World. There are no Cabals nor Intrigues of any kind, which the Prelates
of this Court don't form to obtain it; and a Family at ROME never thinks
its Fortune made, if it has not some Cardinal of its own Name. This is so
true, that one of the first Princes in ROME, who did not want a Hat in his
Family, for the sake of illustrating it, did nevertheless, during the
Pontificate of _Benedict_ XIII. purchase one for his Son, of the Cardinal
_Coscia_, at the Price of eighty thousand Crowns. But 'tis mere Ambition
only that can make a Man wish to be a Cardinal; for the Life which those
purple Gentry lead, is, as 'tis here said, the most melancholy in the
World; every thing they do at home is by Compass and Measure; they are
continually under Uneasiness and Constraint, oblig'd almost every Day to
be present at Chapels, Congregations, and Consistories, must give and
receive Visits of Ceremony, assist at the Festivals of the Church, at the
taking of Habits, granting of Audiences; in short, a Cardinal who minds
his Profession, has not an Hour in the Day that he can call his own. 'Tis
true, that an infinite deal of Respect is paid to them; but what signify
such empty Honours, attended with a perpetual Constraint, to a rational
Man, who is moreover a Nobleman by Birth, and does not forget that he is
but a Man? I am sure, there are above four Cardinals to whom their
Grandeur is a Burden.
When a Cardinal goes abroad with a great Train, which is here call'd _in
Fiochi_, he must have three Coaches. That in which he rides himself goes
foremost, preceded by all his Livery Servants, and a Footman carrying an
Umbrella under his Arm. All that meet him, tho' they are Princes, must
stop for him; and when two Cardinals meet one another riding out after
this manner in State, they must both stop their Coaches, and compliment
each other, and then the oldest passes on first. When the Cardinals thus
ride out with this Ceremony, they are dress'd in long Robes of Scarlet,
except in Time of _Lent_, when they are of Purple. Their common Dress is
that of an Abbat, with a red Bonnet and Stockings; and 'tis in this Habit
they make their familiar Visits, without any Retinue, and with the
Curtains of their Coach drawn. The best way of seeing them, after a Person
has been once introduc'd to them, is to attend in their Train, when they
go to any public Function, or to make any Visit of Ceremony. The Cardinal,
when he takes Coach, salutes those who are to ride with him. The most
honourable Place in it is by the Side of the Cardinal, the second upon a
Seat in the Boot or the Coach, next to his Eminency, and so of the rest.
As to the vehement Outcry in our Part of the World against the Luxury of
the Cardinals, I really think it unjust; for I can't see wherein it
consists. Their Houshold is not over and above numerous. Their Domestics
are generally a _Maître de Chambre_, an Officer who they say is tantamount
to the great Chamberlain of our Electors; a Cupbearer; a Train-bearer; one
or two Gentlemen; two or three Priests; as many _Valets de Chambre_; eight
or ten Lackeys; three Coachmen; eight Horses, and three Coaches. Their
Furniture is red Damask very plain. They keep so frugal a Table, that they
commonly allow their Cook but one or two Testoons a Day to defray the
Expence of it, exclusive of the Bread, Wine and Fruit; for they always eat
alone. None but the Cardinal Ministers keep an open Table at any time; and
of these, not one does it at present, but the Cardinal _de Polignac_, the
Minister[7] of _France_: For the Cardinal _Cienfuegos_, the Emperor's
Ambassador, has retrench'd his Table, by reason of his great Age; as has
the Cardinal[8] _Bentivoglio_, on account of his Infirmities.
I can't help thinking there's much more Reason to exclaim against the
ridiculous Pretension of the Cardinals to an Equality with crown'd Heads,
and to take Place of Sovereigns, tho' a Cardinal is often but an ordinary
Man at first, only rais'd to the Purple by good Fortune, and the Favour of
the Pope; of which we have living Instances in two Creatures of the last
Pontificate, the Cardinals _Fini_ and _Coscia_. That such Cardinals shou'd
presume to have the Precedency of an Elector of _Bavaria_, or of
_Cologne_, of a Duke of _Lorain_, and in short, of every Prince
whatsoever, is what, notwithstanding all my Respect to the Sacred College,
I must own to be an Absurdity. That these Cardinals have conceiv'd such a
high Opinion of their Dignity, is owing to the excessive Complaisance of
the Princes of _Italy_, who every-where give them the upper Hand; and a
Cardinal takes so much State upon himself, that he refuses the Precedency
in his own House, to a Sovereign Prince of _Italy_. Our Princes on the
other Side of the Mountains are perhaps as staunch Catholics, and as much
devoted to the Holy See, as the _Italian_ Princes are; yet they don't pay
this Homage to the Cardinals. And indeed, what Reason is there for it? We
have seen Cardinals in the Service of Sovereigns; and I dare affirm, there
are very few of 'em that wou'd refuse to be Pensioners to an Elector of
the Empire.
When one Cardinal makes a Visit to another, the latter receives the
Visitant at the Coach-door, and conducts him into the Chamber of Audience,
where they both place themselves in Arm-chairs, under a Canopy; and after
having been a few Minutes by themselves, the Gentlemen of the Cardinal
that receives the Visit, bring them Ice, Chocolate, and Sweetmeats. When
the Stranger goes away, the other waits on him to the Coach, lends him a
Hand to put him into it, and even shuts the Coach-door. They give one
another the Title of Eminency, but in all their Interviews there's a great
Air of Constraint.
The complete Number of Cardinals is Seventy. They are the Pope's
Counsellors in ordinary, and have the Right of electing him. They are
distinguish'd into three Orders, _viz._ Six Cardinal Bishops, fifty
Priests, and fourteen Deacons. Their Number was fix'd by Pope _Sixtus_ the
Vth. The first Cardinal Bishop is styl'd Dean of the Sacred College. He
that is so now is Cardinal _Pignatelli_, Archbishop of _Naples_. This
Dean, the first Cardinal Priest, and the first Cardinal Deacon, are styl'd
_Chiefs of the Order_; and as such they have the Prerogative of giving
Audience to Ambassadors, and to the Magistrates of the Ecclesiastical
State, during the Vacancy of the Holy See. _Innocent_ the IVth, while the
Council was held at _Lyons_, made a Rule that the Cardinals Hat shou'd be
red, to denote that they were always ready to shed their Blood for the
Liberties of the Church. _Boniface_ the VIIIth order'd that they shou'd
wear scarlet Robes. _Paul_ III. requir'd that their Bonnets shou'd be of
the same Colour; and _Urban_ the VIIIth granted them the Title of
Eminency, which before that was only given to the Ecclesiastical Electors
of the Empire, and to the Grand Master of _Malta_. The Council of _Trent_
own'd it to be the Right of all Nations, to put in for the Dignity of
Cardinal; but those who push for it with the greatest Success, are the
Kindred of the reigning Pope, the _Nuncios_ in _Germany_, _France_ and
_Spain_, the Auditors of the Rota, the Clerks of the Chamber; and in fine,
many of the Pope's Great Officers.
There are few Examples in History of Cardinals that have quitted the Hat.
The first that had a mind to do it, was the Cardinal _Ardicinio_; but Pope
_Innocent_ VIII. refus'd to consent to it, at the Remonstrance of the
Cardinals, who represented to him, that the Church ought by no Means to be
depriv'd of so good a Subject. Some time after this, Cardinal _Borgia_
resign'd his Dignity to _Alexander_ VI. The Cardinal _Henry_ of _Portugal_
quitted his too, for the sake of succeeding to his Brother,[9] the King
_Don Sebastian_. After him, _Ferdinand de Medicis_, upon the Death of his
Brother _Francis de Medicis_, without Issue Male, preferr'd the
Sovereignty of _Tuscany_ to the red Hat, which he restor'd to Pope
_Sixtus_ V. There are also several Instances of Persons who have preferr'd
an austere Retirement to the vain Grandeur of the Purple, particularly
Cardinal _Maurice_ of _Savoy_, _Ferdinand_ and _Vincent Gonzague_,
_Francis_ of _Lorain_, _Camillus Pamphili_, _John Casimir_ of _Poland_;
and _Gabriel Filippuci_ of _Macerata_, so lately as in the Pontificate of
_Clement_ XI. This Resignation of the Hat cannot be made without the
Pope's Consent to it; and when this is done, the Cardinal who renounces it
must pay the Officers of the Apostolical Palace the same Sum, as his Heirs
wou'd be oblig'd to pay, if he was dead.
There being a Hat vacant by the Exaltation of every Pope, they commonly
honour one or other of the Pope's Family with it who advanc'd them to the
Purple; which is what they here call _Restitution_; and when they omit
this Piece of Respect, they are accus'd of Ingratitude. _Clement_ XII. has
not yet made this _Restitution_ to the _Albano_[10] Family, tho' he has
promoted half a score Cardinals. He thought it was more natural to confer
that Dignity on his Kindred and Friends; and at the last Promotion which
he made, he contented himself with making an Apology to the _Albani_,
because he did not restore their Hat to them for that time, assuring them,
that he wou'd take care to satisfy them, at the very next Promotion. The
_Albani_ were oblig'd to set a good Face on a bad Game; but I would not
give them much for the Hat they are like to have of _Clement_ XII. for you
are to take Notice, that the Pope is fourscore Years of Age; that he is
afflicted with the Gout and other Ailments; that there is not one Hat
vacant, and yet the Holy Father hopes to live to make another Promotion,
and then to satisfy the _Albani_.
The Pope pretends to the Prerogative of deposing the Cardinals, but they
deny it. Be this as it will, there's hardly an Instance that the Popes
ever exercis'd this Act of Authority. _Clement_ XI. had an Intention
indeed to haue depriv'd Cardinal _Alberoni_ of his Hat, because when the
Cardinal was the Minister of _Spain_, he employ'd that Money against the
Emperor, which the Pope had permitted him to levy upon the Clergy for the
War against the _Turks_. But _Clement_ XI. met with so much Opposition
from the Sacred College, that he cou'd not accomplish it, and died.
Whether _Clement_ XII. will succeed better, and whether he will ever be
able to deprive _Coscia_ of his Hat, which is what he seems to be very
much set upon, I know not; for he too is thwarted under-hand by a great
many of the Cardinals, who, as unworthy as Cardinal _Coscia_ is of the
Purple, are not willing that he shou'd serve as an Example for the future.
The Pope is also too old to see the Issue of this Process, which, tho' it
has been fifteen Months depending, is not yet very far advanc'd. Cardinal
_Coscia_ is retir'd to _Naples_. He has been very much blam'd for quitting
ROME, and People who know the Tricks of this Court, have assur'd me that
he might have stay'd here safe enough. As for my own Part, if I had been
the unfortunate Cardinal _Coscia_, I wou'd have retir'd, but not in the
Manner that he did. Moreover I promise you, that were I in the Case that
he is now, they shou'd cite me long enough before I wou'd be seen at ROME;
and I think, whoever advis'd him to the contrary, was in the wrong[11].
You know that immediately after the Death of Pope _Benedict_ XIII. the
Populace ran to _Coscia_'s Palace, plunder'd it, and wou'd have torn the
Cardinal Limb from Limb, if he had not escap'd by a Back-door; after
which, he disguis'd himself, and left the City. He ought not to have come
back again, or else he shou'd have got a safe Conduct from his Collegues,
whereby he might have been sure of a Permission to retire to his
Archbishoprick of _Benevento_, after the Election of the new Pope; but he
did not take this Precaution. He came and assisted at the Conclave, and
afterwards went to live in his Palace. The new Pope threaten'd him with
the Castle of _St. Angelo_; whereupon he was frighten'd, and march'd out
of the Country; which is charg'd upon him as a Crime, because a Bull of
_Innocent_ X. of the _Pamphili_ Family, publish'd the 19th of _February_,
1646, injoins, that no Cardinal shall depart out of the Dominions of the
Holy See, without Leave of the Pope; with this Clause moreover, that the
Cardinal who disobeys it shall be summon'd three times in the Space of
fifteen Months, _viz._ once at the End of each six Months, and the last
Time at the End of three Months after the second Citation; and if then the
Cardinal be still obstinate, and does not return, he shall be depriv'd of
the Hat. _Coscia_ has as yet been cited but once, and does not seem
inclin'd to return, tho' his Acquaintance don't stick to affirm that he
will. Mean time, he has been depriv'd of the Archbishoprick of
_Benevento_, which the Pope has conferr'd on[12] M. _Doria_, the first
Gentleman of his Bed-chamber; a Thing so unusual, that Cardinal _Coscia_
complain'd of it bitterly, tho' to no manner of Purpose. I question
whether the Cardinal will ever come hither again, even tho' the Pope were
to give him his Passport: And really, what happen'd to M. _Targa_, his
Brother, is enough to deter him; for this _Prelate_ coming to _Venice_,
after he had been at _Vienna_, soliciting the Emperor's Protection for
himself and his Brother in vain, the Pope order'd him to return to ROME;
which, after having desir'd, and obtain'd Promise of a Safeguard for his
Person, he did accordingly, and took up his Lodging in a Convent. But two
Days after this, the Pope sent him an Order to remove to another, and not
to stir out of it without his Leave. _Targa_ yields Obedience, and the
Monks, to whose Guard he was committed, watch him narrowly; yet for all
this, there came certain Soldiers one Night, who carry'd him off to the
Castle of _St. Angelo_; which seems to be the very Safeguard that the Pope
intended by his Promise; for there he is closely confin'd, and can speak
to nobody. These severe Acts of Justice are frequent in the Pontificate of
_Clement_ XII. who taking a Fancy to undo every thing that was done by his
Predecessor, on Pretence that the said Pope alienated the Rights of the
Holy See, we hear of nothing but Writs and Attachments. The wisest Men,
or, if you will, the greatest Criminals, get out of the Way, while others
suffer themselves to be arrested, as did Signior _Sardini_, who was
impeach'd of having put the late Pope upon making a Treaty with the King
of _Sardinia_, by which the Holy Father granted that Prince the Nomination
to all the Bishopricks and Benefices in his Kingdom. This Prelate was
arrested in his House in the Night-time, and committed to the Castle of
_St. Angelo_, where he is kept a Prisoner of State[13]. Not many Days
before he was arrested, all his Papers were seiz'd, which he desir'd to
have again for the Vindication of his Conduct, but they were refus'd. Some
Days ago the Pope sent to tell him, that he had his Leave to justify
himself, if he cou'd; to which _Sardini_ made Answer, That he had nothing
to say; that the Pope shou'd be his Judge, and Cardinal _Corsini_, his
Holiness's Nephew, shou'd be his Advocate: But all this has stood him in
no stead; he is still in Prison, and 'tis said, that the Pope will either
behead or pardon him.
Some time ago Cardinal _Ottoboni_ made Interest for one _Nocera_, a Canon,
who was in Trouble also upon _Sardini_'s Account; and he desir'd the Pope
that he wou'd please to call in the Writ issued for attaching the Person
of _Nocera_, who was retir'd to a Sanctuary at _Albano_. The Pope made
Answer to the Cardinal, That he was sorry he cou'd not grant him his
Request; but that he wou'd not charge his Conference with the Sin of
having suffer'd Iniquity to pass with Impunity. 'We are old, _said the
Holy Father_; and our Age tells us, that it can't be long before we shall
appear at God's Tribunal; therefore we are desirous of so behaving, that
we may hope there to find Mercy; but this is what we dare not expect, if
we don't let Justice take its Course. Who knows, my dear Cardinal, whether
we shall live till To-morrow?' 'Your Holiness, _reply'd the Cardinal_,
ought not to think of dying so soon: For God generally grants to great
Princes two Stages of Life, one wherein to display their Justice, and the
other their Mercy. He has permitted your Holiness to finish the Career of
Justice, and 'tis to be hop'd, that he will also permit you to run that of
Mercy.'
I will conclude my long Letter with a very curious Anecdote, which I had
from Cardinal _Imperiali_, who has had the Purple so long, that he is
actually grown grey in it. As he was talking one Day of the Bull of
_Innocent_ X. which forbids the Cardinals from departing the
Ecclesiastical State without the Pope's Leave, he told me, That _Innocent_
X. fulminated this Bull by reason of the Elopement of Cardinal _Astalli_,
his Kinsman, when he went to deprive him of his Hat. What gave Occasion to
all the Rout was this: After the _Portuguese_ had shook off the Yoke of
the _Spaniards_, and restor'd the _Braganza_ Family to the Throne, the
King of _Spain_, who always took the Title of King of _Portugal_,
pretended that 'twas his Right to nominate to the Bishopricks and
Benefices that became vacant in _Portugal_. The Pope was at that time in
so much Subjection to the _Spaniards_, that this Plea of their Monarch
perplex'd him sadly. At last he thought of extricating himself out of
this Difficulty, by referring it to a Consistory to nominate to the
_Portuguese_ Bishopricks, and he resolv'd to assemble one with all Speed
for that Purpose. He imparted his Design to no Person but the Cardinal
Secretary of State, and the Cardinal _Astalli_, whom he injoin'd not to
speak of it on Pain of Death. The Evening when the Consistory was to be
summon'd for the next Day, the Ambassador of _Spain_ made such an earnest
Application for an Audience of him, that he durst not refuse it. The
Minister therein told him, That he was inform'd of his Design; and at the
same time protested against every thing that shou'd be done in the said
Consistory, contrary to the Pretensions of the King his Master. The Pope,
very much incens'd that his Secret had taken Wind, suspected that he had
been betray'd by his Secretary of State, and he reproach'd him for it
bitterly, threatning him with the Loss of his Head. The Minister swore,
that he had not reveal'd it to the _Spaniard_; and he said moreover, That
if the Ambassador knew of his Holiness's Secret, it cou'd be only from
Cardinal _Astalli_. He desir'd but twenty-four Hours of the Pope to prove
his Innocence; and to find out where the Guilt lay. For this End he sent
for one of the _Spanish_ Ambassador's _Valets de Chambre_, and promis'd
him five hundred Pistoles, if, after he put his Master to Bed, he wou'd
search his Pockets, and take out a Letter which he said he knew there was
in one of them, written in the very Hand of Cardinal _Astalli_. The _Valet
de Chambre_ cou'd not stand the Temptation, but carry'd the fatal Letter
to the Cardinal Secretary of State, and he made Haste with it to the Pope;
whose Wrath was then wholly turn'd against _Astalli_, to such a Degree,
that he forbad him his Palace, and actually intended to have him arrested
the very next Day: But _Astalli_ disappointed him of that Pleasure,
escap'd the same Night in a _Felucca_ from ROME, and sail'd for _Sicily_.
Then it was that _Innocent_ X. issued the Bull in Question. He caus'd
_Astalli_ to be summon'd, who indeed return'd to the Dominions of the Holy
See; but he stay'd in a little frontier Town of the Kingdom of _Naples_,
where he was accompany'd by a Guard of two thousand _Spaniards_, who
remain'd with him as long as the Pope liv'd, after whose Death _Astalli_
return'd to ROME. I have the Honour to be, _&c._
[Illustration]
LETTER XXXIII.
_SIR_, _Rome, Sept. 5, 1731._
Give me Leave to tell you, that I think the Approbation with which you
honour my Narratives, favours more of Compliment than Sincerity; for all
the Merit they can challenge, is, that they are written with an unaffected
Simplicity. I tell you Things just as I find them, or as they are reported
to me; if I accuse wrongfully, 'tis owing to my Misinformation, or my
Credulity; for I do my best, and set about it heartily, and you can't
define any thing more. You wish to know the Ceremonies of the Holy Week; I
will now relate them to you as they pass'd this Year.
On _Palm_ Sunday, the Pope distributed Palms in the Chapel of
_Monte-Cavallo_ to all the Cardinals, and others that were present.
Upon the last _Wednesday_ in _Lent_, the Cardinals went after Dinner to
the Pope's Chapel, where they were present at Vespers, and the _Tenebræ_,
sung by the Pope's Voices, without being accompany'd by Instruments. 'Tis
perhaps one of the finest Pieces of Music that was ever compos'd, and 'tis
so much valued here, that the Master of the Chapel dares not to give
Copies of it, nor the others to transcribe it, on Pain of Excommunication.
The Pope being somewhat indispos'd upon _Holy Thursday_, Cardinal
_Barberini_ officiated for him. The Cardinals repair'd in the Morning to
the _Vatican_ in _Sixtus_'s Chapel, and assisted at High Mass; after which
the Cardinal _Barberini_, preceded by the Bishops and Cardinals, all in
Mitres and white Copes, carry'd the Holy Sacrament in Procession, under a
Canopy held up by eight Archbishops, into _Paul_'s Chapel, which was
finely illuminated. There our Lord's Body was deposited, after which the
Cardinals went into a Hall, where they found thirteen Priests of divers
Nations, dress'd in white woollen Robes, with square Caps of the same, all
sitting on a high Bench in form of a Gradatory. Cardinal _Barberini_, who
sat on a Throne erected at the End of the Hall, took off his Cope, and
having put on the Chasuble, he pronounc'd some Collects, which were
answer'd by the Music. He then put off the Chasuble, took a white Napkin,
and went and wash'd the Feet of the Priests, in a silver gilt Bason, which
was carry'd by the Masters of the Ceremonies. Having wip'd their Feet dry,
he kiss'd them, and distributed to each Priest, by the Hands of the
Apostolical Treasurer, two Medals of Gold, and one of Silver. Then he
reascended the Throne, and having again put on the Chasuble, he struck up
the _Pater-noster_, and the Music finish'd it. This done, he went with the
Cardinals his Brethren into a separate Room, where he resum'd his ordinary
Habit. On the other Hand, the thirteen Priests were led by a Master of the
Ceremonies into a Hall, where they seated themselves at a Table, which was
elegantly serv'd. The Pope's Chamberlains of Honour waited on them, and if
the Pope had been well, he wou'd have done the same himself. The Cardinals
din'd also together, and their Dinner, which was one of the most
sumptuous, is always provided at the Expence of their Eminencies out of
certain Monies coming to them from the Rota and the Datary. The Priests
Table is defray'd by the Apostolical Chamber, and the Service of both
Tables is order'd by the Pope's _Major Domo_. The Cardinal's Beaufet is
very neat; I have seen some that are more magnificent, but never one that
is better dispos'd. The Cardinals always take their own Liquor with 'em;
which, 'tis said, has been their Practice ever since the Catastrophe that
happen'd to Pope _Alexander_ VI. and his Son _Cæsar Borgia_, Duke _de
Valentinois_, when the latter, for the Sake of having the Debris of the
Cardinal _Adrian de Cornetto_, order'd Wine that was poison'd to be serv'd
up at a Supper where the Pope was to be present, together with the said
Cardinal, for whom he intended the poisonous Draught. But _Cornetto_ had
the good Luck to escape the Snare, and only the Pope and _Cæsar_ suffer'd
by it: For being both thirsty, when they came into the Supper-Room, and
calling for a Glass of Wine at the very Instant when the Person who was
let into the Secret was gone out of the Room, another fill'd them out each
a Bumper, of the Wine that was prepar'd, which kill'd the Pope; but
_Cæsar_, having caus'd himself to be wrapp'd up in the Skin of a Mule,
recover'd.
After Dinner, the Cardinals return'd to _Sixtus_'s Chapel, where they
assisted at the _Tenebræ_, and the _Miserere_. This Day's Ceremony of
washing Feet is a Custom of antient Standing among the Catholic Princes.
We find in the History of _France_, that _Robert_ the _Pious_, he that was
call'd King of his Morals, as well as of his Subjects, constantly kept two
hundred poor Men in his Retinue, and often wash'd their Feet, particularly
upon Holy _Thursday_. So at _Vienna_, _Versailles_, in _Spain_, and at
several other Courts, the Empress, the Queens, and other Sovereign
Princesses, wash the Feet of thirteen Women upon the same Day.
Upon good _Friday_ in the Morning, the Cardinals were again present at
Divine Service in _Sixtus_'s Chapel; after which, they din'd together, but
they had nothing besides Roots; and one of the Pope's Chaplains read the
Lecture. After their Repast, they again assisted at the _Miserere_, and
then they all went down into St. _Peter_'s Church, where, having form'd a
Semi-circle before the High Altar, they kneel'd down upon Cushions of
purple Cloth, and in that Manner reverenc'd the Reliques, which were held
forth to them from a high Balcony. These were the Spear with which our
Saviour's Side was pierc'd, the Holy Handkerchief, and a great Piece of
the Cross on which he was crucify'd.