is a referendary both of one and the other signa ture, the assessor of the holy office; and the Secretary of the same congregation. There is now a palace building, of no ordinary greatness, in the piatza of the most holy Trinity de Monti, for the receiving all those which being converted to the Catholique Faith, come to visit the holy place of Rome; as also of many poore Bishops and Priests; who are all supplied with things necessary for their dyet and lodging: It maintains a printing-house for all sorts of strange languages, where continually are printed missalls, breviaries, and other kind of books appertaining to the Catholique Faith, which are sent into those parts where there is need of them. Cardinall Antonio Barberino is at the present prefect of this congregation.

Of the Congregation of Rites.-There is the congregation of rites, whose jurisdiction is about the differences arising concerning rites, ceremonies, precedencies, canoniziations of Saints, and the like; whereof the antientest Cardinall of the deputed is head; and in his house the congregation is also held ordinarily once a moneth, and oftener if need be; it belonging to the Cardinall-head intimate it, as it doth likewise to all the other Cardinalls, who are heads of congregations.

Of the Congregation for Water.-There is the congregation for water, wherein are handled mat

ters concerning rivers, brookes, bridges, and the like; and a Cardinall is head thereof, in whose house the congregation is held, only at such times as there is need, wherefore there is no set day for it.

Of the Congregation for Fountaines, and the Streetes.-There is also a congregation concerning fountaines, and the streetes, of which the Cardinall Chamberlaine is head; but the congregation is held in the senior Cardinalls house, and hath no set day for meeting. The businesse of it is concerning the Aquæducts, which bring water to Rome, and the manner of distributing it over the City; as also how the streets may be made more commodious and enlarged.

Of the Congregations for printing of Bookes.There is the congregation for the correcting and printing of Bookes, whereof a Cardinall is head, in whose house it is held, but they seldom meet, and therefore there is no set time for it.

Of the Councell for the Government of the State of the Holy Church.-There is the Councell wherein the government of the whole State of the holy Church is managed, and th head of it is the Cardinall Nephew to the Pope pro tempore, in whose lodging in the pallace it is held twice in a weeke, upon Frydayes and Tuesdayes, whereat are five or sixe Cardinalls, seven or eight Prelates,

and a Secretary, who is alwaies a Prelate, and a great confident of the Cardinall Nephews. In the said Councell is the whole governement of the state of the Church handled; for the ViceLegates, Prefects, Governors, Podestaes, and other officers, give an accompt to the councell at Rome, of all the important causes which happen in their governments; and the councell determines by decree what shall bee done in those cases, whereupon the Secretary drawes up the letters of order, and the Cardinall head subscribes them. Amongst the Prelates, which assist in the Councell, are the provinces divided, and they afterwards reade the busines of their provinces in the Councell. But the legation of Avignion, the government of Benevento in the kingdome of Naples, of the city of Ceneda in the State of Venice, are not submitted to the councell at Rome, but they who governe in those places are free masters of them; neither is the government of the state of Fermo, and Spoleto subject thereunto. The Prelates of the said Councell have three parts of the palace, and a thousand crownes a yeare a peece in perquisites: the Secretary hath two thousand.

Of the Congre for the easing of the People, & de bono Re nine. There are the Congregations for the e"sing of the people, & de bono Regimine, whereof the Popes Cardinall Nephew pro tempore is the head; unto them have the Comminaltie recourse for the easing of their

grievances, wherewithall they are oppressed: they are held on the Saturday in the very same roomes, where the councell useth to sit; the congregation de bono Regimine in one, and that for the easing of the people in another, both of them in their turnes, with the intervening therein of five or six Cardinalls, and seven or eight Prelates, with one Secretary being alwaies present, and all of them ever the same in the two congregations.

All the letters and orders proceeding from them, are subscribed by the Popes Cardinall Nephew; and the Prelates have the same emolument which those of the councell have; every one of the said congregations, with the Secretary thereof, goe attyred in purple, and carry the title of his Holiness servants.

Of the Congregation concerning the Mint.There is the Congregation for the Mint, in which all matters are handled that concerne the coyning of money, and all other monies of other jurisdictions, to the end they may be spent in

the State of the Church. In it are foure Cardinalls and four Chamberlaines the head of it is a Cardinall, in whose hoa alwaies held, when there is".casion for it.

Congregation is

Of the Congregation for the examining of persons destined to Bishopricks.-There is a Congregation for the examining of new Bishops, which is held

before his Holinesse, and it consists of nine or ten Cardinalls, some Prelates, and others, Fathers of certaine Orders of Religion; wherein are examined all such persons as are to be promoted to Bishopricks, for the Churches only of Italy. The party that is to bee examined remaines al, waies kneeling on a cushion before the Pope, and every one of the Congregation hath power to examine him: after he is examined, and approved of, he is written down in a booke, which the Secretary of the Congregation keepes. A Bishop that is once examined, if he changeth his Church, goes not againe to examination, one time onely sufficing for it: but if a Bishop, that was never examined, be promoted to another Church, hee must goe to examination: the Cardinalls alone are exempted from this examining. And this Congregation was instituted by Pope Clement the eight, who used to examine those persons himselfe, which made profession of the Law, but the professors of Divinity were examined by Cardinall Bellarmine.

Of the Congregation for Consistoriall Affaires.— There is a Congregation concerning Consistoriall matters, whereof the chief Cardinall Deacon pro tempore is the Head. It is held very seldome, because there are very few particular matters to be handled in it, but such as are, his Holiness appoints a day for them; and they use to be resignations of Bishopricks, the interests of taxations of the Church, of Consistoriall Abbeys,