_Innocent_ the Tenth, after the Design of getting the Kingdom of _Naples_ from the _Spaniard_ was discovered, stood in perpetual fear, lest, to be revenged, they should plot his death; which it may be they had done, if _Donna Olympia_ had not taken the care to dress his Meat, and feed him with her own hands: and in acknowledgment of her kindness, he would often say to her, _Sister_, _do you take care of me_, _and I’le take care that the Popedom shall be yours_. _Pius_ the Third, of the Family of _Picolomini_ of _Siena_, had not died by poyson, procured him by _Pandolfo Petruccii_ Tyrant of the said place, if he had had some of his Relations neer him; whereupon he was forced to trust his life in Strangers hands, and lose it miserably, before he could see any of his Kindred about him. But here some body will say, _That indeed it would not be amiss that the_ Pope _should resign the care of his Person to his Kindred_, _but not give them an unlimited Power over Church and State_; _That it is fit they do not want necessaries_, _but that he should not go about to content their insatiability_. To this we will answer in time and Place; it is enough for the present to have proved, That they are the most necessary Instruments of the _Popes_ preservation. And because the obligation of him that receives his life from another is infinite, therefore the _Popes_ do think, that they cannot repay but by infinite Gifts and Favours. Now we will pass to the third Reason, which is, The Reason of State. The State or Politick Government of the Church, is the most unfortunate and miserable in the World; for it is neither Commonwealth nor Monarchy: and as an ingenious Prelate said, _It is neither from God nor the Devil_. And the causes of its Misery are divers; but particularly one is, Because the Supreme Governour always dying without Heirs, there is no body left to take pity of the grievances which are continually introduc’d by the Governours of Provinces who rule as they please. Many compare all the Ecclesiastick State to a Town taken by an Enemy, who being out of hopes to keep it any time falls to plundering and destroying it, carrying away all that’s good; and leaving to the poor Citizens nothing but the liberty of venting their complaints: Just so do the Church-men who are in authority in one _Pope’s_ life; for foreseeing that their power is like to expire with him, and be resigned up to his Successor, they make Hay while the Sun shines, and use all manner of Extortions and Violences in their respective places for fear else of departing with their hands empty. And the people are so far from obtaining redress from those that succeed them, that they had rather be under the Government of their old Masters; for the new ones come with intention to do as much, if not worse, than the others.