In the beginning of his Reign the _Pope_, in a manner alone, manag’d all the most important affairs of Christendom, with no small ardency and zeal. But wot you what? The things which he did in the day he undid in the night; for coming to consult with his Nephews, who alwaies found their Uncle’s Opinion contrary to their own, they oftentimes brought him to contradict himself, and reverse what he had formerly granted and concluded. ’Tis true, he did this with great subtlety, not failing to find out some fair and specious excuses wherewith to colour their pretexts, and clear the _Pope_ of levity; by which means Embassadours were perpetually deluded, even when they thought they had the Fish in their hands, which on a sudden slipt away from between their fingers, beyond possibility of recovery. Hence affairs were protracted _in infinitum_; So that though in _Urban’s_ time many Princes treated of a League with the Church and the _Pope_ himself, nevertheless there was not any considerable one concluded in a Reign of twenty three years; during which time divers Princes concluded a League offensive and defensive against the _Barbarini_. The reason of this was, for that the _Pope_ was too hard towards others, and too soft towards his own Relations; Cardinal _Francesco_ too soft towards others, (but dissemblingly) and hard towards his Uncle; Cardinal _Antonio_ hard towards _Francesco_, and soft towards the _Pope_; and _Don Thadeo_, who knew not how to do better, was hard towards the soft, and soft towards the hard. Cardinal _Francesco_ fear’d to disgust _Antonio_, and delighted to displease the _Pope_; Cardinal _Antonio_ fear’d the _Pope_, but caus’d _Francesco_ fear himself; _Don Thadeo_ sided with him that was most obstinate in his opinion; And the _Pope_ deny’d to one what he could not grant to the other, granted to this what the other desired, becoming obstinate where there was need of pliableness, and pliable where it behoved him to be obstinate. Now a Court of this humour afforded work enough to the Ministers of Princes, who were alwaies receiv’d by the _Pope_ with ambiguous expressions, by Cardinal _Francesco_ with abundance of faire promises, and by Cardinal _Antonio_ with a long train of exquisite complements. But when the Ministers press’d to come to a conclusion of any important business, Cardinal _Antonio_ sent them to his brother _Francesco_, who at the appointed hour of Audience us’d to go his visits to the seven Churches, and the _Pope_ himself pretended indisposition of body. And thus the effecting of all urgent business was rendred impossible. In _Urban’s_ time ’twas hard for Princes Ministers to find the streight gate to enter into publick Negotiations, and when they were in, they found themselves in a Labyrinth, out of which they could scarce extricate themselves after a thousand turnings and windings.