tleman: here I observed the deske which
he hath, [made] to remove, and is fastened to one of the armes of his
chayre. I do also observe the counterfeit windows there was, in the form
of doors with looking-glasses instead of windows, which makes the room
seem both bigger and lighter, I think; and I have some thoughts to have
the like in one of my rooms. He discoursed much of the goodness of the
musique in Rome, but could not tell me how long musique had been in any
perfection in that church, which I would be glad to know. He speaks much
of the great buildings that this Pope,

[Fabio Chigi, of Siena, succeeded Innocent X. in 1655 as Alexander
VII. He died May, 1667, and was succeeded by Clement IX.]

whom, in mirth to us, he calls Antichrist, hath done in his time. Having
done with the discourse, we away, and my Lord and I walking into the
Park back again, I did observe the new buildings: and my Lord, seeing
I had a desire to see them, they being the place for the priests and
fryers, he took me back to my Lord Almoner; and he took us quite through
the whole house and chapel, and the new monastery, showing me most
excellent pieces in wax-worke: a crucifix given by a Pope to Mary Queen
of Scotts, where a piece of the Cross is;

[Pieces of "the Cross" were formerly held in such veneration, and
were so common, that it has been often said enough existed to build
a ship. Most readers will remember the distinction which Sir W.
Scott represents Louis XI. (with great appreciation of that
monarch's character), as drawing between an oath taken on a false
piece and one taken on a piece of the true cross. Sir Thomas More,
a very devout believer in relics, says ("Works," p. 119), that
Luther wished, in a sermon of his, that he had in his hand all the
pieces of the Holy Cross; and said that if he so had, he would throw
them there as never sun should shine on them:--and for what
worshipful reason would the wretch do such villainy to the cross of
Christ? Because, as he saith, that there is so much gold now
bestowed about the garnishing of the pieces of the Cross, that there
is none left for poore folke. Is not this a high reason? As though
all the gold that is now bestowed about the pieces of the Holy Cross
would not have failed to have been given to poor men, if they had
not been bestowed about the garnishing of the Cross! and as though