Signori Canossae Manfredi Fogliani and Sessi who possess great Lordships there and have very noble and large Castles for their Apartments or Mannor-houses Now I have given you an account-of these two capital Cities of the great Dukedome of Modena I will cast my eye with a retrospect upon some other famous Castles Towns and Places within their Territories and acquaint you with some passages and rarities that may merit the observation and gratifie the curiosity of the diligent and industrious Enquirer that will make it his business to pry into them On the left side of the River Po saith my Author there stands the Arx Stellata a Castle fabriqued by Nicolas 3. of the House of Esté who was Marquess of Ferrara but the greatest part of it was in process of time overthrown by the Legions of Pope Julius the 11 and the Venetians And upon the Bank of the River Po is seen a new-built Town call'd Rovero a neat and large place Towards the South of Modena under the Apennines stand Formagine Spezzano and ten miles off Sassulo a Noble and civil place with a sumptuous Castle of the Family of the Pii watred by the River Secchia where is also a fair Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin About half a mile short of Sassulo is the Temple of the Saint Maria Sassutina so called from the Castle Sassulo situated at the very foot of the Apennine hills or mountains on the left side of the banks of Secchia Upon these Mountains stand many other Villages and Hamlets and are plainly visible in the Eastern part of Modena These Castles were formerly subject to several Lords and particularly to them of Monte who were very powerful at that time in these Countries and possessed all the Places in the Graffignana which confines on Bologna and among the rest Sestola and Fanano Westward the Alps of San Pellegrine appear to the view and the Castle Acquario famous for its Baths and their Medicinal waters and from thence 't is probably conjectur'd it takes its denomination Then turning to the South runs the Tyrrhene Sea somewhat near Bologna On the banks of the River Panaro stand Vetro and Spilimberto formerly call'd Spinum Lamberti two Castles belonging to the Signori Rangoni Four miles distant from thence you finde Vignola a Town dignified with a Marquisate subject to the Signori Buoncompagni which borders upon the Bolognian Territories Towards the North is situated the most Noble Castle or rather Imperial Citie call'd Carpi which may deservedly come in competition with many Cities if you consider the populousness or ingenuity of the People and the superfluity of all necessaries It is honoured with the title of a Principality and was for many years enjoyed by the Signori Pii but at this day it is under the Duke of Modena Then there is to be seen the ample noble and opulent Monastery of S. Benedict Podolironus built by Boniface the father of Countess Mathilde and enlarged by the said Countess whose Sepulchre is there likewise And Guardistallo famous for two Councils held there one under Pope Vrban the 8 and the other under Paschal the 11 witness Platina in the History of their Lives and Blondus in his fourteenth Book of Historical Relations On the Banks of the River Po somewhat farther Brescello fronts you call'd Brixillum by Pliny in his third Book and Plutarch in the Life of Otho the Emperour by Ptolemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by Tacitus Suetonius Antoninus and Paulus Diaconus It was formerly a Citie saith Leander and taken by Anthare King of the Lombards who dismantled and levell'd the walls with the ground according to Paulus Diaconus in his Continuation of Eutropius l. 28. and Blondus in the 8 Book of his History On the left hand of the banks of the River Lenza stands Tanedo nam'd by Livy in many places and Pliny who affirms that there was a man there 120 years old Tannetum by Polybius Tanetus by Ptolemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hence it is that Pliny calls the people Tanetani It was subverted by Cese King of the Lombards saith Paulus Diaconus was restored and reduced to the form that now it appears in being at present a Village or Hamlet In the Eastern part of Modena is a Chanel upon which you may pass by Boat 8 miles at length till you arrive at Finale then going on the River Panaro where the Chanel disembarques it self into that River is seen Buon Porto and San Felice much commended for generous Wines Along the Aemilian way three miles from Modena runs the River Panaro near which are the confines of the Modonesi and Bolognesi where Claudius the Consul coping with his enemies took 15000 Prisoners and 700 Ligurians Nay farther in this very place Rotari King of the Lombards routed the Romane Army with the slaughter of 7000 Souldiers Here also the Forces of the Modonesi being discomfited by the Bolognesi Euzo King of Sardegna the son of Erderick the second was taken Prisoner On the other side of Panaro is Novantola with a Monastery famous both for its antiquity as well as stateliness founded by Anselmo nearly related to Astolfo King of the Lombards who was a redoubted Captain in their Army Near the Aemilian way between Bologna and Novantola stands Santa Agata a Castle erected by Barbarossa the Emperour and Crevalcuore formerly known by the name of Allegracuore where the Army of Bernabo Visconte Lord of Milain was defeated and put to the Rout. Next you go to San Giovanni a Country very plentiful of Wheat and other Grain On the left side of Via Aemilia stand Castiglione and Castelfranco 15 miles off of Bologna where some few years past there was raised a most impregnable Fort by Pope Vrban the 8 and from him called Vrbano Neer this Fort is the Foro di Galli where Hirsius and Pansa two Romane Consuls were engaged with M. Antonius who obtained a glorious Victory but withal their mortal wounds whereof they both died upon the place as is prementioned Then there appear Purmanio Bazanio and Crepellano three pleasant Castles seated on those hillocks that are at the foot of the Apennines On the left hand of the Aemilian way five miles from Bologna are the Rivers Lavinio and Ghirondon which meeting together with mutual embraces joyntly environ Forcelli in a triangular form being distant from Via Aemilia one mile where Octavianus M. Antonius and Marius Lepidus shared the Monarchy between them This Forcelli is now a Peninsula though it may be perceived to have been an Islet formerly Afterwards these two Rivers disgorge themselves into the Po. Near Bologna there is seen a Stone-bridge of great length which bestrides the River from one side to the other from whence 't is but a small and easie mile to Bologna Now we come to the places contiguous and adjacent to Reggio near which there appear certain Hills that erect their lofty crest so pleasantly as does create delight in all Passengers no less beautified
A Discourse Of the DUKEDOM of MODENA CONTAINING The Origine Antiquity Government Manners and Qualities Of the People As also The Temperature of the CLIMATE WITH The Nature and Fertility of the SOIL LONDON Printed by J. C. for William Crook at the Green Dragon without Temple-bar 1674. A DISCOURSE Of the Dukedom of Modena ANTIquITY was so ignorant as to divide the whole World into two parts onely viz. ASIA and EVROPE comprehending Africa under ASIA as Eratosthenes an Author of as great esteem as antiquity some under EVROPE as Isocrates in his Panegyrique and others mentioned in Salust Lucan and S. Austin de civitate Dei but the most celebrated Division was into three parts EVROPE ASIA and AFRICA or Libya and this was approv'd both by ancient and modern Authors So that it appears Cosmography was unacquainted with any other Division of the Universe till that the knowing Genouese about two Centuries ago did furnish it with a Fourth by his discovery of AMERICA the most usual but improper name for Columbus after his ineffectual addresses to the States of Genoua Anno 1486 and to Henry the 7th of England and their absolute refusal he spun out six years in patient attendance at the Court of Castile where at last he was furnished out with three Vessels more proper for Discovery than Conquest And thus he first found it out and led the way to the rest But Americus Vesputius the Florentine a man old in years but young in courage employed therein by Emanuel King of Portugal surveyed a great part of the Continent by the light he had from Columbus the first Discoverer yet the Florentine prov'd the Godfather and call'd it AMERICA to perpetuate his own Name and eternize his Memory John Cabot a Venetian in behalf of Henry the 7th discovered all the North-east coast thereof and touched many places Americus ne'r saw And although these three Italians were by three several Monarchs employed to finde out this Fourth part of the World it is so vast a Continent that the Southern part is to this day altogether unknown and usually in our Planispheres and Maps call'd Terra Australis incognita EVROPE as to its Magnitude in the opinion of Cosmographers who run all in the same current or stream is inferiour to the other three though to none of them if you consider the moderate and wholesome Temperature of the Air together with the prodigious fertility of its Soyl the two once-famous Romane and Greek Monarchies the Study and Improvement of Arts both Liberal and Mechanical the Affluence of all things that conduce either to the Support or Pleasure of Man or above all the Purity and Sincerity of the Christian Religion universally profess'd in all the Dominions thereof besides the well-regulated Government of their Realms their Kings being Absolute Monarchs but not Arbitrary Tyrants and the men happie Subjects not miserable Slaves which keeps us from that Tyranny Slavery Injustice frequent Bribery Beggery and Barbarism which like an Inundation hath overflown all the Asiatick African and American parts when they groan'd under the Yoke of their Idolatrous and Sanguinary Princes and Governours Par nihil Europe nihil est secundum ITALY is is a Region that among many other advantageous Elogies is on all hands held to be the Eden of Europe the Garden or Paradise of this North-west part of the World This Peninsula or Demi-Island formerly the absolute and redoubted Empress of the major part of the then-known habitable World yet may compare as now it is nay exceed the most of the other Kingdoms of Asia Africa or America 'T is situate in a most Temperate Clime and for the amoenity of its Cities the commodiousness for Commerce and Negotiations the deliciousness of its Fountains and Aqueducts the fertility of its well-cultivated Fields insomuch that in some places they have three Harvests in one year the Uniformity and Stateliness of Fabriques and the rare Architecture and rich Furniture and Ornaments of its Temples and many other Delicacies to gratifie the gusto as to Fruits and rare Wines with other Varieties too numerous to be crowded into the narrow confines of our intended Discourse And in this Paradise or Garden of Europe there is a small Terroir or pleasant spot of ground known by the name of MODENA where we will take the fresco for some time and give you our Sentiments upon a strict Survey of what shall occur as observable during this our Promenade and thereupon make some Remarques which will prove the most useful Materials and most conducive to the compliment of this our present Essay MODENA is the Modern appellation but it is better known to the Ancients by the name of Mutina as Livie Cicero Pliny c. Some read it Motina as Antoninus and Dio Strabo and Ptolemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly Modena à movendo saith Merula in his Cosmography ut quidam insulse conjiciunt eo quòd Diluvio quondam tota fuerit submersa qua de re dignus Autore suo Versiculus Mutina submersa fuit olim gurgitis unda Call'd Modena a foolish conceit because it was once drowned with a Deluge The more probable Conjecture is that it was nam'd à movendo because it is at this day somewhat removed from the situation of the ancient Citie which the Longobards did totally ruinate and demolish The City of Mutina The Dukedom of Modena at present contains the Citie of Modena and Reggio with the Lands and Territories thereunto adjoyning They are both pleasantly situated in that part of Lombardy called Cispadana or as in their own Dialect vulgarly Diqua del Po on this side of the river Po. now MODENA was first erected by the Etrurians or Tusci now cal'd Toscans a people of Italy and they waging War with the Galli Boii were expelled thence by them who after that possessed it and they being profligate by the Victorious Arm of the Romane Conquerors it was by them made a Colony together with Parma in the 570 or 571 year after the Building of Rome as Livie and other Historians affirm Quintus Fabius Labio and Marcus Claudius being at that time Consuls who in several places make very honourable mention of it an infallible testimony that it was both rich and potent which truth is more at large confirm'd by the various Inscriptions and ancient Marbles that are yet everywhere extant and expos'd to the view of all Travellers This Citie was sufficiently illustrated and made famous in those times for the first Battel between Antonie and C. Octavianus Caesar who was then but a Stripling or Tyro in War and not above Eighteen years and yet made Head of a new League against Antonius whom the Senate lookt upon with an ill eye as a common and dangerous Enemy This happened in the year 711 when Antonius besieg'd C. Brutus in this Citie but by the assistance of Caesar Octavianus he gain'd the Victory The managing of the whole War was left to Hirtius and Pansa at
and adorned with several fair Towns and Villages than delicious Wines and Fruit-trees Towards Parma you may take a view of a Castle strengthned by its site where Mathilde the Countess preserv'd Pope Gregory the seventh from the snares and ambushes prepared for him by the Emperour Henry the fourth an enemy to the Church of Rome but afterwards he being a tender-conscienc'd Religioso repented of this imaginary and supposititious Crime and was led a Royal dance by his Confessor bare-foot and bare-headed in the midst of Winter through Ice and Snow from this place to the said Pope to implore a Pardon for this his Peccadillo and obtained it with a courteous reception A remarkable Instance and notorious Precedent of the Tyranny Haughtiness and Vain-glory of his Ironical nick-nam'd Holiness who dares presume so proudly and imperiously to insult over nay buffoon a puissant Potentate making him foot it bare in the depth of a hard Winter to the Idolatrous Citie of his residence and thereby run the risque of losing his life to gain a fruitless and insignificant Pardon But this he must do or forfeit all his Regalia and be daily menaced with that silly Scar-crow the Thunder of Excommunication Thus Monarchy grows consumptive hangs the head droops and dwindles away to nothing and so expires King is a meer empty name or the more glorious synonyma of Vassals and Prince the more splendid name of Slave Thus the Scepter warps to the Crosier the Emperours Hat vails to the Bishops Mitre and the single does obeysance to the triple Crown Thus Regal Authority whose tender neck was ever unaccustomed to the burden of a tame condescention puts on the heavie Yoke of Pontifical rigorous imposition Thus here you see the great most Christian Ring crouch to Antichrist or being Crown-fallen as well as Crest-fallen Thus Majestie it self inclines the reverend head stoops low with a reverential bow to kiss that vulgarly-ador'd Pantofle which frequently proves but the gaudy covering of a Gowty toe At this day the most Noble Family of the Canossae are Lords of this Castle and the rest that encircle it and a small distance from this stand the Castles and other places that belong to the Signori Manfredi Keeping the way on the Mountains you come to Graffignana where Castelnuovo is to be seen which in times of yore was the Birth-place of many Illustrious persons and in this our modern age of Giulio Vrbano Doctor and Apostolick Prothonotary who liv'd in great repute and esteem among Princes Popishly inclin'd and was highly applauded by the Fry of the Septuagint of Cardinals that pay homage to and revere the pretended and triple-Crown'd Successor of the Fisherman who did a long time officiate as Vicar-general in lieu of the Miter'd Cardinal Linga Carnaro Bishop of Padua and in that quality died anno 1592. May the same mortality and good fortune in God's due time attend the whole Conclave that 's my Litany His brother Vrban was Captain of the Venetian Militia and Filippo Vrbano their Nephew In your return to the Aemilian way occurs the Castle of Scandiano dignified with the Title of a Marquisate subject to the Signori Feni noble and renown'd Vicentines On the left hand lies the Castle Roldo belonging to the House of the Sessi a Feudatory of the Emperour with San Martino Gonzaga the most splendid Village belonging to the Gonzagae Princes of Mantua and Muvilara Between Modena and Reggio Correggio appears not far from the River Lenza a noble Castle well govern'd and as well peopled it was called a citie of the Empire and appertains to the most Illustrious Family of the Correggii and where the River Lecchia dichotomizeth the Via Aemilia stands a very strong Castle call'd Ruberia or Rubiera by the Learned Herberia erected as some conjecture by the Boiardi and as others imagine by the Rubrii of Parma which had serveral Masters till the year 1523 and then it fell into the hands of the Dukes of Ferrara and was made famous by the birth of Antonius Codrus a most polite Grecian and expert Latinist being a man of great Learning and vast Parts This Castle is strongly fortified with a well-made Bulwark or Rampart and surrounded with many Hills which adde much grace and beauty to its situation and renders the prospect very delightful From hence you pass into a spacious and good Road very commodious for all Travellers that steer their course that way and designe to arrive at the capital Citie Modena of which we have already given you a large and exact description In this Tract there are four Apennine hills and as many Cities which are indebted to the Countess Mathilde for their foundation viz. Bibianello Castelvitreo Monte Zano and Monte Luzco all under the command and jurisdiction of the Earls of Canossae Having given you a court and true account of the Government Riches Force Religion Manners and Qualifications of the People of this ancient and illustrious Dukedom as also the nature and quality of the Soyl and Climate I shall by way of Corollary close all with a short relation of the Original Antiquity and Genealogie of the Dukes of the House of Esté and bring them down by descent to the most Illustrious person who at present is the undoubted and lawful Prince of the Dukedom of Modena The Princes of the House of Esté have been so considerable and so much taken notice of both in Peace and War that John Baptista Pigna hath with much industry and learning composed eight Books of the original noble exploits and transactions of this Princely Family in Italy and other countries As to their original he saith that Ateste Commander of the Heneti now Venetians after the sacking and destruction of Troy was driven into these parts with a considerable Navie and built the Citie Atestia or Ateste of his own name and he called the whole Tract of ground Venetia but the Latine degenerating by degrees from its purity the Citie lost the primitive e name of Atestia and sensibly shrunk into that of Esté This Atestes descended from the Atii of the Poblilian Tribe in Rome who because they did espouse the Quarrel of the Caesars did obtain so much grace and favour as to be Lords not onely of their own Country but also of all the Territories of Venice And here the Atestini for so they were call'd of old began to b e in reputation and these Princes do produce their Chronologie of 1200 years to manifest and testifie their Grandeur in a continued Series down to this present Age. Thus the Atii became Masters of a great part of Venice when Ateste was their capital Citie of Residence and the Romane Caesars being then accustomed to create a Magistracie consisting of eleven of the chief Citizens and sometimes a greater number who were also called Decuriones because at the first institution ten onely were requir'd Atius the son of C. of the last Race and the first Author of the Family of the
that time Consuls The fortune of the day was so well managed on both sides that Antonie lost the Field and the Consuls their Lives Caesar Octavianus remaining absolute Commander of a puissant and numerous Army into whose favour he by his dexterity so cunningly insinuated himself and made so good improvement of his Talent and such advantage of the opportunity that this prov'd the Basis and Foundation of his future Grandeur But afterwards when the said C. Octavianus M. Antonius and M. Aemilius Lepidus entred into the Society of the Triumvirate thereupon the Citie had very course usage and was expos'd to very great Slaughter by Constantine the Great because that it favoured Maxentius but the Victory being once obtain'd it was restor'd and the Christians became possessed of it it was dignified with an Episcopal Seat and Geminianus a Learned man made Bishop thereof After this it was reduced to ashes by the Inundation of the Goths and Lombards a furious and barbarous people as S. Ambrose relates the Story affirming that he saw Modena with the rest of the adjacent places upon the Via Aemilia suffer a total devastation But these Barbarians were afterwards expulsed by the Emperour Charles the Great who established his son Pepin King of Italy and then the Citizens of Modena whose names were engraven on the gates quitting their sad but secure Retirements whither they confin'd themselves during the distractions and turmoils that Italy then labour'd under took counsel how to rebuild this Citie and in process of time they erected it in that form as now it appears in They being now their own Masters free from the Vassalage of an insulting Enemy and solely at their own disposal and having the Jurisdiction within themselves they onely retain'd the Romane name but yet were not so much at rest but they had several Skirmishes with their Neighbours especially the people of Bologna about the Limits and Bounds of their Country During the Distractions and Troubles of Italy between the Emperour and the Popes Guido the Popes Legate and then Bishop thereof consign'd it over to Azo one of the House of Este Lord of Ferrara Anno 1304 the Pope consenting to it upon the annual payment of the Tribute of 10000 Crowns Since which time it hath been for the most part in the power of that House Bersius Marquess of Ferrara being created Duke of Mutina by the Emperour Frederick the third Anno 1312 she had the Family of the Mirandulae her Masters by the Authority of the Emperour anno 1319. the Bonacelsii Tyrants of Mantua being compelled thereunto by the help and assistance of the Guelphi Anno 1331 the Pii governed her at first under the name of Captains afterwards of Princes Furthermore anno 1336 the Atestini or Family d'Esteé succeeded them who were Marquesses of Ferrara by the Popes leave and permission and they governed it till the year 1510 when Pope Julius 11 took the Citie and gave it to Maximilian 1 Emperour by whom it was afterwards anno 1514 hypothequ'd to Pope Leo the tenth for 10000 Crowns Lastly in the year 1527 when Clement the Pope was besieg'd by the lmperialists it was retaken by the Victorious Arms of the Atestini or Family of Esté by whom it was increased with Buildings Walls and fenced with Ditches and grew up by degrees to the present splendour state and grandeur Thus far the ancient Authors particularly Livy and the modern also as Blondus Corius Platina Sabellicus Volaterranus and Leandro besides what we finde in the Annals of the Citie and Bologna likewise MODENA is marshalled by Pliny in the eighth Region of Italy and call'd by Ptolemy a Citie of Gallia Togata being washed by the Rivulet or Brook Formigo It was heretofore situated somewhat higher towards the Mountains than now it is at present as appears by the ruines of some antiquated edifices standing somewhat distant from the ancient Modena as Leandro intimates more at large The Citie is noble and splendid of an orbicular form seated in a Plain not far from the Apennines which are called the Back or rather Back-bone of Italy because like the Spina in the body they divide Italy into two parts or sides West or North. It is beautified with a Cathedral Church the doors whereof are worthy admiration for many things but particularly for the famous Marble-statues of Adam and Eve It flourisheth with the dignity of an Episcopacie which is subject to the Archbishop of Bologna and is also adorn'd with an Academy in which Azo the Civilian taught the Imperial Law It is a pleasant Soyl abounding with Fruits and Grains of all sorts and the best Wine called Vinum Tribianum This Citie was greatly amplified by Alphonso the second Duke of Esté 'T is populous and the inhabitants are noble and ingenuous and better natur'd than most of Italy they being quick in their resolutions easie to be pacified when injur'd debonnair and courteous in their entertainment and treating of strangers Though they are ill and foolishly treated by some over-censorious Italians whe injuriously nickname it Modena lapazza Foolish Modena it being a malicious and undeserv'd reflection upon that people The females are of a meek and patient temper neither too amorous nor too coy too courtly nor too peevish as they are in other places for the generality They are very much applauded also by Mr. Warcup in his History of Venice where he enumerates the several Cities of Italy in Verse translated out of the Italian and concludes thus Foligno's candi'd streets most pleasant are The Ladies in Fano so smoothe and fair That said they are from heaven sent to be But Modena more happie is than she Modena hath been the Nursery of many famous and learned men some whereof are taken notice of by Nicolaus Leorinus Silesius a learned and elegant Poet in his Catalogue of Learned men that flourished in his Age. Vrbs Venetum Bembos loquitur Balbosque Poetas Naugeriosque suos Mantua Virgilii Capilupos numine plenos Castiliosque Duces At Molsas Mutina Sadoletos jactat alumnos Cortesiosque suas c. Modena has produced these eminent persons Hercules Rangonus James Sadolet a man of exquisite Learning Gregory Cortesius of the Order of Benedictines Thomas Badias of the Fraternity of Praedicants who were elected Cardinals by Pope Paul the third She is also ennobled by Charles Sigonius a most learned man and an eminent Historian She is the Mistress of Vgo Rangonus Praesul of Reggio of Francis Maria Molza John Franciscus Furnius It hath bred up some that were very much renown'd in War as Nicolas and Gerard Rangonus Hannibal and Guido both sons of Nicolas There are many Noble Families in the Dominions of the Duke as the Pii the Mirandulani Bonacelsii c. of which we shall speak more at large in the conclusion But above all the Family d'Esté who are now Lords of it the Citie being very much ennobled and enriched by the constant residence of the Duke Nor is she without her
Citadel wherein according to credible report there are stor'd up Arms for Forty thousand men at least a very considerable business The next thing that falls under our consideration and description is the Citie of Reggio in this Dukedome of Modena Aemilia dein via pergenti dextra Seciae ripa omissa Regium Lepidi occurrit ripae Crustuli laevae adpositum saith Merula in his Cosmography As to its name 't is called by Tully in his Epistle to Cassius and others Regium Lepidi by Tacitus Regium Lepidum by Strabo l. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Ptolemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Antoninus Regium onely and at this day 't is commonly known by the name of Reggio In this place heretofore there was Forum Lepidi as Festus observes The inhabitants are called Regienses from Lepidus in Pliny as also Regini à Regio Julio Nor hath Heaven been more propitious to this Citie or Fortune more favourable than to Modena for it hath run almost the same risque and tasted of the same misery and misfortune It was at first made a Romane Colony as well as Modena M. Aemilius Lepidus who gave it a name T. Ebusius Carus and L. Quinctius Crispinus being then Triumviri It was destroyed by the Goths when they made incursions into and embarassed all Italy under Alarico their King the Citizens were constrained by reason of the fury of an enraged and barbarous enemy to abandon it and flee to more secure retirements and places till the Lombards were conquer'd and beaten out of Italy by Charles the Great about the year 800 at what time by degrees the Citizens returned to their desolate Citie and began to restore repair and immure it with a strong Wall It was governed by it self for some time in liberty after the manner of the other Cities in Italy and this freedom and liberty continued till the year 1286 and then it came under the Dominion of Earls and Princes and 't was first under the command of the Earls of Canosse then those of Esté the Caesars the Kings of France then it was subject to the Papal Sea and had also the Foliani Scaligers Gonzagae and Ottobuoni for its Lords So Blondus Antoninus Platina and Sabellicus So far Morula Heylin saith When they were under the command of the Earls of Canosse they grew weary of that Yoke and recovered their Liberty which being unable to maintain in those bustling times they gave themselves to Obizo the father of Azo anno 1292. and after that in the year 1326 to the Sea of Rome Passing thorow many hands it was at last sold for 60000 Ducats to the Visconti Lords of Milain an 1370 and in the end recovered by the House of Esté anno 1409 and gave the Title of a Duke to Borsius Marquess of Ferrara whom Frederick the 3. made Duke of Modena and Reggio anno 1452. The Successours of Borsius held the Estate together till the death of Alphonso the first Duke who dying without lawful issue anno 1592 left his Estate to Caesar d'Esté his Nephew by a natural son called Alphonso also between whom and Pope Clement the 8 a War was threatned for the whole but at last comprimised upon these Conditions That the Church of Rome should have Ferrara with all the Lands and Territories appertaining to it as an Estate anciently held of that Sea And that Modena and Reggio being Imperial Feifs should remain to Caesar but to be held in Fee of the Papal Throne Duke Caesar to have leave to carry away all his moveables to sell such of his Lands as were not of the ancient Demain of the Dukedome and to have one half of the Ordnance and Artillery By which Agreement the Cities of Modena and Reggio became a new-erected State distinct and independent of any other each Citie being well Fortified Garisoned and furnished with Ordnance for defence thereof But what they yield unto the Prince in the way of Revenue and what Force he is able to raise out of his Estate I cannot positively determine but by the Tribute formerly paid unto the Popes for the Citie of Mutina now Modena and the rich Territories of both Towns and the great Revenues of the Dukes of Ferrara I conceive they cannot yeeld less than 100000 Crowns of yearly Income Thus far Heylin in his Cosmography Reggio saith Merula Vrbs est lauta nobilis frequens solo sita valde fertili loco pulchro amoeno planeque regio unde illi quorundam judicio nomen This Citie is built on the Via Aemilia and named Regium Lepidi by Strabo Cicero Cornelius Tacitus and other Authors By whom it was built is not certainly known though 't is reported by some to be erected by the Toscans who being expulsed as Livy and Polybius affirm the Gauls or French possessed it and afterwards it was made a Colony by M. Aemilius Lepidus one of the Triumviri T. Ebutius Carus and L. Quinctius Crispinus being the other two as is before mentioned Some contend that Marius Lepidus one of the said Triumvirate who divided the Romane Empire was its Founder others that it was built long before his time but by him made a Colony 'T is a noble splendid and well-peopled Citie abounding with all things it hath fair and spacious streets with sumptuous structures as the magnificent Church of S. Prospero Bishop of this Citie where his corpse is devoutly kept having a very plentiful Revenue and being adorn'd with excellent Portraictures but particularly with some Pieces drawn by the famous Correggio worthy of eternal Fame In the walls of the Orchard of the R. R. P. P. de Servi was not long since discovered an Image of the holy Virgin held in great esteem there for its Miracles with uncommon and superstitious I had almost said idolatrous veneration Reggio abounds with all necessaries for the use of man the Soil is extraordinary fertil of all manner of Grain and all sorts of Fruits White Wines it hath good store and a sort of Wine call'd Vinum Helvolum of its colour being between a red and white 'T is very much fam'd and taken notice of for the rare art of making Spurs the best in Italy and other Mechanical pieces in Ivory politely and exactly done according to art The Reggians are a people very courteous and affable of a good mein and presence of present wit and quick apprehension vivacious and sprightly and to be moulded and brought to any great or august employment The Women as those of Modena are very milde and the finest in all Italy It is adorn d with a Bishoprick subject to the same Archbishop as Modena and hath brought forth many famous men who have rendred it very illustrious as D. Maximus one of its Bishops Guido Sagaranus Philip Casolus James Columbus Charles Ruinus Francis Belius Julius Scarlatinus famous Lawyers Sebastianus Carradus profoundly learned in the Greek and Latine Tongues and Bartholomew Crottus a great Poet of his time It contains many noble Families as the