There are, as I have observ’d, two Sorts of Consistories, the one Public, the other Secret, and they are both notify’d to the Cardinals by two of the Pope’s Ushers, who receive the Order directly from the Holy Father himself. These Ushers give previous Notice also of all the public Chapels to be held, of all Processions, Cavalcades, and other Ceremonies. They wear Gowns of purple Cloth, and carry a black Wand. They speak to the Cardinals on the Knee, in these Terms, Eminentissime Domine, Crastina Die, Hora, &c. in Palatio Apostolico erit Consistorium secretum, or, fiat Processio. They have this Privilege, that the Cardinals must not let them wait a Moment; but are oblig’d to admit them, in what Plight soever they are, to receive their Messages standing, and to veil their Bonnet to them. These Ushers have the Privilege also, that when they find a Cardinal at Table, they may carry off the best Dish, unless the Cardinal chuses rather to give them a Couple of Pistoles.
This Consistory is in a proper Sense the Pope’s Council of State, wherein he deliberates secretly with the Cardinals on the most important Affairs of the Holy See. After the Pope has therein given a particular Audience to each Cardinal, the
Bishops are therein nominated to vacant Sees, and the Palls conferr’d upon the Archbishops. Every thing that has been treated of in the consistorial Congregations, is there determin’d, as is, in short, every thing whatsoever relating to the Welfare of the Church, both in Spirituals and Temporals: And this is what is call’d the Secret Consistory. In the Public Consistory, the Pope receives the Ambassadors that come from Tributary Countries, and delivers the Hat to the new Cardinals. The Pope has the Power of assembling the Consistory as often as he thinks fit, and on that Day all other Congregations are suspended. In this Public Consistory, the Pope’s Throne is rais’d much higher than ordinary, and the Cardinals sit on high Benches, with their Train-bearers plac’d at their Feet. The Constable Colonna, in Quality of first Prince of the Throne, stands on the Right-hand of it, which is a Post of Honour that he yields to none but the Pope’s Nephews. The Ambassador of Bologna, and the Conservators of Rome, in Robes of Gold Tissue, are plac’d on both Sides of the Throne, about which are also the Pope’s great Officers. The Holy Father is supported by two Cardinals, one on the Right, the other on the Left of the Throne, sitting on Stools.
When the Pope declares he has a Cardinal in Petto, tho’ he names him not, he is always sure to be a Cardinal, and walks even at the Head of all those that are to receive the Hat before him. When it happens that the Pope dies ere he has declar’d him in Public, ’tis sufficient if the Holy Father leaves a Note behind him, wherein he says, that the Person whom he declar’d a Cardinal in Petto, is such a one; or if two Cardinals attest that they heard the deceased Pope say, who was the Man that he had nominated in Petto.
The Dignity of a Cardinal is look’d upon here as the greatest Thing in the World. There are no Cabals nor Intrigues of any kind, which the Prelates of this Court don’t form to obtain it; and a Family at Rome never thinks its Fortune made, if it has not some Cardinal of its own Name. This is so true, that one of the first Princes in Rome, who did not want a Hat in his Family, for the sake of illustrating it, did nevertheless, during the Pontificate of Benedict XIII. purchase one for his Son, of the Cardinal Coscia, at the Price of eighty thousand Crowns. But ’tis mere Ambition only that can make a Man wish to be a Cardinal; for the Life which those purple Gentry lead, is, as ’tis here said, the most melancholy in the World; every thing they do at home is by Compass and Measure; they are continually under Uneasiness and Constraint, oblig’d almost every Day to be present at Chapels, Congregations, and Consistories, must give and receive Visits of Ceremony, assist at the Festivals of the Church, at the taking of Habits, granting of Audiences; in short, a Cardinal who minds his Profession, has not an Hour in the Day that he can call his own. ’Tis true, that an infinite deal of Respect is paid to them; but what signify such empty Honours, attended with a perpetual Constraint, to a rational Man, who is moreover a Nobleman by Birth, and does not forget that he is but a Man? I am sure, there are above four Cardinals to whom their Grandeur is a Burden.
When a Cardinal goes abroad with a great Train, which is here call’d in Fiochi, he must have three Coaches. That in which he rides himself goes foremost, preceded by all his Livery Servants, and a Footman carrying an Umbrella under his Arm. All that meet him, tho’ they are Princes, must stop for him; and when two Cardinals
meet one another riding out after this manner in State, they must both stop their Coaches, and compliment each other, and then the oldest passes on first. When the Cardinals thus ride out with this Ceremony, they are dress’d in long Robes of Scarlet, except in Time of Lent, when they are of Purple. Their common Dress is that of an Abbat, with a red Bonnet and Stockings; and ’tis in this Habit they make their familiar Visits, without any Retinue, and with the Curtains of their Coach drawn. The best way of seeing them, after a Person has been once introduc’d to them, is to attend in their Train, when they go to any public Function, or to make any Visit of Ceremony. The Cardinal, when he takes Coach, salutes those who are to ride with him. The most honourable Place in it is by the Side of the Cardinal, the second upon a Seat in the Boot or the Coach, next to his Eminency, and so of the rest.
As to the vehement Outcry in our Part of the World against the Luxury of the Cardinals, I really think it unjust; for I can’t see wherein it consists. Their Houshold is not over and above numerous. Their Domestics are generally a Maître de Chambre, an Officer who they say is tantamount to the great Chamberlain of our Electors; a Cupbearer; a Train-bearer; one or two Gentlemen; two or three Priests; as many Valets de Chambre; eight or ten Lackeys; three Coachmen; eight Horses, and three Coaches. Their Furniture is red Damask very plain. They keep so frugal a Table, that they commonly allow their Cook but one or two Testoons a Day to defray the Expence of it, exclusive of the Bread, Wine and Fruit; for they always eat alone. None but the Cardinal Ministers keep an open Table at any time; and of these, not one does it at present, but the
Cardinal de Polignac, the Minister[7] of France: For the Cardinal Cienfuegos, the Emperor’s Ambassador, has retrench’d his Table, by reason of his great Age; as has the Cardinal[8] Bentivoglio, on account of his Infirmities.