CHAPTER  I.

Determination to undertake a Pilgrimage to Jeru¬
salem.—Casola receives the Benediction from
Archbishop Arcimboldi in the Cathedral at Milan,
May 14th, 1494.—Leaves Milan, May 15th, and
travels by Caravaggio, Calci, Brescia, Lonato,
Peschiera, Verona, Vicenza, Padua to Venice,
where he arrives May 20th.

Many years ago, as I was invited by a citizen of Milan to
accompany him at his expense on this holy voyage, I
accepted very gladly. But afterwards the citizen named
changed his mind, and gave up the idea of accomplishing
what he had proposed; so I remained very doubtful in
my mind, as my purse could not satisfy my new-born
desire. JSTevertheless a great longing always remained
with me to visit those holy places beyond the sea, although
in my youth I was unable to satisfy it, being continually
hindered by some cause or other. Since, however, the
most high God by His Grace, freed me in my old age from
every impediment and provided me with all I needed, it
seemed good to me to renew the determination to go on
this holy voyage. And in order that I should have no
opportunity of becoming lukewarm any more, I bound
myself by a vow, two years ago, to go at all costs, although
I was then between sixty and seventy years of age.

I began therefore to arrange to undertake the journey
together with certain monks and fellow countrymen, so
that I thought to have both a large and agreeable com¬
pany. And as I always had fair words from them, I set
about putting my affairs in order, so that if anything hap-