ROME, having heretofore rais'd it self to that Great­ness as to become the Seat of the World's Empire, continu'd its possession thereof for many after-Ages. During that vast Interval of time its Coun­cils had an Influence over the Affairs and Concerns of most Nations: the Changes and Revolutions of States were regulated by its Policies; and its Judgments were Legislative to all places over which the Roman-Eagles had spread their victorious wings: in a word, the general Emergencies of the Universe are the ordinary discourse of the Inhabitants of this great City: and on the contrary, what is done in [Page 2] it employs the reflections of all those who have heard of its name.

But as it hapned heretofore at the death of any of its Emperours, all eyes were upon it, to observe the ma­nagement of an Election, which they thought contributory to their happi­ness or unhappiness, though as yet the Jurisdiction related only to temporal Concerns: so is it since it became the Seat of a spiritual Monarchy and Hie­rarchy. For upon every vacancy in This, the whole Christian World is inquisitive to know what passes in a conjuncture of so great importance, to the tranquillity and advantage of Chri­stendom, and wholly taken up with a consideration how worthy or how hap­py that subject ought to be, who is to fill a Chair exalted above all the Thrones upon earth.

As therefore every one thinks him­self concern'd in this exaltation to the Papal Dignity, so does every one ima­gine he hath a right and freedom to speak, and give his judgment of it. Accordingly hath it hapned, that all the [Page 3] circumstances of so celebrious and sa­cred an action have been so well ob­serv'd, and thought of such conse­quence, that the Memorials thereof have been transmitted to after-Ages; to the end it should be known, with what extraordinary precautions they were to proceed upon the like occasi­ons, in order to the prevention of those misfortunes and disturbances, which the long continuance of a vacancy hath many times occasion'd in the Church. But what occasions long vacancies, and how far they are to be imputed to the interfering Interests of those temporal Princes, who think themselves more nearly concern'd in the Election, is no [...] our business here to determine: Onl [...] this seems rationally deducible from their proceedings therein, that they would demean themselves with a grea­ter indifference, as to the Election, were they less perswaded, that the Person once elected must be acknowledg'd Supreme Pastor of the Catholick Church.

But in process of time, through the [Page 4] prudent provisions, which the Popes have made by their Constitutions: things are reduc'd to a certain order, so as that there is the less ground of fearing those fatal Accidents, where­with the Church hath been but too much afflicted by so many schismes, most of which have deriv'd their birth or growth from the long continuance of Conclaves. And the City of Rome seems from that time to have attain'd a better constitution, so as not to be subject to any disturbance during that Interregnum; of which it is the design of this Discourse to give a particular Account, by discovering what is done, not only within the walls of Rome, but also those of the Conclave it self, upon the occasion of a Vacancy in the See Apostolick, and representing the Cere­monies observed at the Exaltation of a Person to a spiritual Jurisdiction and Supremacy.

As soon as the Pope hath submitted to the Laws of Mortality by resigning up his last breath, or seems past all hopes of recovery, the Cardinal Pa­trone, [Page 5] who is ordinarily the Nephew, and entrusted with the management of State-affairs, sends an account of his condition to the several Cardinals and Embassadors: by the Prelates he dis­patches to them, and orders all the con­siderable prisoners to be remov'd out of the ordinary Prisons to the Castle St. Angelo, in regard that immediately up­on the Pope's death the Senate and People of Rome set open the prison­doors, and give liberty to all those whom they there find in restraint.

Soon after the Cardinals and Em­bassadors make their Visits to the Car­dinal Patrone, condoling the loss he hath received by the Pope's death; and if it happen that any of them be in the Pope's Antichamber, when he is rea­dy to expire, they are admitted into his chamber to see his departure, and to address their prayers to God for him.

Assoon as he is given over for dead the Cardinal's, and all the Officers, who had lodgings assign'd them in the Palace, dislodge themselves and go to [Page 6] their houses in the City, save only the Cardinal, who has the title of Cham­berlain, whose priviledge it is to con­tinue still in the Pope's appartment.

There are in the Sacred Colledge of Cardinals, (whose number is by the Constitution of Sixtus Quintus limited to seventy) three principal Charges, which admit not of any vacancy upon the Pope's death, but only upon theirs who were possest thereof. Those are that of Chancellour, (who yet assumes only the title and quality of Vice-Chan­cellour, though there be not any other Person above him) that of the Grand Penitentiary, and that of Chamber­lain.

The Functions of the two former Charges are sufficiently known by their Nam [...]s; but the third is in its greatest lustre during the vacancy of the See, though the person who is pos­sest of it be at all other times chief of the Chamber of Accompts and the Finances of the Holy See. But when, and as long as there is no Pope, he commands the Swisses of the Guard, [Page 7] who had belong'd to the deceas'd, and they keep Guard about his Palace, and follow him up and down the City. He orders the coynage of money, on which there are engraven his own Armes under those of the vacant See, which are two Keys crossing one the o­ther under a Canopy. He has this further priviledge, to be present with the three Chiefs of the Order of the Cardinals, (that is to say, the Dean of the Sacred Colledge, the first Cardinal-Priest, and the first Cardinal-Deacon) in all the Assemblies they shall hold during the vacancy of the See, to ad­vise with them about the Affairs of the Church. It belongs also to the Cardinal-Chamberlain to see all things ordered relating to the Conclave, which he disposes to whom he thinks fit after the Election of a Pope.

The chief Officer of the Datary, the Secretaries, and all others who are in­trusted with Seals of any kind, which they had had from the deceas'd Pope, bring them immediately upon the first news of his death to the Cardinal- Chamberlain, [Page 5] who, in the presence of the Auditor, and the Clerks of the Chamber (who are the Masters of Ac­compts) and of the Grand Treasurer (who is Surintendant of the Finances or Revenues) orders them to be broken, that no foul play or forgerie be done with them; And the Ring of the Fisher, which is of Gold, and va­lu'd at about a hundred Crowns, after it is broken, belongs to the Masters of the Ceremonies.

It is also incumbent on the said Car­dinal to send notice at the same time to all the Cardinals, the Senate, and people of Rome, of the Pope's death, and the three Chiefs in point of Deno­mination (there being three different Classes of Cardinals, according to the difference of their titles; to wit, six titles of Episcopal Cardinals, fifty of Priesthood, and fourteen Deacon-Cardi­nals) send the like notice to all the o­ther Cardinals, to make their appear­ance in the Hall of the Consistory that very Evening; or if that cannot be done with convenience the next mor­ning [Page 6] to take order for all the Charges which shall be vacant upon the Pope's death, and to appoint a Governour of the Conclave, and of St. Peter's, which is the most fortify'd Quarter of Rome, and wherein lie the Castle of St. Angelo, the Church of St. Peter, and the Vatican Palace, and where the Conclave is or­dinarily kept; and they all go with the Roquet uncover'd, as a mark that the Sovereign Spiritual Authority is devolv'd into their hands, as having then no Superiours over them. Those who are Creatures of the deceas'd Pope are clad in Violet, as are also the other Cardinals, but with this di­stinction, that the borders and orna­ments of their garments are red.

In the mean time the Pope's Almo­ners, after they have washt the Corps, cloath it with his Cassock, his Ro­quet, his Camad, and his Caloth, and by a secret pair of stairs convey it to the Chapel of Sixtus, which is in the Palace. There it is received by the Penitentiaries of St. Peter, who vest him so as if he were going to cele­brate [Page 10] Mass, setting on his head a Mitre of cloth of Gold, with all the other Ornaments peculiar to this Ceremony; and among others the Pallium and Pan­nona, which none is to wear but on­ly the Pope in his Pontifical Habili­ments.

Being thus habited, they lay him on a Couch in the midst of the Chappel, with a silver Cross upon his breast, and two Cardinals Hats at his feet, repre­senting his spiritual and temporal au­thority. Ordinarily, there are but a dozen Torches set about the Corps, and no Canopy.

The Congregation of Cardinals be­ing risen, the Creatures of the de­ceas'd and his particular servants come into the Chapel; where, after they have said certain prayers for his soul, the Canons of St. Peter make their entrance with their Crosses, with eve­ry one a wax candle in his hand, and taking the Corps they carry it into one of the Chapels of their Church, where it lies expos'd for the space of three days to the sight of all the peo­ple, [Page 11] who are admitted to kiss his feet and hands.

After the expiration of those three days, the same Canons, accompany'd by the Relations of the deceas'd (the church-doors being shut) dispose the Body into his Sepulchre, in case he had ordered any to be made in his life­time; but if not, they cover it with plaister in some part of their said Church, till his Sepulchre be made ready, which the succeeding Pope, if he be a Creature of the deceas'd, does ordinarily cause to be made at his own charge, together with one for himself, in such Church as he shall think fit to make choice of: Yet is it to be ob­served, that the Body is to continue a whole year deposited in the said Church of St. Peter; after which it may be buried any where else, and the Tran­slation of it is celebrated with great pomp aud magnificence; and they use in that Ceremony a particular Herse­cloth embroidered, which the Clergy of St. Peter are oblig'd to get made for every Pope immediately after his E­Election, [Page 12] which Cloth is carefully laid up, during the life of the said Pope.

The first day after the departure of any Pope being over, the Cardinals employ the mornings of the nine sub­sequent days in having Dirges sung for the repose of the soul of the de­ceas'd; and on the ninth the Funeral-Oration is made; after which all the Cardinals come about the Quire beset all with lights, under which there is a Bed of State, and five among them (of which number the Cardinal, who says Mass is one) with black.

on, having given holy-water and incense, say the Suffrages and accu­stomed Prayers.

All the days next following the said Dirges of the said Cardinals meet in the Sacristy of St. Peter, to name the Officers of the Conclave, and to settle other affairs of the Ecclesiastical State. The Embassadors make them proffers of the Assistance of their Ma­sters, in order to the security and free­dom of the Conclave. At their com­ing [Page 13] in, they make a genuflexion, and speak standing and cover'd; and at their departure thence they make the like genuflexion. The House of the Ursini, and that of the Colonni, as being the chiefest Houses of Rome, are also receiv'd into it, but kneeling and bare-headed. They pretend that they have a priviledge to offer with their own service, that, of all the other Ro­man Princes and Lords. These latter on the contrary, (whose Body is cal­led the Baronage) are not willing to acknowledge any dependence on the former two Houses, and ordinarily make choice of the most ancient Person of their Body to make their Harangue. This Contest upon the death of Urban the Eighth, occa­sion'd the Ursini and the Colonni to forbear going at all, and yet the Baron­age was admitted to make proffers of their service.

The ten days above-mentioned being expired, on the eleventh the Cardinals have a Dirge sung at [Page 14] St. Peters, one of them celebrating Mass in Honour of the Holy Ghost, after which there is a Sermon preach'd, wherein they are exhorted to divest themselves of all passion and self-interest in the Election they are to make of a good common Father of the Church. After which they make their entrance by way of Procession in­to the Conclave, the Musick singing the Veni Creator, and lay their Crosses in the Chapel Paulina. The Dean be­ing come up to the Altar says the Prayer, Deus qui corda fidelium: which ended, the Cardinals take the Oath ap­pointed for the observance of the Con­stitutions of former Popes concerning the Election of the new one. That done, every one goes to dinner in his own Apartment, which had been as­sign'd them in the Palace, for the preparing of their sustenance during their abode in the Conclave, they be­ing not permitted to come out of the Palace till they have chosen a Pope.

All that day the Conclave lies open, to satisfie the curiosity of the people, [Page 15] who are permitted during that time to visit it; and towards the Evening e­very one withdraws into his Cell, and about three or four hours after, the Cursors or Heralds put out the multi­tude, crying aloud Extra omnes. But the Embassadors, who had spent the eleven days aforesaid in visiting all the Cardinals at their several Lodgings, come to see them once more in the Conclave; and as soon as they are come out thence, (which they commonly do last of any) the chief Person of the House of the Savelli, as Hereditary Marshal of the Holy Church, locks the door of the Conclave, sets a Guard at it, and hath an apartment adjoyning thereto, out of which he is not to stir either night or day till there be a Pope chosen. At the last Conclave, there arose a Contest between him and the Governour of the said Conclave a­bout the Keys of it; but they were ad­judg'd to the Prince Savelli, as'having been in former times in the possession of his Predecessors. The keeping of the Keys within the Conclave belongs [Page 16] to the Cardinal-Chamberlian and the Master of the Ceremonies.

In the door of the Conclave there is a little square window, which may be shut on both sides within and without, and is not open'd, but only when Em­bassadors or some other Person of Quality brings some very important advertisement or intelligence to the sa­cred Colledge, and then they direct their Speech through the said Win­dow.

According to the Constitution of Pius the Fourth every Cardinal may have two men with him to wait upon him in the Conclave; but Princes and the more ancient Cardinals may have three and no more: and these persons are called Conclavists, who all joyning together oblige all the Cardinals to take an Oath for the Observance of their priviledges. Nor can any of the Cardinals balk the taking of the said Oath, out of a fear of the re­proach which might be made him of his desire to be Pope. Their Privi­ledges consist in having ten thousand [Page 17] Crowns out of the Chamber, to be di­vided among them, and all the vacant Benefices, not exceeding two thousand Crowns Revenue.

Moreover, it is further requisite, ac­cording to the foresaid Constitution of Pius the Fourth, that the Conclavists, be actually menial servants to the said Car­dinals at the vacancy of the Holy See, and that they had been in their service for the space of a year before. With this further Proviso, that the Ministers of Princes, Persons possessd of in for, ost. temporal Seigneu­ries, having the rights of the Admini­stration of Justice annex'd thereto, as also persons employ'd in Traffick and Commerce; and lastly, the Brothers or Nephews of Cardinals, cannot be cho­sen by them for their Conclavists, though they were their Domesticks, and re­ceiv'd wages or salaries from them.

To this kind of persons there are added also two others, one for the ser­vice of the two Masters of Ceremonies, and the other, for the Secretary of the Sacred Colledge. With this reserva­tion [Page 18] nevertheless, that the servant of of the Masters of the Ceremonies ought to be actually a Domestick of one of them, and have been such for the space of six months before: which condition is in like manner requisite in the servant to the Secretary of the Colledge of Cardi­nals.

Besides the Cardinals and their Con­clavists, the two Masters of Ceremonies, the Secretary of the Colledge, and their servants there are also shut up in the Conclave a Penitentiary, to receive Con­fessions, and resolve such Cases of Conscience as may be propos'd to him; as also a Sacristan, with a Chaplain to assist him in the service of the Sacristy, a Physician, an Apothecary, and a Chy­rurgeon, with one or two servants, and the Drugs and Medicines requisite for the relief and accommodation of the indispos'd; a Carpenter, a Mason, and about twenty Porters or servants of the meanest sort, to be employed in the carrying of wood, sweeping the Cham­bers and the streets of the Conclave, [Page 19] and to what other services may be ne­cessary within. All these Officers and Servants are chosen by the Cardinals by plurality of voices, and are not to be taken out of the houses of any of the said Cardinals, and their Salaries are paid out of the Chamber.

Assoon as they have clear'd the Con­clave of all those persons, whom ei­ther their curiosity or some other occa­sion had brought thither, the Embassa­dor's also being retir'd, and the door lockt on the out-side by the Marshal of the Conclave, who has the Keys of it, and is to see it guarded, the three Cardinals, Chiefs of the three dif­ferent Classes, accompany'd by the Cardinal-Chamberlain, and one of the Masters of Ceremonies, who have the custody of the Keyes within, (as hath been observ'd already) go with Torches all about the Conclave, visiting all parts of it, to see if there be any there who ought not to be, and whether the shutting up of the Conclave be per­formed according to the Constitutions. [Page 20] And the next day, immediately after dinner, there is a review taken of all the Conclavists and Servants in the Chapel, out of which they are order­ed to go one after another, to be exa­min'd, whether they have the quali­fications requisite for their admission, as also whether they exceed not the number appointed by the said Consti­tutions.

But, before we come to a particular Account of what passes among the Cardinals in the Conclave, it will not be amiss to say somewhat of what is done in the mean time, in reference to the Government of the City.

Upon the News spread abroad of the Pope's death, the Senate and People of Rome, (that is to say, the Consuls of the City) being assembled in the Capi­tal, cause it to be publish'd through all the streets by beat of drum, order the prison-doors to be open'd, and set at liberty all they find in restraint, thereby signifying that the Jurisdiction of Rome during the Vacancy of the Holy See, is devoted to them. They order [Page 21] all the Inhabitants to keep a candle lighted at their Window during all that night, and enjoyn the Captains of the several Wards or Quarters, (whose Companies consist of men, whom the Inhabitants of all Ranks and Orders, (excepting only both the Roman and Foreign Nobility) are oblig'd to fur­nish them withal, to the number of one for every House with their Armes) to keep strict Guards day and night, eve­ry one in their Lodgings, and to take their several rounds and patrouilles, to prevent the disorders which are many times very great, proceeding hence, that such as have been hardly or inju­riously dealt with, during the prece­dent Papacies, do for the most part de­fer their resentments thereof to the next vacant See; so that it happens many Murthers and Assassinations may be committed. Not but that Justice is very severely administred at that time, and with greater expediti­on, then at any other; but if the Mur­therers and other mischievous persons be not surpriz'd in the very Facts, and [Page 22] can make a shift to abscond themselves and keep out of the way till the Cre­ation of a new Pope, they return to their habitations as if they had com­mitted those crimes in some other Countrey.

All the Cardinals, Embassadors, Princes and Lords about Rome raise Souldiers for the guarding of their Pa­laces and their Houses, and they among the Cardinals who have any pretensi­ons to the Papacy are more careful in this particular then the others, by rea­son of the priviledge the people assume to themselves of pillaging them assoon as they are chosen.

There passes not a day without some Processions, which from all Churches and Monasteries take their way to St. Peter's, and about the Conclave, singing as they go the Hymn Veni Creator, to implore the assistance of the Holy Ghost and its Inspirations upon the Cardinals.

The Conclave consists ordinarily of three Galleries, aud twenty five or thirty withdrawing-rooms or Cham­bers, [Page 23] all of a floor, from the Vatican-Palace of equal height with the Gal­lerie which is over the Portal of St. Peter's, which is the ordinary place of the Benediction given by the Pope to the people after his Coronation, and upon the great Festivals of the year: Which Gallery makes also part of the Conclave. In all which Galleries, rooms and chambers, they make parti­tions of boards for so many Cells as there are Cardinals. Every Cardinal hath a Cell assign'd him about five pa­ces in length, and about four in bredth, with a little wardrobe proportionable thereto. The Cells are taken by lot, and every Cardinal is to take that the number whereof he finds in his lot: and whereas it happens that the Cardinals are not all of them, during the whole time, confin'd within the Conclave, ei­ther upon the account of sickness or ab­sence, the Cells which are not taken up are divided among the next neighbors, who make this advantage only of the absence or indisposition of others, that their rooms are somwhat enlarg'd therby; [Page 24] but the absent or sick Cardinals, re­turning into the Conclave, reassume their Cells, and so oblige those who had made use of them to content themselves with their own divisi­ons.

They among the Cardinals, who were Creatures of the deceas'd Pope, hang their Cells within and without with Cloth or Serge of a violet co­lour, and the others with green Serge, all setting up their Armes over their doors, which they make fast only with two staves crossing one the other after the form of a St. Andrews Cross. The Officers and Servants of the Conclave have their quarters assign'd them in some remote part.

At three or four avenues of the said Conclave, there are Turning-Boxes, like those in the Monasteries of Nuns, through which the meat sent in to the Cardinals and their Conclavists is re­ceived. Their Partizans and Servants at­tend their meat as they were wont to do their persons when they were at li­berty.

[Page 25] Before the entrance of the Cardi­nals into the Conclave, there is a List taken of all the Prelates then about the Court of Rome, and the Governour of it appoints every day, two in the morning, and as many in the afternoon, every one in his rank, to be present at the said Turning-Boxes, to visit and observe whatever is sent in to the Car­dinals, to prevent the sending in of Letters or Notes with the meat. They are also to hinder all persons from speaking to them or their Conclavists at the said Boxes, unless they speak a­loud, and in the Italian or Latin Tongue, that every one may under­stand what is said; inasmuch as by the Constitutions, it is matter of Ex­communication to talk of, or to en­quire what is done within the Con­clave.

But notwithstanding all the caution and vigilance us'd as to this particular, yet cannot some abuses be prevented; and people come to know what passes there. This happens sometimes by the way of Notes or Advertisements in [Page 26] writing, which they find means to get in, either by the connivance of some Prelates, who are unwilling to disob­lige the Crowns and Princes, whose Patrizans they are, as they think they should do, by obstructing their having intelligence of what passes. Some­times also this is attributed to the Cardinals themselves, who do it to promote their different engagements and affections, or to prevent prejudi­cing their hopes, or that their precau­tions are really eluded. Another way yet, where there may be a discovery made of proceedings in the Conclave, is, a secret kind of language before­hand, studied and agreed upon be­tween the Conclavists, and their Cor­respondents, whereof they make their advantages when occasion serves, comprehending under the supposititi­ous termes of houshold-stuffe, Relati­ons, or domestick Affairs, concerning which they enquire News, the Names of such Cardinals as are propos'd, or excluded, or that stand fair for the Papal dignity; and so by disguiz'd [Page 27] discourses, and an affected Jargon appli­cable to divers senses, disclosing what is most secretly carried on in the Conclave.

Yet is there not any thing to be ob­jected against the shutting up of the Conclave, since it is done with all the exactness imaginable. For the Chim­neys are close done up at the tops, and the windows of all the rooms and Gal­leries are in like manner stop'd to with­in a foot of the upper part, which small distance is clos'd with course linen cloth, whereby a little light comes in; but so that if the Cardinals have any occasion to write or read, they must al­ways have a wax-candle standing by them. And thence it proceeds, that not receiving any supplies of fresh air from without, and that within being many times infected and corrupted, they are apt to fall sick, especially when the Conclaves are of long continuance.

The twelfth day after the Pope's death (the first, as hath bin already observ'd be­ing spent in conveying the Body into one of the Chapels of St. Peter's Church, and the nine subsequent days in celebrating [Page 28] Obsequies and singing Dirges for the soul of the deceas'd, and holding the ordinary Congregations at the end of the said Dirges; and the eleventh, in the Cardinals taking possession of the Conclave, which for all that day lies open to satisfie the curiosity of the people, who come not out of it till three or four houres after night) all the Cardinals resident about the Court of Rome, having shut themselves up in the Conclave, ina much as by the Constitu­tion of Gregory XV. there can be no warrantable proceeding to the Electi­on, till the shutting up of the Con­clave be compleated, and acknow­ledg'd such by a publick Act, which is made thereof at the request of the Master of the Ceremonies: All these things being thus order'd in the mor­ning of the said twelfth day, before they apply themselves to any thing concerning the Election, the three Car­dinals, Chiefs of the several Orders, and the Cardinal Chamberlain give a Commission to some within, to take an exact Survey of all parts of the Con­clave, [Page 29] to see that it is close and well shut up of all sides. Which if they find accordingly, after they have made their report thereof to the Com­pany, it is form [...]d into an Authentick Act, the substance whereof amounts to this, That the Conclave is close and shut up, as it is requir'd it should be by the Constitutions, and account­ed and reputed such by the Sacred Col­ledge of Cardinals. And this Cere­mony is so essential, and of so abso­lute necessity, that there would be a nullity in the Election, which should be made without this precedent Act. And as long as there is no Declaration contrary to that of the shutting up of the Conclave, that is, till such time as it shall have been declared by the Suf­frages of two Thirds of the Cardinals, that there is an overture of the said Conclave, it is always accounted and reputed duly shut up; And the Ele­ction which might be made after the publication of the Closure, cannot be disputed as to nullity, under pretence of any overture hapning afterwards, if [Page 31] the Declaration of the Overture had not been made with the advice of two thirds of the Colledge of Cardinals.

The Cardinals are permitted to hold their capitulary Assemblies or Congre­gations, to agree among themselves upon certain Articles, before they en­gage npon the business of the Election. These Articles are to be sign'd by all, even those which concern the privileges of the Conclavists heretofore mention­ed, before or after their entrance into the Conclave, provided always that the Election be not retarded thereby.

There is also a further examination made, before they fall upon any thing touching the Election, whether among the Cardinals there be any one that hath not receiv'd the order of Deacon, to the end he might not be admitted to give his voice, inasmuch as he is ex­cluded by the Constitution of Pius IV. unless he had obtain'd permission in writing from the deceas'd Pope to do it. Nay, it hath sometimes heretofore come into debate, whether a Cardinal, on whom silence had been impos'd be­fore [Page 30] the Pope's death, could give his Suffrage for the Election of another Pope? But this question was decided by Pius V. who, by the Decretal of January 26. 1571. declar'd, that that imposition of silence was only a Ce­remony introduc'd only to keep the Cardinals in a certain advertency (be­fore they were admitted to give their voices and Suffrages, as the Consisto­ries and Congregations wherein they were to assist) of that modesty and reservedness, which they were oblig'd to express in those and all other Acts, but not to deprive them of their power and principal function, which consists in the Election of a Pope. And this Constitution hath ever since been in­violably observ'd.

The shutting up of the Conclave intro­duc'd at the Council of Lyons, by the con­stitution of Greg. X. 1274. having ther­fore bin duly acknowledg'd and verifi'd, the Cardinals (being advertis'd by the ringing of a Bell to resort to the Chapel Paulina, which is within the compass of the Conclave, if not diverted by sickness) [Page 32] on the very morning of the twelfth day, go to hear Mass, and communi­cate, as they are oblig'd to do, and im­mediately after ought to proceed to the Election. Which Election, at the present, by the Constitution of Gregory XV. confirmed by another since of Ur­ban VIII. cannot be made, otherwise then by one of these three formes and manners following; to wit, either by way of Inspiration, or by Compromise; or lastly, by Scrutiny and Access; all which it is but requisite that we expi­cate, and make as intelligible as may be, that it may be the more easily com­prehensible, with what extraordinary circumspection and wise precautions they are guided, in an affair of so high consequence.

The first means or method of choo­sing the Pope, which they call the way of Inspiration; or as it is exprest by the Sacred Canons As-it-were-by-Inspi­ration, is, when all the Cardinals in ge­neral, and every one in particular, with a common voice, as being in­spir'd by the Holy Ghost, are unani­mously [Page 33] agreed, without any one con­tradicting it, and without any prece­dent particular treaty, and do freely concur to the acknowledging and pro­claiming of such a person Pope. Con­cerning which manner of Election we are to observe the following Circum­stances, which are necessarily requi­site by the Gregorian Constitution, which is a perfect Directory, as to the ways of proceeding at Elections, and ob­serv'd at present without any contradi­ction.

The first circumstance is, that this kind of Election cannot be allowably made any where but in the Conclave, and that after the publication of its be­ing duly shut up.

The second is, that this Election is to be made by all in general, by eve­ry one of the Cardinals in particular, who are present in the Conclave, by a common Suffrage, and without contra­diction from any one.

The third circumstance is, that there must not have been any precedent Pro­posal, or particular Treaty, in reference [Page 34] to a choice to be made by this kin [...] of way, which ought to be clearly [...] ­prest by this word Eligo, I chuse, pro­nounc'd with a loud and intelligible voice, or, for want of pronunciation, to be expresly set down in writing.

The Roman Ceremonial gives an instance of an Election, which might be allowably made by this kind of way, which brought in hither will render the business more cle [...].

It is said in the forementiond Cere­monial, that if any one of the Car­dinals, after publication of the shutting of the Conclave, (there having not been any precedent particular treaty about the person whom he would pro­pose) should say, for example, in a full Chapel, addressing his speech to the whole Sacred Colledge, My Lords, ha­ving always observ'd the rare and excel­lent Qualifications and Vertues of my Lord the Cardinal N. and having an e­steem for his remarkable Integrity, it is my judgement that we cannot make choice of a worthier subject to be Pope, and thereupon I from this present give him [Page 35] my Suffrage, and chuse him for Pope. And that afterwards all the Cardinals, with one voice, without excepting any one, being of the same opinion, and all of them intelligibly pronouncing one after another the same word, I chuse him; or not being able to pronounce it, setting it down in writing, that per­son would be canonically chosen, and acknowledg'd for a true and legitimate Pope, by that way which they call of Inspiration, or As-it-were-by-Inspiration; which in regard it is immediately at­tended by Adoration, is thence com­monly called the way of Adora­tion.

The second manner of proceeding in the Election of the Pope, is the way of Compromi'se, which is, when the Car­dinals, either immediately after their entrance into the Conclave, or wea­ried out with its long continuance, refer themselves to one or more among them, whom they empower to make provision, in the name of all, of a com­mon Father to the Catholick Church. [Page 36] And this kind of Election is practis'd conformably to the Gregorian Bull, and the conditions and provisions contain'd therein, which may also be reduced to three.

The first is, that all the Cardinals in general, and every one in particular, who are present in the Conclave, not one contradicting or opposing it, ought to make a Compromise in writing, whereby they invest those persons whom they take for Compromissaries with an absolute power and faculty to make provision of a Pastor for the Holy Roman Church, yet with an ob­servance of the forme, as also the Clau­ses and conditions inserted and express'd in the Compromise, and to do it with­in the time prescrib'd thereby: the said Cardinals, promising to acknowledge and account the person, whom the Compromissaries shall have thus chosen, according to the extent of that power which had been granted them by the Compromise, the true and lawful Pope.

The second circumstance is, that it is not permitted any one of the Com­promissaries [Page 37] should give himself his own voice, otherwise his Election should be null.

The third condition is, that the Com­promissaries are oblig'd twice every day to assemble, in order to their conferring together, and promoting the execution of the Compromise; in the morning im­mediately after the hearing of Mass, and in the Evening after the recitation of the Hymn Veni Creator Spiritus, and the Prayer of the Holy Ghost, to implore its illuminations upon them. But be­fore they fall upon any thing of busi­ness, they are wont to make this Pro­testation precedent thereto, That they would not be understood to give their con­sent by all sorts of words or expressions which might fall from them in the heat of the Debate, if they do not expresly set it down in writing.

When they have absolutely agreed upon the choice of any person, and have prpos'd him as such to the Sacred College, he it to be immediately ac­knowledg'd as true Pope, and Canoni­cally elected.

[Page 38] These two ways of Inspiration and Compromise are not now much in use; but the way of Scrutiny, or of Scrutiny and Access joyned together, is the most ordinarily practis'd, wherein there are many Ceremonies to be obser­ved.

For the Election of a Pope by this last way, it is requisite, according to the Constitution of Alexander the Third, in the Year of our Lord MCLXXX. made at the Council of Lateran, that there should be two thirds of the voices of the Cardinals; which hath been confirm'd by subsequent Bulls, and in our Age by those of Gregory XV. and Urban VIII. And it is further requiste, that in the two thirds of the Voices, that of the Cardianl chosen, be not included, inasmuch as there is a prohibition upon pain of nullity of Election for any one to chuse himself, or give him­selfe his own voice.

They are oblig'd twice every day to take the Scrutiny and the Access; in the morning, after Mass; and in the E­vening, [Page 39] after the Hymn Veni Creator Spiritus, and the Prayer of the Holy Ghost which are said in the Chapel Paulina at which the Cardinals are oblig'd to be present, if not detain'd by indisposition, immediately, after the third ringing of the Bell.

There is a great secrecy to be ob­serv'd in the Scrutiny and Access, and the manner of proceeding therein may be reduc'd to three principal actions. The first is the previous or Fore-Scru­tiny; the second, that of Scrutiny and Access; and the third, that of the Post-Scrutiny, or what follows the Scrutiny and Access assoon as they are compleated.

The particular explication of these three different actions will give us a fuller comprehension of this way of Scrutiny and Access, and give us to understand what it is, by distinguish­ing them as they are found explicated in the Roman Ceremonial.

The Fore-Scrutiny may be distin­guish'd into five principal Acts: the preparation of the Billets for the [Page 40] Scrutiny and Access; the taking out by lots, the names of the Scrutators and Deputies, who are to collect the Suf­frages of such as are indispos'd; that of writing them in the Billets of Access, that of folding them, and that of seal­ing them.

The Masters of the Ceremonies are the persons who take care for the pre­paration of the Billets, which they cause to be printed according to the forme hereafter set down, as well for the Scrutiny as Access. They put them into two Basins upon a Table before the Altar; those of the Scrutiny by themselves in one of the Basins, and those of the Access in the other; in num­ber so many as there are Cardinals.

The Figure of the Billet of the Scru­tiny is such, that the length exceeds the bredth. It is about a hands bredth in length, and about half as broad. The out­side of the Billet comprehends three things; in the upper part of it are writ­ten these words, Ego Cardinalis, with as much distance between the one and the other, as may be requisite for the set­ting [Page 41] down of the Cardinal's name who gives his voice, and a little lower there are two little Circles denoting the pla­ces where the Seal is to be set.

In the midst of the Billet are imprint­ed these words, Eligo in summum Pontifi­cem Reverendissimum D. meum, D. Cardina­lem— I chuse for Supream Bishop the most Reverend Lord, my Lord Cardinal.—

In the third and lowest part of the Billet are in like manner imprinted two little Circles, denoting also the pla­ces of the Seal, and all the rest is blank.

The form and figure of the Billets for the Access, is in all respects like that of the Billets of the Scrutiny, save only that in the midst of them, in stead of these words [ Eligo in summum Pontifi­cem Reverendissimum D. meum, D. Cardi­nalem] these are inserted, Accedo Reve­rendissimo D. meo, D. Cardinali, that is to say, I give again my voice to my most Reverend Lord my Lord Cardinal. But these things will be more easily com­prehended by exhibiting here the fi­gures of the Billets.

[Page 42]

[Page 43]

[Page 44] Upon the other side of the Billets, as well those of the Scrutiny, as those of the Access, there are imprinted certain Bordures, or Flourishes, one about the midst of the upper part of the Billet, upon which is written the word Nomen, and the other in like manner in the midst of the lower part, upon which is also written the word Signa. The Flourishes were invented purposely to render the Paper the more obseure, and that the names and signes of the Car­dinals Electors might not be perceiv'd through it: which will also be more easily understood by an inspection of the Figure here annexed.

[Page 45]

[Page 46] The second Act of the Fore-Scruti­ny is, that of drawing by lot, the names of the Scrutators and the Infirmaries, who are the Cardinals appointed to go to the Cells of such as are indispos'd▪ and there to take their Suffrages, which is done in this manner. There are put into a purse as many little Bullets or Balls, hol'd through the middle, about the bigness of Beads, as there are Car­dinals in the Conclave, with their Names written in little snips of Parch­ment roll'd up, and thrust through the holes in the little Bullets, which the Masters of the Ceremonies take care to provide, as they do the Bil­lets. As they are put into the purse they are counted all one after another, in the presence of the Cardinals, and then after they have been well shaken together, the last of the Deacon-Car­dinals draws three out of the purse, and they whose names are found in them are chosen for Scrutators, accor­ding to the order wherein they are drawn out of the purse. Then they draw out three others for the Infir­maries [Page 47] or Deputies, who are to go to such as are sick. And that done, the little Bullets are return'd into the purse. Twice a day, that is, in the morning and afternoon before the Scrutiny, there is an Election made of the said Offi­cers. But if it happen that they draw the names of any of the Cardinals that are sick, or cannot by reason of some other impediment acquit themselves of the function of the said charges of Scrutators and Infirmaries, there are o­thers drawn in their stead.

The third Act of the Fore-Scru­tiny consists in setting down what is to be written in the Billets, and in the filling of them by the Cardinals with their own names, and the name of the Cardinal to whom they give their Suffrages, and their Signets. To do this, every Cardinal, accord­ing to his rank, beginning with the Dean or most ancient, goes and takes out of the Basin where­in the Billets of the Scrutiny are standing upon the Altar one Billet, [Page 48] and thereupon retiring into one of the two or three little Desks or Seats prepa­red for that purpose, and furnished with Pen and Ink in the middest of it, or to some other part of the Chapel, so ex­pos'd to the sight of all, that they may easily see him writing, but not discern what is written; and taking his seat prepar'd also near the Desk, he fills up his Billet thus; in the upper part he writes between these words [ Ego Cardinalis] his own name; in the midst of it he inserts the name of him to whom he gives his voice, with some difference and disguise of chara­cter as much as he can, according to the Bull of Gregory XV. that it may not be known by the writing: and in the lower part of the Billet is written some cer­tain number in figures, according to his own phansie, with some sentence out of the holy Scripture, or somewhat of that nature. The figure of a Billet fill'd up will render what we have said more manifest to the eye.

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[Page 50] The folding of the Billets is the fourth Act of the Fore-Scrutiny: It is no hard matter to comprehend how it is done. By the fold which is made of the Billet, in the upper part of it, the corners whereof are to be turn'd down upon the marks of the Seal, the name of the Cardinal Elector is co­ver'd. In like manner, by the folding which is made of the lower part of the Billet, the corners whereof are also to be laid over the marks of the Seal, the Signes are likewise cover'd. After these two foldings, they fold it so often as is requisite to reduce it to the bredth of an Inch or thereabouts.

There remains yet the last Act of the Fore-Scrutiny, which consists in sealing the Billets, the form whereof is as easily conceivable, as that of the precedent folding. Every Cardinal before his entrance into the Conclave, must have furnisht himself with a Seal, unknown to the others, purposely grav'd for this occasion, containing some fancy or character, or simple-fi­gure, the impression whereof may be [Page 51] easily perceiv'd. With this Seal the Cardinal makes an Impression on the back of the Billet, at the places design'd by the little Circles, on which the Masters of the Cere­monies, before the putting of the Bil­lets into the Basins, had claqt little bits of red wax.

These things thus perform'd, the Cardinals proceed to the second princi­pal Action called the Scrutiny, which the Ceremonial hath distinguish'd in­to eight particular Acts. These are, the carrying of the Billets to the Altar; The taking of the Oath; The putting of the Billets into the Chalice prepar'd for the reception of them; The mixture which is there­upon made thereof; The numbring of the Billets; The Publication of the Scrutiny; The Filing of the Billets; And the laving of them a­side, either upon some part of the Altar, or upon the Desks of the Scrutators, or in an empty Cha­lice.

[Page 52] The carrying of the Billets to the Altar, the taking of the Oath, and the putting of the Billets into the Chalice, are three acts, so consequent one to the other, that it is no hard matter to make a joynt imagination of them. And to that end, presupposing that every Cardinal hath at the Desk (as aforesaid) fill'd up the Billet of the Scrutiny with his own name, the name of him, to whom he gives his voice, and the or­dinary signes, that he hath folded it, and seal'd it, according to the prece­dent explication, he takes the said Bil­let with the two fore-fingers of the right hand, he carries it openly up to the Altar, where the Scrutators are standing at the Desk, which had been there prepar'd for them; and being come thither, he falls down on his knees, and makes a short prayer; af­ter which, rising up, with a loud and intelligible voice, he takes the Oath according to the forme, wherein it is transcrib'd in a Table upon the Altar, in these termes, Testor Christum Domi­num, qui me judicaturus est, me eligere, [Page 53] quem, secundum Deum, judico eligi de­bere, et quod idem in Accessu praestabo. That is to say, I Attest Jesus Christ my Lord, who is to be my Judge, that I chuse him, whom according to God's Will I think fittest to be chosen; and that I will do the like in the Access. Having thus taken the Oath, he lays his Billet up­on the Cover of the Chalice, and with the Cover he puts it into the Chalice, and thereupon making an obeisance to the Altar, he retires to his place.

This Ceremony is observ'd by all the Cardinals, who are able to come up to the Altar. For if it happen, that any one of the Cardinals then present in the Chapel is not able, by reason of in­firmity, to come up to the Altar, the Junior of the Scrutators takes the Ba­sin, wherein the Billets of the Scrutiny are, and carries it to him, out of which the indispos'd Cardinal having taken a Billet, he secretly fills it up, at his own Desk, folds it, and seals it, as is before­mentioned; and after he hath taken the foresaid Oath in the place where he is, he delivers his said Billet to the [Page 54] Scrutator, who openly carries it up to the Altar, and without any Prayer or Oath lays it on the Cover, and with the Co­ver conveys it into the Chalice. The same thing is done towards all the in­dispos'd Cardinals who are in the Chapel.

But as to those Cardinals, who, by reason of sickness are not able to stir out of their Cells, the Infirmary-Car­dinals chosen by lot to go and receive their voices, go to the Desk of the Scrutators, and take from their hands a Box with a hole in the upper side of it, having a Lock and Key to it about a hands bredth high. This Box is publickly opened by the Scrutators, before the delivery of it to the Infirma­ries, to the end that every one of the Cardinals may see it is empty, and that done they lock it up with the Key, which they lay upon the Altar, and then give the Box to the Infirma­ries, who, having taken a little Basin, with as many Billets therein as there are Cardinals sick in their Cells, go to them.

The indispos'd Cardinals having taken their Billets out of the Basin, se­cretly [Page 55] fill them up, fold them, and seal them, and after they have made the ordinary Oath, put them into the hole of the Box.

If the Cardinal's sickness be such as that he is not able to write, he makes choice of such person as he thinks fit to fill up his Billet. But the said person so appointed to fill it up, is oblig'd to make Oath be­fore the Infirmary-Cardinals, that he will not reveal the secret then entrusted to him: And this he is bound to do, not only upon the Obligation of the said Oath, but also upon pain of incur­ring excommunication ipso facto.

The Suffrages of the indispos'd Cardinals being thus collected by the Infirmaries, they return to the Chapel, deliver the Box to the Scrutators, who opening it, take out the Billets, which after they have been numbred, they lay, one after another upon the Cover of the Chalices, and with the Co­ver convey them into the Chalice.

But to the end the Scrutiny may not hold too long, and that it may be [Page 56] carry'd on without any interruption, (as it is requir'd by the Balls) the Infir­mary-Cardinals, before they go to the indispos'd, may fill the Billets with their voices immediately after the Dean-Cardinal; and then, while the others make the Scrutiny, address them­selves to the sick to collect their Suf­frages.

The mixture of the Billets makes the fourth Act of the Scrutiny, and consists in the shaking of them well in the Chalice with its cover on; which is performed by the chiefest of the Scrutators, who, to that end, takes the Chalice from the Altar, and holding with one hand by the foot, and having the other upon the Cover, shakes the Billets so as that it may not be disco­ver'd which were put in first, which last.

The numbring of the Billets is the fifth Act, immediately following the mixture thereof, and is performed by the Junior of the Scrutators, who takes them one after another out of the Cha­lice, and counts them, and puts them [Page 57] into another empty Chalice prepar'd for that purpose. If the number of the Billets be not equal to that of the Cardinals, they are all burnt, and with­out removing out of the place they renew the Scrutiny. But if the num­ber be equal they proceed to the other subsequent Acts of the Scrutiny.

The Publication, which is the sixth Act, and ought to be done by the Scrutators sitting at their Desk placed before the Altar, is thus performed. The chief Scrutator takes a Billet out of the Chalice, which he unfolds, without breaking the Seals of it, and having discover'd and seen the name of him to whom the Suffrage is given by the Billet, he delivers it to the second Scrutator, who having also seen the same name puts the Billet into the hands of the third Scrutator, who reads it with a loud and intelligible voice, so as that all the Cardinals present in the chapel may hear it, who having before them their names set down in a printed sheer of paper, wherein op­posite to every name there are lines [Page 58] drawn to the right hand and to the left, upon which they make as many dashes as a Cardinal hath voices. Upon [...] line on the right hand they are to mark the votes of the Scrutiny, and on that to the left those of the Access. And this Ceremony is observ'd in the pub­lication of all the Billets from the first to the last.

Here place the Catalogue.