his Men and drove Picenninus and the Mantuan who distrusted the Citizens fidelity quite out of the City within four days after he had taken it Then Philip that he might draw Francis from the Venetians by infesting the Florentines who had given him the same pay as the Venetians did sent Picenninus into Tuscany with six thousand Horse in the midst of Winter The Florentines seeing that sent presently for Piergianpaulo an excellent Commander and desired Eugenius that he would assist 'em according to the League by which he was bound to defend Tuscany and so were resolv'd to meet Picenninus But when they found that John Viteleschus had conspired with Philip though he were at that time Legate and General of the Church-Forces and that he would not prove a friend as he pretended when he came into Tuscany but an Enemy in the Head of six thousand Horse and would fight against the Florentines on Picenninus's side the Magistrates of Florence contrived by real or feigned Letters no matter which from Eugenius to have him kill'd by Anthony Ridius the Governour of Castel S. Angelo just as his Men were passing the Bridg. And so he was for he could not be aided by those that were gone over the Bridg and therefore was as it were alone because he brought up the Reer The Count Aversus who fought under the Patriarch having lost his General convey'd his Carriages along with his own to Roncillione But the Florentines being freed from so great a Terrour deal cunningly with Eugenius to let Lewis of Padua who succeeded Viteleschus muster up all the Church-Forces and come to their assistance This Lewis was a politick Man and it was supposed that by his means Viteleschus was taken off But Picenninus marching down into the Vale of Mugello kill'd and plunder'd all before him as far as Fiesole Then turning toward Castentino he by the assistance of Count Popio made many Towns revolt Thence going to Perugia he went quietly into the City and sent the Legat who was then Governour there to the Pope Eugenius upon a certain Message And in the mean time he took the Treasurer and alter'd the whole State of the City For he chose ten Citizens who had Power of life and death over all the rest But the Perugians fearing lest he should set up a Tyranny upon them they bargain'd with him to depart the City for fifty thousand pound He did so and went to Cortona hoping to take that place by treachery but the Plot was discover'd and the Conspirators either kill'd or banish'd upon which he march'd to Citta di Castello The Florentines also moved to Aughiera a Town in their Dominions to help their Countrymen if Picenninus should offer 'em any violence These things pass'd in Tuscany whilst Francis Sfortia conquer'd Philip's Navy at the Lago di Garda of which Italiano Furlano was Admiral and not onely raised the Siege from before Brescia and Bergamo but the same Summer vanquish'd Philip's Army at Soncino having taken one thousand five hundred Horse and in a short time took and subdu'd all the Castles of Brescia part of Cremona and Mantoua with all Gerradadua and made them tributary to the Venetians At that time the Prince of Mantoua lost Asola Lonato and Pescheria three Towns of a good bigness without opposition for when Picenninus was absent he never durst engage with an Enemy in the open Field But Picenninus hearing how the state of Affairs was alter'd in Venice and being sent for by many Messengers and Letters as well from Philip as the Prince of Mantoua as also being tired out with the importunities of the Soldiers who were most of 'em Natives of that part of Italy which is near the Alps he removed his Camp from Cita di Castello to Borgo di Sancto Sepolcro a Town in his Territories which lies over against Angliera with design either by compulsion or stratagem to fight the Florentines and the Pope's Army that lay as I told you near Angliera On the 29 of June S. Peter and S. Paul's day Picenninus set his Army in Array which took up a Plain of four thousand paces but was unfortunately forc'd to choose a disadvantageous place to fight in because he understood that the common Soldiers of the Enemy were gone a foraging and was not willing to lose the opportunity For he was to go up the side of an Hill and so his Enemies upon the higher ground easily kept him off Yet they fought five hours very smartly till at last Picenninus what with the multitude of his Enemies and the folly of his Son Francis who had forsaken his Post was overcome and retreated to Borgo with great damage and the loss of his Ensigns And the next day leaving Borgo in the hands of the Townsmen and some few of his Soldiers that survived the Battel he went back through Romagna to Philip. The Townsmen of Borgo fearing they might be hardly dealt withal because they had revolted from the Pope employ'd Agents to get their Pardon and surrender'd themselves to the Legat without loss of limbs or goods That Victory was very welcom both to Eugenius and the Florentines and they say Alonisius Patavinus was made a Cardinal for that reason The same Summer the Florentines beat Count Poppio who was Picenninus's Ally out of Tuscany But Philip who was environ'd with so many Enemies fought out for forein Aid and entreated Alphonso who had got possession of the Kingdom of Naples to storm all the Towns which the Sfortians had in that Kingdom to draw Francis Sfortia from the Venetians Alphonso comply'd with his request but never could recal Francis from the War that he was engaged in For he when a sufficient quantity of forage came in march'd from Pescheria to Brescia with fifteen thousand Horse and six thousand Foot and met Picenninus at Cignano with a design to fight him Picenninus was as willing to fight as he and though he had a less number of Men yet they were stout Fellows and he rely'd upon their Valour They fought briskly for some time and parted upon equal terms Francis thinking he had gotten honour enough in the Wars for that he had challenged his Enemy into the Field lead his Army round the Country and retook several Towns which Picenninus had taken that Winter and made them subject to the Venetians From thence he went to Martinengo which Picenninus had fortified with a strong Garrison and besieged it But when Picenninus had augmented his Army by the arrival of Francis his Son and the Prince of Mantoua he went thither and pitch'd his Camp a mile off the Enemy provoking him by Skirmishes to come and decide the matter in a set Battel but he not now desiring to fight the Enemy in the Field grew wholly intent upon taking the Town Picenninus therefore removed his Camp every day so much nearer the Enemy and put Francis in such dangerous circumstances that neither his Soldiers could forrage nor any
was that he never knew how to make choice of a wise Chief or Directour of his own Party Cardinal Pamfilio was ever esteemed as a Partisan of Spain and of the Medices His whole Family Mother Children Daughters Sons in law and Daughters in law were engaged in mortal Feuds one against another The Faction of the Barberins was not well united for the greatest part of the Creatures of Vrban VIII entertained a secret rancour and venom against Cardinal Francis Barberin who after having vowed himself a thousand times to the Interest of the Pope of Donna Olympia and that Family turned his Coat and endeavoured with all obsequious diligence to be received into the Service and friendship of Spain Thus having continued the History of the Barberins with almost an uninterrupted course or mixture of other Affairs we must return a little back to other passages of moment which intervened in the Reign of this present Pope After the death of Edward Duke of Parma which happened in the year 1649. the Montists wanting the usual payments agreed by the Duke in the time of Vrban VIII and afterwards confirmed by him at the conclusion of the late Peace made their complaints to the present Pope upon which license was obtained and Briefs were issued from the Camera to proceed against the Lands and Estate possessed by that Duke in the state of Castro The prosecution of this matter was more violently carried on by the persuasions of Donna Olympia because she was dissatisfied with that Duke for not selling to her his Naboth's Vineyard which was a certain Castle in the Dominion of Castro and because as she supposed he had been instrumental in persuading the Princess of Rossano who was his kinswoman to take Sanctuary under the protection of France from the Wiles and Plots of her Step-mother The Officers and Soldiers of the Duke made resistance against the Commissioners of the Camera who came to make seisures for payment of the Montists which greatly enraged the Pope who was impatient and frowned at the least opposition made to his Commands but the Great Duke of Toscany apprehensive that the consequences hereof might be an engagement to a second War he endeavoured by means of Cardinal Albornozzi to compose the differences making divers propositions to facilitate the payments and satisfie the Montists but whilest these matters were depending it unfortunately happened that the Bishop of Castro was murdered by certain Assassinates who attended his passage on the confines of the Ecelesiastical State The Pope being furiously enraged by the perpetration of this impious fact which he attributed to the machinations of the Duke of Parma immediately dispeeded certain Troops under the command of David Vidman and Girolamo Gabriel to lay Siege unto the City of Castro At that time the French being Masters of Piombino and Portolongone and having an Army in Lombardy under the command of the Duke of Modena and Mareschal du Plessis Praslin kept the Spaniards in awe and gave countenance to the designs of the Duke of Parma in maintenance of his right invaded by the Pope the Duke encouraged by hopes given him by the French and with an opinion that the Pope who was aged and loved ease and quietness would gladly compound upon reasonable terms so soon as he found himself pressed by any vigorous opposition he therefore imitating the example of his Father raised a considerable Army which he committed to the conduct of Marquis Gaufrid with Orders to march directly into the Dominions of the Pope and lest in their passage thither they should commit Violences or acts of Hostility or burden the people he furnished Money sufficient to defray all the charges necessary for maintenance of the Army whereby he might make appear the caution he used to give no offence and that his War was onely defensive and designed to no other end than to protect and maintain his own Subjects and Estate This tenderness of doing hurt to any had been well accepted and interpreted if the success had answered the hopes and expectations of the Duke but the contrary happened out for so soon as Gaufrid was entered into the Dominions of the Church he was encountred by the Marquis Mattei a knowing and an experienced Captain to whom the Pope had committed the charge and defence of those Countries and being strengthened by a considerable force and with many Gentlemen Voluntiers who came from Ferrara and Bologna to signalize their Valour he gave Battel to the Enemy and soon routed and defeated the Army of Parma the General Gaufrid shamefully flying fell under the heavy displeasure and disgrace of his Prince and being accused by his Enemies of many enormous Crimes and miscarriages and of not having observed the Orders of his Master he was with much ignominy put to death whereby he gave a new Example to the World of the mutability of fortune which from an obscure beginning and birth being raised on a sudden to the highest degree of reputation and esteem with his Master was with as swift a turn tumbled and precipitated down to an abyss of shame and dishonour The Garrison of Castro losing all hopes of relief and succours by this defeat surrendered the Town upon Articles into the hands of the Pope who being enraged for the murder committed on the Bishop commanded for expiation of that Offence that the City should be demolished and accordingly it was so entirely ruined that not one stone remained upon another The Duke in the mean time being terrified with these acts of severity and with the victorious Arms of the Pamfilians who threatned the other Dominions of Parma and finding that neither French nor Spaniards nor other Princes did much take his cause and sufferings to heart he resolved to compound with the Pope by a sale of the Dukedom of Castro and Ronciglione with all the Territories and dependences thereunto belonging with Power howsoever of Redemption within the space of eight years And thus ended these differences for the present which several years afterwards broke out into new troubles and will ever remain an occasion of quarrel and scandal until such time as equal expedients and proportionate to justice are given for mutual satisfaction After the City was thus destroyed the Pope set up a Pillar with this Inscription Here was CASTRO and several Crosses in the places where Churches had been with the same Motto The Bishoprick of Castro with all the Benefices and emoluments thereof was afterwards annexed to the neighbouring Metropolis of Aquapendente It is very certain that this Pope was extreamly rigorous in doing justice well vers'd in business and might have deserved the character of a skilful and an understanding Person had he not blemished his Reign with his unpardonable weakness towards a rapatious Woman and therefore we shall as well repeat his good actions as his bad and give the Reader some instances of his Vertues as well as of his Vices He was a severe lover of Justice in his Officers and would
our Saviour was crucified whereas at other times the celebration of the Mass was forbidden till the third hour or between the hours of nine and twelve a Clock the time when as St. Mark tells us he was fastned to the Cross. He also appointed that the Hymn Glory be to God on High should be sung before the Sacrifice In his time Justinus a Philosopher of Neapolis a City of Palestine labour'd successfully in the defending Christianity presented to Antoninus and his Sons a book which he had written against the Gentiles and held a Dialogue with Tryphon a principal Jew He wrote also very warmly against Marcion who adhering to the Heresie of Cerdo affirmed that there were two Gods the one good the other just as two contrary principles of Creation and Goodness He opposed likewise Crescens the Cynick as a person gluttonous fearful of Death given over to Luxury and lust and a blasphemer of Christ. But being at length by this mans treacherous practices betray'd he suffered in the cause of Christianity Eusebius writing of this Cynick allows him only to have been a vain-glorious Pretender but not a Philosopher At the same time the Valentinian Hereticks prevail'd who were the followers of one Valentinus a Platonist and held that Christ took nothing of the body of the Virgin but passed clean through her as through a Pipe Now also Photinus Bishop of Lyons a man of singular Learning and Piety as Isidore tells us suffered Martyrdom with great resolution being ninety years old Telesphorus having at four Decembrian Ordinations made fifteen Presbyters eight Deacons thirteen Bishops died a Martyr and was buried in the Vatican near Saint Peter He was in the Chair eleven years three months twenty two days By his Death the See was vacant seven days S. HYGINUS HYGINUS an Athenian Son of a Philosopher succeeded Telesphorus during the Empire of Antoninus Pius Wâ—â—â—se extraordinary merit compels me to add something farther in his praise 〈…〉 I come to give an account of Hyginus He was so far from the vanity of valuing himself upon the glory of his Arms that he made it his business rather to defend the Provinces of the Empire than to encrease them and had often that saying of Scipio in his mouth that he had rather save one Citizen than destroy a thousand Enemies being herein of a quite contrary temper to that of Domitian who from a consciousness of his own cruelty did so hate and fear a multitude that he would expose the Roman Army to the fury of its Enemies on purpose that it might return home thinner and less formidable Moreover Pius was so famous for his Justice that several Princes and Nations did at his Command cease their Hostilities making him the Arbitratour of their differences and standing to his determination as to the Justice of their Pretensions For these admirable qualities the Romans after his much lamented death in honor to his memory appointed Cirque-shews built a Temple and 〈…〉 a Flamen with an Order called by his name At this time Hyginus prudently setled and confirm'd the several Orders and Degrees of the Clergy and ordain'd the Solemn Consecration of Churches the number of which he would not have encreas'd or diminish'd without leave of the Metropolitan or Bishop He forbad also that the Timber or other Materials prepared for the building any Church should be converted to prophane uses yet allowing that with the Bishop's consent they might be made use of towards the erecting any other Church or Religious House He likewise ordained that at least one Godfather or one Godmother should be present at Baptism and that no Metropolitan should condemn or censure any Bishop of his Province until the cause were first heard and discussed by the other Bishops of the Province though some make this latter an Institution of Pelagius not Hyginus In his time lived Polycarp a Disciple of St. John the Apostle and by him made Bishop of Smyrna the most celebrated man for Religion and learning in all Asia He coming to Rome reduc'd to the Orthodox Faith multitudes who had been seduc'd into the Errours of Marcion and Valentinus the former of which by chance meeting him and asking whether he knew him Polycarp answered that he knew him to be the first-born of the Devil For this Heretick denied the Father of our blessed Saviour to be God the Creatour who by his Son made the World But afterwards in the time of M. Antoninus and L. Aurclius Commodus who raised the fourth Persecution Polycarp was burnt at Smyrna by order of the Proconsul Melito also an Asian Bishop of Sardis and a Disciple of Fronto the Oratour presented to M. Antoninus a book written in desence of the Christian Doctrine Tertullian highly extols his Parts and says that most of the Christians look'd upon him as a Prophet Moreover Theophilus Bishop of Antioch wrote a book against the Heresie of Hermogenes who asserted an uncreated eternal matter co-eval to God himself As for Hyginus himself having deserved well of the Church and at three Decembrian Ordinations made fifteen Presbyters five Deacons six Bishops he died and was buried in the Vatican by S. Peter January 11. He was in the Chair four years three months four days The See was then vacant four days S. PIUS I. PIUS an Italian of Aquileia son of Ruffinus lived to the time of M. Antoninus Verus who together with his Brother L. Aurelius Commodus jointly exercis'd the Government nineteen years These two Princes undertook a War against the Parthians and manag'd it with such admirable courage and success that they had the honour of a Triumph decreed to them But not long after Commodus dying of an Apoplexy Antoninus was sole Emperour a person who so excell'd in all good qualities that it is more easie to admire than to describe him for both because from his very youth no change of his Fortune made any alteration in his mind or his countenance and because it is hard to determine whether the sweetness of his natural temper or the knowledg he learnt from Cornelius Fronto were more conspicuous in him he deservedly gain'd the surname of Philosopher And indeed as Capitolinus tells us he was often wont to use that saying of Plato That then the World would be happy when either Philosophers were Princes or Princes would be Philosophers He was so great a lover of Learning that even when he was Emperour he would be present at the Lectures of Apollonius the Philosopher and Sextus Plutarch's Nephew and he set up the Statue of his Tutour Fronto in the Senate-house as a Testimony of the Honour he had for him At this time Pius maintain'd a strict friendship and familiarity with Hermes who wrote the book called Pastor in which book he introduces an Angel in the form of a Shepherd who commanded him to persuade all Christians to keep the Feast of Easter on a Sunday which Pius accordingly did Moreover he ordained that every
though 't is said that 't was Formosus that conferred the Bishoprick of Anagni upon him But this I take to be the effect of his Ambition the Clergy being come to that pass that they were so far from needing compulsion as formerly to take upon them the Pontificate that now they sought it with bribery and hence it was that Stephen because Formosus had hindred him before of this desired Dignity exercised his rage even upon his dead body for Martin the Historian says he hated him to that degree that in a Council which he held he ordered 〈◊〉 Body of 〈◊〉 to be drag'd out of the Grave to be strip'd of his Pontifical habit and put into that of a Lay-man and then to be 〈◊〉 among secular persons having first cut off those two Fingers of his right Hand which are principally used by Priests in Consecration and thrown them into the Tiber because contrary to his Oath as he said he had return'd to Rome and exercised his Sacerdotal Function from which Pope John had legally degraded him This prov'd a great Controversie and of very ill example for the succeeding Popes made it almost a constant Custom either to break or abrogate the Acts of their Predecessors which was certainly far different from the practice of any of those good Popes whose Lives we have written In our own time Paul II. a Venetian had like to have taken upon him the name of Formosus which would have been agreeable enough to him being a proper man and of a venerable aspect but that the Cardinals remembring this story dissuaded him lest that should happen to him after his Death which did to this Formosus but Paul was hardly wrought upon as thinking nothing but this Name to be wanting to his Felicity Mean time the Emperor of Constantinople taking occasion from the sloth of the Popes sends one Symbaticus a Nobleman his Sword-bearer with an Army into Italy who after a Siege of three months takes Beneventum after it had been in the possession of the Lombards 330 years but three years after Guy of Lombardy retook it and drove out the Greeks and so it fell to the Lombards again But to return to Stephen he died in the first year and third month of his 〈◊〉 and the Sea was vacant three days after his death ROMANUS ROMANUS a Roman as soon as he was got into the Pontificate disavowed and rescinded all the Acts and Decrees of Stephen And indeed these Popelings studied nothing else but to extinguish the memory and honour of their Predecessors than which nothing is more mischievous or a more certain sign of a narrow Soul for they that trust to such tricks as these are onely such as wanting all manner of Virtue endeavour to rob the well-deserving of that Fame which themselves can never attain to Indeed you shall never find any man envying the good name of another but one that being obnoxious to all manner of reproach is hopeless of rendring his own name honourable to Posterity Such men as these maliciously falsly and craftily backbite slander and find 〈◊〉 with those that have deserv'd well of Mankind like useless and cowardly Dogs that dare not seize a wild 〈◊〉 but will venture to snap at them when they are fast chain'd I was oblig'd however at least to mention this Pope Romanus because he obtain'd S. Peter's Chair after the ordinary manner in which after he had sate three months he died THEODORUS II. THEODORE the second a Roman follow'd the steps of these Mutineers for he restor'd the Decrees of Formosus and 〈◊〉 his Friends Arnulphus according to some Writers still rul'd in Italy and in France Charles the Simple Constantine the Son of Leo being Emperor of the East at which time the Saracens invading Apulia possess'd themselves of Mount S. Angelo and took abundance of Men and Cattel but the Italians hastily got together an Army set upon them and recovered all with 〈◊〉 slaughter of the Enemies While Affairs went thus in Italy William Earl of 〈◊〉 surnamed Sector-ferri of the linage of Charles the Bald ordered the Reliques which had been taken from the Chartreux Fryers at the time of the Norman Invasion to be restor'd for now that the Normans were quieted he 〈◊〉 there would be some uproar about them if they were not restor'd Who the Normans were is not on all hands agreed but they are said to have come into France from Norway Theodorus in the 20th day of his Papacy died leaving through the shortness of his time nothing memorable of himself JOHN X. JOHN the tenth a Roman was next created Pope and immediately reasserted the cause of Formosus a great part of the People of Rome being against it who raised such a tumult that it wanted little of a Battel He therefore remov'd to Ravenna where calling a Synod of seventy four Bishops he damns all that Stephen had done and restores the Decrees of Formosus declaring it irregularly done of Stephen to re-ordain those on whom Formosus had conferred Holy Orders These Popes by their constant inobservance of all Apostolical Practices were the occasions in my Opinion of these turmoils especially joyning with that the Cowardize and Negligence of the Princes of Christendom whose interest it was that the Ship of S. Peter should labour with Tempests that so the Master being unable to animadvert upon them might not throw them like naughty Mariners overboard Arnulphus was immers'd in pleasures and Charles King of France was truly worthy of his Surname of Simple or rather Blockhead So that the Hungari a fierce and wild people tempted by this prospect of things with a formidable Army invade first Italy then Germany and France without any considerable resistance consuming all with fire and sword and sparing no Sex or Age wherever they march'd The Moors too invaded Calabria of a great part whereof they possess'd themselves but whilst they besieg'd Cosenza their King was killed by Thunder from Heaven whereupon they were dispersed and return'd home Thus God himself punish'd with his own hand the Enemies of the name of Christ out of pity to his people who were miserably forsaken by the Princes of the Earth which if he had not done the name of Italy and the Holy Church had been no more Such sluggish and sorry fellows were the Potentates of those times John died after he had been Pope two years and fifteen days leaving nothing behind him worthy notice but that he renew'd some old quarrels which had been almost forgotten BENEDICT IV. BENEDICT the fourth a Roman for his good nature and mildness was made Pope but nothing was done in his time worthy of any great commendation In his Age it happen'd as to others it does sometimes that a strange negligence of all manner of 〈◊〉 had possess'd mankind no incitements being applied by which the minds of men should be stir'd up to Actions that are praise-worthy which yet are never wanting under good Princes or well constituted Governments At
strong place in Syria and fortified it that it might be a receptacle for the Christians in their War against the Infidels Boemund also the younger dying Tancred who was his Uncle and Guardian was by all the Christians declar'd Prince of Antioch which Principality having setled he was sent for by Baldwin King of Jerusalem to come with all his force to aid him against the Turks Saracens and Arabs who with a great Army had invaded his Kingdom Tancred arriving there and observing the small forces of the Christians dissuaded Baldwin from joyning Battel with the Enemy by that means putting the whole affair of Christendom under a great hazard but all in vain for Baldwin giving them an opportunity of fighting was overcome with great slaughter himself and a few Men retreating with great difficulty to Jerusalem and Tancred by several by-ways escaping to Antioch The Enemies puff'd up with this great Victory seiz'd Mount Tabor and pulling down the Monestery there put all the Monks to the sword Gelasius in the mean time could not be at rest from a forein Enemy for the Emperor Henry had entred Italy with his Army wasting all as he march'd was just about to enter Rome in a hostile manner to escape whom the Pope at first retir'd to the House of Volcamino a noble Citizen but not deeming that altogether safe he went with his Attendants aboard a couple of Gallies prepar'd for that purpose and sail'd down the Tiber to Ostia the German Soldiers pursuing him and shooting at him with Darts and Arrows Coming to Ostia he dared not venture any whither by Sea it was so stormy but he travell'd hy Land to Ardea accompanied still wherever he went by Hugh Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles an illustrious Prelate Soon after the Sea growing more calm he return'd to 〈◊〉 from whence he sail'd first to Terracina and then to Gaeta where he was very kindly entertain'd by his Countrymen Hither came to meet him William Duke of Puglia Robert Prince of Capua and Richard of Aquila who all promised him their utmost service as became loyal Feudataries of the Church of God Henry hearing these Princes were raising an Army against him set up for an Anti pope Maurice Archbishop of Braga by the name of Gregory to oppose Gelasius and recommended him to the Family of Frangipani and not content to have acted so pernicious a thing he entred the Country of Anagni and plunder'd and ruin'd all before him he had just laid Siege to Turricolo a strong place when on a sudden news was brought that Gelasius with the Princes of Puglia approach'd with a great Army whereupon he decamp'd and as he retreated out of Italy he sill'd all places with slaughter and rapine 〈◊〉 upon his retreat dismiss'd the 〈◊〉 Princes supposing now that Henry was gone all things would be in a peaceable condition at Rome hereafter but he was very much deceiv'd in his opinion for he was soon after inform'd that the Anti-pope upheld by the power of the Frangipani continued still at Rome out of fear of which Family he staid privately a while in the House of a Friend but afterward as he was saying Mass in the Church of Praxede his Enemies with their Party rush'd in and he had much ado to escape out of their hands by flight some of the Corsi and Normanni two great Families with his Nephew Crescentius fighting briskly in his defence The next day guarded by his Retinue and Friends in Arms he return'd to the City from S. Paul's whither he had fled and consulting with his Cardinals he resolv'd to leave the City lest the Uproars every day encreasing some great mischief might ensue Having therefore left to Peter Bishop of Porto the Vicegerency in Ecclesiastical affairs at Rome and to Hugo Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles the care of Benevento he sail'd first to Pisa not conceiving the way by Land to be secure for himself and the Cardinals who accompanied him where he in the audience of the whole City related the causes of his departure from Rome and was received with great kindness by the Pisans thence setting sail for France he arrived at S. Giles's and was there entertain'd by the Abbat of Clugni and his Monks with many others who came for that purpose very magnificently and splendidly Then he cross'd the middle of France with a venerable rather than sumptuous attendance which now adays is the fashion by the way dedicating the Churches of S. Cecily in Stagello S. Sylvester in Burgundy and S. Stephen in Tornay and with Stones determining the Bounds of each Church Coming at last to the Monastery of Clugni he was taken with a Plurisie and died having been Pope one year and five days He was a most holy Man and very praise-worthy both for his life and doctrin so that I cannot doubt considering the integrity of his life and his religious constancy amidst the many storms and troubles he underwent but that he now enjoys Eternity among the blessed in Heaven He was buried in the Porch of the said Monastery Some write that in his time the Order of Knights Templers first began who living not far from the Holy Sepulcre entertain'd Pilgrims and accompanied them in Arms in their journeys to and from the holy Places which by their means might be visited with all safety These Knights Cusentinus commends highly for their holy Christian Lives CALISTUS II. CALISTUS the Second first named Guy a Burgundian Arch-bishop of Vienna descended of the Blood Royal of France was chosen Pope by those Cardinals who were at Clugni at the death of Gelasius but he would not take upon him the 〈◊〉 till he heard the Election was approv'd by those Cardinals also who were left at Rome and elsewhere in Italy which being certified to him by Letters and Messengers he went to Rome and the Nobility and People meeting him congratulated his Promotion and their own good fortune not doubting but he would be a restorer of peace and tranquillity to the City of Rome Here he settled matters to his mind and went to Benevento where all the Princes thereabout were met to salute him according to custom of whom the principal were William Duke of Puglia Jordan Count of 〈◊〉 Arnulphus Count of Ariano and Robert Count of Lauretello all Men of great honour and without doubt the most powerful Lords of that part of Italy who took their Oath of fealty to the Pope But Calistus having nothing more in his thoughts than the holy War where it was much fear'd the Christian Cause would not be able to sustain it self against so many barbarous Nations returning to Rome dispatch'd away Lambert Bishop of Ostia a Saxon Cardinal of S. Stephen in monte Celio and Gregory Cardinal of S. Angelo to the Emperour to treat of a Peace which having procured without much difficulty they hang'd up a Table of the Articles thereof in the Lateran Church to the incredible joy of all People But this lasted not long for Roger Count
manner of filthiness The tidings of which mov'd Innocent to urge King Lewis to hasten his march towards Asia with those Forces he had already got together for that intent He complied and arriv'd at Cyprus but it was at so unseasonable a time of the year that he was forc'd to take up his Winter quarters there but as soon as Spring came on he sail'd to Damiata where he got the better of the Soldan's Navy and defeated his Land-forces who would have hindred his coming on Shore where he pitch'd his Camp for so long as till the rest of his Troops could arrive from Italy But these were very much retarded by the fury of Frederic who weaning himself after a while from the pleasures in which he had been immers'd takes up his Arms again and fills the whole Country with confusion and compells several Cities in which were many factious Persons to throw off their subjection to the Pope the chief of which were the Inhabitants of Forli Arimino Vrbin and all the Marca di Ancona In Vmbria none stood to their Allegiance but those of Todi Perugia and Assisi and in Tuscany onely the Florentines were on the Pope's side who therefore were so harass'd by the Army of Frederic that they were forc'd at last to banish so many of their fellow-Citizens as were of the Guelphs Faction The Bologneses had better luck for giving Battel to Henry one of Frederic's Generals they overthrew him and cut him to pieces Some write that 't was at this time that Frederic passing into Sicily died at Palermo while others affirm that he was taken desperately sick in Puglia and when he began to recover he was smother'd to death with a Pillow by one Manfred who was his natural Son begotten upon a Noble-Woman his Concubine Howsoever this was 't is certain that some time before his death he had made Manfred Prince of Tarento and had bestow'd upon him beside that Principality many other Towns and Territories He left Conrade whom he had by his Wife Jole Daughter to John King of Jerusalem Heir of all his Estates but he was afterwards taken off by Poison as was manifest by the means of Manfred having before seiz'd upon Naples and Aquino and sack'd them much against the mind of the Pope who vigorously opposed these proceedings though in vain in order to procure the peace of Italy that he might have liberty to transport the Italian Soldiers to recruit the Army of King Lewis then lying before Damiata But Damiata was now taken and Robert Earl of Poitiers coming with fresh supplies from France he marches from thence with his Army towards the City of Pharamia whither the Soldan apprehending his design was already come with great Forces There happen'd to be a River betwixt the two Armies by reason whereof they could not join Battel but they had frequent light Skirmishes both Generals keeping themselves within their Camps in one of which Robert rashly venturing too far was taken Prisoner by the Enemy By this time Innocent had almost extinguish'd those flames of War with which Italy had so long been consum'd and intended to have return'd to Rome having first canoniz'd Edmund Arch-bishop of Canterbury but when he came to Perugia he thought good to decline his journey to Rome understanding the Senate there arrogated to themselves more Power than stood with the dignity of the Pope and Court of Rome and there he canoniz'd and enroll'd among the holy Martyrs Peter of Verona a preaching Frier who had been murthered by some Hereticks between Milan and Como and the same honour he gave to S. Stanislaus Bishop of Cracow who in his life-time was very famous for working Miracles Hence he was invited by the Noblemen of the Kingdom of Sicily and immediately departed for Naples then newly repair'd where he died and was buried in S. Laurence's Church when he had been Pope fourteen years six months twelve days just in the nick of time when he had hopes to have brought into his possession all that Kingdom It was by the Decree of this excellent Pope Innocent that the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was commanded to be observ'd yearly in the Church of God as a Festival He with good advice fill'd up the places in the College of Cardinals which had long been vacant with very worthy personages and ordain'd that when they rode abroad they should always wear a red Hat for an honourable distinction of the degree they held Moreover this learned Pope though raised to the highest dignity in the Church compil'd and publish'd several things for he composed the Apparatus or Glosses to the Decretals which are of great use to the Canonists because they contain many nice disquisitions which render the Text wonderfully plain and he put forth another upon the Councils which Hostiensis in his Summa calls the Authenticks He wrote also a Book concerning the Jurisdiction of the Emperour and the Authority of the Pope in answer to one Peter surnam'd Vinea who asserted that the Empire and every person and thing thereunto belonging were absolutely subject to the Emperour to which Book Innocent afterwards gave the Title of his Apologetick He was extremely delighted with the conversation of learned Men whom also he remembred to prefer to dignities in the Church particularly one Hugo who wrote Comments and Concordances upon the holy Bible a Person famous for his learning and good life he advanc'd to be Cardinal of S. Sabina which great promotion yet did not make him leave his former course of life being a Frier of the Order of S. Dominic In this Pope's Reign and by his Order Alexander of the Order of Friers Minors who was well in years when he took upon him a religious Habit wrote a very copious sum of Theology by the procurement also of this Pope and enabled by his bounty Bernardus Parmensis and Compostellanus two very learned Men at this time made publick their Works upon the Decretals which they call'd Apparatus Innocent had not long been dead when he was follow'd by his Nephew William whose Tomb is yet to be seen in the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls ALEXANDER IV. ALEXANDER the Fourth a Campanian born at Anagni was chosen Pope in the room of Innocent and streight sends monitory Letters to Manfred that he should not at his peril attempt any thing that might be a diminution of the honour of holy Church for he calling to his aid the Saracens from Nocera had surprised the Church-Forces utterly unprepared that were in Foggia and either put 'em to the Sword or took 'em Prisoners and pretending that Conradine was dead and that himself was his rightful Heir he had taken upon him to rule as King In the mean while the Christians who we told you had encamp'd near the City of Pharamia were very much visited with sickness and press'd with want of Provisions that part of Nile being prepossess'd by the Enemy by which they were wont to be
thence with all their Forces to Padua which they besieged though it were fenced with very high Walls and a deep Ditch and garison'd with stout Men and after some months having block'd up the Avenues for provision they had it yielded to them Francis was fled into the Castle with his Sons and Nephews but the Venetians took that too not long after by surrender of the Soldiers within who were ready to starve But Francis being taken and sent to Venice was put to death along with his Brother And this was the end of him who indulged his own lust of ruling so much that he contemn'd Peace and would get all things by force of Arms. But this was not the end of our misfortunes For either by the neglect of Popes who used to procure Peace either by Interdictions Menaces or force or rather by means of the Schism under which the Church of God did at that time labour it was come to that pass that every base Usurper after the death of John Galeatius would venture upon any mischievous Design And though Innocent whilst he was Cardinal used to blame the negligence and timorousness of former Popes saying their sloth was the cause that the Schism which was the bane of the Church of Rome and of all Christendom was not rooted out Yet when himself had gotten the Popedom he follow'd Vrbans and Bonifaces steps in several things which he had carp'd at in them when he was a private person and not onely did not what he had before commended but took it very ill if any one mention'd it to him Beside he was so furious in his Administration of the Government that once when the Romans desired to have their Liberty restored and that the Capitol Ponte Molle and S. Angelo might be put into their hands and also were urgent with him to extirpate the Schisms which had been so destructive and of such ill example out of the Church and that he would seek the Peace of Christendom since the King of France promised to assist him in it and Peter Luna the Anti-Pope was not against so good a work the Pope e'en sent the Romans themselves to Lewis his Nephew who lay at the Hospital of the Holy Ghost in the Stone-Way as to an Executioner For eleven of these publick-spirited Citizens were presently put to death and thrown out at the Windows for that he said was the onely way to remove Schism and Sedition The People of Rome were so incens'd at this cruel usage that they sent for Ladislaus King of Naples and took up Arms to revenge themselves of Lewis But the Pope to avoid the fury of the People took Lewis along with him and ran away to Viterbo Whereupon the People seeing they could not satisfie their wrath upon the Author of the Villany they turn'd their indignation upon the Courtiers and plunder'd them of all they had Yet some they say were preserv'd in the Houses of several Roman Cardinals who with much ado did make a shift to protect those that fled to 'em by the assistance of their Clients Then the Romans having taken the Capitol and Ponte Molle they attempted S. Angelo but in vain though they were assisted by John Columna Earl of Troja Gentilis Monteranus Earl of Carrara great Commanders under King Ladislaus But when Paul Vrsin came upon them by order of the Pope with Mostarda and Cecchalino they routed John Columna and Ladislaus's Men that were left in a place called Neros Meads This was a great damage to the Romans for their Men and Cattel were driven away and therefore when their anger was over they became friends with the Pope and desired him to return home to the City For he was naturally courteous and affable learned in the civil and Canon Law and well skill'd in the Art of Perswasion When therefore things were thus composed he came to Rome and made more Cardinals among which were Angelus Carrara a Venetian Cardinal of S. Mark after called Gregory XII Peter Philardi a Candiot Cardinal of the Twelve Apostles afterward Alexander and Otho Columna Cardinal of S. George after called Martin V. Thus having setled the Popedom he created Lewis his Nephew Marquis of Marca d' Ancona and Prince of Fermo but he himself died a little after at Rome in the second year of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peters in a Chappel that was formerly dedicated to the Popes which Nicolas V. afterward repair'd and his Tomb bears this Inscription Innocentio VII Pontifici Maximo cum neglecti ejus Sepulchri memoria interiisset Nicolas V. Pontifex Maximus restitui curavit In the mean time the Italians wanted a true Pope and a good Emperor and therefore every one did what they pleased For Cabrinus Fundulus of whom Charles Cavalcabos made great use both in War and Peace being puffed up with hopes of being sole Governour because all Magistrates and Lieutenants of Castles obey'd him as much as Charles he murther'd Charles with his Brethren and Kindred at Machasturma ten miles from Cremona as he was coming back from Lodi From thence he fled with a few Men to Cremona before the thing was known in the City and having gotten possession of the Fort and all the Gates he went into the Market all in Arms and whomsoever he saw that was likely to withstand his Designs he banish'd or put to Death But to make himself absolute he omitted no kind of cruelty Nor could the great Men of Milan hinder this being themselves embroil'd by the different Designs of Gucegaldo Governour of Genoa who attempted to bring Milan to subjection to the French King and of Facino Cane an excellent Commander who strove to conserve it in the hands of the Heir John Maria Visconte Now also Otho III. Lord of Parma was enticed upon pretence of treating with him by Nicolas d' Este to Rubera a Castle of his where at the command of Nicolas he was kill'd by Sforza Cotignola upon whose death Nicolas immediately got Reggio and Parma by surrender of the Citizens who hated the name of Otho But Ladislaus having been possess'd of Rome as I said before and Perugia being put into his hands which had been brought low by the Forces of Braccio he led his Army into Tuscany which by the industry and conduct of Malatesta of Pesaro was so bravely defended that Ladislaus was beaten thence and retreated into his own Kingdom having received more damage than he had done his Enemies But the Florentines being deliver'd from such an Enemy turn'd their Arms toward the Pisanes and after a long Siege took Pisa under the conduct of Tartaglia and Sforza in the year 1406. GREGORY XII THE Schism continuing still in the Church to the decay of Christianity one Pope being chosen at Rome and another at Avignion the Princes of France to wit the Dukes of Berry Burgundy and Orleans who at that time governed all France during the Kings indisposition took pity on the Church at last and came
Duke of Millain and took Bernabos's Son and Nephews into the City Then Philip by the persuasions of his Friends married Beatrice Fazinus's Widow who was very Rich and had Authority with the Soldiers that had fought under her Husband Fazinus By this means he had all the Cities that paid homage to Fazinus presently surrender'd to him and drew Carmignola and Siccus Montagnanus who had seditiously divided the Legion between them after Fazinus's death to come to fight under his Colours by the perswasions of Beatrice Which two Commanders Philip made use of afterward and by their assistance drave Bernabos's Son Astorgius out of Millain but kill'd him at the taking of Monza Things went thus in Millain and thereabouts when John Francis Gonzaga Son to Francis that was deceased went with a competent Army of Horse and Foot to guard Bologna at the command of Pope John under whose Banner he then fought For Malatesta of Rimini stipendiary to King Ladislaus laid close Siege to the City at that time He therefore by the aid of the Bolognians fought several sharp Battels with the Enemies in which he had the better and defended the City most gloriously The Winter following Pope John was invaded by Ladislaus which made him remove from Rome to Florence and thence to Bologna Nor did he stay there long but he went to Mantoua where he was splendidly entertain'd by John Francis Gonzaga whom he took along with him at his departure thence together with great part of his Forces to Lodi whither he knew the King of Hungary would come For he trusted much to that Prince whose faithfulness and integrity he had such experience of in the Bolognian Wars though he had been tempted by Malatesta with gifts and promises to revolt to the Kings party But after when the Pope and the King did not think themselves sufficiently safe at Lauden they sent John Francis to Mantoua whether they said they 'd go with all speed to prepare for their coming and for the reception of such a multitude He went and quickly made all things ready and then returned to Cremona where he heard the Pope and the King by that time were arrived After that he conducted them to Mantoua where all the people came thronging out to meet them and they were much more kindly receiv'd than was expected Now in these several meetings at Lodi Cremona and Mantoua it was consider'd how they should remove Ladislaus out of Campagna di Roma Ombria and Tuscany for he had taken Rome and many other Towns belonging to the Church They saw that Italy could not be freed from the distractions of War by any other means and therefore they thought it convenient to advise concerning a supply to carry on the Affair not at Mantoua but Bologna when they were come thither But they had greater concerns still upon them For John being urged to call a Council by consent of all Nations for the removal of the Schism immediately sent two Cardinals into Germany to advise with the Princes of France and Germany and choose a convenient place for a Council to be held at Upon enquiry Constance a City within the Province of Mentze seemed to be most commodious for the purpose Thereupon they all went thither by a certain Day according to Order so likewise did Pope John himself though some advised him to the contrary because they told him they fear'd if he went thither as Pope he would return thence as a private person and so it fell out For going thither with certain Men that were excellent in all sorts of Learning he puzled the Germans so long with tedious Disputations that they could not tell what to Decree But Sigismund came up who gave every body leave to say what they pleased and then great and grievous Crimes were laid to the Popes charge upon which he went privately in disguise from Constance to Scaphusa for fear some dangerous Plot might be contrived against him Scaphusa was a City belonging to the Duke of Austria whither several Cardinals also that he had created betook themselves But they being called again by Authority of the Council John fled from Scaphusa to Friburgh designing to go if possibly he could with safety to the Duke of Burgundy But by the care of the Council John was taken and imprison'd near Constance in the Isle of S. Mark in the fourth year of his Pontificate and the tenth month Then the Council began to enquire the reason of his flight and choose several persons of great gravity and Learning as Delegates to examine and weigh the Objections made against John and make an orderly report of it to the Council There were above forty Articles proved against him of which some contain'd faults which he was so habituated to that he could not avoid them and therefore they were judged contrary to the Faith and some of them were likely to bring a scandal upon Christianity in general if they were not condemned in him Wherefore since they all agreed in the same Opinion John who was deservedly and justly deposed approved of their Sentence though pronounced against him And thereupon he was presenty sent to Lewis the Bavarian who was Gregory the 12th's Friend to be kept in custody till further Order from the Council Accordingly he was block'd up in the Castle of Haldeberg which was a very well fortified place for three years without any Chamberlain or Servant to attend him that was an Italian All his keepers were Germans with whom he was fain to talk by Nods and Signs because he neither understood the Teutonick Language nor they the Italian They say John was deposed by those very Men and them alone that were formerly his Friends For those that were of Gregory and Benedict's Party were not yet come to the Council These Men therefore that they might make their Deprivation of him just and perfect with one accord publish'd a Synodical Decree wherein they affirm'd that a general Council lawfully called was the Supream Authority next to Christ Grant but this fundamental Point and the Pope himself is inferiour to a Council Whereupon Gregory was forced by the persuasions of the Emperor Sigismund to send some Person to the Council because he would not go himself to approve of their proceedings in his Name So he sent Charles Malatesta an excellent Man who seeing them all agree to make Gregory also lay down all claim to the Papacy he stood forth before 'em all and sitting down in a Chair that was made as stately as if Gregory himself had been there he read the Instrument of Renunciation over and presently deposed Gregory for which free act of his he was made Legate of Millain by all the Council But this Person not long after dy'd at Recanati of grief as some say for his so sudden Deprivation before the time appointed For he was clearly for deferring the business as long as he could as placing some hope in delay But he died before Martin came to be Pope
his Men especially in the dead of Winter which was the time they took to do it He likewise secured great part of the Rivers Menzo Adige Lago di Garda and Lago d' Iseo that nothing might be carried that way by Water to the needy Inhabitants But the fitting up of some Ships that were removed out of the Adige into the Lago di S. Andreas and careened below in the Lago di Garda near Forboli gave the Venetians some respite Then seeing nevertheless that Picenninus press'd those of Verona and Vincenza very hard the Venetians thought themselves quite lost if they did not get a good Commander and therefore they sent James Donatus to Florence then in League with 'em to desire that if the Florentines had any regard to the Republick of Venice or the safety and Liberty of Italy in general that they would send Francis Sfortia immediately with all his Forces to Venice now almost ruined by the Arms of Philip and the Mantuan The Florentines being concern'd for their own danger as well as that of their Allies persuade Francis to take up Arms for the Venetians and promised him in the name of the City to defend all the Towns that he had which belong'd to the Church of Rome which was his greatest desire They also got Letters Apostolical from Eugenius with much ado to declare Francis Marquis and Lord of Ancona but with these words Let him take it and the Devil give him luck with it Francis going with his Cavalry along the Coast of the Adriatick Sea fell into Ferrara and passing the Po in Boats and having augmented his Army in Padua for he is said to have had twelve thousand Horse and five thousand Foot he met the Enemy first at Suave near Verona where they fought very smartly for some time and neither had the better on 't Afterward Picenninus by reason of his indisposition and want of Men gave way to his Power and then Francis having recover'd all the Castles from them of Vincenza and Verona he was about to raise the Siege from before Brescia but seeing all other Avenues stopp'd he passed the Adige and marching into the parts about Trent he went to Archo a Town he had a mind to take because the Earl of Archo was an Ally of Philip. Picenninus also came thither to assist the Earl but fighting more eagerly than cautiously as he used to do he was deserted by the rest of the Army and receiving great damage was fain to fly into the neighbouring Vallies where he had been taken by the Enemy if Charles Gonzaga son to John Francis had not come between him and them and so saved him from that imminent danger and yet for all that he was taken afterward the Foe gathering strength and carried Prisoner to Verona There are that write how Picenninus was so weaken'd in one side with Wounds which he receiv'd in the several Battels that he was not able to ride back to his Army but was wrapp'd in a Sack as if he had been dead and so carried upon a lusty Fellows shoulders even through the Enemies Camp Whilst these things were transacted in Venice Philip taking it ill that the Florentines by the help and persuasion of Eugenius had sent Francis Sfortia to aid the Venetians he treated with those that were at the Council of Basil to cite Eugenius before 'em which they did twice or thrice But when it did not answer his expectation he so far infatuated them as that they deposed Eugenius and chose Amadeus Duke of Savoy his Father-in-law who lived like an Hermit at Ripalia with some other Noblemen Pope and called him Felix Hence arose great Seditions in the Church of God for Christendom was divided into three parts and some follow'd Eugenius some Felix and the rest were Neuters For all that Eugenius was not dejected but held frequent Assemblies and Disputations between the Greeks and Latins till at last it came to this result that the Greeks were convinc'd that the Holy Ghost did proceed from the Father and the Son and that he was homusius that is of the same substance and did not come forth from the Father onely as they formerly believ'd and that they ought to consecrate the Body of Christ with unleaven'd bread made of Wheat and to believe a Purgatory Lastly That the Pope of Rome was Christ's true Vicar and the lawful Successor of Saint Peter to whom all the Eastern as well as Western Churches ought to submit as being the universal Patriarch The business thus setled the Greeks went away and then the Armenians also agreed with us in Faith their Errors being confuted and Eugenius's Letters to that purpose promulgated to shew the reason why they accorded with this Inscription Given at the Holy General Council held at Florence in the Cathedral there Novemb. 22. 1439. When that was done he contrived how to strengthen himself and at the same time weaken the Council of Basil and that was by making eighteen Cardinals at once in the publick Consistory of which number two were Greeks to wit Rutenus and Nicenus that the Greeks might be kept in the Faith by their example and Authority and yet that Nation fell back in a little time to its old State Others were Peter Barbo his Sisters Son and Alouisius Patavinus whom he afterward made Patriarch of Aquilegia and Chamberlain having advanced Francis Condelmerius to the Vicechancelourship Whilst these things were acted near Trent and People thought that Picenninus and the Prince of Mantoua would yield at last having received such damage they removed thence with all speed to Verona and took it by the help of Ladders wherewith they scal'd the Walls and enter'd in at the Cittadelle unknown to any of the Sentinels who to avoid the extream cold of the North Wind which that Night was very boisterous had quitted their Posts and were got into the Tents But Francis Sfortia when he heard that Verona was taken by the Enemy march'd thither presently with all his Army to recover it knowing that the Venetians had still possession of the old Castle and the Fort of S. Felix in the Mount And therefore he enter'd the City that way with his Army and ran upon the Enemy with a mighty shout Philip's Men met him with a few Horse for all his Forces were not yet come up and they fought very sharply in that part of the City which they call the Island At last the few were fain to yield to the many and Picenninus and the Mantuans betook themselves to the new Bridg as they call it where for some time they bore the shock of their Enemies There as the Horse were engaging and a great many crowded in a little room the Draw-bridg broke with the weight of Men and Horses and almost all that fell into the River were drown'd because they were tired with fasting so long and sunk by the very weight of their Arms. Thereupon Francis flying to a Bridg of Boats put over
them by right of inheritance which for many years they maintained against the power of the Turk who made many attempts to make seizure of it About the same time also Dabuson the Great Master of Rhodes valiantly defended his City against Mahomet causing him to raise his Siege and retire with disgrace The fear of the Turk by their Retreat out of Italy being extinguished Sixtus re-assumed his former designs and in order thereunto favoured the party of the Venetians who made War upon Hercules da Este Duke of Ferrara by these means all Italy was put into a new flame of War being divided into diverse Parties and Factions On one side were the Pope the Venetians Genoueses and those of Siena with other Cities allied in a Confederacy On the other were Ferdinand King of Naples the Florentines Lodowick Sforza Protector of the State of Milan during the minority of the young Duke The Pope in favour of his own Party managed his War with the Spiritual as well as with the Temporal Arms for in the year 1482. he Excommunicated all his Enemies and as many as took their part or favoured their Cause and encouraged René Duke of Lorain and Anjou to return into Italy and recover his Kingdom of Naples But René being otherwise employed could not make use of this opportunity which was offered and therewith Ferdinand being enraged entered the Dominions of the Pope with a great Army and approached to the Gates of Rome with which Sixtus being greatly incensed issued out an Army against him under the command of Robert Malatesta and both Armies joyning Battel in a place called Campo Morto near Velitri Sixtus had the fortune of the day and to overthrow his Enemy many were slain on the place many principal Officers taken and carried in triumph into Rome and Ferdinand himself narrowly escaped by flight Three days after which Victory Malatesta died not without some suspicion of being poisoned Not long after a Peace being concluded between Pope Sixtus and the King of Naples all the Prisoners were set at liberty amongst which were the Cardinals Colonna and Savelli who at the beginning of the War were as disaffected persons committed to custody This War being in this manner ended the Pope turned his Arms upon the Venetians in favour of Hercules Duke of Ferrara lest that State being too powerful for him should augment their Force by the addition of that Dukedom and in regard that State would not give ear to his admonitions and desist from prosecution of their War at his command the Pope made use of his spiritual Arms Excommunicating all the Subjects under the Dominions of Venice and entering into League with all the Confederate Princes of Italy waged the most dangerous War that ever the Venetians had sustained and certainly had proved fatal to them had not Lodowick Sâ—forza Duke of Milan made a separate Peace with them against the sense and opinion of all the other Confederates Sixtus having by these many Wars and several ways exhausted his Treasury contrived by sale of new Offices never before known to replenish his Coffers he also imposed new Taxes and raised the old ones but that which most reflected on his Reputation and blemished him with the character of a covetous person was that he decimated the Prelates and laid new impositions on the Clergy but to do this Pope justice and give him his due never was any more generous or munificent in his gifts or more delighted to do good offices than this for he freely and at his own charge maintain'd Andrew Paleologo Prince of the Morea with Leonard di Focco Despor of Albania who had been deposed and exterminated their Dominions by the Turk he likewise with great magnificence and courtesie treated the Queens of Cyprus and Bosna whom the Turk had forced to abandon their Dominions and fly for refuge under his protection Also when the Kings of Denmark Swedeland Norway and Gothland with the Dukes of Saxony and Calabria being moved and guided by their Devotion came to visit the Roman Sea he received them with great State and treated them with a magnificence becoming Kings And when in the year of Jubile Ferdinand of Aragon King of Naples came to gain Indulgences at Rome he remitted to him the yearly Tribute which he was obliged to pay for that Kingdom and in lieu thereof contented himself with the yearly acknowledgment of a White Horse with its Furniture which is continued to this day And farther to demonstrate his generous and great Soul he re-built the Hospital of S. Spirito for maintainance and education of young Children he built the Church of S. Mary of Peace he adorned the Basilicon of S. Peter with new Windows making the Church more lightsome and pleasant than before he repaired the Palace of Lateran as also the Churches of the Holy Apostles with several other Churches The Pons Janicularis or the Bridg of Janicula being ruined he took up all the Stones and built an other Bridg over Tybur in the place thereof which since that time is called by the name of Ponte Sesto or the Bridg of Sixtus He cleared all the Common sewers of Rome making conveyances for the sullage of the City to run into the Tybur he repaired many Aquaeducts and Fountains and brought the brazen Statue of M. Aurelius from an obscure place and erected it in the more open Area of the Capitol It was he that reduced the Vatican Library into such a condition as hath made it famous through all the world for he not only brought Books thither from all parts of Europe but left also certain Rents and Revenues for the increase of them with Pensions also to the Library-keepers and under-Officers On the Pedestal of his Statue in the Library these Verses are written Templa Domum expositis vicos fora maenia pontes Virgineam Trivii quod reparatis aquam Prisc a licet Nautis Statuas dare commoda Portus Et Vaticanum cingere Christe jugum Plus tamen urbs debet nam quae squalore latebat Cernitur in celebri Bibliotheca loco In short there was nothing which tended to the glory and ornament of the City which was neglected by him and such was his zeal and power in defence of the Privileges of the Church that he would never suffer them to be infringed nor did any Prince offer him an injury or indignity which he did not return with due revenge As for instance appears by the War he made in confederacy with Venice and Genoua against the Duke of Ferrara and his Allies the which he managed with so much heat that when the Venetians made a separate Peace without his consent or approbation he so highly resented it that it brought him to a fit of the Gout which increased on him with that violence that he died thereof on the 13th of August 1484. having held the Pontifical Sea for the space of 13 years and four days having arrived the age of 70 years and 22 days At
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
peace with paying the Armies of his Enemy Nor was the advantage which he gained at the conclusion acquired by the valour of his Arms or Virtue and Conduct of his Captains for they being men of lewd lives cowardly and base were prosperous in nothing all their actions tending to increase disorders and multiply errors whereby the Pope being at length forced to crave the assistance of all men paid dearly for the purchase of Vrbin In this manner the year 1518. began and continued with peace and with an unusual calmness in all the Regions of Italy only the success of Sultan Selim Emperor of the Turks who had been victorious in Persia Syria and Egypt alarm'd the Pope and the Christian Princes who apprehending with great dread the progress of his Arms the number of his Ships and Gallies which he was building and all other Provisions necessary for War feared lest he should invest Rhodes the Bulwark of Christendom in the Eastern parts or perhaps fall into Hungaria which tho formerly defended by the Valor of the Inhabitants yet now lay exposed by its own Civil and Intestine Dissentions and by the minority of a King governed by Priests and Jesuitical Councils Nor was Italy free from the like fears of Invasion by that Potent Prince which had under meaner circumstances of power entered the City of Otranto and put all Italy into a fear and consternation And therefore now to obviate and prevent the like dangers at a distance the Pope caused most devout Processions with the solemn Pomp of Images and Relicks of Saints to be made at Rome and in person walked bare-foot with all his Court from S. Peters to the Minerva where Prayers were made to God that he would be pleased to divert the fury of this Common Enemy to Christendom And because Prayers without human endeavours are not available Letters were wrote to all Christian Princes to joyn in this War for the more orderly management of which the task and enterprise which every one was to undertake was allotted and contrived in the Consistory and an Universal Truce for five years was published amongst all Christian Princes and States with grievous censures on those who should be repugnant thereunto In pursuance of this method and design the Emperor and King of Poland were to invade the Turk on the parts of Servia and Bulgaria The French King Venetians and other Princes of Italy were to Embark at the Port of Brundusium and pass into Albania and invade Greece on that side The Kings of England Spain and Portugal were to Rendezvous at Carâ—agena in Spain and with a Fleet of 200 Sail enter the Heliespont and attack Constantinople it self and for carrying on of this Holy War voluntary Contributions were to be made and Impositions to be laid as well on the Clergy as the Laity Now tho these matters were begun with great expectation and the Universal Truce accepted with a specious show and mighty promises made of advancing this Enterprise with ostentation and bravery of words yet at length private Interests over-ruling the zeal for Religion and the Universal Union the minds of the Princes became slackned in the design and the thoughts of War vanished every one looking at the peril as uncertain and far distant The Peace still continuing in Italy until the year 1520. Martin Luther a Frier of the Order of S. Austin began to make some disturbances in Germany which greatly opposed the Authority of the Church of Rome The beginnings thereof had their original from certain Indulgences which Pope Leo exercised in a more ample and licentious manner than was customed and practised by former Popes For in the year 1100. being in the Reign of Vrban II. Plenary Indulgences for Pardon and Remission of Sins were bestowed on those only who went to the Holy War with intent to deliver the Sepulchre of Christ out of the hands of Infidels These Indulgences were afterwards in like manner dispensed unto those who either were not able or willing to undertake the design in person provided that they entertained or payed another at their own charge Afterwards Indulgences and Pardons of this nature became more common being enlarged to those who took part in the Wars against those who resisted the Secular Arms of the Pope tho the same were Christians and Princes who in defence of their own Kingdoms and States opposed the Encroachments and Extravagancies of the Ecclesiastical Claims But now Pope Leo by the Counsel of Cardinal Puccio bestowed his Indulgences in more ample form and dispersed them in all parts of the Christian World without distinction of times persons or places not only for the help of such who were yet living but with power to deliver the souls of the Dead from the pains of Purgatory it being manifestly known that the design of these Indulgences was only to obtain money from the people which the Collectors exacted with an unparallel'd impudence the matter became scandalous especially in Germany where the Officers set the Indulgences to sale at a small price and sometimes in a Tavern this power of redeeming Souls out of Purgatory were set for a Stake at a Game at Tables This shame and dishonor was increased in the Country of Saxony and other parts of Germany when it was known that the proceed and benefit of those Indulgences extorted with great rigor and avarice by the Bishop of Arembauld a man fit to be employed in such a Commission was not to be paid in to the Apostolical Chamber at Rome but given to Magdalen Sister to the Pope and devoted to the avarice of a Woman for then the matter became detestable and the cries and exclamations lowed in all parts of Germany Luther being supported by the favour of the Duke of Saxony took this occasion to contemn these Indulgences and preach every where against them which being a matter very plausible his Sermons were heard with great attention by the people and his Doctrin approved by his Auditors who came from all parts to hear him Having this encouragement he began to question the Power of the Church and the Authority of the Pope and as matters grew higher he disputed against Pardons and Penance and Purgatory upon which the Doctrin of Indulgences had its foundation on the truth of which Doctrins he laid so much stress and was so positive in the certainty of all his Conclusions that he would often say he would not refer or submit them to the judgment of Angels After these beginnings which seemed plausible and honest and which made great noise and were highly controverted in the world by the most acute and subtil Wits of that Age Luther proceeded to preach against Images in Churches against Prayers to Saints to question Transubstantiation in the Holy Eucharist and to allow Marriage to Priests Monks and Friers the which he not only maintained by force of Argument but confirmed by his own example The Pope in opposition hereunto sent many Religious and learned men into
they reversed and defac'd through the City the Arms of that Family they brake the Images of Leo and Clement which were rare pieces of Sculpture and famous through the world and in short they omitted nothing which might affect the Pope with indignity and dishonor and nourish division and discord in the City At Rome the Army was very disorderly and tumultuous governing themselves rather than obeying the command of their General the Prince of Aurange for they were wholly disposed to prey and violence to get Ransoms and receive the mony promised them by the Pope no care being had of the interest of the Emperor nor was there any resolution taken to remove the Army from Rome where the Pestilence raged and was entered into the Castle of S. Angelo to the great hazard of the Pope's life many being dead thereof who served about his person during which time as the Imperial Army yielded little obedience to their Captains so they made no great disturbances nor gave fears to their enemies for the Spaniards and Italians flying from the infection of the Plague lay dispersed about the Confines of Rome and the Prince of Aurange was gone to Siena to avoid the Plague and keep that City in Devotion and Obedience to the Emperor Wherefore all matters of action at that time were quiet and in repose until Monsieur De Lautrec who was Captain General of the League made between Henry the Eighth of England and Francis King of France for setting the Pope and all Italy at liberty appeared in Piedmont whose success was so fortunate that he took Genoua compelled Alexandria de la Paglia to surrender and having for four days battered Pavia he forced it to yield at discretion giving it up to the plunder and cruelty of his Soldiery and lastly ended that years Champaign with glory wintering his Army in the City of Bologna The Imperialists being a little mortified and abased with this success of Lautrec were desirous to make the best bargain they could with the Pope before he were forced from them and agreed upon the payment of 60000 Ducats to the Germans and 30000 to the Spaniards with engagement to pay the residue at a certain time to set the Pope and Cardinals at liberty and afford them safe conduct to Orvieto which was nominated and chosen by the Pope for the place of his security and retreat Upon this accord the Pope being guarded by the Imperialists with less caution than before gave him opportunity in the disguise and habit of a Merchant to make his escape which he rather determined to do and recover his freedom in that manner than to expect the formal conduct of the Imperial Guards suspecting that Don Hugo de Moncada who was Vice Roy of Naples in the place of Lanoia dead of the Plague and who had no good will towards him would play him some trick and baffle with him at the conclusion of all The Pope being now at liberty in Orvieto after seven months imprisonment was instantly congratulated by the Duke of Vrbin the Marquiss of Salutta and other Captains of the League to whom having returned thanks for their kind and obliging Offices he desired them to withdraw their Forces out of the Dominions of the Church assuring them that the Imperialists had promised to depart thence in case the Confederates would shew them the first example He wrote also Letters to Monsieur Lautrec giving him to understand that he with great sence acknowledged the influence which his appearance in Italy had contributed towards his liberty having much facilitated and eased the conditions on which he was to receive it and that the reason why he did not expect the glorious time in which he was to have been delivered by his powerful hand was because his necessities compelled him to procure his liberty with the greatest speed for he observed that the conditions imposed on him always changed from bad to worse that in the mean time the Church was oppressed his Authority contemned and he rendred uncapable of being that happy instrument of mediation which was now required to settle peace among Christian Princes Thus far were excellent words and such as became a Bishop under his mortifying circumstances but his words and answers in other things according to his natural temper were in substance different at one time to what they were at an other For when Gregory Castle the King of Englands Embassador came to him about the beginning of the year 1528. desiring him to continue firm to the Confederates he would some time give him hopes and then again excuse himself as being so unfortunate as to have neither Men Mony nor Authority remaining to him The Pope having now abandoned Rome and Monsieur Lautrec upon his march towards Naples the Imperialists on the 17. of February left the City in a naked and poor condition despoiled of all its Ornaments and Riches and applyed themselves to Counsels in what manner they might give a stop to the proceedings of Lautrec who departed from Bologna the 9th of January No sooner were the Imperialists departed than the Vrsins with their Tenants and Paisants entered to complete the spoil and desolation of that City of which not only the Houses were ruined and the Riches carried away but all the Statues Columns and curious pieces remained a prey to these Locusts Lautrec in his march towards Naples took not the nearest way but rather for the more commodious carriage of his Cannon and for the benefit of Forrage and other Provisions fetched a compass by the way of Puglia his Army consisted of 400 Lances 6000 Footmen old and Veterane Soldiers besides the Forces of the Marquiss of Salutta who marched in the Van and the Regiments of the Venetians and the Black Bands of Florence which were in much esteem and reputation with Monsieur Lautrec In short at the first appearance of Lautrec within this Kingdom Capua Nola Acerra Aversa and all places yielded to him but Naples endured a long Siege at which Monsieur Lautrec dying of a Fever and most of the Captains and Soldiers dead of the Plague caused by the Contagion of those that were privately sent out of the City to infect the Camp the enterprise upon that Kingdom had an end In the mean time whilst these things were in action Sassatello rendred to the Pope the Rock of Imola and Sigismond Malatesta upon some conditions resigned Rimini into his hands and the Pope having a great desire to re-instate his Friends and Relations and advance his own Interest and Power again in Florence he seemed inclining to the party of the Emperor in whose power only it was to settle the Affairs of his Family in their pristine state and therefore perceiving the Affairs of the French and the other Confederates to decline in Italy he forgot all the former injuries done to him by the Emperor and entered into a perfect friendship and fair correspondence with him And farther to advance himself in the good
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
to leave the disposal of the Conquests to his own pleasure and the Crown of Naples to his Nephews But Vrban looking on these Propositions as more specious than easie absolutely refused them and in despight of all the applications and addresses made by several Princes in favour of Parma the Duke was declared to have incurred the greater Excommunication and in vertue thereof to be deprived of his Dominions and Fiefs and of the Dignity he held of the Holy Sea and condemned in all charges done or to be done in pursuance of which Sentence his Palaces and Goods in Rome were exposed to sale and Castro taken into the possession of the Camera though not annexed to the Popedom by vertue of the rigorous Bull ordained by Pius Quintus which forbids all alienations of Lands or Goods which were once united to the Papal Chair The Princes were highly moved to find all their intercessions and instances so little esteemed by the Barberins and much more alarm'd when they understood that the Pope demanded passage for his Army through the Dominions of Modena against Parma and Piacenza which being places unprovided for War and the Duke of Modena not having force to resist the powerful Army of the Pope consisting of eighteen or nineteen thousand Men consented to grant a passage provided That there should be six days before the Army moved and that in other four it should have passed his Confines The Venetians and the Grand Duke who were averse to Arms and not inclined to use them but as their last remedy yet not being willing that the Duke should perish or the Barberins be accustomed to the happy issue of their Counsels sent a supply of seventy thousand Crowns to Parma which gave courage to the Soldiery and credit to the cause amongst the Subjects who thence conceived some hopes of greater succours In the mean time all the Offices and warm instances imaginable of mediation were employed at Rome by the Ministers of Venice and Florence which produced nothing but uncertain and ambiguous answers and to the Ambassadour of France it was plainly declared that a suspension of Arms should be granted when promises and assurances should be given by the Duke's Friends that he should testifie due respect and obedience to the Ecclesiastical State and that no words or instances should be made for the restitution of Castro which by reason of the Debt to the Montists and the charge of the War was already forfeited to the Camera and condemned thereby But such Answers as these not satisfying the Princes the Venetians resolved to send three thousand Foot and three hundred Horse to joyn with two thousand Men sent by the Grand Duke to oppose the march of the Pope's Army into the State of Parma The news of these Forces and their march and the rumour of Treaties and Leagues forming in favour of Parma greatly perplexed the Barberins because that their Army which was composed of new Men and which expected to enter the Country of Parma as to an easie and secure Triumph was so terrified with the noise of an Enemy marching to oppose them that they ran away in full Troops so that their numbers were very much diminished in a short time Vrban growing sensible of the opposition which was making against the farther progress of his Arms by the Neighbouring Princes did voluntarily and of his own accord offer to the French Ambassadour a suspension of Arms for fifteen days During this cessation the Venetians the Grand Duke and the Duke of Modena entered into a League to assist and give succours to the Duke of Parma as occasion should require who being encouraged by such Seconds entered boldly into the Eccleâ—â—astâ—cal State with three thousand Horse without Foot or Cannon or other preparations for defence of his Camp which was looked upon as so rash and inconsiderate an attempt that the other Confederates gave those Troops over for lost and destroyed But Duke Edward entering resolutely into the Bolognese strook such terrour into the people and the Army of the Pope that all was in a moment seen in confusion and disorder for the Prefect retired flying into Ferrara the Soldiers quitted their Quarters the Authority threats or intreaties of the Officers prevailing nothing against their cowardise and fears Thus without bloud and without a Battel Edward prevailed and became Master of the Field which is a passage the more memorable because that in an Enemies Country nothing could have been more done by an Army never so powerful For Bologna it self a great and populous City sent Letters to him full of respect the Governour of Smola sent the Keyes of the Town to meet him Faenza opened its Gates and the Governour descended from the Walls to meet and pacifie him Furli seemed as if it would make some resistance but soon surrendred at discretion where he lodged only for one whole day to refresh his Soldiers wearied with their march and incommoded with the Rains Upon these successes the fear and terrour which possessed the minds of the people at Rome is not to be expressed for that City being composed of a cowardly sort of Inhabitants such as Priests who are unaccustomed to danger and Strangers who are pleased with Reports and Novelties seemed distracted by various affectations for some feared plunder others desired disorder and all reproached the Government During these troubles and distractions Guards were placed in the streets and the command of them given to several Prelates Soldiers were levied in all places and the Coach-Horses in Rome seised to mount the Soldiers The Prefect also was recalled to Court and great murmurings against him for having shewn as much baseness in danger as he exercised Avarice in the Government in his place Cardinal Antonio was sent but Cardinal Francisco attended to the Arts of Negotiation intending with hopes of Peace to amuse the Duke and frustrate the League Cardinal Antonio made his head quarters at Viterbo whilest the Duke of Parma was at Aqua Pendente and the Cardinal having put considerable Garrisons into the Towns advanced with seven thousand Foot and two thousand Horse to Montefiascone intending to streighten the Duke in his quarters and obstruct his passage into the State of Castro But the Duke mounting on Horseback and making a shew as if he would advance towards him though much inferiour to the Enemy in force yet the Cardinal retired and would not stand the shock chusing rather to overcome with Prudence than run the hazard of Fortune So that now the month of October being come and the Rains having fallen in great abundance the approach of the Winter seemed a season more proper for Treaty than for War In the management of which Cardinal Barberino laying more stress on tricks and delusions than on the substantial points of solid Reason in Treaties dispatched the Abbat de Bagni to the Great Duke at Florence with Proposals That absolution of the Censures should be given to Edward with the forms contained in the
design to ensnare and circumvent him too till his Plot being discovered by his Daughter Fausta who revealed the whole matter to her Husband he betook himself to flight but was taken and put to death at 〈◊〉 thereby suffering the just punishment of his Villanies or as others tell us his condition being desperate he laid violent hands upon himself During the Pontificate of Eusebius on the third of May the Cross of our Saviour was found and very much adorn'd and had in great 〈◊〉 by Helena Constantine's Mother Judas also who found it was baptized and his name being thereupon changed was afterwards called Cyriacus This Bishop admitted Hereticks to the Communion of the Church upon their retractation by the imposition of Hands only Moreover he ordained that no Laick should commence a Suit against a Bishop In his time lived Lactantius Firmianus a Scholar of Arnobius Who being a Professor of Rhetorick at Nicomedia and discontented that he had so few Scholars in a City of Greece he thereupon betook himself to Writing wherein he became so excellent that he gain'd a Reputation next to that of Cicero himself He wrote many things but his works that are 〈◊〉 extant are those against the Gentiles concerning the Creation of Man and the Anger of God In his old Age he was Tutor to Constantine's Son Coesar Crispus in Gallia Eusebius also Bishop of Coesarea in Palestine a Partner with Pamphilus in the diligent search after divine Learning wrote a vast number of Books particularly those de Proepar Evangelicâ an Ecclesiastical History against Porphyry a violent opposer of the Christians six Apologies for Origen and three Books of the Life of Pamphilus the Martyr whose name he added to his own for a surname as a testimony of the strict friendship there had been between them But our Eusebius the Bishop of Rome having at one Decembrian Ordination made thirteen Presbyters three Deacons fourteen Bishops died at Rone and was buried in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia October the second He sat in the Chair six years one month three days and by his death the See was vacant one day S. MILTIADES MILTIADES an African was Co-temporary with Maxentius Maximine and Licinius a Dacian who for his being an Excellent Soldier was admitted by Galerius to a partnership in the Empire These being sensible that Constantine was well belov'd and highly esteem'd by all men did for that reason seem less enraged against the Christians Yet Maxentius sent his Soldiers about with private Instructions to massacre all they could secretly meet with and taking delight in Magick at the performance of the hellish Rites belonging to that black Art he would send for great-bellied Women especially Christians and rip them up for the sake of their unborn Infants whose ashes he made use of in his Sorceries thereby shewing that Tyranny might be supported and kept up even by Villany Maximine also exercis'd the like rage and cruelty in the East giving Rewards and Preferments to the Professours and Teachers of Witchcraft and Sorcery and being himself very much enclin'd to give credit to Auguries and Divinations became the more bitterly incens'd against the Christians because they despis'd such superstitions He commanded likewise that the decayed Idolatrous Temples should be repaired and Sacrifices offered to the Gods in them after the ancient manner Against them Constantine advancing with his Army gain'd so perfect a Victory over Maxentius at Pons Milvius that his grief to be so shamefully defeated caused him to forget the snares which himself had laid and so passing over a Bridg which he had deceitfully contriv'd to entrap his Enemies he himself with the greatest part of his Guards were drown'd in the River Having also both by Sea and Land overcome his Sisters Husband Licinius he forced him at Nicomedia to yield himself and to live privately at Thessalonica a confinement which he justly deserved because having apostatiz'd from the Faith meerly through Envy he had been a grievous Persecutor of the Christians for the good will they bare to Constantine As for Maximine he became manifestly the object of Divine Vengeance his bowels and entrails being on a sudden so swoln and putrefied that there appeared no difference between him and a putrid carcass Worms in great abundance breeding in his flesh and rottenness with intolerable stench overspreading his body This dreadful punishment had been long 〈◊〉 for by his wicked practises for he had forbidden the Christians to assemble at the Sepulchres of the Martyrs and had given out that at Antioch an Image had spoke and proclaim'd aloud that the Christians must be banish'd out of the Cities when indeed they were certain knavish Priests whom himself had suborn'd who from their adjoyning private recesses had uttered these words and moreover he had distributed Rewards through the several Provinces to the Idol-priests who were active against the Christians But at length the Physician plainly telling him the danger of his condition the Tyrant began to relent and by a publict Edict forbad all persons to molest or injure the Christians and suffered them to enjoy their liberty But this forced Repentance slood him in no stead for having been a long time 〈◊〉 with grievous pain and disease at last died this cruel and inconstant man who had been sometimes an Encourager sometimes a Persecutor of the Christians During these Calamities multitudes of Christians were put to death and particularly Dorothea a most virtuous and Beautiful Virgin who chose rather to die than to yield to the Tyrants Lust. Sophronia also having been oftentimes sollicited by Maxentius like the Noble Lucretia slew her self to avoid the danger her Chastity was in from him Miltiades ordained that no Christian should keep a Fast upon a Sunday or Thursday because those days were observed and kept holy by the Pagans and the Manichoean Heresie being at that time very prevalent in the City of Rome he made several Constitutions concerning Oblations These things being setled he was by Maximine's order crowned with Martyrdom as were also Peter Bishop of Alexandria Lucianus a a Presbyter of 〈◊〉 a man eminent for Piety and Learning Timothy a Presbyter of Rome and divers others both Bishops and Priests Miltiades was buried in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia December the tenth During his Pontificate he did at one Ordination make seven Presbyters six Deacons twelve Bishops He sat in the Chair four years seven months nine days and by his death the See was vacant seventeen days S. SYLVESTER SYLVESTER a Roman the Son of Ruffinus was Bishop in the time of Constantine A. V C. 1091. Anno Dom. 339. Under this Prince the Christians who had been continually harrassed by Tyrants began to have some respite For Constantine was equal to the best of Princes in all endowments of Body and Mind very desirous of Military Glory successful in War and yet freely granting Peace to them who asked it
undertook to appoint Felix an Arian to be 〈◊〉 in the room of Liberius this S. Hierom tells us though I much marvel at it since as we have already said it is evident that Felix was a Catholick and a constant Opposer of the Arians At length after Felix had done all that in him lay for the propagation and defence of the true Faith he was seized by his Enemies and together with many other Orthodox Believers was slain and buried in a Church which himself had built in the Via Aurelia two miles from the City November the 20th He was in the Chair only one year four months two days through the means of a Sedition raised by Liberius whom I have inserted into the number of Bishops more upon the Authority of Damasus than for any deserts of his own DAMASUS I. DAMASUS a Spaniard Son of Antonius lived in the Reign of Julian Who was certainly an extraordinary person if we regard his fitness either for Civil or Military affairs He had his Education under Eubulus the Sophist and Libanius the 〈◊〉 and made such proficiency in the liberal Arts that no Prince was his Superiour in them He had a capacious Memory and a happy Eloquence was bountiful towards his Friends just to Foreiners and very desirous of Fame But all these qualities were at last sullied by his Persecution of the Christians which yet he managed more craftily than others had done for he did not persecute at first with Force and Torture but by Rewards and Honours and Caresses and Persuasions he seduc'd greater numbers of them than if he had exercised any manner of Cruelties against them He forbad the Christians the study of Heathen Authors and denied access to the publick Schools to any but those who worship'd the Gentile Gods Indeed he granted a Dispensation to one person named 〈◊〉 a most learned man to teach the Christians publickly but he with disdain refused to accept of that Indulgence He prohibited the conferring Military 〈◊〉 upon any but Heathens and ordered that no Christians should be admitted to the Government or Jurisdiction of Provinces upon pretence that the Laws of their Religion forbad them the use of their own Swords He openly opposed and banished Athanasius at the instigation of his 〈◊〉 and South-sayers with whose Arts he was wonderfully pleased they complaining to him that Athanasius was the cause why their Profession was in no greater esteem At a certain time as he was sacrificing to Apollo at Daphne in the Suburbs of Antioch near the Castalian Fountain and no Answers were given him to those things concerning which he enquired expostulating with the Priests about the cause of that silence the Devils replyed that the Sepulchre of Babylas the Martyr was too near and therefore no responses could be given Hereupon Julian commanded the Galileans for so he called the Christians to remove the Martyrs Tomb farther off This they applyed themselves to with wondrous exultation and chearfulness but rehearsing at the same time that of the Psalmist 〈◊〉 be all they that serve graven Images that boast themselves of Idols They hereby so 〈◊〉 the rage of Julian that he forthwith commanded multitudes of them to be put to death which he did not before intend I much wonder that Julian should act after this manner having had before experience of the vanity of diabolical Arts. For entring once into a Cave in company with a Magician and being sorely 〈◊〉 when he heard the Demons howl in the surprize he used the sign of the Cross at which the Demons immediately 〈◊〉 Upon this telling his Companion that certainly there must needs be something miraculous in the Sign of the Cross the Sorcerer made him this Answer That indeed the Demons themselves did dread that kind of punishment By this slight account of the matter Julian became more 〈◊〉 than before so strangely was he addicted to Magical delusions though he had formerly to decline the displeasure of Constantius seignedly embraced the Christian Religion publickly read the holy Scriptures and built a Church in honour to the Martyrs Moreover this Emperour on pur pose to spite the Christians permitted the Jews to rebuild their Temple at 〈◊〉 upon their declaring that they could not sacrifice in any other place By which concession they were so mightily 〈◊〉 up that they used all their endeavours to raise it more magnificent than the former But while they were carrying on the Work the new Fabrick fell down in an Earthquake by the fall of which multitudes of the Jews were crush'd to death and the Prophesie a second time verified That there should not be left one stone upon another On the following day the very Iron Tools with which the Workmen wrought were consumed by fire from Heaven a Miracle by which many of the Jews were so wrought upon that they became Proselytes to Christianity After this Julian undertakes an Expedition against the Persians of whom he had Intelligence that they were endeavouring a Change in the Government but before he set forth he spared not to threaten what havock he would make among the 〈◊〉 at his return But having vanquished the Enemy and returning Conquerour with his Army though in some disorder he died of a Wound given him near 〈◊〉 Whether he received it from any of his own men or from the Enemy is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us that he was pierced through with an Arrow sent no 〈◊〉 knew from whence as also that when he was just expiring with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lift up to 〈◊〉 he cried out Thou 〈◊〉 overcome me O 〈◊〉 for so in contempt he was wont to call our Saviour the 〈◊〉 or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon which was grounded that Answer of a young 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the Sophist asking him by way of derision What he thought the Carpenters Son was doing To whom the youth replyed That he was making a Coffin for Julian a witty and Prophetick Reply for soon after his saying so Julians dead body was coffin'd up and brought away We are told that this Emperour had once been in holy Orders but that afterwards he fell away from the Faith for which reason he is commonly call'd the Apostate He died in the 〈◊〉 month of his Reign and in the thirty second year of his Age. Him Jovinian succeeded who being voted Emperor by the Army refused to own that Title till they should all with a loud Voice confess themselves to be Christians This they having done and he having commended them for it he took the Government upon him and freed his Army out of the hands of the barbarous with no other composition but that of leaving Nisibis and part of Mesopotamia free to Sapores the 〈◊〉 King But in the eighth month of his Reign whether from some crudity upon his stomach as some will have it or from the faint and suffocating steam of burning Coals as others or by what means soever certain it is that he died suddenly Damasus being chosen to the Pontificate was
Rosimund to drink out of a Cup which he had made of her own Fathers Skull whom he himself had slain Now there was in Alboinus's Army one Helmechild a very handsom young Gentleman and an excellent Soldier and who was Rosimund's particular Favourite Him she discourses privately and by proposing to him the hopes of succeeding in the Kingdom prevailed with him to murder Alboinus But they were both so hated for the Fact by the Lombards that they not only failed of their hopes but were glad to fly for protection to Longinus the Exarch of Ravenna where not long after they poisoned each other and died together At this time Italy by reason of the Incursions which the barbarous Nations made into it was in a very calamitous state which had been portended by Prodigies and Apparitions of flaming Armies in the Air and also by an extraordinary inundation of the River Tyber which had very much damaged the City of Rome In the mean time our John repaired the Coemeteries of the Saints and finished the Church of SS Philip and James which had been begun by Vigilius and drew Narses who had been an avowed Enemy to the Romans for their ill opinion of him and their misrepresenting him to the Empress Sophia from Naples to Rome where he not long after died and his Body was conveyed in a Coffin of Lead to Constantinople In such a consusion of things the State of Italy must needs certainly have been utterly ruined if some eminently holy men had not supported and prop'd up the tottering Nation Among others Paul Patriarch of Aquileia and Felix Bishop of Treviso interceded successfully with Alboinus when he first entred Italy in the behalf of the Inhabitants Moreover Fortunatus a person of extraordinary Learning and Eloquence very much civiliz'd and polish'd the Gauls by his Books and Example compiling a Treatise of Government inscribed to their King Sigebert and writing in an elegant style the Life of S. Martin Some write that at this time lived Germanus Bishop of Paris a person of wonderful Piety who kept the Kings of France within the bounds of their duty to such a Degree that each strove to excel the other in Religion and Piety in Goodness and Clemency So prevalent is the Example of a good Pastour such an one as Germanus was in whom they saw nothing but what was worthy of their imitation After this one farther Remark that in our John's time the Armenians were converted to Christianity I shall say no more of him but that having been in the Chair twelve years eleven months twenty six days he died and was 〈◊〉 in S. Peters Upon his death the See was vacant ten months three days BENEDICT I. BENEDICT a Roman the Son of Boniface lived in the time of Tiberius the Second whom Justine had adopted and appointed his Heir to the Empire An Honour which he well deserved as being a Person adorn'd with all the Princely Accomplishments of Clemency Justice Piety Religion Wisdom Resolution and unshaken Fortitude Among his other Vertues he was eminent for his Bounty and Liberality towards all especially the poor and God supplied him in an extraordinary manner for it For walking once hastily in his Palace and spying the figure of the Cross upon one of the Marble stones in the Pavement that it might not be trampled under foot he devoutly caused it to be removed from thence and laid up in a more decent and honourable place At it's taking up there was found under it another stone with the same figure on it and then a third under which he discovered such a vast heap of Gold and Silver as was requisite to furnish and maintain his large Bounty a great part of which Treasure he distributed to the poor 'T is said also that he had brought to him out of Italy a great Estate which Narses had got there which in like manner he employed in Liberality and Munificence To Sigebert the French King who had sent Embassadours to him besides the other Presents that he made which were very considerable he sent certain Medals of Gold of very great weight on the one side of which was the Effigies of the Emperour with this Inscription Tiberii Constantini perpetuo Augusti on the other side was a Charriot with its Driver and this Inscription Romanorum Gloria And to complete his Successes the Army which he had sent against the Persians returning victoriously brought away with twenty Elephants so vast a Booty as no Army had ever done in any Expedition before Thus signally was he rewarded for his good services to mankind in general for his Religion towards God our Saviour and for his Beneficence particularly to the people of Rome whom he not only protected and desended from their Enemies as much as could be by his Arms but also at the Prayers and Intercession of our Bishop Benedict whom he had a wonderful Love and Esteem for he delivered them from Dearth and Famine by sending a supply of Corn out of Egypt For the Lombards by a long and tedious War had so harrassed Italy far and wide that from their devastations there arose a great want and 〈◊〉 of all things While things went thus in Italy John Bishop 〈◊〉 Constan inople by Reading Disputing Writing Admonishing and Teaching kept the Oriental Church as much as might be right in the Faith though he met with many opposers therein The same did also the equally Learned and Eloquent Leander Bishop of Toledo or as others think of Sevil who wrote several Treatises both to confirm the Orthodox Doctrine and to confute the Arian Heresie which like a contagious Pestilence the Vandals driven out of Africa by Belisarius had brought with them into Spain As for Benedict some write that he laying sadly to heart the 〈◊〉 which now befell Rome and all Italy died of grief after he had been in the Chair four years one month twenty eight days The See was then vacant two months ten days PELAGIUS II. PELAGIUS a Roman Son of Vinigildus was from the time of Tiberius to that of his Son-in-law the Emperour Mauritius To whom though he were a Cappadocian yet the Empire was committed upon the account of his great Courage and Ability in the management of Affairs At this time the Lombards having after the Death of Alboinus for twenty years 〈◊〉 govern'd by Dukes make Autharis their King whom they also called 〈◊〉 a Name which was afterwards used by all the Kings of Lombardy But Mauritius endeavouring to drive the Lombards out of Italy hires Sigebert the French King to engage in a War against them who forthwith raising a great Army of Gauls and Germans fights Autharis but with great loss is discomfited The Lombards being flush'd and heightened by this Victory march'd on as far as to the Streights of Sicily possessing themselves all along of the Cities of Italy and at length besieging for a long time Rome it self of which certainly they had made themselves Masters had they
Chair six years one month twenty six days And because it was long before there came certain intelligence of his Death the See was vacant fourteen months EUGENIUS I. EUGENIUS a Roman Son of Ruffinianus succeeded Martine about the time that in the place of Paul the Heretick Peter was made Patriarch of Constantinople Who though he were a little more Orthodox than Paul yet did not in all things agree in Doctrine with the Roman Church His Letters sent to Rome in which he denied two Operations and Wills in Christ were so exploded that the Clergy took upon them to interdict the Pope's celebrating Mass in S. Maria Maggiore till he had first publickly declared his dislike of them In the mean time Grimoaldus Duke of Beneventum leaving his Son to govern at home and marching with a great Army into Lombardy forced Pertheri and Gundibert the two Sons of Aripertus to quit Pavia and Milain Of which Clodoveus the French King having intelligence he out of compassion to the young Princes immediately sends a considerable Force into Italy to recover their Right for them Beyond the Po Battel is joyn'd and the Dispute managed very briskly on both sides the young Princes being eager to retrieve their paternal possessions and he endeavouring as much to keep what he had gain'd by War At length Fortune inclin'd to Grimoaldus his side and the French were routed and driven out of Italy We are told by some that the French were out-witted by the Enemy after this manner The Lombards dissembled a Flight leaving their Tents furnished with plenty of all manner of Provisions and especially of Wine but not far off they made a halt watching their opportunity the French entring their Tents and thinking they had been really fled fall to feasting and eat and drink to such excess that the Enemy coming upon them and finding them dead asleep and lying about like beasts they made such a slaughter of them that there was scarce one left alive to carry the News to Clodoveus Grimoaldus growing confident upon this Victory quickly makes himself Master of the whole Province As for Pope Eugenius who was a person of very great Piety Religion Meekness Humanity and Munificence having been in the Chair two years nine months he died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter June the 2d The See was then vacant one month twenty eight days VITALIANUS I. VITALIANUS born at Segna a Town of the Volsci the Son of Anastasius entred upon the Pontificate at the time when Caesarea the Persian Queen attended only with a few of her Confidents and without the knowledg of her Husband came to Constantinople in the year 683. She was very honourably received by the Emperour and not long after baptized for the sake of which it was that she came thither The Persian King having intelligence hereof forthwith sends Ambassadours to Constantinople to demand his Wife of the Emperour To them the Emperour answered That it was in the Queen's choice to stay or go and therefore they should enquire of her pleasure The Queen being ask'd made Answer That she would never return into her Countrey unless the King would become a Christian Who being acquainted herewith comes forthwith in a peaceable manner with forty thousand men to Constantinople where being received by the Emperour with all expressions of kindness he together with his Soldiers were baptized and then he returned with his Queen into his own Kingdom After this Constantius having associated to himself in the Government his Son Constantine and prepared a great Fleet setting sail from Constantinople arrives at Tarentum bringing with him in Ships of burden a great Force of Land-Soldiers From thence he advanced by Land into Abruzzo with design to besiege Beneventum But understanding that that City was very strongly Garison'd and plentifully furnished with Provisions by the care of Rhomoaldus he marched to Lucera which he took and plundered and then levell'd with the ground Passing from hence to Acherontia and not being not able to make himself Master of so well fortified a place he again attempts the Siege of Beneventum but soon raises it upon intelligence that Grimoaldus would suddenly be there with a great Army to assist his Son Rhomoaldus Hereupon Constantius moving first towards Naples though very much incommoded in his passage and having left 〈◊〉 a Roman Citizen with twenty thousand men at Formiae to oppose the Enemy at length he comes to Rome the Pope and Clergy and People in honour to him going six miles out of the City to meet him And being conducted through the City with great Acclamations to the Church of S. Peter he there made a very rich Present In the mean time Rhomoaldus presuming upon the Supplies he receiv'd from his Father joins Battel with Saburrus conquers him and puts to the Sword a great number of the Greeks Constantius being enraged and growing almost desperate upon this misfortune on the fifth day after his entrance into the City falls a plundering takes away all the Statues of Brass and Marble set up in the principal parts of the City and the rich Ornaments of the Churches and lades his Ships with them and in seven days did more damage to Rome than the barbarous Nations had done before in two hundred and fifty eight years so that ill men ignorant of History have no reason to say that the Statues and Monuments of Antiquity were demolished by Pope Gregorie's Order On the twelfth day the vile and perfidious paultry Greek 〈◊〉 Rome with a vengeance to him goes towards Naples thence to Sicily being so severe in his exaction of Tribute wherever he came as to take away Children out of the embraces of their Parents who could not pay him But the covetous wretch staying some time in Sicily as he was bathing for pleasure at Syracuse was slain and Mezentius who is thought to have been the contriver of his Death was by the Soldiers made Emperour in his stead This Constantius was a person of a strange 〈◊〉 and inconstancy of Mind For at first hearing that Vitalianus was chosen Pope he sent his Ambassadours to congratulate him and to make a Present of the Gospels written in letters of Gold and set with Jewels to S. Peter Whereas afterwards his mind being changed he cast off all regard to God and Man and turned all things both divine and humane topsy-turvy But Vitalianus being intent upon sacred things composed Ecclesiastical Canons and regulated singing in the Church introducing Organs to be used with the Vocal Musick He also sent with ample Power of binding and loosing Theodorus an Arch-bishop and Adrian an Abbat two very learned and pious men into England that by their Preaching and Example they might keep that people stedfast in the Faith which the good men did what they could to perform This Theodorus also wrote a Book shewing by what Pennance every sin may be wash'd off though some ascribe that Work to Pope Theodorus Now Vitalianus having govern'd the Church
this time as I said before Lewis the Son of Arnulphus endeavouring to recover his Fathers Empire was taken and kill'd at Verona by Berengarius and then the posterity of Charles the Great first lost their Titles to France and the Empire of Germany So true it is that which Salust says Every rising hath its setting and every increase its wane The Empire which had arrived to so great a height lost its splendor by the sluggishness of the great men and people of Rome when they once grew remiss in the exercises of Virtue and emasculated their bodies with Luxury and with studied softnesses And this we may say was the case of the Papacy for at first the Pontifical Dignity without Wealth and among Enemies and furious Persecutors of Christianity was illustrious with a holiness and learning not to be attain'd without great pains and a consummate Virtue but now the Church of God was grown wanton with its Riches and the Clergy quitted severity of manners for lasciviousness so that there being no Prince to punish their excesses such a Licentiousness of sinning obtain'd in the World as brought forth these Monsters these Prodigies of wickedness by whom the Chair of S. Peter was rather seiz'd than rightfully possess'd Yet this may be said for Benedict that in this debauch'd Age he carried himself with gravity and constancy and died in the third year and fourth month of his Pontificate after which the Sea was vacant six days LEO V. LEO the fifth whose native Countrey Historians mention not succeeded him but was soon taken and thrown into Prison by one Christopher a Chaplain of his own who aspir'd to the Popedom which was not done without great tumults and the loss of many mens lives How lightly the Papal Authority was now esteem'd by fault of former Popes may be seen in this that a private person should in a moment be able to seize so great a Dignity But that saying is certainly true that great places receive more honour than they confer upon the persons that supply them as appears in the Roman Censorship which at first was slighted as a mean Office but when several of the Nobility had once condescended to execute it the Office became so honourable that the Nobleman who had not once in his life been Censor was look'd upon as very unfortunate Leo had sate but forty days when Christopher got into the Chair which Indignity he laid so to heart that in a little while after he died for grief deeply resenting it that he should be rob'd of his Dignity by one that had eat of his bread according to that of Theocritus Nurse up a Wolf and he 'l devour you CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER whose Countrey and Family is because of the meanness of his extraction not known having got the Popedom by ill means lost it as ill for after seven months he was justly deposed and forc'd to take on him a Monastic life the onely refuge of men in trouble for at that time Clergy-men that had deserv'd ill were as it were banish'd into Monasteries by way of punishment There are those that say Christopher was deposed in the Reign of Lewis III. while others ascribe him to the times of Berengarius who we told you was from Duke of Friuli created Emperor as descending from the Longobardian Kings of Italy and as being the onely man in whom for his valour and nobility they could place any hopes of seeing the honour of the Empire retriev'd And that I should suppose Berengarius to have reign'd at this time I am persuaded by considering the short lives of the Popes before-going who as Monsters were soon snatch'd away by a divine Power and 〈◊〉 length of the Reign of that Emperor who having vanquish'd Guido Duke of Spoleto and slain Ambrose Count of Bergomo who were his first Adversaries was crown'd Emperor by Formosus and liv'd nine years after What became of Christopher after his being deposed shall be spoken in the Life of Sergius SERGIUS III. SERGIUS the third a Roman Son of Benedict entring upon the Pontificate re edified the Lateran Church which was then ruined and taking Christopher out of his Monastery put him in Prison and then setling his Affairs he took a Journey to France after his return from whence being now strengthen'd with the favour and friendship of the French King Lotharius he totally abolish'd all that Pope Formosus had done before so that Priests who had been by him admitted to Holy Orders were forc'd to take new Ordination Nor was he content with thus dishonouring the dead Pope but he drags his Carcase again out of the Grave beheads it as if it had been alive and then throws it into the Tiber as unworthy the honour of humane Burial 'T is said that some Fishermen finding his Body as they were fishing brought it to S. Peter's Church and while the Funeral Rites were performing the Images of the Saints which stood in the Church bow'd in veneration of his Body which gave them occasion to believe that Formosus was not justly prosecuted with so great ignominy But whether the Fishermen did thus or no is a great question especially it is not likely to have been done in Sergius's life-time who was a sierce Persecutor of the favourers of Formosus because he had hindered him before of obtaining the Pontificate And now Reader pray observe how very much these Popes had degenerated from their Predecessors they good men refused this dignity when it was freely offered them chusing rather to spend their time in Study and in Prayer these on the contrary sought the Papacy with ambition and bribery and when they were got in slighting the Worship of God 〈◊〉 animosities among themselves with the violence of the fiercest Tyrants to the end that when no one should be left to animadvert upon their Vices they might the more securely immerse themselves in pleasures 'T is my opinion that Sergius acted thus by the instigation of Lotharius 〈◊〉 't was by Formosus's means that the Empire was translated from the French to the Lombards Sergius leading his life after this rate died in the seventh year fourth month and sixteenth day of his Papacy several fiery Apparitions and blazing Stars with unusual motions having been seen in the Heavens a little before Soon after the Hungari invaded Italy with an Army and several defeats were on both sides given and taken ANASTASIUS III. ANASTASIUS the third a Roman came to the Chair at the time when Landulphus Prince of Benevent fought a fierce Battel with the Greeks and defeated them in Apulia For Patricius General of Leo Emperor of Constantinople had invaded Italy and threatned a general ruin if they did not immediately acknowledg Subjection to Leo but as was said by the valour of Landulphus his 〈◊〉 and his rage came to nothing though Berengarius also was bringing an Army together to meet him but they made rather a terrible shew than were truly of force But Anastasius not acting any thing
very powerful for Beatrix the Mother of Mathild had been Sister to the Emperor Henry II. and had married one Boniface a potent Man and of an honourable Family of the City of Lucca in Tuscany upon whose death all his Estates fell first to Beatrix and after her decease were devolv'd upon Mathild and her Husband Godfrey so that they stood possess'd of Lucca Parma Reggio Mantua and that part of Tuscany now call'd S. Peter's Patrimony But to return to Benedict he was deposed by Hildebrand because he came not in by the right way but by force and Simony for the generality of the Clergy had pass'd their words to Arch-deacon Hildebrand when he went to Florence that they would not proceed upon any Election of a new Pope till his return to the City When he was come back therefore together with Gerard Bishop of Florence he inveigh'd most bitterly against them all especially against those who had promised to stay till his return But there arising great contention upon this matter many approving of Benedict as a very good and prudent Man though they disallow'd that Election of him with great clamours that it was irregularly and illegally done yet at last by the persuasion of Hildebrand Gerard a Man worthy indeed of so high a Dignity was by a majority of Votes created Pope and Benedict turn'd out Some will have this Election to have been made at Siena because a free choice could not be had at Rome by reason of the partialities of some Men in Power there Benedict was deposed after he had sate nine months and twenty days and then was confined to Veletri NICOLAS II. NICOLAS the Second a Provençal at first nam'd Gerard Bishop of Florence for his Virtue and excellent spirit upon the expulsion of Benedict who was not regularly so created was made Pope at Sienna and immediately thereupon withdrew to Sutri where An. Dom. 1059. he called a Council whither came not onely the Bishops but many of the Noblemen of Italy where he forc'd Benedict to resign the Office and Habit of Pope and to retire to Veletri from hence he went to Rome where in the second Lateran Council he procur'd a Law to be enacted very wholesom for the Church of Rome which is to be seen among the 〈◊〉 to this purpose That if any one either by Simony or by the favour of any powerful Man or by any tumult either of the People or Soldiery shall be placed in S. Peter's Chair he shall be reputed not Apostolical but an Apostate one that transgresses the rules even of common Reason and that it shall be lawful for the Cardinals Clergy and devout Laity with Weapons both spiritual and material by Anathema's and by any humane aid him to drive out and depose and that Catholicks may assemble for this end in any place whatsoever if they cannot do it in the City In the same Council Berengarius Deacon of the Church of Anjou was reclaim'd from his Error concerning the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Bread and Wine whereof he affirm'd the true and intire Body and Blood of Christ was not present but onely by a sign figure or mystery which Error at the instance and persuasion of Nicolas and Albericus a Deacon a very learned Man he recanted affirming the Eucharist to be the true and intire Body and Blood of Christ. We have said that this Error was condemned by Leo IX but never amended the praise of which belongs wholly to Nicolas as Lanfranc writes a Man at that time very learned who in an excellent Work of his confuted the Tenets of Berengarius While these things were acted at Rome by Pope Nicolas Godfrey the Norman who succeeded his Brother Drogo in the Earldom of Apulia and Calabria dying left his Son Bagelardus his Heir which Robert Guiscardi his Brother as some will have it not liking he drove out his Nephew and seiz'd upon the Earldom taking in Troia also which had long been Subject to the Sea of Rome At this the Pope was not a little enraged at Robert till by his invitation taking a journey into Apulia whatsoever the Church had lost was return'd again and then he not onely took Robert into favour but making him a feudatary of the Church he was constituted Duke of Calabria and Apulia After this receiving of him a great assistance of Forces and returning to the City he subdued the Prenestines Tusculans and Nomentans who had revolted from the Church and crossing the Tiber he sacked Galese and took in other Castles of Count Gerard as far as Sutri rendring the territories of Rome hereby much more secure T is written also that Henry III. was crown'd by Nicolas with the Imperial Diadem and out of gratitude for it all his time never attempted any thing against holy Church But Nicolas having concluded this life with great praise of all Men died when he had been Pope three years six months and twenty six days The Sea was then vacant twelve days ALEXANDER II. ALEXANDER the Second whose name at first was Anselm a Milanese Bishop of Lucca upon the death of Nicolas though absent was for his good temper affability and Learning elected Pope But the Bishops of Lombardy thinking for the honour of their Country that it was just a Pope should be chosen out of their number Gilbert of Parma at that 〈◊〉 very powerful taking their parts vigorously they obtain'd of the Emperor Henry against the mind of his Wife Agnes that they might set up an other Pope Whereupon the Bishops holding a consult made one Cadolus Pope who was Bishop of Parma to whom all Lombardy straightway submitted except Mathild a noble Lady who had great reverence for the Roman Sea Cadolus being soon after called to Rome by the Adversaries of Alexander both Parties engag'd in Battel in the Prati di Nerone at the foot of the Hill Montorio in which fight many were slain on both sides Alexander and Godfrey the Husband of Mathild staid in the Lateran Palace not knowing where to trust themselves all places were so full of treachery though some say that Alexander to avoid the bloody sight did before the Battel retire to Lucca and lived there securely for some time which kind Protection from the Luccheses he gratefully acknowledged by granting both to their Church and City very notable Priviledges Cadolus was repulsed at Rome but rested not long at quiet in his Country being invited again by some Citizens who found that to satisfie their Avarice it was their Interest that the City should be kept in confusion and getting together a greater Army than before he comes to Rome and by force seizes the Citta Leonina and S. Peter's Church But the Romans with the Forces of Godfrey falling forth strook such a sudden terror into the Enemy that they betook themselves to their heels and Cadolus narrowly miss'd being taken having been forsaken by his Friends but Cincius Son to the Prefect of Rome with a strong Squadron carried him
nenew'd and quarter given to all that desired and would lay down their Arms. But the Christians after such a Victory when they had rested eight days from the toil of War and had visited the holy places of the City and our Lord's Sepulchre took Godfrey upon their shoulders and carry'd him into the Palace where by universal consent they chose him King And he though he did not refuse the Title of King yet he would not have a golden Crown because he thought it unseemly for any one to wear a golden Diadem where Christ the King of Kings wore one of Thorns when he redeemed mankind Then also was Arnulphus the Priest made Patriarch and consecrated by the Bishops that were there present The Citizens of Neapolis in Assyria were so frighted at this Victory that they sent Ambassadours to Godfrey to surrender themselves and all they had Soon after news came that a mighty Army of Soliman King of Babylon was come to Ascalon a City twenty miles from Jerusalem was always in 〈◊〉 with the People of it Godfrey resolv'd to meet 'em and therefore left Peter the Hermit to guard the City and recall'd Eustace and Tancred whom he had sent to Neapoli with two Legions As he march'd against the Enemy he was inform'd by the Prisoners he took that Clement was Soliman's General and had fifty thousand Men under him and a Navy laden with Provision and Artillery but notwithstanding was resolv'd to fight him which he did and Godfrey who had the day kill'd thirty thousand of his Men as the story goes But Clement who led the Enemy escaped away The Ascalonites having received such a blow deliver'd up their City streight to Godfrey in which he found as much Gold and Silver as ever was seen together before Jerusalem being thus retaken many of the Princes who had perform'd their Vow and had their desire began to take their journeys home into Europe among the rest the Earls of S. Giles and Troyes But Godfrey and his Brothers who had great success took Joppa a Sea-port Town and Rama which hinder'd the Christians passage from Ascalon to Jerusalem He also besieged Cassa otherwise called Porfiria at tho foot of Mount Carmel four miles from Acon But whilest the Siege lasted Tiberias a Town of Galilee surrender'd of their own accord and Caffa was not long after yielded upon terms But nothing that Men call Happiness is very lasting For a year after the taking of Jerusalem which cost so much labour and pains Godfrey died of a Fever and the Christians to prevent any damage that might happen by an Interregnum 〈◊〉 Brother Baldwin in his room A. D. 1101. But to return to Paschal whom Gregory the Seventh made Cardinal Priest of S. Clements for his Learning and Vertue He was chosen Pope by the Clergy after Urban's death though he could have been well satisfied with a private life for he was formerly a Monk and made Pope against his will denying himself to be capable of so great a Charge but yet at the desire of the People because the Clergy chose him unanimously and the College of Cardinals approved of it he did take upon him the Pontificate but not till they had thrice repeated these words with acclamations St. Peter has chosen Rainerius a very good Man Pope and the Secretaries and Clerks after that gave him the Title of Paschal Then he put on his Scarlet Cloak or Robe with a Mitre on his Head and was attended to the Lateran by the Clergy and People upon a white Horse until he came to the South Portico that leads to St. Saviours Where when he had sate some time in a Seat made on purpose as the custom is he went up into the Court of the Lateran and put on a Girdle upon which hung seven Keyes and seven Seals to let him know that according to the seven fold grace of the Holy Ghost he had Power to govern the Church under God and to bind loose open or shut Then with a Papal Scepter in his hand he visited those places which are to be enter'd onely to 〈◊〉 and the day following he received his Consecration at St. Peter's where Oddo Bishop of Ostia Maurice of Porto Gualter of Alba Bono of Lavico Milo of Palestrina and Offo of Nepeso anointed him with Chrism at which Ceremony the Bishop of Ostia had the chief Place which continues so till this day After his Unction he return'd into the City and took his Crown according to the Custom That this would so happen Albert Bishop of Alatri had formerly foretold For being ask'd by a Friend of his who he thought would succeed Urban God said he will choose Rainerius for his faith and constancy Nay they say that the same Albert foretold also the exact time that he should live in his Pontificate But Paschal who consulted the good of the Church then like to be ruin'd by seditious Men sent out his Forces against Gibert the Anti-Pope the Ring leader of all the mischief And to render himself sufficient for so great a War he borrowed several Troops of Roger Earl of Sicily and a thousand ounces of Gold Gibert that Villain lived then at Abba de Marsi and when he understood that the Enemy was coming he durst not trust to his own strength which he had procured of Richard Count of Capua but left Alba and went with all speed into the Mountains near Aquila where not long after he died suddenly and paid for all his iniquities But notwithstandstanding his being taken off the Church of God did not rest altogether from troubles For Richard who we told you supply'd him with Men and Mony put up in his room one Albert a Citizen of Aversa between 〈◊〉 and Capua who was compelled immediately by the well-affected Party to quit the place and go into banishment But the People of Cava near Palestrina following the Example of Richard's solly and arrogance made one Frederick Pope But they also repented of what they had done and one hundred and five days after turn'd him out of his Pontificate compelled him to take upon him the habit of an Anchorite and lead a private life Besides these there was a Third also one Maginulphus a Roman who was so bold as to usurp the Title of Pope at Ravenna But the Romans banish'd him and those of Ravenna when he had no Friend left expelled him their City The Roman Church being thus settled Paschal who was a Man of great Wit and Courage diverted his Mind from Religion to Arms and by the help of Roger retook Castellana and Benevento from the Enemies But in the mean time Peter Columna a Roman Citizen by the advice of Richard Count of Capua whose main design was to divide the Pope's Army seiz'd upon Cava a Town in the Pope's Dominions Thereupon the Pope marched against him and not only retook Cava but also took from him Zangarola and Columna two Castles of his paternal Inheritance from whence the Family of
Monuments of his Wit in writing especially his Commentaries upon the Canticles and his considerations of divine Contemplation dedicated to Eugenius the Pope from whence he might learn the duty of a Pope He likewise wrote many Epistles one above the rest to the Romans in which he much blames 'em as also an Apology and some Sermons upon solemn occasions But to return to Paschal who decreed in a Council held at Guardastallo that no Cities of Romagna as Piacenza Parma Reggio Modena nor Bologna should be any longer subject to Ravenna which had been formerly the Metropolis and Mother-Church because the Bishops of Ravenna had often exalted their horns against the Roman Sea But when the Pope came back to the City the People desired him that he would make Peter's Son Governour of the City upon the death of his Father who was so in his life time which the Pope denying to do by reason of his nonage for he was scarce ten years old there was such a tumult of a sudden that he was forced to leave the City for fear of some great mischief for there were many that said it was not fit that such a Boy should be intrusted with such a weighty Employment But that would not do for when he was at Alba and heard that Peter Leo a great friend to the Church was set upon in his own House by the adverse Faction he immediately sent Ptolomy from Ariccia with a good competent number of Men to assist him who drove the Enemy over the Tiber killing some and taking others whom he divided among the several Towns to be kept But there soon appeared great inconstancy in Ptolomy For those whom he had taken but a little before he set upon by surprise as they went through the Selva del Aglio by his Order to the several Towns and took 'em again and carry'd 'em with him to Ariccia among whom was also the dead Governour 's Son Nor was Ptolomy content to do so onely but he possess'd himself of Sarmoneta Nymphaeo Tiberia and the Sea-coasts In the mean time Henry came out of Germany into Italy with an Army which strook terrour into all that heard of it But when he was come to Rome in the Pope's absence who at that time held a Council in Puglia and thought himself deprived of his Imperial Dignity together with the Power of bestowing Bishopricks he was Crown'd a second time before St. Gregory's body by the Arch bishop of Braga who was banish'd by his own Country and so went home again But Paschal when the Council was dismiss'd came out of Puglia to Rome with an Army of Normans and retook many Towns from the Enemy and at 〈◊〉 gave willing Audience to the Ambassadours of Calo Johannes Emperour of Constantinople who succeeded his Father Alexius and bid 'em be sure to animate their Master against the Sarazens Then the Abbat of Farfa and Ptolomy whose ill actions were too great to be pardon'd sculk'd about a good while till at last Paschal who was a very mild Man took 'em into favour When things were thus settled and a Church dedicated to Agapetus built at Palestrina which he consecrated he returned from thence in Pomp to Rome where he was met by the whole City in which croud he fell sick and perceiving his approaching death he received the Sacrament exhorted the Clergy to Peace and Concord and dy'd after he had been Pope eighteen years six months and seven days upon the 14th of January and was honourably buried in the Lateran Church He in his Pontificate made fifty Priests thirty Deacons and an hundred Bishops He also consecrated fifteen Churches at Rome especially that of St. Adrian intrefori which had been prophaned by some of the factions and the Church of St. Mary in Monticello In fine he repaired and consecrated the Church of the Sancti quatuor Coronati which was defaced when Robert Guiscard Prince of Salerno set that part of the City on fire which goes from the Lateran to the Capitol as I have said in the life of Gregory the Seventh GELASIUS II. GELASIUS the Second before nam'd John born at Gaeta his Father's name was Crescentius of a noble Family from his youth up well educated and learned in Monte-Cassino under the religious Abbat Odrisio he learn'd the fundamental Principles of the Christian Faith For this Reason he was sent for to Rome by Urban II. who knew him to be trusty and virtuous and ever had a great esteem for him But his fidelity was then most conspicuous when Pope Urban was besieged by the Germans and sectators of Gilbert the Anti-Pope in the Isle of S. Batholomew between the two Bridges for he only and that noble Person Peter Leone never abandon'd him Urban therefore when he was in his prosperity again mindful of so great kindness and for his learning and fidelity made him his Secretary and because he had an elegant way of writing he committed to him the charge of reforming the style of the Court of Rome which by the ignorance and negligence of former Ages was very much corrupted And afterwards observing the great worth of the Man he resolv'd to make him a Cardinal and proposed it often in the Consistory with the good liking of all But Urban dying soon after Pope Paschal taking notice of his great deserts immediately made him Cardinal-Deacon and upon the death of Pascbal when the Consultation was held for the electing of a new Pope all the Cardinals being to that purpose assembled in the Monastery below the Palace of Leo and Cincio Frangipane by an universal consent John of Gaeta was chosen Pope by the name of Gelasius This Election put Cincio Frangipane into so great a rage because the College had rejected a Creature of his whom he had proposed to them to be Pope that accompanied with many armed Men he 〈◊〉 into the Monastery breaking down the doors and beating down whomsoever he met in his way and taking the Pope himself by the Collar he slung him upon the ground and kick'd him and then made him a Prisoner The Cardinals who endeavour'd to make their escape he threw 〈◊〉 their Horses and Mules not sparing any manner of contumely that could be put upon so venerable an Assembly But the People of Rome would not endure the assront but gathered together in Arms before 〈◊〉 House and threatned death and ruin to himself and his Family 〈◊〉 he did not immediately set 〈◊〉 safe and sound at liberty The Frangipani comply'd with all their demands and Leo in the sight of all falling at the Pope's feet kiss'd 〈◊〉 and most humbly beg'd his Pardon The Pope then mounted his white Horse and attended by the Clergy and People of Rome he rode to the Lateran and was there Crown'd according to custom At this time Baldwin who had been exhorted by the Pope both by Letters and Messengers to withstand 〈◊〉 the Barbarian Forces till some supplies could be sent into Asia to his assistance took Sobal a
of Sicily in the absence of Count William had seiz'd upon Calabria and Puglia the charge of both which Countries William going to Constantinople to espouse the Daughter of Alexius the Emperour had committed to the care of the Pope Upon this therefore the Pope left Rome and went to Benevento from whence he sent Cardinal Hugo to Roger as he was besieging the Rocca di Niceforo to persuade him to lay down his Arms and quit the Siege but he little regarded the Pope's Order rather pursuing the War more vigorously fearing lest if his Cosen William should arrive before he had possest himself of those two Countries it might render his design unfeasible The Pope then began to raise an Army when on a sudden both himself and many of the Cardinals were taken ill of Fevers which forc'd him to return to Rome without performing any thing so that Roger not meeting any resistance easily made himself Master of Calabria and Puglia Thus was William 〈◊〉 of his Country and of the Wife he expected and being forc'd to betake himself to live in the Court of the Prince of Salerno he died a little while after without Heirs and Roger having lost so considerable an Enemy arrogates to himself the Title of King of Italy Calistus as soon as he recover'd his health held a Council in the Lateran of nine hundred Fathers where it was consulted how with the first opportunity they might send Recruits to the Christian Army in Asia then much weakned the news whereof gave such courage to Baldwin King of Jerusalem that he set upon Gazis a King of the Turks that inhabited Asia minor who was coming against him with a great Army vanquish'd him and took him Prisoner and with like success he encountred the King of Damascus who was marching against Jerusalem whom he defeated having kill'd two thousand of the Enemy and taken a thousand But Balahac King of the Persians coming on with numerous sorces and Baldwin not staying till the Auxiliaries could arrive he rashly adventur'd to fight him and was totally routed and himself and many of his Nobles made Captives This made Pope Calistus hasten their assistance lest the remainder of the Christians should be destroy'd having no King and by the mediation of Veramundus Patriarch of Jerusalem a learned and a good Mam he animated the Venetians with hopes of glory and reward to man out a stout Fleet upon the service in the year 1121. Dominico Michiele being Duke which arriving at Joppa then streightly besieged both by Sea and Land by the Saracens they overcame them with great slaughter and raised the Siege Hence they went to Tyre which after a long and bloody Siege they took having first made it their bargain that half Ascalon and Tyre should be theirs if by their means they happened to be taken But Emanuel Emperour of the Greeks Successour to Calo-Joannes enving these great successes to the Latines or those of the Roman Communion commanded the Venetians to recall their Admiral which they did and he obey'd but he was so inrag'd that in his return he sack'd Rhodes Chios from whence he translated to Venice the body of S. Theodore the Martyr Samos Mitilene and Andros Islands belonging to the Emperour He took Modone and 〈◊〉 it and subjected the Island Trau before in the hands of the Hungarians to the Venetian Commonwealth He brought also along with him to Venice the Stone upon which at Tyre Christ is said to have sate In the mean time Baldwin who we said was taken Prisoner being ransom'd return'd to Jerusalem and for a while kept up the Christian Cause so that Calistus having now a little leisure from forein troubles creates twelve Cardinals rebuilds several Churches that were ruin'd with age repairs the City Walls makes Conduits 〈◊〉 Castles belonging to the Church and distributes great Donaries of Silver and Gold to several Churches purchases several pieces of ground to augment S. Peter's Revenue and within the Court builds the Church of S. Nicolas But so great felicity cannot long be enjoy'd on Earth without interruption for Gregory the Anti-Pope before nam'd Bordino attempting to usurp the Papacy kept at Sutri where with the assistance of some Roytelets thereabout he did great damage to the Romans by his incursions and plunder'd all the Strangers he could meet with that travel'd to Rome either out of devotion or about business Calistus therefore gets together an Army on a sudden and sending before John de Crema Cardinal of S Chrysogon with the most expedite part of Soldiery himself follows and defeating the Enemy takes Sutri and sets Bordino upon a Camel leading him so in triumph to Rome and then forgave him his life but thrust him into the Monastery of Cave At last Calistus having deserv'd well both of God and Man died in the Lord after he had been Pope five years ten months and six days The Sea was then vacant eight days HONORIUS II. HONORIUS the Second at first named Lambert born in the Country of Imola was made Pope about the time that Baldwin being ransom'd from his imprisonment added the Principality of Antioch to the Kingdom of Jerusalem all the Heirs being dead to whom of right it belong'd But so great a Province not being to be govern'd without a Lieutenant he made Raymund Son to William Duke of Austria their Governour whose Wife was the Daughter of Boemund the elder and having thus setled matters he went against the King of Ascalon who being assisted with forces from Aegypt infested the 〈◊〉 of Jerusalem and him he utterly routed in one Battel Afterward Baldequan a petit King of Damascus attempting the same thing but with greater forces he overthrew him in three fierce Battels his men in their flight being kill'd up and down like sheep To return to Honorius though his Parentage was mean yet for his excellent Learning and conversation he was every way worthy of so high a Dignity not but that the methods by which he obtain'd it were not altogether commendable the Election having been procur'd rather by the ambition of some private Men than by unanimous consent For when upon the death of Calistus the Consultation was held about chusing a new Pope Leo Frangipane imposed upon the Conclave that the Election should be deferred for three days under pretence of more mature deliberation and a stricter search into the Ecclesiastical Canons though neither of these were part of his design but it was craftily and politickly done by him to gain time in which Votes might be procur'd for the choice of Lambert The People were extreamly desirous to have had the Cardinal of S. Stephen which Frangipane also pretended that so he might by this trick draw over the People and the unwary Fathers which some of the Cardinals observing because they would not have a Pope according to his mind they set aside the Cardinal of S. Stephen and chose Theobald Cardinal of S. Anastasio Pope by the name of Coelestine Leo now thought it
debated Upon the receit of this Answer Alexander went to Anagnia and Octavian to Segna This the Emperour took so heinously that he sent two Bishops to Alexander to cite him before a Council by the name of Cardinal and not of Pope Alexander stood upon his right and rejected them whereupon they went to Octavian and brought him to Pavia with intent to set him up against Alexander which they did for holding a Council Frederick confirms him in the Papacy leads him sitting upon a white Horse through the streets of Pavia and performs the usual adoration to him Alexander was much mov'd at this and having first admonish'd them to no purpose he sets them both under an Anathema and writes Letters to all the Princes and Nations of Christendom in justification of himself for so doing Then returning to Rome in the second year of his Pontificate he finds he had many Adversaries there who took the boldness to oppose him because Frederick's Army had now possess'd themselves of all St. Peter's Patrimony but Orvieto and Anagnia Wherefore Alexander by the persuasion of King Philip of France went to Terracina and there embark'd in a Ship provided for him by Order of William King of Sicily and arriv'd in France where in a Council holden at Clermont he pronounc'd the Anathema before laid upon the Emperour and Octavian While these things were doing in Europe Baldwin III. died at Jerusalem and his Brother Almeric step'd into the Throne lest if an Interregnum should have been among so barbarous and treacherous a People it might have given occasion to some mischievous revolution and having settled his affairs for the time he led his Army against the Egyptians and defeated their General Drogon with a great slaughter he laid Siege to Alexandria of which Tiracino Lieutenant to the Soldan of the Saracens had traiterously made himself Lord which Siege he urg'd on with so great diligence that the Alexandrians could hold out no longer and yet were not willing to be made subject to the Christians but offer'd to yield upon condition they might be freed of this new Lord and be restor'd to the Dominion of the Soldan Almeric was content and receiving a vast sum of Money redeliver'd the City to the Soldan who ungratefully put off the performance of the full bargain which caused Almeric to march against him and to lay Siege to Cairo Mean time in Europe Frederick acts very tyrannically for he sack'd Tortono and laid Milan even with the ground from whence he translated the bodies of the Magi to Cologn of which I think Rodolphus was then Arch Bishop and did great mischief to the Cremoneses Upon this those of Verona Vicenza Padoua and Venice resolv'd unanimously to stop all manner of assistance that Frederick should stand in need of while he thus harass'd Lombardy This angred Frederick so that he was about to invest Verona with his Army but hearing that the other Cities had sent thither their Auxiliary Troops he retreated to Pavia from whence by Letters and Ambassadours he exhorted the King of France that to put an end to the Schism he would bring Alexander before a general Council where also he would appear with Victor The City of Dyon situate where the River Savo divides France from Germany was the place appointed for the Council whither Frederick having composed his Affairs in Italy for a time arriv'd together with Octavian and the Kings of Scotland and Bohemia and attended by great numbers of armed Men. But when Alexander refused to go to that Council which himself did not call but had begun another at Tours Frederick full of rage and threats returns into Germany having sent Octavian into Italy intending speedily to follow him but he dying at Luca Guy of Crema was set up for Anti-Pope in his stead The Romans had now chosen Consuls who were Friends to Alexander they immediatey recall him out of France and he taking Ship arrives first in Sicily and thence comes to Rome where he was very kindly receiv'd with universal acclamations and the People of Lombardy were by the arrival of Alexander put in hopes of retrieving their liberty so that they took up Arms against Frederic who had used them so tyrannically and drove several of his Garrisons out of their Towns An. Dom. 1165. Frederic hereupon marches with a numerous Army into Italy and without doing damage to any one contrary to all expectation enters the Territory of Bononia where he divides his Army and sends some Battalions to Luca to be a Guard to the Anti-Pope who then resided there whilst he invests Ancona with his Army and after a Siege of some time takes it In the mean time the associated Cities of Lombardy re-edifie Milan and fortifie it and receive those of Lodi who had been Enemies to the Milaneses into their Confederacy the more to enable them to resist Frederick if he should invade them But Frederick had somewhat of greater moment to think of for upon the death of William the Norman King of Sicily Emanuel Emperour of Greece had sent Ambassadours to the Pope to offer him a great Army to be employ'd against Frederick and to promise a perfect agreement of all the Grecians with the Church of Rome that so the Eastern and Western Churches might be all one if he would suffer the Roman Empire then divided to be again reduc'd into one body What Answer these Ambassadours receiv'd is not certain for by reason of a War then begun between the Romans and those of Tusculum and Alba the Pope could not give them a positive resolution The cause of this was that the Romans being too rigorous in the exaction of their Gabels the Tusculans and Albans denied to pay them which enraged the People of Rome so that they march'd out contrary to the Pope's will against them tumultuously but at that time Raino who had been sttip'd of the Dukedom of Puglia by Roger bore the chief sway among the Tusculans a Man well skill'd in the Arts of War who sending for the German Soldiers from Nepi and Sutri made so great a slaughter among the Romans that they afterwards had much ado to defend their Walls much less could they meet an Enemy in the Field Frederick took this occasion to avenge the wrongs as he call'd 'em which Alexander had done him and leaving Ancona leads his Army to Rome and encamps in the Prati di Nerone from whence he made an Attack upon the Vatican Suburb but was stoutly repell'd by the Friends of Alexander The next day he attempted to set fire to S. Peter's Church and had effected it if those who had the care of it would have suffered it and the Pope not thinking himself safe in the Lateran into which he saw the Germans would soon enter remov'd to the House of the Frangipani near the Palladio William King of Sicily Son of the Great William hearing of the Pope's danger sent him a good sum of Money and two Gallies well man'd which
matter he died at Pisa the fifty seventh day of his Pontificate CLEMENT III. CLEMENT the Third a Roman Son of John surnam'd the Scholar as soon as he was made Pope sent forth a Bull to encourage Men to go to the Holy War for Saladine following the course of his Victories had taken twenty five Towns in the Principality of Antioch and at last had by bribing the Patriarch rendred himself Master of Antioch it self This gave the alarm to the Christian Princes so that now complying with the Pope's exhortations they raised Men the chief of those who engaged in the Expedition were the Emperour Frederic Philip King of France Richard King of England and Otho Duke of Burgundy beside many Arch-bishops and Bishops who accompanied them The Venetians and Pisans set forth their several Fleets well equip'd that of Venice was under the command of the Arch-bishop of Ravenna and that of Pisa under their own Arch-bishop And William King of Sicily having clear'd the Sea of Pirates took care to supply them by the way out of Puglia and Sicily with all sorts of Provisions Beside these the Friselanders Danes and Flemings with a Fleet of fifty Gallies landing on the African shore did the Saracens much mischief taking and plundering Siluma one of their Cities Bela also King of Poland out of good will to the Christian Cause made Peace with the Hungarians that so the passage through that Country might be more easie and safe for those who were to take their way through it to this great Expedition At last they all arriv'd at Tyre and from thence they march'd unanimously to Ptolemais and besieg'd it where Saladine with a great Army came and beat up their quarters so that having the Enemy before them and behind they were forc'd to fight The Battel was long and bloody and the Victory inclin'd to the Christians side when the mischance of a Horse slipping out of the hand of a common Soldier gave them an occasion of flight our Men thinking that the Saracens had got the better but Geoffrey of Lusignan who was left to guard the Camp in the nick of time giving a brisk Onset shock'd their pursuit and gave the Christians an opportunity to rally However 't is certain the Christians lost two thousand men that day beside that the Master of the Templers and Andrew Earl of Bremen died afterward of their wounds In the mean time the Siege lasting long the Christians were reduc'd to so great a want of all things that they were forc'd to procure Victuals of the Enemy which Saladine having notice of laid hold on the opportunity and deserted his Camp which he left without any Guard but furnish'd with all manner of necessaries which when the Christians altogether in disorder enter'd and fell to plundering Saladine return'd and kill'd many of them ere they were aware or prepared to receive him Yet did not the Christians quit this tedious and toilsom Siege though to their other distresses this was added that a Dysentery rag'd in their Camp of which Disease Sibyl the Wife of Guy with four Sons which she had by him all died While matters went thus in Asia William King of Sicily died at Palermo not leaving behind him any lawful Heir so that that Kingdom fell to the Church but the Noblemen of the Island set up Tancred in his room natural Son of Roger the Norman by a Concubine a Man of so great cowardize and sloth that William would not believe him to be Roger's Bastard Pope Clement not willing to lose his right sends away an Army thither with all speed between whom and Tancred who opposed them the Country was fill'd with slaughters and outrages Frederic the Emperour was now by the way of Hungary and Thrace march'd with his Army as far as Constantinople in order to advance against the Enemies of Christ where Isaac the Emperour of the Greeks fearing his Power persuaded him to cross the Bosporus which he did and Clement still hastening him on by Letters and Nuntio's he sate down before Philomena a City of the Turks and took it then he wasted the Country about Iconium and possess'd himself of all Armenia minor but going one time into a rapid stream to wash himself without regarding the depth he was drown'd and his Soldiers retreating towards Antioch either were lost or died so that his Army came to nothing The two Kings Philip and Richard having pass'd the Gallic and Tyrrhene Seas arriv'd together at Messina after which they met with different fortune for Philip had a good Voyage and coming safe to Ptolemais brought great strength and courage to the Christian forces but Richard being born by contrary Winds to the coast of Cyprus and being by the Greeks denied the liberty of landing he entred the Island by force and conquering it he plac'd therein Garisons of his own and then went to Ptolemais That City was then stoutly attack'd but Saladine had put in it so strong a Garison that with their frequent Sallies they did the Christians much damage Pope Clement now thought good to defer his Controversie with Tancred till the Christians should have more success against the Saracens and betook himself to regulate some Ecclesiastical Affairs and with great severity animadverted upon the scandalous lives of Clergy-men Moreover he built the Monastery of S. Laurence without the Walls and with great expence repair'd the Lateran Palace and adorn'd the Church there with excellent Mosaic work not long after dying when he had been Pope three years and five months and was buried in the Lateran Church with great Funeral Pomp. CELESTINE III. CELESTINE the Third a Roman Son of Peter surnam'd Bubo succeeded to the Chair who grudging that Tancred should enjoy the Kingdom of Sicily secretly gets away Constantia Daughter to the late King Roger out of a Nunnery at Palermo and though she was under the Vow of Chastity yet granting her the Apostostical Dispensation gives her to Wife to Henry VI. Son of Frederic Barbarossa upon these terms that he should be empowered to attempt the recovery of both the Sicilies which he should enjoy in the name of a Dowry with his said Wife paying a yearly tribute to the Pope as Feudatary of the Church Henry was so sensible of this extraordinary kindness of the Pope that he restor'd to him Tusculum which he had before strengthen'd with a good Garison which Celestine immediately bestowing upon the Romans they so spoil'd and ruin'd it that the very stones of the demolish'd City were brought to Rome and many of them were for a long time to be seen in the Campidoglio as Monuments of this great devastation Henry and his Wife Constantia laying Siege to Naples were forc'd to raise it by reason of a Plague which rag'd in their Army but the Christians who had now for two years besieg'd Ptolemais had it surrendred to them upon condition that they restoring that piece of our Lord's Cross which we before told you was lost should march
he had receiv'd so many benefits of the Holy Sea he gave the Country of Fondi to the Church of Rome and what had before been given and afterward usurp'd from it he restor'd But the Pope taking notice of the increase of the Saracens Power in Asia call'd a full Council in the Lateran where were present the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople seventy Arch-bishops four hundred Bishops twelve Abbats eight hundred Priors of Convents and the Ambassadors of the Greek and Roman Emperours with those of the Kings of Jerusalem France Spain England and Cyprus Many things here came under debate but nothing could be determin'd because the Pisans and Genoeses were then at War by Sea as those of Lombardy were among themselves at Land The Pope therefore took a journey thitherward to compose their differences but died in the way at Perugia when he had been Pope eighteen years seven months and sixteen days He was a Man most exact in his life a proof of which is that none of his Acts which approv'd or disanull'd any thing were by any of his Successors revers'd He decreed many things for the reformation of manners both in Clergy and Laity and wrote Books concerning the Sacrament of the Eucharist the Sacrament of Baptism and the unhappiness of Mans condition beside that he was wont to make Sermons upon remarkable occasions and solemn days He disallow'd a Book written by Abbat Joachim which contain'd some Heterodox Opinions and condemn'd the Errors of Almericus a Heretic that with some of his followers was burnt at Paris who among other false Notions maintain'd that those Idea's which are in the divine Mind were created and did create others whereas according to S. Augustin there is nothing in the Mind of God but what is Eternal and unchangeable beside he said that to one who was in a state of Grace no Sin is charged Great satisfaction this Pope took in observing the Virtue and Learning of S. Dominic who was Founder of the Order of Preaching Friers and of S. Francis of Assisi who was Author of the Order of Friers Minors 'T is said that in his time liv'd Gratian who compil'd the Decrees and Papias the Lombard who collected a Latin Alphabetical Dictionary and indeed of Papias we have no reason to doubt but for Gratian some Authors place him in the times of Pope Alexander III. Now lest you should think that Innocent in so long a Popedom neglected works of Piety I must tell you that at his charge the Hospital of the Holy Ghost was built and endow'd with so fair an Income as it is for the relief of Pilgrims and sick People and for the Education of Fatherless Children and Foundlings He adorn'd S. Peter's Altar with Mosaic Work as the representation of him and his Cipher in the Arch do testifie Moreover he gave to each Church in Rome a Pound weight in Silver to make Chalices for Divine Service and he repair'd the Church of S. Sixtus then almost falling with age The Enemies of his good Name indeed say that he did this only for fear Men should say that he laid out all his Mony in building of the Torre de Conti which he erected for the honour of his Family However that be 't is certain he shew'd himself in all the parts of his life an excellent Man and one worthy to be reckon'd among the best Popes HONORIVS III. HONORIVS the Third a Roman Son of one Almeric was by a general suffrage chosen Pope to whom Peter Emperour of Constantinople coming with his Wife Jole he was Crown'd in the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls and immediately John Colonna a Cardinal was pitch'd upon to go into Asia with those forces which Pope Innocent in his life-time had got together for that end The Christian Princes by the persuasion of Honorius now went to Acon particularly Andrew King of Hungary who to that purpose borrow'd the Venetian Shipping and by way of requital passed over to 'em the right to all that part of Dalmatia which had been in the possession of the Duke of Austria With Andrew went Henry Count of Nevers and Walter Chamberlain to the King of France All these holding a Council of War together with John King of Jerusalem they resolv'd to lay Siege to Damiata in Egypt and thither they went in the month of May 1218. This City was once call'd Aeliopolis from Aelius Pertinax who environ'd it with a trebble Wall and deriving a little stream of the Nile about it made it stand in an Island The Suburbs hereof were large and full of Merchandize which the Christian Soldiers plunder'd but soon after upon a West-wind the Nile rose so high that their Provisions were spoil'd and they began to be in great want of necessaries especially because the Soldan who was encamp'd not far off had beset all the passages to hinder any supplies coming to ' em The Christians under this difficulty march their Army against the Soldan who in great fear streight leaves his Camp stor'd with plenty of all things and retreats leaving them free to besiege the Town which he at first came to relieve Cordirius also Son to the great Soldan despairing of being able to defend Jerusalem if the Christians took Damiata broke down the Walls of the City and left nothing standing but the Tower of David and the Temple of God only he did not violate the Holy Sepulcre mov'd as we may suppose by the intreaties of the Christians that inhabited those places While our men attack'd Damiata the Soldan returns with a much greater Army and pitches his Camp between Cairo and Damiata from which he could not be provok'd to Battel by either the challenges or reproaches of our Men which so enrag'd the French that without any Order they set upon him and receiv'd great loss Notwithstanding all this the Siege was still push'd on till after fifteen months lying before it it was taken by the Christians and sack'd so that the Soldiery was wonderfully enrich'd with the spoil In the mean time Honorius had at Rome confirm'd the Order of S. Dominic upon his request and had Anathematiz'd Frederic II. because after his Mother Constantia was dead who was wont to restrain him within his duty he came to Rome and without right or reason laid wast the Pope's Territories These differences between the Pope and the Emperour being discover'd to the Soldan mov'd him to take the opportunity and accordingly he raises a greater Army than ever he had before thinking the Christians would not now shew their heads but Cardinal John Colonna roused them with his persuasions so that they took up Arms and went to meet the Enemy at the Nile where when they were come the Soldan feign'd himself afraid to cope with 'em putting it off till the time of the Increase of Nile which follow'd a little while after and the Cataracts of that River opened and so overflow'd the whole Country that it was in no place less than a
and Messengers to be absolv'd by him and promised if he could obtain his request to be ever after his most humble Servant but the Pope being well aware of the crafty temper of the Man not onely warns the Christian Soldiers to have a care of him as of one that was always plotting mischief but having rais'd an Army he sends it under John King of Jerusalem against Rainaldo who then was harassing the Marca di Ancona and fill'd all places with rapine and devastation and with other Forces under Cardinal Colonna he drove the Emperours Lieutenant with his mercenary Saracens out of S. Germans and had all the places from thence to Capua deliver'd to him by surrender in a short time These successes of the Pope so affrighted those of Vmbria and Marca di Ancona who had serv'd under Frederic that they deserted whatsoever they held and retreated into Naples In the mean time Frederic was return'd from Asia to Brundusium and being now very desirous of Peace offer'd his requests to the Pope that he would please to take him into favour to acknowledg him Emperour and a true Feudatary of the Church for the Kingdom of Sicily Which he at last obtain'd but not till he had paid down one hundred and twenty thousand ounces of Gold for the use of the Church of Rome to make good the damages he had done it and these Conditions he was forc'd to come to Anagni and there to implore of his Holiness While Gregory as became a faithful Shepherd was thus careful on all hands and was gone to Perugia to settle matters in that City then much disordered by some banish'd persons who were newly return'd there arose a greater Sedition and Heresie at Rome than had been known before for Hannibal of the Family of the Hannibali joyning with some Priests was made use of to head the People of Rome in a Conspiracy they carried on against the Church of God but the divine Vengeance speedily put a stop to their wicked designs for the River Tiber rising over his Banks did them much mischief and this was accompanied with so devouring a Plague that hardly one man in ten was left alive The Pope coming to Rome behav'd himself with wonderful Clemency and forgave the People of Rome their fault onely putting Hannibal out of the Senate and convicting the Priests of their Heresie he brought them to recant their Error and to profess as true Christians ought to do then turning his thoughts to adorning the City he caused the old Common-shores to be cleansed and repair'd and new ones to be made at the same time yet consulting not onely the Ornament but the healthiness of the place Then leaving Rome for his healths sake at Riete as some will have it he canoniz'd S. Dominic who founded the Order of Friers Predicants and at Spoleto he did the same by S. Antony who was born at Lisbon but died at Padua and was the second after S. Francis head of the Order of Minors hence he return'd to Anagni and fortified the circumjacent Town not a little apprehending the factious humour of the Romans whose chief Senator after the antient manner had proposed a Law to be made and the People had pass'd it that should oblige all the Towns lying about Rome to pay a certain Tax to themselves the Pope hereupon fearlesly takes his journey to Rome though the Cardinals dissuaded him meaning to endeavour by admonition or correction to bring the Romans off from these insolences but when he found it signified nothing what he did he departed to Riete whither also came the Emperour Frederic and they having discourse about the present state of Affairs they both came to this resolution that they would join their forces together and unanimously march against the Romans But at this time as he had always used to do Frederic put a trick upon the Pope for returning himself into Germany he left Order with his Men that they should in all junctures act as the Romans would have ' em The Pope was much mov'd at this treachery of his and proposed a good Reward to any German Soldiers who would leave their Leaders and serve under him whereupon so great multitudes came over to his side that the Romans dar'd not any where shew themselves in open field against the Army of the Church Gregory having by this means recover'd the Patrimony of St. Peter and the Contrada de' Sabini he slighted the Ambassadours of the Soldan who came humbly to sue for Peace and sent Friers of the Orders of S. Francis and S. Dominic throughout Europe by their preaching to stir up the Christians to the War against the Saracens by whose means greater numbers were got together than ever were before and in the mean time that it was under debate who should command this great Army the Pope canoniz'd Elizabeth Daughter to the King of Hungary a most holy Woman and famous for the Miracles wrought by her At length Theobald King of Navarre Almeric Montfort Henry Count of Bari and Campania with the Christian forces passing through Germany and Hungary arriv'd first at Constantinople where crossing the Bosporus they came at last to Ptolemais laying the Country waste far and near But they were not long after set upon by a vast Army of the Enemy and compell'd to retreat defending themselves from their pursuers for two days and there lost all their best Men. Thus in a short time came this Expedition to nothing which had cost so much industry to be brought about merely through the unskilfulness of the Commanders The Pope was extremely troubled at this Calamity and resolv'd to return to Rome at the earnest instance of the Citizens there to put up Prayers and supplications to appease the Divine Wrath which the sins of Mankind had provok'd but his intention was frustrated by Peter Frangipani who being of the Imperial Faction opposed him so he left Perugia and went to Viterbo to meet the Emperour with an Army who as intelligence was brought him had already entred Lombardy and without any just cause wasted the Territories of the Confederate Cities and was about to lay Siege to some of 'em whose Forces were almost broken already having receiv'd one mischief upon the neck of another from Ezelino who then Lorded it over Padua This Ezelino surnam'd the Roman was Grand-son to a German Commander who under Otho III. led an Army of his Countrymen into Italy and now having a body of Men which he receiv'd of Frederic under his command procur'd to himself a great Dominion in the Country of Lombardy bringing under his jurisdiction Treviso Padoua Vincenza Verona and Brescia and Frederic not shewing any regard to the stipulations and agreements which had theretofore been ratified between his Ancestors and them makes War upon the Milaneses and the associated Cities and in a great Battel fought between 'em at a place call'd Nova Corte he overcame 'em with great loss on their side which put the Pope so
supplied with necessaries beside that the Patriarch of Jerusalem coming that way with some number of Ships was made a Prisoner so that Lewis being afraid his Army should be lost by famine resolv'd to return to Damiata and in his way fell into a great Ambuscade of the Enemy by whom he was routed and himself with Alphonsus Earl of Poitiers and Charles Earl of Anjou his Brothers-German was taken Prisoner but the Soldan not long after this great Victory was slain by his own Men and he that succeeded in his stead having Damiata surrendred to him and a good sum of Money discharg'd all the Christians and sent them under safe conduct to Ptolemais where Lewis sent away his two Brothers into his own Country and by the persuasion of Pope Alexander staid in Asia till Cesarea Joppa and Sidon Cities the Christians had newly gain'd from the Saracens were well garison'd with Men which done after having been six years on this Expedition he return'd home While this was doing Pope Alexander having excommunicated Manfred went to Anagni and dispatch'd away Octavian a Cardinal of the Church of Rome of the Family of the Vbaldini to confirm the Neapolitans in their resolutions against Manfred assuring him that he would in a short time come in person with good succours to the aid of them and those of Campania but Manfred not contenting himself to teize the Neapolitans raised up also several Factions in Tuscany especially at Florence which City upon the death of Frederic had asserted its Liberty where matters were carried so high that they were fain by a publick Edict to call home those persons who in the days of Frederic had been banish'd for being Guelphs that they might be rendred able to withstand the contrivances of the Gibellines by which means the Guelphish Faction got so great strength in Tuscany that they harass'd and did much mischief by their Troops to those of Pistoia Arezzo Pisa and Siena who had expell'd their fellow-Citizens for being Guelphs the Luccheses more than any helping them against the Pisans who had been certainly ruin'd by the Florentines after they had been overcome by 'em at the River Ansari but that they were afraid of those of Boggibonzi This Town stood in the Valley of Helsa about twelve miles from Siena very strong by its natural situation and by artificial strengths of which the Gibellines made use against the Guelphs as a Garison but it was at length taken and rased and then the Florentines being Enemies to Manfred made offer to the Pope of their assistance against him which so mov'd Manfred that having been first declar'd King at Palermo and with the help of some Saracen Auxiliaries having in divers conflicts broken the Forces of the Pope under the command of the Legat he sent his Lieutenant-General Jordan with one thousand five hundred Horse to the aid of the Sieneses against the Florentines who not long after were met by the Sieneses near the River Arbia and receiv'd so great an overthrow that they were forc'd to leave their City to the will of the Enemy The Pope yet ceased not to persecute the tyrannical Lords wheresoever they were for when Ecelino as was said had seiz'd into his hands almost all the Venetian Territories and had laid Siege to Mantua he immediately sent away Philip Fontanese Arch-bishop of Ravenna to Venice where having publish'd the Crusado he got together a good Army and with it drove Anselm Ecelino's Nephew out of Padua upon news whereof Ecelino raises his Siege from before Mantua and marches in great haste to Verona but understanding he could have no hopes of recovering Padua he put to death with divers torments all the Paduans he had in his Camp to the number of twelve thousand At this time the Friers Minors who were sent to Brescia had by their preaching persuaded those Citizens to recal the banish'd Guelphs and to declare for the Church and the same success they had had at Piacenza and Cremona but that Obert Pallavicino with the help of the Gibellines had taken the Goverment into his sole Power Against him then and Ecelino his Confederate the Pope's Legat assisted by the Guelphs marches with his Army but near Gambara he is defeated with great loss and himself with the Bishop of Brescia and the chief of the Guelphish Faction taken Prisoner all whom upon the surrender of Brescia Ecelino let go free An. Dom. 1249. This success of Ecelino made the Legat Apostolick very fearful of the increase of his Power and put him upon the design of bringing off Obert Pallavicino from his side which he effected by the means of Boso Donario a noble Citizen of Cremona who laying before him the barbarous and detestable cruelty of Ecelino wrought upon him to throw off his Alliance with him and to enter into the League with the Milaneses and Mantuans and those of the other confederate Cities This much enrag'd Ecelino seeing so many Enemies conspiring against him so that rendezvousing his Army at Cassano he from thence ravag'd all the Country about Milan provoking the Associated Cities to give him Battel which they did and not only vanquish'd him but took him Prisoner and he died soon after at Soncino of a wound he had receiv'd Upon his death all the Cities of Lombardy recover'd their liberty and became obedient Sons of the Church and the Pope's Legat who had procur'd to the Paduans their freedom as aforesaid to make an end of all the reliques of the War drives out of Treviso and puts to death Alberic Brother to Ecelino with his Wife and Children Pope Alexander having taken off these tyrannizing Lords and put an end to so many great confusions set his mind upon renewing the War in Asia but by reason of a quarrel which happen'd between the Genoeses and Venetians this pious and necessary Expedition was laid aside The Christians then inhabited Ptolemais and Tyre two opulent and wealthy Cities which were especially peopled with Genoese Pisan and Venetian Merchants who now for sixty four years had engross'd almost all the Trade both from East and West These Merchants had their several Exchanges their several Streets and Landing-places and nothing was common to both the Venetians and Genoeses but the Churches when a contention arose between 'em about the Monastery of S. Saba which each City claim'd to itself alone The Pope would fain have composed the difference and sent his Letters to both willing that the Monastery should be equal free to both Nations but the Genoeses having notice aforehand how the Pope intended to determine in the Case by the favour of Philip Montfort Prefect of the City they excluded the Venetians possess'd themselves of the Monastery and fortified it The Venetians hereupon unanimously leave the City and making League with Manfred King of Sicily raise Forces against the Genoeses and setting upon their Fleet consisting of two Gallies and twenty three great Ships then in the Port of Ptolemais they burn 'em and following
the Guelphs that had been banished into their own Cities He was no sooner come thither but the Gibbelins departed on their own accord and he without any disturbance appointed a certain number of Officers at Florence which the neighbouring Natives call the Heads of the Guelphian Faction Thence he moved against the Sienneses and made all the Gibellins of Tuscany but especially those of Pisa his Enemies because he besieged Poggibonci which the Gibellines stoutly defended Now when Charles had reduced both Kingdoms all but Nocera de Pagani he at last grants the Saracens a Peace and let 'em live in Italy upon their own terms as they thought good But he himself with his Army upon the Popes invitation went to Viterbo where Henry banish'd by his Brother the King of Castile was not long before arrived Of whom when the Pope had heard Charles's good Character he was so pleased with it that he presented him with great things and made him a Senator of the City After that Charles marched into Tuscany to suppress the Gibellins who desired Corradin a young Man Nephew to Conrad of Schwaben to come into Italy and assist them against the Guelphs And seeing that he could not take Poggibonci by storm because it was so well fortified both by Art and Nature he resolved to starve it into a Surrender And by that means after a long Siege he took it and then going against them of Pisa he took a Town of theirs called Mutrone and gave it to the State of Lucca Charles at that time was very likely to have done greater things but that his friends called him hastily home to his Kingdom by reason of some factious People that favour'd Corradin's Party but most of all upon account of the Saracens whom he presently shut up in the strong Castles of Nocera de Pagani that he might go the safer against Corradin whom the men of Pisa endeavour'd to make their King after they had not only laid waste all the Countrey of Lucca but conquer'd and kill'd Charles's Mareschal at Arezzo by the assistance chiefly of Guido of Montferrat and all the Gibellin faction on that side the Alpes They say that as the Youth passed through the Countrey near Viterbo toward the Kingdom the Pope who pitied his condition said in a Prophetick manner that Corradin himself was led as a Sacrifice to the slaughter So then he went toward Rome and was met at Ponte Molle by Henry the Senator together with all the people of Rome who saluted him with loud acclamations by the name of Emperor but whether out of fear or love is not well known At Rome he dismissed Guido of Montferrat and went himself in all haste with his Army toward the Kingdom where when he understood how Charles had taken possession of Compagna di Roma and the great Road that goes through it he turn'd away to the Mountains called Tagliacocii toward Marsi And there he encamp'd first of all near the Lake being fortified with an old Conduit and ruinated Houses Charles mov'd that way too and pitch'd his Tents within ten furlongs of him at the entrance of an hollow Vale where by advice of Alardus a Neapolitane who had been an old Soldier in Germany he immediately sent away part of his Army under the command of his Marshal who was disguis'd like a King with a design to provoke the Enemy But he himself staid the mean while on the other side the Hill with his best Soldiers in Ambuscade to wait for a good occasion of doing his business effectually They fought full three whole hours without being able to say who should have the better of it till the Marshal who behav'd himself very bravely fell At whose death the French began to give back but the Germans were more brisk than ever and pursu'd them to all places without any manner of Order By this means Charles came upon 'em in a Confusion routed 'em and made 'em run for 't but kill'd a great many of 'em as they fled Henry the Senator was taken Prisoner at Rieti whilst he endeavour'd to escape and Corradin being discover'd at the same time with the Duke of Austria as he attempted to pass the Tiber and go by Boat into Tuscany was brought to Charles and put to death as the Pope we told you had prophesied it would shortly happen Charles therefore in the year 1268 after so great a Victory and having made himself absolute in the Kingdom went to Rome where for some time he acted as a Senator by the Popes permission and sent his Marshal into Tuscany by whose pains and care a Peace was made between the Sieneses and the Florentines But when Clement was dead in the third year of his Popedom and twenty first day and buried at Viterbo there was such a Difference presently not onely between the People of Italy whom the godly Pope whilst alive had by his Authority and awe upon them kept within some kind of measures but also between the Cardinals about the choice of a new Pope that the Sea was void two years At that time Charles who took a great care that the Church should not suffer any damage went with part of his Army into Tuscany where he took Poggibonci the place from whence all the Troubles sprang and sold it to the Florentines Which when they had demolish'd they built a new Town not far from thence upon a plain ground which they call Poggibonci whereas the old one was called antiently Bonitium After that Charles made Peace with those of Pisa whose Ships he design'd to make use of to carry him over into Africk and then intended to return to his Kingdom leaving Ruffus Earl of Anguillara with part of his Army in Tuscany to keep the Tuscans in Order In the mean time King Lewis set sail from Marseilles and was follow'd by three of his Sons Theobald King of Navarre and the Earl of Champaigne together with an Apostolical Legate All these arrived at Tunis the very same time and besieging the City they destroyed all that ever came to their hands But a Plague happening in the Camp which for a good while had infected none but inconsiderable Persons at last took off Lewis with his youngest Son and the Legate To him succeeded Philip his Son who began now to think of going homeward But Charles King of Sicily coming up to him a Peace was concluded upon this Condition that the Captives on both sides should be dismissed and the King of the Countrey should pay Charles a certain Tribute besides that he should suffer the Gospel to be freely preach'd in his Dominions Then they brought back their forces into Sicily where the King of Navarre and the Earl of Campaigne died at Trapani which made Philip and Charles partly for Devotion and partly to avoid the Contagion sail to Civitavecchâ—a with an intent to go from thence by Land to Viterbo where the Cardinals were still contending about the choice of a Pope For they imagin'd
return to Prison giving his two Sons for Hostages one of which was named Charles who was afterward created King of Hungary and called Marcellus and the other Lewis who when he had lived a good life in the Order of S. Francis was canoniz'd for a Saint Whilst these things were transacted in Europe the Great Turk made use of that occasion and whilst the Christians quarrell'd among themselves thought himself secure Wherefore he goes with fire and sword and razes Tripoli a famous City in Asia killing all the Christians that were there in Garison Said and Baruâ—i suffer'd the like Calamity having no body to assist ' em Aca of old called Ptolemaâ—s stood because they made a truce with the Sultan for two years And to defend it for time to come Nicolas the Pope did all he could to get Soldiers under Christ's Banner and paid them with his own money They were about one thousand five hundred but there were a great many more that follow'd 'em without being inrolled without Colours or any body to conduct ' em Who when they were come to Aca they did the Christians as much hurt as they did the Saracens But the Sultan demanded what was his due as he pretended which when the Christians refused to restore he threaten'd utter ruin to 'em all Then there arose a great question among the Christians who should have possession of Aca for the Patriarch of Constantinople the Templars of Germany the King of Cyprus and Charles King of Sicily did all lay claim to it Those also of Pisa had a mind to demand Aca and lawfully as they said themselves but that a War which brake out in Tuscany diverted them from such an ill design For they starv'd Earl Vgulinus in Prison where they kept him his two Sons and two Nieces and after that did so far animate the Gibellins against the Guelphs that they threaten'd equal destruction to 'em all They fell first upon those of Arezzo because the banish'd Gibellins desir'd it when William Petramala was Bishop of that place who was aided by Earl Feltri the Florentine But the Florentines did not think themselves strong enough and therefore they sent Charles the Second also thither with some forces as he was going through their Country to wait upon the Pope Their Camps were pitched near one another in the Country of Tipherno by which name they now call the City having alter'd the name of the Castle Immediately as the Battel was just begun there were a great many Florentines kill'd but not long after the case was alter'd and though William the Bishop and Earl Feltri were slain yet there fell of the Gibellini three thousand and two thousand were taken The Neighbours call the place where they fought Campaldino Charles having obtain'd so great a Victory goes straight to Nicolas and gets the favour to hold of him in Fee the Crown of both the Sicilies Which when James of Aragon understood he presently goes and attaques Cajetta But lest any thing should be wanting that might disturb the quiet of Christendom a fatal War broke out between Philip of France and Edward King of England which did not onely trouble the Christians in Asia very much but also gave our Enemies great confidence and hopes that they should totally obliterate the Christian Name throughout all Asia For the Sultan who at that time was sick had sent an hundred and fifty thousand men to Acra under the Command of his Son But the Siege continuing for two months the Father died in that time and the Son succeeded him who attaqued the Town with much greater resolution For he filled the Trenches and promised all the plunder to the Soldiers But when he had fought his way to the very Walls he was beaten back by the Christians who made a Sally upon him even to his Camp and had a great many of his men hurt in the Action Whilst they were thus employ'd in Asia Nicolas the Pope sends two Legats à Latere as they call 'em i. e. Benedictus Cajetanus and Gerard of Parma with all speed into France to make a Peace between the two Kings and animate 'em against the Saracens who then besieged Acra For he had made a Peace between James of Aragon and Charles who was a Captive upon those Conditions that I told you before that they might all be the more free to go against the common Enemy Nay he had begun to provide a Navy as thinking himself almost sure of a Peace but to no purpose For the Kings did not obey him when he gave 'em good advice nor did they that were in Garison at Ptolemais agree so well among themselves as to keep out the Enemy according to their power For having daily lost a great many of their men there were at that time but twelve thousand left who afterward made their escape in a Corsaire or a swift sailing Frigot kept for that purpose along with the Patriarch of Jerusalem And though at first they had good shipping yet at last they were Shipwreck'd near Cyprus But the Sultan enter'd the City when the Inhabitants had left it and destroy'd it immediately with fire and sword in the 196th year after Godfry had taken it But amidst so many Calamities the Island of Cyprus and Armenia the less formerly called Cilicia continued Christian At that time Nicolas was very urgent with Rodulphus the Emperor to send his Army into Asia for fear the Enemy should get the remaining part of it But Rodulphus soon after died and Adolphus Hasso was chosen to be his Successor who demanding the Rights of the Empire was kill'd in a fight at Spire by Albertus Son to Rodulphus He was indeed a brave Man but had neither men nor money enough and that was the reason that they said he was rather overpower'd by multitude than fairly Conquer'd But Nicolas the Pope through discontent as some suppose to see all things go cross to his expectation and being conscious that he had favour'd Parties more than became a Pope died at Rome in the fourth year first month and eighth day of his Pontificate near S. Maries the Great and is there buried at the upper end of the Church by Cardinal Columna as you may see upon the Pavement where his Picture is in Porphyry But after his death the Cardinals went to Perugia that they might choose a Pope with greater freedom but protracted the business by quarrels among themselves two years and three months In the mean while Michael Palaeologus Emperor of Constantinople dies but the Priests and the Monks would not suffer his body to be buried in an holy place because he joyned with the Western Church in the Council of Lions And indeed Andronicus Michael's Son would have declared himself of the same opinion as the Latins if he had been assisted by our Party But when the Sea was vacant Andronicus was destitute of Friends and so at last apostarized from the faith But Charles the Second King of Naples
indeed might have retein'd some part of their Dominion by the assistance of James the Cardinal of Columna a man who was a great friend to their Family but they chose rather to lose the whole like men than save any part of it sneakingly But Giles having quieted Romagna was so pleased at Forli that he laid up not onely the Treasure of the Church but also all the money which was sent from Avignion into Italy to build Castles in that Town and made some Ordinances which the Province uses to this Day But when Giles had setled Italy and built a great many very necessary Forts in the Church Dominions and reduced all the Italian Princes and States to Obedience he had a Successor in the fifth year of his Embassy called Arduinus a Burgundian Abbot of Cisteaux a man not at all fit for business Wherefore when Giles was gone all the Princes and States of Italy took up Arms. For the Pisans did so molest the Florentines that seeing no body durst oppose 'em they plunder'd all the Country of Florence and took Figino a Castle lying up the River Arno burning all the Villages which were built thereabout At that time Pandulphus Malatesta was Captain General of the Florentine Army whom the people forced to relinquish his civil Government because he had never shewn that he had courage enough to engage with an Enemy But the Pisans were then much higher than before not so much out of any hope they had of taking the City as that they should bring a scandal upon it and therefore after some light Skirmishes before the Gates they return'd home with great spoils about the beginning of Autumn And Bernabos also demolished many Castles in Bologna which was now harass'd with War though the Abbot of Clugny defended it stoutly Bologna as I told you before was subject to the Viconti but Aulegianus betray'd it to the Abbot of Clugny and was to have Fermo as the reward of his Treachery But whilst that Bernabos made War upon Bologna and Reggio the Apostolical Legate makes an Alliance with Philippino Gonzaga Canes of Verona and Nicolas d' Este to go against the Brescians Then Bernabos being concern'd for the danger which those of Brescia were in left Bologna and Reggio and march'd toward the Enemy but was so defeated at Montclere that afterwards he could hardly defend the very Walls of the City About the same time the Florentines overcame the Pisans under the command of Galeot Malatesta by corrupting their Soldiers to come over to their Party For this reason the Pisans laid all the fault upon the Cambacurti who were eminent Citizens there because they paid the Soldiers covetously and stingily and therefore recall'd John Agnellus who was banish'd as being a friend to Bernabos and against the Cambacurti and he in a little time reduced the City and made it acknowledg him for their Governour having removed all the friends of the adverse faction But when the Pope had made a Peace between the Pisans and the Florentines one John Haucut who had been used to fight under the Pisans got together all the Soldiers in Italy and gave all people occasion to fear especially since Rome was in such an uproar at the choosing of Senators But Innocent easily appeased their Discords by sending a forein Senator to 'em called Raimund Ptolomy a Citizen of Siena who bore that Office a whole year and that was in the year 1359. But though things were setled in this manner yet the Romans could not be quiet For they turn'd out their Senator and created seven Citizens with Sovereign Power whom they called the Reformers of the whole Republick Upon this account Innocent made Hugo Lusignaneus King of Cyprus who was going then to War against the Turks Senator and commanded totally to abolish that Society of Reformers But he at that time was very intent upon making an end of the War betwixt England and France that all might go against the Turk But when the English had overcome the French in Poictou and had taken their King with Philip his Son they were thought to have done a great exploit yet at the same time Edward out of his Princely generosity gives all the Captives their Liberty upon condition that they would never fight against him more But they soon after broke those terms of Peace and forced Edward to resume his Arms and besiege Paris Innocent design'd also to prepare a Navy against the Infidels when at the same time the Pisans who were excellent Seamen and the Venetiano that had a great Navy were at War the former with the Florentines and the latter with Lewis King of Hungary For that King did then besiege Treviso with a great Army besides that the Venetians were at variance among themselves For Marino their General being accused as if he aspired to Sovereignty was beheaded Innocent being thus discomposed in his mind he died in the ninth year eighth month and sixth day of his Pontificate just about the same time with Bartholus Saxoferratus the wisest man in all that Age. But before the Popes death there was such an Eclipse of the Sun as never was before wherefore all people thought that such a great Man could not die but even the Planets would give some presages of his departure VRBAN V. URBAN the fifth of Lymosin formery called Will. Grisant Abbot of S. Victor at Marseilles was made Pope in his absence by universal consent For at that time he was gone into Italy as Legate to the Viconti but being called to Avignion he enter'd upon the Popedom And no sooner was he got into the Chair but being a person of singular Virtue great Courage and very innocent in his Conversation he immediately apply'd himself to vindicate the Churches Liberty and made use of such Instruments as were zealous for the business For he sent Giles a Spaniard of whom we said something before into Italy with full Power and Authority who so far animated and engaged Lewis Gonzaga Nicolas d' Este and Francisco Carrario against Bernabos that he was overcome by them and lost his Son in the Battel and being wounded hardly escaped with his life Nor was that all but the Enemy took Andrew Pepulo a Bolognian Banditto Synebald Ordelaphus Paulus Mirandula Guido Foliano Azo of Corrigia William Cavalcabos the most Signal Commanders of the Army But the Kings of England France and Cyprus were concern'd at the misfortune of the Viconti and sent Embassadours to Giles to desire him that he would make Peace with them Which Embassadours were not sent in vain for a Peace was concluded though it were of no long continuance For John Hawkwood on the behalf of the Viconti having engaged the Florentines routed their Army at S. Miniato which caused Giles the Legate to send Thomas Obicio an excellent Commander with three thousand Horse and a competent number of Foot to help the Florentines They fought betwixt Arezzo and Cortona four hours together stoutly but at length
of Bavaria whom the Electors of the Empire having deposed Wenceslaus of Bohemia for his sloth had chosen Emperor to come into Italy upon condition that he should not have the promised reward till he was advanc'd as far as the Dutchy of Millain But when he was come to Brescia near the Lago di Grada and had receiv'd part of the Money he engaged with Galeatius and losing the day fled to Trent The Venetians and Florentines promised him great things to keep him from going back into Germany but all would not do At that time Boniface whether out of fear of the Power of the Viconti or out of covetousness to enlarge the Churches Patrimony was the first that imposed Annates or yearly payments upon Ecclesiastical Benefices upon this condition that whoever got a Benefice should pay half an years Revenue into the Apostolical Treasury Yet there are those who attribute this Invention to John XXII Now all Countreys admitted of this usage except the English who granted it onely in case of Bishopricks but not in other Benefices Being thus strengthened with Money and choosing Magistrates as he pleased both in the City and all over the Church Dominions the Pope restored Ladislaus a Youth Son to Charles King of Naples into his Fathers Kingdom which was usurp'd by such as sided at that time with Lewis of Anjou And to do it the more easily and honourably he abolish'd that deprivation of Charles which Vrban had promulged at Nocera and sent Cardinal Florentino to Cajeta which was the onely place that had continu'd Loyal to crown the Youth there where he had been so loyally preserv'd Galeatius thus rid of the Emperor sent his Army under the command of Albrick against John Bentivoglio who had turn'd out the Garison and made himself Master of Bologna At this time Francis Gonzaga fought in Galeatius's Army for they two were friends again as also Pandulphus Malatesta Charle's Brother and Ottobon Rossi of Parma The names of these Men terrified the Florentines so that they sent Bernardo their General to assist the Bolognians their Allies which so encourag'd the Bolognians that they engaged the Enemy before their Walls but had the worst and lost all their Horse as also Bernardo who was kill'd in the fight James Carrara was taken but preserv'd at the request of Francis Gonzaga Bentivoglio fled with a small number into the City which whilst he stoutly defended he fell into an Ambuscade where he was kill'd the Enemy not being able to take him alive so that now Galeatius easily became Master of Bologna and struck great terrour into the Florentines threatning suddenly to turn all the force of his Arms upon them But not long after he died at Marignan of a Fever Anno Dom. 1402. whose death long wish'd for by the Florentines freed them from many fears and was presignified by a Comet which appear'd some time before Upon this many Usurpers arose either those who were chief in their Cities or who had command among the Soldiery by corrupting the Garisons seiz'd their several Towns there being now no one Man of Authority and Power to correct their ambitions and excesses infinite mischiefs hapned That fatal Sedition too of the Guelphs and Gibellins was renew'd which ran through Italy two hundred years and above and raised such civil Wars among the several Cities that they fought till they had almost destroy'd each other Vgolinus Cavalcabos having vanquish'd the Gibellins was Lord of Cremona whilst Otho the third got Parma expelling the Rossi The Soardi seiz'd Bergamo the Rusconii took Como the Vignati possess'd themselves of Lodi and Fazino Cane an excellent General made himself Master of Vercelli Alessandria and many other Towns thereabout I omit others who having been expell'd by Galeatius then were in some hopes of recovering their usurped Dominions especially William Scala and Charles Viconti Son to Bernabos who sollicited all the Princes and People to revolt Upon this account Piras Ordelaphus was banish'd his Country and got possession of Forli and Albrick Earl of Cuni would have reduced Faenza then brought to extremity if he had not been sent for in haste by Ladislaus by the Popes advice and made Great Constable of Naples The Pope had sent his Brother also thither with a competenr Army to assist the King but he being expelled by the Neapolitans moved toward Perugia and soon made that City subject to the Pope Baltesar Cassa also a Neapolitan Cardinal of S. Eustachius compell'd the Bolognians to return to the Church-party after he had besieged them for some time in which expedition Brachius Montonius led the Church-forces as being a Person well skill'd in Military Affairs and left for that reason in Romagna by Albrick For he had fought under him from his youth and been a Commander as had Sfortia who was born in Cotignola a Town of Romagna By whose valour and prowess the Militia of Italy so improved that whoever wanted a Commander would make use of one of them Hence those Military Factions so increased that all the troubles of Italy for sixty years might be imputed to one of them For he that was oppress'd by the Brachians immediately hired the Sfortians to revenge his quarrel But Albrick from whom as from the Trojan Horse so many Generals did come made Naples yield to Ladislaus after a long Siege At which Victory all the Princes of the Kingdom and all the Cities surrender'd themselves to the King But Ladislaus over desirous of enlarging his Kingly power before he had laid a good foundation in Naples was sent for into Hungary to accept of that Kingdom by hereditary right and in order thereunto sent over his Forces But whilst he was besieging Zara his Friends sent him word that the Neapolitans were like to revolt wherefore having taken Zara and sold it to the Venetians he return'd to Naples and calling back Albrick out of Romagna he deposed all the Nobles and banish'd those that refused to obey him But he was very severe upon the Family of Sanseverino and put the chiefest of them to death Boniface being troubled at such a tedious confusion of Affairs at length died of a Pleurisie in the fourteenth year and the ninth month of his Pontificate Anno Dom. 1404. He was buried at S. Peters in a Marble Tomb of Mosaic work still to be seen with his Coat of Arms which shews also that he built much in S. Angelo the Capitol and the Vatican Nor had any thing been wanting to the glory of this Pope if he had not been too partial to his Relations Simony being often committed by reason that his Brethren and Friends who came to Rome in great multitudes to get Money ask'd for every thing that fell in his gift without any reason As for Indulgencies and those plenary too they were sold about at such a rate that the Authority of the Keys and the Popes Bulls was brought into contempt Boniface indeed endeavour'd to amend these things but was forced
by the importunity of his Friends to let it alone And for this reason I think it would go better with the Church of God if Popes would not mind their kindred or at least not too much but consult the good and honour of the Papacy rather than promote the interest of flesh and blood Especially at that time when Tamberlain who conquer'd the Turks and led their Emperor in Chains along with him was dead and had left all the Armenians Persians Egyptians and Assyrians without Governors so that the Christians might easily have recover'd Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre But his care was plac'd nearer home for he persecuted the Albi Bianchi or Whites that would have introduced a new sort of Superstition under his Pontificate of whom I heard my Father who saw the Man say that there was a certain Priest who came down from the Alps into Italy the year afore the Jubilee with a great many after him and being clothed in white Cloth pretended so much modesty that every body look'd upon him as a Saint So that this Fellow coming into Italy drew a great number of Men and Women over to his Opinion in a short time And these People at Night lay Men or Women Pesants or Citizens Servants or Freemen promiscuously together cover'd with their white Robes like so many Sheep They feasted in the publick Streets and strove who should bring the best provisions The Priest himself carried a Crucifix which he said wept for the sins of Mankind and as often as it did so the people set up a clamour and begg'd pardon of God They sang the Lauds or Praises of the Blessed Virgin going along and standing still in Hymns made for that purpose But as he came from Piedmont and that way into Romagna Tuscany and Millain the Opinion of his sanctity was advanced whereby he brought over not only the rude and unlearn'd Commonalty but even great Men and Bishops of several Cities At Viterbo being tired with travelling he tarried with the multitude and from thence said he would come to Rome to visit the holy Places and Bodies of the Saints But Boniface fearing him to be a Cheat and thinking as he said that the superstitious Knave had a mind to get the Popedom by the assistance of that Gang about him he sent Soldiers to meet him and bring him to Rome Which done some write that his knavery was detected by Fortune and that he was deservedly burnt alive but others say the Man was guiltless and that it was onely a trick of the Pope to raise that report of him whereas he put him to death out of envy Which is true God knows But this is certain that after so great a conflux of people caused partly by this and partly by the Jubilee a number of Men died of the Plague But amidst all the evils wherewith Italy was afflicted we received one Benefit For Chrysoloras Byzantius brought the Greek Learning into our Country which had been neglected in Italy for four hundred years Hence came the Greek and Latin Schools where Guarinus Victorinus Philielphus Ambrose the Monk Leonard and Charles of Arezzo and many more were educated by the emulation of who many Wits were excited to laudable Studies INNOCENT VII INNOCENT the Seventh of Sulmona before named Cosmo Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce was made Pope at Rome when all Italy was in an uproar For John Galeatius being dead and leaving two Sons but young all Italy betook themselves to Arms. John Maria the elder Son got the Dutchy of Millain and Philip Maria the younger made himself Lord of Pavia with ease as lawful Earl of it The other Cities to the number of twenty five revolted from the Viconti Paul Guiniffius a Citizen of Lucca usurped the Dominion of his Country Francis Carrara now that General was gone off whose Arms he exceedingly fear'd that he might enlarge his Territories sent Embassadours to Verona Brescia Bergamo and Cremona to sollicite the Guelphs to be on his side But when he saw William Scala and Charles Viconti who desired to govern their own Cities could hinder his attempts he promised William the Signiory of Verona and that of Millain to Charles of whom he borrowed thirty thousand pounds So he restored William to his Country but he soon after was poison'd and then Verona fell again to Francis He would have serv'd Charles the same trick when he was urgent with him either to perform his promise or to pay the money he had lent him He also advised Francis Gonzaga by Letter to come over to his side and embrace his Alliance and if he would not that he would look upon him as an Enemy and give him reason ere long to repent of his obstinacy And that he said was easie because he having gotten Verona which border'd upon Mantoua he should shortly compass Brescia too and so teaze the Mantoueses as he pleased Francis resolv'd to say nothing in answer to him till he heard what the Venetian Embassadors said whom he understood to be upon the way coming to him For the Venetians suspecting the power of the Carraresi took Vincenza into their protection by a free surrender of the Citizens who fear'd Francis's strength and would rather be under any Lord than one of Padua for there was a mortal hatred between the Paduans and those of Vincenza So then the Venetians admonish'd Francis Carrara that he should not meddle with those of Vincenza who were their Tributaries and that he would raise the Siege from Cologna which they accounted within their Dominions if not that the Venetians would revenge their quarrels Francis reply'd that he admired at the impudence of the Venetians who though they have no right or claim to any thing upon the Continent yet would prescribe Laws to them who had just Titles He therefore bad 'em go and confine themselves within their Bays and Fens and let them alone to govern the several Cities who had derived a right to it from their Forefathers This enraged the Venetians who thereupon sent instructions to their Embassadors then upon the Road to make a League with Francis Gonzaga and choose him General of their Forces with an honourable yearly stipend And Francis when the League was made thought it best to make haste because he heard the Enemy had gotten Cologna and raising a great Army attaqued the Veroneses on that side that lies toward Mantoua The Venetians from Vincenza did the same Which so terrified the Veroneses that having no hopes of help they surrender'd For the Citizens hated Francis Carrara for having poison'd William Scala and imprison'd his Sons after he had gotten Verona by a Wile But as the Army enter'd the City keeping their exact Order for fear of some stratagem of the Enemy James Carrara who had commanded the Garison ran away with some few Soldiers to Hostia But as he cross'd the Poe he was taken Prisoner and sent to Venice Now the Venetians having fortified Verona as well as they could march'd
the Cardinals to send some Bishops before to Pavia to begin it that seeming to be the most commodious place for it Thither therefore he immediately sent Peter Donatus Arch-Bishop of Candia James Camplo Bishop of Spoleto Peter Rosatius Abbot of Aquilegia Frier Leonard a Florentine and General of the Preachers to open the Council But they found no body yet come from France or Germany onely two Abbots of Burgundy therefore they thought fit to defer it till one at least should be come from each Nation little of moment being to be transacted without universal consent But while they waited their coming on a sudden Pavia was visited so severely with a Plague that with the Popes leave the Presidents of the Council remov'd to Sienna whither people came from all Nations more readily and in greater numbers than to Pavia Alphonsus King of Aragon who was an Enemy to Martin for giving the Title of King of Naples and Sicily to Lewis which himself desired sent his Embassador to the Council with Order to delay it as much as he could and to bring about the Cause of the Anti-pope Peter Luna yet alive in Panischola either by Promises or Bribes to those who had greatest Authority in the Council Wherefore Martin who knew very well how great a calamity such a thing would bring upon the Church and what danger there was in delays commanded the Council to be immediately dissolv'd approving first of the Decrees made in it that concern'd matters of Faith And lest he might seem to fear a General Council he order'd that another should be held at Basil seven years after Thus did that prudent subtil Man root out the seeds of Schism and Discord that were sown in the Council of Siena Alphonso then complain'd of Martin publickly that by his means he was put by the Kingdom which Joan designed for him and Lewis was made Heir in his room Martin easily confuted this charge and told him that Lewis was confirm'd Heir to Joan by Alexander V. and John XXIII long before and that all the blame ought to be laid on the Queen and not upon him whose business it was to strengthen rather than weaken the Churches Feudataries unless they had committed some heinous Offence against the Sea of Rome and that he did not see why Lewis might not be lawful Heir to Joan who was Crown'd by his Order But when Brachius saw the Pope involv'd in so many Affairs and so distracted by reason of the quarrel between him and Alphonso he got many of the Church-Towns by force and laid close Siege to Aquila a City in the Kingdom of Naples The Pope was angry at that and raising a good sufficient Army he attempted to relieve Aquila assisted by the Army of the Queen and Lewis and not far from Aquila he conquer'd and kill'd Brachius in the open Field The Sfortians were in that Battel under the conduct of Francis Son to Sforza who some years before going over the River Piscara which the Ancients call'd Aternus was drown'd Brachius's body was brought to Rome and buried in an unhallow'd place without the Porta di Sancto Lorenzo Upon this Victory there was so great tranquillity besides that Perugia Todi and Assisi with some other Towns which Brachius had possession of were reduced to the Church that they thought Augustus's happy days were come again into the World Then people lived at ease and could walk even in the Night through the Woods without any danger no Robbers being abroad no Russians and Thieves for he cut off Tartalia Lauellus and other Usurpers that got their living rather by Rapine than War But the Hereticks of Bohemia who plagu'd the Catholicks of Germany continually with Heresie and Arms seemed to interrupt this Peace and happiness To make them therefore submit to Reason and to the Church he admonish'd them first of all very gravely and when that would not do he sent Legats into Germany to stir up the Catholicks to Arms. And first he sent Henry Cardinal of S. Eusebius thither alone then Bartholomew of Piacenza and last of all he recall'd them and sent Julian Caesarinus Cardinal of S. Angelo who receiv'd great damage from the Enemy not by his own fault but by the cowardise of his Soldiers However Martin was not discouraged at it but made greater preparations against the Hereticks onely before he set about such a grand Affair he resolv'd to compose and quiet Italy For when the Peace was made by Martin between Philip and the Venetians the Florentines bore a grudg at Ladislaus Son to Paul Guinisius Lord of Lucca for the assistance he gave Philip in the preceding War and now he not being mention'd in the Articles of that Peace they laid hold on it as a fair opportunity to subdue the City and having raised an Army under Nicolas Fortebrachius and taken some Castles thereabout they laid Siege to it Whereupon Philip by the entreaty of Paul and for fear lest if Lucca fell into the hands of the Florentines he should find them the sharper as being the nearer Enemies he first sent Francis Sforza into Parma with a great body of Horse to raise Foot-soldiers there Who passing the Apennine in the beginning of Spring put the Florentines into such a fright that before he came into the Cloudy Vale as the Inhabitants call it the Enemies had removed their Camp and raised their Siege from before Lucca out of fear And his coming was so much the more welcome to the Lucceses because when their Enemies were subdu'd and the Usurper taken they thought to become absolute freemen by Francis's assistance But the Florentines bribing Francis with fifty thousand pounds he left the people of Lucca in a worse condition than ever having promised for that Sum not to serve Philip for six months Then the Lucceses were besieged more close than before Whereupon Philip at the request of Martin who also pitied the case of the Lucceses sent Nicolas Piceninus thither with a great Body of Horse presently who vanquish'd and routed the Enemy and not only raised the Siege but march'd thence and took many Castles belonging to Pisa and Volaterra by storm and did the Sieneses a kindness who then made War upon the Florentines Martin being now undisturb'd by any forein Foe apply'd his mind to adorn the City and Churches of Rome and to that purpose repaired the Portico of S. Peters which was falling down and paved the Lateran Church with Mosaic work cieled it anew and began those Paintings there which were done by the hand of the famous Gentilis He likewise repaired the old Palace that was ready to fall near the Twelve Apostles where he lived some years The Cardinals follow'd his Example and re-edified their Churches as fast as they could so that now Rome look'd something like a City He also created certain Cardinals of which his Nephew Prosper Columna Cardinal of S. George was one In the mean time Peter Luna dy'd at Panischola but lest the
his pay Eugenius answered him that he had taken as much spoil out of the Castle especially out of the Town as would satisfie him At which Nicolas was so angry that he went into the parts about Rome and raised such tumults taking and driving away such numbers of Men and Cattel that Eugenius was some time at a stand what to do The Romans flock'd to him with their complaints but the Pope who at that time wanted both advice and health sent 'em to Francis the Chamberlain who being devoted to idleness and pleasure gave 'em no other answer but that they over-valued their Cattel for they often complain'd of the loss of them and told 'em that the Venetians lived more like Citizens than they without Beasts and flocks of Cattel The Romans were displeased at this answer and therefore when Nicolas had taken Tivoli beating Count Tagliacotius out of it and Subiaco and drawn all the Colonneses to his party Stephen Colonna who was always of the other side being kill'd by the Prince they threw off the yoke of Subjection and crying out Arms Arms Liberty Liberty they beat out all Eugenius's Officers and taking Francis the Chamberlain Prisoner they created a new Magistracy of their own choosing consisting of seven Romans whom they called Governors who had power of life and death But Eugenius in such an Hurry not knowing what to do resolv'd to flee for 't And immediately changing his Habit for that of a Monk went on shipboard in a small Vessel along with Arsenius the Monk down the Tiber to Ostia Whereupon certain Romans that knew of his going threw Stones and shot Arrows at him for they would fain have kept him there till they had got possession of S. Angelo Nevertheless Eugenius went away upon the 7th of July and sailed to Pisa first and then to Florence in Galleys laid on purpose for his passage and then the Romans betook themselves to storm the Castle raising Mounds and Bulwarks in all places that might make it more accessible to the Enemy On the other side those of the Castle made some sallies upon them and the Governor thinking it fit to use some stratagem with the people of Rome He by the assistance and advice of Baldesar Aufido a cunning Captain that defended the lower part of the Castle bad one of his Soldiers that sallied out that he should suffer himself to be taken by the Enemy and then blame the cruelty and covetousness of him the Governor and promise them that if they would give him such a reward he would kill the Governor and betray the Castle The Soldier did exactly as he was bid and when he was taken said all the ill things he could devise against Antony Ridio the Governor and swore he would bring the matter about to their mind Thereupon being dismissed he went into the Castle and hung up Anthonies Clothes with somewhat like his Head on top of them which was visible a great way off Baldesar presently cry'd out the wicked Fellow was justly punish'd and that some of the chief Roman Commanders might now come in and if they paid the reward take the Castle They not being aware of the trick went in and were strait taken Immediately there was a joyful noise in the Castle and Darts and Bullets were thrown and shot upon the Romans without The Romans being thus deluded advised concerning the enter-change of their Captives and in order to it set the Chamberlain Eugenius's Nephew at Liberty and unanimously submitted to Eugenius within five months after they thought to have gain'd their freedom Then there were Magistrates made in the name of the Church who fortified the Capitol with strong Guards and other provisions And after upon the arrival of John Viteleschus whom they call'd the Patriarch Francis his Nephew being gone to Eugenius a sudden dread seiz'd the Romans to such a degree that they durst not so much as open their mouths for fear For Viteleschus was an imperious and cruel Man and lived like a Tyrant rather than a Christian These things were transacted at Rome whilst Alphonso besieged Naples and Cajetta which was stoutly defended by the Genoese Merchants and the Genoeses thinking it their duty to assist their Countrymen fitted out a Navy with all speed by the leave and good liking of Duke Philip Viconti who lent 'em some Foot-Soldiers and meeting their Enemy Alphonso not far from Cajetta they engaged with him After a long and a sharp conflict they defeated Alphonso and took him Prisoner and all his retinue of which some were Princes Alphonso was brought to Millain to Philip but was entertain'd not as a Captive or an Enemy of the Genoeses but as a King and a Friend And when he had been treated honourably for some days and presented by Philip with many great gifts he went into his Kingdom and took Cajetta presently Upon that the Genoeses were so enraged that he should free Alphonso so easily whom they had taken with such hazard that by the advice of Thomas Fregoso they revolted from Philip and made the said Thomas their Duke Then Picenninus who was sent against the Genoeses receiving news that they persisted in their obstinacy took Sarzana and marching toward Pisa under pretence to go and help Alphonso spoiled many Castles belonging to the Pisans But the Florentines stopped his career by sending for Francis Sfortia with the Pope's good liking who was then in possession of Ancona and endeavour'd by the assistance of the Florentines and Venetians to be made Lord of it But Eugenius was against that and said that it became a Pope to preserve the Church-patrimony even by War rather than alienate it So they deferred that business till another opportunity yet Francis in hopes of it did not onely beat Picenninus from the Siege of Barga taking Lewis Gonzaga who fought under Picenninus but he laid close Siege to Lucca in the name of the Florentines Picenninus was hinder'd from passing the Apennine to their relief and therefore promised to free them another way Wherefore he march'd through Bologna without any molestation onely taking a Town belonging to the Florentines called Oriolo and being mindful of the Lucceses he went thither and in the absence of Francis Sfortia vanquish'd the Florentines and raised the Siege of Lucca The Pope being almost distracted with care as well because he was surrounded with War as that the Council of Basil begun by the Decree of Pope Martin increased daily by the conflux of all the Princes of Spain France Germany and Hungary who referr'd the case of all Christendom to that Council he contrived how to dissolve it and to that purpose would have removed it from Basil to Bologna by general consent of the Cardinals that were there on his side But the Emperor other Princes and Prelates then at Basil did not onely disobey the Pope but admonish'd him several times to come himself with his Cardinals to Basil which was a convenient place that Martin had chosen to hold
Sieneses and sending them away to solicite their Fellow-Citizens he promised them to be there in such a time But Nicolas the Pope who was a lover of peace and quietness after he had kept his Coronation as the fashion is and made many Processions on foot in his own Person he sent Cardinal Morinensis to Ferrara a place which being neutral was fit for the Treaty that by the persuasion and Authority of his Legat the Factions might be the more induced to a composure Thither also did Alphonsa Philip the Venetians and Florentines send their Embassadours who after a long Debate gave Philip leave to choose whether he would make a Truce with the Venetians and Florentines for five years both sides keeping what they had or conclude a Peace and change Crema for those Towns which the Venetians had taken upon the River Adda leaving onely Cassan at the Pope's disposal as being his due by compact to make amends for the injuries which he first received But that also was afterward thrown in to make the Peace more lasting And one of Philip's Embassadours was sent to make the Proposal to him who found him dead of an Apoplexy the day before he came to Millain August 8. 1447. Morinensis hearing of Philip's death sent for all the Embassadours in haste to his House and urg'd for Peace as earnestly as ever The Venetians when they were ask'd if they would continue of their former Opinion made answer That they could not tell what they might do now Philip was dead but that they would write to the Senate concerning that Affair and do as they should order them In the mean time the other Embassadours that were there knowing the Venetians ambition to govern all Italy dissolv'd the Assembly and went every one to their own Home the Pope's Legat exhorting them to Concord but all in vain But the Venetians whose Camp was at Sorefina near Cremona in hopes to take that tumultuous City by surrender with the help of the Guelphs when they heard of Philip's death march'd presently to Lody which having taken they receiv'd those of Piacenza into their Alliance upon the same terms as them of Lodi and sent one thousand five hundred Horse thither immediately to assist the people of Piacenza if any body should molest ' em Francis Sfortia who at that time was beaten out of Ancona and quartered in Bologna to refresh his Army whose Arms Horses and Men were almost spent with this long War when he heard that the Venetians had seiz'd all upon his Father-in-law's death went great days Journeys till he came to Cremona and was chosen General by the universal consent of the Millaineses over all their Forces against the Venetians And having made a Bridg over the River Po which he fortified with Castles and Artillery to hinder the Venetians from coming with a Navy to Piacenza he passed the Adda at Picigitono and encamp'd not far from the Enemy who lay at Camurago And there they had some light Skirmishes to try I suppose the Enemies courage The People of Pavia were so much encouraged at Francis's coming and so glad to see him because they hated to be subject to the Millaineses upon an old grudg that was between them and on the other hand would rather suffer any thing than submit to the Venetians who had formerly despised their Alliance insomuch that they deliver'd their City up to Francis without any more ado by consent of the Governour of the Castle which was such an Addition to his grandieur that Sfortia presently affected to be Lord of the whole Dutchy of Millain These things passed in Lombardy and thereabouts whilst Alphonso at the same time fell down with his Army into the Sea-coast of Siena and had subdued them though the Pope was against it had not the Florentines who knew the King's intention sent a Messenger to Siena to advise them that Alphonso who was covetous of Dominion was no less their Enemy than the Florentines The Sieneses hearing what danger they were in they did not deny the King any kind of provisions but yet they would not suffer any of his Soldiers to come within their Walls So that the King when he observ'd their caution march'd down into Volaterra and Pisa and took many Castles there partly by surrender and partly by storm which yet the Florentines recover'd not long after all but Castiglione under the command of Sigismund Malatesta whom they had corrupted to come over from Alphonso to their side In the mean time Nicolas the Pope continually persuaded the King and the Venetians to Peace rather than War but they who were grown proud and unruly would not hearken to his good Advice Thereupon Francis raised a great Army out of the main strength of Italy uniting the Brachian and Sfortian Soldiers and pitch'd his Camp in the middle of Autumn at Piacenza in which was a good Garrison of Venetians and beating down part of the Walls with Cannon he stay'd before it so long till the Po rose to that prodigious heighth that his Galeoones came up to the very Walls and so attacking it both by Land and Water at last he took and plunder'd it This was a great Honour to Francis to take so great a City and that in the Winter-time when it rained so hard that the Soldiers were ready to leave their Tents Yet Nicolas was even then still talking of Peace and the Florentines were urgent with their Allies the Venetians because they fear'd the King's Power who was then with his Army in Tuscany But nothing was done in it because the Venetians were unwilling to restore Lodi to the Millaineses which they earnestly sought So that Nicolas after so many attempts to no purpose laid aside all thoughts of making Peace by such means and applying himself to religious exercises he order'd Days of Humiliation to be kept for appeasing God's anger and Prayers for the Peace of Christendom And at the Solemnities the Pope himself assisted with all the Clergy in Procession from S. Peter's to S. Mark 's with great Piety and Religion But the wrath of God was not abated for all that so much had Men probably deserved it For two years after there was such a Plague in almost all places that few survived out of great numbers And this Calamity was foretold by frequent Earthquakes and an Eclipse of the Sun nay it had been often foretold by the Friers Predicants especially one Robert a Franciscan and famous Preacher who so moved the people of Rome with his Sermons that the Women and Children ran about the City desiring God to be merciful unto them And least any misfortune should be lacking in Italy the Wars which we told you were begun before did so increase that one would have thought it impossible to have put an end to them For Francis Sfortia the next Summer having taken some Castles from the Venetians went with his Land and Sea-forces against their Navy which block'd up the Cremoneses and forced it to
the Council of Basil was at the heighth King Alphonso who was then at War in Naples being desired to send some body thither he order'd Alphonso Borgia to go who taking it ill that a thing of such pernicious consequence should be committed to his management he got leave of the Queen to go into Italy to the King with Ferdinand the King's Son and exhort him that after so many dangerous expeditions and difficulties with which he was even at that time surrounded he would return into his own Country But the King told him he would not but sent him to Eugenius who was then at Florence to treat concerning a Peace For Viteleschus having enter'd the Kingdom of Naples in Eugenius's name with an Army plunder'd and spoil'd all that came before him to hinder the King from taking Naples which at that time he laid Siege to But the business taking up time and the Pope intending in the mean time to make twenty Cardinals among the rest design'd the Bishop of Valenza should be one though he refused the honour with all the earnestness imaginable because he said it was not fit for him to receive especially till he had done the business that he came for Afterward Eugenius return'd to Rome the Patriarch of Aquilegia whom he sent to Tarracina to the King having made a Peace between the Pope and the King upon Conditions at the making of which the Bishop of Valenza was present and interposed his Authority and care for which the Pope began to love him so well that he soon after made him Cardinal Sanctorum quatuor and sent for him to Rome where he used no less modesty in his Cardinalate than he had before in his Bishoprick being always free and far from pomp and vain-glory When he spoke in the Senate he was reckon'd so grave and sincere a person that he never spake any thing out of flattery or to win favour But Eugenius dying and Nicolas after him this Alphonso Borgia as I told you was made Pope in S. Peter's Palace taking upon him the name of Calistus and immediately proclaimed War against the Turks shewing his own hand-writing whereby he had vowed to do so even before his Pontificate in a Book of his to this purpose I Calixtus do vow to God and the Holy Trinity that I will persecute the Turks those Enemies of Christianity with War Curses Interdictions Execrations and by all the ways I am able All that were by admired at it that he should arrogate to himself the name of Pope before he had the honour conferr'd and that a Man who was so old and decrepit should have so much courage But that he might really perform his promise he sent Preachers through all Europe to animate all Christians against the Turks and to persuade such as were able to lend their helping hand in that momentous Expedition And of these he sent sixteen Gallies full built at Rome over whom the Patriarch of Aquilegia was Admiral and harass'd the Sea-coasts of Asia for three years together where he took several Islands and did the Enemy a great deal of damage King Alphonso and the Duke of Burgundy also took upon them the Cross and profess'd that they would either go against the Enemy in their own persons or at least would raise Men to send Yet this Affair as it was moved at an heat so it as easily cooled again whilst the Princes indulged their pleasures and neglected that which would have gain'd them immortal Fame Whilst the Pope was Crown'd in the Lateran two Soldiers one under the Earl Aversus and the other under Neapolio Vrsin Men of diverse factions and parties who quarrelling about a young Lad did so wound each other that they both dy'd upon the spot For that reason Neapolio raising the Vrsine Faction invaded the House where the Count Aversus lived but the Count being from home he would have gone to the Lateran to seise him but was with much ado kept back by his Brother Latinus the Pope's Chamberlain And indeed Neapolio could not have gone thither without great damage to the City because all the Faction of the Colonneses who favour'd the Count were then in Arms. The Pope also had sent John Baruncellus and Laelius de Valle two Advocates of the Consistory to both of 'em to make 'em Friends so that by this means the present disturbance was appeased but the old grudg betwixt them still remain'd For they had many trials of Skill to the great disadvantage of their Adherents The Pope however apply'd his mind to his Pontifical Affairs and Canoniz'd S. Vincent a Spaniard of the Order of Preachers and S. Edmund of England and upon that occasion said Prayers and Thanksgivings from Ecclesia Minervae to S. Peter's with a long train of Clergy and Laity following him But lest any thing should be wanting to disturb the Church some Country Fellows of Palombara a Town in Sabina who were formerly banish'd thence by James Sebellus Lord of the place return'd home and killing two Sons of James's promised to surrender the Town to the Church which Calixtus not only refused to accept but sent Cardinal Columna thither to appease them Neapolio fearing the Cardinal should seise Palombara in his own name he went thither with his Army and besieged the Town for some days Though when Matthew Poianus and Francis Sabellus with other Commanders came up by order from the Pope and the Cardinal they raised the Siege enter'd Palombara and hang'd twenty of the Country Fellows of those especially that had made the disturbance and quarter'd 'em to give example to others and warn 'em never to attempt so great a piece of Villany against their rightful Lords Soon after appeared a Comet for some days hairy and red of which when the Astrologers said that it portended a great Plague Dearth or some mighty Slaughter Calixtus appointed a Fast for several days to pray to God that if any judgment hung over them he would be pleased to avert and turn it upon the Turks the Enemies to Christianity He gave order likewise that God should be supplicated every day and that a Bell should be rung about Noon to give people notice when they should joyn in Prayer for the Christians against the Turks So that the Christians assisted by the Prayers of the whole Church fought against the Turks at Belgrade under the conduct of John the Vaivod an excellent Person and John Capistranus of the Order of Minors bearing the holy Cross and conquer'd 'em when they besieged Belgrade six thousand of the Enemies being slain by a few of our Men as Carviagalla Cardinal of S. Angelo wrote to the Pope and to Dominick Capranicus Cardinal of S. Crosses besides that all their Carriages and an hundred and sixty Guns were taken a blow that so much scar'd the Turk that he retir'd in haste to Constantinople And no doubt but that cruel barbarous Nation had been destroyed if the Christian Princes would but have laid aside their
though one Prince may possibly keep peace with another yet there always is an immortal jealousie between Prince and People So that he thought it better for him to agree with the Pope than give way to their desires whose minds are led by Appetite and Fancy not by Reason The Emperour was persuaded and slighting the peoples petition sent Aeneas to Calixtus He when he came to Rome and had given Frederick's Oath to the Pope as the custom is commended them both in an Oration whereof the greatest part inforced a War against the Turks so mighty zealous he was for it For he was a wise Man and foresaw what afterward came to pass That the Barbarians would not be quiet when they had gotten all Greece they were so puft up with their Victory For that reason he apply'd himself to make peace in Italy before he made War with the Turk and so exhorted the Pope to do the same with all earnestness At that time the Sieneses were hard put to it by Count Petilian and James Picenninus who carry'd on that War more upon Alphonso's account than their own Wherefore Aeneas to make a final conclusion of it went by command from the Pope and at the request of his Fellow-Citizens and Countrymen to Alphonso at Naples where almost all the Embassadours of Italy were met to treat of Peace but had done nothing in it to that time But when Aeneas came he said he would agree to a Peace then without any more ado since that person was arrived whom he loved above all mankind Having obtein'd a Peace and freed his Country from the Enemy he stay'd with Alphonso some months because he loved his Conversation and in that time took his opportunity to make an elegant and a large Discourse to him by which he induced him to engage by Sea against the Turk And having so done he went for Rome with a design to go into his own Country but was stopp'd by the Pope and not long after made a Cardinal Now he was in such favour with Calixtus and bore such a sway that he persuaded him to send Embassadours to Siena which was all in an uproar among themselves to exhort the People to peace and unity But whilst he was at the Bath at Viterbo upon account of his health and had begun the History of Bohemia Calixtus died and then he return'd to Rome where he was so much desired that great part of the people ran out to meet him and saluted him prophetically by the name of Pope For indeed he was chosen Pope by universal consent not onely of the people but the Cardinals and having received the Papal Crown upon the fifth of September he went into St. Peter's Church in his pontifical Robes where he gave thanks to Almighty God and immediatly betook himself first to settle the Churches Patrimony and then to endeavour the advantage of all Christendom in general For he ended the War in Ombria which broke out before his Pontificate under the command of that seditious Innovator James Picenninus as soon as he was Pope and took back Assisi and Nocera from the Enemy He likewise made a Truce which seemed a difficult thing to do between Sigismund Malatesta and King Ferdinand that all might safely pass to Mantua where he had order'd a general Council And having made the Prince of Columna Governour of the City in the room of Borgia who was dead and left Nicolas Cusa Cardinal of St. Peter's in vinculis his Legate at Rome he departed the City in the midst of Winter and pass'd through those Cities which seemed more inclining to War than Peace exhorting the People to unity and concord In fine they met at Mantua from all quarters where there was a great number of Princes and Embassadours For of all Europe there was no Nation but sent either Princes or Embassadours thither and in that famous Assembly it was enacted by Pius who made an Oration himself that a War should be proclaimed against the Turks which they all agreed to He proposed Methods for carrying it on and shew'd the danger of Christendom nor could they forbear to weep when they heard the calamities laid open to which poor Christians were exposed who lay under the bondage of Barbarians Beside he moved them to consider that the Turks having already possessed themselves of Greece and Schlavonia would shortly get into the innermost parts of Europe And indeed he omitted nothing that might excite their resolutions for he was an excellent Orator and seemed to draw his Arguments from new Topicks still though he spake of the same thing such an elegant and copious faculty he had He confuted the complaints of the French and the calumnies of King Renatus for his having confirm'd Ferdinand Alphonso's Son in the Kingdom of Naples in three several Speeches These things were transacted in the Council at Mantua whilst almost all Europe employ'd their thoughts and Weapons in civil Discords and neglected the forein War The Germans arose partly against one another and partly against the Hungarians by whose assistance that great and necessary War might have been in a great measure managed and ended England also was divided into two Factions whereof the one would keep their old King whilst the other strove to banish him and set up a new one In like manner did the Spaniards rise to help those of Barcellona whom the King of Aragon assisted by the French oppress'd And lest any thing should be lacking to disturb the World Italy the chief of Europe laid by all thoughts of forein War and bent all its strength upon intestine quarrels For at that time there was a War in Puglia John Renatus's Son endeavouring to drive Ferdinand out of his Kingdom which occasion'd a double Faction through all the Province whilst some favour'd Ferdinand and others Renatus Pius therefore to allay these heats dismiss'd the Council at Mantua and came back into Tuscany where he easily regain'd Viterbo which was in the possession of the adverse Party Those of Ancona who had harass'd one another miserably about their bounds and limits he quieted partly by fear and partly by reason as likewise the Ombrians who had embru'd their hands in each others blood upon the like account He also setled the State of Siena which had been engaged in great tumults for three years before and restored several worthy Persons who had been banish'd thence giving the Government of that Republick as formerly to the Nobility But he was very severe upon the Sabini for their falshood in supplying a common Enemy with provisions and letting him pass through their Country At Rome he suppress'd the shameful Riots of Ruffian-like Men and imprison'd Tiburtius Son to Angelus Massianus who we told you was put to death by Nicolas for a Conspiracy and hang'd up by the Capitol and his Accomplices who possessing themselves of the Church of St. Maria Rotunda would sally from thence as from a Castle and commit outrages upon the Citizens
withal he bids me not stir from the City For says he if you go into India Paul will fetch you back I obey'd his Commands and stayed three years in the City hoping to find some remedy for my misfortunes But Paul when he was Crown'd according to custom remembring that the Canons Regular were formerly turn'd out of St. Giovanni Laterano by Calixtus though Eugenius had placed 'em there he recall'd 'em to perform Divine Service apart from the Canons Secular And because he had a mind to extirpate the name of Seculars from that place if any one of 'em died he put no body into his place or if any Benefice were vacant he made them renounce their Canonships and so translated 'em to other Churches till at length the profits of that Church being reduced into one body might satisfie the Canons Regular without any charge to him he being before forc'd to keep 'em they were so poor But by this means Paul did much estrange the Citizens minds and affections from him because as they said he gave those Revenues which their Forefathers had setled instead of Citizens to foreiners Nor was Paul content to do so but he spoke to some Canons by themselves and threaten'd 'em till they quitted their Canonries Some indeed contemn'd his Menaces and expected an opportunity of vindicating their Liberty which happen'd not till he was dead It was now reported that the Turks had taken most part of Epirus and were coming into Sclavonia he therefore sent Nuncio's immediately to all Kings and Princes to advise 'em to compose their civil Discords and make War against the Turk the common Enemy but there was nothing done in it because they were up to the ears in blood one among another the Germans in one part and the English in an other some of whom desired a new King others would retain their old one And then the Spanish and French Princes fear'd their King's Power who attempted to bring them to a total subjection But more than this the King of Bohemia's Apostacy vexed Paul very much in that he withdrew himself from the Church of Christ by little and little and therefore he design'd to send the King of Hungary with an Army against him if the War which he had undertaken against the Turks would give him leisure and that he could compose the difference between the King and the Emperour For when Ladislaus King of Hungary and his Nephew was dead without issue the Emperour himself pretended a right to that Kingdom which Matthias Son to the Vaivod was in possession of Thereupon Paul thought it best to defer that matter till another time and apply'd himself to make up some breaches between certain Citizens of Rome For there was a quarrel between James Son to John Alberinus and Felix Nephew to Anthony Capharellus and therefore he sent for the two old Gentlemen the Father and Uncle of 'em and caused 'em to put in Sureties that they would be friends though they stood out a good while But James Son to Alberinus who could not endure that any Affront should be put upon his Father attempted soon after to murther Anthony Capharellus and gave him several such grievous wounds that he left him for dead At which Paul was very angry that Alberinus's Son had broken his Father's Oath and therefore he demolish'd their Houses confiscated all their goods and banished them from the City but he afterward recalled 'em and took 'em into favour restoring all their goods and made Peace between the parties after they had been both sometime in Prison In the year 1465. Alouisius Patavinus the Pope's Chamberlain dy'd He was Cardinal-Priest of St. Laurence a very rich Man and prudent in the management of business but not so wise towards his later end in that he left most of his Estate to his two Brothers who were call'd Scarampi Men that were good Gentlemen but yet not worthy of such a vast fortune as he had got out of the Church Revenues I know what People thought whereupon Paul who had given him free leave to make a Will and bequeath it to whom he pleased seized upon the Estate took the Scarampi who had fled and kept 'em though in no scandalous place till he had those things brought him which were carried away to Florence which done he freed the Scarampi to whom he gave a good share and was more liberal to the other Legatees than the Testator himself had been And thus Alouisius's Estate which he got with great industry and preserv'd with greater as if in the strength of so much Wealth he could have lived Mathusalem's Age was seized and distributed by one with whom he had had so many quarrels ill words and Animosities and before whom he would have chosen the Turk for his Executor Nor was Divine Providence thus satisfied but was pleased that his body also which was already buried should be made a prey for the Grave was open'd in the Night-time by those to whom he had given the Revenues of St. Laurence in Damaso and he stript of a Ring and all his Cloths But indeed Paul when he knew of it was very angry at them About that time Frederick a fine Youth Son to Ferdinand who passing to Millain to fetch Francis Sforza's Daughter his Brother's Wife to Naples arrived at Rome where he was met by the Nobility and Rhoderick the Vicechancelour and kindly entertain'd by the Pope himself who presented him with a Rose which the Popes use to give to some Christian Prince every year Ferdinand now minding to punish those of his own Kingdom who had revolted from him when he was engaged with the French sent some Forces to set upon the Duke of Sora but the Pope was desirous to divert that War and therefore sent the Arch-Bishop of Millain thither with all speed to pray him that he would send those Men to him as he was obliged by his Tenure to do because he had a Design to destroy and take off the Count Aversa's Sons that had denied Obedience to the Church For about that time the Count Aversa died when Paul was made Pope and his body was brought to Rome where it was buried in St. Maries the Great The King who was Deiphobus's bitter Enemy as having been attempted by him with Plots Poison and open force in the late War gave Order to the Captains of his Army cited to go where the Pope bad them upon the first Summons He had Deiphobus and Francis to him before and given 'em charge to clear the Road of Thieves who used to rob Travellers at the very Gates of Rome as it were and that they should restore Caprarola a Town so called to the Son of Securanza the greatest part of whose Estate they had possest themselves of they not onely refused to do either but threaten'd him and brag'd that they were Count Aversa's Sons nor would they spare any one that gave 'em a provocation Paul therefore having privately prepared all things that were
augmented the College he apply'd himself wholly to settle the peace of Italy For certain Florentines who were banish'd by Peter Medices's Faction in a civil Tumult as Detesalvus Neronius Angelus Accioiolus and Nicolas Soderinus had persuaded Bartholomew of Bergamo who had a good Army of Horse and Foot to march into Tuscany and restore them and all the other banish'd Persons to their Country the Venetians under-hand lending their assistance these seem'd to be able and to design to overthrow the State of Italy at first dash But Galeatius D. of Milan with the Forces of the King and of the Florentine people posting himself in his way he slacken'd his march and endeavour'd to get the better rather by protracting the War than by fighting One fierce Battel however under the conduct of the Count of Vrbin they fought in the Territories of Bologna near a Town call'd Ricardina where no doubt the Bergamese had been utterly ruin'd if Galeatius had been there but he was gone to Florence a little before to settle matters relating to the War Those that were present at this Battel say that it was fought with the greatest obstinacy and the most numerous slaughters of any in our Age. But now the Venetians bethink themselves for their own safety rather than that of the Bergamese and though they sent some Forces to his assistance yet they sought earnestly a Peace and referr'd the whole matter to the Pope who also lying under great apprehensions if the King of Naples and Duke of Millain should obtain a compleat Victory urg'd on the Peace too It was indeed the Opinion of many Men of Understanding that the Pope was not altogether against Bartholomew's Design knowing that if an alteration were made in the Government of Florence he might with greater facility make War upon Ferdinand whom he so hated that he endeavour'd to raise him up more Enemies in Italy Having hereupon called together the Embassadours of the several Princes he mediated a Peace upon these terms That each Party should restore what they had taken in the War That Bartholomew should retire with his Forces into Lombardy and That for the rest the Conditions of that Peace should be observed which had been made at Lodi between Francis Sforza and the Venetians One Point was yet to be Disputed Whether the Duke of Savoy and his Brother Philip should be included in this Peace who that year taking pay of the Venetians had ravag'd Galeatius's Country with their Forces Galeatius denied to yield to it professing no Man should ever be his Ally and Friend who was an Enemy to the King of France But Paul with Promises and fair words made shift to get Galeatius's Embassador to sign it contrary to his Master's order which so enrag'd Galeatius that he banish'd the said Embassador Lorenzo da Pesaro and so infested the Savoyards that they were forced to sue for Peace which by the intercession of the Queen of France and Duchess of Milan both Sisters to the Duke of Savoy they at last procur'd upon conditions proposed by the King of France Affairs thus setled Paul had a little leisure and instituted sumptuous Plays and made noble Feasts after the ancient manner for the people of Rome Vianesius of Bologna Vice-Chamberlain to his Holiness taking care of them He proposed eight Cloaks to be run for each day in the Carneval old Men middle-ag'd young Men nay Jews took their fortune in the Races as also did even Horses Mares Asses Buffals to the incredible pleasure of the Spectators The Race was from Domitian's Arch to St. Mark 's Church where the Pope himself stood to behold it with great satisfaction who after the sport was over gave to every Boy that ran daub'd all over with Dirt a Carlin a piece of Money But Paul amidst all this publick Jollity was on a sudden seiz'd with a terrour unexpected for news was brought him that several young Men whose Ring-leader was one Callimaco had form'd a Plot against him and the Narrative of it was no sooner made out to him when he being already almost dead with fear comes a Fellow that call'd himself the Philosopher a sad Wretch and a banish'd Man who first begging pardon for his life and liberty to live in his Country shams a Story upon him that he saw in the Wood of Velitre one Luca Tozzo a Citizen of Rome but banish'd with a great number of other Banditi and that they were just coming upon him This made Paul tremble for fear apprehending that now being attack'd both without and within he should surely be undone and therefore he clapt up a great many both Citizens and Courtiers Vianesius gave him occasions of fear and so did any one about him who from a turn of Affairs could probably expect an augmentation either of Dignity or Estate They broke up Mens Houses without distinction and drag'd to Prison any body they suspected and lest I should have miss'd my share in so great a calamity they came by Night and set a Guard about my House broke open the Windows and Doors and seiz'd my Servant Demetrius a Lucchese who told them I sup'd that Night with the Cardinal of Mantua hither then they fly and taking me in his Chamber they bring me before Paul who as soon as he saw me Are you too says he in the Plot with Callimaco against me But I conscious of my Innocence answer'd him so fearlesly that no sign of guilt appear'd in me He being negligently drest and looking pale urg'd me still and sometimes threatned me with Torments and sometimes with Death unless I would confess I seeing all places full of outrage and tumults and fearing lest we should suffer mischief by reason of the terrour and rage that I saw had possess'd them shew'd many reasons why I could not believe Callimaco would attempt nor so much as to think of any such Design being without cunning an ill speaker unactive regardless without Wealth wanting Forces Dependents Ammunition and beside being almost blind more drowsie than P. Lentulus and more unfit for action by means of his corpulence than L. Crassus Moreover he was no Citizen of Rome that he should concern himself for the liberty of his Country nor was he a Prelate that upon the taking off of Paul he should expect the Papacy What could Callimaco do What dare he do Was he good either at Discourse or Action Had he listed any Men to assist him in bringing about so important a Design unless you will make Glaucus and Petreius the Companions of his flight to be other Gabinii and Statilii At this Paul turns him to Vianesius and looking sternly upon me says he this Man is to be forced with the Rack to confess the truth for he understands the true Art of Plotting Would to God Paul had dealt more considerately with me he had not then applyed tortures to me For when the Truth is to be gathered from circumstances the matter of fact not being sufficiently
good as my word and would often boast what a kindness he had for me and what great things he would do for me as soon as Borsius d' Este was gone who coming to the City with a great Equipage was very magnificently and splendidly received by him The same he had often promised to the Ambassadours of Venice and Milan who had spoken on my behalf For two years I was led on or rather beguil'd with these hopes till at length I resolv'd to go with the Cardinal of Mantua to Bononia of which he was Legat. But Paul forbad me and after his jesting manner said I had wit enough already and wanted Wealth rather than Learning And now while I was in expectation that I should be reliev'd after so many troubles and afflictions behold the Pope dies of an Apoplexy about two hours within night being alone in his Chamber having been well that day and held a Consistory His death happened July 28. 1471. in the sixth year and tenth month of his Pontificate As to his Personage it was Majestic and becoming a Pope for he was so portly and tall that he was easily distinguishable from the rest when at Mass In his dress though he was not curious yet he was not reputed negligent Nay 't is said that when he was to appear in public he would use to paint his face In his Pontifical Vestments he outwent all his Predecessors especially in his Regno or Mitre upon which he laid out a great deal of Mony in purchasing at vast rates Diamonds Sapphyrs Emeralds Chrysoliths Jaspers Unions and all manner of precious stones wherewith adorn'd like another Aaron he would appear abroad somewhat more august than a Man delighting to be seen and admir'd by every one To this purpose sometimes by deferring some usual Solemnities he would keep Strangers in Town that so he might be view'd by greater numbers But lest he alone should seem to differ from the rest he made a Decree that none but Cardinals should under a Penalty wear red Caps to whom he had in the first year of his Popedom given Cloth of that colour to make Horse-Cloths or Mule-Cloths of when they rode He was also about to order that Cardinals Caps should be of Silk Scarlet but some Persons hindred it by telling him well that the Ecclesiastical Pomp was rather to be diminished than encreased to the detriment of the Christian Religion Before he was made Pope he used to give out that if ever he came to that good fortune he would give each Cardinal a Castle in the Country where they might retire conveniently to avoid the Summer-heats of the City but when he was once got into the Chair he thought of nothing less However he endeavour'd by his Authority and by force too to augment the Power of the Papacy For he sent the Bishop of Tricarico into France to hear the Cause of quarrel between the Duke of Burgundy and the People of Liege and upon their reconciliation to take off the Interdict laid upon the Liegeois for wrongfully expelling their Bishop but while the Legat took great pains to subject all matters to the Pope's Judgment he and their Bishop too were clapt up by the Liegeois Hereupon the Duke of Burgundy makes Peace with the French King with whom he was before at War and with his aid gives those of Liege several great defeats and at length sacks their City and sets free the imprison'd Bishops Moreover Paul hearing of the Apostasie of the King of Bohemia he by his Legat Lorenzo Roverella Bishop of Ferrara raised the Hungarians and Germans upon him so that he had certainly cut off both the King George and his Progeny and utterly rooted out the Heretics had not the Polanders who laid claim to that Kingdom held Matthias King of Hungary employ'd in War lest he should have made himself Master of it He undertook two Wars of no great moment in Italy which being not openly declared but begun by picqueering Parties he afterwards abandon'd For first he attempted the seizing the Signeury of Tolfa by cunning wiles which failing with open force under the conduct of Vianesius he set upon it and besieged it but the King's Army in which the Vrsini serv'd returning from the War they had now ended with Bartholomew of Bergamo on a sudden he raised the Siege in great disorder though the Enemy was not within sixty miles of the place so that after a long contention in which he had extreamly disobliged and almost enrag'd the Vrsini against him he was fain to purchase Tolfa for seventeen thousand Ducats of Gold for fear of that potent Family who were related to the Lords of the place After the same manner he set upon Robert Malatesta Son of Sigismund when having taken the Suburbs of Rimini by a Stratagem and for sometime having besieged the City Lorenzo Arch-Bishop of Spalato being the chief in the Enterprise Frederick D. of Vrbin came upon him with the King's Forces and those of the Florentines who forc'd him to raise his Siege and foil'd his Army shamefully so that he accepted of a Peace upon very dishonourable terms Lorenzo charg'd the reason of the loss of Rimini upon the niggardliness of his pay to the Soldiers and to the great slowness of his Resolution while through ignorance in affairs of that nature he deliberated long about actions which should be done in a moment Paul was indeed so awkward at business that except he were driven to it he would not enter upon any Affair however plain and unencumbred nor when begun would he bring it to peofection This humour of his he was wont to boast had done him great service in many concerns whereas to speak truth it had been very mischievous both to himself and the Church of Rome He yet was very diligent in getting Mony so that he generally intrusted the disposal of Bishopricks and Benefices to such Courtiers whose Places being saleable nothing could be bestowed without a Present All Offices indeed in his time were set to sale whereby it came to pass that he who had a mind to a Bishoprick or Benefice would purchase of him at a good rate some other Office and so get what he would have in spight of any other Candidates who could pretend upon the score of either Learning or good Life to be capable of whatsoever honour or preferment Beside when Bishopricks were vacant he would remove the more worthy as he call'd them to the more wealthy Seat by these Translations raising vast Sums of Mony because more Annates became due at the same time He also allow'd the purchasing of Salaries With these Moneys he would sometimes be very liberal giving exhibitions to the poorer Cardinals and Bishops and to Princes or Noblemen that were driven out of their Country and relieving poor Maidens Widows and sick People He took great care too that Corn and all manner of Victuals should be afforded cheaper at Rome than formerly He was at the charge of several
his Death this Distick was made Sistere qui nullo potuit cum foedere Sixtus Audito tantum nomine pacis obit His Body was interred in S. Peters Church under a Monument of Brass which Julian Cardinal of Liens caused to be erected for him before the High-Altar After which the Chair was vacant 16 days INNOCENT VIII SIXTVS being dead the Cardinals entered the Vatican where in the space of 16 days after the decease of the former Pope they elected John Baptista Cibo Cardinal of S. Balbina to succeed in the Papal Chair He was a Native of Genoua and born of an illustrious Family in the year 1432. his Father being a Knight and Count of the Empire and Senator of Rome He lived a long time in the Family and Service of Ferdinand King of Naples and afterwards coming to Rome was received into the Family of the Cardinal of Bologna Brother of Pope Nicolas V. He was created Bishop of Savona by Paul II. and of Melfy and Priest Cardinal with the Title of S. Balfina by Sixtus IV. after whose Decease he was by the common suffrages of 24 Cardinals elected Pope and on the 29th of August 1484. was Crowned by Francis Piccolomini calling himself by the name of Innocent the Eighth and at his Inauguration he used these words Ego autem in Innocentia mea ingressus sum Tho Guiccardin will not allow this Motto to correspond with his manners and Onufrius saith that he often covered his avarice and covetous desires with Drollery and some pleasant expressions Howsoever he is stiled by most Writers with the honorable character of pious and affable and commended for his sanctity of life and profound learning The first business he took in hand after he came to the Papal Chair was to take off the Excommunication which Pope Sixtus had laid on the Venetians and being himself in perfect amity and maintaining a fair correspondence with the Christian Princes he endeavoured so to reconcile them one with another that being united in a strict confederacy they might convert their Arms against the Turk who was now become the formidable and common enemy of Christendom for tho he was naturally averse to War yet his zeal for the Christian Religion moved him to equippe a Fleet at the cost and expence of 150 thousand Crowns which being successful in their enterprise gained him great renown and esteem with all the Christian Princes the which he also improved by various good offices â—nd acts of justice performed towards them for he re-blessed the Venetians after they had been desecrated and attainted by the Excommunication of Sixtus he eased the Church from the burden of extraordinary Taxes he retrenched many superfluous charges of his own Family he conferred many benefits favours and privileges on the Orders of S. Francis S. Augustin and S. Dominick and thundered out his Excommunications against Women that used Poisons and Incantations and such as cheated and purloined from the Dataria or Exchequer But all these good actions and just intentions were interrupted by civil Discords at Rome arisen between the Families of Colonna and Orsini on the ground of ancient hatred and resentments between them and had proceeded to worse effects and more evil consequences had they not been asswaged for a while by the breaking forth of a forein War with Ferdinand King of Naples who having oppressed and ill treated many Lords and great personages and particularly the Count De Montorio who was of great repute and popular in the City of Aquila they all together with the City of Abruzzo had recourse to the Pope for sanctuary protesting that in case he would not receive them into his protection that they should be forced to yield and resign themselves into the hands and power of some Forein Prince The Pope being moved by their supplications and incensed against Ferdinand for his ill deportment towards the Papal See for he had denied to pay the yearly tribute of twenty thousand Ducats and had disposed of the Ecclesiastical Benefices according to his own will and pleasure he therefore resolved to receive Aquila and Abruzzo and the other complainants into his care and protection and to declare War against the King of Naples for carrying on of which with better success he entered into a League with the Venetians and drew to his Party the Princes of Colonna of Bisignano Salerno Altamura and Duke of Oliveto with many other Lords and great men of Naples making Robert Sanseverino the General of his Army On the other side the King combined with the Florentines and joyned the Orsiâ—i to his party and such were the animosities on both sides that a furious and bloody War began which was maintained for some time with changes and variety of fortune the evil consequences of which being by good and wise men esteemed fatal to Italy induced the Count De Pitigliano and the Cardinals of Angioio and Sforza to intercede and mediate between the two parties for a Peace but the Pope who conceived that he had reason and justice on his side refused to condescend unto equal terms and being farther encouraged by the aids given him from Charles the Eighth King of France of 300 thousand Crowns in mony with the recruits of 4000 Savoyards and 3000 Switzers he became inflexible and for some time continued resolute to maintain the War but at length considering the fatal conquences of it and how ill the effusion of blood becomes the gentle spirit of a Prelate he hearkened and condescended to Articles of peace on these following conditions That the King should pardon and forgive all the Lords and Barons who were his Subjects whether they belonged to the City of Aquila or to any other Town or part of his Dominions who had fled to the Pope for his succour and protection That he should not farther pretend to any Collation of Benefices That he should pay all the arrears of his Tribute at a convenient time appointed That Verginio Orsino should humble himself at the foot-stool of the Pope and demand his pardon All which Articles being agreed the King of Spain Lodowick Sforza and Lorenzo de Medicis with two Cardinals and James Trivoltii a great Favourite of the Popes became Guarrenties for the peace But no sooner had the Pope disbanded his Forces and Ferdinand freed from the apprehensions of War but with violation of his own Faith and in despight of the obligation of those who were engaged for him he refused compliance with the conditions he had agreed and concluded for he not only imprisoned the Barons and others who had sided with the Pope and four months after cut off their Heads and confiscated their Estates but likewise denied to pay his annual Tribute to the Papal Sea covering the breach of his Faith and the persidiousness of these acts with vain and frivolous pretences The Pope greatly incensed with extreme indignation against this dishonest treachery in which the Guarantees for the late Peace acknowledged him to have
and monstrous cruelties to him making him the Author of all those Calamities and Miseries which in his Reign over-whelmed Italy rendering its condition slavish and contemptible to Forein Nations Howsoever his temper was not so altogether flagitious but that it admitted of some alloy and mixture of Virtue for he with great care attended to the government of the City and regulation of the Courts of Justice to which end he ordained Visitors of the Prisons to examin and know the causes for which persons were imprisoned and created four Judges for the tryal of all criminal matters so that Justice was the more punctually executed than in former times But not to remain too long on his personal qualities let us proceed to the important affairs of his Government And in the first place being created Pope he was according to custom saluted and congratulated in his Papal Dignity by the Ambassadors of Kings Princes and States whom he respectively treated with affability and respect persuading them to peace and concord amongst themselves and by the virtue of such union and confederacy to joyn and employ their Arms against the Turk who was the common Enemy of Christendom And at that time being about the year 1493. in honor to Ferdinand King of Spain he gave him the Title of Catholick in acknowledgment and memory of the many Victories he had obtained over the Moors and gave him a Title to all those Lands and Countries in America which were or should be discovered there And thus as he was civil to Kings so he was kind and more affectionate to his Family For in the first Consistory that he held he created John Borgia his Sisters Son Arch-Bishop of Montreat Valentine Borgia his Natural Son Arch-Bishop of Valentia At this time the Emperor Frederick died having reigned for the space of 54 years Likewise Ferdinand King of Naples being dead he sent his Legat with power to confirm his Son Alonso in the succession to the Kingdom and having contracted an Alliance with him he ordered him to be Crowned and invested with the Regalities At this time being the year 1494. Charles the Eighth King of France who was of a martial and ambitious spirit laid claim to the Kingdom of Naples by virtue of the last Will and Testament of René Duke of Anjou and Lorain and being encouraged in that enterprise by Lodowick Sforza the Guardian of John Galeas Duke of Milan he entered Italy with a puissant Army consisting of 25000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a great train of Artillery The Pope apprehending the great ruine and damage which this incursion of the French would bring upon Italy entered into League with the City of Florence and both agreed and resolved to leavy Soldiers and joyn in a defensive League with the King of Naples but the Venetians and Ferdinand King of Spain who were likewise moved to enter into the League did positively refuse to accept the proposals being more inclinable to be unconcerned and Spectators than Actors in that hazardous War Charles being entered into Italy marched victorious thro Lombardy and having overthrown the Army of Florence soon after became Master Of the City it self thence he proceeded towards Rome where he entered on the first of January 1494. without any opposition it being agreed that in case the Romans would peaceably open their Gates and give free admission to the French that no hurt or violence should be offered by them to the Inhabitants but that on the contrary if they made opposition they would put all into flame and confusion The Romans therefore finding themselves in no condition to resist readily gave a reception to the French affording them plenty of Victuals and Provisions and they on the other side performed their conditions severely punishing such as were guilty of Riots or Tumults The Pope at first being affrighted with the approach of the French fled for security into the Castle but at length finding all things quiet and secure from the outrages of their Ghests adventured abroad and much against his will and inclinations entered into a League with them But Charles not much confiding in the Faith which the Pope had given required for better security thereof and by way of Hostage that Cesar Borgia who was called Cardinal Valentino should under colour of being the Popes Legat accompany him in the War together with Zizimé the Brother of the Grand Seignior on pretence that having overcome the Kingdom of Naples he would make use of him in the War which he intended to make upon Constantinople but he died soon after of a Bloody-Flux at Capua Upon approach of the French near to Naples King Alonso being conscious of his ill government whereby he had contracted the hatred of his people and despairing of the success of his Affairs surrendred up the Kingdom into the hands of his Son Ferdinand and with great fear and ignominy embarked himself with the best part of his wealth and fled into the Island of Sicily and soon after Ferdinand considering the weakness of his Force and the inequality of the Match between him and the French betook himself also to the Island of Ischia Charles following the favourable course of his good and victorious fortune with great expedition made himself Master of all the Kingdom of Naples the which success giving an alarm to all the Christian Princes a general confederacy was agreed amongst them for intercepting the French on their return out of Italy so that the Pope the Emperor Maximilian the King of Spain Lodowick Sforza Duke of Milan and the Venetians uniting their Forces for the common safety of Italy composed an Army of forty thousand men Notwithstanding which Charles boldly returned out of Italy and with great difficulty having passed the Apenine Mountains with sixteen pieces of weighty Cannons which were drawn over by 300 Swissers and having by the greater error and neglect of the Enemy passed all the narrow and inaccessible ways about Zerzana and Petra Santa at length descended into the Plains of Lombardy The Confederate Army to hinder the Kings farther passage had encamped themselves at Fornovo near Tarro and at no far distance from Parma and there both Armies were engaged The French did not consist of more than 9000 men and the Confederates of 40000 and yet the French had the advantage and won the Field and as Philip de Comines saith the King entered triumphant into Asti tho Panvinio and other Italian Writers relate the Battel to have been bloody but the success and advantage doubtful Howsoever the news hereof being reported at Naples to the great advantage of the Confederates King Ferdinand re-assumed his courage and adventured out of his retirement at Ischia and then the French Forces being grown weak and all Recruits failing them he recovered his Kingdom with the assistance of the Catholick King Not long after Charles the Eighth died and Lewis the Twelfth Duke of Orleans succeeded in his Throne Likewise Ferdinand dying without Issue Frederick his
the Forces of Borgia which came to relieve them and thence made an incursion into all the Country of Romagna The Pope being greatly troubled and concerned for these losses and turn of fortune used all his subtilty and artifices to reconcile these differences and his Authority being very prevalent he persuaded the Orsini into a Peace and into an assurance of all security in short therefore with promises and protestations and conditions of great advantage he deluded them into a Peace and into Articles which he never designed to perform With these feigned appearances of reconciliation the Towns taken from Borgia were surrendred to him and Paul and Francis Orsino Duke of Gravina Vitellozzo and Liverotto then together at Senegaglia went to attend Borgia at Imola and to receive his Pardon Borgia went forth to meet them and gave them a most courteous reception and conducting them into an inward Room in his Palace as if he had had something of importance to communicate to them he on a sudden encompassed them with his Gascon Soldiers and strangled Vitellozzo and Liverotto and in a short time after bestowed the like fare on the two Orsini all which proceeded from the credulity and easiness of Paul Orsino who against the Opinion and Protests and Dissuasions of Vitellozzo being corrupted as was supposed by Mony condescended to the terms of Borgia and to trust and believe his Faith who was a known Tyrant bloody and false and his life blackned already with a thousand instances of Murder and Perjury hereupon Perugia and the City of Castello surrendred themselves into the hands of the Pope the Families of Baglio and Vitello being banished thence This success was followed by the imprisonment of Baptista Orsini the Cardinal who was by order of the Pope committed to the Castle of S. Angelo in like manner Renold the Bishop of Florence and James de Sancta Croce being of the same Family were likewise imprisoned James howsoever had liberty to go out upon Bail but the Cardinal was in a few days poisoned in the Prison In vigor of this success Borgia now called Duke Valentino prosecuted the other Confederates with an Army of 15000 men for fear of which Pandolfo Petrucci leaving his Town of Siena fled to Lucca for succor and refuge whilst Borgia became Master of all the Castles and Fortresses belonging to the Family of the Orsini Thus did he continue his Wars with such great expence and with a magnificent Equipage agreeable thereunto that the Coffers of the Pope became exhausted the Revenue of the Church not being able to provide for such vast designs To supply which this Pope Alexander renewed the ancient form of eighty Writers of Breviates according to the custom of former Popes every of which Offices were sold for 750 Crowns of Gold he sold also all other Offices at excessive rates and created Cardinals for Mony he also entertained the Marrani at Rome whom the King of Spain had Banished from his Countries preferring the profit which he squeezed from them more than all the favour and interest of that King In fine he omitted no ways and arts honest or dishonest to raise Mony setting every thing to sale that was vendible or could yield a benefit But all the Revenue of the Church and these contrivances and artifices for raising Mony not being able to answer the expences of the War and the immense luxury and prodigality of Duke Valentino it was resolved by the Pope to poison all the rich Cardinals and Prelates at Rome and then seizing their Revenue and Estates to sacrifice their Riches to the lust and insatiable avarice of his wicked Son The Plot being thus laid the rich Cardinals and Prelates were invited to a Banquet in the Garden of Belvedere where a Table was spread near a Fountain and Bottles of excellent Wine provided those for the Pope and his Son were set apart from those into which the poison was infused being designed for the Guests only But here let us observe the just Judgment of God for the Butler and Cup-bearer mistaking the Bottle gave the poisonous Dose to the Pope and his Son and to Cardinal Adrian their sole Confident instead of that which was to have been given to the Cardinals and his other Guests The Pope being aged at the years of 72 and not able to struggle with the violence of the Poison died at the Vatican in the month of August 1503. and was buried obscurely in a Chappel of St. Peter's Church under a poor and ignoble Monument but Borgia applying present Antidotes and being a man of a young and robust nature was able for some time to struggle with the prevailing force of the Poison howsoever the malignity of it so crept into his Vitals and affected his Blood that his Body growing macerate and weak and being ill disposed and faint he was not able to attend to his Affairs and the discipline of his Army for want of which and the encouragement of his presence the Soldiers forsook their Colours as being ashamed of the detestable Villany of their Commander and therewith his whole Army disbanded leaving him naked and exposed to the displeasure of two Popes which in a short time afterwards appeared that were his mortal enemies After which all the Cities and Fortresses which he had by force and rapine possessed returned again to their ancient Masters the Families of Colonna Vrsini Savelli Vitelli and Barons of Rome reassumed their former right and likewise the Lords of the Signories of Vrbin Pesaro Camerin and Senogalla were again re-instated into the Dominions of their Paternal Inheritance so that every Bird taking his own Feather left him a poor Caesar being devested of all his Power and ill acquired Riches Notwithstanding the wickedness of this Pope Alexander the Sixth there are those who will allow him some grains of Virtue They say that he was of a ready Wit of a great Memory and profound Judgment and of that persuasive Eloquence that it was impossible almost to refute his Arguments or deny his Demands He treated the Cardinals with great affability and respect and gave high demonstrations of his care and concernment for the Christian Cause He knew so well how to accommodate himself to the humor of the French that he reconciled their Party to him in a firm and strict Alliance and so well how to govern that amidst all the violences and slaughters which he caused to be committed in Rome no tumult or insurrection of the People ensued thereupon He always went late to bed contenting himself with little sleep and a moderate diet he was a great lover of Learning and men of Literature so that tho he was covetous yet he was said never to have detained the allowance to Doctors nor pay of the Soldiery nor wages of Workmen Howsoever his Vices were so enormous that these mean Commendations could bear no ballance with them For he was a man of no Faith nor Honor he was Cruel Covetous and insatiable
this Dignity Julius appeared extremely grave and modest in all his actions so that he acquired the good esteem and opinion of all persons obliging all those with whom he treated by his courteous and affable behaviour he afterwards obtained the Title of Bishop of Albano then of Sabino and great Penitentiary and lastly of Bishop of Ostia Velletri and Legate at Avignon In the time of Innocent the Eighth he had gained great power and interest in the Court of Rome but in the time of Alexander the Sixth he was forced to give way to other Favorites and the difficulties of those times and retire into France where he remained for the space of ten years At length as we have said having amassed great wealth he was almost by the common agreement of the whole Conclave promoted to the Papal Chair not without the astonishment and displeasure of many who being acquainted with his fierce and impetuous Spirit did admire as Guicciardin saith how a man known to be impatient of rest and tranquillity who had consumed his Youth in continual Travels offended many by necessity and exercised hatred and hostility could so speedily operate on so many dissenting Spirits and cause them to conspire in an unanimous agreement for his promotion But on the contrary it will not seem so strange if it be considered that he had been a long time Cardinal and by degrees gained such interest and authority in the Court of Rome that he was stiled the principal Defender of the Ecclesiastical Dignity and Authority that he was magnificent in his Buildings generous in his benefits and so punctual to his word that Pope Alexander who was otherwise his mortal enemy would yet do him that right as to confess him faithful and just to the performance of his promises but yet this good quality which he was so careful to preserve in his private condition he made no scruple or conscience to violate that he might become Pope for the obtaining of which he made such immoderate promises to Cardinals Princes and Barons that he well knew the whole Revenue and Price of the Papal Sea if set to sale had not been able to have satisfied and therefore 't is not difficult to imagin how the promises of a person not used to beguile should procure a confidence in the minds of the most scrupulous and wary persons Nor were the Cardinals only possessed with these expectations but Cesar Borgia himself conceived hopes upon his promises of being confirmed General of the Armies of the Church and of a Marriage between his Daughter and the Popes Nephew called Francis Maria de la Rovere the Prefect of Rome But he soon discovered the vanity of these hopes for Julius being Crowned the 26th of November and setled in the Papal Chair would afford him no other grace or favor than his liberty and freedom from imprisonment upon condition that he should deliver up into the Power of the Church the Fortresses of Cesena and Forli which were the retirements of his impious Guards Borgia who had deserved a thousand deaths being in this manner set at liberty from the Castle of S. Angelo embarked at Ostia in a Boat for Naples where so soon as he arrived he was seized by the great Captain Gonsalvo by order from the Catholick King and being thence transported into Spain he made his escape and fled to John King of Navarre where in a certain fray he was cut in pieces by the Cantabrians who are a people that border upon Asturias Julius being thus rid of this Pest of mankind by whom all Italy was embroiled and several dominions dismembred from the Church he endeavoured to recover all back again for being a true Defender of the Ecclesiastical Possessions and Rights he would compound for nothing but rather amplifie than retrench the Dominions of the Church The first enterprise therefore that he undertook was to drive out and expel John Bentivoglio his old inveterate enemy who had unjustly usurped a power over the City of Bologna forcing him with his Wife and Children to remain banished in Bassetto a Country belonging to the Dominions of Parma and contentedly to consent to the destruction of his Palace which was a fair and noble structure His next design was against the Venetians for recovery of Arimino and Ravenna with the Territories thereunto belonging by force of Arms from the Venetians and to that end entered into a League with Maximilian the Emperor the Kings of France of Spain with the Dukes of Ferrara and Mantoua all conspiring to the total ruin and subversion of the Venetian State the which League was agreed and signed at Cambray a City of Flanders Moreover the quarrel between the Pope and the Venetians was augmented by the dispute they had for the City of Faenza which the Pope laid claim unto as having always been a part of the Ecclesiastical State the which he resolved to wrest from their hands by the Spiritual as well as by Temporal Arms having thundered out his Excommunications both against the Senate and People On the contrary the Venetians pleaded that the City of Faenza was no part of the Possessions of the Church in regard that the Pope and Cardinals had in a full Consistory amply transferrred the Rights and Jurisdiction thereof to Cesar Borgia formerly Duke Valentino That before that Grant the Popes had never possessed Faenza but from time to time had given it to new Vicars without acknowledging other superiority than the Tribute which they offered to pay readily when it should be required These Arguments were seconded by the Venetians with an Army which appearing before Faenza and the Batteries began the City yielded it self into the hands of the Enemy they might with like facility have taken Imola and Furli but not to excite the indignation of the Pope too far they abstained from farther proceedings being masters already of Faenza and Rimini in Romagna with their Countries Montefiora S. Archangeo Verruca Gattere Savignano and Meldole with the Haven and Country of Cesena and in the Territory of Immola of Tossignana Solarvola and Montfattagla Notwithstanding this success and force of the Venetians the storm and power of so many potent Confederates raised against them was too furious and a match unequal for them to contend with The first beginning to so great a War was made the 15th of April when Monsieur de Chaumont with 3000 Horse passed the Ford of Adda and joyning afterwards with the other Confederates gave Battel to Alviano the General of the Venetian Forces the Fight was continued and maintained with great bravery and resolution on both sides but at length the Venetians being overwhelmed with the number of their Enemies and deprived of strength rather than courage without turning their backs to the Enemy they remained almost all dead upon the place After this Defeat which happened on the 14th of May 1509. at Guiaradadda the Emperor Maximilian took possession of Verona Vicenza Padoua and Trivigiano
The King of France of Bergamo Brescia Cremona and Crema The King of Spain of Trani Monopoli and Barletta in Puglia The Pope had Ravenna Arimino and all Romagna delivered to him The Duke of Ferrara was made master of Rovigo and the Duke of Mantoua was re-possessed of Asola So that this Republick which had not long since been so renowned and famed for greatness thro the whole world was now confined within those Fortifications which the Sea had made them and wherein their Commonwealth took its first beginning When the news of so great a Calamity arrived at Venice great was the consternation of the Counsellors and the cries and lamentations of the Citizens placing before their eyes nothing but the utter ruin and destruction of their Government and Country whose glory and puissance a few months before had been such that they promised to themselves no less than the Empire of all Italy But now being reduced to a low and despaâ—â—â—ng condition they resolved to cast themselves at the feet of the Pope hâ—mbly supplicating his Pardon and Mercy and that he would be pleased as a tender Father to receive them with pious compassion into his Arms and Protection And now Julius having gained all the Cities and Countries from them to which he could lay any Claim or Title began to melt with pity in consideration of their afflicted State And therefore to comfort them again he openly Absolved their Embassador in the Portico of S. Peter's Church and by them in a solemn manner took off the Excommunication from the People Then Articles of Peace were made and a League between them The Pope was to have a full power and authority to bestow all the Benefices Livings and Preferments belonging to the Church within their Dominions and on the other side the Venetians were to have Padoua restored to them and their Title and Dominion over the Seas confirmed and continued The Concession of Padoua was greatly displeasing to the Emperor Maximilian nor was the French King contented with the Reconciliation which passed between the Pope and the Venetians so that a misunderstanding being hence created between the Pope and these two great Princes matters broke out into an open War Julius that he might weaken the French Interest and Party endeavoured to withdraw Alfonso de Esté Duke of Ferrara from the friendship of King Lewis but he having anciently conceived an implacable hatred against the Venetians and being bribed also by the French Mony refused to give ear to the persuasions or injunctions of the Pope Julius highly enraged hereat thundered out his Excommunications against him warning the French King not to take part against him in defence of the Contumacy and Rebellion of the Duke of Ferrara who was a Feudatary and held all his Lands and Dominions in right of the Church and for the better and more convenient prosecution of this War he removed his Court to Bologna But these menaces and motions not being able to divert the French King nor Emperor from their Alliance with the Duke of Ferrara nor their design of utterly subverting the Venetian State the Pope resolved to fortifie himself by a League with Spain and having hired a great number of Switzers he joyned the Army of the Church with that of the Venetians and having thereby composed a Body or about 12000 Foot under the command of Francisco Moralva he took the City of Modena and the City and Territory of Mirandola and then returned triumphantly to Bologna But this good success continued not long for the French growing strong did first by an Army under Monsieur Claumont attempt the Siege of Bologna but the Pope being recruited with the Forces of Venice and Spain obliged Chaumont to withdraw his Army after the propositions of Peace negotiated by Laurence Pucci the Popes Datary of Florence were rendred ineffectual Afterwards the Pope recommending the defence and safety of the City of Bologna to the care of the Magistrates and exhorting them to be loyal and faithful to the Church departed thence for Ravenna with intention speedily to return to Rome After his departure Trivulse who was constituted General of the French Army in the place of Chaumont approaching Bologna with all his Force so terrified the Cardinal of Pavia who was left there for Legat or Governor of the City that he immediately fled and surrendred all without striking of one stroke the like panick fear possessing the Army of the Church which lay quartered not far from thence they all fled leaving their Cannon Provisions and Baggage to the Enemy Trivulse entering the City of Bologna delivered it into the hands of Bentivoglio whose Family had been ancient Lords of it and not farther to irritate the anger and displeasure of the Pope he proceeded no farther but retired with his Army into the Dutchy of Milan The Pope as he had just cause resenting this loss of Bologna being the chief City next to Rome of the Ecclesiastical State did seem inclinable to Articles of Peace and Accommodation but his actions were guided in such sort that they seemed rather to proceed from an intention to avoid the present danger than from any desire he had to Peace fear obstinacy hatred and disdain striving together in him In the mean time several accusations were brought to him of Treason and Cowardise against the Cardinal of Pavia whom the Pope so entirely loved that no prejudicate thoughts could take place in his mind against him and therefore when the Cardinal came to Revenna to clear himself of the aspersions which were cast upon him the Pope seemed so little to be touched or affected with them that as soon as the Cardinal arrived and demanded Audience he rejoyced much and invited him to Dinner But as he was going to the Popes Palace attended with a Guard of Horsemen the Duke of Vrbin bearing an ancient grudg and hatred to him reproaching him of Cowardise which had caused the loss of Bologna and the slight of the Army he with a small train rusht in amongst his Guard of Horsemen who out of reverence and respect made him way and with a Poniard slew the Cardinal with his own hand who tho for the degree he held ought to have been treated at another rate yet for his infinite Vices deserved a more cruel punishment The death of the Cardinal of Pavia by the many ill circumstances of it did more nearly affect the Pope for the murder having been perpetrated by his Nephew upon his dearest Favourite on a Cardinal of his high Degree and in a place so near his person were all aggravations to increase his grief and shame who had made professions to preserve and exalt the Ecclesiastical Dignity The Pope not able to beat this grief nor attemper his fury departed the same day from Ravenna to Rome and for the greater augmentation of his trouble and grief he was overtaken in his journey as he travelled with a report that at Bologna Modena and other Cities Placarts
without any appearance of outward force over-awing their Election or practices of Simony and corruption or other bad Arts by which it was manifest that the two former Popes had acquired their Dignity and so on the 11th of March being the seventh day after the Cardinals entered the Conclave John de Medicis of that great and illustrious Family in Florence now Dukes of Tuscany was by the common Suffrages of 23 Cardinals elected Pope taking upon himself the name of Leo X. At the age of 13 years he was made a Cardinal by Innocent VIII and now was about the age of 37 years when he was created Pope a thing rare and unusual to have a Pope so young and which had not otherwise been practicable but by the concurrence of the young Cardinals such as the Cardinal of Aragon Gonzaga Cornaro Petrucci c. the Conclave before they came to this Election proposed and with many warm Debates considered of the ways how the Secular Power which the late Popes had exercised in a disorderly manner sacrificing all to their lust and ambition might be restrained within some limits and bounds of moderation but those rules and terms agreed upon were speedily relaxed and dispensed with so soon as a new Lord or Governor appeared whom every one courted being desirous with humble obsequiousness to gratifie and freeing him from all the clogs and limits to his power endeavoured to testifie the confidence they had in him Being thus chosen on the 11th of March he was crowned on the 19th and on the 11th of April following in a most pompous and solemn manner he went to visit the Church of S. John Lateran and with such magnificence and State as was never equalled by former Popes The world conceived great joy and expectations of good at the first news of his Election for being a person of unspotted Chastity of exemplary Piety and unblemished in his manners and the Papal Dignity obtained fairly by him without Simony Corruption or evil Arts it was reasonable to expect and presage from such happy beginnings times of more calmness and blessings to the Church than under the turbulent Reigns of the two former Popes The exiled Cardinals of which those of greatest note were S. Croia and S. Severin hearing of the death of Julius II. began their Journey towards Rome and being landed at Livorn they went to Pisa and thence had safe conduct to Florence The Pope having received intelligence of their arrival in that City sent the Bishop of Orvietto to advise them not to proceed farther until such time as it should be determined in what manner they should be received at Rome For considering they had been judicially deprived and their deprivation confirmed in the Council of Lateran that they should forbear to go in the habit of Cardinals but present and offer themselves in some other modest and penitential dress whereby they might testifie their repentance and humility which would be the best motive and arguments to restore them again to their pristine condition the which being accordingly agreed the Cardinals renouncing their late Schism with all submission and humility returned to Rome and kissed the feet of the Pope Notwithstanding which it was judged fit that the Council of Lateran should still be continued until many disorders which had crept lately into the Church were wholly redressed And now Leo being setled in the Papal Chair shewed himself desirous to continue and conserve the Peace of Christendom which he thought would be most easily effected by persuading the warlike and martial spirits of those times to spend their fury upon the Turk and in the mean time endeavoured to accommodate and compose the differences between Maximilian the Emperor and the Venetians touching Verona and Piacenza by an amicable agreement At the same time also he hired the Switzers with a great sum of mony to assist Sforza Duke of Milan against the French for notwithstanding his inclinations in the general were towards a peace yet his dislikes to that Nation and the displeasures he had taken on many accounts against Charles the 12th moved him with earnest desires to chase the French out of Italy To perform which the Switzers were esteemed the only instruments capable for this exploit and to engage them therein a largess was sent them of 42 thousand Ducats with pretence in case the matter should come to light that twenty thousand of them were upon account of their yearly Pensions and that the other twenty two thousand were due on Arrear by preceding Popes to the three Cantons The Switzers being satisfied and animated with this payment resolved to accept of no conditions with the French who being now in Lombardy had forced Milan to surrender with all other Cities belonging to that Dutchy except Novaro and Coma which being defended by the Switzers held out as yet in the name of Maximilian Sforza Wherefore the French having no other work remaining besieged Novaro and had so battered the Walls and made such breaches that they were ready to enter their men Howsoever fearing the Resolution of the Besieged who all the time of the Siege had not so much as shut their Gates against the Enemy and understanding that Relief was coming to the Town and an Army under the command of that renowned Captain Altosasso they retired at two miles distance from the Walls of Novaro with which the Switzers were so encouraged that not staying for the Relief expected they made a Sally on the Enemy and gave them a total Defeat taking all their Baggage with two and twenty pieces of Artillery remaining a prey to the Conquerors After which the City of Milan with all the places belonging to it returned again into the possession and power of their Duke the people of Milan giving two hundred thousand Ducats as a Reward to the Switzers for the restoration of their Liberty All things now putting on a face of Liberty and Peace in Italy the French King seemed willing to demonstrate a filial obedience and submission to the Church and declared himself well pleased with the Pope for receiving the Dissenting and Schismatical Cardinals to pardon and Grace The Pope was also in like manner successful in his Negotiations of Peace between the Emperor and the Venetians for both Parties having referred the determination of their case to his Arbitration and compromise a Peace ensued tho the Sentence and Determination was not Pronounced and Published until the year following Lewis likewise the French King at the persuasions and instigation of the Clergy was very desirous to come in and be reconciled to the Papal See and to that end sent the Bishop of Marseilles his Embassador to Rome to treat and conclude all matters in dispute either relating to Spiritual or Temporal Affairs At the arrival of this Embassador the Pope by a Decree of the Lateran Council which still continued gave Licence to the Bishop of France and other Prelates against whom his Predecessor Pope Julius had proceeded
fame of a wickedness without example to have a Pope killed by the hand of a Cardinal he changed the Plot of the Dagger to Poison which by the help of Baptista Vercelli a famous Chirurgeon and his familiar Confident he hoped to effect in this manner The Pope being greatly afflicted with an old Fistula in his Fundament this Baptista was to be preferred as an able man for this work and then in dressing of the Wound he was to have injected Poison into it but Baptista being long in getting admission to the Popes privacy Alfonso grew impatient of delays and not being able to contain himself continually uttered something of passion which gave the Pope just cause of suspicion that this Alfonso was practising something against his life at length by some Letters which were intercepted the Conspiracy was detected which the Pope dissembling invited Alfonso to Rome with promises of Reconciliation and Preferment and for his encouragement thereunto he gave him Letters of safe conduct and his promise to the Spanish Embassador not to violate the same But so soon as Alfonso arrived the Pope so little esteemed the Faith he had given that he caused him to be Arrested with his Friend Cardinal De Sauli a Genoese one so familiar and intimate with him that it was believed that one could not be guilty or designing any action without the privity and consent of the other These two Cardinals being committed to Prison in the Castle of S. Angelo the Spanish Embassador complained of the breach of Faith which being given to the Kings Embassador ought to have been observed with the same sacred fidelity as given to the King himself Whereunto the Pope made answer that in matters of a Conspiracy designing against the life of the Pope no safe conduct was sufficient unless in some clause of it the Crime it self had been specified with a peculiar Proviso and that in cases of Poisoning which is detestable to God and man no sufficient provision can be made for security of the Offender unless the Crime it self be first mentioned and pardoned The matter being fully examined and Alfonso and Bandinello in a full Consistory being found guilty they were by publick sentence of the Consistory deprived of the Dignity of Cardinals and delivered over to the Secular Power which being done the night following Alfonso was Strangled but the Sentence of Bandinello was changed to a perpetual Imprisonment from which afterwards for a certain sum of money he gained a release The success which the Pope had against the Duke of Vrbin was different to that which he had against Alfonso Duke of Ferrara for he being a watchful man and a good Soldier defended himself against all the contrivances and attempts of the Pope Towards the end of the year 1517. the King of Spain died leaving his Nephew Charles of Austria sole Heir of all his Kingdoms and Dominions in Naples Sicily and Spain between whom and the French King there passed as yet a fair and amicable correspondence Notwithstanding which things were troublesom in Italy and 〈◊〉 â—espight of all the endeavours of the Pope who desired nothing so much 〈◊〉 peace all things were unquiet and tended to War for the Switzers 〈◊〉 â—hose minds were rather inflamed with indignation in remembrance of their late Defeat at Marignan than abated or humbled entered into a League with Maximilian the Emperor to drive the French out of all their Possessions in Italy in opposition whereunto the French joyning with the Venetians recovered Brescia out of the hands of the Spaniards and Verona from the Emperor and the Venetians by the support of this Alliance made no account of any amity with others nor offered their Obedience to the Pope notwithstanding the endeavours of Altobello Bishop of Pola whom he had commissionated to be his Legate at Venice not without some just reflections as a matter unworthy the Pontificial Majesty Francisco Maria Duke of Vrbin continued still his War against the Pope for recovery of his State but his success was ill both against the City of Osimo and also before the Town of Corinaldo from whence with great blemish of honor he was forced to raise his Siege Nor was he more fortunate in his attempt to recover Pesaro for having put to Sea several Ships to cut off all Provisions from the Town they were encountred by another Fleet set out by those of Rimini consisting of sixteen Sail with Barks and Brigantines which going in convoy with Vessels laden with Provisions to Pesaro met the Navy of Francisco Maria and engaging with them sunk the Admiral and destroyed their whole Fleet with which ill success Francisco Maria despairing of his enterprize departed thence At Rimini he also was worsted and forced to return with his Army into Tuscany where being in great want of Provisions and the Soldiers without Pay lived by Prey and Pillage whereby they began to be no less terrible to their friends than to their enemies and to grow weary of the War having no hope to better their condition either by a Battel or protraction of time The Pope also on the other side became poor having exhausted his Treasury and doubtful of the Faith of his Allies especially of the King of France who was slow and backward in the payment of those monies agreed by Articles so that Peace being the best expedient for good to both parties propositions were made for a Peace between the Legate and Francisco Maria which by the Mediation of Monsieur D'Escut General of the French Forces in Italy and Don Hugo de Monaco Vice-King of Sicily was accorded on these conditions That the Pope should pay to the Spanish Footmen five and forty thousand Ducats and to the Gascoins and Germans threescore thousand and that upon such payment they should all depart within eight days out of the State of the Church the Jurisdiction of Florence and the Territories of Vrbin That Francisco Maria should leave and abandon all his Possessions in that State within the term aforesaid with Licence to carry with him all his moveables and Artillery with his famous Library which with great charge and diligence had been collected by Frederick his Grandfather by the Mothers side That the Pope should absolve him of all Censures and pardon all the Subjects of the State of Vrbin and those who had been enemies in this War the Spaniards Gascoins and Germans having received their monies marched to the Kingdom of Naples and Francisco Maria abandoned of all his Allies returned to Mantua accompanied only with one hundred Horse and six hundred Footmen In this manner ended the War with Vrbin which tho it continued but eight months yet had exhausted the Coffers of the Pope of eight hundred thousand Ducats the greatest part of which he had drawn from the Commonwealth of Florence on the score of his great interest in that City and indeed his Charges were the greater because that with much ignominy he was forced to purchase his
a short time to descend into Italy which being added to the Italian Bands would be able to make head against the Imperial Army and for their parts they promised according to their custom far greater matters than they were able to perform and for farther encouragement hereunto they represented the state of the Imperial Army in Italy to be tumultuous and inclinable to Sedition having for want of pay seized the Artillery and fortified themselves in Pavia Farther it was not to be doubted but that Loüisa the Queen Mother and Regent of France would concur with these Counsels and be assistant to this design with all the power of that Kingdom Moreover it was not to be doubted but that the Duke of Ferrara who favoured and depended on the French felicity would also enter into this League the conjunction of whom was of great importance considering that he was a Prince very rich his Town of Ferrara strong and furnished with all stores of Ammunition But the Pope considering the difficulty of this enterprise and the uncertain concurrence of those many circumstances which were required to make it successful did for some time suspend his resolution until the Arch-Bishop of Capua who had been his ancient Secretary and Counsellor brought him such agreeable propositions from Don Carlos de Lanoy Vice-Roy of Naples as gave him assurances of an advantageous accommodation with the Emperor for then disposing his mind wholly to the thoughts of peace he labored to get the Venetians comprehended in the same terms of accord but in regard the chief points insisted upon by the Imperialists were sums of mony to be paid their Army already mutining for want of their Arrears the Venetians who judged it a piece of folly and cowardise to compound with their enemies on the condition of putting weapons into their hands absolutely refused any agreement on such terms which made well for the Pope and facilitated his negotiations with the Vice-Roy who interpreting this refusal of the Venetians to be an indication of new stirs and commotions intended against the Imperial interest in Italy was the more ready to condescend to the more easie terms with the Pope In short therefore 25 thousand Ducats being by the Popes order paid by the Florentines to the Marquiss of Pescara Chief of the Emperors Forces in Milan a Confederacy was concluded at Rome between the Pope and the Florentines on the one side and the Emperor on the other viz. That the Pope and the Emperor should be in a perpetual League and Alliance and that the Dutchy of Milan should be always defended by the Arms of the Pope and the Emperor with such numbers of men as should be agreed by a certain Article and that the same should be possessed and governed under the Emperor by Francis Sforza particularly nominated in that Capitulation That the Emperor should take into his protection all the Estate which the Church held and particularly should have a care of the House of Medicis to maintain and preserve them in all the Dignities and Offices which they hold in that City to which Treaty the greatness of that illustrious Family is in some measure obliged That the Florentines should presently pay to the Emperor a hundred thousand Ducats more in recompence of that which they had engaged to contribute to the last War in virtue of that Agreement made with Pope Adrian which was not to expire until one year after the death of one of the Confederates That the Duke of Ferrara should immediately render to the Church Reggia Rubiera and other Towns which he had unjustly seized and usurped during the last vacancy of the Papal Sea of which so soon as the Pope was possessed he was in consideration thereof to pay unto the Emperor one hundred thousand Ducats Lastly as to Modena and those Towns consideration was to be had and the matter examined whether they of right appertained to the Church or the Emperor and being found only belonging to the Ecclesiastical State they should be freed from all acknowledgment and dependance on the Empire In this manner this Alliance was concluded and determined and the designs of uniting with France and Venice which were at first laid open as the fairest game were now diverted by far different measures Matters being thus agreed and concluded in the year 1525. between the Pope and the Vice-Roy the Cardinal Salviati was sent to the Emperors Court with Character of Legate for confirmation of the Articles his reception was very honorable but in debating of particulars on the Commission the Vice-Roy who for the common safety and quiet of Italy allowed that the Investiture might be given to the Duke of Milan did dissuade the restitution of Reggia and Rubiera which being a scruple started after the Accord did ill affect the mind of the Pope and confirmed the opinion he had of the Emperors designs not to endure any increase of power and greatness in the Church And farther whilst these things were debating there fell out in Lombardy several events which hindred the Investiture of Sforza in the Dutchy of Milan and therewith broke all the agreements and measures which were formerly taken for the Emperor not willing to yield to this Investiture made pretences of forfeiture thereof by Sforza and earnestly pressed the taking of the Castle of Milan so that now the Pope having no expectations from the Emperor began to incline again and be biassed on the side of France and the other Confederates knowing that whilst his successes were prosperous and towering in Italy the Emperor might easily dispose of the Pope and oppress him at his pleasure which he would certainly do either out of revenge or ambition which is known to be almost natural in Emperors against the Pope Wherefore a League and Union being proposed between the Pope the French the Venetians and Duke of Ferrara with hopes also that the King of England would joyn in it all things were designed and laid down in a regular manner and form for carrying on the War and suppressing the suspected greatness of the Emperor But this Pope Clement who was of a temper naturally slow and irresolute weighing the consequences of these matters with his Servants and Ministers of his Councils found them so divided each of them abounding in his own sence that belabouring the Pope on all sides he became much more perplexed and distracted in his thoughts after than before his consultations The truth was there were two men of great Authority with him one Nicolas Scomberg a German and John Matthew Giberto a Genoese Scomberg was much honored and almost feared by the Pope but Giberto was more favoured and beloved these two having been ancient and intimate friends to him whilst he was Cardinal agreed well together but afterwards Ambition and different Interests put them at variance for Scomberg being a German naturally affected the interest of the Emperor but Giberto loved no man but the Pope and tho he had formerly been an enemy
League if they pleased That the Pope should pay forty thousand Ducats in the space of two and twenty days and the residue in a month after That the Vice-Roy of Naples should come to Rome to confirm the Articles it being judged a good expedient to cause the Duke of Bourbon to observe the accord The Capitulations of Peace being in this manner signed both parties speedily retired their Forces and the Pope resolving sincerely to keep and execute the Articles was also persuaded that the other party would do the like of which being assured by the coming of the Vice-Roy to Rome he unadvisedly disbanded all his Soldiers excepting only 200 Horse and 2000 Foot which he still continued in his Pay being of those valiant Black Bands which had been commanded by John de Medici Matters continued in this posture for the space of eight days by which time the news of this accord being made known to the Duke of Bourbon and his Army the Soldiery became enraged and the Duke raised infinite difficulties about standing to the Agreement and especially the Spanish Soldiery were so violent therein that a Gentleman sent by the Vice-Roy to the Duke to persuade him to accept the Agreement had been killed by them had he not conveyed himself away from their fury wherefore the Duke either not being willing or not able to restrain his Soldiery marched with all speed imaginable to the Walls of Rome to which without farther demur applying his Ladders at the side of the Vatican was the first that he might give courage and example to his Soldiery to scale the Walls in which attempt being shot by a Cannon-Bullet he fell dead from the Walls and lest his body lying exposed to the view of the Soldiery should give them cause of discouragement the Prince of Orange who was near to him covered his Corps with his Cloak Howsoever the storm succeeded more prosperously towards the Mount of S. Spirito where they entered on the 14th of May 1527. with the slaughter of some few who had the courage to make any resistance and passing the Bridg of Sistus the whole Army consisting of Germans Italians and Spaniards to the number of 40000 entered the City where they committed all the slaughter rapin and violence which enraged and licentious Soldiers were capable to act without respect to things sacred or prophane or to those Cardinals who had the name and report of being inclined to the Emperors Faction Rome never saw so sad and dismal a day no not when they had been sacked by the Goths and other barbarous Nations for whomsoever they met they killed and cut to pieces the Streets ran with blood the Altars were despoiled the Churches and Monasteries plundered the Nuns and Women ravished and the Palaces of the Pope Cardinals and Princes rifled and sacked so that it is impossible to express what Wealth and Riches lay in heaps and what precious Commodities belonging to Merchants were made the prey of common Soldiers And what made the spoil yet more great was the number of Prisoners every one of which was forced to cut his ransom and redeem himself at a certain price and to augment the ignominy as well as the desolation of this miserable fortune the Prelates were taken by the Soldiers and in all their Pontificalibus and Habits were set upon Asses and Mules and led through the streets with contempt and derision The Pope amidst these distractions fled to the Castle of S. Angelo his usual Sanctuary where being streightly Besieged with great numbers of those who retired thither for refuge he soon began to want Provisions so that Famin constrained him to yield himself into the hands of his Enemies upon discretion and on conditions of doing whatsoever the Emperor should as a Conqueror impose upon him And in the mean time until Messengers could be sent into Spain and return to Rome with the Emperors pleasure it was agreed that the Pope should pay to the Army 400000 Ducats for raising of which all the Vessels of Gold and Silver belonging to the Churches which were saved from the rapin of the Enemy were to be melted down and coined and farther for raising mony divers Cardinals Caps were set to sale as by publick out-cry to whomsoever would give most who upon payment of the sums agreed were to enter into the College and dignity of Cardinals The persons who with their mony had purchased this quality were Marino Grimano and Francis Cornaro both Venetians likewise Sanseverino Carrafa and Parmerio Neapolitans and Cardona a Spaniard and for an Auxiliary help to these payments an impost of mony was to be charged upon the whole state of the Church It was farther agreed that the Pope should deliver into the hands of the Emperor to hold them so long as he pleased the Castle of S. Angelo Ostia Civita Vechia Castellano with the Cities of Parma Piacenza and Modena That the Pope and the thirteen Cardinals with him should remain Prisoners in the Castle of S. Angelo until the monies were paid and afterwards should go to Naples or Gaietta Gaietta until the pleasure and determination of the Emperor was arrived The Duke of Bourbon being dead the Prince of Aurange was made General in his place to whom whilst things were acting in this manner advices came that Monsieur De Lautrec with a very great Army by order of Francis the French King to which also Henry the Eighth of England had joyned his Forces was marching towards Rome with design to rescue the Pope from those insolent hands under which he was a Prisoner The news of which caused great tumults and mutinies amongst the Soldiery who being desirous to depart quietly with their prey before they were forced to disgorge it again used all imaginable insolences towards the Pope to compel him to a payment of their Arrears with the monies promised but he not being master of one peny was constrained to deliver into their hands the persons of several rich men which they had named for security of the mony promised But the ill fortune of Clement stopped not here for so soon as the news of the Popes imprisonment was heard at Florence the Inhabitants judged it a seasonable opportunity to recover their liberty and thereupon betaking themselves to Arms they forced the Cardinal of Cortona with Hippolito and Alexander de Medicis to abandon the City and so reassumed unto themselves the free administration of a Common-wealth under the Authority of a Gonfalonnier created according to their ancient â—oâ—â—titution for the space of a year for indeed the hatred they had conâ—â—ived against the House of Medicis was for many reasons great and â—eâ—ous especially because they had been forced with their own mony to bear out the pride and greatness of that Family in all the Wars they made in defence of the Dutchy of Vrbin and in the Wars which Pope Leo made against the French for which reasons they persecuted those Citizens that had been friends to the Medices
request for a Fountain was taken into consideration for that being agreeable to the Munificent humour of Sixtus was received and immediately ordered to be put in execution by bringing Water to the Convent from the Pope's Gardens at Monte-cavallo which flows there in plentiful streams But now to proceed unto more serious matters Towards the end of this year 1587. Stephen Battory Prince of Transilvania and King of Poland having reigned in that Kingdom for the space of nine years departed this life his death was universally lamented by all having proved a most excellent Prince and a zealous Champion of the Christian Religion against the Turk for he recovered the Dukedoms of Suevia and Smolensko from the Moscovites and united them again to the Crown of Poland He also behaved himself with constant resolution against the Turk who having in the year 1584. demanded according to antient Articles assistance of some Polish Troops against the Persians Battory resolutely denied them to him saying That whereas the white Eagle of Poland had lately moulted her feathers and was displumed and become weak she had now recovered her wings and her train and had sharpned both her beak and her talons Which brisk Reply and bravery of Battory in all the actions of his Reign did calm the spirit of the Turks and checked those frequent Incursions which they made into Poland But Battori as we have said dying this year the Nobility of that Kingdom were very desirous to elect a King who might in Wisdom and Courage prove equal to the valour of the deceased Prince Many there were who offered themselves Candidates for that Election Ridolphus the Son of Maximilian the Emperor was one who for being of the House of Austria seemed qualified for that Crown Some cast their eyes on the Duke of Parma who for his prudence and experience in War was one of the most renowned Captains of those days but being an Italian it was suspected that his humour would not be agrreable to the customs of Poland The Vaivod of Transilvania and Cardinal Battori were others who appeared fitly qualified for this Dignity the first being a young Man and full of spirit assisted with the advantage of his own Riches and in great reputation with the Turk appeared with a lustre deserving a Crown but having been Nephew to the late King his Alliance prejudiced his pretentions not being consistent with the policy of that Nation to have a succession in the same Family the same consideration also was an impediment to the Cardinal though otherwise a Prince of excellent Endowments The Duke of Ferrara was an other proposed but he as well as the Duke of Parma was an Italian whose humour was inconsistent with the Poles Many Nobles also of Poland it self seemed fitly qualified both in Riches and Vertue for that Dignity amongst which Zamowski the Grand Chancellour had a most considerable party for he having managed all the Affairs of that Kingdom during the Reign of Battori who communicated all his Counsels with him and entrusted him with the greatest secrets of State by which he became the most experienced in Affairs and high in Reputation living little inferiour to the Royal pomp howsoever the Nobles not enduring at that time subjection to any of their own degree and Country and having never for the space of six hundred years admitted a Prince of their own to reign over them they would neither now introduce a Novelty repugnant to their antient customs and constitutions Upon the preceding considerations the election falling on none of the foregoing Princes the Votes came at length to concenter between the Prince of Sweden and the Arch-Duke of Austria called Maximilian Brother of the Emperor Ridolphus a person of that affable and obliging deportment as took much with the humour of the Polanders Howsoever the contrary party and the most prevalent objected that being Brother to the Emperor he might be too potent and in time by the power of Germany subvert the Government and turn it from an elective to an hereditary Kingdom wherefore totally declining Maximilian this party resolutely fixed on the Prince of Sweden a youth of twenty years of age greatly favoured by the Poles for being descended from the Family of Jagellona which for having added the Dukedom of Lituania to their Commonwealth was so highly esteemed by them that the merit to that Family could be no otherwise extinguished than by transferring the Crown to the Prince thereof But these considerations in favour of Sweden were turned to quite contrary Sentiments by the differing party so that the whole body of the Nobility being divided between these two Princes the Election still remained in suspense both designing to determine the Dispute by force of Arms. Whilest the Election remained under these doubtful circumstances Sixtus wrote to the Arch-bishop of Naples then Nuntio residing at the place of Election secretly to favour the side of Maximilian but yet with such caution as not too far to engage himself but that in case fortune favoured the Prince of Sweden he might without a blemish declare himself for that party that so he might own in some measure his Election unto him Maximilian to make good his cause appearing before Cracovia with an Army of sixteen thousand fighting Men demanded of the Citizens to receive him in but they refused it and sent with all diligence to the Prince of Sweden to expedite his March for that delays in this case were dangerous and that the day of his Coronation was fixed to be celebrated on the Feast of St. Luke then near approaching In the mean time they repaired their Fortifications and strengthened their Suburbs making daily Sallies on the Forces of Maximilian and most commonly were successful therein to the great encouragement of the Citizens In a short time after Ambassadours arrived at Cracon from the Prince of Sweden advising that the Prince though detained by contrary Winds was come as far as Donzilca and that though it was impossible for him to be so soon with them as St. Luke's day yet certainly he would not fail to be there by St. Martin's which was on the 15th of November and be ready to receive that Dignity on the Sunday following for according to the custom of that Country the Coronation must always be solemnized on the Lord's Day During all this time the Army of Maximilian was greatly weakned for want of provisions and having neither Wine nor good Beer they were forced to drink bad Waters which with the cold and moisture of the season caused Fluxes and Dysenteries and other distempers amongst the Soldiery which reduced them to small numbers Howsoever Maximilian leaving the City of Cracovia marched towards Pietricovia with intention to stop the march of the Prince of Sweden but finding that the Army of his Enemy was greater than his own and that he received the worst in many Skirmishes he retreated to Bellone and thence to Pitschen of the frontiers of Silesia belonging to the Duke of
Son of one of his Nephews being a Youth of about fourteen or fifteen years of age and suffering himself to be prevailed with by the passion of Princes he created in this very year at least eighteen Cardinals amongst which there were not above two French and two Spaniards The first which was found in this List was Serafim Olivari Patriarch of Alexandria who was originally of Italian extract but born at Lions and proved to be a Prelat of Incomparable parts and Learning being always educated amongst Men and business the Bishop of Eureux was an other promoted to this Dignity which were the two French-Men who received this honour by the recommendations of their King all the others were Italians unless the Bishop of Cracovia who was a Polander and Madrutio Bishop of Trent who was a German and two Spaniards Cardinal Aldobrandino preferred also his Secretary Erminio to this honour and the Pope himself forced Anselme Marzat a Capucin to accept the red Hat which he had often refused protesting that such preferments were against the Rules and a violation to the Orders of St. Francis but the express commandment of the Pope prevailing he unwillingly or at least seemed so from the mere consideration of obedience submitted to the promotion About this time three Questions were moved and discussed at Rome the first was managed by a notable Disputant and a great Sophister his position was this That it was not an essential or a fundamental point of Faith to believe that Clement VIII was the true and lawful Successor of St. Peter it was a bold Thesis for that time and place for he was imprisoned for his impertinence and it had cost him dearer had not the Spanish Ambassadour interceded for him An other published an Opinion That Confessions wrote in Letters and sent by the Post were as available as those which were whispered into the Ear of the Priest A third was about Grace and Free-will in such manner as held and maintained by Pelagius which latter was debated in the presence of the Pope and Cardinals but remained without determination by reason of more important matters which at that time lay before the Consistory For then the Canonizing of Ignatius Loyola for a Saint was first propounded and also the Deputies of the Clergy of the City of Milan presented themselves before the Pope and Cardinals desiring that their antient Arch-bishop Charles Borromeo might be canonized Upon these two motions the Pope constituted a certain Committee of Cardinals to enquire into the sanctity of the Lives and of the Miracles which were done at the Invocation of the Names and at the Sepulcres of these Saints After which an Ambassadour was introduced into the Consistory from the Emperor representing the many occasions of advantage which were lost in Hungary for want of Money to carry on the War to which the Pope gave Answer That his Coffers at the present were empty but howsoever he would lay a Tax of decimation on the Clergy whereby to supply the urgencies of the Emperor against the common Enemy Thus did this Pope who in reality merited the name of a good Man employ his whole time in the Consistory either designing to make peace between Christian Princes or to carrry on a War against the Turk who is the common Enemy of Christians and in these good works of Piety he incessantly laboured being frequently in consultation concerning the temporal and spiritual Affairs in the Church in discharge of which his fortune was to be assisted with many wise and able Cardinals such as Joyeuse Serafim Olivari and Perron and other Counsellours who amongst several other matters advised him to take a Guard of Corsi or Men of the Isle of Corsica who being quartered in several parts of the City might be ready to suppress the Banditi who began again to be troublesom and to infest Rome as well as other parts of Italy from which time until the reign of Alexander VII this Guard was maintained when upon some Affronts and violences offered to the French Ambassadour they were disbanded and dismissed never afterwards to appear in Rome The Arch-bishoprick of Ravenna in this year 1605. becoming vacant the Pope bestowed it on his Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandino who was no sooner received into that City with such pomp and solemnity as became the dignity of that Episcopal Sea than news arrived of the Pope's indisposition which speedily posted the Cardinal back to Rome for the Pope falling ill on the 10th of February his sickness still increased notwithstanding all the Remedies and care which Aldobrandino and his Physitians could use for after he had sat in the Papal Chair for the space of thirteen years one month and three days he expired his last breath on the third of March in the sixty ninth year of his Age and was interred in St. Peter's Church and the Sea was vacant twenty nine days LEO XI CLEMENT the Eighth having departed this Life and his Funeral Obsequies being performed the Cardinals to the number of sixty one entered the Conclave on the 14th of March and having according to the accustomed manner sung the Hymn of Veni Creator and celebrated the Mass of Spiritus Sanctus and every Cardinal having received the Sacrament from the hand of the Dean of the Conclave they immediately made the first Scrutiny whereby it might appear unto whom the plurality of Votes was most probable to incline but at first the Conclave was so divided that no person had any considerable number of Votes bestowed on him for Bellarmine who had the most accounted but eleven and Baronius but eight and all others an inferiour number at length after several other Scrutinies Baronius by the assistance of Cardinal Aldobrandino arrived to thirty thirty one and thirty two and thirty seven but still wanting some few more to make the number arise unto two thirds of the Conclave the Election was imperfect nor could he arise higher by reason that the Spanish faction opposed him out of a pique and exception they had taken against him for what he had wrote in the 11th Tome of his Ecclesiastical Annals disproving the title of the King of Spain to the Kingdom of Sicily Whereupon Cardinal Joyeuse concurring with Aldobrandino without whom nothing was to be done in the Conclave nominated Alexander de Medicis who was no sooner proposed than a strange concurrence and union appeared in the minds of all the Cardinals towards him so that he was as it were elected by an unanimous consent and saluted Pope on the first of April 1605. calling himself by the name of Leo XI He was then of the age of seventy years or thereabouts of a chearful and sanguine Aspect grave in his Speech and deportment and of a strong and vigorous Complexion only he sometimes was subject to pains of the Cholick he was a great lover of the virtuosi and Learned Men and zealous for the interest of the Church After his Election he seemed not in the least
convenient to erect more a license to build was not onely granted but contributions made thereunto by the publick liberality and munificence so when it was necessary to set bounds and limits thereunto this Senate made use of their own Power alone without any diminution to the Canons of the Church And whereas the Pope hath a Power to restrain the Clergy from alienating their Lands and Estates to the Laiety without his consent and dispensation so also hath the temporal Prince the like Authority to forbid and inhibit all Lay-persons from making alienation of their Estates unto the Church Nor do Ecclesiastical persons lose any thing by this restriction but rather procure a benefit for when the temporal Power is weakned by such alienation this State which is the Bulwark of Christendom will not be able to withstand the common Enemy nor afford due protection either to the Clergy or Laiety And therefore the Senate doth not believe that they have incurred the Ecclesiastical Censure considering that Secular Princes have received that Power from God of making Laws which no other humane Authority is able to take from them and much less have the Briefs of your Holiness any place or prevalence in matters purely temporal which are clearly distinct from those which are spiritual to which the Papal Power doth singly extend Nor can this Senate imagine that your Holiness who is full of Piety and Religion will persist in these your Comminations until the cause hath first been fully examined and discussed And thus much they thought fit in short to make known unto your Holiness referring all things to be treated and explained more at large by their Ambassadour Extraordinary These Letters of the Senate being arrived at Rome were presented to the Pope by the hands of the Ambassadour who immediately opened and read them but the Contents so little pleased him that he was angry and froward all the time that they were in reading and in fine he told the Ambassadour that those Letters were no Answer to his Admonitory Briefs that the Answer was frivolous and insignificant that the matter was clear and evident on his side and that therefore he was resolved to proceed unto Sentence that the Senate must resolve to submit and obey for his cause was the cause of God Et Portae Inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam If the Monks of Padoua had purchased more Lands than were requisite or consistent with the welfare of the State upon address made to him he could have applyed a Remedy but the Senate proceeding in another manner were Tyrants Usurpers and Men of Principles different from their Ancestours wherefore he exhorted them not to deceive themselves with the thoughts of protracting the time in hopes of deciding the Dispute by his death for that in case he received not satisfaction therein in the space of fifteen days he would then proceed to execution of his Sentence The fifteen days were scarce expired when the Ambassadour Nani acquainted the Pope that Duodo was dispatched from Venice in quality of Ambassadour Extraordinary to inform his Holiness more amply of all matters to which the Pope replied that there was no need of farther expostulations the matter was clear and he would be obeyed But notwithstanding the Pope's hast time was protracted till towards the end of March when Duodo the Ambassadour Extraordinary arrived at Rome to whom the Pope would not have patience to grant all the methods of Complements but immediately at his arrival admitted him to Audience when the Ambassadour largely discoursing on every point in Controversie concluded that the Senate could not yield to the Demands of his Holiness without betraying that Power which God had put into their hands But the Pope making no reply to the Arguments in particular adhered close to the Conclusion that Ecclesiastical persons were exempted Jure Divino from the Secular Dominion that he had heard enough from Nani of this kind of reasoning that the Cause was God's and must prevail This resolution of the Pope being made known at Venice the Senate thought fit to communicate these their differences to the Ministers of forein Princes desiring their Opinions on those Points From which the Spanish Ambassadour excused him not desiring to concern his Master in those matters which might yield the least displeasure to the Pope but the Imperial and French Ambassadours were much more frank and open in their Opinions for the first did allow and approve the reasons of the Senate alledging the Customs of his own Country the French Comte where the same things were practised and Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour declared that he could not understand those Papal Laws which deny unto Princes the Government of their own State and therefore the Republick was much to be commended for preferring their liberty before any other respect At Rome the Cardinals of Verona and Vicenza used all the Interest and persuasions they were able to induce the Pope to defer the promulgation of his Sentence for some time putting him in mind that the Spiritual Arms were not to be exercised but in cases where they were sure to prevail Then said the Pope I shall make use of the Temporal and in the mean time to manifest to the World my patience and tenderness towards them I shall grant them the term of twenty four days to consider and repent and accordingly having formed and printed his Monitory on the 17th of April he caused it to be read and published in the Consistory After which he added That he had greatly studied this Point and having consulted with the most famous Canonists the general Opinion of them all was that the Republick acted contrary to the Authority of the Apostolick Sea and against the liberties and immunities of the Church alledging in his favour the Council of Simmaco and of Lions under Pope Gregory with other Decrees made by the Councils of Constance and Basil and that the same was so declared in the case against Henry II. against the Kings of Castile and other Kings and caused a Constitution made by Innocent III. to be read and to proceed the more regularly in this important matter the Votes of the Cardinals were distinctly required the number of Cardinals then present in the Consistory were forty one all which did either in few words assent or more at large produce the Authority of the Canonists in confirmation of the Pope's reasons And indeed little less than this free concurrence could be expected from them for though some few out of a zeal towards the Ecclesiastical liberty might really be possessed with this Opinion yet the generality were guided by other Principles some perhaps were unwilling to displease the Pope in expectation of preferments of themselves or Friends others had a prospect of arising to the Popedom and for that cause were willing to exalt its Power every one had some consideration or other for his own benefit but not such consideration as was required in study of the
sent the Library antiently belonging to the Princes Palatines to Rome which by this Pope was transmitted into the Vatican with this Inscription Sum De Bibliotheca Quam Heidelberga Capta Spolium Fecit Et Pont. Max. Greg. XV. Trophaeum Misit Maximilianus Vtriusque Bavariae Dux S.R. Imperii Archi-Dapifer Et Princeps Elector Anno M.DCXXIII Besides which several Standards taken at the Battel of Prague were sent to Rome and there by the Pope's order hanged up in the Church of Sancta Maria de Victoria The success of the Catholick Princes being to the great comfort of the Pope thus fortunate he encouraged the Duke of Savoy to make War upon Geneva and render himself Master of that place whereby he would not only do justice to his own Right and Title but also overthrow the capital Seat of Heresie and Calvinism With the like zeal did the Pope require of the four Venetian Ambassadours sent according to custom to congratulate his promotion to the Papal Chair that the Republick would again admit into their State those Religious People of the Society of Jesus which had been banished from thence in the time of his Predecessor Paul V. But this request being repugnant to many Laws and formalities and the indissoluble bonds of Government could not be obtained though it was pressed more home by the Marquis de Coevre who passed from Rome to Venice in the name of his Master King Lewis III. and seconded with earnest importunity by the Bishop of Monte Fiascorie the Pope's Nuntio and the powerful Letters of the Cardinal Ludovisio For the Senate declared that they could not depart from their first resolution which being founded on Decrees and solid considerations could in no wise be altered and therefore Princes in Amity with them ought not to press them unto that which was neither permitted to them to grant nor could they deny without doing a displeasure to themselves In this year Osman the Emperour of the Turks invaded Poland with a powerful Army but King Sigismond III. being assisted with Mony from the Pope made a vigorous resistance and gained a signal Victory against the Enemy In this year also Antonius de Dominis who was Arch-bishop of Spalato in Dalmatia deserting his Bishoprick and all his Ecclesiastical Preferments for the sake of the Gospel and the true Protestant Religion went into England where he wrote a Book against the Ecclesiastical State but being unconstant and wavering in his Principles he returned to Rome where he renounced all the Principles of the Protestant Faith and yet afterwards in the year 1624. in the time of Vrban VIII being troubled in Conscience for his Apostacy and reassuming again the Profession he made in opposition to the Roman Church he was imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo where he died after which his Body was burn'd together with his Writings The Congregation de Propaganda Fide was first instituted by this Gregory V. as appears by his Letters Patents for the same dated the 10th of July 1622. and for maintenance thereof he setled a certain Revenue to support such as employed themselves in that important work In the same year also he canonized Ignatius Loyola first Founder of the Jesuits who was formerly beatified likewise Philip Neri Founder of the Oratorians called in French les Peres d' Oratoire with Isidore a Spaniard who had been a Husbandman Teresia a Nun that reformed the Order of the Carmelites and Francis Xaverius a Jesuit whom they call Apostle of the Indies Moreover this Pope at the instance and desire of King Lewis XIII advanced the Bishoprick of Paris to be an Arch-bishoprick But what is more observable in his time was a Diploma which he made for the more orderly and easie Election of Popes by way of secret Suffrages which divers had attempted to perform but could never be perfected until this Pope wrote and published the same the which Rule was afterwards practised at the Election of Vrban VIII the succeeding Pope This Pope had created eleven Cardinals during the time of his Reign which lasted only two years five months and twenty nine days he departing this life on the 8th of July 1623. after which the Sea was vacant twenty eight days his Body was carried to the Church of S. Peter where it was deposited only for some time and afterwards translated to the Roman College of Jesuits where it was buried in a most magnificent Chappel erected by his Nephew Cardinal Ludovisio with this Epitaph inscribed thereupon Gregorius XV. Pontifex Ter Maximus Terrarum Orbis bene-merentissimus Multa brevi jaculatus Imperio Quot Mensium tot Lustrorum aequavit Annos Immortali dignus Nomine Rebus praeclare Gestis Romae pro Româ Pietatem auxit novo Cultu Religionis Religioni Aras extruxit Nova Sanctorum Apotheosi Inter quos Ignatium Societatis Jesu Fundatorem Franciscum Xaverium Antesignanum Gemellum Numen Coeli Albo Vtriusque Orbis gemellum veluti Castorem Festa Omnium Acclamatione intulit Fecisset plura ni Eato abreptus praepropero Objisset Lugendus semper quod imperasset parum An. Sal. MDCXXIII VRBAN VIII GREGORY XV. being dead and his Funeral Rites according to Custom being performed on the 19th of July early in the morning the Cardinals to the number of fifty four entered the Conclave It was the common Opinion of most people that the Election would be long and take up much time before it were determined because that as the Rules and Methods prescribed by the Bull of Gregory V. for Election of Popes which as yet had not been put in practice might increase the difficulty so also it was observed that the Cardinals were much divided in their Opinions and Votes there being many persons at that time who for their Age Vertues and Services formerly rendered to the Ecclesiastical State stood Candidates and esteemed themselves worthy of the Papal Dignity namely four Princes viz. Farnese Este Savoy and Medici and four Nephews of Popes Bourghese Ludovisio Buoncompagno and Aldobrandino howsoever contrary to common Opinion and beyond expectation of all the Cardinals agreed and on the 6th of August being Sunday and the day of the Festival observed in remembrance of the Transfiguration of Christ they all concurred with common Voice in the Election of Maffeo Barberini who was the fourth Pope which the City of Florence had given to the Church namely three of the House of Medicis Aldobrandino and this Barberini who was the fifth This Pope was of the age of fifty six years when he was chosen much to the wonder of the Electors themselves who were amazed to have deceived their own hopes by promoting a Person who for his complexion and vigour might out live the greater part of them This Family of Barberini had flourished for the space of five hundred years in the little Republick of Simi-Fontana which was situated between Florence and Siena and not above two miles distant from the Town of Barberini but this Republick being afterwards
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
they were both received with great honour and respect at the Court of Rome but if either of them had acquired a greater esteem than the other it was the Duke of Crequi a person extreamly handsom and well fashioned of a most antient and illustrious Family first Gentleman of the King's Bed-Chamber and in all things so well accomplished that the Court of Rome esteemed it self highly honoured by the presence and administration of so noble a Personage his onely fault was that he was haughty and of an humour so fierce as became a Camp better than the more polite and gentle comportments of an Italian Court or the conversation of Ecclesiastical Persons Howsoever his deportment was pleasing enough to the Pope and Cardinals so long as Don Mario and the Nephews comported themselves as they did at first within the limits of some reasonable modesty but so soon as they began to pass those terms and become insolent this Ambassadour could not long sustain their pride before their resentments broke forth into outragious violences as we shall have occasion to discourse when we come to the year 1662. In the year 1655. Christina Queen of Sweden renounced the Protestant Religion in which she had been educated and with it her Crown which she resigned to her kinsman Charles Gustavus conserving to herself a Rent of one hundred thousand Crowns a year out of the Dukedom of Pomerania and making publick profession of the Roman Catholick Religion she resolved to spend her days at Rome where she might enjoy it in the most pompous and triumphant manner and where she might not onely delight herself in conversation with grave Cardinals and the most learned Men in the World of whom she was a great Admirer but also being favoured by the Pope could on all occasions have recourse to him for Pardons Indulgences and his paternal Benediction Wherefore leaving her Kingdom she apparrelled herself in the habit of a Man in which disguise passing through Denmark and the lower Germany she came by way of Holland to Brussels where in the Privy-Chamber of the Arch-Duke Leopold at that time Governour of the Low-Countries and in presence of him and all his Nobles on the Eve of Christmas she solemnly abjured the Heresies of Luther and made profession of the Roman Catholick Faith The Plague raging that year at Rome she deferred her journey thither until health was restored to that City and Country at which time Alexander VII being created Pope she prosecuted her design of setling her Habitation in Rome which she having signified to the Pope and received his license she made at his desire an other solemn abjuration of Lutherism at Inspruck which might dispose and prepare her more solemn reception into Italy When the Queen was in Germany the Pope dispatched Luke Holsten a Hamburgher by Nation who was keeper of the Vatican Library to make her Majesty a Complement in his name the which Person was the more acceptable to her in respect of the fame and reputation he had acquired of being the most learned Man of that age When she approached near unto Rome he sent four Nuntios to meet her viz. the Arch-bishop of Thebes the Arch-bishop of Ravenna with the Dean and Clerk of the Apostolical Chamber where attendance was truly Royal and magnificent at her entrance into the City she was met by two Legats à Latere namely Cardinal John Charles de Medices Brother to the great Duke of Toscany and Cardinal Frederick Brother of the Lantgrave of Hessen who with a pompous train conducted her to the Vatican Palace where she was lodged with all the Royalty appertaining to a Queen Many and various were the Ceremonies which passed at the reception of this great Person after which on Christmas day she was confirmed by the Pope in St. Peter's Church who superadded the name of Alexandra to that of Christina In the year 1657. the Venetians were hardly pressed by the formidable Power of the Ottoman Arms and being unable by their own force to wage a War against that potent Enemy the Senate omitted no applications or addresses to persuade forein Princes to yield them succour either by Men or Money But Wars raging in all parts of Christendom administred trouble and care sufficient for every Prince to consult and provide for his own affairs and safety The Czar of Moscovy to whom the Venetians sent their Ambassadour promised fair and gave good words but with little other effect it being difficult to concert matters or engage affections or reconcile the Interest of Princes so remote Thus the Venetians becoming destitute of all succours from forein Powers addressed themselves to the Pope as their ultimate refuge in all their distresses beseeching his Holiness to grant them such sums of Mony as might supply their present occasions But alas Rome being but newly recovered from a languishing state of Pestilence and from other calamities before mentioned during which immense sums had been issued from the publick Treasury to sustain the Commonalty in their scarcity and want the Pope alledged just Causes to excuse the disbursment of Money from his Treasury which had of late years been miserably exhausted by the Avarice of those who had had the management of it Howsoever though the Pope pretended himself not able to issue out Money from his own Exchequer yet he hearkened to some Proposals and expedients for raising it by the sale of certain Lands and Rents belonging to the two Orders of the Crociferi and of the Santo Spirito which the Pope's Authority and the cause for which they were sold being for maintenance of a War against Infidels and of the Christian Cause against Turks was sufficient to warrant and hallow the sale and give a lawful Title to any Purchaser The Order of the Crociferi was very ancient and possessed several Monasteries dispersed in all parts of Italy but that of the Spirito Santo consisted of three Monasteries onely and all within the Dominion of the Republick by which they had been endowed under the protection and government of the Council of Ten howsoever the desolation of these Monasteries could not pass without the severe Censures and reflections of the World and though the Friers of those Orders were much fallen from the integrity of their antient institution and become corrupt and debauched in their lives and manners yet their clamours could not be suppressed nor the calumnies which they daily uttered against the Pope and the Republick be quieted Howsoever a Bull being passed and a Decree of the Senate for sale of the Lands together with those of some other smaller Monasteries the Pope's Nuntio with three Senators were commissionated to sell and pass the Title to the Purchasers whereby the Senate raised above a million of Ducats which were all employed to carry forward a War against the Turk Whilest this good correspondence passed between the Pope and the Republick and that the Venetians had daily need of succours and assistances from the Church
civil Animosities and have pursu'd that great Conquest by Land and Sea as Calixtus advis'd But the Turk recovering strength took Trabisond killing the Emperour and then Bossina where he took and slew the King All wise Men perceiving as from a Watch-Tower and advertising the Christians of the Calamities that were like to befal Calixtus especially never desisted from exhorting the Christian Princes by Letters and Messengers to open their eyes at last amidst such great dangers for that they would seek a remedy in vain when the Enemy was recruited But whilst the good Man was thinking and talking of these things James Picenninus revolted from the Venetians and march'd into the Territories of Siena with a numerous body of Horse and Foot to demand of the Sieneses some thousands of pounds which he said they ow'd him upon his Father Nicolas's account who had formerly fought under their Commission The Sieneses fearing the worst sent to the Princes of Italy to assist 'em as they were bound by Contract especially the Pope who first advised 'em not to give James one farthing and then sent his Forces against him and admonish'd the Princes of Italy to do the same lest a flame should break out in Italy which might be too fierce for them to quench The Italians fearing the Pope's words would prove too true sent speedy succours to the Sieneses onely Alphonso favoured James and sent for him to his House as being mindful of the Friendship he had formerly contracted with Nicolas Picenninus his Father nor would he assist the Sieneses as he ought to have done nay he so far animated Count Petilian against them that he seemed to be the chief cause of all the mischief But when the Auxiliaries came in not onely from Francis Sfortia but the Venetians also Picenninus was reduced to that pass in some few Battles that if he were not routed he was mightily weaken'd especially at Orbitello insomuch that he was fain to take shipping in Alphonso's Gallies that were sent to him in his distress and sail into his own Country without any success in that great Attempt Thus by the assistance of Calixtus and his Allies were the Sieneses freed from great danger though they were still troubled with intestine and domestick as well as forein broils by reason of some Citizens that contemn'd their present Liberty and follow'd Alphonso's Faction by whom also 't is thought that great War was first raised But the honest Citizens turn'd out or kill'd the rest and do to this day retain that Liberty which they purchased at so dear a rate Nor did they omit to punish the licentiousness of the Soldiers or those that fled from their Colours as Gilbert Corrigia whom they put to death and gave his Men for a common prey to the rest Sigismund Malatesta had like to have been serv'd in the same sauce who at that time fought under them for protracting the War and driving away their Cattel out of their grounds as if he had been an Enemy That year there happen'd such an Earthquake in the Kingdom of Naples upon the seventh of December that many Churches and Houses fell down to the great destruction of Man and Beast especially at Naples Capua Cajetta Aversa and other Cities in old Campania whose ruines I since have seen with great astonishment when I went thither to look after Antiquities Then also did Alphonso often repeat his Vow which he had made against the Turks and said he would shortly perform it but he could never be brought to the Holy War for all that so mightily was he taken with the delights of Naples But Calixtus when he had setled the Affairs of Italy created nine Cardinals of whom two were his Nephews by two Sisters of his to wit Roderick Borgia and John Miliano his Sisters Son He also made Aeneas Bishop of Siena a Cardinal and made use of him to procure the peace of Italy whilst the Sieneses were teazed with War The Earl Tagliacocius being dead whom the Pope had made Governour of the City the year before there rose a Controversie between Neapolio Vrsin and the Count Aversus for that the later had possession of Monticello not far from Tivoli he pretending it belong'd to his Daughter-in-law who was the Count's Daughter and Neapolio urg'd on the other side that it ought to be his himself being reckon'd to be of the Vrsine Family Whilst these two contended thus for their Patrimony and that with Arms too the Roman people suffer'd very greatly But when this Controversie also was over and both sides commanded to lay down their Arms Calixtus made his Nephew Borgia not onely Governour of the City in the room of the Count deceased but made him General of the Church-Forces that he might keep the great Men of the City the better in order Alphonso not long after dying without a lawful Heir Calixtus had the courage to demand that Kingdom and said it belong'd to the Sea Apostolick as an Escheat Whereupon Armies were raised on both sides and Ferdinand Alphonso's Heir fear'd Calixtus's resolution for he knew his nature and the greatness of his Soul But his death also put all things into confusion and freed Ferdinand from great consternation of mind Calixtus died in the third year the third month and sixteenth day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Vatican on the left hand of St. Peter's in the Round Church dedicated to St. Marie del Febri which was formerly repaired by Nicolas Borgia also his Nephew died not long after at Civita Vechia whither he had fled to save himself from the Vrsins whom he had disobliged by favouring the opposite Faction But to give you a short Character of Calixtus He was a very upright Man and is to be commended for one thing above all That when he was Bishop or Cardinal he would never keep any Benefice in Commendam but said he was content with one Wife and that a Virgin i.e. the Church of Valenza as the Canon Law ordains Besides he was very charitable to poor Christians both in publick and private and gave portions to several poor Virgins when they married kept indigent Noblemen at his own charge and when occasion was he was munificent to Princes especially those that could assist the Church of Christ He likewise sent Lewis of Bologna of the Order of St. Francis Vsun-Cassanus Prince of Persia and Armenia and to the King of the Tartars with many great Presents to animate them against the Turk and by his persuasion they did the Enemy great damage and sent their Embassadours that were design'd to come to Calixtus after he dy'd to Pope Pius which was an admirable Rarity to us not onely upon account of the distant Countries from whence they came but their habit which was unusual and very strange to our eyes They say that Vsun-Cassanus after many Victories over the Enemy wrote to the Pope that he had conquer'd the Foe by the Pope's prayers and that he would one day
thank him for his kindness which was Divine rather than humane That Alliance was begun by Calixtus and is preserv'd to this day between all Christians and that Prince who vexes the Turk with continual War He laid out but little in building because he dy'd too soon and gather'd up all the Money that he could to maintain that great and perillous War against the Turks Onely he repair'd St. Prisca upon the Mount Aventine as also the City Walls that were broken down almost to the ground Yet some Hangings of Gold there are which he bought He was sparing in his Diet very modest in his Discourse and very accessible as much as his Age would suffer him to be for he was eighty years old and yet as studious as ever For he either read himself or heard those that did whenever his important Affairs would give him leave He composed the Office for the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ and order'd it to be said in the same manner and with the same Indulgences for which Corpus Christi Day is so much valued He receiv'd all Embassadours that came to him with great kindness but would not yield to any of their Proposals or Demands which were not consistent with Virtue and Justice And that was the cause why he fell out and had a long quarrel with Alphonso who sometimes would ask him to give Bishopricks to such as either upon the score of their Age or ignorance in Books as well as Men ought not to have them When Calixtus dy'd he left 115000 l. behind him which he had heaped together to make warlike preparations against the Turk As Calixtus was going to be buried Dominick Cardinal of St. Crosses and chief Poenitentiary died also a Man of gravity and great Wisdom and was buried in Minerva's Temple to the grief of all good Men. PIVS II. PIVS the Second before called Aeneas Picolhomineus an Italian of Siena and born at Corsignano whose Father 's name was Sylvius and his Mother 's Victoria was chosen Pope by general consent of the Cardinals August 20. 1458. Formerly his Father and the rest of the Nobility being banish'd or expelled the Republick of Siena by the Commonalty of that place he went to Corsignano the Seat of his Family and there had a Child by his Wife Which Child as soon as it was born the Father christen'd Aeneas Sylvius Now his Mother when she was big with Child dreamed that she had brought forth a Boy with a Mitre on his head as which she was affraid as people are apt to think the worst of things that her dream betokened some dishonour to their Child and Family nor could she be eas'd of her fear till she heard her Son was made Bishop of Trieste And upon that news she was freed from all fear and gave God thanks that she saw her Son more happy than she expected As soon as he was capable of learning any thing he having a good memory and being very docile went through his Grammar at Corsignano where he lived but poorly being forced to undergo all the troubles of a rural employment But when he was eighteen years of age he went to Siena where by the help of his Friends he first learn'd the Poets and then the Orators in which he was so skilful that in a short time he put forth Poems in Latin and Italian of which if the Subject was Love it is to be ascribed to his Youth Thence he apply'd himself to the Civil Law the study of which not long after he was forced to leave For there arose a War between the Sieneses and the Florentines which made him fear a Dearth and seeing the Commonalty of Siena suspected the Nobility he chose as it were a voluntary Exile and follow'd that excellent person Dominick Capranicus who then passed through Siena in his way to the Council at Basil to complain of the injury Eugenius had done him in denying him a Cardinals Hat which Martin even in his absence had bestow'd upon him for his Virtue and Integrity In his Retinue he went and after long tedious Journeys over the Alps that reach to heaven almost and are cover'd with Snow he travailed over Ponte del Inferno the Lake of Lucern and through Switzerland till he at last came to Basil In which Assembly though he had much to do being Dominick's Secretary yet he stole always some hours for his Book After that he was forced not without tears to leave Dominick because he was extream poor Eugenius denying him the Revenue of his Benefices and of his Paternal Estate too he went to wait upon Bartholomew Bishop of Novara with whom he came to Florence where Pope Eugenius at that time was But he was forced to leave Bartholomew also he being accused by the Pope of high Treason and betook himself to Nicolas Cardinal of St. Crosses and a very excellent and religious person in all Mens judgments who going to Artois by order from Eugenius where there was a Convention of all the French Princes he made a Peace between the Duke of Burgundy an Ally of England and the King of France After that Nicolas returning into Italy made a Peace between the Venetians and Philip Duke of Millain to their great satisfaction and Aeneas who was not very acceptable to Eugenius went to Basil and was in great esteem among all Men. He was made a Secretary in that famous Council and Abbreviatour of the Pope's Breves as also a Duodecimvir or one of the Twelve who in that great Assembly were as Censors For nothing could be done relating to the publick but what pass'd their graver approbation and if any were admitted to the Council that were not fit they were removed by their Order There were in that Council four Sub Conventions or Committees one debated concerning Faith another of Peace a third of Reformation and the other of promiscuous matters Over each of these there was a several President plac'd every month and Aeneas was often Chairman of the Committee for Faith of which he was a Member and was also chosen twice one of the Collators or disposers of Benefices He made several Speeches in that Assembly but one more remarkably elegant to prove that Pavia was preferable to Avignion Vdine or Florence for a place convenient to hold a Council in by reason of its plenty situation magnificence of the Houses good Air and the liberality of Philip their Duke When any thing was to be done by the several Nations together he was the onely person chosen for Italy to manage their business he was a Man so courteous and ingenuous He went also on several Embassies from the Council to Strasburgh three times to Trent once to Constance twice to Frankfort once and into Savoy twice But when upon a long Debate the Council chose Felix Pope and deposed Eugenius and eight were chosen out of every Nation to be managers of the Council Affairs Aeneas who was the Pope's Secretary refused to be one