In short, in the Civil Broils, which continu’d for above four Ages between the Popes and the Emperors, the Family of Farnese with incredible valour and felicity reliev’d the drooping state of the Holy Church.
Nevertheless the last Popes Urban and Innocent, ingrateful for these benefits, went about to ruine this well deserving Family. Now if they persecute those who with their own Blood and Fortunes have serv’d the Church, what man will ever serve it for the future?
These two Cities were indeed separated from the Church, and given to the Farnesi, who at first found great opposition, and became Masters of it with great difficulty, and that not before the time of Pope Julius the third, in the year 1550. which Pope gave them investiture in despite of Charles the fifth, (who could never be perswaded to consent) and assigned them a considerable summe of money for the keeping them.
Within this last forty years the Popes have persecuted these innocent Princes in that manner, that without the assistance of Forreign Crowns, and some of the Princes of Italy they had been exterminate before this, and received so notable a loss, that had it been compared with what they had received from Paulus the third, it would doubtless have been found they had received less than they had lost: from whence it may be justly said, they have not enjoyed that Principality which they possest, as a feud of the Church, in that peace and repose, for this last half age, as they ought in reason to have done. For those Popes that gave it them first, gave them also priviledges to enjoy it without molestation: and therefore those Popes that have of late troubled the Farness with so much expense, ought in reason (if there, be any such thing in Rome) to have forfeited their feudale Rights.
Julius the third, he also failed not to do his part towards the raising of his Family, which was of the De Montes, by giving them several offices, and sums of money, by which means in a short time they became very great; but half an age was not past, but it began by degrees to decay and shrink into that mediocrity it is in at this day: which is but small in respect of the condition it was in after the death of Julius, who saw them advanc’d, but did not live to see their declension; it being a general Maxime amongst all the Popes Nephews, that they see them advanc’d but to the highest pitch of honour, but live not to see them fall to the lowest point of disgrace.
But the greatest Family of all was the Caraffi, rais’d to that height by Paul the fourth, though of it self for several Ages before, very illustrious: The authority they had in Rome, with the command of several Lands and Castles belonging to the Church, made this name like to be eternal, and being fortified with such strong banks, not at all subject to the injury of time.
But if ever any Family of the Popes were in a short time precipitated from the greatest height to the lowest of meanness, it was this of the Caraffi from Paul the fourth, which continued not four year in that Splendour and Eminence the Pope had plac’d it, he himself having laid the foundation of their greatness and ruine.
Notwithstanding Paul the fourth left his Nephews no small store of Riches, although they were banisht from Rome: which they enjoyed till Pius the fourth was preferr’d to the Chair; who being Pope, and not able to endure their insolencies, he got them into his hands; and forming a Process against them, he hang’d some of them, beheaded others, and sequestred their Estates, destroying in that manner the House of the Caraffi, with no small gust to the Romans, who frequently declared their dissatisfaction with the behaviour of the Caraffi.
But some will object, that the House of Caraffi, do at this present flourish in Naples in great honour and wealth, and may be reckoned amongst the Principal there as well for Splendour and Magnificence, as Wealth, of which they enjoy not a little.
To this may be answered with the same reason I have alledged before, where I spake of the house of Borgia, divided into two Branches, one in Spain, the other in Naples; for the House of the Caraffi, when Paul the fourth was made Pope, was divided also into two Branches, one of them remaining in Rome by the acquisition of a new Estate, the other in Naples in possession of what they had got before.