Pietas Romana et Parisiensis, or, A faithful relation of the several sorts of charitable and pious works eminent in the cities of Rome and Paris the one taken out of the book written by Theodorus Amydenus ; the other out of that by Mr. Carr.

CHAP. X. Of the Hospital named la Charitie, in St. German's Suburbs. (Book 10)

THis Hospital is governed by a company of Religious men, of the order of a Holy man called blessed Jean de Dieu, or John of God; the first Instituter of the same, under the Rule of St. Augustine. They add to the three essential Vows of Religion That of serving the sick all their life long. The extent of their Charity goes thus far, That they ad∣mit of all poor, sick and wounded persons of the Male Sex, without exception, save only such as have incurable or contagious dis∣eases.

The Hospital it self is nobly built, well situated, and as neatly kept, as most private houses in the town. What is wholly deputed to the use of the sick consists of three long Galleries or Halls; whereof the greatest con∣tains eighty four handsome beds, with decent curtains, and is especially imployed to receive honest poor Burgesses, whose house it may seem to be (so ordinarily are they lodged there.) The second is furnished with thirty two beds, equal to the former, and it is wholly alotted for wounded men.

The third contains twenty two beds, and

is for young Boys who are cut for the Stone.

As to their manner of receiving the sick, it is full of humility and mildness. At their arrival one of the Religious washes their feet, which was the ancient and good manner of Hospitality. Then they are laid in a bed alone, as all the rest are (save the little children) with fair clean sheets, clean shirts, pillowbeers, night-caps, and a table napkin, as also a night gown, pantobles, a basin to spit in, and a pot, and a cup to drink in. Their manner of treat∣ing the sick is to have them visited by the Doctor every day once at least, accompanied by the Infirmarian, the Apothecary, and the Sur∣geon, who orders what Physick they are to take, what to eat, drink, &c. And still from three hours to three hours they take some∣thing or other to refresh and comfort them; as new laid eggs, broth, a coulis, jelley, or comfeitures. In fine those good Religious never desert them day, nor night, but watch with them by turns.

For the good of their Souls, they are advised upon their first coming to prepare themselves to make a general confession, as the most ex∣cellent and necessary remedy; God's merciful providence oft permitting our corporal sick∣nesses, for the cure of our spiritual infirmities. Either then presently, in case they be danger∣ously sick, or at least the next day, they re∣ceive the holy Communion, which is brought to them by the Priest, before Mass, being ac∣companied by all the Religious, which go all

processionally (with wax candles in their hands) singing the Pange lingua, and veni Creator. Afterwards they hear Mass every day, which is said in the same place, with many other Anthems and Prayers sung by the Religious. They are also taught their Christian doctrine, thrice a week; and besides that a Religious is appointed to instruct them more particularly in point of their Prayers, the Sacraments, &c. Before dinner and supper they are ordered to say Pater, and Ave, for their Benefactors, while the Religious recite the Psalm Miserere, and De profundis; and then they wash their hands, and hear the Blessing of the Table said with a loud voice. When any one is dangerously ill, and drawing towards his Agony, all the religious are called together by ringing the Bell, and come with lighted Tapers in their hands, to say the Prayers appointed by the Church in such circumstances. That done there is a Religious left with them, to assist and comfort them till death. Being dead they are decently brought out and buried: all the Religious being present, with lighted Torches in their hands, who say the office for the dead, and sing the Mass of Requiem for the good of their Souls. And indeed all things are so well disposed in this place, and even so gently, regularly and religiously as to all conveniences, which concern either body or soul, that not only good Burgesses, but with∣all, persons of great quality make choice of it in their sickness. And some of them were so

much edified with that religious treatment, that a pious Knight of England returned home so well seasoned with the agreeable odour of that excellent Charity, which he saw done to any without exception, that by his last Will and Testament he bequeathed nine hundred Livres to that blessed place.