presence of the Magistrate and next to that their most considerable Trade is whiting of Wax and making of Verdegrese The Country about it is a little wild as the rest of France having no Enclosure Meadow or Pasturage nor other Shade nor Tree but Olive nor River nor Water worth mentioning and which is a greater defect for the Ladys there is wanting an agreeable Walk who having neither Park nor Garden on the Plough'd ground do Trespass every Evening At a Leagues distance on one side is the Sea and on the other Mountains FRONTIGNAN A little ill-favour'd beggarly Frontignan Town yet Wall'd remarkable for the Vines PORTSETTE Where the King is making a Harbor Portsette in the Mediterranean and has advanc'd a Mole already 600. yards designs another Parallel to it and the entrance to be just in the middle the Stone they blow up out of a Mountain close by it which is very good Marble Here the famous Canal falls in which is to joyn both Seas but is scarce so large or deep as that in St. James's Park the Garonne that runs that way has saved a great expence yet is never the less excessive but so wisely plac'd upon the Provisions that Country spends that his Majesty is a gainer by it There are two or three Basons and Reservers one prodigious being a Valley stopt up at one end but the art to get water into them is not yet known NISMES Where there is an Amphitheatre built Nismes by the Emperor Trajan the Walls the least ruin'd of any the Romans have left it has 63. Arches and 470. paces in compass there is also a House on Corinthian Pillars 10. in front and 6. at each hand suppos'd to have been a Capitol and the Ruins of a Temple to Diana upon the head of a Rivelet The Town is not for any thing else considerable the Trade making of Stuffs and the Country thereabouts Rocky The Hugenots have a Temple in it which is large and well contriv'd and no less than 1200. Communicants belonging to it near a third part of the people in these parts of France being of that Religion PONT du GARD An Aquaduet made by the Pont du Gard. Romans 82. foot high between two Hills cross a River almost perfect still it has three rows of Arches one upon another and the lowermost serves for a Bridge AVIGNON Is the Popes bought for a safe Retreat Avignon upon occasion is Govern'd by a Vice-Legate has the best Walls of any Town in France though but little good Building in it stands upon the rapid River Rome half of which being the Kings the Bridge between the two Owners remains broken The greatest Curiosities are the Altar-piece in the Celestines Church given by a King of Cecilly which has 40. Figures all cut in one Marble and Laura's Tomb Petracks Mistriss in the Cordeliers Church with the Verses found in it written by him and the Medaille of a Fortune with it In this City are abundance of Poor Jews which for distinction wear yellow Hats and to them an equal number of Whores which are the greatest part of the Inhabitants the Country thus far stony with many rows of Hills ORENGE A little Town very ancient as the Orenge Ruines of the Antiquities there do shew It has now lost its Walls and Castle the Principallity extends about 8. miles in length and 6. in breadth and is very Fertile VIENNE A little City standing likewise upon the Vienne Rhosne remarkable for Pilates having dwelt there and the old Tower of the Gate-house from which he threw himself into the River VALENCE Another Wall'd City not worth notice Valence unless the breeding Lawyers can make it valueable It has a Bishop who is Count of Valence and Die two Bishopricks united and is temporal Lord not only of that but of several other places in that Country LYONS Is Scituate between two Hills and lyes Lyons about the belly of the biggest in form of a half Moon so close crouded up that some part of it is crept upon them It stands on the Rhosne and Saone two Rivers that by the help of the Mountains furnishes it with Foggs that for most part of the Winter conceal the Sun the Buildings are high Streets large Shops better People neater and richer much than in Paris It Trades considerably with Germany and Italy Prints Books and exchanges Money for all Europe It has an Arch-Bishop that esteems himself Primate of France Eleaven Parishes and in the great old Church of St. John a ridiculous Clock mightily valued there which besides twenty other tricks has little brass Angels that appear when it strikes a Cock that is to be supposed to Crow c. but the Closet of Monsieur Ceruiere does ten times exceed it The most extraordinary thing is the Town-house which is equal to that at Amsterdam with pretty Walks behind it It is rather less than Rouen and may be term'd the fourth great Tower of France the Country about it not very fertile but from Beauvoysin thither seems pleasant by reason of its ugly Neighbour Savoy GRENOBLE Stands at the foot of a great Mountain Grenoble and upon the little River Isere besides the Torrent called the Drac It has the Fortification of 8. Bastions is the place where the Parliament of the Province Assemble and is famous for Gloves GRAND CHARTREUX Scituate in the most Chartreux Solitary place that can be found in the World amongst horrid Mountains worse than the Alpes and the way from Chambery hewn out of the side of Rocks in steps with continual Precipices a roaring Torrent in the bottom and through the melancholly shade of Pines and Fir-trees the House large but far from being beautiful or regular has about 50. Fathers and half as many Brothers which are necessary Tradesmen that work continually for the others none else being admitted A Stranger that is so Foolishly curious as to come there is Lodged for a Night and a Father whose particular business it is entertains him and in the Morning he Records himself in a Book at his going away On the top of the Hill in the Desart is the Chappel of St. Bruno once his Habitation which he finding very cold resolv'd t' abandon but St. Peter appeared to him and would never be quiet till he had promis'd the contrary which is the sole reason that all these wise Fathers remain in this miserable place though they have many pleasanter in that and other Provinces the King of France Duke of Savoy and other Princes having been so great Benefactors to them that 't is thought they are now able to ransome almost any one of them ROHANNE NEVERS MOULINS BOURBON Rohanne Nevers Moulins Bourbon Briare BRIARE c. Are not worth notice nor the Country comparable to that part of the Loire below Orleans BEAUVOIS ABBERUILE MONTREUILLE Beauvois Abberuile Montreuille Boulonne BOULONNE are pretty well Fortified but not in
Pleasant NANTS Is less than Anger 's but rather better Biult Nants they have an old Castle litile worth which with suitable Walls is all their Fortification In the Carmelites Church there is a Tomb of Francis the 2 d. Duke of Bretagne wrought by Mich. Colombus which has many Figures about it and all perfect the Country is flat and woody stands near the Sea and upon the Loire but its principal Trade is Brandy near the Town the Prince of Conde has a House which has a good Prospect ROCHEL Is less than Nants has two or three Rochel Streets built with low Arches under which are all their Trades-men like an Exchange and excepting those and some few Houses the Town is very ordinary not having one good Church The Harbour is little and too shallow at flowing water for any Ship of burthen it has towards the Sea two Block-houses for its defence which is in effect all its Fortification 'T is almost all Hugenots and their principal Trade Salt The Country from Nants thither something resembling England being Enclosure and Pastorage excepting a Fen of seaven Leagues next Rochel the Sheep very remarkable being most black with white foreheads and tayles ROCHFORT The place where the King builds Rochfort and lays up his lightest Ships of 40 50 60 and 70. Guns the Charante a little dirty River or rather Ditch not so large as Puddle-dock being the Harbour wherein they ride and so shallow as well as narrow that they cannot sail with their Guns in them at the mouth of it is a little Fort and by the side of it is a fine Store-house built of Free-stone the length of 20. Ships with several Appartments for such a number which lye every one over against their own dressing-room and have their Terrible Names upon black Marble in Golden letters over every door The Country thereabouts Marshy and bad BLAYE A great old Castle upon the River Giron Blaye the use of it to examine such Ships as pass to Bourdeaux and the place where the English Trading for Wine were to leave their Guns with this River two Leagues nearer Bourdeaux the Garonne and Dordogne joyn all which are muddy and troubled as a Torrent or Land-flood BOURDEAUX Stands upon the Garonne a River Bourdeaux more like Earth than Water being near the Sea is there very broad It has one good Street with two or three good Houses in it the rest of the Town narrow and ill built It has 12. Parishes but never a good Church is govern'd by a Mayor and six Jurats or Aldermen is an Arch-Bishops Seat and has a Parliament Close to it stands a new Cittadel call'd Chasteau Trompette design'd more to awe the City than defend it which makes the Inhabitants hate the name of it 't is very regular and beautiful has two Ditches within the outwardmost is conveniencies for Horse and in the other for Foot The Country about it is a flat cover'd with Vines their sole Trade Wine which scarce any but the English buys POITIERS A stragling ill Scituated Town low Poitiers Marshy ground about it and no good Water in it the circuit of the Walls shews it has been larger much than it is the best Building is the Church of St. Peter by Harry the 2 d. King of England 't is a Bishops Seat and govern'd by a Mayor CADILLIAC A little infignificant Wall'd Town Cadilliac but the Duke of Espernons House there is not much inferior to that of Richelieu being of the same sort of Building and has a better Scituation has finer Gardens and Orengery but the dispute by his Nephews about the Title makes it very much out of Repair AGEN A Wall'd Town stands upon the Garonne Agen. neither well built large nor otherwise considerable only that Scalligers House is there to be seen and is a Bishops Seat on the side of a Hill near it is the Habitation of five Hermits who have very good Appartments hewn out of the solid Rock as also a Church in which is a Spring that does wonders produc'd there by the Tears of a Female Saint 13000. years agoe the Father that shew'd it me has been there 45. years and is the most Devout most Reverend and most Simple Old Man I have seen from hence is easily discerned the Pyrenees and a Country both fertile and pleasant MONTAUBAN A little Town pretty well built Montauban the Market place has all the Houses upon Arches and under them their Shops in one part of it is a publick Fountain which no Town else in France can boast nor so good Wine and Provisions 't is a Bishops Seat but consists most of Hugenots TOULOUSE Stands on a flat is not bigger than Toulouse Rouen but esteemed the second City of France is generally built of a pale soft brick and so are the Churches which might be demolished by scratching it has divers Monasteries and some very large a fine Town-house and at the West-end a very good bridge almost equal to Pontneuf but the River under it not to be prais'd in the Summer The Soyl is so hot that in three months the Dead are dryed and taken up again and put into Vaults where they may be Visited It has an Arch-Bishop and a Court of Parliament who glory in the priviledge of raising such money as the King requires themselves and not to have the Officers of the Taille among them It swarms with Lawyers and is Poorer than any other part of France yet the Country from Bourdeaux thither the most fertile of the Kingdom lying between two Rivers and two ridges of Hills CARCASSONNE Is in two parts both distinctly Carcassonne Wall'd call'd the Citty and the Town but neither of them worth notice nor yet the Castle the Country here is stony and barren and about this Town are the first Olive-Trees I found NARBONNE Is the Frontier Town to Spain Narbonne stands low and unhealthfully but pretty well Fortified is an Arch-Bishops Seat whose House is the best there it has some pieces of Bridges Aquaduets c. remaining of the ancient Romans has no River but a cut out of the Aude BEZIERS Has a Scituation upon a little Hill and Beziers the little River Orb by it with a pretty good Bridge over it the Country still Barren but full of Olive-Trees which here either breed or some way draw a Quicksilver to their roots that in time destroys them MONTPELIER Is one of the best built Towns Montpelier in France though one of the least all of Stone and most of it uniform but the Streets insufferably narrow it stands on the side of a little Hill so that coming from Toulouse all the Towns is seen every House appear one behind another is Wall'd and has a little Cittadel built about 40. years agoe something like Chasteau Trompette has Physick-Schools and Garden and at some certain times the Apothecaries make the famous Confection of Alkermes in the
In the Scituation and in every thing else it very much resembles Pisa The Church of St. Anthony has on the side of it in S. Antonio Mezzo Relievo the History of its Patron and some of the Figures by Sansovinus and before his Tomb hang thirty or forty Lamps of Silver On the other side lyes famous Gatto Mela the Venetian General who near the Church has his Statue on Horse-back made by a Florentine S a. Giustina is plain but Majestick the Architecture Sa. Giustina much esteem'd being built by Paladio the floor Marble black and yellow finer than can be exprest and the high Altar suitable here are the Tombs of St. Luke and St. Matthias and the Martyrdom of S a. Giustina painted by Paolo Veronese the Monastery also is very fine and large by it is the Campo Santo There is also a Church dedicate to our Saint Thomas S. Tomaso di Cantuaria of Canterbury and in it lyes an English Lady Katherine Whittenhal In the Street is the old Tomb of Anteonor with Anteonor's Tomb. Gothick Letters on it which makes it doubted whether his or not 'T is govern'd by a Podesta as the rest of their Governor Cities a Magistrate that Judges on Life and Death but suffers the Inhabitants to quarrel as much as they please for the Padoans having been the Creators of the Venetians now hate the very name and they knowing it suffer them to destroy one another and gain that way a sweet revenge having their Estates too into the bargain The Schollars imitate the others and have continually a civil War amongst them but are seldom punish'd lest is might perhaps be less famous for Anatomy or that they should forsake the Town which wholly subsists by them These Podestas have also the power to lay Tolls have the care of High-ways Hospitals c. Live in State attended by Gentlemen have their Guards Coaches Pages c. Are allow'd a Councel but their Government not above two or three years durance That the Venetians receive by all sorts of Duties Revenue and Impositions on the City and Country is annually 174224. Duccats VICENZA Is a very pleasant Town in a delicious Vicenza Country stands upon two Rivers and near agreeable Hills has many fine Pallaces most noted is that great one in the Piazza with the Gardens of Valmarana Orangerie Canal c. The Theatre built by Palladio of a particular manner and his Triumphal Arch by the Corso This City and Province is Govern'd also by a Podesta and the Revenue the Venetians draw from it is 105311. Duccats annually VERONA Is very large stands high in a good Verona Air and pleasantly is generally well Built full of People abounds with all sorts of Provisions has the Adice a noble River runs winding through it with four Bridges over it has five handsome Gates and two Castles has two Piazzas one for Gentlemen another for Merchants and an old Amphitheatre almost perfect on the In-side us'd by the City for several Sports In the Monastery of St. George is that Saints Picture made by Paolo Veronese so much esteem'd that a Lord-Marshal of England could not buy it for 2000. Pistols The Government is as the two former Provinces and the Revenue to the State yearly 139845. Duccats In this Province is a Lake of 36. miles long and Lago di Garda near 14. broad as clear as Christal full of incomparable Trouts and Carpioni the Country about it most delicious affording excellent Moscatello and all things that can be wish'd for At the end of it stands a great Peschiera Cittadel call'd Peschiera regular with five Bastions through which all pass they please to permit and not possible for any else BRESCIA Is pleasant has Walls and Ramparts Brescia is indifferently well built not so well nor by much so large as Verona has nevertheless several Pallaces one new one with a flat Roof whose Spouts are held by the Figures of Women leaning over as it were peeping at those that pass In the mid'st of the Town on rais'd ground is an old Castle and divers little Rivelets run through it 't is famous for Gun-Smiths whose work is admirable for its cheapness as well as curiosity The Revenue to the Venetians out of this Province is yearly 203680 Duccats CREMA Is a pretty little Town and well Fortified Crema and Bergamo but worse than Brescia in all respects parallel with Bergamo both Frontiers to the Spaniards but the latter the most considerable four miles beyond these Cities the Venetian Territories end which hither is 160. miles a Country like a Garden with innumerable Rivelets and Brooks and so fertile that I cannot remember I saw one Aâ—re of bad ground in it The Revenue of this Province yearly is 180592. Duccats to the Venetians LODINUOVA The Spanish Frontier to the Venetians Lodi Nuova stands upon rising ground has a River runs by it is a vâ—â—â— little Town and as indifferently Fortified MANTOUA has â— secure but base Scituation Mantoua being inviron'd with Marshes and a Lake so that there is but two entrances to it and those over Bridges The Town is inconsiderable the Duke a petty Soveraign of the same force and strength of Parma or Modena having scarce 400000. Crowns yearly Revenue His Intrest like the rest to be of any mans side that can protect him MIRANDOLA is another Principality whose little Mirandola Monarch with all sorts of Taxes and Impositions cannot make himself a Revenue greater than an English Noble-man being at most but 60000. Crowns a year NOVARA Is a Town not well Built but well Fortified Novara is very populous and the Frontier to Piedmont nine miles beyond which the Spanish Dominions end VERCELLI The Duke of Savoys Frontier Town Vercelli to the Spaniards has on one side a little River and is admirably Fortified to be on such a Sandy place The Bastions are all very fresh and regular and the watch Towers cover'd with Tin which looks very prettily the second Gate at the entry from Milan is nobly Built but the Town very indifferently yet not very little Here every one speaks both Italian and French CASAL a little Town of the Duke of Mantoua's Casal and one of the strongest in Italy has the River Po on one side and a great Cittadel on the other besides excellent Walls Ditches and Ramparts ITALY in GENERAL except the Appennines which is a fourth part of it is a perfect Garden the Italy in General Trees and lusty Vines being every where set in order most of it fertile beyond expression abounds with Rivers and Christal Lakes excellent Pasturâ—â—e enclos'd with Quicksets Lanes c. like England has the most and the finest Cities Churchâ—â— Pallaces Gardens Villa's c. of any Territory of its extent in the World and this advantage above all other Countries in Europe that it produces all that they do and that which they have not Its Wines are incomparable and of infinite variety and delicacy pleasing at once both scent and tast The Provisions of all sorts excellent exceeding England in some things and France in all The Horses admirable both for shape and mettle Horses and they ride and drive them very like the English The Gentry so courteous and civil that except in People matters of Love 't is impossible to offend them and to a Stranger they will almost pardon any thing Very constant in their Friendship but at first Humour sight not so familiar as the French being generally more reserv'd and too wise to be impertinent or to be any mans Friend or Enemy where there 's no reason for it Are of such a happy temper that they can be excellent Temper and Learning in any thing they please to undertake even in Buffonncrie and Fooling out-doing Monsieur himself in whom 't is natural and besides their being the greatest Souldiers and Generals of all Ages and excelling too in Politicks the Mathematicks and solid Learning for Architecture Sculpture Musick and Painting are as much admired by the wisest of the World as France is by others for their Modes of Habit Speaking Dancing Riding c. The Ladies have fine Shapes and Features rare Women Eyes and Teeth and colour generally not inferior to the more Northern Countrys excepting some very flaxen Beauties which a too feeble Sun has left unripe and have as few ill breaths as crooked amongst them Their â—â—rtues as great as any Womens seldom being Unchast without Temptation and then with such Vertues secresie and caution 〈…〉 is scarce a fault Have great Wit and such variety of Charms that Wit and Charms their Love never cloys and their incomparable Voices and sweet Language added to the rest makes Italy a Paradice FINIS
for yet greater Ornament the Roof is adorn'd with Pinacles to approach the Door there are two ascents of Marble Diamond cut on the last a little gilded jette d'eau and in each corner at the setting on of the wings two gilded Vollerys or Cages stuck against the Wall like Martins Nests It affords not above three Appartments the Kings the Queens and Dauphins has some rich Furniture and much painting but his Majestys Bed-Chamber is most Bizzare being meubl'd principally with Purslain which it has in greater quantity and variety than any Potters Shop in Europe adjoyning to this and the Queens Appartment is a Terrase pav'd with Marble supported with Pillars and a Bason in the mid'st of it The Garden is very large and being a continued descent from the House makes that side of it to appear higher and more beautiful has many Fountains Basons Statues and great Walks with tall Trees and Hedges at the lower end a Canal in which is a Yacht with all her Rigging The King and all the Court enjoy the pleasure of it in their Coaches the Deep-loose Sand rendring it not agreeable to walk in The Ministers and Nobility have Houses set at some distance on a piece of ground waste like Common TRIANO half a mile from Versailles stands a Triano very fine Summer-House with Walks and Statues almost as beautiful as the other the Roof all cover'd with Purslain Pots or their Counterfeits within furnish'd with Pictures and paved with Marble REGALIO At the bottom of one of the great Regalio shady Walks was an Amphitheatre made of Boughs and Flowers wherein was conceal'd three sets of Musick with which the King did entertain the Ladys In another open part of the Garden amongst the Fountains was an infinit number of Trees set with their branches full of Candles in the mid'st of them a Table with a Machine upon it whereon was most artificially hung all manner of Fruit as if it were natural with branches leaves c. In the middle of it abundance of Wax-Candles and round about the bottom places for dishes and covers COUNTRY Towards Orleans has several agreeable Country Hills with pretty Houses on them and two or three wall'd Towns not much inferior to those upon the Loire ORLEANS Is large ill built ill paved not one Orleans good House or Gentleman living in it and yet has about forty Churches it stands on the River Loire which is very broad and beautiful but very shallow its chiefest Trade is Wine and Corn the Fortifications gone to ruin AMBOIS A little wretched Wall'd Town remarkable Ambois for a Staggs horn kill'd by Francis the First in the Forrest of Ardenne which are fifteen foot high his ribs they show seaven foot long and of a prodigious thickness and the joynt of his neck which is a solid bone is a foot diameter all kept in the old ruinous Castle there in which there is nothing else to be observ'd but a winding Stair-case made for Coaches to run up 35. fathoms to the Chambers the Prospect of the Country from it is extream pleasant the River very large which having forsaken his old Channel has there two stone Bridges BLOIS Has nothing good in it but its Scituation Blois MARMOUSTIER A large Abby wherein is kept Marmoustier the St. Ampoule that anointed Henry the Fourth it ebbs and flows with the Moon and was sent from Heaven to cure St. Martins Legg which the Devil made him break by stealing away the Stair-case from his Chamber now a pretty Marble Chappel on the side of the Church they also show a vast Tunn wherein he kept his Wine which probably was the Friend that stole away the Stairs TOURS Is not near so big as Orleans though Tours pretty large the Houses are most of them cover'd with blew slate as well on the sides as roofe the Streets narrow the best Church St. Gratian built by the English and has the Windows painted as if they were Enamell'd by the Rampart is a long Walk or Maille well set with Trees It had a Castle but now Ruins along the River-side is a Rock under which there are infinit numbers of Burroughs of People like those of Coneys the Trade is Spinning Weaving and ordering of Silks it is an Arch Bishops Seat the Scituation in that part of the Country which they call the Garden of France SAUMURE A little Wall'd Town under a Hill Saumure close by the Loire not bigger than Windsor-Castle the Walls very clean and free from Buildings In the Subburbs which is much larger than the Town is a pretty new Cloister of Nostre dame d'Ardilliers wherein is every day wrought Miracles From the brow of the Hill on which stands an old Ruinous Castle there is a Prospect of a Country something like that about Windsor it has abundance of Hugenots and their Churches as in other Citys without the Walls and Subsists by being a School to Germans and English In the Road to Richelieu are two eminent Convents 2 Convents of the Order of St. Benoist of Men and Women remarkable in that the Men are subject to the Women and receive their Orders from them the Lady Abbess is Sister to Madam Montespan and in her Chappel lye two Kings of England Bury'd who were Benefactors to it Henry the Second and Richard Cordelyon RICHELIEU The famous Pallace of Richelieu Richelieu is much less and much lower Scituated than Audlyend has a Mote about it and a Canal at 50. yards distance again from that which with several Cutts and Ditches go a second time round it in breadth it is a single House has but one chief Court the Stables and Offices plac'd on each hand in the approach to it the Chambers are pretty square Rooms but their Roofs all too low which their heavy Timbers make to appear worse there is great store of carved work on the Chimneys Doors and Joice and much French painting on the Ceelings The Park exceeds the Garden being very fine in its kind has some Stags in it a thing so rare in France that they wonder at them there as Monsters Near to this Pallace is a Town built by the same Cardinal and exactly Uniform Wall'd and Moted too it consists of one Street and two broad places at each end whereof the one is a Market but is so desolate and poor that one would suspect the Plague were in it Anger 's Stands upon the Main a River that runs Anger 's into the Loire and almost as fair 't is Wall'd ill built not large has an old Castle almost ruinous which is yet a Garrison and they show in it a Cage of wood in a Dungeon wherein was formerly kept Prisoner a Queen of Scicily 21. years it has a very good Maille set with double rows of Trees on each side near as long as that in St. James's Park not far from it a little Forrest the Country about it low yet Wooded Fertile and
good Repair best towards Paris which seems to have been the work of the English the Buildings resembling our Market-Towns low Timber Houses with some few Brick amongst them the Country like the rest open bears Corn but not Fertile CALAIS Is strong both to Land and Sea has Calais Ramparts Ditches Citadel Block-Houses c. and is a prettier Town though less than the four former FRANCE in general Would be a very pleasant France in general and agreeable Country had it Enclosures and Pasturage is neither so Fertile generally as Italy or England nor yet has no ground altogether so Barren as either of them very few Woods Parks or Forrests and fewer Villas or noble Country Houses Rivers not many and of those scarce any Navigable much Corn but not plump and large Wines in good quantity but without any flavor and most of them tart and crabbed Provisions of no kind excellent their Poultrey lean little or no Fish scarce any Beef Mutton nor Veal that 's good Their Horses little and so strangely put together that scarce any of them can either Trot or Gallop and 't is easier to teach an English Horse to dance than one of them to amble for they can only go the Pas whence their Coaches and all manner of Veiture is so slow as 't is intolerable Doggs of no kind worth a farthing and to conclude such is the nature of the Clime or Soyl that it produces no Animal in perfection but Asses The People nevertheless the most gentile of any giving Laws to us and others for Fashions and Behaviour and yet not careful to be exact in either but do all things as it were by chance with a becoming negligence that extreamly pleases observable in their Linnen Cloaths Houses c. in all which they abhor exactness Nor has their Language any certain Pronounciation but varies continually as he that speaks affects so that they do not understand but guess at each others meaning yet is esteem'd the sweetest in the World allow'd th' advantage of the Nose and Lisping Their Complexions generally yellow and swarthy the Men wither'd the Women thick lipp'd flat-nos'd a little turning up which gives an aire to faces and is emulated by our English Ladies If they have any defects they are abundantly supply'd by their good Meen and admirable Deportment which gains them access before all other Nations and above the rest are happy in this that they can never mistake or commit absurdity by gestures or otherwise a French-man being every where a Master of Ceremonys The Nobles are most extravagantly Courteous and so Impartial in their Friendship that they never express or shew more to one man than another Are naturally Chollerick which together with extream Poverty and Misery makes them so brave as not to regard any danger a Valour the Gentry are brought to by Fatigue and Service the Vulgar by continual Taxes Are of an humour airy and very diverting always in motion and ever making some kind of noise or other Talking Dancing or Singing being very like those impertinent harmless Flyes that are always busie about you though neither to sting nor suck you Generally Amorous but the Men rarely Jealous and who will enjoy their Women may do it at their Perils Are very Apprehensive or Eucillè as they term it understanding what you mean before they know what you will say All naturally Poets so that they cannot write a Letter without some Verses in it No less Historians Printing every Mans History or Memoire that is not hang'd in Effigie for being great lovers of their own fame and glory their own impartial Pens does Immortalize it GENEVA A little Town stands in a Flat with Geneva Mountains at some distance on every side being the several Territories of France Savoy Swiss Valesians c. by whose quarrels and emulation it preserves it self has pretty slight works about it and an Arsenal not very considerable has no good Building and is only famous for its Religion there is a Lake which is 18. Leagues long and 5. in some places broad has admirable Trouts in it and gives Birth to the rapid Rhone CHAMBERY The chief City of Savoy is about Chambery the size of Saumure but better Built stands inviron'd with great Mountains and is the place where the Parliament resides MONTMELIAN A little Town by which upon Montmelian a Rock stands a very strong Castle that commands the Passage and has the River Isere running by it MONT-CENIS The highest of all the Alpes is Mont-Cenis a League up two upon the top which is a kind of Plain or Valley between the Peaks and in the mid'st of it a Lake the descent two Leagues more which is troublesome and horrid in respect of the rude Rock and Stones which lye as if carelesly all at once there thrown and tumbled down the Hill at the foot of it is Novalese and Suza where Savoy ends and Piedmont begins TURIN Stands at the foot of the Hills on part of Turin the same tract of Land with Lombardy is lately enlarged by new regular Walls and Ditches has a Cittadel on the back of it and the River Po running by it the Buildings are of Brick plaister'd over not excepting the Duke's Pallace from which there is a very fine new Street with a square at each end on Portico's like Covent-Garden The Old Pallace has two or three good Rooms in it and joyning to it in the great Church a black Marble Chappel now building to keep our Saviours Winding-sheet in but the prettiest thing in the House is the Dutchess her Bathing-Room from which to her Bed-Chamber she goes up and down by Counterpoize LAVENERIE A pretty little House three or four La Venerie miles distant in which the Duke delights for Huntingsake a new straight Street leads to it at the end of which is an Oval Building and two high Marble Pillars with Statues on them In the Court immediately before it is a brass Stagg in the mid'st of a Bason with Dogs about it The House has abundance of Painting and Gilding the Gardens very fine and a high Semi-circular-wall with heads in Niches finishes the first and then descending there are two noble Grotta's a Fountain and a Semi circular wall bent the other way at the end of this last is design'd a Temple to Diana of which I saw the Model LA VALENTINE A little neat House of the La Valentine Old Dutchesses on the other side of Turin upon the banks of the River Po and therefore stands pleasantly it has much Gilding and better Pictures than any of the other The Duke calls himself Royal Highness and Duke glorys in having continued there a thousand years and in all probability he may continue there a Million yet for except Piedmont which is not above a days Journey in length and very narrow none would covet any of his Territories Savoy being so Horrid Barren and Cold that one would
Ambrose himself lyes Bury'd The Closets of Sig re Canonico Setali in which are Curiosities all manner of Rarities In the first great variety of Burning-glasses and Reflecting-steels of great breadth and several other Instruments for Solar and Mathematical experiments In others are all sorts of Stones Minerals Shells Horns Beasts Fishes c. that are rare as Camelions Rhinocera's Sword-fishes c. Cloth of the stone Abestos that is made clean by throwing into the fire a Load stone but of two ounces weight that takes up 25. pound of Iron in another all manner of Clocks and Watches as those of perpetul motion with Bullets of local motion c. In others Armes of India China c. with their Kings and Priests hahits curious Figures in Ivory Anatomies of Abortives fine Cabinets Collections of Medails c. strange Looking-glasses Nuts China Manuscripts c. CITTADEL Is larger than that of Antwerp and Cittadel is esteemed one of the best in Europe has all sorts of Conveniencies and Shops within it self to Accomodate the Soldiers which are all Spaniards it stands close by the Town but the Government independant of him that governs Milan The City has twelve Senators chosen by the King Government whereof three must be always Spaniards these make and alter Laws determine all Causes Civil and Criminal without appeal the Governor has the priviledge of being a Judge amongst them and such is their respect to him that they never reject any thing he propounds The Revenue Spain draws from it yearly is not less Revenue than a 100000. l. Sterl Their Dominions so large in this fertile Country of Strength Lombardy that they can raise 50000. Men. It ahounds with Artizans of all sorts in so much Artizans that 't is thought to have more than all Italy Lodi Piacenza Two pretty little Towns the first Lodi Piacenza frontier to the Venetians in the latter stands an excellent brass Statue of Alexander Farnese the great General on Horse back the Country about these Towns a perfect Garden PARMA Has a pretty River runs through it and Parma is esteemed to be three miles in compass the Walls very good and regular The Duke's Pallace has two square Courts and the Theatre for Opera's in it the finest in the World being able to receive 14000. persons and may hear from the extremities of it distinctly by the side of it is a less for Comedies which is very pretty At some distance he has a Summer House with Gardens Fountains Orangery c. but out of order His Stables are very good and his Coaches excel all Christendom in Richness and Ugliness the one all of Plated-silver emboss'd as also the Carriage and Naves another of Velvet Embroider'd so massie and gross that it seems as rich but more detestable in its shape being as big as a Chamber having four great arm'd Chairs in it besides the usual Seats behind them again and the Gilding is equal to the rest of the foolish cost of which the Wheels have their proportion The Cupola of the Duomo is Painted by the hand Duomo of Carreggio but faded very much and the Floor is paved with large Marble The Duke's Revenue is said to be 400000. Crowns Revenue a year of which he spends much in Guards never going abroad without one of Halberds and one of Carabines and his Mother and Dutchess have the like In all his Dominions he can raise about 20000. Strength Men having other little Territories besides that rich Cauntry about Parma The Government of his Towns is by Podesta's Government which have Power in all civil matters and a Governor has the care of the other but all Appeal upon occasion to the Councel of State at Parma of which Marquess Vigolino is the principal His Intrest is French Intrest REGIO is the Duke of Modena's Frontier and Regio best Town of which Prince Lewis is Governor MODENA In the Pallace is an Apartment of Modena six Rooms as richly gilded and furnished as any in Italy the Dukes Stables and Horses better much than Parma close by the Town he has a good Cittadel and in the rest of his State he has two more The chief Manufacture of this City is making of Trade Vizard-Masks and Masquerading Habits for which they have a very good return and the Duke though but 16. years old is a great encourager of Trade and Protector of Virtuosi His Revenue is about 300000. Crowns a year including Revenue his little Mountainous Country of Garfagna next Tuscany which supplyes him with Oyle His Intrest and Government is exactly the same Intrest with Parma and his chief Councellor is Secretary Gatti When he goes abroad in the same manner attended too has the same Guards can raise as many Men upon occasion and has very near as many Acres as his Neighbor Duke BOLOGNA Stands at the end of that rich Tract Bologna of Land that scarce the World cau equal is large well built most of it upon Portico's like Covent-Garden has several fine Monasteries but that of St. Dominick is the greatest nourishing 150. Fryers That of St. Michele in Bosco being on a Hill with admirable Prospect excels all the rest and has the finest Dormitory The City is rather under the Protection then Government Government of the Pope for though he have a Cardinal-Legate there he can act nothing of Consequence without the consent of the Senate who have the Militia in their own hands which in the State consists of ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse besides six thousand Citizens Commanded by a Maestro di Campo of their own for all which they have Magazins of Amunition c. and can as easily re-take the Government into their hands as they did unwisely part with it Though they Coyn their Money with the Popes Armes upon it they also impale their own device of Libertas with it and as a further mark of liberty they constantly maintain at Rome an Embassador but the Legate lives in greater State amongst them and at their charge too having Guards of Horse and Foot which continually attend him and besides the charge of Vice-Legate and other Officers sends the Pope yearly a hundred thousand Crowns clear which arises from Impositions on Salt and Fish the Post and the Secretary-Office for senceless Dispensations c. Their chief Trade and business is Silk of which Trade their is brought out of their own Territories to every Fair a million and two hundred thousand pound weight besides 200000. by Strangers all which is order'd in Bologna and employs thirty thousand People and their Hemp not less than 12000. besides little Doggs Wash-balls and Salsicci which are the best in the World FLORENCE Stands close under the Appennines Florence and seems every way else to have a large Plain enclos'd with Hills in which are an infinite number of Villas and some of them very
attended Guards by a Troop of Germans and a Guard of Halbertiers several Coaches and in every respect the equipage of a King The only Order of Knight-hood in this Court is that of Knights of St. Stephen St. Stephen whereof the great Duke is grand Master in imitation of that of Maltha and like that none can be admitted but upon the same proofs of Gentility The number of the Knights is at least 700. dispers'd all over Italy but oblig'd to serve several years in his Highnesses Gallies that they may be capable of Commendums The Revenue of the Order is about 200000. Crowns most of it at the G. Dukes dispose the rest in private Families Their place of Residence Pisa In the Government the G. Duke is absolute but yet Government allows them a Senate in shew of Liberty which consists of 40. Senators all chosen by himself and never act contrary to his Will 'T is accounted very Honourable because they have the priviledge of being cover'd before the Duke and have generally the best Employments of the City and Governments in Toscany conferr'd on them In the Dukes absence the Auditor Fiscal a kind of Lord Mayor does govern The G. Duke Taxes no Lands but the Product of Revenue them so that no Horse or Beast House or Ground can be sold or Daughter Marry'd but in every 100. Crowns seaven Crowns three quarters must be paid to his Highness his whole Revenue being annually 1200000. Crowns which arises thus Le Dogane di tutto il suo Stato 200000 Gabelle delle Porte 150000 Della Contratazione 200000 Dalle Farine 150000 Dalle Deccime 100000 Beni Stabili 100000 Dal Sale 50000 Avanzi di Magistrati 50000 Appalte di Forni 30000 Dal Tabacco 25000 Aquavita 20000 Posta 30000 Carta 15000 Assignamenti diversi 50000 His principal Citadel in Florence is very considerable Strength having in it an Armory of four large Rooms wherein is Armes for 80000. Men all in excellent order and in his whole State he has 26. Garrisons in all which in times of Peace are but 2482. men but he has besides these the Train'd-Bands which amount to 3000. Horse 65000. Foot and the Citys of Florence Siena and the Countrys some miles about them which are disarm'd for the Dukes security would make upon occasion 20000. more The Officers are paid by his Highness and the Soldiers have some priviledges His Troop of Life-guard consists of a hundred Germans whose pay is three Giulio's a day their Horses kept and Free-quarter his Guard of Halbertiers are the same number and have five Crowns a moneth with several other advantages he has also a Guard of Reform'd Officers Italians whose pay is 14. Crowns a moneth and the Maestro di Camera is always their Captain The Captains of the several Guards have 1000. Crowns a year the common Soldiers a Giulio a day which pay what it wants of other Princes is recompenc'd by its certainty and little or no deductions some heing paid every week others every moneth punctually His Intrest is Spanish loves the English and has a Intrest perfect aversion for the French as all Wise men naturally have PISTOIA Is not now considerable Pistoia LUCCA Is a pretty Town near as good as Florence Lucca paved and built much after the same manner the Fortifications very regular fac'd with Brick the Rampart exceeding large set with Trees like Antwerp and like it stands clear from Houses and in a flat but Mountains at some distance on every side The Churches are least considerable but in the Augustins they shew a Hole where an Unbeliever was suck'd in alive for throwing stones at the Virgin and in another lyes Buryed Richard King of England who dyed in his Pilgrimage They have four or five little Towns more in their Strength whole State and 't is said they may raise in their small Territories 15000. Men. 'T is Govern'd by a great Counsel of Citizens which Government are changed every year and a Confaloniero as most of the other Citys in Italy have The constant Revenue of this little Republick is Revenue esteemed to he near 200000. Crowns a year PISA An ancient Town stands in a Marshy place Pisa has a good River runs through part of it and an Aquaduet upon Arches that brings water from Mountains four miles distant and has nothing else remarkable except the Camposanto be which is made of Holy Earth brought from Jerusalem in 50. Galleys LEGORNE Next to Florence the most considerable Legorne in the G. Dukes State is excellently fortified both to Land and Sea where it has a Mole of greater length than Genoa and by it the fine Statue of Ferdinand the First with four Slaves in Brass at his feet Being a free Port 't is fill'd with Strangers of which the Jews are not a less number than 5000 of English Merchants Families there are about ten as many of Hollanders but many more French of all sorts 'T is the Magazine of the Streights and has a good Trade Trade particularly with England who carry thither Cloath Lead Tin Iron Spices and Herrings the only Commodities to be had there is Silk Wine and Oyl It has two Governors the one Millitary the other Government Civil the first is General Borri the latter Marchese Medici His Highness constantly keeps four Galleys esteem'd the best in the Mediterranean and several little Ships Crusing against the Turks SIENA Is very near as large and beautiful as Siena Florence the Streets neatly paved with a sort of little Bricks set edg ways and being built on a rising ground are always clean the Piazza is very spacious and the Domo is a very noble Church all of white and black Marble both within and without the Floor In-laid in Historical Figures by extraordinary Masters the Roof Azure sprinkled with little Stars of Gold the Library by the side of it curiously painted in Fresco by Pietro Perugino 'T is one of the best Towns of the G. Dukes State and speaks the best Italian of all Italy MONTEFIASCONE Is remarkable for the Tomb Montefiascone of the Drunken German Bishop who kill'd himself here with drinking this excellent Wine and has therefore this Epitaph writ by his Man who had Orders to mark the doors as he went with Est three times where he found the best Est est est propter nimium est Dominus meus mortuus est In this Country the Duke of Parma has a fine House Caprarola Scituate on the side of a Hill which gives it a Prospect of Rome though 40. miles distant VITERBO Is a pretty little Town with many Fountains Viterbo in it from thence in the Summer-time to Rome the Air is esteem'd Unhealthful ROME As in other things in its Scituation excels Rome all other Citys having so many agreeable Hills in and about it that whether pursuing pleasure or busisiness a Man has several times every day
the prospect of this fine Town and Country The Figure of it is almost round the River Tyber running through it and five Rivelets or great branches more of water by Aqueducts brought to it which supplys such a number of Marble Fountains that there is no Street nor Court where they do not run perpetually and so many and admirable are the Churches Pallaces and Gardens that 't is impossible at least for me exactly to describe them S. GIO. LATERANO Of which the Pope is S. Gio. Laterano Bishop and therefore has the Precedency of all other Churches is very large and beautiful stands upon Monte Celio one of the seaven Hills was first built by Constantine the Great and was formerly the place of the Popes Residence the Roof is richly Gilded has much good Painting the Pillars to the side-Altars very fine and uniform and so is the great Tabernacle in which is shut the wooden Altar St. Peter and his Successors in time of Persecution carryed about with them to say Mass at and therefore is so Sacred that none but his Holiness himself can Celebrate at it and to make it more estimable there is also the Heads of St. Peter and St. Paul which are shown upon Festivals the Altar of the Sacrament is also very remarkable having a Tabernacle of rare polish'd Stones and four Brass gilded Pillars that anciently were Saturns it has the name from the Table it includes on which our Saviour eat the last Paschal Lamb being for certain the very same besides divers other most precious Relicks as the Smock and hair of the B. Vergin somthing of the like nature of Mary Magdalen the Cloath with which our Saviour wiped the Disciples Feet the Water and Blood that came out of His Side some of the Barly-bread He multiplied a Shoulder of St. Laurence a Tooth of St. Peter c. In the Cloister the pierced Porphry Chair on which the Pope is set amongst other Ceremonies at his Creation The Tomb of Cardinal Respone who being yet alive has erected it with this fancy Death holding his Grave-stone and Time carrying his Coffin In the Porch is the Statue in Brass of Henry the 4th of France who restored or gave them part of their Revenue In the great Piazza before it stands the tall Obelisk of 100. foot high with Hierogliphicks on it brought from the Circus Maximus BAPTISTERY of CONSTANTINE Joyns Baptistery of Constantine in a manner to this Church wherein that Emperour was Christned 't is round the Well or Font rail'd about with Marble the Canopy or Tabernacle over it supported with noble Porphry Pillars and the Roof painted with the History of his Conversion Conquests c. SCALA SANTA Is a Building on purpose for the Holy Stairs which our Saviour went up Scala Santa to Pilate and some can see the very drops of Blood and Tears still upon them He then shed which little Grates protect 'T is a very fair white Marble Stair-case and has on each hand others to return down upon when they have gone up that upon their knees at the top of it is a little Chappel called the Sancta Sanctorum there being Christs Picture that was made by an Angel and formerly his Prepuce or Fore-skin which now Hallows another place S. PETERS Is the second Church in esteem in Rome St. Peters and first in the World for Beauty and Architecture infinitely surpassing in both either the Temple of Solomon or that of Diana at Ephesus and to Bramante and Mich. Angelo is attributed the glory of it but principally to the last The out-side is of Free-stone the Frontis-pice supported with vast Pillars over which is a row of Balconies or Pavillions where the Pope is Crown'd and from thence on several Festivals Blesses and Curses on the top of all is our Saviour and his Twelve Apostles Statues of ten foot long and below them upon the Balustres of the two Stately Portico's that enclose the great Piazza in form of an Ampki-Theatre stand an Army of Saints in the middle the Guglia of 100. foot long Dedicated to Augustus and on each side a great Fountain The approaches to it is up 24. Marble steps the entrance at 5. Doors whereof one is Holy the two middle-most covered with Brass in Historical Figures The Porch is 289. foot long and 44. broad the Roof gilded and Floor paved with wite Marble and at one end of it the Statue of Constantine on Horse-back by Bernino the Church it self 520. foot in length and 380. foot broad the top of it divided into little gilded squares with a Rose in each the Pavement inlaid Marble the walls and sides of the Pillars except the very middle crusted with the same well polish'd adorn'd with many little white Figures of Angels the moral Virtues fine Tombs Altars Chappels c. The Cupola is very large being 170. paces in compass lined with Mosaick work that describes Heaven supported by four great Pillars in which are the Statues in Niches of Veronica St. Helen Andrew and Longinus all Gigaintick and the last of Bernino's hand under it stands the high Altar whose four famous Brass Serpentine-Pillars were likewise made by him which without the Canopy weigh 100000. pound 'T is a very noble thing but not sufficient to excuse the Sacriledge of robbing the Pantheon for it before this Altar is a Vault rail'd and hung about with Silver Lamps and in it lyes half St. Peter and St. Paul at the further end of all is S. Peters old Wooden Chair lockt up in a brass case expos'd only on its Feast-days supported by the four Doctors of the Church of the same Mettal gilt by rare Bernino's hand and over it an Host of Angels with a Glory Artificially made of yellow horn and in the midst of it the Holy Ghost upon wing hovering on each side are the Tombs of Urban the 8th and Paul the 3 d. and under the latter lyes the fine white Marble Statue of Youth which for being Ravish'd by a Spaniard wears now a Drapery of brass On the side of the Church not far from the great Altar under a Canopy of State in a sitting posture is the brazen Statue of Jupiter that stood anciently in his Temple and now has the good fortune to represent St. Peter and be as much Worship'd as ever none passing but kiss and put their heads under his feet not even the Cardinals his hand lifted up that seem'd to throw the Thunder now is suppos'd to bless and the other makes a shift to hold the Keys The most considerable Reliques are the Spear that Wounded Christs Side the Handkerchief He wiped his Face with a piece of the Holy Cross some of the Hay that He lay on in the Manger the great Pinces or Plyers with which they took the Primitive Saints in pieces the Head of Thomas Becket of Canterbury with as many Arms Leggs Ribs c. as would Re-build him at the Resurrection The Church is Vaulted
Country Dance was ever better perform'd not the least mistake or error happening all the time The Soveraignty is in the Grand Councel which Government consists of all the other Councels and Magistrates next in the Senate or Pregadi the Colledge the Councel of Ten the Quarante Criminale c. The Grand Councel having the Supream power confers Grand Councel Dignities makes Laws Creates Magistrates and all the other Councels and into it no Noble Venetian can enter before the Age of 25. years except by Balloting for it and then if it be his lot he may sit at 20. The Pregadi are the body of the Senate so called Pregadi from being pray'd to come to Councel has now an addition of 60. more called the Giunto and admits besides the Colledge the Concillij Criminali the Councel of Tenn and some other Magistrates in all to the number of 276. who Vote by little soft Balls like Buttons white and yellow put into a Box devided of the same colours which takes away all fear of making Enemies and prevents Cabals and Factions To these are belonging 24. Secretaries 12. attending the others with Embassadors The Colledge consists of the Doge and six Councellors Colledge together stiled the Sig ria and the eldest of them in the Doges absence supplies his place so that business has no delay There sits likewise three Capi of the Quarante Criminale which represent that Councel six Savij Grandi five di Terra Ferma and five Savij alli Ordini which last are young men plac'd there only to Learn These receive Petitions open Letters give Audience to publick Ministers c. but no positive Answers those depending on the Senate Embrs. Aud. At the Entrance of Embassadors into this Colledge they all rise up and are bare except the Doge who is so only to Cardinals and Princes on whose right hand they are afterwards plac'd The Doge is chosen by all the Nobility of above Doge thirty years old by Ballotting several ways for Electors and then they again for others varying so often to prevent Factions The Duke when Elected has no Soveraignty but in Name the honour of a Throne his Mantle and fantastick Crown yet to make him something esteem'd they allow all Letters to be directed to him Money Coyn'd and Dispatches Sign'd by him but no Guards least he should make himself more considerable His constant Revenue but 100. Zecchins a week and his Children and Brothers deprived th' enjoying any great charge in the State during his Life he himself not being permitted to go out of Venice without Leave and is then without any power The Councel of Tenn now increas'd to the number Councel of Tenn of Seaventeen besides the Duke and his six Councellors Elected of different Families without the least affinity or Alliance are Judges of Treasons and all Criminal matters of highest importance and Instituted for a check upon the Nobilli These chuse amongst themselves Inquisitors three Inquisitors of State who serve by turns have power to enquire against the Doge himself and every slight suspicion is sufficient to Banish Imprison or punish with Death without mercy any that reveal their secrets or Usurp any of the publick Treasure or Revenue not regarding the doing an Injustice to particulars for the publick good The 40 Criminale is form'd most of the Nobilli too Quaranta Criminale of which sort of Council there are two more of a second Rank or Poorer Nobillity instituted that none might be discontented but every one might have his share in the Government The one is called Civil Vecchia the other Civil Nuova The first for Appeals from the City the latter from the Country and they sit in Senate by turns every sixteen Moneths which Change is practis'd in the Senate it self the Councel of Tenn and in all other Offices and Magistrates except the Chancellor The People by that means in a little space being freed from Oppression and ill Governours if such should chance to be Elected Besides so many Councels prevents the Altering of the Government which from a few might easier succeed and sooner dispatch Business The Six Savij Grandi are a kind of Ministers of State who every day after Councel consult together Savij Grandi of that Dayes Business and once a Week carry what is Ripe to the Senate and being Men of great Experience their Preparation prevents the Confusion that would arise from so many Opinions the Ignorant being ever the greatest Number in all Assemblies The Savij di Terra Ferma are inferior to the Former 5 Savij di Terra Ferma can give their Votes in the Colledge but not in the Senate And of these are chosen the Savio Cassiere and the Savio alla Scrittura the first provides and disburses the Money the other has the Superintendance of the Militia The Procuratorij ought to be but Nine but are now Procuratorij Thirty six encreased by their Necessities in the Warr of Candia then selling these Honours for 20000 Duccats a piece but as they dye will come to their first Institution The Dignity is esteem'd very great for having the doors of the Senate always open to them and freed from being sent Embassadors except in extraordinary yet this Office nevertheless is void of all power not having the liberty to enter either into the Grand Councel or that of Tenn but is purely Church-warden and without any other Authority than what relates to the Church of St. Mark the having a care of Orphans c. Citizens are admitted to have several Charges one Grand Chancellor of the Principal is made Grand Chancellor with the Title of Ex câ— Ducal habit and the priviledge to enter into Senate Councels c. where he may give his Opinion but not Vote his allowance 3000. Duccats a year and worth 10000. more is the only place that is for term of Life and esteem'd the best in the Republique They have also three Avogadors a sort of Attorney Avogadors General which to make more fierce and keen are allow'd good part of the Estates Confiscated The several Providitori c. because too tedious I omit but 't is to be observ'd that no man is suffer'd to enjoy two places be they never so inconsiderable and the Nobility must run through the most inferior employments before they can possess those that are desirable by which means they arrive at the great ones when they are in riper years and fitter to manage them and the small ones are not despised for if any refuse the charge he is Elected to he is fined 2000. Duccats and Banish'd the Grand Counsel for two years The noble Families with those added in the War of Number of Nobility Candia are about 220. and before that to conceal their small number and take away emulation they gave leave to Secretaries Lawyers Physicians and Notaries to wear their habits which they still continue They are