CHAP, v.] ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. 117

in this world is settled, and personifies villany.What use of disturbing it? Who were the fore-most to reprobate his wickedness, if not the virtuousCatholic clergy themselves, immediately about hisperson, and full of holy indignation at the mon-strous dishonour he was bringing on the earthlyhead of their Church ? Only for them we shouldnever have known half his iniquities. Whoeverwrote, or shall ever write ably about Borgia, drew,and must draw, from Roman Catholic authority.Protestant as you please, no one can speak moreseverely against him than the Catholics. But, atthe same time, they have a right to exult that theirChurch underwent even that rigid proof, and con-sider it not unlike a miracle.

Borgia was the man in the world for poisoning,or any other enormity; who, not satisfied withpoisoning many others, poisoned himself; and (atleast regarding his neighbours), it was the bestaction he ever did, and he did it unintentionally.It was the age of poisoners, and other signalmalefactors. To believe Guicciardini, scarcely anyperson worth notice died then a natural death; butin cases of no actual proof of murder, he ends hisperiods with—“ Not without suspicion of poison,"

After some negotiation, suggested by fear of theFrench, the wily Pontiff had the cardinals to trump