produced for those Cities and Fortresses which in other times had valiantly stood out for many months against the Sieges and storms of their Enemies did now shamefully yield so soon as they discovered the French Banners displayed before their Walls To this success the surprise of the action did much contribute for had the King deferred this enterprise until the Summer 't is more than probable that he might have encountred a greater opposition by the union of the German Princes who in a season fit for Armies to take the Field would scarce have suffered so considerable a part as the Franch Compte to be lopped off and dismembred from the Body of the Empire This sudden and unexpected success begat a jealousie in the neighbouring Princes and was the first moving Cause which gave beginning to the Triple League between England the Vnited Provinces and Sweden leaving a door open to other Princes to be comprehended as they should see cause in the same Agreement This Sacred Alliance became the common discourse of all Europe and many happy effects were expected as consequences thereof In which conjuncture our Clement IX renewing his former sollicitations for Peace procured a suspension of Arms and though he desired that Rome or Venice should be the places appointed for this Treaty yet Aquisgrane being esteemed a place more convenient for the Electoral Princes who were much concerned in this Accommodation it was by common consent ordained for the onely place of Treaty And now France at the instant pressures of so many powerful Princes inclining to hearken unto Propositions of Peace and the King calling to remembrance his Articles with the King of Portugal not to make a Peace with Spain in exclusion of him he immediately sent his Advices to Lisbon advising that King to dispatch his Plenipotentiary to Aquisgrane which was appointed for the place of Treaty This intimation being given to the Court of Portugal the Count Olivarez Son of the late Favourite being then a Prisoner at Lisbon taken at the Battel of Canal began to propose several Conditions in order to a Peace for which afterwards receiving a Commission from Madrid a Treaty was separately set on foot without concerning France in it At this time the Earl of Sandwich resided at the Court of Spain in quality of Ambassadour from his Majesty of Great Britain a Person so well affected by both Courts that by mutual consent of both Parties he was in the place of the King his Master chosen Umpire of the Peace between the two Kingdoms This Overture being acceptable to our gratious King he sent his Orders and Instructions to the Earl of Sandwich to remove from Madrid to Lisbon there to be Arbitrator of the Peace and in order thereunto to perform all the good Offices of Mediation The Plenipotentiaries being accordingly assembled at Lisbon after some few Conferences between the Earl of Sandwich and Count Olivarez a Peace was concluded and published in the month of March without any respect or consideration to the agreement contracted the year before with France or the endeavours of the Abbat of St. Romain to the contrary And indeed the People were grown so weary of a War which had continued for the space of twenty eight years that they were ready to have broken out into a common mutiny had the least interruption been given thereunto the Commonalty scarce tempering their rage against the French Minister for labouring to disappoint that happiness they had so long desired Some few days after the Peace was proclaimed a Sentence of Divorce declaring the Marriage void between the King Alphonso and the Queen was published grounded on the suppos'd impotency of the King her Husband whereby the Matrimonial knot was dissolved and both Parties freed and stated in a lawful separation with power to dispose of their own Persons The confirmation of this act of Divorce was a subject of serious consideration to the Pope but afterwards when it was to extend so far as to make the Prince lawful possessour of his Brother's Wife and Dominions it was so much the more weighty and worthy consideration but at length reasons of State and conveniences of that Kingdom overswayed the strict Rules and Canons of the Church But in the first place we must understand that this Divorce was the consequence of a general revolt of the People from their King for they being guided by a prevailing Party in opposition to the Conde de Cassel Meglior Chief Minister of State murmured against the Government and perhaps not without some cause for the King himself being given to Wine practised such extravagancies as were intolerable and which did not pass without some reflections on the Favourite though as to himself he managed all things with prudence and good conduct Moreover the Conde opposing the Peace with Castile on other terms than such as were agreeable to the method and Articles concluded with France became so displeasing to the People that he was displaced from his Office and the Prince admitted to the sole management and direction of Affairs But the Conspiracy stopped not its course at this period for the Queen hereupon retiring into a Monastery and declaring the dissatisfaction she had to the King her Husband demanded the justice of the Country upon the causes given to dissolve the Matrimonial knot by a sentence of lawful Divorce The People at this news were stirred with great commotions and being naturally enclined to Novelty joined with the Prince's Party to chuse him Governour of the Kingdom committing the Person of the King to safe custody until the States of Portugal should otherwise provide in cases of this great emergency The States being assembled about the beginning of the year approved the reasons for deposing the King and confirmed the Regency on the Prince and upon hearing the Cause between the King and Queen the Marriage was found void and null and accordingly an Instrument of Divorce was formed and published and license given to the Prince to take the Queen for his Wife on supposition that she was still a Virgin and unknown to his Brother The case though strange to scrupulous Ears and Consciences was not yet without former examples For in Poland John Casimiro succeeded to the Crown and to the Wife of his Brother Vladislaus And in former Histories of Portugal it is recorded that the Nobility desired John III. to match with the Queen Fâ—â—â—â—ora relict of King Emanuel his Father and therefore this case was not without a Precedent which after dissolution of the Marriage and publication of the Queen's divorce from Alfonso VI. might confirm and make lawful the espousals with the Prince his Brother A particular account of all these Occurrences being given at Paris by the Sicur Verius who then resided at Lisbon for the Crown of France The Cardinal Vandosme then Legat à Latere from the Pope to the most Christian King immediately dispatched a Brief of dispensation into Portugal in the name and by the Authority
arriving in Spain ravage all the Countrey except Granada which was inhabited by those of their own Nation already and at length with their Wives and Children pass as far as Aquitain designing to possess themselves of that Province also Charles Martell the Son of Pipin was at this time famous throughout the World This Pipin after the Death of Grimoald had two other Sons left Caroloman and Charles Martell which Charles this Brother also dying gain'd afterwards to himself the Kingdom of France though not without great opposition especially of Eudo Duke of Aquitain and Chilperic whom some of the French upon the Death of Theodoric had set up to be their King But Martell having passed the River Seine and advanced to Orleans at the first Attaque puts them to flight and becomes sole Possessour of the Kingdom of France After this he passed the Rhine and conquered the Saxons Alemans Sueves and Boiarians But having Intelligence that the Saracens had been invited by Eudo into France by great Marches he comes forth against them and obliging them to fight gains a mighty Victory not far from Tours Historians write that in this Battel there were slain of the Saracens three hundred and sixty thousand but of the French only one thousand one hundred and fifty and 't is said that Eudo hereupon came over to Martel's side The Saracens being by this means through Martel's Valour diverted from any farther Attempts upon the Spaniards and French turn all the Rage and Indignation which upon so great an Overthrow had been raised in them upon the Constantinopolitans whose City they besieged by Sea and Land the space of three years But suffering all the extremities of War being pinched with Hunger and Cold and a Pestilence moreover raging among them they raised the Siege and return'd home 'T is said that of this Plague there died in Constantinople three hundred thousand As for the Affairs of Italy the Lombards now under the Conduct of Luithprandus after a long Siege took and sack'd Ravenna carrying away from thence to Pavia all things of considerable value and amongst the rest as I believe the famous Statue on Horseback in Brass Thus according to the usual Vicissitude of humane Affairs it so fell out that what Theodoric and other Kings of the Goths and after them the Exarchs had taken from Rome and carried to Ravenna was by others afterwards scattered about and dispersed into several places In the mean time there was at Rome a Plot laid by some seditious people against the Pope the Heads of the Conspiracy being Basilius Jordanus a Notary John a Sub-deacon surnamed Lurion and Marinus an Officer of the Guards who at this time was Governour of Rome under the Emperour But upon the Emperour 's recalling Marinus the business was deferred to another time The Conspiratours tampered also with Paul the Exarch being willing in a matter of so great importance to have him to head them The whole Design being at length discovered by the people of Rome they appear in Arms kill John Lurion and dissipate the other Conspiratours Basilius was confined to a Monastery where he died The forementioned Paul being highly enraged at the Pope for prohibiting his levying new Taxes did by the Emperour's Order seek all ways both secret and open of taking away the good mans life but the Romans and Lombards taking up Arms defended him The Emperour Leo hereupon publishes an Edict commanding all those who were Subjects of the Roman Empire to rase out and take away all the Pictures and Images of Saints Martyrs and Angels out of their Churches with design as he ptofessed thereby to prevent Idolatry and declaring that whosoever refused so to do should be accounted a publick Enemy But Gregory not only not obeyed this Order but also encouraged all Catholicks to stand up stoutly against it Whereupon the people of Italy were so animated that they were near chusing another Emperour had not Gregory by his authority interposed to prevent it Notwithstanding which there arose such a Dissention at Ravenna some pleading for Obedience to the Emperour others to the Pope that Paul the Exarch together with his Son was slam in the Tumult To succeed in whose place the Emperour sends Eutychius an Eunuch who by Gifts and Promises was to endeavour to break the Friendship and Alliance between the Lombards and the Pope But that Attempt having been often made in vain was drop'd for a time and the Pope being freed of this trouble began to visit the Hospitals and Churches and to repair those of them which through age or neglect had fallen to decay Moreover he made a Peace between the King of the Lombards and the Dukes of Spoleto and Beneventum which that King had intended to crush but having marched in a peaceable manner as far as Rome to confer with the Pope about the matter Gregory by his Christian Counsel so mollified his mind that laying aside all thoughts of War he offered up his Sword and other Arms in the Church of S. Peter The Emperour Leo now in another wild humour commanded all the Images either of Wood Brass or Marble to be brought to him which he forthwith caused to be burnt and seiz'd upon and put to Death those who refused to bring them Germanus the Patriarch who vigorously opposed it he banished and put into his place Anastasius an Heretick whom Gregory afterwards in a Synod deprived and interdicted the Exercise of sacred Offices if he refused to return to the Catholick Faith Furthermore as became a pious Prelate he oftentimes by Letters admonished the Emperour to quit the erroneous Opinions into which some ill men had seduced him and at length to embrace the Truth and to cease the destroying of the Images of the Saints by whose Example and Memory men might be excited to the Imitation of their Virtues Some write that in this Popes time Boniface came out of Britain to Rome and for his sanctity was of a Monk made a Bishop and sent into Germany that by his Preaching and Example he might confirm that People in the Faith which he performed so well that he was deservedly made Bishop of Mentz but passing thence into Africa he was for his preaching the Word of God put to Death by the Enemies of Christianity 'T is said also that S. Aegidius a Grecian was now famous for the holy Life he led and the miracles he wrought and that Petronax a Citizen of Brescia did by Vow repair at his own Charge the Monastery of S. Benedict which was almost quite left desolate As for Gregory who by his good Example excited all men to the practice of Piety and Virtue having been in the Chair sixteen years nine months eleven days he died and was buried in S. Peter's February the 11th By his Death the See was vacant thirty five days He is said to have consecrated during his Pontificate one hundred forty eight Bishops GREGORY III. GREGORT the third a Syrian his Fathers
necessary he should oppose the Enemy in Person For both the Gascons had revolted whom in a short time he reduc'd and those of Bretaigne began to endeavour a change of Government whom in like manner by his Arms he kept in Obedience and moreover at an Assembly held at Aken he granted Peace to the Ambassadours sent from the Saracens inhabiting Saragosa Stephen being now upon his departure in Imitation of our Saviour who spared even his Enemies obtained of Louis that all those whom Charles had punished with Banishment or Imprisonment for their Conspiracy against Leo might have their Liberty He also carried with him a Cross of great Weight and Value made at the Charge of Louis and by him dedicated to S. Peter But returning to Rome he died in the seventh month of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's and by his Death the See was vacant eleven days PASCHAL I. PASCHAL a Roman Son of Bonosus was created Pope without any Interposition of the Emperours Authority Whereupon at his first Investiture in that Office he forthwith sends Nuntio's to Louis excusing himself and laying all the blame upon the Clergy and People of Rome who had forcibly compell'd him to undertake it Louis accepting this for Satisfaction from Paschal sends to the Clergy and People admonishing them to observe the ancient Constitution and to beware how they presum'd for time to come to infringe the Rights of the Emperour Also in the Assembly held at Aken he associated to himself in the Empire his eldest Son Lotharius and declared Pipin his second Son King of Aquitain and Louis his third Son King of Bavaria But Bernardus King of Italy having upon the Instigation of certain Bishops and seditious Citizens revolted from the Empire and compelled some Cities and States to swear Allegiance to himself Louis being hereat incensed sends a strong Army into Italy whose Passage over the Alpes Bernardus endeavouring to oppose he was vanquished The Heads of the Rebellion being taken were presently cut off and Bernardus himself though he very submissively begg'd forgiveness was put to Death at Aken Those Bishops who had been Authors of the mischief were by a Decree of Synod confined into several Monasteries This Tumult for so it was rather than a War being thus composed Louis moves with his Army against the Saxons rebelling now afresh and overcomes and slays Viromarchus their hardy Chief who aspired to the Kingdom After this he sends his Son Lotharius whom he had declared King of Italy to the Pope by whom he was anointed in the Church of S. Peter's with the Title of Augustus But there arising great Commotions in Italy and Lotharius seeing himself unable to withstand them he goes to his Father in order to provide greater Force Upon which Theodorus the Primicerius and Leo the Nomenclator having had their Eyes first pull'd out were murdered in a Tumult in the Lateran Palace There was some who laid the blame of this Disorder upon Paschal himself but he in a Synod of thirty Bishops did both by Conjectures and by Reasons and by his Oath purge himself of it Louis rested himself satisfied herewith and as Anastasius tells us that no future Disturbance might arise from uncertain Pretensions writing to Paschal he declared in his Letters what Cities of Tuscany were subject to the Empire viz. Arezzo Volterra Chiusi Florence which had been repaired and enlarged by his Father Charles the Great Pistoia Luca Pisa Peragia and Orvieto the others he allowed to be under the Jurisdiction of the Church of Rome He added moreover Todi in Umbria and Romagna beyond the Appennine with the Exarchate of Ravenna The same Anastasius says that Louis granted to Paschal a free Power the same which he also tells us was given by Charles to Pope Adrian of chusing Bishops whereas before the Emperours were wont to be advised and their consent and Confirmation desired in the Case Our Paschal who for his Piety and Learning had been by Pope Stephen made Prior of the Monastery of S. Stephen in the Vatican being now in the Chair both caused the Bodies of several Saints which before lay neglectedly to be conveyed into the City with great Solemnity and honourably interred and also by paying their Creditors procured the Release of divers poor Prisoners He also built from the ground the Church of S. Praxedes the B. Martyr not far from the old one which through Age and the Clergy's neglect was run to Ruin This Church having consecrated he oftentimes celebrated Mass in it and also reposited therein the Bodies of many Saints which lay about unregarded in the Coemeteries In the same Church was an Oratory dedicated to S. Agnes which he made very stately and ornamental Moreover he built the Church of S. Cecily as appears still by an Inscription on the Nave of it in which he in like manner reposited the Bodies of that Virgin her self and her affianced Husband Valerianus as also of Tiburtius and Maximus Martyrs and Urban and Lucius Bishops of Rome adorning it with all kinds of Marble and enriching it with Presents of Gold and Silver He also repaired the Church of S. Mary ad Praesepe that had been decayed by Age and alter'd the Nave of it to advantage In fine having been very exemplary for Religion and Piety Good Nature and Bounty after he had been in the Chair seven years two months seven days he died and was buried in S. Peter's The See was then vacant only four days EUGENIUS II. EUGENIUS the second a Roman Son of Boemundus was for his Sanctity Learning Humanity and Eloquence unanimously chosen into the Pontificate at that time particularly when Lotharius coming into Italy made choice of a Magistrate for the Administration of Justice and Execution of the Laws among the People of Rome who after a long and heavy Servitude had enjoyed some Liberty under the Emperour Charles and his Sons In the mean time Louis after he had for forty days been spoiling and laying waste the Countrey of Bretagne with Fire and Sword having received Hostages he goes to Roan and there gives Audience to the Ambassadours of 〈◊〉 Emperour of Constantinople who came to consult what his Opinion was concerning the Images of the Saints whether they were to be utterly abolished and destroyed or kept up and restored again But 〈◊〉 referred them to the Pope who was principally concerned to determine in the Matter After this he marched against the Bulgarians who were now making Inrodes into the Pannonia's and at first repelled them but Haydo Governour of Aquitain upon confidence of 〈◊〉 Forces from Abderamann King of the Saracens having rebelled he was obliged to quit this War and so the Bulgarians in an hostile manner march'd without controll through the middle of the hostile manner march'd without controll through the 〈◊〉 of the Pannonia's into Dalmatia But before Louis advanced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great part of Spain had revolted to Haydo who sent out a 〈◊〉 which annoyed the Sea-port Towns all
out freely every Man with his own Clothes but when they could not make good the agreement because the piece of the Cross was not to be found Richard put many of the Barbarians to death Saladine was so dismay'd at these losses that despairing of being able to defend them all he dismantled several Cities in that Region and was upon the point of delivering up Jerusalem itself if it had not been for a difference which arose between Philip and Richard concerning Precedency upon which Philip pretending himself sick departed home from Asia Richard then apply'd himself more vigorously to the War though at this time Conrade of Montferrat was assassinated in the Market-place of Tyre by two Saracen Ruffians who had bound themselves under an Oath and Vow to destroy all the Enemies of their Religion after the same manner but as they ran away they were caught and put to death with the most exquisite Torments and Henry Earl of Champagne taking Queen Isabel to Wife entred upon the Dominion of Tyre Richard giving some fair words to Guy of Lusignan persuaded him to pass over to him his Kingdom of Jerusalem which the Kings of England still put among their Titles and herewith taking courage he march'd his Army to beleaguer the City of Jerusalem but Saladine in his Journey falling in with his Rear forc'd him to a Battel in a very disadvantageous place in which though he at last came off Conqueror yet it was with great loss of men Saladine after this encamp'd not far from Bethlehem in a commodious place to intercept any manner of Provisions that might be sent from Egypt to the Christian Army as they should lie before Jerusalem wherefore and because the Winter was coming on Richard puts off his designs for this so necessary Siege the Pope yet urging him and continually supplying him with Money and retreats to Ascalon which as well as Gaza he fortifies again they having before been slighted by Saladine In the mean time the Sea-forces by degrees leave him and the Pisans sailing into the Adriatic seiz'd Pola with intent to Winter there but the Venetians reinforcing their own Fleet set upon 'em took the Place and sack'd it and drove out the Pisans and had pursued them to extremity if Celestine out of care for the good of Christendom had not mediated between them Spring now came on and Richard was preparing for the Siege of Jerusalem when on a sudden news was brought him that King Philip had invaded Normandy and intended to pass into England to procure that Kingdom for his Brother John Richard then laid by those thoughts and strook up a Peace with Saladine upon these Articles That Saladine should enjoy all but Tyre and Ptolemais to which with their Territories remaining in the hands of the Christians he should give no molestation Richard having thus settled Affairs there returning into Europe was taken by his Enemies from whom he was ransom'd with a vast sum of Money and at last arriving in England he had many a Battel with the King of France much against the Pope's mind who was griev'd that so fierce a War should be raised among Christians at so unseasonable a time when Saladine being now dead it was thought to have been a very fit time to have recovered Jerusalem It is reported of that illustrious Prince that one Ceremony at his Funeral was this His Shirt was hung upon the end of a Pike and carried before the Corps and one with a loud Voice cryed Behold Saladine the mighty Lord of Asia of all his Realms and of all his Wealth takes no more than this along with him A spectacle well befitting so great a Man to whom nothing was wanting but the Character of a Christian to have rendred him a most consummate Prince Upon the death of Saladine as was said before Celestine had fresh hopes that Jerusalem might be regain'd and so urg'd the Emperour Henry who Tancred being dead succeeded to the Kingdom of Sicily to undertake the Enterprize that though he could not go in person yet he sent thither with great speed a good Army under the Arch-bishop of Mentz and the Duke of Saxony The King of France would have gone too but that the Saracens who inhabited Mauritania now the Moors had cross'd the Streights and having taken the King of Castile Prisoner had possess'd themselves of that part of Spain now call'd Granado where the French fear'd they would hardly continue long quiet but go near to infest the neighbouring Nations and therefore would not draw their forces out of Europe The Germans however arriving in Asia fortified Berylus which had been deserted by the Saracens and rais'd their Siege from before Joppa from whence when they were about to go to Jerusalem Celestine this most holy Pope who never let slip any opportunity for the recovery of the Holy Land died upon which they desisted Notwithstanding all these troubles and these great charges of War our Pope built two Palaces one near S. Peter's the other near S. John in the Lateran fit for the reception of Popes The brasen Gates yet remaining in the Lateran over against the Sancta Sanctorum which were made by his Order and at his charge Moreover he made Viterbo a City raising the Church there to a Bishops Sea to which Diocese he added Toscanella and Centum-cellae Celestine died when he had been Pope six years seven months and eleven days to the great grief of all good Men and was buried in St. Peter's Church INNOCENT III. INNOCENT the Third born in Anagni Son of Trasimund of the Family of the Conti was for his great Learning and many Virtues made a Cardinal by Celestine and upon his death was by general consent chosen Pope Which he had no sooner arriv'd to but he applied his thoughts to the Holy War and by Letters Messengers large Promises and Largesses endeavour'd to contain the Germans within the bounds of their duty who after the decease of their Emperour Henry were all in a mutiny but 't was to no purpose for they disdaining any Commander left Asia and to the extream damage of the Christian Cause return'd to Europe whereby those of Joppa especially suffered most for being destitute of help the Turks and Saracens came upon 'em and while they were about to yield they took the City by force and cut them all off rasing it to the ground In Germany also all things seem'd to threaten confusion some of the Electors stickling hard for Otho Duke of Saxony others standing resolutely for Philip a German Duke of Tuscany who was left by Henry upon his death bed Guardian to his young Son And to improve this mischief to the height the King of France took part with Philip and the King of England was for Otho Innocent then to obviate the impending miseries that must follow upon such a state of Affairs confirms Otho in the Empire as duly elected by those who had just suffrage Philip notwithstanding would not lay down his
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
Furthermore he exterminated some Tyrants who studied innovations out of the Church Dominions but never medled with any one till he had first sent an Embassadour or Legate to 'em to reduce 'em if it were possible by fair means After that he sent Frederick of Vrbino his General with Alexander Sfortia to Tagliacozzo to stop James Picennenus who fought under Renatus from going into Puglia to assist the French against Ferdinand And besides he succour'd Ferdinand at Sarno when he had like to have lost his Kingdom for fear the French when they had once gotten that Kingdom would make use of their Victory to subvert the Liberty of Italy He slighted the Threat and Promises of the French Embassadours that endeavour'd to bring him over from Ferdinand to Renatus and by his Censures as well as Arms he tamed the fury of Sigismund Malatesta who was a Feudatary of the Church and yet contemning the League which the Pope had made between him and Ferdinand storm'd and took all the Castles which he had given for caution against Law and Reason and having driven the Churches Legate as far as Nulasture he made War upon the Anconeses But his extravagance was corrected the year after at Sinigaglia under the conduct of Frederick of Vrbino and Neapolio Vrsin in a sharp engagement wherein they retook Sinigaglia the Town called Fortunae Fanum was taken by Nicolas of Pistoia Cardinal Legate of St. Cecilys and great part of Rimini taken from him lest he should rebel any more Ferdinand also had the same happy success not long after at Troja a Town in Puglia by which the Prince of Tarento and many others who being desirous of change were on the French side were so consternated that they came all upon their knees to the King and begg'd pardon of him but some few continued obstinate whom the King afterward prosecuted so severely that he either drove 'em out of the Kingdom or brought 'em to know themselves When this was over Pius now freed from two great and troublesom Wars renew'd the thoughts of his Expedition into Asia which had been so long omitted from the time of the Mantuan Council through the ambition and avarice of the several Kings and Princes and makes the King of Hungary the Duke of Burgundy and the Venetians his Confederates because they seemed more inclined to it than any body else He likewise sent Nuncioes with Letters Apostolick to the several Nations of Christendom to exhort the Princes and people to so great and necessary a War Himself in the mean time went to Siena with a design to go as soon as the Season permitted to the Baths at Petriolana that seemed best for his Distemper And there he heard the Duke of Burgundy who had vowed to come with a Navy well Man'd had desisted from his resolution as also that many other Princes and people not onely Foreiners but of Italy led by ambition and envy endeavour'd to frustrate that great Design because they saw that they were likely to have the richest spoils and rewards that underwent the greatest brunt of that War Thereupon as it became a Pope to do he try'd to persuade 'em by kind words at a distance and soon after leaving the Bath he went to Rome where he lay sick for some days of the Gout and a Fever and therefore could not be at Ancona upon the seventh of June as he had publickly declared he would But when his distemper was somewhat asswaged he gave Audience to certain Embassadours that came from the King of France and Duke of Burgundy to excuse their delay And then calling all the Cardinals before him he appointed a day to hear the charge against the King of Bohemia who was said to be heretically inclined and when he had done he was carried in a Litter through Sabina Ombria and the Marcha till he came to the City of Ancona By the way be found great numbers of Men that came out of Germany Spain and France intending for the War against the Turks of whom he sent a great part especially of the Germans having absolv'd 'em back into their own Country because he thought 'em unfit for the toil of War and because they had not brought their pay along with 'em as he had order'd in the Letters Apostolical But in the mean time whilst he waited at Ancona for the Navy that was a building in the several Ports of the Tyrrhene and Adriatick Seas and also for the Duke of Venice his Ally he was afflicted with a tedious Fever and dy'd in the year 1464. upon the 13th of August about three of the Clock in the Night six years wanting six days after he was made Pope He was a Man of such constancy and courage of mind that in all his sickness which was long and painful he never omitted any business that concern'd his understanding onely whether it were to hear the causes of several Nations to inhibit to decree to judg to sign to admonish to chastise or correct And that day whereon he dy'd about two hours before he expired he call'd the Cardinals about him and with a resolute Heart and a good audible Voice exhorted 'em to Unity in the choice of a new Pope commending to their care in a grave Speech the honour of God the dignity of the Church the War which he had undertaken against the Turks the salvation of his Soul all his Family and especially his Nephews if they proved worthy of commendations He desired all the Sacraments of his own accord and shew'd great tokens of a true Christian But besides that he dispued very acutely with Laurentius Roverella Bishop of Ferrara a learned Divine whether it were lawful for him to receive the Extreme Unction again having been anointed once before at Basil when he was sick of the Plague Nor could he be entreated by all his domestick Servants to forbear saying the Canonical Prayers though he were in such an Agony He repeated the Athanasian Creed with great strength and Emphasis and when he had done he said it was most true and most holy He was not affraid to die nor did he shew any sign of trouble or inconstancy to his last breath But indeed he may be said rather to have been kill'd than to have died he was so tortur'd with tedious Diseases He commanded his Friends to carry his Body to Rome where those that embalm'd him affirmed that his heart was very sound and vivid His funeral pomp from Ancona to Rome was made up of his Family who were all in mourning and in tears And when that was over he was buried in St. Peter's at the Altar of St. Andrew in a Tomb which was built at the charge of Francis Cardinal of Siena with this Epitaph Pius II. Pont. Max. natione Tuscus patriâ Senensis gente Pocolhominea He enjoy'd the Sea onely six years But though his Pontificate were short yet it was full of great Actions He held a Council at Mantua to maintain the Faith resisted all
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
whom he had made Superiors over those contrivances Thus the people being full of hatred and disdain against the Pope refused in the time of his greatest exigency to afford him any relief and defence against his enemies who therefore without opposition entered into the new Suburbs which being sacked by them they passed no farther for fear of the Cannon from the Castle then they proceeded to the Popes Palace and the great Church of S. Peters which they plundered and rifled laying their Sacrilegious hands on every thing that was rich or of value but at length the tumult being appeased for this Riot did not continue above three hours by reason that they did no hurt or damage to any particular person the Pope who found himself within the Walls of the Castle without any provision or sustenance for himself or his defendants sent to Don Hugo de Moncada desiring that he might have a parly and treaty with him for the better understanding of matters between them Tho Cardinal Pompeo was greatly averse to all proposals or addresses for accommodation yet Don Hugo under the Popes Faith having received the Cardinals Cibo and Rodolfo who were of the Popes kindred as Hostages for his security went into the Castle to treat and discourse with the Pope where after many words had passed an agreement was concluded in these terms That a Truce should be made between the Pope and the Confederates on one side and of the Emperor on the other for the space of four months That in the mean time the Pope should withdraw his Army out of the Dukedom of Milan causing them immediately to retire on the side of the River Po towards Rome and call home his Fleet at Sea under the command of Andrew Doria That he should pardon the Cardinal Pompeo with all others of the Family of Colonna and for security hereof should deliver Philip Strozzi a wealthy person who had married the Daughter of Peter de Medicis and one of the Sons of James Salviati for Hostages and to send them to Naples within the space of two months on penalty of thirty thousand Ducats for default thereof And lastly that Don Hugo should depart from Rome with his whole Army causing every thing to be restored which had sacrilegiously been robbed and plundered from the holy places The Truce being thus concluded much to the dissatisfaction of Cardinal Pompeo and others of the Family of Colonna Don Hugo chearfully departed from Rome supposing that he had thereby performed sufficient service for the Emperor and the Pope as readily accepted the Agreement wanting provisions in the Castle and all other means to make a resistance But the Pope so soon as he found himself at liberty and freed of those fears and dangers which encompassed him having no regard to that Faith he had given under such compulsive circumstances as Imprisonment and Arms nor care of the Hostages he had delivered resolved not longer to maintain the Truce and thereupon recalled his Forces to Rome being two thousand Switzers and seven Companies of Italian Infantry under the command of John de Medicis to which adding new Levies as an Auxiliary force he in the first place deprived Pompeo of his Cardinals Hat and published both him and all the Family of Colonna Excommunicated and enemies to the Church and so farther prosecuting them by Arms he demolished and laid wast Jubiaco which was the Country House and only place of Pleasure in which Pompeo delighted and divertised himself and sent Vitelli with his Companies to burn and destroy all the Towns and Countries of the Colonnians as namely Marina Montfortin Gallicano and Tagarolo Whilst these things were in action the Emperor judging it not time to sit quiet and secure commanded Charles de Lonoia Vice-King of Naples to put in a readiness six thousand Spaniards and ordered thirty Sail of stout men of War to be speedily equipped and sent to the Coast of Italy and wrote also to his Brother Ferdinand to persuade George Franispergio a Captain of great authority and renown in Augusta that he would speedily with three Regiments of Germans pass into Italy whose march aed passage over the Po whilst John de Medicis endeavoured to hinder he was unhappily killed by a shot from one of the Enemies Sakers which breaking his thigh a little above his knee he was carried to Mantoua where he died within a few days after to the great prejudice of the Enterprise and loss to the Pope for being a young man of nine and twenty years of age whose Arms alone the Enemy feared whose time and years his Experience and Virtue surpassed and being of a most excellent temper neither too forward and precipitate nor yet too wary and diffident gave evident indications of becoming with time one of the most eminent Captains in the world In this manner the Truce being absolutely broken a most cruel War began again in Italy for the Imperialists entering the Ecclesiastical State had some skirmishes with the Popes Forces about Frosolone and matters pressing hard to their disadvantage the French King was intreated to make a diversion by attempting the subjection of the Kingdom of Naples Hereupon it being determined to invade Naples both by Sea and Land Monsieur De Vaudemont who by the ancient Right of King René laid claim to that Kingdom was appointed for that enterprise and being arrived with his Fleet he at the first on-set took Salerno and thence with great courage and hopes marching to Naples it self was repulsed by the Forces under the command of Don Hugo de Moncada Howsoever the Pope re-inforcing his Army with new Levies under the command of his Legate Augustin Trivultio one greatly affected to the French interest the Imperialists were worsted and at length forced to raise their Siege from before Frosolene and retire farther within the Jurisdiction of that Kingdom But this good fortune passed no farther For after various successes and many troubles and desolations in Italy the Pope wanting mony grew weary of the War and being disappointed by the French King who was great in his promises but little in his performances having always failed in his times of payment and neither complied in the supplies of men or mony he resolved to close with the propositions made him by Francis de Quignones in behalf of the Emperor in reward of which mediation he was afterwards promoted to the dignity of Cardinal In short the Articles agreed were these That there should be a cessation of Arms for eight months the Pope paying 60000 Ducats to the Imperial Army That whatsoever had been taken from the Church the Kingdom of Naples and the Family of Colonna should be made good and rendered That Pompeo Colonna should be restored to the dignity of Cardinal and absolved from all Ecclesiastical censures which condition was more grievous to the Pope than all the rest That the French King and the Venetians should have liberty within a certain time to enter into the
Assembling was deferred from May until the first of November following The month of November approaching near the Pope published an other Bull appointing the Council to be held at Vicenza a City under the Jurisdiction of the Venetians upon the first of May next in the year 1538. deputing for his Legates the Cardinals Campeggio Simonetta and Jeronimo Alexandro alledging for cause of such prolongation the nearness of the Winter which would be very incommodious to those who were to travel thither from remote parts Howsoever upon divers obstacles and inconveniences thereupon occurring the place for meeting of this Council was altered and the time deferred for some years after as will appear by the sequel hereof In the mean time Henry the Eighth King of England who in the year 1535. was by Act of Parliament Authorized Head of the Church of England did now absolutely throw off all Obedience to the Papal Sea at which time the whole Clergy of England was charged by the Kings Learned Council to be in a Praemunire for supporting and maintaining the Legantine power of Cardinal Wolsey and were thereupon called by Process into the Kings Bench but before that day of appearance came they in their Convocation concluded an humble submission in writing and offered the King a hundred thousand pounds to have their Pardon by Parliament which offer after some pause and deliberation was accepted and their pardon promised Until this time the Popes that is Clement VII and this present Paul the third had subtilly dissembled matters between them and Henry King of England intending if necessity had required to have confirmed his Divorce from Queen Catharine to which end Cardinal Campeggio was sent into England and joyned in Commission with the Cardinal of York with Authority to give Sentence in favour of the King and that the matter might receive a speedy dispatch and not be spun out by length of time required in the solemnity of Judgment and passing Sentence a Brief was ready framed and drawn up and the Bull or Seal thereunto affixed whereby the Marriage with Queen Catherine was made null and void in the most ample manner and with Terms and Clauses so full as nothing could be more expressive nor more large than that Instrument with instructions notwithstanding not to present or publish the same unless they received assurances that Henry would continue firm and constant in his Obedience to the Authority of the Church and in this manner things stood and thus far had proceeded in the year 1528. Clement the Seventh being then Pope and so remained in suspense until the time of this present Paul the Third when Henry bidding defiance to the Papal Authority proceeded to actions never to be reconciled with that Church whereupon the Pope issued out his Bull dated the 30th of August 1535. whereby he cited King Henry to appear personally before him and the College of Cardinals at Rome to give answer to all those Cruelties Sacrileges Adulteries and other Crimes whereof he stood accused and in case of refusal he pronounced him and all his Subjects to remain under censure of Excommunication declaring him actually deprived of his Crown and Kingdom his Subjects absolved from all Obedience all actions of Religion interdicted and forbidden to be performed or celebrated in his Dominions commanding all Ecclesiastical persons to depart from his Kingdoms and the Nobles to rise up in Rebellion against him But all this lightning and thunder of Excommunication did little terrifie the resolved mind of King Henry but rather incensed him to proceed in that course which since that time hath laid the happy beginning of that blessed Reformation under which by Gods mercy we enjoy the true and glorious light of the Gospel On these terms England stood in reference to the Pope when publication was made of a General Council to be held at Mantoua and then altered to Vicenza in which case King Henry judging himself concerned in despight of his Excommunication published a Manifesto in his own name and in the name of all his Nobility whereby he protested against any such Convocation assembled by the Popes Authority as being in it self of none effect excepting also against the place as unsecure and the Country as infested with continual Wars But whereas he was desirous of a General Council as being the only means whereby to reform the dissolute matters of the Clergy and suppress the exorbitant Tyrannies and Usurpations of the Clergy he should willingly give his consent thereunto provided that such Convocation were assembled by the Authority of the Christian Kings and Princes who had the sole power and disposal of such matters for as to the Pope he esteemed him only as a Bishop in his own Diocess with no farther extent of Jurisdiction than that which reacheth thereunto the which also was most reasonable at this time when the abuses of the Court of Rome were the chief matters to be reformed and to be presented to the cognisance and censure of such a Council Besides this great defection of England from the Papal Obedience which gave a fatal blow to the Church of Rome the Doctrin of Luther daily grew and dilated it self in all parts of Germany and France with much disturbance for allaying of which and establishment of the truth of the Gospel there was no other remedy mentioned and cried up by all parties but a General Council but this admitted of so many scruples disputes and nicities as to the time and place that nothing could as yet be resolved In the mean time the Turks taking advantage upon the discord amongst Christians entered Dalmatia with Fire and Sword and took the strong Town of Clissa which the pope had fortified with all sorts of Provisions and Ammunition which misfortune the Pope greatly resenting ordered solemn Processions to be made in Rome at which he was present in person and walked on foot and sent his Legates to most Christian Princes exhorting them to lay aside the Quarrels and Wars amongst themselves and unite together against the Common Enemy in order whereunto a League was made between the Pope the Emperor and the Venetians the conditions whereof were that the Emperor should set 82 Gallies to Sea and the Venetians the like number and the Pope 38 with which force of 200 Sail they agreed to invest the Turks Dominions in some parts of Greece Andrea D'Oria was constituted Admiral of the Emperors Fleet Vicenzo Capello of the Venetians and Marco Grimano Patriarch of Aquileia of the Popes and in case any descent were made or Forces landed then Fernando Gonzaga Vice-King of Sicily was to be Generalissimo or Commander in Chief but the success did not answer so great preparations which proved rather dishonorable than advantagious for this formidable Fleet being at Sea near the Promontory of Antium had sight of the Fleet of Barbarosso and might with much ease have charged and vanquished them but Andrea D'Oria the Emperors Admiral refused to engage so that leaving the
first year of his Reign had been celebrated with the like glory as was the former his beginning would have been too happy and auspitious Therefore that the ensuing year might prove more fortunate he intended to make it his chief employment of the whole Winter to offer his Prayers and supplications to God with fasting Masses and Processions that he would be pleased to favour and assist the Cause and Arms of the Christians against the Enemies of the Cross of Christ But whilst the Pope was meditating of these things and contriving means to prosecute the War with most advantage the Venetians unexpectedly about the beginning of the year 1573. clapt up a Peace with the Turks by the mediation of their Bailo who then with the French Ambassadour at Constantinople had treated the Conditions with good success to which Sultan Selim the more readily inclined for having done right to his honour by the Conquest of Cyprus and by taking several Fortresses in Dalmatia he more easily condescended to terms of Peace without diminution or disparagement as was supposed to the greatness of his Power But both the Pope and the Spaniards were not satisfied with the Venetians for having without their consent and privity and contrary to the Articles of their League made this Peace with the Turk In excuse for which the Venetians dispatched their Ambassadours to the Pope and King of Spain giving them to understand that the extream urgency of their Affairs which by many circumstances were rendered difficult had forced them to an Accommodation with the Turk and in like terms they expressed themselves to Cardinal Buoncompagno the Pope's Nephew whom Gregory had in the year 1574. sent unto Venice to complement Henry King of Poland who by the death of Charles IX was returning by that way into France to take possession of that Kingdom In this manner the Pope being eased of his expensive War against the Turk converted the current of his Treasure to the assistance of Henry III. against his Protestant Subjects in France for supply of which he raised the sum of four hundred thousand Crowns by Impositions which he laid on Cities belonging to the Church and confirmed the Bull given by Pius V. for sale of Church-Lands of which there remaining as yet to the value of fifty thousand Crowns of yearly Rent unsold he constituted the Cardinals of Bourbon Guise and Lewis d' Eâ—â—e Commissioners for the Sales Nor was this Pope in other matters esteemed less generous and magnificent for to the Duke of Bruswick who came to visit him at Rome he made a Present of seven thousand Crowns and erected many Churches there from the foundation and built Colleges and Churches to the number of twenty seven in divers remote parts of the World for Seminaries and places of Worship and Religion And for the more solemn and ornamental Celebration of the Jubilee in the year 1575. he enlarged the Street leading from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore to the Lateran for the more commodious passage of Pilgrims and having repaired the Portico or Porch of S. Maries which was become ruinous he caused this Inscription to he engraven over it Gregorius XIII Pont. Max. Eugenii labantem Porticum refecit magnificentius restituit Viam rectam ad Lateranum aperuit Anno Jubilei MD. LXXV In this year arose dangerous Discords and civil Dissentions between the antient and the new Nobility of Genoua to which latter the Commonalty of the City adhered having by them been possessed with an Opinion that the Antient Nobles in favour of whom most of their Laws ran intended to usurp such an Authority over them as should be little different from Slavery this jealousie made so deep an impression in the minds of the people that they betook themselves to Arms and had proceeded to blood and ruin had not a stop been made thereunto by the Wisdom and Oratory of Senarega the Chancellour who being a moderate Person and one of whose prudence and honesty the people had a great Opinion persuaded both Parties to remit their differences to the Pope the Emperor Maximilian and the King of Spain The which being accorded on all hands Senarega was in behalf of the New Nobility dispeeded to the Pope with whom whilst he was stating the case between both Parties Intelligence was brought to Rome that Don John d' Austria was then at Gaeta preparing a very great Fleet against Genoua in expectation and with probable hopes to prevail by the means and advantages of those intestine Discords of the City But the Pope at the request and upon the applications made by Senarega dispatched a Letter to Don John exhorting him to desist from his Design which was so displeasing to him that in case he persisted therein he was resolved to raise all the force of Italy to oppose his Enterprise the which Menaces having given a stop to the proceedings of Don John several persons were substituted Arbitrators in these differences by the Pope the Emperor and the King of Spain namely Cardinal Morone Castacciaro Borgia and Idiaquez who taking the state of the whole matter into their consideration rectified and reformed many antient Statutes established new in their places and so governed all things with that even hand that an accord was made and concluded in the Month of May 1576. with that satisfaction to both Parties that the Citizens and Inhabitants who had retired from Genoua for fear of the civil Dissensions returned again to enjoy their repose and ease according to their accustomed Liberty Nor was the Pope less concerned for the Peace of Poland where great differences arose amongst the Nobility as hath been accustomary about the election of a King For Henry III. of France having as we have said resigned his Elective Government to take possession of his hereditary Kingdom of France the Election of a new King administred great cause of dispute and argument by reason of the many powerful Princes which stood in competition and were Candidates for the Election as namely the Emperor Maximilian II. and Ernest his Son with his Brother the Arch Duke of Austria Stephen Battori Prince of Transilvania Alphonso II. Duke of Ferrara together with the Great Duke of Moscovy The Contests between these mighty Rivals proceeded to that degree that nothing but force of Arms could determine the Controversie which the Arch-bishop of Gnesne with many other Associates intending to prove forsook the place of Election and with armed Bands declared for Maximilian the Emperor against whom an other party appeared in favour of Anne Daughter of the Royal Family of Jagellona in Poland intending in right of her to confer in Marriage the Crown upon Battori Prince of Transilvania but these dissentions were soon after concluded by the death of Maximilian the Emperor Battori being after his Marriage with Anne by general consent of all the Nobles received and crowned King of Poland and thereupon sent his Ambassadours to Rome to pay his respects and obedience to the
gave Orders to all his People to treat the Ambassadour and his Retinue with all kindness and due respect and moreover wrote a Letter to the Pope complaining of the late design of his Nuntio attempting to publish Ecclesiastical Censures against forein Princes within his Kingdom which was a new and an unknown practice within his State and had been refused in the Case of Henry III. King of France and in the Cause of Cesare d' Este Duke of Ferrara much less could he be induced to allow of such proceedings against the State of Venice whose Cause was the same with that of his own Kingdom And considering that that State had merited well of Christendom by the opposition they made with their Arms against the common Enemy he exhorted his Holiness to supersede farther proceedings for Causes which ought to be stifled and which for better peace of the Church ought never to be brought into question or Dispute Francis Soranzo a Cavalier of Venice being at this time Ambassadour at the Emperor's Court did rightly inform the Imperial Ministers with the true state of the difference between the Pope and that Republick and in regard the Constitutions of all Germany were the same they could not do less than approve the Cause of the Venetians and condemn the Cause of the Pope which confirmed the Protestants in their reasons which they alledged for detaining Ecclesiastical Benefices in their own hands Howsoever the Great Chancellour and Marshal Prainer were of different Opinions taking part with the Pope against the affections sence and Interest of the whole Court When news came first to the Court of Spain of the differences between the Pope and the Venetians the constancy and firmness of that State to the Principles of their Government was highly applauded being the common Cause of all Secular Princes Howsoever the Nuntio made it his business to have the Venetian Ambassadour declared in all Pulpits to be under Excommunication The Genoeses also who were powerful in that Court being touched with envy on old grudges and for having lately yielded that Point of their liberty to the Pope which Venice still conserved did all the ill offices they were able against the Republick but above all the Ambassadour of Tuscany joyning with the Jesuits shewed himself an open Enemy and so prevailed with the King and Council that a Congregation of twelve Divines was held at Madrid in presence of the Cardinal of Toledo to consider whether the Ambassadour of Venice ought to be admitted into the Church at the time of Celebration of Divine Offices the result of which was that the Ambassadour should not be excluded every one concurring in that Opinion the Nuntio and Jesuits onely excepted So soon as the news came to Paris that the Monitory was published against Venice Barberino the Pope's Nuntio made urgent addresses to the King that Priuli the Venetian Ambassadour should be excluded from admission into the Church but his desire was positively rejected both because the King was willing to remain Neuter and because it was and is a Maxim of that Kingdom That Popes have no power over the Temporal Government of Princes and have no Authority on account for Secular matters to proceed against them or their Officers by Ecclesiastical Censures In England we may easily imagine what Opinion was conceived of these proceedings for when Giustiniano the Ambassadour of Venice had acquainted King James with the state of the difference between the Pope and the Republick the King did much applaud the Laws and Constitutions of Venice and the constancy and resolution of the Senate in the maintenance of them adding That he would gladly see a free Council established which was the onely means to reform the Church of God and put an end to all Controversies amongst Christians which had no other original or source than onely from the usurpation of Popes and ambition of the Clergy in which holy and sacred Design he did not doubt but that the French King and all other Christian Princes would readily concur and that perhaps a beginning thereof might arise from these troubles and labours of the Republick And farther the King added That the Popes exalting themselves above God were the ruin of the Church and that it was no wonder that their Pride admitted of no serious reflections or moderate advices being puffed up and elated by the common adulation and flattery which was used towards them The States of the Vnited Provinces wrote very obliging Letters to Venice proffering to assist them with Arms and Provisions in case they came to an open rupture and acts of hostility with the Pope In the mean time many effectual good Offices were performed both at Rome and Venice by the Dukes of Mantoua and Savoy and by Guicciardin Ambassadour of the Great Duke of Tuscany and more especially by Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour at Venice To all which instances and applications from several Princes the Senate thought fit to make this general Answer First they returned thanks for the good endeavours and labours towards a Mediation and then complained of the firm resolutions of the Pope which could not be shaken or made plyable by any reasonable terms which the Republick could offer That there could be no hopes of accommodation until the Pope by taking off his Censures did open a way to Treaties and terms of Peace That the Pope had proceeded so far in his injuries and affronts as were past all manner of reconciliation and yet the Republick which was truly Catholick would still bear their due respect to the Pope so far as was consistent with their liberty and with that right of Government which was committed to them by God But whilest matters were thus in Treaty at Venice and Rome and in the Courts of Princes the Jesuits who were vigilant and intent to do all the mischiefs they were able against the Republick did not cease to disperse Scandals and Libels as well without Italy as within and to preach and rail against them in their Pulpits and Schools endeavouring to possess their Auditories with the most malicious impressions they could beget or frame in minds of Men they also wrote Letters into all places defaming the Republick some who would not adventure into the Dominions of Venice treated on the Confines with their Disciples and Votaries and others in disguise entered within the Dominions sowing Division and Faction in all parts promising extraordinary Indulgences to all such as should observe the Interdict They also forged several Letters entitling one from the Republick of Genoua to the Senate of Venice another from the City of Verona to the City of Brescia which were most scandalous and abominable Papers Then in other Writings they justified themselves for having in their Sermons inveighed against the Republick calling it a Lutheran Heretical and tyrannical Government with infinite other abominable Epithets In fine it was proved that the Jesuits were the causes of all these disturbances having instigated the
of Pope Clement IX confirming the former Sentence given by the States and Justitiaries of that Kingdom leaving this example to the World that there may be a Case wherein a younger Brother may lawfully usurp the Dominion of his Elder and righteously possess himself of his Wife and of his Crown But the Prince Don Pedro not satisfied with the single dispensation of the Cardinal Vandosme who for the space of two months only was commissionated to be Legat à Latere at Paris to assist at the Baptism of the Dolfin in behalf of the Pope did for better assurance dispatch Father Villa a Jesuit the Queens Confessour unto Rome to procure a more authentick dispensation from the Pope himself The Case being new and strange and difficult to find a way how to make this matter with its present circumstances to become legal the Pope troubled within himself proposed the case in publick Consistory where after long debates on both sides the question still remained dubious and undecided until it was averred that the Queen was several months gone with Child the which circumstance altered the case and then the convenience of the Marriage was not farther alledged but the necessity thereof urged both for the reputation of the Queen and safety of that Kingdom which could not otherwise be setled but by the Pope's definitive Sentence confirming the legality of the Divorce and though the Pope hereupon granted his Bull dispensing both with the Marriage and translation of the Power yet the minds of the contrary Party were not so quieted but that several Conspiracies were contrived against the life of the Prince and particularly a certain Priest was apprehended with a Dagger in his Pocket and confessed that he designed therewith to stab the Prince judging it an action meritorious and pleasing to God to destroy a person guilty of Rebellion and Incest who had usurped the Kingdom and ravished away the Wife of his Brother Wherefore the Prince was in a manner constrained for his own security and for settlement of himself in the Administration of Affairs to remove the King from the Eyes of the people and accordingly he was transported into the Islands of Teraeras The French as we have said having gained their point by the Conquest of the Franch Comte the Spaniards having concluded a Peace with Portugal and the triple League being well formed and concluded the conjuncture of Affairs seemed propitious and tending towards the calm of Peace to improve which the Pope laboured with incessant sollicitations between both Kings to commence that Treaty which was once proposed to be held at Aquisgrana and now more instantly desired by him not only in relation to his Office of Mediator between Christian Princes but in zeal to the Christian Cause which then suffered in the City of Candia which with the whole Island was then in danger and ready to yield to the Arms of the Turks hoping that upon conclusion of the Peace the force of Christendom would be converted from itself and employed against the common Enemy as we may believe But the Intercession and good Offices of the Pope did not so effectually operate towards the conclusion of Peace as the Negotiations of the triple League were available by means of which the Peace was projected first on the 15th of April at St. Germans and afterwards concluded between both Crowns on the 27th of April at Aquisgrana otherwise called by the French Aux la Chappelle in form following That for the future and ever hereafter a good firm and inviolable Peace and a perpetual League and mutual friendship shall be established between the two Kings their Heirs and Successours and that as good Brothers they shall mutually to the utmost of their Power be assisting unto the welfare honour and reputation of each other and shall faithfully as far as is possible avoid every thing which may tend to the hurt loss or damage of each other That so soon as the Articles of this Treaty shall be exchanged and ratified the Peace shall be published and then all Acts of War and hostility shall cease and both Parties shall attend to the performance of the Covenants by surrender of Towns and Fortresses and release of Prisoners without delay Ransom or any charges whatsoever That the most Christian King and his Successours shall for ever hereafter remain lawfully possessed and Masters of Charles Stadt Binch Aeth Doway Scarp Fort Tornay Audemont Lille Armentiers Cotray Berguen Fuernes with all the Royalties Guards Castles Territories dependencies and Subjects with all the rights and immunities both Ecclesiastical and secular thereunto appertaining in the same form Title and plenary possession as they were formerly enjoyed claimed and possessed by his Catholick Majesty On the other side the most Christian King shall speedily after publication of the Peace withdraw all his Forces from the French Comte and shall really effectually entirely and faithfully restore and surrender to his Catholick Majesty all that Country without delay and without reserving any part or parcel thereof unto himself That all other places taken or to be taken until publication of the Peace shall in like manner be mutually restored and surrendred That the Treaty of the Pyreneans shall remain in its full force and Virtue excepting that part onely so far as concerns the Kingdom of Portugal with which Spain hath already concluded a Peace but as to all other matters and things nor expressed in this Treaty reference shall be had to the Pyrenean Peace That those Kings and Princes who are desirous to enter into the Guarantie for the Peace may respectively give their Instruments of Promise and Obligation to each King for maintenance and execution of whatsoever is contained and agreed in the aforesaid Treaty That this Treaty agreed and covenanted by the Plenipotentiaries shall be ratified by their Majesties respectively and registred in the Councils and Chambers or Courts of Justice in such manner as was observed in the Pyrenean Treaty and that Orders be accordingly issued within the space of three months after publication of this present Peace This was the substance of matters agreed at Aix la Chappelle so called by the French but antiently Aquisgrana from Grano as some think the Brother of Nero who for the convenience of some hot Waters arising near thereunto built a Town and a Fortress to which he gave his own name with the adjunction of Aqua in reference to the Waters it is now an Imperial Town situate between the Mosel and the Rhine famous for being the place where the Roman Emperours were first Crowned and Inaugurated and where Charles the Great was interred whose Monument is there to be seen But now having touched on the Treaty concluded at this place so far as concerned Clement IX who was a promoter thereof it will be impertinent to this History to recount the Councils the successes and proceedings which issued thereupon Nor will it be to our purpose to rehearse the Instrument by which the Triple League
being the year following after the Inauguration of the Pope Don Pedro d' Aragon Vice-King of Naples appeared at Rome with a splendid Retinue to perform the Embassy of Obedience as they call it which is done by the yearly present of a white Genet this Ceremony was at other times performed by the Ambassadour of Spain residing at Rome but to shew a greater honour perhaps to the Pope the Vice-King was qualified with the Title of Ambassadour Extraordinary after whose return into Spain the Marquis of Astorgas was constituted Vice King of Naples and Father Nitardo Inquisitor-General of Spain was dignified with the Character of Ambassadour and because that honour is inconsistent with the simple condition of a religious person the Pope adorned him with the Title of Archbishop of Edessa who the year following with several others was promoted to the dignity of Cardinal This year also Pope Pius Quintus who was a Dominican or of the Order of Preachers was canonized being a hundred years after his decease There also happened a dispute concerning Precedency between Don Gasparo Altieri one of the Pope's Nephews and General of the Pope's Forces and commandator Bichi Ambassadour of Tuscany which difference was determined in favour of the latter In the mean time violent disturbances arose in Poland on occasion that King Michael had removed the Primate of that Kingdom and the Great General Sobieski from their places and Offices of Trust which afterwards were accommodated by the Pope's Nuntio Monsignor Bonvisi on terms more necessary than convenient or rather by the approach of the Turks who with a formidable force had taken the strong fortress of Keminiec and were entered into the bowels of Poland as far as Leopolis the news hereof made a great noise at Rome but little disturbed Cardinal Altieri who being intent to other designs did not much trouble his head with the thoughts of sending Nuntio's to the Christian Princes whose business was to incite them to administer help and succour to the afflicted Poland oppressed and almost over run with Mahometan Arms for his Opinion was as they say that the intercession of the Pope's Ministers in matters of that nature were only formalities and such as conduced little to real effects for that Princes well disposed and zealous for the Christian Cause or such as were united in the same common Interest which was to expel and drive an Enemy so powerful and dangerous far from them would move on the principles of their own safety without any other incitements or motives from their common Father the Pope and indeed Altieri searching for the nature of mankind within himself did conclude that not Religion but interest of State onely governed the World Howsoever that he might afford some testimonies of his care and affection towards Poland he raised the sum of three hundred thousand Crowns by impositions on Ecclesiastical Benefices in Italy of which he sent fifty thousand into Poland and the remainder he invested in buildings furniture and moveables for his own service Soon after which King Michael dying the confusions of that Kingdom increased and so other Seditions and Controversies amongst them was added that grand point of dispute concerning a Successour to the Crown for conservation of which though Altieri was not so liberal as to contribute great sums of Money yet to please and gratifie the Spaniards he was desirous to have a hand in the preferment of a King to them naming Prince Charles of Lorain as a person qualified with all Royal abilities and endowments required in a King and indeed though none was more worthy of a Crown than that generous Prince yet the Nobles of that Kingdom informed of the Pope's endeavours reflected thereon as prejudicial to their right of Election having never received Kings at the nomination or recommendation of Rome and therefore proceeded to the election of John Sobieski a person capable to sustain a Crown to the benefit and glory of that Kingdom which being invaded by the formidable Arms of the Turk could never be rescued from ruine and destruction but by the valour and fortune of Sobieski whom God raised not onely for the protection of Poland but for the defence of Germany having by his Heroick march from his own Country in the year 1683. to raise the Siege of Vienna signalized his Valour and prowess to such a degree as Romances describe Heroes and the generous Actions and atchievements of mighty Princes It hath been a priviledg granted by the See of Rome to the Kings of Poland immediately after their Election to bestow a Cardinal's Cap on any Person whom they should propose according to which Power the new King nominated the Bishop of Marseglia for that Person to whom he designed that honour It was indifferent to Altieri whether the Scarlet were bestowed on him or any other had not the Spaniards to whose Interest he was extreamly partial suggested the contrary pretending that the King ought to nominate a Subject of his own and not of a forein and stranger Prince for that in regard the French King was able to insinuate into all Courts by flattery and bribery he might easily obtain a nomination for one or other who should either by Nation or Interest be ingaged in that Faction and so in time the whole Conclave become French and entirely dedicated to the devotion of that King And whereas it might be objected that the refusal of the King of Polands desire would much disoblige him and the whole Nation which stood much on their points and Prerogatives The Spaniards answered That the Election of the Great Marshal Sobieski to the Crown of Poland having not been performed according to the usual Rules and Methods observed in that Kingdom could not continue or be confirmed for that the Nobles of Lituania had not given their Votes or suffrages thereunto that the greatest part of that Republick desired an unmarried Prince who might espouse the Widow of the deceased King and in fine that all the Nobility of Poland remained unsatisfied with this Election and being greatly divided in their Opinions some alteration might speedily be expected Altieri suffering himself to be thus misguided with these suggestions of the Spaniards wrote to the King of Poland in the name of the Pope desiring â—his Majesty to fix on some other person of a more indifferent temper and who was a Neuter and less engaged to either of the Crowns by which he would perform so signal a kindness to his Holiness as would ever oblige him to prefer the Interest of his Kingdom in matters of greater moment The King highly resented this manner of proceeding of the Court of Rome being astonished to find that those who had used all endeavours to disappoint him of his Election should now have the boldness to demand such a favour from him as he could not grant without dishonour to the Crown which he had lately received and therefore testified his resolutions to persist in the nomination he had
Assistances and Contributions he made to the Emperour whereby to enable him to carry forward his War against the Turk who is the formidable Enemy of all Christendom Nor did he onely furnish him with great sums of Money at divers times but invited and instantly exhorted the King of Poland to undertake that Heroick Act whereby the City of Vienna was delivered and all Austria rescued from desolation and from being a prey to the Mahometan Arms And farther his Negotiations prevailed to engage the Venetians in the same War and to complicate a triple League between these Princes Thus have we seen that during the Reign of this Pope nothing hath been acted by him but what was designed to the common Good of his Church and State for having laid aside all the private considerations of his Nephews and Family his cares have been diverted towards the Common Good so that being freed from the importunities of a Cardinal Patron and the unsatiable Avarice of Favourites and other dependencies his Government is much less subject to Pasquils or libellous Censures but on the contrary applauded and honoured by all wise and good Men so that continuing in this steddy course through the whole remainder of his Reign he may be esteemed and numbered in the rank and degree of the good Popes FINIS AN INDEX Of the principal matters in the Lives of the POPES written by B. Platina For the Names of the Popes themselves see the Table at the beginning of the Book A. ABimelech Chieftain of the Saracens 121 124. Abraxas of Basilides the Heretick 16. Acephali Hereticks 77. Adauctus a pious Roman 45. Adelphonsus King of Asturia and Gallicia 149. Adrian Emperour his qualities and works 15 16 17 19. S. Aegidius a Grecian 133. Aelius Pertinax Emperour 25. Aemilianus Emperour 37. Aeneas Sylvius created Pope 389. Aetius a Roman General 75. Agarens who they are 108. Agrippa Castor a learned Christian 16. Aisprandus gets the Kingdom of Lombardy 129. Aistulphus King of the Lombards 137 139 his death 140. Alalchis Duke of Trent 120. Alaric King of the Goths takes Rome 70. Albericus Marquess of Tuscany 180. Albert Duke of Austria chosen Emperour 363. Alboinus 94. Aldeprandus King of the Lombards 137. Alexander Severus Emperour 31. Alexander Bishop of Cappadocia 35. Alexius Emperor of Constantinople his treachery to the Christian Forces 217. Allocephalis a nick-name for Ravenna 116. Almeric King of Jerusalem 242. Amadeus Duke of Savoy set up for an Anti-Pope submits 377. Amalasunta Queen of Italy 87. S. Ambrose chosen Bishop of Milan 66. appears to the Emperor Conrade 198. Amoreus a King of the Saracens 135. Anastasius gets the Empire of Constantinople 130. Anastasius a Heretick 133. Anastasius the Library-keeper 171. Anatolius Bishop of Laodicea 42. Andrew Earl of Bremen 251. Andrew King of Hungary 258. Angelot a Cardinal murther'd 369. Antioch besieg'd by the Christians 219. taken 220. Anti-Pope See Schism Antoninus Pius Emperour his Virtues 18. Ant. Verus Emperour 20 21. Antoninus Heliogabalus his vicious life 30. Antony the Hermit 54. S. Antony Canoniz'd 262. Apelles a Heretick 23. Apollinaris Bishop of Hierapolis 21. Another Bishop of Laodicea his heretical Opinion 69. Apollonius a learned Christian martyr'd 24. Aquila translated the Old Testament 17. Aquileia destroy'd 76. Arator a Christian Poet 88. Arcadius Emperour 70. Arioaldus 〈◊〉 of the Lombards 106. Aristides a Philosopher converted to Christianity 15. Arithpertus King of the Lombards 127. loses his Kingdom and life 129. Arius the Heretick 51 56 his death 57. Arnulphus Emperour 173. Another of that name Patriarch of Jerusalem 221. Another a great Preacher murther'd by the procurement of some Priests 234. Asterius an Arian Philosopher 59. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria 56. Athaulphus King of the Goths 71. Athimus a King of the Saracens 134. Attila King of the Hunns invades Illyricum 73 fights the joint Forces of the Romans Goths c. 75. Audoenus Bishop of Roan 122. S. Augustin Bishop of Hippo 71 his body translated 135. Avignon taken by the Saracens 134. re-taken 135. Aurelianus Emperour 41. Aurelius Commodus Emperour 20 23 24. B Babylas the Martyr his Body remov'd 62. Baianus Prince of the Bulgarians 188. Balahac a King of the Persians 232. Baldequan King of Damascus 233. Baldus a great Lawyer 320. Baldwin of Bulloign 217. gets a Signiory in Asia 218. made King of Jerusalem 224. taken Prisoner 232. Baldwin Emperour of Constantinople 265. Baltasar Cossa Anti Pope reconcil'd to the Pope 352. Banderesii what 320. Bardesanes a Christian Writer 25. S. Barnabas the Apostle 5. S. Bartholomew his body translated 158 190. Baruti taken by the Turks and rased 291. Basil the learned Bishop of Caesarea 67. Basilides the Heretick his death 16. Bassianus See Caracalla Bede the Venerable when he lived 126. Belisarius 88. comes into Italy 91. beats Vitiges from Rome and takes him Prisoner 92. S. Benedict 87. his body translated 137. Berengarius I. King of Italy 173. made Emperour 178. the second of that name 181. the third 184. Berengarius of Tours a learned Man 190. condemned for a Heretick 203. recants 205. Bernard Abbat of Clairvaux 227. Bernardus King of Italy 154. Beryllus a Heretick 32. Bishop not to be ordain'd by fewer than three Bishops 13 22. to be attended by seven Deacons when Preaching 14. the accusation of a Layman not to be admitted against him ibid. when cited by the See Apostolick to be receiv'd again by his Flock without a Certificate 17. not to be censur'd by the Metropolitan without consent of his fellow-Bishops 19. Bishops of Rome allow'd to wear a golden Diadem 51. Blastus a Heretick 25. Blood of Christ a Relique at Mantua 151. Bocca di Porco a name not fit for a Pope 160. Bodies of Saints translated 163. Boemund a great General engaged in the Holy War 217. wounded 220 dies 225. Constantine Son of Heraclius 110. routed by the Bulgarians 117. Another of the same name Leprous 148 Constantine an Anti-Pope 142 Constantius Caesar 44. Emperour 47. Another of the same name 58 59. Another who spoils Rome 114 Constitutions See Decrees Corporal to be made of fine Linen onely 17 Council of Nice 51. Of Constantinople 117 169. Of Lions 280. Of Constance 345. Of Basil 362. General Councils where and when holden 118 Court of Rome when remov'd to France 300. returns to Rome 322 Crescentius Consul of Rome 192 Holy Cross found by Helena Constantine's Mother 48. brought from Jerusalem to Constantinople 108 Cunigunda Empress 197 Cup in the Holy Sacrament Orders of Pius I. if any be spilt 20 21 S. Cyprian Bishop of Carthage 36. martyr'd 37 S. Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem 69 D J. Damascenus a learned Divine 81 Damrata besieged by the Christians and retaken 258. deliver'd 259 Dante 's Aligerius a learned Man 297 Deacons appointed to attend a Bishop when he Preaches 14 Decius Emperour 35 Decrees of Anacletus 13. Euaristus 14. Alexander I. 16. Sixtus I. 17. Telesphorus 18. Hyginus 19. Pius I. 20. Anicetus 22.
in a different manner depend on the Court France hath no great Obligation or dependency upon Rome unless it be in some respects to the privileges of the Gallican Church But Spain is engaged in a kind of Partnership with Rome in Government and Jurisdiction and is beholden thereunto for a great part of its Revenue The Income of the Crusada granted by the Popes to the Kings of Spain is one of the chief branches of the Royal Revenue The Tribunals of the Inquisition are absolutely constituted by the Ecclesiastical Authority which gives such an unlimited power to the Nuntios Judges and Officers of the Pope within the Catholick Dominions as doth very much eclipse and diminish the greatness of that Monarch whereunto when we add the Tribute yearly paid by that King to the Pope for the Kingdom of Naples it seems as if they two held the reins of Government in partnership together onely with this difference that though the Pope hath intermixt his power with the Temporal yet the King dares not interpose in matters Ecclesiastical Hence we may see how dangerous it is for Kings to admit Partners with them in their Thrones Never was the Monarchy of Spain more abased and rendered inglorious than when the Inquisition was set up and an other power introduced to allay and attemper the Sovereign Authority wherefore France having no need of such dependencies hath always kept up and asserted the Right of Monarchy not suffering it to be debased by the Concessions of Regalia or other mean Compliances And indeed how much more happy now is the Crown of Great Britain than in the time of King John who was forced to yield that of England to the Pope and his Successours and how considerable and flourishing hath it been since it hath disowned all dependencies on forein power either in Church or State in defence of which may His Sacred Majesty King James the Second who is the Supreme Moderator and Governour thereof upon Earth live long and Reign happily and when it shall please the King of Kings to translate Him from a fading to an Immortal Crown there may never fail one of his Royal Line to sit upon His Throne and defend His Loyal People against all the Encroachments and Usurpations of forein Jurisdiction An Alphabetical TABLE OF THE POPES Whose Lives were written by B. Platina A ADeodatus Pag. 114 Adrian I. 145 II. 169 III. 172 IV. 240 V. 281 Agapetus I. 90 II. 183 Agatho 117 Alexander I. 15 II. 206 III. 242 IV. 269 V. 341 Anacletus 12 Anastasius I. 66 II. 83 III. 179 IV. 240 Anicetus 21 Anterus 33 B Benedict I. 97 II. 120 III. 166 IV. 177 V. 186 VI. 188 VII 189 VIII 196 IX 199 X. 204 XI 298 XII 310 Boniface I. 72 II. 89 III. 102 IV. 103 V. 105 VI. 174 VII 189 VIII 294 IX 330 C Caius 43 Calistus I. 28 II. 231 III. 383 Celestine I. 73 II. 236 III. 252 IV. 265 V. 293 Christopher 178 Clemens I. 11 II. 201 III. 251 IV. 275 V. 299 VI. 312 Cletus 9 Conon 122 Constans Constantine 128 Cornelius 35 D Damasus I. 61 II. 201 Deus-dedit 104 Dionysius 40 Donus I. 115 II. 188 E Eleutherius 24 Euaristus 14 Eugenius I. 112 II. 155 III. 238 IV. 357 Eusebius 48 Eutychianus 42 F Fabianus 34 Felix I. 41 II. 59 III. 80 Formosus 173 G Gelasius I. 81 II. 228 Gregory I. 99 II. 130 III. 134 IV. 157 V. 192 VI. 200 VII 207 VIII 250 IX 260 X. 278 XI 320 XII 339 H Hadrian V. Adrian  Hilarius 78 Honorius I. 196 II. 233 III. 258 IV. 288 Hormisda 85 Hyginus 19 I Innocent I. 68 II. 234 III. 254 IV. 265 V. 280 VI. 315 VII 336 John I. 86 II. 90 III. 95 IV. 109 V. 121 VI. 125 VII 127 VIII 165 IX 170 X. 176 XI 180 XII 182 XIII 184 XIV 187 XV. 190 XVI 191 XVII ibid. XVIII 193 XIX 195 XX. ibib XXI 198 XXII 282 XXIII 305 XXIV 343 Julius I. 56 L Landus 179 Leo I. 76 II. 119 III. 149 IV. 162 V. 177 VI. 181 VII 182 VIII 186 IX 202 Liberius 56 Linus 7 Lucius I. 37 II. 237 III. 247 M Marcellinus 44 Marcellus 47 Marcus 55 Martin I. 111 II. 171 III. 183 IV. 285 V. 347 Miltiades 49 N Nicolas I. 167 II. 205 III. 283 IV. 290 V. 373 P Paschal I. 154 II. 220 Paul I. 141 II. 401 Pelagius I. 94 II. 98 S. Peter 1 Pius I. 20 II. 389 Pontianus 31 R Romanus 175 S Sabinianus 101 Sergius I. 123 II. 160 III. 178 IV. 196 Severinus 108 Simplicius 79 Sisinnius 128 Sixtus I. 16 II. 39 III. 74 Soter 23 Stephen I. 38 II. 138 III. 142 IV. 153 V. 172 VI. 174 VII 181 VIII 183 IX 204 Sylverius 91 Sylvester I. 50 II. 194 III. 199 Symmachus 84 Syricius 64 T Telesphorus 18 Theodore I. 110 II. 175 U Valentine 157 Victor I. 25 II. 203 III. 215 Vigilius 92 Vitalianus 113 Vrban I. 30 II. 216 III. 248 IV. 273 V. 319 VI. 323 X Xistus V. Sixtus Z Zacharias 136 Zephyrinus 26 Zozimus 70 A TABLE Of those POPES Names whose Lives are written in the Continuation A A Drian VI. created Pope Jan. 9. 1522. Page 40 Alexander VI. created Pope August 11. 1492. p. 12. Alexander VII created Pope April 7. 1655. p. 320 C Clement VII created Pope November 19. 1523. p. 46 Clement VIII created Pope January 30. 1592. p. 211 Clement IX created Pope June 20. 1667. p. 344 Clement X. created Pope April 29 1670. p. 357 G Gregory XIII created Pope May 13. 1572. p. 163 Gregory XIV created Pope December 15. 1590. p. 207 Gregory XV. created Pope Feb. 21. 1621. p. 267 I Innocent VIII created Pope August 29. 1684. p. 8 Innocent IX created Pope October 29. 1591. p. 210 Innocent X. created Pope September 15. 1644. p. 293 Innocent XI created Pope September 21. 1676. p. 376 Julius II. created Pope November 1. 1503. p. 20 Julius III. created Pope Febr. 17. 1550. p. 88 L Leo X. created Pope March 11. 1513. p. 29 Leo XI created Pope April 1. 1605. p. 225 M Marcellus II. created Pope April 9. 1555. p. 107 P Paul III. created Pope October 12. 1534. p. 67 Paul IV. created Pope May 23. 1555. p. 109 Paul V. created Pope May 16. 1605. p. 227 Pius III. created Pope Septemb. 22. 1503. p. 19 Pius V. created Pope Decemb. 24. 1559. being Christmas Eve p. 119 Pius IV. created Pope January 7. 1566. p. 157 S Sixtus IV. created Pope August 9. 1471. p. 1. Sixtus V. created Pope April 24. 1585. p. 172 U Urban VII created Pope September 15. 1590. p. 205 Urban VIII created Pope August 6. 1623. p. 271 THE LIVES OF THE BISHOPS and POPES OF ROME S. PETER the Apostle AFTER the Death and Resurrection of Christ and the Completion of the days of Pentecost the Disciples received the Holy Ghost and being filled with the Spirit they published the wonderful works of God in divers Tongues though most of them
Soon after his growing ambition prompts him to endeavour the gaining of the Western Empire and therefore getting together in a very little time a great Army he begins his March upon that Design This Aetius having intelligence of forthwith sends Ambassadours to Tholouse to King Theodorick to strike up a Peace with whom so strict a League was concluded that they both jointly engage in the War against Attila at a common charge and with equal Forces The Romans and Theodorick had for their Auxiliaries the Alanes Burgundians Franks Saxons and indeed almost all the people of the West At length Attila comes upon them in the Fields of Catalaunia and Battel is joyn'd with great Valour and Resolution on either side The Fight was long and sharp a Voice being over-heard none knowing from whence it came was the occasion of putting an end to the Dispute In this Engagement were slain on both sides eighteen thousand men neither Army flying or giving ground And yet 't is said that Theodorick Father of King Thurismond was killed in this Action Sixtus had not long enjoyed the Pontificate before he was publickly accused by one Bassus but in a Synod of fifty seven Bishops he made such a Defence of himself that he was by them all with one consent acquitted Bassus his false Accuser was with the consent of Valentinian and his Mother Placidia excommunicated and condemn'd to banishment but with this compassionate provision that at the point of death the Viaticum of the Blessed Sacrament should be denied him the forfeiture of his Estate was adjudged not to the Emperour but the Church 'T is said that in the third month of his Exile he died and that our Bishop Sixtus did with his own hands wrap up and embalm his Corps and then bury it in S. Peters Church Moreover Sixtus repaired and enlarged the Church of the Blessed Virgin which was anciently called by the name of Liberius near the Market place of Livia then had the name of S. Mary at the Manger and last of all was called S. Maries the Geeat That Sixtus did very much beautifie and make great additions to it appears from the Inscription on the front of the first Arch in these words Xystus Episcopus Plebi Dei for according to the Greek Orthography the name begins with X and y though by Custom it is now written Sixtus with S and i. To this Church that Bishop was very liberal and munificent among other instances adorning with Porphyry stone the Ambo or Desk where the Gospel and Epistles are read Besides what he did himself at his persuasion the Emperour Valentinian also was very liberal in works of this nature For over the Confessory of S. Peter which he richly adorned he placed the Image of 〈◊〉 Saviour of Gold set with Jewels and renewed those Silver Ornaments in the Cupola of the Lateran Church which the Goths had taken away Some are of an Opinion that in his time one Peter a Roman Presbyter by Nation a Sclavonian built the Church of S. Sabina upon the Aventine not far from the Monastery of S. Boniface where S. Alexius is interred 〈◊〉 I rather think this to have been done in the Pontificate of Coelestine the first as appears from an Inscription in Heroick Verse yet remaining which expresses as much 'T is said also that at this time 〈◊〉 Eusebius of Cremona and Philip two Scholars of S. Hierom both very elegant Writers as also Eucherius Bishop of Lyons a man of great Learning and Eloquence and Hilarius Bishop of Arles a pious Man and of no mean parts Our Sixtus having employed all his Estate in the building and adorning of Churches and relieving the poor and having made twenty eight Presbyters twelve Deacons fifty two Bishops died and was buried in a Vault in the Via Tiburtina near the body of S. Laurence He was in the Chair eight years nine days and by his death the See was vacant twenty two days LEO I. LEO a Tuscan Son of Quintianus lived at the time when Attila having return'd into Hungary from the Fight of Catalonia and there recruited his Army invaded Italy and first set down before Aquileia a Frontier City of that Province which held out a Siege 〈◊〉 three years Despairing hereupon of success he was just about to raise the Leaguer when observing the Storks to carry their young ones out of the City into the Fields being encouraged by this Omen he renews his Batteries and making a fierce assault at length takes the miserable City sacks and burns it sparing neither Age nor Sex but acting agreeably to the Title he assum'd to himself of being God's Scourge The Huns having hereby gain'd an Inlet into Italy over-run all the Countrey about Venice possessing themselves of the Cities and demolishing Milain and Pavia From hence Attila marching towards Rome and being come to the place where the Menzo runs into the Po ready to pass the River the holy Bishop Leo out of a tender sense of the calamitous state of Italy and of the City of Rome and with the advice of Valentinian goes forth and meets him persuading him not to proceed any farther but to take warning by Alaricus who soon after his taking that City was by the Judgment of God removed out of the World Attila takes the good Bishops Counsel being moved thereunto by a Vision which he saw while they were discoursing together of two men supposed to be S. Peter and S. Paul brandishing their naked swords over his head and threatning him with death if he were refractory Desisting therefore from his design he returns into Hungary where not long after he was choaked with his own bloud violently breaking out at his Nostrils through excess of drinking Leo returning to the City applyes himself wholly to the defence of the 〈◊〉 Faith which was now violently opposed by several kinds of Hereticks but especially by the Nestorians and Eutychians Nestorius 〈◊〉 of Constantinople affirmed the Blessed Virgin to be Mother not of God but of Man only that so he might make the Humanity and Divinity of Christ to be two distinct persons one the Son of God the other the Son of Man But Eutyches Abbot of Constantinople that he might broach an Heresie in contradiction to the former utterly confounded the divine and humane Nature of Christ asserting them to be one and not at all to be distinguished This Heresie being condemned by Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople with the consent of Theodosius a Synod is called at Ephesus in which Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria being President Eutyches was restored and Flavianus censured But Theodosius dying and his successour Marcianus proving a Friend to the Orthodox Doctrine Leo calls a Council at Chalcedon wherein by the authority of six hundred and thirty Bishops it was decreed as an Article of Faith that there are two Natures in Christ and that one and the same Christ is God and Man by which consequently both Nestorius and Eutyches the pestilent Patron of the
only in Christ. But these Seducers at the Instance of Honorius who was very diligent to reclaim Heraclius were afterwards banished And Honorius having now some respite from other cares by his Learning and Example proved a great Reformer of the Clergy The Church of S. Peter he covered with Brass taken out of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus repaired that of S. Agnes in the Via Nomentana as appears by an Inscription in Verse therein and likewise that of S. Pancras in the Via Aurelia built those of S. Anastasius S. Cyriacus seven miles from Rome in the Via Ostiensis and S. Severinus in Tivoli all which he made very stately and adorn'd with Gold Silver Porphyry Marble and all manner of Ornamental workmanship He repaired also the Coemetery of SS Marcellinus and Peter in the Via Labicana and was at the charge of building other Churches besides those before-mentioned Moreover he ordained that every Saturday a Procession with Litanies should be made from S. Apollinaris to S. Peter's But having been in the Chair twelve years eleven months seventeen days he died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter October the 12th By his death the See was vacant one year seven months eighteen days SEVERINUS I. SEVERINUS a Roman Son of Labienus being chosen in the place of Honorius deceased was confirmed therein by Isaacius Exarch of Italy the Election of the Clergy and People being at this time reckoned null and void without the Assent of the Emperours or their Exarchs Now Isaacius having made a Journey to Rome upon the occasion of confirming this Pope that he might not lose his labour fairly sets himself to plunder the Lateran Treasury being assisted in that attempt by several Citizens though he were resisted for a time but in vain by the Clergy of that Church the principal of which he afterwards banished The ground of this Action was Isaacius's Resentment that the Clergy alone should grow rich without contributing to the Charge of the Wars especially at a time when the Soldiers were reduc'd to the greatest want and extremity Part of the spoil he distributed among the Soldiers part he carried away with him to Ravenna and of the rest he made a Present to the Emperour Those of the Saracens who had been listed by Heraclius being discontented for want of Pay march'd into Syria and made themselves Masters of Damascus a City subject to the Empire Then joyning with the other Arabians and being furnished with Provisions and Arms and heated by Mahomet's Zeal they over-run Phoenicia and Egypt and put to the Sword all those who refused to subscribe to their Government and Mahomet's Religion Advancing thence against the Persians and having slain Hormisda the Persian King they ceased not to commit all manner of outrages upon that People till they had entirely reduced them to subjection But Heraclius having intelligence of what work these Saracens made especially upon their taking of Antioch and searing that they might possess themselves of Jerusalem it self which they not long after did took care to have the Cross of our Saviour conveyed to Constantinople that it might not again come into the hands of the Agarens for so the Greeks in contempt call the Arabians as descending from Agar Abraham's Servant But Mahomet as we are told dying at Mecha was succeeded in the Command by Calipha and he by Hali who being laid aside for his being too superstitious the Egyptians make another Calipha their Commander 'T is said also that to complete the Calamities of the Roman Empire Sisebute King of the Goths did at this time recover out of the hands of the Romans all the Cities of Spain and so a period was put to the Roman Government in that Countrey As for 〈◊〉 who was a person of extraordinary Piety and Religion a Lover of the Poor kind to those in affliction liberal to all and in adorning of Churches very munificent having been in the Chair one year two months he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church August the 2d The See was then vacant four months twenty days JOHN IV. JOHN the fourth a Dalmatian Son of Venantius entring upon the Pontificate forthwith expressed a wonderful Compassion in employing the remainder of the Treasury of the Church which Isaacius had left behind him for the redemption of a multitude of Istrians and Dalmatians who had been taken Captive In the mean time Rhotaris who succeeded Arioaldus in the Kingdom of Lombardy though he were a person eminent for Justice and Piety yet became a Favourer of the Arians and permitted that in every City of his Kingdom there should be at the same time two Bishops of equal Authority the one a Catholick and the other an Arian He was a Prince of great Parts and reduc'd the Laws which Memory and Use alone had before retain'd methodically into a Book which he ordered to be called the Edict His Excellency in Military Skill appear'd in that he made himself Master of all Tuscany and Liguria with the Sea-coast as far as Marseille But in the sixth year of his Reign he died and 〈◊〉 the Kingdom to his Son Rhodoaldus 'T is reported that a certain Priest entring by night into the Church of S. John Baptist and there opening the Tomb in which the Body of Rhotaris lay rob'd it of all the things of value with which the Bodies of Kings are wont to be interred Hereupon John Baptist a Saint to whom Rhotaris had been in his life-time very much devoted appear'd to the Priest and threatned him with Death if he ever entred his Church again The like happened even in our times to Cardinal Luigi Patriarch of Aquileia whose Sepulchre was broke open and pillaged by those very men whom he himself had enriched and raised from a mean condition to the Sacerdotal Dignity Rhodoaldus entring upon the Government of the Kingdom marries Gundiberga the Daughter of Queen Theudelinda who imitating her Mother's Devotion built and richly adorned a Church in Honour to S. John Baptist at Terracina in like manner as Theudelinda had done at Monza But Rhodoaldus being taken in Adultery was slain by the Husband of the Adulteress Successour to him was Aripertus Son of Gudualdus and Brother of Queen Theudelinda he built our Saviour's Chappel at Pavia and very much beautified and plentifully endowed it Pope John fearing now lest the Bodies of Vincentius and Anastasius might sometime or other be violated by the barbarous Nations took care to have them safely conveyed to Rome and with great Solemnity reposited them in the Oratory of S. John Baptist near the Baptistery of the Lateran We are told that in his Pontificate Vincentius Bishop of Beauvais and Muardus Arch-bishop of Reims were in great esteem for their Learning and Sanctity Moreover Reginulpha a French Lady was very eminent for Piety and Renaldus Bishop of Trajetto famous for his Life and Miracles Jodocus also was not inferiour to any of these who though he were the Son of a King of the
as well as lay in his power fourteen years six months died and was buried in S. Peter's January the 27th The See was then vacant four months fifteen days ADEODATUS I. ADEODATUS a Roman Son of Jovinian was of a Monk created Pope at the time when Lupus Duke of Friuli endeavoured to posses himself of the Kingdom of Italy For Grimoaldus being as we have said called by his Son Rhomoaldus Duke of Beneventum to aid him against Constantius the Emperour at his departure commended his People to the care of Lupus and so according to the Proverb left the Sheep to the keeping of the Wolf For Lupus taking the advantage of Grimoaldus his absence involves all Tuscany Romandiola and a great part of Lombardy in tumult and confusion Hereupon Grimoaldus by gifts and promises prevails with Caganus to advance with his Avares against Lupus which he did and in the first Engagement had the worst of it But the next day renewing the Fight he overcame and slew Lupus and then sack'd and laid waste all Friuli Grimoaldus upon Constantius his leaving Italy returns into Lombardy and in his way on the Saturday before Easter takes Forlimpopoli puts all the Inhabitants of it to the sword plunders it and then levels it to the ground upon the score of an injury which he had received there from the people of Ravenna in his passage to the Aid of his Son Now Arnefites the Son of Lupus being assisted by the Dalmatians endeavoured to recover his Father's Dukedom but near the River Natisone he was vanquish'd and slain by the Lombards The Inhabitants of Vderzo had a share in his Misfortune being forced to quit their Countrey for having countenanced him in his pretensions At this time Sicily also was in a bad condition for Soldiers were sent thither out of all the Provinces of Italy to make head against Mezentius by whose treachery Constantius had been murdered Who being overcome and slain and the Soldiers again dispersed the Saracens arriving with a great Fleet surprize Syracuse and possess themselves of the whole Island After some time they return to Alexandria loaded with spoil and carry away with them those Ornaments of the City of Rome which Constantius had brought to Syracuse with design to transmit them to Constantinople These miseries and Calamities had been portended by a Comet which appeared three months together by great Rains and frequent Thunders such as had not been at any time known before But such is the blindness of Mankind that though they be warn'd of future Evils yet they do not as they ought provide against them 'T is reported that all the standing Corn which had been lodg'd by the continued Rains grew yet up again and came to maturity especially in Lombardy In the mean time Adeodatus being a person of great Piety and Humanity merciful towards Offenders bountiful to the poor hospitable towards strangers and compassionate towards all in Calamity repaired and dedicated the Church of S. Peter in the Via Portuensis He also added to the Building and Revenues of the Monastery of S. Erasmus on Mons Coelius wherein himself had been a Monk Moreover he appointed frequent Litanies upon the account of those Prodigies which we have said appear'd at that time At length having been in the Chair four years two months five days he died and was with general lamentation buried in S. Peter's June the 26th The See was then vacant four months twenty days DONUS I. DONUS a Roman Son of Mauritius was made Pope at the time when Grimoaldus King of the Lombards drawing a Bow high to shoot at a Pigeon and thereby straining his Nerves and Veins though it were nine days after he had been let Blood in the Arm yet thereupon it fell a bleeding afresh and could not be stanch'd till he died There were in this King several excellent Endowments both of Body and Mind He was a person of great Wisdom and Prudence in all Affairs and added several things very useful to Rhotaris his Edict which afterwards receiv'd the Form of a Law He was of a middle Stature strong Constitution had a bald head and long beard and was every way fitted for Action He was buried at Pavia in the Church of S. Ambrose which he had built at his own charge Pertharis Son of King Aripertus who as we have said had been deprived of his Right by Grimoaldus passing now during his Exile out of France into Britain was prompted by a Voice which he knew not from whence it came that Grimoaldus being dead he should seek to recover his paternal Inheritance Encouraged by this Voice though the Author of it were uncertain he returned into Italy and within three months after Grimoaldus's Death became repossess'd of his Father's Kingdom without any opposition About the same time died Dagobert the French King a subtil and crafty Prince and who was equally fitted for Counsel and Action whose Soul when it had been carried by Devils almost as far as the Island of Lipara is reported to have been delivered out of their Clutches by Dennis and Maurice the Martyrs and Martin the Confessour Saints for whom as his Patrons he had all his life-time a great veneration and had been very liberal in beautifying and enriching their Churches Now Pope Donus consulting the honour of the Church paved the Porch of S. Peter's called Paradise with Marble which he took as I suppose from the Pyramide over against Castel S. Angelo Moreover he repaired and dedicated in the Via Ostiensis the Church of the Apostles and in the Via Appia that of S. Euphemia He also appointed the several degrees of honour and distance to be yielded to the several Orders of the Clergy And discovering in the Boethian Monastery a Company of Syrian Monks who were of the Nestorian Heresie them he censured and dispersed into divers other Monasteries assigning their own to Roman Monks By his eminent Learning and Piety and through the submission of Theodorus Bishop of 〈◊〉 he reduced to Obedience to the Apostolick See the Church of Ravenna which had for a considerable time separated it self from that of Rome and upon that account had got the name of Allocephalis Some tell us that in his time Projectus a Bishop underwent the torment and acquired the glory of Martyrdom for the cause of Christianity and that Mezelindis a Woman of incomparable Chastity being solicited by her Lover Ardenius and upon her not yielding to his desires put to divers Torments by him yet prayed so fervently even for her Persecutor whom God for this Crime had struck with blindness that upon her Prayers his Sight was restored to him Our Donus having been in the Chair five years ten days died and was buried in S. Peter's April the 10th The See was then vacant two months sixteen days AGATHO I. AGATHO a Sicilian was Anno Dom. 702. of a Monk made Pope a person of great Piety and who cured a Leper whom he chanced to meet with only by a
the Pontificate falling sick Paschal an Arch-deacon and manager of the Church-stock endeavours to bribe John the Exarch to procure him to be chosen Pope upon the Death of Conon The Exarch took the Money though he afterwards performed none of the promises he had made upon that account And indeed such a covetous and ambitious wretch deserv'd to be frustrated in his designs who made a Bribe of that Treasure of the Church which according to Conon's Will should have been laid out in relieving the poor and repairing of Churches A Crime to be abhorred in all men but most detestable in an Ecclesiastick Such a breach of trust would not have been committed by Hubert who was now a Bishop in Bretagne of great Note for his Learning and Piety nor Leodegarius the Martyr Bishop of Autun who was put to Death by Theodoric King of France for his frequent and free reproofs nor by Audoenus Bishop of Roan a man who was second to none for Knowledg and Sanctity These were men remov'd from Ambition and Avarice fixing all their trust in God and Religion and gaining thereby Reputation among men in this World and eternal happiness from God in the other As for Conon having been in the Chair only eleven months and three days he died and was buried in S. Peter's September the 21st The See was then vacant two months twenty three days SERGIUS I. SERGIUS a Syrian born at Antioch son of Tiberius coming to Rome in the time of Pope Adeodatus was admitted into the number of the Reman Clergy Afterwards through his Industry and Improvements in divine Knowledg advancing gradually he was ordained Parish-Priest of the Church of S. Susanna He thereupon beginning more and more to frequent the Coemeteries and there to perform sacred Offices by this means he gain'd so great a reputation that upon the Decease of Conon he was chosen his Successour though indeed after a long debate For the People being divided into two Parties one stood up for Theodorus and the other for Paschal the Arch deacon Theodorus with his Party had forced his entrance into the inner part of the Lateran Palace the outer from the Oratory of S. Sylvester to the Church of the house of Julia was possessed by Paschal But the Contention and debate growing so high that every one thought they would come to blows each Party resolving not to give place to the other unless by force compelled thereunto the principal of the Citizens Clergy and Soldiery assembled together to consult what were best to be done to lay this Tumult At length having duly considered the whole matter and judging it not fit to commit the Popedom to either of those who to 〈◊〉 their own ambition had been the cause of so great disorders by divine direction they make choice of Sergius without the least opposition and taking him out of the midst of the croud upon their shoulders they carry him first into the Oratory of S. Caesarius the Martyr then into the Lateran Palace breaking open the doors by force and driving out those who were in it before Theodorus seeing how all agreed in the choice salutes Sergius by the name of Pope and kisses him Paschal the other Competitour did the same though sorely against his Will and being only aw'd thereinto by the armed multitude For secretly and under-hand he did by Letters Messengers and Promises so strongly sollicite John Exarch of Ravenna to perform at length what he had promis'd him for his Money that the said John comes forthwith to Rome without sending any advice before that so he might have the advantage of coming upon them unprovided and while they were off their guard But when he understood that Sergius was by universal consent declared Pope and urg'd the performance of what Paschal had promis'd him upon Sergius's expressing a high dislike and detestation of any such bribery he violently seizes and carries away several things of value from the Church of S. Peter As for Paschal the occasion of this mischief he being accused and convicted of Sorcery was deprived of his Arch-Deaconry and for Pennance was confined to a Monastery whereing after his having continued obstinate for five years he died In the mean time Justinian being strangely inconstant towards God and Men both attaques the Saracens and Bulgarians contrary to the Articles of Peace he had concluded with them from whom yet it is certain he receiv'd more damage than he did to them and also returning to Constantinople being generally hated by the Citizens for his not restraining the cruelty of the City-prefect he held a Synod wherein some Decrees pass'd not agreeing with the Orthodox Faith which also Sergius his Apocrisiary or Nuntio then residing at Constantinople very foolishly confirmed by his Subscription But these Decrees being afterwards brought to Rome and there exploded by Sergius who held that there were two Natures in Christ and that the Blessed Virgin was the Mother of God Justinian enraged thereat sends Zacharias Protospatharius which we may render the Captain of the Guards to Rome to bring Sergius bound to him Which when the Soldiers of the Exarchate of Italy understood they immediately took up their Arms and not only defended the Pope from violence but were very near having slain Zachary had he not saved himself by flying for refuge to the Pope who kept him for some time in his Bed-chamber and afterwards sent him back privately to the Emperour While these things were transacted at Rome Leontius encouraged by 〈◊〉 the Patriarch having excited the People of Constantinople to take up Arms and broke open all the Prisons of the City whereby multitudes of Prisoners were set at liberty deposes Justinian and cutting off his Nose banishes him to the Chersonese of Pontus Abimelech Admiral of the Saracens having intelligence hereof and hoping to make his advantage of these Tumults presently invades Africa whither Leontius with all expedition sends his Army to check their motion But not long after a mutiny arising among the Soldiers they create one Tiberius a Citizen of Constantinople Emperour who immediately returning with the Army to Constantinople seizes Leontius and having retaliated upon him what we have said he did to Justinian throws him into Prison reserving him there for future greater ignominy Moreover he banished Philip the son of Nicephorus a Patrician and one who had been assistant to him in getting the Empire only because he had told his Companions how he dreamt that he saw an Eagle covering his head with her Wings which Tiberius fear'd might be a presage of the young man's coming to the Empire While things went thus at Constantinople Pipin Duke of Austrasia laid the foundation of gaining the Kingdom of France For understanding that one Bertarius a mean fellow whom King Theodoric made use of as his chief Minister was generally hated by all People he marches with a vast Army into France and being encountred in his passage by Theodoric and Bertarius he engages in Battel with them
and defeats them Bertarius saved himself by flight but Theodoric retreating by agreement upon a Truce constitutes the victorious Pipin Mayre of the Palace and principal Administratour of his Kingdom After this Pipin returned to Austrasia upon intelligence that the Germans and Sueves infested his People and having quell'd them he sets forward towards France again upon the News that Theodoric being dead the Kingdom had fallen to his Brother Childepert Arriving there and being very kindly received by the King after he had put his son into the place of Mayre of the Palace he again returns enraged at the Sueves and Germans who were now the second time in Arms. At this time Sergius having 〈◊〉 the banishment of Justinian enjoyed Peace and Tranquility repaired the Church of S. Peter and restored to it its antient beauty The Front of it he adorn'd with Mosaick work made the Candlesticks and other Ornaments of it of Gold and Silver found a part of our Saviours Cross in a little brass Coffer and because the body of S. Leo had hitherto lain less regarded than his merits required he reposited it in a more honourable and celebrated place The Statues of the Apostles defaced with Age he renew'd and either repaired or made wholly new the Ornaments of many Churches which it would be tedious to enumerate Moreover he ordained that at the breaking of the body of our Lord should be sung O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the World have mercy upon us and that on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and of S. Simon there should be yearly a Procession with Litanies through the City setting out at S. Hadrian He made Damianus Arch-Bishop of Ravenna and Berslauardus Arch-Bishop of Britain By his Learning and Authority he brought over to the Truth the Church of Aquileia which before consented not wholly to the fifth Synod Some tell us that at this time Lambertus a Person of great Sanctity suffered Martyrdom at Liege because he was so hardy as to reprove Pipin for slighting his Wive's Bed and keeping Alpais a Whore The author of his Death is said to have been her own Brother who afterwards died of the lousy Disease 'T is written also that by the exemplary Sanctity of Sergius the Saxons were now first wrought upon to embrace Christianity The good man having by these means gained a great reputation and having been in the Chair thirteen years eight months twenty three days he died and was with the lamentation of all men who wept as at the loss of a common Father with great Solemnity buried in the Church of S. Peter September the 8th The See was then vacant one month twenty days JOHN VI. JOHN the sixth a Grecian was elected Pope at the time when Theophylact the Exarch in his passage to Italy arrived first at Sicily Which being known to the Italian Soldiers who having of late times usually sided more with the Popes than the Emperours were afraid that his coming might betoken some ill they resolved to kill him at his entrance into Rome But by the Authority of Pope John who made himself Umpire between them Theophylact was protected and all things being made up and accommodated he goes for Ravenna In the mean time Gisulphus Duke of Beneventum taking heart upon this disagreement of the Exarch and Soldiers invades Terra di Lavoro possesses himself of Sora and Arpino burns Villages makes the Villagers his Prisoners and drives away their Cattel The Pope being deeply sensible of this Calamity sends his Ambassadours to Gisulphus to admonish him to quit those places which he had no Right to and to return into Abruzzo which if he refus'd to do he should soon feel the vengeance of Almighty God upon him Gisulphus being terrified hereby restores the Towns he had taken and returns to Beneventum Of those which were carried away Captive Pope John redeemed all he could sind out as 〈◊〉 as the Treasure of the Church would reach for their ransom At this time 〈◊〉 who as we have said had been banish'd by Leontius to the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 making his escape thence comes to Cacanus King of the Avares who at first treated him with the greatest respect and kindness and promised him his Daughter in marriage but afterwards being corrupted with bribes by Tiberius he design'd to betray his Guest and Son-in-law into his hands Justinian having notice hereof flees to Trebellius Prince of the Bulgarians by whose aid he was in a little time after restored to the Empire While 〈◊〉 things were transacted in Europe the 〈◊〉 being possessed of Libya and Africa set sail from Septa and passing over into Spain made themselves Masters of it all except that part inhabited by the Asturians and Biscains who as they had been the last People of Spain who were subdued to the Roman Empire and the last who revolted from it and the only People who shook off the Yoke of the Visigoths so now having received the Christian Faith they were the men who continued stedfastly with the greatest resolution to defend themselves by Arms against the perfidious Saracens So then Africa which being recovered by Belisarius General to Justinian the first had been subject to the Roman Empire an hundred and seventy years and also Granada in Hispania 〈◊〉 being at this time seiz'd by the Saracens have been obedient to their Laws and Customs now this seven hundred and forty years to the great reproach of Christianity the Spaniards who are wont to boast of their Wit and Valour not being able to drive them out of Europe Some tell us that Bede who lived in these times by Letters written to several Christian Princes did very much bewail this Calamity that thereby he might excite them to enter into a War against these Enemies of God and Men. This 〈◊〉 was not only extraordinarily well skill'd in the Greek and Latin Tongues but also for his eminent Piety and Modesty gain'd the surname of 〈◊〉 He wrote many things upon the Acts of the Apostles and upon S. Luke he published a Book of Chronology and several Homilies which are much used by the Gallican 〈◊〉 Moreover of Strabo and Haymo two very learned men said to be Bede's Brethren one composed divers elegant Homilies and the other commented upon Genesis As for Pope John having repaired the Church of S. Andrew in the Vatican and the roof of that of S. Mark and adorn'd with Pillars on each hand the Altar of S. Peter's in the third year and third month of his Pontificate he died as some think a Martyr but by whom he suffered Martyrdom does not sufficiently appear 'T is said he was buried in the Coemetery of S. Sebastian in the Via Appia By his Death the See was vacant one month nineteen days JOHN VII JOHN the seventh a Grecian Son of Plato enter'd upon the Pontificate at the time when Justinian being return'd to 〈◊〉 caused Tiberius and Leontius by whom he had been deposed to be
Gregory having well discharged his Duty towards God and Men died in the tenth year eighth Month and twenty fourth day of his Pontificate and was with general lamentation buried in S. Peter's November the 28th The See was then vacant only eight days ZACHARIAS I. ZACHARIAS a Grecian the Son of Polychronius is reckoned in the number of the best Popes For he was a Person of a very mild Disposition and wonderfully sweet Conversation every way deserving a Lover of the Clergy and People of Rome slow to Anger but very forward to exercise Mercy and Clemency rendring to no man evil for evil but in Imitation of our Saviour overcoming evil with good and that to such a degree that after his arriving to the Papal Dignity he preferred and enriched those who had envied and hated him At the beginning of his Pontificate finding Italy enflamed in War in order to procure a Peace he forthwith sends Legates to Luithprandus King of the Lombards who now made War upon Transamundus Duke of Spoleto But these Legates not effecting the Design he himself goes in person accompanied with the Roman Clergy into Sabina and 't is said that in sign of honour the King met him eight miles from Narni and alighting off his Horse accompanied him on Foot into the City The day following while they were at Mass the Pope made publickly an Elegant Oration wherein he set forth the Duty of a Christian King both in the time of Peace and War and 't is reported that the King was so wrought upon by it that he presently put the sole Power of accommodating matters into the Pope's hands The King had already deposed Transamund and invested Agrandus his Nephew in the Dukedom Yet at the Pope's Intercession Transamund was received into favour but he quitting all Pretensions to the Dukedom entred into holy Orders All the Towns which had been taken in Sabina were restored as also Narni and Ancona and whatever places the Lombards had for thirty years past made themselves Masters of in Tuscany Moreover all who had been made Prisoners during the War were set at Liberty Luithprandus having been treated by the Pope with all imaginable expressions of Indearment and Respect marched thence peaceably with his Army and not long after died in the thirty second year of his Reign He was a person who deserved that Kingdom both for his extraordinary Wisdom and Prudence and also for his Valour and warlike Temper in which no man excell'd him so eminent also for Justice and Clemency that it is hard to judg whether of these two Vertues were more conspicuous in him His Nephew Aldeprandus succeeded him in the Kingdom which having held only six months he also died and Duke Rachis a Prince whose Piety and Integrity deserve the highest praise was unanimously chosen in his stead By him also a League was renewed with the Pope to whose Legates the devout and religious King graciously granted whatever they desired But having reigned four years he quitted his Government and betook himself to a Monastick Life encouraging his Wife and his Sons to do the like His Brother Aistulphus succeeded him whose crafty and fierce Temper threatned disturbance to all Italy but especially to the Pope and the Romans whom he designed by Force to bring under his Jurisdiction In the mean time Charles Martel being seiz'd with a violent sickness at the persuasion of his Friends divided his Acquests between his two Sons of whom Caroloman the elder had Austrasia and Suevia and 〈◊〉 Burgundy and part of France And so that valiant and wise man died at Cressey sur Serre in the thirty fifth year of his Office of Mayre of the Palace and was buried at Paris in the Church of S. Dennis He had had by a former Wife another Son named Grypho whose rapacious Temper suited with his Name he prevailed with the warlike Saxons to assist him in making War upon his Brethren But 〈◊〉 and Pipin entring Saxony with an Army force their Prince Theodoric to submission After this Expedition Caroloman comes to Rome and there renouncing the Pomp and Glory of Empire he goes to Mount Cassino and takes the habit of a Monk of S. Benedict But Pipin being of an aspiring Mind sends Ambassadours to the Pope desiring that by his Authority he would confirm to him the Kingdom of France The Pope upon the score of former good Services performed by his Family and the ancient Friendship which had been between them and the Popes his Predecessours yields to his Request and accordingly confirms him An. Dom. 753. and so from Mayre of the Palace who was the first Officer of the Kingdom Pipin was advanc'd to the Kingdom of France it self from whom the succeeding Kings derive their Original 'T is reported that Caroloman who as we have said had taken the habit of a Monk came now with others of the same Order from Mount Cassino to Pope Zachary desiring that by his mediation they might gain leave to remove the Body of S. Benedict which had by 〈◊〉 been carried away to the Abbey of Fleury in the Kingdom of France The Pope granted their Desire and thereupon sent a Message to King Pipin who upon Information in the matter freely gave way to it Zachary now enjoying Peace on every side set himself to the repairing of several decayed Churches The Tower and Portico before the Lateran Church he built from the ground made the Windows and Gates of Brass and upon the Frontispiece of the Portico caused a Map of the World to be delineated He renewed the defaced Images of the Saints enlarged and beautified the Lateran Palace repaired the Palatine Library and assigned to every Church a Revenue for the maintenance of Oyl for their Lamps He gave to S. Peter's an Altar-Cloth embroidered with Gold and set with Jewels having the Essigies of our Blessed Saviour wrought upon it He built the Church of S. George in Velabro and reposited the head of that Saint therein as also the Church of S. Coecilia in the Via Tiburtina six miles from the City and in it an Oratory in honour to S. Cyrus the Abbat setling a maintenance for the Priests that ministred in it He re-built the Roof of the Church of S. Eusebius which happened in his time to tumble down He also gave order that his Servants should daily distribute and give out at the Lateran Palace Alms to the Poor of all sorts Moreover he forbad the Venetians upon pain of Excommunication the selling of Christian Slaves to Saracens and Heathens which those Merchants were before wont to do Finally that we may not think that his Advancement to so great a Dignity made him neglect his Studies he translated out of Latin into Greek four Books of Gregory in Dialogue that so the Grecians might be instructed in the Rules of good living But having with such Integrity to the Satisfaction of all men governed the Church ten years three months he died and was buried in S. Peter's March the
Brother who had before as we have already said taken the habit of a Monk and indeed the Lombards generally except those of Tuscany were on his side But Desiderius by making large Promises to the Pope and the Romans wrought them into a favour of his Pretensions and accordingly they with all speed sent Ambassadours and among them Holcadus the Abbat to Rachis to require him to lay down his Arms and submit to Desiderius And so Faenza and Ferrara were at last delivered to the Pope and the name of the Exarchate which had continued from the time of Narses to the taking of Ravenna by Aistulphus an hundred and seventy years was extinguished Things being now peaceably setled and the Jurisdiction of the Church greatly encreased Stephen holding a Synod takes an account of his several Flocks and their Pastors gently chastises those who had offended directs such as had gone astray teaches and instructs the ignorant and finally sets before them the Duty of a Bishop of a Presbyter and of all Orders in the Clergy Moreover he appointed Litanies for the appeasing of the Divine Anger the Procession on the first Saturday to be to S. Marie's ad Proesepe on the second to S. Peter's in the Vatican on the third to S. Paul's in the Via Ostiensis He also repaired several Churches which had been damaged by Aistulphus while he layed Siege to the City yet he did not recover the Reliques of the Saints which that King had carried with him to Pavia and there reposited not dishonourably in divers Churches The good man having by these means proved serviceable to God his Countrey and the Church died in the fifth year and first month of his Pontificate and was buried April the 26th with general lamentation as for the loss of a Common Father The See was then vacant thirty two days PAUL I. PAUL a Roman son of 〈◊〉 Brother of Stephen the second became well skill'd and practiced in all things belonging to a Churchman by his having been educated in the Lateran Palace under Pope Gregory the second and Pope Zachay by which latter he was together with his Brother ordained Deacon and when upon the Vacancy of the Popedom by the Death of Stephen some persons proposed Theophylact the Arch-Deacon for his Successour yet others stood for Paul as one who both for the Integrity of his Life and great Learning deserved to succeed his Brother in that Dignity After a long Dispute therefore Theophylact was rejected and Paul by general suffrage chosen in the time of Constantine and Leo. This Paul was a person of an extraordinary meek and merciful Temper and who in Imitation of our Saviour never returned to any man evil for evil but on the contrary by doing good to them he overcame those ill men that had oftentimes injur'd him He was of so kind and compassionate a Nature as that he would go about by night with only two or three Attendants to the Houses of poor sick people assisting them with his Counsel and relieving them with his Alms. He also frequently visited the Prisons and paying their Creditors discharged thence multitudes of poor Debtours The Fatherless and Widows that were over-reach'd by the tricks of Lawyers he defended by his Authority and supported by his Charity Moreover having assembled the Clergy and People of Rome he did with great solemnity translate the Body of S. Petronilla S. Peter's Daughter with her Tomb of Marble upon which was this Inscription Petronilloe Filioe dulcissimoe from the Via Appia into the Vatican and placed it at the upper end of the Church dedicated to her Father At this time the Emperour Constantine having in all places plucked down the Images and put to death Constantine Patriarch of Constantinople for opposing him therein and made Nicetas an Eunuch his Abettour in the Sacriledg Patriach in his stead the Pope consulting by all means the Interest of Religion sends Nuntios to Constantinople to advise the Emperour to restore and set up again the Images he had taken away or upon his refusal so to do to threaten him with the Censure of Excommunication But Constantine persisting obstinately in what he had done not only despised this good Counsel but also granted Peace to Sabinus King of the Bulgarians because he also made the like havock of Images with himself though he were before engaged in a War against him Having also associated to himself into part of the Empire his Son Leo the fourth whom he had married to the most beautiful Athenian Lady Irene he enters into a League with the Saracens thereby to despite and provoke the Orthodox Christians In the mean time Pipin entirely subdues Taxillo Duke of the Bojarians and admits of a League with the Saxons but upon this Condition that they should be obliged to send three hundred Horsemen to his Assistance as often as he should have occasion to make an Expedition Against the Aquitains he maintained a tedious War which at length he committed to the management of his young Son Charles himself being so worn out with Age that he could not be present at it This War being ended Charles takes by Storm Bourbon Clermont and several other Towns of Auvergne But Pipin who as we have said was now very old not long after dies leaving in the Kingdom his two Sons Charles and Caroloman Some tell us that Aistulphus King of the Lombards who as is above declared had carried away the Bodies of divers Saints from Rome to Pavia died at this time and that he had built Chappels to those Saints aud also a Cloister for Virgins in which his own Daughters became Nuns He was an extraordinary Lover of the Monks and died in their Arms in the sixth year and fifth month of his Reign At the beginning of his Government he was fierce and rash in the end moderate and a person of such Learning that he reduc'd and form'd the Edicts of the Lombards into Laws He was as has been said succeeded by Duke Desiderius the Valour of the Lombards beginning now to dissolve and lose it self in Luxury Our Paul having repaired some old decayed Churches died in S. Paul's in the Via Ostiensis in the tenth year and first month of his Pontificate and his Body was with very great Solemnity carried into the Vatican The See was then vacant one year one month STEPHEN III. STEPHEN the third a Sicilian Son of Olibrius entred upon the Pontificate A. D. 768. a learned man and in the management of Affairs especially those belonging to the Church very active and steddy Coming to Rome very young by appointment of Pope Gregory III. he took Orders and became a Monk in the Monastery of S. Chrysogonus where he was inured to the stricter way of living and instructed in Ecclesiastical Learning Being afterwards called by Pope Zachary into the Lateran Palace and his Life and Learning generally approved of he was constituted Parish-Priest of S. Caetilia and for his great Integrity and readiness in Business both
wrote much in praise of the Blessed Virgin and of the Holy Cross and Albo Abbat of Fleury who afterward in Gascoign suffer'd Martyrdom for the faith of Christ Men famous for Learning Religion and Sanctity are said to have flourish'd This John died after he had been Pope ten years six months and ten days and the Sea was vacant six days GREGORY V. GREGORY the Fifth a Saxon Son of Otho before call'd Bruno by the Authority of Otho III. for Kinred sake was made Pope But upon the return of Otho into Germany being vex'd by the Roman factions he fled first into Tuscany and thence into Germany to the Emperor Mean while the Romans vest Crescentius with an absolute Consular Power who immediately creates Pope John a Greek Bishop of Piacenza not more wealthy than learned whose name I confess is by some left out of the Catalogue of Popes as not regularly created but others make him John XVII because he was chosen by the Clergy and People of Rome to whom of right the Election belongeth Crescentius upon the news of Otho's approach with his Army fortifies the Walls and Gates of the City with all diligence he fortifies too the Castle S. Angelo and places strong Guards in every Post that required so that for some time after it was called Crescentius's Castle taking the name of him that fortified it instead of that of the Builder At length the Emperor arriv'd and investing the City when the Romans perceived themselves unable to withstand so great Forces trusting to the clemency of Otho they opened their Gates to the Germans And now Crescentius and John being without Friends and at their wits end fled into Castle S. Angelo and defended themselves well till upon hopes of Pardon coming forth to address themselves to the Emperor Crescentius receiving many wounds from the Multitude was kill'd but John having his Eyes first put out lost both his Popedom and life together and Gregory after he had been expell'd nine months was restored He taking notice of the weakness of the Empire and the uncertainties of Chance and being willing to preserve the Empire among the Germans and that he should be preferred before other who excell'd in worth and Virtue with the consent of Otho he made a Decree concerning the Election of an Emperor An. Dom. 1002. which has continued in force to this day To wit that it should belong to the Germans alone to chuse a Prince who should be Coesar and King of the Romans till the Pope should have confirm'd him and then to have the Titles of Emperor and Augustus Ptolemy writes that at first the power of Election of Emperor was in the Arch-bishop of Mentz for Germany the Arch-bishop of Triers for France and the Arch-bishop of Cologn for Italy To these were added four Secular Princes the Marquess of Brandenburgh who after the Election is Chamberlain to the Emperor the Count Palatine who is chief Sewer the Duke of Saxony who is Sword-bearer and the King of Bohemia the seventh Elector and Cup bearer was added they say to prevent discord between parties for if the rest were equally divided his Vote turned the Scale This 't is said gave distaste to the French but because the Line of Charles the Great being extinct in Lewis the Son of Lotharius that Realm was fallen into the hands of Hugh Capet the chief Minister at that time the great affairs of that Kingdom for some time not being manag'd by Kings they wav'd all thoughts of retrieving the Empire but the main reason was that the new Possessors were well enough yet satisfied with their fortune and dar'd not attempt any thing further 'till they were certain that their late acquir'd Regal Power stood upon a good foundation Robert the Son and Successor of the Great Hugh is much and deservedly praised for his Courage Justice Modesty and Religion for though he exercised himself very much in the Art Military yet he found time so often to frequent the Churches of God and to celebrate the Divine Service as if he had been in holy Orders He is said to have made the Hymn Sancti spiritûs assit 〈◊〉 gratia and by these Arts not less powerful than his Arms he gain'd the hearts of the People and drew those honourable respects to his Family which they had before given to that of Charles the Great Robert a certain Bishop of Chartres is about this time said to have been in great repute for Learning and Sanctity he having written much and reduced the singing in Churches to a better method Gregory died after he had been Pope two years and five months The Sea was vacant fifteen days JOHN XVIII JOHN the Eighteenth Bishop of Piacenza by the power of Crescentius the Consul as we said whom he had corrupted with his Money in the time of Gregory V. was made Pope by a Faction for he brought so much Money with him from Constantinople that even the good Men might be brib'd to serve his ill ends much less might he prevail with the Covetousness and Ambition of Crescentius I wonder that Historians place this John in the number of the Popes he having got into the Chair while Gregory was alive unless that in writing the Lives of Popes it may be thought fit as in a continued History to set down the outrages of Usurpers and Tyrants as well as the worthy Actions of good and lawful Princes that Readers may observe the difference between good and bad and upon the sight of examples of both be deterred from vitious and encouraged to virtuous practices and lead a blessed and happy life in the Earth Which blessedness and felicity John wanted for being a Robber and a Thief in his Pontificate and coming not in as he ought by the Door He died with ignominy enough in the tenth month of his Usurpation The Sea was vacant twenty days SYLVESTER II. SYLVESTER the Second before called Gilbert a French Man got the Popedom as they say by ill Arts. When he was young he was entred and sworn a Monk of Fleury in the Diocese of Orleans but he left the Monastery to follow the Devil to whom he had wholly delivered himself up and went to Sevil in Spain to study humane Sciences being extreamly greedy of Knowledg and Learning in which he made such progress that of a Scholar he soon became an excellent Master Martinus writes that the Emperor Otho King Robert of France and Lotharius a Man of noble birth and great learning afterward Arch bishop of Sens were his Scholars Gilbertus therefore full of Ambition and push'd on with the diabolical desire of Rule by Simony first gets the Arch-bishoprick of Rhemes and then of Ravenna at last the Devil helping him with an extraordinary lift he got the Popedom upon this Condition that after his death he should be wholly the Devils by whose assistance he had arriv'd at so great a Dignity Being greedy of Rule he ask'd the Devil once how long he should enjoy the
the Saracens who sate before it and with great slaughter of them raised the Siege An. Dom. 1008. at the same time that Jerusalem was taken by the Turks without any violation of the Holy Sepulchre the Church of Mount Sion or Bethlehem The Venetians had a design to have reliev'd Jerusalem too but that they were with held by their Enemies of Zara to whom yet at Loreto they gave so total a rout that they durst never after by War molest any of their Neighbours But Henry having setled the state of Germany coming to Rome received the Imperial Crown and then marching to Capua drove the Saracens out of it and carried on the War against Bubagano a General of the Greeks who favour'd the Moors with so much vigour that he dispossess'd him of Troy a City he had built in the confines of Apulia in a place where Hannibal was said heretofore to have encamp'd The Emperor Henry and his Wife Cunigunda are reported to have led such chast and holy lives that they grew famous for working Miracles omitting no action which might contribute to the glory of God He founded the Bishoprick of Bamberg and married his Daughter to the King of Hungary by whose means that King and all his Subjects received the Christian Faith but Henry died in the eighth year of his Empire to the great loss of his Subjects He being dead of whom in all exigencies Benedict made use as his Protector he was expell'd by a Faction and another Pope chosen in his room though he soon after agreed the matter with his Adversaries who turn'd out again the Pseudo-Pope and restor'd Benedict with honour He died in the eleventh year first month and thirteenth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church 'T is said that a certain Bishop walking in a solitary place Benedict appear'd to him sitting upon a black Horse whereupon the Bishop ask'd him the reason of his appearance in that manner he answer'd that his business was to desire him to take some Money which he had hid in a certain place to which he directed him and to give it to the poor as from him for that the Money had been of no profit to him it consisting of what had been given of Alms or gotten by Rapine The Bishop executed his request and immediately surrendred his Bishoprick and led a Monastic life Vincentius writes that Gerard Bishop of Canobio was in great account about this time for his Learning and exemplary Life as also was Gutherus Bishop of Prague who for his great abilities and holiness suffered Martyrdom from the Enemies of the Christian Religion At this time also so great a Pestilence raged in the World that 't was thought fewer surviv'd it than died of it which Calamity was fore-shew'd by a Well of wholesom Water in Lorain being turn'd into blood JOHN XXI JOHN the twenty first a Roman Son of Gregory was as some will have it Bishop of Porto though others say he never was in holy Orders at all he was made Pope at the same time that Conrade of Schwaben was by a just suffrage elected Emperor in the room of Henry who had been dead three years In this Interregnum I suppose it was that several Cities of Italy revolted from the Empire and stood up for their liberty wherefore Conrade who was a great Soldier and had been for many years in great Command in the Wars under Henry raising an Army speedily enters Italy and marching first against the Milaneses the chief Authors of this defection he sits down before the Town burns the Suburbs and breaths forth nothing but utter ruin to the City but quickly raises his Siege by the persuasion of the Arch-bishop of Cologn who assured him that as he was at Mass S. Ambrose appear'd to him and threaten'd destruction to them all except they departed from the City of which himself was Patron Conrade therefore holds on his Journey to Rome where at the hands of Pope John he receiv'd the Imperial Crown and then march'd against the Hungarians and Sclavonians who had assisted the rebellious Italians and soon subdu'd them Rodolphus also Duke of Burgundy being vex'd by the Seditions of his Subjects put himself under the protection of Conrade and therefore Burgundy has been ever since 〈◊〉 for a good part of it a Province of the Empire It is said of Conrade that he made several very useful Laws among which one was that it should be death for any Prince of the Empire to disturb the peace of it and upon that account he was a fierce Persecutor of Leopold a German Count who was a Ring-leader of some disturbances in his Country He sent Ambassadours to charge the Greeks and Normans who were quarrelling about the Kingdom of Apulia to lay down their Arms and threaten'd ruine to the Romans if they persisted as they had begun to teize their Pope with Seditions In his time Religion was adorn'd in France by the strict life and holiness of several Abbats and Himericus Son of S. Stephen King of Hungary had great reputation for his Miracles But John who is very much to be praised for his life died after he had been Pope eleven years and nine days The Sea was then vacant eight days BENEDICT IX BENEDICT the Ninth as some say the Nephew of John born at Frascati Son of Albericus came to the Pontificate when Canutus a King of England out of devotion and for performance of a Vow came to Rome which having done as he return'd home he married his Daughter to Henry the Son of Conrade Soon after Conrade dying his Son Henry II. succeeded his Father and raising an Army gives battel to Uldericus King of Bohemia but the Victory being doubtful he renew'd the fight overcame him and took him Prisoner but setting him under Tribute he discharg'd him from his imprisonment then marching against the Hungarians who were contending about the Crown he restor'd Peter to his Throne who had been driven out by Alboinus In the mean time the Romans deposed Benedict who was a sluggish Fellow and good for nothing and set up in his room John Bishop of Sabina by the name of Sylvester III. who also after a Popedom of nine and forty days was turn'd out and Benedict restor'd and he finding himself still liable to the same danger again of his own accord resign'd the Chair to John Arch-deacon of S. John at Port Latin afterward called Gregory VI. though some affirm that he sold it to him Wherefore Benedict was ill spoken of by all Men deservedly and condemn'd by the divine judgment for 't is certain that after his death he was seen in a most monstrous likeness and being ask'd why having been Pope he appear'd in such a horrid shape Because says he I led my life without Law or Reason it is the will of God and S. Peter whose Seat I defiled with all manner of wickedness that I bear the shape rather of a Monster than of a Man After he
order to Rome where he publickly interdicted Gregory from doing any thing for the future that belong'd to the Office of a Pope commanding the Cardinals to leave Gregory and come to him for they were like to have another Pope Gregory not able to endure such an affront upon God and the Church deprived Sigifred and the rest of the Clergy that took Henry's part of all their dignities and preferments and likewise laid a Curse upon the Emperour himself after he had degraded him from his Imperial Honour And of this Degradation or Deprivation the form was as followeth Blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles I beseech thee hearken unto me and heat thy servant whom thou hast educated from my infancy and preserved to this day from the hands of wicked men that hate and persecute me for the faith I have in Thee Thou art my best Witness Thou and the holy Mother of Jesus Christ together with Paul thy fellow Martyr that I did 〈◊〉 enter upon the Papacy without reluctance not that I thought it robbery lawfully to rise into thy Chair but I was more willing to spend my days in Pilgrimage than at that time to supply thy place for ostentation and vain-glory I must needs confess that it was thy goodness and not my deserts that brought me to the Cure of Christendom and gave me the power of loosing and binding and therefore in confidence of that and for the honour and safety of the Church I do deprive King Henry son to Henry who was formerly Emperour of all Imperial Power in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost for that He so boldly and rashly laid violent hands upon thy Church and I absolve all his Christian Subjects from their Oaths that bind 'em to pay Allegiance to true and lawful Kings For it is fit that he should lose his honour who would diminish the Honour of the Church And furthermore because he has contemn'd mine or rather thy admonitions concerning his own and his peoples salvation and separated himself from the Church of God which he would fain destroy I set him under a Curse as being well assured that thou art Peter upon whose Rock as a true foundation Christ Jesus our King has built his Church There were at that time a great many that talk'd of Peace when the Execration was past to whom Gregory made answer that he did not 〈◊〉 conditions of Peace if Henry would first make his peace with God You said he must needs know what injury he has done the Church and how often I have admonished him to reform his life and conversation And this I did in respect to Henry his Father's memory who was my very good Friend but to no purpose he having entertain'd principles quite contrary to his Father's Nevertheless some of those that were present continu'd to urge him and persuade him that a King ought not to have been anathematiz'd so hastily To whom the Pope reply'd When said he Christ committed his Church to Peter and said Feed my sheep did he except Kings No when he gave Peter the power to bind and loose he excepted none nor exempted any man from his Authority Wherefore he that says He cannot be bound by the Churches power must needs confess he cannot any more be absolved by it now whosoever is so impudent as to affirm this makes himself a perfect Separatist from Christ and his Church When Henry heard what Gregory had done he wrote many Letters to several Nations complaining that he was condemn'd by the Pope against all Law and Reason 〈◊〉 Gregory on the other hand demonstrated not only by words and Letters but also by Reason and Witnesses in the face of the World that he had done nothing but what was just and right But in the mean time part of the Kingdom revolted from Henry and the Saxons prepared for a War against him upon which the German Princes fearing some misfortune might 〈◊〉 their Country decreed in a publick Assembly that if Gregory would come into Germany Henry should humbly beg his pardon and the King swore he would do it Thereupon the Pope who was induced by the promises and prayers of the Arch-bishop of Treves Henry's Embassadour was going on his journey toward Augst but when he came to Vercelli was privately inform'd by the Bishop of that place who is Chancellour of all Italy that Henry was coming against him with an Army At which the Pope forbare to go any further but went to Canosso a Town near Rheggio under the Countess Matilda Henry also made thither as fast as he could with his whole Army and laying aside his regal Habit he went barefoot to the gate of the Town to move the Townsmens pity and desired to be let in But he was deny'd entrance and took it very patiently or at least seemed so to do though it were a sharp Winter and all things bound up in frost Notwithstanding he tarried in the Suburbs three days and begg'd pardon continually till at last by the intercession of Maude and Adelaus an Earl of Savoy together with the Abbat of Clugny he was introduced absolved and reconciled to the Church having sworn to a Peace and promised future obedience The form of the Kings Oath was this I King Henry do affirm that I will keep all the conditions and engagements that are in the Peace which our Lord Gregory the Seventh has drawn up according to his mind and will take care that the said Pope shall go where he pleases without the least molestation either to Him or his Attendants especially through all our Dominions and that I will be no hinderance to him in the exercise of his Pontifical authority in any place whatsoever and this I swear I will observe Done at Canosso January the 28. Indiction the 15th But when he had succeeded according to his wish and all people were gone to their several homes Henry moved toward Pavia but lost Cincius by the way who dy'd of a Fever and yet Henry though that Villain was gone did not desist from innovation For he broke the Peace and thereby vexed the German Princes to such a degree that they declared Rodolphus Duke of Saxony King and rejected Henry That moved Henry to petition the Pope that he would disposses Rodolphus of the Kingdom by Excommunication But seeing he could not obtain so great a favour he betook himself to his Arms and engaged him in a bloody Battel where the Victory was uncertain on both sides And then they each sent Embassadours to the Pope to beg of him that he would assist 'em to which he made no other answer but that he would have 'em quit their Arms. But notwithstanding Henry and Rodolphus fought a second time without any odds and therefore when they had engaged the third time and kill'd a great many men on both sides Henry who seemed to have a little the better of it would not hear Rodolphus's Embassadours that came to him for Peace but wrote to the
because I cry aloud and tell the people of their crimes and the Sons of the Church of their sins and have laid violent hands upon me even unto blood For the Kings of the Earth stood up and the Princes of the World with some Ecclesiasticks and others have conspired against the Lord and me his Anointed saying Let us break their bonds asunder and cast their yoke from us and this they did that they might either kill or banish me Of these one was King Henry as they call him Henry I say Son to Henry the Emperour who exalted his horns and lifted up his heel too proudly against the Church of God in a conspiracy with many Bishops of Italy Germany and France whose ambition your authority has yet opposed This same person came to me in Lombardy when he was rather forced by necessity than sober in his resolutions and begg'd to be absolv'd from his Anathema and accordingly I receiv'd him because I thought him a Penitent but only admitted him to the Communion of the Church not restored him to his Kingdom from which I had justly expelled him in the Council at Rome nor did I give the Subjects of the Kingdom leave to pay him their former Allegiance And this I did that if he delay'd his reconcilement with the neighbouring Nations whom he had always vexed and should refuse to restore as well Ecclesiastical as Secular Estates according to his word he might be forc'd to his duty by Anathema's and Arms. Some Bishops of Germany made use of this opportunity as also certain Princes who had been long tormented by this wild beast thought fit to chuse Rodolphus for their King and Governour since Henry had lost his Throne by his flagitious actions And truly Rodolphus like a modest and just King sent Embassadours to let me know he was forced to take the Government into his hand though he was not so desirous of Dominion but that he would rather obey us than those that had chosen him to the Kingdom That he would always be at Gods and our disposal and that we might believe him he offered his Sons for hostages for his performance Thereupon Henry began to rage and first to desire us that we would use our spiritual Sword to depose Rodolphus I answered him That I would see who had most right and would send Agents thither to examine the matter and then I my self would judg whose cause was the juster Henry would not suffer our Legates to determine the matter but kill'd a great many men both Ecclesiastical and Laick plunder'd and prophan'd Churches and by this means made himself obnoxious to an Anathema Wherefore I trusting in Gods mercy and judgment in the patronage of the blessed Virgin and relying upon your Authority do lay Henry and his accomplices under a Curse and once more deprive him of his regal Power interdicting all Christians whom I absolve from all Oaths of Allegiance to him from obeying Henry in any case whatever but command 'em to receive Rodolphus as their King whom many Princes of the Realm have chosen since Henry was deposed For it is fit that seeing Henry is deprived of his Power for his pride and contumacy Rodolphus who is beloved by all should be invested with the Kingly power and dignity for his Piety and Religion Go to then ye Princes of the holy Apostles and confirm what I have 〈◊〉 by your authority that all men at last may know that if you can bind and loose in Heaven that We also upon Earth can take away and give Kingdoms Principalities Empires and whatsoever is in the possession of Mortals For if you can judg of things divine what may we think of things prophane here below And if you may judg of Angels that govern proud Princes what may you not do to their Servants Let all Kings and Princes of the World take notice by his example what you can do in Heaven how God esteems you and then let 'em not contemn the Decrees of the Church And I 〈◊〉 you suddenly to execute judgment upon Henry that all may see that son of Iniquity did not lose his Kingdom by chance but by your permission and consent And this I have requested of you that he may repent and be saved in the day of Judgment by the help of your prayers Given at Rome the 5th of March Indiction III. After that he degraded Gilbert the Author of all this discord and Schism from the Church of Ravenna and commanded all Priests belonging to that Church to pay no obedience to him who was the cause of all their misfortunes and therefore Anathematized And that the people might not want a Governour he imitated Peter who used to send 〈◊〉 in his own room upon occasion and sent 'em another Arch bishop with full power to extirpate Gilbert's Faction and confirm mens minds in the faith But then Henry who was rather provoked than chastized by these Censures and had taken the Bishop of Ostia then Legate as he return'd home called a Council of the disaffected Bishops and chose Gilbert formerly Arch-bishop of Ravenna Pope and called him Clement But being teazed by the 〈◊〉 he left his new Pope for a time and went against them where he engaged and received a great overthrow Rodolphus though he was Conquerour yet was found dead at a little distance of a wound which he received They say Henry was so affrighted at that bloody ingagement that he could scarce be found in seventeen days and that the Germans in the mean time had put his Son Henry in his room by the name of Henry IV. Both these coming after with an united Body of Men into Italy to settle their Pope Clement in the Pontificate and to turn 〈◊〉 Gregory they easily subdu'd Maude who came to meet 'em with a small Army This same Maude when her first Husband died not long before that time was married to Azo Marquis d'Este her former Husbands near kinsman by blood and related to her in the third degree of Affinity But when the matter was known she was divorced from Azo at Gregory's persuasion Henry having conquer'd Maude at Parma march'd to Rome and her Husband Azo after an hostile manner and pitch'd his Camp in the Prati di Nerone and going into the Borgo di Sancto Pietro he and his Pope Clement prophaned St. Peter's Church and demolish'd the Portico and did the like by St. Pauls But seeing he could not get into the City he went to Tivoli from whence as from a Castle he made daily incursions upon the Romans till by wasting all that came near him he reduced them to such necessity that they desired Peace upon any terms of which notice being given to Henry by some deserters who got out of the Town he drew his men up and entred in whereupon the Pope who could not trust the People betook himself into the Castle St. Angelo where he was besieged for some time they within maintaining the place stoutly Gregory's Nephew
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
pretensions but strengthen'd himself with good Garisons both in Tuscany in Italy and Schwaben in Germany The like with a more than Womanly fortitude also did Constantia the relict of Henry in Sicily on the behalf of her Son Frederic II. yet a Child rendring the Frontier-places defensible against any Enemy Though these Animosities every day grew higher yet Innocent still thought of renewing the War in the Holy Land and to that Expedition he stir'd up Boniface Marquess of Montferrat Baldwin Earl of Flanders Henry Count S. Paul and Lewis of Savoy who all arriving at Venice could not persuade that State to rig out their Fleet for the Service till they had all promised to recover Zara for them which again was revolted to the Hungarians the Fleet then being fitted out they first routed those of Trieste who piratically infested the Sea and then after a long Siege re-took Zara. While these things were acted in the Adriatic Alexius dethrones his Brother Isaac Emperor of Constantinople who had been a good Friend to the Latins and putting out his Eyes throws him in Prison But his young Son Alexius escap'd by flight to the Christian Camp and begs the assistance of those Commanders for his Father against the Usurper which they consented to give him on condition that his end being atchiev'd the Greek Church should be subjected to the Latin and that thirty thousand Marks of Gold should be paid for the damage which Emanuel the late Emperour had done to the French and Venetians and thus when they had agreed they set sail from Zara and passing by Candy that Island submitted itself which young Alexius bestow'd upon his Kinsman Boniface of Montferrat Hence they proceeded to Constantinople which while they besieged by Sea and Land Theodore Lascari Son-in-law to Alexius endeavouring to sally forth was driven back and the City after two days close Siege was taken by storm Alexius got away in the night leaving behind him a great quantity of Gold in the custody of Irene a Nun. Isaac the Father with his Son Alexius then entred the City but liv'd not long after the Father dying of sickness and the Son being poison'd Upon this Boniface of Montferrat gets the Kingdom of Thessaly but wanting Money he was persuaded by Baldwin to sell Candy to the Venetians which he did and having receiv'd a vast sum for it he beleaguer'd Adrianople then opprest by the Usurper but this gave so much distast to the Walachians who live on the further side of the Danube and to the Bulgarians that fearing the number of his Enemies he took his way to Constantinople intending to go meet the Turkish Sultan of Iconium who having taken the City Satellia from the Greeks did much and continually incommode the Christians Innocent encompass'd thus with Enemies raised what Forces soever he could to reinforce from time to time our Armies but when he heard that Hilminoline a Saracen with a great Fleet had cross'd the Streights into Spain and had sate down with his Army before Toledo he publish'd a Bull inciting all those that could bear Arms to oppose this torrent whereupon numbers of French men got together in order to assist the Spaniards but perceiving they were not welcome to them they return'd home so that Hilminoline in a short time over-run all Spain after a hostile manner and came as far as Arles and Avignon filling all places where he came with spoil and slaughter This Calamity roused the four Kings of Spain that is of Castile Aragon Portugal and Navarre so that joyning their forces together they set upon the Saracens and gave them a total rout leaving nothing to 'em of what they had but onely Granado At this time sprung up a Heresie at Tholouse which by Innocent's means the blessed Dominic who was afterwards made a Saint repress'd with the aid of Simon Montfort for it had gone so far that he had need of the help of the Arm of Flesh as well as of Arguments and spiritual Weapons Mean time Otho Emperour of the Romans was every where worsted by Philip and at last besieg'd by him in the City of Cologn where he making in Person a successless Sally the Citizens shut him out and surrendred to Philip who yet did not long out-live the Action being soon after treacherously made away by the Count Palatine Upon his death the Electors chose the Duke of Saxony Emperour nam'd Otho V. who the next year was crown'd by Innocent at Rome The Venetians now being very powerful at Sea and the State having greater matters in hand private Men had leave to make themselves Masters of what Islands they pleased provided they continued their Allegiance to the Government upon which many Citizens entred upon several Isles in the Ionian and Aegaean Seas and at the publick charge were seiz'd Corfu Modone and Corone Otho having as is aforesaid receiv'd the Imperial Crown of the Pope against all justice and right possesses himself of Montefiascone Radicofano and several other Towns belonging to the Church and then marches into the Kingdom of Naples designing to take that Kingdom from Frederic II. who was young and as yet under Guardians which so angred the Pope that having first admonish'd him without any effect he excommunicated him at last and depriv'd him of his Imperial Title and the King of Bohemia with the Arch bishops of Mentz and Triers by the persuasion of the Duke of Austria and Landgrave of Turingia chuse Frederick King of Sicily then in the twentieth year of his age Emperour in his stead Otho hereupon returns into Germany to take care of his Paternal Estate by which means Innocent had an opportunity to his mind to recover whatsoever he had taken from the Church Those of Candy now rebelling against the Venetians they were by force of Arms reduc'd An. Dom. 1214. and brought into the constitution of a Colony many Citizens being sent to live among 'em and to observe ' em At this time Frederic II. came to Rome to receive the Imperial Diadem but could not prevail with him to bestow it upon him so he return'd into Germany and there was by the Arch-bishop of Mentz Crown'd King of Germany and then made an Alliance and League with the King of France which added so much to the strength of that King that he invaded the Realm of John King of England with such success that John was fain to make use of Divine aids as well as humane force to resist him by making his Kingdoms of England and Ireland tributary to the Church of Rome in the payment of one hundred Marks yearly which for some years after was perform'd Frederic now in pursuit of Otho who had been totally defeated by the King of France takes in Aquisgrane and there by Authority receiv'd from Pope Innocent he sets up the Standard of the Holy Cross promising speedily to march to the assistance of the Christians against the Saracens in Asia beside that he might shew with what a grateful mind
Cubit in depth This so terrified the Christians that they were glad to accept of Peace upon condition that Damiata should be re deliver'd to the Egyptians the Prisoners on both sides be discharg'd and the piece of the Holy Cross then in the hands of those Barbarians should be restor'd to the Christians and they suffer'd to retire quietly to Acon and Tyre Thus was Damiata which was begun to be inhabited by the Christians upon the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin deliver'd up according to the Articles on the Birth-day of the same An. Dom. 1221. In which year the Tartars a Nation of Scythia or as others will have it of the mountainous parts of India leaving their own Country ravag'd through Parthia Media Persia Assyria and came as far as Sarmatia where not far from Palus Meotis driving out the old Inhabitants they seated themselves The Christian Commanders finding at this time that nothing was to be attempted in Asia the Enemy being too powerful they together with John Colonna return'd into Italy and were soon follow'd by John King of Jerusalem who came to Rome and was by the Pope kindly entertain'd and had large Presents made to him Afterward he gave his Daughter which he had by his Wife Jole in marriage to the Emperor Frederic though he was under the Pope's Anathema and pass'd over all the Title he had by hereditary right to the Kingdom of Jerusalem to him by way of Dowry Hence it is that all the succeeding Kings of Sicily and Naples use the Title of that Kingdom also though they make their claim to it with words only and not with Arms. John then took a Journey into France where he had better luck than he was wont to have for Philip King of France bequeath'd in his last Will forty thousand pounds in Silver to him and as much to the grand Master of the Templers and with the help of this Money he went into Spain to perform a Vow he had made to S. James of Compostella where he took to Wife Berengaria Sister to the King of Spain This year died S. Dominic that holy Man at Bononia and Frederic declar'd his Son Henry a Boy but of ten years old King of Germany Our Honorius being a little quiet from forein troubles repair'd the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls that is call'd Sancta Sanctorum and the Church of S. Vivian beside he built a Palace at Casa Marii and adorn'd the Cibory Altar-Canopy or Covering of S. Peter with excellent workmanship He also compil'd the Decretal Epistles and confirm'd the Order of S. Francis who within two years after was canoniz'd by Pope Gregory After this blessed manner did Honorius lead his life and as became a careful and a good Shepherd and dying when he had been Pope ten years seven months and thirteen days he was buried in the Church of S. Mary Maggiore After his death there happened so great Earthquakes that in the Monti Salvii five thousand persons were slain by the falls of Houses and by the Stones that were thrown into the Vales from the tops of the Mountains GREGORY IX GREGORY the Ninth born at Anagni a City of Campania of the Family of the Conti and Nephew to Innocent III. was created Pope at the Settizonio a place in Rome so call'd from seven rows of Pillars there plac'd by the Emperour Severus Which was no sooner done but he dispatch'd away monitory Letters to require Frederic the Emperour under pain of an Anathema that he should with the first opportunity march with his Army into Asia there to endeavour the recovery of the holy City Frederic receiv'd the Admonition and indeed promised so to do accordingly giving out Orders that all who had entred themselves of the Crusado should by a day appointed repair to Brundusium with their Arms. Great numbers met there from all Countries particularly from Germany came the Lantgrave of Hesse who waiting there for the arrival of Frederic out of Sicily where he staid and prolong'd the time feigning himself sick died himself and a great number of his Soldiers and as soon as the news of his death was brought to Frederic he then immediately set sail for Brundusium and seiz'd into his hands whatsoever the Lantgrave had left of value which act plainly detected the fraudulence of his pretence However he continued to make the World believe that he was really intent upon the holy Expedition and after the rapacious action aforesaid upon the goods of the Lantgrave he hoisted Sail and commanded the rest that were there to follow him but in a little while after return'd to Brundusium forc'd as he pretended by the tempestuous weather 1. The noise of this Expedition mov'd John King of Jerusalem and Berengaria his Wife knowing well that they did what would be very acceptable to the Pope to take a journey to Bononia meaning to make use of some Shipping of the Venetians to carry him to Asia but the Pope understood well enough the tricks of Ferdinand and what little credit was to be given him and lest John should quite lose his labour and come for nothing he confer'd upon him the Government of the Exarchate of Ravenna and ratified the Sentence of Excommunication which was pronounc'd by his Predecessor Honorius III. against the Emperour Frederic and had done worse things against him if himself had not been under some fearful apprehensions of an Invasion from the Moors who were then out at Sea with a powerful Fleet but were afterwards vanquish'd by Ferdinand of Aragon with so great loss on their side that in a short time he possess'd himself of Majorca one of the Islands call'd the Baleares and took the City Valentia driving out the Saracens and compelling the Inhabitants to receive the Christian Religion At last yet Frederic was what by the intreaties of his Friends and the threats of the Pope wrought upon to begin his Voyage sailing first to Cyprus which afforded some hopes to the Christian Soldiers that were in Asia whom he had so often deceiv'd But while he staid there sending out Spies to bring him an account of the strength of the Soldan's Forces his General Rainaldo whom he had left in Sicily invades the Pope's Territories and takes several Towns in the Marca di Ancona The Pope was then at Perugia designing to go to Assisi there in person to examine the truth of those reports which had been of Miracles wrought by that holy Man S. Francis and when he found what he had heard concerning him to be really true he canoniz'd him with great solemnity in the presence of great numbers of Christian People who came together for that end While these things were acting by the Pope another Commander of the Emperours by siding with a Faction seizes Fuligno but was quickly expell'd by the Power of some good Men who stood up for the holy Church By this time Frederic was got to Acon and from thence solicited the Pope earnestly by Letters
long for they soon altered their minds and clap'd him in Prison This affront gave great offence to the Bononians who seizing several Romans protested they would never release them but upon the delivery of their Brancaleon which so wrought upon the cautious Romans that they not onely released him but restor'd him to his former dignity setting up also another Court of men chosen out of every Ward in the City whom they called Banderese to whom they committed the Power of life and death The Pope plainly found the reason of this insolence of the Romans to be that they observ'd how Manfredus had plagu'd him and that he was not able to help himself That he might therefore at last free the Church from the tyranny of these men he sent Legates to Lewis King of France to exhort him that he would assoon as possible send his Cousin and Son-in-law Charles Earl of Provence and Anjou with an Army into Italy he intending upon the expulsion of Manfredus to create him King of both Sicilies And this no doubt he had done so high were his resentments of the Ingratitude of Manfredus if sickness had not taken him off from business Which yet was brought to pass as is supposed by the following Pope To the times of this Pope is ascribed Albertus a High German of the Order of Friers Predicant who for the vastness of his learning got the Surname of Magnus He Commented upon all the Works of Aristotle and explain'd the Christian Religion with great acuteness beside he wrought very accurately concerning the secrets of Nature He also put forth a Book de Coaequaevis wherein he endeavours to shew the little difference that is between Theology and Natural Philosophy He expounded a great part of the Holy Bible and illustrated the Gospels and S. Paul's Epistles with excellent Notes He began also a Body of Divinity but liv'd not to perfect it He was a man so modest and so much given to Study that he refused the Bishoprick of Ratisbon because it could not be manag'd without trouble and force of Arms sometimes as the Bishops of Germany are wont to do He liv'd therefore in private at Cologn reading onely some publick Lectures At length he died there in the eightieth year of his age leaving behind him many Scholars for the good of Posterity especially Thomas Aquinas who leaving his Countrey and his noble kinred for he deriv'd his pedigree from the Counts of Apulia and going to Cologn he made such progress in learning that after a few years he was made Professor at Paris where he published four Books upon the Sentences and wrote a Book against William de St. Amour a pernicious Fellow Beside he put forth two Books one de qualitate essentiis the other de principiis naturae At last he was sent for to Rome by Vrban but refusing those promotions that were offered him he gave himself wholly to Reading and Writing He set up a School at Rome and at the desire of Vrban he wrote several Pieces and ran through almost all Natural and Moral Philosophy with Commentaries and set forth a Book contra Gentiles He expounded the Book of Job and compiled the Catena aurea He composed also an Office for the Sacrament in which most of the Types of the old Testament are explained But to return to Vrban he died at Perugia in the third year first month and fourth day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Cathedral Church The Sea then was vacant five months CLEMENT IV. CLEMENT the fourth formerly called Guidodi Fulcodio a Narbonnese of S. Giles's deserv'd to be made Pope upon the account of his Holiness and Learning For he being without question the best Lawyer in France and pleading with great integrity in the Kings Court was created after the death of his Wife by whom he had several Children first of all Bishop of Pois and then of Harbonne and last of all a Cardinal by universal consent and afterward was chosen out as the onely Person whose sincerity and Authority had qualified him to compose the Differences between Henry King of England and Simon Earl of Montford As soon as he was chosen Pope some say he put on the Habit of a Religious Mendicant and went incognito to Perugia Thither immediately went the Cardinals who having chosen him Pope though in his absence attended upon him pompously to Viterbo In the mean time Charles whom we said Pope Vrban sent for to bestow a Kingdom upon him set out from Marseilles with thirty Ships and coming up the Tiber arriv'd at Rome Where he lived as a Senator so long by the Popes order till certain Cardinals sent from his Holiness came and declared him King of Jerusalem and Sicily in the Palace of St. Giovanni Laterano upon this condition that Charles should take an Oath to pay the Sea of Rome a yearly acknowledgment of forty thousand Crowns and should not accept of the Roman Empire though it were freely offer'd to him For there was at that time a great contest for the Empire between Alphonsus King of Castile who sought to procure it by Power and bribery too and the Earl of Corâ—wall the King of Englands Brother whom the Electors had no great thoughts of Therefore lest Manfred should hope to make use of any quarrels between Alphonsus and Charles to whom many people said the Empire was justly due though he could not challenge it the Pope animated Charles against Manfred as one that stood in Contempt of the Roman Church For Charles's Army was already gotten over the Alpes into Italy and marching through Romagnia had brought all the Soldiers of the Guelphs Party as far as Rome From whence Charles removed and took not onely Ceperane having beaten out Manfred's men but posted himself in a Forest near Cassino which Manfred himself had undertaken to defend although his mind was soon alter'd and he resolv'd to march for Benevento to expect the Enemy in plain and spacious places because his forces consisted most of Cavalry Thither also did Charles move and assoon as he had an opportunity to fight did not decline it though his Soldiers were very weary with travelling Each of them encouraged their men to engage But Charles coming to relieve a Troop of his Soldiers that were like to be worsted more eagerly than usually as in such cases Military Men will do he was knock'd down from his Horse at which the Enemy was so transported that Manfred fought carelesly out of rank and file and was kill'd which when Charles appeared again straight turn'd the fortune of the Day For many of his men that ran away were kill'd and a great many others taken Prisoners Charles having obtain'd so great a Victory removes to Benevento and marches into it upon a voluntary surrender of the Citizens From thence he went to storm Nocera de Pagani where both the modern and the ancient Saracens lived but sent his Mareschal into Tuscany with five hundred Horse to restore
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
receiv'd the Sacraments of the Church and then died in the eighth month of his Pontificate and was buried at Viterbo He was a Man as I said before of great Learning but little Prudence For he wrote many Tracts in his life especially certain Rules relating to Physick for he was counted a very good Physician He wrote also another Book and called it Thesaurus Pauperum or the Poors Treasure and set out Problems in imitation of Aristotle But 't is certain however it comes to be so that many very learned Men are not at all fit for business Yet I need not doubt how it comes to pass but take it rather for a greater Wonder if he that takes pleasure in Contemplation should apply his mind to Wordly Affairs too NICOLAS III. NICOLAS the Third a Roman of the Family of the Vrsini formerly called John Cajetan was made Pope at last after the Election had been six months in suspence by reason of a great Contest that was among the Cardinals Now the King of Sicily as Senator had the guard of the Conclave at that time and was very urgent with 'em to chuse a French-man But Nicolas assoon as he began his Reign in the year 1278 resolv'd to restrain Charles's Power and took from him the Lieutenancy of Tuscany because he said that Rodulphus took it ill and would not perform his promise of going upon the Expedition into the holy Land upon any other terms since Tuscany was reckon'd to belong to the jurisdiction of the Empire Though the Pope gain'd this point yet he reduced Romagna and Bologna it self together with the Exarchate of Ravenna which at that time were under the Emperor and made 'em subject to himself And thither he sent Bertholdus his Nephew who was declared Earl of Romagna He sent also another Nephew of his that was a Cardinal called Latinus Legat into Tuscany who restored the Gibellins in all places and imposed what Officers he pleased upon the Citizens at Florence and in other parts of Tuscany But the Office of Senator which used to be granted or committed to Kings and Princes he discharg'd himself alone He would not see the Embassadors from the Venetians who at that time harass'd the Anconeses with War and so they departed But he called 'em back and chid 'em severely nay he threaten'd to ruin their City if they did not desist from besieging or storming Ancona At length when both parties had suffer'd great inconveniencies they made a Peace upon equal terms But this Pope had a mind to create two Kings both of the Vrsini one of Tuscany and the other of Lombardy to keep those Germans on the one side that inhabit part of the Alps and the French on the other side that lived in Sicily and Naples within their bounds And to bring it about he persuaded Peter King of Aragon to endeavour the recovery of the Kingdom of Sicily upon the title of his Wife Constantia who was heir to it And he took the Honour of Senator from Charles and conferr'd it upon himself and made an everlasting Edict that no King or Prince should dare to sue for or bear that Office This Nicolas as Authors say was a man of great courage and conduct and so perfect in his life and conversation that in Italian he was commonly called il Composto or Composto He was a lover and admirer of learned men especially of those who had Learning mingled with prudence and Religion But he was reckon'd impartial to all in the distribution of honours and dignities For at his first Ordination he chose a Bishop for Alba out of the Order of Minors for Ostia and Porto out of the Preachers The Bishops of Palestrina and Trescat were Seculars He created besides these two Cardinal-Priests that is to say Gerard with the Title of the Twelve Apostles and Jerome of the Order of Minors with the Title of S. Pudentiana To them he added two Deacons that is to say Jordan his Brother Cardinal of S. Eustachius a man of much Learning and innocence and James Colonna of S. Maries in Via lata a person of great Religion and gravity He adorn'd and enlarged the Papal Palace with other Buildings which he added For he built a convenient house nigh S Peters part of which is yet to be seen which Nicolas the fifth afterward repair'd to his great cost and charge He also walled S. Peter's Garden which now they call Belvedere Then he repair'd S. Peter's Church when it was ready to fall with age and adorn'd it with the Pictures of the Popes The same he did in S. Pauls More than all this he advanced divine Worship most wonderfully by encreasing the number of Canons and the provision that had been made for those who serv'd in Churches Again he divided the Ecclesiastick Orders and appointed to each their Offices He likewise assigned every one his Lodging that even Strangers might know where every Officer especially the chief Officer was to be found He finish'd the Lateran Palace which was begun before by Adrian the fifth He built the Sancta Sanctorum from the ground after the first Chappel was ruin'd with age and beautified the Church it self with Mosaic work as it is now to be seen and with plaister of Marble And thither he removed the Apostles heads till he had reqair'd St. John's Church at his own Charge But when it was finish'd he presently brought 'em back again in Silver Cases made by his Order and attended by all the People he laid 'em up in the Chappel which was built for the purpose The same day he consecrated the Church that is upon the eighth of July Some Historians say that no one ever said Mass with more Devotion than he for during the performance of that Divine Office he constantly wept He was very godly and such a Lover of the Friers Minors for that they contemn'd the World that he has explain'd many doubts relating to that Order in a decretal Epistle When Churches were void there never was a Pope that took care sooner or more deliberately giving them to the best and the fittest Men he could find For he first look'd into a mans life and his Learning and then gave immediately the vacant Seas to those that he thought worthy For he used to say Delays were dangerous because there were such men in the World as would commit Sacriledg with all their hearts He could not endure Proctors and Attornies because they liv'd upon the bloud of the Poor and those that went to Law but hated them as a Plague in which he imitated Gregory X. and John XXI But because there were great corruptions among Magistrates in all places he ordain'd that all Offices should be annual only and if any one durst to hold 'em longer he was liable to an Anathema from which he could not be absolv'd but by the Pope himself Besides these things he did a great many more for the good of the Clergy and all Christian People as it
have sâ—lâ—ied out one Guido Bonatus an excellent Astrologer exhored his fellow Citizens to wait till such time as the Stars should promise good luck and make their Sally when he gave 'em the Signal They did as he would have them and breaking forth in the very nick of time they kill'd Guido and almost all his French men Thus was that City freed from a great Siege But Charles when he heard how the Sicilians had revolted and of their cruelty too went over into Sicily with a very considerable Army And first he besieged Messina which he had certainly taken by Surrender but that the French desirous of Revenge had threaten'd to raze the City Besides Peter of Aragon who expected as I told you such commotions no sooner heard of it but he comes over with all speed from Sardinia into Sicily and arriving at Palermo he was very kindly received by the Citizens and all the other Sicilians who also saluted him by the name of King whilst all the Rabble flock'd about him Charles was frighted at this and therefore leaving Messina he went immediately into Calabria to stay for his Son the Prince of Salerno who he knew would come very shortly out of the Province of Narbonne with some Recruits Charles expostulated with Peter of Aragon that he who was his Relation nay of the same bloud too should dare to invade his Kingdom To which he reply'd that he was so compassionate as that he could not deny his assistance to a miserable people that were so hardly used though he said too that the Kingdom belong'd to him by right of inheritance as he was Husband to Constantia Monford's Daughter and Corradins Niece At last when words grew high on both sides it came to a Duel upon this condition though that each King should have an hundred men along with him as being to engage in such a weighty Combat and the place where they were to fight was to be Bourdeaux For both these Kings were akin to the King of England who with the assistance of Pope Martin at length made up the difference But when Peter for all that made War upon Charles Martin sent Gerard Cardinal of Parma his Legat to Naples not onely to keep the People in Allegiance to him but to assist him who was but a youth with good counsel and the awe of his presence But when Peter had sent Rogeris Lorias his Admiral to Naples Charles moved toward the Enemy and not far from Naples was conquer'd with the loss of a great many men nor onely so but he was taken and carry'd first into Sicily and then into Aragon But this without question had never happen'd if he would but have hearken'd to the Legat as he should have done who was of a contrary opinion who dissuaded him and told him that such a mighty Kingdom as that was ought not to be hazarded at that rate For not long after his Father Charles came with a great Navy which would have made him able to have coped with the Enemy before he was a Conqueror But Martin being concern'd very much for Charles's misfortune excommunicates Peter of Aragon and gives his Kingdom for a prey to any one that can or will take possession of it absolving his Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance to him and exciting all Christians against him as an Usurper of the Churches Patrimony according to his opinion Nay he would have sent the Church-Militia to help Charles but that he was fain to wage War in Romagna himself against the Forleses who by the aid of Guido Earl of Monford were so bold as to revolt from the Church and attaque some Forts thereabouts But when Guido himself repented of what he had done and had made Peace with the Pope he not onely demolish'd the Walls of Forli in revenge to Guido Appius but he recover'd a great part of Romagna in a short time He had also taken Vrbino as sure as he attempted it but that Rubeus Anguillarius Earl of Tuscany died in the action There were at that time two Generals that commanded the Camp one of which was sent into Tuscany to defend that part of the Countrey that lies toward the Soane and the other whom they call Earl of Giovenazzo continu'd the Siege by the Popes Order whilst Guido Montefeltranus supplied the very Townsmen with necessaries under-hand But in the mean time when Martin was at a loss from which of the two States Pisa or Genoa he should desire Auxiliaries against Peter of Aragon there arose immediately such a quarrel between them about the possession of Corsica that they themselves were fain to beg assistance one against another Then the Pope sent word to the Apostolical Legat that he should keep the people in order till Charles came with a supply After which Charles went into Naples and having setled the peoples minds sailed into Africa where he died of a Fever upon which occasion all the weight of the Government devolv'd upon the Legat. At that time there was a rumour and almost a currant Report that Philip Son of the French King and Earl of Artois was coming to receive that Kingdom But that did not frighten Peter from spoiling the Country because he was sure he came with a small number For his Father Philip was going into Aragon with a great Army to take possession of Peter's Kingdom which Martin the Pope by heavy Censures first laid upon him had exposed as a booty to any one that could get it But the Pope being surrounded with so many cares and those increased too by new tumults at Orvieto for the Gibellins had banish'd the Guelphs he went to Perugia where not long after he died of an hectick Fever in the fourth year and first month of his Pontificate and was buried in the Cathedral At whose Tomb many sick blind deaf and lame people that are brought thither recover from God their former health by the merits of this most holy Pope HONORIVS IV. HONORIVS the fourth a Roman of the Race of the Sabini a very noble Family formerly called James a Cardinal Deacon was made Pope at Perugia and came to Rome in the year 1285. when his Brother Pandulphus was Senator For Pandulphus was esteemed a Person of so much severity and Justice that whenever the Citizens of Rome had a mind to purge the City of Robbers Ruffians Thieves and Parricides of which at that time there were great numbers in Rome among the Seditious they desired no other Senator than Pandulphus And he though mightily tormented with the Gout both in his feet and his hands yet in courage and constancy of mind he was inferiour to none of those that had their health Honorius also was sometimes troubled with the same Distemper insomuch that he was forced to make use of certain Instruments made for the purpose to support him when he performed the Priestly Office But he was a Man of that Conduct and Prudence that he did not seem much deficient
Pope having long premeditated of his Expedition to Jerusalem he sends the Bishop of Apamea to Philip King of France to exhort him into the same Design He went but when he came thither and could do no good by fair words he was fain to make use of Menaces At which Philip was very angry and threw him into Prison Which when the Pope understood he sent the Arch-Deacon of Narbonne an excellent person thither immediately to command Philip in his name to set the Bishop of Apamea at Liberty If he would not do it he bid him declare publickly that the Kingdom of France was fallen to the Church by Philips contumacy and forasmuch as he had broken the Law of Nations and order'd him farther to lay a Curse upon him and absolve all the French from their Allegiance The Arch-Deacon did all this very chearfully and compelled the King to dismiss the Bishop But the King having a mind to take some part of a Revenge for the injuries offer'd to him by the Pope set forth an Edict that no man should go out of his Kingdom to Rome or send money thither The second year after the Jubilee Charles of Valois went to Charles the Second his Cousin At whose coming Frederick of Aragon was concern'd and desired a Peace which he obtained upon condition that he restoring what he had taken in Italy should keep Sicily as long as he lived But when Charles of Valois went out of Tuscany the Whites who were driven out of Florence went in great numbers to Forli among whom there was one Dante 's Aldegerius a very learned Man and an excellent Poet in his Mother-Tongue this Person endeavoured to return into his own Country several times but in vain although he were assisted by the Bolognians and Canegrandis Governour of Verona with whom he lived afterward for some time in all the freedom of conversation There are some Authors that tell us how Boniface about this time caused the body of one Hermanius that had been worship'd in Ferrara as a Saint for twenty years to be taken out of the ground and burnt because he had made a strict inquiry into his Heretical Opinions I suppose he was one of the Fratricelli or Holy-Brotherhood whose Sect at that time was very numerous In the mean time Philip King of France taking Boniface's Arrogance very ill called an Assembly at Paris of the Clergy and Nobility and recounting the injuries that Boniface had done to him his Ambition and Cheats which he had used to get the Popedom which he was unjustly possessed of he appealed to the Sea Apostolick which he said was then vacant and to the next Council At which Boniface being startled called a General Council wherein he declared Philip and his Kingdom subject to Albert the Emperor whom in the beginning of his Pontificate he had repulsed Then Philip thinking to tame his pride sent Sarra of Columna who was known and redeemed from the Pirates at Marseilles with Nogaretius a French Cavalier and a trusty Soul to Rome for no other end as he declared himself but to publish his Appeal But he had a quite different Design For Sarra putting on the disguise of a Slave went into Campagna di Roma where gathering to him as many friends as he could he sent Nogaretius with two hundred French Horse which he had listed out of Charles of Valois's Army before to Ferentino to assist him if need were But himself went into Anagni privately in the Night and by the assistance of the Gibellines whom Boniface had teazed extreamly for a long time he broke the Door open and took the Pope by surprise in the House where he was born and so brought him to Rome where thirty five days after he died for grief in the eighth year ninth month and seventeenth day of his Pontificate He was buried in S. Peter's in a Tomb that he built himself before he died which is yet to be seen in a Chappel which he made of Fret-work He likewise built the Pulpit and the Portico in the Lateran where Curses are pronounced upon the Sacrament and where he laid that Curse upon Philip King of France and the Columneses Thus died Boniface who made it his business rather to infuse terrour than Religion into Emperors Kings Princes Nations and States and would pretend to give and take away Kingdoms to banish and to recall men as he thought fitting to satisfie his pride and covetousness which was unspeakable Therefore let other Princes as well Religious as Secular learn by his Example to govern the Clergy and the Laity not proudly and disdainfully as this party of whom we speak but holyly and modestly as Christ our King and his Disciples and true Followers And let 'em desire rather to be beloved than feared which is usually the just bane of Tyrants Some say he cherish'd the Feuds among the Italians especially between the Genoeses and the Venetians who were two States very powerful at Sea BENEDICT XI BENEDICT the eleventh an Italian of Treviso formerly call'd Nicolas Cardinal of Ostia was made Pope the first of November at Rome For he enter'd himself into the Order of Preachers when he was but young and so far prevailed upon the Fraternity both by his Virtue and Learning that they preferr'd him gradually through all Offices till he was made General From which Station he was chosen Pope and in that place also gave great demonstration of his Virtue For he lived after such a manner that he may well be reckon'd among the number of those that are in Bliss But as soon as he got into the Apostolical Chair he cites Nogaretius and Sarra and all those of Anagni that conspired to take Boniface to come before him but they not appearing he laid an heavy Curse upon them He likewise heard King Philip's cause and absolv'd him from Boniface's Censures And after that he receiv'd John and James the two Cardinals of Columna into favour whom Boniface persecuted for being of the Guelphian Faction more than became a Pope to do Nay he gave 'em their goods again onely he enjoyn'd 'em to let the Red Hat that Boniface had taken from 'em lie by for some short time Having setled the Affairs of the City in this manner and made some Cardinals of whom Nicolas a Pratese of the Order of Preachers was one he immediately applies himself to procure a general Peace in Italy And because there were greater tumults in Tuscany than any where else he sent Nicolas Bishop of Ostia thither with full Commission who made new Officers in Florence and put 'em into the House which they had built for the reception of Magistrates now called the Palais of their Lords But at that time Nicolas thought he might do more than so and therefore spoke about recalling the persons that were banish'd Which Proposal not taking effect as he would have had it he declared a Curse upon them and went to Prato But not long after Benedict dying Tuscany was
animosities arisen in the Kingdom of Naples For King Robert dying without Issue male bequeathed Johanna Daughter of Andrew his Nephew for a Wife to King Charles of Hungary's Son who came at that time a Youth to Naples But Johanna hating him for a dull fellow kill'd him by surprise in the City which was generally against the Match and was married to his Cousin German one Lewis Son to a former Prince of Tarento who was known to be Robert's Brother But Lewis King of Hungary and Brother of her first Husband resolving to revenge so great a piece of Villany came into Italy with a very well order'd Army and first attaqued the Sulmoneses who had the boldness to oppose him But in the mean while the manner of choosing Senators at Rome was alter'd by Apostolical Authority and Nicolas de Renty Citizen of Rome and publick Notary a man very earnest and high for Liberty when he had taken the Capitol gain'd so much good will and Authority among all the people that he could incline them to what he pleased And that he might work upon them the more effectually he used this Motto Nicolas the severe and merciful Patron of Liberty Peace and Justice and the illustrious Redeemer of the Sacred State of Rome With these great Words he created such an admiration of himself that all the people of Italy desired by their Embassadors to enter into League and friendship with him Beside that some forein Nations look'd upon the glory of the Roman Empire to be now reviving But his vain Boasting continu'd not long for whilst he was kind to some Citizens and an Enemy to others he all on the sudden was accounted instead of a Patron a Tyrant So that in the seventh month of his Government of his own accord without any bodies knowledg on a dark Night he went disguised from Rome into Bohemia to Charles the Son of John whom Clement a little before had made the Electors put in nomination for Emperor because he was so fine a Scholar besides that he had a mind to affront the Bavarian by setting up a Competitor So the Tribune i.e. Nicolas was taken by Charles and carry'd to Avignion for a Present to the Pope But Lewis having gotten into Sulmona after a long Siege makes himself easily master of the whole Kingdom since Johanna and the Adulterer Lewis were fled for fear into Narbonne and had left onely the Duke of Durazzo Nephew to King Robert to protect the Kingdom who was conquer'd and taken by Charles and put to Death But the Plague being very hot all over Italy Charles left sufficient Garisons there and return'd into Hungary in the third month after his arrival which was just about the time when John the Arch-Bishop a man of great courage and conduct received from the Pope the Lieutenancy of Millain upon the death of his Brother Luchino But Clement kept Nicolas in Prison and sent some Cardinals to Rome to settle the State of the City to whom Francis Petrarcha wrote persuading them to chuse Senators impartially out of the Commonalty if they would appease the Tumults since it did not sufficiently appear in Rome who were of the Senatorian and who of the Plebeian rank because they were almost all Foreigners and born of strange Parents Upon this Petro Sarra of Columna and John Vrsini were declared Senators At this time the Plague raged so all over Italy for three years that there was scarce one man in ten that escaped Nor is that any wonder for there was such a concourse of men from all places to Rome at the Jubilee which was then celebrated that they not onely brought the Contagion along with 'em but by the throng and bustle and sweating that was among 'em infected all places and persons At that time the Town of Colle and Geminiano were made subject to the Florentines and Bologna to the Arch-Bishop of Millain by the voluntary surrender of the Citizens At which the Pope being disturb'd sent a Legate into Italy to instigate the Florentines and Mastino Scala against the Viconti But when Mastino was dead the Arch-Bishop endeavour'd to draw Canegrande Son to Mastino and all the Gibellins in Romagna and Tuscany to make an Alliance with him and sent his Nephew Bernabos to Bologna to keep the Citizens in Obedience In the mean time the Florentines without any resistance set upon the Pistoians and the Prateses and at length reduced 'em by main force But after that being harrass'd by the Arch-Bishop's force under the command of John Aulegius they could hardly defend themselves within their Walls At that time Anguillara and Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro belonging to the Church revolted to the Viscounts and then also we read that the Genoeses and Venetians fought a Sea-Battel in which the Genoeses at first were conquer'd but afterward they were more victorious under the Command of Admiral Philip Auria and not onely took the Island Scio from the Venetians but kill'd a great many men in Vbaea now called Necroponte But Clement resolving at last to consult the quiet of Italy Decreed that Lewis Prince of Taranto should be King of Naples renew'd the Peace with the Hungarian bought the City of Avignion of Queen Joan whose Inheritance it was and paid for it by remitting of a certain Fee that amounted to rather more than the price of it and was due from her to the Church of Rome upon the account of the Kingdom of Naples But whilst Olegio Viconti besieged Scarperia in Muciallia those of Siena Arezzo and Perugia being affrighted enter'd into a new Confederacy with the Florentines against the Viconti The Pisans could not shew their friendship to the Viconti for the Gambacorti a Noble Family that were Allies of Florence who being now unable to withstand the Viconti alone call'd Charles the Emperor into Italy At this the Pope was concern'd and fearing Italy might be destroy'd with fire and sword as the Emperor threaten'd he deliver'd Bologni ro the Viconti upon Condition that they should pay the Church twelve thousand pound a year and made Peace between the Viconti and the Florentines upon these terms That neither of 'em should molest those of Pisa Lucca Siena or Perugia and that Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro should be subject to the Church and the Viconti should preserve the Liberty of the Cortoneses He also endeavour'd to compose the differences between Philip of France and Edward of England but in vain for they were so incens'd to fight that in one Battel Edward kill'd twenty thousand French and after eleventh months Siege victoriously took Calais by storm The same success he had against the Scots But the Pope having done the Duty of a good Shepherd seeing he could not advantage Christendom abroad he consulted how to do the Church some good at home For he chose excellent Persons for Cardinals especially Giles a Spaniard who was Arch-Bishop of Toledo Nicolas Cappocius a Roman Citizen Rainaldo Vrsina Protonotary of the Church of
wholesom advice of those who gave 'em good Counsel At length the Genoeses when they saw themselves so begirt at Chioza that they could not sally forth for the Venetian nor get provisions from Matthew Ruffus or the Lord of Padua who had promised them shortly to supply them they surrender'd the Town on the first of July 1380. At which time there were taken of the Enemy 4340. though more died in the Siege by Famine and the Sword Yet the Genoeses though they had receiv'd such a fatal blow could not lie still but with thirty eight Galleys compelled the Triesteses to revolt from the Venetians to the Patriarch of Aquilegia They likewise took Justinople but not the Castle And when they had recruited their Navy they went for Venice again but no body encountring them they return'd into Istria took the City Pola and burn'd it Many slaughters followed on both sides But the Venetians were overcome in a Land fight by Carrara whilst James Caballus an excellent Commander defended Treviso stoutly which was almost forc'd by Famine to a surrender And now both sides being well tired with such a long and bloody War the Duke of Savoy upon the 23d of September 1381. makes Peace between them upon these terms that the Venetians every tenth year should pay the King of Hungary seven thousand pounds provided he kept all his part of Dalmatia free from Pirates and suffer no Salt to be made in his Dominions there and that the Patriarch of Aquilegia should have the same Power in Friuli as before the War But the Venetians and the Genoeses were order'd to send home each others Captives without any mention of the Spoils which were taken on either side The Padueses were commanded to draw off from the Siege of Treviso and to demolish the Towers and Forts which they had raised in Fens and at the mouths of several Rivers upon which account bounds were set out between the Venetians and those of Padua In the mean while Charles whom we told you the Pope sent for out of Hungary to go against Joan came into Italy with eight thousand Horse and first reduced Arezzo which had been long embroiled by the seditions of the Guelphs and Gibellins From thence moving toward Florence he was repell'd by John Hawkwood who at that time quarter'd at Sâ—agia But the Florentines fearing they should not be able to endure the shock of such a mighty King they purchased a Peace of him at the rate of 40000 l. and discharged Hawkwood without his pay who sold Bagnavallo to Nicolas and Albert d' Este that they might the better keep Faenza in obedience which notwithstanding they soon after lost by treachery to Astorgius Manfredus But Charles after he had visited Vrban at Rome went into his Kingdom and having conquer'd all Joans Forces took Naples by surrender The Queen was besieged in Castelnovo when the Guelphs of Arezzo made a Tumult and forced James Caracciolo a Citizen of Naples who was sent thither by the King to fly into the Castle The Gibellins also fled thither too whose good that just Man consulted as much as the Guelphs For he desired to carry every thing alike with equity in all cases Wherefore having sent for Albrick Barbianus from Todi upon the account of an injury which he reviv'd he went into the City and whilst he strove to reduce the Guelphs he plunder'd the Gibellins also And Ferraback another General who follow'd Albrick took all the remaining spoil that he could find in Arezzo Whilst these things were transacted in Naples and Arezzo a new cloud of War overcast Italy For Lewis of Anjou of the Blood Royal of France enter'd Italy with thirty thousand Horse and posted himself not far from Bologna being set on by Clement the Anti-Pope not so much to free Queen Joan who was besieged as by force to depose Vrban For this reason Charles left Arezzo and sent for Albrick and Ferraback to whom also the Frorentines sent John Hawkwood at the request of Vrban Lewis going through Marci was come as far as the Forest of Cassino expecting twelve thousand Horse which were already come into Italy under the command of Andegranius and marching through Viacenza Lucca Florence and Siena were arrived at Arezzo where they were let in by the Guelphs and sack'd the City after Albrick had given 'em a fatal blow The Gibellins defended the Castle which was besieged forty days and had been taken by the French had not Lewis of Anjou died in the mean time Then Andegranius seeing how things went by advice of the people of Arezzo that were besieged in the Castle sold the City to the Florentines and so return'd into France And the Anjouen Soldiers now destitute of their General wandered home by two or three in a Company begging by the way Vrban being now deliver'd from the fear of the French went to Naples and as'd leave of the King to make his Nephew Prince of Campania which when he could not obtain being of a clownish and uncivil temper which he would have had to be interpreted a blunt down-right honesty he began to threaten him and provoked the King so far that he set a Guard upon him for some days and would not suffer him to walk the Streets This affront he seemed to wink at for a time and with the Kings good leave went to Nocera to avoid as he himself said the heat of that City Where when he had fortified the Town he made some new Cardinals and imprison'd seven of the old ones charging upon them a Conspiracy with the King and the Anti-Pope against him Besides that He commanded a Process to speak in their phrase against the King and sent him a Citation to appear and had this answer from him That he would come very shortly to Nocera and acquit himself of all Crimes objected not with Words but with Weapons And in order thereunto he came to Nocera with a competent Army and besieged the Town But Raymund Balcianus of the Family of the Vrsins and Son to the Earl of Nola who was afterward Prince of Taranto was concern'd at the indignity with his own Forces which he commanded under the King he carried Vrban and the whole Court to the next Shore and put 'em on board certain Genoese Galleys prepared for the purpose By the way as the Pope sailed to Genoa he took seven Cardinals at Nocera of which he put five into Baggs and drowned them in the Sea But upon the death of Lewis King of Hungary the Nobility of that Country sent presently for Charles who going thither called a Convention of the Estates for the setling of Affairs but whilst he was busie upon it the Queen who ow'd him a grudg procur'd him to be murther'd in the year 1385. This was just about the time when John Galeatius put Viscount Bernabos his Uncle by the side of his Father Galeatius into Prison at Monza where he kept him as long as he liv'd and enjoy'd his Estate
Picture in the Vatican back into the City a Mule which was in the way belonging to Peter Barbus Cardinal of S. Mark 's was throng'd to death and two hundred Men and three Horses trodden to Dirt and suffocated in the crow'd upon the Bridg near S. Angelo Besides many that fell from the sides of the Bridg into the River and perish'd in the Water It is certain there were one hundred thirty six buried upon that occasion in S. Celsus's and the rest carried to Campo Sancto Hereupon Pope Nicolas who was heartily sorry for them pull'd down certain little Cottages that straighten'd the way to the Bridg and spent most of that Year in Processions daily visiting one noted Church or other whither he was attended by all the Cardinals He likewise took care that though there were such a vast number of people yet they should want nothing that was necessary for them nor was he wanting with Curses and Guards to deter High-way Men from molesting those Strangers that came to the City at that time The next year he heard that Frederick the Emperour was coming to the City to receive his Imperial Crown and to marry Leonora Daughter to the King of Portugal and Alphonso's Niece wherefore he fortified the Gates and Towers of the City as also the Castle of S. Angelo as well as he could out of fear I suppose lest the Emperour 's coming should make some new commotion there he being naturally very timorous For that reason he call'd all his Forces to Rome and to oblige the People chose thirteen Senators to govern the thirteen Wards of the City and gave 'em thirteen Scarlet Gowns The Emperour upon his arrival was met by thirteen Cardinals with all the Nobility and Magistracy of the City and having passed the Castle gate was saluted at S. Peter's by the Pope himself by whom he was conducted into the Church with his Empress Leonora whom he had met at Siena lately arrived out of Spain upon March 9. 1452. And from thence after Mass said they departed and lodg'd in that House which stands by S. Peter's Stairs to this day though it looks better than it did because it was beautified at the cost and charge of the Cardinal of Constance For some days after the Pope said Mass in his own Person and blessed the Emperour and Empress after the usual manner at Weddings before the Bridegroom lies with his Bride and presented them with the Crown Imperial upon the eighteenth of that month in the same place As the Emperour was going after his Coronation to S. John's he made several Knights upon the Bridg at S. Angelo Then he and his Empress went into Naples to see King Alphonso by whom he was receiv'd with all splendour and magnificence and afterward returning to Rome by Sea he took his Journey immediately for his own Countrey because he heard that some Princes in Germany and Hungary were upon new Designs on the behalf of King Ladislaus a fine young Gentleman whom he had brought along with him When he departed two Cardinals attended upon him several miles that is to say the Cardinal of Bologna who was the Pope's Brother and Carvagialla Cardinal of S. Angelo Now when the Emperour was gone the Venetians raised a great Army and march'd into Cremona where they spoil'd all they came near besieging Soncio and the adjacent Towns which they not long after took together with some Troops of Horse that fell into their hands because Francis had not his Men ready so soon as he should have had But after that when Lewis Gonzaga his Friend and Ally came up he went into Brescia and brought the Venetians to such an extremity that they durst not venture out of their Fens to fight in the open Campaigne For that reason the Venetians were willing to protract the time as placing all their hopes of Victory in delays because they thought Francis could not hold out long at such a charge for want of Money They likewise hoped that the Millaineses would think of their Liberty which he had lately extorted from them and whilst Francis was engaged in such an important War endeavour to shake off the yoke of servitude by some new commotions Ferdinand at this time by the command of his Father Alphonso marched into Tuscany with about eight thousand Horse and four thousand Foot against the Florentines and when he had tempted Cortona to rebel he took Foiano a Town near Arezzo after forty days Siege with the loss of a great many Men on both sides He march'd from thence into Siena and after he had vainly attempted the taking of Castellina he fell down into the Sea-coast of Siena to Winter but took some Castles from those of Volaterra by the way Sigismund Malatesta who was General of the Florentine Army observ'd his motions all along with Design to take an opportunity of doing his business the more successfully But the Florentines fearing the Power of Alphonso and the Venetians both by Sea and Land resolv'd with the consent of Francis to call in forein Aid and upon that account they sent Angelus Accioiolus a Knight their Envoy into France who recounting the continual kindnesses between the Florentines and that Crown induced him to command the Duke of Savoy and the Grisons that had taken up Arms against Francis not to injure the Friend and Ally of the Florentines either by word or deed if they would have him their Friend He also persuaded Renatus to accept of his assistance by Men and Money in order to retrieve the Kingdom of Naples from whence he had been expelled by Alphonso seeing the King was at that time engaged in the Florentine Wars After this Embassy the Florentines and Francis grew so prosperous that the Venetians were glad to make Peace their Army which they had sent against the Prince of Mantua under the command of Charles Gonzaga being routed not far from Godio This Army had been raised and dispatch'd away under Gonzaga to hinder the Mantuan and Brandoline who were bringing together Forces for the service of Sforza from joyning with him by which means he would have easily been able to overcome their less powerful Army under Gentilis Carviagalla came the year before to the Armies to make Peace between them in the name of Nicolas but went away without any satisfaction calling both God and Man to witness it was not long of Nicolas that a Peace was not setled in Italy but that he was desirous it should be so that War might be made against the Turks by the unanimous consent of Christendom For he had heard that the Turks were making preparations against Constantinople and therefore sent Cardinal Ruten thither who was a Constantinopolitan born to promise the Emperour and the Citizens his Assistance if they would return to the Catholick Church as they had promised in the Council of Florence In the mean time Renatus who was desirous to recover the Kingdom of Naples in order whereunto Francis and the Florentines
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
necessary for a War with assistance of the King's Forces he surprised and subdued 'em within fourteen days after he attaqued 'em reducing nine Castles under the jurisdiction of the Church of which some were so well fortified both by Art and Nature that they seemed impregnable Deiphobus fearing lest if he were taken he should be sent to the King made his escape But Francis his Brother and his Son were taken and kept five years in Castel St. Angelo till upon the Creation of Sixtus they were freed And hence afterward arose great enmity between the Pope and the King when Ferdinand demanded that Paul would remit the Tribute which he was to pay the Church as a reward for his great merits and would retrench or take off part of it for the future seeing his Uncle enjoy'd the Kingdom of Sicily though he paid Tribute for that and Naples too and told him That he ought to consider his Deserts and what might happen for that he had always some Batalions in Arms not more upon his own than upon the Pope's account as he found in the late War against the Aversans Paul on the other hand recounted the Churches merits toward Ferdinand and so they spun out the Debate a long time by these kind of wranglings each of 'em seeking an opportunity to recover their Right In the mean time the King was very cautious how he caused any new Commotions because he fear'd James Picenninus's Power who had Sulmona in Abruzzo and some other Towns in his possession whom afterward his Father-in-law Francis Sfortia sent to the King who gave him his word that he should come and go in safety when he pleased But all things did not go according to James's expectation for he was taken at Naples by Ferdinand as so was his Son and there thrown into Prison and not long after put to Death though there was a false report given out that he fell down in the Prison and broke his Leg as he was inconsiderately staring through the Window to see the King's Galleys that came from Ischia with Victory over the French There were who thought him still alive which I can never believe because there was no Man in all Italy more fit if you look upon him as a Soldier to subvert the Government of King Ferdinand The Duke of Millain's Daughter when she heard of it tarry'd by the way at Siena as she was going to her Husband at Naples to persuade the World that her Father was not any way concern'd with Ferdinand in contriving the Death of Picenninus But what People thought of it we very well know There were likewise some that said the Pope knew of it before hand because at that time the Arch-Bishop of Millain went often from the Pope to the King and from the King back again and because Paul said when he heard of his Imprisonment that the Judg of Appeals was taken off But that of Virgil is too true Nescia mens hominum fati sortisque futurae Little do Men their future Fortune know For Paul could not have made use of any one to fit to curb Ferdinand as James Picenninus was if he had been alive when their Debate arose about the Tribute for which a War was like to have been proclaimed For when he had kept his Daughter-in-laws and his Son's Wedding and that thereby and by the death of James his Kingdom was setled Ferdinand was instant with the Pope that he would retrench the Tribute and give him back certain Towns which belong'd to the Kingdom but were in possession of the Church Thereupon Paul sent to him Bartholomew Roverella Cardinal Priest of St. Clements as Legate who did in some measure satisfie the King And at that time I believe they both fear'd lest the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon which all Men were then astonish'd at might portend some changes in Government Nor can you think the heavenly Bodies have no efficacy for the year after Francis Sfortia Duke of Millain and Genoua died For he had gotten Genoua two years before being after a long War surrender'd by the Citizens For they having rejected the French Government which they had formerly courted kill'd six thousand of the French under the Nose of King Renatus who came with some Galleys well arm'd to retrieve the City that had now revolted from the French When Francis Sfortia Duke of Millain was dead Paul summon'd the Cardinals to consult what was to be done They all concluded that he must send Letters and Nuncioes to all the Princes of Italy and to all States to persuade 'em against Innovations and to maintain the establish'd Peace especially at that unhappy time when we were so threatned by the Turk the common Enemy And afterward he sent the Bishop of Conca to Millain to persuade that State to have regard to the Allegiance they had sworn to Galeatius Francis's Son At that time Galeatius was absent in France whither his Father had sent him with an Army to assist King Lewis against the Princes of his Kingdom that acknowledg'd not his Authority For Francis was bound by the League he made with him when he possest himself of Genoa to supply him with some Auxiliaries Besides the Allegiance which they had contracted obliged him to it for he had married the Sister of the Queen and the Duke of Savoy When he heard of his Father's Death he relinquish'd the War which he engaged in upon the King's account against the Duke of Burgundy and going from Lions return'd with a small Retinue and in a disguise to his own Country where he peaceably possess'd himself of his paternal inheritance by the help of his Mother who kept the people in Obedience till he came But Paul when the Affairs of Italy were thus composed hearing that the Rhodian Soldiers were ready to starve he summon'd the Grand Master and the great Clergymen to Rome to consider of a Relief who after frequent meetings in St. Peters died for grief and Age and was buried in that Church not far from St. Andrew's Chappel in whose room Charles Vrsin was chosen and sent immediately to defend the Island In the mean time when Paul heard that there were a great many Hereticks in Tagliacozzo he having heard their cause severely branded the Lord of the place eight Men and six Women which were caught and brought before him being those that were most obstinate but dealt more favourably with those that confessed their Error and begg'd pardon They were of those perverse sort of Hereticks who say there never was any true Vicar of Christ since St. Peter but who had imitated Christ's Poverty Then he encreased the number of Cardinals and made ten at one time of which number were Francis of Savona General of the Order of Minors M. Barbo Bishop of Vincenza whose Advice he always took in great Affairs Oliver Arch-Bishop of Naples Amicus Bishop of Aquila and Theodore Montferrat and the rest were partly French Hungarians and English Having thus
which end Bessarion was Commissionated to be his Legat to Lewis XI of France Roderigo Borgia Vice-Chancellor to go his Legat into Spain Marco Barbo into Germany and Hungary and Oliviere Carafa to Venice and the Knights of Rhodes to every of which Legats he assigned a Pension of 500 Crowns in Gold per Month but the success answered not the charge all the Legats returning without any effect or fruit of their Negotiations For Lewis the 11th had already levied War against Charles of Burgundy and the Duke of Brittany Ferdinand King of Aragon made War on the King of Portugal to decide the dispute between them for the Kingdom of Castile The Kings of Hungary and Poland were in actual Wars fighting for the Kingdom of Bohemia so that the Oratorical persuasions of these Ministers of Peace were not able to prevail on the incensed and resolved minds of these warlike Princes And being now fixed and established in his Apostolical Seat he received with a serenity of countenance and chearful affability the Addresses and Congratulations which Forein Princes by their respective Ministers made to him at his first promotion to the Papal Dignity which Ceremony being performed he published and declared two persons to be by him created Cardinals namely Peter Riario and Julian della Rovere the first was of a mean Family at Savona and educated by this Sixtus in the Franciscan Order and made Bishop of Trevisi The other was Son of his Brother Raphael della Rovere whom he had constituted Bishop of Carpentras The first took the Title of S. Sixtus and the other of S. Peter ad Vincola who was afterwards Pope Julian the second And such was the affection which this Pope indulged to his own natural Relations that he never refused to grant their demands or yield to the most exorbitant of their desires for which he was much blamed and hardly censured with many reflections on his conduct and wisdom for he had enriched this Peter Riario with several fat Benefices on the Revenue of which he might have lived with splendor and greatness But so exorbitant were his expences that in the space of two years only he spent two hundred thousand Crowns of Gold leaving a debt of seventy thousand Crowns with three hundred pounds weight of wrought Plate and then being discontented with disappointments of his ambitious desires he died at 28 years of age and was buried in the Church of the holy Apostles His Brother Jeronimo tho as we have said of mean extraction was yet by the favour of this Pope made Prince of Imola and Forli and married to Catherine natural Daughter of Galeazzo Duke of Milan and on this account and reason Ascanius the Son of Galeazzo was created Cardinal And farther did the affection of this Pope extend towards his Nephews and Relations that he married Leonard his Brothers Son to the natural Daughter of Ferdinand King of Naples and ordained him Governor of Rome and he dying soon after his place was bestowed on John the Brother of Cardinal Julian with augmentation of the Signiories of Sora and Senegaglia on the reputation of which he married Jane the Daughter of Frederick Duke of Vrbin by whom he had one Son called Francisco Maria who succeeded in the Dukedom of Vrbin after his Uncle Guy Vbald who died without issue This Pope moreover created his Brother Christopher and Domenico della Rovere Cardinals as also Jeronimo Basso his Sisters Son Raphael Sanson a youth of 17 years of age Son of his Sister the Wife of Peter Riario also Schiafinato of Milan who was his Chancellor and Bishop of Parma likewise John Baptista Cibo of Genoua who afterwards succceeded in the Popedom under the name of Innocent VIII and besides these he raised many others to the number of 34 whom he successively created Cardinals during his Reign And so free and liberal was Sixtus in his Promotions and Gifts that nothing was asked of him which he denied which liberality gave occasion oftentimes to many Disputes when the free nature of the Pope had given Donations to three or four persons of the same thing to prevent which for the future the Privy Signet was given to John de Montemirabile a severe and reserved person and one well practised in the Affairs of the Court who keeping an account of all matters which had passed the Seal vacated such Donations as were not regularly granted It is doubtful amongst the Writers of Ecclesiastical History whether it was this Pope Sixtus or Paul the Second that reduced the year of Jubile to 25 howsoever it is certain that this Pope in the year 1475. did Celebrate the Jubile which brought a great concourse of people to Rome amongst which were several Kings and Princes present such as the Kings of Denmark Sweden and Norway of Bosna and Walachia the Dukes of Calabria and Saxony with many others of great Quality who in person made their Pilgrimages to Rome to gain the Indulgences Pardons and Privileges which were granted at that Solemnity About this time Mathias King of Hungary being desirous to create an Alliance between himself and Casimir King of Poland did in the year 1476. make demand of his Daughter in Marriage but before Casimir would assent thereunto he sent his Son Vladislaus to Frederick the Emperor then at Vienna to desire that he might be established and confirmed in the right of the Kingdom of Bohemia notwithstanding that it had formerly been given away by Paul the Second to Mathias King of Hungary On which Quarrel the Knights of the Teutonick Order did not only at the instigation of Balthasar the Popes Legat make War against the King of Poland with assistance of the King of Hungary but likewise the Legat Excommunicated Vladislaus the new King of Bohemia and his Father Casimir upon pretence that they favoured the Doctrin of the Hussites That long continued Difference and Dispute between the Secular Priests and the Mendicant Friers which had lasted for above two hundred years was afterwards by the Sentence of this Pope determined in this manner That the Seculars should never hereafter tax or impeach the Mendicants as Authors of Heresie but honor and respect them as those by whose Preaching the truth of the Gospel had been greatly enlightned That all Communicants should be obliged to hear Mass said by their Parochial Priests every Sunday and solemn Festival without which the Mendicants were not admitted to Preach That the Mendicants should not declare the people disobliged from making their Confessions to their Parochial Priest at least every Easter according as they are directed by the Ecclesiastical Canons provided still that the Mendicants retain their Privilege of hearing Confessions and enjoyning Penance These and some other particulars being declared and determined by this Pope the animosity and hatred between the Seculars and the Religious was much abated and the long continued Controversie brought to an issue But to pass now from the matters of Spiritual Government to temporal and secular
reason disposed his affairs for a second War in order whereunto he in the first place Excommunicated Ferdinand absolved his Subjects from their Obedience and deprived him of his Kingdom but because this would prove insignificant unless it were made good by some more effectual means he sent to the King of France for the aid he had formerly promised and having raised a considerable Army of Switzers and Italians under the command of Francis Cibo and having also the countenance of all Italy in detestation of this false treatment Ferdinand being terrified therewith inclined to a Peace and really to accept with unfeigned devotion and obedience such conditions as the Pope should be pleased to impose upon him and in farther pursuance of this Peace the Vrsini were induced to prostrate themselves at the feet of the Pope in which humble posture he generously granted to them all those Petitions and requests which they submissively offered to him and at the same time bestowed the like favours in the pardon of Cardinal Baldri a Frenchman who had treacherously conspired against him And farther to evidence his natural inclinations to Peace he reconciled the enmities of Colonna and Vrsini two potent Families in Rome who by their Dissentions and Wars had miserably spoiled and vexed each other This Peace produced a League between the King the Venetians the Florentines and the Duke of Milan and in short begat a general peace in all Christendom which continued for the space of five years during which time great preparations were made against the Turk which had in all probability happily succeeded had not that honorable and glorious design been unhappily interrupted by the Death of this Pope Yet some time before his decease being in the year 1488. he had the honor to have Zizimé the Brother of Bajazet Emperor of the Turks to be his Prisoner being taken and sent to Rome by the Knights of Rhodes And tho this Sultan was splendidly received and treated yet he could not be induced either by fair persuasions or ruder menaces to prostrate or humble himself at the feet of the Pope wherefore being remanded back to safe custody in the Vatican he lived there for all the time of this Pope during which his Brother Bajazet Emperor of the Turks sent yearly to Rome forty thousand Crowns for his maintainance and to render his Brother more acceptable there he sent with an honorable Embassy the Key of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem to the Pope together with the Lance with which Longinus pierced the side of our Saviour both which he received with great humility and devotion lodging the Key in a Chappel in S. Peter's Church where it is to be seen unto this day and laid the Spear in a Marble Chest which he purposely erected in a Chappel within the Church of the Vatican In the time of this Pope Innocent there was but one Creation of Cardinals at which eight only were made amongst which Laurence Cibo the natural Son of his Brother was one In the year 1489. he permitted that the Mass might be celebrated in Norway without Wine because that the Country being cold and the distance far the Wine was either frozen or turned Vinegar before it could be brought thither This Pope as we have said was generous and magnificent in all his actions performing many things at his own cost and charge for the honor and adornment of the City For he built a house of pleasure and delight for recreation of the Popes called the Belvedere he re-built the Deanry of S. Narcis from the foundation he made many Galleries in the Palace of the Vatican he erected a Fountain in the front before S. Peters and adorned many other places in the City and having disposed all things in order to the quiet and happiness of Italy he ended his days and died the 25th day of July 1491. being about the age of sixty years He was buried in a Sepulchre of Brass near the Altar which he had lately made for the Spear Lionel Bishop of Concordia Preached his Funeral Sermon wherein he recounted the most memorable passages of his life Over his Tomb this Epitaph was Engraven Ego autem in Innocentia mea Ingressus sum Redime me Domine miserere mei ALEXANDER VI. INNOCENT being deceased Roderigo who was made a Bishop and afterwards Cardinal Albano and Porto by Sixtus was elected Pope calling himself by the name of Alexander the Sixth and fate in the Papal Chair for the space of eleven years and upwards he was born at Valentia in Spain his Father was Geoffery Lenzola a rich and noble Gentleman and his Mother was the Sister of Pope Calixtus the Fourth by the favour of which Uncle he was designed from his Youth to be created Arch-Bishop of Valentia and in the year 1456. was actually made Cardinal-Deacon of S. Nicolas and Chancellor of the Roman Church and was afterwards by Sixtus the Fourth employed upon many important Affairs and Embassies for the Church and particularly to intercede and mediate in the differences between the Kings of Spain Portugal and Aragon who had all pretensions to the Kingdom of Castile by which Offices and places having gained great honor and interest he was by the suffrages of two and twenty Cardinals elected Pope But several Writers such as Guicciardin Onufrius and others brand the Election of this Pope with the infamy of Simonaical corruption for reporting that most of the Cardinals were bribed by sums of Mony and promises of Offices and high Preferments to give their Votes in his favour those who were most active and had taken the greatest Bribes for this promotion were the Cardinal Ascagnus who in reward had the Office of Chancellor conferred upon him likewise Julian Bishop of Ostia and Raphael Riario who were busie and talking Cardinals But Alexander who was an excellent dissembler until his turn was served and who loved the Treason but not the Traytor or the Office but not the corrupt ways to it hated this abominable practice in his heart so that by violent deaths by Banishment and other various calamities he found means to bring all those unto ruine who had thus basely conspired to his promotion and particularly Baptista Orsino to whom was given the magnificent Palace of Borgia and John Michael on whom was conferred the Bishoprick of Porto with all the Wardrobe of the Pope which was of inestimable value were both put to death one being publickly executed in the Castle and the other secretly made away by Poison This sort of treatment towards his Friends induced Guichardin in his History of this Pope to represent him under the notion of a person without Truth without Faith or Religion of an unsatiable avarice and insuperable pride and passionate in the raising and advancement of his Bastard Sons which were many in number to places of dignity and profit the which character is farther confirmed by all the Italian Poets and Historians of those times who ascribe strange
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
Uncle became his Successor Lewis XII continuing his claim by right of Inheritance to the Kingdom of Naples and also to the Dukedom of Milan in right of his Grandmother the Daughter of John Galeazzo entered into a League with the Pope which was fatal to Italy and with them the King of Spain the Florentines and the Venetians were all combined against Duke Lodowick Sforza and King Frederick on conditions that Lewis having conquered Milan should cause Cremona to be restored to the Venetians and that Caesar Borgia who was the Popes bastard Son having renounced his Cardinals Cap and taking Carlotta de Alebretto Daughter to the King of Navar and Kinswoman to the King of France for his Wife should be invested in Romagna Marca and Vmbria and that the Kings of Spain and France should equally divide the Kingdom of Naples between them Lewis entering Italy with a powerful Army drove out the Duke of Milan from his State and shortly after took Cardinal Ascanius Prisoner whom he sent into France where he died in a short time afterwards The Venetians by virtue of the League had Cremona consigned to them and all matters succeeded so prosperously for Lewis in Italy that Frederick King of Naples being thereby wholly dis-animated cast himself with all humble confidence into the arms of King Lewis who treated him basely and with the highest indignities imaginable In the mean time the French and the Spaniards being to divide the spoils of the Kingdom such differences arose betwixt them as being only to be decided by the Sword the French were all cut in pieces by the valor of Gonsalvo a brave Captain by which means that Kingdom fell into the hands of Spain In the mean time Pope Alexander being attentive to nothing more than to raise and enrich his Bastard Children encouraged and countenanced his Son Caesar Borgia in the grievous oppressions he laid on all the Barons of the Ecclesiastical State for he designing and aspiring to make himself sole and absolute master of it made the Family of the Orsini the most remarkable examples of his insolent indignities spoiling and harassing their Country for the space of a whole Summer As yet Caesar Borgia had not renounced his Cardinals Cap and therefore continuing still under the notion of a Prelate Guido Vbaldo di Vrbino and John Borgia an other of the Popes Bastards were made Generals of the Ecclesiastical Army who over-running several Countries reduced Braciano by Siege and proceeded every where victoriously until Charles the natural Son of Virginio Orsino joyning Battel with them routed their Army and took the Duke of Vrbin prisoner After this a Peace being concluded with the Orsini and the Pope perceiving that his business did not thrive well by War he endeavoured to advance his designs by fortifying the interest of his Family with great and potent alliances and in the first place he gave his Daughter Lucretia in Marriage to John Sforza Lord of Pesaro breaking his promise to a certain Nobleman of Spain to whom he had formerly contracted her then he took her from Sforza and gave her to Lewis of Aragon Bastard Son of Alfonso King of Naples who being killed she was given to Alfonso da Esté Duke of Ferrara with whom afterwards she ended her days This Pope had also three Sons Geoffery the youngest was made Prince of Squillaci Caesar who was the second was Cardinal and John the eldest was sent into Spain and there made Duke of Candia but he rambling one night in his pleasures about the Streets of Rome was by the treachery of his Brother the Cardinal assassinated and his body thrown into the â—ybar which kindness he did him after they had supped the same night together at the Table of their Mother Vanoccia with which horrid act the Pope was not so much displeased as he was terrified fearing that upon the least displeasure the spirit of this miscreant would be provoked to add parricide to the murder of his Brother After this he made little account of his Scarlet or degree of Cardinal but turning his thoughts wholly to War he was made General of the Popes Army and uniting his Forces with the French and joyning with their interest he became master of a considerable Principality in Italy for having expelled Sforza from Milan and imprisoned the Chiefs of that Family with assistance of Lewis the 12th he with great cruelty and blood possessed himself of all the Cities of Romagna Bologna only excepted banishing or putting to death all the ancient Lords and persons of quality belonging to it He also took Imola and Forli banishing all the Children of Riario to whom the Inheritance belonged only their Mother Catherina he took prisoner and carried her in triumph with him to Rome Next he took Sinigaglia by force of Arms and by treachery surprized the State of Vrbin for being with all his Army at Cagli where he was kindly received upon the signal given he seized that City and marched immediately with the same design to Vrbin Guido Vbaldo da Feltro Prince of that State surprized with this suddain attempt and fearing to fall into the cruel hands of this Tyrant left the City and with some few of his domesticks saved himself by flight Then this Borgia turned his Arms upon Camerino which he took and put many of the ancient Lords and Barons of it to death with the like cruelty and wickedness he treated all the Lords and Barons about the parts of Rome particularly that noble Family of the Gaetani which were Lords of ancient possessions in the Volsci of which he put James the Son of Honorato Gaetano to death then Protonotary of Rome He also ordered that Cola Gaetano a youth who was the only Son and hopes of the Family should be removed out of the world He in the next place by assistance of the French attacked the Family of Colonna and seized on all their State forcing them to fly into Puglia and Sicily for refuge His next and last work was to subdue the Orsini but they having always been constant and firm friends to the Pope in all times and against all Factions he wanted some colourable pretence to fix a quarrel on them but at length the occasion which he sought the Orsini themselves administred for they growing jealous of the successes and fortune of Borgia and fearing lest his insatiable avarice should transport him also to an appetite of devouring them they considered it prudence to provide in time against a danger so apparent and imminent as this wherefore consulting with others who were possessed with the like apprehensions and fears such as Bentivolio Lord of Bologna Paolo Baglione the Usurper of Perugia Vitellozzo Vitelli Lord of the City of Castello Liverotto Lord Fermo Pandolfo Petrucci of Siena they appointed a Council to be held at Perugia where they agreed upon an alliance and confederacy together against Borgia and accordingly setting out an Army into the Field they took Vrbino and Camerino and overthrew
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
perpetual banishment Thus by the punishment and degradation of several Cardinals the College being wanting and unprovided of its due numbers the Pope with much liberality created one and thirty at one time all persons of quality belonging to several Countries of Christendom some of which were advanced for their Virtue and Merit and others by the Favour and Interest of great Personages This Pope created two and forty Cardinals in all during the time of his Reign besides the restauration of the four rebellious Cardinals deprived by Julio amongst these Cardinals which he had ordained Julio de Medici his Kinsman was one whom he made his Vice-Chancellor and was afterwards Pope under the name of Clement VII About this time Maximilian the Emperor dying Charles King of Spain Naples and Sicily was elected to the great regret and indignation of Francis King of France who with much envy and emulation was displeased to see the Imperial Dignity added to the many Kingdoms and Estates holden by the King of Spain And because according to the ancient Rule and Canon the King of Naples was excluded from all capacity of being Emperor a Dispensation was purchased from the Pope with expence of 7000 Ducats qualifying the King of Naples for the Election Afterwards the Pope having favoured the cause of Charles and he by his assistance being Elected Emperor an Alliance and League was agreed between them to drive the French out of Italy a design ever pleasing to the Popes and particularly to Leo who was impatient of the infamous loss of Parma and Piacenza which being gained with so much glory and trouble by Julio he hoped to regain and restore to the Possessions of the Church In pursuance of this enterprize a considerable Army of Germans and Switzers were sent by the Emperor into Italy and joyned with the Forces of the Pope Prospero Colonna was made Generalissimo and Frederico Gonzaga of Mantoua General of the Army of the Church and Julio de Medici Legate of the whole Army The success proved agreeable to the preparations for the French were droven out of Italy which had long groaned under their pride and tyranny after which Milan was according to Articles surrendred into the hands of Francis Sforza the true and natural Lord and Parma and Piacenza restored to the Church with the news of which the Pope conceived such extremity of joy that he died suddenly on the first of December 1521. at the Village of Magliana where he used often for recreation to retire himself from whence the next day his body was removed to Rome not without suspicion of having been poisoned by his Chamberlain Malâ—spina who thereupon being imprisoned was afterwards released by Cardinal De Medicis so soon as he came to Rome no farther proceedings being made thereupon lest the matter being examined should reflect too far in disgrace of the French King Thus died Leo X. at the age of 45 years 11 months and one day having held the Papal Chair for the space of eight years and twenty days having at the hour of his death testified the great satisfaction he received by the restitution of Parma and Piacenza to the Ecclesiastical State without the effusion of the least drop of blood This Pope was esteemed a great lover of Justice having been severe against Thieves and Robbers He was a great lover of his Recreation and Pleasures spending much time in Hunting and Banquets and was more delighted with Musick than became the gravity and severity of a Pope He was highly magnificent in his Buildings and munificent in his gifts with which and by his Wars he had consumed so profusely beyond his Revenue that for maintenance of this charge he was forced to exact mony for making Cardinals and to set several Offices of his Court to sale He was a great lover of Learning and learned men to whom he was very liberal in his gifts imitating therein the spirit of his Father Laurence de Medicis He enlarged the Power of the Potesta or Civil Magistracy of Rome and bestowed on them several Privileges and Immunities for which reason by a Solemn Decree they made Julian his Brother a Citizen of Rome and treated him at the Campidoglio with Feasting and other Entertainments where they also erected a Statue of Marble and dedicated it to Leo with this Inscription Optimo Principi Leoni X. Med. Joan. Pont. Max. ob restitutam instauratamque Vrbem aucta Sacra bonasque artes adscitos Patres sublatum vectigal datum congiarium S.P.Q.R. In fine the face of the City of Rome was never more pleasant nor chearful than in the time of Leo X. His body was buried for that present in a Sepulchre of Brick erected in S. Peter's Church and for afterwards by direction of Paul III. translated to the Minerva together with the body of Clement VII ADRIAN VI. POPE Leo being dead and his Obsequies solemnly performed the Cardinals on the 16th of December 1521. assembled in the Chappel of Sixtus Quartus in S. Peter's Church and thence adjourned to the Vatican where 29 Cardinals entered into the Conclave and having sang Veni Spiritus they for some days were employed in giving Audiences to Forein Ministers in ordering matters for the more orderly Government of the City and regulating the Conclave in relation to their choice so on the 20th they began seriously to proceed to an Election Cardinal De Medicis aspiring to that dignity seemed to stand the most fair for it because that by the reputation of his greatness and by the interest of his Revenues and his glory lately acquired in the Conquest of Milan he had obtained the Voices of 15 Cardinals howsoever many considerations crossed his desires for it seemed irregular and against the common Policy for one of the same Family to succeed in the place of the Pope deceased for that such Presidents might soon bring the Popedom to a state of being disposed by Succession for which cause all the ancient Cardinals who pretended to be of the French action and all those who were enemies to Leo and discontented by him stood in opposition against him Moreover all the Cardinals who were Competitors and lived in hopes of succeeding could not endure and suffer the Election of a person under the age of fifty years These difficulties occurring retarded the Election for several days at length as they made scrutiny according to the custom of the Conclave Cardinal Adrian a Hollander by Nation was proposed one who had been School-master to the Emperor and by his means made Cardinal under Pope Leo so soon as he was nominated the Cardinal S. Sixtus began to recount and amplifie his Virtues in a long Oration which so took that the Cardinals began to yield and give up their Voices for him the residue followed from one to another seeming guided rather by chance than Counsel so that by the common Suffrages of all the Cardinals Adrian was Elected and Created Pope on the 9th of January 1522. the parties themselves not being
desirous of the repose and quiet of Italy proposed to Francis the French King in behalf of the Vice-King of Naples a Truce for five years with condition that during that time he should quietly enjoy all the Country on the other side of the River Adda the Town of Loda only excepted yet he could not prevail the French King refusing this fair offer which afterwards turned to his great misfortune Wherefore the Pope finding the difficulty or impossibility almost of making this Peace he remained doubtful to which of these two Princes it was most to the interest of the Church and security of Italy for him to incline in which suspense the Count Carpy arriving at Rome with character of Embassador from the King of France so well mannaged his design that he persuaded the Pope to lay aside and forget those ancient discontents and animosities which arose between his Master the King and Pope Leo the 10th his Kinsman and to enter into a firm Alliance with him as the most secure and wholesome means to preserve the quiet of Italy Clement hereby being well affected towards France dispatched an Embassador to the King for confirmation of the Alliance advising him to undertake the Conquest of Naples which he represented as an enterprise easily effected in regard that there was no Garrison there all the Emperors Forces being at that time employed in the Dukedom of Milan The King well approving this design ordered John Stuart Duke of Albania who was of the Blood of the Kings of Scotland and his Lieutenant-General in Italy to march with a considerable force into the Kingdom of Naples asking license of the Pope to pass thro his Dominions But the Pope seeming outwardly and in appearance averse hereunto persuaded the King to desist from this design as a matter of jealousie to the Venetians and all Italy with arguments also inciting to Peace and accommodation as best became the Office and quality of a Pope But the Duke of Albania without attending an answer had as assured of the Popes consent passed the River Po but before he had marched five days he was called back again by the King who understanding that some Forces and new Supplies were already arrived in the Enemies Camp and more daily expected he judged it more advisable to keep his Army entire until the new Recruits of Switzers and Grisons were come which he had sent to levy rather than to weaken his Army by that considerable detachment which the enterprise of Naples would require during which time the King continued the Siege of Pavia But the Switzers and Grisons being at length arrived in the Kings Camp the Duke of Albania repassed the Po to invade the Kingdom of Naples in which design that the Pope might seem to have had no contrivance he dispatched away Paul Vettorio Captain of his Gallies to the Vice-Roy letting him know that tho he had used all diligence to divert the King from his purpose to invade Naples yet he could not prevail nor could oppose or obstruct his passage thro his Country unless he would draw upon himself the difficulties of that War which he was not able to master and that tho he was forced to secure himself by new Articles and Contracts yet he would never assent or agree co any thing which might be prejudicial to the interest of the Emperor In fine he exhorted both Parties to a Peace and in order thereunto proposed several expedients for accommodation but nothing prevailed the Duke of Albania continuing his march and the King the Siege of Pavia And now the Imperialists drawing near to the relief of Pavia the treaties and practices of Princes and the endeavours and studies of Embassadors availed little all the difficulties and dangers of many months being reduced to the fortune and success of a few hours In short the Battel of Pavia was fought on the 24. of February 1525. in which the French Army was entirely defeated and the King himself taken Prisoner and all the flower of the Nobility of France either slain or taken of which the Duke of Albania having received intelligence he raised his Camp from Monte Rotondo near Aquila where he was lodged and returned into France but the greatest part of this Soldiery being composed of Italians and Corsicans returning to Rome were for the most part rifled and pillaged in their way by the people of Campagna who were Subjects to the Prince Colonna and by some Imperialists who belayed the ways for them killing them within the very Walls of Rome to which place they fled for sanctuary All the Princes of Italy especially the Pope being extremely affected with this unexpected success obtained by the Imperial Forces conducted chiefly by the valour and wisdom of the Marquess of Pescara remained doubtful in what manner to govern and mannage their affairs for the ballance being now no longer in an equality but carried down with too much weight on the side of the Emperor his Captains were elevated with this Victory that they became insolent beyond all human sufferance seeming to aspire to an universal Monarchy the which insolences were also rendered more intolerable by the complaints brought daily to Rome from Parma and Piacenza which Countries the Imperialists had exposed to plunder and desolation and the suspicions and jealousies of the Pope were increased by the refusal the Emperor made of restoring Francis Sforza to his right of the possession of Milan whom the Imperialists besieged in the Castle and afterwards banished from the precincts of that Country And farther these misunderstandings were increased for want of a faithful compliance on the Emperors side with the Pope who having paid a considerable sum of mony to Charles de Lanoia the Emperors Agent on condition to have Reggio restored to the Popedom which after the death of Adrian had been seized by Alfonso Duke of Ferrara when these conditions came to be performed and the ancient League renewed with Charles the Fifth he disowned the agreement lest thereby the Pope should grow more potent and enlarge his Dominions endeavouring to lessen his power by the loss of his mony and exclusion from the possession of Reggio All these umbrages and matters of displeasure being revolved in the mind of Clement with extreme melancholy and desire of redress administred cause sufficient to him of ill will towards the Emperor moving in him at the same time compassion of the unfortunate state of Francis the French King then a Prisoner in respect to whom he sent the Bishop of Pistoia to condole with him for his unhappy success Whilst the Pope meditated on these matters with some sort of indignation and fear the Venetians who were troubled at the same time with the like thoughts unexpectedly sent with many pressing instances to persuade the Pope to joyn with them in the good cause for preventing the total servitude of all Italy which they proposed to effect by a force of ten thousand Switzers which they might cause in
opinion of the Emperor he called for a review of the cause of Divorce between Henry VIII of England and Catharine his Queen and Aunt to the Emperor for which having at the time of those great oppressions he lay under from the Emperor granted a Bull did now on terms of reconciliation cause the same to be revoked And now the Pope following his resolution and closely attending a fair conclusion with the Emperor a Peace was concluded between them at Barcelona much to the advantage of the Pope proceeding perhaps as may be believed from a sense the Emperor might have conceived of the unjust and hard usage he had exercised towards him and because the urgency of his Affairs did call him into Italy he might imagin that the countenance and favor of the Pope might be useful and for these reasons it was accorded and agreed That a perpetual Peace and Confederation be made between the Emperor and the Pope That the Pope should grant free passage to the Emperors Army through the Ecclesiastical State in case it should depart out of the Kingdom of Naples That the Emperor should re-instate the Son of Laurence de Medicis in the same condition of greatness and power at Florence as they had been in before their expulsion thence or their Predecessors had enjoyed at any time before That the Emperor should by such ways and terms as were most convenient either by force of Arms or otherwise cause the possession of Cervia Modena Reggio and Rubiera to be restored to the Pope That these particulars being performed the Pope should in consideration thereof yield unto the Emperor the whole and absolute Investitute of the Kingdom of Naples with the Tribute only of a White Horse yearly to be given in acknowledgment of Fealty together with the nomination of four and twenty Cathedral Churches which had formerly been in dispute but now were determined to belong to the Emperor the Churches only which were not under Patronage to be reserved to the Pope That when the Emperor should have passed into Italy that the Pope and he should have an interview and meet at Bologna or some other convenient place to consult about their Affairs and matters relating to the Peace and settlement of the Church And that the Emperor and his Brother Ferdinand should exercise their Temporal Arms against the Lutherans and others who had revolted from the Roman Church and second the Spiritual Weapons of Excommunications and Ecclesiastical censures which were issued against them That the Pope should grant Plenary Absolution to all those who had lately been injurious to the Apostolical Sea or had by any violent or hostile acts committed outrages against it And lastly to confirm and consummate all these Articles by the more endearing terms of Alliance the Emperor was to give Margaret of Austria his natural Daughter in Marriage to Alexander de Medicis Son of Laurence late Duke of Vrbin with twenty thousand Ducats of yearly Revenue on whom the Pope intended to establish the temporal greatness of his Family having not long since created Hippolito Cardinal who was the Son of Julian This Peace was soon afterwards followed by another between the Emperor and the French King treated at Cambray of which the Pope was the chief Mediator by the Arch-Bishop of Capua who was sent thither as Legate The conclusion of this grand Affair did much facilitate the Emperors design upon Florence which he committed to the charge and management of the Prince of Orange who in pursuance of those commands having mustered his Forces about Aquila he was desired by the Pope to come to Rome that he might the better consult and resolve with him upon the provisions and ways of carrying on the War The Prince of Orange accordingly coming was received by the Pope with great respect to whom towards payment of the Army thirty thousand Ducats were issued out of the Popes Treasury and soon after forty thousand more with which and with three pieces of Cannon taken out of the Castle S. Angelo the Prince departing he encamped before Perusa which was in the first place to be reduced to the obedience of the Church This place being held by Malatesta Baillon was surrendred upon composition and thence the Prince entering on the Lands and Country belonging to the Florentines encamped before Spella which was in a short time delivered to him Whilst these things were acting the Emperor departed from Barcelona with a great Fleet wherein were a thousand Horsemen and nine thousand Foot with which he arrived at Genoua to the great terror of all Italy and especially of the Florentines who thereupon made choice of four Embassadors to congratulate his arrival and endeavour to make some agreement with them for composition of their Affairs When these Embassadors were admitted to the presence of the Emperor and that the Ceremonies of Congratulation were past they declared That their City was not ambitious or desirous of great enlargements or extents of jurisdictions but only to conserve their own with their Rights and liberties being willing to be beholding to the power of any mighty Monarch who would be pleased to take them into his protection That they had associated and entered into Confederacy with France it was no matter of their own choice but in obedience and compliance with the Pope who at that time commanded them but that now they had thrown off all considerations of his Temporal Power or his Families over them and that their Commission extending no farther than to a Treaty with the Emperor they could not give ear to any thing which had reference to the Pope This answer being unpleasing to the Emperor the Embassadors were refused farther Audience at Piacenza tho they had followed the Court of the Emperor with that expectation from Genoua to that place so that their Negotiation was at an end for that time By this time being about the beginning of the year 1530. the Pope arrived first at Bologna and the Emperor soon after came to him where he was received by the Pope with great honor and lodged in the same Palace with him and such signs of familiarity and friendship passed as if there had never happened any of those disgusts and violent actions between them which we have formerly mentioned or at least that they had with a real and unfeigned pardon been entirely forgotten Thus matters appearing fair and clear between them the Emperor intended to pass some time in Italy in regard his Affairs in other parts seemed not much to require his presence for that Soliman the Magnificent who was then Grand Signior and had besieged Vienna was forced to raise his Camp and return to Constantinople and the Peace being newly concluded with France nothing seemed in outward appearance which might give him cause of avocation or diversion from the Affairs of Italy Wherefore it was resolved that the Emperor should proceed to Rome and there be Crowned taking Siena in his way for better dispatch
to that King And whereas the former Pope was always averse to the instances which the Emperor and French King and other Princes made to him for a General Council to be held for reforming abuses crept into the Church and suppressing the Opinions of Luther which they called heretical and which began to dilate and spread themselves in all parts of Christendom Now this Paul the Third was of such a different sense herein to his Predecessor that he freely declared for a Council shewing himself willing to meet the desires of the Princes and promised in a short space to appoint the time and place where such a Council should be held and celebrated And farther to confirm and improve this good correspondence with the Christian Courts he dispeeded his Emissaries and Legates into all parts whose care it was as well to advance the private interests of his Family as the common benefit of the Church and particularly to solicit and promote such a good correspondence and peace between the Emperor and the King of France that uniting their Forces for the common safety of Christendom might joyntly make War upon the Turk and other enemies to the Christian Faith but herein his desires found little success for the French being beaten out of Italy could not support the prosperity of the Emperor against whom breathing nothing but revenge could never be induced to unite their Arms in a common Cause or joyn in a design then preparing by the Emperor against the Kingdom of Tunis which one Barbarosso had usurped who having by the help of Soldiers and a strong Fleet furnished and equipped at the expence of Soliman Emperor of the Turks droven Mulcasses King of Tunis out of his own Country did with the pyracies he committed very much infest the Coasts of Spain and Sicily and being arrived to a considerable power threatned to invade the Kingdom of Naples This growing greatness of Barbarosso and the daily Pyracies he committed were sufficient provocation to Charles the Fifth to wage War against him and being a Tyrant and an Infidel the Pope also became concerned in this Holy Cause to concur with the Emperor for whose assistance he furnished out nine Gallies which were fitted at Genoua besides three others which were the usual Guard of the Coast over this Fleet Virginio Orsinio a person of great quality was constituted Admiral to whom was joyned Paulo Giustiniano a Noble Venetian and one of great experience in Sea Affairs The preparations of the Emperor also were very great his Fleet was commanded by Prince Doria who was made Commander in Chief at Sea to whom the Pope made a present of a short Sword or Poniard with a Hilt set with Jewels and the Scabbard rarely Engraved and consecrated with the usual Ceremonies likewise a Cap of Velvet Embroidered with Pearls which were the accustomary Donatives which Popes made to Generals that were employed in a Holy War against Infidels The Marquiss Del Vasso was created General of the Italian and German Infantry and being on his Voyage towards Tunis he touched in his way thither at Civita Vecchia to which place the Pope went in person to bless the Army that he might evidence to the world the great zeal he had for the Christian cause the which office of Benediction he performed on the top of a high Tower from whence surveying the Fleet of Ships and Gallies he solemnly prayed with a Choire of Priests for the happy success of this enterprise making thousands of Crosses on the empty Air and then descending into the Church he delivered the Banner and Scepter of the Christian Religion into the hands of Viâ—ginio Orsino his General The success of this Expedition was that the Emperor having landed a great Army on the Coast of Tunis defeated Barbarosso and put his Forces to flight took the City of Tunis and restored Mulcasses the vanquished Prince to his Kingdom on conditions of Homage and Tribute for better security of which payment and performance he built two Castles at the Goleta which being Garrisoned with Spaniards served for Block Houses to that Port and having released twenty thousand Christians from Captivity which Barbarossa had by his depredations at Sea and Land taken and enslaved he returned with his Fleet to Sicily and then to Naples where he solemnly entered in a triumphant manner with such joy and festivals as are due to such successes Nor was this good news less welcome to Rome where Processions of Thanksgivings were made and Te Deum sang in the most solemn manner and farther to â—estifie the great joy which the Pope conceived for this success John Piccolomini and Alexander Cesarini were sent from him to congratulate with the Emperor for this glorious and happy Victory Whilst the Emperor was in his passage between Sicily and Naples advices were brought him of the decease of Francis Sforza who was the last Duke of Milan by whose death that Dutchy devolved to the Empire being afterwards governed by Antonio de Levae in form of a Province howsoever the Title thereunto was not so clear on the Emperors side but that the King of France laid his claim unto it not only by right of inheritance as descended from his Great-Grand-Mother Valentina but by virtue also of a concession granted by publick Act from Maximilian the Emperor to King Lewis XII of France on a valuable consideration of mony paid for it after Lodowick Sforza had been taken and droven from thence But this pretence seemed of little moment to the Emperor who judging this Dukedom of great importance to his State came from Naples to Rome with intent to persuade the Pope to joyn with him in a League against the French that so Italy might be more in repose and quiet by expulsion of the French who were always esteemed great disturbers of the peace of it On the 5th of April 1536. the Emperor came to Rome where being received by the Cardinals Bishops and all the Orders of the Clergy with the Citizens he was conducted to the Church of S. Peter where the Pope attended him on the steps of the Porch and the usual Ceremonies being passed he was lodged in that apartment of the Vatican Palace which was built by Innocent VIII During the residence which the Emperor made at Rome he entertained frequent Conferences with the Pope concerning a League to be entered into between them and the other Princes of Italy for expelling the French out of that Country who having been always known under the character and notion of the disturbers of their peace they could neyer hope or expect quietness whilst that restless people had any hold or possession in their Quarters And farther the Emperor in a publick Assembly of the Pope and all the Cardinals and Forein Ministers did most severely inveigh against Francis the French King as the most ungratetul and faithless of all the Princes of the Universe but being sharply answered and replied upon by Monsieur Bellay the Embassador of France
quiet of Christendom availed little resolved to enjoy and give himself up to Buildings and other divertisements so that placing all his thoughts on a Country-house Gardens and Vineyards which he had erected and made without the Porta del popolo at Rome he was so enamoured of his new Paradise where he continually made Feasts and Banquets that he seemed wholly to have cast off all care of the Church and sense of the miseries of Christendom and what was most undecent and misbecoming a Person of above seventy years of age and of his gravity and function he immersed himself in pleasures as if there had been no other Life to the great scandal of the World and damage and greater danger of Rome In this year 1554. Edward the Sixth King of England died and the Queen Mary succeeding immediately sent her Ambassadours to Rome to signifie to the Pope the conversion of her whole Kingdom from Heresie to the Catholick Church and to acknowledg and Vow all Obedience to the Papal Sea desiring to have the Excommunication taken off and a general Pardon and Absolution given to her Catholick Subjects on which grateful Message the Ambassadours coming were recieved with great kindness and solemn Processions of Thanksgiving celebrated at which the Pope assisted in Person The same year Philip Son of the Emperor Charles the Fifth was married to Queen Mary the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples being setled upon him together with Milan Flanders and some other of the United Provinces with which news Philip dispatched his Ambassadour the Marquis de Pescara to the Pope to acquaint him therewith and according to the custom of former Kings to do homage for the Kingdom of Naples which he held in Fee from the Pope And now Pope Julius the Third being by reason of his great age and the torment of the Gout which miserably afflicted him become very infirm was persuaded by the Physitians to change his Diet and his usual regimen of living the which ill agreeing with his habit of Body brought him to a Fever with which taking his Bed in the month of February 1555. he lingred therewith until the 23d of March and then died at his Palace being aged seventy seven years six months and fourteen days he was afterwards carried without any great Pomp or State to the Church of S. Peter where his Corps having been publickly exposed for three days to the view of the People he was afterwards buried in an ordinary Sepulcre of Bricks near the Altar of S. Andrew After which the Sea was vacant seventeen days This Julius was tall of Stature of a plain Country Visage his Nose great his Eyes shewed him to be Cholerick and hasty but soon pleased his Diet was gross and plain being much pleased with a sort of large Onions which were sent him from Gaeta the alteration of which Diet hastned his Death When he was first Pope he so strangely favoured a young Boy whom he called Innocentius that without any apparent motive for it he bestowed upon him a Cardinals Hat which when the reason was asked He replied What reason had you to choose me Pope Fortune favours whom she pleases He was very facetious in his Discourse but more familiar in his Conversation than was decent for without respect to the Majesty of his Office and gravity of his Function He would often shoot such Bolts and use such Expressions as were unseemly and which those that heard pitied and blushed for him MARCELLVS II. JULIVS the Third dying on the 23d of March and his Funeral Obsequies being performed after the accustomed manner the Cardinals to the number of thirty seven entred the Conclave and without much faction or dispute chose Marcellus Cervinus Cardinal of St. Cross at Jerusalem to be Pope of which publication was made with the usual Ceremonies on the 9th of April 1555. the Sea having been vacant for the space onely of eighteen days His Father was Robert or as some call him Richard Treasurer of the Marquisat of Ancona and the place of his birth was Montfano his Father pretended to great Skill or knowledg in Astrology by which Art calculating the Nativity of his Son at the time of his birth it appeared that the Stars under which he was born would be very propitious to him in his promotion to Ecclesiastical preferments for which reason Marcellus being first sent to have his Education in the University of Siena he came from thence to Rome where he dwelt with Felix the Datary of Clement the 7th afterwards he obtained the Office of Secretary to Paul the Third and by him created Cardinal of St. Cross of Jerusalem and lastly as we have said elected Pope on the 9th of April The day following he was consecrated Bishop by the Cardinal of Naples and the very same day without much Pomp or Solemnity was Crowned with the Pontifical Miter by the Cardinal of Pisa who was Arch-Deacon And as he refused to change his Name calling himself no other than Marcellus the Second in imitation of Adrian the Sixth so he survived a much less time than he having possessed the Papal Chair not above twenty one days after his Election so that there remains little more observable of him than that after his Choice he would give no invitation or encouragement to his Kindred or Relations of coming to Rome in hopes of benefit and preferment by his greatness howsoever his intentions were good and his Designs great having drawn a Scheme and method whereby to restore Peace and Unity in the Church and the Papal Power to its antient lustre This Design of his he communicated to the Cardinal of Mantoua maintaining that there was no other way to reconcile differences in Religion but onely by a General Council and that the reason why hitherto that means had been ineffectual was no other than because they began at the wrong end and proceeded not with the due method for that first they should begin with an entire reformation of Manners which would supersede and quiet all superficial Debates and disputations about words and reduce Controversies to such a substantial issue as would be easily determinable by a Council That for want hereof his five immediate Predecessors had much erred for that they abhorred the name of Reformation not out of a dislike to that desirable State but from a belief that it would be a means to abate and diminish the Papal Authority whereas on the contrary he was really persuaded that a Reformation was the onely means to render it more Glorious and powerful as most plainly appeared and was proved by the Histories of past-times in which those Popes onely were famous and renowned who had supported their Papal Chair by an exactness in Manners and purity of Life that Reformation respected the entrinsecal and circumstantial appendages of Religion and served onely to retrench the luxury and superfluous pomp of the Clergy which made the Prelats envied and contemptible when as a modest train and decent comportment
in that friendly manner that his Servants and Dependants were glad to be so happily mistaken but this good Nature being forced and constrained did soon vanish and then his fierce and supercilious temper returning to its natural course all his actions were influenced with a spirit of Pride and haughty severity An instance of which he gave to the Steward of his House when he demanded of him in what manner he was pleased to be served his Answer was short saying as became a Prince His Coronation he ordered with more Pomp and Ceremony than was ever before practised and in all things he affected Magnificence and State and was no less indulgent to his Nephews than the most tender and fondest of the Popes Soon after his Coronation he ordered the first Consistory to be publick that he might with the greater State and Pomp give Audience to the Ambassadours of England who in the time of Pope Julius had been dispatched thence from Queen Mary and Philip her Husband The Ambassadours being introduced to his presence and prostrating themselves at his feet did one after the other for so the Pope would have it confess and acknowledg the faults and errors of the Kingdom of England in having strayed and deviated from the flock of Christ and the Sheepfold of the Church but now repenting and returning again did humbly beg Absolution and to be received into the bosom of the Church though by the obstinacy and perseverance in their Errors they had rendered themselves unworthy of such mercy and indulgence The Pope having for some time beheld these Ambassadours at his feet and contemplated their humble posture with some satisfaction of spirit raised them at length from the floor and embraced them with the tenderness of a Father testifying great satisfaction in the happy conversion of this Kingdom and because the Queen and King were the happy Instruments of this blessed and religious work in reward of so much Piety he confirmed their right and title to Ireland and by virtue of that Power which he had received from God to dispose of all Earthly Crowns he conferred on them that Kingdom dignifying them amongst their other Titles with that of King and Queen of Ireland Which piece of vanity though ridiculous to others was extreamly pleasing to the Pope who fancied himself in that Throne of Fools Paradise to which the Devil had in his Pride exalted himself when he tempted our Saviour with all the Kingdoms of the Earth But then afterwards in private Conference with the Ambassadours he blamed England for having but in part shewed their penitence for that whilst they retained any thing of the goods of the Church and did not make restitution to the utmost farthing a Curse would remain on the Kingdom and the people remain in a perpetual snare and danger of Damnation He farther told them That the sooner and the more readily they paid the Peter-pence for collection of which he had sent an Officer into England the more easily would the Gates of Heaven be opened to them for how could they expect that St. Peter should turn his Keys whilest they denied him those Fees which were the dues of his Office In fine the Ambassadours having behaved themselves with humility which was the onely means to procure the favour of this Pope they departed from Rome laden with Praises Honours and Graces from his Holiness and then attending to a full Reformation in England he purged the Universities of Oxford and Cambridg of those Tenents and Lectures which had been there taught by Peter Martir and Bucer and deprived Cranmer of his Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury Having thus obtained his pleasure and Designs over England he next endeavoured to gain an Ascendant over the Emperor and King of France both of which courted him to that Degree that he expected to have them both at his Service and Devotion but in regard it was impossible to entertain them both in the same equality of respect and dearness both Parties strained to outvy each other in Proposals of advantage which might give them admission to his favour in pursuance of which the Cardinal of Lorain who was well acquainted with the humour of the Pope publickly declared in a full Consistory that besides the many steps which the King of France had made in Obedience to the Papal Chair he did acknowledg that the Gallican Church had need of Reformation towards which he was ready to afford all the aid and assistance to the Pope that he was able and to act therein by such ways and methods as his Holiness should direct whether it were by sending his Prelats to the Council or by any other means that should be esteemed more proper and expedient The which so took with the Pope that France for that time gained a preeminence in his favour And yet notwithstanding this Pride and rudeness in his nature he did several things at the beginning to gratify and please the People of Rome which he performed by abating the Taxes and Imposts laid on Provisions and in other things acted with such obliging circumstances that the People in acknowledgment for such abundant favours erected a Statue of Marble for him in the Capitol He regulated the Manners of the Jews and retrenched that liberty and freedom they used and for the better distinction of them ordered them to wear yellow Hats He published several severe Decrees against such as denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ and that he died for the redemption of Mankind In short besides many good Laws and Acts which he ordained against corrupt and dissolute Manners which were grievous to the Clergy who were unaccustomed to a Severity He selected a hundred Citizens of the Gentry of Rome which he created Knights of the Faith to be a standing Life-Guard to the Popes He repealed several Decrees of Julius III. and imprisoned many of those who had been his Creatures and familiar Friends Amongst the Counsellours and Familiar Confidents which he entertained there was none who had at first had a greater share in his favour than Osio whom he declared Datary and chief Notary or Register of Petitions and created Bishop of Riete but he being of a rude and morose temper did always clash against the humour of the Pope which was hard and inflexible like his which therefore ill according together Osio was by the instigation also of the Pope's Relations who were always busie at his ear deprived of his favour and sent Prisoner to the Castle where he remained for the space of four years In the next place by a new Decree he retrieved all those goods and Ecclesiastical Revenues which had been alienated from the Church since the time of Julius II. to his days He reformed also the abuses which were crept into the Office of the Penitentiaries and regulated the Habit and Tables of the Clergy and refused to admit any into Benefices but such as had been approved for holiness of Life and severity of Manners Towards the three Conservators
of Rome he behaved himself with great respect enlarging their Power and Authority adjoyning thereunto the jurisdiction of Tivoli which belonged to the Cardinal of Ferrara and to the People he enlarged their Priviledges and confirmed all their former Immunities by a new Charter But all this indulgence and kindness towards the Citizens was but in order to some Design of a higher nature which soon after discovered it self for whilest he was thus busied in matters of Government and things laudable enough in themselves he suffered some reports of a Plot against his Life to take impression in his mind which being suggested by many probable circumstances he immediately seized on the Persons of as many as were suspected to be guilty thereof and committed them to Prison and then joyning with the French and Switzers he commenced a War against Philip King of Spain by which those antient Feuds and Animosities between those Kings which had for some time been extinguished or as it were raked up in the Embers began again to revive and be enflamed The original and cause whereof was this Ever since the time that Rome had been sacked by the Spaniards who had plundered and sequestred the Estate and Rents of the Family of Caraffa this Pope Paul the 4th conceived an implacable anger and an inveterate hatred against that whole Nation the which also was encreased by that ill treatment and injustice which the Vice-King of Naples once used towards his own Person for he being created by Paul III. Arch bishop of Naples was debarred from the possession and benefits thereof by the Vice-King on no other pretence than that he was suspected to favour the French Party the which so enraged his impetuous spirit that with all the arguments which subtilty and malice could draw from the Topicks of Religion and publick good to the Church he endeavoured to persuade Paul III to a War against Naples promising him to assist him with the whole Estate of his Family and with all the interest he had which he pretended to be very great in that Kingdom but Paul III. being too prudent to give ear to his persuasions and Discourses commended his Piety and zeal towards the Church but refused to engage himself in that hazardous War So that the anger and fury of this Paul IV. being suppressed until he became Pope did then burst forth and vent it self so that then with thoughts full of disdain against the Spaniards and with imagination that the Napolitans would gladly shake off their yoke and be eased of the Spanish Servitude and that France would enter into the Alliance with him he positively resolved on a War swallowing already into his thoughts the enjoyment and addition of that Rich Kingdom to the Dominions of the Church This Design was promoted by a stricter Union with France occasioned in this manner Henry King of France had taken from Charles Sforza Prior of Lombardy two Gallies the which coming afterwards into the Port of Civita Vecchia Alexander the Brother of Charles and Chief Clark of the Camera or Chamberlain made seizure of them and without any respect to that Protection under which they were within the Pope's Harbour he carried them away by force to Gaeta of which the French Ministers at Rome complaining to the Pope he conceived not onely anger and indignation against Alexander but suspecting that such an action could not be contrived without the privity of his Brother the Cardinal he loudly exclaimed against him and clapt his Secretary Lotini into Prison who was lately returned with some secret Negotiations from the Emperour Charles V. the which serving to encrease and heighten the differences between them many Cabals and Consults were formed amongst the Cardinals of the Imperial Faction at which the Pope being alarm'd he reinforced his Guards and levied Soldiers and to break the seditious Meetings clapt the Cardinal and Camilla Colonna and the Abbot of Brisegna who was a Spaniard into Prison Mark Anthony Colonna who upon these stories was fled from Rome was cited to appear there and give answer to the Accusations charged against him but afterwards the Gallies being again restored to the French King Cardinal Sforza and Camillo Colonna upon Bail given were freed from Imprisonment but Alexander Sforza who was Chamberlain not appearing upon the Summons was deprived of his Office and because Mark Anthony Colonna did not appear at the time prefixed by the Summons all his Estate within the Territories of the Church was sequestred and seized to the use of the Pope with which Joan of Aragon the Mother of Colonna being greatly affrighted escaped secretly from Rome about the beginning of the year 1556. contrary to the Command and Injunction of the Pope with which he was so incensed that he then resolved to act and put all those mischiefs into practice against the House of Colonna which he had before onely meditated and contrived in his thoughts and in pursuance thereof he in the first place excommunicated Mark Anthony and his Father Ascanio Colonna and having confiscated all their Estate within the Dominions of the Church he bestowed it on his Nephew John Count of Montorio whom he created Duke of Paliano and not long after he declared Anthony Carafa an other Nephew to be Marquis of Montebello having lately dispossessed Count Bagno of that Marquisate for having converted those Moneys which the King of France sent to the Pope for carrying on the War in Italy to his own use All which served to incense the spirits of a great and powerful Faction and raise those Wars which ended in miserable desolation of Italy But the Pope who was of Opinion and often said that a happy Peace was onely to be procured by a calamitous War did in Order thereunto fortifie Paliano with all provisions requisite thereunto for that being a place situate on the frontiers of Naples was of great importance in that conjuncture And lest the Truce which was made for five years between the Emperor and France should be an obstruction to this War he dispatched Charles Caraffa his Legat to Henry II. pretending that his Message was in order to a farther accommodation and to convert the Truce into an everlasting Peace but the Negotiations of Caraffa being of an other nature he possessed Henry with great hopes and expectation of success by a War with Naples wherefore though at first he sent but two thousand Men for assistance of the Pope seeming to reserve some little respect to the Truce so lately concluded yet afterwards the Popes forces not being able to withstand the Power of the Imperialists a greater Army of twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse were sent to Naples under the conduct of Francis Duke of Guise With these Auxiliary aids the spirit of the Pope being highly swelled and become implacable he imprisoned Juliano Sesarini Camillo Colonna with his Bother the Arch-Bishop of Taranto and divers others whom he suspected to be in any manner affected and inclinable to the
Papal Chair In the year 1576. a grievous Pestilence afflicted most parts of Italy especially Trent Milan and Venice it is recorded of Cardinal Borromeo who was Arch-Bishop of Milan that he was in a most pious manner charitable to the Poor and others of his City at that time of common Calamity to whom he not onely contributed a maintenance for their food and Medicines for their sickness but in person visited such as were afflicted with the Pestilence and administred to them the Sacraments of the Church and other spiritual comforts for which and other works of like piety he was afterwards canonized for a Saint Nor was Venice less afflicted with this spreading Contagion of which most of the Friers and other Religious whose duty it was to visit the sick died of the same Disease for which reason the Pope sent his Indulgences into the aforementioned places that all such who died with a sorrow for their sins should obtain the same pardon as if they had confessed and communicated and received the other Sacraments of the Church required for dying persons It will not be very pertinent to this History to relate the Troubles which happened in Portugal in the days of this Pope which in reality were very great caused by the rashness of Sebastian King of that Country who suffering himself to be persuaded by Mahomet King of the Moors who was expelled his Kingdom transported an Army of thirty thousand Men into Africa to restore again the expelled King to his Government But as this Design was commenced against the Opinion and counsel of the King of Spain and the other Friends of King Sebastian so accordingly the success was unfortunate for his whole Army was defeated near the City of Alquivir and himself slain in the year 1578. Sebastian dying in this manner without Issue Cardinal Henriquez Uncle to the deceased and Son of King Emanuel was Crowned King but he being at that time Aged and infirm and unfit for Matrimony convened an Assembly of eleven Barons of the Land to consider of a Successour that so future Contests and civil Wars for the Crown might if possible be avoided Whilst this matter was under consideration the Cardinal King died and then all things were in confusion the Commonalty cryed up for Don Antonio who was the bastard Son of Don Alvize Brother to the Cardinal but the Nobility declared for King Philip of Spain to whom the right of succession to the Crown did legally appertain according to the Opinion of all the Doctors of the Civil Law this Controversie came at length to be decided by the Sword in which King Philip having the advantage sent an Army of thirty thousand Men under the Command of the Duke of Alva into Portugal where having taken several Towns at length made himself Master of Lisbon where Philip soon after arriving was acknowledged King and Fealty paid him by all the Nobles and Commonalty of the Land and having remained some short time at Lisbon returned in peace to his Court at Madrid Whilst these things were in action the Pope sent Cardinal Riario to accommodate differences and moderate between both Parties but coming too late after the Controversie was decided he changed his Office of Mediation to Complements and joy for the successes of the Conquerour About this time Pope Gregory confirmed the Excommunication which Pius V. had published against Elizabeth Queen of England and outed Gilbert Truckhesius Bishop of Cologna of his Arch-Bishoprick for marrying and for adhering to the Confession of Augsbourg He also rectified the Kalendar which we call the New Stile or Gregorian Account differing ten days from that which we use in England called the Julian Account the which was to commence in all places where they would receive it in the year 1583. About this time also there happened an irreconcileable difference between the Grand Master of Malta and the chief Knights of that Order which arose to that degree and height that the Knights deposed their Master put him into Prison and having accused him of many enormous Crimes they created Marturin Romagasso a Gascon to succeed him in his place On the other side the Grand Master appealed to the Pope and complaining of the many injuries he had susteined desired that he might be removed to Rome and his cause heard before the Apostolical Tribunal The Pope highly resenting this insolence and indignity which the Knights had exercised towards their Master dispatched his Legat to Malta who by virtue of a Writ from the Pope brought the Grand Master to Rome and with him came three hundred Knights on three Gallies where being arrived the Pope favoured the Cause of the Master and in evidence thereof sent eight hundred Horse to meet him which with great pomp and triumph conducted him to the Palace of Cardinal d' Este where he was lodged with much honour After a few days allotted for his refreshment he was admitted to Audience with the Pope and having in humble manner kissed his feet he repeated the Hymn of Nunc dimittis or Lord lettest thou now thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation Which piece of flattery so pleased the Pope that he would give no credence to the Calumnies and charge of his Accusers but dismissed his Cause and returned him back to his Lodging with honour and entire satisfaction After which Romagasso his Rival coming to Rome to hear and see how matters were carried and finding himself discountenanced both by the Clergy and by the Princes conceived so sad a resentment of this miscarriage that falling sick with grief he soon after departed this life about the beginning of November 1581. Two Months after which the Grand Master being also transported with a different passion died at Rome both which accidents so happily concurring obviated all the difficulties which might offer about a new Election Hugh de Verdal a Gascon being chosen by common consent without trouble or other tumult The year 1583. began with two unfortunate Calamities which much afflicted the Pope and the City of Rome the first was Famine and want of Bread-corn which so miserably pinched the poor for the space of two Months that many of them were starved to death The other was a sad and doleful Tragedy which began at Rome and ended at Padoua the cause and matter thereof in short was this The Head Bayliff of Rome with his Followers understanding that a certain Bandito was come for a Spy to Rome and for Sanctuary was fled to the Palace of the Orsini by one means or other he seized and brought him from that place but it happened that as he was carrying him from thence Raimond Orsini Savillo and Rustici being on Horse-back with their Servants unhappily met the Bayliff and commanded him to release the Prisoner who was illegally seized within the priviledges of the Orsini The Bayliff refusing so to do Rustici strook him over the Head with his Cane which so incensed the Bayliff that
which they knew or of which they could accuse their Judges who had for the space of five or six years sat in the Seat of Judicature By these means every day one poor Judg or other who perhaps also was out of employment was dragged away to Prison and close shut up for what Crime he knew not or perhaps had forgot the Sentence he had passed in the Case for which he was accused These and many such like cases of severity strook such a terrour into the minds of those who sat on the Tribunals of Justice or managed any publick employment that every one became cautious and nice in the Sentences he gave or how by fear or bribery he remitted the least scruple or severity which the Law enjoyned or required Farther he gave strict charge to all Sindics and Governours of Towns and Castles to give in a particular List or account of all Felons within their respective Precincts who had for the space of ten years past been accused or branded with Capital Crimes and also of all such who had been convicted for scandalous and infamous persons and Incorrigible during the time of their Sindicate In which Lists he required such an exact impartiality that upon Information given against the Sindic of Albano how in the List of the Dissolute and Incorrigible he had omitted to insert the name of his Nephew he was sentenced by the Pope himself to undergo the Strapado in the publick Market-place from which punishment all the Intercession and Prayers and Interest which the Spanish Ambassadour could make in his behalf was not able to deliver him By these means the Lists of Dissolute Persons which were immediately directed to the hand of the Pope were so very exact that no person was exempted who was guilty of the least Crime Which when the Pope saw and observed every Week as they were sent him he was greatly pleased and especially with those which were filled with a great number of names for in reading of them he would often say Oh happy Gallies which I intend to build O happy I who have first found Men for my Gallies before I found Gallies for my Men. The which severity of the Pope from whom there could never be any expectation of Pardon so terrified all sorts and conditions of People that every one comported himself with the greatest modesty and gravity imaginable that an Oath or a rude or uncivil word was not heard through any of the streets of Rome but every one being alarm'd and dreading as if he had always a Constable or a Pursuivant at his back walked with his beads in his hand repeating a Pater-Noster or some other Prayer with a sorrowful and penitential countenance By these Methods all the Banditi who being grown licentious under the gentle Government of other Popes and who spoiled and destroyed all Italy were now by the Justice of this Pope almost wholly extirpated for such as fled out of the State of the Church to the Dominions of other Princes he so prosecuted by laying Fines on any who secured or succoured them and setting a price on the head of every considerable Bandito that in a short time he reduced them to a small number and totally suppressed the pride and insolence of that pest of mankind And thus resolutely was Sixtus bent to punish the Enormities of wicked Men that whereas it had been the custom of former Popes to shew acts of mercy and pardon on the day of their Coronation opening the Prison Gates and enlarging the Prisoners this Sixtus absolutely refused to grant releasement to any though instantly urged by the Cardinals alledging That there were Rogues sufficient about the streets without ransacking the Prisons for them That he had taken a resolution when he was first made Pope to chastise the wicked and not suffer their Villanies to corrupt and intermix with the Vertues of good Men. By these severities all people lived in quiet and peace one with the other no Sword was drawn in the City nor quarelsom words or uncivil language uttered it being a common saying to Men at variance together Remember these are the times of Sixtus Thus when the Banditi were suppressed the good and benefit was so great to all Italy that the Citizens of Rome erected a Statue of Brass to the memory of this Rome on which these words were engraven Sixto V. Pont. Max. ob quietem publicam compressa Sicariorum Exulumque licentiâ restitutam Annonae inopiam sublevatam urbem edificiis viis aquaeductu illustratam SPQR And farther to demonstrate the inflexible humour of this Pope it is observable that a poor Youth of about seventeen years of age making a resistance against the Bayliffs who came to distrain an Ass for some Duties owing and by Law ordained to be paid in which seizure though the Officers made a mistake for that the Ass did not belong to the party who owed the Mony yet because he offended against the course of Justice by making opposition to it he was condemned to die nor could the persuasions or Intercessions of the G. Duke's Ambassadour nor of the Cardinal of Medici prevail in his behalf or mitigate the rigour of the Sentence and when the Governour of Rome alledged that the youth being under age could not by Law be put to death for this Crime the Pope replyed If he want years I will lend him ten of mine Nor did Sixtus exercise this severity onely towards his own People but he was brisk and haughty towards all Christian Princes for in a few days after his Coronation or at most in two months after he quarrelled with Henry III. King of France with Henry King of Navarre and with Philip II. King of Spain The occasion of his quarrel with Spain seemed to have had no other cause or foundation than his own pride and desire of usurpation and which happened in this manner It had been the custom ever since the time of the Emperour Charles V. for the King of Spain by his Ambassadour at Rome to present yearly on the 29th day of June which is the Festival of St. Peter a white Horse with a Purse of seven thousand Ducats in Gold to the Pope for a Tribute and acknowledgment for the Kingdom of Naples which that King holds as feudatary to the Ecclesiastical State And now on the usual day Sixtus appearing on a Throne with pomp and mignificence to receive his Tribute which the Ambassadour in a quaint Speech and with fine Complements presented he seemed not very well satisfied therewith but returned this tart and Satyrical Reply You think now said he that you have made a fine Speech and indeed so you have for you have made us change a Kingdom for a Beast and still seeming uneasie as he was about to rise he added these suspitious words But we believe that this business will not proceed long in this manner These words immediately touched the Ambassadour to the quick and giving him just cause of reflection
thereupon he dispatched them for Spain by the first Post and to the Duke of Ossuna then Vice-King of Naples the which administred not onely cause of jealousie and incited the Vice-King to be watchful against the least commotions but was the cause of misunderstanding and ill correspondence between Sixtus and Philip of Spain But the quarrel which he had with the French King was of another nature and grounded on more substantial differences and considering the fierce resolution of Sixtus might have produced more prejudicial consequences The Dispute had its beginning from a Message sent by the Pope to the French Ambassadour signifying to him by break of day in the morning that it was the Pope's pleasure that in tâ—â— space of two days time he should depart from Rome and from the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State the occasion of this intimation was this The Pope for reasons best known to himself had recalled from the Court of France his Nuntio the Bishop of Bergamo with intention to dispeed Fabio Mirto the Arch-bishop of Nazaret to reside in his place for he being a Person of prudence and noted for his admirable conduct and dexterity in the management of Affairs the Pope took an extraordinary liking to him especially for having managed the Office of Nuntio at other times with great success but the French King so soon as he received Intelligence that this Arch-bishop of Nazaret was coming Nuntio to Paris and understood by his Character that he was a Person zealous and entirely devoted to the Interest of the Pope he immediately dispatched an Express to him with Letters desiring him that wheresoever those Letters should be delivered to his hands he should remain and abide until new Orders should come to the Pope whom he had instantly desired that the Bishop of Bergamo might still continue in his Office The Arch-bishop of Nazaret being proceeded as far as Lions when he received the King's Orders seemed greatly surprized with this unexpected interruption saying that his Master the Pope who was impatient of Injuries would highly resent an Affront of this nature and that whereas he had Instructions to return back from what place soever he found the least difficulty or interruption in his Journey he was resolved the next day to set his face towards Rome the which would produce an ill correspondence with France for the Bishop of Bergamo would certainly be recalled and the Kingdom left without the residence of a Nuntio So soon as this News was brought to Rome the Pope resented it in a fierce manner and with high words against the French King threatned revenge with Thunderbolts of Excommunication and other Ecclesiastical Censures and in the heat of this fury without the consultation of a Consistory he sent immediately to the French Ambassadour to depart from Rome and out of the Dominion of the Church On the other side when this news arrived at the French Court the King expressed his resentments thereof to his Council and calling together all the Ministers of forein Princes he in their presence stated the difference in the case between himself and the Pope protesting against the Injuries he had received In fine after several Letters which passed by Expresses between the King and the Pope without any good understanding on either side for the Pope was resolved not to yield his Point at length by the mediation of forein Ambassadours at Paris and the interposition of Cardinal d' Este and other Cardinals at Rome the matter was accommodated so that the King received the Arch-bishop of Nazaret at Paris and the Pope recalled the French Ambassadour the Sieur St. Godart to Rome whom in his fury he had lately dispeeded from thence But such quarrels as these were like the fallings out of Friends which are easily reconcileable and of small importance in respect of those grand Feuds which were commenced between the Pope and Henry King of Navarre on the score of Religion for in regard that in the Reign of Gregory XIII a League was made against the Protestant Religion and directed against the Person of the said Henry which Pope Gregory refused to subscribe but now this Sixtus V. who was of a towring Spirit and one who delighted out of the pride of his heart to mortifie Princes and contend with great Personages not onely subscribed to the League in a most solemn manner but with terrible maledictions issued out his Bulls of Excommunication against the person of Henry King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde declaring them guilty of Heresie and to be the chief Fomenters and Protectors of the heretical party and that consequently the said Henry his Heirs and all descended from him was by the just Censures of the Canonical Law rendered uncapable to succeed in the right of any Principality and particularly to the Crown of France and accordingly he did absolve all his Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance and the Obedience they had sworn to him Notwithstanding all these Menaces of the Pope and the power of the League Henry comported himself with that Courage and generosity of mind that the Pope could not but much admire the heroick spirit of that King and conceived such an extraordinary Opinion of his Abilities and worth that he would frequently say that there were onely two Princes in the World namely the King of Navarre and Elizabeth Queen of England whose friendship and correspondence he would court and desire but that the guilt of Heresie had rendered them uncapable of his Acquaintance And in such esteem those two were with him notwithstanding the prejudice he had to them for the cause of Religion that in his ordinary Discourse he would use this saying That to make things go well in the World there was need onely of three Persons viz. Elizabeth Henry and Sixtus It is said also that Queen Elizabeth conceived such an esteem for this Pope Sixtus that she would often commend his Talent and excellent Qualities for Government And that when some would discourse of her Marrying she would often say that if she did marry she would have no other Husband than Pope Sixtus which being reported to him again he replyed thereupon That if they two should lie one night together they should beget an other Alexander for the World The Duke of Ossuna in the time of this Sixtus was Vice King of Naples a Person esteemed the wisest Governour and the best Politician of his Age and yet was highly blamed by this Pope for not revenging the murther of Starace who in a popular Insurrection was assassinated by the people for no other reason than that he was esteemed a Confident and a Creature of Ossuna upon which neglect and default the Pope entertaining Discourses frequently with the Spanish Ambassadour would often say That two Instruments were necessary for the people that is Bread and cold Iron repeating those words often Bread I say and cold Iron But Ossuna who had no need of those Admonitions not long after or so
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
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
that which was of greatest importance to him was the success of the League against Henry King of Navarre to support and strengthen which he dispatched the Bishop of Viterbo into France with Instructions and Money to favour the Party and Interest of the Allies against the King and his Protestant Party who stood Excommunicated by Pope Sixtus Iâ— is not our part here to relate all the passages and successes of that War being that which appertains to the History of France we can onely say that Henry IV. being victorious in all the Battels which he fought and having entered all the Provinces of that Kingdom with Triumph we may imagine that France stood at that time on its vertical point of becoming all Protestant But certainly that wise King considering that Victory in War is not sufficient to settle a Prince quiet and secure in his Throne unless his inauguration be attended with the affection of his People and a concurrence or conformity with the professed and established Religion of the Country did suffer himself to be overborn by those arguments which were produced in favour of the Church of Rome whose greatest weight consisted in those considerations which had respect to the Union and peace of the Kingdom And thereupon all the pretences of opposition to their lawful Sovereign being taken off from the people Meaux Lion Orleans and Bourges with other places which stood in Rebellion against him submitted to his pleasure and the King was received into Paris with all joy and triumph imaginable The King having made profession of the Roman Catholick Faith was absolved by the Arch-bishop of Bourges in the Church at St. Denys at which the Pope was highly displeased in regard the absolution of Monarchs in cases of Heresie could not be performed but by the Pope himself in Person or by immediate Deputation from him Howsoever the Duke of Nevers being sent Ambassadour to Rome carrying with him from the Nuntio Attestations of the King 's sincere conversion which was confirmed not long afterwards by the Sieur du Perron the Excommunication was taken off which Pope Sixtus had thundred against him and having received him for the eldest Son of the Church the Pope solemnly gave him his Absolution and blessing in the year 1595. In this year Pope Clement restrained the liberal Grants of Indulgences which having for Money been issued to every Chapman they became common even to contempt for remedy of which he imposed a greater difficulty on the concessions of them He also at that time relieved the people of Rome by abatements on the price of Corn having caused great quantities to be imported from Sicily he likewise suppressed by his Naval Force the many Pirats which infested the Mediterranean Sea and concluded a League between himself the Emperor the Prince of Transilvania and the Princes of Germany against the Turk for the effectual prosecution of which he afterwards in the year 1597. sent ten thousand Men into Hungary paid at his own charge under the conduct of Francis Aldebrandino which being joyned with six thousand which the Emperour sent into Transilvania and other Forces raised and paid by the circles of the Empire composed a strong and formidable Army against the Turk Howsoever the Wars between France and Spain still continuing without any probable appearance of accommodation the Turk availed himself of those unhappy divisions and forced the Emperor to raise the Siege of Raab and shamefully caused the Transilvanians to retreat from Temeswar and being victorious in all parts of Hungary threatned to enter Germany by force of Arms with which the Pope being greatly alarm'd and fearing the success of the common Enemy of Christendom bended all his thoughts towards making a Peace between Spain and France which he hoped to effect in that juncture of time when the circumstances of Christendom made it almost necessary to put an end unto the War In this grand Affair he employed Cardinal Alexander de Medicis who was afterwards his Successour to be his Legat to Henry IV. of France and by his Nuntio who resided with Philip II. in the Court of Spain he used many instances and warm Exhortations persuading both of them that laying aside the hatred and animosities which were between them they would seriously apply themselves to embrace such Conditions which might produce Amity and a Christian peace between them that so they might join in a League against the Turk who was now victorious and breathed out ruin and destruction to all Christendom but because these two Princes were high spirited and haughty as not to be the first to condescend and ask a peace the General of the Cordelier Friers was employed by the Pope to carry the Offers and proposals of mediation between one and the other in which he had such success that labouring with the Legat and Monsieur de Sillery who was aftewards made Chancellour of France they agreed at St. Quintin on the most difficult and disputable Points and Conditions which were afterwards perfected and concluded at Vervins in the year 1598. But that which had like to have interrupted and spoiled all this Treaty was the restitution of the Marquisat of Salluces which the French King demanded of the Duke of Savoy but lest this pretension should frustrate and defeat the former Agreement the King was contented to constitute the Pope sole Arbitrator and Judg of this difference promising to stand to his Umpirage and Award provided that his Sentence were published in one year after the Date of this present Peace But this Peace did not produce that union of Arms against the common Enemy as the Pope expected the Kings resolving to make use of this Peace for the quiet and repose of their Subjects and therefore taking no notice of any preparations against the Turk they dispatched their respective Letters to the Pope freighted with Salutes and Thanks for the good Offices he had performed towards the happy establishment and conclusion of a Peace But before this Peace was agreed in the Month of October 1599. Alfonso d' Este the second of that Name Duke of Ferrara died without issue Male by which the City of Ferrara and the Territory thereunto belonging devolved to the Papal Chair which the Pope made known to the Cardinals in a full Consistory with his Claim thereunto according to antient Articles agreed between the Ancestors of the Duke of Ferrara and the Sea of Rome But news coming afterwards that Cesare d' Este Bastard brother of the Duke deceased had made seisure and taken possession of the Dukedom by vertue of his Brother's Testament resolving to defend his Title thereunto by force of Arms the Pope was greatly troubled and incensed and immediately gave Orders to raise an Army of twenty five thousand Foot and three thousand Horse to march under the Command of his Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandino John Francis Aldobrandino being as we have said at that time in Hungary and to make these temporal Arms the more available he accompanied
of St. Angelo At his arrival in the Suburbs of Paris he was visited in the name of the King and Queen by the Duke of Nemours and other chief Peers of France and at his entry he was accompanied by the Duke of Orleans the King 's only Brother with a great train of Nobility of the first rank and Order in that Kingdom This Legat who was young and but lately admitted into the Order of Priesthood reserved his first Mass wherewith to treat the King and Queen which he offered to them as the first fruits of his Sarifices celebrating it at Fontainbleau on the 15th of August which is the day of the Festival of the Assumption of our Lady Being returned afterwards to Rome his presence was desired by Philip III. King of Spain under the same quality and character at his Court to be Godfather in place of the Pope to the Daughter of the King who was afterwards baptized with the name of Maria Clara Eugenia But not to confer all the stock of honour on one single person of his Kinred the Pope called Anthony Barberini his other Nephew Son of another Brother from his Capuchin's Cell to rank him together with the Cardinals it was he who was called for a long time Cardinal Antonio he was esteemed a very upright Man and one who observed the rules of S. Francis notwithstanding that his degree of Cardinal excused him in a great measure from the severity of them During the absence of Francisco Barberino in France Antonio was Chief Minister with the Pope in his stead which at his return he did most voluntarily resign into the hands of Francisco in the execution of which it is reported of him that he would never be present at the consultations of War which at that time infested Italy upon a Dispute concerning the Valteline saying that his Order obliged him to the exercise of Peace and works of Charity the affairs of War being incompatible with his Vow and his Profession In the year 1626. this Pope had the honour to consecrate the great Basilicon of St. Peter's Church which having been created by Constantine the Great was afterwards enlarged and adorned by the munificence of many other Popes and now being compleatly finished by this he with great Pomp in presence and with the assistance of twenty two Cardinals of which three were Bishops performed all the Ceremonies and rites of consecration in memory of which this Inscription was engraven over the Walls Vrbanus VIII Pontif. Max. Vaticanam Basilicam A Constantino Magno Extructam A Beato Silvestro Dedicatam In Amplissimi Templi Formam Religiosâ multorum Pontificum Magnificentiâ Redactam Solemni ritu consecravit Sepulcrum Apostolicum Area Mole Decoravit O Deum Aras Et Sacella Statuis Ac Multiplicibus Operibus Ornavit And indeed that Area Moles or the Corinthian Brass with which he made the high Altar was fetched from the roof of the Pantheon called now the Rotunda from the form of it built by Agrippina the which Brass not only served for the high Altar for out of the surplusage of it there was founded a great Cannon now in the Castle of St. Angelo which gave occasion to that Libell which was put into the hands of Pasquin Quod non fecerunt Barbari fecerunt Barberini And indeed it seems strange that the Romans who are so curious should destroy such a piece of Antiquity for as I remember I took off this Inscription from the Architrave of the Portico M. Agrippa L.F. Cos. Tertium fecit And undeneath in lesser Letters Imp. Caes. L. Septimius Severius Pius Pertinax Arabicus Adiabenicus Parthicus Maximus Pont. Max. Trib. Pop. XI Cos. III. P.P. PROCos Imp. Caes. M. Aurelius Antoninus Pius Faelix Aug Trib. Potest V. Cos. PROCos Pantheum vetustate corruptum cum omni cultu restituêrunt This Temple formerly dedicated to all the Gods was now dedicated to all Saints Now as to matters of political Government and his management thereof the Pope found himself much engaged by Gregory his Predecessour who as we have said in his life had accepted the Valteline in Deposite which bringing an unseasonable charge upon him he complained thereof but found no way to get out for Ludovisio had strongly tied the knot both of business and decency And though Vrban by reason of employments exercised in France was judged inclinable and in a manner partial to that Court yet it was fit that he should appear serviceable at least in name to the designs of Spain and indeed he was so in reality for though the Deposite of the Valteline was said to be in the hands of the Pope yet Leopold continued in possession and enjoyed the conveniencies and advantages and the Grisons groaned under the burden to remedy which the Pope proposed divers expedients but the preliminary to all and his chief condition was a reimbursement of the Money which he had expended before he would quit or part with his Trust The Confederates readily accepted the proffer and willingly would have reimbursed the Pope provided the Valley were put into their hands and rendred to the first Owner when the Forts were razed and Religion restored But the Pope being fearful to offend Spain proposed that a strong body of Soldiery belonging to the Valteline should be razed and united either to the Catholick Cantons of Helvetia or as a fourth League to the three Cantons of the Grisons But the Confederates proposing to themselves the end of restoring things to their former state judged that by these means they should be wanting to the protection which they had promised to the Grisons and that the Spaniards should still enjoy the predominancy and liberty of passage to the exclusion of all others upon which considerations and several others the Dispute still continued until the year 1627 when the Pope acquainted the Cardinals in a full Consistory that the Disputes and Wars arisen about the Valteline were composed and ended on the conditions that the Fortifications of those places which were committed to his Trust were by consent of the Kings of France and Spain to be ruined and demolished To which he added these words At length said he we have attained that which we much wished and desired for by mutual consent of both Kings the Peace is concluded and established we have omitted nothing which might conduce to the good of the Church and it hath been our principal care that the Catholick Religion should suffer no detriment the Kings themselves are witnesses hereof and God himself knows that we have always had his glory and honour before our eyes And now that the Grandeur of the Apostolical Chair be advanced and the Consistory gratified and pleased Vrban in the year 1631. bestowed the Title of Eminence upon the Cardinals forbidding them to receive any other distinction of honour and for establishment thereof a Decree was made and entred into the Records of the Congregation of Ceremonies that the Titles of Cardinals should be the
Lent first Instituted 18 Leo Emperour 78.79 his Edict against Images 132 S. Leo his body translated 125 Leodegarius Bishop of Autun 122 Leontius makes himself Emperour 124. deposed ibid. Lewis surnam'd the Godly Emperour 153 Lewis King of Bavaria 154 Lewis Son of Lotharius 100. Crown'd King of Italy 161. being Emperor he comes to Rome 167 Lewis King of France engages in the holy War 267 Lewis of the French Bloud Royal canoniz'd 295 Libanius the Orator 71 Licinius Emperour 49 Lions a Council there 280 Lombards their coming into Italy 96 Lotharingia Lorain why so call'd 160 Lotharius Emperour 154.160 Lucca made a free City 289. taken by the Germans and sold 308 Lucifer Bishop of Cagliari 59 Lucina a Roman Lady leaves the Church her Heir 47 Lucius King of Britain 24 Lucius an Heretical Bishop violent against the Orthodox 64 Luithprandus King of the Lombards 129. takes Ravenna 131. besieges Rome 134. his character 136 Luke the Evangelist 10 Lupus Duke of Friuli 114 M Macarius Bishop of Antioch a Monothelite 117 Macedonius a Heretick 61 Mahomet the Impostor 105 Malchion an eloquent Presbyter 38 Manes a Persian Impostor 41 Manfred Prince of Tarento 267. made King of Sicily 270. is kill'd 275 Manichees their Heresie 42 Marcion the Heretick 19 S. Mark employ'd by S. Peter to write his Gospel 4. his Body translated to Venice 158 Marriages a Decree concerning them 23 S. Martin's body works a Miracle 172 Martyrs their Acts ordain'd to be written and preserv'd 33 34. Masses yearly to be celebrated upon their account 41 Mathild or Maud a noble Countess 204. her death 206 Mauritius Emperour 98 Maxentius Emperour 48 49 Maximian Herculeus Emperour 44.48 Maximian Galerius Caesar 44. Emperour 47 Maximine Emperour 33.49 Maximus the Tyrant 77. a learned Christian of that name 127 Melito Bishop of Sardis 20 Merlin the British Prophet 79 Messalina Wife to the Emperour Claudius put to death for Adultery 3 Mezelindis a Woman of incomparable chastity 116 Milain taken by Sforza 377 Minutius Felix when he liv'd 31 Modestus a Christian Writer 25 Monothelites a Council held concerning them 117 Montanists Hereticks 21 Guido Montfort murthers Henry Son of Richard of Cornwall 273 Simon Montfort 256 Moors invade Calabria 176 N Names of Popes when first chang'd 160 Naples taken by Belisarius 91. besieg'd 253 Narses the Eunuch 94 Nepos a Heretick 39 Nero Emperour his Vices 6. kills himself 7 Nerva Cocceius Emperour his character 12 Nectorius his Heresie 74 Nice in Bithynia a Council there 51 Nicetas an Eunuch Patriarch of Constantinople 141 S. Nicolas his Body translated 216 Nicopolis taken by the Christians 218 Nogaret a French Cavalier 298 Normans have a part of France allow'd them to inhabit 172 Novatianus his Heresie 34. opposed by whom 36 O Odoacer King of the Heruli invades Italy 79 Olympius the Exarch 111 Optatus Milevitanus when he liv'd 66 Holy Orders not to be conferr'd at once 65. not upon maim'd or infirm persons 67. nor Foreiners without Testimonials ibid. nor on Servants 71. nor Debtors 72 Organs introduced first into the Church 114 Origen a learned Christian 27.29.32 Ostia the Harbour there by whom made 3 Otho Emperour an Account of his life 7 Otho II. Emperour 184 conquers Boleslaus King of Bohemia 183 comes to Rome 185 Otho Abbat of Clugny 207 Otho Duke of Burgundy engag'd in the Holy War 251 P Palaeologus Michael assumes the Empire of Constantinople 272 Pallavicino a powerful Gibelline 270.273 Pamphilus a learned Presbyter 43 Pantheon given to the Christians 103 Papias Bishop of Hierapolis 14 Papias the Lombard Glossographer 257 Paris when and by whom made an University 152 Parishes Rome when first so divided 14 Paschal an Arch-deacon endeavours to make himself Pope 123. convict of Sorcery ibid. S. Paul the Apostle 5. beheaded 6 Paulus Samosatenus a Heretick 26.40 Paulus Diaconus when he liv'd 147 Pelagius his Heresie condemn'd 69 Pepin Duke of Austrasia 124. King of France 137.141 his death 142 Pepin Son of Charlemagne 149.150 dies at Milan 151 Pepin Son of Lewis the Godly King of Aquitain 154 Perinus King of Cyprus 321 Pertheris King of the Lombards 120 Peter an Hermite excites the Christian Princes to the Holy War 217 Peter Abelardus a learned Men 238 Peter of Verona canoniz'd 268 Peter King of Aragon 287. his Kingdom given away by the Pope 288 Peter Luna Anti-Pope 338. his death 356 Petrarcha a learned Man 311 S. Petronilla S. Peter's Daughter her body translated 141 S. Philip the Apostle 10 Philip the Emperour 34 Philip King of France engag'd in the Holy War 251. returns home 253 Philippicus Emperour of Constantinople 129. deposed and his Eyes put out 130 Philo Judaeus when he liv'd 8 Phocas Emperour 101 Photinus a learned Bishop 18. Another of that name an Ebionite 65 Photinians Hereticks condemn'd 52 Picenninus a great Commander 361 Pisans overthrown by the Venetians 253. by the Genoeses 289. their City taken by the Florentines 339 Pistoia taken and rased 301 Plague through Europe 98 Platina the Author of this History imprison'd by Pope Paul II. 403. and tortur'd 410 Pliny the second occasions a persecution of the Christians to be stay'd 13 Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna 19 Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus 26 Posthumus an Usurper in Gallia 38 Pragmatic Sanction 396 Presbyters not to be ordain'd but by a Bishop 65 Primates who are to bear that Title 22 Priscian the Grammarian 88 Priscilla a Roman Matron builds a Cemetery 47 Priscillian his Heresie condemn'd 69 Probus Emperour 43 Projectus a Bishop martyr'd 116 Ptolemais besieged by the Christians 251. taken 253. retaken by the Infidels 292 Q Quadragesimal Fast See Lent Quadratus a learned Disciple 14 Quintilian's Works when and by whom found out 382 Quintillus Emperour 40 Quotiliani Hereticks 25 R Rabanus a learned Monk 159 Racherius Bishop of Verona 182 Rachis King of the Lombards 137 Ravenna the Church there reconcil'd to that of Rome 116. the pride of their Bishops repress'd by the Pope 119. the City taken by the Lombards 131. the Exarchate extinguish'd 140 Raymund a Commander in the holy War 217. a Debate between him and Boemund 220 Reggio surprizsed by treachery 320 Remigius Bishop of Rhemes 80 Rhodes taken by the Turks 111 Rhomoaldus Duke of Beneventum 119 Richard King of England engaged in the holy War 251. strikes up a Peace with Saladine 253. is taken Prisoner 254 Robert Guiscardi a great General 202. defeats the Saracens 203. and Greeks 204 Rodulphus King of Burgundy 181. of Habspurg Emperour 280. sells to several Cities of Italy their freedom 289 Rome sack'd by the Vandals 77. besieg'd by the Lombards 96 Rothifredus King of the Normans 171 Ruffinus a Roman General 70 S Sabellius Author of the Sabellian Heresie 39. his Heresie condemn'd 52 Sabinus King of the Bulgarians 141 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper various Decrees about it 16.17.20.27.125 Saladine King of Egypt 246. defeats the Christians 249. takes Jerusalem 250. his death and Character 254 Sanctuaries in
limited 205. dignified with the Title of Eminence 278 Casimir King of Poland 3 Castagna John Battista created Pope by the name of Vrban VII 205 Castro utterly demolish'd with an Inscription 315 Charles King of Spain 33. Emperour 39. Crown'd 61. renounces his Imperial Dignity 116 Charles VIII of France assists the Pope 10. claims the Kingdom of Naples and enters Italy 13. gains and loses Naples 14. dies ibid. Charles IX King of France 126 Chigi Fabio created Pope under the name of Alexander VII 321 Christina Queen of Sweden 319. abjures the Reformed Religion and comes to Rome 327 Cibo John Battista made Pope with the name of Innocent VIII 8 Colonneses and Vrsini a fewd between 'em 9. reconcil'd 10. both suffer much from Caesar Borgia 16. Colonneses vigorous Imperialists 52 Congo an Embassie from thence to the Pope 262 Conventus the word gives offence at the Council of Trent 94 Congregation for propagating the faith instituted 270 Cortesans used unkindly by Pius V. 158 Council against the Pope's mind appointed at Pisa 25. Another call'd at the Lâ—teran 25. that at Pisa declar'd a Conventicle 27. its acts and decrees abjur'd 31 General Council indicted at Mantua 7â— then at Vicenza ibid. after all at Trent 78. begun there 80. prorogu'd to Bologna 85. transferr'd to Trent 90.93 debates there 94 to 103. prorogu'd for two years 104. renew'd 125.127 transactions there from 128 to 156. Cranmer Arch bishop of Canterbury depriv'd 111 Duke of Crequi the French Ambassadour affronted at Rome 332. a quarrel thereupon 333 to 340 Cyprus demanded by the Turks of the Venetians 160. invaded and taken by them 161 D Dalmatia invaded by the Turks 75 D'aubusson Master of Rhodes 6 Denmark the Pope's Nuntio denied admittance there by the King 126 Diet at Regenspurg 77. at Noremberg 80. at Worms 82. at Auspurg 85 Divorce of Henry VIII and Queen Katharine debated 59. Of Henry IV. of France and Margaret Dutchess of Valois 221. Of Alphonso of Portugal and his Queen 351 E Elizabeth Queen of England denies admittance to the Pope's Nuntio 126. Excommunicated 159 and deposed by the Pope 162. well esteem'd by Sixtus V. 182. yet much hated 197 Eminence the Title bestowed on Cardinals when 278 England the States of Affairs there upon throwing off subjection to the Pope 74. returning to its Obedience how ordered by the Pope 111 F Fachinetti Cardinal chosen Pope and nam'd Innocent IX 210 Faenza taken by the Venetians 22 Farnese Alexander Pope under the name of Paul III. 67 Farnese Prince Alexander a Commander against the Turks 165. Governour of Flanders 197 Ferdinand I. King of Naples defeated by the Pope's Forces 6. makes War again 9. violates his faith 10. his death 13. Ferdinand II. quits his Kingdom 14 Ferdinand of Spain honour'd with the Title of Catholic King 13 Ferrara the Dukedom devolves to the Church 215 Fisher Bishop of Rochester made a Cardinal 68 Florence surrendred to the Imperialists 62 Florentines favour the House of Medici against the Pope 5. join with the King of Naples 9 Franche Compte seiz'd upon by the French King 349 Francis I. King of France 31. taken Prisoner 48. maintains unchristian correspondences with the Turks 63 Francis II. K. of France 118. dies 126 Friers Mendicant and Secular Priests a Dispute between 'em determin'd 4 G Gaston de Foix a French Commander slain 26 Geneva the City hated by the Pope 124 Genoa taken by the French 88. the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Ghisler Anthony made Pope by the name of Pius V 157 Gonsalvo a brave Commander recovers Naples from the French 15 Gregorian Account when begun 169 Guise the Duke thereof assassinated 199. and the Cardinal put to death ibid. Gunpowder Treason in England 261 H Hats red granted to be worn by Cardinals Friers 209 Henry VIII King of England 25 28. writes a Book against Martin Luther 37. his Divorce debated 59. throws off all subjection to the See of Rome 64. Excommunicated 66 Henry II. King of France slain 118 Henry III. of France assassinated 202 Henry King of Navarre excommunicated by the Pope 181. acknowledged King of France 202. professes the Catholick Fath 214. marries Mary de Medicis 222. murther'd by Ravillac 203 I James I. King of Great Britain 223 Jansenius his Opinions 318. determinations of the Pope upon them 318.341 Japannese Ambassadours to Gregory XIII 171. kindly receiv'd by Sixtus V. 176 Jesuits College at Rome by whom built 170. their Services to the Church 171. not openly favour'd by Sixtus V. 148 Jew at Rome converted by Pius V. 159 Ignatius Loyola canoniz'd 262.270 Index expurgatorius by whom publish'd 116 Indulgences restrain'd by the Pope 214.384 Inquisition by whom contriv'd 110 Interim of Charles V. what 87 Interview of the King of England and French King of Boloign 64. of the Pope and French King at Marseilles 65 Inundation of the Tiber 218.326 Don John of Austria General of the Fleet against the Turks 161.165 Italy divided into Factions 6. embroil'd in War 9. invaded by the French and their Confederates 23 clear'd of them 27 Jubilee celebrated by Sixtus IV. 3. by Paul III. 83. by Julius III. 90. by Gregory XIII 166. by Vrban VIII 275 K Key of the H. Sepulchre presented to the Pope by Bajazet Emperour of the Turks 11 Kinred unreasonably preferred by Pope Sixtus IV. 2.3 and by Alexander VI. 12. not much regarded by Adrian VI. 45. nor Paul III. at first 68. indulged by Paul IV. 110.114 disregarded by Pius V. 159. too much indulged by Vrban VIII 293. the present Pope Innocent XI not fond of 'em 382 Knighthood a new Order instituted by Paul V. 266 L Lance which pierced Christ's side presented to the Pope by the Grand Signior 11 Lautrec General of the French in Italy 57. successful 56. dies 59 League of several Princes and States against the K. of Naples and D. of Milan 14. Of many Italian Lords against Borgia 16. League of Cambray against the Venetians 22. Of the Pope and King of Spain with the Venetians 25. Of the King of England and the French King 57. the Triple League 350 Lepanto the Battel there 161 Letter Apostolical publishing the Jubilee 218 Lewis XI of France favours the Medici against the Pope 5 Lewis XII enters Italy and possesses himself of Milan 15. gains and loses Naples ibid. is excommunicated 25. dies 31 Lucca the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Lucretia the Pope's Bastard how bestow'd by him 15 Ludovisio Alexander chosen Pope and nam'd Gregory XV. 267 Luther his first appearance in Germany 36.37 his Sectators increase 62 M Mahomet the Great dies 6 Malatesta Robert General of the Pope s Forces 6 Malta a Controversie there between the Master and the Knights 169 Mantua the troubles there 279.280 Marignano General for the Emperour retakes Siena 105 Marriages of several Princes of the same name 217. Of Lewis XIV and Maria Teresa Infanta of Spain 330 Mary Queen of England her acknowledgment of
September in the ninety first year of his Age. Besides him there were also Gelasius Successour to Euzoius in the Bishoprick of Caesarea Palestinae a man of excellent Parts Dexter Son of Pacianus who compiled an History inscribed to S. Hierem Amphilochius who wrote concerning the Holy Ghost in an 〈◊〉 style and 〈◊〉 commended by S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his learned Book of the Destruction of 〈◊〉 'T is said also that at this time Lucianus a Preshyter directed by a divine Revelation found out the Sepulchres of S. Stephen the Protomartyr and Gamaliel S. Paul's Master of which he gave an account to all the Churches by an Epistle in Greek which was afterwards translated into Latin by 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 and sent to Orosius Some likewise tell us that John Cassianus and Maximine two very learned Men lived in this Age but though it be doubtful of them it is not so concerning Eutropius S. Austin's Scholar who in a handsom style Epitomised the Roman History from the building of the City to his own times and who moreover wrote to his two Sisters Recluses concerning Chastity and the Love of Religion to whom we may add Juvenal the Bishop of Constantinople and Heros a Disciple of S. Martin the wrongfully deposed Bishop of Arles both men of great reputation for Sanctity As for Boniface himself having at one Ordination made thirteen Presbyters three Deacons thirty six Bishops he died October the 25th and was buried in the Via Salaria near the body of S. Felicitas the Martyr He fat in the Chair three years eight months sevendays Boniface being dead some of the Clergy recall'd Eulalius but he either through indignation at his former repulse or from contempt of Worldly greatness disdained the revocation and died the year following The See was then vacant nine days CAELESTINUS I. CAELESTINE a Campanian lived in the times of Theodosius the younger This Theodosius upon the death of that excellent Prince Honorius creates the Son of his Aunt Placidia Valentinian Coesar and commits to his charge the Western Empire Who being immediately by the universal consent of all Italy acknowledged their Emperour and actually entring upon the Government at Ravenna was wonderfully prosperous in subduing the Enemies of the Roman State and particularly John the Usurper In the mean time the Vandals Alemans and Goths a barbarous and salvage people passing over out of Spain into Africa under the conduct of their King Gensericus not only miserably depopulated and harrassed that Province with Fire and Sword but also corrupted the Catholick Faith there with the mixture of Arianism and banish'd some Orthodox Bishops during which Troubles S. Augustine Bishop of Hippo died in the third month of the Siege of that City August 28. in the seventy seventh year of his Age. The Vandals having taken Carthage fail'd to Sicily and made the like havock in that Island as also did the Picts and Scots in the Island of Britain In this Extremity the Britains implored the Aid of Aetius a Patrician and a famous Soldier but he not only denied them his assistance but having other ambitious Designs to carry on solicited the Huns to invade Italy The Britains being thus deserted by Aetius call over the Saxons or English to their help whom they soon found more their Enemies than Assistants for being in a little time over run by them they lost both their Countrey and their Name While these things were transacting Theodosius dying at Constantinople in the twenty seventh year of his and his Uncle Honorius's Reign Bleda and Attila two Brothers Kings of the Hunns invading Illyricum lay'd waste and burn'd all places to which they came Notwithstanding our Coelestine ordained several Rites appertaining to divine Worship as that besides the Epistle and Gospel before the Mass the Psalms of David should be sung by all alternately Martinus Cassinas tells us that the Psalm Judica me Deus Give sentence with me O God and defend my cause c. which is used at the beginning of the Sacrifice was introduced by him as likewise the Gradual is ascribed to him Many other Ecclesiastical Constitutions he made to be seen in the Archives of the Church He also dedicated and enriched the Julian Church At this time Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople endeavoured to sow a new Errour in the Church asserting that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary a meer Man and that the Divinity was conferred upon him of Merit To this impious Doctrine Cyril Bishop of Alexandria and our Coelestine opposed themselves very strenuously For in a Synod of two hundred Bishops held at Ephesus Nestorius himself and the Heresie denominated from him together with the Pelagians who were great favourers of the Nestorian Party were by universal consent condemned in thirteen Canons level'd against their foolish Opinions Moreover Coelestine sent Germanus Bishop of Auxerre into England to oppose the Pelagian Heresie and reduce the Inhabitants to the Orthodox Faith and Palladius whom he had made a Bishop to the Scots who desired to be instructed in the Christian Religion And indeed it cannot be denied but that by his endeavours and the industry of those whom he employed to that purpose a great part of the West were converted to Christianity 'T is said that at this time the Devil assumed humane shape and pretended himself to be Moses and imposed upon a multitude of Jews by undertaking to conduct them out of the Island of Crete into the Land of Promise through the Sea as upon dry Land in imitation of the ancient Miracle wrought for that People at the red Sea Many of them follow'd this false Moses and perished in the Waters those only being reported to have been saved who presently own'd Christ to be the true God Our Coelestine having at three Decembrian Ordinations made thirty two Presbyters twelve Deacons sixty two Bishops died and was buried in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Via Salaria April the 6th He sat in the Chair eight years ten months seventeen days and by his death the See was vacant twenty one days SIXTUS III. SIXTUS the third a Roman Son of Sixtus lived in the time of Valentinian Who being Governour of the Western Empire entred into a League with Gensericus King of the Vandals whom he permitted to inhabit part of Africa confining themselves within certain Boundaries agreed upon between them Genseric being afterwards instigated by the Arians became very zealous in propagating their Errours and violently persecuted the Orthodox Bishops And Valentinian going to Constantinople and there marrying Theodosius's Daughter the Vandals in the mean time under Genseric's Conduct re-took and sack'd Carthage in the five hundred eighty fourth year since its first being in the hands of the Romans While these things weret ransacting in Afric Attila King of the Huns not contented to have invaded the two Hungaries miserably harasses Macedonia Mysia Achaia and the Thraces and then that he might have no sharer in the Kingdom puts to death his Brother Bleda
in corporal strength for he himself could discern rather more of the Affairs of the City than those that were in it besides put 'em all together He lived in the Mount di S. Sabina and built him a curious Palace there whose ruins are yet to be seen which drew many of the Romans to live by him so that the Mount began from his time to be very full of Inhabitants He was resolved to injure no Man whilst he was Pope but on the contrary to do what good he could to all and therefore being provoked by the indignities which Peter King of Aragon offer'd to him by endeavouring to get the Kingdom of Sicily he confirmed Martin's Interdictions against Peter But Rodulphus the Emperor having a great mind to raise money sent his Chancellour one of the Family of the Flisci into Tuscany to make all the Country free especially those who would buy their Liberty Those of Lucca paid upon that account 12000 l. The Florentines six thousand and as soon as they were made perfectly free they created a certain kind of Officers which they call Arts-masters with a Sword-Bearer This Sale did not displease Honorius though it look'd too mean for such a great Prince because by that means the Patrimony of the Church would be more secure he thought when the Emperor had no more power to oppress those free Cities But whilst the King of France besieged Girona and Peter of Aragon was sollicitous how to hinder the carriage of Provisions from Narbonne into the Enemies Camp he was engaged in a sharp Conflict where he received a deadly Wound of which not long after he dy'd for want of looking to So that Girona was surrender'd upon Terms and submitted to the King of France though he did not long survive the Conquest For he died of a Fever which he caught in the Camp as he was besieging Perpignano His Navy too not long after that was taken and burnt in the Port of Narbonne by Roger Loria Peter of Aragon had two Sons Ferdinand and James whereof he left Ferdinand his eldest Son King of Aragon by his Will and James King of Sicily But when the old Kings were dead in that manner as I have told you the Wars devolved upon the young ones who attempted on both sides to make those of Pisa and the Genoeses who were excellent Seamen of their Party But these two States heing incens'd and arm'd against each other engaged so furiously at Malora an Island near the Port of Pisa that those of Pisa lost forty Ships or Gallies and twelve thousand men which were partly slain and partly taken Honorius took this misfortune of theirs so much to heart that he had like to have interdicted the Genoeses who pursu'd the men of Pisa with too much animosity And that unhappy day gave such a shock to those of Pisa that they never retrieved themselves since But Edward King of England went at that time into Gascoigne to make peace between Charles a Youth Son to the King of France who I told you was taken in War and Ferdinand King of Aragon The business went as he would have it and they treated about Charles's freedom when at the same time the Apostolical Legate and the Earl of Arras with the assistance of the Earl of Avellino possess themselves of the City Catina and send over thither an Army raised out of Tuscany For this reason Edward return'd home without success But Roger Loria advanced King Ferdinand's fortune by taking the French Fleet as it came back out of Sicily Honorius could not engage in this War because he was invaded in Romagna by Guido Feltrini But at length when he had conquer'd Guido he recover'd all Romagna in a short time and not long after dy'd two years and a day after he was made Pope His body was carried in great State from S. Sabina to S. Peter's and buried in a Marble Tomb which is yet extant among those that Pope Pius collected as the Arms of his Family and the Inscription declare And indeed he deserv'd all the honour paid to his dead Corps because he was a very upright Man and a great lover of Christian Piety For he confirm'd not onely the Order of the Carmelites which was not very well approved of in some Councils and chang'd their black Cloaks for white ones but he did the same also by the order of Eremites which was disapproved on at Paris But the onely Cardinal he made during his Pontificate was John Boccamatius Bishop of Frascati for he would say that none but good and learned men ought to be taken into so great a Society not those that were illiterate and ignorant in the manage of humane Affairs He loved Courtiers so as that he would go every year especially in the Summer to Tivoli on purpose to avoid the Heat of the Town which causes many Diseases When Honorius was dead the Sea was vacant ten months For the Conclave being summon'd to meet at St. Sabina a great many of the Cardinals were taken sick of a sudden Out of whom there died Jordan Vrsin Earl of Millain Hugh an English man Gervase of Anjou Dean of Paris and Antherius an excellent Person For this reason they dismiss'd the Conclave and deferr'd the matter till a more seasonable time especially because of the Earthquakes which were then so great that they thought Heaven it self would be angry with 'em if they did it at that time NICOLAS IV. NICOLAS the fourth of Principato-citra an Ascolese formerly called Jerome a Brother and General of the Order of Friers Minors and after that a Cardinal Priest was made Pope at St. Sabina the tenth month after Honorius's death and placed not onely in Peter's Sea but in the Saint's own Chair After that he went to Rieti to avoid some Tumults at Rome and there he created Cardinals of almost all Religions For he loved all men alike nor did he think that he ow'd more to his Relations than to any good man The difference between Virtue and Vice caused him to incline more to one man than another Some of those that he made Cardinals were called Neapolio Petrus Columna Hugo Colionius a famous Doctor of the Order of Preachers Matthaeus Aquasparta General of the Minors and Bishop of Porto About a year after he came back to Rome when City broils were somewhat appeased and lived at S. Maries the Great which Church he and James Columna repaired as appears upon the great Portico where the Image of our Saviour the Pope and James the Cardinal are yet to be seen The same Pope repaired the front and the back-part of the Lateran and adorn'd it with Fret-work as the Inscription tells us In the mean time the Kings of Aragon and Sicily conclude a Peace upon these terms That King Charles should be set at Liberty and settle James of Aragon in the Kingdom of Sicily at his own charge And if he did not do so in three years time he promised to
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
humbly to beseech his Holiness to pardon what was past and as a testimony and evidence of his reconciliation to send him his Blessing But Sixtus having neither by these reasons nor yet by the gentle and submissive terms of the Ambassadours abated the fury and anger which appeared in his countenance Replyed with a loud Voice That he was well assured that Gondi was dispatched on an other Errand than this and that by any thing they had said there was no judgment to be made of sorrow or repentance in the King for the Crimes he had committed or of such obedience which they professed to the Apostolical Sea so long as contrary to the priviledges thereof he detained the Prelates in Prison and that in case he expected absolution he was to seek it with tears and by a Person express and employed to no other purpose and that there ought to be a Session of Prelates thereupon to consider whether such repentance were real and unfeigned And at last concluded with these sharp words You said he think you have to do with some poor simple Frier that is unacquainted with Men and the World but you shall find that you have to do with Sixtus who is ready to expend blood in defence of the Dignity of the Holy See After which he dismissed the two Ambassadours and the next day called a Consistory in which he appeared with a countenance full of Choler which boiled in his breast and then began to exclaim against his Legat Morosini residing at Paris as if he had consented to the death of the Cardinal or at least might have prevented both that and the imprisonment of the Prelats in case he had vigorously appeared against such indirect Counsels In the next place he railed against some Cardinals who had the boldness to excuse the murther which the King had committed wondering that Cardinals should so little esteem their Dignity and degree as to expose the sanctity of their purple to be profaned by the unhallowed violences of an usurped jurisdiction As to us said he it concerns little what affronts are put on the Cardinals dignity but we are sure that it is of a high consequence to you for we cannot believe that you would readily consent to be dispoiled of their Authority your liberties prerogatives and other priviledges with which you are adorned of which you will certainly be if this murther of a Cardinal be connived at or passed by without any resentment We therefore are resolved to perform our duty and do that which God and his Laws require at Our hands and if from thence as you may possibly object ill consequences ensue to the Kingdom of France we shall remain acquitted in the sight of God for justice must be done though the World should be ruined and dissolved thereby The Cardinals remaining all silent none daring to make a Reply The Pope proceeded and said We shall depute a Congregation of Cardinals to examine this case and search farther into this matter and accordingly the persons nominated were Anthony Sorbellone the Arch bishop of Santa Severina Facchinetto Lancilotto Sastagna and others the which Deputation was now the common Discourse and filled all the World with high expectation of the success and issue thereof The King being informed of these proceedings redoubled his Guards and cautions in the Court of Rome to which place he dispatched the Bishop of Mans a person of singular probity and eloquence to make his defence and having received his Instructions and being fully informed of all the reasons and arguments which might be produced in behalf of the King he arrived at Rome where having first consulted the Ambassadours he was with them admitted unto Audience with the Pope to whom he began with most profound humility to argue and plead That the King had not incurred the punishment of any Ecclesiastical Censure having in no manner violated or infringed the Liberties or Immunities of the Church For that the Cardinal having been found guilty of high Treason against the King was by the fundamental Laws and constitutions of France subjected to the Secular Power and in regard he was a Peer of that Realm his Cause was more immediately triable in the Parliament of Paris and in a grand Assembly of all the Princes and Officers of the Crown so that if the King had trespassed against any Laws it was against the priviledges of his own Parliaments and not against the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State In the next place he argued that a King of France according to the priviledges of the Gallican Church could not incur the Censure of Excommunication But these Arguments and ways of reasonings were in no wise pleasing to the humour of Sixtus being against the Idea and Scheme that he had figured to himself of the Power of the Church and Keys but rather served to inflame his passion and therefore setting aside all those Arguments as not worth an Answer he declared and sentenced That in case within a certain time limited the King did not free and set at liberty the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and that in case within the space of sixty days after such releasement the assurance thereof were not intimated to himself and the Apostolical See by writings under the King 's own hand and the Royal Signet That then in such case the King remained actually Excommunicated and incurred all the Ecclesiastical Censures as expressed in the Sacred Canons and Constitutions of the Church Farther The Pope cited the King to appear at Rome either in person or by his Proxy within the space of sixty days after intimation of these Summons should be given him to render an account and to give answer to the accusation charged upon him for having murthered the Cardinal of Guise and imprisoned the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and for default of such appearance that then the King did actually incur the pain of Excommunication from which he could not be absolved by any other person whatsoever than onely by the Pope himself unless at the point of death nor then neither unless upon a confident and faithful assurance and Vows to act and obey all matters and Injunctions whatsoever which should be enjoyned and commanded by the Holy Church Two Months and some few days after the Pope had issued out this Excommunication it happened that the King being at the Head of a great Army near St. Clou about two Leagues from Paris was on the first day of August 1589. stabbed in the Belly by a Dominican Frier who was a youth of about twenty three years of age and with him ended his quarrel with the Pope Such being the fate of Henry III. the news thereof flew speedily to Rome where the Spaniards caused a report to be spread that the Affairs of the King of Navarre were reduced to a mean and a low condition and almost desperate and that not onely those of the League but also the whole Kingdom
had declared the Cardinal of Bourbon to be King by the name of Charles XI Upon this grand Crisis of Affairs the Pope resolved to dispeed Cardinal Cajetan in quality of his Legat into France with a numerous train of Prelats famous for their Wisdom and Learning intending to furnish him with the sum of a hundred thousand Pistols to defray the charge and pomp of his sublime Character Whilest things were thus preparing Advices came from the Duke of Luxemburg that Henry of Vandosme King of Navarre having been victorious in many bloody Battels was acknowledged by all the Nobility to be the true and lawful King of France and that he namely the Duke of Luxemburg was designed Ambassadour by the said Nobility unto his Holiness to inform him of the reasons which moved them to such an acknowledgment and to demand his Counsel and direction as the common Father how and in what manner they might apply such remedies as might tend to a happy and a well grounded peace The Pope discovering hereby that the Agents of the League had falsely represented the state of Affairs to him immediately dispatched a Letter in answer to the Duke of Luxemburg acquainting him that his Person should be welcome at Rome and civilly treated together with an other to the Nobility of France in the Camp of Navarre exhorting them to remain firm and constant to the Catholick Religion adding that as to the person of the King it was indifferent to him who it was that reigned provided he were a true Son of the Church and such as the Nobility desired And now the Legat being upon departure the Pope altered many particulars of his former Instructions and expresly warned him to keep as much as was possible an even and steady hand in all the pretensions of Secular Princes but that he should be sure always to incline towards the side of the Church and Religion that he should not shew himself an open Enemy to the King of Navarre until his case was desperate and past all hopes of being reclaimed to the Church but that so soon as he found him wavering he should then encourage him but stand a Neuter until he professed himself a true Convert and from that time to declare for his Person and Interest But the Legat not well observing these Rules but running quite contrary in favour of the League and making his aboad at Paris which had declared it self against the King of Navarre did greatly incur the displeasure of the Pope who not approving his Negotiations gave a stop to those sums of Money which he had designed for him In short therefore this deportment which the Pope used towards Henry did greatly contribute towards his establishment for the World observing that so wise a person as the Pope professing no other quarrel to him than onely on the score of Religion and that this scruple being removed he was ready to side with him against all other Interests and that he had induced the wise and politick Senate of Venice to acknowledg him for King of France there is no doubt but that these favourable appearances did bring great reputation to the Arms of Henry and much facilitated his ascent to the Crown Having in this manner laid down the Methods and ways of proceedings in Secular Affairs and with forein Princes let us now before we conclude the Life of this great Man return to the treatment which he exercised towards his own People and the rules he observed in the maintenance and nourishment of his own natural Body Sixtus having now for five years observed many things relating to Government nothing appeared more extravagant than the gallantry which people used in their Clothing which was become so excessive that for the regulation thereof he constituted Cardinal Aldobrandino to be the Reformer by whose care and wisdom such sumptuary Laws were enacted as reduced all persons into a modesty of dress and habit which being imposed with severe penalties on the Transgressour which Sixtus would never remit all the Rules were observed and obeyed during the time of this Pope who did not supervive for many Months after It is observable that this Sixtus when he was a Frier and a Cardinal and not incumbred with a load of business was very temperate and abstemious in his Diet but being made Pope and burdened with an intense application of mind to business he seemed to want greater nourishment to keep up his spirits which otherwise might have sunk under the weight of Affairs and therefore did eat much and drink often of divers sorts of delicious and exquisite Wines and would often sit two or three hours at Meals discoursing of Theological and political Subjects howsoever his Diet was ordinary and course and his Table as frugal as of any Pope that ever preceded him He slept little having his mind always intent to Studies or businesses giving Audiences to forein Ambassadours or hearing the Consults and Advices of his Cardinals or administring Justice so that he was never observed to be idle or at leisure He was ever chiding in a clamorous manner with his Servants and yet he loved them preferring many of them to high degrees and dignities having made three of them Cardinals and Bishops besides Castruccio Ardas as he was forward to advance those who had merited well from him so he was rigorous and severe against any who offended either out of negligence or malice An example of which he shewed in the condemnation of Bellochio his Cup-bearer to the Gallies for having affixed the Annulus Piscatorius or the Pope's Seal to a certain writing which Sixtus had refused to pass nor could he be dissuaded by all the Intreaties which the Friends of Bellochio used and being cast into the Gallies he died miserably in two Months time of his disgrace and servitude He was extreamly tender and affectionate to his own Kindred and Relations and in an especial manner to his Sister Camilla one of whose Grandsons by a Daughter a youth very young he raised to be a Cardinal in the first Month that he was made Pope who so well improved himself by time in the dexterous management of all Affairs that he became so very useful to his Uncle the Pope that he bestowed a Revenue upon him of an hundred thousand Crowns of yearly Rent The Palace of Montalto is to this day to be seen at Rome rarely furnished and famous for the abundance of rare Pictures Statues and Urns and the Garden one of the best in all Rome He was infinitely covetous and contriving for Money for raising of which he laid Taxes on those things which were never before charged and sold those Offices which were never until his time set to sale so that he advanced the Papal Revenue to above six hundred thousand Crowns a year above the ordinary Income and in the first year of his Reign he laid up a million of Gold in the Castle of St. Angelo ordaining that this Money should never be employed