Upon this the Pope enraged against Astalli, banished him from Rome, took away from him all that he had so liberally given him, except the quality of Cardinal; of which he could not be deprived but for great crimes, and that by a fair trial too.
Now if the Pope Innocent could not trust one whom he had raised from nothing; and if the secrets of his Court were revealed and published by a Cardinal so much obliged to him, How can other Popes trust Cardinals that are as it were their enemies by being too much other Princes friends?
These are the reasons that force the Popes to call their Kindred about them, and shew them all demonstrations of kindness; and I think they are such as prove that the Pope cannot govern according to the rules of good Policy, if their Kindred be not with them, and have not a share in their fortune.
And if it be so, Why do we murmur so much against the Popes for spending the Treasure of the Church in maintaining the greatness of their Nephews? since it is certain that their Pomp and State is the Churches. And to what shall its Treasure be useful, except it serve to make the Majesty of the Popedom appear to the eyes of the world? For there is no doubt, that if the Pope’s Spiritual Authority were not held up and maintained by his Temporal Power, it would soon be ruined and despised. For now adaies the reputation of riches and strength is that, which breeds respect for the Popedom; as in the Primitive Ages of the Church it was upheld by holiness of life, and good example.
Poor Church-men are indeed respected still by some devout Women, and the Vulgar: But they are despised in the Courts of Princes; where the Rich are welcome, and honourably received. A poor Church-man must wear a Hair-cloth, Fast, do Penitence, and work Miracles to be known and respected: But a rich one, without more ado, shall immediately be saluted and welcomed even where he is unknown.
Why are the Jesuites so in vogue in the World, and desired in Courts, as if Princes could not be without them. The Vulgar adore them, Noblemen respect them, and Magistrates grant them protection and priviledges. Is it that they serve the Church better than other Church-men? No certainly: For the Orders of Saint Francis and Saint Dominick have spent more bloud in the profession of the Christian Faith in a Day, than the Jesuites in an Age; neither do they live a more exemplary or a stricter life than others. How comes it to pass then, that they are so powerful? I will tell you; Money is the Key which opens all doors to these good Fathers, by which they purchase Credit, Power, and Authority, even amongst Church-men, and in the Court of Rome.
The Popes by this, seeing how important a thing Riches are in the hands of Church-men, do very wisely strive to furnish their Nipotismo with them; that as they are to treat and manage the greatest affairs of Christendom: so they may do it with the Pompe and State, that so Eminent an Employment does require.
The SECOND BOOK.
The Contents.
In which is discoursed, of all the good and ill that the Pope’s Nephews have done the Church ever since Sixtus the Fourth. Of the Church of Christ, compared to a Field. Of those that first bestowed Riches upon the Church. Of the insatiability of the Nipotismo in general. Of the Princes that murmur against the mischiefs caused by the Pope’s Nephews in Christendom. Of the honour that Princes receive in bestowing Revenues upon the Church. How the Scandal was first introduced in the Church. Of the Complaints made against the Popes. Of the Primum movens, that gives Motion to the Sphere of the Nipotismo. Of a Comparison betwixt the Gospel and the Churchmen. Of a Dispute between a Papist Preacher, and a Protestant. Of the Spirit of the Nipotismo, inclined to gather Riches. Of the impossibility of serving God and the World. Of the Excommunication of the Lucheses by Urban the Eighth. Why men are so easily corrupted. Of an Accident that befel St. Francis of Assiza. Of another that befel St. Francis of Paola. Of a false Opinion, maintained by some Divines. Of a Discourse held by Ferdinand, Great Duke of Toscany, to a Pilgrim that was going to Rome. Of the great number of Decrees that have been made to reform the Church-men. Of the People that complain of the Nipotismo. How all Christendom is scandalized by it. How the Monks exclaim against it, because it starves them. How often Princes withdraw from Rome discontented. Of the Popes that cannot reform the Abuses of the Church, except they begin with their Nephews. Of Alexander the Seventh, and his austere Life. How the good Example he gave in the beginning of his Pontificate, was of great profit to the Church. Of some Protestants that went to Rome on purpose, upon the noise of his exemplary Life. How he left off hating, and fell to loving his Kindred. Of Don Mario, the Head of this Nipotismo. Of the Disorder that was in Rome, about the Accident that befel the Duke of Crequy. Of the damage done to the Church by it. Of Don Agostino, and his high Carriage. Of the Cardinal Padrone his inclination to sensual Pleasure. Of the Taxes and Oppression of the Pope’s Subjects. Of a particular Opinion about the Peoples Vices. Of the pitiful condition of the Church in Innocentius the Tenth’s time. Of the Renunciation of the Cardinals Cap, made by the Prince Pamphilio. How Donna Olympia did carry her self towards the Nipotismo. Of the Princes Ludovisio and Giustiniani. Of the Nipotismo of Urban the Eighth. Of the Praises given to this Nipotismo, by those who have writ the Life of Urban. Of the Policy of the Nephews of the Popes. Of the most remarkable Passages of the Life of Urban. How the Writers did dissemble all the ill done by him. Of the Barberins Proceedings towards the Emperour and King of Poland. Of the scandal which the Protestants themselves did receive from their Dealings. Of the Designs of Gregory the Fifteenth, to destroy the Protestants. How Cardinal Ludovisio his Nephew was of another Opinion. Of the pains that Gregory took to get into his hands Marc Anthony de Dominis, who was fled to London. How the Prince Elector’s Library was given to the Pope. Of the Zeal of Paul the Fifth towards the defence of the Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction. Of the hatred he bore to the State of Venice. How dangerous the Excommunication of the Venetians was to all Italy. Of the great constance of the Venetian Senate. Of the Troubles of the Church in the Pontificate of Clement the Eighth. How he opposed himself to Henry the Fourth King of France. Of that King’s Resolution. Of the Proceedings of Sixtus the Fifth towards his Kindred. How he banished one of his Relations. Of his Nipotismo, that did the Church neither good nor harm. Of the Resolution of Sixtus, to Excommunicate Henry the Third of France. How the Cardinals opposed it. Of that King’s Death. How Sixtus did not much care to assist the League in France. Of some Particularities of the Nipotismo of Gregory the Fifteenth. Of the great disorder that was in Rome in the time of Paul the Fourth. Of the Cardinal Caraffa that died last: And of some other Particularities about other Popes.