present a religious Person and a lover of Learned men BASSANO FRom Trento the way lies to Bassano travelling towards the East by the Valley of Sugana called by the Antients Euganea because a People of that name dwelt there This Plain is eighteen miles in length and two only in bredth whence you may go to Venice but 't is too long a journey Five Miles forth of Trent is situated the rich and populous Countrey of Perzene At the Head of the Valley near Primolano are the confines between the Venetians and Germans Upon the high Mountain of Primolano is there built a most strong Bulwark of the Venetians called Strada where a few Souldiers can repel the Dutch when ever they offer by violence or force to advance forwards At twelve miles distance from thence towards the East among the Alps is the City of Feltre by the which way at the right-hand-shore of the River Brent three miles distance from Scala is seated Cavolo a Fort of the Germans inexpugnable in respect that 't is founded upon a great Rock directly hanging over the high-way with a Fountain of living water in it whereto neither Man nor Goods can be mounted from the Earth unless fastned to a Rope and that wound up upon a wheel from which because 't is a very narrow way underneath between the Mountain and the River with small labour may their enemies be slain with Stones cast on them as they march along Thence five miles distant is the River Cisimone wch disembogues it self into the Brenta where the Dutch and Feltrini daily load great quantities of Timber and Wood as well for the use of Building as for firing which they afterwards transport to Bassano to Padoua and to Venice Seven miles distant from Bassano on the Right-hand-shore of the Brent lies the Countrey of Valstagna placed at the foot of the Mountains and famous for the Sawes there made thence distant three miles lies the Countrey of Campese where in the Church of the Fryers of Saint Benedict lies buried he that wrote la Macharonea Bassano lies at the foot of this streight Valley and is washed towards the West by the Brent called antiently Brenta or Brentesia the which hath its Sourse or head beyond the Alps of Trent twelve miles near Levego Over the Brent a little forth of the Gate of Bassano is built a great Bridge of Wood which conjoyns both the Rivers Between the Alps and this Castle there are some Hills which produce most abundantly all things requisite as well for necessary living as delicacy but most particularly they abound with Olives and precious Wines The River Brenta runs thorow the Territory of Vicenza passeth by the City of Padoua and in the end dischargeth it self by the Fenny or Moorish grounds into the Sea In this River they take excellent Fish as Trouts Pollard or Chieven Eyles Pyke Tench Lampreys Barbel and Crabfish In no place are the men more ingenuous in Merchandize than in this particularly in weaving of Cloth in turning most neatly in Ivory and in Carving in Nut-Trees There is never a year that they dress less than fifteen thousand pound weight of Silk and notwithstanding that that which is made in China is esteemed better than is made in any other part of the world nevertheless 't is known that this of Bassano is more subtile or thin and more light Hence the Family of the Carrareci drew their Original and Eccellino the Tyrant as also Lazaro surnamed Bassano a person not meanly learned nor less acquainted in the Greek tongue than in the Latine he lived a long time in Bologna with great satisfaction to the learned afterwards he rendred himself at Padoua to the end that he might illuminate those who were studious of good Letters At present Giacomo dal Ponte an excellent Lymner greatly illustrates this Country together with four of his Sons called vulgarly the Bassani Bassano hath under it twelve Towns which with it self contein to the number of twelve thousand Souls MAROSTICA AT three miles distance from Bassano towards the West is seated a strong place named Marostica a Castle built by the Lords of Scala near the Mountain and fortified with Walls and two Sconceâ—… Antiently this Castle stood in the neighbouring Mountain which looks towards the East where at this time are to be seen the Foundationâ—… Here the Air is most perfect and the Countrey as pleasant and produceth excellent fruits in great abundance but it most excels in Cherries of all sorts which are so infinitely pleasant and so well â—…elished that therefore in many places they are called Marosticane There are many Fountains of clear Water and thence about two miles is a Lake called Piola whose waters abate and rise in the same manner as they in the Golf of Venice with great admiration to the beholders The Inhabitants of this Castle are extreme contentious whereupon an Elegant Poet wrote thus Restat in Civibus Marii discordia vetus Quae cum Syllanis saevit in urbe viris Within this Castle are many Churches among which is that of Saint Bastiano where the Fryers of Saint Francis dwell wherein lies the Body of the blessed Lorenzuolo the Child Martyred by the wicked Jews who antiently there inhabited Francesco of the Family of the â—…reschi hath much illustrated this Castle who publickly Read the Civil Law in Padoua and likewise Angelo Mateaccio who hath composed some Books of the Laws At this present adds no small Fame to this his Countrey Prospero Alpino the most excellent Physician publique Reader of the first matter of Simples in the Academy of Padoua who hath written De plantis AEgypti De Opobalsamo and De Praesagienda vitâ—… morte AEgrotantium lately published And is now employed besides his publick Reading in composing and ripening some other noble Work for publick view Thorow the middle of this Castle runs the little River called Rozza whence about a mile passeth the Sillano so called because in Antient Language it signified a Stream of running water 'T is believed that the Antient Romans much frequented this Place for that the Inhabitants to this day retain certain Latine words though something corrupted Before the Church of Saint Floriano stand two Marble Stones of great antiquity upon the one whereof is written thus TI Claudio Caes. M. Salonius ⸫⸫ es Martina Chara Conjux quae Venit de Gallia per mansiones L. Vi commemoraret memoriam Mariti sui Bene quiescas duleissime mi Marite TREVISO THe Antient City of Treviso is situated on the East of and at the distance from Bassano twenty five miles This City was founded by Osaride the third King of the Greâ—…ans who being adopted Son of Dionisius therefore conceded unto him AEgypt and Reigned in Italy ten years And because after his death there appeared to the AEgyptians an Ox they supposing it to be their King Osiris worsnipped it as a God and called it Apâ—… which in their language signifies an Ox for which reason
one of the first four of Italy here they make bread white as Snow and here they keep with great devotion the Garter of the Virgin Mary a little more near the Apenines is Monte Murlo much spoken of for the taking those Florentines which fled out of Florence and there embodied by Alessandro Vitelli Captain for Cosmus the Duke which secured his Principality PISTOIA AFter which entring a lovely Plain you meet the City Pistoia twenty miles off Florence which though little is neatly compact and rich and would have been better had it not much groned under the factions of its own Citizens Twenty miles of Pistoia stands Lucca which governs it self in Liberty and by the strength of its Wall the Richness of Trade and the Industry of its own Citizens maintains it self well with all things necessary t is an antient City and was made a Colony of the Romans Desiderius the King built its strong Walls which with its site enabled it to endure a six moneths siege by Narsetes towards the Sea stand yet the footsteps of the Temple of Hercules the River Serchio runs close by Lucca whence the famous baths of Italy are ten miles distant Out of Florence towards the West in that spatious Plain stands the Castles Empoli and Fucecchio there is also a Lake of that name as also San Miniato al Todesco so called for that t was built by certain Germans under Desiderius their King PISA COasting the River Arno you attain Pisa an antient City built long before Rome by the Grecians and was one of the 12 Cities of Tuscany it was powerfull at Sea and obtained many victories against the Genovesi it subdued Cartagine conquered the Island of Sardegna and delivered its King Prisoner to the Pope It recovered Palermo in Sicilia out of the hands of the Sarazens who had long enjoyed it it slew the Sarazen King of Majorca It sent 40 Galleys in assistance to Almerico King of Ierusalem against the Sarazens who possessed Alexandria It greatly assisted the Popes in their adversity It was so potent happy and rich that Saint Thomaso treating of the four things reckons it among the four most potent Cities of Italy But from that time that at the instance and request of Frederick Barbarossa it captivated so many Prelates of the Romi◅h Church two Cardinals which came from France to the Lateranian Council it only decayed from bad to worse till it lost Liberty and Power yet in process of time by the residence of the Knights of S. Stefano and the University it recovered and still preserves the Countenance of an honourable City Plato will have it well situated being four miles then now eight from the Sea so that t is not placed upon the Sea shore but near it not upon the Mountains but near them in a Plain just so divided from the royal River Arno as Plato fancies his City T is endowed with four things which create wonder the Church of Saint Iohn the Domo the Steeple and ◅ampo Santo which was raised with that very holy Earth which they brought home in their Galleys when 50 of them were sent to assist the Emperor in the recovery of the holy Land On one side of it lies Lucca on the other Livorgeo or Ligorne T was destroyed by the Florentines in the yeer 1509. Intending from Florence to Siena you must go out at the Porta Romana through which Charles the fifth entred after his Victory in Africk and so passing by the Monastery Certosini attain Cassano Tavernelli and Staggia by a direct way having pleasant hills and fruitfull Valleys on each side In the way appears the Castle Certaldo the Birth-place of Giovani Boccaccio the Prince of Tuscan Poets who dyed in the 62. yeer of his Age in the yeer of our Lord 1375. and was interred in a Marble Tombe in the Domo of Certaldo with this Epitaph Hac sub mole jacent cineres ac ossa Ioannis Mens sedet ante Deum meritis ornata laborum Mortalis vitae genitor Boccac◅ius ◅lli Patria Certaldum studium fuit alma Poesis Somewhat further stands the Bourg Saint Geminiano famous for its good wine Vernace T is adorned with fair Churches noble Palaces illustrious persons and a gentle people built by Desiderius King of the Longobardi Westward from which lies the antique City Volterra which was founded 100. yeers before the firing of Troy and 500. before the building of Rome t is built on a hill the ascent to whose top is 3 miles its Walls are of squared stones 6 foot long layed cemented without Mortar It hath five gates before each a Fountain of clear water within them two other stately Fountains with many antiēt statues on thē old Epitaphs it hath a rich Territory is subject to the great Duke it produced Persio the poet and divers other wits beyond it lies the Sea On its left hand lies Ancis◅ the Country of St. Francis the Patriark Fighine and other good places AREZZO TRavailing towards the East you meet Arezzo accounted one of the antient twelve The Aretines contributed 30000. Crowns as many Celades with other Kinds of Weapons to the Romans and 120000. bushels of Wheat to furnish the Armada of 40 Galleys which was to convoy Scipio against the Carthaginians It hath suffered many and many calamities but with the government of Cosmus the great Duke it began to take breath and restore it self Pliny saies their Vessels of Earth were in his time esteemed the best of Italy San Donato its Bishop was there Martyred in the time of Valentinian the Emperor who baptized L. Zembio the Tribune and then endowed the Church of Arezzo wherein lies buried S. Loren◅o and Pellegrino brothers and Martyrs and Gregory the 10th chief Bishop the house of Petrark is yet to be seen there begins the State of the Church On the direct way to Siena stands Poggibonzi a place noted for the perfumed Tobacco composed there which the Italians take as profusely in powder as the English in pipes as also Ascia and near it Siena SIENA Paolo V. THis City was named Siena from the Galli Senoni who resided there under Brennus their Captain and built it on the back of the hill Tuffo t was made a Colony by the Romans and afterwards underwent the same misery with the other Cities of Tuscanie In process of time it recovered liberty and therewith its former emulation with Florence against whom it fought and obtained a glorious victory after which it became subject to the Petrarci it s own Citizens whome discarding it continued a free State till the yeer 1555. when the great Duke recovered it It s ayr is very good and wholesome Its Inhabitants very courteous who profess and speak the purity of the Italian Language without the Porta Romana the City appears with a great deal of Majesty being beautifyed by the many Towers raised in honour of such persons as performed some eminent service for the Common Wealth among
Sigismond the Emperor with Gabrino Fondulio Lord of the City who afterwards was sad at the heart that he had not precipitated the Emperour and Pope to eternalize his memory as did Herostrato who only to commemorate his name gave fire to and burnt that stupendnous Temple of Diana built in Ephesus at the common charge of all the Potentates of Asia in two hundred yeers It hath a Cathedral with a good Revenue and many other stately Churches wherein are kept many Reliques of Saints and much riches several Hospitals and other pious places The Families of Cremona are for the most part descended from the Romans who there made a Colony others from the veterane Souldiers who for reward of their Labours had houses Lands there assigned them and others from the Goths Longobardi French Germans and other people of Italy it hath given birth to many eminent Ecclesiasticks Lawyers Physicians Souldiers and Poets The people are of an industrious and accute wit and have invented several sorts of Stuffs Silks and Clothes and make excellent Swords Without the Gate Puleselia stands the Church San Guglielmo where is a large Pond which did formerly contain troubled and stinking water but San Domenick and Francis who dwelt there making the sign of the Cross over it they were there by miraculously converted into clear and sweet waters Near the Porta San Michaele stood a Temple dedicate to the Goddess Februa whereof nought appears now Close by the Walls runs the noble River Oglio On its West part lies nhe Territory of Lodi on the North Bergamo and Brescia on the East Mantona and on the South Piacenza Between Towns and Hamlets this City possesseth 41. places and all its Country round about is a plain planted with trees in excellent order with Vines clinging to them and most productive of all grains herbage and other necessaries From Cremona to Mantoua leads a direct even road and upon or near it lye Piadena the Country of Bartolomeo Platina close by which passeth the Oglio Canesdo where the Oglio spends it self in the Poe the Castles Asola and Acquanegria Bozzolo a Town and San Martino where Scipion Gonzaga the Splendor of the College of Cardinals lies buried Then the River passed which crosseth the Road you leave the Bourg Marcheria and Gazuolo where there is a sumptuous and royal Palace of the Gonzaghi whose also are the 3 Castles from Gazuolo to Mantoua twelve miles But the way from Cremona to Mantoua on the left side of the Poe lies thus first to the Town San Giovanni and Ricardo then to Ponzono Gusnola and Casal Maggiore and then to Sabioneda an imperial City very fair and stately a draught whereof was taken by order of the Duke Vespasiano Beyond which lies Viadona and Pomponesco where lies the passe over the Poe whence t is eight mile to Mantoua in the way are Montecchio a mannor of the Palavicini Colorno under the Parmesans the Castle Bresegello of the Dokes of Estè formerly a City but destroyed by the Lougobardi whose King Alboino there slew Totila King of the Gothes and by that victory made himself Lord of Italy Gonzaga where the Duke of Mantoua hath a noble Palace Reggio Huolara Luzzara and Guastallo entitled with a Principality thence to Borgo Forte and so to Mantoua MANTOUA FOr its antiquity gives place to no City of Italy being founded not only before Rome but before the destruction of Troy which happened according to Eusebius Saint Jerome and others 430. yeers before the building of Rome Leandro Alberti shewes that Mantoua was built 1183. yeers before the coming of our Lord into the flesh And as it was more antient than the rest so was its Original more noble being founded by Ocno Bianoro the most antient King of Tuscany who was Son of Tiberino King of Tuscany and Manto Tebena his Queen and so called it Mantoua from the name of his Mother It was first inhabited by three noble people the Tebani Veneti and Toscani as Virgil the Prince of Poets celebrating the nobleness of this his Country testifies in his 10. book of his AEneades Ille etiam patriis agmenciet Ocnus ab oris Fatidicae Manthus Tusci filius amnis Qui muros matrisque dedit tibi Mantoua nomen Mantoua Dives avis sed non genus omnibus unum Gens illi triplex populi sub gente quaterni Ipsa caput populis Tusco de sanguine vires T is seated among the Marishes created by the River Mencio is strong by nature and art large and well built adorned with sumptuous Palaces and fair Churches noble Piazzaes spatious recreative places and direct streets T is a merchandizing City and copious of all trading through the conveniency of the waters The people are of an acute genius and not less disposed to Learning Arms and all Sciences than to Traffick and Merchandizing In the Church of the reverend Fathers of Saint Domenick is the Tomb of Giovanni de Medici Father of Cosmus great Duke of Tuscany where may be read this Epitaph Joannes Medices hic situs est inusitatae virtutis Dux qui ad Mincium tormento ictus Italiae fato potius quam suo cecidit 1526. In the Church of the Carmelites lies Batista Spagnuolo General of that order with this Epitaph Reverend P. Magister Baptiste Mantuanus Carmelita Theologus Philosophus Poeta Orator Clarissimus Latinae Graecae Hebraicae linguae peritissimus In the sumptuous Temple Saint Andrea is some of the pretious bloud of our Lord and the body of San Longino the Martyr Montigna Padouano lies likewise buried here with this Inscription Ossa Andreae Mantiniae famosissimi Pictoris cum duobus filiis insepulchro per Andream Mantiniam nepotem ex filio constructo And underneath are these two verses Esse parem hunc noris si non praeponis Apelli Enea Mantiniae qui simulacra vides In the Duomo where the lngenuity of Giulio Romano a famous Architector hath expatiated it self lies the entire body of San Anselmo Bishop of Lucca In San Egidio lies Bernardo Tasso Mantoua hath eight Gates is in compass four miles hath in it 50. thousand Souls and the aforesaid Lake or Marish lies 20. miles round it near it is the Royal Palace of Te built by Giulio Romano Five miles off Mantoua West-ward stands a Temple dedicate to the Virgine Mary filled with presents and vows wherein lies the body of Baldassar Casiiglione in a fayr Tomb. Twelve miles distant from it South-ward is the magnificent and sumptuous Monastery of Saint Benedict seated in a Plain near the Poe which was built by Bonisace Marquess of Mantoua Count of Conossa and Uncle of Matilda in the yeer of our Saviour 984. which for its Magnificense Riches and sumptuousness of building and what more imports for its observance in Religion antecedes all the other Monasteries of Italy The Fryers Benedictines have possessed it for 200 yeers from whom have issued many Religious filled with sanctity good doctrine and
and famous for working miracles which property his body lying in the Cathedral Church yet retains in operation over such persous as were oppressed with evil spirits lye expelling them As also to Plautus that antient and famous Comick Latin Poet who t is commonly held for truth wrought here at the Bake-house as a Baker for a lively-hood and when he had any spare time he composed his Comedies and sold them the better to supply his necessities Which Opinion Eusebius also confirms CESENA CEsena lies at the foot of a Hill near the River Savio which so rapidly runs by it down from the Apenines that it overflows and infests many grounds before it runs into the Sea This City hath a strong Cittadel upon the hill adjoyning to the heart of the City by means of a Pyle built by Frederick the second Emperor now near ruined T is worth ones pains to see the Church where on the roof hangs a piece of a poudered Hog nayled to it in remembrance of a Miracle wrought thus San Pietro the Martyr caused the Convent of Saint Domenick to be built in the time of whose strncture craving Almes for the Love of God it happened that this piece of the Poudred Hoggs flesh was bestowed on him whereof he gave and fed the Workemen and Labourers till the said Convent was finished and still there remained that which now hangs up there for that what ever the Saint cut off grew increased day by day in the same manner and quantity as in its first state as if it had not been at all touched or diminished It abounds with excellent wines and all other necessaries It s original is not known yet t was ever and is still well peopled It was under the Emperors the Church the Bolonians the Ordolasi Mighardo di Sussenna and the Malatesti the last of whom Malatesto Novello collected a stately Library not now so despicable also to be passed without a view in the Monastery of Saint Fraucis who surrendred the City to the Church from whom t was wrested by Caesar Borgio called Duke Valentino Son of Alexander the 6th and from him it once more returned in obedtence to the Church and so continued in quiet ever since on the Mount near it is a Church called Maria del Monte Cesena where the Benedictines serve RIMINI THe number of Antiquities through this City shew it very antient T was beautifyed divers times by Augustus Caesar and the succeeding Emperors with sumptuous Fabricks whereof the reliques yet remaining give asussicient testimony many Historians relate that t was made a Colony of the Romans before the first Punick War together with Benevento Publius Sempronius Sofo and Appius Claudius Son of the Blind being Consuls which was 485 yeers after the foundation of Rome After which t was held and inhabited by the Romans as a Fortezza in those Confines against the French and there most of the Roman Commanders designed with Armies to forein Countries were wont to make their Rendezvous signifying to their People what day they should there render themselves as Livy more plainly sets down T was called Rimini from the River Rimini which washes it The Picenti first justly held it but they were overcome by Appius Claudius who triumphed for it and dilated the Empire from Esino or Fiumefâ—…no to the River Pissatello T is seated in a most fertile Plain having on the East and West parts of it excellent plow-Lands on the South great plenty of Gardens Orchards OliveWoods and Vineyards upon the hills of the Apenine Mountains and on the North the Adriatick Sea all which as t were in emulation strive which shall exceed the other in affording of necessaries and delicacies of all sorts to its Inhabitants T is a comodious and fair City replenished with structures alla Mo derna in the Piazza is a glorious fountain sprouting sweet and clear waters through several pipes Towards the Sea are some Reliques of a stately Theatre over the River Arimino stands a Bridge built with large square Marble stones by Augustus which conjoins the Via Flaminia to the Via Emilia and the City to the Suburb which is 200. foot long in 5. Arches and 15. broad whose sides are wrought in Dorick structure upon one of which is inscribed the Titles of Augustus Caesar and on another those of Tiberius Caesar whence we compute this Bridge was finished 778. yeers after the foundation of Rome C. Calvisius and Gn. Lentulus than Consuls being begun by Augustus who much laboured to beautify and accomodate the ViaFlaminia sparing no cost and finished in the daies of Tiberius Some part of the old Port appears yet but so inconfiderable that it can onely receive small boats But how great and magnificent this hath been may be collected from that proud and stupendious structure the Church San Francesco which was built by Sigismond Maltesta Prince of this City with the Marble Stones haled out of the old Port. At the Porta Orientale leading to Pesaro is a fair Marble Arch erected there in honour of Augustus Caesar when having been seaven times Consul he was elected for the eighth he having fortified and adorned by commission of the Senate and Will of the People of Rome the five chief Roads of Italy as may be guessed from those few legible fragments of carved Letters yet remaining whereby it appears that the Via Flaminia was of great consideration Augustus having assumed to himself the care of accommodating that Road from Rome to Rimini as Suetonicus recounts and given the charge of accommodating the rest to certain illustrious Men with order to dispose what ever spoiles they took from the Enemies to that purpose For a memorial of which publique benefit are yetextant certain moneys or medals of Gold then stamped with the Effigies of Augustus with his titles on the one side and on the other an Arch with two Doors elevated over a Way on the top whereof sits Victory driving a triumphal Chariot with these words Quod viae munitâ—… sint which words declare the occasion of that great honour done to Caesar was for his care and cost in amending the high Waies publick Roads Of which Arch now wholly destroyed many Reliquesly on the Via Flaminia even to Rome But the shortest way to Rome is to go over the Hills which ly South-ward from Rimini where stands the Castle Fiore to pass the River Isauro thirty miles whence is Urbino and eight miles more is Acqualagna there to enter the Via Flamâ—…nia and travail to Umbria In the Via Flaminia on the right hand upon a Hill is Verucchio the first habitation of the Malatesta to whom it was given by Otho the Emperor and higher in the Mountains is the Bourg S. Martino in in Latine Acer Mons a noble rich and well-peopled Place which hath ever preserved it self in full Liberty nor was it ever conquered which at a distance looks like a confused heap of Mountains without way or means to ascend to On the same
you may see the Castle Del'ovo so named for that the shelf which there in largeth it self to the similitude of an Island retains an oval form Collanutius writes that this Fort was built by William the third a Norman and thence called Normannica which afterwards Alfonsus the first King of the Arragonians repaired and beautifyed in many things t is said that the antient called this by a greek word Miagra either from a salutatiferous plant there growing or from the site and quality of the place or for that t was difficult to escape out of it This Mole is like an artificial street casting it self into the Sea whither all the gentry in the evening resort for the benefit of the Fresco. The Townesmen shew one after another Grottes hollowed under the shelf also some old memorials erected upon Cliffs and great quantity of Arms of different fashions Afterwards pass into the Court of the Palace by the Gulf of the Sea called by Strabo and Tazza della forma and if you would learn the discipline and labour of the Galleots you must view in the passage the near shores the Islands and Promontories round about as Liseno Procrite Patecusa Capreta Herculaneo and Atheneo or Minerâ—…vio which as Pliny relates was the residence of the Syrens and that gave denomination to the Promontory and here as Strabo records Ulysses consecrated a Temple to Minerva for his deliverance from the crafty wiles of the Syrens For the most part 40 galleys lye in this Port besides other vessels to discover and do other service which Port is very large and as well as is possible defended against fortune with a large bank which for the space of 500. foot runs from the shore into the Sea in form of a bended arm and the whole length and bredth made of huge pieces of squared stones There gusheth out at one end of the Mole a fountain of sweet water conveighed thither through the midst of the said Bank this fountain hath much marble under it wherein the water is received the name is drawn from a Latin word the foundations are known to have been layed by Charls the second the French King above two hundred and eighty yeers ago which Alfonsus the first a Spaniard amplified with all magnificence afterwards as well as many other publique edifices within the City this fancy also Charls the 5th Emperor and Philip his Son took up in augmenting fortifying and furnishing the same for its commodity and ornament without respect to the expence Hither the mariners in little boats row persons to see the Galleys and the life of the slaves with their arts who from the want of bread learn to speak with the words of the Poet Perseus Venter Magister c. and sitting exercise themselves together with the munition and naval preparations for war here in a little time may be learnt the mariners art with their manner of living wherewith they keep their bodies in health and the offices and charges of the Presidents of the Vessels thence you go to see the denoted stables of the King where are kept and managed whole heards of beautifull and valuable horses where some Princes are always to be found beholding with attention and delight their swift course their wheelings and turnings made in as little room and with as much art as is possible their curvets and leaps of all four performed excellently at the nod of the switch of the Rider Thence you go to the Castle Santermo on the top of the near mountain very strong looking on and defending the City the shore Port and Islands in the Sea King Robert Son of Charls the second built it 250 yeers agoe adding to it such strength and defences as render it little lesse than inexpugnable the Emperor Charls the first and Philip his Son some years since enlarged the Guasto conjoyning it with the City and increasing the structures in the inward space with new walls and new forts On the top of the Hill you meet a most fair and rich Temple with a stately Monastery possessed by the Carthusians In which Monastery if you can obtain so much favour from the Monks who lovingly receive forraigners and shew their Monasterie you will meet an ample satisfaction in the view of the Monks chamber in a corner of the Monastery where you have as great delight as Italy affords for on the right hand is presented to your view the prospect of the Sea as large as the eye can reach the Islands Enarea Caprea and Prochite and opposite the manured places of Pausilipo the gulf of Surrenio the streight of Surrentano some Cities and many Burroughs On the left hand the Field Holana very large and the mountain Vesuvius as high then looking downwards you behold Naples which whither to be styled the miracle of art or nature is disputable since there you may see have and enjoy what ever is esteemed pleasing or sweet In the voyage see the garden of Gacia di Toleda kept in as good order as any t was made with vast expence and with as many curses being with the sweat and blood of enforced galley slaves reduced to that perfection it now retains in the time that his Father Pietro di Toledo continued Lord of the City and Kingdom under the benevolent aspect of the Emperour Charles the 5th Nor is it a mean pleasure to view the places surrounding the City worth the seeing especially in a good season the which are in that fertile plain near the Sea in pleasant scites very pompous and adorned by the nobles with magnificent Edifices and fair gardens well kept and enriched which have such plenty of Fountains grottoes made by art and Fishponds adorned with Curral mother of Perle and Fish shels of all sorts as the beauty is almost impossible to be ghesâ—…ed at as also of Porticues walks vaults covered with Leaves and Flowers of divers sorts Roses pomegranates collumnes and Lodges beautifyed with pictures statues and marbles of antiquity and among those Lodges those of the Marques di vico and the other Princes placed on the strond near the Vesuvius are very famous as also the Villa of Bernardino Martizano adorned with many reliques of of antiquity Poggio Reale a vast Palace built heretofore by Ferdinand King of Arragonia whither the King used to retreat when he desired to repose himself and to recreate his minde from the fortunes of the Sea in a blith and secure port This Palace is contrived in this manner four square Towers upon four corners are bound together by great Porticues so that the Palace hath two bredths in a length each Tower hath fair and pleasant Chambers aboue and below and you passe from one to the other by the means of those open galleries the Court in the midst is ascended by certain little steps and therein a fountain and clear fishpond and on all sides by the nod of the Master from the pavements rise sprouts of water by meanes of infinite subtile Chanels there placed
Pollux and Helena ravished by Paris of the other Castor and Clytemnestra Thence the hill a pleasant descent is reduced into four long Piazzaes and so levelled contains before the front of the palace four great and spatious gardens into each of which at each end and in the middle three pair of stone stairs artificially composed conduct by a facile descent whose sides are bathed by divers purling streams running towards their Lakes Every garden is divided in its orders hath places to sit in and fair collumnes erected in divers parts so that such as go walking from one part to another through places and passages covered over with leaves and vines and other verts alwaies flourishing enjoy a most beautifull prospect and no less sweet odours from the circumjacent flowers which make a pompous shew In the appartments growes fresh grasse which with the flowers by their variety wonderfully entertain the eye and fancy of whoever regard them nor can any satiate himself in the view of those infinite and wonderfull statues pillars Fountains and other objects there presenting themselves The passage from the Piazza before the Palace on the right hand leads through divers walks trees and small groves wherein are placed several Fountains as that of Tothyde that of AEsculapius that of Nigga that of Aretusa and Pandora and that of Pomona and Flora. In the descent into the first garden shews it self the Colossus of Pegasus in Pamosso a horse feigned to have wings under whose shadow a fair Fountain casteth up her waters very high and in the wood rocks is a Cavern and near them a statue of Venus Bacchus near which is a Lake into which some rivolets run among rocks with a murmuring noise between two Colossus one of the Sibilla Tiburtina the other of Melicerta the son of Athamas and Ino whom the Gentiles did honour for one of the Gods of the Sea Below which lye the statues of the Rivers Aniene and Herculano conjoined to certain vessels out of which some waters run into the Lake as also out of the Urns round which stand ten Nymphs In the midst are two Grotts the one of the Sibilla Tiburtina the other of Diana the Goddesse of the woods both which are adorned with fountains statues Curral mother of Pearl and a pavement exactly wrought with mosaick work On the other side of the garden you have a fair prospect of Rome in a semicircle round which appear her most memorable Fabricks and in the midst sits Rome in the habit of a warlike Goddesse between her seaven hills this statue is of marble bigger then a man in shape of a Virgin in a short girt coat with naked hands military buskins and a sword hanging in a belt from the right shoulder Her head is covered with a murrion in her right hand she holds a spear in the left a shield she sits as aforesaid in the midst of her wonders in the City and on every side appear her sacred Fabricks as the Pantheon the Capitolian Temples the Circs the Theatres the Amphitheatres the Collumnes the Obelisks the Mauseoli the Arches Triumphant the Pyramides the Acqueducts the Baths the River Tyber with the wolf and Twin Brothers pouring water into the City out of an urn in the midst of which running waters riseth an Island cut in the shape of a ship which bears on the main yard an Obelisk and the ship seems to be laden with these four Temples the Temple of AEsculapius in the poope and those of Jupiter Berecinta and Faustus it beares in the prow Thence descending to the lower garden you find on the left hand in a semy circle called the great a green grove placed between certain Rocks amid which run fountains this may be called the residence for birds for on the arms of the trees you see many images of little birds singing more sweetly then the natural who clap their wings as if alive receiving their motion from the aire and the waters with miraculous artifice by means of certain little reeds hid in the armes of the trees sometimes to please the spectators they will make a screech owle to appear and then on a suddain as if the birds were sensible of fear they are all silent but that again withdrawn in an instant they all begin their notes and sing most melodiously In the middle of this garden is a round standing water Lake and in it a capacious vessel and a fountain named from the Dragons which vomit out of their throats great store of waters having trumpets in their hands which also emit plentifull waters with a horrid noise imitating the sound of the trumpet On the right hand lies the Grotto of Nature adorned with many statues and in it an Organ with fair pipes the which perform an harmonious consort of various and artificial musick by the motion of the waters The next garden is not only beautifyed by the fair fountains but by the quantity of Swans and fish preserved in their several stations separated with rare artifice In the three greater fountains are certain Beacons called Sudanti and other boundaries round them which cast water very high in such quantities that in their fall they seem natural showers refreshing the air and cooling the earth making noise of waters in their fall as if the winds were high sprinkling and washing at a good distance In the midst of these conserves you see the effigies of the great Father Oceanus placed in a semicircle like a Theatre and in the middle thereof a marble chariot like that of the Venus Marina drawn by foure Sea horses on which sits a great Neptune seeming to threaten with his Trident. Lastly descending into the last garden near the rock you find in one part a Fountain of Triton and on the other a Fountain of Venus Clonina and in the rest of the level besides the Pescheries four Labyrinths difficult enough for any one to get out of that 's once in placed one by another in foure compartments amidst forreign plants The entrance and outlet of these gardens are embellisht with great Fabricks built of Tiburtine stone with great expence Thus much concerning the Villa of Tivoli of Cardinal Hippolito E stense The noble sepulchre of Cardinal Hippolito da Este in the Church will recompence your pains in the sight of it being composed with marble of various colours on it stands a great white marble statue of the said Cardinal of great cost and fair appearance The Castle also affords many worthy objects but what is more considerable is the precipitous descent of the River which falls with such noise and fury from high cliffs of mountains that for the most part its vapours render the air foggie and many times at a distance there seem to hang celestial rainbowes cloudes being at most times over it This River infamed by the writings of the antient takes its rise at the mountain of the Trebani and runs into three noble Lakes which give name to the adjacent castle called
Vicentini the Opitergini Concordiesi Altinati and several other People who to fly the Fury of Attila King of the Hunnes recovered this Place gives no small Imbellishment to this View Between the said Moorish Grounds now the Streets and the Sea by Dame Nature is raised a Fence or Bank to defend the City the small Islands against the furious Waves of the Sea with which 't is invironed Which Fence is Thirty five Miles long and bends in the shape of a Bow opening it self in five several Places for each of which is a Gate as well to permit Barkes to enter in at them as to maintain the said Channels full of Water The profound Havens of Chioza and Malamocco with the Forts built at the Mouth of the said Havens to keep any Armado or Fleet at a distance And lastly the beholding the Mountaines of Carnia and of Histria and on the Right Hand the Apenine Hills with Lumbardy together with the Famous Hills called Euganei with the mouthes of the Rivers Adice and Poe and behind them the Alpes of Baviera and of the Gerisons alwaies covered with Snow gives no small satisfaction nor beauty to his Prospect And now we come to the Famous Piazza or broad place of S. Mark whose platform resembles a Carpenters square at the one end whereof stands the Admirable Church of St. Mark and at the other That of St. Geminian wrought with excellent Stones and round the said Place are built fair and sumptuous Houses all of Marble Stone under which are large open Galleries wherein are Shops for several Artificors In this place daily appear an infinite number of Persons of all Qualities and Countries in their several Habits as well for Newes and Discourses as for Traffick and Merchandize At the upper end of the said Place upon the Channel called La Giâ—…deca are two Pillars admired for their Heigth and Bigness which were transported heretofore from Constantinople upon the one whereof stands a Winged Lyon the Republick Armes in token of St. Marke their Protector with this Motto Pax tibi Marce Evangelistâ—…mens and upon the other is set the Statue of St. Theodore between which Justice is done upon Traitorous Persons These were brought from Greece to Venice in the time of Sebastian Ciani the Duke upon certain Vessels of burden together with another of equal Greatness the which overcomming the Power and Industry of the Workmen labouring to lay it on the Earth it fell into the Water where at this time t is to be seen in the Deep These vast Columns were reared by an Engineer of Lombardy named Nicolo Berreterro by the strength of great Ropes wet with water retiring by little and little who asked no other reward for this his worke but that it might be Lawful for Dice-Players to play there when they pleased without any penalty This Piazza is not intirely one alone but fower united together Opposite to the Church are reared three Standards upon three high pieces of Timber which are fastened by Lead cast into the boared holes they are wrought with figures to denote the liberty of this City and have Brass Pedestalls On the right side of the Church stands the Clock house adorned with the Celestial Signs gilt thereon with the Sun and Moons monethly ingress into them most exactly wrought and painted Neer the Steeple is a sumptuous Palace built in this Age after the Ionick and Dorick fashion which reaches even to the Church of Sain Geminian which for the excellency of the Marble Statues Casements Cornishes Frets and other ornaments together with the most incomparable Architecture gives not place to any palace of Italy Next is the Zecca or Mint-house built all of flint Stone and Iron Barrs without any manner of Timber Annexed thereunto Stands the Library which had its Original from Petrarca and was afterwards aggrandized by the Cardinals Niceno Alexandro and Grimano Lastly this Piazza is rendred so Proud and marvellous by the Uniformity of Building and other Imbellishments that I cannot say all Europe affords its like The Island Muran must next be visited by taking Gondola or Boat which for its Furnaces of Glass is much admired through the World This Island is distant from Venice about a Mile and was begun to be inhabited by the Altinati and Opitergini for fear of the Hunnes At present 't is very comely and resembling Venice as well in the structures as in the Quantity of Churches but much more pleasant and delightful in respect most of the Houses have open and spacious Gardens set with all sorts of fruitful Trees Among others is the Church of Saint Peter with a Monastery belonging to the preaching Fryers well built wherein is a famous Library full of good Books In this Place they make all sorts of Vessels of Glass called Crystal Glass whose variety Workmanship surpass all others of the same materials of the whole world And the Artizans except in excellency of the materials every day find out new Inventions to make them appear more desirable with works divers from one another I will not speak of the variety of colours which they give thereunto because 't is so marvellous that I imagine it worthy all Peoples sight They counterfet excellently several things of Agate Calcidonian Emerald and Hyacinths with other pretty Toyes so excellently that I believe were Pliny to be revived and should behold them he would admiring them much more praise these mens workmanship and these artificial things than he does the vessels of Earth made and burned by the People of Aretini or of any other Nation Opposite to the Piazza of Saint Mark and about half a mile distaâ—…t is seen the Church of Saint George the Greater a stately structure of Marble In which is beheld most curious Marble both in the Pavements and in the Statues with rich workmanship of Silver and most sumptuous Sepulchres of Princes The Fryers of Saint Benedict have here a noble Monastery wherein are long open Galleries spacious Courts ample eating-Rooms and sleeping-Chambers as also most pleasant Gardens with a worthy Library In Venice are seventeen Rich Hospitals with a great number of wealthy Churches adorned with the exactest marble Stone consisting of sixty seven Parish-Churches fifty fower Convents of Fryers twenty six Monasteries of Nunns eighteen Chapels six Schools kept within the Principal Fryeries or Monasteries In all which Churches are fifty bodies of Saints one hundred forty and three Organs many Statues made at the cost of the Republick in remembrance of illustrious Persons which have valiantly fought for her or done some other signal piece of service that is to say 165 of Marble and 23 of Brass among which most worthily presents it self That proud Statue on Horseback wrought with Gold of Bartolomeo Coglione the most famous Captain-General of the Venetian Army dedicated to him by this Republiek before the Church of Saint John and Paul in testimony of his Fidelity and Valour Moreover there are fifty six
Tribunals and ten Gates of Brass The Store-House of the Germans which is five hundred and 12 foot in circumference whose Front outwards hath many excellent Figures and inwards two Galleries which go quite round the one above the other wherein are two hundred Lodging Chambers There stand also up and down this City besides what are above mentioned infinite more Statues Pictures and glorious Tombes At all seasons it abounds plentifully with fruits and herbs of all sorts and two hundred several sorts of Fish furthermore there are four-hundred and fifty bridges of Stone fourscore thousand Gondaloes or Boats with twice as many Gondaloers or Watermen with a vast number of Chanels among the which the Principal is called the Grand Canale or Chanel one hundred and thirty paces in length and forty in bredth over which is built that most artificial Bridge called the Rioalto being one Arch which conjoynes both the Banks to be accounted for its heighth length and bredth amongst the most glorious fabricks of Europe whereon are erected twenty four shops covered all alike with lead that is to say twelve of a side with magnificent Balustrades behind They ascend this Brid Bridge by three degrees of steps that in the midst consists of sixty six Steps and thoseof each side of one hundred forty five to these rarities may be added the infinite concourse of People And to the end we may remove that erroneous opinion that this City was built by Fishermen let us observe what Cassiodoro who was Counsellor and Secretary of Theodorick King of the Gothes speaks thereof Vos saith he Qui numerosa navigia in ejus confinio possidetis Venetia plenae nobilibus c. which happening in the four hundred ninty and fifth year of our Salvation and from the building thereof between 80. and 90. years gives a fair presumption that the Venetians could not acquire so great reputation nor less possess so many Vessels on the Sea had they not been somewhat rich and noble too sometime before Your next visit must be to the Arsenal or Magazine of War of this City seated on the one side of it towards the two Castles and Palace of the Patriark which are compassed about with high Walls and with the Sea This Arsenal affords but one entrance by one only Gate and by one only Chanel where thorow are guided in all the shipping and 't is about the quantity of two miles in circuit Herein generally they make all their works and engines of War but most particularly their Charge is to prepare here these 4. Materials for that Service Timber Iron Brass and Hemp. Of which their charge of Timber-work they are so provident that besides what at first shewes itself to the view there is under the water a good quantity of Gallies great and small Gallefoists Pinnaces Brigantines Masts Main-yards Oars and Rudders for their Sea vessels And for the Iron work Bullets of all sizes Nayls Chains Anchors with divers Plates of Iron as likewise for Brass all sorts of Ordnance and of all proportions And lastly of their Hempen works all sorts of Shrouds Sails and Cables To which several works continually attend a vast number of Workmen and excellent Handicraftsmen who being as it were born in that Place and from thence obteining their livelihood Neither delight in any other Place nor do no other thing but what there by their several Callings they are directed unto Therein are erected most ample Arches wherein their several Vessels are kept dry and built some fully finished some building and others repairing The next Curiosity is their spatious Halls full of Arms for defence in Maritine service as great Celades Cariages and Breasts and no less provided of Offensive Weapons as Pistols Daggers Bramble Sithes Partisans Javelins Two Handed Swords Cross-bows and Long-bows Others of those Halls are filled with Artillery as small and great Muskets Falcons whole Cannon Demicannon and Quarter Cannon Sacres and Culverins There are some pieces of A tillery which have from Three Barrels to Seaven which are called if I err not the Organs Engines made more for a certain Greatnesse and Magnificence than for use and service in War To say no more the whole is kept and governed with that order and neatness that it doth not onely delight the Beholder but would satisfie the most insatiable Appetite of gazers and fill them with a certain spritely and Martial Ardour In fine the Common wealth hath in this place all sorts of Ammunition of Warr as well for Land as Sea-service All Engines for offence all charges for defence and lastly all things whatsoever made ready either to set in order an Armado for Sea service or an Army for Land-service which may be needful And although from this place which may properly be called the Work-house and Store-house of War they every Day fetch Arms and Ammunition as well for their force upon the firm Land as upon the Sea Yet nevertheless by the daily labours of the Artizans 't is so restored that it seems to no more diminish than the Sea does by the many Rivers that issue out of it Furthermore here is kept the stately Galley called the Bocentoro adorned greatly with Gold and rich carvings which never goes forth but upon solemn Feast Dayes and particularly upon the Day of the Ascension of our Saviour on which Day the Prince in great state with a Train of the principal Senatours enter herein and being thence rowed to the Port of the two Castles near the Adriatick Sea there after certain Ceremonies the Duke solemnly marries the Sea and casts therein a Gold Ring in real assurance of this Republicks Dominion thereof This Republick allow the Greck Church a full liberty in Venice who use as much ceremony in their Religion as the Church of Rome but less superstition Nor have the Jewes mean privileges for provided they alwais wear a red hat to denote the Blood they wisht and drew upon their own heads when they crucified our Saviour and without which t is Lawfull for any one to kill them they have as great immunities in all things as the Naturals and more power than the Common sort here also they have a Synagogue for every Nation whereof they have nine in their Guetta or Court which is assigned them for their habitation Their concourse hither is from their immunities grown innumerable which I suppose may give as great occasion as any other for this Cities vast Traffique whereof she is Mistress in these parts as also for the rise and fall of the Exchange at the pleasure of her Merchants in their Bank are managed vast sumes of money and infinite exchanges dayly made and yet a very small sum of money told out or payed through the yeer such is the Reputation of those eminent Senators who are there the Bankers where most of the Merchants accounts are kept for a small matter the Ducket de Banco whereby they compute their greatest sums and govern their exchanges is but an
near which stands a Palace in manner of a Fortress built with those very Large squared wrought Stones which were brought from the other ruinated Palaces and Forts by Eccellino the Tyrant with a Fort and most fayr Tower in the yeer 1250 And is now possessed by the Count Giacomo Zabarella as is above said The seventh wonderfull Object of Padoua is il Prato della valle a Meadow so ample that t would alone contain a great City It was antiently called Campo Marzo the field of Mars from the Martial exercises there used and in this place were many Saints beheaded by the Pagans to such a number that they are wont to say that part which is compassed by Water was emplastered with the blood of those Martyrs Here every first Saturday of the Moneth is held a free Fayr or Market of all sorts of Cattel and other Creatures and at the Feast of Saint Antonio is a famous Fayr there which although it happens in the hottest Weather being there kept for fifteen days in the midest of June and that there are then many thousands of Creatures yet there is never seen a Fly to molest them If to these might be added an eighth Wonder we would name the Vineyard or Garden of the Knight Bonifacio Papa fava situate in the Street called Vanzo where besides a most fair and adorned Palace you beholds many statues of excellent workmanship and infinite numbers of Cittron and Orange Trees which forme lovely walks to the Passengers for beautifying whereof of those Trees are framed Arches and Prospects to delight the eye to whose confines is conjoyned a full stream of water brought from the main River by a curious Aqueduct which being confined to one Gate under the Wall gives at its utterance a sweet murmur and with its clear gurgling on every side washes the Foot of the Palace And the flowry bankes within which the said Rivolet is contained renders the Palace as it were in an Island of so specious delights and pleasant Savours that what is added by Art to that of Nature may well cause it to be termed the eighth wonder Hither flock for their Pastime the Ladies and Gallants of Padoua inviteing with them also the Foreiners with their Musick and other Pastimes where in the hottest Weather the shade of the Trees the Ampleness of the Walks the pleasantness of the Waters and the beauty of the site add to their other joys and delights a fresh Ayr. And although these beauties shew themselves in perfection yet that magnanimous Cavalier never ceases to illustrate it to his no small costs with greater delights and by this and his other Gallantries shewes himself to be born of that Family which for its Greatness and Dominion was no less formidable in Italy than renowned in Europe At this present resides here this Noble Person with his Brother Scipio Papafava Knight of the great Cross of the Order of Hierusalem Prior of Messina and the most worthy Primate of the whole Kingdome of Sicilia together with the virtuous Roberto Son of the above named Cavalier Bonifacio young in yeers but his conditions aâ—…d practices may challenge the ripest Age who is the Comendatory Abbot of Sebinico being Doctor of Philosophy of Divinity of the Laws a true Splendor to his Country and Family being conversant in the Greek Latine and Hebrew Tongues and well known in the Mathematicks as was testified by the singular experiments of his Ingenuity some Moneths since There flourishes likewise of this Noble Family at this time a numerous company of Cavaliers and great Subjects who degrade not from their most famous and Antient Progenitors of whom to speak but little will diminish from their Fame and much is not opportune in this place for their Ordinary dwelling these Signors have a Palace in the Street San Francesco Maggiore where they have Coppies of exquisite Books in all the Professions left them by Monsignor Ubertino Papafava Bishop of Adria Brother of Bonifacio besides many antient Manuscripts and Authors not yet printed which relate the Histories of this Family also the old coyning Press of the Carraresian Princes with other pretious monuments of this House preserved in the Chamber of Rowles of the said Palace which may be termed the most large and worth seeing of this City And now we come to the Spiritual wonders and Churches of Padoua whereof the first is the Domo or Cathedral Church situate near in the midst of the City The Padouans were converted to the Christian Faith by the predication of Saint Prosdocimo their first Bishopp authorized by Saint Peter who among others baptized Vitaliono the Chief Man in this City who therefore built the Church of Saint Soffia Henry the fourth Emperor enriched this Cathedral giving to it twenty seaven rich Canonicats of so good a revenew that they may be styled so many Bishops among which are four dignities that is to say Arch priest Arch. Deacon The Person that hath charge of the wax c. And the Deacon there are twelve under Canons six Custodi or Rectors and six Mansonary or Houskeepers and more than 60 other Persons and Clerks belonging to the Chapel besides the Masters of Grammar and Musick with many excellent Singers so that this Clergy exceeds a hundred Persons and their Revenew above a hundred thousand Duckats by the yeer which makes it the most noble and Rich of Italy and therefore t is that the Bishop of Padoua is styled a little Pope and his Canons with some reason the Cardinals of Lombardy for that their Chapter is alwaies filled with the Nobility of Venice Padoua and other Cities whereof so many have ascended to the Miter and Hatt that t is worthily called to this day the Seminary of Cardinals and great Prelates In this Church not elsewhere as is pretended lyes enterred the Wife of Henry the fourth whose name was Berta as is proved by this antique Inscription Praesulis Cleri praesenti praedia phano Donavit Regina jacens hoc marmore Berta Henrici â—…egis Patavi celeberrima quarti Conjunx tam grandi dono memoranda per aevum Under the Chorus within a rich Monument of Marble lies the Body of Saint Daniel one of the four Tutelars Two great Cardinals repose in this Church who were both Arch priests of the same that is to say Pileo de Pratta and Francesco Zabarella with other eminent Persons Pileo Conti di Pratta a Citizen of Padona and of Furlan was for his vertue created Bishop of Padoua and afterwards Cardinal of Saint Prassede by Pope Gregory the 11th and Apostolick Legate But in the yeer 1378. the Schism being risen between Urban the sixth his successor and Clement the Antipope he was deposed by Urban after whose death Bonifacio the ninth suceeding he was again created Cardinal with the Title of the Tusculan Bishop and Apostolick Legate and finally he dyed at Padoua and was buried in this Church in a sublime and most noble Arch with this memorial Pileus
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
concur in the rendring it a rich City t is full of regard and filled with Merchandize and a haughty self-conceited sort of men but better illustrated by their gratious and loving Women who flourish are free and most pompous in their array It is adorned with sumptuous and magnificent Fabricks among which the most conspicuous are the publick Palace the Piazza and the Domo with its Tower wherein is a large Bell of fair and open Architecture with two regardfull Chapels one dedicated to the blessed Virgin all over garnished with excellent pictures the other to Saint Mark no less beautified with gilt Images Two other not able things this Church owns to wit that Wooden crucifix which in Anno 144â—… was cast into the Fire by a certain man called Giovanni Alchini of the faction of Gibellina Bergamesca which would not burn but is still preserved with the one side a little singed in a particular Chapel with great Veneration the other is a Key of San Bellino which hath the foretold miraculous curing virtue of such as are bit by madd Doggs In the same Church are conserved certain trophies of Banners and a Lanthern of a Gally taken together with the Gally in a Naval fight against the Turks by a Preacher of the most noble Family of Zurly during the fight being set at the head of the Gally Besides the above named Fabricks and things worth seeing in this City two Hospitals are valuable One for the infirm the other for the decrepit and outcasts the sacred Mount of Piety is well endowed and governed with great providence by the publick to supply the necessities of the City and Country There is also a noble Academy for Students who under the name of Sospinti employ themselves in good exercises with an impulse of generous emulation Distant a quarter of a mile from the City stands towards the Castle a magnificent Temple of great devotion named Santa Maria della Croce of an admirable Structure and adorned with many rare Pictures To this noble and fair City though Little as little best corresponds with little belongs a small but most fertil Territory washed all over with current and Christalline waters which affords the City good Fish as Lobsters Trouts Gudgeons and Eels and the Country an enriching of their soyl by overflowings whereby it yeelds great plenty of Corn and Grass the first whereof they have for their own use and other Cities and with the second they make incomparable cheese But that wherewith it most abounds is Flax which after made into the finest Drapery is spent all over Italy In its territories though small are contained fifty four Villages and Towns the chief whereof are Monte dine Stanengo Camisano Tetrore Vaiano Bagnelo Madegnano being all most populous The Original of this City was taken from its situation for being invironed then with the three Rivers Ada Oglio and Serio it was very strong and that strength as is believed invited many noble men of the neighbouring Cities in the time of the Wars of Albonio King of the Longobards to retire themselves thither and from Cremete one of the chief of those Nobles it took its name For Forty yeers it maintained it self in liberty but then she with the other Cities of Italy suffered shipwrack being by the Longobards Frederick Barbarossa and others many times taken burnt sacked and destroyed and subjugated sometimes to the Emperors sometimes to the French and sometimes to the Germans But now t is governed by the most Serene Republick of Venice under whom it hath the privilege to keep every yeer a Fair beginning at the end of September being frequented with innumerable concourse of People divers Merchandizes and Commodities and great store of Cattle of all sorts It ever was the Mother of illustrious persons as well learned in all the sciences as famous Captains eminent Engineers Generals of Armies writers of Histories as well Moral as Divine Prelates of the greatest Negotiations and Cardinals some whereof have possessed the Pontificial Chayr MILAN the great MIlan was an antient and illustrious City and for a long time through its beauty remained an imperial Seat Behind its shoulders rise those Mountains which separate Italy Before it is a long and spatious Plain which extending it self above 200. miles reacheth the Church lands between Rimio and Pesaro on the one side and Istria and Osia on the other side Whereof Polibius writes thus There is a plain between the Alps and the Apennines of a triangular Forn wherein are pleasant Fields above all the Fields not only of Italy but all Europe Of which Triangle the Apennines form one side the Alps another and the Adriatick Sea or Gulf of Venice as it were the basis to the other two makes up the third side And although Milan was heretofore a small Town it was nevertheless much aggrandized and amplified by Belovese King of the Galls having environed it with a Wall 24. foot broad and 64. feet high which compassed in all the Streets and round of the City in which Wall were raised 130. Bulwarks and Towers of immense bigness and heighth which had six principal Gates This was effected 270 yeers before Brenta King of the Senoni fell down into Italy who threw down and levelled it with the Foundations But the Roman Senate having restored it to its first form and beauty and being increased in Riches and People Attila King of the Hunns descending into Italy ruined it once more Afterwards t was again rebuilt by the Arch-Bishop Eusebius rearing the Wall again and re-edifying the ruinated Building And one hundred yeers after that is in Anno Salutis 577. the Goths exercised so great cruelty towards the Milanesi that after they had cast down the Walls and Edifices they in one day slew thirty thousand Citizens This City was likewise ill treated by Erimberto Brother of the King of France and by Federick Barbarossa the Emperor who with intendment of its perpetual desolation ploughed sowed it w th salt but being afterwards reconciled to the Citizens he restored it to its former beauty encompassing it round with a wall wherein were set out six principal Gates At which time viz. in the 1177. year the circnit of it was six miles without the suburbs but now there is a Wall drawn round which comprehends therein the Suburbs also which was done by Gonzaga Lieutenant of the Emperor Charls the 5th and is in circumference ten miles having very deep Fosses or Ditches and ten Gates This City before the coming of Belloveso as is aforesaid was but a Town called Subria built by the Tuscans then Belloveso coming from Gallia beat out the Tuscans aggrandized and much beautified the Town As to the name Mediolano as formerly called diverse are the opinions some say t was so called for that it was seated between two Rivers the Adda and the Tesino Others say that name was imposed on it by Belloveso by the command of the Gods giving him to understand that he should
build a City where he should find a Farrowing Sow half black and half white with Wool between her shoulders Whence finding such a Sow in that place and esteeming it a good augure and praesage he built it naming it Mediolana as much as to say Meza Lana or half Wool in remembrance of which thing we find in a Marble over the Gate of the Palace of Merchants the shape and figure of the said Scrofa or Farrowing Sow The Galls kept the Dominion of this City a long time under Belloveso and his Successors till they were beaten out by the Romans who subjected it for a great while to them under whom it augmented in riches and People chiefly under the Emperors as well Greek as Latine some whereof much delighted to reside there invited thereto by the beauty of the place and the comodiousness of managing the Wars against the French and Germans as necessity required It so much humoured Trajan the Emperor that he there built that proud Palace which to this day retains his memory Adrian Massiminian Hercules Filippo a Christian Emperor Constantine Constanzo Theodosio with many other Emperors dwelt there left most stately Edifices and caused four Wi-draughts or Common shores to be dugg which continue to this day Afterwards it became subject to the Goths and to the Longobards who being driven out by Charls the great it came under the power of the Emperors In which time Contado Suevio being Emperor it began to take boldness and aspire to Liberty when Justice was administred by the Captains and other Officers elected by the People uniting with them the Primate or Arch-Bishop of the City by the Peoples election In which time great discord arising between the Nobility and Plebeians and thereby governing themselves very ill they to prevent those disorders put themselves under the power of those of Torre afterwards to the Visconti who a great space kept the Dominion whom the Sforzeschi succeeded them the French and last of all the house of Austria obtained it and keep it to this day in good peace and tranquillity Milan lies under the sixth Climate or Degree which affords it a great benignity of the skies yet the Ayr is somewhat thick Chanels of water environ both the City and Suburbs upon which by Barks they conveigh great abundance of goods and provisions of all sorts In truth t is a wonderfull thing to behold the great plenty of all things for the life or necessity of Man which are there and t is held for certain that in no other part of Europe there is so great provision for the Belly nor at less price than is here whence the Proverb is taken Solo in Milano si mangia For whereas in other Cities one finds not above three Piazzaes at most where are kept sueh publick Markets in Milan there are a hundred whereof 21. are principal which every fourth day of the week are vastly laden with all sorts of Provisions For wines they chiefly have Vernaccie of Montfâ—…rrat and the Wines of Brianza so much spoken of Moreover for that it is the Centre of Lombardi hither they transport infinite quantities of Merchandize from Germany France Spain and Geneva T is seated in a wide Plain having about it green hills delightfull Meadows navigable Rivers and Lakes which furnish them with delicate Fish In summ this Country affords in most plentifull measure whatsoever can be desired T is so thronged with Artizans of all sorts that the vulgar proverb goes Chi volesse rassettare Italia rovinarebbe Milano But the chief of them are Gold-Smiths Armourers Gun-makers and Weavers who here exceed in these particulars and in works of Christal either Venice or any other part of Italy the Nunns work here likewise most exact and neat curiosities in straw works It abounds likewise with most magnificent and Stately Palaces among which the stupendious Palace of Tomaso Marini built with so vast expence and Artifice that whoever beholds it stands amazed shines like the Moon among the Starrs The Castle of Porta Zobbia named among the chief of Europe both for its site greatness beauty and its plenty of Artiglery Arms and Ammunition is so impregnable that hitherto t was never taken by force but through failer of provisions and Famine it hath been yeelded up This Fort may be compared to an indifferent City for within it are streets Piazzaes Palaces Shops for Gold-Smiths and all other Trades whatsoever together with all sorts of Victuals and other provision in time of War as well as Peace Immense Bastions with three large profound Dykes environ it through which run great Chanels of Water with a most vast Wall and spatious Ramparts under which they walk by a close way made to that purpose Upon the Battlements and through the Porteholes up and down are drawn out great Mouths of Cannon and other pieces of Artiglery set upon Iron Carriages some whereof shoot Bullets of 800. pound weight with such force that no obstacle can withstand them It hath one place to lay up and dispose the Arms in a Capacious Arcenal replenisht with infinite Arms of all sorts both for Offence and Defence The Tower in the midst of it is of a square form and is in circuit not reckoning the Towers which one may call little Forts 200. paces The whole Castle or Fort is 1600. paces in circum ference besides the Trenches In fine t is accounted by all Ingineers the fairest and strongest fortification of Europe They unwillingly admit any Stranger to see the out-works much less the interiour parts It abounds with rare and excellent Pictures among others there is one upon the Front of a Palace near the Fort wherein are painted the Acts of the Romaus by the hand of Trofo da Monza so divinely that t is impossible to add to it The Images are done so exact to the life and so natural that all the beholders rest astonisht and expect speech from those inanimate but seeming breathing and moving Pictures To say no more Art here hath overcome Nature Towards the Gate Beatrice is the Front of another Palace of the Lituadi painted so rarely well by the hand of 〈◊〉 that it almost fascinates the eyes of the Aspicients And at the Gate â—…osa stands an admirable Statue made to the middle at the Publick cost in remembrance of a Strumpet who principally caused Milan to gain its Liberty Milan from the death of Belloveso continued ever head of the adjacent Countrey which made the antient Emperors to send thither a Lieutenant with title of Count of Italy who also was Captain General of the Empire and remained there with Consular authority and Captain of their Armies that he might bridle the Fury and shut up the passage from the Inroads into Italy of the Ultramontaneous People Such is the wholsomness of the Ayr the Beauty of the Country and Copiousness of sustenance that it hath tempted many Princes desirous to rest quiet to make this their Retreat and Asylum as also many other
of Minerva where as Polybius averrs this goddess was adored and reverenced with the greatest and most particular devotion whence many suppose this Ciry took its name for that in the antient Celtique and German tongues Magdalant signifies the Land or Country of a Virgin which opinion is likewise confimed by Andrea Alciato I. C. A veritable Author in all the sciences who in his Emblems writ this Epigram Quam Mediolanum sacram dixere puellae Terram nam vetus hoc Gallica lingua sonat Culta c Minerva fuit nunc est ubi nomine Tecla Mutato Matris Virginis ante Domum Santa Maria della Scala was founded by Regina Wife of the Visconte and enjoyned to be so called because she descended from the Family of the Scalaes of Verona It stands where was antiently the Palace of the Turriani And where the Church of Saint Dionigeis stood in old time a Dragon which then greatly afflicted the Country and destroyed many at last he was slain by Umberto Angiere who was thereupon created Viscont There are two Chapels in the Church of Saint Mark in one whereof is the most excellent Pictures of Lomazzo containing in one the Apostles Prophets Sibils and many other pourtraies In the other the fall of Simon Magus from Heaven which it represent as most horrible spectacle The Church of San Nazario contains certain proud Tombs of the illustrious Lords the Trivultii chiesly that of Giacomo of whom may be truly said He that never was quiet lies still here Near this Church they shew a red stone which they term the holy Stone wherein are cut the victories and trophies which Saint Ambrose gloriously obtained upon the Arrians in memory whereof to him was erected a Statue at the Gate Vico. The Church of S. Fedele is admirable no less for its beauty than for the Architecture of Pellegrino The Church of San Paola and San Barnabas for the Nuns is most noble where was first founded the Order of the reformed Priests of the beheaded Saint John They have one rare cross cut by Bramantino The Church of Santa Rosa is for the preaching Fryers who have the keeping of the holy Rosarie In the magnificent Temple of San Gottardo are excellently drawn the effigies of the Visconte where ly buried Azzone Visconte and Gio Maria the second Duke It s beautified with a stupendious Belfry and a fair Garden The Church of Saint Eustorgio the Bishop shewes a stately and sumptuous Sepulcher wherein ly the bones of San Pietro the Martyr A rich Tabernacle where is kept the head of Saint Eustorgio and the Tomb of the three Magi with this inscription Sepulchrum Trium Magorum where lay the Bodies of those Magi which were brought hither by Saint Eustorgio in Anno 330. when he came last out of the East but many yeers after this City being destroyed by Fedrick Barbarossa in Anno 1163. These Bodies were conveyed to Colonia Agrippina by Rodolphus the Arch-Bishop now they keep in that Sepulcher the Body of Eustorgio with many reliques of other Saints Martyrd there for the Faith of Christ. Here also are kept the Ashes of many noble Milanesians inter alia of Matteo Visconte first Duke of Milan and of Gio Merula a most Learned Man who was interred with geeat pomp in the time of Ludovico Sforza with this Epitaph on his Tomb. Vixi aliis inter spinas mundique procellas Nunc sospes coelo Merula vivo mihi Over the Gate of the Convent of the preaching Fryers from whom many excellent Theologians have issued is placed the Pulpit wherein Saint Petre the Martyr being preaching to the People at noon day in Midsummer obtained by his Merits and the instance of his Prayers that a Cloud hung over the Auditors in manner of an Umbrella preserving them from that intollerable heat near the said Church gusheth out the fountain of Saint Barnabas where though an unpolished place he baptized and said Mass of which water who drinks is immediatly delivered from the malignity of any Feaver The Temple of S. Lorenzo formerly dedicated to Herode was much more sumptuous than the abovenamed Churches which in the yeer 1085. being in great part burnt received great damage in the Mosaick of Gold and in the destruction of many Brass figures about the Pillars The royal Church of Saint Aquilino founded by â—…lacida Sister of Honorius the Emperor and wife to Constantine shewes on its Front fair Marble Colums and within as noble Pillars of Porphiry In the Church of Stephano was flain with many stabs the Duke Caleazzo Maria Sforzo In S. Giovanni lies the Tomb of Barnabo Visconte Prince of Milan The Church of S. Statiro and Celso is proud of the excelling Genius and Architecture of Bramante the Limner of Urbin in many works he wrought there The Front of that of Saint Mary of its excellent Statues wrought with so much art that all conclude it impossible to equal them and that of the Peace or Pace of its rare painting of the history of the blessed Virgin and her Father by the hand of Gaudentius and moreover the Virgin her self painted by Marco Uglono the Painter which stand near the Cross and lively expresseth a real sorrow In the Church of Saint Francis is a Tablet of the conception together with Saint Gio the Baptist a Child adoring our Lord so well done by the hand of Vincio that they cannot be paralleled In the Church della Passione is a stupendious piece of the celebration of the last Supper where is truly represented the amazement of the Apostles by Christofero Cibo In the Church delle Gratie founded by Germano Rusca and aggrandized by Ludovico Sforza is painted in a Tablet the Picture of our Lord crowned with Thorns by Titian the worthy of eternal memory about the Cupula are Angels formed by Gaudentius whose vestments are rarely wrought and in another place Sain Paul painted writing and contemplating Herein lies buried Beatrice the Dutches so well beloved by Ludovico her Husband that he vowed never to sit at table again at eating and lived so a yeer about One Epitaph over the Gate of the Cloysters artificially made shall be here inserted Infelix partus amissa ante vita quà m in lucem ederet infelicior quod matri moriens vitam ademi parentem consorte sua orbavi in tam adverso fato hoc solum mihi potest jucundum esse quod Divi parentes ne Ludovicus Beatrix Mediolanen Duces gennere 1497. tertio Non. Ianuarii In this Church lies Giovanni Simonetta who wrote the history of the Sforzeschi and Giulio Camillo a most Learned Man whose Epi taph placed on another door of the Cloysters followes Iulio Camillo Viro ad omnia omnium scientiarum sensa mirificam eruenda adscientias ipsam in suum ordinem aptè constituendas natura mirè facto qui apud Dominicum Saulium Idibus Maii 1544. repentino mortuus concidit Dominicns Saulius amico desideratissimo posuit Which Church is possessed by the preaching Fathers
midst the most high Tower Asinelli which represents the main Mast the Tower Garisenna the Scale and the other small Towers the Shrouds to the eye of the beholder Within it is no manner of fortification the Citizens having cast down those that were who confiding in their own valour and prudence content themselves with a single Brick-Wall which encompasses it near it runs the River Savona and through it the Reno which serves for transportation of Merchandiz from Ferrara That Bologna abounds with all things is known to all whereby they give it the stile of Fatt Its Fields are fair and large producing all sorts of Corn and Wines of the best sorts in Italy with all kinds of Fruits particularly Olives so bigg and sweet that they give not place to them of Spain it hath also Woods for Foul and Beasts of Chase and notwithstanding there be few Lakes yet t is plentisully served with fish from Comacchio and Argenta Here to maintain their Epithite of Bologna la grassa they make those famous Salsages which for their excellency are esteemed a costly dish through the World as also a Conserve of Quince and Sugar called gelo or gelly fit for the Table of a Prince They here also work with great Art Sheaths for Knives of boyled Leather and fair Harquebuses and Flacks or Bottels They have great numbers of Silk-Worms from whose labour they extract quantity of Silk whereof they make Sarcenet Velvet and other Silks in such plenty as that they not only supply all Italy therewith but England and the Low Countreys It s Territory affords many Quarries of white Stones and great store of Hemp and Flax some minerals of Allum with medicinal Fountains both hot and cold It hath but one Piazza which yet for its largeness may be said to be three conjoyned in the midst whereof stands a sumptuous marble Fountain whereon stands a Brazen Neptune made by Giovanni Bologna a Flemish Sculptor in very much excellency whence gusheth a most clear stream of Water It hath a general uniformity of building having straight and spatious Streets and on each side of them before the Houses Arches of the same Structure where the Citizens recreate themselves without fear of the scorching Sun or the dripping Rains There is one spatious Garden of the Poeti another of the Paselli Near the Church of S. Giacomo where now appear a good space of old rinesu was formerly a regal Palace of the Bentivogli while they were Lords of Bolonia whose Majesty and Magnificence is treated on by Beroaldo T is adorned with superb and spatious Edifices aswell for divine worship as private use Among others the Popes Palace over the gate whereof is the Statue of a Pope in Brass and that of the Campeg gi where in the time of Giulio Terzo the Council of the Pepoli and Malvezzi met are of such grandure that any Prince may be received there The Palace which fronts the Church San Petronio was built by the Bolonians for a prison for Enzo King of Sardegna where he lived and at the cost of the publick was royally entertained for twenty yeers till his death Furthermore the Citizens Houses are beautified with Vests and other things to the pride of any others of Italy and their Sellars so deep under ground that they apprehend no Earth-quake The Tower Asmelli so named from the founders and Garisenda so called from its pendency downwards discover the great ingenuity of the Architector It s principal Temples are that of San Pietro the seat of the Bishop where ly many Cardinals Bishops and other learned Doctors with many Reliques of Saints Pictures Sculptures and Ornaments of gold and Silver of high valew The Domo which stands on the Piazza dedicate to San Petronio Bishop and Protector of the City is so great and magnificent that few Churches are equal to it here Charls the 5th received from Pope Clement the 7th the Crown of the Empire The Church of Saint Francis is well built where Pope Alexander the 5th a Bolonian lies buried and Odoffredo and Accursio two great Lights of the Civil Law then the magnificent Monastery of San Salvidore and the noble and rich Nunnery del Corpo di Christi where lies enterred the blessed Catharine who was a Nun therein whose nails upon the hands and feet grow as if she were living The Church of San Giacomo with its Chapel built by Giovanni secundo Bentivoglio was a work only for a King wherein lies the said Bentivoglio with many of his descendants some of the Malvezzi and other illustrious persons with many Reliques of Saints guarded in a rich and stately Altar by Cardinal Poggio The Church of S. Martin where repose the bones of Beroaldo and Alexandro Achellini the Philosopher The Church of San Giovanni entombes an image of Cecilia the Virgin Martyr painted by the divine Rafael of Urban the ashes of the blessed Elena and Carlo Raino a famous Doctor of Laws four of these Churches Canons have been Bishops of Bologna The Church of Saint Stephen the Proto-Martyr is sumptuous built by S. Petronio where among other Reliques they shew the Ashes of S. Vitale Agricola Petronio The Church of Saint Benedict encloseth is the Body of San Proculo the Martyr and the Cel wherein Gratian composed his Decretals In the Church of Saint Domenick in whose Quyer is rarely effigiated the old and new Testaments here lies Enzo King of Sardegna in a proud Tombe and many famous Doctors of Civil Laws and Physick as also Tadeo and Giacomo Pepoli who some time were â—…ords of Bolonia at the high Altar may be seen many Reliques of Saints of which are the body of San Domenick on whose Tomb are layed more than 300. Figures of Gold and Silver and one of the Thorns of the Crown of our Saviour with the Bible writ ten by the hand of Esdras in the Hebrew Tongue in white parchment here reposes also the Body of San Domenick the Patriark and institutor of that Order with many other stately Tombs Candlesticks Lamps Cenfers and other Ornaments This Church hath a noble Convent with many Cloysters and Dormitories for the Fryers aud a large Refectory excellently painted and one of the largest Cellars of Italy therein is likewise a Cemetory wherein to bury the Fryers And an excellent Library scarce any equal none better to be found kept and encreased dayly by the Fathers with great diligence and here sits the Inquisition In this Convent dwell one hundred and fifty Religious and here they keep the publique Studies of the Sciences which hath occasioned principally that five Popes many Cardinals Bishops and holy Fathers have proceeded hence among which were San Pietro the Martyr San Ramundo Egidir Foscararni Bishop of Modena who behaved himself prudently and learnedly at the Council of Trent The first Bishop of Bologna was SanZama who in the 270th yeer after Christ first preached the Faith here Dionisius being then Pope whom 71. have succeeded of good Doctrine and
the heart of Italy is the constant residence of its Prince and its people are so industrious that there is scarce a Merchandizing City in the World without some Florentine Merchants which gave occasion to Pope Boniface the XI to say that the Florentines were the 5th Element no City in Europe except Rome produced more Architectors Painters and Sculptors than this whence t is that it abounds with admirable Palaces Temples Pictures and Statues upon one of the Bridges is the GoldSmiths Street upon another of stately structure the seasons of the year in Marble Opposite to this stands a Column of an immense bigness and upon the top thereof a Statue of Justice in Porphire which Cosâ—…s the first great Duke raised as a Trophe in that place for that walking for pastime the newes there first reached him of the great Victory which the Marquess Marignano obtayned over Pietro Strozzi in the yeer 1555 and with it Sienna near it is the Palazzo de Strozzi no less to be admired for the immensity of its Fabricks than for its rude Architecture Here on the right lies the Merchants vault supported with fayr Pillars and before it a Brasen Bore casting forth Water strait on is the Piazza Maggiore or great place in the midst whereof is the Statue of Cosmus the great Duke on Horse back in Brass with this inscription on each side of the Basis. Cosmo Medici Magno Etruriae Duci Primo Pio Felici Invicto Iusto Clementi Sacrae Militiae Pacisque in Etruria Authori Patri Principi Optimo 〈◊〉 F. Mag. Dux Maâ—… Dux I. I. I. erexit An. CIC. ICLXXXXIV behind this Profligatis hostibus in deditionem acceptis Senensibus Plenis liberis Sen. Fl. Suffragiis Dux Patriae renunciatur Ob. Zelam Religionis praecipuumque Iustitiae Studium Between which Horse and the Piazzo Vecchio is a Fountain and round about its Laver the Family of Neptune with his Coloss of Marble in the midst bore up by sour Horses the whole not to be paralleld much less excelled by humane Art The Porch in the same Piazza is remarkeable for its Arch and Statues one whereof is of Iudith in Brass and in another stone are pourtrayed three persons in several postures cut all out of the same stone representing the Rape of the Sabines Opposite unto the Piazza stands the Royal Palace of the Duke at the entrance into which stands a Colossus of David made by Michael Angelo and another of Hercules treading on â—…acus within is a stately Coutt set about with Pillars of Corinthian Work and over them painted the famous deeds of Cosmus the great Duke and all the places subject unto that Dutchy above them is a spatious Hall with divers Statues among them one of Pope Leo the tenth another of Pope â—…lement the seventh both of the Family of the Medicies from whence the Dukes Gallery invites a view in the lower story whereof sit the Courts of Justice with an Arcade to walke in on each side above are the shops of the Dukes Artisans In the uppermost pâ—…t are preserved as many wonders as things some to be admired for their richness rarity and Art others for their antiquity On each side of the Gallery are placed above 80. Statues among them that of the Idol brought from the Temple of Apollo at Delphos with this verse on the Pidestal Ut potui huc veni Delpis fratre relicto And that of Scipio Africanus holding up his Gown under his Arm are most admirable over the Statues hang the Pictures of the most famous Scholars and Souldiers of the modern times At the right hand of this Gallery are several Stanzaes of Curioâ—…ities which none can behold without astonishment at the richness and variety of observeable things In the first Room stands the Tabernacle or Altar destined for St Laurence Chapel all of choice Marble compacted with Jewels and pretious stones of an inestimable valew In the second is a Table with flowers and Birds in their natural Colours of pretious Stones with a Cabinet of 200000. Crowns in valew within which is the passion of our Saviour with the twelve Apostles all carved in Amber In the third is a Cabinet with Calcidon Pillars filled with antient Medals of Gold and round about infinite other natural and artificial curiosities amongst them the Nayl turned half into Gold by Alchimy and the Emperors head cut on a Turquoise as big as a Walnut next is the Armory and therein the habits and divers sorts of Arms of several Ages and People amongst them the King of Chinaes habit Hannibals Head-piece and Charlemains Sword And likewise a Magnet which attracts supports fourscore pound weight of Iron In the laâ—…t is the curious Turnery of Ivory and a Pillar of Oriental Alablaster and in the Gardrobe are 12. Cubbards of Silver Plate and a service of Massie Gold and a Saddle embroidered all over with Pearls and Diamonds which with many other inestimable curiosities a theme copious enough for a volume declare the Wealth of this Prince equal with any Kings in Christendom From the said Gallery is a Corridor or private passage wherein is an admirable brass Statue of Perseus to the proud Palace Pitti on the other side of the River where the Duke keeps his Court Its Front is very Majestique towards the basis of Dorick work in the midst Ionâ—…k in the uppermost Corinthian In the Court is a Grot with Statues and a Magnet of a prodigious greatness and over 〈◊〉 Fountain Its Gardens are most spatious embellished with Groves Walkâ—… Labirynths Fountains wherein are Swans Ostriches Deeâ—… Hares and all other recreative Creatures It also hath a Seraglio wherein his Highness maintains all sorts of Savage Creatures in their several Stanzaes as Lyons Bears Wolves Tygres c. which according to their several species there breed and are placed in such order that all resorting beholders are astonisht at it The Streets are large long and strait paved with Flint and on each side of them are many stately Palaces bedecked with rare statues Fountains c. by which with its other singularities hath the City acquired the Surname of Florence the fayr The Châ—…rches are so much beautifyed with the design of Architecture Sculpture Picture and other Curiosities that who should describe them particularly must write a volume yet the wonderfull Temple Santa Maria del Fiore must not be passed in silence where Filino and Giotto two excellent men in Limning and Architecture ly buried Therein are the twelve Apostles cut in Marble by the most excellent Sculptors of that Age. The stupendious Cupola adorned with the pieces of Vasari and Zucharo famous painters erected by Francesco Brunelesco at that heighth is so large that the brass Globe at top will contain 16. persons the Steeple is all built with incomparable Marble stones and garnished with Statues wrought by those famous Statuaries in emulation one of another Before which stands the Babtistery built in an Octogon antiently the Temple of Mars herein
East part of Chioza in the Sea lies a Ridge of Sand in the Sea in the nature of a Rampart pose to oppose the fury of the Adriatick Sea 30 miles long from South to North. T is almost incredible what vast quantities of Comodities are extracted from it to Venice which are there produced by the ingenuity of the Gardiners the fertility of the Soyl and the natural Orchards full of greens whereof and of gardens it most consists which are ordered exactly well From Chioza sayling South ward you se Ancona Pesaro Rimini Cesenna and Ravenna but going by Land discover many Ports as Goro Bebe Volano Magnavacca Primano and Brondolo From Chioza to Venice are 20. miles in which space stands Malomocco an Island heretofore enobled by the Duke of Venice his Residence there is the Porto Malomocco which through its profundity is rendered dangerous And also Poveggia now an uninhabited Island but at the first Venetians planting well-peopled in it still remains a miraculous Crucifix together with many other small Islands Monasteries Hospitals Orchards and Gardens between which lies the most noble City Venice who scarce finds a Parallel The Journy from FERRARA to RAVENNA and to RIMINI IN the Suburbs of Ferrara towards Ostro the Poe being past by a certain long Bridge of Wood stands the Church of S. Gregorio wherein the Body of S. Maurelio first Bishop of Ferrara is carefully layed up Here the Poe parts with a great Arm which having bathed the great Level runs by Mejaro Mejarino and other places into the Adriatick Sea But the greater Chanel runs Southward and at 8. miles distance hath on its Banks the Bourg Argenta so named from from the quantity of Sylver which every so many yeers it payed to the Church of Ravenna on its right hand are many deep Trenches filled with good fish Three miles beyond Argenta stood Bastia a Fort now demolished where the Armies of Pope Giulius the second and Alphonso first Duke of Ferrara fought a sharp Battail Ten miles beyond it lies Lugo a noble Town Bagnac avollo a Bourg and Cotignana the native Country of the Sforzeschan Princes Babiano Mazolino Imola and Faenza with others On the left side of the Poe are fertile Fields and a Palace of the Prince of Este so large and well furnished that it may give a reception to a great King In this neighbourhood were antiently twelve large Towns whose inhabitants by one unanimous consent built Ferrara Pursuing the Poe for twenty miles lye many fayr and pleasant Towns as Longastino and Filo so called for that there the Poe runs for six miles as strait as a thred or line San Alberto and Priniaro where the Poe runs into the Sea from Sant Alberto looking Northward you may see Comacchio near the Sea shore with a Lake or standing Pool round it wherein they take vast quantities of Mullets and Eeles some weighing 30. pound Comacchio was antiently a famous City but now t is near destroyed by the waters hereabouts also lies the Abbacy of Pomposa On the left of Saint Albergo are Fenny Fields wherein to this day may be seen the Fossa Messanitia made by our Ancestors but now t is a narrow Chanel to navigate to Ravenua in small Barks it formerly run 50. miles navigable and was called Padusa RAVENNA THis City is more memorable for its antiquity than fair building being first built by the Thessalonians who being perplexed and molested by the Ombrians and Sabines voluntarily gave it them up and returned into Greece but the Ombrians were thence driven by the French and they by the Romans under whom it remained till they with the Heruli took the Country Odouacre but then they were driven out by the Ostrogoths under Theodorick their King who made it his Regal Seat under whom it remained 70. yeers and then they were beaten out by Narsete Praefect of Justinian the Emperor under the Title of Exarchi after whom 17. more Exarchi governed it 170. yeers who were all that time held in continual skirmishes with the Longobardi who were called into Italy by Narsete against the said Emperour of Constantinople For Narsete being accused to Giustino Successor to Justinian for some crime whereat Giustino was offended which backed with the instigation of the Emperours wife caused the Emperour to send another to be Exarche in his Room who being exasperated against the Emperour for it invited in the Longobardi against the Empire by whose hands the Exarcate of Italy was extinct This Exarche was in the nature of a King having plenary Jurisdiction in all things without appeal Astolfo some time after being overcome by Pipino King of the French gave up Ravenna to the Church of Rome but Desiderius successor to Astolfo not regarding his Faith after the retreat of Pipin with the French Army possessed himself again of Ravenna and other Towns but the Emperour Charles the Great returning into Italy with the French Army overcame and took him Prisoner when the Longobardi were forced to quit Italy altogether so that it hath suffered many disgraces and was afterwards sacked by the French and destroyed by civil discord Strabo saies that in his time Ravenna stood upon certain Piles driven into the Fennes and that the water passed under it so that no coming was to it but by Bridges or Boats and when the waters were high then the people were forced to get up into the upper Rooms yet for all that t was healthfull as Alexandria in AEgypt but now the Waters are so dryed up that the Fenns are become Excellent Meadows Pastures and Corn Grouuds many Historians agree that t was much beautified by Augustus Caesar accommodating it with a great Bridge and erecting the high Tower called Faro where he encamped an Army for defence of the Gulfs and lodged the Souldiers in the midst of the City in a form like a Castle which afterwards was called the Fortezza of Ravenna it had another Fort called Cesarea with Walls and Bastions which strongly fortifyed the Port of Ravenna but at present neither the Ports nor Forts appear only some certain old Churches and Monasteries of little moment On the Porta Speriosa for its structure and good Marble called Aurea is this Title TI. CLAUDIUS DRUSI F. CAESAR AUG GERMANICUS PONT MAX. TR. POT COS. II. DES III. IMP. III. P. P. DEDIT Whence t is supposed that the Emperour Claudius fortifyed Ravenna with Walls and a new Port Biondo affirms that Ravenna was amplified by Placida Galla sister of Arcadio and Honorius the Emperours and by her Sons Valentiniano and Tiberio also Theodrick King of the Goths beautified it with stately edifices and enriched it with the spoil of the other Provinces as appears by those Churches Palaces other structures raised by him and his successors and yet extant In Ravenna near the Piazza Santa Maria stands a great Convent and in it the magnificent Tombe of Dante Algieri erected to him by Bernardo Bembo the Venetian Podesta in Ravenna with this Inscription by the
that since it came from Galilee and the mount because the sins of the People there made it unworthy so the knowlege the Virgin had of the quality of this People made her transmit her habitation hither and the often mutations of the places makes it evident to all that this is the true Stanza or Cell of the blessed Virgin departed from Galilea It arrived in this Province in Italy in the yeer 1295. and in lesse thana yeer changed its place of stay three times though but within compasse of a mile but who will consider its now aboade must find that the wit of man could not invent a better P. Battista Mantouano Viccar General of the Garmelites among other grave Authers to whom this house was first given in custody before it left Galilee averrs the trnth of the former relations Societies of Priests that are Liuguists have it now in government whereby to be the better able to take the confessions of all Nations and give absolutions c. RECANATI FRom Loreto the way leads to Recanati a new City built out of the Reliques of the old Helvia Ricina whereof some will have Macerata to be built also which Helvia was once magnificently repaired by Helvio many of its old foundations and the bases of an Amphitheatre yet appear upon the Road. From Loreto to Recanati is three mile of very rough Way over Mountains In it is held a publick fair every yeer in September in the great Church lies Pope Gregory the 12th who in the Council of Constanza renounced the Papacy t is seated on the top of a high and spatious Mountain environed with the Apenines Gingolo the Sea and some other little Hills Beyond which is a plain in it San Severino heretofore a Bourg but made a City by Pope Sixtus quintus Mathâ—…lica and Fabriano famous for the Pure writing paper there made and then Gamerino a well fortisied place abounding no less in Riches than People It alwaies assisted the Romans aud hath produced many emminent Men. Through the Vale Camerino you may go to Foligno and Spoleto MACERATA KEEping the direct Way thorow the Mountains you meet Macerata famous for greatnesse and beauty and the most noble City of the Marchiano In it is a College of Lawyers called the Rota deputed to hear Causes and the Residence of the Governors of all the Province Two great Causes for its full peopling About it ly several Bourgs Castles and Towns as Tolentino where they reverence the reliques of San Nicolo of the Angustine Order who there lived holily Montalto Fermo Ascolo and Seravalle beyond which lies Santa Anatolia whence through a Valley lies the way to San Foligno which is two days journy from Loreto FOLIGNO THe Longobardi having destroyed Foro Flaminio the Inhabitants out of its Ruines built Foligno The City is rich in Merchandize small but pleasant it hath a goodly porte whence the Citizens repelled the assaults of the Longobardi the Cities Perugia and Assisiaare Westward twenty miles from Foligno All along the Flaminian Way ly most flourishing Fields planted with all sorts of Fruits Vines Gardens Olive-Trees Almonds praised to the skies by Propertins Virgil and other Poets On the right hand lies Mevania the Countrey of Propertius and its Territory which produceth large Bulls and Oxen on the left was the Antient Temple of Metusca near it is the Source of the River Clitumnus issuing wirh a clear and plentifull head of Water enough to water the Fields of Bertagna which at its second stage had the name of a God given it by the blind Gentiles to whom t is believed the neighbouring Temple of Marble now antique yet noble was dedicate in old time T is made in that form which Vitruvius writing of the order of Temples teaches that those of Fountains Nimphes Venus Flora and Proserpina ought to have to wit to have some similitude with their Gods and hath in the Ornaments of the outside leaves of Bears-foot and Holm tree which demonstrate the fruitfulness of Clitumnus which the Antients observed so fatned the adjacent Pastures that thereby the Herds of Cattel grew very great and Pliny Lucan and Servius the Commentator of Virgil a verâ—… that those Cattel drinking of the water of Clitumnus became white Out of these Herds the Roman Conquerors used to select the most fair and in their triumphs to sacrifice them for a happy Augury to the victory brought with them The same also were led by the Emperors which triumphed with their horns guilt and bathed with the water of this River unto the Campidoglio and there sacrificed to Iove and other Gods which made the Spoletiâ—… to honour Clitumnus as a God and to it were dedicated by the antients Temples and Groves as may be collected from Propertins in these words Qua formosa suo Clitumnus flumina Luco Integer niveos abluit unda boves Virgil the Prince of Poets in the second of his Gorgicks speaking politely of the praise of Italy saith thus Hinc albi Clitumne greges maxima tanrus Victimae saepe tuo perfusi flumine sacro Romanos ad templa Deum duxere triumphos Silius also touches upon this conceipt in the Carthaginian War in few words to wit Et lavit ingentem perfusum flumine sacro Clitumnus taurum SPOLETO IN the same day the Traveller may go from Foligno to Spoleto a splendid City deficient in nothing the Refidence of the Longobardi Princes now ennobled by the Title of the Duke of Ombra antiently t was a strong Roman Colony so made by Litius and reduced by the Romans when they had overthrown the Ombri in the Consulate of G. Claudius Centone and Marius Sempronius Tuditanus Which Colony after the Romans had received the Rout near Trasineno was so bold as to withstand Hannibal the Conqueror and taught him to gather what vast strength the Roman Empire was of from the power of one sole Colony by forceing him to turn tayl retreat after the losse of many men into the Marchiana The old broken structures shew that it flourished greatly in the Romans time One may yet see the Palace of Theodorick King of Goths destroyed by the Goths but rebuilt by Narsete Captain for Justinian the Emperor The Temple of Concord the foundation of a Theatre and of stately Aquiducts TERNI THe following day through the Valley Strattura closed in by Hills Rocks and cliffs of the Apenines you reach Terni called Iteranna by the Antients from its inclosure between the branches of the River Nera The old Ruins of the Edifices shew it to have been in all things greater than at present and within memory t is known much decay came to it by intestine hatred and civil discords Many antient Marble Inscriptions shew that t was a free City of the Romans but at what time it received the title of a free City and the Prerogative of Roman Denizenship is not certainly known Pighius observes from a great Marblestone fixed in the Walls of the
Cathedral Church that t was built 544. yeers before the Consulate of C. Domitius Enobarbus and M. Camillus Scribonianus who were Consuls 624. yeers after the foundation of Rome and that sacrifice was made in Terni to the health of Liberty and the Genius of the City to gratifie Tiberius Caesar who then elevated himself from the feet of Seianus The said Pighius deduceth thus much from the Title on the said Marble and in his Annales of the Senate and People of Rowe sets it down more distinctly we conclude from the whole that t was built 80. yeers after Rome under Numa and then obtained its title of a Municipal City The Territory of Terni through the site and the usefullnesse of the sweet Waters is all of a fat soyl being exposed to a benign Sun which in some part appologizeth for what Pliny saies to wit that the Meadows are mowed 4 times in a yeer and afterwards fed besides that Turnips have there lately grown of 30. pound weight whereof four makes an Asses Load and Pliny saies 40. pound weight NARNI KEEping the Via Flaminia you arrive at Narni placed on a rough Hill of difficult ascent at the foot whereof runs the River Nera roaring through the breakings of the Rocks wherewith it encounters Livy and Stephano Gramatico derive the name of the City from that of the River and Martial in the 7th book of his Epigrames describes it thus Narnia sulphureo quam gurgite candidus amnis Circuit ancipiti vix adeunda jugo The same Livy affirms that the City was first called Nequino and the Inhabitants thence Nequinati when subdued by the Romans from the paultry and wicked customes of the People but afterwards the Roman Colony despising that name called it Narni from the Rivers name The Triumphs in the Campidoglio set forth that the Nequinati were confederate with the Sanniti and with them overcome by M. Petinus the Consul who therefor triumphed in the 454th yeer of Rome and then made a Colony as aforesaid Now the Cities form is long and fair in Fabricks and plentifully supplyed from its near Campagna though in the memory of our Ancestors and since it hath been much turmoyled with troubles and Warrs Without Narni over the River are wonderfull great Arches of a Bridge which did conjoyn two high and precipitous Mountains between which the River passed some believe this Bridge was built by Augustus with the spoils of the Siacambri and Procopius affirms it adding that more eminent Arches were never seen the Reliques now appearing demonstrate it the work of a flourishing Empire and of excessive expence Martial t is supposed speaks herof in these words Sed jam parce mihi nec abutere Narnia Quinto Perpetuo liceat sic tibi ponte frui The stones of this Bridge are cecmented with Iron and Lead one Arch now to be seen is 200. foot broad and 150. foot high under which t is said is buried great Treasure A stream is brought into the City which passeth for 15. miles under most high Mountains and supplies thrâ—… brass fountains there is also a water of Nâ—…ni called caristia or Famine because it never appearâ—… but the yeer before some great famiâ—… as it happened in Anno 1589. it yields also many healthfull watâ—…rs Forty miles off Narni to go in the way to Rome is a Mountainous Rock through which the Way is cut with Chizels 30. foot deep and 15 broad beyond which is pleasant way to Ottricoli a mile from Tevere Passing by the antiquities of the Via Flaminia and the vast mines of Ottricoli you come to Tevere beholding by the way great Reliques of publick structures as Temples Baths Aqueductâ—… Conservatories of water a Theatre and Amphitheatre which testify the grandezza and magnificence of that municipal City while the Roman Empire flourished Two inscriptions of statues dedicate to the Father and Daughter by the publick make appear that they built those Baths at their own expence and then gave them to the publique both which are inscribed on Marble as followeth L. Iulio L. F. Pal. Iuliano IIII. Vir. AEd. III. 1. D. IIII. Vir Quin que Quinque 11. Dast Patrâ—…no Municipi Plebs Ob. Merita L. D. D. D. Iuliae Lucillae L. Iulii Iuliani Fil Patroni municipi 〈◊〉 Pâ—…ter Termas Ocriculanis â—… Solo. Eâ—…ctas 〈◊〉 â—…ecunia Donavit Dec Aug. Plebs L. D. D. D. Whence you passe by the Town Tevere near the stone Bridge built by Augustus which Bridge was so great that with its mines it tumed and hindred the course of the River thence coasting the foot of the Mountain Soratte at night you lodge at Bâ—…gnano Pope Clement the 8th commanded imitating Augustus to his great costs and no less glory this Bridge to be repaired here terminated the Burroâ—…ghs of Rome in the time of the Emperour Aurelianus and we read that in former times Rome was 150. miles in ciâ—…cuit and that while Constantinâ—… reigned the Walls and buildings from Tevere to Rome were so thick that who was but seldome conversant there took it for the City of Rome The River being past you meet Borgheto the City Castellan and Caprâ—…rola and farther on is the Bâ—…idge Milvio or Mole where God shewed to Constantine a Cross wiâ—…h these words In hoc signo vinces with which encouragement Constantine fought and overcame Maxentius the Tyrant by which Bridge one passeth the Tevere or Tiâ—…er and so arrives to the Suburbs of Rome entring the Porta Flaminia now called Porta del Popolo LUCCA THis City glories in the universal agreement of all Authors that t is one of the most antient of Italy and they that speak of its latest Original attribute it to Lucchio Lucnmone Laerte of Tuscany who reigned 46. yeers after the foundation of Rome from whom some say it took its name Lucca but some others averâ—… t was built long before that time even by the Grecians before the destruction of Troy It alwaies was for its strength and power of much consideration and that made C. Cempronius after the overthrow he received from Hannibal at Trebbia and the lesse fortunate day fought before Piacenza to recover Lucca with the remnant of his Army as to a place that yeelded asecure retreat and the valorous Narsete who for the Emperour Iustinian freed Italy of the Goths could not have gained it with his 7 Moneths tedious and most rigorous siege had he not by a certain wile and cunning perswaded or rather intreated the Citizens to deliver their City of their own accord and with their own terms Its Seignors or Lords have so well added to its former strength that no City in Italy comes near it for it hath eleaven strong Bulworks in lesse than 3. miles circuit and a vast wall with works within upon which the Trees planted the pleasant and fertile hills surrounding it and the stately Palaces in the heart of it renders it a most delightfull City Strabo reports the Romans often raised there many foot Souldiers
On the left side of the high Altar stands the Tombe of Eustachius Nephew of Pope Innocent the 4th whereon are carved some fair statues as 't were actually endeavouring to bring a Lambe to the Sacrifice This was one of the five Patriarchal Churches and will be farther spoken of in the Voyage of the second day The Fifth of the principal Churches called SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE nel MONTE ESQUILINO THis in respect of the other Churches is small but polite 312. foot long and 112. broad Its pavement is wrought with Figures in Mosaick work and the Roof guilt In it is one Altar of Porphyr and a Tomb of Porphyr wherein lies Giovanni Patricio who built this Church In a Vault under ground is kept the Crib or Manger wherein our Saviour was layed at his Birth often visited with Masâ—…es and Prayers for which end Sixtus quintus there built a glorious Chappel deputing to it Clerkes who ought there continually to attend for divine Worship Here are engraven the works of Pope Pius the 5th for the service propagation of the Christian Religion in perpetual remembrance of so good a Pastor whose Body he ordered also should be put in â—…n honourable Tombe on the one side and his own to be placed on the other side when it should please the Lord to call him to himself On the right side of the high Altar lies the body of Pope Nicholas the 4th near whose Tomb stands an Image of the blessed Virgin painted by Saint Luke Here also is the Sepulchre of San Girolame And here ly buried Alberto and Giovanni Normando Platina who wrote compleatly the lives of the Popes Lucco Gaurico a famous Mathematician and Bishop of Cività Francesco Toledo a Jesuitâ—… Zforseschi da Santa Fiora and i Cesis three Cardinals Upon the Pillars are some antient Pictures of such as undertook the Argument for the Catholick Faith against the Hereticks who condemned images when that point was disputed in the Councel Before this Church Sixtus Quintus reared an Obelisk which is the least of the four in Rome and is without Hieroglypâ—…ick notes as that before Saint Giovanni Laterano hath On the back part of this Church is erected a Marble Collumn not so great as neat in memory of the Absolution which Henry fourth King of France and Navarre obtayned from Clement the eighth in Ann. 1593. This was one of the five Patriarchall Churches and will be further treated of in the third dayes Journey The Sixth of the Principal Churches called SAN PAOLO NELLA VIA OSTIENSE THis is the fairest and biggest Church of Rome being 120 paces long and 85 broad built by Constantine the great sustained as may be said by a Grove of stately Pillars T is paved with Marble Many Inscriptions are there placed and published by orhers One most remarkable is this P. P. P. R. R. R. S. S. S. F. F. F. The Venerable Bede being at that time most learned was consulted and desired to resolve the signification of those Letters which he thus explained Pater Patriae Perfectus Regnum Romae Ruit Secum Sublatâ Sapientiâ Ferro Flamma Fame The High Altar is supported by four Porphyr Pillars exposeing to publique view the Image on the Crucifix which spake to St. Brigide while she prayed as the Inscription declares and the Bull verifies Here also are stupendiously expressed in Mosaick work the Imagea of Christ of Saint Peter Saint Paul and Saint Andrew so lively that words seem to issue out of their mouths together with all the Instruments of the Passion and death of our Saviour This Church was nobly restored and beautified by Clement the 8th an excellent Pope In the Brasen gates are figured divers holy histories Greek and Latin From the inscriptions t is gathered that these gates were placed there by Pantaleon Consul in the time of Alexander the 4th This was one of the five Patriarchal Churches In it are the Sepultures of some Popes as of Giovanni who dyed in anno 1472. and Pietro Leone and the memorials of Iulius the third Gregory the 13th and Clement the 8th who opened the Porta Santae in the yeer of Jubile This Church is at present governed by the Fryers of the Order of St. Benedict Here is the Chappel of St. Paul in good part restored by Alexandro Farnese a Cardinal in anno 1582. In the Vestry are many Reliques of Saints the Collumnes whereon St. Paul was decapitated and a stone wch they usually fastened to the Feet of the Martyrs for their greater torment In the Chapel of Porta Celi are the reliques of 2203 Persons martyred by Nero. whence at a small distance is the Tre Fontane or three Fountains the place of Saint Pauls Martyrdome fully restored and beautifyed by Clement the 8th whose head being cut off took three leaps and at each Leap a spring arose and still runs with clear waters The Seaventh of the Principal Churches of ROME called S. PIETRO in VATICANO FOR Beauty sumptuousness Artifice and Worth not only Rome but the whole world yeelds this meritoriously a precedency to all other Churches especially in that part built in later times to which Sixtus the 5th added a noble Cupolo wherein are figured the Celestial Hierarchy in pieces of Mosaick that the beholders believe them painted And Gregory the 13th as glorious a Chappel in honour of Saint Gregorie Nazianzene wherein he was buried Without doubt it is the most perfect model of decent Magnificence in the World there being an answerable uniformity within and without And may justly be compared if not said to surpass the Temple of Diana in Ephesus formerly accounted one of the seaven wonders of the world burnt by Herostratus who by that horrid Act sought rather to perpetuate his name than to ly unremembred in his Grave The Old Church had 24 collumnes of so various coloured Marble as are not matchable which were taken from the adjacent Sepulchre of Adrian the Emperour who was most exquisite in all his works Those other Pillars in the Chappel of the holy Sacrament and those that support the Volto Santo that is the Towel of Veronica with some others were transported from Ierusalem into Italy by Titus Vespasianus and taken out of the Temple and Palace of Solomon after that the Iews were wholly overcome and their said City destroyed The top is all of squares Levati as they call it like the Pantheon in the Center of the Church stands the great Altar all of solid Brass in such stupendious pillars that each weighs 25000. pound and is of so incomparable workemanship that no Cathedral but St. Peters is fit to entertain it Herein is the Sepulchre of the Emperour Otho the second buried in anno 1486. in porphirie A greater porphyre stone then this Italy affords nor except that of Santa Maria Rotonda the Sepulture of Theodorick King of the Ostrogothes This was one of the five Patriarchal Churches and the old part was built by the Emperour Constantine the great who caused it
made it penetrable the Sepulchre of Virgil is erected near this famous Cavern Near the Temple of Peace is that of the Santi Cosmo and Damiano which was the Court of Romulus where the Senate congregated when they had any important affair to consult about It was wholly burnt when they burned the body of Publius Claudius slain by T. Annione Milone with the Basilica Portia near it which Marco Portio Catone the Censor reared a top of the house of Mevio There was also another Court in Monte Celio where now stands the Church consecrated to Santo Gregori MONTE PALATINO THis Hill was inhabited many yeers before the building of Rome and there when at its greatest splendour did the Emperors and other great Personages for a long time reside but now t is overwhelmed with Ruines and so great a Devastation that t is the most uninhabited Place of Rome besides its Desert uncouthness and Thorns affording nothing of good more than a little Church of Saint Nicholo some Cottages and a Vineyard of Cardinal Farnese Thereon of old stood these stately Temples following to wit one dedicate to Vittoria built by C. Posthumius the AEdile Another to Apollo which being destroyed was afterwards restored by Augustus Caesar to greaer beauty with the addition of that Porticue whose reliques yet remain more entire than any other in Rome a third to the Penati brought thither by AEneas and honoured with much reverence Others to the Gods Lari to Faith to Jove Victorius to Heliogabalus to Orco and many other Gods of whose Temples not any imaginable Vestigia are now extant And those magnificent Palaces of the Coesars Tarquinius Priscus the King of Cicero who bought his Pallace of Crassus for 50 thousand Crowns of Marcus Flaccus which stood neer that which was bought by Cicero whereof Q. Catullus made a great Lodge That part of the Palatino which lies towards the Arch of T. Vespasian is called Germano from the Twyn Brothers Romulus and Remus there brought up by Faustulus the Shepheard whose habitation was in that place the space from thence to the Arch of Constantine the Great was called Vela for that there the Shepheards dwelt whose custome was to fleece or pluck the Wool from off the sheep whence they were called in Latin Vellera Fleeces of Wool before the way of shearing was invented Towards Santa Maria Nova Scaurus had a noble Palace with an Open gallery supported with Pillars forty foot high without the bases or capitol The great Palace Gregostaci was so denominated for that there they usually entertained the Embassadors of divers Nations Here Quintus Flaminius dedicated a statue to Concordia when he had reconciled the People to the Senate or rather the Senate to the People The Church Sant ' Andrea in Pallaria is the old Temple wherein the Palladium and Penati which AEneas brought with him from Troy into Italy were at first placed but afterwards transported into the Temple of Vesta and the charge of them committed to the Vestal Virgins Near it stood the house of Valerius Publicola which for some suspicion raised among the People they levelled with the ground in one night On that part of the Palatine towards Monte Celio stood a Temple of Cibele called also Dindimene and Ope The Image of which Goddess was translated from Ida a Place in Phrygia to Rome and reverenced with great devotion On that part respecting the Aventino was the house wherein Augustus Caesar was born whose ruins yet arise to a vast altitude to which was adjoyned a Temple of Apollo upon whose top was fixed a golden Chariot of the Sun of which some fragments are yet in being as also a Library called Palatina Wherein stood a statue of Apollo as Master of the Chorus among the Muses raised 50. ..... the noble work of Scopa It may be conjectured that the Baths of Palatini lay in the Vinyard of Thomaso Faedra a Roman Gentleman towards the Arco Massimo approaching which were the Curia of the Salii and Auguri with other Fabricks into these Baths by an Aqueduct rann a stream of the Aqua Claudia At the foot of Mount Palatine to wit at the Pillars of the Gallery of Caligula is a round Fabrick being the Church S. Theodosius which was at first built and consecrated to Jupiter stator by Romulus about the time of the Sabyn warr when the Romans turned tail and running away were by the entreaties of Romulus perswaded to face their Enemies and receive Victory some say that this was not the Temple of Jupiter Stator but that it was the ruins of the old Court which stood near the Temple of Concordia Leaving the Temple of Janus Quadrifrons and the Foro Boario in the descent to the Circo Maximo you meet a hollow place into which out of certain Pipes run copious waters where the Women wash their Linnen t is said that here were the Fountains of the Nimph Junturna in Velabro now called Fonti S. Georgii The Vault which appears contiguous with a great Arched common Shoar was built by Tarquin for reception of the Channels and Filth of the Citty with a commodious conveyance thence into the Tyber Which Arch was so ample that a Cart and Horses might conveniently passe thorow it We read that the Censors sometime sould the Filth of this Vault and sink for the fatning the Fields about to certain persone for 600000. Crowns which when t was told the Emperor he answered Odor Lucri bonus ex re qualibet Now t is called Chiavica Close by which lies the Lago Curtio a Lake so denominated from Curtius who threw himself and horse armed praecipitously into that Vorago or opening of the Earth that he might avert the pestilential Ayr exhaling out of it which infested Rome with a great contagion There also grew the Grove of Numa Pompilius wherein he spoke and treated with the Nimphe AEgeria from whom he learned the Ceremonies of the Sacrifices and where t was unlawfull for any one to spit In this place the Ashes of the Galli Senones were layed up now t is called Dolioli from the Dolia or earthen Vessels wherein they put the Ashes of the slain to be buried The GIRCO MASSIMO OF all the Ornaments of the Circo Maximo scarce any thing is to be seen more than the entire circumscription of the place whereby its amplitude is discerned It lies between the Palatino and the Aventino and is about half a mile long and three Acres broad which some say was capable of 260 thousand men others restrain it to one hundred and fifty thousand Here Romulus first set forth the Consaulian Games to the God Conso after the rape of the Sabyn Women Tarquinius Priscus designed and Tarquinius Superbus built the place for the celebration of the Circensian games and other Solaces for the People which Augustus adorned Gaius amplified Trajan repaired and augmented the Fabrick and Heliogabalus paved it At present t is all about in Gardens but some steps and roofs of
than published with such vain ostentation besides that Historians say he was baptized by the Nichomedian Bishop when he arrived in Asia Bâ—…isardo thinks that the said Battisteriâ—… was rather the Bath to the Lateran Pallace and the Form of the Fabrick induceth him and others to the same belief But however it was t is most certain that Constantine the great having profest the Christian Religion was baptized in this Church and the same Babtistary t is shewed to this day and all converts to the Christian Religion are there still baptized On the right hand of it are certain holy chappels and therein preserved many pretious Marbles and some Pillars conveyed hither from Jerusalem At the entrance of the Church San Giovanni Laterano stand many sumptuous Tombs of Popes and Altars wrought excellently with Marble upon the high Altar is the last supper of Christ ingraven in silver of great value set up by Clement the seaventh who also raised the great rich Organ and that stately Vestry for the use of the Church Before the Chorus were four hollow brasen Pillars of Corinthian work which t is said were brought from Jerusalem full of the holy Earth where our Saviour was enterred others say that Sylla fetched them from Athens and others that Augustus caused them to be cast in Rome of the Beaks of the Galleys taken in the Actiack battail and in memorial applyed to the Temple of Jupiter Capitolino Furthermore others say that Vespasian translated them with the other spoils from Jerusalem Of late Clement the 8th caused them to be guilt over and placed them on the high Altar with a brass Scutcheon guilt and affixed to them wherein his Arms are engraven Before Sixtus the 5th reedified from the foundations the Lateranian Palace there was a great hall where the Pope with the Ecclesiastical Synod of Cardinals and Arch-bishops rendred themselves when they were to manage any substantial business Those three great marble Collumnes were shipped from the Palace in Jerusalem here the Later aneâ—…sial counsels were solemnized with the assistance of the whole Clergy The Scala Sancta contained 28 stairs which stood in Pilats House the which Christ ascended when he was whipped are transferred by the Pope into another place where Christians frequent them and for devotion creep up them upon their knees kissing them Here were two porphyr chairs whereof the Enemies of the Catholick Faith recount certain shamefull Fables which have been sufficiently confuted by Cardinal Bellarmine in his first Tome of the controversies of the Roman Bishop as also the story of Pope Joan whom the story saies to be John the 7th who succeeded Leo the 4th confuted by the said Cardinal and Onofrius and lately by Florimondo Romondo in French The Pillar of white Marble placed in the wall and divided in two is thought to be broken miraculously at the death of Christ when the Veyl of the Temple rent Sancta Sanctorum is a Chappel held in great veneration the ingress therein is forbidden to women In it are kept the Ark of the Covenant the rod of Aaron the Table whereon Christs last supper was celebrated of the sacred Manna the Navil string and praepuce of Christ a Vyal of Christs blood some thorns of his Crown one whole Nail wherewith he was fastened to the Cross. The Snaffle of Constantine the great his Horse which was made of the two nayls which pierced his feet the fourth was placed in the Emperors golden Diademe In the same place are likewise shewed many Reliques which are regarded by the Romans with huge Devotion here is to be observed that the old pictures of the Greeks and Gregory Bishop of Turona shew that Christ was fastened to the Cross with two nails in his feetand a little table under Somewhat distant from S. Giovanni stands a Gate of the City called now by the same name but antiently Celimontana from Mount Celio Hence the Via Campagna takes its beginning leading to the Campagna called Terra di Lavoro from its sterility Forth the City it joines with the Latina On the back part of Monte Celio lyes the Church Santa Croce di Jerusalem one of the seaven chief formerly sacrate to Venus and Cupid In it is kept a part of the Lords Cross and the title of the Cross writ in three languages one of the thirty pence which Judas the Traitor received for betraying Christ a Thorn of the Crown with other sacred Reliques Here under the Earth Helena the mother of Constantine built a Chappel wherein Women are permitted entrance only upon the 20th of March to the Monastery of this Temple is adjoyned an Amphitheatre somewhat less but more antient than the Coliseo which was edificated by Statilius Taurus in the reign of Augustus but t was for the most part destroyed by Pope Paul the 3d. for reparation of the Monastery On one side of Santa Croce appear yet some ruines of the Basilica Sessariana near the Walls The Arches which enter the City by Porta Nevia and pass over the top of the Celio to the Aventino were the Arches for the Aqueduct of the Claudian water and were the highest and longest of Rome Claudius conveighed this water from forty miles off into the City Some of this water run into the Palace some into the Campidoglio but the greatest part to the Aventino The said Porta Nevia was also called Nevia and Santa Croce and was built in an Arch Triumphal which demonstrates the Majesty and grandeur of the work Near the Aqueduct for the Aqua Claudia towards Monte Celio stands the Hospital S. Giovanni being both wealthy and comodious for receipt of infirm and sick Persons abounding in all sorts of Phisical ingredients Physicians Apothecaries Surgeons attendants and whatever els can conduce to the good of the Patients This conveniency hath in all ages induced many Princes and other Persons of quality and richeâ—… when their Maladies require to make this Hospital their abode though they lye there at their own expence In the Court of it are Sepultures of divers sorts Baths with sculptures of Satyrs and different Actions The battail of the Amazones The Chase of Meleager and other fair objects The Temple of S. Clement Pargetted with various coloured Marble hath divers old inscriptions many figures of the sacred in struments used in the divine services by the Popes as also in the Sacrifices by the Priests of the Gentiles and the Southsayers In the return you meet that stupendious and admirable Mole the Amphitheatre called vulgarly Coliseo from the Colossean statue of 120 foot high which Nero erected The altitude of this Amphitheatre was such and the structure so compact that Rome afforded nothing more stately 'T was eleaven yeers continued labour for thirty thousand Slaves and capable of eighty seaven thousand men who might conveniently dispose theselves in the surrounding Seats for be holding the Playes there yeerly exhibited The house of Nero occupying all that space between the Hils Palatino and Celio reached to the Esquilie so
Between Santa Maria del Popolo and the Porta Flaminia is seen an Obelisk filled with Hieroglyphicks and AEgiptian Letters which Pliny writes to be one hundred and ten foot long and to contain on it the interpretation of the AEgyptian Philosophy Augustus Caesar caused it to be transferred from Hieropoli to Rome with two others which he placed in the Circus Maximus On the Pedestal is this Inscription Caesar. Divi. F. Aug. Pont. Max. Imp. X. J. Cos. XI Trib. Pot. XIV AEgypto in Potestatem P. R. redact â Soli Donum dedit The house of Antonino Paleozo affords an excellent statue of a horse and some heads as of Drusus of Julia the Daughter of Augustus of Goleria of Faustina Giovene the wife of Marcus Aurelius of Adrian of Brutus Domitian Galba Sabina Hercules Bacchus Sylvanus and Mercury And likewise the Triumph of Tiberius Caesar cut lively in one Marble stone And that of Giacomo Giacovazzo not a few excellent statues in Marble and Brass and other Curiosities Antoninus Pius in that part of the Campo Martio called Piazza di Sciarra erected a hollow Columne with winding stairs and 56. Casements to give Light within to them being 175 foot high some say it is raised with 28 stones only but in this t is not so clearly discernable as in that of Trajano for that the stayers being broke t is not ascendable On the superficies of it are wrought the Acts of Antoninus with excellent sculpture of figures from this that place is denominated Piazza Colonna Those eleaven high Pillars which are seen erected at the Church of Saint Stephano in Truglio are the reliques of that open Gallery which Antoninus Pius built conjoyned to his Palace in his Court as far distant from this Church as the Rotonda Between the Collumne of Antoninus and the Fountain of Acque Virgine were the Septa of the Campo Martio so called for that they were enclosed with several thick Plancks in which the Roman People assembled when they gave their suffrages for Election of the Magistrates They were also called Ovili for their similitude to a Sheepfold here the Roman Tribes assembled in Council That Hill between San Lorenzo in Colonna and the abovenamed Column called Monte Acitorio took its name from the Latine words Mons Citatorum where every Tribe Se'paratim rendred themselvs after they had given their suffrages in the Septa On the same Hill stood a publique Palace for receipt of Embassadors from Enemies who were not licen ced to enter the City nor dwell in Graecostasi which lay between the Counsel and the Rostri in the Piazza Romana Cardinal Santa Severina so much spoken of by the Hereticks a man of great prudence and an example for posterity erected his Palace on this Hill Not far from hence is the Fountain of Aque Virgine conveighed by a loud depressed Aqueduct over the Porta Collina the Hill Santa Trinita and through the Campo Martio now called Fontana di Trevi we read in the inscription that Nieolo the 5th restored it And this alone of all the waters which with so great costs and such sumptuous Aqueducts the antient Princes brought into Rome remains standing for the publique Benefit From the Serraglio or Septa of the Roman people began the Strada coperta wherein stood heretofore a Temple of Neptune and the Amphitheatre of Claudius now wholly destroyed At the Acque Virgine was a Temple dedicated to Giuturna Sister of Tur no King of the Rutoli accounted one of the Napee or Nimphes keep-in gamong flowers and the Countrey goddess who as the Heathens believed assisted to the fertility of the Earth In the house of Angelio Colorio da Giesi now appertaining to the Rufali are seen many statues and inscriptions and one Arch of the stone Tivoli joyning to the Acque Virgine having this Inscription T. Claudius Drus. F. Caesar Augustus In the Fountain under the statue of a Nymph now removed are found these verses Hujus Nympha loci sacri custodia Fonti Dormio dum blandae sentio murmur aquae Parce meum quisquis tangis cava marmora somnum Rumpere sive bibes sive lavare jaces Pompeio Naro possesseth two statues which were found in his Vineyard the one of Hercules the other of Venus IL COLLE de gli HORTICELLI now di SANTA TRINITA THis Hill extends from San Silvestro to the Porta Pinciana or Collina along by the Walls of the City but some draw it out to the Porta Flaminia The Gate and Hill took their name from Pincius the Senator whose magnificent Palace stood here and the footsteps of it are yet visible at the walls of the City upon this Hill was the Sepulchre of the Domitian Family here likewise Nero was buried On the top of this hill remains an Arch or roof which formerly was part of the Temple of the Sun near whereto lies an obelisk of Thasian stone with this inscription Soli Sacrum The Church Santa Trinita now occupied by the Minime Fryars was built by Lewis the XIth King of France wherein are some Tombes of Cardinals as of Antonio Moreto and Cardinal di Capri. At the Porta Collina near Santa Susanna Salustius as aforesaid had most pleasant gardens and a splendid dwelling whose ruines yet appear in the Vale leading to Salara Here stood an Obelisk now translated elsewhere sacred to the Moon engraven with AEgyptian Hyeroglyphicks The place is yet vulgarly called Salostrico The Campo Scelerato or the Via Scelerata where the deflowred Vestal Virgines were buried alive compleated all that space from the Porta Collina under the house and gardens of Salustius to the Porta Salaria Without the Porta Salaria called also Quirinale Collina and Agonale lye the ruines of the Temple of Venus Erycina whose Feast was celebrated with solemn ceremonies by chast Matrons in the month of August to the Image of Venus Ver ecordia which Goddess was supposed to render the Husbands placable and benevolent to their wives in this Temple they likewise celebrated the Agonalian games whence t was named Agonale Three miles without the City over the Aniene stands an entire Bridge which a long inscription shews to have been built by Narsetes t is said that Hannibal being on this Bridge vexed with a vehement rain raised the siege of Rome removed his Camp and departed A little below which the Tyber commixeth with the River Aniene and here Torquatus overcame that French Gyant from whose neck he took that golden neck chain which because in Latine called Torques gave him the surname of Torquatus T is worth observation That the Water drawn out of the Tyber above the City towards the Sea maintains it self wholesome and clean for many yeers which comes to pass from the mixture of the River Aniene with the Tyber The water of the Aniene being thick and polluted with Nitre which preserves it and occasions that it cannot putrify without difficulty and the inhabitants along the Tybers banks above where the Aniene commixeth with the Tyber mingle the waters
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
amplitude antiquity is famous among authors being well fortifyed by its proper scite and nature against all stoâ—…my winds from its neighbouring mountains and the Countrey about it Giulio Capit placeth the Ports of Gaeta and Terracina among the other publique great and noble Acts of Antonio Pio Augusto as if formed by him Taking the Strada Appia between Mola and Suessa you will meet some grand structures of Sepulchres of the antients but laid wast and among other that which is shewed for the sepulchre of Marcus Tullius Cicero being supposed to be the same by Giovanni Pontano in whose time they say a piece of Ciceroes Epitaph was there found Yet Corona Pighio will not believe that Sepulchre can be so antient t is built orbicular covered at top by bricks which are supported by a pillar standing in the midst on the right hand of it lies the port whence certain stone steps conduct up to the Room above which are filled with thorns and bushes it takes name from the Dukes Palace standing opposite to it SUESSA THis City merits a most peculiar view being no less famous for its antiquity then the frequent recordation of antient writers in her as Dionysius Halicarnasseus writes in his 5th Book the Pemetini retired themselves when driven out of their Country Pometia destroyed by Tarquinius Priscus King of the Romans whence it began to be called Suessa and now Sessa it was also named Suessa by the Aurunci as Livy testifies who being overcome by Titus Manlius the Consul aiding their adversaries the Sidicini recovered this place with their wives and Children This City is scituate in the Campagna Vestina near the Monte Massico on the Strada Appia in a pleasant fertile Country and was esteemed for being the principal City of the Volsci as well as for being a Confine to the Romans t was made a Colony about 440. yeers after the birth of Rome as may be collected from Livy though Velius writes that people were sent thither and a Colony made three yeers after Luceria it groaned under frequent losses and important destructions both in the Carthaginian war and in the civil Factions but afterwards from these misfortunes rousing it self it flourished under the Emperors chiefly under Adrian and Antonini Pii as we draw from the Titles of Statues from the Elogies and inscriptions on Marble Tablets extant in divers places thereabouts On the right hand of the Church of the Preaching Fryers stands the tombe of wood of Augustinus Nifus a most learned Philosopher of his times Looking towards the Sea on the right hand you may observe populous places yet but villages excellently cultivated which are called the Casati di sessa At twelve miles distance from Mola you meet the River Liris in its descent from the Apenines and passage to the Sea pleasantly irrigating the neighbouring Meadows In these Marius hid himself in his flight from Sylla here also lies the Torre di Francolesse where Hannibal being besieged by Fabius Maximus escap't through that famous stratagem of making his enemies drunk these Meadowes were esteemed by the Romans as highly as any under their dominions as may be easily comprehended from Cicero who magnifies beyond measure the Strada Herculatea calling it a way of great delights and Riches contiguous lies the Monte Caecubo famous for being the producer of so generous wine and for having such celebrious Fens near which very much pleased Flaccus when he praised the Attick victory of Augustus in these verses Quando repostum Cecubum ad festas dapes Victore laetus Caesare Tecum sub alta sic Jovi gratum domo Beate Maecenas bibam This River Liris terminated old Latium which passed you came into the Meadows Minturna asore specified where you may see the Monte Massico and Falerno Sinvessa and Minturna and divers others places whose description you 'l meet with under Scotio in the mean time behold Capua CAPUA Capua of old the head of the Champain then was stigmatized with the Character of great arrogancy and wilful obstinacy as a-among others may be collected from Marcus Tullius who speaking against Publius Rullus Protests that the Campani the inhabitants of the Plain or Champain are haughty minded and proud of the goodness of their Fields the quantity of fruits the wholesome air and beauty of their City From which abundance sprung that foolish request which the Campani made to wit that one oâ—… the Consuls might be chosen out of Capua whose delights were such that they overcame and enervated the army of Hannibal before his arrival there invincible and powerfull above all others Cicero calls Capua the Seate of pride and mansion of delights and saies that it creates in the people such customes as if they proceded from the principal of generation when it may be rather supposed they happen from the nature and air of the place and custom of living and eating and hence it falls out for the most part that the genius of the place generates inhabitants like it self The new Capua is scituate on the banks of the river Vulturnus two miles distant from the old Capua the delight of Hannibal and Paragon with Rome and Carthage where the ruines of Theatres Acqueducts Temples Porticoes Baths Palaces and other Structures shew its former magnificence there also may be seen many great subterranean vaults and conservatories for water and pieces of vast columns sufficient testimonies of the power and pride of the old Capua although the new adjacent City hath drawn thence a great part of those infinite reliques Strabo will have Capua to be named from the Champain and Publius Maro likewise who calls the City Campana as also Tullius and Livius its Citizens and the other inhabitants Campani from their manuring great Fields in that happy plain of Campania now Terra di Lavore which most Authors as well modern as old extol for the most fruitful plat of earth in the Universe in a word t was the subject of Virgils Georgicks Yet the Poets Maro Lucan Silius and other sings that the Capi Trojani companions of AEneas gave to it Inhabitants walls and denomination Of her were first Patrones the Opici and the Ausoni and afterwards the Osci a Tuscan People from whom t was called Osca as Strabo writes these latter were driven out by the Cumani and they by the Tuscans who augmenting her power by adding eleuen other Cities made her the Metropolis and as Livy writes called her Volturno from the approaching Rivers name At last the Romans finding her potent a neighbour and in the heart of Italy a perpetual enemie and no less emulous of their Empire then Carthage it self terrible and fierce through the friendship and company of Hannibal reduced her under their dominion by raising many Forts about her besieging her to Famine and the slaughter of all her Counsellors and then they sould all the Citizens and other people together with the Campana forbidding for the future the City to have any head or publique assembly Magistrates
Counsel or other footsteps or honour of republique and commanded that her Palaces should be raised that she should be an habitation for husbandmen only and frequented by none but libertines Factors and other the viler sort of artizans In this deplorable condition lay Capua above one hundred and thirty yeers and her Champain Campania was the Romans publick to the time of the Consulship of C. Caesar who by the favour of the Julian Law made against the will of the Senate and nobility consigned his part by one and one to his Souldiers and first surrounding her with walls made her a Colony as appears from the Fragments of Julio Frontino when as from a resurrection she began and continued to flourish under the Emperors in the power of the Romans till she was taken and distroyed by Gensericus King of the Vandals who driven out by the Ostrogoths they possessed her and they expelled by Narsete he restored her but at last she was again ruinated and wholly destroyed by the Longobardi But t is not known in what time this new Capua rise out of the ruines of the old nor by whom transplanted at two miles distance although most likely that the Citizens driven away and dispersed by force and through fear of the barbarous at last retired themselves thither and pian piano by little and little out of the ruines of the abandoned Capua founded their new habitations the new Capua lying on the banks of the Volturnus is now a great and powerfull City whereof Julius Caesar Scaliger the Poet sings no lesse biteing than obscure in these verses Plammeasi valeat superare superbia fastum Pinguem luxuriam deliciosus amor Hoc mollem pinges Capuam Capuaeqne colonos Et quae alijs visa est nec sibi meta fuit Capua was the Metropolis of eleven famous Cities in Campagna which as also Carthage and Corinth Cicero esteemed so potent and rich as that he thought either able to sustain the greatnesse of the Roman Empire Hannibal writing of her to the Carthaginians saies that after Rome she had the second place in Italy AVERSA THe Road to Aversa lies through the Campagna Stellata and thence by the Leborina Pandolfus Collenutio the writer of the Neapolitan history affirms that t was at first called Adversa for this reason because the Normanni having planted and fortified their quarters in the ruines of old Attella against Capua and Naples founded in the midst of the way the beginning of this City to the end that from so convenient a place they might abate the force of two such potent Cities Having passed the River Liris you go through Campania the which as well in its abundance of Fruit Corn wine and oyl as in the frequenzy pleasantnesse and largeness of the Champain far surpasseth all the other provinces of Italy t is a Land which voluntarily receives the Iron and permits not it self to be broke up in vain but seems studiously willing to afford the Labourer the greatest usury t is named Terra di Lavoro and La Campagna and all the way from Capua to Aversa with good reason was called by Pliny Leborina quasi Laborina a Field in Campania where the stubble of the Corn is so great that the People do burn it instead of wood as we have it in Coopers Dictionary It hath had also the attribute of happy too which was never given to any other province of the world except to Arabia in the Orient T is therefore no wonder that the Cumani the Opici the Toscani the Samniti and lastly the Romans could not despise so great riches and plenty of all things In particular the Pianura Stellata is so fat and fertile that with good reason it holds the chief place in Italy for abundance of all sorts of fruits which the inhabitants call Campagna St ellata from that propitiousness of the stars it enjoyes Cicero in his orations stiles it the most beautifull Champain of the whole world Hence they fetch their Victuals for the Roman armies and this Caesar who then prepared his way to the Empire by gifts divided amongst twenty thousand Roman Citizens Here the Samniti to the number of three hundred and sixteen thousand were cut in pieces by Lucius Vetturius and Appius Claudius Roman Captains Here they make Macheroni in excellency a sort of eating composed of pieces of past boiled in water and put into a dish with butter spice and grated cheese upon them and here properly grows the Vino Asprino which is drunk at Rome with so much gusto in the great heats ATTELLA DE GLIOSCI THe old Attella was a Castle built by the most antient people of Osci t is a famous Castle and celebrated by all for the Satyrick lascivious ridiculous and sharp stories there rehearsed and thence stiled Attellane which afterwards with their facetiousnesse acquired such authority that from the mumming place of that Castle they mounted even the Roman Theatres at present both the Land and Towns can boast of nought save some Gentlemens and Lords Palaces there lately erected more of of it will be spoken under some Mediterranean places NAPOLI NAPLES AFfter eight miles travailing from Attella you arrive at Naples where in every corner as well within as without the City you behold as well beautifull places as proud Palaces made with great art and infinite expence This City is maritimate on the Mediteranean shore and spreadeth it self into a large circuit scituate among most pleasant hills lying on the north and east parts and on the south and west parts the Sea from whose port without the least impediment in a serene season may be clearly seen the two promontories Miseno and Minerva as also the Islands Capreas the delight of Tiberius Ischia and Prochyte of old so much celebrated by Srabo Virgil and other Authors who unanimously agree that the neighbouring people the Cumani built it and that t was called Parthenope from one of the Syrens there interred They write thatafterwards she was transplanted by the said founders for that seeming to them to flourish too much and to increase from the fecundity of the soyl they feared she might one day get the possession and into the room of their adjacent Mother Cuma for which fact they relate that the Cumani groāing under a most heavy pestilence were advertized by the Oracle that the means to pacifie that great affliction and disgrace was for them to reedifie the City and annually to honour with sacrifices the Sepulchre of the Goddesse Parthenope wherefore she was restored and rebuilt and thence t is inferred shee was called Napoli by a greek word there are also others and divers opinions about this matter as Licofrone Calscidese who in his Alessandria calls Napoli mano di Falero and Isaac Tzetze adjoines his interpretation that Falerus the Tyrant of Sicilia built Naples in Italy and that because he cruelly tormented and slew its strangers of what sort soever thence the story grew that the Syren Parthenope dyed
with art and in such plenty that they suddenly wet all the aspicients not thinking of it in the summer a sufficient cooling these Fields by the vicinity of the Vesuvius enjoy great plenty of sweet waters the Fire within forcing out many fountains of sweet waters purged and pure hence also the Sebeto acknowledgeth its being and the greatnesse of its Chanel being conveighed into all the streets of Naples by Pipes under ground to all the publique and private palaces and habitations so great comodity of all things brings to its inhabitants the Paradise of Italy as Corona Pighio frequently and not improperly calls her that flourishing part of the Neapolitan territory although many times afflicted with wars and earthquakes IL MONTE VESUVIO VEsevo or Vesuvio or Vesuvius so called by the Antients from the sparkling was a most fair mountain and formerly a goodly Countrey for about four miles compasse lay at top which then produced the excellent Graeco but t is now layed wast T is an imitator and companion or rather the Brother of flaming AEtna and is begotten by earthquakes and fire the materials whereof it continually retains in the profoundest part of it which as if withheld within it self for some yeers till come to maturity and as if the spirits were summoned and fomented with fury evaporates fire breaks open the firm parts of the Mountain and vomits forth its inward parts as earth stones flames smoke and ashes throwing them up into the air with horrid noise and with such force that the Vesuvio seems to imitate the war of the Gyants by fighting against Jupiter and the Gods with flames arms and huge stones some whereof four porters can scarce move and seeming to draw the Sun down to the earth to change the day into night and lastly to cover the very heavens Experience and the testimony of Strabo Vitruvius and other antient Authors assures us that under Vesuvio aud the adjacent Maritimate Mountains and of the neighbouring Islands are vast burning sires of sulphur pitch and allume the hot bathes and sulphu reons boyling fountains sufficiently prove it and therefore the Vesuvio when abounding with fire sometimes asends sometimes useth to move earthquakes and vast ruins and destructions That incendium was the greatest and most famous which happened under the Emperor Titus Vespasianus described in a print by Dion Cassius and other Authors the ashes of which fire were not only exported to Rome by the wind but over the Seas into Affrick and into AEgypt the Fish in the boyling Sea were dressed the birds were suffocated in the air and the famous and most antient adjacent Cities Stabia Herculeano and Pompeo were heaped and covered over with ashes and stones while the people were sitting in the Theatre and C. Plinius the famous Naturalist who then governed and commanded the Armada of Misenus too inquisitive after the cause of this intestine fire approached too near and by the heat and savour received his end by being suffocated near the Porto Herculiano Francesco Petrarca noting this acutely in his triumph of Fame saies he wrote much but dyed little discreetly Mentr'io moriva subito hebbe scorto Quel Plinio Veronese suo Vicino A scriver molto a morir poco accorto Yet for all that to Pliny succeeded so fearfull his dalliance Stephano Pighino himself not thereby fore warned could not forbear but took a voyage of 30. yeers old in order to his studies into Italy through Campania and Naples to the end he might search out and behold the place of such wonders although very high and no lesse difficult to ascend which cost him an entire dayes labour and with his two companions he marched round the mountain reaching the very top where he could scarce satiate his view in looking on the bourg the Countrey round about the Islands and the Sea Vesuvio riseth in the midst of a most fertile Countrey the ashes scattered over it the stones and clods of earth burnt by the fire and dissolved by the rain afterward infinitely enrich and fructifie all the countrey in such sort that the vulgar to purpose enough call Campagna the mountain and the Castle built at the foot of the mountain Sommano from Somma the sum and wonderfull abundance of generous wines and excellent fruit the Vesevo as well as the Campagna and neighbouring hills being surrounded with fair vineyards So also Martial sung that in his time it was green with the sprouts of the vines bewailing in his first book with a fair epigram that fierce fire happening in Vespasians dayes the top in all times and ages hath been ever held barren through the burned stones as if eaten up by flames T is hideous to behold the deep cracks in the earth through which the streams of sulphur pass but when arrived at top the Vorago represents hell so terrifying is the spectacle T is a hole about three miles compass and round as if formed like the middle and lower part of an Amphitheatre t is called Lazza from the form of the Rock Fish the bottom of it reaches to the bowels of the Earth The place is cold now nor seems it to emit the least heat or smoak which the said Pighius testifies who descended as far into that profundity as the the precipices and obscurity of the place would permit the first entrance of the Vorago is fertile through the earth and ashes cast on it and growes green through the firre and other great trees growing in it as far as the Sun can reflect into it or the rains penetrate but the parts under restrained to a narrow compass are as t were stopped by the great pieces of stone and rocks and arms and bodies of trees fallen down which obstructions when the in ward Materials of fire abound like little bundles of straw are easily raised and mounted to the skyes by the invincible force of its smoake or flames The fire also is known to open it self a way not only by the ordinary mouth but on other sides also as occasion offers whereof we have a memorial in the Italian Annales To wit that two hundred sixty and six yeers since in the Pontificacy of Benedict the 9th from one side of the Mountain gushed out a stream or river of flames which ran into the Sea in a liquid fire like water the issue and footsteps of which Cavern t is said appear yet The Roman History tells us that besides the mouth it had other issues and courses for the flames of old for instance it saies that Spartacus the sword-player having begun to raise the war of the Fugitives against the Romans in Campania and having possessed the mountain Vesuvius with his army as a strong fortress and sure retreat for war and being there afterwards besieged he escaped from the Roman siege by an admirable way for that covertly fastning chains at the mouth of the Mountain he with his companions let themselves down to the bottom as L. Florus briefly relates in his
heal internal wounds and are helpfull for many infirmities of the body which if any desire ampler satisfaction in he may read the Tract of Gio Francesco Lombardo who gives an account of all such as have writ in verse or prose of the baths and wonders of Pozzuolo but we are obliged to too much hast to relate with care and amplitude all particulars wee meet with In the Campagnia of Pozzuolo Baia Cuma and the near Island Enarie by the old Greeks called Pythecus are found great quantity of the like Miracles that it might be well beleived that there nature serves Apollo perpetually and AEsculapius Higia and the Nymphs although the earthquakes and the volleys of fire which frequently happen demonstrate sufficiently that in divers places that as well under the foundation of the Sea as under the Mountains and in the lowest parts of the Earth great fires are kindled whose boyling vapours and flames working their own way through the veins of Allum sulphure pitch and other materials cause to rise in divers places hot and boyling fountains and create baths in the Caverns comodious for sweating Yet the nature and faculty of these things are different being conformed to the propriety of the materials and the earth whence the source proceeds so that among the medicinal and healthfull faculty of these waters we find some waters and vapours mortal which issue out of some muddy earth evil in it self Pliny in the second of his natural Histories writes that in Italy and particularly in the Campagna of Siâ—…vessa and Pozzuolo are vents or breathings so evil that they evaporate a mortall air At the foot of the mountain which circles the Lak Anianus not far from the said waters appears a Cave called Grotta di Cane eight or nine paces in circuit by which mouth two or more men may commodiously enter together where from the inmost part of the stone from its invisible pores proceed hot spirits but so subtile and dry that they carry not with them any similitude of smoke or vapour although they condense the air driven thither by the wind and the colds of the Cavern with great heat and change them into water as the dâ—…ops demonstrate which hang at the entrance of the Cave shining like little staâ—…rs when they are beheld at the opening of the Cave by those without in the light they have been often taken for drops of quicksilver All men generally believe this Grotta to have such an innate property that if any living thing should pass the prefixed term of a certain ditch in the entrance it would without doubt suddenly fall upon the earth and would be wholly deprived of life if not immediately drawn out and cast into the near standing waters or pool called Agnano by whose coldness only in a short time by little and little it recovers Life Whereof Travellers dayly make experiments if curious to know the wonders of nature by casting in cocks or dogs or some other live creature to which they fasten a rope to draw them up by Leandro Alberto writes that Charls the eighth King of France when a hundred and 14. yeers since he drove out the Spanish and for some time Lorded over Naples caused an Asse to be driven in who suddenly whirled about and dyed Another who two hundred yeers since wrote of these baths relates that a foot hardy rash Souldier run in armed and dyed miserably Corona Pighio writes that in the presence of Charls Prince of Cleves the Spanish Captains cast two cheerfull dogs by force into the Grotta who strove all possible to avoid it as if they had formerly experimented the danger the which being taken out dead by means of the refreshing waters in the aforenamed Lake were restored to life one of which being again cast into the cave and being thence drawn cast into the Lake returning not thereby to Life was left for dead on the bank who not long after as waking from a profound sleep raising himself and limping and staggering so soon as possible ran away every one that saw it smiled and Charls praised the dog that he would not for that time become a victime to the beares after this tryal they cast a brands end lighted into the Grotta beyond the prefixed sign which come to the bottom seemed to extinguish and raised up a little higher to rekindle which demonstrated that the spirits proceeding from the superficies as more hot and dry in the bottom consumed the more subtil nutriment of the flame but having lesse vigour at more distance from the foundation they rather rekindle the hot and gross smoke and flames of the brandsend as we see the flame of a lighted candle will pass to another newly put out by means of the so oke and the beams of the Sun when united by a burning glass are very vigorous and will set tow or flax on fire if approached too near Pighius through his exceeding love to study travialing over Italy and having an extream desire to inquire into the nature of all things by which he might acquire knowledge wondring at the reports of the miracles of Pozzuolo resolved to search out the cause by a nearer scrutiny then had been made by others He could not beleive that those drops that hung so resplendent at the end of the Caverne were quick-silver wherefore being counselled by a certain juvenile and youthfull audacity he passed the proposed measure in the Cavern having enclined his body a little and getting somewhat nearer he found they were drops of clear water and taking them on his finger from the sharp pendent of the rock he demonstrated the truth to his companions requiring them either to beleive or enter and make proof Which also happened for that Antonio Anistelo and Arnoldio Niveldio two Holandesi noble youths and companions in the journey with Pighius got near who when he had for some time stood in the Cave and perceived the heat how it ascended from his feet to his leggs and knees yet underwent no other then a giddiness and pain in his head and sweat only on the forehead and the temples through the heat of the place he learnt by experience that that heat and those nocive vapours are not lusty and violent but when near their rise and there they kill small animals or great but chiefly the four footed because they alwayes go with their head downwards whereby being necessitated to draw in with their breath those hot and boyling vapours their vital spirits become suddenly suffocated with too much heat the which also are as suddenly releived by the imediate refreshment of the waters in the Lake if the animal be forthwith cast therein when drawn out of the Cavern Whilst Pighius was performing this an Italian who guarded some herds wondred strangely at his temerity and remained astonisht at the success many times demanding if he did it not by the magick art nor would he be perswaded that Pighius could avoyd the nocivenesse of that Grotta
otherwise then by enchantment or witch craft which made him mock at the plebeian simplicity laughing at the vulgar who for the most part attribute that to the Magick art which appears wonderfull and produceth stupendious effects from their incapacity to comprehend the cause but to return to our voyage From the Bucca Coronea we are brought to Zolfettara as at present they call those places which were of old celebrated with the invention of various fables of old Poets for these wonders of nature who sing that the Gyants buryed under this mountain even from hell cast forth of their throats Flames at that time when earthquakes happen Et montes scopulos terrasque invertere dorse These Mountains are full of Sulphure Allum and Vitriol the chief whereof as Strabo writes stood pendent at a few paces distance from the Colonna of Pozzuolo now distant from the castle Novo about a mile from the form of which place t is guessed that the top of this Mountain was at last consumed and emitted into the profundity of the near valley by the continual fires whence that which of old was a high and eminent top or head is now a great ditch in the plain of a valley and that which was of old the ribs and flanks of a mountain are now the upper part of shelfs and rocks which surround the plain with a certain fence in length about a thousand and fifty foot in bredth about a thousand foot Pliny writes that they were nominated from their whiteness Leucogei and the plain or Level Campagna Phlegerea from the flame and fire there ever extant which Silius the Italian confirms Cornelius Strabo calls this place the Piazza and shop of Vulcan where likewise some fable the Gyants to be overcome by Hercules here the Mountains seem continually to burn at their roots for that on all sides they emit smokes by many mouths which smell of sulphure which smokes are blowen by the wind all over the neighbouring Countrey and sometimes to Naples Antiently these Hills as we draw from Dion Cassius and Strabo emitted greater fires as also those about the Lucrino and Averno which are not a few burnt and emitted like furnaces gross smokes and flames Now the plain as also the hill Phlegrei are deprived of their perpetual flames and are cavernous in many places and become yellowish as from the materiall and colour of sulphure the earth when spurned by the foot resounds like a drum through its concavity underneath where you may hear with wonder under your seet boyling waters grosse and inflamed smokes to make a horrid noise and run too and fro through the subterranean Caverns which the force of the exhalation hath made which how great you may thence guesse stop any of those mouths or holes with a good great stone and you shall suddenly and with violence see it amoved by the strength of the smoke Here they compose medicinable pots of brimstone In the same plain or level lies also a great marish filled alwaies with a black scalding hot water which sometimes useth to change place and the waters making themselves hard as tryed sewit useth being cold to bind it self to the sides of the Vessel t is melted in do thereby and with the force of the exhalation increase or diminish When I was there it boyled with great noise and smoke as if it had been a huge chauldron filled with blackish mud and therefore exceeded not then its bounds and limits but I remember that at my view thereof this Vorago mounted and cast up of asudden like a Pyramides eight or nine foot high beyond the common stature of man that thick water yellow and of the colour of sulphure which also the people of Pozzuolo affirm adding that sometimes t will rise from sixteen to twenty four feet When the Sea is in a storm this water is of various colours though for the most part like sulphure and sometimes other according as the subterranean winds are disturbed by the sea blasts and being in vigoured among the flames with all possible force expels some of the earth mixed with divers colours from the deepest veins These very winds when most quiet under ground the top of the Fens or moors being only disturbed cause a gross thick water coloured with black to be cast out These things of such occult nature do certainly afford usefull and welcome matter for consideration and study to such as love to search thereinto which Cicero very pertinently terms the natural food of the mind And hence we certainly know that the globe of the earth is not in every part solid and massy but in some places hollow cavernous and full of vains and pores like as is the living body of any animal and that with the continual motion of the imbodied elements water and air it becomes penetrated and is by the same nourished increased or diminished together with its several kinds and changes of plants and that the earth soops up vast quantities of the Sea waters disperst on it by means of those pores the which being encountred by some fierce winds occasion a motion of those waters in its inmost part and in the straitest passages and the same winds there split in sunder among the rocks and stones grow violently hot and kindle vast fires the which conâ—…uming whatever they meet empty the internal parts of the earth and drawing to themselves through those pores the neighbouring winds together with great smokes they there augment beyond measure searching out an egresse with horrible noise and shakings of the earth and mountains Pellunt oppositas moles ac vincula rumpunt As more at large Cornelius Severus a most learned Poet hath declared in his AEnea and hence proceed the earthquakes whirlpooles and openings of the earth the forcing out of flames the rivolets of fire boyling fountains and hot vapours Dion Cassius writes that in his time the said Mountains of Pozzuolo had more fountains of running fire in the likeness of water that through the excessive heat the water took fire and burnt and the fires with the mixture of the waters acquired a fluxible corpulency in such sort that these contrary elements did not separate and we find even in our time that the flames and sulphure conserve and nourish themselves in these waters and that they endure for so many ages and never consume but alwayes continue and gush out in the same conduits the which Severus the Poet graciously sets down in these verses Atque haec ipsa tamen jam quondam extincta fuissent Ni furtim aggeneret secretis callibus humor Materiam silvamque suam pressoque canali Huc illuc ageret ventos pasceret ignes So also he writes of the Phlegrean Fields and of the same place between Naples and Cuma whereof we now discourse viz. Ejus ab aeternâ—… piâ—…guescens ubere 〈◊〉 In merces legitur As at present the King exhausts a great toll from that brimstone and merchandize of allum Wee observe furthermore
that these sulphurious or brimstone waters commixt with the saltness of the Sea and with the ashes of burnings turn into stone after they have cooled themselves by running a short course and that they communicate the same faculty to those rivers and brooks with which they commix whereof though a clear experiment cannot be had yet that innate quality in all the rivers of Italy as the Tybâ—…r the â—…everone the Lake of Luca in the Nera and others of vesting the sides or brims of the banks and the Conduits whereby they paâ—…s as also the conserves and receptions of their standing pools give sufficient proof Besides t is as clear as the Sun and dayly observed that their continued washing of wood plants arms bodies and roots of trees the stubble of herbs and the leaves by little little are covered with a kind of scurf of stone and by revolving become by chance formed like comfits of aniâ—…eeds fennel cinamon and almonds and so much resembling such that with no great difficulty some more greedy then wary have been cousened with them and in truth what Vitruvius Seneca Dione Pliny and others have writ of the wonders of Vesuvius and Pozzuolo seems beyond reason to wit that the waters receive that nature and particularity from the tenuity of the ashes of the burned sulphure which ashes the fire having in part reduced as small as atomes in part dissolved into liquid moisture and in part expelled by the vapours of the subterranean fires through the veins of the earth and by springs we observe to be converted into that dust which the antients called Pozzuolo from the place and that they unite so soon as they attain the waters and cooling with them attain the just substance of stone and that the waters which run by those places mutually receive a certain nature of connexing to any thing so that they easily cleave to the body they touch and make it become stone And for wonders of this kind scarce can any be found like those in the caves of the Apenines near the old chanel of the Aâ—…iene by Vico Varo where the waters distilling through the clefts and chinks in the Rocks in their fall by little and little form it self like stone in the likeness of high Collumns in divers forms branchy bodies of trees and monstrous bodies of Centaures and Gyants in which Caverns or labyriâ—…ths of pure darkness with candles may be found out objects which in one word may worthily be said to feed and satiate the mind of the curious searcher into the secrets of nature but beware that the light be not extinguished by the frequent flappings of the night batâ—… who thither retire as to a secure retreat by millions to avoid the light of the day Thus beholding the hills Leucogei and the various surges of medicinal fountains of baths hot baths and the Cavernes you go to Pozzuolo amids the great and spatious ruines of the antient Colony POZZVOLO THe Roman Empire flourishing that maritime tract of Campania about Cuma Misena and Pozzuolo was in great reputation for the temperature of the air the pleasantness of the scite the quantity of good waters and the extream fertility of the fields and therefore replenished with great possessions of the Gentry and proud Palaces of the principal men And to speak truth no other part of Italy nor of the Provinces or the world appears more proper for the consumption of the Romans riches then that peice of Campania lying betweeen Capua and Naples and extending to Cuma where with good reason the common saying was that Bacchus and Ceres contended for superiority the luxury and sensuality of which maritime places and Islands made the old Poets in their antient fables of delights call these the house and habitation of the Syrenes And this caused some old Poets and them of no small esteem to aver those things which happened between Ulisses and the Nymph Calipso to have been acted in the Island of Pozzuolo and not in Ogygia a place of the Thebans or in the Island of the Promontory of Lacinio which Goddess by some called the daughter of Atlas by others of Oceanus and Tethys was held a Nymph of the Sea and reigned in the Isle Ogygia receiving Ulysses when he escaped drowning and took this name from her adornments of body and delights she liued in Homer calls her a Nymph very well adorned with fair riches And in truth who considers the shores of Pozzuolo must in truth conclude that to his imagination a more pleasant delightfull and glorious place cannot be found out than it nor a Seat more inclined by nature to receive and carress Travellers thence t is that the Poets of old feign that Ulysses there fixing and dwelling recollected his many past peregrinations and perils and also in the Isle Ithaca whereof Dion Cassius and â—…hilostratus Lemnius in the Life of Apollonius make mention And although at present the whole is filled with ruines and every thing lies even with the earth through too intollerable sufferings by war and time yet are there objects enow which such as will reape any profit from the curiosity of the antient arts and histories ought maturely and with great industry to consider But to begin Pozzuolo is a City scituate on a hill in the midst of a shore of the Sea which though very fair and large cannot yet be at all compared in any part with the riches and grandezza of the antient Colony as may be clearly extracted from the wayes pitched with flint and the foundations of publique edifices whereof the Sea hath swallowed up one part earthquakes and wars the other It was a most antient Colony of the Graecians which the Samii conducted hither in the time of Tarquinius Superbus in the sixty second Olimpiad as the Chronologer Eusebius writes and Stephanus â—…ysantius confirms which happened about the time that the republique of the Samii was ty ranized by the three Brothers Policrates Silus and Pantagnostus At that time also Pythagoras Samius flying from his own Countrey in Morava attained the potent City of Italy Croione where he layed down a new Philosophy then called Italian and by it acquired a high esteem with whose Laws the Italian Cities being reformed from the Graecian by the indeavours of three hundred of his Scholars as Diogenes Laertius writes received the government of Aristocracy under which they lived happily for many Ages Others will likewise that the Colony of the Samii from the observance of the Justice of the most holy Empire wherewith it was governed was called Dicearchia by which name all the Greek writers stiled it and many times after their example the Latin Strabo writes Dicearchia was once the Piazza of the Cumani and that afterwards the Romans called it Pozzuolo either as some will from the many deep piâ—…s or as others from the sulphurious stenches of the waters there arising It became under the power of Romans in the warr with Hannibal when Capua was taken by
Annals sets forth who writes that his father was a man appertaining to the Censor whence t is impssioble but L. Pisone must have been his Father of whom the eloquent tongue of Cicero speaks so much ill as that he was banished whilst he was Consul He was then Censor in the seuen hundred fifty and third yeer whilst Caesar Dictator warred against the confederates of Pompey Among all the greatest charges and employments which the Calphurnian family participated they only twice administred the Censorship The first time L. Pisone Frugi was Censor after the Consulacy in the 695 yeer of Rome who being Tribune of the People prevailed for that Law against the rapine of the Provincial Magistrates and the second time fifty eight yeers after This Temple is so well built that in the space of so many ages neither Time the consumer of all things nor the insolencies of enemies who have many times destroyed the rest of the City have been able to ruinate which could not come otherwise to passe theâ—… from the beams being composed of marble in which scarce a fastning appears yet the impetuous force of the earthquakes have in part moved it out of order in such sort that the right angle of the Frontispiece is faln with a part of the Title where certain ruptures appear Of such esteem was this Fabrick that the architectors were not ashamed the work being finished to place their name there being Luccio Cocino Liberta of Luca and Caio Postumi as we read in the left wall of the Church in these words L. Cocceius C. Postumi L. Auctus Architect Many other holy sacred places that were therein are either faln to nothing or at least wise very badly handled The Temple of Neptune as Cicero affirms was the most famous of which some great Fragments to this day remain near San Francesco as vaults arches huge wals other places with their nooks for the statues but its columns and high ornaments of marble are taken away Also near the Amphitheatre are the footsteps ruines of a Temple which Antonius Pius Augustus had erected to Adrian the Emperor his Father who dyed at Baia in the Mannor house of Cicero as Spartianus relates Some yeers last past many fair statues and vast peices of Columnes and Marbles were amoved together with the Elogies of Nerva Trajan and Adrian the Emperors that is to say of the Father Grandfather and great Grand-Father to whom Antonius having created them Gods had 〈◊〉 sacerdotal sacrifices of the Flamins and their companions and hence some believe he obtained the surname of Pius the Pious as we are instructed from the aforesaid Spartianus and by Julius Capitolinus The Temple of the NYMPHES extant on the Sea Shore without POZZVOLO IT seems very likely that either the Sea or Earthquakes have swallowed up the temple of the Nymphs the which we read in the 8th Book of Philostratus Cennius in the life of Apo lonius Tianeus Domitianus the Emperour built on the sea shore without Pozzuolo he writes that t was built with white stone and that of old t was famous for divination and that in it was found a fountain of running spring water from the which though any quantity were taken away t was never perceived to diminish but this with â—…nfinite other antiquities is now gone to nothing yet now is evident at a little distance from the Land near the Via Campana in the Sea a fountain of sweet water which gurgles to this day with great force whose source may be alwaies perceived almost to admiration if the Sea be quiet and calm let the studious of antiquity consider if in this place the Temple of the Nymphes may have been which conjecture will not seem far from truth upon weighing the words of Philostratus who relates that Apolloneus Trineus appeared to his two Dâ—…sciples Damides and Demetrius was in the Temple of the Nymphes on the Sea shore without Pozzuolo who were disputing the nature of the abovenamed fountain where also is the Island of Calissus to whom the successes of what happened with Ulisses they relate in the fables Furthermore as t were in the midst of the Colony remains yet a most huge Amphitheatre little lesse then entire composed of squared stones the which not withstanding its ill treatment by earthquakes the taking away many of its stones and the plowing of its soyl yet appears in its first form enlarged into a more lâ—…rge circuit then was usual for the Emperors Leandro Alberto saies that by measuring he found it to be in length in the plain within 172 foot in bredth only 92. foot Ferrante Loffredo Marques of Trevico affirms this the most antient Amphitheatre supposing it to be built before Rome lost its liberty under the Emperours from an old inscription in marble there found demonstrating under what Consuls this Fabrick was repaired at the publick expence of the Citizens of Pozzuolo which inscription although much sought for by me I had not the good hap to see Many fragments of Acqueducts are yet to be seen which either passed through or surounded the Mountains nor is it an easy matter to number the conserves for the waters made in divers formes some entire and some ruinated by earthquakes many of which are under ground and very large which who enters without a clue of thread a light or a well practised guide may dwell there for ever so intricate are the labyrinths built without gates heads or turning streets from which we may assuredly know that the Romans with vast expence thither drew and therein preserved great plenty of those sweet waters abounding on that Maritimate coast The vulgar unskilled in old history as in all things very ignorant have most injuriously expressed themselves in giving ridiculous names to these edifices calling them Piscine mirabili wonderfull fishpools Cento Celle the hundred Cells and Grotte Draconarie Dragons Caves Soe also have they handled the fountains and baths in number forty or more between Pozzuolo Misseno and Cuma of divers sorts and efficacious for sundry diseases But t is not our purpose to look back and take notice by one and one of these things having already set forth whatever is there rare and worthy view we shall therefore referre such as desire more ample and compleat satisfaction in the like objects to Leandro Alberto and the other writers herein before mentioned The description of the Antient Port of POZZUOLO SUch and so great wonders as here by degrees present themselves to the view of the Traveller as he approaches the Sea side may well entertain him for like mountains in the waters rise the immense moles of the old Port that is thirteen immense Piles which spring out of the water like square Towers which in old time were conjoyned in manner of a bridge by frequent arches but now by fortune and antiquity those gross engines are separated and the falling down of some of the Arches renders it unpassable from one to the other which
stagne or Moore about a thousand paces distant from the allodgment of the Armada And therefore the neighbouring precincts as also the Miseno began to be accommodated for the Souldiers stations for that the Fleet there was wont to winter and both Strabo and Servius the Commentators upon Virgil report that the wood and Trees on Averno were cut down because they through their thicknesse rendred the air offensive and prejudicial to the health of the Inhabitants furthermore hills were boared thorough and leuel waies layed to the end there might be a short and facile accesse to the shores of Baia and Lucrino And that fresh water might never be defective with infinite expence and no lesse labour Rivolets from Rivers and fountains from springs were conveyed thither from a far off cisterns and conservatories were built vast enough in divers figures as the conveniency of the place afforded both in the plain and under the ground and in the very bowels of the hil that so cold water might be at all times ready for refreshing the bodies in the excessive heat of the Summer t is for these reasons that we find the Miseno in great part hollow and concave within and exposed to the air to the very top In which we see sitting places for washing baths lakes and tables for eating being within full of grotts waies and edifices arched here and there sustained by frequent pillars part built with brick part cut out of the same rock among which edifices the biggest conservatory of the waters called vulgarly Grotta Dragonacia is admi rable as are the conveyances into it for the rain waters descending from the Promontory the which Grotta is capable of many thousand butts being large beyond measure and twnety five foot deep the largness not being to be measured for that the vaults and ruines fallen into it have filled many parts of it all these conservatories are incrusted or plaistered with a certain hard composition used by the antients for rendring them tenable of the waters so that none could pass nor soak thorough the inward space between the walls is two hundred foot long and eighteen broad having four doors through which is entrance into four great chambers near these are other conserves different in artifice and grandeur That which vulgarly they call Cento Camere from the multitude of abodes by some thought to be Nerva's prison where among the other Fabricks they preserved their waters is wonderful for the vastnesse and art wherewith t is built its walls within are conjâ—…ined within in squares and support the vaults forming every where square chambers which on all sides have small doors by which may go from one to the other the servants whose office t was when the waters were spent to cleanse them of the dirt and soyle the vaults of these chambers have certain open holes whereby the waters might be drawn up as occasion required The Piscina Mirabili or Pool for water was admirable and famous and known by this name the which is yet almost entire on the back of the Promontory of Miseno toward the Port for the Navy and Cuma This Fabrick Leandrus Albertus affirms is inclosed by four walls is five hundred foot long and two hundred and twenty broad and the Vault somewhat higher raising a little archwise from the walls it riseth higher towards the middle being supported upon forty eight columns each of which is three foot square which being disposed into four ranks represent a beautifull and proportionable object for the whole length The whole Fabrick is composed of brick and the walls being of a great thicknesse render it of an extream firmnesse both the Walls and Pillars with in are exactly incrusted as useful to keep them from leaking and in the arch are many open ovals for drawing up the waters at each end were forty steps for descent to the very bottome The Pavement on the sides is higher even to the midst of the Porticue whence was a descent by fiue steps into a lesser chamber on each side and thence was a descent into another very narrow inclosed place into which t is supposed the waters purged their filth and uncleannesse the which was afterwards exhaled by the publique officers for this purpose called Castellarij from these conservatories of waters being denominated Castella in Latine All the Pavement is Terras beaten with all art and diligence so that to this day it holds the rain water like a dish in the lowest part of it Many variously conjecture who should be the first builders of so vast Fabricks some whereof suppose L. Licinius Luâ—…ullus to have been the first Author and that this was built out of the ruines of the said Lucullus his Villa which Plutarch and Varro write he built most proud in the Tract of Baia neare the Promontory of Misenus with whom agree Suetonius and Cornelius Tacitus who write that Tiberâ—…us the Emperor dyed in the same Villa whence hindred by the storms at Sea being sick he could not sayle over to the Island Caprea Others think this was the Fabrick of Nero and thence t is to this day called Peschiera di Nerone and Suetonius writes that he began a Peschery extending from Baia to Avernus covered and shut in by porticues But this conjecture pleaseth not me much nor any other who hath diligently seen those places who know the use of the like Fabricks to have been meerly for conserving of waters and for that these three Fabricks afore described lye so contiguous one to the other it may not be far from the purpose to imagine that 〈◊〉 and the Princes his successors built them for the use of the â—…leet since it is assuredly known the Souldiers thereof there continually lodged and wintred some vast fragments of their military lodges yet being extant and I remember that I copied out some Epitaphs of the Souldiers of the Armada from the near sepulchres wherein are placed the names of the Pretorian ships as Fede Isede Gallo wherein they had served whereof some brief ones for delight of the studious of antiquity hereunder follow D. M. Ti Porroniceletis Nat. Alex. Ex. III. Isidevix Ann. XL. Mil. am XIIII Titi. Us. Aquilibus Epidius Parisi III. Isid. H. A. M. fecerunt D. M. C. Senio Severo Manipulato ex III. Fide Natione Bessus Vixit annos XLVI Emilius dolens Erei E. M. Fecit D. M. C. Julio Quarto Ver Ex. Pr. N. Gallo M. Cecilius Felix S. Inâ—…ia Heraclia S. S. These had the captainship of the Fleet who constantly resided there as was Anicetus the libertine of Nero who was first his Master by means of whose frauds these there slew near the Bauli Agrippina his Mother In such a command though different from this was Pliny the writer of the natural history in the time of Vespasian at Misenus and there governed the Armada and Navy at the eruption and burning of the Vesuvius being with it shaken by the earthquake but approaching too near with his ships to
assist the oppressed Souldiers and to satisfie his curiosity in the occasion of those fires he was stifled by the ashes and vapours of this burning mountain as aforesaid where with his uncle Pliny was also G. Celius the son of his sister who related this story more at large to Tacitus the Historian And certainly waters were preserved in these Fabricks for use and delight both in Lucullus his Villa and many other places very numerous in that piece of a fair country all over which run pipes shores and chanels All the Sea shore and strond is deformed by the ruines of Towns and Villages of old full of houses and inhabitants in particular that part between Formia and Surentum moves compassion in the passers by at Sea which in the flouri shing time of the Roman Empire presented to their view at a distance the effigies of a continued City by the quantity of structures and proud Palaces beautifyed with all splendour pompous and vastly expensive and would any take that pains now as by a strict serutiny to take a particular account or to draw draughts and exquisite descriptions enough of importance might be found to satisfie his own Curiosity and to fill up a new commentary nay a just volume The Palaces were wont to be very pompous in those parts on the Maritime coasts being 150 miles in length Which was so filled with Palaces Cities Towns Burghs Baths Theatres and such other proud and magnificent Fabricks beginning at Baia and so continuing to F. Herculanus and Voliurnus that they seemed not separate but one great and fair City to which no prospect could be comparable But in this our time all things there are ruinated except Naples the head of the Kingdome and residence of the Viceroy and some other great Princes The Ville or Palaces of pleasure of the ROMANS THat we may gratefully please the studious in these things we thought it not from the purpose to run over some of the more noble Villes which the Romans had built in these parts That famous Palace then of Lucullus stood in the Terra Forma near the Promontorie of Misenus discovering the top of the near high hill and the other lesser between the port gulf of Baia where he first bought of Cornelia the Villa of Sc. Marius banished by L. Sylla which he amplified with Fabricks Gardens and sumptuous Fishpools the spaces of which Gardens appear to this day towards Cuma not far from the Cento Camere and footsteps of the Pescheries at the shore of Baia with grots and standing pools cut into the foot of the Rock by art that they might be a refuge and defence to the Fish from the scorching Sun in hot weather as M. Varro sets forth saying that L. Lucullus had given order to his architectors to consume as much money as they pleased so they made a sufficient defence for the Fish against the heat of the Sun and provided them secure retreats under the mountains so that when this work was compleated he might say he needed not envy Neptune himself for goodnesse of fish which shews that he had fishpools in many places And in the said Marcus Varro Q Hortensius the Orator reprehends M. Lucullus for that he had not after the example of L. Lucullus his Brother provided for the conveniency of his fish a retreat into the Fresco from the scorching beams of the Sun T is thought the Villa of M. Lucullus stood at the foot of the mountain Misenus towards the Isle Procyda antiently called Prochyte where under the waters may yet be perceived great ruines of Pescharies Villa Di Q. HORTEENSIO QUintus Hortensius had his Mannor house in the breast of Baiano near Bauli whereof some reliques yet appear on the shores and some are covered by the waters t is most certain and famous that he had then most fair fishpools wâ—…th some grots cut into the mountain for the refuge of his fish from the Suns ardoui so much were they then given to the like pleasures for which C. Cicero taunting him calls him God of the Sea and the most happy in his pescheries in that he had so domesticated the fish that they came at his câ—…ll when they heard his voice and much condoles the death of â—…is Muraena the Bennet fish which t is thought by sâ—…me will stay a ship if it stick to it of whom a friâ—…nd of his 〈◊〉 a pair of his Mullets he answered he woud rather give hâ—…m two mules out of his litter Pliny writes that after Q. Hortâ—…rsius Antâ—…nia the â—…other of Claudius the Emperor possessed these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pools with the same humour and that she so much loved a 〈◊〉 that she caused ear-rings of gold to be put on him in the wateâ—…s and that those places were so famous for this fact that mary 〈◊〉 to â—…auli purposely to behold it T is not certain 〈◊〉 Neâ—…o tâ—…e Emperor caused Agrippina his mother to be slâ—…in in this very Villa but if nâ—…t there t was not farr from it as may be collected from Cornelius Taciâ—…us in the 14th book of his Annals Domitia the Aunt of Nero had a Villa in that neighbourhood whereof in the 13 book of Tacitus is some memorial and Dion â—…ssius saies that Nero having poisoned Domitia his Aunt possâ—…ssed 〈◊〉 of her Livings near Bauli and Ravenâ—…a the contrary whereof â—…lius I am pridrius reports of the Emperor Alexander Severus to wit that besides many Palaces he built in Rome in honour of Julia Momea his mother he built one most sumptuous with its Pescherâ—…es calling the place Mamea which Ferrante Lofredo Marques of Trevico supposeth to stand in the midst of Baia where he likewise erected many other in honour of his Parents The Villa Of C. PISO THis stood under the mountain near the hot fountains hither Nero leaving the other charges of importance often retired for his solace as Tacitus declares in the 15th book of his Annals T is supposed that in this Villa Nero entertained his mother Agrippina at table many hours under pretence of the festival Quinquatrus a feast celebrated to Pallas five daies but with intention to make her return by night to her Villa at Bauli having before hand given order that in the return the Bark wherein she was should be sunk and she thereby be drowned as Suetonius and Tacitus relate The Villa of C. MARIUS of CAESAR and of POMPEY IN these confines likewise C. Marius Caesar and Pompey had their houses of pleasure as Seneca tells us in the second Epistle but they stood on the very tops of hills so that they had more the faces of Castles and Forts and places made purposely to protect the Countrey below then of Pallaces for solace Pliny speaks of that of Marius in the 6th chapter of the 18 book which was afterwards possessed and amplifyed by Lucullus near the Promontory of Misenus towards the Port. But the Villa of Caesar stood above Baia and on the top of the Mountain as Tacitus
testifies in the 15th book of his Annals whose vast foundations remain to this day under their old name neare the Temple of Venus That of Pompey they say was on the third Mountain between the Avernus and the contiguous Tritullian hot baths whence the surname they yet retain and there some yeers since was found a statue of Pompey The Villa Academica of Marcus Tullius CICERO Pliny in the second Chapter of his thirty first book declares that the Villa of Cicero made so famous by his writings was in these quarters between the Avernus and Pozzuolo upon the Sea shore with a most delicious grove and a spacious hall to walk in wherefore Cicero called it an Academy in imitation of that at Athens wherein they ordinarily disputed walking Here Cicero made his sepulchres and so much was he pleased with it that he often spoke of it and entitled some of his books from it Questiones Academicae Academick questions Atticus being in Athens Cicero in almost every letter recommended his Academy that he might send to him from Greece whatever could be had for ennobling it with fair ornaments wherein Atticus failed not according to the occasions in statues pictures and other the like ornaments Whence Cicero in his Epistle ad Attiticum praiseth his diligence and the things sent him Cicero being retired hither in the calamitous times of the Republique to spend away the time toyl and troubles with Books many of the Principal Romans repaired thither to visit him and take some counsel Of them was C. Caesar after the victory he obtained in the civil warr C. Octavius the Successour of Julius yet before he made himself Emperour with infinite others but after that Cicero was banished the Villa Academica was possessed by C. Antistius who was the Legat of Caesar and followed his faction in the civil wars A little after Ciceroes death in his Villa sprung up fountains of hot water good among other things for the eyes and sight celebrated by Tullius Taureus the freeman of Cicero with an Epigram set down among the works of Pliny who wrote this successe and judged that Epigram worthy of memory We must believe that this Villa stood where now the Stadio is taking that name from the length of Ciceroes hall whose ruines yet remain so distinctly as that it may be measured how long t was and although this Stadio seem to stand too far from the Sea in respect of that we read touching Ciceroes Academy yet this will not create any difficulty since the Sea may be in so long a space of time through divers causes retired because truely this Villa in Ciceroes time stood over water at leastwise conducted from the Sea by certain channels so that he eating at table might cast into the waters for the fish to eat angle and fish at his pleasure The hot fountains are extant in a neere field in a cavern underground at the root of the hill which are also of wonderfull nature because they increase and decrease according to the flowing and ebbing of the sea by day and by night in their increase they cast abundance of water into the bath and when full part of the water returns to the fountain and part runs into the Sea by a certain small chanel or gutter made to that purpose This Bath vulgarly called Bagno Ciceroniano the Ciceronian bath and by phisicians Praetense or Tritulliano is as gallant and entire an antiquity as any in the Tract of Pozzuolo These waters were so soveraign not many years since over most diseases that over every bath was written for what cures t was good of which inscription some letters yet stand but the phisicians of Palermo as they tell the story finding those waters prejudicial to their custom went with instruments expresly demolish't those writings so that for the present they are unusefull the said phisicians being all cast away in their return Thus much shall suffice touching Ciceroes famous Villa for that Leander and other writers treat sufficiently of its nature and others thereabouts From the commencement of Ciceroes Academical questions is comprehended that the Villa of Ter. Varro a most learned Roman was not far distant but the determinate place is unknown The Villa of SERVILIUS VATIA SEneca demonstrates in his fifty second Epistle to Lucullus that on the shore between Cuma and the Lake Avernus stood the Villa of Servilius Vatia the magnificence and vastness of which Fabrick may be comprehended from the fragments yet extant He saies two Caves were here built with great expence into the one whereof the Sun never entred and on the other it shone from morning to night into which ran a delicious water through as pleasant a Meadow with many Fish Hither Servilius a noble and rich Man retired himself at such time as Tiberius Caesar afflicted many noble Romans and applyed himself to honest Labour far from Rome in peace for which he was styled happy and obtained the fame of knowledge in his affaires above others by that meanes avoyding dangers Touching the dead and other notable things others have abundantly writ let this therefore suffice for the purpose of the Baianian celebrious Villa's since of the other particulars in the times of those old Roman Princes t is impossible to treat exactly all things being so wholly ruinated and destroyed that scarce any footsteps remain The old City of BAIA The most fair foundations and pitched Piazzaes of the old City Baia lye underneath the waters scarce any fragments remaining on the Land but in the neighbouring Mountains in every corner lye baths hot baths and structures of Admirable Architecture notwithstanding that many great Fabricks were burnt many thrown down by earthquakes and many swallowed up by the Earth In the Sea may be clearly seen the great old Piles of the Port of Baia like those of Pozzuolo built of Brick with intollerable expence which now seem like Rocks as do the enclosures and foundations which of old stood for defence of the Lakes Lucrinus and Avernus against the storms of the Sea which was genenerally believed to be made in this manner to wit that Hercules by his strength upon two carts abrest drew as large a peice of Earth as was requisite and that a mile in length to the place and there fixed it and therefore Posterity for a perpetual remembrance and acknowledgement of so great a benefit erected to him a Round Temple near Bauli whereof some fragments yet are extant But afterwards that repair being wasted by the Sea C. Caesar again restored and bettered it as may be collected from Virgils Georgicks and from Servius his Commentator with whose opinion Suetonius seems to accord saying that Augustus perfected the Julian Port near Baia whence t is supposed that Julius Caesar had first setled it which must have been in his first Consuâ—…lship by Commission of the Senate who gave him that charge at the instance of the Receivers of the Customs and Tolls upon their allegation that the
customes and Tolls much decayed in value through the ruine of that Port which was afterwards called Julia from the Reaccomodators name Julius Caesar. So saies Servius upon these verses in the second of the Georgicks An memorem potius Lucrinoque addita claustra Atque indignatum magnis stridoribus aequor Julia qua Ponto longe sonat unda refuso Tyrrhenusque immittitur aestus Avernis A wonderfull Adventure In our times that is in the yeer 1538 those adjacent Fields and places being for two whole yeers before shaken moved and disturbed in the end the night of the twenty ninth day of September between the foot of the mountain Gaurus and the Sea near the aforesaid Lakes there arose a new mountain called Monte Novo a mile high in the upright which now is in circuit at the bottome four mile A miraculous thing to fall out in one night At the birth of this mountain the shore and the waters of the Sea retired the space of two hundred spaces one great and entire town called Tripergolano was entirely swallowed up by the Vorago and gulf of the earth with some of its baths which were very celebrious and the near Lakes Avernus and Lucrinus were almost filled up with stones earth and ashes This was thought to have proceeded from the ashes which came out of Sulfatara how many other old memorials this new mountain hath covered cannot be known On the top of it is a large mouth about 50. paces in circuit which at the beginning vomited out fire at the bottome whereof are now found warm waters The Lake AVERNUS THe Lake Avernus hath been illustrated by the most esteemed Poets and diligently described by Strabo and other Historians for the Fables sake which the Antients gave credit to appropriated to it For this was consecrated to Pluto the God of hell Hereabouts as Fame went was the Poets Acheron or descent into hell and here was the gate of hell thorough which they caused to rise the infernal Spirits when any humane creature was sacrificed unto them And hence the Gimerian Priests the antient Inhabitants of this place sent down by certain Caverns into hell to find Pluto such Travellers and strangers as came to be resolved in any questions or to receive counsel or answer from Pluto To this day the vulgar believe that through the Caverns in the neighbouring hill hence denominated Monte della Sibylla one may descend to the subterranean residence of the Sibylla Cumana and that there she is seen and consulted by many which things Leandrus Albertus in his Italia diligently advertiseth Lactantius saieth that she among the other Sybils prophesyed of Christ. The Inhabitants further hold for certain that Christ returning from Limbus with the souls of the holy Fathers arose out of the earth through a certain mountain near the Lake Averuus and the Monte Novo and therefore they call that Mountain by the name of Monte di Christo which opinion some old Poets confirm writing of the Baths of Pozzuolo Est locus effregit quo portas Christus Averno Et sanctos traxit lucidus inde Patres And another Est locus Australis quà Portam Christus Averni Fregit et eduxit mortuos inde suos T was also believed by the multitude of hot waters springing out all over those quarters that this Lake reached to a vein of the infernal waters and therefore called Palude Acherosia the Acherontick Fenns from which Maro disagrees not when he saies Quando hic inferni janua regis Dicitur et tenebrosa Palus Acheronte refuso Though in truth this false opinion was augmented by the natural quality of the places and other circumstances to wit some rare and stupendious miracles which have there come to passe Then as to the Avernus know it lies in a low Valley almost surrounded by high hills clothed of old with thick and heavy Trees capable to keep out the wind Whence the Lake was not frequented by any but emitting an unwholsome sulphurous stink it so infected the air above it by being so closely 〈◊〉 by mountains and woods that Birds flying over it fell down dead and thence t was named by the Latins Avernus that is to say without Birds So also may we collect from Livy that in old time this Vale was a horrid place and esteemed altogether inaccessable for saith he the Romans waging war against the Samniti the enemies when the Romans put them to flight by whole Armies retreated into the Woods in the said Vale as to secure places But Strabo writes not so of it in his time but saies that then this vale and nearer hills were delitious places in respect Augustus had caused the woods to be felled and a free passage opened to the air At present the Lake is full of fish and water-foul nor hath it any of those incommodities attributed to it by the antients Yet t is true that not many ages since a vein of sulphurous pestilential water gushed out of the bottome of the Lake which suddenly killed a world of fish their colour and smell being cast on the earth confirming that to be the cause of their death Joannes Boccaccius in his little tract of Lakes saies he saw it with his own eyes in the time of King Robert about the yeeer 1380. The Sybil Cumana was she which gave AEneas free passage into hell as Virgilâ—…aith â—…aith she was called Cumana of the City of Cuma here under treated of and was one of the twelve Sybils all which prophesyed of Christ though some more obscurely yet two so fully that with submission I shall here insert somewhat of their prophecies touching the Saviour of Mankind SIBILLA CUMANA GReat Rome shall then look high Whose proud Towers from seaven hills shall brave the sky And overlook the world In those blest daies Shall come a King of Kings and he shall raise A new Plantation and though greater far Then all the Monarchs that before him are In Majesty and power yet in that day So 〈◊〉 and humble he shall daign to pay Tribute to Caesar yet thrice happy he That shall his subject or his servant be And the SIBILLA ERITHRAEA to this effect THe times by the great Oracle assigned When God himself in pity of mankind Shall from the heaven descend and be incarnate Entring the world a Lamb immaculate And as himself in wisdâ—…m thinks it meet Walk on the Earth on three and thirty feet And with six fingers all his subjects then Though a King mighty shall be Fishermen In number twelve with these war shall be tride Against the Devil world and flesh their Pride Humility shall quell and the sharp sword With which they fight shall be the sacred word Establish't upon Peter which foundation Once laied shall be divulg'd to every Nation At one side of the Lake Avernus is the Temple of Apollo at the other this Sibilla Cumana her Grott which is very spatious having at the end a magnificent ascent where the oracle stood with
Pelestrina named Suffucius by frequent advices and menaces which he had in his dreams was commanded to break out of a certain place a great flint stone wherat all the other Citizens his Compatriots fell a laughing but when the stone was broke the Lots or Chaunces suddenly leaped forth engraven in antient Letters which occasioned their honouring of Fortune in that place and thence became the place by little and little enclosed and shut up through respect of the Image of Jupiter there devoutly adored by the Matrons in form of a boy childe sitting with Juno in the lap of Fortune in a posture as seeking out the breast and teat and that at the same time after the Temple of Fortune was built there dropped honey from an olive tree wherewith by commandement of the Southsayers was made a chest and therein those Lotts were reposed the which were mingled and drawn out by a litle boyes hand when ever they would see the issue of any thing as Fortune had at large directed her intention to be that after this manner they should draw out the Lots This observation was most antient and such as affirm L. Sylla to be the builder of this Temple deceive themselves Which errour they took up from their reading the thirty sixth book of Pliny who doth not say L. Sylla built that Temple but that he began to make its pavement with small stones of various colours in small figures of which pavement thus wrought some yeers since certain parts were found under ground and therein figured many forrein creatures with their names in greek It may then be rationally believed that L. Sylla being victorious in the civil warrs after he had enforced C. Marius the younger to dye and his other enemies who had saved themselves in Preneste after a long siege took the City killing some part and selling others of the Citizens but repenting afterwards his impietie expressed against the sacred places for expiation of that crime he resolved to restore and embellish anew the Temple profaned and almost wholly destroyed by him It seems a notable advise and observation to me that the strength of the scite of this City hath occasioned its own destruction which hath had a much contrary event in all other strong holds The cause whereof is attributed to the assured confidence of the strength of the place for which cause in the civil warrs the weaker part ordinarily fled thither for safety but their enemies being stronger and more potent immediately layed siege to it so that at the end if they surrendred not themselves the besiegers ruined the poor City whence we read that in the following times of civil discord the Pelestrini that they might not undergoe so great misery as formerly they had done abandoned their City and retired to their dwellings To this day appear there many subterranean waies from the Castle to the foot of the adjacent mountains besides the Caves used as conservatories for water which were made for introducing of assistance or to fly the City occultly into one of which C. Marius the younger having withdrawn himself and perceiving himself to be beseiged on all sides so that he could not fly that he might not living fall into the hands of his enemies agreed with Telesinus to run one against the other with their naked swords so to kill themselves by which means Telesinus was slain but Mvrius remained alive thorugh desperatly wounded and soon after caused one of his Seâ—vants to make an end of his then begun death by killing him From which successes the Inhabitants of the place believe the stones of those subterranean waies to be still reddish with the bloud spilt there which yet is not so for over all those hills are stones red by nature and not through any accident of blood spilt thereon Preneste was first a free City and confederate with the Romans having its own Praetor as Livy and Festus declare calling her Municipal Appianus saies that the Prenestini at the time of the Italian war were made Citizens of Rome with the â—iburtini but some time after L. Sylla victorious as Cicero speaks in Catalines conspiracy having emptied this City by slaughters and banishments and deprived her of inhabitants by the many expulsions slaughters and banishments he made of them there remained so few inhabitants that he sent of the Romans to dwell there dividing its Territory among the new comers and thus made it a Roman Colony Aulus Gellius saies in the third Chapter of his 16. book that afterwards the Prenestini obtained of Tiberius Augustus a restoration to their first state that is into the condition of free Citizens having the form of a Colony wholly amoved from their City TIVOLI WHen arrived at Tivoli first go see those gardens which Hippolitus Estense Cardinal of Ferrara planted with so much cost many yeers since upon the back of the mountain together with a proud Pallace which also is beautifyed with old statues Pictures and royal houshold stuffe even to the emulation of the greatness and magnificence of the Antients But who is able with sufficiency ever to display in words the exquisite delights costs pleasure wherewith this place and palace is plentifully furnished and who shall relate the Labyrinths the Groves the half circles the triumphant Arches the Arches laden with old statues the Caverns of the Nymphs and the innumerable fountains which every where sprout forth waters the close walkes and beautifull arbours covered with trees herbs and tender branches and other like verts Ubertus Folieta of Genoua heretofore described it most gratiously But Corona Pighio cannot satiate himself with praising of it who published descriptions of that Palace and the gardens in Rome stamped from brasse cuts the view whereof in my opinion may draw as many persons to behold it as Rome doth with all its wonders Although we have scarce courage enough yet conformable to that published Table will we cursorily describe it for satisfaction of such as have not had the good fortune to see them or at least their draught in picture First then the Hill is levelled at top and upon the plain thereon is erected the Palace built of square stones with the grandure and magnificence of a Royal palace and with exquisite art and proportion On the right hand whereof lie enclosed gardens called Secreti and therein sixteen great marble Goblets emit clear waters in the midst whereof sits a Janus Quadrifrons with four faces higher raised then those goblets which makes four other fountains adorned like looking glasses and on the right hand a Tennis Court and other sumptuous places for exercise The forefront hath between the windows many old statues of Marble as hath the first Porticue from which lead two fair stone staire-cases up into the palaces Before this Porticue in the midst of a Piazza stands a Leda which Leda was wife of Tyndarus King of Laconia with whom as Poets feign Jupiter accompanying she brought forth two eggs of the one whereof came
find engraven on the said Tomb chiefly for that Suetonius testifies it was the custom by order of Augustus for the victorious Captains to accomodate the Roads with the spoiles taken from the enemies to which he â—…onnexeth this other conjecture that is that in the third elogie of P. Plinius of whose memorial or Epitaph though a part be fallen in his Mauseolus or Tomb yet enough remains to satisfie the studioâ—…s in antiquity we read among other Titles of honour that this was not omitted viz. That by the comand of T. Clâ—…udius Caesaâ—… he was elected by the neighbourhood Prâ—…rator for accomodating the Road or high walâ—…s A DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF SICILIA OR SICILY Sicilia is an Island of the Mediterranean Sea seated betwixt Italy and Affrick but between the South and West t is separated from Italy by a neck of the sea It s form resembles a â–µ in greek for that it hath three corners every one whereof makes a Promontory which are Peloro Pachino Lilibeo now called Capo del Faro Capo Passero Capo Boco Peloro looks towards Italy Pachino towards Morea and Li libeo toward the Promontory Mercurio of Africk and to speak according to the aspect of the climes Peloro lies Eastward Pachino between South and East Lilibeo between South and West On the North this Island is washed by the Tirrhene Sea on the East by the Adriatique and Jonian Sea on the South by the African Sea and on the West by that of Sardigna It was called Trinacria either from its three Promontories or from the King Trinaco son of Neptune and Triquetra or from the three points of the Triangle and Sirania from the Sirani and after that Sicilia from the Siculi descended from the Liguri who beat out the Sicani It is in circuit as by the moderns is judged setting aside the diversities of the antients six hundred twenty three miles from Peloro to Pachino one hundred and sixty miles from thence to Lilibeo 183 miles from Lilibeo to Peloro 211. It s length from East to west is 150 miles but its bredth is not equal though on the Eastern part t is 160 miles broad diminishing afterwards in bredth by degrees being most straite at Lilibeo The head of all the Island is the Territory Ennese It hath on the north side ten Islands which lie round it the Antients numbred but 7 whose names are Liparce Vulcania or Giera Vulcanello Lisca-bianca Basiluzo Thermisia Trongile Didima Fenicusa and Ericusa Sicilia is divided into three provinces which they call Valli or Vales that is into the Val di Demino or Demona the Val de Noto and the Val di Mazara the Val di Demino commenceth from the Promontory Peloro and is the shore on one side to the River Terria and on the other to the River Himera which dischargeth it self into the Tirrhene Sea The Val di Noâ—…o begins at the River Teria and with it extending it self inwards and traversing Enna it descends with the river Gela and ends at the City of Alicata But the Val di Mazara comprehends all the remaining part of Sicily to Lilibeo This Island was some time conjoined to Italy whereof the modern authors as well as antient render a large testimony though there are some who take it for a ridiculous opinion It is esteemed for the salubrity of the Ayre the abundance of terrene sustenance and plenty of all things necessarie for mans use very excellent as placed under the fourth Climate much more benigne then all the others whence t is that what ever this soyle of Sicily affords either by its own nature or the Ingenuity of man is accounted next to those which are cryed up for the best It produceth corn in such abundance that in many places it yields 100 for one Wilde Oats grow there of themselves as also the Vines which gave occasion for the Fable of Ceres Proserpina Their wines are most delicate as is the oyle of Olives whereof they make great quantities Their Canes too are admirable called Ebosia heretofore now Cannamele whereof they make Sugars Their Bee hony is there so good that by the antients as a proverb t was used the Hyblean hony of Sicily which affords great store of wax the Bees using the very tronks of trees for their hives there gathering excellent honey Their fruits of all sorts grow with much plenty and goodnesse they gather all sorts of Plants and medicinal herbs and their saffron is better then that of Italy as are their roots of wilde palm trees which are gustfull to eat The mountains AEri are so plentifully furnished with sweet waters fountains fruitfull and pleasant trees that they have many times preserved a great Army of the Carthaginians when near famishing Other mountains produce salt as Enna Nicosia Camerata and Platanim where they take out salt stones There also are the Caves or Pits for salt made of the Foam of the Sea resting upon the coâ—…sts but neare I ilibeo Dâ—…epano Camarino Macanio and other places they take up the sea water put it into pits and thereof make salt They also draw salt out of other parts of Sicily from the Lakes as near Pochino a wonderfull thing what by the rain and fresh waters falling from other fountains the Lake may be increased in a little time is dryed away by the Sun They also make here great plenty of that silk which they draw from their silk worms Nor is Sicilia lesse enriched by her Metals and Mines having Minerals of Gold Silver Iron Allum and on the banks of the River Acate grow pretious stones as the Emerald and Agat stone and the clear Bartina which is whiâ—…e in circuit and black spots in the midst and in forms of several Creatures as birds beasts men or any other which they say is an Antidote against the biting of the spider or Scorpion Soâ—…nus saies too that t will make the Rivers stop and that Pirrhus had one stone of this sort in a ring wherein was engraven Apollo with his Scepter and the Chorus of the nine Muses with their Ensigne at Graterio they dig the Beril or Sea water stone in great plenty and Porphiry stone red and traversed with white and green stroaks Here also they take up the jasper stone being red and varied with several clear green and white spots which ennobles the stone And in the sea of Messina and of Drepano there growes Corrals a sort of sea Plant much commended and sought after Sicilia is likewise Famed for the Chase of the Goat and wilde Bore for the fowling at Partridge and God wit And all other sorts of Birds and four-footed beasts both for delight and profit are there in great plenty beside the Falcon and other Hawks which there are taken The Fishing also is greatly abounding particularly for the Fish called Tunâ—…y Fish whereof they take not only at Pachino as the Antients wrote but also at Palermo and Drepano and in all the River which is washed with the Tyrrhene
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
Facil ascent stands the Rotonda of the Signors Counts Oderico and Mario Capra Brothers so called from the round â—…upola at the top or likeness it hath with the Pantheon at Rome which covers the Hall of the same Figure They mount to it by four ample Marble pair of Stayrs where are four spatious Chambers worth seeing for the fair Columns which seem of an excellent Marble called Paris From each of which one may behold various prospâ—…cts from one an immense campagna another the large Theatre and Town the third mountains over Mountains the Fourth Land intermixt with Waters so that the eye rests marvelously contented The round of the said Hall garnished with Figures of Plaister of Paris and Pictures and bordered with gold receives its Light from the Top like the Pantheon of Rome The Chambers are all guilt mingled with Histories of excellent Invention and Pictures drawn by the hand of Alessandro Magaâ—…a a Vicentine Palladius made this his Masterpiece for t is so contrived that it conteynâ—… Geometrically a Round a Cross and a Square And if in any place the Heavens seem to display their eternal Beauty more than in other t is there They use to say that Apollo and the Sisters with their Chorus so journ there And that Bacchuâ—… resides in his deep Seliars which are so vast and filled with the best wines and they with so much liberâ—…lity and bounty free to all persons That they must not be passed without a visit nor the Gardens filled with Citrons and all sorts of outlandish Flowers all which are splendidly governed and freely shewed to all Strangers with all kind acceptance from the Patrons The passage over the Park of Longara planted with incomparable fruits by the said Counts will not appear tedious at your arrival at Custoza beautified with the Acquâ—…ducts for wind which driving the Fresoo upon the Palaces exceedingly temperate the heat of the Sun in Leo together with the most cool Wines kept in those great Cavernes in Snow whose dry and wholsome Ayr though as t were congeled makes them be infinitely frequented in the Summer as a most singular delight and without a Parallel On the right hand of Custoza having traversed the Bridge Bacchiglione and drawing some miles towards Padoua is seen the Castle of Montegalda formerly an important Frontier against the enemies but now by the benefit of this Peace become more like to the Castle of Alcina the storehouse for the Munition being now applyed to conteyn waters for the use of artificial fountains and the Ditches converted into walks planted with Citron and Orange Trees whose blossoms afford a most pleasant odour into the Palaces but not to come to near Padoua already so fully visited let us return by Custoza again to Vicenza and in the way thereto leading by the River side between it and the Mountains behold the Vicariate Barbatona whose Hils called Alcini a little hanging and receiving the heat of the Sun at high Noon afford those delitious wines esteemed only fit for the Palate of an Emperor called Monte Alcino From Vicenza desiring to go to Ferrara they travail by Poiana which terminates the confines on that side where the most Noble Palace of the Count of Poiana most worthy of its Builder Palladius and furnished with excellent Pictures deserves a serious view A mile forth of the Gate of Saint Bartolemeo stands the Palace of Circolo appertaining to the Count Pompeoi Triffino built after the modern Architecture by his Grandsir Giovan Ciorgio a famous Poet and no less skilled in this Art than in all others as well as the liberal Sciences which deserves a visit for its compact structure and excellent Invention whence advancing over a fair plain one reaches at some miles distance the pleasant Country of Breganza famous for its sweet and flavorous wines Turning on the left hand a rough Country conducts one to Maarostica a Seat for a Podesta and a large Castle the Country and Birth place of Angelo Mateaccio a most learned Man and Reader of the Civil Lawes for a long time in Padoua at the same time Alessandrio Massaria was Chief Reader in Phisick and of the Conte de Monte both Vicentines and the Escuâ—…pii of this our Age and from Marostica at three miles distance is seated Bassano now out of its Territories heretofore comprehended in them and to this day in Spirituals governed by the Bishop of Vicenza On that part of Breganze which is washed with the Aflico is Scituated Lonedo and the Palace of the Signory Coâ—…to Alessandro and Girolamo Godi built at excessive expence on those Craggy places whereto ascended though with much pains and some sweat t is compared to the Mount of Virtue for that having gained the Top there is found what may restore one with such plenty and gentleness that it may be said the Goddess Abondantia there had emptied her Basket The Architecture is most exact the Pictures of excellent hands the Prospects wonderfull the Fountains Beautifull and the Cittrons and sweet Flowers for all seasons not despicable but above all the affableness and Civilities with which the Padroâ—…i treat all Srangers is most to be admited Through the Gate Santo Croce they travel to Trento the Country whereto is bounded with a continued List of little Hills which afford most delitious Wines till arrived at Schio where they mount on very cragged waies Schio is a principal Town Seated at the feet of those Mountaines at 15. miles distance from the City filled with Merchandize and modities it conteins five thousand Souls a People neat and civil as well as Warlike It gave birth to Giovan Paolo Mamfrone who from a private Souldier arose to the chiefest honors in Wars and both he and his Son Giulio are not a little famed for their excellent Conduct and valour in Histories Through the same Gate taking the Strada militare at ten miles Journey presents it self Tiene a noble Town in a most pleasing scite and not a little beautified by the Palace of the Count Francesco Porta which though built after the antient Architecture is nevertheless full of Majesty beautified with springs of running water Labyrinths spacious Gardens Citron and Orange Trees and an Ayr pure and sweet even to ravishing admiration Two mile further upon the raised Hillock of Carè is lately erected the Romitorio by the Charity and free gifts of the Peaseants of Romiti Camladolensi whose situation with their quotidian industry and labour must soon render the place such and so beautifull that it may dispute the Palm with the chief houses of Religion From Piovene a large Town coasting the Monte summanno and the Torrent of Astice by the confines of Furni one arrives at Trento by a very ill way only capable of Horses at 28 miles end Along the Astico where they take red Trouts may be seen those Edifices wherein is mrde writing paper the Furnaces and Forges for Iron and the sawes which being drove by the Waters saw that Timber
and reduce it to forms which in great abundance grows on these Mountains which also serve for the feeding their Flocks and Herds The Summano is famed for its rare simples and for the Temple of Mary the Virgin which according to common belief was heretofore dedicated to the God Summano which Idol being destroyed by Saint Prosdocimo the Temple was consecrated to the Mother of God Some yeers since was found there a most antique Stone engraven with Roman Letters which by the Learned is intepreted thus Palemon Vicentinus Latinae Linguae Lumen And gives confidence that Palemon was buried there which Rhemio Palemon the Vicentine flourished in the time of Augustus in Grammar and Rhetorick when those professions were in much more esteem than at this day the very Emperours in those dayes not disdaining to assist therein From Piovene you ascend to the Sette Communi which are seven Villages filled with a great number of most fierce People dwelling on those Mountains whom one would think created by Nature for a Parapet to the Vicentines against the incursions of the Germans Their Language is so strange that though it approach the German as much as it can yet the sharpness of their pronunciation renders it unintelligible even to the Germans some think they were the Reliques of the Gothes They enjoy many exemptions for their fidelity to their Prince and the City Maximilian the Emperour in February 1508. attempted by this part to surprise Viceâ—… with a flying Army descending from Trento but the noise thereof spread and the Peaseants raised by Girolamo and Christofero Capra with others of their Family in Piedment who having possessed themselves of the narrow passes of Asiago and the Fâ—…rni with five hundred Souldiers of their party opposed his Army compelling them with much slaughter to a dishonourable retreat Their Readiness and Valour in which action was greatly acknowleged by the Venetian Senate In Sum All its Territories are most beautifull the Hills contending with the Valleys for fertility and goodness The wines there growing in great Plenty are esteemed without compare the best of all these Countreys which occasioned the Proverb Vin Vicentin c. with that variety of Colour and Tast a rare thing that both Winter and Summer the most delicate Palate may meet its full satisfaction There being Wine sweet and sharp which please and cut Aromatick and Fragrant Stomachal and brisk with a hundred other real differences all most digestible healthfull and gratefull to the Palate It produceth Corn of all sorts Pears Apples and all other Fruits for every Moneth in great abundance The Peasants have such infinite numbers of Calves and Kids that they supply half Venice whither the conveniency of Water and cariage invites them to vent the superfluities thereof as also their admirable Venison Partridges Pheasants God wits Quailes and Quoists and although their Fining is not equal to their Fouling yet they want not either red or white Trouts Lampreys or other Stone-fish besides what certain Lakes afford of excellent sorts They much inrich themselves by the Craft there much used as well within as without the City of making Cotton Clothes which are esteemed no loss for their goodness than whiteness They have likewise great quantities of Silk-worms and therefore t is that their Countrey is so well planted with Mulbery-Trees whereof the Woâ—…s feed and thereof they extract at least 500000. Crowns a yeer distributing them to all Merchants that resort thither for them which much adds to their Riches here also they fetch Fullers Earth for many uses into several Countreys as also the Sand wherewith at Venice they pollish their Looking Glasses Trento affords them some mines of Silver and Iron but much Stone for all sorts of Structures some whereof for their hardnese are compared to the Istrian Stone and others for their fineness to the Marble of Carrara The conveniences of Tymber Stone Sand and unslacked Lime considered with their active and ingenuous Natures together with the laboriousness of the Peasants and the beauty and variety of Sites is that which nourisheth so much the Art and discipline in their Workmen of the Architecture of 〈◊〉 Whence Botero deservedly accounts this Province for one of the four most delitious and rich Provinces of Italy It s Ayr being so pure and healthfull that they reach great Ages besides that this Cliâ—…t in all Ages hath produced Men eminent no less or Learning than Arâ—…s as appears in the Histories and enclines the ordinary sort to a certain Spriteness and aptness to all occupations and exercises In its Territory they number one hundred and three score thousand Souls which added to them of the City amounts to two hundred thousand dispersed into 250. Towns and Villages which are governed by two Podesta'es and eleven Vicariats Noble Venetians and Noble Vicentines whose Jurisdictions are limited to civil matters only Criminal Causes being wholly reserved to the Consulary The Prince draws from Vicenza eighty thousand Duckats annually without the least charge and makes the Province to maintain three thousand select and well disciplined Foot under four Captains who alwaies reside at their several Quarters and the City one thousand Muskeâ—…teers Also for the urgent necessity of War they have made a new calculation of such persons as are fit to bear Arms from 18 yeers old to 20. and they have thereupon enrolled in a Book the names of 16000. flourishing brave Youths Its Territory is one hundred and fifty miles in circumference Vicenza is distant from Padoua 18. miles from Venice 43. from Verona 30. from Mantoua 50. from Trent 44. from Treviso 33. Thus for a conclusion we may with truth affirm that reflecting on their Political State the strength of the City which consists not so much in the circuit of the Walls as the Liberty and amplitude of its Territory Their riches and the number Valour and gallantry of their People Vicenza will find few Cities equal and consequently will find no small esteem from a wise Prince VERONA The Antient. T Is the Vulgar Criticism on this name that syllabilzed It comprehends the three first syllables of the three head Cities of Italy Ve Venetia Ro Roma Na Napoli others more stricty interpret that whatecer may be found in those three Cities abounds there Verona is reckoned amongst the most Noble Cities of Italy Built long since by the Toscanes was one of the twelve by them cmoÌ„anded on this side the Apenines The Galli Cenomani peopled it having beat out the Toscanes It s name as some other say was taken from an antient Noble Family of the Toscanes called Vera. It is seated near the Mountains towards the South as t were in a plain and is in form little less than a Square In the time of Augustus Caesar it was much larger as many inducements make us believe among others That t is written they used to set forth 50000 Souldiers which appears no great wonder since Cornelius Tacitus called Ostilia a Burrough thereof though