Some Ministers there are, who flatter themselves into a belief that they may be able to bring their Negotiations to a prosperous end, by means of the friendship they have with Cardinals, and the great Interest these Cardinals have to defend those Princes of whom they are intitl’d Protectors. But this Opinion of theirs hath no other effect but to confound their Negotiations so much the more, whilst the Protection of Princes by those Cardinals is only external and nominal: for otherwise Policy obliges them to seek in the first place the advantage of the _Pope_, before the profit of the Princes, whom they serve, or at least seem to serve. Every blow of mortification which the _Pope_ receives from any Prince, recoils to the damage of the Cardinal Dignity; and therefore the Cardinals labour to bring it about, that the Advantages may be always on the _Popes_ side. Nor is it necessary to believe the Cardinal, who professeth, _That the Interests of his Prince are dearer to him_, _than those of the Scarlet Gown it self_. But this would be a great failure in Policy and Interest: Whence it was, that when _Innocent_ beheld his Cousin _Olympia_ anxious and troubled lest the Ecclesiastical State should become involv’d in a War, and lest many Cardinals should engage in it on behalf of the Duke of _Parma_, out of spight to the _Pamphilian_ Family, the _Pope_ comforted her with these words; _Cousin_, _fear nothing_, _the Cardinals will be for us in spight of their own teeth_, _and will defend the Ecclesiastical State in consideration of their own Interest_, _though we should go about to ruine it for ours_. The Grandeur of the Scarlet Gown depends upon the Majesty of the Triple Crown, and the Cardinals are proportionably Great as the _Pope_ is so; whence it is that they strive with all possible ardour to promote the Advantage of the Church, and the Honour of the _Pope_; which failing, their own Reputation and Glory must partake in the Eclipse. Great undoubtedly is the Magnificence of the Colledge of Cardinals; and greater it would be, if it had not been perverted both from the first Institution thereof, and retrench’d of the Prerogatives wherewith it hath been augmented by divers _Popes_, for the maintenance of its Grandeur and Honour. But the _Popes_ have corrupted and spoil’d all; inasmuch as into that Colledge, into which the greatest Princes of the World think it a glory to enter, they have introduc’d some, who have received their Original from the vilest Dunghil of the World; and ’tis not many years ago, that one was created Cardinal, who was the Son of a base Catchpole. Hence it comes to pass, that the _Popes_ seeing the Scarlet Robe upon the Shoulders of so vile and unworthy Persons, they despise it likewise when it is worn on the backs of Great Princes. And ’tis more than true, That good _Popes_ honour the Cardinals, when such Honour brings profit to themselves; otherwise they make a mock both of their Persons, and their Order.