The Pageant of Popes, Book 6 · Part 34 – Part 35
154. Nicolas the fift.
NIcolas the fifte was a Genewaie borne of a base stocke, his father was a Chirurgeon called Barthelmew Sarzan: and so this Nicolas was first called Thomas Sarzan. In this one yeare he gatte to be bishop of Bononia, Cardinall, & Pope of Rome. This Nicolas being made Pope after the death of Eugenius, did hange vp on the walles of Angell Casteli, Steuen Porcarius a Romaine knighte, wt other conspiratours raysing a tumult for the libertye of ye Citye. He celebrated ye Iub…lie for lucre sake Anno 1450.
At the time of this Iubelie while they chaunced once wt the crucifixe to returne from Vatican to the Citye, it is very certaine to be true that ye preace of people followinge was so great, that the Mule of one Peter Bardus a Cardinall could not passe by, because of those that came to & fro: so that the people also were so thronged that there was no passage, but in the ende they fell vponupon the Mule first one & then another, til the beast was euen perforce borne downe with the crowde, and ere it was ceased two hundred parsons were troden to death and smothered vppon Adrian bridge: & manye fallinge beside the bridge were drowned, which were about 136. men. The Pope whose pompous superstitious & idolatrous Iubelie had caused this miserye to fall vponupon the fonde people, did in this maner redresse ye case: He was sorye (sayth Platina) for the death of them yt were slaine, and therfore he remoued certaine cotages that made the waye to be straite and narrowe entringe to the bridge. For the enryching of his cofers he spent all that whole yeare in this kinde of solemnitye, & he himselfe with his troupe of Cardinals did vewe the stages. He prouided both by curse and wayters, that roages and vagaboundes comminge to the Citye, shoulde not misuse straungers and robbe them of their money. In this Popes time ye Turke wanne Constantinople, to the great griefe of all Europe. This Pope crowned Frederick the third Emperour, and his wife Leonor He builded a sumptuous librarie in Vatican. And reuiued with great dilligēce learning and knowledge, which was then almost drowned with grossenes & barbarous sophistrye. He appointed stipendes for learned men. But amonge these his vertuous doinges and good affection towardes learning, he had his vices withall and those notorious, namely he was greatly giuen to dronkennes, and so muche delighted therein, that he soughte for all kinde of wynes from eueryevery place. He bestowed great cost vponupon buildinges both of ye towne walles, Churches, Pallaces & Castels. Concerning his building (Platina saith) he began to fortifye with stronge walles the gates and towers of the Citye, the Capitoll and Angell Castell. He builded sumptuouslye & magnificentlye both in the towne and at Vatican, as in the towne the Popes house: also hee repayred the house of S. Steuen in Celius hill. He raysed euen from the ground S. Theodors Church. He couered wt lead an olde Church in Rome called Panthion He transported the Popes house in Vatican, & brought it to a statelye fourme. He began to laye the walles of Vatican wyth greater foundation. He restored Right bridge, and builded a greate and large house beside Vi…erby bathes. He ayded diuers with money, that builded in the Cittye. And at his commaundement almost all the streates in the Citye were strowed. There are yet remayninge certaine Uessels of gould and of siluer, crosses beset with Pearles & precious stones, certaine priestes roabes gorgeouslye decked wt golden owches and pearles: also certaine coueringes & hanginges wouen of gould and siluer, beside a certaine pontificall Miter, which remaine as monumentes of his plentiful pompe and magnificencye &c. Finallye he being troubled with an agewe and the goute, dyed Anno 1455.
155. Calixtus the third.
CAlixtus the third a Spaniarde borne in Valentia called first Alphonsus Borgia, his father was called Iohn and his mother Frauncis: Pope Nicolas being dead, this Alphonsus being an old impotent man was chosen in his steede. This Pope as wryters do testifye of him was very …unning in the Popes canon lawe, but whollye ignoraunt in the Scripture as it appeareth by his deedes. He was first Secretarye to Alphonsus king of Aragon, and made bishop of Valentia by Pope Martin the fift, and Cardinal by Eugenius the fourth. As sone as he was Pope he forthwith prouided and addicted himselfe (not to preache to nations) but to followe warres against the Turke, proclayming it oute of hande as he had vowed before. And to further this purpose he sent out a rable of fryers with bulles and pardons, to encourage the Christian nations against the Turke. Among these Iohannes Capistranus and Robartus Licius were of moste renowne, being both minorite fryers and notorious hypocrites: who to drawe the more fishe to their net, and to the greater filling of their purses, vsed many shameful shiftes deluding men with dissembled and counterfaite holines, Letanies, penaunce, fasting, false merites, shryuings, reliques, images, crosses, songes, canticles, notes, ringing of belles, & singing cakes. The Pope also for his part was busye to sturre vp all Princes by his letters to take the quarell in hand, as a matter very nedefull and godlye. Also he commaunded the priestes euerye daye at noone to ringe the sacringe bell, and at night with an Aue Maria: that (saith Stella) they might by this holye prayer, helpe them that foughte against the Turke. Certaine sillye countrymen seing this folly in ye Pope laughed thereat, whereupon ye Pope caused them to be hanged for it. He decreed that no man should appeale from the Pope to a generall councell. He suffered his nephewes and bastards to liue licenciouslye. He poured out (sayth Valerius) his letters of pardon in pure fashion, whe…by selling them then for fiue ducates which now are sould for cryfles, he left to his successour in treasure, an hundred mill…ns & fiftene thousande ducates. At the length he dyed for age Anno 1458. and was buryed in Peters Pallaice, or the rounde Church.