and Acclamations of the Tongue are united with excellent Harmony, are rendered more worthy than others of being by means of the Prefs tranfmitted to the Knowledge of Pofterity. Such was the Coronation of Clement the Ninth, lately Cardinal Rofpigliofi; and for this reafon I took the Courage to write it, and dedicate it to the Name of your moft Reverend Fatherhood: I doubt not of its Acceptance, because that you sustaining under him (with so much Praise) one of the most principal Charges of the Pontifical Palace, never conferred but on Subjects of eminent Merit, cannot reject a Labour which is diffused into the Glory of those who fill the Precinct of this holy Place above any other Part of Chriftendom, it even comes to (point out) itself, amongst the very fame Perfons.

Betimes on Sunday Morning the 28th of June, were made ready the things neceffary for the Perfon of his Holiness, in the Chamber of the Vatican Palace, called of the Paramenti, whither the Pope at the appointed Hour was carried from his own Lodgings.

There by the most eminent Cardinals Deacons, Efte and Rondinino, and other Ministers defigned to that Office, he was clothed with an Amicte, a Surplice, a Girdle, a Stole or long Vefture, a Rochet and a precious Mitre; the facred College of their Eminencies clothed alfo in their accustomed Purple Cloaks, making a majestical Crown round about him. In their appointed Places ftood the other Prelates, every one with his Cope over his Surplice, and the Officers wearing their Cloaks.

The Pope prepared, as in the like Solemnity is ufual, the Proceffion began towards St. Peter's Church. The Crofs-bearer going firft with a Crucifix, between two affiftant Minifters, then the other Prelates and Officers, and in their Places, according to the Order of Precedency, went their Eminencies, the Cardinals, two by two: His Holiness followed clothed as above-faid, under a Canopy of State, carried in a pontifical Seat by his Stable Grooms wearing long red Gowns, and the Staves of the Canopy of State were carried up by Knights of St. Peter.

The new Pope being arrived at the Porch of St. Peter, fate down in a pontifical Chair, fet there on a Throne, raifed but little from the Floor, and under a Cloth of State, and then the Lord Cardinal Barbarino (Archprieft of that Cathedral) did befeech his Holiness, that he would admit the most reverend, the Canons of the Chapter-Houfe, to the kiffing of his Foot; when which Function. was ended he entered by the middle Gate into the Church, carried as aforefaid, and making his Adoration to the moft Holy Sacrament, he went towards the Clementine Chappel already prepared for this purpose, and received the most eminent Cardinals to the Kifs of his Knee, and the other Prelates to that of his Foot. This Ceremony finished, and the Mitre being laid afide, the Pope rofe up, and ftanding as the Custom is, bleffed the People: And whilft the Sub-Deacon who was to fing the Epiftle, clothed himfelf in his accustomed Veftments, his Holinefs tuned the Deus in Auditorium, &c. of the Prime.

Whilft the Prime was finging by one of the affiftant Lord Bishops, another affiftant Lord Bishop ftood forward with a Book, wherein the new Pope read the Preparatory to the Mafs. By this time, the Apoftolical Sub-Deacon had dreffed himself in his accustomed Garments, and the Sandals were taken up by the Hand of the Lord Sexton, who by the help of the Chamberlains put them. upon

I

upon the Feet of his Holiness, who at the end of the Prime, laying down his Mitre, and ftanding upon his Feet, fang the corrent Oration, the most eminent Cardinal Barbarino the Deacon holding the Book before him. The Prayer ended, and the Benedicamus, &c. faid by the Singers, the most eminent Cardinal Barbarino returned to his Place, and his Holinefs was clothed in his wonted Robes for the folemn Celebration of the Mafs, and after they were quite dreffed the Proceffion began towards the Altar of the Holy Apoftles St. Peter and St. Paul, in this Order.

First, went the Houfhold Servants of his Holiness, and his Chamberlains. Next followed the Barons, the Confervators, and the Orators of Princes, the Secretaries and Confiftorial Advocates, confufedly one amongst another, and without Order, but two being the most ancient of each Order led in the worthieft Place; then the Affiftants, the Clerks of the Chamber, the Auditors of Rola, the Accolito Turiferario, with the Candlestick-Bearers, the Sub Deacon with the Papal Crofs, and with him the other Sub Deacons; the Sub-Deacons, the one Greek, and the other Latin, each of them with his Book; then the Abbots, the Bishops, and the Archbishops followed after the Bishops that were Affiftant to the Pope, and according to the Order of Precedency the most eminent Cardinals; betwixt Affiftant Deacons, who were the Lords Cardinals Efte and Rondinino, went his Eminency the Lord Cardinal Maldachino, that was to fing the Gospel in the Papal Mafs. Laftly, followed the Pope as aforefaid.

Afterwards between the two priory Chamberlains, came the Lord Cerri Deacon of the Rola, with the Mitre, and the Prothonotaries and Overseers of the Pope's Court not dreffed. Immediately before his Holiness the Seig. Fulvio Servantio, Master of the Ceremonies, carrying in his Hand two Canes, in the top of one of which was a little Flax, and in the other a lighted Candle, and at the Pope's going out of the Chappel of St. Gregorio, the Mafter of the Ceremonies turning, gave fire to the Flax, and kneeling before the Pope, faid with a loud Voice, Sanite Pater, fic tranfit Gloria Mundi. And fo it was done two other times before he came to the Altar of the Holy Apostles.

The Pope being come into the Chancel of the Chappel, the last three Cardinal Priests prefented themfelves before him, and kiffed him on the Breaft and Face. Then ftanding at the Altar, the Mitre being laid afide, and the accustomed Prayers made at the Defk, the Mafs began, and immediately after the Confeffion was made, he went mitred into the Throne, and there fat down, and was accofted by the most eminent Cardinal Antonio Barbarino, as youngest Deacon, who ftanding betwixt the other two Bishops fang the first Prayer; and the most eminent Cardinal Ginetti, the fecond Bishop, fang the fecond; and his Eminency Cardinal Barbarino as firft Bifhop the third, each of whom when he fang, ftanding between the other two. When thefe Prayers were ended, his Holiness without the Mitre, went up to the Altar, and his Eminency the first Deacon, by the help of his Eminency Rondinino the fecond Deacon, taking the Mantle from the Altar, put it upon his Holiness, faying the accustomed Words at the doing fuch a Function; coming from the Altar, it being perfumed with Incense as the ufe is, he withdrew to the Throne of the Epiftola, and ftanding up with his Mitre on was incensed by the most eminent Cardinal Maldachino the Deacon, without admiting him to kifs his Hand, as it was the Cuftom at other times; but imme

diately

diately returning to his Throne, he received him to his wonted Reverence, and the other Prelates.

After the Prayers were faid, the ufual Litanies fung, and the Mafs ended, fo prepared as he was, the Pope went up unto the Throne that was prepared upon the broad Place on the Top of the Stairs, before the Entrance of the Cathedral of St. Peter's, where fitting down, he gave time to all the People to go out of the Church to fee the Act of his Coronation.

Then the most eminent Cardinal Rondinino the fecond Deacon, took off from his Head the Mitre, and his Eminency the firft Deacon ftanding on his right fide, put upon the Head of the Pope the Triple Crown, faying, Accipe Tyaram tribus Coronis ornatam, & feias te effe Patrem Principum, & Regum: Rectorem orbis: in terra vicarium falvatoris noftri, cui eft Honor, & Gloria, &c.

At this time was the Artillery of the Castle of St. Angelo fhot off, the People with Voices of Mirth and Contentment, accompanying the loud Noife of the Cannons. The infolent Clamours of the Multitude being fomewhat affuaged, the Indulgencies as the Cuftom is were published.

The crowned Pope after he had bleffed the People, was carried without a Canopy of State, to the faid dreffing Chamber, or Camera de Paramenti, where being difrobed, the faid Cardinal Deacon, in few Words, congratulated him in the Name of all the facred College. From hence he was conducted to his Lodgings, amidft the Applaufes of the People, who feeing in the Perfon of fo worthy a Pope, to triumph both Merit, Bounty, and Piety, promifed to themfelves a Golden Age.

For three whole Nights, all the City, and the Lords Ambaffadors, Cardinals, Princes, and Barons, gave Signs of their Contentedness with Luminaries, artificial Fires, and burning great Quantities of pitched Barrels; but it was then moft pleasant to behold the Caftle of St. Angelo, all furrounded with Fire in a moft exquifite order, diftinguished with the Girandola, and a number of Chambers and other Fireworks.

Your Reverend, and most Illuftrious
Fatherhood's Servant,

STEPHANO CAVALLI.

A

A true and exact Relation of the late prodigious Earthquake and Eruption of MOUNT ETNA, or MONTE GIBELLO; as it came in a Letter written to his Majefty from Naples, by the Right Honourable the Earl of Winchelfea, his Majefty's late Ambaffador at Confantinople, who in his Return from thence, vifiting Catania in the Ifland of Sicily, was an Eye-witnefs of that DREADFUL SPECTACLE. Together with a more particular Narrative of the fame, as it is collected out of feveral Relations fent from Catania. Published by Authority 1669.

May it please your Majely,

N my Voyage from Malta to this Place, wherein I have ufed all the Dili

was there kindly invited by the Bifhop to lodge in his Palace, which I accepted, that fo I might be the better able to inform your Majefty of that extraordinary Fire, which comes from Mount Gibel, fitteen Miles diftant from that City; which, for its Horridnefs in the Afpect, for the vaft Quantity thereof, (for it is fifteen Miles in length, and feven in breadth) for its monftrous.Devastation, and quick Progrefs, may be termed an Inundation of Fire, a Flood of Fire, Cinders and burning Stones, burning with that Rage as to advance into the Sea fix hundred Yards, and that to a Mile in breadth, which I faw; and that which did augment my Admiration was, to fee in the Sea this Matter like ragged Rocks, burning in four Fathom Water, two Fathom higher than the Sea itself, fome Parts liquid and moving, and throwing off, not without great Violence, the Stones about it, which like a Cruft of a vaft Bignefs, and red-hot, fell into the Sea every Moment, in fome Place or other, caufing a great and horrible Noife, Smoak and Hiffing in the Sea; and thus more and more coming after it, making a firm Foundation in the Sea itself. I flaid there from Nine a Clock on Saturday Morning, to Seven next Morning, and this Mountain of Fire and Stones, with Cinders, had advanced into the Sea twenty Yards at least, in feveral Places; in the middle of this Fire, which burnt in the Sea, it hath formed a Paffage like to a River, with its Banks on each Side very steep and craggy, and in this Channel moves the greatest Quantity of this Fire, which is the moft liquid, with Stones of the fame Compofition, and Cinders all red-hot, fwimming upon the Fire of a great Magnitude; from this River of Fire doth proceed under the great Mafs of the Stones which are generally three Fathom high all over the Country, where it burns, and in- other Places much more, there are fecret Conduits or Rivulets of this liquid Matter, which communicates Fire and Heat into all Parts more or lefs, and melts the Stones and Cinders by Fits in thofe Places, where it toucheth them, over and over again; where it meets with Rocks or Houses of the fame Matter (as many are) they melt and go away with the Fire; where they find other Compofitions they turn them

to Lime or Ashes, (as I am informed.) The Compofition of this Fire, Stones and Cinders, are Sulphur, Nitre, Quick-filver, Sal-Armoniac, Lead, Iron, Brafs, and all other Metals. It moves not regularly, nor conftantly down Hill; in fome Places it hath made the Vallies Hills, and the Hills that are not high are now Vallies. When it was Night I went upon two Towers in diverfe Places, and could plainly fee at ten Miles diftance, as we judged, the Fire to begin to run from the Mountain in a direct Line, the Flame to afcend as high and as big as one of the highest Steeples in your Majesty's Kingdoms, and to throw up great Stones into the Air; I could difcern the River of Fire to defcend the Mountain of a terrible fiery or red Colour, and Stones of a paler red, to fwim thereon, and to be fome as big as an ordinary Table. We could fee this Fire to move in feveral other Places, and all the Country covered with Fire, afcending with great Flames in many Places, fmoaking like to a violent Furnace of Iron melted, making a Noife with the great Pieces that fell, especially those which fell into the Sea. A Cavalier of Malta, who lives there, and attended me, told me, that the River was as liquid where it iffues out of the Mountain, as Water, and came out like a Torrent with great Violence, and is five or fix Fathom deep, and as broad, and that no Stones do fink therein. I affure your Majefty, no Pen can express how terrible it is, nor can all the Art and Industry of the World quench, or divert that which is burning in the Country. In forty Days time it hath deftroyed the Habitations of twenty-feven thousand Perfons, made two Hills of one, one thousand Paces high a-piece, and one is four Miles in Compafs, as your Majefty will fee by the Draught that I take the Boldness to fend herewith; it was the best I could get, but hath nothing of the Progress into the Sea; the Confufion was fo great in the City, which is almoft furrounded with Mountains of Fire, that I could not get any to draw one, but I have taken Care to have one fent after me for your Majefty. Of twenty thousand Perfons which inhabited Catania, three thousand did only remain; all their Goods are carried away, the Cannons of Brafs are removed out of the Caftle, fome great Bells taken down, the City Gates walled up next the Fire, and Preparation made for all to abandon the City.

That Night which I lay there, it rained Ashes all over the City, and ten Miles at Sea it troubled my Eyes. This Fire in its Progrefs met with a Lake of four Miles in Compafs, and it was not only fatisfied to fill it up, though it was four Fathom deep, but hath made of it a Mountain.

I fend alfo to your facred Majefty a Relation in Print which the Bishop gave me, wherein the Beginning is related, and several curious Paffages. Imoft humbly befeech your Pardon for the hindering your Majefty fo long from your better Employments: And I befeech you, great Sir, ever to believe I love and reverence your Person above all Expreffion: For, I am