Urban in the beginning shew’d a most exact diligence, in the government of the Church; and in truth, Cardinal Francesco, and he, did take no small pains in reforming the abuses, as well of the Clergy and Monks, as of the Court and temporal administration; so that forraign Princes and Nations were very much edified, by the Popes zeal, and Cardinal Francesco his sincerity, by which he did endeavour to please every body.
But after five or six years time passed thus in the continual cares of the Pontificat, he began to grow weary, not of doing good, but of doing it so often; therefore leaving the mannagement of the most important Affairs to his Nephews, he began to take his ease, and they taking possession of business, did at the same time engross their Uncles inclinations and intentions, that they did, as it were, bind his will to theirs.
Then the desire of growing rich did so blind them, that night and day they did think of nothing else, but of the means to make themselves Princes eternize their family, and fill their Coffers with treasure.
As soon as any Abbey was vacant, it was immediately conferr’d upon one of them, and then as soon as any other good Benifice fell out, it was presented to the other; so that between them, they had all that was rich and worth speaking of, at last both Cardinals, being so full that they could hold no more, would bestow vacant Benifices upon their little Nephews: nay, to above five or six of Urban’s little Cozens, were given Benefices while they were yet in their Cradles; the precedent Popes Decrees being despised, and by these proceedings, the very bread taken out of the mouths of those Prelates, that had served the Church with zeal and care; which was enough almost to make them desperate, seeing little children, scarce born, preferred to them, who had so much deserts. More then this, I think it may be said, that some Benefices were disposed of to those that were not yet born; for in the Articles of marriage of one of the Barbarines with a Lady of the family of Colonna, one was, That a certain Abby should be given to the first-born; so that in the time of this good Pope, Church lands were bestowed on those, who were not yet in the world, but by imagination; and those that had really, and with great pains, serv’d the Church, were altogether depriv’d of their reward.
A certain Prelate of Bologne, who with great zeal had bestirred him in his Ecclesiastical employment, went to Rome to receive his recompence, and having presented himself to the Barbarines, was desired to stay a little while: This little while proved the space of eight years, in which an infinity of Benefices were vacant, but the good Prelate could get none of them, because that the Barbarines divided all amongst themselves, he seeing this, resolved to return home empty as he came; and as he was going out of Rome, some body from the Barbarines told him, that he ought to expect a little longer, and take a little more patience: To whom, with tears in his eyes, he answered, They must be Saints, and not men, who can see the bread eaten from their mouths by the Barbarines, and not be cast into despair.
Another, who had stayed as long to no purpose resolved at last to be gone; and being importun’d by his friend to stay a little longer, answered him thus, If the Church, dear friend, had as many Popedomes, as the Pope hath Nephews and Cozens, and that there one that did not see some where, I might have some hopes; but since there is but one Popedom, I should be a fool to expect any part of it from those, who do not think it enough to divide among themselves.
Of these examples, I believe, I could make half a dozen Volumes in folio, and all of persons that are now living; but I will not weary the Reader with the Lecture of them; Let it suffice for him to know, that Urban never gave any thing for a recompence, to those that had served the Church except his Nephews had first refused it; and they refused so little, that in the end, all Urban’s rewards amounted to nothing.
If any body could brag of a considerable fortune made under the Barbarini, it was a sign, that such a one had serv’d them, and not the Church.
Thus in the year 1641. the Pope made Ascanio Filomarino Cardinal, and Archbishop of Naples, though the service he had done the Church, did scarce deserve him a simple Canonicat, so far was he from meriting an Archbishoprick, yet Urbin promoted him, because he had done most eminent service to the Barbarines family: And indeed, in this Urban cannot but be thanked, for enriching the Church (though his design were not such) with a person adorned with so many excellent qualities, which made him worthy of the Popedom it self, having, since this his elevation, edified, not only his Flock, but all Christendome, and rendred most singular service to the House of Austria, in the revolt of Naples, and the business of Massinello, in the year 1647.
If the Barbarines pretend to the contrary, that they have advanced and promoted those who had a true zeal for the Church, they will do well to produce their names: But I desire my Reader to take this precaution, and observe, that if any body was rewarded, under pretence of having served the Church, there was the Cheat; for they that pretended most to serve the Church, were they, that in effect did work the Barbarines designs and interests to an issue: Upon this account, in one promotion, were made Cardinals the following Prelates, Gio. Baptista Pamphilio, who was since Innocentius the tenth, Gio. Francesco Palotta, and Gio. Francesco de Contiguidii da Bagno; the first, because he had been Nuntio in Spain, the second in Germany, and the third in France; yet the Pope could never be brought to make Monsignor Visconti, who was Nuntio in Polonia, Cardinal, for all the great instances of that King, though the said Visconti was a most worthy Prelate, and one who had done the Church more service in his Employment, then all the other three together; and yet for all that, he remained excluded, while the others were admitted to that honour.