A COPY of a LETTER Written from ROME, July 14th. 1691.  
ABOUT THE Choosing of a POPE.  
THE Cardinals being extreme uneasy by reason of the excessive Heat and other Inconveniencies of the Conclave, came at last to the Choosing of a Pope. The Honour of this great 〈…〉 Cantelmi and Giudici; for seeing that the Difficulties for Barberigo, Acciaioli, Conti, and Marcscotti were insurmountable, they at last carried on the Intrigue for Cardinal Pignatelli, but with so much Cunning, that the French were the first that proposed him: Guidici seemed to be very cold about it, saying, the King of Spain his Master would not like him by reason of some Difference that had happened formerly at Naples. This made the French Cardinals, the Party of Ottoboni and Alteri, and some of the Zealots more eager, and they all solemnly declared for him. The Spaniards finding they had catched the French, gave him immediately their Votes, followed by the rest of the Zealots and the whole Party of Chigi. Whereupon the French, being sensible of their Mistake, endeavoured to go off again, and desired the Choice of a Pope should be put off for three days; but Cardinal Gortz opposed it, telling them, they were no Boys, but Cardinals; that they had given their Votes once for him, and must not now retract it; whereupon Gortz and Medici employed all their Endeavours to promote the Business; they missed twice their Ends, but at the third time they had so good Success, that Thursday last about Ten a Clock at Night, the Number of the Votes for Pignatelli amounted to 54, (amongst which were those of Lauria and Spinola, that went but just returned to the Conclave) and about Three a Clock in the Morning the Choice of Pignatelli was made known by the Discharge of all the Cannon from the Castle of St. Angelo, and the Ringing of the Bells. The new Pope is 76 Years and four Months of Age: He has assumed the Name of Innocentius XII. and has declared, That as he has the same Name of Innocentius Odeschalchi, so he intended to follow exactly his footsteps, desiring withal, that all the Doctors and Servants that attended that Pope, should also serve him, to the exclusion of his own Domestics. He has also solemnly declared, that he would endure no Nepotism nor any of his Kindred about him. Amongst the Ministers, he has confirmed the Cardinal Panciatici in 〈◊〉 of Datary; Albani in that of Secretary of the Secret Brevets. The Marquis' Astalli and Cavallieri in that of Captains of the Guards, Mario Spinola in that of Secretary of the Secret Brevets sent to Princes, and Nursi in that of Commissary of the Chamber. He has chosen the Abbot Antaldi to his Auditor, the Abbot Fabroni to his Secretary of the Memorials, the Abbot Ricci to Secretary of the Cifres', the Abbot Bernardin, a Dominican, to his Confessor, and Crispoldi Coppieri, and Campo Real (Secretaries to the Spanish Ambassador) to his Chamberlains. He has also had a Conference with Alteri about filling up the Place of Chief Minister and Secretary of State, and some say Cardinal Spada, and others Imperiali and Cantelmi stand fairest for it. Yesterday Te Deum was sung, to Morrow is to be the Coronation-day, and Monday next is the day designed for the Cavalcade to Monte Cavallo.   

LONDON: Printed for R. Baldwin, near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane. 1691