But that which was worst of all, was, that they did not openly refuse their help, but by delayes and promises keeping still the Emperour and King of _Poland_ in hopes, they made them neglect to make peace with their Enemies, and refuse those conditions, which else they would have accepted, had not the _Barberins_ entertain’d them with the hopes now of an Army, then of a great summe of Money; and at last disappointed them of all. However the people of the State belonging to the Church were the worse for it; for the _Barberins_ taking occasion from the obligation the _Pope_ was in, to assist these Princes, did thereupon lay most heavy Taxes and Impositions upon both Church-men and Layes: The simple people stirred up by the exhortations of some Preachers who made it their business to declare in their Sermons, That God could not be better pleased then by that assistance given to the distressed Catholicks, did sell all their Jewels and preciousest Houshold-stuff to give away to those that had the Commission of gathering their Benevolence. Out of these summes which were thus raised, the _Barberins_ did send it may be one or two in the hundred, and this after so long waiting, and by such chargeable wayes, that half of the money was absorbed in the exchange: which the Emperour and King of _Poland_ having perceived, they were fain to give over their soliciting the _Barberins_, and defend themselves as well as they could. The Protestants themselves, though much rejoycing at the decaying state of the Catholick Religion in _Germany_, were nevertheless infinitely scandalized at the _Pope’s_ proceedings, saying, as it was true, _That the_ Barberins _did the Catholicks more mischief by denying them succour with such dilatory wayes_, _than the Protestants by the force of Arms_. In a word, I think it is not a hard thing to perswade that the _Barberins_ in the time of their reign did the Church a great deal of mischief; it would be much a harder to convince any body of the good they have done: and it is so difficult a business, that for my part I shall not undertake it; only I will give the _Barberins_ this good counsel, which is, that if they desire to make posterity lose the memory of their ill conduct under their Uncle, they endeavour to get Cardinal _Francesco Barberino_ made _Pope_ after the death of _Alexander_; for so it may be, that as in their Uncle’s time they did much more hurt then good, they will under Cardinal _Francesco_, who is pious and vertuous do more good than hurt. There is an example of this already in the two _Popes_ of the Family of _la Rovere_; _Sixtus_ the 4th. and _Julius_ the second; for in the time of _Sixtus_ the _Nipotismo_ was most highly guilty towards the Church, and did much harm, and little good; but under _Julius_ it did much good, and little harm: so the same thing may happen for the _Barberins_, if _Francesco_ be made _Pope_.