section I.] [Footnote 74: Giacomo Buoncompagno was born while Gregory XIII.

was still a layman and a lawyer.] The tendencies of the Church rendered it also incompatible with the Papal position that near relatives of the Pontiff should be advanced, as formerly, to the dignity of independent princes.

The custom was to create one nephew Cardinal, with such wealth derived from office as should enable him to benefit the Papal family at large.

Another nephew was usually ennobled, endowed with capital in the public funds for the purchase of lands, and provided with lucrative places in the secular administration.

He then married into a Roman family of wealth and founded one of the aristocratic houses of the Roman State.