There is no doubt, but that under this _Pope_ the Church received much more benefit than damage; for the _Nipotismo_ having no Power, could not be otherwise than good and innocent; and the _Pope_ himself was so wise and vertuous a Prince, that there were few Miscarriages in his time; if we except that only occasion, in which _Sixtus_, by his too hasty Excommunication of King _Henry_ the Third of _France_, brought the Church in danger of losing for ever so noble and flourishing a part of _Christendom_; as it had hapned already, by the rashness of one _Pope_, that the Kingdom of _England_ was entirely lost, only because _Clement_ the Seventh would not yield a little of his Authority. And indeed, I think, the greatest blemish upon the Reputation of _Sixtus_ is, that he suffer’d himself to be so far transported with anger, as to Excommunicate _Henry_ the Third of _France_, for having caused the Cardinal of _Guise_ to be killed, and the Cardinal of _Bourbon_ to be shut up in a close Prison, with the Archbishop of _Lyons_, who were indeed all three Traytors to the Kingdom, and Conspirators against the Royal Person of _Henry_. The Consistory of Cardinals did oppose this violent Resolution of _Sixtus_, by remonstrating to him the terrible consequence of it, and the danger that all the Church would incur by the loss of so noble a Christian Kingdom. But the _Pope_ laughing at all this, answered the Cardinals in this manner; _If therefore you will have it so_, _we will bring it to pass_, _that from henceforward you shall be neither honour’d nor reverenc’d by Princes nor Kings_; _but despis’d_, _vilified_, _and exposed to the hands both of the Oppressor_, _and the Executioner_. _Certainly_, _if the killing of Cardinals be conniv’d at_, _and pass’d over without resentment and chastisement_, _it may very easily become the Case of every one of you_. _However_, _we will rather do that which Justice requires_, _though you little care that Reason be done for the Violence committed_, _not so much against you_, _as the Sacred Purple_. Nevertheless, the _Pope_ was wary, not to precipitate things so suddenly; but suffered five Months to pass, after the death of the Cardinal of _Guise_: during which interval, he made by Letters several Admonitions to the King; all which proved to no purpose, the King being resolute not to free the Cardinal out of Prison, which the _Pope_ so vehemently urged. Whereupon, seeing he could not prevail, he thundered out the greater Excommunication, with all the accustomed Forms, against the King, and against all those who in the said matter should afford Counsel to, or in any manner whatsoever assist him. Besides which, he also cited the said King to make his personal Appearance at _Rome_, within the term of seventy days, there to give account of the Death of the Cardinal of _Guise_, and the Imprisonment of the Cardinal of _Bourbon_.