Ancona is about half a days Journey from Loretto It is a verie ancient City and the best Sea Port in Italy at least upon the Adriatick Coast The Port was Built at least Restored and Beautified by Trajan the Emperour in whose Honour a most stately Triumphal Arch was Raised upon it which it yet extant with this Inscription in Capital Letters Imp. Caes. diâ—i Nervae F. Nervae Trajano optimo August Germanic Daetico Pontef max. Tr. Pot. xix Imp. xi Cos. vii P. P. Providentissimo Princ. S. P. Q. R. Quod adcessum Italiae Hoc etiam addito ex pecunia sua Portum tutiorem Navigantibus reddiderit And upon the Right side thereof You may Read this Inscription Plotinoe Aug. Conjugi Aug. And upon the left Divae Marcian Aug sorori August Cenigalia is a little Town having a Sea-Port It seems from the name to have been built and to have belonged to the Galli Cenones Fano Antiently Fanum because of the Temple of Fortune that stood here There is a stately Triumphall Arch of Marble 30 Cubits High Pesaro is a very Pleasant and handsome City having many fine Houses and a Magnificent Palace It is well Peopled and well Fortified The Duke of Vrbin to whom this City did belong used to pass one half of the Year here But since his Death without Heirs Male the whole Dutchie is Reunited to the Ecclesiastick state Rimini in Latine Ariminum is like to be so called from the River Arimine that passes by it There are severall fair Palaces in it built by the Mala-testi antient Lords of the Place There is a Triumphal Arch erected in Honour of Augustus yet extant and the Ruines of a great Theatre But the most considerable thing of all is the Bridge Built of great square Marble stones of twentie foot in length and 15. in breadth with five Arches The Bridge Joynes the Via Flaminia and the Via Emilia together It is said to have been Built by Tiberius Caesar. In the Mercat place there is to be seen the stone upon which Julius Caesar stood and encouraged his Officers when he began the Civil War This Stone hath this Inscription C. Caesar D. Rubicone superato civili Bello Comilitones suos hic in forâ— Ariminensi adlocutus Within a Mile of Cesina or there abouts You must pass the Rubicon which seems to be but a Torrent and in the Summer time for the most part dry At the place where You pass there is yet extant an ancient Pillar the Inscription whereof hath made the name of Rubicon so famous it is as follows Jussu mandatuve P. R. Cos. Imp. Myli Tyro Comilito manipulariaeve Cent. Turmaeve Legionariae armat quis quis est hic sistito Vexillum sinito ne citra hunc amnem Rubiconem signa Arma ductum commeatum Exercitumque traducito siquis hujusce Jussionis ergo adversum ierit feceritve adjudicatus esto hostis P R. ac si contra Patriam armaverit Sacrosque Penatos e penetralibus asportaverit Sanctio plebisci Senatus NE Consulto ultra hos fines Armae proferre liceat nemini S. P. Q. R. And upon the other side of the Pillar the following Inscription Rubiconem ponta subjectum transis viator Romano interdicto Caesaris ausu adagio Jactae alcae Celebratum Flumini huic stabilem imponere trajectum Ethnica diu vetuit pavida Superstitio Catholica nunc suasit socura Religio Innocent X o Summo Pont Card D Legato 1654. Furli in Latine Forum Livii where there is litle thing considerable except the Market Place Faenza is divided in two by the River Lamone over which stands a goodly Bridge that Joynes the two parts of the Town together it is called in Latine Faventia and the People Faventini The whole way from Ancona to Bolognia is Plain and Smooth and the Countrey on all sides very Rich and Fertile but especially near to Bolognia which deservedly is called la Crassa where the whole Countrey on everie sâ—de of the high way looks like Gardens being Hedged and closed in on all sides and Planted with Olive and while Mulberry Trees the Leaves whereof â—erve to the â—eeding of Silk Wormes and at the Roots of which the Vines being Planted run up and spread themselves thorow all the Branches of the Trees and load them with Grapes The distance betwixt the Ranges of Trees is Sowen sometimes with Wheat or other usefull Grain or Kitchin Herbs and Roots Nor is there wanting here abundance of the Choisest Fruits that Italy affoords Bolognia is the second Town of the Ecclesiastick State sweetly situated in a large Plain near to some Hills at the one side The City is near two Miles in length and one in breadth and about 5 Miles in Compass The Inhabitants are not esteemed to be under 80 Thousand in number amongst which it is thought there are two Thousand Gentlemen whereof many have the Titles of Count and Marques There is a famous University many fine Colledges worthie to be seen As also many fine Churches Religious Houses The Archdean of the Cathedral of St. Peters has the Priviledge of making Doctors above others In the Church of Corpus Christi may be seen the intire Body of St. Katharine of Vigri a Religious Woman of the Order of St. Clare that Died at Bolognia in the Year 1463. She sits in a Chair with a Religious Habit. The Skin of her Face seems to be bent and streacht her Eyes open her Hands and Feet bare In one Hand She holds a Crucifix the other is placed upon a Pillow They use in the presence of a great deal of Companie to paire her Nails every Month and to cut her Hair once a Year after they are grown In the Iacobins Church is keept the Head of St. Dominick in a Rich Tabernacle and his Body in a Curious Tomb of white Marble cut in severall figures of Base relieve In the Choire may be seen the Histories of the New and Old Testament with wonderfull Artifice represented in mosaick of of Wood. There is also to be seen here a rare Peece of Painting of the Innocents made by Guido Reni all the parts of this Convent are worthie the taking notice of the Cloisters the Dormitories of above 150 Religious the Refictory Painted by great Masters the Apothecaries Shop and the Bibliotheck and the Cellar which is extraordinarly Big There be many fine Palaces worthie the seeing and very well Ornamented within but especially the Popes own Palace where the Legat resides and in it you must take particular care to see Aldrovandi's Studie and Collection of Curiosities which are keept in this Palace and commonly intrusted to the Legats Physitian There is likeways to be seen in the Back Court Aldrovandi's Garden in which there are some Curious Plants In the Study you will see a great Herball in water Colours but without any description as also a whole press full of Manuscripts written all with his own Hand There are severall Towres in the
to speak to the Religious Men and take their Hour of conveniencie for seing of the Treasure which being done you will have time enough to return to Paris 7 I know nothing better worth your seing about Paris than the Aqueduct at Arcqueul about 2 leagues from the town it was built by Mary of Medices in the time of her Regencie for bringing the the water to her palace of Luxemborg Besides the Aqueduct you will also see there a verie fine Grotto with fine walks and manie prettie Jetts of water one afternoon suffice for this Journey 8. Fountainbleau in which there are so manie things considerable not only in the House furniture and painting but also in the Gardens Walks Fish-ponds and water-works that it will be less trouble for you to observe them by seing than by a long narration I shall only tell you for the better improvement of your Journey thither that you will doe well first to go to 9. Esson a House seven leagues from Paris belonging to a private Gentleman where you will see very fine water works and many other prettie conceats from thence you have 3 leagues 10. To Durance a privat House likewise but to which there belongs very noble gardens and walkes with delicat Ponds and Jetts of water It will not be a miss to stay here all the night being You will have 4 Leagues to Fontainbleau a great part of which is through the Forrest and therefore better to be gone in the morning when the day is before Your hand than in the evening when night may surprize You. 11. You may arrive so early in the morning at Fountainbleau that You may have time to see all before dinner and thereafter returne to Veau a most stately house and gardens correspondent to it built by Monsr Fouguesâ— but since his disgrace it 's fallen to the King From hence you may returne a short League off your way to lodge at Melun The next morning You will have an easie Journey to Paris and time enough if you please to see Vinceu within two short Leagues of Paris It is a House belonging to the King in the middle of a verie pleasant Park after you have seen the House emember to see the Wild Beasts that are kept not far from it If You resolve upon making any greater toure into the counrey I shall advise You to provide a Book called le voyage de France of the latest edition which will give you a hint of the most considerable things that are to be seen in those Places you go to I shall deferr any thing I would say further untill I be happie to hear of Your safe arivall at Paris and then I would be content to trouble you with an other sheet in the mean time I pray for Your happie journey and safe returne Sir I intreat You to signifie to Mr. Hannay as also to Mr. Cranston that if they have any thing to send to me You will be pleased to take charge of it I shall beseech You likewise to do the same by Monsr Marchant at Paris LETTER II. Containing Advice for makeing the grand Toure of France with an Account of what is most observable relateing especially to the Natural History and Antiquities of that Kingdom Sir IT seems You are not yet resolved whither to spend the Winter in Paris or in the Country my opinion is that out of Paris there is litle thing either to be seen or learned in all France But in regard it is pertinent for a Traveler to see some thing of the countrie as well as the chief Town I shall therefore advise you to see those Places chieflie that I judge most suitable to your inclinations and particularie in order to Botany that is Languedock and Provence for altho' there be manie other places of France verie worthie the â—eing as particularlie the River Loyre from Orleance downward to Nantes which for the fertilitie aud beautie of the countrey the frequencie of good Towns and gentle disposition and Courtesie of the inhabitants is called the Garden of France yet you will find that Climate produces but a few things different from Normandy or the Isle of France But if you should incline to see it my advice is that you should not spend much time in doing of it and therefore if you think fit you may make use of the following Advice at your Discretion I suppose You leave Paris about the beginning of June for I would not have you loose the Month of May in the Kings Garden in regard most things will be then or a little before in their Prime which now that the Garden of Blois is no more in Condition is undoubtedly the best you are like to meet with and therefore 1. you may go to Orleans by the Messenger it is but two Days Journie Lodge Chez Monsr Ogilbie sur l'â—â—stape au Roy de la Grand Bretaigne A Day or two will serve you to see all that is considerable in the place It will be worth your while to see a place some two Leagues from the City called the Source where in the midst of a fair green Meadow you will see a Spring of Water so plentifull that it is navigable from its Head and powrs out a River called Loirette 2ly From Orleans to Blois they count 15. Leagues yet it is but a short Days Journie besides if you please you have the Commoditie of the River to go by Boat Be pleased to take Notice of a place by the Way some 4. Leagues from Blois called St. Die where the best Claret in that Countrie grows and is ordinarly to be found Blois of itself is no very considerable Town yet it is famous for makeing of Watches for the Civilitie of the People for the Sweetness of the Air and Puritie of the French Language You must stay there some Days till you have seen the following Particulars viz. in one day you may get to Chambort a house belonging to the King some three leagues off on the south side of the River and South-East from the Town It is said to have been built by King Francis I. and is a very statelie House though of a far different Order of Architecture than what is now used From thence you may go to Herbeau 3. Leagues to the southward of that a privat house belonging to a Gentleman that beares the title thereof It is a very pleasant seat having very fine Gardens with an Orangery Fish-Ponds Woods Maille and Meadowes belonging to it from thence you may go to Bean-Regard another privat house where amongst other prettie things you will see a fine Gallerie well ornamented with the pictures of such persons as have been illustrious for some age from thence you returne to Blois at night as you go and come you will have occasion to see that part of the forrest of Blois that lyes to the South of the River and town as also a litle village called St. Gervais famous over all that countrey
for excellent Cream being returned to Blois you may take notice of the Castle as also of the Garden which is now Seges ubi Troja the keeper of it is Dr. Brumer my very good acquantance and sometimes one of the Herbarists to the late Duke of Orleans as were also Monsr Morison and Monsr Marchand upon any of whose accounts or yet upon mine I am confident You will be very welcom to him I believe You may as yet see some Plants in the Garden from thence walk towards the Capucins or the mount and you will have a delicat prospect both up down the river from thence walk towards the Alleys which you will possibly find to be the finest in length and breadth and being well planted on either side that you have hitherto seen You may chuse whither You will see Vendosme or not it being a place not verie considerable except for the Holy Teaâ—e which is preserved in the Cathedrall Church with much veneration and which people go to see out of devotion the toun is famous for makeing of Gloves which are accounted the best of that countrey upon the returne from that place You may see the Fountain of Orchaise of old Horrcum Caesaris for some where not far from thence the Roman legion was said to be quartered I take the fountain to be nothing else but a rivulet or litle burn falling over the Top of a soft Rock into which by process of time it hath cut in a considerable way thro' the whole deepth of it and being grown together upon the Top it seems now to spring out of the Rock over against that cross a meadow you must take notice of a Cave or Hole digged in the side of a litle hill in which there is an Aromatick kind of Earth not much inferiour as is believed to the Terra Sigillatae of Lemnos the common people call the place La cave de la terre Sigille And here I must put you in mind that in this same meadow I have very often seen very large green Lizards which because it is a beautifull creature and not found with us I must intreat you where ever you find of them to cause preserve 1 or 2 to add to my Tradescants I know not which will be the best way of preserving them whither by skinning them or drying the flesh but I suppose the best way will be especially if the skin be any thing strong to cause skin them preserving the head feet and taile and then stop the Skin with Flax. There are likewise severall other Birds in France which are not common with us which I must earnestly intreat you to do the same by as for example the Pie verte or Green Pyet c. 3ly from Blois you go to Amboise in half a day by water the boat will give you libertie to see the Castle in the Chapell whereof will be shown You hanging a pair of Hornes they say of a Hart the largest and biggest if they be true that ever was seen In the court of the Castle there is likewise to be seen a Rib and one of the Back-Bones of the same Animal You are brought out of the Castle by a Toure whose descent is so large and so easie being without Steps that a Coach may drive from the Bottome to the Top thereof From thence You go Tours all Night where 4ly In my time the best Lodging was A la St. Marthe the place is commended for the Sweetness of it's Situation the delicacie of it's Fields and Gardens and many other Particulars It will be worth Your while to see the Manufactories of Silk especially the way of working Tissenes and Brocarts which You will see of diverse Colours and some of Gold and Silver The invention and way of making Tabbies which I forbear to descrive because You will abundantly discover it by sight You must be at the pains to fetch a walk out of town a litle way to see the Maille which in any time was the longest and in the best order of any in France and at the same time you may go the length of the Minims Convent because the first instituter of their Order St. Francois de paul lyes Buried in the Church in a marble Coffine as will be shown You which People visit with great Veneration if you will be at the pains to pass the River there is an ascent to the Capucins whence you may discover the whole City and a great part of the Countrey about which for it's Beauty and Fertility is called the Gardin of France and certainly deserves that Name better than any Place upon the whole River of Loir There is likewayes not far from Tours a Place which they call la cave Gutiere From the Top of which there drops a Liquor which Congeals into a substance almost as hard as a stone not much unlike that you sent me from Hamiltoun 5ly You may go from Tours to Saumure a town famous for it's Protestant University of which we have two very honest countrey-men that are members Monsr Doule and Monsr Gray You may take the pains to see Nostre damo d' Ardeliers a Place of great devotion if you please you may see the Treasurie which is Rich and as you go and come you may observe the great Trade of that Suburbs to be making of Beads or Chaplets I beseech you forget not to bring us some that are made of young Oranges If you please you may see the Castle At Saumure you must hire Horses to make a litle tour of three days and first you must go to Doue where there is to be seen an ancient Amphitheatre cut out of a Rock as it is said by the Romans There are likewise verie many great quarries of free stone and the Workmen often find in cleaving of the stones some litle peices of a finer and harder substance by farr than the rest which from the shape they have They comonly call Langues de Serpents The little Boys for a small matter will sell you abundance of them which I pray forget not to buy If not for your own at least for your friends curiositie From thence you must go to Thouars a most delicate House belonging to the Duke of Tremoville it is situat upon a Rock and the greatest part of the office houses cut out of the Solid Rock The next Morning you go to Waren a verie prettie House but not much worth the pains of seeing were it not in Your way to Richlieu where you are to spend the rest of that day That you may have the more time to view the Toun and House which I think so well worthie your seeing That for it's sake a Journey from Paris that length were not ill bestowed I shall say no more of of it that I may not deprive you of the Gusto of being surprized with the Beautie of it Amongst other things be pleased to take notice of two Marble statues that stand over the Gate at the upper
be Accountable to him The carrier will part from hence such a Day being the Day of and will arrive at Lions the Day thereafter the Bundell contains no Merchant Goods being only Books c. for my own Privat use and therefore not Customable I rest SIR Yours c. THe other Letter of Voiture is an Obligation under the carriers hand to You which you must send by the Post to your correspondent at Lions The Form of it ought to be as follows I Vnder Subscribed Carrier of Turin acknowledge to have received from the Day of at Turin a Bundell Marked Weighing addressed to Merchant of Lions to whom I promise to deliver it in good condition at Lions with the help of God or to his Order he paying me at the Rate of per Cent. therefore In witness whereof I have subscribed their presents with my hand at Turin the Day of Anno I Have been the more particular in these things because altho' they may seem to be triffles to those that are conversant in such matters yet a small mistake may be the occasion of a great Miscarriage I shall now return to put You in mind of some other particulars and 1. That in this Place Oisters are a very great Delicat there being but one person that has Priviledge to sell them for which he payes a considerable Sum to the great Duke I know not well from whence they are brought but I am sure it is from a considerable Distance They are keept in the Town-Ditch on the East side of the Town which is full of salt water because it hath communion with the Sea the keeper hath a little House hard by and according to the number Bargained for takes them alive very fat out of the Ditch sells them at the Rate of a Pistole the Hundred They are many times put into the Ditch little and keept untill they be big enough they taste very well and are by far the best in Italy 2. To the East-ward of the Town about a Mile or little more there is an Hill called Monte Nero upon which there is good harbarizing You will do well to take a Horse and a Guide with you to the Place From Ligorn you have 15 Miles of Smooth and Plain way to Pisa. It is an Ancient City sometimes a common-wealth by it self and then both Rich and populous But since it was Reduced under the command of the great Duke of Tuscany it is neither of the two the far greater part of the Inhabitants after the Town was Reduced chusing rather to abandon their Native Country than their Liberty or at least preferring a voluntar Subjection abroad to a necessitated Slavery at home The City is large and Beautifull divided as it were in two by the River Arno and again conjoyned by a beautifull Bridge of white Marble The Air of this Place in Winter is judged to be more Temperate than that at Florence therefore the great Duke uses to pass the Winter here There are many things considerable in this Town as 1st The great Church which is a Stately Fabrick and well adorned within as also the Batistaria whereof the Doores as also of the great Church are all covered with Massive Brass cast into delicat Figures 2ly The crooked Steeple which leanes to one side very far from the perpendicular some people alledge it was purposely so built but I am more apt to beleeve that the ground hath miss-given on the one side by little and little or rather insensibly which may be some part of the Reason why it hath hung together so long without falling to which the excellencie of the Cement and Workman-ship hath contributed very much my opinion to one that narrowly observes will not appear to be unreasonable for the outside is of so many Rows of small Pillars going round about and the lower-most Row on that side that it leanes to is more than half hid in the ground where as those of the other are wholy to be seen which I suppose could not have happened otherways than as I have said 3ly The Buriall Place which is the most stately I ever saw being a long quadrangle well walled and galleried about in the midle whereof are very many Monuments of great antiquity of many of the ancient noble Families of Pisa. They are most of them of white Marble in shape like a Coffine wherein the Body of the Dead persons was laid Some of them are carved in one Fashion and some of them in another and some of them into excellent Figures 4ly The Dukes Palace 5ly The Physical Garden together with the Rarities that are keept in a Gallery belonging to the Garden where you will see a very great Collection of Natural Curiosities The Garden uses to have very rare exotick Plants but in regard you can have no access to it except by the recommendation of the Physitian that is Professor of Botany for the time therefore I think it will be worth your while to make your address to him for a Libertie first to see the Garden and Gallery secondly to get from the Gardener or himself the Seeds of such as you have a mind to and a Peece of the Plant for drying if you think fitting you must not be negligent here for this is one of the best Gardens in Italy in my opinion preferable to that of Padua especially for exotick Plants The University for the whole Estate of Tuscany is keep'd here and if you please you may see the Schooles for all Professions and particularly that for the Lawes where the most renowned Bartholus did teach Amongst the Booksellers you may find something to accommodat you because it is an University Town and I shall tell you here because I do not remember to have it done as yet that generally speaking all sort of Books in Italy are cheaper than in any other place where I have been I pray You remember to get a Couple of the Catalogues of the Garden there of the last Edition From Pisa You have but a small half days Journey of very pleasant Way to Luca which is a Delicat little Town a Republick by it self and having but a very small Territory belonging to it it is well and regularly fortified with a dry Ditch which is keept very cleane and in good Order and allways Green the Republick is governed by a Prince or Chief Magistrat whom they choose of their own Town and change him every two Month So soon as any one is chosen he must leave his own House and Friends and retire himself to the Publick Palace where he is assisted by some other of the Nobles cannot come out untill his Government be finished The Humour of the people is Chearfull and very Civil and contrary to the Custome of all Italy Men and Women converse freely amongst themselves or with Strangers They use Balls Danceing much after the French Fashion The Religious people use to distill Spirits and Essences whereof you may
provide what Quantitie you please both good and good cheap I wish you might help a Friend to some of Orange-Flowers and Myrtles The religious Women likeways use to make very prettie Things and particularly I remember they use to sell Stomagers of quilted Silk which most people use to wear in the Winter-time of one Fashion or another From Luca if you please you may go to Pisloia and so to Florence or otherways returne to Pisa and from thence either by Coach or Horse to Florene If the Weather be not too hot it is better to go on Horse-back in regard of the prospect of the Countrie which cannot be had in a Coach Florence is a new Town but one of the most beautifull in all Italy and therefore called Fiorenâ— a la Bella it is situated upon the River Arno which divides it in two sevâ—rall places over which stands four fair Bridges The City is Counted at least six miles in Compass The Beautie of it consistes in the Stateliness of the Buildings the great number of Palaces the neateness and cleannesse of the Streets occasioned by the largeness and smoothnes of the Stones with which it is paved the many large Places Fountains Statues Churches Towers Convents Gardens Of all which it hath very many of the best in Italy There is scarce any thing in this City which is not very well worthie to be taken notice of but particularly 1. The Dukes two Palaces the Old and the New In the new the great Duke himself keeps his Court. It is a â—ost magnificent Structure oâ— the Tâ—scan Order of Architecture but not finished as yet The Garden belonging thereto is very well furnished with Rare Plants and Flowers of which the Catalogue is Printed of which I desire You to bring alongs a Couple of Copies It will not be a miss to make Acquaintance with the Gardener for so you will get what Seeds you please The old Palace stands in the great Place of the City in the midle of which Place there is a Stately Colossus of Brass of Cosmus great Duke of Florence a Horse back by the Model whereof that of Henry the great upon the new Bridge of Paris was made Near to the Entrie into the Palace there are severall other Noble Statues of Marble within the Palace it self is that so much famed over the World Gallerie which is composed of many Roomes containing great Varietie of the choisest Curiosities as Staâ—ues Busta's Baserelieues Paintings Drawings Prints Cabinets Jewels Cameo's Intaillia's with all sorts of Anticailles with an infinite number of Master-peeces of latter times Amongst other things there is a Chamber or two full of all sorts of Armes amongst which those of Charles the Great and Roland with severall Swords of Henry the great also a great Number of Cymiters some whereof have their Scabbards set with Rubies Emeralds and other precious Stones There is an ancient Buckler with a Medusa's Head Painted by Michael Angelo bona rota I remember to have observed some ancient Casaques whose weight I am confident no Head could sustain unless so adjusted to the rest of the Armour and that to the Sadle that the Horse must have carried all You must endeavour to get a Writen Inventure of the severall Curiosities in the Gallerie for without that it is not possible to remember every particular Within this Palace the great Duke uses to keep the most excellent Artisans he can meet with of all Trades to whom he gives considerable Salaries and Priviledges whom you will do well to see but especially the Stone-Cutters of whose Art I intreat you to take particular notice and what Instruments they use and learne at least as much of it as may serve to polish Stones Amongst other Curiosities of this Trade You may see a New way of Mosaick Work wherein the figure is compleated most delicatly both as to the parts and Colours thereof by the Natural Colours of the severall peeces of Stones assembled together and which is strange all the lights and shadows requisite in Painting is herein observed So that they can imitate Nature allmost as fully this way as in Painting it self This way differs from the old Mosaick in that the particular Peeces that compose it are of different Figures according as the colours require for example a Cherrie because it is all of one Colour therefore it may be represented by a Red stone of a round Figure in one Peece but the Stalk of it must be of an other different figure But in the old way all the peeces were Quadrangular whatsoever might be the colour or thing to be represented and of this kind of Mosaick you will see a most excellent Peece in St. Peters Church at Rome representing St. Michael the Arch-Angel treading upon the Devil In this Palace likeways the great Duke keeps a Chymical Laboratorie called la Funderia wherein are made very many notable preparations with great Faithfullness especially Spirits and Essences which may be bought here at reasonable Rates and without fear of being cheated as to the goodnes of the things 2ly Severall Churches and Convents particularly the Dome the out-side whereof is the most beautifull in Europe being all crusted with Black White and Red Marble fitâ—y placed together in regular figures The Church within is Paved with black and white Marble and Richly adorned with Chapels and Altars The Cupola is very Large and Fine insomuch that the Golden Ball upon the Top of it which is able to contain a great many Persons does not appear from the Ground to be bigger than a good Foot-Bal Near to the Dome stands Jota's Towre one of the most admirable Peeces of Architecture in the World being a square Steeple without any spite on the Top of it all crusted with black white and red Marble in most regular figures from the top to the bottom near to it stands the round Chapel of St. John delicately payed with Marble and adorned with statues with a Rich Vase adorned with precious Stones wherein the Children are Baptised The Doors of the Chapel are of Brass all in Figures of personage in Base-relieve of most admirable Workmanship in this Chapel is the Sepulchre of Jota that renown'd Painter and Architect upon whom there are some excellent Latin verses there ingraven which I have lost but â—oâ—mend to you to take a Copie thereof In the Church of St. Spirito there is an Altar haâ—cost above a Hundred Thousand Crowns which were left by a Florentin Gentleman for that effect In the Church de Sancta Crâ—ce I hâ—ve â—orgot whether iâ— belongs to the 〈◊〉 or Jaâ—obiâ—â— Michael Angâ—â—o bona rota iâ— interred and it is said at his own desire that he might lye within the View of Jota's Towre which he did so much admire in his lifetime Upon his Tome there are three most delicate Statues the one represents Painting the second Sculpture the third Architecture in which three Arts he was so great a Master St. Laurence Church was magnificently