THE  MISERICORDIA.
their  captain,  the  rest  follow,  bearing  the  burden  in  turns,  and
repeating  every  time,  when  another  set  take  it  up,    Iddio  le  ne
rende  il  merito’—  May  God  reward  you  !’—to  which  those  who
are  relieved  answer,    Vadano  in  pace’—  Go  in  peace.'  Whensent
for  by  a  sick  person,  the  Brothers  assist  in  dressing  the  patient,
and  carry  him  down  to  the  litter,  whereon  he  is  gently  and  carefully -
  laid.  The  Brethren  sometimes  act  as  sick  nurses,  to  which
office  they  are  trained  ;  but  they  may  never  receive  any  remuneration, -
  nor  taste  anything  except  a  cup  of  cold  water.  As  the
Brothers  of  the  Misericordia  passed  along  the  streets  of  Florence,
all  persons  formerly  raised  their  hats  reverentially  ;  but  this
custom  has  not  been  generally  observed  during  the  last  few
years.
The  Society  is  composed  of  seventy-two  captains  or  Capi
di  Guardia.  Every  day  fifty  Giornanti,  or  members  of  the
Society  who  are  pledged  to  be  in  attendance  each  on  a  given
day  of  the  week,  are  in  readiness  to  carry  the  sick  to  the
hospital  and  perform  the  other  duties  of  the  Misericordia.
They  are  all  equally  bound  to  lend  their  services  night  or  day,
but  a  certain  number  of  the  brotherhood,  called  Nottanti,  are
especially  devoted  to  nurse  the  sick  at  night  in  their  houses  :
others,  called  Mutanti,  are  instructed  in  a  method  peculiar  to
the  Institution,  by  which  to  carry  the  sick  from  one  bed  to
another,  without  causing  the  slightest  movement  or  disturbance,
or  even  uncovering  the  patient  ;  likewise  to  change  the  clothes
and  linen.  Besides  these,  there  are  the  Stracciafoglie,  or
Novices,  and  the  Buone  Voglie,  or  Volunteers,  who  have
already  served  as  Giornanti,  but  who  prefer  having  the  time  for
their  services  left  to  their  own  choice.  The  members  of  the
Society  enjoy  certain  privileges,  such  as  the  remainder  of  the
wax  candles  burnt  during  their  religious  ceremonies  ;  a  small
sum  is  also  assigned  in  dowries  for  thèir  daughters  ;  and  when
those  who  are  restricted  in  their  means  fall  sick,  a  physician
and  medicine  are  supplied  free  of  charge.  Men  of  every
class  in  Florence  belong  to  the  Misericordia,  all  willing  to
VOL.  I.