But it is now time to enter into a particular Narration of the good and hurt the Church has received from the _Nipotismo_; and as we begun their History at _Sixtus_ the fourth, and continued it down to _Alexander_ the seventh now reigning: So we will now begin at _Alexander_, and trace it backwards up to _Sixtus_ the fourth.
The first mischief, and indeed the most considerable one, caused by the _Nipotismo_ of _Alexander_, was the change made by them in the _Pope_; whom from godly, pious, and inclin’d to mortification, they have made sensual and ambitious.
_Alexander_ in the first months of his elevation to the Popedom had so taken upon him the profession of an Evangelical life, that he was wont to season his meat with ashes, to sleep upon a hard Couch, to hate Riches, Glory, and Pomp; taking a great pleasure to give audience to Embassadours in a Chamber full of dead mens skuls, and in the sight of his Coffin, which stood there to put him in mind of his death.
The Cardinals, the Princes, the Prelates, the _Romans_ were all touched with so pious an Example, and did begin to think of reforming their lives. The Hereticks themselves did bear that respect to his Holiness, as to prostrate themselves in the streets, when he went through _Rome_, not so much in fear of his Majesty, as in honour of his Vertue. Divers French Protestants came on purpose to _Rome_ to know whether his words did answer his reputation, and if he did really lead the life he was said to lead. The noyse of his Sanctity being so great in _France_, that it was almost impossible to believe all that was said of it.
Thus lived _Alexander_, while he lived without a _Nipotismo_: But no sooner had they set their feet in _Rome_ but the _Pope_ changed his nature, or rather came to himself; for instead of Humility, succeeded Vanity; his Mortification vanished, and his hard Couch, was changed into a soft Feather-bed; his dead-mens skuls, into so many Jewels; and his thoughts of death, into eternal designs of Ambition and Grandeur: Filling up his empty Coffin with Money, as if he had a design to corrupt death, and purchase life with Riches.
Hereupon a publick Minister, returning from his Audience the very same day that the _Nipotismo_ came to _Rome_; and having felicitated his Holiness upon their arrival, said, as soon as he came home, to one of his friends these very words: _He is not of the same humour he was wont to be_; _he was us’d to stand with __his eyes fixed upon the ground_, _and now he does nothing but fix them upon_ Don Agostino; _Heretofore we did hear him sigh_ often, _and now he is as inclined to laugh_. _I am afraid the_ Nipotismo _has already spoyled him_.