CLEMENT VIII  . (Ippolito Aldobrandini), pope from 1592 to 1605, was born at Fano,'in 1,535 . He became a jurist and filled several important offices . In 1585 he was made a cardinal, and subsequently discharged a delicate mission to Poland with skill . His moderation and experience commended him to his fellow cardinals, and on the 3oth of January 1592 he was elected pope, to succeed Innocent IX . While not hostile to Philip II., Clement desired to emancipate the papacy from undue Spanish influence, and to that end cultivated closer, relations with France . In 1595 he granted absolution to Henry IV., and so removed the last objection to the acknowledgment of his legitimacy . The peace of Vervins (1598), which marked the end of Philip's opposition to Henry, was mainly the work of the pope . Clement also entertained hopes of recovering England . He corresponded with James I. and with his queen, Anne of Denmark, a convert to Catholicism . But James was only half in earnest, and, besides, dared not risk a breach with his subjects . Upon the failure of the line of Este, Clement claimed the reversion of Ferrara and reincorporated it into the States of the Church (1598) .

He remonstrated against the exclusion of the

Jesuits from France, and obtained their readmission . But in their doctrinal controversy with the Dominicans (see MOLINA, LUIS) he refrained from a decision, being unwilling to offend either party . Under Clement the publication of the revised edition of the Vulgate, begun by Sixtus V., was finished; the Breviary, Missal and Pontifical received certain corrections; the Index was expanded; the Vatican library enlarged; and the Collegium Clementinum founded . Clement was an unblushing nepotist; three of his nephews he made cardinals, and to one of them gradually surrendered the control of affairs . But on the other hand among those whom he promoted to the cardinalate were such men as Baronius, Bellarmine and Toledo . During this pontificate occurred the burning of Giordano Bruno for heresy; and the tragedy of the Cenci (see the respective articles) . Clement died on the 5th of March 1605, and was succeeded by Leo XI . See the contemporary life by Ciaconius, Vitae et res gestae summorune Pontiff . Rom . (Rome, 1601-1602) ; Francolini, Ippolito Aldobrandini, eke fu Clemente VIII . (Perugia, 1867); Ranke's, excellent sketch, Popes (Eng. trans . Austin), ii .

234 seq . ; v .

Reumont, Gesch. der Stadt Rom, iii . 2, 599 seq . ; Breech, Gesch. des Kirchenstaates (1880), i . 301 seq . (T . F .