ADRIAN VI., (Pope) succeeded Leo X., A. D. 1522. Ile was a native of Utrecht, of an obscure fain ilv, and ed ucated gratuitously c,t Louvain. of consider able literary talents, he devoted Linsself to the study of scholastic theology, and became distinguished as a sub tle defender of the doctrines of Aquinas. Ile rose to the highest honours in the university of Louvain, being made professor of divinity, and holding at the same time the deanery of the cathedral. His appoint ment as preceptor to Charles V. excited the jealousy of De Chievres his governor, through whose influence he was removed from his superintendence of the young prince's education, and sent ambassador to the court of Spain, where Ferdinand bestowed on him the bishopric ul Tortosa. Adrian was made a cardinal by Lee, in 1517 ; and on the succession of Charles to the Spanish throne, was appointed regent of the kingdom during the new king's minority ; though this was chiefly a nominal dig nity, as Cardinal Ximenes took the active management both of the church and state. His situation, however, involved hint in considerable difficulties, his scholastic habits being ill suited to the government of a licentious and turbulent people ; and his unexpected elevation to the papal chair only changed the nature of his difficul ties, and the scene of his mismanagement. This event appears to have been occasioned by the art of Julio de Medicis, himself a candidate for the pontificate, who, to prevent the success of his rival, Alexander Farnese, and to gain the friendship and pi otection of the Empe ror, voted, with his party in the conclave, for Adrian, though a stranger to Italy. and unqualified for the office.
Adrian, at the time of his election, January 9, 1522. was at Victoria, in Biscay, and did not reach Rome till September, when he applied himself to remedy the dis orders, which an anarchy of eight months had occasion ed ; to correct the extravagance which prevailed among the ecclesiastics, by setting them an example of modem, tion and temperance ; to reform the dissolute manners of the court and city ; and to re-establish the peace of. the church, which Elle spirit of Luther and the imprtl &nee of Leo had so completely disturbed. But neith er his talents, his habits, our his manners, were suited to the situation which lie held, or toe plans who ti he twin ed. His attempts to check the progress ui the reforma tion, by endeavouring to correct the abuses that existed in almost every department of the wero arty unsuccesslul. Thwarted by the whole eec iesiastwal
body, whose pride and luxury were supported by thChe very abuses, he saw, with to feigned regret, the impos sibility of making any important or gel return, ; and on one occasion feelingly said to two of his confidential friends, that " the condition of a pope was the most un happy that could be conceived ; because he is not at li berty to do what is right, though he had the inclination, and could find the means." his subecquent briefs and bulls were not only equally ineffectual to crush the inte rests of the Protestant relormation, but thc acknow ledg ments of the general corruption of the clergy, which they contained, by justifying Luther's invectives against them, greatly added to the effect of this intrepid reformer's writings and labours. Adrian died of a fever, Septem ber 2•, 1523, having reigned a year and eight months. Ills private character was amiable ; but his public con duct wanted firmness and prudence. Never was there a pope more hated by the cardinals, or more despised by the people. His intentions, though good, were often misrepresented ; his murals, though correct, and even se vere, were calumniated ; his plans of reform, though no ble and disinterested, were ascribed to weakness and austerity. Learned as a scholastic divine, firmly attach ed to the doctrines of the church, and possessed of great.. er sincei ity than was suited to a station which could be maintained only by fraud and hypocrisy, he lived in con tinual perplexity and fear ; and died unlamented, almost without a friend to regret his loss. In the church of St Peter, where he was buried, the following epitaph concisely and justly delineates his character : .gclrianus Papa VI. /tic situ.; est, Qui nihil sibi infelicius In vita, Quant (plod imperaret, Duxit.
Destitute of taste for the fine arts, they received no en couragement from his patronage ; and his know ledge of literature was chiefly confined to the theology of the schools. Whilst at Louvain, he wrote a "Commentary on the Book of Sentences, by Peter Lombard ;" "Epis tles ;" and "Quxstiones Qztodlibeticx," printed at Lou vain 1515; and at Paris, 1516 and 1 31. See Dubin. Bower. Seekendorf. Beausobre Hi•t. de la iVorina lion. Hume's Hist. vol. iv. p. 39, 40. (d)