say Pheasants Partridges Goodwittes Woodcocks Snites Quails and divers others In like sort there are of four-footed Beasts as wild Boars Harts Goats Hares Conies and Foxes of ravenous creatures there are Wolves and of those that are fatted it is very plentifull There are also in places near the Mediterranean shore great Vaults and Caves with the Foundations of sumptuous Buildings which yields no small wonder to every one that beholds them with other strange works wrought as well by the wonder of Nature as also by curious Art and the emulation thereof which procures no small admiration to all that knows not the powerfulness of Art and Nature The Sea of this most happy Province aboundeth with divers sorts of excellent Fishes as Sturgions Mullets Tonnies and sundry other fishes Neither is there less abundance in the kinds of Shel-Fishes as of Oysters Muscles Cockles Periwincles and infinite others Of Minerals it is very rich in Gold Silver Alume Brimstone Besides this it is endued with so many medicinable and wholsome Bathes which in the Spring and other times of the year heals infinite people of many strange and incurable diseases So that that great Grandmother Nature hath bestowed so great abundance of her benefits that it seems she is delighted therein The which the writer Polybius considering which was the Master of Scipio Africanus wrote these words near Sipontino Est enim Campanus ager copia rerum fertilitate regionis ac amaenitate pulchritudine loci excellentissimus nam in littore maris positus est ex eo universo terrarum orbe venientes in Italia innumerae gentes consunt And Hannibal that great Carthaginian Captain beholding the delightfulness of this happy Region and the beauty thereof purposing to assemble his Army which he caused to winter therein returned from thence nice dainty and full of the delicacie of Campania said as it is written in Strabo in the end of the fifth Book Victor ipse periclitor ne host is praeda siam quippe qui milites viros dederim faeminas recipiam The Campanians saith Cicero against Rullus of the Law Agraria Superbi bonitate agrorum magnitudine fructuum salubritate aeris pulchritudine regionis This Province doth likewise deserve great praise for the diversity of Wines which it bringeth forth so much esteemed both in ancient and later times as the most delicate of Sorrento which Tiberius Cesar and Physitians so much commended the Wine Massico now called Massaquano brought from the Mount Massico which is near Carinola in the Territory of the people Equani among which is Massa and Vico the most excellent Falerni so much pleasing to the Roman Emperors of whom Iulius Caesar as Pliny writeth honoured his Feasts and most sumptuous Banquets which he made in Rome and principally that wherewith in two and twenty thousand Chambers he feasted all the Romans There are the tears and Greek Wines so much celebrated by Pliny the most odoriferous Wine Nolano and that of Vico no less wholsome then pleasant in taste with others very excellent and delicate Wines which are preferred before all others in the plentifull Tables of the greatest Lords The Oyles are in no less esteem which are there made and chiefly those of Massa of Sorrento of Vico of Gaeta and of the Isle of Capre And no less fruitfull is this fortunate Country of the best Cattle as Oxen Cowes fat Weathers Hogges and Calves whereof the most excellent are those of Sorrento There is also made the finest silks which Merchants buy more then any others for the goodness thereof It is very plentifull in Heards and Droves of Cattel and serviceable Horses for Warr. And to conclude this Province worthily deserveth all praise for the excellent things that are therein wherefore it is no marvel if ancient Writers call this the most beautifull and excellent Region of the world having a most temperate and delicate air and so fruitfull a Country that in all times of the year there are heard divers and sundry birds to sing Here in the Spring time and even in the Corn where are not sowed do grow Lillies Violets and Roses of excellent and delicate savour so that the earth never ceaseth to bring forth for which cause it is commonly said that Campania yieldeth most Oyntment others say most Oyle being also made in Naples the best and most excellent Conserve that may be found through the great goodness of the Roses This Country bringeth forth people of an indifferent stature and of a fair complexion valorous minded and very wise both in Councel and the managing of worldly affairs ingenious and apt for learning and more then measurably warlike both on foot and horse from whence generally appeareth a certain mind to command Having now declared the sundry benefits and celestial favours of this most noble Region I will now handle in particular where I left at the City of Ansure now Terracina in a part of Latium was founded the City of Fondi standing placed in the way Appia twenty miles distant from Terracina of Strabo Pomponius Mela Silus an Italian and of Ptolomy called Fondi but of Antonius Fonde the Territory whereof bringeth forth excellent Wines which are much commended of Pliny and of Strabo and Martial writeth that by any means the Wines of Fondi must not be suffered to wax old Haec fundana tulit felix autumnus opimi Expressit mulsum Consul ipse bibet Soterus Bishop of Rome was born in this City who governed the Church of God 7 years 11 moneths and 18 daies This City suffered much loss by Ariadeno Barbarossa the Turk Captain General of the Navy of Soliman Emperor of Turks in the year 1534. at which time all the Citizens that were found therein were made slaves Passing along towards Formie on the left side is Villa Castello from whence descended the Roman Emperor Galba on the right side appeareth the Lake Fundano called by Pliny Fundano although it be written Fandano by some corrupt writers This said Lake is full of Fishes and very great Eeles Five miles from thence remaineth the foundations of the City Mamurri of whom Horace saith In Mamurranum lassi deinde urbe manemus Passing hence by the rough and stony way Appia near the most high steep Mountains is the Land of Atrio now called Itro the Country of the Lamury Citizens of Rome five miles almost but somewhat out of the way Appia on the right hand is Gaeta upon the shore so called as Strabo and Virgil affirm of the Nurse of Aeneas which died and was there buried and although the Gulf of Gaeta and the strong Rock thereof be sufficiently known and much renowned especially in ancient time yet was it not a City untill the Saracins destroyed Formie which was in the year of Christ 856. and then was the reliques of the worthy St. Erasmus transferred from Formie to Gaeta and it was by Pope Gregory the 4th
division of the Kings Court place it in this Province of the Land of Lavoro or happy Campania Livy saith that the said City was made at one and the same time a Colony of the Romans with Alba which was of the Territory Vestino but possest by the Samnites This which Livy saith that Sora should be of the Territory Vestino is true for this reason that the City Vestina being near Garigliano in the Plain of Sessa that which was from the mouth of the River even to Sora by the River Garigliano all under one only name of Vestini became so called and Garigliano and Sessa were comprehended under the self-same of Vestini Livy saith that the Sorani becoming rebels and joyning with the Samniti went against them with all their force and saith that in this rebellion the Sorani cut in pieces the Roman Colonies that were there which stirred so great desire of revenge that at length the City was taken by Treason one of Sora bringing in ten Romans secretly into the Castle whereupon the Citizens broke up the Gates in the night and fled away and the Roman Army freely entred in and there were taken 325 of the Sorani Authors of the Rebellion and the death of the Roman Colonies and were carried bound to Rome and cruelly beaten in the Market-place and afterward put to death to the great contentment of the people which desired as their proper interest that in their Colonies their Citizens might be secure But within awhile following the Romans sent another Colony to Sora under the Consulship of L. Genutio and of Servio Cornelio the which for a long time remained there peaceable But in the time afterward of Gregory the ninth was destroyed by the Emperor Frederick the second and for all this was by the same Citizens repaired and in process of time increased in much honour and riches and is now reputed one of the best Cities in all that Province and is adorned with the Title of a Dukedome The said City on the one side is compassed with a stately and strong Wall and the other is defended with the River Fibreno which hath its beginning under the Mountains of Capistrello which is a Country in the Apennin eight miles above Sora which River entreth into Garigliano called in old time Liris near the Monastery of St. Dominico of Cisterniensi This River aboundeth with water and seemeth to be that which according to Pliny cometh from the Lake Fucino which in the beginning is divided into two branches whereof that on the left hand by means of the high and steep Mountains is very swift but that on the right hand running by a Rock and falling not from that hight as the other passeth with a pleasant current very calm and beautifull These two branches being joyned again together under Sora make an Island very delightfull and of much traffick which the Ancients have called Interamina Following the course of these Rivers are these Countries following Torre Campolato Isoletta and Colledrago Now above the Isle before named which with those two Arms makes Garigliano there are very high Hils and almost wholly disinhabited and on the right hand there is a Country above those rough and cragge Hils very pleasant called Comino which is invironed with very high Hils and hath seven Countries wel inhabited that is Vicalvo Alvito Santo Donato Settefrati Piacinisco Gallinaro and Casalviero This Country was in old time called Comino of a City which was there so called whereof Livy speaketh in many places and chiefly in the tenth Book where he saith that it was taken by Spurio Carvillo Consul being entred within it and his Souldiers retired which had the Guard of the Market-place there was given to Papirio the Consul eleven thousand and thirty men the first being killed by four thousand three hundred and eighty In this same Country on the right hand under the Hils is Atina an ancient City which was one of those five which made Arms for the aid of Turnus against Aeneas according to Virgil in the seventh of Eneidos Quinque adeo magnae positis incudibus urbos Tola novant Atina potens c. At the side of the said City runneth the River Melfa which riseth in the Apennin Hils and entreth into Garigliano near Pontecorvo a City whereof Virgil and Livy make mention Coming down into the bottom of this Country on the side of the said River under the Castle of Casalviero on the left hand is a little Country which they call Schiavi and yet lower upon a very rough and craggie Hill is Arpino a famous City whose stately Walls yet standing declare the greatness thereof and although it hath been the natural Country as well of Caio Marius as of Marcus Tullius the one the mirror of Chivalry the other of Eloquence yet that preferring Learning before Martial Affairs used for the Arms M. T. C. Under Arpino on the left hand near the River Melfa is Fontana a little Country and hard by is Arce a worthy City the Territory whereof aboundeth with great store of excellent Fruits and hath a goodly Fortress and is beautified with the Title of a Dukedom Not far off followeth the City Aquino called in old time Aquinum which is almost ruinated whose Reliques manifestly declare what great estimation it had in former times where apparently are seen the ruines of stately Buildings with goodly Statues of Marble Both now and ever Aquino hath received much honour by Giovenale a Satyrical Poet and Victorino an excellent Geometrician who flourished in the time of Leo the first according to the opinion of some he found the computation of Easter according to the course of the Moon at the perswasion of Pope Hillary Moreover Pescenio Negro Emperor of Rome hath honoured this Country as Herodian declareth in his second Book of his Cesars And although the said City be almost ruinated nevertheless it hath the dignity of a County Here Robert Guiscardo the Norman was created with great solemnity Duke of Apuglia and Calauria by Gregory the seventh Bishop of Rome in the year 1073. as Biondo writeth in his Histories and Platina in the life of the said Gregory But above all that Angelical Doctor St. Thomas hath most honoured Aquino the which though born in Naples is sirnamed of Aquino because his Ancestors possest that Country with other Cities and Lands Iohn Menardo saith that the said Angelical Doctor was of the House of Frangipane others say that he was of the Noble Family of Sammacula and that afterward from that Seignory as we have said which they had of Aquino they were sirnamed of Aquino the which Family was much advanced by Adinolfo County of Aquino for as much as by the common consent of the Gaetani he was created Duke of their City among the ancient Poets Rinaldo of Aquino hath been very excellent of whom Monsignor Pietro Bembo maketh mention in his Epistles
the right side of the River Bradano is the City of Venosa called by Pliny Venusia Patercolo writeth that it was a Colony of the Romans the which Livy confirmeth which was in the year 552. under the Consulship of P. Galba and C. Cotta Horace that eloquent Lirical Poet hath given much honour to this City it is adorned with the dignity of a Prince subject to the Family Gesvalda From it fifteen miles appeareth Canoso whether Terentio Varonne the Roman Consul did retire with fifty of the remainder of the Cavaliery at that famous overthrow which Hannibal gave to the Romans at Canna where L Paulo Emilio the other Consul was slain Six miles after appeareth Lavella which hath the Title of a Marquisat subject to the Family of Tufo then cometh Potenza a populous and rich City upon the Apennine to the which Sebastian Barnaba a Neopolitan Gentleman the Bishop thereof now giveth no small ornament a Prelat of sincere life and indued with great learning The said City hath been a long time possest with the Title of a Count by the House of Gevara which through defect of issue male is now conveyed to the Family of Noia Prince of Sulmona Going on the left side is seen the noble and rich City of Melfi from whence Iohn Andrea d'Oria Admiral of the Sea by the grace and favour of King Philip hath the Title of Prince a Noble man well experienced in Sea affairs and very honourable And following the same way is Spinazzola and not far off is Stigliano which hath the Title of a Prince which Lewis Carrafa Duke of Mondragone enjoyeth a very rich Lord and much affected to Poetry Coming now to a conclusion of this Province the which produceth tall and strong men with black hairs azured eyes and of a white complexion and generally all are accustomed to cut their beards very short and also the hair on their heads their manners and conditions are divers and in their Apparel somewhat base and rude except those which inhabit in the City which go very civil and have good behaviour and conversation but the common people are very rustical and barbarous they imploy themselvs to nothing but tillage and hunting and wrestling and all practice Arms in so much as there is not a child that knows not how to discharge a Pistol and Caliver They little apply themselves to learning The women are not fair and basely attired without any ornament or handsomness but very painfull and carry great burthens upon their heads The Arms of this Province is or a fesse counterindented asure voided of the field in chief an Eagles head arrached proper and crowned of the first which arms signifie the victory which the Lucani had having expel'd and driven away all the Greeks out of their Country whereupon the Lieutenant of the Emperor of Constantinople flying with other Captains were drowned in the River Bradano CALAURIA On this side the Fifth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES TOwards the South in the utmost Confines of the Kingdom lieth the ancient Province of Calauria in the South part of Italy included within the Terrene Sicilian and Ionian Seas like the figure of a beast with six heads and is in circuit 544 miles In this excellent and fruitfull Province grows almost all things not only necessary for the sustenance of living creatures but also for the delights and pleasures thereof It is all full of pleasant and fruitfull Hils Mountains and Vallies the fields are like those of Campania felix they are watred with Springs and Christaline Fountains Here is had all sorts of Corn sundry Wines and in great abundance all kinds of Fruits Oyle Sugar Hony Wax Saffron Bombace Annis and Coriander seeds There groweth Gum Pitch Turpentine and liquid Storax In former time it was never without Mettals but at this present it doth much abound having in most places divers sorts of Mines as Gold Silver Iron Marble Alabaster Cristal Marchesite three sorts of white Chaulk Virmilion Alume Brimstone and the Adamant stone which being in the fifth degree draweth not Iron and is in colour black There groweth hemp and slax of two sorts the one called the male the other the female There falleth Manna from heaven truly a thing very rare and although there is not gathered such abundance of Silk yet I dare say there is not had so much in all Italy besides There are also Bathes both hot luke-warm and cold to cure many diseases Near the Seaside and likewise on the Mediterrane are goodly Gardens full of Oringes Citrons and Limons of divers sorts it is watered with many Rivers There are on the hils of the Apennine thick Woods of high Firrs Holms Platanes Oaks where grows the white odoriferous Mushrome which shineth in the night Here is bred the soft stone Frigia which every month yields a delicate and wholsome Gum and the stone Aetites by us called the stone Aquilina In this Province there is excellent hunting of divers creatures as wild Hoggs Staggs Goats Hares Foxes Porcupines Marmosets There are also ravenous beasts as Wolves Bears Lyzards which are quick-sighted and have the hinder parts spotted with divers colours This kind of Beast was brought from France to Rome in the sports of Pompey the great and Hunters affirm this Beast to be of so frail a memory that although he eateth with hunger if he chance to look back remembreth no more his meat and departing searcheth for other The Sea then which lyeth upon this happy Country aboundeth with great store of excellent fish and in many places grows both white and red Coral and near the shore is found the Touch-stone which trieth Gold and Silver from all other Mettals This Province is of greater antiquity then any other in all Italy because it was begun to be inhabited before the floud by Aschenaza the son of Gomero the Nephews of Noe into which place being come where now is Regio through the amenity and temperature of the aire very delightfull made there his habitation and founded a City which by his own name he called Aschenaza and the inhabiters thereof were called Aschenazei which that it may seem true Iosephus which lived in the time of the Emperor Titus in his first book of Jewish antiquities testifieth saying Aschenaz inslituit Aschenazeos qui nunc Rhegini vocantur à Graecis The same also St. Ierome confirmeth in his Hebrew questions upon Genesis saying Aschenas Graeci Rheginos vocant The like name of a City was not heard of among any other people except that in Calauria the which City was afterward by the overthrow called of the Greeks Rhegium Sicilia being in the same place divided from Italy through the violence of an Earthquake Calauria was called by sundry names at the first it was called Ausonia by the valiant Ausonii the inhabiters thereof or as some affirm by Ausono the son of Vlisses it was afterward by the Oriental
born in this Country and Telesiano the Philosopher the which hath learnedly writ eight books of disputations against the Peripateticks in favour of Berardino Telesio and is now at this present writing De sensu rerum where he shews he understands all things A little distant is Santa Caterina and Badolato a Country very delightfull where is made excellent Wines Oyl Hony and very fine Silk and also is gathered great store of Manna to the which Country Giulio Berlingiero and Giovandomenico Greco excellent Lawyers at this present yield much honour After followeth Satriano called of the Ancients Caecinnum from whom the River taketh the name which runneth but a little from thence of the which Thucidides in his third book maketh mention saying Laches Atheniensis egressi è navibus nonnulla loca locridis juxta caecinnum amnem Locrenses ad arcendam vim occurrentes cum Proxeno Capatonis silio circiter trecentos caeperunt detractisque armis abierunt Afterward is to be seen Petrito a little Castle situate in a pleasant seat where is made excellent good Wine not very far is Claravalle which for the goodness of the Flax contends with Alexandria for the precedence Then followeth Soverato whose Territory is garnished with beautifull Gardens of Citrons Limons and Oringes where near to the Fountain Meliteo is to be seen an Oak whose leaves never fals And afterward is Squillaci a noble and an ancient City built as some affirm by the Ausoni or by the Enotri Of this City thus writeth Strabo Scyllaceum Atheniensium Colonia qui Menestei comites fuere From the name of this City the Gulf of Squillaci taketh its name so perilous to Sailers whereof grows the Proverb Naufragâ—â— Scyllaceus Squillace was a Colony of the Romans as C. Velleio Patercole writeth in his first book to the which City Cassiodoro Munk of the Order of St. Benedict hath given great ornament which writ many books upon divers matters and among others composed the Tripartite History in 12 books and a book de ratione animae and another upon the Canticles he writ another book of Etimologies with a Catalogue of all the Roman Consuls He lived in the time of Iustine the old Emperor and died in the year of our Lord 575. The said City is honoured with the title of a Prince subject to the house of Borgia wherein with much reverence is preserved the body of St. Agatio Here leaving the River Crotalo and Roccella upon a high Hill is Catanzaro a noble and populous City the which was builded by Fagitio Lieutenant in Italy for the Emperor Nicephero And Catanzaro was so called of the Greek word Catizo which in Latin signifieth sedeo to which the excellent situation and the workmanship of Silk and Cloath bringeth great profit it is one of the fairest and principal Cities of Calauria and at this present it is the head of this Province and in it resideth the Kings Audit In the chiefest Church thereof lie with great reverence the bodies of St. Vitaliano and Theodoro Martyrs whose holy lives are written by the reverend Paolo Regio Bishop of Vico. Hard by is to be seen the City of Taverna which standeth near the Wood Sila This City had its original from the ancient Treschinesi the which being in the year 1068. ruinated by the Saracins was afterward reedified within the land in a most strong and inpregnable place but sustaining afterward divers calamities was again newly built by the Citizens thereof two miles distant under a most delicate temperature of air In the Territory of this City groweth the odoriferous Turpentine which Macedonia Damasco and Syria so much esteemed the having thereof This City hath received much honour by Iohn Lorenzo Anania an excellent Divine and Cosmographer which hath writ the Universal Fabrick of the world and a learned discourse of the nature of devils Towards the Sea-side is to be seen Simari and a little distant is the City Trichenesi which had very stately buildings in the old time but at this present the reliques are scant to be seen Then followeth the City Belcastro which some say was the ancient Chona This City boasteth much of St. Thomas of Aquin affirming that he was there born where they say he did the miracle of the Roses for which they cease not to contend with the Neopolitans saying he was of their City this worthy Saint died in the Monastery of Fossanova in the Territory of Terracina in the year of our Lord 1274. Near unto it is Mesuraga called in old time Reatinum builded by the Enotrii of the which Country was the worthy Matteo Vidio of the Order of the Minori whose body with honour lieth in the City of Taverna Not far distant standeth Policastro called by the Ancients Petilia which was builded by Philotete the son of Piante companion of Hercoles Of this City Virgil in the 3. book of Aeneid saith thus Hic illa Dulcis Melibaei parva Philoctetae subnexa Petilia muro This City was a Colony of the Romans the which was many times defended with much valour against the assaults of Hannibal by whom being at length taken was destroyed Then follows Siberna an ancient and an honourable City now called Santa Severina which is situate on a high Hill in the mids between two famous Rivers very strong by nature and after is the Rock where are digged great hils of Salt From hence leaving the River Tacina appears Cutro which aboundeth with excellent Flax and a little above is the Castle which some say should be the place named by the Latines Castra Hannibalis Then appeareth the Isle and the Cape of Pillars before called the Promontory Lacinio and was so called of Lacinio a famous Pirat which went robbing up and down and was afterward slain by Hercules who built there a sumptuous Temple to Iuno which Eneas honoured with a Cup of Gold this place was very famous for the School of Pithagoras and for the ashes of Filotete which laid upon the Altar was not dispersed with the wind This Cape of Pillars in these latter times was so called by the many and great Pillars which are there standing of the said ruinated Temple Leaving this Cape where beginneth the second gulf of the Mediterrane is the famous City of Cotrone in old time one of the greatest and chiefest Cities of Maegna Grecia The opinions of Writers are divers by whom the said City should be builded for some affirm that it was built by Lacinio Corcireo Ovid and Strabo say it should be Misilo Pithagoras more ancient then these writeth that Hercules built it This City was very famous because the Philosopher Pithagoras was a Citizen thereof from whose School proceeded more Philosophers then were Captains in the Trojan horse and also for Orpheus the Poet and Democides the Phisician so much esteemed of the King of Persia besides the beauty of the women have been much
many Villages well inhabited as Compotosto and Poggio which is a Castle and Massione on the left hand of Vomano and within the Country are situated these Castles Motola Monteverde and Montegualco and here endeth as Pliny saith the Precutini And following the same course we come to speak of the Marrucini which Livy saith caused themselves voluntarily to be enrolled among the Souldiers that went with Scipio into Africa Now then after the River Vomano comes another River called Piomba where is another Castle which is called Porto d'Adria and a little higher is a Country called Silva five miles within the Land and almost in the midst between the said two Rivers upon a high Hill is the City of Atri called in old time Hadria which was a Colony of the Romans Here was born as Celio the Spartan writeth the Roman Emperor Adrian P. Vittore believeth that the Adriaetick Sea had its name from this City the which also Sesto Aurelio affirms in his book of Cesars Above Atri or Hadria upon the right hand of the River Piomba is the Castle of Celino and above where this River springeth is the Country of Schiarano on the left side of Piomba two miles within the Land is Civita S. Angelo which Pliny and Ptolomy names Angolo above the said Country near the River is the little Country of Hece From Piomba three miles from the Sea is another River called Salino on the right hand whereof on the shore is a Castle called Porto S. Angelo and a little above within the Country entreth into Salino another River called Sino which floweth from the Apennine at the foot of the Hill Corvo on whose right side are eight Countries and Castles the which shall be named the one after the other Cassilento Montesicco Pignano Bisento Corvignano Serra and Valviano and a little below the mouth of the River Sino doth also run into Salino another River called Tavo which riseth near Corvo in the Apennine In the midst of these Rivers five miles distant from the Sea is Civita di Penna an excellent Country and very famous in old time Pliny calleth this City Pinna and placeth it among the Vestini Of this City was the most valiant young man Pluton of whom Valerius Maximus maketh mention but much more it is honoured for bringing forth that famous Lawyer called Luca of Penna who learnedly writ upon the three books of the Code wherein appears his great knowledg both in Divinity and the Law and particularly of the constitutions in the municipial Laws and customs of this Kingdom as he sheweth to be very judicious and skilfull in divers places and especially in Law-Causes de senten advers fiscum latis retractandis lib. 12. In the Rubrick C. de Magistris sacr scrinioruus lib. 12. where he teacheth the Office of a principal Secretary of the Kingdom And in the l. à palatinis C. de privilegiis corum qui in sacro palatio militant where very diffusedly he disputeth of one of the prinâ—ipal constitutions of the Kingdom alleadging Andrea of Isernia Prince of the Feudists All this I thought good to declare what a worthy man hath been of this City although otherwise modern writers have fasly christned him for a Frenchman defrauding his Country where at this present in the Hall of the publick Palace is to be seen his ancient Picture with the late named young Pluton and besides yet standeth his house where he dwelt Afterward not much distant from the River Tavo appears above the Hils the pleasant country of Laureto and the Hill Corvino Then cometh near upon the shore the mouth of the river Aterno now called Pescara which is one of the principal rivers of the country and near the Monastery of Casanova runneth into it another river which riseth on the right hand on the side of the Apennine called Nuria on whose right side are Montesilvano Spotorio Moscuso Pianello and Capogatto all Castles and under the fountain of the said river is the noble Monastery of Casanova of the Order of Cistello which is not only beautified with sumptuous buildings but with great riches Above Nuria on the right hand of Pescara are Rossano Alendo Petranico the Towers of Antonello and a little above is Castiglione And coming down from thence we incounter a river called Capod ' acqua who hath a very great spring and near the fountain is Offena and on the left hand is Busso between the which two Castles but two miles distant is Capistrano the natural place of the holy Iohn Capistrano of the Order of the Minors of St. Francis who in his life did many miracles Above Capistrano within the Land is Carapello and at the ascent of the Hils near to the river Pescara is Vetorito and Raiano and going but a few miles higher upon the ridg of a Hill is to be seen the ruinated City of Amiterno by Strabo named Amiternum whose magnificent buildings both of the Theatre and certain great Churches and mighty Towers declare what greatness it was in old time and Livy writeth that Spurio Cornelio Carvilio the Consul took Amiterno and there were cut in pieces 2800 Citizens and 4280 made prisoners and notwithstanding the same Livy addeth that L. Scipio going into Africa they voluntarily offered themselves to go with him in that action with the Umbri Norcini and the Reatini Amiterno is called by Virgil full of Towers There are to 〈◊〉 among the ruines of the said City graven in Marble the triumph of the Sannites when they caused the Roman Army to pass under the yoke at the Gallows of Caudine and the Sepulchre of the daughter of Druso and near to the Theatre is the Temple of Saturn the founder thereof This City had among other famous Citizens Caio Crispo Salustio Proconsul for Cesar in Africa and the first writer of the Roman History and the Bishop Vettorino who died for the faith of Christ as Ptolomy and Lippomano saith in the Empire of Nerva whose name remaineth in a Castle built 〈◊〉 the stones of those ancient ruines where are his bones and 83 Martyrs by whom the said City was destroyed I cannot yet understand Going from hence two miles 〈◊〉 Civita Tomassa a little Castle in whose circuit are to be seen many ruines of ancient buildings with many inscriptions which apparently shews that here was the ancient City of Foruli celebrated by Virgil in his seventh book of Eneid and of Silio Italico in his eight book and Strabo maketh also mention thereof and placeth it among the Sabines And following that way about three miles there are to be seen great foundations of square stones which the country-people call Furconio whereupon it is not to be doubted that there stood the City of Furconio the which was not so ancient nor populous nor so rich as Amiterno but of greater dignity and honour in the time of the Christians for in all the Councels for the space of
duckets and a half for a hundred and others 22 and a half and some 18 duckets and three quarters the hundred whereupon the said receiver satisfieth to the Masters of the herbage according to the quality and goodness of the pasture as it falleth out As in the year 1592. there was allowed to the said custom four millions four hundred seventy one thousand and four hundrey ninty six sheep and of greater cattel nine thousand and six hundred Of which sheep and cattel in general is paid unto the Kings receit six hundred and two and twenty thousand and a hundred seventy three duckets and seven carlins of the which sum is abstracted 380492 duckets for the payment of the herbage to divers particular persons with the alms bestowed upon the poor and other charges yielding to the Kings Exchequer 241264. the which sum of money was carried into the Kings general Treasury This kind of payment of custom hath been very ancient for the like was paid in the time of the Romans as it appears by Varro and other ancient Writers But this Kingdom being invaded by divers Nations the custom decayed through the extremity of long wars untill the time of the worthy and renowned Alfonsus of Aragon first of this name King of Naples who newly restored it in an excellent order and constituted Francisco Malubre Commissary for the reformation thereof and was the first receiver to whom he allowed for his pains 700 duckets with the pasture of a thousand sheep as Marino Trezza in his second book de sub feu the which the excellent Lawyer Carlo Tapia Neapolitan relateth with great learning and eloquence in the first book of his Commentaries in the Rubrick and final Law Fâ—de constitutionibus Principium num 98. This worthy man liveth with much admiration for his vertue and honourable qualities and at this present with general applause exerciseth the office of the criminal Judge of the great Court of the Vicaria Departing from Foggia 12 miles appears upon a little hill situated in a Plain the fair City of Luceria in the which city in the time of Strabo was the stately Temple of Minerva where were many and rich gifts the which city was the ancient seat of the Daunii and was also built by Diomedes It is true that it was destroyed in the time of Strabo whose ruines even at this present declare how great it was and what power and authority it had it was afterward repaired with the fragments of the old ruinated buildings and so continued even to the time of Constantius the son of Constantine the third Emperor of Constantinople who destroyed and spoiled it in the time of Vitaliano Bishop of Rome as Paolo Diacono writeth in his fifth book and Biondo in his ninth book of Histories Where having slain all the Citizens sackt it and afterward burnt it yet within a little time following it was reedified but nothing so fair and magnificent as at the first The which city being given by the Emperor Frederick the second to the Saracins was so strongly fortified that it became very powerfull commanding and domineering over all the bordering places neither was any man able to expel them untill the year 1271 Charls the second King of Naples after many conflicts confounded them and inforced them to forsake their hold The Territory of the said city is very plentifull and yieldeth all sorts of victuals To the which city twice in the year do assemble almost all the Merchants of Italy Grecia Sicilia and Slavonia and from other countries to traffick and sell their wares and this city is the head of the whole Province for there resides the Kings Audit with his Vice-roy In the Church of St. Dominicho which is therein lieth the body of St. Augustine the Hungarian of the Order of Preachers sometime Bishop of the City where he is highly reverenced by the people and was canonized by the holy Church naming him St. Augustine by consent and agreement of the Apostolick Colledg God shewing to his creatures as they they say how acceptable the merit of this man was unto him in the bestowing upon them infinite favours by the means of his Sepulchre From Luceria eight miles upon a small hill is the noble and rich city of Troia which hath a fertile and plentifull soil under the North side of this little hill runneth the river Chilone which flows from the Apennine this city was builded by Bubagano Catapano of Greece and not a Captain of the Greeks as Frier Leandro affirmeth Of the original thereof Leo Bishop of Ostia maketh mention after whom Carto Sigonio a diligent writer of Histories in our time following accounteth the building thereof about the year 1016. Some hold opinion that it was the ancient Esana which was beaten down by the Emperor Constantine There are in the said city these noble Families De Claritiis del Vasto Lombardo Palonibo de Tucciis Gioioso de Rubeis Sangro Saliceto Silvei Sassone Tancredo and others Here was held a Councel in the year 1092. by Pope Vrban the second for to reform certain customs of the Clergy as Biondo and Platina declare in the life of the said Bishop In the principal Church that is therein lies the bodies of Eleutherio Martyr St. Pontiano Bishop St. Secondino and of St Anastasio Walking along by the fields we may see the castle Carignola where the French men were overcome the Duke of Nemors their Captain General and Vice-roy of Naples for Lewis the twelfth King of France and Naples being slain by Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova Captain of Ferdinando the Catholick King of Spain having in his company the valiant Captains Fabritio and Prospero Colennesi Romans in the year 1503. as we have written at large in the lives of the Kings of Naples Going a little farther in the descent of the Apennine appeareth Orsara and afterward the city of Bovino the Lord whereof hath the title of a Duke Four miles farther is Dellicito and from hence seven miles is the ancient city of Ascolo innobled with the dignity of a Prince And this city is sirnamed by Writers Ascolo Satriano as a difference from that of Abruzzo This city was ruinated by Ruggiero the Norman having understood they purposed to rebel against him his father being then in Dalmatia the which was afterward repaired again by his father but not with that greatness Walking then towards the Sea we come to the sumptuous and stately Church dedicated to St. Leonard by the Emperor Frederick the second where is a worthy Monastery assigned to the Dutch Knights of the Order of St. Mary of Prusia allowing them great revenues who governed the said holy Temple a long time with great religion and devotion In the â—nd they decaying the said Monastery was given in commendum whereby at this present it is very ill governed This worthy Church is in great reverence not only with the people near inhabiting but also among all the
made a Bishops Sea This City was very faithfull to King Ladislaus from whom for this cause it attained many priviledges and so strong was the Castle thereof that it was held one of the Keys of the Land and therefore was there alwaies held a strong Garison of Soldiers Gaeta hath alwaies the best Haven which as Spartianus writeth was repaired with great cost by Antonius Pius This City had great honour by Galasius second Bishop of Rome by that famous Thomas of Viao of the Order of Preachers General and after Cardinal of the Church R. this excellent man past to a better life at Rome the 9 of August in the year 1534. And moreover about our time Iohn Tharcagnota hath been very famous whose History is generally known to all Following on the said way there are seen even to Mola which are five miles delightfull Gardens near the crooked shore of the Sea under Gaeta full of green flourishing Oringes Lymons and other pleasant fruits environed with delightfull Christaline streams yielding much content to the beholders thereof Proceeding somewhat forward in following the aforesaid pleasant way on the sea-side is seen the beautifull City Mola built by the ruines of the ancient City Formia now called Ormia which a little distance are seen the Foundations of Formia built by the Laconi according to Pliny and was so called by the conveniency of the Haven as Strabo writeth this ancient City was the habitation of Antiphate King of the Lestrigoni most cruel Tyrants Mola hath very fair and fruitfull Territories some think that Mola was so named of the Wharfs or rather of the Mills which are therein turning by the continual course of water which plentifully riseth from the bottom of the Hils In this Country was the fair and delightfull Village Formiana of Scipio and Lelius the true and faithfull friends which afterward was purchased by Cicero and throughout all this Country which is from Mola to the River Garigliano are seen the ruins of great buildings whereby it may be thought that those places in ancient time were much inhabited being the most delightfull pleasant and fruitfull that the Roman Empire had After Mola three miles upon a little Hill is the Castle Honorato in the way Hercolantea builded by Honoratus of Gaeta County of Fondy Not far off is the Hill Cecubo which stretcheth to the Gulf of Gaeta this Hill is much renowned for the excellency of the Wines thereof which are much commended by Horace by Martial and Strabo following that way towards the mouth of the River Garigliano where it runneth into the Sea before Clanino is Liris so much celebrated for the overthrow which the Saracins had by Pope Iohn the 10th and for the Victory obtained by Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova against the French to whose only valour was attributed the Victory of them and the flight of the Turks whereby he gained the glorious sirname of Great Captain a favour vouchsafed from heaven whereof the world hath so few This said River riseth from the Appennine Mountains and passeth by the Territory of Vestino near to the Country of Fregelle now a famous City and goeth by Luco or rather the Sacred Wood sometimes honoured of the Minturnesi which was near the said City On the left side of the said River is seen upon a little Hill the City of Traietto builded near to the place where was the City of Minturne the ruines whereof are now to be seen and almost the whole Theatre and the ancient aquiducts Minturne was builded by the Ausoni and was afterward a Roman Colony and was divided by the River near the mouth thereof It was in the time of Pope Marcellinus honoured with a general Councel and it was one of the Cities which for the grievance of the air was priviledged by the Romans both from the Wars and other burthens and Impositions Cai. Marius flying hither secretly hid himself in a moorish or fenny place and beholding an Asse to go very pleasantly to the water to drink took it for a good presage or a token of good fortune re-inforced his Army and putting to Sea entred Rome victoriously From thence leaving the Confines of this Region of Latium we enter on the right hand into the Land of Lavoro and the Hill which is in the entrance of the Land of Lavoro very near to the mouth of Garigliano hath many famous names for in some place it is called Gauro in other Massico and in some other Gallicano that part thereof that is nearest to Garigliano is called Gauro from whence the River hath been called Gaureliano Pliny saith that this Gauro as also the Hill Vessuvio near Naples yieldeth Sulphur or Brimstone which the hot-waters sufficiently declare which at this present are seen to issue and boyle where now is the Tower of the Bathes and the Bathes themselves After Minturn the first Land that is nearest in the Land of Lavoro on this side was Trifano situated by Livy between Minturn and Sinuessa the next following was Sinuessa five miles as Strabo saith from Minturn but it is ten miles as it now appeareth Livy saith that there were two Colonies brought about the Territory Vestino and Falerno one at the mouth of Garigliano which was Minturn as is said and the other in Vestino which confineth with the Territory of Falerno where first there was a Greek City called Sinope which was builded by the Sinopesi and was by the Roman Colony called Sinuessa because it joyned near to the City Sessa Here died old Turpillus that comical Poet many ruines of this City are to be seen on the land but more in the Sea and the Haven thereof had a large Key or Wharlf made by mens labour at the top of the Hill called Dragone saith Livy that Fabius Maximus led his Army by the top of the Mount Massico forbidding passage to Hannibal and that the Souldiers of Hannibal sackt the Country even to the water Sinuessano from whence it seemeth that the Mount Massico whereon Fabius Maximus held his Army is a part of the same Hill which reacheth from Sessa to Carinola In the place of Sinuessa two miles from thence upon the Hill is the Fort of Mondragone honoured with the dignity of a Dukedome the Town whereof stands in the Plain less then a mile from the Sea where Sinuessa was is nothing seen but the Baths which as Strabo saith doe cure many diseases and especially help women that ate baren After the Fort of Mondragone upon the Hill Massico which is full of Villages from the part towards the Sea there is no land or Castle but from that part which is towards Garigliano between the Sea Garigliano the way Appia and the Mount Massico is no more plain then eight miles every way and is manured and inhabited with much people and is now called the Villages of Sessa which Plain in the happy time of the Romans was
very fruitfull three full Meadows abounding with much Grass as Martial affirmeth Near Cascano one of the said Villages is a Vein of Gold which King Alfonsus the first made use thereof but now it is fallen to decay because they say it yields not sufficient profit into the Kings Exchequer yet the Reverend Majesty of the Roman Commonwealth did not so for that they respected no other end then the common utilly caused the Mines to be digged for the relief of those poor people that laboured therein Now turning us into the way Appia as it passeth by the foot of the Hill Massico is the ancient City Sessa called of the Latines Suessa anciently named Pometia and sometimes Arunca builded as some say by Hercules it hath been inhabited by sundry people the first was said by the Arunci and the Ausoni and the Seclecini and after by the Volosci and last of all the Vestini as it appears in sundry places of Livy the Territory whereof is very fertile of all sorts of Fruits but particularly Corn Wine and Oyle which for great abundance the Citizens thereof say proceeds from the excellency of the air and that Sessa was so called as it were Suavis Sessio being so well and so excellently situated and therefore the Emperor Claudius growing sickly and weak went thither to recover his health Sessa was a priviledged City of the Romans that worthy Philosopher and Phisician Augustine Nifo hath in these our daies much honoured this City The Arms of this City is a Lyon Rampant gules in a field or it hath the dignity of a Dukedome the Lord whereof is Don Antonio of Cordova Duke of Somma Nephew to that Noble Lord Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova Going from Sessa by the way Appia on the right hand of Massico eight miles is Carinola sometime called Calâ—no an ancient City joyned on the one side to the Territory of Falerno and on the other to the Hill Massico the Fields Falerni stretch from Carinola to Cassilino which was afterwards called Casteluccio and was here joyned with the Field Stellato more pleasant then any other part of Italy as Livy writeth The Hill Massico stretcheth beyond the City of Tiano and of Calvi called long since Cales even to Cajazza which the Ancients have called Calatia this Hill is extended with a back on the left hand from Calvi to Venafro and from thence directly to Volturno another part boweth on the right hand full of Woods and Caves and goeth to Caianello sometime called Calicula And to Vulturno on the right hand of the mouth of Vulturno was sometime a City called also Vulturno as Livy witnesseth and was where we now see the Land called Castello to the Sea of Vulturno not far from the Sea is to be seen Patria builded upon the ruines of Linterno which was the Town of Scipio Africanus where he made choice to live when he betook himself to a voluntary exile and where he spent the latter part of his life It is said that he caused to be written on his Sepulchre Ingrata patria non possidebis ossa mea There is near Linterno among the ruines thereof the Fountain of water Acidula which water is said to make a man drunken as wine and the Shepherds report that whosoever drinketh of this water is delivered from all pain of the head and we having a desire to make trial thereof found it to savour well as all other and although a certain fume ascendeth up the nose in smelling it as Wine useth to doe yet drinking but a little we could not perceive the effects thereof which it procureth in drinking Five miles from Linterno is Cuma between which two places where the shore is crooked between the Pool and the Sea was the Town of Servilio Vacia of whom Seneca speaketh Cuma was builded by the Galcidesi and the Cumei the leaders of the Colonie which came thither to inhabit were Hippocle Cumeo and Megastene Calcidese which agreed between them that from the one it should take the inhabitants and from the other the name although some say it was named Cuma from the waves for Cuma is as much as to say Onda for being near the stony shore it is full of mighty Rocks continually beaten with the waves of the Sea Near Cuma is the Promontory Miseno where was buried Misceno the Trumpeter of Aeneas and between these two is the Lake Acherusia which is a Moor or Marsh of the Sea very muddy leaving Miseno near under the Promontory is the Lake From thence the shore fetcheth a compass making a gulf where is the Castle Baia and the Baths of warm water no less profitable for health then delight Baia was so called by Baio the Companion of Vlisses which was there buried Near Baia is the Lake Locrino in the time of the Romans within it was the renowned Lake Averno The Lake Lucrino was so called by the profit of the Fishes and Oysters that were taken there Following the shore is the City of Pozzuolo which in former time was the Harbour of the Ships of Cumani builded upon the Hill In the time afterward of the Wars of Hannibal the Romans replenished it with people and of the Ditches named it Pozzuolo Others affirm that it was so named by the ill savour of the water which from Bale even to Gumeo is generally felt Following then that shore from Pozzuolo are seen many Springs of wholsome and medicinable water on the shore near the Ruines departing from Pozzuolo and going by the way which leadeth to Naples are great ruines of buildings on every side for the space of a mile At the end of these ruines is the Court of Vulcan now commonly called Solfatara which is a Plain inclosed round about with smokie Hills in the manner of fiery Fornaces from whence out of divers places arise very stinking exhalations and the Plain is all full of Sulphure and sometime it boileth out more then eight hand breadths in height and being mixed with the earth it seemeth black and in in such sort that it may rather be called dark clay then water Here amongst those natural things that is worthy consideration it seemeth that the watry humour preserveth the Sulphure in such manner that during all the time it continually burneth it consumeth not and the fire abideth in the same holes the water issuing by the same passage This place was also called of ancient writers Campo Flagro as it were a burning field from whence the Poets feign that there was the battel of the Giants with Hercules and that the flashing of their wounds and the Conquest of the Giants do cause such and so great ebolitions of fire and water Bending afterward to the North a little from thence is the Hill Asturno very high in the midst whereof is a Plain very low reduced into a circle being two miles in circuit where is a little Pool with Sulphure water which
new Inhabitants undoing and pulling down certain ancient Sepulchres to build little houses in their Villages purposing to imploy those stones and using therein much labour and diligence passing up and down discovered certain Vessels of antick work found in a little Table of Brass wherein was written Capi the builder of Capoa to be here buried with Letters in Greek words to this effect That whensoever the bones of Capi shall be discovered at the same instant one of the kindred of Iulo must be slain with a sword by the hands of his own friends and kindred and after be revenged with grievous afflictions and the ruine of Italy This same Capoa was by Gensericus King of the Vandals razed and destroyed with sword and fire six hundred years after it had been subject to the Romans but since the Goths Ostrogoths being chased away by Narsete Eunuco Captain to the Emperor Iustinian was newly inhabited again And about a hundred years after was destroyed and ruinated anew by the Lombards but with the reliques builded of the Inhabiters again two miles distant from the ancient place Since by Conradus King of Naples son of the Emperor Frederick the second the Walls thereof were thrown to the ground because the Capoans were known to be contrary to the Manfredi with the Neopolitans wherefore he ransackt and sackt it and did therein harm enough It sustained great calamity in the time of Pope Alexander the sixth being sacked and robbed by the French sent by Lewis the twefth King of France to the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples against King Frederick of Arragon now it remaineth well fortified by the providence of Philip of Austria the most puissant Catholick King under whose protection it resteth most secure Pliny in the description of Italy speaking of Capoa saith that there is the Field Leborino much more pleasant and delightfull then any part of all Italy and he in another place calleth Leborino the excellent Territory of Capoa and to declare what it is the Territory thereof is all plain which stretcheth from Tifata which is the Hill above Capoa even to Naples and Pozzuolo and from Capoa to the mouth of Vulturno where it entreth into the Sea Capoa being so hated and defaced by the Romans and twice ruinated the people near adjoyning disdained to be any longer called Campani desiring to avoid this infamy and this danger to be hated and undone for this name changed the name being called by their ancient name Leborini and so much their constant perseverance prevailed that that which before was wont to be called Campania was called the Land of Lebore But since the word being corrupted by people was called the Land of Labore from whence grew the opinion that this should be because as it were all pains for so the word Labore signifies should there be well bestowed and some others have said that it should be so called from the great and difficult pains that is required in the subduing of it F. L. Sosipatro Charisio a most ancient Gramarian was a Citizen of Capoa whose works have been found by Iano Parasio Victore called the Capoan Bishop and a famous Astrologian and an excellent Orator hath given great honour to this City who lived in the year of Christ 480. Likewise Pietro of Vineis was also a Citizen a learned Lawyer which was in great favour with the Emperor Frederick the second King of Naples but the Emperor had afterward a certain suspicion of him for a conspiracy that was deâ—ised banished him where through grief he died having first composed a Book of Consolation Of this Pietro Dante maketh mention in the first part of the 13 Cant. saying I am he which holdeth both the Keys Iohn Antonio Campano hath also given no small reputation to this noble City of whom Raffaello Voluterano writeth that he know him being a child attended the keeping of sheep and being apt and urged by nature endeavoured by all means to attain learning wherein he so much profited that he was esteemed worthy to read in the Schools of Paris being entertained by the Paragians with a large stipend and so much he increased in faâ—â— and learning that Pius the second afterward made him Bishop of Apruntino This learned man left behind him many Works of the which was the book of the Acts and famous deeds of Braccio of Montone He writ the life of the worthy Prince Frederick Duke of Vrbin and the life of Pope Pius the second Moreover in these our daies Camille Pellegrino and Beneditto of Vva excellent Poets whose Works are well known have and alwaies give everlasting honour to this noble City And with these hath also been very famous Iohn Battista an eloquent Orator Afterward from Capoa eight miles distant is Aversa a noble and a rich City builded upon the ruines of the ancient Attella often remembred by Livy and Marcus Tullius Atella was the well-spring of lascivious Verses and wanton and effeminate behaviours whereupon the compositions and lascivious Comodies and dishonest were called Atelliane Boyes and girls were taught certain lascivious Verses and to that purpose did come with a certain composed measure and wanton carriage of the body and roling the eyes to pronounce them with so great immodesty and lascivious behaviours at the Tables of dishonest persons and on the Stages that there wanted nothing but the dishonest and carnal conjunction together But of better discipline was the beginning of Aversa the which by Averso the Norman a famous Captain was first built and afterwards was beautified by Robert Guiscardo a worthy and a valiant man This City was ruinated and defaced even to the foundation by Charls the first of Angio King of Naples for the Rebellion of the House Rebursa But it was afterward newly re-edified and beautified by Charls the second King his son This City is great and much inhabited and is one of the principal in the Land of Lavoro as well for the vicinity and neighbourhood of the City of Naples from the which it is not distant more then seven miles as also for the fertilty of the pleasant and beautifull fields thereof the which being inclosed in six miles spread between Naples and Capoa And a little more towards Linterne compassing a great part of the Leborine fields sometime very famous and now called Gaudo Moreover this City is very honorable for the Bishoprick which yieldeth eight thousand Crowns yearly and is now under the Authority of the worthy and reverend Lord Don Pietro Orsino a Prelate as it is commonly said of great clemency and wisdom whereby he is loved and honoured of all This City had many famous men very expert in the Law as Cavello Barnado President of the Kings Chamber Felice Barnada Tomaso Grammatico a famous Councellor for the deciding of controversies Scipio Cutinarâ—o Regent of the Councel of Italy in Spain Marc. of Mauro President of the Summaria In Philosophy
have been many learned as Bartholmew of Donato which writ a discourse de Corporeitatis Luca Prassitio which subtilly and wittily writ ten Disputations against Augustine Nifo of Sessa very learned are these Treatises De immortalitate animae and de prestantia literarum supra arma wherein he exprest great learning and in these daies together with these the reverend Father Alfonso of Marco of the reformed Order of Preachers who for his good and examplary life shineth as the Sun in darkness he hath learnedly writ upon Logick natural Philosophy the soul Metaphysick and de ente rationis and he is now commenting the same of St. Thomas and if God permit him life we may expect other learned Works to proceed from him In the aforesaid City are these Noble Families Altimaro Cutinario Gargano Grimaldo Landulfo Pacifio Scaglione Silvestro Simonello Tufo Ricardo Della Valle and others Not far from Aversa is Marigliano in a good Soil and is wholly walled about and by the Ancients called Merlianum and Marianum the Citizens whereof say that it was so called by C. Marius the Founder thereof and it is now indued with the dignity of a Marquiss under the jurisdiction of the House of Montenegro Innocentius the third Bishop of Rome hath much honoured this Land being born there and at this present R. D. Iacobo Marotta a learned Philosopher who hath written upon the predicables and predicaments of the Logick of Scotus de triplici intellectu Humane Angelical and Divine and read in the common Schools of Naples the Metaphisicks with a wonderfull concourse of Students Afterward appeareth the City Acerra called by Strabo Acerrae which was burnt by Hannibal the Carthaginian But was again newly re-edified by the Romans whereof Livy often maketh mention and Virgil calleth the Territory thereof very good and fertile Near to which City runneth the River Glanio very hurtfull to the Country through the continual inundations and therefore is almost disinhabited Acerra was builded by the people Nasamoni who in honour of Iupiter Feretrio made a high Altar after the fashion of a little Ship whereupon they burnt great abundance of sweet Odours wherefore it was called Acerra by the Nasamoni which opinion Alexander of Alexandro Neopolitan confirmeth in the 7 Chapter of his third Book speaking of their Gemali Acerra erat ara constituta ubi odores incenderet quae acerra dicta erat à Nasamonibus populis Some are of opinion that an Altar so called was only devised by the Nasamoni but that Numa Pompilius erected the Temple of Iupiter Feretrio Festo believeth that Feretrio was so called by bringing of peace although Plutarch saith that he should be so named by the wounding of enemies whereupon Propertio writeth a learned Elegy of Iupiter Feretrio thus Nunc Iovis incipiam causas aperire Feretrii Armaque de ducibus trima recepta tribus To which Temple the Ancients when they obtained victory of their enemies consecrated all their best and richest spoils Departing from Acerra is the River Glanio which springeth from the Hill above Sessua by ancient Writers named Clanius whereof Virgil maketh mention in two of his Georgicks thus Talem dives arat Capua vicina Vesevo Ora jugo vacuis Clanius non aequus Acerris Probus writeth that the River Clanio took that name from the Giant Clanio Afterward is seen Sessula distant from Acerra four miles called by Strabo Suessula and by Livy in many places and in his seventh Book sheweth that in this City was a great battel between the Romans and the Samnites where the Samnites were put to flight by M. Valer. This City is almost now ruinated Afterward appeareth from the North part the Hils of Capoa called by Livy Tifata these Hils are above Capoa and above all this Country the which pass along even to the Territory of Nola. Afterward is the River Isclero and the River Sorritello and not far off upon a fair Hill is the Aierola an excellent Country honoured with the dignity of a Dukedom under the Family Caracciola From Aierola five miles is in a fair Plain Arienzo a Country full of worthy and honourable people called of the Latines Argentum the Territory whereof is very fertile and full of Fruit and especially of Percope where they grow more common in this Country then any other verily these fruits are to be preferred before all others for their delicacy and great goodness these said Trees live not above five years and it is necessary that the seeds or carnels thereof be sowed towards the East in a place where the cold cannot hurt them for cold is a great enemy to these Trees the Fruit thereof is of the colour of Gold with red spots and a slender rine and weighs a pound and more according to the place where they be planted Not far off upon a steep and pleasant little Hill is the City of Caserta replenished with worthy and honourable people the original whereof is uncertain the Citizens of it affirm by ancient tradition that it was builded by the Sessulani and Galatini others believe from the reliques of the second Capoa in the Hill Trifisco and last of all others say that it should be builded by the Longobards and was made a Cathedral Church by Alexander the fourth Bishop of Rome The Lords of Aquino ruled this City a long time afterward it came under the Counts of Tilesia of the Noble Family Siginulfa and lastly Giulio Antonio Acquaniva a noble Lord possest it with the Title of a Prince The noble Family of Santori hath much honoured this City of which that excellent Doctor of Law Lonardo hath been much renowned who left to the world a worthy and honourable issue from whom descended the famous and reverend Giulio Antonio Santoro Cardinal of the Church of Rome and Francesco Antonio Archbishop of Severin◠his brother men no less famous for Learning then for sincerity of life Going a little farther is Mataloni of some called Magdaloni and of others Metalionis which hath the dignity of a Dukedome subject to the noble Family of Carrafi Near which upon a Hill is the fair City of Venafro named by Strabo Venafrum the Plain whereof Pliny calleth fertile and full of Olives whereupon Martial praising the Oyle saith Hoc tibi Campani sudavit bacca Venafri Vnguentum quoties sumis istud oles This City in the time of our Ancestors had the Title of a County under the Pandoni Gentlemen of Naples after the which it came under the Dominion of the worthy Lords of Lanoia Princes of Sulmona but now it is in the Kings hands Going a little farther is the noble ancient City of Sora so called both now and in old time which in the time of the Romans was the principal City of all Sannio Pliny placeth it in the first Region and Ptolomy in Latium and Strabo describeth it in happy Campania We following the
all the Romans both men and women might lawfully commit any lascivious dishonesty which then was accounted the most holy that which that day was most dishonest St. Felix Bishop hath given great honour to this City whose body lieth in it and as they say there riseth continually Manna out of his holy bones whose life was written by St. Paulino Bishop of this City St. Paulino was the inventor of the use of Bels an Instrument utterly unknown to the Ancients which is now so necessary in the Church of God He gave it the name of Campane because he invented it in Campania where is the aforesaid City of Nola of the which he was Bishop and that the Citizens ever since glorying therein as rightly they may have alwaies used to give a Bell for the Arms of the City And to say something of the famous Counts of Nola Monsignieur Guido da Monforte was the first thereof a most noble and valiant Gentleman of France which came with Charls the first of Angio to the Conquest of the Kingdom with whom he was in great estimation and having one only daughter called Anastasia married to Romano Orsino chief Justice of the Kingdom who by the death of his Father in Law succeeded in the County which was the first of the Family of Orsina which had Seigniory in the Kingdom The posterity of this man have proved all worthy men and very valiant but the matchless Paragon of all was Ramondo which florished in the time of Charls the second for being chased away and forsaken by his Father went into Soria after he had in a journey into the Holy Land done many valiant exploits against the Moors and overcome in a private combate a most fierce and mighty Saracin who carried a Rose upon the top of his wreathed Turbant returned home into the Kingdom with great honour and for a token of that Victory joyned it with much glory to his Arms whereupon through his great magnanimity and valour was made Prince of Taranto That Principality hath been continued even to this present one of the most important Members of the Kingdom for it contained very much land and Cities of greatest importance which for brevity I omit to name so that Ramondo being a very mighty and great Lord the House of Orsina was very famous through all Italy Râ—mondo married the Lady Mary of Eugenio of an honourable proginy in France who after the death of her husband having the tuition of her children became Queen of Naples at such time as King Ladislao besieged her in Taranto who being not able to subdue her resolved to take her for his wife and so by that means to possess the Inheritance of the children of Ramondo of whom the first was Iohn Antonio who redeemed the Principality of Taranto with money from Iames husband of Queen Ione This Iohn Antonio increased much his Patrimony with Lands of great importance and was highly favoured by Alfonsus of Arragon King of Naples who made him great Constable which is the chiefest of the seven Offices in the Kingdom with a hundred thousand Duckets yearly for a Pension And to return to the Counts of Nola they were great Lâ—rds for they possest Sarno Tripalda Palma Avella Lauro Forino Ascoli and other Lands But afterward Felice Orsino Prince of Salerno succeeded in the County who having little experience in worldly affairs through the dâ—â—â—ension and division of the Kingdom lost his State in 〈◊〉 time after the death of his Father And King Ferrant the first gave Salerno to Robert 〈◊〉 and Nola Tripalda Ascoli Lauro and Forino to Orso Orsino 〈…〉 great Chancellor of the Kingdom and partner with him in the Wars against Iohn Antonio Orsino whereupon the line of Romano Orsino which had ruled Nola almost two hundred years was extinguished and the Principality of Salerno rose of the House of Orsino 24 years after he had it But this line afterward of the Count Orso continued but a small time for the Lady Santola a Citizen of Nola by whom he had two sons the one Duke of Ascoli and the other a Knight lost all their Inheritance through the wicked means of their mother who lewdly justified of her own accord that they were not begotten by the Count Orso were deprived of all their right by King Ferdinando who gave the County of Nola with Cimitino Avella Monforte Lauro Palma and Ottoiano to the Count Nicola Orsino of Pitigliano whose successors possest it untill the year 1528. the which Don Arrigo in serving the French lost his life and his state also and so ended the line of the Counts of Nola which were so famous in this Kingdom Now returning to our former order I say that from the City of Nola are also sprung many other famous men as well adorned with Learning as with Military Discipliâ—e which would be too teadious to repeat and therefore I reâ—er the reader to Ambrogio Lione who very exactly nameth and describeth them all But for us it shall be only sufficient to name the Noble Families which the said Leone writeth of which are in the said City and are these following Albertino Alfano Barone Caposâ—rosa Candido Cesarini Coriale Carmignano Campobascio de Ferrariis de Elia Freccia Fellecchia Fontana Rosa Del Iodice Ioseph Infante de Gennaro Maffei Marifeulo Morra Mastrilâ—o Mazzeo Notariis De Palma Perarii Perrigioanni Rehi Risi Santori Sassolani c. and at this present the Bishop of this City Fabritio Gallo Neopolitan a Prelate besides his learning a man of sincere and pure life who with much diligence composed a Sinodal Book of his Diocess There are many other places the which I think not fit to recite all but the greatest and most important I have not omitted any but the small and little as those which are thought to be of little or no account I have neglected assuring you that to the integrity and soundness of the Work it shall not fail in any momentary matter The Arms of this Noble Country is in a Field Asurâ—â— Cornucope in salter thorow the middle of a Crown the first of â—eres the other Bacchus or the which Arms signifie the great fertility and abundance of the Country which as it were Queen of every other Province exceeds them in all the benefits of Nature Whereupon in confirmation of what I have said I will concluded with L. Floro who speaking thereof thus writeth Omnium non modo Italia sed toto orbe terrarum pulcherrima Campaniae plaga est Nihil mollius coelo nihil uberrius solo nihil hospitalius mari Denique bis floribus vernat ideo Liberi Cererisque certamen dicitur Hic illi nobiles portus Caieta Misenus tepentes fontibus Baiae Lucrinus Avernus quâ—dam maris otia Hic amicti vitibus montes â—aurus Falernus Massicus Pulcherimâ—s omnium Vessuvius Aetaeni ignis imitator Vrbes ad mare Formiae Cumae Neapolis Herculanium Pompei ipsa
wollen Cloath and Iron and Paper which are there wrought There are in this City these Noble Families Alamagni Amallano Afflitto Austericcio Bembo Brancia Bonito Capoano Cometurso Comite Castello Corsari alias Don Musco Cappa Santa D' Arco Dentice del Iodice de Domio Marino De Fusolis De Platamono Favaro Molignana Marramaldo Petrarca Pisanello del Barone Guglielmo The Arms of this City have been a field per fesse gu and Ar. plain crosses counter-changed the which signifie no other then a unity and consort of things which we have declared of the said City Not far from Amalfi is the beautifull and rich Country of Mairue full of honourable people called by the Letterati Maiorium which was builded by Sichinolfo Longobard Prince of Salerno in the year 842. although some affirm that it had its beginning of Sicardo Duke of Benevento brother of the said Prince The Citizens thereof were almost all Merchants and very ingenious it hath had at sundry times men of great worth as Vinciguerra Lanario which was Lieutenant of the Kings Chamber Iohn Antonio Lanario Councellor and afterward Regent of the Councel of Italy in Spain with King Philip by whom through his worthy merits he was created Count of Sacco And moreover in those daies that worthy and learned man Farrante imperato hath much honoured that Country an excellent and most diligent searcher and conserver of all the riches of Nature and is very learned in the experience of simples whereupon to his great charge hath collected so many divers things and procured them from sundry parts of the world which yield no small wonder to every one that sees them for the which cause many learned men come from far Countries allured through the same of this man to see in Naples his admirable and rare studie He hath composed two learned Works the one a History of natural things and the other of Treacle the which Works are sufficiently known to the world He maintains how in Naples his most honourable house with great courtesie and kind entertainment of the which the City of Scala may well boak that the said Family descended from it which florished with Military men Going a little higher appeareth Minori a little City which is very delightfull for the pleasant Gardens thereof full of Oringes Citrons and Limons and other Fruits Afterward in the top of a Hill is the City Ravello full of goodly buildings and the seat of Nobility where in the principal Church thereof is preserved within a grate the miraculous bloud of St. Pantaleone which being black and hard as a stone the day before and after its Feast as they say is liquid and moist as it was at the time when it was first spilt The Noble Families of the said City are these following Acconciaioco Alfano Bove Campanile Confalone Citarella Castaldo Curtis de Vito de Insola Fenice de Foggia Frezza Fusco Grifone Iusti Longo Muscetola Marra Peroto Rogadei Rufula Rustico Sasso Sconciaioco and others In these daies Paolo Fosco Bishop of Sarno hath much honoured this City who writ two learned Books one of Visitation and Church-Regiment the other de Singularibus in jure Pontificio Going a little farther is Scala re-edified by the Longobards in which City were these Noble Families Afflitti Alfani Marini Atrara Bondello Bonito Cavaliero Frisaro Grisone Mansella Pando Rufola Samnella Sasso del Cardinale Staivano Sebastiani and others The said City was burnt at the same time with Amalfi by the Emperor Lotharius the third because they had been very favourable to Ruggiero the Norman King of Naples which was in the year 1125. but was afterward by the same Citizens newly repaired Descending after towards the shore of the Sea going from Amalfi and sailing towards the East is a little Promontory called the Cape of Orso very memorable for the Victory Count Philip Lieutenant to Andrea Doria had there then Admiral of the King of France against the Empereal Army where were taken prisoners the Marquiss of Vasto and Ascanio Colonna with the death of Don Vgo de Moncada Viceroy of Naples and of Don Pietro di Cardona and others which thing was the cause that Andrea Doria left the service of the French King and joyned with the Emperor Charls the fifth The occasions that moved Doria to leave the French party we have discoursed at full in the lives of the Kings of Naples and besides in the Annals of the said Kingdom Going along by the Continent of the Land you come to Vieteri called of the Latines Vicus Veterum and Vetus Vrbs where are many delightfull and pleasant Villages and going a little farther a mile distant from the Sea appeareth the most ancient and famous City of Salerno the Head both of this Region and also of Basilicata builded near the River of Silare which riseth from the Apennine where also springeth Drumento which runneth down into the Adriatick Sea the said City is situated at the foot of an arm of the Apennine it hath in the front or fore-part fertile and spacious fields behind and on the left side high Mountains on the right side the Tâ—rrene Sea which is so near that the wals are watred therewith and from which a Gulf very perilous is so named which Mariners now call the Gulf of Salerno which by the Latines is named Sinus Pestanus from the ancient City of Peste which is now wholly ruinated as is to be seen in the midst of the shore Through all the Territory of Salerno are seen pleasant Gardenâ— ful of Oringes Limons and Citrons and other excellent Fruits and al the year there are Flowers which seem as a perpetual Spring through the happy influence of the heavens wherefore Horace saith Quod sit hiems veliae quod coelum valla Salerni and therefore all the fruits that grow there are of singular perfection and especially Pomgranates and the Appian Apple whereof is written Omnia mala mala preter Appia Salernitana The Grain Rice which is there in great abundance is very excellent and worthy praise there are also precious Wines and most pleasant in taste Salerno was so named by the River Silare whereof Lucan speaketh in his second Book Radensque Salerne tecta Siler But who should be the Founder thereof no Writer hath made any mention Yet the Citizens say that Sem the son of Noe built it and for authority thereof alleadg an ancient Hymn which their Clergy were wont to sing the 15 of May in celebrating the Feast of the Translation of St Fortunato Caio and Anthe the which Hymn thus beginneth O Salernum civitas nobilis Quam edificavit Sem Noe filius Non tuis sed sanctorum meritis collaudaris It is true that it was an ancient Colony of the Romans who fortified it and put therein a strong Garison of Souldiers for the doubt and distrust they had of the Picentini Lucani and Brutii which were assembled together with
Controviero a man of Princely behaviour was in great account with Paul the sixth by whom he was created Bishop of the City of Penna and Vice-Legat of Bologna and had been advanced to greater honour if the death of the Pope had not hindred it Gabriel de Blasio being a man of great vertue was made Judge of the Vicaria and of the Kings Councel Two men of the Family Bilotta have carried great honour in their Country which florished in the time of our fore-fathers the one called Iohn Camillo the other Sâ—ipio of whom the first being a man much learned in many Sciences was by the King imployed in divers honourable affairs and was created the first Exchequer-Advocate of the Vicaria and afterward of the Sommaria And the second was a most vertuous and a good man and was general Commissary of the Kingdom against Malefactors which through his good Government brought them into peace and tranquility and in reward had the Office of Exchequer-Advocate of the Vicaria which his brother held and had enjoyed if untimely death had not prevented it This famous City hath also brought forth many excellent men in Arms of whom omitting to speak I refer the Reader to the Histories which largely discourse thereof among whom two have been very famous in the time of our fore-fathers as Hectore Savariano a valiant Souldier of his age of whom Giovio in the life of Leo the tenth maketh honourable mention And Andrea Candido Prior of Barletta Knight of the Rodes There are in the said City these Noble Families Aquino Avolos Bilotti Bottini Candidi Capassi Calendi Capobianchi Caraccioli del Leone Contestabili Controvieri Del ' Aquila Di Blasio Di Enea Del Sindico della Vipera Egittii Filingieri Grisi Laurentii Leoni Mascambroni Mazzei Mazzilli Monforti Morri Pesci Sallaroli Savariani Tuâ—i Vico Vintimiglia Vitro the Arch-Bishop of this City hath 24 Bishops his Suffraganes which number no other place of Christendom hath equalled This City is situate in a plain place near a Plain full of little brooks of water with many hils round about very plentifull and distant from Naples 30 miles Writers affirm that in the division that was made of the Roman Empire between Charls the great and F.L. Nicesero the Greek the Dukedom of Benevento and the City of Venice were appointed as the limits and confines between the one and the other Now because we have sufficiently discoursed of Benevento we will declare the quality of this Country the which although it be full of hils is nevertheless very pleasant through the variety of the situation high low plain and very commodious for tillage because the Country is wholly inhabited and aboundeth with all good things The Hils are covered with Vines and fruitfull Trees the Dales and Plains with Corn and Gardens there are also thick Woods and watered with many Rivers and store of Cattel of Corn Wine Oyle Flax Apples Chesnuts both great and small Nuts Pears and other fruits of great goodness and perfection whereby in time of Harvest it doth appear that it contends in equal comparison with other plentifull Provinces and above all there is excellent hunting both for fowles and beasts The Aire is subtle and wholsome although cold There are moreover in this Country in the Territory of Prata Mines of Gold and Silver which for that they yield no great profit are not much regarded Distant from Benevento little less then ten miles is the Valley of Caudina where was the ancient City of Caudio the reliques whereof yet appear and not far from thence is the ancient Harpino now called Arpata which is very near to the Gallows of Caudine very famous for the overthrow which the Romans had there where the Consul and the Roman Army by deceit inclosed were constrained by the Sannites to pass shamefully under the yoke the which place the Country-people now call the streit of Arpaia which stands but a little distant from the City the which is indued with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the house of Guevara On the other side of the Valley Caudina are these Countries St. Martino St. Angelo a Scala afterward cometh the same River which joyneth with the River Sabato which riseth from Montevirgine a high and spacious place in the Valley whereof the first Country which is there is Altavilla afterward is the Castle of Montefredano and near the Valley is the ancient City of Avellino which is now written in the Exchequer Roll Avellinensis but in the Books of the Roman Court Avellinus Episcopus and the Territory thereof aboundeth with great store of small Nuts and therefore by the Latines they were called Avellanae nuces The said City is dignified with the Title of a Prince which the family Caracciola the Red possesseth Then followeth Mercuriale now called Mercugliano the Country of the holy Hospital of the Annunciation of Naples and above that Hill is the noble Church and Monastery of Montevirgine of white Monks of the Order of St. Benedict which was builded in old time in honour of Cibele mother of the Gods but changed by the Christians into the honour of the glorious mother of God our Saviour the Virgin Mary a place of so much beauty and sanctity which not only excelleth in fame through all this Kingdom but through all Italy and beyond whereupon at two several times of the year that is to say at Whitsontide and our Lady day in September there concurs and flocks together from far and near places innumerable people bringing all sorts of Presents This Monastery is the head of the said Congregation of Montevirgine and therein are continually resident 200 Monks In the Church there is a Reliquary which the Monks of the same place say that a greater is not in all Christendom for so many bodies of Saints and other reliques that are therein among which there are to be seen as they say the entire bodies of the three children which were put into the flaming furnace There are other notable things as the Sepulchres of Kings and other Princes The Founder of this holy place was William of Vercelli of whose life manners and miracles and of the things abovesaid who desireth to have a full and true satisfaction thereof he may read the History of the Original of the notable things of Montevirgine Six miles from Benevento upon a very high Hill is seen the Country of Montesuscolo where resideth the Kings Audit of the Province and every Sunday is held a Market with great concourse of people And a little distant is the Castle and Montemileto which hath the Title of a County Afterward we come to the Hils of the Apennine which are called Monti Tremoli where ariseth the River Sabato which passing by low places in the end is joyned with the River Vulturno Antonio in his book of remembrance calleth this River Sabbatum but the people of the Country name it the River of Benevento
haunted an evil spirit a long time for the death of Hippolitus the companion of Vlysses which was there slain against all humanity whereupon rose the Proverb among the Ancients Aderit genius Temeseus Noting hereby that Gods vengeance never faileth to reward such wickedness if by humane means it be not punished The said City was built by the Ausoni which Strabo affirmeth in his sixth book saying Alao prima urbs Brettiae Tempsa quam Auxonii condiderunt nostrae autem aetatis homines Tempsam etiam vocitant Temesa was a Bishops Sea as appeareth in the Councels when Hillary the Bishop thereof came to the fourth Roman Sinod under the Popedom of Agathon And the Territory thereof is very fat and fertile and yieldeth excellent Wine Oyle Hony fine Silk Grain and other Corn and all kinds of Fruits and from heaven descendeth Manna and there is made great store of Bird-lime and Glue Hard by is Foscaldo where is great abundance of Sugar Hony Wine Corn and other Fruits The said Country is honoured with the dignity of a Marquiss A little higher is the Country of Lattarico which by Livy is called Hetriculum hard by standeth Torano and Regina called in old time Herinium built by the Enotri in whose Territory is made great abundance of Oyle there is also Mines of Brimstone Saltpeter and Alabaster and a little farther is situate the City Montalto by Barrio called Vffugium it had sometimes a Bishops Sea which dignity was joyned to Cosenza It hath a good Territory which yieldeth Grain Oyle and other Fruits and there is made great abundance of Silk there is also Alabaster and Brimstone and every year there is a very great Fair. It hath the dignity of a Dukedom the Lady whereof is the Lady Mary of Arragon in whom endeth the line of old Alfonsus of Arragon King of Naples the which State by marriage fell into the Family of Moncada Going now towards the Sea we may behold Paula a name corrupted derived from ancient Patycos very famoms for being the natural Country of St. Francis the Author of the Order of the Minimi hard by is St. Nocito very famous for the excellent sweet Wine then cometh Castellofranco with the River Campagnano called in old time Acheronte where was slain even as he was foretold by the Oracle Alexander King of Molossi mean while he not understanding the cautions of the devil rested secure having avoided another River of the same name in Epiro The words of the Oracle were these Aeacida cave accedas ad aquam Acherusiam Et Pandasiam quod ibi tibi laetum decretum est Near hand is seen Cerisano called in old time Citerium and upon the side of the River Crati and of Basenta is the famous City Consenza full of people rich and very ancient it was a Colony of the Lucani in old time it was the chief City of the Brutii but now the head of this Province The said City is situate between hils and dales it hath before it a great Plain which stretcheth very near forty miles and is called the Villey of Crati it is compassed with 85 Hamlets or Villages which for the most part are very great It aboundeth in all things which may be desired either for profit or humane pleasure it hath brought forth many excellent men and among others the Abbot Giacchino indued as Dant saith with a prophetical spirit who was of one of the Villages of Cosenza called Celico St. Thelesphoro Iano Parassio Antonio Telesio Iohn Baptista d'Amico Coriolano Marticano and Berardino Martirano which was also Secretary of the Kingdom Piâ—tropaolo Parisio a famous Doctor of Law which was made Cardinal by Pope Paul the third Borardino Telesio which writ against the Philosophy of Aristotle Iohn Maria Barnauda Sertario Quattromani Giovanpaolo d' Aquino Prospero Parisio and Iacobo of Gaeta In this City are these noble families Abenante Aquino Andriotto Aloe Amico Arnoni Alimena Arduino Barono Bernando Beccuto Bombino Bonconto Britto Bovi Bonaccursi Cavalcante Ciacci Caputo Casella Cozzi Cicala Caroleo Curatore Celso Clavelli Dattilâ— Donato Domanico Fâ—rrao Farrao d' Epaminonda Farrao d' Antonello Fera Favoro Figlino Franza Gaeta Gaeta d' Marc. Antonio Garofalo Giannochiri Gaeli Gioanni Giaccino Gadi Longo Longobuccho Migliarâ—se Marano Monaco Martorano Maurello Minardo Moyi Materi Massaro Mirabello Mangoni Nero Poglisi Peloso Pellegrino Pascale Passalacqua Poerio Parisi di Ruggiero Parisi di Mario Pantuso Quottromani Roccho Ruggiero Rangi Russo Scaglione Spatasora Serâ—alo della Motta Sersale di Guido Sambiase Spirito Sirisanto Spina Sanfâ—lice Stocca Tilesio Testo Toscano Tarsii Tirello Velle and others The Arms of this City is seven Hils vert in a field or From hence on the right hand lieth the Wood Brutiana which the people of the Country call for the excellency thereof Sila not so hideous and terrible in Winter through continual snow and ice as it is pleasant and delightfull in Summer where the fresh and cheerfull air with many Rivers full of excellent fish and the divers sports of fowling and hunting of wild beasts and the infinite heards of Cattel which there seed upon the plentifull fruits thereof represent in effect that which the Poets feign of their Arcadia Not far distant lieth Carolei called by the Latines Ixias built by the Enotri And walking a little farther appeareth Bisignano a good and plentifull City much inhabited which hath the Title of a Principality subject to the Family Sanseverina Stifano calleth this City Besidia which according to Barrio was built by the Ansoni and very near lieth Tarsia called Capresis Returning towards the Sea we come into these Countries Fiumefreddo Bello-monte and the City Amontea which was an Episcopal Seat but now united with the Church of Tropâ—ia A little farther is Aiello called by Bario Tylesium which hath a strong Castle and a fruitfull Territory with a Wood where is great sport in the hunting of divers living creatures This Country holdeth the Title of a Marquiss and the Lord thereof is Alberico Cybo Prince of Massa no less worthy of honour for his Learning then his Chivaldri Near to Aiello is the Hill Cocuzzo where it seemeth that the Apennine exceeds it self in height Then followeth Martirano corrupted from the ancient name of Mamerto whose Citizens shewed themselves no less faithfull to the people of Rome then valiant in Arms they only fighting with Pyrrhus one of the best Souldiers of the world the which they performed so couragiously that Pyrrhus being mindfull of the valour of the Brutii and of the death of his Alexandro durst not any farther hazard his fortune From thence afterward lieth on the side of the Sea Nocera the reliques of the ancient Terinia which was destroyed by Hannibal they being not able to defend it and here runneth according as the Ancients affirm Ligia one of the Sirenes upon the mouth of the River Saccuto Then
followeth Castiglione the Cape of Subero where Pyrrhus disbarked himself coming from Sicilia after cometh St. Eusemia which Stephano saith is called Lametia where is a Gulf so named very full of Coral and the best Tunny and a little distant lieth Nicastro and here the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa made for delight and pleasure convenient Baths and excellent hunting both for wild beasts and fowles the first which began in Italy to be delighted in hauking with Falcons which in former time was unknown although some write that Anasilao was the first Not very far is Tiriolo the reliques of old Tirio where the Apennine is drawn into so narrow a point that the rain-water which descendeth from the ridg of some one house falleth on the left side into the Terrene Sea and on the right into the Adriatick And coming now to an end of this Province which hath for the Arms thereof a Cross bastonesa in a field Ar. the which Ensignes and Arms had its original in the time that Boemundo the Norman Duke of Calauria came with twelve thousand choice souldiers in aid of the holy Land whereby through his prowesse and valour was afterward made Prince of Antioche and forsomuch as the enterprise was very famous and honourable therefore I believe the said Province gave these Arms representing thereby the great Voyage which the said Duke made CALAURIA On the other side the Sixth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES CALAVRIA on the other side is a Province which containeth a good part of Magna Grecia and of the Brutii and passeth from the one and the other side of the Apennine to the Ionian and Terrene Seas and is divided from Calauria on this side by the Mediterrane above Cosenza going by a direct line to the one and the other Sea into the Ionian near Stromboli and into the Terrene at the Gulf Ipponiate which is the Gulf of St. Eufemia and these are only the Confines of the said Province where the Brutii sometimes inhabited From that part which lieth towards the North except a little is wholly compassed with the Sea on the East is the Ionian on the South Sicilia and on the West the Terrene which is the utmost limits of the Kingdom It is partly plain and partly mountainous it hath fair and fruitfull Hils Woods Rivers and Fountains great plenty of Corn Vine Olives and every other thing necessary for the sustenance of living creatures There are horses and heards of cattel very plentifull and great abundance of woll and of the best and finest silk In this Province are pits of gold of silver and great plenty almost of all mettals it hath many hot baths which cure divers infirmities and to conclude it is a Country indued with all good things for the which it may be called a most happy Region The men of this Country as also of all Calauria after other ancient names which they had were called Bretii and they were so called from Brettio the son of Hercoles as Stephano writeth in his book of the City and Ermolao upon Stephano and as it appeareth by many Greek Monuments which are declared with great Learning by Pierio Valeriano and by many Antiquaries Iustine and Trogo say that they were called Brutii of Brutia a maid Iohn Annio affirmeth that they were so called by Bruto Ombrone a most valiant Captain Calepino and Nicholas Perotto say they are called Brutii A Brutis moribus but this is a vain thing and an idle conjecture of them Guarino not well understanding Strabo addeth to his translation many things of his own conceit Strabo saying that Brutii fuerunt rebelles Lucanorum he addeth here that they were fugitives a name which was given to servants but we finding in Histories and principally in Iustine that these were children and not servants of the Lucani forsomuch as the Lucani were accustoâ—ed to bring up and foster their children in the field after the manner of the Sâ—arâ—ans but their children misliking that manner of education opposed themselves against their fathers that is to say the Lucani and went to inhabit in Calauria These people in process of time became so mighty that they feared not any whereby for as much as their Country was not well able to contain them they made spoil of the places near unto them and expel'd the natural inhabitants the which they often attempted being allured through the sweetness of the booty The ancient limits of the Brutii were the River Lavo or Lao now called the River Laino measuring along the shore of the Sea and the streight of Sicilia the space between these bounds is according to Strabo 1350 furlongs which contains 169 miles but according to the description of Ptolomy these were the limits on the West the River Lavo with the Lucani on the South the Terrene Sea with Faro of Messina on the East part of the Ionian Sea on the North Magna Grecia with the River Chrati And to make a description of this Province I will begin from the Cape of Subero where Pyrrhus King of the Epirots coming from Sicilia disbarkt himself Not far off is Triolo the reliques of old Tiro where the Apennine Hils are very narrow and then is Malda built by the Saracins which hath a very fruitfull Country From hence on the Sea at the mouth of Amato is Angitola where Dionisius often desired to unite the said Haven with that of Squillia Afterward appeareth Pizzo in a very spacious and pleasant place with the little Islands Itacensi which perhaps had this name because Vlysses arrived there Then cometh Bevona planted with goodly Gardens of Citrons and Oringes the ancient Harbour of Hipponio which the Countrey people now call Monteleone which lieth in a pleasant prospect with many fields round about the said City was founded by the Greeks and they called it Hipponium because it was builded according to the likeness pnd similitude of a horse for that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek tongue signifieth a horse the which City as the Histories thereof recite was in compass eight miles wholly built with bricks the ruines whereof are at this present to be seen this noble City had very pleasant and delightfull fields which compast it round about Poets have feigned that when Ceres travelled in search of her daughter Proserpina that was stoln away remained here that Winter to gather Roses and other pleasant Flowers where also continues the three Festival daies which the Tyrant Agatocles so long since ordained Pestino a famous Writer was of this City which is celebrated by Macrobio in his sixth book de Saturnali in this word Transmicto Dominico Pizzimetti a learned Philosopher was also of the same City which translated out of Greek into Latine the predicaments of Archita Tarentino The ancient Vibo was destroyed by the Agareni in the time of blessed Nilo and the like ruine sustained Terino Tauriano and Trischene And this noble
Territory is very fertile for it bringeth forth Grain Barley Beans Fitches and other Corn there are also planted great store of Sugar Canes a thing very rare in Italy This Country is adorned with the dignity of a Duke After followeth Soriano whch hath the Title of a Count. Then cometh Arena and ascending up the Apennine is the goodly Monastery of St. Stephen del Bosco built by Rugiero the Norman where is kept as we have said with many other reliques the body of St. Bruno From hence on the right hand appeareth Borrello and Melito an honourable and an ancient City which was builded by the Milesii a people of Asia for as Herodotus writeth in his sixth book Mileto a City of Asia being conquered and overcome by Darius the inhabiters which departed from the ruine thereof being deprived of their natural Country came with their wives and children together with the Sanni into Regio where they were received by Anasilao Lord of the Country to whom he gave so much Territory as they built therein a City to inhabit the which they called as we have said Melito these in process of time the Country being too little many of them went into Messina but being expel'd by the inhabiters of the Country went to the Isle of Malta There is to be seen in the said City of Melito a stately and magnificent Church under the name of the Trinity which is beautified with stately Pillars of Marble which the Duke Ruggiero the Norman caused to be transported from the ancient Hipponio the said Church was by the mediation of the said Duke consecrated by Pope Calisto the second in the year of our Lord 1122. where at this present is to be seen the fair and costly Tomb of Marble of the Duke Ruggiero That holy Paolo of the Order of Preachers was of the said City Walking towards the shore of the Sea is Briatico which hath the Title of a Marquisat and Tropea hath this name from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that ariving there the Current of Faro is turned back very dangerous to Sailers near which Hercoles arived coming from Spain whereupon that place was afterward named the Harbour of Hercoles Here butteth out into the Sea the Cape of Vaticano and near at hand is Ioppolo and Nicotera augmentned by the ancient ruins of Medama and Rosarno there is the River Metramo in whose waves according as the Ancients were accustomed feeling themselves opprest with any sin were freed by their washing themselves therein as Orestes who thought hereby to be purged from the murther of his mother a little farther was the ancient Metauro which boasted much of Stesicoro though with little right the Sicilians challeng him to themselves and after is discovered Tauriano and from hence on the Sea is Gioia A little distant remaineth Seminara a Countrey well inhabited in whose Territory the Frenchmen were overcome by Consalvo Fernandes of Aghilare in the time of Lewis the 12 King of France And near the Mediterrane under a great descent of the Apennine called by the country-people Aspromonte riseth as it were a rock between two Rivers the Country of Sinopoli is adorned with the ancient dignity of a Count the jurisdiction whereof is from the house of Ruffa There was born in this Country that holy man Paolo of Sinopoli Fryer of the Order of Saint Francis called the Minori of Osservanza whose reliques are reverendly preserved in the City of Nicotera Going a little farther is Oppido which hath the Title of a Count and Terranovo a populous City which is adorned with the dignity of a Dukedom Not very far is Polistena against the Castle whereof lie the Isles Eolie the which have this name from Eolo which the Poets feign to be the God of the winds knowing by the nature of the place their change and alteration of these Isles Lipare was only inhabited whose circuit is 16 miles sometimes a Colony of the Gnidii which were very strong at Sea and made long resistance to the improvident assaults of the Toscans and of their first fruits they oftentimes consecrated to the Temple of Apollo at Delphus The said Isle is distant from Sicilia 20 miles Strabo and Pliny call this Isle Meligone which is very famous as wel for the fruitfulness of the ground as also for the delicacy and sweetness of the fruits and the great plenty of Alume which it yieldeth the said Isle was at the first â—nhabited by Lipareo the son of Ausonio King of Italy who being at discord with his brothers came hither with divers soeldiers to remain and here built a City which by his own name was called Lipari the which City was alwaies faithfull to the Kings of Naples from whom in recompence it obtained many priviledges and freedoms but finally in the month of Iuly 1544 it was destroyed with sword and fire by Ariadeno Barbarossa Captain of the Turkish Army but it was suddenly repaired again by the Emperor Charls the fifth The other Isles are not manured nor inhabited whereby their ancient names yet continue that is to say Stromboli and Vulcano from whence continually riseth smoke and sometimes flames of fire with horrible noise and thundring Here we may see Bagnara where the women for their beauty and comliness appear like Nymphs and here is the general fishing for the Sword-fish called by Pliny Xiphia the which is done as Strabo declareth in his first book of Geography in this manner following which manner is also recited by Polybius First of all one is appointed as a spie to stand in a high place being as a common guard or defence for all the fishers the which are dispersed into many little boats of two oars remaining in every one two of them one which guideth the boat with two oars the other to wound the fish with an armed Sphear which he standing on the fore-deck or head of the boat holdeth in his hand so soon as the spie maketh a signe that the fish is discovered rising with the third part of his body above the water he with the oars roweth near the boat and the other preparing his blow wounds him with a wonderful agility then snatching out the sphear the iron remans behind which being broad-headed and so wel accommodated that easily a man may wound with it and as easily leave it in the wound to the iron is tied a long little cord which goes so far with the wounded fish that beating himself and labouring to escape becometh weary Then they draw the fish to the shore or get him into one of their little boats if he be not over-great and if it so fall out the sphear be cast into the Sea it cannot therefore be lost because that being made part of Oak and part of Firr so well joyned together the weight of the oak drawing one end under the water the lightness of the firr causeth the other end to rise up so that it may
commended for Zeuxses portraying Images in the Temple of Iuno took them for his pattern and for the sports and exercises of Atleta where was Milo so strong that he used to carry a Bull and Egone which in running overtook the young Heifers cutting from them their hoofs and making afterward a present thereof to his Amarillis Walking along we come to the City Cariati which hath the dignity of a Prince and not far off lieth Calopizzato Crusia and the noble and ancient City Rossano built by the Enotri Iohn the 7. Bishop of Rome which was born there honoureth much this City A little farther within the Land is Longobucco where are sound certian Mines of Silver from thence descending towards the Sea we may see Corigliano and not far off is Cassano in so fair and temperate a Country as it is not inferior to the best part of all the Land of Lavoro and here within the circuit of this pleasant Country was the ancient City of Turio which at this present the people of the Country call Terranova Trogo writeth in his 20 book that the said City was builded by Filottete the which was much ennobled by Herodotus having writ therein his Histories in which City he also died as Pliny saith from the same City Octavius Augustus had his beginning And this City hath also been the natural Soil of many Roman Bishops Then appears towards the sea-side Trebisazze Albidona Amendolara and the River Semio called in old time Siri by the City of Siro which stood very near which was afterward named Heraclea to whom the Statue of Minerva bred great wonder in turning and rouling the eyes against the Ionii which sacking and spoyling the City respected it not The men of this Province are of a white complexion of indifferent stature and strong crafty firm and resolute in their opinions hardy and stout much inclined to Learning and Arms they use Daggs Swords and Pikes The Gentlemen attire themselves after the Neopolitan fashion and likewise the women but those which live in Villages are very rude and barbarous The Arms of this Province are per salter or .4 pates gules and on the second partition or so many crosses bastone Sa. The which two Crosses signifie the two Calaurias and the other partitions are the Arms of Aragon These Arms were invented by Don Ferdinando of Aragon Duke of Calauria the son of Alfonsus the first King of Naples for that he would not otherwise express them that although the Region of Calauria was divided by his Father into two Provinces nevertheless he was Lord of them both The Countrey of OTRANTO The seventh Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe fair and rich Province of the Country of Otranto called in old time Iapigia as Solon saith of Iapige the son of Dedalus which came thither with many people to inhabit These people had their original from Latii and as others say from the Cretians which with the Illerians came into this utmost bound of Italy This Province was also called Salentina from the Promontory Salentino at this present named the Cape of Santa Maria but as Festus saith of Salo which is to say the Sea which compasseth it almost round about except a little part which joyneth with the firm land others affirm that it was called Salentina of the people Salentini which came with the Cretians hither to inhabit It was afterward called Messapia of the Captain Messapo which came from Peloponesus with a Colony into this Region And not long after it was named by the Creeks Calauria And finally from the City of Otranto all this Region is called the Country of Otranto The figure and form of this Province is an out cape of land which is one of the three angles or corners of Italy wherein endeth one of the two principal capes wherein is a part of the Apennine and here as is commonly thought ends the Adriatick Sea and is united with the Ionian Verily this Province seemeth as another Chersonesus lying under a pleasant air The circuit thereof is little more then 200 miles whose Istmus is between Taranto and Monopoli not exceeding the space of 40 miles in the which Peninsula although the superficial part of the earth for the most part be rough and stony nevertheless being ploughed up discovereth excellent mould and although there be little store of water it yields good pasture for Cattel and bringeth forth Wheat Wine Barley Oats Olives Citrons excellent Musk-millions Figgs Apples Pears Limons Oringes Oxen Asses Mules of the best breed and such abundance of Saffron that it seems to be rather the proper fruit of this Country then of Carthage The great plenty of Oâ—l which is there made seemeth a thing incredible to those which have not seen it whereby all the Kingdom doth not only abound therewith but also the greatest part of Italy and every where is excellent fowling and hunting both for Conies and hares And although the air be very wholsome yet the leprosie is very common by the means as I think of eating Pork and drie Figgs the ordinary food of the common people The springs of water are partly sweet and partly gross and brackish In this Country is bred the Tarantola whose venom is driven away with sound and singing the which Galen also affirms with the authority of Theofrastus of certain other creatures There are also bred the Chersidri and there is no part of Italy more troubled with Grashoppers which devour all things where they come and in one night consume the ripest fields But nature hath provided a remedy by the means of certain Fowls which they call Ganie which destroy this vermin The Hail also much hurteth this Province which almost every year doth some spoil The Thunder is there felt as in the Country of Lavoro both in Summer and Winter But coming to the description of this Province beginning at the River Bradano is Taranto a worthy and an ancient City which some say had that name from the River Tara and others from Tara the son of Neptune and others impute the original to Hercoles This City so increased by the means of Falanto the Spartan who governing under the Democratical Regiment contended sometimes with the Lucani and sometimes with the Senate being alwaies aided by strange Captains having sometines the help of Alexander and sometines of Pyrrhus became so rich that there was no City except Siracusa that brought greater riches to the people of Rome it glorieth much in her Archita that admirable Mathematician which caused a Dove of Copper to fly round about the City and of Aristosseno the Musician Taranto lieth between two Seas whereof the one is called the great the other the little in the lesser which is in compass 18 miles there runneth in many springs and the River Galeso by means whereof and the calmness of the water there are many fishes and no less then in the Sea of Constantinople
part of men therein are imployed in Learning and Arms. The Arms of this Province is or four pales gu a Dolphin proper in his mouth a Cressent argent The original of the which Arms was in the year 1481. At the time that Alfonsus of Aragon Duke of Calauria the son of Ferdinando the first King of Naples drove away the Turks from the city of Otronto and other places whereupon the men of this Province willing to shew that great service which the King had done for them in delivering them from the hands of the wicked Tyrant Mahumet the second Emperor of the Turks for this cause devised the said Arms declaring by the four pales gu in the field or the Arms of the King Fardinando of Aragon The Dolphin was no new invention but very ancient for so much as the monuments declare that the Dolphin with Neptune were the proper ensignes of the country of the Salentini but only they added the half-moon in the mouth of the Dolphin noting thereby that the new Seigniory which the Tyrant Mahumet endeavoured to hold in this worthy Province was by the care and diligence of the valiant Alfonsus and the vertue of the Inhabitants thereof taken from him The Countrey of BARY The eighth Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe fertile and fruitfull Province of the Country of Bary was in old time called Apulia Pucetia of Pucetio the brother of Enotrio and son of Licaone which with many followers departed from Greece 375 years before the Wars of Troy and setled themselves in this place the which people were sometimes called Pucetii and sometimes Pedicoli and were the first men sent out of Greece to dwell elsewhere Also the said people which inhabited between the Territory of Taranto Brindesi and the River Aufido were named Etoli of Etolia of Greece the people whereof came into these places to inhabit as certain Writers affirm the Pediculi being droven from thence remained therein What these Pediculi were Strabo declares in his sixth book and Pliny in the third and say that they were nine youths and as many wenches which departed from Illiria and here inhabited from whom descended 13 people and to the end they might dwell the more securely built many Castles and were called Pediculi that is to say boys or children At this present it is called the Land of Bary from the city of Bary anciently called Iapigia and Baretum the head of this Province in the which city in a stately church wherein with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Nicholas sometimes Bishop of Licia from whom continually issueth as is said a certain liquor called by the Citizens Manna which is an admirable thing and the Priests which have the keeping thereof use to bestow on those that come thither little viols of glass full of the said Manna The said Church is served by a hundred beneficed Priests The bounds of this Province was according to Strabo and Pliny from the Territory of Taranto and of the Brindesi along unto the River Fortoro from thence by the Mount Gargano and towards the Adriatick Sea or rather Ionian according to Ptolomy even to the Lucani and the Irpini and the Sanniti and so the said bounds have on the South the Salentini Lucani and Irpini on the North the coast of Ionian and Adriatick on the West the River Fortoro the limit of the Caraceni and Ferrentani now called Abruzzo The goodness and fertility of this Province is very great for it yields Grain Wine Oyl Barley Beans Fitches Annis Comin Coriander Saffron and Bombace There are great Woods of Almons and Olives so bigg-bodied and so high that it seems that nature hath brought them forth as a wonder unto men And to be brief so great is the difference of these Trees from those which grow elsewhere as is between the wild Olives and those which are planted and also of the greatness of the bodies and their admirable height with the fashion of their boughs whereupon the Ancients have said that they were dedicated to Minerva and have also feigned that in these places was hanged Filida the Nymph and is no less plentifull of Oringes Limons and other the like fruitfull Trees as well for the benefit of living creatures as for pleasure besides there is excellent hunting both for fowls and also wild beasts The Sea thereof hath great store of good fishes the air is very chearfull and temperate but the waters are otherwise for they are gross and brackish There are on the side of the Sea these Cities and Countrys following Barletta of later Latinists called Barolum a worthy City rich and full of people built by the inhabiters of Canusio but inlarged by the Emperor Frederick the second In the midst of the Market-place of this noble City is a great Statue of Mettal of ten yards high of the Emperor Frederick although the Barletani affirm that it is the Image of the Emp. Heraclio nevertheless the first opinion is truest There is also a very strong castle which is accounted one of the four that are so famous in Italy Presently follows the fair city of Trany named by Pliny Trinium built by Terreno the son of Diomides and repaired by the Emperor Trajan Hard by is Molfetta a city full of civility which with the title of a Prince is possest by the Lord Don Ferrant Gonzaga chief Justicer in the Kingdom Nicolo sirnamed of Giovenazzo companion of St. Dominick gave the name to this City to whom was revealed the manner of conveying his bones as is to be read in the book of the famous men of the Order of Preachers Walking along we come to Mola Saint Vito Polignano St. Stefano and Villanova Farther within the land are these cities Monopoli built by the ruines of Egnatia to which City hath grown great honour by Bartholomeo Sibilla of the Order of Preachers an excellent Philosopher and Divine and Câ—millo Querno a singular Poet who lived in the time of Pope Leo Ostuno Ceglie Conversano Gioia Rotigliano Altamura Acquaviva Cassano Monorvino Modugno Terlizzi Rutigliano Quarato Pulignano and Biseglia called in old time Vigile a noble city and full of Traffick wherein was found the bodies of St. Mauro Bishop of Sergio and Pantaleone martyred for the Christian faith being revealed to Francesco del Balzo d' Andri Lord of this city who caused them to be put with great reverence in an honourable Sepulchre from which riseth as they say continually a precious liquor called Manna After follows Bitetto Ruvo and Gravina a great city very fair and civil the which with the title of a Duke is anciently possest by the worthy Family Orsina Don Antonio Orsâ—no is the present Duke thereof a young man which is very likely to imitate the honourable steps of Duke Ferrant his father of worthy memory And the said Gravina was the Garner and Store-house of Puglia for the inestimable quantity of corn which was gathered in
Latines Aprutium because it is mountenous and full of wild hoggs Others affirm that a part of Abruzzo being sometimee inhabited by the Precutini time having corrupted the word instead of Precutio was called Aprutio I name this Province Abruzzo as it is by the Kings Court and as at this present it is commonly called changing the letter P. into B. The bounds of Abruzzo had on the East the River Fortore Tronto on the West on the North the Adriatick Sea and on the South the Apennine Hils and moreover also it had on the East the Plain Puglia with the River Fortore on the West part of the Sabines Picentini and Campani with Latium the Equicoli along the Apennine as much on the one side of the said Hill as is on the other It now taketh its beginning from the mouth of the River Pescara and goeth along the shore of the Adriatick sea even to the mouth of Fortore where it ends with Capitanato leaving by that Province the City of Teramo and between the Land with Abruzzo on the other side and that branch of the River Pescara which rising from the streight of Valata passeth by the foot of the Apennine against the Land of Popoli and near it entreth into the Valley called Itramonti leaving all the country which hath the River on the right side and a little higder above the Marsi are the Apennine Hils where the River Sangro springeth which riseth from that obscure Valley of Barrea which they call the Kings Valley in the Plain near the castle of Sangro which divides this Province from the county of Molise This Province is partly plain and partly mountainous and hath great plenty of Rivers and great and thick Woods and the Territory thereof is very fertile for it bringeth forth Wine Grain Oyle Rice Barley and other Corn and everywhere is gathered great abundance of excellent Saffron And although the air be somewhat cold nevertheless the amenity of the country is sweetned thereby with so good a temper and such plenty of fruits and heards of cattel and abundance of wild beasts besides ravenous creatures as wolves and bears Some think that the Frentani were the most valiant people of all Italy but as I think they were much deceived having not first well considered the words of Pliny who describing the Region of the Frentani saith it makes the fourth which from the River Tiferno beginneth the fourth Region of the Frentani so that by these valiant people he meaneth the Frentani themselves and the Marrucini which came afterward and the Peligni and the Precutini and who readeth the Roman Histories may know that the squadrons of the Peligni were preferred before all the Latine Nations The principal city of this Region is called at this Present Civita di Chieti named by Ptolomy Teatea and of Pliny Theate and also of Strabo Theate and was so called by Theata the mother of Achilles Both these said Authors write that this city was the chief and principal head of the Marucini as likewise Silio affirms the same saying Marhucina simul Frentanis aemula pubes Corfini populos magnumque Theate trabebat This city is situate upon a very high hill distant from the Adriatick Sea no more then seven miles it was destroyed by Pepin the son of Charls the great for taking part with the Longobards but it was about two hundred years following repaired again and became so pleasing to the Normans for the most pleasant situation thereof that Gotfredo the brother of Ruberto Guiscardo in the time of Pope Nicholas the second possessing this Province made the said City the head of all the Country of Abruzzo the Territory thereof is very excellent and bringeth forth all necessary things as well for profit as pleasure beyond the River Sangro among the Peligni is the ancient City of Orton upon the Sea being by Strabo called Ortonium and of Cato Ortonum but Ptolomy nameth it Orton And Strabo writeth that it was in old time called Petra Piratorum because the Rovers and Pirats retired hither when they had robbed at the sea in the which City is to be seen in a very stately Church where with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Thomas the Apostle with his ancient Tomb in which Church appeareth alwaies upon the Steeple when any ship is in danger at sea the miraculous light of St. Heramo which the Ancients attributed to Castor and Pollux although Philosophers affirm that it naturally proceeds from the repercussion of the air through the winds and water which seemeth very unlikely because there is not so much as the leaf of a tree that moveth without the providence of God how should this light casually chance the sea presently becoming calm and the sailers in safety which in that perilous state called faithfully upon the name of God Neither can it be by the means of any evil spirits for never is shewed any deed of piety but by some celestial and divine means and especially towards the faithfull Not far distant from Ortona is to be seen Ferentana at this present corruptly called Francavilla because it was often possest by the French this City was according to Razano the head of the Frentani From the River Sangro or Sanguine called in old time Saro four miles distant and as far from the sea is Lanciano a noble City called by Pliny Anxium and of Ptolomy Anxanum Here at two several times in the year that is to say in the month of May and August do Merchants assemble almost from all parts of Europe Asia and from other parts where is a principal Mart or Fair very famous through all the world on the right hand of Lanciano at the foot of the Hill is Maiella and Palumbaro and on the right hand of the River Sangro near the Sea is the Monastery of St. Iohn where sometimes was the famous Temple of Venus and above are these Countries Fossaceca and the Fort of St. Iohn and a little higher on the side of Sangro are seen the great ruines of the City of Bica which the country people call Seca on the right hand cometh the River Aventino and joyneth with Sangro and near the foot of Maiella are these Countries Civitella and Lama and on the right hand of the River Aventino is Palena the word being corrupted in place of Peligno near the which appears the ruines of the ancient City sometimes the chief and head of the Piligni called Superequani This Country is ennobled with the dignity of a Count the Lord whereof is Matteo of Capoa Prince of Couca a very rich Lord and a great lover of Learning But returning behind Lanciano going along the shore of the sea we come to the mouth of the River Foro which riseth from the Mount Maiella where it entreth into the Sea near the which is the Castle Tollo and on the left side thereof near unto it is Miglionico and a little higher is Fara and before it is
we purposed to speak we will at this time omit The said City hath brought forth many excellent men and famous as well in Arms as in Learning as Ansalda of Aquila General of the Army of William the evil King of Naples and Sicilia Antonuccio Camponesco General of King Ladislao and Captain of the Venetians and was afterward by Pope Eugenio the fourth created General of the holy Church Minicuccio Vgolino Captain of King Alfonsus of Aragon Guelfallione Fonticulano was General of the Perusini against Braccio and took in battel Nicolo Piccinino and to his great honour defended Padova from the fury of the Venetians Geronimo Gaglioffa was a Colonel of Charls the eight King of France and Master of the Camp of King Lewis the twelfth in the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples Francesco Rustico was Captain of the Crossbow-horsmen of King Ferdinando the second In Learning there have been very famous men as Pietro called Scotello of Aquila a religious Frier of the Order of St. Francis which learnedly writ upon the four books of the Master of Sentences Iohn Aquilano a Frier also of the Order of Saint Francis a famous Preacher of his time he composed a book which he entituled Vitiâ—rum lima Francesco Vivio a most famous Lawyer who now liveth and hath lately publisht the Forest of divers opinions and hath done many things besides and of the decisions of the Kingdom of the Audience of the Country of Bary where he was the Kings Auditor whose works are very profitable to the professors of the Law Giovanni Crispo called de Monte writ three books of Law one de Gradibus the other de Haered qui ab intest de and the last de actionibus Gioseppo Rustici a Doctor of great account which is now a Counceller of the great Duke of Tuscane hath written and published a Treatise An quando liberi in conditione positi vocentur and very shortly he is to publish another discourse De utraque conditione si sine liberis decesserit ad L. cum avus F. de cond demonst Iacopo Carli a learned Doctor hath written in Law a book entituled Gemmatus Pavo in quo juris canonici civilis materiae tanguntur Alexander Trentacinque a most noble and renowned Doctor of Law writ de Substitutionibus with other subtile and witty advisements Iohn Aquilano a famous Phisician writ a discourse de sanguinis missione in pluritide Bernardino Cerillo writ the Annals of the City of Aquila his natural Country and the History of his time Serifino Aquilano was the mirror of his time for Poetry whose Works are well known over whose Sepulchre Aretino caused these Verses to be ingraven Qui giace Serafin Partirti hor puoi Sol d' haver visto il sasso che lo serra Assai sei debitore a gli occhi tuoi Here lieth Serafin depart in peace Enough thou art indebted to thy eyes To have seen the stone under which he lies Sebastian Aquilano a Phisician hath published a discourse de Morbo Gallico and another de febre sanguinis Cesar Campana which now abideth at Vicenza hath writ with an eloquent stile in the vulgar tongue the History of the World Iohn Angelo Contecelli hath published a discourse de differentiis febrium and another de Sanguinis missione Blasio Pico a Phisician hath writ the contemplative Grammer Angelo Fonticulano a worthy Historian writ very eloquently in the Latin tongue the Wars of Braccio of Montone with the Aquilani There remain many other noble and learned men which have much ennobled this City as I have understood but because I have no true information thereof I think it not amiss to omit them The Territory of this City brings forth besides other things great abundance of Saffron which as the Aquilani themselves affirm there is made thereof every year more then â—0000 crowns Above Aquila in the Apennine under the River of Pescara is Monte Reale called in old time Monte Pireo but inlarged and beautified by King Charls the second of Angio abandoning the first name it is a city very fair civil and rich compassed round about with a very strong Wal here with great reverence lieth in the church of St. Mary of Piano the body of Saint Dâ—minick of whom the Chronicle of St. Francis maketh mention and in the church of St. Augustine is to be seen the body of St. Andrew which in token of his holy life it pleaseth God as they say to shew many miracles There now liveth with much honour to this country Peâ—tio Pompeo and Iohn Circii all three Doctors of Law and great learned men of whom there is much commendation by Vivio in the Forest of common opinions The Territory of this country is very fertile for the spacious vallies and pleasant hils yield grain wine fitches beans slax hemp and other fruits A little distant from the said country is the River Pescara and at the mouth thereof on the left side is the city called Pescara named by Plâ—â—y and Ptolomy Aterno a most ancient city which they also so called the said River which according to the common opinion was held the swiftest and coldâ—st of all the Rivers in Italy The said country is honoured with the dignity of a Marquisat subject to the house of Avolo Somewhat higher in Pescara runs another River called Alba and into Alba cometh two little streams which flow from the Mount Maiella between the which is Manopello and a little higher on the side of Maiella is the Fort of Molise and underneaâ—h is Cosano and upon the bank of Pescara is Torre a little country and on the side of the River Pescara is Lucolo a populous country and not very faâ— is Caramanico a very good country and hard by lieth Cantalupo in whose Territory riseth under a Hill a quick spring of Petronical Oyl Near the bank of Pescara is the country of Tocco which hath an excellent Territory whâ—re is made the best Oyl in all Abruzzo and the purest Wine and four mile 〈◊〉 Popoli a most noble and populous country which hath the title of a Dukedom it is very strong every way partly by the Rivers which cannot be past as a plâ—sh of water and also by the Forts which guard it as a Wall And going certain miles we come to Tagliacozzo a country well inhabited and very rich but not very ancient it hath the title of a Dukedom governed by the Family Colonna But we are now come to the country of the Marsi destroyed long since by Hannibal with all the other people round about in this country was a city called Valeria the natural country of Pope Boniface the fourth who obtained of the Emperor Phocas the Temple Pantheon in Rome dedicated to all the gods of the Genâ—iles which he dedicated to all the Saints This city in the time of the Longobards had the name of Marsi changed into Valeria Pliny saith that Marsi was a city
from whence all the country took its name These people were also called Marruvii of Virgil when in his seventh book he saith Quin Marruvia venit de gente sacerdoâ— The which words Servio declaring saith that they were the people Maruvii which inhabited neer the Lake Fucino as it were Inhabiters about the Sea so called for the greatness of the Lakes which were in those dayes although others affirm it was so named by Marro their King the companion of Marsia And the said Servio saith that Medea which followed Iason came at length into Italy and taught certain people which inhabited neer the Lake Fucino the way to charm Snakes and Serpents with words and likewise shewed the remedies against the venom of these creatures whereupon it was by these called Medea Angitia as if it vexed and afflicted the Serpents with their charms the which people were also named Agnitii of which Virgil in his seventh book thus saith Et Marsis quaesitae in montibus herbae Te nemus Angnitiae vitrea te Fucinus unda Pliny saith that in his time this generation of Marsi also continued descended as he supposed from the son of Cerces and therefore had this vertue against Serpents Guilio Capitolino writeth that the Emperour Heliogabolus gathered a great company of Serpents with the incantations of the Marsi the which he caused on the sudden to be thrown in the place where the people assembled to see their publique sports whereupon many being bitten fled with great terror Neither is it to be held as a fable which is written of these Incantations because the Prophet David singing his Psalms makes a similitude of the deaf Adder which stoppeth his ears to avoid inchantments And St. Augustine expounding it saith That that similitude was meant of the Marso which maketh his charm to draw the Adder out of his dark obscure hole into the perfect light and the serpent which loveth darknesse to avoid the sound of the charm which he knoweth will inforce him layeth one of his ears to the ground because he would not hear and the other he covereth with his tail Livy writing the wars of Italy beginneth from the Marsi calling it Marsica and among the people that rebelled against the Romans here he nameth the Marruci and the Marsi and in another place saith that the Marsi being overcome by L. Murena and Cecilio Pina desired peace of Silla In the which war M. T. Cicero being a follower and fighting therein grew into so great a mislike of the Romans cruelty that he utterly abandoned his military profession and wholly imployed his time to the study of learning Whereupon it so fell out that Rome had yet a wit comparable to the greatnesse thereof Silio Italico speaking of the Marsi thus saith Marsorum novit terra gens nota per omnes Et bellare manu chelydris cantare saporem Vipereumque herbis hebetare carmine dentem Aeaetae prolem Angitiam mala gramina primam Monstravissae ferunt tactuque domare venena Et lunam excussisse polo stridoribus amnes Frenantem ac sylvis montes undasse vocatis Sed populis nomen posuit metuentior bospes Quum fugeret Phrygios trans aequora Martiarenos Migdoniam Phochi superatus pectine loton Marruvium veteris celebratum nomine Marri Vrbibus est ille caput interiorque per udos Alba sedet campos pomisque rependit aristas Caetera in obscuro famae sine nomine vulgi Sed numero castella valent milite forti Now ten miles distant from Tagriacozzo is the fishy Lake of Celano or rather of Alba or of Marsi named by Strabo the Lake Fucinus and likewise of other writers the which for the length thereof seemeth as a Sea being thirty miles in compass and hath in it great plenty of fish and excellent fowling for Mallards Wygens wild Geese Swans and Moor-hens There is in this Lake a fish according to Pliny which hath eight pair of fins all other fishes besides having but four The water of this Lake was brought to Rome by Martio being Edile whereupon by his name it was called the water Martia which was reputed the best water of all the conduits in Rome Gallano a grave writer reherseth that in the said Lake was drowned Archippa a very goodly city which was builded by Marsia King of the Lidi And Suetonius writeth that the Emperor Claudius maintained eleven years continually 30000 men to damm up the said Lake There entreth into the said Lake the River Giovenco and runneth upon the water to be discerned in such manner that as it cometh in running upon it so it returns without mingling it self therewith as Pliny testifieth and Vibio Sequestre by whom it is named Pitornius thus saith Pitornius fluvius per medium lacum Fucinum Marsorum ita decurrit ut aqua ejus non misceat stagno Round about it are these castles Paterno Transaco S. Apetito Giaiano Avezzano S. Iona Magliano Celano is under the title of a Count very rich and a populous country and the bounds of the country of the Latines There was of this country as is read in the book of the conformity of St. Frances in the rubrick de Provincia Pennensi St. Thomas which writ the first legend of St. Frances and composed the sequence of the dead which was sung in the Mass that is Dies irae dies illa Solvet seclum in favilla c This city was destroyed by the Footmen of the Emperor Frederick the second King of Naples because the citizens thereof were confederate with Otho Duke of Saxony yet it continued not long but the said citizens newly repaired it Three miles distant from the Lake upon a high hill towards the Apennine appears the ancient ruines of the city of Alba of Marsi which was made a colony of the Romans at the same time with Sora whither were brought six hundred inhabitants L. Genutio and Servilio Cornelio being Consuls as Livy declareth This city was one of the twelve colonies that refused to aid the Romans in the time of Hannibal This city was accounted by Pliny in the fourth Region wherefore Silio maketh mention in the eight after this manner Alba sedet campos pomisque rependit aristas From Alba four miles distant at the foot of the hils is Cesa a little castle the natural place of Pietro Marso a man very learned as his works do well testifie and especially his commentaries made upon Silio Italico And going up certain miles into the region of the Pregutini is the river Castellano which descendeth from a valley of the Apennine named the valley Castellana and runneth for a little space towards Ascolo and after a while endeth in Tronto which compasseth the said city on the other side Strabo Pliny and Ptolomy placeth the city of Ascolo in Piceno but to me it seemeth better to account the said city in this present Province of Abruzzo on the
other side not only because it is on this side Tronto but also for that in former time it was under the jurisdiction of the Kings of Naples but Queen Ione the second restored it to the church The said city is situate upon a very strong place fortified with a good wall and compassed with high hils it aboundeth with all things necessary for the sustenance of living creatures Bettutio Barro a most eloquent Orator was born in Ascolo to whom Cicero gave the honour of the victory above all the Poets of that age as it appears in Bruto and Ventidio Basso the victorious Captain of the Romans which went with an Army against the Parthians of whom were written these words but too nipping Now he is made a Consul which lately was a Mule-keeper forasmuch as before he had the command of Mules of whom the Satyrical Giovenal saith in the seventh Satire Si fortuna volet fies de Rhetore Consul Si volet haec cadem fies de Consule Rhetor. Ventidius quid enim quid Tullius an ne aâ—iudque Sydus occulti miranda potentia fati Ascolo had also Pope Nicholas the fourth a learned wise and a vertuous man as Petrarck and Platina among the Pontifical Bishops declares although Biondo saith he was the third likewise Cecco de Ascolo was a Citizen thereof an Astronomer a great Philosopher and a famous Negromancer And Enoc an eloquent Orator indued with the Greek and Latine tongues through whose diligence were found out Marco Celio Apitio and Pomponio Porfirione upon Horace in the time of Pope Nicholas the fifth The same City hath also brought forth Gratiadio of the Order of Preachers an excellent Divine and Philosopher which writ the Commentaries upon the old art eight books of natural Philosophy and three of Aristotle de anima wherein he sheweth his great learning Afterward going along from Vallecastellana we come to the rich and populous country of Amatrice situated under the fountain of Tronto Then followeth Civitella lying not far off among the hils in a country very strong through the nature of the place and the strong wall that compasseth it round about which country was valiantly defended by the Duke of Guise Now being come to Tronto in the which place are not only the bounds of the Pregutini and Sanniti which are in Abruzzo but also of the Territory of the Kingdom of Naples I am now forced to finish the description of this Province somewhat noting the nature of the inhabitants which are of a bigg and tall stature strong bodied of a white complexion fierce countenance and a resolute mind courteous towards strangers in bargaining simple accustomed to the mannaging of Arms and much inclined to Wars and very cruel to their enemies They are also very forward in learning The men which inhabit in the city are seemly and civilly apparelled but those that live abroad in the hils and mountains are very barbarous and unhandsom for they cloath themselves with very course and base cloath The Arms of this Province is Azure upon three mounts united and fixed in bass or an Eagle displayed arâ— crowned of the second The which Arms some think that the Eagle signifieth the Standard which was taken in battel from the Romans although others suppose it signifies the Emperor Adrian which was born in Hadria a city of the Province and say that three Hils or declares the fertility and riches of the country neither are their opinions to be mistaken which say that the Eagle signifieth the city of Aquila it self the head and principal of all the country The County of MOLISE The eleventh Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe County of Molise is the least Province in the Kingdom for it is part of Sannio wherein is Esernia and Boiano This Province was so called from the city of Molisia from whence they also had their name which governed this country and Pontano witnesseth that in his time there was also standing the noble house of Molisia the which he setteth down in his fifth book of the History of the Neopolitan War Cui adjungitur ab iisdem quaestoribus Sannii quoque pars ea in qua est Bovianum Aesernia qui ager recenti nomine est Molisius Molisio ab oppido à quo originem duxere qui agro quondam imperaverunt Qua re familia quoque Molisia hodie agnoscitur The inhabiters of this country are the Sanniti Frentani and Caraceni the confines of the which people anciently were according to Ptolomy the river Fortoro on the East the river Sanguine on the West the Adriatick Sea on the North and the Apennine Hils on the South At this present the bounds thereof extend not so far in respect of the new division made by the Kings Exchequer of which country now a great part is under Capitanato the Principality on the other side the country of Lavoro and Abruzzo Pliny declaring the confines of the Frentani writeth thus Flumen portuosum Frento Teanum Apulorum itemque Larinum Cliternia Tifernus amnis inde regio Frentana and in another place saith In ora Frentanorum à Tifeâ—no flumen Trinium portuosum Oppida Histionium Buca Ortona Aternus amnis Intus Anxatini cognomine Frentani Câ—rentini supernates infernates Lanuenses These people were so named of the Citie Frentana neer to Teano of Puglia the which Citie at this present is called Francavilla These people becoming very puissant made war against the Romans but being overcome as Livy writeth by the Consull Q. Aulio in the year 433. with one battell were sworn to the keeping of their faith and so obtained peace from the Senate Caesar maketh mention of the Frentani in the first book of his Commentaries and also Polybius And Cato writeth that these people had their originall from the Liburni and Dalmati and afterward from the Toscous and their principall Citie was Larino This Province is almost wholly plain and hath a very plentifull Territory for it yeildeth grain in great abundance and all other sorts of corn there is also flax silk bombace saffron annice corianders hony and good wines and very fruitfull trees and great plenty the air is temperate and healthfull sweet rivers and great store of cattell there is excellent hawking and hunting but no ravenous creature is therein except Wolves I will begin to describe this Countrey from Campobasso a City built in the midst of the Hills on this side the Apennine from Boiano twelve miles distant for here begins the first countrey of Puglia The said countrey is very populous and rich from whence the counties of Campobascio have had their originall and surname Going from this countrey towards Luceria four miles is Campo di Pietra which hath a good Territory and following that way no more then six miles appears upon the top of a high hill the Castell Pietra and from hence five miles is Macchia which hath the title of a County And from
Campobascio sixteen miles is the Castle Celantia and from hence seven miles is Riccia opposite to whom is Gambatesa and after eight miles is the Castell of Motta and a litle higher are these Cities and Castles St. Gintiam Coletort Geldono and in the top is Circo the great where the river Fortore springeth six miles from thence is Vinchiaturo afterward is Baronello Busso Ratino Rocchetta Montesaggiano and following that way neer the river Fortore are these Countries and Castles Petrella Castel de Lino Morrone and Giovenisso Then we come to very large and spacious fields which continue the space of eighteen miles even to the sea and therein are to be seen the ruines of the ancient Gerione so often named by Livy neere whose walls he writeth that Hanniball made his stay Upon the Hills which joyn with the Apennine and are above the fountain of Vulturno on the right hand are these Castles Montenegro Riofreddo and a little below is the Castle Forolo so called also in old time then coming down by the course of the river three miles neer Fornello is a new countrey but very populous and rich which yeilds the best wine in all the countrey Directly against Fornello there belongs to Vulturno a vally called Porcina and then somwhat lower there entreth into Vulturno a River which comes from Esernia an ancient Colony of the Romans to which City that learned Lawyer Andrea of Rampino called by the Surname of Esernia hath given much honor whose works are of great estimation with learned men he was a man of great account and of the counsell of Queen Ione the first and as Liparulo writeeth was slain by Currado of Gottis a Dutch Baron for giving judgment against him This Citie hath a very fruitfull Territory and the Citizens for the most part are imployed in merchandise Not far off is Supino a fair and an ancient citie called in old time Sepinum of whom Pliny calleth the Inhabiters Sepinates Ascending then towards the Mediterrane within a mile of the river Fortore and eight miles from the sea is the noble Castle Guilliniaco and as much more higher is Guardia Alferes so named above the which is Lupara Cartabuttaccio and Lucito which hath a fair and fertile Territory the Lord thereof is Alfonso Pescicello a Neapolitane Gentleman a generous young man and wise and much inclined to learning And keeping on that way there is to be seen Limosano Castelpignano Rochetta Casal reparando and Lespineto which was repaired by Queen Ione the first by the mediation of Pietro Cardillo a Neapolitan her Favorite Of the which mention is made in the Register of the Exchequer Rolls of the said Queen of which Family there remains at this present a branch of the old stock even that learned Ottanio Cardillo a man indewed with much knowledge and liveth with great renown Then a little forward appears Boiano a City once esteemed the richest as it were the principall of Sannio whereof Livy maketh oftentimes very honorable mention and sometimes saith that it was sack 't and ransack't by the Romans and was more prey'd and spoyl'd then ever was all Sannio besides Moreover Silio Italio maketh mention thereof when speaking of the Samnits he saith Affluit Samnis nondum vergente favore Ad poenos sed nec veteri purgatus ab ira Qui Batulum Mucrasque colunt Boviana quique Exercent lustra aut Caudinis faucibus haerent Et quos aut Rufrae aut quos Aesernia quos ve Obscura incultis Herdania misit ab agnis Brutius haud dispar animorumque una juventus Lucanis excita jugis Hirpinaque pubes In the Book of the Colonies is thus written Bovianum oppidum lege Iulia milites deduxerunt sine iter Colonis populo iter amplius non debetur quam pedes Ager ejus per centurias Scâmna est designatus Ptolomy calleth the said Citie Bucianum The said Citie is adorned with the dignity of a Duke Not very far from Boiano is the Hill Fiterno which proceedeth from the Apennine from whom the river Fiterno now called Fortore hath the name Passing from thence towards the sea and going towards Termine is the mouth of the river Trinio which Pliny calleth Trinium Portuosum on whose left side five miles off is Castelluzzo Roccavivara and the noble citie of Trivento honored with the title of a County possessed in the time of the King of Aragon by Iacobo Caldora a most valiant Captain but it is now governed by the house of Afflitto The most reverend Bishop thereof Iulius Caesar Mariconda a Neapolitan Gentleman and a Prelate of no lesse learning then sincere life graceth now this citie with his great vertue Then follows Salicito Fossaceca Bagnulo and Civita nova And coming now to an end of this province I will speak of the Inhabiters thereof which are very strong and valiant and much inclined to Arms they are also obstinate in their opinions and in bargaining with strangers very crafty and subtile for the most part they exercise merchandise and husbandry they apparel themselves more for their own ease then with any decent or comely civility although the women more respect strait lacing then seemly attire This Province useth for the Arms thereof in a field gu a star of 8 points ar within a border of Ceres What the said Arms doth signifie I do not well understand yet thus much I may say that the garland of Ceres signifieth the great plenty of corn which this countrey yeilds and by the star argent noteth the great good will love of the people which they have to retain the memory of the family of Balzo which in former time governed almost all this whole countrey with other places of great importance in the kingdom whereto I give so much the greater credit insomuch as the house of Balzo gave in their Arms a star ar in a field gu Therefore I think it very fit not to neglect this opinion in the present description of this province although some think that the Star signifieth the prosperity of the countrey whereof the Poet saith subitoque fragore Intonuit latuum de coelo lapsa per umbras Stella facem ducens multa cum luce cucurrit Among the Romans the star was placed above the heads of Romulus and Remus which sucked the teat of the Wolfe signifying the custody of their proper Genio or good spirit who preserved them being children CAPITANATA The twelfth Province of the Kingdom OF NAPLES THis noble and fruitfull Province of Pugliapiana which at this present is called Capitanata was anciently named Iapygia Daunia Mesapia and Apulia The said Province stretcheth from the river Lofanto where the country of Bary endeth and passeth to the river of Frontone now called Fortore containing in breadth all between the Apennine hils where are the Irpini and the Sanniti and the Adriatick or rather Ionian Sea so that on the East it hath the country of Bary with the
famous which rouled the eys against the Ionii which sackt the City not respecting it The River Sapre runneth near the ancient City of Sapri now ruinated The River Semiro runneth near Squillace The River Seminara runneth near the said Country The River Sebatio called also Ocinaro passeth near Abatio The River Salinello called also Suino passeth near Villanto The River Sino runneth near Corvignano The River Sarno called also Scafato passeth near the City of Sarno The River Soricella runneth near Grotta The River Sabaro called by the Latins Sibaris runneth near the ancient City of Turia in Calauria the water whereof being drank by oxen sheep and other cattel makes their skins to become black where very near is the River Crate which worketh the contrary effect The River Saro now called Sangro passeth near Fossa Ceca The River Sento runneth near the hill Zalario The River Scosa passeth near Niceto The River Sagara very famous in Calauria for the cruel battel between the Locresi and the Crutonesi T THe River Targine passeth near Crotone The River Tauro passeth near Civita di Penna The River Tara riseth under Massafra near Taranto The River Tordino called by Pliny Vivantium runneth near the ancient City of Flaviano now called Castello nuovo The River Trinio runneth near Vasto aimone The River Tamaro passeth near Castello franco the City of Morcone The River Tiro runneth near the Territory of Baldino in Calauria The River Trero passeth near Ceccano The River Tavo runneth near the City of Tavo The River Tinnaria runneth near Paola The River Turbido passeth near Torano The River Triferno called also Piferno passeth near Termole The River Tropoalto runneth near Ariano The River Trigno hath his beginning from Vasto and fetching a compass divideth Puglia from Abruzzo The River Tronto called by Ptolomy in his third book Truentinum and by Strabo Druentum and by Pomponius Mela is named Truentium this River riseth from the Apennine Strabo and Pliny saith that in old time was builded the Castle Truento near the mouth of the River by the people Tiburni of Dalmatia and called it Truentium which at this present remains not any mention thereof neither can it be known whether the River was named from it or it from the River this River runneth within 5 miles of Crapolle V THe River Ufente called in old time Ansure from the ancient City of Ansure now called Tarracina The River Viciola runneth near Canzano The River Vomano called also Homano runneth near Calvano The River Volturno passeth near the ancient Volturno now it is called the River of Capua because it runneth by the said City The River Variano passeth near Cusano The River Verre runneth near Bello-monte The River Vado runneth near Sinopoli The River Verde springeth in the Hill Maiella between the Monastery of St. Martine and the Castle Faran of the Peligni now called Abruzzo the said River runneth near the City of Casale and of Colle Macine Vpon the bank of the said River was the body of Manfred King of Naples buried by the commandment of the Pope and upon his Tomb was ingraven this Epitaph Hic jaceo Caroli Manfredus Marie subactus Caesaris haerede non fuit urbe locus Sum patris ex odiis ausus confligere Petro Mars dedit hic mortem Mors mihi cuncta tulit Of the Hils which are in the Kingdom ABuceto is a very high Hill in the Isle of Ischia called in old time Enaria Inarime and Pithecusa upon the which Hill springeth a River of the same name Aburno is a Hill in the Province of Lucania now called Basilicata which was a part of Calauria This Hill is called of the Latines Alburnus because it is all white Virgil makes mention of the said Hill in the third of his Georgicks saying Primus Alburnum Volitans Atheneo a Hill called in old time Prenusso Sirreo Minervio and the Hill Equano and now it is called the Hill of Massa from the City of Massa which stands but a little distant from the City of Surrento There is to be seen on the said Hill towards the Sea a great part of the ancient Temple of Minerva Astruno is a high Hill which standeth but a little distant from Pozzuolo in the midst of which Hill is a Plain very low reduced into a circle two miles in compass where is a little Pool with Sulphure-water which issueth out on every side very comfortable and wholsome for those that are diseased and feeble Savonarola maketh mention of the said Baths calling them Astrana Vgolino cals them Struna balnea Circello named by the Latines Mons Cerces and Circeus and of Ptolomy Girceum promontorium This Hill lieth near to Gaeta and was so called of Circes the daughter of the Sun and the Nymph Perse sister of Aethe King of the Colchi the great Magitian who being married to the King of the Sarmatians poisoned him through the desire she had to domineer and bear rule her self the which was the cause that she was chased away by all the people and so she came to inhabit in this Hill which did abound with great plenty of excellent hearbs and there made her residence with the which hearbs the Ancients have feigned that she transformed men into beasts There was upon the said Hill in old time a very beautifull and goodly City of the same name with the Temple of Circes and the obscure Cave of Minerva where was shewed in the time of Strabo for the truth thereof a Cup wherein Vlisses drank Into the said City Tarquin the proud brought many inhabitants because the fields Pometini very large and fair were near the Sea subject to the said Plain as Dionysius of Alicarnassus writeth in his fifth book and Livy in the first Much is written of the said Hill in many places both by Dionysius Strabo Livy Pliny Pomponius Mela Solina Procopio and also Virgil in his seventh book The said City being afterward ruinated in place thereof was made a very strong Castle which was a secure passage for many Roman Bishops The Hill Carcino now called Capo di Stilo and by Ptolomeo named Promontorium Carcinum is the longest Promontory in all Italy as Pliny writeth by opinion of others Barbaro in the corrections of Pliny saith that it ought to be called Cocintum as the ancient books of Pliny declare and also of Polybius Barbaro besides saith that the book of Pliny was corrupted when he saith the Castle of Carceno was near to Petilia because he should have said Caecinum of which speaketh Filisto saying thus Caecinum est oppidum non multum à Sicilia distans The Cape of Squillace is a Hill upon the which in old time was the City of Squillac◠called by Pliny Scyllatius and by Strabo by Solinus and by Pomponius Mela Scyllatius The said City was builded by the Atenesi the companions of Menestro which arived there Crepacore is a great back or brow of the Apennine the which for the steepness and difficult
ascent hath been so called yet in old time it was called Grumo from the which flowes the River Moscano The said Hill is near to the Cave Menarda Cecubo is a Hill which joyneth to the Gulf of Gaeta and near Castellone the said Hill is very famous for the excellent Wine it yields for it bringeth forth the strongest Grape the Wines of Cecubo are accounted with the best as the Fondani and Setini whereof Martial saith Caecuba fundanis generosa coquuntur Amydis Vitis in media nata palude viret Casino is a high Hill which is not very far from the City of Aquino and the Castle Secca both being in Campania felix In the said Hill was in old time the City of Casino a Colony of the Romans as Titus Livius writeth in his ninth book declaring that thither was brought a Colony at the same time with Minturn And also Antonio in his Commentary speaketh likewise thereof in his 36 book And Strabo saith that in his time there was the glorious City of the Latines And Sillo nameth it thus in his twelfth book Nymphisque habitata Casini rura evastantur Here was the Temple of Apollo where was afterward builded the Stately Monastery of Casino so named by the ruinated City The said Monastery was built by St. Benedict for his Monks although the buildings of the Monastery at this present are not those which the Father St. Benedict builded for not long after his death all things were ruinated by the Longobards Totila King of the Goths moved by the sanctity of St. Benedict went up into the said Monastery purposing to try if that were true which he had heard say of him that is to say that St. Benedict through a prophetical spirit did know any secret or hidden thing apparelled himself like a page causing another to go before him cloathed in Kingly attire who feigned himself to be Totila but the Saint knowing of God the deceit requested him with a cheerfull countenance to come in with the rest of his followers and pointing to the King which was so basely attired to come foremost into the Monastery But neither this nor any other signes of sanctity which St. Benedict shewed to the Longobards were sufficient to bridle the fury of these Barbarians from the spoil of this Monastery the which had been foretold to the Monks by the Father St. Benedict It was afterward reedified upon the first foundations and also enlarged about a 112 years after by Petronio Petronasso Bresciano through the perswasion of Pope Gregory the second as Paolo Diacono writeth in his sixth book of the Histories of the Longobards and Elia Capriolo in his fifth book of his Brescian Histories The Monks thereof have more in revenue every year then fifty thousand duckets In the said Monastery do lie the bodies of many Saints and chiefly that of St. Benedict the Founder and Head thereof and of St. Scolastica his sister whose bodies were found in the year 1543. Pliny declares in the fourth chapter of his seventh book that in the said City of Casino in the time of the Consulship of Lucinius Crassus and of Caio Cassio Longo a certain girl was converted to a male kind which by advice of the South-sayers was carried away into a desert Island Caulo called in old time Caulon is a high Hill in Calauria upon the which is situated the City of Caulonia near Locri the said Hill is very full of Vines whereupon the Ancients consecrated it unto Bacchus Virgil speaketh of this Hill in the third of the Eneidos saying Caulonisque arces naufragum Scyllaceum Pliny in the third Book and tenth Chapter also discourseth of the said City Strabo in his sixth Book Pomponius Mela in his second and Stephano of the City cals it Caulonia Christs Hill is a high Hill which is near the City of Pozzuolo in the very same place which was called the Bath of Trepergole It is said that in the time that our Saviour Jesus Christ arose from death to life and descended into Hell at his resurrection he took the said great Hill and stopt the hole or mouth of Hell which he made coming from thence and for this cause they say it was called Christs Hill whereupon the Poet Eustasius thus saith Est locus Australis quo portam Christus Averni Fregit eduxit mortuus inde suos Haec domus est triplex hinc jure Tripergula dicta Vna capit vestes altera servat aquam Vtilis unda satis multum sudantibus aufert Defectum mentis cum gravitate pedum Haec stomachi varias facit absentare querelas Flebile de toto corpore tollit onus Debilis atque piger quibus est non multa facultas Consulimus tali ut saepe fruatur aqua Hujus amator aquae symptomata nulla timebit Incolumi semper corpore laetus erit But I believe with the holy Catholick and Apostolick Church that our Saviour Jesus Christ the son of the omnipotent God descended into Hell as all the Prophets and holy Apostles have said and I also believe that he arose the third day from death as the Scriptures verify unto us but that he should rise from this place or any other I am not so foolish to affirm it or say that which I know not For which thing I think better as St. Augustin saith in the 8 upon Gen to doubt de occultis quam litigare de incertis Cibele is a Hill near the City of Mercogijacono on the top whereof was in old time a stately Temple dedicated to the honour of Cibele Mother of the Gods Antonio Pio in his Commentary maketh mention of this Hill describing the way from Benevento to the Pillars he placeth first Mercuriale and afterward Cibele Mother of the Gods The said Temple was afterward dedicated by St. William unto the Virgin Mary the which hill after the consecration above-said the name of Cibele was changed into the name of Virgine as it is called at this present and the Congregation of the Fathers which are there is called de monte Virgine This high Hill is separated from the Apennine and also from the other Hils except they touch a little at the bottom In the great Altar of the said Church are preserved the bodies of the three children which by the commandment of Nechadonozor King of Babylon were put into the burning Oven because they would not adore the golden Image In the said Church is a Reliquary of so much beauty and ornament for the gilding of the place and for the many Reliques put in fair Vessels of silver and gold that it would be very difficult to find a better and perhaps not the like in all Christendom as all strangers say which come thither from far Countries In the said hill whether by the will of God whom it pleaseth many times to work marvailous effects in sundry particular places or by any other accident neither within the Monastery nor
word that he shold forbear sitting among them any longer but that his Highness Don Iohn shold govern who therupon sent for the Sicilian Fleet to com for the succour of Naples as also for three Regiments from Milan a little after the Duke of Arcos departed with his Family and Don Iohn was heard to say Vayase en hâ—ra mala che ha hecho perder este Reyno a mi padre Let him go in an ill hower for he hath lost my Father this Kingdom Don Iohn being sworn Vice-roy causd a generall pardon to be publishd wherupon the grave Judg Onufrio made a pathetic Oration to the people who had a verend opinion of him that since the Duke of Arcos with the chief Incendiaries were gone and that they had now a Kings Son so gallant a young Prince to gorevern them it was high time that they shold return now to their old obedience to their Monarch and lawfull King who had preservd them in peace and plenty so many yeers c. but the people lent a deaf ear to his speech so that the next day there was new money stampd with the armes of the Royall Republic The first of February 1648. the Castle of Saint Elmo erected the Royall Standard upon the discovery of three Gallies wherin was embarkd the Conde d' Ognate who had receivd a Commission at Rome where he was Ambassador to be Vice-roy of Naples all the Castles saluted him as also the great Bastion of Carmine from the Citty the first did it with powder only but the last with bullets wherby som of the Gally-slaves that rowd him were slain There arrivd from Malaga a Vessell with five hundred fresh Spaniards and thirty thousand Duckets for the Service of the Vice-roy and this Galeon gave notice of eight more that were coming There arrivd likewise a great supply from Genoa both of men mony and Amunition There came also an Ambassador from Malta with a goodly Retinue of Cavaliers which did much enhearten the Royall party The French Fleet having landed as formerly was spoken som Provision and Commanders in Naples was constraind by distress of weather to leave the Coasts with the loâ—s of divers Ships and Marriners now the Spaniards had securd and strongly fortified the Port of Nisita and there being a Fleet of Ships expected from Province with Provision of Corn which were to sayl that way the Duke of Guise went with a considerable Army of Horse and Foot with a Train of Artillery for the reduction of that place to the Royall Republic for it was a place of great importance The Conde d' Ognate now that the Duke of Guise was gone with a good part of the strength of the Citty fell upon this design which provd as happy as it was hazardous About twelve a Clock at night having with extraordinary acts of Devotion implord the assistance of Heaven young Don Iohn of Austria and the sayd Conde with a great number of Barons Cavaliers and other ventrous Spirits marchd silently down towards the Citty they had a Train of choise Artillery with good store of Fire-works Don Iohn came first to the Cisterna d'oglio with all his Brigade and causd the Church of Jesus which was contiguous therunto to be gently opened where having made ardent prayers to the Redeemer of Man-kind he desird Father Gerunda to confess him and administer him the holy Communion Thus he began to fall to work and commanded a Wall to be batterd down which joynd to San Sebastian and so he passd without interruption to Porta Alba Being advancd so far he got a horse-back and rid confidently towards Constantinople street through a crowd of the Citty Arcabusiers wherof som shot others being amazd at the suddennes of the thing stood astonishd thence he went on to Saint Aniellos street and the Virgins quarter where the most civill sort of people dwelt who were from the beginning the most Loyall to the King The Arch-bishop Filomarini was appointed to meet him which he did with other Lords thence he pursued his way to the Duke of Guises Palace and after som Musket-shot the Palace yeelded for the great Canons which were there planted wold not go off though there was fire put to them which was held miraculous and so much heightned his Spirits finding that all things conjurd to make this attempt prosperous He marchd thence to the great Market-place and being com neer the great Bastion of Carmine where Gennaro Arnese was with a choice guard of three hundred men he sent him word it was fitting that Bastion shold be put into his hands for his Catholic Majesties Service and if he wold not conform to so just a proposall he left him to consider what a high act of disloyalty it wold prove Arnese consulting with his best thoughts came forth and prostrating his person before him presented him with the Keys hereupon Don Iohn inordred a Cavalier of Malta to publish a generall pardon with an abolition to all Gabels new and old provided that every one wold return to his former alleagance The people with loud acclamations answerd that they wold be well satisfied herewith if Don Iohn himself wold declare this with his own mouth which was done accordingly So this Noble and Magnanimous Expâ—oit took effect without any effusion of blood except the death only of two Spanish Captains and one of the peoples which may be imputed first to a speciall Providence of God Almighty then to the prowesse of a young Generall and lastly to the Prudence of a grave Vice-roy Add hereunto that the absence of the Duke of Guise condued much for the facilitating of this great Design The Citty of Naples being thus suddenly redued Don Iohn sent in quest of the Duke of Guise to the Country hard by who after som resistance was taâ—en Prisoner and clapd up in the Castle of Capua the high Collatterall Councell adjudgd him to dy but young Don Iohn overruld the sentence and so sent him Captif to the Court of Spain where having bin Prisoner a good while he made an escape as far as Victoria within a dayes journy of France but notwithstanding his disguise he was discoverd and so clapd up again in Prison where he continued till the Prince of Conde leaguring lately with the Spaniard got him released There were Gibbets put up in divers places of the Citty to execute the chiefest Incendiaries but at the cryes of the women and Children to Don Iohn he commanded them to be taken down yet after this his departure the Vice-roy dispatched many and gave them Pass-ports for the other world among others too Gennaro Arnese who had bin Capo popolo with divers others and a long time after the inquest and execution of som of the chief Ring-leaders continued by the noble sagacious proceeding of the foresayd new Vice-roy the Conde d' Ognate a notable Minister of State having bin traind up therunto by sundry Embassies abroad as well to England as to other Countries Not long after
any of the rest which he much resented in regard he had so earnest a desire to see the Prince and to speak with him he having bin the first who put the Treaty of alliance on foot therfore it was suspected that he wold have discoverd somthing unto him prejudiciall to Spain But to give Don Gaspar de Olivares his due he had solid and sufficient parts for a great Minister of state his passions were very high for the greatning of his Master to the transactions of whose affairs he indefatigably addicted himself He was a professd Enemy to all Presents he never usd to give audience to Ladies or any women but wold receive their busines by Letters Lastly the greatest fault which I find he could be guilty of was that he was not so succesfull as he was sedulous Thus fell that huge Swayer of the Spanish Monarchy above thirty yeers and it seems with the Kings favor his spirits quickly fayld him for removing from Loches to Toro he there met with his last about sixteen months after His body being opend there was found in his Skull above two pounds of Brains and at the day of his buriall there was a huge Tempest fell with extraordinary fulgurations and cracks of Thunder as we read that when Katherin de Medici was buried in France there fell such a hidious storm that fifty Sayl of Merchant-men were cast away upon the Coasts of Britany The sorest Enemy Olivares had was the Queen which made him say that Muger hizo echar el primer hombre fuera de'l parayso y muger hizo echar a mi fuera del palacio A Woman was the cause that the first man was thrust out of Paradice and a Woman was the cause that I also was thrust out of the Kings Palace The Conde de Castrillo brother to the Marquess of Carpio who was brother-in-law to Olivares was one of the chiefest Engins which helpd to pull down this great Tree being a sober and wise well weighd man He is now Vice-roy of Naples having succeeded the little Conde d Ognate who had done such signall supererogatory Services in suppressing those horrid tumults in Naples where the power of Spain was upon point of sinking and his wisdom was no less discernd in settling peace and stopping the wide breaches wherwith that Kingdom had bin so miserably rent as also in finding out and punishing the chiefest Incendiaries wherof there were divers who felt the sharp Sword of Nemesis And lastly for devising waies to raise sums countervaylable to those Gabels and Taxes which the King was enforcd to abolish by the fury of the people And now will I take leave of the gentle Parthenope that three Castled and high crested Citty but a few words further of her Pedigree before we part she was built presently after the Wars of Troy by a young Grecian Lady calld Parthenope whose statue is to be seen there She was Daughter of Eumelus Son to Admetus King of Thessaly after her Fathers death she consulted with the Oracle at Delphos what her Fortunes shold be the Oracle told her that she was designd for another Country to be the Foundress of a noble Citty which shold be famous all the Earth over therfore she embarkd her self with divers more and sayling along the Tyrrhen Sea she landed at last in the next Promontory to Naples whence as the Legend tells a white Dove conducted her to that palce where Naples now stands where she began to build and trace a Citty which she calld by her own name Parthenope or the Virgin Citty which appellation continued till Octavianus the Emperor who first calld her Neapolis or the City of Navigation she being in rising postures like an Amphitheater on the Sea-side and wonderfull comodious for trafic she abounds with Silks Oyles Flowers Fruits and a most generous Race of Horses as any place upon the earthly Globe As her Horses are generous so they are observd to be more docile and neer to rationall Creatures then any where else for which this instance shall be producd Cardinall Bentivoglio sent Henry the Fourth of France a choice Napolitan Courser with his Keeper when the Horse was brought before the King he commanded one of his Riders to mount him who neither with Switch or Spur wold scarce stir or shew any feats of activity the King herupon and the Beholders began to disparage the Horse taking him for som dull Jade hereupon the King desird an Italian Rider to mount him the Horse when he saw his own Rider ready to back him fell a trembling all over but the Rider being got up he began to prance and flounce so nimbly as if he wold have flown into the Air to the amazement of all the Spectators so King Henry with the Present beggd the Rider of the Cardinall whom he entertaind all his life-time The Napolitan being born in a luxurious Country is observd to be the greatest Embracer of pleasure the greatest Courtier of Ladies and the most indulgent of himself of any other Nation insomuch that no command of the King can make a Napolitan Gentleman to go upon any Service for three months in Sommer till the heats are over They are full of Noble Friendship one to another and somtime they make their love to men controul their lust to women As there was a notable example these late yeers in the person of the young Marquess Oliverio who being desperatly in love with the Countess of Castlenovo layd siege to her a good while and the Count going to a Country-house of his and taking his Countess and Family with him the Marquess being more and more enflamd goes to the Country hard by one day a Hawking and let flies his Hawk into the Count of Castlenovos Gardens where it chancd he and his Countes were walking the Marquess made bold to retreeve his Hawk the Count with very high Civilities did welcom him and causd a Banquet to be presently provided where he and his Lady entertaind him being gone the Count began to commend the Marquess telling his wife that he was one of the hopefullst young Noble men and the fullest of parts of any in the whole Kingdom These praises made such impressions in the Countess that a little after he gaind her so the time and place of pleasure being appointed he was let in a privat way to her Chamber where she being a bed as he was undressing himself to go to her she told him that he was beholden to the Count her Husband for this Favor for she never heard him speak so much in commendation of any Is it so sayd the Marquess then I shold be the arrantst Villan in the world to abuse so noble a Friend so he put on his Dubblet agen and departed but with much civillity in the very height and heat of lust though he had so commodious conjuncture of time as his heart could desire But as the Napolitan have a high noble method of Friendship amongst them so are they as
revengfull as any other Italian Among a world of examples that could be producd let this suffice In the ancient Citty of Nocera there were three young Noble-men calld Conrado Cesare and Alexandro the eldest was Prince of the place before Charles the Fifts time There was and is still in Nocera a strong Castle where the Prince Conrado had a Garrison wherof he made a Confident of his Captain and Keeper of the Castle the Prince most of his time kept in his Country-house and his Brothers also but somtimes he wold com and ly som dayes in his Castle It fortund that his Captain having a comly woman to his wife the Prince fell in love with and never left till he enjoyd her which he had done often to the knowledg of her husband so beating his brains how to be revengd he fell upon this way The Prince being at his Country-house the Captain sent him word that there were two wild Boares discoverd in the Forrest hard by therfore if he and his two Brothers wold com such a day with their Dogs he doubted not but they shold find very Princely sport So Conrado came with his second brother Cesare but Alexander could not com till two dayes aâ—ter so the Captain had provided a fitting Supper for the Prince and his brother who had brought another Noble-man with him to have part of the Sport the Prince and the sayd Noble-man lodgd in the Castle but Cesare lay in the Town The Captain was wonderfull officious to attend the Prince to his Chamber but having confederated with the chiefest of the Garrison in the dead of night they rushd into the Prince his Chamber and the first thing they did they chopd of his Genitories then his Head which they put to stand on a window and quarterd the rest of his body This being done very silently in the morning betimes they sent in the Prince his name for his second brother to com in all hast when Prince Cesare came the Captain waited upon him to his brothers Chamber where the first Object he beheld was Conrados head upon a window and his members quarterd and strewd up and down the Room ah sayd Cesare is this the wild Boar you writ of yes answered the Captain but I writ to you of two so they fell upon Him also and made the like Sacrifice of revenge upon him this being done the Captain barrd up the Gates and going upon the walls of the Castle he sent for the chief of the Town made a Speech unto them in what slavery they livd in under Conrado therfore if they ever desird liberty there was a fair opportunity offerrd now because he had Conrado in his Custody and he could do with him what he pleasd But the Cittizens wold hearken to no such motion so they sent speedy word to Alexander the younger brother who coming with som Country forces the Citty joynd with them and beleagurd the Castle the Captain finding his case to be desperat takes his wife first on a high Turret and hurld her down amongst them then his Children and afterwards murtherd himself in the ey of all the Citty There is no Country swarms with Nobility more then the Kingdom of Naples the number wherof do daily encrease insomuch that the last account which was taken there were in Naples Calabria and Apulia with the rest of the twelve Provinces adjoynd two thousand Barons fifty Dukes ninety Marquesses seventy Earls and five Princes But som of these Nobles have but slender Estates as Aretin reports who sayes that three Marquesses in Lunigiana were found eating of Figgs off one Tree to keep them from starving Now though the Spaniard entitle himself King of both the Sicilies yet he holds the latter I mean the Kingdom of Naples in Fee from the Pope whom he acknowledgeth to be Lord-Paramount therof by right of Donation to the Church Therfore the Spanish Ambassador upon the Vigile of Saint Peter or every Saint Peters Eve presents the Pope in his Masters name with a Heriot and a Rent viz. With a Muâ—e and seven thousand Duckets in Gold at the reception wherof the Pope answers Sufficiat pro hac vice Let it suffice for this time and till this be done the great Catholic King lyeth under an Excomunication which in a short compass of time is layed on him and taken off every yeer I. H. Senesco non Segnesco FINIS A Catalogue of Mr. Howells Works in severall Volumes Printed by Mâ— Humphrey Mosely I. Mr. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu Fol. II. Mr. Howels Epistolae Hoelianae familiar Letters Domestick and Forren in six Sections partly Historicall Politicall Philosophicall the the first Volume with Additions 8 o. III. Mr. Howels new Volume of familiar Letters partly Historicall Politicall Philosophicall the second Volume with many Additions 8 o. IV. Mr. Howels third Volume of additionall Letters of a fresher date never before published 8 o. V. Mr. Howels Dodon as Grove or the Vocal Forrest the first part in Fol. 4 o. 12 o. with many Additions VI. Mr. Howels Dodon'as Grove or the Vocal Forrest the second part in 8 o. never printed before VII Mr. Howels Englands Tears for the present Wars VIII Mr. Howels Pre-eminence and Pedigree of Parliament in 12 o. in answer of Mr. Pryn. IX Mr. Howels Instructions and Directions for Forren Travels in 12 o. with divers Additions for Travelling into Turky and the Levant parts X. Mr. Howels Vote or a Poem-Royall presented to his Majesty in 4 o. XI Mr. Howels Angliae Suspiria lachrymae in 12 o. XII Tumulus Thalamus two Counter-Poems the first an Elegy upon Edward Earl of Dorset the second an Epithalamium to the Lord M. of Dorchester XIII Parables reflecting on the times XIV A German Dyet or the Ballance of Europe wherin the Power and Weakness Glory and Reproach Vertues and Vices Plenty and Wants Advantages and Defects Antiquity and Modernes of all the Kingdoms and States of Christendom are Impartially poiz'd by James Howell Esq Fol. XV. Parthenopoeia or the History of the most noble and renowned Kingdom of Naples with the Lists of all their Kings the first part translated out of the Italian by Mr. Samson Lennard the second Part continued to these present times 1654. by James Howell Esq More of Mr. Howels Works Printed by other Men. XVI THe great French Dictionary refind and augmented in a large Fol. XVII A Survey of the Signory of Venice in Fol. XVIII A Dialogue twixt the Soul and the Body XIX The first Part of the late Revolutions in Naples XX. The second Part of the sayed Resolutions XXI The Warr of the Iewes epitomiz'd XXII Sir Robert Cottens Works which he was desird to publish XXIII Saint Pauls Progress upon Earth XXIV A Venetian Looking-glass XXV A Winter Dream XXVI The Trance or Mercurius Acherontious XXVII A Dialogue twixt Patricius and Peregrin XXVIII An Inquisition after blood XXIX The
Instruments of a King XXX The late Kings Declaration in Latine French and English XXXI Bella Scoto-Anglica or the Traverses of War twixt England and Scotland XXXII Mercurius Hybernicus XXXIII The Process and pleadings in the Court of Spain for the death of Mr. Ascham in Fol. Three of all which Books are Translations the rest his own Compositions Vfent is a River near the City of Ansure now called Terracina for the roughness thereof It was builded by Ansurus the son of Iupiter The Provinces of the Kingdom of Naples See Virgil in the end of the fifth Book of Aeneidâ—s where he saith Iamque adeo scopulos syrenum c. The Isles of Diomedes called by Cornelius Tacitus in his 4 book Trimerus The praise of the Kingdom Men and women endued with divers Sciences St. Thomas Aquinus see lib. of Metheora Turia is a Country of Calauria anciently called Metaâ—tos Marinus florished in the time of the Emperor Hadrian and writ many questions of Philosophy as Suida noteth See Stasius in the end of his 3 Book to Claudia The length and breadth of the Land of Lavoro Campania Felix why it was so called The nature of the Land of Lavoro Trees flourish twice a year in this Province The great plenty both of fowls and wild beasts in the Land of Lavoro The fishes which the Sea of this Province bringeth forth Mines and Baths Of the Wine Oyle and living creatures which are in this Province See Plutarch The praise of this Province The excellent Conserve of Naples The nature condition of the people of this Province Fondi Pliny lib. 14. cap 6. The Lake Fondano Mamurry Gaeta Galasius second Bishop of Rome Mola Formia The Village of Scipio and Lelius See Martial lib. x. epigâ—a The Castle Honoratus Horace lib. pr. The River Garigliano The overthrow given to the Saracins by Pope Iohn the 10. Consalvus Ferrandus grand Captain of Cordova Tratetto Minturne The Land of Lavoro Garigliano Trifano Sinope called Sinuessa Turpillus the Comical Poet. The Hill Massico The Fort of Mondragone The Villages of Sessa The City Sessa Why it was called Sessa Augustine Nifo Carinola The Fields Falerni what they were and how far they stretched The Fields Stellato Calvi Cajazza Tiano Caianello Vulturno Patria Of the Fountain Acidula and the property thereof The City Cuma The Town of Servilio Vacia Miseno Trumpeter of Aeneas Bana the Lake Averno and Pizzolo why they were so named Soffatara The Hil Asturno Listroni The Village of Cicero where the Emperor Adrian was buried Hot-Houses The soul of Pascasio Cardinal See also Iohn â—â—kiâ— in his 2 book of Purgatory Pausilipo a most delightfull place which according to Dion was possessed by Vedio Pollione a Roman a man famous for no other cause then his wealth and cruelty because in that place he had certain Fish-ponds wherein he used often times to cast in men as food for his fishes and dying leâ—t Augustus his heir of Pausilipo Virgil his Sepulchre Chiaia Giacomo Sanazaro The Castle of Vovo Naples alwaies faithful to the people of Rome The praise of the City of Naples The Gulf Cratera The Arms of the City of Naples The Tower of Greece and of Nuntiata The Hill Somma casteth out fire The death of Pliny The Wholsome House a most delightsome place builded by King Charls the second The City Massa The Temple of Minerva The Isle of Sirenuse see Virgil in the end of his 5 Book of Eneâ—dos now these Islands are called under one name Gallo where is the Isle of Capri. Procita why it was so called Dyonisius of Alicarnaseo in the first of the Histories of Rome Iohn of Procicla Author of the Sicilian Evening Ieronimo Zurita in the History of Arragon The Family of Procita in Catalogna The Isle Ischia Of the Giant Tipheo the Poets speak diversly for Virgil in the 9 of Aeneidos saith that here he was strucken with lightning by Iupiter in the which opinion agreeth Lucan but Ovid saith it wâ—s in Sicilia Alfonsus King of Arragon and Naple was of the House of Medina so saith Laonico Calcondile Athenian in the History of the Turks in his fift Book Gironda an ancient City of the Isle Bartholmew Perdice Genoway The Book of the Antiquities of Pozzuolo written by the Author of this Work The body of St. Restituta Virgin The Isle Nisita why it was so called Gaiola why â—t was so called The City Capoa Capoa destroyed The Sepulchre of Capi the builder of Capoa Capoa destroyed by Genserico King of the Vandals Capoa newly builed The Lombards destroy Capoa Capoa re-edified Conradus King of Naples cast the Walls of Capoa to the grâ—und Capoa sacked by the French The Land of Lavoro why it was so called F. L. Sosipatro Charisso Vittore Bishop Peter of Vineis Iohn Antonio Campano The City Atella The City Aversa by whom it was built Aversa destroyed by Charls of Angio King of Naples Don Pietro Orsino The famous men of Aversa Marigliano The City Acerra why it was built Acerrr why it was so called The Temple of Iupiter Feretrio Propertio in 4. The river Glanio and the originall thereof Sessula The river Isclero Aierola The City Caserta by whom it was built Lonardo Santoro Mataloni Venafro The City Sora. The Sorani cut in pieces the Roman Colonies The Romans take Sora. The Romans send another Colony to Sora. Sora destroyed by the Emperor Frederick the second The River Fibreno and the beginning thereof The River Liris now called Garigliano An Island a most beautiful Country called by the Ancients Interamnia Comino a pleasant Country was â—o called by an ancient City of the same name The City Atina The River Melfa The City Arpino The Arms of Arpino The City Arce The City Aquino Giovenal a Satyrical Poet. Victorino a Geometrician Pescenio Negro Emperor St. Thomas of Aquin. Gio Menardo in the 6 book of epistles in the 5 epistle Adinolfo Count of Aquino and Duke of Gaeta Monte Casino Totila King of Goths Paulo Diacono in his 6 book of histories The City Theano The City Calvi The City Lauro by whom it was built Palma The Plain of Palma The City Nola. The death of the Emperor Octavius Augustus Flora and her Riches The Temple of Flora. St. Felix Bishop St. Paulino the Inventer of Bels. The Arms of Nola. The first Counts of Nola Romano Orsino was the first of that Family that had Lordship in the Kingdom Wherefore the Rose was adjoyned to Arms of the House of Orsina Iohn Antonio Orsino Prince of Tarento Counts of Nola. The names of the Noble Families of Nola. The Arms of this Province of Lavoro Arechi Duke of Benevento in the year 755. The Confines of the Picentini Where the Picentini dwelt Why the Picentini were driven away by the Romans The City Picentia Sundry opinions of the Picentini The fertility of the Province Noceria Sanseverino The water of Mela. Cava and the beginning thereof in the year 910. Adalferio
Nocolas the 2 Bishop of Rome came to the Parlament with Guisâ—aâ—do an 1059. Robert Guiscard invested with the Dukedom of Puglia and Calauria The oath of loyalty and homage of Duke Robertâ— The second oath Pâ—terno taken by Robert Guiscard Salerno taken by Guiscardo in the year 1076. Pope Gergory the 7 conâ—â—emed to Ruberto the Dukedom of Puglia and Calauria The investing made by Pope Gregory Ruberto delivereth Pope Gregory being besieged The death of Duke Ruberto Guiscardo an 1085. Ruggieri the Norman Duke of Apulia and Calauria Boemund created Prince of Antiochia Ruggieri died in the year 1110. VVilliam the Norman Duke of Apulia and Calauria in the year 111â— Ruggieri Count of Sicilia the son of Ruggieri Bosso possesseth the Dukedom of Puglia and Calauria An. 1123. The death of Duke William An 11â—8 Ruggieri entituleth himself King of Italy Innocent the â— warreth upon Ruggieri Duke Ruggieri besieged in the Castle Galluccio Ruggieri delivered from the siege The City of Naples given by the Bishop to Duke Ruggieri Ruggieri created King of both the Ciâ—ilies An 1130. Sigâ—nius in his â— book of Histories An 1130. The death of King Ruggieri anno 1153. An. 1153. William excommunicated by Adrian the 4. The Pope is called into the Kingdom William maketh peace with the Pope Anno 1156. Anno 1167. Anno 1138. Henry the 6. Emperor by some called the 5. Constance a nun given for wise to the Emperor Henry the 6. The coronation of the Emperor Henry Constance an 11â—1 â—â—ples besieged The death of Ruggieri the son of King Tancred King Tancred died in the year 1194. The wife and children of Tancred The Emperor Henry entreth the Kingdom and taketh it The wife and children of Tancred made prisoners Anno 1195. Henry the Emperor 〈◊〉 in the year 1197. An. 1197. The coronation of Frederick the 2 Emperor an 1198. Why the Kings of Naples are intitled Kings of Ierusalem Anno 1220. A Law made by Frederick Frederick the Emperor crowned King of Ierusalem An. 1229. Discord between the Pope and the Emperor Frederick The death of the Emperor Frederick The wife and children of the Emperor Frederick The natural children of the Emperor Frederick Anno 1251. Capoa Naples and Aquino tâ—ken by the Emperor Conrado Henry slain the death of Conrado Anno 1254. An. 1263. Anno 1295. For the better understanding of the Reader the said Bettrice of Aragon was the daughter of Don Raimondo Berenguer of Aragon Earl of Province and of Bettrice the daughter of Thomaâ— Earl of Savoy which was married with Charls of Angio .245 the which Betâ—trice as the eldest of all the other sisters inherited the said Count of Province Berenguer is as much as to say Berengarius in Latine and was a name of honour among the Spaniards for the many victories which the most valiant Berenguer obtained Anno 1265. Mary resigneth to King Charls the Kingdom of Ierusalem See the Register of King Charls 1. of the year 1268 â—â—d 6. liâ—era A. â—ol 55. Anno 1285. Anno 1309. Anno 1343. Anno 1â—81 Anno 1386. Anno 1414 This Alfonsus was the â— â—f that name K. of Aragon and 〈…〉 in the history of the Tuâ—ks in the 5. Book wâ—ites that that K. â—lfonsus of Aragon was of the House of Medâ—na Anno 1423. Anno 1434. King Alfonsus taken prisoner Anno 1381. Anno 1442. Anno 1458. Anno 1494. Anno 1495. Anno 1495. Anno 1504. Anno 1501. Anno 1503 Anno 1516. Anno 1517. Anno 1519. Anno 1520. Anno 1526 Charls 5 marrieth Isabella of Portugall Anno 1527. The birth of Philip King of Spain Anno 1528. Monsig Lotrecco besiegeth Naples This siege was the 29 of April 1528. The battell of the Emperours Gallies with the Genoways The victory of the Count Philip d'Oriâ— Andrea d'Oria leaveth the service of the French King and the cause why Peace made with the French King Anno 1530 Charls the fifth crowned Emperour Anno 1535. The enterprise of Tunis Charls the fifth goeth in triumph through Naples Novem. 23. 1535. The resignation made by Charls 5. of his kingdom to Philip his son The resignation of the Empire made by the Emperour Charls 5. Anno 1556. The death of Charls the 5. Anno 1558. The wife and children of Charls Anno 1554. Charls of Angio was the first that was crowned with an Imperiall Crown King of both the Sicilles The Kings of Naples are written sacred Royal Majesty See the Gloss in the Preambles of the Constitution of the kingdom in the second colum What the annointing of the Kings shoulders and right arm signifie The Royall purple Robâ— signifieth Charity Tullius Hosâ—â—â—â—uâ— King of Rome after he had overcome the 〈◊〉 was the best King that useâ— the purple robe The Golden Scepter the sword the one signifieth that he commandeth the people and the other that he pursueth the enemies in the name of Christ. The Ring and the Bracelet signifie faith and purity The Apple signifieth the Kingdom The Crown declareth glory The King of Naples is crowned with an Imperiall crown Edissa a City of Mesopotamia from whence Tobias sent his son to Gabellus and where Thaddeus the Apostle was converted to the Christian faith The victory of Baldwin Baldwin taken prisoner Fulk of Anâ—oâ— King of Ierusalem The death of Baldwin the 2. Almerick succeeded Baldwin The death of Almerick Marquess of Monferrato the Governour of Ierusalem The death of Baldwin the 4. The death of Baldwin the 5. Jerusalem taken by the Soldan Conrado Longaâ—patho Marquis of Monferrato made King of Ierusalem Cyprus surprised by the King of England The Knights of the Temple made Governors of Cyprus Guy of Lusignon first â—ing of Cyprus The death of King Conâ—â—do The death of Henry Earl of of Ciampania Almerick King of Cyprus the third husband of Isabel. Iohn Count Brenne was made Companion of the Empire of Constantinople The Emperour Frederick taketh Ierusalem Anno 1269. This Hugo for his vertue and valor was called the Great Mary the daughter of Melisenda and of Raimond giveth her right to K. Charls King Charls of Angio is proclaimed lawfull King of Jerusalem Ruggieri Sanseverina sent to govern â—erusalem The Arms of the kingdom of Naples Athenaeo of the invention of the crown Aristotle of the crown Libero according to Pliny was the first which was crowned Three sorts of crowns according to Theophrastus The crown of Crassus Of the distinction of the crowns of herbs Posthumio Tuberto used a crown of Mirtle The crown Civica was of Oke The crown Vallare The crown Murale The crown Navale The crown of grass among the Romans was held most glorious Fabius Maximus The Royall crown not used in old time What the Kingly ornaments were in old time The purple robe as Martial declareth was the ornament of a Magistrate whereupon he thus saith Divisit nostras purpura vestra togas And in another place saith Purpurate foelix te colit â—â—nis honos From whom the use of the crown descended The Bishop of Ostia crowneth the Pope Aurelianus was the first that wore a câ—own of gold Lampâ—idio a grave Author writeth that the first of the Roman Emperours which wore apparell of Silk was Heliogabalus Charls the Great the first that was crowned by the hand of the Pope Three crowns belong to the Roman Emperours the first is of silver which is taken of the kingdom of Germany in the City of Aquisgrain The second is Iron of the kingdom of Lombartly in Medina neer Millan the which crown is of ancient workmanship without flowers or points made within as a plain hoop of Iron which binds in the temple but without is beautified with gold and pretious stones the which sheweth that the Roman Empire hath the strength of Iron by military power The third Crown is then of gold of the Empire of Rome which the Pope giveth in the Church of St. Peter Arechi Duke of Benevento was the first that was called Prince The dignity of the principality of Salerno How the kings eldeâ—â— son was intitled Duke of Calâ—â—ria The first Prince of Capoa See Luca di Penna in l. 1. c. de auro coronario lib. 10. in l. 1. c. de Authle Cassaneus in catalogo gloriae mundi in 1. par Concl. 9. Archduke of Sessa Luca de Penna in Rub. c. de Comitibus lib. 12. This dignity was by Charls the Great his son bestowed on those which were their Deputies Afterward under the German Empire that title was of a proper power and authority Marino Frezza in 2. lib. de suffendi in the chap. Quis dicatur Comes nu 54.
Church and a Monastery of Carthusian Monks under the name of St. Martin the other Church of St. Hermo stands within the Castle which was builded by Charls the first of Angio King of Naples for a defence and guard of the said City The said Castle was newly fortified by the Emperor Charls the fifth All this Hill is beautified with goodly buildings and other worthy edifices this pleasant Hill yieldeth excellent Wines which are much commended by Galen 5 Salubrium 1 de antid and Martial in Xenia speaking of the Wine Trifolino thus saith Non sum de primo fateor Trifolina Lyaeo Inter vina tamen septima vitis aero It is called the Hill Trifolino by reason of the three-leafed grass which growes there very plentifully Tifata is a Hill which lies above Capoa whereof Sillio speaketh Tifata umbrisico generatum monte Calenum Titus Livius likewise nameth it in the seventh and twentisixth book describing that Hannibal departing from the Brutii came into these places to relieve Capoa besieged by Q. Fulvius and Appius Claudius the Roman Consuls and pitcht his Camp in a Valley but a little distant from the said Hill with the greatest part of his Army and with 30 Eliphants Vesevo or Vesuvio is a hil that stands over against Naples and opposite to the Pompeians divided on every side with high hils and hath at the foot thereof round about many pleasant Woods but in the top is very dreadfull hideous and unpassable in the midst whereof is a great hole made with fire which seems as a Theatre digged even out of the bowels of the Hill from whence in old time did ascend great abundance of fire Of these flames Beroso the Caldean in his fifth book of Antiquities maketh mention saying that in the last year of the King Arli the 7 King of the Assirians the said Hill burned Suetonius in the life of Titus saith that in the time of the said Emperor it yielded also great abundance of fire Of the like fire in the same manner relateth Dion the Greek the said fire burned two Cities that stood near unto it that is to say Erculanio and Pompey After the fire had continued three daies and three nights it cast so many ashes with so great violence that they were carried with the force of the wind even into Africa into Syria and into Egipt whereupon Pliny being desirous to see the cause of these fires went even to the Tower Ottavi and there was stifled with the smoke which rose from the said hill This burning was the cause that the Curati were created in Rome for the Country of Lavoro whose office was to provide for those inconveniencies in all that Country Vesevo is now much tilled and yieldeth excellent Greek Wine and great store of Corn and there is also gathered great plenty of good fruits it is now called the Hill of Somma because it standeth over against Naples On the one side it hath the Fields on the other the Sea at the foot of the hill is the fair City of Somma which is adorned with the Title of Duke Of the said Hill thus saith Sillio Italico in the 12 book Monstrantur Veseva juga atque in vertice summo Depasti flammis scopuli fractusque ruina Mons circum atque Aethnae satis carentia saxa And Martial in the 4 book of his Epigrams Hic est Pampineis viridis vesuvius umbris Praesserat hic madidos nobilis uva locus Haec juga quam Nysae colles plus Bacchus amavit Hoc nuper satyri monte dedere choros Haec veneris sedes Lacedaemone graâ—ior illi Hic locus Herculeo nomine clarus erat Cuncta jacent flammis tristi mersa favilla Nec superi vellem hoc licuisse sibi Some say that Vesuvio was so called for the sparkles of fire which in old time it cast out as it were full of sparkles for in old time a sparkle was called Vesuvia Others say that it was also named Vesbio of Vesbio Captain of the Pelasgi which did domineer and command the said Hill Servio was deceived in expounding those words of Virgil in the 7. saying Et vicina Veseva ora jugo because he saith that Vesevio is not the same that is Vesuvo and that the first standeth in Liguria from whence the River Po floweth and that the second is in Campania felix Nevertheless by the authority and testimony of excellent and grave Writers that hill of Liguria hath been called Vesuvio FENNS THe Fenn Pontana called of the Latinists Palus Pontina was so named as Strabo saith from the City of Pometia sometimes a Colony of the Romans made at the same time with Suessa according to T. Liviâ—s in his 9 book It proceedeth of two Rivers the one called Aufido the other Vfente of the first Virgil maketh mention saying Et in mare volvitur Vfeus And in the 7. Vfeus insignis fama Now it is vulgarly called Aufente and also Baudino This Fenn is so large that as Pliny saith with the authority of Mutiano that there were 24 Cities Titus Livius writeth in his 47 book that the said Fenn was dried up by the Consul Cornelio Cethego and the ground became solid and firm to sow corn But in process of time care being not had thereof it returned to its pristinate state and was all filled with water the which Theodorico King of the Goths noting caused it to be made drie another time At this present the said fields are become for the most part so moorish as well by the means of the said Rivers as the great flowing of the waters which spring from the bottom of the bordering hils round about and there settle and remain their ancient passages being stopt whereby they were wont to depart and pass into the Sea So by this means there is to be seen a great Moor Upon this Fenn or Moor was the City of Terracina called in old time Ansure which was the chief and head City of the Vlosci Strabo saith that in former time it was called Trachina which is to say sharp and rough by reason of the stony â—ils where it is situate Servio saith that in Terracina was adored a little Iupiter called Ansurâ— which in Greek signifies as it were not shaven because he had no beard by reason of his youth whereupon Martial in the 10 of his Epigrams writing to Faustine thus saith O nemus ò fontes solidumque madentis arenae Lictus aequoris splendidus Anxur aqueis And Horace in hâ—s Poetry saith Sterilique diu palus aptaque remis Vnicas urbes alit grave sentit aratrum Servio also saith that not very far from Terracina was a City called Satura Suetonius Tranquillus writeth that Tiberius being invited to a Feast at Terracina in a place called Pretorio suddenly fell from aloft many great stones which kild many of his friends and followers and himself hardly escaped Spartiano saith that Antonino Pio repaired the Haven
of Terracina This City had also the immunities and priviledges of Anzo and of Hostia the which were likewise suspended at the coming of Asdrubale into Italy Acherusa is a Fenn or Moor which is now called Coluccia and are certain waters of a rusty iron colour which amaze whosoever see them and overspread much ground between Capoa and Aversa infecting the air and making the earth unfruitfull through the great abundance in that Plain whereby the Country becomes altogether unprofitable It stretcheth even to Cuma overflowing every place the which is so plain that the water runneth not but in summer is accustomed to be drie Of the which water none in old time would taste believing it was an infernal water which distilled from the near adjacent waters through the great heat of Flâ—giton whereupon they builded there a Temple to Pluto the God of Hell The Ancients have also said that Hercules at his departure from Hell took the Crown from the head of Oppius and planted it for a memorial on the side of the said Moor whereupon the Poets afterward feigned that all the Poppies that grew there had black leaves Pliny makes mention of this Moor in his 3 book Strabo in the 5 book Sill. in the 8. Virgil in the 6 of Eneid saying Vnum oro quando hic Inferni janua regis Dicitur tenebrosa palus Acheronte refuso Of LAKES ANsanto of the Latinists called Amsanctus is a Lake which lieth between Lucania and the Irpini the water whereof yieldeth a stinking savour like Brimstone and therefore all the fowles that fly over it fall down dead to the earth Cicero nameth this Lake in the 1 of Divinat saying Mortifera quaedam pars est ut Amsancti in Hirpinis in Asia Plutonica quae vidimus And Virgil in the 7. of the Eneid Est locus Italiae in medio sub montibus altis Nobilibus fama multis memoratus in oris Amsancti valles Agnano is a Lake which lieth near Pozzuolo and is invironed with high Rocks the said Lake is very deep and yieldeth not any thing but Frogs In the Spring time there are often seen many heaps and bundles of Serpents which are smothered and stifled in the water by divine providence the which permitteth not that they multiply and increase being so pernicious to humane nature Averna is a deep Lake which is three miles distant from Cuma and is called of the Latinists Avernus it was so named as Nonio Marcello saith for the mortal and deadly savour of the water against birds and fowles which incontinently die if they fly but over it It is compassed round about with high Hils except at the entrance Round about it are very delightfull and pleasant places in this Lake were men sacrificed and here also as Homer declareth was Elphenore slain by Vlisses and sacrificed and likewise Miseno by Eneas The water of this Lake hath a brackish and salt taste and a black colour In old time the said Lake was invironed with thick Woods through the shadow whereof it was alwaies obscure and fearfull whereupon Augustus caused all the Woods to be cut down On the left hand in the turning of the Lake is the Cave of Sibilla and a little farther near the water is the Temple of Mercury the ruines whereof are yet to be seen Of this Lake Aristotle maketh mention de admirabilibus mundi Valer. Flac. lib. 2. Seneca in Troade 9. Curt. lib. 8. Dion in 5. of Antiquities Vibio Sequestre Nonio Marcello Strabo Pontano in the 2. and especially Virgil in the 6 saying Inde ubi venere ad fauces graveolentis Avernâ— Tollunt se celeres And a little farther Quam super â—aud ullae poterant impune volantes Tendere iter pennis talis sese halitus arris Faucibus effundens supera ad convexa fetebat Vnde locum Grai dixerunt nomen Averni Very near the Lake Averno is the Lake Lucrino whereof we will speak in its place Andoria is a Lake in Puglia and named by Pliny Mandarium and by Boccas in his book of Lakes Andurium from a Castle very near unto it called Andurio the said Lake is not very far from the shore The Lake Fucino named by Strabo Lacus Fucinus and likewise by other Writers the said Lake is commonly called Celano This lake is in the Country of the Marsi now called Abruzzo on the other side it is in compass 30 miles and is very full of excellent fishes where is also great fowling for Mallards wild-Geese and Swans Round about the Lake are the Castles of St. Apetito and St. Iona and these other places and Cities also Paterno Transaco Giagano Avezzano Magliano and Celano is under the title of a Count a very rich and populous Country from whose name this Lake was also called Celano The River Giovento entreth into the said Lake and runneth upon the water easily to be perceived in such manner that as it entreth in and runneth upon it so also it returns without mingling it self with it In the said Lake was swallowed up the magnificent City Archippa built by Marsia King of the Lidi Iohn Pontano declareth in his book de Magnificentia that the Emperor Claudius maintained eleven years continually 30 thousand men to dam up this Lake the which water Martia in his Edileship conveyed to Rome and called it by his name which was esteemed and commended before any other water that was brought thither Martial besides makes mention of this Lake saying Fucinus pigri taceantur stagna Neronis Lusina is a Lake so called of Lusina a City of Capitanata this Lake is distant from the said City little less then a mile near to the which the River Forâ—ore runneth into the Sea This Lake is forty miles in compass and by Pliny is called Lacus Pantanus which breedeth excellent fishes Lucrino is a Lake near the Gulf of Bain in Campania felix directly against Pozzuolo it is commonly called the Lake of Licola This Lake Lucrino was fortified by Hercoles to keep his oxen he brought from Gerion It was afterward much better amended and ordered by Agrippa Strabo saith that he made it in that sort that boats might pass into it some say that this Lake Lucrino was so called de Lucro that is to say from the gain and commodity that arise of the fishes that are therein taken and from this Lake there goeth a way to Averno In this Lake Lucrino there is plenty of Oysters whereof Martial speaketh Non omnis laudem preceumque Aurata meretur Sed cui solus erit Concha Lucrina cibut And in another place saith Ebria Baiano veni modo Conca Lucrino Nobile nunc sitio luxuriosa Garnum Pliny writeth in the 9 lib. cap. 8. that in the time of Augustus there was a Dolphin in this Lake Lucrino and that a poor mans son which daily went to school to Baia by Pozzuolo seeing him began to call him Simon and very often with pieces of bread which