soon after gathering his forces together he march'd into Cilicia to meet with Emanuel whose Army by a feigned flight he drew into narrow and difficult ways where he set upon 'em and vanquish'd 'em taking the Emperour Prisoner whom he set at large again upon condition that he should quit whatsoever he had taken in Asia At this time Alexander was met at Venice by Frederic there to treat of a Peace where in S. Mark 's Porch the Emperour kiss'd the Pope's feet and from thence they went together to the high Altar and having perform'd the mutual Ceremonies of Civility they discours'd a great while upon the Articles of the Peace which the next day was concluded Hence the Emperour with the good leave of the Pope departed first to Ravenna and then to Bertinoro which Town he design'd to keep in his hands because of the commodiousness of its situation but the Pope at last persuaded him to restore it to the Church Alexander also left Venice having first made several Presents and conferr'd many honours upon that State for the services they had done him and with thirteen Gallies of William King of Sicily and four of the Venetians he sail'd first to Siponto and from thence to Troia and Benevent and then passing S. Germano he went to Anagni where he staid not long but came to Tusculum to treat with the Romans about deposing the Consuls they had set up before a Peace should be concluded but because the Consuls had been so chosen for fifty years it was found to be a difficult thing to alter the custom wherefore they agreed that thereafter no one that was chosen Consul should enter upon his Office till he had taken an Oath to be dictated by the Pope that he would be true to the Church of Rome and never attempt any thing that should be a violation of the Pontifical Dignity Thus all matters being settled the Pope went the third time to Rome all the great Men of the City coming forth to attend and congratulate him soon after he held a Council in the Lateran partly to find a way to reform the great licentiousness of that Court but chiefly that it might be decreed that no Man under pain of an Anathema should furnish the Infidels with Iron Wood or any sort of Arms. At this time died Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople leaving his Son Alexius heir of his Empire under the Guardianship of Andronicus one of the blood Royal who for some years shew'd great prudence and fidelity in his publick Administrations and by his consent the young Emperour was married to Agnes Daughter to Philip King of France Baldwin IV. also King of Jerusalem to strengthen himself by the Alliance married his Sister Sibyl to William surnam'd Long-sword Marquess of Montferrat an excellent Soldier not doubting but that upon occasion William and other Princes of Christendom would come to his assistance if his affairs were in any danger Mean time Alexander after having undergone so many and continual labours when now he seem'd to be at rest from all his troubles died at Rome when he had been Pope twenty one years nineteen days having yet liv'd to see four Anti-Popes go before him who with their factions had almost destroy'd the Church of Rome LVCIVS III. LVCIVS the Third a Tuscan of a noble Family of the City of Lucca was made Pope by general consent at the time when Andronicus who we told you was Guardian to Alexius having driven out the Latins who favour'd the young Emperour and drown'd him in the Sea where he was wont for his recreation carelesly sometimes to venture in a little Bark usurp'd the Empire of Constantinople and to secure his Empire thus unjustly gotten he added another great wickedness for in a short time he cut off all the Nobility whose Virtue rendred them suspected to him Now also William surnamed Long-sword dying at Jerusalem King Baldwin taking care of his Nephew married his Sister Sibyl again to Guy of Lusignan a Picard upon condition that after his own decease Guy should enjoy the Kingdom during the nonage of his Nephew Baldwin after which he should resign it to him All which was confirm'd by the Pope's Authority who thought it very necessary for the Christian Cause that the Princes of Asia should be knit together with the strictest bonds of Amity and Friendship to enable them the better to resist the insults of the Turks and Saracens but he was quickly after expell'd the City of Rome while by the favour of some Citizens he attempted to abolish the Office of the Consuls and his Friends in that affair being taken had their Eyes put out Upon this horrid affront the Pope betook himself to Verona and call'd a Council where the exorbitant pride and licentiousness of the Romans was condemned and all Christian Princes were exhorted to afford assistance to the holy War especially because Saladine had entred and wasted the Territories of Jerusalem encouraged by the dissension among the Christian Commanders who had turn'd out Guy of Lusignan for his Arrogance from the Government and had substituted Bertrand Count of Tripoli Protector in his room so that all things seem'd to threaten a Civil War But the Pope incessantly persuaded them by Letters and Ambassadours to lay by their Animosities and with one heart and the same mind to oppose the common Enemy at least so long as till fresh Auxiliary forces could be sent to ' em For by the instance of Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem who came for that purpose first to Verona and thence went to Philip King of France upon the same Errand a good number of Soldiers under the Cross were listed and sent away But William King of Sicily in an ill time designing to revenge the wrongs offered to the Latins by Andronicus Emperour of Constantinople passing into Greece with his Army confounded all things for he took Thessalonica the chief City of Macedonia by storm and harassing many other of his Territories he took and plundered several Cities Adronicus not appearing against him being hated of God and Man for the many murthers and banishments he had been the Author of The Constantinopolitans were hereby reduc'd to necessity and forc'd to fetch from Pelopennesus and to set up for Emperour one Isaac who was of the blood Royal and he overthrew Andronicus in Battel took him and with various Tortures put him to death Upon which it became easie for Pope Lucius to persuade King William to make Peace with Isaac and with Promises and Rewards to prevail with him to turn his Arms against the Asians but while this matter was transacting by Internuntio's this excellent Pope died in the fourth year second month and eighteenth day of his Papacy at Verona and was buried with great Pomp before the Altar of the Cathedral Church This Pope had a great regard for his own Country and conser'd upon it many advantages both Civil and Spiritual before he died particularly he obtain'd of Frederick the Emperour with
perpetual banishment Thus by the punishment and degradation of several Cardinals the College being wanting and unprovided of its due numbers the Pope with much liberality created one and thirty at one time all persons of quality belonging to several Countries of Christendom some of which were advanced for their Virtue and Merit and others by the Favour and Interest of great Personages This Pope created two and forty Cardinals in all during the time of his Reign besides the restauration of the four rebellious Cardinals deprived by Julio amongst these Cardinals which he had ordained Julio de Medici his Kinsman was one whom he made his Vice-Chancellor and was afterwards Pope under the name of Clement VII About this time Maximilian the Emperor dying Charles King of Spain Naples and Sicily was elected to the great regret and indignation of Francis King of France who with much envy and emulation was displeased to see the Imperial Dignity added to the many Kingdoms and Estates holden by the King of Spain And because according to the ancient Rule and Canon the King of Naples was excluded from all capacity of being Emperor a Dispensation was purchased from the Pope with expence of 7000 Ducats qualifying the King of Naples for the Election Afterwards the Pope having favoured the cause of Charles and he by his assistance being Elected Emperor an Alliance and League was agreed between them to drive the French out of Italy a design ever pleasing to the Popes and particularly to Leo who was impatient of the infamous loss of Parma and Piacenza which being gained with so much glory and trouble by Julio he hoped to regain and restore to the Possessions of the Church In pursuance of this enterprize a considerable Army of Germans and Switzers were sent by the Emperor into Italy and joyned with the Forces of the Pope Prospero Colonna was made Generalissimo and Frederico Gonzaga of Mantoua General of the Army of the Church and Julio de Medici Legate of the whole Army The success proved agreeable to the preparations for the French were droven out of Italy which had long groaned under their pride and tyranny after which Milan was according to Articles surrendred into the hands of Francis Sforza the true and natural Lord and Parma and Piacenza restored to the Church with the news of which the Pope conceived such extremity of joy that he died suddenly on the first of December 1521. at the Village of Magliana where he used often for recreation to retire himself from whence the next day his body was removed to Rome not without suspicion of having been poisoned by his Chamberlain Malâ—spina who thereupon being imprisoned was afterwards released by Cardinal De Medicis so soon as he came to Rome no farther proceedings being made thereupon lest the matter being examined should reflect too far in disgrace of the French King Thus died Leo X. at the age of 45 years 11 months and one day having held the Papal Chair for the space of eight years and twenty days having at the hour of his death testified the great satisfaction he received by the restitution of Parma and Piacenza to the Ecclesiastical State without the effusion of the least drop of blood This Pope was esteemed a great lover of Justice having been severe against Thieves and Robbers He was a great lover of his Recreation and Pleasures spending much time in Hunting and Banquets and was more delighted with Musick than became the gravity and severity of a Pope He was highly magnificent in his Buildings and munificent in his gifts with which and by his Wars he had consumed so profusely beyond his Revenue that for maintenance of this charge he was forced to exact mony for making Cardinals and to set several Offices of his Court to sale He was a great lover of Learning and learned men to whom he was very liberal in his gifts imitating therein the spirit of his Father Laurence de Medicis He enlarged the Power of the Potesta or Civil Magistracy of Rome and bestowed on them several Privileges and Immunities for which reason by a Solemn Decree they made Julian his Brother a Citizen of Rome and treated him at the Campidoglio with Feasting and other Entertainments where they also erected a Statue of Marble and dedicated it to Leo with this Inscription Optimo Principi Leoni X. Med. Joan. Pont. Max. ob restitutam instauratamque Vrbem aucta Sacra bonasque artes adscitos Patres sublatum vectigal datum congiarium S.P.Q.R. In fine the face of the City of Rome was never more pleasant nor chearful than in the time of Leo X. His body was buried for that present in a Sepulchre of Brick erected in S. Peter's Church and for afterwards by direction of Paul III. translated to the Minerva together with the body of Clement VII ADRIAN VI. POPE Leo being dead and his Obsequies solemnly performed the Cardinals on the 16th of December 1521. assembled in the Chappel of Sixtus Quartus in S. Peter's Church and thence adjourned to the Vatican where 29 Cardinals entered into the Conclave and having sang Veni Spiritus they for some days were employed in giving Audiences to Forein Ministers in ordering matters for the more orderly Government of the City and regulating the Conclave in relation to their choice so on the 20th they began seriously to proceed to an Election Cardinal De Medicis aspiring to that dignity seemed to stand the most fair for it because that by the reputation of his greatness and by the interest of his Revenues and his glory lately acquired in the Conquest of Milan he had obtained the Voices of 15 Cardinals howsoever many considerations crossed his desires for it seemed irregular and against the common Policy for one of the same Family to succeed in the place of the Pope deceased for that such Presidents might soon bring the Popedom to a state of being disposed by Succession for which cause all the ancient Cardinals who pretended to be of the French action and all those who were enemies to Leo and discontented by him stood in opposition against him Moreover all the Cardinals who were Competitors and lived in hopes of succeeding could not endure and suffer the Election of a person under the age of fifty years These difficulties occurring retarded the Election for several days at length as they made scrutiny according to the custom of the Conclave Cardinal Adrian a Hollander by Nation was proposed one who had been School-master to the Emperor and by his means made Cardinal under Pope Leo so soon as he was nominated the Cardinal S. Sixtus began to recount and amplifie his Virtues in a long Oration which so took that the Cardinals began to yield and give up their Voices for him the residue followed from one to another seeming guided rather by chance than Counsel so that by the common Suffrages of all the Cardinals Adrian was Elected and Created Pope on the 9th of January 1522. the parties themselves not being
whilest the Civil Wars continued and whilest Geneva remained in League with the Swisses who had promised to afford their utmost succour and aid unto that place and as to the National Synod they persisted in their resolution promising the Pope that nothing should be attempted therein derogatory to his Power and the Authority of the Church But this assurance did little satisfy the jealousie of the Pope who suspected the very Prelats to be tainted with Heresie and to have an inclination to set up a Gallican Church as they called it separate and independant of the Roman Sea The fear and jealousie hereof constrained the Pope positively to resolve on a General Council and to hasten the convocation thereof with all speed possible supposing that the convention of a General Council would break the former Measures and invalidate the Authority of all National Synods This being agreed the next thing proposed was the place which the Pope would have had to be his own Town of Bologna but that he knew it would be generally disliked by the Prelats nor would the Spaniards consent to have it held at Milan for though they were zealous Catholicks yet in matters of worldly interest they distrusted the Pope as much as other Princes In fine Trent was agreed to be the most commodious and least subject to exceptions of any howsoever the French were of another Opinion as was also the Emperour who proposed Wormes Triers Constance or Hagunaw as more convenient for that the Protestants did so abhor the name of Trent that they would take a prejudice to any thing formed there nor would they endure to have the Council stiled a Continuation of a former but one new and established on its own foundation nor was this the only scruple of the Emperor for he declared that he could not answer for the Empire unless it were first prepared and disposed by a General Diet nor would the Clergy of his hereditary Countries be induced to be present at the Council unless the Cup in the Sacrament were first granted to the Laiety and License for the Priests to marry but all these matters being diametrically opposite to the Papal interest the Pope declared his resolution was rather to give his life than his assent thereunto In the mean time the numbers of those of the Reformed Religion encreased greatly in France so that it was resolved in case a General Council were not speedily assembled that a National Synod should meet at Meaux on the 13th of January 1561. for the tumults and combustions about Religion were so pressing that they required a speedy and an effectual cure the fear of which so touched the Pope as did also the Declaration of the Emperor that taking no notice of the exceptions of either he resolved to surmount the difficulties and therewith signed the Bull for calling a Council to commence on Easter day 1561. giving this Title thereunto Indictio Concilii Tridentini as if it had been to be a New and not the continuation of a former Council howsoever in the body of the Bull the word Continuation being mentioned it gave great scandal and offence to all though the Pope's Legats endeavoured to smooth it over by saying that the Continuation could be no impediment to any revision of what had formerly passed nor hinder the Council from repealing any Act which had been Decreed and ordained in the times of Paul and Julius III. And now Francis II. King of France being dead and his Brother Charles IX a Youth of ten years of age succeeding gave great expectations of a happy change to the Protestants for that the King of Navarre having declared himself of the Reformed Religion to whom of right as first Prince of the Blood the Government belonged during the minority of the King and that he was ruled much by the Counsels of the Admiral de Coligny who was the grand Protector of the Reformed gave them hopes that the severity of proceedings against them would be abated and liberty of Conscience granted to the whole Kingdom the which though it did not take effect fully to their desires yet at an Assembly of the Estates at Orleance it was ordained That an Arrest of judgment should be given and all penal Processes stopped which were made against any for account of Religion and at the same time Orders were given to the Prelats to prepare themselves for their Journey to Trent At this time the Protestant Princes were assembled at Naumbourg with intention to guard themselves from the Plots which would be contrived against them in the Council of Trent and to take off the reproach of Divisions and disagreement in the points of Faith amongst themselves But such was the variety then of Opinions that it was difficult to concur in one Symbol of Faith for the Confession of Augsburg had lately been printed in several Editions and every one with some difference from an other And as to a General Council they petitioned the Emperour that such an one might be convened as was free and where the Pope might not preside and overawe the Votes of the Protestants the which request they made rather in excuse for their not going to Trent than out of any prospect of a concession to their grant In the mean time the Pope having sent two Nuntios to the Emperor he advised them to go to Naumbourg accompanied with two of his Ambassadours and receive the sense of the Assembly which was there convened The Protestants received the Ambassadours with great respect and heard the Nuntios with equal civilities but still continuing firm to their Principles declared that they could not acknowledg the Pope's jurisdiction and therefore could not esteem themselves obliged to make known unto the Pope the Opinion they had of a Council having already signified their thoughts thereof unto the Emperor with the like coldness they were received at Norimberg Frankfort Ausbourg and other Protestant Towns Elizabeth Queen of England at the same time refused to admit the Abbot Martininguez sent by the Pope within her Dominions And the King of Denmark in like manner denied entrance to the Nuncios within his State saying That neither his Father nor he having ever had to do with the Pope he knew no business his Nuntios could have with him Thus did these Nuntios meet Oppositions in all parts nor did they find any encouraging compliance in the Emperor himself who insisted on the Indiction of a new Council which was not founded on the Continuation or basis of a former France likewise made many exceptions to the Bull of Indiction being for a New and not for a Continuation of the Old Council Nor was this all many other things concurring in that Kingdom to the diminution of the Pope's Authority for not onely were the penal Laws against the Protestants taken away but also at a Convention of the Estates at Orleance the Pope's Annates or yearly Revenue was taken off and all Moneys forbidden to be carried to Rome the
punish his Nephew for having directed his love to a Princess of equal quality with himself whilest he himself was so besotted as to be given up to the extravagancy of an aspiring Woman permitting her to govern his Person Church State and Court with an Imperious hand and yet at the same time not to indulge his Nephew the love of a young Noble and beautiful Lady who brought a considerable Patrimony to the House of Pamfilio Nor was Donna Olympia more kind or less jealous of Nicolo Ludovisio Prince of Piombino who was married to her second Daughter on hopes that as Nephew to the Pope he should enter into Offices and Affairs for this Prince having been Nephew to Gregory XV. and Brother to that Cardinal Patron who since the time of his Uncle absolutely disposed of all the Affairs of the Church did now hope to find the same fortune and reap the same benefit under this Innocent X. But Donna Olympia was too wise to admit a Nephew into the privacies of the Pope or a Partner with her in business for she entirely bestowed all Benefices whether great or small the Officers of the Datary being charged to keep them in hand till she had fully informed herself of the value whatsoever Bishoprick fell void they that pretended to it were to address themselves to her Abbeys Canons and all other Dignities and Governments Ecclesiastical or Civil were all conferred at the pleasure and command of Donna Olympia there was no appearing with empty hands before her The Rates of all Places were set an Office of one thousand Crowns a year for three years was valued at one years Revenue and for six years at double and so proportionably if for life then it was valued at twelve years and the moiety thereof to be paid in hand Cardinal Panzirolo who was then the great Favourite of the Pope and who transacted all Affairs durst yet act nothing without the consent of this Lady for such an absolute Ascendant she had over the Pope that his Soul seemed to be animated with hers and his Will subservient to her dictates and strange it was to see her sit in Council with the Pope with bundles of Memorials in her hands to receive his Assent for formally onely unto that which she had already determined so that it is believed she had charmed him with some strange diabolical Arts Histories having never given us an Example of the like nature And now to give farther instances and miracles of her Power she introduced into the place of Cardinal Pamfilio who had laid aside his Scarlet to marry with the Princess Rosana a certain Nephew of hers Son to her Brother a youth of about eighteen years of age who was afterwards called Cardinal Maldochino Olympia intended once to have made him Cardinal Patron but he was so great a Sot and so stupid a Fool that he was uncapable of Business abhorred by the Pope and a shame to the College and Dignity of Cardinals The Office of Cardinal Patron was ever esteemed of great Honour and importance and when managed by a Wise and dexterous Person was of great ease and relief to him who sate in the Papal Chair for if the Pope were sick or absent he gave Audience to Ambassadours and presided in the Council subscribed Letters to the Nuntios Legats and Governours of Provinces But this help being as yet wanting to Innocent for want of a Cardinal Nephew endued with some tolerable understanding Olympia contrived to adopt Camillo Astalli Brother of Marquis Astalli who had married her Niece into the Family of the Pope with whom she so prevailed that he created him Cardinal Patron and gave him the name of Pamfilio though not of the bloud nor allied to his Family It was wonderful to the Court to see a young Man of twenty seven years of age raised on a sudden to so important a preferment 'T was true he was endued with a gentile behaviour and good address and with qualities of mind sufficient to make himself acceptable but yet neither his years nor his practice in Affairs enabled him to support the great burden of Church and State In making of this Creature as well Panzirolo as Olympia was believed to concur she with a design to advance the Brother of him that had married her Niece but he to have an influence over all his actions being well assured that this young Man would act nothing without his direction But whilest Olympia thus governed all Affairs the Court of Rome became scandalous nothing but libellous Jests to the disparagement of the Pope were daily put into the hands of Pasquin at Rome In the Courts of the Emperour of France and Spain the Nuntios seemed to lose much of that Reverence which was formerly given them and when any of those Princes were refused the demands they made and expected from the Pope it was often said with raillery That if Donna Olympia had made the request it would readily have been granted It was the common Discourse in the Pulpits of Geneva that a Woman was Head of the Church and the Universal Bishop and that now the mystery of the Whore of Babylon was plainly discovered In the Protestant Countries the Comedies and Farces represented the Loves and Intrigues of Innocent X. and Donna Olympia upon the Stage all which the young Cardinal Patron at the instigation of Panzirolo made known to the Pope who being conscious of the truth thereof and inwardly ashamed resolved often to forbid Olympia the Court and all concernment or intermedling in Affairs but knowing not how to come out with it his inward grief suppressed his words but at length taking courage and resolution he burst out into tears and therewith into words Interdicting Olympia all farther communication with the Court. After this Cardinal Astalli I should have said Pamfilio gained ground in the affections of the Pope and being guided by Panzirolo took daily deeper root in his esteem Panzirolo likewise himself kept in great credit and unshaken by his Adversaries but being tired with the burden of business and continual watches until after midnight in consultations with the Pope he fell sick and died Nature effecting that which his Enemies endeavoured The Cardinal Patron above all lamented his loss presaging thereby the mischief which afterwards ensued for now Donna Olympia began though Incognita to frequent the Court and by degrees to repossess her first Station But we shall for a while leave this Lady weaving her Webbs and managing Intrigues and return again to the Barberins whose Cause was taken into the defence and protection of France In the month therefore of January 1746. Cardinal Barberin and Taddeo the Prefect in compliance with the Pope's Brief presented their accounts having had but fifteen days time allotted to bring them in and in failure thereof were to forfeit five hundred Crowns a day for every day until they were delivered The Accounts being given the Pope cast his eyes upon them with much indignation
Convert from the Cerinthian Heresie should at his reception into the Church be baptized At the request of Praxedes a devout Woman he dedicated a Church at the Baths of Novatus to her Sister S. Pudentiana to which himself made several donations oftentimes celebrated Mass in it and built a Font which he blessed and consecrated and at which he baptized a great number of Proselytes He also appointed a punishment upon those who were negligent in handling the body and blood of Christ. If through the Priests carelesness any of the Cup had fallen upon the ground he was to undergo a Penance of forty days if it fell upon the Altar of three days if upon the Altar-cloth of four days it upon any other Cloth of nine days Whithersoever it fell he was to lick it up if he could if not the board or stone to be wash'd or scraped and what of it could be recovered thereby either burnt or laid up in the Sacrary In his time Apollinaris Bishop of Hierapolis in Asia was much esteem'd who wrote an excellent Apology for Christianity and presented it to Antoninus the second He wrote also against the Montanists who with their two fanatick Prophetesses Priscillia and Maximilla pretended that the descent of the Holy Ghost was not upon the Apostles but themselves an opinion which they had learn'd from their Leader Montanus At this time also the learned Tatianus was in good reputation so long as he swerved not from the Doctrine of his Master Justin Martyr but afterwards being puff'd up with a great conceit of himself he became the Author of a new Heresie which being propagated by one Severus the followers of it were from him called Severians They drank no Wine ate no Flesh rejected the Old Testament and believed not the Resurrection Moreover Philip Bishop of Crete now published an excellent book against Marcion and his followers whose Errours were the same with those of Cerdo Musanus also wrote a book against the Hereticks called Encratitoe or the Abstemious who agreed in opinion with the Severians looking upon all carnal copulation as filthy and unclean and condemning those Meats which God hath given for the use of mankind But to return to Pius having at five Decembrian Ordinations made nineteen Presbyters twenty one Deacons ten Bishops he died and was buried in the Vatican near S. Peter July 11. He was in the Chair eleven years four months three days and by his death the See was vacant thirteen days S. ANICETUS ANICETUS a Syrian the son of one John de Vicomurco lived in the time of Antoninus Verus concerning whom we have spoken in the Life of Pius Which Antoninus though he were a great Phisopher yet neglected not the pursuit of Military glory For together with his Son Commodus Antoninus he did with great courage and success gain a Victory and a Triumph over the Germans Marcomanni Quadi and Sarmatoe At his first enterprizing this War his Exchequer being so low that he had not money to pay his Soldiers he expos'd to publick sale in the Forum Trajani all the furniture of his Palace and all the Jewels of his Empress But afterwards returning home victoriously to those who were willing to restore the Goods they had bought he refunded what they paid for them but used no force against those who refus'd to relinquish their bargains Upon this Victory he was very liberal to all who had done any good service to the publick to some Provinces he remitted their accustomed Tribute he caused to be publickly burnt in the Forum the Writings by which any man was made a Debtor to the Exchequer and by new Constitutions moderated the severity of the old Laws By this means he became so much the darling of the People that any man had a particular brand of infamy set upon him who had not Antoninus his Effigies in his House Anicetus that the reputation of the Church might not suffer by the extravagancy of a few men ordained that no Clergyman should upon any pretence wear long hair and that no Bishop should be consecrated by fewer than three of the same Order a Constitution which was afterwards confirmed by the Council of Nice and that at the Consecration of a Metropolitan all the Bishops of the Province should be present Moreover he ordained as Ptolomy tells us that no Bishop should implead his Metropolitan but before the Primate or the See Apostolick this being also a Constitution which was afterwards confirm'd by the Council of Nice and several succeeding Bishops of Rome and that all Arch-bishops should not be called Primates but only those of them who have a particular title to that denomination the Primates having also the 〈…〉 of Patriarchs whereas the others are simply Arch-bishops or Metropolitans In his time Egestippus was a great propugner of the Christian 〈…〉 who as an imitator of their manner of speaking of whose lives he had been a diligent observer in a very plain unaffected style wrote a History of Ecclesiastical affairs from the Passion of our Lord to the Age in which he lived He says of himself that he came to Rome in the time of Anicetus whom he calls the tenth Bishop from St. Peter and that he staid there to the time of Ele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who had been Deacon to Anicetus He inveighed much against Idolators for building sumptuous Monuments and Temples to the Dead as particularly Adrian the Emperour who in honour to his darling Antinous had instituted solemn Games and Prizes at the City which he built and called by his name Antinoe and also erected a Temple and appointed priests for his Worship Some say that Dionysius lived in the Pontificat of Anicetus but Writers are in this place very confused in their Chronology some placing Pius first others Anicetus and so they are in their 〈…〉 too However in an History of things so remote and of which through the negligence of the Ancients we have so slender an account it will be better to say something of the matters themselves though it be some time before or after they were transacted than altogether to pass them by in silence As for Anicetus having at five Decembrian Ordinations made nineteen Presbyters four Deacons nine Bishops he received a Crown of Martyrdom and was buried in the Sepulchre of 〈◊〉 in the Via Appia April the seventeenth He was in the Chair eleven years four months and three days and by his Death the See was vacant seventeen days S. SOTER SOTER a Campanian of Fundi Son of Concordius lived in the time of L. Antoninus Commodus This Commodus was as Lampridius plays upon his name very 〈◊〉 and hurtful to all his Subjects being in nothing like his Father save that he also thanks to the Christian Soldiers for it fought successfully against the Germans In that War when the Army of Commodus was in great straits for want of Water 't is said that at the Prayers of the Christian Legion God supplied and refreshed
Conspiratours against the Pope should be put to Death but the Pope who was all Clemency obtained a Pardon of their Lives and they were only banished into France After this there were some who would have persuaded Charles to ex pell all the Lombards out of Italy But that not appearing to be a safe course because they had mingled in Bloud and Affinity with multitudes of Families in Italy it was determined both by Charles and Leo that the Name of Lombard should remain there only where that Nation had chiefly had their Seat Pipin being now returned to Bonevent and having continued the Siege of that place for several months without success he turns his Arms against the City Chieti of which having after some Opposition made himself Master by Force he plunder'd and burnt it Upon the terrour whereof at his marching thence he had the Cities of Ortona and Luceria surrendred to him and in the latter he took Grimoald Duke of Benevent who not long after died of Grief In the mean time the Empress of Constantinople sending Ambassadours into Italy enters into a League with Charles their several Pretensions to Italy being thus adjusted viz. Irene was to have that Part which beginning on the one side from Naples and from Siponto a City now called Manfredonia on the other lies extended between the two Seas Eastward together with Sicily all Italy beside only excepting always those places which were under the Jurisdiction of the Church were by the Articles of Peace adjudged to be Charle's own But Nicephorus a Patrician stomaching to submit to the Dominion of a Woman having craftily seized Irene and banished her into Lesbos by his Ambassadours renews the League before entred into with Charles Which Charles at this time compelled the Saxons who had so often revolted to remove with their Wives and Children into France following them close in their Passage with his Army to prevent their committing any Disorders as they went along Pope Leo being perpetually disturbed by one Sedition after another leaving Rome goes to Mantua to see the Bloud of Christ which was now in great esteem for the Miracles said to be wrought there by it Having been received with great Respect and Affection by the Mantuans and approved it to be indeed Christ's Blood upon frequent Trial of the miraculous Effects of it he makes a Journey to Charles who was very desirous to know the Truth of this matter that he might certifie him concerning it and also that he might discourse with him about setling the Affairs of Italy Returning then to Rome and being assisted by King Pipin who had his Father's Order therein he proceeded to a gentle punishment of some of the chief Plotters and movers of Sedition Charles being now very aged having intelligence that Pipin was dead at Milain declares Lous his younger Son King of Aquitain and his Successour in the Empire and Bernard his Nephew King of Italy to whom he gave Charge that he should in all things be obedient to Louis To the Extent of the Empire he set these bounds in Gallia the Rhine and the Loyre in Germany the Danow and the Saw and to these Provinces he added Aquitain Gascoigne a great part of Spain Lombardy Saxony both the Pannonia's Istria Croatia and Dalmatia excepting only those parts of it scituate on the Sea-coast which were subject to the Emperour of Constantinople Having thus setled Affairs while he was at Aken for the recovery of his Health by the use of the hot Baths there he died of a Feaver and Pleurisie in the seventy second year of his Age January the 28. An. Dom. 815. His Body was with all imaginable Pomp and Solemnity interred in the Church of S. Mary which himself had built at Aken with this Inscription on his Tomb MAGNI CAROLI REGIS CHRISTIANISSIMI ROMANORVMQVE IMPERATORIS CORPVS HOC SEPVLCHRO CONDITUM JACET He was indeed whether we regard his management of Civil or Military matters so illustrious and excellent an Emperour that none of his Successours have either excelled or equalled him Moreover when leisure from other weighty Affairs permitted him he took such delight in the study of Learning that it was he who at the persuasion of Alcuinus first made Paris an University Of three Tables of Silver which he had one on which was engraven the City of Constantinople he gave to the Church of S. Peter another on which the City of Rome was described to the Church of Ravenna the third which some tell us was of Gold on which was a Map of the whole World he left to his Sons As for Pope Leo having repaired the Roof of S. Paul's which had fallen down in an Earthquake built from the ground a very capacious Hospital for Strangers near S. Peters's and ordained Litanies on the three days before Ascension-day on the first of which the Procession was to be from S Marie's ad Proesepe to the Lateran Chruch on the second from the Church of S. Sabina to S. Paul's and on the third from S. Cross to S. Laurence's without the Walls in the twenty first year of his Pontificate he died which year there appear'd a Comet thought by some to have been a Presage of so great a calamity He was buried in S. Peter's June the 12th and the See was vacant ten days STEPHEN IV. STEPHEN the fourth a Roman Son of Julius in the third Month of his Pontificate went into France to the Emperour Lewis though the reason of his Journey is not certainly known Some conjecture that it was to secure himself from the Reliques of the Faction and Conspiracy of Campulus which upon the Death of Leo prevailed afresh The Emperour Lewis surnamed the Godly was now at Orleans who assoon as he had intelligence of the Popes coming forthwith sends all the Persons of principal Quality to meet him and among others particularly Theudolphus Bishop of Orleans with the Clergy and a great part of the People And Louis Himself going forth a whole Mile for the same purpose assoon as he saw him alighted off his Horse and after mutual Salutations had passed between them introduced him very honourably into the City the Clergy going before and after repeating the Hymn called Te Deum Laudamus For Stephen was not only a Person of Noble Extraction but of such Learning and Integrity that he easily gain'd a general Veneration for Sanctity having been well instructed by an advantageous Education under those two pious Popes Adrian and Leo. Being entred into the City supported by the Emperour because of the croud of the People who press'd out of a desire to see him he was conducted to the Apartment appointed for him in the Palace where he often had Conferences with the Emperour about the composure of the Affairs of Italy besides the other frequent mutual Entertainments and Civilities that pass'd between them 〈◊〉 would have detained the Pope longer with him had he not now been engaged in such important Wars that it was
into Prison in order to a Trial for their Treason who being by torture forced to confess the Consuls were banish'd into Germany the Decarchons were hang'd up and Peter the Praetor the cause and Ring-leader of all the mischief was several times drag'd most ignominiously and whipt with Rods through the most publick places of the City and then sent Prisoner to Germany Others say his Punishment was thus Being delivered to suffer at the will of the Pope his Beard was first shav'd off then he was hang'd by his hair upon the head of the Statue of Constantine's Horse for the terror of all such ill Men from whence being taken he was set upon an Ass with his face backward and his hands tied under his tail and so led through the City being as he went whipt almost to death with Rods and then banish'd into Germany The like severity for examples sake was used by the Emperor against Count Geffrey and his Son who were kill'd as I said before by John Prince of Capua their carcasses being drag'd out of their Graves and denied Christian burial At this time the Selavi who when Hadrian III. was Pope under Sueropylus Prince of Dalmatia had received the Christian Faith cross'd the Sea into Italy gave the Saracens a great rout at Monte Gargano and drove them thence and the Hungarians by their example so broke their remaining force by recovering Cosenza out of their hands that it became easie for Otho Son of the great Otho who came for that purpose with his Army to make a perfect Conquest of them nor was he content to have vanquish'd the Saracens but he subdued too the Greeks who had made a League with the Moors and drove them out of almost all Apulia and Calabria Some say indeed that 〈◊〉 made this War upon the Greeks because Nicephorus Emperor of Constantinople had denied to give him to Wife his Daughter who had been espoused to him before This is certain that Otho who was a generous young Man deposed Nicephorus and made his Son John Emperor himself marrying his Sister Theophania who together with her Husband were crown'd by this Pope in the Lateran Church with an Imperial Diadem by the consent of Otho the Father who had made his Son his Partner in the Empire During the great and universal rejoycing upon this occasion Pope John raised the Church of Capua to a Metropolitan Sea But Otho 〈◊〉 worn with old Age returning into Germany died at Vienna whom John also follow'd not long after he dying after he had sate six years eleven months and five days after which the Sea was vacant thirteen days BENEDICT VI. BENEDICT the Sixth a Roman succeeded John in his Office and in his troubles for being taken Prisoner by Cincio a potent Citizen he was put into Castle S. Angelo a Jail for Malefactors or rather for innocent persons where in a little while he was strangled or as Cusentinus says famish'd I cannot but admire that the actors of so great an outrage were never punish'd neither by the Citizens of the adverse Party nor by the Emperor Otho who was reputed an excellent Man and a stout defender of the Church of Rome But I am afraid Cincius did not worse by him than he deserv'd not but that how faulty soever Benedict might be it was ill done of Cincius to lay violent hands upon the Pope since the censure of him did not belong to a private Man But see the turn of humane affairs The Popes of our times make nothing to clap up Citizens into the same place and there starve 'em whether they deserve it or are onely a little too powerful than they desire I believe Otho was too much taken up with other business so that he could not help him He died when he had been Pope one year and six months DONUS II. DONUS the Second a Roman a Man of great moderation and though there were nothing done by him worthy of high commendation yet he was never charg'd with any injustice or dishonourable action There were however many memorable actions of great of holy Men which render his times not altogether obscure For in his time Baianus a great Magician Prince of the Bulgarians so harrass'd with War Basilius and his Son Constantine Emperor of Constantinople that he narrowly miss'd of taking the Town which by the negligence of the Greeks was left almost empty but at last upon hard terms a Peace was concluded between ' em Adalbertus also a Bohemian Bishop of Prague flourish'd now who was a Man of so great Sanctity that he by the impulse of the Divine Spirit travell'd into Hungary and baptiz'd the King thereof and by his good life and godly example taught the Bishops of the Country to seek the grace of God from whence passing into Prussia preaching the Gospel of Christ with great diligence he was there crown'd with Martyrdom At this time too S. Edward King of England was for his Sanctity in great honour but was murthered by the fraud and villany of his Stepmother Richardus the Historian adds to these S. Maiolus Abbot of Clugni who left a great Name behind him for his Miracles and holy life Donus died in the first year of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church whereupon the Sea was vacant two days BONIFACE VII BONIFACE the Seventh whose Family and Country I suppose because of their baseness Writers mention not got the Popedom by ill arts and lost it as ill for he was no sooner got into the Chair but the honest part of the Citizens confederating he was forc'd out of the City taking with him the most precious things out of the Church of S. Peter and fled to Constantinople where he onely tarried till by the sale of what he had so sacrilegiously got he had amass'd vast sums of Mony with which he returns to Rome not doubting but by the help of that to retrieve his dignity by bribing the Citizens He met yet with great opposition from all good Men but especially from John a Deacon Cardinal whom by the assistance of some wicked Bravo's he caught and put out his Eyes But his Enemies encreasing about him whether for fear or remorse for his great wickedness this Author of so many mischiefs miserably ended his life Observe I beseech you how these Popes did degenerate from their Predecessors who left the Church so ample and magnificent at the expence of their blood The Pope of Rome the Father and Protector of things sacred does himself steal 'em away and he that should punish sacriledg is the Author of it but thus it must needs fall out in any Government where the Pride and Covetousness of ill Men shall prevail over the Virtue and Wisdom of the good To great benefices none of the Clergy ought to be chosen but such of whose Life and Learning there is a certainty not those who having nothing of Virtue or Religion seek by Ambition and Simony to get into places of Power
the Saracens who sate before it and with great slaughter of them raised the Siege An. Dom. 1008. at the same time that Jerusalem was taken by the Turks without any violation of the Holy Sepulchre the Church of Mount Sion or Bethlehem The Venetians had a design to have reliev'd Jerusalem too but that they were with held by their Enemies of Zara to whom yet at Loreto they gave so total a rout that they durst never after by War molest any of their Neighbours But Henry having setled the state of Germany coming to Rome received the Imperial Crown and then marching to Capua drove the Saracens out of it and carried on the War against Bubagano a General of the Greeks who favour'd the Moors with so much vigour that he dispossess'd him of Troy a City he had built in the confines of Apulia in a place where Hannibal was said heretofore to have encamp'd The Emperor Henry and his Wife Cunigunda are reported to have led such chast and holy lives that they grew famous for working Miracles omitting no action which might contribute to the glory of God He founded the Bishoprick of Bamberg and married his Daughter to the King of Hungary by whose means that King and all his Subjects received the Christian Faith but Henry died in the eighth year of his Empire to the great loss of his Subjects He being dead of whom in all exigencies Benedict made use as his Protector he was expell'd by a Faction and another Pope chosen in his room though he soon after agreed the matter with his Adversaries who turn'd out again the Pseudo-Pope and restor'd Benedict with honour He died in the eleventh year first month and thirteenth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church 'T is said that a certain Bishop walking in a solitary place Benedict appear'd to him sitting upon a black Horse whereupon the Bishop ask'd him the reason of his appearance in that manner he answer'd that his business was to desire him to take some Money which he had hid in a certain place to which he directed him and to give it to the poor as from him for that the Money had been of no profit to him it consisting of what had been given of Alms or gotten by Rapine The Bishop executed his request and immediately surrendred his Bishoprick and led a Monastic life Vincentius writes that Gerard Bishop of Canobio was in great account about this time for his Learning and exemplary Life as also was Gutherus Bishop of Prague who for his great abilities and holiness suffered Martyrdom from the Enemies of the Christian Religion At this time also so great a Pestilence raged in the World that 't was thought fewer surviv'd it than died of it which Calamity was fore-shew'd by a Well of wholesom Water in Lorain being turn'd into blood JOHN XXI JOHN the twenty first a Roman Son of Gregory was as some will have it Bishop of Porto though others say he never was in holy Orders at all he was made Pope at the same time that Conrade of Schwaben was by a just suffrage elected Emperor in the room of Henry who had been dead three years In this Interregnum I suppose it was that several Cities of Italy revolted from the Empire and stood up for their liberty wherefore Conrade who was a great Soldier and had been for many years in great Command in the Wars under Henry raising an Army speedily enters Italy and marching first against the Milaneses the chief Authors of this defection he sits down before the Town burns the Suburbs and breaths forth nothing but utter ruin to the City but quickly raises his Siege by the persuasion of the Arch-bishop of Cologn who assured him that as he was at Mass S. Ambrose appear'd to him and threaten'd destruction to them all except they departed from the City of which himself was Patron Conrade therefore holds on his Journey to Rome where at the hands of Pope John he receiv'd the Imperial Crown and then march'd against the Hungarians and Sclavonians who had assisted the rebellious Italians and soon subdu'd them Rodolphus also Duke of Burgundy being vex'd by the Seditions of his Subjects put himself under the protection of Conrade and therefore Burgundy has been ever since 〈◊〉 for a good part of it a Province of the Empire It is said of Conrade that he made several very useful Laws among which one was that it should be death for any Prince of the Empire to disturb the peace of it and upon that account he was a fierce Persecutor of Leopold a German Count who was a Ring-leader of some disturbances in his Country He sent Ambassadours to charge the Greeks and Normans who were quarrelling about the Kingdom of Apulia to lay down their Arms and threaten'd ruine to the Romans if they persisted as they had begun to teize their Pope with Seditions In his time Religion was adorn'd in France by the strict life and holiness of several Abbats and Himericus Son of S. Stephen King of Hungary had great reputation for his Miracles But John who is very much to be praised for his life died after he had been Pope eleven years and nine days The Sea was then vacant eight days BENEDICT IX BENEDICT the Ninth as some say the Nephew of John born at Frascati Son of Albericus came to the Pontificate when Canutus a King of England out of devotion and for performance of a Vow came to Rome which having done as he return'd home he married his Daughter to Henry the Son of Conrade Soon after Conrade dying his Son Henry II. succeeded his Father and raising an Army gives battel to Uldericus King of Bohemia but the Victory being doubtful he renew'd the fight overcame him and took him Prisoner but setting him under Tribute he discharg'd him from his imprisonment then marching against the Hungarians who were contending about the Crown he restor'd Peter to his Throne who had been driven out by Alboinus In the mean time the Romans deposed Benedict who was a sluggish Fellow and good for nothing and set up in his room John Bishop of Sabina by the name of Sylvester III. who also after a Popedom of nine and forty days was turn'd out and Benedict restor'd and he finding himself still liable to the same danger again of his own accord resign'd the Chair to John Arch-deacon of S. John at Port Latin afterward called Gregory VI. though some affirm that he sold it to him Wherefore Benedict was ill spoken of by all Men deservedly and condemn'd by the divine judgment for 't is certain that after his death he was seen in a most monstrous likeness and being ask'd why having been Pope he appear'd in such a horrid shape Because says he I led my life without Law or Reason it is the will of God and S. Peter whose Seat I defiled with all manner of wickedness that I bear the shape rather of a Monster than of a Man After he
that the presence of two such great Kings would certainly move them as it did to make Theobald of Piacenza Arch-deacon of Liege Pope though he were absent But to return to Clement Whose life is to be commended in every part of it for his Learning Piety Religion Humanity Charity to his Neighbours and to all poor Christians As for the goods or the Church he distributed them at such a rate and with such discretion that he in all probability gave more to God than to his own Relations He had two Daughters by his Wife who died before his Popedom to one of which that liv'd in a Nunnery he gave thirty pounds of small Deniers Tournois and to the other who was married to a man of an equal fortune he ordered a portion of three hundred pounds Tournois upon condition she should never ask for one penny more He had besides a Nephew that was a Clergy-man whom when he found to have three Prebends for so they call Canonries he forced him to take his choice which of 'em he would keep and leave the other two But when his friends were urgent with him not onely to let his Nephew enjoy what he already had but give him more and greater preferments the Holy Man made answer I would the Popes in our time would follow his Example that he would obey God and not flesh and bloud That it was Gods pleasure what belong'd to the Church should be bestow'd to charitable uses nor was he worthy to be S. Peter's Successor who would give more to his Kindred than to Religion and to Christ But whilst he was at Viterbo and news was daily brought to him that Ednigeth a Dutchess of Poland who had been long dead was in very great esteem for her Miracles he canoniz'd her He was also wonderfully satisfied with the Doctrine of Bonaventure General of the Order of Friers Minors who at that time wrote gravely and copiously upon the first second third and fourth Books of the Sentences Now the Holy Man dying with such a Character was much lamented and miss'd by all men And hence arose the Controversie among the Cardinals to find out a fit Person to succeed Clement GREGORY X. GREGORY the tenth formerly called Theoâ—ald an Italian born at Piacâ—nza and Arch deacon of Liege was created Pope by the Colledg of Cardinals at Viterbo whilst he was in Asia For at that time when Lewis went into Africa Edward Son to the King of England sailed from England into Asia with a great Navy in order to regain the holy Land But staying so long at Ptolemais till Lewis King of France came out of Africa with Victory according to his promise he was stab'd in three places by one Arsacida a Companion of his as he was alone in his Bed chamber and by the assistance of another friend of his very hardly escaped his Death For that other person held the Russians hand so long till the People of the House came in who tare treacherous Arsacida to pieces and dragg'd him out of the Room But Edward when he was cured of his Wounds had a great esteem for his friend Theobald because he continually animated all Christian Kings and Princes against the Saracens and when he went to Rome in order to receive the Popedom being sent for by the Cardinals who had elected him he assisted him extraordinarily with a Ship with Money and a splendid equipage especially at that time when Henry a Youth and Son of Richard Earl of Cornwall who was lately dead came to Viterbo to see Clement After whose death staying there for some time he was unluckily kill'd For Guido Monford who went to the Cathedral Church along with Philip the French King to hear Divine Service stabbed him before the Altar because his Father Simon had been basely murther'd in England by Richard He having reveng'd his Fathers death in this manner he escaped with safety to Ruffus Governour of Tuscany Not long after Philip and Charles vexed at such an Indignity went from Viterbo the former into France the latter into Puglia For having made a Peace with the Saracens Charles went along with Theobald who was arrived at Siponto now call'd Manfredonia as far as Ceperano From thence his Holiness travell'd through Marsi and Sabini to Viterbo where he was receiv'd by the Cardinals with all Respect and Honour imaginable and being crown'd with the Pontifical Diadem he was invested with all the Power that Christ left Peter When that was done and that he had setled the Popedom for a time he was desirous to make Peace between the Genoeses and the Venetians For these two States had been engaged one with another in great and bloudy Conflicts for a long time Upon this account Philip King of France who tarried at Cremona was prevail'd upon by the Pope to send for the Genoese and Venetian Embassadors and made a Peace between 'em for five years that they might all go in one body against the Saracens Italy was now quiet when the beginning of an universal disorder rose from the Venetians now Exactions For they made a Law that no one should sail in the Adriatick especially from Pola to Venice unless they paid a Gabel according to the value of their goods But the Bologneses could not endure this as being at that time masters of a great part of Romagna and therefore for three years together they fought the Venetians with great variety of Fortune At last being tired out they accepted of a Peace upon this Condition that they should demolish a Castle which they had built upon the very mouth of Po that they should have free leave to carry out some goods that were there and then the Venetians should have the sole custody of the Mouth of the River Po. They also of Ancona were offended that the Venetians challenged the absolute dominion of the Adriatick Sea and exacted Custom from those that sailed there And hereof they complain'd to the Pope whose Duty it is to see that no new Taxes be imposed He therefore immediately commanded the Venetians to take off that Imposition who answered him in these very words That the Pope did not perfectly understand the matter and that when he did he would be able to judg better of it Gregory could not make an end of this matter to his mind because he was forced to go to the Council which he had called at Lyons Thither also went Paleologus Emperor of Constantinople with a great Retinue and made the Greeks comply and subscribe to the Opinion of the Church of Rome now the thirteenth time they having so often revolted Nay farther some Noblemen of Tartary were induced by his Authority to receive Baptism Mean time the Western Empire being vacant Rodolphus Earl of Assia is made Emperor by the Electors upon condition that he would go to Rome the next year to receive the Crown there But the Florentines who were Guelphs immediately turned out their Countrymen the Gibellins though they had been restored
the assistance of the Bolognians under the conduct of Rodolphus Varraneo he went with his Army to Winter in Cesena In which City there was such an upooar by reason of the pride of the French that six hundred Britains were slain and the rest turn'd out of Town But they got in again afterward by way of the Tower and being increased in their number they fill'd all places with bloud and rapine not sparing even those whose very age made their excuse onely young Women and Maids were kept alive to be abused But those of Forli fearing lest for want of advice and one to Govern them they might be oppress'd by the Legate they took Synebald Pyne John and Theobald Ordelaphi as their Lords into the City and were bravely defended by them from the fury of the Britains But Pope Gregory conceiving that all the mischiefs of Italy proceeded from his being absent and that the long shipwrack of Affairs there happen'd because the Pilot was out of the way the good Man was very intent a good while upon a Journey into Italy But he was mightily concerned at a certain Bishops words who being asked by the Pope as they were walking together why he did not return to his Church which he ought not to have left so long without a Pastor He reply'd Why do not you that are the greatest Bishop give a good Example and go to your own Bishoprick at Rome The Pope was disturb'd at these words and therefore he got ready one and twenty Ships in the Rhoan under pretence of going elsewhere that he might not be stop'd by the French as he would have been if they had understood he had been going to Rome because it was their Interest to keep the Court in France Thereupon he went first to Genoa and then to Corneto from whence he went by Land for he was weary of sailing in the Winter especially to Rome and arrived there in the year 1376. about the 11. of January in the seventh year of his Pontificate and the 70th year after the Court went out of Rome into France But what preparations the people of Rome made and with what incredible joy they received him 't is needless to relate for all the Nobility went to meet him with their countenances gestures and acclamations expressing all kind of pleasure as Children do that see their dear Father return'd from a strange Country And indeed all things lacked his presence there For both the Walls the Churches and all buildings in general publick or private threatened nothing but ruin till he repaired most part of them as the Tower which he built at S. Maries the Great does testifie The morality also of the City was so decay'd that they seemed to have nothing about 'em which look'd like a Citizen but appeared as if they ought to go and learn manners who formerly had reduced the whole to urbanity and good behaviour So then the Pope having seated himself in Rome as a good Pastor should do began to look about him and think of a cure for the Wounds of Italy And whilst he was a ruminating of it he consider'd that nothing but a Peace could do the feat Thereupon he sent his Legate first to the Florentines who inclin'd to War and persuades 'em not to slight or refuse any fair Conditions of Peace They suspecting the Popes power and fearing lest they should be compell'd to make a Peace enter into Alliance and Confederacy with Bernabos their old Enemy After that they corrupted Haucut with money and fair promises to come over from the Church to their Party at which they were so triumphant and so proud that they omitted no sort of injury or Affront that they could do the Pope For which they were anathematized and yet were so insolent that they forced their Priests notwithstanding the Interdiction to perform the Divine Offices against Law and Reason The Pope therefore weary at last of intreating took up Arms and having reconciled Bologna which was to be govern'd in his Name he like the Florentines before made Varraneo his stipendiary and gave him the command of the Church Army to go against Florence But a quarrel arose between the Genoeses and the Venetians which put a stop to his Designs he fearing lest any forein force should invade Italy if he ingaged with the Florentines himself For whilst Andronicus by the Genoeses assistance to whom he had given Tenedo as the reward of the Exploit had dethroned Charles's Father who was John Emperor of Constantinople the Venetians restored him again to his Country and had the Island Tenedo given to them by him At which the Genoeses were angry though they deferr'd their revenge till another occasion for fear of the Pope's Curse who threaten'd it to both parties if they did not quit their Arms not holding it fit for either of them to meddle in that War But whilst this holy Man did all things with that diligence that became a Pope he dy'd of that intolerable pain the stone in the Bladder in the seventh year and fifth month of his Pontificate the sixteenth of April in the year 1378. and was buried in S. Maries in the New Street in a Marble Tomb which is yet to be seen and so much lamented as never man was before him For all people thought themselves deprived of a Father in him and did bewail not onely the present but their future Calamity into which they were faln by the loss of so good a Pope and the Discords that arose among the chief Citizens VRBAN VI. GREGORY being dead and the making a new Pope being under debate the Clergy and People of Rome address'd themselves to the Cardinals and desired 'em that they would choose some worthy Person an Italian to govern the Church and State of Rome with integrity and piety for that unless an extraordinary Pastor were then elected Christianity as it stood at that time must needs fall to decay And they desired an Italian Pope lest if he were a French man the Court of Rome must remove again beyond the Mountains to the great disadvantage and damage of the City of Rome and all Italy besides Alledging that when the Pope was absent all the Country and City were continually embroil'd with Usurpations and Seditions and that the Churches in Rome were so neglected and thereby grown so much out of order that they were most of 'em ready to fall And that upon this account the people who came continually to Rome were not so zealous as they used to be when they saw the Papal Sea the Cardinals Churches and Monasteries nay the holy places where the Martyrs lie without a Roof and the Walls falling down to let in sheep and other Cattel That it was fit the Pope should live where Peter had placed the Pontifical Chair by the Will of God out of his own Country and Nation and advanced the honour of it by the ashes and the blood of Martyrs Confessors and holy Popes Hence might the
Uncle became his Successor Lewis XII continuing his claim by right of Inheritance to the Kingdom of Naples and also to the Dukedom of Milan in right of his Grandmother the Daughter of John Galeazzo entered into a League with the Pope which was fatal to Italy and with them the King of Spain the Florentines and the Venetians were all combined against Duke Lodowick Sforza and King Frederick on conditions that Lewis having conquered Milan should cause Cremona to be restored to the Venetians and that Caesar Borgia who was the Popes bastard Son having renounced his Cardinals Cap and taking Carlotta de Alebretto Daughter to the King of Navar and Kinswoman to the King of France for his Wife should be invested in Romagna Marca and Vmbria and that the Kings of Spain and France should equally divide the Kingdom of Naples between them Lewis entering Italy with a powerful Army drove out the Duke of Milan from his State and shortly after took Cardinal Ascanius Prisoner whom he sent into France where he died in a short time afterwards The Venetians by virtue of the League had Cremona consigned to them and all matters succeeded so prosperously for Lewis in Italy that Frederick King of Naples being thereby wholly dis-animated cast himself with all humble confidence into the arms of King Lewis who treated him basely and with the highest indignities imaginable In the mean time the French and the Spaniards being to divide the spoils of the Kingdom such differences arose betwixt them as being only to be decided by the Sword the French were all cut in pieces by the valor of Gonsalvo a brave Captain by which means that Kingdom fell into the hands of Spain In the mean time Pope Alexander being attentive to nothing more than to raise and enrich his Bastard Children encouraged and countenanced his Son Caesar Borgia in the grievous oppressions he laid on all the Barons of the Ecclesiastical State for he designing and aspiring to make himself sole and absolute master of it made the Family of the Orsini the most remarkable examples of his insolent indignities spoiling and harassing their Country for the space of a whole Summer As yet Caesar Borgia had not renounced his Cardinals Cap and therefore continuing still under the notion of a Prelate Guido Vbaldo di Vrbino and John Borgia an other of the Popes Bastards were made Generals of the Ecclesiastical Army who over-running several Countries reduced Braciano by Siege and proceeded every where victoriously until Charles the natural Son of Virginio Orsino joyning Battel with them routed their Army and took the Duke of Vrbin prisoner After this a Peace being concluded with the Orsini and the Pope perceiving that his business did not thrive well by War he endeavoured to advance his designs by fortifying the interest of his Family with great and potent alliances and in the first place he gave his Daughter Lucretia in Marriage to John Sforza Lord of Pesaro breaking his promise to a certain Nobleman of Spain to whom he had formerly contracted her then he took her from Sforza and gave her to Lewis of Aragon Bastard Son of Alfonso King of Naples who being killed she was given to Alfonso da Esté Duke of Ferrara with whom afterwards she ended her days This Pope had also three Sons Geoffery the youngest was made Prince of Squillaci Caesar who was the second was Cardinal and John the eldest was sent into Spain and there made Duke of Candia but he rambling one night in his pleasures about the Streets of Rome was by the treachery of his Brother the Cardinal assassinated and his body thrown into the â—ybar which kindness he did him after they had supped the same night together at the Table of their Mother Vanoccia with which horrid act the Pope was not so much displeased as he was terrified fearing that upon the least displeasure the spirit of this miscreant would be provoked to add parricide to the murder of his Brother After this he made little account of his Scarlet or degree of Cardinal but turning his thoughts wholly to War he was made General of the Popes Army and uniting his Forces with the French and joyning with their interest he became master of a considerable Principality in Italy for having expelled Sforza from Milan and imprisoned the Chiefs of that Family with assistance of Lewis the 12th he with great cruelty and blood possessed himself of all the Cities of Romagna Bologna only excepted banishing or putting to death all the ancient Lords and persons of quality belonging to it He also took Imola and Forli banishing all the Children of Riario to whom the Inheritance belonged only their Mother Catherina he took prisoner and carried her in triumph with him to Rome Next he took Sinigaglia by force of Arms and by treachery surprized the State of Vrbin for being with all his Army at Cagli where he was kindly received upon the signal given he seized that City and marched immediately with the same design to Vrbin Guido Vbaldo da Feltro Prince of that State surprized with this suddain attempt and fearing to fall into the cruel hands of this Tyrant left the City and with some few of his domesticks saved himself by flight Then this Borgia turned his Arms upon Camerino which he took and put many of the ancient Lords and Barons of it to death with the like cruelty and wickedness he treated all the Lords and Barons about the parts of Rome particularly that noble Family of the Gaetani which were Lords of ancient possessions in the Volsci of which he put James the Son of Honorato Gaetano to death then Protonotary of Rome He also ordered that Cola Gaetano a youth who was the only Son and hopes of the Family should be removed out of the world He in the next place by assistance of the French attacked the Family of Colonna and seized on all their State forcing them to fly into Puglia and Sicily for refuge His next and last work was to subdue the Orsini but they having always been constant and firm friends to the Pope in all times and against all Factions he wanted some colourable pretence to fix a quarrel on them but at length the occasion which he sought the Orsini themselves administred for they growing jealous of the successes and fortune of Borgia and fearing lest his insatiable avarice should transport him also to an appetite of devouring them they considered it prudence to provide in time against a danger so apparent and imminent as this wherefore consulting with others who were possessed with the like apprehensions and fears such as Bentivolio Lord of Bologna Paolo Baglione the Usurper of Perugia Vitellozzo Vitelli Lord of the City of Castello Liverotto Lord Fermo Pandolfo Petrucci of Siena they appointed a Council to be held at Perugia where they agreed upon an alliance and confederacy together against Borgia and accordingly setting out an Army into the Field they took Vrbino and Camerino and overthrew
were affixed in all publick places denouncing and publishing a Council to be held and celebrated on the first day of September following at Pisa where the Pope himself was also cited to appear This Council was convened by the Authority of the dissenting Cardinals such as Bernardino Carvagiale a Spaniard who was the chief leader and director of the Schism William Brisoner a French Bishop Francis Borgia a Spaniard Cardinal of S. Cecilia Renat de Brie a Frenchman Cardinal of S. Sabina and Frederick Sanseverino an Italian Cardinal of S. Angelo all which agreed and pretended that a Council might where was apparent necessity be judicially convoked by them and that when a Pope was guilty of Simony infamous and damnable in his manners Author of so many Wars and notoriously incorrigible to the universal scandal of all Christendom that then the power of convocating a Council which was the only remedy and redress for so many evils did lawfully devolve unto them especially having the Authority of the Emperor and the consent of the most Christian King together with the Clergy of Germany and France concurring The Pope enraged with this bold attempt of his contumacious Cardinals issued out his Excommunications against them depriving them of their Hats Honors and Dignities Ecclesiastical notwithstanding which the design of the Council proceeded and on the first day of September the Proctors of the Cardinals being come to Pisa did there celebrate the Acts for opening of the same with which the Pope conceiving yet higher indignation against the Florentines for that they had suffered the Conventicle for so he called it to take beginning in their State did declare and publish that whosoever did favour the Conventicle of Pisa did stand actually Excommunicated Interdicted and subject to all the Penalties severely ordained by Laws against Schismaticks and Hereticks and that accordingly Lewis XII King of France together with the Cities of Florence and Pisa did stand actually Excommunicated and Interdicted And farther to countermine this Council he published a General Council to be held at the Lateran and to do the greatest despight imaginable to the Florentines he constituted Cardinal John de Medices who with his whole Family was exiled from Florence Legate of Bologna Romagna and of the whole Army of the League and to give farther diversion and trouble in France he incited Henry VIII King of England and Ferdinand King of Spain to joyn in a League with him the first to enter his Forces into Aquitaine and the latter to wage War on the King of Navarre who being joyned in Confederacy with Lewis did likewise lie under the censure of Excommunication Matters being thus disposed he finished the Articles of a League made with the Catholick King and the Senate of Venice which was solemnly published on the 5th of October in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo the Pope and Cardinals being present where it was solemnly declared that the intent thereof was to preserve the Unity of the Church to defend her from the present Schism to recover the City of Bologna which was the right of the Church to confound the Assembly at Pisa and finally to chase and expel the French by force of Arms out of Italy Lewis finding himself on all sides hardly beset hastned the Recruits of his Army and withdrawing the Forces he had in Brescia which he had lately recovered from the Venetians and from Bologna which composed in all a Body of about 15500 men he marched by Ravenna in order to joyn with the Troops of the Duke of Ferrara who was then Confederate with France The Popes Army with the Allies consisting of about 13000 Foot and 1800 men at Arms marched towards the relief of Ravenna which was then hardly besieged by the French Army under the Command of Gaston de Foix a valiant and experienced General The Papal Army being encamped at no far distance from the French endeavoured to avoid a Battel which the Enemy frequently offered them but finding that unless they did fight Ravenna would be taken for such wide breaches were made in the Walls by the Cannon that the Enemy was ready to enter and in sight of their Army to make themselves Masters of the City to prevent which and the disgrace of such a mischief time was not farther to be lost nor an Engagement to be longer declined so that on Easter day both Armies joyned Battel The Fight continued so very long and bloody that in the space of six hours it was scarcely discernable to which side the Victory inclined At length by direction of the Duke of Ferrara the Cannon being brought by a long compass about to play on the Flank of the Army the Spaniards and Italians began to fly leaving their Baggage and the glory of the day unto the French which they gained with so much blood and loss of the principal Commanders and flower of their Army that they seemed rather vanquished than Conquerors and to remain in a condition which afforded them no cause of triumph in their Victory It is said that twenty thousand men were slain in this Battel and the numbers almost equal on each side amongst which 150 Gentlemen belonging to the Court of the French King were killed five of the Family of Colonna with Gaston de Foix their General Of the Popes Army the Legate John de Medices with several other Captains was taken Prisoner The first news of this Defeat and the ill consequences thereof which was the taking and sacking of Ravenna was entertained at Rome with great fear and tumult so that the Cardinals running hastily to the Pope urged and pressed him with earnest and vehement Petitions to conclude the War and accept such reasonable and moderate conditions as they were assured the King of France would be ready to offer On the other side the Embassadors of the King of Aragon and the Senate of Venice entertained other sentiments judging from the advices they had received that matters were not reduced to such extremities as the fears and melancholy fancies of the Cardinals suggested for that the French Army had not gained this Victory with so little loss but that the great effusion of blood which it had cost had weakened their Force to a degree as was not in a short time to be recovered nor was the death of that valiant and wise General Gaston de Foix and other Captains slain on the French side to be repaired in this age Likewise it was further urged that the Vice-Roy was escaped with the greater part of the Cavalry and that the Spanish Infantry were retreated from the Battel in good order which being joyned with the Swissers which were daily expected there would be no necessity at present of yielding to the conditions of the French which in this conjuncture would be very unequal and dishonorable and that therewith they must expect to receive Laws from the pride of Bernardin Carvagiale and the insolence of Frederick de Sancta Severin and the
occasions of this King with Money he gave license to sell and alienate so much of the Church Lands in France as might suffice for the carrying on of this War in which Trust of Sales the Cardinals of Lorain and Bourbon being made Commissioners the Lands belonging to the Church which were then sold amounted to the value of one hundred and fifty thousand Crowns of yearly Revenue In the next place it was this Pope Pius V. who out of his great zeal excommunicated Elizabeth Queen of England with all her Subjects of the same profession And in the year 1569. conferred on Cosmo de Medicis Duke of Florence the Title of Great Duke of Tuscany in Gratitude for which the Duke coming to Rome to acknowledg the honour done him was there crowned with a Ducal Crown by the hands of the Pope about the Circle of which this Motto was engraven Pius quintus Pont. Max. ob eximiam Dilectionem ac Catholicae Religionis Zelum praecipuumque Justitiae studium donavit Then to demonstrate his zeal against the Turks the prevailing Enemies over Christianity under the conduct of Solyman the Magnificent who at that time was entered into Hungary with an Army of two hundred thousand fighting Men He instantly desired and exhorted the Christian Princes unto Unity amongst themselves that they might repulse the common Enemy of the Christian Faith and to shew that he would not persuade others to that performance in which he did not readily offer himself to be an Example he freely sent unto the Emperour a Present of ninety thousand Ducats with promise to furnish fifty thousand Crowns more every year so long as the Wars should continue And indeed at that time there needed Counsel and Arms and Money to resist Solyman who had besieged the strong Fortress of Segeth which was then commanded by Count Serini whose Family like that of Hanibal against the Romans had ever sworn enmity and irreconcileable hatred to the Turks It happened that though Solyman died in the Siege against this City yet the assaults and force were continued by Mahomet the Grand Visier who concealed the death of Solyman until he had first advised the news thereof unto his Successour Sultan Selim the Second during which time he plied the Town with such continual storms as reduced the Defendants to the last extremity and to a resolution of selling their Lives at the dearest rate which they accordingly performed by a Sally of five hundred Men in which all of them being slain with their Leader Count Serini the Town was soon after surrendered into the hands of the Turk It was now the year 1570. when Sultan Selim succeeding his Father the Great Solyman and being a Prince as ambitious and as desirous to enlarge his Empire as was his Predecessour resolved upon the Conquest of Cyprus then belonging to the Venetian Dominions But that he might not seem to attempt the Countries of his Neighbour before he had first denounced War he dispatched a Chiaus to Venice demanding the surrender of the Kingdom of Cyprus as a dependance on the City of Constantinople and a Member of the Grecian Empire to which he had gained a Title by the power of his Sword This Message or Summons being delivered in full Senate was seconded by many Incursions made into Dalmatia and Sclavonia and great preparations for transporting Soldiers into Cyprus The Venetians being thus assaulted by the potent Enemy of Christendom applyed themselves to the Pope desiring him that he would be pleased out of his paternal commiseration to the Christian Cause to administer some effectual help from his own hand and exhort all other Christian Princes to enter into a League and unite their Forces against the common Enemy of the Christian Faith In compliance with this Request the Pope prevailed with the King of Spain to furnish the Venetians with fifty Sail of Galleys under the Command of John Andrew d' Oria a valiant and experienced General requiring him to obey Mark Anthony Colonna Commander in Chief of the Pope's Gallies and accordingly in the Month of August 1570. a very considerable Force met at the Rendezvouz in Candia consisting of one hundred and eighty Gallies eleven Galeasses and six Ships of War But the Turks being more forward in this Expedition had a Month before that time landed a formidable Army in the Island of Cyprus where after having taken the Cities of Nicosia and Famagosta with great effusion of blood they made themselves Masters of the whole Island whilest in the mean time the two great Commanders Colonna and D' Oria being at variance for D' Oria refused to yield to Colonna the design was frustrated and the Fleets returned home without any Action considerable in that Voyage which verified the truth of that saying of Livy Quam plurium imperium bello inutile However â—his ill success did not discourage these Allies from making farther trial of their fortune for being all concerned to resist the Turk they renewed their League again for the succeeding year which was An. 1571. And that they might prevent the misunderstandings which the year before had happened between the two Generals it was agreed that Don John d' Austria who was natural Brother to the King of Spain should be Commander or Generalissimo of the whole Navy that Mark Anthony Colonna General of the Pope's Gallies should be his Lieutenant and accordingly preparations being made Messina in the Island of Sicily was appointed for the place of Rendezvouz where about the Month of August the whole Fleet joined together consisting of one hundred Venetian light Gallies 6 Galleasses two Ships besides Brigantines Felucas and other smaller Vessels under Dominico a Nobleman of Venice The Pope's Gallies were twelve commanded by Mark Anthony Colonna and the Fleet or Spain commanded by Don John d' Austria consisted of eighty one Gallies amongst which the three Gallies of Malta were comprehended and twenty two Sail of Ships With this Force this mighty Fleet departed from Messina on the 16th of September 1571. and sailed to Corfu a safe Port belonging to the Venetians in the Adriatick Sea where having advice that the Turks Armata was in the Gulf of Lepanto they weighed Anchor and stood directly for that place where on the 3d of October they joined Battel with the Turks and gave them that memorable overthrow which hath ever since disabled them from forming any considerable Force at Sea against the Christians for in that fight the which continued not above five hours the most formidable Fleet that was ever equipped or set out from Constantinople was destroyed for they lost one hundred and seventeen Gallies eighty Brigantines or smaller Vessels which were sunk or burn'd or put ashoar forty Sail of Gallies or thereabouts were taken in the pursuit Of the Turks were killed thirty two thousand Men amongst which were many Bashaws and Beglerbeges and three thousand five hundred Captives were taken and fifteen thousand poor Christians were released who had been chained to
Briga But being pursued thither by the Enemy he was there besieged and afterwards taken Prisoner towards the end of January 1588. The Pope who was greatly concerned for this disgrace of Maximilian dispeeded Cardinal Aldobrandino into Poland to treat a Peace and an Accommodation between Maximilian and the Prince the which after various difficulties and Disputes was happily concluded about the beginning of March 1589. The Articles of which were that Maximilian should renounce all Title and pretence to the Crown of Poland by reason of the late Election or any other demand whatsoever and that the Prince of Sweden should remain the lawful and undoubted King which being agreed the Prince took possession and was named Sigismond III. The Pope who was no less zealous for the success of the King's Arms in France against his Protestant Subjects sent a Sword to the Duke of Guise who was chief of the Catholick League as he had lately done to the Prince Farnese who was Governour of Flanders the which was delivered by a Bishop who was purposely sent to present it and therewith to tender his paternal love and benediction to the Duke assuring him that he possessed a large room in the heart and breast of the Pope The Ceremony of delivering this Sword was performed with such pomp and triumph at Paris and with such popular acclamations of the multitude in favour of Guise as administred just cause of jealousie and fear to the King and though Guise was ambitious enough to be pleased therewith yet being immoderate and irregular his modesty told him that they were undecent The King in the mean time being eclipsed by the popular grandeur of Guise and by the troubles of a Civil War with which his Kingdom was infested did seem to resent the favours which the Pope shewed to Guise as unseasonable of which when Sixtus had knowledg and of the popular acclamations at the delivery of his Sword he was much troubled for he being of a humour always desirous to maintain Sovereignty in its highest degree of Honour and Power did by a Letter to the King exhort him to maintain his Prerogatives and conserve the honour of his Crown against the Insolencies and rebellions of his Subjects adding That a Canker in the bowels of his State was curable onely by cauterizing and by fire and Sword and that it was necessary to vent some of that blood which was too redundant in the veins of his Subjects The King made frequent reflections on this Letter and often gave it to the Duke of Guise to read and consider and being one day in Parliament where many Debates arose touching the ways and means by which the Civil Wars might be accommodated and a good understanding produced between him and his Subjects the King declared the great aversion of his mind to blood or other extremities which though he might justly by the Counsels and persuasions of the Pope yet he was more tender of the lives of his Subjects than to cure his troubles by such severe Remedies and to confirm the truth thereof he produced the Pope's Letter causing it publickly to be read in that Assembly which when the Parliament heard they Blessed themselves and as well the Catholicks as Protestants remained astonished and scandalized at this cruelty of the Universal Pastor who with such little remorse could suck the blood of Christ's Sheep as if he had rather been the Wolf than Shepherd of the Christian Flock Which when the Pope understood and was informed of all the Satyrs and Libels which the Protestants had composed on this occasion he was greatly disturbed that the King should so publickly expose his Counsels which he designed for his secret directions and having signified his resentment thereof by his Nuntio he would never afterwards adventure to write him a Letter but on all occasions of business referred himself by word of mouth to the report of his Nuntio And now Sixtus whose thoughts were ever employed on means which might enlarge or make great the Church did much incite Philip II. King of Spain to make War on Elizabeth Queen of England pressing him to re-assume his Right to that Kingdom which he had once governed and for encouragement thereunto he promised Count Olivarez the King's Ambassadour at Rome that so soon as the Spanish Army should be landed on any part of the English shoar he would immediately contribute a million of Crowns to that Design Nor was the Pope moved hereunto out of a zeal onely to Religion but out of a secular Design supposing that the chief Flower of the Nobility and Soldiery of Naples being drained thence on this Enterprize he might have a more facil passage to the possession of that Kingdom In pursuance therefore of this Design a great and wonderful Fleet of vast Caracks to the number of one hundred and fifty Sail being set to Sea on which were twenty three thousand Land Soldiers with two thousand pieces of Cannon of which the Duke of Medina Sidonia was made General they entered the Channel of England where being met by a small Fleet of Ships under the Command of Sir Francis Drake several broad-sides passed between them but at length the Divine Providence assisting England and defending the Protestant Cause the valour of the English and the successful direction of the Fire-ships prevailed with admirable fortune over the Spaniards against whom also God himself fighting as we may say by his Storms and Tempests totally defeated and destroyed this invincible Armada as we may more at large read in our Chronicles of England Sixtus having received the news of this unhappy defeat wrote Letters to Philip to condole with him for the loss and therewith taking an occasion to blame the management and conduct of his Officers he attributed the miscarriage of all to the want of care and experience of the Chief Commanders by which reflection of disgrace his intent was to prevent all Demands from him of reparation for this loss and on this subject he proceeded in a publick Consistory to blame and tax every Individual Chief both in the Army and in the Council of ill administration onely he took upon him to excuse Alexander Farnese Governour of the Low-Countries and to answer the aspersions which his Enemies had charged upon him declaring him to be the onely person who for his personal Valour and excellency of his Conduct was the most approved Captain of that Age. This Letter of Condolance wrote by the Pope was dispatched to his Nuntio at Madrid to be delivered to the King whose constancy of mind and evenness of temper was such that though the Nuntio well knew he had no need of Cordials or consolatory Exhortations yet the Commands of his Master were to be obeyed and the formality observed Whilest King Philip was reading the Letter he often smiled as if the Stile had rather been to congratulate his Victory than to condole for his loss Howsoever he thanked the Nuntio and promised to return an Answer thereunto
could never be heartily reconciled to his Person and Interest but the Arch-bishop was so ambitious of the Scarlet that contrary to the persuasions of his Brother he posted to Rome where after some few months he was created Cardinal to the great satisfaction and joy of the Duke of Guise and of all the French Party who expected from thence the happy fruits of Peace and of a perfect understanding between France and the Papal Sea Howsoever the mind of the Pope was not yet quieted nor could he forget his quarrel to the Barberins though he seemed to be so far appeased as to admit of the return of Cardinal Barberin to Rome which grant was obtained by the Marquis de Fontena who succeeded the Abbat of St. Nicholas in the Agency for France but howsoever he could not so far prevail as to obtain the like favour for Cardinal Antonio whom the Pope detested and would not hear of his admission until he had given in his Accounts and answered the Crimes of which he was legally accused as his Brother had already performed Nor would the Pope admit the Son of Taddeo the Prefect a youth of about eighteen years of age to execute that Office during the absence of his Father retired as we have said to the Court of France though pressed with the most warm instances imaginable by the Marquis de Fontena the Pope positively refusing it as a judged case already by the College of Cardinals in the time of Sixtus IV. when the Son of Antonio Colonna though in joint commission with his Brother was declared uncapable to exercise that charge in the time of his Minority For indeed the Pope did not much consider the applications made from France in any Affair nor was he greatly concerned to satisfie their Ministers knowing that the Civil Wars at that time had so employed the hearts and hands of that Kingdom that no mischief could be derived from thence Nor did Innocent shew himself much more favourable to any Nation for the Emperour could obtain no other help in his Wars against Sweden than a few Indulgences so that he was forced to patch up a Peace to the disadvantage of the Empire and the Roman Religion The Spaniards received nothing but flat denials to all demands as the Conte d' Ognate and the Duke dell ' Infantado who were then Ambassadours did often complain The French required nothing besides the restoration of the Barberins for if the Spaniards could obtain nothing who had been chief Instruments in the Pope's Election what could the French expect who remained as out-lawed people and as Enemies to himself and party Nor did Innocent after the Example of other Popes interest and concern himself much in the quarrels between the Christian Princes or like those who esteeming themselves the universal Fathers interposed by their Agents in the Offices of Peace and Mediation but Innocent casting off those cares and by the advice and counsel of Donna Olympia being desirous to excuse the charge and expence of Nuntios in forein Courts as useless and unnecessary took up new Maxims and grounds of State having an Opinion that the intercessions of Popes availed little with Princes until their own conveniences and pressures by War inclined them to a Peace It is reported that Innocent looking out one day at his Window saw two Porters at Fifty-cuffs some that were standers by would have parted them but the Pope forbad it giving Order that they should fight it out They after half an hours scuffle being weary and out of breath gave over of themselves and without other mediation parted which when the Pope saw he turned to Panâ—irolo who was then living So said he will the French and Spaniards do for when they are well wearied with beating one another they will part and agree of themselves without the mediation of others But Innocent was not so wholly averse from sending Nuntios into forein parts but that with concurrence and approbation of his Olympia he was ready to spend Money in Negotiations which were judged beneficial and necessary for the welfare of the Ecclesiastical State in pursuance of which aim considering it of absolute necessity to have a Minister at the Treaty of Munster where the general peace of Christendom was in debate he appointed Fabio Chigi a Senese to be present at that Meeting who with Aloisio Contareni a Senator of Venice and both Men of experience were by general consent admitted Mediators The Emperour's Commissioners were Lodowick Count of Nassau and Isaac Volmar Doctor of the Civil Law to them afterwards Count Trotmansdorff a person of extraordinary Abilites was superadded Avossie and Servient appeared in behalf of France Count Pignoranda and one Antonio â Sequanis who with his two Pages in a slashed Suit and a tattered Coach was of greater importance to the Work than half the Meeting besides were Commissioners for the Spaniard and Count Oxensterne and John Sauge Osnabrugge for the Swede who being Protestants had a Seat appointed for them apart that they might not mingle with the Catholicks Paw of Amsterdam and Knute the Zelander Commissioners for Holland were of greater eminency than those from the other Provinces to Avossie and Servient Longueville of the bloud Royal of France was afterwards added entering Munster with a train like an Emperour These were the chief Ministers which graced the Meeting at Munster besides several Accessories sent by their respective Princes Fabio Chigi being of a mild and patient temper did diligently remove all such things as he judged might obstruct or retard the business of Peace but Contareni though a Man of able parts yet being passionate did sometimes proceed with more violence than wariness It will not be pertinent to this History to relate the particulars of this Treaty what jugling and what Sophistry was practised How much Money how much time was idly thrown away how many Letters were written in Ciphers and how many deciphered what insisting upon Punctilios never did an Assembly more gloriously play the Mad-men as if this Serious Meeting had been held about the place of Princes not for the peace of Christendom In short therefore as to what concerns our purpose The Hollanders impatient for a peace looking on the French successes with a jealous Eye resolved to improve the present opportunity and without the advice and consent of the French to strike up a perpetual Peace with Spain The French resenting this manner of proceeding by the Hollanders sent to the Hague to complain but without any effect that people after their usual custom preferring their quiet and ease from War before the Leagues and faith and promises made with and given to their Allies And thus this Assembly the most famous next to that of Trent for the resort of divers Nations was dissolved without any effect Chigi the Pope's Nuntio labouring much toward the general Peace had still in his Eye the design of conserving the Revenue and immunities of the Church free and entire
good will and suffrage at his Election and according to the Politicks of former Popes he made some Laws and Orders for regulation of the Markets and for supplies of the City with Victuals and Provisions that the People might at the beginning of his Government find Peace and plenty But these plausible and specious appearances which cost little to the Pope great discontents arose in the Court of Rome by reason of the exorbitant Power of the Cardinal Nephew who assuming all matters into his own hands suffered no applications to be made unto the Pope but by his means and intercession nor would he suffer the Seals to pass for any Livings or Benefices without a payment of Mony for and in consideration thereof unto himself in which he was so strict that a Living of ten Crowns a year did not escape him without some acknowledgment And for better management of this Simonaical Traffick he appointed Brokers in the Palace to set up an Office and there publickly to profess and without shame to bargain and contract for Offices and Benefices This scandalous manner of dealing discouraged all Men of Virtue and Merit from hopes of obtaining Employments for since Money and not Desert was the step to all preferments good Men for the greatest part were excluded and none but a sort of progging and traffiquing Clergymen advanced to Benefices and Places of Trust Thus did this adopted Nephew play his part when a great swarm of Kindred appeared at Court pretending to be allied either by bloud or alliance to the Pope for though when he was onely a simple Prelat and had no great matter to dispose of few or none would own his Relation but being now advanced to the Pontifical Chair every Citizen of Rome would be his Kinsman and frame a Scheme or Tree of his Pedigree deducing their linage by one Branch or other from the Family of Altieri all which finding an adopted Nephew surreptitiously crept into the favour of their Kinsman and themselves excluded openly murmured against Paluzzi and complained of the injustice and ill fortune but he little regarded their clamours suffering none of them to approach the Pope or challenge kindred unless the Family of the Massimi of which he advanced some to Places of Trust and Profit The College of Cardinals though much divided in their inclinations yet the greatest part of them could not support the despotical Government of Altieri who though he could not absolutely restrain the Cardinals from access to the Pope yet he made their Audiences difficult to be obtained and often caused them upon I know not what excuses to be deferred until other days and times when he contrived to be always present that he might be a witness of their discourses and prevent that freedom which they designed with the Pope This design of Cardinal Altieri was greatly promoted by the retirement of Persons powerful for their Riches and Interest from Rome for soon after the Election of the Pope the Ambassadour of the most Christian King and the Cardinals of Retz and Boglion were returned into France and Cardinal de Este whose Power was sufficient to shake the mightiest Favourite was gone into his own Country Cardinal Antonio was sick and languishing in his Bed and the Flying Squadron whose pretences were onely pure zeal for the universal good of the Church were contented to let matters pass according to the humour of Altieri hoping that the Pope by reason of his age could not hold out long and that therefore it were better to employ their time in forming Parties against the next Conclave than to contrive means and Artifices to defeat and ruin the Power of Altieri but they were much deceived in their measures for the good old Man was so lusty and hearty living without much care that he was likely to out-live the youngest of the Squadron Nor was the Marquis of Astorgas Ambassadour for Spain much more concerned than others for he having other designs of gaining the good will and favour of the Citizens of Rome little cared in what nanner the Intrigues and Affairs of the Court succeeded Wherefore the onely dangerous and formidable Enemy was the Dean Cardinal Barberino a person of that Reputation and Wit as was only capable to stand in competition with the Power of Altieri But neither his Policy Art nor Interest could be available against this Cardinal Nephew who exercised a more absolute Power than any other Favourite had enjoyed in the Place before him the continuance of which being very uncertain he cast about him divers ways whereby to advance and establish the greatness of his Family which under the happy circumstances of his present flourishing condition was not difficult to procure For in Rome there are many Noble and rich Families which aspire to an alliance with the kindred of the Pope's Regnant which though it be an honour of no long continuance yet they have commonly had the opportunity to accumulate Riches during the life of the Pope and afterwards remained with the priviledg of being numbred amongst the Princes after his death The Prince Carbognano who was a principal branch of the House of Colonna which for its Power Riches and Nobility yields to none in Rome had two Sons the eldest of which was called the Duke of Basanello and the second Duke of Anticoli the first was married to the Sister of the Contestable Colonna but having no Children or Heirs the Riches and opulency of all that Family was to devolve by right of Inheritance to the Duke of Anticoli of which Cardinal Altieri having well considered treated of a marriage between him and Donna Tarquinia Great Niece to the Pope esteeming it the best and most advantageous Match in all Rome Prince Carbognano the Father who was of an open and easie temper gave ear to the Proposal with much satisfaction but the Duke of Basanello not suffering his younger Brother to be advanced by these means to a degree above himself refused to give his assent unto the Match unless he also might be received into en equal rank with his Brother and enjoy the honour of those prerogatives which appertain to Nephews and Princes allied to the Papal Throne Altieri declining all rubs and difficulties which might obstruct the Match entertained Basanello with hopes and expectations of the conditions he desired but so soon as the Marriage was celebrated and consummated he then excused himself saying that upon better thoughts he found that such an instance could not be given without drawing many ill consequences with it howsoever that the Pope would think upon it and do what was possible but in reality such words gave no satisfaction being interpreted for a flat and format denial Hence at first arose some coldness which afterwards proceeded to an open quarrel and defiance between Basanello on the one side and Altieri and Anticoli on the other so that both parties exercised their thoughts in ways of revenge upon each other The genius of Italians which