Il nipotismo di Roma, or, The History of the Popes Nephews: from the time of Sixtus IV. to the death of the last Pope, Alexander VIILeti, Gregorio
History
Il nipotismo di Roma, or, The History of the Popes Nephews: from the time of Sixtus IV. to the death of the last Pope, Alexander VII
Leti, Gregorio
Nepotism; Papacy -- Early works to 1800; Papacy -- History
The Grandfather of _Paul_ the third was _Ramecio Farnese_, who overcame,
subdu’d and destroy’d all the Rebels of the Holy Church, which in great
numbers molested the State Ecclesiastical, and almost all Christendom, he
being Captain of the Papal Army in the time of _Eugenio_ the fourth, who
indeed was a very worthy _Pope_, if for nothing else, yet for the good
intention he had to reward the valour of this great Captain; and I think
he rewarded him abundantly by this testimony which he gave him, _The
Church is ours_, _because Farnese hath given it us_.
In short, in the Civil Broils, which continu’d for above four Ages
between the _Popes_ and the Emperors, the Family of _Farnese_ with
incredible valour and felicity reliev’d the drooping state of the Holy
Church.
Nevertheless the last _Popes Urban_ and _Innocent_, ingrateful for these
benefits, went about to ruine this well deserving Family. Now if they
persecute those who with their own Blood and Fortunes have serv’d the
Church, what man will ever serve it for the future?
These two Cities were indeed separated from the Church, and given to the
_Farnesi_, who at first found great opposition, and became Masters of it
with great difficulty, and that not before the time of _Pope Julius_ the
third, in the year 1550. which _Pope_ gave them investiture in despite of
_Charles_ the fifth, (who could never be perswaded to consent) and
assigned them a considerable summe of money for the keeping them.
Within this last forty years the _Popes_ have persecuted these innocent
Princes in that manner, that without the assistance of Forreign Crowns,
and some of the Princes of _Italy_ they had been exterminate before this,
and received so notable a loss, that had it been compared with what they
had received from _Paulus_ the third, it would doubtless have been found
they had received less than they had lost: from whence it may be justly
said, they have not enjoyed that Principality which they possest, as a
feud of the Church, in that peace and repose, for this last half age, as
they ought in reason to have done. For those _Popes_ that gave it them
first, gave them also priviledges to enjoy it without molestation: and
therefore those _Popes_ that have of late troubled the _Farness_ with so
much expense, ought in reason (if there, be any such thing in _Rome_) to
have forfeited their feudale Rights.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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