¶This pope Leo, of that name the tenth, before his election, cardinall of Medicis, Abr. Fl. ex Guic. pag 633. Creation of pope Leo the tenth. bare but seauen and thirtie yeeres of age, which albeit was so much the more maruellous and wonderfull, by how much the election was contrarie to custome; yet the yong car|dinals were the principall causers of it by their in|dustrie, hauing long time afore secretlie agréed a|mongst themselues to create the first pope of their number. The most parts and nations of christen|dome reioised much at this election, euerie one in|terteining an assured expectation of his vertues, as EEBO page image 832 well by the present and gréene memorie of the valor of his late father, as for an vniuersall reputation that went of his owne inclinations and liberalities. To this estimation was ioined a generall opinion of his continencie and life not atteinted, togither with a gladsome hope, that by the example of his father he would be a furtherer of learning, and beare fauor to wits disposed to studie and knowledge. So that vnto these hopes was much helping the manner of the election, being made in his person sincerelie, and without simonie or suspicion of other corruption.

Coronation of pope Leo the tenth.The first act of this new pope was his coronati|on, which was represented according to the vsage of his predecessors in the church of saint Iohn de Late|ran. The pompe was so great both of his familie and his court, and also of the prelates and multitudes that were there, togither with the popular and vniuersall assemblies of people, that by the opinion and iudge|ment of men, the pride and maiestie of that action did farre surpasse all the celebrations doone in Rome since the tyrannies of the Goths and sauage nations. In this same solemnitie the Gonfalon of the church was caried by Alfonso de Este, who hauing obtei|ned a suspension of his censures & paines, was come to Rome, with great hope, that by the clemencie and facilitie of the pope, he should be able to compound for his affaires. The Gonfalon of the religion of Rhodes was borne by Iulio de Medicis mounted vpon a statelie courser armed at all points: by his nature he bare an inclination to the profession of armes; but by destinie he was drawen to the life ec|clesiastike, in which estate he maie serue as a wonder|full example of the variation of fortune.

One matter that made the memorie of that daie wonderfull,Pope Leo a poore priso|ner the verie same daie twelue mo|neth of his e|lection and in|thronization. was this consideration; that the person who then in so high & rare pompe was honored with the most supreme and souereigne dignitie of the world, was the yéere before, and on the verie same daie miserablie made prisoner. The great magnifi|cence that appéered vpon his person, and his expenses, confirmed in the generalitie and multitude of men, the expectation that was had of him; euerie one pro|mising that Rome should be happie vnder a pope so plentifullie indued with the vertue of liberalitie, whereof that daie he had giuen an honorable experi|ence, his expenses being aboue an hundred thousand duckats. But wise men desired in him a greater grauitie and moderation: they iudged that neither such a maiestie of pompe was conuenient for popes, neither did the condition of the present time require, that he should so vnprofitablie disperse the treasures that had beene gathered by his predecessour to other vses.]