Chapter XI: Part 11

Others there are that alledge, amongst other reasons, why the _Pope’s_ Family are so transitory, their inexperience in the Art of Managery which is necessary for preserving an Estate, their wealth raining down upon them without any sweat or trouble, or contrivance of their own. Like Hebrews that despis’d the Manna sent them from Heaven, they not only neglect to preserve with any prudence and Oeconomy the great quantity of Riches, which is shower’d down into their Chests by the _Capricio_ of fortune; but even nauseate and abhor that, which they believe unsutable to their Nature.

If a Country-man by accident should light upon a parcel of _Rubies_, at first sight he would be much delighted with their Lustre; but upon second thoughts they would but trouble and perplex him, because he knew not the value of a thing he had gain’d without labour.

But what shall I say? There is not any thing more dangerous, and which brings the life of man under more hazards, than the filling the belly too full: To eat intemperately, to swallow without measure, and to devour with eagerness and rapacity, must of necessity destroy Nature, and be the ruine of the whole: Sobriety is that which conduceth most to our health, because it gives the Stomach time to distribute the meat proportionably to the whole body.

The _Pope’s_ Nephews know not how to keep their Riches, because they touch them with their hands, but do not see them with their eyes, their greediness of heaping up on a sudden blinding them, and not suffering them to know the true worth of them: by which means they dwindle insensibly, and they themselves are not able to perceive it.

That which is gotten without pains, is in a short time lost without knowing the price of it: The greatest part of these Gamesters are either such as are loose and licentious young men, or else such as have had some good provision from fortune. The first adventure, because they have not yet found a way to live handsomly; the other, because they believe Fortune oblig’d to recruit them. The poor Trades-man, that sweats, and carks, and toils night and day, and all to get one poor Crown, will not certainly be so foolish to venture that in one moment, he gain’d with so much labour in so many hours. He does well, that keeps that he gain’d with difficulty: and he does well, who spends that he came by easily.

Were the Nephews of the _Pope_ content with what Emoluments were justly their due, without doubt the greatness and opulence of their Families would be much longer liv’d: But they fill, devour, and cram up their Stomach with more meat than Nature will sustain; and therefore ’tis no wonder, if they be often forc’d to vomit that up with violence they had so immoderately devour’d.

Many have observed also, most of the _Pope’s_ Kindred have died young too; and I could instance in a thousand examples: But for two reasons I forbear; one is, not to grate too much upon the Nephews of our good _Pope Alexander_, nor have the long life of _Don Mario_ cast in my dish, though indeed it is not above ten years since he had any relation to the _Pope_; the other is, because I have something else to think on.

THE SUCCESSION OF THE POPES Mentioned in this BOOK.

_Sixtus_ IV. began his Papacy, 1471 _Anno_ _Innocent_ VIII. 1484 _Alexander_ VI. 1492 _Pius_ III. 1503 _Julius_ II. 1504 _Leo_ X. 1514 _Adrian_ VI. 1522 _Clement_ VII. 1524 _Paul_ III. 1534 _Julius_ III. 1550 _Marcellus_ II. 1557 _Paul_ IV. 1558 _Pius_ IV. 1562 _Pius_ V. 1568 _Gregory_ XIII. 1574 _Sixtus_ V. 1587 _Urban_ VII. 1592 _Gregory_ XIIII. 1593 _Innocent_ IX. 1594 _Clement_ VIII. 1596 _Leo_ XI. 1607 _Paul_ V. 1607 _Gregory_ XV. 1623 _Urban_ VIII. 1625 _Innocent_ X. 1644 _Alexander_ VII. 1655

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FINIS.

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