affect new names and titles But Vrban thought it was not enough to give the power except he gave with it the vanity and appearance of honour therefore his Nephew Francesco to be Cardinal Padroen that is Cardinal Master and Lord a title never heard of before in Rome for the Popes his Predecessors when they spoke of their Nephewes would say for example the Cardinal Ludovisio our Nephew the Cardinal Borghese our Nephew but Vrban from morning to evening had nothing in his mouth but the Cardinal Padrone as call the Cardinal Padrone where is the Cardinal Padrone spake to the Cardinal Padrone c. so that nothing was heard up and down but Cardinal Padrone to the astonishment of the Embassadours of Christian Princes who thought themselves honoured enough to call themselves the Popes Sons and own him as Father while he in the presence of their Embassadours gives the title of Padrone to his Nephew nay in the presence of some Princes themselves he used this Title as it happened to the Duke of Parma which occurrence as memorable I shall here relate Odoardo Farneze Duke of Parma was come in the year 1626 into his little state of Caprarola for the giving of some Orders which requir'd his presence there he received an invitation by a letter from the Popâ— brought by Monsignor Fausto the Popes Steward who waited upon him with the Popes Coaches The Dukes intention was not â—o go to Rome not that he had any aversion to the 〈◊〉 but because that he was well informed 〈…〉 â—â—eacherous proceedings of the Barbarines to 〈◊〉 â—any Princes and particularly towards himseâ—â— Nevertheless for fear least a denial should be interpreted as a disrespect to the Popes 〈◊〉 particularly having been once before as 〈◊〉 the Gates of Rome without going into the City and seeing himself so fairly invited he resolved to go as he was in the habit of a Travellor and with a slender Court The Pope indeed received him with all demonstrations of kindness but the Barbarines using their wonted dissimulation after they had given him some publike signes of respect and civility did likewise afford him some occasion of complaint of which the Duke being much offended thought he could do no less then signifie it to the Pope at his departure and complain of the proceedings of the Cardinal Padrone towards a Prince of his quality but he did not give him the Title of Padrone but only of Cardinal Barbarino The Pope was displeased to see the Duke thus 〈…〉 went about to appease him but in 〈…〉 having said that he knew that the 〈…〉 had a very great esteem for his 〈◊〉 the Duke interrupted him and said Most 〈…〉 for my part I know no other Padrone 〈◊〉 your Holiness This answer was quick and biting having been made to the Pope himself who thereby saw his Title of Padrone laughed at and indeed the Duke had a great deal of reason to mortifie thus the Barbarines who pretended to treat him more like their subject then like a Prince But the Barbarines ambition stayed not in the Title of Cardinal Padrone they took exceptions against the quality of Illustrissime with which hitherto the Cardinals had been content for so many Ages but pretending higher strove to find out some terme that should not be inferiour to the Title of excellency which Soveraign Princes in Italy and other places did then take This important point was often discussed and canvassed by Vrban and the Barbarines and more then four or five singular Titles came into their fancies at last they pitched upon the word Eâ—â—nency which in effect he gave to the Câ—â—dinals not so much for their sake as for his Nephews The Princes no sooner heard of it but that they might be even with him they took the Title of Highness the Barbarines remaining much mortifyed at it But the best of it was that at first Vrban had no mind that any of the Cardinals should use the Title of Eminency except thâ—se of his family but afterwards foreseeing that the world would laugh at him he made his decree general â—or all the Cardinals All this while it seemed as if the Barbarines had chained good fortune to their desires all things succeeding according to their wishes and indeed they were become so high in their commands that they despised every body and could hardly brook that any Crown in Europe should oppose or not condescend to the satisfying of their insatiable inclinations Never Prince was more absolute in a conquest then the Barbarines were in their administration of the Church and City of Rome they laughed at any body let those that would talke and prate but nothing but derision and scorn was the share of those that went about to contradict them 'T is true they had the good fortune to meet with little or no opposition for in the whole consistory of the Cardinals there were but five who were not their Creatures viz. Medici Savelli Carassâ— Lauâ—i and Capponial creatures of Paul the fifth and these too being of a quiet spirit and not undertaking durst never oppose them stifly The others who had been made Cardinals by them did nothing but subscribe to the Barbarines pleasure whatever it was so they lorded it over the Church and State nay over all Christendome as absolute Monarchs of the World This uncontrouled power having lasted three and twenty years Vrban their Uncle died leaving the Church in disorder the State in debt and his family in possession of such â—aâ—â—â—iches that even the Stewards that managed them could hardâ—y believe the truth of their accounts Two hundred and seven and twenty Governments Dignities Offices Abbies and Benefices of the richest sort were then in the family of the Barbarines the Revenue of which was so great that I believe the Barbarines never computed it though they receiv'd it The Catholick King who is master of so many Provinces and who takes a pride in filling whole sheets of Paper with his Titles could not produce halfe so many as the Barbarines could have done after the death of their Uncle As for summes of ready mony it is not to be imagined how great they are that they have 'T is believed that Cardinal Francesco alone hath under ground above two millions of Crowns in Gold Besides what the Cardinal Antonio hath hidden and spent in his long Exile And besides what Don Tadeo sent to Palestrina to be buried in a new vault under ground and it is very certain that about two months before Vrban dyed there were met in two nights above threescore and ten Mules loaden with mony going to Palestrina where Don Tadeo was to receive them But we have another argument of the Barbarines prodigious riches For if Sixtus the Fifth in five years time could spend five Millions of Crowns in buildings and founding of Colledges and leave five millions more to the Church and yet give away three Millions at least to his kindred And if Gregory the
Popes friendship whom they esteemed as one of the powerfullest Princes of Italy and for his greatness desired his Amity their maxime being to make alliances with the most potent Princes of the World they thought they could not better address themselves then to him whom all the other Chriâ—stian Princes did adore and reverence as theiâ— head The Hereticks destroy all this being neither disposed to acknowledg the Pope as a temporal Prince nor as a spiritual Pastor so that with them Popedome Principality Religion Civil Government all goes down when they speak of the Pope Nay I know a Gentleman of that Religion who can by no means be perswaded that the Pope is master of Rome and Prince of the Ecclesiastick State though all the Princes of the world acknowledg him to be so and for all this the Protestant Gentleman cannot be brought to believe it but stands firme upon the Negative Of the same humour was a great Lord in Spain who could never be convinced that Henry the fourth was King of France though he knew that his own King did acknowledge him for such and had sent an Embassadour to him that all differences upon that subject were lay'd and that all the Crowns in Europe did own him to be lawful King And yet for all this the good Don could never believe that which all the world was sure of and he died in this incredulous humour Now as for the murmurs that the Gentiles the Hereticks and the Catholicks have against Rome there is this difference between them The Heathens murmure upon what they hear the Hereticks against those things that they do not believe and the Catholicks against those things they see and certainly of them all the Catholicks murmurs are the worst for the eyes being as it were the treasurers of the heart do furnish it so abundantly with the impressions which they receive that it never is dispossessed of them afterwards the Proverb being very true which sayes That in vain we fly from that which we carry in our hearts Therefore the Catholicks murmuring boldly because they see the abuses of Rome are much more believed then the others But indeed to speak truth if we ballance the reasons that these three sorts of persons have to talke disadvantagiously of Rome we shall find that the Hereticks have the greatest and most weighty arguments of their discontent But before I prove this it is necessary to give notice that I make a distinction betwixt Hereticks and Protestants though the Church of Rome does confound both these denominations for they are Hereticks who deny the true Religion for a false one which they set up without any foundation of reason thinking that their own opinion is enough The Protestants are those that abhorre innovations and do tie themselves to the sense of the Holy Scripture denying every thing they find not in those Sacred Records and for my part I intend to speak only of the Protestants not of the Hereticks Let us return to our subject and saâ— that the Popes do neither good nor harme to the Heathens to the Catholicks they do both good and evil and to the Protestants alwayes ill and never good Looking upon the Heathens as â—eaterâ— upon the Catholicks as their friends and upon the Prâ—tâ—stants as their greatest enemies From thence it proceeds that the Catholicks are more scandalized at the Popes errours for they being friends are admitted to dive into the bottom of the disorders The Protestants seeing that the Popes do not only suspect them but openly profess enmity with them do busie all their industry in penetrating into those hidden mysteries of the Court of Rome that they may not be surprised but have wherewith to defend themselves in their disputes and therefore that which they report of the Court of Rome is most ordinarily true The Heathens let Rome alone as long as Rome lets them alone and they talke according to the informations they receive from Catholicks and Protestants Whosoever therefore intends to draw a quintessence of truth out of so many different relations must not give credit only to what the Catholicks say for they being friends and dependants of the Pope cannot do less for their own reputation as well as for his then to hide the abuses and palliate the disorders of his Court neither ought he to take his informations from the Protestants alone because they being prepossessed with an aversion to the Pope cannot chuse but be blinded by their pre-occupation and say more then is true in discredit of the proceedings of his Court. The method of History would require a strict examination of the relations of both parties in matter of fact and a ballance of their opinions in matter of policy and upon so mature a discussion it were fit to frame the body of the History and found the maximes of policy for the History would then â—e true and the maximes certain This hath alwayes been my way of writing insomuch that many both Protestants and Catholicks have not been able to distinguish my Religion in my works nor know whether the Author were Protestant or Catholick and this because of the sincerity with which I praise in both parties that which deserves commendation and blame vice let it be where it will and in what place and person soever But to say true this present age hath so corrupted and perverted the art of writing that some write only to flatter and others to satyrize and there is no ingenious Catholick but must confess that there are publish'd every day more Libels by the Catholicks against Rome then Satyres by the Protestants against the Popes therefore now adayes the wiser sort of men give more credit to a Protestants relation then to a Catholicks meeting with less passion in the first then in the last against the Popes and Rome I have been a great while in Protestant Countries and have likewise made no small stay in Rome where I have heard a thousand and a thousand times both Romans and Protestants discourse of the Popes Nephews and their actions but I must confess that in Geneva it self I never heard any discourse so full of liberty nor so satyrical as those which the Romans nay the Prelates themselves have vented in my presence concerning the Popes and the Ecclesiastick authority Nay I 'le say more and it is a thing I am very sure of having heard it often said by persons of great understanding the Protestant Gentlemen that travel to Rome are much more scandalized at the Romans proceedings towards the Popes then the Catholick Gentlemen who travel in Protestant Countries are to hear the Pope defam'd and ill spoken of amongst them The Protestants when they talk with Catholicks because they cannot reasonably expect to be believed do conceal the greatest part of the imperfections of the Popes kindred but the Catholicks say a great deal more then becomes them thinking thereby to show their aversion to vice More then all this I say that of all that
so allyed to his Holiness but did desire to see Don Agostino better provided for and in possession of some eminent rank in the world that his neece might still maintain the degree of Princess she had already Upon this the Pope did every day straine himself to make his Nephew appear greater and greater giving places of great profit and honour and endeavouring to buy him a Principality which at last he effected and though it were some disgust to him to see the Prince stand thus upon his termes and make no other account of the honour of his Alliance yet seeing that there was not in Rome such another match to be found out he did continually keep some Irons in the fire Above all others Father Palavicinio a Jesuite did bestir himself in it and as he was one day pressing the Prince who told him that Don Agostino was not yet sufficiently provided for he answer'd If the Pope should dye to day Don Agostino would have ready money enough to buy ten Principalities While things were thus treating the Prince Borghese Tutour to the young Lady died suddenly so that she fell into the Tutelage of the Princess her Grandmother a Lady of incomparable Piety and one who shames by her good life even the Nuns themselves she does so much outdoe them The Princess of Rossano is her Daughter and Mother to the young Lady and she to get the Popes favour and have some part in the Vatican which she hath alwayes been ambitious of accepted the Propositions and contributed much to the Conclusion of the Match which was almost broke off in which Don Agostino hath a great deal of reason to be happy having a lovely handsome Lady with two hundred thousand Crowns to her portion The Pope was transported with joy and being naturally vâ—â—y generous he resolv'd that the wedding should be kept with all the magnificence imaginable having assigned to Don Agostino a hundred thousand Crowns for the expences of it which he accordingly layed out most nobly Besides this summe which was spent in Bals Feastings and Banquets he presented the Bride with Diamonds Pearls and the Rose which every year is given to some Princess to the value of 20000 Crowns and yet in this very time the Catholick Religion was much endanger'd in Germany Don Agostino after his wedding was over beame so arrogant that not being able to contain his passion he was heard to say these words That he had a greater joy to have got the better of his Rival Colonna then to have obtain'd so great a Princess for Wife which coming to the Colonnesses Ears the Constable the Father made answer That his Son had reason to have desir'd the Princess because he had merit enough to obtain her but that Don Agostino was beholding to his Vncles authority without which he had never had her And indeed the young Colonna lost nothing by staying three or four year after he married Cardinal Mazarines Neece the Princess Maria Mancini a most accomplish'd Lady and one who brought him above a hundred thousand Crowns to her portion As for the third demonstration of the Popes love to Don Agostino it appear'd in the great ardour and desire he showed to make him a Prince 't is true that the articles of Marriage carried that out of the Ladies portion there should be bought a Principality as if Don Agostino had not so much deserv'd the Princess as the Popes Nephew as in the consideration of his being a Prince which was a little infamous to the Pope And yet for all this the Pope would not suffer that the Principality should be bought out of the Princesse's portion but with a new generosity gave to Don Agostino seventy thousand Crowns with which he bought the Principality of Farneze in the Patrimony of St. Peter and was declared Prince not only by the Pope but by the Emperour the said Principality being a fees of the Empire To these three effects of kindness adde the desire that the Pope hath to gather riches for Don Agostino for whom he knowes that none of the rest will provide and certainly you will conclude him to be a very loving Uncle The other two Nephews are as I have said Sons to one of the Popes sisters married in the Family of Bichi one of whom is Cardinal and Bishop of Osimo and the other Knight of Malta and General of the Popes Gallies The Cardinal at his first coming to Rome was not very acceptable to the Pope as well because he thought he had done enough in promoting him to the dignity of Cardinal as because he wanted capacity for any high employment 'T is true that he had not been long at Court but he began to lay aside a certain simplicity which seemed natural to him and with which he govern'd very well his Bishoprick and endeavour'd to learn the Arts of Government and Negotiation whereupon his Cozen Floro gave a good Character of him to the Pope not out of any design to oblige him but out of a lazy principle which made him glad to find out any body upon whom he might lay a part of his burden and this recommendation was not without good effects for Cardinal Bichi for since that time the Pope hath admitted him into divers particular Congregations and does make use of him in some occurrences but very seldome the said Cardinal being not in truth a man of any great wisdome The other Brother who is Prior of his Order and General of the Popes Galleys seems to be more favourably looked upon for the Pope often calls him to him and grants him many more favours then to the other This Gentleman hath got a great reputation in the World of a very ingenious person and well versed in all Sciences but for my part I could never find out the root whence did spring so much desert for he never did any thing in the world worthy an applause he hath been sent above four times with his Galleys to the help of the Venetians in Candia where he never did any thing like a Knight of Malta for he was alwayes afraid of fighting even when he was cover'd by the Venetian Galleys who alwayes were the first that engaged their lives and honour And all this proceeded because he did not trust his people that he had aboard and he did not trust them because he knew they had reason to hate him as having defrauded them of their pay for he did appropriate to himself most of that mony which the Pope allowed for the entertaining of his Soldiers and Stewes who never were worse provided for then under this Noble Gentlemans command But I think that it is the complements which the prior Bichi makes to every body that deceives them and they are so taken with his Civility as naturally the Romans are that they in revenge give him those qualities which he is far from possessing His intention is to be Cardinal whereupon every time he goes to see his brother he puts
forsook their Country and withdrew into Protestant Princes Territories where they might freely follow the Rites of their Religion Particularly they went to Geneva where great numbers resorted every day and above all many Lucheses of which some are now aggregated amongst the principal Families of that City This Pope though so zealous for the Church was nevertheless very Indulgent to his Family who did usurp a power and authority as prejudicial to the Church as it was offensive to Princes with whom the Borgheses as well as the Barberins would often enter into contest In the time of this Pope Italy had like to have seen sixteen Cities of it become Protestants as Monsieur De Lion the French King's Embassadour told the Pope and thus the occasion was Paul and his Kindred for I know not what reasons did bear a secret grudge to the State of Venice and did wait for nothing more than for some occasion of shewing their spleen and it falling out that the State of Venice according to their ancient Form of Government did put some Church-men in Prison the Pope upon the notice of it excommunicated not only the Senate but the whole Nation of the Venetians as if they had been guilty of their Magistrates fault But these wise Senators were not so easily daunted but resolving either to preserve their power and authority within their Government or to hazard the ruine of it set some of their Divines on work to write against the Pope's authority and his Excommunication which writings did then and have since produced so great an effect in the minds of most men that now there is not any little Prince of Italy that cares for the Popes Excommunication as it has been clearly seen by the examples of the Duke of Parma the Commonwealth of Lucca the Duke Charles of Lorain and many others The constancy of the Venetians was invincible in this occasion and so great that they sent the Pope word That if he did not recall his Excommunication they would provide for their own preservation by such remedies as should become the dignity of their State and its ancient Majesty And that they might the sooner bring the Pope to their desires they politickly sent to Geneva to require that City to send them some of their most able Ministers to instruct them in the Protestant Religion This Artifice having frighted the Pope into a condescendency he was fain to come to an agreement very disadvantageous for the honour of the Sea of Rome If this Pope had not been so unjustly severe towards the State of Venice he would have left a much better name behind him For to say truth he did the Church much more good than evil but it was and will be a great spot to his reputation to have gone about to undo the Bulwark of Christendom for such has the State of Venice alwaies been reputed We must be forced to skip Leo the eleventh for his short life gave him no time to do good and hindred him from doing any harm to the Church and come to Clement the eighth who was a Pope that lived both with his Kindred and for them a good while Christendom was involved in great troubles when he came to the Pontificate there being nothing but Wars and Divisions The Turks did assault Germany and the Protestants did torment the rest of the Catholick Princes besides that the banish'd Criminals of the Kingdom of Naples had made themselves Masters of a great part of it and spread themselves over all the Country The Pope's main end amongst all these disorders was first to provide for his Kindred and that care took up so much of his time and treasure that he was not in a condition to succour those Princes that were fighting for the defence of that Religion of which he was the Head In the mean time the Spaniards who had a mind to hinder Henry King of Navar from possessing the Crown of France which he was lawful Heir of foreseeing that of themselves they would not be able to resist Henry's Right nor hold out against so generous and warlike a Prince they did their utmost Endeavours to get the Pope on their side and declare against the King of Navar as against an Heretick and by consequent incapable of receiving the Crown At first the Pope refused to engage openly in a business which would be necessarily expensive and troublesom and therefore for a while he let the Spaniards alone hoping that of themselves they would be strong enough to effect the Work without him But they having perceived his intention soon made a breach in it by the means of the Nipotismo which they gained and at whose perswasion the Pope sent an Army under the Conduct of Appio Conti who was kill'd in an Encounter by some of Henry's Forces The Catholick Princes of the Realm of France who were on Henry's side together with the greatest part of the Nation sent upon this the Marquis of Pisani to Rome to desire the Pope to recall his Army and not to oppose a Prince who had promised to be instructed in the Catholick Religion But the Pope not only refused their Request but would not so much as endure that the Marquis should set his foot in any part of the State of the Church Things being in this posture Henry at last resolved to dash all his Adversaries Machines to pieces at one blow and therefore he solemnly renounced his Heresie and was reconciled to the Church So in spite of the Pope and the Spaniards he obtained a Crown which could never have encompassed a more worthy Head than his After this the Pope's Army was fain to retire having done little or nothing The same hapned in Flanders whither he sent another Army to help the Spaniards against the Vnited Provinces who since the death of the Duke of Parma had obtained many Victories but it was with as little success as the first So that the Pope weary of spending the Treasure of the Church to no purpose commanded his Forces home leaving the Spaniards to look after their own Affairs The Expences of this Pope were exorbitant for he did undertake every thing rashly and more out of Capriccio than ripe judgment and deliberation So that he undoubtedly did the Church more hurt than good There is little to be said of Innocent the Ninth Gregory the Fourteenth and Urban the Seventh for the greatest mischief they did the Church was that they liv'd so little We will therefore come to Sixtus the Fifth The Nipotismo of this Pope was one of the most innocent ones that ever was seen for he hindred them from taking any part in the Government So that they were in the Court like Beggars at a Church door of whom few People take notice Not that he was so severe as to hinder them from a share in his Fortune for he did bestow large Revenues upon them all observing nevertheless to refuse always every thing that they begg'd and to give them when
scandals which are so dayly multiply'd in Rome and the whole State by this practice of advancing Nephews But since the death of that Pope so well dispos'd to do good there have succeeded in the Papacy a multitude of Wretches inclin'd to nothing but to do mischief and to avert whatever good might accidentally come to pass The chief mischief I find in the Papacy is that the unworthy examples of so many Popes addicted to do hurt to the Church far exceeds the good example of Innocent who hath had few or none like himself in constant seeking good and averting evil not only from Rome but also from all Christendom In this present Age Popes strike in with the most and relinquish the fewest that is they follow evil because many have follow'd it and they despise good because they see it embrac'd by few accounting it better to hazard their lives amongst a herd of Wolves than to be secure in the company of Sheep Greater mischief could not befall the Church than that which hath befaln it through the strange changes either of the Nature or Disposition of the Successors of Innocent the eighth to the admiration of all but the Popes themselves who never wonder at any thing conceiving that they have authority sufficient to sanctifie wicked actions Now to make a little comparison between the actions of Innocent the eighth with those of Urban the eighth Innocent the tenth and Alexander the seventh the three last Popes it appears that these latter were wholly bent upon sumptuous Buildings beautifying of Altars repairing of Walls and other external Ornaments whereas Innocent on the contrary slighted all Pomps and Magnificences seeking only the substantial and internal good of the Church The former plotted from morning to night how to sow division amongst Princes but Innocent spent all his nights in considering how to unite all States and Kingdoms for the common benefit of Christendom Nor is there much need to believe that the Popes who shall succeed Alexander will be apt to imitate Innocent the eighth For in the whole Colledge of Cardinals 't is not possible to find even but one of the like disposition and I am confident there may be found above fifty of the humour of Urban and above as many more of that of Innocent the tenth as also no less number of that of Alexander the seventh although there be not in all much above threescore Cardinals They would think it a sin to imitate good Examples for this reason if for no other that they have seen the same imitated by few And the truth is good examples are so scarce that the Popes have not had these forty years time to seek them the same being in a manner hid from their eyes and strangers to the City of Rome from whence goodness seems utterly banish'd and wickedness recall'd thither with promise of great rewards Great Volumes might be filled with the History of Sixtus the fourth who was the man that first made his Nephews absolute Lords of the Church If I should set down all the good and evil committed by the said Pope during his Reign But it would be superfluous since all the Church receiv'd by that Pope's actions is summarily contain'd in the Introduction and Advancement of his Nephews A thing extremely scandalous to all Ages and withal so mischievous that 't is impossible ever to be laid aside in regard the Romans themselves are so accustom'd to it being like Lepers that feel neither the Iron nor the fire which corrodes their bowels It comes here into my mind that travelling once from Rome to Loretto in the same Litter with a very aged Roman Gentleman I fell to discourse with him about sundry things pertaining to the Papal Government and particularly I had the curiosity to ask him How it could be consistent with the spirit of true Romans to suffer so patiently the Dominion of the Pope's Nephews who were so addicted to scrape up wealth affront most Princes overturn all things and tyrannise both in Temporals and Spirituals with an authority so absolute uncontroulable and even contrary to reason that their Government seems rather Turkish than Christian He answer'd me with a smile That the Romans were become callous that is insensible alluding to their spirits which alike endure all things from the hands of Nephews who by several waies tend to the destruction of whatever they meddle with God forgive that scandalous resolution of Sixtus the fourth to introduce I will not say the Nipotismo but the Insolence Vanity Ambition Avarice and the too great Liberty of the Nipotismo For the Church had formerly seen Pope's Nephews in the Vatican but not till then the Vices in their Nephews which peradventure if not without all peradventure were brought in by the aforesaid Pope by means of the conniv'd-at Liberty which he suffered his Relations to take and for that having no regard to the future but minding wholly the present he went in the direct road to the destruction both of Church and State This was that Pope who made war against the Colonneses quarrell'd the Venetians and committed several other exorbitances for no other reason but the sake of his Kindred who during his thirteen long years Popedom were never any one of them the Authors of least advantage to the Church but altogether addicted to spend and spoil to waste and poure out their Prodigalities at her cost More might be said but to what purpose is it to rub old sores whilst every day produces new and fresh occasions of grief and trouble Where are those Primitive times when the lives of the Ecclesiasticks were solely dedicated to the publick good and they possess'd nothing as their own but whatever was surplus to what was necessary to sustain Nature was all disposed of to the poor with so holy and overflowing Zeal from the true fountain of perfect Charity that it refresh'd even the very sight of the beholders One of the greatest evils which the Nipotismo hath constantly caus'd hath been their little regard to do good to the poor The Romans do and ever have observ'd and would to God they had not observ'd throughout all ages that the least charity is that which comes from the houses of the Pope's Nephews who themselves have nothing but what they receive as it were by a general Alms which is no sooner got into their clutches but it becomes transformed into hereditary Principalities and into a Revenue not temporal but perpetual and eternal But methinks they ought at least to cover these substantial wickednesses with an appearance of good by giving the poor the remains of their superfluities and not suffer them to clamour at their Palace doors from whence they are so often driven by the violence of their servants But the truth is the Romans give so little credit to the good they should do having been witnesses themselves to so much of their ill that it is not possible for them to believe that what they give in Alms
proceeds from a good and charitable heart but from hypocrisie and design If there was ever a charitable Cardinal in Rome certainly 't is Cardinal Francisco who is indeed the most Eleemosynary person in the world which I know as not only having seen his publick but his private Alms. And yet notwithstanding there is not a Roman but believes this to be a meer design to gain the hearts of those who may be able to advance him to the Papacy And to say the truth The principal vertue that shined in Alexander when he was Cardinal was the great charity he shewed to the poor giving them almost his whole Revenue which was mention'd in design of his advantage in the Conclave But he was no sooner chosen Pope but that humour left him and ever after he held for the height of Charity what he did to enrich his Kindred who were indifferently poor and stood in need enough of the Alms of the Vatican I conclude this Book with affirming that the mischiefs which the Nipotismo have occasion'd and still do continue to the Church are more easie to be seen with the Eye than writ with the Pen and therefore those who have been at Rome will have more satisfaction in the reading it than those to whom it will be very difficult to be believ'd nay even to be conceiv'd in their imagination Il Nipotismo di Roma OR THE HISTORY OF The Pope's NEPHEWS The Second Part. The THIRD BOOK The Contents OF the difficulty which the Ministers of Princes meet with in treating with the Nephews of the Pope Of those things that prevail most in the Nipotismo Of the Policy of the Church-men Of the way the Court of Rome useth to make others to conform to their designs What Graces are hard to be found in Rome Of what they ought to be provided of that would dispatch their business well with the Pope Of the Roman Climate subject to variation Of the causes why some Ministers lose themselves in Rome Of the manner how the Pope calls the Cardinals Of the Popes who understand not Court-affairs Of the Papacy of Gregory the fifteenth troublesome to those who were to negotiate with him Of some Ministers who play thsir State-affairs at hazard Of the Assembly of the Cardinals which serves the Pope for false pretext Of the intricacy that was found in the time of Urban the eighth Of the manner of the Pope's Negotiations with the Ministers of Princes Of Negotiations never to be concluded Of the Answer of Seigneur de Lion to his Friend Of the Policies of the Barbarini Of the disgust the Republick of Venice receiv'd from the Barbarini Of the dissatisfaction of the Lucheses the Crown of Poland and the Bollougneses Of the cheats put upon the two Crowns of Spain and France How the Barbarini serv'd the King of Portugal in reference to the Bishop of Lamego his Embassadour Of some Examples of the Contrivances of Pope Innocent Of the Duke of Parma's Army going into the Field Of the humour of Urban the eighth to deny favours to all Of the affronts which Princes do receive from the Court of Rome Of the nature of the Ecclesiasticks Of the Catholick Crown that admits in their State none but of the Roman Faith Of the damage the Spaniards receive by suffering themselves to be governed by the Court of Rome Of the displeasures that do arise betwixt Rome and Spain Of the Northern Policy and of Italy which laughs at the Spanish Zeal How many Princes are disgusted to see the Spaniards humble themselves so to the Pope How many Ministers are deceiv'd who confide in Cardinals Of the effect of the Protection of Cardinals to Princes Of the interest of the Cardinals to advance the Papacy Of the Corruption of the Colledge of Cardinals What qualified persons they chuse to be Cardinals Of the Pope how he shews himself a Monarch when he pleaseth and Head of a Commonwealth when he listeth Of Alexander the seventh's applying himself to publick business Of his Ambition to undertake more than his constitution could endure Of the Answers which Embassadours receive from the Cardinal Padrone Of the secresie and craft of the Court of Rome How Cardinals use to reveal secrets to Princes their Friends How little the Pope trusts the Cardinals Of Papal Excommunications Of the fear of the Church-men Of the Title of Universal Father in the person of the Pope Of a pleasant Example of Paschal the second applied to his Successors How Popes treat Leagues with Princes Of the sudden change of the Nephews of the Pope from a low to a high degree Of the effects which that produceth What the Kindred of Alexander did in Sienna Of the disgust which Ministers receive by treating with unexpert persons Of the time that is lost in studying the nature of the Nipotismo Of a strange example which befel an Embassador who negotiated with Cardinal Capaccino Brother to Urban the eighth Of a burlesque and biting Answer given by the same Embassadour to the same Cardinal Of the Answer of the Embassadour Justiniani made to one who asked him if he went to negotiate with Cardinal Astalli Of some Examples of the Covetousness of Pope Boniface prejudicial to the Negotiators of the Court. Of Clement the seventh Of Paul the fourth Of Sixtus the fifth Of Urban the eighth Of the names the Nephews give the hours they spend in publick business Of a Reproof that Gregory the fourteenth gave to his Nephew Of that Peevish way wherewith the Pope's Nephews negotiate with Embassadours Of the Reason why the Family of the Popes do not continue long in Grandeur Of a similitude of Trees applied to the Nephews of the Pope Of the wonder that ariseth in the world to see the houses of the Popes decay Of some Families that are yet in being Of the difference between those Families that give being to Popes and those that receive their being from them Of the Popes which came out of the house of Colonna Of the Glory of the House of Rovere how it failed in Urbino how long it continued in its Grandeur Of two Popes that came from the House of Cibo in Genoa How that Family despised the being Citizens of Rome Of the Family of Alexander the sixth How it was divided into two branches one in Italy the other in Spain Why that in Italy failed before that of Spain Of the Family of Picolomini Of the force of Leo the tenth used to render the House of Medici potent Of the time that the Familie of Medici supported themselves in Grandeur before Clement the seventh How they are deceiv'd who believe the Grandeur of the house of Medici proceeds from the Papacy Of the destruction of the Commonwealth of Florence necessary to the Ecclesiastical State The example of this Family ought not to serve for a pattern to those who discourse of the ruine of the Families of the Popes Of the Family of Farnese How they first came into Italy Of valiant
came to pass that most of the Treaties did not only confound those who managed them but also the Ministers found themselves obliged to put all their affairs upon Chance Fineness and Policy standing them in little stead who were necessitated as a Ship in an unruly storm to give themselves up altogether to Fortune It was a thing worth the observing to see how the Embassadours laboured both with bodies and mind sometimes on this sometimes on that side now with the Nephews then with the Pope from one drawing this Answer Speak to our Uncle From the other Go to our Nephew So that very often when they concluded any thing with the Nephew they were in doubt whether or no the Uncle would be contented And so it hapned on the other side if they treated any thing with the Uncle they were ever fearful least the other being displeased at it should cross the whole design so that though matters were concluded by either of these they were still uncertain whether the result would be for good or evil This Nephew who did every thing without the knowledge of his Uncle gave out he could do nothing without participating to others and particularly in the beginning the Papacy he alwaies answered in affairs of greatest concernment We will see We will do We will speak We wid procure We will consent and such like dilatory expressions And the Embassadours were most mortified with this manner of proceedings of the Pope and his Nephews who knew very well how to agree amongst themselves to the prejudice of those who treated with them And when things did not go on according to their pleasures or they found themselves unable to resist the perswasions and arguments of the Embassadours they would both sing in the same tune The holy Colledge of Cardinals must be acquainted with the affair without whom there was never any thing concluded And yet those Ministers themselves knew very well that was but a false pretext for although the Cardinals were in Rome yet they were not in the Court and never knew of the designs of the Pope nor the Treaties of his Nephew In Urban's time there were other Labyrinths in the Court although this Pope was a far greater Politician than Gregory and the Barbarins much more expert in Government than the abovesaid Cardinal Ludovisio At that time before any thing could be done all the Nephews favours must be purchased for he was resolved not to treat with any that was not dependent on his Family And not only Francesco the Cardinal Patrone was to be courted but Cardinal Antonio and Don Tadeo and his Wife likewise who so aspired at the Visits of the Ministers of Princes that the Pope would not give Audience to any that had not first paid his devoir to that Lady which was the Reason why the Duke of Parma had such ill success in all his business In the beginning of his Reign the Pope in a manner alone manag'd all the most important affairs of Christendom with no small ardency and zeal But wot you what The things which he did in the day he undid in the night for coming to consult with his Nephews who alwaies found their Uncle's Opinion contrary to their own they oftentimes brought him to contradict himself and reverse what he had formerly granted and concluded 'T is true he did this with great subtlety not failing to find out some fair and specious excuses wherewith to colour their pretexts and clear the Pope of levity by which means Embassadours were perpetually deluded even when they thought they had the Fish in their hands which on a sudden slipt away from between their fingers beyond possibility of recovery Hence affairs were protracted in infinitum So that though in Urban's time many Princes treated of a League with the Church and the Pope himself nevertheless there was not any considerable one concluded in a Reign of twenty three years during which time divers Princes concluded a League offensive and defensive against the Barbarini The reason of this was for that the Pope was too hard towards others and too soft towards his own Relations Cardinal Francesco too soft towards others but dissemblingly and hard towards his Uncle Cardinal Antonio hard towards Francesco and soft towards the Pope and Don Thadeo who knew not how to do better was hard towards the soft and soft towards the hard Cardinal Francesco fear'd to disgust Antonio and delighted to displease the Pope Cardinal Antonio fear'd the Pope but caus'd Francesco fear himself Don Thadeo sided with him that was most obstinate in his opinion And the Pope deny'd to one what he could not grant to the other granted to this what the other desired becoming obstinate where there was need of pliableness and pliable where it behoved him to be obstinate Now a Court of this humour afforded work enough to the Ministers of Princes who were alwaies receiv'd by the Pope with ambiguous expressions by Cardinal Francesco with abundance of faire promises and by Cardinal Antonio with a long train of exquisite complements But when the Ministers press'd to come to a conclusion of any important business Cardinal Antonio sent them to his brother Francesco who at the appointed hour of Audience us'd to go his visits to the seven Churches and the Pope himself pretended indisposition of body And thus the effecting of all urgent business was rendred impossible In Vrban's time 't was hard for Princes Ministers to find the streight gate to enter into publick Negotiations and when they were in they found themselves in a Labyrinth out of which they could scarce extricate themselves after a thousand turnings and windings Monsieur de Lionne a person of great Abilities being employ'd Embassadour to Rome by the most Christian Crown one day ask'd a familiar friend of his pleasantly What kind of person himself had To which his Friend answered That he had the person of a man worthy of this Age. Monsieur de Lionne reply'd to him That he took himself to be like a Tennis-ball bandi'd to and fro by foul-players alluding hereby to the Artifices and tricks put upon him by the Barbarini in his negotiating with them concerning the affair of Castro The truth is any other Minister but Monsieur de Lionne would have shewed much anger in Rome in the time of the War of the Duke of Parma with the confederate Princes This great Man who was dispatch'd on purpose to procure the appeasing of the rising tumults knew not which way to turn his wits to invent projects and artifices enough to oppose those of the Barbarini who continually promis'd what they never intended to perform He was sent from Herod to Pilate and from Pilate to Caiphas The one answer'd Yea The other No. But what was most important the Pope had granted him leave to treat with the two Cardinals his Nephews with a promise to confirm what should be by them concluded Hereupon having one day by the power of perswasions reduc'd the