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. XI. Of National Hospitals for Entertain∣ment of Strangers according to the Na∣tion they are of.

BEsides the general places of receit for stran∣gers forementioned, many Nations be∣cause

of the general confluence of them to Rome have here erected houses for the Reception of of their own Countrymen.

The first of these in honour to be named is that of the Germans dedicated to the Blessed Virgin under the title de Animâ, or of the Soul. It had its beginning An. Dom. 1350. upon occa∣sion of the Jubilee by some of their own nation; who having no Issue of their own, gave up their houses for the Entertainment of such Strangers subject to the Empire as came to Rome; and built them a Church, tho not very large, in honour of the Blessed Virgin on this condition; That therein Prayers should be made to God by such Strangers as were there to be enter∣tained, for the Founders Souls; and thence it had its name of St. Mary of the Soul. By the munificence and charity of later times this house of entertainment hath been much en∣larged, a fairer add more capacious Church built, and the Revenue thereof much in∣creased.

Over it is set a congregation of twelve or fourteen men of the same Nation, by whose pru∣dence and authority it is menaged and laid out in pious uses; especially in Hospitality to poor German Pilgrims, at what time soever they come.

For to such there is provided for many days convenient dyet, and lodging. When they depart the town a peice of money do correspon∣dent to the quality of the person is bestowed on them for their voyage. The women have a

house apart, where are constantly maintained in a decent manner such as have been the Daugh∣ters and Wives of Germans.

To the Church for divine offices celebrated after a collegiate manner, belong fourteen Priests, a Sacrist, an Organist, four Acolytes. Out of these Priests, who are stiled the Chap∣lains, is chosen one to have a care of the Pil∣grims and to order them, and therefore is na∣med their father: And whereas by a late Rule solemn High Mass is to be said early in the Morning, he is not to dismiss them until they have heard it.

There is an house of Hospitality also for the French, dedicated to St. Lewis, with a fair Church adjoining. It is governed by a Con∣gregation of thirty persons, twelve Frenchmen, six Lorainers, six Savoyards, and six Britons; and when any one of them dieth, the congre∣gation chooseth another in his room.

All things belonging to the Church are ad∣ministred by twenty six Priests; to whom Car∣dinal Contarello added eight Singers, and an Organist, that on Festivals sing the Service.

That Hospitality is ordered by three of the said Priests; whereof one is always the Enter∣tainer, and the other two his Assistants by turns. All Strangers of the French Nation, that come, are received here for three days, and then are dismissed with some gratuity given them, as a pious and charitable Token.

Such houses of Hospitality and publick en∣tertainment are here provided for most other.

Nations; namely such distinct houses for the Spaniards, for the Fortugueses, the Lombards, Geroneses, Low-Courtrica, Bohemians, Polonians, Hungerians, Illyrians, Swedes, Goths, and Van∣dals, for the Britons in France, for the English, the Scots, the Indians, and Armenians.

The House for the English was begun An. Dom. 1398. by John Shepard an English-man, and then Inhabitant of Rome (upon a sad accident happening upon an English woman straying up and down the City by night) augmented after∣wards by others, who built also close by it a Church, dedicated to the most Holy Trinity. And near about the same time a certain English Merchant built a Church to the honour of St. Edmond King of that Nation (Whose Feast is kept the twentieth of November) and ad∣joined to it a little Hospital for English Mari∣ners, in the Region beyond Tyber, near St. Chrysogonus. In both these places was Hospi∣tality practised, till the defection of that Na∣tion. After which English-men coming very seldome to Rome, Gregory the thirteenth (being Pope) added to that house of Entertaintment a Colledge for that Nation, and adjoined moreover the foresaid Hospital for Mariners, but not yet taking away the former custome of Entertainment.

The Scots had in Rome their house of Enter∣tainment in Campo Martio; and near it a Chap∣pel dedicated to St. Andrew, the Patron of that Kingdome; but when it fell off from the Church, there was none left either to ex∣ercise

or to receive Hospitality. Some years after Alexander Seaton, a Nobleman of Scotland, yeilded up, in the name of his Nation, that House and Chappel to the Sodality of Corpus Christi, of the Parochial Church of St. Andrew, near adjoining; upon this condition; That the Sodality should be obliged to receive and entertain poor Strangers of the Scottish Nation; which it willingly undertook, and bound it self by publick Instruments drawn to that pur∣pose, and is ready to perform the promise when any one come to receive the benefit.

An house of reception was assigned for the Indians, near St. Stephen's Church in the Vati∣can, by Pope Clement the seventh. What is necessary for their entertainment being sup∣plyed to that house out of the Apostolical Pa∣lace it self, it being thought a very unworthy thing that any kindness should be wanting to a Nation that came to Rome for Devotion sake, from a Country so exceeding far off. And by reason of that great distance there is no time prescribed them for to stay, but if they will always abide here, they shall be always maintained, where they are with all diligence taught the Catholick Faith, that if they re∣turn again to their freinds, they may discover to them too, how they are deceived.

Much what in the same manner are the Ar∣menians treated; who after three days Enter∣tainment are asked for their Testimonials, which being produced, if they are found to be of the Grecian Schisme, they are advised to

forsake their Error, and are taught the Latine Rites and Religion, that if they should return again to their freinds they may profess and defend it.

There is also near to the Porta Pia, founded by Pope Pius the fourth, an house for the re∣ception and entertainment of Hermits.

Most of these houses of Charity formentioned have a Church also adjoining to them, and divine offices administred there by a certain number of Priests. The care of the Hospital and Church is undertaken by a congregation of Lay persons, of the chief of the said Nations, electing others when any dies. The Hospi∣tality used and shewed to men, and women apart for avoiding scandal. The time of their entertainment is ordinarily for three or four days, but some for a longer time, namely for a month or more.