Priests and Deacons Insomuch that whereas heretofore the Priests and Deacons promiscuously and without any distinction were admitted into their Ecclesiastical Assemblies they were after this resolution excluded and the greater and principal of the Clergy only receiv'd to their no small dis-satisfaction which they were forc'd to put up leâ—t they should otherwise disturb that repose they were in pursuit of amongst the sorrows and calamities of the Church In those times the Bishops had the preceedence before the Priests and Cardinal Deacons the Cardinalship being only a scale and step towards Episcopacy conformable to what is mentioned in the life of St. Gregory where it is said several Cardinal Priests were preferr'd to be Bishops And because there was great difference betwixt their orders there was great difference in their corrections also For the conviction of a Bishop there was seventy two witnesses requir'd and if of that whole number there wanted but one the whole accusation was void whereas for the conviction of a Cardinal Priest forty was enough and for a Deacon twenty seven But the Ecclesiastical orders and degrees have chang'd dayly with the times and their dignities have been more considered for their Titles than any reality of advantage The Cardinals since found means to advance themselves before the Bishops and Episcopacy now is but a degree towards the Cardinalship whereas formerly for the space of eight hundred year they had as principal Ministers of the Church manag'd all her affairs The chief causes of these changes and revolutions was from the same mutations in the Monarchy of the Popes and from the medly and confusion of Temporal affairs with Spiritual and of the Ecclesiastick Government with the Civil For the Pope having â—â—larg'd his Dominions by the annection of several Provinces in the time of Pipin and Charles the Great his Successors found themselves forc'd upon another Model because so many Secular Principalities being added to the Church several important affairs did dayly arise that could not be deferr'd to the next Councel of Bishops which meâ— not but every two or three years The Church in its minority was like the Galley of Salamin that by the appointment of the Athenians was never to sayl but upon some Religious design it being sufficient now and then upon occasion to call their Councels to negotiate and regulate the most important affairs of Christendome but after the acquisition of so many States and Seignories they were forc'd upon new wayes for the conservation of their Temporals For this reason it was judged necessary to establish a Councel or Senate that should be alwayes near his Holiness and that it should be compos'd of Cardinal Priests and Deacons and Rectors of the principal Parishes of Rome as those that were more capable to consult and determine in matters of greatest importance both in Spirituals and Temporals which succeeded without much difficulty the Ministers of Rome to prevent any resentment in the Bishops that the administration of the affairs of the Church was taken out of their hands endeavouring to perswade them that what was done was for the benefit of Christendome that it was unfit the Bishops should leave their charges with so much inconvenience to the people and come so often to Rome to treat of affairs that more poperly belong'd to those who had no Cures to distract them and thus were the poor Bishops constrain'd to truckle to the Cardinals and become inferiour that had been superiour so long The Cardinals being advanc'd in this manner and the Bishops excluded from the Government of the Church they continu'd very dexterously to wrest the Election of their Popes out of the hands of the Emperours the People and the Bishops and not contented with that they presum'd to incroach also upon the Election of the Emperour so as the authority of Electing the two principal dignities of the world being in their power in spight of their former subordination they advanc'd themselves so far above the Bishops that the Bishops are now but Slaves as it were to the Cardinals and by some of them imploy'd with great arrogance in Mechanick affairs Antiently there was no greater esteem of a Cardinal than there is now of a Deacon or Arch-Deacon in comparison of a Prelate because they had no other authority in the Election of Bishops who were then the principal Ministers in the Church than the common Clergy and People of Rome without any difference or exception bearing an equal share with the rest of the Clergy in the Service of the Church But when the world began to take notice that they made and unmade Popes at their pleasure choosing them alwayes out of the Colledge of Cardinals they became so incens'd in a short time that the dignity of Cardinal grew the most envied yet the most covered and ambition'd dignity in the world And this ambition which was deriv'd from the exaltation of Cardinals in the Church hath been the Parent and Hidra of all the mischiefs and calamities in the Church And this ambition that was so detestable even among the Pagans that Lucian desir'd that all they that aspir'd to any thing above their sphear might perish before the year went about is indeed the source and nourishment of all the Wars Schisms and Heresies that have sprang up in the bosome of the Church At first the Cardinals were chosen out of such Priests and Ministers only as serv'd in the particular Churches in Rome and that custom lasted for about an Age and a half that is to say till the Bishops taking notice at last of the injury was done them and that they were excluded from any concurrence in the Election of the Pope they did very much insist that the Cardinals might not be chosen any longer out of the Romans only but out of the number of all the Bishops of Italy excluding Foreigners The Church increasing after this manner extraordinarily and the number of Bishops multiplying in all parts both of Europe and Asia it was resolv'd that the Cardinals should be chosen out of all the Provinces in Europe and Asia without exemption of any it being but reasonable as St. Bernard sayes That they who judge the whole world should be chosen out of all parts thereof In the same manner the Rules for Election of Popes were observ'd as we shall relate in the third part of this Work the Priest of Rome not permitting any stranger to be created Pope for the space of above nine hundred years electing only such persons as were benefic'd in some Church in Rome till that in the year 891 there happen'd a great contest betwixt the Romans and the Foreign Bishops these last pretending to a concurrence in the Election of Popes the other refusing as obstinately the infringement of so antient a custom but at last the Foreign Bishops prevail'd and chose Formosus Bishop of Porto For some years successively the Italians that had a great part in the Election of the Pope would by no means consent
CLEMENS IX PONTIFEX MAXIMVS CREATVS DIE XX IVNII ANNO M. D. C. LX. VII Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF THE CARDINALS OF THE Roman Church From the time of their first Creation to the Election of the Present POPE Clement the Ninth With a full Account of his CONCLAVE In Three Parts Written in Italian by the Author of the Nipotismo di Roma and faithfully Englished by G. H. LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Myter betwixt the Middle-Temple-Gate and Temple Bar in Fleet-Street 1670. A SUMMARY Of the Matters contained in the Three Parts of this Book THE First treats of the Essence of the Church of the Controversies which arise betwixt the Religious Orders the Princes and the 〈…〉 ergy Of the Pontifical Authority how it is understood in Rome and how it ought to be by the Soveraign Princes Of the Original Augmentation and Essence of the Cardinalitial Dignity and of the manner of living of all the Cardinals in general The Second shews how careless and perfunctory the Cardinals are in defending the Church from the rapacity of the Nipotismo with the reasons and obligations they have thereunto As likewise the Promotions Titles Alliances Qualities Vices and Virtues of all the Cardinals now living The Third discourses of all the Treaties Negotiations Differences Disputes and Dissentions happen'd amongst the Cardinals in the Conclaves and betwixt the Cardinals the People and the Emperors in the Elections of all the Popes and Anti-Popes from the Incarnation of our Saviour to the Conclave in the Year 1667. in which Clement the 9th was elected Pope To which are added certain Politick Aphorisms written by Cardinal Azolini upon the Cardinals of the said Conclave THE AUTHOR TO THE READER Kind Reader I Present you here with the Cardinalismo I promis'd you in my Nipotismo Read it as your own not as mine for he who promises a thing obliges himself de jure to him that expects its performance Certain Criticks who vouchsafe to throw away some moments of their time in the perusal of the Nipotismo wonder'd exceedingly that I should publish that book first having declar'd the Cardinalismo to be my first born The first pangs and qualms which I endured were I must confess in the Conception of my Cardinalismo but I laid that aside and fell upon my Nipotismo You will ask me upon what grounds or inducements VVhat necessity was there for that I will tell you sincerely my design was to publish them together but upon second thoughts I made an Esau of Jacob and a Jacob of Esau that is I put forth my Nipotismo by way of Essay resolving if that had not had the approbation I expected to have stifled the other or confin'd it to my own Cabinet But things succeeded according to the predictions of my Friends and the Nipotismo relishing even amongst those Argus's and Criticks who read books only to correct them and upbraid the Authors I concluded forthwith to present this Cardinalismo likewise for the benefit of the Publick presuming its reception would be no worse than the other if the Readers judgement and the Authors do agree which nevertheless I cannot but apprehend when I consider how frequently they differ This I know that if any book ever gave occasion of Censure this will and that not only to the Catholicks but to the Protestants also for even amongst them there are such as will find fault where they do not sometimes understand Methinks I hear a Protestant at one of my ears crying out already You might have left out this you should have omitted that it would have been better thus and thus and thus and in the other a scandaliz'd Catholick complaining that I write several things superfluous to the very nature of History and pass by others which would be proper and adequate But he who should write a book and undertake to give universal satisfaction would but lose his time and have his labour for his pains Nor is it to be expected the general will submit to a particular The Apostles were holy men guided by the holy Spirit and according to that direction they writ the book of the holy Gospel yet how many Hereticks are there found who fear not to condemn what they ought in Conscience to adore How many prophane persons which despise the Apostolical instructions How many Divines that with a thousand niceties and distinctions do controvert and dispute against the writings of the Apostles Now if the nature of man be so dogged and perverse that it cannot accommodate with so sacred a book so necessary to our Salvation and so infallible in its Composition how is it possible they should receive one kindly that perhaps is contrary to their own sence and inclinations I am satisfy'd it is impossible this Cardinalismo should please both Catholick and Protestant because the one contemns what the other approves and the other embraces what the first has rejected Many things are inserted which are familiar amongst the Catholicks and for that reason those are contemptible to them Many others there are which are common amongst the Protestants and accordingly as inconsiderable to them but all things are to be regulated with order and the good intention of the Author is to be excused because his design is to give general satisfaction as near as he can Should he have writ only what had been palatable to the Catholicks the Protestants would have disgusted it and on the other side to have address'd himself only to the satisfaction of the Protestants would have been as ingratefull to the Catholicks Seeing therefore what is acceptable to the one is unacceptable to the other the Catholick may read what makes for his interest and the Protestant what the Catholick rejects and I am certain he will reject what is most worthy to be read For my part I advise the Protestant to read nothing but what the Catholick condemns and the Catholick only what the Protestant despises that both of them may suck what honey they can and throw away the sting which pricks them within Thus far kind Reader I have spoken in general I shall now apply my self particularly to thee and first I desire thee to take notice I am not the only person concern'd in the composition of this book For these two last years I have endeavour'd notwithstanding some trouble and expence to procure such Memoires as were necessary for my design from the hands of other persons so that if the book happens to be dislik'd let not the whole blame be laid at my door but let them have their share who cooperated in the work which I cannot call mine because my Memoires came from the hands of other people people I may say for I depended not upon the Relations of any one man Yet there is one thing I may properly call my own and that is the Stile and Contexture of the book in which also you may have occasion and perhaps in every leaf to condemn me as
these things but how by persecuting and perplexing of such as by their writings would remedy them nevertheless that remedy they apply which is neither Christian nor politick instead of doing good causes great hurt both to themselves and to the Church for the pens of the Censurists are like the head of Hercules his Hidra cut one off and there will succeed seven in its place and those much worse than the former To take away this unhappy effect the best way would be to remove the cause The Theologist should be forbidden to write such Rodomontads and not the Censurists to Censure It were strange if things should by this course succeed as they desire and design The Popes would suffer no body in Rome to write but only such as write of their Holiness their Majesty their Authority their Infallibility and their Impeccability Those on the other side that write in defence of the Jurisdiction and Supremacy of Princes must be banish'd persecuted and exterminated but 't is to small purpose in my judgement for whilst the Pope incourages his party to write in his praise the Princes will not want Assertors of their prerogatives and perhaps in greater numbers than his Holiness If the Roman Theologists should go on as they have began whether would things go For these thirty years they have added every day new Degrees new Titles new Authority new Soveraignty to the Pope now those that shall come after observing the writings of their Predecessors rewarded either with Abbeys Bishopricks Cardinalships or good Pensions will in all probability set their brains upon the tenters for an invention of enlarging his authority and not knowing any nearer way will attempt to take the Soveraignty away from the Temporal Princes and confer it on the Pope A certain Confessor I met lately by the City in a conference I had with him about the Authority of the Pope told me in these very terms Sir I believe it as an Article of my Faith that a Pope cannot possibly be damned I desir'd his reason with as much respect as I could but he gave me this answer only That many Divines now adayes in Rome did assert and write so and likewise many of the Faithfull began to believe it For my part I believ'd he said true and would to God the Jesuits were not in the way of maintaining this Opinion publiquely every where it being the highest complement they can use to him for if he be not lyable to damnation by consequence he is not subject to the sentence which God Almighty shall pass at the last day upon the Souls of Mankind Which Opinion being receiv'd the Pope is not only exempt from the Censures of Counsels and of the Church but from the Judgement of God himself and in times to come having gain'd this point they may perhaps perswade the people he is Eternal also But I am confident if Princes will gainsay his other pretences God Almighty will not grant him this of Eternity reserv'd as a peculiar attribute and prerogative to himself But I hope the prudence of the Popes will not suffer them to admit such Doctrine into the Church and then whilst they are good and just to the People the Princes and the Church I doubt not but they will be respected and reverenc'd by them all Too great a wind bruises or breaks a Vessel to pieces by a too hasty and violent concussion against the Shore though in the very Harbour it thought it self safe If the Popes had been contented to carry themselves with mediocrity they had never run that hazard of losing all and Christendom had been of larger extent than it is Whilst the Popes were satisfy'd within the limits of their Authority the Church increas'd to that wideness that the most barbarous Nations from the remotest parts of the Earth came to Rome to pay their Devotion to the Church Since they found things alter'd and all tending either to vanity or pride not only new accessions have ceas'd but those have withdrawn themselves who had been setled in the Church before The Divines are so insatiate to heap up honor upon honor upon the Pope that I fear they will one day make him lose all In short let the Theologists say what they please both Prince and people will always take the liberty 〈…〉 commend the good and find fault with the bad actions of the Popes But some will say perhaps since they cannot regulate the Pope it would be their best way to restrain the people because 't is more easie for a person to contain himself from upbraiding then from committing a Sin In former times the Popes serv'd for examples to draw people to works of piety and holiness and the Saints in their private Assemblies and Conversations took great pleasure to discourse of the charity of this Pope and the Martyrdom Zeal and Goodness of the other Now they talk indeed of their Popes but 't is to their reproach and disparagement not of their Sanctity but of their zeal to the preferment of their Nephews Formerly their discourse was only of their Virtues now it is only of their Errours God Almighty put it into the Hearts of the Cardinals to create holy Popes and into the hearts of the Popes to continue as the Cardinals create them Il CARDINALISMO di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF CARDINALS In III. Parts PART I. BOOK II. The Contents Wherein is discours'd of the place proportion'd to the Fabrick of Cardinalism Of some particularities about the Essence of the Greek the Roman and the Jewish Churches Of the obligations upon the Church of Rome to banish and persecute the Jewish Church with more severity than the Greek Of the name of Church and what it signifies Of the distinctions in Rome betwixt the Catholick Church and the Roman Of the infallibility of the Church Of the Liberty of Conscience in their Divines The reason why they are punish'd more strictly that offend against the Pope than the Church Of the coldness of the Popes in remunerating those that serve the Church and their liberality to those that are serviceable to them Of the true remedy to hinder the Divines from flattering the Popes Of the Ecclesiastical charges and by whom they are to be dispens'd An efficacious way to prevent murmuring against the Pope Of the way in which the Popes serv'd the Church in the primitive times and of the honor they receiv'd by being call'd heads of the Christian Commonwealth Of the great necessity of taking from the Popes il motu Proprio and of the way to effect it Of the Election of Cardinals in the primitive times Of the age of Poverty and of the age of Riches Of the submission wherewith the Popes now adayes are treated by the Cardinals Of the great Errours into which the Church of Israel fell Of a certain Father that preach'd up the infallibility of the Pope That the Church of Rome is subject to several Errors Of a discourse betwixt a Priest
of the Church founded by our Saviour and propagated by the Apostles thorough the whole world in great Sanctity and Holiness yet with a possibility of falling otherwise forasmuch as the Church consists of men only it would have been necessary to have Sanctify'd them all both Ecclesiastick and Secular In Rome they speak with great Reverence of the Councel of Trent the Divines and Preachers crying it up as a thing absolutely infallible Yet the Pope makes no bones to break and violate the Decrees establish'd by so many venerable men and the unanimous consent of all the Churches in Christendom dispensing with things at his own pleasure It is not many years since I obtain'd a dispensation for a friend of mine in a thing forbidden expresly in two Sessions of that Councel and all for the sum of ten Crowns and some little bribe by the bye to a Clark in the Registers Office a friend in Court being as necessary in Rome as a penny in a mans purse Those the Church of Rome call Hereticks cannot hear with patience that the Pope alone should have authority to defeat and invalidate in a moment what a General Assembly of the Church has been so many years about A certain Priest discoursing one day with a Protestant of France with design to draw him over to the Church of Rome he thought he had brought him into a very hopefull way when the Protestant had told him that all the Protestants in France would submit themselves to the Pope if the Pope would submit himself to the Councels to which the Priest reply'd it will be necessary then a Councel be call'd and such rules establish'd by common consent as shall be thought necessary for the Government of the Church to which the Protestant reply'd a little fiercely How a Devil will the Pope observe the Decrees of a Councel that cannot be kept from violating the Praecepts of the Gospel but if you will undertake to bring the Pope to a submission to them I do not question to convert all of my Religion to the Pope for to tell you the truth Sir I hold one as feasible as the other At first sight indeed it appears something probable that though a particular Church may err yet in respect that Christ has promised where two or three are met together in his name he will be in the midst of them and that in this case there are not only two or three but two or three hundred and those choice men and select for their Piety and Learning it seems not impossible I say but a Congregation Consistory or Councel compos'd of the chief Heads and Governours of all the Churches in general may be infallible Were there a Councel call'd in the name of Christ only and for the real interest of the Church and did it consist of such Members and no other as had their eyes fix'd wholly upon Heaven I could almost acknowledge that Councel infallible but we know very well and our constant experience confirms it that passion blood-thirstiness interest ambition desire of dignity capriciousness in the Prelats Bishops Cardinals and Popes are the principal things that sway in Councels so as it is manifest Christ is not in their hearts and where he is not to direct them there can be no infallibility The Church of Israel was reputed even to the death of our Saviour a good and a holy Church for which reason Christ himself convers'd often with the Scribes and Pharisees rebuking such as profan'd their Temples with their buying and selling not with words only but blows declaiming against them that they had made his Fathers house a Den of Thieves His heart not being able to endure that they should use that place as a Market where the Jews met dayly to sing praises to their God The Scribes and Pharisees of the Jewish Church when there was any tumult or division amongst the people about the works our Saviour had wrought some believing them miraculous and others not they met in Councel with the Principal Rulers and Governours and having debated upon all the works he had wrought in Judea after long argumentation and dispute they concluded and condemned him as a Seducer and a Blasphemer and that was the result of that Councel of the Jews Many Councels there have been in the Christian Church that have not only err'd but undone and revoak'd what another had Decreed so as several of them have been declar'd Null though the Church had made use of their Statutes many years as in the late Councel of Trent there were four others condemn'd so as the Councel of the Apostles was the only infallible Councel that ever was in the Church and that because it was manag'd and directed immediately by the Holy Ghost according to Christ's promise as is recorded in the Gospel of St. John But here is one question will arise the solution of which would be a great satisfaction to the Reader and that is whether Anabaptists and others that have their several Religions and Sects apart may in reason challenge the honourable Title of a Church some of them conforming themselves to the documents of the Scripture and drawing the rules of their conversations from thence others and the more wicked spinning out their own methods and ordinances out of their own fancies and yet not very dissimular to the direction of the Gospel it being as it were proper to mankind to guild and colour over evil with pretences of good Many there are that believe that our Saviour in those words In my Fathers House are many Mansions intended to comprehend all the Church Militant and that he did not mean it as a figure only of the Celestial Beatitude for which cause he drove the Buyers and Sellers as I have said before out of the Temple calling it his Fathers house because in that the Jews celebrated all their Holy and Divine Functions that were necessary to give the form to a true Church Militant If it be so it must needs be acknowledg'd there is but one true Church that can be call'd justly the house of God though there may be several Chambers and Mansions divided from one another that may pass under that name The Church of Rome refuses to give the Title of Church to any but it self as if there was no Church in being but that cousening and deluding its self in the very Title they assume for by calling themselves the Church of Rome they do tacitely suppose there is some other Church that is not of Rome It is certain and beyond all dispute that all the Councels and Assemblies of Hereticks may be call'd Churches but with the distinctions of corrupt and incorrupt of sound and unsound of polluted and pure for a man though afflicted with never so many diseases back and blew with never so many stripes eaten up as it were with worms and putrifaction ceases not notwithstanding to remain a man till the Soul be separated from his Body though otherwise he may
't is ignorance and indiscretion that causes all this and should the like case happen to me I could very well make the Father an answer The other was of a certain young Student that went to a Jesuite to Confession amongst other of his Confessions he told him that he had lay'n a whole night with his Fatherships Neice and began to faint almost under the shame and apprehension of his Sin so that he had no mind to proceed but the good Father to incourage him told him That it was no such great matter to lye a night with the Neice for he had ly'n ten years together with the Mother And with this good exhortation he sent the young man back to his house And this second Example I heard my self in a Sermon in a certain Town in the Territories of the Venetian Preach'd by an Augustine Fryer who by his face look'd as like to do such a business as the Jesuite And thousands of these instances may be heard dayly in their Pulpits the Church of Rome by reason of the licentiousness of its Ministers being the laughing-stock of the Catholicks and the obloquy of the Protestant And truly 't is sad that those Confessions that were at first requir'd as conducing to the Salvation of Souls should be turn'd now by the iniquity of the Confessors into the scandal of the Church The Bishops shut their eyes at every thing because the Cardinals connive at them The Cardinals commit all things to the Pope contenting themselves with the magnificence of their Station The Pope because they let him alone in a Pinnacle of Grandeur above all exhalation of scandal leaves them to themselves and retains his opinion of their Piety not regarding what Heresies the Ignorance Malice or Lasciviousness of his Confessors may create To this the Ecclesiastick answers that we ought not to look so severely to the faults of the scandalous because they are but frailties and so will be judged by the Divine Justice it self And for instance they alledge the example of Judas who was a Traytor even in the company of the Holy Apostles so as our eye they say ought not to be upon him but upon the rest To which I answer that if there were indeed but one ill Churchman in twelve all Hereticks both Jew and Gentile would be converted to the Faith but as the case stands there is scarce one good to be found in ten thousand bad and therefore how can they be converted that have so many scandals in their prospect But some will say perhaps how can these things be redress'd I answer with the greatest facility in the world if the Cardinals pleas'd I speak not of the Pope because let the Divines say what they will for His absoluteness to speak the truth the Church of God is not a Monarchy but a Republique the Cardinals and Bishops being Supreme and Soveraign Senators and the Pope as Christs Vicar President of the Senate for though Christ created St. Peter his Vicar he took not away the Authority from the rest of the Apostles they alwayes with Supreme Authority in their Colledge decreeing what ever they thought necessary for the benefit of the Church St. Peter being allow'd no more than his single voice So that the Care and Government of the Church belonging by legal succession to the Cardinals the right of appointing remedies against such scandals as do afflict us belongs likewise to them And indeed whilst the Church was under a kind of Aristocrasie Miracles and Holiness and Goodness were observ'd to flourish But since the Priests began to flatter the Popes conceiving preferment and advantages easilier obtain'd by the adulation of one person than a Senate they put all into the hands of the Pope and made him a Monarch so that Miracles were lost immediately Sanctity was banish'd and a thousand wickednesses introduc'd because that which was Monarchy in the hands of the Pope became Tyranny in those of the Nephews Insomuch that to reduce the Church to its Primitive Holiness it will be necessary to restore it to its antient Aristocrasie Since my being at Rome I heard of hundreds of Decrees put out by the Congregation of Regolars but I never heard of any of them put in Execution as they ought to have been the Popes for the most part having dash'd them motu proprio besides the application being superficial and only to the top branches of the Tree it was impossible it should reach the Corruption that was in the Root The wickedness of the Churchmen is like a Wart upon a mans hand the more you cut it unless you cut it to the bottom the greater it grows To put out fire it is necessary to remove that matter that sustains it and if the Cardinals would apply any remedy to the scandals that throng dayly out of the Cloysters to the detriment of the Church they ought not to consider the nature of the Fryers after they are made Fryers so much as the qualities of those who make themselves Fryers The Method of the Italians in this age I speak not of other Countreys is good indeed for the advancement of their Arms but not at all for the benefit of the Church For example an Italian that has three Sons picks out the wisest and most gentile and Marryes him to keep up his Family him that is most sprightly and vigorous he sends to the Wars and if any be more foolish or extravagant than other he is sent to the Covent In short those Fathers whose Sons are given to Theft to Drunkenness Lust Dissoluteness or Prodigality if they be Lyers Swearers Cheats Blasphemers c. do presently devote them to the Cloyster where putting on the Habit of a Fryer they put them out of their sight indeed but put them into a Religious house where they become Devils because wickedness or rather a heap of wickedness cannot be taken away by fifteen yards of Cloth Were these disorders but regulated a great part of the scandal that lyes at present upon the Church would be taken away 't is a shame the worst should be given to God and the best to the Devil 't were better to suppress Cloysters and Fryers than to suffer such Fryers to be made In the Church of Rome the quality of the persons that are to enter into Religious Habits is not so much consider'd as their quantity so their number be great no matter for the rest Cheats Back-biters the Hunch-back'd the Lame and the Blind are all admitted into the Cloysters as if the number not the qualities made the Religion O most diabolical policy and fit to be exploded Did it belong to me to supplicate the Pope and the Colledge of Cardinals I would do it upon my knees because I observe goodness and piety declining in the Church and all by reason of the multitudes of Priests whose qualities ought to be more regarded than their numbers One truly Religious man is worth a thousand wicked and edifies the Church more with
and Courtezans besides I know not what power over the concourses of Curats for Benefices in Rome which are not in partibus and this Office affords the Cardinal Vicar for his Pension a hundred Ducats of Gold a month paid him out of the Chamber This Vicar has in his Court two Deputies one for Civil Causes the other for Criminal and a Vicegerent who is a Titulary Bishop and can exercise all the Episcopal Functions in Rome and he has the Superintendancy and Care of the Monasteries and Nuns he has his Provost Marshal and a certain number of Serjeants and comes with the rest of his Officials into the Congregations held before the Vicar about matters belonging to his Court. Besides these there are four Notaries belonging to that Office each of which executes his charge apart and has eight or ten Clerks under him perpetually The office of chief Penitentiary is given by the Pope to a Cardinal alwayes and yeilds him that has it a yearly Rent of about five thousand Ducats of Gold His jurisdiction lyes in cases reserv'd for the Pope in giving absolution gratis ubique and giving faculty to absolve in Parchment Seal'd with the Penitentiary Seal to such Confessors as he approves This Penetentiary has a Prelat under him that is call'd the Regent of the Penitentiary office to whom the Confessors repair upon occasion if they cannot have immediate dispach from the Cardinal And here it is to be advertis'd that this Penitentiary assigns penance according to the quality of the offence though the Confessor perhaps conceals the person This Penitentiary sits in great state sometimes in the Cathedral of Saint John de Lateran sometimes of St Peter in the Vatican and sometimes in the Church of Sancta Maria Maggiore upon a kind Throne or Tribunal four or five steps high with a wand in his hand to hear the Confessions of reserv'd Cases I had once occasion to make use of him but I would not go to Cardinal Francisco that was chief Penitentiary to confess my self lest all that were present in the Church should understand the quality of my Conscience for as soon as they observe any body at the feet of the Cardinal they imagine immediately he has some great load upon his Conscience which makes many people forbear going thither This Penitentiary can call a Congregation and by the assistance and intervention of his Regent who keeps the Seal two or three Jesuit Priests and some few Canonists deliberate about the interest and affairs of the office the History of whose Original follows About two hundred years after Christs Incarnation Saint Cornelius being Pope and many Christians having Sacrificed to Idols there was a great controversie whether those that were laps'd might be reconcil'd and re-admitted again which was the Foundation of the Novatian Schism After long dispute it was concluded by the major part that they might but because some were less Sinners than others some had not Sacrificed others had indured Persecution but were not able to persevere There were certain Priests deputed who Pro modo culpae admissam Paenitentiam indulgerent That is Proportion the Penance to the quality of the Crime And from hence sprang the Penitentiaries who after the Church was in peace and tranquility extended their jurisdiction by degrees to other delinquents for which reason it was establish'd that in every Patriarchical Church in Rome there should be two Priests who should have the care of imposing of Penances according to the Penitential Canons which are very antient by the testimony of the Keeper of the Library And this is all is written or recorded in the case from whence they argue that in probability these Priests had a head or chief to whom they repair'd to communicate their business of importance to the Pope and this they would have to be their chief Penitentiary who if so must be very antient though there be no Records of it as Pauvinus sayes before Gregory the tenth The antientest memorial of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor is to be found in an Epistle about Monarchy written by Saint Jerome who was then Chancellor ad Gerontiam It is most certain the Pope is the only Chancellor of the Church so as the other are call'd Vice-Chancellors only yet there are some that believe it is only out of respect to Saint Lawrence that was formerly Chancellor that they suffer not his Successors to enjoy the same title that he did Antiently the Chancellor writ whatever belong'd to the Pope to write and sometimes he answer'd those quaeries and scruples in matters of Faith as were made him by the Bishops and others he writ also of the Spiritual Dominion of the Pope and had the same Authority the Secretary of the Breves or the Secretary ab intimis have now Besides which he had the same Jurisdiction the Chancellors have now in France or any other Principality as Luca de Penna affirms in an Epistle of his to Isidore in which he sets down distinctly the particular faculties of this Office He had under him twelve Scrineraries and one Proto-Scrinerary all of them assisting him to undergo the weight of his Charge according to orders others were to have a care of the draughts and others to transcribe them This Office till the time of Gregory the 7th which was in the year 1187. was ordinarily conferr'd upon Bishops or Cardinals and in the year 1100. the Cardinal Bishop of Saint Ruffina was Chancellor by concession of Benedict the eight during the Papacy of Alexander the second it came to be disused which was in the year 1071. and so it continued to Gregory the eights time being frequently given to Cardinal Priests or Cardinal Deacons The said Gregory having that Office as soon as he was made Pope took it away from the Colledge of Cardinals and put into it a Canon of Lateran who because he was no Cardinal was called Cancellarii vicem agens and so it continued for a hundred years out of the hands of the Colledge of Cardinals the Ministers instead of vicem agens calling him that executed it Vice-Chancellor by degrees as a more commodious name Under Boniface the eight this Office return'd to the Sacred Colledge again being given to Richardo Padroni a Noble man of Siena who afterwards was made Cardinal as some think but forgetting the antient institution he continued Vice-Chancellor by inadvertency taking the name of the Office upon him They that had this Office call'd themselves either Chancellors or Library-keepers as they pleas'd because Praeerat Bibliothecae Whilst the Emperor had the nomination of the Popes the keeper of the Records was call'd Archicancellarius Imperii pro Italia Apostolicae sedis Bibliothecarius vel Cancellarius vel Archicancellarins and they that were in Rome said Datum Romae per manum N. Diaconi Cardinalis Vicecancellarii Archiepiscopi Coloniensis Apostolica sedis Bibliothecarii seu Cancellarii Where is to be noted the Date was made by the same Chancellor at that time the
in the Sacred Colledge it must of necessity be granted that the Popes are inferiour to that Councel so that the Cardinals as Members of a Supreme Councel and depending only upon the power of God and the protection of Princes are oblig'd to constrain the Popes to an obedience of those Councels that proceed from that Councel that indeed is natural But the Cardinals will not understand this but turning the Natural Councel into a Bastard they advise nothing that in their Consciences they think necessary for the Service of God for the Honour of the Church or the Repose of the Faithfull but only sift out the Councels Advices Sentences and Opinions of their Popes and then making their Decrees as they desire them they take but little care of the rest not that they want good will but courage and audacity to put that good will in execution which is a thing so prejudicial to their Grandeur that it detracts and lessens their dignity This I am sure of that would they once take up a resolution of resuming that authority they formerly injoy'd and renounce the Tyranny of the Nephews the greatest Princes of Christendom would take their parts and provide them with all manner of assistance But let us see the Cardinals Answer to the Kings Letter which in my judgement will not improperly be inserted in this place Most Christian and most Royal Sir I Am very sensible of the transcendant favour your Majesty has done me in vouchsafing to impart to me your resentment for the unhappy accident betwixt the Corses and certain of the Duke of Crequy's train besides the honour you have done me by the benigne confidence express'd in your Letter and by the mouth of Mr. Burlemont your Majesty has also given me occasion with all reverence to represent the great displeasure conceived by our whole Court but more especially his Holiness in whose heart there is already so great an impression of esteem and so tender an affection for your Majesty produc'd and augmented by so many glorious actions so many perpetual testimonies of your Valour and Piety in demolishing the Garrisons of the Hereticks and shutting their Churches in places under their command so that his Holiness could not evidence with more paternal demonstration the disgust that action has given him which he has not only declar'â— publiquely in his Briefs upon that occasion but in the Consistory also and in his private discourse but much more in his actions bending all his thoughts to your Majesties satisfaction as he has alwayes designed I hope therefore your Majesty with your wonted generosity will reflect upon the just motives and remain satisfied even for the intire quiet and consolation of your Servants amongst which I being not inferiour to any in point of observance neither have nor will fail in my obedience to your Majesty nor in imploying my self to the utmost of my abilities in your Majesties Service On the other side likewise I shall rejoyce if in your Majesties resolutions your Majesties Royal Bounty and Prudence does more and more shew So that to make me perfectly happy there remains nothing but your Majesties fresh commands which I most obsequiously do beg of your Majesty and make my most humble Obeisance Rome the 24. of Sept. 1662. Had these Cardinals have been to write in Paris as they were in Rome the Letter would perhaps have been otherwise and not have flatter'd his Holiness as it did and indeed in any publique Conflagration people run with water and not with wood Yet it is no such wonder to me that the Cardinals sided with the Pope as that they rob themselves of their authority and make show of certain independency giving the world to understand that the composure and accommodation of the business belong'd wholly to the Pope There would not so many scandalous offences be committed in Rome there would not be so many Murthers in the State the Church would not be haâ—raâ—'d as it is nor thousands of Families run away from the Tyranny of the Popes the Court would not swarm so much with dissolute and ignorant persons nor the people be so deplorably miserable Virtue would not be banish'd the Vatican nor Flattery received into the Capital Miters would not be bestow'd upon Asses nor Monkeys introduc'd into the Colledge Caps would not be sold at that rate nor Offices conferr'd upon him that bids most in short all things would go well if the Cardinals would exercise the authority that God has given them and not depend upon the Humour and Capriccio of this Nephew or of that did the Popes see the Cardinals vigilant over their actions were they sure of their diligence and sincerity towards the well governing of the Church they would consider of it a hundred times before they would call their Kindred to Rome and put their whole Dominion into their hands they would make many a serious reflection before they would disoblige any Prince and not suffer themselves to be drawn by their Nephews into the displeasure of one or the other But in short if they meet no impediment if they see the Cardinals loytering and asleep why should they go about to satisfie their wills Whilst the Popes are sure to have the Cadinals Canonize their errours why should they forbear to commit them I shall tell one Story very lamentable for the Catholick Church though in this only that it makes sport for the ignorant and pragmatick Hereticks for those of better judgement are troubled at any misery that befalls the Catholicks and which is more do give God thanks when he delivers them from any extraordinary calamity but because what I am about to say is sufficient to break a mans heart I shall for this reason accompany it with such examples and arguments as I have been able to draw from the discourse of some persons it was my fortune to be amongst and particularly two Divines but both marry'd which is enough to prove they were no Catholicks These two reading of a Gazet one day do not wonder kind Reader if I say they were reading a Gazet for we live in an age in which the Ecclesiasticks spend more time about the affairs of the world than about their Sermons and of this sort I knew one my self that in publique was reserv'd and grave and in company a very honest man however he privately translated out of Italian into French a book so Prophane and Satyrical that even the worst of Christians are afraid to read it these two Preachers then being reading a Gazet in the time of the vacancy of the See they found in it That the Cardinals had concluded upon certain Ordinances and Rules to be observ'd by the Pope when he shall be created and that they had propounded in the Vestry of Saint Peter the abolishment of the Nipotismo One of the two which was he that was attending with a grave voice that seem'd to proceed from a heart full of zeal said God Almighty remove those good thoughts
For a while with difficulty sometimes and sometimes without the Emperors conserv'd the faculty of Electing and Confirming the Pope till that in the year 884. the Clergy and the people having created Adrian the third a fierce and arrogant man he not only refus'd to expect Confirmation from the Emperor as some of his Predecessors had done but as soon as he was Crown'd by a particular Bull he decreed that the Election of the Pope was not by any means to be participated with the Emperor nor his Confirmation to be attended declaring that the people and the Clergy ought to Confirm those Popes which they elected Adrian would not have undertaken such an enterprize and injury to the Emperor had he not known him to be very low by reason of several Wars in which he was engag'd so that this news did but adde to the afflictions of the Emperor Otho being receiv'd to the Empire disdaining to endure the injuries which the Popes offer'd to the Emperours he deliberated revenge and contriv'd which way he should restore his affairs to their former condition and therefore in the year 957. with the consent likewise of the Clergy he depos'd and depriv'd John the 13. of the Papal dignity he being accus'd of not reciting the Canonical hours of ordaining Deacons in Stables of Swearing and Blaspheming at Dice of Ravishing of Virgins and several other delinquencies for which he being driven out of the Vatican there was substituted in his place by the sole order and authority as it were of the Emperour Leo the eight who was a Citizen of Rome and principal Treasurer of the Church of San Giovanni Laterano This Leo continued Pope while the Emperour continued at Rome but he departing the next year the Adherents to John by a popular tumult prevail'd to have John restor'd to the Papacy and Leo discarded but John lived but few months after his restoration When he was dead several instances were made in the behalf of the Emperour that Leo might be chosen and restor'd that thereby they might avert the dangers impending from the indignation his most Christian Majesty had conceiv'd for the affront done to Leo notwithstanding all which the People and the Clergy laid Leo aside and chose Benedict the fifth How much the Emperours mind was disturb'd with the news of these proceedings may be collected from the violent resolution he took for resenting the injury to Leo as done to himself he turn'd the whole power of his Arms against Rome which City after two months Seige was constrain'd to open her Gates at discretion and to deliver Pope Benedict into his hands who sent him presently in exile to Hambourg where he ended his dayes in a thousand sorrows and afflictions The next day after the Emperours entrance into Rome Leo was with the usual Solemnity restor'd to the Pontifical Chair to the no small dissatisfaction of his Adversaries But Leo understanding his obligation for the Papacy was wholly to the Emperour by whose affection and authority he was chosen in defiance both of Clergy and people he sought by all means in spight of them both to comply with the Emperour and therefore took away the power of Electing the Pope from the Clergy and people declaring the priviledges granted by Charles the Great void transferring the absolute authority in Elections upon the person of the Emperour and all as he pretended to prevent the tumults and scandals that happen'd dayly betwixt the People and the Clergy by virtue of which Concession Leo being dead the Emperour created John the 14. with the greatest tranquility imaginable The rancour of the Romans to see themselves depriv'd of the faculty of Electing the Pope which they had for so many ages injoy'd was so great that from morning to night they had their publick and private meetings to find out some way to recover the priviledges they had lost Peter who was Governour of the City of Rome with two Consuls and twelve Senators enter'd into a Conspiracy against the person of the New Pope as one that in favour to the Emperour did much prejudice to the priviledges of the people and being accompany'd with great number of the Nobility they enter'd one day with Arms in their hands into the Church of San Giovanni Laterano took his Holiness Prisoner and carry'd him to the Castle of Saint Angelo By this it may guess'd how great the insolence of the people was whilst they were unbridled and free and acting without either reason or judgement or consideration of the power of the Emperour who being at that time without wars was very potent and strong and indeed the Emperour no sooner receiv'd the alarm but he turn'd his Forces again the third time against Rome with resolution not to pardon any of the Principal in that Sedition and indeed he was as good as his word for having enter'd the City with more anger than difficulty he commanded the greatest part of the Criminals should be hang'd contenting himself with the Confiscation of the rest But Peter who was the principal Author of the Conspiracy was deliver'd into the hands of the Pope who was discharg'd of his Imprisonment and restor'd to the Papacy from whose hands he receiv'd incredible Cruelties before he was suffer'd to dye This Slaughter and Vengeance of the Emperour upon the Romans abated the pride of that people in some measure leaving the Emperour in free liberty of Electing whom he Pleas'd Pope which appear'd in the year 975. when he declar'd Boniface the seventh Pope who was a person so odious to the people they were almost ready to run mad at his creation forbearing the very Churches out of hatred to Boniface who understanding well enough the animosity of the people took a resolution to run away to Constantinople and that he might not be unprovided with moneys when he came there he made bold with the whole Treasure of Saint Peter carrying every thing along with him that was of any value or price The Romans were displeas'd both with his Robbery and Flight but made their advantage of what was happen'd making use of this as an occasion of repossessing themselves of what they desir'd so earnestly and accordingly without communicating any thing with the Emperour they created John the 15. Pope who dyed miserably in Prison by order of Boniface which said Boniface having sold his Jewels and Plate came back again to Rome and by virtue of the Sums he brought with him reconcil'd himself to many and repossess'd himself of the Papacy chasing away John from the Throne by force of Arms and clapping him up in Prison when he had done By this occasion the People of Rome reassumed their power and votes in the Election of the Pope which the Emperour likewise conceeded to them upon condition that his assent should be expected by which means all parties being pleas'd they created their Popes quietly for several years till that in the 995. John the 17. being dead and the Emperour in Italy with
in force Martin would have it confirm'd by a Bull and authenticated in the usual form and besides that every one might know how well he was inclin'd to the meeting of Councels and to take away those suspicions which some people would have conceiv'd of the rectitude of his mind he declar'd by the consent of the whole Councel of Constance Pavia to be a proper place and accordingly he sent out his Briefs every way and it follow'd in the month of April the next year At length being desirous to put an end to the Councel in the year 1418. he made a publique Assembly after which by common consent but especially of Sigismond Ibaldo Cardinal of San Vito by Order from his Holiness pronounc'd these words of dismission Domini ite in pace and therewithall all of them had liberty to depart to their houses In the mean time the Pope was intreated by the Emperour first of all to remain in Germany for a while and afterwards he was invited by the Princes of France to retire into those parts But Martin excus'd himself to them all demonstrating that he could not do it by reason that the Patrimony of Saint Peter which was in Italy did suffer much by the absence of the Pope and Rome the head of the Christian Religion was as being without a Pastor involv'd in such civil seditions as caus'd the Churches of the Saints to go utterly to ruine for which reason it was necessary for him to hasten his journey to Rome as indeed he did travelling by Milan as the nearest way He was Pope 14 years and died of an Apoplexy the 20. of Febr. 1421. The first of March the Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave with a general agreement to choose Gabriel Condulmera a Venetian Pope who in his Legation della Marca given him by Pope Martin gave great essays of his prudence in the correction of those who under pretence of ill Ministers had rebell'd against the Church Before their entrance into the Conclave things seem'd not a little imbroil'd one part of the Cardinals pretending to Elect Cardinal Cesarino another propos'd Anthonio Cassino both of them persons of greater parties than parts But those kind of projects remain'd without for as soon as they were enter'd the Conclave in the first scrutiny which follow'd the very next day after their entrance Condulmera was chosen Pope by the consent of all but 3 in 40. which was the number in the Conclave This was the most expeditious and peaceable Election that had ever happen'd before for it is certain there was never any Pope chosen in the first scrutiny but he Being demanded what name he would be call'd by he took a little time to resolve them and desiring to retire into a private place he staid there a considering above half an hour from whence some of the Cardinals took occasion to say That it was easier for them to choose a Pope than for him to choose a Name Some there were that believ'd that he would draw lots for his Name as if the goodness of the person consisted in his Name it is sufficient that about half an hour after he came forth and declar'd he would be call'd Eugenius the 4th The People receiv'd the Election with great applause but a while after taking disgust they took up Armes against him and he was forc'd out of Rome in the habit of a Monk to escape the fury of the people There were many accidents which happen'd in the Papacy of Eugenius in which he commonly remain'd Victor He chastis'd those Cardinals who under the name of the Council endeavour'd to depose him In the Wars he was alwayes neutral and unconcern'd and it was he who drew over the Jacobites to the Christian Faith But that which afflicted him most was to see that he had lost the obedience of the Germans which happen'd in this manner Philip de Florentini had taken a prejudice against Eugenius because it was he that had caus'd Sforza to be sent into the service of the Venetian to be reveng'd he fell in treaty with those who were assembled in the Council of Basi to cite Eugenius which they did three several times and because Eugenius refus'd to appear and his design did not take he made him be declar'd divested of the Papacy and got Amadeo Duke of Savoy his Father-in-Law to be created in his place who liv'd then in the company of some Gentlemen in Ripalta like a Hermit Amadeo having receiv'd the news of this new Election which was made by 26 Cardinals after he had caus'd himself to be shav'd stript of his Hermitical habit and taken upon him the name of Felix he went immediately for Basil accompanied with a multitude of the Gentry of his own Country where being arriv'd and consecrated he began to exercise the functions of a Pope ordaining confirming consecrating administring the Sacraments excommunicating creating Cardinals and Bishops granting pardons and indulgences and in short deporting himself as he had been Pope indeed By reason of this Schism great seditions were hatch'd in the Church the Christians dividing themselves into three factions one was for Felix another for Eugenius and a third being neuter was for neither of the two one side maintain'd that the Pope was to be inferiour to a Council another asserted the contrary and there wanted not others who deny'd the greatest part of the Popes Authority making a dispute whether he should be call'd the Head of the Church or not About this time Eugenius dyed on the 23. of February 1496. after whose death the King of Aragon dispatch'd Ambassadors to the Sacred Colledge to assure them that they need not have any apprehension of him he being resolv'd to give them assistance upon occasion in the Election of a Pope to which he did exhort the Cardinals At the same time Cardinal Capuano arriv'd at Rome a person of great worth and whom the people cry'd up as a fit person to be chosen Pope But the opinion of the people and of the Colledge did not agree in which there were very few for Capuano's Election It was order'd that the Conclave should be kept in the Church della Minerva though the Canons oppos'd it so that the obsequies of Eugenius being over the Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave the command of their Guards was given to the Ambassador of the Order of Saint John which is as much as to say of the Knights of Malta then of Rhodes but the Keys were kept by the three Archbishops of Ravenna Aquileia and Sermoneta besides the Bishop of Ancona When the Cardinals were entring into the Conclave many of the Roman Barons came to them and Gio. Battista Savelli amongst the rest pretending a right they had to be present at the Election But they were refus'd and made sensible that they had not now the same reason for that as in former times they had had There were but 18. Cardinals in the Conclave though there were 23. living so that the two thirds
Novelty is with great penalty forbidden as well to the Bishops as Friars they are not permitted to exercise any publique Function or to publish any Order whatsoever though from Rome its self without notice given to the Senate and their License obtain'd and from hence it is that the Service of God and the Majesty of the Church is carry'd on with that Order that they have made themselves Emulated at Rome as well as in other States and all by the Authority the Senate keeps over the Clergy looking on them as Subjects not Equals as other Princes do And without question had it not pleas'd God by opposing the powers of those two Countries France and Spain against their ambition and by their means to put a stop to that torrent that was overflowing all Christendome the present Princes of Italy had been either chased out of their Dominions or forc'd to have ow'd their Liberties to the Liberality of the Popes If the Princes of Italy would but yet take their natural Liberties into consideration and follow the Examples of France and Venice it would not be too late and doubtless of all Nations they are most worthy to be imitated though the Ecclesiasticks are not asham'd to asperse the former with Heresie and the other with Atheism But indeed the Priests and Pontificians esteem none other Christians but such as believe them to be as they would be believ'd themselves Some there are who making judgement of things from their outward appearances do imagine the Spaniard much more Zealous for the Catholick Religion than the French but they are certainly mistaken for that zeal the Spaniard pretends to the Apostolick Chair and the Service of the Church is but a Copy of his Countenance and rather the formal result of his Policy and Interest than an ingenuous effect of his piety and Devotion The Spaniards have indeed a great Reverence for the Pope but none at all for the Church The French have much for the Church but little for the Pope for which reason the Popes look upon the Spaniards as Saints for being on their side and on the French as Devils for being on Gods And this Influence and Authority of the Popes over the Consciences of the Spaniard besides a natural animosity that is betwixt them is a great impediment to their Union in Religion the Spaniards as it were in a Bridle are manag'd by the Pope but the French keep close to their Gallican Church Others there are that think the Conscience of the Venetian of the largest size but for what reason Because in their Dominions they will not suffer the Priesthood to Usurp that unlimited and irregular power they exercise with so much detriment to the Soveraignty of Princes in other States and indeed what mieseries what calamities do we see dayly spring up in Christendome by their â—â—ars what anxieties and perturbation in peoples minds and yet because the Venetian distinguishes betwixt Gods Service and the Popes betwixt the power of Princes and the power of the Church betwixt Spiritual things and Temporal they are aspers'd with largeness of Conscience But would to God that Zeal and Sincerity for Religion that raigns in the hearts of that Senate raign'd also in the Courts of all other Princes in Christendome and doubtless their affairs would have better success Some few years since it was my fortune to Travel upon the Road with two Roman Abbots one of them after several other discourses happen'd to fall upon the Authority of the Pope and to declare what great power God Almighty had given him over all people in the world I who Travell'd on purpose to make observation of the proceedings of the Ecclesiasticks and of the Jurisdiction every where but especially in some principalities of Italy to the prejudice of Princes was very glad of the occasion as hoping thereby to receive some matter for my pen. It is the custom of the Italians to constrain and reserve themselves as much as possibly and keep their opinions close from the rest of the world but it is my humour on the other side to speak freely what I think and to write all I know whether it be good or bad which though they look upon as imprudence I cannot dislike However with these Abbots I thought it best to conceal my own and attend an opportunity of discovering their Judgements At last one of the Abbots took occasion very seriously to bewayl the extravagant liberty which the French and the Venetian assumed concluding that were it not for the repugnancie of these two States the Pope would be absolute Monarch of the whole World or at least the greatest Prince would fear the censure of the smallest Priest whereas by observing how little the French and the Venetian regard the Authority of the Church all others in like manner despise the solemnest Excommunication though from the Pope himself Being always delighted to hear other men speak I made him no answer at all thereby in a manner inticing him to proceed in his discourse but when he came to complain heavily of the French and Venetian for suffering Stationers to Print and Vend books frequently in their Dominions so much to the prejudice of the Pontifical Authority I could not forbear giving him this answer Dear Sir shall it be lawfull for the Pope to cause to be printed so many thousand books at Rome in favour of his own Authority and in prejudice of the Supremacy and Majesty of Princes and shall it be unlawful for Princes to permit the reading of such books as are written in the defence of their falling Authority and in diminution of the Papal The Abbot reply'd with the passion and insolence of a Priest That Princes could not in Conscience challenge their Authority but from the Pope's blessing and benignity who as Christ's Vicar upon Earth has power to dispose of all things in this world which are bestow'd by Heaven whence Princes are styled Sons and the Pope Father because as a Father he gives them their patrimony But this by your leave is a mistake reply'd I. True it is Princes are Sons of the Church indeed but not of the Pope and they are oblig'd to defend that Church which is their Mother but not that Pope who is their Enemy The Goods of this world do indeed belong unto the Lord but not at all to the Pope who by pretending to a Vniversal Dominion is so far from being Christs Vicar that he goes contrary to the Doctrine of our Saviour who besides the command he has left us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars has declared that his Kingdom is not of this world and how then could the Pope who is but his Vicar confer or take away any Kingdoms here That which netled the Abbot most was my calling the Pope an Enemy to Princes to which he answered And why an Enemy I pray you I reply'd may not he too properly be call'd my Enemy that seeks to rob me of my birth-right
would not continue in an Errour with the rest Adrian the sixth before he was Pope writ in his fourth Book of Sentences That the Pope may err even in matters of Faith by asserting of Heresie either by his particular determination or by a Decretal there being really several Hereticks â—o be found in the Catalogue of Popes His words are these Certum est quod Romanus Pontefex possit errare etiam in his quae longunt fidem Haeresim per suam determinationem aut decretale asserendo plures enim fuere Romani Pontifices Haeretici After he was Pope he order'd his book to be re-printed in the Vatican printing house at the charge of the Church without expunging the least word of what he had writ before And being importun'd by the Cardinals at least to correct that passage as being scandalous to the Pontifical Dignity he reply'd That it had been alwayes his opinion in the times of other Popes and he would not be contrary to himself When Opinions are directly contrary to one another 't is impossible but one of the parties that maintain them must be mistaken and of the Roman Popes there have been many that have acknowledg'd themselves subject to err and inferior to Counsels and that for twelve entire Ages together On the contrary in these last Ages especially for these last fifty years they admit not any such thing but which is still more absurd they maintain the whole body of the Church to be inferior to the Pope and not the Pope to the Church Which of these Opinions is the wrong I leave to the Judicious to determine Whether they were deceiv'd whose ashes the people do worship at this day for their Piety and Devotion celebrating their memories with Divine Offices or the other that were scarce dead before they were condemn'd by all the World I leave the very Romanists to judge And indeed these abuses are so great and so frequent that if the Temporal Princes do not look to themselves God knows what will follow considering the temper of the Court of Rome The Popes never punishing any body but to advantage themselves most of the Writers to comply with his humour and multiply their Estates heap privilege upon privilege title upon title and authority upon authority There are notwithstanding many sober and solid Divines amongst them of good principles and such as abominate this kind of flattery but they dare not speak their Opinions openly knowing how vindicative the Court of Rome is And I believe did not Secular Princes protect these kind of Divines as the Pope does the other it would go very ill with the dignity of Princes in a short time I do not wonder that the Roman Divines maintain the Popes infallibility at Rome but I am astonish'd that they should be allow'd to do it in the Dominions of other Princes and that to their no small detriment since to permit such books is in a manner to confirm them and to confirm the Popes infallibility is to weaken and diminish the Authority of Princes From whence it will follow that they must patiently sit down with what injuries any capricious Popes shall please to lay upon them it being irrational to complain of one they have own'd to be infallible About two years since some certain Jesuits disoblig'd by some check which they had receiv'd in Paris about Santarelli's Book fell publiquely to maintain before the Kings face the question of the infallibility and impeccability of the Pope The Gallican Divines thought themselves concern'd for the honor of the Crown and conservation of the antient privileges of their Church to answer them with a most just and well grounded censure wherewith they rigorously condemn'd the Doctrine of the Jesuits as too remote from the general Opinion and of great prejudice to the Soveraignty of Princes Pope Alexander the seventh having notice of what past testify'd to the most Christian King his dislike of this proceeding The King recommending the examination of the matter to the wisdom of the Parliament of Paris they upon mature deliberation concluded that the Popes infallibility was not to be admitted in France as being an innovation and inconsistent with the antient privilege of that Church and therefore they saw no reason to admit a new opinion known only to such as depended on the Court of Rome and reject that which was of greater antiquity and had been own'd by so many Religious Popes which determination so netled his Holiness that he fell immediately to his Bulls and with great threatning and curses forbad the printing or reading of the above said Censures Amongst other Expressions in his Bull there were these Praefatas censuras uti praesumptuo sas temerarias at que scandalasas It is very well known that those censures were made by the Sorbonists by the Kings principal Divines by the Parliament it self which is as much as to say by the King himself Notwithstanding the Pope does not spare any revilings but throws forth peals of invectives indiscriminately as if nothing were injurious from a Pope and this is the respect they bear to such Princes as the most Christian King and to such a State as France But if the Popes will persist in cursing and reviling of those that take part with Princes let them not take it ill if the Princes take such into their protection as publish the Popes injustice and the rights of Princes Let the Princes lay aside all scruples when the Interest of their States is in question The Pope is but a man and as such may err let them respect honor and reverence him as he does them and let them stand alway upon their guards especially whilst he is in amity with them for 't is the ordinary practice of the Divines in such times of tranquility to disseminate their Doctrines of Papal infallibility and impeccability whereof they reap the profit in time of difference so that in all policy they are oblig'd to have a care of the dangerous insinuations of the Roman Ecclesiasticks Odoardo Farnese Duke of Parma whilst Vrban the eight was his friend condescended to all his Holiness desired he gave liberty for the publick preaching up of his infallibility he gave no refuge or shelter to such as writ against him he order'd their books to be burnt or at least prohibited such as spoke ill of Rome in short he advanc'd the Popes Interest by the diminution of his own but when afterward they were at variance he found his errour and he had much ado to disintangle himself from those troubles which he had created to himself I am very well satisfy'd that the Court of Rome had much rather see me a Martyr than a Prophet otherwise I could presage many things that will fall out unfortunately to the quiet of the Church if no stop be given to that torrent of false Doctrine that overflows not only the brains but the pens of the Roman Divines The Popes indeed do labour to give a remedy to
difference at the Election of Damascus and Ursinus Of the Persecutions of the Emperours overcome by the Church with the force of patience Of the preceedency of the Bishops and Cardinals and how the Cardinalship was a step to the degree of a Bishop Of the effects that the blending and confusion of Temporal things with Spiritual brought into the Church Of the Ecclesiastical Government and its policies Of the resemblance of the Church with the Galley of Salamin How the Supreme Government of the Church was taken from the Bishops and transferr'd to the Cardinals How ambition first flourish'd in the Church Of the Election of Cardinals and the quality of their Electors Of the great ardour with which the Italian Prelats negotiated the Cardinalitial Dignity Of the Honours and Dignities invented by the World and by fortune Of the Titles the Cardinals enjoy at present Of the number that forms the Colledge of Cardinals Of the great Prerogative that follow the Majesty of Cardinals Of the time the Popes create their Cardinals Of the manner of their creation formerly and of the way they are created at present Of a certain example of a Catholick and a Protestant about the manner of creating of Cardinals Of Maldochino's promotion to the Cardinalship Of the seven Offices in the persons of the Cardinals Of the Pension and Jurisdiction of the Popes Vicar Of the charge and antiquity of the Vice-chancellorship Of the number of Congregations the Cardinals hold Of the three Arch-Priestship in the persons of the Cardinals Of the order observ'd at the death of a Cardinal and of the ceremonies at their Funerals Of the diminution of the Cardinalitian authority by the Popes Of the manner in which they receive their Caps Of the ceremony of stopping the mouths of the Cardinals Of the Cardinalitial Habits Of their Cavalcades Of the usual Function when the Pope sends a Cap to a Cardinal out of Rome Of the visits the Cardinals receive and return Of the manner how the Prelats of the Church are receiv'd by the Cardinal Padron Of the scandal taken by the Protestants by the irregular lives of some of the Cardinals Of the manner of their stopping their Coaches Of the civility amongst the Ecclesiasticks Of the Cardinals courtesie to Strangers when they are Legats of Provinces Of the Presents the new Cardinals give to the Officers of the Popes Court and the Cardinal Nephews Court and to others Of the manner observ'd by the Cardinal Legats when they receive the relations of any Serene Prince The manner how the Cardinals receive the great Ladies as they pass by their houses Of the Popes Titles resemblance with the Titles of Christ. Of the great contempt the Popes in the Primitive times had of Honors and Titles Of the introduction of Titles amongst the Ecclesiasticks according as Riches were introduc'd Of the Titles the Popes us'd antiently Of the Title of Servant of the Servants of God introduc'd by Gregory That Schism and Heresie were begot in the Church by the introduction of so many several Titles Of the variation of many Titles in the persons of the Cardinals Of the Title of Eminence invented by Urban the eight and upon what occasion Of his first design to have conferr'd that Title upon his Nephews only Of the troubles brought into the Church by the assignation of the Title of Eminence to the Cardinals Of the Title of Highness assum'd by the Princes after the Cardinals had taken upon them the Title of Eminence How common the Title of Excellence became after that time Of a Princes Secretary that refus'd a Letter from a Cardinal to his Prince because it was not directed with the Title of Highness Of the Divines the Cardinals keep alwayes about them Of the office of a Theologist how honourable it is when exercis'd by a person of Learning and Worth Of a certain Divine and his impious Services to his Cardinal Of the honour good Servants bring to the persons of the Cardinals and of the dishonour if they be wicked and of other particularities THere are some Ages past already since all Europe not to restrain my self to Italy which has found the greatest sweetness of it had had experience how pleasant that Fortune is that receives its Original from the Church For from thence it is that that which before was despis'd by the most abject Citizens is now eagerly aspir'd to by the most considerable Families in Europe Some ten Ages past there was not a Mendicant or Artificer much more that could be perswaded to leave his Cabane or his Shop to take upon him the Authority of a Prince in the Territory of the Church The Pastors in those dayes choosing rather to sweat and toyl like a Husbandman at Plough than like a Prince to command the Monarchy of Christ At present or for these two last Ages rather the nature of things has been alter'd so much there seems no Room left in the Ministry of the Church but for the Richest and most Illustrious Families that are Princes themselves aspiring to those preferments changing willingly their Sword for a Gown and their Mantle Royal for a Fryers Cowle Amongst the Protestants also I observe no small alteration in former Ages one of the most able and eminent Ministers of the Gospel could not without great difficulty get a Wife even amongst the meanest people of the City Now a dayes the Tables are turn'd and the greatest Ladies are ambitious to marry themselves to the most abject and ignorant of that Ministry To the Catholick and Protestant both this matter appears wonderfull yet if it be consider'd narrowly the mystery is not impenetrable the truth is the Pay of the Church that before was bitter is now sweet and easie A Preacher of the Gospel has now no more to do than to furnish himself with a dozen Sermons afore-hand and according to the revolution of the year to beat them over and over again into the Ears of the People whereas formerly it was their custom to study early and late from morning to night and be alwayes ready not to expose only but spend their blood in the Service of the Church Formerly the Clergy thought of nothing but executing the duty of their Functions taking no care nor pleasure in the world and therefore the world despis'd them At present they are so farr inveighed and inamour'd with the world they show but little affection to the Church and the world respects them for it Antiently they serv'd the Church for no other end but to gain Souls to Heaven but now they served it only to gain applause and riches to themselves then they were 〈…〉 â—â—d despised now they are rich and adored In those dayes the Popes were constrain'd with tears in their eyes to beseech such and such that they would vouchsafe to take the Ecclesiastical Habit upon them because then their humility and meekness made them contemptible to the world Now the Scene is chang'd and people beg and intreat with
as you please but if these be touch'd in the least the Cardinal instead of being a Protector becomes a Councellor instead of defending the interest of his Crown against the Pope he maintains the Popes interest against his Crown exhorting him to comply and to give up some part of his Right in Testimony of the cheerfulness of his obedience to the common Father of Christendom And this is so far from being a wonder that it cannot be otherwise the Cardinals growing great with the Popes their Reputation and Honour increaseth with theirs also so that the Majesty of the Cardinals cannot be lessen'd by any other means than by the diminution of the Popes forthe conservation of which they are most diligently vigilant they themselves being Protectors of the Grandeur of the Popes as the Popes are Protectors of theirs And now I leave it to the consideration of any man of reason â—f any Cardinal Protector let him be never so much oblig'd to the Crown he protect will do any prejudice to the Pope to satisfie the desires of that Crown True it is they will as near as they can mannage their affairs so as the Honour and Reputation of the Crown they are oblig'd to serve shall not be violated yet so it is the interest of the Pope is alwayes more dear to them for reasons both Politick Moral and Ecclesiastick nor ought Princes to expect the contrary There is another thing likewise introduc'd into the Court of Rome as some think to render the Cardinalitial dignity more majestick and that is the protection of Religious orders every order having power to elect a Cardinal for its Protector sometimes some Cardinals aâ—e Protectors of several orders and one of that sort is Cardinal Francisco Barbarino as I take it by reason of the long time he continued Cardinal Nephew and Padrone the several Fraternities being ambitious to have him for their Protector that was nearest the Pope eight several orders chose this Nephew for their Protector 't is true the Popes sometimes will assign them Protectors contrary to the desire of the orders so as it happens too often they have Cardinals appointed them that have so little affection for their orders they would willingly change them but it is not alwayes allow'd them nor to all and particularly in the times of Innocent the tenth and Alexander the seventh For my part I cannot imagine this kind of Protection was introduc'd for the benefit and advantage of the poor Religious but to subject them the more rather to â—he Court of Rome and by that means as with a Bridle to manage and ride them For indeed before these protections of orders in the persons of the Cardinals were introduc'd the Religious were so venerable in Rome and in such esteem for their devotion that the Popes did take delight to employ great numbers of Fryers out of the Cloysters in the most considerable offices of the Church and with eminent men to fill up the Sacred Colledge of Cardinals which was thought incompleat if a good number of Fryers in their Purple were not seen amongst the rest of the Cardinals but since the Cardinals began to assume the protections of Religious orders and to work and insinuate themselves into the intrigues of their Convents the Religious Fryers are become the scorn of the World the obloquy of Nations the scandal of the Church the dishonor of Rome and that to such a height that whereas heretofore the Cardinals thought they gave Testmonies of a good Conscience as often as they gave their Votes for any poor Fryer in Purple at present the Popes do believe they offend God and the Church every time they are as it were forc'd by the accumulated merits of some Fryer that is eminent in Learning and Piety to admit him into the Colledge of Cardinals insomuch that if no other interest does move the heart of the Popes it is most certain their Goodness their Virtue nor their Sanctity it self will be too weak to prefer them I will not say to the Popedom for of that they took their last leave with the person of Sextus the fifth who was in spight of all envy the greatest Pope that was ever seen in the Vatican but to the Colledge of Cardinals from whence also they seem to be banish'd and God knows whether they will ever be recall'd whilst the malice of those Priests that have Saint Peters Keys and St Pauls Sword in their hands is so fierce against the poor Fryers that they have not so much as wherewithall to knock at the door But some may wonder at this and think it impossible that the protections of the orders given to the Cardinals should have been the occasion of lessening the Reputation of the Religious to remove therefore this miracle and make the business more clear I shall inform them that during the time the Fryers liv'd without Protectors the iniquities of the Cloysters went no further but lay conceal'd amongst themselves because the underlings went only to their Pryor for Justice the Pryor to the Provincial the Provincial to the Visitor the Visitor to the General and if things could not be accommodated by them the Chapters and Congregations apply'd their remedies with absolute authority And whilst the affairs of the Religious were carry'd in this manner neither the world nor Rome nor the Court saw any thing but their outward actions of Piety and Religion which kindled a flame of devotion in the hearts of the people But no sooner were the protections introduc'd but their vices became publique every Fryer either to destroy the reputation of his Superior to revenge himself of his Enemies or to demand Justice upon every inconsiderable occasion battering the ears of their Protectors with informations of their Rogueries that perhaps would have been better determin'd in the Cloysters amongst the Fryers than in the Courts of the Protectors amongst those Courtiers But to speak truth how can the Protectors of these orders with a good Conscience protect these Fryers How is it possible to edifie by them if every Post-day they send them whole dozens of Pacquets of Letters not mentioning the Discipline of that Fryer nor the abstinence of this but the rogueries and cheats of all together For in these times one of them no sooner receives any disgust from his Superiour but to discredit him for ever after having recorded it in the Congregations and Chapters he writes immediately to the Protector of it Baptizing him as it were in Satyrical Ink so as every Character appears an Original Sin both in the one and the other in the mind of the Protector I my self know an Augustin Fryer that I could name if I were sure of his life that took delight to write every year forty or fifty private Letters to the Cardinal Protector sometimes against one and sometimes against another and which is worst sometimes against his friends with so incredible secresie inventing his lyes that Lucifer himself could not in that point
all to bestow that upon a few and many times the most undeserving that by distributive justice ought to be divided amongst all can certainly be the production of no good To leave virtue it self after a long and painful peregrination unrewarded and forsaken cannot sound well in the ears nor heart of an Ecclesiastical Prince that ought to be a Protection and Assylum to the learned and deserving especially your Holiness who has rais'd the Fabrick of your fortunes upon the foundation of virtue and worth Rome abounds with persons of all sorts of Learning at this day more than ever but they want incouragement and are buried as it were in sorrow there being no body that will so much as trouble themselves to represent their parts and capacities to him that can reward them Your Holiness that in the beginning of your Papacy with so much praise to your self did own and caress them will find what advantage it will be to continue the b 〈…〉 actions of a Mecenas and to allure them by your countenance and esteem which is the most grateful aliment of virtue encouraging them with favours and providing them employments that they may not consume and pine away in the Lethargy of idleness I speak not most Holy Father of those Pensions wherewith the Bishopricks and Parishes are by the Ministers of your Holiness so extravagantly charg'd that to the scardâ—l of the whole world to the disparagement and contempt of the innocent Clergy and to the prejudice of the reputation of the Church several poor Bishops are rendred subject to interdictions and censures or reduc'd to that indigence they are forc'd of loving Shepherds to become ravenous Woolfs by their rapacities and extortions to satisfie the exorbitant pensions that are charg'd upon them squeezing as it were out of the extream necessities of the Church and her already too much afflicted and exhausted Flock all that are constrain'd to contribute to the Profit Luxury Lasciviousness and Intemperance of those who God know had but little virtue to advance them May your Holiness for the love of Christ open your eyes in a business of that importance which carries along with it consequences so pernicious to the Church Let not your Holiness for the love of God suffer so many poor Churches Spouses of Christ to remain robb'd and dispoil'd of their Dower nor that at the Lords Table Uâ—us essâ—riet alius vero ebrius sit but rather let the bread of the Church be distributed equally amongst her Ministers according to their merits Although in the Courts of Rome there are many Prelats and Ministers to be seen that have integrity of manners joynâ—d to the nobility of their birth he nevertheless that for so many years though undeservedly has had the direction of the Signiture may perhaps have seen further into some things than they vâ—z that the Dependencies and Relations of the Popes and Cardinals do not suffer the poor Prelats to act according to the Dictates of Equity and Conscience I do most humbly beseech that your Holiness in your great Prudence would provide for the extirpating of this custom of recommendation that the condition of all people may be consider'd and that Liberetur pauper a Potente pauper cui non adest Adjutor Neither would it be less gratefull to God Almighty if your Holiness would provide against the tediousness and delays in matters of Law which sometimes are so long that besides the ruine and extinguishment of many Families they become the dishonor of the Courts of Rome when those causes that might have been determin'd in a few dayes are by several years suspence grown old and inveterate Though I believe the Ministers and Governours of the State and all they that administer justice to the people in our Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction are of themselves inclin'd to do all things equitable and right yet it would be a greater stimulation if your Holiness would cause it to be inculcated into them that justice is not attended by interest or passion but is the only instrument for the conservation of peace quiet and human Society and that they search all enormity to the bottom and destroy it root and brance Legibus enim delicta 〈…〉 r quanto melius provideri ne pâ—ccareâ—â—r But above all let that scandalous authority that the Ministers arrogate to themselves of making Buts and Marks for their Persecutions of all such as have recourse to the highest Tribunals at Rome oftentimes making use of threats to deter them from such appeals This in my judgement is a matter of great consequence th 〈…〉 s the Supreme Authority of the Prince and takes away without cause the confidence his Subjects have in him or otherwise occasions such jealousies as have been the subverson of States and Kingdoms both Protestant and Catholick Above all it is necessary that care be taken not to afflict the poor people with their severities and vexations as they have formerly nor with their Cavalcades their troubles being too much already with their Subsidies and Taxes with the frequent Comâ—â—ssions to the Commissaries of the Buildings of the Archives of Saltpeter of Gunpowder of the Streets with their solemn Ridings Reprisals and other cruel inventions to exact innumerable sums from the people which being little or no advantage to the Pope are of no other use but by the inrichment of some few ill Conscienc'd Ministers to contract the Odium of the people and imploy the tongues of the discontented These afflictions do very much exceed what the people of Israel suffer'd in Egypt they cannot be mention'd but with admiration and scandal to Foreign Nations especially if they consider them as effects of the immoderate inclinations of the Popes to their own Kindred and Families And your Holiness may ascribe it to your good fortune that you employ'd your gracious care in Foreign parts that they might not have so full and exact notice of it as would have drawn tears of pitty and compassion from the eyes of all that heard it and perhaps for the better because the wound thereby would have been open'd and render'd more casâ—c for the Cure And indeed who is there that could hear with dry eyes that a people not conquer'd by the Sword but by the Munisicence and Piety of some Prince by way of Donation annex'd to the Patrimony of Saint Peter or that otherwise in confidence of the Piety of their Successors submitted themselves freely to the See of Rome should be now under a harder and more insufferable Yoak and treated with more inhumanity than the very Slaves in Africk or Syria The Debt upon the Chamber according to the account I made of it some nights since by my self amounts to above fifty millions of Roman Crowns and that not only without any hopes of lessening but with assurance it will be increas'd insomuch that the People not being able to comport themselves under so excessive a burthen desperate of any relief do many of them leave their Native
no mans person I am Pope and 't is in my power to null or confirm their Acts as I think good my self Let not the Cardinals inquire now what means the Popes made use of to invade and usurp the authority they formerly injoy'd because they are sure to be answer'd with nothing but violence insolence and threats against which they having not courage enough to defend themselves do sit down contented only with the Title and appearance and it is certain at this day that the Cardinals have no more authority over the Church than the Duke of Savoy has over the Kingdom of Cyprus of which he will be call'd King notwithstanding so the Cardinals will be call'd Princes of the Church whilst the Pope runs away with the power doing and undoing as he pleases giving offices and preferments at his pleasure and imposing his own Laws without contradiction insomuch that the Consistories Congregations and Colledges are only for the service and assistance of the Pope who suffers not the Cardinals to transact any thing but by his direction and if they do he revoaks it so that it is too true they have nothing left but a bare outside authority All this would be past over nevertheless and their affliction would not be so great were it the Popes only that commanded the Cardinals but the misery is for more than an age past so many Nephews as have been in Rome so many Popes have there been to command them for the Popes communicating the authority they usurp'd with each of their Nephews they know very well which way to put in execution and have no need to be taught how to make their advantages Is it not a melancholly and most deplorable sight to see two sorry little-headed Nephews make so many Logger-headed Cardinals to tremble that one poor single Nephew should keep the whole Colledge in awe That two pittiful Relations of the Pope's born and brought up in obscurity should be more considerable in Rome than so many Princes of most noble Extraction That the Popes should give more ear to the advice of a Nephew newly taken from School and many times from the Shop than to the Councels of so many Cardinals us'd and accustom'd to publick affairs and zealous of the Service of God That they should command that know not how to command and they be forc'd to obey those they ought in all equity to command That the foreign and extraneous Nephews should have freer and more uninterrupted access to the Vatican than the Cardinals that are born in Rome Now if affairs be carry'd in this manner in the Court of Rome in respect of Spiritual and Temporal Things how can the Cardinals be properly call'd Princes that leave the Church in the hands of other people It is the Nephews that are the Princes that hold the Patrimony of Saint Peter in their possession that divide it from the Church without any resistance and appropriate it as a Patrimony for their particular Families Nor ought the Nephews on the other side to permit seeing they have the authority in them the Cardinals to bear the Title of Princes of the Church lest very ill consequences should follow They have no other right of Dominion over them than by Usurpation and Tyranny and Tyranny is sometimes rais'd above the Majesty of Princes Now if the Cardinals be Princes of the Church without any Soveraignty the Nephews that have got that Soveraignty without any title must be Tyrants and therefore to remove this inconvenience it is necessary either to leave the Dominion of the Church to the Cardinals that have the Title or to give the Nephews the Title that have the Power already and exercise it with great Authority There is not a Heretick a Gentile a Jew a Catholick nor a Protestant but knows the Government of the Church by the Nephews is Tyrannical because the Authority they have to govern it is deriv'd only from the Popes who have no Authority to dispose of that which belongs legally to the Cardinals Christ as if on purpose to prevent disputes said expresly when he gave the power of the Keyes to Saint Peter Tibi dabo claves Regni coelorum observe the word Tibi to Thee that is to Peter I give the Keyes of my Church and not to his Nephews It is my pleasure that you Command and give Laws not your Relations and Kindred Tibi dabo claves Regni coelorum And therefore Saint Peter who understood his duty very well would never admit any of his own Relations to the Government of the Church but only such as were call'd by the Divine mouth of our most blessed Saviour Now a dayes the Popes proceed quite contrary glossing as they please upon the Gospel robbing them as soon as they are entred into the Vatican of all their Authority and giving it to their Nephews and instead of governing the Church with the assistance of the Cardinals in whom the power is directly from our Saviour they govern with the assistance of their Nephews that cannot with any justice enter into the Vatican nor take possession of an Authority that belongs only to the Cardinals It is clear the Cardinals are the true successors of the Apostles so that if the Apostles receiv'd none of their Jurisdiction from Saint Peter but immediately from God and if Saint Peter did never command them neither can nor ought the Popes to command the Cardinals nor are they oblig'd to obey them in what relates to the Government of the Church seeing they have as much power in those affairs as the Popes For my part when I shall see the Popes hold the same correspondence with the Cardinals that Saint Peter did with the Apostles I shall believe them true Popes so on the other side I shall believe the Cardinals true Princes of the Holy Church when I shall see them replete with holy zeal and labouring for the recovery of that Jurisidiction which hath been so unjustly taken from them If they shall at any time be restor'd to the exercise of that Authority they formerly for several ages possess'd they will make the Popes the Church and themselves happy and fortunate and bless'd themselves bless'd because that respect which at present is given by the Faithfull to the Purple only will be kindled in the hearts of all Christendom and break out into a flame of devotion to behold them with such passion and solicitousness endeavouring the good of Christianity the Church fortunate because it shall be no more worryed nor tormented with the tongues and pens of Historians but see every day new Christians sprouting up in her bosom And lastly the Popes shall be happy in having Companions in the care of the Flock of Christ in discharging themselves of a part of that burthen that is not to be sustain'd by one but with great danger of sinking under it Let not the Cardinals therefore any longer delay the wresting again that Dominion out of the hands of the Nephews that by Divine
time past given themselves over to lessen and abuse them as has been many times seen not only in the times of Paulus quartus and Sexiâ—s quintus and other Popes but in the milder and more moderate dayes of Innocent the tenth who upon a single relation whether true or false receiv'd by Azoleni against the person of Cardinal Astalli as shall be related in its proper place without process or information nay I may say without any offence prejudicial to the Church or scandalous to the Court he us'd the said Cardinal Astalli so ill he could not have us'd the greatest Rogue or Criminal worse to which may be added the same usage that Cardinal Anthonio receiv'd from the same Pope And after this manner it is that the Cardinalitial dignity is brought into great obscurity by the Popes themselves which serves as an example likewise to the greater Princes who seeing the Cardinals handled at that rate by the Popes they in time take their opportunities to intrench upon their authority and usurp upon them inspight of all the clatter of Rome Insomuch that there are some Cardinals asham'd as it were of their Purples to see themselves subjected to the insolencies of mean persons that for the most part are they that are advanc'd to the Papacy To this purpose I remember that one day two Cardinals of great judgement talking together about the above said ill usage of the Cardidinal of Rhetz in France the elder of them told the other That it is better to be abus'd by a great Monarch than a great Clown Nor is this dignity ambitioned by Princes to add honour to their birth but only because it is the office of the Cardinals as I have said before to make election of their Popes For this reason the greatest Monarchs are glad to have them their friends and to oblige them with large pensions which custom was introduc'd by the Spaniards amongst whom it is practis'd with more liberality that the Popes may thereby be made the more inclinable to their party There have been some Popes that have had it in design to incraase the number of Cardinals from seventy to a hundred according to the example of Romulus the founder of Rome who elected a hunhred persons the most excellent in the whole City and call'd them Fathers But the Popes of this Age who are so taken up and devoted to the interest of their private Families would with more readiness reduce than increase them in respect of the great reverences that are requisite to the dignity they possess it being necessary they should leave some considerable subsistance to persons oblig'd to live in Pomp and Grandeur Yet the augmentation of their number would be more advantage because if their number was greater the more frequent would their promotions be and by consequence they would be the more able to create more creatures to for their Families and Nephews which is the only thing their Holinesses think on But on the other side if things be consider'd more nearly the smaller the number of the Cardinals is the better for the Purse of the Nephews for by that means they receive the profits of all vacancies the Popes not making a promotion but with a great deal of trouble whilst they bestow all the vacant Rents of the Cardinals upon their Nephews who knowing very well there can be no better supply than ready money they part with any thing that may furnish them with that However they are zealously industrious to get whatever they can the Popes whilst they are vigorous and strong and free from infirmities and diseases do keep their Cardinalships vacant and unsupply'd drawing the whole profits to themselves but when they find themselves sick or in extremity they fill them up immediately as Vrban the eight did who for seven years together did not create one Cardinal but afterwards towards the latter end of his Papacy he created fifteen at one Ordination and eleven at another And Alexander the seventh would have put it off likewise to the last yet the truth is he left not the Sacred Colledge long unsupply'd because he had no other way to fortifie and sustain his own Family but by augmenting the number of Cardinals with his own creatures But it is time now we discourse something of the qualities merits customs and adherences of all the Cardinals to give the greater perfection to our Cardinalism and the greater light and illustration to the Reader by consideration of the natures and humours of all them that make up the Apostolical Colledge which are in all sixty eight viz. of the creatures of Vrban sixteen of Innocent the tenths twenty and of Alexanders thirty two of Clement the ninths addition we shall speak in its proper place and to avoid confusion we shall proceed according to the order of preceedence beginning with the creatures of Vrban amongst whom FRANCISCO BARBARINO presents himself first to our consideration This Cardinal is at present Dean of the Sacred Colledge to which dignity he arriv'd after the death of Cardinal Carlo de Medici Unckle to the Great Duke I shall not inlarge my self here by the description of the Family of the Barbarini which consider'd in the time when Florence was a Republique appear'd to be equal and in competition with the house of Medici that had the preceedence of them all which Family increasing in Riches and Grandeur and growing by degrees to the Supremacy in command the other could not brook the Tyranny of the Medici's but dispers'd his branches here and there and particularly in Rome where Maffeo Barbarino being made Cardinal Francisco and Anthonio two Brothers and Sons of the said Maffeo's Brother were put to study in a certain Colledge in which the esteem they had of them was so small that the Sons of Artificers would scarce give them the place especially to Francisco who was so little known so ill shap'd and of so unrefin'd a wit they could not believe him to be the Nephew of a Cardinal who was witty and judicious indeed but otherwise fit for any thing else than to make a Pope Fortune notwithstanding who sports her self with whom she pleases dispos'd things in that manner that she render'd Cardinal Maffeo worthy of that dignity in spight of the whole Colledge if it be lawful for me to say so who little thought of making such a man Pope as was inducd with so arrogant and haughty a mind No sooner therefore was Maffeo leap'd into the Vatican by the name of Vrban but he promoted Francisco to the dignity of a Cardinal in the very first Consistory which was in the year 1623. on the second of October with the Title of Saint Onofrio first and then of Saint Agata to the wonder of all those that would have thought it an injury to him should they have said that he was in so short a time to leap over their heads And Pope Vrban understanding how unfit this Nephew was for Councel how little read in
and offended parties have said that he was a Phalaris or a person of a cruel and carnal nature because ordinarily they go together and your cruel people are observ'd to be most carnal Many are of opinion that if his life corresponded to his parts there would not be a more worthy person in the whole Colledge He has certainly a sound judgement a brain capable of any thing he is more learned than ordinary curious in all kind of History politick dextrous in treaties and business assiduous in what he undertakes not obstinate in his opinion in short he is a person of general parts which in the Congregations and Consistories he dayly discovers He has but one Brother an antient man too but inclin'd as much to pleasure as this is to severity He has great store of friends and adherents in Rome his nearest are Caraffelli and Capranica with whom he holds very good correspondence the great affection he bears to Ravizza a person odious to the Romans has given some check to his reputation and the rather because he appear'd in his defence against Cardinal Chigi PAVLO SAVELLI a Roman is the Nephew of the late Cardinal Fabrisio Savelli that serv'd a long time in the wars of Germany in the quality of General This Family is the most considerable in Rome and that not only for its antientness and nobility but for the great Prerogatives it enjoys as the office of Marisciallo di Santa Chiesa and to that Marshalship belongs the keeping of the Conclave During the vacation of the See the said Savelli has no small authority and jurisdiction in Rome He may raise Souldiers for a Guard for himself at the charge of the Apostolical Chamber upon any emergency or apprehension and chastise those that transgress the orders of the Conclave as he did in the Conclave of Vrban the eight when he sent several little Clarks to the Galeys for conveying Letters to the Cardinals in the Conclave and threatned others with death Though this Family has had two Popes of it and a great number of Cardinals yet it has been in great danger of falling and this is most certain had it not been for the inheritance of Montalto it would have been very low But so opulent an estate falling to them by a marriage contracted with a Sister of Montalto that happen'd to be the last of the house of Perretii and the Prince Savelli was sufficient to make him lift up his head again though to speak truth he had never abated of his usual splendour unless in some small retrenchments of his Court. This Paulo that we speak of purchas'd the Chiericatura di Camera with firm confidence to be chosen a Cardinal as indeed it fell out for Alexander retaining the same inclination to the Roman Families as Innocent had that he might not see so honourable a house without a Cap at the death of Cardinal Fabritio he made him a Cardinal 1664. with the Title of Santa Maria della Scala This Cardinal has no great knowledge in the most considerable affairs of State but he has capacity enough to inform himself If he would read History a little more he would do much better in the Congregations though his judgement already is none of the worst He is a Spaniard but concerns not himself too farr in defence of that Crown His Conversation is good and grateful yet some there are that think him proud but I could never see but he was humble enough ALPHONSO LITTA a Milanese has been imploy'd in several important affairs in which he has alwayes express'd himself by the honourableness of his success a man of great parts and experience He is certainly a man very proper for business indefatigable in searching and perpending of every thing he undertakes that he may not afterward be at a loss when he comes to give his judgement or vote so that this is most sure that he that loses any thing in his presence may be satisfy'd very well for he is not us'd to do things blindfold as others do even in Rome it self He has given tokens of his parts and good life from his very youth yet he fell into some light miscarriages but not considerable he is a person of good learning great practice no ordinary experience and has a strange head for solid and profound business Whilst he was Archbishop of Milan he shew'd himself an excellent Pastor conciliating the affection of the whole people there but for all this some there be that believe that he fail'd in a little punctilio of prudence when he appear'd so stiff for the immunities of the Church and other things in which he might have wink'd with more discretion In short he has so much disoblig'd the Spaniards that they are grown his implacable enemies and doubtless were not their fortune at present so low they would handle him so as to force him to leave the Church as they have done before to other Prelats in the Kingdom of Naples Did things therefore go as they would have they would not fail to give him a lift for it is not their custom to pardon till they be reveng'd His promotion to the Cardinalship was no welcome news to the Spaniards who had not concern'd themselves at all in his assistance but rather by their private suggestions done what they could to obstruct it But Pope Alexander knowing his deserts very well and the high services he had done the Church that he being Pope might not seem ungrateful the last promotion but one he made him a Cardinal with the Title di Santa Croce in Jerusalem giving him the Archbishoprick with it Very few Cardinals there have been that have attain'd that dignity upon the bare account of their merits as this person has done to his immortal reputation He holds the same Maxime with other people that to be Pope it is necessary to be at odds with the Spaniard and therefore being Cardinal he is the more incens'd against them Don Lewis d'Haro Governour of Milan with whom he had some variance writ several Letters to the Spanish Ambassador at Rome in the time of the vacancy of the See against the promotion of Litta insomuch that it is the opinion of many wise men that a Cardinal that is born a Subject to a Prince and has considerable dignities in his Principalities cannot but be thought imprudent if he quarrels and contends with that Prince But for my part I do not question but there were many considerable reasons to work a person of his discretion and worth to such a resolution NERIO CORSINI a Florentine was Treasurer and afterwards Cardinal with the Title of Santi Neri Achillo which Title was given him for its correspondence with his name His Kindred are but of indifferent quality but he endeavours what he can to advance them upon all occasions The Great Duke loves him very well but imployes him not in any business of consequence perhaps for his private interest In his Treasurership he
affairs This Cardinal may with maturity of years make a pass in the Conclave as well as any of the rest GIO. NICOLA CONTI is a Roman of an antient Family that has several times afforded illustrious persons to the Church and by whom it has been serv'd with all punctuality and honour This Lord has had several ordinary imployments and discharg'd himself indifferently well The greatest of his Offices was the Government of Rome which he began to exercise with great severity having declar'd to his Holiness himself that he would proceed in an exact way of Justice without partiality to any body But in a short time he had chang'd his opinion and was observ'd to follow other things instead of severity especially if any thing relating to the satisfaction of the Nephews was in debate for he was grown very carefull of giving them any disgust as complying in every thing there though with never so much injury to Justice Besides this he is thought to have been too indulgent to the recommendations of the Cardinals and Nobility of Rome that are his Friends and Relations at whose instances he has discharg'd several Prisoners that were more worthy to have been corrected Not that he can be charg'd with Bribery his hands are clean enough from that though he be none of the liberalest persons about the Court. It cannot be deny'd but there are several good qualities in him that may make him capable of being an Ornament to his Dignity although he fell into some frailties before he took the Prelacy upon him that are not worthy to be remembred though he be now prudent enough to make the goodness of his deportment satisfie for the evil that is past He fails not to endeavour to raise himself as much as he can and he takes that way that is most likely to give him reputation in the Conclave He deals with the French and the Spaniards so that when he is arrived at a competent age if there be occasion he may incline them both to be his Friends He has many Relations both Souldiers and Prelates that would not be at all offended to see him Pope Alexander had several reasons for his Creation but the chief was to fortifie his own Family by obliging of a person of so great Alliance in Rome he made him Cardinal with the Title of Santa Maria in Traspontina GIACOMO NINI of Siena has been scrambling after Honours and Offices from the time he took the Ecclesiastical habit upon him and has left no stone unturn'd to arrive at his designs His ambition put him forward so that he several times attempted to have been made Nuntio but his insufficiency was too well known at Court to succeed therein he having but little of the Politicks that are necessary to make a good Minister of State as failing often rather out of honesty than any thing else Yet he thinks himself able to deal with the greatest Politicians in Rome because he has a little smattering in Learning and an obliging way with his Complements and fair words which in reality signifie not much for he speaks oftner with his tongue than his heart because he has no great foundation of reason though he wants not some ordinary Maximes Alexander the 7th in consideration of his Country and other things made him Maggior domo of the Apostolical Pallace after he had honour'd him with other offices and finally created him Cardinal in his last Promotion but one with the Title of Santa Maria della pace which Promotion gave great disgust to the Cavalier della Ciaia Unckle to Chigi that at the same time pretended to the Cardinalship and seeing Nini preferr'd was ready to run mad But though Nini had scarce merits enough for a Cap yet he deserv'd more than Ciaia The report was at first that Cardinal Chigi was the person that had driven on the interest of Nini and made him a Cardinal but it appear'd afterwards that it proceeded from the meer pleasure and inclination of the Pope Before his death there happen'd some differences betwixt Chigi and Nini but by the interposition of the Conclave Chigi was oblig'd to reconcile himself with Nini after the best manner he could which he did When Cardinal Anthonio Barbarino went thorough France to the possession of his Arch-Bishoprick he left his Vineyard near San Pancratio to Cardinal Nini during his absence which gave the Spaniard great suspition that he was inclining to the interest of the French GREGORIO BARBARIGO a Venetian was created at the nomination of the State of Venice with the Title of San Tomaso in Parione Nor did the Pope make any difficulty in the Promotion of so worthy a person that had given continual testimonies of an excellent Prelate from the very time he first enter'd into the Ecclesiastical habit and has confirm'd them since by the exemplariness of his life free from those scandals that at present are so numerous in Rome Amongst the rest of his virtues which are considerable and proper for a person of his dignity one eminent one is his Cordial affection for his Countrey by which he obliges that wise Senate that is seldome ungrateful to continue a grateful correspondence with him upon all occasions After the death of Monsignour Giorgio Cornaro the Bishoprick of Padoa was conferr'd upon him which is one of the best Bishopricks I will not say in that State for they have no other like it but in all Italy and because his Predecessor being a great Cavalier and of one the most renowned Family in Venice had suffer'd some abuses to grow till they had obscur'd in great part the glory of the Clergy Barbarigo not being able to see so considerable a Church under such enormities he instituted a Congregation of pious and good Priests to reform them giving them ample authority to effect it This new manner of Congregation unknown to the rest of the Bishops was at first ill interpreted at Rome so that some envious people spake of it after a pungent and satyrical way but the Pope commended it much and exhorted them to follow so good an example The Clergy of Padoa that were dissolute and loose thought that resolution too severe but those of any Piety or Religion commended it to the Skyes In short this Cardinal was alwayes full of zeal both to his Church and to his Countrey PIETRO VIDONI of Cremona made up his fortunes not so much by the exemplarity of his life as by the subtlety of his wit His mind was alwayes inclinable â—o holy Orders and averse to Matrimony though not altogether free from such Carnal affections as are too common in the Clergy of our dayes In the beginning of his Prelacy he fell into certain little errours but he knew well enough how to excuse himself and to stop the mouths of all such as spake any thing to his prejudice In the beginning of Innocents Pontificate he was imploy'd in certain offices but they were of no considerable trust and though he
that he ever committed any unworthy action to accumulate wealth his wayes were rational and by frugality Yet some Germans have told me that upon occasion he has spent with great generosity and especially at the Empresses arrival in Germany he shew'd himself as liberal and magnificent as the best Whilst he was but a Prelate he distributed his Almes with a little too much temperance but since he has been a Cardinal his heart is enlarg'd proportionable to his Dignity He is a person of a sound judgement and one that traces Corruption to the bottom though in appearance he seems no such person But that which is more considerable is the candor which is natural to his Countrymen he is never transported with passion but blames or commends people impartially as they deserve He is slow in his Negotiations advancing like a Tortoise so that 't is thought he would be a fitter Minister for Spain than for Germany He speaks his mind freely and is not troubled to be contradicted provided they bring reasons enough to oppose him LEWIS Duke of VENDOSME a Frenchman is descended from a Natural Son of Henry the 4th who marrying with Frances of Lorain Dutchess of Mercoeur had this Lewis by her He had no great inclination to the Ecclesiastical habit his mind running more after Matrimony and the affairs of the World Accordingly when he was arriv'd at a competent age he married a Neice of Cardinal Mazarines who was then the Dominus fac totum in France hoping by means of his favour to open a way to some honourable imployment This Lady was of the same stock with Cardinal Mancini that is now living but lived not many years with her Husband the Duke to whom she left two very hopefull Sons but not old enough to know or lament the loss of so incomparable a Mother No sooner was this Lord fallen into the condition of a Widdower but he chang'd his mind and as when he was young he was all for Matrimony so now he is altogether for the Ecclesiastical habit not in any penitential way but only to capacitate him for the Cardinalship which is that he has alwayes aim'd at and with all industry endeavours Finally his most Christian Majesty according to the Prerogative of his Crown being to nominate a person in the last promotion of Alexander presented this as a person of great merit and fit to be an Ornament both to the Colledge and Cap and the rather because in his Vice-Royship in Catalonia and in his Government of Provence he had shewn great assiduity in his Majesties service A few dayes after he had receiv'd his Cap the tydings of the languishing condition of his Holiness arriv'd so that with directions from the King he parted immediately for Rome to be present at the new Conclave where he met exactly with the rest of the French Cardinals In this Conclave he behav'd himself with great prudence and perhaps more than was expected by the elder Cardinals that had been a long time acquainted with the intrigues of the Conclaves The Election being made he prepar'd for his return into France but first he recommended to his Holiness the interests of his Master particularly in the business of the disincameration of Castro according to the Treaty at Pisa during his stay at Rome he gave great evidences of his generosity dispatching all that came to him with great satisfaction The Republique of Genoa which is not backward in obliging the Subjects of his most Christian Majesty and his Cardinals much more endeavour'd what they could to find out away to oblige this and being in his way at Savona where he was complemented by the Governour with all due respect they sent him six Corsaires of Provence that had been condemn'd to the Galleys and were set at liberty at the instance of that Cardinal for which he express'd great satisfaction and thankfulness to that Commonwealth In short this Cardinal is not to undertake any matters of great importance though his judgement is well enough and he manages indifferent things to a hair LEWIS MONCADA is a Sicilian and the last Cardinal created by Alexander the seventh he was promoted at the instance of the King of Spain with three others nominated by the Emperour the King of France and the State of Venice The Spaniards design in the nomination of this person was not so much to remunerate the services he had done to that Crown upon several occasions as that they might have in the Sacred Colledge a Cardinal considerable both in Birth and Authority of which the Spaniards have great need at this time considering the lowness and languor of their condition especially in Rome where they are regarded by the Ecclesiasticks for nothing but the profit and authority they receive from the Catholick States and that King so that their authority must needs lessen and their Revenews diminish if the Ecclesiasticks do withdraw themselves from their affection to Spain He has a great reputation in the Court of Spain but not so much for the integrity of his manners or the goodness of his life for he is but a man and subject to frailties though he be prudent and abstains from such scandals as are offensive to his gravity but for his exquisite knowledge in Government which he signaliz'd in several charges committed to him by his Catholick Majesty Yet he would scarce make so good a Pastor in the Government of the Church having had but little converse in Ecclesiastical affairs especially in certain Spiritual matters he has had little or no occasion to know as one that has been drawn away by matters of State Policy of greatest importance the mysteries and intrigues of which he understands very well and will be alwayes faithfull to the Spaniard and indeed his vigilance is so great they must rise betimes that deceive him It is suppos'd the intelligence betwixt him and the Cardinal of Aragon is not very good which last looking upon himself as a person that has been longer imploy'd in the affairs of that Crown would pretend to do all and this who professes to act with all sincerity and affection in his Majesties service will not be brought to condescend to receive orders from the Cardinal of Aragon Especially their humours being different for though they are both Spaniards born yet one retains the manners of a Sicilian In Rome which is the touchstone of wits they speak not as yet either good or bad of Moncada because they have not seen him in his Scarlet which the Romans do very much desire A German Lord that is acquainted with him told me that he is of a most extream jealous nature not much liberal though not much covetous grave in his audiences majestick in his words outwardly charitable and full of Spanish Maximes Here ends the Colledge of Alexanders Cardinals who are now living some of his Creatures being dead as Cardinal Bagni Pallavicino Bandinelli and Vecchiarelli of which I shall speak something by the bye
607. in which time the Emperor Foca would needs create Boniface Pope in spight both of the major part of the Clergy and the People who rejected him as a person unworthy of so eminent a Dignity However Boniface express'd himself much more affectionate towards the Clergy and the People that were his adversaries than to the Emperor who would have elected him and the reason was because he saw what Authority the Emperors were usurping in the Pontifical Elections and therefore by new Orders and Decrees he confirm'd the Priviledges of the people commanding expresly that they should not for the future make any Election without the intervention of the People and Clergy to whom he gave Authority to do all The Emperors for all this did but laugh at their proceedings and betaking themselves again to the force of their comminations they asserted the Priviledges granted them by the Pelagiusses and would either by force or fair words make the Popes as they pleas'd Hence it was that Severus the second being chosen in the year 535. by the Clergy and the People and the consent of the Emperor also would not act any thing till he was confirm'd by Isacius the Emperors Lieutenant in Italy and all to publish how great the Authority of the Emperor was in the Election of the Popes And the pretenders to the Papacy observing the greatness of the Emperors Authority in the Elections almost all of them apply'd themselves to him for the obtaining of their designs In so much that in the year 688. one Pascal an Arch-priest and Treasurer to Conon who was then Pope did earnestly solicite John Platina at that time the Emperors Vicar in Italy and with great sums of money endeavour'd to oblige him upon the death of the present Pope to assist him in the succession Platina took his money and sent him away well pleas'd with his promises but the Pope being dead instead of assisting of Pascal he endeavour'd the promotion of another which was Sergius the first Yet it is certain had he found the Electors dispos'd he would have chosen him but the Clergy being wholly averse he would not undertake a thing he could not compass without dishonour seeing it was very well known what way Pascal had taken and what money he had consign'd to that purpose But the good Pascal no sooner saw Sergius in the Chair and himself without money and deluded but he did what he could to make the people rise against Sergius but without any effect This faculty of electing of Popes began to lessen in the time of Gregory who being Pope and a zealous assertor of the Ecclesiastical Liberty that he might render the Popedome more considerable he endeavour'd by an insurrection of all Italy against the Emperor then reigning to banish the Emperors of the East out of Italy and to that end he declar'd all such as yielded them obedience Excommunicate for the future and the people partly for fear of Excommunication and partly to set themselves at liberty declar'd themselves free and threatned with Armes in their hands to defend themselves to the last drop of their blood against whoever should endeavour the contrary and thus by the contrivance of Gregory were the Emperors of the East excluded from their Dominion in Italy Zachary a Grecian was chosen Pope in the year 743. by the Clergy and People only without any participation with the Emperor who was wholly excluded from the Election of the Pope And this exclusion continued till the year 760. in the time of Charles the Great and Adrian the first who entring into a League for several respects they granted many Priviledges one to the other viz. Adrian granted to Charles the Great the Title of MOST CHRISTIAN KING and CITIZEN OF ROME which was but a small business for an Emperor and King of France with power to call himself Roman Emperor and last of all Authority to interpose in the Election of Popes Charles the Great on the other side declar'd Adrian true and lawfull Prince of the City of Rome Patriarch of all Italy establishing the Empire of the Pope above all Empires and declaring his own inferiour to it There was but one Pope chosen by the consent of the Emperor and that was Leo the third after his death the Clergy and people in despight of the Priviledges granted to the Empire in regard of the Election of the Pope assembled themselves and created Stephen the fourth without attending the vote or assent of Lewis the Good who succeeded in the Empire after the death of Charles Lewis was disgusted at the Election and declar'd he would go in person to Rome and by force of Armes pull Stephen out of the Vatican and put another in his place as he thought good himself But Stephen having advertisement thereof prevented that mischief by going personally into France and in the presence of Lewis pretending to deposite all his Authority in the hands of the said Emperor which act of humility working upon the natural goodness of Lewis he confirm'd the Priviledges granted by Charles the Great and sent him back again to Rome with considerable Presents After the death of Stephen which was in the year 817. the people and the Clergy created Pascal the first without any notice given to the Emperor who made his complaints and threatned the Pope who was newly elected but he was perswaded to send two Legates in a solemn Embassie to make his excuse which they did so effectually that Lewis was not only satisfy'd with the Election of Pascal but remitted and renounc'd all the pretensions he had to the Election of the Popes It was not without difficulty that Lewis agreed to a thing of such prejudice to the Empire but at length his goodness prevail'd and he granted it In so much that as soon as Pascal was dead there arose great differences and disturbances betwixt the people and the Clergy but being grown more politick that the Emperor might not have occasion to put to his hand they endeavour'd to accommodate all by the choice of a third person which was Eugenius the second excluding Zinzimus for that time In the interim Lewis repented that he had given away his right of Election at the instance of Pope Pascal and therefore Pope Valentine the first being dead in the year 828. he sent to make his claim and to declare that if the next Pope was chosen without his consent he would not fail to bring his whole force into Italy to the detriment of Rome and the Electors especially But the Clergy and the people oppos'd those instances by shewing his Writing of Concession and without more circumlocution by common consent they elected Gregory the fourth who being fearfull of the Emperors indignation dispatch'd an Ambassador to him to desire his Confirmation but he could not obtain it till by Bull he had restor'd the Emperors to their former Prerogatives in the Elections which Gregory willingly consented to in compliance with the humour of the said Lewis
contempt of their Soveraigns and inslav'd by a blind obedience of the Church For my part I think those kind of delinquencies no less than Treason and that though such expressions appear at first sight but trifles and rhetorical ornaments yet 't is not to be imagin'd what influence they have upon the people how much they inflame and enamour them with the service of the Church and how much they lessen their devotion to their Prince whilst they perswade them that their Princes are inferiour to themselves That Race of Incendiaries is fit for nothing but the fire or to be banish'd out of every Kingdom as unworthy to dispense the Oracles of God that their Pulpits may be supply'd by sober and learned men and such as will preach the Word of God and not the Policies of Man the Doctrine Christ hath left us in the Gospel and not such Insinuations and Inveglements as they make use of in their Pulpits that thereby the affection of the people may not be perverted from their Prince but that they may be inflam'd and excited to a more cheerfull Obedience Had the Priesthood no designs against the Authority of Princes their proceedings would be with more sincerity than they are and they would give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars I have known contention in more than three or four Cities in Italy betwixt the chief Magistrate and the Bishop and the occasion was that the Bishop pretended to the presentation of the Preacher and the Prince would allow none of them to preach without his License So as by reason of these controversies Lent has several times past without any News from the Preacher I call it News because their preaching is now adayes little else but Novelties or which is worse Trifles or Sacrilegious Speculations unworthy to be publish'd in any Christian Church Amongst the Protestants also there are the same differences The Clergy pretend to the Election of their Ministers and that they can do it at their pleasure which notwithstanding is not conceded by the Civil Magistrate who will not suffer any to preach in his presence but such as he chooses himself so as in a certain City I could name there have some Cures been void above two years together because they could not agree in the Election of their Preacher But from whence I would fain know does their pretension proceed If the Clergy be Subjects upon what grounds is it they would behave themselves like Princes The privilege of Licensing or Electing of Ministers is in my judgement absolutely politick and therefore pertaining to the Civil Magistrate and not to the Church to whom the power of Ordination belongs indeed but not the power to Present and in this case it is of very great importance that all Princes and Magistrates be vigilant For the end of the Clergy in preferring their Preachers in the Cities is nothing else but that seeing themselves excluded from all secular jurisdiction they would this way take their Liberty and publish what Doctrines they please It is convenient therefore that all Soveraigns should consider that the people are at their dispose and that such Ministers are to be put over them as are suitable with the Genius of the people Moses could not readily resolve to go and speak unto Pharaoh till it pleas'd God to constrain him by the force of his power Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say However in these times the Prelats presume to put what Preachers they please upon their Princes and such sometimes as are ignorant in the Fundamentals of Christianity and that fall upon discourse nautious and unpleasant to the Palats of their Princes But of all Nations France is the happiest for preserving intirely the privileges of that Church it will by no means admit of that Ecclesiastical Grandeur and Authority which the Clergy have usurp'd in other Countries and which with great arrogance they do still exercise as if they were Princes and not subordinate at all And for conservation of the privileges of the Gallican Church the King of France loses no opportunity in the year 1626. as soon as news arriv'd at Paris that there was a Scandalous Book printed at Rome the year before intituled Antonii Sancterelli Jesuitae de Heresi Schismati Apostasiâ— c. in which he spake to the disparagement of the Power of Princes but magnity'd and exalted the Authority of the Pope The Parliament was immediately call'd by his Majesties Order and every period of the book strictly examin'd and having deliberated as was fit in a business of that importance at last by an Arrest of the whole Parliament it was Decreed that these following Articles should be Seal'd Subscrib'd confirm'd and Sworn to by the Jesuits in the presence of the whole Court of Parliament to the no small disgust and dissatisfaction of that Order The Articles were these That the King of France holds not his Kingdom from any thing but from the bounty of God Almighty and the power of his Sword That the King in his own Dominions had no Superiour but God That the Pope cannot upon any occasion whatsoever Interdict or Excommunicate either the King or his Kingdom nor in any case dispence with the Allegiance and Fidelity his Subjects were oblig'd unto him These Articles were receiv'd with no small compunction by the Jesuits whose design being alwayes to aggrandise the Pontifical Authority by the diminution of the Regal they could not advance the one but by depression of the other The President of the Parliament having demanded of the said Fathers if they did approve of that book of Santerelli's they answered no they did not being ask'd again why then their General at Rome had approv'd it they made answer That those who were at Rome could do no less than comply with the Court of Rome The President to entrap them perchance as indeed it fell out demanded immediately If you had been at Rome what would you have done to which they reply'd We would have done as they have done that are there which being heard by a Grave Person of the long Robe he spake out these words aloud I believe our Father Jesuits have two Consciences at their Command one of them for Rome and the other for Paris Venice is a place as eminent for Devotion in Religion for Piety and Zeal in the Service of God and the Church not only as any Republique in Christendome but as Rome or the Pope himself Yet when any thing is in agitation about the Popes Authority or the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction they will by no means permit the Clergy of their Dominions to Intrench or Usurp upon their Supremacy which they acknowledg'd only from Heaven and the Conduct and Valour of their Ancestors In Venice the Churchmen are Subjects not Princes 't is the Senate that Governs all with an effectual and Independant Authority as well in Spiritual things as Temporal insomuch that the Introduction of any
to particulars there are some will shrug up their shoulders to their greatest Benefactors that they may not be constrain'd to make them some sort of Complement against their wills It is sufficient that amongst all the Christian Clergy the Church of Rome does far exceed the Protestants in their entertainment of Strangers though they force themselves as much as is possible to satisfie them The reason is the Protestant has a heart good enough but his purse is too weak and that little he gets by the sweat as it were of his brows must of necessity be apply'd to the maintenance of his Familie not to the acquiring the applause of Travellers to the nourishment of his Children and not to the entertainment of Strangers but those of the Church of Rome have that plenty of riches it would be a miracle if they should not gain themselves some friends by their superfluity though they have Nephews and to inrich instead of Children yet they may do all that without any inconvenience for they knew well enough out of what Treasury to take money to create themselves friends and to shew themselves Courteous besides from their Civility and Gentileness they express to Strangers they draw no small profit in Almes it being more than true that the Ecclesiasticks are in that point like the Bell of Manfridonia which when it sounds makes this Eccho by common report Dammi e dotti c. Give me and I le give thee Give me and I le give thee Give me and I le give thee Great is the Civility the Cardinals use to any Ambassador they find in any City or State of the Church receiving strangers with all possible courtesie insomuch that some Protestants themselves have gone away very well satisfy'd with their humanity I will not say much of their comportment to Serene Princes who have their Orders from Rome to the end they may be entertain'd at his Holiness his charge and are therefore receiv'd by the Cardinal Legats with the greatest honour imaginable And by this extraordinary courtesie the State of the Church feels no small inconvenience because they take occasion upon any pretence whatsoever to lay new imposts upon the people as they did upon the arrival of the Queen of Sweden which remains as a perpetual memorial of Alexander the seventh upon their shoulders to this day and I have heard some people exclaim 'T is we that suffer for the Generosity of the Popes To meet the eldest son of any Prince any Royal Ambassadors or the Ambassadors of the Dukes of Savoy or Tuscany the Cardinals are wont to go as far as the Gates of the City with as great a Train of Coaches as they can possibly get or the largeness of the place will bear They first send one of the chief of their Families to meet them and with a fine Summer Coach to invite them from their own After that they send a company of Lances half a dayes journey more or less and a mile or two out of the City they send their Vice-Legats with some small number of Coaches But this common Rule has its exceptions likewise for there are some Cardinals that treat and caress such persons according to the animosity or inclination they have for their Masters For example a Cardinal of the French faction will receive an Ambassador from France with greater Pomp than an Ambassador from Spain and it is the same on the other side But those that are indifferent observe their Rules and measure their Paces exactly both for the one and the other having a care alwayes to express something more of honor to the Royal Ambassadors than to the Ambassadors from Savoy and Tuscany nor indeed without reason Sometimes the Cardinals will pretend I know not what excuses sending great Trains to meet them but staying themselves at home where they receive them at the top of the Stairs without their Rochets Which custom is never us'd to the eldest Son of any Serene Prince they receiving them alwayes at the Gate of the Town unless the Legat be sick in Bed In the same manner they receive their Brother Cardinals as they pass by The Relations of Serene Princes and some principal Barons are receiv'd some few miles off by the Cardinal Legats appointment by the Master of his Chamber and sometimes by his Vice-Legat who conducts them to the bottom of the Stairs where they are receiv'd by his Eminence sometimes he pretends for their greater honour to walk out into the City and as soon as he has notice that the Prince is near at hand he marches into the Street by which he is to pass and pretending to have met him by accident takes him up into his Coach and conducts him to the Pallace prepar'd for him Neither the Cardinal Legats nor any other Cardinal in Rome does use to make any invitation to Marquesses Counts or other persons of quality that are passing about their own particular affairs Yet the Cardinal Legat if they make him a visit to return them some expressions of favour will invite them to Dinner or Supper and appoint some of his Gentlemen afterward to accompany him and show him what is most considerable in the Town The principal Ladies as Ambassadors Wives and the like the Cardinals do alwayes invite and send the meanest of their Relations to meet them if they have any which they seldome want or at least their Major Domo some miles out of the Town and that more or less according to the design they have to do them honour besides which they do usually intreat some of the principal Ladies of the City to go and receive them and accompany them to the Palace where the Cardinal receives them at the Stairs head and conveys them to the appartment ordain'd them The particularities of their Visits and Receptions I have thought good to insert in this Cardinalism for the satisfaction of some Outlandish Gentlemen that did earnestly desire it For my own part I had no other design but to speak of matters appertaining to their politicks however it seems not improper seeing in these times the policy of the Cardinals run so much into Ceremony I shall now speak of the eight Offices that are peculiar to the persons of the Cardinals which are the Popes Vicar The chief Penitentiarie The Vice-Chancellor The Chamberlain The Prefect of the Signature di Justitia The Prefect of the Signature di Gratia The Prefect of the Breves The Bibliothecary And first I shall begin with the Popes Vicar which office is the most antient of all and was for a long time executed by Bishops and other Prelats But Pius the fourth transferr'd that dignity upon the Sacred Colledge declaring the Cardinal Giacomo Savelli Vicar about the year 1565. after which time it was alwayes conferr'd upon Cardinals The jurisdiction of this Vicar is over the Priests and Regulars in Rome and the Territories belonging to it He has authority also over Societies of Laicks Religious Houses Hospitals Jews
can hardly be brought to take advice from any body else and if he does he spoils all commonly with his arguments thereupon The weakness of his judgement does not suffer him to undertake great matters so that he alwayes endeavours to oppose them that would contrary to his Brother Cardinal Anthonio whose judgement is so strong that it is an easie matter for him to believe the whole world may be put into his hands besides if at any time he has taken an impression of any thing whether good or bad into his mind which indeed happens but seldome the power of God only is able to remove it and not the Councel of man His love to his Family is so great that he advanceth them as if he Idoliz'd them and thinks them impeccable even at the same time he sees them offending But all this would be nothing were he not over-rul'd by a great desire of revenge as being an implacable Enemy to all that he hates however he is no Hypocrite to his Enemies for he carries that malice alwayes in his brow that is rooted in his heart Notwithstanding all this the defects that he has as a Prince are obscur'd by his virtues as a private person with which virtues he has so effascinated the hearts of the Court that he is generally thought worthy of the Apostolick Chair There are four things considerable in him and capable to advance him to the Throne of the Vatican The first is the affection of the people purchas'd as I have said by so many actions of Charity that they do firmly believe he would not fail to find out some expedient to ease the people of those grievances in which they are so miserably involv'd The second is his long practice and experience in publique affairs there being not one Cardinal to be found more skilfull in the Intrigues of governing the Church in the time of his Unckle he Govern'd all and in the time of Innocent he did it further who towards the latter end brought him into no small reputatation and though he had had some slips when he was Cardinal Padrone and disoblig'd several Princes however 't is now believ'd being advanc'd in years he will administer with greater maturity and judgement The third is the great Wealth of the Family of the Barbarini besides vast sums of money lying by them so as this argument of Eâ—ecting a Pope whose Familie has no need of greater supplyes as being already on the Pinnacle of Felicity may perhaps induce the Cardinals to exalt him to stop the mouths of all Christendom which murmures incessantly against the Popes who for the inrichment of their Families give themselves over to the destruction of the Church In short if the Chair were vacant his pretentions would probably bring it happily about especially if with his infinite wealth and above all with his ready money he should resolve to follow the example of Alexander the seventh a most barbarous and abominable Pope that made it lawful at a very dear rate to purchase the voices of the Cardinals and this infamous Merchandizing was by many people believ'd to be shut up in this last Conclave but it has been found clear contrary by all people and but the invention of false and malignant tongues to pollute the reputation of the Barbarini and the Conclave such a thing being not to be believ'd in honesty or piety reasons of too weak foundation when a Kingdom is the price or rather because Barbarino is studious of appearing as he is would not nor never will by so foul an action defile the lustre of his Virtues And there wants not another way for him to make his utmost attempt and that is by endeavouring to get the Chigi to his side that they may cooperate with the rest of his Creatures the Spaniards being with him already or at least not against him but observing new rubs in his way he betook himself to his Politicks and prevail'd to have the Papacy thrown upon Rospigliosi that is older and more infirm than he as not despairing but he may outlive him and have a new push with his pretences but I will say as another man did Evecchio Barbarino ed e Decano Dean Barbarino is an ancient man Ma e troppo dâ—ro e saria gran fortuna 'T is hard and would be strange if ere he can Calcar due volte il soglio Vaticano Twice get possession of the Vatican GINETTI is the next in order of preceedence to Barbarino a person in his converse and inclination different from him to a wonder there being no conformity betwixt them but in the integrity of their lives and the irreprehensible preservation of their Chastity both of them being believ'd to be Virgins For other things Ginetti contrary to Barbarino would be a good Prince as loving good Councel without an obstinate adhaesion to his own opinion a great enemy to Revenge and a friend to all good Resolution But on the other side as a private person he is very unfit in many respects but especially for his extraordinary Avarice for which he is called by an Antonomasia il Giudâ—o a vice that is and will be much to his prejudice having already render'd him ungrateful to all good people and subject to many falsities and lies and it may be said very truly that this height and extravagance of Covetousness has twice snatch'd the Papacy out of his hands That Cardinals not thinking it possible he can be a good Prince that is so polluted with a desire of gain though otherwise of very great virtues and endowments He was born in the City of Velletri the Son of a Merchant of but small fortune yet very industrious in the acquisition of Wealth and trading in trifles so he might but turn the Penny and from him it was Ginetti learn'd his Covetousness and proved his Fathers own Son His name of Martio made him never the more Martial his inclinations bending him to Peace and not War to idleness rather than labour and finding the scarcity in his own house not agreeing with his desires he came to Rome and took upon him the Ecclesiastical Habit as proper to conceal the defects of his nature and it fell out very well for after he had courted certain Cardinals he gave himself wholly to the service of the Barbarini serving Cardinal Francisco as he would have him himself and with as much humility as was possible And Barbarino well satisfied with his service and approving the intireness of his dependance upon his Beck made him be created a Cardinal that he might be sure of one that would be true to his interest And Vrban moreover that he might stick the closer to his Family declar'd him his Vicar in Rome which is a considerable charge and for life he gave him several other Benefices likewise and great authority in the Apostolical Pallace and made him Protector of the Order of the Carmelits besides Vrban also would needs have him acknowledg'd amongst the
Princes but 't is most certain he had better have suffer'd him to have staid in Rome than to have sent him his Legat into Germany to negotiate an universal peace amongst the Princes seeing that Legation turn'd to his perpetual dishonour by reason that he addicted himself more to the interest of his own Family than of Christendome but that which is most strange is that at his return as if to do the Church ill service was to merit reward he was declar'd Legat of Ferrara where for three years time he heap'd up much wealth and transacted underhand with the Jews themselves and all to leave his Kindred rich if he should dye before he arriv'd at the Popedom he having not omitted any thing imaginable to advance them to divers offices and civilize that rusticity that was natural to them The affection he hath for his Family and the desire he hath to advance them both in Honour and Wealth though in him it be very exorbitant yet 't is a fault rather of the age than of his person particularly for in the Sacred Colledge at this very time by the secret judgement of God perhaps there is scarce one person to be found that is not overwhelm'd with that abominable Vice and would not be glad to see the whole Treasure of the Church in his private Coffers Ginetti has three Nephews and two Neeces the elder that is a Prelat helps much towards the expiation of his Unckles miserableness by the lustre of his own liberality he is Chierico di Camera and in his inclinations as bountiful as his Unckle is sordid noble in his conversation studious intelligent in matters of Law and not ignorant in Politicks and the art of Government so that many believe the Papacy would be very happy in the hands of Ginetti because this Nephew would be as it were chief Minister and maâ—e good the defects of his Unckle The other Nephew is a Prelat likewise and in his nature resembles his Unckle but not in his ablities for that reason he is not much consider'd every one being satisfy'd that though his Unckle should be elected Pope he would never make much use of such a man as he The third is a Secular an honest man but of very small parts however his Unckle is pleas'd that he has marry'd him into the Family of Emilio Cavalieri forasmuch as great Alliances carry no small advantages along with them What to presage of him further I cannot tell because he is fourscore and two years of age and the Pope that was made not above three months since is but seventy and yet it happens many times the Lamb dyes before the Sheep but though they have leap'd over his head twice already he may live to be leap'd over again though the Spaniard be his friend he having alwayes carry'd himself with great circumspection towards him and the Barbarini must acknowledge him their constant creature If he should live to see another Conclave in respect of his great age he might possibly have a great party though otherwise his extravagant parsimony would be no small impediment for it may be said with Pasquin Ecco che nella giostra entra Ginetto Ginetto for the Popedom like a Dog Grave d'eta ne sperarebbe in vaâ—o Does wait nor would he meet with any clog Se il Consistoro sifacâ—sse al Ghetto Were but the Consist'ry a Synagogue ERNESTO ALDALBERTO d'ARACH a Dutchman troubles himself not much with the Court of Rome for divers reasons but especially because he finds the Romans to have as little regard for him not but they have an opinion of his merits but because he observes his Country to be almost alwayes infested with wars and troubles so that every time he appears in Rome he fills them with a thousand jealousies and suspitions and therefore with great prudence he keeps himself at a distance and never comes to Rome but upon a Vacancy and then only to keep up the interest of the Emperour to whom he has alwayes been a most affectionate Subject and not ingrateful for the benefits he has receiv'd He was a Priest at the time Pope Vrban the eight conferr'd the Cap upon him at the instance of the Emperour to whom he had done so many transcendant services that he seem'd oblig'd to advance him to a Cardinalship there being nobody more worthy both in respect of the greatness of his parts and the goodness of his life which qualities gain'd him the Arch-Bishoprick of Prague also which office he exercises so well that the people adore him all Nations reverence him and the Germans acknowledge him a person of great Morality and Virtue He has a great aversion to the artifices and dissimulations of the Court of Rome and in the last Consistory for Clement the ninth it astonish'd some of the Cardinals that were present and had their residence in Rome to hear with what frankness and integrity he reprehended in their private Congregations those iniquities that afflict the Court and are a scandal to the Church This Cardinal in his converse is very affable and familiar with every body he is very generous to his Servants and no less charitable to the poor He was promoted in the year 1626. the 19. oâ— January ANTONIO BARBARINO a Floretine is Brother to Cardinal Francisco is Chamberlain of the Holy Church has an infinite number of Abbeys and Protections of Orders and is Arch-Priest of Santa Maria Maggiore he was born in Rome and for that reason was call'd Romano His Unckle made him Prior and Grand Croce di Malta not being willing to violate the Decrees of the Popes who do expresly forbid the making of two Brothers Cardinals But Antonio being impatienty ambitious of a Cap solicited his Unckle so earnestly that he declar'd him Cardinal in the year 1628. though Francisco was not pleas'd with his preferment and privately oppos'd it as much as he could Great were the employments Pope Vrban conferr'd upon Antonio being much pleas'd with the gallantry and generosity of his deportment he was declar'd Generalissimo in the States of Bolonia Ferrara and Romania against the Venetian the Great Duke of Tuscany of Parma and Modena and behav'd himself very honourably in his charge but the people that were saâ—â—ated with the Government of the Barbarini and look'd upon that War with an ill eye and as an affliction both to their Bodyes and Souls approv'd not the manner of his proceedings though in truth he knew well enough how to manage his affairs The great inclination he has had to women hath been no small blemâ—sh to his reputation nevertheless he knew how to wash out that stain At first he was a great Enemy to learning but he is since grown a great lover and protector of it Splendour and Generosity are so natural to him he has gain'd off several creatures from other persons by his liberality and magnificence and although in the the opinion of the people he be fallen into some errors yet he is so