Part 6

Two moneths after, he made the Count _Sfondrati_, another of his Nephews, General of the holy Church, and sent him to the Wars of _France_, having first married him with the daughter of the Prince of _Massa_, and made him Duke of _Monte Marciano_, which Dutchy the Pope pretended to be devolved to the Church, ever since the death of _Alfonso Picolomini_, Duke of the said place, whom the great Duke of Florence put to death; and the Pope immediately confiscated all that he enjoyed in the Territories of the Church, pretending, that the said _Alfonso_ was a Rebel to the Church: Whereupon he gave his Nephew the investiture of the Dutchy.

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_Innocentius_ the ninth succeeded to _Gregory_ the fourteenth, in the year 1509. who lived but two months, and by consequence was not in a capacity of leaving much to his Relations; many of them nevertheless were already come from _Bologne_, the Popes native Country; amongst whom he made one Cardinal, and that was _Antonio Fachinetti_; but he gave him no other Office, then that of a Referendary, there being no other of any consideration vacant. ’Tis true, I believe, that he thought not of dying so soon, for else he would have provided more largely for this Cardinal, and the rest of his kindred; His death was very unwelcome to them, all having begun already to build Castles in the air; but particularly to one of them, who pretended to be General of the Churches Forces, to marry a Princess, and be revenged of all his Enemies; but he came so far short of all, that instead of the equipage of a Gentleman, that he came to _Rome_ in, he returned in a poor plight to _Bologna_.

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A month after, _Clement_ the eighth, of the House of _Aldobrandino_ of _Florenee_, was chosen Pope, with an incredible joy of all the people of _Rome_: He himself was born in the City of _Fano_.

This Pope found his Family full of noble and ancient Blood, but as empty of Riches; therefore calling them to him, he began, by his Predecessours example, to give them Offices, Places, and Dignities, but with a certain moderation, and not precipitating his Favours, as the others had done, but giving to day one thing, and to morrow another, he contented them all without scandal.

In his first promotion of Cardinals, he created two of his Nephews, _viz. Pietro Aldobrandino_, his Brothers Son, and _Cintbio Passero di Sinigaglia_, his Sisters Son; and with the help of these two, the Pope did govern all the Church Affairs, desiring every thing should pass by their hands, particularly through Cardinal _Pietro Aldobrandino_, whom he lov’d most cordially, calling him, _the Idol of his heart_; and often, for fear of contradicting him, he would let him do as he listed.

The charge of General of the Church, was given to _Giovanni Francesco Aldobrandino_, another of his Nephews; in which place he enjoyed, not only all of the Prerogatives and Priviledges that had been granted to the other Nephews of Popes, but besides, his Holiness encreased his pay by two thousand Crowns a year, and invented new priviledges for him.

In the year 1595. he bought the Marquisat of _Meldola_, which he bestowed upon _Octavio Aldobrandino_, another of his Nephews, declaring him absolute Soveraign of the said place; but yet made him stay in _Rome_, that he might be at hand, & lose no occasions of getting something else from him: at last _Alfonso d’ Este_, last Duke of Ferrara, happening to dye in the year 1597. the Pope thought to take this Principality for himself, as being devolv’d to the Church, and resolv’d to give the investiture to his Nephew _Octavio_; so having held a publick Consistory, in which he declared, that the Dutchy of _Ferrara_ was become the Churches patrimony; and immediately ordered Cardinal _Aldobrandino_ to raise a powerful Army, and put himself in possession of the said Dutchy, by driving out _Cesar_ of _Este_, who was Heir by the Will of the late Duke, and was actually in possession: But the Pope pretended, that he being a Bastard, was incapable of inheriting.

The Cardinal soon got together a great Army, and so frighted _Don Cesar_, that he was forced to fly to _Modena_, and leave _Ferrara_ to the Pope; and the Cardinal _Aldobrandino_, after some Articles agreed on between his Uncle and _Don Cesar_, entred the place, and took possession of it in the name of the Church, with little joy to the Inhabitants, who lost a good Master to fall into the hands of Church-men, who change every day their Governours.

As soon as the news of the rendition of _Ferrara_ came to the Popes ears, he began, by all means, to procure the investiture for his Nephew _Octavio_, for whom he thought the Marquisat of _Meldola_ but inconsiderable.

But he met with a strange repugnancy in all the Cardinals for his design; they having, by a common consent and union, resolved to oppose the Popes desire, and not endure, that the Church should be depriv’d of so considerable a City, which it had but newly acquired.

The Pope foreseeing, by this reluctancy of the Cardinals, that it was a business hardly to be carried in a publick Consistory, forbore to speak of it there, but took another course; for calling the Cardinals one by one into his chamber, he there signified to them his desire; but they all refused to consent, or be any wayes accessary to the alienating so considerable a piece of the Popedome. So that the Pope thought it was not safe to do it without them, and by force, for fear of leaving his Nephew involv’d in a continual War, against all the succeeding Popes, and _Don Cesar_: and therefore he resolv’d to go in person, and take possession in the name of the Church.

A little after, he made another of his Nephews Cardinal, who was _Silvestro Aldobrandino_, Prior of _Rome_, to whom he gave an infinite number of Benefices. Thus _Clement_ did every day do his endeavour to procure riches for his Family, either in lands or moveables, who of their side were as ready to receive, as their Uncle could be to give, particularly when it was ready money.

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_Leo_ the eleventh, who succeeded to _Clement_, had not the same good fortune; for being chosen in the year 1665. he liv’d but five and twenty dayes: In which time he projected much, but executed little; amongst other things, he gave out, that his design was not to advance his kindred, but only to continue them in their quality, and make their Estates plentiful and easie; which is a certain moderation, which most of the Popes do affect to shew in their first administration of the Popedom; for even _Sixtus_ the fourth, who gave with so profuse a hand, did still pretend, that he did nothing but what was lawful, and to the advantage of the Church.

This Pope had many Relations in the Family of the _Medici_, but in that branch which was not come to be Princes; but his Darling amongst them, was _Alexander Medici_, son to his brother _Bernardetto_, which _Alexander_ had a son of twenty years old, called _Octaviano_, which was the Popes Fathers name: Whereupon the Pope sent for him, with an intention to make him Cardinal, and keep him by him: but the very same day that he came to _Rome_, the Pope dyed, without being able to promote him to that degree of honours which was a great affliction to all the kindred.

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Now let us speak of _Paul_ the fifth, of the Family of _Borghese_, made Pope in 1605. who in an instant filled _Rome_ with _Borgheses_.

The Pope was of a most kind nature, and particularly to his kindred; amongst whom, while he was Cardinal, he was wont to spend all his Revenue; but his greatest passion was for _Scipion Carafelli_, his Sisters son, whom he had brought up from a child; and him he made Cardinal, as soon as he was made Pope himself, giving him the name of Cardinal _Borghese_; by which name he was ordinarily called, and did subscribe himself.

This Cardinal, was the interpreter of his Uncles mind, the Mediator of his favours, and the Coadjutor in all weighty matters of the State and Church: They that expected any kindnesses from the Pope, were not to purchase them any other way, then by the means of him, who commanded and governed the Pope and all things.

The Pope, desiring to follow his Predecessours steps, and employ his private riches to the publick ornament of the City, took care to provide his Ecclesiastical Nephews of Benefices and Church lands; and his secular Kinsmen of Places and Dignities, as they became vacant.

The plenty, into which this Pope brought his Family, was such, that they themselves did scarce know how to dispose of it, there flowing in upon them, every day, vast sums of money from all parts of the world, to procure, by their means, the Popes favour: Whereupon they, seeing no end of their riches, began, out of a complacence to the Popes humour (who delighted in the ornament of the City) to build certain publick Edifices, so noble and stately, that the King of _France_, who hath a Kingdom so rich, and powerful, and hereditary, would scarce have undertaken the like, at the expence of his whole Kingdom.

The Cardinal begun the Fabrick of that _Palazzo Borghese_, in the _Campo Martio_, which is not yet ended; and to perfect it, according to the first design, it would require the value of half the Churches Territories; nay, it is said, that in the foundation alone, were spent above two hundred thousand Crowns, for they were fain to demolish great numbers of houses, and level hills, before they could bring the ground to that true evenness, which the design required.

The Popes brothers began two Country houses of pleasure at the same time, one hard by _Rome_, and a little without the _Porta Ponciana_; the other at _Frascati_, in the little hills called _Mendragone_: and we may easily conclude what treasure was expended in these, by what the _Spanish_ Ambassadour said one day to a Gentleman of the Family of _Borghese_, who waited upon him thither; for the Gentleman having shewed one of these houses, asked his opinion of it? and had for answer these words, _My King would not have undertaken in such calamitous times as these are_, _so great a fabrick for his diversion in_ Madrid.

His Holiness was so overjoyed, to see such princely inclinations in his kindred, that he did nothing but study night and day, how he should enrich them more and more. ’Tis true, he needed not to trouble himself much; for his Cardinal _Borghese_; who had the Popedom at his disposition, took all the incomes for himself, and the Family of the _Borgheses_, allowing the Pope a small matter, to please himself with the mending of a Street, or a Church, or some publick Edifice; this Pope having surpassed all his Predecessors, in erecting new Edifices, and procuring by all wayes the ornament of the City.

In those dayes the _Nipotismo_ was most triumphant, all the former Popes Nephews having never been invested with so absolute an authority, as that of the Cardinal _Borghese_, and the rest of his Nephews.

_Paul_ lived sixteen years in the Chair of the Popes, so that the _Nipotismo_ had time to give root and foundation to their greatness, as indeed they did, but forgot to strike a nail into the Wheel of Fortune, to hinder it from turning about; and therefore not long after, it began to slide downwards, as we shall declare in time and place.

At last, in the year 1621. _Paul_ dyed, to the great grief of the _Romans_, who lamented very much his loss; and indeed he was a very good Pastour, though he were a little too liberal of the Wool of his Flock to his Kindred; for he left to the Prince of _Salmona_ alone his Nephew, above a hundred thousand Crowns yearly revenue; to the Cardinal as much, besides the vast sums of money layed out in those Buildings we have mentioned; they were thought also, to have vast sums of ready money, unknown to their Uncle; the Cardinal alone being supposed to have above a million in _specie_: So that _Paul_ left not a farthing to the Church.

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His Successour was _Gregory_ the fifteenth, of _Bologna_, of the noble Family _Ludovisio_, pretty rich, but very abundant in Relations and Kindred.

This Pope, before he began to mannage the publick Affairs of _Christendom_, resolved first to establish the particular Interest of his House and Family; therefore having seen the example of _Leo_ the tenth, who by reason of the shortness of his life, could not bestow the dignity of Cardinal upon any of his Relations; three dayes after his creation, he made _Ludovico Ludovisio_, his brothers son, Cardinal; and the same day he made _Ocatio Ludovisio_, his brother, General of the Church, though he were absent; and as soon as he came to _Rome_, he made him Duke of _Fiano_, and assigned him other Lands bought with the Churches money.

The same day he distributed amongst some other Nephews, many considerable Offices, both within and without _Rome_, though most of those, upon whom they were conferred were absent, so that it may be said of the _Nipotismo_ of this Pope that it was great almost before it was born, or at least in its cradle, entring into power and command before it entred into _Rome_.

The Cardinal _Ludovisio_ was he that governed the weighty Affairs, his Uncle depending upon him most absolutely; so that often of Negotiations, and Court business, he would communicate little or nothing to the Pope; and when his Uncle, out of curiosity, would sometimes go about to inform himself how things stood; his Nephew would presumptuously answer him, and say, _What need you trouble your head_, _eat and drink_, _and let me alone to serve you_.

Every step of this Cardinal was towards the advancement of his Family; and the Pope, not only did let him alone, but would often exhort him to make hast, least of a sudden he should be depriv’d of the means: which fell out; for the Pope liv’d but seven and twenty moneths; in which time, the _Ludovisi_ minded their business so well, that at their Uncles decease they had amongst them, two hundred and fifty thousand Crowns yearly revenue, besides ready money, and that which they spent in publick buildings: So that this _Nipotismo_ does deserve the title, of the most subtle & diligent of all the precedent _Nipotismo’s_, if we consider the proportion of their riches, and measure the shortness of the time that they were purchased in.

With all this they much studied publick applause, and to gain to themselves the good will of the people, and _Roman_ Nobility; shewing great respect for them, and offering their service willingly upon all occasions. ’Tis true, there was not much credit given to these demonstrations, because that the _Romans_ were already accustomed to see such Scenes of dissimulation: But nevertheless, their Uncle, neither alive nor dead was not prosecuted with _Pasquinades_; his government, or rather his Nephews, having not been so tyrannical as covetous. And since the _Romans_ leave them in peace, so will we too, and conclude this book with the death of _Gregory_ the fifteenth.

The THIRD BOOK.

The Contents.

_IN which is treated_, _of the election of_ Urban _the eighth to the Popedome_. _Of the creation and disposition of Cardinal_ Barbarino _a_ Capucin. _Of the Places and Offices given to_ Don Tadeo. _Of the promotion of the two Brothers_, Francesco _and_ Antonio Barbarini, _to be Cardinals_. _Of their avidity in getting money_. _Of some Prelates offended and moved to indignation_, _to see that their services were so little recompenced by the Pope_. _Of the Cardinal_ Filomarini, _made __Arch-Bishop_ of Naples. _Of the inclination of the_ Barbarini, _to carry all things with a high hand_. _Of some Pasquins made against them_. _Of the great hatred the_ Romans _did bear them_. _Of the design of the_ Barbarini _to make themselves great Princes_. _Of the Title of Cardinal_ Padrone _given to_ Francesco Barbarino. _Of the Duke of_ Parma _his journey to_ Rome. _Of the title of Eminency given to the Cardinal_. _Of the great riches the_ Barbarini _were in possession of after the death of_ Urban. _Of the reasons_, _why Cardinal_ Francesco Barbarini _might hope to be Pope_. _Of there being three Cardinals of this name all at a time_. _How_ Innocentius _the tenth was_ Urban’s _Successour_. _Of all that passed about the Cardinalship_, _marriage and banishment of the Prince_ Pamphilio, _the Popes Nephew_. _Of the authority and government of_ Donna Olympya: _and of her may treating affairs_. _Of_ Innocentius’s _nearest Relatives_. _Of the promotion of_ Astalli _to the Cardinalship_. _Of the Railleries_, _Pasquins_, _and Discourses_, _that were held about this promotion_. _Of_ Astalli his banishment, and _the promotion of_ Azzolini. _Of_ Innocentius, _and the assumption of_ Alexander _to the Popedome_. _Of Don_ Mario’s _journey towards Rome_, _stopped by an express order from the Pope_. _Of the affront that_ Don Mario _received_, _in being forced to return to_ Siena. _Of the honour that the Popes kindred did receive in Siena_. _Of the respect showed them by the State of_ Venice, _and the great Duke of_ Tuscany. _Of the Popes resolution to receive none of his kindred in_ Rome. _Of some presents sent to_ Don Mario _and_ Don Agostino, _in_ Siena. _Of the Popes design and purpose to call all his Relations to_ Rome: _and of all that past in the execution of it_. _Of an Event full of curiosity_, _about the History of the Council of_ Trent, _made by Father_ Palavicino, _a Jesuite_. _Of the murmurs and Pasquins of the_ Romans _too_, _when they saw the_ Nipotismo _in possession of the Church and City_. _Of the number of the Popes Relations_. _Of the Offices_, _charges and places that they possess_, _and by what means they grow rich_. _Of the jealousie that is between them_. _Of_ Don Agostino _his marriage_. _Of the great affection the Pope bears him_. _And of some other particularities full of curiosity and policy_.

ALL that we have hitherto related, is nothing but the Vigil or Eve of the _Nipotismo_; now begins the Festival day, in the time of _Urban_ the eighth, of the Family of the _Barbarini_, who succeeded _Gregory the_ fifteenth, contrary to every bodies expectation, in the year 1623. in the month of _August_.

As soon as the news of his Elevation came to _Florence_, those few remnants of the Family, who were then under the protection of the great Duke, flew, like so many Bees to _Rome_ (and the Bees are the _Barbarini’s_ Coat of Armes) to suck the Honey of the Church, but they left not behind them their Stings, wherewithall in sucking it, they stung it most bitterly.

_Urban_ in the beginning, shewed not much tenderness for his kindred, though he did openly own, that he would call them about him: And indeed, in this his beginning, and as it were the blossom of his Popedom, he did one of the worthiest actions of his life, which was the giving of a Cardinals Cap to _Francesco Barbarini_, his Nephew, a Personage truly worthy so great an honour being endowed with the singular qualities of an exemplary life and integrity, which made him worthy, and more then worthy, of the Popedom it self.

The year after, which was 1624. he made Cardinal, his brother, that was a _Capucin_, and went by the name of brother _Antony Barbarin_, whom the Pope loved entirely; he gave him the title of Cardinal of Saint _Oposrius_, but he had been so accustomed to the strictness of a _Capucines_ life, that being raised to this great dignity, he demeaned himself with the same meanness as before; he had much ado to custom himself to that great Cope which the Cardinals wear; neither would their wide large Sleeves agree with him, and he had given order to have them made close and streight, after the _Capucins_ fashion: But that that was most ridiculous was, that when he saluted any body, instead of putting off his Hat, he would only put it back with a nod, as the Monks do their Hoods; so that once, in the presence of the Venetian Ambassadour it fell backwards; to the ground, with no small laughter of the Assistants: Thus he was the diversion of the whole Colledge of Cardinals.

_Don Tadeo_, the Popes other brother, was made General of the Churches Forces, Prefect of _Rome_ and in the long reign of his brother, had so many Civil and Military Offices conferr’d upon him, that he could not remember them himself; the rather, because that he never car’d to exercise the functions of them, so he might receive the revenue, which he forgot not to put up carefully; that is, in a word, he took a good account of the profit, but could give none of the satisfying the obligation those Offices laid upon him.

In the year 1668. the seventh of _February_, the Pope, that he might more and more fortifie the Family of the _Barbarines_, created another Cardinal of that name, _viz. Antonio Barbarino_, _Francesco’s_ brother, under the title of _Santa Maria in Aquino_.

These two brothers, though elevated to the same dignity, were nevertheless of a different humour; for one made it his business, to edifie the publick by good actions; and the other, did nothing but scandalize all the world by his vicious deportments; insomuch, that whosoever will weigh the vertues of the one against the vices of the other, shall see, that the ill actions of Cardinal _Antonio_, are far heavier then the good ones of his brother, though his brothers piety be very great.

’Tis true, that when once Cardinal _Antonio_ began to frequent the _French_, that he changed, as it were his nature, for of a covetous hater of Learning, he became a generous promoter of Ingenuity, and very officious to all sorts of persons; so that now we may say, that he is a noble Prince, and a good Cardinal, whereas before he was esteemed an ill bred Gentleman, and a wicked Cardinal, and as much blame and dishonour as he contracted then, so much reputation and credit hath he now gained.

_Urban_ in the beginning shew’d a most exact diligence, in the government of the Church; and in truth, Cardinal _Francesco_, and he, did take no small pains in reforming the abuses, as well of the Clergy and Monks, as of the Court and temporal administration; so that forraign Princes and Nations were very much edified, by the Popes zeal, and Cardinal _Francesco_ his sincerity, by which he did endeavour to please every body.

But after five or six years time passed thus in the continual cares of the Pontificat, he began to grow weary, not of doing good, but of doing it so often; therefore leaving the mannagement of the most important Affairs to his Nephews, he began to take his ease, and they taking possession of business, did at the same time engross their Uncles inclinations and intentions, that they did, as it were, bind his will to theirs.

Then the desire of growing rich did so blind them, that night and day they did think of nothing else, but of the means to make themselves Princes eternize their family, and fill their Coffers with treasure.