of his Family, which was of the _De Montes_, by giving them several
offices, and sums of money, by which means in a short time they became
very great; but half an age was not past, but it began by degrees to
decay and shrink into that mediocrity it is in at this day: which is but
small in respect of the condition it was in after the death of _Julius_,
who saw them advanc’d, but did not live to see their declension; it being
a general Maxime amongst all the _Popes_ Nephews, that they see them
advanc’d but to the highest pitch of honour, but live not to see them
fall to the lowest point of disgrace.
But the greatest Family of all was the _Caraffi_, rais’d to that height
by _Paul_ the fourth, though of it self for several Ages before, very
illustrious: The authority they had in _Rome_, with the command of
several Lands and Castles belonging to the Church, made this name like to
be eternal, and being fortified with such strong banks, not at all
subject to the injury of time.
But if ever any Family of the _Popes_ were in a short time precipitated
from the greatest height to the lowest of meanness, it was this of the
_Caraffi_ from _Paul_ the fourth, which continued not four year in that
Splendour and Eminence the _Pope_ had plac’d it, he himself having laid
the foundation of their greatness and ruine.
Notwithstanding _Paul_ the fourth left his Nephews no small store of
Riches, although they were banisht from _Rome_: which they enjoyed till
_Pius_ the fourth was preferr’d to the Chair; who being _Pope_, and not
able to endure their insolencies, he got them into his hands; and forming
a Process against them, he hang’d some of them, beheaded others, and
sequestred their Estates, destroying in that manner the House of the
_Caraffi_, with no small gust to the Romans, who frequently declared
their dissatisfaction with the behaviour of the _Caraffi_.
But some will object, that the House of Caraffi, do at this present
flourish in _Naples_ in great honour and wealth, and may be reckoned
amongst the Principal there as well for Splendour and Magnificence, as
Wealth, of which they enjoy not a little.
To this may be answered with the same reason I have alledged before,
where I spake of the house of _Borgia_, divided into two Branches, one in
_Spain_, the other in _Naples_; for the House of the _Caraffi_, when
_Paul_ the fourth was made _Pope_, was divided also into two Branches,
one of them remaining in _Rome_ by the acquisition of a new Estate, the
other in _Naples_ in possession of what they had got before.
The Lords of the _Caraffi_ enjoy at present in _Naples_ many Signiories,
as particularly the Dutchy of _Matalone_, which they had enjoyed a
hundred years before _Paul_ the fourth, without interruption, being
anciently Dukes from the time of _Ferdinando_ first King of _Naples_, and
reckon’d amongst his principal Favourites; and are still esteem’d of very
well by the Crown of _Spain_, though in the revolutions of _Naples_, upon
I know not what considerations, the affection _Philip_ the fourth had for
a long time for the Duke of _Matalone_, was observed to grow cold.
This Branch that remained in _Naples_ received no benefit or advantage by
that which was establish’d in _Rome_, which last being extinguish’d by
the two _Popes_ aforesaid by the death and sequestration of so many
_Caraffi_; the other remained in _Naples_ daily augmenting by the favours
and priledges they receive from the Crown of _Spain_.
Neither are the Neopolitan _Caraffi_ of the same condition with the
Roman, they having nothing, as many believe, or at least, very little of
the Church Lands in their possession, which continued not long to the
other House, not so much as to the second Generation; and therefore these
Lords are still so considerable in _Naples_, because their Estates sprang
rather from the reward of their valour, than the oppression of the poor.
All this notwithstanding, the People of _Naples_ were always disaffected
to the House of _Matalone_; for which reason in the Revolution of
_Masanello_, _Don Joseph Caraffa_ was slain by the fury of the People,
his heart pull’d out of his breast, and his body drawn all about the
City, with this Exclamation, _This is he that betray’d the most faithful
People of Naples_. Besides, there were several Palaces of the Dukes,
full of inestimable Furniture, burnt, without being able to preserve one;
and I being then in _Naples_, heard several cry, _We must burn all_, _to
purge the House of_ Caraffa _from the Leprosie of the rest of the_
Caraffi; alluding to them who in the time of _Paul_ the Fourth had made
themselves odious to all the World, as well as to _Rome_.
The Family of the _Buoncompagni_ was considerable above thirty years
after the death of _Gregory_ the Thirteenth, which was the Person rais’d
them to that height; for though before they were in some degree of
Nobility, yet their Estate was but narrow and small; however in the
twelve years of his Papacy he let them get so much, that without any
great difficulty, they liv’d like Princes after the death of that _Pope_,
who died in _March_ 1585.
_Giacomo Buoncompagno_, General for the Holy Church, left many Sons all
rich, and allied to good Houses; notwithstanding in a short time all was
consumed: and though there was not one lavish or profuse person in the
Family, though they had several Cardinalships and other Charges in
_Rome_, yet could not all prevent their growing worse every day: And had
not two Marriages sustained them, and put them into the condition they
are in, which yet is but mean in respect of the grandeur they were in
before, they had certainly before this been destroy’d.
But the greatest wonder, in the particular of the sudden destruction of
the _Popes_ Families, was in the House of _Peretti_ rais’d by _Sixtus_
the Fifth. That _Pope_, to immortalize his Name, and the Grandeur of his
House, which was but of very low extraction, married two of his Nephews,
or Nephews Sons, I know not which, into the principallest Families in
_Rome_; giving each of them considerable Estates in Land, and an infinite
quantity of Money: and that it might not meet with any untoward accident
to subvert it, he settled their Estates in the surest and best places he
could, thinking thereby to secure and establish his Family.
Ten years after the death of _Sixtus_, there were seven Males of the
House of _Peretti_ alive, that is, in the year 1600. all of them very
rich; but particularly they which had the Inheritance of Cardinal
_Montalto_, who left his Nephews an Estate of a hundred thousand Crowns
in yearly Rent, besides what they had afore.
Many People conceiv’d this Family was establish’d for ever; and who would
not have thought so, considering the number and fertility of the Males,
their Alliance with the greatest Families, their Riches, and in short,
their enjoyment of all things necessary to the immortalizing a Family?
Yet the Name, the Wealth, the Granduer of this House, did all vanish like
smoak at the death of Cardinal _Froucesco Peretti_, who died in the
beginning of _Innocent_ the Tenth’s Papacy, with no small trouble to the
_Romans_, who loved his person exceedingly, having found him full of
actions of generosity and nobleness to all that had to do with him.
And so was the House of _Peretti_ extinct, not being able to continue
half an Age. Yet notwithstanding, the death of the Cardinal was the rise
of another Family from the _Pope_, which is called the _Savelli_, into
which one of his Sisters was married, who remained Heir to a vast and
inestimable Patrimony. Some People are confident, That if the House of
_Peretti_ had continued, the _Savelli_ would have been in an ill
condition; so as there was no great hurt done, to lose one Family, and
have another rais’d.
The House of the _Sfondrati_ yielded to the Papacy _Gregory_ the
Fourteenth, who though sprung from _Milan_ himself, yet nevertheless as
to his Original, he may not improperly be styl’d both the Son and the
Father of _Cremona_, a Town (considering its Antiquity) amongst the
principal of _Italy_, besides that, it has in all times produc’d men very
eminent both in Learning and Wars. In this City, amongst the most
considerable Citizens, was this House of _Sfondrati_, always enjoying the
greatest Office in the Council, which procur’d no small envy in the
hearts of many; insomuch as some people excited the _Cambiaghi_ (which
was then a Family of great credit and esteem in the City) to oppose
themselves against the Ambition of the _Sfondrati_, who at that time
appear’d to carry all before them.
The _Cambiaghi_, back’d and supported by other of the Citizens,
endeavour’d what they could the diminution of the _Sfondrati_; and from
hence arose (not to say Civil Wars) great feuds and animosities between
them, which continued till such time as _Girolamo Sfondrati_ was called
to _Milan_, where meeting with greater Advancements, he resolved to leave
_Cremona_ for ever: And from this Family, now become _Milanese_,
_Gregory_ the Fourteenth descended, who would always acknowledge
_Cremona_ to be his Country; yet would declare often, whilst he was a
young Student there, He would never return to _Cremona_, till he was made
Bishop of that place: Afterwards arriving at a competency of years, and
other qualifications, he begg’d and obtain’d very readily the Bishoprick
of _Pius Quartus_, being a person of great worth: He was also made
Cardinal whilst he was in _Cremona_, with no small joy to the whole City,
who made great Expressions of their Satisfactions, by Bonfires and other
Ceremonies, at the news of his Promotion.
How careful this _Pope_ was of his Relations, we have sufficiently shewed
in its proper place: ’tis enough that not contented with the Marriage of
two of his Nephews, towards the perpetuation of his Family, and one of
them in particular with the Daughter of the Prince of _Massa_; he
design’d also to make _Emilius Sfondrato_ his Brothers Son, who was
already entred to the Degree of Holy Orders, to resign his Cardinals Cap:
but propounding of it to the Consistory, the Cardinals apprehended it a
business of so great scandal, they intreated him to content himself, that
he had married two Nephews, that were already furnished with Children, to
secure the continuance of his Family for ever, without any such hainous
and unjustifiable courses.
But all this avail’d not at all; for in a short time after the death of
the _Pope_, in a Months time there were three Males of that Family died,
as it were by Judgment from Heaven, to mortifie the ambition of those
_Popes_ who destroy Heaven it self, to fill the World with their Nephews.
And thus by little and little the House of _Sfondrati_ declined, with all
the diligence and care they could use to hold out full forty years,
though they made another Person take their Name upon him, that had
neither Alliance nor Friendship with them.
Of the House of _Aldobrandini_, from whence _Clement_ the Eighth
proceeded, who was created _Pope_ in _January_ 1592. we cannot speak
without touching the Cardinal _Aldobrandino_ too neerly, who is the only
person sustains the Name of a Family, that seem’d, for the Reasons
before, impossible to be irradicated; which may notwithstanding be said
to be extinct, although the Cardinal bears the Name, and the Princess of
_Rossano_ enjoys the Estate, as Heir to the House of _Aldobrandino_; yet
the one being a Woman, and the other a Priest, they cannot hope to
recover it, unless some By-blow should be produc’d: which, though it
would be a neat piece of invention, I cannot imagine, because the
Cardinal was not at all scandalous in his Life, but always obsequious and
respectful of the Princess; who made him Cardinal, and without which he
might have been a _Brandino_ a Jugler, but no _Aldobrandino_.
But to return to _Pope Clement_, I will affirm, That he, not having
fail’d in any thing might furnish _Rome_ with the Family of the
_Aldobrandini_, was not in arrear to his Name. In the time that he was
_Pope_, there were eighteen Males of the Name of _Aldobrandini_, the
greater part of which were married; and it was no small satisfaction to
him, to have so great a number of his Relations: upon which score he us’d
to say, _He was_ Pope _of_ Rome, _and Prince or Chief of the_
Aldobrandini.
That which was most observable was, He took great pleasure in caressing
his Relations; for when any of his Brothers or Nephews that were married
came to him, he would tell them, _Let it be your business to provide
Children_, _and it shall be mine to provide them Estates_.
His good Kindred did not neglect to make their advantage of the Counsel
of _Clement_, nor he to maintain their Honours; by which means, there was
scarce any other Family taken notice of in _Rome_; but the reputation of
this, made a noise in every corner.
This House of the _Aldobrandini_ was well founded in the _Papacy_ of
_Urban_ the Eighth, by the assistance of seven Brothers, Grand-children
to _Clement_; all of them of so strong and lusty complexions, the
Physicians by common consent did assert, there could not be any defect of
Posterity. Nevertheless, it has fail’d; and which is very considerable,
there is not now one Male remaining of the Name.
The House of _Borghese_ descended from _Paul_ the Fifth, who succeeded
_Clement_ (though _Leo_ the Eleventh, who liv’d but five and twenty days,
was betwixt them) ran the same fortune; but being of a later Plantation
in _Rome_, it conserves still some weak and decrepit Branches. One of
the principal designs _Alexander_ had, to marry _Don Agostin_ with the
young Princess _Borghosa_, was to unite the Estate and Patrimony of that
tottering and declining House, with the House of _Chigi_, which at that
time was rising to great Emminence, though for a while they came not to
_Rome_.
There was but one sprig left of the House of the _Borghesi_, and which
was worse, even that of a weak temper, and much subject to infirmities:
which _Alexander_ considering, and what accidents the vicissitudes of the
world might bring upon the house of the _Borghesi_, he applyed all his
endeavours to make a match (which succeeded well) with his Nephew, and
gave him fair hopes of seeing the Patrimony of the _Borghesi_ in his own
house.
And this is the state of the _Borghesi_ at present, who in the time of
_Paul_ the fifth, had above a dozen males of that name, of which there
were not above six married; which was very considerable. But I return to
speak how squares go in the world.
The Families of the _Ludovisi_, _Barbarini_, _Panfili_, and _Chigi_, who
yielded the four last _Popes_, I shall speak nothing of; because they
have not enjoy’d the Benefits of the Papacy full out thirty years: so as
it behoving us to let them rest in peace, I shall leave the observations
of their Catastrophe to them which come after us.
One thing only I shall insert, that the _Aldobrandini_ had at one time
many more males alive, than are at present left of all these four houses
together.
God Almighty bless them according to their own desire; which I do
heartily pray, as having no animosity against those that are good.
Some have observ’d, and not with much difficulty, that the greatest part
of the _Popes_ Families were, before their advancement to the Papacy, of
great antiquity and grandeur; but for many that rais’d themselves by the
treasure of the Triple Crown, it is not so easie to finde; for instead of
attaining to a perpetuation of their Families, they have not been
prolifique enough to defend them against a perpetual annihilation.
The house of the _Medici_ in _Milan_ was of above two hundred years
antiquity, maintaining it self in great Honour and Magnificence: But
after _Pius_ the fourth was elected _Pope_ out of it, it grew worse and
worse, declining with much more speed than it was rais’d, and that after
so extravagant a manner, they could discern themselves rise, but could
not perceive their decay.
So the house of _Gregory_ the fourteenth, who was born as I have said of
the ancient Family of the _Sfondrati_, who had made themselves, as it
were, immortal in _Milan_, not only in respect of the greatness of their
Authority, but in the multitude of their Issue; yet in less than forty
years after _Pope Gregory_, its leaves fell, and the whole Tree of the
_Sfondrati_ withered.
The House of _Aldobrandini_ also, from which _Clement_ the eight was
descended, from the time of the _Lombards_ to the said _Pope_, continued
so eminent in _Florence_; there was at several times three and twenty of
that name chief Standard-bearers, and all elected by the people:
Nevertheless as soon as there was a _Pope_ of this Family (which was
_Clement_) it began to decay, and is now at that pass, there is but one
sprig left of all the branches, and that infertile and incapable of
recovering them, though he should be made a _Pope_.
In short, a thousand other examples might be produc’d to evince what I
have asserted; which examples though I have describ’d in History, yet are
they enough to demonstrate the _Popes_ and their dependents, that all the
care, contentions, and designs they go through for advancement of their
particular Families, are not blessed by the Lord; because he suffers them
not to prosper: it being more then certain, That when he keeps not the
City, the Watchmen wake but in vain.
God Almighty not suffering those who have rais’d themselves to that
greatness, out of the Bowels of those that are in Purgatory, themselves
to remain long without punishment for their faults. He will not permit
those Families that are elated and grown insolent with the wealth and
blood of those poor carkases that are buried in their Churchyards, to
continue long in this world themselves. Heaven is offended to behold
sacred things transformed into profane, Churches into Palaces, Alms into
Thefts, Crosses into Swords, Altars into Lordships, Holy things into
Comedy and Sport, Divine Worship into an adoration of Riches, or rather
adoration into Riches.
He that shall be pleas’d to run over the actions of all the _Popes_, that
is, the History wherein all the Families that have afforded any _Popes_
to the world, Shall finde this for an infallible truth, that they are
either all as it were extinct, or the small remainder that is left
reduc’d to a very mean and inconsiderable condition: As if heaven could
not endure the Patrimony of Saint _Peter_ should be made an universal
scandal to the world, and be an occasion of eternizing the memory of the
Sacriledge they have committed.
I had lately an opportunity of discourse with an Abbot born in _Rome_,
and experienc’d in their transactions: falling into some speech about the
Nephews, and finding their vices, or at least errors by him, with more
vehemence reprehended, than by me, I took the courage to accost him in
this manner, _How is it possible_, _Sir_, _that the Nephews of the Popes
that are living_, _reading the lives of their Predecessors that are
dead_, _that their Blood should not freeze in their veins to finde them
extinct_, _some one way_, _some another_, _in spight of all their care to
eternize themselves_? _how is it possible but some gripes of Conscience
must torment them when they remember all their wealth belongs to the
Church_?
The Abbot would suffer me to go on no further, but cutting me off in the
middle, he reply’d, _Sir_, _He which has too much money_, _has no time to
read over the lives of them that are dead_; _money puts thoughts alwayes
into their heads of eternizing themselves_, _sometimes by acquiring_,
_sometimes by contriving_: _The_ Popes _Nephews do read Books_, _but it
is only when they want money_, _and then ’tis too late_.
And who is there now, would not be amaz’d at such an answer? For my part
I believe all the Romans are of the same opinion, and are in much doubt
of the salvation of the Nephews. And accordingly another of them of
judgement little differing from the Abbot, told his friend; _That the
Popes Nephews must of necessity go to Purgatory_, _for they would be
asham’d to go into Paradise_, _where Christ was_, _whom they had so
wickedly despoil’d in this world_.
These expressions perhaps may seem but raillery, and appear but satyrical
reflections at first sight; however they come from the very heart, though
those that speak them may force themselves into a smile to dissemble it,
as the Apothecary conceals the nauseousness of his pills by covering them
with silver.
A great part of the sober men in _Rome_ have been very serious in
discovering the cause, why the _Popes_ Families are of so little
duration, seeing their riches so vast.
Some are of opinion, it proceeds from the reasons abovesaid, that is,
that God Almighty takes them out of the world as a punishment for the
injuries they have done the Church, in robbing it of the greatest part of
its treasure, to make their own house insolent and high.
Others are of opinion the Curses and Execrations of the people do pierce
the Divine Ears in such manner, that the Divine Justice seems as it were
oblig’d to take them away so immaturely, to give an account of the
vileness of their behaviour towards the subjects of the Church.
And indeed the people of the Ecclesiastical State are so ill satisfied,
and so ill treated by the ill Government of _Rome_, that is by the
_Popes_ Nephews who domineer and lord it over them, that from morning to
night they fill the air with their exclamations, from one corner, _When
will there be an end of their Extortions_? from another, _O God revenge
the cruelties of these Nephews_, _who have ruin’d us_. Nor do the curses
thrown out against the Nephews rest at the people only: The very Priests
and Ecclesiasticks themselves do daily sacrifice upon their Altars for
the destruction of them, who devouring all they can get, leave not the
good people so much as will pay for the celebration of a Mass.
In the time the Duke of _Parma_ was in Arms against the State
Ecclesiastick, then in the possession of the _Barberini_, the Cardinal
_Francesco_ gave order for the performing the forty hours prayers in his
Cathedrals to incourage the People, and to oblige them to pray to God for
the extirpation of the enemies of the Church. But whilst the _Letany_ of
the Saints was singing, a certain _Roman_ Gentleman, at the
pronounciation of these words, _Ut inimicos Sanctæ Ecclesiæ humiliare
digneris_, told a Friend of his that was by, _The Church has no greater
Enemies than the_ Barbarini, _who molest it both at home and abroad_, _so
that our Prayers to heaven ought to be_, _to be delivered from them and
their Arms_.
From hence it may be argu’d, That they who bear a secret hatred and
detestation of the Nephews, retain it even in the Church, and the place
where they ought to pardon all, and are still contriving revenge; and
because they find there is no sure way of freeing themselves from their
tyranny in this World, they send up their Prayers privately to Heaven: As
if they were afraid of the correction of their _Popes_, who would by no
means suffer the Faithful to appeal against their enormity to the Divine
Tribunal, but for all that they do not desist.
Others apply the small durance of the _Popes_ Families to that
Philosophical saying, _Nullum violentum durabile_, as if the great haste
and violence they use to make themselves great were that that
precipitated them: Like Plants, that by a thousand Arts may be forc’d to
bear fruit, and that out of season: But how? Those Artifices, that do
offer violence, as it were, to Nature, do not conserve it long; but,
weakened by the supernatural force, it loses in a short time its native
vigour and is not afterwards to be recovered by all the operations of
Art.
’Tis indeed a fine sight to see a Tree bear good fruit in Winter, if it
could be made to produce for several years; but if the water they use
about the Root be but a little hotter than it ought, ’tis enough to ruine
both fruit and tree; So as the heedlesness of the Gardener may destroy
all that he thought to have done by Art contrary to Nature; for it is
necessary the Root be watered with water warm’d to a just proportion to
secure against the frosts in the nights, and that all convenient
cultivation be us’d: Otherwise all will be spoil’d, and it will be
impossible to preserve a Tree that is by Art constrain’d beyond its own
nature.