And to make the way of arriving at their ends more difficult to Princes Ministers, for a long time together there was no Officer at Court to present the Petitions of Suiters, as formerly, but he declared one of his Nephews to be Cardinal Patron; who was the Cardinal _Astalli_, but with an authority so streight and limited, that he was almost asham’d of it. By this means the Court became so much the more at a loss; for such as address’d to this Nephew, receiv’d no other comfort, but to behold him shrink up his shoulders, (as young maids do when ask’d by their Fathers whether they will marry) and hear him tell them, _That all should be represented to his Holiness_. And the truth is, as to this point he was very punctual: But he did it after so timerous and indifferent a manner, out of fear to cross the _Pope_, whose answer he knew was alwaies the same, _That the matter shall be taken into consideration_; The plain meaning whereof was, _That nothing at all shall be done in it_. In this confusion some thought it best to address immediately to the _Pope_; but, besides the difficulty of Access, the Event prov’d alwaies alike; whatever care they took to make their Proposals clear and intelligible, they alwaies hung in the hedge. Yet there were some too that fansied _Innocent_ one of the greatest Politicians of the World, till perceiving by effects the clean contrary, they remain’d as mute as Statues for shame of their mistake. His suffering _Donna Olympia_ to rule all, his exalting, and abasing his adopted Nephew _Astalli_; his banishing, and recalling _Don Camillo_ his own Nephew; his persecuting, and reingraciating with the _Barbarini_; and in a word, his changing his will and judgment every moment; and his inconstancy in every thing, save granting Sutes, would have imbroiled any Government whatsoever, and much more the Papal, which is naturally full of confusion. When there happens a _Pope_ like _Innocent_, bent wholly to reject all the instances of Princes; the only remedy is to sow disturbances in the Church, and broyls between the Protestants and Catholicks, thereby to puzzle the _Pope’s_ brain, and frighten him, so that he shall rather seek the friendship of Princes, than they his. Of the success of which course I shall give some Examples. When the Duke of _Parma’s_ Army took the Field, to get redress concerning the detension of _Castro_, under the Command of _Don Gauffrido_; the _Pope_ extremely affrighted, as one not much accustomed to the Trade of War, caused the Holy Sacrament to be expos’d forty hours, and Processions to be celebrated to all the Churches in _Rome_.