ons. But
having afterwards enlarged his schemes, and formed plans of aggrandizing
his family, he regretted that he must dismember such considerable states
and he endeavored to engage Ferdinand, by the most tempting offers,
and most earnest solicitations, to yield up his pretensions in favor
of Philip. Finding his attempts fruitless, he had resigned the imperial
crown with his other dignities; and Ferdinand, according to common form,
applied to the pope for his coronation. The arrogant pontiff refused
the demand; and pretended that, though on the death of an emperor he was
obliged to crown the prince elected, yet, in the case of a resignation,
the right devolved to the holy see, and it belonged to the pope alone to
appoint an emperor. The conduct of Paul was in every thing conformable
to these lofty pretensions. He thundered always in the ears of all
ambassadors, that he stood in no need of the assistance of any prince;
that he was above all potentates on the earth; that he would not
accustom monarchs to pretend to a familiarity or equality with him; that
it belonged to him to alter and regulate kingdoms; that he was successor
of those who had deposed kings and emperors; and that, rather than
submit to anything below his dignity, he would set fire to the four
corners of the world. He went so far as, at table, in the presence of
many persons, and even openly, in a public consistory, to say, that
he would not admit any kings for his companions; they were all his
subjects, and he would hold them under these feet: so saying, he
stamped on the ground with his old and infirm limbs: for he was now past
fourscore years of age.[*]

* Father Paul, lib. v.

The world could not forbear making a comparison between Charles V.,
a prince who, though educated amidst wars and intrigues of state, had
prevented the decline of age, and had descended from the throne, in
order to set apart an interval for thought and reflection; and a priest
who, in the extremity of old age, exulted in his dominion, and from
restless ambition and revenge was throwing all nations into combustion.
Paul had entertained the most inveterate animosity against the house
of Austria; and though a truce of five years had been concluded between
France and Spain, he excited Henry by his solicitations to break it, and
promised to assist him in recovering Naples, and the dominions to which
he laid claim in Italy; a project which had ever proved hurtful to the
predece