NOTICES OF PERU. 



333 



which they filled. Amongst them there is not one who may 

 not be admired for an ardent and generous zeal, manifested in 

 the defence of Christianity, threatened by the Turks, and who, 

 in this respect, did not merit well of all the kings and nations 

 of Europe. Though it was their duty, as well as their desire, 

 they were not always able to cause a reform in the customs 

 and abuses that afflicted the interior of the church. Besides 

 the obstacles met with in their own court, and the difficult and 

 extraordinary state of things that produced in the church the 

 great schism of the west, they found many, in the situation of 

 the whole of Christian Europe, torn by internal dissentions 

 or external wars, that armed nation against nation, and in each, 

 a party against a rival faction, without observing the terms of 

 moderation, or the first maxims of humanity ! In the midst of 

 so many difficulties, and all the excesses of ambition, of ven- 

 geance, and civil fury, to which the Christian nations of Eng- 

 land, France, Germany, Poland, Bohemia, Hungary, Spain, 

 and Italy, had given themselves up, what could the Popes do 

 in favor of good order and canon law, oppressed as they were 

 by affairs, surrounded by cabals, and obliged to defend them- 

 selves against their own restless vassals and powerful usurpers? 

 If we were just, we would not censure them so much for 

 not having done good, of the importance of which they were 

 aware, as we should pity them for not having been able to 

 do it. 



" From Leo X. , that is, during the last three centuries, Rome 

 has counted thirty-six Popes. And is there one among them 

 whose habits are not free from censure? And how few are not 

 remarkable for talent, knowledge, elevated sentiments, or 

 eminent piety? In the eyes of any impartial man, Paul III., 

 Pius v., Sixtus v., Clement VIII., Benedict XIV., Pius VL, 

 Pius VII., cannot be considered either as mediocre or vulgar 

 men. 



" The Protestant historian of the Life and Pontificate of Leo 

 X., doubtlessly was not entirely exempt from prejudice; but 

 he possessed too much information and probity to avail himself 

 of that tone of injury and inflammation against the Popes, which 

 has become so common amongst some who call themselves 



