When the Constable de Bourbon’s troops sacked Rome, they carried away with them a large quantity of papers, among which were several notes showing where people had buried their money and plate. Many of the French afterwards returned, and by means of this information found much hidden property. This circumstance may have given rise to the common belief of the Italians that the French are magicians.
At one time devout plays representing Paradise, Purgatory, and Hell, were acted in the theatre of Chaumont, a small town in Champagne. But by an unfortunate accident Paradise fell into Purgatory, and Purgatory into Hell, since which no more representations have been given, and the affair is known as “La Diablerie de Chaumont.”
A Polish Prince having said something impertinent to a lady at Rome, she answered: “Allez-vous-en; vous êtes un bel enfant.” “Madame,” he replied, “vous n’êtes ni l’un ni l’autre.” This happened some years ago.
Pope Rezzonico wanted to establish a feast in a little village, on the canonisation of St. Barbarigo, a relative of his family. As the villagers did not choose to go to the expense of a new picture, they stuck a portrait of the new saint with wax over a painting of St. Charles Borromée. But the candles being lighted and the church growing warm, the wax melted in the middle of the service, and the temporary saint tumbled down, leaving St. Charles triumphant. On which some of the people exclaimed, “A miracle!” and declared that the Pope had wanted to impose a saint upon them, but the miracle proved that he was not a true saint.
When Cardinal Cornaro was Governor, a message was brought to him while attending the Pope at a function, stating that, in a quarrel between his coachman and another, Prince Borghese had cut to pieces the harness belonging to the latter. The Pope asked what was the matter, and Monseigneur Cornaro being taken by surprise, told the whole affair, and was ordered by his Holiness to confine the Prince to his own house. This was done; but the accusation was soon proved to be entirely false, and to have been got up to injure the Governor with the Prince, who only a few days before had sent him a pair of horses as a present. No apology was made to the Prince; only Cardinal Giraud was sent to him to say that Sovereigns might sometimes make mistakes, but their mistakes were not to be called in question.