Chapter 4

France in the Reign of Louis XI.--Interview of the Devil and Faustus with Father Vesois--Loves of Madame de Monserau--Faustus and the French Widow--The Fatal Supper--Arrival of Faustus and the Devil at Paris--Execution of the Duke of Nemours--Faustus and the avaricious Father--Infanticide recommended--Horrible Death of the Miser, and Ruin of his Daughter--Trial of a humane Surgeon, and ungrateful Murderer--Anatomical Cruelties--Prisons of Paris--Bishop of Verdun's Cages--Perillus, the Tyrant Phalaris, and the Brazen Bull--Atrocious Character of Louis XI.--The Hermit of Calabria--Faustus and the Devil visit England--Cruelties of Richard, Duke of Gloucester--The Devil's Portraiture of the English Character--Arrival of Faustus and the Fiend at Milan--Murder of the Duke Galeas Sforza--Florence--Spanish Auto-da-Fe--Pope Alexander VI.--Combat of a Papal General with one of his Officers for a White Goat--Machinations of the Pope--Ancient and Modern Rome, and her Abominations--Cardinal Caesar Borgia--Licentious Entertainments at the Vatican--The Pope and his Illegitimates--Caesar Borgia and Michelotto--Stratagem to depose his Brother Francisco--Murder of the latter--Faustus and the lovely Lucretia--Vanity of Human Philosophy, and Sophistry of its Professors--Atrocious Plots and Excesses of Pope Alexander--His Sale of Indulgences--Amended Catalogue, with increased Prices--Murder of Alphonso of Arragon--Caesar Borgia's Letter to the Pope--Cardinal Orsini--Borgia's Triumphal Entry into Rome--Marriage of Lucretia--Gross Festivities--The Devil's Apostrophe thereon--Descent of the Pope into Hell, and Death of Caesar Borgia