Some will not allow it to be meerly charity in _Alexander_, to assume to himself the load of all Civil Affairs of importance; but only a design to lighten his Nephews of it, and leave them more time to bestow on contrivance to fill their Coffers. Better perhaps ’twould be for the Church, and the State too, if all _Popes_ would do the like; for to lay the weight of great affairs upon such weak shoulders, is to confound their understandings, and put them in danger of shaming themselves by discovering their addle brains in business: As a good Nephew did in discourse with the French Embassadour about the number of Protestants in _France_; for meaning to say, _How many Hereticks are there in_ France? He mistook, and said, _How many Pistols are there in_ France? Which errour the Embassadour well observing, and knowing the Cardinal Nephew more intent on the money of his Coffers than the benefit of the Church, he answer’d, _The King my Master hath not so many Hereticks in his Kingdom_, _as he hath Pistols in his Exchequer_. ’Tis not 2000 Ages, since a certain _Pope’s_ Nephew said to a familiar friend of his, who brought him notice, that the Spanish Embassadour was coming to negotiate with him: _These Embassadours bring us business_, _and not money_, _talking all day long with us so __tediously_, _as if we were slaves_, _and not_ (Padroni) _Masters of the Church and State_. The same Cardinal, as often as he return’d to his Chamber from accompanying the publick Ministers (who had visited him) to the door, as the custom is, would fall into a passion, and scornfully say to his Servants: _I have lost two hours time with this pitiful Embassadour_, _and he has gain’d some with me_; _if any other come_, _say I am not at home_. But worse was that other, (not long since dead) who, as much as he could, avoyded the audience of such Ministers, sometimes pretending indisposition, and sometimes that he was not at home; which the _Pope_ his Uncle understanding ask’d him the reason, _Why he did so_? The Cardinal answer’d plainly, _Whilst I am with Embassadours_, _my Coffers fill with nothing but wind_; _but when I am alone_, _they fill with money_. The same good Nephew had another custome, that when notice was given of the arrival of an Embassadour at the Gate, he would in displeasure cry, _I would his neck were broke_. But when ’twas told him that an Officer of the Datary (that is, the Exchequer) was at the door, he would cry with joy, _He is welcome_. A certain Embassadour, knowing this Nephew’s humour, contriv’d how to make his Visits not grievous; and to that purpose, before he desired Audience, or at least at the same time, he thought fit to give him notice; that he desir’d to speak with him for nothing else but the resignation of a certain Benefice, which the Prince his Master intended to make into the hands of his Holiness’s Nephews.