I. Giovanni Carlo de Medici.

THE Prince Giovanni Carlo de Medici is Brother to the great Duke of Toscan, and Nephew to the Cardinal Carlo de Me­d ci, at this day called the Car­dinal of Toscan. He was promoted by In­nocent the tenth in the first Promotion, to­gether with his Holyness Nephew, at the instance of the great Duke, and the Car­dinal aforesaid. He is a Prince of no mean Understanding, and an expert Souldier, [Page 2]but more at Sea than on Land, because he was for some time imployed in the charge of Generalissimo at Sea, commanding the Catholique Fleets; for which cause he alwaies hath been, and will be, most devo­ted to the House of Austria; besides the open profession all his House makes there­of, which live under the protection of that Crown. He is a jovial Lord, and loves Women a little too much. He is by nature Covetous, nothing Bountifull, but rather Niggardly. All the House of Medici is no great friend of the Family of the Barba­rini, for divers publique, and private causes, and in particular for the War made with those Princes, to all the world known.

II. Domenico Cecchini.

DOmenico Cecchini, a Roman Gentle­man, about fifty three years of age: He hath been long a Prelate, and alwayes held good correspondence with the Car­dinal Pamphilio, who coming to be Pope promoted him joyntly, though he did not [Page 3]name him in the first Promotion; but he was the first named in the second. Before he was Cardinal, his Holyness conferred upon him the charge of Datarie Aposto­lical; an Office verily of great profit, which he exercises still now that he is Cardinal. He is a Learned man, and well verst in the matters of the Court. It is said, that this Cardinal was promoted by his Holyness, to gratifie him for some services he had done him in divers occurrences, and particularly in the sute depending be­tween the Marquess Giustiniano, and his Father; for that he had twice pronounced Sentence in favour of the Marquess, Ne­phew to his Holyness; besides several o­ther causes, for which he merited the Popes grace. This personage is old, but not enough for the Papacy. He is a man Affable, Prudent, and repleat with Vir­tuous qualities. In the time of his Prelate­ship he was alwaies accounted Just, no notable defect being known in him. When he was young he took some recreation, but without scandal; howbeit now that he is Cardinal, he shews himself more lasci­vious, although he thinks his secrets & in­telligences are not penetrated into, whilst he is very much pleased with women. He [Page 4]pretends enough unto the Papacy, is well looked upon in the Court, being loved, and reverenced of all, and maintains him­self neutral.

III. Nicolò Albergati.

NIcolò Albergati of the Bolognese Nobi­lity, forty years of age: He was Arch­bishop of Bologna, which dignity was re­signed unto him in the beginning of the Papacy of Innocent the tenth by the Car­dinal Colonna, being so charged with Pen­sions, that of the great Revenues of that Church the poor Lord could hardly re­ceive two thousand Crowns a year. The Prince Lodovisio, who took to Wife the Popes Niepce, was desirous to have a Car­dinal in his House for the new raising up the memory of his decayed Family; but because he had no Brothers, nor other Kinsmen, he besought his Holyness to grant him the grace to make the sayd Ni­colò Albergati, his Cousen by a Feminine line, Cardinal, and with a Brieve declare him Brother to his Excellency, upon con­dition that he should call himself the Car­dinal [Page 5] Lodivisio, as accordingly his Holy­ness vouchsafed to gratifie him. The said Prince is since dead without Heirs, so that the Lodovisian Family remains extinct. The Cardinal aforesaid is very poor, and therefore is now relieved, and lodged, as the Prince's Brother, in his house. When as he was going to the residence of his Church, the Pope ordained him to pass by Florence, with the title of Legat Aposto­lical, and there in the name of his Holy­ness to Christen a Son that was born to the great Duke; in which voyage he was by him sumptuously entertained, and after­wards, at his departure from that City, he was by his Highness presented with very fair, and rich Hangings of Tapestry; and his servants also with great gifts; but when his Eminencie would in some sort have recompenced the same to his High­ness Courtiers, they were expresly forbid­den by him from taking of any thing. This Cardinal is of great understanding, rarely qualified, and of an holy conver­sation, never omitting any Function which is to be performed by him in his Church; and being of an Exemplary life, he is much esteeemed of by all the City. I am perswaded, that he will continually [Page 6]maintain himself in that conceit, which he hath at this present, that at length he may become Pope; and that happning, he would make the Church happy. He is affected to the Crown of Spain, for that the Prince Lodovisio was much inte­ressed with that Majesty, in regard all his Estate lay in the Kingdome of Naples. The French will much oppose him for di­vers respects; the chief are, because he is of the Spanish Faction; and that which is of greater consequence, for that the said French have deprived the Prince Lodovi­sio his Brother, of the Principality of Pi­ombino, which his Excellency bought of King Philip the fourth for the summe of five hundred thousand Crowns; and now it is said, that they will confer it on the Father of the Cardinal Mazarino.

IV. Horatio Ginstiniano.

HOratio Giustiniano, seventy yeares of age, and Father of the Congregation of the Lord Philippo Neri: He is by birth a Genouese, and Cousen to the deceased Marquess, Giustiniano, whom he perswaded to make the present Prince his heir, at such time as he served him in the place of his Chamberlain, though he were far from that Line, seeing the Prince is a native of Sicilia, and the deceased Marquess was a Genouese. In the beginning of the Papacy of Innocent the tenth, it was held for an undoubted matter of every one, that the Prince would demand the Scarlet Gown, either for his Father, or his Brother; how­beit they were not onely not promoted, but by an Order, ore tenus, of his Holyness, they were banished from Rome, with a De­claration that they should return into Si­cilia, their country: And what was the occasion of these motives could not be truly penetrated into; but for so much as I can understand, it was, because the Fa­ther of the said Prince having cōmenced a [Page 8]sute against his Son, upon pretence that he was to administer the goods which the Marquess had left behind him, against the will of his Holyness, who, in the time when he was Cardinal, had with reitera­ted instances prayed him to desist from his pretension, but with much arrogance he went peevishly on in his obstinate pur­pose. The Prince, as it is sayd, out of his gratitude to his benefactors, demanded the Scarlet Gown for Giustiniano, who had besides been an intimate friend of his Ho­lyness whilst he was Cardinal. He is a man old in years, of good conversation, affable of access, and of an exemplary life, but of mean understanding, and pretends not much to the Papacy; wherefore he declares not himself of any Faction, re­maining independent and neutral. He seldom cuts his Beard, it may be for that he would seem older than he is. He is a poor Cardinal, having nothing else, than that his poor Patrimony, which he enjoyes in his Congregation, and what he comes to be supplyed with by his Holyness. He is Bishop of Nocera in Umbria. He would not be any good Pope, either for the poor, or for the people, since, as a Genouese, he would encrease Taxes and Impositions. This [Page 9]Cardinal is not much favoured in the sa­cred College; and although he shews himself neutral, yet is he inwardly much devoted to the Catholique King, but out­wardly is French. Our holy Father hath declared him grand Penitentiary.

V. Cibò.

CIbò, thirty five years of age: He was a Prelate, and Sonne to the Prince of Massa & Canara, and as soon as the Cardi­nal Pamphilio was made Pope, his Holyness declared him Steward of the Apostolical Palace; and because the said Cibò his Palace was near unto that of his Holynes, he made him a liberal tender thereof, to the end he might enlarge it with his, but the Pope re­fused to accept of it as a gift, but took it by way of sale; the rather, because that Palace was subject to a strict Feoffment in trust. The said Cibò held great correspon­dence of friendship and confidence with the abovesaid Pamphilio, who knowing his merit, did in contemplation of Innocent the eighth, of the most noble Family of the [Page 10] Cibòes in Genoua, that was the original of the greatness of the Pamphilian. House, by ex­alting that Family unto Ecclesiastical dig­nities and Prelatures, promote him the sayd Cibò to the Scarlet Gown; and for that cause also took upon him the name of In­nocent the tenth. This young Cardinal is of much integrity, virtue, and goodness of life. He hath in all the time of his Pre­lateship alwayes imitated the behaviour and carriage of the Cardinal Pamphilio, re­tiring himself not onely from universal commerce, but also from that of Prelates, except it be in urgent occasions. He is by nature Studious, and little given to Mirth, but is much delighted with hearing of Musique. He is devoted to the House of Austria, for that his Progenitors lived un­der the protection of that Crown. He is loved, and well regarded, as well by the Pope, as by all the sacred College. He pretends enough to the Papacy, for which end, it is believed, he lives so retired.

VI. Pier Luigi Caraffa.

PIer Luigi Caraffa was by Urban the eighth made Bishop of Tricario in Rego; and afterwards by the same Pope sent Nuntio into Germany, and to Liege in Elan­ders; at which time Sachetti, the Bishop of Gravina, was by him also sent into Spain, with a purpose to promote both of them to the Scarlet Gown; but at the instance of the Colonnesi, Caraffa remained exclu­ded, Sachetti being onely promoted: And after he had abode a long time in that his employment of Nuntio he was recalled to the Court, where the poor Lord thought to receive the due reward of his labours; And being arrived at Rome, after his con­tinuance there some weeks, he resolved cunningly to try his fortune, by craving leave, as he did, to go unto his Residence, to the end that by the answer the Pope should give him, he might conjecture what his good, or bad disposition was towards him, and so might afterwards direct his life accordingly: But Urban, not onely gave him his benediction with both hands, but [...] [Page 12]sayd unto him, My Lord, goe the more cheer­fully, because we will not forget your deserts; Which Caraffa hearing, absented himself from the Court, and arriving at his Resi­dence, he never went from it, untill his Holyness, after some ten or eleven years past of his Papacy, caused him to be called to the Court in the year 1642. so as all the world was perswaded, that it was to pro­mote him unto the Scarlet Gown; but be­ing arrived there, it was published, that he was come to visit the Temple of the Apostles; and not called by his Holyness; and the occasion thereof was, because the Colonnesi, foreseeing that the Scarlet Gown was designed for him, upon his arrival, re­turned anew to press the Pope, that he should not promote him; and among the rest Donna Anna Barbarina, Wife to Don Tadeo, went unto him, and with reiterated prayers, and much weeping, perswaded Urban not to make him Cardinal, as indeed he did not. But Urban himself repented him of it, for he was heard one day to ut­ter these precise words, God forgive him, who was the cause, that I did not make Pier Luigi Caraffa Cardinal; and this he sayd many times, according to report: howso­ever he was fain to goe away from Rome, [Page 13]as he came: but Innocent the tenth, when as in the second Promotion he promoted his Nephew, gave him the Scarlet Gown, because he knew him worthy of that dig­nity; and Caraffa himself expected it from his hands, as soon as he heard of his Holy­ness assumption to the Papacy; for he well remembred these words which he spake to him, when as in the time of Urban he was departing towards the Residence of his Church; My Lord, it grieves me much, that your Lordship goes from Court with so little satisfaction, not having received the deserved reward of your labours. Unto whom Caraffa answered, I will pray our Lord God, that he will make me worthy to receive it from your hands; to this Pamphilio replyed, I have no such pre­tension, but be assured if it should happen to be so, you shall be one of the first I will think upon; as indeed it fell out; for after the promotion of his Nephew, he was the next that he gave the Hat unto, being at that time in his bishoprick of Tricaria: and besides his Merits, there was a certain obligation of kindred between them; for whilst Inno­cent was a Prelate, and Nuntio at Naples, having brought along with him thither all his Family, together with his brother and his wife, his Nephew, called Camillo Pam­philio, [Page 14]the now Husband of the Princess Rossano, was born in the sayd city of Naples, and the Prince Don Tiberio Caraffa, this Cardinals brother, was his Godfather. This person is most deserving, both for his own good qualities, and the services he hath done to the Apostolick Sea. He is exceeding well verst in all matters of the Consistories and Congregations; his Votes are held in great esteem, and the Pope makes much account of him; so doth the sacred College, and every one else. He is a man of approved goodness of life, and hath alwayes shunned conversations for the avoyding of scandals; he seeks, as much as may be, to live retired, devout­ly reverencing God, and making all his Family to doe the like; and it is held for certain, by them which know him, that he is still a Virgin. This Cardinal hath in the sacred College no Enemies, either secret or open, unless it be the Colonnesi, who, as before, would not have had him Cardinal, so doe they not now for certain desire he should rise to the Papacy, but will use all their force and power to keep him from it. He would be a good Pope, for the benefit, not onely of the Ro­man Church, but of all Christendome. He [Page 15]hath many, and divers Nephews, but the most beloved, and nearest to him, are the Sonnes of the Count Celano, of the House of Piccolomini; and those of the Marquess of Ansé: Howbeit if ever he should come to be Pope, Teatino would be the reigning Cardinal, unto whom he hath resigned the Bishoprick of Tricario; a man Learned, of good Life, and great Authority. The Prince of Bisignano, Don Tiberio Caraffa, his Brother, is Knight of the Golden-Fleece. He is curteous, affable, of an exemplary life, and very charitable, so that for his noble qualities he is well looked upon, and universally beloved of all the City of Naples, which calls him Pater Patriae, for that he favours the poor so much.

VII. Federico Sforza.

FEderico Sforza, four and forty years of age, a Roman Nobleman, and Brother to the Duke of that Surname. He was a Prelate in the College of the participa­ting Protonotaries in the time of Urban, and had no other imployment than to be [Page 16]Vice-Legat in Avignon, being sent thi­ther by the Cardinal Antonio the Legat, with an intent to promote him also to the Cardinalship, but it did not follow for some private interests. Innocent the tenth, for that he would not see a House so renowned, and so well affected unto him, to be without the Scarlet Gown, made him Cardinal. He is a man of good under­standing, but not very rich, and therefore somewhat miserable. His Holyness after the flight of the Cardinal Antonio made him Vicechamberlain of the holy Church. He is a jovial Lord, loves Comedies and Feasts; and in particular when he was a Prelate, he delighted much in company. His Inclination is French for two reasons; the first, because he was Vice-Legat at A­vignon; and the second, for that there is continually seen in his Palace great store of French; but he seems to be neutral, ex­cept it be for the Pope: Others say, that he will become Spanish, in regard of the feudes, and estates, which Duke Sfor­za, his brother, possesseth in the State of Milan; being lately too left heir of many Gastles by the death of a Milanese Lord, his Kinsman. He is no great friend of Cardinal Antonio, because he caused [Page 17]him, upon hope of making him Cardinal; to sell him at a very low rate the Palace of Sforza's Court, since called Cardinal An­tonio's; but being afterwards given by the said Antonio to the Queen of France, it is now named the Royal Palace, where the Ambassador of the most Christian King resides; and where also the Princes and Lords that come out of France doe usually lodge.

VIII. Tiberio Cenci.

TIberio Cenci, a Roman, fifty five years old; he was a Bishop, and promoted to the Scarlet Gown at the instance of the Prince Borghese, Nephew to Paul the fifth, as the nearest of his Kinsmen that was ca­pable of that dignity, for that there was none other of the house of Borghese which was fit, and of age to receive the Hat. He was poor, and therefore was assisted with a good sum of money by the sayd Prince, who offered him for his habitation the lodgings of the Cardinal Borghese in his own Palace; but he was thanked by Cenci, [Page 18]without accepting thereof, saying, that he would make use of his favour upon occasion; nevertheless the said Prince bestowed on him several suits of Tapestry hangings, and furnitures for chambers. The sayd Cenci is Nephew to Cardinal Lanti, in whose house he remained some time after he had reeeived the Scarlet Gown, but now he is removed into the house where Cardinal Pio dwelt, in the Cesarinies street. He is a person capable of being Pope, of some value, and well looked upon by the Court, but he is of no credit with the Princes, though he be a good man, as ha­ving been a long time exercised in the Congregation of the Lord Philippo Neri in the new Church. He hath no defect in him, and if he should live to a Conclave, he might likewise pretend to the Papacy, and the great Duke of Toscan would ayd him much, in regard he is the Kinsman of his Kinsmen; but I am perswaded, that whosoever shall goe about to raise him, will labour in vain, for that the memory is yet fresh of that cruell and infamous suc­cess happening unto the House of the Cenci, which I will not leave unrecounted. There were three children of the sayd House, one Daughter and two Sons, most [Page 19]noble Romans: whose Father being very rich, and well stricken in years, was so wretchedly covetous that he would allow his Sons in a manner nothing, nor marry his Daughter; who for her beauty was much desired, & sued unto by the best No­bility of Rome, because he would not part with money. This old man too was some­what crackt brain'd, so that he would oftentimes play many odde pranks; in re­gard whereof the Daughter one day call­ing her Nurse, sayd unto her, that they should doe well to take her Father, and throw him out of the window, for so he being dead they should be masters of all. The Nurse, together with one of the Sons, gave consent to her motion, and having accordingly put it in execution, they fell a weeping & crying out as soon as the deed was done, that the old man in one of his frantick fits had cast himself out of the window. This comming to the ears of the Magistrates, they were all three, together with the younger Son, committed to pri­son; and diligent inquisition being made on the body of the deceased, to see whi­ther by force he had been thrown out by others, or that he had precipitated him­self, there were signes found sufficient to [Page 20]put the delinquents to torture. Where­upon being examined, and comming to be rack'd, the young mayd, that was some sixteen years of age, suddenly confessed ever thing, which being acknowledged by the other two, they were condemned to death; and afterwards being brought to to the place of execution, the Maid and her Brother were both beheaded; and the other brother, that was in a manner but a child, and not reputed any way guilty, was onely made to stand under the Scaf­fold all the while. Now in regard of all this, I should think it a strange matter that ever this Cardinal should attain to the Papacy: howsoever he is a man affable, courteous in his dealings, and of a good disposition. He hath not declared him­self of any party, but professeth to be neutral.

VI. Benedetto Odeschalco.

BEnedetto Odeschalco, a Nobleman of the City of Milan, 45 years of age; he was a rich Prelate, and a long time courted Barbarino, out of a desire he had to be Clerk of the Chamber; which Don Barbarino pro­mised unto him, having to that effect re­ceived the money for it before hand; yet for all that he could never obtain his in­tent. But after the death of Urban, he fell to courting the Lady Olimpia, Sister-in-law to his Holyness, who reigneth at this pre­sent; and having divers times presented her with gifts, he at length got into her favour, and in particular by an action used by him, which is worthy to be noted; and it was this. Going one day, about the be­ginning of the Assumption of Innocent the tenth, to the house of the said Lady Olim­via, a Goldsmith came and shewed her a Cupbord of very fair Plate to sell; which she having viewed very well, in the pre­sence of the said Odeschalco, and other Lords, she said, that it was a curious and goodly Cupbord of Plate, but that she was [Page 22]a poor Widdow, and was not able to buy it; and saying so, past into her chamber. Whereupon Odeschalco calling the Gold­smith unto him, asked him what the price of it was; and being agreed, he paid him down eight thousand Crowns for it; then, without saying any thing else, he sent it in as a present from him to the said Lady O­limpia: who seeing so noble a gift, was so taken with it, that she went to the Pope, and begged of him for Odeschalco not only the Clerkship of the Chamber, but after­wards also the Scarlet Gown. This Car­dinal is of mean understanding, and though he hath spent much, yet he is rich, splendid, affable in his speech, and well affected to all the Pamphilian House. Whilst he was a Prelate he was much given to Sports, Comedies, and Feasts; now he ab­stains both from common commerce, and conversation. He is a vassal to the Catho­lique King, and therefore will be alwaies of the Austrian Faction, unless it bee when his Country shall change its Ma­ster.

Innocent the tenth hath in these Promo­tions created eleven Cardinals, and two Hats remained vacant; but by the death of the Cardinal Borgia in Spain, of the [Page 23]Cardinal Capucino in Rome, and also of the Cardinal Farnese, there comes to be five Hats vacant in the sacred Colledge.

X. Fabritio Savelli.

FAbritio Savelli, a Roman, and the son of Prince Savelli, Ambassacor in this Court for the Emperors Majesty. He is old in years, having served in the Wars of Germany with the title of General: He hath been oftentimes made a prisoner by the Switzers, and the last time that he was so, he corrupted his guard, and fled toge­ther with them to Rome; where rewarding them, he gave them a house and means to live withall. In the time of the War that Urban the eighth waged against the Princes of Italy, he was declared General of the Army that opposed the great Duke of Toscan, wherein he carryed himself some­what slackly, for that he might have dam­nified the enemy, and did it not; the rea­son of it was, because he considered the decrepit age of Urban, and the little time that he was likely to live; so that he held [Page 24]it no wisdom to make so potent a Prince, as he was, his enemy; wherefore he was called home from the Camp, and Don Ta­eo Barbarino, his Holyness Nephew, was sent thither as Generalissimo. This Fami­ly, both for the Antiquity and Nobility of it, enjoyes divers prerogatives and priviledges; amongst the which one is, that in the time of the vacancy of the Aposto­lick Sea, he keeps the Keyes of the Con­clave, and may for the guard of his per­son raise souldiers at the charge of the Chamber, so far forth as need shall re­quire: And he may also execute Justice on the lives, not only of private men, but likewise of those of quality; and in that of Urban the eighth, he committed to pri­son certain Registers, that by secret waies carried Letters into the Conclave to some Cardinals; and, it is said, that he sent them afterwards into the Galleys, having also threatned to hang them: Signior Giulca Donati, Auditor to Cardinal Antonio, was beheaded in the Castle of St. Angelo, for going about without leave to speak with the said Cardinal his Master; and to that effect are Gallows erected in St. Peters Piatza. This Family hath had two Popes, and a great many Cardinals; and it was [Page 25]verily beleeved, a little before Urban the eighths death, that the deceased Cardinal Savelli would have been Pope, because he was a man of an approved good life, cha­ritable, and indued with all the qualities appertaining to an high Bishop; and it was the rather so beleeved, for that in cer­tain mountainous places, as one goes to­wards the Sea-shore of Siena, there was a Marble stone found with an Epitaph upon it, which said, that in the year 1645. there should be a Pope of the house of Savelli, and in the very same stone were the armes of Savelli engraven. This Fabritio, whilst his Uncle the Cardinal lived, was called the Abbot Savelli; but his said Uncle be­ing Arch-bishop of Salerno, obtained leave to resign his Arch-bishoprick, to the end it might be conferred on his said Nephew Fabritio, as accordingly it was; and going afterwards to his Residence there, he car­ried himself in such sort, as he was well regarded by the people of that place: In process of time he began to grow so cove­tous, and desirous of gain, that he would not have stuck to have made away half a score men for money. It is not many moneths since he returned to the Court, where he abode till such time as he was [Page 26]promoted; for Innocent being as ardent in raising the Roman Nobility, as Urban was intent in depressing it, he held it inconve­nient, that so renowned a House should remain deprived of those honors, with which in times past they alwaies super­abounded; wherefore his Holyness made this Fabritio a Cardinal; who is a man of good conversation, amiable, gratefull, and very understanding; but with all he is proud, making little account of other Fa­milies. These Savelli are altogether Austri­an, and are of near of kin to the Cardinal Montalto, whose heirs they shall be after his decease; they are also allyed to the Orsini and Cesarini. This Cardinal is no great friend to the Ambassador of France, who affronted him by denying him audi­ence, because he went first to visit the Am­bassador of Spain.

XI. Francesco Cherubino.

FRancesco Cherubino da monte Bodio nella Marca; this man came privately to Rome, and served the Cardinal Pamphilio, at this present Pope; a long time, with great satisfaction to his Holyness: after­wards finding himself able for it, he put himself into the Prelacie, and having ex­ercised divers charges in the Ecclesiastical state, it fortuned that Don Pamphilio was made Pope, who out of gratitude to re­ward him, received him anew into his ser­vice in the Apostolical Palace, and decla­red him his secret Auditor: After some time of residence in the Apostolical Pa­lace, he was promoted to the dignity of Cardinal, with five others. This person is a man of ripe years, prudent, and affa­ble; divers will have him to be somewhat a kin to his Holyness. He hath great Pensions, is of a good disposition, and a friend to the poor: He is not much for the Princes, because he is a private man, but if he live, his Holyness, no doubt will confer on him some Apostolical, or Pro­vincial [Page 28]Legateship, to the end he may give a proof of his abilities.

XII. Christoffero Vidman.

CHristoffero Vidman, a native of the City of Venice; some will have him descen­ded of base parentage; and the truth is, his Ancestors were but mean persons, that in Venice made profession of Merchants Factors, who in process of time attaining to some wealth, began to trade in Mer­chandise themselves; whereby Giovanni Vidman, the Father of the now reigning Sons, got no ordinary riches, in such sort as he bought divers Castles and Lands in Carinthia and Ortenburg: His Sons were in number five, that is, Giovanni Paolo, which is dead, Lodovico, Martin, David, and Christofforo, the present Cardinal; who to­gether with his brother David came to Rome in the time of Urban, where Christoffe­ro, putting himself into the Prelacy, bought the Clerk of the Chambers place, and so began to make shew of the Talent [Page 29]which God had given him. Afterwards the Auditor of the same Chambers place being voyd, by Urbans promoting him that enjoyed it to the Scarlet Gown, the said Christofforo received that charge also, upon paying the usual price for it. But within a while Urban the eighth dyed, and Pamphilio, Innocent the tenth, was created Pope: who seeing the want the Chamber was in, supplyed it after the wonted man­ner, by selling the Offices of the Clerk and Auditor of the Apostolical Chamber, which Vidman possessed, who was there­fore promoted to the Scarlet Gown, toge­ther with the Lord Raggi, Treasurer Gene­ral of the holy Church, and four other persons, the seventh of October in the year 1647. This Cardinal is of a goodly pre­sence, of a lusty complexion, young, and one that loves the world. His Brother Da­vid is of the same condition he is of, de­lighting in Sports, Comedies, and Feasts, and that not without Women. They are now Gentlemen of Venice, to which Nobi­litie they attained by paying down an hundred thousand Duckats for it, accord­ing to the Decree made by that Repub­lique in the time of their necessities, oc­casioned by their War against the Turk. [Page 30]This Cardinal is of a good disposition, merry, facetious, amiable, friendly, and courteous, respecting every one, and ho­nouring them that honour him; he is also very splendid, so that he may well be said to be derived of the noble German and Ve­netian Nation.

XIII. Lorenzo Raggi.

LOrenzo Raggi, a Nobleman of Genoua of the new Nobility, Nephew to the de­ceased Cardinal of the same surname; which deceased Cardinal putting himself into the Prelacie in the time of Urban the eighth, bought the place of Clerk of the Chamber, as also that afterwards of Au­ditor of the same: And because he was not onely simple, but altogether ignorant, he was every where known to be such; for he never imployed himself in any other thing but in giving publique audience pro forma: His ignorance was openly dis­covered in all occasions, and in particular in a sute depending before him, where the Proctor of the one side, desiring to de­fend [Page 31]his Clients cause, found that the Auditor Raggi adhered to the adverse party, and therefore began to demon­strate unto his honourable Lordship many lively reasons for the maintainance there­of, alledging divers Authors, and in parti­cular said, that the Codice in such a Law made good his Plea. My Lord Raggi, in regard that which the Proctor affirmed was prejudicial to the party he favoured, conceived according to his ignorant opi­nion, that the Codice was some witness to be produced in judgement, and there­fore said unto the Proctor these precise words, I will throughly chastise this Codice; and then demanded of him where he was, because he would have him apprehended and sent to the Gallyes. The Proctor an­swered that he was to be found in his Cli­ents Advocates house; whereupon he commanded a Notary to send some Offi­cers along with the Proctor to the said Ad­vocates house, to apprehend the Codice; which being accordingly performed, the Codice was delivered unto them, who thought it was some prohibited book, and that therefore they were ordered to seize upon it; so they carried it to my Lord Raggi, who was then Auditor of the Cham­ber; [Page 32]and the Proctor being arrived there with them, opened the book, and found out the Law by him before cited; which Raggi seeing, remained like a statue, quite besides himself. Now the sport and pas­time that was made of this matter throughout the City came to the eares of Urban the eighth, who was ready to burst with laughing at it. Another time it hap­ned, that another Proctor came before him to defend another cause at his house, which was just opposite to the Capranick Col­lege, where were divers mad wags, who as often as they saw him look out of his window, cryed out, Bragone, bragone, that is, great breeches or slops; so that after he was made Cardinal, the common people ever after called him, as they had done, Bragone. Now whilst the Proctor was at­tentive in pleading of his cause, he an­swered the Scholars of the said Colledge, saying, the Galleys, the Galleys. The Pro­ctor beleeving that he spake in that man­ner against his Client, answered, My hono­rable Lord, the poor man, my Client, deserves not the punishment of the Galleys; but in the mean time Raggi, seeing those too inso­lent Scholars continue on still mocking him, cryed out with a loud voice, Not the [Page 33]Galleys, but the Gallows; which the Proctor hearing, said, as it were vext, My Lord, since you will needs send to the Galleys, and hang one that no waies deserves it, you may doe as you please; and so went away from him. Be­fore he was made Cardinal, he caused a Cardinals garments to be made for him, and putting them on, he walked up and down his house, and asked of his friends how they became him, and whether he did not walk gravely enough in them: And out of the great desire he had to be a Cardinal, he went one day to the Pope, who loved him for his harmless simplicity, and after he had kissed his foot, he said, Holy Father, make me a Cardinal, and so give satisfaction to the poor old man my Father. After he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown, he went to thank his Holyness, and imbra­cing him said, I cannot chuse but hugge and kiss you, for joy that you have made me a Cardinal. Pope Urban the eighth de­lighted so much in this man, as can hardly be exprest, the truth whereof doth appear by the effects; for he not onely made him a Cardinal, but also at his instance gave the Treasurorship General to Lorenzo Rag­gi, his Nephew; unto whom, for a closing up of all other his extravagancies, he said [Page 34]openly; Nephew, if you will arrive unto that which I have attained unto, you must labour to carry your self, and do as I have done. Whereat, not onely all the standers by, but even his Nephew himself, could not forbear laughing. Not long after the Treasurorship was conferred on Lorenzo, the Cardinal his Uncle died, and made his Brother, the Marquesse Raggi, his heir; for which cause there hath been a good while some distast between the two brothers, the Treasuror and the Marquess. The said Lorenzo Raggi was in the time of Urban Superintendant of the Impositions laid upon the State Ecclesiastical; during which charge of his, there fell out many disorders; for in the Barbarini War, the Souldiers could not have their pay; so that two dayes after Innocent the tenth was as­sumed to the Papacy, those Souldiers that were appointed for the guard of the Con­clave began to mutinie, because his Holy­ness having ordained that every one of them should have four moneths pay, and so be dismissed, Raggi would give them but two; wherewith they being very much incensed, fell furiously to assaulting the house he was in, which they sacked, and plundered all the money they found in it; [Page 35]chasing the said Raggi into Don Tadeos Pa­lace, where he shut up himself for fear of his life; but the souldiers besieged him in it, and were bringing two peeces of Can­non to beat down the gates, had not Inno­cent the tenth, newly elected, with his pru­dence given remedy thereunto. Howso­ever his Holyness was much offended with him for this business, and every body thought, that he would have deprived him of his charge, and made him resign up his Treasurors place; but after­wards, at the intercession of divers per­sons, the matter went no further, and in the end he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown in the secret consistory of the fourth of October 1647. This Cardinal is young, a­bout some five and twenty years of age, and of a good conversation, but ambitious, and covetous: He is not over-learned, nor ignorant, but holds the mean betwixt both.

XIV. Francesco Maidalchini.

FRancesco Maidalchini, a native of the City of Viterbo, and Nephew by her Brother to the Lady Olimpia, the Sister-in­law of Pope Innocent the tenth. This Car­dinal was a youth void of all manner of conversation, not being able to carry him­self with any civility; and therefore he was kept in a Colledge, to learn not onely humane letters, but also good manners. Suddenly, upon the making of Innocent the tenth Pope, the Lady Donna Olimpia, his Aunt, procured an Abbots place for him; with which he lived reasonably well, but altogether unknown to the world. After­wards, the Lord Camillo Pamphilio, Sonne to the same Lady Donna Olimpia, and the Popes onely Nephew, being promoted to the Scarlet Gown, it hapned, that by the death of the Prince Don Paolo Borghese, the Lady Donna Olimpia Aldobrandina, Princess of Rossana, his Wife, became a Widdow, with whose beauty and riches the Cardi­nal Pamphilio was so taken, as he abandon­ed the Scarlet Gown, and married her. [Page 37]But the poor Prince Don Camillo was much troubled thereupon, for that by the Papal Buls it was ordered, that the Cardinals which renounced their Hats, and took Wives, should not enter into the Roman Court for a certain prefixed time of some moneths: Howbeit he obeyed, in hope he should obtain of the Pope his Uncle a dispensation for his return unto the Court. But Donna Olimpia, his Mother, consider­ing, that if he and his Wife should come to abide in the Court, the authority and power which she had with the Pope might be disturbed, laboured with all her indea­vour to keep the Pope from permitting their return thither; saying, that it was not fit to have so many Olimpian Ladies in the Court, because one alone (meaning her self) was enough. This comming to the eares of the Princess, Don Camillo's Wife, she, as a Lady extracted of so illustrious an House, could not chuse but very much re­sent it, insomuch as she imparted it to many Cardinals of the Court; and the like did also the Prince Don Camillo her Hus­band, with threatning revenge. Which being understood by the widdow Mother, Donna Olimpia, who being of a man-like, bitter, and vindicative nature, was so pro­voked [Page 38]therewith, that hearing how his Holyness was minded to promote to the Scarlet Gown one of the House of Pamphi­lio, she went and so conjured him, as she diverted him from that purpose, and with­all drew him to promise to make the a­foresaid Francesco Maidalchini Cardinal, as accordingly he did in the Consistory of the seventh of October 1647. At which pro­motion, not onely the Court stood ama­zed, but all the forraign Princes likewise, who mightily blamed it: But it was brought to pass by the cunning of Donna Olimpia, to the end she might introduce him into the same command of the State Ecclesiastical, which Barbarino had enjoy­ed under Ʋrban the eighth; and having given a beginning unto it, in regard he was unfit for business, she, with the consent of his Holyness, put him under the schooling of the Cardinals Panzirolo and Cherubino, that he might be instructed by them in the affairs of the Court; and not contented herewith, she oftentimes solicited the Pope, because he had no Cardinal Nephew, to declare him for such, to no other end but to take away all hope from the Prince, her Son, and his Wife, of future authority and adherence, & his Holyness was enclined to [Page 39]condiscend thereunto. But it comming to the ears of the Nuns his Sisters, they all joyned together, with the Princess Lodovi­sia, the Prince Camillo's Sister, and going in great fury to the Pope, they with much resentment gave him to understand, that it was very inconvenient for him to declare any person of a strange Family Cardinal Nephew; and that yeelding thereunto, he would give all the world occasion to talk of it: and in this manner they drew his Holyness to promise them, that he would never permit any such thing. About the same time the Pope fell sick of a retention of urine, so that it was thought he would have dyed: whereupon the Prince Camillo went in secret to visit his Uncle, who re­ceived him very lovingly, and calling Cardinal Panziroli to him, he willed him to deliver unto the said Prince his Ne­phew the money that was in his keeping, which amounted unto two millions and an half; and then to keep the Mother from beng distasted at his coming to the Court, he caused it to be given out, that he was gone to Caprarola, whilst in the mean time he lay close in a private house unknown. But Donna Olimpia, understanding that the money was consigned unto the Prince her [Page 40]Son, took on so exceedingly at it, that she remained some daies sick therwith; for she verily beleeved that it should have come unto her hands, according to the hope his Holyness had given her of it; and they continue still with great disturbance a­mongst themselves, in the tearms whereof I have before given some hint. It is held for certain, that our Lord the Pope very much repented the promoting of Maidal­chini, in regard it is universally known how ignorant he is, being scarce able to talk; and therefore he is of so little esteem with the other Cardinals, that they make, as it were, a gaming stock of him. Besides, he himself never humours any one, nor re­turns a curtesie to any that honours him; and therefore he is accounted of according to his breeding.

Urban the eighth in divers promotions created the following Cardinals, besides many others which dyed, before and after the assumption of Innocent the tenth; but especially he gave the Scarlet Gown to the Cardinal Francisco Barberino, his Nephew, in the first Consistory that he held.

XV. Francesco Barberino.

FRancesco Barberino, a Florentine, and Nephew to the deceased Pope Urban the eighth, the Son of his brother. He was a man, during his Uncles being a Prelate, and a Cardinal, which one would hardly have vouchsafed to salute if he had met him in the streets of Rome; in so poor, and ill a plight he was; he went to school in the Colledge, where he was no better esteemed of then any one mean Artificers Sonne; so that he would have taken it for a great injury if any man had told him that he should have been the Popes Nep­hew: yet afterwards Fortune, which hath no measure in her doings, lifted him up so high, as to think of it onely makes people amazed, and besides themselves. The Car­dinals stood in the Conclave questioning about the making of a Pope, and after they had continued there a long time, be­ing much wearied, they resolved to elect such a person, as not onely was not capa­ble of the Papacie, in regard of his young years, but also that was not known to be [Page 42]of too stirring and high a spirit; insomuch as they all unanimously confessed, that when they were in the Conclave they ne­ver thought, nor ever came it into their minds, to assume such a person to the Pa­pacie: and after he was elected, that old wise Cardinal Crescentio cryed out in the same Conclave so lowd, that every one might hear him, saying, we have e­lected a piece of a Pope: which words ve­rily were worthy of consideration, and how they were afterwards made good in the time of his Papacie, every one may Imagine. At such time as Urban the eighth was elected, Francesco and Antonio were in the schools, when as a great clamor of voices were heard crying out, long live Pope Urban Barberino, and at the very same instant came many Princes, and a world of Caroches to take them from the schools, giving them the title of Excellen­cie, and reverencing them with great ho­nors. Francesco in the first Consistory, which his Holiness held, was created Car­dinal, and in regard his young age was too unapt for the government, the Pope gave him my Lord Filomarini for his Gover­nor, but with the title of Master of his Chamber, in which place he had served [Page 43]before the same Urban. Barberino as soon as soon as he saw himself to have attained to the credit of managing affairs, he ab­horred the conversation of Filomarini, in­somuch that he utterly declined it, and began to govern of himself, so far forth that out of his absolute arrogance and pride he usurped the Title of Cardinale Patrone, a Title verily which was never heard, nor ever will be heard, to be assu­med by any Popes Nephew. Some months after, Urban promoted Antonio to the Scar­let Gown, and then sent both of them Legates à Latere, Francesco into Spain, and Antonio into France; and one of them took upon him the protection of the one King­dome, and the other of the other. Fran­cesco afterwards had a large pension from the Catholique King, and made profession of obeying the commands of that Majesty. Urban for ten years together governed ab­solutely, in which time Francesco had not the power, as one may say, to raise up a straw from the ground, but those ten years once past, Urban fell to decline through age, and sickness, and then began he to lift up his head. This Cardinal had nothing else good in him but the gratify­ing a poor man, that in tomporibus had [Page 44]paid for a pot of Wine for him at the Ta­vern, whom he made Yeoman of his Horse. In the time of his Empire he dis­stasted all the Princes; and inprimis I may begin with the Emperor Ferdinand the se­cond, who upon his election to that State, sent the Prince of Egenberg to Rome for his Ambassador of obedience to the Pope, where being arrived, that which ensued thereupon is known to every one. The King of Spain was so affronted by him and his Uncle, as more could not be: for what greater affront can be done to a Crown, then to give for mony, and not other­wise, the Scarlet Gown to a deserve­ing person; such a one as the Abbot Pereti was, unto whom they denyed it, out of the inward hate that they bore him. They lent mony to the French, to the end they might make and continue Warre on the House of Austria; they gave aid against the State of Milan; used notable deceit in the disposing of Mantoua and Casale; caused the Marquess de los Velez, the Catholique Ambassador, to be assaulted by the French, and the Bishop of Amega the Portugal, who by force would have been acknow­ledged by the Ambassador, that reputed him a Rebel; and gave a world of disgusts [Page 45]besides, which to recount would take up a whole year. The King of France too, notwithstanding all the House of Barberini seem to be well affected to that Crown, hath had his share of disgusts from them; by delaying the demand of the Hat for the Cardinal Mazzarino; by the dishonor which Antonio did to his Ma­jesties Ambassador, in getting his daugh­ter with child under colour of friendship, and afterwards poysoning her, as it is ve­rily believed, at Caprarola; insomuch that the poor Lord not knowing else how to be revenged, was fain to serve under the command of the Duke of Parma in the War against the said Barberini. Then the distast which they gave not onely to the Ambassador Coure, but even to the most Christian King himself, by causing the head of Monsieur de Ronti, the said Am­bassadors Kinsman, to be strucken of by the hangman; and lastly the betraying of that Majestie in the Conclave, by helping to promote Pamphilio to the Papacie, whom the King desired to exclude. More­over the Internal and External disgusts, known to all, which they gave to the great Duke of Toscan, to the Duke of Par­ma, to the Duke of Modena, and to the [Page 46]Republique of Venice; by offering to take Borgo-sansepolcro from the great Duke; by taking from the Duke of Parma, Castro, Ca­pralo, Ronaglione, and other States, as also indeavouring to take from him likewise Parma, and Placentia, because he would not match with them; by making War on the Duke of Modena, upon their pretension to Comachio; and on the Republique of Venice, for to make them remove out of their Ducal Chamber the antient pictures of their Naval fight and Victory for the resti­tution of Pope Alexander the sixth to his former Estate. They denyed the King of Polana the Hat for Monsieur Vicconti; they suffered the Cardinal Orsino to affront the deceased Queen Mother of France in the person of her Agent; in Rome they annihi­lated the Nobility; heheaded the Marquess Manzioli, alias Bentivoglio, who having been prime Clerke of the Chamber, had resigned that office, and maried a wife, upon pretext that he had made a book a­gainst the Court of Rome; they put to death the Marquess Centini d' Ascoli in Cam­po de fiore, alledging that he had complot­ted against the life of the Pope, onely to disable his Uncle for the Papacie; they sent Anarea Casale to the Galleys, to the [Page 47]end his Wealth might come to the Cardinal Spada, and other their well-wil­lers, causing him in fifteen daies to be bastinadoed to death; they banished the Duke of Cerinto the State of Avignon, upon pretence that he had framed infamous li­bells against the old deceased Cardinal Verospi; they kept Mario Frangipano a long time in prison, although he was a Cava­lier of quality, very old, and in a manner decrepit, and exposed him to the torture, upon pretence that he had given order for the putting of a fellow to death, that was found hanged in the prison of a certain Castle, notwithstanding that they which had committed the fact confessed pub­liquely at the Gallows, how the said Lord was altogether innocent therof; and this they did to no other end, but to force him to leave his estate unto them, with this re­servation, that he should enjoy it so long as he lived, and then it should fall unto the Church; but he would never consent thereunto, saying alwaies thus, If I be in­nocent let me be freed, if I be not innocent let me be punished; and had not the War with the Princes of Italy hapned, the poor Lord had been made an end of; for then they set him at liberty upon condition that he should [Page 48]ingage himself in the war against the said Princes. Furthermore they sought to ruine the House of Borghese, because they had concluded matrimony with Donna Olimpia Aldobrandina, unto whom the Popes eldest Nephew was a suiter, and for that reason they disgraced them all that ever they could. They deprived Vittaleschi, General of the Jesuits, and Ridolsi General of the Dominicans, of their General ships, under pretext of sundry misdemeanors commit­ted by them. They most unjustly bereft the said Princes Borghesi of the state of Mel­dola; and caused Don Paolo Borghese, the Prince his Son, and husband to the said Donna Aldobrandina, to be basely affronted by a common Captain of the watch. They drove a world of poor people, not onely from Rome, but also out of all the state Ec­clesiastical, and made them go and live in other parts, by reason of the grievous taxes and impositions which they laid up­on them. They caused many thousands of men, that served under their ensignes, to perish for hunger, whilst they gave them no pay, and that bread too, which they provided to relieve them, was mixed with chalk, which fretted out the soldiers guts, and made them die like doggs. Innocent [Page 49]the tenth, in the beginning of his Papacie, was so tired with Petitions and com­plaints against Francesco for his injustice and extortions, that he caused him to be cited to render an accompt of his admini­stration, which he satisfied with his flight into France. This Cardinal enjoyed under Urban above forty seaven Abbacies, and Benefices, with other revenues, the least of which yielded two or three thousand crowns a year; besides those that came to thirty thousand, and forty thousand, as also the Vicechancellorship of the Holy Church, which hath eighteen protections of Monasteries of Nunnes, and Convents of Friers. In sum he was become a ward­robe of Ecclesiastical Benefices; and in the Court of Rome things were grown to that pass, as no man took a servant, were it for never so vile an Office, unless he were pre­ferred by this Cardinal Barberino; and this he did out of a diabolical policie; for by this means he held correspondencie with all those, which he had placed as spies upon their Masters, and so came to discover whatsoever they said, or did. He hath made shew of being a wonderous ho­nest man, and under colour thereof hath deceived I know not how many women. [Page 50]I think now the world will confess there was never any Cardinal that so much ty­rannized over the Church, and Christen­dom: & hoc sufficit.

XVI. Ernesto Adalberto d' Arach.

ERnesto Adalberto d' Arach, is a rich Lord, of the German Nation: He was a Priest, and promoted by Urban the eighth to the Scarlet Gown, at the instance of the Emperor, in the place of Pier Luigi Caraffa, Bishop of Tricario. This person is a man of great parts, & of good life, in regard wher­of he was advanced to the Arch-Bishoprick of Prague, where he hath behaved himself much to his own commendation, and the satisfaction of all the people there, being highly esteemed for his good disposition and qualities; howbeit I cannot say much of him, because he resides not in the Court, but continues alwaies at his Church in Prague, and therefore not with­out reason was it said, when last he came to Rome a little before the death of Urban the [Page 51]eighth, that it was an ill Omen, and a bad sign, when the Consi were seen to approch the Citty, meaning that Arach not being wont to come unto Rome, his comming now thither was a foretoken of the Popes ensuing death, as accordingly it fell out. This Cardinal is well regarded of Caesar, and as his subject, he is, and alwaies will be at his devotion. He is very Charitable, Bountifull, Courteous, Affable, and Friendly.

XVII. Giulio Sachetti.

GIulio Sachetti, a Florentine, the Son of a Merchant, who was partner with the Father of Urban the eighth, whilst they traded together, being thought to be of kin a far off. The said Giulio was made Bishop of Gravina, whether he never went, because he was suddainly sent by Urban Nuncio into Spain, where all the time that he exercised that charge, he carried him­self very worthily, and to the great satis­faction of that Crown; wherefore he was promoted by Urban to the Scarlet Gown, [Page 52]as likewise were all the other Nuntioes, except Caraffa. He was much esteemed of by Urban, who conferred on him many benefits and graces, making him also Kee­per of the Seal of Justice, which he still exerciseth. He is a Lord of great merit, and the Barberini thought without all doubt to have created him in the past Conclave Pope; but they failed in their purpose, whilst by the power of the Spa­nish faction he was excluded, not because he was not a deserving person, but in re­gard he was too much affected and obli­ged to the said Barberini: Others say he was excluded, for that upon the assembly of a Congregation touching the receiving of the Ambassador of the King of Portugal, he had shewed himself inclined to receive him; as also by reason he was too great a friend to Mazzarino, who had been a follower of his, so as necessarily he would have been an Enemy and depressor of the Spaniards, and would have followed the stepps of Urban. He is of an exemplary life, Charitable, Pleasant, and Rich, but not very Liberal, for, as a Florentine, he is somewhat penurious, and niggardly. He hath two Brothers, Mattheo and Alessan­dro, whereof the first hath to wife a Lady [Page 53]of the House of Rocellai, a Family amongst the Florentines sufficiently French; and he hath many Sonnes: the second hath serv'd in the Warres of Flanders under the Ca­tholique King. Mattheo; at such time as the Sea was vacant, was qualified with a title of the Church by Barberino, who held Sachetti certainly for Pope, as in like man­ner did Mattheo, insomuch that he caused the Cellar of his Palace to be set open for every body to drink as much Wine as he would for joy: whereupon, after they had well drunk, they cryed out publiquely, long live Pope Sachetti; but when as after­wards he saw that Pamphilio was made Pope, for very spight and rage he fell madd: And thus may every one judge, if Sachetti had been Pope, what a confusion there would have been in the Roman Court, and in what a condition the State Ecclesiastical would have been; for through their avarice they would have ruined all. The greatest confident Sachetti hath, is thought to be the Cardinal Falconi­eri, now Legate of Bologna, who was pro­moted by Urban at the instance of the said Sachetti, after his return from being Nuncio in Flanders, from whence he was excluded by the Cardinal Infante, for that he knew [Page 54]him to be too much French. Sachetti hath divers times murmured against the Go­vernment of Monarchy; whence he was held by the Regal Ministers to be aliena­ted from desiring the felicity of the Au­strian Family, which hath done him but little good. The greatest obstacle he hath had, and hath, is the great Duke, who ha­ving found Pope Barberino little available to him, seeks with all his power to keep any Vassal of his from comming to the Pa­pacie, and therefore Sachetti will never at­tain unto it, although the Spaniards should concur with him; which is unlikely, not­withstanding he seems to be devoted to Spain, whereas indeed he is contrary unto it; but I should judge the Catholique King to be directly out of his wits, if ever he concur with him more, seeing he was the confident Counsellor first of Antonio's, and afterwards Francesco's and Tadeo's flight into France. At the end of the Conclave a writing came forth, intituled the passion of Sachetti, beginning thus, Passio Domini nostri secundum Matthaeum; which to avoid prolixity I will omit, the rather too be­cause it serves not for our purpose. Ano­ther writing also came forth, which [Page 55]said, He that entred Pope, came out Car­dinal.

XVIII. Bernardino Spada.

BErnardino Spada, a native of Brisighella, of an ordinary Family, being discen­ded of Colliers. He put himsele into the Prelacie, and was by Urban the eigth exer­cised in many Charges, and then sent into France, where he resided a good while, and spent there a great part of his Patrimony. Urban, knowing his merits, promoted him to the Scarlet Gown, the rather because in his Nuntioes place he had carried him­self to the satisfaction of both parts. He is a person of great abilities, is well verst in all manner of Negotiations, and is an ex­cellent Statesman. He was picked out and chosen by Uban the eighth, as a man of Au­thority and worth, to compose the diffe­rences depending between him and the Duke of Parma, who was come with a great Army to the confines of the Ecclesi­astical State. and had seazed on divers Lands and Castles of the Apostolick Sea, [Page 56]and in particular Aquapendente, where the said Duke had intrenched himself: In front of whom stood Antonio with an Ar­my of twelve thousand foot, and four thousand horse to keep him from over­running the Ecclesiastical State; and Spada was sent with the title of Plenipotentiary, to conclude an agreement: He went, act­ed, and returned, but was by Urban very ill rewarded; for after he had concluded, and signed the Capitulations of the ac­cord, wherein the great Duke of Toscan, the Republique of Venice, and the Duke of Modena, intervened as mediators, Ur­ban, seeing the Duke departed, and gone to his States of Parma and Placentia, decla­red the said Capitulations null, and inva­lid; saying that Spada motu proprio, and without his consent, had signed them. Herewith the aforesaid Princes held them­selves justly offended, and seeing the Pope leavy soldiers to send against the Duke of Parma, each of those Princes took up arms to defend him. But Cardinal Spa­da, beholding his reputation blemished in this sort, without any fear at all published a Manifest of his Reasons, saying, that all that he had done, and capitulated, was with his Holiness, goodwill and appro­bation. [Page 57]When the world plainly saw that the poor Cardinal had no way faulted, but had exactly observed the command­ments of the Pope, he was by all men pit­tied: but the Warre which ensued there­upon with the spilling of so much blood, was that which cleared the business, and brought the Cardinal into greater credit then before; for in process of time the Pope was fain with the damage of the holy Church, and his own reputation, to make a peace, with giving full satisfaction to the pretendants, which had made Warre in divers places; and in particular the great Duke of Toscan on Perugia side, and the Duke of Parma, the Republique of Venice, and the Duke of Modena, in the Bolognese. This Cardinal is no great friend to the House of the Barberini, for the causes a­fore-mentioned. Spada is obstinately devo­ted o the Crown of France, quite contrary to the Cardinal Rocci his Kinsman, who is altogether for the Spaniard. In the past Conclave he laboured much for the electi­on of Innocent the tenth, and therfore is well regarded of him. This Cardinal is a great person, hath a wise head, and is full of high thoughts. He is a Poet, an Historian, and a Polititian, so that he will leave all [Page 58]the pastime of the world for to study. He was one that inherited the greatest part of the state of Andrea Casale the Bolognose, and was also the principal instrument of his ignominious death in the Galleyes; but God, as a just Judge, will not leave such a wickedness unpunished. Now because there are many that have not been made acquainted with this doubtful History, & may be desirous to know it, I will not o­mit the relation of it as succinctly as I can. Andrea Casale, the Son of a rich and Noble Senator of Bologna, his Father being dead, remained a child under the Government of his Mother, together with two Sisters which were made Nunnes. This Andrea, being come to mans Estate, and full of ge­nerosity and spirit, thought it too base a thing for him to live drown'd in idleness and delights; wherefore he resolved, though against his Mothers will, to go in­to Hungary, and there for the acquiring of fame to serve the Emperor in his Warres against the Turk, as accordingly he did: And being arrived in Hungary, had the Charge of a Captain of a Troop of Horse conferred on him. Now it happened cer­tain months after, that the Turkes gave the Emperors forces a great defeat, where­in [Page 59]many Lords were slain, and many were made prisoners, and in particular the said Signor Andrea Casale. The report of this defeat being spread over all Italy, they that pretended to the inheritance of An­drea's estate were very desirous to know whither he we alive, or dead; whereupon divers Bolognese soldiers being returned to Bologna, whether it were that they were suborned with money, as for some other end, they gave out that the said Andrea Casale was dead; and further they made Affidavit, that they had seen him dead, and also had buried him with their own hands. In the mean time the poor Cava­lier remained in the hands of the Turkes, and continually wrote letters unto his Mother, to send mony for the ransoming of him; which letters for the most part fell into the hands of those, that pretended to the inheriting of his estate, and were still by them secretly burnt: Nevertheless it could not chuse but that some of them should come unto his Mother, who with great joy imparted them to their kinred, by whom she was condemned for a foolish and imprudent old woman, telling her that her Son Andrea was dead, and that those letters were forged by some one, [Page 60]that meant to cheat her; so the good Lady; being put of in this manner, at length dy­ed with grief, and, after many years, it was the will of God, that the poor Signior was redeemed by the holy Company of the Trinity, with many other men, and women, who were, as it were in tryumph, all clad in white, conducted after a Pro­cession manner to Rome; where being arri­ved, the poor Cavalier knew not which way to turn himself: but God, which ne­ver abandons any, made him call to mind, how one Giovanni Antonio, who had for­merly received many curtesies from him at Bologna, was at that instant Captain of the watch in Rome; wherefore he went un­to him, and having acquainted him with his fortunes, the Captain, moved with pity to see a person of that quality reduced to such termes; and very well knowing him to be the true Andrea Casale, assigned him a Caroach, with two Lackies, and forty Crowns a month; which after he had con­tinued unto him for the space of seaven or eight weeks, he brought him to the pre­sence of the Pope, who received him very graciously, and shewed to be glad of his recovered liberty; little thinking then that he himself should be he, that afterwards [Page 61]should not onely deprive him of liberty, but of his life also. Andrea having infor­med his Holiness, how all his estate had been seized upon, and was wrongfully possessed by others, humbly besought him to doe him that grace and justice, as to restore him to his own againe; which the Pope had a good intention to grant: whereupon he commenced a suit against them that had gotten his estate, who came running with all speede to the Court, to oppose him, and proved that Andrea Casale was dead, and that this was a meere coun­terfit, and an impostor; wherefore Signior Andrea was constrained to become a pri­soner, and so to defend himself, and prove, that he was the true Andrea Casale. His Holiness caused a process thereof to bee framed in the City of Bologna, where the nurse that gave him suck then lived, who upon her examination averred that he had a certain marke upon his left shoulder, which upon search was accordingly found there; besides divers other testimonies, that manifested, he was the true Andrea. Car­dinall Spada, seeing the matter goe so ill on his side, sought with fraud to beguile him, and gave him to understand, that if he would desist from his suite, and revoke [Page 62]all his pretensions, he would assign him a Caroach with four servants, and reve­newes yearly, able to maintain him like a Cavalier, as long as he lived: Which An­drea hearing, cryed out publiquely, saying: Either I am Andrea Casale, and will have all that is mine; or I am not he, and will have no­thing. This comming to the knowledge of Spada, he went as it were in a desperate moode to the Pope, and so earnestly be­sought him not to suffer his, and many o­ther Families, amongst whom the inheri­tance of Andrea Casale was distributed, to be undone by takeing the same from them, that his Holiness, I know not how, did most unjustly, not onely not put him in Possession of his estate, but wickedly sent him to the Galleys; where, least upon change of the Pope he might set a foot his claim anew, Cardinal Spada wrought in such sort with the Commanders of the Galleyes, that in the space of fifteen daies he was bastinadoed to death. A case veri­ly worthy of compassion, and the mishap of this poor infortunate Cavalier deserves for example sake to be published to all the World; his death being bewailed not one­ly by the common people, but by all the Nobility of Rome, and Bologna.

XIX. Federico Carnaro.

FEderico Cornaro, a Noble man of Venice; he was Bishop of Vicenza in Lombardie, and afterwards was made Bishop of Padon. He was promoted to the Scarlet Gown at the instance of his Rebublique, as a man deserving, and of a good life. He is sixty years of age, or thereabout; wherefore he pretends much to Peters Chair, and it will not be hard for him to attain thereunto, being devoted as he is to the House of Austria; whereof not onely he, but his whole Family makes open profession; his Country alone may be contrary, and an obstacle unto him: He is a person of no mean understanding, Affable and Courte­ous, and is therefore much esteemed of by the sacred Colledge. He hath divers Nep­hews, who are little seen in the Court; but the eldest of them, at such time as his Uncle was Bishop of Padoa, led a most wicked & dissolute life in Rome, which was accompanied with so infinite a pride, that it was able, as one may say, to cause ano­ther [Page 64]fall of Angels from Heaven; And this alone will be enough to keep Cornaro farre from the Papacie; otherwise he hath no defects of any consideration, being chari­table, and worthy of all Honor. The Fa­mily of the Cornari is one of the principal of that Republique, having had many Dukes, and Senators issued from it, as al­so a Queen of Cyprus, who gave that King­dome to the Venetians, by which dona­tion they held it a long time. He resign­ed the Bishoprick of Padoa, and had the Patriarchship of Venice, which after some years he also resigned. He is much estee­med of his Republique, although there hath past some disgusts between them.

XX. Martio Ginetti.

MArtio Ginetti, born in the Citty of Veletri, of vile descent, the Son of a common Artificer: He came to Rome in the beginning of the creation of Urban the eighth, where he courted divers Cardinals, and in the end putting himself into the Prelacy, he got into the favour of the Car­dinal Francesco Barberino, who brought him into such credit with the Pope his Uncle, that he held him in great esteem, and pro­moted him to the Scarlet Gown, to the end he should acknowledge no other de­pendancie, then that of the house of Barbe­rini. His holiness enriched him with many benefices, and made him Vicar of the Pa­pacie; which Office is during life; he made him also Protector of the whole order of the Carmelites, and caused him to lodge continually in the Apostolical Palace. Now because he was altogether unknown to Princes, and was of no account abroad, the Barberini resolved to illustrate him in the sight of the World, and so sent him Le­gate into Germany to treat of a universal [Page 66]peace, to the end all Christendom might acknowledge him for the principal instru­ment of the publique good; but the un­happy issue of that his charge shewed his ignorance rather, and imprudence, ren­dring himself ridiculous in so sublime an employment, whereby he no way profited Christendom, but exceedingly profited himself and his House; for living very spa­ringly, he pursed up the most part of that great entertainment which was assigned him for his Legateship: In his return back towards Rome, and as he was upon the way, there was sent him by an express post to Ferrara a Grant of the Legates place of that Citty, where he heaped up no little riches; and after his arrival at Rome, Cardinal Capucino paid him all the profits accruing of his Vicarshish by him admini­stred in his absence. This Cardinal hath given to his Kinsmen all the Offices and Dignities that possibly he can: He is not very learned, although he hath taken great pains in studying. The Barberini will never nominate him in the Conclave, for they are sure it will not succeed, in regard he is known to be too much their partial obligee. He is but little respected in the sacred Colledge, though by reason of his [Page 67]age he is capable of being Pope. Whosoe­ver looks upon the house of this Cardinal, will alwaies behold it void of all resort, none going thither but those which have business appertaining to the Vicarship, and that are of necessity to pass thorough his hands; so that one shall never see any visi­tant Coches there, he being no otherwise accounted of, then as of a forelorn Cardi­nal. He shews himself to be no way depen­ding on any of the Princes, out of the pre­tension he hath to the Papacie; and albeit he was Lagate à Latere with the Emperor for the universal peace, as aforesaid, yet is he not for all that devoted to the House of Austria; because he, being wholly depen­dant on the Barberini, will, as such, be all­waies French, if not openly, at leastwise se­cretly. His behaviour is familiar and fleg­matick, seeming to favour every one, and is of an indifferent good nature, but me­lancholick.

XXI. Don Antonio Barberino.

DON Antonio Barberino, the crook­back, Nephew to Urban the eighth, and the brother of Francesco and Tadeo; he was born in Rome, and therefore intitles himself a Roman. He was by the Pope crea­ted Prior of the great Cross of Malta, with an intention not to make him a Cardinal, it seeming sufficient unto him, that he had already promoted to that dignity Fran­cesco his eldest Nephew, and the Capuchin his brother; but Antonio so importuned his Uncle, that at length he promoted him also to the Scarlet Gown, which above all things he he was ambitious of. This Car­dinal was even from his birth ever bounti­full, and hath with donatives and mag­nanimitie drawn many to his devotion, insomuch that although he hath commit­ed some errors and excesses, yet is he not therefore so rigorously envyed, whilst be­ing possest of the goods of fortune he hath also made others partakers thereof, and hath prodigally spent his own. He hath [Page 69]not been a little taken with the beauties of women, on whom he hath wasted great summes of Gold: La Checa Buffona in tempo­ribus was his Mistriss, who out of the con­fidence that she had in the protection of the Cardinal Antonio, went up and down masked in the Carneval time, for which the Governor of Rome caused her without any respect at all to be whipped thorough the City. He got with child the Daughter of the Marquess of Couré, Ambassador of France: To a Neapolitan Curtesan, which dwelt in the Giulian street, he gave for the first time a thousand crownes: but, not to say more, this alone shall serve for a clo­sing up of so many indignities this Cardi­nal hath committed, that to a Pedant, which had the charge of a very fair boy, the Sonne of a Gentleman, whom he let him enjoy several times, he gave for a re­ward thereof a Bishoprick, nella Marca di Marcantonio. I will not speak of his bar­dache, whom being but the Sonne of a barber, he hath reduced to such a pass, as not content with having inriched him, he hath caused him to be adorned with the title of a Marquess. The said Cardinal was sent Legate Apostolical, and Generalissimo, into the States of Bologna, Ferrara, and Ro­magna, [Page 70]against the Princes of Italy, where he caried himself valiantly, and with the satisfaction not onely of all those people, but also of the souldierie; and if any one hath traduced his good name, saying, that he was privy to the death of the convert Nunnes of Magdalens in Bologna, he lies; for Antonio was not of Councel with that fact; but indeed after the Delinquents were discovered, in stead of chastising, he favoured and protected them, the one being Carlo Poscente, and the other Manente his Secretary; nay more, he sent Carlo Poscente for his Vice-Duke into the state of Segni, and also kept the Archbishop of Bo­logna from proceeding against them, enjoy­ning him to speak no more thereof. I can­not deny but Antonio committed an er­ror in having so little regard to his repu­tation; for as Legate Apostolical à Latere, as General, and as the Popes Nephew, he might with all rigor have taken infor­mation of the matter, and then arraigned and condemned them to the punishment, which the heynousness of their offence requited, and afterwards he might graci­ously have pardoned them; for so he had shewed himself a just Judge, and they too, as if they had been sufficiently chastised, [Page 71]had not incurred that, which after the death of the Pope his Uncle, arrived unto them; being both of them first confined unto his Palace, and after that sent pri­soners to Bologna, where they were put to death; & Antonio himself was necessitated to fly into France, very much pittied by most men, whereas every one wished all the mischief they could devise to Francesco, and Tadeo. This Cardinal is Chamberlain of the holy Church, Archpriest della Basi­lica disanta Maria Maggiore, hath many Ab­bacies and Protections, and will alwaies be at the devotion of the French King, by whom he is defended, and protected in these his misfortunes; but it is believed, that he is now returned again into the Popes favor by the mediation of the Crown of France.

XXII. Girolamo Colonna.

GIrolamo Colonna, of the Title di Santo Eustachio, and of a most antient and noble Roman family, which hath had ma­ny Popes, and a world of Cardinals. He was promoted to the Scarlet Cown by Ur­ban the eighth, together with Cardinal Antonio, at the instance of the Prince Pre­fect, of Donna Anna Barberina, and of the Constable, in regard of the affinitie, that was contracted between them. This Car­dinal is richly furnished with the goods of fortune, and estates; he is understanding, prudent; well esteemed of in the Court, and reverenced in the sacred Colledge, both for his blood, and wisedom: And his carriage doth not displease, although he goes proudly, and stately through the Ci­ty, like another Martin the fifth; but withall he is courteous, honours every one, is exceeding liberal, and well affected to the Pope, who therefore loves him, as also for that he was very partial in his e­lection. Urban the eighth made him Arch­bishop of Bologna, which Archbishoprick, [Page 73]after he had held it certain years, he re­signed in the time of Innocent the tenth unto my Lord Albergati, a Bolognese Gen­tleman, who is now a Cardinal, by the name of Lodovisio Colonna. Albeit the Colo­nesi and the Barberini have matched toge­ther, yet have there no effects of friend­ship past betwixt them for divers private interests: Neither are the Colonesi any great friends to the House of the Gaetani, also a most antient and noble Roman family; for that Don Gregorio Gaetano, the brother of the Duke of Sermoneta, and Uncle of the Prince of Caserta, was in a manner treache­rously killed by Don Carlo Colonna; who for that fact was by Urban the eighth condem­ned to death, and afterwards pardoned, to the end no future Pope should take any further cognizance of that cause; and to save his life, that was in danger by reason of that enmity, he made himself a fryer of the order of Saint Benedict, and then was by Urban the eighth preferred to be Arch­bishop in partibus infidelium. The said House of Colonna likewise doth not much love the House of the Cesarini, although the occasion of Don Gregorio Gaetanoe's death proceeded from Don Carlo his defending the reputation of the Duke Cesarino his [Page 74]Nephew, who being under age, pretended that he had received an affront from the said Gregorio Gaetano, in making him by force to stay in his way, that his Caroach might have the precedence. The House of the Constable Colonna holds little corres­pondence with the house of the Prince of Galliclano, and of the Prince of Carbognano, alias Duke of Bassanella, all of the house of Colonna; who though they be all sprung out of one stock, yet doth each of them pretend to be better, then the other, for the preheminence: the truth is, that the house of the Prince of Carbognano is the right family, derived from Sciano Colonna; and therefore with reason is the Piatza, where his Palace is scitunted, called the Piatza of Sciana. These Lords at first were all for the Catholique Crown, but upon the matching of the Constable Colonnaes House with the Pope, the Spaniards for their own interest honoured them with such Titles, and States, as the Duke of of Bassanello, of a differing House, was therewith to distasted, that he set up the ames of the most Christian King, and took to wife the base daughter of the Duke of Parma. The Prince of Gallieano was made a prisoner at Naples, upon pre­text [Page 75]of rebellion, a little before the rising of that people, for that there were many saddles, armes, and much ammunition found in his Castles, which he possessed in the Province of Abruzzo: and whilst all things seemed to be composed, and that he was ready to be absolved, and set at li­bertie, a new conspiracie of divers Princes and Barons of the Kingdom of Naples a­gainst the Catholique King was discove­red, amongst whom the Prince of Gallica­no was included; for a certain Neapoletan Apostate Theatin, named Andrea Paolucci, being intercepted and apprehended with letters about him to several Neapolitan Lords from France, and put to the torture, named many, and in particular the said Prince of Gallicano. The Constable also, brother to the Cardinal, was not long since, at such time as Gallicano was a pri­soner, summoned by the Vice-Roy to come to Naples, and he put himself in the way to have gone thither, but in the midst of his journey he returned, and in his stead sent a gentleman of his family to feign that he was so indisposed in his health, as he could not come himself: for had he gone in person, I am perswaded he likewise would have fallen into the same [Page 76]labyrinth. This House hath ever been de­voted to that of Austria, and the present Cardinal will alwaies be of the Spanish faction, if disgusts do not arise from new discoveries. He is a haughty Lord, and ve­ry sensible, insomuch as he was for a good while distasted with the old Cardinal de Medici about precedence; but the diffe­rences between them were composed by Innocent the tenth, immediately upon his creation.

XXII. Cirriaco Rocci.

CIrriaco Rocci, a Roman, his Original de­scent was from the City of Cremona in the state of Milan; He was a Prelate, & sent Nuntio by Urban the eighth to the Empe­rors Majestie, after which he promoted him to the Scarlet Gown. This Cardinal in not very intelligent, but seeemes to know much; he is an old man, pretends greatly to the Papacie, and is not ashamed to speak of it to every one, promising in that case, Dignities, Graces, and Favors. [Page 77]In the last Conclave he indeavoured much for his exaltation thereunto, reposing all his hopes in the hands of Cardinal Spada, his kinsman; but for all that he would not propound him, knowing full well, that for his respect he would have been excluded, and so he should have had his fortune dis­composed for the future, as the Barberini did in the person of Sachetti: and the reason of it is, that if Rocci were Pope, the said Car­dinal Spada would command all; who is not much desired of any, and in particular ab­horred of the Barberini, because they know him to be of a too stirring, and fantastical a humor. He hath one Nephew, that is the Abbot Rocci, who would be he, that should reign; but in regard of his young years he would not be fit for the Government. He is a very affable Lord, of a good life, and most devoted to the House of Austria, ma­king open profession thereof; wherefore he will alwaies be Spanish, though he be the Barberinies creature. He is well regarded of the present Pope Innocent the tenth.

XXIV. Giovanni Battista Palotta.

GIovanni Battista Palotta, is of an honest family of the little Country of Calde­rola nella Marca: He is Nephew to the late Cardinal Palotta, unto whom he is no way inferior, and is well accommodated with the goods of fortune; for the Cardinal his Uncle left him a great estate. Having put himself into the Prelacie, he was by Urban the eighth exercised in divers Char­ges, and in particular was made Lord Go­vernor of Rome, wherein he carried him­self with much integrity, and to the great satisfaction of the people, being severe, and so upright, that in point of justice he made no reckoning of his Holiness Nep­hewes. For whereas it was the custome a little before the Carnival time to make proclamation, that no woman whatsoe­ver should during the said Carnival goe thorough the Course masked, on pain of being whipped, or suffring some such o­ther punishment, as to the Governor should seem meet, the famous Checa Buffo­na was seen going in that time thorough [Page 79]the Course masked; and albeit she was oftentimes admonished to forbear doing so, yet would she not desist. Whereat Palot­ta being displeased, caused her suddainly to be imprisoned, and then having or­dained that she should be publiquely whipped thorough the City, to avoid the intercessions, that might be made to him in her behalf, he shut himself up in his Ca­binet, and gave order to his servants not to come at him, or disturb him, during the space of two houres, for any cause, or message whatsoever, but that they should in the mean time entertain those that came to speak with him; whereupon arri­ved a Gentleman from Cardinal Antonio, who kept a great coil to speak with the said Palotta, the Governor; but he was put of with good words untill the prefixed time was past, and then he was admitted to the presence of the Governor, unto whom he brought an order from Cardinal Antonio, for the speedy setting at liberty of the said Checa Buffona. Palotta answered, that his Eminencie should be obeyed, and presently made a Warrant for the releasing of her out of prison; but when it came thi­ther, Checa had already been whipped tho­rough the City; which Antonio understand­ing, [Page 80]took on like a mad man, and mightily threatned to be revenged. Palotta, fore­seeing the danger he was likely to incur, acquainted the Pope with the business, who commended him for that he had done; but his Holinesse, knowing well, that Antonio was wreakful, and vindica­tive, to take away the inconvenience, that might arise upon that occasion, deprived Palotta of his Government, and sent him Collector into the Kingdome of Portugal; where having remained some months; he took upon him to maintain certain Eccesi­astical jurisdictions, and excommunica­ted all the Royal Councell of the City of Lisbon, for which he was forced to leape out of a window to save himself by flight towards Rome; and there being arrived, he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown for divers respects. The first was, for the merit of his labors, his Holiness knowing him to be a man of great abilities and knowledge; and the second, for to shield him from the malice of Antonio, who for all that, toge­ther with his brother Francesco, hath given him hundreds of disgusts, continually contrarying him in the cause and suite de­pending between the General of the Au­gustinian Order, and the said Palotta, who [Page 81]desired to have chastised him for divers misdemeanors committed by him in his place; and Antonio, to crosse Palotta, pro­tected and defended him, and in the end to despight him, got him by an Apostoli­cal brieve to be confirmed in the General­ship for seaven years more, besides many other abuses no way deserved by the said Cardinal, who is a person capable of the Papacie, and Rome would be happy if he should come to be Pope, that so it might see the pride of the Barberini brought down. If he lives to some vacant Sea, he may attain thereunto; for he is much esteemed of, and reputed very deserving by all the Princes, unto whom his vertues, merits, and excellent qualities are well known; besides, he is highly regarded by Innocent the tenth, the now reigning Pope; but for his too free speech no small hatred was conceived against him by some of his Holinesse principal kindred; for he was one day desired by the Pope, to tell him, what was said of him in Rome; and Palotta answered, Blessed Father, all the City murmures at your Sister-in-law the Lady Olimpia's too fre­quent comming to, and abiding in the Palace; whereunto the Pope replyed, well, we will remedy it; and the next time Donna Olimpia [Page 82]came to him, he told her what Palotta had said, and therefore desired her to forbear comming so often to the Apostolical Pa­lace. Hereupon Donna Olimpia took such a spleen against the said Palotta, that meet­ing him upon a time, she drew the Cur­tain of her Caroach against the very face of him; which Palotta seeing, begged leave of his Holinesse to go unto Calderola his Country, about some affairs that he had there, and gave it out in the Court, that he went to visit the Fortresse of Marina nella Marca. His Votes, as well in the Con­gregations, as in the Consistory, are great­ly esteemed: He hath no Enemy, nor any that is contrary to him: He honors all, and where he can do any service, he doth it willingly: he is affable in entertainment, leades an holy and retired life, loves not light conversations, and is very studious. He hath many Nephews, whereof one is in Flanders, another was a student in Bolog­na', where he slew a scholler that was his Rival, for which his Uncle cares not much for him; but his darling is he that is in the English Colledge, who is a youth reasonably well learned, and that in case he should become Pope, would be he that shall reign. This Cardinal is not of any [Page 83]faction, but he is thought to be devoted to the House of Austria.

XXV. Theodoro Trivultio.

THeodoro Trivultio, of a most noble fa­mily of the City of Milan; he was a Prince, and had a wife, by whom he had children; but after her death he resigned his Principality to his eldest Son, and went to Rome, where puting himself into the Prelacie, he bought the Clerk of the Chambers place, and after some years he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by Ur­ban the eighth, both to make mony by the sale of that Office, and also to shew that he would promote a vassal of the Catho­lique King. This Cardinal merited the Hat as he was a Prince, yet was he fain to make use of the Prelacie before he could attain unto it. He is a good soldier, and is much beloved and reverenced by the King of Spain, being reputed the most faith­full Italian Vassal, that he hath; for when he sees that his Majesties Ministers in the State of Milan do not behave themselves [Page 84]with that fidelity as they ought, he spee­dily advertises the Catholique King of it. He is not very rich, but is alwaies supply­ed as he hath occasion by his said Majesty. At such time as he lived in the Court, af­ter the assumption of Innocent the tenth, he shewed himself very bountiful, so farre as he was able; but he contracted many debts, which before his departure from the Court he satisfied very punctually. He used to go up and down the City with a great and stately train, but to speak with­out passion, there was much boast, but litle rost. He could not part from the Court so soon, as he purposed to have done, for want of mony, and therefore he was fain to stay the comming of four thousand crownes from Naples which were sent him by the Vice-Roy: It is thought he will not return again to the Court, before he hath esta­blished some good revenue for the main­taining of himself there. He is a Lord in­differently well esteemed of in the Roman Court, full of resentment, very stirring, and will talk enough, especially when the inte­rest of Kings is in question; wherefore he is much favoured by their Ministers. He alwaies keeps his promise, being never worse then his word; he is very well ac­complished, [Page 85]and lacks nothing but the possibility of mony.

XXVI. Steffano Durazzo.

STeffano Durazzo, a Noble man of Genoua, of the new Nobility; he put himself in­to the Prelacie, and bought one after ano­ther both the Clerk of the Chambers, and the Apostolical General Treasurors place, which he possessed but a little time, for that he was promoted by Urban to the Scarlet Gown. His holiness imployed him in many Charges, and in particular, before the Warre, he sent him Legate to the City of Ferrara; which Government he left, when as Antonio came thither to the assist­ance of the Army, and went to his Arch­bishoprick of Genoua, from whence he ne­ver parted, but at such time, as upon the vacancie of the Sea he repaired to the Conclave. He had a great deal of contro­versie about the getting of that Arch­bishoprick, but it was Urbans pleasure, [Page 86]that, in spight of his competitors, he should enjoy it. In his Legateship of Ferrara he carried himself very wisely, and to the satisfaction of those people, as the Citizens themselves say, but he was not much Courted by the Nobilitie. He is a rich Cardinal, because he is a Genouese, whose Wealth doth multiply with Mer­chandising. Whilst he was a Prelate he gamed away no small summes of mony, and spent little less upon Women. He is purblind, and squints with one eye. In negotiating he is exceeding affable, but when the humor takes him, one must leave off negotiating with him. He seemes to be devoted to the House of Austria, but indeed is wholly French, and holds but little esteem in the Court.

XXVII. Marc' Antonio Franciotti,

MArc' Antonio Franciotti, a principal Gentleman of the Common-wealth of Lucca; he came to Rome, where putting himself into the Prelacie, he bought the Clerk of the Chambers place, and after­wards that also of the Auditor thereof; but within a while he was by Urban promoted to the Scarlet Gown, and ho­nored with many worthy Charges, and in particular was created Bishop of Lucca, his Country. He was sent Legate to Ravenna, and Romagna, where he was very well re­garded by that Nobilitie, and people. He grievously afflicted his Country, for the cause which I will here now deliver. The brother of this Cardinal, being one of the Ministers in the Government of the Com­mon-wealth, was discoverd to have plot­ted some such thing against his Country, as to have made himself Master of it; and in particular, there were found in his house a great many of Armes, not onely common, but also prohibited; and the [Page 88]suspition grew so much the greater, by how much they are in that City exceeding vigilant, and carefull, to see that no man enters armed into it, not so much as with a knife: Now the transgressors of this Law being alwaies rigorously punished, the said Cardinals brother was, together with his servants, committed to prison, where being thoroughly examined and sifted, the treason which they had contrived was made manifest in such manner, as they purposed within a short time to put them all to death. The Cardinal finding no o­ther way to repair the ruine of his Fami­ly, had recourse unto Pope Urban, unto whom he recounted the matter, quite o­therwise, then as indeed it was, saying, that his brother was made a prisoner, out of the hatred, and enmity, that the No­bles and Magistrates of Lucca bore unto him; and that they had charged him with rebellion, because some of the servants of the Bishops Palace were found Armed. Hereupon the Pope dispatched away an express post with letters, that comman­ded them to set the Delinquents at liber­ty; but the Common-wealth refusing to obey, his Holiness, seeing their contumacy, interdicted, and excommunicated them; [Page 89]so that for a long time the exercise of the Divine Offices were not used, the Church dores remaining continually shut up. The Common-wealth published many pro­testations, and writings, whereof they caused copies to be presented to all Christian Princes, but it nothing availed them; wherefore in the end they were constrained to yield unto the Popes pow­er, and in this manner was the said Car­dinals brother, and all his complices set free. This Cardinal hath good abilities, is intelligent, and capable of the Papacie, but is not ripe enough for it. He is poor, and much affected to the Crown of Spain, both he and all his House living under the protection thereof. He is a wise man, and experimented in matters of the Court; he is well esteemed of by the present Pope; in the sacred Colledge he hath no Enemies of consideration, and is friend enough to the Barberini: he may also with time break his Lance in Peters chair.

XXVIII. Federico Carpegna.

FEderico Carpegna, a Noble man of the City of Ʋrbin: He was a poor Prelate; but Barberino having made use of him in some affairs of his, was so pleased with his carriage therein, that he took an affection to him, and at his instance he was by the Pope promoted to the Scarlet Gown, and therefore he is, and alwaies will be faith­full and affected to them. The Count Car­pegna, his brother, continually assisted in the Warre of Urban against the Princes of Italy. This Cardinals endowments are mean, but he is able for business, and he may one day have some hope in the common pretensions of the Scarlet Gownes, if the Barberini do not spoil his promotion, because he is too much their servant. His vote will ever be, as that of the Barberini is, and therefore in time to come he will alwaies be French; besides the affection he hath still born to that Crown, although he makes no open profession thereof. He is a man studious, melancho­lick, and somewhat charitable. He hath [Page 91]many brothers, whereof the Count is one, and another is a Canon of Santa Maria in Via lata.

XXIX. Frencesco Maria Brancaccio.

FRancesco Maria Brancaccio, a Neopolitan Cavalier; he was Bishop of the City of Capuccio in the Kingdom of Naples, where by reason of certain Ecclesiastical juris­dictions, he fell into some difference with a Spanish Captain of foot, who was sent unto that City by the Vice-Roy of Naples, and passing from words to blowes, he cau­sed him to be killed by a bardash of his with a musket shot; for which Brancaccio was cited to appeare befor the Vice-Roy, to render an account of the man-slaughter committed by him. Brancaccio obeying, went to Naples; but the very same night he came thither, that he might not put him­self into the secular power of the Royall Court, he stole away in a felouque, and fled towards Rome; where being arrived, he imparted the whole matter unto Urban [Page 92]the eighth, who for the hate that he bore to the Spaniards, not onely commended him for that he had done, but also defen­ded him. Which the Vice-Roy seeing, caused all his goods, and the revenues of his Bishoprick to be sequestred; so that this Prelate remained in Rome in such ne­cessity and miserie, as he could hardly make shift to live; but after that his pro­cesse was compiled, and that the Pope had absolved him, he craved leave to return unto the residence of his Church, although the Kings Ministers had expressly forbid­den him so to doe, saying, that his Catho­lique Majestie desired of the Pope another Prelate for that City, & had withall ordai­ned, that the inhabitants therof should not permit him to enter into the possession of it, upon pain of rebellion. It was the for­tune of this Lord, that whilst he was lea­ving the Court, and departing to his resi­dence, the Pope was upon the point of pro­moting Cardinals, with an intent to give the Hat unto my Lord Pier Luigi Caraffa, Bishop of Tricario; and to my Lord Caraffa, Bish, of Aversa, but both their promotions were hindred by the Colonnesi; the Barberini too prest their Uncle to confer the Scarlet Gown on Serlupi their Cousin; but his holi­ness [Page 93]being molested and vext with these controversies, would needs make the pro­verb good: Inter duos litigantes tertius gau­det, and in stead of the rest made Brancaccio Cardinal. Others say, that he promoted him to despight the Spaniards, by whom he was exceedingly hated, to the end that as a Prince of the holy Church he might be honored, and upon restoring of him to his Bishoprick, he might also be reveren­ced. A litle after his departure to the re­sidence of his said Church, and upon his arrival at Naples, he found two other Cardinals there, namely Aldobrandino, and Boncompagno; the one of them being come thither to have his part in the tiltings, hunting, and other festivals, which in that City were to be made for some victo­ries of Spain, and for the birth of a Son of the Kings; and the other was Archbishop of Naples. Brancaccio having continued there some monthes, the Count of Monte-Rei, at that time Vice-Roy of that King­dome, presented him with a paper from his Catholique Majestie, whereby he en­joyned him to depart with all speed, not onely from Naples, but also quite out of the whole Kingdom; insomuch that the poor Cardinal was forced to get him a­way [Page 94]in all hast towards Rome, with all his family: Which Urban seeing, moved with indignation against the Spaniards, and with compassion to the Cardinal, he con­ferred the Bishoprick of Viterbo on him, and giving him many Pensions, he not long after bestowed on his Vicar the Bishoprick of Aramo in Regno. This Car­dinal is much obliged to the Barberini; but in the Conclave, that he might not damni­fie his kinsmen, he shewed himself affected to the Crown of Spain, and gave his vote to the Albernoz; with which stratagem, and to free himself from his obligation, he doth seek to draw unto him his kinsmen, and Nephewes, and accordingly hath already begun so to do, having maried one of them to one of the house of the Ursini. He is not well looked upon by Innocent the tenth, nor the Pamphilian family, for that he hath inconsiderately manifested him­self too much interressed in certain diffe­rences about territories, between some of his Church, and others, the creatures of Donna Olimpia, in the City of Vitenbo. His Nephew, being Governor of Spoleti, was deprived thereof, and never since hath had any charge at all. To conclude, this Cardinal is poor, and proud.

XXX. Rinaldo d'Este.

RInaldo d'Este, a Modenese, and brother to the Duke of Modena: This Prince was promoted to the Scarlet Gown at the instance of the Emperour by Vrban the eighth; after which promotion the warre of Italy fell out between the Duke of Par­ma, and the Barberini; in regard whereof, though all differences were wholly com­posed, yet hath he still shewed himselfe an enemy to the Barberini, and therefore in all the time that they raigned, he would ne­ver come to take the Hat, which after­wards he received from the hands of Inno­cent the tenth, being present in the con­clave at his election. Some moneths be­ing past, the said Cardinall tooke notice, that the Austrians made divers Congrega­tions about the interest of that Crown in the Pallace of Albernoz, whereunto his E­minencie was never called nor invited, as if they accompted him altogether indiffi­dent: now one day there was a consistory to be held concerning the interest of Portu­gal, wherin some course was to be taken for [Page 96]the provision of those Churches in the name of that King; and the Spanish Mini­sters had by the Catholique Kings order forbidden all the Cardinalls of their facti­on from going to it: especially the Cardi­nall of Este was by the Duke of Savelli, the Emperours Embassadour, advised by no meanes to come at it; but he would not obey giving him this for an answer; That as the Spaniards had esteemed his person of no consideration in their Congregati­ons, so his presence would be of as little consideration in the Consistorie, & there­fore he would goe unto it. Upon this oc­casion then he openly declared himselfe distasted with the Spaniards, and he had a brieve granted to him for the protection of the Kingdome of France; whereupon this Cardinall of Este published a manifest, con­taining the reasons he had for his decla­ring himselfe French, which was answered by the Spaniards, and replyed unto by the Cardinall; who tooke downe the Austrian Armes from his Pallace, and in the place thereof set up the most Christian Kings. This Este began to defend the interest of the Barberini, because they had offered him the Abbacie of Honantala, whereunto hee made some claime; wherefore the [Page 97]Pope said one day unto him these words: My Lord, I see you labour much to protect the Barberini, and I doe not know the cause of such a mutation, for you alwaies contraried them here­tofore, and now you stand for them; but I veri [...]y beleeve you doe it out of interest, for that they will resigne unto you the Abbacie, whereunto you have so long pretended, or for some other end; howsoe­ver know, that though it be in them to resigne it, the passing of the Brieve thereof is in us. Este hearing this, thus answered; I doe not pretend, blessed Father, to defend the Barberini for any interest of mine, but to supplicate your Holiness for just things: wherefore when as my abiding at court shall be displeasing unto you, to give you satisfaction I will be gone. To this the Pope said without any other reply, Bee you blessed; which in plaine termes is as much as to say, God be with you; and at the same instant the Cardinall getting in­to a Caroach with sixe horses went to Ca­prarola, and from thence to Modena his Country. Afterwards Este understanding that the Admirall of Castile was come to Rome as Embassador extraordinary from the Catholique King, to yeeld obedience to the Pope, and that he had declared hee would visit all the Cardinalls, except him [Page 98]the said Este, hee repaired againe to the Court; where, by reason of divers diffe­rences that fell out between him and that Ambassador, they came to armes, and wa­ged, what on the one side, and what on the other, above six hundred persons; so that there was a great combustion in Rome, and some daily slaine, as is more amply delivered in a little printed relation there­of: but the Pope raised men to suppresse this tumult, and so it was quieted by the meanes of certaine interposing Princes; but first this poore Lord, for the main­tayning of his souldiers, was fain to pawne his jewells to the Cardinall Queva for the sum of two and twenty thousand crowns, by reason the mony which he expected from France came not time enough to him, and for that the Duke his brother could not supply him sufficiently, in regard his state was much exhausted by the former warre with the Barberini. This Cardinall is bountifull enough, but his purse failes him, and will not permit him to doe as he would do: he is of a good life, very con­versable, merry, and friendly.

XXXI. Francesco Peretti.

FRancesco Peretti, alias Cardinall Mon­talto, he is the Nephewes Son of Sixtus quintus of happie memorie. This Lord was the onely sonne of the Prince Perétti, who, being old, proposed to give a wife to Francesco, that was in love with a Lady of the House of Cesi, wherewith he acquain­ted his father, who put him in good hope, and accordingly went, treated and con­cluded the marriage, not for his Son, but for himselfe, for the old dotard being in­finitly taken with the Angelicall sight of a most beautifull Lady, thought her more fitter for himselfe, than for his sonne. Fran­cesco, seeing he was in this sort betrayed, and ill intreated by his Father, departed in a manner desperate, and secretly, from the Court, and made himselfe a Priest; by which meanes the father deceasing not long after without heires, and all his States falling to Francesco, upon his death the fa­mily of the Peretti will be extinct. This Lord used much diligence to get the Scar­let Gowne, but could not attaine it, be­cause [Page 100] Urban was displeased with him, for that he would neither give, nor sell unto him the delicious Villa of Mentana. Mon­talto would not give it unto him, least the World should say, that so deserving a per­son as himself attained to the Hat by bri­berie; and so was contented rather to be without it. The most part of the States he possesseth, are scituated in the Kingdom of Naples; for which cause he is devoted to the Catholique Crown, and hath many times supplyed that Majestie with mony for the service of his Warres. Hs is Prince of the City of Venafro, and Count of Celano, enjoying also many pla­ces in the State of the Church: The King of Spain did oftentimes desire the Scarlet Gown of Pope Urban for this Lord, but was by him continually refused; at length being earnestly prest by the King of France, who demanded it also for Giulio Mazzari­ni, the Pope, that he might not seem to be too much affected to the French, did at one and the same time promote both Mazzarino, and Montalto, as declared Na­tionals, and nominated by France and Spain. He is a rich Lord, and bountifull, keepes a Royal Court, and little cares what he spends, knowing well that after his decease his estate is to fall unto divers [Page 101]Families, and in part cular to the Savelli, as his neerest kinred. Sixtus quintus made a Bull, wherein he declared, that the Scarlet Gown should be given to his descendants without any demand or instance at all; and indeed the Roman Church can ow no less to that blood of his, seeing it hath re­ceived so many benefits from that worthy high Bishop of eternal memorie. All the Popes indevoured, but Sixtus quintus alone setled the Papal power, reduced unto o­bedience all the Barons, how great and potent soever they were, rooted the Ban­diti, and theeves out of the Ecclesiastical State, bridled the Christian Princes, in a few years adorned Rome with sumptuous fabricks, and inriched the Adrian Mole with a huge summe of Gold, intending to perform some great enterprise, which suc­ceeded not by reason of his ensuing death. This Cardinal holds good correspondence with all the sacred Colledge, except it be with the Cardinal Trivultio his kinsman; for there fell ought some difference be­tween them in the past Conclave, because the said Trivultio had heard, that Montalto was united with the French faction; but now, it is thought, they are reconciled. He is much esteemed of by the Pope, is well conditioned, studious, learned, and [Page 102]worthy of the Papacie for his goodness, and excellent qualities. He is of kinne to very near all the Roman Nobilitie, and was not long since honored by the Catholique King with the charge of conducting the Emperors Daughter, his new Spouse, out of Germany into Spain; in which imployment the Cardinal stood not upon expence, but shewed himself exceeding splendid and liberal.

XXXII. Giulio Mazzarini.

GIulio Mazzarini, the Sonne of Pier Mazzarini, a Sicilian, who being a Merchant, became bankrupt for certain summes of mony, and therefore fled with all his family to Rome, where the said Giulio was born, as also his brother, named Mi­chael; who made himself a Frier of the Do­minican Order. Giulio served for some­time the Colonnesies Nephewes, and after­wards Sachetti, who employed him in the managing of his monies; wherewith tra­ding for his Master, and with gaming, [Page 103]he got together no little summes for himself: Then he became a soldier; but returning again to the Court, he applied himself anew to the same Cardinals. The affection which Sachetti bore to this man, brought him into such esteem with the Cardinal Antonio, as he employed him in all his services, and putting himself into the Prelacie, he was, at his instance, sent by the Pope Nuncio Apostolical into Savoy, and also to take in his Holiness name, out of the hands of the French, the City of Ca­sale, to be kept by him in deposito, till such time as the Spantards, and Germanes should go out of, and leave the City of Mantoua, which they had seized upon, because the Duke thereof had declared himself French, and would not acknowledge to hold of the Emperor. Mazzarini goes according­ly, and takes the City of Casale in depo­sito, but after he had caused the Spaniards, and Germans to issue out of Mantoua, he gave Casale again unto the French; by meanes whereof both the Emperor, and the King of Spain remain'd flouted, and cheated; and from this difference sprung the bloody Warre in the State of Milan, and Monferrato. The said Mazzarini, by this treason done unto the Spaniards, got [Page 104]the favour of the Cardinal Richelieu, toge­ther with that of the most Christian King; who finding him to be a man of a wit pro­per for the designes of his Crown, de­manded the purple Gown of the Pope for him, in reward of the betraying the King of Spain his Lord, whose Vassal he is. Urban at that time denyed to give it him, be­cause he had also deceived him, in con­signing the City of Casale anew into the hands of the French, without his know­ledge; and answered the most Christian King, that he would grant it unto him for any other person that he would nomi­nate: But his Majestie persisted still with great obstinacie in that his demand; which Urban seeing, could do no less then content him, and in this manner was he promotd to the Scarlet Gown. After the decease of the Cardinal Richelieu, he had the whole Command; but his Masters favor got him much hatred with the Grandees of the Kingdom. His Majestie greatly honored him; made him a Coun­cellor of State, with authority to sit in Parliament; and also at his death left him one of the Executors of his Testament. This Cardinal is grown so rich, that he is held to be the wealthiest feuditary Prince that [Page 105]is. He had often craved leave of that King to return unto Rome, and take the Hat at such time as Urban lived, but it would never be granted to him. He hath been so high in the Court of France, that the Princes of the blood could by no means endure it; which hath been the cause of such revolutions in that King­dome, and of such intestine Wars as have followed thereupon; but this matter is so well known to every one, that I will passe from it, to discourse of that, which further concernes him. This Cardinal is he, that, though a far off, did in the Conclave so oppose the election of Innocent the tenth; and not contented therewith, labored also to terrifie him, by sending great armies in­to Italy; the operations whereof hath ma­nifested to the World, that the Cardinal had indeed other thoughts, then the sole acquisition of Piombino. The Catholique King hath declared him, and all his kin­red Rebells and Traitors. At such time, as this Cardinal served in the Warres, he was a very vitious gamster, and often­times received many hurts about women; but now he lives with much gravitie, and whosoever hath to deal with him, finds him alwaies in apparance, gentle in [Page 106]speech, and gratefull for benefits recei­ved, wherefore he hath openly defended Barberino, so far forth, that he hath incur­red the hatred of the Parliament of Paris for it. With his authority he caused his brother, being in a manner but a youth, to be elected General of the Order of the Dominicans, made him Master of the sacred Palace, procured him the Archbishoprick of Aix in France, and finally not contented herewith, he ob­tained the Scarlet Gown for him; with all which honors the said Michael is past into a better life.

XXXIII. Marc' Antonio Bragadino.

MArc' Antonio Bragadino, a Nobleman of Venice: he was made Bishop of the City of Vicenza, upon the nomination of the Republique, which knew him to be a good man, and of great integritie. This Bishoprick of his enjoyes the tytle of Duke, Marquesse, and Count. All the time of his residence at his Church he was [Page 107]held in great esteem, and lived with great reputation; I my self have often seen him in that City, as he was going with his Clergy to the Domo, and me thought, that even then he shewed, and looked like a Cardinal, as within less then two years after he was made one, at the in­stance of the Signoria of Venice, which highly account of him. He is a Lord en­dowed with many excellent qualities, is very courteous in salutes, and entertain­ments, loves not light conversations, is a man studious, and curious; but his curio­sitie ceases, when matters of interest are handled. All the time, that he was at Court, he was never seen to give any alms, for which he was blamed; but it may well be, that he delights to give in secret, that he may not appear vain-glorious. This Cardinal cannot be Pope in hast, for two reasons; the one is, because he is a Venetian, and the other is because he is too young. He is not devoted to any Crown, but one­ly to his Republique, and his vote will be alwaies at the disposing thereof.

XXXI. Pietro Donato Cesis.

PIetro Donato Cesis, of a most Noble Ro­man Family; he was Clerk of the Chamber, was also made Treasuror Gene­ral of the holy Church, and afterwards promoted by Urban to the Scarlet Gown, and sent by him Legate to Perugia, at such time as the War was made against the Princes of Italy. The Apostoli­call Chamber, whilst he had the admini­stration of it, was well served, and not op­pressed, as it had been by so many others, which robbed it. In this said Legateship he caried himself very wisely, but with rigor. He is a man of a good and sincere life, and may be one day Pope, being a Ro­man. He hath no hair on his Chin, so that he seems to be an Eunuch; and comming to be greyhaired, he would look like one of those antient Popes; and not without cause was there a Pasquil made of him during the Vacancie of the Sea, which said; Cesis is made Pope, verily he will be a Pope de Malangonate. He would be no bad Pope, for that he is a lover of the poor, [Page 109]and a man of conscience. He is learned, and naturally merry in conversation. He was Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Angelo à Sazanella in the Kingdom of Naples. He is much devoted to the house of Au­stria, and in particular to the Catho­lique King, making open profession thereof; and having his Majesties armes set over his gate; and is loved and estee­med of that Crown, as also of the great Duke. He is not much reckoned of in the Court, but is reverenced in the sacred Colledge. He hath no enemies, except it be the Barberini, who fear him for the a­buses they have done to the Duke of Cesis, besides other disgusts received in his own person from them. There hath some dis­tast also past between him and the Cardi­nal Theodoli, in a Chappel held by the Cardinals for the love of Lerida. His Go­vernment would be good for the holy Church; for some of his confidents have reported, that if ever he should attain to that degree, he would with all his interest make a league against the Turke; and would also, if God gave himlise, lay up as many millions of Gold in the Castle, as Sixtus quintus did, for the benefit of the Apostolick Sea. His kindred are the Orsini, [Page 110]the Duke Acquasparta, the Duke of Cesis, the Soovelli, and others.

XXXV. Francesco Maria Machiavelli,

FFrancesco Maria Machiavelli, a Noble man of Florence, and Cousin to the Bar­berini. He was a first but a simple Prelate, then was made Bishop of Ferrara, and af­terwards promoted to the Scarlet Gowne for divers reasons, but the most intimate of them was, because he was a kinne to the Barberini by the mothers side; another was, for that the Cavalier Matthia Machi­avelli, who was Captain of the light-horse of his Holinesse guard, and had done ma­ny services for the Pope in the past Warre against the Princes of Italy, was an earnest suitor to him for it. This Cardinal is very affable in his demeanor, of a good disposi­tion, curteous, and a friend to the poor, but yet spends not much upon them of his own purse. He is not disliked of by the great Duke of Toscan, though he be the Barberinies Cousin, because he hath never [Page 111]distasted that Prince, but hath held good correspondence with him by all manner of services, if not openly, at least­wise secretly, for otherwise he had lost the Popes favor. He is neither Spanish nor French, feigning himself neutral, but in ef­fect is wholly Austrian; and in the past Conclave he alwaies sided with Albernoz against Francesco. He was not displeased to see the Barberini persecuted by the Pope, knowing their misdeanors deserved that, and worse. He is well regarded by his ho­linesse, and is now resident at his Church of Ferara. He is a man of an indifferent un­derstanding, hath no considerable enemies, nor any contrarietie, but such as he may have by reason of his affinitie with the Barberini: he is of a goodly presence, and young; he maintaines himself in his Bish­oprick with much decorum and gravitie, carrying himself with the great satisfacti­on of the people there, by whom he is lo­ved, reverenced and served.

XXXVI. Verginio Orsini.

Verginio Orsini, a Roman, Nephew to the Duke of Bracciano, and the bro­ther of the Duke of Santo Gemini; he was onely an Abbot, and thought to have cast off his Clerical habit, and have maried the Princess Lodovisia: but Urban, envying this match, and whilst it was a making up, promoted him in a Consistory to the Scar­let Gown. Others say, that the Duke of Bracciano, finding his house without the red Hat, courted the Cardinal Antonio a long time with donatives, and exorbitant expences; and in the end, with a great summe of Gold drew him to get his Holi­ness to promote him: howsoever the Scar­let Gown was due to him, as a deserving Lord, and of a most antient family, which, as one may say, hath had as many Cardi­nals as daies; and the Roman Church is ex­ceedingly obliged to this house, their an­cestors having fought for it, and kept the Barbarians far enough from Rome; main­taining the Apostolical Sea in all securi­tie. This House, as also that of the Colonne­si [Page 113]alone, have a place with the Ambassadors in the Chappel, but in regard of preceden­cie they never meet there both together. This Cardinal according to his authority is not very rich; no more than his ancestors were, who warred a long time with the Colonnesi, in such sort as they put not only the neighbouring Princes in fear, but also the very Popes themselves, who were fain to observe them; but they have now reduced them to that passe, as the Orsini may with just reason say, sastiditum in ques, & opprebrium gentibus, & abjectio plebis; howsoever this Lord is bountiful, as farre forth as his small abilitie will extend, car­rying along with him the liberalitie of his race. He was much beloved and regarded of Innocent the tenth, because at such time as the assuming of Cardinal Pamphilio to the Papacie was in agitation, he being not entred into the Conclave, by reason of some indisposition of his, when there was need of his vote, he presently entred, and gave it for him; the said Orsini too were great furtherers of the match between his holinesse Neece and the Prince Lodovisio: Nevertheless at this present, the French ha­ving deprived the Prince Lodovisio of the Principalitie of Piombino, the said Orsini [Page 114]indeavour all that ever they may to ob­tain it, for that the Duke of Braccianoes Wife is of the Appian house, from whom the Spaniards formerly took away the said Principalitie, and sold it to the Prince Lo­dovisio for the sum of five hundred thou­sand Crownes, being worth threescore thousand a year. The Orsini were hereto­fore devoted to the house of Austria, but now have declared themselves French, in­somuch that the Duke of Bracciano and the Cardinal have set up the Armes of the most Christian King, from whom they have a Pension of two and twenty thou­sand Crownes a year; besides the Duke of Bracciano continually expects the Brieve of the. Investiture of Piombino: For which cause it is believed, that the friendship and familiaritie, which hath been be­tween Innocent the tenth and them, will turn into hatred and difference, and all-ready there is a beginning thereof; for his holiness hath caused the Duke of Bracciano to be cited, to make payment of his debts to the Montisti his Creditors, otherwise threatning to make sale of his goods to satisfie them. This Cardinal is a man proud enough, and for matter of prece­dence, he, by making stay of his Caroach, [Page 115]affronted & ill intreated the family of the Resident of the deceased Queen Mother, Maria de Medici. He is a Lord full of re­sentment, and Vindicative, and therefore is feared in the Court, and reverenced in the Colledge.

XXXVII. Giulio Gabrielli.

GIulio Gabrielli, a Roman Nobleman: he was Clerk of the Chamber, and was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by Urban the eighth, for the making of mony by sale of that Office; and afterwards was sent, as it were in exile, unto a miserable Bishoprick, charged with pensions, in the City of Ascoli; the greatest part of his meanes he acknowledgeth from the house of Lancelloti. He hath received many dis­gusts from Barberino, yet can he not for all that separate himself from him. He seemes to be devoted to the house of Au­stria, but is internally French. He is an in­telligent man, studious, curious, and affa­ble in his dealing. He is a poor Cardinal, [Page 116]and therefore give not much almes. He is but young, in regard whereof nothing is to be said of him concerning the Papacie. He is well qualified, leades a retired life, hath no enemies in the sacred Colledge, and in the Court carries a good port; he hath some Nephewes, which are of no ill condition. He is a kinne to divers Noble Roman Families, and in particular to the Altieri, Lancelloti, and Coccini. This Car­dinal hath in his Bishoprick been at some variance with the people thereof, insomuch that they rose up tumultuously against him, about some taxes imposed by him upon them.

XXXVIII. Ascanio Filomarini.

AScanio Filomarini, a Neapolitan Cavali­er, born in a little Village subject to Benevento, called Chianchisella: He was so poor, that to repair the miserie he was in, he resolved to goe, and serve some Cardi­nal in the Court of Rome; where being ar­rived, he addressed himself to a Cardinal, his Countriman, and friend, to the end that with his authoritie he might be pre­ferred to the place of Master of the Cham­ber, to some person that was capable of the Papacie; but he to gull him, rather then otherwise, recommended him to Bar­berino, that was not in a predicament of being Pope, who entertained him for Master of his Chamber; and it was his for­tune to have the same inclination, that his Lord had; both of them delighted in A­strologie; for which cause Maffeo carried the greater affection unto him. In processe of time Gregory the fifteenth hapned to die, and after long contestation in the Conclave amongst the Cardinals of several [...] factions they elected the said Maffeo Bar­berino [Page 118]for Pope, by the name of Urban the eighth; who after he had promoted Fran­cesco Barberino his Nephew, to the Scarlet Gown, appointed the said Fidoma­rini to be his superintendant, with the Title of Master of his Chamber, and au­thoritie to wear purple; in regard Fran­cesco was by reason of his youth too unapt, and not fit for the Government. Barberi­no, some time being past, not able longer to endure to see himself under the charge of the Master of his Chamber, began to withdraw himself from it with the great­est arrogancie, that might be; and had in­deed driven him out of his Court, had it not been for the Pope, his Uncle, who protected him: howsoever he would not make use of him in any thing, but about the Chamber. Filomarini, having served the Popes house for the space of ten years, resolved to trie his fortune, to see if he could get the Scarlet Gown, because it had been often promised to him by his holinesse, but it little availed him; where­fore when he saw that the Pope had made many promotions, and that he was still ex­cluded, he began to fall from the hope, which continually he had of it. The truth is, that Urban had an intent to promote [Page 119]him; but he was by Francesco with a malici­ous policie kept from it; for he would say to his holiness, Father, Filomarini is to me a right hand for the Government of my af­fairs, and I shall not be able to meet with such another, as he is; wherefore you may be pleased to preferre him some other time; and this he did alwaies at such time, as the promotions were to be made, more for the hate that he bore him, then for a­ny other end, hoping that by meanes of this suspension, his Uncle comming to die, he should not see a servant of his exalted to the same Dignitie that he was in. The Arch-bishoprick of Naples becomming void by the death of the Cardinal Buon­compagno, Filomarini, seeing that four and twenty years were already past, and he had not been remunerated with any thing, determined to craveit for a reward of his labors, as indeed he did, saying, Blessed Father, I have long served your Holinesse, and your House, and never had any occasion to de­mand any grace of you, till now, that the Church of Naples is void, which I humbly beseech your Holinesse to bestow on me; And this he spake even with tears in his eyes, because he had lost all hope of the Scarlet Gown: the Pope, to make himself merry with him, [Page 120]answered him thus; This is not a morsell for you, my Ascanio, but for a Cardinal; and wee have already so destinaled it: Which Filoma­rini hearing, made no reply, but shrinking up his shoulders took his leave. Not long after this Urban communicated unto Fran­cesco the promotion of the Cardinals, which he meant to make, and in particu­lar of Filomarini; but Francesco, having used all the perswasions he might to divert him from it, and not prevailing, resolved to give him all the disgusts in the mean time, that possibly he could; and for a begin­ning, one day when Barberino was going forth into the City, Filomarini brought his cloak, as he was wont, to put it on him; but Francesco in a rage snatched it out of his hand, saying, you shall serve me no longer, and turning him about to another Gentleman of his there present, he gave it to him, and said, you shall serve me hereafter for the Master of my Chamber: which Filomarini seeing and hearing, re­mained as one dead, to find himself so disgraced by his Lord, saying in his mind; Is this my Guerdon for so many yeares service, which I have done to the Pope, and his Nephews? cursed be he which trusteth in the deceitful hopes of the World. Now the monday morning [Page 121]came, appointed for the sitting of the Consistory, where preparation being made for things necessary thereunto, Filo­marini also began to go about, as he used to doe at other times; but Barberino with bitter words commanded him to get him from that place: as he did, retiring to his lodging very melancholick, and excee­dingly cast down. The time of the Con­sistory being come, which lasted six whole hours together, his holinesse in the begin­ning propounded the Archbishoprick of Naples for Filomarim, and afterward toge­ther with many others, promoted him to the Scarlet Gown. The Consistory being finished, there was heard, according to the usual custome, crying out, long live Car­dinal such a one: Filomarini, who knew nothing of that which had past, desirous to hear somewhat, went out of his lodging, and presently met with some Prelates and Cardinals, which did all reverence unto him, saying, your Eminencies servant, my Lord Cardinal Ascanio; he thinking he was mocked, answered each of them, I had as lieve be flouted by you as another: but at length Barberino himself was forced to goe to him, and give him the Title of Eminencie: Fi­lomarini hearing what he, and the rest had [Page 122]said unto him, began to come to himself again, and call to mind the Popes words, when he told him, that it was not a morsel for him, and that he had destinated it to a Cardinal. This Lord got the Hat with the sweat of four and twenty years service; and in the last Conclave, he met suffici­ently with Barberino, when as he told him, that his obligation for the Scarlet Gown was due to the good memory of Urban, and that he being dead, his obligation was also extinct, knowing well, that he had al­waies opposed him in his attaining to the Hat, and that therefore he was obli­ged to give his vote for the Catholick King his Lord. Urban tooke the greater affection to this Cardinal, because when he was grievously sick in his last infirmity, he had demanded of his Physitian in what state of health his holinesse was, and being put in good hope thereof by him, he gave him a chain of Gold, which the Physitian shewed to the Pope; who there­by perceiving the love he bore to him, promoted him afterwards to the Scarlet Gown. In the time of the Warre of the Barberini, he sent twelve thousand Piastre to the relief of the Papal Army, for which he got no litle credit with the [Page 123]Pope, and sacred Colledge. He is a very intelligent man, and given to Astrolo­gie, but is exceeding proud; so that in re­gard thereof, there is no Cavalier how mean soever, that Courts and visits him: And I well remember, that the Countesse of Saponara at such time as he was Master of the Chamber to Barberino, sent him certain letters, superscribed with the Title of my Lord, and because they had not the Title of most illustrious, he returned them back, saying, that they were not sent unto him; and as much he did, when as he was illustrious, saying, that they were not directed to him: in summe, no man knowes, how to negotiate with him, and therefore every one abstaines from writing unto him.

XXXIX. Gieronimo Verospi.

GIeronimo Verospi, a Roman Gentleman; He was Auditor della Rota, as in like man­ner his Uncle had been, who during the time of his being so, faling at odds with the great Duke of Toscan, madly undertook w^th certain Musketiers to dispute the diffe­rence that was between them about some waters, without regarding the danger of his life, that hung over his head; after which returning to Rome, he was by Urban thought worthy of the Scarlet Gown; and having obtained it, he lived but a while, for some disgusts that were given him broke his heart, and so he dyed. Urban, af­ter the death of that Cardinal, seeing his house as it were ruined & undone, and bea­ring a great affection to it, promoted the present Geronimo Verospi his Nephew to the Hat; he conferred also upon him the Church of Osimo nella Marca, and further confirmed the Auditors place della Rota on his brother, besides many other benefits and graces. Francesco and Antonio both made great suite to have the Scarlet [Page 125]Gown as well for Verospi as for Gabrieli, be­cause they were but small friends to Pamphilio, and as such, they shewed themselves obstinate against his election; and therefore after his assumption the said Verospi hath alwaies absented himself from the Court, to avoid those disgusts which might happen unto him, residing continu­ally at his Bishoprick. He is a poor Cardi­nal, and hath many brothers, who all live together with their Mother, except it be one which hath ever kept himself apart from the rest; and after the death of Urban he went to serve Cardinal Antonio in the place of Master of his Chamber, before he left the Court of Rome to go into France. This Cardinal is learned, but the Auditor della Rota his brother is more intelligent; his vote will be altogether for the Barberi­ni, and his inclination is more to France then to Spain, although, to maintain him­self in the common pretensions, he seemes in apparance to be neutral. If this same Lord should be Pope, he would spoil the seat of Peter to accommodate his brethe­ren, which are many.

XL. Gaspare Matthei.

GAspare Matthei, brother to the Duke of that surname; He was a Prelate of a most Noble and antient Roman family; and was sent by Ʋrban the eighth Nuneio to the Emperors Majestie; in which Charge he carried himself with much sa­tisfaction of both parts. He was promoted to the Scarlet Gown, as other Nuncioes were: Upon his return to Rome he was presently set upon by Sachetti for the re­payment of six thousand crownes, lent him at his going into Germany, causing him to be cited for it, in regard whereof he is no great friend to him, but greatly oppo­sed his fortune in the Conclave, and be­haved himself with much vigilancie, care, & affection towards the House of Austria, in favor of the Cardinal Phamphilio: And he it was also that made a great coil, say­ing, they would have no forreign, but Roman Popes; and in the same Conclave he defended the reputation of the house of Austria, threatning the Cardinal [Page 127] Rapacioli, who had spoken amisse a­gainst the Austrians; he shewed him­self also averse to the Cardinal Fiorenzola for the same cause. This Cardinal is poor, intelligent, opinnative, haughty, proud, full of resentment, and lookes more like a souldier then a Cardinal: He speakes freely against any one whatsoever he be, when he sees things ill done, His vote is, and ever will be Austrian, and for that Crown would he shed his owne blood. He is well esteemed of by the Pope, and feared of the Court, as a vindicative per­son. He hath allied himself with the house of Gonzaga, having given his Sister in ma­riage to the Prince of Pozzolo, who was heretofore Ambassador in this Court from the Emperor.

XLI. Girolamo Grimaldi.

GIrolamo Grimaldi, a Nobleman of Ge­noua, and kinsman to the Prince of [Page 128] Montehonorato. This Girolamo was a soldi­er, having served the Emperor in the Warres of Germany; returning into his Country he put on the long robe, and comming to Rome, he bought the Clerk of the Chambers place, was by Urban the eighth made Governor of Rome, in which Charge he carried himself with much sa­tisfaction of the people; at the end where­of he was sent Nuntio into France, and ha­ving remained some monthes in that im­ployment, he was promoted to the Scar­let Gown for two respects; the one was to make the Clerke of the Chambers place void for the selling of it; and the other, to shew the promoting of a French Nuntio. Some say that this Lord was he which caused the Prince of Monaco to fall from the Spaniards; but others more certainly say, that it was a French Cavalier, named Mounsieur Bordon, of the self same House of Grimaldi; for there are in France many of that Family, so that it cannot be deny­ed but that the Cardinal had an hand in it. And the cause of this defection was, for that the Kings Ministers would not pay the Garrison which was kept in the fortress of Monaco; in regard whereof the poor Prince, having no possibility to pay [Page 129]them, by reason he was not satisfied those few assignments which had been setled for it, was forced to expel the Spaniards, and introduce the French, as most profi­table for him, restoring to the Catho­lique King his Golden Fleece again. This Cardinal is well accommodated with the goods of fortune, and yet he cannot be said to be rich, if one consider the bountifull­nesse of his mind, which is such, as his meanes, though sufficient enough, is not able to answer. In his negotiating and dealings he is very affable and courteous, honoring all without exception of any. He lives under the protection of the Crown of France, as all his kinred besides doth. He is intelligent enough, and studi­ous, but much more curious. The most Christian King honored him for some monthes with his comprotection of France, in default of Antonioes absence from the Court, it having been exercised before by Cardinal Brichi; and now it is exerci­sed by the Cardinal of Este, with the Title of Legitimate Protector, for which he hath received a Brieve from his Majestie. Grimaldi got but little favor with the Pope in the time that he exercised the said comprotection, having too openly [Page 130]spoken overmuch in the behalfe of the Barberini; in regard whereof his Holinesse, before the Cardinal of Estes arrival at Rome, oftentimes denyed him audience. He is very open in the expression of his sence, especially when he comes to have a­ny businesse imposed upon him. He is of some account in the Court, because he is of a principal Family, and a Nobleman of the City of Genoua. He is not a little glad at any losse, or misadventure hapning to the Austrian Monarchy, and in parti­cular to that of Spain. He is an amiable Lord, merry, and jovial; is well pleased with the delights of the World, and es­pecially with faire Women. He is much esteemed of by the Crown of France.

XLII. Cesare Fachinetti.

CEsare Fachinetti, Nephew to Innocent the ninth, and a Nobleman of Bologna; he was a deserving Prelate, and sent Nun­cio to the Catholique King; at the end of which imployment he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown by Urban the eighth, and afterwards had conferred on him the Bishoprick of Sinigaglia, a City of the State of Urbin. In his Church he was observed to be a good and vigilant man, behaving himself gently and charitably towards his flock. None of the Cardinals in the sacred Colledge are enemies to him, because he is loving to them all. He is not very old, but comming to some riper age he may attain to Peters Chair; the rather for that he is devoted to the house of Austria; he hath no vices of consideration; holds good correspondence with the Popes Family. The Spaniards would condiscend to his election, so that it might be propounded by some head of a faction; for if they should do it themselves, he might be easi­ly excluded. He would be no bad Pope [Page 132]for the good of the Church. Innocent the tenth hath conferred on his brother the Charge of Governor of the Armes in Ro­magna; who in case of his being Pope, would be he that will reign, and hath no considerable defect, saving that he is some­what amorous, being now in love with one Nina Barcarola, a famous Roman Dame, otherwaies they are both good Cavaliers. The vote of this Cardinal will be alwaies for Spain.

XLIII. Francesco Rapaccioli.

FRancesco Rapaccioli, a Roman, descended from a Castle, called Castel di Scepoli, scituated betwixt the City of Narni and Trani, and was the Sonne of a Lilettaro, for so they call those in Rome which sell Shirts, Smocks, Handkerchers, and other kind of linnen in the City. Being a Prelate, he was Clerk of the Chamber, and by Urban was against the will of the whole Col­ledge made Treasuror General of the holy Church; having been first honored with [Page 133]the charge of Commissary General of the Papal Army in Perugia: After sometime he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown, to make mony of the Clerks place for the use of the Warre, and a lesse while did he enjoy and exercise the Treasuror­ship, being daily and continually imploy­ed in the said Warre. He is a rich Cardi­nal according to his qualitie, and is most intelligent in the Civil and Cannon Lawes. He is of the Barberinies faction, and consequently French; wherefore in the Conclave he spake amisse of the house of Austria, for which Matthei answered him as he deserved, and with threats told him, that he were best take heede in what manner he spake of the house of Austria, for else he might be made to repent it, al­though he were a Cardinal. He is but litle esteemed of in the Court, and in the sa­cred Colledge he is reputed as a meer Scarlet Gown, and no otherwise. Innocent the tenth hath conferred on him the Church of Terni his Country.

XLIIII. Giovannni Giacomo Panzirolo.

GIovanni Giacomo Panzirolo, a Roman, the Sonne of Virgilio della valle, so sirna­med, sometime a publique Taylor in Rome. Giovanni Giacomo, having profited well in vertue, and proceeded Doctor in the Lawes, applied himself to the Court, where he was entertained by the now Pope for his Auditor, at such time as he was a Prelate, and Nuntio at Naples; He also followed the said Pamphilio into Spain, upon his going likewise Nuntio thither. After Pamphilio was promoted to the Scar­let Gown, Panzirolo put himself into the Prelacie, and having exercised many Charges and Governments, he was at last sent Nuntio into Spain, where he caried himself very worthyly, and to the great contentment of that Majestie; insomuch that the Pope finding him to be very in­telligent, and deserving, promoted him to the Scarlet Gown. He is a learned man, and expert in all matters of Negotiation: He hath gotten much credit with the Crown of Spain; is greatly approved of in [Page 135]the Court, and is much esteemed by the sacred Colledg, but farre more by Innocent the tenth, so that if he live, he may be Pope. He is of a sweet coversation, excel­lently qualified, of a good behaviour, friendly, and thankful for all benefits re­ceived. He arrived at Rome from Spain when as the Cardinals were in a manner all shut up in the Conclave, and brought along with him divers pacquets of letters written from his Catholique Majestie, to all the sacred Colledge, in favor of the Cardinal Pamphilio, insomuch that it was he who gave the first start to his greatness; which benefit, together with the good­will Pamphilio bore him before, caused him presently upon his assumption to place him near about him; he gave him lodg­ings also in the Pontifical Palace, and made him his chief Counsellor of State; so that the whole Government of the Pa­pacie is in a manner resting upon his shoulders. He is not very rich, but with the Pensions and Benefices bestowed on him by the Pope, he is thought to be ex­ceeding well accommodatep. He leades a very retired life, and is of a good dispositi­on; for I remember that in the time of his Prelacie he told me one day, how he ne­ver [Page 136]fell out with, nor misused any servant of his house, to the end they should not have occasion to murmure at him, or his birth, and lose the respect which they owed unto him; a matter verily worthy of commendation. He is a trusty friend of the great Duke of Toscans, but he is not confided in by the Barberini for private interests, and because, as it is thought, he was one of them that Counselled the Pope to prosecute them in that sort, as he did; He received the Hat from the hands of Innocent the tenth, together with the Cardinal of Este, because they were not present in the Court at such time as Urban was living.

XLV. Mattheo Theodoli.

MAttheo Theodoli, a Roman, descended of a Noble family in the City of For­lin Popoli nella Romagna. He was a poor Pre­late that could hardly live, but at the in­stance of Antonio he was by Urban the eighth made Auditor of the Chamber, [Page 137]and not having mony enough to pay for it, the said Cardinal Antonio lenthim some, out of the affection he bore to his house: He exercised the said Auditorship but a short while, so that he could hardly recover a­ny part of his disbursment, because he was promoted to the Scarlet Gown out of a necessity of selling that Office to make mony of, for the supplying of the Warre against the Princes of Italy; by which meanes he became exceeding poor, and therefore he resolved to abandon the Spa­nish, and betake himself to the French par­ty, upon promise from that Crown of mo­ny and pensions. This Cardinal is of little esteem in the sacred Colledge, insomuch that when he meant to give himself to the French, he sent a Gentleman of his to ex­cuse him to Cardinal Montalto, saying, that his Eminencie was to pardon him for leaving the Austrian, and cleaving to the French devotion, in regard he was redu­ced thereunto by meer necessitie; where­unto the said Montalto made answer, that his Catholique Majestie in losing him lost nothing, and the King of France by geting him got litle. Not long after insued the Conclave, where, it is said, he carried himself with little fidelity to the most [Page 138]Christian King; for being promised I know not what summe of mony, together with the Bishoprick of Imola, he falsifyed the Marquess of Sansciamont the Ambassa­dor of France his hand to certain letters, in the behalf of the Cardinal Pamphilio, for which he was turned out of his Majesties favor, and likewise deprived of all the be­nefits and revenues which he enjoyed in that Kingdom; whereupon, not being able to live as a Cardinal, he, very much dejected, absented himself from the Court and went to the Marquesse santo Vito his brother; where out of rage and discontent he became almost frantick, and the Pope having granted him the Church of Imola, took it away again from him, and confer­red it on my Lord Cocino Romano, who was Bishop of Tursi. After he had remained some time with his said brother, he retur­ned to the Court, where unknown he li­ved miserably: but at length having re­ceived some letters from France, it is said that he spake thus publiquely to the Pope; Blessed Father, the most Christian King hath vouochsased to receive me a new into his pristine favor, as much as to say, in de spight of all my il willers, and of such as would not have it so. There can no certaine judgement be [Page 139]made what this Cardinals vote will be, for he turnes like a leafe with every breath of winde. Both the King of France, and the Pope make but little account of him, and yet they seem to look upon him with a good eye.

XLVI. Fausto Poli.

FAusto Poli, born in Cassia, a place upon the confines of Abbuozzo within the Diocesse of Norcia; He was a poor man at first, and served Urban the eighth at such time as he was Bishop of Spoletto, and had the good hap to continue in his service untill his exaltation to the Papacie; and then putting himself into the Prelacie, he was after some time as a confident ser­vant of his promoted by Urban to the Scar­let Gown, together with many other ser­vants of the Apostolical Palace. Poli hath alwaies been much esteemed of, and loved by all the Barberini, for his serviceableness to them in the managing of their house­hold affaires, for which he is onely good, [Page 140]being otherwise altogether ignorant, and without any known vertue in him. The Barberini would not exclude him from the Papacie, in regard he is their creature; but he is not desired of the Austrians, and then too there are other persons of quali­tie, and age in the sacred Colledge, which farre excel him in all requisites appertain­ing to a Pope; and therefore he may set his heart at rest, and never think of it. This Cardinal is so much for the Barbe­rini, that he will alwaies be at their dis­posing, and consequently will ever side with the French. He is rich, and in case he should be Pope, the Bishop of Amelia his Nephew will be he that shall reigne; who is not very intelligent, is of litle esteeme in the sacred Colledge, and lesse regarded in the Court.

XLVII. Lellio Falconieri.

LEllio Falconieri, was also an assidual servant to Urban the eighth; but be­cause he was too talkative, the Barberini did not regard him, neither did the Pope in like manner much care for him He was a poor Prelate, but his father dying, left him a great summe of money; wherefore Urban thought good to send him abroad, that he might spend some of it, and accor­dingly he dispatched him away Nuntio into Flanders, where the Cardinal Infante, being advertised that the said Falconieri was too much a favorer of the French, and consequently a depressor of the Spa­niards, would not receive him, and so ex­cluded him from that imployment. After­wards he was by the same Urban published for a good Prelate, especially by causing him to execute the place of Secretary of the Congregations of the Bishops & Regu­lars, and then was promoted by him to the Scarlet Gown, with other servants of his holinesse, for two reasons; the first was, at the instance of Cardinal Sachetti, and [Page 142]the second, that imported most, was, be­cause in the Warre of the Barberini, the said Falconieri and his brethren had lent round summes of mony to the Apostolick See, for otherwise he had never had the Hat. This Cardinal is no great friend to the Barberini, and in particular to Cardi­nal Francesco, because when the Pope lay a dying, he opened unto him all the mis­demeanors, and tyrannical actions which the said Francesco had perpetrated, for the which he hath ever since hated him to the death. He is well enough accommodated with the goods of fortune, but is very much wanting in good parts, for he can hardly read and write his own name. The present Pope, Innocent the tenth, sent him Legate to Bologna, where he hath resided a long time, and at this instant the Ma­gistrates of that City are suitors unto his holinesse for the continuing of him in that Charge, alledging that they are excee­dingly well satisfied with his Govern­ment; and this they do for no other rea­son, but because he is altogether ignorant, and that therefore they rule all things at their pleasure, so that he is there onely as it were pro forma, the whole weight of af­fairs resting upon the shoulders of my [Page 143]Lord Zeccadoro, who is said to be his holi­nesse kinsman. Falconieri, in regard of his age, is capable of the Papacie; but as for wisdome, and vertue he is most insuffici­ent. In discoursing his speech is rustical, and is no way splendid, nor liberal, for it is enough to say that he is a Florentine. He is much delighted with sports, plaies, and feasts, and therefore goes continually to the publique Comedies, which are fre­quently acted in Bologna.

XXV. Francesco Adriano Ceva.

FRancesco Adriano Ceva, the Duke of Sa­voy his Subject: He was a long time an assidual servant to Urban the eighth, and after he was a Prelate, whensoever his holinesse made any promotions, he was still kept back from being promoted by Francesco Barberino, so that if the Pope had dyed he had been excluded: for the said Barberino, in regard there was no good correspondence between them, laboured alwaies to put him in diffidence with Ur­ban; that he might not give him the Scar­let [Page 144]Gown, which notwithstanding at length he obtained. This Cardinal is rich in meanes, but poor in vertue and know­ledge. He hath many Nephewes, but the most beloved is Signior Carlo Francesco Bay­la, the Sonne of my Lord Bayla, the Con­sistorial Advocate, who lives with this his Uncle, which allows him scarce a penny in his purse, such is his avarice: neverthe­lesse, in case he should attain to the Papa­cie, this would be the reigning Nephew. Ceva is not much affected by the Princes of Savoy his Lords, because when there is any benefice, or Abbacie void in his Coun­try, or other places of their States, he ne­ver cares to have it demanded for any of those Princes deserving servants, but al­waies seekes to apply it to his own, and his kinsmens benefit; neither is he greatly regarded by the Crown of France, although he was Nuntio with that Majestie, by rea­son he is alwaies inclined to the Austrian devotion, & therfore I cannot see how he should ever get to Peters Chair, because in every event of the Conclave, they would exclude him for the causes aforesaid: The Austrians too confide little in him, be­lieving, that even as the Dukes of Savoy his Lords use to doe, who play the turne-coates [Page 145]upon every motive according to their interest, so Ceva their subject would do the like.

XLIX. Angelo Giorio.

ANgelo Giorio, a Native of the City of Camerino, of a vile progenie, and a poor Priest in Rome; where having for some time kept a school, he left that, and put himself to serve the Cardinal Maffeo Barberino for a tutor to his Nep­hewes, Francesco, Antonio, and Thadeo, lea­ding them daily to the Roman Colledge; and withall imploying himself very dili­gently in divers other affairs of the house, he wonne his Masters goodwill and love. Afterwards, Maffeo being elected Pope, Ciorio entred into the Prelacie, and in a short time thrived so well, that he got to­gether a good estate; whereupon having a long while continued, performing many good services to Urban, it seemed conve­nient to his holinesse to do him right, and so together with other servants of his he promoted him to the Scarlet Gown. He [Page 146]hath brothers, and Nephewes, which in regard of their rustical conditions will not let themselves be seen, nor known in the Court. He delights greatly in hunting, and for that he was much made of by the whole house of the Barberini, and particu­larly by the Pope. This Cardinal, because he was exalted from nothing, will alwaies be at the disposing and command of the Barberini, and consequently will of force be for the French against the Austrians. He is a man of a lusty age, not very old, is lit­tle respected in the sacred Colledge, and at Court is esteemed as a raking, covetous Cardinal, that for mony would sell him­self to do any vile thing. He hath no other good in him, but that he is not so igno­rant, as the rest of Urbans servants are, be­cause he hath been continually exercised in pedantism.

L. Vicenzo Costaguti.

VIcenzo Costaguti, a Nobleman of Genoua He was Clerk of the Chamber, and did not hope to come so soon to the Scar­let [Page 147]Gown, because he was too young, and also for that the Court abounded with many other aged & deserving persons; but well-fare the War of the Barberini, which made many rise, that otherwise peradven­ture had never been promoted. For Urban, being loth to medle with any of the accu­mulated treasure, which he had buried under ground for the benefit of his Nep­hewes, and wanting mony to maintain the Warre, exalted many Officers of the Chamber, and then sold their places to o­ther Prelates; in which manner Costaguti was promoted. This Cardinal, before he received the Scarlet Gown, together with his father lent a great sum of mony to the Chamber, and had for securitie thereof the five millions which were laid up in the Castle Saint Angelo by Sixtus quintus. He is a splendid, amiable, sociable, gen­tle, affable and courteous Lord; he is much esteemed of by Innocent the tenth, is charitable, well qualified, and of a goodly presence: He is of no faction, but keeps himself neutral, is learned, and in­telligent; and may truly be called the Car­dinal of Gold, in regard he paid treble for the Hat. He is held to be very grateful; and therefore he is loved and reve­renced [Page 148]of all, as he in like manner honors all.

LI. Paolo Emilio Rondanino.

PAolo Emilio Rondanino, a Roman Gentle­man, and Nephew to the late Cardi­nal Zachia, that sought to advance his pre­tensions by the help of the Spanish Cardi­nals, who being distasted with Ʋrban the eighth, for that he shewed himself, as in effect he was, too much French, often­times met together, and made divers Con­gregations to depose the said Urban, after he had held the Papacie thirteen years: And whilst his holinesse by reason of his sicknesse was gone to the Castle of Gandol­fo for change of air, the said Spanish Car­dinals secretly assembled in a Congrega­tion, to make Cardinal Zachia Pope in­stead of the said Urban, and depose him under the pretext of disabilitie: But it did not succeed, for all was made known to his holinesse, who returning privily to Rome, called a consistory, where all the Cardinals being present, Urban with an [Page 149]high voice, said alowd, Where is the new Pope whom you mean to adore? which the Spa­nish faction hearing, and perceiving they were discovered, remained as it were all dead and confounded. Hereupon it was, that Urban made the Bull, which enjoy­ned every Cardinal, Archbishop, Bishop, and others whatsoever, that had cure of Souls, to go and reside at their Churches, upon pain of excommunication, and de­privation of their Dignities and Benefices; so that the poor Cardinal Lodovisio, who lay grievously sick of the Gout, was for­ced to get him away to his Church of Bo­logna, where not long after he dyed with excessive pain; and all those besides which had a hand in that conspiracie dy­ed discontented, and contemned; particu­larly Cardinal Zachia. Rondanino was Clerk of the Chamber, and was promoted together with the other Officers of the Chamber, as the said Costaguti was; but es­pecially for that he had at his own charge in the time of the War raised a company of Cuirasiers, besides divers other servi­ces. This Cardinal is but of a mean un­derstanding, and proud in the highest degree, insomuch as he deignes not to render a salute unto any person that is not [Page 150]his equal; a discurtesie verily worthy of blame. He is wealthy, loves his plea­sure, and is taken with every Roman de­light.

LII. Giovanni Steffano Donghi.

GIovanni Steffano Donghi, a Gentleman of Genoua. He was Clerk of the Cham­ber, and was sent by Urban the eighth, af­ter the unhappy success of Cardinal Spa­da's Negoti ation, Nuntio Apostolical, with the Title of Plenipotentiarie, into Lom­bardy, for the concluding of a peace with the Princes of Italy, where he caused him to spend the second Clerkship of the Chamber, without any profit at all re­dounding to himself thereby. He was pro­moted to the Scarlet Gown for the same end, as his other fellow Clerks were. This Cardinal is a man learned, and curious; he is well respected of the Pope, who made him Legate of Ferrara, in which Charge he demeaned himself with great commendation. He hath many good parts, is affable, courteous, and also charitable. He is very rich, and [Page 151]spends enough, but to purpose, and not idlely. He is much devoted to the Ca­tholique King, and makes open profession thereof, having his armes set up over the Gate of his Palace. In the past Conclave he abandoned the Barberini, and followed the faction of Spain, which holds him in some esteem, all his whole house living under the protection thereof.

LIII. Carlo Roscetti.

CArlo Roscetti, a Nobleman of Ferra­ra. He came a young man to Rome, where, putting himself into the Prelacie, and being imployed by Francesco Barberino in many businesses, he effected them so well to his satisfaction, that he took a great liking to him, in such sort as by his mediation he was sent Nuntio into Cer­many, and returning from that Charge, he was after some years dispatched also as Nuntio into Ireland, to supply the Irish Catholiques with mony, and animate them to fight for their Religion against the Parliament of England. Upon his com­ming back from thence, he was promoted [Page 152]to the Scarlet Gown, at the instance of the said Francesco, to the end he might there­by oblige him to be still of his faction in all Conclaves, and other occurrences, as accordingly he hath shewed himself. He was made Bishop of Faenza in Romagna, where he was highly esteemed, and com­mended for a worthy man, and of a Noble disposition. He is a poor Cardinal, and yet for all that he is not slack in giving of almes. He is not much devoted to the house of Austria, is but young, and of a mean understanding. The present Pope regards him well, albeit he declared him­self but litle affected to him in his electi­on. He hath brothers, and many kins­men, which are Counts, and Marquesses in Lombardy.

LIV. Giovanni De Lugo.

GIovanni De Lugo, a Spanish Gentleman. He was a Jesuit, and a great Divine, of whom Urban the eighth made use in di­vers occurrences to his no little satisfacti­on; wherefore he promoted him to the [Page 153]Scarlet Gown. This Cardinal was ever an honest man, and of an exemplary life; but his being a Iesuit, is that which I cannot abide, for he was Master of the Schooles of the Colledge, & hoc sufficiat. Some say that he was assisted and supplyed by his Company; others say no, because he hath shewed himself as it were an enemy to the Iesuits; but that he was assisted by his kin­red, and had also got together some store of mony to such a use, as the manner of the Iesuits is to do, cum cantionibus, & aliis adminiculis. His descent was not ignoble, and he hath had many men renowned for learning in his house. This Lugo, by reason of the obligation wherein he stood farre ingaged to the Barberini, made shew in the Conclave of following their faction; but afterwards with a stratagem he gave his vote to the Spaniards, and when as the Pope was elected, publiquely declared himself of the Austrian party: so that in him is verified the saying; As ingratefull as a Iesuit.