with .7400 prisoners to Genoa and neuerthelesse shortly after made peace with the Uenetians and graunted truce to theim of Pisa for 27. yeres For the whiche the Pisani yelded to the Genowaies the ile of Corsica and the citee of Saffari in Sardegnia with .135000 poundes in money ¶ The emperour Adronico Paleologo of Constantinople for the great amitee betweene hym and the Genowaies gaue theim the grounde wheron Pera standeth a myle distant from Constantinople where all the Christians now dwell fyrst builded by the Genowaies ¶ Within two yeres after beganne the discorde that caused so muche mischiefe betwene the houses of Spinela and Doria whiche before tyme had been stedfast friendes together and endured the space of .xv. yeres with muche bloudshedyng till the comyng of the emperour Henrie the .vi. to Genoa who agreed bothe parties and so behaued hym that the citesins bounde theim selfes by feaultee vnto his obedience for terme of .xx. yeres whiche was the fyrst tyme that the citee submitted hir selfe to the dominion of any straunger Notwithstandyng whan the emperour was departed those two parties Spinola and Doria fought openly in the citee so that at length the Spinoli beyng the weaker were driuen out with well nere all their partetakers and yet the warre continued betwene them the space of .24 yeres aswell within as without the citee to the great domage and almost destruction of the common wealth For many tymes the banished men by meane of friendes were reconciled againe and whan thei were ones returned than did they worse than euer they did before ¶ This discension was not onely betwene those two families of Spinola and Doria but also betwene the sectes of Guelfes and Ghibellines into whiche parties the whole citee was lykewyse diuided so that the Ghibellines whiche than were banisshed by helpe of the Visconti of Myllaine and of other Ghibellines made a great armie and vnder the leadyng of Marke sonne to Mathewe Visconti came before Genoa toke the suburbes and streigned the citee so sore that if it had not been succoured by kyng Robert of Naples who in his owne person with .25 galleis entred the hauen the Ghibellines had been lyke to haue taken it Wherfore they of the citee to make theim selfes stronge yelded the dominion into the handes of the bishop of Rome and of the foresaied kynge of Naples for the space of .x. yeres in whiche tyme were so many ciuile battailes stricken so muche bloudshedde so many townes and houses destroyed and burned so many galleis and shippes broken drowned and lost and so great summes of money spent that it seemeth a wonder how so little a countrey shuld bringe foorth so great furniture and all to mischiefe ¶ Finally kynge Robert to whom the rule of the citee was prolonged for .vi. yeres called the ambassadours aswell of the Ghibellines as of the Guelfes to Naples and there made theim to conclude a peace so that the Ghibellines were reconciled home where thei liued not longe in quiete as hereafter shall appeare ¶ In the time of this warre one notable policie was vsed by sea The yere before conclusion of this peace Federike Marabotto capitaine of .ix. galleis of the Guelfes wherof .ii. were drowned in Sardegnia was chased by Aitono Doria capitaine of .xiiii. of the Ghibelline galleis and came so neere with the nyght that they were within a flight shotte together so that Federike coulde by no meane escape Wherfore in the darke of the nyght he set foorth a little emptie vessell with a burnyng lanterne in it and caused all the lyghtes of his galleys to be put out This dooen he lette the little vessell lose whiche the wawes of the sea by little and little draue towardes the lande so that Aitono thynkyng it to be the galleis that he had in chace folowed and by that meane was so farre from Federike er it was daie that Federike easily escaped the daunger ¶ Than beganne the Catalaines to make warre to the Genowaies vpon a veraie light occasion whiche continued a great while with many notable battailes by sea more to the losse of the Catalaines than of the Genowaies though the better of bothe had no cause to triumphe But those forein warres were nothing so hurtfull to the citee as theyr owne ciuile sedicion whiche shortly after renued betwene the Guelfes and Ghibellines so that within the citee they fought a certaine space with variable fortune till at length the Ghibellines preuailed and chased awaie the Guelfes and so an other while toke the rule vpon theim Wherfore the Guelfes fortified theim selfes at Monaco and made out dyuers armies by sea whiche were dyuers tymes mette withall by the contrary parte thoughe in effecte there happened no notable battaile betwene theim ¶ Not longe after the Frenche kynge warryng with Englande hyred .40 galleis of the Genowaies wherof .xx. were of the Ghibellines in Genoa and .xx. of the Guelfes in Monaco whiche whan they had serued hym a yere retourned not well contented with their paiement so that the mariners and other meane souldiours toke the rule of the galleis from theyr capitaines and were growen to suche a courage that whan they landed they moued the commons to rebell against the rule of the common wealth and subuertyng the citee of Sauona with most part of the countrey theraboutes the commons of Genoa toke courage therupon to arme them selfes and to renne to the palaice criyng that thei wold haue an Abbotte made of the people and would no more be ruled by the capitaines Wherfore the nobles seeyng theyr power inferiour to the peoples furie assembled together and fell to counsaile for chosyng of this new Abbotte in whiche counsaile they taried so longe within that the people without were werie and vp start a poore wyredrawer or a goldsmith to geue him the better name and asked the people whether they would be ruled by hym Whervnto many answeared yea well quod he and than shall Simonine Bocanegra be our lorde and ruler Be it quod one and be it quod an other so that the people with an whole voyce cried Abbotte Bocanegra But he who was a good man did what he coulde to refuse it and they seyng that amended the mattier with criyng not Abbotte but Duke so that in conclusion whether he woulde or no the absolute power was put in his hande and he called Duke beyng the fyrst that euer had that title in Genoa Than was a law made that none should be called to any rule or office of the common wealthe vnlesse he were a Ghibelline ¶ The Turke at this tyme waxed great and had certaine galleis goyng vpon the sea called Mare Maggiore otherwise Pontus Euxinus which had robbed certaine merchaunt shippes of the Genowaies wherfore they armed theim selfes in Caffa and meetyng fought with the Turkê army and recouered not onely their owne goodê but also toke .x. Turkish galleis and a shippe with great bootie
or three where vnder the fresshe herbers hedges and boowes amongest the delicate fruites they triumph in as muche pleasure as maie be imagined And for the most parte eche man hath his make with some instrumentê of musicke and suche other thynges as serue for his recreacion And if euer the tenaunt haue good daie than lycketh he his lippes of his maisters leauynges As for the women Some be wonders gaie And some goe as they maie Some at libertee dooe swymme a flot And some woulde faine but they can not Some be meerie I wote well why And some begile the housbande with finger in the eie Some be maried against theyr will And therfore some abyde MAIDENS still In effect they are women all Euer haue been and euer shall ¶ But in good earnest the gentilwomen generally for gorgeouse atyre apparaile and iewelles excede I thynke all other women of our knowen worlde I meane as well the courtisanes as the maried women For in some places of Italie speciallie where churchemen doe reigne you shall finde of that sorte of women in riche apparaill in furniture of householde in seruice in horse and hackeney and in all thynges that apperteyne to a delicate Ladie so well furnisshed that to see one of theim vnknowynglie â—he shoulde seeme rather of the qualitee of a princesse than of a common woman But because I haue to speake hereafter in perticuler I woull forbeare to treate any further of theym in this place Of the states of Italie THe greatest prince of dominion there at this present is Charles the .v. emperour of Almaine who for his part hath the realme of Naples and the Duchie of Mylaine whiche realme is diuided into .8 regions and to the entent the readers maie the better be satisfied I haue set foorth as well the auncient names of those regions as the present The realme of Naples ¶ The present names ¶ The auncient Parte of Campagnia di Roma Maremma Latium Terra di Lauoro Campania Principato Picentini Basilicata Lucania Calabria Brutij Grecia magna Puglia terra d'otranto Salentini Calabria antiqua Iapigia Mesapia Puglia Apulia Peucetia Aetholia Apulia Daunia Abruzzo Frentani Peligni Marrucini Vestini Precutij Marsi Valle Beneuentana Samnites As for that parte of the Duchie of Mylaine that the emperour hath it lieth in Lumbardie aunciently called Gallia Cisalpina for the most part on that side of the riuer Pò that was called Transpadana The bisshop of Rome hath for his parte the citee of Rome with these countreys folowyng ¶ The present names ¶ The auncient Parte of Campagnia Maremma Latium Parte of Tuscane Hetruria The Duchie of Sposeti Vmbria Marca D' Ancona Piceni Romagnia Flaminia Emilia The citee of Bononia  The Uenetians for theyr parte haue the Citee of Uenice with those townes in and about their marishe called La Contrada di Venetia La Marca Triuigiana and a great part of Lumbardy aunciently called Gallia Cisalpina on the same side of the Pò that was called Transpadana And parte of the countrey of Istria The common wealthe of Genoa haue the countrey about theim nowe called Jf Genouesato and auncientlie Liguria Tuscane auncientlie called Hetruria is diuided into diuers dominions wherof a small parte the bisshop of Rome hath but the greatest is the Duke of Florence who hath .vii. citees vnder him And than there be two common wealthes Siena and Lucca whose territories are not great The Duke of Ferrare hath parte of Romagnia and parte of Lumbardie The Duke of Mantua is all in Lumbardie And the Duke of Urbine is betweene Marca d' Ancona and Tuscane whose people are called of Plinie Metaurensi The Citees of Parma and Placentia in Lumbardie haue ben of late transposed from the churche vnto the astate of a Duchie but nowe it is diuided agayne as hereafter you shall perceiue ¶ Now here is to be noted that euery perticuler prince and common wealthe of Italie within his owne dominion accompteth him selfe absolute lorde and kyng and lyueth vpon the customes taxes and tallaiges that he raiseth of his subiectes For lightlie they haue littell or no landes at all of theyr owne And generallie they procede all together by the ciuile lawes and are so diligent in the administracion of iustice specially against murderers and theues that I thynke no countrey more quiete than it the realme of Naples and some part of the Romaine territorie excepted where many tymes happeneth muche robbyng by the waies ¶ An abbridgement of the state of Italie from the beginnyng vntill the Romaine empyre was vtterly diuided AFter the generall floudde remaigned no moe but Noe his .iii. soonnes and theyr wifes betweene whom it shoulde seeme the whole worlde was diuided Sem toke the easte parte Cham the southe and Iafet the weast Some write that Iafet was the same Ianus that fyrst reigned in Italie and some that Ianus was Iafettes soonne But whether so it be this Ianus was euer taken for father of the gods and was peinted with two faces either because he was father of two nacions the Greekes and Italians orels because the moneth of Ianuarie whiche hath two respectê one to the beginnyng and an other to the ende of the yeere toke name of hym While this Ianus reigned in Italie Saturne beyng chased out of the realme of Candia by his soonne Iupiter came in a maner naked vnto hym and Ianus not onely receiued hym But also gaue him the halfe of his dominion For memorie wherof either of theim builded a citee to his owne name that is to wete Ianicula and Saturnia from Ianus vnto Numitor were .xxi. kyngê of the latines whose names with the yeres of theyr reigne hereafter folow Ianus Saturnus Picus beyng a great talker was therfore feigned of the poetes to be conuerted into a pie Faunus was after woorshipped for a God of the wooddes Latinus chaunged the name of his people from Laurentini to Latini and gaue his daughter Lauinia to Eneas the Troiane promised before vnto Turnus sonne of kyng Daunus These .v. kynges reigned about .200 yeres Eneas maried the daughter of Latinus and after his death reigned .iii. yeres and builded the citee Lauinia Ascanius sonne of Eneas and of Creusa kyng Priamus daughter reigned .38 yeeres and builded Alba longa to the whiche he brought his fathers idollê called the gods Penates but they of theim selfes tourned iii. tymes backe againe to Lauinia Siluius Posthumius seconde son of Eneas and begotten on Lauinia reigned .xxix. yeres Of whom all the latine kynges afterwardes surnamed theim selfes Siluij and after some authours he was father to Brutus that first named this realme Britaine and that slewe his owne father by mischaunce whiche thyng Polidorus Virgilius doeth not grauâ—t Eneas Siluius reigned .31 yeres Latinus Siluius reigned .50 yeres Alba Siluius reigned .39 yeres and builded Alba whiche he made his royall citee but after it was destroyed by Tullus Hostilius Of that citee descended those that to this daie are called Albanesi though
takyng ¶ Nexte to Vendramino succeded Marco Barbarico who neuer seking to be auenged on his enemie woulde saie It suffised a discreate prince to haue power to reuenge wherby his ennemie shoulde haue cause to feare him Therfore he vsed seueritee against the transgressours of the common wealth and not against theim that priuately offended hym In his daies hapned littell adoe ¶ The contrarie wherof folowed in the tyme of his successour Agostino Barbarico ¶ Firste by reason of the warres with Edmonde Duke of Austriche for the interest of certain mynes of yron in whiche enterprise the Uenetian capitaine Robert of S. Seuerino died than thoroughe the comyng of Charles the .viii. Frenche kynge into Italie who at lengthe partely through the Uenetian force was constreigned to retyre into Fraunce but most of all they were troubled with the Turkes who fell out with theim oueranne all their countreis as farre as Tagliomento slew aboue 7000. persons of the Uenetian parte and toke from theim Lepanto Modone Corone and Durazo Neuerthelesse this meane whyle the Uenetians gatte Cremona and diuers other townes in Italie whiche is rather a reproche to theÌ„ than an honor that wolde lieffer warre vpon their christen neighbours than bende their power to resist the Turkes ¶ After Barbarico Leonardo Loredano was elected to the astate in whose tyme all Christian princes about the Uenetians conspyred by one accorde vtterly to destroie theim And the league was suche that in one selfe tyme the emperour Maximilian Lewys the .xii. Frenche kynge Ferrando kyng of Spaine and of Naples Iulius bishop of Rome with the Dukes of Mantua and Ferrara should warre vpon theim beginnyng about the yere of grace .1509 So partly by force after many discoumfitures of the Uenetians power partly by accorde in maner all the Uenetian dominion with in the maine lande was diuided amongest these princes The frenche kyng had Bressa Bergamo Cremona and Crema the emperour Maximilian Verona Vicenza Padoa and parte of Friuli The kyng of Spaine the citees and portes in Puglia that the Uenetians before had gotten The bishop of Rome Arimino Faenza Rauenna and Ceruia with the rest of Romagnia and the Duke of Ferrara the Pollisene di Rouigo So that the Uenetians had so little dominion lefte on the maine lande â–ª that the emperour Maximilian came to Maestie v. little myles from Uenice as neere as the sea would suffre hym to approche and there for a triumphe or despite shotte of his artillerie to Uenicewardes though he coulde dooe it no hurt Wherfore the Uenetians prouoked in maner by despayre and through an oracion made by theyr Duke that encouraged theim rather to die lyke men than to suffre theim selfes thus vilie to be eaten by and despysed renued an armie by lande recouered Padoa than negligently kept fortified it and Treuiso fought dyuers tymes with variable fortune against theyr enemies fought to be reuenged on the Duke of Ferrara against whom they sent .xvii. galleis and 400. botes to assaile the Ferrarese dominion by the riuer of Pò and finally behaued theim selfes so manfully that the kyng of Spaine and the bishop of Rome made a new leage with them against the frenche kyng who at that tyme besydes the state of Myllaine had gotten Bononia and was become so great in Italy that they were all afearde of hym Upon conclusion of whiche league the citesins of Bressa retourned to the Uenetian obedience so that for defence of that citee against the Frenchemen Andrea Grâ—tti with certeine other noble Uenetians and capitaines and a conuenient noumbre of souldiours were sent thither where after a sore conflict with the Frenchemen they were all discoumfited slaine or taken and the principall prisoners sent to Myllaine to Mounser du Foys than gouernour there who sâ—nt Andrea Gritti as a singuler presente prisoner to the Frenche kyng ¶ The Uenetians not a little troubled for this losse caused the campe of the league that than laie before Bononia to draw towardes Ferrara and in succour of that campe made a new armie by water wherwith they sacked Argenta toke Mirandula and did muche hurte to the Ferrarese dominion till at laste the Vice Roy of Spaine generall of the saied campe came before Bononia and from thense to Rauenna for feare of the Frenche host that from Myllaine pursued him Unto whiche Frenche armie the Duke of Ferrara vnited his power and so together folowed the armie of the league to Rauenna where on Easterdaie in the mornyng was fought the blouddiest battaile betwene theim that hath ben heard of in our daies and so many thousandê slaine on bothe sydes that it coulde scarcely be iudged who had the better Sauyng that the Frenchemen obteined the victorie toke Rauenna put it to sacke and after gatte diuers other townes in Romagnia ¶ Whilest these thynges were doyng the Douchemens hall in Uenice called il fondago di Tedeschi was reedified a very faire and great house and of a meruailouse rent For they affyrme that it yeldeth to the Uenetians aboue .100 duckates a daie whiche after our old reckenyng amounteth aboue .7000 pounde sterlyng by the yere ¶ After Loredano succeded Antonio Grimani who beyng in exile was called home made proctour of sainct Marke and finally Duke ¶ Than Andrea Gritti before named newly retourned out of Fraunce was elected Duke by whose meanes the Uenetians entred in league with the frenche kyng and so recouered Bressa redeemed Verona for a great summe of money and ayded the Frenchemen to recouer Myllaine and to doe many feates in the realme of Naples how be it the frenchemen not longe after lost all againe through theyr ill gouernaunce and tyrannie ¶ Finally practisyng now with Fraunce now with the emperour now with the bishop of Rome as best serued for the common wealth this Duke left it in good ordre tranquillitee and peace and so died greatly bewailed of his citesins ¶ Than folowed Peter Lando in whose daies the Turke made warre to the Uenetians because they ioigned with the emperour against him so that thei to obteine peace were faine to geue hym the stronge and notable citees in Napoli and Maluagia in Greece and beside that the summe of .300000 duckates ¶ It was thought that the Turke woulde haue been appeased with a muche lesse gifte but beyng secretely aduertised by the Frenche ambassadour how the Uenetians had geuen theyr Bailo or ambassadour commission that rather than the warre should continue to make this offer he woulde none other wise agree with them ¶ This knowlage came through intelligence that the frenche ambassadour had with one of the Uenetian Secretaries who through corrupcion of money disclosed all the procedynges of the priuie counsaile whiche at length beyng discouered the same Secretarie fledde into Fraunce and .ii. other Uenetians of his confederacie were taken and hanged ¶ By this mans time Andrea Doria with a great nauie of the emperours of the bishop of Romes and of the Uenetians together
Rome So the emperour sent for his Germaines that laie at Uercelly in Lumbardie and deliuered theim to the bishop that in his owne person with the reste of those Italians he coulde make entred into the realme entendyng vtterly to expulse the Normans But Gisulfo heryng of his comyng hasted to Beneuento toke and fortified it and afterwardes abyd the bishoppes armie at a place called Ciuita where in conclusion was stricken a sore battayle but the Normains gatte the victorie takyng the bishop with certain of his Cardinalles prysoners whom after veray gentill intreatyng they lette goe without raunsome For rewarde of whiche courtesie the byshop afterwardes confirmed vnto the Normaines all that they helde in Italy to be their laufull possessions ¶ Not longe after this died Godfrey and left the Erledome of Puglia to his sonne Bagelardo Wherwith Roberte surnamed Guiscardo brother vnto Godfrey was so muche offended that by force he chased his nephew out of the astate and than occupied both the countreys of Puglia and Calabria adioignyng also vnto it the citee of Troia whyche vnto that daie perteined to the Romaines ¶ This Robert was a man strong hardy and wise who perceiuyng the great contencion betwene the Romaines and Nicolas the secounde their bishop the better to establisshe his dominion he sente his ambassadours to the bishop who in company of those ambassadours came to the citee Aquila and there mette with Robert and had suche communicacion to gethers that Robert was contented to restore to the bishop the citees of Beneuento and Troia with those other landes that he before had taken from the churche for the whiche the bishop created him laufull Duke of Puglia and Calabria and inuested him in the same duchy with gifte of the standarde of the churche so that Robert became liege man and vassaile of the Romain see and by the bishops commaundement broughte his armie to Rome where he so chastised the Romaines that they gladlie obeied theyr holie Romaine father ¶ Not longe after leauyng his brother Guglielmo in Puglia he passed into Calabria and fortified the towne of S. Marke and departyng thense encamped besides the riuer Moccato nere to the baynes and shortly after gatte Cosenza and Martirano Than went he to Squillaci and so a long the sea costes to Reggio whiche he besieged and finally did so much that he gatte whole Puglia and Calabria the lande of Brutij and the reste of the whole realme of Naples geuyng vnto certaine of his brethern suche part as pleased hym By reson wherof the same bretherne who a little before had ben his contraries consented wholy to call him from thensfoorth Duke of Calabria and Puglia ¶ And though I couet to be briefe yet I woull not passe ouer one thyng that happened in the tyme of this Roberte ¶ There was found in Puglia a certeine image of marble with a cercle of brasse in maner of a garlande about his heade in whiche were written these wordes Kalendis Maijs Oriente Sole aureum caput habebo the exposicion or meanyng of this sentence was diligentlie sought for by Robert but none coulde declare it tyll at last a Sarasine learned in artemagike came foorth and beyng prysoner required his libertee for the intrepreting of it which beyng graunted incontinently he saied The first daie of the kalendes of Maie at the risyng of the son marke where the end of the shadow of this head shal be and diggyng there you shall know the meanyng of these wordes whiche time was obserued and ere thei had dygged depe they founde a wonderfull treasure â–ª that afterwarde did no small seruice vnto Roberte in his warres ¶ Than was the realme of Sicile vnder the Moores whose prince Bestauetto made one Bettimino his admyrall or chiefe capitaine ouer the same This Bettimino came secretely into Puglia to Roger Duke Robertes brother and shewed hym how Sicile was in poincte to rebell so that for a rewarde and other agreementes betwene theim he finally opened to Roger the meanes how he might get it Whiche Roger by the helpe of his brother Robert immediatly enterprised and passyng with a power into Sicile the fyrste towne he toke was Messina and at length chased awaie all the Sarasines the whole ilande became subiecte vnto hym and his brother so that for a token of this victorie Roger sent vnto Alexandre the secounde than bishoppe of Rome .iiii. camelles laden with part of the praie of the Sarasines for a present And wonder it was to see the speede of these victories for Robert Guiscardo and his brethren had brought all these dominions before rehersed vnder theim within the space of .xviii. yeres ¶ Not longe after Gregorie the .vii. bishop of Rome fyrste fell out with Robert but afterwarde beeyng sore persecuted by Henrie the .iii. emperour of Almaine he agreed with Roberte and receiuyng of hym onely the marke of Ancona he confyrmed to him all that Nicolas the .ii. had before graunted with rather more For the whiche whan the same Gregorie was after besieged in the castell S. Angelo at Rome by the forenamed emperour Robert Guiscardo came thither with an armie and reysed the siege leadyng the bishop who was muche hated of the Romaines with him to Salerno for his more suretie where he shortly after died ¶ Thus Robert after many woorthie feates dooen in Italie and Sicile by occasion at last minded to driue Alessio emperour of Constantinople out of his astate and to be emperour hym selfe so that he passed the sea with an huge armie conquered Durazo Valona and dyuerse other citees in Dalmatia Albania and Gretia fought by sea with the Greekishe and Uenetian armies bothe and ouercame theim and was lyke to haue preuailed in his enterprise had not death preuented him ¶ Finally as he was goyng into Greece at Cassiopoli in the I le of Corfu he sickened and died ledyng a gloriouse and victoriouse lyfe .60 yeres ¶ Than succeded him in the duchie of Calabria and puglia Roger his yonger son who in the couÌ„sail holden at Melfi was confyrmed by Urbane the seconde bishop of Rome But Boemonde the elder brother who euer had folowed the father and at that tyme remained capitaine ouer the armie in Grece heryng that no part of the dominion in Italie was reserued for him waxed so wrothe withall that habandonyng all his fathers enterprise passed the sea with his armie to driue his brother out of the astate and did so muche that after muche feyghtyng by agreement parte of Puglia was assigned vnto hym though he enioied it not longe For immediatly after folowed the great viage into the holy lande vpon the conclusion of the counsaile made in Chiaramonâ—e d' aluerina in Fraunce In whiche viage amongest the other princes Boemonde hym selfe woulde nedes goe and so woorthily behaued him that by assent of all men he was made prince of Antioche and so continued honorablie till his laste daie By reson wherof his brother
the newes of his election was brought hym nowe of a good friende shall I haue an ennemie For in dede Innocent all his daies ceased not to woorke against Federike all the mischiefe he coulde imagine He fledde into Fraunce and called a generall counsaile in Lyons where Federike was double accursed but he esteemed it not answearyng alwaies that as longe as the bishop went about temporall persecucion he would defend him selfe temporally ¶ Finally after many notable battailes and victories he finisshed his life in Fiorentino a little towne of Puglia leauyng generall heyre of the realme of Naples his sonne Conrado borne of his seconde wyfe Iolante who by election of the princes of Germanie succeded his father in the empyre One other laufull childe he had named Henry borne of Isabell his .iii. wyfe to whom he assigned the ilande of Sicile from the Faro di Messina forewardes Than of bastardes he had Entio beforenamed kynge of Sardegna Manfredo prince of Taranto and Federike Prince of Antioche with diuers others not so notable ¶ As soone as Conrade beyng in Almaine heard of his fathers deathe he came with a great armie fyrste into Lumbardie where he recouered many citees that newly had rebelled and after passed into the realme reducyng also vnto his obedience those townes that before his comyng were in a rumour of whiche some he destroied and put to sacke as Capua and Aquino and so finally besieged Naples whiche at length he toke by famine ouerthrowing the walles and principall houses therof with banisshement of diuers of the nobles Thus whan he had gotte Naples the whole realme was clerely his owne so after he gaue him selfe altogether to huntyng and haâ—kyng with other lyke pastymes And beyng so in peace his mother Isabell sent his brother Henry than tendre of yeres to dooe reuerence vnto him whom Conrade caused secretely to be murdered by the waie A childe in witte and beautie very towarde But the crueltee was not longe vnpunished For Conrade him selfe by procurement of his bastarde brother Manfredo as it was saied was poysoned within .v. monethes after ¶ Now it is to be vnderstanded that Henry the eldest sonne of themperour Federike who as I saied before died in prison had a laufull sonne named Corradino to whom after the death of Conrade all the dominion of Federike descended But Innocent the .iiii. yet liuyng and coÌ„sidering Corradino being but a child in Almaine made an armie and withall speede wente to Naples where he was receiued and as it was thought had in short space obteined the realme had he not died immediately ¶ By reason of whose death Manfredo by title of tutour of the younge Corradino yet still in Germanie sodeynely assaulted and discoumfited the bishops army and within very short space brought the whole realme to obedience ere the ryght tutours of Corradino in Almaine knew of this victorie ¶ Than craftily he hyred certaine Almaines to feigne that thei came streight out of their countrei with newes of Corradines death wherfore Manfredo with all his clothed in blacke seemed greatly to lamente the thyng insomuch that he caused the funeralles honorably to be executed ¶ Not longe after appered him selfe in kyngelie habite and was saluted and called kyng Wherwith Alexander the .iiii. than bishop of Rome was sore offended excommunicated Manfredo and sente an armie againste him whiche was discomfited For Manfredo gathering into his handes the treasures of his predecessours waged so many Sarasynes and banisshed men of the Florentines and Lumbardes that he was alwaies to stronge for the bishop ¶ After Alexander succeded Urbane the .iiii. who to ouercome Manfredo lette crie a Croysie vnder colour to expulse the Sarasines out of Italie and Sicile But the armie of that Croysie was not sufficient to furnish the enterprise So that Urbane of newe began to deuise a better waie callyng Charles Duke of Angio and erle of Prouance brother vnto Lewys the .x. French kynge vnto Rome where firste he made him Senatour and after crowned hym kynge of Sicile and of Ierusalem vpon condicion that he shoulde paie yerelie to the churche .48000 duckates Pursuyng the title Charles with his frenche armie inuaded the realme and at laste in plaine battaill fought with Manfredo besides Beneuentâ— where Manfredo was slaine and his power discomfited so that Charles findyng after in maner no resistence gatte the dominion ouer the whole realme and at lengthe toke the wife and sonne of Manfredo prysoners whiche sonne bad his eies put out and after died miserablie in prison in the castell De Louo ¶ Than went Charles royally to Naples where he founde an infinite treasure that Manfredo had gathered the thirde part wherof he destributed amongest his souldiours and waxed so great that Clemente the .iiii. who succeded Urbane made him vicare of the empire in Italie so that at his pleasure he rode about to Utterbo and into Tuscane vntill the comyng of Corradino beforenamed righte heire by title of the house of Sueuia vnto the crowne of Naples who hauyng certaine intelligence in Italie came with a mightie power out of Almaine to recouer his enheritaunce But Charles ouercame him more by policie than strength in the plaine of Palenta ¶ And albeit Corradino and his cousen the Duke of Austriche veray yonge men fledde in the discomfiture of the battail and did disguise them selfes in vile apparaâ—l trustyng to escape yet their yll fortune at last discouered them so that they were taken brought to Naples and there after a yeres imprisonment against all law of armes or reason openly beheaded some saie through counsaille of the bishop of Rome For whan Charles had asked counsaile of the bishop what he shoulde doe with Corradino he aunswered these wordes Vita Corradini mors Caroli mors Corradini uiâ—a Caroli ¶ But surely Peter than kynge of Aragone iustly reproued this crueltee in a letter written to Charles with these wordes Tu Nerone Neronior et Sarracenis crudelior that is to saie thou arte more Nero than Nero him selfe and more crewell than the Sarasines For in dede Charles wente into the holy lande with his brother Lewys the Frenche kynge and there beyng taken prisoners of the Sarasines were courteisly entreated and sette to theyr raunsome Whiche thyng gentilnesse and reason wolde he shoulde haue vsed towardes Corradino ¶ But see what folowed The frenche officers and souldiours in Sicile behaued them selfe to proudly with a certaine kynde of tyrannie as well against women as men that the Sicilians conspyred against them through the instigacion of one Iohn di Procida sometyme phisicion to the kyng Manfredo who after he had obteined promyse of maintenaunce by kynge Peter of Aragone wrought this conspiracie the space of .xviii. monethes a wonder it coulde so longe be kept secrete and so well it came to passe that at the daie appoincted with the fyrst ringyng of a bell to euensonge the Sicilians beyng armed slew all the frenchemen where
made Cardinall and Don Ferrando that nowe is the emperours generall at Millaine finally he died ¶ After whose death Federico toke the astate vpon him and was made general of the Romaine churche by bishop Lyon the .x. confirmed by Adrian the .vi. and continued also vnder Clement the .vii. And as the emperour that now is retourned from his coronacion at Bologna passyng through Mantua where he was most honourably receiued his maiestee for the vertue worthinesse and nobilitee knowen in this Federico called hym from the degree of Marques and created hym Duke ¶ He maried Margerite doughter and heire of the lorde Guglielmo Paleologo Marques of Monferrato in whose righte by fauour of the emperours maiestee he obteigned hir fathers astate that is to saie the dominion of Monferrato And so notably fortifiyng the citee of Mantua he died leauyng .iiii. sons Francesco Guglielmo Lodouico and Federico ¶ Francesco after his fathers deathe entred into the dominion but because he was than of verie tender yeres and passeth not yet the age of .14 his father by testament committed the gouernaunce of hym vnto his wife with the helpe and counsaill of his brother Ercole the Cardinall vntill the yonge Duke shall be growen to sufficient yeres who by the parentes consente and by the emperours procurement hath ben contracted vnto one of kyng Ferdinando's doughters and shall marie hir verie shortly as the saiyng is ¶ Of the astate of Ferrara FErrara is one of the notablest citees of Lumbardie aswell for the beautie and greatnesse as also for the stronge site fortificacion ¶ Fyrst for beautie if that part that is called La terra nuoua had ben thoroughly finished as it was deuised it shoulde haue ben woorthie for faire stretes to haue been preferred before any other citee that I haue seen And now as it is I thynke it no lesse woorthy For you shall finde aboue a dousen streetes so iust and euenly setâ—e foorthe that I warrant you there is not so muche as the corner of a house to let a man of his full sight from the tone ende to the tother Some of whiche streetes lacke little of a myle longe with the goodly houses and buildynges on bothe sides so fayre and vniforme that it seemeth all dooen at one tyme and by one agreement as no doubte the most part hath been in deede And than in the middest it hath a verie fayre greene appoincted out for the markette place But the Duke that now is hath had no mynde to folow it although his father Alfonso bestowed the most trauaile of all his daies about it to his wonderful charge as he that shall see it maie wel consider So that the most habitacion of people resteth still in the olde parte of the citee whiche is also indifferent fayre but nothyng comparable to the new Than as touchyng the greatnesse I thynke the circuite by the walles be little lesse than .v. myles And finally for strength it hath the goodliest and strongest wall and the largest diche well watered that I haue seen specially for three partes to the lande warde And as for the fourth part though the wall be not so stronge yet is it reputed of no lesse force on that side than on the other by reason that within .20 yardes of the wall the great riuer of Pò hath his course downe towardes the sea whiche renneth so swifte and is so broade and deepe that it is not to be passed of any enemie to geue assaulte to the towne ¶ The Duke hath vnder his dominion two other citees that is to wete Modona and Reggio with a good parte of the low countreys of Romagna and maie dispende yerely by estimacion betwene .200 and .250000 duckates and is esteemed verie riche because he hath had no warre nor other charge of importaunce for the space of .xiii. yeres or more that he hath gouerned the astate The Originall and successe of the citee LYke as of other places be diuers opinions euen so is there of the beginnyng and name of Ferrara Some woull that the name therof hath growen of a certaine quantitee of yron that the same citee yelded for a tribute vnto the lorde of Rauenna as Argenta and Aureolo haue also dooen of the paiement of siluer and golde Some other woull that it be so called of the mynes of yron that haue been founde there whiche opinion is most sensible consideryng that Ferrara after the vse of the latine tounge signifieth none other but the place where yron is digged foorth as Caesare in his commentaries the .viii. boke of the Frenche warres and as Liuie in the fourthe of the Macedonicall warres dooe affyrme ¶ But to passe ouer these antiquitees and come nerer to our purpose I finde that the saied citee of Ferrara was firste closed with walles by one Smeraldo capitaine for the Greekish emperour in Rauenna and longe time after beyng a certaine space vnder the obedience of Henry the secounde emperour of Almaine it was recouered by the counteise Matilda doughter of the Conte Bonefacio as hir right enheritaunce through helpe of the Uenetians and of the lordes of Rauenna out of the handes of Henry the thirde than emperour whiche Countesse at hir death with other hir possessions lefte it vnto the vse of the Romaine churche insomuche that longe tyme it was gouerned of vicares and of legates vntill the house of Este gatte the rule therof Who firste obteigned is vnder condicion that thei shoulde for euer holde it in fee of the churche of Rome ¶ And to resite the beginnyng of that house some thinke the same is descended of those aunciente Troianes that came with Anthenor into Italy and some other woull that their sâ—ocke shoulde be of a certayne towne called Este now vnder the Uenetian dominion liyng .xv. miles from Padoa on the southeside of the Padoan hilles From whiche towne thei saie this family of Este came to dwell in Ferrara But how so euer it be the fyrst notable man of that house that ruled Ferrara was named Azo who at his death lefte issue two sonnes Aldobrandino and Azo the fyrste entred in possession and liuyng but a short space lefte the astate vnto Azo the seconde his younger brother ¶ This Azo was driuen out of it by Federike the emperour and one Salinguerra put there in his place insomuche that Azo for succour resorted vnto a certaine Ferrarese named Gregorio Montelungo beyng at that tyme Romysh legate in the citee of Bologna by whose meanes with helpe of the Uenetians of the Mantuanes and of Ezelino than lorde of Verona brother in lawe vnto this Azo Salinguerra was by force expulsed and Azo restored vnto his astate vpon condicion that he shoulde holde it for euer as vicare of the church and none otherwyse ¶ Now this Azo the seconde hauyng by his fyrst wife a soonne named Fresco maried agayne the secounde daughter of the kyng of Naples named Beatrice whiche mariage so muche offended
the astate of Urbine to his nephiew Francesco Maria Prefettino della Rouere whom he created Duke there ¶ This Francesco Maria was a verie wise and valiant prince nothing inferiour to Federike beforenamed who reigned not fully .x. yeres but Leo the x. that succeded Iulie the .ii. made a puissaunt armie and expulsed him out of his astate and rased the walles of the citee euen to the earth Whervpon he established his nephiew Iuliano di Medici Duke in his place and after his death for he liued but a while his brother Laurence di Medici who continued in the same till Adrian the .vi. that succeded Leo expulsed him and restored the astate vnto Francesco Maria that enioyed it till he died the space of .xvi. yeres in so great reputacion that all princes and astates of Italie loued and honored him and the greatest of them were glad to enterteine hym for their generall in the warres Wherin he gatte infinite summes of money But he was so great a builder and so liberall vnto his souldiours that whan he died he lefte no kynde of money in his coffers ¶ By his life tyme he builded the palaice besides Pesaro called Imperiale and fortified the citee of Pesaro and the castel there with diuers other goodly buildyngê and gatte Katherine daughter and heyre to the Duke of Camerine to be maried vnto his sonne Guido Vbaldo that now liueth In whose right he enioyed that astate duryng the fathers lyfe ¶ Assoone as Francesco Maria was dead Paule the iii. now bishop of Rome seyng this Duke that now lyueth a younge man without money or great friendes made so great a power against him that for feare to lose the whole he was contente for a little money and some other small recompences to yelde to the bishoppe the astate of Camerine whiche the bishop hitherto enioyeth And yet for all this the same bishoppe hath founde the meanes to marie his neece to the same Duke wherat many men meruaile not a little ¶ Finally this Duke Guido Vbaldo is generall ouer all the Uenetians landes townes and fortresses and hath of theim .10000 crownes annuitee But hitherto he hath had none occasion of triall in the warres He is meane of strature hard of fauour and very graue in countinaunce And though he be well learned his wysedome hath had no great triall as yet but men trust he woll proue as vertuouse as his predecessours ¶ The conclusion ¶ THere be dyuers other astates in Italy specially the common wealthes of Siena and Lucca the byshoprike of Trent called Tridentum in latine Piombino Mirandula Castell Geffroie and suche like but because they are not of suche reputacion either for dominion power or continuaunce of yeres that they shoulde be numbred amongest the principall I haue forborne to speake particulerly of theim though some in deede deserue notable praise besechyng all gentill readers to accept my trauaile and deligence vsed in this behalfe as a thyng done for their commoditees And thoughe I want learnyng and eloquence to accomplishe so high an enterprise as to descriue pithily the astates of countreis and commom wealthes yet sens I spared no paine nor labour to doe profite I wolde at the leaste wise for my rewarde craue good report JMPRINTED AT LONDON IN FLETESTRETE IN THE HOVSE OF THOmas Berthelet Cum priuilegio as imprimendum solum ANNO. M. D. XLIX ¶ The table of this present boke by letter AEbrigement of the astate of Italy froÌ„ the begynnyng vntill the Romain empire was vtterly diuided folâ—o 8. Abbrigement of the lyues of the Romaine bishops fo 41. Abbrigement of the Uenecian histories from the edificacion of the citee to this daie 85. Academie in Florence 139. Adoaldus 18. Adrianus 12. Agilulphus 18. Agostino Barbarico 110. Agrippa 9. Alaricus kyng of Gothes 15. Alba Siluius 8. Alboinus 18. Alberto 210. Aldeprandus 20. Aldobrandino 208. Alfonse kyng of Naples 66. Alfons adopted heire to quene Iohan. 131. Alfonse the seconde 134. Alfonso 212. Alexander Seuerus 12. Amalasuntha 17. Amulius 9. Ancus Martius 10. Andrea Dandolo 102. Andrea Contarini 104. Andrea Uendramino 109. Andrea â—ritti 111. Andrea â—oria 185.186.187 Angelo Particiaco 90. Annates 63. Antonio Ueniero 105. Antonio Grimani 111. Antonio di Leua 200. Antonius Pius 12 â–ª Antonius Caracalla 12. Antharis Flauius 18. Arches of Triumphe 29. Archadius 14. Arrigo Dandolo 96. Arno the riuer 137. Artificers of Italie 5. Arioldus 18. Aristolphus 20. Arithpertus 19.20 Ascanius 8. Asprandus 20. Astate of Mantua 200. Astate of Ferrara 207. Astate of Placentia Parma 212. Athalphus 16. Athis or Egyptus Siluius 9 Attila 10. and 190. Auentinus 9. Augustus 50. Auogadori 91. Aurelianus 13. Azone 191. Azo the fyrste and secounde 208. Azo the .iii. 209. B. BAgelardo 117. Bartholomeo Gradenico 101. Beginning and successe of the astate of Myllaine 189. Belles 91. Berengarius 48. Bernabo 191. Bishoppes palaice with Beluedere 4â— Bishoppe of Rome besieged 118. Biorgus 16. Boccatius 127. Borso 211. Bouâ—iquart 177. Bridges in Rome 23. Brâ—dges in Florence 137. Buildynges in Rome 41. Buildynges of Uenice 74. Buildyng of Genoa 163. C. Caesar. fol. 50. Cains Caligula 11. Caesar Fregoso 188. Capi Siluins 9. Cardinall hattes 56. Cardinalles sacked and baked 62. Cardinall Sauli 185. Carlo duca de Angio. 125. Carlo ii 126. Carlo iii. 129. Carpentus 9. Carus 13. Castell Cantâ— Angelo 41. Castell â—ouo 113. Caroccio 122. Castell of Millaine 189. Cercles 31. Charles Martell 45. Charles sonne taken prisoner 126. Charles the .v. emperour 136. Chilperike deposed 45. Christoforo Moro. 108. Circuite of Italie 1. Citee of Florence 137. Citee of Naples gotten by the Normaines 120. Citee of Urbine 214. Citta della 159. Claudius 11.13 Colosses and images 34. Comodus 12. Commoditees of Italie 1. Common prouision and charitable deedes in Uenice 82. Common people 149. Conrade 124. Constantius 14. Constantinus eodem Consules 10. Conduites of water in Rome 27. Counsaile of Uenice 78. Corradino .124 beheaded 125 Cortogoâ—â— 184. Cosino di Medici 152. Couetousnesse 134. Crueltee 96 98.124.125.12â—.208.209 Customes in theyr liuyng in Uenice 8â— Cyprus wonne 109. D. DApho fol. 18. Decius 13. Deâ—dato 89. DescripcioÌ„ of Italy 1. Descripcion of Rome 22. Descripcion of Naples 11â— Descripcion of Florence 137 Descripcion of Millaine 187 Desyderius 18.20 Didius Iulius 12. Dignitees and offyces in Uenice 77. Dioclesianus 11. Diuidyng of the empire 15. Diuision 141. Discorde 131. Dominion of Uenice 7â— Domenico â—â—one 89. Domenico Menicaccio eo Domenico Orseolo 9â— Domenico Flabenico eodem Domenico Contarini eod Domenico Siluâ—o eod Domenico Michele 94. Domenico Morosini 45. Dominion and gouernaunce of Genoa 161. Domitianus 11. Don Ferrando Gonzaga 188.200.213 Donacion of Constantine 14.43 Douchemens haull in Uenice 111. Drogone 116. Duke of Florence dominion and reuenew 139. Duke Cosmo. 159. E. EDificacion of Rome 9. Edificacion and successe of the citee of Florence 140. Edifices in Florence 137. Election of the emperour whan and by whom it was