s_ of Cencius Camerarius it is mentioned, that the Roman Pontiff
after mass washed the feet of twelve subdeacons, and after dinner
of 13 poor persons, or according to the Ordines Romani published by
Mabillon, of 12 deacons. The _Ceremoniale_, attributed to Marcellus
archbishop of Corcyra, prescribes that the Pope should wash the feet
of thirteen poor men. Various causes are assigned by different authors
to explain, why the number is thirteen, and not twelve as was that of
the apostles. (See Benedict XIV, De Festis, lib. I, c. VI, Sec.Sec. 57, 58).
The most probable account, we think, is that the thirteenth _apostle_
was added in memory of the angel, who is believed to have appeared
among the 12 poor guests of S. Gregory the great, while he was
exercising united charity and humility. A painting of this event may
be seen in one of the chapels near his church on the Caelian mount,
in which is preserved the table, at which he daily fed twelve poor
persons. (See the passage of John the deacon cited above in the note).
The two customs of washing the feet first of 12, and then of 13, have
been reduced to one, and in it the number 13 is preserved[76].

[Sidenote: Cardinals' public dinner.]

Till within the last few years the Cardinals used to dine in public
at the Vatican on holy Thursday and good Friday, that they might be
spared the trouble of returning to their respective palaces before
Tenebrae; and anciently the Pope used to dine with them at the Lateran
palace, in the hall called the Triclinium Leonianum[77]. The Pontiff
wore on such occasions his cope and mitre, and the Cardinals were
habited in sacred vestments with mitres. After dinner a sermon was
preached before the Cardinals. _Mons. Maggiordomo_ used to invite on
these days prelates, officers, and others engaged in the _cappella_ or
palace, to a dinner at which he presided.

[Sidenote: Tenebrae etc.]

[Sidenote: Recapitulation.]

In the afternoon, at the office of Tenebrae, among other signs of
mourning, the cross is veiled in black, and the candles are of yellow
wax: the Pope's throne is stripped of its usual ornaments, and is
without a canopy: the cardinals' and prelates' benches also are
without carpets. The Cardinal Penitentiary goes to S. Peter's, where
the minor Penitentiaries are Conventuals of S. Francis. We have spoken
on these subjects in the preceding chapters. We may here recapitulate
the principal ceremonies of the day, as Morcelli has done in his