third book of the Roman history whence issuing forth by an obscure breach he at unawares put to sack the quarters of the Captain Clodiâ—…s and of the rest who were at the siege who never conceived the least thought of it Whither at this day any subterranean wayes or caverns leading from the Vineyards to the mouth of the Mountain are found out I cannot tell Pighius assuredly tells us that he observed at the top of the mountain about the mouth certain vents whence proceeded a continual heat wherein putting his hand he perceived clearly a heat although small and without smoke or vapour but our Country man Raymond observed in his view there a certain hill rising in the midst of the Vorago that still vomits thick smoke which he saies the fire within hath raised within few years that it dayly encreaseth and when grown to a fuller bulk Caveat Neapolis Thus much touching the Vesuvius Between the mountain Vesuvius and Attella in the Mediterranâ—… are scituate Mereliano Acerra and Sessola at present ruinated of old possessed by the Camps of the Leborini where the Romans and the Samnity fought most fiercely hither reach those mountains of Capua called by the Antients Tisata and those that extended towards the Mole Northwards here is Forche Caudino and other Castles with many inhabited places among which the chief is the Castle of Aciola at the foot of these mountains lies Caserta the City and Country of the great Cardinal Santorino called Santa Severina near which lye Maddalone Orazano and Argentino Behind Tifata on the back of the Mountain is scituate Sarno flowing with waters by means of the River Sarno which there takes its rise these are mediterranean places about Naples and Campana whence you go to the Marca The Kingdom whereof Naples is the Metropolis coÌ„menceth from Latium that part where the River Ufente runs into the Terreno Then towards the Apenines it passeth to Terracina thence to Frigella or Ponte curvo Ceperano Rieti Tagliacozze a Ducal City and Matrice where Trent begins its source Then follow the way along the River for eighteen miles to Colonia de gli Ascolani where the River dischargeth it self into the Adriatick Sea that part of the Kingdome opposite to the Promontory called of old Leucoperta now Capo Dell'armi respecting Sicilia is distant from Poggio forty eight stadii each of which contains 125 paces whose head is called Tarlo T is 418 miles of way to go by Terracina Bossento and Reggio towards Naples This Kingdom of Naples is one thousand four hundred and sixty eight mile in circuit whereto some have assigned ten provinces others nine others seaven and we thirteen The Terra di Lavoro taking in Naples hath three Arch-Bishops twenty five Bishopricks one hundred sixty six Castles surrounded with walls and one hundred and sixty Towns the Principality named Di quà on this side hath twelve Cities two hundred and eighteen Castles the Principality Di là beyond eleaven Cities one hundred forty and one Castles the fairest among which is Consa La Baâ—…ilicata hath ten Cities ninety three Castles the fairest Venesa La Calabria di quà hath ten Cities one hundred sixty two Towers and Villages La Calabria di là wherein is Reggio hath sixteen Cities and one hundrd and thirty Castles The Province of Otranto hath besides Brindesi thirteen other Cities and one hundred fifty eight Castles or Towns The Province de Bari hath fourteen Cities and fifty Castles La Capitaota thirteen Cities and fifty Towns whereof the most notable is Manfredonia The Countrey of Moliseo four Cities one hundred and four Castles the fairest Trivento L'abruzzo di quà hath five Cities one hundred and fifty Castles the chief Teate L'Abruzzo di là besides Aquila hath four other Cities and two hundred eighty four Castles but with more brevity to speak of them this Kingdom hath twenty Arch-Bishopricks one hundred twenty five Bishopricks ten Principalitys twenty three Dutchies thirty Marquisates fifty four Earld omes with authority over their subjects fifteen Lords who have jurisdiction four hundred forty three petty Lords with title and authority a thousand Towns enclosed with walls and villages in great number The most famous Islands of this Kingdom are Enaria Procida Lipari and thirteen others of small fame The Offices of this Kingdom are great Comestable who is Viceroy Grand Justiciary Grand Admiral Grand Chamberlain Grand Prothonotariy Grand Mareschal Grand Chancellor as also the Sindico or Judge who publiquely performs his office in attending the busineâ—…s of the City Naples which hath five kindes of assembly of the Nobles di Nido di Porta Nova di Capuana di Montagna di Porto which congregations or assemblies although under other denominations the City Capua likewise enjoyes Many Cities most antient and adorned with signal conditions have been in this Kingdom whose memory is yet in being except Osea Metaponto Sibari and others hereafter spoken of The Foster Children of this Kingdome truly famous in Letters were Archita Eurito Alemeone Zenone Leucippus Parmenides Timeus Ennius Lucillus Pocuvins Horatius Ovidius Statius Juveâ—…al Salustius Cicero and San Thomasus besides others more modern I wil be silent of such sommi Pontifici or Popes the Emperors Kings the valorous Captains of war and the thousands of Prelates Princes and Heroes as likewise of the male and female Saints who perpetually contemplate the Countenance of God as this Kingdom hath happily given birth to These following have been Lords of the Kingdom of Naples to wit the Greeks the Goths the Vandals the Longobards Sarazens the Turks the Hormeni the Suevi the French the Catalonians the Arragoâ—…ians the Flemmings or Spaniards and sometime the not to be forgotten Romans The Journey towards POZZUOLO THe Mountain Pausilippus though very high is well manured with vineyards and rich Townes also in old time as we collect from Pliny and others it extends into the Sea in form of a Promontory and shuts up the way between Naples and Pozzuolo and was an intollerable toyle to the Travellers to pass over or go round it before t was cut in two t is now by the industry of the passengers through their hollowing it for the head and levelling it for the feet become the mistress of waies being strait plain and easy therefore the Graecians to the purpose by a word in their tongue called it Pausilippo as if they would say a remover of troubles and labour by which surname the Graecians of old called Jupiter as we read in Sophocles The mountain is hollowed within for one thousand paces in length twelve foot wide and as much more in heighth on which as Strabo writes two Carts may commodiously meet and pass under earth Seneca calls the cavern Cripta Neapolitana though now the name is changed for Grotta where he writes to Lucullus in the 58. epistle to have run the whole fortune of the Atlesi for that he found copiously in a part of the muddy way implaistrings and in the same cavern abundance of the dust
and was present so much to his glory at the Councel of Basilea in the yeer 1440. It gave birth likewise to Galeozzo or Galeotto Bardasino whose vast body and strength acquired him the title of a Gyant of whose prowesse and noble Acts of Chevalry we have as large relations as any our Romances attribute to their Heroes The City Leontina or Leontio antiently inhabited by the Lestrigones was the birth place of Georgia the Philosopher and Orator and Agathone the Tragick Poet and since the faith of Christ planted there Alfio Filadolfio Cirino became Martyrs for it From the City Megara came Theo genes the Poet and Epicarmo the Comick Poet and Inventor of Comedies SYRACUSA Syracusa antiently the Metropolis of Sicilia and enobled by ma ny titles gave birth to many eminent men in all the sciences as to Theocrito the Bucolick Poet Filalao the Pythagorean Filomone the Comick Poet in the daies of Alexander the Great another Philomene a Comick who also had a Son of the same name and profession Sofrone a Comick in the daies of Euripides Corace one of the prime Inventors of the Art of Oratory and his Disciple Cesia no lesse eminent in Oratory Dione Siracusano who wrote of the Art of Rhetorick Sofane the Tragick Poet Epicarmo the most learned continued alwaies in Syracusa and at his death had a statue erected in honour of him Fotino the Comick Poet Carmo the Poet Menecrates the Physician and Philosopher Filosseno the Lyrick Callimaco who wrote in verse concerning this Island Mosco the Grammarian Jaceta the Pihlosopher Antioco the Historian Filisto an Historian and Father of Dionygio the Tyrant Callins the Historian Theodore the Philosopher who wrote of the Art of Warr Archetimus a Philosopher and Histo rian Archimede a Philosopher and excelling Mathematician with many others Amongst the holy Martyrs it afforded Lucia the Virgin and Stefano the third Pope From the County of Nea came Ducetio King of Sicilia Giovanni Aurispa a famous writer Antonio Cassarino a surpassing Orator Giovanni Martasio a most celebrated Poet and here also is the sepulchre of San Corrado the Placentian to whose merits they Fable many miracles From Agrigento a famous City issued the Conquerour in the Olympick games before Diodorus and Phalaris here exercised his cruel Tyranny which begot him the surname of Tyrant hence also proceeded Creone and Acrone both Philosophers and Physicians Polo the Orator Dinoloco a Comick Archino a Tragick Poet Sofocles and Xenocorate to whom Pindarus entituled two of his Odes In the City Therme now called Sacra were born Agathocles King of Syracusa and Thomaso Fazellio of the order of San Domenico who wrote the affairs of Sicilia in a large volume PALERMO THe City of Palermo is the fairest of all the others of this Island and at present the Metropolis and Regal Seat of which much will here be spoken she gave birth to Andrea the most antient and noble Philosopher who wrote the Civil history of the Sicilians but it was much more illustrated for the first breath it afforded to the Saints Oliva Nimfa both Martyred for the Faith of Christ Antonio called the Palermitan of the Knightly Family of Beccatelli of Bologna an Orator a noble Poet much ēdeared to all the Princes of his time When also flourished Pietro Ranzano of the Preaching order a Divine an Oratour and a famous Poet and at last Bishop of Lucera It bred also Monsignior Jacomo Lomellini its ArchBishop a learned Prelate and of great integrity of Life Sicily nourished also many other famous persons as well antient as modern as Sthenio Thermitano the defender of the Cities of Sicilia Stesicoro one of the new Lyricks of Greece Diodoro surnamed Siculo a famous and renowned Historian whose life the Author hereof hath wrote at large in another Treatise Thomaso Caula a Laureat Poet and many others Sharp and long wars were waged for the possession of this Island between the Romans and Carthaginians but the Romans at length remained Conquerours and reduced her into a province at the overthrow of Hie rone by Claudius Marcellus the Consul who was the last of those Tyrants under whom she had then tofore been subjected Then t was governed by Praetors till it fell into the power of the Emperors and Charles the great in which time the Empire and world being divided Sicilia Calabria and Puglia remained in obedience to the Emperors of Constantinople under whom it continued till Niceforus bcame Emperor in whose Reign the Saracens possessed it and Puglia the Mount Saint Angelo Nocero with other places in the yeer DCCCCXIIII hence they made frequent incursions into Calabria and to the very walls of Naples and Garigliano against whom Pope John the tenth with Alberico Masalpina his Kinsman great Duke of Tuscany armed themselves and with much difficulty and great slaughter drove them into the Monte Santo Angelo Which Alberico was Son of Alberto brother of Guido grand Marquesse of Tuscany some of whose medals I have seen with their Teste or Motto and on the reverse the flourishing Thorn tree the Arms of that Family in the hands of the Marquesse Lodovico Masalpina a Gentleman no lesse facetious then curious in collections The Saracini one hundred yeers after their in road into Italy were drove out by the Normandi who were Counts of Sicilia who for forty three yeers increased their Empire with much felicity till Ruberto Guis cardo seized Puglia in his own name and Sicilia in right of his Brother Ruggieri whereupon Pope Nicholas the second conceded to him the Title of Duke and created him Feudatory of the Church which was afterwards confirmed by Gregory the seventh who by him was freed from the injuries of Harry the third After whom Guglielmo the second was by Innocent the 4th created the first King to whom succeeded Gulielmo the third who deceasing without issue the Kingdome was usurped by one Taucredi a bastard of the Family of Guiscardi against whom Pope Clement and Celestine the third opposed themselves in the end Celestine gave Costanza the daughter of Ruggier the second a Nun in Palermo for wife to Henry the Son of Frederick the Emperor with the Title and right claim of the Kingdome whereupon Henry made war against Tancredi besieged and flew him in Naples and so succeeded in this Kingdome and Empire of his Father After whom followed Frederick the second his Son then Manfredo the bastard Son of Frederick got the Kingdom but was thence drove out by Charls of Anjou Brother of Saint Lewis King of France being called in and invested therein by the Pope under which Charls the Sicilians being complotted with by Pietro d' Arragona who married Costanza daughter of Manfredo at the sound of the Vespers Bell cut in peices all the French which were in Sicilia by which means Pietro became Lord of the Island which happened in the yeer 1283. By which occasion arose many contests and wars betwixt the Arragonians and the Anjouans for the
turning on the left hand after having met with many fruitfull Hills and the ruins of an antient Castle you come to the Burrough S. Michael which hath a fair Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin wherein they have seen many miricles and many Paper Mills being 5. miles from Verona then following the way a little on the right hand one findes the Baths helpfull for the Sterility of Women and to refresh the Reyns where the Learned Calderino was born who after lived in Rome T is reported that there stood an antient Castle and that the Church of Saint Matthew the Apostle was a Temple of Juno Opposite whereto upon a Hill is seen il Castllo Soave built in a lovely site by the Scaligeri a little forwarder is Monte Forte a Town belonging to the Veronian Bishoprick upon the very confines as on the other side on the confines is the Burrough Saint Boniface On that part which looks towards the North-East are some plains well inhabited That part looking towards the South begins from the Porta Nova and goes to Lonigo a Cologna wherein is nothing remarkable more than its fertility and the head of the River Tartaro and on that side towards Mantoua 17. miles distant from Verona is the Island Scala so well replenished with people and goods that it hath in some sort the face of a City Towards the West before Verona lies a Stony untild Champion or Downs but famous for divers deeds of Arms there performed by great Captains T is said that Sabino Giuliano who would have gotten the Empire was there by Carino Cesare overthrown and flain that Odouacro King of the Herlui and Turcillingi having by violence obteyned the Kingdome of Italy forcing out Augustolo and therein tyranized some yeers was in this place discomfited in a Battel of three days by Theodorick King of the Ostrogoths That Lamberto Son of Guidon King of Spoleto was there overcome with 14000. Hungarian Souldiers by Berengarius That some yeers after by Gugone Arelatense Arnoldo Captain of Baviera with a potent Army of Germans was there cut in pieces whom the Veronians first called into Italy for King against Hugone and had received into their City as victorious and triumphant That there likeness was overcome and deprived of his Kingdom the second Berengarius by Rodolfus Borgondus and that in antient times in that place were fought many Battels of no less consequence than obaining or losing of the Kingdom of Italy with various success But as to what Biondo saith that in that Down C. Marius vanquished the Germans and the Cimbrians who made a furious incursion into Italy 't is very uncertain because Historians much differ in describing the place where that memorable Act was performed Thence one may go to Villa Franca and Sanzeno rich Villages confines to the Mantoua Territories but if from those Downs one take towards the South having passed many Villages you arrive at Peschiero a strong Castle but of ill Ayr 14. miles from Verona seated on the Banks of the Lake Garda where the River Menzo hath its source and on the left side of the Lake five miles further off most ill way stands Rivoltella and two miles onward Desensano the confines of Verona On that part of Verona towards the North-west are many Hills placed in the form of a Theatre where they are stocked with fertile Vineyards and so much adorned with beautifull Palaces and Gardens that the prospect at a distance much pleaseth within these Hils is the Vale Paltena inhabited and Fertil and following the plain appear many and stately Palaces on the banks of the Adice which runs through that Campagna At 10. miles distance from Verona upon the ascent of certain little Hills may be beheld the Valley Pulicella replenish't with many Castles great Towns behind which begin the Mountains of Trento they say that in the said Valley there are two teats of Stone cut with a Chizel which constantly distill a water wherewith if a Woman having lost her Milk bath her Nipples it will return in great abundance Returning to Verona by the Adice on one fide is the foot of the Mountain Baldo and many Castles and Burroughs On the other fide a plain to Peschiera and there begin the Mountains which are on the right hand-shore of the Lake there stands Bardolino where those incomparable Figs grow whereof Soliman Emperor of the Turks delighted to discourse of with the Christian slaves as also Gardo which gives name to the Lake and many other Castles In this place is to be admired the vastness of the Venetians Minds who conveyed over those rough and mountainous places both Galleys and Ships armed in all particulars to fight in the Lake with Filippo Visconse Captain of the Milanesians Mount Baldo whereof somewhat is spoken formerly ought here to be set before all the Mounts of Italy being 30. miles in circumference affording excellent and rare plants and some veins of Copper The Lake GARDA ANtiently the Castle Benaco gave name to this Lake where now is Tusculano but at present it takes name from Gardo aforenamed This Lake from Peschiera which lies on the South of it is 35. miles long towards the North and from Salo on the West shore to Garda or Lacice on the East is 14. miles broad It is very tempestuous and many times raises waves as high as Mountains which at certain seasons of the yeer makes it dangerous to navigate and this they believe proceeds from the enclosure of the winds by the Mountains hindring by their surrounding its issuing out Wherefore Virgil saies Fluctibus fremitu assurgens Benace marino This Lake affords well-relisht fish in great plenty but chiefly Trouts Carps and Eels whereof Pliny speaks at large Eight miles from Peschiera runs a neck of Land in to the Lake two miles long which seems to divide the Lake Here antiently was Sirmione which gave birth to Catullus the Poet but now remains nothing but a small Castle though abounding with all delitiousness On the same side is Rivoltella and Disensano a principal Market Town of those parts not defective in any thing But on the other shore there are many fair Castles among others Salò Prato di Fame where the Bishops of Trent Verona and Brescia may each standing in his own Diocess shake hands The Country there is pleasant bearing Olivs Figs Pomegranates Lemons Citrons and other fruitfull Trees which there flourish much by having the River Lake on one side and the Mountains on the other defending it from blasting winds and affording the reflex of the Sun all day from its rise to the setting which renders it one of the beautifullest places of Italy The number of the People inhabiting this Valley and Lake of Garda shall be given in the Description of the Valleys BRESCIA BRescia by the Romans Brixia is seated 20 miles from Disensano which a direct Road leads unto
small Castle but placed in an admirable scite in the plain of the Strada Appia and is as we may say risen out of the ruines of the antient perfection of Towns whch bore the same name whereof some Fragments yet appear in the adjacent Fens near the Lake Fondano To speak of it with authority take these verses of a certain German Poet. Collibus hinc atque inde Lacu simul aequore cinctum Citria cui florent hortis è littore Myrti Hesperidum decus et benevolentia culta Diones In our times this Castle received a foul disgrace from the hands of Hariadeno Barbarossa Captain of the Turkish Armada who by a suddain in road took it leading away all the Souldiers and Inhabitants sacking the Castle prophaning the Churches and arrived at his Gallies clapt all his prisoners into Chains The Strada Appia is the largest and was the famousest among the other twenty eight streets or ways of note which took beginning at Rome and was called the Queen of streets because that by it passed to Rome such as came triumphing from the East Appio Claudio made it as far as Capua and Caligula caused it to be paved with square stones and lastly Trajane renewed and restored it to Brandizzo beautifying it on each side with a green hedge of Laurels Bayes Pomgranats and Mastick trees pursuing this way before arrival at Fondi you meet the Mons 〈◊〉 noted amongst the antients for the good wine it bore as Martial saith Caecuba Fundanis generosa coquntur ahenis And leaving Fondi for Gaeta in the way you see the Villa Formiana famous for Cicero's slaughter and the Castle Itri scituate among certain hills most fruitfull in Figs Olives and other fruit Mola of old called Formia Formosa from the gardens lies thirty stades thence a stade being 125 paces eight whereof make an English mile Thence three miles taking the right hand you arrive at Gaeta which Country although all along it be but a bank is so well cultivated and so lovely adorned that it may not only fascinate and entertain the eyes of the Traveller but may be said like that in the Fable The residence of the Nymphs being in truth infinitely pleasant and delightfull on the right hand of it you have the prospect of the Sea on the left Flowers-Greens and Trees which being on this and that side bathed by the murmuring Rivolets afford a most excellent savour for refreshing the Travellors wearied senses GAETA Virgil speaks in honour of GAETA or CAJETA in these verses Tu quoque littoribus nostris AEneia nutrix AEternam moriens famam Cajeta dedisti GAETA enjoyeth a Port and a Fort which heretofore Ferdinando King of the Arragonians founded in a Corner of the Promontory towards the East having then driven the French out of the Kingdome of Naples within our memory the Emperor Charls the 5th added to it the neighbouring rock conjoyning it by a bridge which may be drawn up at pleasure to the rock that is highest and so redoubled the buildings augmenting its strength with Towers and ramparts and enclosing the whole mountain joyned it to the City by Ditches and Walls from which Towers such is their contrivance the Port and the City though lying much lower receive a perfect defence and protection being alwaies guarded with a good garison of Spanish Souldiers nor is any person permitted to enter neither stranger Townesman or Country man The City therefore may be well esteemed secure since so well provided for by art with all those Forts bulwarks c. and by nature by its own scituation having contiguous with it that Promontory as t were hanging over it and almost round it the waters of the Sea being as t were in a Peninsula having but a narrow Isthmus to come to it by Land excellently defended by a bridge a Gate a Fort and the Sea waters on each side The Promontory shews it self with two Heads on that side regarding the Mediterranean lies the City on the plainest and levelled part on the other Cliffs Rocks and Praecipices which extend into the Sea t is open from top to bottom occasioned by a great earthquake and that a long time since such many times happening in these parts of Italy The old Poets and Prophets sometimes called Neptune Ennosigaeo and Sifittone for that as they feigned he turned upside down the foundations of the mountains with his Trident. The Inhabitants and neighbouring people in boats with great devotion row into that wide space and religiously reverence the place for that they certainly believe that mountain was thus cleft in sunder by an earthquake at the time our Redeemer Jesus Christ suffered upon the Cross for the salvation of mankind as in the holy Gospel we find it written that at that time the Mountains and stones were rent in sunder in the midst of the opening of this mountain stands a Church and a very rich Monastery dedicated to the most sacred and great Trinity built with the alms of devout souls you may there see a vast stone so fallen from the top of the mountain that it may be said to be sustained by a miracle between the broken walls of the opening where it begins to narrow There Ferdinand King of Arragonia erected a fair Chappel dedicating it to the S. S. Trinita which appears as in the Sea and they go to it from the monastery by a way made with hands in the rupture of the Mountain the broken stones on one side and the hollowed places whence they fell on the other when tom out by the earthquake afford an enticing object Among other things there worth a view is a shrine made by Charls of Bourbon a famous though wicked Captain of later times who in the bloody assault and sack of Rome dyed of a wound from a gunshot The bones of this bad man are enclosed in a chest or coffin of wood covered with black silk and are obvious at the first entrance of the Castle in an eminent place under it may be read this Epitaph Francia mi dia la luche Espanna m'es fuerzo y ventura Roma mi dia la muerte Gaeta la Sepoltura Englished thus by Jo. Raymond Gent. France gave me breath Spain strength to arms did call Rome gave me death Gaeta Burial But to study brevity I have deliberated to run over those things only which may afford some fruit in reading and learning to the Ingenious IN the upper part of the Temple or great Church they shew all the pretious gifts and ornaments of that magnificent house wherein the episcopal seat was at first placed after the burning and destruction of the neighbouring Formia bestowed on it by the cruel hands of the Saracens Out of whose ruines was drawn that huge Bacchical Crater or Boul which holds many of those measures of wine which are called Crati or runnelets t is made of the whitest marble and is now applyed to the use of a Font for holy Baptism Corona Pighio reports not to
expence and for the beauty of the structures of all sorts for that the Governors of the Emperor Charls the 5th and after them of Philip King of Spain of later yeers Presidents or Viceroyes in the Kingdome of Naples have wonderfully enlarged and forti fied her with a new wall bul wark Ditches Towers Castles in so much that she is now almost invincible She is furthermore full of regard for the many and magnificent Churches Colledges Courts Palaces of Princes and other great Men as also for many old reliques of antient houses Epitaphs Statues Sepulchres Collumns Altars Marbles with most artificial and fair engravings and other things which to recite would take up too much Room here Among the rest any one may meet contentin the grand ruines of the Quadrate Temple of Castori which though the fire hath consumed for the most part yet appears before it a part of a most beautifull porticue with six prime Pillars of Marble with their cornishes yet a foot of Corinthian architecture wonderfull for their vastness and the art they are wrought with they have for Capitols some Cesti Iron Clubs used among the Graecian wrestlers to which were tyed with leather straps or dryed Sinews balls or bullets of lead which in theit Olimpick games they use to hurl or cast which with the Foliage and revolts represent a becoming covering and on the Frise to which the Rafters are fixed may be read a greek inscription which clearly manifests that this was the Temple of the Castori and that the Greek language was in use among the Neapolitans when the Roman Empire flourished which is also confirmed by the characters by the vast expence of the whole work by the exquisit perfectiō of the art in the Ti◅pano or triangular Frontispiece of the roof upon these Collumnes were carved many images of the Gods which the Flames and Age have for the most part consumed On the Tres◅el was figured an Apollo on one the other side of it lies Earth and Water in the form they are usually figured that is in form of a body half raised up half lying along naked to the Navil Earth hath the right hand holding in its left the horn of the Copia the rest cannot be discerned being too much broken and ruinated The Churches of our Religion are there in excellent order and rich as well as many and so well placed as pleasant flowers for beautifying a Garden For example the Church of S. Chiara enjoying a great and fair monastery was very magnificently built by Santia the Spanish Queen and wife of King Roberto who by others is named Agnese which the antient Kings of the noble house of D◅razzo have made famous with their sumptuous Tombes and in San Domenico is the Sepulchre of Alfonso the first and of many other Kings Queens and Princes and what is more important the Image of that Crucifix which spake unto San Tomaso d'Aquino these words Tomaso tu hai scritto bene di me Thomas thou hast written well of me and that of Oliveto so also in other Churches you may see many proud depositories and memorials of the Kings of Spain of the Heroes and other Princes with statues of Marble as if natural In the Church of San Giovanni dalla Car boniera is the Sepulchre of King Roberto whose praises were writ by all learned men among the rest by Petrarcha and Boccaccio In that of S. Maria Nova lye interred the bones of Odetto Foix named Lotrecce and of Pietro Namarro of Consalvo Ferrando Cordovese and in the most religious Tabernace of San Giannuacio are preserved many holy reliques of Saints Where once in the yeer at least they shew one by one all those worthy objects as bones of Saints and other Reliques enclosed in gold and Silver with pretious stones with the pretious gifts bestowed by Kings and Princes and other things Among which with great reverence is the head of S. Gianuario Bishop of Pozzuolo the Martyr and his bloud stil remaining in a glass vial though dryed and become hard through time which vial when brought to the Altar is set near the head of the Martyr on the Corner of the Chorus and the blood to admiration begins to become liquid and to boyl as new wine in the must as hath been annually observed and seen by all not without great stupour Thence you go to the Annunciata a Church famous through the great devotion there exercised and rich through the many offerings made to it as also for many reliques of Saints of importance among others two small bodies of a foot and half long yet entire covered with the skins of innocent Children slain by Herode the King at the time our Saviour was born in Bethlehem the wound of one is in the head the other in the breast Contiguous with which lies an hospital built like a spatious Castle wherein are maintained as their condition age and health require two thousand souls therein are also brought up children of the poorer sort more than eight hundred between orphane and exposed infants as well males as females instructed in letters and art according to their inclination till they become great 'T is a pleasure to see and observe their several diligent exercises and works and this custome of Christian Charity is certainly very comodious which as Corona Pighius observes resembles Platoes Republique in part and imitates that Economical government of the Apes described by Xenefonte and by Virgil the Prince of Poets described and de painted so well to the similitude of Platoes City Castle Nuovo the name is new although built more then 300 yeers since by the Brother of San Lodovico King of France who was Charls the first King of Naples and Count of Anjou to the end he might thence aid the City and the Port against the maritimate inroads of enemies Alfonsus the first of this name King of the Arragonians restored it within our memory after he had expelled the French and subdued the Kingdom and so well fortifyed it that t is now held one of the strongest Forts of Italy more especially since the last Kings the Emperor Charls the 5th and Philip his Son compleatly furnished it and all the other Forts of this City with victuals good souldiers and all other necessaries and engines of war to keep off the Enemy In the midst of this large Castle stands the pompous Palace of the governors furnished with royal and most lovely houshold-stuff wherein the King or Emperor may find a comodious receipt for all his Court strangers are astonisht at the engines of war the Artillery the great quantity of Iron Bullets the murrions inlayed with gold and Silver the Shields the swords the Launces and the other preparation for war there continually preserved and that admiration becomes much lessened at the view of the said palace so richly laden with tapistry of silk interwoven with Jewels and gold the engraving the statues pictures and the other noble furniture Thence
possession of that Kingdom with divers fortunes till at length the Arragonians were wholly driven out of the Kingdome of Naples by Charls the VIII But the Arragonians at last regained the possession by the prowesse of Consalvo Ferrando the great Captain who drove out the French for Ferrando the Catholick King of Spain from whom the Kingdomes of Sicilia and Naples passed by an hereditary succession to Charles the 5th Emperor and from him it descended to Philip the second who left it to his Son Philip the third Catholick King who now injoyes them in quiet possession A Description of the Island of MALTA BEtween Sicilia and the River of the one and t'other shore of Barbary are fixed the two Islands Melita or Malta and Gaulo or Gozo the one distant from the other five miles but eloigned from Pachino or Capo Passero a Promontory of Sicilia which they look towards one hundred miles and from Africa one hundred and ninety miles Malta is 60. miles in circumference being all as it were a plain though somewhat Rocky and exposed to the windes it hath many and secure Ports but towards the North t is wholly deprived of fresh waters but on the western parts are excellent Currance and it produceth most fruitfull trees Where t is broadest t is 12 miles over and in the longest part 20 miles and in all those seas is there not one Island so great distance from the firm Land as this is In more then six places towards Sicilia t is hollowed and hath Ports as it were formed by the Sea of Sicilia for receipt of its Pyrates or Rovers on the Sea but towards Tripolis t is all full of Cliffes and Rocks affording no mannor of Harbour T is called Melita in Latine from the Bees which in Greek are called Melitte for that the abundance and goodnesse of Flowers causeth in this Isle the production of the most excellent hony but of late by corruption of the word we call it Malta At its first habituation it yielded obedience to King Battus famous for his riches and for the friendship and hospitality of Dido whence afterwards it obeyed the Carthaginians Whereof the many Collumnes placed up and down the Countrey engraven with antient Carthaginian Characters farr different from the Hebrean give sufficient testimony But at the same time when Sicilia was reduced to the Romans it also rendered it self and was therefore governed by the same Laws and the same Praetor as Sicilia was Wherewith also coming afterwards into the power of the Saracens it finally with Gozo in the yeer 1090. was possessed by Ruggieri Normanno Count of Sicilia till at length it obeyed the Christian Princes The Ayr over all the Island is most healthfull but chiefly to them that inure themselves to it It hath Fountains and Orchards copiously replenished with Date Trees and its soyle every where produceth plentifully all sorts of Grain and Corn Flax Cotton Wool Cummin seeds and abundance of Roses eminently sweet favoured here also they have a kind of little neat white Dogs which from their long hair we call shocks of much delight to the people The Earth is sowed all the year with little husbandry and they reap two harvests and the trees likewise bear fruit twice in the yeer In the winter every thing is green and flourisheth and in the summer is burnt up with heat howbeit a certain Dew falls which exceedingly nourisheth the Corn. At the head of a long and strait point almost opposite to the Capo Passero or Pachino in Sicilia is erected the Fortezza of Sant Ermo but on the right hand towards Sicilia are some other points and between them and Sant Ermo is a Channel of water upon one of which points is the Castle Sant Angelo and the other the Fortezza of San Michael with their Bourges between the one and the other of which lie the shipâ—… Galleys in a Channel which is locked at the utmost points with a vast Iron Chain Eight miles off which place up the Land stands the City called Malta famoused by the Reliques of very noble Edifices and by the antient dignity of a Bishoprick This Isle hath a Prâ—…montory whereon was built a most antient and noble Temple dedicated to Juno and held in great reverence and another on the South to Hercules whereof at this day huge ruines appear at the Port Euro The men of this Island are brown complexioned and their genius more approaches that of the Sicilians then any other The women are beautifull enough but fly company goe obscured abroad are kept close at home yet following the same manner of life as the Sicilians and speaking a language more like and near the Carthaginian then any other language The people are generally religious and particularly pay a great devotion to Saint Paul to whom this Island is dedicated for that here he by chance fell into the Sea and was here entertained with great humanity and on that shore where he fell in is built a venerable Chapel for their respect to whom they believe no noysome nor venemous Creature can grow or live on this Island And from the Grotto where that Saint stood are stones by many plucked away and carryed through Italy called the Gratia of Saint Paul to healthe bitings of Scorpions and Serpents In our Age this Island had and hath great splendour for its Devotion and the religious order of the Knights of Sant Giovanni or John of Jerusalem the which having lost Rhodes taken from them in the yeer 1522. by Soliman the magnificent the great Tnrk had this Island given them by Charles the 5th Emperour where they have built the aforenamed Castles and Forts that they may there reside with perpetual security In the yeer 1565. they valiantly defended the same against a most potent Armada which the same Soliman sent thither to conquer the Island and to drive out those Knights which in time to come will not contribute lesse glory to Malta then that which they reaped in times past from the general Council which under Pope Innocent the first was there celebrated by 214. Bishops against Pelagius the Heretike among others there met Saint Austine and Sylvano Bishop of Malta Soliman sent to this Attempt an Armada a Fleet of 200 sayls under the command oâ—… Piali Bassa General of the Sea a man both valiant and judicious and of Mustapha the Bassa General of the Land a man very crafty and much experienc't in warlike affairs who having disembarked and landed their Army on the 18. of May besieged and battered the Castle Sant Ermo and after many contests and attempts having beat down that wall flat to the Earth on the 23d of June became Masters of the Fort and put all the defendors to the Sword and cut them to pieces There dyed then on the Turks part Dragut â—…ais the famous Pyrat being wounded under the ear by the blow of a stone Then they turned their force upon the two other Fortezza's of Sant Michael and Saint Angelo They planted a fierce battery against San Michael which levelled the walls with the bank of the Fosse or Ditch by their falling therein but in many and many assaults which they gave to the Castle they were alwaies valiantly repelled by the Horse Giovanni Valetta a French man the then great Master a man of singular valour and prudence not failing in any thing of conduct or necessary provision that might merit the esteem of an excellent Commander At last Don Garcia de Toledo having selected sixty of the most nimble and polite galleys out of those of the King of Spain and furnished them with nine thousand six hundred Souldiers between Spaniards and Italians advanced to land them securely on the Island Which the Turks understanding forthwith imbarqued their Artillery and advanced with 8000 Souldiers to view the Christian Army who fell upon them with such ardour and fury that they immediately most basely run away and got into their Galleys leaving 1800 dead having killed but only four on the Christians side And in this manner were the Turks constrained to abandon the Island to their â—…oul shame and confusion and the great honour of Almighty God whose hand strengthning this small number clearly demonstrated that by his favour the valour of a few can oppose the violence of many VERSES composed on the Cities of ITALY translated out of the ITALIAN FOR Pompe and Pietie old Rome is fam'd Venice is rich the Sage and Lordly nam'd Naples is noble and of pleasant air Florence through all the world reputed fair Milan doth of her Grandeur justly boast Bologna'sâ—…att â—…att Ferrara civil most Padoua Learned subtile Bergamo And Genoua's Pride her stately buildings show Worthy Verona bloudy Perugia Brescia well-armed and glorious Mantoua Rimini good Pistâ—…ia barbarous Babling Siena Lucca industrious Forli phantastick kind Ravenna's styld Singalia with nauseous air is fill'd Pisa is pendent 〈◊〉 Capua Pesaro flowry and as all men say Ancona far from a good Poâ—…t doth sâ—…ray Urbin in her fidelity is strong Ascoli round and Recanate long Foligno's candied streets most pleasant are The Ladies of Fano so smooth and fair That said they are from Heaven sent to be But Modena more happy is then shee FINIS 1199. Sholes Muran St. Georgio Zuecca Lizafusina Edmond Walâ—…er Espuire Polverara Adria Euganei Monselice Estè Lendinrâ—… Rovigo Peredeo Campo Martio St. Michael Monte forte Scala Sanzen Peschiero Desensano Paltena Pulicella Bardolino Gardo Caldo. Sirmione Domo Santa Juliia Lonato Asola Oglio Reato Valcamonica Isseo Brenna Troppia Cardone Del Sole Caravaggio Cassina Soncino Crema Lodi Malpaga Vale Serina Brombana San Martino Calepio Chiusontio Manca Como Como Bersalina Belasio Monza Somasca Martosana Ro Angiera Novarra Mortara Valese Adda Pusterlengo St. Antonio Bobio Arquato Fidenti St. Donnino Colorno Bergo Bardo Aquario Vignola Carpi Panaro Novantola Agata Forcelli Râ—…ssi Colossina Panico Vergata Bâ—…aghi Porretta Poggio Bâ—…trio Rièardina Guelfo Quaterna San Pietro Dozza Pianora Scarao Scarperia Pratolinâ—… Fiesole Mugello Lucca Poggibonzi Mount Olivet Radicofano Pienza Chiuse Monte Pulciano Grossetto Bolsena Tevere Soana Castro Orbello Tuscanello Cornetto Horti Viterbo Canepina Lagâ—… Vico Sutri Cività Rofolo Cremera Piadena Gazuolo St. Benedict Stapylton 33 feet denote yeers 6 fin gers 6 months