To give a great proof of what I say; I remember, that an Embassadour of an _Italian_ Prince, a wise and able man, being returned home after seven years stay in his imployment at _Rome_, could give to his master for all account of his Embassy, nothing but ambiguous words, equivocal enigmes, and uncertain answers; whereupon his Prince not understanding him, required a better information at his hands, and was thus answered by him. Serenissime Prince: _The School of_ Rome _hath furnished me with no other Lectures_, _then what I_ _have already layed open to your Highness_: _Therefore with all due submission_, _I beseech your Highness to have compassion of me_, _if I appear before you so barren and so empty_; _for in seven years time I have not been able to obtain from these Church-men any solid substance_, _to fill my self withal_. This ’tis that befalls most Ambassadors and Agents in _Rome_. * * * * * _Innocentius_ the Tenth had brought the Court into such a confusion; that in his time no body knew where to begin any business: For he did so little care to trouble himself with the important affairs of Christendome; that most commonly he refused to meddle, even in those which concerned his pastoral function. His troublesome houres were when he was forced to give audience to a forrain Embassadour, and to be rid of business; his maximes were, To deny all favours, to answer all requests with a negative, and never to come to a final resolution in any thing that might please his enemies; though the thing in its self was very beneficial to the Church and State. If he had any inclination to do good, it appeared only in what he did to his own family, and in the care he took to embellish the City of _Rome_. But the ill he did was not contained in such easie limits, it spread its self over all Christendome, which did lament to see the Church provided of so extravagant a Pastor. In the beginning of his pontificat, he shewed himself much enclined to be well informed of the state of _Rome_, and the Church Territories; which vigilance of his, at last redounded to the prejudice of all his officers. For they thinking at first, that his proceeding came from the love of justice, and good order, came all to _Rome_ with instructions and memorials, wherein their wants and the necessities of their places were set out: but all in vain; for when they expected answer and satisfaction, they found that the intention of the Pope was, to refuse all, and to resolve nothing; so that then every one avoided, not only the presence of the Pope, but _Rome_ it self, and all business in it.