Sambarbato Somewhat lower into the said Valley is a Country called the water of Mela of the Latines named Aqua Malorum where died Queen Margarite of Durazzo wife to Charls the third King of Naples Near to the said Country is a certain River which passeth a few miles but dives under the earth running through certain holes and Channels in the ground unseen the space of a hundred paces and then riseth out again so great and clear as at the first On the right hand of the Valley and of the River upon a hill is the City of Cava so named by the situation where it standeth For that Adalferio Pappacarbone a noble Salernitan in the year 910. drawn with holy zeal to do penance for his sins retired himself into this place abiding in a certain Cave The fame of his vertuous and holy life encouraged many to do the liâ—e whereupon in process of time it came to pass that place was much frequented for the worship and reverence of the sacred Hermitages and Churches that were there for the which Guaimaro the sixth Prince of Salerno in the year 940. built for the benefit of the Monks of the Order of S. Benedict a sumptuous and stately Monastery and indued it with great Revenues In process of time following the said Monastery was given in commendum to certain Prelates but came afterward into the possession of the Cardinal Olivero Carrafa who understanding the good life of the said Monks restored it to them again Pope Leo the tenth agreeing thereto at which time the Cavaioli desired of the said Pope a Bishops Sea which they obtained and moreover was ordained that for maintenance of that Pastoral Charge the Monastery aforesaid should give yearly to the Bishop a thousand and eight hundred Duckets of Revenue and so it appeareth that the Cavaioli had made a great beginning to their Cathedral Church Thus much concerning the original of this City where are these Noble Families Anna de Curtis Gagliardo Longo Ponza Rocca and Tosone The Cavaioli are ingenious men and of great Traffick but above all full of spirit and courage wherein generally appeareth in them a ready inclination to fight and are very obstinate in their opinions and therefore very litigious and full of contention with every one Returning to the shore of the Sea from Nuceria eight miles leaving the Castle Amare and on the left hand also passing by a great and mighty high Hill where from the side that lieth towards the North is Gragnano and Littere small Countries in the Plain going by the side of high and spacious Mountains which pass along to the Terrene Sea makes the Cape of Minerva or Ateneo called also Prenâ—sso Sirreo and the Hill Equano which is now so called by the Amalfi in which arm of Land are these Cities Vico Sorrento and Massa which we have described in the Province of the Land of Lavoro being so divided by the Kings Court. In the aforesaid arm of Land endeth the Haven of Crattera or rather the Gulf of Surrento made of two Promontories that is by Miseno and Ateneo which lieth towards the South Now all the circuit which is in that bending which is of this Promontory towards the East even to the nearest places of the Territory of Salerno now belonging to old Campania as Strabo affirmeth is called as â—ath been said the Coast of Amalfi from the City of Amalfi where lieth a pleasâ—nt and an excellent Country to the South which is in length little less then twenty miles Here between the stony and craggie Rocks and steep Hils lieth Pasetano Praiano Trani and the noble and pleasant City Amalfi in the which in a most sumptuous and stately Church is preserved with great reverence the body of St. Andrew the Apostle where continually attendeth a Priest which hath charge thereof which they say accustometh to bestow on every one that comes thither certain Viols full of clear and sacred liquor by the Citizens called Manna which as they say continually issueth from that holy body the which was brought thither by Pietro Capoano of Amalfi and Cardinal of St. Marcel which was in the year 1208. The head of the said glorious Saint in the time of Pope Pius the second was transported to the worthy City of Rome in the year 14â—4 where now it is most religiously kept There is also the Church of the Capuocini called the Canonica the way whereof is very rough and difficult where is a Reliquary made by the said Cardinal wherein is preserved a great number of the Reliques of Saints When I was there I repuested the Keeper of the place to give me a Note of them the which because he could not instantly do it he sent it me afterwards to Naples written by that good religious man in Verse which followeth the which pleased me so well as to impart unto posterity those reverend and holy Reliques Religio vel casus si huc te duxerit hospes Condita Sanctorum cernere corde kara Clauditur ô tectis quantus thesaurus inistis Accedens sacris collige sisquo memor Lumine nam tremulo spectabis brachia Cosmae Carne cruore cute cum unguibus illa simul Sanguis inest Christi quo dura ex morte redemptus Es mortalis homo respice plange geme Emicat hic ligni pars sancta ex cruce recisi Et tumuli sacri spinaque morte Dei. Nam caput hic Dioniedis adest venerabile cruce Ictu Iacobe alto est saucia calva tua Basilii caput est Romani signa colenda Accedunt mentes Eustachii â—ssa pias Hic Stephani hic Zacheriae fulgentis ossa Insontis turbae frustula multâ— jacent Pangratii cerebrum est Catharinae ac optima mala Vrsula jamque suo sanguine corde movet Ossa hic Marci adsunt Grisostomi ossa Phâ—lippi Qui moveant nostras excipiani que preces Plurima sanctorum monumenta hic deinque fragrant Quae carvere suo haud nomine nota mihil Haec ut scuta potes miserae tutamina vitae Voce vocare diu quaerere mente piâ—i Haec tibi succurrent posituro morte dolores Namque sodalis eris dum soci usque comes Namque dies aderit supremi transitus orbis Qua potes istorum scandere laetus ope Nunc calamum sumpsi nunc haec tibi scripta notavi Vive praecor felix memor ipse mei Of what great Power and Authority the said City hath been the stately Buildings that were therein sufficiently testifie where at this present a great part of the sumptuous Arsenal or Store-House is yet standing wherein the Amalfitani kept their Arms and Weapons In what time or by whom the said City should be builded there is no certainty for some believe that in the year 520. certain worthy Romans which departed from the City of Melfi and here residing should build the said City calling it Amalfe Others attributing
Greeks called Hesperia because it is situate in the West Five hundred sixty seven years before the destruction of Troy it was called Enotria by Enotro of Arcadia which with a Colony came to inhabit in the middle of Ausonia where he builded many Cities the principal whereof was Pandosia This name of Ausonia continued many and many years untill Italo was by the Enotri created King from whom they named the said Region Italia This Italo being a man very ingenious taught the Enotri the manner to till and ear the ground and to shear their sheep and lived but nineteen years and left Morgete his son heir of the Kingdom the which ordained that by his name Italy should be called Morgetia Morgete dead and the people not contented to continue his name in as much as he was odious unto them the name of Italy was renewed again and they called the Country Italia the which name continued a long time untill the Greeks came to inhabit there and then they called it Magna Gretia for the frequency of the great number of learned Scholars which came thither to hear the Philosopher Pithagoras but as the Poet Archilao saith tâ—was so called through the great multitude of Greeks which inhabited there being drawn through the fertility and pleasures of this Countrey whereupon Ovid in his fourth book de factis thus saith Itala nam tellus Graecia major erat It was afterward by the latter Greeks which came thither to inhabit called Calauria which in our tongue signifieth abundance of all good things and truly so is it because there is no place I will say not only in all Italy but in all Europe that may contend with this there being not any thing necessary for the life of man or which may yield delight that is not in great abundance and with all perfection so that corresponding in every part the effects agree with the name thereof as plainly appears that nature it self cannot be more delighted in it self yielding so many benefits as any Country whatsoever All this Country was devided by the Apennine into two parts and that part which was toward the Ionian Sea was called Magna Grecia the which also contained a part of Lucania now called Basilicata and did stretch from Regio even to Taranto The other part was by the Greeks called Bretia from Bretio the son of Hercules and of the Latines Brutia and stretched from Regio to the River Laus now called Laino It hath lately been divided by the Kings Court into two Provinces whereof the one is called Calauria on this side the other Calauria on the other side that on this side containeth a great part of Magna Grecia and of the Brutii and endeth with Basilicata and from the one side where is the head of the River Acri and of the other where runneth the River Lavo stretcheth from one sea to the other except that part which lieth in the East and is joyned with Calauria on the other side As touching those people which dwell upon the Tirrene Sea where the Brutii in old time inhabited are both in nature and manners more temperate and staid then those near the Ionian Sea who are more fierce and craftie as also their colour bewraieth for the other are white and red these dark and brown And for so much by the Kings Court it is divided into two parts as hath been said in the superior and inferior in the one is the Cape Cosenza in the other Catanzaro the one hath 30 Cities the other 16. and in all three hundred sixty seven with Countries and Castles But entring into the particular description of Calauria on this side having past the River Turbolo the ancient bounds of the people Lucani there appeareth Turture in the Territory whereof grow many Sugar Canes almost opposite standeth the Isle of Dimi Scalea and the River Lavo even where the ancient Lucani did arrive Then followeth Cerella Belvedere Bonifati and Citracro where are often made many Vessels through the great commodity of Timber and Pitch whereof that Country doth much abound within upon the banks of Lavo is the City of Lanio built upon the ruines of the ancient Lau and the said City is honoured with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the Family of Cardinâ—s Not far off is Campotenese which had this word from the ancient Temesini having been their Territory On the right hand is the Hill Apillonio where is such plenty of excellent Pasture that the best Cheese is there made in all those parts on the left side is Morano a populous and a rich Country which Antonio Pio in his Commentaries calleth Summuranum where is made excellent Cloth and every year there is a Fair with great concourse of people there about the Territory thereof is very fruitfull and fertile and there is made very fine Silk and Manna gathered and on the Hill there are infinite store of excellent simples Not far distant from the said Country springeth the River Sybari where was the ancient Syphei the ruies are to be seen whereof Livy maketh mention Going thence four miles is Saracena in a good Country called by Stefano Sestium which was built by the Enotri in whose Territory is made singular Wine and excellent Oyle it hath besides Mines of Gold and of Lead of Alabaster and Cristal Near hand about five miles distant is to be seen the ancient Country of Altemonth called Balbia which is not certainly known whether it was built by the Ausoni or Enotri The Wines which are there made have a very delicate taste whereof Pliny in his 14 book much commends and prefers before all the Wines of Calauria from whence in their most costly and sumptuous banquets was alwaies the Wine of Balbano And Atheneo making mention thereof in his first book thus writeth Vinum Balbinum generosum admodum austerum semper seipso melius nascitur In the principal Church of this Country lieth with much reverence the body of St. Paolo of Malta brother of St. Dominico There are in the said Territory natural Hils of white salt and they are no otherwise cut then if they were stones and there is Alabaster and two rich Mines of Gold of Silver and Iron and the Azured Lazul stone And at the foot of the Apennine in the Territory thereof groweth Cristal and white Chalk and the River Grondo passeth through the said Territory being very full of Eeles and Trouts This Country was given with the Title of a Count in the year 1462. by King Ferrant of Arragonia to Luca Sanseverino Prince of Basignano which now in the said house is maintained Next after followeth the City of St. Mark called by the Latines Argentanum and a little distant is the ancient City Meluito so called for the plenty of Vines which grow there but in old time it was called Temesa in which place by the providence of God
born in this Country and Telesiano the Philosopher the which hath learnedly writ eight books of disputations against the Peripateticks in favour of Berardino Telesio and is now at this present writing De sensu rerum where he shews he understands all things A little distant is Santa Caterina and Badolato a Country very delightfull where is made excellent Wines Oyl Hony and very fine Silk and also is gathered great store of Manna to the which Country Giulio Berlingiero and Giovandomenico Greco excellent Lawyers at this present yield much honour After followeth Satriano called of the Ancients Caecinnum from whom the River taketh the name which runneth but a little from thence of the which Thucidides in his third book maketh mention saying Laches Atheniensis egressi è navibus nonnulla loca locridis juxta caecinnum amnem Locrenses ad arcendam vim occurrentes cum Proxeno Capatonis silio circiter trecentos caeperunt detractisque armis abierunt Afterward is to be seen Petrito a little Castle situate in a pleasant seat where is made excellent good Wine not very far is Claravalle which for the goodness of the Flax contends with Alexandria for the precedence Then followeth Soverato whose Territory is garnished with beautifull Gardens of Citrons Limons and Oringes where near to the Fountain Meliteo is to be seen an Oak whose leaves never fals And afterward is Squillaci a noble and an ancient City built as some affirm by the Ausoni or by the Enotri Of this City thus writeth Strabo Scyllaceum Atheniensium Colonia qui Menestei comites fuere From the name of this City the Gulf of Squillaci taketh its name so perilous to Sailers whereof grows the Proverb Naufragâ—â— Scyllaceus Squillace was a Colony of the Romans as C. Velleio Patercole writeth in his first book to the which City Cassiodoro Munk of the Order of St. Benedict hath given great ornament which writ many books upon divers matters and among others composed the Tripartite History in 12 books and a book de ratione animae and another upon the Canticles he writ another book of Etimologies with a Catalogue of all the Roman Consuls He lived in the time of Iustine the old Emperor and died in the year of our Lord 575. The said City is honoured with the title of a Prince subject to the house of Borgia wherein with much reverence is preserved the body of St. Agatio Here leaving the River Crotalo and Roccella upon a high Hill is Catanzaro a noble and populous City the which was builded by Fagitio Lieutenant in Italy for the Emperor Nicephero And Catanzaro was so called of the Greek word Catizo which in Latin signifieth sedeo to which the excellent situation and the workmanship of Silk and Cloath bringeth great profit it is one of the fairest and principal Cities of Calauria and at this present it is the head of this Province and in it resideth the Kings Audit In the chiefest Church thereof lie with great reverence the bodies of St. Vitaliano and Theodoro Martyrs whose holy lives are written by the reverend Paolo Regio Bishop of Vico. Hard by is to be seen the City of Taverna which standeth near the Wood Sila This City had its original from the ancient Treschinesi the which being in the year 1068. ruinated by the Saracins was afterward reedified within the land in a most strong and inpregnable place but sustaining afterward divers calamities was again newly built by the Citizens thereof two miles distant under a most delicate temperature of air In the Territory of this City groweth the odoriferous Turpentine which Macedonia Damasco and Syria so much esteemed the having thereof This City hath received much honour by Iohn Lorenzo Anania an excellent Divine and Cosmographer which hath writ the Universal Fabrick of the world and a learned discourse of the nature of devils Towards the Sea-side is to be seen Simari and a little distant is the City Trichenesi which had very stately buildings in the old time but at this present the reliques are scant to be seen Then followeth the City Belcastro which some say was the ancient Chona This City boasteth much of St. Thomas of Aquin affirming that he was there born where they say he did the miracle of the Roses for which they cease not to contend with the Neopolitans saying he was of their City this worthy Saint died in the Monastery of Fossanova in the Territory of Terracina in the year of our Lord 1274. Near unto it is Mesuraga called in old time Reatinum builded by the Enotrii of the which Country was the worthy Matteo Vidio of the Order of the Minori whose body with honour lieth in the City of Taverna Not far distant standeth Policastro called by the Ancients Petilia which was builded by Philotete the son of Piante companion of Hercoles Of this City Virgil in the 3. book of Aeneid saith thus Hic illa Dulcis Melibaei parva Philoctetae subnexa Petilia muro This City was a Colony of the Romans the which was many times defended with much valour against the assaults of Hannibal by whom being at length taken was destroyed Then follows Siberna an ancient and an honourable City now called Santa Severina which is situate on a high Hill in the mids between two famous Rivers very strong by nature and after is the Rock where are digged great hils of Salt From hence leaving the River Tacina appears Cutro which aboundeth with excellent Flax and a little above is the Castle which some say should be the place named by the Latines Castra Hannibalis Then appeareth the Isle and the Cape of Pillars before called the Promontory Lacinio and was so called of Lacinio a famous Pirat which went robbing up and down and was afterward slain by Hercules who built there a sumptuous Temple to Iuno which Eneas honoured with a Cup of Gold this place was very famous for the School of Pithagoras and for the ashes of Filotete which laid upon the Altar was not dispersed with the wind This Cape of Pillars in these latter times was so called by the many and great Pillars which are there standing of the said ruinated Temple Leaving this Cape where beginneth the second gulf of the Mediterrane is the famous City of Cotrone in old time one of the greatest and chiefest Cities of Maegna Grecia The opinions of Writers are divers by whom the said City should be builded for some affirm that it was built by Lacinio Corcireo Ovid and Strabo say it should be Misilo Pithagoras more ancient then these writeth that Hercules built it This City was very famous because the Philosopher Pithagoras was a Citizen thereof from whose School proceeded more Philosophers then were Captains in the Trojan horse and also for Orpheus the Poet and Democides the Phisician so much esteemed of the King of Persia besides the beauty of the women have been much
quotannis Ecclesiae Romanae persolvam omnes Ecclesias quae in mea consistunt ditione cum earum possessionibus in tua potestate dimittam defensor ero earum ad fidelitatem Romanae Ecclesiae Et si tu vel tui successores antè me ex hac vita decesserint pro ut monitus fuero à primis Cardinalibus clericis laicis Romanis opem feram ut Pontifex erigatur ordinetur ad honorem S. Petri. Haec omnia suprascripta servabo S. R. Ecclesiae tibi successoribus tuis ad honorem S. Petri ordinatis qui mihi firmaverint investituram à te mihi concessam Sic me Deus adjuvet c. Afterward by commandment of the Pope Ruberto went with his Army against the Roman Barons and never ceased untill he had subdued them all and made them obedient to the Pope Having then a purpose to expell the Saracins out of Sicilia made many progresses into that Isle took Messina surprised Rimeto built in the Valley of Demona the Castle of St. Mark and from hence returning into the Country of Otranto took Taranto by assault four years after it was besieged through the faction of Argirizo of Bari returned again into Sicilia and with a puissant Army besieged Palermo the which City when he had taken committed the Government of that Isle to his brother Ruggieri Bosso determined for a difference risen between him and the Prince Gisulfo his brother in law to subdue Salerno whereupon with a mighty siege he begirt the said City into the which he entred by a breach in the Wall and easily obtained it as he had done many other places and so became Lord of Salerno in the year 1076. and without any delay followed the conquest of the rest of Campania and forsomuch as he had an ingenious and deep conceit took advantage by the dissention and ill government of the Grecian Princes purposing to make war upon them because many years before they attended no other thing but the chasing and dispossessing the one the other Then he past the Sea with an Army of 15 thousand â—ighting men and meeting with the Army of Alessio gave him a mighty overthrow Not long after Pope Gregory the 7 being afflicted with cruel war by the Emperor Henry the 4. requested aid of Ruberto Guiscardo and for to induce him the rather to his desire they met together at Aquino and after at Ceperano and there the Pope confirmed to Roberto the same things which Nicholas the second and Pope Alexander had first granted unto him And so Roberto was again made a Liegeman of the Church and took his Oath in this manner Ego Robertus Apuliae Calabriae Siciliae Dux postâ—ac ero fidelis tibi Domino meo Gregorio Pontifici neque auctor ero aut operam dabo ut vitam aut membrum amittas aut dolo malo capiaris consilium quod mihi communicaveris in tui damnum sedens non enunciabo S. Romanam Ecclesiam te adjuvabo ut teneas acquiras desendas regalia Sancti Petri ejusque possessiones pro meis viribus contra omnes homines praeter partem Firmanae Marchiae Salernum Amalsim de quibus adhuc non est decretum adjuvabo te ut tutò honorificè teneas Pontificatum Terram S. Petri quam nunc tenes vel habiturus es post quam sciero tuae esse potestatis nec invadere nec acquirere conabor nec praedari audebo sine tuo tuorumque successorum permisit pensionem de terra S. Petri quam ego teneo aut tenebo quot annis bona side persolvam S. Romanae Ecclesiae omnes ecclesias quae in ejus sunt ditione tuae potestati dimittam easque desendam Si tu aut sucdessores tui ante me ex vita ingraverint pro ut monitus fuero auxilio ero ut Pontifex eligatur ordinetur Guiscardo having finished his saying Gregory thus replyed Ego vero Gregorius Pontifex investa â—e Roberte de terra S. Petri quam tibi concesserunt antecessores mei Nicolaus Alexander De illa autem terra quam injuste tenes Salernum dico Amalsim partem Marchiae Firmanae nunc te putienter sustinâ—o in considentia Dei omnipotentis tuae bonitatis ut tu postea ad honorem S. Petri ita te geras sicut te gerere me suscipere decet sine periculo animae tuae meae Presently Ruberto answered in this manner Ego Robertus Dux ad confirmationem traditionis recognitionem fidelitatis de omni terra quam ego teneo propriè sub Domino meo promitto me quotannis pro unoquoque jugo boum pensionem duodecim denariorum Papiensium soluturum B. Petro tibi Domino meo Gregorio Pontifici omnibus successoribus tuis aut tuis aut successorum tuorum nunciis ubi dies Sanctae Domini Resurrectionis advenerit Within a while after the Emperor Henry begirt Pope Gregory with a very dangerous siege the which Guisâ—ardo understood being in Grecia with one part of his Army leaving the other to his son Boemund came with all celerity to relieve the Pope and entring in by the port del popolo drove the Emperor away by force deliver'd the Pope from the siege and conveyed him to Montecasino and afterward to Salerno where he liv'd the remnant of his life Guiscard afterward returned to his enterprises beyond the sea where having done many worthy exploits beseeming a most valiant Prince died in Corfu of Grecia the year of our Lord 1085. in the month of Iuly being 62 years of age his body was afterward conveyed into Italy and buried in the City of Venosa in Apulia Ruberto was of a high spirit provident and very ingenious whereupon he was called by the Normans for his sirname Guiscardo which signifieth subtile and witty He had successively three wives the first was Albereda sister to the Prince of Capoa which brought him Ruberto who died young and Boemundo Sigelaica his second wife sister to the Prince of Salerno by whom he had Ruggieri Sivardo and Eria Of his third wife named Isabella the daughter of Vgone the first of this name King of Cypris he had not any child After the death of Ruberto Boemundo his eldest son was altogether imployed in the war which he had in Grecia in the mean time Ruggiero his younger brother with great cunning took upon him the Government of the Dukedom of Apulia and Calauria and obtained of Pope Vrban the second the confirmation of the State in the Councel which was held in the City of Troia the which Boemund understanding came with his Army to drive him away but forune offered him the opportunity of a more glorious enterprise forsomuch as in he Councel held in France in Chiaromonte of Alvernia the voyage beyond the Sea to recover the Sepulchre of Christ from the hands of the infidels was made manifest whether went
Pappacarbone Guaimaro Prince of Salerno the 6. an 940 Gargano Lettere The Cape of Minervâ— The Caost of Amalfi Pasetano Praiano Trani Amalfi The body of St. Andrew the Apostle Pietro Capoan Cardinal in the year 1208. The Church of the Capucines A Note of the holy reliques which are in Canonica By whom Amalfe was builded and why it was so called Amalfo a Roman Captain of the Emperor Constantine Amalfa the dâ—ughter of M. Marcello Ruffo Roman The Calife of Egipt a great friend to the Amalfi anno 1020. Churches builded by the Amalfi in Ierusalem The Hospital of St. Iohn Baptist in Ierusalem Pope Honorius 2 in the yâ—ar 1127. Ramondo of Poggio first great Master of the Knights of the Hospital How Rodes came into the possession of the Knights of St. â—ohn The Amalfitani the founders of the Religion of the Knights of St. Iohn See the History of Henry Pantaleon de rebus memorâ—bilibus ordinis Johanitarum Rhodiorum ant Melitentium equiâ—um terra malique fortiter gestis lib. 1. f. 3 Flavio di Gioia the inventer of the Sea-card in the year 1300. How they sailed in old time Pilots and Sailers came every year to Amalfi Mairue The City Ravello The miracle of the bloud of St. Pantâ—â—eon The noble Families of Ravello Paolo Fosco The City Scala The noble Families of Scala The cape of Orso The River Silare and Drumento The Gulf of Salerno by Strabo called Sinus Pestanus Horace in his Epistles Salerno why it was so called and by whom it was built Salerno a Colony of the Romans Strabo lib. 5. Salerno a Colony of the Romans Salerno under the dominion of the Longobards Sicardo Duke of Benevento slain Sichinolfo Prince of Salerno An. 〈◊〉 The Saracins of Sicilia enter Calauria Lodovico King of Italy maketh a division of the State Anno 847. The death of Sichinolfo Sicone Lodovico King of Italy recalled by the Longobards Adamario 2 Prince Danserio 3 Prince Guaiferio 4 Prince Guaimaro 5 Prince Gisulfo 6 Prince The body of St. Matthew the Apostle brought to Salerno Landolf 7 Prince Guaimaro the 8 Prince The Emperor Currado entreth Italy Guaimaro slain by the Salernitans Ruberto Normando Count of Puglia and Prince of Salerne King Charls 1 made Prince of Salerne Ramondo Orsino Count of Nola. Ruberto Sanseverino Prince of Salerno 1463. Salerno a Râ—gal City The University of Salerno founded by Charls the great an 8â—2 The disposition of the Salernitans The 〈…〉 of Salerno Marc. Antonio Marsilio Colonna Archbishop of Salerno Famous men in Phisick Matteo Silvatio Trotula Abella Mercurial Rebecca Guarna Boccuccio Grillo Iohn de Proeida Author of the Sicilian Evening Paolo Grisignano Francesco de Alfano Antonello di Rugiero Pietro Bailardo Iohn Cola di Vicario Carlo di Ruggiero Iohn Angelo Papia Pirro Alfano Pomponio Lieto Andrea Guarna Benedetto Ruggio The Fairs of Salerno Sarno The River Sarno Montoro Montecorvino Picentia a famous City why it was destroyed by the Romans Acerno The City Campagna St. Antony the Abbat an 625. Conturso Quaglietta Evoli Virgil in the 3 of his Georg. A woman changed to a man Anno 1460. Iohn Pontano Li. 10. 〈…〉 Pliny lib. 〈…〉 a woman may turn to be a man The body of St. Bernierâ— The body of St. Vito The noble Families of Evâ—ly The Country Aquario Matthia Iuono The Country of Olivito The Country of Agropoli The air of Agropoli and the effect therof The Castle of Abbate The Cape of Licosa The Castle of Bruca The River Electe The Isles of Enotrie Isacia and Pontia The Country of 〈◊〉 The City Molpa destroyed The Haven of Saprico now called the gulf of Pulicastro Saponara Marsico The disposition of the people of this Province A Proverb The Arms of this Province Strabo in his 5 book The ancient limits of this Principality The Vale of Beneventana the principal part of Sannio The length of the Valley of Beneventana The Rivers Sabato and Vulturno Matese a Promontory of the Apennine The City Benevento by whom it was built Benevento possessed by the Longobards more then 200 years The Dukedom of Benevento how much it contained The names of all the Dukes of Benevento Arechi the second of this name Duke of Benevento Who first undertook the dignity of a Prince in Italy Pope Adrian Charls the great The end of the Kingdom of the Longobards in Italy Charls the great was disguised as an Ambassador to see the Prince Arechi The City of Salerno fortified by Arechi Arechi died the year 78â— The Saracins in Sicilia Sâ— Bartholmew the Apostle Monte Casino destroyed by the Saracins in the year 884. Leone Emperor of Consâ—antinople The Dukedom of Benevento possest by the Emperor of Greece Castaldo was a certain dignity which the Emperoâ—s of Greece were accustomed to bestow on their favorites which some say signifieth a Lieutenant oâ— President Anno 996. The Emperor Otho the 3 goeth about to take away from Benevento the body of St. Bartholmew the Apostle Henry the 2 Emperor by many named the first Benedict the 7 by some called the 8. How Benevento came under the dominion of the Church Ruberto Guiscard created Duke of Puglia and Calauria Ruggiero the Norman King of Naples possest Benevento Bishops of Rome Orbilio Grammatico Rofredo and Odoâ—redo famous Lawyers Angelo Catone Marino Bilotta Mercurio of Vipera Pietro Candido Bartholmew Camerario Leonardo Grifo Gabriel de Blasio Iohn Camillo Bilotta Sâ—ipio 〈◊〉 Hecâ—ore Savariano Andrea Candido The noble Families of Benevento Charls the great and F.L. Nicesero divided the Empire the year of our Lord 800. The quality of the Province The Valley of Caudina The City Caudio Hirpio now called Arpaia The Gallows of Caudine St. Martino St. Angelo on Scala Attavilla Montefredano Avellino Mercogliano Montevirgine Montesuscolo Monte Tremoli The River Sabato Montefalcione Candida Serpito Vulturara Pia. Chiusano Castello vetere Montella Apice Mirabella Tauraso Cursano Bagnulo Cassano Nusco The River Calore The River 〈◊〉 The River Tripalto Bonito Grottamenarda Flumari Vico. Melito Amando Zuncoli The Hill Crepacore The River Mâ—â—scano Corsano Montecalvo Ariano Montemale Casulalborâ— The Freemens Castle Padula S. Iorio Molinara Reino S. Maria del Colle Cercello Cassano St. Croce The quality and nature of the people of this Province The Arms of this Province The limits of the Province of Basilicata The Lucani and their original Elephants brought into Italy see Pliny lib. 8. chap. 6. The fertility of the Province Martial lib. 1 The Temple of Iuno the Argive Possidonia The Gulf of Agrâ—poli Velia Pisâ—iotta The Cape of Palinuro Molpa The Imperial Rock Francavilla Noia St. Arcangelo Roccanova Castellonova Episcopia Claramont Senisi Tursi St. Mauro Ferrandina Pesticcie The River Vaisento Metaponte Pomarico Miglionico Grottâ—la Montescagioso The River Bradano Tricarico Montepeloso Venosa Canâ—sa Lavello Potenza Melfi Stigliano The condition of the Inhabiters of this Province The Arms of this Province The fertility of Calauria The divers Mines in Calauria The excellent hunting
also that of Sicily with the utter Revolt of Portugal and commotions in Catalonia as also the loss of so many Towns about Flanders which were given in ransom for Francis the French King as likewise the rending away of the county of Rossillon hath given so shrewd a â—heck to the Spanish Monarchy that she is still a branling ever since having made her so thin of men at home and mony abroad and plung'd her in such a bottomless Gulph of debt that the whole Revenue of Naples which is above three millions per ann is scarce able to pay the Genoways and other banks their yeerly interest And the Spanish Monarchy is like to continue still in this shaking aguish posture while this fiery Cardinal sits at the French Helm moving upon the principles of his Predecessor who may be sayd to be two fatall â—ngins raisd up to unhiâ—ge the World I. H. Sen sâ—o non Segnesco The chief Ingredients that go to the Composition of this Historicall Survey I· THe Scituation of the Citty of Naples II. The names of the severall Provinces and the quality of the Country III. The Customes of the Peeple and the famous men Naples hath producd IV. An account of the Revenues Imposts Donatives and other Perquisits of the Crown V. A History of the Kings of Naples with their Titles and Stile VI. The names of the Barons with their Armes as also of the spirituall power VII A discourse of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and how it is appropriated to the Kingdom of Naples c. VIII An exact relation of the procedures of the Spanish Match with England c. IX The Revolt of Catalonia X. The Revolt of Portugal XI The severall pretentions of Right and Title to the Crown of Portugal XII The Tumults of Sicily XIII The three late horrid Revolutions of Naples XIV Of the Duke of Ossuna Vice-roy of Naples of his Extravagancies and the strange Articles exhibited against Him XV. The Catastrophe of Olivares the great Spanish Favorit and the causes of his downfall XVI A true Relation of the suspectfull death of Don Carlos Prince of Spain never yet so much discovered to the World Upon the CITTY OF NAPLES FIRST CALL'D PARTHENOPE OR THE VIRGIN-CITTY Salve Parthenope Decora salve PArthenope a Citty bright as Gold Or if the Earth could bear a richer Mold Is com to greet Great Britain Queen of Iles And to exchange som Silks for VVooll she smiles To find that Cloath shold wear and feel so fine As do her Grograns she doth half repine That Lemsters Ore and spires of fallow'd Grass The leafs of Mulberries shold so surpass Which so abound in Her with every thing Which Pleasure VVealth or VVonderment can bring That Nature seems to strive whom she shold please Herself or Vs with rare Varieties There her own Bawd to be she may be sayed As if the VVanton with Herself she played Let England then strow Rushes all the way To welcom in the fair Parthenopey For I dare say She never yet came o're In such a Garb to visit any Shore I. H. A Table of the most notable things that are contained in the first part of the HISTORY of NAPLES ACerra a City and why so called 16 Acidola a spring of an admirable nature 8 Adria a City in Apruzzo now called Atri 74 Alphonso the first of Aragon 17 King of Naples 160 Alphonso the second 19 King of Naples 162 Amalfia a City 23. by whom it was built 26 Annibal the Carthaginian falls in love in Apulia or Puglâ—a 89 Apruzzo citra the ninth Province of the Kingdom 69 Apruzzo ultra the tenth Province of the Kingdom 73 Aquila Metropolitan City in Apruzzo 76. how many Churches are in it ib. Nature and custom of the Aquilans ib. how many armed men it can set forth upon occasion ib. Adriatick Sea why so called and where it ends 89 Arms of Terra di Lavoro 21 Arechi Dukes of Benevento 22 Arms which the Province of Principato citra carries in its colours 36 Arms of Principality ultra 43 Arms of Basilicata 47 Arms of Calabria citra 52 Arms of Calabria ultra 60 Arms of the Land of Otranto 65 Arms of the Land of Bari 68 Arms of Apruzzo citra 72 Arms of Apruzzo ultra 81 Arms of the County of Molise 84 Arms of Capitanata 93 Ascoli in Apruzzo restored to the Church by Queen Giovanna 80 Asturno a Hill where the Royal hunting is in the Land of Lavoro 9 Aversa a City by whom built and famous men of it 15 B BAsilicata fourth Province of the Kingdom 44 Barletta a famous Town 67 Benevento a City by whom it was built 38 how it came into the Churches hands 40 Basignano and other Towns and Cities in the Province of Calabria 51 Bitonto a City in the Land of Bari 68 Boiavo a City in Capitanata 83 Borrello and other Towns in Calabria ult 54 Brutii whence called 53. Brindisi and by whom it was built 63. Body of St. Nicholas in Bari 67. Bodies of Saints found in the Province of Bari ib. Body of S. Thomas Aquinas 71. Bounds of the Land of Apruzzo 70. C CAlabria citra the 5 Province of the Kingdom 47. Calabria ultra the 6 Province in the Kingdom 52. Capitanata the 12 Province 85. why so called ib. Charls the 1 of Anjou 9 King of Naples 152. Charls the 2. 10 King of Naples 153. Charls the 3 of Durazzo 13 King of Naples 155. Charls the 4. 20 King of Naples 162. Charls the 5 Emperor 26 King of Naples 168. Catanzaro chief city of Calabria 59. Campania the happy why so called 4. Castle of Vovo 10. Casasana a most delicious place built by Charls the second 11. Capua a city 13. sackt and rebuilt 14. Casetta a city by whom it was built 17. Capre of Partivento 56. Castle at Mare Volturno 8. Campo Basso a chief town in the county of Molise 83. Cava a City and its beginning 24. Caliph King of Egipt friend to the Amalphitans 26. Charles the great disguised to see the Princess Arrechi 39. Capa of Palinuro and Molpa 45. Calabria citra a Province why so called 49. Calabria ultra a Province 52. its fertility ib. Cardinal Pascasius his soul 10. Cape of the Pillars 60. Crickets and their properties 56 City of Chieâ—i Metropolitan of Apruzzo 70 Counts and Dukes of Puglia and Calauria 136. Coronation of the Kings of Naples 174. Coast of Amalfi 25. Cosenza chief city of Calabria 50. Cotrone a city in Calabria 60. County of Molise 11 Province 82. its bounds and things whereof there is plenty ibid. Conradus the fourth Emperor and seventh King of Naples 150. Cuma a city 9. Custom of the sheep of Puglia and the Revenues of it 91. Country-house of Scipio and Lelius 7 Cicero his country-house where the Emperor Adrian was buried 9 Charls 2 King of Naples drives out the Saracins 92 D. DIscourse of the Kings of Ierusalem 176 Donatives given by the kingdom of Naples to
their Kings Court 106 Dukes of Benevento 38. Dukedom of Benevento usurped by the Greeks ibid. Death of Alexander King of the Molossians 50. E. EFfigies lives of the Kings of Naples 139 Euoli a famous town in the Principality Citra 34. The noble Families of the said town 35. F. FRederick the second Emperour and sixth King of Naples 148. Ferrante the first of Arragon eighteenth king of Naples 161. Ferrante the second the one and twentieth king of Naples 161. Frederick 22 king of Naples 164. Ferdinand the Catholick 24 king of Naples 166. Flora and its riches 20. Fertility of the Province of the Prinpality Citra 23. Fairs and noble Families of Salerno 33. Female become male 34. Fountains Rivers and Lakes in the kingdom of Naples 111. Fondi a City in the land of Lavoro 6. Fens and Marshes of the kingdom 127. Fishes bred in the sea belonging to the land of Lavoro 5. G. GAeta a citie and its gulf 17. Giovanna the first twelfth Queen of Naples 154. Gelasius the second the fifth Pope 6. Giovanna the second 15 Queen of Naples 157 Giovanna the third 25 Queen of Naples 166 Giacomo Sanazaro 10. Gâ—avina a citie why so called 67. Gulfs and Capes of the sea in the kingdom 45. Gulf of Salerno 28. Gulf Adriatick where it begins 63. Gulf of the famous citie of Venice ibid. Great Constable 184. Great Admirall ibid. Great Justice 185. Great Chamberlain 186. Great Protonotary ibid. Great Chancellor ibid. Great Steward 187. H. HEnry the sixth King of Naples 147 Hunting of Swordfishes 55. Hills in the kingdom of Naples 1â—5 How long the Samnites warred against the Romans 69. I. ISland of Capri 12. Ischia ibid. Islands of Eolia 54. Ionick sea where it begins 60. Iohn of Procida caused the Sicilian vespers 12. L. LAdislaus fourteenth king of Naples 156. Lakes of the said kingdom 128. Lewis the 12 king of France 13 King of Naples 16â— Lake of Celano 60. Lake of Averno 9 Lanciano a Citie in Apuzzo 71. Land of Lavoro its praises 6. Lewis king of Italy 30. Land of Otronto seventh Province of the kingdom 61. Land of Lavoro why so called 4. Land of Bari eight Province 66. Lives portraitures of the Kings of Naples 139. M. MAnfredi eighth king of Naples 151. Massa a citie 11. Marigliano 16. Manna what it is and how it is ingendred 57. Matera a citie in the land of Otronto 64. Mines which are in the kingdom 132. Misenus Aeneas his Trumpeter â—0 Miracle of Saint Pantaleon his blood in Ravello 28. Martian water brought to Rome 80. Mines in Calabria 48. Mine of Bolearmonick in the said citie 64. Mines and Bathes in the land of Lavoro 5. Manner of writing used by the Kings of Naples to divers Kings and Princes 181. Mount St. Angelo and its description 87. Mount of Somma 11. Mount Casino 19. destroyed by the Saracens 39. Mount Virgin a famous Monastery 42. Mount of salt in the said Province 50. Mount Leone a place in Calabria 53. N. NAture of the territory of the land of Lavoro 4. Nature and qualities of the inhabitants 6. Naples faithfull to the Romans and its praises and Arms 10 11. Nisita an Island why so called 13. Names of the Viceroys of Naples from the year 1505. 183. Nola a noble citie and its Citizens 21. Of the cattell which had custom paid for them in the kingdom of Naples in the year 1592. 91. Nucera 24. O. ORigine and difference of the crowns of the Noblemen of the Kingdom of Naples 188. Otho the sixth Emperour seeketh to take away the body of St. Bartholomew of Benevento 40. Otranto a citie of the Kingdom 61. How far it is distant from Greece ibid. P. PAtria a Lake 8. Piacenza a citie why destroyed by the Romans 34. Principality Citra second Province 22. Principality Vltra third Province and why so called 37. Procida why so called 12. Philip the second 27 king of Naples 170. Philip the third 28 King of Naples 171. Physicians famous in Salerno 32. Q. QValities of the inhabitants of Basilicaâ—a 46. Qualities of the Inhabitants of Calabria 60. Qualities of the inhabitants of the land of Otronto 65. Qualities of the inhabitants of the land of Bari 68. R. REnato of Anjou 16 king of Naples 159. Reggio a citie of Calabria 55. Revenues the crown of Spain hath in the kingdom of Naples 97. Rivers in the kingdom of Naples 111. Rock of Mondragone 8. Rhodes how it came into the hands of the knights of St. Iohns order 26. Ruggiero first king of Naples 139. Robert the 11. king of Naples Robert Guiseard Duke of Puglia 76. S. SAracens gain a great number of places in Capitanata 87. St. Thomas Aquinas 18. St. German why so called 19. St. Paulino inventes of Bells 20. Sanseverino 24. Salerno why so called 29. Saracins come over into Calabria 30. Sarno a River 33. St. Antony Abbot of whence he was 34. Saint Vito and his body within the demains and Territory of Evoli 35. S. Bartholomew Apostle in Benevento 39. Scituation of Calabria in ancient times 49. Saint Thomas Apostle and his body where they are 71. St. Erasmus which appears to Seafaring men ibid. Sessa a citie and why so called 8 Siccardo Duke of Benevento 29. Sea-compass whose Invention 27. T. TAncred fourth King of Naples 145. Taranto a chief citie 62. Temple Floriano 20. Temple of Iuno in Basilicata 45. Titles of dignity used by the Kings of this kingdom 181. Tower of the Grecian and of the Annunciata 11. Totila King of the Gothes 19. Troy of Puglia by whom built 92. Tremiti anciently called the Diomedean Islands 93. Traietto 7. Tranie a citie 67 V Vlesti a destroyed citie 89. Volturnus a River 8. Vniversity of Salerno by whom founded 32 W. WInes and Oyls made in the land of Lavoro 5. Woods which are in the Kingdom A Collection of the prime Materials that go to the structure of the second part of the History of the Kingdom of Naples with the additions to the first A ALphonso Duke of Calabria made Knight of the English Garter in policy In Epist. ded A strange Prediction of Benincasa before the last tumults in Naples In proem A rare observation in the number seven ib. The Advantage which a due reverence to the Church carrieth with it to a State In proem An Abridgment of the expeditions and exploits of Charls the fift fol. 2 Of Don Antonio of Portugal 8 Of Antonio Perez ib. A cross Alliance betwixt France and Spain 25 A relation of the marriage betwixt them at the confines ib. A Letter from the last King of France to his new Queen with her answer 26 A Treaty of a match betwixt Prince Charls and the Infanta of Spain The Arrival of the said Prince in Spain and the circumstances ib. A high Speech of Olivares at the Princes coming ib. Another Speech of Gondamars 27 An Appearance of the Infanta two daies after in publick with a blew ribond about
made a Bishops Sea This City was very faithfull to King Ladislaus from whom for this cause it attained many priviledges and so strong was the Castle thereof that it was held one of the Keys of the Land and therefore was there alwaies held a strong Garison of Soldiers Gaeta hath alwaies the best Haven which as Spartianus writeth was repaired with great cost by Antonius Pius This City had great honour by Galasius second Bishop of Rome by that famous Thomas of Viao of the Order of Preachers General and after Cardinal of the Church R. this excellent man past to a better life at Rome the 9 of August in the year 1534. And moreover about our time Iohn Tharcagnota hath been very famous whose History is generally known to all Following on the said way there are seen even to Mola which are five miles delightfull Gardens near the crooked shore of the Sea under Gaeta full of green flourishing Oringes Lymons and other pleasant fruits environed with delightfull Christaline streams yielding much content to the beholders thereof Proceeding somewhat forward in following the aforesaid pleasant way on the sea-side is seen the beautifull City Mola built by the ruines of the ancient City Formia now called Ormia which a little distance are seen the Foundations of Formia built by the Laconi according to Pliny and was so called by the conveniency of the Haven as Strabo writeth this ancient City was the habitation of Antiphate King of the Lestrigoni most cruel Tyrants Mola hath very fair and fruitfull Territories some think that Mola was so named of the Wharfs or rather of the Mills which are therein turning by the continual course of water which plentifully riseth from the bottom of the Hils In this Country was the fair and delightfull Village Formiana of Scipio and Lelius the true and faithfull friends which afterward was purchased by Cicero and throughout all this Country which is from Mola to the River Garigliano are seen the ruins of great buildings whereby it may be thought that those places in ancient time were much inhabited being the most delightfull pleasant and fruitfull that the Roman Empire had After Mola three miles upon a little Hill is the Castle Honorato in the way Hercolantea builded by Honoratus of Gaeta County of Fondy Not far off is the Hill Cecubo which stretcheth to the Gulf of Gaeta this Hill is much renowned for the excellency of the Wines thereof which are much commended by Horace by Martial and Strabo following that way towards the mouth of the River Garigliano where it runneth into the Sea before Clanino is Liris so much celebrated for the overthrow which the Saracins had by Pope Iohn the 10th and for the Victory obtained by Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova against the French to whose only valour was attributed the Victory of them and the flight of the Turks whereby he gained the glorious sirname of Great Captain a favour vouchsafed from heaven whereof the world hath so few This said River riseth from the Appennine Mountains and passeth by the Territory of Vestino near to the Country of Fregelle now a famous City and goeth by Luco or rather the Sacred Wood sometimes honoured of the Minturnesi which was near the said City On the left side of the said River is seen upon a little Hill the City of Traietto builded near to the place where was the City of Minturne the ruines whereof are now to be seen and almost the whole Theatre and the ancient aquiducts Minturne was builded by the Ausoni and was afterward a Roman Colony and was divided by the River near the mouth thereof It was in the time of Pope Marcellinus honoured with a general Councel and it was one of the Cities which for the grievance of the air was priviledged by the Romans both from the Wars and other burthens and Impositions Cai. Marius flying hither secretly hid himself in a moorish or fenny place and beholding an Asse to go very pleasantly to the water to drink took it for a good presage or a token of good fortune re-inforced his Army and putting to Sea entred Rome victoriously From thence leaving the Confines of this Region of Latium we enter on the right hand into the Land of Lavoro and the Hill which is in the entrance of the Land of Lavoro very near to the mouth of Garigliano hath many famous names for in some place it is called Gauro in other Massico and in some other Gallicano that part thereof that is nearest to Garigliano is called Gauro from whence the River hath been called Gaureliano Pliny saith that this Gauro as also the Hill Vessuvio near Naples yieldeth Sulphur or Brimstone which the hot-waters sufficiently declare which at this present are seen to issue and boyle where now is the Tower of the Bathes and the Bathes themselves After Minturn the first Land that is nearest in the Land of Lavoro on this side was Trifano situated by Livy between Minturn and Sinuessa the next following was Sinuessa five miles as Strabo saith from Minturn but it is ten miles as it now appeareth Livy saith that there were two Colonies brought about the Territory Vestino and Falerno one at the mouth of Garigliano which was Minturn as is said and the other in Vestino which confineth with the Territory of Falerno where first there was a Greek City called Sinope which was builded by the Sinopesi and was by the Roman Colony called Sinuessa because it joyned near to the City Sessa Here died old Turpillus that comical Poet many ruines of this City are to be seen on the land but more in the Sea and the Haven thereof had a large Key or Wharlf made by mens labour at the top of the Hill called Dragone saith Livy that Fabius Maximus led his Army by the top of the Mount Massico forbidding passage to Hannibal and that the Souldiers of Hannibal sackt the Country even to the water Sinuessano from whence it seemeth that the Mount Massico whereon Fabius Maximus held his Army is a part of the same Hill which reacheth from Sessa to Carinola In the place of Sinuessa two miles from thence upon the Hill is the Fort of Mondragone honoured with the dignity of a Dukedome the Town whereof stands in the Plain less then a mile from the Sea where Sinuessa was is nothing seen but the Baths which as Strabo saith doe cure many diseases and especially help women that ate baren After the Fort of Mondragone upon the Hill Massico which is full of Villages from the part towards the Sea there is no land or Castle but from that part which is towards Garigliano between the Sea Garigliano the way Appia and the Mount Massico is no more plain then eight miles every way and is manured and inhabited with much people and is now called the Villages of Sessa which Plain in the happy time of the Romans was
Near Naples is the Greek Tower first called Herculea of Hercules which came thither with many Ships after he left Nontiata near the ancient Stabie At this place standeth aloft that famous Hill of Somma called Vesevo and Vesuvio about which are situated many pleasant Villages except in the top where the Poets feign remain the shoulders of the Giant Porfirius In the time of the Emperor Titus with a general fear to all those in the fields and destruction of them which were nearest it cast out from the top thereof great flames of fire and Balls of Sulphure Mine and burning stones where Pliny died the great preserver of the Latine tongue whilst he desired to see the great exhalations of that Hill which cast the ashes even into Africa Going a little farther is the City of Castel by the Sea of Stabia so named by the City Stabbia which was not far off which had been destroyed by L. Silla this Castle is situated in a corner of the Mount Gauro where it beginneth to stretch towards the West which maketh the Promontory of Minerva Here about the distance of a mile through the delight of the place King Charls the second builded a Royal Palace calling it for the sweetness of the air the Wholsome House which afterward King Rubert enlarged giving it greater beauty and ornament which place is now possest by the Noble Family Nocera King Ferrant the first having bestowed it on Pietro Nocera his chiefest favorite which for his great valour was afterward by King Ferrant the second made General of the Gallies This Country aboundeth with great plenty of clear water and great store of the best Fruits and for the facility and easie access of the place hath much Traffick According to the division of Strabo of Ptolomy and of Sempronio this City should be placed in the Country of the Picentini which is now called the Province of Principato but we have thought best to confine it in the Land of Lavoro because it is situated in the Gulf of Cratero Within a little is the beautifull City Vico builded by the people Equani then followeth the City Sorrento very ancient and Noble situated on the top of the Hill whose prospect is the Sea Although it be not of that greatness as formerly it hath been it hath a very fertile and delightfull Territory garnished with Vines and Oringes and other fruitfull Trees This City was builded by the Greeks and was called Petra Syrenum In this City lived Antonio the Abbot a most holy man and famous for his miracles whose body remaineth even now as a testimony of his divine Miracles as they say towards those which are oppressed with Spirits Then from Sorrento a mile is the City of Massa newly named to the which Paolo Portarello that excellent Poet and great Humanist hath now and alwaies giveth everlasting glory From hence then is seen the solitary Hill Atheneo the which because it joyneth not with any other Hill passeth along towards the West and is otherwise called the Hill Massa it was also called Prenusso Sirreo Minervio and the Hill Equano in the top of the Promontory is to be seen a great part of the Temple of Minerva builded by Vlisses Under the side of the said Promontory are certain desart and stony Islands called the Sirenes in one whereof from that part which lieth towards Surrento in ancient time was a rich Temple where were certain very ancient gifts long since presented by the Inhabitants of the Country for the worship and reverance of that holy place the Reliques whereof are now to be seen Here endeth the Gulf called Cratera included within two Promontories Miceno and Ateneo which lie towards the South which Gulf is almost wholly planted with Houses and goodly Gardens opposite to the which riseth out of the Sea the Isle of Capri the first delightfull place of Tiberius Caesar but now ordained for Exiles and banished people Here twice in a year are Quails taken Directly against Miseno is the Isle of Prochita now called Procita the which according to Strabo is a part of Pitecuse Procita was so called as Pliny saith by the depth thereof for by miracle the said Isle rise of it self out of the bottom of the Sea But as Dionisius of Alicarnaseo affirmeth that it was named by a beautifull young man a Trojau called Procita which came thither to inhabit Whereof Servio upon these Verses of Virgil saith in his 9 Book Tum sonitu Prochyta alta tremit c. Saith that it had that name from Protheus which signifieth spread or dispersed to the which opinion agreeth the Greeks and almost all the Latines Silio the Italian in his 12 Book speaking of Procida saith thus Apparet Prochyta saevum sortita Numanta Apparet procul Inarime quae turbine nigro Fumantem premit Iapetum flammasque rebelli Ore rejectantem si quando evadere detur Bella Iovi rursus superisque iterare volentem Within this Isle is a fair Country well replenished with people which hath the same name and is very famous for the abundance of Corn that is gathered within it and for the taking of Partridges and Pheasants whereof there is great plenty The Lord of this Isle in former time was Iohn of Procida a Phisitian a man very famous who fearing not the power of King Charls of Angio to revenge a great injury took Sicilia with that famous slaughter of the French commonly called the Sicilian evening and he had done greater matters if he had been permitted This Iohn was in great esteem with Iames King of Arragon after whose death King Peter his son knowing the valour of Iohn Le dio dice il Zurita en el Reino de Valencia para el y sus successores las Villas y Castillos de Luxer Benyzano y Palma con sus alquerias He gave him as saith Zurita in the Kingdom of Valentia to him and his successors the Towns and Castles of Luxer Benyzano and Palma with their bordering Villages From this man descended the Family called Procita which are now very great in the Kingdom of Catalogna and enjoyeth the Countie of Almenare In the said Isle in a fair Church with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Margarite the Virgin and Martyre which was carried thither from Antiochia Salvo Selano the Phisician honoureth much this Isle now living in Naples with great renown who hath written upon the Aphorismes of Hyppocrates The said Isle is distant from Naples twelve miles and in composs seven A little from Procita lieth the Isle Ischia formerly called Inarime Pithecusa and Enaria very famous not only for the Fable which the Greeks feigne of the Giant Tipheo strucken with Iupiters Thunder-bolt but also for a Fortress there being so great that it is held the second Key of the Kingdom The said Castle was builded by Alfonsus of Medina King of Arragon first of this name King of Naples who because
it was so well fortified caused it to be called Ischia which hath given the name to the whole Island especially because all the other ancient names were forgotten This Castle is very strong by the natural situation thereof and is built upon a very high Hill and the passage thereto very steep and the way for the most part is cut out of the Rock with mens labour and the entrance is so difficult and streight that two Souldiers may easily guard it Hither Ferdinando the son of Alfonsus the second of Arragon King of Naples retired himself for his security when Charls the eight King of France had victoriously entred Naples In the year 1301. the said Island sustained great hurt for being therein certain veins of Sulphure whereof the Island is very full the fire kindled and running through it burnt a great part even to the City of Ischia now called Gironda and the fire continued one month and a half burning many men and other living creatures whereby the Inhabitants were inforced to abandon the place flying out of the Isle some to Procida some to Capri some to Pozzuolo and some to Naples And of this fire the marks yet appear where neither grass nor any other thing doth grow and that for the space of more then two miles which place the Citizens call the Cremata This Isle is in compass 18 miles where is a fair City to the which are subject eight Hamlets or small Villages This said Isle is very fertile and bringeth forth all soâ—ts of Corn and there is made excellent Wine and hath Mines of Gold which were together found with the Sulphure in the year 1465. by Bartholmew Perdice Genoway It is every where full of Villages very thick and close adjoyning there is one very high Hill which is very difficult for a man to climbe in the top whereof riseth a Spring called the Fountain Aboceto all the rest of the Isle hath great scarcity of water The Shores of this Isle are rather crooked then streight the air there is very healthfull and pleasant and in it are many and sundry Baths with those so marvelous sands all things fit to heal divers sorts of infirmities and many incureable of the which we have sufficiently written in the Book of the Antiquities of Pozzuâ—la by me not long since published to which I refeâ— the Reader This Isle was first inhabited by the Licii which after the death of Oroute their King were driven out by Eneas Afterward came thither the people Arimni and within a while the Calcidii There lieth with great reverence in two honourable Churches of this Isle the bodies of St. Restituta Virgin and Martyr and of St. Olivata her sister which as is said do infinite miracles Of this Isle was Fabius Seleucus Oronre that excellent Cosmographer and singular Poet. Sailing from hence more forward towards Naples near the Mount Pausilippo is the Isle of Nisita of the Latines called Nosium and Nesis which had a fair and goodly Fortress made by the Dutchmen of Amalsi with a most secure Haven called Agliono very commodious Nisita was so called as the Poets feign by a Nimph of the Sea the daughter of Nereus and Doride Gods of the Sea for the truth is that Nesis in Greek is an Island it was in ancient time the Town of Brutus that worthy Roman and in our daies there was found in a Sepulchre a dead body of wonderful greatness imbalmed which had about the neck a Chain with a Jewel of Gold with this Inscription M. A. Acilius C. F. I.I.I. R. Leaving this Isle is another much less which is rather a Rock I may say it was and is commonly called Gaiola but in my opinion it should be called Gaia if yet that particle ola were not adjoyned thereto for a diminutive signifying the smallness and beauty thereof at an instant for being very delightfull and pleasant and made in the fashion of a Theater where also appeareth the marks of an inclosed Park for the keeping of wild Beasts and the Temple of Neptune which was there in old time so that to every one that comes thither it seems a place of great delight These then are the Cities upon the Sea of happy Campania and the Isles that are thereabout But in the Land of Naples the principal City is Capoa situated on the side of Vulturno upon the way Appia twelve miles distant from the Sea it was in former time as great as any in Italy except Rome the first and chiefest the Senat of Rome once purposed to go to inhabit there The opinions of the building of this City are divers and first Cato and Sempronius saith that it was builded by the Osci others as Virgil Lucan Silius Dionisius of Alicarnassus and Suetonius say that it was builded by Capi the companion of Aeneas and that by him it was afterward so named Others say that Remus the son of Aeneas builded it and called it Capoa from Capi the Father of his Grandsire Strabo is of another opinion saying it had this name from the large Fields wherein it standeth whose first Inhabitors were the Opici and Ausoni and the Osci which were driven out by the Cumani and afterward these by the Toscans by whom Capoa was made the Head of twelve Cities builded by them in these places and of this opinion seemeth to be Eustaccius Livy Pliny and Annius Diodorus and others say that it was so called for the great capacity and largeness which it hath to produce and bring forth necessary things for the sustenance of living creatures and in truth the Territory thereof is most excellent above all other Countries of the world This City as Livy declareth particularly in many places was of great Wealth and Authority and in the time of the great prosperity and delights thereof was the seat and habitation and as it were a second natural Country to Hannibal and in the time of the siege of Casilino wintred there with his Army which became corrupt effeminate and lazie through the many delights and pleasures thereof But coming afterward into the power of the Romans it was as it appeareth to some that Capoa was by them utterly ruinated for being strong a near neighbour and alwaies their enemy But the utility and most fertile Territory was the safety thereof that it was not ruinated because the multitude of Colonies might have a place and a dwelling in this Country and Territory and the houses themselves were builded of the common Treasury of Rome Yet nevertheless there was not left any signe or any body of a City or Councel or any Authority the which Marcus Tullius declareth more largely in one of his Orations calling the Capoans proud and arrogant through the bounty of the earth and the abundance of all things which they had But there was since contrary to the opinion of Tully by Iulius Caesar in his first Consulship carried to Capoa one Colony of Romans and those
new Inhabitants undoing and pulling down certain ancient Sepulchres to build little houses in their Villages purposing to imploy those stones and using therein much labour and diligence passing up and down discovered certain Vessels of antick work found in a little Table of Brass wherein was written Capi the builder of Capoa to be here buried with Letters in Greek words to this effect That whensoever the bones of Capi shall be discovered at the same instant one of the kindred of Iulo must be slain with a sword by the hands of his own friends and kindred and after be revenged with grievous afflictions and the ruine of Italy This same Capoa was by Gensericus King of the Vandals razed and destroyed with sword and fire six hundred years after it had been subject to the Romans but since the Goths Ostrogoths being chased away by Narsete Eunuco Captain to the Emperor Iustinian was newly inhabited again And about a hundred years after was destroyed and ruinated anew by the Lombards but with the reliques builded of the Inhabiters again two miles distant from the ancient place Since by Conradus King of Naples son of the Emperor Frederick the second the Walls thereof were thrown to the ground because the Capoans were known to be contrary to the Manfredi with the Neopolitans wherefore he ransackt and sackt it and did therein harm enough It sustained great calamity in the time of Pope Alexander the sixth being sacked and robbed by the French sent by Lewis the twefth King of France to the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples against King Frederick of Arragon now it remaineth well fortified by the providence of Philip of Austria the most puissant Catholick King under whose protection it resteth most secure Pliny in the description of Italy speaking of Capoa saith that there is the Field Leborino much more pleasant and delightfull then any part of all Italy and he in another place calleth Leborino the excellent Territory of Capoa and to declare what it is the Territory thereof is all plain which stretcheth from Tifata which is the Hill above Capoa even to Naples and Pozzuolo and from Capoa to the mouth of Vulturno where it entreth into the Sea Capoa being so hated and defaced by the Romans and twice ruinated the people near adjoyning disdained to be any longer called Campani desiring to avoid this infamy and this danger to be hated and undone for this name changed the name being called by their ancient name Leborini and so much their constant perseverance prevailed that that which before was wont to be called Campania was called the Land of Lebore But since the word being corrupted by people was called the Land of Labore from whence grew the opinion that this should be because as it were all pains for so the word Labore signifies should there be well bestowed and some others have said that it should be so called from the great and difficult pains that is required in the subduing of it F. L. Sosipatro Charisio a most ancient Gramarian was a Citizen of Capoa whose works have been found by Iano Parasio Victore called the Capoan Bishop and a famous Astrologian and an excellent Orator hath given great honour to this City who lived in the year of Christ 480. Likewise Pietro of Vineis was also a Citizen a learned Lawyer which was in great favour with the Emperor Frederick the second King of Naples but the Emperor had afterward a certain suspicion of him for a conspiracy that was deâ—ised banished him where through grief he died having first composed a Book of Consolation Of this Pietro Dante maketh mention in the first part of the 13 Cant. saying I am he which holdeth both the Keys Iohn Antonio Campano hath also given no small reputation to this noble City of whom Raffaello Voluterano writeth that he know him being a child attended the keeping of sheep and being apt and urged by nature endeavoured by all means to attain learning wherein he so much profited that he was esteemed worthy to read in the Schools of Paris being entertained by the Paragians with a large stipend and so much he increased in faâ—â— and learning that Pius the second afterward made him Bishop of Apruntino This learned man left behind him many Works of the which was the book of the Acts and famous deeds of Braccio of Montone He writ the life of the worthy Prince Frederick Duke of Vrbin and the life of Pope Pius the second Moreover in these our daies Camille Pellegrino and Beneditto of Vva excellent Poets whose Works are well known have and alwaies give everlasting honour to this noble City And with these hath also been very famous Iohn Battista an eloquent Orator Afterward from Capoa eight miles distant is Aversa a noble and a rich City builded upon the ruines of the ancient Attella often remembred by Livy and Marcus Tullius Atella was the well-spring of lascivious Verses and wanton and effeminate behaviours whereupon the compositions and lascivious Comodies and dishonest were called Atelliane Boyes and girls were taught certain lascivious Verses and to that purpose did come with a certain composed measure and wanton carriage of the body and roling the eyes to pronounce them with so great immodesty and lascivious behaviours at the Tables of dishonest persons and on the Stages that there wanted nothing but the dishonest and carnal conjunction together But of better discipline was the beginning of Aversa the which by Averso the Norman a famous Captain was first built and afterwards was beautified by Robert Guiscardo a worthy and a valiant man This City was ruinated and defaced even to the foundation by Charls the first of Angio King of Naples for the Rebellion of the House Rebursa But it was afterward newly re-edified and beautified by Charls the second King his son This City is great and much inhabited and is one of the principal in the Land of Lavoro as well for the vicinity and neighbourhood of the City of Naples from the which it is not distant more then seven miles as also for the fertilty of the pleasant and beautifull fields thereof the which being inclosed in six miles spread between Naples and Capoa And a little more towards Linterne compassing a great part of the Leborine fields sometime very famous and now called Gaudo Moreover this City is very honorable for the Bishoprick which yieldeth eight thousand Crowns yearly and is now under the Authority of the worthy and reverend Lord Don Pietro Orsino a Prelate as it is commonly said of great clemency and wisdom whereby he is loved and honoured of all This City had many famous men very expert in the Law as Cavello Barnado President of the Kings Chamber Felice Barnada Tomaso Grammatico a famous Councellor for the deciding of controversies Scipio Cutinarâ—o Regent of the Councel of Italy in Spain Marc. of Mauro President of the Summaria In Philosophy
have been many learned as Bartholmew of Donato which writ a discourse de Corporeitatis Luca Prassitio which subtilly and wittily writ ten Disputations against Augustine Nifo of Sessa very learned are these Treatises De immortalitate animae and de prestantia literarum supra arma wherein he exprest great learning and in these daies together with these the reverend Father Alfonso of Marco of the reformed Order of Preachers who for his good and examplary life shineth as the Sun in darkness he hath learnedly writ upon Logick natural Philosophy the soul Metaphysick and de ente rationis and he is now commenting the same of St. Thomas and if God permit him life we may expect other learned Works to proceed from him In the aforesaid City are these Noble Families Altimaro Cutinario Gargano Grimaldo Landulfo Pacifio Scaglione Silvestro Simonello Tufo Ricardo Della Valle and others Not far from Aversa is Marigliano in a good Soil and is wholly walled about and by the Ancients called Merlianum and Marianum the Citizens whereof say that it was so called by C. Marius the Founder thereof and it is now indued with the dignity of a Marquiss under the jurisdiction of the House of Montenegro Innocentius the third Bishop of Rome hath much honoured this Land being born there and at this present R. D. Iacobo Marotta a learned Philosopher who hath written upon the predicables and predicaments of the Logick of Scotus de triplici intellectu Humane Angelical and Divine and read in the common Schools of Naples the Metaphisicks with a wonderfull concourse of Students Afterward appeareth the City Acerra called by Strabo Acerrae which was burnt by Hannibal the Carthaginian But was again newly re-edified by the Romans whereof Livy often maketh mention and Virgil calleth the Territory thereof very good and fertile Near to which City runneth the River Glanio very hurtfull to the Country through the continual inundations and therefore is almost disinhabited Acerra was builded by the people Nasamoni who in honour of Iupiter Feretrio made a high Altar after the fashion of a little Ship whereupon they burnt great abundance of sweet Odours wherefore it was called Acerra by the Nasamoni which opinion Alexander of Alexandro Neopolitan confirmeth in the 7 Chapter of his third Book speaking of their Gemali Acerra erat ara constituta ubi odores incenderet quae acerra dicta erat à Nasamonibus populis Some are of opinion that an Altar so called was only devised by the Nasamoni but that Numa Pompilius erected the Temple of Iupiter Feretrio Festo believeth that Feretrio was so called by bringing of peace although Plutarch saith that he should be so named by the wounding of enemies whereupon Propertio writeth a learned Elegy of Iupiter Feretrio thus Nunc Iovis incipiam causas aperire Feretrii Armaque de ducibus trima recepta tribus To which Temple the Ancients when they obtained victory of their enemies consecrated all their best and richest spoils Departing from Acerra is the River Glanio which springeth from the Hill above Sessua by ancient Writers named Clanius whereof Virgil maketh mention in two of his Georgicks thus Talem dives arat Capua vicina Vesevo Ora jugo vacuis Clanius non aequus Acerris Probus writeth that the River Clanio took that name from the Giant Clanio Afterward is seen Sessula distant from Acerra four miles called by Strabo Suessula and by Livy in many places and in his seventh Book sheweth that in this City was a great battel between the Romans and the Samnites where the Samnites were put to flight by M. Valer. This City is almost now ruinated Afterward appeareth from the North part the Hils of Capoa called by Livy Tifata these Hils are above Capoa and above all this Country the which pass along even to the Territory of Nola. Afterward is the River Isclero and the River Sorritello and not far off upon a fair Hill is the Aierola an excellent Country honoured with the dignity of a Dukedom under the Family Caracciola From Aierola five miles is in a fair Plain Arienzo a Country full of worthy and honourable people called of the Latines Argentum the Territory whereof is very fertile and full of Fruit and especially of Percope where they grow more common in this Country then any other verily these fruits are to be preferred before all others for their delicacy and great goodness these said Trees live not above five years and it is necessary that the seeds or carnels thereof be sowed towards the East in a place where the cold cannot hurt them for cold is a great enemy to these Trees the Fruit thereof is of the colour of Gold with red spots and a slender rine and weighs a pound and more according to the place where they be planted Not far off upon a steep and pleasant little Hill is the City of Caserta replenished with worthy and honourable people the original whereof is uncertain the Citizens of it affirm by ancient tradition that it was builded by the Sessulani and Galatini others believe from the reliques of the second Capoa in the Hill Trifisco and last of all others say that it should be builded by the Longobards and was made a Cathedral Church by Alexander the fourth Bishop of Rome The Lords of Aquino ruled this City a long time afterward it came under the Counts of Tilesia of the Noble Family Siginulfa and lastly Giulio Antonio Acquaniva a noble Lord possest it with the Title of a Prince The noble Family of Santori hath much honoured this City of which that excellent Doctor of Law Lonardo hath been much renowned who left to the world a worthy and honourable issue from whom descended the famous and reverend Giulio Antonio Santoro Cardinal of the Church of Rome and Francesco Antonio Archbishop of Severin◠his brother men no less famous for Learning then for sincerity of life Going a little farther is Mataloni of some called Magdaloni and of others Metalionis which hath the dignity of a Dukedome subject to the noble Family of Carrafi Near which upon a Hill is the fair City of Venafro named by Strabo Venafrum the Plain whereof Pliny calleth fertile and full of Olives whereupon Martial praising the Oyle saith Hoc tibi Campani sudavit bacca Venafri Vnguentum quoties sumis istud oles This City in the time of our Ancestors had the Title of a County under the Pandoni Gentlemen of Naples after the which it came under the Dominion of the worthy Lords of Lanoia Princes of Sulmona but now it is in the Kings hands Going a little farther is the noble ancient City of Sora so called both now and in old time which in the time of the Romans was the principal City of all Sannio Pliny placeth it in the first Region and Ptolomy in Latium and Strabo describeth it in happy Campania We following the
Now coming again into our former order leaving the ancient City of Aquino there is on the left hand Roccasecca and on the right hand upon a high Hill is the famous and worthy Monastery of Monte Casino builded upon the ruines of the noble City of Casino an ancient Colony of the Romans and a worthy City of the Latâ—nes which as Livy writeth had a Colony brought together with Minturn the which in the time of the Romans was very famous for that noble and stately Temple of Apollo which had a hundred and fifty high and mighty Pillars The said Monastery was builded by St. Benedict Norsino for his Monks in the year of Christ 5â—0 where Totila King of the Goths going to visit him understanding he had a spirit of Prophesie and purposing to make tryal if that which had been reported were true put on Lackies apparel causing another to go before him cloathed in Kingly Ornaments which feigned himself to be Totila but the Saint knowing of God the deceit sent unto him with a cheerfull countenance to stay with the rest of his company and pointing to the King which was basely appareled requesting him to come into the Monastery But neither this nor other the like signes of sanctity which St. Benedict declared to the Lombards were sufficient to restrain the unbridled fury of these Barbarians that they might not destroy this Monastery the which was foretold to the Monks by their Father St. Benedict It was afterward repaired again upon the first foundations and also enlarged 112 years after by Petronio Petronasso Bresciano through the perswasion of Pope Gregory the second as Paulo Diacono writeth and Elia Capriolo in his third Book of the Brescian Histories The Revenue of these Monks yearly was more then fifty thousand Crowns There lieth with great devotion in the said Monastery the bodies of many Saints and blessed people especially that of S. Benedict Norsino the Founder and Head thereof and of St. Scolastica his sister whose holy bodies were there found in the year 1443. whereby it seemeth that that cannot be true which Paulo Diacono writeth of them saying that in the year 694 in the time of Gisulfo Prince of Benevento the said holy bodies were carried by certain Frenchmen into France where to the honour both of the one and the other were builded two Royal Monasteries The which opinion is so much the less true as that Pope Zachary affirmeth to have seen the bodies of these two Saints with his own eyes in the Mount Casino many years after wherefore we will give more credit to the report of a chief Bishop and to the bodies which were found and seen in the year 1443. then to the opinion of Paulo Diacono Pliny declareth in the fourth Chapter of his seventh Book that in the said City of Casino in the time of the Consulship of Licinio Crasso and of Caio Cassio longo a girl in a certain house bâ—â—â—me a boy which by commandment and advice of their Southsayers was carried 〈◊〉 left in an Island abandoned At the foot of the Mount Casino is Saint Germano a new City so called by the name of a holy Abbot which built it Going farther is Theano called by Pliny and Strabo Theanum Sidicinum a City whether Augustus sent a Colony and not far off is Calvi an ancient City which was builded by Calai the son of Borea which came into these places after the return of the Aragonanti as Silio declareth in his eight book although Livy and Festo affirm that the first Inhabiters were the Ausoni Afterward we come to Piedemonte of Alife a good and a plentifull Country and full of worthy people where through the commodity which they have of the water is made good Cloth of Wooll out of this Country hath risen many excellent men indued with much Learning among the which these are of the greatest note Philippo Francisco of Piedemonte which commented the Poetry of Horace Lodovico Paterno an excellent vulgar Poet but in these our daies the said Country is much renowned by means of certain Gentlemen which being contented with their retired estate live vertuously employing the time in the exercise of Divine Learning and some of them in giving councel to others in the profession of the Laws Of the same Country was Nuntio Tatiaglia which composed the practice of the Civil and Criminal Lieutenantship Following the same way is Lauro situate in a pleasant and delightfull place This City was builded by Ruberto Orsino Count of Nola as Cantalitio the Poet writeth in his fourth Book where he saith that the said Count built it because that great Captain Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova received in the said place the Crown of Laurel after he had the victory of the French This Country hath the title of a Marquis the Lord whereof is Don Scipio Pignatello a most worthy man and of very honourable and vertuous qualities A little farther is Palma which belongeth to the said Marquiss the which Castle was also builded by the said Count of Nola and to this intent I will not omit to speak of the Plain of Palma so much commended for the hunting there where that great Alfonsus the first of Arragon King of Naples built to this purpose a sumptuous Palace which afterward was destroyed by Charls the eight King of France although the reliques are yet to be seen Hard by is the ancient and noble City of Nola so called by Strabo in his fifth book This City was builded as Trogo affirmeth by the Giapigii but according to Solmo by the Tirii It was very great in old time this City as Ambrogio Leoni declareth in his first book of Nola that the Wals thereof as he saith were in compass 2017 paces having twelve parts and was built round Nola may boast that the Emperor Octavius Augustus the Monarch of the world died therein in honour of whom Tiberius his successor in the Empire builded in the said City a stately Temple the reliques whereof are yet to be seen There are also to be seen in this place many reliques of ancient and stately buildings now it is not so great though it be very populous The amorous Flora was of this City who dying left her only heir of all her Jewels and Riches the people of Rome and so much money was there found in her house with the Iewels which they sold as were sufficient to build the Walls of Rome and also to redeem the Commonwealth Wherefore the Romans because she had her beginning at Rome and also had left all her goods to the Commonwealth built a most sumptuous and stately Temple in memory of her from whose name they called it Floriano wherein every year on that day which she died they celebrated the Feast of the Goddess Flora. Suetonio Tranquillo saith that the first Feast which the Emperor Galba celebrated in Rome was the Feast of amorous Flora in the which
caput urbium Capua quodam inter tres maximas Romam Carthaginemque numerata c. The PRINCIPALITY On this side the second Province of the Kingdome OF NAPLES THe ancient Inhabiters of this Province were called the Picentini But Arechi the second 14th Duke of Benevento in the year 755. much enlarged his Dukedom for as much as he not only subdued by force of Arms the Picentine people but also the Irpini whereupon growing proud usurped the Title of Prince and was the first in Italy that attributed to himself that Title and so commanded that his State should be no more called a Dukedom but a Principality And from hence perhaps it so came to pass that within a while after from that new Title of Prince all that part of the Picentini and of the people Irpini by one only name were called Principato The Confines of the Picentini according to Strabo Ptolomy and Sempronius hath on the West the happy Campania on the North the Irpini on the East the River Silaro and Basilicata and on the South the Tirren Sea This said Country was within the said limits in breadth 16 miles and in length beginning from Sirenuse even unto the mouth of the River Silaro 260 furlongs which is 33 miles But according to Pliny only 30. the circuit of which Country contained a part of old Campania The Romans brought these people from Adria to inhabit here about the borders of Pestano But afterward being Confederate with Hannibal the Carthaginian the Romans for this cause became afterwards their enemies who in disdain drove them out of the Country and were forced to dwell elsewhere as some report their principal City was Picentia as Pliny testifieth the which are also so named by Pomponius and Silius in his eight book from the which these people derive the name Picentia of the Picentini as some say Others affirm that the Sabines having chosen of a new people ceâ—ain Colonies sent them under the Conduct of Pico which brought them into the borders of Pestano and there built the City of Picentia from whence they were afterward called Picentini Others say that they were so called of Piceno from whom their fore-fathers draw their first original and that from their City the people were so called And last of all others say from Pico their Captain they had that name which led the first Colony of Sabines into a part of Pestano The Territories of this Province are very fruitfull in many places of all sorts of Corn and have sufficient store of Cattel and where there is not that abundance of these things yet that great Mother Nature yieldeth other things very plentifull which in time of Harvest sufficiently appears that even among themselves there seems a certain emulation Besides this the Sea which every where with great abundance of divers sorts of Fishes both shel-fish and others furnish it as it were glorying it self comes nothing behind the other To conclude the greatest part of this Region bringeth forth Corn Wine Oyl Rice and all other sorts of pulse And those places which are any thing scarce of these things besides divers excellent Fruits yield Hony Silk Bombace and Saffron whereupon many say this Region is seasoned and tempered with all the graces It is also adorned with pleasant Woods and thick and shady Groves and hath high and stately Mountains and delightfull Hils with great plenty of Springs and sweet waters On the Sea-side it hath many secure safe Havens and goodly Shores and the places much inhabited it hath besides all sorts of fruitfull Trees and particularly those which were transported by Hercules unto us out of Media as Citrons Limons and Oringes which the beautifull Nymph Amalfi planted in the pleasant Vallies of this Country a place which seemeth to the beholders thereof a most beautifull Embrodery or Arras work where the nearer a man cometh the more pleasure increaseth both to the eyes and the nose besides the Mirtle Trees the Bayes the Gelsomine the Roses the Rosemary and Flowers of sundry kinds and other the like Plants from whence proceeds such a fragrant smell which mingled with divers odours yields an admirable sweetness Who can be able to declare the ornament and furniture of the Vines from whence are had such sweet and delicate Wines Verily the places of this Region are so delightfull and pleasant that they are worthy to be numbred among the most beautifull and most delicate of all Italy And here the air is temperate and wholsome and through all the year excellent hunting both for fowls and beasts In truth the Territory of this beautifull Region is such that all Italy hath not almost the like wherefore it may be called a perfect work of Nature In praise whereof that learned Iulius Cesare Scaligero composed these Verses Quae Borcae gâ—lidas furias contemnit ovantis Torva procellosi despicit arma Noti Medorum silvis foecundas provocat auras Fundit à biseris Indica dona jugis Protinus Autumnus veris cum tempore certat Et ver cum Autumni tempore certat item Huc accessit hyemes venerantibus uda capillis Et peperit mirans sibi poma legit Tuta mari fruitur terrae dominatur amarae Et coeli mutat jura quid ergo Dea. But having now made a description of this Country which beginneth at the mouth of the River Sarno leaving the Castle of Stabie going by the Mediterrane four miles distant from the said River is the City Noceria whereof M. Tullius and Livy makes often mention now called of the Pagans Nueera because the Saracins held it a certain time their Army being overthrown at Garigliano by Pope Iohn the tenth This said City is indued with the dignitie of a Dukedom under the Family of Carrafa And in this City among others are these Noble Families Pagano Rinaldo and Vngro On the right hand of Nucera are certain Hils in the midst whereof lieth the Land of Tramonti so called because it is situated between the Hils At the side of these Hils on the left hand near to a very pleasant Valley is Sanseverino a good and an excellent Country from whence as some affirm the noble Family of Sanseverino derive their original whereof have descended more excellent Warriers then were in the Trojan horse of whose noble deeds Histories make sufficient mention and whereof we have also discoursed in the noble Families of Naples whereto I refer the Reader But returning to the said Country although it be of a later time nevertheless is very famous for the excellent Wines that are had out of the fertile Valleys thereof which the Latines call Amineum vinum whereof Virgil saith Sunt Animeae vitis firmissima vina Some had opinion that from the ruines of the ancient City of Aminio Sanseverino should be builded in which noble Country are many worthy Families as the Curiale Capacini Caiano Folliero dell ' Abbadessa Pandone Pescara of Sarno
a more ancient original say that it was builded by Amalfo a Roman and Captain of the Emperor Constantine in the year 335. And finally others say that a certain worthy Roman Lady called Amalfe the daughter of Marco Marcello Ruffo builded it and that by her name it was named Amalfe It increased in process of time with much people and was govern'd many years as a Commonwealth under Dukes and oftentimes made War with the Salernitani and others which sought to trouble them and often had the better and especially of strangers it became very famous for the Traffick of the Citizens thereof the which for the great number of ships which they had sailing every where had great Merchandize whereupon through the Traffick which they made in the year 1020. obtained the favour of Calife King of Egipt whereby they got safe conduct freely to Traffick into all his Territories through the which favour with large and bountifull gifts which the Merchants of Amalfi bestowed upon him bound him in such manner that they obtained what they would and in particular had licence to build in Ierusalem a Church with a house near to the holy Sepulchre of Christ to receive the Latine Passengers which came to visit those holy places the which Church was consecrated to St. Mary commonly called the Latine for a difference of the other places which they had near about the Greeks and Sorians whereupon in a while after they built another house under the title of St. Mary Magdalene where they received with all true charity and courtesie all women that came to visit that Sepulchre But so great a number of people repairing thither and the place being little and narrow they made an Hospital under the name of St. Iohn Baptist and with the alms which was gathered of other devout people maintained the Hospital in which place they constituted a Head which they called a Governor or Rector whereupon after a certain time a Governor of the said place named Geraâ—do in the year 1099. having a long time govern'd the aforesaid Hospital began to bear together with his associates a white Cross in the midst of the brest on a black garment and instituted and established a rule of life after the Order of St. Augustine The same did Agnesa which was Prioress of the Monastery of women The said Religion was afterward approved by Pope Honorius the second in the year 1127. The rule which was confirmed went so well forward that through the liberality of Princes they got great riches and Ramondo of Poggio was created great Master thereof Ierusalem being afterward taken in the year 1187. by Salandine Emperor of the Turks the said Knights in the year 1189. had for their habitation the Isle of Rodes of Isancio Angelo the second Emperor of Constantinople whereupon by means of their habitation they were called Knights of the Rodes All this we thought good to say for to declare that this Noble and Sacred Religion of the Knights sometime of St. Iohn of Ierusalem afterward of the Rodes and now of Malta have had their beginning from the said Amalfitani Arrigo Pantaleon speaking hereof in his History thus writeth Anno 1020. Interea Amalfitani celebris ac pia gens Italiae varias merces easque in solitas turcis gratissimas in Orientem navibus devexerunt est autem Amalphia civitas exterioris Italiae inter mare montes eminentissimos sita ab Oriente habet Salernum ab occidente Surrentum Neapolim ab Austro Siciliam Tyrrheno mari sejunctam Ob has ergo novas merces Caliphae Aegiptio caeterisque praefectis ac incolis Syriae erant acceptissimi ita ut magistratuum licentia omnes regiones urbes circumire atque merces distrahere omni metu se posito libere poterant Illi autem Christianae religionis paternarum traditionum memores quoties occasio dabatur loca sancta visitabant Quia verò Hierosolymis nullum haberent domicilium ut in aliis maritimis civitatibus amicis collectis Calipham Aegiptium adeunt ac per ejus proceres oblato scripto impetrant ut praesidi Hierosolymorum nunciaretur quo Turcarum amicis in ea parte qua Christiani habitant locus amplissimus ad aedes oportunas construendas designetur Hac occasione oblata pecuniam passim à mercatoribus colligunt ad lapidis jactum ante januam Ecclesiae Dominicae resurrectionis in honorem Dei Virginis Mariae monasterium erigunt quinetiam alias aedes adjungunt quae ad usus monachorum atquae suae gentis hospitium satisfacerent Hoc fundamento jacto ex Amalphia monachos Abbatem â—o transferunt locum ritu Romanae Ecclesiae Deo matri virgini consecrant unde locus ille monasterium de Latina semper dictus fuit Cum autem eodem tempore etiam sanctae viduae omnibus laboribus periculis contemptis ea loca invisirent nec inter se mulieribus oratorium propriam domum extruxerunt ubi postea monasterium Mariae Magdalenae peccatricis fuit constitutumut certus monialium numerus ibidem peregrenantibus foeminis inservirent Paulò post etiam debet Caliphae filius cum Romano Argiropilo â—mperatore Constantinopolitano foedus iniit atque Christianis facultatem concessit templi Dominicae resurrectionis recuperandi itaque Ecclesia illa circa annum salutis millesimum quadragesimum octavum restaurata fuit Constantino Monaco sumptus suggerente c. In Amalfi the year 1300. was found to the glory of the Amalfitani by Flavio di Gioia the Mariners Compass by the vertue of the Adamant stone with the Sea-card so necessary for Pilots and Sea-men the which invention was wholly unknown in former time having no other help then the shadow of the Sun and the North Star as it appeared in that Voyage of Lucano when Pompey after his discomfiture in Thessalia going to Lisbone to fetch his wife Cornelia making a journey afterward by Sea towards Egipt demanded of the Master of the Ship and the Mariners in what manner they guided their Bark in a direct course to perform their Voyages where they knew no other way then what we have said In old time Pilots and Sailers were accustomed every year to offer in the chiefest Church thereof bountifull and rich gifts in a gratefull remembrance of so great a benefit since the beginning of this excellent invention they found out not only the longitude of the distance of every place and the direct way from one place to another but also to avoid contrary winds the traversing of the waters the fear of shipwrack the danger of Rocks and the incounter of Rovers and Pirats whereupon Iohn Pontano calleth the said City Magnetida and Antonio Panormitano in praise thereof made this Verse following Prima dedit nantis usum magnetis Amalphis The said City is very pleasant for the beautifull Gardens that are there and for the great plenty of water which yieldeth great commodity in the making of
wollen Cloath and Iron and Paper which are there wrought There are in this City these Noble Families Alamagni Amallano Afflitto Austericcio Bembo Brancia Bonito Capoano Cometurso Comite Castello Corsari alias Don Musco Cappa Santa D' Arco Dentice del Iodice de Domio Marino De Fusolis De Platamono Favaro Molignana Marramaldo Petrarca Pisanello del Barone Guglielmo The Arms of this City have been a field per fesse gu and Ar. plain crosses counter-changed the which signifie no other then a unity and consort of things which we have declared of the said City Not far from Amalfi is the beautifull and rich Country of Mairue full of honourable people called by the Letterati Maiorium which was builded by Sichinolfo Longobard Prince of Salerno in the year 842. although some affirm that it had its beginning of Sicardo Duke of Benevento brother of the said Prince The Citizens thereof were almost all Merchants and very ingenious it hath had at sundry times men of great worth as Vinciguerra Lanario which was Lieutenant of the Kings Chamber Iohn Antonio Lanario Councellor and afterward Regent of the Councel of Italy in Spain with King Philip by whom through his worthy merits he was created Count of Sacco And moreover in those daies that worthy and learned man Farrante imperato hath much honoured that Country an excellent and most diligent searcher and conserver of all the riches of Nature and is very learned in the experience of simples whereupon to his great charge hath collected so many divers things and procured them from sundry parts of the world which yield no small wonder to every one that sees them for the which cause many learned men come from far Countries allured through the same of this man to see in Naples his admirable and rare studie He hath composed two learned Works the one a History of natural things and the other of Treacle the which Works are sufficiently known to the world He maintains how in Naples his most honourable house with great courtesie and kind entertainment of the which the City of Scala may well boak that the said Family descended from it which florished with Military men Going a little higher appeareth Minori a little City which is very delightfull for the pleasant Gardens thereof full of Oringes Citrons and Limons and other Fruits Afterward in the top of a Hill is the City Ravello full of goodly buildings and the seat of Nobility where in the principal Church thereof is preserved within a grate the miraculous bloud of St. Pantaleone which being black and hard as a stone the day before and after its Feast as they say is liquid and moist as it was at the time when it was first spilt The Noble Families of the said City are these following Acconciaioco Alfano Bove Campanile Confalone Citarella Castaldo Curtis de Vito de Insola Fenice de Foggia Frezza Fusco Grifone Iusti Longo Muscetola Marra Peroto Rogadei Rufula Rustico Sasso Sconciaioco and others In these daies Paolo Fosco Bishop of Sarno hath much honoured this City who writ two learned Books one of Visitation and Church-Regiment the other de Singularibus in jure Pontificio Going a little farther is Scala re-edified by the Longobards in which City were these Noble Families Afflitti Alfani Marini Atrara Bondello Bonito Cavaliero Frisaro Grisone Mansella Pando Rufola Samnella Sasso del Cardinale Staivano Sebastiani and others The said City was burnt at the same time with Amalfi by the Emperor Lotharius the third because they had been very favourable to Ruggiero the Norman King of Naples which was in the year 1125. but was afterward by the same Citizens newly repaired Descending after towards the shore of the Sea going from Amalfi and sailing towards the East is a little Promontory called the Cape of Orso very memorable for the Victory Count Philip Lieutenant to Andrea Doria had there then Admiral of the King of France against the Empereal Army where were taken prisoners the Marquiss of Vasto and Ascanio Colonna with the death of Don Vgo de Moncada Viceroy of Naples and of Don Pietro di Cardona and others which thing was the cause that Andrea Doria left the service of the French King and joyned with the Emperor Charls the fifth The occasions that moved Doria to leave the French party we have discoursed at full in the lives of the Kings of Naples and besides in the Annals of the said Kingdom Going along by the Continent of the Land you come to Vieteri called of the Latines Vicus Veterum and Vetus Vrbs where are many delightfull and pleasant Villages and going a little farther a mile distant from the Sea appeareth the most ancient and famous City of Salerno the Head both of this Region and also of Basilicata builded near the River of Silare which riseth from the Apennine where also springeth Drumento which runneth down into the Adriatick Sea the said City is situated at the foot of an arm of the Apennine it hath in the front or fore-part fertile and spacious fields behind and on the left side high Mountains on the right side the Tâ—rrene Sea which is so near that the wals are watred therewith and from which a Gulf very perilous is so named which Mariners now call the Gulf of Salerno which by the Latines is named Sinus Pestanus from the ancient City of Peste which is now wholly ruinated as is to be seen in the midst of the shore Through all the Territory of Salerno are seen pleasant Gardenâ— ful of Oringes Limons and Citrons and other excellent Fruits and al the year there are Flowers which seem as a perpetual Spring through the happy influence of the heavens wherefore Horace saith Quod sit hiems veliae quod coelum valla Salerni and therefore all the fruits that grow there are of singular perfection and especially Pomgranates and the Appian Apple whereof is written Omnia mala mala preter Appia Salernitana The Grain Rice which is there in great abundance is very excellent and worthy praise there are also precious Wines and most pleasant in taste Salerno was so named by the River Silare whereof Lucan speaketh in his second Book Radensque Salerne tecta Siler But who should be the Founder thereof no Writer hath made any mention Yet the Citizens say that Sem the son of Noe built it and for authority thereof alleadg an ancient Hymn which their Clergy were wont to sing the 15 of May in celebrating the Feast of the Translation of St Fortunato Caio and Anthe the which Hymn thus beginneth O Salernum civitas nobilis Quam edificavit Sem Noe filius Non tuis sed sanctorum meritis collaudaris It is true that it was an ancient Colony of the Romans who fortified it and put therein a strong Garison of Souldiers for the doubt and distrust they had of the Picentini Lucani and Brutii which were assembled together with
de Biscolis should not presume to bear for his Arms a Lion seâ—ant or with the tail through his legs and turning up towards the head above a fesse ar in a field gu declaring that these Arms were the ancient Ensignes and Coat Armor of the said Family Besides the said Family prospereth in many other Corporations in divers places as Pietro de Pezzo descending of Iohn went to Amalfi to the Government of that State was comprehended in the number of the Nobility of that City and Luke his brother serving the Duke of Amalfi Marquiss of Guasto in the Wars of Lombardy being a Captain of much renown in his return passing by Rome was by the Decree of the Senate made with his successors of the race and line of the Roman Senators the which line is now to be seen in the Segge of the Nobility of Campo in Salerno And Francesco del Pezzo the son of Pirro being by the favour of King Philip created Auditor of the same Province was reckoned among the Nobility of the Segge of Portaretese This Family hath alwaies had excellent men both in Learning and Military affairs And among others Don Ieronimo del Pezzo a noble man well qualified which for his excellent parts was by the favour of King Philip honoured with the Order of the Knights of St. Iames. And among the rest Iohn Andrea Knight of St. Iohn of Malta which valiantly fighting in the enterprise of Zara died there and now liveth with much honour Silvio Knight of the same Malta and of sincere life and singular learning besides the Lord Cesare del Pezzo Bishop of Sulmo What they were in old time their royal issue sufficiently declares the men of this Family have been Lords of many Castles and great revenues But in these daies they possess the Barony of St. Mango in Cilento and the Barony of Prato St. Pro in the County of Aquilaâ— the one is Baron Tiberio del Pezzo descending of Luke a Lord of most pleasing behaviour and a great lover of vertue which is one of the rarest Noble men of these daies the other possesseth Hortenzio del Pezzo Doctor of Law and descended from Pirro before said Now returning to Salerno in whose reverend Churches the bodies of many Saints are in rest whereof Marc. Antonio Marsilio Colonna Arch-Bishop of the same City very largely discourseth Many ingenious and learned persons have given great ornament to the said City as in Phisick Matteo Silvatio who at the instance of King Rubert writ Aphorisms of Phisick Trota or Trotula de Ruggiero a woman of great learning which composed a book De morbis mulierum eorum cura and another de compositione medicamentorum Abella which very learnedly writ two books in Verses the one de Atrabile the other de natura seminis humani Mercurial composed four books the first de Crisi the second de febre pestilentiale the third de cura ulcerum exteriorum and the last de unguentis Rebecca Guarna writ de febribus de urinis de Embrione Boccuccio Grillo writ de differentiis pulsuum de febrium causis Iohn of Proeida although he were Lord of the Isle of Procida notwithstanding he was an excellent Phisician and composed a learned Work of Phisick and was the Author of the Sicilian Evening against the French In the same profession there have been in these latter daies very excellent men as Paolo Grisignano Francesco d' Alfano Antonello and Iohn Cola di Rugiero In the faculty of the Law were very famous Pietro Bailardo of whom the Gloss maketh mention in L. quinquepidum C. finium regendorum Iohn Cola de Vicario an expert Doctor which is much commended by Iohn Vincenza in the deciding and defining of freedoms and priviledges Charls de Ruggiero for his learning was a Counceller of great estimation of whom Afflitto testifieth in his definitions Tomaso de Simeone whose Works not long since were committed to the Press by Sebastian Maffa Iohn Angelo Papia a most worthy and famous Doctor now liveth and hath read 26 years continually in the publick Schools of Bologna Pirro Alfano a man of excellent fame whose writings are a sufficient testimony No less famous have been Iulio Pomponio Lieto Masuccio Guardato Iohn Andrea Longo and Andrea Guarna which composed that excellent and learned discourse entituled Bellum Grammaticale Benedetto Ruggio being a very famous Rhetorician was sent by King Alfonsus Ambassador to the State of Venice where he died whose funeral Marc. Antonio Sabellico performed in the behalf of the said State extolling his singular vertues Moreover this City hath no little fame for the two mighty Fairs which are there every year the one the third of May and the other the 21 of September the first continueth eight daies and the other ten where Merchants come almost from all parts of Italy Sicilia Schianonia Graecia and Asia and other Nations to sell their Wares This City contended with Capoa for the precedence and in the general Assembly of the States in the publick Parliament at Naples which could not be finished for the obstinacy and wilfulness of the Factions the claim and contention the Catholick King Ferdinando moderated so the matter that he appointed Capoa to speak saying that it should speak before Salerno The Arms of this City is in a field Azur under the Evangelist S. Matthew the protector thereof fix barrs Ar. and gu the which Ensignes are the Arms of Hungaria Which Charls the second of Angio King of Naples gave to the said City because his wife Mary the only daughter of King Stephen succeeded in the aforesaid Kingdom of Hungary the said King Charls being before as hath been declared created Prince of Salerno Leaving Salerno and Sanseverino twelves miles off upon the side of a Hill is Sarno the Town lieth beneath in the Plain and the Castle is seated higher upon the Hill which overlooketh both the Town and the Country From hence walking towards Naples about a mile and half we encounter the head of the River Sarno over the which is an entrance or passage guarded with a Tower naturally fortified by the River and the Hill the which place by the Inhabitants of the country is named the mouth of Sarno The said country is adorned with the dignity of a Count subject to the Family Tuttavilla There are in it these Noble houses Abbignente Alteda Balzerani Lupo Pandone Montâ—oro Romandia de Specchio and others Six miles after we come to Montoro and not far off is the worthy Country of Montecorvino built in a beautifull valley at the foot of a Hill near the which in a place which they now call Pattipaglia are seen the ruines of the stately and ancient City of Picentia called by Strabo Picentum which was destroyed by the Romans because it was confederate with Hannibal the Carthaginian Eight miles off near Acerno is seen among the Hils Campana a City so called because it is situated in the
borders of the Province of happy Campania and the said City is invironed by two little Rivers the one called Atro and the other Tempsa the which are full of fish and the Territory thereof is part plain and part hilly where are thick Woods of Oak and therefore very good hunting both for Fowls and Beasts the plain thereof is almost all full of Olive Trees and Vines and in the desert Hils are often taken goodly airs of strange Falcons Of this City was the holy man St. Antonio a Monk of the Order of St. Benedict who in the year 625 being created by his Monks Abbot in the Monastery of the City Sorrento went thither where living godly there died afterward whereupon in token of his good life God shewed after his death many miracles and in particulars towards those which are visited with evil spirits whose holy body the Sorentini with great reverence keep within their City neither stick they to say that he was their Citizen There are in the said City these noble Families Bernalla Campanino Ciminello Greco Guerrieri de Nigris Viviano Tercasia and others Now liveth with much honour to this City Augustino and Detio Bernalli both Doctors of the Law and very learned and great lovers of vertue The said City was in the time of the ancient Kings indued with the dignity of a Count but in the year 1530. the Emperor Charls the fifth advanced it to the Title of a Marquiss in the person of Honorato Grimaldo Genoway Lord of Monaco under the enstalement to speak like a Lawyer to hold it as a feuditory liegman and not with the succession of inheritance whereby he that is Lord of the Castle of Monaco and shall defend it at the pleasure of the King of Naples doth succeed to the said Marquiship Eight miles distant is the Country of Conturso the which is compassed with the Rivers Sele and Negro it hath a most pure Climat and a plentifull Territory of the said Country was that excellent and learned man Antonio Pepi called by his sirname Peperone which was judge of the great Court of the Vicaria in Naples and writ a book de omni vero officio Iohn Cola Pepi was very inward with the King Farnando which for his great skill and experience in the Laws was by the said King made his Counceller and to Iames his brother he gave the Bishoprick of Capaccio No less learned in these daies is Sertorio Pepi a man singularly qualified and very faithfull This Noble Family hath for a long time ruled the said Country with other Castles Going then four miles is Quaglietta a little Castle and no more then 12 miles distant but from Salerno 18. we come to the fair and ancient Country of Evolo by Ptolomy called Ebulum which was builded by the people Eborini so naming it by the first son of Iupiter King of Athens the said City stands not far from the River Sele and the River Tusciano the current or stream passeth along by the Walls thereof named by the Country people Toliero which Virgil calleth Tanagro when he saith Sicci ripa Tanagri The River Sele called by Strabo Siler riseth in the Apennine where the River Aufido hath his beginning which runneth by Apulia and falleth into the Ionian Sea near Barletta three miles but Sele runneth towards the South and leaving Campania by Basilicata in the end falleth into the Tirrene Sea The said River according to Strabo Pliny and Sillio Italico hath the property to change into a stone whatsoever is put therein keeping the colour and the first form thereof It is reported by grave and credible Authors that in the time of Ione of Angio the first of that name Queen of Naples took the Scepter of the Kingdom a woman of Evâ—li having brought forth a son became her self a man It is also verified that in the year 1460 in the same City a woman called Emilia maried to one Antonio Sponsa after she had lived 12 years with her said husband was changed to a man and Pontano which knew her testifieth that afterward she exercised the office of a man and besides took a wife and that allowing her a dowry by commandment of King Ferdinando the Judge inforcing the said Antonio to yield it her The same Iohn Pontano a man rather divine then mortal witnesseth in his tenth book of Celestial things which Antonio Panormita reciteth that a woman of Gaera after 14 years she had been used by her husband her natural member suddenly altered and she became a man wherefore to avoid the scorns that were made thereof both by men and women became a Frier and so lived all the remainder of her life where the said Pontano affirmeth to have known her and that she was buried in Rome in the Temple of Minerva Therefore that seemeth not so wonderfull which Pliny writeth in the fourth Chapter of the seventh Book of his natural History which things with all that appertain seem rather impossible then miraculous nevertheless for my self I cannot deny the authority of such persons and especially that which Philosophy cannot only not deny but also approve for that according to Philosophers and Phisicians the man differeth not nor is known from the woman by any member but by being either too hot or too cold because the nature of man without all doubt is more hot then that of women and by the power of this heat it so falleth out that nature driveth out that member in men which in women by reason of their coldness remaineth inward whereupon it may be that after some certain time or by some meat or the air or by some other occasion that coldness may be so inflamed and heated that it may now do that which in the birth it could not But returning to Evoli the said City hath very fertile Territories and spacious fields abounding with all good things beneficial for the use of living creatures whereof the said City glorying beareth for Arms the four Elements The bones of St. Berniero lie with great reverence in it in a glorious Church dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle at whose Sepulchre as they say God sheweth wonderfull miracles towards those which are possest with evil spirits From the said Country eight miles near to the River Silare is the reverend Church of St. Vito where resteth his said holy body together with Modesto and Crescentia the Nurse whereupon all those which are bitten with mad-dogs repair hither and by the intercessions of the said St. Vito as they say are presently healed There are in the said Country these noble Families Caravita Clario Corcione Christophero Crispo Fulgione Fiorenza Gentilcore Granato Giuliano Ligoro de Loisio Malacarne Marcancione Mirto Monaco Millone de Novellis Orso Della Porta Perretta Ragoni Raghi Russo Saceo Troiano and others Going from Evoli no more then twelve miles is Aquaro a good Country so called for the abundance of water which invironeth it
round about That R. Padre Matthia Iuono sirnamed Aquario of the Order of Preachers hath given great honour to this Country of the learning of this man many Works written by him are sufficient testimony that is to say certain learned discourses upon all the principles of Logick natural Philosophy Metaphisick and the Soul upon the four Books of Sentences and another book in particular of the exquisite learning of the controversies between St. Thomas and all the other Doctors and Philosophers with a brief discourse de memoria artificiali de significationibus terminorum juxta doctrinam Sancti Thomae The said learned man died in the year 1591. Walking a little forward is the Country of Olivito the natural Country of Camillo Borrello an excellent Lawyer Olivito was so named because the Territory thereof is full of Olives But leaving these Mediterranean places and walking the ruinous way by the shore we come to Agropolo where is reported that through the delicacy of the air women at twelve years of age are capable of husbands like to the Cipriots which at that time lose their virginity After we come to the Castle of Abbate is the Cape of Licosa first called the Promontory of Possidoniate hard by is the Castle of Bruca a relique of old Velia with the River Electe which taketh the name from the City of Elea and hither the Romans sent to celebrate their accustomed sacrifice to Ceres their Goddess Before the Country of Elia are the two little Isles of Enotrie which have two little artificial Havens the one called Isacia and the other Pontia Afterward appeareth upon a high hill Cammerota in a small circuit of ground builded as some affirm by the reliques of the ancient City of Molpa which standeth but a little distant Going afterward some few miles is a goodly Fortress Near Policastro with the Gulf which the Ancients call the Haven Saprico is the City of Sapri now named Bonati Within the Land is Capaccio Novi and the Valley of Diano a litle from whence upon a hill is a Country called Atane on the other side is Polla Tito and Sala so called because the hils are full of Sage whereupon because in this Valley riseth a great Spring of water which the City of Diano takes the name from Atane of Atteone Tito of Titan which is the Sun Apolla of Apollo it seemeth from the resemblance and near affinity of these names and from the pleasantness of the Country the Fable might here have had its beginning of Atteone the son of Aristeo with Diana After followeth the Fenn with the rich Monastery of St. Laurence possessed by the Carthusian Monks and not far distant is Laurino Saponara and Marsico with many other places But to conclude touching this Province it remaineth that I now declare the disposition and nature of these people which are of a strong constitution and naturally merry ready in arms desirous of learning wary in their affairs and given both to pleasure and profit they are also painfull and industrious and inclined to Traffick the Gentlemen are comely and neatly attired nothing differing from the manner of the Neopolitans but the common people respect not so much civility for as much as they cloth themselves with cloth made of course wooll and base attires on the head All the men in general are very jealous both of their honour and their wives whereupon proceeds the old Proverb Picentinorum Zelotypia In bargaining and contracting their affairs it behoveth a stranger to be very wary for what with deceitfull and flattering speeches and many oaths they easily deceive those that buy any thing of them The Arms of this Country is per fesse ar Sa unto a Sea-compass four wings extended and fixed in Salter with the North-star in chief sinister or The which said arms declare unto us that in this Province was found as hath been said the Mariners Compass with the vertue of the Adamant stone and the Sea-card by Flavio di Gioia whereupon the two fields the one signifieth the day the other the night the four wings which are joyned to the Sea-Compass declare the four Cardinal Winds and chiefest in the world that is to say the East the West the North and the South the shining Star signifieth the North Star wherewith through that excellent invention Pilots and Mariners might sail both day and night with any wind The PRINCIPALITY On the other side the third Province in the Kingdom OF NAPLES THe people of the Principality on the other side are part of the ancient Irpini and derive this name from Lupo which conducted them into this Province to inhabit for so much as the Sabines call Lupo Irpo the which Strabo declareth in the end of his first Book saying Ordine de hinc sunt Hirpini ipsi Samniticae gentis Qui quidem ex Lupo nomen adepti fuerunt qui eis in deducenda Colonia Dux oblatus est Samnites enim Lupum vocant Hirpum The limits of these people were on the East Lucania at this present called Basilicata on the South a part of the said Basilicata with the Picentini and the happy Campania on the West the Sabines and the Vestini on the North the Apennine Hils and the Plain Apuglia now called Capitanato with the Saracins and the Peligni There is also contained in this Province a Country now called the dale of Beneventana the principal part of all Sannio where have been done greater exploits and more in number then in any other part of Italy This Country hath higher hils then the Apennine from whence proceed in certain places little brooks and from almost immeasurable Cliffs and Rocks which is the cause of many Rivers Streams Lakes and Springs it stretcheth in length going along by the Apennine 80 miles from the head of Vulturno to the beginning of the River Silare in Basilicata and of so many Rivers which water this Valley except some few all first fall into the River Sabato and afterward into Vulturno so that from the lower part Sabato seemeth a snag or a branch of a Tree among all the other boughs thereof In Matese which is a Promontory of the Apennine did inhabit the most valiant people of all Sannio Of these people which remained upon these hils Livy saith that they were alwailes faithfull to the Sannites neither could the Roman Army go much before them The principal City of this Region is Benevento edified as Servio affirmeth by Diomedes the Greek and Livy saith that it was first called Malvento and that it was made a Colony of the Romans at the same time with Arimino under the Consulship of P. Sempronio and Ap. Claudio The said City was maintained many years in great peace under the Government of the Romans untill the coming of Tottila King of the Goths into Italy who destroyed it with great slaughter and so remaining ruinated for certain years was afterward repaired
a place called Garigliano committed infinite evils through the Country of Lavoro Among other mischiefs which were done in the year 884. they burnt the Monastery of Monte Casino Not long after departed Basilio Emperor of Constantinople the year 886. to whom succeeded Leone his first begotten son in which time the Prince Aione taking occasion by the death of the Emperor the greatest part of his State revolted whereupon Leone having endured this injury certain years at length in the year 891 he sent against him a strong Army under the command of Simbatizio Patrizio who being three months encamped about Benevento happily subdued it 318 years after it had been possessed by the Lombards beginning from Zotone the first Duke of Benevento untill to this time Simbatizio Patrizio having possest the Dukedom of Benevento used the Authority of a Prince after whom came Giorgio Patrizio by whom the said State was Governed 3 years and 9 months Coming afterwards in the year 895 Guido Marquiss of Toscana drove away the Greeks and held the Seigniory about 2 years to whom presently followed Radelebi the which held it two others untill it was possest by Atâ—nolfo Castaldo of Capoa in whose house the Principality of Capoa was joyned with that of Benevento who maintained it a long time in great prosperity Atenolfo being now made Castaldo of Capoa was afterward in the year 899. entituled Prince of Capoa and Benevento in the which house for the space of 163 years that Seigniory remained Atenolfo died the year 914. and Atenolfo and Landolfo his sons succeeded him in the Principality Atenolfo died about the year 946. and the Principality only remained to Landolfo which by that most valiant Prince Luitprando received many overthrows and died the year 951. and left that Principality to his son Pandolfo which was sirnamed Iron-head The Prince Pandolfo departed this life the year 966. and left eight sons whereof Landolfo his first begotten had the Principality and died the year 982. and Landenolfo took the Government of the State which was slain the year 991. The Prince Landenolfo dead his brother Laidolfo succeeded in the Seigniory which continued not long in the Principality in whose place was in the year 996. created Prince Pandolfo of St. Agata his son in which year the Emperor Otho the third was Crowned in Rome under whose Principality Historians recite that the Emperor going about to take away from Benevento the body of St. Bartholmew the Apostle there was given him instead thereof the body of St. Paolino Bishop of Nola of which deceit being informed made War with the Beneventani but growing grievously sick raised his siege and as he much desired returned into Germany little regarding the heat of Summer being come into his natural Country departed this life the year of our Lord 1001. and so the Beneventany were delivered of so grievous a War Henry the second succeeded in the Empire by the election of the Princes of Germany who in the year 1022. levying a mighty Army came into Italy to the prejudice of the Greeks and understanding the ill demeanor and most wicked proceeding of the Prince Pandolfo took the Prince prisoner and carryed him along with him into Germany and the Principality of Capoa he bestowed upon Pandolfo Count of Tiano Henry the Emperor having builded in Bamberg a City of Germany a noble Church in the honour of St. George and desiring that the same might be consecrated as a Cathedral Church Benedict the 7 consenting thereto obtained with condition that the said Church should give by way of tribute yearly to the Bishop of Rome a mark of silver with a white horse well furnished but within a while the Bishop receiving in gift from the Emperor Benevento the tribute from the Church of Bamberg was discharged by this means then Benevento came under the dominion of the Church which we have declared in our History of the lives of the Kings of Naples and after we have declared how Ruberto Guiscard having possest Benevento being desirous to expell the Saracins out of Italy came to the Parlament in the City of Aquila in the year 1060 with Pope Nicolas the second which was much laboured by the Roman Barons and Guiscard having with great humility adored the Pope made peace with him and he restored the City of Benevento and all other places which he held belonging to the Church whereupon the Pope did not only receive him into grace and favour but created him Duke of Puglia and Caulauria and so Ruberto was now made a vassal of the Church Benevento being afterward possest by Ruggiero the Norman King of Naples William his son who succeeded in the Kingdom restored it to Pope Adrian the fourth as a thing properly belonging to the Church whereupon he was by him confirmed in the Kingdom the Emperor Frederick the second and King of Naples having been excommunicated by Gregory the ninth disdaining the same ruinated and made spoil of the said City and threw the Walls even to the ground being afterward repaired by the Citizens thereof was by Charls of Angio the first of this name sacked because they were known to be favourable to King Manfred and although this City sustained so many spoils yet the Citizens thereof alwaies repaired it St. Gianuario Martyr was Bishop of Benevento whose body lieth with great reverence in the principal Church of Naples where as they say are seen many miracles of his holy blood There was born in Benevento Felix the fourth called the third Victor the third and Gregory the eight Bishops of the holy Church of Rome which were of exemplary life and indued with learning Orbillio Grammatico was very famous in the time of Cicero which for his austerity and severe speech was by Horace called the wonder Rofredo and Odofredo Lawyers of great fame were thereof from whence afterward descended the house of the Odofredi in Bologna Alberto Morra Cardinal and Dionisio which was also a Cardinal Angelo Catone a learned Philosopher was Count and Arch-Bishop of Vienna Marino Bilotta was President of the Chamber under King Ferrant the first Mercurio of Vipera was dearly beloved of the Roman Bishops and imployed in divers affairs and afterward made Auditor of Rota Pietro of the worthy Family Candida was Councellor of State and Captain of the principal Fortress of the Kingdom under King Ferrant the first Bartholmew Camerario a famous Lawyer having been from the beginning in most honourable imployments in the service of the Emperor Charls the fifth was made Lieutenant of the Kings Chamber with Title of Keeper of the Patrimony He was in great account with Pope Paul the fourth by whom he was created in Rome Purveyor of the Store and General of the Army he was afterward entertained by King Francis in France and made his Councellor Leonardo Grifo most expert in the affairs of the Church of Rome whereupon he was created Arch-Bishop of this Country Thomaso
the perfect temperature of the air and the ground where they are planted and for the most part were joyned to the Oppi and embracing and taking hold of them stretch out their boughs on every side and in time of Vintage is often seen one only Vine to be able to make a But or Hogshead of Wine Moreover this excellent Country yieldeth in abundance Corn Oyl Hony Wax Annis Corianders Saffron and Bombace of which things the Country of Tursi called in old time Tarsia doth most exceed In this excellent Province through the delicacy of the air the Trees and Roses florish twice in a year where in every place is seen great abundance of divers sweet and pleasant fruits there are also most beautifull Gardens the which for so much as they are watred with pleasant Rivers bring forth excellent Citrons Oringes and Limons On that part which stretcheth towards the Sea the pleasant fields yield no small delight to the beholders thereof and all the year there is excellent hunting both for fowls and beasts And it is no less plentifull in heards of Cattel and Hoggs wherewith the people of the Country make great store of Sausages and Sopressate very excellent and good which the Lucan Latinists so call because they were invented by the Lucani whereupon Martial thus saith Filia Picenae venio Lucanica porcae Plutibus hinc niveis grata corona datur The Sea thereof aboundeth with excellent Fish and yieldeth shel-fish of a delicate and pleasant taste which have within them an excellent Pearl But in describing the Country of this Province I will begin from the mouth of the River Sele where it runneth into the Sea that is to say here from it I will follow along the shore of the Sea even to the River Lavo where it runneth into the Sea afterward I will describe the places of the Medeterrane Departing then from the mouth of Sile and walking along the shore of the Tirrene Sea we come to a place where was the Temple of Iuno the Argive built as Strabo affirmeth by Iason and going from thence seven miles is the place where was Possidonia by Strabo called Pesto which was built near the Sea by the Doresi and afterward magnificently inlarged by the Sibariti Servio reciting the authority of Virgil in the fourth book of his Georgicks saith thus Biferique rosaria Peste He placeth the said City in Calauria wherein he was deceived it standing in Basilicata Also Ovid maketh mention of this City in his first book de arte Amandi saying Caltaque Pestanas vincat odore rosas The Ancients call the Gulf of the Sea which lieth hereby Sinus Pestanus but now Mariners call it the Gulf of Agropoli and others of Salerno the which Gulf beginneth at the shore of the Picentini and so compasseth even to the Promontory of Possidoniato Peste was called by the Greeks Possidonia the which City the Ancient ruinated buildings are now to be seen half in the Sea little more then eight miles farther on the shore is to be seen Agropoli and Castello del Abbate where is made the best Malmsie directly against it is a little Isle called Leucosia by the name of a Sirene which did there inhabit and going no more then nine miles appeareth Castello amare of Bruca with the large and spacious Wood where was the ancient Hyela by Virgil called Velia Opposite to the place where Velia stood are in the Sea to be seen two little Islands called Enotrie the one is named Pontia the other Isacia And for as much as I have written of these six places in the Province of the Principality on this side I will speak no farther thereof and especially having counted them among the places of the said Region though perhaps they rather belong to Basilicata A little farther is to be seen Pisciotta by Strabo called Pyxuntum oppidum And from thence two miles appeareth the Cape of Palinuro named by the Ancients Promontorium Palinuri which was so called by Palinuro the Pilot of Aeneas ship of whom Virgil writeth in his sixth book Having past the Cape of Palinuro there is to be seen upon a Promontory the ruines of Molpa which was by Bellisario Captain of the Emperor Iustinian destroyed Entring now into the Land from the Sea a mile on the side of the hill is to be seen the Emperial Fortress and among the hils standeth Francavilla where is a sumptuous Monastery of Cathusians Afterward at the foot of the Mountain is Noia and farther within the hils is St. Arcangelo Roccanova Castelonova and Episcopia a Country very fertile whereof the ancient Lord is Francesco Antonio of Porta a Gentleman of Salerno whose worthy Family was much ennobled by the Kings of this Kingdom Then followeth Claramont Senisi and the City Tursi distant from the Sea fifteen miles and from the River Acri two and the said City hath the dignity of a Duke which lately King Philip gave to Don Carlo d' Oria the son of Iohn Andrea Prince of Melfi Admiral of the Sea A little farther among the hils is St. Mauro and Ferrandina in a populous Country made by Ferrandino the son of Alfonsus the second King of Naples being Duke of Calauria Walking yet among the hils appeareth Pesticcie and returning by the shore of the Sea is the mouth of the River Vaisento where it falleth into the Sea going a little farther we discover a large and a goodly Plain and half a mile from the Sea is to be seen the ruines of the noble City of Metaponte built by the Pilii which came hither from Troy with Nestor Metaponte was destroyed by the Sannites In the said City dwelt Pithagoras a long time where he died which after his death the Metapontini made of his house a Temple and there adored him as one of the Gods To the which City Ippaso a most excellent Philosopher Disciple to Pithagoras hath given much honour Now upon the said ruinated City is Corn sowed and in the end of the Territory thereof as Strabo declareth ended the limits of Grecia Magna Leaving the place where stood Metaponte four miles and from the Sea but one upon a place somewhat elevated is to be seen twenty high and mighty Pillars of Marble placed in two ranks which the Country people say that there was the School of Archita the Tarantine and passing within the Country is the River Vasente and two miles from the said River at the foot of the hill is Pomarico a good Country and the hill Miglionico and six miles distant stands Grottola adorned with the dignity of a Marquisat the Lord thereof is Alfonso Sances Decano one of the Councel of State and going not far is Grassano and Montescagioso Within a mile of Bradano Descending towards the Sea at the foot of the Hils appeareth Tricarico a very honourable and beautifull City and ascending up the Hils is the City of Montepeloso And ten miles from hence following
haunted an evil spirit a long time for the death of Hippolitus the companion of Vlysses which was there slain against all humanity whereupon rose the Proverb among the Ancients Aderit genius Temeseus Noting hereby that Gods vengeance never faileth to reward such wickedness if by humane means it be not punished The said City was built by the Ausoni which Strabo affirmeth in his sixth book saying Alao prima urbs Brettiae Tempsa quam Auxonii condiderunt nostrae autem aetatis homines Tempsam etiam vocitant Temesa was a Bishops Sea as appeareth in the Councels when Hillary the Bishop thereof came to the fourth Roman Sinod under the Popedom of Agathon And the Territory thereof is very fat and fertile and yieldeth excellent Wine Oyle Hony fine Silk Grain and other Corn and all kinds of Fruits and from heaven descendeth Manna and there is made great store of Bird-lime and Glue Hard by is Foscaldo where is great abundance of Sugar Hony Wine Corn and other Fruits The said Country is honoured with the dignity of a Marquiss A little higher is the Country of Lattarico which by Livy is called Hetriculum hard by standeth Torano and Regina called in old time Herinium built by the Enotri in whose Territory is made great abundance of Oyle there is also Mines of Brimstone Saltpeter and Alabaster and a little farther is situate the City Montalto by Barrio called Vffugium it had sometimes a Bishops Sea which dignity was joyned to Cosenza It hath a good Territory which yieldeth Grain Oyle and other Fruits and there is made great abundance of Silk there is also Alabaster and Brimstone and every year there is a very great Fair. It hath the dignity of a Dukedom the Lady whereof is the Lady Mary of Arragon in whom endeth the line of old Alfonsus of Arragon King of Naples the which State by marriage fell into the Family of Moncada Going now towards the Sea we may behold Paula a name corrupted derived from ancient Patycos very famoms for being the natural Country of St. Francis the Author of the Order of the Minimi hard by is St. Nocito very famous for the excellent sweet Wine then cometh Castellofranco with the River Campagnano called in old time Acheronte where was slain even as he was foretold by the Oracle Alexander King of Molossi mean while he not understanding the cautions of the devil rested secure having avoided another River of the same name in Epiro The words of the Oracle were these Aeacida cave accedas ad aquam Acherusiam Et Pandasiam quod ibi tibi laetum decretum est Near hand is seen Cerisano called in old time Citerium and upon the side of the River Crati and of Basenta is the famous City Consenza full of people rich and very ancient it was a Colony of the Lucani in old time it was the chief City of the Brutii but now the head of this Province The said City is situate between hils and dales it hath before it a great Plain which stretcheth very near forty miles and is called the Villey of Crati it is compassed with 85 Hamlets or Villages which for the most part are very great It aboundeth in all things which may be desired either for profit or humane pleasure it hath brought forth many excellent men and among others the Abbot Giacchino indued as Dant saith with a prophetical spirit who was of one of the Villages of Cosenza called Celico St. Thelesphoro Iano Parassio Antonio Telesio Iohn Baptista d'Amico Coriolano Marticano and Berardino Martirano which was also Secretary of the Kingdom Piâ—tropaolo Parisio a famous Doctor of Law which was made Cardinal by Pope Paul the third Borardino Telesio which writ against the Philosophy of Aristotle Iohn Maria Barnauda Sertario Quattromani Giovanpaolo d' Aquino Prospero Parisio and Iacobo of Gaeta In this City are these noble families Abenante Aquino Andriotto Aloe Amico Arnoni Alimena Arduino Barono Bernando Beccuto Bombino Bonconto Britto Bovi Bonaccursi Cavalcante Ciacci Caputo Casella Cozzi Cicala Caroleo Curatore Celso Clavelli Dattilâ— Donato Domanico Fâ—rrao Farrao d' Epaminonda Farrao d' Antonello Fera Favoro Figlino Franza Gaeta Gaeta d' Marc. Antonio Garofalo Giannochiri Gaeli Gioanni Giaccino Gadi Longo Longobuccho Migliarâ—se Marano Monaco Martorano Maurello Minardo Moyi Materi Massaro Mirabello Mangoni Nero Poglisi Peloso Pellegrino Pascale Passalacqua Poerio Parisi di Ruggiero Parisi di Mario Pantuso Quottromani Roccho Ruggiero Rangi Russo Scaglione Spatasora Serâ—alo della Motta Sersale di Guido Sambiase Spirito Sirisanto Spina Sanfâ—lice Stocca Tilesio Testo Toscano Tarsii Tirello Velle and others The Arms of this City is seven Hils vert in a field or From hence on the right hand lieth the Wood Brutiana which the people of the Country call for the excellency thereof Sila not so hideous and terrible in Winter through continual snow and ice as it is pleasant and delightfull in Summer where the fresh and cheerfull air with many Rivers full of excellent fish and the divers sports of fowling and hunting of wild beasts and the infinite heards of Cattel which there seed upon the plentifull fruits thereof represent in effect that which the Poets feign of their Arcadia Not far distant lieth Carolei called by the Latines Ixias built by the Enotri And walking a little farther appeareth Bisignano a good and plentifull City much inhabited which hath the Title of a Principality subject to the Family Sanseverina Stifano calleth this City Besidia which according to Barrio was built by the Ansoni and very near lieth Tarsia called Capresis Returning towards the Sea we come into these Countries Fiumefreddo Bello-monte and the City Amontea which was an Episcopal Seat but now united with the Church of Tropâ—ia A little farther is Aiello called by Bario Tylesium which hath a strong Castle and a fruitfull Territory with a Wood where is great sport in the hunting of divers living creatures This Country holdeth the Title of a Marquiss and the Lord thereof is Alberico Cybo Prince of Massa no less worthy of honour for his Learning then his Chivaldri Near to Aiello is the Hill Cocuzzo where it seemeth that the Apennine exceeds it self in height Then followeth Martirano corrupted from the ancient name of Mamerto whose Citizens shewed themselves no less faithfull to the people of Rome then valiant in Arms they only fighting with Pyrrhus one of the best Souldiers of the world the which they performed so couragiously that Pyrrhus being mindfull of the valour of the Brutii and of the death of his Alexandro durst not any farther hazard his fortune From thence afterward lieth on the side of the Sea Nocera the reliques of the ancient Terinia which was destroyed by Hannibal they being not able to defend it and here runneth according as the Ancients affirm Ligia one of the Sirenes upon the mouth of the River Saccuto Then
followeth Castiglione the Cape of Subero where Pyrrhus disbarked himself coming from Sicilia after cometh St. Eusemia which Stephano saith is called Lametia where is a Gulf so named very full of Coral and the best Tunny and a little distant lieth Nicastro and here the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa made for delight and pleasure convenient Baths and excellent hunting both for wild beasts and fowles the first which began in Italy to be delighted in hauking with Falcons which in former time was unknown although some write that Anasilao was the first Not very far is Tiriolo the reliques of old Tirio where the Apennine is drawn into so narrow a point that the rain-water which descendeth from the ridg of some one house falleth on the left side into the Terrene Sea and on the right into the Adriatick And coming now to an end of this Province which hath for the Arms thereof a Cross bastonesa in a field Ar. the which Ensignes and Arms had its original in the time that Boemundo the Norman Duke of Calauria came with twelve thousand choice souldiers in aid of the holy Land whereby through his prowesse and valour was afterward made Prince of Antioche and forsomuch as the enterprise was very famous and honourable therefore I believe the said Province gave these Arms representing thereby the great Voyage which the said Duke made CALAURIA On the other side the Sixth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES CALAVRIA on the other side is a Province which containeth a good part of Magna Grecia and of the Brutii and passeth from the one and the other side of the Apennine to the Ionian and Terrene Seas and is divided from Calauria on this side by the Mediterrane above Cosenza going by a direct line to the one and the other Sea into the Ionian near Stromboli and into the Terrene at the Gulf Ipponiate which is the Gulf of St. Eufemia and these are only the Confines of the said Province where the Brutii sometimes inhabited From that part which lieth towards the North except a little is wholly compassed with the Sea on the East is the Ionian on the South Sicilia and on the West the Terrene which is the utmost limits of the Kingdom It is partly plain and partly mountainous it hath fair and fruitfull Hils Woods Rivers and Fountains great plenty of Corn Vine Olives and every other thing necessary for the sustenance of living creatures There are horses and heards of cattel very plentifull and great abundance of woll and of the best and finest silk In this Province are pits of gold of silver and great plenty almost of all mettals it hath many hot baths which cure divers infirmities and to conclude it is a Country indued with all good things for the which it may be called a most happy Region The men of this Country as also of all Calauria after other ancient names which they had were called Bretii and they were so called from Brettio the son of Hercoles as Stephano writeth in his book of the City and Ermolao upon Stephano and as it appeareth by many Greek Monuments which are declared with great Learning by Pierio Valeriano and by many Antiquaries Iustine and Trogo say that they were called Brutii of Brutia a maid Iohn Annio affirmeth that they were so called by Bruto Ombrone a most valiant Captain Calepino and Nicholas Perotto say they are called Brutii A Brutis moribus but this is a vain thing and an idle conjecture of them Guarino not well understanding Strabo addeth to his translation many things of his own conceit Strabo saying that Brutii fuerunt rebelles Lucanorum he addeth here that they were fugitives a name which was given to servants but we finding in Histories and principally in Iustine that these were children and not servants of the Lucani forsomuch as the Lucani were accustoâ—ed to bring up and foster their children in the field after the manner of the Sâ—arâ—ans but their children misliking that manner of education opposed themselves against their fathers that is to say the Lucani and went to inhabit in Calauria These people in process of time became so mighty that they feared not any whereby for as much as their Country was not well able to contain them they made spoil of the places near unto them and expel'd the natural inhabitants the which they often attempted being allured through the sweetness of the booty The ancient limits of the Brutii were the River Lavo or Lao now called the River Laino measuring along the shore of the Sea and the streight of Sicilia the space between these bounds is according to Strabo 1350 furlongs which contains 169 miles but according to the description of Ptolomy these were the limits on the West the River Lavo with the Lucani on the South the Terrene Sea with Faro of Messina on the East part of the Ionian Sea on the North Magna Grecia with the River Chrati And to make a description of this Province I will begin from the Cape of Subero where Pyrrhus King of the Epirots coming from Sicilia disbarkt himself Not far off is Triolo the reliques of old Tiro where the Apennine Hils are very narrow and then is Malda built by the Saracins which hath a very fruitfull Country From hence on the Sea at the mouth of Amato is Angitola where Dionisius often desired to unite the said Haven with that of Squillia Afterward appeareth Pizzo in a very spacious and pleasant place with the little Islands Itacensi which perhaps had this name because Vlysses arrived there Then cometh Bevona planted with goodly Gardens of Citrons and Oringes the ancient Harbour of Hipponio which the Countrey people now call Monteleone which lieth in a pleasant prospect with many fields round about the said City was founded by the Greeks and they called it Hipponium because it was builded according to the likeness pnd similitude of a horse for that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek tongue signifieth a horse the which City as the Histories thereof recite was in compass eight miles wholly built with bricks the ruines whereof are at this present to be seen this noble City had very pleasant and delightfull fields which compast it round about Poets have feigned that when Ceres travelled in search of her daughter Proserpina that was stoln away remained here that Winter to gather Roses and other pleasant Flowers where also continues the three Festival daies which the Tyrant Agatocles so long since ordained Pestino a famous Writer was of this City which is celebrated by Macrobio in his sixth book de Saturnali in this word Transmicto Dominico Pizzimetti a learned Philosopher was also of the same City which translated out of Greek into Latine the predicaments of Archita Tarentino The ancient Vibo was destroyed by the Agareni in the time of blessed Nilo and the like ruine sustained Terino Tauriano and Trischene And this noble
Territory is very fertile for it bringeth forth Grain Barley Beans Fitches and other Corn there are also planted great store of Sugar Canes a thing very rare in Italy This Country is adorned with the dignity of a Duke After followeth Soriano whch hath the Title of a Count. Then cometh Arena and ascending up the Apennine is the goodly Monastery of St. Stephen del Bosco built by Rugiero the Norman where is kept as we have said with many other reliques the body of St. Bruno From hence on the right hand appeareth Borrello and Melito an honourable and an ancient City which was builded by the Milesii a people of Asia for as Herodotus writeth in his sixth book Mileto a City of Asia being conquered and overcome by Darius the inhabiters which departed from the ruine thereof being deprived of their natural Country came with their wives and children together with the Sanni into Regio where they were received by Anasilao Lord of the Country to whom he gave so much Territory as they built therein a City to inhabit the which they called as we have said Melito these in process of time the Country being too little many of them went into Messina but being expel'd by the inhabiters of the Country went to the Isle of Malta There is to be seen in the said City of Melito a stately and magnificent Church under the name of the Trinity which is beautified with stately Pillars of Marble which the Duke Ruggiero the Norman caused to be transported from the ancient Hipponio the said Church was by the mediation of the said Duke consecrated by Pope Calisto the second in the year of our Lord 1122. where at this present is to be seen the fair and costly Tomb of Marble of the Duke Ruggiero That holy Paolo of the Order of Preachers was of the said City Walking towards the shore of the Sea is Briatico which hath the Title of a Marquisat and Tropea hath this name from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that ariving there the Current of Faro is turned back very dangerous to Sailers near which Hercoles arived coming from Spain whereupon that place was afterward named the Harbour of Hercoles Here butteth out into the Sea the Cape of Vaticano and near at hand is Ioppolo and Nicotera augmentned by the ancient ruins of Medama and Rosarno there is the River Metramo in whose waves according as the Ancients were accustomed feeling themselves opprest with any sin were freed by their washing themselves therein as Orestes who thought hereby to be purged from the murther of his mother a little farther was the ancient Metauro which boasted much of Stesicoro though with little right the Sicilians challeng him to themselves and after is discovered Tauriano and from hence on the Sea is Gioia A little distant remaineth Seminara a Countrey well inhabited in whose Territory the Frenchmen were overcome by Consalvo Fernandes of Aghilare in the time of Lewis the 12 King of France And near the Mediterrane under a great descent of the Apennine called by the country-people Aspromonte riseth as it were a rock between two Rivers the Country of Sinopoli is adorned with the ancient dignity of a Count the jurisdiction whereof is from the house of Ruffa There was born in this Country that holy man Paolo of Sinopoli Fryer of the Order of Saint Francis called the Minori of Osservanza whose reliques are reverendly preserved in the City of Nicotera Going a little farther is Oppido which hath the Title of a Count and Terranovo a populous City which is adorned with the dignity of a Dukedom Not very far is Polistena against the Castle whereof lie the Isles Eolie the which have this name from Eolo which the Poets feign to be the God of the winds knowing by the nature of the place their change and alteration of these Isles Lipare was only inhabited whose circuit is 16 miles sometimes a Colony of the Gnidii which were very strong at Sea and made long resistance to the improvident assaults of the Toscans and of their first fruits they oftentimes consecrated to the Temple of Apollo at Delphus The said Isle is distant from Sicilia 20 miles Strabo and Pliny call this Isle Meligone which is very famous as wel for the fruitfulness of the ground as also for the delicacy and sweetness of the fruits and the great plenty of Alume which it yieldeth the said Isle was at the first â—nhabited by Lipareo the son of Ausonio King of Italy who being at discord with his brothers came hither with divers soeldiers to remain and here built a City which by his own name was called Lipari the which City was alwaies faithfull to the Kings of Naples from whom in recompence it obtained many priviledges and freedoms but finally in the month of Iuly 1544 it was destroyed with sword and fire by Ariadeno Barbarossa Captain of the Turkish Army but it was suddenly repaired again by the Emperor Charls the fifth The other Isles are not manured nor inhabited whereby their ancient names yet continue that is to say Stromboli and Vulcano from whence continually riseth smoke and sometimes flames of fire with horrible noise and thundring Here we may see Bagnara where the women for their beauty and comliness appear like Nymphs and here is the general fishing for the Sword-fish called by Pliny Xiphia the which is done as Strabo declareth in his first book of Geography in this manner following which manner is also recited by Polybius First of all one is appointed as a spie to stand in a high place being as a common guard or defence for all the fishers the which are dispersed into many little boats of two oars remaining in every one two of them one which guideth the boat with two oars the other to wound the fish with an armed Sphear which he standing on the fore-deck or head of the boat holdeth in his hand so soon as the spie maketh a signe that the fish is discovered rising with the third part of his body above the water he with the oars roweth near the boat and the other preparing his blow wounds him with a wonderful agility then snatching out the sphear the iron remans behind which being broad-headed and so wel accommodated that easily a man may wound with it and as easily leave it in the wound to the iron is tied a long little cord which goes so far with the wounded fish that beating himself and labouring to escape becometh weary Then they draw the fish to the shore or get him into one of their little boats if he be not over-great and if it so fall out the sphear be cast into the Sea it cannot therefore be lost because that being made part of Oak and part of Firr so well joyned together the weight of the oak drawing one end under the water the lightness of the firr causeth the other end to rise up so that it may
easily be taken Moreover it falleth out sometimes that he which roweth is wounded in the boat so great is the sword of the fish and his fierceness that this labour is no less dangerous then the chasing of the wild Boar. Some say that this fishing was learned in the time of Vlysses which came into these places Afterward appeareth upon a great Rock Sciglio by Pliny called Scylleum Oppidum which also holdeth the name of Scilla the daughter of Forco which while the Ancients say should be turned into a Rock according to the Fable was a horrible and hideous Monster which devoured ships noting that great danger of Pharaoh where the roaring and terror of the waves and the fearfull aspect of the sands represent very often to passengers which there sail the great horror and dreadfull fear oftentimes bringing death it self This place was fortified by Anasilao against the Tuscans where Spartaco was overcome by Marco Crasso he in vain purposing to escape in the dead time of the night And the said City is adorned with the dignity of a Prince Continuing the beautifull Coast of this Country we may behold the ancient Cemi now called Coda della Volpe and Catona with Fiumara di Muro and Regio called of the Latines Regium Iulium which is one of the most ancient Cities of all Italy builded as hath been said by Eschenes the Nephews son of Noe to whom the Greeks gave this name because from that place Sicilia was separated from Italy through the violence of an Earthquake the which Virgil confirmeth in his third book of Eneidos saying Haec loca vi quandam vasta convulsa ruina Tantum aevi longiqua valet mutare vetustas Dissiluisse ferunt cum protinus utraque tellus Vna foret venit medio vi pontis undis Hesperium Siculo latus abscidit arvaque urbâ—â— Lictore deductas angusto interluit aesto This City maintained the Commonwealth thereof a long time and was destroyed by Dionisius of Siracusa but being afterward repaired and beautified by Iulius Cesar suffered many ruines and last of all by Ariadeno Barbarossa that famous Captain of the Turkish Navy In the Territory of this City on the right side the Grashoppers make a wonderfull noise and on the left they are still the which by Poets is attributed to the cursings of Hercoles being therewith disquieted in his sleep but more truly it so hapneth by the dew which falleth there in the night because those creatures receive not so much heat to make a noise although some affirm they have another kind of voice then the other where also they declare the Fable which chanced to Ariston and Eunamo the Musician of the Grashopper supplying to the one the sound of the string which he brake in his Citaren the which the Ancients kept in remembrance a long time In Regio is made the best silk and excellent Wine whereof Atheneo in his first book thus saith Vinum Rhegium cum Surrentino pinguius sit usque ad annum quintumdecimum est utile The earthen Vessels that are there made are much commended and in old time also were made excellent dishes and vessels as Pliny reporteth in his 35. book saying Rhegium inquit siglina plastice nobilitatur And in another place saith nobilitatur Rhegium patinis This City had in old time many excellent Philosophers and learned men as Aristides Aristocrates Demostenes Athosione Calais Eurchyde Eliacone Hipporco Mnesibolo Obsimo Phytio Selinusio and Theocle of the which Eliacone Hipparco and Phytio were excellent Philosophers to Hipparco Plato entituled a book de studio lucrandi Androdamo and Theetheo were also of Regio two Philosophers and Lawyers Now going a little further we come to the Promontory of Leucopetra so called by the shining stones that are there which Mariners now call the Cape dell arme Afterward appeareth the Promontory of Hercules which the Countrey-people at this present call the Cape of Partivento A little further is Mendalaia afterward Brancaleone Bruzzano this Cape in old time was called Zeffiro where the Moors arived in the year 1126. which afterward destroyed a good part of the Kingdom Strabo speaking of this Cape thus saith Zephirum Promontorium agri Locri à quo Locrenses Zephiri dicti sunt Pliny saith that in this Promontory is included the first Harbour of Europe from the which the Seas have their name Then follows Bianco from whose Country is had great store of Wine going a little further is discovered Potamia which aboundeth with great store of the best hony and a little below is Motta Bovalina whose Territory is very fertile yielding good Wines and there is gathered no small quantity of Manna and in the pleasant fields do naturally grow great plenty of medicinable hearbs here through the amenity of the air is seen as it were a perpetual Spring and in every place is excellent fowling for Partridges Quails and other Fowls Gismondo Loffredo possesseth this Country which by the grace and favour of King Philip hath besides it newly obtained the Title of a Marquiss Not farr off is to be seen Condoianni called in old time Vria the which Country hath the dignity of a Count. And a little distant from hence is the ancient and noble City of Geraci called in old time Locri. By whom the said City should be built Writers hold divers opinions for Dionisius Aphro in his book de situ orbis writeth that Locri was builded by the Queen of the Locresi and thus saith Hinc ab boream Zephiri quae summa vocatur Sub qua sunt Locri celeres qui tempore prisco Illuc Reginam propriam venere secuti Ausoniamque tenent qua currit slumen Halecus Others hold opinion that it was built by Aiace Oileo or by the Naricii his companions confirming it with the words of Virgil in his third book of Eneidos saying Hic Nariiti posuere moenia Locri This first City used of all others the written Laws of the Greeks and were a long time governed by that commonwealth and grew very famous for the Government of Zeleuco their Lawgiver who was so severe against Adulterers that he refused to pardon his own son taken in adultery he would to the end the rigor of his Laws should be observed which commanded that the proof of this crime should be deprivation of both the eyes he reputing these two as it were one thing was himself first deprived of one eye and his son of another This City also was very famous through Timeo the Philosopher and Eunomo the Musician and Eutimo Atleta who was so strong that he did bear upon his shoulders a stone which two Oxen were scant able to draw Likewise this City hath been very glorious for the sumptuous and admirable Temple of Proserpina whereof Livy maketh such honourable mention in his 29 and 31 book The said Temple was spoiled for the riches therein by Pyrrhus and by Dionisius the Tyrant and last
commended for Zeuxses portraying Images in the Temple of Iuno took them for his pattern and for the sports and exercises of Atleta where was Milo so strong that he used to carry a Bull and Egone which in running overtook the young Heifers cutting from them their hoofs and making afterward a present thereof to his Amarillis Walking along we come to the City Cariati which hath the dignity of a Prince and not far off lieth Calopizzato Crusia and the noble and ancient City Rossano built by the Enotri Iohn the 7. Bishop of Rome which was born there honoureth much this City A little farther within the Land is Longobucco where are sound certian Mines of Silver from thence descending towards the Sea we may see Corigliano and not far off is Cassano in so fair and temperate a Country as it is not inferior to the best part of all the Land of Lavoro and here within the circuit of this pleasant Country was the ancient City of Turio which at this present the people of the Country call Terranova Trogo writeth in his 20 book that the said City was builded by Filottete the which was much ennobled by Herodotus having writ therein his Histories in which City he also died as Pliny saith from the same City Octavius Augustus had his beginning And this City hath also been the natural Soil of many Roman Bishops Then appears towards the sea-side Trebisazze Albidona Amendolara and the River Semio called in old time Siri by the City of Siro which stood very near which was afterward named Heraclea to whom the Statue of Minerva bred great wonder in turning and rouling the eyes against the Ionii which sacking and spoyling the City respected it not The men of this Province are of a white complexion of indifferent stature and strong crafty firm and resolute in their opinions hardy and stout much inclined to Learning and Arms they use Daggs Swords and Pikes The Gentlemen attire themselves after the Neopolitan fashion and likewise the women but those which live in Villages are very rude and barbarous The Arms of this Province are per salter or .4 pates gules and on the second partition or so many crosses bastone Sa. The which two Crosses signifie the two Calaurias and the other partitions are the Arms of Aragon These Arms were invented by Don Ferdinando of Aragon Duke of Calauria the son of Alfonsus the first King of Naples for that he would not otherwise express them that although the Region of Calauria was divided by his Father into two Provinces nevertheless he was Lord of them both The Countrey of OTRANTO The seventh Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe fair and rich Province of the Country of Otranto called in old time Iapigia as Solon saith of Iapige the son of Dedalus which came thither with many people to inhabit These people had their original from Latii and as others say from the Cretians which with the Illerians came into this utmost bound of Italy This Province was also called Salentina from the Promontory Salentino at this present named the Cape of Santa Maria but as Festus saith of Salo which is to say the Sea which compasseth it almost round about except a little part which joyneth with the firm land others affirm that it was called Salentina of the people Salentini which came with the Cretians hither to inhabit It was afterward called Messapia of the Captain Messapo which came from Peloponesus with a Colony into this Region And not long after it was named by the Creeks Calauria And finally from the City of Otranto all this Region is called the Country of Otranto The figure and form of this Province is an out cape of land which is one of the three angles or corners of Italy wherein endeth one of the two principal capes wherein is a part of the Apennine and here as is commonly thought ends the Adriatick Sea and is united with the Ionian Verily this Province seemeth as another Chersonesus lying under a pleasant air The circuit thereof is little more then 200 miles whose Istmus is between Taranto and Monopoli not exceeding the space of 40 miles in the which Peninsula although the superficial part of the earth for the most part be rough and stony nevertheless being ploughed up discovereth excellent mould and although there be little store of water it yields good pasture for Cattel and bringeth forth Wheat Wine Barley Oats Olives Citrons excellent Musk-millions Figgs Apples Pears Limons Oringes Oxen Asses Mules of the best breed and such abundance of Saffron that it seems to be rather the proper fruit of this Country then of Carthage The great plenty of Oâ—l which is there made seemeth a thing incredible to those which have not seen it whereby all the Kingdom doth not only abound therewith but also the greatest part of Italy and every where is excellent fowling and hunting both for Conies and hares And although the air be very wholsome yet the leprosie is very common by the means as I think of eating Pork and drie Figgs the ordinary food of the common people The springs of water are partly sweet and partly gross and brackish In this Country is bred the Tarantola whose venom is driven away with sound and singing the which Galen also affirms with the authority of Theofrastus of certain other creatures There are also bred the Chersidri and there is no part of Italy more troubled with Grashoppers which devour all things where they come and in one night consume the ripest fields But nature hath provided a remedy by the means of certain Fowls which they call Ganie which destroy this vermin The Hail also much hurteth this Province which almost every year doth some spoil The Thunder is there felt as in the Country of Lavoro both in Summer and Winter But coming to the description of this Province beginning at the River Bradano is Taranto a worthy and an ancient City which some say had that name from the River Tara and others from Tara the son of Neptune and others impute the original to Hercoles This City so increased by the means of Falanto the Spartan who governing under the Democratical Regiment contended sometimes with the Lucani and sometimes with the Senate being alwaies aided by strange Captains having sometines the help of Alexander and sometines of Pyrrhus became so rich that there was no City except Siracusa that brought greater riches to the people of Rome it glorieth much in her Archita that admirable Mathematician which caused a Dove of Copper to fly round about the City and of Aristosseno the Musician Taranto lieth between two Seas whereof the one is called the great the other the little in the lesser which is in compass 18 miles there runneth in many springs and the River Galeso by means whereof and the calmness of the water there are many fishes and no less then in the Sea of Constantinople
The City standeth in an Island like unto a ship having bridges to pass over into the Continent here the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is very violent on the other side with a ditch made by mens labours is joyned the little sea with the great the which ditch is able to receive a gally where at this present is the City esteemed one of the strongest Forts of the Kingdom where was the first Fortress which Fardinando of Aragon King of Naples repaired Of this Country there is no more to be said then that which Horace saith Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes angulus ridet Coasting from hence is Cesaria a place ruinated by those of Gallipoli with the lower sea full of great skuls of fishes not very far is Gallipoli a City very fair and populous which Pliny calleth Anza but Pomponius Mela nameth it Gallipolis the said City was built by the Greeks which being afterward droven out by the Gauls called it Gallipoli The said City is situate in a narrow piece of Land running into the Sea in the fashion of a Frying-pan in whose utmost part is that most impregnable City both for the situation the Wall and the Castle because the steep and craggy Rocks rampire it where in the Wars between the Aragonesi and the French defended it self in the behalf of Aragon with great commendation That excellent Philosopher Iohn Baptista Crispo hath much ennobled this City who hath writ 23 books De Ethnicis philosophis caute legendis and three others de Animarum statu ex hac vita migrantium Departing from thence is Vgento and the Cape of Luca called in old time the Promonto y of Iapigio and in this place was the famous Temple of Minerva where was kept the Arms and the Chain of Diomedes this cape is now called the cape of Santa Maria in the end of the country so named at this present by the sumptuous church here builded in honour of the glorious mother of our Lord called of the Ancients Promontorium Iapigium and of Pliny Ara Iapigia This cape riseth out as a front or brow of Lacinio compassing on both sides the gulf of Taranto Then followeth Castro a place to be noted for the ruines it sustained by the Turks in the time that Soloman attempted the enterprise of Italy Not far from thence is the cape and the famous City of Otranto here Acomat Bascia first mustered his souldiers in Italy having destroyed this City according to the manner of Mahomet 2. his Prince he made new fortifications in the city whereupon were afterward made by our ancestors so many fortresses through all Europe that they seemed invincible And this city is so near to Greece that it is scant distant 50 miles and therefore in this place I think first Pirrhus and after M. Varro purposed to joyn Italy with Greece by a bridg of ships Here also begins the Adriatick Gulf which is divided from the Ionian sea as it were by a line or path although many say it hath its beginning from the Mount St. Angelo or rather according to some from Ancona This great gulf had its name from the city of Adria the which lying crooked as it were a horn more then any other gulf of the Mediterrane even to Tieste separating Italy from Sclavonia being on the right side full of Havens and having very few on the left and oftentimes so tempestuous whereupon grew this Proverb amond the Ancients Adria furiosior it is now called the gulf of Venice that famous City giving the name by a Ring of Gold which the Duke casteth in on the Ascention day the Popes Legat being present And continuing this course are to he seen near the Lake of Liminiti certain ruins which declare the greatness of the Emperor Adrian After comes the Haven of St. Cataldo and Brindesi which was sometimes one of the chiefest cities in Italy for all the shipping from the East arived here and now through discord and dissention it is half desart And therefore the aire is very unwholsome a thing which hapneth to all great cities why the air is no better is the want of inhabitants because they dry up the moist and moorish places with their tillage and cut down the woods that are too thick and with fire purge the ill air and with high buildings have that which is good so contrarily there is nothing worse then the solitude of great cities because not only they are deprived of the abovesaid helps but of the houses themselves and their ruine is the receptacle of corruption which appeared in Aquileia Rome Ravenna Alexandria in Egipt and also Bagdel For the which cause the Greeks did not too excessively inlarge their cities Plato would not that his should exceed five thousand Families Aristotle that all his people at one instant might hear the voice of the Crier The Haven of Brindesi is like to the head of a hart whose horns compass the city within it because it is divided in two it is barred up with a chain the outward part is guarded by two rocks and an Island the mouth of it is very deep but in the Wars between K. Alfonsus and the Venetians a ship sunk to the bottom which choked it in such manner that hardly a Gally can pass Here we incounter two Vallies digged by hand which brings in the sea on the right hand and the left side of the city lieth in such sort that it makes almost an Island It hath two fortresses one within the two horns built by the Emperor Frederick the second of square stone very beautifully built the other in the â—sle of St. Andrea At the mouth of the outward haven built by King Alfonsus of Aragon Strabo cals this city Brundusium and others write that it was builded by the Etoli and afterward inhabited by the Cretesi which came with Theseus and Gnoso and at last it was a colony of the Romans and in old time was of so great power that L. Floro saith it was the head of the Salentini M Pacuvio the Tragical Poet the nephew of Ennius on whose Tomb saith A. Gellio was ingraven this Epitaph Adolescens temetsi properas hoc te saxum rogat Vt se aspicias deinde quod scriptum est legas Hic sunt poetae Pacuvii Marsi sita Ossa hoc volebam nescius ne esses vale There lieth with great reverence in the principal church thereof the bodies of St. Theodoro and Pelino Martyrs and there is to be seen all the whole tongue of St. Ierome The noble Families that are in this city are these following Balzo Bove Caracciolo Catignano Cuggio d' Eredia Fornaro Pando Pascale Pizzica Ramondo Scomafora Sasso Tomasino Villanova Vacchedani and others Between Brindesi and Otranto every place is full of Olives but from Brindesi to Ostuni for the space of 24 miles there is nothing but bushes and woods Brindesi is distant from Rome 360 miles
part of men therein are imployed in Learning and Arms. The Arms of this Province is or four pales gu a Dolphin proper in his mouth a Cressent argent The original of the which Arms was in the year 1481. At the time that Alfonsus of Aragon Duke of Calauria the son of Ferdinando the first King of Naples drove away the Turks from the city of Otronto and other places whereupon the men of this Province willing to shew that great service which the King had done for them in delivering them from the hands of the wicked Tyrant Mahumet the second Emperor of the Turks for this cause devised the said Arms declaring by the four pales gu in the field or the Arms of the King Fardinando of Aragon The Dolphin was no new invention but very ancient for so much as the monuments declare that the Dolphin with Neptune were the proper ensignes of the country of the Salentini but only they added the half-moon in the mouth of the Dolphin noting thereby that the new Seigniory which the Tyrant Mahumet endeavoured to hold in this worthy Province was by the care and diligence of the valiant Alfonsus and the vertue of the Inhabitants thereof taken from him The Countrey of BARY The eighth Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe fertile and fruitfull Province of the Country of Bary was in old time called Apulia Pucetia of Pucetio the brother of Enotrio and son of Licaone which with many followers departed from Greece 375 years before the Wars of Troy and setled themselves in this place the which people were sometimes called Pucetii and sometimes Pedicoli and were the first men sent out of Greece to dwell elsewhere Also the said people which inhabited between the Territory of Taranto Brindesi and the River Aufido were named Etoli of Etolia of Greece the people whereof came into these places to inhabit as certain Writers affirm the Pediculi being droven from thence remained therein What these Pediculi were Strabo declares in his sixth book and Pliny in the third and say that they were nine youths and as many wenches which departed from Illiria and here inhabited from whom descended 13 people and to the end they might dwell the more securely built many Castles and were called Pediculi that is to say boys or children At this present it is called the Land of Bary from the city of Bary anciently called Iapigia and Baretum the head of this Province in the which city in a stately church wherein with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Nicholas sometimes Bishop of Licia from whom continually issueth as is said a certain liquor called by the Citizens Manna which is an admirable thing and the Priests which have the keeping thereof use to bestow on those that come thither little viols of glass full of the said Manna The said Church is served by a hundred beneficed Priests The bounds of this Province was according to Strabo and Pliny from the Territory of Taranto and of the Brindesi along unto the River Fortoro from thence by the Mount Gargano and towards the Adriatick Sea or rather Ionian according to Ptolomy even to the Lucani and the Irpini and the Sanniti and so the said bounds have on the South the Salentini Lucani and Irpini on the North the coast of Ionian and Adriatick on the West the River Fortoro the limit of the Caraceni and Ferrentani now called Abruzzo The goodness and fertility of this Province is very great for it yields Grain Wine Oyl Barley Beans Fitches Annis Comin Coriander Saffron and Bombace There are great Woods of Almons and Olives so bigg-bodied and so high that it seems that nature hath brought them forth as a wonder unto men And to be brief so great is the difference of these Trees from those which grow elsewhere as is between the wild Olives and those which are planted and also of the greatness of the bodies and their admirable height with the fashion of their boughs whereupon the Ancients have said that they were dedicated to Minerva and have also feigned that in these places was hanged Filida the Nymph and is no less plentifull of Oringes Limons and other the like fruitfull Trees as well for the benefit of living creatures as for pleasure besides there is excellent hunting both for fowls and also wild beasts The Sea thereof hath great store of good fishes the air is very chearfull and temperate but the waters are otherwise for they are gross and brackish There are on the side of the Sea these Cities and Countrys following Barletta of later Latinists called Barolum a worthy City rich and full of people built by the inhabiters of Canusio but inlarged by the Emperor Frederick the second In the midst of the Market-place of this noble City is a great Statue of Mettal of ten yards high of the Emperor Frederick although the Barletani affirm that it is the Image of the Emp. Heraclio nevertheless the first opinion is truest There is also a very strong castle which is accounted one of the four that are so famous in Italy Presently follows the fair city of Trany named by Pliny Trinium built by Terreno the son of Diomides and repaired by the Emperor Trajan Hard by is Molfetta a city full of civility which with the title of a Prince is possest by the Lord Don Ferrant Gonzaga chief Justicer in the Kingdom Nicolo sirnamed of Giovenazzo companion of St. Dominick gave the name to this City to whom was revealed the manner of conveying his bones as is to be read in the book of the famous men of the Order of Preachers Walking along we come to Mola Saint Vito Polignano St. Stefano and Villanova Farther within the land are these cities Monopoli built by the ruines of Egnatia to which City hath grown great honour by Bartholomeo Sibilla of the Order of Preachers an excellent Philosopher and Divine and Câ—millo Querno a singular Poet who lived in the time of Pope Leo Ostuno Ceglie Conversano Gioia Rotigliano Altamura Acquaviva Cassano Monorvino Modugno Terlizzi Rutigliano Quarato Pulignano and Biseglia called in old time Vigile a noble city and full of Traffick wherein was found the bodies of St. Mauro Bishop of Sergio and Pantaleone martyred for the Christian faith being revealed to Francesco del Balzo d' Andri Lord of this city who caused them to be put with great reverence in an honourable Sepulchre from which riseth as they say continually a precious liquor called Manna After follows Bitetto Ruvo and Gravina a great city very fair and civil the which with the title of a Duke is anciently possest by the worthy Family Orsina Don Antonio Orsâ—no is the present Duke thereof a young man which is very likely to imitate the honourable steps of Duke Ferrant his father of worthy memory And the said Gravina was the Garner and Store-house of Puglia for the inestimable quantity of corn which was gathered in
Rapino and near to Maiella is Penna After the mouth of the River Foro is to be seen on the sea the mouth of the River Lento which also riseth from Maiella On whose right side but yet very near distant from the Sea but five miles appears Villamania above the which nevertheless under Maiella is the Castle Petrono near to the which is the Fort of Montipiano and above the fountain from whence the River Lento springeth is Castel Menale And somewhat lower upon the Mediterrane is Bucchianico a civil Country honoured with the dignity of a Marquisat the Territory whereof is very fertile and hath great plenty of Olives going a little farther we come to the noble and fair City of Solmona by Strabo called Sulmo and likewise Ptolomy and Cato so name it the said City was built by Solemo of Frigia the companion of Aeneas That eloquent Poet Ovid Nasone was here born as he witnesseth in the 4 book of de Tristibus in his tenth Elegy Sulmo mihi patria est gelidis uberimus undis Millia qui novies distat ab urbe decem And the Poet Martial in the first book of his Epigrams declares the same saying Mantua Virgilia gaudet verona Catullo Pelignae gentis gloria dicar ego This City hath the dignity of a Principality the Lord thereof is Don Horatio of Noia a most generous Knight Departing from Sulmona we come to the River Aterno now called Pescara from the City of Pescara which is very near built by the ancient City of Aterno from whence the River hath its name The said City is ennobled with the dignity of a Marquisat possest by the Family Davolo Going a little farther towards the Mediterrane is the little Castle of Cantalupo situated at the foot of a Hill under the which most miraculously doth flow a liquor called the stony oyle the which is very carefully gathered for the vertue and medicinable operation Afterward appears Caramanico a noble Country the Territory whereof is very fertile and a little beneath is to be seen Cusano in whose higher parts the River Librata endeth in Pescara in old time called Albula into the which runneth two little Rivers which also descend from Maiella in the midst whereof is the Country of Lietto Manupello in whose Territory is a Mine of Pitch which was found the year 1577. And it is in the manner of Tarr Being now come to an end of this Province it remains that I declare somewhat of the Inhabitants The people of this Country are very tall and strong and in countenance not much unlike the French Nation in bargaining with strangers they are simple and courteous full of courage and much affected to the profession of Arms wherein they grow to great perfection they are not very costly in their apparel but much given to hunting they are also well inclined to Learning and apply themselves much to the study of the Law and Phisick The Arms belonging to this Province is or a wild Boars head couped in pale on bas a yoke in chief gu noting as I think thereby the great abundance of wild Hoggs that are therein and with this that memorable exploit that chanced between these people and the Romans as it is before recited moreover it may be said that these two charges should signifie the same service placing the head of the Boar as a fierce and cruel beast for the arrogancy of the Romans put under the yoke But I refer my self to better judgment ABRUZZO On the other side the tenth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES THe worthy and renowned Alfonsus of Aragon the first of this name King of Naples willing to take away the continual strife which fell out among the Collecters of the Impost and Custom of Abruzzo divided the said Province into two parts and so that which is included in Aterno and the Hills of Marsi is called Abruzzo ulteriore which I am now to handle This part contained the Marrucini Piligni and Ferentani and part of the Sanniti Abruzzo is now divided from Campania of Rome between the Region of the Equicoli and a little River of obscure name having on the one side certain Vaults and Caves and on the other a high Hill It is divided from the Province of Abruzzo on this side by a branch of the River Pesâ—ara running from the foot of the Apennine above Raiano and directly against Popoli endeth its course and a little higher by the Apennine Hils near the head of the River Sangro between Pesco and Sarli and Gioia and above the Lake Fucino in the utmost parts of the Marsi By the same Hils which lie towards the South it is also divided from the Country of Lavoro by the River Garigliano even at the spring which riseth by the Valley of Orvito under the Fountain near to Balzorano cometh Abruzzo on this side to joyn with the Territory of Sora. And these places end not only with the Marsi the Marrucini the Peligni the Ferentani the Vestini the Sanniti and the Preguntini of Abruzzo but also with the Territory of Naples This Countrey is both in men and situation very strong it hath great plenty of Corn heards of Cattel and Wine it hath many Rivers and an excellent air there is great variety both for hunting and fowling there are also Bears and great store of Wolves But now coming to describe in particular the Rivers and the Cities which are in this Province I will begin from the shore where is a Castle called Montepagano and going along twelve miles upon the Sea-side is to be seen the River Viciola which springeth from the Apennine near the Mount Corvo and running along entreth into the River Tordino by Pliny called Iuvanâ—â—o which also floweth from the Apennine near to the foot of the said Hill Corvo Among the said Rivers appears Teramo a City full of civility the Bishop thereof is ennobled with many Titles of dignity and the Lord is called a Duke The said City is the head of all this Country named by Pliny and Ptolomy Interamnia the which name it had because it is situated among the Rivers for a little above it runneth into Tordino a swift stream called Fiumicello near the which are three Countries so near that they are all called by one only name Campio Above the Fountain of the River Vicola are these Castles Bisigno and Rugnano from the River Tordino to the River Vomano by the sea-side are only six miles and between the one and the other are many Countries and Castles some in the midst and others nearer to the one then the other because the Rivers in their courses make many turnings It were requisite to declare with what order all these are placed from the head to the feet and first is Murro Locaristo Guardia di Vomano the old Castle Transmondo Cautiâ—no Forcella Miano Rapino Colle Vecchio Fornaâ—olo Montorio Poggio Vmbreco and Rosseo and where Vomano springeth from the Apennine are
many Villages well inhabited as Compotosto and Poggio which is a Castle and Massione on the left hand of Vomano and within the Country are situated these Castles Motola Monteverde and Montegualco and here endeth as Pliny saith the Precutini And following the same course we come to speak of the Marrucini which Livy saith caused themselves voluntarily to be enrolled among the Souldiers that went with Scipio into Africa Now then after the River Vomano comes another River called Piomba where is another Castle which is called Porto d'Adria and a little higher is a Country called Silva five miles within the Land and almost in the midst between the said two Rivers upon a high Hill is the City of Atri called in old time Hadria which was a Colony of the Romans Here was born as Celio the Spartan writeth the Roman Emperor Adrian P. Vittore believeth that the Adriaetick Sea had its name from this City the which also Sesto Aurelio affirms in his book of Cesars Above Atri or Hadria upon the right hand of the River Piomba is the Castle of Celino and above where this River springeth is the Country of Schiarano on the left side of Piomba two miles within the Land is Civita S. Angelo which Pliny and Ptolomy names Angolo above the said Country near the River is the little Country of Hece From Piomba three miles from the Sea is another River called Salino on the right hand whereof on the shore is a Castle called Porto S. Angelo and a little above within the Country entreth into Salino another River called Sino which floweth from the Apennine at the foot of the Hill Corvo on whose right side are eight Countries and Castles the which shall be named the one after the other Cassilento Montesicco Pignano Bisento Corvignano Serra and Valviano and a little below the mouth of the River Sino doth also run into Salino another River called Tavo which riseth near Corvo in the Apennine In the midst of these Rivers five miles distant from the Sea is Civita di Penna an excellent Country and very famous in old time Pliny calleth this City Pinna and placeth it among the Vestini Of this City was the most valiant young man Pluton of whom Valerius Maximus maketh mention but much more it is honoured for bringing forth that famous Lawyer called Luca of Penna who learnedly writ upon the three books of the Code wherein appears his great knowledg both in Divinity and the Law and particularly of the constitutions in the municipial Laws and customs of this Kingdom as he sheweth to be very judicious and skilfull in divers places and especially in Law-Causes de senten advers fiscum latis retractandis lib. 12. In the Rubrick C. de Magistris sacr scrinioruus lib. 12. where he teacheth the Office of a principal Secretary of the Kingdom And in the l. à palatinis C. de privilegiis corum qui in sacro palatio militant where very diffusedly he disputeth of one of the prinâ—ipal constitutions of the Kingdom alleadging Andrea of Isernia Prince of the Feudists All this I thought good to declare what a worthy man hath been of this City although otherwise modern writers have fasly christned him for a Frenchman defrauding his Country where at this present in the Hall of the publick Palace is to be seen his ancient Picture with the late named young Pluton and besides yet standeth his house where he dwelt Afterward not much distant from the River Tavo appears above the Hils the pleasant country of Laureto and the Hill Corvino Then cometh near upon the shore the mouth of the river Aterno now called Pescara which is one of the principal rivers of the country and near the Monastery of Casanova runneth into it another river which riseth on the right hand on the side of the Apennine called Nuria on whose right side are Montesilvano Spotorio Moscuso Pianello and Capogatto all Castles and under the fountain of the said river is the noble Monastery of Casanova of the Order of Cistello which is not only beautified with sumptuous buildings but with great riches Above Nuria on the right hand of Pescara are Rossano Alendo Petranico the Towers of Antonello and a little above is Castiglione And coming down from thence we incounter a river called Capod ' acqua who hath a very great spring and near the fountain is Offena and on the left hand is Busso between the which two Castles but two miles distant is Capistrano the natural place of the holy Iohn Capistrano of the Order of the Minors of St. Francis who in his life did many miracles Above Capistrano within the Land is Carapello and at the ascent of the Hils near to the river Pescara is Vetorito and Raiano and going but a few miles higher upon the ridg of a Hill is to be seen the ruinated City of Amiterno by Strabo named Amiternum whose magnificent buildings both of the Theatre and certain great Churches and mighty Towers declare what greatness it was in old time and Livy writeth that Spurio Cornelio Carvilio the Consul took Amiterno and there were cut in pieces 2800 Citizens and 4280 made prisoners and notwithstanding the same Livy addeth that L. Scipio going into Africa they voluntarily offered themselves to go with him in that action with the Umbri Norcini and the Reatini Amiterno is called by Virgil full of Towers There are to 〈◊〉 among the ruines of the said City graven in Marble the triumph of the Sannites when they caused the Roman Army to pass under the yoke at the Gallows of Caudine and the Sepulchre of the daughter of Druso and near to the Theatre is the Temple of Saturn the founder thereof This City had among other famous Citizens Caio Crispo Salustio Proconsul for Cesar in Africa and the first writer of the Roman History and the Bishop Vettorino who died for the faith of Christ as Ptolomy and Lippomano saith in the Empire of Nerva whose name remaineth in a Castle built 〈◊〉 the stones of those ancient ruines where are his bones and 83 Martyrs by whom the said City was destroyed I cannot yet understand Going from hence two miles 〈◊〉 Civita Tomassa a little Castle in whose circuit are to be seen many ruines of ancient buildings with many inscriptions which apparently shews that here was the ancient City of Foruli celebrated by Virgil in his seventh book of Eneid and of Silio Italico in his eight book and Strabo maketh also mention thereof and placeth it among the Sabines And following that way about three miles there are to be seen great foundations of square stones which the country-people call Furconio whereupon it is not to be doubted that there stood the City of Furconio the which was not so ancient nor populous nor so rich as Amiterno but of greater dignity and honour in the time of the Christians for in all the Councels for the space of
800 years following which had been in Rome or any other place of Italy we read the Bishop of Forconio Here was thrown down from a high Tower that young and holy man Massimo whose miracles moved Pope Iohn the 16. and the Emperor Otho to visit his reliques giving to the Bishoprick twenty thousand crows yearly of the which it is almost wholly deprived and by Alexander the fourth bestowed upon the City Aquila In this place is the Furnass wherein Giusta a most holy Virgin was condemned to be burnt but by the providence of God was delivered by an Angel and inclosed in the Mount Offido which is now called Bazzarano The said City was destroyed by the Longobards the people whereof being dispersed were united with the Amiternini Abiensi and the people Duronii which likewise fled the wrath and fury of the Longobards and so under the conduct of an Amiternin their Captain called Aquila they built in a pleasant place upon the ridge of a plain and low Hill a City called by the name of their Captain Aquila which in process of time increasing with people was beautified and afterward inlarged by the Emperour Frederick the second King of Naples to the greatness which now it seems a City truly very worthy famous and rich and the head of this Province Here Pope Nicolas the second being much molested by the Roman Barons came to the Parliament with Robert Guiscard the Norman who restoring Benevento and all that which he held of the Church was by the said Pope created Duke of Puglia and Calauria the which as we have also declared in the lives of the Kings of Naples was in the year 1060. The said Citie is in compasse four miles and without the walls it hath a very pleasant vally of excellent pasture compassed with trees and watred with crystalline and fresh Springs besides the profit which proceeds from the river Aterno which dividing it with a pleasing current yeelds also a great commodity by the Mills The length of this plain is not above four and twenty miles and three in breadth but every where fruitfull It hath great abundance of all sorts of wood and plenty of corn wine oyl and every other thing which serveth for the use of living creatures their Orchards are such as neither through cold or the heat of Summer they ever fail in yeilding their fruits Whereupon Martial saith Nos Amiternus ager felicibus educat hortis The wares and Merchandise wherein this Citie most abounds are very fine flax saffron silk cloth wooll great plenty both of great and small cattell that it serves the most part of Italy with flesh the horses are excellent coursers and very swift There are in this City an hundred and eleven Churches all richly beneficed and besides they have many Reliques of Saints among the which are the four Protectors of the Citie carefully and richly kept and faithfully worshipped And within a Coffin of silver of the value of 1800 crowns is to be seen the body of St. Bernardino Senesi of the order of the Minors of St. Francis the first reformer of the regular life of that religion And in the Church of Collemaggio are to be seen the bones of St. Pietro of Marrone called Celestino the fifth The other two Protectors that is to say St. Massimo in Duomo and St. Equitio in St. Lorenzo and every one of these had a statue or Image from the middle upward of their naturall bigensse of pure silver Moreover there is besides the said Churches twelve magnificent and stately Monasteries of religious Nuns This Citie is much commended for the Conserves and Preserves that are there made The Citizens thereof for the most part exercise merchandize and making of cloth and in every thing shew prompt and ready wit In Arms they are fierce and cruell and very costly and magnificent in civil matters they are courteous in their apparell and conversation very civill The Lady Margarite of Austria the naturall daughter of the Emperour Charls the fifth governed this Citie many years the Citizens for the benefit they received by her made her a stately palace in length 256 hands breadth and in breadth an hundred and sixty with an hundred windows round about a very costly building But it is not fit that I should omit the remembrance of the strong wel fortified Castle which is in the said Citie for to them that know it it seems one of the goodliest Forts in all Italy This Citie by the tolling of a Bell is able to arm 15000. men It hath a great county rich and much exercised in Arms the situation is for the most part mountainous and strong Pontano speaking of this Citie thus saith Auctus post civibus atque opibus prolatis etiam confinibus facta est Aquila urbs quidem ipsa civibus auctoritate opibus clara regionisque totius caput And in another place speaking thereof saith the like words Nam populus ipse quamquam lanificio deditus ac texture maxime tamen bellicosus est finitimisque undique formidini nec minus regibus qui Neapoli imperant And Iohn Albino in his 5. book de Bello intestino Alphonsi 2. Aragonei Ducis Calabriae declaring the riches and great power thereof thus writeth Reges praeterea urbes caeterosque primores per tot annos tributo exaustos veteri quodam odio in regem Apostolicae sedis signa intrepide secuturos populis insuper quotidianis injuriis supra modum lacessitis invisos rerum omn ium egenos undique bello cintos brevi regno ejici posse praesertim quod ditissima ac populosissima urbs Aquila totius regionis caput Apostolicae sedis Imperium datis obsidibus subire deposcit cujus urbiâ— defectionem ad Aragonci nominis internecionem satis esse putaret c. Aquila was made as we have said a Bishops Seat by Pope Alexander the fourth in the year of our Lord 1257. the which Bishop besides many other prerogatives which he hath acknowledgeth not any other Metropolitan or any other superior except the Bishop of Rome Basilio Pignatell a Neopolitan Gentleman is now Bishop of this City a most carefull and vigilant Prelat and of great sincerity of life There are in this City many noble Families which are these following Angisili del Cardinale Antonelli Alfieri Angelini Baroni Baroncelli Branconii Bucciarellis Camponeschi Caselli Carli called Cardicchi Caprucci Castiglioni Colantonii Crispo Dragonetti Emiliani Eugenio de Matteis Emiliani Franchi Gigli Lucentini Piccolomini Legistis Lepidi Lepori Maneri Mariani Mattucci Micheletti Nardi Oliva Orsegli Pasquali Porcinarii Prati Pica Paoli Perelli Rustici Rosis Rivera Simconi Vgolini Salvati Trentacinque Valla Vetusti Vinio Zechieri The Families extinguished are these following Bonaginiti Findazi Roiani Pretatti Camponeschi Gaglioffi Mozzapiedi Todini Miraluce Cocci and Orsegli There are besides many other honourable Families of strangers indued with all true nobility which being more then
Beccarini Gentile del Avantaggio Caverletta Minadois Nicastro Visco Tontoli and others But first before I proceed any farther to declare what the Monte Gargano is here towards the sea I will finish that which lieth upon the River Fortore Above Sanseverino four miles is Torre the great which is a Country that hath the title of a Dukedom subject to the house of Sangro which lieth from Fortore twelve miles and as much above Torre the great is Castelluccio and a little from thence is Monte Rotano and somewhat higher is Celenza which hath a very fruitfull Territory and is adorned with the title of a Marquisat the Lord whereof is Carlo Gambacorta a Neapolitan Gentleman a very famous and worthy Lord whose honourable actions are well known having many years with so much wisdom and valour governed through the grace and favour of King Philip the two Povinces of Principato and Basilicata and at this present with great honour ruleth and governeth this present Province Not far from Cilenza is a country called St. Marco and near that is Volturara which hath a good Territory and the Lord thereof holdeth the title of a Marquiss and not far off is the country of St. Gaudio and a little above is Rosseno and beyond that near the river of Fortore is the Castle Montefalcone The River Fortore runneth into the Sea near the Lake of Lesina which contains 40 miles in compass and a mile from this Lake and four from the Sea is the city of Lesina from whence the Lake hath taken its name the which city was built by the men of the Isle of Lesina of Slavonia some say that the Saracins spoiled the said city Leandro Alberti believeth that the aforesaid Lake is named by Pliny in the 10. chapter of his third book Lacus Pantanus which breeds good fishes and great Eels and at all times there is good fowling for wild Geese Mallards and Swans Within the land four miles above Lesina and within a mile of Fortore upon a high hill is Cerra Capriola in a populous and a civil country the which is well known through all the Kingdom for the toll or custom of cattel which pass through it from divers countries to winter in Puglia and for the custom of sheep where they pay in that place so much for every beast by the head Somewhat higher are these countries and castles St. Martino Colletorto S. Guilian Macchia which is adorned with the dignity of a Count subject to the house of Regina and not farr off is Petra di Cratello Campo di Pietra Geldono and in the top is Circomaggiore near the which springeth the river Fortore then on the left hand of Fortore is St. Nicandro five miles from the Sea and near the Lake of Cesina on that side which is nearest the Mount Gargano then farther within the land is Porcina a populous and a civil country where is also a very stately magnificent Palace made by the Emperor Frederick the second for a retiring house of pleasure after his sports of hunting in those parts Going six miles forward we come to St. Seniero a country very rich noble civil and populous whose Territory is so fertile that it is not inferior to any in this Province the said country hath lately been innobled by the Kings favour with the dignity of a Prince which the Family of Sangro possesseth Strabo writeth in his sixth book that in the Territory of Daunio although that imperfect and corrupt book nameth it Saunio at a hill named Drio in the manner of a Wood was in his time two Temples the one in the very top assigned to Calcante that whosoever came to demand any thing of the Oracle sacrificed a black ram lying down themselves upon the skin The other Temple was dedicated to Podalirio below at the very foot of the Hill distant from the Sea a hundred furlongs From the which Temple did spring a little brook very wholsom and comfortable to cure the infirmities of cattel therefore it may the better be believed that such Temples have been in these places hereabout for Strabo saith In agro Daunio circa tumulum quem Drion nominant basilicae monstrantur una quidem Calchantis in summo â—ertiâ—è cui petentes oracula ingrantâ—m imâ—lant arietem strata in pelle dormiunt Altera Podalirii in insima montis radice posita abest à mari stadiorum circiter C. Ex ea rivulus manat ad omnis pâ—corum morbos salutaris Now it is time to return to the Mount Gargano or rather St. Angelo to the end I may the better describe certain places which are there In the midst then of the said hill where is the fair and spacious plain of â—lorishing and pleasant pasture is to be seen the country of St. Iohn Ritondo where every year on the 11 of Iune are assembled the Bailiffs and Officers thereabout a chief and principal magistrate coming thither in the name of the King the which after they have well considered the store of grain barley and other corn with a general consent they proclaim a price of all victuals Not far from the said place are Cagnano and Carpino which have a fruitfull Territory the Baron thereof is Antonio Nava so honourable and worthy a Lord and so vertuously given as he is generally honoured and loved of every one and hath been the special occasion that this work is published the second time At the foot of the said hill near Manfredonia is St. Vito a very great country but wholly abandoned for the great abundance of Serpens that are therein Not far off is the Castle Arignano and St. Nocandro Departing then from the foot of the Mount Gargano and leaving the places near adjacent we come to Foggia in a populous country which hath a very fertile and fruitfull Territory yielding great plenty of grain barley and other sustenance Some say that it was built of the ruines of the ancient city of Argirippa the which as Straboâ—aith â—aith was in old time one of the greatest cities in Italy and was first called Argostippium afterward Argyripa and at the last Arpe and saith that it was builded by Diomedes At this present liveth with great honour to the said city Giovanbattista Vitale a very plausible and pleasant Poet of our age But it is not fit I should smother in silence the custom of the sheep of Puglia which is one of the greatest revenues that the King hath in the Kingdom and consisteth in the rents of the herbage which cometh every year into the Kings Exchequer by the Officers for the pasture of sheep and greater cattel of the which rents in truth some pay 13 duckets for a hundred sheep and some 12. and some 10 and a half and some 9. and some 6. and some 3. and some 15 carlins for a hundred and others 12 crowns for a thousand But of greater cattel some pay 37
duckets and a half for a hundred and others 22 and a half and some 18 duckets and three quarters the hundred whereupon the said receiver satisfieth to the Masters of the herbage according to the quality and goodness of the pasture as it falleth out As in the year 1592. there was allowed to the said custom four millions four hundred seventy one thousand and four hundrey ninty six sheep and of greater cattel nine thousand and six hundred Of which sheep and cattel in general is paid unto the Kings receit six hundred and two and twenty thousand and a hundred seventy three duckets and seven carlins of the which sum is abstracted 380492 duckets for the payment of the herbage to divers particular persons with the alms bestowed upon the poor and other charges yielding to the Kings Exchequer 241264. the which sum of money was carried into the Kings general Treasury This kind of payment of custom hath been very ancient for the like was paid in the time of the Romans as it appears by Varro and other ancient Writers But this Kingdom being invaded by divers Nations the custom decayed through the extremity of long wars untill the time of the worthy and renowned Alfonsus of Aragon first of this name King of Naples who newly restored it in an excellent order and constituted Francisco Malubre Commissary for the reformation thereof and was the first receiver to whom he allowed for his pains 700 duckets with the pasture of a thousand sheep as Marino Trezza in his second book de sub feu the which the excellent Lawyer Carlo Tapia Neapolitan relateth with great learning and eloquence in the first book of his Commentaries in the Rubrick and final Law Fâ—de constitutionibus Principium num 98. This worthy man liveth with much admiration for his vertue and honourable qualities and at this present with general applause exerciseth the office of the criminal Judge of the great Court of the Vicaria Departing from Foggia 12 miles appears upon a little hill situated in a Plain the fair City of Luceria in the which city in the time of Strabo was the stately Temple of Minerva where were many and rich gifts the which city was the ancient seat of the Daunii and was also built by Diomedes It is true that it was destroyed in the time of Strabo whose ruines even at this present declare how great it was and what power and authority it had it was afterward repaired with the fragments of the old ruinated buildings and so continued even to the time of Constantius the son of Constantine the third Emperor of Constantinople who destroyed and spoiled it in the time of Vitaliano Bishop of Rome as Paolo Diacono writeth in his fifth book and Biondo in his ninth book of Histories Where having slain all the Citizens sackt it and afterward burnt it yet within a little time following it was reedified but nothing so fair and magnificent as at the first The which city being given by the Emperor Frederick the second to the Saracins was so strongly fortified that it became very powerfull commanding and domineering over all the bordering places neither was any man able to expel them untill the year 1271 Charls the second King of Naples after many conflicts confounded them and inforced them to forsake their hold The Territory of the said city is very plentifull and yieldeth all sorts of victuals To the which city twice in the year do assemble almost all the Merchants of Italy Grecia Sicilia and Slavonia and from other countries to traffick and sell their wares and this city is the head of the whole Province for there resides the Kings Audit with his Vice-roy In the Church of St. Dominicho which is therein lieth the body of St. Augustine the Hungarian of the Order of Preachers sometime Bishop of the City where he is highly reverenced by the people and was canonized by the holy Church naming him St. Augustine by consent and agreement of the Apostolick Colledg God shewing to his creatures as they they say how acceptable the merit of this man was unto him in the bestowing upon them infinite favours by the means of his Sepulchre From Luceria eight miles upon a small hill is the noble and rich city of Troia which hath a fertile and plentifull soil under the North side of this little hill runneth the river Chilone which flows from the Apennine this city was builded by Bubagano Catapano of Greece and not a Captain of the Greeks as Frier Leandro affirmeth Of the original thereof Leo Bishop of Ostia maketh mention after whom Carto Sigonio a diligent writer of Histories in our time following accounteth the building thereof about the year 1016. Some hold opinion that it was the ancient Esana which was beaten down by the Emperor Constantine There are in the said city these noble Families De Claritiis del Vasto Lombardo Palonibo de Tucciis Gioioso de Rubeis Sangro Saliceto Silvei Sassone Tancredo and others Here was held a Councel in the year 1092. by Pope Vrban the second for to reform certain customs of the Clergy as Biondo and Platina declare in the life of the said Bishop In the principal Church that is therein lies the bodies of Eleutherio Martyr St. Pontiano Bishop St. Secondino and of St Anastasio Walking along by the fields we may see the castle Carignola where the French men were overcome the Duke of Nemors their Captain General and Vice-roy of Naples for Lewis the twelfth King of France and Naples being slain by Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova Captain of Ferdinando the Catholick King of Spain having in his company the valiant Captains Fabritio and Prospero Colennesi Romans in the year 1503. as we have written at large in the lives of the Kings of Naples Going a little farther in the descent of the Apennine appeareth Orsara and afterward the city of Bovino the Lord whereof hath the title of a Duke Four miles farther is Dellicito and from hence seven miles is the ancient city of Ascolo innobled with the dignity of a Prince And this city is sirnamed by Writers Ascolo Satriano as a difference from that of Abruzzo This city was ruinated by Ruggiero the Norman having understood they purposed to rebel against him his father being then in Dalmatia the which was afterward repaired again by his father but not with that greatness Walking then towards the Sea we come to the sumptuous and stately Church dedicated to St. Leonard by the Emperor Frederick the second where is a worthy Monastery assigned to the Dutch Knights of the Order of St. Mary of Prusia allowing them great revenues who governed the said holy Temple a long time with great religion and devotion In the â—nd they decaying the said Monastery was given in commendum whereby at this present it is very ill governed This worthy Church is in great reverence not only with the people near inhabiting but also among all the
ascent hath been so called yet in old time it was called Grumo from the which flowes the River Moscano The said Hill is near to the Cave Menarda Cecubo is a Hill which joyneth to the Gulf of Gaeta and near Castellone the said Hill is very famous for the excellent Wine it yields for it bringeth forth the strongest Grape the Wines of Cecubo are accounted with the best as the Fondani and Setini whereof Martial saith Caecuba fundanis generosa coquuntur Amydis Vitis in media nata palude viret Casino is a high Hill which is not very far from the City of Aquino and the Castle Secca both being in Campania felix In the said Hill was in old time the City of Casino a Colony of the Romans as Titus Livius writeth in his ninth book declaring that thither was brought a Colony at the same time with Minturn And also Antonio in his Commentary speaketh likewise thereof in his 36 book And Strabo saith that in his time there was the glorious City of the Latines And Sillo nameth it thus in his twelfth book Nymphisque habitata Casini rura evastantur Here was the Temple of Apollo where was afterward builded the Stately Monastery of Casino so named by the ruinated City The said Monastery was built by St. Benedict for his Monks although the buildings of the Monastery at this present are not those which the Father St. Benedict builded for not long after his death all things were ruinated by the Longobards Totila King of the Goths moved by the sanctity of St. Benedict went up into the said Monastery purposing to try if that were true which he had heard say of him that is to say that St. Benedict through a prophetical spirit did know any secret or hidden thing apparelled himself like a page causing another to go before him cloathed in Kingly attire who feigned himself to be Totila but the Saint knowing of God the deceit requested him with a cheerfull countenance to come in with the rest of his followers and pointing to the King which was so basely attired to come foremost into the Monastery But neither this nor any other signes of sanctity which St. Benedict shewed to the Longobards were sufficient to bridle the fury of these Barbarians from the spoil of this Monastery the which had been foretold to the Monks by the Father St. Benedict It was afterward reedified upon the first foundations and also enlarged about a 112 years after by Petronio Petronasso Bresciano through the perswasion of Pope Gregory the second as Paolo Diacono writeth in his sixth book of the Histories of the Longobards and Elia Capriolo in his fifth book of his Brescian Histories The Monks thereof have more in revenue every year then fifty thousand duckets In the said Monastery do lie the bodies of many Saints and chiefly that of St. Benedict the Founder and Head thereof and of St. Scolastica his sister whose bodies were found in the year 1543. Pliny declares in the fourth chapter of his seventh book that in the said City of Casino in the time of the Consulship of Lucinius Crassus and of Caio Cassio Longo a certain girl was converted to a male kind which by advice of the South-sayers was carried away into a desert Island Caulo called in old time Caulon is a high Hill in Calauria upon the which is situated the City of Caulonia near Locri the said Hill is very full of Vines whereupon the Ancients consecrated it unto Bacchus Virgil speaketh of this Hill in the third of the Eneidos saying Caulonisque arces naufragum Scyllaceum Pliny in the third Book and tenth Chapter also discourseth of the said City Strabo in his sixth Book Pomponius Mela in his second and Stephano of the City cals it Caulonia Christs Hill is a high Hill which is near the City of Pozzuolo in the very same place which was called the Bath of Trepergole It is said that in the time that our Saviour Jesus Christ arose from death to life and descended into Hell at his resurrection he took the said great Hill and stopt the hole or mouth of Hell which he made coming from thence and for this cause they say it was called Christs Hill whereupon the Poet Eustasius thus saith Est locus Australis quo portam Christus Averni Fregit eduxit mortuus inde suos Haec domus est triplex hinc jure Tripergula dicta Vna capit vestes altera servat aquam Vtilis unda satis multum sudantibus aufert Defectum mentis cum gravitate pedum Haec stomachi varias facit absentare querelas Flebile de toto corpore tollit onus Debilis atque piger quibus est non multa facultas Consulimus tali ut saepe fruatur aqua Hujus amator aquae symptomata nulla timebit Incolumi semper corpore laetus erit But I believe with the holy Catholick and Apostolick Church that our Saviour Jesus Christ the son of the omnipotent God descended into Hell as all the Prophets and holy Apostles have said and I also believe that he arose the third day from death as the Scriptures verify unto us but that he should rise from this place or any other I am not so foolish to affirm it or say that which I know not For which thing I think better as St. Augustin saith in the 8 upon Gen to doubt de occultis quam litigare de incertis Cibele is a Hill near the City of Mercogijacono on the top whereof was in old time a stately Temple dedicated to the honour of Cibele Mother of the Gods Antonio Pio in his Commentary maketh mention of this Hill describing the way from Benevento to the Pillars he placeth first Mercuriale and afterward Cibele Mother of the Gods The said Temple was afterward dedicated by St. William unto the Virgin Mary the which hill after the consecration above-said the name of Cibele was changed into the name of Virgine as it is called at this present and the Congregation of the Fathers which are there is called de monte Virgine This high Hill is separated from the Apennine and also from the other Hils except they touch a little at the bottom In the great Altar of the said Church are preserved the bodies of the three children which by the commandment of Nechadonozor King of Babylon were put into the burning Oven because they would not adore the golden Image In the said Church is a Reliquary of so much beauty and ornament for the gilding of the place and for the many Reliques put in fair Vessels of silver and gold that it would be very difficult to find a better and perhaps not the like in all Christendom as all strangers say which come thither from far Countries In the said hill whether by the will of God whom it pleaseth many times to work marvailous effects in sundry particular places or by any other accident neither within the Monastery nor
Church and a Monastery of Carthusian Monks under the name of St. Martin the other Church of St. Hermo stands within the Castle which was builded by Charls the first of Angio King of Naples for a defence and guard of the said City The said Castle was newly fortified by the Emperor Charls the fifth All this Hill is beautified with goodly buildings and other worthy edifices this pleasant Hill yieldeth excellent Wines which are much commended by Galen 5 Salubrium 1 de antid and Martial in Xenia speaking of the Wine Trifolino thus saith Non sum de primo fateor Trifolina Lyaeo Inter vina tamen septima vitis aero It is called the Hill Trifolino by reason of the three-leafed grass which growes there very plentifully Tifata is a Hill which lies above Capoa whereof Sillio speaketh Tifata umbrisico generatum monte Calenum Titus Livius likewise nameth it in the seventh and twentisixth book describing that Hannibal departing from the Brutii came into these places to relieve Capoa besieged by Q. Fulvius and Appius Claudius the Roman Consuls and pitcht his Camp in a Valley but a little distant from the said Hill with the greatest part of his Army and with 30 Eliphants Vesevo or Vesuvio is a hil that stands over against Naples and opposite to the Pompeians divided on every side with high hils and hath at the foot thereof round about many pleasant Woods but in the top is very dreadfull hideous and unpassable in the midst whereof is a great hole made with fire which seems as a Theatre digged even out of the bowels of the Hill from whence in old time did ascend great abundance of fire Of these flames Beroso the Caldean in his fifth book of Antiquities maketh mention saying that in the last year of the King Arli the 7 King of the Assirians the said Hill burned Suetonius in the life of Titus saith that in the time of the said Emperor it yielded also great abundance of fire Of the like fire in the same manner relateth Dion the Greek the said fire burned two Cities that stood near unto it that is to say Erculanio and Pompey After the fire had continued three daies and three nights it cast so many ashes with so great violence that they were carried with the force of the wind even into Africa into Syria and into Egipt whereupon Pliny being desirous to see the cause of these fires went even to the Tower Ottavi and there was stifled with the smoke which rose from the said hill This burning was the cause that the Curati were created in Rome for the Country of Lavoro whose office was to provide for those inconveniencies in all that Country Vesevo is now much tilled and yieldeth excellent Greek Wine and great store of Corn and there is also gathered great plenty of good fruits it is now called the Hill of Somma because it standeth over against Naples On the one side it hath the Fields on the other the Sea at the foot of the hill is the fair City of Somma which is adorned with the Title of Duke Of the said Hill thus saith Sillio Italico in the 12 book Monstrantur Veseva juga atque in vertice summo Depasti flammis scopuli fractusque ruina Mons circum atque Aethnae satis carentia saxa And Martial in the 4 book of his Epigrams Hic est Pampineis viridis vesuvius umbris Praesserat hic madidos nobilis uva locus Haec juga quam Nysae colles plus Bacchus amavit Hoc nuper satyri monte dedere choros Haec veneris sedes Lacedaemone graâ—ior illi Hic locus Herculeo nomine clarus erat Cuncta jacent flammis tristi mersa favilla Nec superi vellem hoc licuisse sibi Some say that Vesuvio was so called for the sparkles of fire which in old time it cast out as it were full of sparkles for in old time a sparkle was called Vesuvia Others say that it was also named Vesbio of Vesbio Captain of the Pelasgi which did domineer and command the said Hill Servio was deceived in expounding those words of Virgil in the 7. saying Et vicina Veseva ora jugo because he saith that Vesevio is not the same that is Vesuvo and that the first standeth in Liguria from whence the River Po floweth and that the second is in Campania felix Nevertheless by the authority and testimony of excellent and grave Writers that hill of Liguria hath been called Vesuvio FENNS THe Fenn Pontana called of the Latinists Palus Pontina was so named as Strabo saith from the City of Pometia sometimes a Colony of the Romans made at the same time with Suessa according to T. Liviâ—s in his 9 book It proceedeth of two Rivers the one called Aufido the other Vfente of the first Virgil maketh mention saying Et in mare volvitur Vfeus And in the 7. Vfeus insignis fama Now it is vulgarly called Aufente and also Baudino This Fenn is so large that as Pliny saith with the authority of Mutiano that there were 24 Cities Titus Livius writeth in his 47 book that the said Fenn was dried up by the Consul Cornelio Cethego and the ground became solid and firm to sow corn But in process of time care being not had thereof it returned to its pristinate state and was all filled with water the which Theodorico King of the Goths noting caused it to be made drie another time At this present the said fields are become for the most part so moorish as well by the means of the said Rivers as the great flowing of the waters which spring from the bottom of the bordering hils round about and there settle and remain their ancient passages being stopt whereby they were wont to depart and pass into the Sea So by this means there is to be seen a great Moor Upon this Fenn or Moor was the City of Terracina called in old time Ansure which was the chief and head City of the Vlosci Strabo saith that in former time it was called Trachina which is to say sharp and rough by reason of the stony â—ils where it is situate Servio saith that in Terracina was adored a little Iupiter called Ansurâ— which in Greek signifies as it were not shaven because he had no beard by reason of his youth whereupon Martial in the 10 of his Epigrams writing to Faustine thus saith O nemus ò fontes solidumque madentis arenae Lictus aequoris splendidus Anxur aqueis And Horace in hâ—s Poetry saith Sterilique diu palus aptaque remis Vnicas urbes alit grave sentit aratrum Servio also saith that not very far from Terracina was a City called Satura Suetonius Tranquillus writeth that Tiberius being invited to a Feast at Terracina in a place called Pretorio suddenly fell from aloft many great stones which kild many of his friends and followers and himself hardly escaped Spartiano saith that Antonino Pio repaired the Haven
which they perceiving for this cause the time of their service being expired took part with Guaimaro who by their worthy deeds in a short time recovered much Through these famous atchieuments the Normans gained the reputation of valiant Warriers with every one In the mean time died Tancred their Father which was Earl of Altavilla the which Count descending to Gugliâ—lmo Ferrabach his eldest son omitted no time to go into Normandy to take possession thereof where after he had setled the affairs of his State returned afterward into Italy bringing with him no less then fifteen thousand Normans into Romagna and in process of time got not only the dominion thereof but also the most part of Tuscan Things resting in this manner the Saracins possest all Sicilia and Sardinia and many times did much prejudice the Coast of Italy whereupon Pope Sergio the 4 fearing and much suspecting they would overrun all Italy demanded aid of Guglielmo Ferabach Guglielmo through the perswasion of the Pope went in this expedition with eleven thousand of his souldiers together with Maniace Captain of Michele Paslagone the Greek Emperor to the recovery of Sicilia and with much valour and courage expeld the Saracins out of all the â—sle but Maniace not observing the agreement that what was gotten should be equally divided between them Farabache growing wrathfull past with his Normans into Puglia making a mighty slaughter subdued the greasted part and finding a fit and secure place builded the City of Melsi in a difficult place and well fortified by nature The which Maniace understanding came upon him with a strong Army but Ferabach braving the enemy which besieged him being wearied with travel came out against them and encountring them gave them a mighty overthrow near the River of Lofonte in Puglia the Normans remaining Conquerors and so rich both of reputation and spoil mounted mightily in state indeavouring both by might and other Military means to obtain other places and Cities in Puglia the which atchieuments succeeding with so great felicity to the Normans it followed that all Puglia came into the possession of the said Guglielmo who through his valiant acts had the name of Ferabach that is to say strong-arm of which dominion he afterward took the title of an Earl Afterward Guglielmo died in the year of our Lord 1042. and because he left no child his brother Dragone succeeded in the County which was Lord of Venosa who had at his beginning a great overthrow by Melo Captain of the Greek Emperor and lost a great part of Puglia but being aided by Guaimaro Prince of Salerno he oftentimes fought with the Greeks without any advantage yet in the end in a great conflict he overthrew and dissolved the Greek Army and not only recovered that which he had first lost but also got many Castles and Holds which the enemies possest upon the Sea-coast of Puglia At this time the Emperor Henry the second came into Italy and having pacified the affairs of the Church went into the Kingdom and confirmed to Dragone the County of Puglia from whom he received not only much money but had also the best and fairest horses that were in all the Kingdom The Emperor departing Italy the Earl Dragone moved the Beneventani to War and in two battels which he made his Army was overthrown and he flying was slain by the enemies His brother Humfrido took the possession of the Earldom at which time Guaimaro Prince of Salerno was cruelly murdered by his own people and his son was made Prince with the help of the Normans which the said Count laboured with long War in the end the Count ill demeaning himself with the Pugliesi was for his cruel nature slain in the year 1057. Baielardo his son succeeded in his fathers Dominion the which being chased away in the same year by Ruberto Guiscard his uncle this Ruberto became the fourth Earl of Puglia who being a valiant man at arms and of a great spirit suddenly besieged Reggio and having taken it went with prosperous victory subduing other parts and Cities of Calauria to his dominion Afterward he returned into Puglia took Troia and in such manner never rested taking from hand to hand many Cities and brought all the Normans of that Country under his Empire and being fully resolved to continue no longer an Earl with a general consent caused himself to be called Duke of Puglia and Calauria At this present Nicholas the second Bishop of Rome being much incumbred with the Roman Barons came in the year 1â—59 to the Parlament with Guiscardo in the City of Aquila and Guiscard having with much humility adored the Pope made peace with him and restored unto him the City of Benevento and all other places that he had belonging to the Church for the which the Pope not only received him into grace and favour but confirmed and invested him with the Title of Duke of Puglia and Calauria The which act was registred and confirmed with a solemn Oath and so Ruberto was now made a Vassal and Liegeman of the Church Sigonio writeth two Acts of the Oath which Ruberto at this present made to the Pope the one to pay the yearly tribute the other loyalty and homage the which two Acts I thought good to insert in this place to the end the Reader may know how the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction began in the Kingdom of Naples The first is in this sort Ego Robertus Dei gratia St. Petri Dux Apuliae Calabriae utroque subveniente futurus Siculis ad confirmationem traditionis ad recognitionem fidelitatis de terra S. Petri promitto me quotannis pro unoquoque jugo boum pensionem duodecim denariorum Papiensium persoluturum B. Petro tibi D. meo Nicolao Papae omnibus successoribus tuis aut tuis aut tuorum successorum nunciis ad S. Resurrectionem obligans me meos haeredes sive successores tibi successoribus tuis Sic me Deus adjuvet c. The second is thus Ego Robertus Dei S. Petri gratia Dux Apuliae utroque subveniente futurus Siciliae ab hinc in posterum fidelis â—ro S. Romanae Ecclesiae Apostolicae Sedi D. meo Nicolao Papae Neque ero auctor aut adjutor ut vitam aut membrum amittas aut capiaris mala captione consilium quod mihi credideris ne enunciem imperaris non enunciabo in tuum detrimentum sciens S. Romanae Ecclesiae ubique adjutor ero ad tenenda acquirenda regalia S. Petri ejusque possessiones pro viribus meis contra homines adjuvabo te ut securè honorifice tenens Pontificatum Romanum terramque S. Petri Et Principatum nec invadere nec subigere tentabo nec praedari contendam sine tua tuorumque successorum licentia Pensionem de terra S. Petri quam ego teneo aut tenebo sicut statutum est recta fide studebo ut
fift Emperour and the 26th King OF NAPLES FOR compleating the History of Naples I will take my rise from a High-ground from that Heroick Prince that Top of men CARLOS Quinto who was the first of the Austrian Family that saluted in person the fair Parthenope and mounted the Napolitan Courser From him we will go regularly on and draw the thred of the Story to his Great Grand-child Philip the fourth now Regnant THE Emperour Charles the fift is famous for divers high Feats of Magnanimity and Prudence but the greatest and difficultest Exploit that ever he did the most signal Victory that ever he obtained through-out the whole course of his life which had bin so active was that Conquest he made of Himselfe when he brought his passions and height of spirit to be so succumbent and coâ—chant and to stoop unto Him in so low a posture that stripping himself of all his Imperial and Royal Robes which he had worn in so much glory the first 36. yeers the other 40. from sixteen to six and fifty he reach'd them with his own hands the one to his brother Ferdinand to put on the other to his son Philip denuding himself thereby of all earthly power command and wealth and pulling off as it were all his clothes therby before he went to bed and burying Himself in a dark Cloyster before he was dead An act without controversy most heroick and discovering a high Soul For as while we sojourn here among these frail and mutable Elements the Conduct of our passions is held by the Philosophers to be the principall busines of Vertu so the Conquest of them is the noblest part of Valour A man need noâ— go abroad to seek Enemies wheron to exercise his Courage if he descend into himself he shall find Foes enough at home I mean those Inmates and innated rebellious appetits those tumultuous irregular humors which lodg within him and to give Them the check is the hardest part of the Play we are to act upon this worldly Stage Charles the Emperour did this when he had but newly finished the eleventh Lustre of his Age being then not 56. yeers old nor did he thus controll himself by abandoning the pomp and glory of this life and avoiding publick care that he might retire to a Country House of pleasure to hawk and hunt or use such pastimes but he remov'd from so many Thrones to enter himself into a Monastery or Hermitage rather that by that reclus'd life he might sequester himself from all mundane negotiations and delights to have more vacancy not only to study the Theory of Mortification but put it in practise Besides this reason he declard at his Resignation that he was now weary of the incombrances of worldly affairs wherewith he had bin laden so many yeers for which he was becom now unweldly in regard of Age as also being afflicted with frequent fiâ—ts of the Gout which made him so crazy and unapt for Government having us'd Tassata stirrops for divers yeers One of his Predecessors Severus the Emperour was of an other humor for he being very sick of the Gout at the Citty of York as the story tells us one of his Nobles attending him at that time told him that the world did admire how he could govern so many separated Nations and make such remote Expeditions being so subject to that Arthriticall lame disease whereunto the Emperour with more vigor then ordinary answer'd Sir I would have you know that I rule the Empire with my head and not with my feet with my temples not with my toes Hereunto may be not impertinently answer'd that memorable answer which the late Henry the Great of France gave to a Spanish Ambassador who coming to visit him when he was sore sick of the Gout and condoling his indisposition he suddenly rise up off his Couch and told him Ventre de saint Gris sil y avoit ocasion Vostre Maistre nâ— auroit pas plustost le pied dans Lestrier qu'il ne me trouveroit monte a cheval non obstant la gâ—â—te By the belly of Saint Gris if there were ocasion your Master meaning Philip the 3d. of Spain shold not have his foot sooner in the stirrop then he shold find me on hors-back notwithstanding the Gout But touching Charles the Emperour whereof we have spoken it is much that he shold be so subject to the Gout if stirring and motion be a Supersedeas against it as the Physitions hold because few Princes had bin so active as he from his very youth for he made nine journies into Germany seven to Italy ten to Flanders four to France two to England and two expeditions to Afric He had made eight Voyages on the Mediterranean Sea and three on the Ocean And what a world of Achievements did he perform in these Expeditions He sent away the great Solyman weeping from before the Walls of Vienna and so stoppd that huge torrent of destruction which was like to have overwhelm'd all Germany and quickly after the rest of Christendom He made Barbarossa that formidable Pyrate and his Dragon the Admiral Galâ—on wherein he sayl'd to â—ly before him what notable Conquests were those of Goletta and Tunis where the Roman Eagles had not flown since the time of Scipio and Hannibal and had not the Emulation of som Christian Princes found him work at home and diverted him he in all appearance had conquered and civiliz'd all Barbary To return to Europe he took the Duke of Cleve with all his Towns and Territories he quash'd the Duke of Sax who was head of the Lutheran party he imprison'd the Duke of Milan he subdued and sack'd Rome he tam'd the mutinous City of Gant where he first breath'd aire and had bin rock'd in his Cradle he pierc'd the very heart of France forcing that King to fly to the Turk for his assistance against him whom he afterwards took prisoner being the day he was born upon yet touching that action as he himself confess'd though Charles had more of Fortune therein yet Francis had got as much of glory considering all circumstances being taken with naked Sword in hand among a throng of fighting Enemies all about him weltring in blood Colours flying and Victory fluttering on both sides with doubtfull wings The full discovery of the new World was made in his Raign with the Mines of Peru In fine he had such a continuall tide of good success that it seems that Age was design'd for his glory He had twenty pitcht Battels and above three hundred Sieges nor did he know what a Repulse was but only at Algier Marseilles Mets where the wind blew strongly in his face insomuch that among the Caesars Charlemain may be sayd to be only parrallell to Charles le Qâ—int All this he intimated in a fluent and vigorous swelling Oration before the two Queens Elianor of France and Mary of Hungary Dowager his Sisters divers Knights of the golden Fleece and a great confluence
any of the rest which he much resented in regard he had so earnest a desire to see the Prince and to speak with him he having bin the first who put the Treaty of alliance on foot therfore it was suspected that he wold have discoverd somthing unto him prejudiciall to Spain But to give Don Gaspar de Olivares his due he had solid and sufficient parts for a great Minister of state his passions were very high for the greatning of his Master to the transactions of whose affairs he indefatigably addicted himself He was a professd Enemy to all Presents he never usd to give audience to Ladies or any women but wold receive their busines by Letters Lastly the greatest fault which I find he could be guilty of was that he was not so succesfull as he was sedulous Thus fell that huge Swayer of the Spanish Monarchy above thirty yeers and it seems with the Kings favor his spirits quickly fayld him for removing from Loches to Toro he there met with his last about sixteen months after His body being opend there was found in his Skull above two pounds of Brains and at the day of his buriall there was a huge Tempest fell with extraordinary fulgurations and cracks of Thunder as we read that when Katherin de Medici was buried in France there fell such a hidious storm that fifty Sayl of Merchant-men were cast away upon the Coasts of Britany The sorest Enemy Olivares had was the Queen which made him say that Muger hizo echar el primer hombre fuera de'l parayso y muger hizo echar a mi fuera del palacio A Woman was the cause that the first man was thrust out of Paradice and a Woman was the cause that I also was thrust out of the Kings Palace The Conde de Castrillo brother to the Marquess of Carpio who was brother-in-law to Olivares was one of the chiefest Engins which helpd to pull down this great Tree being a sober and wise well weighd man He is now Vice-roy of Naples having succeeded the little Conde d Ognate who had done such signall supererogatory Services in suppressing those horrid tumults in Naples where the power of Spain was upon point of sinking and his wisdom was no less discernd in settling peace and stopping the wide breaches wherwith that Kingdom had bin so miserably rent as also in finding out and punishing the chiefest Incendiaries wherof there were divers who felt the sharp Sword of Nemesis And lastly for devising waies to raise sums countervaylable to those Gabels and Taxes which the King was enforcd to abolish by the fury of the people And now will I take leave of the gentle Parthenope that three Castled and high crested Citty but a few words further of her Pedigree before we part she was built presently after the Wars of Troy by a young Grecian Lady calld Parthenope whose statue is to be seen there She was Daughter of Eumelus Son to Admetus King of Thessaly after her Fathers death she consulted with the Oracle at Delphos what her Fortunes shold be the Oracle told her that she was designd for another Country to be the Foundress of a noble Citty which shold be famous all the Earth over therfore she embarkd her self with divers more and sayling along the Tyrrhen Sea she landed at last in the next Promontory to Naples whence as the Legend tells a white Dove conducted her to that palce where Naples now stands where she began to build and trace a Citty which she calld by her own name Parthenope or the Virgin Citty which appellation continued till Octavianus the Emperor who first calld her Neapolis or the City of Navigation she being in rising postures like an Amphitheater on the Sea-side and wonderfull comodious for trafic she abounds with Silks Oyles Flowers Fruits and a most generous Race of Horses as any place upon the earthly Globe As her Horses are generous so they are observd to be more docile and neer to rationall Creatures then any where else for which this instance shall be producd Cardinall Bentivoglio sent Henry the Fourth of France a choice Napolitan Courser with his Keeper when the Horse was brought before the King he commanded one of his Riders to mount him who neither with Switch or Spur wold scarce stir or shew any feats of activity the King herupon and the Beholders began to disparage the Horse taking him for som dull Jade hereupon the King desird an Italian Rider to mount him the Horse when he saw his own Rider ready to back him fell a trembling all over but the Rider being got up he began to prance and flounce so nimbly as if he wold have flown into the Air to the amazement of all the Spectators so King Henry with the Present beggd the Rider of the Cardinall whom he entertaind all his life-time The Napolitan being born in a luxurious Country is observd to be the greatest Embracer of pleasure the greatest Courtier of Ladies and the most indulgent of himself of any other Nation insomuch that no command of the King can make a Napolitan Gentleman to go upon any Service for three months in Sommer till the heats are over They are full of Noble Friendship one to another and somtime they make their love to men controul their lust to women As there was a notable example these late yeers in the person of the young Marquess Oliverio who being desperatly in love with the Countess of Castlenovo layd siege to her a good while and the Count going to a Country-house of his and taking his Countess and Family with him the Marquess being more and more enflamd goes to the Country hard by one day a Hawking and let flies his Hawk into the Count of Castlenovos Gardens where it chancd he and his Countes were walking the Marquess made bold to retreeve his Hawk the Count with very high Civilities did welcom him and causd a Banquet to be presently provided where he and his Lady entertaind him being gone the Count began to commend the Marquess telling his wife that he was one of the hopefullst young Noble men and the fullest of parts of any in the whole Kingdom These praises made such impressions in the Countess that a little after he gaind her so the time and place of pleasure being appointed he was let in a privat way to her Chamber where she being a bed as he was undressing himself to go to her she told him that he was beholden to the Count her Husband for this Favor for she never heard him speak so much in commendation of any Is it so sayd the Marquess then I shold be the arrantst Villan in the world to abuse so noble a Friend so he put on his Dubblet agen and departed but with much civillity in the very height and heat of lust though he had so commodious conjuncture of time as his heart could desire But as the Napolitan have a high noble method of Friendship amongst them so are they as
Instruments of a King XXX The late Kings Declaration in Latine French and English XXXI Bella Scoto-Anglica or the Traverses of War twixt England and Scotland XXXII Mercurius Hybernicus XXXIII The Process and pleadings in the Court of Spain for the death of Mr. Ascham in Fol. Three of all which Books are Translations the rest his own Compositions Vfent is a River near the City of Ansure now called Terracina for the roughness thereof It was builded by Ansurus the son of Iupiter The Provinces of the Kingdom of Naples See Virgil in the end of the fifth Book of Aeneidâ—s where he saith Iamque adeo scopulos syrenum c. The Isles of Diomedes called by Cornelius Tacitus in his 4 book Trimerus The praise of the Kingdom Men and women endued with divers Sciences St. Thomas Aquinus see lib. of Metheora Turia is a Country of Calauria anciently called Metaâ—tos Marinus florished in the time of the Emperor Hadrian and writ many questions of Philosophy as Suida noteth See Stasius in the end of his 3 Book to Claudia The length and breadth of the Land of Lavoro Campania Felix why it was so called The nature of the Land of Lavoro Trees flourish twice a year in this Province The great plenty both of fowls and wild beasts in the Land of Lavoro The fishes which the Sea of this Province bringeth forth Mines and Baths Of the Wine Oyle and living creatures which are in this Province See Plutarch The praise of this Province The excellent Conserve of Naples The nature condition of the people of this Province Fondi Pliny lib. 14. cap 6. The Lake Fondano Mamurry Gaeta Galasius second Bishop of Rome Mola Formia The Village of Scipio and Lelius See Martial lib. x. epigâ—a The Castle Honoratus Horace lib. pr. The River Garigliano The overthrow given to the Saracins by Pope Iohn the 10. Consalvus Ferrandus grand Captain of Cordova Tratetto Minturne The Land of Lavoro Garigliano Trifano Sinope called Sinuessa Turpillus the Comical Poet. The Hill Massico The Fort of Mondragone The Villages of Sessa The City Sessa Why it was called Sessa Augustine Nifo Carinola The Fields Falerni what they were and how far they stretched The Fields Stellato Calvi Cajazza Tiano Caianello Vulturno Patria Of the Fountain Acidula and the property thereof The City Cuma The Town of Servilio Vacia Miseno Trumpeter of Aeneas Bana the Lake Averno and Pizzolo why they were so named Soffatara The Hil Asturno Listroni The Village of Cicero where the Emperor Adrian was buried Hot-Houses The soul of Pascasio Cardinal See also Iohn â—â—kiâ— in his 2 book of Purgatory Pausilipo a most delightfull place which according to Dion was possessed by Vedio Pollione a Roman a man famous for no other cause then his wealth and cruelty because in that place he had certain Fish-ponds wherein he used often times to cast in men as food for his fishes and dying leâ—t Augustus his heir of Pausilipo Virgil his Sepulchre Chiaia Giacomo Sanazaro The Castle of Vovo Naples alwaies faithful to the people of Rome The praise of the City of Naples The Gulf Cratera The Arms of the City of Naples The Tower of Greece and of Nuntiata The Hill Somma casteth out fire The death of Pliny The Wholsome House a most delightsome place builded by King Charls the second The City Massa The Temple of Minerva The Isle of Sirenuse see Virgil in the end of his 5 Book of Eneâ—dos now these Islands are called under one name Gallo where is the Isle of Capri. Procita why it was so called Dyonisius of Alicarnaseo in the first of the Histories of Rome Iohn of Procicla Author of the Sicilian Evening Ieronimo Zurita in the History of Arragon The Family of Procita in Catalogna The Isle Ischia Of the Giant Tipheo the Poets speak diversly for Virgil in the 9 of Aeneidos saith that here he was strucken with lightning by Iupiter in the which opinion agreeth Lucan but Ovid saith it wâ—s in Sicilia Alfonsus King of Arragon and Naple was of the House of Medina so saith Laonico Calcondile Athenian in the History of the Turks in his fift Book Gironda an ancient City of the Isle Bartholmew Perdice Genoway The Book of the Antiquities of Pozzuolo written by the Author of this Work The body of St. Restituta Virgin The Isle Nisita why it was so called Gaiola why â—t was so called The City Capoa Capoa destroyed The Sepulchre of Capi the builder of Capoa Capoa destroyed by Genserico King of the Vandals Capoa newly builed The Lombards destroy Capoa Capoa re-edified Conradus King of Naples cast the Walls of Capoa to the grâ—und Capoa sacked by the French The Land of Lavoro why it was so called F. L. Sosipatro Charisso Vittore Bishop Peter of Vineis Iohn Antonio Campano The City Atella The City Aversa by whom it was built Aversa destroyed by Charls of Angio King of Naples Don Pietro Orsino The famous men of Aversa Marigliano The City Acerra why it was built Acerrr why it was so called The Temple of Iupiter Feretrio Propertio in 4. The river Glanio and the originall thereof Sessula The river Isclero Aierola The City Caserta by whom it was built Lonardo Santoro Mataloni Venafro The City Sora. The Sorani cut in pieces the Roman Colonies The Romans take Sora. The Romans send another Colony to Sora. Sora destroyed by the Emperor Frederick the second The River Fibreno and the beginning thereof The River Liris now called Garigliano An Island a most beautiful Country called by the Ancients Interamnia Comino a pleasant Country was â—o called by an ancient City of the same name The City Atina The River Melfa The City Arpino The Arms of Arpino The City Arce The City Aquino Giovenal a Satyrical Poet. Victorino a Geometrician Pescenio Negro Emperor St. Thomas of Aquin. Gio Menardo in the 6 book of epistles in the 5 epistle Adinolfo Count of Aquino and Duke of Gaeta Monte Casino Totila King of Goths Paulo Diacono in his 6 book of histories The City Theano The City Calvi The City Lauro by whom it was built Palma The Plain of Palma The City Nola. The death of the Emperor Octavius Augustus Flora and her Riches The Temple of Flora. St. Felix Bishop St. Paulino the Inventer of Bels. The Arms of Nola. The first Counts of Nola Romano Orsino was the first of that Family that had Lordship in the Kingdom Wherefore the Rose was adjoyned to Arms of the House of Orsina Iohn Antonio Orsino Prince of Tarento Counts of Nola. The names of the Noble Families of Nola. The Arms of this Province of Lavoro Arechi Duke of Benevento in the year 755. The Confines of the Picentini Where the Picentini dwelt Why the Picentini were driven away by the Romans The City Picentia Sundry opinions of the Picentini The fertility of the Province Noceria Sanseverino The water of Mela. Cava and the beginning thereof in the year 910. Adalferio