therefore he thought it his best way to be reconciled with the Church sent an honourable Ambassage to the Pope wherein much humbling himself desired to be restored to the grace and favour of the Church and possession of his Kingdom and promised to restore whatsoever he wrongfully detained from the Church The Pope willing to extinguish the War went to Benevento and expected William who prostrate at the Popes feet desired absolution and took an Oath of Loyalty and homage and first restoring whatsoever he had taken from the Church was invested in the Kingdom the year 1156. William afterward lived alwaies in peace with the Church but was ever much troubled and molested by his Barons and hated of the people and sirnamed for his evil conditions William the wicked He departed this life the year of our Lord 1167. and lived 47 years and in the principal Church of Palermo near his fathers Tomb was buried He had by his wife Margarite the daughter of Garzia the second King of Navar Ruggieri which was proclaimed King by the Sicilians William Prince of Taranto which succeeding in the Kingdom was called William the good and Henry Prince of Capoa William the good 3. King of Naples WILLIAM Prince of Taranto called the good as differing from his father was after his death Crowned King at eleven years of age and presently pardoned all those which had been Rebels to his father and took away all the grievances imposed by him upon the people defended alwaies the affairs of the Roman Church against whosoever sought to molest it and especially in the time when the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa strongly besieged Pope Alexander the 3 within Anagni Whereupon Alexander ignorant of the coming of William not only with great courage and stoutness maintained the Pontifical dignity but many times foiled the Imperial Army But being afterward perswaded by Philip King of France to retire with his honour from the said siege had from King William a Gally which for that purpose he had secretly sent wherein he being imbarked with certain of his Cardinals went to Clarimont in France for his better security where he excommunicated and deprived the said Frederick of the Empire and aggravated likewise the censure against Octavian the false usurping Pope William strongly armed himself both for Sea and Land against Andronico the Emperor of Constantinople for the injuries done in Italy He afterward defended the City of Tire and with his Navy foiled the Forces of Salandine and afterward cleared the Sea from Rovers And this good King having honourably ended all his actions after he had reigned 21 years and lived 32. died in Palermo in the year of our Lord 1188. his body with great honour Ione his wife sister to King Richard of England caused to be laid in a Tomb of Marble curiously wrought and embossed upon which caused this inscription to be ingraven Hic situs est bonus Rex Gulielmus The said Sepulchre being ruinated and spoiled through the injury of time hath newly been very magnificently repaired and renewed with fair Marble by the Archbishop of Torres where this new Epitaph is to be read Inâ—lita quas verbis sapientum turba recenset Virtutes solus factis hic praestitit omnes Egregius quare bonus est cognomine dictus Vtque bonus magno longe est praestantior illo Major Alexandro sic Rex Guillielmus habetur Artibus ipse etenim pacis bellique fuisti Clarus ut semper justa ac pia bella gerebas Sic quoque laeta tibi semper victoria parata est Et nunc ne vilis jaceas Rex optime praesul Te decurat tumulo hoc Ludovicus Torrius Hoc ipso in templo quod tu Guillelme dicasti Tancred the 4. King of Naples TANCRED Earl of Leccie the natural son of King Ruggieri and Unkle to the good William was by the death of his Nephew which had not any child created King of both the Sicilies in the year 1188 Pope Celestine the third being desirous to bring the Kingdom under the jurisdiction of the Church as feuditory of the Apostolick Sea invested in the year 1191. Henry the sixth Emperor the son of Frederick Barbarossa with these conditions That he should recover at his own charge the Kingdom of the two Sicilies with acknowledging the Church and to pay the accustomed Tribute and to the end it might seem more colourable and be the better done he gave under a pretence of Inheritance as a dowry for his wife Constance the lawfull and natural daughter of the aforesaid Ruggieri whom secretly he caused to be brought from the Arch-Bishop of Palermo from the Monastery of St. Mary in the City aforesaid where she was Abesse being now 52 years of age very unfit for the procreation of children dispensing with her although she had been a profest Nun and Crowned them in Rome of both the Sicilies in the year 1191. The first thing then which Henry did he went to besiege Naples but in the beginning of the third month the Plague growing very hot he returned into Germany without any more adoe The Emperors Army being departed Italy Tancred having recovered his Kingdom at the same time among these affairs his son Ruggieri died which was also Crowned and proclaimed King and had married Irene the daughter of the Emperor Isacio and within a little while after him Tancred his father conceiving so passionately the death of his son growing grievously sick died His body was buried in the principal Church of Palermo and in the same Tomb they laid his son Ruggieri Tancred departed this life in the end of the month of December the year of our Lord 1194. having reigned little more then eight years He left behind him three daughters and one son called William whom Sibilla his mother caused instantly to be crowned King of Sicilia The Emperor Henry understanding of the death of Tancred pretending that the Kingdom appertained to him as before is recited returned from Germany in the year 1195. and with a mighty Army entred the Kingdom of Naples which he finding full of civil discord easily obtained without the loss of much bloud and took prisoner Magarito King of Albania which was come thither in the aid of Tancred He had afterward Sibilla in his hands the late wife of Tancred together with his son William and three daughters that is to say Alteria Constanza and Modonia and sent them all prisoners into Germany and afterward caused William to be gelded to the end he should be unable to beget children and afterward blinded him and then released the said daughters Alteria was married to the Earl Gualtiero of Brenna son of the Earl Girardo of Brenna and brother of Iohn of Brenna which was afterward King of Ierusalem Modonia was married with Iohn Sforza Frangipane a Roman Lord which was Earl of Tricarico Constanza was the wife of Pietro Ziano Earl of Arba and Duke of Venice who being old with the
consent of his said wife became a Munk of the Order of St. Benedict which was in the year 1229. Thus ended the ancient and noble masculin race of the Norman Guiscards in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia which from the time of William Ferabach continued 188 years and governed the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia with much honour and renown SVEVI Henry the Suevian sixth Emperor and fifth King of Naples HENRY the Emperor having extinguished the male-issue and progeny of the Normans and remained absolute Lord of both the Sicilies caused Frederick his son to be Crowned by the Electors of the Empire King of Germany Afterward purposing better to establish the affairs of the Kingdom of Naples sent thither a Lieutenant one of his Barons called Marqueredo d' Amenueder whom within a few months following he created Duke of Ravenna and Romagna and Marquiss of Ancona and at the same tine gave to Philip Duke of Suevia his brother the Dukedom of Toscane with the Lands of the Countess Mattilda So Henry being carefull to range his Army to invade England for certain hatreds conceived against Richard the first King of that Land altered his mind in Messina through his delight in hunting being in the time of Harvest whereupon the Feaver growing grievously upon him ended his life the 8 of May in the year 1197 having ruled the Empire 9 years and governed in peaceable possession the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia four years and one month His body with the stately pomp of solemn obsequies was buried in the Church of Monreale in Palermo in whose sumptuous Tumb of Porphyrie is ingraven this Epitaph Imperio adjecit Siculos Henricus utrosque Sextus Suevorum candida progenies Qui monacham sacris uxoris duxit ab aris Pontificis scriptis hic tumulatus inest Imperavit an 9 men 1. obiit Messanae Anno 1197. Frederick 2. Emperor and 6. King of Naples FREDERICK the second Emperor the son of the aforesaid Henry succeeded in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia and because he was a child and but three years of age Constanza his mother caused him to be Crowned King of both the Sicilies and with him in his name began to govern the Kingdom and had the enstalment of the Kingdom from Pope Innocent the third in the year 1198. Frederick being of perfect age married Iola the only daughter of Iohn Count of Brenna and of Mary the daughter of King Conrado of Montferrato and for her dowry among other things had the title and the right of the Kingdom of Ierusalem and hereupon Frederick and all the rest which succeeded in the Kingdom of Naples were called Kings of Ierusalem In the year 1220. two years after his Coronation of the Empire Frederick being in grace and favour with the Pope Honorius the third and with the Church made and published in Rome that Law which beginneth Ad decus seu nos Fredericus the which Law is registred in the book of the feuds under the Title De statutis consuetudinibus contra libertatem Ecclesiarum the which Law the said Pope confirmed and approved Frederick also made at the same time the constitutions of the Kingdom which afterward the learned Doctor Afflitto expounded Frederick having ordered his affairs in Germany went in the time of Gregory the 9 into Soria and after much wars made peace with Salandine for 10 years and for that cause had Ierusalem and all the Kingdom thereof except a few certain Castles whereupon on Easterday in the year 1229. he took the Crown of that Kingdom in the City of Ierusalem Afterward there grew between him and Pope Honorius great discord because he took upon him to bestow the Bishopricks in Sicilia and Frederick pretending he might lawfully do it and dispose at his own pleasure by reason of a Bull which by Pope Vrban the second was granted to Ruggieri the Norman concerning the Monarchy of the said Isle the Pope misliking the presumption and ostentation of Frederick excommunicated him and deprived him of the Empire and the Kingdom the which censure Pope Innocent the fourth confirmed in the year 1245. Frederick lived five years after in continual trouble and vexation and at length having ruled the Empire 33 years and the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia 51. and that of Ierusalem 28. died of an infirmity that grew in his throat the 13 of December in the year 1250. in the Castle of Fâ—orentino in Apulia having lived 54 years Manfred his base son caused his body to be carried with great pomp and honour into Sicilia to the stately Church of Monreale in Palermo and there buried him in a sumptuous Tomb of Porphiry whereupon these Verses were ingraven Qui mare qui terras populos regna subegit Caesareum fregit subito mors improba nomen Sic jacet ut cernis Fredericus in orbe secundus Nunc lapis hic totus cui mundus parvit arcet Vixit an 54. Imperavit an 33. Regni Hierusalem an 28. Regnorum utriusque Siciliae 5 â— Oblit an Domini 1250. He left of six wives which he had many children of the first which was Constance of Aragon the sister or as others write the daughter of Don Ferdinando King of Castile he had Conrado which died young Henry and Giordiano Henry was King of the Romans who in the year 1236. he put to death because he favoured the Popes faction Of Iola his second wife the daughter of Iohn of Brenna King of Ierusalem he had Conrado which was Emperor of Germany and afterward King of Naples Of Agnese his third wife the daughter of Otho Duke of Moravia he had not any children Of Ruthina the fourth wife the daughter of Otho Earl of Vvolfferzhausen he had Frederick which died in his infancy Of Elizabeth his fift wife the daughter of Lewis Duke of Bavaria he had Agnese which was married to Conrado the Landtgrave of Turingia Of Matilda his last wife daughter of Iohn of England he had Henry which was King of Sicilia and Constance who was married to Lewis the Landtgrave of Nescia Frederick had also by Blanca Anglana of Aquosana his concubine these children Manfred Prince of Taranto and usurper of Naples Enzo King of Sardinia Anfisio of whom he made small account and Frederick Prince of Antiochia Of daughters he had Ann which was married very young to Iohn Dispote of Romania Of Henry and of Margarite the daughter of Lupoldo Duke of Austria was born Frederick which was Duke of Austria and Henry Of Conrado and of Elizabeth the daughter of Otho Duke of Bavaria came Coradine which coming to the conquest of the Kingdom was taken by Charls of Angio King of Naples and beheaded Of Manfred his natural son which married Helena the daughter of Michel Dispote of Romania came Henry Godfrey Aufisio and Elena Conrado the 4. Emperor and 7. King of Naples CONRADO the son of Frederick understanding the death of his father
me I will seek justice in my Armes defence being allowable God preserve your Majesty DON JOHN the fourth King of PORTVGALL THis huge loss and horrid disaster gave a shrewd alarm to the Spanish Monarchy for there feâ—l from her by this revolt the East-Indies the Tercera Islands the Kingdom of Algarve Brasile and all she had in Afric except the Town of Ceuta which is the only appendix that remains to Spain of the large Dominions of Portugal but t is like a small crust left of a Christmas Loaf A little before this revolt there was a portentous strange accident hapned neer the Tercera Ilands which are subject to the Crown of Portugal for in one of them there was a Town built upon the Sea-side under divers Clifts and Rocks among which there was a great Lough which suddenly one day broak out into a fearfull fire proceeding it seems from som bituminous matter in the bottom the flakes of fire and smoak did so darken and obnubilat the whole Region of the Cirâ—umambient air for many daies that they of the Town beneath thought verily the day of Judgâ—ent was com for they could go ankle deep in the ashes which the fire drove to the streets at last the huge Lake came tumbling down the Hills and carryed many of them with part of the Town into the Sea This was held to be an ominous thing and to presage som great change but the yeer following there hapned a stranger thing for a new Iland poppd out of the Sea therabouts and peed above water which was never seen before Now â—is worth the while considering what a mighty alteration it hath made in the Christian World to set down the right of title that both the King of Spain and the house of Bragansa hath to the Crown of Portugal therfore we will plant here the Tree of their Genealogy that the Reader may pass his judgment accordingly The fortunat and famous Alphonso having in the yeer 1139. obtaind a mighty battell against the Moors in Portugal by the unanimous consent of the people he was chosen King and solemnly Crownd in Lamego and his Posterity made capable to succeed him to all perpetuity all which was confirmd afterwards by the Pope Among other Lawes which the three Estates being assembled at Lamego did enact one was this Let it be a Law for ever that the King of Portugals eldest Daughter marry a Native of Portugal that so the Crown never descend to a stranger and in case she shold marry to a Prince who is a stranger let her not be Queen for we will never have our Kingdom go out of the Race of the Portugals who have made us Kings by their own valor and by the effusion of their own blood without forraign assistance Now Don Emanuel was the fourteenth King of Portugal from Don Alphonso and had for his Issue six Sons and two Daughters as followeth 1. The Prince Don Iohn his eldest 2. The Infanta Donna Beatrix who was married to the Emperor Charles the fift by whom he had Philip the second 3. The Infanta Dona married to Emanuel Duke of Savoy 4. The Infant Don Luis who left behind Don Antonid an illegitimat Son 5. The Infant Don Fernando dyed without Issue 6. The Infant Don Alfonso Arch-bishop of Lisbon and Cardinal never married 7. The Infant Don Henry Cardinal and Arch-bishop of Dragon â— The Infant Don Edward who left two Daughters the eldest was Mary Wife out of the Kingdom to Alexander Farnesse Duke of Panna the younger was married to Don Iohn Duke of Bragansa After the death of Emanuel succeeded his eldest Son Don Iohn who was named before and was called Iohn the third whose onely Son called also Iohn dying before his Father left behind him Don Sebastian who succeeded his Grand-father and was slain without Issue at that notable battell in Barbary 1578. where most of the Nobility and Flower of Portugal did also fall Upon the death of Sebastian the Crown returnd to the eldest Survivor of his Grand-fathers Brothers viz. Henry the Cardinal whose old age as well as his Function made him incapable of marriage he raignd peaceably two yeâ—rs After his death there were no less then eight Pretenders to the Crown 1. The People claimd right to elect their own King jure Regni 2. The Pope challengd Iure divino to be Arbiter herein in regard that Alfonso the first King made himself Feudetary to the See of Rome 3. Don Antonio gave out he was no Bastard but his Father Don Luis was lawfully married 4. Katherine de Medici Queen Regent of France claimd a right as descending from Don Alphonso the third since whom alâ— the Kings of Portugal have bin no better then Usurpers 5. Philibert Duke of Savoy Son to one of King Emanuels Daughters 6. Ranuccio Duke of Parma claimd the Crown in right of his Mother Mary Daughter to Don Duarte King Emanuels youngest Son 7. Katherine Dutchesse of Braganza claimd the Crown as being born in Portugal wheras all the rest were Aliens according to the Primitive Law made in Don Alphonsos time 8. Philip the second claimd the Crown by right of his Mother the Empresse being Heir Male of Don Emanuels eldest Daughter Now touching the first Pretender which was the people it was answerd that untill the Royall Line of a Kingdom be quite extinct there can be no right of Election in them Touching the Titles of the rest they were solemnly debated in many Universities but most concluded for King Philip first in regard that the Kingdom of Portugal had bin before Alphonsos time An 1138. under the protection of the Crowns of Castile and Leon wherof he was King Secondly because he could not properly be calld an Alien because he was born upon the Continent of Spain wherof Portugal is part being calld according to the old division Hispania Lusitanica Thirdly he might claim it a digniori partu because he was the first Male of an Empress who had bin also first Daughter of Portugal Besides this fatall defection of the Kingdom of Portugal with the sundry Dominions far and neer that belongd unto it there were many other cross traverses besides that happend to the Spanish Monarchy There was an illfavourd fire kindled in Palermo in Sicily which by a popular fury did so rage and was like to be so destructive that the Marquess de los Velez the then Vice-roy was forcd to publish a Manifesto wherin to content the rabble he took off and abolishd to perpetuity the Taxes that were layed upon Meat Wine Oyle and Cheese Moreover the people having in the sayed Mutiny broke open the Prisons and let out the Prisoners the Vice-roy was constraind to publish another Instrument wherin he pardond all such Prisoners as also those who let them out and all this was don sub verbo fide Regia The Kingdom of Naples which is also Sicily beyond the Phare a little arm of the Sea and thought at the Creation to be one
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
so many Christian Barons French Germans and Englishmen Boemond being of a generous mind and full of magnanimity animated by emulation of the glory of so many honourable men which went in this noble enterprise leaving all things to his brother went with these to the Conquest of the Holy Land where having streightly besieged Antiochia took it and was therefore by the general consent of the Army for that enterprise made Prince and Earl of Tripoli he afterward married Constance the eldest daughter of Philip King of France which brought him a son named Boemund which succeeded in the said Principality But returning to Ruggieri who having held the Dukedom of Calauria and Apulia 25 years died in the year 1110. and left William his eldest son his heir born of Adelandra his wife daughter of Robert Frisone Earl of Flanders This Duke William peaceably possest his State and made Pope Galasio his special friend by whom he was invested in the said Dukedome of Apulia and Calauria in the year 1118. The year following the Duke thinking to marry the daughter of Iohn Comneno Emperor of Constantinople being promised unto him imbarked himself to go thither and committing the tuition of his State to Pope Calisto the second In the mean time the year 1123. Ruggieri Earl of Sicilia his Nephew the sonne of the aforesaid Ruggieri Bosso following so fit an oportunity nothing esteeming the Pope invaded Calauria and before the Pope could well bethink himself how to relieve it he had got the possession of all Calauria and Apulia The Duke William being deceived and returned without his wife retired himself to the Prince of Salerno his kinsman where not long after without leaving any issue he died in the year 1127. The Kings of NAPLES Ruggieri 1. King of Naples RVGGIERI by force of arms and by the right of inheritance being Lord of so great a State with whose power the Pope Honorius the second being not able to contend made peace with him and received of him an Oath of Loyalty and homage and so created him Duke of Apulia and Calauria The said Act was solemnly done and registred in Troia a City of Puglia in the year 1128. Afterward Ruggieri began War with the Prince of Capoa and so afflicted him that in the end he usurped his Principality but growing proud with this great prosperity would be no longer called Duke of Apulia and Calauria and Earl of Sicilia but entituled himself King of Italy the which thing Honorius seemed to dissemble but Innocentio the second which succeeded him could not by any means indure being moved with rage without measuring otherwise his strength raised a sudden tumultuous Army and with all expedition and violence came against Ruggieri which knew nothing of that preparation that he chaced him from St. Germano and through all the Country of Abadia and besieged him being within the Castle Galluccio above Sessa where flying was forced to retire back again The other William son of the besieged Ruggieri understanding thereof with great celerity came to relieve his father and did a very admirable exploit in breaking their forces and taking the Pope prisoner with many Cardinals and at the same instant delivering his father from the siege Ruggieri through his great courtesie and reverence used to the Pope obtained without the Title of King particularly the City of Naples which till this time had been under the Greek Empire Ruggieri perceiving the good will of the Neopolitans created 150 Knights Innocentio being set at liberty returned to Rome and found that in his absence had been created one Pietro an Ante-Pope the son of Pier Leone a very powerfull and factious Citizen of Rome which was called Anacleto the second Innocentio having no doubt thereof with the help of the Pisani past into France Ruggieri went to Benevento and visited Anacleto and obtained the Title and Crown of King of both the Sicilies which was done the 25 of Iuly 1130. and was the first that in this part of Italy had the Title of King and was made a Liegeman and Vassal of the Church the which Instalment as Sigonius noteth was the same that the aforesaid Pope Innocentio afterward confirmed in the year 1139. declaring him lawfull King of Sicilia Duke of Apulia and Calauria and Prince of Capoa Ruggieri having performed many noble enterprises died in the year 1153. being 59 years of age his body was laid in a Costly and stately Tomb of Porphery in the Church of Monreale of Palermo where these Verses are ingraven Si fastus homines si regna slemmata ludunt Non legum recti sit norma Rogerius ist is Est lusus rebus comite à quo nomine natus Virtutem his splendor situs diademà que Regum Vixit ann LIX Regnavit an XXIII Menses V. obiit an MCLII Ruggieri had four wives the first was Airolda the daughter of the Earl of Caserta the second was called Albira daughter of the King of Spain the third named Sibilla sister of the Duke of Burgony the fourth was called Bettrice which was the daughter of the Earl of Resta of his two first wives he had not any children Sibilla brought him Ruggieri which was Duke of Apulia and Amalso and Guglielmo which was Prince of Capoa and Salerno which died both in their fathers time Of Bettrice his last wife he had William Prince of Taranto which was afterward King of Naples and a daughter named Constance who by the advice and Councel of the Abbot Giachimo Calaures the King put her into a religious house of Nuns He had a base son called Tancredi who was Earl of Leccie and King of Naples William the wicked the 2. King of Naples WILLIAM called by his sirname the wicked William the first begotten son of Ruggiero his father succeeded in the Kingdom and in the beginning of his State usurped by force of arms Ceperano with the Suburbs of Benevento and Banco with other places belonging to the Church for which cause he was excommunicated by Pope Adrian the fourth and deprived also of the title of King and discharged his subjects of their obedience towards him William conceiving a most violent hatred against the Pope raised a mighty Army with a purpose to go for Rome but being for his perverse nature hated of his Barons many of them rebeld against him and called the Pope into the Kingdom The which was the occasion that William changed his purpose and converted his fury against the Prince of Capoa which had been the Author of that conspiracy The Pope which saw all the Kingdom in Arms with admirable celerity made a mighty Army pass to Benevento and without any resistance took a great part of the Kingdom by the which victory the Barons which called him did swear unto him loyalty and homage William understanding that Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople and Frederick Barbarossa the first Emperor of Germany made expedition to aid the Pope
Jewels Treasure to Erfrando of Tours Governor of the Rhodes This Marquess William had the government of Ierusalem but being a weak impotent King did notwithstanding many famous and worthy deeds but he little enjoyed the benefit of his victories for that in the beginning of the second year of his reign he died and left after him one onely son called Baldwin Baldwin the King being desirous to provide for his Nephew married again his sister Sybell to Guy of Puite Lubrun son of Hugh Lubrun Duke of Merchia and Governor of Lusignon in France with this agreement that after his death the said Guy should govern the kingdom till Baldwin his Nephew were of sufficient age But Guy carrying himself haughty and over-proud in the government of the said kingdom was dismist again by Baldwin the King This was in the year 1183. Moreover he procured Pope Lucius the third to annoint and crown his Nephew King Baldwin the fifth being but a child and appointed him Bertrand Count of Tripoly his Governor and protector of the kingdom Thus King Baldwin the fourth reigning 6 years died leaving Count Tripoly Tutor as is said of young Baldwin the fifth but he resigning his charge being withstood by Sybel the mother of the Boy and Guy her husband But in the beginning of the eighth moneth the little king Baldwin died whose death the mother concealed so long as the effecting of her intended purpose required insomuch that what with flattering and fair words and with large gifts she wan the Patriark Eraclio with the Nobility and principal men of authority in the kingdom to create Guy her husband King The Count understanding this fuming thereat being incensed with rage and envying the prosperity of Guy made peace with Salandine King of the Sarasins promising to aid him against King Guy The Salandine being now at peace with the Christians found opportunity by the discord of these Princes to break it because the Christian Prince of Montreale which governed the countrey from that to the river Iordan being on every side inhabited with Sarasins who continually carried their commodities to Ierusalem without the Kings knowledge suddenly brake the truce for the Salandine saw the time was now come which he long expected assembled together fifty thousand Horsmen and an infinite company of Footmen without number and got many cities of the Christians and increasing their Army with the people of the countrey took Ierusalem by covenant after they had besieged it one moneth This was done the second of October 1187 in the third yeare of King Guy having been in the possession of the Christians 89 years Salandine entring Ierusalem caused first the steeples and bells to be thrown down and of the Churches he made stables for his horses onely he reserved the Temple of Solomon which was washed with Rose-water at his first entrance Afterward he went to Tolomayda and besieged it wherein was the King and Sybel his wife with four children who with the children died together of a bloody flux Now as we have said before was promised to Erfrando of Turon Master of the Rhodes a noble young man Isabel to wife the sister of Sybel a virgin and also the daughter of Baldwin the fourth and sixth King of Ierusalem who now by the death of Sybel was next heir to her Fathers kingdom This expectation increased a better regard of the Barons and Christian Princes towards Erfrando But Conrado Longspath Marquess of Monferrato understanding the sudden death of Sibel and her children being desirous of Soveraignty and also enamored of Isabel his neer kinswoman secretly stole her away but with her own consent and conveyed her to Tyre and there privatly married her And so all the right of the kingdom of Ierusalem came to him by his wife Isabel whereupon he was intituled King of that kingdom The year 1190 after Philip King of France had sollicited Richard King of England to go into Soria but King Richard defer'd his going till the year following Richard afterward observing his promise came to Messina in the moneth of September where Philip also was from whence they departed having a prosperous wind Philip in a short time arrived at Tolomayda but Richard by a tempest was driven to Cyprus where Chirsack Duke of the Island denied him harbour whose discourtesie he took with such discontent as by meer force surprized the Island and sacking it planted a strong guard of his own people and from thence passed to Tolomayda to joyn with the Christian Army Not long after he sold the said Island to the Knights of the Temple for a hundred thousand crowns who ill governing the same were forced by the power of the Cypriots to depart thence and so the Knights restored it again to Richard who likewise returned them their money and with the same conditions the year 1193 gave it to Guy of Puite Lubrun Lusignon in France husband to Isabel sister of King Baldwin who before was enforced to flye Ierusalem in consideration whereof he resigned unto him all the Title and Interest he had to the kingdom of Ierusalem and for this cause the King of England began to be called King of Ierusalem and King Guy took the possession of Cyprus and was called King of the said Isle The which right to the kingdom of Ierusalem was nothing because the same by all law now justly belonged to Isabel the daughter of King Baldwin wife of Conrado Marquess of Monferrato therefore can no right or title be attributed to the King of England herein Not long after the King Conrado of Monferrato was slain in Tyre by two Sarazins called Arsacides not leaving any male children but one onely daughter called Mary The Queen Isabel married again and had to her husband Henry Count of Campania who indowed her with the Signiory of Tyre but that unhappy young man living not many years with his wife unfortunately sell from a loft or chamber in his own Palace and so died leaving three daughters Agnesa Melisina and Alicia Queen Isabel remaining thus a widow married again the third time with Almerick Puite Lubrun Lusignon King of Cyprus who by the death of Guy his brother succeeded in the said kingdom and was second King of Cyprus and in the right of Isabell his wife was also called King of Ierusalem by whom he had three children Amarin Sybilla and Melisenda but Amarin died young King Almerick married Sybil to Livon King of Armenia and Melisenda the youngest daughter was married to Raymond Rupini Nephew of the said King of Armenia and his successor in the kingdom the which Raymond was then Prince of Antioch Of this Melisenda wife of Prince Raymond Rupini was born that Mary who in the year 1276 resigned to Charls of Anjou King of Naples the claim and Title she pretended to the kingdom of Ierusalem At length King Almerick died leaving his kingdom of Cyprus to Hugo his son whom he
of piety and pitty Thus this great Hâ—ro became a Hermit this glorious Monarch became an obscure Mâ—nk and certainly he well deservd to have worn so many Crowns who did so freely quitt them obeying therin onely the motions of his own soul without any shew of constraint or the lest appearance of suspecting the alleagiance of his peâ—ple Now touching that Arthriticall torturing disease which afflicted the Emperour Charles his Son and immediat Successor had much more cause to be subject therunto in regard of his sedentary and reposefull life in regard that he kept for the most part in his Closet wher he wold write himself his own letters dispatches and instructions There he might be sayed to have a Prospective through which he beheld what was a doing in the old and new World yea as farr as the Antipodes His Closet was the center whence the lines of his comands were drawn to the circumference of so many vast remote Regions as will appear in the History of his life which in regard he was a Prince of a strange mould of a close dark nature that his thought could seldom be penetrated I will spend more oyle then ordinary to illustrat his Raign THE LIFE and RAIGNE of PHILIP the Second 27th KING OF NAPLES PHILIP of Austria second of that name succeeded Caesar his Imperiall Father in all his Hereditary Dominions by a voluntary free Resignation wherin he might be sayed not to be beholden to death as other Heirs apparant use to be but to his Fathers free designe But touching the Kingdom of Naples it was transferrd unto him before to countenance his second marriage with Mary Queen of England and Ireland There wanted not som Critiques that wold have derogated from the worthinesse of that spontaneous Act of the Emperours saying That King Philip was overheard to say a while aâ—ter that The second day after the Resignation was the first day of his Fathers Repentance But sure that could not be if the Historians who were then contemporaries may be beleevd for this was don by a long moulded preceding resolution as they write in regard that the Emperour had a design to do it six yeers before when he was but fifty yeers of age the ground of which proceeded from the speech of an old Captain of his who desiring a Passe to retire from Armes told him Sir he who hath a care of his soul must put an Intervall twixt the affaires of the World and Death And now to the intended task Philip the second was born in Valladolid upon a Tuesdey the 21. of May 1527. in the Chair-ship of Clement the seventh a little before that his Fathers Armie had assaulted and sackt Rome but without the knowledg of the Emperour himself and the consent of his Viceroy of Naples at that time which was the cause that Philip was not baptiz'd with such Ecclesiasticall Pomp and Solemnity that is usuall at ten months and twenty dayes old he was declar'd Prince of Castilia and Aragon in the Monastery of Saint Hierom in Madrid his Parents being present when he had arriv'd to seven yeers of age wherin Nature doth use to make som visible change in the progresse of humane life his Father commanded a house and family to be settled for him At which time Doctor Siliceo who was afterward Bishop of Toledo and Cardinal was appointed to be his Preceptor who taught him to know to love and fear God to read and write to understand the Latin Italian French tongues and to have som knowledg in the Mathematiques His Mother the Empresse Daughter to Emanuel King of Portugal dyed a few yeers after at Toledo where Philip was bred leaving him about twelve yeers of age at which time he began to rule Spain in the absence of his Father being assisted by Cardinal Tabera the Duke of Alua and others At fifteen yeers of age he was sworn Prince of Aragon where he was intitled Governour according to the custom At sixteen yeers of age he maried the Lady Maria Infanta of Portugal Daughter to Iohn the third a Creature of exquisit bewty being of the same age with Philip. Som few yeers after he was call'd by his Father to Flanders leaving the Government of Spain to Arch-Duke Maximilian his Cosen and King of Bohemia and Hungary He pass'd over to Italy in a Fleet of thirty eight Gallies under the command of Andrea Doria and landing at Genoa he pass'd through Milan and Mantova to Germany and so to Brussels Having their receiv'd divers good Documents from his Father taken a survey of the Nether-lands Italy and Germany whither he attended the Emperour his Father to a Diet at Auspurg having purchas'd all this experience he went back by his Fathers order to Spain having receiued a new Commission to govern there in chief and in the Indies also A while after there was an ouverture of marriage made twixt him and Queen Mary of England which was quickly agreed upon therefore he embark'd himself at the Groyn Corunnia in a Fleet of sixty eight Ships wherein was a Regiment of four thousand Spaniards among whom were divers Noble men and persons of quality Being arriv'd in England and royally attended to London the Nuptials were celebrated in great magnificence hereupon King Philip took share with his wife in the Government by the title of King of Naples Hierusalem England and Ireland but afterwards the Parliament when he was departed began a Cavil and wold not have him stil'd King of England but Husband to the Queen of England during his abode in England his Queen and he liv'd in a sweet way of conjugall love notwithstanding their disparity of yeers she being above a dozen yeers elder It was thought once she was with Child therefore she was prayed for at Saint Pauls Cross but in lieu of a Pregnancy it prov'd a Tympany a Tumor or Mole proceeding from indisposition of body All the while he liv'd in England he advanc'd the Roman Religion but being call'd away by his Father to Flanders the reform'd Religion began to take footing again After he was departed from England Calais was taken by the Duke of Guyse who in the dead of Winter did suddenly sit before her and began his Batteries so furiously that the noyse of his Canons were heard as farr as Antwerp neer a hundred miles distant King Philip while he cohabited with his Wife often advisd her to have a speciall care of Calais and afterwards upon a Treaty of peace twixt Spain and France one of the Articles were that Calais should be surrendred to the Queen of England but she dyed in the interim The Family of Caraffa who were neer allied to Pope Paul the fourth wold needs advise his Holines to recouer the Kingdom of Naples for the Apostolicall See the times being propitious to such a work their counsail prevaild in regard that France obligd her self to assist him but though the attempt went very far yet it could not take effect That clowd being
Nations the Piligni the Samniti the Marsi the Frentani being so well known in the Wars of Archidamus and of Cleonimus the Spartan of Agatocles the Sicilian of Alexander the Epirote of Pyrrhus of Molossus and Hanniball of Carthage and in the civil Wars of Iulius Caesar and Pompey and other Romans these People have valiantly demeaned themselves and in latter times have also declared their prowesse and manifested every one their noble acts in the Wars which they had against Alericus and Totila ancient enemies of these noble Provinces This happy Kingdom hath also produced excellent wits in all Learning and wisdom as in Philosophy Aistossenes Architas and Euritus of Tarentum Filolous Aremeones Telaâ—ges Aristeus and Rodippus born at Cotron Androdamus of Reggio Parmenides Zenon and Leucippo of Scalea Hippasus of Metapont Pythagoras Timeo Xenon Filodamus and Euetus of Locris a Country worne out with antiquity Ocelus of Lucania Stratonicus of Cuma St. Thomas of Aquin Nearest to this our age the light of all Learning was born at Naples and of a more later time Augustin Nifus of Sessa and Simon Portius a Neopolitan neither will I conceal the glory of the Poets and Orators which have honoured this Kingdom Ennius an ancient Poet was of the Country of Puglia Rudia Lucillus of Arunca near to Benevento Pacuvius a Tragical Poet of Brindese Venosa may boast for bringing forth Horace as also Sulmona Ovid Regio of Theagenes Ibicus Cleâ—mines and of Lodwick Parisetus a youth Croton of Orpheus Turia of Stesicorus a Lirical Poet Nola of St. Paulinus Bishop Napes of Achias the Master of Cicero of Pub. Statius of Marinus and excellent Orator and Philosopher Disciple of Proelus of Porcellus of Iohn Pontanus and Iacobus Sannazaco Amiternus of Salust Capoa of Vittor Bishop an eloquent Orator and learned Astrologian Aquin of Iuvenal and of Marcus Tullius Cicero the very lightning of eloquence This said Noble Kingdom hath brought forth not only men but also learned women which have been very excellent in Philosophy as Themistoclea the sister of Pithagoras of whom she learned many notable things and Damea the daughter of the same Pithagoras who sufficiently expressed her learning in expounding the difficult opinions of her Father no less Myan and Arignote her said daughters have been excellent in the same profession Artea the daughter of Aristippus after the death of her Father maintained while she lived most gloriously the School and held the Chair of Philosophy In the Art of Poetry have been very excellent Perilla the wife of Ovid Claudia wife of P. Statius Papinius Neapolitan Violentilla wife of Aruntius Stella Neapolitan Consul and a famous Poet Luscina the daughter of Stesicorus a Poet of Metaurus in Calabria And those that were not born in this Kingdom have esteemed it a place worthy of their life of their leisure and of their studies as Plato Vergil Livy and Plotin which had their habitations in Villages in divers places of the Kingdom and there composed their Works holding famous Schools for which cause it may truly be accounted a happy Kingdom But since these few things are touched in general but as it were passing by for the knowledg thereof I will now endeavour to handle them in particular and with a very distinct order whereby every one shall clearly understand how many good and beautifull things that whole world containeth in it and that through the excellency thereof have repaired thither so many and so strange Nations as never the like have past into any other Kingdom or Province as well to inhabit as to sack and ransack the same And to speak of the most ancient thither have come the Coni the Sicli the Morgeti the Enotri the Pelasgi the Ausoni the Etoli the Arunci the Etrusci the Osci the Opici the Cimerii the Lapigi the Liburni the Illirii and other people which are of later memory even continuing to this our time as the Greeks Goths Lombards Saracins Normans Germans Frenchmen Spaniards and also the Turks have attempted to overcome it But leaving to discourse any more in general I will proceed with a particular narration of every Province in this Kingdom The Land of LAVORO The First Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES THe Fortunate and happy Province of the Land of Lavoro called of the Latines Terra Laboris hath on the East the River Silare on the West Garigliano now called Liris on the North the Apennin Mountains and on the South the Tirrene Sea the length thereof wanteth little of a hundred miles and the breadth thirty It hath been inhahited by the Osci the Arunci the Volosci the Ausoni the Cimerii the Samniti the Cumani and the Picentini It hath four principal Rivers Garigliano Vulturno Sarno and Sele which as they are between them little wanting of an equal distance so alwaies in most places they cannot be waded This Country was also called of the Latines Campania felix it was called happy for the fertillity and fatness of the earth which is so much and in such sort that here Ceres and Bacchus strive together for the greatest Soveraignty It attained the name of the largeness of the fields it was also called the old Campania as a difference from the new that is Campania of Rome and now from the Leborine Fields which are near Capoa it is called the Land of Lavoro The Fields of this Province lie under moist and mistie hils and are all as it were in a plain and the benefit of this Land briefly to declare the nature of the Earth is that the superficial or uppermost part thereof is very drie and dustie but within so spongeous and moist like to a pomice that sucks in the water whereby no small profit ariseth also from those Hills for that the showers descending from them are dispersed over all the Valley and so not over-watering the earth nor making it too soft but apt and easie for tillage the same ground sendeth not out that received moisture in any Springs or Fountains but temperateth it and concocting within it holds it as nourishment unto it Corn is sowed once in a year and Oats and Flax twice every year Dionysius of Alicarnassus saith That in his time was successively gathered in one year three sorts of Fruits that is one in the Spring another in Summer and the third in Autumn In this most plentifull Region the Trees flourish twice in a year and there is found all delights for the pleasure of men In this Noble Province are large and fertile Fields pleasant and fruitfull Hils thick and delightfull Woods fresh and clear Springs and pleasant Lakes Moreover there are places in the manner of spacious Amphitheaters wrought amongst the Hils by that great Workmaster Nature to yield delight in the hunting of wild Beasts that are inclosed therein and to declare the great abundance that is there I will begin with flying fowles whereof there are great plenty that is to
commended for Zeuxses portraying Images in the Temple of Iuno took them for his pattern and for the sports and exercises of Atleta where was Milo so strong that he used to carry a Bull and Egone which in running overtook the young Heifers cutting from them their hoofs and making afterward a present thereof to his Amarillis Walking along we come to the City Cariati which hath the dignity of a Prince and not far off lieth Calopizzato Crusia and the noble and ancient City Rossano built by the Enotri Iohn the 7. Bishop of Rome which was born there honoureth much this City A little farther within the Land is Longobucco where are sound certian Mines of Silver from thence descending towards the Sea we may see Corigliano and not far off is Cassano in so fair and temperate a Country as it is not inferior to the best part of all the Land of Lavoro and here within the circuit of this pleasant Country was the ancient City of Turio which at this present the people of the Country call Terranova Trogo writeth in his 20 book that the said City was builded by Filottete the which was much ennobled by Herodotus having writ therein his Histories in which City he also died as Pliny saith from the same City Octavius Augustus had his beginning And this City hath also been the natural Soil of many Roman Bishops Then appears towards the sea-side Trebisazze Albidona Amendolara and the River Semio called in old time Siri by the City of Siro which stood very near which was afterward named Heraclea to whom the Statue of Minerva bred great wonder in turning and rouling the eyes against the Ionii which sacking and spoyling the City respected it not The men of this Province are of a white complexion of indifferent stature and strong crafty firm and resolute in their opinions hardy and stout much inclined to Learning and Arms they use Daggs Swords and Pikes The Gentlemen attire themselves after the Neopolitan fashion and likewise the women but those which live in Villages are very rude and barbarous The Arms of this Province are per salter or .4 pates gules and on the second partition or so many crosses bastone Sa. The which two Crosses signifie the two Calaurias and the other partitions are the Arms of Aragon These Arms were invented by Don Ferdinando of Aragon Duke of Calauria the son of Alfonsus the first King of Naples for that he would not otherwise express them that although the Region of Calauria was divided by his Father into two Provinces nevertheless he was Lord of them both The Countrey of OTRANTO The seventh Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe fair and rich Province of the Country of Otranto called in old time Iapigia as Solon saith of Iapige the son of Dedalus which came thither with many people to inhabit These people had their original from Latii and as others say from the Cretians which with the Illerians came into this utmost bound of Italy This Province was also called Salentina from the Promontory Salentino at this present named the Cape of Santa Maria but as Festus saith of Salo which is to say the Sea which compasseth it almost round about except a little part which joyneth with the firm land others affirm that it was called Salentina of the people Salentini which came with the Cretians hither to inhabit It was afterward called Messapia of the Captain Messapo which came from Peloponesus with a Colony into this Region And not long after it was named by the Creeks Calauria And finally from the City of Otranto all this Region is called the Country of Otranto The figure and form of this Province is an out cape of land which is one of the three angles or corners of Italy wherein endeth one of the two principal capes wherein is a part of the Apennine and here as is commonly thought ends the Adriatick Sea and is united with the Ionian Verily this Province seemeth as another Chersonesus lying under a pleasant air The circuit thereof is little more then 200 miles whose Istmus is between Taranto and Monopoli not exceeding the space of 40 miles in the which Peninsula although the superficial part of the earth for the most part be rough and stony nevertheless being ploughed up discovereth excellent mould and although there be little store of water it yields good pasture for Cattel and bringeth forth Wheat Wine Barley Oats Olives Citrons excellent Musk-millions Figgs Apples Pears Limons Oringes Oxen Asses Mules of the best breed and such abundance of Saffron that it seems to be rather the proper fruit of this Country then of Carthage The great plenty of Oâ—l which is there made seemeth a thing incredible to those which have not seen it whereby all the Kingdom doth not only abound therewith but also the greatest part of Italy and every where is excellent fowling and hunting both for Conies and hares And although the air be very wholsome yet the leprosie is very common by the means as I think of eating Pork and drie Figgs the ordinary food of the common people The springs of water are partly sweet and partly gross and brackish In this Country is bred the Tarantola whose venom is driven away with sound and singing the which Galen also affirms with the authority of Theofrastus of certain other creatures There are also bred the Chersidri and there is no part of Italy more troubled with Grashoppers which devour all things where they come and in one night consume the ripest fields But nature hath provided a remedy by the means of certain Fowls which they call Ganie which destroy this vermin The Hail also much hurteth this Province which almost every year doth some spoil The Thunder is there felt as in the Country of Lavoro both in Summer and Winter But coming to the description of this Province beginning at the River Bradano is Taranto a worthy and an ancient City which some say had that name from the River Tara and others from Tara the son of Neptune and others impute the original to Hercoles This City so increased by the means of Falanto the Spartan who governing under the Democratical Regiment contended sometimes with the Lucani and sometimes with the Senate being alwaies aided by strange Captains having sometines the help of Alexander and sometines of Pyrrhus became so rich that there was no City except Siracusa that brought greater riches to the people of Rome it glorieth much in her Archita that admirable Mathematician which caused a Dove of Copper to fly round about the City and of Aristosseno the Musician Taranto lieth between two Seas whereof the one is called the great the other the little in the lesser which is in compass 18 miles there runneth in many springs and the River Galeso by means whereof and the calmness of the water there are many fishes and no less then in the Sea of Constantinople
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
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
memoriae Serenissimam illustrissimam Dominam nostram Dominam Ioannam secundam Dei gratia Hungariae Hierusalem Siciliae reginam c. Within a little time after rose in the Citie divers contentions because Pope Eugenio the fourth understanding the death of Ione sent a Legate to Naples the Bishop of Recanati and Patriarch of Alexandria giving the Governors to understand and the Councell of the Citie that the kingdom of Naples was fallen to the Church as his Feud or Fee willing them not to bestow the dominion upon any but him whom he shall nominate and invest King The Governors answered that they would have no other King but Renato Duke of Lorain whom their Queen had left as her successor By this means the kingdom understood the admonition of the Pope and the answer of the Governors wherewith many of the Princes and Barons of the kingdom much misliked the succession of Renato and being published that that Will and Testament was falsly forged by the Neapolitans one part of the Barons and people which were of the faction of the Aragonesi called King Alfonsus of Aragon Whereupon through contrary consents and inclinations rose the sactions of the Angioini and Aragonesi The Governors being likewise at discord among themselves the whole kingdom was divided and put into great trouble and molestation In the mean time the greatest part of them sent Ambassadors to Marseliâ— for Renato That part of the Duke of Sâ—ssa the Earl Venafro and many other Barons called Alfonsus who being full of military courage and inflamed with an incredible desire of glory having his Army ready in the year 1436. came to Gaeta and was received by the Duke of Sessa and besieging the said Citie came with his Navy to battell with Baiâ—gio Captain Generall of the Fleet of the Genowayes and Alfonsus valiantly fighting was at length overcome and taken prisoner and carried to the custody of Philip Duke of Miltane who afterward knowing the singular vertue of Alfonsus being desirous to hold him his companion and friend made a league with him and suffered him to go at his own pleasure together with the other Lords which were also prisoners ANGIOINI Renato of Angio the 16 King of Naples REnato of Angio being at that time prisoner to Iohn Duke of Burgonie the Neapolitane Ambassadors deprived of all hope to have Renato caused Isabellae his wife to come in his stead a very wise and worthy Lady who made great wars with Alfonsus Afterward Renato being set at liberty by the Duke of Burgonie in the moneth of May 1438. came to Naples whose coming gave great hope and expectation to the Angioini and was royally received and presently prepared all necessary things for the wars and retained many principall and excellent Captains through whose valour he obtained all Calauria and the Dukedome of Melâ—i in Abruzzo he had at his command many places In the moneth of Iune 1438. he had from Pope Eugenius the instalment of the kingdom of Naples and Ierusalem Many actions and battels fell out between Renato and Alfonsus but at length the party of the Aragonesi prevailed Alfonsus in moneth of Iune 1442. by the way of an Aquaduct which brought water into the City took Naples and the third day with the will of Renato he had the Castle of Capoa and other forts Renato growing into despair not to be able to recover the kingdom with Isabella his wife and his children returned into Provence where he past all the rest of his life in peace having held Naples and part of the kingdom in an uncertain and troublesome possession four years and ten days Being come to the age of 64 years married Ioan della Valle a noble French Lady with whom too excessively satisfying his pleasure became weak and feeble and so died the 19 of Fbruary in the year 1481. and was buried in Nansi a plentifull place and a principapll City of the Dukedom of Lorane and upon his Tomb these four verses engraven Magnanimum tegit hoc saxum fortemque Rhenatum Mortales heu qua conditione sumus Invidia factis hujus fortuna subinde Ne tanti tanto celsus honore foret ARAGONES I. Alfonsus 1. of Aragon called by his surname The Magnanimous 17 King of Naples ALfonsus King of Aragon and Sicilia after many dangers and infinite travell entred Naples in triumph upon a golden Chariot and by the means of Francesco Orsino President of Rome made peace with the Pope Eugenio and obtained a very large instalment of the Kingdom for he was also invested in the Kingdom of Hungary by the right of Ioan his mother And besides that obtained from the said Pope that faculty and power that Ferdinando his naturall son was ordained his heir and to succeed after his death in the instalment and possession of the Kingdom the which investing was likewise afterward confirmed by Pope Nicolas the fifth Alfonsus was very magnificent in buildings he reduced the new Castle in Naples into the form it now appears truly a very Royall and stately piece of work He enlarged Mola and caused the Fens about the City to be made dry He took the Isle of Zerbi overcame in battell the King of Tunis and made him tributary and subdued certain Cities in Barbary he oftentimes sent Armies against the Turks and at the instance of the Pope chased away Francesco Sforsa della Marca He was very studious in learning and made great account of learned men whereof he kept very many in his Court. And to conclude he was a Prince of great magnanimity He reigned sixteen years one moneth and one and twenty days He died the 28 of June in the year 1458. being 64 years of age He had for his wife Mary the daughter of Henry the third King of Castile surnamed the Weak by whom he had no Childern The Neapolitans buried the body of Alfonsus with a stately Funerall and laid him in a Coffin covered all with cloth of gold the which at this present is to be seen in the Vestry of St. Dominick in Naples and at the foot thereof are these Verses Inclytus Alfonsus qui Regibus ortus Iberis Hic regnum Ausoniae primus adeptus adest Ferdinando 1. of Aragon 18 King of Naples FErdinando the first of this name after the death of his Father succeeded in the Kingdom and was by the Institution of Pope Pius the second anointed and crowned King by Latino Orsino the Cardinall But very often was like to lose it through many wars and espeâ—ially by Iohn of Angio the son of Renato which had a great Train and Troop of the Barons of the Realm which drew unto them a great number of Rebels In the year 1481 died as is declared Renato of Angio who having no male children made heir of all his state and inheritance Charls of Angio Earl of Main his brothers son who dying within a while after without children bequeathed his inheritance to Lewis the 11. King of France
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
had by a former wife the which Hugo not long after the death of his Father married Isabell the daughter of Henry Count of Ciampania and of his stepmother and not long after the death of Almerick died also the Queen Isabel his wife who by her will and testament bequeathed the kingdom of Ierusalem to Mary her daughter whom she had by Conrado of Monferrato her first husband recommending the tuition of her to the society of the Hospitalers and Templers whom she appointed her Guardians or Overseers Afterward in the year 1222 Iohn Count of Brenne coming to Rome having the title of King of Ierusalem by the right of Mary his wife daughter as is beforesaid of King Conrado of Montferrato being much honored and presented to the Pope going to Pisa to procure aid for his enterprise into Soria gave to the Emperour Frederick the second King of Naples lately excommunicated but now reconciled to the Church his onely daughter called Iole to wife whom he had by Mary his wife and in dowry with her all the right and title he had to the kingdom of Ierusalem Whereupon Frederick and all other that succeeded him in the kingdom of Naples were called Kings of Ierusalem And this is one of the reasons why all the Kings of Naples are invested with the title of Ierusalem Afterward Frederick in the time of Gregory the ninth in the year 1228 being as it were inforced went into Soria yet managed his affairs with such power and authority that he agreed to conclude a peace with the Soldian for ten years who restored unto him Ierusalem with all the territories and kingdom thereof except some few little Castles Whereupon the Easter following in the year 1229. he was crowned in Ierusalem and caused the Citie of Ioppa now called Zaffo to be repaired and newly reedified The Emperour setling and securing all things to his content returned home into his kingdom and in glory of so great triumph and victory brought with him Elephants Panthers Dromedaries Leopards white Bears Lyons Linxes or spotted beasts After this the kingdom of Naples and Sicil came into the power and jurisdiction of Charls of Anjou Count of Provence for the right and title that his predecessors had descended to him as lawfull King thereof But Fortune willing to confirm and establish his right without any crosse encounter it came to passe that Hugo Puite Lubrun Lusignon the second of this name King of Cyprus married Alicia the third daughter of Isabel Queen of Ierusalem and of Count Henry of Ciampaania the which thing discontenting the Princess Mary daughter of Melisenda and Raymond Rupini Prince of Antioch and Borgne complained much of King Hugo that being her kinsman would usurp the title which was her right by Melisenda her mother being the second daughter and not Alicia his wife who was the third begotten Hugo not onely little esteemed her complaints but also otherwise did ill intreat her Whereupon the disdainfull Princess Mary came to Rome pretending her right to the aforesaid kingdom of Ierusalem as the Neece of Queen Isabel the daughter of Almerick naturall King of the said kingdom summoned King Hugo before the Pope and so began the stir and contention of the title and possession of the said kingdom The matter being much debated by the Ambassadors of King Hugo who knowing it to be far more available for them to have the deciding and determining of the cause committed to the Barons and Nobility of the holy Land The Pope at the first instance referred the judgement and deciding of the matter to the Patriark of Ierusalem the Masters of the Hospitall and the Temple and other the Barons and Nobility of the holy Land who were wont to have a voyce in Councell and election of the Kings of Ierusalem the which the Princess Mary perceiving being a woman of great age weary and irksom of travell and the perils of so long a journey being advised by her friends agreed with Charls of Anjou receiving of him a great sum of money renounced all her right and title and resigned wholly unto him all her interest whatsoever to the kingdom of Ierusalem confirming the same by authentick and solemn writings which was in the year 1276. Whereupon Charls afterward by means of the Pope was proclaimed by lawful sentence King of that Realm as well by the ancient right of the Emperour Frederick as also that of Mary Insomuch that by the reasons aforesaid it plainly appeareth that the right and title of the kingdom of Ierusalem lawfully belongeth to the Kings of Naples and to none other and so the supposed titles both of the King of England and also of the King of Cyprus are little or of no worth Wherefore I do not a little marvell that this last right and title was unknown both to Pandolfo Colennuccio that writ a brief Epitome of the kingdom of Naples and also to Iacobo Mainolda who composed that Book of the title of Philip King of Spain Naples and Ierusalem seeing the History is so apparent But to return to the matter Charls for the better security of his affairs sent suddenly the Count Ruggier Sanseverin Governor into the holy Land who took an oath of the Knights of the Temple and Barons of the Realm of â—ealty and homage in the name of Charls and so King Charls enjoyed not onely the said Realm but also by the means of Ruggier and other Captains held a great part of Aegypt And we have often understood of many brethren of St Francis and other persons worthy credit that have been in Ierusalem and in other places in Aegypt that in many stately buildings in those places there is yet seen the Arms of King Charls the which doe manifestly shew the great power and valor of that good King But since occasion is now offered me it will not be amiss if I shew what the Arms of the kingdom of Naples are although we have writ thereof at full in the book of the life of the Kings of Naples but being rather enforced through the envy of some who have written concerning the Arms of the said kingdom and briefly discourst thereon The Ensign or Arms then of this most noble kingdom is a Field Azure replenished with Flour de lices Or which at first was charged with a Labell of four points gules being carried as the impress of Charls the first of Anjou with this Motto or Emblem Noxias Herbas what time he came to the winning of the kingdom of Naples and to expell and drive away King Manfred enemy to the Church whom he overcame and slew Charls in remembrance of so happy a victory beautified the kingdom with these Arms holding that field and flour de lices with the Labell for a particular Arms in memory of the said happy victory Stopping the mouths of those envious backbiters who say the Arms of this Noble kingdom was an Ass devouring his old furniture or
as we have declared and according as Leone Cardinall and Bishop of Ostia saith in his History Casinense about the year of our Lord 755 Arechi the second 14. Duke of Benevento who having inlarged his Dukedom would have his said State no longer called a Dukedom but a Principality and caused himself to be anointed and crowned by his Bishops and in the end of his Letters and Charters of Priviledge caused them to to be thus dated Scriptum in nostro sacratissimo Palatio Afterward his successors continuing used to do the like Whereupon by their example the Princes of Capoa of Taranto and of Salerno being allured thereunto caused themselves also to be annointed and crowned by their Bishops These titles at the 〈…〉 of the Kings were given unto their children nor any except the blood Royall 〈…〉 partakers of these titles Whereupon of the children of Ruggiero the first King of the kingdom of Naples and Sicilia Ainulfo was Prince of Capoa and Gulielmo which afterward succeeded in the kingdom was Prince of Taranto Charls of Aujou the first of this name King of Naples ordained that his eldest son should be named Prince of Salerno whereupon Charls the second in the time of his father was intituled Prince of Salerno and Charls the son of Charls the second before he came to the kingdom of Hungary was also called Prince of Salerno But because his brother Ruberto and not he succeeded in the kingdom of Naples which was then called Duke of Calauria from thence it so came to pass that from that time forward they were no more Princes of Salerno but the Kings first begotten son was called Duke of Calauria So was Charls called his father living the worthy son of Ruberto so was Ferdinando the son of Alfonsus King of Arragon who first conquered Naples and so was Alfonsus the squint-eyed the son of Ferdinando but it so falling out that old Ferdinando alo living to Alfonsus his son was born a son whom he also named Ferdinando to him because his father Duke of Calauria lived was given the title of the Principality of Capoa The first which was called Prince of Taranto not descending of the blood Royall was Iacobo del Balzo the son of Francisco which was also the first that of no Princely family was called Duke of Andri And so much concerning the title of a Prince which signifying the Dignity Signiory and Jurisdiction which 〈◊〉 holdeth so it is lawfull for them to place over their Scutchion or Coat Armour oâ—â—heir Family a crown made after this fashion In this kingdom after the dignity of a Prince the next is the state of a Duke which taketh place before a Marquess and an Earl These Dukes have above their Arms a round hoop without any points or work above But in place of the points there are certain pearls and round about are certain pretious stones after the manner which here underneath appears The which fashion although it be now decayed I have thought good to declare to the end the truth thereof may be known The first title of a Duke in this kingdom was that of Benevento instituted in the year 573. But after they came under the jurisdiction of the King the first being not descended of Princely blood was Francisco del Balzo as hath been said made Duke of Andri by Queen Ione the first Not long after was Iacobo Marzano made Duke of Sessa by King Ladislaus and so others from time to time whereof the number at this present is very great This dignity of a Duke increased to a very high and eminent degree the which chanced not to any of the other aforesaid dignities because Charls the 8. King of France being possest of this kingdom created Giliberto of Borbona Earl of Montpensier his Lieutenant Generall of the kingdom Archduke of Sessa and so the said Borbana afterward caused to be set upon his Arms a great purple cap garnished with a golden hoop set full of pretious stones with certain points without pearls in the top but onely put in the sides thereof to the end the dignity of a Prince might have its place and that he also might be known for an Archduke The which crowns as well of the Archdukes as the Dukes are to be used in the manner abovesaid that whosoever ascendeth to that dignity ought not to augment it with flourishing or otherwise with the ornament of Jewels or pretious stones for in so doing they seem to usurp a greater dignity then belongs unto them for which as the Lawyers say they ought to be punished And here it is to be noted that they are not pointed in that manner as some of them have formerly used that is to say after that fashion as their ancestors have had them because they as they were free Lords and acknowledged not any superior as before hath been declared in the discourse of the principality on this side might lawfully do it the which is now otherwise the kingdom being under the dominion and jurisdiction of Kings After these the next in degree are the Marquesses the which are adorned with a hoop set with pretious stones without any thing above and with a very small appearance thereof above the Arms after this manner Biâ—ndo and Pietro Razzano say that the word Marquess signifieth in the Lombard tongue a perpetuall Magistrate or a perpetuall Lordship but according as Mario Equicola saith in his Commentaries of the Marquesses of Mantua signifieth in the Iâ—alian tongue a President Alciato that excellent Lawyer saith that the word Marquess is a Dutch name and that it signifieth a Master of the Horse forasmuch as the Germans call a horse Marca and in the French tongue Marcare is as much as to say to ride In this kingdom as the name of a Duke and an Earl came the soonest and that of a Prince first before in any other place so that of a Marquess appeared long after for the first was Cecco dal Bargo that was made Marquess of Pescara by King Ladislaus Then follow the Earls called in Latine Comiti because they were sent from the train and followers of the Emperours to rule and govern some province or some part thereof Also an Earle according to Luca de Penna may put upon his Arms in place of a crown a plain hoop differing nothing from that of a Marquess save onely the want of Jewels and pretious stones as the Earls of Altavilla of Aquino of Conza of Marsico of Nola of Isernia of Milito of Potenza of Troja and others anciently have used The Earls had their precedence in the Parliaments of all the other Lords and Barons which had no title being created by the ancient Kings with great state and solemnity as appears in Vgone Falcando where he speaketh of the promotion of Riccardo di Mandra Constable of the County of Molise Comes creatus tubis tympanis cimbalisque de more solenniter prae untibus FINIS CHARLES The
of his treasure in her own Seas going to Flanders by wronging som of the Haus Towns who were under his protection These with sundry lucitements more causd Philip to prepare this powerfull Fleet to be quit with her at once for all old Scores and if all things had fallen right in the intended conjuncture ther was proportion enough of strength to speak without flattery that might in all probability have subdued England for ther were 130. Galeons and Gallies ther wer 20000. fighting men aboard neer upon 3000. Canons with Bullets Amunition and all things requisit The Duke of Parma was to cross over from Flanders with 2000. fighting men more horse and foot but he wanted a Fleet to transport them which was the greatest over-sight the Spaniards committed in the tracing and conduct of this business But this mighty invincible Armada vanisht away into smoak by contrary winds and horrid tempest which attended the Fleet from beginning to ending for many ill-favord accidents happened at the very beginning which might presage the Disasters following The Generalissimo the Marquess of San-Cruzd a long experienc'd and fortunate Captain dyed aâ— he was ready to set sayl for the expedition the Duke of Medina being chosen in his place as soon as he launchd out he was beaten by an impetuous storm in the Bay of Biscay upon the coasts of France where he lost divers bottoms and the winds were so cross that wheras they thought to visit England in May they came not till Iuly wher they had such rough welcom that 10000. of their men were made food for Hadocks three parts of four of their Navy were sunk burnd or taken and those which scapd could not return the same way they came but coasting by Denmark and Norway fetcht a compass about Ireland and so came home pittifully shatterd torn and tatterd This provd a heavy loss to Spain which she could not repair as they say twenty yeers after The English push on their good fortune and the next yeer take Cales which they sackt and plunderd divers ill successes did consecutively happen divers yeers to King Philip so that his Fortune made him som amends with his Age but the reduction of Portugal under the Crown of Castile which in modesty he calld an Vnion rather then a Conquest though it was a tru one He seald all his Exploits with this and it was the last great action of his life for ever after he meddled little with public business but transmitted them to his Son who usd to sign and seal most dispatches King Philip was now entring upon his 71. yeer but a good while before he grew valetudinary and weak for twelve yeers before his death he drank not a drop of Wine nor did he eat bâ—t at set hours and then by weight and sparingly to starve his Gout wherwith besides other indispositions he was tormented many yeers insomuch that death did not surpize and assault him upon a sudden but she gave him fair warning before-hand ther wer divers incisions made into one of his legs and he was content to have one of his fingers sawd off to stop a Gangrene that happened ther at last it grew to be the pediculary disease all which he endurd with much humility and wonderfull courage It might be sayd that his body was the field wher his foes wer incampd and he the Combatant they wer both quarterd together he billited and fed his own Enemies who wer all his Inmates During his sickness he had frequent symptomes of mortification which encreasd with his Agonies The last 50. daies before his death he took the Communion fourteen times and confessed so often He began to put his house in order and to prescribe the mode how he wold be buried causing them to open his Fathers Coffin and to take the mesure of it for he wold be buried in the same posture which was in the Frock of a poor Fryer The Chirurgeons being lancing of his knee one day the Prince his son askt him whether it did not pain him much he answerd mucho mas me duelen mis pecados My sins pain me much more In the height of his anguishes his speech usd to be Padre Eterno tu voluntad se haga y no la mia Eternall Father thy will be done and not mine Som daies before his last he calld for the Prince his Son and told him No se sentia con fuerças ni capacidad para advertirle lo que era necessario para el govierno de tantos pueblos que dexava a su cargo mas que dexava un papel en poder de su confessor en que hallaria los mas saludables consejos de sus experiencias y los mas justos avisos que su conscientia le dicto My Son I do not find my self now to have strength or capacity enough to communicate unto you what is necessary for the government of so many peeple which are to fall under your Government but I have left in the hands of my Confessor a paper wherin you shall find the wholsomst advise that my experience and conscience could dictat so he causd him to read what Saint Lewis of France sayd to his Son Philip before his death Afterwards he commanded an Ivory Cabinet to be brought whence he took out a plain Crucifix of wood and a penitentiall Whip all blooded saying wheras others use to leave Rings and Jewels at their death to them whom they love most I leave you my Son this Discipline meaning the Whip for so they call it in Spain which he conjurd him upon his blessing to make often use of for as he sayd Con esta disciplina podria mesclar su sangre con la de su padre y su abuelo In using this you may mingle your blood with that of your Fathers and Grand-fathers And touching that plain Crucifix he told him that his Grand-father dyed having it in his hands and so would he wishing his Son to do the like The next day he took the extream Unction at nine of the night desiring first to be informd by the Arch-bishop of Toledo how it was usd to be usd for he had never seen it don before he had the Prince his Son ther present to whom for all his spirits were so much wasted he made this rare Speech He querido Hijo mio os hallassedes presente en esta hora y viessedes como yo he recebido la santa Vnction lo uno porque no os suceda lo que o mi y tengais la ignorancia que yo lo otro paraque veais en que paran las Monarquias deste mundo ya veys Hijo mio como Dios me ha despojado de la gloria y Magestad de Rey para daros a vos esta investidura a mi me pondran dentro de pocas horas una pobre mortaja y me ceniran con un pobre cordel y a se me caâ— de la cabes a la Corona la muerte me la
but to take order for the preservation of your life be quiet so he took his Sword which was by his beds-head and causd a steel Cabinet to be carried away telling him it shold be returnd him again after som papers of his were perusd so the King departed leaving a guard upon him There was a huge murmur the next day all the Court over that the Prince shold be thus made a Prisoner being the greatest heir in the world but the King the next day writ to all his Vice-roys and chief Officers that they shold not much wonder at this sudden action or be too inquisitive to know the cause of it or trouble themselves to intercede for the Prince let it suffize for them to know that it tended to the common good that he was his Father and knew what belongd to things He sent also to all the Ambassadors at Court not to intermeddle or trouble themselvs about this business the Prince being thus restraind and his humors being as fiery as the season which was the Dog-daies he drunk much water coold with snow out of an artificiall Fountain he had which with som other excesses and disorders made him fall into a double Tertian he afterwards fell a vomiting and to a dysentery proceeding from the extream cold water he usd to drink so much The Kings Physitians did carefully attend him and usd what Art cold do but the Disease provd mortall and beyond cure hereupon the Councell â—at to advise whether it was fitting for the King to go visit him som wer of opinion that the Prince was well disposd to dy a good Catholic and the sight of his Father might happily discompose him yet the King went in and gave him his benediction but stayed not and so returnd with more grief and less care A little after the Prince expird being twenty three yeers old he had made his Will before which he deliverd his Secretary wherin he desird his Father to forgive him and to give him his blessing to pay his debts and give his movables to Churches and Hospitals and that his body shold be buried in Toledo which was performd His Funerall was prepard the same day he dyed for at seven in the evening the Grandees carried his body out to the Court-gate wher the Nuncio with other Ambassadors and a great concours of Noblemen were ready to attend the Herse The hard destiny and death of this great young Prince with the extraordinary circumstances therof may teach the world this lesson that the love of a Father must give place to the office of a King and that jealousy among Princes works more powerfully then naturall affections 1. This was one of the four Acts for which King Philip made himself so subject to be censurd abroad in the world for papers flew in many places that hâ— had poysond his Son 2. The second was in the transaction of the business of Aragon where he was taxd to have falsifyed his own manifesto wherin he declard that the Army under Don Alonso de Vergas was intended for France wheras it proovd afterwards to have bin expresly raysd to surprize Saragosa 3. The third was the business of Portugal for wheras he had declard that he was willing to refer the right of Title to that Crown to the decision of the Pope he invaded and conquerd the Country before the Nuncio cold com to the Spanish Court though he knew he was upon his way and already landed in Spain to that purpose but he sent speciall Commission to the Towns through which he was to pass that they should entertain and regalar him som dayes while in the interim he did his business in Portugal 4. The fourth was the conniving at the Murther of Escovedo Secretary to Don Iohn of Austria which was perpetrated with his privity as Antonio Perez confessd upon the Rack which made this Character to be given of him that there was but a little distance betwixt Don Philips risa y el cuchillo between his smile and the Scaffold his prudence somtimes turning to excess of severity But as the hearts of Kings are inscrutable so their waies shold be their actions somtimes must be attended with politicall cunning and extraordinary power to crush Cocatrices in the shell to prevent greater inconveniences as God Almighty whose immediat Vicegerents they are doth use sometimes his omnipotence in exceeding the Rules and common course of nature PHILIP THE THIRD XXVIII KING OF NAPLES PHILIP the third of Austria fift Son to Philip the second by Donna Anna the Emperors Daughter and his fourth Wife succeeded his Father in all his Dominions both in the new and old World He was born the 14th of April 1578. in the Palace of Madrid and was Christned upon the Feast of Philip and Iacob the first of whom may be sayed to be his God-father six yeers after he was created Prince of Castile in the Monastery of Saint Ieronimo the next yeer after he was created Prince of Aragon in Monson the next yeer after he was created Prince of Navarr in the Cathedrall Church of Pampelona and lastly Prince of Portugal which made him to have this priviledg above all his Predecessors to be the first who was Prince of all Spain in regard Lusitania had not bin before under the Crown of Castile till the Raign of Philip his Father he was a weakly sick Child for many yeers at first yet he survivd his four brothers viz. Don Carlos Don Fernando Don Carlos Lorenzo and Don Diego so easily is humane judgment deceivd The first thing he did was the sending of a new Vice-roy to the Kingdom of Naples then after that long destructive War in the Nether-lands which had so ragd in his Fathers time he made a Truce with the Hollanders but in these ambiguous words son contento de tratar con vos otros como con Estados libres I am contented to treat with you as with free States wherby according to the Spanish exposition of those words he intimated they were no free States by vertu of this word As for it is a rule in Logic that Nullum simile est Idem No thing that is like a thing is the same thing therfore if he treated with them as with free States they were no free States This Truce afforded much matter of discourse for the Criticks of those times He did this by the advice principally of the Marquess of Denia afterwards Duke of Lermanhom whom he took for his Privado or his Favorit to whom he transmitted the guidance of all great affairs being conscious of som imbecillities of his own wherin he discoverd a great point of wisdom whose chiefest part is for one to know his own infirmities and incapacities But I should have spoken first of the peace he had made with England which preceded this and was the first great action he did when he began to sit at the Healm of that mighty Vessell I mean the Spanish Monarchy which in his Fathers time
performance of Articles he answerd that he had not such an interest in any such Prince so matters began to gather ill blood and were allmost quite off the hinges insomuch that there was a dark rumour abroad how the Prince had a design to get away privatly and in a disguise as he came The English-men that were then attending the Prince wherof there were a good number that were dyeted at the Kings house and waited upon by Spaniards wold often times break out into bold speeches by disdaining the Dyet and barrenness of Spain and jeering their processions wherat there were exceptions taken and the main business receivd som prejudice by their indiscretions Archey the Fool being then in Madrid was admiâ—ted one day to see the King of Spain at Dinner where he â—ell a talâ—ing and strutting up and down The King asked what he sayd an Interpreter told him that the Fool sayed King Iames his Master was likest to God Allmighty of any King upon Earth the King asking him his reason he replyed That God Allmighty had but one sâ—n and he sent him to be Crucified among Iewes So the King of England had allso but one Sâ—n and he sent him to be Crucified among Spaniards In the interim the Prince shewd himself passionatly in love with the Infanta and courted her in a very high way He had the sight of her often in public and at Comedies which are once a week in the Kings Court where he wold fix and fasten his eyes upon her immovable a long time without looking upon the Action of the Stage-players to the wonder of the Spectatâ—rs The King had the other side of the River Manâ—â—â—mares wheron his Royall Pallace stands a Somerhouse of pleasure where the Infanta was usd to go betimes in the morning to gather May dew the Prince got up betimes one morning and taking Mr Ed Porter only with him he got into that Somer-house and was let in into the fore-Garden but no further because the Infanta was in the other therupon the Prince got on the top of the Wall and leapd down where the Infanta was she espying him gave a kind of sâ—rich wherupon the old Marquess who attended her with som women came and kneeld before the Prince desiring him to advance no further because his life lay upon it for he was to admit no man breathing to the company of the Infanta who was then his charge so the Prince retird the Marquess waiting upon him to the door of the Garden and opening it with much humility wheras before he had com ore the Wall As matters were thus at a doubtfull stand because of the Popes demand in point of caution for the performance of those Capitulations which were stipulated in favour of the English Catholicks by vertu of this match The King of Spain gave the Prince a visit and told him that rather then a Treaty of so many yeers agitation shold fall to the ground and that those noble affections which he had shewd his Sister for whom he had put hiâ— person to so much hardship and hazard by that heroik journey shold be now quite frustrated he himself wold undertake to satisfie the Pope in this point and offer himself to be a Pledg and Bail for the King of great Britan and his Highness to perform the sayed Capitulations the Prince thanked him in the highest degree that could be saying that this Favour transcended all the rest wherof he had receivd such multitudes from his Majesty Hereupon the Pope being thus contented there were Bonefires of joy baiting of Bulls with men and other Actions of triumph in the Court of Spain So the dispensation being compleatly com a little after from Rome the Desposorio's or the day for a contract betwixt the Infanta and the Prince was nominated In the interim the Nuncio was privatly admitted with a Letter from the Pope to visite the Prince who made him this civill answer by an Interpreter That he kissd his Holyness feet for the Favor and Honor he did him which was to be so much the more esteemed by how much the less it was deserved by him but his Holines shold see for the future what he wold do and he doubted not but his Father wold do the like so that his Holines shold not repent himself of what he had done A little after the King and the Prince had a solemn enterview in the privat Gallery for signing sealing and swearing unto the Articles The King had the Patriarch of the West-Indies the Duke of Infantado Oliuares and Gondamar with him The Prince had the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Bristol and the Lord Aâ—hton with him so the Patriarch administred the Oath upon the Holy Evanglists unto King and Prince which they interchangeably took But as Heaven would have it Som few daies before the betrothing day was com it chancd that Pope Gregory the 15th dyed and Vrban the 8. who succeeded him fell suddenly sick hereupon the King of Spain gave the Prince another visit telling him that he had received ill news from Rome for his holy Father the Pope was dead who was so good a friend to this Match now he cold proceed no further for the compleating of the work without a Ratification of the former dispensation by the present Pope whom he was to obey as his Spirituall Father which task he wold undertake to do by his own Ministers without puting his Highness to any trouble and the busines was of that consequence that he feard it wold require som time in regard of the indisposition of the new Pope therfore he desired his Highnes patience in the interim and now that he had stayed so many yeers for a wife he shold not think it much to stay a few months longer the Prince answerd That he was sorry for the news from Rome and wheras his Majesty had a Spirituall Father he himself had a Naturall Father to obey who was now becom crazy and indisposd in his health which encreasd by his so long inexpected absence from him being his only Son therfore he had sent him a peremptory command to be in England in such a month because Winter came on a pace to which purpose he had sent a royall Fleet for him under the command of the Earl of Rutland besides he had intelligence that there were some murmurings in England for his so long abode in Spain which might break out into dangerous consequences and hazard the rupture of the Match which had there so many Enemies among the Puritans Moreover he sayed that when he came to Spain he thought he came not to treat of a Marriage but to fetch home a wife whom he was loth to trust with any but himself the King replyed then your Highnes may please to leave a Proxy behind you to do the work and I shall take it for an honor if you make me your Deputy to perform the Rites of the Espousals which upon the faith of a Catholic King
any of the rest which he much resented in regard he had so earnest a desire to see the Prince and to speak with him he having bin the first who put the Treaty of alliance on foot therfore it was suspected that he wold have discoverd somthing unto him prejudiciall to Spain But to give Don Gaspar de Olivares his due he had solid and sufficient parts for a great Minister of state his passions were very high for the greatning of his Master to the transactions of whose affairs he indefatigably addicted himself He was a professd Enemy to all Presents he never usd to give audience to Ladies or any women but wold receive their busines by Letters Lastly the greatest fault which I find he could be guilty of was that he was not so succesfull as he was sedulous Thus fell that huge Swayer of the Spanish Monarchy above thirty yeers and it seems with the Kings favor his spirits quickly fayld him for removing from Loches to Toro he there met with his last about sixteen months after His body being opend there was found in his Skull above two pounds of Brains and at the day of his buriall there was a huge Tempest fell with extraordinary fulgurations and cracks of Thunder as we read that when Katherin de Medici was buried in France there fell such a hidious storm that fifty Sayl of Merchant-men were cast away upon the Coasts of Britany The sorest Enemy Olivares had was the Queen which made him say that Muger hizo echar el primer hombre fuera de'l parayso y muger hizo echar a mi fuera del palacio A Woman was the cause that the first man was thrust out of Paradice and a Woman was the cause that I also was thrust out of the Kings Palace The Conde de Castrillo brother to the Marquess of Carpio who was brother-in-law to Olivares was one of the chiefest Engins which helpd to pull down this great Tree being a sober and wise well weighd man He is now Vice-roy of Naples having succeeded the little Conde d Ognate who had done such signall supererogatory Services in suppressing those horrid tumults in Naples where the power of Spain was upon point of sinking and his wisdom was no less discernd in settling peace and stopping the wide breaches wherwith that Kingdom had bin so miserably rent as also in finding out and punishing the chiefest Incendiaries wherof there were divers who felt the sharp Sword of Nemesis And lastly for devising waies to raise sums countervaylable to those Gabels and Taxes which the King was enforcd to abolish by the fury of the people And now will I take leave of the gentle Parthenope that three Castled and high crested Citty but a few words further of her Pedigree before we part she was built presently after the Wars of Troy by a young Grecian Lady calld Parthenope whose statue is to be seen there She was Daughter of Eumelus Son to Admetus King of Thessaly after her Fathers death she consulted with the Oracle at Delphos what her Fortunes shold be the Oracle told her that she was designd for another Country to be the Foundress of a noble Citty which shold be famous all the Earth over therfore she embarkd her self with divers more and sayling along the Tyrrhen Sea she landed at last in the next Promontory to Naples whence as the Legend tells a white Dove conducted her to that palce where Naples now stands where she began to build and trace a Citty which she calld by her own name Parthenope or the Virgin Citty which appellation continued till Octavianus the Emperor who first calld her Neapolis or the City of Navigation she being in rising postures like an Amphitheater on the Sea-side and wonderfull comodious for trafic she abounds with Silks Oyles Flowers Fruits and a most generous Race of Horses as any place upon the earthly Globe As her Horses are generous so they are observd to be more docile and neer to rationall Creatures then any where else for which this instance shall be producd Cardinall Bentivoglio sent Henry the Fourth of France a choice Napolitan Courser with his Keeper when the Horse was brought before the King he commanded one of his Riders to mount him who neither with Switch or Spur wold scarce stir or shew any feats of activity the King herupon and the Beholders began to disparage the Horse taking him for som dull Jade hereupon the King desird an Italian Rider to mount him the Horse when he saw his own Rider ready to back him fell a trembling all over but the Rider being got up he began to prance and flounce so nimbly as if he wold have flown into the Air to the amazement of all the Spectators so King Henry with the Present beggd the Rider of the Cardinall whom he entertaind all his life-time The Napolitan being born in a luxurious Country is observd to be the greatest Embracer of pleasure the greatest Courtier of Ladies and the most indulgent of himself of any other Nation insomuch that no command of the King can make a Napolitan Gentleman to go upon any Service for three months in Sommer till the heats are over They are full of Noble Friendship one to another and somtime they make their love to men controul their lust to women As there was a notable example these late yeers in the person of the young Marquess Oliverio who being desperatly in love with the Countess of Castlenovo layd siege to her a good while and the Count going to a Country-house of his and taking his Countess and Family with him the Marquess being more and more enflamd goes to the Country hard by one day a Hawking and let flies his Hawk into the Count of Castlenovos Gardens where it chancd he and his Countes were walking the Marquess made bold to retreeve his Hawk the Count with very high Civilities did welcom him and causd a Banquet to be presently provided where he and his Lady entertaind him being gone the Count began to commend the Marquess telling his wife that he was one of the hopefullst young Noble men and the fullest of parts of any in the whole Kingdom These praises made such impressions in the Countess that a little after he gaind her so the time and place of pleasure being appointed he was let in a privat way to her Chamber where she being a bed as he was undressing himself to go to her she told him that he was beholden to the Count her Husband for this Favor for she never heard him speak so much in commendation of any Is it so sayd the Marquess then I shold be the arrantst Villan in the world to abuse so noble a Friend so he put on his Dubblet agen and departed but with much civillity in the very height and heat of lust though he had so commodious conjuncture of time as his heart could desire But as the Napolitan have a high noble method of Friendship amongst them so are they as