In those dayes the Nipotismo was most triumphant, all the former Popes Nephews having never been invested with so absolute an authority, as that of the Cardinal Borghese, and the rest of his Nephews.
Paul lived sixteen years in the Chair of the Popes, so that the Nipotismo had time to give root and foundation to their greatness, as indeed they did, but forgot to strike a nail into the Wheel of Fortune, to hinder it from turning about; and therefore not long after, it began to slide downwards, as we shall declare in time and place.
At last, in the year 1621. Paul dyed, to the great grief of the Romans, who lamented very much his loss; and indeed he was a very good Pastour, though he were a little too liberal of the Wool of his Flock to his Kindred; for he left to the Prince of Salmona alone his Nephew, above a hundred thousand Crowns yearly revenue; to the Cardinal as much, besides the vast sums of money layed out in those Buildings we have mentioned; they were thought also, to have vast sums of ready money, unknown to their Uncle; the Cardinal alone being supposed to have above a million in specie: So that Paul left not a farthing to the Church.
His Successour was Gregory the fifteenth, of Bologna, of the noble Family Ludovisio, pretty rich, but very abundant in Relations and Kindred.
This Pope, before he began to mannage the publick Affairs of Christendom, resolved first to establish the particular Interest of his House and Family; therefore having seen the example of Leo the tenth, who by reason of the shortness of his life, could not bestow the dignity of Cardinal upon any of his Relations; three dayes after his creation, he made Ludovico Ludovisio, his brothers son, Cardinal; and the same day he made Ocatio Ludovisio, his brother, General of the Church, though he were absent; and as soon as he came to Rome, he made him Duke of Fiano, and assigned him other Lands bought with the Churches money.
The same day he distributed amongst some other Nephews, many considerable Offices, both within and without Rome, though most of those, upon whom they were conferred were absent, so that it may be said of the Nipotismo of this Pope that it was great almost before it was born, or at least in its cradle, entring into power and command before it entred into Rome.
The Cardinal Ludovisio was he that governed the weighty Affairs, his Uncle depending upon him most absolutely; so that often of Negotiations, and Court business, he would communicate little or nothing to the Pope; and when his Uncle, out of curiosity, would sometimes go about to inform himself how things stood; his Nephew would presumptuously answer him, and say, What need you trouble your head, eat and drink, and let me alone to serve you.
Every step of this Cardinal was towards the advancement of his Family; and the Pope, not only did let him alone, but would often exhort him to make hast, least of a sudden he should be depriv’d of the means: which fell out; for the Pope liv’d but seven and twenty moneths; in which time, the Ludovisi minded their business so well, that at their Uncles decease they had amongst them, two hundred and fifty thousand Crowns yearly revenue, besides ready money, and that which they spent in publick buildings: So that this Nipotismo does deserve the title, of the most subtle & diligent of all the precedent Nipotismo’s, if we consider the proportion of their riches, and measure the shortness of the time that they were purchased in.
With all this they much studied publick applause, and to gain to themselves the good will of the people, and Roman Nobility; shewing great respect for them, and offering their service willingly upon all occasions. ’Tis true, there was not much credit given to these demonstrations, because that the Romans were already accustomed to see such Scenes of dissimulation: But nevertheless, their Uncle, neither alive nor dead was not prosecuted with Pasquinades; his government, or rather his Nephews, having not been so tyrannical as covetous. And since the Romans leave them in peace, so will we too, and conclude this book with the death of Gregory the fifteenth.