Note 87 — HISTORICAL FRAGMENTS.
Reading edition
The family name of Pope Gregory XIII. was Hugo Buon-Compagni. On May 13, 1572, he was made Pope. He assumed the name of Gregory out of respect to St. Gregory Nazianzen. He caused the Church to encourage the murder of refractory kings; he promoted the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day, which Sir Paul Rycaut, the historian of the Popes, does not so much as mention in the life of Gregory. He only says towards the end that “he may be numbered amongst the good Popes.” As Buon-Compagni was a good lawyer before he became a good Pope, he was pre-qualified for a virtuous career in any line of life. He re-confirmed the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth; he rectified the Calendar which goes by his name,—the Gregorian. The Jesuits’ College was finished by him at Rome, dedicated so oddly—
Religioni et bonis Artibus.
In his day Japan was, by Jesuit missionary effort, brought within the pale of the Church: on which a wit remarked that Japan varnish was introduced into Europe, and Christian varnish into Japan. He died at eighty-three, and to the last could almost mount on horseback without the help of his servants. His place of retirement, Rycaut says, was Frescati, about ten miles distant from Rome, where the Borghese Palace now is, and was then called Monte Dragone—a most fit name for the residence of the Old Worm of St. Bartholomew’s massacre.—V. Paul Rycaut, “Lives of the Popes,” ed. 1688, vol. ii. p. 163.