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. Concerning publick places appointed for the reception and entertainment of Pilgrims and Strangers of all Nations.

NOthing is more sacred, nothing more ac∣ceptable to God, than a pious Hospitali∣ty in entertaining Strangers. The Holy Religion of Christians doth not onely perswade it by way of counsel, but also by precept commands it. Frange esurienti panem tuum, egenos vagosque induc in domum tuam. Isaiah 58.7. Break thy bread to the hungry, and the needy and wandring persons bring into thy house. And it is a matter of high commendation, not onely for private persons, but also for Cities themselves, that there be both private and publick.

We shall not speak of the private Hospitali∣ty, because the actions of private men come to be taken notice of onely by few: but we shall here treat of the publick, to show how far in it the City of Rome excells all other Cities of the world.

The first and chiefest of all these publick houses, wherein Strangers of all sorts, come when they will, are curteously and with all kind of Civility entertained, is; That which they call the Hospital of the most Holy Trinity near to Xistus his bridge.

This Hospital had its beginning under Pope Paul the third, very mean, (as most other pious inventions) being first set on foot by Crescentius Sylva a Priest of Siena.

This holy Priest observing many strangers uncertainly wandring about the City, hired, with the help of some of his friends, to whom he communicated his purpose, a large house and fitted it with beds, and there lodged as many of those strangers as the largeness of the house and the number of the beds could well receive.

So charitable a design wanted not assistance: So that in a short time he had built there a fair Church, and purchasing more houses there∣abouts added, them to the Hospital, and Priests for divine service to the Church.

This Hospital, or House of publick recep∣tion, is governed by a company or Sodality of Lay-men (that is a lay charge) tho they ad∣mit Clery-men too, which Sodality takes care for all things necessary. And tho there at any time is used Hospitality after a most curteous manner; yet in the year of Jubile, (by reason of the extraordinary multitudes of Strangers then flocking to Rome) this institu∣tion appears in its greatest lustre. For some∣times

in one night there are counted no less than fifteen thousand Guests. Indeed so great a multitude of men cannot be received in the proper lodgings of the house onely, tho very capacious; and therefore others adjoining are always hired for the year of Jubile. And as this, and the other expences put them much in debt, then; so are they freed from that debt again in the other years wherein the layings out are not so excessive.

The year of Jubile 1600. being ended, and an account taken of the number of Strangers here in the compass of that year entertained and booked, they were found to be of men four hundred forty four thousand five hundred: and of women twenty five thousand five hun∣dred.

The order used in the practice of this chari∣ty is admirable. As soon as the Strangers are arrived, they all have the first night their feet washed, and are refreshed, the women apart by themselves from the men. After thus washing in the Holy year a Sermon is made to them, and then they are conducted to the table; their meat being served-up, as also their feet washed, this first night, usually by honourable persons.

The Supper ended, they are conducted to Bed; so without all noise, that it may seem a kind of miracle that so many men of several nations accord so quietly together.

The time of their entertainment here is but for three days; tho it be extended further to those who come from far.

To this pious work, because the Revenues of the house are not able to bear so great a charge, many and large charitable contributions are supplyed by others. This is certain and to be admired, that by the providence of God there was never yet wanting to furnish the table in a handsome manner. For such Strangers as are Priests, tho the diet allowed them be the same with the rest; yet in reverence to their order, they have a proper house apart destined to that use.

About the year of our Lord 1460. by the confraternity of St. Lucy (between the Capi∣tol and Marcellus's Baths) and because it hath not a Church commodiously adjoining, there is hired by the Sodality, till they can build one of their own, another large house wherein all the poor Priest may be entertained for a whole months space, or longer if need be. And this house, that it may be publickly known, wears this title in the front:

Hospitium Pauperum Sacerdotum Peregrinorum.

An House of Entertainment for such poor Priests as are Pilgrims, or Strangers.

Like to this house there is another of later times, erected by Don John Baptista Vives a Spaniard; who buying a fair Palace standing at the foot of Collis Hortulorum in Rome, de∣signed it for such Strangers, Priests; such as are of those nations, who have no particular Colledge of their own in that City, and for the propagation of the Faith; as the follow∣ing

Inscription on its Frontispeice declares, added in Pope Ʋrban the Eight's Pontificate.

Collegium
De Propagan. in univer. Mundum
Per Sacerdotes Seculares
Catholicâ fide
Urbani VIII. Anno primo.

And altho this Founder dwells himself still in this Palace; yet was he no hindrance to the Priests living there, but conversed with them, and was often on his occasions permitted pre∣sent at their consultations; of which the chief scope is to propose advises, ways, and helps by which the Christian Catholick Religion may best be propagated over all the world. Some of these Priests make no scruple voluntarily to offer themselves to be sent even into the Coun∣tries of Hereticks, or Infidels; either by preach∣ing and good example of life to recover them from their errors; or even by effusion of their own blood to assert the Catholick verity.