The Pageant of Popes, Book 6 · Part 39
159. Innocentius the eight,
INnocentius ye eight was a Genewaie borne, his fathers name was Aron, and his name before was Iohn Baptist Cibo: he beinge Cardinall of S. Cicilia was chosen Pope after the death of Sixtus. He was sometime a poore boye but of excellent beautye: and brought vp among those that waighted vponupon Alphonsus king of Sicill, wher he learned perfitly courtly fashions. Afterward he cōming to Rome, continued a long season in the companye of Philip Cardinall of Bononia. In time he was made prelate of Sauon then of Melphit, afterwarde Secretarye by Sixtus and so came to be Cardinall, and last of all Pope. He was tall of stature, fayre of complexion and of a comly parsonage: but of a grosse and dull wit, voyde of learninge, and so heauye headed that sometime euen when he sate busye about publick affayres, he would take a nap and fall a sleepe. He was welbeloued of Sixtus for his comlye behauiour and curtesye, wherein he excelled all other. But verelye he fawned vppon all men with flatteringe face, but was freind to no man in deede: and being of nature addicted to couetousnes, yet he would shift it and colour it with myrth and pleasant ieaftes. Euen at his entrye almost to his Papacye, he conspired with the Princes of Sicill against their king Ferdinand, sending for Robart Seuerinates to be Captaine of the enterprise: So well doth the Pope requite his bringinge vp in the king of Sicils house. He said that a man oughte to make warre for the dignitye of the Church, for the defence of subiectes, and for procuremente of peace to ensue, contrarye to the Apostle sayinge: Do not euill that good may come thereof. But at length he seing himselfe disapointed toke peace perforce, and yet with these conditions: that a tribute shoulde be payed due vntounto him, and that the rebels should hauehave no harme. But yet ye wyse Prince king Ferdinand kept neither of the conditiōs: though the Pope sente thether his stoute champion Peter Vincent to challenge them, and his Secretarye with him. Also he deposed George Boebracius kinge of Bohemia from his kingdome, for fauouring Iohn Husse, & bestowed it vponupon Mathias: but because the Emperour Frederick woulde not plant this Mathias therein, great warre ensued thereof to the subuersion almost of the said Emperour. After this, Innocentius being wearyed with warres, gaue him selfe to pretensed peace: and applyed him selfe whollye to ease and idlenesse, which breedeth al wickednesse. He following the example of Sixtus, did erect a Colledge of s…cretaryes for his greater gaine, encreasing the nomber of them. He beutifyed the Papacye with a newe Pallaice. He did openlye lauishe out re…hes and treasures vponupon his bastards, giuing them honours without all shame: for he bestowed vponupon one Fraūcis his bastard certaine townes adioyning to the Citye, & gaue a great dowrye wt his bastard daughter Theodorina, maryed to an exceeding wealthye Genewaie. He made his base begotten children his chamberlaynes, & his companions Cardinals. He sould pardons for ye quick and the dead. He bestowed great treasures superstitiously on diuers Churches in Italy, and on religious houses. He graūted leue by his bul to those of Norway, to say masse wt oute wyne. He diuising a new trade to fishe for money, because yt neither ye aduaūtages of his pardōs, nor of his Iubelie, nor the taxe against the Turke coulde suffice him, he found out the title that was set vp ouer ye Crosse of Christe by Pilate, written in three tongues Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum, which was hidden within a wall: also he found out the iron head of the speare where withal the side of our Sauiour was wounded, and ere a man mighte see or kisse these Iewels he must paye well for it. But after long sicknesse this Pope dyed Anno 1492. Of whom this Epitaph was made.
Quid quaeris testes, sit mas aut foemina, Cibo?
Respice natorum, pignora certa, gregem.
Octo recens pueros genuit, totidem que puellas:
Hunc meritò poterit dicere Roma patrem.
Spurcities, gula, auaritia, atque ignauia deses,
Hoc, Octaue iacent, quo tegeris tumulo.
About the yeare of our Lord 1464. Baptist Mantuan being then xviii. yeres old wrote his ix. Eglog calling it Post religionis ingressum, entreating of the corrupt maners of the court of Rome: & his tenth Eglog of the controuersye of ye fryers Obseruants and not Obseruants. Also he wrote a Diolog in prayse of the blessed life. In his ix. Eglog he painteth out ye treacheryes of Rome, saying that all kinde of naughtye parsons are had in honour and are promoted at Rome: and that none are there aduaunced but such villaines as deserue rather to be imprisoned and driuen out. His sayinges are partlye thus:
Quo magis approprias, tanto magis omnia sordent.
¶ And after he addeth.
Fama est Aegyptum coluisse animalia quaedam,
Et pro numinibus multas habuisse ferarum.
Ista superstitio minor est quám nostra: ferarum
Hic aras habet omne genus, contraria certè
Naturae res atque Deo, qui dicitur olim
Preposuisse hominem cunctis animātibus vnum, &c.