As soon as the news was spread in the Town, people began to discourse about the new Nipotismo, which was to govern the City, the State, and the Church; and there many began to reckon up such a number of kindred, that they affirm’d, there would not be room for them in Rome it self, much less was the Popedom sufficient to enrich such a company of hungry Relations, and raise a family, which, though of antient Nobility, was nevertheless very poor.
The ambitious, and those that desir’d to be in favour with these new Masters, rid post to Siena, not only to carry this happy news, but also to have the priviledge of offering their service first.
Don Mario, the Popes brother, as soon as he heard of his exaltation, immediately, without so much as putting on new clothes, as his Wife would have had him, caused a Horse to be sadled, and with two servants took his journey towards Rome; having first receiv’d from one and the other a number of submissive complements, not without the title of Excellence.
He was thus going on, and making Castles in the Air; insomuch that he did scarce see those that came to meet him on his way, seeming a man in an extasie, and a body without a soul, which without doubt was gone before to take possession of his future greatness; when at some miles distance from Siena, he met a Gentleman, from the Pope, with Letters to him, in which his Holiness did most strictly command, that neither he, nor any of his Relations should stir from Siena to go towards Rome, under pain of incurring their brothers indignation for ever.
At this news, the poor Don Mario was as if he had been thunder-struck; so that if at first he seemed a body without a soul, it was almost true now, for all his blood retired to his heart, and left him pale, like a Ghost, though otherwise corpulent enough; he was in doubt whether he should infringe these so severe commands, and continue on his way, or else obey and go home again; the first seemed dangerous, the second shameful; but at last, after some reluctancy within himself, he resolv’d to return by night to Siena, being asham’d to enter the City by day.
Being come home he communicated his Letter to all the kindred; and though it seemed a very severe one to them, yet had they some little glimpse of hope in the ambiguous sense of these words, Do not stir from Siena, in no wise, till you receive a new Order from us: from this they took occasion, not to despair of their fortune, guessing, that this proceeding was not a defect of kindness in the Pope, but some new politick trick.
The Great Duke of Florence, in the mean time, forgot not to send a Gentleman to visit Don Mario, and to present him with such things, as he thought they might need in that occasion; and by his example, many Cardinals and Princes did the same thing; particularly, all the persons of quality of Tuscany failed not, every one of them, to wait upon the family of the Chigi. ’Tis true, that the Popes Order carried, that they should not change their way of living, nor receive visits as his Relations; but that was too hard to be executed, since it was not in their power, to hinder those that had a mind to it, from doing them that honour.
The Republick of Venice, whose maxime it is to keep the Popes for friends (though they often have been so ungrateful, and so little sensible of the service that this State does to the Church and all Christendom, as to trouble its quiet) having receiv’d the news of the election, assembled the Senate, to deliberate of the demonstrations of joy, which they should shew to the Pope.
There it was resolved unanimously, That the House of Chigi should be declared Noble of Venice, with all the Prerogatives that the Senate uses to bestow on such occasions; which was done accordingly, and the Letters Patent were sent to the Pope and his kindred in Siena, with the usual formes, being followed immediately after by a solemn and stately Embassie.
Thus the Popes kindred did receive continually great honour in Siena, though it were some mortification to them, to see themselves depriv’d of that command and authority, which they thought did belong to them, de jure, as being a Popes Relations.