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
great Men that they might the more commodiously apply themselves to the Study of Learning Of which were Virgil Alipius Saint Augustine Hermolao Barbaro Merula Francesco Filelfo Celio Rodigino Alexander the sixth and Pious the fourth Popes And although too often this City was thrown down to the very foundations and at last furrowed with the plough of the Enemies yet it ever revived again and that with more beauty and Splendor than at first increasing still so much in Riches and People that it ever kept a place among the chief Cities of Italy Near the Church San Salavdore there stood a proud Palace of the Emperors with a Temple dedicated to Jupiter made in emulation of the Campidoglio at Rome and where now the Counsel is kept was the Palace for Justice where also the Proclamations of the Dukes were accustomed to be publickly read and the due punishments executed on Malefactors There was also a Theatre to present Comedies a place for Horse races and a large Circle where now is Santa Maria Maggiore The Garden near San Steffano was an Amphitheatre where they accustomed to fight Duels The Church of San Nazario was an old Prison where they condemned Malefactors to fight with the wild Beasts there preserved to that end in great number The Common Field was then a Theatre where the young men exercised themselves in taming and manning of Horses and fighting Where the Cathedral Church is was a place with Stalls many waies where they made their Feasts to their Heroes and Houshold Gods The Stalls now for the Cattel then was a pleasant Garden beautified and planted with many Fruit trees and plants brought from far Countries great store of odoriferous flowers Rivolets of Christalline waters Statues and Sculptures of Marble Where the Church of San Lorenzo stands now were the hot Baths of Maximinian Nero and Nerva the Emperors nothing inferiour to them at Rome Besides which antiquities there yet is preserved a stately Armory in the Palace replenished with most noble Arms worthy any Prince for the value and fairness being not onely inlayed with Gold and Silver but engraven with greatest Cost and Workmanship where now is the Church San Lorenzo was a Temple dedicated to Hercules made in the form of the Rotunda at Rome near which were erected 16. Marble Pillars and upon them a Palace for the Emperours part whereof was ruined by fire the rest by time nothing but the Pillars remaining All this Fabrick was raised by Maximinian Hercules who ordained the Town should be no more called Milano but Herculeo At one end of those Pillars is this inscription put in Imp. Caesari L. Aurelio vero Aug. Arminiaco Medico Parthico Max. Trib. Pot. VII Imp. IIII. Cos. III. PP Divi Antonini Pii Divi Hadriani Nepoti Divi Trajani Parthici Pronepoti Divi Nervae Apnepoti Dec. Dec. This Milan was alwaies a potent City whence we read that it many times made opposition to the Romans and often fought the Goths and other Barbarous People and also against both the Federicks the first and second Emperours obtaining a most glorious victory It subjected to it Navara Bergamo Pavia Como Lodi and Tortona and freed Genoua from the hands of the Moors The Romans were wont to say Qui miseram citius cupiunt effundere vitam Modiolanum adeant gens ea dura nimis It was so much prized by the adjacent Countreys that it being ruined by Federick Barbarossa the Emperor Cremona Verona Piacenza advised how to restore it at their own cost and charges and in all times t was very populous It received the light of the Faith from S Barnabas sent thither from Saint Peetre who then resided in Antiochia which was in the 46. year after the coming of our Saviour where he substituted for Bishop Anatalone the Greek his Disciple whom in process of time succeeded many holy Bishops among others that glorious pillar of the Church Saint Ambrose the most renowned Doctour who finding the Bodies of San Gervaso and Protaso the Martyrs caused that Church to be built which is now called San Ambrogio This was the Cathedral Church where is seen the true effigies of the brazen Serpent made by Moses brought hither by Theodosius the Emperor as also the effigies of San Bernardo upon a Pillar who in this Church said Mass preached and wrought miracles Likewise a sumptuous Sepulchre wherein lies Lewis the second Emperour and Pepin King of Italy both Sons of Charls the great there under the Altar within a deep Pit locked with four Gates of Iron is kept with great reverence the body of Saint Ambrose and a book writ with his own hand Angelberto of the illustrious Family of Pusterly in the time of Charls the Great being Arch-Bishop The Emperor gave to this Altar a noble Pall embroidered with Saints and Angels in 20. several Squares in the midst whereof is the Saviour of the World as he rose from the dead upon whose head is a Diamond set round with gemmes of inestimable valew On both sides of which Altar are four other Images of Saints in the middle is a Cross. The Vests are all over beset with many pearls and pretious stones behind the Altar is another Cross of silver two Cubits high and one an half broad where are 23. figures of Saints of embossed work This so stupendious work cost in those days 28000. Scudaes and is now worth 100000. Volvinio the excellent Sculptor of those times was the Artificer of it Saint Ambrose stood at the Gate of this Church when he excomunicated Theodosius the Emperor commanding him not to enter therein Contiguous with it is a noble and stately Monastery of the Fryers Celestines At the issuing out of Saint Ambrogio is a poor Chapel in a blind corner with a Well where Saint Ambross baptized Saint Augustine and t is known that this was the way which Saint Augustine and Saint Ambrose took hand in hand to give thanks to God in San Gervaso for the holy Baptism received singing Te Devm Laudamus as the Inscription testifieth Hic beatus Ambrosius babtizat Augustinum Deodatum Alippum hic beatus Ambrosius incipit te Deum laudamus Augustinus sequitur Te deum confitemur The meanness of the place makes it most credible to be true the name of Carolus Boromaeus a Council of Trent Saint highly cryed up at Milan having too much extinguisht the memory and esteem of that learned Father The Church of Santa Tecla is replete with holy Reliques here rests Saint Ambrose and among other Reliques a Nayl which was fixed and drove through a member of the Body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into the Wooden Cross whereon he was crucifyed by the wicked Jewes which was bestowed on it by Theodosius the Emperor This is the antientest Temple of Milan and was first consecrated to the Saviour after to the Virgin Mary and lastly to Tecla but antiently many yeers before the coming of the Messiias they say there stood a most famous Temple
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
Vicentini the Opitergini Concordiesi Altinati and several other People who to fly the Fury of Attila King of the Hunnes recovered this Place gives no small Imbellishment to this View Between the said Moorish Grounds now the Streets and the Sea by Dame Nature is raised a Fence or Bank to defend the City the small Islands against the furious Waves of the Sea with which 't is invironed Which Fence is Thirty five Miles long and bends in the shape of a Bow opening it self in five several Places for each of which is a Gate as well to permit Barkes to enter in at them as to maintain the said Channels full of Water The profound Havens of Chioza and Malamocco with the Forts built at the Mouth of the said Havens to keep any Armado or Fleet at a distance And lastly the beholding the Mountaines of Carnia and of Histria and on the Right Hand the Apenine Hills with Lumbardy together with the Famous Hills called Euganei with the mouthes of the Rivers Adice and Poe and behind them the Alpes of Baviera and of the Gerisons alwaies covered with Snow gives no small satisfaction nor beauty to his Prospect And now we come to the Famous Piazza or broad place of S. Mark whose platform resembles a Carpenters square at the one end whereof stands the Admirable Church of St. Mark and at the other That of St. Geminian wrought with excellent Stones and round the said Place are built fair and sumptuous Houses all of Marble Stone under which are large open Galleries wherein are Shops for several Artificors In this place daily appear an infinite number of Persons of all Qualities and Countries in their several Habits as well for Newes and Discourses as for Traffick and Merchandize At the upper end of the said Place upon the Channel called La Giâ—…deca are two Pillars admired for their Heigth and Bigness which were transported heretofore from Constantinople upon the one whereof stands a Winged Lyon the Republick Armes in token of St. Marke their Protector with this Motto Pax tibi Marce Evangelistâ—…mens and upon the other is set the Statue of St. Theodore between which Justice is done upon Traitorous Persons These were brought from Greece to Venice in the time of Sebastian Ciani the Duke upon certain Vessels of burden together with another of equal Greatness the which overcomming the Power and Industry of the Workmen labouring to lay it on the Earth it fell into the Water where at this time t is to be seen in the Deep These vast Columns were reared by an Engineer of Lombardy named Nicolo Berreterro by the strength of great Ropes wet with water retiring by little and little who asked no other reward for this his worke but that it might be Lawful for Dice-Players to play there when they pleased without any penalty This Piazza is not intirely one alone but fower united together Opposite to the Church are reared three Standards upon three high pieces of Timber which are fastened by Lead cast into the boared holes they are wrought with figures to denote the liberty of this City and have Brass Pedestalls On the right side of the Church stands the Clock house adorned with the Celestial Signs gilt thereon with the Sun and Moons monethly ingress into them most exactly wrought and painted Neer the Steeple is a sumptuous Palace built in this Age after the Ionick and Dorick fashion which reaches even to the Church of Sain Geminian which for the excellency of the Marble Statues Casements Cornishes Frets and other ornaments together with the most incomparable Architecture gives not place to any palace of Italy Next is the Zecca or Mint-house built all of flint Stone and Iron Barrs without any manner of Timber Annexed thereunto Stands the Library which had its Original from Petrarca and was afterwards aggrandized by the Cardinals Niceno Alexandro and Grimano Lastly this Piazza is rendred so Proud and marvellous by the Uniformity of Building and other Imbellishments that I cannot say all Europe affords its like The Island Muran must next be visited by taking Gondola or Boat which for its Furnaces of Glass is much admired through the World This Island is distant from Venice about a Mile and was begun to be inhabited by the Altinati and Opitergini for fear of the Hunnes At present 't is very comely and resembling Venice as well in the structures as in the Quantity of Churches but much more pleasant and delightful in respect most of the Houses have open and spacious Gardens set with all sorts of fruitful Trees Among others is the Church of Saint Peter with a Monastery belonging to the preaching Fryers well built wherein is a famous Library full of good Books In this Place they make all sorts of Vessels of Glass called Crystal Glass whose variety Workmanship surpass all others of the same materials of the whole world And the Artizans except in excellency of the materials every day find out new Inventions to make them appear more desirable with works divers from one another I will not speak of the variety of colours which they give thereunto because 't is so marvellous that I imagine it worthy all Peoples sight They counterfet excellently several things of Agate Calcidonian Emerald and Hyacinths with other pretty Toyes so excellently that I believe were Pliny to be revived and should behold them he would admiring them much more praise these mens workmanship and these artificial things than he does the vessels of Earth made and burned by the People of Aretini or of any other Nation Opposite to the Piazza of Saint Mark and about half a mile distaâ—…t is seen the Church of Saint George the Greater a stately structure of Marble In which is beheld most curious Marble both in the Pavements and in the Statues with rich workmanship of Silver and most sumptuous Sepulchres of Princes The Fryers of Saint Benedict have here a noble Monastery wherein are long open Galleries spacious Courts ample eating-Rooms and sleeping-Chambers as also most pleasant Gardens with a worthy Library In Venice are seventeen Rich Hospitals with a great number of wealthy Churches adorned with the exactest marble Stone consisting of sixty seven Parish-Churches fifty fower Convents of Fryers twenty six Monasteries of Nunns eighteen Chapels six Schools kept within the Principal Fryeries or Monasteries In all which Churches are fifty bodies of Saints one hundred forty and three Organs many Statues made at the cost of the Republick in remembrance of illustrious Persons which have valiantly fought for her or done some other signal piece of service that is to say 165 of Marble and 23 of Brass among which most worthily presents it self That proud Statue on Horseback wrought with Gold of Bartolomeo Coglione the most famous Captain-General of the Venetian Army dedicated to him by this Republiek before the Church of Saint John and Paul in testimony of his Fidelity and Valour Moreover there are fifty six
the World and singular sculptures than with collections of Brass Figures Marbles Medals and other exquisite things both natural and artificial which with the said Palace are now possessed by Signor Gasparo Mantoua Doctor of Physick and Nephew of the abovenamed Marco Luigi Coradino Doctor of Philosophy and of the Laws heretofore Reader of the Digests or Volums of the Civil Law in the University a man of a most quick wit and polite Learning an excellent disputant and particularly conversant in antiquities made a noble collection of Books Pictures Sculptures Medals antique Brass and Marble Tablets and other rarities which for the most part are enjoyed by the Signor Andrea his Son Doctor of Philosophy and Physick and Reader in the College a Virtuoso who conserves them in their Antient House in the Street called Torecelle Gio Domenico Sala Doctor of Philosophy and Physick most renowned for having been so many yeers Reader in the University and for having exercised his Profession of Physick with a known reputation In his Palace which stands in the Street called San Lorenzo hath set up a Study replenished with Books Pictures Marbles Brass pieces Medals and other pretious rarities and in particular he hath there a large and neat Press with shelves all made with Walnut Tree filled with Vessels of Christal with all the simple minerals and other rare and exquisite things which were collected by the Signor Conte Giacomo Zabarella Doctor Reader of the College and Canon of Padoua after whose death coming to the hands of Signor Bonifacio Zabarella his Brother they were by him given to the above-named Signor Gio Domenico in testimony of being his great Friend and Ally as a gift of most singular estimation Benedetto Salvatico Knight a Philosopher and Physician and chief Reader of the University a most signal person no less for his Reading than eminency in Physick hath restored near the Domo or chief Church his Palace making there a most stately Gallery gardens with Fountains Voleries and a thousand other excellencies besides his books and Pictures The Signor Conte Giacomo Zabaralla Count of Credazza and of the Empire a most renowned and vituous Person hath so much laboured in the study of History and Antiquities that meritoriously by the Learâ—…edst Pens he is styled the Restorer of Antiquity and renewer of things devouted by time being as well read in the Genealogie of Princes and other Illustrious Families a work as may be said without compare Besides that he hath found out the Invention to blason Coaâ—…s of Gentility to a great perfection with the right Linage and the equal compartments The works composed by him give a sufficient assurance that a high value is justly put upon him whereof are extant the Genealogie of Antenore Agamemnon Trasea Peto Orontio Stella Brandeburgica Polonica Auraica and the Universal Genalogie of those Princes and of many Illustrious Families the relation of so many Originals of Gentility the Histories of Conterina Cornera Zena Quirina Bemba Michiela and other his histories of the City and Families of Padoua the glories of Venice with many discourses Orations Elogies and other workes much esteemed by the Learned He hath in the Street called Coda the whole length of his Palace erected a most noble Library wherein besides that there are great Quantities of Books of Histories of Humanity and other Learning all most choice so also are there a good number of Manuscripts in Paper and Parchment whereof many are set in gold with exquisite Limning in Vermillion many whereof were never printed whose very Originals he is Master of Moreover he hath the Chronicles of Padoua as well those that are in print as in manuscript as also many of Venice and other Cities And besides these in a Press of Nut-Tree of a notable Largeness and Workmanship he hath collected many Marbles Brass pieces and other things natural and Artificial Antient and Modern of great value as also a quantity of antient Medals and of the later Princes both of Gold and Silver and other Metals which are of a sufficient valew besides many rare Pictures by the hand of the chief Men of the past Ages and the authentique pourtraies of Francesco Cardinal Bartolomeo Paulo Archbishops Orlando and Lorenzo Bishops all of the house of Zabarella and likewise of the Counts Giaccomo the elder Giulio and Giacomo the Philosopher and of other eminent men of his house He also preserves the great privileges granted to his house by many Popes Emperors Kings and Princes with the Key of gold given by Massiminian the first Emperor to the said Count Giacomo his Ancestors he likewise preserves many Antient and notable Seals of his Ancestors wherewith they used to seal the privileges of those Counts Knights Doctors and Notaries which were created by them together also with many other most incomparable excellencies both concerning his own Family and many others Monsignior Giacomo Filippo Tomassini Bishop of Citta Nova in the Street called Ponte de Tadi hath his Palace restored and signalized by the Signor Paulo his Brother long since Doctor of Laws and the first Advocate of his Age in his Countrey lately deceased with a universal sorrow This Signor is generally esteemed for a most virtuous person a Philosopher a Divine an Astrologer an Historian and a Humanist in all which he hath justified his Judgment by those most Elegant Books he hath wrote upon all these subjects so much approved by the Virtuous His Study excels no less in Books Pictures Medals and other things of valew Than in the signal Library of the works of the Lawes left him by his said Brother The Signor Conte Giovanni de Lazara Knight of the Order of Saint Stephen Son to the Signor Conte Nicolo Knight of the same Order hath no less honoured his Country by his Nobility and Virtue than for his eminency in the knowlege of the Antiquities of it and many other Countreys whereto he hath added a Collection of divers manuscripts of great esteem as also a good quantity of Medals and other things of price among which the antient Seal of the Padouan Republick whereof Scardevone in the 12 folio takes notice is greatly valued Besides on one side of his Palace which is one of the fairest of the City he hath drawn a Border whereon are set the Pourtraies of many Lords and Princes the Predecessors and Parents of his Family The Signor Sartorio Orsato Doctor in Philosophy and Physick Son of the Signor Orsato Knight of Saint Mark an eminent Subject in his Countrey is a young Student not less read and expert in Philosophy and Physick than in History Humanity and Antiquities and in his brave house in the Street of Saint Francesco hath made a Collection of the best Books and squares with a good number of Medals Marbles brass pieces and other singularities of great Price who having composed several works both in Prose and verse as well in the Latine as Italian Language to add to the fame and beauty of
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
brought in the head of Saint Iohn Baptist to her Mother In the same Church lies the body of S. Siri or rather Sylus the third Bishop of this City under the high altar with this Epitaph Hic recubat Sylus sacro baptismate dictus Cujus terra levis Florida menbra premi wherewith this Book concludes the end of the first Book THE HISTORY OF ITALY BEING A Compendious DESCRIPTION OF ROME THE Mistress of the WORLD with an Account of all particulars therein worth Observation as well Divine as Humane The Second PART Ammianus Marcellinus in the 14th Book of his History speaks after this manner of ROME T is not a little wonder that Virtue and Fortune whom the world conclude almost at perpetual discord should accord together in that instant of time when Rome for its agrandizing had so much need of their united force By which their conjoyned strengths Rome augmented her Empire to that Greatness that she subjugated the whole World T is worth considering the Paralell between her and a Childe Who in its first Infancy creeps when she began to be built and peopled then it acquires vigour strength for Adolescential Exercises so she then warred only with her neighbours but when arrived to more full strength is employed in Manly disputes So she when arived to be 300. yeers old and increased both in vigour and People began to pass Mountains and Seas pursuing Warr into the farthest Countreys where she obtained and brought home innumerable Victories and Triumphs from the Barbarous and wilde Nations In the end having made infinite noble Attempts and acquired whatever upon Earth through Valour was to be obtained as t were arrived to mature Age she begun to acquiesce whereby the better to enjoy those good benefits and Advantages which she had then provided for Comitting the Troubles of Government to the Emperors as to her Natural Children for her better and more pleasing repose At which time although the People participated of that publique Ease and Profit and the Souldiery moved not for her further advancement yet such was the Care of her Greatness that the Roman Majesty was no less Reverenced than feared Virgil in praise of Rome wrote these Verses Ipse Lupae fulvo nutricis tegmine laetus Romulus Assaraci quem sanguinis Ilia Mater Eduxit genti Mavortia condidit olim Maenia Romanosque suo de nomine dixit Illius auspiciis rerum pulcherrima Roma Imperium terris animos aequavit Olimpo Septemque una sibi muro circumdedit Arces Felix prole virûm qualis Berecinthia Mater Invehitur curru Phrygias turrita per Urbes Laeta Deûm partu centum complexa ne potes Omnes caelicolas omnes supera alta tenentes Hanc olim Indiginae Fauni Nimphaeque tenebant Gensque virûm truncis duro robore nata Quae duo disjectis tenuerunt oppida muris Hanc Ianus pater hanc Saturnus condidit Urbem Ianiculum Huic illi fuerat Saturnia nomen And Ovid surnamed Naso composed these of Rome Crescendo formam mutavit Martia Roma Appenini genae quae proxima Tibridis undis Mole sub ingenti posuit fundamina rerum Quanta nec est nec erit nec visa prioribus annis Hanc alii proceres per saecula longa potentem Sed dominam rerum de Sanguine natus Iuli Effecit quo quum tellus fuit usa fruuntur AEthereae sedes caelumque â—…it exitus illi Who saith also in another place Hîc ubi nunc Roma est olim fuit arduasylva Tan taque res paâ—…cis pascua bobus erat In another Gentibus est aliis tellus data limite certo Romanae spatium est urbis orbis idem Divers other testimonies and Declarations of the Magnificence of Rome were writ by Ausonius Claudianus Rutilius Numantianus old Authors and by Iulius Caesar Scaliger Faustus Sabeus a Brescian and other modern writers which for brevity sake are here omitted but without comitting an unpardonable fault we must not leave out these elegant verses of Marcus Antonius Flaminius viz. Antiquum revocat decus Divûm Roma domus caput Urbium Vertex nobilis Imper I Mater magnanimûm Roma Quiritium Fortunata per Oppida Cornu fundit opes â—…opia divite Virtuti suus est honos Et legum timor prisca redit fides Nor these of M. Valerius Martialis Terrarum Dea gentiumque Roma Cui par est nihil nihil secundum The praise of ROME written by STEFANO PIGHIO ROME the Glorious is replenisht with stupendious Structures as well publique appertaining to the Popes as private belonging to Cardinals and Princes who at this time frequent that City The Gardens behind the Vatican called Belvedere from their beauty and pleasantness are no less estimable In which Pope Sistus quartus erected a noble Palace without regard to his expence soe it might be excellently carved painted guilt and embellish't with rare figures thereby to make it a Kingly Receptacle for entertainment of such eminent Princes and Lords as should repair to Rome Before the Front of that Pallace where the Pope resides is a most stately Porticue composed in the form of a Theater raised some steps above the Earth and garnished with many marble Statues and on the western part is another Porticue which stands between the one and the other Palace Belveder being near the Popes Palace and will be when finish't according to the design a most stately Piece and of great value But of greater wonder are those footsteps and marks of old Rome which seem rather the works of Gyants than of ordinary men although compared to what t was much inferiour by the great fallings and decayes of Towers and Walls in divers places where stood formerly publique Edifices Martial in most elegant Verse sets the Theater of Titus Vespacian before the seaven wonders of the World and not unworthily since to this day it creates admiration in all judicious Men by its prodigious Structure Who admires not the Pantheon or the Circalean Dioclesian and Constantinian Baths which Fabricks are built with rare art and so great that they seem Castles and Towns Or the vast number of Arches Triumphals Collumns Sculptures of whole Armies figured to the Life Pyramids and Obelisks of so vast bigness that who would transport one of them must build a ship large and strong enough to float and sail laden with a Mountain What shall we say of the great entire Statues of the Castori on Horseback of the great bodies of Rivers prostrate on the ground of so many brass Statues and Vessels capacious to bath in or of those Marble Tablets and Pillars with hundreds of other excellencies Each of which are worthy of and would fill up a particular volume if worthily described The Gardens of Belvedere contain some Statues of white Marble far bigger than the body of a Man as of Apollo of Hercules of Venus of Mercury of the Genius of the Prince thought by some to be of Anthony of Adrian the
Show places in Rome were Il Massimo l'Agonio Il Flaminio that of Nero and that of Alexandre The memorable Porticues or open Galleries Denomminations ensue Il Pompeio Il Corinthio della Concordia della Libertà di Augusto di Severo di Panteo di Metello di Constantino di Q Catullo del Foro di Augusto di Trajano di Livia del circo Massino di Nettuno di Quirino di Mercurio di Venere Cricina di Ottavio Iulia and that called Tribunale Aurelio The famous Collumnes were Lo Rostrata la Lattaria la Bellica la Menia those of Trajan of Caesar of Antonius pius and those in the Porticue of Concordia The Piramides these one in the Circo maximo one in the Campo Martio one in the Mauseolo or rich Tombe of Augustus one of the Sun of the Araceli of the Moon of the holy Trinity of the Vatican of Saint Petre and of San Mauro which flankes the Roman Colledge In Rome were three Colossus one of Nero another of Apollo a third of Mars and two other Pyramides one of C Celtius another of Scipio Also some places called Naumachie appointed for Naval Fights as large as the Circus Maximus and were called of Domitian Nero and Caesar. The proud Fabricks named Settezonii were two the one of Severus which Pope Sextus the 5th caused to be overwhelmed the other of Titus Some Horses were erected composed of several Materials as of Marcus Aurelius of Antoninus in the Campidoglio of Domitianus of L. Verus Trajanus Caesar. Constantinus of Fidia and of Prasitelle in the Quirinale or Monte Cavallo The Names of such as have writ of the Famous things in ROME THese following Authors have wrote of the City ROME P. Vittore wrote of the Parts of the City Aristides sofista in Greek an Oration in praise of Rome but the more modern are Giusto Lipsio Lucio Fauno Bartolameo Marliano lately set forth with Prints Lodovico Demonciosi in a Book intitled Gallus hospes de Urbe printed at Rome Poggio a Florentine Fabriccio Varriano Flavio Biondo Rafael Volaterrano Francesco Albertini Rucellai Sorlio Giacomo Boissardo Mauro Andrea Fulvio Rosino Panuino Vuolfango Lazio Of the modern state and greatness of Rome under the Popâ—…s Flavio Biondo Thomaso Bosio Eugubino and Thomaso Stapletono an English Man have at large discoursed Of the seven Churches of Rome Onofrio Panuino who wrote also of the burying places M. Attilio Serrano and Pompeio Augonio the Roman Library keeper in the vulgar Tongue and of the other Churches Lorenzo Schradero Sassone in the second Book of his Memorials of Italy Of the times and impresses of the Consuls and Emperors Cassiodorâ—… a Roman Senator Marcellino Vettor Tanunense Gioanni Cuspiniano Carlo Sigonio Onofrio Panuino Stefano Pighio whose History is beautified with figures and Uberto Golizio who did the same with the Meddals Passing by the Antient Greek and Latine Authors These ensuing have wrote the Histories of the Roman Emperours viz. Plutark Dion Herodian Iulianus Caesar Ammianus Lampridius Spartianus Aurelius Victorius with others who have been often reprinted Also the Images of those Emperours were treated of and published by Uberto Glotzio Hiperbolita Giacomo Strada Mantoano Sebastiano Orâ—…zo and others moreover the Images of the said Emperours and their wives were stamped in Copper by Levino Hulsio Gandavese in Spire Furthermore the Lives of the Emperours were set forth in Verse by Ausonio Borgidolense Gia Micillo and Orsino Velio Of the Columnes of Rome Pietro Giacone Alfonso Chianone and Pietro Gallesino the one of the Rostrata or Pulpit bedecked with beaks of Ships in the Campidoglio the second of that of Trajan the third of that of Antoninus Of the Acqueducts and Waters entring Rome Sesto Iulio Frontino Aldus Manutius and Giovanni Servilio of the Acqua Virgine wrote Duca the Roman Legist Of the increase and Augmentation of the Tyber Lodovico Gomesio and Giacomo Castiglione Of the Magistrates of Rome Pamponeo Leto Andrea Dominico Flano whose works are erroneoufly attributed to Fenestela Carlo Sigonio Giovanni Bofino in his seventh Book of the Roman Antiquities and Giachâ—…mo Perionio of the Provinces Marian Scoto and Guido Pancirolo Of the Senate Aulo Gellio Giovanni Zamosio Great Chansellor of Polonia and Paul Manutius Of the Comitia or Assemblies of the People for electing Officers Nicolo Grucchio Carlo Sigonio and Giovanni Rosino in his 6th Book of the Roman Antiquities Of the Judges Valerius Maximus in his 7th Book and Giovanni Rosino in his 7th Book of the Antiquities of Rome Of the High Priests Andrea Dominico Flacco Pomponeo Leto and Rosino aforenamed Of the times of their Festivals and of their Games Ovidius Naso Lidius Geraldus Rosinus and Iosephus Scaliger in his Book De Temporum emendatione Of the Triclinia or Supping Parlours or their Banquets and manner of sitting at Table Pietro Chiacon Toletano Fulvio Orsino a Roman Ramusio De quaesitis per Epistolam and Andrea Baccio De vini Natura Of the sharp pointed Steeple erected by Sixtus the 5th Pietro Angelo Barba Pietro Galesino Michel Mercator and Giovanni Servilio Of the Theatre and Amphitheatres Iustus Lipsius and Giovanni Servilio in his first Book of the wonderfull works of the Antient Of the Roman Militia Polibius Iustus Lipsius Giovanni Antonio Valerinâ—… Giovanni Servilio in 30. lib. De mirandis Carlo sigonio and Giovanni Rosino Of the Provinces Sextus Rufus in his Breviary and Carlo Sigonius of the Colonies Sextus Iulius Frontinus Onofrio Panuino and Carlo Sigonio Of the Ciphers or Figures of the Antient Valerius Probus the Author of that tenth Book added to Valerius Maximus of the Roman surnames whereof also Sigonius hath writ Panuinus and others Of the antiquity of the Edifices and the ruines of Rome Carolus Sigonius in his Book De antiquo Iure Civium Romanorum Paulâ—…s Minutius who wrote also of the Laws of Rome as did Antonius Agostinus aud others The Figures of Romes Antiquities were stamped in Brass by Antonio Salamanca and others The Tablets in brass likewise by Onofrio Panuino and others The Statues in Rome were published by Giovanni Giacomo Boissardo and others The Images of the illustrious Persons were taken from the Marble figures and printed by Achille Statio a Portuguese and Theodore Galleo by whom also were set forth the lively Visages of the modern illustrious Italians as also of the nine learned Greeks who being taken at Constantinople first brought the Greek letters into Italy and afterwards conveyed the same into Gallia aud those parts beyond the Alpes The old Inscriptions on Marble and other stones in Rome and elsewhere were divulged by Pietro Appiano Maritino Smetio Fulvio Orsino and divers others The Epitaphs on Christians Tombs are collected by Lorenzo Scradero a Saxon and by Chitreus in his Book of delight in travails Of the Roman wonders Ubertus Glothzius hath wrote an ample Book which also comprehends the Inscriptions and meddals of Apulia and Sicilia Sebastiano Erizzo and others The Lives of the Roman Chief Bishops and Popes were
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
place for that they seigned their Gods would not give place to one another Thermes refusing it to Iupiter Now this Church is consecrated to the blessed Virgin and all the Saints T is a most noble Fabrick built by Vespatiaâ—…s Agrippa who was three times Consul as by the Inscription appears This by the most skilfull Artizans in Architecture and chiefly by Lodovicus Domontiorius in his book intitled Gallus Hospes in Urbe is held for an Idea Example and Pattern of true Architecture T is of a cross figure as broad as high the Roof was formerly covered with Sylver plates but Constantine the Nephew of Heraclius took them with the other ornaments of the City away instead whereof Martin the 7th overlayed it with Lead It hath but one window which is at the very top and admits as much light as is necessary in antient time it had 7 steps of Ascent into it now it hath eleven of descent a good argument to what heighth this City is raised by its ruines It s noble Porticue is sustained by four great pillars with beams and Gates of Brass The Great Altar is opposite to the Door On the wall appears the head of the Mother of God The ascent to the Top is by 100 steps Before the Church stands a great Vessel of Numidian Marble square at top but bellyed like a Bee-hive Near which were two Lyons with AEgyptian Letters and a round Vessel of the same Marble In it is the subsequent Epitaph of Tadeo Zaccaro a Pointer contemporary with Raphael d Urbino the Prince of the Painters of later Ages who we formerly said lyes buried in Santa Maria sopra Minerva Magna quod in magno timuit Raphâ—…ele per-aeque Thadaeo in magno pertimuit genitrix Santa Maria Scala Caeli without the Porta Ostiense where 10000 Persons were Martyred t is called Scala Caeli because St. Bernard there praying for the Souls of the dead had an appearance of a Ladder from the Earth to heaven upon which he saw some Souls ascend into Paradise Del Sole under Monte Tarpeio della Strada near the Portico Corinthio and the Campidoglio now denominated Del nome di Giesu A noble Church built by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese for the Jesuits wherein himself is interred In Transtevere Here in the time of Angustus gushed out in a common Inn a spring or source of Oyl which continued running for one whole day presaging that a short time after Christ the source and fountain of Mercy should be born Here was a Church built in honour of the Virgin Mary by St. Peter which by succeeding High Bishops was adorned with excellent Pictures and enriched divers times with gold and silver and encreased in bigness to what it now appears In it are the Sepulchres of Stanislao Bishop of Varma who was that Polack Cardinal Praefect of the Tridentine Councel and the scourge of the Hereticks Of Cardinal Campeggio and Altemps a man of great Dispatch Transportina in Borgo in old time the Temple of Adrian the Emperour wherein St. Peter and St Paul were scourged In Via Lata the Church of the Fathers Servients where under ground many Trophees and Triumphal Images have been found In it lyes buried Cardinal Vitellotio Vitelli Here St. Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles Acta Apostolorum and this was the place where St. Paul prayed Del Trivio which Church was restored by Belisarius great Captain for Iustinian the Emperour as appears by an inscription on a stone here lyes Luigi Cornaro and others it appertains to the Padri Croicchieri the crutched Fryers Santa Maria in Vinea in the descent from Monte Tarpeio In Via delle Virgini amplifyed by Pietro Donato a Cardinal therein enterred where also San Philippo Nerio accounted one of the Saints of Pope Gregory the 15 his Family setled his order of Oratories which was a true School for well living Santa Maria Magdalena in the stree Colonna Between the Hill Santa Trinita and the Tyber Nel Quirinale where is a Monastery of Nuns governed by the Predicatory instituted by Maddalena Orsina San Mauro in the midst of the Jesuits Colledge Near this Church is an Obelisk which though small appears glorious through the Hierogliphicks carved on it here lies Pietro Giglio a great Schollar who dyed anno 1555 whose Tombe Georgio Cardinal of Armignac caused to be built as to his familiar friend San Marcello nella Via Lata was a Temple of Isis in it are the Fryers Servients in it are buried the Cardinals Mercurio Dandino and Bonuccio San Marco wherein lies Francesco Pisani a Venetian Cardinal San Martino of the Carmelites in Monte Esquilino where Cardinal Diomede Caraffa is buried Santa Martina in the Foro Romano antiently a Temple of Mars Ultor Santa Margarita at the Foot of the Esquilino San Matteo in Esquilino possessed now by the Austin Fryers but formerly by the crutched Fryers which Church is supposed to be the house of their first Founder Saint Cletus the first Pope for that t is seated in the Borgo Patritio where he was born which having consecrated he gave to his Disciples and Children for the service of God San Michael in Borgo Santi Nereo Archielo near the Baths of Antonius formerly a Temple of Isis in the Via Appia San Nicolo in Agone In Archemoni Acapole Cose Degli Arcioni In Carcere a Ripa formerly the publique prison In Calcaria near which was the Portico Corinthio Sant ' Onofrio in Gianicolo where lyes Cardinal Madruccio who dyed the day of his creation Cardinal Lodovico Madruzzi Nephew of the first Cardinal Sega a Bolonian and Tasso the excellent Poet San Pancratio in Gianicolo wherein is a Pulpit of neat fair porphyr underneath it are Grottos filled with the bodies of Martyrs Herein lies Cardinal Dersonese and near it was slain Bourbon the enemy of God San Pantaleone in Sebucca formerly a Temple dedicated to the Goddess Tellus and to Pasquinus San'Paolo in Regola in the street Harenula San Pietro Marcellino heretofore the Temple of Quietas San Pietro in carcere This was the Tulliane prison whereof Salust makes mention in Catalines conspiracy Diodate in the Via Piamense Montorio in the Gianicolo A fair Church and well adorned wherein is the fair Chapel of Bradamante endowed by Ferdinand King of Spain near it stands a Convent of Observants of Saint Francis Order of this society died anno 1597 Fryer Angelo a learned Spaniard who wrote a great Volume upon the Symbol or Creed of the twelve Apostles In it are several pieces of Raphael d'Urbino and Sebastiano Venetiano two famous Painters and several Tombs San Pietro Domine quo vadis in the Via appia Rotonda this Church was so called because Saint Peter flying persecution Christ appeared to him of whom Saint Peter demanded whither he was going in these words Domine quo vadis to whom Christ answered I am going to Rome that I may there be once more crucified from which words St. Peter took courage and
are steered by Ostia into the City besides in antient time in the Naumachia they oâ—…ten presented certain Warlike and Naval sports for the Solace of the Princes and multitude The Ponte Aurelio or Gianicolo conjoins the part Transteverina or beyond the Tyber to the City but being broken in the civil War 't was afterwards called Ponte Rotto At last being râ—…edisied by Sixtus the 4th to that magnificence it now appears in it took the name of Ponte Sixto In the midst of the Naumachia rise the reliques of the Ponte Sublicio upon which Horatius alone in the War against the Tuscans sustained the assaults of the Enemies till such time as the Romans could break down the said Bridge near the Gate by which means the Enemies were obstructed in their hoped for entrance into the City AEmilius Lepidus caused it aâ—…terwards to be built of stone From a top this Bridge the Emperour Heliogabulus the Monster of Nature and Mankind having a stone hung abont his Neck was cast down into the Tyber Near hereunto ly the Fields Mutii given to Mutius Scaevola by the publick for the noble Act he performed in the presence of Porsenna King of the Tuscans At the Port of Ripa Leon the 4th built two Towers to hinder the inroads of the Sarazens who often by Ostia run up the Tyber Then Borgo was called Citta Leonina Alexander the 4th named it Borgia and added to it good increase of all things L'Isola Tiberina is believed to have rise and beginning in the time of Tarquin the proud t is not very bâ—…oad but a quarter of a mile long and was consecrated to AEsculapius In it is at this day a Church dedicated to San Bartolomeo At the point of the Island you may see the form of that Ship wherein the Serpent Epidaurus was conveighed into the City which form was sometime since exposed to view by the inundation of the Tyber In the gardens of Cardinal Farnezeâ—… beyond the Tyber are divers Venuses of the whitest Marble and several Pyles on which are figured Men Lyons Women the nine Muses Satyrs and other things and a broken pillar with a Greek inscription very memorable which was brought from Tivoli The Bridge Cescio or Esquilino conjoines the part beyond the Tyber to the Island t was built by Valentianus and Valens Emperors and is now called Ponte Saint Bartolomeo from that Church which stands in the Island contiguous with it In the same Island stands the Church of San Giovanni Battista which formerly was the Temple of Iupiter and in the uppermost part of it yet appear the ruines of a Temple of Faunus which was reduced to that sad condition by the Inundation of the River The Bridge Fabricio called also Tarpeio connexeth the Island with the City passing through the midst of Marcellus his Theatre t is at this time called Ponte dà i quatro capi from certain statues theâ—…e reared each of which hath four faces and heads The Theatre of Marcellus was built by Augustus Caesar at the Bridge Fabricio in honour of Marcellus the Son of his Sister Octavia capacious for eighty thousand persons to which structure that she might add the more lustre as in remembrance of her said Son Marcellus the said Octavia complea ted a most admirable well furnished Library of Books of all sorts and sciences This Theatre the House of Saevelli at present possess The said Augustus raised also the Banqueting house called Octavio in honour of his said Sister Octavia part whereof yet is on foot in the midst of the said Theatre where are some shops of Goldsmiths now but was formerly much more beautified by many rare statues as among others with a Satyr the work of Prasitelle the nine Muses of Timarchide and the Image of Iuno now placed in the Mansion of Iulius the third in the Via Flaminia Caesar Germanicus illustrated the said Banqueting House with the addition of a stately Temple dedicated to Speranza and Hope towards the Piaza Montanara to which was conjoined the Temple of Aurora much renowned among the Antients the very Footsteps whereof time and misfortune have razed out The House of Savelli in the Theatre of Marcellus possess a most rare piece being a Lyon cut in Marble with three Men Armed and prepared to fight him together with many other Marble Tablets And a garden very delicious wherein are several Pyles whereon the Labours of Hercules are engraven and divers Statues of Men and pieces of Mercury San Nicolo in Carcere formerly was the Prison for the common people but for that a Daughter expressed so much Piety to her Father there bound in chains as to nourish him many dayes with the milk from her own breasts Attilia Gabrione raised there a Temple dedicating it to Piety Santo Andrea in Mentuzza was in old times a Temple consecrated to Iuno Matura by Cornelius the Consul under the Campidoglio You may see the broken Bridge of Santa Maria Transteverina or AEgittiaca so named from the Neighbouring Church which was formerly called Ponte Senatorio and Palatino for that the Senators passed over that Bridge in religious manner to the Ianicolo to consult the Books of the Sybills and thence returned to the Court of the Emperours The House of Pilat placed near the Ponte Senatorio fabulously by the Vulgar if we make a narrower inspection and contemplate the most high ruine there appearing must needs have been the Sudatoria Laconica or hot Baths The Foro Olitorio is the Piazza Montonora where Evander erected an Altar in honour of Nicostrata Carmenta his mother The Church of Sancta Maria AEgittiaca formerly the Temple of Fortuna Virilis remains almost intire and unblemished having a long row of high Pillars on both sides Some report it to have been consecrated to Pudicitia Matronalis and that therein was the Bucca Veritatis which is esteemed a fabulous story and that ample round porphyr stone standing before the Greek Schools which they say was the Bucca veritatis conld be applyed to no other use then for a Chanel or receipt of waters as in divers other stones of the like form up and down the City used to the like occasions is most plainly apparent In the house of the Serlupi in the Fishstreet they shew a most compleat piece being the head of the Emperour Vespasian as big as a Gyants cut in white Marble In the next house appertaining to the Delfini are the heads of Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius of Bacchus of a Child laughing and of six others with some Urns and stones with remarkable inscriptions Of the place where the Asylum or sanctuary for refuge stood there is no Certainty because some place it in this part others in the Campidoglio wherefore no ampler account can be given of it upon a certain foundation San Stephano Rotondo which denomination it borrowed from the form of the Fabrick stands by Santa Maria AEgittiaca 't was built by Numa Pompilius and consecrated to Vesta t is sustained on every part by Corinthian
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