Monte di Pietà (Vol. iii., p. 372.)
—In reply to your correspondent W. B. H., requesting to be informed of the connexion between a "Pietà" and a "Monte di Pietà," it may be observed that there does not appear to be any necessary connexion between the two expressions. The term "a Pietà" is generally used to denote the figure of the dead Saviour attended by His Blessed Mother: for example, the celebrated one in St. Peter's at Rome. The word "Monte," besides its signification of "montagna," expresses also "luogo publico ove si danno oi si pigliano denari ad interesse;" also "luogo publico altresì dove col pegno si prestano denari con piccolo interesse."
"Pietà," in addition to its signification of "devozione," or "virtù per cui si ama ed onora Dia," &c., which would apply to the figure of the dead Saviour, expresses "compassione amorevole verso il suo simile."
Monte di Pietà would therefore be a place where money was lent at interest, on such terms as were in unison with a kind and compassionate feeling towards our neighbour. This species of establishment was first commenced in Italy towards the end of the fifteenth century, by Il Beato Bernardino da Feltri, who carried his opposition to the Jews so far as to preach a crusade against them. The earliest Monte of which any record appears to exist was founded in the city of Padua in 1491; the effect of which was to cause the closing of twelve loan banks belonging to the Jews.
From Italy they were shortly afterwards introduced into France.
The first legal sanction given to these establishments was granted by Pope Leo X. in 1551.
R. R. M.
Registry of Dissenting Baptisms (Vol. iii., pp. 370. 460.).
—From the replies to my Query on this subject that have been published, it is plain that in all parts of England Dissenters have wished to procure the registry of their children's births or baptisms in their parish churches. In some instances they have been registered as dissenting baptisms; and then the fact appears from the Registry itself. In other instances, and probably far the more numerous (though this would be difficult to prove), they were registered among the canonical baptisms; and the fact of their being performed by Dissenting Ministers is only discoverable by reference to the Dissenting Register, when it happens to have been preserved. So in the instances referred to in p. 370., the baptisms are registered without distinction from others in the Registry of St. Peter's Church, Chester; but a duplicate registry as on the same day was made at Cross Lane Meeting House, which is, I believe, not in St. Peter's parish; though, I presume, the residence of the parents was in it.
D. X.