Part 3

But all these designes soon vanished and were buried in the Tombe of the _Popes_ brain, where they were first conceived. ’Tis true, that many say, that the _Pope_ did this, only to satisfie the pressing instances of his Nephewes: but because he affected more the quiet of the Church, then the advancement of his kindred, he persisted not in his enterprise, but just as long as was necessary to make his Kindred believe he had once well resolved it; and thus the _Ursins_, who aspired to so much Grandeur, remained disappointed, and the _Pope_ was pleased in the demonstration he had given them of His kindness.

The _Popes_ were not yet perfect in the art of raising their kindred; the carnal love of their Relations did but begin a combat with the spiritual zeal for the Church, and as yet the last was too hard for the first, and in all occasions did carry it before their kindness for their Relations.

From _Nicolas_ to _Sixtus_ the Fourth, who was created in the year 1471, the _Popes_ did by little and little humanise themselves, and lay aside that rude severity to themselves, and to their kindred, who now began to come very willingly to _Rome_, being sure to meet with kinder receptions then heretofore had been shewed to precedent _Popes_ Relations; and when once they were in _Rome_ and in sight of their Uncle, he to prevent them from leading an idle life, would give them entrance into the Vatican, and honour them with places of Honour and Profit.

Withall this things were carried so closely, that though the Church did receive some detriment, yet the people of _Rome_, and the other Christian Nations had no great occasion of scandal given them neither from the Nephews, nor from the Popes. The first of which were well pleased with any thing that was given them; and the last, that is, the _Popes_, were so provident as to be liberal only of what was superfluous, and not of that which the Church and _Rome_ could not spare.

But in the time of _Sixtus_, Ambition and Covetousness introduced themselves so openly, with the utter destruction of the modesty and decorum of the Church, together with the subversion of Christian Piety, occasioned all by his filling the _Vatican_ with such a company of Nephewes, that from that time forward we must reckon the birth and growth of the _Nipotismo_; in the History of which, before we engage any further, it will not be amiss to give a Character of the Court of _Rome_, which now at present is maintained by, and depends entirely upon the _Nipotismo_.

One of the greatest extravagancies that I meet withall in the World, is the error of those who are perpetually exclaiming against Courts; and generally ’tis observed, that few of those that are of this Humour, have been Courtiers, or if they have, yet have they not made any considerable stay in them. But for Gods sake, what kind of thing was the World, before there were any Courts? nothing but the refuge of baseness, the quintessence of ignorance, an apparent blindness, and in a word, a barbarous throne of Vices, and all sorts of ill actions.

Many complain of the Court, but few of themselves, for not having been able to maintain the ground, and keep the place they had once in it; as if the Court were bound to descend to a compliance with every particular mans humour, and not particular men rather frame themselves to a condescendency for the Court.

Who is it that frames and constitutes a Court? ’tis the Prince, without whom there is no such thing. But who brings Vices to the Court? The Courtiers; and yet though the Courtiers be bad, and the Prince good, all the fault is laid upon the Prince.

Princes seldome fayle to recompense those services which they receive from their Courtiers, and without this quality they would not long be Princes. ’Tis true, that some are more reserv’d, others more liberal in their rewards; but still the defect is not in the Prince, but in the courtier, whose ambition is not to be ruled by his Princes judgment, and against whom he exclaimes for not contenting him.

To the ambition or desire of honour is alwayes added an avidity or desire of riches in Courtiers: these two monsters being the natural production of Courts.

The Court is to the World, as a furnace to Gold, to purifie, and refine mens wits. Whensoever any bodies ingenuity is under a cloud, and not known, let him come to Court, for there without doubt he will be prest to an exact trial of his skill; and let him use it all in hiding himself, and drawing as it were a vayle over his designs, yet he shall find the Court to be the true Touch-stone of mens actions, and he shall be known, for what he is really, and not for what he would seem to be.

This general discourse is only, that we may descend with more light and instruction to particulars. All other Courts, are streams, and rivers; but the Court of _Rome_ is the head and source of them all; and as ordinarily we find out the head by following the stream, so I thought it fit to say something in general of Courts, before I came to the description of the Court of _Rome_. Among all Nations in the World, the _Italians_ are the most famous for managing State Affairs, and being naturally inclined to be good Politicians. Neither do the Princes of the North deny this advantage to the Courts of our _Italian_ Princes, who in the Government of their States, are masters of so much conduct, and subtilty, that none but very excellent and experienced geniuses can penetrate the depth of their Counsels.

But those maximes and Court slights, which in _Italy_ are ordinary, are as it were natural and inseparable from the Church-men of the Court of _Rome_; which City, upon this score, is become famous in all forreign Countries, not as a place that teaches, and instructs Church-men, but as one that is taught and perfected by them.

He that desires to see politick stratagems, and all that subtilty can compass, let him not forsake _Rome_, where he shall soon learn how State Affairs ought to be managed.

I alwayes had a great opinion of the cunning and abilities of Church-men in matter of Government; but when once I came to _Rome_, and began to know by experience something of their wayes, I must confess, that my imagination was far short of the reality of what I had conceived.

It was no hard matter for _Rome_, both the old, and the new, to be mistress of the World, and give Lawes to Nations, since it hath alwayes been the School of true policies, as having even in its birth drained all the rest of the world of its cunning, and impoverished, it in slights to enrich its self.

For the space of fifteen Ages, the Church-men have already demonstrated to the world their abilities, and subtilty; and that so much the more to the wonder of all, because their beginnings have been so different from the means they have us’d, shifting from one thing to another, and changing upon all occasions, as Seamen do their Sailes with the wind, so that they seem to be born entirely for their own profit.

In the first Ages of the Church, the Court of _Rome_ thought it convenient to comply with the Courts of other Princes, and this slight had its effect, while the Emperours Tyrannised over _Rome_; but their Tyranny being destroyed, the Court of _Rome_ chang’d its way, and desired a compliance from all other Courts to its self.

Yet this proceeding too, having by little and little, intricated, and perplex’d the Court, and Courtiers, they were fain to come back to their first complyance, and by all Arts appease the male-contents, and keep those that were affectionate from being alienated: but now the face of things is so changed, and the nature of transactions so perverted, that they which now command in the Court of _Rome_ have invented new wayes how to carry themselves, and correspond with Princes, very intricate, and different from those that were us’d in past Ages.

Therefore there are very few who having resided in this Court, do at last forsake it to return home, but they have a great deal of reason to complaine and be ill satisfied of its proceedings; not only because they had not found so much favour as they had expected; but because they found that they had been meerly deluded with faire promises, and at last, as it were laughed at for their paines. For the Courtiers of _Rome_ have a particular maxime, either of perplexing, or of jeering those that come to negotiate with them. The truth is, they have been so subtle in providing for their interest, and have brought things to that pass, that they seem to be able to be without those, who can by no means be without them; upon which score the Ministers of some Princes were wont to say; _That Negotiations in the Court of Rome were a mischeif to those that were employed in them_, _but a very necessary one_: And in a word; The Court of _Rome_ cannot be better compared, then to a Labyrinth, out of which, many think they are going, when they do but just enter it.

Many have compared it to the Monky, that hugs its young ones to death; for just so do the Churchmen, who embrace every one with a paternal affection; but in those embraces, they that receive them, find their ruin. Therefore have a Care of _Romes_ kindness. Others do compare it to a Tree laden with fruit, that to look upon, seems ripe and fair, which when you come to taste, you find soure and crabbed.

For my part, I think the Court of _Rome_ is like those pills that Physitians give to their patients, which are all gold without, that they may not displease the sick person by exposing to his view Cassia, or Antimony, &c. and he, poor man, trusting to this glorious exteriour swallowes the Pill, and in the swallowing of it often perceives the bitterness.

So _Rome_, or rather the Church-men in _Rome_, cover every thing with the gold of their inventions and slights, giving thus to Princes and Nations most bitter medicines covered with the zeal of Religion, which they have no sooner swallowed, but they find that there was nothing but an appearance of good in it.

In the Court of _Rome_ it often falls out, that he that makes as if he knew all mens intrigues is altogether ignorant, and he that feigns to know nothing, knowes all. The exterior shew of goodness runs like a stream in the sight of all, but it springs from a head of mischeif, which is seen by few, because there they seldome give the sting without the honey.

Nothing is done in _Rome_ without the zeal of Religion; and yet the zeale of Religion is that which prevailes least in all things. For they make a great distinction between those things that they desire, and those that they ought to do. They employ all their resolution and their prudence towards the compassing of the first, but they seldome performe the last, as not being inclin’d to make their wills stoop to their duty.

These maximes, or the like, are common in all the Princes Courts, both within and without _Italy_; but _Rome_ is the Seminary of these Arts, in which the Church-men are masters.

He that goes to negotiate in _Rome_ as a publick Minister from some Prince or State, must first have made some stay in it as a private person; and for my part, I am perswaded, that to have good success in such an employment, one stands in need of that double spirit which _Eliseus_ asked _Elias_ for; since that Church-men are so double-souled, as to use nothing but slights and subtilties in their negotiations.

He that can live four or five years in the Court of _Rome_, without meeting with such impediments as shall make him stumble and go neer to fall, may live a whole Age in any other Princes Court without trouble.

We see every day by experience, that many excellent Politicians, Ministers of Princes, and States, who in other Courts had got a great deal of credit and reputation, by managing business to their Princes content, are no sooner come to _Rome_, but in an instant they lose all that honour that they had taken so much pains for. And indeed many are they that come to the Court of _Rome_ with a great deal of credit, but few come off and leave it with honour and reputation.

In a Climate subject to so many sudden changes, they that live in it must expect thunder and lightning, as well as fair weather. There negotiations must needs be hard, where the face of things is changed every day.

Many publick Ministers lose themselves in _Rome_, because they know well where they are, but not with whom they are: for whilst they think they have to do with a Monarchy, of a sudden they meet with a Republick and a Senate; and when they imagine to be engaged with a commonwealth and a Senate, they find they have to do with a Monarchy: so that like a ball they are tossed from the Monarch to the Senate, and back again: Because indeed, the government of _Rome_ is a Monarchy without a Head, and a Commonwealth without Counsellors. And thus even they that reside long in _Rome_ are often puzzled in such sudden changes.

The Government of the Popes is much different from that of all other Princes; because that they that are raised to this eminent degree do often come to it, so raw and ignorant of Policies, that they are a great while before they can attain to any perfection in their charge, which when they have done at others expences, it is time for them to leave the world and their government to their Successours, who most commonly are of the same past fortune, introducing Church-men to this so high a command, and nature hurrying them away from the throne before they are fit for it.

I do not wonder, that in the Court of _Rome_, through a long experience, even the dullest and rawest Politicians do become at last most expert; since that from all the parts of the World, _Rome_ receives none but the wisest and most able Statesmen to negotiate with her.

One of my friends compares this Court to the Sea; for as it receives in its bosome all the Rivers of the Earth, and being by them filled and swelled, fills them again from whom it received its plenty. So _Rome_ doth as it were suck from the rest of the World, their purest milk of policies, and distributes it again, like a kind mother, to all those that are content with the appellation of its children.

Indeed as for the sucking part, I think my friend is much in the right; for Church-mens lips are so fit for this function, that they lose not one drop; but as for the distributive part, they make it a more difficult thing then he or others would imagine.

Neither do I wonder at it, for when they deal with others, they alwayes propose to them the zeal of Religion, and the interest of Christian Piety: While under the pretext of these, they hide their self-policy, to use it in time and place convenient: Which no body can discover but themselves. The truth is, that a good Politician may receive some benefit, by diving into that which they so much endeavour to hide; but he shall never be advantaged by any thing that they shall willingly reveal to him, their undoubtted maxime being never to discover any thing but such as they need not, or that cannot be beneficial to others.

To give a great proof of what I say; I remember, that an Embassadour of an _Italian_ Prince, a wise and able man, being returned home after seven years stay in his imployment at _Rome_, could give to his master for all account of his Embassy, nothing but ambiguous words, equivocal enigmes, and uncertain answers; whereupon his Prince not understanding him, required a better information at his hands, and was thus answered by him.

Serenissime Prince: _The School of_ Rome _hath furnished me with no other Lectures_, _then what I_ _have already layed open to your Highness_: _Therefore with all due submission_, _I beseech your Highness to have compassion of me_, _if I appear before you so barren and so empty_; _for in seven years time I have not been able to obtain from these Church-men any solid substance_, _to fill my self withal_. This ’tis that befalls most Ambassadors and Agents in _Rome_.

* * * * *

_Innocentius_ the Tenth had brought the Court into such a confusion; that in his time no body knew where to begin any business: For he did so little care to trouble himself with the important affairs of Christendome; that most commonly he refused to meddle, even in those which concerned his pastoral function. His troublesome houres were when he was forced to give audience to a forrain Embassadour, and to be rid of business; his maximes were, To deny all favours, to answer all requests with a negative, and never to come to a final resolution in any thing that might please his enemies; though the thing in its self was very beneficial to the Church and State. If he had any inclination to do good, it appeared only in what he did to his own family, and in the care he took to embellish the City of _Rome_. But the ill he did was not contained in such easie limits, it spread its self over all Christendome, which did lament to see the Church provided of so extravagant a Pastor.

In the beginning of his pontificat, he shewed himself much enclined to be well informed of the state of _Rome_, and the Church Territories; which vigilance of his, at last redounded to the prejudice of all his officers. For they thinking at first, that his proceeding came from the love of justice, and good order, came all to _Rome_ with instructions and memorials, wherein their wants and the necessities of their places were set out: but all in vain; for when they expected answer and satisfaction, they found that the intention of the Pope was, to refuse all, and to resolve nothing; so that then every one avoided, not only the presence of the Pope, but _Rome_ it self, and all business in it.

This is the general disposition of the Court of _Rome_, and of Church-men in common; though the Popes _Nephews_ do often give it another face, according as their designs and thoughts are, which being as different as the humours of one Pope from another; fortune, not merit, raising both Popes and Nephews to this great command; we may say, that things in _Rome_ are rather performed by masked and counterfit persons, then by natural ones: As one of my friends, who lives well, and is one of the best Church-men in the Court of _Rome_, is used to say, that when once he had put on the habit of a Priest, he could hardly discern his own nature, nor know himself with comparison to what he was before. Which shewes evidently, that Church-men have certain close wayes of treating, particular to themselves, that must make those that have to do with them, stand upon their guard, and use all their policy.

The SECOND BOOK.

The Contents.

_IN which is discoursed_, _of the first bringing the_ Nipotismo _into_ Rome, _which happened under_ Sixtus _the fourth_, _too much inclined to favour his kindred_. _Of the lascivious life_, _and of the death of Cardinal_ Peter _his Nephew_. _Of the government of the Church transferred to_ Jerom Peter’s _brother_. _Of the number of_ Sixtus _his Nephews_. _Of the selling of many Jewels_. _Of the murmurs of the_ Romans _against this Pope_. _Of the succession of_ Innocent _the eighth to the Popedome_. _How he was naturally averse from his kindred_. _What he did for some of his Nephews_. _Of the assumption of_ Alexander _the sixth to the Popedome_. _How he made his Bastards great_. _Of the crimes committed by him_. _Of the family of the_ Sforzas, _being from_ Milan. _Of the actions of Duke_ Valentine. _How the Pope passed his time_. _Of his death_, _caused by poyson_. _How DUKE_ Valentine _carried himself after the death of his Father Pope_ Alexander. _Of the succession of_ Pius _the third to the Popedome_, _and of his short life_. _Of what happened to his kindred_. _Of_ Julius _the second that succeeded_ Pius. _Of his way of carrying himself towards his Nephews_. _Of the Popedome fallen to_ Leo _the tenth_. _Of his mind entirely bent to favour the Family of the_ Medici. _How_ Adrian _the sixth succeeded to_ Leo _the tenth_. _Of the severity he shewed to his kindred_. _Of the election of_ Clement _the seventh for Pope_. _Of his great ambition to raise his Family_. _How_ Paul _the third was chosen Pope_. _How he likewise was inclined to make his kindred great_, _and by what means_. _Of that which_ Julius _the third did in favour of his Family_: _and how his life was inclined to pleasures and delight_. _Of the resolution of_ Marcellus _the second_, _to give nothing to his kindred_. _How_ Paul _the fourth was made Pope_. _Of his kindness to his kindred_. _How_ Pius _the fifth was not naturally inclined to do his kindred good_. _How_ Gregory _the thirteenth was of a quite contrary disposition_. _How_ Sixtus _the fifth was made Pope_, _and how he was inclined to favour his kindred_. _Of the short life of_ Urban _the seventh_, Sixtus _his successour_. _Of the election of_ Gregory _the_ _fourteenth_. _What was his inclination to his Nephews_. _Of the election of_ Innocent _the ninth_. _Of his proceedings and death_. _Of the election of Clement the eighth_: _and of what he did for his kindred_. _Of the desire of_ Leo _the eleventh_, _successour to_ Clement, _to make his family great_. _Of the election of_ Paul _the fifth_. _Of his life and actions_, _and how he advanced his kindred_. _How_ Gregory _the fifteenth succeeded to_ Paul _the fifth_, _and of his great affection to his kindred_.

* * * * *

NOW we must look back, and return to _Sixtus_ the 4th, who first opened a door to the _Nipotismo_, and who by introducing his kindred, brought at the same time ambition and riches into Rome; the riches were for his Nephews, and the ambition he left as an inheritance to all Church-men; and it is now one of the greatest mischiefs that oppresseth the Church.

’Tis not to be wondred at, that I begin the History of the _Nipotismo_, from the time of _Sixtus_ the fourth, since he was the first that delivered up _Rome_ and the Popedom in prey to his Nephews, to the wonder and astonishment of the whole world.

He was then the first introducer of the _Nipotismo_, and so indulgent a one, that to favour his kindreds interest, he had forgot himself, and the Church, thinking of nothing, but of the means how to advance them to their satisfaction, from whence the murmurs of the people were so great in _Rome_, that many Confessors were fain to give over their Function, that they might not hear the peoples complaints against the Pope and his kindred: So that it was spread through _Europe_, that _Rome_ had as many Popes as _Sixtus_ had Nephews.

This Pope, immediately after his election, made two Cardinals; _viz. Peter Riario_, whom many suspected to be his Bastard, having alwayes been educated, with great care by him, in the same Monastery; the other was _Julian_, son of _Raphad de la Rovere_, brother to the Pope, and had been first Bishop of _Carpentras_, then was made Cardinal by his Brother, and at last came to be Pope, under the name of _Julius_ the second, as we shall relate in due place.

_Sixtus_ gave to the Cardinal, _Peter Riario_, all that was in his power to give, adding Abby upon Abby, and revenue upon revenue, till he had made him so rich in Church lands, that he lived most splendidly, and seemed to be born to waste a greater fortune; Plays, Balls, Dances, and such pastimes, were the ornament which he bestowed upon his Ecclesiastical dignity, being perswaded, that pomp and vanity were becoming the majesty of a Cardinal.

He lived but two years in this loose life; in which time ’tis thought he spent, in Treats, and Balls, and such like diversions, above two hundred thousand Duckats of gold, besides seventy thousand which he owed at his death, and which were never payed: He dyed at the age of 28 years, to the great regret of his Uncle, his disease having been caused by his debauchery, as the Physitians testified.