Leo the eleventh, who succeeded to Clement, had not the same good fortune; for being chosen in the year 1665. he liv’d but five and twenty dayes: In which time he projected much, but executed little; amongst other things, he gave out, that his design was not to advance his kindred, but only to continue them in their quality, and make their Estates plentiful and easie; which is a certain moderation, which most of the Popes do affect to shew in their first administration of the Popedom; for even Sixtus the fourth, who gave with so profuse a hand, did still pretend, that he did nothing but what was lawful, and to the advantage of the Church.
This Pope had many Relations in the Family of the Medici, but in that branch which was not come to be Princes; but his Darling amongst them, was Alexander Medici, son to his brother Bernardetto, which Alexander had a son of twenty years old, called Octaviano, which was the Popes Fathers name: Whereupon the Pope sent for him, with an intention to make him Cardinal, and keep him by him: but the very same day that he came to Rome, the Pope dyed, without being able to promote him to that degree of honours which was a great affliction to all the kindred.
Now let us speak of Paul the fifth, of the Family of Borghese, made Pope in 1605. who in an instant filled Rome with Borgheses.
The Pope was of a most kind nature, and particularly to his kindred; amongst whom, while he was Cardinal, he was wont to spend all his Revenue; but his greatest passion was for Scipion Carafelli, his Sisters son, whom he had brought up from a child; and him he made Cardinal, as soon as he was made Pope himself, giving him the name of Cardinal Borghese; by which name he was ordinarily called, and did subscribe himself.
This Cardinal, was the interpreter of his Uncles mind, the Mediator of his favours, and the Coadjutor in all weighty matters of the State and Church: They that expected any kindnesses from the Pope, were not to purchase them any other way, then by the means of him, who commanded and governed the Pope and all things.
The Pope, desiring to follow his Predecessours steps, and employ his private riches to the publick ornament of the City, took care to provide his Ecclesiastical Nephews of Benefices and Church lands; and his secular Kinsmen of Places and Dignities, as they became vacant.
The plenty, into which this Pope brought his Family, was such, that they themselves did scarce know how to dispose of it, there flowing in upon them, every day, vast sums of money from all parts of the world, to procure, by their means, the Popes favour: Whereupon they, seeing no end of their riches, began, out of a complacence to the Popes humour (who delighted in the ornament of the City) to build certain publick Edifices, so noble and stately, that the King of France, who hath a Kingdom so rich, and powerful, and hereditary, would scarce have undertaken the like, at the expence of his whole Kingdom.
The Cardinal begun the Fabrick of that Palazzo Borghese, in the Campo Martio, which is not yet ended; and to perfect it, according to the first design, it would require the value of half the Churches Territories; nay, it is said, that in the foundation alone, were spent above two hundred thousand Crowns, for they were fain to demolish great numbers of houses, and level hills, before they could bring the ground to that true evenness, which the design required.
The Popes brothers began two Country houses of pleasure at the same time, one hard by Rome, and a little without the Porta Ponciana; the other at Frascati, in the little hills called Mendragone: and we may easily conclude what treasure was expended in these, by what the Spanish Ambassadour said one day to a Gentleman of the Family of Borghese, who waited upon him thither; for the Gentleman having shewed one of these houses, asked his opinion of it? and had for answer these words, My King would not have undertaken in such calamitous times as these are, so great a fabrick for his diversion in Madrid.
His Holiness was so overjoyed, to see such princely inclinations in his kindred, that he did nothing but study night and day, how he should enrich them more and more. ’Tis true, he needed not to trouble himself much; for his Cardinal Borghese; who had the Popedom at his disposition, took all the incomes for himself, and the Family of the Borgheses, allowing the Pope a small matter, to please himself with the mending of a Street, or a Church, or some publick Edifice; this Pope having surpassed all his Predecessors, in erecting new Edifices, and procuring by all wayes the ornament of the City.