Now coming again into our former order leaving the ancient City of Aquino there is on the left hand Roccasecca and on the right hand upon a high Hill is the famous and worthy Monastery of Monte Casino builded upon the ruines of the noble City of Casino an ancient Colony of the Romans and a worthy City of the Latâ—nes which as Livy writeth had a Colony brought together with Minturn the which in the time of the Romans was very famous for that noble and stately Temple of Apollo which had a hundred and fifty high and mighty Pillars The said Monastery was builded by St. Benedict Norsino for his Monks in the year of Christ 5â—0 where Totila King of the Goths going to visit him understanding he had a spirit of Prophesie and purposing to make tryal if that which had been reported were true put on Lackies apparel causing another to go before him cloathed in Kingly Ornaments which feigned himself to be Totila but the Saint knowing of God the deceit sent unto him with a cheerfull countenance to stay with the rest of his company and pointing to the King which was basely appareled requesting him to come into the Monastery But neither this nor other the like signes of sanctity which St. Benedict declared to the Lombards were sufficient to restrain the unbridled fury of these Barbarians that they might not destroy this Monastery the which was foretold to the Monks by their Father St. Benedict It was afterward repaired again upon the first foundations and also enlarged 112 years after by Petronio Petronasso Bresciano through the perswasion of Pope Gregory the second as Paulo Diacono writeth and Elia Capriolo in his third Book of the Brescian Histories The Revenue of these Monks yearly was more then fifty thousand Crowns There lieth with great devotion in the said Monastery the bodies of many Saints and blessed people especially that of S. Benedict Norsino the Founder and Head thereof and of St. Scolastica his sister whose holy bodies were there found in the year 1443. whereby it seemeth that that cannot be true which Paulo Diacono writeth of them saying that in the year 694 in the time of Gisulfo Prince of Benevento the said holy bodies were carried by certain Frenchmen into France where to the honour both of the one and the other were builded two Royal Monasteries The which opinion is so much the less true as that Pope Zachary affirmeth to have seen the bodies of these two Saints with his own eyes in the Mount Casino many years after wherefore we will give more credit to the report of a chief Bishop and to the bodies which were found and seen in the year 1443. then to the opinion of Paulo Diacono Pliny declareth in the fourth Chapter of his seventh Book that in the said City of Casino in the time of the Consulship of Licinio Crasso and of Caio Cassio longo a girl in a certain house bâ—â—â—me a boy which by commandment and advice of their Southsayers was carried 〈◊〉 left in an Island abandoned At the foot of the Mount Casino is Saint Germano a new City so called by the name of a holy Abbot which built it Going farther is Theano called by Pliny and Strabo Theanum Sidicinum a City whether Augustus sent a Colony and not far off is Calvi an ancient City which was builded by Calai the son of Borea which came into these places after the return of the Aragonanti as Silio declareth in his eight book although Livy and Festo affirm that the first Inhabiters were the Ausoni Afterward we come to Piedemonte of Alife a good and a plentifull Country and full of worthy people where through the commodity which they have of the water is made good Cloth of Wooll out of this Country hath risen many excellent men indued with much Learning among the which these are of the greatest note Philippo Francisco of Piedemonte which commented the Poetry of Horace Lodovico Paterno an excellent vulgar Poet but in these our daies the said Country is much renowned by means of certain Gentlemen which being contented with their retired estate live vertuously employing the time in the exercise of Divine Learning and some of them in giving councel to others in the profession of the Laws Of the same Country was Nuntio Tatiaglia which composed the practice of the Civil and Criminal Lieutenantship Following the same way is Lauro situate in a pleasant and delightfull place This City was builded by Ruberto Orsino Count of Nola as Cantalitio the Poet writeth in his fourth Book where he saith that the said Count built it because that great Captain Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova received in the said place the Crown of Laurel after he had the victory of the French This Country hath the title of a Marquis the Lord whereof is Don Scipio Pignatello a most worthy man and of very honourable and vertuous qualities A little farther is Palma which belongeth to the said Marquiss the which Castle was also builded by the said Count of Nola and to this intent I will not omit to speak of the Plain of Palma so much commended for the hunting there where that great Alfonsus the first of Arragon King of Naples built to this purpose a sumptuous Palace which afterward was destroyed by Charls the eight King of France although the reliques are yet to be seen Hard by is the ancient and noble City of Nola so called by Strabo in his fifth book This City was builded as Trogo affirmeth by the Giapigii but according to Solmo by the Tirii It was very great in old time this City as Ambrogio Leoni declareth in his first book of Nola that the Wals thereof as he saith were in compass 2017 paces having twelve parts and was built round Nola may boast that the Emperor Octavius Augustus the Monarch of the world died therein in honour of whom Tiberius his successor in the Empire builded in the said City a stately Temple the reliques whereof are yet to be seen There are also to be seen in this place many reliques of ancient and stately buildings now it is not so great though it be very populous The amorous Flora was of this City who dying left her only heir of all her Jewels and Riches the people of Rome and so much money was there found in her house with the Iewels which they sold as were sufficient to build the Walls of Rome and also to redeem the Commonwealth Wherefore the Romans because she had her beginning at Rome and also had left all her goods to the Commonwealth built a most sumptuous and stately Temple in memory of her from whose name they called it Floriano wherein every year on that day which she died they celebrated the Feast of the Goddess Flora. Suetonio Tranquillo saith that the first Feast which the Emperor Galba celebrated in Rome was the Feast of amorous Flora in the which
Controviero a man of Princely behaviour was in great account with Paul the sixth by whom he was created Bishop of the City of Penna and Vice-Legat of Bologna and had been advanced to greater honour if the death of the Pope had not hindred it Gabriel de Blasio being a man of great vertue was made Judge of the Vicaria and of the Kings Councel Two men of the Family Bilotta have carried great honour in their Country which florished in the time of our fore-fathers the one called Iohn Camillo the other Sâ—ipio of whom the first being a man much learned in many Sciences was by the King imployed in divers honourable affairs and was created the first Exchequer-Advocate of the Vicaria and afterward of the Sommaria And the second was a most vertuous and a good man and was general Commissary of the Kingdom against Malefactors which through his good Government brought them into peace and tranquility and in reward had the Office of Exchequer-Advocate of the Vicaria which his brother held and had enjoyed if untimely death had not prevented it This famous City hath also brought forth many excellent men in Arms of whom omitting to speak I refer the Reader to the Histories which largely discourse thereof among whom two have been very famous in the time of our fore-fathers as Hectore Savariano a valiant Souldier of his age of whom Giovio in the life of Leo the tenth maketh honourable mention And Andrea Candido Prior of Barletta Knight of the Rodes There are in the said City these Noble Families Aquino Avolos Bilotti Bottini Candidi Capassi Calendi Capobianchi Caraccioli del Leone Contestabili Controvieri Del ' Aquila Di Blasio Di Enea Del Sindico della Vipera Egittii Filingieri Grisi Laurentii Leoni Mascambroni Mazzei Mazzilli Monforti Morri Pesci Sallaroli Savariani Tuâ—i Vico Vintimiglia Vitro the Arch-Bishop of this City hath 24 Bishops his Suffraganes which number no other place of Christendom hath equalled This City is situate in a plain place near a Plain full of little brooks of water with many hils round about very plentifull and distant from Naples 30 miles Writers affirm that in the division that was made of the Roman Empire between Charls the great and F.L. Nicesero the Greek the Dukedom of Benevento and the City of Venice were appointed as the limits and confines between the one and the other Now because we have sufficiently discoursed of Benevento we will declare the quality of this Country the which although it be full of hils is nevertheless very pleasant through the variety of the situation high low plain and very commodious for tillage because the Country is wholly inhabited and aboundeth with all good things The Hils are covered with Vines and fruitfull Trees the Dales and Plains with Corn and Gardens there are also thick Woods and watered with many Rivers and store of Cattel of Corn Wine Oyle Flax Apples Chesnuts both great and small Nuts Pears and other fruits of great goodness and perfection whereby in time of Harvest it doth appear that it contends in equal comparison with other plentifull Provinces and above all there is excellent hunting both for fowles and beasts The Aire is subtle and wholsome although cold There are moreover in this Country in the Territory of Prata Mines of Gold and Silver which for that they yield no great profit are not much regarded Distant from Benevento little less then ten miles is the Valley of Caudina where was the ancient City of Caudio the reliques whereof yet appear and not far from thence is the ancient Harpino now called Arpata which is very near to the Gallows of Caudine very famous for the overthrow which the Romans had there where the Consul and the Roman Army by deceit inclosed were constrained by the Sannites to pass shamefully under the yoke the which place the Country-people now call the streit of Arpaia which stands but a little distant from the City the which is indued with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the house of Guevara On the other side of the Valley Caudina are these Countries St. Martino St. Angelo a Scala afterward cometh the same River which joyneth with the River Sabato which riseth from Montevirgine a high and spacious place in the Valley whereof the first Country which is there is Altavilla afterward is the Castle of Montefredano and near the Valley is the ancient City of Avellino which is now written in the Exchequer Roll Avellinensis but in the Books of the Roman Court Avellinus Episcopus and the Territory thereof aboundeth with great store of small Nuts and therefore by the Latines they were called Avellanae nuces The said City is dignified with the Title of a Prince which the family Caracciola the Red possesseth Then followeth Mercuriale now called Mercugliano the Country of the holy Hospital of the Annunciation of Naples and above that Hill is the noble Church and Monastery of Montevirgine of white Monks of the Order of St. Benedict which was builded in old time in honour of Cibele mother of the Gods but changed by the Christians into the honour of the glorious mother of God our Saviour the Virgin Mary a place of so much beauty and sanctity which not only excelleth in fame through all this Kingdom but through all Italy and beyond whereupon at two several times of the year that is to say at Whitsontide and our Lady day in September there concurs and flocks together from far and near places innumerable people bringing all sorts of Presents This Monastery is the head of the said Congregation of Montevirgine and therein are continually resident 200 Monks In the Church there is a Reliquary which the Monks of the same place say that a greater is not in all Christendom for so many bodies of Saints and other reliques that are therein among which there are to be seen as they say the entire bodies of the three children which were put into the flaming furnace There are other notable things as the Sepulchres of Kings and other Princes The Founder of this holy place was William of Vercelli of whose life manners and miracles and of the things abovesaid who desireth to have a full and true satisfaction thereof he may read the History of the Original of the notable things of Montevirgine Six miles from Benevento upon a very high Hill is seen the Country of Montesuscolo where resideth the Kings Audit of the Province and every Sunday is held a Market with great concourse of people And a little distant is the Castle and Montemileto which hath the Title of a County Afterward we come to the Hils of the Apennine which are called Monti Tremoli where ariseth the River Sabato which passing by low places in the end is joyned with the River Vulturno Antonio in his book of remembrance calleth this River Sabbatum but the people of the Country name it the River of Benevento
Greeks called Hesperia because it is situate in the West Five hundred sixty seven years before the destruction of Troy it was called Enotria by Enotro of Arcadia which with a Colony came to inhabit in the middle of Ausonia where he builded many Cities the principal whereof was Pandosia This name of Ausonia continued many and many years untill Italo was by the Enotri created King from whom they named the said Region Italia This Italo being a man very ingenious taught the Enotri the manner to till and ear the ground and to shear their sheep and lived but nineteen years and left Morgete his son heir of the Kingdom the which ordained that by his name Italy should be called Morgetia Morgete dead and the people not contented to continue his name in as much as he was odious unto them the name of Italy was renewed again and they called the Country Italia the which name continued a long time untill the Greeks came to inhabit there and then they called it Magna Gretia for the frequency of the great number of learned Scholars which came thither to hear the Philosopher Pithagoras but as the Poet Archilao saith tâ—was so called through the great multitude of Greeks which inhabited there being drawn through the fertility and pleasures of this Countrey whereupon Ovid in his fourth book de factis thus saith Itala nam tellus Graecia major erat It was afterward by the latter Greeks which came thither to inhabit called Calauria which in our tongue signifieth abundance of all good things and truly so is it because there is no place I will say not only in all Italy but in all Europe that may contend with this there being not any thing necessary for the life of man or which may yield delight that is not in great abundance and with all perfection so that corresponding in every part the effects agree with the name thereof as plainly appears that nature it self cannot be more delighted in it self yielding so many benefits as any Country whatsoever All this Country was devided by the Apennine into two parts and that part which was toward the Ionian Sea was called Magna Grecia the which also contained a part of Lucania now called Basilicata and did stretch from Regio even to Taranto The other part was by the Greeks called Bretia from Bretio the son of Hercules and of the Latines Brutia and stretched from Regio to the River Laus now called Laino It hath lately been divided by the Kings Court into two Provinces whereof the one is called Calauria on this side the other Calauria on the other side that on this side containeth a great part of Magna Grecia and of the Brutii and endeth with Basilicata and from the one side where is the head of the River Acri and of the other where runneth the River Lavo stretcheth from one sea to the other except that part which lieth in the East and is joyned with Calauria on the other side As touching those people which dwell upon the Tirrene Sea where the Brutii in old time inhabited are both in nature and manners more temperate and staid then those near the Ionian Sea who are more fierce and craftie as also their colour bewraieth for the other are white and red these dark and brown And for so much by the Kings Court it is divided into two parts as hath been said in the superior and inferior in the one is the Cape Cosenza in the other Catanzaro the one hath 30 Cities the other 16. and in all three hundred sixty seven with Countries and Castles But entring into the particular description of Calauria on this side having past the River Turbolo the ancient bounds of the people Lucani there appeareth Turture in the Territory whereof grow many Sugar Canes almost opposite standeth the Isle of Dimi Scalea and the River Lavo even where the ancient Lucani did arrive Then followeth Cerella Belvedere Bonifati and Citracro where are often made many Vessels through the great commodity of Timber and Pitch whereof that Country doth much abound within upon the banks of Lavo is the City of Lanio built upon the ruines of the ancient Lau and the said City is honoured with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the Family of Cardinâ—s Not far off is Campotenese which had this word from the ancient Temesini having been their Territory On the right hand is the Hill Apillonio where is such plenty of excellent Pasture that the best Cheese is there made in all those parts on the left side is Morano a populous and a rich Country which Antonio Pio in his Commentaries calleth Summuranum where is made excellent Cloth and every year there is a Fair with great concourse of people there about the Territory thereof is very fruitfull and fertile and there is made very fine Silk and Manna gathered and on the Hill there are infinite store of excellent simples Not far distant from the said Country springeth the River Sybari where was the ancient Syphei the ruies are to be seen whereof Livy maketh mention Going thence four miles is Saracena in a good Country called by Stefano Sestium which was built by the Enotri in whose Territory is made singular Wine and excellent Oyle it hath besides Mines of Gold and of Lead of Alabaster and Cristal Near hand about five miles distant is to be seen the ancient Country of Altemonth called Balbia which is not certainly known whether it was built by the Ausoni or Enotri The Wines which are there made have a very delicate taste whereof Pliny in his 14 book much commends and prefers before all the Wines of Calauria from whence in their most costly and sumptuous banquets was alwaies the Wine of Balbano And Atheneo making mention thereof in his first book thus writeth Vinum Balbinum generosum admodum austerum semper seipso melius nascitur In the principal Church of this Country lieth with much reverence the body of St. Paolo of Malta brother of St. Dominico There are in the said Territory natural Hils of white salt and they are no otherwise cut then if they were stones and there is Alabaster and two rich Mines of Gold of Silver and Iron and the Azured Lazul stone And at the foot of the Apennine in the Territory thereof groweth Cristal and white Chalk and the River Grondo passeth through the said Territory being very full of Eeles and Trouts This Country was given with the Title of a Count in the year 1462. by King Ferrant of Arragonia to Luca Sanseverino Prince of Basignano which now in the said house is maintained Next after followeth the City of St. Mark called by the Latines Argentanum and a little distant is the ancient City Meluito so called for the plenty of Vines which grow there but in old time it was called Temesa in which place by the providence of God
Territory is very fertile for it bringeth forth Grain Barley Beans Fitches and other Corn there are also planted great store of Sugar Canes a thing very rare in Italy This Country is adorned with the dignity of a Duke After followeth Soriano whch hath the Title of a Count. Then cometh Arena and ascending up the Apennine is the goodly Monastery of St. Stephen del Bosco built by Rugiero the Norman where is kept as we have said with many other reliques the body of St. Bruno From hence on the right hand appeareth Borrello and Melito an honourable and an ancient City which was builded by the Milesii a people of Asia for as Herodotus writeth in his sixth book Mileto a City of Asia being conquered and overcome by Darius the inhabiters which departed from the ruine thereof being deprived of their natural Country came with their wives and children together with the Sanni into Regio where they were received by Anasilao Lord of the Country to whom he gave so much Territory as they built therein a City to inhabit the which they called as we have said Melito these in process of time the Country being too little many of them went into Messina but being expel'd by the inhabiters of the Country went to the Isle of Malta There is to be seen in the said City of Melito a stately and magnificent Church under the name of the Trinity which is beautified with stately Pillars of Marble which the Duke Ruggiero the Norman caused to be transported from the ancient Hipponio the said Church was by the mediation of the said Duke consecrated by Pope Calisto the second in the year of our Lord 1122. where at this present is to be seen the fair and costly Tomb of Marble of the Duke Ruggiero That holy Paolo of the Order of Preachers was of the said City Walking towards the shore of the Sea is Briatico which hath the Title of a Marquisat and Tropea hath this name from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that ariving there the Current of Faro is turned back very dangerous to Sailers near which Hercoles arived coming from Spain whereupon that place was afterward named the Harbour of Hercoles Here butteth out into the Sea the Cape of Vaticano and near at hand is Ioppolo and Nicotera augmentned by the ancient ruins of Medama and Rosarno there is the River Metramo in whose waves according as the Ancients were accustomed feeling themselves opprest with any sin were freed by their washing themselves therein as Orestes who thought hereby to be purged from the murther of his mother a little farther was the ancient Metauro which boasted much of Stesicoro though with little right the Sicilians challeng him to themselves and after is discovered Tauriano and from hence on the Sea is Gioia A little distant remaineth Seminara a Countrey well inhabited in whose Territory the Frenchmen were overcome by Consalvo Fernandes of Aghilare in the time of Lewis the 12 King of France And near the Mediterrane under a great descent of the Apennine called by the country-people Aspromonte riseth as it were a rock between two Rivers the Country of Sinopoli is adorned with the ancient dignity of a Count the jurisdiction whereof is from the house of Ruffa There was born in this Country that holy man Paolo of Sinopoli Fryer of the Order of Saint Francis called the Minori of Osservanza whose reliques are reverendly preserved in the City of Nicotera Going a little farther is Oppido which hath the Title of a Count and Terranovo a populous City which is adorned with the dignity of a Dukedom Not very far is Polistena against the Castle whereof lie the Isles Eolie the which have this name from Eolo which the Poets feign to be the God of the winds knowing by the nature of the place their change and alteration of these Isles Lipare was only inhabited whose circuit is 16 miles sometimes a Colony of the Gnidii which were very strong at Sea and made long resistance to the improvident assaults of the Toscans and of their first fruits they oftentimes consecrated to the Temple of Apollo at Delphus The said Isle is distant from Sicilia 20 miles Strabo and Pliny call this Isle Meligone which is very famous as wel for the fruitfulness of the ground as also for the delicacy and sweetness of the fruits and the great plenty of Alume which it yieldeth the said Isle was at the first â—nhabited by Lipareo the son of Ausonio King of Italy who being at discord with his brothers came hither with divers soeldiers to remain and here built a City which by his own name was called Lipari the which City was alwaies faithfull to the Kings of Naples from whom in recompence it obtained many priviledges and freedoms but finally in the month of Iuly 1544 it was destroyed with sword and fire by Ariadeno Barbarossa Captain of the Turkish Army but it was suddenly repaired again by the Emperor Charls the fifth The other Isles are not manured nor inhabited whereby their ancient names yet continue that is to say Stromboli and Vulcano from whence continually riseth smoke and sometimes flames of fire with horrible noise and thundring Here we may see Bagnara where the women for their beauty and comliness appear like Nymphs and here is the general fishing for the Sword-fish called by Pliny Xiphia the which is done as Strabo declareth in his first book of Geography in this manner following which manner is also recited by Polybius First of all one is appointed as a spie to stand in a high place being as a common guard or defence for all the fishers the which are dispersed into many little boats of two oars remaining in every one two of them one which guideth the boat with two oars the other to wound the fish with an armed Sphear which he standing on the fore-deck or head of the boat holdeth in his hand so soon as the spie maketh a signe that the fish is discovered rising with the third part of his body above the water he with the oars roweth near the boat and the other preparing his blow wounds him with a wonderful agility then snatching out the sphear the iron remans behind which being broad-headed and so wel accommodated that easily a man may wound with it and as easily leave it in the wound to the iron is tied a long little cord which goes so far with the wounded fish that beating himself and labouring to escape becometh weary Then they draw the fish to the shore or get him into one of their little boats if he be not over-great and if it so fall out the sphear be cast into the Sea it cannot therefore be lost because that being made part of Oak and part of Firr so well joyned together the weight of the oak drawing one end under the water the lightness of the firr causeth the other end to rise up so that it may
easily be taken Moreover it falleth out sometimes that he which roweth is wounded in the boat so great is the sword of the fish and his fierceness that this labour is no less dangerous then the chasing of the wild Boar. Some say that this fishing was learned in the time of Vlysses which came into these places Afterward appeareth upon a great Rock Sciglio by Pliny called Scylleum Oppidum which also holdeth the name of Scilla the daughter of Forco which while the Ancients say should be turned into a Rock according to the Fable was a horrible and hideous Monster which devoured ships noting that great danger of Pharaoh where the roaring and terror of the waves and the fearfull aspect of the sands represent very often to passengers which there sail the great horror and dreadfull fear oftentimes bringing death it self This place was fortified by Anasilao against the Tuscans where Spartaco was overcome by Marco Crasso he in vain purposing to escape in the dead time of the night And the said City is adorned with the dignity of a Prince Continuing the beautifull Coast of this Country we may behold the ancient Cemi now called Coda della Volpe and Catona with Fiumara di Muro and Regio called of the Latines Regium Iulium which is one of the most ancient Cities of all Italy builded as hath been said by Eschenes the Nephews son of Noe to whom the Greeks gave this name because from that place Sicilia was separated from Italy through the violence of an Earthquake the which Virgil confirmeth in his third book of Eneidos saying Haec loca vi quandam vasta convulsa ruina Tantum aevi longiqua valet mutare vetustas Dissiluisse ferunt cum protinus utraque tellus Vna foret venit medio vi pontis undis Hesperium Siculo latus abscidit arvaque urbâ—â— Lictore deductas angusto interluit aesto This City maintained the Commonwealth thereof a long time and was destroyed by Dionisius of Siracusa but being afterward repaired and beautified by Iulius Cesar suffered many ruines and last of all by Ariadeno Barbarossa that famous Captain of the Turkish Navy In the Territory of this City on the right side the Grashoppers make a wonderfull noise and on the left they are still the which by Poets is attributed to the cursings of Hercoles being therewith disquieted in his sleep but more truly it so hapneth by the dew which falleth there in the night because those creatures receive not so much heat to make a noise although some affirm they have another kind of voice then the other where also they declare the Fable which chanced to Ariston and Eunamo the Musician of the Grashopper supplying to the one the sound of the string which he brake in his Citaren the which the Ancients kept in remembrance a long time In Regio is made the best silk and excellent Wine whereof Atheneo in his first book thus saith Vinum Rhegium cum Surrentino pinguius sit usque ad annum quintumdecimum est utile The earthen Vessels that are there made are much commended and in old time also were made excellent dishes and vessels as Pliny reporteth in his 35. book saying Rhegium inquit siglina plastice nobilitatur And in another place saith nobilitatur Rhegium patinis This City had in old time many excellent Philosophers and learned men as Aristides Aristocrates Demostenes Athosione Calais Eurchyde Eliacone Hipporco Mnesibolo Obsimo Phytio Selinusio and Theocle of the which Eliacone Hipparco and Phytio were excellent Philosophers to Hipparco Plato entituled a book de studio lucrandi Androdamo and Theetheo were also of Regio two Philosophers and Lawyers Now going a little further we come to the Promontory of Leucopetra so called by the shining stones that are there which Mariners now call the Cape dell arme Afterward appeareth the Promontory of Hercules which the Countrey-people at this present call the Cape of Partivento A little further is Mendalaia afterward Brancaleone Bruzzano this Cape in old time was called Zeffiro where the Moors arived in the year 1126. which afterward destroyed a good part of the Kingdom Strabo speaking of this Cape thus saith Zephirum Promontorium agri Locri à quo Locrenses Zephiri dicti sunt Pliny saith that in this Promontory is included the first Harbour of Europe from the which the Seas have their name Then follows Bianco from whose Country is had great store of Wine going a little further is discovered Potamia which aboundeth with great store of the best hony and a little below is Motta Bovalina whose Territory is very fertile yielding good Wines and there is gathered no small quantity of Manna and in the pleasant fields do naturally grow great plenty of medicinable hearbs here through the amenity of the air is seen as it were a perpetual Spring and in every place is excellent fowling for Partridges Quails and other Fowls Gismondo Loffredo possesseth this Country which by the grace and favour of King Philip hath besides it newly obtained the Title of a Marquiss Not farr off is to be seen Condoianni called in old time Vria the which Country hath the dignity of a Count. And a little distant from hence is the ancient and noble City of Geraci called in old time Locri. By whom the said City should be built Writers hold divers opinions for Dionisius Aphro in his book de situ orbis writeth that Locri was builded by the Queen of the Locresi and thus saith Hinc ab boream Zephiri quae summa vocatur Sub qua sunt Locri celeres qui tempore prisco Illuc Reginam propriam venere secuti Ausoniamque tenent qua currit slumen Halecus Others hold opinion that it was built by Aiace Oileo or by the Naricii his companions confirming it with the words of Virgil in his third book of Eneidos saying Hic Nariiti posuere moenia Locri This first City used of all others the written Laws of the Greeks and were a long time governed by that commonwealth and grew very famous for the Government of Zeleuco their Lawgiver who was so severe against Adulterers that he refused to pardon his own son taken in adultery he would to the end the rigor of his Laws should be observed which commanded that the proof of this crime should be deprivation of both the eyes he reputing these two as it were one thing was himself first deprived of one eye and his son of another This City also was very famous through Timeo the Philosopher and Eunomo the Musician and Eutimo Atleta who was so strong that he did bear upon his shoulders a stone which two Oxen were scant able to draw Likewise this City hath been very glorious for the sumptuous and admirable Temple of Proserpina whereof Livy maketh such honourable mention in his 29 and 31 book The said Temple was spoiled for the riches therein by Pyrrhus and by Dionisius the Tyrant and last
other side not only because it is on this side Tronto but also for that in former time it was under the jurisdiction of the Kings of Naples but Queen Ione the second restored it to the church The said city is situate upon a very strong place fortified with a good wall and compassed with high hils it aboundeth with all things necessary for the sustenance of living creatures Bettutio Barro a most eloquent Orator was born in Ascolo to whom Cicero gave the honour of the victory above all the Poets of that age as it appears in Bruto and Ventidio Basso the victorious Captain of the Romans which went with an Army against the Parthians of whom were written these words but too nipping Now he is made a Consul which lately was a Mule-keeper forasmuch as before he had the command of Mules of whom the Satyrical Giovenal saith in the seventh Satire Si fortuna volet fies de Rhetore Consul Si volet haec cadem fies de Consule Rhetor. Ventidius quid enim quid Tullius an ne aâ—iudque Sydus occulti miranda potentia fati Ascolo had also Pope Nicholas the fourth a learned wise and a vertuous man as Petrarck and Platina among the Pontifical Bishops declares although Biondo saith he was the third likewise Cecco de Ascolo was a Citizen thereof an Astronomer a great Philosopher and a famous Negromancer And Enoc an eloquent Orator indued with the Greek and Latine tongues through whose diligence were found out Marco Celio Apitio and Pomponio Porfirione upon Horace in the time of Pope Nicholas the fifth The same City hath also brought forth Gratiadio of the Order of Preachers an excellent Divine and Philosopher which writ the Commentaries upon the old art eight books of natural Philosophy and three of Aristotle de anima wherein he sheweth his great learning Afterward going along from Vallecastellana we come to the rich and populous country of Amatrice situated under the fountain of Tronto Then followeth Civitella lying not far off among the hils in a country very strong through the nature of the place and the strong wall that compasseth it round about which country was valiantly defended by the Duke of Guise Now being come to Tronto in the which place are not only the bounds of the Pregutini and Sanniti which are in Abruzzo but also of the Territory of the Kingdom of Naples I am now forced to finish the description of this Province somewhat noting the nature of the inhabitants which are of a bigg and tall stature strong bodied of a white complexion fierce countenance and a resolute mind courteous towards strangers in bargaining simple accustomed to the mannaging of Arms and much inclined to Wars and very cruel to their enemies They are also very forward in learning The men which inhabit in the city are seemly and civilly apparelled but those that live abroad in the hils and mountains are very barbarous and unhandsom for they cloath themselves with very course and base cloath The Arms of this Province is Azure upon three mounts united and fixed in bass or an Eagle displayed arâ— crowned of the second The which Arms some think that the Eagle signifieth the Standard which was taken in battel from the Romans although others suppose it signifies the Emperor Adrian which was born in Hadria a city of the Province and say that three Hils or declares the fertility and riches of the country neither are their opinions to be mistaken which say that the Eagle signifieth the city of Aquila it self the head and principal of all the country The County of MOLISE The eleventh Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe County of Molise is the least Province in the Kingdom for it is part of Sannio wherein is Esernia and Boiano This Province was so called from the city of Molisia from whence they also had their name which governed this country and Pontano witnesseth that in his time there was also standing the noble house of Molisia the which he setteth down in his fifth book of the History of the Neopolitan War Cui adjungitur ab iisdem quaestoribus Sannii quoque pars ea in qua est Bovianum Aesernia qui ager recenti nomine est Molisius Molisio ab oppido à quo originem duxere qui agro quondam imperaverunt Qua re familia quoque Molisia hodie agnoscitur The inhabiters of this country are the Sanniti Frentani and Caraceni the confines of the which people anciently were according to Ptolomy the river Fortoro on the East the river Sanguine on the West the Adriatick Sea on the North and the Apennine Hils on the South At this present the bounds thereof extend not so far in respect of the new division made by the Kings Exchequer of which country now a great part is under Capitanato the Principality on the other side the country of Lavoro and Abruzzo Pliny declaring the confines of the Frentani writeth thus Flumen portuosum Frento Teanum Apulorum itemque Larinum Cliternia Tifernus amnis inde regio Frentana and in another place saith In ora Frentanorum à Tifeâ—no flumen Trinium portuosum Oppida Histionium Buca Ortona Aternus amnis Intus Anxatini cognomine Frentani Câ—rentini supernates infernates Lanuenses These people were so named of the Citie Frentana neer to Teano of Puglia the which Citie at this present is called Francavilla These people becoming very puissant made war against the Romans but being overcome as Livy writeth by the Consull Q. Aulio in the year 433. with one battell were sworn to the keeping of their faith and so obtained peace from the Senate Caesar maketh mention of the Frentani in the first book of his Commentaries and also Polybius And Cato writeth that these people had their originall from the Liburni and Dalmati and afterward from the Toscous and their principall Citie was Larino This Province is almost wholly plain and hath a very plentifull Territory for it yeildeth grain in great abundance and all other sorts of corn there is also flax silk bombace saffron annice corianders hony and good wines and very fruitfull trees and great plenty the air is temperate and healthfull sweet rivers and great store of cattell there is excellent hawking and hunting but no ravenous creature is therein except Wolves I will begin to describe this Countrey from Campobasso a City built in the midst of the Hills on this side the Apennine from Boiano twelve miles distant for here begins the first countrey of Puglia The said countrey is very populous and rich from whence the counties of Campobascio have had their originall and surname Going from this countrey towards Luceria four miles is Campo di Pietra which hath a good Territory and following that way no more then six miles appears upon the top of a high hill the Castell Pietra and from hence five miles is Macchia which hath the title of a County And from
Beccarini Gentile del Avantaggio Caverletta Minadois Nicastro Visco Tontoli and others But first before I proceed any farther to declare what the Monte Gargano is here towards the sea I will finish that which lieth upon the River Fortore Above Sanseverino four miles is Torre the great which is a Country that hath the title of a Dukedom subject to the house of Sangro which lieth from Fortore twelve miles and as much above Torre the great is Castelluccio and a little from thence is Monte Rotano and somewhat higher is Celenza which hath a very fruitfull Territory and is adorned with the title of a Marquisat the Lord whereof is Carlo Gambacorta a Neapolitan Gentleman a very famous and worthy Lord whose honourable actions are well known having many years with so much wisdom and valour governed through the grace and favour of King Philip the two Povinces of Principato and Basilicata and at this present with great honour ruleth and governeth this present Province Not far from Cilenza is a country called St. Marco and near that is Volturara which hath a good Territory and the Lord thereof holdeth the title of a Marquiss and not far off is the country of St. Gaudio and a little above is Rosseno and beyond that near the river of Fortore is the Castle Montefalcone The River Fortore runneth into the Sea near the Lake of Lesina which contains 40 miles in compass and a mile from this Lake and four from the Sea is the city of Lesina from whence the Lake hath taken its name the which city was built by the men of the Isle of Lesina of Slavonia some say that the Saracins spoiled the said city Leandro Alberti believeth that the aforesaid Lake is named by Pliny in the 10. chapter of his third book Lacus Pantanus which breeds good fishes and great Eels and at all times there is good fowling for wild Geese Mallards and Swans Within the land four miles above Lesina and within a mile of Fortore upon a high hill is Cerra Capriola in a populous and a civil country the which is well known through all the Kingdom for the toll or custom of cattel which pass through it from divers countries to winter in Puglia and for the custom of sheep where they pay in that place so much for every beast by the head Somewhat higher are these countries and castles St. Martino Colletorto S. Guilian Macchia which is adorned with the dignity of a Count subject to the house of Regina and not farr off is Petra di Cratello Campo di Pietra Geldono and in the top is Circomaggiore near the which springeth the river Fortore then on the left hand of Fortore is St. Nicandro five miles from the Sea and near the Lake of Cesina on that side which is nearest the Mount Gargano then farther within the land is Porcina a populous and a civil country where is also a very stately magnificent Palace made by the Emperor Frederick the second for a retiring house of pleasure after his sports of hunting in those parts Going six miles forward we come to St. Seniero a country very rich noble civil and populous whose Territory is so fertile that it is not inferior to any in this Province the said country hath lately been innobled by the Kings favour with the dignity of a Prince which the Family of Sangro possesseth Strabo writeth in his sixth book that in the Territory of Daunio although that imperfect and corrupt book nameth it Saunio at a hill named Drio in the manner of a Wood was in his time two Temples the one in the very top assigned to Calcante that whosoever came to demand any thing of the Oracle sacrificed a black ram lying down themselves upon the skin The other Temple was dedicated to Podalirio below at the very foot of the Hill distant from the Sea a hundred furlongs From the which Temple did spring a little brook very wholsom and comfortable to cure the infirmities of cattel therefore it may the better be believed that such Temples have been in these places hereabout for Strabo saith In agro Daunio circa tumulum quem Drion nominant basilicae monstrantur una quidem Calchantis in summo â—ertiâ—è cui petentes oracula ingrantâ—m imâ—lant arietem strata in pelle dormiunt Altera Podalirii in insima montis radice posita abest à mari stadiorum circiter C. Ex ea rivulus manat ad omnis pâ—corum morbos salutaris Now it is time to return to the Mount Gargano or rather St. Angelo to the end I may the better describe certain places which are there In the midst then of the said hill where is the fair and spacious plain of â—lorishing and pleasant pasture is to be seen the country of St. Iohn Ritondo where every year on the 11 of Iune are assembled the Bailiffs and Officers thereabout a chief and principal magistrate coming thither in the name of the King the which after they have well considered the store of grain barley and other corn with a general consent they proclaim a price of all victuals Not far from the said place are Cagnano and Carpino which have a fruitfull Territory the Baron thereof is Antonio Nava so honourable and worthy a Lord and so vertuously given as he is generally honoured and loved of every one and hath been the special occasion that this work is published the second time At the foot of the said hill near Manfredonia is St. Vito a very great country but wholly abandoned for the great abundance of Serpens that are therein Not far off is the Castle Arignano and St. Nocandro Departing then from the foot of the Mount Gargano and leaving the places near adjacent we come to Foggia in a populous country which hath a very fertile and fruitfull Territory yielding great plenty of grain barley and other sustenance Some say that it was built of the ruines of the ancient city of Argirippa the which as Straboâ—aith â—aith was in old time one of the greatest cities in Italy and was first called Argostippium afterward Argyripa and at the last Arpe and saith that it was builded by Diomedes At this present liveth with great honour to the said city Giovanbattista Vitale a very plausible and pleasant Poet of our age But it is not fit I should smother in silence the custom of the sheep of Puglia which is one of the greatest revenues that the King hath in the Kingdom and consisteth in the rents of the herbage which cometh every year into the Kings Exchequer by the Officers for the pasture of sheep and greater cattel of the which rents in truth some pay 13 duckets for a hundred sheep and some 12. and some 10 and a half and some 9. and some 6. and some 3. and some 15 carlins for a hundred and others 12 crowns for a thousand But of greater cattel some pay 37
also that of Sicily with the utter Revolt of Portugal and commotions in Catalonia as also the loss of so many Towns about Flanders which were given in ransom for Francis the French King as likewise the rending away of the county of Rossillon hath given so shrewd a â—heck to the Spanish Monarchy that she is still a branling ever since having made her so thin of men at home and mony abroad and plung'd her in such a bottomless Gulph of debt that the whole Revenue of Naples which is above three millions per ann is scarce able to pay the Genoways and other banks their yeerly interest And the Spanish Monarchy is like to continue still in this shaking aguish posture while this fiery Cardinal sits at the French Helm moving upon the principles of his Predecessor who may be sayd to be two fatall â—ngins raisd up to unhiâ—ge the World I. H. Sen sâ—o non Segnesco The chief Ingredients that go to the Composition of this Historicall Survey I· THe Scituation of the Citty of Naples II. The names of the severall Provinces and the quality of the Country III. The Customes of the Peeple and the famous men Naples hath producd IV. An account of the Revenues Imposts Donatives and other Perquisits of the Crown V. A History of the Kings of Naples with their Titles and Stile VI. The names of the Barons with their Armes as also of the spirituall power VII A discourse of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and how it is appropriated to the Kingdom of Naples c. VIII An exact relation of the procedures of the Spanish Match with England c. IX The Revolt of Catalonia X. The Revolt of Portugal XI The severall pretentions of Right and Title to the Crown of Portugal XII The Tumults of Sicily XIII The three late horrid Revolutions of Naples XIV Of the Duke of Ossuna Vice-roy of Naples of his Extravagancies and the strange Articles exhibited against Him XV. The Catastrophe of Olivares the great Spanish Favorit and the causes of his downfall XVI A true Relation of the suspectfull death of Don Carlos Prince of Spain never yet so much discovered to the World Upon the CITTY OF NAPLES FIRST CALL'D PARTHENOPE OR THE VIRGIN-CITTY Salve Parthenope Decora salve PArthenope a Citty bright as Gold Or if the Earth could bear a richer Mold Is com to greet Great Britain Queen of Iles And to exchange som Silks for VVooll she smiles To find that Cloath shold wear and feel so fine As do her Grograns she doth half repine That Lemsters Ore and spires of fallow'd Grass The leafs of Mulberries shold so surpass Which so abound in Her with every thing Which Pleasure VVealth or VVonderment can bring That Nature seems to strive whom she shold please Herself or Vs with rare Varieties There her own Bawd to be she may be sayed As if the VVanton with Herself she played Let England then strow Rushes all the way To welcom in the fair Parthenopey For I dare say She never yet came o're In such a Garb to visit any Shore I. H. A Table of the most notable things that are contained in the first part of the HISTORY of NAPLES ACerra a City and why so called 16 Acidola a spring of an admirable nature 8 Adria a City in Apruzzo now called Atri 74 Alphonso the first of Aragon 17 King of Naples 160 Alphonso the second 19 King of Naples 162 Amalfia a City 23. by whom it was built 26 Annibal the Carthaginian falls in love in Apulia or Puglâ—a 89 Apruzzo citra the ninth Province of the Kingdom 69 Apruzzo ultra the tenth Province of the Kingdom 73 Aquila Metropolitan City in Apruzzo 76. how many Churches are in it ib. Nature and custom of the Aquilans ib. how many armed men it can set forth upon occasion ib. Adriatick Sea why so called and where it ends 89 Arms of Terra di Lavoro 21 Arechi Dukes of Benevento 22 Arms which the Province of Principato citra carries in its colours 36 Arms of Principality ultra 43 Arms of Basilicata 47 Arms of Calabria citra 52 Arms of Calabria ultra 60 Arms of the Land of Otranto 65 Arms of the Land of Bari 68 Arms of Apruzzo citra 72 Arms of Apruzzo ultra 81 Arms of the County of Molise 84 Arms of Capitanata 93 Ascoli in Apruzzo restored to the Church by Queen Giovanna 80 Asturno a Hill where the Royal hunting is in the Land of Lavoro 9 Aversa a City by whom built and famous men of it 15 B BAsilicata fourth Province of the Kingdom 44 Barletta a famous Town 67 Benevento a City by whom it was built 38 how it came into the Churches hands 40 Basignano and other Towns and Cities in the Province of Calabria 51 Bitonto a City in the Land of Bari 68 Boiavo a City in Capitanata 83 Borrello and other Towns in Calabria ult 54 Brutii whence called 53. Brindisi and by whom it was built 63. Body of St. Nicholas in Bari 67. Bodies of Saints found in the Province of Bari ib. Body of S. Thomas Aquinas 71. Bounds of the Land of Apruzzo 70. C CAlabria citra the 5 Province of the Kingdom 47. Calabria ultra the 6 Province in the Kingdom 52. Capitanata the 12 Province 85. why so called ib. Charls the 1 of Anjou 9 King of Naples 152. Charls the 2. 10 King of Naples 153. Charls the 3 of Durazzo 13 King of Naples 155. Charls the 4. 20 King of Naples 162. Charls the 5 Emperor 26 King of Naples 168. Catanzaro chief city of Calabria 59. Campania the happy why so called 4. Castle of Vovo 10. Casasana a most delicious place built by Charls the second 11. Capua a city 13. sackt and rebuilt 14. Casetta a city by whom it was built 17. Capre of Partivento 56. Castle at Mare Volturno 8. Campo Basso a chief town in the county of Molise 83. Cava a City and its beginning 24. Caliph King of Egipt friend to the Amalphitans 26. Charles the great disguised to see the Princess Arrechi 39. Capa of Palinuro and Molpa 45. Calabria citra a Province why so called 49. Calabria ultra a Province 52. its fertility ib. Cardinal Pascasius his soul 10. Cape of the Pillars 60. Crickets and their properties 56 City of Chieâ—i Metropolitan of Apruzzo 70 Counts and Dukes of Puglia and Calauria 136. Coronation of the Kings of Naples 174. Coast of Amalfi 25. Cosenza chief city of Calabria 50. Cotrone a city in Calabria 60. County of Molise 11 Province 82. its bounds and things whereof there is plenty ibid. Conradus the fourth Emperor and seventh King of Naples 150. Cuma a city 9. Custom of the sheep of Puglia and the Revenues of it 91. Country-house of Scipio and Lelius 7 Cicero his country-house where the Emperor Adrian was buried 9 Charls 2 King of Naples drives out the Saracins 92 D. DIscourse of the Kings of Ierusalem 176 Donatives given by the kingdom of Naples to
Near Naples is the Greek Tower first called Herculea of Hercules which came thither with many Ships after he left Nontiata near the ancient Stabie At this place standeth aloft that famous Hill of Somma called Vesevo and Vesuvio about which are situated many pleasant Villages except in the top where the Poets feign remain the shoulders of the Giant Porfirius In the time of the Emperor Titus with a general fear to all those in the fields and destruction of them which were nearest it cast out from the top thereof great flames of fire and Balls of Sulphure Mine and burning stones where Pliny died the great preserver of the Latine tongue whilst he desired to see the great exhalations of that Hill which cast the ashes even into Africa Going a little farther is the City of Castel by the Sea of Stabia so named by the City Stabbia which was not far off which had been destroyed by L. Silla this Castle is situated in a corner of the Mount Gauro where it beginneth to stretch towards the West which maketh the Promontory of Minerva Here about the distance of a mile through the delight of the place King Charls the second builded a Royal Palace calling it for the sweetness of the air the Wholsome House which afterward King Rubert enlarged giving it greater beauty and ornament which place is now possest by the Noble Family Nocera King Ferrant the first having bestowed it on Pietro Nocera his chiefest favorite which for his great valour was afterward by King Ferrant the second made General of the Gallies This Country aboundeth with great plenty of clear water and great store of the best Fruits and for the facility and easie access of the place hath much Traffick According to the division of Strabo of Ptolomy and of Sempronio this City should be placed in the Country of the Picentini which is now called the Province of Principato but we have thought best to confine it in the Land of Lavoro because it is situated in the Gulf of Cratero Within a little is the beautifull City Vico builded by the people Equani then followeth the City Sorrento very ancient and Noble situated on the top of the Hill whose prospect is the Sea Although it be not of that greatness as formerly it hath been it hath a very fertile and delightfull Territory garnished with Vines and Oringes and other fruitfull Trees This City was builded by the Greeks and was called Petra Syrenum In this City lived Antonio the Abbot a most holy man and famous for his miracles whose body remaineth even now as a testimony of his divine Miracles as they say towards those which are oppressed with Spirits Then from Sorrento a mile is the City of Massa newly named to the which Paolo Portarello that excellent Poet and great Humanist hath now and alwaies giveth everlasting glory From hence then is seen the solitary Hill Atheneo the which because it joyneth not with any other Hill passeth along towards the West and is otherwise called the Hill Massa it was also called Prenusso Sirreo Minervio and the Hill Equano in the top of the Promontory is to be seen a great part of the Temple of Minerva builded by Vlisses Under the side of the said Promontory are certain desart and stony Islands called the Sirenes in one whereof from that part which lieth towards Surrento in ancient time was a rich Temple where were certain very ancient gifts long since presented by the Inhabitants of the Country for the worship and reverance of that holy place the Reliques whereof are now to be seen Here endeth the Gulf called Cratera included within two Promontories Miceno and Ateneo which lie towards the South which Gulf is almost wholly planted with Houses and goodly Gardens opposite to the which riseth out of the Sea the Isle of Capri the first delightfull place of Tiberius Caesar but now ordained for Exiles and banished people Here twice in a year are Quails taken Directly against Miseno is the Isle of Prochita now called Procita the which according to Strabo is a part of Pitecuse Procita was so called as Pliny saith by the depth thereof for by miracle the said Isle rise of it self out of the bottom of the Sea But as Dionisius of Alicarnaseo affirmeth that it was named by a beautifull young man a Trojau called Procita which came thither to inhabit Whereof Servio upon these Verses of Virgil saith in his 9 Book Tum sonitu Prochyta alta tremit c. Saith that it had that name from Protheus which signifieth spread or dispersed to the which opinion agreeth the Greeks and almost all the Latines Silio the Italian in his 12 Book speaking of Procida saith thus Apparet Prochyta saevum sortita Numanta Apparet procul Inarime quae turbine nigro Fumantem premit Iapetum flammasque rebelli Ore rejectantem si quando evadere detur Bella Iovi rursus superisque iterare volentem Within this Isle is a fair Country well replenished with people which hath the same name and is very famous for the abundance of Corn that is gathered within it and for the taking of Partridges and Pheasants whereof there is great plenty The Lord of this Isle in former time was Iohn of Procida a Phisitian a man very famous who fearing not the power of King Charls of Angio to revenge a great injury took Sicilia with that famous slaughter of the French commonly called the Sicilian evening and he had done greater matters if he had been permitted This Iohn was in great esteem with Iames King of Arragon after whose death King Peter his son knowing the valour of Iohn Le dio dice il Zurita en el Reino de Valencia para el y sus successores las Villas y Castillos de Luxer Benyzano y Palma con sus alquerias He gave him as saith Zurita in the Kingdom of Valentia to him and his successors the Towns and Castles of Luxer Benyzano and Palma with their bordering Villages From this man descended the Family called Procita which are now very great in the Kingdom of Catalogna and enjoyeth the Countie of Almenare In the said Isle in a fair Church with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Margarite the Virgin and Martyre which was carried thither from Antiochia Salvo Selano the Phisician honoureth much this Isle now living in Naples with great renown who hath written upon the Aphorismes of Hyppocrates The said Isle is distant from Naples twelve miles and in composs seven A little from Procita lieth the Isle Ischia formerly called Inarime Pithecusa and Enaria very famous not only for the Fable which the Greeks feigne of the Giant Tipheo strucken with Iupiters Thunder-bolt but also for a Fortress there being so great that it is held the second Key of the Kingdom The said Castle was builded by Alfonsus of Medina King of Arragon first of this name King of Naples who because
borders of the Province of happy Campania and the said City is invironed by two little Rivers the one called Atro and the other Tempsa the which are full of fish and the Territory thereof is part plain and part hilly where are thick Woods of Oak and therefore very good hunting both for Fowls and Beasts the plain thereof is almost all full of Olive Trees and Vines and in the desert Hils are often taken goodly airs of strange Falcons Of this City was the holy man St. Antonio a Monk of the Order of St. Benedict who in the year 625 being created by his Monks Abbot in the Monastery of the City Sorrento went thither where living godly there died afterward whereupon in token of his good life God shewed after his death many miracles and in particulars towards those which are visited with evil spirits whose holy body the Sorentini with great reverence keep within their City neither stick they to say that he was their Citizen There are in the said City these noble Families Bernalla Campanino Ciminello Greco Guerrieri de Nigris Viviano Tercasia and others Now liveth with much honour to this City Augustino and Detio Bernalli both Doctors of the Law and very learned and great lovers of vertue The said City was in the time of the ancient Kings indued with the dignity of a Count but in the year 1530. the Emperor Charls the fifth advanced it to the Title of a Marquiss in the person of Honorato Grimaldo Genoway Lord of Monaco under the enstalement to speak like a Lawyer to hold it as a feuditory liegman and not with the succession of inheritance whereby he that is Lord of the Castle of Monaco and shall defend it at the pleasure of the King of Naples doth succeed to the said Marquiship Eight miles distant is the Country of Conturso the which is compassed with the Rivers Sele and Negro it hath a most pure Climat and a plentifull Territory of the said Country was that excellent and learned man Antonio Pepi called by his sirname Peperone which was judge of the great Court of the Vicaria in Naples and writ a book de omni vero officio Iohn Cola Pepi was very inward with the King Farnando which for his great skill and experience in the Laws was by the said King made his Counceller and to Iames his brother he gave the Bishoprick of Capaccio No less learned in these daies is Sertorio Pepi a man singularly qualified and very faithfull This Noble Family hath for a long time ruled the said Country with other Castles Going then four miles is Quaglietta a little Castle and no more then 12 miles distant but from Salerno 18. we come to the fair and ancient Country of Evolo by Ptolomy called Ebulum which was builded by the people Eborini so naming it by the first son of Iupiter King of Athens the said City stands not far from the River Sele and the River Tusciano the current or stream passeth along by the Walls thereof named by the Country people Toliero which Virgil calleth Tanagro when he saith Sicci ripa Tanagri The River Sele called by Strabo Siler riseth in the Apennine where the River Aufido hath his beginning which runneth by Apulia and falleth into the Ionian Sea near Barletta three miles but Sele runneth towards the South and leaving Campania by Basilicata in the end falleth into the Tirrene Sea The said River according to Strabo Pliny and Sillio Italico hath the property to change into a stone whatsoever is put therein keeping the colour and the first form thereof It is reported by grave and credible Authors that in the time of Ione of Angio the first of that name Queen of Naples took the Scepter of the Kingdom a woman of Evâ—li having brought forth a son became her self a man It is also verified that in the year 1460 in the same City a woman called Emilia maried to one Antonio Sponsa after she had lived 12 years with her said husband was changed to a man and Pontano which knew her testifieth that afterward she exercised the office of a man and besides took a wife and that allowing her a dowry by commandment of King Ferdinando the Judge inforcing the said Antonio to yield it her The same Iohn Pontano a man rather divine then mortal witnesseth in his tenth book of Celestial things which Antonio Panormita reciteth that a woman of Gaera after 14 years she had been used by her husband her natural member suddenly altered and she became a man wherefore to avoid the scorns that were made thereof both by men and women became a Frier and so lived all the remainder of her life where the said Pontano affirmeth to have known her and that she was buried in Rome in the Temple of Minerva Therefore that seemeth not so wonderfull which Pliny writeth in the fourth Chapter of the seventh Book of his natural History which things with all that appertain seem rather impossible then miraculous nevertheless for my self I cannot deny the authority of such persons and especially that which Philosophy cannot only not deny but also approve for that according to Philosophers and Phisicians the man differeth not nor is known from the woman by any member but by being either too hot or too cold because the nature of man without all doubt is more hot then that of women and by the power of this heat it so falleth out that nature driveth out that member in men which in women by reason of their coldness remaineth inward whereupon it may be that after some certain time or by some meat or the air or by some other occasion that coldness may be so inflamed and heated that it may now do that which in the birth it could not But returning to Evoli the said City hath very fertile Territories and spacious fields abounding with all good things beneficial for the use of living creatures whereof the said City glorying beareth for Arms the four Elements The bones of St. Berniero lie with great reverence in it in a glorious Church dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle at whose Sepulchre as they say God sheweth wonderfull miracles towards those which are possest with evil spirits From the said Country eight miles near to the River Silare is the reverend Church of St. Vito where resteth his said holy body together with Modesto and Crescentia the Nurse whereupon all those which are bitten with mad-dogs repair hither and by the intercessions of the said St. Vito as they say are presently healed There are in the said Country these noble Families Caravita Clario Corcione Christophero Crispo Fulgione Fiorenza Gentilcore Granato Giuliano Ligoro de Loisio Malacarne Marcancione Mirto Monaco Millone de Novellis Orso Della Porta Perretta Ragoni Raghi Russo Saceo Troiano and others Going from Evoli no more then twelve miles is Aquaro a good Country so called for the abundance of water which invironeth it
because it runneth near the said City Afterward we come to these Countries Montefalcione Candida and Serpito but above the high and difficult mountains called Monti Tremoli above named appeareth the City Vulturara Above Benevento little more then the third part of a mile runneth the River Calore into the River Sabato on the right hand whereof which bendeth towards the Hils and Mountains which we have said to be above Benevento are these Castles and Countries Pia Chiusano the old Castle and a little above Montella an excellent and goodly Country indued with the Title of a Count. Over the River Calore two miles from Sabato the Emperor Valentine made a great and magnificent Bridg joyning with the way Appia which was therefore called Valentino which is now all ruinated On the left side of the said River are these Countries Apice where was another goodly Bridg which was joyned with the said way Appia and then Mirabella Tauraso Cursano Bagnulo Cassano Nusco And afterward beginneth the Apennine to rise where springeth the River Calore and on the other side of the Hill in like sort riseth the River Ausido which the Country people call Lofanto which passeth through Apuglia and runneth into the Adriatick Sea Then cometh on the right hand of Calore the River Tripalto which is near the populous Country of Tripalta which hath the honour of a Dukedom in the principal Church whereof lieth with great reverence the body of St. Ipolistro Martyr and Priest On the right side of the said River is a long and spacious Wood called by the same name Tripalta near the which on the side of this River are situated these Countries Bonito Grottamenarda Flumari and Vico. On the left side of the said River is Melito Amando Zuncoli and then up towards the Apennine is a great back of the Hill called Grâ—mâ— which through the great difficulty to climb up is called Crepacore upon the which Hill springeth the River Moscano which runneth into Calore in the same place where entreth the River Tripalto On the right hand of Moscano is Corsano and Montecalvo and in the distance which is between the said rivers upon a pleasant hill is the City of Ariano called in old time Ara Iani of a famous Temple which was there and dedicated to Ianus On the right side of Moscano are these Countries and Castles Montemale Buon Albergo Casalalbore and the Freemens Castle Afterward is to be seen the mouth of the River Tamaro which runneth into Calore and hath as great plenty of water as any other above named and between the said two Rivers as it were in the midst is Paluda a populous and principal Country and somewhat higher on the right side of Tamaro are these Countries and Castles Sainâ—â— Iorio Molinara Reino Santa Maria del Colle where died Iacobo Caldora a famous and a valiant Captain Cercello Cassano and Santa Croce Here beginneth a mighty great Wood which incloseth on both sides the Apennine Hils so that one part stretcheth even to Fortore a River of Puglia the other to Tamaro the which Wood is four miles in breadth and twenty in length On the left hand of Tamaro are these Countries Pietrapulcina Pavoni Pestolo Fragnito Campolottara the Monastery of Giulietto Morcone and in the Apennine Supino an ancient Country whereof Livy maketh mention Then followeth Altavilla before named which hath the dignity of a Count subject to the noble house of Capoa above the which in a hill of the Apennine is to be seen Castellovecchio near which riseth the River Tamaro Having now described this Region it remaineth that we now discourse something of the Inhabitants therein the which are very sturdy and strong and of healthfull complexion and all are exercised and expert in arms and in learning they grow excellent which apply themselves unto it But in Merchandize they are little imployed which so falleth out because every man is contented with his own goods Those in general which dwell in the Country are attired after the fashion of the Neopolitans but not the women the which go diversly apparelled and very few use to wear a mantle upon their gown they dress their heads with base attires only covering them with a broad linen cloth neither do they wear pantosles but shooes and chopineos The natural colour of the people inclines more to white then a swart colour in reasoning and discoursing they are very stately and disdainfull and great braggadochios but very obedient to their superiors The arms which this Region have used is a field per fesse gu and argent a Crown in chief or the which Arms I think signifie no other then that new title of Prince which the valorous Arechi the second the fourteenth Duke of Benevento gave in the time that he subdued the Picentine people to his dominion whereupon by the field gu and ar would manifest the vertue and courage of this Country which was in the said Arechi and for the Crown of Gold which little or nothing differeth from a regal Crown I think signifieth the new Lordship as hath been declared BASILICATA The Fourth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES A Part of Montagna sometimes named Lucania and another of Puglia were in ancient time called by one only name Basilicata but from whence the said name should proceed is not certainly known But some think although they have it not from any great authority that this Province was by an Emperor of Constantinople given in dowry with one of his daughters Others affirm and more probably that it was so called by Basilio a man very valiant in Arms which in those daies possest all these places and from this Province and from the Country of Otranto with his industry and valour drove away the Greeks and Carthaginians that were established therein The River Silare divideth this Province from Vestini and from happy Campania It hath on the South the Tirrene Sea on the East the River Lavo with the Brutii and part of Magna Gretia and on the North the Pugliesi the Pecutii with a part of the Irpini These people Lucani had their original according to Pliny from the Sanniti which are now called Abruzzesi but first the Possidoniati inhabited there a people of Magna Grecia afterward the Morgeti Seculi Italiani Enotri and Pelasgi and at length the said Sanniti were afterward called Lucani the which were a long time popularly governed by themselves and were so called by Lucano a Captain which with a Colony of Sanniti came into this place to inhabit The first Elephants that were ever seen in Italy were brought hither in the Wars of King Pyrrhus and were called Lucan Buls in respect of Lucania which was in the year after the building of Rome 47â— This Province is for the most part mountainous and hilly but yet very fertile in all sorts of grain and yieldeth excellent Wines for the Vines grow to a wonderfull greatness which proceeds through
haunted an evil spirit a long time for the death of Hippolitus the companion of Vlysses which was there slain against all humanity whereupon rose the Proverb among the Ancients Aderit genius Temeseus Noting hereby that Gods vengeance never faileth to reward such wickedness if by humane means it be not punished The said City was built by the Ausoni which Strabo affirmeth in his sixth book saying Alao prima urbs Brettiae Tempsa quam Auxonii condiderunt nostrae autem aetatis homines Tempsam etiam vocitant Temesa was a Bishops Sea as appeareth in the Councels when Hillary the Bishop thereof came to the fourth Roman Sinod under the Popedom of Agathon And the Territory thereof is very fat and fertile and yieldeth excellent Wine Oyle Hony fine Silk Grain and other Corn and all kinds of Fruits and from heaven descendeth Manna and there is made great store of Bird-lime and Glue Hard by is Foscaldo where is great abundance of Sugar Hony Wine Corn and other Fruits The said Country is honoured with the dignity of a Marquiss A little higher is the Country of Lattarico which by Livy is called Hetriculum hard by standeth Torano and Regina called in old time Herinium built by the Enotri in whose Territory is made great abundance of Oyle there is also Mines of Brimstone Saltpeter and Alabaster and a little farther is situate the City Montalto by Barrio called Vffugium it had sometimes a Bishops Sea which dignity was joyned to Cosenza It hath a good Territory which yieldeth Grain Oyle and other Fruits and there is made great abundance of Silk there is also Alabaster and Brimstone and every year there is a very great Fair. It hath the dignity of a Dukedom the Lady whereof is the Lady Mary of Arragon in whom endeth the line of old Alfonsus of Arragon King of Naples the which State by marriage fell into the Family of Moncada Going now towards the Sea we may behold Paula a name corrupted derived from ancient Patycos very famoms for being the natural Country of St. Francis the Author of the Order of the Minimi hard by is St. Nocito very famous for the excellent sweet Wine then cometh Castellofranco with the River Campagnano called in old time Acheronte where was slain even as he was foretold by the Oracle Alexander King of Molossi mean while he not understanding the cautions of the devil rested secure having avoided another River of the same name in Epiro The words of the Oracle were these Aeacida cave accedas ad aquam Acherusiam Et Pandasiam quod ibi tibi laetum decretum est Near hand is seen Cerisano called in old time Citerium and upon the side of the River Crati and of Basenta is the famous City Consenza full of people rich and very ancient it was a Colony of the Lucani in old time it was the chief City of the Brutii but now the head of this Province The said City is situate between hils and dales it hath before it a great Plain which stretcheth very near forty miles and is called the Villey of Crati it is compassed with 85 Hamlets or Villages which for the most part are very great It aboundeth in all things which may be desired either for profit or humane pleasure it hath brought forth many excellent men and among others the Abbot Giacchino indued as Dant saith with a prophetical spirit who was of one of the Villages of Cosenza called Celico St. Thelesphoro Iano Parassio Antonio Telesio Iohn Baptista d'Amico Coriolano Marticano and Berardino Martirano which was also Secretary of the Kingdom Piâ—tropaolo Parisio a famous Doctor of Law which was made Cardinal by Pope Paul the third Borardino Telesio which writ against the Philosophy of Aristotle Iohn Maria Barnauda Sertario Quattromani Giovanpaolo d' Aquino Prospero Parisio and Iacobo of Gaeta In this City are these noble families Abenante Aquino Andriotto Aloe Amico Arnoni Alimena Arduino Barono Bernando Beccuto Bombino Bonconto Britto Bovi Bonaccursi Cavalcante Ciacci Caputo Casella Cozzi Cicala Caroleo Curatore Celso Clavelli Dattilâ— Donato Domanico Fâ—rrao Farrao d' Epaminonda Farrao d' Antonello Fera Favoro Figlino Franza Gaeta Gaeta d' Marc. Antonio Garofalo Giannochiri Gaeli Gioanni Giaccino Gadi Longo Longobuccho Migliarâ—se Marano Monaco Martorano Maurello Minardo Moyi Materi Massaro Mirabello Mangoni Nero Poglisi Peloso Pellegrino Pascale Passalacqua Poerio Parisi di Ruggiero Parisi di Mario Pantuso Quottromani Roccho Ruggiero Rangi Russo Scaglione Spatasora Serâ—alo della Motta Sersale di Guido Sambiase Spirito Sirisanto Spina Sanfâ—lice Stocca Tilesio Testo Toscano Tarsii Tirello Velle and others The Arms of this City is seven Hils vert in a field or From hence on the right hand lieth the Wood Brutiana which the people of the Country call for the excellency thereof Sila not so hideous and terrible in Winter through continual snow and ice as it is pleasant and delightfull in Summer where the fresh and cheerfull air with many Rivers full of excellent fish and the divers sports of fowling and hunting of wild beasts and the infinite heards of Cattel which there seed upon the plentifull fruits thereof represent in effect that which the Poets feign of their Arcadia Not far distant lieth Carolei called by the Latines Ixias built by the Enotri And walking a little farther appeareth Bisignano a good and plentifull City much inhabited which hath the Title of a Principality subject to the Family Sanseverina Stifano calleth this City Besidia which according to Barrio was built by the Ansoni and very near lieth Tarsia called Capresis Returning towards the Sea we come into these Countries Fiumefreddo Bello-monte and the City Amontea which was an Episcopal Seat but now united with the Church of Tropâ—ia A little farther is Aiello called by Bario Tylesium which hath a strong Castle and a fruitfull Territory with a Wood where is great sport in the hunting of divers living creatures This Country holdeth the Title of a Marquiss and the Lord thereof is Alberico Cybo Prince of Massa no less worthy of honour for his Learning then his Chivaldri Near to Aiello is the Hill Cocuzzo where it seemeth that the Apennine exceeds it self in height Then followeth Martirano corrupted from the ancient name of Mamerto whose Citizens shewed themselves no less faithfull to the people of Rome then valiant in Arms they only fighting with Pyrrhus one of the best Souldiers of the world the which they performed so couragiously that Pyrrhus being mindfull of the valour of the Brutii and of the death of his Alexandro durst not any farther hazard his fortune From thence afterward lieth on the side of the Sea Nocera the reliques of the ancient Terinia which was destroyed by Hannibal they being not able to defend it and here runneth according as the Ancients affirm Ligia one of the Sirenes upon the mouth of the River Saccuto Then
The City standeth in an Island like unto a ship having bridges to pass over into the Continent here the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is very violent on the other side with a ditch made by mens labours is joyned the little sea with the great the which ditch is able to receive a gally where at this present is the City esteemed one of the strongest Forts of the Kingdom where was the first Fortress which Fardinando of Aragon King of Naples repaired Of this Country there is no more to be said then that which Horace saith Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes angulus ridet Coasting from hence is Cesaria a place ruinated by those of Gallipoli with the lower sea full of great skuls of fishes not very far is Gallipoli a City very fair and populous which Pliny calleth Anza but Pomponius Mela nameth it Gallipolis the said City was built by the Greeks which being afterward droven out by the Gauls called it Gallipoli The said City is situate in a narrow piece of Land running into the Sea in the fashion of a Frying-pan in whose utmost part is that most impregnable City both for the situation the Wall and the Castle because the steep and craggy Rocks rampire it where in the Wars between the Aragonesi and the French defended it self in the behalf of Aragon with great commendation That excellent Philosopher Iohn Baptista Crispo hath much ennobled this City who hath writ 23 books De Ethnicis philosophis caute legendis and three others de Animarum statu ex hac vita migrantium Departing from thence is Vgento and the Cape of Luca called in old time the Promonto y of Iapigio and in this place was the famous Temple of Minerva where was kept the Arms and the Chain of Diomedes this cape is now called the cape of Santa Maria in the end of the country so named at this present by the sumptuous church here builded in honour of the glorious mother of our Lord called of the Ancients Promontorium Iapigium and of Pliny Ara Iapigia This cape riseth out as a front or brow of Lacinio compassing on both sides the gulf of Taranto Then followeth Castro a place to be noted for the ruines it sustained by the Turks in the time that Soloman attempted the enterprise of Italy Not far from thence is the cape and the famous City of Otranto here Acomat Bascia first mustered his souldiers in Italy having destroyed this City according to the manner of Mahomet 2. his Prince he made new fortifications in the city whereupon were afterward made by our ancestors so many fortresses through all Europe that they seemed invincible And this city is so near to Greece that it is scant distant 50 miles and therefore in this place I think first Pirrhus and after M. Varro purposed to joyn Italy with Greece by a bridg of ships Here also begins the Adriatick Gulf which is divided from the Ionian sea as it were by a line or path although many say it hath its beginning from the Mount St. Angelo or rather according to some from Ancona This great gulf had its name from the city of Adria the which lying crooked as it were a horn more then any other gulf of the Mediterrane even to Tieste separating Italy from Sclavonia being on the right side full of Havens and having very few on the left and oftentimes so tempestuous whereupon grew this Proverb amond the Ancients Adria furiosior it is now called the gulf of Venice that famous City giving the name by a Ring of Gold which the Duke casteth in on the Ascention day the Popes Legat being present And continuing this course are to he seen near the Lake of Liminiti certain ruins which declare the greatness of the Emperor Adrian After comes the Haven of St. Cataldo and Brindesi which was sometimes one of the chiefest cities in Italy for all the shipping from the East arived here and now through discord and dissention it is half desart And therefore the aire is very unwholsome a thing which hapneth to all great cities why the air is no better is the want of inhabitants because they dry up the moist and moorish places with their tillage and cut down the woods that are too thick and with fire purge the ill air and with high buildings have that which is good so contrarily there is nothing worse then the solitude of great cities because not only they are deprived of the abovesaid helps but of the houses themselves and their ruine is the receptacle of corruption which appeared in Aquileia Rome Ravenna Alexandria in Egipt and also Bagdel For the which cause the Greeks did not too excessively inlarge their cities Plato would not that his should exceed five thousand Families Aristotle that all his people at one instant might hear the voice of the Crier The Haven of Brindesi is like to the head of a hart whose horns compass the city within it because it is divided in two it is barred up with a chain the outward part is guarded by two rocks and an Island the mouth of it is very deep but in the Wars between K. Alfonsus and the Venetians a ship sunk to the bottom which choked it in such manner that hardly a Gally can pass Here we incounter two Vallies digged by hand which brings in the sea on the right hand and the left side of the city lieth in such sort that it makes almost an Island It hath two fortresses one within the two horns built by the Emperor Frederick the second of square stone very beautifully built the other in the â—sle of St. Andrea At the mouth of the outward haven built by King Alfonsus of Aragon Strabo cals this city Brundusium and others write that it was builded by the Etoli and afterward inhabited by the Cretesi which came with Theseus and Gnoso and at last it was a colony of the Romans and in old time was of so great power that L. Floro saith it was the head of the Salentini M Pacuvio the Tragical Poet the nephew of Ennius on whose Tomb saith A. Gellio was ingraven this Epitaph Adolescens temetsi properas hoc te saxum rogat Vt se aspicias deinde quod scriptum est legas Hic sunt poetae Pacuvii Marsi sita Ossa hoc volebam nescius ne esses vale There lieth with great reverence in the principal church thereof the bodies of St. Theodoro and Pelino Martyrs and there is to be seen all the whole tongue of St. Ierome The noble Families that are in this city are these following Balzo Bove Caracciolo Catignano Cuggio d' Eredia Fornaro Pando Pascale Pizzica Ramondo Scomafora Sasso Tomasino Villanova Vacchedani and others Between Brindesi and Otranto every place is full of Olives but from Brindesi to Ostuni for the space of 24 miles there is nothing but bushes and woods Brindesi is distant from Rome 360 miles
and from Durazzo 220. On the Mediterrane lieth in a corner of the River Bradano Matera the which some say should be Acheronitia Matera is distant from Gravina twelve miles and is very famous for the strangeness of the situation thereof and for the multitude of people and in it is a Mine of Boalarmonack which is of excellent nature to heal a wound and the bloudy flux and the biting of venomous creatures and moreover there is a Mine of Saltpeter Eustachio said to be of Materea was a citizen thereof a Phisician which in verse writ of the vertue of the Baths of Pozzuolo and also M. Vito of Matera a very learned man of the Order of St· Dominick was a citizen thereof as the Chronicle of the Order of Preachers makes mention saying Nec defuit Italia dare nobis fratrem vitum de Matera sydus atque alterum longe clarius Following that way we come to Motola Misagne and Otra which hath the title of a Marquiss and a little farther appears the ruines of Baleso but without that famous fountain being either lost or otherwise having changed its course Afterward is to be seen Leccie where resides the Councel of State and the Nobility of the Province which hath such a residence such buildings and the precinct of such a country and so great civility that it seems as a little Naples Carlo Sigonio cals this city Aletium and others Licium which as some write was built by Idomeneo a Greek Captain of the Cretian souldiers and called it Litio of his own country Others say that it was not Idomeneo but Malennio King of the Salentini that built it but howsoever it is not to be doubted but it is ancient Afterward it increased in people by the ruine of Lupia and of Rudia the natural place of the Poet Ennius which as Cicero writeth upon his Tomb were ingraven these verses Aspicite O cives senis Ennii imaginis urnam Hic vestrum panxit maxima facta patrum Nemo me Lacrimis decoret nec funera fletu Faxit cur volito viva per ora virum This City hath an excellent fruitfull Territory with pleasant Gardens and about it is a Grove of Olive trees of forty miles which yields a very fair prospect Within the said city besides many goodly churches there are also 13 convents of Friers 8 of Munks and two honourable and worthy Hospitals The citizens thereof are generally given to Arms and Learning and all apparel themselves very costly This city hath brought forth among others excellent men of War as Leonardo Prato Knight of Ierusalem Bailief of Venosa which as Bembo writeth was one of the best Captains of his time and in the enterprise of the Rodes kild in a single combat a Turkish Giant which very often had overcome valiant Christian Captains he being very expert in the Wars served the Commonwealth of Venice with such general applause that after his death the said Commonwealth erected a Statue of Marble which at this present is to be seen in the Church of St. Iohn and Paul with this subscription Leornardum Pratum militem fortissimum ex provocatione semper victorem Praefectum Ferdinandi junioris Frederici Regum Neap. ob virtutem terrestribus navalibusque preliis foelicissimum magnis clarissimisque rebus pro veneta Republica gestis pugnantem ab hoste cesum Leonardus Loredanus Princeps amplissimus ordo Senatorius prudentiae a◠sortitudinis ergo statua haec aequestri donandum censuit Scipio Ammirato an excellent Historian liveth at this present with much honour to this city which for his rare qualities is much esteemed by the Duke of Tuscan Going a little forward through this pleasant and delightfull country is situate upon a hill the City Ogento by Ptolomeo called Vxentum which hath the title of a Count subject to the house of Orsina and walking certain miles appeareth the fair country of St. Pietro in Galatina the natural country of Marc. Antonio Zimara and of Theophilus his son an excellent Philosopher Departing from thence and walking a mile appeareth Soleto called by Pliny Soletum of which place was Matteo called of Soleto the famous Nigromant Hard by is the worthy country of Galatena to the which Antonio called the Galatean hath given great honour a Philosopher Orator Poet and an excellent Cosmographer whose Works are well known he was dearly esteemed of King Fardinando of Aragon and of King Frederick from whom he obtained many bountifull gifts he departed this life with much honour in the year of our Lord 1509. in the city of Lecce on whose Tomb remaineth this Epitaph Qui novit medicas artes sydera coeli Hac Galateus humo conditus ille jacet Qui coelum terramque animo concepit Olympum Cernite mortales quam brevis urna tegit The fields of this country are fruitfull and yield all sorts of corn wine and oyle the Marquiss thereof is Cosmo Pinelli the son of Galeazzo Duke of Acerenza a Lord warthily qualified very vertuous and kind and as he hath an honourable presence and a Princely port loves not only Arms but Learning also wherein is added further perfection in the full felicity of a flowing wit graciously to express his noble and high magnanimity whereby he doth not a jot degenerate from his worthy progenitors Walking along we may discover certain small Villages and Castles here and there near these places which being of no great importance I think best to omit Going from Galatena six miles appeareth Paravita and Nardo a city very fair and ancient which Ptolomy calleth Neritum where is often seen in the air the southwind blowing as it were in a glass the likeness of those things which are round about the common people that knows not the reason or cause thereof imputeth it to a diabolical illusion whereas the reason is the disposition of the place and the quality of the air which is made thick through the superfluous and excessive humidity opposite unto it hard by are to be seen the ruines of Veste where not long since were discovered certain Epitaphs of the ancient Letters of Messapie Afterward we come to Casalnuovo edified by the ruines of the ancient Mandurio which hath a very fruitfull Territory But coming now to an end of this Province it remaineth that we declare something of the Inhabitants the which generally are very strong and of a comely constitution simple in behaviour and more neat then those that dwell near unto them their proper language seems to be divers for some speak with the pallat others with the pallat and the brest and in all appears a strong and ingenious wit and in their apparel very decent and comely They apply themselves much to Arms and those that are exercised in Learning prove very excellent Whereupon I do believe that which a wiseman feigned that here Mars and Minerva should incounter only for that it seemeth that the most
we purposed to speak we will at this time omit The said City hath brought forth many excellent men and famous as well in Arms as in Learning as Ansalda of Aquila General of the Army of William the evil King of Naples and Sicilia Antonuccio Camponesco General of King Ladislao and Captain of the Venetians and was afterward by Pope Eugenio the fourth created General of the holy Church Minicuccio Vgolino Captain of King Alfonsus of Aragon Guelfallione Fonticulano was General of the Perusini against Braccio and took in battel Nicolo Piccinino and to his great honour defended Padova from the fury of the Venetians Geronimo Gaglioffa was a Colonel of Charls the eight King of France and Master of the Camp of King Lewis the twelfth in the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples Francesco Rustico was Captain of the Crossbow-horsmen of King Ferdinando the second In Learning there have been very famous men as Pietro called Scotello of Aquila a religious Frier of the Order of St. Francis which learnedly writ upon the four books of the Master of Sentences Iohn Aquilano a Frier also of the Order of Saint Francis a famous Preacher of his time he composed a book which he entituled Vitiâ—rum lima Francesco Vivio a most famous Lawyer who now liveth and hath lately publisht the Forest of divers opinions and hath done many things besides and of the decisions of the Kingdom of the Audience of the Country of Bary where he was the Kings Auditor whose works are very profitable to the professors of the Law Giovanni Crispo called de Monte writ three books of Law one de Gradibus the other de Haered qui ab intest de and the last de actionibus Gioseppo Rustici a Doctor of great account which is now a Counceller of the great Duke of Tuscane hath written and published a Treatise An quando liberi in conditione positi vocentur and very shortly he is to publish another discourse De utraque conditione si sine liberis decesserit ad L. cum avus F. de cond demonst Iacopo Carli a learned Doctor hath written in Law a book entituled Gemmatus Pavo in quo juris canonici civilis materiae tanguntur Alexander Trentacinque a most noble and renowned Doctor of Law writ de Substitutionibus with other subtile and witty advisements Iohn Aquilano a famous Phisician writ a discourse de sanguinis missione in pluritide Bernardino Cerillo writ the Annals of the City of Aquila his natural Country and the History of his time Serifino Aquilano was the mirror of his time for Poetry whose Works are well known over whose Sepulchre Aretino caused these Verses to be ingraven Qui giace Serafin Partirti hor puoi Sol d' haver visto il sasso che lo serra Assai sei debitore a gli occhi tuoi Here lieth Serafin depart in peace Enough thou art indebted to thy eyes To have seen the stone under which he lies Sebastian Aquilano a Phisician hath published a discourse de Morbo Gallico and another de febre sanguinis Cesar Campana which now abideth at Vicenza hath writ with an eloquent stile in the vulgar tongue the History of the World Iohn Angelo Contecelli hath published a discourse de differentiis febrium and another de Sanguinis missione Blasio Pico a Phisician hath writ the contemplative Grammer Angelo Fonticulano a worthy Historian writ very eloquently in the Latin tongue the Wars of Braccio of Montone with the Aquilani There remain many other noble and learned men which have much ennobled this City as I have understood but because I have no true information thereof I think it not amiss to omit them The Territory of this City brings forth besides other things great abundance of Saffron which as the Aquilani themselves affirm there is made thereof every year more then â—0000 crowns Above Aquila in the Apennine under the River of Pescara is Monte Reale called in old time Monte Pireo but inlarged and beautified by King Charls the second of Angio abandoning the first name it is a city very fair civil and rich compassed round about with a very strong Wal here with great reverence lieth in the church of St. Mary of Piano the body of Saint Dâ—minick of whom the Chronicle of St. Francis maketh mention and in the church of St. Augustine is to be seen the body of St. Andrew which in token of his holy life it pleaseth God as they say to shew many miracles There now liveth with much honour to this country Peâ—tio Pompeo and Iohn Circii all three Doctors of Law and great learned men of whom there is much commendation by Vivio in the Forest of common opinions The Territory of this country is very fertile for the spacious vallies and pleasant hils yield grain wine fitches beans slax hemp and other fruits A little distant from the said country is the River Pescara and at the mouth thereof on the left side is the city called Pescara named by Plâ—â—y and Ptolomy Aterno a most ancient city which they also so called the said River which according to the common opinion was held the swiftest and coldâ—st of all the Rivers in Italy The said country is honoured with the dignity of a Marquisat subject to the house of Avolo Somewhat higher in Pescara runs another River called Alba and into Alba cometh two little streams which flow from the Mount Maiella between the which is Manopello and a little higher on the side of Maiella is the Fort of Molise and underneaâ—h is Cosano and upon the bank of Pescara is Torre a little country and on the side of the River Pescara is Lucolo a populous country and not very faâ— is Caramanico a very good country and hard by lieth Cantalupo in whose Territory riseth under a Hill a quick spring of Petronical Oyl Near the bank of Pescara is the country of Tocco which hath an excellent Territory whâ—re is made the best Oyl in all Abruzzo and the purest Wine and four mile 〈◊〉 Popoli a most noble and populous country which hath the title of a Dukedom it is very strong every way partly by the Rivers which cannot be past as a plâ—sh of water and also by the Forts which guard it as a Wall And going certain miles we come to Tagliacozzo a country well inhabited and very rich but not very ancient it hath the title of a Dukedom governed by the Family Colonna But we are now come to the country of the Marsi destroyed long since by Hannibal with all the other people round about in this country was a city called Valeria the natural country of Pope Boniface the fourth who obtained of the Emperor Phocas the Temple Pantheon in Rome dedicated to all the gods of the Genâ—iles which he dedicated to all the Saints This city in the time of the Longobards had the name of Marsi changed into Valeria Pliny saith that Marsi was a city
river Lofanto on the South the Apennine with the Irpini and Sanniti on the West the Ferentani and Carraceni with the river Frontone and on the North the Adriatick or Ionian Sea Iohn Pontano in his second book of Histories handling many things saith that in the time of the first Normans and afterward the Greeks this Province was called Catapaniata because those that were sent to rule here by the Emperors of Constantinople were called in the Greek tongue Catapini and that afterward by corruption of the word it was called the Province of Capitanata and those that governed it Capitani The words of Pontano are these Apuliae pars ea que ab â—rentone flumine hodie Fortorium est ab Aufidi ripas sua nunc appellatione est Capitanata quae Normanorum prius ac Graecorum temporibus fuerat Catapaniata quòd qui ejus moderatione esset ab Imperatore Constantinopolitano praepositus diceretur Graeco nomine Catapanus quae vox contractis atque immutatis literis recentioribus versa est in Capitanatam quique Catapanus fuerat in Capitinium Quae verò Calabriae pars olim fuit in qua Tarentum Brundusium ac Salentinorum maritima est ora ea ab Hydrunto oppido ad quod est ab Macedonia Epiroque quam brevissima ad navigatio Hydruntina hodie terra dicitur At qui est ab Auâ—ido tractus ad Calabriae hoc est Hydruntinae fines terrae quo intractu sunt ad mare posita Barolum Tranum Vigilae Melficta Iuvenatium Barum Polygnanum Monopolis ab urbe Baro quae caput olim regionis fuit Barensis vocitata est terra regiorum quaestorum constitutione ac jussu Post eam montana loca quaeque olim fuere illinc Lucaniae hinc Apuliae iisdem illis temporibus vocari coepta Basilicata Quae appellatio unde potissimum ducta sit jure anceps est ac dubium Sunt enim qui existiment haud satis tamen certis auctoribus Constantinopolitano olim ab Imperatore regionem eam filiae ac genero traditam dotis nomine veri autem aliis videtur esse similius à Basilio quodam fortissimo viro dictam qui per illa tempora loca ea tenuerit deque regione ipsa tractumque omni Salentino Graecos industria sua pepulerit atque Poenos c. This Province as is said was in old time called Iapygia of Iapyge the son of Dedalus as Herodotus affirmeth but as Servio saith upon this verse of Virgil Victor Gargani condebat Iapygiis agris He saith that Iapygia was a part of Puglia wherein standeth the Hill Gargano which reacheth even to the Adriatick Sea It was also called Mesapia of the people Mesapii which inhabited in a part thereof although others say that it was so named of King Mesapo the son of Neptune Being afterward possest by Dauno the son of Pilumno and of King Danae the Grandsire of King Turnus all that country was called Daunia After him Diomedes coming with a great number of the people Etoli there to inhabit he divided the country between himself and Diomedes Afterward it was named Apulia of Apulo a most ancient King of these places which came hither to inhabit a long time before the Wars of Troy Ptolomy divideth Puglia the one part from Tiâ—erno to the city of Bary called Daunia and from thence unto the Salentini which are the people of the couâ—try of Otronto called Peucetia Puglia came to the knowledg of the Romans rather through Wars then friendship for as Livy writeth with the rebellion of the Sannites the Romans had also Puglia their enemy whose Territory was laid waste and spoiled by them and at sundry times after as it appears in Livy came into the power of the Romans All this region was from the beginning in great prosperity but Hannibal and other Wars that succeeded him destroyed it and left it desolate the which Strabo confirms in his sixth book when writing thereof he saith Priori tempore universae hujus terrae secunda fortuna florebat postea vero Annibal sequentia bella desertam illam reddiderunt This most fruitfull Province bringeth forth great store of wheat barley and other corn and more plentifull then any other part of Italy although many fields are reserved for the pasture of sundry flocks of sheep which are brought from Abruzzo The earth or soil although it be sandy and light and the grass which grows thereon be small and slender it is nevertheless very fruitfull and storeth Naples Slavonia Venice and Tuscane with plenty of flesh This region indureth much water whereupon the Poet Horace saith that Apulia is full of silk and in some places it wanteth trees the air is temperate but in the summer season it is so much 〈◊〉 â—ith heat that it is not only hurtfull to strangers but even to the natural 〈◊〉 of the country All this region is very plentifull of every thing both horses and excellent sheep the wool is softer then that of Taranto but not so fine the hony there is much commended the vallies which lie by the plains makes it a very pleasant country whereby all the Province is much inhabited so that it hath in all ten cities and 52 towns and castles the cities are St. Angelo Manfredonia Siponto Lesina Vieste Ascoli Bovino Volturara Teâ—mole Troia This Province containeth the Hill Gargano with the appurtenances thereof which stretching out as it were an arm of the Apennine towards the Adriatick Sea compasseth in the lowest descent thereof which ends in the plain â—00 miles where appears all the riâ—hes of Puglia with plenty of water it is also very well garnished and also richly furnished with trees and phisical herbs for the which there repairs from far countries iâ—finite Herbalists and Simplisâ—â— whereupon it seemâ— that nature hath indued it with so great perfection 〈◊〉 â—or the pâ—eâ—â—denâ—e and pâ—imaâ—y with all the other Hils of the Orient Diomedes purposed to make the said Hill an Island because the Istmus thereof is no more then two miles broad but this and other works he undertook were left imperfect because he returned home to his own house where he ended his life although some write that he remained here during his life Others feigning report that he vanished into the Isle of Diomedes and that his companions were transformed into fowls In this Country is bred the Tarantola whose venom as is before declared is cured with sounds and singing Here also breeds the Chersidri or the Cavalette which the country people call Brucoli which being dispersed here and there do feed and wholly devour all the fields with infinite hurt and spoil In the top of the said hill is the famous and noble city of St. Angelo from the which at this present for the most part the hill is so called for the Archangel St. Michael which appeared there where is to be seen the most devout and honourable Cave and holy Temple
would amount to the sum of three Adogoes but yet not by way of an Adogo but as a free donative according to the taxation which at this present is to be seen in the Royal Chamber of the Summaria and the remainder was appointed that the people Cities Countries and Castles of the kingdom should pay Of which donative fifty thousand duckets were levied in a year and the Barons payed thereof one Adogo but for the contribution of the million which was agreed to be paid in five years the two Adogos were not paid and the people discharged the rest The Emperor seeing the great affection which the kingdom did bear unto him purposing in some measure to remunerate their good will towards him granted both to the Kingdom and Cities many priviledges In the year 1538. and the 27 day of March according to the accustomed order was held a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that there should be given to the Emperor a donative of 360 thousand duckets and that of it the Barons should pay so much as did amount to the quantity of half an Adogo not by way of an Adogo but as a simple donative and the remainder to the complement of the said sum the people should pay The which donative was levied and paid in five thirds and the City of Naples was exempted and the Lands of the venerable Church and Hospital of the Annuntiation In the year 1539. the 15 of March was held a publick Parlament according to the accustomed manner in St. Laurence and was concluded that in regard of the Occurrences which the Emperor had to pay his Army should be given him a donative of 260 thousand duckets with condition that the Barons part should be so much as would amount to half an Adogo not by the way of an Adogo but as a free donative and the rest the people Cities Countries and Castles of the Kingdom should pay The said donative was received in three thirds and payd In the year 1540. the 27 of November was held according to the usual manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was agreed that it were requisite to sustain and succour the great necessity and charge which the King was at for the defence and security of the kingdom but the kingdom being greatly exhausted there should be given a donative of the quarter of an Adogo but not by way of an Adogo but as a simple donative and the Cities Countries and Castles should pay 16 grains for a Family In the year 1541. the 29 of Iuly was held according unto the accustomed manner a publick Parliament in St. Laurence wherein seeing the necessity of the King and the great preparation of the Turk to invade the Kingdom to the end souldiers may be entertained and also to fortifie and provide that the Cities and Countries may be able to resist the said invasion it was concluded that there should be given a donative to the Emperor of 800 thousand duckets of which the Barons paid an Adogo and a half yet not as an Adogo but as a simple and free donative and the remnant the people of the Kingdom paid In the year 1543 was held according to the accustomed order a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was agreed that a donative should be given to the Emperor of a hundred and fifty thousand duckets and fifty thousand more to make the compleat sum of 200 thousand and it was ordained that it should be given by reason of the want of money In the year 1545. was held according to the usual manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was decreed that to the Emperor should be given a donative of 600 thousand duckets to pay the Spanish Footmen the repairing of the Streets and Lakes In the year 1546. was held according to the accustomed order a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was concluded that to his Catholick Majesty should be given a donative of 240 thousand Duckets In the year 1548. was held according to the ordinary manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was decreed that for the marriage of the Lady Mary of Austria the Emperours daughter should be imposed five carlins on a Family the which sum importeth a hundred and fifty thousand duckets In the year 1549. was held according to the accustomed manner in St. Laurence a publick Parlament wherein was decreed that there should be given to his Majesty a donative of 600 thousand duckets of which donative the Barons paid 200 thousand duckets and the rest the people of the Kingdom In the year 1552. was held according to the wonted manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was concluded that there should be given unto his Majesty a donative of 800 thousand duckets and 22 thousand duckets was granted which was given unto the Viceroy because he was a great favourer of the Kingdom with his Majesty In the year 1553. was held according to the accustomed manner a general publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was decreed that there should be given to his Majesty a donative of 30 thousand duckets In the year 1554. was held according to the accustomed order a general publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that there should be given to his Majesty for the payment of his Army 30 thousand duckets In the year 1555. was held according to the wonted manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that there should be given to his Majesty a hundred and six and fifty thousand duckets to pay the Companies In the year 1556. was held according to the accustomed manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that there should be given to his Majesty 400000 duckets The which sum of money was devided in this manner that is to say the City of Naples should pay 1000 duckets and the Barons 225000 duckets and the rest the people should pay In the year 1557. was held according to the usual manner a general publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that for the great necessity which his Majesty had to pay the Spanish Footmen and the Dutch Companies there was granted unto him a hundred thousand duckets and this payment was devided between the Barons and the people of the Kingdom In the year 1558. was held a general Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that there should be given to the King a million of gold and 25 thousand duckets to the Viceroy of the Kingdom and besides nine thousand and two hundred duckets to Signor Marc. Antonio Colonna the which donatives were paid by the Barons and the people of the Kingdom In the year 1560. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that to the Kings Majesty should be given a million and 200 thousand duckets and to the excellency of the Viceroy of the Kingdom 27 thousand and five hundred duckets the which sum of money the Barons and people of the Kingdom paid In
to whom not onely descended as supream Lord the Dukedom of Angio but also of all Provence Ferdinando having afterward intelligence that Charls the 8. King of France made preparation with a mighty Army to recover the Kingdom of Naples by the right of the Angioini who by the death of King Lewis his father was interessed therein began to make provision of men and being very carefull in the preparation of the war growing sick died the 25 of Ianuary in the year 1494. having reigned 35 years 5 moneths and 25 days Alfonsus 2. the 19 King of Naples ALfonsus the second of this name after the death of Ferdinand his Father obtained the kingdom and in the beginning of the fourth moneth was crowned in the Cathedrall Church of Naples by Iohn Borgia Cardinall of Montereale Legate of Pope Alexander the sixth with greater pomp and majesty then was ever used to any King of Naples But understanding that Charls the 8. K. of France gave order for the pretended war fearing because he was become odious to the people of the Kingdom through his austerity resigned the Kingdom to Ferdinando his son Duke of Calauria a young man much differing from him in nature which every one loved and retired himself into the countrey of Mazara in Sicilia being before time given unto him by Don Ferdinando the Catholique King of Spain where he spent the remainder of his life having reigned one year and three days FRANCES I. Charls the fourth the twentieth King of Naples CHarles de Valois the eighth of this name King of France and fourth of the same name King of Naples came in the beginning of Ianuary 1495. to Rome with a mighty Army Pope Alexander full of incredible fear and anguish fled into the Castle of St. Angelo But the King having no purpose to offend the Pope met with him and concluded friendship and a perpetuall confederacy for the common safety defence Charls was invested conditionally by the Pope of the kingdom of Naples and obtained also from the said Pope Zizimo Gemni Ottomanâ— the brother of Bajazeth Emperour of the Turks After Charls had reâ—â—â—ined a moneth in Rome he past into the kingdom and although some small resistance was made by Ferdinando at length he got the dominion of the whole kingom Ferdinando after that the Câ—stles of Naples were yeelded departed with fourteen Gallies ill â—rmed into Sicilia Charls after he had pacified the kingdom demanded of the Pope the â—ree installment of the Realm of Naples the which although it were at Rome granted him yet it could not be thought sit in respect of the Aragonâ—si whereupon the Pope refused to give it him Charls afterward being departed to return into France many of the Barons rebelled through the severity and cruell demeanor of the Frenchmâ—n Whereupon Ferdinando was recalled who chased away the adversaries Charls reigned ten moneths and 26 days he died a sudden death the â—ight before the 8 of Aprill in the year of our Lord 1497. being returned fâ—om playing at Tennis He was buried in the Church of St. Denis of Paris in France and on his Tomb this Epitaph was engraven Hic Octave jaces Franâ—orum Carole 〈◊〉 Cui victa est forti Britâ—nis 〈…〉 Parthenopâ— illustrem tribuit captiâ—a tâ—â—iumphuâ— Claraque Fornovio pugâ—â—â— peraâ—â—a solâ— Caepit Henricus regno depulsus ajuto Bellare auspiciâ—s sceptra Britanâ—â— tuis O plures longinqua dies si futa dâ—â—issent Te nullus toto major in orbe foret ARAGONES I. Ferdinando the second the â—1 King of Naples FErdinando the second of this name a valiant man endued with Princely qualities of liberality and Clemency who for to strengthen and corroborate his affairs with a more firm conjunction with Ferdinando the Catholique King of Spain took for his wife with the Popes dispensation Ioan his Aunt born of of Ferdinando his Grandsire and Ioan the sister of the aforesaid King and at the same time had of Pope Alexander the sixth the instalment of the kingdom And being placed in great glory fell sick and died the 8. of October in the 1496. He reigned one year 8 moneths and 14 days Frederick the 22 King of Naples FRederick Prince of Taranto the son of Ferdinando the first by the death of his Nephew succeeded in the kingdom in the year 1497. obtained of Pope Alexander the sixth the instalment of the kingdom And being much troubled with continuall war because Charls the 8. King of France died without leaving any children the kingdom fell to Lewis Duke of Orleans as the neerest in blood by the masculine line and was the twelfth of this name This Lewis came upon him with a mighty Army but Ferdinando the Catholique King being confederate with Lewis to his own prejudice for a displeasure conceived against Frederick yet conditionally that Lewis should divide the kingdom with him Frederick that was not able to make head or resist the puisance of so great forces united against him especially finding his kingdom exhaust and ill provided retired into the Isle Ischia neer to Naples with all his Family and afterward gave his kingdom wholly into the possession of King Lewis his enemy not bequeathing any thing to the Catholique King Ferdinando reputing himself to be ill dealt withall by him that in stead of a friend and defender he was come to the contrary to dispossess and deprive him of his kingdom Frederick was very courteously received by Lewis and he assigned unto him the Dukedom of Angio and so much revenue as amounted yearly to thirty thousand Crowns and the French King obtained in recompencee from King Frederick all the right and interest which he had in the kingdom Within a little time following Frederick fell sick at Torse in France where his pain increasing upon him died the ninth of September in the year 1504. He had to his wife being Prince of Taranto the Lady N. della valle Bertania of the worthy Family of Alibret blood in Gasconie the kinswoman of the father of Charls the eighth King of France by whom he had one onely daughter called the Lady Carlotta which was brought up in the French Court and afterward succeeded in her mothers inheritance Of his second wife Isabella the onely daughter of Pirro del Balzo Prince of Altamura and Duke of Andry he had six children that is to say three male and three female the male children were Don Ferdinando Duke of Calauria and Prince of Taranto Don Cesar and Don Alfonsus the which two last died in their Fathers time The women kind the first named the Lady Iulia was married in the year 1533. to Giorgio Paleologo Duke of Montferrato and Marquis of Sanluzo of the noble blood of the Emperours of Constantinople The Lady Isabella and the Lady Caterina were never married The Queen Isabella after the death of King Frederick seeing herself deprived of all humane comfort because that being discharged of that kingdom by the King of France by reason
Emperour by the death of Don Carlo de Lannoi sent for his Viceroy into Naples Don Hugo Moncada a man very expert in Arms and a valiant Captain in the which year Monsignor Odetto Fois Lotrecco went with thirty thousand Footmen and six thousand Horsmen into the kingdom of Naples in the name of King Frances and overcame Melfi Venosa and many other places in Basilicata and Apulia and with the success of victory besieged Naples the which siege continuing certain moneths in the mean time Andrea d'Oria sent the Count Philip d'Oria his Nephew with eight Gallies to annoy the Gulf of Naples wherewith Moncada being much discontented seeking to remedy the same he caused to arm six Gallies and two Foists which were within the Haven and putting therein the very flower and principall of the people that were in the Citie he in his own person with the Marquis of Vasto Ascanio Colonna great Constable Cesare Ferramosca and many other worthy men with a resolution to encounter the enemy and confidently to overcome were imbarked there The Count which suddenly perceived the Imperiall Gallies to go forth of the Haven retired himself presently to the sea and encountring together at the Cape of Orso the Imperiall Forces were overcome and there dying with many others Don Vgo and were taken prisoners the Marquiss Vasto and Colonna the great Constable with other worthy men The Count obtaining the victory presently victoriously went to Genoway to find the Admirall Andrea his Uncle who disdaining the dealing of the French King because he had taken from him the office of the Admiralty and Generall of the Sea and given it to Monsignor Barbigios he agreed by the means of Vasto with the Emperour and brought Genoway and Savona under his Crown Whereupon he went with all expedition into the kingdom in the behalf of the Emperour and discharged the French Army which lay at the siege of Naples Afterward Charls made peace with the French King and gave him for wife the Lady Elinora and the King forsook Barletta and that which he held in the kingdom of Naples and payed to the Emperour for a fine one million and two hundred thousand crowns and yeilded up unto him all the right and possession that he held in the Dukedom of Millane and the kingdome of Naples The Emperour having ended his peace went by Sea to Genoway from thence he past to Bolonia where in the moneth of February 1530. was by Pope Clement the seventh which was come thither with his whole Court to that effect and was solemnly crowned with the Imperiall Crown Afterward the Emperour departed from Bolonia went into Germany and what he afterward did there is written in Histories In the year 1535. Charls having made a voyage to Tunis there subdued Mâ—leasson the lawfull King of the Moores and made him his Feudary with certain conditions went into Sicilia From whence afterward he departing came to Naples the 23 of November in the same year and entred in in triumphant manner where were made him by the Citie many triumphant Arks and huge Colosses with divers and learned Inventions Charls remained with great delight in feasting and tilting all that Winter in Naples where understanding that the French King was entred into Italy with his Army and not knowing to what end and purpose was much moved and displeased with him went to Rome and so proceeded in his journie But at length the Emperour becoming a mortified man and growing into contempt of the world being unwiliing to sustain any longer the heavy burthen of the Empire wisely determined to renounce it And to that end having caused all the Knights of the order of the Golden Fleece to assemble at Brussels and all the States of the Low Countries the first thing he did the 25 of October in the year 1555. he made King Philip his son head of the Knights of the Golden Fleece and after dinner solemnly resigned unto him all Flanders with the other States and Titles and right of Burgony descending unto him from his predecessors Not long after the Emperour continuing his determination resigned and renounced in like manner in Brussels to the forenamed King Philip the kingdom of Spain Sicilia Majorica Minorica with the new Countries called America and the new world reserving onely certain rents and revenues to sustain himself and his family reduced to a small number of servants His Majesty also giving not onely full and absolute power to the King of the Romans his brother to govern and rule as some write the Empire in his place but also freely resigned the Title the Scepter and Imperiall Dignity So Cesar voluntarily deprived himself of his Monarchy a thing truly worthy of consideration that from the Emperour Lotharius till this present never in so many ages chanced the like although Amurath the great Turk resigned the Empire of Constantinople to Mahumeâ— his son In September 1556 Charls departed from Brussels with a great Fleet towards Spain carrying with him Queen Elinor and Queen Mary his sisters and so sailing with fair weather and a prosperous wind they soon arrived in safety Charls constantly persevering in his purpose retired himself to the Monastery of of St. Iusto neer to the village called Sciarandiglia eight leagues from the Citie of Piacenza in the Realm of Castile where living godly and with great devotion he ended his dayes the 21 of September in the year 1558 being of the age of 58 years having ruled even to the time of his renunciation 37 years 2 moneths and 3 dayes the Empire and 37 years and 8 moneths the kingdom of Naples which he resigned to his son Philip. He was married as is before declared to Isabella of Portugall the sister of Iohn King of Portugall by whom he had the Catholique King Philip and two daughters the one called the Lady Mary which with the Popes dispensation was married to Maximilian King of Bohemia the son of the Emperour Ferdinando his brother The other called the Lady Ione was espoused to Iohn the King of Portugals son He had children by another naturall means as Don Iohn and Margarita which was first married to Alexander de Medici Duke of Florence and afterward to Octavio Fernese Prince of Parma and Piacenza Upon the Supulcher of this invincible Emperour are engraven these two Epitaphs 1. LIquisti exuvias gelido sub marmore sed non Quantum eras Caesar marmor urna capit Pro tumulo ponas orbem pro tegmine coelum Pro facibus stellas pro Imperio Empireon 2. Non aurum non marmor erunt non gemma sed omnis Carole terra tui corporis urna decens Conteget immensum quantum patet undique coelum Sol tibi funerea pro face lumine erit Proque tua memori fama pro nomine stabit Aeternum tempus quod tua facta notet Natura effundat lachrymas elementa gemiscent Persitient
being leaning over a Balcone four resolute Gentlemen came to find him out and seeing him in so good a posture dischargd four severall Muskets at him so he presently fell crying Ah ingratefull Traytors and so fell hereupon a Butcher chopd off his head which being put upon a Lance they carried up and down the street the grosse of the common people were so daunted hereat that they lost their former Spirits and went all skulking away nor did any dare to do any outrage to those who killd their Captain-generall So his body was draggd up and down the Gutters and afterwards hurld into a Ditch Therupon all the Nobility Gentry and Officers got a horsback and went to the Castle to congratulat the Vice-roy for the riddance of this popular Tyrant An hower after the Vice-roy shewd himself and came down from the Castle in a stately Cavalcata to the great Church where solemn thanks were given and the head of Saint Germaro the chief Protector of Naples was taken out and put upon the high Altar where extraordinary Jubiles were sung for the quietness re-obtained by the death of so base a Rebell who by the secret judgments of God had spilt so much blood consumd so many Palaces reducd to ashes so much Wealth and made himself so formidable that he terrified both Town and Country yet a fatall Instrument of the indignation of Heaven being offended with the sins of that luxurious Citty who as somtimes he punishd the Egyptians with small contemptible Creatures as flyes Lice and Frogs so he chastizd the Napolitans by so despicable a person From the great Church the Vice-roy rid to the Market-place where there ecchoed in the air this note Let the King live let the Vice-roy live and let Filomarini live the Restorer of his Countries peace It is reported and printed that a little before Masanellos death San Germaro was seen over the great Church with a Sword in his hand and many persons were examind upon oath about that Vision besides a bright Star was seen which presaged peace and happiness Thus finishd the life and Raign of Masanello having prognosticated it himself som dayes before when going up the Market-place he sayed that what he did was for the universall good of the people but he knew well that when he had brought the business about he shold be murtherd and draggd up and down the streets of Naples yet he desird the people shold remember what he had done and sing som Dirges for his Soul As the Raign of this Ephemeran Monster was violent so it was but short for from first to last it continued not to ten compleat dayes insomuch that those Lyricall Verses may be truly applyed to him Quem Dies vidit veniens superhum Hunc dies vidit sugiens jacentem The Vice-roy fearing som after-claps fell a fortifying himself mainly insomuch that that very night ther entred into the Citty six hundred horse with wonderfull secrecy who went also to the Palace and tendred their Service and so betook themselves to divers Posts But the day following the bread which is the staff of life fell to be eleven ounces lighter wherupon the popular fire burst out again which took hold of the Bakers Furnaces and Goods They went in multitudes to find out the body of Masanello which was cast into a Ditch they took it out washd and perfumd it and so carried high upon a Bier to the gate of the Holy Spirit where they took down his head and sowing it to the rest of the carkass they brought it to the great Cathedrall Church with no less solemnity then Lamentation so he who was cursd and draggd up and down the dirtty Channels the day before is the next day following bewayld missd and prayed for so there was order taken for his Exequies which were celebrated in marvailous Pomp above a thousand Priests went before him with Torches in their hands the white boyes of Loreto did attend the Hearse Drums and Trumpets sounded the dolefull March and as he lay lifted up very high upon his Funerall Bed a Crown was put upon his head and a Scepter in his hand so he enjoyed after his death those Ensigns the Authority wherof he usurpd in his life He was carryed about all the five Prâ—cincts of Naples in this State and passing by the Vice-roys there they made a halt under his very Balcone At last two howers within night they carried him back to the great Church where he was buried in a particular Chappell with this Inscription upon his Hearse Nobilium tyrannide inusitatis oppressiâ—nibus angarijs in Regnum Cives Exteros praeter Rerum Naturae orâ—inem violenter extortis Repressa Virgini Dei Matri Carmeli Die 7. Julij 1647. gabellis publicis facinorosis Secretis Patriae hostibus incensis fugatis prefligatis sublatis Inconcussa fide servata Ferdinandi primi Frederici Aragonensium Regum Caroli Quinti Imperatoris Caesaris confirmatis renovatis Aureis privilegijs Philippo Quarto Rege Cathâ—licâ— Dom Roderico Pons de Leon Duce dâ— Arcos Regis vicem gerente Thoma Anello de Amalphi invicti populi Duce pristina libertate redemptus Fidelissimus populus Neapolitanus Mausolaeum in reportatae victoriae memoriam posteris Excitamentum pâ—suit The Tyranny of the Nobles being repressd who beyond the order of Things and Rules of Nature did so violently extort unusuall Taxes and Services from Kingdom Cittizens and Strangers An unshaken faith being kepâ— to the blessed Virgin the Mother of God in the Church of Carmine the seventh of Iuly 1647. the Gabels being abolishd the public facinorous and secret enemies of our Country being subdued banishd burnt and extinguishd The golden Priviledges of Ferdinand the first of Fredric King of Aragon and of Charles the Emperor being confirmd and renewd Philip the fourth being Catholic King and Don Rodrigo pons de Leon Duke of Arcos being Vice-roy Thomas Anello of Amalphi being Generall the most faithfull people of Naples and public liberty being redeemd This Monument was erected in memory of the Victory obtaind and for an encouragement to all Posterity Thus the body of Masanello being redeemd from dust and dirt together with his memory was honord by the Neapolitan people Nor did the Insurrection dy with him but it revivd and gathering new strength it ragd again as furiously as ever not only in Naples it self but in all the Terriâ—ories as Bitonto Nocera Abruzzo Cosenza and other places in Apulia and Calabria The people of Naples chose for their Elect Don Francisco Turaldo Prince of Massa and the first thing he did was to command ten Spaniards heads to be fixd on Poles and carryed in triumph up and down the Citty he interdicted also that nothing either for back or belly shold be carried to the Castle where the Vice-roy was he causd the whole Citty to be entrenchd and Canons planted in divers places now the people thought they had all the justice in the world to continue in
a Polititian 24 The Restitution of those Jewels the Prince left in Spain for the Infanta notwithstanding the breach of the Treaty 31 The Reign of this King of Spain less succesfull then of his Predicessors 58 The first Race of the Neapolitans 60 A Remarkable story of the Marquiss Oliverio 61 A Remarkable story of the Neapolitan revenge ib. The Revenues of Naples above three millions yearly in proem Not able to pay the King of Spains interest to Genoa ibid. A Relation of the revolt of Portugal 41 Rome hath more men and Naples more people Rome hath more Comendams and Naples more Cavaliers 24 S THe Sulphurious quality of the Soil cause of the fertility of Naples in proem A Saying of Pythagoras in proem The Shaking condition of the Monarchy of Spain in proem Self-conquest the greatest victory 2 The Strange carriage of a Spanish Captain towards King Philip the second 15 A Strange opinion the Spaniards had of the English since they dserted Rome 20 The Spanish Ambassadors plot against Buckingham in England 37 The Subtil information which they gave King Iames against him 37 The Solemn complaint which Sir Walter Ashton made in Spain against the said Ambassador 38 The whole plot detected in the said complaint 39 The Spanish Ambassadors instead of punishment are rewarded ib. Spain and England break out into a short war ib. Seven Secretaries attended Masanello 50 A Strange Tale of a Neapolitan horse towards his rider 61 A strange Story of Olivares his bastard 59 A Saying of Olivares at his fall 60 T THe Tumults of Masanello like a candle burning at both ends in proem The Conquest of the Philippine Islands by Philip the second 10 The successes of this world compared ib. The disasters of Philip the second ib. The ill successes of Mestogan ib. The ill success at los Gelues ib. The ill success at Granada 11 The ill success at Goletta d' Tumi ib. The notable temper of Philip the second ib. The grounds that Philip the second pretended for invading of England ib. The ill offices which Q. Eliz. did Philip of Spain ib. The disaster of the invincible Spanish Armada 88 12 The taking of Cales by the Earl of Essex ib. The tragical end of Masanello 52 Two pound of brains found in Olivares skul when he was opened 60 A huge Tempest role when he was going to be buried ib. V MOre Vicissitudes in Naples then in any other Country in proem Veâ—â—vius fires prophetical in proem De Valdes gets Florida from the French 10 The Vow made by Philip the second to build the Escurial 7 The Vastness of that building being called the eight wonder of the world 14 A Very great clash in Naples betwixt the Duke of Matalone and the Prince of Sanza 40 Vasconcellos the Portugal Secretary murthered Viceroy Ognate did notable service in Naples 60 Viceroy of Naples the Duke of Arco's reproached by young Don Iohn of Austria 55 An Vniversal sadness in Spain for the breach of the match with England 31 W THe Wonderfull progress of Masanello in a few daies in proem The Witchcraft of the Mahumetan 10 Wise sayings of Philip the second upon sundry occasions 14 His Wise comportment towards an insolent Captain 15 His Wonderfull temper ib. Of the four VVives of Philip the second 16 His Wise comportment and sayings upon the death of his eldest son 17 A Wise Speech of Charls the Emperour concerning Kings 16 Another touching Spain and England 20 A Wise Speech of this King of Spains Nurse â—8 Waies extraordinary that Olivares had to enrich himself 57 Waies extraordinary to raise the King money ib. Sir Walter Ashtons memorial to the King of Spain for the miscarriage of his Ambassadors in England 37 Wise waies which Philip the second had to decide controversies 16 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF NAPLES THe Kingdom of Naples otherwise called the Great Sicilia which from Faro lieth as it were almost an Island inclosed with three Seas the Tirren Ionian and Adriatick hath in circuit a thousand four hundred and twenty miles being accounted only by land from the mouth of the River Vsent to that of Tronto a hundred and fifty miles These two Rivers the one runneth into the Tirren the other into the Adriatick Seas where are contained besides a little part which there remaineth of Latium many Regions which the people of the Country call for their greatness Provinces the which according to the division made by the Emperor Frederick the second by King Charls the first by King Alfonsus the first by the Catholick King and by Don Ferdinando the Catholick King are these The Land of Lavoro the Principality on this side the Principality on the other side Basilicata Calauria on this side Calauria on the other side the Land of Otronto the Land of Bary Abruzzo on this side Abruzzo on the other side the County of Molise and Capiâ—anata There are also adjacent unto the said Kingdom under every Province certain Islands very near lying round about as in the Tirren Sea directly against Terracina and at Gaeta are Ponza and Pandaria now called Palmarola by Pliny called Pandatena and by Strabo Pandria and Pandaria and directly against Mola Palmosa is Parthenope so called by Ptolâ—my now commonly called Bentetiene and against Pozzuolo is Ischia which anciently had three names Inarime Pitacuse and Enaria There are near Ischia Prochita and the Isle Nessi the one now called Procita and the other Nisita There is against the Cape of Minerva the Isle Capri and Sirenusse directly against Passitano which are two little Isles the one called Gale the other St. Peter Opposite to Tropeia and to Ricadi are the Isles Eolie which were only inhabited by the Lipari which compasseth sixteen miles all the rest are solitary and desert and retain also the ancient names of Stromboli and Vulcan from whence continually ariseth fire and smoke In the Adriatick Coast are Rasato and Gargano directly against Varrano and the four Isles of Diomedes which now by one name are called Tremite which are but little but of the two greater the first is called St. Mary of Tremite the other St. Doimo and the two lesser the one Gatizzo and the other Capara These are the Isles of any name except the Rocks which are comprehended in the Confines of the Kingdom of Naples This fortunate and great Realm exceedeth all other Kingdoms not only by reason of the situation lying in the midst of the fifth Climate which is held the most temperate part of the world but also for the great abundance of all good things being not any thing to be desired which is not there to be found of so great perfection and in so great plenty It is Inhabited by people so warlike and generous that herein it gives place not to any other Country I will not say only of Italy but of all the world besides being a thing well known to all men that the most valiant
say Pheasants Partridges Goodwittes Woodcocks Snites Quails and divers others In like sort there are of four-footed Beasts as wild Boars Harts Goats Hares Conies and Foxes of ravenous creatures there are Wolves and of those that are fatted it is very plentifull There are also in places near the Mediterranean shore great Vaults and Caves with the Foundations of sumptuous Buildings which yields no small wonder to every one that beholds them with other strange works wrought as well by the wonder of Nature as also by curious Art and the emulation thereof which procures no small admiration to all that knows not the powerfulness of Art and Nature The Sea of this most happy Province aboundeth with divers sorts of excellent Fishes as Sturgions Mullets Tonnies and sundry other fishes Neither is there less abundance in the kinds of Shel-Fishes as of Oysters Muscles Cockles Periwincles and infinite others Of Minerals it is very rich in Gold Silver Alume Brimstone Besides this it is endued with so many medicinable and wholsome Bathes which in the Spring and other times of the year heals infinite people of many strange and incurable diseases So that that great Grandmother Nature hath bestowed so great abundance of her benefits that it seems she is delighted therein The which the writer Polybius considering which was the Master of Scipio Africanus wrote these words near Sipontino Est enim Campanus ager copia rerum fertilitate regionis ac amaenitate pulchritudine loci excellentissimus nam in littore maris positus est ex eo universo terrarum orbe venientes in Italia innumerae gentes consunt And Hannibal that great Carthaginian Captain beholding the delightfulness of this happy Region and the beauty thereof purposing to assemble his Army which he caused to winter therein returned from thence nice dainty and full of the delicacie of Campania said as it is written in Strabo in the end of the fifth Book Victor ipse periclitor ne host is praeda siam quippe qui milites viros dederim faeminas recipiam The Campanians saith Cicero against Rullus of the Law Agraria Superbi bonitate agrorum magnitudine fructuum salubritate aeris pulchritudine regionis This Province doth likewise deserve great praise for the diversity of Wines which it bringeth forth so much esteemed both in ancient and later times as the most delicate of Sorrento which Tiberius Cesar and Physitians so much commended the Wine Massico now called Massaquano brought from the Mount Massico which is near Carinola in the Territory of the people Equani among which is Massa and Vico the most excellent Falerni so much pleasing to the Roman Emperors of whom Iulius Caesar as Pliny writeth honoured his Feasts and most sumptuous Banquets which he made in Rome and principally that wherewith in two and twenty thousand Chambers he feasted all the Romans There are the tears and Greek Wines so much celebrated by Pliny the most odoriferous Wine Nolano and that of Vico no less wholsome then pleasant in taste with others very excellent and delicate Wines which are preferred before all others in the plentifull Tables of the greatest Lords The Oyles are in no less esteem which are there made and chiefly those of Massa of Sorrento of Vico of Gaeta and of the Isle of Capre And no less fruitfull is this fortunate Country of the best Cattle as Oxen Cowes fat Weathers Hogges and Calves whereof the most excellent are those of Sorrento There is also made the finest silks which Merchants buy more then any others for the goodness thereof It is very plentifull in Heards and Droves of Cattel and serviceable Horses for Warr. And to conclude this Province worthily deserveth all praise for the excellent things that are therein wherefore it is no marvel if ancient Writers call this the most beautifull and excellent Region of the world having a most temperate and delicate air and so fruitfull a Country that in all times of the year there are heard divers and sundry birds to sing Here in the Spring time and even in the Corn where are not sowed do grow Lillies Violets and Roses of excellent and delicate savour so that the earth never ceaseth to bring forth for which cause it is commonly said that Campania yieldeth most Oyntment others say most Oyle being also made in Naples the best and most excellent Conserve that may be found through the great goodness of the Roses This Country bringeth forth people of an indifferent stature and of a fair complexion valorous minded and very wise both in Councel and the managing of worldly affairs ingenious and apt for learning and more then measurably warlike both on foot and horse from whence generally appeareth a certain mind to command Having now declared the sundry benefits and celestial favours of this most noble Region I will now handle in particular where I left at the City of Ansure now Terracina in a part of Latium was founded the City of Fondi standing placed in the way Appia twenty miles distant from Terracina of Strabo Pomponius Mela Silus an Italian and of Ptolomy called Fondi but of Antonius Fonde the Territory whereof bringeth forth excellent Wines which are much commended of Pliny and of Strabo and Martial writeth that by any means the Wines of Fondi must not be suffered to wax old Haec fundana tulit felix autumnus opimi Expressit mulsum Consul ipse bibet Soterus Bishop of Rome was born in this City who governed the Church of God 7 years 11 moneths and 18 daies This City suffered much loss by Ariadeno Barbarossa the Turk Captain General of the Navy of Soliman Emperor of Turks in the year 1534. at which time all the Citizens that were found therein were made slaves Passing along towards Formie on the left side is Villa Castello from whence descended the Roman Emperor Galba on the right side appeareth the Lake Fundano called by Pliny Fundano although it be written Fandano by some corrupt writers This said Lake is full of Fishes and very great Eeles Five miles from thence remaineth the foundations of the City Mamurri of whom Horace saith In Mamurranum lassi deinde urbe manemus Passing hence by the rough and stony way Appia near the most high steep Mountains is the Land of Atrio now called Itro the Country of the Lamury Citizens of Rome five miles almost but somewhat out of the way Appia on the right hand is Gaeta upon the shore so called as Strabo and Virgil affirm of the Nurse of Aeneas which died and was there buried and although the Gulf of Gaeta and the strong Rock thereof be sufficiently known and much renowned especially in ancient time yet was it not a City untill the Saracins destroyed Formie which was in the year of Christ 856. and then was the reliques of the worthy St. Erasmus transferred from Formie to Gaeta and it was by Pope Gregory the 4th
made a Bishops Sea This City was very faithfull to King Ladislaus from whom for this cause it attained many priviledges and so strong was the Castle thereof that it was held one of the Keys of the Land and therefore was there alwaies held a strong Garison of Soldiers Gaeta hath alwaies the best Haven which as Spartianus writeth was repaired with great cost by Antonius Pius This City had great honour by Galasius second Bishop of Rome by that famous Thomas of Viao of the Order of Preachers General and after Cardinal of the Church R. this excellent man past to a better life at Rome the 9 of August in the year 1534. And moreover about our time Iohn Tharcagnota hath been very famous whose History is generally known to all Following on the said way there are seen even to Mola which are five miles delightfull Gardens near the crooked shore of the Sea under Gaeta full of green flourishing Oringes Lymons and other pleasant fruits environed with delightfull Christaline streams yielding much content to the beholders thereof Proceeding somewhat forward in following the aforesaid pleasant way on the sea-side is seen the beautifull City Mola built by the ruines of the ancient City Formia now called Ormia which a little distance are seen the Foundations of Formia built by the Laconi according to Pliny and was so called by the conveniency of the Haven as Strabo writeth this ancient City was the habitation of Antiphate King of the Lestrigoni most cruel Tyrants Mola hath very fair and fruitfull Territories some think that Mola was so named of the Wharfs or rather of the Mills which are therein turning by the continual course of water which plentifully riseth from the bottom of the Hils In this Country was the fair and delightfull Village Formiana of Scipio and Lelius the true and faithfull friends which afterward was purchased by Cicero and throughout all this Country which is from Mola to the River Garigliano are seen the ruins of great buildings whereby it may be thought that those places in ancient time were much inhabited being the most delightfull pleasant and fruitfull that the Roman Empire had After Mola three miles upon a little Hill is the Castle Honorato in the way Hercolantea builded by Honoratus of Gaeta County of Fondy Not far off is the Hill Cecubo which stretcheth to the Gulf of Gaeta this Hill is much renowned for the excellency of the Wines thereof which are much commended by Horace by Martial and Strabo following that way towards the mouth of the River Garigliano where it runneth into the Sea before Clanino is Liris so much celebrated for the overthrow which the Saracins had by Pope Iohn the 10th and for the Victory obtained by Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova against the French to whose only valour was attributed the Victory of them and the flight of the Turks whereby he gained the glorious sirname of Great Captain a favour vouchsafed from heaven whereof the world hath so few This said River riseth from the Appennine Mountains and passeth by the Territory of Vestino near to the Country of Fregelle now a famous City and goeth by Luco or rather the Sacred Wood sometimes honoured of the Minturnesi which was near the said City On the left side of the said River is seen upon a little Hill the City of Traietto builded near to the place where was the City of Minturne the ruines whereof are now to be seen and almost the whole Theatre and the ancient aquiducts Minturne was builded by the Ausoni and was afterward a Roman Colony and was divided by the River near the mouth thereof It was in the time of Pope Marcellinus honoured with a general Councel and it was one of the Cities which for the grievance of the air was priviledged by the Romans both from the Wars and other burthens and Impositions Cai. Marius flying hither secretly hid himself in a moorish or fenny place and beholding an Asse to go very pleasantly to the water to drink took it for a good presage or a token of good fortune re-inforced his Army and putting to Sea entred Rome victoriously From thence leaving the Confines of this Region of Latium we enter on the right hand into the Land of Lavoro and the Hill which is in the entrance of the Land of Lavoro very near to the mouth of Garigliano hath many famous names for in some place it is called Gauro in other Massico and in some other Gallicano that part thereof that is nearest to Garigliano is called Gauro from whence the River hath been called Gaureliano Pliny saith that this Gauro as also the Hill Vessuvio near Naples yieldeth Sulphur or Brimstone which the hot-waters sufficiently declare which at this present are seen to issue and boyle where now is the Tower of the Bathes and the Bathes themselves After Minturn the first Land that is nearest in the Land of Lavoro on this side was Trifano situated by Livy between Minturn and Sinuessa the next following was Sinuessa five miles as Strabo saith from Minturn but it is ten miles as it now appeareth Livy saith that there were two Colonies brought about the Territory Vestino and Falerno one at the mouth of Garigliano which was Minturn as is said and the other in Vestino which confineth with the Territory of Falerno where first there was a Greek City called Sinope which was builded by the Sinopesi and was by the Roman Colony called Sinuessa because it joyned near to the City Sessa Here died old Turpillus that comical Poet many ruines of this City are to be seen on the land but more in the Sea and the Haven thereof had a large Key or Wharlf made by mens labour at the top of the Hill called Dragone saith Livy that Fabius Maximus led his Army by the top of the Mount Massico forbidding passage to Hannibal and that the Souldiers of Hannibal sackt the Country even to the water Sinuessano from whence it seemeth that the Mount Massico whereon Fabius Maximus held his Army is a part of the same Hill which reacheth from Sessa to Carinola In the place of Sinuessa two miles from thence upon the Hill is the Fort of Mondragone honoured with the dignity of a Dukedome the Town whereof stands in the Plain less then a mile from the Sea where Sinuessa was is nothing seen but the Baths which as Strabo saith doe cure many diseases and especially help women that ate baren After the Fort of Mondragone upon the Hill Massico which is full of Villages from the part towards the Sea there is no land or Castle but from that part which is towards Garigliano between the Sea Garigliano the way Appia and the Mount Massico is no more plain then eight miles every way and is manured and inhabited with much people and is now called the Villages of Sessa which Plain in the happy time of the Romans was
issueth out on every side very beneficial to those which are diseased This Plain is compassed with a Hill which every carrieth an equal height in one side whereof is a very thick Wood planted in such sort that all Italy yields not a place more beautifull and more pleasant for hunting This Wood hath great plenty of Acorns and other Fruit and Food for Cattel and is full of wild Hoggs Goats Harts and other kinds of wild Beasts which entring in of themselves or forc'd by others can come no more out again The top of this Hill is very large for it reacheth more then the space of five miles this place is commonly called Listroni a place reserved for the Kings hunting Returning to the way which goeth from Pozzuolo to Naples is seen the place where was the Village of Cicero so named at this present where was buried the Emperor Adrian which died at Baia as Spartiano writeth where the temple was afterward consecrated by Antonio his successor in the place of the Sepulchre Following yet the said way is seen great ruines of the Village of Lucullus which he had near Naples according to Plutarch where likewise he caused to open the stony Hill with the Iron which carried the water of the Sea into the Lake Agnano which was included in those Hils On every side of this open Country appeareth high Rocks near which are the ruins of stately Buildings Passing by the said way to the Lake are the Baths of the Lake Agnano which are certain little closeâ— vaulted Rooms from whence there riseth certain hot vapours in such sort that a man entring in naked presently falleth into a sweat and therefore they are called Sudatorii They dissove the raw and crude humours in man they lighten the body comfort the weak heal the intrails drieth the Fistula and the ulcer in the body and easeth the pain of the Gout Here St. Germano Bishop of Capoa is said to find the soul of Pascasio Cardinal as St. Gregory relateth in the fourth Book of his Dialogues A little farther on the right hand at the foot of the high Rock which compasseth in the Lake very near to the same is a hole not very deep in the Rock nor very large nor high where any living creature being cast in dieth suddenâ—y which afterward being presently taken out and cast into the water of the said lake reviveth again Pliny maketh mention of this hole in his second Book where he saith Alii spiracula vocant alii Charoneas scrobes mortiferum spiâ—atum exalentes The said Lake bringeth forth no other thing but Frogs and in the Spring are often seen many heaps of Serpents which are there drowned and stifled in the water by the providence of God which suffereth them not to encrease being so hurtfull and venomous to the nature of man Afterward we come to Pausilipo which had that name for the pleasantness of the air which so well agreeth with the situation helping much the infirmity of weak minds for the expelling of melancholy Here Cesar had a Fish-Pond wherein a Fish lived sixty years And the bottom of this pleasant Hill was all full of Gardens and Fruits and delightfull Villages and that part towards the Sea was not far from the City of Naples near the shore whereof were an infinite number of Habitations which time hath utterly ruinated After followeth the Cave of Cocceio which some attribute to Lucullo and others to Basso made after the fashion of that of Cuma whose entrance is open and with so great largeness that three Carts may there pass in rang and by little and little the light entreth at the windows in the top which in many places are cut out in the upper part of the hill and in the right side from the passage of the Cave in the way towards Naples is the Sepulchre of Virgil and by that which doth appear this was a Chappel compassed and vaulted with Arches and smoothly walled about with Marble and within were places for Images to stand in without opposite to the Chappel is an Epitaph in white Marble with these modern Verses Qui cineres tumuli haec vestigia conditur olim Ille hoc qui cecinit pascua rura duces Going then towards Naples appeareth the little Hil Olimpia now Piaggia called of the Neopolitans Chiaia where are so many goodly Buildings among the which there is one made by M. Giacomo Sanazaro so great a friend to the Muses as any in these our daies called Merguglino and in Latine Mergeline celebrated by him in his Book De partu Virginis A little farther near unto the City is the little Isle of Megary now called the Castle of Vovo where remaineth a good Garison of Souldiers Last of all is the fair and Royal City of Naples at the first called Sirena where Parthenope arrived carried by the fortune of the Waves who changed the name being newly re-inhabited according to the Oracle of the Cumani which before they had destroyed it flourished and increased again by the union and amity of the Palepoli being alwaies faithfull to the people of Rome under whose Empire it continued with great glory and renown untill it sell together with the rest of Italy into the hands of the Goths and other Barbarians who expelled by the Normans was governed by them and made the Head of the Kingdom from whose Dominion succeeded the House of Suevia by means of the Queen Constance the only Heir from whence it came to pass Charls having killed Tancred and subdued Coradine under the French and after succeeded by means of Queen Ione of Arragon now it remaineth in peace and tranquility under the protection of the Catholick King Philip and so populous that it is not inferior to any other City whatsoever excelling in Nobility and riches all other in the world there continually repaireth sundry Nations from all parts of Europe there are assembled the most part of the Noble Families and there also florisheth the study of the Laws and all good Learning It standeth at the bottom of little Hils which compass it in the manner of a Bow or Arch. The Gulf Cratera is directly opposite unto it so called in ancient time for that Miseno and the Promontory of Minerva now called Campanella with the Isle of Capri compasseth it in the fashion of a Cup. A Cup which may be truly called a Cup or Goblet of Silver since the purity and calmness of the water resembleth in outward shew quicksilver Naples hath on the East side Fields which in length joyn to the Plains Acerram and in breadth pass to the foot of Vesevo now called Somma Strabo saith that in his time did spring at Naples hot waters very commodious to make Baths little inferior to those of Baia but that they were of less quantity The Arms of this City was a Field per fesse or and gu which Arms were given by great Constantine the Emperor
it was so well fortified caused it to be called Ischia which hath given the name to the whole Island especially because all the other ancient names were forgotten This Castle is very strong by the natural situation thereof and is built upon a very high Hill and the passage thereto very steep and the way for the most part is cut out of the Rock with mens labour and the entrance is so difficult and streight that two Souldiers may easily guard it Hither Ferdinando the son of Alfonsus the second of Arragon King of Naples retired himself for his security when Charls the eight King of France had victoriously entred Naples In the year 1301. the said Island sustained great hurt for being therein certain veins of Sulphure whereof the Island is very full the fire kindled and running through it burnt a great part even to the City of Ischia now called Gironda and the fire continued one month and a half burning many men and other living creatures whereby the Inhabitants were inforced to abandon the place flying out of the Isle some to Procida some to Capri some to Pozzuolo and some to Naples And of this fire the marks yet appear where neither grass nor any other thing doth grow and that for the space of more then two miles which place the Citizens call the Cremata This Isle is in compass 18 miles where is a fair City to the which are subject eight Hamlets or small Villages This said Isle is very fertile and bringeth forth all soâ—ts of Corn and there is made excellent Wine and hath Mines of Gold which were together found with the Sulphure in the year 1465. by Bartholmew Perdice Genoway It is every where full of Villages very thick and close adjoyning there is one very high Hill which is very difficult for a man to climbe in the top whereof riseth a Spring called the Fountain Aboceto all the rest of the Isle hath great scarcity of water The Shores of this Isle are rather crooked then streight the air there is very healthfull and pleasant and in it are many and sundry Baths with those so marvelous sands all things fit to heal divers sorts of infirmities and many incureable of the which we have sufficiently written in the Book of the Antiquities of Pozzuâ—la by me not long since published to which I refeâ— the Reader This Isle was first inhabited by the Licii which after the death of Oroute their King were driven out by Eneas Afterward came thither the people Arimni and within a while the Calcidii There lieth with great reverence in two honourable Churches of this Isle the bodies of St. Restituta Virgin and Martyr and of St. Olivata her sister which as is said do infinite miracles Of this Isle was Fabius Seleucus Oronre that excellent Cosmographer and singular Poet. Sailing from hence more forward towards Naples near the Mount Pausilippo is the Isle of Nisita of the Latines called Nosium and Nesis which had a fair and goodly Fortress made by the Dutchmen of Amalsi with a most secure Haven called Agliono very commodious Nisita was so called as the Poets feign by a Nimph of the Sea the daughter of Nereus and Doride Gods of the Sea for the truth is that Nesis in Greek is an Island it was in ancient time the Town of Brutus that worthy Roman and in our daies there was found in a Sepulchre a dead body of wonderful greatness imbalmed which had about the neck a Chain with a Jewel of Gold with this Inscription M. A. Acilius C. F. I.I.I. R. Leaving this Isle is another much less which is rather a Rock I may say it was and is commonly called Gaiola but in my opinion it should be called Gaia if yet that particle ola were not adjoyned thereto for a diminutive signifying the smallness and beauty thereof at an instant for being very delightfull and pleasant and made in the fashion of a Theater where also appeareth the marks of an inclosed Park for the keeping of wild Beasts and the Temple of Neptune which was there in old time so that to every one that comes thither it seems a place of great delight These then are the Cities upon the Sea of happy Campania and the Isles that are thereabout But in the Land of Naples the principal City is Capoa situated on the side of Vulturno upon the way Appia twelve miles distant from the Sea it was in former time as great as any in Italy except Rome the first and chiefest the Senat of Rome once purposed to go to inhabit there The opinions of the building of this City are divers and first Cato and Sempronius saith that it was builded by the Osci others as Virgil Lucan Silius Dionisius of Alicarnassus and Suetonius say that it was builded by Capi the companion of Aeneas and that by him it was afterward so named Others say that Remus the son of Aeneas builded it and called it Capoa from Capi the Father of his Grandsire Strabo is of another opinion saying it had this name from the large Fields wherein it standeth whose first Inhabitors were the Opici and Ausoni and the Osci which were driven out by the Cumani and afterward these by the Toscans by whom Capoa was made the Head of twelve Cities builded by them in these places and of this opinion seemeth to be Eustaccius Livy Pliny and Annius Diodorus and others say that it was so called for the great capacity and largeness which it hath to produce and bring forth necessary things for the sustenance of living creatures and in truth the Territory thereof is most excellent above all other Countries of the world This City as Livy declareth particularly in many places was of great Wealth and Authority and in the time of the great prosperity and delights thereof was the seat and habitation and as it were a second natural Country to Hannibal and in the time of the siege of Casilino wintred there with his Army which became corrupt effeminate and lazie through the many delights and pleasures thereof But coming afterward into the power of the Romans it was as it appeareth to some that Capoa was by them utterly ruinated for being strong a near neighbour and alwaies their enemy But the utility and most fertile Territory was the safety thereof that it was not ruinated because the multitude of Colonies might have a place and a dwelling in this Country and Territory and the houses themselves were builded of the common Treasury of Rome Yet nevertheless there was not left any signe or any body of a City or Councel or any Authority the which Marcus Tullius declareth more largely in one of his Orations calling the Capoans proud and arrogant through the bounty of the earth and the abundance of all things which they had But there was since contrary to the opinion of Tully by Iulius Caesar in his first Consulship carried to Capoa one Colony of Romans and those
have been many learned as Bartholmew of Donato which writ a discourse de Corporeitatis Luca Prassitio which subtilly and wittily writ ten Disputations against Augustine Nifo of Sessa very learned are these Treatises De immortalitate animae and de prestantia literarum supra arma wherein he exprest great learning and in these daies together with these the reverend Father Alfonso of Marco of the reformed Order of Preachers who for his good and examplary life shineth as the Sun in darkness he hath learnedly writ upon Logick natural Philosophy the soul Metaphysick and de ente rationis and he is now commenting the same of St. Thomas and if God permit him life we may expect other learned Works to proceed from him In the aforesaid City are these Noble Families Altimaro Cutinario Gargano Grimaldo Landulfo Pacifio Scaglione Silvestro Simonello Tufo Ricardo Della Valle and others Not far from Aversa is Marigliano in a good Soil and is wholly walled about and by the Ancients called Merlianum and Marianum the Citizens whereof say that it was so called by C. Marius the Founder thereof and it is now indued with the dignity of a Marquiss under the jurisdiction of the House of Montenegro Innocentius the third Bishop of Rome hath much honoured this Land being born there and at this present R. D. Iacobo Marotta a learned Philosopher who hath written upon the predicables and predicaments of the Logick of Scotus de triplici intellectu Humane Angelical and Divine and read in the common Schools of Naples the Metaphisicks with a wonderfull concourse of Students Afterward appeareth the City Acerra called by Strabo Acerrae which was burnt by Hannibal the Carthaginian But was again newly re-edified by the Romans whereof Livy often maketh mention and Virgil calleth the Territory thereof very good and fertile Near to which City runneth the River Glanio very hurtfull to the Country through the continual inundations and therefore is almost disinhabited Acerra was builded by the people Nasamoni who in honour of Iupiter Feretrio made a high Altar after the fashion of a little Ship whereupon they burnt great abundance of sweet Odours wherefore it was called Acerra by the Nasamoni which opinion Alexander of Alexandro Neopolitan confirmeth in the 7 Chapter of his third Book speaking of their Gemali Acerra erat ara constituta ubi odores incenderet quae acerra dicta erat à Nasamonibus populis Some are of opinion that an Altar so called was only devised by the Nasamoni but that Numa Pompilius erected the Temple of Iupiter Feretrio Festo believeth that Feretrio was so called by bringing of peace although Plutarch saith that he should be so named by the wounding of enemies whereupon Propertio writeth a learned Elegy of Iupiter Feretrio thus Nunc Iovis incipiam causas aperire Feretrii Armaque de ducibus trima recepta tribus To which Temple the Ancients when they obtained victory of their enemies consecrated all their best and richest spoils Departing from Acerra is the River Glanio which springeth from the Hill above Sessua by ancient Writers named Clanius whereof Virgil maketh mention in two of his Georgicks thus Talem dives arat Capua vicina Vesevo Ora jugo vacuis Clanius non aequus Acerris Probus writeth that the River Clanio took that name from the Giant Clanio Afterward is seen Sessula distant from Acerra four miles called by Strabo Suessula and by Livy in many places and in his seventh Book sheweth that in this City was a great battel between the Romans and the Samnites where the Samnites were put to flight by M. Valer. This City is almost now ruinated Afterward appeareth from the North part the Hils of Capoa called by Livy Tifata these Hils are above Capoa and above all this Country the which pass along even to the Territory of Nola. Afterward is the River Isclero and the River Sorritello and not far off upon a fair Hill is the Aierola an excellent Country honoured with the dignity of a Dukedom under the Family Caracciola From Aierola five miles is in a fair Plain Arienzo a Country full of worthy and honourable people called of the Latines Argentum the Territory whereof is very fertile and full of Fruit and especially of Percope where they grow more common in this Country then any other verily these fruits are to be preferred before all others for their delicacy and great goodness these said Trees live not above five years and it is necessary that the seeds or carnels thereof be sowed towards the East in a place where the cold cannot hurt them for cold is a great enemy to these Trees the Fruit thereof is of the colour of Gold with red spots and a slender rine and weighs a pound and more according to the place where they be planted Not far off upon a steep and pleasant little Hill is the City of Caserta replenished with worthy and honourable people the original whereof is uncertain the Citizens of it affirm by ancient tradition that it was builded by the Sessulani and Galatini others believe from the reliques of the second Capoa in the Hill Trifisco and last of all others say that it should be builded by the Longobards and was made a Cathedral Church by Alexander the fourth Bishop of Rome The Lords of Aquino ruled this City a long time afterward it came under the Counts of Tilesia of the Noble Family Siginulfa and lastly Giulio Antonio Acquaniva a noble Lord possest it with the Title of a Prince The noble Family of Santori hath much honoured this City of which that excellent Doctor of Law Lonardo hath been much renowned who left to the world a worthy and honourable issue from whom descended the famous and reverend Giulio Antonio Santoro Cardinal of the Church of Rome and Francesco Antonio Archbishop of Severin◠his brother men no less famous for Learning then for sincerity of life Going a little farther is Mataloni of some called Magdaloni and of others Metalionis which hath the dignity of a Dukedome subject to the noble Family of Carrafi Near which upon a Hill is the fair City of Venafro named by Strabo Venafrum the Plain whereof Pliny calleth fertile and full of Olives whereupon Martial praising the Oyle saith Hoc tibi Campani sudavit bacca Venafri Vnguentum quoties sumis istud oles This City in the time of our Ancestors had the Title of a County under the Pandoni Gentlemen of Naples after the which it came under the Dominion of the worthy Lords of Lanoia Princes of Sulmona but now it is in the Kings hands Going a little farther is the noble ancient City of Sora so called both now and in old time which in the time of the Romans was the principal City of all Sannio Pliny placeth it in the first Region and Ptolomy in Latium and Strabo describeth it in happy Campania We following the
division of the Kings Court place it in this Province of the Land of Lavoro or happy Campania Livy saith that the said City was made at one and the same time a Colony of the Romans with Alba which was of the Territory Vestino but possest by the Samnites This which Livy saith that Sora should be of the Territory Vestino is true for this reason that the City Vestina being near Garigliano in the Plain of Sessa that which was from the mouth of the River even to Sora by the River Garigliano all under one only name of Vestini became so called and Garigliano and Sessa were comprehended under the self-same of Vestini Livy saith that the Sorani becoming rebels and joyning with the Samniti went against them with all their force and saith that in this rebellion the Sorani cut in pieces the Roman Colonies that were there which stirred so great desire of revenge that at length the City was taken by Treason one of Sora bringing in ten Romans secretly into the Castle whereupon the Citizens broke up the Gates in the night and fled away and the Roman Army freely entred in and there were taken 325 of the Sorani Authors of the Rebellion and the death of the Roman Colonies and were carried bound to Rome and cruelly beaten in the Market-place and afterward put to death to the great contentment of the people which desired as their proper interest that in their Colonies their Citizens might be secure But within awhile following the Romans sent another Colony to Sora under the Consulship of L. Genutio and of Servio Cornelio the which for a long time remained there peaceable But in the time afterward of Gregory the ninth was destroyed by the Emperor Frederick the second and for all this was by the same Citizens repaired and in process of time increased in much honour and riches and is now reputed one of the best Cities in all that Province and is adorned with the Title of a Dukedome The said City on the one side is compassed with a stately and strong Wall and the other is defended with the River Fibreno which hath its beginning under the Mountains of Capistrello which is a Country in the Apennin eight miles above Sora which River entreth into Garigliano called in old time Liris near the Monastery of St. Dominico of Cisterniensi This River aboundeth with water and seemeth to be that which according to Pliny cometh from the Lake Fucino which in the beginning is divided into two branches whereof that on the left hand by means of the high and steep Mountains is very swift but that on the right hand running by a Rock and falling not from that hight as the other passeth with a pleasant current very calm and beautifull These two branches being joyned again together under Sora make an Island very delightfull and of much traffick which the Ancients have called Interamina Following the course of these Rivers are these Countries following Torre Campolato Isoletta and Colledrago Now above the Isle before named which with those two Arms makes Garigliano there are very high Hils and almost wholly disinhabited and on the right hand there is a Country above those rough and cragge Hils very pleasant called Comino which is invironed with very high Hils and hath seven Countries wel inhabited that is Vicalvo Alvito Santo Donato Settefrati Piacinisco Gallinaro and Casalviero This Country was in old time called Comino of a City which was there so called whereof Livy speaketh in many places and chiefly in the tenth Book where he saith that it was taken by Spurio Carvillo Consul being entred within it and his Souldiers retired which had the Guard of the Market-place there was given to Papirio the Consul eleven thousand and thirty men the first being killed by four thousand three hundred and eighty In this same Country on the right hand under the Hils is Atina an ancient City which was one of those five which made Arms for the aid of Turnus against Aeneas according to Virgil in the seventh of Eneidos Quinque adeo magnae positis incudibus urbos Tola novant Atina potens c. At the side of the said City runneth the River Melfa which riseth in the Apennin Hils and entreth into Garigliano near Pontecorvo a City whereof Virgil and Livy make mention Coming down into the bottom of this Country on the side of the said River under the Castle of Casalviero on the left hand is a little Country which they call Schiavi and yet lower upon a very rough and craggie Hill is Arpino a famous City whose stately Walls yet standing declare the greatness thereof and although it hath been the natural Country as well of Caio Marius as of Marcus Tullius the one the mirror of Chivalry the other of Eloquence yet that preferring Learning before Martial Affairs used for the Arms M. T. C. Under Arpino on the left hand near the River Melfa is Fontana a little Country and hard by is Arce a worthy City the Territory whereof aboundeth with great store of excellent Fruits and hath a goodly Fortress and is beautified with the Title of a Dukedom Not far off followeth the City Aquino called in old time Aquinum which is almost ruinated whose Reliques manifestly declare what great estimation it had in former times where apparently are seen the ruines of stately Buildings with goodly Statues of Marble Both now and ever Aquino hath received much honour by Giovenale a Satyrical Poet and Victorino an excellent Geometrician who flourished in the time of Leo the first according to the opinion of some he found the computation of Easter according to the course of the Moon at the perswasion of Pope Hillary Moreover Pescenio Negro Emperor of Rome hath honoured this Country as Herodian declareth in his second Book of his Cesars And although the said City be almost ruinated nevertheless it hath the dignity of a County Here Robert Guiscardo the Norman was created with great solemnity Duke of Apuglia and Calauria by Gregory the seventh Bishop of Rome in the year 1073. as Biondo writeth in his Histories and Platina in the life of the said Gregory But above all that Angelical Doctor St. Thomas hath most honoured Aquino the which though born in Naples is sirnamed of Aquino because his Ancestors possest that Country with other Cities and Lands Iohn Menardo saith that the said Angelical Doctor was of the House of Frangipane others say that he was of the Noble Family of Sammacula and that afterward from that Seignory as we have said which they had of Aquino they were sirnamed of Aquino the which Family was much advanced by Adinolfo County of Aquino for as much as by the common consent of the Gaetani he was created Duke of their City among the ancient Poets Rinaldo of Aquino hath been very excellent of whom Monsignor Pietro Bembo maketh mention in his Epistles
all the Romans both men and women might lawfully commit any lascivious dishonesty which then was accounted the most holy that which that day was most dishonest St. Felix Bishop hath given great honour to this City whose body lieth in it and as they say there riseth continually Manna out of his holy bones whose life was written by St. Paulino Bishop of this City St. Paulino was the inventor of the use of Bels an Instrument utterly unknown to the Ancients which is now so necessary in the Church of God He gave it the name of Campane because he invented it in Campania where is the aforesaid City of Nola of the which he was Bishop and that the Citizens ever since glorying therein as rightly they may have alwaies used to give a Bell for the Arms of the City And to say something of the famous Counts of Nola Monsignieur Guido da Monforte was the first thereof a most noble and valiant Gentleman of France which came with Charls the first of Angio to the Conquest of the Kingdom with whom he was in great estimation and having one only daughter called Anastasia married to Romano Orsino chief Justice of the Kingdom who by the death of his Father in Law succeeded in the County which was the first of the Family of Orsina which had Seigniory in the Kingdom The posterity of this man have proved all worthy men and very valiant but the matchless Paragon of all was Ramondo which florished in the time of Charls the second for being chased away and forsaken by his Father went into Soria after he had in a journey into the Holy Land done many valiant exploits against the Moors and overcome in a private combate a most fierce and mighty Saracin who carried a Rose upon the top of his wreathed Turbant returned home into the Kingdom with great honour and for a token of that Victory joyned it with much glory to his Arms whereupon through his great magnanimity and valour was made Prince of Taranto That Principality hath been continued even to this present one of the most important Members of the Kingdom for it contained very much land and Cities of greatest importance which for brevity I omit to name so that Ramondo being a very mighty and great Lord the House of Orsina was very famous through all Italy Râ—mondo married the Lady Mary of Eugenio of an honourable proginy in France who after the death of her husband having the tuition of her children became Queen of Naples at such time as King Ladislao besieged her in Taranto who being not able to subdue her resolved to take her for his wife and so by that means to possess the Inheritance of the children of Ramondo of whom the first was Iohn Antonio who redeemed the Principality of Taranto with money from Iames husband of Queen Ione This Iohn Antonio increased much his Patrimony with Lands of great importance and was highly favoured by Alfonsus of Arragon King of Naples who made him great Constable which is the chiefest of the seven Offices in the Kingdom with a hundred thousand Duckets yearly for a Pension And to return to the Counts of Nola they were great Lâ—rds for they possest Sarno Tripalda Palma Avella Lauro Forino Ascoli and other Lands But afterward Felice Orsino Prince of Salerno succeeded in the County who having little experience in worldly affairs through the dâ—â—â—ension and division of the Kingdom lost his State in 〈◊〉 time after the death of his Father And King Ferrant the first gave Salerno to Robert 〈◊〉 and Nola Tripalda Ascoli Lauro and Forino to Orso Orsino 〈…〉 great Chancellor of the Kingdom and partner with him in the Wars against Iohn Antonio Orsino whereupon the line of Romano Orsino which had ruled Nola almost two hundred years was extinguished and the Principality of Salerno rose of the House of Orsino 24 years after he had it But this line afterward of the Count Orso continued but a small time for the Lady Santola a Citizen of Nola by whom he had two sons the one Duke of Ascoli and the other a Knight lost all their Inheritance through the wicked means of their mother who lewdly justified of her own accord that they were not begotten by the Count Orso were deprived of all their right by King Ferdinando who gave the County of Nola with Cimitino Avella Monforte Lauro Palma and Ottoiano to the Count Nicola Orsino of Pitigliano whose successors possest it untill the year 1528. the which Don Arrigo in serving the French lost his life and his state also and so ended the line of the Counts of Nola which were so famous in this Kingdom Now returning to our former order I say that from the City of Nola are also sprung many other famous men as well adorned with Learning as with Military Discipliâ—e which would be too teadious to repeat and therefore I reâ—er the reader to Ambrogio Lione who very exactly nameth and describeth them all But for us it shall be only sufficient to name the Noble Families which the said Leone writeth of which are in the said City and are these following Albertino Alfano Barone Caposâ—rosa Candido Cesarini Coriale Carmignano Campobascio de Ferrariis de Elia Freccia Fellecchia Fontana Rosa Del Iodice Ioseph Infante de Gennaro Maffei Marifeulo Morra Mastrilâ—o Mazzeo Notariis De Palma Perarii Perrigioanni Rehi Risi Santori Sassolani c. and at this present the Bishop of this City Fabritio Gallo Neopolitan a Prelate besides his learning a man of sincere and pure life who with much diligence composed a Sinodal Book of his Diocess There are many other places the which I think not fit to recite all but the greatest and most important I have not omitted any but the small and little as those which are thought to be of little or no account I have neglected assuring you that to the integrity and soundness of the Work it shall not fail in any momentary matter The Arms of this Noble Country is in a Field Asurâ—â— Cornucope in salter thorow the middle of a Crown the first of â—eres the other Bacchus or the which Arms signifie the great fertility and abundance of the Country which as it were Queen of every other Province exceeds them in all the benefits of Nature Whereupon in confirmation of what I have said I will concluded with L. Floro who speaking thereof thus writeth Omnium non modo Italia sed toto orbe terrarum pulcherrima Campaniae plaga est Nihil mollius coelo nihil uberrius solo nihil hospitalius mari Denique bis floribus vernat ideo Liberi Cererisque certamen dicitur Hic illi nobiles portus Caieta Misenus tepentes fontibus Baiae Lucrinus Avernus quâ—dam maris otia Hic amicti vitibus montes â—aurus Falernus Massicus Pulcherimâ—s omnium Vessuvius Aetaeni ignis imitator Vrbes ad mare Formiae Cumae Neapolis Herculanium Pompei ipsa
Sambarbato Somewhat lower into the said Valley is a Country called the water of Mela of the Latines named Aqua Malorum where died Queen Margarite of Durazzo wife to Charls the third King of Naples Near to the said Country is a certain River which passeth a few miles but dives under the earth running through certain holes and Channels in the ground unseen the space of a hundred paces and then riseth out again so great and clear as at the first On the right hand of the Valley and of the River upon a hill is the City of Cava so named by the situation where it standeth For that Adalferio Pappacarbone a noble Salernitan in the year 910. drawn with holy zeal to do penance for his sins retired himself into this place abiding in a certain Cave The fame of his vertuous and holy life encouraged many to do the liâ—e whereupon in process of time it came to pass that place was much frequented for the worship and reverence of the sacred Hermitages and Churches that were there for the which Guaimaro the sixth Prince of Salerno in the year 940. built for the benefit of the Monks of the Order of S. Benedict a sumptuous and stately Monastery and indued it with great Revenues In process of time following the said Monastery was given in commendum to certain Prelates but came afterward into the possession of the Cardinal Olivero Carrafa who understanding the good life of the said Monks restored it to them again Pope Leo the tenth agreeing thereto at which time the Cavaioli desired of the said Pope a Bishops Sea which they obtained and moreover was ordained that for maintenance of that Pastoral Charge the Monastery aforesaid should give yearly to the Bishop a thousand and eight hundred Duckets of Revenue and so it appeareth that the Cavaioli had made a great beginning to their Cathedral Church Thus much concerning the original of this City where are these Noble Families Anna de Curtis Gagliardo Longo Ponza Rocca and Tosone The Cavaioli are ingenious men and of great Traffick but above all full of spirit and courage wherein generally appeareth in them a ready inclination to fight and are very obstinate in their opinions and therefore very litigious and full of contention with every one Returning to the shore of the Sea from Nuceria eight miles leaving the Castle Amare and on the left hand also passing by a great and mighty high Hill where from the side that lieth towards the North is Gragnano and Littere small Countries in the Plain going by the side of high and spacious Mountains which pass along to the Terrene Sea makes the Cape of Minerva or Ateneo called also Prenâ—sso Sirreo and the Hill Equano which is now so called by the Amalfi in which arm of Land are these Cities Vico Sorrento and Massa which we have described in the Province of the Land of Lavoro being so divided by the Kings Court. In the aforesaid arm of Land endeth the Haven of Crattera or rather the Gulf of Surrento made of two Promontories that is by Miseno and Ateneo which lieth towards the South Now all the circuit which is in that bending which is of this Promontory towards the East even to the nearest places of the Territory of Salerno now belonging to old Campania as Strabo affirmeth is called as â—ath been said the Coast of Amalfi from the City of Amalfi where lieth a pleasâ—nt and an excellent Country to the South which is in length little less then twenty miles Here between the stony and craggie Rocks and steep Hils lieth Pasetano Praiano Trani and the noble and pleasant City Amalfi in the which in a most sumptuous and stately Church is preserved with great reverence the body of St. Andrew the Apostle where continually attendeth a Priest which hath charge thereof which they say accustometh to bestow on every one that comes thither certain Viols full of clear and sacred liquor by the Citizens called Manna which as they say continually issueth from that holy body the which was brought thither by Pietro Capoano of Amalfi and Cardinal of St. Marcel which was in the year 1208. The head of the said glorious Saint in the time of Pope Pius the second was transported to the worthy City of Rome in the year 14â—4 where now it is most religiously kept There is also the Church of the Capuocini called the Canonica the way whereof is very rough and difficult where is a Reliquary made by the said Cardinal wherein is preserved a great number of the Reliques of Saints When I was there I repuested the Keeper of the place to give me a Note of them the which because he could not instantly do it he sent it me afterwards to Naples written by that good religious man in Verse which followeth the which pleased me so well as to impart unto posterity those reverend and holy Reliques Religio vel casus si huc te duxerit hospes Condita Sanctorum cernere corde kara Clauditur ô tectis quantus thesaurus inistis Accedens sacris collige sisquo memor Lumine nam tremulo spectabis brachia Cosmae Carne cruore cute cum unguibus illa simul Sanguis inest Christi quo dura ex morte redemptus Es mortalis homo respice plange geme Emicat hic ligni pars sancta ex cruce recisi Et tumuli sacri spinaque morte Dei. Nam caput hic Dioniedis adest venerabile cruce Ictu Iacobe alto est saucia calva tua Basilii caput est Romani signa colenda Accedunt mentes Eustachii â—ssa pias Hic Stephani hic Zacheriae fulgentis ossa Insontis turbae frustula multâ— jacent Pangratii cerebrum est Catharinae ac optima mala Vrsula jamque suo sanguine corde movet Ossa hic Marci adsunt Grisostomi ossa Phâ—lippi Qui moveant nostras excipiani que preces Plurima sanctorum monumenta hic deinque fragrant Quae carvere suo haud nomine nota mihil Haec ut scuta potes miserae tutamina vitae Voce vocare diu quaerere mente piâ—i Haec tibi succurrent posituro morte dolores Namque sodalis eris dum soci usque comes Namque dies aderit supremi transitus orbis Qua potes istorum scandere laetus ope Nunc calamum sumpsi nunc haec tibi scripta notavi Vive praecor felix memor ipse mei Of what great Power and Authority the said City hath been the stately Buildings that were therein sufficiently testifie where at this present a great part of the sumptuous Arsenal or Store-House is yet standing wherein the Amalfitani kept their Arms and Weapons In what time or by whom the said City should be builded there is no certainty for some believe that in the year 520. certain worthy Romans which departed from the City of Melfi and here residing should build the said City calling it Amalfe Others attributing
wollen Cloath and Iron and Paper which are there wrought There are in this City these Noble Families Alamagni Amallano Afflitto Austericcio Bembo Brancia Bonito Capoano Cometurso Comite Castello Corsari alias Don Musco Cappa Santa D' Arco Dentice del Iodice de Domio Marino De Fusolis De Platamono Favaro Molignana Marramaldo Petrarca Pisanello del Barone Guglielmo The Arms of this City have been a field per fesse gu and Ar. plain crosses counter-changed the which signifie no other then a unity and consort of things which we have declared of the said City Not far from Amalfi is the beautifull and rich Country of Mairue full of honourable people called by the Letterati Maiorium which was builded by Sichinolfo Longobard Prince of Salerno in the year 842. although some affirm that it had its beginning of Sicardo Duke of Benevento brother of the said Prince The Citizens thereof were almost all Merchants and very ingenious it hath had at sundry times men of great worth as Vinciguerra Lanario which was Lieutenant of the Kings Chamber Iohn Antonio Lanario Councellor and afterward Regent of the Councel of Italy in Spain with King Philip by whom through his worthy merits he was created Count of Sacco And moreover in those daies that worthy and learned man Farrante imperato hath much honoured that Country an excellent and most diligent searcher and conserver of all the riches of Nature and is very learned in the experience of simples whereupon to his great charge hath collected so many divers things and procured them from sundry parts of the world which yield no small wonder to every one that sees them for the which cause many learned men come from far Countries allured through the same of this man to see in Naples his admirable and rare studie He hath composed two learned Works the one a History of natural things and the other of Treacle the which Works are sufficiently known to the world He maintains how in Naples his most honourable house with great courtesie and kind entertainment of the which the City of Scala may well boak that the said Family descended from it which florished with Military men Going a little higher appeareth Minori a little City which is very delightfull for the pleasant Gardens thereof full of Oringes Citrons and Limons and other Fruits Afterward in the top of a Hill is the City Ravello full of goodly buildings and the seat of Nobility where in the principal Church thereof is preserved within a grate the miraculous bloud of St. Pantaleone which being black and hard as a stone the day before and after its Feast as they say is liquid and moist as it was at the time when it was first spilt The Noble Families of the said City are these following Acconciaioco Alfano Bove Campanile Confalone Citarella Castaldo Curtis de Vito de Insola Fenice de Foggia Frezza Fusco Grifone Iusti Longo Muscetola Marra Peroto Rogadei Rufula Rustico Sasso Sconciaioco and others In these daies Paolo Fosco Bishop of Sarno hath much honoured this City who writ two learned Books one of Visitation and Church-Regiment the other de Singularibus in jure Pontificio Going a little farther is Scala re-edified by the Longobards in which City were these Noble Families Afflitti Alfani Marini Atrara Bondello Bonito Cavaliero Frisaro Grisone Mansella Pando Rufola Samnella Sasso del Cardinale Staivano Sebastiani and others The said City was burnt at the same time with Amalfi by the Emperor Lotharius the third because they had been very favourable to Ruggiero the Norman King of Naples which was in the year 1125. but was afterward by the same Citizens newly repaired Descending after towards the shore of the Sea going from Amalfi and sailing towards the East is a little Promontory called the Cape of Orso very memorable for the Victory Count Philip Lieutenant to Andrea Doria had there then Admiral of the King of France against the Empereal Army where were taken prisoners the Marquiss of Vasto and Ascanio Colonna with the death of Don Vgo de Moncada Viceroy of Naples and of Don Pietro di Cardona and others which thing was the cause that Andrea Doria left the service of the French King and joyned with the Emperor Charls the fifth The occasions that moved Doria to leave the French party we have discoursed at full in the lives of the Kings of Naples and besides in the Annals of the said Kingdom Going along by the Continent of the Land you come to Vieteri called of the Latines Vicus Veterum and Vetus Vrbs where are many delightfull and pleasant Villages and going a little farther a mile distant from the Sea appeareth the most ancient and famous City of Salerno the Head both of this Region and also of Basilicata builded near the River of Silare which riseth from the Apennine where also springeth Drumento which runneth down into the Adriatick Sea the said City is situated at the foot of an arm of the Apennine it hath in the front or fore-part fertile and spacious fields behind and on the left side high Mountains on the right side the Tâ—rrene Sea which is so near that the wals are watred therewith and from which a Gulf very perilous is so named which Mariners now call the Gulf of Salerno which by the Latines is named Sinus Pestanus from the ancient City of Peste which is now wholly ruinated as is to be seen in the midst of the shore Through all the Territory of Salerno are seen pleasant Gardenâ— ful of Oringes Limons and Citrons and other excellent Fruits and al the year there are Flowers which seem as a perpetual Spring through the happy influence of the heavens wherefore Horace saith Quod sit hiems veliae quod coelum valla Salerni and therefore all the fruits that grow there are of singular perfection and especially Pomgranates and the Appian Apple whereof is written Omnia mala mala preter Appia Salernitana The Grain Rice which is there in great abundance is very excellent and worthy praise there are also precious Wines and most pleasant in taste Salerno was so named by the River Silare whereof Lucan speaketh in his second Book Radensque Salerne tecta Siler But who should be the Founder thereof no Writer hath made any mention Yet the Citizens say that Sem the son of Noe built it and for authority thereof alleadg an ancient Hymn which their Clergy were wont to sing the 15 of May in celebrating the Feast of the Translation of St Fortunato Caio and Anthe the which Hymn thus beginneth O Salernum civitas nobilis Quam edificavit Sem Noe filius Non tuis sed sanctorum meritis collaudaris It is true that it was an ancient Colony of the Romans who fortified it and put therein a strong Garison of Souldiers for the doubt and distrust they had of the Picentini Lucani and Brutii which were assembled together with
round about That R. Padre Matthia Iuono sirnamed Aquario of the Order of Preachers hath given great honour to this Country of the learning of this man many Works written by him are sufficient testimony that is to say certain learned discourses upon all the principles of Logick natural Philosophy Metaphisick and the Soul upon the four Books of Sentences and another book in particular of the exquisite learning of the controversies between St. Thomas and all the other Doctors and Philosophers with a brief discourse de memoria artificiali de significationibus terminorum juxta doctrinam Sancti Thomae The said learned man died in the year 1591. Walking a little forward is the Country of Olivito the natural Country of Camillo Borrello an excellent Lawyer Olivito was so named because the Territory thereof is full of Olives But leaving these Mediterranean places and walking the ruinous way by the shore we come to Agropolo where is reported that through the delicacy of the air women at twelve years of age are capable of husbands like to the Cipriots which at that time lose their virginity After we come to the Castle of Abbate is the Cape of Licosa first called the Promontory of Possidoniate hard by is the Castle of Bruca a relique of old Velia with the River Electe which taketh the name from the City of Elea and hither the Romans sent to celebrate their accustomed sacrifice to Ceres their Goddess Before the Country of Elia are the two little Isles of Enotrie which have two little artificial Havens the one called Isacia and the other Pontia Afterward appeareth upon a high hill Cammerota in a small circuit of ground builded as some affirm by the reliques of the ancient City of Molpa which standeth but a little distant Going afterward some few miles is a goodly Fortress Near Policastro with the Gulf which the Ancients call the Haven Saprico is the City of Sapri now named Bonati Within the Land is Capaccio Novi and the Valley of Diano a litle from whence upon a hill is a Country called Atane on the other side is Polla Tito and Sala so called because the hils are full of Sage whereupon because in this Valley riseth a great Spring of water which the City of Diano takes the name from Atane of Atteone Tito of Titan which is the Sun Apolla of Apollo it seemeth from the resemblance and near affinity of these names and from the pleasantness of the Country the Fable might here have had its beginning of Atteone the son of Aristeo with Diana After followeth the Fenn with the rich Monastery of St. Laurence possessed by the Carthusian Monks and not far distant is Laurino Saponara and Marsico with many other places But to conclude touching this Province it remaineth that I now declare the disposition and nature of these people which are of a strong constitution and naturally merry ready in arms desirous of learning wary in their affairs and given both to pleasure and profit they are also painfull and industrious and inclined to Traffick the Gentlemen are comely and neatly attired nothing differing from the manner of the Neopolitans but the common people respect not so much civility for as much as they cloth themselves with cloth made of course wooll and base attires on the head All the men in general are very jealous both of their honour and their wives whereupon proceeds the old Proverb Picentinorum Zelotypia In bargaining and contracting their affairs it behoveth a stranger to be very wary for what with deceitfull and flattering speeches and many oaths they easily deceive those that buy any thing of them The Arms of this Country is per fesse ar Sa unto a Sea-compass four wings extended and fixed in Salter with the North-star in chief sinister or The which said arms declare unto us that in this Province was found as hath been said the Mariners Compass with the vertue of the Adamant stone and the Sea-card by Flavio di Gioia whereupon the two fields the one signifieth the day the other the night the four wings which are joyned to the Sea-Compass declare the four Cardinal Winds and chiefest in the world that is to say the East the West the North and the South the shining Star signifieth the North Star wherewith through that excellent invention Pilots and Mariners might sail both day and night with any wind The PRINCIPALITY On the other side the third Province in the Kingdom OF NAPLES THe people of the Principality on the other side are part of the ancient Irpini and derive this name from Lupo which conducted them into this Province to inhabit for so much as the Sabines call Lupo Irpo the which Strabo declareth in the end of his first Book saying Ordine de hinc sunt Hirpini ipsi Samniticae gentis Qui quidem ex Lupo nomen adepti fuerunt qui eis in deducenda Colonia Dux oblatus est Samnites enim Lupum vocant Hirpum The limits of these people were on the East Lucania at this present called Basilicata on the South a part of the said Basilicata with the Picentini and the happy Campania on the West the Sabines and the Vestini on the North the Apennine Hils and the Plain Apuglia now called Capitanato with the Saracins and the Peligni There is also contained in this Province a Country now called the dale of Beneventana the principal part of all Sannio where have been done greater exploits and more in number then in any other part of Italy This Country hath higher hils then the Apennine from whence proceed in certain places little brooks and from almost immeasurable Cliffs and Rocks which is the cause of many Rivers Streams Lakes and Springs it stretcheth in length going along by the Apennine 80 miles from the head of Vulturno to the beginning of the River Silare in Basilicata and of so many Rivers which water this Valley except some few all first fall into the River Sabato and afterward into Vulturno so that from the lower part Sabato seemeth a snag or a branch of a Tree among all the other boughs thereof In Matese which is a Promontory of the Apennine did inhabit the most valiant people of all Sannio Of these people which remained upon these hils Livy saith that they were alwailes faithfull to the Sannites neither could the Roman Army go much before them The principal City of this Region is Benevento edified as Servio affirmeth by Diomedes the Greek and Livy saith that it was first called Malvento and that it was made a Colony of the Romans at the same time with Arimino under the Consulship of P. Sempronio and Ap. Claudio The said City was maintained many years in great peace under the Government of the Romans untill the coming of Tottila King of the Goths into Italy who destroyed it with great slaughter and so remaining ruinated for certain years was afterward repaired
the right side of the River Bradano is the City of Venosa called by Pliny Venusia Patercolo writeth that it was a Colony of the Romans the which Livy confirmeth which was in the year 552. under the Consulship of P. Galba and C. Cotta Horace that eloquent Lirical Poet hath given much honour to this City it is adorned with the dignity of a Prince subject to the Family Gesvalda From it fifteen miles appeareth Canoso whether Terentio Varonne the Roman Consul did retire with fifty of the remainder of the Cavaliery at that famous overthrow which Hannibal gave to the Romans at Canna where L Paulo Emilio the other Consul was slain Six miles after appeareth Lavella which hath the Title of a Marquisat subject to the Family of Tufo then cometh Potenza a populous and rich City upon the Apennine to the which Sebastian Barnaba a Neopolitan Gentleman the Bishop thereof now giveth no small ornament a Prelat of sincere life and indued with great learning The said City hath been a long time possest with the Title of a Count by the House of Gevara which through defect of issue male is now conveyed to the Family of Noia Prince of Sulmona Going on the left side is seen the noble and rich City of Melfi from whence Iohn Andrea d'Oria Admiral of the Sea by the grace and favour of King Philip hath the Title of Prince a Noble man well experienced in Sea affairs and very honourable And following the same way is Spinazzola and not far off is Stigliano which hath the Title of a Prince which Lewis Carrafa Duke of Mondragone enjoyeth a very rich Lord and much affected to Poetry Coming now to a conclusion of this Province the which produceth tall and strong men with black hairs azured eyes and of a white complexion and generally all are accustomed to cut their beards very short and also the hair on their heads their manners and conditions are divers and in their Apparel somewhat base and rude except those which inhabit in the City which go very civil and have good behaviour and conversation but the common people are very rustical and barbarous they imploy themselvs to nothing but tillage and hunting and wrestling and all practice Arms in so much as there is not a child that knows not how to discharge a Pistol and Caliver They little apply themselves to learning The women are not fair and basely attired without any ornament or handsomness but very painfull and carry great burthens upon their heads The Arms of this Province is or a fesse counterindented asure voided of the field in chief an Eagles head arrached proper and crowned of the first which arms signifie the victory which the Lucani had having expel'd and driven away all the Greeks out of their Country whereupon the Lieutenant of the Emperor of Constantinople flying with other Captains were drowned in the River Bradano CALAURIA On this side the Fifth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES TOwards the South in the utmost Confines of the Kingdom lieth the ancient Province of Calauria in the South part of Italy included within the Terrene Sicilian and Ionian Seas like the figure of a beast with six heads and is in circuit 544 miles In this excellent and fruitfull Province grows almost all things not only necessary for the sustenance of living creatures but also for the delights and pleasures thereof It is all full of pleasant and fruitfull Hils Mountains and Vallies the fields are like those of Campania felix they are watred with Springs and Christaline Fountains Here is had all sorts of Corn sundry Wines and in great abundance all kinds of Fruits Oyle Sugar Hony Wax Saffron Bombace Annis and Coriander seeds There groweth Gum Pitch Turpentine and liquid Storax In former time it was never without Mettals but at this present it doth much abound having in most places divers sorts of Mines as Gold Silver Iron Marble Alabaster Cristal Marchesite three sorts of white Chaulk Virmilion Alume Brimstone and the Adamant stone which being in the fifth degree draweth not Iron and is in colour black There groweth hemp and slax of two sorts the one called the male the other the female There falleth Manna from heaven truly a thing very rare and although there is not gathered such abundance of Silk yet I dare say there is not had so much in all Italy besides There are also Bathes both hot luke-warm and cold to cure many diseases Near the Seaside and likewise on the Mediterrane are goodly Gardens full of Oringes Citrons and Limons of divers sorts it is watered with many Rivers There are on the hils of the Apennine thick Woods of high Firrs Holms Platanes Oaks where grows the white odoriferous Mushrome which shineth in the night Here is bred the soft stone Frigia which every month yields a delicate and wholsome Gum and the stone Aetites by us called the stone Aquilina In this Province there is excellent hunting of divers creatures as wild Hoggs Staggs Goats Hares Foxes Porcupines Marmosets There are also ravenous beasts as Wolves Bears Lyzards which are quick-sighted and have the hinder parts spotted with divers colours This kind of Beast was brought from France to Rome in the sports of Pompey the great and Hunters affirm this Beast to be of so frail a memory that although he eateth with hunger if he chance to look back remembreth no more his meat and departing searcheth for other The Sea then which lyeth upon this happy Country aboundeth with great store of excellent fish and in many places grows both white and red Coral and near the shore is found the Touch-stone which trieth Gold and Silver from all other Mettals This Province is of greater antiquity then any other in all Italy because it was begun to be inhabited before the floud by Aschenaza the son of Gomero the Nephews of Noe into which place being come where now is Regio through the amenity and temperature of the aire very delightfull made there his habitation and founded a City which by his own name he called Aschenaza and the inhabiters thereof were called Aschenazei which that it may seem true Iosephus which lived in the time of the Emperor Titus in his first book of Jewish antiquities testifieth saying Aschenaz inslituit Aschenazeos qui nunc Rhegini vocantur à Graecis The same also St. Ierome confirmeth in his Hebrew questions upon Genesis saying Aschenas Graeci Rheginos vocant The like name of a City was not heard of among any other people except that in Calauria the which City was afterward by the overthrow called of the Greeks Rhegium Sicilia being in the same place divided from Italy through the violence of an Earthquake Calauria was called by sundry names at the first it was called Ausonia by the valiant Ausonii the inhabiters thereof or as some affirm by Ausono the son of Vlisses it was afterward by the Oriental
followeth Castiglione the Cape of Subero where Pyrrhus disbarked himself coming from Sicilia after cometh St. Eusemia which Stephano saith is called Lametia where is a Gulf so named very full of Coral and the best Tunny and a little distant lieth Nicastro and here the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa made for delight and pleasure convenient Baths and excellent hunting both for wild beasts and fowles the first which began in Italy to be delighted in hauking with Falcons which in former time was unknown although some write that Anasilao was the first Not very far is Tiriolo the reliques of old Tirio where the Apennine is drawn into so narrow a point that the rain-water which descendeth from the ridg of some one house falleth on the left side into the Terrene Sea and on the right into the Adriatick And coming now to an end of this Province which hath for the Arms thereof a Cross bastonesa in a field Ar. the which Ensignes and Arms had its original in the time that Boemundo the Norman Duke of Calauria came with twelve thousand choice souldiers in aid of the holy Land whereby through his prowesse and valour was afterward made Prince of Antioche and forsomuch as the enterprise was very famous and honourable therefore I believe the said Province gave these Arms representing thereby the great Voyage which the said Duke made CALAURIA On the other side the Sixth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES CALAVRIA on the other side is a Province which containeth a good part of Magna Grecia and of the Brutii and passeth from the one and the other side of the Apennine to the Ionian and Terrene Seas and is divided from Calauria on this side by the Mediterrane above Cosenza going by a direct line to the one and the other Sea into the Ionian near Stromboli and into the Terrene at the Gulf Ipponiate which is the Gulf of St. Eufemia and these are only the Confines of the said Province where the Brutii sometimes inhabited From that part which lieth towards the North except a little is wholly compassed with the Sea on the East is the Ionian on the South Sicilia and on the West the Terrene which is the utmost limits of the Kingdom It is partly plain and partly mountainous it hath fair and fruitfull Hils Woods Rivers and Fountains great plenty of Corn Vine Olives and every other thing necessary for the sustenance of living creatures There are horses and heards of cattel very plentifull and great abundance of woll and of the best and finest silk In this Province are pits of gold of silver and great plenty almost of all mettals it hath many hot baths which cure divers infirmities and to conclude it is a Country indued with all good things for the which it may be called a most happy Region The men of this Country as also of all Calauria after other ancient names which they had were called Bretii and they were so called from Brettio the son of Hercoles as Stephano writeth in his book of the City and Ermolao upon Stephano and as it appeareth by many Greek Monuments which are declared with great Learning by Pierio Valeriano and by many Antiquaries Iustine and Trogo say that they were called Brutii of Brutia a maid Iohn Annio affirmeth that they were so called by Bruto Ombrone a most valiant Captain Calepino and Nicholas Perotto say they are called Brutii A Brutis moribus but this is a vain thing and an idle conjecture of them Guarino not well understanding Strabo addeth to his translation many things of his own conceit Strabo saying that Brutii fuerunt rebelles Lucanorum he addeth here that they were fugitives a name which was given to servants but we finding in Histories and principally in Iustine that these were children and not servants of the Lucani forsomuch as the Lucani were accustoâ—ed to bring up and foster their children in the field after the manner of the Sâ—arâ—ans but their children misliking that manner of education opposed themselves against their fathers that is to say the Lucani and went to inhabit in Calauria These people in process of time became so mighty that they feared not any whereby for as much as their Country was not well able to contain them they made spoil of the places near unto them and expel'd the natural inhabitants the which they often attempted being allured through the sweetness of the booty The ancient limits of the Brutii were the River Lavo or Lao now called the River Laino measuring along the shore of the Sea and the streight of Sicilia the space between these bounds is according to Strabo 1350 furlongs which contains 169 miles but according to the description of Ptolomy these were the limits on the West the River Lavo with the Lucani on the South the Terrene Sea with Faro of Messina on the East part of the Ionian Sea on the North Magna Grecia with the River Chrati And to make a description of this Province I will begin from the Cape of Subero where Pyrrhus King of the Epirots coming from Sicilia disbarkt himself Not far off is Triolo the reliques of old Tiro where the Apennine Hils are very narrow and then is Malda built by the Saracins which hath a very fruitfull Country From hence on the Sea at the mouth of Amato is Angitola where Dionisius often desired to unite the said Haven with that of Squillia Afterward appeareth Pizzo in a very spacious and pleasant place with the little Islands Itacensi which perhaps had this name because Vlysses arrived there Then cometh Bevona planted with goodly Gardens of Citrons and Oringes the ancient Harbour of Hipponio which the Countrey people now call Monteleone which lieth in a pleasant prospect with many fields round about the said City was founded by the Greeks and they called it Hipponium because it was builded according to the likeness pnd similitude of a horse for that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek tongue signifieth a horse the which City as the Histories thereof recite was in compass eight miles wholly built with bricks the ruines whereof are at this present to be seen this noble City had very pleasant and delightfull fields which compast it round about Poets have feigned that when Ceres travelled in search of her daughter Proserpina that was stoln away remained here that Winter to gather Roses and other pleasant Flowers where also continues the three Festival daies which the Tyrant Agatocles so long since ordained Pestino a famous Writer was of this City which is celebrated by Macrobio in his sixth book de Saturnali in this word Transmicto Dominico Pizzimetti a learned Philosopher was also of the same City which translated out of Greek into Latine the predicaments of Archita Tarentino The ancient Vibo was destroyed by the Agareni in the time of blessed Nilo and the like ruine sustained Terino Tauriano and Trischene And this noble
of all it was robbed by P. Plemnio the Roman Legat. Nevertheless they all sustained the punishment of Divine vengeance the one whilst he went up and down the shore through fear restored the sacriledg was afterward slain by Argus the punishment of the other was imposed upon his son being therefore deprived his Kingdom by God which often punisheth the sins of fathers in their children and the other by authority of the Senate died miserably in prison There are in the Territory of the said City excellent Baths of brinish and sulphure water which help and cure many diseases and are very good for barren women Here are made very fair earthen dishes and great abundance of the best and finest silk excellent oyl capers corianders and most delicate manna But to the end the Reader may be well satisfied I will say somewhat of the said manna which is so much commended by Phisicians Manna then as that learned Mattiolo saith is a certain dew or sweet liquor which falleth in the night from the air upon the leaves and the boughs of trees and upon the grass and herbs and upon the stones and likewise upon the earth the which afterward growing very thick within a certain space of time becometh grainy like gum and this is properly called manna on the leaves and is a small grain transparent and heavy like to a little grain of white mastick and of a sweet and pleasant taste After this that on the boughs holds the second place and the third is that on the stones and on the earth the which hath a bigger grain and nothing so pure a colour and this is gathered in the morning before the heat of the Sun forasmuch afterward as the Sun dissolving it it is easily converted into air and therefore some of them use which gather it when any great plenty falls to cut off the boughs of the trees in the morning betimes and to carry them into the fields in the cold air where through the hardness they gather it wiâ—h the greater ease Averroe was of opinion and many other besides him that the Ancients and especially Galen knew not this manna Manna falleth in the nights in the Summer season when the air is coldest and the day before very hot and dry for the learned interpreters of nature say this proceeds of the light vapours from the earth and the water Forasmuch as being first purified and concocted by the Sun it is to be thought that by the cold of the night following it becomes thick And besides it is to be understood that that Manna which falls upon fig-leaves and the Ash is whitest and most gummie but that which falleth upon the leaves of peaches of almonds or oaks is liquid and in taste and colour like honey Therefore we may easily believe that not by its own nature or of it self Manna becommeth gummy and is made thick like unto mastick but these accidents cause these effects upon the leaves and trees where it chanceth to fall Neither is that to be believed which many report thereof that manna before the canicular daies sweateth in Calauria without falling from the air even from boughs and likewise from the bark of the bodies of the ash and plum-trees and to be ingendred naturally of it self in these trees and to sweat out of them in like manner as gum sweateth from divers other trees wherein they are much deceived forasmuch as that which sweateth from these trees in the canicular daies is no other then the celestial manna descending there in the next succeeding months of May and Iune sucked up by the bark and drawn out again in such manner as a man draweth a drop of oyl out of a piece of woollen cloath that is fallen upon it and so it afterward comes to pass being incorporated with the rine of the tree issueth out again drawn by the violent heat of the canicular starr and is there thickned and becomes grainy in the manner of gum It is evidently seen that that which falleth from the air is better preserved by the ash and the plum-trees then any other kind of Tree or Plant whatsoever and therefore it is not to be admired if the most sottile and thin part entreth and penetrateth through the pores thereof being there preserved doth not corrupt in a long time Manna is according as Avicenne and Mesue relates of an equal temperature more inclining to heat then otherwise But according to Averroe it is hot and moist it loosneth the body although but weakly by it self alone and therefore it is given to women with child and to little children without any hurt or fear being mingled and wrought with medicines it increaseth their vertue It gently and easily purgeth choler taketh away thirst openeth and mollifieth the parts of the brest and of the throat but it cannot be preserved in the true perfection thereof above one year Leaving the said City two miles we come to the River Buthroto whereof Livy maketh mention and not far off is the little Castle of Siderono with the River Locano which is full of fish and a little above is Grotteria which is six miles from the Sea and from Ieraco ten Barrio is of opinion that the said City was builded by Idomeneo King of Candia called by the Ancients Castrum Minervae The Territory thereof is very fruitfull and fertile because that besides the great abundance of fruit of oyl of almonds of silk and of the best hony it hath very delectable and pleasant Gardens full of Oringes Citrons Limons and Pomgranates and in it are Mines of Gold and Lead The said Country is adorned with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the house of Aragona d' Ayerbe Departing from Grotteria we come to Mottagioiosa called by Pliny and by Mela Ministra where is made good Wine Oyle and Silk and there is also Mines of Salt Near the Sea is Roccella called in old time Amphissia whereof Ovid in the 15 book of Met. maketh mention saying Levibusque Amphissia remis saxa sugit This Country hath lately been honoured with the dignity of a Prince by the favour of King Philip. Following the same way we come to the mouth of Alaro which the Ancients called Sacra after we incounter Mottapaganica we come to Monesteria very famous for the excellent Cheeses and Flax that are made there a little higher appears the ancient Promontory of Cocinto which is now called the Cape of Stilo which according to the opinion of some is the longest in all Italy there are digged round about it many Mines of Gold of Silver and Iron and of Steel From the point of the abovesaid Cape beginneth the Ionian Sea and afterward is Stilo a good and populous Country whose Territory is very rich of Mines of Gold and Silver and other Mettals And there is also made very excellent Flax Capers Saffron Bombace and it standeth from the Sea five miles Tomaso Campanella of the Order of Preachers was
born in this Country and Telesiano the Philosopher the which hath learnedly writ eight books of disputations against the Peripateticks in favour of Berardino Telesio and is now at this present writing De sensu rerum where he shews he understands all things A little distant is Santa Caterina and Badolato a Country very delightfull where is made excellent Wines Oyl Hony and very fine Silk and also is gathered great store of Manna to the which Country Giulio Berlingiero and Giovandomenico Greco excellent Lawyers at this present yield much honour After followeth Satriano called of the Ancients Caecinnum from whom the River taketh the name which runneth but a little from thence of the which Thucidides in his third book maketh mention saying Laches Atheniensis egressi è navibus nonnulla loca locridis juxta caecinnum amnem Locrenses ad arcendam vim occurrentes cum Proxeno Capatonis silio circiter trecentos caeperunt detractisque armis abierunt Afterward is to be seen Petrito a little Castle situate in a pleasant seat where is made excellent good Wine not very far is Claravalle which for the goodness of the Flax contends with Alexandria for the precedence Then followeth Soverato whose Territory is garnished with beautifull Gardens of Citrons Limons and Oringes where near to the Fountain Meliteo is to be seen an Oak whose leaves never fals And afterward is Squillaci a noble and an ancient City built as some affirm by the Ausoni or by the Enotri Of this City thus writeth Strabo Scyllaceum Atheniensium Colonia qui Menestei comites fuere From the name of this City the Gulf of Squillaci taketh its name so perilous to Sailers whereof grows the Proverb Naufragâ—â— Scyllaceus Squillace was a Colony of the Romans as C. Velleio Patercole writeth in his first book to the which City Cassiodoro Munk of the Order of St. Benedict hath given great ornament which writ many books upon divers matters and among others composed the Tripartite History in 12 books and a book de ratione animae and another upon the Canticles he writ another book of Etimologies with a Catalogue of all the Roman Consuls He lived in the time of Iustine the old Emperor and died in the year of our Lord 575. The said City is honoured with the title of a Prince subject to the house of Borgia wherein with much reverence is preserved the body of St. Agatio Here leaving the River Crotalo and Roccella upon a high Hill is Catanzaro a noble and populous City the which was builded by Fagitio Lieutenant in Italy for the Emperor Nicephero And Catanzaro was so called of the Greek word Catizo which in Latin signifieth sedeo to which the excellent situation and the workmanship of Silk and Cloath bringeth great profit it is one of the fairest and principal Cities of Calauria and at this present it is the head of this Province and in it resideth the Kings Audit In the chiefest Church thereof lie with great reverence the bodies of St. Vitaliano and Theodoro Martyrs whose holy lives are written by the reverend Paolo Regio Bishop of Vico. Hard by is to be seen the City of Taverna which standeth near the Wood Sila This City had its original from the ancient Treschinesi the which being in the year 1068. ruinated by the Saracins was afterward reedified within the land in a most strong and inpregnable place but sustaining afterward divers calamities was again newly built by the Citizens thereof two miles distant under a most delicate temperature of air In the Territory of this City groweth the odoriferous Turpentine which Macedonia Damasco and Syria so much esteemed the having thereof This City hath received much honour by Iohn Lorenzo Anania an excellent Divine and Cosmographer which hath writ the Universal Fabrick of the world and a learned discourse of the nature of devils Towards the Sea-side is to be seen Simari and a little distant is the City Trichenesi which had very stately buildings in the old time but at this present the reliques are scant to be seen Then followeth the City Belcastro which some say was the ancient Chona This City boasteth much of St. Thomas of Aquin affirming that he was there born where they say he did the miracle of the Roses for which they cease not to contend with the Neopolitans saying he was of their City this worthy Saint died in the Monastery of Fossanova in the Territory of Terracina in the year of our Lord 1274. Near unto it is Mesuraga called in old time Reatinum builded by the Enotrii of the which Country was the worthy Matteo Vidio of the Order of the Minori whose body with honour lieth in the City of Taverna Not far distant standeth Policastro called by the Ancients Petilia which was builded by Philotete the son of Piante companion of Hercoles Of this City Virgil in the 3. book of Aeneid saith thus Hic illa Dulcis Melibaei parva Philoctetae subnexa Petilia muro This City was a Colony of the Romans the which was many times defended with much valour against the assaults of Hannibal by whom being at length taken was destroyed Then follows Siberna an ancient and an honourable City now called Santa Severina which is situate on a high Hill in the mids between two famous Rivers very strong by nature and after is the Rock where are digged great hils of Salt From hence leaving the River Tacina appears Cutro which aboundeth with excellent Flax and a little above is the Castle which some say should be the place named by the Latines Castra Hannibalis Then appeareth the Isle and the Cape of Pillars before called the Promontory Lacinio and was so called of Lacinio a famous Pirat which went robbing up and down and was afterward slain by Hercules who built there a sumptuous Temple to Iuno which Eneas honoured with a Cup of Gold this place was very famous for the School of Pithagoras and for the ashes of Filotete which laid upon the Altar was not dispersed with the wind This Cape of Pillars in these latter times was so called by the many and great Pillars which are there standing of the said ruinated Temple Leaving this Cape where beginneth the second gulf of the Mediterrane is the famous City of Cotrone in old time one of the greatest and chiefest Cities of Maegna Grecia The opinions of Writers are divers by whom the said City should be builded for some affirm that it was built by Lacinio Corcireo Ovid and Strabo say it should be Misilo Pithagoras more ancient then these writeth that Hercules built it This City was very famous because the Philosopher Pithagoras was a Citizen thereof from whose School proceeded more Philosophers then were Captains in the Trojan horse and also for Orpheus the Poet and Democides the Phisician so much esteemed of the King of Persia besides the beauty of the women have been much
part of men therein are imployed in Learning and Arms. The Arms of this Province is or four pales gu a Dolphin proper in his mouth a Cressent argent The original of the which Arms was in the year 1481. At the time that Alfonsus of Aragon Duke of Calauria the son of Ferdinando the first King of Naples drove away the Turks from the city of Otronto and other places whereupon the men of this Province willing to shew that great service which the King had done for them in delivering them from the hands of the wicked Tyrant Mahumet the second Emperor of the Turks for this cause devised the said Arms declaring by the four pales gu in the field or the Arms of the King Fardinando of Aragon The Dolphin was no new invention but very ancient for so much as the monuments declare that the Dolphin with Neptune were the proper ensignes of the country of the Salentini but only they added the half-moon in the mouth of the Dolphin noting thereby that the new Seigniory which the Tyrant Mahumet endeavoured to hold in this worthy Province was by the care and diligence of the valiant Alfonsus and the vertue of the Inhabitants thereof taken from him The Countrey of BARY The eighth Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe fertile and fruitfull Province of the Country of Bary was in old time called Apulia Pucetia of Pucetio the brother of Enotrio and son of Licaone which with many followers departed from Greece 375 years before the Wars of Troy and setled themselves in this place the which people were sometimes called Pucetii and sometimes Pedicoli and were the first men sent out of Greece to dwell elsewhere Also the said people which inhabited between the Territory of Taranto Brindesi and the River Aufido were named Etoli of Etolia of Greece the people whereof came into these places to inhabit as certain Writers affirm the Pediculi being droven from thence remained therein What these Pediculi were Strabo declares in his sixth book and Pliny in the third and say that they were nine youths and as many wenches which departed from Illiria and here inhabited from whom descended 13 people and to the end they might dwell the more securely built many Castles and were called Pediculi that is to say boys or children At this present it is called the Land of Bary from the city of Bary anciently called Iapigia and Baretum the head of this Province in the which city in a stately church wherein with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Nicholas sometimes Bishop of Licia from whom continually issueth as is said a certain liquor called by the Citizens Manna which is an admirable thing and the Priests which have the keeping thereof use to bestow on those that come thither little viols of glass full of the said Manna The said Church is served by a hundred beneficed Priests The bounds of this Province was according to Strabo and Pliny from the Territory of Taranto and of the Brindesi along unto the River Fortoro from thence by the Mount Gargano and towards the Adriatick Sea or rather Ionian according to Ptolomy even to the Lucani and the Irpini and the Sanniti and so the said bounds have on the South the Salentini Lucani and Irpini on the North the coast of Ionian and Adriatick on the West the River Fortoro the limit of the Caraceni and Ferrentani now called Abruzzo The goodness and fertility of this Province is very great for it yields Grain Wine Oyl Barley Beans Fitches Annis Comin Coriander Saffron and Bombace There are great Woods of Almons and Olives so bigg-bodied and so high that it seems that nature hath brought them forth as a wonder unto men And to be brief so great is the difference of these Trees from those which grow elsewhere as is between the wild Olives and those which are planted and also of the greatness of the bodies and their admirable height with the fashion of their boughs whereupon the Ancients have said that they were dedicated to Minerva and have also feigned that in these places was hanged Filida the Nymph and is no less plentifull of Oringes Limons and other the like fruitfull Trees as well for the benefit of living creatures as for pleasure besides there is excellent hunting both for fowls and also wild beasts The Sea thereof hath great store of good fishes the air is very chearfull and temperate but the waters are otherwise for they are gross and brackish There are on the side of the Sea these Cities and Countrys following Barletta of later Latinists called Barolum a worthy City rich and full of people built by the inhabiters of Canusio but inlarged by the Emperor Frederick the second In the midst of the Market-place of this noble City is a great Statue of Mettal of ten yards high of the Emperor Frederick although the Barletani affirm that it is the Image of the Emp. Heraclio nevertheless the first opinion is truest There is also a very strong castle which is accounted one of the four that are so famous in Italy Presently follows the fair city of Trany named by Pliny Trinium built by Terreno the son of Diomides and repaired by the Emperor Trajan Hard by is Molfetta a city full of civility which with the title of a Prince is possest by the Lord Don Ferrant Gonzaga chief Justicer in the Kingdom Nicolo sirnamed of Giovenazzo companion of St. Dominick gave the name to this City to whom was revealed the manner of conveying his bones as is to be read in the book of the famous men of the Order of Preachers Walking along we come to Mola Saint Vito Polignano St. Stefano and Villanova Farther within the land are these cities Monopoli built by the ruines of Egnatia to which City hath grown great honour by Bartholomeo Sibilla of the Order of Preachers an excellent Philosopher and Divine and Câ—millo Querno a singular Poet who lived in the time of Pope Leo Ostuno Ceglie Conversano Gioia Rotigliano Altamura Acquaviva Cassano Monorvino Modugno Terlizzi Rutigliano Quarato Pulignano and Biseglia called in old time Vigile a noble city and full of Traffick wherein was found the bodies of St. Mauro Bishop of Sergio and Pantaleone martyred for the Christian faith being revealed to Francesco del Balzo d' Andri Lord of this city who caused them to be put with great reverence in an honourable Sepulchre from which riseth as they say continually a precious liquor called Manna After follows Bitetto Ruvo and Gravina a great city very fair and civil the which with the title of a Duke is anciently possest by the worthy Family Orsina Don Antonio Orsâ—no is the present Duke thereof a young man which is very likely to imitate the honourable steps of Duke Ferrant his father of worthy memory And the said Gravina was the Garner and Store-house of Puglia for the inestimable quantity of corn which was gathered in
the Territory thereof and there is one notable thing which is there done every summer by the Stork whereby the country receiveth no small benefit by the destruction of Serpents which breed there too plentifully which the Storks feed upon whereupon I will not conceal the manner observed by this bird in killing that venomous creature as the people of the country report and is at all times to be seen The Stork hath a very long beak bigg and sharp pointed and making one of his wings to serve as a buckler which is very great among the bigg quils thereof thrusteth his beak in and out being accompanied with a very long neck so fiercely pricketh and gripeth his enemy untill he kill him and afterward taking him in his mouth carrieth him to his nest oftentimes flying within the view of the city And it is to be noted that in this combat was never seen any stork killed by the serpent whereupon the Dukes have alwaies observed by a penal Act to punish whomsoever killeth any stork and therefore they live familiarly with them The Arms of Gravina are certain ears of Corn and bunches of Grapes to declare how much the Territory thereof aboundeth with these two sorts of fruits that is to say Corn and Wine whereupon some think from thence it taketh its name In this Province is Bitonto so called as it were bonum totum it is a rich and a populous city the Territory thereof is very fertile for so much as it yields besides Wine Oyle and Corn Almons and Oringes and Limons in great abundance Iulius Acquaviva Duke of Atri was Marquiss of Bitonto This country is famous by the means of Antonio the Divine an excellent Preacher and Mariano likewise a Divine of great name in his time Cornelio Musso the Bishop doth also increase the honour of this city an admirable and incomparable Preacher whose Works are generally known There is Andri the renowned and beautifull City and likewise Canosa near ancient Canna where Maherbal Captain of the horse said unto Hannibal Vincere scis Annibal sed victoria uti nescis because he obtaining the victory of Canna went not presently to Rome as he was advised In this Province are bred a great multitude of venomous serpents called the Tarantole which Latinists call Phalangi which are certain living creatures little differing from the likeness of a frog which with often biting so envenometh that the infection cannot be cured but with musick dansing singing and colours and without these means they cannot live The men of this Province are generally of great courage and very forward in military affairs but very frail and unable to incounter adversity whereof grew this proverb That in the beginning of the battel they are more then men but in the end less then women They are for the most part of a swart complexion and of a tall stature in conversation courteous and painfull in their affairs they abstain marvelously from stealing in taking parts and in bargaing they are very honest and seldom is any contention among them the women are beautifull loving and compleat Some have thought because there is no Iron in this country they had in old time little use of swords but only a long staff pointed with a little iron which served them to fight and defend themselves but having the enemy in a streight or a little distant the footmen cast darts and other weapons going to skirmish they wore only one coat they had their Targets painted with divers colours and very few used any mail but at this present it is otherwise for there is not a boy that knows not how with good aim to discharge a peece and almost every one is trained up in the practice of military affairs The Arms of this Province is per salter azur and argent a crosier or Bishops staff or These Arms as I think signifie by the corners the bounds thereof which divide it from the other Provinces and by the Bishops staff should seem to declare the devotion of St. Nicholas and so much the more we may believe it in so much as the body of the said Saint lieth in the principal City of this City ABRUZZO On this side the ninth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES ABRVZZO is the coldest part of all the Kingdom but the Province is very famous for the puissance and glory of the ancient Sanniti which are the Pentri Amiternini Precutini Marci Caraceni Vestini Marracini and Irpini although Pliny also addeth the Frentani and Peligni All these people descend of the Sannity from the City of Sannio called in old time Samnum where the Sabines remained being arived in these places from whom the said Sannity derive their original Of what power and authority these people have been would be a thing no less difficult then tedious to recite insomuch as their Empire became so great that they overan sacking and spoyling even to Ardea of the Latines and also to Campania felix whereby they held War in these countries the space of 80 years oftentimes incountring the Romans with victory and after divers fortunes both on the one and the other side in the end they became so subject by the means of the Fabii and the Papirii both the fathers and their sons that they could never any more strive against them The History is well known of the famous exploit at the gallows of Caudine when under the Consulship of Vetturio and Posthumio the Romans being there intrapped were afterward inforced by Pontio Captain of the Sanniti to pass dishonourable under the yoke the which being indured by the Romans with a silent disdain within awhile after was revenged with a notable overthrow given unto them under the most valiant Cursor L. Papirio the which is discoursed at large by Titus Livius At this present as is elsewhere declared where is named the Gallows Caudine is called the streight of Arpaia and where the Romans past under the yoke is the yoke of St. Mary and the Valley Caudine is eight miles distant from Benevento Strabo speaking of the Sannity thus saith Sannites postremo à Sylla deleti sunt quos cum caeteris Italis bello fractis solos arma retinentes ac Romam oppugnantes videâ—et alios in fuga cecidit alios abjectis armis se dedentes ad quatuor millia in villa publica quae in Campo Martio est trucidavit fractisque proscriptionibus non ante destitit quam universum Sannitium nomen deleverit aut Italia fugarit The Region of Sannio was more in length then in breadth for it had on the North the Ferentani and Pugliesi on the South the Campani and Lucany on the West the Ausoni with Piligni and on the East the same Lucani and Pugliesi The worthiest people of all the Sanniti were the Pentri Caraceni and Hirpini from whom this country of Abruzzo derived its name there are sundry opinions for some say they were called by the
Latines Aprutium because it is mountenous and full of wild hoggs Others affirm that a part of Abruzzo being sometimee inhabited by the Precutini time having corrupted the word instead of Precutio was called Aprutio I name this Province Abruzzo as it is by the Kings Court and as at this present it is commonly called changing the letter P. into B. The bounds of Abruzzo had on the East the River Fortore Tronto on the West on the North the Adriatick Sea and on the South the Apennine Hils and moreover also it had on the East the Plain Puglia with the River Fortore on the West part of the Sabines Picentini and Campani with Latium the Equicoli along the Apennine as much on the one side of the said Hill as is on the other It now taketh its beginning from the mouth of the River Pescara and goeth along the shore of the Adriatick sea even to the mouth of Fortore where it ends with Capitanato leaving by that Province the City of Teramo and between the Land with Abruzzo on the other side and that branch of the River Pescara which rising from the streight of Valata passeth by the foot of the Apennine against the Land of Popoli and near it entreth into the Valley called Itramonti leaving all the country which hath the River on the right side and a little higder above the Marsi are the Apennine Hils where the River Sangro springeth which riseth from that obscure Valley of Barrea which they call the Kings Valley in the Plain near the castle of Sangro which divides this Province from the county of Molise This Province is partly plain and partly mountainous and hath great plenty of Rivers and great and thick Woods and the Territory thereof is very fertile for it bringeth forth Wine Grain Oyle Rice Barley and other Corn and everywhere is gathered great abundance of excellent Saffron And although the air be somewhat cold nevertheless the amenity of the country is sweetned thereby with so good a temper and such plenty of fruits and heards of cattel and abundance of wild beasts besides ravenous creatures as wolves and bears Some think that the Frentani were the most valiant people of all Italy but as I think they were much deceived having not first well considered the words of Pliny who describing the Region of the Frentani saith it makes the fourth which from the River Tiferno beginneth the fourth Region of the Frentani so that by these valiant people he meaneth the Frentani themselves and the Marrucini which came afterward and the Peligni and the Precutini and who readeth the Roman Histories may know that the squadrons of the Peligni were preferred before all the Latine Nations The principal city of this Region is called at this Present Civita di Chieti named by Ptolomy Teatea and of Pliny Theate and also of Strabo Theate and was so called by Theata the mother of Achilles Both these said Authors write that this city was the chief and principal head of the Marucini as likewise Silio affirms the same saying Marhucina simul Frentanis aemula pubes Corfini populos magnumque Theate trabebat This city is situate upon a very high hill distant from the Adriatick Sea no more then seven miles it was destroyed by Pepin the son of Charls the great for taking part with the Longobards but it was about two hundred years following repaired again and became so pleasing to the Normans for the most pleasant situation thereof that Gotfredo the brother of Ruberto Guiscardo in the time of Pope Nicholas the second possessing this Province made the said City the head of all the Country of Abruzzo the Territory thereof is very excellent and bringeth forth all necessary things as well for profit as pleasure beyond the River Sangro among the Peligni is the ancient City of Orton upon the Sea being by Strabo called Ortonium and of Cato Ortonum but Ptolomy nameth it Orton And Strabo writeth that it was in old time called Petra Piratorum because the Rovers and Pirats retired hither when they had robbed at the sea in the which City is to be seen in a very stately Church where with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Thomas the Apostle with his ancient Tomb in which Church appeareth alwaies upon the Steeple when any ship is in danger at sea the miraculous light of St. Heramo which the Ancients attributed to Castor and Pollux although Philosophers affirm that it naturally proceeds from the repercussion of the air through the winds and water which seemeth very unlikely because there is not so much as the leaf of a tree that moveth without the providence of God how should this light casually chance the sea presently becoming calm and the sailers in safety which in that perilous state called faithfully upon the name of God Neither can it be by the means of any evil spirits for never is shewed any deed of piety but by some celestial and divine means and especially towards the faithfull Not far distant from Ortona is to be seen Ferentana at this present corruptly called Francavilla because it was often possest by the French this City was according to Razano the head of the Frentani From the River Sangro or Sanguine called in old time Saro four miles distant and as far from the sea is Lanciano a noble City called by Pliny Anxium and of Ptolomy Anxanum Here at two several times in the year that is to say in the month of May and August do Merchants assemble almost from all parts of Europe Asia and from other parts where is a principal Mart or Fair very famous through all the world on the right hand of Lanciano at the foot of the Hill is Maiella and Palumbaro and on the right hand of the River Sangro near the Sea is the Monastery of St. Iohn where sometimes was the famous Temple of Venus and above are these Countries Fossaceca and the Fort of St. Iohn and a little higher on the side of Sangro are seen the great ruines of the City of Bica which the country people call Seca on the right hand cometh the River Aventino and joyneth with Sangro and near the foot of Maiella are these Countries Civitella and Lama and on the right hand of the River Aventino is Palena the word being corrupted in place of Peligno near the which appears the ruines of the ancient City sometimes the chief and head of the Piligni called Superequani This Country is ennobled with the dignity of a Count the Lord whereof is Matteo of Capoa Prince of Couca a very rich Lord and a great lover of Learning But returning behind Lanciano going along the shore of the sea we come to the mouth of the River Foro which riseth from the Mount Maiella where it entreth into the Sea near the which is the Castle Tollo and on the left side thereof near unto it is Miglionico and a little higher is Fara and before it is
Campobascio sixteen miles is the Castle Celantia and from hence seven miles is Riccia opposite to whom is Gambatesa and after eight miles is the Castell of Motta and a litle higher are these Cities and Castles St. Gintiam Coletort Geldono and in the top is Circo the great where the river Fortore springeth six miles from thence is Vinchiaturo afterward is Baronello Busso Ratino Rocchetta Montesaggiano and following that way neer the river Fortore are these Countries and Castles Petrella Castel de Lino Morrone and Giovenisso Then we come to very large and spacious fields which continue the space of eighteen miles even to the sea and therein are to be seen the ruines of the ancient Gerione so often named by Livy neere whose walls he writeth that Hanniball made his stay Upon the Hills which joyn with the Apennine and are above the fountain of Vulturno on the right hand are these Castles Montenegro Riofreddo and a little below is the Castle Forolo so called also in old time then coming down by the course of the river three miles neer Fornello is a new countrey but very populous and rich which yeilds the best wine in all the countrey Directly against Fornello there belongs to Vulturno a vally called Porcina and then somwhat lower there entreth into Vulturno a River which comes from Esernia an ancient Colony of the Romans to which City that learned Lawyer Andrea of Rampino called by the Surname of Esernia hath given much honor whose works are of great estimation with learned men he was a man of great account and of the counsell of Queen Ione the first and as Liparulo writeeth was slain by Currado of Gottis a Dutch Baron for giving judgment against him This Citie hath a very fruitfull Territory and the Citizens for the most part are imployed in merchandise Not far off is Supino a fair and an ancient citie called in old time Sepinum of whom Pliny calleth the Inhabiters Sepinates Ascending then towards the Mediterrane within a mile of the river Fortore and eight miles from the sea is the noble Castle Guilliniaco and as much more higher is Guardia Alferes so named above the which is Lupara Cartabuttaccio and Lucito which hath a fair and fertile Territory the Lord thereof is Alfonso Pescicello a Neapolitane Gentleman a generous young man and wise and much inclined to learning And keeping on that way there is to be seen Limosano Castelpignano Rochetta Casal reparando and Lespineto which was repaired by Queen Ione the first by the mediation of Pietro Cardillo a Neapolitan her Favorite Of the which mention is made in the Register of the Exchequer Rolls of the said Queen of which Family there remains at this present a branch of the old stock even that learned Ottanio Cardillo a man indewed with much knowledge and liveth with great renown Then a little forward appears Boiano a City once esteemed the richest as it were the principall of Sannio whereof Livy maketh oftentimes very honorable mention and sometimes saith that it was sack 't and ransack't by the Romans and was more prey'd and spoyl'd then ever was all Sannio besides Moreover Silio Italio maketh mention thereof when speaking of the Samnits he saith Affluit Samnis nondum vergente favore Ad poenos sed nec veteri purgatus ab ira Qui Batulum Mucrasque colunt Boviana quique Exercent lustra aut Caudinis faucibus haerent Et quos aut Rufrae aut quos Aesernia quos ve Obscura incultis Herdania misit ab agnis Brutius haud dispar animorumque una juventus Lucanis excita jugis Hirpinaque pubes In the Book of the Colonies is thus written Bovianum oppidum lege Iulia milites deduxerunt sine iter Colonis populo iter amplius non debetur quam pedes Ager ejus per centurias Scâmna est designatus Ptolomy calleth the said Citie Bucianum The said Citie is adorned with the dignity of a Duke Not very far from Boiano is the Hill Fiterno which proceedeth from the Apennine from whom the river Fiterno now called Fortore hath the name Passing from thence towards the sea and going towards Termine is the mouth of the river Trinio which Pliny calleth Trinium Portuosum on whose left side five miles off is Castelluzzo Roccavivara and the noble citie of Trivento honored with the title of a County possessed in the time of the King of Aragon by Iacobo Caldora a most valiant Captain but it is now governed by the house of Afflitto The most reverend Bishop thereof Iulius Caesar Mariconda a Neapolitan Gentleman and a Prelate of no lesse learning then sincere life graceth now this citie with his great vertue Then follows Salicito Fossaceca Bagnulo and Civita nova And coming now to an end of this province I will speak of the Inhabiters thereof which are very strong and valiant and much inclined to Arms they are also obstinate in their opinions and in bargaining with strangers very crafty and subtile for the most part they exercise merchandise and husbandry they apparel themselves more for their own ease then with any decent or comely civility although the women more respect strait lacing then seemly attire This Province useth for the Arms thereof in a field gu a star of 8 points ar within a border of Ceres What the said Arms doth signifie I do not well understand yet thus much I may say that the garland of Ceres signifieth the great plenty of corn which this countrey yeilds and by the star argent noteth the great good will love of the people which they have to retain the memory of the family of Balzo which in former time governed almost all this whole countrey with other places of great importance in the kingdom whereto I give so much the greater credit insomuch as the house of Balzo gave in their Arms a star ar in a field gu Therefore I think it very fit not to neglect this opinion in the present description of this province although some think that the Star signifieth the prosperity of the countrey whereof the Poet saith subitoque fragore Intonuit latuum de coelo lapsa per umbras Stella facem ducens multa cum luce cucurrit Among the Romans the star was placed above the heads of Romulus and Remus which sucked the teat of the Wolfe signifying the custody of their proper Genio or good spirit who preserved them being children CAPITANATA The twelfth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES THis noble and fruitfull Province of Pugliapiana which at this present is called Capitanata was anciently named Iapygia Daunia Mesapia and Apulia The said Province stretcheth from the river Lofanto where the country of Bary endeth and passeth to the river of Frontone now called Fortore containing in breadth all between the Apennine hils where are the Irpini and the Sanniti and the Adriatick or rather Ionian Sea so that on the East it hath the country of Bary with the
The River Calabrice entreth into the River Sibare and runneth near Pagiano The River Clanio called also Glanio runneth near Cerra The River Canne runneth three miles distant from the City of Venosa and entreth into the River Lofanto near the which Rive was in old time the beautifull City Canne called of the Latines Canusium the which place is so famous both by Poets and Historians so much named for the great overthrow which Hannibal gave to the Romans thorough the timâ—rity and presumption of Terentius Varro as Livy apparently declares in his 21 book and Sillio Italico in his 9 book Plutarch in the life of Hannibal and of Scipio with many other Writers in the which overthrow was slain the Consul P. Emilio L. Ascilio L. Furio Bicacculo Treasurers of the Wars 21 military Tribunes and many Pretors Councellers and Ediles whereof were Gn. Servilio and Gn. Minutio Numantio the which had been the year before Master of the Cavaliery and 80 Senators There was slain in this great overthrow 40000 footmen and 2700 of the Roman Cavalry and as many of their friends and conâ—edâ—rates and many prisoners taken Ptolomeus otherwise nameth this place Canusium and Martial making mention of Canne thus saith Haec tibi turbato Canusina simillimamulso Munus erit gaude non fiet cito anus The River Clanto runneth near Loriano The River Cosano runneth near Asserolo The River Casinio now called Sanguino runneth near Venafro The River Cales runneth near the ancient City of Cales now called Calvi The River Cerbalo runneth near Civitella in Puglia The River Calabrice runneth near Fagliano and entreth into the River Sibare D THe River Diama passeth near to Cerella E The River Esaro runneth near the City of Corrone The River Eterno passeth near Teano The River Evoli passeth near Evoli F THe River Fâ—â—miceilo runneth near the City of Termole The River Fâ—umiculo runneth near Civitella The River Fiterno now called Salino passeth near the City of Sâ—lino The River Freddo passeth near the City of Freddo The River Frento otherwise called Fortore runneth near Larino a ruinated City The River Furore passeth near Vieteri The River Fanes called also Siris runneth near the City of Benevento The River Fineto passeth near Regina The River Fibrena runneth between the City of Arpino and Sora G THe River Glanco passeth near Valerosa The River Gineto called also Thieto runneth near the said Country The River Gronde passeth near the territory of Balbino in Calauria The River Garga runneth two miles distant from the Country of Summoranno The River Grande runneth near Altomonte The River Galesso runneth into the haven of Taranto called the little Sea The River Garigliano called in old time Ganicus and now Liris passeth near the ancient City of Minturna destroyed long since I THe River Isauro passeth near the City of Nieto now called Donato The River Isclaro passeth near the City of Caserta The River Isauro runneth near the City of Agatha The River Ispica passeth near the City of Pietra Fitta The River Ipoleto passeth near Nicastro L THe River Lite called in old time Liris and sometime Glanicus is now called Garigliano the said River runneth between Arce and Sora Pliny saith that this River hath its original from the Lake Fucino The River Librata of the Ancients and among others Pliny calleth it Albula for the whiteness thereof the said River passeth into Abruzzo and runneth not far off from Civitella of Tronto This River springeth from the Apennine The River Leudo runneth near the Country of Paolo The River Lavo called also Laino runneth near Scalea The River Lento passeth near the Monastery of St. Liberatore and the City of Frantana now called Francavilla this River springeth from the Hill Maiella The River Lucinio passeth near Rossano The River Linterno passeth not very far from the River Vulturno The River Lofanto called also Aufido runneth near Canosa by Pliny it is named Aufidus and it is also so called by Strabo by Pomponius Mela and by other ancient writers This River riseth from a little Fountain of the Apennine hils among the Irpini not far distant from the City of Nosco and from hence descendeth as a little brook of water which in summer the course or current thereof can hardly be perceived to run 30 miles but in the winter season it is so much augmented by other Rivers and streams which pass into it and besides through the showers and dews that are very often in that season it overfloweth the greatest fields of Puglia so comforting and watering the Country that it seems a large long and great sea The River Larasca springeth in Taranto M THe River Melpi runneth near the City of the ancient Atinagia now ruinated The River Moscano passeth near Piesco The River Metauro runneth near Maida The River Mesina runneth near Policastro The River Moro passeth near Ortona to the Sea The River Moncata runneth near Lacania and Maida in Calauria in the Territory of which Country grow the Plantane Trees a thing very rare in Italy The River Medama passeth near Belloforte The River Metauro passeth near Nicotera The River Marno passeth near Terranova The River Melfa runneth near the ancient City of Atina which was one of the five Cities which were built for the defence of Turnus against Eneas as Virgil saith in the seventh book of his Eneidos The River Musanio springeth in the mountains of Crepacore N THe River Nursa passeth near the Abby of St. Clement The River Neta passeth near Torana and Regia The River Neeto passeth neere Crotrone O THe River Ocinaro called also Sabatio passeth near Martorano The River Obvio passeth near Capestrano P The River Piomba runneth near Toritto The River Paola runneth near the City of Paola The River Pratello passeth near Piedemonte The River Petrace runneth near Gioia Lhe River Pesipo runneth near Nicastro The River Panopleto passeth near Maida The River Pitornio runneth near the Lake Fucino The River Plumba passeth near Hadria R THe River Rufeo runneth near Caramanico The River Raino runneth near Paleno The River Reatio runneth near Messuraca called in old time Reatium S THe River Sabuto passeth near Nocera and the ancient City of Teberina which was destroyed by Hannibal of Carthage and as the Ancients do affirm Ligia one of the Sirenes inhabited upon the mouth of the said River The River Sebeto called by the Latines Sebethos is a little River which passeth without the walls of the noble City of Naples which the Neopolitans call the River Magdalena by reason of a Church dedicated to the said Saint near which the said River passeth Papin Statio makes mention of the said River uâ— his first book de Selve saying Et pulchra tumeat Sebethos alumna It is also named by Virgil by Statio and by Colomella and by many other writers The River Senno called in old time Siri runneth near Amendolara and the ancient City of Sino which was afterward named Heraclea where the Statue of Minerva is very
is the cause that all the discents and banks are very pleasant and delightfull through the many Vaâ—lies There are also many Gardens full of fruitfull Trees and especially Oringes Citrons Limons and other fruit Pliny saith in his 9. book and cap. 53. that in this pleasant Hill Cesar had a very beautifull house with Fish pools wherein was cast a Fish by Pollione Vedio which lived 60 years Pollione was Lord of the said place and dying bequeathed it as Dion saith to Augustus This house was near to the highest part of the said Hill in the place which is now called the fatal Cave where at this present are to be seen the Baths which Cesar had there whereupon by this it may be judged how pleasant this excellent Hill hath been and especially for the banishing of sadness and melancholy from frail and feeble minds for which cause it hath that Greek name for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth in Latine queis and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is as much as to say sadness Near the side of this pleasant and delightfull Hill are to be seen round about infinite buildings of Antick stately workmanship which time hath utterly defaced and on the side towards Naples is the fair Village of the Prince of Stigliano called Serena and towards Chiaia at the foot of the Hill is the pleasant place of Morgilino so named by the swimming of the fishes where the learned Iacobo Sannazaro the darling of the Muses composed his divine Egâ—ogues and reedified a Church to St. Mary of the birth in whose honour he composed Latine Verses a most excellent and rare work of the deliverance of the said Virgin in which Church in a goodly Tomb of Marble with his picture carved thereon is he buried on the which Sepulchre the Cardinal Pietro Bembo caused this Epitaph to be ingraven D. O. M. Da sacro cineri flores hic ille Maroni Syncerus Musa proximus ut tumulo At the foot of the Hill on the side towards the Sea is the delightfull place of St. Mary of Piedigrotta and on this side lieth the Cave of Cocceio which some attribute to Basso and some to Lucullus made after the manner of that of Cuma the which is wholly cut artificially out of the Rock Upon the hill in the right side towards the entrance of the Cave in the way towards Naples is Virgils Sepulchre the which neither Biondo nor Razzano could find But being found in these daies I went to see it with that excellent Lawyer Fabio di Giordano a worthy Poet and a great Herbalist and a searcher of Antiquities and with us also went the Lord Geronomo Colonna and Paolo Portarello persons of great judgment and wisdom Being come to the place we found upon the said Cave a Chappel smoothly vaulted round about with Marble and within were places for Images to stand in the midst was a Tomb of Marble with four little Pillars likewise of white Marble the which supported a Coffin whereon were ingraven these Verses MANTVA me genuit CALABRI rapuere tenet nunc PARTHENOPE cecini paseua rura Duces Opposite thereto without the Chappel was an Epitaph of white Marble with these modern Verses ingraven Qui cineres tumulo haec vestigia conditur olim Ille hoc qui cecinit pascua rura Duces After we had well considered the place and among other things worthy to be noted which we beheld looking up to the top of the said Chappel was a great Bay-Tree naturally growing for the roots thereof took hold through the chinks and crevises of the Wall Whereupon I presently thought that this was the very true Sepulchre of Virgil and that nature had caused that Bay-Tree to grow as a signe to discover unto us that here lay the ashes of that great Poet So Seignieur Colonna said my masters this requiâ—â—th matter for us to do something worthy memory and he would not deâ—ert from thence till every one of us had made certain Verses and because I was the youngest of the company he said unto me Seignieur Scipio by the rule of the Law you ought to begin first And so presently we made those Verses Quod sacrâ— Vaâ—is cincres tumulamque Maronis Sponte sua hic viridis laurus adulta tâ—gat Indicat musis diâ—is sâ—â—iper amicum Virgilium speret cui fore nemo parem Then said the worthy Fabio Busta ubi grandi loqui sâ—eterant tumulumque Maronis Vastaque saculorum pondera saxa ruunt Delphica formosis increvic frondibus arbor Atque injussa sacras explicat alta comas Ne tanti cineres vatiâ— sine honore jacerent Ossicium praestat laurus amica suum Seignieur Fabio having ended D. Paolo began to say Quod super hunc tumulum crevit Parnasia laurus Sponte sua manesque pios atque essa Maronis Atque loci genium viriâ—antâ— protegat umbra Divini vdâ—is signat reverenter honores Vt quoniam nemo ante illum nec post erit unquam Qui sid ruris opes tali vel carmine reges Diceret illius vigat per secula nomen Laurus ut haec tumulo foliis frondentibus extat Observatque memor sacri monumenta poetae Sarno is a Hill so called of the City of Sarno which is situated at the foot of the Hill where also a River taketh its name which runneth hard by near to the mouth whereof was Pompey and not far from the Hill Voscoâ—o as Pliny saith they were named the Pompeians as Solino affirmeth by Hercoles which brought thither his oxen with great pomp from Spain The Pompeians had a long Country full of goodly Villages The said Country began at the point where is now the Tower of the Annuntiation and stretcheth even to Castello à mare beyond the River Sarno In old time as Strabo declares in these places did first inhabit the Osci and after the Toscani the Peligni and also the Sanniti the which were driven out by the Romans This pleasant Country yieldeth excellent Wines Pliny writeth in the 6. cap. of the 14 book that the said Wines grew still to their greatest perfection and goodness even till ten years age not any thing impairing them This fair and pleasant Country of the Pompeians was for the most part destroyed by an Earthquake in the time of Nero which was one of the best parts of the Province of Campania felix Taburo is a high Hill near Capoa in old time it was called Mons Taburnus as Virgil declareth in the 2 of the Georgicks Neu segnes jaceant terrae juvat Ismara Bacco Conserere atque olea magnum vestire Taburnum And elsewhere of the said Hill and particularly in the twelfth book is made mention saying At velut ingenti Sylvae summoque Taburno Trifolino is a Hill which joyneth even with the City of Naples and called by the common people the Hill of St. Hermo and sometimes of St. Martino because upon the top of the said Hill there is a very fair
of Terracina This City had also the immunities and priviledges of Anzo and of Hostia the which were likewise suspended at the coming of Asdrubale into Italy Acherusa is a Fenn or Moor which is now called Coluccia and are certain waters of a rusty iron colour which amaze whosoever see them and overspread much ground between Capoa and Aversa infecting the air and making the earth unfruitfull through the great abundance in that Plain whereby the Country becomes altogether unprofitable It stretcheth even to Cuma overflowing every place the which is so plain that the water runneth not but in summer is accustomed to be drie Of the which water none in old time would taste believing it was an infernal water which distilled from the near adjacent waters through the great heat of Flâ—giton whereupon they builded there a Temple to Pluto the God of Hell The Ancients have also said that Hercules at his departure from Hell took the Crown from the head of Oppius and planted it for a memorial on the side of the said Moor whereupon the Poets afterward feigned that all the Poppies that grew there had black leaves Pliny makes mention of this Moor in his 3 book Strabo in the 5 book Sill. in the 8. Virgil in the 6 of Eneid saying Vnum oro quando hic Inferni janua regis Dicitur tenebrosa palus Acheronte refuso Of LAKES ANsanto of the Latinists called Amsanctus is a Lake which lieth between Lucania and the Irpini the water whereof yieldeth a stinking savour like Brimstone and therefore all the fowles that fly over it fall down dead to the earth Cicero nameth this Lake in the 1 of Divinat saying Mortifera quaedam pars est ut Amsancti in Hirpinis in Asia Plutonica quae vidimus And Virgil in the 7. of the Eneid Est locus Italiae in medio sub montibus altis Nobilibus fama multis memoratus in oris Amsancti valles Agnano is a Lake which lieth near Pozzuolo and is invironed with high Rocks the said Lake is very deep and yieldeth not any thing but Frogs In the Spring time there are often seen many heaps and bundles of Serpents which are smothered and stifled in the water by divine providence the which permitteth not that they multiply and increase being so pernicious to humane nature Averna is a deep Lake which is three miles distant from Cuma and is called of the Latinists Avernus it was so named as Nonio Marcello saith for the mortal and deadly savour of the water against birds and fowles which incontinently die if they fly but over it It is compassed round about with high Hils except at the entrance Round about it are very delightfull and pleasant places in this Lake were men sacrificed and here also as Homer declareth was Elphenore slain by Vlisses and sacrificed and likewise Miseno by Eneas The water of this Lake hath a brackish and salt taste and a black colour In old time the said Lake was invironed with thick Woods through the shadow whereof it was alwaies obscure and fearfull whereupon Augustus caused all the Woods to be cut down On the left hand in the turning of the Lake is the Cave of Sibilla and a little farther near the water is the Temple of Mercury the ruines whereof are yet to be seen Of this Lake Aristotle maketh mention de admirabilibus mundi Valer. Flac. lib. 2. Seneca in Troade 9. Curt. lib. 8. Dion in 5. of Antiquities Vibio Sequestre Nonio Marcello Strabo Pontano in the 2. and especially Virgil in the 6 saying Inde ubi venere ad fauces graveolentis Avernâ— Tollunt se celeres And a little farther Quam super â—aud ullae poterant impune volantes Tendere iter pennis talis sese halitus arris Faucibus effundens supera ad convexa fetebat Vnde locum Grai dixerunt nomen Averni Very near the Lake Averno is the Lake Lucrino whereof we will speak in its place Andoria is a Lake in Puglia and named by Pliny Mandarium and by Boccas in his book of Lakes Andurium from a Castle very near unto it called Andurio the said Lake is not very far from the shore The Lake Fucino named by Strabo Lacus Fucinus and likewise by other Writers the said Lake is commonly called Celano This lake is in the Country of the Marsi now called Abruzzo on the other side it is in compass 30 miles and is very full of excellent fishes where is also great fowling for Mallards wild-Geese and Swans Round about the Lake are the Castles of St. Apetito and St. Iona and these other places and Cities also Paterno Transaco Giagano Avezzano Magliano and Celano is under the title of a Count a very rich and populous Country from whose name this Lake was also called Celano The River Giovento entreth into the said Lake and runneth upon the water easily to be perceived in such manner that as it entreth in and runneth upon it so also it returns without mingling it self with it In the said Lake was swallowed up the magnificent City Archippa built by Marsia King of the Lidi Iohn Pontano declareth in his book de Magnificentia that the Emperor Claudius maintained eleven years continually 30 thousand men to dam up this Lake the which water Martia in his Edileship conveyed to Rome and called it by his name which was esteemed and commended before any other water that was brought thither Martial besides makes mention of this Lake saying Fucinus pigri taceantur stagna Neronis Lusina is a Lake so called of Lusina a City of Capitanata this Lake is distant from the said City little less then a mile near to the which the River Forâ—ore runneth into the Sea This Lake is forty miles in compass and by Pliny is called Lacus Pantanus which breedeth excellent fishes Lucrino is a Lake near the Gulf of Bain in Campania felix directly against Pozzuolo it is commonly called the Lake of Licola This Lake Lucrino was fortified by Hercoles to keep his oxen he brought from Gerion It was afterward much better amended and ordered by Agrippa Strabo saith that he made it in that sort that boats might pass into it some say that this Lake Lucrino was so called de Lucro that is to say from the gain and commodity that arise of the fishes that are therein taken and from this Lake there goeth a way to Averno In this Lake Lucrino there is plenty of Oysters whereof Martial speaketh Non omnis laudem preceumque Aurata meretur Sed cui solus erit Concha Lucrina cibut And in another place saith Ebria Baiano veni modo Conca Lucrino Nobile nunc sitio luxuriosa Garnum Pliny writeth in the 9 lib. cap. 8. that in the time of Augustus there was a Dolphin in this Lake Lucrino and that a poor mans son which daily went to school to Baia by Pozzuolo seeing him began to call him Simon and very often with pieces of bread which
which they perceiving for this cause the time of their service being expired took part with Guaimaro who by their worthy deeds in a short time recovered much Through these famous atchieuments the Normans gained the reputation of valiant Warriers with every one In the mean time died Tancred their Father which was Earl of Altavilla the which Count descending to Gugliâ—lmo Ferrabach his eldest son omitted no time to go into Normandy to take possession thereof where after he had setled the affairs of his State returned afterward into Italy bringing with him no less then fifteen thousand Normans into Romagna and in process of time got not only the dominion thereof but also the most part of Tuscan Things resting in this manner the Saracins possest all Sicilia and Sardinia and many times did much prejudice the Coast of Italy whereupon Pope Sergio the 4 fearing and much suspecting they would overrun all Italy demanded aid of Guglielmo Ferabach Guglielmo through the perswasion of the Pope went in this expedition with eleven thousand of his souldiers together with Maniace Captain of Michele Paslagone the Greek Emperor to the recovery of Sicilia and with much valour and courage expeld the Saracins out of all the â—sle but Maniace not observing the agreement that what was gotten should be equally divided between them Farabache growing wrathfull past with his Normans into Puglia making a mighty slaughter subdued the greasted part and finding a fit and secure place builded the City of Melsi in a difficult place and well fortified by nature The which Maniace understanding came upon him with a strong Army but Ferabach braving the enemy which besieged him being wearied with travel came out against them and encountring them gave them a mighty overthrow near the River of Lofonte in Puglia the Normans remaining Conquerors and so rich both of reputation and spoil mounted mightily in state indeavouring both by might and other Military means to obtain other places and Cities in Puglia the which atchieuments succeeding with so great felicity to the Normans it followed that all Puglia came into the possession of the said Guglielmo who through his valiant acts had the name of Ferabach that is to say strong-arm of which dominion he afterward took the title of an Earl Afterward Guglielmo died in the year of our Lord 1042. and because he left no child his brother Dragone succeeded in the County which was Lord of Venosa who had at his beginning a great overthrow by Melo Captain of the Greek Emperor and lost a great part of Puglia but being aided by Guaimaro Prince of Salerno he oftentimes fought with the Greeks without any advantage yet in the end in a great conflict he overthrew and dissolved the Greek Army and not only recovered that which he had first lost but also got many Castles and Holds which the enemies possest upon the Sea-coast of Puglia At this time the Emperor Henry the second came into Italy and having pacified the affairs of the Church went into the Kingdom and confirmed to Dragone the County of Puglia from whom he received not only much money but had also the best and fairest horses that were in all the Kingdom The Emperor departing Italy the Earl Dragone moved the Beneventani to War and in two battels which he made his Army was overthrown and he flying was slain by the enemies His brother Humfrido took the possession of the Earldom at which time Guaimaro Prince of Salerno was cruelly murdered by his own people and his son was made Prince with the help of the Normans which the said Count laboured with long War in the end the Count ill demeaning himself with the Pugliesi was for his cruel nature slain in the year 1057. Baielardo his son succeeded in his fathers Dominion the which being chased away in the same year by Ruberto Guiscard his uncle this Ruberto became the fourth Earl of Puglia who being a valiant man at arms and of a great spirit suddenly besieged Reggio and having taken it went with prosperous victory subduing other parts and Cities of Calauria to his dominion Afterward he returned into Puglia took Troia and in such manner never rested taking from hand to hand many Cities and brought all the Normans of that Country under his Empire and being fully resolved to continue no longer an Earl with a general consent caused himself to be called Duke of Puglia and Calauria At this present Nicholas the second Bishop of Rome being much incumbred with the Roman Barons came in the year 1â—59 to the Parlament with Guiscardo in the City of Aquila and Guiscard having with much humility adored the Pope made peace with him and restored unto him the City of Benevento and all other places that he had belonging to the Church for the which the Pope not only received him into grace and favour but confirmed and invested him with the Title of Duke of Puglia and Calauria The which act was registred and confirmed with a solemn Oath and so Ruberto was now made a Vassal and Liegeman of the Church Sigonio writeth two Acts of the Oath which Ruberto at this present made to the Pope the one to pay the yearly tribute the other loyalty and homage the which two Acts I thought good to insert in this place to the end the Reader may know how the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction began in the Kingdom of Naples The first is in this sort Ego Robertus Dei gratia St. Petri Dux Apuliae Calabriae utroque subveniente futurus Siculis ad confirmationem traditionis ad recognitionem fidelitatis de terra S. Petri promitto me quotannis pro unoquoque jugo boum pensionem duodecim denariorum Papiensium persoluturum B. Petro tibi D. meo Nicolao Papae omnibus successoribus tuis aut tuis aut tuorum successorum nunciis ad S. Resurrectionem obligans me meos haeredes sive successores tibi successoribus tuis Sic me Deus adjuvet c. The second is thus Ego Robertus Dei S. Petri gratia Dux Apuliae utroque subveniente futurus Siciliae ab hinc in posterum fidelis â—ro S. Romanae Ecclesiae Apostolicae Sedi D. meo Nicolao Papae Neque ero auctor aut adjutor ut vitam aut membrum amittas aut capiaris mala captione consilium quod mihi credideris ne enunciem imperaris non enunciabo in tuum detrimentum sciens S. Romanae Ecclesiae ubique adjutor ero ad tenenda acquirenda regalia S. Petri ejusque possessiones pro viribus meis contra homines adjuvabo te ut securè honorifice tenens Pontificatum Romanum terramque S. Petri Et Principatum nec invadere nec subigere tentabo nec praedari contendam sine tua tuorumque successorum licentia Pensionem de terra S. Petri quam ego teneo aut tenebo sicut statutum est recta fide studebo ut
came with a great Army into the Kingdom and was received with great joy and honour by Manfred in Barletta of Apuglia and being informed that Naples Capoa Aquino and the whole Abby of St. Germano were become Rebels through the instigation of the Earl of Caserta and dinoted to the Church conceived thereat so great indignation and ire that with his Army he wasted and overrun the Country and made Tomaso Earl of Cerra to come and submit himself to his mercy and had by agreâ—ment St. Germano and all the State of the Earl of Caserta He afterward besieged Capoa and having spoiled and destroyed all the Country took the City and threw the Walls thereof to the ground he did the like to Aquino the which he sacked and burned Afterward he besieged Naples both by Sea and Land and after eight months had it by agreement but they not observing their Covenants he caused afterward the Walls to be ruinated and the Fortresses of the City and many Noble houses of Gentlemen and Citizens he banished Conrado having Naples at the same instant had the rest of the Kingdom He now remaining in peaceable state and given to his pleasures being inhumane and of a cruel nature caused Henry his Nephew to be slain upon the high-way the son of Henry King of the Romans which was come from Sicilia to visit him But that revenge was not long delayed for Manfred his natural brother which endeavoured by all means to become King with a poysoned potion upon a light occasion kil'd him which was in the year 1254. and the 3 of Iune having held the Empire 3 years and 5 months and the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia 2 years and 19 daies His body was buried in the principal Church of Naples under a little narrow Marble stone Conrado before his death made his Will and ordained his youngest son his heir general born of Elizabeth the daughter of Otho Duke of Bavaria Manfred the 8 King of Naples MANFRED Prince of Taranto the natural son of the Emperor Frederick the second having usurped the Kingdom was by Pope Alexander the fourth excommunicated The said Pope died within a while after and Pope Vrban the fourth a Frenchman was created in his place who fearing the threatnings of Manfred called unto the conquest of the Kingdom Charls of Angio Earl of Province brother of St. Lewis the 9 King of France to whom he gave the oath of both the Sicilies with the right and title of the Kingdom of Ierusalem and at his own charge should maintain the War and conquer it Charls being animated by his brother and others of the Nobility with a valorus courage undertook this famous enterprise In the mean time Vrban died leaving the Papacy to Clement the 4. in whose Popedom Charls with a most glorious Army came to Rome in the year 1265. and was then with Beatrice Berenguer of Aragon his wife in the Church of S. Iohn Lateran by Pope Clement again invested with solemn ceremony and Crowned with an Imperial Crown King of both the Sicilies and of the Kingdom of Ierusalem and made exempt from the Empire with Covenant that neither he nor his successors that should be chosen Emperors should by any means accept thereof the which was done with solemn oath and so Charls was made a Liegeman and Feudary of the Church and promised to pay for tribute a yearly Rent of 40 thousand markâ— to the Bishops of Rome Charls towards the end of February in the year 1265. came into the Kingdom and incountred with Manfred and after divers fortunes both on the one and the other side Charls remained conqueror and Manfred was overcome Manfred reigned 10 years 4 months and 16 daies ANGIOINI Charls of Angio the 9 King of Naples CHARLS remaining Conqueror was received by the Neopolitans with royal pomp and proclaimed King and having ordered the affairs of both the Kingdoms was made by Clement the 4. Deputy of the Empire of Italy Understanding afterward that Corradine the Suevian the son of the Emperor Conrado sometime King of Naples was come with a mighty Army to recover the right of inheritance of his Kingdoms made great preparation of War Corradine entreth the Kingdom and after divers and sundry skirmishes at length Corradine was overcome and flying disguised was taken in Asturi by Iohn Francipane Lord of that place which sent him to Charls who after he had kept him more then a year in prison caused him to be beheaded in the midst of the Market-place of Naples which was in the month of October 1269. and so Charls with little labour recovered all the Kingdom He made afterward great Wars with the Saracins and especially with Arageno King of Tunis because that barbarous King refused to pay the Tribute which was accustomed to be paid to the Kings of Naples Charls did in such wise afflict him that he inforced him not only to pay the charges of that War but also doubled the Tribute In the year following 1276. Vgone Lusignano the 11 of this name King of Cypress and Mary the daughter of Melisenda and of Raimond Rupini Prince of Antiochia contending about the inheritance of the Kingdom of Ierusalem Mary being at variance with Vgone came to Rome and caused the said King Vgone to be convented before the Pope the Pope by his decree commanded that the examination and decision of the cause should be determined by the Barons of the Holy Land and the Master of the Hospital and the Temple who were accustomed to have a voice in Councel in the election of the Kings of Ierusalem The which the Princess Mary considering being a woman very aged faint and wearied with travel and the dangers of so long a journey being advised by her friends and by Pietro Manso knight of the Temple his Ambassador compounded with King Charls and receiving of him a great sum of money resigned all her right and Title which she had unto the said Kingdom Whereupon Charls afterward by means of the Pope obtained a favourable sentence and was declared lawfull and absolute King of that Kingdom as well by the ancient right of Fâ—ederick as also by that of Mary Charls afterward for the more security of things sent the Earl Ruggiero Sanseverino Governor into Soria who in the name of Charls received the faith and oathes of homage of the Knights and Barons which were in the kingdom By these aforesaid reasons all the posterity of the said Charls and also all the other Kings of Naples as heirs are always intitled Kings of Ierusalem Charls reigned 19 years 2 moneths and 26 days Charls the second 10 King of Naples CHarls the second son of Charls of Angio reigned 25 years and 17 days Charls was also King of Hungary by the right of Mary his wife the daughter of Stephen the 5. of the name the King of that kingdom who being slain by the Cumani Ladislao the fourth son of the aforesaid
had bâ—n tossd and weather-beaten by so many impetuous and fierce Tempests to conclude this peace he imployed the chiefest Officer of Spain the Constable of Castile in a very high and magnificent equipage in correspondence wherof England sent her high Admirall herein he followd the counsell of Charls the fift his Grand-father who had this saying often in his mouth Con todo el mundo guerra y puz con Ingalat jerra With all the World have War But with England do not jar Before this Embassy to England the common people of Spain were made to believe by their preaching Jesuits that english-men since they receded from the Roman Church were strangly transformd som had fâ—ces like Hogs som like Dogs som like Munkies but the Constable at his return did rectifie his Country-men in this point Philip being now in peace with all Christian Princes and being addicted to devotion in a high degree he thought it a work acceptable to God Almighty and agreeable to the office of a Catholiâ— King to cleer Spain of the Mahumetan Moriscos who had planted themselves â—her above seven hundred yeers He put the business to many serious deliberations the result wherof at last was that it wold be a high act of Christian Piety and gratefull to Heaven so there was a royall Ban of banishment publisht against the Moriscos who were dispersd up down specially in the Maritime parts of Spain which border upon the Mediterranean Sea in great multitudes to the number of many hundred thousand souls who were all hurried over to Barbary but permitted to carry with them all their movables and make sale of their other goods the King providing Ships and paying for their transfretation the motive that inducd Philip to this Act was that he thought it a thing unpleasing to God that so many Infidels and Mahumetans shold mingle so thick with Christians that many thousands had bin baptiâ—d but they apostatizd and grew greater enemies to Chrsts then before that there were sundry plots and machinations discoverd as also the intelligence they kept with the Turk the common enemy of Spain The first advice whereof was given by the English Ambassador the Earl of Notingham who brought Letters with him that had bin sent King Iames how the sayed Moriscos had a secret design to introduce the great Turk and so to joyn with him for the conquering of Spain as the Conde Don Iulian did with the Moors Henry the fourth of France sent him also intelligence tending to that end So in a short time the Country was rid of them as it was formerly of the Jewes in the time of Ferdinand and Isabella But there were som incommodities followd for Spain was much depopulated and impoverisht hereby specially for Corn and other Vegetals for those Moriscos were an industrious people wold grub up Corn and Pulse with other things out of the tops of those craggy Hills wherwith Spain is bunchd in most places so that the Spaniard who naturally is slothfull unless it be in the Wars as the Turks are had nothing to do but having put on his Sword and swelling ruff but go with his Ass to the Market and buy corn of the Moriscos who usually fed upon bread made of Maiz or some other Pulse so that the Spaniards for the most part did eat by the sweat of other mens brows Philip the third having as formerly it was spoken concluded a peace with England and a Truce with the Dutch passd most part of his Raign in quietness which suted best with his disposition he being a Prince wholly devoted to exercises of piety being alwaies fingring his Beads He sympathizd in nature much with Edward the sixth of England but was not so infortunat as he for he preservd what his Father left him wheras the other lost France where he had bin Crownd King in his Cradle And this happiness of Philip may be imputed to the sage conduct of the Duke of Lerma who was a sound and well-weighd Minister of State of a Debonnair and affable deportment quite contrary to the genius of his Successor Olivares who was of a rough rigid humor Philip the third after he had reignd 23. yeers died as he lived in a sweet peaceable way and he was called Philip el Bueno Philip the good as his Father was calld Philip the prudent Philip the third to pay his Fathers Creditors and disburden the Crown of those vast Arrears wherwith it was most heavily laden in regard of so many Irons he had to beat all his life-time was forcd to inhance the Gabels and lay new impositions as in other places so specially in the Kingdom of Naples Now those who cut out Philip the second most work to do were Henry the fourth of France and Elizabeth Queen of England the one was sayed to play the Barber and shave him which Harry did so nimbly and dextrously as if he had bin born to the Trade and old Bess held the Bason while he washd Philips head and face but it was given out that he did this without Camphire Ball or any Soap at all but with stale Ly and strong standing Urine There was about that time a witty Italian Author whose fancies are fresh to this day who being no friend to the Spaniard writ many things by way of drollery against his mode of Government in Sicilie Milan and Naples specially in the last And as he descants upon the Servitude which that wavering and wanton people were reducd unto for their so frequent Sollevations and Revolts he sayeth that to punish with som severity the Napolitans for thier infidelity and murmurings against their former Kings it pleasd the Majesty of the heavenly Judg to deliver them into the hands of Pharo to receive law from him meaning the Spaniard who having felt the pulse of that luxurious people by his interior Cabinet councell was advisd that there was no better way to preserve Naples in a constancy of obedience then to bring down the flesh and tame that hot metteld and spirited Horse or Courser which she gave for her Ensign therupon there were appointed Riders Grooms Smiths and others to look to him and break him they found that he was so wanton that he wold hardly receive Bit Bridle or Saddle that he was of a mighty strength therfore it was fitting so pamperd an Animal shold be brought low and mortified Somthing was don in Charles the fift's time to this purpose but his Son Philip did finish the work who had almost rid him quite of his legs insomuch that at the beginning of Philip the thirds Raign there was a speciall â—unta appointed to meet in the Piazza at Naples to take a view in what case he stood The poor Beast was brought forth and he was grown so feeble that his legs could hardly serve him to be softly led into the Market-place It was a most pittifull object to see how that generous Courser who had once so much spirit and strength
word that he shold forbear sitting among them any longer but that his Highness Don Iohn shold govern who therupon sent for the Sicilian Fleet to com for the succour of Naples as also for three Regiments from Milan a little after the Duke of Arcos departed with his Family and Don Iohn was heard to say Vayase en hâ—ra mala che ha hecho perder este Reyno a mi padre Let him go in an ill hower for he hath lost my Father this Kingdom Don Iohn being sworn Vice-roy causd a generall pardon to be publishd wherupon the grave Judg Onufrio made a pathetic Oration to the people who had a verend opinion of him that since the Duke of Arcos with the chief Incendiaries were gone and that they had now a Kings Son so gallant a young Prince to gorevern them it was high time that they shold return now to their old obedience to their Monarch and lawfull King who had preservd them in peace and plenty so many yeers c. but the people lent a deaf ear to his speech so that the next day there was new money stampd with the armes of the Royall Republic The first of February 1648. the Castle of Saint Elmo erected the Royall Standard upon the discovery of three Gallies wherin was embarkd the Conde d' Ognate who had receivd a Commission at Rome where he was Ambassador to be Vice-roy of Naples all the Castles saluted him as also the great Bastion of Carmine from the Citty the first did it with powder only but the last with bullets wherby som of the Gally-slaves that rowd him were slain There arrivd from Malaga a Vessell with five hundred fresh Spaniards and thirty thousand Duckets for the Service of the Vice-roy and this Galeon gave notice of eight more that were coming There arrivd likewise a great supply from Genoa both of men mony and Amunition There came also an Ambassador from Malta with a goodly Retinue of Cavaliers which did much enhearten the Royall party The French Fleet having landed as formerly was spoken som Provision and Commanders in Naples was constraind by distress of weather to leave the Coasts with the loâ—s of divers Ships and Marriners now the Spaniards had securd and strongly fortified the Port of Nisita and there being a Fleet of Ships expected from Province with Provision of Corn which were to sayl that way the Duke of Guise went with a considerable Army of Horse and Foot with a Train of Artillery for the reduction of that place to the Royall Republic for it was a place of great importance The Conde d' Ognate now that the Duke of Guise was gone with a good part of the strength of the Citty fell upon this design which provd as happy as it was hazardous About twelve a Clock at night having with extraordinary acts of Devotion implord the assistance of Heaven young Don Iohn of Austria and the sayd Conde with a great number of Barons Cavaliers and other ventrous Spirits marchd silently down towards the Citty they had a Train of choise Artillery with good store of Fire-works Don Iohn came first to the Cisterna d'oglio with all his Brigade and causd the Church of Jesus which was contiguous therunto to be gently opened where having made ardent prayers to the Redeemer of Man-kind he desird Father Gerunda to confess him and administer him the holy Communion Thus he began to fall to work and commanded a Wall to be batterd down which joynd to San Sebastian and so he passd without interruption to Porta Alba Being advancd so far he got a horse-back and rid confidently towards Constantinople street through a crowd of the Citty Arcabusiers wherof som shot others being amazd at the suddennes of the thing stood astonishd thence he went on to Saint Aniellos street and the Virgins quarter where the most civill sort of people dwelt who were from the beginning the most Loyall to the King The Arch-bishop Filomarini was appointed to meet him which he did with other Lords thence he pursued his way to the Duke of Guises Palace and after som Musket-shot the Palace yeelded for the great Canons which were there planted wold not go off though there was fire put to them which was held miraculous and so much heightned his Spirits finding that all things conjurd to make this attempt prosperous He marchd thence to the great Market-place and being com neer the great Bastion of Carmine where Gennaro Arnese was with a choice guard of three hundred men he sent him word it was fitting that Bastion shold be put into his hands for his Catholic Majesties Service and if he wold not conform to so just a proposall he left him to consider what a high act of disloyalty it wold prove Arnese consulting with his best thoughts came forth and prostrating his person before him presented him with the Keys hereupon Don Iohn inordred a Cavalier of Malta to publish a generall pardon with an abolition to all Gabels new and old provided that every one wold return to his former alleagance The people with loud acclamations answerd that they wold be well satisfied herewith if Don Iohn himself wold declare this with his own mouth which was done accordingly So this Noble and Magnanimous Expâ—oit took effect without any effusion of blood except the death only of two Spanish Captains and one of the peoples which may be imputed first to a speciall Providence of God Almighty then to the prowesse of a young Generall and lastly to the Prudence of a grave Vice-roy Add hereunto that the absence of the Duke of Guise condued much for the facilitating of this great Design The Citty of Naples being thus suddenly redued Don Iohn sent in quest of the Duke of Guise to the Country hard by who after som resistance was taâ—en Prisoner and clapd up in the Castle of Capua the high Collatterall Councell adjudgd him to dy but young Don Iohn overruld the sentence and so sent him Captif to the Court of Spain where having bin Prisoner a good while he made an escape as far as Victoria within a dayes journy of France but notwithstanding his disguise he was discoverd and so clapd up again in Prison where he continued till the Prince of Conde leaguring lately with the Spaniard got him released There were Gibbets put up in divers places of the Citty to execute the chiefest Incendiaries but at the cryes of the women and Children to Don Iohn he commanded them to be taken down yet after this his departure the Vice-roy dispatched many and gave them Pass-ports for the other world among others too Gennaro Arnese who had bin Capo popolo with divers others and a long time after the inquest and execution of som of the chief Ring-leaders continued by the noble sagacious proceeding of the foresayd new Vice-roy the Conde d' Ognate a notable Minister of State having bin traind up therunto by sundry Embassies abroad as well to England as to other Countries Not long after
in Calauria The sundry names of Calauria The City Pandesia King Italo King Morgete Why it was called Magna Grecia Why it was câ—lled Calauria The ancient situation of Calauria Bretia The river Laus The River Turbolo The Isle of Dim Scalea Lanio The Hill Apollonio Morano The River Sibari Saracena Altomonte Hils of Salt St. Mark A Proverb Foscaldo Lattarico Torano Regina Montalto Paula St. Nocito Castellofranco The death of Alexander King of Molossi foretold by the Oracle Cerisano Cosenza The Wood Sila Bisignano Tarsia Fiumefreddo Bellomonte Amontea Aiello Martiâ—anâ— Nocera Castiglione St. Eusemia Nicastro Tiriolo The Arms of this Province The fertility of this Province Brutii why they were so called The error of some writers about the name Brutii The bounds of the Brutii Triolo Malda Pizzo Bevoua Montelâ—one Soriano Arena Bâ—rrello Melito Bâ—iatico Trâ—pea Nicotera Metauro Tauriano Gioia Seminara Sinopoli Oppido Terranova Polistena The Isles Eoli Lipare Bagnara The taking of the sword fish how it is done and by whom it was invented Sciglio Coda della Volpe Fiumara di Muro Regio Grashoppers their natures The worthy men of Regio The Cape of Partivento Potamia Motua Bovalina Of Zeleuco the Law giver his â—everity Timeo the Philosopher Eunomo the Musician Eutimo atleta The Temple of Proserpina What Manna is and how iâ— cometh The temperature of Manna Livy lib 9. Siderono Grotteria Mottagioiosa Roccella Mottapaganica The Promontory of Cocinto now â— called the Cape of Stilo The Ionian Sea where it beginneth to be so called Stilo Badolato Satriano Petrito Soverato Squillaci A Proverb Catanzaro Taverna Treschinesi Simari Trischenesi Belcastro The Calaurâ—si say that S. Thomas of Aquin was born in Belcastro Mesuraga Policastro S. Severina Cutro The Cape of Pillars Castra Hannibalis Cotrone See Plutarch in Communio and St. Thomas in the 1 book of the Metheâ—ra of Aristotle Rossano Longobucco Turio The quality and disposition of the men of this Province The form and figure of this Province The circuit of this Province The quality of the earth The great plenty of fruit in this Province Why the disease of the leprosie reigneth in this country Chirsidri The description of the country Taranto Archita the Mathematician The river Galesio The situation of the city of Taranto Cesaria Gallipoli Vgento Castro Otranto The distance between Otranto and Greece Where the Adriatick Gulf beginneth Why it was called the Gulf of Venice The Lake of Liminiti Brindesi Plato and Aristotle how great they would have a City to be The Haven of Brundesi By whom Brindesi was built Matera The Mine of Boalearmonack The Poet Eustachio Motola Misagne· Otra Leccie The Epitaph on the Tomb of the Poet Ennius Bembo in the â— book of the History of Venice This Leonardo Prato Guicciardino and others say was of Naples but it is not true Ogento St. Pietro in Galatina Galatena Cosmo Pinelli Marquiss of Galatena Paravita Nardo Casalnovo Mandurio The nature quality of the inhabitants of this Province The arms of the region of Otranto The limits fertility of this country of Bari The fable of the nymph Fillida Barletta The city Trani Don Ferrant Gonzaga Prince of Molfetta Nicola di Giovenezzo companion of St. Dominick Monopoli The city Gravina why it was so called The batel which the stork makes with the serpent Bitonto Cornelio Musso Bishop of Bitonto Adri. Canosa The tarantole and their nature see Alexander of Alexandria in the 2 lib. of thes Geniale cap. 17 The quality and condition of the men of this Province The arms of this Province and the signification thereof The Sanniti their inhabiters How long the war continued between the Sannites and the Romans The valley of Caudine The confines of the country of the Sannites Who were the worthiest people of the Sannites Why it was called Abruzzo The limits of Abruzzo Where Abruzâ—â— hath its beginning Peligni the most valiant people of all Italy Civita di Chieti the chief city of this Province Pepin the sâ—n of Charls the gâ—eat for what cause he destrâ—yed Civita di 〈◊〉 Gotfredo the the Norman made Civita di Chieti the principal city of Abruzzo Orton The body of St. Thomas the Apostle The light of St. Heramo which appeareth to sailers when they are in great danger The city Ferentana now called Francauilla Lanciano The river Foro Tollo Miglionico Fara Rapino Penna The river Lento Villamaina Petrono The sort of Montepiano Castel Menale Bucchianicho The city Sulmona the natural place of the Poet Ovid. The River Aterno now called Pescara The stony oyl which riseth in the territory of Cantalupo Caramanico Cusano The mines of pitch which are in Manupelli The nature condition of the people of this Province The arms of this Province and what they signifie The limits of Abruzzo on the other side The fertility of this Province Montepagano The river Viciola The river Tordino Teramo Campio Bisigno Rugnano Murro Locaristo Guardia di Vomano Caste Vecchio Transmondo Cautiano Forcella Miano Rapino Montorio Compotosto Poggio 〈◊〉 Monteverde Montegualco The river Piomba Porta d'Adria Silva Hadria now called Atri where the Emperor Adrian was born From whence the Adriatick Sea had its name Celino Schiarano Civita St. Angelo Ilece The river Salino Porto St. Angelo The river Sino Cassilento Pignano Serra The river Tavo Civita di Penna Valerius Maximus de pietatâ— erga parentes Luca de Penna Laureto The 〈◊〉 Corvino The river Aterno now called Pescara The river Nuria Montesilvano Moscuso Pianello Capogatto Rossano Alendo Castiglione Offena Busso Capistrano Carapello Vettorito Raiano Amiterno Livy lib. 10. Virgil. lib. 7. Crispo Salustio Civita Tomassa Foruli Furconio The hil Offido The City Aquila Robert Guiscard the Norman created Duke of Puglia and Calauria 1060. The number of the Churches of Aquila The natureâ— and manner of the Aquitani Pontano de bello Neapolitano The noble families in Aquila Monte Reale The river Pescare Pescara called in old time Aterno The river Alba Manopello The foot of Mâ—lise Tâ—rre Luculo Caramanico Cantâ—lup◠〈…〉 Bâ—nâ—face the 4 Popâ— When the nâ—me of the Mâ—rsi were changed The Marruvii Virgil lib. 7. The Agnitii Virgi lib. 7. Livy lib. 2. M.T. Cicero abandoned the wars and applied himself to the study of learning The lake Fucino now called Celano The water Martia brought to Rome The city Archippa drowned in the lake Celano Pliny lib. 2. Vibio Sequestre Paterno Transacco Giviano Celano Wherfore the Emperor Frederick destroyed Celano The city Alba. Livy lib. 10. Cesa Pietro Marso The river Castellano The river Tronto Ascolo Ascolo restored to the church by Queen Ione the second Bettutio Barro a famous Orator The famous men of 〈◊〉 Ventidio Baâ—â— Pope Nicholas the 4. Amatrice Civitella The nature quality of this Province The arms of this Province Pontano lib. 5. The ancient bounds of this country Plin. lib. 3. c. 11 The originall of the 〈◊〉 The things