Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/101

 ADRIAN* C$ rowlyefcaped being poifoned [A] at a fcaft, to which he was A invited with fome other cardinals, by the rxyc a "^ his Con 1 '' 7 "' Cxfar Borgia. In the pontificate of Julius II. who fuccccded Alexander, Adrian retired from Rome, having taken fome difgulr, or perhaps diftrufting this pope, who was a declared enc r.y <>: his predeceflbr : nor did he return till there was a conclave held for the election of a new pope, where it is likely h? gave his voice for Leo X. Soon after, he was unfortunately privy i>. P .-?.- 9. to a confpiracy againft Leo [B]. His embarking therein is faid to have been chiefly owing to his crediting and applying to himfelf the prediction of a fortune-teller, who had affured him, " that Leo would be cut off by an unnatural d.-ath, and be fucceeded by an elderly man named Adrian, of ob- fcure birth, but famous for his learning, and whofe virtue and merit alone had raifed him to the highefl honours of the church." The confpiracy being: difcovered [c], Adrian was condemned to pay twelve thoufanJ five hundred ducats, and to give a folemn promife, that he would not ftir out of Rome. But being either unable to pay this fine, or appre- hending ftill farther feverities, he privately withdrew from Rome; whereupon, in a confiftory, held the 6th of July, 1518, he was declared excommunicated, and deprived of [A] Casfar Borgia.had refolved totake of ingratitude, in ths requiting the this opportunity to cut off fuch of the aflifhnce he had given Iv.rn in his elec- cardinals as he chiefly envied ; for which tion : he publicly ex prcfled hit dstefta- purpofe he prepared fome poifoned wine : tion of that pontiftj and imprecated a but the cup-bearer, miftaking one flag- thoufand deaths on ni.r. He happened gon for another, gave the poiioned liquor to vent his rage in the hearing of the to the wicked contriver of this defign, cardinals Adrian and F/ancis VoUterran, who drank it eft', without fufpefting and this furni/hed a prctrnce for an ac- the miftake. Adrian having inadver- cufation agair.ft them. The pope wa tently tafted the poifoned wine, was fo execrated at Pitrucci, that he oidti- feized with the rooft tormenting pains ed him to be apprehended, and thrown in his bowel?, which brought on frequent into prifon, where he foon after died* conyullions, and afterwards a kind of Hift. Angl. lib. xxvii. p. 45. edit. Lugd. lethargy. Aubery, ib. p. 78. Bat. 1651. 8vo. [B] Mr. Aubery fays (p. 79.) that [c] Dr Aub:ry f?.ys, that 'h- three cardinal Petrucci was the chief of the principal confpirator? laving been arrrft- confpirators, and Adrian one of thofe ed, it was fou:;d trorr thiir ''rpofitions, to whom he imparted his defign. Ac- that the cardinals Soderini ar ' J i Caftello cording to Polydtre Vergil, the pope were the^ accomplices, having been had taken under his protection the inha- prefent ac. 'ieir fecrct conferences. A binn's or Sienna, and deprived cardinal confiftor - being held thereupon, thofe Alfonfo Petrucci, and his family, of two caidindls, with great difficulty, the principality they had lone enjoyed were induced lo make a public cunte/Tion there, in Older, as his holinefs declaied. of their fault j and Adrian o*ned he entirely to root out the feeds of faction had heard Petrucci (ty, that he would with which that city was difturb^d, kill the pope; but that he paid no re- This behaviour highly enragrd the car gird to v> nat he faid, on account i>f his dinal againft the pope, whom he accufcd youth. Ibid, ubi fup;a. VOL, I. F a'.l