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
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
ample that it had more the face and semblance of a City than of a single house within were comprehended Fields Lakes Woods and a Gallery of a mile long with three ranks of Pillars many of its Chambers were guilt and adorned with gems and the Temple dedicated to Fortuna Seia had in it an Image of the same Goddesse of transparent Marble On the left hand stands the Arch Triumphal of Constantine the Great as yet whole and perfect with all his victories and statues carved on it This Arch was erected in honour of that Emperor by the Romans after he had overcome at Ponte Milvio Maxentius who had tyrannically oppressed Rome and Italy At present they manage horses in the Coliseo And near it rises a proud Fabrick in form of a Pyramid which was called La Meta Sudante for that thence issued Streams of water whereof such as had disposed themselves in the Amphitheatre to see the sports had given them to satisfie their thirsts when desired by any Thus ends the second dayes Journey The third dayes Journey of ROME LEaving the Castle Saint Angelo on the right hand of the Torre Sanguina passing through the street Orso where it divides you find the house of Bildo Ferratino in the frontispiece whereof stands a statue of Galba the Emperor with other figures In the Palace of the Duke of Altemps they shew many monuments of Antiquity Epitaphs Inscriptions aud Reliques which wonderfully delight the eyes of skilfull Artists and ingenious Men among others the statue of Seneca the Philosopher and the Vestry and Chapel of the Duke clear demonstrations of the piety and religion of the Patrones Near it stands the house of Cardinal Gaetano containing some rare Antique statues Towards Navova is the Church of S. Apollinare formerly the Temple of Apollo and behind it the Church of Saint Augustine where the Tombe of Santa Monica his Mother is shewed with her Reliques That spatious Court before the Palace of the Dutchess of Parma corruptly called Piazza Navona was formerly the Circo Agonale wherin they exhibited the Agonalian fights and games instituted by Numa Pompilius in honour of Janus Nero augmented this Circ and so did Alexander the Son of Manca who erected also near it a Palace and the famous Alexandrian Hot baths Hereabouts also Nero and Adrian had their Baths but the continued edifices there have lost the very foundations of the old structures In the house of the Bishops of Saula is shewed the Head of M. Tul lius Cicero in that of Alexander Ruâ—…ino the Image of Julius Caesar Armed like a Colossus with his thighs neatly harnessed after the old-fashion and oposite to it another of the same heighth and vests of Octavius Caesar. Then which statues Rome scarce affords any thing of better workmanship Those round and high Arches which rise in that place called the Ciambella are reliques of the Bathes of M. Agrippa near which Nero built others whose Fragments shew themselves behind S. Eustachio M. Agrippa Built the Pantheon near his Bathes in honour of all the Gods a Temple to be admired for the Architecture and wealth the most antient entire and splendid of any at this day extant in Rome He built it orbicular that Preeminence of Place might create no quarrels among the Gods Others say he dedicated it to Ope and Cibele as mother of the Gods and Mistress of the Earth Afterwards the Popes consecrated it to the Blessed Virgin and all the Saints It hath no windowes being in lieu thereof supplyed with light from a great Open space at top the rain water driving there through is received into a large brass Vessel at the bottom which in old time was covered with plates of silver but Constantine the Nephew of Heraclius took away that with the other ornaments of the City antiently t was ascended to by 7 steps but now who enters it must descend 18. steps whereby appears how vast are the heaps of ruines An inscription of very long Letters testifie that Severus and M. Antonius repaired the Pantheon then threatning a ruine Herein lies Raphael of Urbin the Prince of Painters And before it stands a large Vessel of Porphyr admirable for the grandeur and curiosity of workmanship one like to which is extant in Santa Maria Maggiore under the Crucifix Near it Santa Maria della Minerva so called from its first dedication to Minerva presents it self where the Dominican Fryers inhabit which hath nothing of antiquity more than the Walls and some old Inscriptions Here lies the Cardinals Pietro Bembo and Tomaso Gaetano learned men of their time and Santa Caterina of Siena A great arch now old rude and divested of all its ornaments stood near it called Camiliano which they think to be built by Camillus but falsly for those kind of works were first set a foot in the reigns of the Emperors sometime since this Arch was by licence of Pope Clement the 8th pulled down by Cardinal Salviano who with those stones amplified his own adjacent Palace near this Arch lay a foot of a Colossus very great which is supposed to be transferred to the Campidoglio where t is now obvious In the house of Paulus de Castro is seen the head of Socrates with his whole breast and many other things which will recreate the spectator In the Palace of S. Marca in the Via Lata there is such another Vessel of Marble as is at San Salvatore del Lauro taken out of the Baths of Agrippa and a statue of Fauna or as others say of the good Goddess All those things wherewith of old the Court of Nerva was garnished are either by age decayed or translated to some other place t is called also Foro Transitorio because over it they walked to go to the Foro Augusto and Romano for which reason that Church is called S. Adriano in trefori here stood likewise the Palace of the said Emperor whose ruines were removed elsewhere Here also lies the Foro Trajano between the Campidoglio the Quirinale and the Foro Augusto this was environed with a magnificent gallery sustained with noble pillars whereof Apolliodorus was Architector and adorned with statues Images and a triumphal Marble Arch of all which nought remains except two of the Pillars at Santa Maria di Loreto And one Collumne spread over within with Cockle shells which demonstrates the splendor and Majesty of the Emperors t is 128 foot high besides the bases which is 12. foot more t is raised by 24 stones only but they so vast that it appears the work of Gyants every one of those stones hath eight stayers by which they get up inwardly to the top which are enlightned by 44 Casements Round it are carved the noble Acts of Caesar Trajano in the Dacian Warr. No part of the world can boast a work more admirable or more magnificent 'T was erected in honour of that good Emperor who was not so fortunate as to see it finished for being detained in the Parthick warr upon his
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
Maggiore marked as in this place 8 To Bersello pass the Po 1 From Bersella to Corezzo are thirty five miles which according to the custome of the Modeneses are divided into 4 posts   posts 13 posts from Milano to Trento § The City Milan posts From Milan to Castelnovo the posts are set down in the posts from Milan to Venice by Bergamo and Brescia 10 to Volgarna 1 To Peri 1 To Vo 1 pass the River Adice  To Rovere â—… To Trente a City of Italy and Germany 2  Posts 16. FRom Brescia to Trento there is another way to wit by the Lake Garda but the posts are not layed that way nor is the Lake Garda at all times passable without danger  Errata Page 2. l. 13. r. the Germans p. 10. l. 32. r. behold p. 12. l. 35. r. Grisons p. 20. li 9. r. cattel p. 33. l. 10. 11. r. when I was in Italy in honour of whom p. 38. l. 41. r. malignity if ib. l. 42. r. iâ—… by p. 46. l. 39. r. Vicenza p. 48. l. 41. r. for p. 50. l. 48. r. faith p. 54. l. 38. r. likewise p. 55. l. 25. r. viscounte p. 59. l. 10. for sable r. pretend p. 59. l. 34. r. Ramparâ—…s p. 64. l. 31. r. form 67. l. 2â—… r. many p. 72. l. 2. r. me p. 75 l. 7. r. dele re a p. 76. l. 38. r Lake p. 81. l. l. r. as p. 83. l. 26. r. or p. 84. l. 3â—… r. such as have p. 87. l. 15. r. by for be p. 89 l. 4. r. tuines â—…â—…2 l. 30. r. passing p. 93. l. 36 r. in those p. 98. l. 45. r. Florence p. 99. l. 6. r. Ombrosa p. â—…39 l. 16 17. r. incomparablenesse page 144. l. 32. r. entire p. 150. l. 1. r. and by p. 163. l. 13. r. God p. 163. l. 35. â—… â—…ratorians reside p. â—…65 l. 22. r. P allas p. 167. l. 45 r. Cardinal President p. 170. l. 4. r. Martyr iâ—… l. 43. r. old â—…he Temple p. 174. l. 18. r. Pliny in the ib. l. 1 9. dele in ib. l. 46 r. time p â—…78 l. â—…3 r. depuâ—… him p. 179. l. 7. r. carcasses p. 18â—… l 38. r. diseased p. 183. l. 4. dele and p. 191. l. 31. r. Tyter p. p. 208. l. 39. r. ran into the p 210. l 18. r. denominated ib. l. 32. r. Palme p. 235. l. 47. r. Salutation p. 236. l. 25. r. 1465. p. 292 l 17. r. same ib. l. 19. r. Tully p. 245. l. 18. r. bring p. 248. l. 10 11. r. Artemisio THE HISTORY OF ITALY BEING An exact Description of all the Cities Towns Castles and Villages of ITALY with the most remarkable particulars in each of them The first PART Wherein is conteined the Journeys or Voyages from Trent to Venice from Venice to Milan from Milan to Rome The way from Trent to Venice TRento or Trent is a City of the Province of Marca Trivigiana or Marquisate of Treves and is seated in a Valley on the confines of the said Province It hath Walls round it which are about the compass of a mile and are washed by the River Ladice towards the North Large and Fair Streets paved with Flint-stones and stately Houses Its Churches are very beautiful though not large There is one most sumptuous and Royal Palace which was lately restored by Bernardo Clessio Bishop of the said City Towards the East part thereof enters a little River upon which are raised many edifices to work Silks in as also to grind Corn and from the said little River are brought many Rivolets which run along the Streets and into the Houses of the Citizens Without the Gate called Saint Lorenzo upon the Ladice there is a magnificent Bridge of one hundred forty six paces in length but of Wood which conjoyns the Ladice with the other little River The surrounding Mountains by being continually covered with Snow precipitous and so high that the heads thereof seem to touch the heavens are rendred inaccessable Between these Mountains are two wayes the one goes towards the North the other towards Verona It hath but little Champaign or Fields but those are pleasant and Rich planted with Vines and fruitful Trees amidst which passeth the Ladice In this place may be seen the Castle and Fort called Pelen appertaining to the most Noble Family of the Troppi The Citizens speak good Dutch and not ill Italian Trent is now reduced under the power of Germans and is a refuge for all Italians when any disgrace happens to them in their own Countrey They gather but little Corn but in lieu thereof they have good quantity of delicious Wines both White and Red. In the Summer the Air is good but the Sun beats upon it most vehemently on those dayes it remaineth in the sign Leo And in the Winter 't is so very cold by reason of the Frosts and Snow that there is no living their Stoves are not sufficient to provide against it because the cold is so fierce that it turneth the Rain into Snow before it can fall to the Earth and that which occasions the greatest wonder here is that in that time their Wells or deepest Pits are void and empty of Water In stead of Mules Asses and Horses of Burthen they serve themselves of their Oxen and Cows with Charrets so easie to carry goods that they run up by the Mountains as if it were in a Plain though 't is very true that the wayes are so well helped by the Cliffs or Craggs that the Beasts may go any where with little labour This City was greatly illustrated and enriched certain years past by the General Council held here for that there met then five President Cardinals Two Legats of the Council for his Holiness Pius the fourth Chief Bishop or Pope of Rome being Cardinals also that is to say Cardinal Loreno and Cardinal Madruccio Three Patriarchs Thirty two Arch-bishops Two hundred and thirty Bishops Seven Abbots Seven Generals of Religion One hundred forty and six Doctors of Divinity between Seculars and Regulars The Embassadour of Ferdinand the Emperour as well in the name of the Empire as of the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia as also the Embassadours of the King of France of the King of Spain of the King of Poland and of Portugal of the Dukes of Bavaria of Savoy of Venice of Florence and of the other Catholique Princes The Council was held in the Church of Saint Mary where there is a very fair Organ In the Church of Saint Peter are the Ashes of the blessed Simeon Martyred by the wicked Jewes In the Church of the Fryers Heremitans lies buried Cardinal Seripando who was Legate of the Council a man famous for Holiness and Doctrine The Cannons are all illustrious persons and have authority to choose the Bishop Lord of the City and Prince of the Empire which dignity three Cardinals of the most Noble Family of the Madrucci have enjoyed successively of which one named Altiprando lives at
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
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
the Chancery built by the Travertini in a square form with the stones translated from the Amphitheater of Titus Vespasianus which was called Coliseum which Theatre the Popes would not permit to be wholly destroyed but left some part in its first Lustre that by it might appear the splendour of the whole as a testimony of the magnificence of the Roman Empire In it stands one great Image of Bacchus wrought by Michael Angelo Bonarota at his first arrival at Rome when he sought to depress the Fame of Raphael Sanctius of Urbin which he brought in feriour to his own reputation by his Art and policy Two other great statues one of Ceres and the other of Opes as is believed And on the upper part are fixed certain heads as of Antonius Pius Septimius Severus Titus Domitianus Augustus and Geta the Emperours of a Sabin Woman of Pyrrhus King of the Epirots of Cupid and a Sword Player Thence not far distant stands the Piazza del Duca wherein is the fairest Pallace in Rome built with excessive cost by Pope Paul the 3d a Farnezian It abounds with so many antiquities that to speak distinctly of them would fill up a volume we will therefore pass briefly over them as now they remain many things having been changed in later times For the Architecture t is enough to say Michael Angelo Bonarota had a chief part therein and for the Materials better could not be had then were employed in it which were brought from the Amphitheatre As to the statues Two of Hercules stand in the Court famous for their workmanship and antiquity the lesser whereof is most commended One of Jupiter Tonante with two immense sword players the one having the Scabbard of his sword hanging at his shoulder and with his right foot kicks the Target the murrion and the ground the other holds behind him a boy dead in his hand But that which surpasseth all statues is the Tauro Farnese a Bull with five persons bigger than the natural cut to wonder out of one stone by Apollonius and Tauriscus of Rhodes whence t was conveighed and placed in Antoninus his Bath where about one hundred years since t was dugg up as entire as if made but yesterday and now stands in this Pallace astonishing all that behold it In the ascent on the stayers you see one statue of the Tyber another of Oceanus and at the top of two barbarous prisoners in their old habits In the Rooms above who delights in Pictures and Sculpture will meet enough to occupy his whole fancy As the Pictures of Francesco Salviati and Tadeo Zucchero both which are much applauded drawn as if they were taking the fresh ayr And in a Gallery which is as noble as well painted by the Brothers Carazzi Bolonia painters of great Fame you will find many antient heads of signal persons as of Lysia Euripides Solon Socrates Diogenes Genone Possidonio and Seneca with the noble statues of Ganimede Antinoo of Bacchus some fair Vessels and the statues of Meleager which deserves a name by it self for its great price being esteemed worth five thousand Crowns then which no statue in Rome is more entire No People under the Sun give so great prices for statues as the Romans all which are so studious of those kind of Ornaments that in acquiring them they emulously strive which shall exceed in cost or curiosity In one Chamber they shew the Duke Alexander of glorious memory having under his feet the River Scalda or Scelda with Flanders kneeling before him and behind Victory crowning him all which statues are cut out of one Marble stone bigger than the Life There also are three doggs cast rarely in Brass The Bibliotheque of this Pallace the Meddals and carved Toyes are most famous things but the Pictures of Raphael and Titian are incomparable nor are the Limnings lesse admirable Opposite to the Farnesi live the heirs of Monsignior d'Acquigno in whose house are divers inscriptions an Adonis a Venus of four thousand Crowns price a Diana begirt with a Quiver of Arrowes a Bow in her hand like a huntress and a statue of Bon Evento holding a looking glasse in the right hand and in the left a Garland of Ears of Corn an absolute Piece wrought by Praxitelis Adjacent to the Campo di Fiore stands the Palace of the Cardinal Capo di Ferro much less than the Farnesian Pallace but in splendor and Architecture no whit inferiour In the Frontispiece is painted the spring time The President of the spring is Venus which was drawn to the similitude of the Body of Livia Columna a most beautiful Princess whatever is there represented is amorous The Complexion of the men is sanguine and all are marked with the Element of Ayr. So in the other fronts are expressed the complexions Choller Melancholy and Phlegme the Elements Fire Water and Earth the seasons Summer Autumne and Winter and the Praesiding Gods Mars Saturn and Janus which are most absolutely performed and were the work of Michael Angelo with whom this Cardinal contracted a most intimate Friendship and being no less liberal than Jngenious obtained of him what ever so rare an Artist could possibly invent among the rest a secret conclave wherein many things are exprest with the highest Art and perfection The house of the Orsini in the Campo di Fiore which was raised out of the ruines of the Pompeyan Theatre is embellisht with many good statues in the Courts The Temple of Saint Angelo in Pescaria was formerly of Juno Regina which being burnt was restored by Septimius Severus and Marcus Aurelius the Emperors as the old Title there to be read verifies near which are some of the Pillars taken from the Portico of Septimius Severus dedicated to Mercury At the Tower Citrangole stands the house of the heirs of Gentile Delfino which Gentleman had more meddals than any other Person in Rome and his Garden filled with inscriptions In them stands a Statue of Canopo placed in the form of a Water Pott before whose breast they have preposed a Tablet filled with Hierogliphick letters by which t is believed the secret Mysteries of the Sacrifices are delivered In Parione at the house of the Maximi may be seen a Colossus which vulgarly is thought to be the statue of Pyrrhus King of the Epirots armed bought a long time since by the Maximi of Angelo for two thousand Crowns as also a Marble head of Julius Caesar with many other things worthy consideration In the house of the Leni alla Ciambella are many noble statues lately brought thither from the Porta di S. Bastiano to wit an Adonis a Venus a Satyr and many excellent heads where in an old Pile was found an entire purple Garment with some rings and other notable things Near which stands the house of Cardinal Paravicino a Signor of noble Qualities who much delights in Pictures whereof and those good too he hath not a few Contiguous with which stands the house of the Vallei wherein
return a flux of blood seized him in the City of Soria in Seleâ—…cia whereof he dyed his body was brought to Rome and his bones inclosed in a Pile placed on the top of the Columne In this Foro di Trajano stand the Churches of Saint Silvester S. Biasio Sant Martino placed there by S. Marco the first Pope Boniface the 8th erected there 3 Towers called now Le Militie chiefly that in the midst where Trajan used to quarter his Souldiers Above it lies the the Vineyard of Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandino meriting a view wherein besides the Fountains and Sources of waters which form many streams you may see some old noble Marbles among others Harpocrate a Child wrought by an exquisite hand and an old painted picture found some yeers since retaining the beauty of its colours a wonder to believe since it is so antient and so long lay hid in a grotto near S. Maria Maggiore IL MONTE ESQUILINO AT the Foro di Nerva begins the Suburb which extended to the Tiburtina dividing the Esquilie the Vale between the Esquilie and the Viminale they name Vico Patricio because many Patritii that is to say Nobles dwelt in that part L'Esquilie was so called because in the time of Romulus the Sentinels were placed there this hill is severed from the Celio by the Via Lavicana from the Viminale by the Vico Patritio The Via Tiburtina as abovesaid crosseth it in the midst which way ascends from the Suburb to the Porta Nevia but before it comes to the trophees of Marius t is cut in two the right hand way leads towards San Giovanni Laterano conjoyning with the Lavicana the left goes to the Porta di San Lorenzo by the name of Prenestina In the Via Tiburtina is the Arch of Galienus the Emperor called San Vito from the neighbouring Temple Here was the Macello Lanieno the Market for all eating things The Temple of Isis now of Santa Maria Maggiore consists of exquisite structure adorned with gold and rare Marbles and sustained by Ionick Pillars Here Santo Hieronimo lies enterred and here they shew an Image of the Virgin painted as is credited by St. Luke the Evangelist Near it stands the Church of S. Lucia and that of S. Pudentiana here of old stood a wood sacred to Juno reverenced with great but blind zeal In the Church of S. Prassede are many inscriptions and the Pillar to which our Lord being bound was whipped this they say was brought from Jerusalem In San Pietro in Vincula are many admi rable things among others the Tombes of Julius the second whereon Moses is engraven by Buonorota a work excelling most of the Antient of Cardinal Sadoleto and Cardinal di Tucino Thence you go to the Church de quaranta Martiri from whence by the Via Labicano to S. Clement the Esquilie extended it self and was there called Carine Near Saint Pietro in Vincula are some subterranean edifices the remains of Vespasians Baths called the Sette Sale being designed for keeping the waters requisite to the Baths in them was found that sta tue of Laocoon now translated to the Vatican which gives such admiration to all aspicients The Church of S. Maria nâ—… Monti was built by Pope Symachus in the decayes of Adrians Baths the place being thence denominated at this day Adrianello At the Church d'Santi Ginliano and Eusebio elates it self a huge Fabrick of brick work wherein were the receptacles of the Aqua Martia on the upper part whereof are figured the Trophees of Marius that is a heap of spoils and Arms bound to the body of a Tree placed there in honour of Marius for his expedition against the Cimbrians which things being afterwards torn down by Sylla in the civil war were restored again by C Caesar to their former lustre and yet remain in the Campidoglio Behind the Trophees in that Vineyard appear great ruines of the Emperor Gordianus his Baths near which the said Emperor raised a stupendious Palace which had two hundred Pillars in a double Rank But hereof no more but high walls appear All its Ornaments and Pillars being thence translated for beautifying other Palaces From these Baths the way on the right hand called Labicana goes to Porta Maggiore or Santâ—… Croce antiently Nevia Between this Gate and that of San Lorenzo near the walls rise vast ruines of the Temple dedicated to the name of â—…aius and Lucius the Nephews of Augustus and built by him one arched roof yet may be seen called Gallucio as of Caio and Lâ—…cio Near it was the Palace of Licino where now S. Sabina stands there placed by Pope Simplex contiguous with which Pallace was the place called Orso Pileato from a Bears figure there By the gate Esquiliâ—…a San Lorenzo or Tibuntina by all which names t is frequently called stands the Church San Lorenzo built by Constantine the great in honour of that Martyr replenished with antiquities but especially the instruments used in the sacrifices are carved on inembossed work by this Gate also enters the Aqueduct by which the Aqua Martia is conveighed into the City first raised by Q. Martius afterwards consumed by Age restored by M. Agrippa This water was brought from 35. miles off the City and ran into Dioclesians Baths and the adjacent places t was very healthfull and therefore chiefly accomodated for the drink of the People On the other side of this Gate entered the Acque Tepola Julia the one was conveighed six miles the other eleaven from without the City To these joyned the Aniene which ran from Tivoli 20. miles distance Over the Aniene stands the Ponte Mammea so named from Mammea the Mother of Alexander Severus the Emperor by whom t was repaired from this Gate the Via Prenestina reached to Praenestâ—… and the Labicana to Labi That part of the Esquilie near San Lorenzo in Fonâ—… was named Virbo Clivio which was the Grove Fugatale where Servius Tullius dwelt and there lies the Vico Ciprio called also Scelerato for that Tullius was there slain by his Son in Law over whose dead body his own Daughter commanded her Coachman to drive her Chariot This Vico or Town extended to Busta Gallica where the Galli Senoni or the French were slain burnt and buried by Camillus now this place s denominated Porto Gallo where the Church Saint Andrea is built On the top of this Vico Scelerato Cossius had his Palace afterwards dedicated to the Goddess Tellura now to Saint Pantaleoâ—… near Santa Agna at the foot of the Viminale stood a Temple of Silvâ—… whose decays yet appear IL COLLE VIMINALE THe hill Viminale is next to the Esquilino and runs along by the Walls t was so named from a famous Temple dedicated to Jupiter Viminale whence also the contiguous Gate took the name Viminale and Nomentana from the way leading to Nomento which is now called S. Agnese from the Church of that name near it which was formerly dedicated to Bacchus therein is an old porphyr Arch
of the one with the other that they may last sweet a long time although they have been necessitated to take them up singly and separately In the gravel of the Aniene they find several little stones in divers forms after the similitude of Comfits some round some long some little and some great so that one would believe they found Almonds Fennel Anniseed Coriander and Cinamon Comfits Of which small stones they usually gather a good heap on the bankside to cousen the spectators with and they are therefore called Confetti di Tivoli Titus Celius the Patrician recounts that in former times a body of a man who was slain and cast into the Aniene was found stuck fast to the root of a Tree under water which it happened in process of time being without putrefaction was converted into stone without loosing its shape which stony body so found he saies he saw with his proper eyes At the Porta Salaria are shewed the Reliques of an antique Temple consecrated to Honour and of the house Suburbano of Nero wherein by the assistance of Sporo the Libertine the Emperor Nero thrust a dagger under his nipple and therewith slew himself that he might not fall into the hands of the Senate then requiring him to punishment Within the City near the Vale between the hills Santa Trinita and Quirinale stands the Church San Nicolo de Archemontis so named for that the Foro or Piazza of Archemorio was in that place Under the Vineyard of the late Cardinal Dapi are certain Chambers and obscure vaults continued in a long Order which some will have to have been a Tavern others had rather assign them to the use of the strumpets for their occupation in the time of the Floralian games which were celebrated in the Circo Florae At the Church de'dodeci Apostoli you find a Lyon in Marble an incomparable piece and in the house of Colonna a Marble statue of Melisse a Lady as the inscription declares Many other Palaces and houses of the Cardinals Nobles and wealthy Citizens of Rome are plentifully fraught with other Antiquities and excellent Collections of Gold Silver and Brass coynes embossed works in divers Metals of ingenious Artists Onyexes Corneols or Sardonian Gemmes Cornelians Amethists Topazes Berryls Carbuncles Jacinths Saphirs and Christals ingraven and cut with the heads of Gods Emperors illustrious and noble Men divers Creatures Hearbs and Trees containing also divers emblemes which were heretofore commonly exposed to the view of strangers by their Patrones but of later yeers the malignity of this depraved Age hath so ill gratified those persons for their Kindness by many injuries received from such their free admission that now unless recommended by some friend to some particular person in Rome or contracting a Friendship through long familiarity t is not easie for a stranger to obtain an inspection of those pretious Curiosities Of the Coemiteries and of the Burying places of ROME collected out of HONOFRIO PANUINO THE Cemeterio Ostriano three miles without the City in the Via Salaria is thought to be the most antient of Rome for that Saint Peter the Apostle in that place administred the Sacrament of Baptism The Protonotario of the Roman Church in his third Chapter of the Acts of Pope Liberio speaks of it in this manner A little distant from the Cemetrio di Novella three miles without the City lay in the Via Salaria the Cemiterio Ostriano where the Apostle Saint Peter Baptized The Cemiterio Vaticano was placed on the Via Trionfale near the Temple of Apollo and the Circ of Nero in the Gardens of Nero where now the Church of Saint Peter stands which besides the Tombs of Christians had in it also a Font for holy Baptisme which for the most part was not in others Seaven miles distant from Rome was the Cemiterio called ad Nimphas in Severus his possession on the Via Nomentana where the holy Martyres bodies were enterred As Pope Alexanders c. Two miles without the City was the Cemeterio vecchio amplified by the B. Calistus the Pope from whom also it took a name Herein were certain subterranean places called Catacombe and in them a deep Pit wherein the bodies of the Apostles Peter and Paul were layed Near to the Cemiterio di San Calisto was that of San Sotero and in the same quarter lay that of San Zeferino the Pope contiguous with the Cat ecombe and that of San Calisto The Cemeterio of Calepo dio Prete was two miles forth the Porta Gianicolese in the Via Aurelia near San Pancratio That of Pretestato Prete in the Via Appia where Pope Urban was buried That of Santo Partiano Papa near to Santi Abdon and Sennen That of Ciriaco in the possession of Veriani near the Church San Lorenzo without the Wall That of Lucina in the Via Aurelia forth the Gate San Pancratio That of Aproniano in the Via Latina not far from the City where Santa Eugenia was buried That of San Felice the Pope a mile without Rome on the Via Aurelia adjoined to that of Calepodio That of Priscilla called also Marcello from the Pope Marcellus in the Via Vecchia three miles forth the City was dedicated by the said Pope Marcellus That of San Timoteo in the Via Ostiense is comprehended now in the Church of San Paulo That of Novella three miles off Rome in the Via Salaria That of Balbina between the Via Appia and Ardeatina near the Church of San Marco the Pope was named also San Marco from the said Popes name That of San Giulio the Pope in the Via Flaminia near the Church San Valentino without the Cities Walls This also may be seen in the Vineyard of the Heremitanes of St. Augustino That of San Giulio the Pope in the Via Aurelia That of San Giulio the Pope in the Via Portuense That of San Damaso between the Via Ardeatina and the Appia That of Sant Anastatio the Pope within the City in the Esquiline praecincts in the Bourg Orso near Santa Bibiana The Orso was near the Porta Taurina in the Via Tiburtina by the Palace of Licinus That of S. Hermete or Domitilla appointed by Pope Pelagius in the Via Ardeatina That of San Nicomede in the Via Ardeatina seaven miles off Rome That of San Agnese in the Via Nomentana That of S Felicita in the Via Salaria That of the Giordani where Alessandro was buried That of Santi Nereo and Archielo in the Via Ardeatina two miles forth the City That of S. Felice and Adauto in the Via Ostiense two miles without Rome That of Santi Tibuctio and Valeriano in the Labicana three miles without Rome That of Santi Pietro and Marcellino in the Via Labicana near the Church Santa Helena That of Santi Marco and Marcelliano in the Via Ardeatina That of S. Gianuario restored by Pope Gregory the 3d. That of Santa Petronilla adorned by Pope Gregorio That of Santa Agata à Girolo in the Via Aurelia That of Orso at Portenza The
habet Hîc tu quo vivas lux septima det medicinam Absit odor faedus sitque labor levior Pelle famem frigus fructus femurque relinque Nec placeat gelido fonte levare sitim Romes evil air the stranger kills Brings to its Natives unwelcome ills who 'l live the seaventh day Physick must Nor noysome smells nor labour trust Hunger and Cold avoid Fruit and Venus fly Cold water drink not though nere so dry The Wines drunk in ROME They drink in Rome the best wines as hereafter followeth Vin greco di Somma the best white growes in the Terra di Lavoro in the Monte Vesuvio named di Somma from the Castle Somma which stands at the foot of it Chiarello a brisk white wine from Naples Latino a mean wine from Naples Asprino a white wine from Naples which is stiptick or as we may say astringent Mazzacani a small white Wine from Naples D'Ischia the best Greek wine this Island is under Naples Salerno white and red Sanseveren white and red both good Corso d'Elba a strong white Corso di Brada a gross white Corso di Loda a heady white From the River of Genoua white and red Gilese white and red small and wholsome Ponte Reali from Genoua white small and healthfull Moscatello di Sardia of a deep colour small and wholesome Vindellia Tata from the Genoueses smal and wholesome Lacrima the best red Romanesco small white of divers tastes Albano white and red De Paolo indifferent white Di Francia moderate red Salino mean white and red from Tivoli and Velletri From Segno moderate Magnaguerra the best red Castle Gandolfo the best white Della Riccia the best white but small made Respise wine Malvasia from Gandia Moscatello the best and most excelling wine of Italy Of the divers sorts and kindes of wine some Italian Physicians have also written to wit Giacòmo Prefetto Netino printed in Venice in anno 1559. Gio Battista Confalonieri of Verona printed in Basilea 1539. Andrea Baccio stampt in Rome in the yeer 1597. And now not recollecting any thing more to be spoken of to the purpose of this small tract concerning Rome we will make a conclusion with certain verses writin praise of her that we may observe the same method we began with in our discourse of Rome to wit her due comendations Verses composed by Faustus Sabeus a Brescian in praise of ROME ENCOMION MArtia progenies quae montibus excitat urbem Civibus ditat conjugibusque beat Tutaturque armis Patribus dat jura vocatis Jam repetit caelum Post data jura Jovi De nihilo imperium ut strueres te hac Romule causa Gignit alit servat Mars Lupa Tibris aqua Encomion Julii Caesaris Scaligeri Vos septemgemini caelestia Pignora montes Vosque trumphali maenia structa manu Testor adeste audite sacri commercia cautes Et Latios animos in mea vota date Vobis dicturus meritis illustribus urbes Has ego Primitias primaque sacra fero Qui te unam laudant omnes comprenderit orbem Non urbeâ—… qui te noverit ille canet The End of the Second Part. THE HISTORY OF ITALY CONTAINING The VOYAGES and JOURNEYS FROM ROME TO NAPLES The Third PART From NAPLES to POZZUOLO With the Return to TIVOLI TRavailing from Rome by the Via Latina to Marino you pass between great ruins of many famous Villages the which were no less rich then numerously disperst over the Tusculan Champaigne and the Apenine Hill during the flourishing age of the Roman Empire and hence t is that the old Town Mariana will derive her Original name from the Castle Marino On the right hand whereof lyes near the villa Luculliana of the Lieinij the Villa Murentana famous for the Tusculane questions of Mar cus Tullius Cicero His immortal testimony of Morality and Learning At this day t is called Frascati and is distant from Rome twelve miles in this circuit you may also behold the Ville or Manor Houses of the Portii and of many other the prime Persons of the Roman Republick whom we finde recorded by Strabo Pliny Seneca Plutarch and other writers Departing thence turn towards the Strada Appia leaving Veletri on the left hand where the Ancestors of Augustus were born and on the right hand Aricia now called Ricia and Lo Spechio or the looking glass of Diana Tremâ—…rense as Servius calls the Lake near that Castle which Lake is consecrated to Diana Taurica together with the wood famous for the fiction of Acteon and a Temple named Artimisio by Strabo Heretofore this was a famous place for the old but barbarous Religion instituted in that place by Orene and Iphegene to wit the custom of the Scythians the sacrificing with humane blood Here was that Temple whither the Fugitives brought from Tauri the Image of Diana hid in a pyle of wood whence in Italy they gave the Surname of Fascilede and Fascilina to Diana but of this superstition shall we with better conveniency treat in another place Pursue the Journey just to the Pontine Fens where at a little distance lye the Tres Tabernae or three Taverns the famous Hostery on the Via Appia mentioned in the 28th Chapter of the Acts which are distant from Arelia eleaven miles and from Rome thirty three as is clearly demonstrated by the antient Roman Itineraries and the very distance of the places they are indifferent entire being built as the other Fabricks of the Romans of great stones and bricks in squares Saint Luke writes in the Acts of the Apostles that certain Brothers yet Fresh men as we call them at Oxford in the Faith of Christ left Rome and came to meet Saint Paul as far as the Tres Tabernae at such time as he was transmitted as a criminal Person with a guard of Souldiers from Judea to Rome by Portius Festus the Procurator Thence leaving the Straâ—… or street Appia as it may be called from the former beauty testified by the ruines of Houses and Tombs c. on each side carried through the Pontine Fens with vast expence though now wholly obstructed and impassable through the waters of the Fens the ruine of structures and fall of Bridges you are necessitated to take a long journey by the Volsci the foot of the Apenines the craggy and sharp Rocks of Mountains to Terracina You shall see Setia on the left hand celebrated by the old Poets for the goodness of the wines and going more onward you leave behind you in the plain the walls of Priverno destroyed by the Germans and Brittons as Biondo testifies where in the circumspection remember that Caâ—…illa exercised the Empire of the Volsci Thence passing by Priverno Novello now Piperno scituate in the adjacent Mountain round which runs the River Anâ—…asceno you may behold before your eyes though at some distance the Coasts of the Mediterranian Sea and some Promontories which seem as it were disjoyned from the Terrafirma the firm Land of old full
expence and for the beauty of the structures of all sorts for that the Governors of the Emperor Charls the 5th and after them of Philip King of Spain of later yeers Presidents or Viceroyes in the Kingdome of Naples have wonderfully enlarged and forti fied her with a new wall bul wark Ditches Towers Castles in so much that she is now almost invincible She is furthermore full of regard for the many and magnificent Churches Colledges Courts Palaces of Princes and other great Men as also for many old reliques of antient houses Epitaphs Statues Sepulchres Collumns Altars Marbles with most artificial and fair engravings and other things which to recite would take up too much Room here Among the rest any one may meet contentin the grand ruines of the Quadrate Temple of Castori which though the fire hath consumed for the most part yet appears before it a part of a most beautifull porticue with six prime Pillars of Marble with their cornishes yet a foot of Corinthian architecture wonderfull for their vastness and the art they are wrought with they have for Capitols some Cesti Iron Clubs used among the Graecian wrestlers to which were tyed with leather straps or dryed Sinews balls or bullets of lead which in theit Olimpick games they use to hurl or cast which with the Foliage and revolts represent a becoming covering and on the Frise to which the Rafters are fixed may be read a greek inscription which clearly manifests that this was the Temple of the Castori and that the Greek language was in use among the Neapolitans when the Roman Empire flourished which is also confirmed by the characters by the vast expence of the whole work by the exquisit perfectiō of the art in the Ti◅pano or triangular Frontispiece of the roof upon these Collumnes were carved many images of the Gods which the Flames and Age have for the most part consumed On the Tres◅el was figured an Apollo on one the other side of it lies Earth and Water in the form they are usually figured that is in form of a body half raised up half lying along naked to the Navil Earth hath the right hand holding in its left the horn of the Copia the rest cannot be discerned being too much broken and ruinated The Churches of our Religion are there in excellent order and rich as well as many and so well placed as pleasant flowers for beautifying a Garden For example the Church of S. Chiara enjoying a great and fair monastery was very magnificently built by Santia the Spanish Queen and wife of King Roberto who by others is named Agnese which the antient Kings of the noble house of D◅razzo have made famous with their sumptuous Tombes and in San Domenico is the Sepulchre of Alfonso the first and of many other Kings Queens and Princes and what is more important the Image of that Crucifix which spake unto San Tomaso d'Aquino these words Tomaso tu hai scritto bene di me Thomas thou hast written well of me and that of Oliveto so also in other Churches you may see many proud depositories and memorials of the Kings of Spain of the Heroes and other Princes with statues of Marble as if natural In the Church of San Giovanni dalla Car boniera is the Sepulchre of King Roberto whose praises were writ by all learned men among the rest by Petrarcha and Boccaccio In that of S. Maria Nova lye interred the bones of Odetto Foix named Lotrecce and of Pietro Namarro of Consalvo Ferrando Cordovese and in the most religious Tabernace of San Giannuacio are preserved many holy reliques of Saints Where once in the yeer at least they shew one by one all those worthy objects as bones of Saints and other Reliques enclosed in gold and Silver with pretious stones with the pretious gifts bestowed by Kings and Princes and other things Among which with great reverence is the head of S. Gianuario Bishop of Pozzuolo the Martyr and his bloud stil remaining in a glass vial though dryed and become hard through time which vial when brought to the Altar is set near the head of the Martyr on the Corner of the Chorus and the blood to admiration begins to become liquid and to boyl as new wine in the must as hath been annually observed and seen by all not without great stupour Thence you go to the Annunciata a Church famous through the great devotion there exercised and rich through the many offerings made to it as also for many reliques of Saints of importance among others two small bodies of a foot and half long yet entire covered with the skins of innocent Children slain by Herode the King at the time our Saviour was born in Bethlehem the wound of one is in the head the other in the breast Contiguous with which lies an hospital built like a spatious Castle wherein are maintained as their condition age and health require two thousand souls therein are also brought up children of the poorer sort more than eight hundred between orphane and exposed infants as well males as females instructed in letters and art according to their inclination till they become great 'T is a pleasure to see and observe their several diligent exercises and works and this custome of Christian Charity is certainly very comodious which as Corona Pighius observes resembles Platoes Republique in part and imitates that Economical government of the Apes described by Xenefonte and by Virgil the Prince of Poets described and de painted so well to the similitude of Platoes City Castle Nuovo the name is new although built more then 300 yeers since by the Brother of San Lodovico King of France who was Charls the first King of Naples and Count of Anjou to the end he might thence aid the City and the Port against the maritimate inroads of enemies Alfonsus the first of this name King of the Arragonians restored it within our memory after he had expelled the French and subdued the Kingdom and so well fortifyed it that t is now held one of the strongest Forts of Italy more especially since the last Kings the Emperor Charls the 5th and Philip his Son compleatly furnished it and all the other Forts of this City with victuals good souldiers and all other necessaries and engines of war to keep off the Enemy In the midst of this large Castle stands the pompous Palace of the governors furnished with royal and most lovely houshold-stuff wherein the King or Emperor may find a comodious receipt for all his Court strangers are astonisht at the engines of war the Artillery the great quantity of Iron Bullets the murrions inlayed with gold and Silver the Shields the swords the Launces and the other preparation for war there continually preserved and that admiration becomes much lessened at the view of the said palace so richly laden with tapistry of silk interwoven with Jewels and gold the engraving the statues pictures and the other noble furniture Thence
of Pozzuolo we also have proved and tryed that dust as others did for we find that troops in the passage by foot or horse raise the dust and that at our issuing out of that obscurity we were all yellow and looking and laughing at one another we much wondered at it finding a more then desirable inconvenience in cleansing our selves of that filth The cause of which dust is easily known to proceed from the exclusion of the wind and rain so that the raised dust as Seneca saies having no Vent falls down on it self or on those that raise it whence we collect that in the time of Nero this cavern had no Casements or breathings whereby it might receive air or light more then at the entrance and end because Seneca calls it a long and obscure prison where nothing is to be seen but darkness Yet Cornelius Strabo testifies by the riving or chops of the Mountain in divers places that many windows gave it light which being closed or earthed up either through the earthquakes or the carelesness of the times we may rationally imagine rendred this longcavern so darksom Pietro Rassano a Sicilian Bishop of Lucerie writes that in his time which we may count to be above 250. yeers since this cavern was found without any holes and without light and that the entrance and the out-passage were so filled up with ruines and bushes that t was terrible to enter without light and that therefore the King of the Arragonians Alfonsus the first having reduced this Province enlarged and levelled the way and the entrance of the Caverne and closing the top of the Cavern opened two lights which obliquely enlighten it whose reflection at a distance seems to the aspicients snow scattered on the earth in the midst of this darksome way is a little sacred place cut in the walls of the mountain where night and day a lamp perpetually burns which puts the travellers in remembrance of the eternal light and shews in a painted tablet our salvation proceeding from the virgin Mother Mary a Lampe perpetually burns there and the words at the Incounter are Alla Marina Alla Montagne In our times D Pietro di Toledo magnificently restored and aggrandized this work so worthy of eternity being then governor of Naples Kingdom by the favour of the Emperor Charls the fifth the way is now become so strait that it seems to such as enter the cavern a Star to which they ought to direct their course in the darkness by means whereof with what pleasure they behold all such as enter on foot or horsback at the other end who seem like Pigmies at that distance is scarce imaginable Divers are the opinions of the learned touching the time and beginning of this great work worthy of the mind of Serse omitting the idle prating of the vulgar who attribute it to the magick incantations of the Poet Virgil whose ashes by the opinion of many ly at the mouth of the Cavern or of others who make one Basso the author of whom there is no record among the antients we beleive we may draw from Strabo Eforus Homerus and other greek writers that the Cimmerij a most antient people dwelt in that Canton of Campania between Baio Lucerno and Averno and that they lay in denns and subterranean Caves and that running the one to the other they dug out metals and hollowed mountains and in profound Caverns exercised by means of their Priests Negromancy and inchantments conducting travellers and pilgrims to the oracles of the infernal gods which people being destroyed the Greeks who succeeded them and built Cuma and Naples accommodated as most suppose those Caves of the Cimmerii into hot baths and baths ways and other conveniences for humane use So likewise the Romans after the example of the Grecians being chiefly enclined to great and magnificent impreses encreased these laborious under-ground structures and at the time when they became the Lords of the world they there erected their Palaces of Recreation and Mannor houses little inferiour to Castles when the rare quality of the dust of Pozzuolo was discovered extracted from those mountains to be very efficacious for binding building and establishing foundations of Edifices in the waters Strabo affirms that in his time M. Agrippa under Augustus cutting up the wood on the mountain Avernus which corrupted the air among the other antique magnificent things found out a subterranean cavern hollowed even to Cuma the which as was conjectured together with another between Naples and Pozzuolo was made by one Cocceio and that in his time the custom of the Countrey was to make such underground waies and Caverns from whose words we collect that for a long time before Strabo the Cocceian family were got together in Campania and that the place was called Spelonca though for truth we cannot set down any thing of certain of him that first made it nor is it probable to me that Strabo could be ignorant of the deeds of L. Lucullus the which in those places were very great and of excessive expence from which he was called Serse Togato by Pompeius Magnus by Tuberone by Cicero and the other principal men of Rome wherefore their sence pleaseth me who impose on him the concavating the Pausilipus for the conveniency of his Villa because t is written by Marcus Varro Pliny and others that L. Lucullus cut a mountain in the midst of Naples with greater cost then he expended in building his Manor house for to what end should he not to level and accomodate the way for passengers but rather to open a gulfe of the Sea whereby at his pleasure to admit and let in Sea water to his Fishponds that so the caves of the mountain might be a good receipt for his Fish which he kept alive to lye in as well in Winter as Summer At the outgoing of this Cavern you perceive by little little the odour of brimstone in the air which here and there proceeds out of divers vaults By it lies the Lake Aniano in similitude of an Amphitheatre surrounded and shut in on all sides by the Mountains and through a mouth of a hill cut with iron great plenty of Sea watet and great concaves made ponds for Fish at present filled with mud sand and ruines of structures Leandro and others write from the relation of the peasants there that in the midst of the Lake there is no mud and that in the spring time with great noyse fury fall down from the highest praecipices of the rocks there round in to these waters Knots of Serpents knit and bound together which are never seen again to get out Near them are the sweating Rooms of Germanus vaulted from under which through the superficies rise vapours so hot that who enters though naked shall soon perceive a mighty sweat trickle down his body Wherefore those places are held of exceeding validity to such as suffer under the gout by purging the bad and malevolent humours they
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
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
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
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
the second time as Livius relates or the following yeer when Pirrhus began to reign as Velleius Paterculus will have it Vast ruines of this City lye disperst on every side there but chiefly towards the Sea where the footsteps of a large port also appear T was a renowned City having a healthfull air and some salutiferous hot fountains for which the Poet Silius stâ—…les Sinvessa luke warme these fountains are now denominated Bagni Gaurani but Tacitus calls them Sinvessan waters saying in the 12th book of his Annals that Claudius the Emperor being restored to his sences caused himself to be conveighed to Sinvessa for recovering his health hoping and depending much on the goodnesse of the aire and the benefit of the Sinvessian waters when his wife Agrippina had prepared for him those poisoned mushrooms which himself and his Son Brittanicus eat This Agrippina was Daughter of the noble Germanicus Sister to Caligula and by him abused she was first married to Domitius by whom she had Nero afterwards to Claudius whom with his Son as aforesaid she poisoned that her Son Nero might be Emperor But her falshood abomination cruelty was not unpuni'sht by that Son who though he had joined her in equal authority with himself and carnally known her as some suppose yet caused her to be most cruelly slain after sundry attempts to do it privately and with least trouble and pain to her Tacitus saies further in the first book speaking of the histories of his time That Onofrius Tigillinus one of the principal actors of Nero the Emperours misdeeds had the wezel pipe of his throat cut near the waters of Sinvessa whilst disporting himself among his Concubines he least thought of any such thing MINT URNE The River Garigliano being passed wherein the Scille or Seashrimp or prauns are taken a sweet little fish held very delitious by the Romans you may see the reliques of Minturnae of old a most flourishing Colony of the Romans and among them the footsteps of vast publique and Private Fabricks some despoiled of the marble which embelâ—…ished them and some entire As a very sumptuous Aqueduct a Theatre with its Scenes and all other necessary parts a work after the antient way of building but solid An Amphitheatre with its accomodation for sitting one seat above another but despoiled of its marble wherwith for ought appears the 〈◊〉 â—…rajetto standing on the neighbouring hill hath been adorned and fortified which Amphitheater is now used as an inclosed pasturage for goats and sheep Therein lye great footsteps of Walls and Towers great arches over gates and vast foundations of edifices from whence we easily collect she hath a been potent and noble City This place hath acquired an illustrious fame also from that great victory which the Christians there obtained against the Saracens and Infidels under the Captains of the Christian Army Pope John the 10 and Albericus Marquess of Tuscany when all Italy was delivered from that cursed people except Monte Gargano whither such as could escape fled and possessed it a long time after robbing both by sea and land At the mouth of the river Garigliano was the sacred wood where the Minturnesi honoured the Nymph or Goddesse Marica the wife of Faunus to whom on the banks they built a proud Temple whereof nought now remains no more then of the honourable City Venista or of Ausonia a most noble City which was so named of Auson the Son of Ulâ—…sses and Calypso which City afterwards gave name to all Italy over all which it also Lorded which Cities stood in those parts along the aforesaid river LE PALVDI MINTVRNESI THe adjacent Fenns now Medows called Minturnesi are famous for that they reduce to memory a notable example of the various changes of Fortune which was that C. Marius who had been seaven times Consul and had seaven times triumphed had the good hap to abscond himself therein for saving his life where notwithstanding he was found by a Frenchman an Enemy but one that had not the boldnesse to offend him being terrified and put to fear by the Majestick aspect and noble presence of that great man Whence Marius having reached a ship passed into Affrick whereof Juvenal speaks concisely in these words Exilium carcer Minturnarumque palludes Et mendicatus victa Carthagine panis FORMIA Thence the Via Appia leads by Hercoleana to Formia which way is very pleasant but the Castle Mola now stands near if not in the place where Formia of old stood Mola takes its name from the many Mills grinding in that quarter by reason of the quantity of water The Countrey is such that a more delicious cannot be fancied wherfore Martial saies O temperatae dulce Formiae littus And a little after follows Hic summa legistringitur Thesis vento Nec languet aequor viva sed quies Ponti Volaterrannâ—…s and others well skilled believe that here was the Villa Formiana appertaining to Cicero famous for his slaughter there which opinion cannot well be contradicted because the Epitaphs inscriptions reliques of antiquity on the Appia and near Towns demonstrate that the City Formia was there but chiefly these words to be read on the basis of a Statue in that place following Imp. Caesari Divi Hadriani Filio Divi Trajani Parthici Nep. Divi. Nervae Pronepoti Tito AElio Hadriano Antonino Aug. Pio. Pont. Max. Tr. Pont. XI Cos. III. II. P. P. Formiani Publicè Strabo Pliny Solinus and other historians concurring say that the Lacedaemonians built Formia in the antient Territories of the Lestrigoni and therefore Silius Italicus calls it the house of Antifata because there Antifata the Son of Janus and Nephew of Neptune ruled over the Lestrigoni and first called it Hormia which in their Language signified a comodious port which that was The Lacedaemonians were afterwards subjugated by the Campani and they by the Romans who reduced that with Capua into the form of a Prefecture yet leaving Formia in Liberty or free and making her participate of the Roman honours for some time as Livins in his 33 book at last in the civil warrs Formia was made a Roman Colony and reduced with many others in Italy into Castles and Forts as Frontinus saies by the Triumvirate Caesar Antonius and Lepidus T was most flourishing in the time of the Emperors through the goodnesse of the air it in joyed as Horace Martial and other authors worthy credit relate which may also be conjectured from the more noble structures now extant In the end the Saracens destâ—…oyed it with many other Cities in Campania or the Terra di Lavoro when Pope Gregory the 4th translated the Fpiscopacy to Gaiela And thus then pursueth the Via Appia leading to Fondi VELLETRI VElletri was an antient and potent Castle of the Volsci whereof the Roman histories frequently speak Livius and Dionysius Hallicarnasseus say that Velletri was besieged and enforced to yeild to Ancus Martius King of the Romans and Livy adds further that t was severely
Sea this fish bears a great price in May or June as also of the sword fish particularly at Messina which t is written they cannot take unlesse they speak Greek and to say no more both the Seas and the Rivers abound with all sorts of excellent fish They have also in divers places many baths of hot cool sulphurous and other sorts of water usefull and advantagious in several Infirmities but those are in the River Sen◅ntina near the Cities Sacra and Himera are salt and un wholsome to drink We will not speak of the Fountains of sweet water that are found over all Sicilia and many Rivolets accommodated as well for the life of Man as the enriching their Lands by the overflowing And to speak in brief this Island is not at all inferiour to any other Province either for its fatnesse or abundance but somewhat exceeds Italy in the excellency of their grain saffron honey Beasts skins and other sustenance for the life of Man in so much that Cicero not improperly called it the Granary of the Romans and Homer said that all things grew there of their own accord and therefore calls it the Isle of the Sun Sicilia is likewise admirable for the fame of those things which told exceed our beleef as the Mount Etna Mongibello who sending forth continual fires from its bowels hath not withstanding its head on that part where the fire issues deeply covered in snow to the midst of Summer Not far from Agrigento or Gergento is the Territory Matharuca which with assidu al vomiting of divers veins of waters sends forth a certain Ash coloured Earth and at certain times casting out an incredible Mass of that Earth the one and the other Fields may be heard to roar In Menenino is the Lake Nastia called by Pliny ◅fintia where in three eddies you behold boyling water which alwaies gurgles with an egregious stink and somtimes spues up flames of fire hither antiently resorted all such as through their superstition were to be sworn to any thing It hath likewise in sundry other places divers other Fountains of admirable Qualities and nature for an ample account whereof the reader is referred to Thomaso Fazellio to the end we may abridge our relation here Sicily was inhabited by the Cyclopes which is verified besides what Authors affirm by the bodies of immense bignesse and heigth which in our daies are seen in the Grots or Caves Those Cyclopes being monsters of Men or Gyants whom the Sicani succeeded and them the Siculi or Sicilians Then the Trojans the Candiots the Phenici the Calcidonians the Corinthians and other Greeks the Zanclei the Guidii the Sarasini the Normans the Lombards the Swedes the Germans the French the Arragonians the Spaniards the Catalonians the Genouans and at length many Pisans Lucchesians Bolognians and Florentines all which people at several times inhabited divers parts of this Island untill Charls the fifth Emperor took Corona and after a little time leaving it to the Turks all those Greeks that dwelt there transported themselves into Sicilia The People are of an acute and quick wit noble in their inventions and industrious by nature and said to be of three tongues for their velocity in speech wherein their expressions proceed with much grace to facetiousnesse and quicknesse they are held loquacious beyond measure whence the Antients borrowed the proverb Gerrae Siculae the Sicilian bablings Antient writers attribute the following things to the invention of the Sicilians the art of Oratory the Bucolick or pastoral verse dyall making the Catapul◅e a warlike engine the illustrating of Pictures the Art of Barbing the use of skins of wilde beasts and Ryme They are by nature suspectfull envious evil spoken facil to speak Villany and prone to revenge but industrious subtle flatterers of Princes and studious of Tyranny as saies Orosie which at this day does not so generally appear They are more covetous of their own commodities or conveniences then of the publiques and reflecting on the abundancy of the Countrey sloathfull and without industry Antiently their tables were so splendidly furnished that it became a Proverb among the Greeks but now they follow the frugality of Italy They are valiant in warrs and of uncorruptible faith to their King beyond the custōme of the Greeks they are patient but provoked they leap into extream fury They speak the Italian Language but roughly and without the least sweetnesse and in their habits and other customes live after the manner of the Italians MESSINA THat City of Sicilia that is most illustrious is Messina built with the ruines and reliques of the City Zancla at a thousand paces distance from hence came Dicearchus the hearer of Aristotle the most celebrious Peripatetick Geometritian and eloquent Oratour who wrote many books whereof Fazellius makes mention and Ibicus the Historian and the Lyrick Poet and in the memory of our Fathers times lived there Cola the Fish born at Catana who leaving human society consumed the best part of his life among the fish in the sea of Messina whence he acquired the nick name of fish Hence came also Giovanni Gatto of the preaching order a Philosopher Divine and famous Mathematician who read in Florence Bologna and Ferrara and was afterwards elected Bishop of Catano and lastly hence came Gio Andrea Mercurio a most worthy Cardinal of the holy Church Here stood the City Taurominio which gave birth according to Pausanias to Tisandro Son of Cleocrito who four times overcame in the Olympick Games and as many times in the Pythick and Timeus the historian son of Andromacus who wrote of the transactions in Sicilia and Italy and of the Theban warrs CATANA IT hath also the City Catana one part whereof is washed by the Sea and the other extends it self to the foot of the Mountains where antiently was the Sepulture or burying place for famous and illustrious persons as of Stesicorus the Poet Himerese Xenofane the Philosopher and of two young Brothers Anapia and Anfinomo who the fire of AEtna raging and burning all the Countrey round took up upon their shoulders the one his Father the other his Mother but being disabled by the weight to proceed with speed and the fire overtaking them and at their very feet yet lost not their magnan imity and courage but when almost in despair the fire on a suddain divided it self before them and so they miraculously escaped safe In this City is a Colledge for all the sciences but most particularly they here study the Civil and Canon Laws and from her have issued many illustrious persons as Santa Agatha which the Palermitans will call of their City a Virgin Martyr who under Quintiano in the yeer of our salvation 152 suffered Martyrdome for Christ and Carondo the Philosopher and Legislator and he that was reputed the great Magus Diodorus or Liodorus Hence came also Nicolo Todisco called the Abbot or Panormitano the great Cnnonist and Cardinal who wrote so many books of the Canon Laws