Paul _and his Kindred_, _for I know not what reasons_, _did bear a secret grudge to the State of_ Venice, _and did wait for nothing more than for some occasion of shewing their spleen_; _and it falling out that the State of_ Venice, _according to their ancient Form of Government_, _did put some Church-men in Prison_; _the_ Pope _upon the notice of it excommunicated not only the Senate_, _but the whole Nation of the_ Venetians, _as if they had been guilty of their Magistrates fault_. _But these wise Senators were not so easily daunted_, _but resolving either to preserve their power and authority within their Government_, _or to hazard the ruine of it_, _set some of their Divines on work to write against the_ Pope’s _authority_, _and his Excommunication_; _which writings did then_, _and have since produced so great an effect in the minds of most men_, _that now there is not any little Prince of_ Italy _that cares for the_ Popes _Excommunication_, _as it has been clearly seen by the examples of the Duke of_ Parma, _the Commonwealth of_ Lucca, _the Duke_ Charles _of_ Lorain, _and many others_. The constancy of the _Venetians_ was invincible in this occasion, and so great, that they sent the _Pope_ word, _That if he did not recall his Excommunication they would provide for their own preservation by such remedies as should become the dignity of their State_, _and its ancient Majesty_. And that they might the sooner bring the _Pope_ to their desires, they politickly sent to _Geneva_ to require that City to send them some of their most able Ministers to instruct them in the Protestant Religion. This Artifice having frighted the _Pope_ into a condescendency, he was fain to come to an agreement very disadvantageous for the honour of the Sea of _Rome_. If this _Pope_ had not been so unjustly severe towards the State of _Venice_, he would have left a much better name behind him. For to say truth, he did the Church much more good than evil: but it was, and will be, a great spot to his reputation to have gone about to undo the Bulwark of Christendom: for such has the State of _Venice_ alwaies been reputed. We must be forced to skip _Leo_ the eleventh (for his short life gave him no time to do good, and hindred him from doing any harm to the Church) and come to _Clement_ the eighth, who was a _Pope_ that lived both with his Kindred, and for them a good while.