And not knowing what might be the issue of the War undertaken by the said Prince, who breathed nothing but the extremities thereof against his Person, he thought it his best course to gain the Princes of _Christendom_ to his side, and to oblige them to relinquish the Protection of the Duke, by rendring himself extraordinary easie to all Addresses, granting Favours to all Demanders, and receiving Publick Ministers with so much obligingness, that they needed no more but to open their mouths for any Suit or Request, that of the _Pope_ standing always open to accord it. A certain Embassador, who for three years together could never obtain any other Favour but that of Common Indulgences, finding his desires now satisfied in what ever he demanded, writ to the Prince his Master, _That the_ Pope, _like a Hackney-horse_, _travelled very well with a Spur in his Flank_; _and that he had lately obtained_, _in eight days_, _more than he could do before in three years_: _So that it were to be wish’d that the Duke of_ Parma _would give him a touch or two more of the Spur_. In the very same manner, at the time that the _French_ had made themselves Masters of _Portolongone_, all sort of Favours ran out with a full torrent, many times preventing Requests: Nor did the _Pope_ suffer any man to depart from his Presence, who was not satisfied to the height of his wishes. But no sooner was this State of Affairs changed, that is to say, _Portolongone_ recovered by the _Spaniards_, and the Duke disappointed in the War, but Negatives appear’d afresh in the Field with greater peremptoriness than before; and the _Pope_ became as deaf as a Stone to all manner of Supplications or Petitions. Hence it may be clearly seen, or at least argu’d, That most _Popes_ (if not all) neither grant Favours, nor bear any regard to Princes, save at such time as they stand in need of them. _Urban_ the Eighth was of this very same humour, denying without exception all sort of Favours, which had not their original from his own or his Nephews inclination, however just Reasons might be alledged for them; and this as well to the _French_, whom he made semblance to love, but really lov’d not; as to the _Spaniards_, whom indeed he affected, though without giving them the satisfaction of seeing any tokens of that affection. Nevertheless, when he saw _Odoardo Farnese_ Duke of _Parma_ enter victorious with 3000 Horse, for the regaining of _Castro_, most injuriously detained from him, then indeed he began both to humble himself to _Spain_, which he had kept under before, and to gratifie _France_, to which he had on divers occasions shewn himself ungrateful; and also to solicite the Friendship of all sort of Princes, as well small as great; and that not by promising, but by real concession of Favours with a plentiful hand in _Germany_ and _Italy_.