the English
prince who, sprung, like herself, from a race of Kings heretofore
regarded as the champions of the Reformation, had, like herself, been
reconciled to the ancient Church. A splendid assembly met in her palace.
Her verses, set to music, were sung with universal applause: and one of
her literary dependents pronounced an oration on the same subject in a
style so florid that it seems to have offended the taste of the English
hearers. The Jesuits, hostile to the Pope, devoted to the interests of
France and disposed to pay every honour to James, received the English
embassy with the utmost pomp in that princely house where the remains of
Ignatius Loyola lie enshrined in lazulite and gold. Sculpture, painting,
poetry, and eloquence were employed to compliment the strangers: but all
these arts had sunk into deep degeneracy. There was a great display of
turgid and impure Latinity unworthy of so erudite an order; and some of
the inscriptions which adorned the walls had a fault more serious than
even a bad style. It was said in one place that James had sent his
brother as his messenger to heaven, and in another that James had
furnished the wings with which his brother had soared to a higher
region. There was a still more unfortunate distich, which at the time
attracted little notice, but which, a few months later, was remembered
and malignantly interpreted. "O King," said the poet, "cease to sigh for
a son. Though nature may refuse your wish, the stars will find a way to
grant it."

In the midst of these festivities Castelmaine had to suffer cruel
mortifications and humiliations. The Pope treated him with extreme
coldness and reserve. As often as the Ambassador pressed for an answer
to the request which he had been instructed to make in favour of Petre,
Innocent was taken with a violent fit of coughing, which put an end to
the conversation. The fame of these singular audiences spread over Rome.
Pasquin was not silent. All the curious and tattling population of the
idlest of cities, the Jesuits and the prelates of the French faction
only excepted, laughed at Castelmaine's discomfiture. His temper,
naturally unamiable, was soon exasperated to violence; and he circulated
a memorial reflecting on the Pope. He had now put himself in the wrong.
The sagacious Italian had got the advantage, and took care to keep
it. He positively declared that the rule which excluded Jesuits from
ecclesiastical preferment should not be relaxed