Part 22

How careful this _Pope_ was of his Relations, we have sufficiently shewed in its proper place: ’tis enough that not contented with the Marriage of two of his Nephews, towards the perpetuation of his Family, and one of them in particular with the Daughter of the Prince of _Massa_; he design’d also to make _Emilius Sfondrato_ his Brothers Son, who was already entred to the Degree of Holy Orders, to resign his Cardinals Cap: but propounding of it to the Consistory, the Cardinals apprehended it a business of so great scandal, they intreated him to content himself, that he had married two Nephews, that were already furnished with Children, to secure the continuance of his Family for ever, without any such hainous and unjustifiable courses.

But all this avail’d not at all; for in a short time after the death of the _Pope_, in a Months time there were three Males of that Family died, as it were by Judgment from Heaven, to mortifie the ambition of those _Popes_ who destroy Heaven it self, to fill the World with their Nephews. And thus by little and little the House of _Sfondrati_ declined, with all the diligence and care they could use to hold out full forty years, though they made another Person take their Name upon him, that had neither Alliance nor Friendship with them.

Of the House of _Aldobrandini_, from whence _Clement_ the Eighth proceeded, who was created _Pope_ in _January_ 1592. we cannot speak without touching the Cardinal _Aldobrandino_ too neerly, who is the only person sustains the Name of a Family, that seem’d, for the Reasons before, impossible to be irradicated; which may notwithstanding be said to be extinct, although the Cardinal bears the Name, and the Princess of _Rossano_ enjoys the Estate, as Heir to the House of _Aldobrandino_; yet the one being a Woman, and the other a Priest, they cannot hope to recover it, unless some By-blow should be produc’d: which, though it would be a neat piece of invention, I cannot imagine, because the Cardinal was not at all scandalous in his Life, but always obsequious and respectful of the Princess; who made him Cardinal, and without which he might have been a _Brandino_ a Jugler, but no _Aldobrandino_.

But to return to _Pope Clement_, I will affirm, That he, not having fail’d in any thing might furnish _Rome_ with the Family of the _Aldobrandini_, was not in arrear to his Name. In the time that he was _Pope_, there were eighteen Males of the Name of _Aldobrandini_, the greater part of which were married; and it was no small satisfaction to him, to have so great a number of his Relations: upon which score he us’d to say, _He was_ Pope _of_ Rome, _and Prince or Chief of the_ Aldobrandini.

That which was most observable was, He took great pleasure in caressing his Relations; for when any of his Brothers or Nephews that were married came to him, he would tell them, _Let it be your business to provide Children_, _and it shall be mine to provide them Estates_.

His good Kindred did not neglect to make their advantage of the Counsel of _Clement_, nor he to maintain their Honours; by which means, there was scarce any other Family taken notice of in _Rome_; but the reputation of this, made a noise in every corner.

This House of the _Aldobrandini_ was well founded in the _Papacy_ of _Urban_ the Eighth, by the assistance of seven Brothers, Grand-children to _Clement_; all of them of so strong and lusty complexions, the Physicians by common consent did assert, there could not be any defect of Posterity. Nevertheless, it has fail’d; and which is very considerable, there is not now one Male remaining of the Name.

The House of _Borghese_ descended from _Paul_ the Fifth, who succeeded _Clement_ (though _Leo_ the Eleventh, who liv’d but five and twenty days, was betwixt them) ran the same fortune; but being of a later Plantation in _Rome_, it conserves still some weak and decrepit Branches. One of the principal designs _Alexander_ had, to marry _Don Agostin_ with the young Princess _Borghosa_, was to unite the Estate and Patrimony of that tottering and declining House, with the House of _Chigi_, which at that time was rising to great Emminence, though for a while they came not to _Rome_.

There was but one sprig left of the House of the _Borghesi_, and which was worse, even that of a weak temper, and much subject to infirmities: which _Alexander_ considering, and what accidents the vicissitudes of the world might bring upon the house of the _Borghesi_, he applyed all his endeavours to make a match (which succeeded well) with his Nephew, and gave him fair hopes of seeing the Patrimony of the _Borghesi_ in his own house.

And this is the state of the _Borghesi_ at present, who in the time of _Paul_ the fifth, had above a dozen males of that name, of which there were not above six married; which was very considerable. But I return to speak how squares go in the world.

The Families of the _Ludovisi_, _Barbarini_, _Panfili_, and _Chigi_, who yielded the four last _Popes_, I shall speak nothing of; because they have not enjoy’d the Benefits of the Papacy full out thirty years: so as it behoving us to let them rest in peace, I shall leave the observations of their Catastrophe to them which come after us.

One thing only I shall insert, that the _Aldobrandini_ had at one time many more males alive, than are at present left of all these four houses together.

God Almighty bless them according to their own desire; which I do heartily pray, as having no animosity against those that are good.

Some have observ’d, and not with much difficulty, that the greatest part of the _Popes_ Families were, before their advancement to the Papacy, of great antiquity and grandeur; but for many that rais’d themselves by the treasure of the Triple Crown, it is not so easie to finde; for instead of attaining to a perpetuation of their Families, they have not been prolifique enough to defend them against a perpetual annihilation.

The house of the _Medici_ in _Milan_ was of above two hundred years antiquity, maintaining it self in great Honour and Magnificence: But after _Pius_ the fourth was elected _Pope_ out of it, it grew worse and worse, declining with much more speed than it was rais’d, and that after so extravagant a manner, they could discern themselves rise, but could not perceive their decay.

So the house of _Gregory_ the fourteenth, who was born as I have said of the ancient Family of the _Sfondrati_, who had made themselves, as it were, immortal in _Milan_, not only in respect of the greatness of their Authority, but in the multitude of their Issue; yet in less than forty years after _Pope Gregory_, its leaves fell, and the whole Tree of the _Sfondrati_ withered.

The House of _Aldobrandini_ also, from which _Clement_ the eight was descended, from the time of the _Lombards_ to the said _Pope_, continued so eminent in _Florence_; there was at several times three and twenty of that name chief Standard-bearers, and all elected by the people: Nevertheless as soon as there was a _Pope_ of this Family (which was _Clement_) it began to decay, and is now at that pass, there is but one sprig left of all the branches, and that infertile and incapable of recovering them, though he should be made a _Pope_.

In short, a thousand other examples might be produc’d to evince what I have asserted; which examples though I have describ’d in History, yet are they enough to demonstrate the _Popes_ and their dependents, that all the care, contentions, and designs they go through for advancement of their particular Families, are not blessed by the Lord; because he suffers them not to prosper: it being more then certain, That when he keeps not the City, the Watchmen wake but in vain.

God Almighty not suffering those who have rais’d themselves to that greatness, out of the Bowels of those that are in Purgatory, themselves to remain long without punishment for their faults. He will not permit those Families that are elated and grown insolent with the wealth and blood of those poor carkases that are buried in their Churchyards, to continue long in this world themselves. Heaven is offended to behold sacred things transformed into profane, Churches into Palaces, Alms into Thefts, Crosses into Swords, Altars into Lordships, Holy things into Comedy and Sport, Divine Worship into an adoration of Riches, or rather adoration into Riches.

He that shall be pleas’d to run over the actions of all the _Popes_, that is, the History wherein all the Families that have afforded any _Popes_ to the world, Shall finde this for an infallible truth, that they are either all as it were extinct, or the small remainder that is left reduc’d to a very mean and inconsiderable condition: As if heaven could not endure the Patrimony of Saint _Peter_ should be made an universal scandal to the world, and be an occasion of eternizing the memory of the Sacriledge they have committed.

I had lately an opportunity of discourse with an Abbot born in _Rome_, and experienc’d in their transactions: falling into some speech about the Nephews, and finding their vices, or at least errors by him, with more vehemence reprehended, than by me, I took the courage to accost him in this manner, _How is it possible_, _Sir_, _that the Nephews of the Popes that are living_, _reading the lives of their Predecessors that are dead_, _that their Blood should not freeze in their veins to finde them extinct_, _some one way_, _some another_, _in spight of all their care to eternize themselves_? _how is it possible but some gripes of Conscience must torment them when they remember all their wealth belongs to the Church_?

The Abbot would suffer me to go on no further, but cutting me off in the middle, he reply’d, _Sir_, _He which has too much money_, _has no time to read over the lives of them that are dead_; _money puts thoughts alwayes into their heads of eternizing themselves_, _sometimes by acquiring_, _sometimes by contriving_: _The_ Popes _Nephews do read Books_, _but it is only when they want money_, _and then ’tis too late_.

And who is there now, would not be amaz’d at such an answer? For my part I believe all the Romans are of the same opinion, and are in much doubt of the salvation of the Nephews. And accordingly another of them of judgement little differing from the Abbot, told his friend; _That the Popes Nephews must of necessity go to Purgatory_, _for they would be asham’d to go into Paradise_, _where Christ was_, _whom they had so wickedly despoil’d in this world_.

These expressions perhaps may seem but raillery, and appear but satyrical reflections at first sight; however they come from the very heart, though those that speak them may force themselves into a smile to dissemble it, as the Apothecary conceals the nauseousness of his pills by covering them with silver.

A great part of the sober men in _Rome_ have been very serious in discovering the cause, why the _Popes_ Families are of so little duration, seeing their riches so vast.

Some are of opinion, it proceeds from the reasons abovesaid, that is, that God Almighty takes them out of the world as a punishment for the injuries they have done the Church, in robbing it of the greatest part of its treasure, to make their own house insolent and high.

Others are of opinion the Curses and Execrations of the people do pierce the Divine Ears in such manner, that the Divine Justice seems as it were oblig’d to take them away so immaturely, to give an account of the vileness of their behaviour towards the subjects of the Church.

And indeed the people of the Ecclesiastical State are so ill satisfied, and so ill treated by the ill Government of _Rome_, that is by the _Popes_ Nephews who domineer and lord it over them, that from morning to night they fill the air with their exclamations, from one corner, _When will there be an end of their Extortions_? from another, _O God revenge the cruelties of these Nephews_, _who have ruin’d us_. Nor do the curses thrown out against the Nephews rest at the people only: The very Priests and Ecclesiasticks themselves do daily sacrifice upon their Altars for the destruction of them, who devouring all they can get, leave not the good people so much as will pay for the celebration of a Mass.

In the time the Duke of _Parma_ was in Arms against the State Ecclesiastick, then in the possession of the _Barberini_, the Cardinal _Francesco_ gave order for the performing the forty hours prayers in his Cathedrals to incourage the People, and to oblige them to pray to God for the extirpation of the enemies of the Church. But whilst the _Letany_ of the Saints was singing, a certain _Roman_ Gentleman, at the pronounciation of these words, _Ut inimicos Sanctæ Ecclesiæ humiliare digneris_, told a Friend of his that was by, _The Church has no greater Enemies than the_ Barbarini, _who molest it both at home and abroad_, _so that our Prayers to heaven ought to be_, _to be delivered from them and their Arms_.

From hence it may be argu’d, That they who bear a secret hatred and detestation of the Nephews, retain it even in the Church, and the place where they ought to pardon all, and are still contriving revenge; and because they find there is no sure way of freeing themselves from their tyranny in this World, they send up their Prayers privately to Heaven: As if they were afraid of the correction of their _Popes_, who would by no means suffer the Faithful to appeal against their enormity to the Divine Tribunal, but for all that they do not desist.

Others apply the small durance of the _Popes_ Families to that Philosophical saying, _Nullum violentum durabile_, as if the great haste and violence they use to make themselves great were that that precipitated them: Like Plants, that by a thousand Arts may be forc’d to bear fruit, and that out of season: But how? Those Artifices, that do offer violence, as it were, to Nature, do not conserve it long; but, weakened by the supernatural force, it loses in a short time its native vigour and is not afterwards to be recovered by all the operations of Art.

’Tis indeed a fine sight to see a Tree bear good fruit in Winter, if it could be made to produce for several years; but if the water they use about the Root be but a little hotter than it ought, ’tis enough to ruine both fruit and tree; So as the heedlesness of the Gardener may destroy all that he thought to have done by Art contrary to Nature; for it is necessary the Root be watered with water warm’d to a just proportion to secure against the frosts in the nights, and that all convenient cultivation be us’d: Otherwise all will be spoil’d, and it will be impossible to preserve a Tree that is by Art constrain’d beyond its own nature.

In the same manner it happens to the _Pope’s_ Nephews, who grow up on a sudden by a violence they themselves offer to their reason; and marching on towards their own greatness by unusual waies, they seem horrid and uneasie, as not being trodden or known by other people.

Others there are that alledge, amongst other reasons, why the _Pope’s_ Family are so transitory, their inexperience in the Art of Managery which is necessary for preserving an Estate, their wealth raining down upon them without any sweat or trouble, or contrivance of their own. Like Hebrews that despis’d the Manna sent them from Heaven, they not only neglect to preserve with any prudence and Oeconomy the great quantity of Riches, which is shower’d down into their Chests by the _Capricio_ of fortune; but even nauseate and abhor that, which they believe unsutable to their Nature.

If a Country-man by accident should light upon a parcel of _Rubies_, at first sight he would be much delighted with their Lustre; but upon second thoughts they would but trouble and perplex him, because he knew not the value of a thing he had gain’d without labour.

But what shall I say? There is not any thing more dangerous, and which brings the life of man under more hazards, than the filling the belly too full: To eat intemperately, to swallow without measure, and to devour with eagerness and rapacity, must of necessity destroy Nature, and be the ruine of the whole: Sobriety is that which conduceth most to our health, because it gives the Stomach time to distribute the meat proportionably to the whole body.

The _Pope’s_ Nephews know not how to keep their Riches, because they touch them with their hands, but do not see them with their eyes, their greediness of heaping up on a sudden blinding them, and not suffering them to know the true worth of them: by which means they dwindle insensibly, and they themselves are not able to perceive it.

That which is gotten without pains, is in a short time lost without knowing the price of it: The greatest part of these Gamesters are either such as are loose and licentious young men, or else such as have had some good provision from fortune. The first adventure, because they have not yet found a way to live handsomly; the other, because they believe Fortune oblig’d to recruit them. The poor Trades-man, that sweats, and carks, and toils night and day, and all to get one poor Crown, will not certainly be so foolish to venture that in one moment, he gain’d with so much labour in so many hours. He does well, that keeps that he gain’d with difficulty: and he does well, who spends that he came by easily.

Were the Nephews of the _Pope_ content with what Emoluments were justly their due, without doubt the greatness and opulence of their Families would be much longer liv’d: But they fill, devour, and cram up their Stomach with more meat than Nature will sustain; and therefore ’tis no wonder, if they be often forc’d to vomit that up with violence they had so immoderately devour’d.

Many have observed also, most of the _Pope’s_ Kindred have died young too; and I could instance in a thousand examples: But for two reasons I forbear; one is, not to grate too much upon the Nephews of our good _Pope Alexander_, nor have the long life of _Don Mario_ cast in my dish, though indeed it is not above ten years since he had any relation to the _Pope_; the other is, because I have something else to think on.

THE SUCCESSION OF THE POPES Mentioned in this BOOK.

_Sixtus_ IV. began his Papacy, 1471 _Anno_ _Innocent_ VIII. 1484 _Alexander_ VI. 1492 _Pius_ III. 1503 _Julius_ II. 1504 _Leo_ X. 1514 _Adrian_ VI. 1522 _Clement_ VII. 1524 _Paul_ III. 1534 _Julius_ III. 1550 _Marcellus_ II. 1557 _Paul_ IV. 1558 _Pius_ IV. 1562 _Pius_ V. 1568 _Gregory_ XIII. 1574 _Sixtus_ V. 1587 _Urban_ VII. 1592 _Gregory_ XIIII. 1593 _Innocent_ IX. 1594 _Clement_ VIII. 1596 _Leo_ XI. 1607 _Paul_ V. 1607 _Gregory_ XV. 1623 _Urban_ VIII. 1625 _Innocent_ X. 1644 _Alexander_ VII. 1655

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FINIS.

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