The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-05

An Attempt to a~ehabnhtate the Borri.'

pages published by Z. p. Dutton a Co,
tie author. Frederick BARON Confo o. has
undertaken to inquire just how much truth
there Is In the current portraits OF Pope
Alexander VI, OF his pWative son, the
Duke of Valentinois. an his daughter.
Lucrezia, the Duchess Of Ferrara There
is no doubt that by certain writer's the
house OF Borgia has been made to serve
as a canvas wherein 10 depict the unbridled
license Of the fifteenth and sixteenth CEN
turtles. By some historians the Borgia
women are delineated as 'poison-bearing
mnnnds," or 'venefcious ~bacchantes,"
and the Borgia men as monsters utterly
fagitious. BY a few other historians,
chiefly Freedmen, the same Borgias arc
displayed In the character OF stainless
~innocents. The author OF the book before
us holds that the truth lies between the
two extremes. and his aim Is 70 exhibit
the Borgias az they really were. He dis
claims any intention of "whitewashing'
them. He assures us that he does not
write In the Roman Catholic interest, or
In tho Jesuit interest, or in the interest OF
any creed. or corporation, or human being,
but solely as one who has acquired some
knowledge Of the subject, which he pur-
poses TO disseminate. His biographical
sketch Of the Borgia family Is inevitably
interviewer with the history of the time,
that Is to say, the epoch which witnessed
the healing of the Great Schism; the renais-
sance of letters and of the arts; the inven-
ton Of printing; the Moslem conquest OF
Constantinople; the consolidation OF that
papal State. which lasted until 1870; and
the discovery Of the New World.
I. is we'll known that the Spanish House OF
Borja gave two Popes to the Roman Catho-
lie Church. The first Of these, Alfonso.
born IN 1878, was the son OF Don Juan Do
mingo de Borja, Lord Of La Tore de Canals
in the city of Xatia in Valencia. Educated
ut the University OF Lerida, he received
a canonry in the cathedral Of that city at
the hands Of his oompatriot, Don Pedro de
Luna, the pseudo-Pontif. Benedict XIII.
Later he entered the political arena as
secretary to King Don Alonso l., the
Magnanimous. of Naples and the two
Sicilies; his legal training and diplomatic
skill ultimately raised him TO the post OF
confidential counsellor to the Neapolitan
sovereign. In 1929 he earned the gratitude
of Pope Martin III. by gaining for him the
support of Sprin and bringing about the
ren~unciation Of the Spanish pseudo-Pontuf,
Don Gil Munoz, who called himself Clement
VIII. As a reward for this service Canon
Alfonso de Borja received tho Bishopric OF
Valencia, his native diocese. In i44i
Bishop Alfonso persuaded Pope Eugenlus
". to set aside the claims OF the House OF
Anjou and to confirm the Crown Of Naples.
the Two Sicilies and Jerusalem to King Don
Alfonso /. Of Aragon. For this second
achievement In the role of peacemaker,
the Bishop was raised to the purple "a
Cardinal Presbyter Of the title Of Santi
Quattro Cornati. Eleven years later, being
then II years old, Cardinal Alfonso Borja
was elevated to the supreme pontifcate
under the name Of Callxtus III. In August,
1883. he died and was succeeded by Cardinal
Picoolimini (Eineas Silvius), who took the
name of Plus III The author says with
truth that Calixtus III. has had no share
In the evil reputation which has been cast
upon his House. The worst that has been
said of him Is that he was obstinate, irritable
and inspired no affection Those who
said this were disappointed suitors. As a
matter OF fact, the poor and ne edy found
In him a good Samaritan. His benefactions
TO the Hospital Of Santo Spirito are matters
Of record. In his will he left 5000 ducats
70 found a hospital in the palace which
he had occupied as ardina His private
life was one Of rigorous piety, simple habits,
anu APOSTOLIC ltT NOIs nv itlb IA NhN lCh
tifcal treasury $1,000 ducats which he
had collected for the war against the infidel.
The whole force OF his masterful and re-
sourceful character was concentrated upon
the Crusadcs and upon the settlement in
life Of his n~ephews. one Of whom. Don
Rodrigo, wa TO become Pope in - turn.
Rodrigo. Cardinal Des con of San Mic
colo. was the son Of Alonso's sister, Juana,
by her husband, Don Jofre de Lancol.
He was q years old when his uncle died.
That he wa not forced 20 follow his cousin,
Juan, the Cardinal de Mia. into permanent
retirement. was due 90 the favor Of the
Pope, Plus H., whose election he had mate
rally aided In the conclave. lie retained
the Office OF Vice Chancellor under the
new p~ontihcate. No attempt IL made by
the author % this volume 10 disguise the
fact that at this period Of his life. and for
many years after ward. Cardinal Rodrigo
lived the life OF "a man Of the world Of the
nft.enth oentury In 1890 was born Don
Pedro Luis de BorgiA. ~illegiuulate son q
Cardinal Rodrigo and an unnamed spinst"r.
The child was openly ~AoknOwledgod and
honorably reared SO was another child
born Ina 1897. aud ohrlstened uirOlama
a. BoTsia, bastard ~ tho Cardinal Woe
CAAnoelloT by al unknown mother Re-
duxo continued to hold the yloe-chAnceI-
lofship under the two s-uoosyding Pope,
p.u IL And siEtus ~ and by the lattor
IA. "a. made Cardinal Bishop. hfst ~
Alb.no and then Of Porto IL vAs during
IN. ponuhoAts Of kItus ~ that tho "a
regular TslAiions bugan iutSu"n tafdinAl
Rodrigo aI4d Madonna uioNanna Il" 1aiat1ri
. konan lAdy ban ga ittg and lie 60 ui1o
Don 1lufal. della ttas NhrthHf huf