Page:The Voyage Of Italy Or A Compleat Journey through Italy, The Second Part.pdf/345

Rh Gregory the XIII; of Innocent the X; and lastly that of the Countesse Matilde, the onely secular person that I find to have a Tomb in this Church above ground. Indeed she deserves well to lye in S. Peters Church who deserved to be called S. Peters daughter; and she deserved this surname, for having defended the Church so gallantly in its greatest conflict against Henry the IV Emp. and having endowed it with a good part of its Patrimony. Her body was translated from Mantua hither in the year 1633. by the command of Pope Vrban the VIII.

Near the Confession of S. Peter, is an old brazen statue of S. Peter sitting, with his hand up as giving his blessing; and holding his right foot a little out, to be kissed. At first, some wonder to see devout people flocking thither, and kissing the foot of that statue, and, puting their heads under that foot when they have done; but when they are well informed, that all this is done onely to testify, that they submit themselves to the au-