that were crowded in St. Peter’s Square, and the Streets that led to it: At the same Time the Cannon of the Castle of St. Angelo were fired, and the Light-horse Carabineers and Guards made a Discharge of their small Arms. Then the Pope descended from the Throne, and being again placed in his Chair, was carried in Procession to his Apartment, where he dismissed the Cardinals, who, I believe, wanted Rest as well as the Holy Father, after a Ceremony which had lasted five Hours. At Night the Houses were all illuminated, and a fine Firework was play’d off at the Castle of St. Angelo.
Here give me Leave to make a Remark upon an Author, in whose Favour I have seen you prepossessed, namely, Mr. Misson, who, in his Account of the Pope’s Coronation, the Ceremony of which, he says, he copied out of the Ceremonial of Rome, describes this Act as the most magnificent and superb that can possibly be seen; for, according to him, the Pope’s Throne is covered with precious Stones, tho’ I assure you, that there cannot be a greater Mistake; for if, as I said once before, we except the many Cardinals, Bishops, and Prelates, whose Presence renders the Ceremony august, nothing is more plain and simple. St. Peter’s Church, indeed, is hung upon that Day with red Damask, laced with gold Tinsel, but ’tis the very same upon every grand Festival; nor is St. Peter’s Throne, upon this Occasion, richer than ordinary; and I can’t imagine where Misson could see those Canopies covered with precious Stones. That Author really affected to impose on his Readers, and this is not the only Place where he has deviated from the Truth.
The first Pope, who caused himself to be crown’d, was Damasus II. in the Year 1048. And Urban V. was the first that used the triple Crown, commonly
called the Tiara; and this he did, to shew that the Vicar of Jesus Christ has Pontifical, Imperial, and Regal Power; and for the same Reason, St. Peter was anciently described (as is still to be seen in the Palace of the Vatican) holding three Keys in his Right-hand.
Not many Days after the Coronation, the Pope quitted the Vatican, and took up his Residence in the Palace of Monte Cavallo. The Holy Father marched out with a Pomp which pleased the Romans, who are naturally fond of Pageantry; and they were the more delighted with this, because they had seen nothing like it during the Pontificate of the deceased Pope. He rode in a very splendid Coach, preceded by the Roman Nobility on Horseback, his Guards, and all his Houshold, which formed a numerous Train. The Streets were full of People, who nevertheless discovered no Signs of Joy, as is usual when the Popes go abroad; for the Romans, when they saw Clement XII. remember’d that he was a Florentine; and there needed nothing more to put them out of Conceit with him. I am, &c.
