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.

The Hospital of the Holy Trinity for Convalescents. And of St. Anthony for Cripples. And of St. Lazarus for Lepers.

And of Sodalities taking care of the poor, when sick, in their own houses, without their remo∣val to Hospitals.

And of decayed Gentry, bashful to publish their wants. And furnishing Apothecary'S shops for the use of the poor.

Thus much of the Hospitals for the sick. To which may be added that other Institute of no less piety; whereby these that are re∣covering after their Fevers have left them, taken out of the forenamed Hospitals for the the sick: and carryed in the Town Coach for that purpose into the Hospital of the most Holy Trinity, that we speak of. Where for three days they are entertained with more plentiful and stronger dyet; that so being restored into their former strength, they may be the sooner enabled to follow their work and wonted bu∣siness.

Not unlike to this also is that house of St. Anthony in Esquiliis; founded indeed for such as are sick of the Plague; but because that sick∣ness, by the mercy of Almighty God, is very rare in that City, it is imployed to receive the lame, and maimed, and such other Cripples.

But because it is not convenient for all, that

fall into Fevers to be removed from their own house, and carryed to a publick Hospital; especi∣ally for Masters of Families, who have wives and children to take care of; lest besides the affliction of their bodies they should suffer thereby another in their minds. The charity of the Romans hath extended it self to benefit these also, that they may be looked unto and helped in their own houses. For this good work there is appointed a Sodality of pious men; above fourscore years since instituted in the Church of the twelve Apostles. The brethren of which Sodality largely bestow upon these kind of sick money; and provide them of a Physitian and Physick; and if they have the testimony of their parish Priest for their honest life, they are releived with great charity.

And to this purpose for the releiving of these Poveri Vergognosi, persons of condition that are fallen into want and are ashamed to let it be known, here are elected every year, in the honour of the twelve Apostles, twelve Gentle∣men of Rome, and a Prelate of the Court for their Prior. Who, dividing themselves to the several regions or quarters of Rome, visit in private, all persons of such condition, if they will but put their Memorials here into a cer∣tain Box (which is locked and stands exposed among other boxes for the poor; so that they may do it as concealedly as they please) and they shall not be long without relief sutable to their want; for twice a week the Box is opened, and the Memorials considered.

Out of all this it appears, that there is scarce any sort of relief and easement to be imagined for the poor sick: which is not in all its kinds abundantly practised in this City, the very Mo∣ther of Charity.

Here also come fitly to be spoken of, those two Cardinal Burghese and Lodovisius. The first of whom hath furnished up an Apothe∣cary's shop, abounding with all sorts of Drugs, and Physick, and Remedies for the use of all the poor in that parish where his Palace stands.

The other hath provided the like shop, but far greater; so that it may supply all sorts of remedies, for all sorts of diseases, gratis to the poor of all the City and its Suburbs; and to that purpose hath alotted a yearly revenue of two thousand four hundred Golden Crowns, that is about nine hundred pounds sterling.

And thus much of the Hospitals and places of refreshment for those that are sick, or lan∣guish. I may add two more, tho, small ones, destined for those whom they call Lepers; both dedicated to St. Lazarus, because he is suppo∣sed to have had that disease.

The one is out of the Walls not far distant from Porta Angelica, and at the foot of Mons Amarus, or vulgarly Monte Marici: where heretofore a Frenchman kept an Inn; who dying An. 1480. left by Will wherewith to build a Church and this Hospital adjoyning for poor Lepers, dedicating it to that Lazarus who lay at the rich mans gate. Altho, there is also a Memorial kept of St. Lazarus, Brother

to St. Mary and Martha, always on Passion Sunday: the Gospel on the Friday before be∣ing of his resurrection.

Here also the Vignerols keep the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen to whom our Lord ap∣peared in the shape of such a Vignerol or Vine∣dresser.

These therefore maintain a Priest for her Altar: and having many years persevered in this devotion they came at length to make up a confraternity An. 1598. and had the privi∣ledge to deliver a Prisoner from death on the same Feast. Whereon also they contribute some Dowries for marrying-off some of their poor Maids. The place is united to the Cha∣piter of St. Peter, which maintains a parish Priest there, for those Souls that live scattered in the Vineyards thereabouts. The Alms for maintenance of the sick are partly given by the Popes Major-Domo, and partly gathered from the passengers in that Highway.

The other Lazaretto, or Hospital for Lepers, is within the Walls at the foot of the Aventine-Hill in via ostiensi; and was erected by the for∣mer Hospital to gather here the alms of such as visited the seven Churches. The Chappel here is very little, yet the house is furnished with beds fit for such diseased people, and they are maintained by the Alms foremen∣tioned.