The other two Nephews are, as I have said, Sons to one of the Popes sisters, married in the Family of Bichi; one of whom is Cardinal and Bishop of Osimo; and the other Knight of Malta, and General of the Popes Gallies.
The Cardinal at his first coming to Rome was not very acceptable to the Pope; as well because he thought he had done enough in promoting him to the dignity of Cardinal, as, because he wanted capacity for any high employment. ’Tis true, that he had not been long at Court, but he began to lay aside a certain simplicity, which seemed natural to him, and with which he govern’d very well his Bishoprick, and endeavour’d to learn the Arts of Government and Negotiation, whereupon his Cozen Floro gave a good Character of him to the Pope, not out of any design to oblige him, but out of a lazy principle which made him glad to find out any body upon whom he might lay a part of his burden, and this recommendation was not without good effects for Cardinal Bichi, for since that time the Pope hath admitted him into divers particular Congregations, and does make use of him in some occurrences, but very seldome the said Cardinal, being not in truth a man of any great wisdome.
The other Brother, who is Prior of his Order, and General of the Popes Galleys seems to be more favourably looked upon for the Pope; often calls him to him, and grants him many more favours then to the other.
This Gentleman hath got a great reputation in the World of a very ingenious person, and well versed in all Sciences, but for my part I could never find out the root, whence did spring so much desert, for he never did any thing in the world worthy an applause: he hath been sent above four times with his Galleys to the help of the Venetians in Candia, where he never did any thing like a Knight of Malta; for he was alwayes afraid of fighting, even when he was cover’d by the Venetian Galleys, who alwayes were the first that engaged their lives and honour.
And all this proceeded, because he did not trust his people that he had aboard; and he did not trust them, because he knew they had reason to hate him, as having defrauded them of their pay; for he did appropriate to himself most of that mony which the Pope allowed for the entertaining of his Soldiers and Stewes, who never were worse provided for then under this Noble Gentlemans command.
But I think that it is the complements which the prior Bichi makes to every body that deceives them, and they are so taken with his Civility as naturally the Romans are, that they in revenge give him those qualities which he is far from possessing.
His intention is to be Cardinal, whereupon every time he goes to see his brother he puts on his Brothers red Hat, and tryes it, to see how it sits upon his head. But I am afraid he will loose his longing; for the Nipotismo of the Chigi are much against it; and the Pope himself hath declar’d that he will not make two Brothers Cardinals at the same time. Withall this the Prior Courts his Cozens with the profoundest respect, and the greatest submission that the lowest Courtier in Rome would employ, and all to no purpose; for they all see that he aimes at the red Cap, which they are resolv’d to hinder him from attaining. And the reason why they are so averse to his promotion is, because they know him to be humorous, and apt to sow discord and dissention amongst them, which I believe he would go neer to do, if he had the liberty of talking, which a Cardinal hath.
Now if we will say something of the Women, who also serve to make up the Nipotismo, we must begin with the Lady Berenice Don Mario’s Wife.
This Lady is of the Noble Family of La Civia, one of the considerablest of the City of Siena, but ill provided for by Fortune. Her husband loves her, and indeed she hath qualities that do deserve his love, being very witty, and civil, she had not been two year in Rome, but she was mistress of all the Court Arts, and way of living, to the great satisfaction of Embassadors, and Princes; who according to the custome of the Court go to wait upon her sometimes, where they are not a little surpriz’d to hear her discourse so well and easily of things which they only which have been bred all their life amongst Queens and Princesses can talk of, and they are the more pleased, because she does shew amidst all this capacity a great deal of modesty, which gaines the affection and respect of those that have occasion to treat with her.
Don Mario her Husband is above eighteen years older then she, who is not above three and fifty, and is so fresh at that age, that one would scarce give her forty, she being subject to no infirmity at all. At her first coming to Rome, the Pope declar’d, that he would see her very seldome, giving her leave to demand any favour by her Husbands means, but nothing by word of mouth; and he did this to show, what a horrour he had for that impudence, with which Donna Olympia used the Pope Innocent, to his great dishonour, and is thought, that one of the great reasons, that made this Pope keep his Kindred at such a distance for a great while, was, because he was afraid of bringing his Brothers Wife into the Vatican with his Brother, the very name of a Sister in law being a most odious thing to the Romans, for Donna Olympia’s sake; but indeed, Donna Berenice is another sort of woman, and one who shews modesty and reservedness in all her carriage, being unwilling to meddle with any thing to which she is not call’d.