[Footnote 96: A wandering Italian, Gregorio Leti, has given
the Vita di Sisto-Quinto, (Amstel. 1721, 3 vols. in 12mo.,)
a copious and amusing work, but which does not command our
absolute confidence. Yet the character of the man, and the
principal facts, are supported by the annals of Spondanus
and Muratori, (A.D. 1585 - 1590,) and the contemporary
history of the great Thuanus, (l. lxxxii. c. 1, 2, l. lxxxiv
c. 10, l. c. c. 8.) Note: The industry of M. Ranke has
discovered the document, a kind of scandalous chronicle of
the time, from which Leti wrought up his amusing romances.
See also M. Ranke's observations on the Life of Sixtus. by
Tempesti, b. iii. p. 317, 324. - M.]