Crusade—­Renaissance Pontiffs—­Paul ii.—­Persecution of the
Platonists—­Sixtus iv.—­Nepotism—­The Families of Riario and Delia
Rovere—­Avarice—­Love of Warfare—­Pazzi Conspiracy—­Inquisition in
Spain—­Innocent viii.—­Franceschetto Cibo—­The Election of Alexander
vi.—­His Consolidation of the Temporal Power—­Policy toward Colonna and
Orsini Families—­Venality of everything in Rome—­Policy toward the
Sultan—­The Index—­The Borgia Family—­Lucrezia—­Murder of Duke of
Gandia—­Cesare and his Advancement—­The Death of Alexander—­Julius
ii.—­His violent Temper—­Great Projects and commanding Character—­Leo
X.—­His Inferiority to Julius—­S.  Peter’s and the Reformation—­Adrian
vi.—­His Hatred of Pagan Culture—­Disgust of the Roman Court at his
Election—­Clement vii.—­Sack of Rome—­Enslavement of Florence P. 371.

CHAPTER VIII.

The church and morality.

Corruption of the Church—­Degradation and Division of Italy—­Opinions of Machiavelli, Guicciardini, and King Ferdinand of Naples—­Incapacity of the Italians for thorough Reformation—­The Worldliness and Culture of the Renaissance—­Witness of Italian Authors against the Papal Court and the Convents—­Superstitious Respect for Relics—­Separation between Religion and Morality—­Mixture of Contempt and Reverence for the Popes—­Gianpaolo Baglioni—­Religious Sentiments of the Tyrannicides—­Pietro Paolo Boscoli—­Tenacity of Religions—­The direct Interest of the Italians in Rome—­Reverence for the Sacraments of the Church—­Opinions pronounced by Englishmen on Italian Immorality—­Bad Faith and Sensuality—­The Element of the Fancy in Italian Vice—­The Italians not Cruel, or Brutal, or Intemperate by Nature—­Domestic Murders—­Sense of Honor in Italy—­Onore and Onesta—­General Refinement—­Good Qualities of the People—­Religious Revivalism P. 447.

CHAPTER IX.

Savonarola.

The Attitude of Savonarola toward the Renaissance—­His Parentage, Birth, and Childhood at Ferrara—­His Poem on the Ruin of the World—­Joins the Dominicans at Bologna—­Letter to his Father—­Poem on the Ruin of the Church—­Begins to preach in 1482—­First Visit to Florence—­San Gemignano—­His Prophecy—­Brescia in 1486—­Personal Appearance and Style of Oratory—­Effect on his audience—­The three Conclusions—­His Visions—­Savonarola’s Shortcomings as a patriotic Statesman—­His sincere Belief in his prophetic Calling—­Friendship with Pico della Mirandola—­Settles in Florence, 1490—­Convent of San Marco—­Savonarola’s Relation to Lorenzo de’ Medici—­The death of Lorenzo—­Sermons of 1493 and 1494—­the Constitution of 1495—­Theocracy in Florence—­Piagnoni, Bigi, and Arrabbiati—­War between Savonarola and Alexander vi.—­The Signory suspends him from preaching in the Duomo in 1498—­Attempts to call a Council—­The Ordeal by Fire—­San Marco stormed by the Mob—­Trial and Execution of Savonarola P. 497.