 road from Gragnano by Santa Maria dei Monti. It is not easy to imagine the city described by old writers, who consider it more ancient than Amalfi or Ravello. It is said to have possessed a theatre and other important buildings. The fortifications included a hundred towers, and the upper part of the town still bears the name of Campidoglio, the "capitol." Its merchants were known in all countries, and here Gerard, the founder of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, was born. Chiefly by the exertions of the inhabitants of this Costiera, two hospitals for pilgrims were founded at Jerusalem, and in the chapel attached to these, and dedicated to S. Giovanni, Gerard officiated as chaplain. The bishopric, founded in 987, was in 1603 united to that of Ravello.
The Cathedral of S. Lorenzo has too often undergone alterations to retain much that is interesting ; but the crypt has remained untouched, and here is the tomb of Marianella Rufolo, wife of Antonio Coppola, who died in 1400. This monument is one of the most remark-able of that time. It is made of gesso, and bears traces of rich colouring. On either side a column of three stories of different design rests on a lion and is surmounted by a statue of Enoch or Elijah.
Other figures and graceful designs capable of many symbolical interpretations abound. The Burial of the Virgin is beautifully moulded. The body rests upon a sheet upheld by two persons, the disciples standing round the tomb, on the edge of which is the Archangel Michael, who has just severed the hands from a person falling down in front of the group. St. John of Damascus says that an unbelieving Jew attempted profanely to touch the body of the Virgin, when his hands miraculously became withered. In connection with this we may note that the Emperor Frederick II, in his Code of Laws, enacted that violators of sepulchres and despoilers of the dead should have their hands cut off.
A mitre is preserved here, adorned with effigies of saints in enamel, precious stones and pearls, given to the church by Charles of Anjou. This prince had gone to the assistance of St. Louis of France against the Saracens, when, on the Eve of St. Lawrence, August 9, 1270, he encountered a great storm ; the sailors, remembering the feast then being celebrated at Scala, prayed to the saint, after which the storm subsided, and in the following engagement the Moors were defeated. On his return Charles presented this mitre to S. Lorenzo in. acknowledgment of the aid he had received.
An enamelled chalice bears the date 1332. The pulpit was transferred to the Cathedral from the church of Tutti i Sarni, by the Coppola family in 1580. This family has already been referred to at Ravello, with which place, as the tomb of Marianella shows, they were connected through marriage with the Rufoli. They resided at Scala, and were prosperous merchants, who shared the vicissitudes of their time.
One of their race, Antonio Coppola, Count of Sarno, was favoured greatly by Ferdinand I. of Aragon. This monarch wished to procure the succession for his cruel and detested son. Suspecting his secretary Petrucci and Antonio Coppola of a desire to bring in RenÚ of Anjou, he planned their destruction, but meanwhile, pretending great friendship, consented to the marriage of Marco, son of Antonio Coppola,
with his niece, the daughter of Antonio Piccolo-mini, and arranged for the nuptial celebration in the Castel Nuovo at Naples, in 1486. During the festivities the two nobles were summoned to the presence of the king, seized and imprisoned.
Their houses were searched and despoiled, an enormous amount of gold, weapons, and stuffs being taken in triumph on carts to the Castel Nuovo, in spite of the opposition of the barons. Many executions followed, and on May 11, 1487, the secretary and his two sons were beheaded, the populace standing by bareheaded and in profound silence. The Count of Sarno obtained permission to take leave of his two - sons, when he told them how he had gained wealth and distinction by his own exertions, whereas the favour granted by the King had been sud