypocrisie are the chiefest rudiments of their Policy I will not say that now do but for the space of two Ages past have reigned in Rome Let the Agents and Ministers of Princes therefore lay their heads together in Rome and say Masses to obtain new waies of managing Political Affairs let them arm themselves with a double spirit for the Pontificial Negotiations will try the skill of the most experienced Statesmen Venice that with so great prudence in State-affairs foresees the future never sends any Embassadour to Rome that hath not first been tried and rendered an incomparable Politician by the experience he hath gotten in the Courts of the chiefest Monarchies of the Universe yet notwithstanding I my self have heard these words said by an Embassadour sent to Rome from thence Sin hora sono stato nell Ambasciate scabrose hora entro nelle pericolose dio me la mandi buona conquel Nipotismo Till now I have been in rugged Treaties now I enter into a dangerous one God send me good luck with the Nipotismo He who can live five years in the Court of Rome without a stumble will not find it hard to pass an Age or two if nature would give him leave in any other place with reputation and credit Yet we know very well by every daies experience that many Politicians and expert Statesmen who for many years together in the management of several Treaties had rendered themselves as it were immortal by the no small reputation obtained in the several Courts they had been formerly employed in no sooner came to Rome but speedily they lost it And indeed they all come thither swell'd with the Titles of most eminent and able Statesmen but depart from thence with very little credit And the reason of this is because as the Sea Coast which encompasses the Ecclesiastick State is subject to the usual Tempests of the Ocean so the Roman Havens are very subject to their sudden variations and changes From whence it happens that both without and within Rome is so subject to perils and shipwracks They therefore who go for succour to that Climate that is not understood by those themselves that are born under it cannot but meet with storms and tempests Where affairs put on every day a several face and shape the difficulty must needs be very great And many Ministers lose themselves in the Court of Rome by this means For when they believe they Negotiate with a Monarchy they find they have to do with a Republick and when they think they treat with a Commonwealth they find they are ingaged with a Monarchy full of Monarchs whilst there is not one of the Papal Nephews that doth not expect to be treated with as a Soveraign Yet because the Pope is chosen by the Cardinals many would believe that these have the same Authority with the Pope not only to treat but conclude as the Electors have with the Emperour in Affairs of great importance And indeed to hear his Holiness call them Fellows Companions and Brethren makes a strange impression in the Citizens Strangers Subjects and Princes of I know not what greatness in favour of the Cardinals every one imagining that they cannot chuse but have a share in the privatest concerns of the Government of the Church But for all that things appear quite otherwise and the Pope's become absolute Soveraign over those who chuse him who never know any thing in any affairs untill they are concluded on He sends Embassadours at his will treats both of Peace and War at his own pleasure and in fine doth whatsoever he hath a mind to without participating it to any but those to whom he is guided to by his particular inclinations But that which makes the treating with the Court of Rome more difficult is That for the most part the Pope himself neither understands the Negotiations nor Negotiators of them And the Ministers of Princes sometimes as little know which is the Pope for frequently he treats as Nephew and the Nephews treat as Pope A thing indeed enough to confound any ones understanding to have the Pontificacy so promiscuously made up of Pope and Nephews He for the Exteriour and they for the Interiour part of it For the Nipotismo which manageth publick affairs at whose Girdle the Keys of business are tied Resolves Negotiates and concludes any thing without acquainting either the Pope or Consistory Let any one judge how it was possible for any Embassadour to make any honourable result in the management of the interests of his Prince at Rome in the time of Gregory the fifteenth since he himself was so fearful to displease Cardinal Ludovisi his Nephew that he suffered him to do whatever he had a mind to who finding the power he had over him did every thing without his knowledge There were some Embassadours who in their ordinary Visits would in general terms touch upon business only to feel his Holiness his Pulse which way he was enclined But so soon as ever he perceived them to begin to ask Questions he would immediately make this Answer You speak with us and our Nephew doth all things without either us or you speak with him and what he doth that we do And with such like answers he usually entertained those Embassadors that came to him From hence it