it for the good and safety of the Republick then were all things in a flourishing condition but when they began to seek their own and every one to set up for himself all things began to totter How can the parts be saved if the whole perish The Bees and the Ants natural instinct goes beyond some Mens reason they may be Hyerogliphicks to us and their example teach us to be publick spirited Men but it seems the Genoesi are not so This Republick is in possession of what was formerly called Liguria now 't is Riviera di Genoa from the City of Genoa to Porto di Luna is called la Riviera di Levante or of the East and from Genoa to Monaco 't is Rivieradiponente of the West which makes 150. miles in length though the breadth is hardly above 25. in any place 't is true that upon the ponente is Finale belonging to the Spaniarols and three places to Savoy but withal beyond Monaco it hath St. Remy and Ventimiglia towards Milan they have Gavi with a strong Castle and Novi not so good as the other they have also the Island Corsiea Formerly Trade did much flourish in Genoa but now Legorn hath spoiled it as Genoa had spoiled that of Savona they suffered extreamly by the late great plague that was there so that to make themselves amends and to keep up Trade they have thought fit to bring in the Jews by whose means they hope in time to bring Trading back again from Legorn but others are in expectation to hear how they will agree for between a Jew and a Genoese setting aside baptism there 's no difference and if they do 't will pass for a wonder But not to be tedious upon this I say that although the City be very fair and the Palaces stately it is inhabited by men then whom few excepted there cannot be worse this is the opinion which all other Italians have of them There goes a story which how true 't is I will not dispute that when the Grand Duke first of all made Livorno a free Port he gave leave of Trading in 't to all Nations as English French and to all Merchants even out of Turkey Anch ' ai Genoesi having named several Nations amongst whom there were Infidels those of Genoa are put the last as being the worst of all Indeed they are proud revengeful in an extraordinary way and enemies to strangers though out of that City they goe almost into all parts I do not think there is a City in Italy where more mischief is done than in this one hears of it almost every day In the way of Trade they are very skilful yet so interessed that there are those in it who could prefer one 5 s. to twenty lives their temper is such that they cannot agree with any sort of people nay not so much as amongst themselves their unsettledness appears in this from Earles they came to Consuli from these to Potesta then to Capitani to Governatori Luoghitenenti Rettori di populo Abbati di populo reformatori protectori duchi Nobili and duchi Popolari Civil Divisions ever regarded amongst them for they are no sooner come under one sort of Government but they wished for another When Francis the first heard they would desire his Protection Let them go to Hell said he for I am not willing to needdle with such people The Italian Proverb of them is Mare senzapesci they have Seas without Fish Montagne senzalegno Mountains and no Woods Huomini senza fede Men without faith and Donne senza vergogna women without shame yet some brave men are come out of it The Government is Aristocratical with a Doge only for two years who with the 8 Governatori is called the Signoria then the little Council of 100 men and the great of 400. they have also the Sindici Over-seers of the actions of Governours as Censors were at Rome the Doge hath a Guard which he of Venice hath not their Forces are much decayed from what they were when they reduced Venice to an extremity still they continue to be good Sea-Souldiers and keep eight Gallies which do dispute the hand with those of Maltha but they are not esteemed by Land 'T is a thing which will seem an extravagancy yet 't is a truth that there hath been persons and there are now Families in Genoa more esteemed abroad than is the Republick it self and some are as rich if not richer who keep Gallies of their own The Republick hath not above 200000 Crowns a year because part of the Dominion and of the Revenue doth belong to the company of St. George which is as it were another Republick within that yet some make the yearly Income greater but confess that it doth not exceed the Charges Silks are the Staple Commodity which they work very well in Velvet Plush Satin Taby Taffitie and the like Silk-works which they send into all the Northern parts of Europe St. George is their Champion and the Red Cross is their Coat of Armes The City as 't is usual with Republicks draws the best of the Land to it self and hath destroyed the trading of other places as Savona to advance its own In it are a sort of Virtuosi who call themselves Addormentatis the City is not strong The great secret of State of this Republick hath been to keep Herself United to and depend upon Spain since Charles the fifth and Philip the 2d of Spain to keep them to her self hath borrowed vast sums of monies and assigned Lands in Naples and Milan for the payment so that they must keep fair with the Spaniard for fear of loosing the Principal on the other side as the King of Spain hath occasion of them in relation to Finale and Milan not to loose them he allows very great use for this money so that they are even and think to have over-reached one another most of the monies which are currant being Spanish Coine it shews there hath been very great dealings between them However now the Spaniard hath much lost the Great Authority he had first amongst them for formerly they so far depended upon him that they might not receive within their City the Embassadour of any Prince but his own who might come as he did often into the Consultations of the Senate but now there is no such matter they being exposed to so many alterations there are no fixed nor constant maximes of policy among them I think 't is a Republick great by Name but small in Srtength despised by her Superiors hated of her Equals and envied by her Inferiors which doth subsist only because one Neighbour would not have another to get it the Interest of every one being to have it remain in a third hand Genoa is very jealous of two of her Neighbours Savoy and Toscany of the former who hath aimed and attempted to bring her under his Yoake of the latter by reason of his pretentions to Sarzana which formerly belonged to
Florence and of both because she is odious to both and that upon the account of State and of private interest they wish to see her brooght low In it are many Noble and Rich Families as Doria of which are the Marquess of Toreglia Prince of Melfy of the branch of Andre Doria and the Duke of Tursi Spinola the Marquess and de Duke of Sestri Marquess de los Balbases a Spanish Title because a Grandee of Spain other Families are Fieschi Grimaldi Giustiniani Pallavicini Cibo Carrieri Imperiale and some others Now the Marquess Hyppolito Centurione with his Ships and Gallies is entred into the French service Of the state of Luca. I See I do fall from an Ocean into Rivers yet there is water enough for me to swim in in some places if not every where You will not be troubled with hearing a long enumeration of places and Dominions yet 't is to be admired of the places I am now to speak of not how they can preserve themselves this the jealousie between and the interest of their Neighbours joyned with watchfulness on their side doth for them but how formerly in times of conquest they could free their necks from the yoke of their potent Neighbours Luca is one of these places which hath sometimes been possessed by the Goths the Emperours of Constantinople the Faseoli Castrucci Spinoli by the Family Della Scala by the Fiorentini Pisani and by one Carlo of Bohemia who having made a Bishop Governour of it this Bishop received 25000 Crowns and left them the liberty they are now in their Dominion is extended upon few Mountains not much inhabited upon the top of which they have some strong holds as Monte Ignoso Castiglione Minuoiano with Camagiore and Via Reggio upon the Sea but the best they have is the City well seated people'd and fortified with the territory belonging to it which produces abundance of Olives the best of Italy and the industry of the Inha bitants about Silk-works makes the City flourish and grow rich every one in it hath something to live upon there are in it a matter of 10 Families esteemed at least worth 20000 Crowns a year others to the number of 30 have some 15000 some 10000 a year and above 60 have been between 4 and 5000 the yearly Income of the Commonwealth comes to not much above 100000 Crowns with a treasure they have esteemed a Million with certain Plate and Jewels which upon occasion might bring in some monies They are governed by a Council of 150 of the chief Citizens the City is divided into three parts which they call Tertieri out of every one of which the General Council doth Elect three men in all Nine called Senators who joyned with the Gonfaloniero their head are called la Signoria The Senators do command by turns every three dayes the Gonfaloniero hath a bare Title and nothing but the precedency above the rest he is himself commanded by the Senators he keeps his place but two months then another is chosen but within that time he may not go out of the Palace under pain of death As for Warlike affairs they are in a good condition upon the defensive their listed Militia's are of 18000 men besides the City contains 30000 Inhabitants and is constantly Guarded by 300 good Souldiers whereof 200 are born in the City and have the keeping of the Gates Walls and other places the other 100 are all strangers born 50 miles at least from the City amongst them they admit no Florentine their Captain is a Stranger too the Palace is committed to their Guard and under pain of death they may not come nigh the Walls The City keeps a constant provision of mouth and ammunition of War for whole 7. years their few strong Holds are well provided and their Souldiers well paid which is the onely way to keep them upon duty and obedience so that their care and the plenty of their Territory about the City do supply the narrowness and littleness of it In a word if they come short of other Princes and Republicks as to the extent of dominions they have great advantages above them another way First they are not revengeful as all the rest of Italians are they casily forgive offences received which doth argue the goodness of their nature upon this account they are a proverb to other Italians Riceve gli affronti come un ' lucbese 2dly their women are very modest and inclined to chastity and their young men sober and temperate some out of a Natural inclination and others by virtue of the good order kept amongst them for 24 men known to be of a good Life and Conversation are chosen out of the Council to be inspectors over the manners of Youth this they call consigliodi discoli specially of deboist persons and every time they meet which happens once a year every one puts in his Bill with the names of those whom he hath found and observed to be unruly and if the name of one be put in the little Box by the two thirds that is by sixteen herein is his sentence conteined of 3 years banishment he must go out of the City the next day after he hath had warning and within 3 dayes after out of the State So that by the observation of these good Orders God fits them the better for conversion and reformation after the reading of Scriptures which they are much inclined to hence it is that we have seen so many families leave Luca and go to Geneva to enjoy the liberty of the Gospel and to make an open profession of the truth after these commendations 't were superfluous to say they have also amongst them two sorts of Virtuosi the one called Oscari and the other Freddi They might boast of the antiquity of their City which was built by Lucamon King of Toscany but they have a greater advantage which they glory in that this is the first City of Toscany which received the Christian Faith though they be united amongst themselves they are not sometimes without troubles at home caused by the pride of their Clergy which is so far protected by Popes that Urban the 8th for their sake excommunicated the Republick This people is Civil to Strangers and very courteous to those who come into the City yet so watchful over them that they have the council Della Vigilanza to know what they come for whence they come and whether they go not allowing them to wear swords in the streets without a special leave yet they give them liberty to walk upon the Moat by the Walls and to view the same in this City the tongue is spoken in the purity of it All their maximes of State are onley about the defensive part and how to preserve themselves from their great Neighbour the Gran ' Duke who would be glad to bring Toscany to her old limits that way wherefore the Republick hath a strict correspondency with Genoa which fears the same however as I have observed
one Neighbour would cross another if any thing was design'd against Luca their care hath provided against open attempts they being in a readiness to oppose them all what they must do is to take heed of surprisals The state of San Marino SAn Marino is I believe the least Republick of Europe when the Empire was transferred out of Italy into Germany this City with some others made her self a Republick it lies on the West of the Dukedome of Urbino under whose Dukes protection it remained till this State fell to the Church so that now it is shut up within the Popes Lands and under their protection yet some of them specially the late Alexander the 7th have done what they could by promises and fair means to make their Nephews Princes of it but she would not part with her liberty and though the Pope could easily force them to it yet he dares not it being certain that the Venetians and the Grand Duke would oppose him in it specially now when Italian Princes do dislike Novelities and Innovations when this Republick hath written to Venice she hath called her Carissima Sorella very dear Sister a weak one indeed for having but the City and two or three Villages besides her strength and riches are but small which must be supplyed with their care of themselves and watchfulness over their Neighbours Of the Petty Principalities THis is all as I think that needs be said upon the subject of great Princes and Republicks of Italy I must therefore now speak to the Petty Princes or rather continue it for the last Republick I have mentioned may have her place amongst these rather than amongst the great ones But I desire not to be mistaken when I call some petty Princes 't is not to be understood as if they depended from others and were not Sovereignes for every way they act as such In their Lands there is no appeal from their sentence they dispose of Life and Death as well as the greatest Princes they Coyn or may Coyn monies Elect Officers make Laws and when there is occasion for it they treat of Peace and Warre I call them Petty Princes because their States are but small in comparison of those whom I call great ones 'T is true that there are very many who have the name of Princes who are not Sovereigns but are Subjects to others the number of these all Italy over is between 75 and 80 between 90 and 100 have the titles of Dukes and of Marquesses and Earls there are above 500 but I speak onely of Sovereigns The Duke of Della Mirandola is one of this sort the City La Mirandola is seated upon the confines of Modena towards the River Po the family Pico one of the most antient and famous of Italy have been Lords of it and of Concordia since the year 1110 till now that line failed in the year 1637 and therefore another was invested of it by the Emperour Of this sort are also the Princes of Bozzolo and of Sabionetta the Dukes of Guastalda and of Novellara and the Marquess of Castiglione all within the State of Mantoa as we said before they have been such for these 100 years past and are all of the family Gonzaga he of Sahionetta excepted which in the year 1540 was given with a Daughter and Heir to General Caraffa and now in the hands of a Spaniard The principality of Monaco is another this is a strong City by Nature seated upon the Mediterranean between Nizzadi Provenza and Genoa this makes the Prince more considerable than any other of his sort there is an indifferent harbour the way up to it is very steep and difficult and several Guards to speak with before one can get to it At the comming in there is a broad place with a prospect as pleasant as can be within few miles from it is another place good enough called Menton depending from the said principality there was in Monaco a Spanish Garrison but the late Prince having partly by a stratagem and partly with help from the French driven it out he desired the French protection and now there is in it a French Garrison he is Duke de Valentionis and Peer of France whose coin is currant in that Kingdom This Princes family is Grimaldi who derive their pedegree from Grimald Son of Pipin King of Austrasia and Brother to Charles Martel this Pipin as they say gave the Lordship to Grimald in the year 713. but they were declared Princes in the year 1411. Cardinal Grimaldi yet living and brother to the late Duke was in great part the occasion of the admitting in of the French induced to it by the persecution which the Barberini suffered from the Pope at the secret instigations of Spain and by the protection which the French gave to that family whose passionate creature this Grimaldi is and also by the interest he hath gotten in France to be Arch-bishop of Aix and other good benefices he enjoys He is of an active spirit therefore he hath been much spoken of at Rome their family or a branch of it is named amongst the greatest in Genoa where some of the name are admitted to the highest charges the present Prince of Monaco is not much passed twenty five he hath married Marshall Grammonts Daughter who prefers the pleasure of Paris to the Soveraignty of Monaco Massa is in Toscany seated part ' of it at the bottom of a great Mountain part upon the Mountain and highest of all is the Princes Castle yet he is a building a Palace in the lower Town and 't is almost finished this is but a Post from Sarzana The family Malaspina possessed it along while till by the marriage of Ricarda Malaspina with Lorenzo Cibo it came to this family because she was the Heir of it They were Marquesses till the year 1499. at which time Innocent the 8th of the same family being Pope Alberico Cibo was by the Emperour Maximilian made Prince of the Empire Bonifacius the 9th was of the same family which coming from Grecia where they had possessed some Islands Principalities and other Territories they seated in Genoa there is a Cardinal of the name and family Massarana is in Monferrat not far from Veroelli this Principality hath been in the hands of the family Scala but in the 1568. 't was bought from them by the Ferreri who are at present in possession of it Upon 15 miles from Genoa is another Sovereignty the Marquesate of Torreglia it was given by Charles the 5th to Andrea Doria who had left the service of Frances the first King of France and done many eminent services to the Emperour the same family doth also enjoy the principality of Melfey in the Kingdom of Naples but not in Sovereignty This family Doria hath for 500 years been esteerned in Genoa one of the most noble if not the first of that Republick The head of the family is young at present there are two branches of it flourishing in Genoa
in the way to Puzzuola when one is at it and at Baya as the Elysian fields and those other things so often mentioned in the Poets nor the mount Vesuvius now la Montagne di Somma these things are out of my purpose I return to Naples and say that the Virtuosi there are called some Ardenni others Intronati and 't is to be observed that when these Societies take a name 't is either a Title of imperfection which betokens a privation or of a moral Virtue or of some habit of the Intellect and all this to shew that they esteem and study the perfection contrary to the defect signified by the name Their great Offices of the Kingdome are either given or sold according to the Kings pleasure but the last rather than the first and this for life They are the High-Constable now a Rom an Prince of the Family Colonna the high Judge high Admiral high-Chamberlain Gran Pronotario a kind of a Principal Secretary Gran Sinisculco or high-Steward and high-Chancellour all which are given some to Italians some to Spaniards All the High-Courts do sit in the City of Naples for there are the Seggi which are the Assemblies of the Nobility of the whole Kingdom divided into five Classes The first is Seggio Capoano The second Di Nido the third Di Montagna The fourth Di Porta and the fifth Di Porta nuova so that except one be admitted into one of those Seats he cannot pass for a Nobleman or Gentleman the Nobility and Gentry there differing only in Degree and not in Order now some enter into several Seggi so that to be admited in he must be past 20 years of age and have the greater part of the Votes of all the Nobles of the Seggio Out of these 3 Seggi are chosen 3 Gentlemen who with one chosen by the people make up the Body called the Magistrate of the City through whose hands do pass all manner of Taxes and Impositions which the Vice-Roy hath a mind to lay upon City and whole Kingdom they also finde out means how to bring it about There is also in Naples that Tribunal so much talked of called La Vicaria which matters of the greatest importance are brought unto and receive appeals from all parts of the Kingdom The greatest of all is also kept there called it Collaterale whereof the Consigliere or Counsellors have the Title of Regenti and for distinction-sake they wear a long gown this under the King is the Supreme Court of Justice treating of several important matters these Regenti are chosen by the King part Napolitans and part Spaniards and 't is for life It also hath a Councel of State which judges of things concerning War composed of six persons whereof three are Spaniards and three Italians half Souldiers and half gown-men chosen by the King over this as all the rest is the Vice-King whose authority is very great and the profit arbitrary I am loath to omit speaking of a custome of the Napolitans for all their reserved temper once a year at Vintage-time they allow themselves a very great liberty of jesting one with another the meanest person is then allowed to jear the Noblest man of the Land who use to begin with them they give one another all the bad names which their Language doth afford whereof the least at another time would cause murthers and stabbings This calls to my mind a singular custome they have at Rome when there is fallen some snow at which time the most reserved and vertuous men and women throw Balls one at another the Princes and their Wives practise it one with another within their Palaces Neighbours throw it through the windows into the Chambers one of another if one hath any kindness for another 't is the fashion to go under the window and throw in some as they receive some if they go by the door of any of their acquaintances and this is amongst them a token of civility and favour and so much observed that if any Gentleman or friend of mine comes to me the most vertuous woman that happens to be my Neighbour can shew me no greater respect nor kindness than to throw at him snow balls Before I speak of the secrets of State which the Spaniards have in relation to this Kingdom 't will not be amiss to speak few words of some Maximes they have in general relating to the rest of their State-Dominions in Italy At Madrid for the affairs of Italy there is a particular Council consisting of six Counsellours whereof two are Napolitans two Sicilians and two of Milan besides the President who ever is a Spaniard and now the Marquess of Vellada by name This Council was instituted by Philip the Second no other affairs but those of Italy are treated of in it which formerly belonged to the congnizance of the Council of Aragon When first of all the Spaniards came to Italy and had gotten footing in it they went about by fair means to insinuate themselves into the affection of the Nation to turn it upon occasion to their own advantage but the Italians who as they say of themselves Dormono Co'll Occhio aperto who are constantly awake stood upon their guards and observed the Spanish motion which being taken notice of by the House of Austria Charls the 5th then the Council I spake of just now under his Son Philip the second took another course and went about to terrifie them with their Arms to draw some to them with fair promises to threaten others to sow divisions amongst them but above all they lookt upon the Republick of Venice as a great let to their designs having ever appeared to be the Champion of the Liberties of Italy the troubles which this raised in those parts sometimes against Mantoa other times against Savoy c. are well known but now a constant maxime they hold is to get at Rome as many Cardinals as they can to be their friends that if possible they may every time have a friend of theirs chosen Pope the truth is they are potent in the Conclave because of several Napolitans and Milaneses who are in it the several means they have to gratifie Church-men by conferring Benefices on them within their Dominions in Italy and by selling Lands and States to others within the same besides the many pensions which they allow to several of them so that whilst the French hath but eight or ten of his side namely D' Este Ursini Antonio Grimaldi Mancini Maldachini de Rets Bouillon the greater number of them are for the Spaniard 't is true 't is very chargeable for them to keep this party and a Spanish States-Man had reason to say It were better for his King to buy Popes ready made than to make them But now in few words Spaniards do govern Naples with these few rules the first is to hold good correspondencie with the Pope not only because they do him homage for it but because he is a next neighbour much able
Italy The length of it is a Thousand miles or thereabouts beginning from Susa a Town cited at the foot of the Alpes at the coming into Piemont and ending at Reggio in the furthest parts of Calabri in the Kingdom of Naples As to the breadth 't is more or less according to the places it being not full four hundred any where nor less than sixteen Parts of France and Savoy lay on the West of it parts of Germany namely Tyrot and Swisserland on the North and the Mediteranian Sea on the East and South though for distinction some call the one Jonian and Adriatick and the other Tirrenean most passages into Italy are hard and difficult The whole Country which we call Italy is by the Italians themselves divided into Italy the Kingdom and Lombardy Italy comprehends the dominions of the Pope of the grand Duke and of Luca. Naples is that which they call the Kingdom and Lombardy contains great part of the State of Venice the Dukedoms of Milan Mantua Parma Monferrat Piemont and the State of Genoa But to make use of the ancient Division and to descend to particulars I say that in Italy some are great Princes considering the Extend of their Dominions and others of an inferiour Orb may be called petty Princes The former sort come to the number of seven and with the four Republicks to eleven The Pope King of Spain Dukes of Savoy Tuscany Mantoa Parma Modena for though some do reckon the Bishop of Trent which stands between the Venetians and Tyrol yet being a Prince of the Empire having a perpetual alliance with the House of Austria and often of the same Family He may be taken for a German more than for an Italian Prince and seeing little can be said concerning him we shall pass it by to come to the Republicks which are Venice Genoa Luca and San Marino For the order of precedency Venice hath place after Spain Genoa after Tuscany though they pretend to be used as Crowned heads being Masters of Corcica formerly a Kingdom the other two Republicks take place after all the forenamed Princes who also do not agree amongst themselves about Precedency Tuscany pretends it from Savoy though he be much inferiour in antiquity and extent of Dominions and Mantoa from Tuscany neither will Modena yield it to some named before him I should also say that France having acquired Pignorolo a door into Italy and a strong place from the Duke of Savoy that King having an Interest in Italy is to be reckoned amongst the Princes of it The State of Rome THE Pope hath great Dominions conveniently seated to disturb others specially Naples for all from Ostia upon the Coasts of the Mediterranean Sea to Loretto Ancona c. is his All the Lands together are called Lo Stato Della Chiesa in particular old Latium now Campagna Romana il Patrimonio di San Pietro of which the chief City is Viterbo part of ancient Tuscany Terra Sabina Umbria ducato di spoletto la Marca di Ancona la Romagna il ducato di Urbino ducato di ferrara Perugia Orvieto and Bolognese he is Soveraign of Naples and Sicily which he gives the investiture of and receives homage for as he doth for the Dukedoms of Parma and Piacenza pretending the same over the Islands of Sardegna and Corcica He is in possession of the Dukedom and City of Benevento in the Kingdom of Naples and he pretends that in time of minority of the Kings of Spain he hath right to Govern that Kingdom by a Legat He also enjoyes the County of Avignon in France and Ceneda within the state of Venice These Countries I mean those who are united together especially from Ancona to Ravenna and Ferrara all along the Coasts of the Gulfe of Venice do afford good Souldiers which upon case of an urging necessity may be gathered to about the number of 60000 though 20000 foot and 3000 horse as had Clement the 8th in the War of Ferrara were much to be kept on foot any long while Urban the 8th in the War of Parma had 30000 but if the whole Countrey was in Armes then 't would be upon 400000. The Pope indeed may be accounted as he is really a strong Prince which strength consists in the extent of his Territories in their Scituation being all united and there being no safe nor convenient places towards the Mediterranean to make any landing and towards the Gulf they trust to the Venetians who are to keep it clear upon which condition they are acknowledged to be the Lords of these Seas further all along the Coasts of the Mediterranean and the whole Campagna Romana there is a bad air which would soon work upon any Army either in Spring Summer or Autumn This strength further consists in the temper of his Subjects and Soldiers who are esteemed to be the best Foot in Italy The Italian Proverb calls them The best of Soldiers but the worst of Subjects so this strength consists in his strong holds as Ferrara Bologna Fortezza Urbana c. in his Arsenals or Magazeens of Arms the Vatican or St. Peter hath for 5000 men in the Castle St. Angelo for 15000 in Ancona for 10000 in Ravenna for 5000 in Ferrara 25000 and Bologna for 10000 and a new one a making at Tivoly by the late Don Morto's Order for 16000 men with 80. pieces of Ordnance where he employed continually above 300 men so that they are spread up and down the Countrey to arme the People upon occasion to the number of 100000 men Upon the Mediterranean he keeps five Gallies which harbour in Civita Vecchia they are not handsome nor very good but are well maned But that which another way strengthens much the Pope is that Respect and Devotion which Popish Princes and States bear him acknowledging him though falsly to be the Vicary of Christ God on Earth and the head of their Religion so that if a Prince had seized upon any of his Dominions the Pope who had provoked him to make War being dead it would be restored to the new Elected all of them being perswaded that it were a Sacriledge to detain from that Church that which did belong to it besides that every Prince of that Religion intending any such thing would find it to be a hard work for the Pope hath ever an Army quartered upon their Land which are that vast number of Secular Priests and Regular Friars who depend on the Pope upon several accounts who having all sworn an Obedience to their Generals who usually kept at Rome they would act according to the Orders sent them from thence So that having their Pulpits Confessions and Introduction into houses of all ranks they could make strange worke Hence to me doth appear the happiness of those Princes who having shaken off that Roman yoke and turned out those Emissaries are freed of those dangers which those of that Religion are exposed to though often they are liable to their private attempts Another
politick strength of Popes consists in the Colledge of Cardinals who are most of them chosen either to gratifie Princes or who depend upon Princes without whose knowledge Princes hardly resolve any thing of importance about Popes or else are Relations to Princes and it is certain when these Princes interests come to be in competition with the Pope's and Churches this last swayes with them above all because every one of these Cardinals is not without hope of being chosen Pope one time or other Now I say that Popes as they are Temporal Princes though they be Elective ought to have that respect which deserveth the character which God hath set upon the forehead of Soveraigns but as he is a Tyrant over the Church and an Usurper over the Heritage of the Lord all good Christians and reasonable men ought to abhor him not his person but that Tyranny Usurpation and unlawful Actions of his I said that 25000 or 30000 men is a great number to be kept on foot by Popes any long while not for want of monies for as Sixtus Quartus used to say The Church can never want money in her purse as long as the Pope doth hold a pen in his hand Indeed besides the ordinary income to the Camera for the occasions of the Church so they call that State the Office of the Diataria brings to Popes for their own use exceeding great Treasures out of all parts which own his Religion besides the private wayes they have to get monies of which I shall speak some reckon that Popes have 6000 l. sterling a day besides the casual incomes which are very great every time a Legat a Latere is sent abroad he is allowed 250 l. sterling a day for proof of this vast Revenues Sixtus the 5th who Reigned but five years of a poor Countrey Family Peretti yet he builded the Palace of St. John of Lateran began that of Monte-Cavallo fortified Civita Vecchia built many Colledges made chargeable Aqueducts did many other costly works and reparations wherein 't is thought he spent a matter of 15 Millions of Crowns or upon 4 Millions of English pounds and left fâ—ve Millions of Crowns in the Castle of St. Angelo and did not charge his people with heavy Taxes and then the Popes had not the Dukedom of Urbino nor that of Ferrara and in a time that Reformation was carried on in a great measure in these three Kingdoms France Holland Switzerland Germany Sweden Denmark and other parts of the North. And Paul the 5th who indeed Reigned longer left to the Prince of Salmona one of his Nephews 1000 Crowns a day besides what he gave to several others of his Relations And Gregory the 15th of the family of Ludovisio reigned only one year and a 11 moneths and left to his Family 250000 crowns a year or 62000 and 500 l. besides Thus as Popes are temporal Princes so they lay Taxes upon their Subjects and heavy ones too The late Popes since his falling out with France within the space of two years laid Gables or Taxes upon 16 sorts of Commodities which were free before So 't was done upon the Soldiers kept within the State for every common Soldier was Taxed one Crown of his yearly pay which came to between 5 and 6000 crowns according to their number and the whole people in the City and Country were exceedingly oppressed The selling of Offices is now a setled custom in the Court of Rome which is very beneficial to Popes I shall give but an instance of the Camera Apostolica or the Apostolick Chamber the places of the Treasurer General and of the Auditor are sold for 80000 crowns a piece There are Twelve places of Chierici Clarks worth 42000 a piece the Presidents is 30000 and so of others the two forenamed Offices are the next step to the Cardinal so that if the Pope will have 160000 Crowns he makes Cardinals those who have them and from others he finds ready money for the places And what shall we say to that vast Treasure of Loretto which is inesteemable every week nay almost every day one gift or other is brought to it from Kings Queens Princes and other great Persons Cities and particular men they have whole Chambers full of Gold and Silver plate but this is nothing to that vast number of Diamonds and other precious stones which they keep in a place made a purpose in the Castle of St. Angelo are ever 5 millions of Gold and one and a half in Jewels Were it not for want of exercise of the Protestant Religion Rome is as fit a place to lead a quiet and a contented life as any is in the world a man may live there as he pleases and no body meddle with him offend no body and no body will offend you and though the inquisition be there strangers are not troubled with it except they speak against their Religion which it were a great imprudence to do 't were a madness for a man to go tell the Pope he is Antichrist this were to tempt God and contrary to the wisdom of the Serpent which is commanded us 'T is an old and common saying Cum fueris Romae Romano vivito more c. A stranger and a Traveller must be all eyes and all ears but hardly any tongue at all he must hear he must see and hold his peace I say at Rome there is a very great liberty if a Protestant pleases all Lent he may eat flesh by the means of a License which he may get for two shillings You are not obliged to go to Mass to Confession nor to any of their Superstitious wayes One thing there is which a stranger may do to satisfie his curiosity which is to go to their Stationi as they call it that is their Devotions to certain Churches which happens in one or other every week where is a great concourse of people of all sorts and constantly excellent good musick so every Saturday at the Cardinal Padrone's the Popes Nephew lodging at Monte-Cavallo all men of good fashion use to meet to tell and hear news so one day or other in the week people use to meet at the Pallace of the Preferto of the Church which is either the Popes Brother or Nephew So at Monte-Cavallo the Popes Palace when the Consistory of Cardinals is kept So one may have the company one time or other of their Academists or Virtuosi which in Rome are of three sorts Humoristi Lincei Eantastici One thing more is to follow the Corteggio of some Cardinal and Ambassadour first for Protection for if any mischance should befall a man when 't is known such a Gentleman is of the Corteggio of such a Cardinal he is respected and no harm done to him without the leave of such a Protecture into whose house one may fly for sanctuary Secondly going with them after the warning you have of it at your lodging when they receive or make visits or go to their audience one may see
even between all although before his Election he were suspected to be partial for Spain but upon no sollid grounds for those who pretend to the Popedome stand neutrals and declare themselves of no party The maximes of Pope's are different according to their interest and temper so that this being an Elective Dignity no general rule but this can be given that all endeavour to raise their Families to Honour and Riches however their Raggioni di Stato are to hinder Naples from falling into the Emperours hands for Clement the 7th made penance for the fault which Leon the 10th had committed to favour Charles the 5th A second maxime is still to give hopes of being promoted to the dignity of a Cardinal to those potent Prelates that are at Rome and elsewhere to keep them in dependency and from discontents and disturbances Another is to confine the number of Cardinals to 70. which was an invention of Sixtus Quintus to avoid the importunities of several Princes who solicited him to confer that dignity upon some whom he would not bring into the Colledge Of the same nature as this is another Arcano di Stato concerning the Examen of Bishops which was ordered by Clement the 8th to stop the designes of Princes who intended to promote to Prelacy many of their Creatures for then they had been ashamed to present those who had no learning nor other qualifications fit for the place A further secret of state is that of the Bull of Residency whereby Bishops are obliged to reside in their Bishopricks by the means of this Popes do remove from their Court those Cardinals and others whom they dislike By these means Urban the 8th kept out of Rome Cardinal Borgia and others of the Spanish Faction who spoke too boldly to him So did Alexander the 7th keep away Cardinal Rossetti who stifly opposed his Election A further maxime of theirs is to refer to Congregations the demands of Princes about Ecclesiastical Laws Jurisdiction and other things which Popes are not willing to grant for so they lay the denial upon others Another Raggioni di Stato is that Cardinals may not go out of the state of the Church without leave from the Pope for so they prevent those Counsels and Assemblies before the which formerly they have at several times been summoned to appear Further as former Popes have humbled and brought down those noble and potent Families that were in Rome which had given a great deal of trouble to their Predecessors so at present Popes keep them low by which means they have so degenerated that instead of those great and brave Captains now out of these Families come out idle vicious and effeminate persons Lastly t is a very politick maxime of Popes to send their Legate to Princes to pacifie the quarrels arising between them although they know 't will effect nothing at all and that sometimes 't is their interest that such quarrels should last for hereby they shew themselves to be zealous of the publick good and peace and thus they maintain themselves the Arbiters of Princes The Cardinals Nephews have also their particular maximes namely to keep from preferment and to remove from the Pope's person those whom they do not affect on the contrary to raise to dignities and to procure places of trust to their friends and creatures Publick Ministers at that Court know so well the jealousie of Nephews who will have nothing communicated to Popes but by their means that usually they impart first to them that which they are to speak of to the Pope and commonly they give them an account of what answer they had taking Cardinal Padrons lodging from the Popes in their way homewards A policy of the Cardinals who are contrary to the Court is to get some Eminent one disaffected as they are to be their Head and now 't is a custome passed as it were into a Law to choose none but Italians to be Popes Before the late Election the Colledge of Cardinals was divided into the Ghigian party which were all the creatures or friends of Alexander the 7th six of them are of Siena the City he was born in the Squadra volante the flying Squadron composed of the creatures of Innocent the 10th who having left no Cardinal of his Name or Family Cardinal Imperiale was look't upon as the Head of them and most part of these were brought in to this present Pope by Azzolino one of their chief members but the 3d. party was that of Barbirini Francesco the Dean of the Colledge being the head and several of Urbans Creatures the members with some others who being poor received pensions from Francesco now a fourth part is rising which is that of the present Pope Before I leave this subject I must say something of him He is called Clemene the 9th which name he took as he assured the Princess of Rossano out of respect he doth bear to the memory of Clement the 8th Aldobrandin his name is Giulio Rospigliosi of Pistoia an indifferent good City about 20 miles from Florence and in the Grand Dukes Dominions This man was chosen the last year in the 71. of his Age he was employed as Nuncio in Spain and then by the late Pope was chosen Secretary of State he had a very sore fit of sickness a little while afore the Pope died he was once given over by Physicians and when he came to recover and before the Popes death he had thoughts to leave his place He is a man of a middle stature and very gray being a Cardinal he was accounted a wise Statesman and of great parts I say he was for I cannot tell whether he doth or will continue so for often have we seen in that place that Honours have changed manners as it was well observed of the late Pope Alexander of whom it was said as of Galba He had been worthy of Reigning if he had not Reigned Dignus Imperio sinon imperasset and of all other sayings this most of all was fastned upon him he was maximus in minimis and minimus in maximis This Pope since his Election to that Dignity hath made a judicious Creation of Cardinals he hath chosen his own Nephew to express his affection to him the late Pope's Nephew Don Sigismond to express his thankfulness for the Obligations he had to that Family and herein he hath given an example contrary to that so much blamed of Innocent the 10th who did so bitterly persecute the Relations of his Predecessor The third Cardinal Created is Leopold of the family Medici Thus he hath repaired the fault of Alexander acknowledged the kindness he received from the Grand Duke in the late conclave and shews that he remembers he hath been his Subject Further this Pope hath done two things contrary to the practices of his Predecessor who at the beginning would own none of his Relations nor have them about his person or raise them to preferments till he seemed to be forced
to trouble it and to foment and assist Insurrections in it The second is to foment Divisions between the Nobility and the people and between the Nobility themselves who being all together united could for certain drive them out and though the Napolitans Horse's back be much gall'd if he could gather his strength together he would be able to shake off the Rider The third Maxime is as much as they can doe to make great States fall into the hands of women whom they marry afterwards to Spanish Noble-Men The Chief Families of that Kingdom are at present Caraccioli where of the Duke of Auelina is the Head Caraffa of which Family is the Duke Matalone Pignatelle who had the title of Duke of Monteleone Monaldesqui Aquaviva Brancaccio and several others who have the name of Princes as Marana c. The antient family of the Princes of Salerno is extinct as to the name and their Palace at Naples which was very stately hath these several years been possessed by the Jesuites I shall not say much of Sicily 't is governed by a Vice-King at present the Duke of Albuquerque as Don Pedro d' Arragon is he of Naples This Island is known to be plentiful and as formerly it was the Granary of Italy so 't is still of part of it but specially of Maltha for the Gallies of the Order come almost every week to transport Corn cut of it Messina drives a great Trade of Silks the Inhabitants have still their est non est that is when any thing is proposed by the Vice-King or his Order after a debate had thereupon to satisfie the people they cry out non est if it be not contrary to their Priviledges if it be they say est then every one gets to his Arms. This City hath several priviledges but cannot get them confirmed at Madrid neither do the Vice-Kings dare to trust themselves amongst them therefore they reside at Palermo which was the landing place of Don Pedro d' Arragon when the moneys he had received from Lewis the 9th of France to make war against the Infidels in Affrica he went to drive Charles d' Anjou Lewis's Brother out of the Kingdome whereof he was lawful Sovereign The peoople of this Island speak a very corrupt Italian Language mixed with some words of corrupt Greek as their Luanguage is so are their manners and nature which how treacherous it is let the Sicilian Vesspers bear witness by which action they are become not only odious but also a proverb to Italy having thereby been the author of all the disturbances where-with the Spanish Nation have since afflicted those parts of the world it had been something in withdrawing from the subjection of one who though he was their lawful Prince yet he was of a Forein Nation they had gotten their liberty yet Princes may see of how dangerous a consequence is this president but to leave the bad for the worse 't is to find a pain wherein they look't for a pleasure that is to be no more reasonable than were the Frogs who rejected the Reed to have the Stork to rule over them they should have learned of the Fish how it is better to keep in the Pan though amidst boyling water than to leap out and fall into the burning flames and fire Mount Aetna now Gibello with some of his flames is still to be seen its horrid late casting up stones flames cinders as far as Catania and the running of Rivers as it were of fire and brimstone are known to all Europe Such as we cannot read ever there was the like Syracusa is not very far from it which is much decay'd they shew some old standing ruines of a Castle as they say of Dyonisius they affirm 't was in the shape of a shell in the Centre of which was the Tyrants Closet whence by the means of some pipes which conveyed the voice he heard if we believe the Tradition every word spoken by the prisoners 't is probable that such a thing may be there being things of that nature in several parts though these prisoners were at a great distance from the Closet The Spaniards govern this Land almost by the same Maximes which they use in Naples only they let them have some few Priviledges in consideration of their withdrawing from the French and giving themselves up to them nevertheless the Spaniards are much odious to them by reason of the great and many oppressions they suffer from them for the which no body pities them since they brought it upon themselves however 't is the division of the two Chief Cities Messina and Palermo about precedencie and other things which upholds the Spaniards authority in the Island for when one of these Cities stands up the other stoops and they do every thing in opposition one to another the Spaniard therefore knoweth how much it imports to his interest to see these differences continue he foments it with the best of his skill and to the utmost of his power It were in vain to speak of Sardegna seeing the people in it are become Spaniards in every thing There hapned in it not long since a great division caused by falling out between two of the Chief persons of the Island but having been both transported into Spain the Factions were dispersed and gave way to a general tranquility This is a Kingdome and therefore is Governed by a Vice-King who was lately Prince Ludovisio Of late they have stirred very much having killed a Vice-Roy for which act some have been executed which their Friends and Relations highly rescenting are causing new Disturbances so that the present Vice-King not thinking himself strong enough hath desired more Forces out of Spain specially his Enemies being potent in Cagliari hereby are laid the foundations of an eternal hatred for their Children inherit of the quarrels and desire of vengeance as of the states of their parents this had been a fair occasion for any forrein Enemy of the Spaniard This Island as that of Sicily and Naples maintain a number of Gallies which of late is much diminished for put them altogether with the squadron of the Duke of Tursi they do not come to above twenty The state of Milan VVEsterly it borders with Piemont and Monferrat Sur Southerly with the Republick of Genoa Westerly with the Duke of Parma with the Republick of Venice and the Duke of Mantoa and Northerly with the Valtoline The Dukedome of Milan is as good and as plentiful a Countrey as any in Italy full 300 miles about plain and even ground in it are many Lakes full of Fish and is watered by considerable Rivers which make it pleasant plentiful and strong Po runs by Cremona the Tanaro by Alessandria and the Bormia which is a little one not far off Adda nigh to Lodi and Ticcino by the walls of Pavia by Milan run two Channels one of which is of great use and this goes through it and both for watering of grounds whence it
of Piemont and Dukes of Savoy and of late from the Duke of Mantoa they have gotten Trin and Alba in Monferr at by the Treaty of Chierasco so that besides Piemont with its Vallies and Savoy the Duke hath upon the Sea-coasts Villa Franca Oneglia and Nizza di provinza with as strong a Castle as any in Europe his Dominions indeed are large though to speak the truth Savoy is a barren and a mountainous Countrey which defect is somewhat made up by the indefatigable laboriousness of the people and by the populousness and plenty of Piemont His Court is for certain the Ornament of Italy not composed of a vast number of persons nor solitary neither there is in it a variety without confusion well compacted consisting of choice persons well qualified for a Court in a handsome and orderly way In it the French and Italian languages are commonly spoken and the free French manner of life is practised in it These Princes have been and are still very Honourable in Europe for this long while Emperors and Kings have given them the Title of Serenissime when some other Princes of Italy did not so much as pretend to it but it happened in the days of Pope Urban the 8th that he it may be to please his Nephews gave a higher title to Cardinals than they had before the title of Illustrissime was changed into that of Eminentissime this obliged some Princes to take the title Serenissime and of Highness upon which account still to keep a distinction between them and other Princes the Dukes of Savoy added Reale to Altezza to make up Royal Highness which they pretend to as being Titular Kings of Cyprus and so by vertue of a match with France the French did not oppose it and this Duke is now in hopes that the King or Prince Regent of Portugal being now himself own'd to be a Crowned Head by reason of the late Marriage or that which is to be made with that Prince Regent and the Dutchesse's Sister will approve of it but upon what grounds I dispute not This Duke is Vicar of the Empire in Italy he could not yet obtain from the Emperour the Investiture of what he hath in Montferrat however of late the Electoral Colledge at the Sollicitation of the House of Bavaria whose present Elector married his Sister did something on his behalf to wit made a Decree that his not being invested by the Emperour shall be no prejudice to his Right seeing he had used his diligence to obtain it 'T is a thing which raises much the Glory of this Prince that he hath several of his Subjects descended from Emperours of East and West Kings other Sovereign Princes and of the Chief Families of Italy in Piemont alone are above fifty Earles fifteen Marquesses at least this makes him the more Considerable and adds something to his strength which on the other side doth consist in the largeness of his Dominions the Number Affection and Fidelity of his Subjects and in his strong places of which the Castle of Montmelian though taken by the French is one of the chief in Savoy they use to say that their Prince hath a City which is 300 miles about to shew how thick Towns are in it and how populous it is in Piemont alone are 8 Episcopal Cities and 130 very populous places Another thing is that the Duke is as absolute as any Prince in Europe 'T is said of Charles Emanuel this Dukes Grand-Father that one day discoursing with Henry the fourth of France and the King having asked which of the two Pistols pieces of Gold the French or Spanish he accounted the heaviest his answer was That which I shall give my grain to meaning that of the two Kings he whom he would assist should be the strongest His Riches I will not mention his yearly income is said to amount to one Million and Eight Hundred Thousand Crowns out of which Savoy and the Vallies yeild him but Four Hundred Thousand all which is Nobly spent I must say however that Gold and Silver are scarce in his Dominions which on the other side afford him a great plenty of all things whereby all manner of provisions are at a low rate Upon consideration of this two several proposals were made to the present Duke by a judicious person the first and less important was to settle a fixed and a constant Office for the conveniencie of Travellers so that giving so much they should be defrayed for their Diet and should be provided with Horses to this effect a Correspondencie was to be setled at Lyon as this had been convenient for strangers and safe so it had made the moneys of all those who enter Italy that ways to pass through the hands of the Dukes Officers and these sums had been very considerable seeing all those who go by land into Italy out of Spain in time of peace out of France and pats of Germany come by the way of Lyon this would have encouraged many to go that way who do not helpt the sale of provisions and brought Moneys into the Countrey but this Proposal though approved yet wanting a further encouragement came to nothing The second is to make Nizza or Villa Franca a Free port any of these lies convenient for ships this would bring in Trade and consequently Moneys and would help the sale of the Lands Commodities but I omit the reasons which are given to inforce this proposal for I must come to other things Turin is the Metropolis of Piemont and the ordinary place of the Dukes Residence when he is not at his houses of pleasure of which he hath as great a number of fine and convenient ones as any other Prince This City is well seated in a plain the Rivers Po and Doire running not far from it in the Court is an Office of the Admiralty as they call it of the Po which is more for formality-sake than for any benefit In Turin are to be seen the Old and New Palaces with the Garden from the place to the New Palace to that of St. Garloe is on both sides a row of fine Houses all uniform I shall say nothing of Churches there nor of the Countrey-houses as Rivoli Moncallier le Valentin Millefleur and la Venerea which is the present Dukes delight but I must take notice that there is as good a Citadel as any in Europe in which there is a Well into which one may go down to water a Horse and at the same time one can come up thence and not see one another There are also Armes for 40000 men Many things I omit here to tell that Carlo Emanuele the present Duke is a Prince well made of his person of a middle stature full face with that natural red which only doth embelish it his sight is none of the best as may be observed when he eats or reads he loves hunting with some kinde of excess the scorching heat nor the foulness of weather being not
able to divert him from it and by this constant course he hath brought himself into a capacity to endure any hardship yet this passion doth not take him off his important businesses which he is vigorous in and follows it very close He hath set days to give Publick Audience at which time the least of his Subjects may speak to him without any disturbance at all and he hears them very patiently as he is an active man so he takes cognizance of every thing and imparts all to his Lady who being a judicious Princess and exceedingly complying with his Highness she ever hath a place in his Closet as in his Bed He is a Prince very civil to Strangers and now frugal at home for he finds his Ancestors have been too free so he hath been himself but now says for a reason of his alteration that as to Frugality he cannot imitate a greater Monarch than the King of France with whom he hath a conformity of temper joyned to a natural affection His inclination to Women hath been discovered by his actings with the Marchioness of Cahours and is daily observed by those who follow his Court His first Minister of State is the Marquess of Pianezza of the Family d' Allie and Brother to Count Philip a great Polititian he is and a greater Enemy to the Protestants of the Vallies of Piemont His Son the Marquess of Livorno kept the place when he was lately retired for some distasts though under pretence of Devotion The Marquess San Germano Governour of Turin is of the same Family The Marquess Palavesin Successor to the Marquess de Fleury who was turned out for his privacies with the Marchioness de Cabours Captain of the Guards is also much in favour so is the Old Marquess of Voghera whose Lady hath the oversight of the Maids of Honour but none can boast of being his special Favourite The Princes of the Blood are few the Young Prince of Piemont Son to the Duke by this Wife and Prince Philibert with the Earl of Soissons Sons to the late Prince Thomas There is at Court a Princess the Dukes Sister unmarried there is a Natural Uncle of the Dukes Don Antonio Governour of Villa Franca and a Natural Son of the late Victor Amedeo who lives privately in France This Princes Countrey is much exposed to the French power whereby they have been stript twice and therefore his interest is to agree with France for fear of bringing himself into the sad condition which the Duke of Lorrain is in for the 18 or 20000 men which without any great inconveniencie he can keep on foot could hardly save him he is withal as handsomely as he can to prevent the French from setling in Milan for then he would be shut up by them every way The State of the Grand Duke THe Family of Medici of which are the Grand Dukes of Toscany hath not been very long possessed of that Dignity neither is it so antient as are many others in Italy when Florence was a Republick 't was one of the Chief but no more than the Strozzi Pitty and some others were Alexander began the work but was quickly dispatched by his Cousin Lorenzo then came Cosmo who was the first named Crowned Grand Duke by Pope Pio Quinto of his Family Ferdinand who left off the Cardinals Cap after the death of his Elder Brother Cosmo 2d and Ferdinand 2d who is the present Grand Duke who married Donna Vittoria della Rovere last heir of the late Duke of Urbino Some say a Physician was the first who raised that Family and that in token of it they took the Pile but 't is the Balls or Globes for their Armes they were raised by Charles the 5th the Emperor who gave Margarita his Natural Daughter to Alessandro and so forced the Florentines to submit to him The Grand Dukes are Creatures of Clement the 7th and of Charles the 5th Emperour with whose arms and countenancing they became Masters of Florence at present they are in possession of three formerly potent Republicks to wit Florence Pisa and Siena they have all antient Toscany except Luca and Sarzana hence is the Proverb which saith If the Grand Duke had Luca and Sarzana Sarebbe Re di Toscana for he hath also the Cities of Pistoias Volterra Cortona Arezzo Montepulciano and several other lands and Castles of a lesser importance besides part of the Island Alba where is Cosmopoli and Porto Ferrario When the Dukes came to the Government the Florentines had subdued Pisa wherefore the condition of that City is the worst of the three for being a conquer'd Countrey they are under the Jurisdiction of Florence but Siena is Governed in the same way as when it was a Republick owning none but the Grand Duke or the Governour sent by him thus they have nothing to do at Florence even they are used better than the Florentines who being look't upon at sactiout men and desirous of liberty are not only disarmed as all other Subjects are but are more bridled too A further reason is that the Duke doth homage for it to the Crown of Spain as he doth for Radicofany to the Pope therefore he dares not take altogether the same liberty there which he uses in other places Pisa is void of inhabitants but well seated and hath in it several things worthy to be seen the Grand Duke delights to be in 't therefore he comes to it having the conveniencie of a Forrest which lies not far from it Siena is a fineCity in a good Air with good store of people in it the Italian tongue is well spoken the Virtuosi that are there are called Intronati Florence the place of the Courts ordinary residence is a stately City and very populous there being accounted to be 100000 souls in it the Gentry in it doth not think it below themselves to follow trade which is specially of Silks so that it may pass for a rich town there are in it 10 or 12 Families accounted to be worth one Million of Crowns There are three Castles fine Churches specially the Domo which on the outside is all of white and black Marble and that incomparable Chapel of San Lorenzo for the which Marble is not rich enough to enter as one of the Materials but Jasper Agatha Porphiry c. There are further rare Palaces and the Dukes Galleries exceedingly rich the River Arno runs through it there is that learned Society called la Crusca The Grand Duke trading much underhand as its thought and being very frugal must be very rich not to mention those rich Galleries of his esteemed worth above three Millions but he draws to himself the best of his Dominion there being hardly in the World a Countrey more oppressed with Customes and Taxes than this is hence it is that except Florence where trade doth flourish and Siena where is still some rest of liberty the whole Country is the Grand Dukes very little inhabited and full of poverty
a Lawful Heir though Popes will have him to have been a Natural Son and this as to precedency wrongs that Family for other Princes will not grant them as Dukes of Modena only what they had as Dukes of Ferrara although their standing Dukes of Modena be from Barso d' Este who had the title given him by Frederick the 3d Emperour in the year 1460. The City hath been a great looser by this change for instead of the Seat of a Court 't is now made a City of War and of 80000. soules that were in it under the Dukes there 's now hardly 20000. However this Duke is still in possession of the Dukedomes of Modena and Reggio the Principalities of Carpi and Correggio the Earldome of Roli and the Lordships of Sassevil Garfagna and Frignano by the late Treaty of Pisa his dispute with the Pope about the Vallies of Gommachio was decided being to receive as he did 400000. Crowns for them 40000. more of damages and some other advantagious conditions all these lands with others which he hath still in the Dukedom of Ferrara yield him every year full 500000. Crowns all his Dominions joyning one to another makes him the more considerable his strength therefore consists in the number of his people the only Province Carfagnana is said to contain 80. places walled about he hath also several strong Holds upon extraordinary Occasions he is able to bring into the field 20000. Foot and 1000. Horse and he can without inconveniency keep the halfe of the number however his Country lies somewhat open to several neighbouring Princes not for want of good places of which he hath many seated at a proportionable and convenient distance one from another but because that Country lies upon an even ground in his Citadel of Modena are as they say Armes for 40000. men this City is not in repute with other Italians who call it Modena la pazza These Princes observe the general maximes of their Neighbours to have a good correspondency with Venice which was ever lookt upon as the Protectour of the liberties of Italy Since the loss of Ferrara they kept close to the Spaniards but of late their Interest made them change their affections for Duke Francis was in the late Italian War made General of the French and Mazarine's Neece married to Prince Almerigo his Son who hath left a young Prince to succeed him At present all things are done after the advice of Cardinal D'Este Protector of the French Interest at Rome and the promoter of the late Union of his Family to France He is a Prince very active and stirring who lives at Rome when he comes there with greater pomp and more splendour then any other Cardinal whatsoever he is zealous for the French by whose Friendship his family is much better with monies being enriched with the late Generalship So is the Country for in winter the Head Quarters were in Modena whereto resorted all the great Officers and a great number of inferiour ones this somwhat helped the poor people to pay those Taxes that are laid so heavy upon them at present there is one of their name and kinsman afar of Don Carlo D'Este if I mistake not a Subject born to the Duke of Savoy who is a Knight of the Order of the Fleece whom I have seen attending on the Empress at Alexandria Pavio c. The Duke of Modena hath this advantage above most Princes in Italy that he hath some of his Subjects who have Feudi Fiefs of the Empire we find many great Families in his Dominions as the rich Earls di San Paolo the Bentivogli-Ragoni Buoncompagni the Marquesses Spilimbergo Peppoli Gualengo di Vignola and Gualteri The Earls Caprari San Martino di Molsa di Maluisia Montecuculi Tassoni Ferrarese di Conoscia and few others the present Duke being very young we have nothing to say as to his person and though he were older we could say of him that which must be spoken of some others they are reserved and live retiredly so that strangers for any long while have not free excess to their Courts and Persons The state of Venice NOw to go on I must say something of the Republicks I do confess I am much at a stand when I see my self obliged to speak of Venice the abundance of matter is often to a man a greater hindrance then help when he must pick out that which is onely fit for his purpose to speak well of a Republick esteemed a miracle of Nature and a Prodigy of Art the tongue of an Angel is necessary 'T were too trivial to say that this Republick was founded above 1246 years ago by those who from Aqueleia Padoa c. fled from the cruelty of Attila they were governed by Tribunes till the year 697. at which time they made a Head called Doge and they chose San Marco to be their Protectour wherefore a Lyon holding a Book is their Arms with this Motto Pax tibi Marce Evangelista The Government was part Aristocracy and part Democracy but at the time when Pietro Gradenigo was Doge in the year 1280. It was resolved in the Senate that the Government should hereafter belong to the Nobility alone and to avoid oppositions all the Families that were in some esteem amongst the people were declared Nobles as it hath been practised afterwards upon urging occasions as in the Wars against Genoa and lately in the Wars against the Turk 100000. Crowns being paid by every one who is made such besides that he must be otherwise qualified for it In the Majesty and perpetuity of the Duke there is a shadow of Monarchy but the strength and the Authority resides in the Senate their Dominion is of a great extent In terra ferma they have Dogado La Marca Trevigiana Padoano Vicentino Veronese Feltrino Bellunese Bresciano Beragamasco Cremasco c. there is further il Fruili with many considerable Cities in it as Udine Palma and that strong hold Palma Nova Istria with four good Cities and many Lands and places Out of Italy they have Dalmatia with the Islands thereto belonging and the chief Cities of Zara Clissa Cataro and few other places in Albania in the Levante Corfu Cefalonia Cerigo Zante and some other Islands in the Arcipelago and the Sovereignty of all the Golfo from Venice to Otranto and to la Vallona which is seven hundred miles in length of the Kingdom of Candia they have nothing but the City It would require whole Volumes if one would insist upon the manner of their Government in general seeing they have been curious to gather the quintessence of all the good Laws and Statutes which antient and modern Republicks had which they make use of upon occasion they have above 60. Courts of Judicature such a diversity being necessary for them to employ so many Noblemen they have I will hardly mention the Gran ' Consiglio wherein are usually 1500. Votes besides other 500. Nobles who are in Offices else-where either by Land