Part 15

But it is now time to enter into a particular Narration of the good and hurt the Church has received from the _Nipotismo_; and as we begun their History at _Sixtus_ the fourth, and continued it down to _Alexander_ the seventh now reigning: So we will now begin at _Alexander_, and trace it backwards up to _Sixtus_ the fourth.

The first mischief, and indeed the most considerable one, caused by the _Nipotismo_ of _Alexander_, was the change made by them in the _Pope_; whom from godly, pious, and inclin’d to mortification, they have made sensual and ambitious.

_Alexander_ in the first months of his elevation to the Popedom had so taken upon him the profession of an Evangelical life, that he was wont to season his meat with ashes, to sleep upon a hard Couch, to hate Riches, Glory, and Pomp; taking a great pleasure to give audience to Embassadours in a Chamber full of dead mens skuls, and in the sight of his Coffin, which stood there to put him in mind of his death.

The Cardinals, the Princes, the Prelates, the _Romans_ were all touched with so pious an Example, and did begin to think of reforming their lives. The Hereticks themselves did bear that respect to his Holiness, as to prostrate themselves in the streets, when he went through _Rome_, not so much in fear of his Majesty, as in honour of his Vertue. Divers French Protestants came on purpose to _Rome_ to know whether his words did answer his reputation, and if he did really lead the life he was said to lead. The noyse of his Sanctity being so great in _France_, that it was almost impossible to believe all that was said of it.

Thus lived _Alexander_, while he lived without a _Nipotismo_: But no sooner had they set their feet in _Rome_ but the _Pope_ changed his nature, or rather came to himself; for instead of Humility, succeeded Vanity; his Mortification vanished, and his hard Couch, was changed into a soft Feather-bed; his dead-mens skuls, into so many Jewels; and his thoughts of death, into eternal designs of Ambition and Grandeur: Filling up his empty Coffin with Money, as if he had a design to corrupt death, and purchase life with Riches.

Hereupon a publick Minister, returning from his Audience the very same day that the _Nipotismo_ came to _Rome_; and having felicitated his Holiness upon their arrival, said, as soon as he came home, to one of his friends these very words: _He is not of the same humour he was wont to be_; _he was us’d to stand with __his eyes fixed upon the ground_, _and now he does nothing but fix them upon_ Don Agostino; _Heretofore we did hear him sigh_ often, _and now he is as inclined to laugh_. _I am afraid the_ Nipotismo _has already spoyled him_.

This is the first harm that they have done the Church. I do not know what good they may do hereafter, but hitherto they have done so little that it is invisible; whereas the mischief they are Authors of, is obvious to all eyes. _Don Mario_, who is the _Pope’s_ Brother, and the Head of the _Nipotismo_, does exercise his place of Governour of _Rome_ with so much Tyranny, that the City it self is become odious to many Families of quality, who have left and removed to other Towns, that they might not be any longer subject to one who gives occasion of complaint to the People, the Gentry, and Strangers; For he is not only averse from doing curtesies, and inexorable in punishments; but he is inclin’d to disgust all those who, having to do with him, do not appease his angry genius with money.

Besides, assuming to himself, in the Government of the _Borgo_, a greater Authority than does belong to him of right, he does, as it were eclipse and stifle the jurisdiction of the Governour of _Rome_; who often is forced to own those faults of which he is innocent, _Don Mario_ laying upon him all the miscarriages, and taking to himself all the profit of both places. For proof of this I will bring an example which will never be forgot by Posterity.

In the time that the Duke of _Crequy_ received that affront to see his Coach assaulted and fired upon by the _Pope’s_ Guards; the _Cardinal Imperiale_, who was then Governour of _Rome_, was so innocent of this accident, that he did not so much as know of it till it was past, and then he found that _Don Mario_ had so engag’d him in it, that there was no retiring; and indeed though he have since made a Journey into _France_ to justifie himself: nevertheless the French Court, who cannot forget the affront done the King and Nation, can less avoid remembring of Cardinal _Imperiale_, who was charged as the Author of it.

And yet they are very well informed that the design was laid by _Don Mario_, and the execution only charged upon Cardinal _Imperiale_, who has been fain to endure that humiliation and punishment which did belong to the other.

Indeed if the _Pope_ had not in good time made satisfaction for the Injury, the _French_ King was resolved to seek his reparation by his Sword; not against the _Pope_, who knew nothing of the business till after it was brought about; but against his Brother, who had set _Imperiale_ upon the execution of it.

But in the reparation, the Church was the most endammaged; for besides the loss of its honour, and that respect which was wont to be borne to it, it received a very great blow in its strength and riches: for not only the _Pope’s Nuncio_ was immediately sent away from the French Court, but also his Vice-Legat was driven from _Avignon_, and the Court of _Rome_ was forced to entertain an Army all the time of the Treaty, and before, for fear of being surpriz’d by the Kings Forces; and when it did come to an agreement, it was concluded in a dishonourable and shameful way for _Rome_, and for the Church. This is the good and profit that the Signor _Don Mario_ has brought to the Church; and yet in the Articles of Peace there was little or no mention made of his person.

The _Pope_, for all this, is so pre-possessed with a good opinion of him, that he does give him thereby an occasion, and almost an invitation of committing more _mischief_, than he would do otherwise.

But if _Don Mario_ has been useless, or rather prejudicial to the Church, certainly _Don Agostino_, his Nephew, has been little better: He is one that would seem to be born to an Empire; and were it _Alexander’s_ or _Cæsar’s_ he did enjoy, he would not show a more lofty carriage, nor affect a greater insolence.

When he goes through the City, he does so little regard any body, that he is scarce induced to salute those Gentlemen that civilly do prevent him by pulling off their hats first: but he never begins to any body, no not to a Prince; which is so odious, that for that only pleasure of seeing his pride abated, the Romans do wish the _Pope’s_ death.

He did, what lay in his power, to make an eternal Enemy of the Family of the _Colonna’s_; which is the noblest and best beloved of _Rome_, and countenanced by the greatest Monarchs of Christendom; and if the _Pope_ had not wisely caused satisfaction to be made for the affront done to the _Colonnas_ at the Theatre, the Family of the _Chigi_ would have incurred the enmity of a House, which in time might have been revenged, or at least in the quarrel the City of _Rome_ would have been divided, and in a kinde of War within its self.

The Cardinal _Padrone_ too on his side giving himself too much up to sensual pleasures, is the cause of great disorders in the Court and Church; for all the Congregations of Cardinals, of which he is the head, are much puzled how to deal with, and humour a man, who cares for nothing less than that which is committed to his care. Some of the Cardinals and Prelates take example by him, and do commit great scandals; for which they excuse themselves by saying, _That the Cardinal_ Padrone _does commit greater_. And thus betwixt them the poor Church is ill serv’d in both its Temporal and Spiritual.

I have nothing to say of the other Nephews and Kindred of the _Pope_; for supposed they had good inclinations, they have little or no occasion to bring them to effect for the publick good, they being not admitted to any publick employment. And indeed it would be but loss of time for any body to summe up the good this _Nipotismo_ has done the Church; for it is so little, and their ill actions are so many, that it would be stifled by them, like good Corn by Tares.

The people is more oppressed than ever, the City is ill provided, and all things are dear and scarce; the Prelates are discontented, and the money it self is condemned to a perpetual confinement in _Don Mario’s_, and the _Nipotismo’s_ Coffers.

It is a strange thing to see, that the _Popes_ should have the power to perswade others to renounce their fortunes, to run into Monasteries, to embrace Pilgrimages, and Mortifications; and yet not be able to perswade a little moderation to their Nephews, and make them content themselves with that lawful encrease of their Fortunes, which every body is well pleased to allow them: but they must still be laying taxes upon the people, and discontent upon Princes and States.

I have a friend that is of opinion, that by the means of Indulgences, the peoples vices do daily diminish. I know not whether it be true or no, but I am sure that the _Nipotismos_ do daily increase, they little caring for Indulgences, and being of opinion, that the _Pope_ is obliged to open them the door of Paradise by force. And though this may be taken as a facetious conceit, yet I am certain that the _Nipotismos_ in good earnest do little frequent Churches, but are more employed in getting of money, and taking their pleasure.

But now it is time to speak of _Innocentius_ the 10th. his _Nipotismo_, of which it may be said, that it did a little good, and no hurt; because it was alwayes under the _Popes_ disgrace, and _Donna Olympia’s_ oppression; so that none of it were able to show either their malice or their bounty, if they had any: for that good which they did do, may be as well interpreted to proceed from a design of winning the peoples favour, to whom only they could have recourse in their disgrace, as from any good Principles of their own.

But however it were, the poor Church was never the better; for what between _Innocentio’s Capriccios_, and _Donna Olympia’s_ tyranny, it was most miserably governed; and the Court brought into such a disorder, that the like was never seen before, nor I hope will not be hereafter: since the impression and mark of those blows which it received then are still to be seen in the face of the Church, and will appear to fright all those that should go about to bring a like scandal upon it.

And first the renunciation of the Cardinals Cap made by Prince _Pamphilio_, though it were in it self a very necessary action, for the preservation of the _Pamphilian_ Family, was nevertheless scandalous and injurious to the Churches reputation; the more because being made without his Uncle’s consent, it so looked as if this eminent Dignity of Cardinal were a thing to make sport with, and a profession as easily cast off without shame, as it is ordinarily conferred without merit.

But this had been but an inconsiderable fault, which would have been forgiven without pain in this disorderly age, if all Christendom had not been offended by the tyrannical government of the proud _Donna Olympia_; who having usurped that power which the _Popes_ do ordinarily confer on the _Nipotismo_, had brought them to such a desperate case, that they did almost revolt against their Uncle; whose humorsome fancy did make such work by displacing one, and putting in another, sometimes a true, sometimes a false Nephew, and sometimes governing without any at all, that the most patient and unconcern’d spectator could not behold so capricious a Prince without indignation.

_The Nipotismo_ being by _Donna Olympia’s_ means depriv’d of the power of doing good, had nevertheless the faculty of doing mischief left them; and the Lady would have been well pleased with it, for she did seek after all occasions of making them odious to the _Pope_, and to every body else: but they perceiving her design, became good, or at least innocent, out of spight, that the imputation of all the miscarriages might fall upon her alone, they being not disposed to bear a part of the pain, who had none in the pleasure.

For this reason the Prince _Pamphilio_ was alwayes most obliging and ready to serve the Church, and those that requir’d his assistance; giving therein demonstrations of his good nature, and hopes that he might one day rule better with his natural simplicity and equity, then _Donna Olympia_ with her refin’d, but wicked policies.

So the two Princes _Ludovisio_, and _Giustiniani_ did behave themselves with all care and circumspection, out of a design of pleasing the vulgar; since they could not be admitted to please their Uncle, whose affections they had lost, without having any thing laid to their charge that might deserve so severe a punishment. Let us therefore conclude the innocence of this _Nipotismo_, who never had the power of doing any good, nor the convenience of doing any harm to the Church; which nevertheless was severely handled by that impudent and covetous _Donna Olympia_.

Now let us go a step higher, and come to the _Nipotismo_, of _Urban_, or the reign of the _Barberins_; who seemed to be born for the Empire of the world: and of them indeed there is much to be said. For in the space of three and twenty years, there was occasion for every one of them to show his parts and inclinations, and make the world acquainted with their temper.

They that have writ the life of _Urban_, having proposed to themselves no other design than that of pleasing the _Barberins_, do make perpetual Encomiums of his good actions, but pass silently all his ill ones, that they might not lose that favour, which to purchase they had undertaken to transmit such gross flatteries to posterity.

There is no doubt but _Urban_ did very much advantage the Church and State, enriching them with a great number of Hospitals, Churches, Colledges, Libraries, Castles, Forts, Altars, Temples, Canonizations, and Beatifications: but if we consider the greatness of his visible Revenue, for the space of three and twenty year, we shall finde that his expences are inconsiderable compared to it.

I am acquainted with a Roman, who had the curiosity for two years together to inform himself of all the expences of the _Barberins_ in the Pontificate of their Uncle, that is, of all the money they had laid out both for the Church and their own Family, and found by computation, that the publick expense consisted in nine millions and a half of Crowns; and their visible private one in twelve.

Let it not seem strange to any one, if I say visible, for every body knows, that the great policy of the _Nipotismo_ consists in hiding their own expenses, and publishing those that they are at for the Church; whose rotten Walls they ordinarily plaister over with a little Lime and Water, while they build new ones for themselves, covering them with some sad colour that they may hide the expense.

They that will please themselves, let them read the Life of _Urban_, which has been inserted among the rest of the Lives of the _Popes_, composed by _Platina_, and there they will meet with such a quantity of his good works, that they cannot chuse but esteem him as one of the holiest _Popes_ that ever was; but they that are otherwise inform’d, are mov’d to laugh both at the _Pope_ and the Author.

There you shall meet with nothing but, that the _Pope_ visited such a Church, confirmed such a Decree of his Predecessor, gave the people his Benediction from the Church of St. _Jean_ of _Lateran_, visited the Hospital of the Trinity, made a great exhortation to the Bishops, excited the Monks to reform, beautified St. _Andrè Avellino_, received Ambassadors with great state, opened the Holy Year with Magnificence, consecrated the Church of the _Vatican_, gave the title of Cardinalate to the Church of St. _Charles_, re-built the Colledge of the Grecians, _&c._

But all this while not a word of the Progress of _Gustave Adolfe_ in _Germany_, of the Turk in the other parts of Christendom (while the _Pope_ lets them both alone) of the excommunication of the Duke of _Parma_, of that of the State of _Lucca_, of the affront done to the State of _Venice_, of the disrespect show’d to the Crown of _France_ in divers occasions, of the War begun in _Italy_, of the Catholick Religion declining in _Poland_, of the Artifices used in the War of the _Valtolina_, and in a word, of so many miscarriages, and offences given to _Rome_, the State, and all Christendom, by the extravagant passions of the _Barberins_: Of all this I say there is not a syllable, nor the least mention.

Every one knows that _Germany_, the Empire, and the Catholick Religion were upon the brim of their ruine, for want of succour; and yet at that very time the _Barberins_, did make War upon the Princes of _Italy_, with the treasure of the Church; their minde being more bent upon the raising of their Family, than upon the conservation of Christendom.

And the mischief was, that they did so besiege the _Pope_, that there was no means of informing him of the deplorable state of the Affairs of Christendom; for neither the Emperour, nor the King of _Poland_ could ever obtain any answer to their demands, which I believe never came to the knowledge of the _Pope_, no more than their dangers. The _Nipotismo_ answering their Ambassadors conformably to their own interest, without any regard to the Fatherly and Pastoral care, to which their Uncle was bound by the duty of his place.

But that which was worst of all, was, that they did not openly refuse their help, but by delayes and promises keeping still the Emperour and King of _Poland_ in hopes, they made them neglect to make peace with their Enemies, and refuse those conditions, which else they would have accepted, had not the _Barberins_ entertain’d them with the hopes now of an Army, then of a great summe of Money; and at last disappointed them of all.

However the people of the State belonging to the Church were the worse for it; for the _Barberins_ taking occasion from the obligation the _Pope_ was in, to assist these Princes, did thereupon lay most heavy Taxes and Impositions upon both Church-men and Layes: The simple people stirred up by the exhortations of some Preachers who made it their business to declare in their Sermons, That God could not be better pleased then by that assistance given to the distressed Catholicks, did sell all their Jewels and preciousest Houshold-stuff to give away to those that had the Commission of gathering their Benevolence.

Out of these summes which were thus raised, the _Barberins_ did send it may be one or two in the hundred, and this after so long waiting, and by such chargeable wayes, that half of the money was absorbed in the exchange: which the Emperour and King of _Poland_ having perceived, they were fain to give over their soliciting the _Barberins_, and defend themselves as well as they could.

The Protestants themselves, though much rejoycing at the decaying state of the Catholick Religion in _Germany_, were nevertheless infinitely scandalized at the _Pope’s_ proceedings, saying, as it was true, _That the_ Barberins _did the Catholicks more mischief by denying them succour with such dilatory wayes_, _than the Protestants by the force of Arms_.

In a word, I think it is not a hard thing to perswade that the _Barberins_ in the time of their reign did the Church a great deal of mischief; it would be much a harder to convince any body of the good they have done: and it is so difficult a business, that for my part I shall not undertake it; only I will give the _Barberins_ this good counsel, which is, that if they desire to make posterity lose the memory of their ill conduct under their Uncle, they endeavour to get Cardinal _Francesco Barberino_ made _Pope_ after the death of _Alexander_; for so it may be, that as in their Uncle’s time they did much more hurt then good, they will under Cardinal _Francesco_, who is pious and vertuous do more good than hurt.

There is an example of this already in the two _Popes_ of the Family of _la Rovere_; _Sixtus_ the 4th. and _Julius_ the second; for in the time of _Sixtus_ the _Nipotismo_ was most highly guilty towards the Church, and did much harm, and little good; but under _Julius_ it did much good, and little harm: so the same thing may happen for the _Barberins_, if _Francesco_ be made _Pope_.

_Gregory_ the 15th. who was _Urban’s_ Predecessor, lived to do mischief enough, but it seems had no time to do good: of the four parts of the Popedom his Nephew had three, and he one.

All this Popes thoughts were bent upon the Protestants ruine, particularly, he had a spight to _Geneva_, calling it the nest of the Devil; and therefore he pressed the Duke of _Savoy_ to besiege it, promising him great succors of men and money. He likewise assisted with all might and main the Emperour in his War against the Protestants of _Germany_. He failed not to solicit the King of _France_ to torment and molest the _Huguenots_ of his Kingdom, and prevailed with him to do it: which cost him dear, and had like to have proved fatal to his Monarchy, though at last he remained victorious.

The Cardinal _Ludovisio_ his Nephew, quite contrary, did what lay in his power, to quell in his Uncle, this unmeasurable desire of ruining the Protestants, and engaging all Christendom into bloody Wars; but the _Pope_ would never hearken to any thing that he could say about that particular, answering him alwayes in these words, _’Tis enough that I let you do what you will with the Catholicks_; _pray let me have the liberty of doing what I please against the Hereticks our enemies_.

His Remonstrances to Ambassadors upon this Subject, were so frequent at every audience that they were tired with them; and when sometimes the Cardinal _Ludovisio_ would interpose, and say something to qualifie the heat of the _Pope’s_ exaggerations, he would command him to hold his tongue; and sometimes say to him, you have a touch of an Heritick in you.

He did all his endeavours by a thousand plots and Artifices, to reduce _England_ again under the obedience of the Church of _Rome_, but all to no purpose: at last, seeing himself disappointed in this his main design after such pains and expense, he resolved to get back to _Rome_. _Marc Antony de Dominis_, who in the time of _Paul_ the fifth _Gregories_ Predecessor, had left _Italy_, and was fled into England; where, having declared himself Protestant, he did write many shrewd books against the _Pope_, and the Court of _Rome_, as one who was well informed of all its disorders.

The _Pope_, the better to compass his intention, sent to _London_ certain Prelates disguised, who had been heretofore intimate with _Marc Antony_. These, coming to him secretly, promised him not only the _Pope’s_ and the Churches pardon; but also assured him, that he should be made Cardinal at the next promotion. The Archbishop, trusting to the Oaths and Engagement of these Prelates, left _England_, and return’d once more to _Rome_, where he made a recantation of all his Errours, as they call’d them; But a little after, being carefully watched by the _Pope’s_ Spies, they took hold of some words that he said; and having clapt him up in the Inquisition Prison, began to question him for Heresie; and without doubt he had undergone the dreadful fire of the _Roman_ Purgatory, if timely death had not prevented the _Pope’s_ revenge.