our wonted indifference and by saying all the ill and all the good that can be said of the Nipotismo perswade our Reader as it is true That we have no other Design than to relate freely and without interest its concerns Thus doing the Popes will have no reason to complain since the ill that is said will be recompensed by the good and the Romans or my other Readers will not tax the Author of partiality or flattery since he so freely writes all that comes to his knowledge for the instruction of the Publick Therefore we will treat in this Book of all the good and all the mischief that the Nephews of the Popes have done to the Church ever since Sixtus the Fourth Their good actions shall be set out that the Memory of the dead may be revived and due Honour given to the living that deserve it And their ill deeds shall not be forgotten that they may be hated by all Mankind and that the Nephews of the Popes to come hearing the blame they undergo may learn to esteem good actions and avoid ill ones But the greatest difficulty that I find in the execution of this my design will be how to separate the good Corn from the Tares For all that the Nipotismo does is thought good and just by them though never so wicked and the Romans on the contrary will scarce allow of any of their actions though never so virtuous Christ has often compared in his Gospel the Church to a Field and indeed it was a very fit Metaphor for like a Field it has always been either sowed or mowed and it is a hard matter to know whether the number of the Sowers does exceed that of the Mowers though their Employment be very different But certainly we may say That the Popes Nephews have always been the Mowers and the rest of Christian Princes the Sowers And as Princes have made no difficulty of taxing themselves and their Subjects and parting with the dearest fruits of their labours to give to the Church so the Pope's Nephews have made no scruple of dissipating and spending in their Pastimes and Pleasures that which Princes had spared out of their own Treasure for them What would Constantine Pepin Charlemagne the Countess Mathilda and so many other Princes say if they should come into the World again to see those Lands and Revenues which they so charitably gave to the Church divided and cast lots for as his Vestments Truly I think that they would now think it as a pious Work to take from the Church-men by force that which they had before given so willingly and this because they would deliver so many People from the intolerable oppression of these Nipotismo's And indeed their insatiability is such that the Church and the State ruined and spoiled as it is by so many hungry Nipotismo's would scarce suffice for their maintenance if Forreign Princes did not take a pride in enriching the Church by great Revenues which are all devoured by the hungry Nipotismo's who are very justly compared to the Hydra's Heads whereof one was no sooner cut off but there sprung seven worse and more envenomed in the place It is a kind of a Miracle to me to hear Princes murmur at the disorders the Nipotismo's commit in robbing the Church and perverting the use of its Riches And yet to see those very same Princes contribute out of their own Revenues and their Peoples Sweat and Labour towards the enriching of those that they blame I think it would be as great a piece of Justice to punish those that are robb'd as to chastise him that commits the Theft For if so the number of Thieves would diminish infinitely since every body then would take as much care in preserving as the Thief could use Art in stealing Whereas now every one relying upon the surety of the Publick Laws and the punishment that attends those that violate them does as it were give an occasion of offending against them and as the Proverb says The Occasion makes the Thief which is as much as to say That they that are negligent in preserving their own are the cause that others have a mind to it If Princes following this Truth did shut up their Treasures and stop that Stream of Wealth which flows from their States to Rome while they see that it is all ill us'd and employed to the ruine of the Church and True Religion certainly the Pope's Nephews would not commit so many Scandals neither would the World have so much reason to murmur against them But our Complaints are not like to cease while Princes shall think it honourable and pious to oppress their Subjects that they may supply the Court of Rome And on the other side the Nipotismo shall make no scruple of taking any thing from the Church and State and alledge for their excuse That they take nothing but what is the superfluous part of the Churches Revenue What do so many Abbies Pensions and other Revenues which Princes bestow upon Church-men serve for but to weaken so much their own States and strengthen another Princes to make that which is Sacred Profane turn Crosses into Swords and Humility into Pride and Majesty And when they have bestowed thus their Gifts and Presents upon those that do not need them they are not only forsaken in their greatest distress by Church-men but are set upon by them and brought to their ruin that the Church may have the Soveraignty over their People in the Place of the lawful Princes All the disorders and scandals of the Church State and Church-men take their rise from their Riches When the Church was poor Church-men were holy having nothing to employ their minds about but the Rules of a Good Life but since once Riches came amongst them farewell Holiness of Life they have not the leisure they are too much taken up with telling their Money buying and selling Estates and Princedoms they forget those spiritual Riches of the Soul and mind only those that relate to the Pleasures of the Body Riches came in by little and little upon the Church and by the same degrees Sanctity and Holiness of Life went out They that read the History of the Church cannot chuse but have discerned all along the truth of what I say And yet every one knowing this and being so forward to complain and murmur against the Popes avarice and their Nephews prodigality no body thinks of blaming those that by continual Gifts do every day supply and furnish them with these Instruments of Wickedness Christ has declared definitively and pronounced with his own mouth in the sixth Chapter of Saint Matthew That it is impossible to serve God and Mammon Now Mammon being interpreted Riches by most nay by all the conclusion is That it is impossible to serve God and Riches The Popes on the other side do by their continual practice prove to the World in enriching their Families that they are firmly perswaded that one may at the same
Don Tadeo Of the promotion of the two Brothers Francesco and Antonio Barbarini to be Cardinals Of their avidity in getting money Of some Prelates offended and moved to indignation to see that their services were so little recompenced by the Pope Of the Cardinal Filomarini made Arch-Bishop of Naples Of the inclination of the Barbarini to carry all things with a high hand Of some Pasquins made against them Of the great hatred the Romans did bear them Of the design of the Barbarini to make themselves great Princes Of the Title of Cardinal Padrone given to Francesco Barbarino Of the Duke of Parma his journey to Rome Of the title of Eminency given to the Cardinal Of the great riches the Barbarini were in possession of after the death of Urban Of the reasons why Cardinal Francesco Barbarini might hope to be Pope Of there being three Cardinals of this name all at a time How Innocentius the tenth was Urban's Successour Of all that passed about the Cardinalship marriage and banishment of the Prince Pamphilio the Popes Nephew Of the authority and government of Donna Olympya and of her way of treating affairs Of Innocentius's nearest Relations Of the promotion of Astalli to the Cardinalship Of the Railleriâ—s Pasquins and Discourses that were held about this promotion Of Astalli his banishment and the promotion of Azzolini Of Innocentius and the assumption of Alexander to the Popedâ—me Of Mario's journey tâ—wards Rome stopped by an express order from the Pope Of the affront that Don Mario received in being fâ—rced to return to Siâ—na Of the honâ—ur 〈◊〉 the Pâ—pes hindred did 〈…〉 in Siena 〈…〉 shewed them by 〈◊〉 State of Venice 〈…〉 Duke of Tuscany Of the 〈…〉 kindred in 〈…〉 presâ—nts sent to Don Mario and Don Agostino in Siena Of the Popes design and purpose to call all his Relations to Rome and of all that past in the execution of it Of an Event full of curiosity about the History of the Council of Trent made by Father Palavicino a Jesuite Of the murmurs and Pasquins of the Romans too when they saw the Nipotismo in possession of the Church and City Of the number of the Popes Relations Of the Offices charges and places that they possess and by what means they grâ—w rich Of the jealousie that is between them Of Don Agostino his marriage Of the great affection the Pope bears him And of some other particularities full of curiosity and policy ALl that we have hitherto related is nothing but the Vigil or Eve of the Nipotismo now begins the Festival day in the time of Vrban the eighth of the Family of the Barbarini who succeeded Gregory the fifteenth contrary to every bodies expectation in the year 1623. in the month of August As soon as the news of his Elevation came to Florence those few remnants of the Family who were then under the protection of the great Duke flew like so many Bees to Rome and the Bees are the Barbarini's Coat of Armes to suck the Honey of the Church but they left not behind them their Stings wherewithall in sucking it they stung it most bitterly Vrban in the beginning shewed not much tenderness for his kindred though he did openly own that he would call them about him And indeed in this his beginning and as it were the blossom of his Popedom he did one of the worthiest actions of his life which was the giving of a Cardinals Cap to Francesco Barbarini his Nephew a Personage truly worthy so great an honour being endowed with the singular qualities of an exemplary life and integrity which made him worthy and more then worthy of the Popedom it self The year after which was 1624. he made Cardinal his brother that was a Capucin and went by the name of brother Antony Barbarin whom the Pope loved entirely he gave him the title of Cardinal of Saint Oposrius but he had been so accustomed to the strictness of a Capucines life that being raised to this great dignity he demeaned himself with the same meanness as before he had much ado to custom himself to that great Cope which the Cardinals wear neither would their wide large Sleeves agree with him and he had given order to have them made close and streight after the Capucins fashion But that that was most ridiculous was that when he saluted any body instead of putting off his Hat he would only put it back with a nod as the Monks do their Hoods so that once in the presence of the Venetian Ambassadour it fell backwards to the ground with no small laughter of the Assistants Thus he was the diversion of the whole Colledge of Cardinals Don Tadâ—â— the Popes other brother was made Gâ—neral of the Churches Forces Prefect of Rome and in the long reign of his brother had so many Civil and Military Offices conferr'd upon him that he could not remember them himself the rather because that he never car'd to exercise the functions of them so he might receive the revenue which he forgot not to put up carefully that is in a word he took a good account of the profit but could give none of the satisfying the obligation those Offices laid upon him In the year 1668. the seventh of February the Pope that he might more and more fortifie the Family of the Barbarines created another Cardinal of that name Francesco's brother under the title of Santa Maria in Aquino These two brothers though elevated to the same dignity were nevertheless of a different humour for one made it his business to edifie the publick by good actions and the other did nothing but scandalize all the world by his vicious deportments insomuch that whosoever will weigh the vertues of the one against the vices of the other shall see that the ill actions of Cardinal Antonio are far heavier then the good ones of his brother though his brothers piety be very great 'T is true that when once Cardinal Antonio began to frequent the French that he changed as it were his nature for of a covetous hater of Learning he became a generous promoter of Ingenuity and very officious to all sorts of persons so that now we may say that he is a noble Prince and a good Cardinal whereas before he was esteemed an ill bred Gentleman and a wicked Cardinal and as much blame and dishonour as he contracted then so much reputation and credit hath he now gained Vrban in the beginning shew'd a most exact diligence in the government of the Church and in truth Cardinal Francesco and he did take no small pains in reforming the abuses as well of the Clergy and Monks as of the Court and temporal administration so that forraign Princes and Nations were very much edified by the Popes zeal and Cardinal Francesco his sincerity by which he did endeavour to please every body But after five or six years time passed thus in the continual cares of the Pontificat he began to grow weary not of doing good but of doing
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
Emolument of their Pensions Next that they may not obstruct their way to the Popedom by an open Exclusion in the Conclave And last of all that they may live in greater reputation and esteem in Rome Where those Cardinals are most valued that entertain an exact correspondence with Princes particularly if it be with any of the two Crowns of Europe that is France or Spain upon whose Brigues and Interests does ordinarily depend the election of the Pope Now it is to be believed that these Princes do not prodigally spend their Treasure without receiving a continual Interest for it which Interest is an exact information of all that is done treated and managed in the Court of Rome And of this the Cardinals acquit themselves with great industry and diligence So we see how intricate and troublesome the Government of Rome would become to the Popes if they had not Confidents that is Nephews on whom they might relie and to whom they might trust their secrets without fear For indeed a Pope without Kindred must renounce Monarchy and resolve to be only as the Head of a Commonwealth which would be just to give himself up into the hands of the Cardinals and be at their discretion Which if it were every body may easily infer how dangerous it would prove to the Pope's Authority and how unbeseeming the greatness and decorum of his place and dignity Besides that probably things would fall into confusion and disorder while every Cardinal would be more intent to satisfie his own ends and as they say draw the water to his Mill than to mind the necessities of the State and Church If the Pope could do nothing without the counsel and assent of the Cardinals How would he be able to treat any Leagues make Wars or Peace Which are things so incident to the nature of a great State such as the Pope's is that it can seldom be without them There would be framed a thousand difficulties in the very beginnings of Negotiations and the Enemy would know all before you had resolved any thing Every Cardinal would support his Prince and Country and at last they would all be so embarassed and confounded that they would either be in danger of losing themselves for the Church or of exposing the Church to mischief to save themselves How would it be fit that the Pope should advise with the Senate of Cardinals if they themselves are his and the Churches greatest enemies If they have not only promised but sworn fidelity to the Party of those Princes that give them Pensions and Revenues How then can they follow the Pope's directions or consent to his designs Certainly they must either cheat the Prince that they may be true to the Church or be false to the Church that they may not be ungrateful to those Princes whose money they have taken There are some Cardinals that would not care if all were lost so they did but save their Family which is under the protection of some Prince and avoid themselves the reproach of ingratitude from their Benefactors The greatest part of the Cardinals are either of the French or Spanish Faction and each of them makes it his greatest glory to defend the Pretensions of the Crown he protects whether just or unjust so that often between them they neglect and ruine the Interests of the Church and Pope How were it possible then for the Pope either to preserve himself or the Church in its Prerogatives if he would take and follow the counsel of those whose interest makes them the Enemies to both though they pretend that what they do is only out of a tender consideration of the publick good To this purpose I remember that a certain Italian Cardinal being weary of holding for many years on the Spaniards side gave himself to the French by the mediation of a better Pension which they promised him And indeed the Cardinals whatsoever they pretend have no other inclination to either party than what their Interest leads them to For he that gives highest Pensions and the best Benefices is sure to have them This Cardinal having thus renounced the Spaniard did go about to take away the imputation of inconstancy and self-interest and would say in all companies That he had no other end in doing so but a desire to be able to serve the Church and Pope the better But another Cardinal of great experience and prudence hearing him one day discourse after this rate could not forbear saying these words to him I wish to God that your Eminence that have never been able to do the Church any service while you were a true Spaniard may do her some now you are a counterfeit Frenchman And this he said in the presence of divers Cardinals and Embassadours Let us then conclude that the State and Church can never be well governed as to the point in hand if the Popes be without Nephews to relye on and in whose secrecy they may confide Innocentius the tenth was so convinced of this truth that finding himself deprived of those helps which he could not receive from his lawful Kindred by reason of their inabilities and withal seeing that he was exposed to the unsatiable avarice of a woman his Sister-in-Law he was fain to take the young Astalli and declare him Cardinal Nephew and Padrone giving him the name of Pamphilio and in a word made him in Rome as Pharaoh was in Aegypt the Governour of all things But what hapned This young Cardinal not being able to comply with the Pope's humours and having no tye of Consanguinity upon him was rather a Traytor to him than a Nephew for he did reveal to the Spaniards from whom he did secretly receive good Pension all that passed through his hands or that could come to his knowledge caring not how he hazarded and engaged the Pope's Honour and Reputation Particularly at that time that the Pope and the Barberins together did consult how they should fall upon the Kingdom of Naples and divide it among themselves Astalli all day long did set spies and endeavour himself to discover their Counsels and then secretly in the night did give the Spaniards notice of all who being thus well instructed did easily prevent their Enemies designs by taking away all those means which the Pretendants relied upon for the execution of their Enterprize Upon this the Pope enraged against Astalli banished him from Rome took away from him all that he had so liberally given him except the quality of Cardinal of which he could not be deprived but for great crimes and that by a fair trial too Now if the Pope Innocent could not trust one whom he had raised from nothing and if the secrets of his Court were revealed and published by a Cardinal so much obliged to him How can other Popes trust Cardinals that are as it were their enemies by being too much other Princes friends These are the reasons that force the Popes to call their Kindred about them and
men in the world Of services performed by the House of Farnese Some examples concerning the same A notable saying of Eugenio the fourth concerning the Farnese Of the Ambition the Popes had to be served by them O the ingratitude of Urban the eighth and Innocent the tenth towards the Family of Farnese Of the interest that moved Paul the third to make them great Of the great persecution it hath receiv'd for above these forty years Of the Government of Parma and Piacenza how it came to the hands of the Farnesi Of the house of Monte how little a while it lasted in great splendor although raised by Julius the third Of the House of Caraffa Of its fall how near to the birth of its good fortune Of the disdain of Paul the fourth and Pius the fourth to the Caraffies Of the glory in which the House of Caraffa shines now in Naples Of the House of Buon Compagnii of Gregory the thirteenth Of the House of Perotti of Sixtus the fifth To what greatness raised How long it continued in that state Of its failing Of the House of Sfondrata of Gregory the fourteenth Of its rise and fall Of the house of Aldobrandina what it was and what it is Of the Family of Burghesi and Ludovisi and of some other particulars touching the failing of the Pontificial Families THe difficulties which the Ministers of Princes meet with in their treaties with the Pope's Nephews are so great that the most refined Wits and politick Heads of the Universe cannot easily fathom them every one losing himself in an Abyss of wonder to see the Court of Rome in all her own concerns and with all persons so selfish and singular whilst she alone glories in the Title of Universal It would be no great matter if the Nephews would rest satisfied with embroyling and discomposing the minds only of the principal Ministers of State and did not likewise make themselves the unhappy instruments of bringing Treaties and Negotiations of the greatest weight to irreparable confusion the ruine whereof must necessarily draw the consequence of damage to the Pontifical State disorder to Christianity and perpetual distaste to those Princes who know themselves obliged to send their Agents to a Court where they shall rather receive occasion of disgust than profit For the Church-men cannot treat with any Prince without wounding his reputation with secret reproaches and back-biting language There are two things Ignorance and malice the usual Patrimony of Popes Nephews which are predominant in the Nipotismo which subvert and drown even those appearances of good that might otherwise be found in the Court of Rome And the mischief of it is that these two are inseparable and go alwaies hand in hand together in the Nipotismo their ignorance is not accompanied with that honest simplicity which often is seen in some of weak understanding but quite contrary an ignorant Nephew no sooner marches into the Vatican which thing God knows too often happens but Artificial Malice displaies her Banners and if by chance within the Camp there happens to be found out any one that 's good and vertuous she doth her utmost to make him pass for an ignorant lack wit Whence the Church Christendom and the Court do all suffer by the malice and ignorance of those Lordly Nephews who matter not by which of these two abject qualities they govern There have been several Princes in our Age who finding themselves deluded in some of their affairs have blam'd their own Officers judging the errors which occasioned their damage and were indeed committed by the Nipotismo to be caused by the inability of their Ministers as if it had been in their power to overwhelm the Course of nature and thwart a malicious Ignorance Odoardo Farnese Duke of Parma a Prince truly worthy of a Crown seeing the business of Castro and his other Affairs with the Church not to succeed according to his desire rebuked his Minister who was at Rome believing him a person of very slender experience in the management of the matters committed to his charge But when it hapned that his occasions drew himself thither and consequently oblig'd him to treate personally with the Nephews of Pope Urban he speedily reform'd the ill impression made in his mind agaainst his Ministers knowing then very well by his own experience that all the damages he sustain'd in that affair were derived from the ill-will was borne him by the Barberini Whereupon as he went from Rome he let these words fall That the Church indeed is a holy body of which the Princes are the Members and the Pope the Head but the Nephews by their ill management do daily discompose the Members not at all regarding how thereby they prejudiced the Head And to say the truth the Pope's Nephews cannot oftentimes distinguish what difference there is betwixt a Prince and his Minister nor what respect the Court ought to shew to them which come to honour it The Church-mens understanding to accommodate the Church so well to the benefit of their proper interest makes many believe the subtilty of them in politick affairs to be very great And truly the conceipt is not ordinary which most men have of the politick understanding of the Ecclesiasticks every one knowing that the City of Rome in the Art of Governing and making others reasons conform to its will hath ever been in all times and ages the truest School of Policy and almost if not altogether the Mistris of all Nations as she who at her birth from the belly of the rest by a special gift of nature brought with her into the world the most polite Endowments and refined Customs she could bestow upon her Such were alwaies the Customs of Rome who for the space of more than twelve Ages past knew very well to frame conformable maximes to their own designs But after that the Nipotismo began to take possession of an Authority not limited otherwise than by their own passions every thing began to put on a new countenance And having renounced the true and ancient Rules of Government and found new methods of deport to those who make addresses to them the Agents and Ministers of Foraign Princes who come thither to negotiate their Masters affairs mistake the way that others use to walk in with so much reputation From whence it happens that there are very few return from their Negotiations there without just occasion of complaint not only that they have not met with due civilities but that they have likewise been deluded in all their transactions The Court of Rome indeed whilst the Popes liv'd without the Nipotismo were instrumental in the world to resolve the greatest intricacies of Christendom but after they were introduced they served only to confound and entangle the easiest matters who interposing in things not at all concerning them they ruin'd others business and affairs besides their own For they will do nothing now in Rome without pretence of perfect Zeal unto Religion and yet that