Cemeterio Cardino in the Via Latina That tra'due Lauri at S. Helena That of S. Ciriaco in the Via Ostiense But we must observe that Astolfo King of the Longobardi tearing up out of the earth about Rome the bodies of many Saints destroyed also their Cemeterii or burying places and that the Popes Paolo and Paschale reposed within the City in the Churches of S Stefano S. Silvestro and S Prascede many bodies of Saints then lying in those Cemeterii which were ruinated and layed wast And that the Christians were buried in the Cemeterii within Tombes and Sepulchres of Marble or of brick and of those Sepulchres some were hereditary others bestowed in gift and that at last places were assigned particularly for the Sepulture of Christians to wit Church-yards c. The Roman fixed stations granted by several Popes to divers Churches of Saints with great priviledges and Indulgencies THe first Sunday of the Advent is celebrated at Santa Maria Maggiore The second at S. Croce di Jerusalem The third at S. Pietro The Wednesday of that season at St. Maria Maggiore The Fryday at the Dodeci Apostoli The Saturday at S. Pietro The Vigils of the Nativity at S. Maria Maggiore In the first Mass of the Nativity at Santa Maria Maggiore al Presepio In the second Mass at S. Anastasia In the the third at S. Maria Maggiore On St. Stephens day at S. Stefano nel Monte Celio On St. John the Apostles day at S. Maria Maggiore The Feast of the Innocents at S. Paolo The day of the Circumcision of our Lord at Santa Maria beyond the Tyber The day of the Epiphany or Twelfe day after Christmass at S. Pietro The Septuagessima Sunday at S. Lorenzo without the Walls The Sexagessima Sunday at S. Paolo The Quinquagessima at Santo Pietro The first day of the Quadragessima or Lent at Santa Sabina The second at S. Gregorio The third at San Giovanni and Paolo The Saturday at S. Trisone The first Sunday of Lent at S. Giovanni Laterano The Munday at San Pietro in Vincola The Tuesday at Santa Anastasia The Wednesday at Santa Maria Maggiore The Thursday of Lent at S. Lorenzo in Panisperna The Fryday at the Santi Dodeci Apostoli The Satturdey at Santo Pietro The second Sunday of Lent at S. Maria in Domenica The Munday at San Clemente The Tuesday at Santa Sabina The Wednesday at Santa Cecilia The Thursday at Santa Maria in Transtevere The Friday at San Vitale The Satturday at the Santi Marcellino and Pietro The third Sunday of Lent at S. Lorenzo without the Walls The Munday at San Marco The Tuesday at Santa Potentiana The Wednesday at San Sisto The Thursday at the Santi Cosmo and Damiano The Fridry at S Lorenzo in Lucina The Saturday at Santi Susanna The Fourth Sunday of Lent at Santa Croce in Jerusalem The Munday at the Santi quatro Coronati The Tuesday at San Lorenzo in Damaso The Wednesday at San Paolo The Thursday at the Santi Silvestro and Martino The Friday at Santo Eusebio The Satturday at San Nicolo in Carcere The fifth Sunday in Lent called the Passion Sunday at San Pietro The Munday at San Grisogono The Tuesday at San Quirico The Wednesday at Santo Marcello The Thursday at Santo Apollinare The Friday at S. Stephano in Monte Celio The Satturday at San Giovanni before the Porta Latina The Palme Sunday at San Giovanni Laterano The Munday at San Prascede The Tuesday at Santa Prisca The Wednesday at Santa Prisca The holy Thursday at San Giovanni Laterano The good Fryday called Parasceve at Santa Croce in Hierusalem The Satturday at San Giovanni Laterano Easter day or the Sunday of the Resurrection of our Lord at Santa Maria Maggiore The Munday at San Pietro The Tuesday at San Paolo The Wednesday at San Lorenzo without the Walls The thursday at the Santi Dodeci Apostoli The Friday at Santa Maria Rotonda The Saturday before the Octave called Sabato in Albis at San Giovanni Laterano The Sunday of the Octave from Easter day called Domenica in Albis at San Pancratio The Feast of the Ascention at San Pietro The Vigil of the Pentecost at San Giovanni Laterano The Pentecost Sunday at San Pietro The Munday at San Pietro in Vincola The Tuesday at Santa Anastasia The Wednesday at Santa Maria Maggiore The Thursday at San Lorenzo without the Walls The Friday at the Santi Dodeci Apostoli And the Saturday of this week of Penticost at San Pietro The Wednesday of the Feasts in September at Santa Maria Maggiore The Friday at the Dodeci Apostoli The Satturday at San Pietro Besides which there are other stations for every Feast of those Saints Apostles Martyrs Confessors or Virgines to whom any Church is dedicated in Rome and for the most part those Churches on the daies of their Feasts are visited with a multitude of People his S. himself often celebrating Masse or at least being then present atended by a great number of Cardinals and Prelates Of the Vatican Library of the Pope THe Vatican Library of the Pope is every day frequented by learned Men and meritoriously for that it is filled with the most antient books in all the Professions as well Greek Latine and Hebrew as other Languages writtten with the pen in Parchment And t is certainly to be admired that those Popes under so many disgraces negociations Foreign and civil Wars and sackings of Rome should still apply their chiefest study and pain in heaping together Books and preserving those collections Sixtus the 5th in our time beautified and aggrandized it wonderfully adjoining to it a noble Fabrick and causing most excellent pictures to be drawn about it Which Guglielmo Bianco a French Man praiseth in a singular Poem and Fryer Angelo Rocca by way of History treates of it diffusely As also Onofrio Panuino of the same Order Many great Scholars have only desired favour from the Pope as to publish an Index of the Greek and Latine Books extant in that Library that by this means recourse might be had to Rome from all parts both for the enlightning and correcting Authors who have been altogether unseen or are els printed full of errors This the noble City Augusta permitted and by that publique Index set forth in vited all to go thither for comparing the uncorrected for their amendment How many bookes have Francis the first and Henry the second Kings of France sent forth to light How many benefits have the Republique of Scholars had from the Grand Duke of Tuscanies Bibliotheque and how much more advantage would all the world receive from such an Index of the Pontifical Library which is of splendidly royal Other Libraries there are also in Rome as that of the Capitol That which appertained to the Cardinal Sirleto now to Cardinal Colonna valeued at 20000. Crownes That of the Family of Sforza and that of the Farnesi abounding with Greek Authors We pass by many Libraries of private persons no less replenished with rare Books as that of Fulvio
in many places of Treviso is found an Ox painted with this Motto Memor in memorial of their first founders Others say that Treviso was built by the Companions of Antenor Others by the Trojans who went from Pastagonia but whosoever it was built it imports not much since 't is most certain 't is a City of great Antiquiry They oftentimes came to Warlike disputes with the Padouans as also with the 〈◊〉 â—…or maintenance of their consiâ—…es and although through their vigilancy and victory over the power of their Enemies they had much enlarged their Tâ—…ritories almost over the whole Champain yet to secure themselves the better they erected several Towers whence they might discover their Enemies obstruct them from too near approaches and as necessitated therein make their own retreat secure and for this reason was it along time called the City of Towers â—…earing for its Aims three Black Towers in a white Field This City either for that it was the most noble of all the other or for that it became first under their Dominion the Longobardi made the seat of their Marquesate Marca signifying in their language Confines whence all this Province is called by the name of Marca Wherein antiently were six principal Cities at present but four with many other Cities and great Castles It s Territory is in length from East to West forty miles and from North to South fifty miles It was subjected to the Hunnes to the Longobards Then to the Hungarians afterwards to the People of Scalâ—… after them to the Carraresians and lastly in the year of our Lord One thousand three hundred eighty eight it was reduced under the Dominion of the Venetians to whom from that time to this day they have maintained constant Faith and Obedience This City was converted to the Christian Faith by the Preaching of Saint Prosdocimo Disciple of Saint Peter from whence they took a white Crosse in a Red Field for their Aims in liew oâ—… their Black Towers About Treviso runs the River Sile with many other Rivolets which incorporate with it and towards the East it hath the great River of Piave wherein they take the largest Crabfish The Countrey abounds in all things but principally it breeds the Fatrest Calves It conteins many sumptuous Pallaces and not a few Noble Families At eight miles distance from this City stands Altino which was founded by Antenor but alterwards layed wast by Attila between Treviso and Padoua presents it self the Rich and Civil Castle of Noale Upon the Mountains towards the North â—…ood the noble Castle of Asolo heretofore a Colony of the Romans as 〈◊〉 saith where with great delight dwelt the Queen of Ciprus having four miles off Asolo built a most beautiful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as pleasâ—…t a Plain with Gardens Fountains Fish-ponds and all other recreations Eloigned from thence ten miles stands Castel I ranco a famous Castle which was built by the Trivisani in the year of our Lord One thousand one hundred ninety nine After which towards the East between the Rivers Piave and Livenza shewes it self Conegliano part whereof stands erected upon the Hill and part upon the Plain which is replenished with beautiful structures and a numerous People and enjoyes an Air so temperate that it acquired the name among the Germans of Cunicla which is as much as to say a Residence for a King This was the first place that the Venetians possessed upon the firm Land Adjacent hereto stand Colalto Narvisa and the Castle of Saint Salvadore to the most Noble Family of the Collalti appertaining A little further lies Oderto whereto in the time of the Romans the Adriatique Sea rise which encouraged the Oderzesians to set a Fleet to Sea Near thereunto â—…es la Motta the Countrey of Girolamo Alexandro created Cardinal by his Holiness Paul the third Bishop of Rome for his most excellent Doctrine being no less learned in the Greek and Hebrew Tongues than in the Latine Travelling from Treviso over a large and 〈◊〉 High-way at ten miles distance is met the Castle of Mestre and â—…wo miles off that Margherá where taking Boat after rowing the space of five miles you arrive at Venice VENETIA la Ricca or VENICE the Rich. HAving attained Le Lagune or the MOORES or SHOLES now the Streets of Venice you behold many proud Pallaces built of Marble adorned with Columbes Statues and Pictures of great value erected by those Noble Senatours with inestimable Expence and Artifice among which is Seated the Pallace of the Grimani imbellished with Statues Figures Pourtraicts high and great Colossuses and Vaults some of Marble and others of 〈◊〉 very artificially Carved and Engraven being brought hither from Greece and the Ruines of Aquileia In the open Gallery whereof are divers Marble Stones with excellent Inscriptions amongst the which we will hereunder set down some which are engraven upon 〈◊〉 Altars dedicated in honour of Beleno who was held in 〈◊〉 great veneration by the Inhabitants of Aquileia as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rodian and Giulio Capâ—…olino do averr and justifie The Titles 〈◊〉 which Inscriptions I believe will be very welcome and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lovers of Antiquity Upon one four squared Altar is inscribed Beleno Mansuetus Verus Lâ—…ur Lau Et Vibiana Jantula V. S. Upon another Apollini Beleno Aug. In honorem C. Petti C. C. F. Pal. Fhiltati Eq. P. Praef. AEd. Pot. Praef. Et. Patron Collegiorum Fabr. â—…t Cent. Diocles Lib. Donum Dedit L. D. D. D. D. Upon another Belino Aug. Sacrum Voto suscepto Pro. Aquillio C. F. Pomp Vatente IIII. V. I. D. Design Phoebus Lib. V. S. L. M. Upon another Beleno Aug. Sacr. L. Cornelius L. Fil. Vell. Secundinus Aquil. Evoc Aug. N. Quod. In. Urb. Donum â—…ou Aquil. Perlatum Libens â—…osuit L. D. D. D. Upon another Beleno Aug. In. Memor Julior Marcell Et. Marcellae Et In Honorem Juliarum Charites â—…t Marcellae Filiar Et. Licin Macron Iunior Nepotis C. Iul. Agathopos VI. Vir. Aquil. L. D. D. D. Upon another Beleno Sex Graesernius Faustus VI. Vir. V. S. L. M. Upon another Eonti B. Upon another VI. Divinae Sacrum C. Verius C. F. Gavolus The next object worth a view is the Royal and Proud Pallace of the Duke of Venice which was first begun to be erected by Angeâ—…o Participatio in the year of our Lord Eight hundred and nine since when though six times burnt either in part or in all it rise again and recovered much more beauty and lustre Its Form is not altogether square the length somewhat exceeding the Bredth Towards the North of it stands the Church of Saint Marco towards the East the Grand Canale or Channell towards the South the Sea Coast and towards the West the Piazza or broad Place of Venice From the principal Gate of this Pallace to that Coign which stâ—…nds next the Bridge called Paglia or Straw Bridge towards the South It hath an Arcade of 36. Arches every one wherof are ten feet large
the vast quantity of Merchandize invites as much People as Italians Germans Grizons and Switzers The Ayr is most serene there and its Territory produceth sweet wines Oyl and many pleasant fruits In some places for want of Land either fit for tillage or Vines the people employ themselves in working Woollen and Linnen Clothes which they afterwards carry into all parts of Italy Their Language is very rustick but that renders not the People so who are civil and ingenuous and no less disposed to Learning than Trade whence it took the surname of Bergamo the witty It hath produced many noble Wits who by their excellent virtues have added to its Lustre Whereof were Alberico di Rosato Doctor of Laws and Ambrogio Calepino whose works no ingenuous person neglects to have Fryer Damiano a convertite of the order of Preachers was a man of so great Ingenuity in cementing pieces of several woods together with such artifice that they have been often mistaken for Pictures drawn with a pencel that his fellow hath not been known herein Fryer Pagano of the same Order gave excellent example of constancy at his death given him by the Hereticks Hence also have issued men of great Judgment and Counsel to govern the Republick particularly of the Family of Foresti with many Cardinals Prelates and excellent Captains The first Advancer of the Christian Religion in this City was Saint Barnabas a Disciple of Christ in the 25th yeer of our Salvation together with Anatolone the Greek and Caio the Roman giving it for Bishop Narino one of its Citizens who having governed it with great sanctity of Life and Religion for thirty yeers deceased and was there interred whom many holy Bishops from one to another have succeeded In the Domo of Bergamo are 25. Bodies of Saints kept with great devotion Where near the high Altar stands the Sepulchre of Bartolomeo Coleone a famous Captain and Citizen of it with his Effigies in Marble which he caused to be cut for him by the Life the Epitaph whereof follows Bartholomeus Colleonus de Andegania virtute immortalitatem adeptus usque adeo in re militari fuit illustris non modo tunc viventium gloriam longè excesserit sed etiam posteris spem enim citandi ademerit saepius enim à diversis Principibus ac deinceps ab Illustrissimo Veneto Senatu accepto Imperio Tandem totius Christianorum exercitus sub Paulo Secundo Pont. Max. delectus fuit Imperator Cujus acies quatuordecim annos ab ejus obitu solo jam defuncti Imperatoris tanquam vivi nomine militantis jussa cujus alias contempserunt Obiit Anno Domini 1475. quarto nonas Novembris In the Church of Saint Agostino is the Tomb of Fryer Ambrogio Calepino who with great diligence and industry collected all the Latin words in a form approved by the gravest writers whose works are known to all the World being divulged where ever the Latine Tongue is spoken Bergamo together with its Burroughs contains a great number of Souls Above it stands the Capella or Chapel a place strong by its site upon a high Mountain and by the most impregnable Walls wherewith it was encompassed by Luchino Visconte Lord of Milano and Bergamo but at this time t is wholly abandoned and half ruinated being found by experience of little ayd to the City when need required here at first was layed a foundation for a Monastery for the Order of S. Dominick and a Chapel built whence called Capello Bergamo was long time subject to the Roman Empire after whose fall t was burnt by Attila then it was yoaked to the Longobardi who styled themselves Dukes thereof then reduced under the power of Kings of Italy and so continued till the daies of Filippo Turciano who became Lord thereof Anno 1264. After it was Subjugated by Luchino the Viscount Then Mastino della Scalla made himself Lord thereof By whom some time after t was sold to Pandolfo Malatesta for thirty thousand Duckats of Gold And after it had been some times occupied by the French of its own accord it gave it self to the Venetians under whom it peaceably reposeth to this day If farther and more at large any one defires to be satisfied in the history of Bergamo let him read the book entitled La Vigna di Bergamo Serio runs close by Bergamo deriving its source from those Mountains between which towards the North are 6 vales The first is called La vale Seriana from the River Serio's running through it which is well peopled who by Tolomeo are called Beccunni The second is Vale Brombana so named from its vicinity with the Banks of the River Brembo each of which are extended for thirty miles long The third is Vale di San Martino 15. miles long The fourrh Vale di Calepio the fifth Vale di Ohiusontio the sixth Val di Manca in which between Towns Villages and Hamlets are numbred 200. Inhabited places of which the chief are Calepio Lever de Chiusonto and Vertua where they make excellent Woollen Clothes On this side the Territory of Bergamo extends it self 28. miles Upon Calepio is the strong Castle Leuco where a Bridge conjoyns both the Banks of Adda On the West Bergamo hath the City of Como Monza and the Hills of Brianza towards the East Brescia and towards the South Crema with the above-described Places Bergamo is accounted 32. miles from Milan having on the right hand the Rivers Brembo which dischargeth it self into the Adda further on near the Adda is the well-fortified Castle of Trezzo reared by Bernardo Viscount of Milan Anno 1370. together with that artificial Bridge which on the left hand over the Adda discovers it self with the abovenamed Places At twelve miles distance from Bergamo stands Colonica a small Village where imbarking you psss 20 miles in the Water and so arrive at Milan CREMA THe Relation of this City should have been placed between the narrations of Brescia and Bergamo where in the second voyage from Brescia to Milan t is only briesly touched but the Author having found himself tardy in omitting an account of this esteemed one of the prime Cities of Lombardy apollogizeth for his placing it here in the end of this Book and promiseth a reformation in the next impress Being then in the City of Brescia and going forth the Gate San Nazario after twenty miles travel you arrive at Orzi Nuovi and having past the River Oglio find the Castle Soncino and sive miles more forwards meets Romanengo and so many more the City Crema which is situated in the East shore of the River Serio by which t is deliciously washed it lies in the Centre of fruitfull Lombardy between five illustrious Cities at thirty miles distance from each which encompasse it like a Crown whereof she may be termed the Cross that is to say Milan Bergamo Brescia Cremona and Piacenza who affording it what it stands in need of and expending its superfluities
the left appears Poggio appertaining to the noble Family Lambertini intending then for Ferrara you must keep the direct Road. On the right hand of which Way near the Canale lies Bentivoglio a â—…umptuous Palace with a Tower in the midst of a strong Fort whence sayling down the Canale in Boats called Sandoli one passeth by Malalbergo an Inn infamous by name and Deeds Bottifredi a Tavern Minerbo a Town and Butrio a Castle whose Countrey affords plenty of Hemp which for its length and strength is much esteemed at Venice and by them used for Cordage for their Vessels Near the Emilian way towards the East stand Molinella a Palace Boloniali Valti a Village Medicina a Castle and Ricardina a Town between which was fought that sharp battail by the Army of Bartlomeo Cogliono agaiust that of Galeazzo Sforza Son of the Duke Francesco wherein the said Bartolomeo remained Conqueror and near hereto lies the Valley Argenta and the Castle Guelfo where begin the Territories of Imola On the Via Emilia towards Romagnaâ—… five miles off Bologna on the right hand lie most pleasant Hills beautified with Palaces Gardens and Fruit Trees and some Woods of Juneper the harbour of much Foul which Hills afford the sweetest and largest Olives of â—…taly not at all inferiour to them of Spain Near which lies the Way leading to Florence Near the Emilian Way also runs the River Savena over which is built a Bridge of Brick not far from which are discovered the ruines of another stately Bridge which was raised at the cost of the Countess Matilda On the right hand appear the feet of the Apeniues with some Hills embellished with Towns and Villages On the left is a good and fertile Plain and the Road to Ferrara and on one side of the Emilian Way are the Ruines of the Antient City Quaterna which was destroyed by the Bolonians in the yeer 385. after a long Battail and on the other side is the Castle Butrio ten miles off which you finde the River Selero over which is a Bridge of stone near which stands the Castle San Pietro built by the Bolonians whose Fields afford plenty of Grain Flax and Fruit and the Ferry no less gain on the right hand of Selero stands Dozza a Castle endowed with the title of a Count belonging to the Family Campeggi in Bolonia and Paradello a Convent of the Fryers of the third order of San Francesco called Minimi built with wonderfull cost and Artifice by Pope Giulius the second t is thence to Imolo a mile Having perused all the Territory of Bologna nothing remains but the number of People which what in the Territories with the Cities and Burroughs amount to 207797. Souls The Gests or Journies from BOLOGNA to FLORENCE SIENNA and ROME TO go to Florence you must travail South-East out of the Gate S. Steffano through a pleasant and fertile Country wherein rise some Hills and having gone ten miles you arrive at Pianora a Town filled with Hosteries then at Loiano among the sharp Hills somewhat farther lies Scara a place much honoured by its Country-man Romasciato a famous Souldier Petra Mala Fiorenzuola a new Castle built by the Florentines Thence after passing the River you must gain the top of the Apenines through a rough and laborious way having no repose in all that Straight three miles passage till the arival at a little Hostery at the very top on the left hand of which passage lies a profound Vally so deep and so horrid that it many times turns the brain of the Traveller to behold it hath occasioned some those in staggering whimses to fall down to their inevitable ruine Descending from whence you attain Scarperia so called from its site on the slopeness of the Apenines whence the eye may behold the lovely places of Tuscany Finally having travalled fifty miles from Bologna you reach Florence Fiorenzala Bella. FLORENCE the Fair. FLorence doth not boast it self much of antiquity being foundedbut an inconsiderable time before the Triumvirate divers are the opinionsabout its building some will have it built by the Fiesolani who considering the difficulty sharpness of the ascent descent of the Mountain whereon Fiesole was built by little and little abandoned Fiesole and built their habitations in the plain neár the Banks of Arno Others say by the Flâ—…entines who here dwelt As to its name it was called Florence either from its so great felicity in the suddainness of its increase like a Flower to its perfect beauty or for that it was made a Colony to Rome the Flower of the World T is seated in a plain and is cut through in two parts by the River Arno. T is compassed on the East and Northparts in the likeness of a half Theatre by pleasant Hills and on the West it hath a glorious Plain extending it self forty miles broad placed between Arezzo Pisa aâ—…d is secured from the force of the Enemy by the Apâ—…nines t is five miles in compass and rather of a long than circular Form Heretofore it had 4 principal Gates and 4 Posternâ—…s when also it had 62. Towers the habitations of Gentlemen Afterwards it was in great part destroyed by Attila King of the Goths who slew some of the Citizens After which the Walls were cast down by the Fiesolaâ—…i and the barbarous which molestations enforced the â—…ltizens to quit it and retreat to adjacent Castles and so it remained wholy deprived of inhabitants till the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 802. When Charles the great from his Crownation as Emperor at Rome returning for France stayed there some daies and the place being agreable to him he gave beginning to the Walls and therein erected 150 Towers one hundred braces or Yards in the heighth and enjoyned all the dispersed Citizens to re-inhabit it from that time it augmented daily and was governed in Liberty being for all that many times infinitely perplexed with the wicked Factions of the Neri and Bianchi the Guelfi and Gibelliâ—…i Antiently their Government was thus They created two Consuls for one year giving them a Senate of one hundred Fathers wise men afterwards this Order changed and ten Citizens elected calling them Antiani which order was also several times changed through the differences between the Gentlemen and Citizens and the Citizens and common people The Citizens by their Ingenuity heaped up much Riches and that made their pride so great that the one would not give place to the other It subdued many Ciities of Tuseaâ—…y and Romagnâ—… particularly Pisa a potent Republick is at present under one sole Prince with it The sereness and goodness of the Ayr generates many good Witâ—… there and their Ingenuity procures great Riches It is divided as aforesaid by the Arno over which are built four magnificent Bridges It hath plenty of all things from the environing Hills Plains and the navigable River It stands as it were in
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
made publick by Bartholomeo Platina Papiro Maxone and others whom we must not read without great circumspection Panuino hath likewise presented to common view all their Images taken by the life Of the Cardinals their times and appurtenances Onofrius Panuinus Alfonso Chiaccone a Spaniard and others have wrote and Theodorus Gallus in Anvers engraved the Images and Elogies of twelve Cardinals Of the seaven Churches of ROME which are most visited and more richly fraught with Indulgencies and Priviledges than the Rest. THE Moddel of the Temples of Rome vary according to the different times and humours of Men sometimes building them Round without Collumnes without traversing and without Casements leaving in the Covering an open hole or Cupola for the light to enter in at Of this sort is the Rotonda of Rome a Church worthy consideration for the Architecture Which some times our Ancestors made in an Orbicular forme but with rowes of Pillars diversly placed as is San Stefano in Monte Celio heretofore the Temple of Iuno and that of Costanza or Constantina in the Via nomentina without the Porta Viminale which t is thought was antiently the Temple of Baâ—…chus Sometimes they used to build their Temples Square with one or two Bankes or Pillars as now appear S. Giovanni Lateranense in Monte Celiv San Paolo in the Via Ostiense Sant Agnese without the Walls And other times they formed them by entressing or joyning the Pillars together at Top near to which just under the Roof they fixed their little Casements wch were more or less according to the proportion of the Structure of which Sort are many in Rome with stately Frontispieces some of them being adorned with Columns of pretious and divers coloured Marble and many others whose Pavement are wrought in figures with little pieces of Marble alla Moisaca The First of the Seaven principal Churches of ROME called Santa Crose in HIERUSALEM THis Church is the first and chief in devotion seated in Monte Celio nobly built by Helena Mother of the Emperour Constantine the Great In it are 20. Collumnes and two fair tombs of black red and white Marble the covering of the High Altar is sustained by 4 Marble Pillars One inscription there to be read shewes that the ground or earth the Foundation or Floor thereof is the true holy Earth brought from Ierusalem T is believed this was the Asylum or Sanctuary in the life time of Romulus and that Tullius Hostilius afterwards enlarged the City to the said Asylum T is observable that in the same place where Impunity for evil works was afforded to Malefactors under the first Founders of Rome under the ChristiReligion Our Lord God is pleased to grant remission of our Sins In this Church is the Tombe of Pope Benedict the 7th with an Epitaph in verse and of Francesco Quigone a famous Sculptor More of this Church will be spoken in the second dayes Journey The Second Church of the Sainto FABIANO and SEBASTIANO THis Church stands in the Via Appia built with plain work in a long form the pavement Marble contiguous with a fair Monastery now deserted Herein were at first reposed the Bodies of St. Peter and St. Paul The High Altar is sustained with four Marble Pillars and is raised with Stone as are most Altars in Rome Under an Iron grate lyes the Body of St. Stephen the Pope a Martyr and of 46. other blessed Popes with the Reliques of above 74 thousand Martyrs And for that this Church is so far distant The Pope grants that instead of visiting it in the extream hot weather The People should repair to Santa Maria del Popolo for their Indulgencies Of this Church more will be said in the voyage of the second day to the Via Appâ—…a And of Santa Maria del Popolo in the Catalogue of Churches The third Church named San GIOVANNI del LATERANO THis may be called the Chief amongst the seaven principal Churches having been formerly the Abode of the Popes in Monte Celio and Sixtus the 5th though in vain reedified that Pontifical Palace even from the very foundations wherein was frequently celebrated the famous synod called Synodo Lateranenze in Rome The Roman Emperours used to receive the golden Crown in this Church It s pavement is wrought with lovely Marble and Its Roof richly carved and guilt It hath many Reliques of Saints as the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul the Vest of St. Stephen bloudy and corne by those Stones cast at him and divers other things worthy veneration Of which the Bulls of Pope Sixtus quartus and of Pope Gregory cutt in Marble affirm the Veritie This Church was repaired in many places by Nicholas the 4th in the yeer 1291 the testimony whereof yet remains in the Front T is reported That its Collumnes were transported by Vespatian from Ierusalem to Rome This is one of the five Patriarchal Churches The Baptistary is conjoyned to the said Church wherein Constantine the Emperour was baptized by the Pope St. Sylvester Into one of the Chappels whereof dedicated to St. Iohn Baptist no Woman is permitted to enter under pain of Excomunication in memorial that One Woman was cause of the death of St. Iohn Baptist who first published Baptism The Collumnes of Porphyr therein standing being rubbed with ones hand smell as sweet as any Violet they were brought from Pilates House together with one of its Gates and the Collumne whereon the Cock stood who by his thrice crowing put St. Peter in mind of the words of our Saviour In Saint Iohn they preserved the Ark of the old Testament the Rod of Aaron the Ladder brought from the Palace of Pilate whereto Christ was bound when whipt with rods the drops of whose blood yet appear on it The stone whereon the Iews cast lots with other notable things particularly treated on by the Authors aforenamed These things are publickly shewed to Pilgrims the Epitaphs of Pope Sylvester the second and of Antonio Cardinale Porthogese are legible in verse as also of Lorenzo Valle a Canon of this Church who deceased 50 yeers old in Anno. 1465. In whose commendation this Elogy was sett up Laurens Valla jacet Romanae gloria linguae Primus eniâ—… docuit quâ decet arte loqui Here is the Porta Santa which at the beginning of the yeer of Jubilee the Popes use to set open In the Voyage of the second day other things will be mentioned of this Church The third Church named SAN LORENZO without the PORTA ESQUILINA THis large Church is sustained by 36 Marble Pillars and connexed with it is the Monastery of the Canon Regulars of St. Austin which is called di san Salvadore Here is one of those places under ground as St. Sebastiano wherein are layed many of the bones of Martyrs brought from the Cemeterio Ciriaco and here are the Reliques of San Lorenzo among which is the stone whereon that blessed St. being taken off the Gridiron was placed and expired which stone is covered with an Iron Grate
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
the name word is comprehended the tongue or the sword wherefore aptly also to our purpose it may receive the same signification the Pope giving to understand to Princes that they in particular ought to have their tongue and speech adorned with Gold that is to say clothed with wisdom and prudence with which sword they ought to separate the good thoughts from the bad and by their wise counsels to penetrate and see into the very hearts of others To this misterious sword the holy Pope adjoyns a belt interwoven with gold which even of old was a sign of Majesty and military dignity well then may the Prince on whom t is bestowed apprehend the exhortation by it given him to demean himself well for the holy Church against all factions The Hat which is the covering of the head the most noble part of man is an Ensigne of nobility and liberty which hat also antiently was wont to be made in the form of a half sphere as t were one part of a great egg divided just in the midst but in later times our modern arâ—…ificers not apprehending the significations or willing to fructifie humours make it after another fashion It s round form putting us in minde of Heaven by which we are covered and adviseth the Prince to direct all his actions to the glory of God and the benefit of his soul for whose eternal dwelling were the Heavens made the celestial colour of the said hat denotes the same thing The white colour of the skins and the Pearl signifies that sincerity and purity of the mind wherewith the Prince ought to be endowed to the end he may in the end accomplish a concomitance with those most sacred minds the wch to that time he hath or ought to have endeavoured to imitate with all clearness of conscience The Colour white hath been alwaies esteemed gratefull to the Almighty being a mark of Inocency therfore from great antiquity all men in the duty of sacrifice used to cloth themselves therwith Pythagoras his sentence is that every white thing is good Fully in his second book De legibus saies that white is very agreeable to God We might also bring testimonies to this purpose from Cicero and others but to what end should we search prophane authors since Christ himself in his glorious Transfiguration made himself obvious to many clothed with rayments white as snow and the Angels also who were at the sepulchre of our Lord the morning of his resurrection day when the women went to seek after the most holy body presented themselves in whitegarments from the above specified records the Prince is advised of the nature of that Animal the Ermine off which those skins are taken for the Ermine is infinitly neat and enemie to filthiness and durt in so much that the mouth of their Cave being environed by the hunters with dirt they do rather expose themselvs to be taken then to run for their escape through dirt to defile themselves All which things then advise us That God does expect in us Cleaness of heart sincerity of tongue wisedom of mind elevation of the understanding and prudence in our actions whereof his Holinesse by that beatified sword adorned in the aforecited manner intends to give the Prince a continual remembrance that in goodness and works he ought to surpasse all other sort of people in an eminent degree begin by the omnipotent God in the government of the world made so much superiour to all other People The Prince at the reception of this gift kneels down and the Pope then gives it him exhorting him by many expressions to be a good souldier of Christ Then the Prince acknowledging the Pope as Vicar of God returns his thanks in Latin swearing that he will not lay any thing more to heart then a correspondence by his actions with the desire of his holiness and all other Christian Princes afterwards he delivers the Sword to his most noble and chief Minister who bears it before the Cross while the Pope goes out of the Vestry At last having had a congratulation from the Cardinals and Embassadors and taken leave the Prince with the sword born up before him being accompanyed by the Governors of the Castle Saint Angelo by the Comptrolor of the Pallace by all the Nobility by the Pontifical Family and the Palatine Court with great Pomp and the sounding of Trumpets and noise of Drumms he marcheth out of the Palace by the military Porticue thus attended to his own Dwelling Of the increases of the TYBER CHAP. XIV ON the 9th day of November in the yeer 1379. the Tyber rise three braces or yards and the mark of it may be seen at Santa Maria Della Minerva In 1422. on Saint Andrews day under Pope Martin it rose above a brace and halfe In 1476. the eighth of January a little above the Channell Shores In 1495. in December being the third yeer of the Papacy of Alexander the sixth it augmented thirteen foot and a little after in Leo the 10ths time somewhat more In 1530. Under Clement the 7th on the 8th and 9th dayes of October it encreased twenty four feet the mark of it appears at Saint Eustachio upon a wall in the midst of Santa Maria del Popolo and in Castle Saint Angelo where the Governor Guidon de Medici then caused a signal to be made of it In 1542. it rose and of that rise Maria Molza speaks elegantly In 1589. the 24th of December in the 7th yeer of Clement the VIII it rose with so vast a destruction to the City Rome that there remains no memorial of the like at which time the Pope was but just returned from Ferrara being then lately received and restored to the Apostolick Chair Whence we may receive for truth this maxime that sorrow wailing are the subsequents of Joy The Pope had enough to do for all the following yeer to repair the structreus which by that inundation were ruinated and to restore Rome to a convenient condition against the yeer of Jubile which happened in anno 1600. The curious are referred to the tracts of Lodovico Genesio and Giacomo Castiglione Touching the preserving ones health in ROME UPON this subject wrote Alesandrio Petronio a Roman Phisition and Marsilio Cognato of Verona a Phisicion also at Rome in his book of observing a rule in diet in the four books of his divers lectures and others also to be found in Rome also Girolamo Mercurio speaks somethings of it in his various readings The air of Rome is thick and ill tempered wherefore you ought to abstain from walking abroad at such times as the Sun does not subt elize it that the sky is not serene that is early in morn or els late at night or when the weather is disturbed or foggy In the Church Santa Maria della Minerva you may read these verses to the purpose of preserving health in Rome Enecat insolitos residentes pessimus aer Romanus solitos non bene gratus