This Enterprise having thus failed, they fell to courting the Republick of _Luca_; but in their courtship they were a little preposterous, by shewing their desire of Empire, before they had gained their Mistresses affections; for having excommunicated her, the _Lucheses_, being advertised of their good intentions, prevented, by timely remedies, the execution of them: And thus the _Barbarines_ were, fain to give over with shame that which they had begun with rashness. Perceiving at last, that none of these Ambitious plots would hit, and that all Princes and the Cardinals themselves began to be weary of their long tyranny; they conceived a thought of making the Popedome hereditary in their family, which thing seemed at first feasible, because that most of the Cardinals that had been created at their recommendation, had a very good opinion of Cardinal _Francisco_; and besides, they had a secret way of compassing this their design, which, though very wicked, was yet well enough invented; and that was, to give to every Cardinal of their creatures, who were much above the two thirds of the Colledge; some one City of the Popedome, which they should enjoy for their lifetime, as Soveraign Princes, and so make as many Princes as Cardinals, but above all, they had resolved to present Cardinal _Richelieu_, with the whole state of _Avignon_, that they might have assistance from the _French_, in the rest of their enterprize. They had betwixt them, divers conferences and meetings upon this new project, and _Don Tadeo_ made every thing so easie, that it was a great pleasure to hear him discourse upon it; but Cardinal _Francesco_, who judged according to the rules of conscience and true policy, laughed it out of doors, and order’d there should be no more mention made of it. This design being thus crushed in the Cradle, to the great displeasure of those that had conceived it, the _Barbarines_ layed aside all thoughts of becoming Princes, and continued in their wonted way of gathering riches, in which they met with all success and facility, by reason of the great experience they had of the interests and business of the Church. And certainly there scarce ever was a more able and capable Nipotismo then this, for no sooner were they in possession of the management of the affairs of _Europe_, but they shewed themselves master Politicians.