Now a Court of this humour afforded work enough to the Ministers of Princes, who were alwaies receiv’d by the _Pope_ with ambiguous expressions, by Cardinal _Francesco_ with abundance of faire promises, and by Cardinal _Antonio_ with a long train of exquisite complements. But when the Ministers press’d to come to a conclusion of any important business, Cardinal _Antonio_ sent them to his brother _Francesco_, who at the appointed hour of Audience us’d to go his visits to the seven Churches, and the _Pope_ himself pretended indisposition of body. And thus the effecting of all urgent business was rendred impossible.
In _Urban’s_ time ’twas hard for Princes Ministers to find the streight gate to enter into publick Negotiations, and when they were in, they found themselves in a Labyrinth, out of which they could scarce extricate themselves after a thousand turnings and windings.
_Monsieur de Lionne_, a person of great Abilities, being employ’d Embassadour to _Rome_ by the most Christian Crown, one day ask’d a familiar friend of his (pleasantly) _What kind of person himself had_? To which his Friend answered. _That he had the person of a man worthy of this Age_. Monsieur _de Lionne_ reply’d to him, _That he took himself to be like a Tennis-ball bandi’d to and fro by foul-players_; alluding hereby to the Artifices and tricks put upon him by the _Barbarini_ in his negotiating with them concerning the affair of _Castro_.
The truth is, any other Minister but Monsieur _de Lionne_ would have shewed much anger in _Rome_, in the time of the War of the Duke of _Parma_ with the confederate Princes. This great Man, who was dispatch’d on purpose to procure the appeasing of the rising tumults, knew not which way to turn his wits to invent projects and artifices enough to oppose those of the _Barbarini_, who continually promis’d what they never intended to perform.
He was sent from _Herod_ to _Pilate_, and from _Pilate_ to _Caiphas_: The one answer’d, _Yea_: The other, _No_. But what was most important, the _Pope_ had granted him leave to treat with the two Cardinals his Nephews, with a promise to confirm what should be by them concluded. Hereupon having one day by the power of perswasions reduc’d the said two Lords to reason, he repair’d to the _Pope_ to beseech him to confirm the Treaties agreed upon with his Nephews; but he receiv’d for answer, _That ’twas expedient to consider upon the matter_; which consideration never had an end.