much out of hopes of success that upon hearing this ill news of the misfortune of his Friends and Allies he began to think of retiring to Rome though his coming thither was opposed by one John Cincio a potent Citizen and Senator whose intolerable arrogance yet was so curb'd by James Capocio another Roman Citizen that the Pope was received into Rome with great splendor magnificence This was that James whose name is yet to be seen and read in the little Chappel of Mosaic Work which was built at his charge in the Church of S. Mary Maggiore in which also was buried Peter Capocio who was a Cardinal of the Church of Rome and while he liv'd a bitter Enemy of this Schismatical Emperour Frederic at whose expence the Hospital of S. Anthony not far from the aforesaid Church and the College for Scholars at Perugia now call'd la Sapientia was also erected Gregory having quieted the minds of Men in the City again pronounces an Anathema against Frederic and declares him to have forfeited his right to the Empire and deprives him of it then he sends for the Ambassadours of the States of Venice and Genoa between whom there was so great a quarrel as it was fear'd a War would ensue to mediate their differences which he did so effectually as that he procur'd an Agreement between 'em to a Peace upon condition that without mutual consent neither of the two States should make Peace with the Emperor of Constantinople that they should be Enemies to the Enemies of each other and join their Forces upon every occasion for the common defence and this Treaty to be in force and complied withal for nine years by them both under pain of Excommunication to be denounc'd by the Pope upon the Infractor About this time died Baldwin who upon the Death of John had succeeded to the Empire of Greece and made shift to hold it for two years but with so great difficulty by reason of his poor Treasury that he could hardly defend himself from his Enemies being forc'd to deliver his Son for a Pledg to the Venetian Merchants for Money that he had borrow'd of 'em and to make Money of the Lead that belong'd to the Churches beside he sold to the Venetians who were wealthy and able to purchase 'em the Spear with which our Saviour Christ's Body was pierc'd and the Sponge which was reach'd to him to drink out of Frederic had a great spight at these Venetians because they were on the Pope's side and drove them into their Marishes where their City stands for security and did them great damage but in the mean while happened a general revolt of the Cities of Lombardy by the Procurement and instigation of Gregory Monte-longo who was Legat at Bononia and Ferrara which had revolted before from the Pope to the Emperour was retaken by them though Salinguerra a valiant Commander was in it and made a brave defence As soon as it was taken it was put into the hands of Azo of the House of Este who was a considerable Person in this Enterprize to be govern'd by him in the name of the Church An. Dom. 1240. This so alarm'd the Emperour who was then at Pisa that being under great uncertainty whom to look upon as Friends to himself or Wellwishers to the Pope he divided first the Cities of Italy into two Factions giving the name of Guelphs to those who were for the Pope's Interest and that of Gibellines to them that were for the Imperial These most pernicious names of distinction invented surely for the mischief of mankind were first made use of at Pistoia where when the Magistrates expell'd the Panzatichi who were Gibellines out of the City there chanc'd to be two Brothers Germans the one of which whose name was Guelph was for the Pope the other for the Emperour and his name was Gibel from which these two Parties were discriminated by those different appellations On the other side those of Arezzo and Sienna drive out the Guelphs whose example being follow'd by many other Cities of Italy gave occasion and rise to a worse than Civil War Several Cities after this revolted from the Pope as well in Vmbria as in Tuscany and particularly the Citizens of Viterbo threw off their obedience The Romans also would fain have been doing the same thing but that the Pope carrying the heads of the Apostles SS Peter and Paul through the City in Procession moved the People to commiserate the State of the Church and then making a most excellent Oration in S. Peters Church he had the power and good fortune by it to persuade even the Seditious who were ready to mutiny to take his part and to list themselves under the holy Cross for the defence of the Church of God These when some time after Frederic came in hostile manner before the Walls of Rome gave him a repulse which so enrag'd him that whatsoever Prisoners he had taken he put to death with divers tortures and retir'd towards Beneventum which City he took by force sack'd and dismantled it Then returning by the Via Latina with his heart full of fury toward the City by the way he plunder'd the Monastery of Monte-Cassino and turn'd out the Monks he destroy'd also with fire and sword the City of Sora formerly belonging to the Samnites situate at the head of the River Garigliano and pillag'd any thing that belong'd to the Templers wherever he could meet with it He was so great a Lover of the Saracens that he made use of them rather than any other People in his Wars made Magistrates of them and gave them a City for themselves which is call'd to this day Nocera di Pagani He threaten'd the Brother of the King of Tunis because he was come as far as Palermo to receive the Sacrament of Baptism By a sudden Onset he also made himself Master of Ravenna which appertain'd to the Church All which Gregory well considering he appointed a Council to be holden in the Lateran there to find out means to depose Frederic but the Emperour had so beset all the ways that with the help of the Pisans he took several Cardinals and Prelates as they were travelling both by Sea and Land and cast them into Prison Which so griev'd the good Pope that he liv'd not long after dying when he had been Pope fourteen years and three months There happen'd an Eclipse of the Sun a little before his death greater than ever was seen Raymund of Barcelona flourish'd in his time and assisted him in compiling his Book of Decretals whom many Authors so commend that nothing can be added to his Praise CELESTINE IV. CELESTINE the Fourth a Milanese of the Family of the Castiglioni Bishop of Sabina famous in his time for his exemplary life and great Learning being very old and sickly was yet chosen Pope in the room of Gregory but died on the eighteenth day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church to the great
Principle That no way or concession was to be given to the least point or particle which might prejudice the publick Liberty News came about the beginning of September that a new Congregation was erected in Rome called the Congregation of War which was appointed to assemble twice every Week to consult of the manner and means of waging the Temporal War This new term of a Congregation of War which was never heard of before in Rome administred subject of Discourse to all Italy both because it was contrary to the antient practices of that Court which did always cover their temporal Designs with Spiritual names and because the management thereof was committed to the care of fifteen Cardinals who were all Men of Letters but not of Arms howsoever they served the present turn for being Men of the Spanish faction and depending upon Spain it was believed that their Interest and Power would have been very available in that Court for carrying forward the War and engageing the principal Ministers in their quarrel All Princes of Christendom being now concerned in this difference and great endeavours made for reconciliation it was encharged to Giustiniano Ambassadour to the Court of England to represent unto that King the provisions which were making at Rome for a War desiring that his Majesty would prepare those Forces which he had already promised in defence of their Republick for that Spain was arming and threatned on all sides to invade them To which the King answered That he was resolved to defend their Cause not out of any grudge or quarrel of his own with the Pope but as he called God to witness out of a principle of duty to conserve that Liberty which God had given to Princes nor had he any respect to his own particular benefit or hopes to receive Rewards from the Republick but onely to the justice of that Cause which was most just and pleasing to God and that therefore he would speedily perform his Promise with more sincerity and constancy of mind towards the Republick than the King of Spain had done to the Pope whose Letters and Promises contained nothing but froth and vanity Thus were all Christian Princes concerned in this quarrel on one side or the other some being intent to accommodate differences by middle and moderate terms and others to take Parties and assist with Arms and open Violence until at length about the middle of October the Pope taking it into his consideration that so much the longer that this quarrel continued and that the Venetians remained in their separation from the Church so much more did his Reputation suffer and the Power of the Spiritual Authority discover its own weakness wherefore calling Monsieur d' Alincourt the French Ambassadour unto him he declared and protested that he was infinitely desirous of an Accommodation and was ready to accept of any terms which were not prejudicial or derogatory to the honour of the Papal Sea Upon which Alincourt entering into consultation with the French Cardinals some Proposals were sent to the Republick and communicated by the hand of de Fresnes containing a Project for making and establishing a Peace Nor was the King of Spain unactive herein but to shew his zeal he dispatched an Ambassadour Extraordinary to Venice upon this occasion who declared in the Senate that his Master was so passionate in this business That if he had two Sons he would be contented to sacrifice one of them on condition it might be an offering of atonement and reconciliation between the Pope and the Venetian State Whilest all these Treaties and Instances were a foot Letters were dispatched from the Court of Spain to the Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan that he should levy an Army to be in a readiness for assistance of the Pope and accordingly three thousand Italian Foot were raised for this Service which with the other Forces already prepared and levied in other parts the King designed to compose an Army of twenty five thousand Foot and four thousand Horse The Senate of Venice observing that the Spaniards armed did not think it agreeable to the Rules of good Government for them to sit idle but to put themselves in a posture of War to repel Force with Force and to be in a readiness on all occasions which might happen And accordingly they added six hundred Italian Foot and one thousand Albanians to the nine thousand six hundred Foot and six hundred Men at Arms and one hundred and fifty Albanian Horse which were already listed and in a readiness They also ordered Count Martinengo to raise four thousand French Soldiers and six hundred Curassiers and not to be wanting in their Fleet at Sea they ordered that to the thirty eight Sail of Gallies already equipped twelve more should be set out with addition of five more which were recalled from the Islands in the Levant Whilest the Spaniards and Venetians were arming in this manner on one side and the other Priuli Ambassadour for the Republick in France acquainted the King with all these preparations desiring his Majesty would be pleased to declare himself in favour of the Senate to which the King gave Answer That it was not as yet time and that there remained still hopes of Accommodation and that being moved and sollicited herein by all the Princes of Italy he was dispatching the Cardinal Joyeuse to Venice and thence to Rome to interpose effectually in this Mediation And indeed this Cardinal was the most fit and proper Instrument of any to effect this accord for he was not onely a Person of great Esteem and Authority in the Court of Rome being a Cardinal of the first degree and rank but also of great reputation with the Senate of Venice who being desirous to commit the Office of mediation to the Interest of the French King whom they had found more sincere and real to them than the King of Spain and his Adherents they received the Cardinal with entire satisfaction who arrived at Venice about the middle of February The Cardinal spending little time in formal Ceremonies and Visits immediately entered on his business delivered his Credential Letters and opened his Commission and in the first place insisting that as it was necessary to provide for the security and reputation of the Republick so also it was necessary to contrive such means as might give satisfaction to the Pope whose Proposals were these That an Ambassadour be sent from the Republick to desire his Holiness that he would be pleased to take off the Ecclesiastical Censures which he had passed upon them That all the Religious as well Jesuits as others who had left and abandoned their dwelling and Habitations should be again restored That the King should give his word to the Pope that during this Treaty at Rome the Laws about which this Controversie arose should be suspended And the Cardinal insisting more on this Point than on any other earnestly urged that some resolution might be taken speedily and with
the Pope should send a Nuntio into Germany to advise the Diet which was to be held at Spira on the beginning of the next year following and assure them of his resolution to assemble a General Council at Vicenza at the time formerly prefixed But in regard this City was under the Dominion of the Venetians the Pope thought fit to intimate first this intention to the Senate before he signified this resolution at Spira the which was advisedly considered for the Venetians rejected the proposal being jealous of the ill consequences which the concourse of such multitudes might produce to their State and in regard they had lately made a Peace with the Sultan they apprehended that a Treaty and Consultation held in one of their Towns for uniting in a Confederacy against him and carrying on a War might be the occasion of a Rupture and breach of the Peace which lately they had with great charge and much labour concluded upon which answer from the Venetians the Pope was forced to take other measures In the mean time the Cardinal Coutarini lay under the severe censure of the Pope having been accused for behaving himself with too much easiness at Regensburg in matters which concerned the interest of the Church for that he seemed as if he had been a little shaken and staggered with the subtil Arguments against the Doctrin of Transubstantiation and heard with too much indifferency the discourses which tended to the diminution of the Papal Authority But the Cardinal Fregosa being his friend defended him in despight of all his enemies until such time as returning to the Pope at Luca he rendered such an account of all matters transacted in his Embassy as gave the Pope entire satisfaction This was the state of Affairs towards the end of the year 1541. when at the beginning of 1542. the Pope dispatched John Mora the Bishop of Modena to the Diet held at Spira under Ferdinand the Emperors brother giving them to understand that the Pope continued his resolution of holding a General Council which he had for some time deferred in expectation of that good issue which it was hoped the Diets and National Conventions would have produced in the settlement of Religion but seeing that those means had failed he now again re-assumed his former deliberation about a Council which he should gladly cause to be assembled in Germany were not the fatigues of so long a Journey and the alteration of Air dangerous to a person of his age and therefore after he had thought of Mantoua Vicenza Ferrara Bologna and Piacenza for places proper and convenient for such a Convention He did at length pitch upon Trent as a City without exception being situated on the Frontiers of Germany and therefore did now unalterably appoint a Council there to be opened on the 13th of August next ensuing desiring all those there present at this Diet that they would lay aside all Animosities and Factions and appear at this Council with clear and sincere souls to favour the cause of God and the truth of the Gospel Upon this proposal Ferdinand and the other Princes which favoured the Cause of the Roman Church returned their thanks to the Pope saying that since there was no City in Germany judged convenient for this Council that they were contented with this assignment of Trent where they promised to come and there to be assistant But the Protestants refused to accept of this intimation alledging that the Pope had neither Authority to indict a Council nor that Trent was a place convenient for it which was the cause that no farther resolution was taken hereupon at this Diet. Howsoever the Pope proceeded forward in his intention and published his Bull dated the two and twentieth of May for assembling a Council at Trent to meet on the first of November following the which was dispatched from Rome to all the Princes of Christendom but without any great success For in the month of July Francis the French King had denounced War against the Emperor having in a Manifesto published his reasons for it in such severe terms as greatly reflected on the honor of the Emperor and which so much provoked him to anger in that ill humor wherein he was newly returned from his unhappy adventure before Algier into Spain that when the Bull was delivered ro him he gave this answer that he was in no manner satisfied therewith in regard that it made no distinction in the terms and stile thereof between him and the King of France for tho he had refused no pains nor spared expence to compass the assembling of a Council and that the French King on the contrary had endeavoured by his Embassadors at Spira to nourish discords and so to embroil the affairs of Religion as to put them into a condition beyond all hopes or possibility of accommodation yet this Bull treated the disservices of the French with the same equality of merit as it did the unwearied zeal of Him the Emperor whose great incumbence it had always been to render faithful and effectual Offices of Duty to the Church And then rehearsing the many provocations the French King had given him he desired the Pope to consider if the Behaviour of that King towards him did correspond with a design or intention of advancing the interest of Christendom or did appear with such a face or guise of Peace and Reconciliation as was necessary at such a time when a General Council was to be convened of which we may then conceive the most promising assurances of success when it commences with Candor Friendship and Charity which are the best and most excellent dispositions towards the establishment of truth and peace But seeing that the French King hath ever countermined and disturbed this course some other way was to be found for the settlement of Religion besides a Council and in the mean time he desired that the Pope would attribute the disappointment thereof to the French King only to whom it was necessary that he should declare himself a publick enemy in case he ever hoped to expect good from a Council in the settlement of Peace and Religion in the world The French King being well assured that the War which he had commenced at this unseasonable time would certainly be interpreted as prejudicial to Religion and as if he favoured the Protestant cause did therefore to forestal such suggestions publish most severe Edicts against the Protestants forbidding them to assemble at any Meetings causing all their Books written in defence of their Doctrin to be burnt and enjoyning the Sorbonists to make severe inquisitions concerning such who observed not Fish days or days of Abstinence or said not their Prayers in Latin or in any manner contradicted or withstood the Principles or Doctrins of the Catholick Church Moreover he wrote an Apology for himself to the Pope in answer to what the Emperor had accused him of recalling to memory the hard and sacrilegious usage which he had practised against
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
to leave the disposal of the Conquests to his own pleasure and the Crown of Naples to his Nephews But Vrban looking on these Propositions as more specious than easie absolutely refused them and in despight of all the applications and addresses made by several Princes in favour of Parma the Duke was declared to have incurred the greater Excommunication and in vertue thereof to be deprived of his Dominions and Fiefs and of the Dignity he held of the Holy Sea and condemned in all charges done or to be done in pursuance of which Sentence his Palaces and Goods in Rome were exposed to sale and Castro taken into the possession of the Camera though not annexed to the Popedom by vertue of the rigorous Bull ordained by Pius Quintus which forbids all alienations of Lands or Goods which were once united to the Papal Chair The Princes were highly moved to find all their intercessions and instances so little esteemed by the Barberins and much more alarm'd when they understood that the Pope demanded passage for his Army through the Dominions of Modena against Parma and Piacenza which being places unprovided for War and the Duke of Modena not having force to resist the powerful Army of the Pope consisting of eighteen or nineteen thousand Men consented to grant a passage provided That there should be six days before the Army moved and that in other four it should have passed his Confines The Venetians and the Grand Duke who were averse to Arms and not inclined to use them but as their last remedy yet not being willing that the Duke should perish or the Barberins be accustomed to the happy issue of their Counsels sent a supply of seventy thousand Crowns to Parma which gave courage to the Soldiery and credit to the cause amongst the Subjects who thence conceived some hopes of greater succours In the mean time all the Offices and warm instances imaginable of mediation were employed at Rome by the Ministers of Venice and Florence which produced nothing but uncertain and ambiguous answers and to the Ambassadour of France it was plainly declared that a suspension of Arms should be granted when promises and assurances should be given by the Duke's Friends that he should testifie due respect and obedience to the Ecclesiastical State and that no words or instances should be made for the restitution of Castro which by reason of the Debt to the Montists and the charge of the War was already forfeited to the Camera and condemned thereby But such Answers as these not satisfying the Princes the Venetians resolved to send three thousand Foot and three hundred Horse to joyn with two thousand Men sent by the Grand Duke to oppose the march of the Pope's Army into the State of Parma The news of these Forces and their march and the rumour of Treaties and Leagues forming in favour of Parma greatly perplexed the Barberins because that their Army which was composed of new Men and which expected to enter the Country of Parma as to an easie and secure Triumph was so terrified with the noise of an Enemy marching to oppose them that they ran away in full Troops so that their numbers were very much diminished in a short time Vrban growing sensible of the opposition which was making against the farther progress of his Arms by the Neighbouring Princes did voluntarily and of his own accord offer to the French Ambassadour a suspension of Arms for fifteen days During this cessation the Venetians the Grand Duke and the Duke of Modena entered into a League to assist and give succours to the Duke of Parma as occasion should require who being encouraged by such Seconds entered boldly into the Eccleâ—â—astâ—cal State with three thousand Horse without Foot or Cannon or other preparations for defence of his Camp which was looked upon as so rash and inconsiderate an attempt that the other Confederates gave those Troops over for lost and destroyed But Duke Edward entering resolutely into the Bolognese strook such terrour into the people and the Army of the Pope that all was in a moment seen in confusion and disorder for the Prefect retired flying into Ferrara the Soldiers quitted their Quarters the Authority threats or intreaties of the Officers prevailing nothing against their cowardise and fears Thus without bloud and without a Battel Edward prevailed and became Master of the Field which is a passage the more memorable because that in an Enemies Country nothing could have been more done by an Army never so powerful For Bologna it self a great and populous City sent Letters to him full of respect the Governour of Smola sent the Keyes of the Town to meet him Faenza opened its Gates and the Governour descended from the Walls to meet and pacifie him Furli seemed as if it would make some resistance but soon surrendred at discretion where he lodged only for one whole day to refresh his Soldiers wearied with their march and incommoded with the Rains Upon these successes the fear and terrour which possessed the minds of the people at Rome is not to be expressed for that City being composed of a cowardly sort of Inhabitants such as Priests who are unaccustomed to danger and Strangers who are pleased with Reports and Novelties seemed distracted by various affectations for some feared plunder others desired disorder and all reproached the Government During these troubles and distractions Guards were placed in the streets and the command of them given to several Prelates Soldiers were levied in all places and the Coach-Horses in Rome seised to mount the Soldiers The Prefect also was recalled to Court and great murmurings against him for having shewn as much baseness in danger as he exercised Avarice in the Government in his place Cardinal Antonio was sent but Cardinal Francisco attended to the Arts of Negotiation intending with hopes of Peace to amuse the Duke and frustrate the League Cardinal Antonio made his head quarters at Viterbo whilest the Duke of Parma was at Aqua Pendente and the Cardinal having put considerable Garrisons into the Towns advanced with seven thousand Foot and two thousand Horse to Montefiascone intending to streighten the Duke in his quarters and obstruct his passage into the State of Castro But the Duke mounting on Horseback and making a shew as if he would advance towards him though much inferiour to the Enemy in force yet the Cardinal retired and would not stand the shock chusing rather to overcome with Prudence than run the hazard of Fortune So that now the month of October being come and the Rains having fallen in great abundance the approach of the Winter seemed a season more proper for Treaty than for War In the management of which Cardinal Barberino laying more stress on tricks and delusions than on the substantial points of solid Reason in Treaties dispatched the Abbat de Bagni to the Great Duke at Florence with Proposals That absolution of the Censures should be given to Edward with the forms contained in the
could never be heartily reconciled to his Person and Interest but the Arch-bishop was so ambitious of the Scarlet that contrary to the persuasions of his Brother he posted to Rome where after some few months he was created Cardinal to the great satisfaction and joy of the Duke of Guise and of all the French Party who expected from thence the happy fruits of Peace and of a perfect understanding between France and the Papal Sea Howsoever the mind of the Pope was not yet quieted nor could he forget his quarrel to the Barberins though he seemed to be so far appeased as to admit of the return of Cardinal Barberin to Rome which grant was obtained by the Marquis de Fontena who succeeded the Abbat of St. Nicholas in the Agency for France but howsoever he could not so far prevail as to obtain the like favour for Cardinal Antonio whom the Pope detested and would not hear of his admission until he had given in his Accounts and answered the Crimes of which he was legally accused as his Brother had already performed Nor would the Pope admit the Son of Taddeo the Prefect a youth of about eighteen years of age to execute that Office during the absence of his Father retired as we have said to the Court of France though pressed with the most warm instances imaginable by the Marquis de Fontena the Pope positively refusing it as a judged case already by the College of Cardinals in the time of Sixtus IV. when the Son of Antonio Colonna though in joint commission with his Brother was declared uncapable to exercise that charge in the time of his Minority For indeed the Pope did not much consider the applications made from France in any Affair nor was he greatly concerned to satisfie their Ministers knowing that the Civil Wars at that time had so employed the hearts and hands of that Kingdom that no mischief could be derived from thence Nor did Innocent shew himself much more favourable to any Nation for the Emperour could obtain no other help in his Wars against Sweden than a few Indulgences so that he was forced to patch up a Peace to the disadvantage of the Empire and the Roman Religion The Spaniards received nothing but flat denials to all demands as the Conte d' Ognate and the Duke dell ' Infantado who were then Ambassadours did often complain The French required nothing besides the restoration of the Barberins for if the Spaniards could obtain nothing who had been chief Instruments in the Pope's Election what could the French expect who remained as out-lawed people and as Enemies to himself and party Nor did Innocent after the Example of other Popes interest and concern himself much in the quarrels between the Christian Princes or like those who esteeming themselves the universal Fathers interposed by their Agents in the Offices of Peace and Mediation but Innocent casting off those cares and by the advice and counsel of Donna Olympia being desirous to excuse the charge and expence of Nuntios in forein Courts as useless and unnecessary took up new Maxims and grounds of State having an Opinion that the intercessions of Popes availed little with Princes until their own conveniences and pressures by War inclined them to a Peace It is reported that Innocent looking out one day at his Window saw two Porters at Fifty-cuffs some that were standers by would have parted them but the Pope forbad it giving Order that they should fight it out They after half an hours scuffle being weary and out of breath gave over of themselves and without other mediation parted which when the Pope saw he turned to Panâ—irolo who was then living So said he will the French and Spaniards do for when they are well wearied with beating one another they will part and agree of themselves without the mediation of others But Innocent was not so wholly averse from sending Nuntios into forein parts but that with concurrence and approbation of his Olympia he was ready to spend Money in Negotiations which were judged beneficial and necessary for the welfare of the Ecclesiastical State in pursuance of which aim considering it of absolute necessity to have a Minister at the Treaty of Munster where the general peace of Christendom was in debate he appointed Fabio Chigi a Senese to be present at that Meeting who with Aloisio Contareni a Senator of Venice and both Men of experience were by general consent admitted Mediators The Emperour's Commissioners were Lodowick Count of Nassau and Isaac Volmar Doctor of the Civil Law to them afterwards Count Trotmansdorff a person of extraordinary Abilites was superadded Avossie and Servient appeared in behalf of France Count Pignoranda and one Antonio â Sequanis who with his two Pages in a slashed Suit and a tattered Coach was of greater importance to the Work than half the Meeting besides were Commissioners for the Spaniard and Count Oxensterne and John Sauge Osnabrugge for the Swede who being Protestants had a Seat appointed for them apart that they might not mingle with the Catholicks Paw of Amsterdam and Knute the Zelander Commissioners for Holland were of greater eminency than those from the other Provinces to Avossie and Servient Longueville of the bloud Royal of France was afterwards added entering Munster with a train like an Emperour These were the chief Ministers which graced the Meeting at Munster besides several Accessories sent by their respective Princes Fabio Chigi being of a mild and patient temper did diligently remove all such things as he judged might obstruct or retard the business of Peace but Contareni though a Man of able parts yet being passionate did sometimes proceed with more violence than wariness It will not be pertinent to this History to relate the particulars of this Treaty what jugling and what Sophistry was practised How much Money how much time was idly thrown away how many Letters were written in Ciphers and how many deciphered what insisting upon Punctilios never did an Assembly more gloriously play the Mad-men as if this Serious Meeting had been held about the place of Princes not for the peace of Christendom In short therefore as to what concerns our purpose The Hollanders impatient for a peace looking on the French successes with a jealous Eye resolved to improve the present opportunity and without the advice and consent of the French to strike up a perpetual Peace with Spain The French resenting this manner of proceeding by the Hollanders sent to the Hague to complain but without any effect that people after their usual custom preferring their quiet and ease from War before the Leagues and faith and promises made with and given to their Allies And thus this Assembly the most famous next to that of Trent for the resort of divers Nations was dissolved without any effect Chigi the Pope's Nuntio labouring much toward the general Peace had still in his Eye the design of conserving the Revenue and immunities of the Church free and entire
Plenipotentiaries to be nominated and appointed by both sides and the place for Treaty to be Lions So on the twentieth of February an Instrument was signed by the Ambassadour Grimani and the Duke of Crequi and subscribed also by Monsieur Tellier Secretary of State and War whereby it was concerted and agreed to enter upon a Treaty at the place aforesaid and that Plenipotentiaries should be sent thither with Commissions from his Majesty Thus for some time whilest the troubles were a little appeased and quieted the Court of France passed the Carneval with their usual jollity and entertained it self with celebration of the marriage between Madmoiselle de Valois and the Duke of Savoy the Count de Soissons representing the person of the Duke at the ceremony of Espousals The which few days after was followed by the marriage of Madmoiselle Mariana Mancini Niece of Cardinal Mazarini with the Duke of Buglion great Chamberlain of France And now the Plenipotentiaries preparing for their meeting at Lions Aloisé Sagredo arrived at Paris in quality of Ambassadour for the Venetians and to succeed in the place of Grimani who was to be assisting in the Office of Mediation at Lions Grimani and Monsignor Rasponi Plenipotentiary from the Pope met at the time and place appointed but the Duke of Crequi on pretence of the Queen Mother's sickness or rather because he desired to be waited and attended for came not to Lions till towards the middle of May where entering on their Conference matters were proceeded to a hopeful condition of agreement when on a sudden they were unhappily interrupted by the Title which the Pope sent to Rasponi to be his Nuntio Extraordinary to all Christian Princes for whereas the French King had absolutely determined not to receive any person from the Pope with Title of Nuntio until the differences were accommodated between himself and Rome the Treaty was by Order of the King broken off upon that punctilio but afterwards was by Order renewed again at Bonvicino a place situate on the Frontiers of Savoy the Parochial Church of which is in the Dominions of France and on the other side of the Bridg which is the Territory of Savoy is an antient and famous Monastery of Carmelite Friers thither as we have said the Treaty was transferred where besides Crequi Rasponi and Grimani there were present the Agents for Modena and Parma and the twelve Consuls of Avigion Rasponi took his quarters on the side of Savoy and the other on that of France Here the particulars were again debated and the Pope was persuaded to condescend to all the pretensions of France excepting onely to the restitution of Castro on which the King peremptorily insisted because he had engaged his Honour and Authority therein by the Articles of Peace made at the Pyreneans The Pope on the other side insisted That it was not in his Power to pass an Act so prejudicial to the Apostolical Chair and contrary to the many Bulls of his Predecessours And thus whilest both sides insisted resolutely on this Point with many delays and punctilios which obstructed a conclusion the King dispatched an express to Rome to know the ultimate resolution of the Pope on that Point and when answer was returned that by reason of the Sentences passed by the Tribunals of Justice and that Castro was in the Camera annexed to the triple Crown and incorporated into the Dominions of the Church he could not assent to have it dismembred from St. Peter's Patrimony so soon I say as this news came the Treaty broke off every one returning to his Place and Country During this Treaty at Buonvicinio great preparations were making at Rome for a War and when it broke up without agreement then contrary to all expectation the Troops were disbanded and the Officers Reformed though in the mean time the French Troops began to march into Italy which was the occasion of a witty saying That at Rome they armed when they knew not with whom they were to have War and disarmed when they knew not with whom they should have Peace And yet it is probable and by most believed that there was never any real design of Rupture by either side but that the pretensions and preparations for this War were onely in appearance and made subservient to other Projects though to make it appear real the Duke of Beaufort was sent with a Fleet of Ships on the Coast of Italy the approach of which gave an Allarm at the very Gates of Rome but afterwards disappeared and stood off again into the Sea pretending to be driven to Calari in Sardinia by Tempests and contrary Winds And though neither the Pope nor King as was believed were in earnest in matter of a War yet the ill correspondence between them was judged prejudicial to Christendom and obstructive to those succours which were intended against the Turk who had then lately made himself Master of Newhausell and was triumphant in Hungary Wherefore the Venetians with more warm instances than ever laboured to renew the Treaty in which Office the Spaniards also judged themselves obliged to join because they desired to keep the Arms of France distant from Italy and both one and the other used their endeavours so effectually with the Pope and the King that they both consented to enter into another Treaty and accordingly the French King constituted Monsignore Bourlemont then at Florence to be his Plenipotentiary and the Pope ordained Rasponi with a like Power from him Pisa being the place appointed for the Treaty where after some few days of debate all matters came to be concluded and agreed in form and manner following That his Holiness to please the most Christian King had assented to dismember Castro from the Patrimony of the Church conditionally that the Duke of Parma within the space of eight years pay the sum of eight millions six hundred and nineteen Crowns to the Camera Of which sum having paid one half he shall be invested and restored into one half of the Principality And in case that any dispute shall arise touching the division of the moiety the same shall be determined by two Arbitrators indifferently chosen and they not agreeing the difference shall be referred to the Umpirage of a third Person Or otherwise the Camera making the division the Duke shall have Power to chuse or otherwise if the Duke makes the division then the choice shall be in the Power of the Camera That the Duke of Modena shall renounce all his pretensions to Comacchio And the Pope at the instance of the King shall in lieu thereof give and surrender unto the said Duke Mount d' Este which was valued at two hundred and fifty thousand Crowns or thereabouts and shall remit to him the Interest which he owes to the Montists which was estimated at fifty thousand Crowns together with a donative of forty thousand Crowns or in lieu thereof some Palace in Rome to the Duke's satisfaction And that the Pope shall
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
though it was offer'd him And afterward when he was sent Embassadour from Felix to Frederick the Emperour he so far prevailed upon him by his ingenuity that he made him a Poet Laureat his Companion and a Prothonotary which in Germany is a Secretary of State Not long after he was made a Counsellour of State and shew'd such Learning and Authority that he was reckon'd the most ingenuous Man there by far although he wanted not Rivals and Detractors When Eugenius and the Emperour first treated about putting an end to the Schism and Aeneas went to the Pope upon that account he stay'd some time at Siena where his Friends desired him not to go to Eugenius for they feared the Pope would use him severely because his Authority was often opposed as people said by Aeneas in Epistles and Orations at the Council of Basil But he was resolute and trusting to his own innocence slighted the intreaties of his Relations and went to Rome where in the first place he acquitted himself before Eugenius in an elegant Oration for submitting to their Opinion who approv'd of the Council of Basil And when he had so done he began to treat with him about that which the Emperour sent him to negotiate Thereupon two Agents were sent from Eugenius into Germany of whom one was Sarzanus and the other John Carvagialla by whose good management and Aeneas's industry together the Neutrality as I told you in the Life of Nicolas was taken off But that it might appear really to be so and not in words onely the Emperour sent Aeneas himself to Rome to make a publick Declaration of Submission in all matters to Eugenius in the name of himself and all Germany Eugenius dying about this time Aeneas was President of the Conclave till another Pope was chosen in the room of the deceased there being no Orator in the City more fit for so great an Employment Nicolas being chosen Pope he had leave to depart and as he went into Germany he having been made Sub Deacon by Eugenius was made Bishop of Trieste that Bishop being just then dead by the Pope and the Emperour without his own knowledg After which Philip Viconti dying without an Heir the Emperour sent him Envoy to Millain where he made an Oration concerning the descent of the Inheritance of that City and exhorting to Allegiance which if they preserv'd inviolate they might enjoy their liberty still He was sent thither another time when they were besieged by Francis Sfortia and suffer'd great extremities in defence of their Liberty at which time he enter'd the City with great hazard alone for his Collegues left him at Como and durst not go on for fear But he departed thence without any success and whilst the Emperour sent him to Alphonso King of Aragon the Pope Nicolas made him Bishop of Siena the place of his Nativity And when the Emperour and Alphonso had contracted an Alliance by Marriage he return'd into Germany where he persuaded the Emperour to go as soon as possible into Italy and receive his Imperial Crown Upon that advice Frederick went thither but sent Aeneas before to meet and complement his Wife Leonora who was to come from Portugal into Tuscany Who when he came to Siena stay'd not long there but he began to be suspected by the people as if he design'd because the Emperour was coming to turn out the populace and make the Government an Aristocracy Aeneas therefore to free the people from that jealousie went to Talamone where he thought Leonora would arrive and yet the people were not satisfied For they banish'd the Nobility into the Country for a time and a little while after according to the mutable humour of the Mobile gave 'em leave to come back again when they understood the integrity of the Emperour and the modesty of Aeneas Hence he went to Pisa where he heard the Portugueses were landed and brought the Infanta who was committed to his sole care to the Emperour then at Siena Then going to Rome he managed all things whilst the Emperour was crown'd both private and publick Afterward the Emperour went to visit Alphonso and left Ladislaus a Princely Youth whom the Hungarians and Bohemians had often endeavour'd to steal away from him under the tutelage of Aeneas who kept him very faithfully When the Emperour came back to Rome and had given the Pope thanks he went for Ferrara and having made Borsius d' Este Duke of Modena he departed And no sooner was he come into Germany but he presently dispatch'd away Aeneas by the Pope's Order as Envoy extraordinary into Bohemia and all the Cities of Austria For there was a Controversie between them and the Emperour about King Ladislaus whom they would needs have him send into their Country But the Dispute was ended and a Peace made between 'em so that Aeneas was not long after sent to the Assembly at Ratisbone where he in the name of the Emperour and in the presence of Philip Duke of Burgundy and Lewis of Bavaria spoke of the Turks cruelty and calamities of Christendom with such vehemency and passion that he forced sighs and tears from every one there but especially he seemed so far to animate the Duke of Burgundy that a War was decreed immediately by general consent though it was after laid aside through the ambition and folly of those who thought too well of themselves And now Aeneas was grown old and tired with the tedious Journeys he had taken into forein parts wherefore he resolv'd to return to Siena his native Country but the Emperour easily chang'd his mind by telling him that he yet design'd to make War upon the Turks Thereupon he was sent to the Convention at Frankfort where all the German Princes were met together and in a grave long Oration persuaded them with many reasons to undertake that dangerous but necessary War And indeed he seemed to move 'em all exceedingly though it is natural for those to cool soon whose affections are quickly heated There was also a third Convention in Cittanova about the same thing wherein Aeneas employ'd all his endeavours to bring about what he desired exhorting every one of them both in publick and private to assist in that War upon which the safety of all Europe the Liberty of both Princes and people and the honour of Christianity did depend And just as he expected to do the business there was news brought that Pope Nicolas was dead which put all things into a new Confusion For the Convention broke up and the Germans desirous of Novelty endeavour'd to persuade the Emperour no longer to obey the Pope unless he would grant them some certain Demands for they said the Germans were in a worse condition than either the French or Italians whose Servants they might be termed unless things were alter'd especially to the Italians And truly the Emperour had hearken'd to those Mutineers if Aeneas with his gravity had not interposed and told the Emperour That
and monstrous cruelties to him making him the Author of all those Calamities and Miseries which in his Reign over-whelmed Italy rendering its condition slavish and contemptible to Forein Nations Howsoever his temper was not so altogether flagitious but that it admitted of some alloy and mixture of Virtue for he with great care attended to the government of the City and regulation of the Courts of Justice to which end he ordained Visitors of the Prisons to examin and know the causes for which persons were imprisoned and created four Judges for the tryal of all criminal matters so that Justice was the more punctually executed than in former times But not to remain too long on his personal qualities let us proceed to the important affairs of his Government And in the first place being created Pope he was according to custom saluted and congratulated in his Papal Dignity by the Ambassadors of Kings Princes and States whom he respectively treated with affability and respect persuading them to peace and concord amongst themselves and by the virtue of such union and confederacy to joyn and employ their Arms against the Turk who was the common Enemy of Christendom And at that time being about the year 1493. in honor to Ferdinand King of Spain he gave him the Title of Catholick in acknowledgment and memory of the many Victories he had obtained over the Moors and gave him a Title to all those Lands and Countries in America which were or should be discovered there And thus as he was civil to Kings so he was kind and more affectionate to his Family For in the first Consistory that he held he created John Borgia his Sisters Son Arch-Bishop of Montreat Valentine Borgia his Natural Son Arch-Bishop of Valentia At this time the Emperor Frederick died having reigned for the space of 54 years Likewise Ferdinand King of Naples being dead he sent his Legat with power to confirm his Son Alonso in the succession to the Kingdom and having contracted an Alliance with him he ordered him to be Crowned and invested with the Regalities At this time being the year 1494. Charles the Eighth King of France who was of a martial and ambitious spirit laid claim to the Kingdom of Naples by virtue of the last Will and Testament of René Duke of Anjou and Lorain and being encouraged in that enterprise by Lodowick Sforza the Guardian of John Galeas Duke of Milan he entered Italy with a puissant Army consisting of 25000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a great train of Artillery The Pope apprehending the great ruine and damage which this incursion of the French would bring upon Italy entered into League with the City of Florence and both agreed and resolved to leavy Soldiers and joyn in a defensive League with the King of Naples but the Venetians and Ferdinand King of Spain who were likewise moved to enter into the League did positively refuse to accept the proposals being more inclinable to be unconcerned and Spectators than Actors in that hazardous War Charles being entered into Italy marched victorious thro Lombardy and having overthrown the Army of Florence soon after became Master Of the City it self thence he proceeded towards Rome where he entered on the first of January 1494. without any opposition it being agreed that in case the Romans would peaceably open their Gates and give free admission to the French that no hurt or violence should be offered by them to the Inhabitants but that on the contrary if they made opposition they would put all into flame and confusion The Romans therefore finding themselves in no condition to resist readily gave a reception to the French affording them plenty of Victuals and Provisions and they on the other side performed their conditions severely punishing such as were guilty of Riots or Tumults The Pope at first being affrighted with the approach of the French fled for security into the Castle but at length finding all things quiet and secure from the outrages of their Ghests adventured abroad and much against his will and inclinations entered into a League with them But Charles not much confiding in the Faith which the Pope had given required for better security thereof and by way of Hostage that Cesar Borgia who was called Cardinal Valentino should under colour of being the Popes Legat accompany him in the War together with Zizimé the Brother of the Grand Seignior on pretence that having overcome the Kingdom of Naples he would make use of him in the War which he intended to make upon Constantinople but he died soon after of a Bloody-Flux at Capua Upon approach of the French near to Naples King Alonso being conscious of his ill government whereby he had contracted the hatred of his people and despairing of the success of his Affairs surrendred up the Kingdom into the hands of his Son Ferdinand and with great fear and ignominy embarked himself with the best part of his wealth and fled into the Island of Sicily and soon after Ferdinand considering the weakness of his Force and the inequality of the Match between him and the French betook himself also to the Island of Ischia Charles following the favourable course of his good and victorious fortune with great expedition made himself Master of all the Kingdom of Naples the which success giving an alarm to all the Christian Princes a general confederacy was agreed amongst them for intercepting the French on their return out of Italy so that the Pope the Emperor Maximilian the King of Spain Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan and the Venetians uniting their Forces for the common safety of Italy composed an Army of forty thousand men Notwithstanding which Charles boldly returned out of Italy and with great difficulty having passed the Apenine Mountains with sixteen pieces of weighty Cannons which were drawn over by 300 Swissers and having by the greater error and neglect of the Enemy passed all the narrow and inaccessible ways about Zerzana and Petra Santa at length descended into the Plains of Lombardy The Confederate Army to hinder the Kings farther passage had encamped themselves at Fornovo near Tarro and at no far distance from Parma and there both Armies were engaged The French did not consist of more than 9000 men and the Confederates of 40000 and yet the French had the advantage and won the Field and as Philip de Comines saith the King entered triumphant into Asti tho Panvinio and other Italian Writers relate the Battel to have been bloody but the success and advantage doubtful Howsoever the news hereof being reported at Naples to the great advantage of the Confederates King Ferdinand re-assumed his courage and adventured out of his retirement at Ischia and then the French Forces being grown weak and all Recruits failing them he recovered his Kingdom with the assistance of the Catholick King Not long after Charles the Eighth died and Lewis the Twelfth Duke of Orleans succeeded in his Throne Likewise Ferdinand dying without Issue Frederick his
of Riches At any time of vacation from business he gave himself up wholly to delights and pleasures especially to Women whom he loved in excess but the Mistriss of his Affection was the fair Vanoccia a Roman Lady whom in the time of his private fortune and condition he kept and owned as a lawful Wife He was a great lover of Plays and Comedies and would be always a spectator of Shows and pleasant divertisements In his time he created 43 Cardinals of which 18 were Spaniards In the year 1500. he celebrated the Jubilee according to ancient customs giving Bulls and Indulgences for Sins to all those who personally visited the Church of Rome and to such also who being hindered by their occasions were made partakers of his bountiful remissions Thus he who could so easily pardon the sins of others must expect the final Sentence of him who is the just Judg and renders to every one according to his demerit PIVS III. ALEXANDER the Sixth being now deceased the Duke Valentino seized on all his Plate and Jewels and whatsoever was of value and fortified himself in the Vatican and Castle of S. Angelo with 12000 men supposing that he might be able by such a force to over-awe the Cardinals in their Suffrages and force them to elect such a person as was most acceptable to himself The Cardinals to avoid the awe of such a force assembled themselves in the Minerva which is a Convent in Rome but that place also was presently surrounded by a Band of Soldiers commanded by one Captain Coreglia by order of Borgia who himself at that time lay sick in bed The news of this restraint on the Cardinals put all Rome into an alarm and great confusion so that the Citizens shut their Shops chained up their Streets and took Arms in their hands all things seeming in that fear and dread as if Hannibal had been at the Gates of the City so that Coreglia finding himself in some danger gave way to the present necessity and setting fire to the Palace of the Orsini retired without doing other damage In the mean time the Cardinals having gathered a force of 4000 Foot resolved contrary to custom to suspend the Election until such time as the Cardinals resident in foreign parts beyond the Alps could convene in some other place where they might be more secure and free in their Voices Prospero Colonna coming then to Rome with Fabius Orsino the Son of him whom Borgia had put to death were by order of the Cardinals sent to Borgia to intreat him that he would be pleased to remain quiet and suffer the Election to proceed free and without disturbance The like request also the Embassadors of France and Spain made to him with which suffering himself to be persuaded he withdrew his force from Rome and departed thence in a Horse-litter being in a weak state and condition of health Howsoever his own Soldiers kept the Castle tho the Governor of it at the instance of Cardinal Bernardino Carvagiale promised to act every thing by the order and direction of the College In this manner the Vatican being cleared the Cardinals employed themselves nine days in performing the solemn Obsequies of the Pope during which time the French Army was persuaded also to quit the Town at the instance of the Cardinal of Rouen who had great interest with that Party So that all things being left free without appearance of any Commotion or Disorders during the Election the Cardinals entered into the Conclave to the number of 38 where the disagreement which at other times kept things in delay was now the cause that matters were put to a speedy issue and a new Pope created in a few days Cardinal Amboise the Arch-Bishop of Rouen being supported by the interest of France and the power of Borgia seemed to stand the fairest of any for the Election but the French Forces being withdrawn to engage the Spaniards in the Campagna of Rome the greatest tho not the best number of the Cardinals agreed in the Election and on the 21. day of September 1503. chose Francis Piccolomini Cardinal of Siena for their Pope who to renew the memory of Pius the Second his Uncle took upon him the name of Pius the Third and was solemnly Crowned on the 8th of October following the Sea having been vacant six months and three days Cesar Borgia who had during this Election remained with his Army at Nepe so soon as he received intelligence that the Pope was Created returned to Rome attended with 150 men at Arms with the like number of Horsemen and 800 Foot and having paid his Reverence and Obeysance to the Pope he returned his thanks to the College of Cardinals for having Elected a person so wise so religious and good and so worthy of the Papal Chair Borgia having performed this Ceremony took up his Lodgings in the Vatican where the Vrsini thirsty of Revenge assaulted him with armed force and he as valiantly defending himself many were killed on both sides and at length Borgia by order of the Pope was for his better security sent to the Castle of S. Angelo whence without license from the Pope he had not liberty to go abroad all his people forsaking him and lying where their fear or fortune led them These troubles to a person aged and sick as this Pope was hastned the accomplishment of his days so that he expired his last breath on the 18th of October 1503. being the 26th day after his Election not without some suspicion of Poison for having a sore Leg it was imagined that by the suggestion and contrivance of Pandolfo Petrucci the Tyrant of Siena some Poison being injected to the Wound he was thereby greatly afflicted and more speedily brought to his end being aged 74 years 5 months and 10 days He was afterwards buried in the Chappel of S. Andrew belonging to S. Peter's Church under a fair Monument of Marble near to the Sepulchre of his Uncle After which the Sea was vacant 14 days only JVLIVS II. THE Funeral Obsequies of Pope Pius being performed the very first night that the Cardinals entered into the Conclave being the 9th day of October Julian de la Rovere Bishop Cardinal of Ostia was Elected Pope with the common consent of 37 Suffrages all of them so unanimously concurring together that before his choice all reports fixed and concentred upon him and afterwards he gave himself the name of Julius the Second He was born in Savona within the Dominions of Genoua his Fathers name was Raphael the Brother of Sixtus the Fourth whose Pedigree we have already mentioned he had two Brothers Bartholomew who was a Frier of the Order of S. Francis Bishop of Ferrara and Patriarch of Antioch and John who was Prefect of Rome and Duke of Sora and Senegaglia and he himself from Bishop of Carpentras was at the same time with Peter Riario created Cardinal of S. Peter ad Vincula by the said Sixtus the Fourth Having obtained
able to render a reason why amidst so many dangers and troubles of the Ecclesiastical State they had chosen a stranger for Pope of a remote Country who had never seen Italy and perhaps might never have seen it but upon this occasion and who had neither been acquainted with the customs of the Court of Rome nor yet had entertained such conversation with the Cardinals as to have hoped by their interest or his own merit to have attained to the Election of which the Cardinals not being able to render any solid reason gave out in excuse of themselves that it was an impulse of the Holy Ghost which did often inspire the hearts of Cardinals in Election of Popes The news of this Election was brought to Adrian then residing at Victoria a Town on the Confines of Biscay upon advice whereof taking no other name than his own he caused himself to be called Adrian the sixth He was born at Vtrecht a City in Holland his Father's name was Florent one that by Profession made Tapestry Hangings and this his Son being a Youth of an ingenious lively spirit was sent to Study in the University of Lovain where afterwards being a great proficient in Learning Margaret the Daughter of Maximilian then Governess of the Low-Countries receiving information of his Virtues and Abilities made him Curate of a Parish-Church in Holland afterwards he was preferred to be Dean of the Cathedral in Lovain and then made Vice-Chancellor of that University During this time Philip Arch-Duke of Austria Son of Maximilian the Emperor died leaving a Son of seven years of age named Charles for whose Education and Instruction a Tutor and School-master being sought in all parts none was esteemed more proper either for his Virtue or Learning than this Adrian Having for some time honorably acquitted himself in this Office he was sent Embassador to Ferdinand King of Spain with whom he acquired so much favour and interest that in a short time he was made Bishop of Tortosa and afterwards Chief Counsellor of State to the Emperor Charles V. Likewise by the recommendation of the Emperor Maximilian and on account of the great esteem and reputation he had acquired he was created Cardinal by Pope Leo X with the Title of S. John and S. Paul in the year 1519. And Charles his Scholar being chosen Emperor he committed to his care and charge the whole and entire Government of Spain in which Country Adrian resided when the news was brought him of his Election to the Popedom Charles the Emperor having about that time passed by Sea into Spain sent an Express to congratulate his Promotion desiring him that he would be pleased to make some little stay at Barcelona that so he might have opportunity to pay his Respects in person to him and perform that Reverence and Obedience which he owed to the Apostolical Sea but Adrian was in so much hast fearing some Revolutions in Rome and Italy that he would make no stay at Barcelona but Embarking at Taragona on the 11th of August he soon after with a placid Navigation arrived at Genoua where he was visited by the Prelates of France thence proceeding to Ligorn he was there received by Cardinal De Medicis and five other Cardinals as also by the Embassadors sent from several Princes of Italy and by Francis de Gonzaga who was General of the Army belonging to the Church At Pyrgos he was met by Pompey Colonna and Francis Vrsino who were Cardinals delegated by the Senate of Rome and thence proceeding to Ostia he was carried up the River to the Monastery of S. Paul where he lodged for one night And lastly on the 29. of August the people of Rome with the several Orders of the Clergy accompanied him with great pomp to the Palace of the Vatican and the next day he was solemnly Crowned in the Portico of S. Peter's Church Pope Adrian being now seated in his Throne employed his whole time at first to hear and understand the Affairs of Rome for as yet he was altogether ignorant of the State of Italy the which in such an exigency in which things at that time were was a great trouble to considering men who thought it a miserable disadvantage to have at that time a Pope a stranger and altogether unexperienced in the Affairs of Italy and of the Court when the Pestilence grievously afflicted the City a matter which was interpreted for an ill Prognostication and omen of his future success The Treasury also by the Wars Disorders and Luxury of preceding Popes exhausted and drained to a farthing and all the Jewels and Ornaments of the Pontifical Dignity pawned and placed in the hands of Usurers first by Leo and afterwards more monies raised upon them by the College to supply the necessities and exigencies of the Church Arimino also was seized and possessed by Sigismund Malatesta And news was come that Soliman the Great Turk had invested Rhodes and put it into great danger and prepared with a great Army to invade Hungary all which being matters of great difficulty did much puzzle and distract the mind of Adrian who was as yet raw and unexperienced in the Affairs of Rome the which troubles were soon followed by the unhappy news of the loss of Rhodes having been surrendred up on conditions after a six months Siege And now Adrian being warm in his Seat began in the first place to design the recovery of Rimini which was seized and possessed by Sigismund and Pandolfo Malatesta and next to compose those differences which the Duke of Ferrara had continued with his two late Predecessors for the more effectual performance whereof he sent 1500 Spanish Infantry which he had brought with him out of Spain for security of his passage on the Sea into Romagna the which with addition of other Forces so affrighted Sigismond and Malatesta that by the mediation of the Duke of Vrbin they surrendred Rimini to the Pope upon hopes that the Pope would in lieu thereof assign them some other honorable support and maintenance Afterwards the Duke of Vrbin went himself to Rome where the memory of Pope Julian was still so precious as to entitle him to some kindness from this present Pope on which motive the Ecclesiastical Censures which were issued out against him by Leo were reversed Plenary Absolution given him and he again restored to the Dutchy of Vrbin by Adrian howsoever with this clause salvo jure c. that it might be without prejudice to that Grant made to the Florentines of the Country of Montfeltra in considerarion of the sum of 350000 Crowns which they had lent to Pope Leo for defence of that Country With the like frank generosity Adrian received Alfonso Duke of Ferrara into his favour and not only invested him in the Dukedom of Ferrara and in all those Lands which depended on the Church before the War which Pope Leo â—ade against the French but also in the Towns of Felix and Final which he had
only that hereupon Julio Orâ—â—no was dispeeded with thirty Companies of Foot to Guard and defend the Confines of Hungary and thus the Pope having spent five days at Busetto with no other advantage to his Affairs he returned again to Bologna where he celebrated the Feast of S. Peter the Apostle About this time Barbarosso who had been instigated by the French to do all the damage they were able to the Emperor had coasted along the shore by Naples and having slaid some time before the Isle of 〈…〉 they at length appeared near Civita Vecchia at the mouth of the 〈…〉 which gave such an alarm to Rome that the Inhabitants had certainly abandoned the City and fled to the Mountains had not Poline the French Envoy aboard the Fleet of Barbarosso written a Letter to Cardinal Rodolfo giving him assurance that there was no design upon Rome with which the tumult was quieted and their fears dissipated Now began the year 1544. which was very remarkable for the unexpected Peace concluded between the Emperor and the French King on the 18th of September at Crespy a Castle in Valois after the bloody Battel of Cerisoles the which was received with extreme joy by all the Christian Princes and especially by Pope Paul who being returned from Bologna to Rome had lately made solemn Processions for the Peace and quiet of Christendom the which unexpected news surprising the Pope was interpreted by him as a return of those Prayers and Supplications he had made for Peace tho inwardly he conceived some secret resentments that he had not been concerned as Mediator in it Upon this news of Peace the Pope thought it seasonable to publish an other Sessions of the Council to Commence in March following which had on occasion of the late Wars been prorogued but this hasty indiction of a Council was not pleasing to the Emperor who expected to have been first consulted esteeming that it had been more agreeable to his Authority and more acceptable to the humor of Germany had he been made the principal Author of this Council Howsoever that he might seem to be the first mover of the work and the Pope only to act in the second place he issued out many Commissions to the Prelates of Spain and of the Low-Countries and to many Divines at Lovain to meet together and consider of several Theses and Propositions which were to be debated in the Council which being reduced to six and thirty Heads he required their solution of them positively without any proofs or references to Holy Scripture All which solutions being made were confirmed by the Emperor 's Magisterial Authority and Edicts requiring all people to yield entire faith and belief thereunto And farther the Emperor not being able to conceal the displeasure he had conceived against the Pope vented his choler frequently to the Nuntio in very severe and sharp terms and whereas the Pope in the month of December had created thirteen Cardinals those three which were Spaniards amongst them were forbidden by the Emperor to accept the Dignity or to take the Title or wear the Habit. Tho the Emperor had testified this open displeasure against the Pope yet he so far complied with him as to send Don Diego de Mendoza who had lately been his Embassador at Venice with ample Commission to the Council of Trent as did also the other Princes who were in amity with the Pope but the Protestants who had sent their Commissioners to the Diet at Worms over which Ferdinand presided in the place of the Emperor refused to send their Embassadors to Trent alledging that the Assembly held at that place was not legitimate nor could be termed with the quality and character of a General Council The Pope being highly incensed at this refusal and separation of the Protestants which he esteemed an affront to the Papal Authority dispatched his Nephew the Cardinal Farnese in quality of Legate with ample instructions to the Emperor wherein besides some other particular interests he encharged him most especially to incite the Emperor to make a War of Religion against the Protestant Princes of which he conceived the greater hopes in regard that by frequent advices from his Nuntio he was assured of the displeasure and disdain the Emperor had of the Protestant Cause and that he willingly gave ear to those suggestions which advised him to compel their Assents and Compliance by force of Arms. To this Proposition the Emperor made answer that he acknowledged this Counsel which the Pope gave him to be good and almost necessary and which he resolved to follow but howsoever that it was to be executed with its due caution and that a Truce was first to be concluded with the Turk which was secretly treating and then that some discords and dissentions were to be sowed amongst the Protestant Princes for that being united together their numbers were so formidable and great that instead of maintaining the Catholick Religion he should put it into apparent danger and hazard which a doubtful state of War may produce This Treaty tho secretly carried was yet suspected by the Protestant Princes who took a most sensible alarm from the Sermon of a Cordelier Frier that preached one day before the Emperor King Ferdinand and the Legate and used many invective Speeches against the Lutherans he told the Emperor plainly that it was his duty to defend the Church by force of Arms and that God had put the Sword into his hands for extirpation of this Heresie and destruction of this pest of mankind which he ought not to suffer to live in this world This Sermon and discourse made great noise being interpreted for the sense of the Legate and to be an effect of the Treaty which he secretly held with the Pope and that the Frier Preached in that manner by his order wherefore to abate and surcease those reports the Cardinal departed secretly by night and with all expedition returned into Italy In the mean time the Debates at the Diet at Worms proceeded where the Emperor in person endeavoured to persuade the Princes to contribute towards a War against the Turk which they absolutely refused to do until assurance were given them that the Peace between them and the Emperor should be continued and maintained without any respect to the determinations and conclusions at Trent which they could not esteem a General Council or to have any Power and Authority to oblige them to an observation of those Decrees and Canons which were formed therein to which the Emperor replied that he could not assure them of Peace or observation of any Articles which should exempt them from the determination of that Council to which all Christians were obliged to submit and that he should not know how to to excuse himself to other Kings and Princes in case he should endeavour to procure that exemption for Germany only from obedience to the Council which was chiefly convened in respect and in order to the settlement of their
imaginations which Men conceive of Reliques Pilgrimages and Indulgences That the Doctrine and practice of Penance should be again renewed and established according to the custom of the Primitive Church All or most of which Articles were ungrateful to the Legats both for the substance of them and circumstances with which they were delivered the Ambassadours at the same time declaring that in case they were not granted such provisions would be made in France by a National Council as were agreeable to the State of their Affairs Howsoever the Legats seemed favourably to accept them and dispatched them to the Pope by the Bishops of Viterbo And now by this time the Pope was ready to make a return of the conclusions he had made in the Point about Residencies dispatched from Trent by the Bishop of Ventimille the matter of which though couched with great Art and in such ambiguous terms as might admit of various interpretations yet that artificial fraud could not pass on such subtil Heads who for their Learning and experience were chosen out of the wisest Men of Europe for they easily discovered the Pope's intent to advance himself above an Universal Council they could have been contented to have admitted him the Chief super Ecclesias Vniversas but not super Ecclesiam Vniversalem that is over all Churches in particular but not over the Universal Church as it was aggregated into one body in a General Council Hereupon great Contests arose the Pensioners of Rome produced in favour of the Pope's Authority a Canon made by the Council of Florence which having been received by the Spaniards gave them some trouble in what manner to make an Answer thereunto But the French who had never received the Articles of that Council for Canonical opposed the Councils of Constance and Basil against it which had determined that General Councils were superiour to the Pope but the Italians who maintained that the Council of Basil was Schismatical and that the Canons of Constance were partly received and partly rejected so heated their French Opponents that Reasons and Arguments being on both sides declined the Dispute ended with high words and reproaches of one against the other Which the Legats well observing and that there could be no good issue of such high Contests desired time to remit these matters to the Pope's Censures and so proceeded again to the Point about Residencies the which having already caused inextricable difficulties for the Pope's words did not please the Council the Cardinal of Lorain proposed something by way of Accommodation putting in some gentler terms which might serve the turn of both Parties but the Legats penetrating with their accustomary Acuteness into the words found that the sense would bear an Interpretation which might be expounded in favour of the Opinion that Residencies were constituted by Divine Right Wherefore slighting or laying aside the words which the Cardinal had projected they framed another according to their own humour and presented it to the Congregation the which so incensed the Cardinal of Lorain that from thence forward he began to deal plainly and express himself in free and high terms protesting that for the future he would meddle no farther for that he observed a secret Combination which in Cabinet Consults assumed to its self an Authority to dispose matters differing from the Sentiments of the General Council That the Legats sought nothing more than occasions to break up the Council in discontent That nothing was acted but according to the will of the Legats who moved by such measures only as they received from the Pope whose resolution in every thing they expected from Rome according to that old saying That the Holy Ghost was brought every week from Rome to Trent in the Courriers Portmantle That he for his part was resolved to have patience until the next Session at which if matters were not managed with more fair proceedings he was resolved to retire into France with his French Nation then at the Council where renouncing all farther applications to Rome or Trent they were resolved to assemble a National Council by which they would establish such a form of Concordat as should be agreeable to the present state of their Country and which might secure the safety of the King and the quiet of his People To the same purpose the French Ambassadour expressed himself at Rome but the Pope who had been long used to such kind of Menaces and a noise about National Councils little regarded their Censures or Threats but briskly answered That the Council was free even to a licentiousness that if there were Parties and Factions they were unknown to him and were only made by the Vltramontane Bishops whose design was to trample on the Authority of the Papal Chair And in this manner such distractions and Disputes arose at Trent occasioned by the Power and Interest which the Cardinal of Lorain had there with the greatest part of the Clergy that the Congregations were for some time suspended until the Cardinal of Ventimille returned from Rome freighted with abundance of Complements and Salutes and especially with supplies of Mony for the Pope's Pensioners and then the Congregations being again commenced and with them the Discords renewed it was agreed that the next Session should be deferred until the 22th of April which was presently after Easter The Cardinal of Lorain though he seemed outwardly to consent hereunto with some reluctancy and onely in compliance with the rest of the Council yet in reality he was well enough pleased hoping that a short time would put an end to the life of this Pope who was very aged and infirm when he imagined that his Greatness and Authority would be very instrumental in promoting such a Person to the Papacy as would be facil and easie in granting every thing agreeable to his desires And now to allay a little the heats about the Divine Right of Episcopacy and Residencies the Council diverted their thoughts and Discourse to eight several Points relating to Marriage During which time and the Interval between that and the next Session the Cardinal of Lorain took the opportunity to visit the Emperor's Court at Inspruck which administred great cause of jealousie to the Pope who not onely observed the Cardinal's dissaffection from his proceedings in the Council but likewise from his Letter wherein complaining of the many Factions and Intrigues which his Italian Bishops had caused he concludes that if matters were carried on with the same Measures there would remain nothing more for him either to consider or act than onely to pray unto God to direct the Council with his Holy Inspiration The Cardinal of Lorain being arrived at Inspruck where he remained five days had frequent Conferences with the Emperor and his Son the King of the Romans touching the many disorders and corruptions of the Council at Trent as also of the means how and in what manner the Cup might be restored to the Laiety how Marriage might be granted and dispensed
being once celebrated is of force and not to be again dissolved but by Authority and dispensation of the Church After divers debates thereupon the Bishop of Metz was so happy as to find a form of words for that Canon which contented all Parties which was this That though the Church hath ever forbidden and detested Clandestine Marriages yet whosoever denies Clandestine Marriage to be a Sacrament let him be Anathema The marriage of Priests admitted now of no farther difficulty for though the Emperor the King of France and the Duke of Bavaria demanded that priviledg in behalf of their People yet that Point was now laid aside and all instances in that matter were denied to be heard or admitted to farther question or examination in the Council After this the Legats proposed thirty eight Articles in order to a Reformation which contained the many abuses and encroachments which Secular Princes had made upon the Rights of the Church but the Cardinal of Lorain was for abbreviating the Articles and for cutting off all those which might administer matter of Controversie so that by a speedy dispatch thereof the Council might tend towards a conclusion which caused many to wonder that the zeal which he had so warmly evidenced at first for a Reformation should so soon vanish and be evaporated A Copy of these Articles being communicated to the Ambassadours every one made his observations reflections and additions thereunto as was most consistent with the affairs of their respective Masters For the chief Remarks and alterations of the Ambassadours tended to something which might abate the Power and Authority of the Pope over the Ordinaries and the jurisdiction of the Bishops themselves over the Civil and Municipal Courts But the French were the most severe of any in the rules of Reformation For they would have the number of Cardinals restrained to twenty four that the Nephews of Popes during the life of the Pope should not be capable to receive a Cardinals Hat that Cardinals should be made uncapable to hold Bishopricks that criminal causes against Bishops should not be judg'd at other Tribunals than such as are within the Dominions of France That Bishops should be endued with plenary Power to give absolution in all Cases That Ecclesiastical persons should not be concerned or intermedle in secular Affairs and in short that they do no act or thing which may infringe the Law of France or intrench on the Liberties of the Gallican Church These particulars for reformation of the Church thus delivered were to be prepared against the next Session and as resolved so to be enacted and for Reformation of the Courts of Princes it was by agreement of the Ambassadours reserved as the chief matter and subject for a subsequent Session These Proposals were in no manner acceptable to the Pope who could not endure such fatal attempts on the Power and prerogative of the Church to avoid which nothing could be a defence or remedy but onely the dissolution of the Council to which end he earnestly wrote to all his Nuncios residing in the Courts of forein Princes commanding them to use their utmost art and skill to persuade the respective Princes to be aiding and concurring herein And farther gave orders to his Legats at Trent to grant freely whatsoever could not be refused and with all decent speed to put a final end and conclusion to the Council but this Design encountred some rubs and obstructions from the Spanish Ambassadour and others of that Party who complained of the private Cabals which the Legats held with certain Cardinals and other Confidents in exclusion of the Spanish Interest But their complaints were little regarded by the Legats whose greatest incumbence then was to satisfy the Bishops without whose concurrence the Council could not be dissolved For now the intention of the Bishops being to make use of this occasion to enlarge their Power and obtain some priviledges which were derogatory to the Papal Chair made that point of gaining the good will of the Bishops to be the more difficult because that their pretences of subjecting Monasteries and regulation of Friers and certain priviledged Churches to the Episcopal Jurisdiction which were exempted from it by Orders of the Pope found most opposition from the Generals of the respective Orders and indeed the Ambassadours themselves did not much favour this Demand which seem'd too highly to advance and exalt the pride and power of the Bishops Whilest these things were under Debate the French Ambassadours received a large Pacquet from their Master in answer to the late Proposals projected for a Model to reform abuses in the Courts of Princes the which much displeased the King and his Ministers of State who wondered at the daring attempts of the Clergy on the King 's Royal Power and Authority under a pretence of Reformation contenting themselves in the mean time with a slight and superficial review of their own abuses and therefore persuaded the Fathers of the Council to attend unto matters purely Spiritual and to such Acts as might serve to reform corruptions crept into the Church and to correct the debauched lives of Priests and Monks the scandal of which had been the cause of all the Schism in the Church rather than to intermedle with the sacred Prerogative of Kings or abett and maintain the Clergy in their opposition and contumacy against their Sovereign Thus much the Ambassadours had Orders to signifie to the Council with farther Instructions that in case they should notwithstanding this intimation proceed to encroach on the King's Regalia that then they should make their Protest and retire to Venice all which the Ambassadours made known to the Cardinal of Lorain and declared to the Legats requiring the Bishops to supersede their pretensions to those honours and priviledges which were the sole Right and Prerogative of Kings The Bishops who were resolutely bent to maintain those Emoluments which so nearly concerned them protested before the Legats that they would neither enter more into the Congregation nor give their advice or Voice in any matter unless they were first secured of the Rights to which they pretended which a hundred of them obliged themselves by solemn Oath never to remit All which violent Contests took up so much time that when the 15th of September was come which was the day before the Session nothing was duly prepared in order to pass into a Canon and therefore the time was prorogued until the 11th of November that so in the interim the Cardinal of Lorain might have sufficient time to make his Journey to Rome where he was greatly desired by the Pope and all that Party The Cardinal being arrived at Rome was received with all the joy and honours imaginable he was lodged in the Pope's Palace and immediately in Person visited by him which was a Complement that never Pope had made before to any under that character of a Cardinal After which there passed such kindness between them at several private
by common Voice that the intention of the Council in all and every of their Canons was to maintain the Papal Dignity in its antient Power and Authority without any abatement or diminution thereof And finally an Act was read and published whereby it was declared That the place or rank which any Ambassadour or Representative had holden or possessed in that Council should give no Title or ground of claim for the like degree or place for the future the Council not pretending to determine any thing in prejudice of the rights and priviledges of Kings Princes or States Lastly at the breaking up of the Council Excommunications and Anathemas were read against all Hereticks in general mentioning Luther Zuinglius or others in particular And then the period was closed with loud acclamations in praise of the Pope the Emperor the Kings the Legats and all the Fathers which was performed in a different manner to the practice of other Councils which ended with acclamations and blessings pronounced with the confused noise or murmurings of the whole Assembly but at Trent it was performed by way of Responses or Antiphonas in which the Cardinal of Lorain pronounced the first Sentence and was again answered by all the Prelats which being the part of a Deacon or Chanter seemed an Office too mean to be personated by his Eminence and not onely gave subject of railery to the World but subjected him to a thousand Censures at his return home where it was charged upon him that in the Acclamations or Antiphonas then made there was no mention of the King of France And in the last place it was ordained That all the Prelats should sign the Decrees before their departure upon pain of Excommunication for execution whereof a form of Congregation being appointed the Hands or subscriptions consisted of four Legats two Cardinals three Patriarchs twenty five Arch-Bishops two hundred sixty eight Bishops seven Abbots thirty nine Procurators or Substitutes in behalf of such as were absent and seven Generals of the Religious Orders the subscriptions of the Ambassadours were not required to avoid the late Contestations and Disputes about place And yet notwithstanding this number of Bishops there was not one of Germany present in the last Convocation which was far the most numerous and solemn of any for Hungary or Poland there were very few Bishops present there appeared not one for Sweden Denmark England or the Low-Countries The Bishops of France which came onely towards the latter end being joyned with the Bishops of Spain could not in all make above the number of forty so that of the two hundred and odd Bishops of which this Council was composed there was at least one hundred and fifty of them Italians who were Creatures and Pensioners of the Pope For which reason this Assembly was justly termed the Council of the Pope and his Italians The Council being in this manner broken up every one returned to his home and Country and all things being concluded to the satisfaction of the Pope caused great joy in the Court of Rome where the Legats and the other Favourers thereof were received and welcomed with applause and commendations and the Pope to gratifie his Friends who had taken such pains and served so well in this important Affair promoted nineteen of them to the Dignity of Cardinals and amongst the rest the Arch-Bishop of Taranto was in a singular manner remembred and gratified Nor had the Pope so much taken up his thoughts with the Council but that being transported with a spirit of munificence and Building he could attend to raise and continue his Name by mighty and Excellent Structures and figuring to himself a model of the antient Rome as if he intended to have restored it to its antique glory he commanded the antient Monuments to be conserved the Streets restored and at his great expence the Aqueducts which brought the Water from distant places to the City to be again repaired It was this Pope who re-built the Baths of Diocletian upon Mount Quirinus converting them into a Church and to a Monastery which he personally consecrated He fortified the Castle of St. Angelo and repaired the ruins of the Castle of Civita Vecchia and made many other Structures for convenience and Ornament of the City Whilest he was intent upon these Affairs a certain number of Villains designed to have murthered him and to have perpetrated this wickedness at the time when he was busied in reading a Paper which they were to consign into his hand the Person who was to deliver him the Writing was one Acolti and the Contents or substance thereof was a persuasion to resign up his Papal Authority into the hands of such a Person whom they should describe to him for they pretended to have received a Revelation and seen a Vision that the Successour to this Pope should be of an Angelical Spirit elected by the common consent of all Christendom that he should become the Universal Monarch of all the World reform the Manners of Mankind teach them to live up to the perfection of humane Life and in short convert all People and Nations to the Christian Faith Acolti having delivered his Paper and being about to strike the fatal blow his heart failed him upon which one of the Assassinates discovering the Conspiracy they were all seized and justly executed with such torments as the blackness of the Crime deserved Not long after this being on the 10th of December 1565. the Pope died having governed five years eleven months and a half he had during his time created forty five Cardinals some out of favour to Princes and others in reward of their own worth and merit and had he lived his intention was to have made up his number a full hundred so that they might have been called Centum Patres But he died in the 77th year of his age and his body was buried in the Baths of Diocletian lately converted into a Church by him and called Sancta Maria Angelorum And the Sea was vacant twenty nine days PIVS V. PIVS the Fourth being dead and his funeral Rites after the accustomed manner being performed the Cardinals entered the Conclave to the number of fifty two and by common consent with the concurrence of Cardinal Borromeus afterwards canonized for a Saint and of Cardinal Farnese the two leading Men at that time elected Anthony Ghisler to the Succession in the Papal Chair This Anthony Ghisler so called by Papyrius Massonius but by Cicarella named Michael was born of mean and ordinary Parents at a Town called Boschi not far from Alexandria della paglia which lies between Montferrat and the State of Milan he was entered into the Order of Jacobin Friers at the age of fourteen years and then changed his name to Michael he was ordained Priest at Genua and proved a most strenuous Preacher and Master of a most powerful and moving Eloquence he was afterwards constituted Prior of his Convent of Vigevani and Commissary
impartial and severe Administration of Justice but uttered his words with such vehemence of speech that they seemed rather like Menaces than gentle Exhortations concluding at their dismission with these words Non veni pacem mittere sed gladium I came not to bring Peace into the World but a Sword The reception he gave to Ambassadours and forein Ministers as also to Princes and great Lords of Rome was with a cheerful Aspect and Countenance but their Audience was but short excusing himself that the first days of his Pontificate were taken up with so much solid business that he had not leisure to bestow much time on superficial Complements Howsoever he shewed himself more benign and obliging to the Ambassadours from Japon who as we have said arrived in the latter days of Pope Gregory late deceased and to whom Sixtus was very ambitious to shew the glory of his Coronation which being now preparing with great pomp and magnificence he was desirous to have the report of his State and Grandeur extend to the remote confines of the World And now Sixtus being seated in his Chair he was affected with the same desire which commonly possessed the mind of Popes of shewing his greatness and glory to his near Relations in compliance wherewith he gave orders for conducting his Sister Camilla with her Sons to Rome warning them beforehand that they should content themselves with that sober modesty which became the meanness of their birth and the gravity of those who were related to the Papal Chair where nothing but decency and awful reverence did reside But so soon as news came that the Lady Camilla was near the City the Cardinals Medici Este and Alessandrino intending to oblige the Pope went forth to meet her and having detained her at a Palace near adjoyning until she was dressed in the habit of a Princess they afterwards conducted her to Rome where the Pope expected her with great impatience but being presented before him in that garb and habit by Cardinal Alessandrino the Pope would not seem to know her saying where is my Sister Behold her quoth the Cardinal Most Holy Father here before you No replyed the Pope this cannot be she for I have but one Sister and she a poor Country Woman living in a Cottage but this wherewith you present me here is a Princess of Rome when I see her in such a homely and Country habit as I left her in I shall then own her and ackowledg her for my Sister The next day Camilla returned to him again in her own simple and Country habit accompanied onely with her Daughter and the two Sons from that Daughter and then when he saw her he tenderly embraced her and said This indeed is my Sister we now acknowledg you in this habit and none shall make you a Princess but my self for his humour was to be obliged by none nor would he have his Cardinals to boast and glory in a report of having clothed and adorned his Sister and setting her up in the garb and state of a Princess The first of May was now come which was the day appointed for his Coronation which was performed with all the solemnity and pomp that could be contrived After which he proclaimed that publick Prayers should be made that God would be pleased to illuminate his Vice-gerent here on Earth with Grace and Wisdom sufficient to govern the vast extent of his Universal Church granting to such as were devout Supplicants in his behalf Indulgences and Pardons in a most ample manner Which being performed he armed his mind with such constancy and resolution in the administration of Justice as seemed to surpass the usual severity of former Popes and for the first Assay and proof thereof he caused four Men to be hanged for carrying prohibited Arms notwithstanding the great Intercessions and Interest which particular Friends made in their behalf The which piece of Justice was most seasonable in those days considering the insolence of the Banditi or banished Men who in the late times of Gregory did so infest all parts of Italy that neither the City nor Country could secure the Estates or Lives of honest Men from their rapine and violence Nor was he rigorous onely in his own proceedings but required the like severity in all the Officers and Ministers of Justice that acted under him so that if he observed any of his Judges either remiss in their duty gentle or inclinable to mercy or moderation in what the Law inflicted he would presently discharge them from their Office and place others more severe and morose and in case he observed any of a Saturnine tetrical aspect he would presently enquire after him and having received any tolerable character of his condition he would esteem him a Man sit for his turn and prefer him before a mild and gentle temper which he thought very disagreeable to the constitution of Magistracy As to his Politicks he thought Intelligence to be the life of Government and therefore would have Spies over every Cardinal to watch his most private actions that nothing was either said at his Table or whispered in his Bed-chamber but what was reported to the Pope He appointed also Spies over the Princes and Barons of Rome and over the Prelats of the Court who observed their actions and remarked their Discourses others also crept into Shops and insinuated themselves among the vulgar at publick Meetings others had a Station allotted in the Monasteries that the very Secrets of the Cells were discovered the like course was taken in all Towns and Cities of Italy and with such secrecy was every thing managed that one Spy was not acquainted with the walks nor business of the other To all the Nuntios and Inter-Nuntios residing in the Courts of forein Princes it was ever an Instruction the most warmly recommended of any to be diligent in their Advices and not to content themselves with the common reports of the Town but to penetrate into the secrets and Cabinets of Princes to which end no Mony was spared which might corrupt the chief Ministers and Secretaries of Councils He ordained certain Visitors to review all criminal Cases which for the space of ten years past had been recorded in any Court within the Ecclesiastical State with power to reverse the same and proceed against the Offender in case the Sentence upon due examination should be found remiss or moderated below that rigour which the Law required In prosecution of which many who were already dead were mulct or fined in the Patrimony they had left others who for the space of four or five years past had been released from Prison either by the Intercession of Friends or by Bribery or by other indirect means were remanded back again until the extream rigour of the Law was satisfied He farther issued out Warrants of discovery of all Thefts and Robberies committed charging the people upon pain of Excommunication to reveal and inform every matter of bribery corruption or misbehaviour
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
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
convenient to erect more a license to build was not onely granted but contributions made thereunto by the publick liberality and munificence so when it was necessary to set bounds and limits thereunto this Senate made use of their own Power alone without any diminution to the Canons of the Church And whereas the Pope hath a Power to restrain the Clergy from alienating their Lands and Estates to the Laiety without his consent and dispensation so also hath the temporal Prince the like Authority to forbid and inhibit all Lay-persons from making alienation of their Estates unto the Church Nor do Ecclesiastical persons lose any thing by this restriction but rather procure a benefit for when the temporal Power is weakned by such alienation this State which is the Bulwark of Christendom will not be able to withstand the common Enemy nor afford due protection either to the Clergy or Laiety And therefore the Senate doth not believe that they have incurred the Ecclesiastical Censure considering that Secular Princes have received that Power from God of making Laws which no other humane Authority is able to take from them and much less have the Briefs of your Holiness any place or prevalence in matters purely temporal which are clearly distinct from those which are spiritual to which the Papal Power doth singly extend Nor can this Senate imagine that your Holiness who is full of Piety and Religion will persist in these your Comminations until the cause hath first been fully examined and discussed And thus much they thought fit in short to make known unto your Holiness referring all things to be treated and explained more at large by their Ambassadour Extraordinary These Letters of the Senate being arrived at Rome were presented to the Pope by the hands of the Ambassadour who immediately opened and read them but the Contents so little pleased him that he was angry and froward all the time that they were in reading and in fine he told the Ambassadour that those Letters were no Answer to his Admonitory Briefs that the Answer was frivolous and insignificant that the matter was clear and evident on his side and that therefore he was resolved to proceed unto Sentence that the Senate must resolve to submit and obey for his cause was the cause of God Et Portae Inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam If the Monks of Padoua had purchased more Lands than were requisite or consistent with the welfare of the State upon address made to him he could have applyed a Remedy but the Senate proceeding in another manner were Tyrants Usurpers and Men of Principles different from their Ancestours wherefore he exhorted them not to deceive themselves with the thoughts of protracting the time in hopes of deciding the Dispute by his death for that in case he received not satisfaction therein in the space of fifteen days he would then proceed to execution of his Sentence The fifteen days were scarce expired when the Ambassadour Nani acquainted the Pope that Duodo was dispatched from Venice in quality of Ambassadour Extraordinary to inform his Holiness more amply of all matters to which the Pope replied that there was no need of farther expostulations the matter was clear and he would be obeyed But notwithstanding the Pope's hast time was protracted till towards the end of March when Duodo the Ambassadour Extraordinary arrived at Rome to whom the Pope would not have patience to grant all the methods of Complements but immediately at his arrival admitted him to Audience when the Ambassadour largely discoursing on every point in Controversie concluded that the Senate could not yield to the Demands of his Holiness without betraying that Power which God had put into their hands But the Pope making no reply to the Arguments in particular adhered close to the Conclusion that Ecclesiastical persons were exempted Jure Divino from the Secular Dominion that he had heard enough from Nani of this kind of reasoning that the Cause was God's and must prevail This resolution of the Pope being made known at Venice the Senate thought fit to communicate these their differences to the Ministers of forein Princes desiring their Opinions on those Points From which the Spanish Ambassadour excused him not desiring to concern his Master in those matters which might yield the least displeasure to the Pope but the Imperial and French Ambassadours were much more frank and open in their Opinions for the first did allow and approve the reasons of the Senate alledging the Customs of his own Country the French Comte where the same things were practised and Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour declared that he could not understand those Papal Laws which deny unto Princes the Government of their own State and therefore the Republick was much to be commended for preferring their liberty before any other respect At Rome the Cardinals of Verona and Vicenza used all the Interest and persuasions they were able to induce the Pope to defer the promulgation of his Sentence for some time putting him in mind that the Spiritual Arms were not to be exercised but in cases where they were sure to prevail Then said the Pope I shall make use of the Temporal and in the mean time to manifest to the World my patience and tenderness towards them I shall grant them the term of twenty four days to consider and repent and accordingly having formed and printed his Monitory on the 17th of April he caused it to be read and published in the Consistory After which he added That he had greatly studied this Point and having consulted with the most famous Canonists the general Opinion of them all was that the Republick acted contrary to the Authority of the Apostolick Sea and against the liberties and immunities of the Church alledging in his favour the Council of Simmaco and of Lions under Pope Gregory with other Decrees made by the Councils of Constance and Basil and that the same was so declared in the case against Henry II. against the Kings of Castile and other Kings and caused a Constitution made by Innocent III. to be read and to proceed the more regularly in this important matter the Votes of the Cardinals were distinctly required the number of Cardinals then present in the Consistory were forty one all which did either in few words assent or more at large produce the Authority of the Canonists in confirmation of the Pope's reasons And indeed little less than this free concurrence could be expected from them for though some few out of a zeal towards the Ecclesiastical liberty might really be possessed with this Opinion yet the generality were guided by other Principles some perhaps were unwilling to displease the Pope in expectation of preferments of themselves or Friends others had a prospect of arising to the Popedom and for that cause were willing to exalt its Power every one had some consideration or other for his own benefit but not such consideration as was required in study of the
secrecy on which the King might with confidence establish this his promise and assurance On this last Point the Cardinal insisted with more than ordinary pressures declaring that the season of the year which was now only proper for Consultations and Treaties was but short and that the time of War and action approached and therefore it was necessary to come to a determination and that the Senate would more especially declare themselves concerning the Laws for as the King did not desire nor approve that any Decree or Law should be made and recorded for suspension of these Laws nor any other thing which might prejudice the dignity of the State and the publick Liberty so he also did consider That as the Pope had passed these Censures openly and in the sight of the World so he could not take them off without some apparent reasons and causes which might salve his reputation and his honour And because the King his Master did well know that the Republick was extreamly averse to such suspension he was willing to touch that Point very tenderly and ease them therein by taking the whole burden on his own shoulders giving his word to the Pope that those Laws should be suspended during this Treaty without any Decree or Declaration on part of the Republick conditionally that as the Pope shall hereupon without farther delay take off the Censures so the Republick shall promise unto the King not to execute these Laws during the time of this Treaty the which being assented unto by the Senate he did not doubt but to give satisfaction unto the Pope and maintain and secure their Liberty and conclude all with a happy and blessed Peace As to that Article which concerned the Jesuits his Master's desire was that they should be restored it being an ordinary concession and grant in the conclusion of all Treaties that such as have been Parties Fomenters or Abettors on either side should be remitted and included in the Articles for that indeed it was not consistent with the honour of the Pope that those who had suffered for his Cause and for their Obedience to the Apostolical Sea should be excluded and suffer for the performance of their duty To this Speech of the Cardinal the Senate made this Answer That the expulsion of the Jesuits was resolved and decreed upon very sound and mature considerations and the Law against them so firmly established as could not be repealed and yet to salve the Pope's reputation herein all other Religious such as Friers and others who were Parties and Abettors of the Pope's Cause should be included and restored to their pristine state and condition but as to the Point of giving their word to the King for non-execution or suspension of the Laws during this Treaty they could not recede from the determination so often repeated which was That in the use of these Laws they will not depart from their antient Piety and Religion professed But the Cardinal insisted and desired to have had some thing more plain and agreeable to his Proposition but howsoever being well acquainted with the Pope's mind to agree almost on any terms he made this Reply to the Senate that though he expected to receive an Answer more satisfactory to his Demands yet considering that it was the King's pleasure that the Republick should have entire contentment he rested satisfied with this Answer which he desired might be kept as a Secret lest being divulged it might be interrupted by the contrivances of unquiet and malitious spirits Howsoever the Senate resolved to communicate all that passed to Don Francisco the Spanish Ambassadour who had offered a like Equivolent and having been to make the Cardinal a Visit had desired to joyn with him in this Negotiation which the Cardinal refusing Don Francisco was very urgent to know all particulars which the Senate very readily communicated to him Thus were the Treaties so far proceeded as administred great hopes of Peace had not the great preparations made for War by the Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan and the disturbances amongst the Grisons rendered all things cloudy and tending to a storm howsoever the Cardinal Joyeuse with such Answer and Proposals as he had obtained from the Senate resolved for Rome and accordingly departed from Venice on the 17th of March The Cardinal was no sooner departed but the Marquess de Castiglione arrived at Venice with Character of Ambassadour from the Emperor to the Pope And though the Duke of Savoy was employed for the Emperour and then resided at Venice in quality of his Ambassadour yet Castiglione had Orders in his way to stop there and encline the Senate as well as he was able towards a Peace but this Marquess could obtain nothing more than what was delivered to the Ministers of France and Spain of which the Ambassadour Don Francisco made collections in writing with the proceedings of all the Treaty Copies of which he sent with diligence to Rome and were not onely shewed to the Pope but dispersed through all the Court to the intent that it might be made known to the World that the French were not able to procure or gain other terms from the Senate than such as had been already granted to the Ministers of Spain and other Princes Of which the Senate having information thought fit for prevention of false Reports to send authentick Copies of all proceedings to their Ministers in forein Courts and particularly that of their last resolution The arrival of the Cardinal at Rome filled all the Town with Discourse every one speaking variously as his passion guided some being of Opinion that the matters were all concluded others of different sentiments believed that they were impossible and indeed the Pope himself being distracted by both sides remained unresolved for the space of three or four days during which time he confessed himself to have been as it were tormented on the wrack For he considered that to yield unto the Venetians almost in every Point was a scandalous diminution to the Papal Power and to abandon the Jesuits his faithful Officers was yet more hard and intolerable for if for two Clergymen onely there had been such a clutter how much more ought he to be concerned for a whole Order and for the conservation and re-establishment of his most beloved Emissaries But in regard the Venetians seemed resolute in that Point the Cardinal Perron persuaded the Pope to wave the Dispute lest when all other Points were agreed it should be said that the particular Cause of the Jesuits should become the Universal Concernment of the whole Church and that it was necessary in the first place to establish the Papal Authority in Venice before he could hope to gain admission for the Jesuits and that herein he would do well to follow the Example of Clement VIII who in a Controversie he had with France on the same Subject was contented to wave the Point concerning the restoration of the Jesuits and in the time obtained
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
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
give a Bull of Jus Patronatus Perpetui to the House of Este of the Abby of Pomposa and Bondeno to which the Popes shall never pretend Right or Title That the Cardinal Nephew shall be sent Legat into France where at his first publick Audience with the King he shall repeat these very words That his Holiness is extreamly sorry for the late barbarous outrage committed against the Person of the Duke of Crequi his Majesties Ambassadour in which matter he prays his Majesty to believe that neither he nor any of his Family was concerned or was culpable the truth of which he shall Attest unto his Majesty with all the assurances of respect and reverence for the Person of his Majesty That Cardinal Imperiale be dispeeded into France to justifie himself in regard his Majesty is pleased to grant him liberty so to do and will accept of his submission That his Holiness shall restore Cardinal Maldachino to his pristine State and condition and free him of all damage and interest and for better security shall send a Brief to the King of such Tenour That so soon as the Ratification of this Treaty shall arrive at Rome Don Mario shall immediately depart from thence and shall by a Writing under his hand and upon the faith of a Gentleman declare that he was no ways concerned in the late Riot of the Corsi the which shall be confirmed by a Brief of the Pope avouching and giving assurance of his innocence of that Fact And that he shall not return to Rome until such time that his justification being carried to the King by the hand of the Legate his Majesty shall declare his pleasure therein That Don Augustino shall upon approach of the Duke of Crequi to Rome go forth to meet him as far as St. Quirico in case he comes by way of Toscany if by Sea then he shall meet him at Civita-vecchia if by Romagna then at Narni and shall there make known to him the great trouble which the Pope hath conceived for the late accident That Donna Beronice and the Princess Farnese shall go and meet the Lady Ambassadress as far as Ponte Molle where they shall both testifie the extraordinary sorrow they conceived for the late misfortune which caused her departure and the joy they have for her return and happy understanding of all matters That his Holiness shall in a most effectual manner instruct his Ministers to make known unto the Ambassadour the high esteem he hath for a personage of his Quality who represents the Person of so great a King who is eldest Son of the Church That the Duke of Cesarini shall be restored to the possession and enjoyment of his Goods and Estate That the like shall be observed and practised towards all Persons who have had any concernment in the late matter That the whole Nation of the Corsi shall be declared uncapable to serve not onely in Rome but in any other part of the Ecclesiastical State And that the Captain of the Guards in Rome shall be cashiered from his Office That a Pyramid shall be erected in Rome over against the place where the Corsi held their Corps of Guard with an Inscription declaring the Crime for which they were banished from the Ecclesiastical State That so soon as the Cardinal-Legat should arrive at Paris and the former particulars were accomplished that then the King would again restore Avignon to the Pope It being agreed that neither any of the Inhabitants Strangers or Sojourners there living shall be troubled or questioned for any thing they said or acted in in the revolt of that City which happened on the twentieth of August 1662. or for any thing which passed on this occasion from that time until the day that his Majesty restored it to the Pope These Particulars thus agreed and signed by the Plenipotentiaries were sent to Rome and Paris to be ratified and confirmed and in the mean time the Pope laboured to excuse the banishment of Don Mario and the sending of Cardinal Chigi in quality of his Legat into France but neither the one nor the other would be dispensed with Wherefore Don Mario retired to Sora in the Kingdom of Naples and Cardinal Chigi began his Journey with a noble Equipage and Attendance of Prelates and Gentlemen amongst which was Monsignor Colonna appointed to reside at Avignon in quality of Legat for the Pope The Cardinal being entered into France was received in all places with great honour and splendid entertainment and being conducted to Fontainbleau where the Court then resided he had his first Audience with the King all things passing to the mutual satisfaction of both Parties Some days after Cardinal Imperiale arrived at Paris to accomplish another Article of the Treaty where having justified himself according to agreement the King accepted his submission and returned him with testimonials signifying the entire satisfaction he received by his Address The other Points in the Articles being to be executed at Rome by the Duke of Crequi the Cardinals d' Este and Maldachino arrived there and were received by the Pope and the Court according to the formalities agreed And the Duke being likewise mollified by the Addresses which the Queen of Sweden made to him as also by the Application made to him by the Cardinals Corrado and Azzolino who always spake loud and boldly against the French all Animosities were appeased and these troubles ended which had administred great vexation and unquietness to the spirit of the Pope during three years that they had continued The Controversies of France being thus happily composed Don Mario had licence to return again to Rome and the Pope had time to inspect the turbulencies in Spain which were growing into dangerous consequences upon Disputes raised concerning the Immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin The Dominicans violently maintained the contrary Tenent in opposition to the Jesuits in which the Disciples of both sides became so concerned that what could not be determined by a Moderator in the Schools was in danger to be decided in the Fields or Streets by the Sword To prevent which the King sent the Bishop of Piacenza to the Pope desiring his Sentence and determination of the question as being the Oracle to whom they were to have recourse for solution in all difficulties of this nature The Pope who was a great Favourer of the Jesuits and their Doctrines consulted the question with such who were inclined to that Opinion and after some days consideration he determined for the Immaculate Conception which though he would not enter or enumerate amongst the Doctrines of Faith yet he published a Bull denouncing several Penalties and Censures against those who should either publickly or privately maintain the contrary And in the same year he canonized Francis Sales Bishop and Prince of Geneva who by his Treatise called an Introduction to a Holy Life hath given sufficient testimony of a devout and spiritual Soul This year also the Sorbonists at Paris undertook to