come near him as is recorded in the 34th Chapter of Exodus To return then to our subject The Persian Kings had a Crown to be worn on their heads which Zonara sets down in greek by its proper name which can neither be commodiously expressed either in Latin or vulgar tongue and it was a capital offence among the Persians for any one to put the Kings Crown upon his head as Dion Chrysostomus denotes in his first oration De libertate servitute Likewise the priests of the Gentiles wore a crown upon their heads for demonstration of that repute which appertained to the splendidness and maintenance of their Sacerdotal office whence the Antients were stupified at a suddain view of the great Priest of the Comani to whom as Strabo writes was granted the first honour next the King and to wear a Royal Crown Besides in Emesa a City of Phoenicia the Priests went clad with a long robe having a Crown of pretious stones of various colours in token of Majesty upon their heads Which Ornament Antoninus being made Emperor of the Romans by the multitude the Souldiery and the Priests of the Sun would not part with again as Herodianus in libro quinto clearly proves and so afterwards the Emperors of Constantinople triumphing elected this ornament which was called by a proper name as we read in the life of Basilius Porfirogenitus Triumphum duxit tiara tecta quam illi tuphum appellant although some modern Authors call it Calipora as saies Niceforus Gregorius in libro sexto Or Bishops then having two royal Dignities to wit the spiritual and temporal deservedly wear a double crown as Innocent the third in his third sermon De coronatione Pontificis confirms saying that the Popebears the Mitre in token of the spiritual power and the Crown in testimony of the Temporal both which are conferred upon him by God omnipotent King of Kings and Lord of Lords But let us examine a little whether the Mitre and the Crown are Ornaments adapted to the Ecclesiastical customs The mitre by Suidas is called the swathe or Fillet of the head bound about with gold and silver as Brissonius explains and Eusebius in his second book the first Chapter calls it a shelter with which Saint James the Apostle called the Brother of our Lord was suddainly adorned when by the Apostles he was chosen and consecrated Bishop of Jerusalem which Ornament although it took beginning with Aaron Priest of the Hebrew Law is nevertheless received into the Christian Church to the end that therewith the Bishops of all Nations may be adorned Policrates Ephesinus wore the Mitre as Eusebius in the 31st Chapter of the third Book relates as Priest of Ephesus and likewise the other Priests wore almost all the Ornaments of the antient Priests as the Robe and the Mitre that they might appear the more adorned and majestick saies Eusebius in his Book whereof Amalarius Rabanus and others the gravest Authors treat more amply What we have spoken touching the Mitre is without contradiction and is held for truth by the consent of many and sundry Nations but what is to be spoken touching a Kingdome and a Royal Crown is not so perspicuous to all wherefore to our best power we will endeavour to manifest the same Then first is to be observed that t is the common opinion of all that this sort of Ornament upon the head of the Pope had its original from the Emperor Constantine the Great as appears in the Acts of San Silvestre the Pope the same opinion is also embraced by all other Roman Bishops as by Leo the ninth in the 13. chapter of his Epistle against the presumption of Michaele and Innocent the third in his first Sermon of the blessed Silvester confirms That Constantine the great at his departure from Rome to Constantinople would have bestowed his own Crown upon San Silvester which he refused but in lieu thereof put a covering upon his head entirely circular and a little after Innocent follows in words to this sence And for this cause the Roman Bishop in testimony of Empire wears a Regal crown called in Latin Regnum and in testimony of his Pontificacy he wears a Mitre which is most convenient for him in all times and places universally because the spiritual power hath been ever esteemed for the Prior more worthy and more great then the Temporal And reason will yeeld that San Silvester would not wear that Crown but such a one as only covered the Temples in respect his head was shaven as the Popes ought to be Which shaving gave good reason that t was not decent to wear such a Diadem but rather that circular covering which he chose named properly Tiara Phrigia whereof Juvenal speaks in his sixth satyr saying Et Phrygia vestitur buca tiara Which Ornament may be supposed to be borrowed either from Phrygia or Phoenicia as we please because the Phrigians had their original from the Phoenicians And that this was given the Pope by the Emperor Constantine the great is most evident in the Acts of San Silvester where the Emperor reckons up those things that he had bestowed on the Pope and being come to this gives it the name Phrygium as t was its proper name but in respect t was not manifest to all what thing Phrygium denoted he explains himself in the sence by us set down saying et Phrygium nempe tegmen capitis sive Mitram This particular required so much explanation for that Theodorus Balsamones confounding the signification of Phrygium by joining it with the subsequent Lorum which imports a perfect different thing hath caused many to erre in beleeving that Phrygium and Lorum put together do denote Pallium the Cope which Arch Bishops wear by the concession of the highest Bishop But t is not convenient for us to dwell longer upon the dispute let the intelligent read the latin Itinerary in this place where they 'l meet an ample discourse upon the significations of these words Other authors will have that this Crown came not from Constantine but from Clodoveo as they labour to draw from Segeberto under the yeer of our Lord 550. who speaks to this sence Clodoveus the King received from Anastasius the Emperor the Codicils of the Consulacy a Crown of Gold with Jewels and the red garment and on that day he was called Consul and King but the same King sent to Saint Peter at Rome the Crown of Gold with the Jewels the Royal Ensigne which is called Regnum Armonius also confirms in his first book the 24th Chapter that from Clodoveus the Pope had the Crown and Anastasius the Library Keeper under Pope Hormisda testifies that Saint Peter received many gifts In whom I have read that in the yeer 776 that Philip the first Pope and Constantine the second Pope were both consecrated in San Peters Church but we must observe that the antient Authors under the word consecration understand also the ceremony of coronation for that when they
Orsino That of Aldo Manutio who passed to a better life at green yeers consisting of 80 thousand Books We must observe though that Fulvio Orsino in the yeer 1600. added his to the Library of the Pope And that Ascanio Colonna never enough to be praised bought that of Sirleto for 14 thousand Crownes deputing to it intelligent Keepers with honest stipends that it may rather dayly increase then at all diminish The great Duke of Florence his noble Library is known to have good numbers of Greek Books and that of Urbino of Mathematical Writers That of the Malatesti is in Cesena in the Minorites Convent In Bologna that of the preaching Fathers In Venice that of the Republique In Padoua is that of Gio Vicenzo Pinello famous enough but le ts return to the Libraria Vaticana 'T is certainly concluded that the Gentiles usually preserved their Books in the publique Libraries as well as private t is no less evident that the Catholick Church from Christs time to ours had alwaies in divers places sacred Libraries to advantage students wherefore St. Augustine in the Narration which he makes De persecutione Arrianorum in Ecclesia Alexandrina saies that in the Christian Churches there were Libraries and that with the greatest care they preserved their Books and accuseth the impiety of the Arrians amongst other things for their taking away and burning the Books of the Church Saint Jerome likewise makes mention of the same Libraries when writing to Pamachius by his Books against Jovinianus he saies that he kept in the Churches Libraries Eusebius also in his 119 Book at the 11 Chapter writeth that the Church had holy Books in the Oratories and that in Dioclesians dayes to the end the name of Christian might be wholly extinguished the Oratories were overthrowen and the books burnt nor does there want conjectures hereof from the holy Scripture for that Saint Paul writing to Timothy commands him to transport with himself his Books to Rome chiefly those in parchment and in the first to the Corinthians he testifies that in the Corinthian Churches they used to read the Prophetick books Eusebius in his 5 book of the Ecclesiastical history at the 10th Chapter saies that the Apostle Saint Eartholomew going to prea ch the gospel to the Indians left there the Gospel of Saint Matthew writ by his own hand Which very copy Origene afterwards found in the Indies and from thence carryed it as Saint Jerome averrs to Alexandria when he also brought from the East the Canonical books of the old Testament Lastly the Hebrews diligently conserved their sacred books and on every Sabbath read the Books of Moses in their Synagogues wherefore t is reasonable enough to believe that the Christians have alwaies observed their rule of diligently copying and preserving the prophetick books those of the Apostles and those of the Evangelists But the places where these books were layed up were not alwaies called by the same name but sometimes Archiviunt a Treasury of Rolls scrinium a Coffer where evidences were kept Bibliotheca or Libraria a Bibliotheque or Library as in se veral Authors appears Then indubitably they used to lay up in places deputed to that purpose the Memorials of greatest importance the Books of the Bible of the old and new Testament and the Books of the holy Fathers many whereof written by their own Authors through this means have reached our times and will continue to future Ages if God soplease And because the collecting and conserving those books required a great expence as well in writers as Inquisitors and conservators therefore the richest Christians cōmonly contributed every one some proportion and part as a common stock for the Church to have the same effected And in particular we have great obligation to the Emperor Constantine the Great who as Eusebius recounts in his third Book of his life without regard to the vast expence made it his business to collect and secure the sacred Books which in the times of the persecutions the Gentiles had wholy dispersed After which the gathering keeping and choosing Books was particularly the charge of the Bishops and Priests for which end they were wont to maintain Notaries Stationers and Women exercised and skilled in writing as may be gathered from the life of Ambrosius and of Origene Among all other Collectors of Books Pantenius the Master of the Alexandrian School is esteemed the most diligent likewise Pamfilo the Priest and Martyr as Eusebius relates instituted and governed with great industry a fair Library placing there the Books of Origene and such other good Books as he could get written by the hand of which Caesarean Library St. Jerom against Rufinus takes notice Furthermore Alexander the Bishop of Jerusalem got together a good quantity of Books as of Betillus Hippolitus Caius and other Ecclesiastical writers and with them composed a worthy Library as Eusebius testifies who also confesseth himself to have been assisted by the said Alexander in his own Ecclesiastical History And not to omit the diligence of some of later times in the like work le ts remember that Pope Clement the first successor to St. Peter who wrote many Epistles profitable to the Roman Church deputed seaven Scriveners in the seaven praecincts of Rome who were maintained out of the Churches Revenne for no other thing then diligently to search out and write the Acts of the martyrs And Anicetus the Pope made it his business to find out a secure place for the laying up the lives of the Martyrs wrote by those Scriveners Pope Fabianus ordained seaven Deacons for supervisors to those Notaries to take the better care in executing the charge of collecting and true recital of the Martirs lives Of which Scriveners the Actions of the Roman Councel under Silvester give good testimony Pope Julius successor to Marcus who followed Sil. determined that the said Notaries abovenamed should diligently gather together whatever appertained to the amplifying and fortifiing of the holy Catholick Faith that all the things by them writ should be revised by the Primicerio or chief created to that purpose who afterwards was to place and keep in the Church what he had approved Pope Hilary was the first known that built a Library who erected two near the Founts of the Laterano wherein for that in those times there were but few Books and they at great price because wholly written by the hand he caused the writings of the Roman Church the decretal Epistles of Popes the Actions of the Counsels the recantations and opinions of the Hereticks and the Books of the holy Fathers to be layed up and preserved for the publique use of the Christians But to return to our purpose of the Vatican Library we must know that beside the abovenamed Libraries the Popes used so great diligence in collecting books as they put together one greater than the two former in the Popes Palace on the Laterano which remained there about one thousand yeers till Clement the 5th translating
holy conversation whom Cardinal Federick his Nephew succeeded a worthy imitator of his Uncle Before a Palace near the Porta Lodivica is an Altar of Marble Stones where on one side is earveâ—… Diana Luci fera as Cicero calls her with a burning Torch as Lucillus writes in his Satyrs Et Regyna videbis Maenia tum Liparas facelinae templa Dianae For this Godess was in this manner adored in the Island Lipari and at its Feet is a Blood-hound with the eyes towards the Goddess on the other fide is Apollo Medico leaning on a Tripode with a Bow in his right hand and a quiver of arrows hanging at his shoulder near his feet a Scepter and the Serpent Pitone who is therefore called by the Poets Pitio Citaredeo before the said Altar may be read this inscription AEsculapio Hygiae Sacrum C. Oppius G. L. Leonas VI. Vir. Aug. Honoratus In Tribu GL Patrum liberum Clientium Adcensus Patroni Sanctissimis Communicipibus suis. DD. Quorum Dedicatione Singulis Decurionibus * III. Augustalibus * II. Et Colonis Cenam Dedit L. D. D. D. There are in Milan II. Collegiat Churches 71. Parochials 30. Convents of Fryers and 8 of Regulars 36. Monasteries of Nuns 32. Confraternities or Fryeries which with diverse others amount to 238. Churches with 120. Schools where Boys are instructed in Christian Doctrine and other Learning It hath therefore worthily attributed to it the name of Milan the great and the estimation of one of the four great Cities of Italy that is Roma Venetia Milano Napoli and Autonio Callo reckons it one of the ten greatest of Europe it well may be accounted and taken for the greatest of any Metropolis in a Dutchy Going forth of the Gate Camasina towards the North and the Mountains at 25. miles distance one arivies at Como which reaâ—… affords nothing worthy observation but the Town Bersalina where Saint Peetro the Martyr was slain by the Hereticks and in that place where he wrote the 12. Articles of Faith with his blood there is a Grott where they continually digg Earth and yet it appears no hollow Over that place they pretend likewise to see a great splendour which God sheweth for the glory of that holy Body there inhumanly slain COMO COmo is a City famous for the genteelness of her Citizens and flourishing Muse of Paolo Giovo is seated in a Plain environed with Mountains and near the Lake Lario or Como within which and opposite to Como is a small Town built as it t were in a Peninsula and at the lower end thereof stands a Palace where the abovenamed Paolo had embellished a Library with a noble collection of Books and the pourtrays of the most illustrious persons as is expressed in his books called gli Elogii but at present there remains nothing of it more than certain pictures upon the Walls The Images Books Robes of Prete Janni King of AEthiopia the Bowes and other Arms of the Antipodes with many other curiosities not else where to be found and of good valew are removed thence to the Palace of the Giovii within Como in the Dome or Cathedral Church on the left hand is erected the sumptuons Tombe of Benedetto Giovo the famous writer in the City likewise may be read many epitaphs and writings testifying their antiquity and constant fidelity to the Rouâ—…an Common-Wealth The Lake Como is 36. miles long and somewhat more than three miles broad upon which when calm the Citizens in their boats recreate themselves near the end stands the Fountain of Pliny and Belacio a Palace of the Signori Spondati invironed with spatious Gardens which are adorned with fair Arbours and the Walls clothed with Gessamines Roses Rosemary and other sweets together with some Woods of Juneper Trees which harbour all sorts of Birds Ten Miles distant from Milan and between it and Como stands the stately Castle Monza which is washed by the River Lambro It was amplified by Thedorick first King of the Goths and Teodolinae the Queen there erected a magnificent Temple dedicated to Saint John the Baptist endowing it with great riches among others with a Saphyr of inestimable price a Brood Hen and Chickens of Gold and many other vessels of Gold therein also are preserved many reliques in Vessels given to it by San Gregory Then appears Somasca upon the Mountains a Town often named for the Original of the Religious order of the regular Priests of Somasca a little more forward you see near the Banks of the Lake Como the impregnable Castle Leaco whence you passe by water to Como and then advancing a little farther the Traveller cometh to the Country of the Grizons through which runs the River Adda On the left hand of Monza rise the Mountains of Bianza which afford most excellent Wines and three miles distant from Monza on the right hand lies a well-manured Campagna wherein Francesco Secundo Sforza defeated the French Army commanded by Lotrecco where after the death of many thousand Souldiers on both sides he obtained a glorious victory On this fide also before the arrival at the River Varo the boundary of Italy appears the small River Martesana an Arm of the Adda which runs under the Gorgongiola over which stands a Bridge whence they descend to Milan and thus we have described the places on the Eastern Part. Issuing out of the Gate of Milan Vercella towards the West you meet the compleat Town Ro near by which passeth an Arm of the Tesino to Milan on the other side of which Rivolet is Ensalaro with many other Castles whence taking the right-hand way you arrive at the Lago Maggiore at the very source of the River Tesino which goes to Pavia near which stands Angiera whence the Signori d' Angiera now Viscounts take their rise Then at 17. miles distance from Milan upon a Mountain being as t were one of the Boundaries to the Lake appears the devout Temple of Santa Maria del Monte whither resort great concourse of People to obtain their requests from God at the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary Then passing the Tessino you find Viglebia a new small City but fair where stands the magnificent Palace called the Ssorzesca so named from Lodovico Sforza Duke of Milan who built and gave it to the Religious Order of the Dominican Fryers who to this day possess it From whence on the right hand way lies Novarra and the Country Lemellina and on the left hand the Castle Mortarra heretofore called the fayr Wood but afterwards from the great slaughter of the Longobards there made by Charles the great sighting with Desiderius their King it was named Mortara On the same side also is the Castle Valese and the Town Vatalle under the Mountains where in burnt Earth is effigiated the Sepulchre of our Saviour with all the mysteries of his passion in divers little Chapels to which much Application is made with great
his Power for the Salvation of human kind by granting all the prayers of such as with a devout and sincere heart seek him c. The infinite Miracles wrought there shew that God will be sought in one place more than another in the Church hang many pourtraies of human misery as in a theatre which notwithstanding our mercifull God conduceth to a good end as particularly by divers accidents by Water evil Times Shipwracks Thunderbolts Earthquakes Destructions Precipitous falls braking of bones Sicknesses diseases Plague Slaughters Robberies Prisons Torments hunger Want and many others which a hundred tongues can hardly explicate as Virgil saith With which afflictions God is pleased to exercise his Children to expresse his Clemency more than his Justice that by it we may more truly prepare our hearts and our Souls worthy for his habitation and for our eternal bliss In this Church are many rare and pretious gifts of several Princes dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Vestry are kept the Vests Vessels of Gold and Silver and other Riches of immense valew and about the Chnrch are many Tablets of Verses in praise of the Church The Nobleness and Magnificence of the Church of LORETO compendiously drawn out of the five Books of Floratio Torsellino a Jesuist ALthough no day passeth wherein the Cel of the holy Virgin is not visited by many strangers as well Poles Spaniards Germans Portugals other Oltramontaneous and Oltramarine Nations as Italians yet there are two seasons in the yeer when there is exceeding concourse to wit Spring and Autumn In the Spring begins the solemnity the day of the Conception of our Lord and in Autumn the day of the birth of our Lady and each solemnity continues for 3. Moneths wherein each day the house of Loreto is repaired to by great multitudes of people the greater part whereof go in companies with their Ensignes having carryed before them a Crucifix with the Images of Saints Every Company hath its own governors Priests who sing the Donatives offered follow which are of more or lesse valew according to the quality of the Persons and their Devotions which method of going singing praiers praises to God excites great piety in the Pilgrims and people who follow though not in order in infinite multitudes When at a distance the Companies begin to see the Church which is seated on a hill above the Fields they internally are moved to devotion and cast themselves upon the ground weeping for joy saluting the Mother of God and then pursue their journey some renting their garments and putting on sackcloth others beating themselves and being beaten by others with many stripes on the nakedshoulders In the mean time the Priests of Loreto go to meet these Companies introducing them into the Church with solemn musick Trumpets and Bells when they approach the dore the Companies again fall flat on the ground saluting the Virgin from the bottome of their hearts with such zeal that the beholders are moved to tears Arrived at the Chamber of the Virgin which shines most clear by the many lights brought in their hands they contemplate the Effigies of the Madonna with such Piety Tears Sighs and humility as is wonderfull and many affix them selves so much to consider the place and Actions which the Mother of Christ there performed that were they not driven out by other companies who overtake them they would never remove thence but such as come from far Countreys not being able to preserve the order of Companies resort thither in the best manner they can the most part if not all communicate there and leave their offerings at the Altar but the most precious offerings are consigned to the deputies whose charge is to set them and the givers names down in a Book for perpetual remembrance The Altar erected by the Apostles and the effigies of the Virgin Mary are alwaies clothed from time to time with sumptuous garments aud ornaments of great valew both in Gold and Jemms The Church is alwaies full with wax lights and Lamps burning resounding with musick and Organs but what more imports t is filled with the Spirit of God which terrifies the bad rejoices the good heals the infirm and works stupendious miracles The number of the Pilgrims at Easter useth to be 12000. and at the Penticost and nativity of the Virgin not much inferiour if not more there hath been the day of the said Nativity in our times and the day following above two hundred thousand Persons which hath necessitated the intendents to make a rail round about the Cel whereby to exclude and admit whom they think fit that they may not be opprest by Multitude Moreover because in all times the Companies of Souldiers intending for the Wars resort thither first to confess and communicate the Road is so well accommodated with Inns and houses of Reception that any Person though delicate and weak may make the journey on foot besides that the continual concourse of fresh companies to and fro renders the way less heavy this convenience invited M. Antonio Colonna not to speak of others a famous rich and great Commander to take that Journey on foot These Companies having seen the countenance of the Virgin rejoyce spiritually and commonly acknowlege they have gathered great benefit from the Pilgrimage though difficult Were it not too long difficult t were worth ones pains to recount the vowes there made and rendred to God how many there escape out of the mire of Sin how many are there loosed from the intricate tyes of carnal and forbidden pleasures how many there lay down their hatred and old envy how many men almost desperate to do more good and bound already to the Gates of hell by compact between them and the Divel yet there deliver themselves from the Enemy and recover a state of Salvation finally as the Soul is more pretious than the Body so the Miracles of the blessed Virgin of Loreto wrought for the Soul are more than those that are for the Body so that to discourse more at large the things touched here were a desire to measure and confine the divine power by humane frailty Which to avoid t is better to let it alone than undertaking it to rest unsatisfied and although for the most part Fame surpasseth the thing spoken of yet whoever hath seen Loreto must confess Fame could not speak so much of it and its glory as he there saw and contemplated The remarkable and wonderfull Site of the House of LORETO T Is credibly reported that the house of the blessed Virgin leaving of its own accord Galilea first went into Dolmatia and there stopped in a Wood of Marchiano whence it went into a Mountain belonging to two Brothers who were at discord but to remain there for a time God having determinated that it should stay where now it stands and we hope will ever continue if some sins of the adjcent People make not the place unworthy and t is presumed
the greatest now extant in Rome whereon are engraven Boyes gathering Grapes which some call the Sepulchre of Bacchus but erroneously In the Via Nomentana a little farther is the Ponte Nomentano built by Narsetes the Eunuch under Justinian the Emperor as the inscription testifies Nero the Emperour between the Porta Suburbana and Salaria had Suburbano a singular edifice which he gave to a Freed Man who fearinga publique punishment by a poynard thrust into his brest and the help of Sporo another freed Man slew himself some ruines of this Fabrick yet remain Porta Querquetulana is now a Church near which appear square wals the Remains of the Castle deputed for the Souldiers stations apointed for the Emperors guards On the Viminale are seen the Baths of Dioclesian of an admired Vastness and sumptuosity which though much decayed are yet the most entire in Rome 'T is said that forty thousand Christians were in a servile manner turmoyled for fourteen yeers in the structure hereof Dioclesian and Maximinian began them but Constantine and Massiminian compleated them now called Alle Terme where appears a certain place made for receit of the waters employed in those Baths called Bacco di terme Dioclesian adjoined a Palace to them whose ruines manifestly shew themselves And here was that celebrious Library called Ulpa where the Elephantine books were disposed On the right hand of these Baths are the Gardens formerly appertaining to Cardinal Bellay but now to the Monks of the order of Saint Bernard to whose industry the ingenious owe the Invention and designes made by wind And on their left hand stands the Church of Santa Susanna in old time the Temple of Quirinus In this place they believe Romulus being praeascended into Heaven appeared to Proculus Julius then returning from Alba for which cause the Senate consecrated a Temple and attributed to him divine honours Here also ut aiunt Romulus frequently descended and communicated divers things to Alba. The foundations of the Olympiade Bathsyet continue near S. Lorenzo in Pane Perna vulgarly named Pamiperna where Decius the Emperors Pallace stood The Church S. Prudentia was built by Pius the fourth at the request of Santa Prascede his Sister where likewise appear the walls of the Baths Novati And the ruines of the Baths of Agrippina the Mother of Nero are yet extant by the Church S Vitalis In San Lorenzo in Proserpina shewes it self a great Marble Stone reverenced with great adoration and religion whereon ut aiunt the roasted body of San Lorenzo was repoâ—…ed after his death here lies buried Cardinal Cirketo the delight of the Learned of our times Beyond the Church S. Susanna by the Via Quirinale lay heretofore the gardens of Rodolfo Cardinal Carpente then which no part of Ita ly nay Naples it self where are the most excelling afforded more delicious In it were 134 statues engraven with divers artificial figures and other admirable curiosities so well disposed that no Fancy could reach that Paradise nor ocular view scarce apprehend its glory to say no more this garden was an Embleme of that Cardinal its Patron the son of Alberto Pio Prince of Carpi for as that exceeded most so his knowledge in antiquities and Learning was admired by all he wrote learnedly against Erasmus IL COLLE QURINALE or MONTE CAVALLO THis hill was so demonstrated from the Name Quiri or Curi a Family of the Sabines who marching among others under Statius their Captain to reside at Rome inhabited this hill now called Monte Cavalli from the artificial horses there yet visible T is divided from the Viminale by that way which conducts to the Porta S. Agnese Upon Monte Cavallo where were the Vineyards of the Cardinal of Estè now stands a Palace of the Popes admirable for the Grottoes walks Arbors and artificial Fountains The chief was the work of Pope Clement the 8th whereon is wrote the history of Moses in Mosaique work Here stand some old statues of the Muses and here you may hear one of those Organes called of old Hydraulici because they sounded by force of the Waters You ascend this Fountain by some steps upon the ballostres whereof stand certain Vessels which spout out water very high which in their fall present divers figures before it lies ample fish ponds with a Circle of Plain trees wch afford a thick and lovely shade in fine such is the the Variety of Marbles the excellency and fairness of the statues the diversity of the Inscriptions the beauty of the walks the pleasantness of the Fountains and the shade of the Groves in these pontifical Vineyards That the studious may find here fit objects for their Observations The Curious for their admiration and the Lovers of Solitude for their deportment and retreats Hence a little distant lies the Vineyard of Octavio Cardinal Bandini well kept and worthy a view And at the four fountains the Palace of the Mattei which hath some fair statues as well antient as modern Round about which lye several other Vineyards and Gardens as of the Teatini of the Colonna's and of Patriarca Biondo near which is the Church Saint Andrea repaired by the Jesuites where the B. Stanislao Kostka a Polach lies buried who there acomplished his days Upon this Mount stand two Collossus or statues as t were of Gyants holding two wild horses by a Bridle cut in Marble upon whose pilaster we read that they were the work of Phidia and Prasitelle from which horsestis called Monte Cavallo And the report goes that Tiridates King of the Armenians presented them to Nero who that he might entertain that stranger King worthily and according to the Roman splendor caused Pompeyes Theatre where he exhibited the Games for that Kings Solace and recreation in three days to be layed all over with silver Plates Which magnificence the King did not so much admire knowing well that in Rome were heaped up the riches of the world as the diligence and ingenuity of the workmen that in so short a time could perfect so noble ingenious a work which in him created astonishment Here the Benedictine Fryers had a comodious habitation which some time since they surrendred to the Apostolick Chamber opposite whereto is a Pontifical Palace built by Sixtus the 5th for their cool retreat in hot weather whence somewhat in the Vigna of the Colonnesi raiseth it self the Frontispiece of Neros Pallace vulgarly called Frontone di Nerone Hence Nero beheld the Fire which was by his own incendiaries kindled in the City of Rome which afterwards he imputed to the Christians that by this Calumny he might draw them into hatred with the Senate and People of Rome and by a publick edict commanded that as many as were apprehended confessing Christ for God should be burnt and excarnified in Neros gardens which Persecution continued three days On the other part of the Quirinale are many Arches Cels caves of different workmanship under ground the Reliques of the Emperor Constantines Baths of hot waters And
to pass in Coaches for greater reputation Tacitus in his 12th book clearly proves who speaking of Agrippina saies That shee to agrandize her reputation this way was drawn to the Campidoglio in a Caroach a thing then only permitted to the Priests and holy Druides for their dignity This custom was likewise used by the Virgins as may be collected from the first book of Artimedorus his Positions and chiefly of the Vestals who were carryed in Litters attended by many servants with great Pomp as Saint Ambrose relates in his first Epistle to Valentinian But the Romon Bishops besides the Chariot and Coach wherein they publiquely passed through the City had also a supportable Chair wherein being sate it was carryed upon the shoulders of Men deputed to that service and who lived upon that profession which is manifest enough not only from that place of Duoaio where he saies that in the fifth Synod was placed the Chair or Throne of the Apostolick confession but also more clearly from the most antient Roman Order written before Gelasius the Popes time wherein we finde expressions to this sence viz. When the Pope is entred into the Church he does not instantly advance to the Altar but first goes into the Vestry sustained by Deacons who received assisted him while he descended from his Chair and to that effect the said Order several times relates the Ceremony of placing the Pope in the Chair when he was to take any Journey and to sustain him by the Arms in descent from the Chair being arrived at the place where he resolved to stay In which words is also to be observed that the said Order calls this Pontifical Chair in Latin Sellare which properly signifies a Majestick Throne made for dignity it being a Chair wrought with Art and proportionable thereto As to the Popes being born up by hands t is easily manifested that he was so supported not only at his descent from the Chair but also upon several other occasions when not at all in the Chair which is proved by the examples of many Popes As Stephen the second saies Palatina and Francesco Giovanetto in the 90th Chapter was carried upon shoulders in the Church of Constantine and then in the Laterano and Adrian the second was so born up in the Laterano by the Clergy and by the chief of the Nobility the Comunalty then contending with the Clergy and Nobility for that honourable Office as appears in the descriptions the 63d Chapter which begins Cum Adrianus Secundus c. And Gregory the ninth was so sustained in the Laterano laded with Gemmes and Gold At which custome none ought to wonder since so long before prophesied by Esaiah in the 49th Chapter be these words Et efferent filios tuos in Uluis filias super humeros portabunt in our English Translation t is thus rendred And they shall bring thy Sons in their Arms and thy Daughters shall be carryed upon their shoulders The occasion for which custome proceeds from the great reverence wherewith the Princes of the World ought to observe the Presidents of the Church which Princes ought not to omit any convenient honour due to the Church and so consequently to the head thereof It stands with good reason too that the Pope should be born up on high to the end that on the one side he may the better see and bestow his Benediction on the People comitted to him and that the People may on the other side behold their Head acknowledging him for Gods Vicar and thence fortifie themselves in the confession of the Catholick Faith The same PIGHIO speaks of the Coronation of the Pope in this sence ALL Princes for demonstration of the Majesty of Empire have worn a golden Crown David who reigned before Homer and before all the antient writers at this day extant had such a Crown as is proved in the 12th Chapter of the second Book of Kings the which he took to himself from one of the Cities of the Amâ—…onites by him overcome in warr which who desires may read in the words of the cited Text. Ciassare King of the Medes as saies Zonara in the first Tome sent a certain beautifull Daughter of his own to Cyrus with a golden Crown upon her head and with the whole province of Media for Dowry The Romans triumphing carryed a Crown of Gold as Golliote relates which might seem improperly and erroneously declared in respect all historians write that the Emperors Triumphing were crowned with Lawrel if Tertullian did not remove this doubt in his Tract entituled De Corona Militis and Pliny in his 21st Book the third Chapter saies that the Radiant Crowns were composed with Leaves of Gold and silver Zonara in the second Tome describing the Pompe of a Triumph saies that while triumphing they carryed two Crowns one was placed on the head of the Emperor which was of Lawrel the other which was of Gold and enterwoven with pretious stones was born up over the head of the Emperour by the hands of a publique Minister who stood upon the same Chariot whereof Juvenal speaks in the tenth Satyr saying Tantum orbem quanto cervix non sufficit ulla Quippe tenet sudans hanc publicus sibi Consul Ne placeat curru servus Portatur eodem And Valerius Paterculus saies that this Crown of Gold was of the colour of a Rain-bow to demonstrate the signe of a certain Divinity speaking of Augustus Caesar Octavins in his second Book As also of the same make clear mention calling it Radiante and Lucide Suetoninus in the life of Augustus the 44th Chapter Pliny in his Panegyrick the unknown Author in the Panegyrick dedicated to Maximilianus and Latinus Peccatus in Panegyrick whose words would take up too much room to set down here Moreover Ammianus Marcellinus in the 17th book treating of the sharp pointed Pyramids saies that they were wont to place Crowns on the heads of statues which he again confirms in the 24th Book from which testimonies Lazius collects in his 9th Book of Commentaries of the Roman Republique that our Predecessors derived the custome of placing on the heads of the Images of Saints in the Churches Crowns figured in the form of the raies of the Sun chiefly for that those images being adorned with such Crownes seemed to have I know not what kind of splendour and Divinity which reason though it be not altogether from the purpose yet t is not altogether to be maintained for that we rather think that this usage and custome had its original from that splendour which hath been often seen miraculously to shine on the heads of the Saints Being that as Abdias in the 5th Book and Eusebius in the second of his Histories relate the Apostles were often overshadowed with such a Light as human eye could not behold them as of old fell out to Moses whose Face when he had had that near conference with God did shine so bright that Aaron and the children of Israel were afraid to
say that Charles the great was consecrated Emperor they also by it understand he was Crowned whence we may draw that the Coronation of the Pope had its rise in long since past times since that in the yeer 683. under Agathone the first and Benedict the second was raised the custome of giving moneys at the coronation of the Pope and of expecting the authority of the Emperor Eugenius the second was crowned the 22d of May in the yeer 824. Benedict in the yeer 855 Formosus the first in 891. But after Clement which happened in anno 1044. all succeeding Popes were crowned as Panuinus observes in such a manner as by it from that time forwards the Prophecy of Isaiah in the sixty first Chapter may be well known to be fulfilled where he saies as our English Translation renders it For he hath clothed me with the garments of Salvatio he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousnesse as a Bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments The Italian saies they meaning the Priests are crowned as Bridegroom after that the Pope is elevated to this supremedignity he wears the garments of eternal peace and a Crown upon his head This is that Son of Eliachim spoken of from God by Isaiah the Prophet in the 22d Chapter to whom even at that time God promised the Robe the Crown and the Key as you may read in the 20. 21 22 23 and 24. verses of that Chapter and so forwards The Crown is an Ensigne of Empire the Robe is a signe of familiar government the which things are found in their excellency in our Pope So in the 14th Chapter of the Revelation of Saint John at the 14th verse t is said that Christ named the Son of man appeared sitting on a white cloud adorned with a golden Crown upon his head And in the 19th of the Revelations about the 11th verse t is said that the same Word of God appeared upon a white horse with many Regal Crowns upon his head and all his Friends as may be read in the subsequent verses For this occasion principally were these significations by Crowns to wit that Christ through his Wisdom signified by the figure of a Crown of Gold hath obtained victory over all Creatures and subjected them to his Dominion So likewise the Roman Bishop who is ouer all Nations who hath brought all the People under his authority by the consignation and power of God deservedly puts on the covering of his head three Crowns thereby demonstrating that in glory Authority and great works he surpasseth all the other Kings and Princes of the world After so many fore-passed Popes Paulus the second created in the yeer 8465. of the noble Venetian Family Barbi as he was of a fair aspect and great Spirit so he took great care to adorn the papal Mitre with pretious Jewels and curious workmanship Lastly let us advertise the Reader that in those breifs written by Caesar Costni in the third chapter of the first book of his various doubts deceives himself where he would maintain that the Popes bearing a Mitre with three Crowns proceeds from those mysterious significations by him alleaged when indeed there is no necessity of them and let thus much suffice Of the holy yeer of Jubile which is celebrated in ROME every twenty fifth year The Narration of P. M. GIROLAMO da CAPUGNANO of the preaching Order Extracted from the Book of the Holy Yeer CHAP. XII GOD granted to the Jewes divine benefits indeed whereupon afterwards that Nation boasted saying That his divine Majesty had not treated other People after that manner But those graces which the Church our Mother hath received from the goodness of God do far surpass and exceed the Benefits bestowed upon the Hebrew People For that the Lord that she might be clean and adorned in his sight gave the blood of his only Son to wash her and the Treasure of his Wisdome to beautifie her Among the other benefits conferred on the Hebrew Synagogue that of the yeer of Jubile was most excellent called most holy for that it was the yeer of remission and of the commencement of all things which the Omnipotent God ordained to be from 50 to 50 yeers The like grace being due to our Church the Spouse of Christ though with a different end for that the Synagogue attended only to temporal affairs and the holy Church to spirituals singly by divine disposition she thought convenient to ordain also the yeer of Jubile though at first only from 100. yeers to 100. yeers perhaps to draw to good use the antient diabolick custom of the celebration of the secular Games which to this end were celebrated every hundredth yeer in Rome with a preceding general invitation from Cryers who proclaimed through the streets come to the games the which none ever saw since nor shall again which drew into the City of Rome infinite People of all Nations for the service of the devil And all those Nations since the institution of the yeer of Jubile render themselves at Rome though with much better reason viz. to serve the true God for the salvation of their own souls nor ought our pains seem strange to any for what is said concerning the mutation of evil into good because that not only in this but in divers other occasions the holy Church hath had this aime to consecrate that to God which the foolish generations had before time dedicated to Satan as may be seen in divers Temples of Rome now dedicated to the true Lord and his Saints which were formerly the Temples of Idols used for the distribution of candles and to make their Feasts as in San Pietro in Vincola the first of August the first of those ceremonies was made in Rome in honour of Februa by the Romans taken for a Goddess the other in memory of the triumph of Augustus Caesar. We find that Boniface the 9th in the yeer 1300. published the yeer of Jubile by his Bull wherein he declares as a Restorer rather then an Inventor or institutor of this yeer And t is no wonder that we find no firm testimony of its institution before that time because the Church hath had so many persecutions and so great toiles that t is a miracle that any antient Memorials are preserved rather then a wonder that some are lost At that time then the Pope in writing divulged this yeer conceding entire and plenary remission of offences and punishments every hundredth yeer which number of Centum one hundred bears also a certain sense of returning to good from evil as is fully proved by Girolamus and Beda principal Ecclesiastical writers Clement the sixth at the Instance of the Romans reduced Jubile to every fiftieth yeer chiefly for that the life of man is so short that very few arrive to one hundred yeers and for that in the number quinqua ginta fifty are contained many mysteries pertinent to the Christian Religion but principally it signifies remission and pardon the proper effect of