The Relation of the REJOYCINGS MADE IN ROME For the BIRTH of the most Serene Prince of Wales Only SON of James the Second King of Great Britain Defender of the Faith c. Faithfully translated into English from the Italian Impression as it was Printed at Rome and Genoa LONDON Printed for Randal Taylor 1689. The Relation of the REJOYCINGS MADE IN ROME For the BIRTH of the most Serene Prince of Wales Only SON of James the Second King of Great Britain Defender of the Faith c. THE Angelical Kingdom of England that in times past equalled as I may so say Idumaea with so many Glorious Palms of Martyrs sent to Heaven and which published thousands of Volumes that her Holy Doctors wrote in Favour of the Roman Church with a Diabolical Impiety rebelling against the Eternal Monarch became a miserable Slave of Satan And changing the Divine Worship into the Doctrine of Devils continued in a most deplorable Condition for many Years an Enemy of the King of Kings but at length the most Merciful God being moved to Compassion for so many Souls so unhappily lost was inclined to reduce her to her Primitive State and make her a Worshipper of the Holy Catholick Religion and the Successor of St. Peter his Vicar on Earth And to bring so Worthy a work to a Fortunate end makes use of the most ardent Zeal of the Catholick James the Second there by the Divine Providence constituted King. He was prepared for so Glorious an Enterprise not regarding either Dangers or Oppositions nor forbearing any Application always Indefatigable and all Intent to reduce his Triple Dominion to the Adoration of the Holy Trinity the Confession of the True Faith and the Obedience of the Pope This he knew he should effect through the assistance of the Divine Omnipotence which made the lamentable Farce give way to his Power who trampled on the Heretical Doctrines caused the Precepts of Jesus Christ to be publickly Professed called home the banished Priests restored the profaned Temples to the sacred Ministery and throwing down the Banners of the Prince of Darkness sets up the Standard of the Catholick Faith. And offering his Scepter at the Feet of his Holiness our Lord Pope Innocent the XI resumed it tributary to Heaven raising to himself Statues of his singular Merit with the Divine Majesty and everlasting Fame througout the Universe And having driven away those Rebel Angels that led his People to Eternal Damnation gave them for their Guides Priests of the Church of Rome that would Conduct them to the everlasting Delights of Paradise The Great God being pleased to reward him on Earth before he took him hence to receive a more glorious Recompence in Heaven has blessed him with a Male-child Born the 20 th of June in the Year 1688. being according to the English Style the Feast of the Holy Trinity betwixt the Hours of Nine and Ten in the Morning The Catholick Ruler acknowledged so valuable a Grace bestowed on him by the Creator of all and returned his due Thanks rejoycing that he was like to breed up a Son himself in the Divine Precepts that might be equally Heir both of his Father's Greatness and most ardent Zeal for the Catholick Religion By an Express from his Majesty this News arriving at Rome the Second of July occasioned a Jubilee in the Breast of the most Holy Pastor and universally filled all with extreme Joy. Whereof there were publick Demonstrations and for Three Days successively was solemnized the Nativity of this Royal Infant beginning from the 25 th of the same Month the Feast of St. James the Apostle in the manner sollowing His Eminence Cardinal Philip Thomas Howard of Norfolk of the Order of the Preachers Titular of St. Mary at the Minerva designing the Church of St. Thomas of the English Nation for the return of Thanks to God richly hung it with Brocard Silks and very noble Tapestries which with the sacred Vestments appeared so Splendidly by the Reflection of a vast Number of Lights that it resembled a Palace of the Sun and even dazled the Eyes of the Beholders Leave being obtained of his Holiness the Morning of the said 25 th Day there was a Chappel for the Cardinals where were present Eighteen of their Eminences who Gloried much in this That after so many Years they were at last met together to congratulate the Nativity of a Son of a Catholick King of England Here was celebrated the High Mass at which assisted the most Famed Musicians and choicest Singers making their several Vertues to be admired by their Angelical Voices and Harmonious Consorts After the Communion Te Deum was begun which being followed by them was accompanied by a Consort of Drums and Trumpets and divers Salutes of Mortar-pieces got ready for that purpose that for a long time made the Latian Fields and Banks of Tyber to resound His Eminence caused Wine Bread and Cheese and other Refreshments to be distributed to the Servants Foot-men and Coach-men of their Eminences the Cardinals that were at this Feast who while Eating and Drinking made continual Huzzaes of Viva for his Eminence and the Royal Babe He caused also a great Fountain of most noble Architecture painted over like Marble to be erected covered with Gold on the Corners and Edges on the top whereof were the Arms of his Majesty of Great Britain adorned with a rich Crown supported by a Lion and Unicorn near whereto in the Night were set great Numbers of white Wax Lights adding Beauty to this stately Structure that for Three Days together and as many Nights run no small Quantity of exquisite Wine for the benefit of the Publick and was distributed in exact Order by Men habited in Vests with the Arms of his Eminence imbroidered on them All the Palace of his Eminence contiguous to the forementioned Church of St. Thomas in the Three Rows of Apartments without was beset with Torches of white Wax and below were Links on several Posts of Wood planted on the Ground about the Palace making that vast Fabrick by an unusual Miracle more resplendent than even the Heavens when fullest of Stars His Eminence also caused a Mount of Earth to be raised in the Court of the English College joyning to the said Church of St. Thomas on the top whereof was made a Majestick Theatre all adorned with rich Tapestries and Greens set together by a curious Workmanship in the midst of which the First Day to imitate the Ancient Custom of London on their Solemn Festivals was roasted a whole Ox the extreme Parts all covered with Gold and Greens and within full of young Pigs and several sorts of Fowls that from divers Parts of the Ox seemed though dead as if they would fly Death thrusting out their Heads and Feet at the several Holes in it which were certain to serve either as a prey to the devouring Flames if they fell there or to the People if pulled thence And for the roasting the said Great
Animal there was a Machine erected framed with great Wheels turned with Six Men in Coats with the Arms of his Eminence gilded on them and Caps with the like who going round that Theatre dispensed Flesh and Bread in great Quantity to the People making frequently loud Acclamations of Viva for the new Prince of England It gave no little Content to see the People that thronged to get the Meat and when some with no small Pains were come up just ready to receive it they were strongly beat back by a Multitude of others that with all the Force they had thrust up to this Machine and in like manner was it great Pleasure to behold the coveted Food taken out of a Man's Hand after he had got it with a great deal of Sweat by those that could not have it from the Distributers One greedily snatched the Bread and Meat another went to Drink a third returned to the Theatre or to the Fountain one Clamoured another at a distance called for Things one asked for Wine another cryed out to make way that he might come to Eat and Drink And thus Eating and Drinking not to lose time in the Narration in all appearance it looked like an inward Jubile and such a Spectacle was so pleasing that all Rome unanimously confessed they had not seen the like During the Illuminations the Lights in the Air excited not only this City but the Neighbouring Places to the greater Rejoycings Two good Consorts of Drums and Trumpets continuing all the Three Days and Nights made all that Feasting Neighbourhood ring again And in the Palace of his Eminence was heard most incomparable Musick and Symphonies of the best Instruments where his Eminence gave great Quantities of Refreshments to all those Persons of Quality that were there met together for the Festivity of the Royal Infant His Eminence did also Exercise the wonted Acts of his Generosity distributing large Alms among the modest indigent Persons of the Parish of St. Catherine where his Eminence lives and the like to the Parish of St. Mary at the Minerva of which he is Titular and besides he gave a rich Regale to all of his Court proportionably to their respective Charges And other Cardinals and Princes that were either allied by Relation to his Majesty or were his Dependents or well affectioned to the Kingdom made their Feastings for the happy Birth of the Royal Babe by setting up so many Torches and Lights at their Palaces and making so many Fires about them that it seemed as if they would be reduced to Ashes in the Flames Sir John Lytcott Knight Agent for his Majesty of Great Britain illuminated all the Windows of his Palace which stands in the Strada Gregoriana with a vast Number of white Wax Torches for Three Nights where continually as also the Three Days Drums and Trumpets sounded and at his own Expences he made all the adjoyning Streets to his Palace to be inlightned by the hanging up many Lanthorns with the Royal Arms of England and Links the whole being accompanied with the Discharge of a great Number of Mortar-pieces Over the Portal of his Palace which was all hung with red Damask and with Galloon and Fringe of Gold was seen exposed a rare Picture the work of some able Apelles more than 12 Hands high on which was drawn the Royal Infant with the Habit of the most Noble Order of the Garter and every way encompassed with a great Laurel which descended from Heaven and was upheld by Two Angels and girt about with a numerous Army of the same one whereof held the Royal Crown of England another in one Hand a Shield with the Arms of England and with the other the Sword and Garter another had an Olive-branch in its right Hand and in its left the Cross of Union of England with Scotland and another above the rest in the opening of the Heaven on a Label exhibited these Words Serus redeat And over the Picture of the most Serene Prince were his Arms i. e. Three Feathers of an Ostrich with this Motto Ich Dien i. e. I serve Below at a distance was the Sun rising in the East Figuratively expressing the Child Born to be the most Resplendent Sun of the Catholick Heaven and also there was seen the Sea with a Naval Fight where the Invincible Courage and Renowned Valour of the Admiral of England Triumphed over their Enemies This Picture made its Beholders immovable who though they well knew that it was made by Colouring and Pencil and that it had only a Surface nevertheless seemed to cheat themselves insomuch that they believed the Objects there represented not feigned but true They saw the Child stir the Wings of the Angelick Troops clap together the Waves of the Salt-Element move and more than that dyed with Blood the broken Masts the torn Sails and the Sterns shattered in pieces there were seen labouring to swim those that remained alive out of the sinking Ship they saw the Souldiers and the gasping Mariners the Sport of the Waters and it appeared to them that they asked their help they saw the Fire of the Cannons and if they heard not the Sound they fancied it which because of its distance could not reach them and if many had not been thrust away from that Place by the People that came to admire so Worthy a Work they had been fixed there for a long time And this Picture was in the midst of Two one of the King and the other of the Queen and above these was that of his Holiness He caused also the Second Day an Ox to be Roasted with other Animals within it and because the Strada Gregoriana was too streight for such a Performance he chose the Square of Trinita de Monti near thereto where it was Roasted in a spacious Place and there the Flesh distributed with Bread in great abundance where the Wine run out of a fine Fountain for Three Days and as many Nights together and the same and like accidents followed in the distribution of it as what were recounted in that of his Eminence Cardinal Howards The Scotch College set up over the Portal a very Charming Picture where was seen the Royal Babe in Swadling-Clothes lying on a very rich Cushion on one side whereof were Painted on a well wrought Pillar the Three Crowns of the Three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland and on the other at an agreeable distance there was seen a rising Sun alluding as that before to the Birth of the Royal Prince and over the Picture was this Motto Magnus Amor Matris Magnum Patris Incrementum And that Picture was placed in the midst of Two others one representing the King his Father on the right Hand and the other on the left the Queen his Mother and all the Three were under a rich Canopy of Red Damask edged with Gold whereto were set some Torches before that made them seen as clearly in the Night as Day And if the Pictures of Sir
John Lytcott were wonderful these rous'd in those that beheld them the unusual amazement seeming that if they stood silent it was not that they could not speak but because silence became a Royal Decorum in this Conjuncture And for Three Days they had Illuminations not only all over the Front of the Church and the College but also of all the Houses that were near both of one and the other side the Street at their proper Expences And in like manner there was cast for Three Days and Three Nights abundance of Wine from a pretty contrived Fountain placed on one side the Portal of the Colledge adorned with Excellent Paintings and Greens and on the other side were distributed several hundred Loaves of Bread to the Poor And to this the People flocking together to Eat and Drink as in other Places made of its self a very delightful Sight There they discharged sometimes betwixt the Day and Night 150 Mortar-pieces there they burnt many Hogsheads the Trumpets sounded from the Windows and the Drums in the Streets They also made a very Splendid Banquet for all those of the Scotch Nation that they found in Rome The Vrceline Nuns lately founded by the Pious Munificence of Mary Beatrice Queen Consort of England and the most Serene Laura Dutchess of Modena her Mother in acknowledgment for so great a Benefit had Mass Solemnly Sung in their Church and Te Deum with discharge of Mortar-pieces and for Three Nights made rich Illuminations and Lanthorns with the Arms of the King of Great Britain Artificially disposed over all their Cloyster The Convent of the Dominican Fathers of the English Nation Dedicated to St. John and Paul enlightned for Three Nights all their Church and Convent and particularly their Steeple that seemed in the Darkness of the Night as if there had been raised from Earth to Heaven another Sphere of Stars The Irish Dominican Fathers of St. Sistus and St. Clement also set up innumerable Lights on their Church at Convent The Religious Irish Franciscans of St. Isidore made a very Glorious appearance of Lights that adorned all the Frontis-piece of their Church for Three Nights Mr. Michael Plunket Agent in Rome for the Irish Clergy had very many Lights at all the Windows of his usual Habitation for Three Nights after the same manner But no less considerable was the Magnificent Demonstration of Joy both by Fires and Lights that were made the Three Nights by Selayne an Irish Man Professor of Divinity in the College de Propaganda Fide and Doctor of the Sorbonne And very many other considerable Persons in Token either of Dependence on His Majesty or out of Reverence or Affection to him Rejoyced as others did with Lights Torches and Fires for so happy a Birth All the People of Rome were only in those Places where the Rejoycings were made the rest of the City remaining Unpeopled Every one grieved that he could not be at the same time in all those Places where these Testimonies were given for Joy of the Birth of so great a Prince so that while they injoyed the Sight at one Place they afflicted themselves with the consideration of losing it at others And those that sought nothing but Eating and Drinking complained against Nature for that it had not made them more Bellies or those they had larger and all would have been Briareus's that they might have stretched out an Hundred and Hundred Arms to receive so many Portions In fine all Rome Rejoyced every Inhabitant in it Feasted and nothing else was heard all over but the Glorious Name of the Happy James II. in whom the Divine Blessings were seen apparently to reward his Heroick Acts in having granted him a Successor who treading in his Fathers Steps should pursue the Course of his Catholick Glories The Seven Hills Burned and seemed one only Light and one only Fire and in despight of the Horrors of the Night gave a clearness more resplendent than that of the greater Planet at noon Day and they look'd so as when by the Cruelty of Nero they were made a prey to the Flames or that they represented the famous City of Troy when by Treachery it was made a Trophy to the Fires The Consorts of Musick the Festival Sounds of the Drums Trumpets and Mortar-pieces and the common Acclamations that gave Applause to the English Rulers and Tributes of Joy to the Born Infant seemed by consent even to deafen Heaven FINIS