I am farther to acquaint you of the Chapel of this Church, call'd the Silver Chapel, because of the Image of the Virgin there of solid Silver as big as the Life in the middle of the Altar, with a great many Images of Saints all of the same Metal. The Ascent to this Chapel is by a winding Stair-Case. Here is to be seen the stately Tomb of Ferdinand Archduke of Austria, Count of Tirol, Son to the Emperor Ferdinand I. This Mausoleum is under an Arch which is pretty high. Ferdinand,
whose Figure is of white Marble, seems to be asleep upon a Bed of black Marble rais'd one Foot from the Ground. The whole Arch is lin'd with Marble of various Colours, forming divers Compartments of very curious Workmanship, where you see the Arms of the Provinces reduc'd to the Obedience of the House of Austria: The different Colours are shewn by precious Stones enchas'd in Marble, and so curiously done that the Work seems to be enamel'd. Round the same Arch are plac'd five Bas-Reliefs, representing in as many Pictures the memorable Actions of Ferdinand. Five other Bas-Reliefs contain the Images of that Prince's Patrons, viz. Jesus Christ, St. Anthony of Padua, St. George, St. Thomas, and St. Leopold.
Near the said Tomb stands that of Philippina of Welserin, who was born at Augsburg, and the Wife of the Archduke Ferdinand, by whom she had two Sons, Charles the Margrave of Burgau, and Andrew Cardinal of Austria. This Mausoleum is of Free-stone and has nothing remarkable more than the following Epitaph:
Ferdinandus D. G. Archidux, Dux BurgundiÆ, Comes Tirol, Philippinæ Conjugi Charissimæ fieri curavit. Obiit 24 Aprilis, 1580.
The Franciscan who shew'd me this Chapel assur'd me that it was one of the First-rate Chapels in the World, on account of the Indulgences which had been annex'd to it by the Beneficence of the Popes; that it was upon a par with the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, with the Churches of St. John de Lateran, St. Mary major, and St. Gregory at Rome; and that, in fine, a Mass said in this Chapel for the Repose of a Soul departed, was enough to deliver it out of Purgatory.
These, Sir, are the Remarks that I made in this City, from whence I am making ready to set out to-morrow. I expect to be well jolted all the way to Venice, where to make my self amends I will take my Pleasure in a Gondola. I wish with all my heart I had your Company there; we should then have the Satisfaction of seeing a great many fine Sights together. But for want of this Satisfaction I shall never cease to think of you; and pray don't forget me, but believe me to be for ever, &c.
