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A50476 Parthenopoeia, or, The history of the most noble and renowned kingdom of Naples with the dominions therunto annexed and the lives of all their kings : the first part / by that famous antiquary Scipio Mazzella ; made English by Mr. Samson Lennard ... ; the second part compil'd by James Howell, Esq., who, besides som [sic] supplements to the first part, drawes on the threed [sic] of the story to these present times, 1654 ; illustrated with the figures of the kings and arms of all the provinces.; Descrittione del regno di Napoli. English Mazzella, Scipione.; Lennard, Samson, d. 1633.; Howell, James, 1594?-1666. 1654 (1654) Wing M1542; ESTC R9145 346,662 279

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to be very violent in it King Philip raisd an Army of 10000. foot and 1500 horse under the command of Don Alonso de Vargas a Veteran and a great experiencd Captain they of Aragon having notice hereof were preparing another Army in opposition but the King with his own hand writ to them a gracious Letter in these words No aver levantado aquel Exercit● si no para passar a Francia que el era mejor Aragonez que los que aconse javan se le estorvasse el passo y se maravillava mucho se creyes cosa que a el aun no avia passado por el pensamiento y menos romper l●s privilegios a un Reyno a quien amava tanto The Army which he was a raising was to no other end but to pass to France he was a better Arrogonian then those who gave advice that this Army shold be stopd in the passage and he wonderd much that credit shold be given to things that never entred into his head where he never habourd the least thought to infringe the priviledge of a Kingdome which he lovd so well This Letter was like a gilded Pill with strong Drugs within for no sooner was the Letter sent but Don Alonso followd with his Army and came to the gates of Sarogosa his Soldiers crying out for France for France Don Alonso being entred the chief Justice of Aragon thinking to fly away was apprehended and according to a private order Don Alonso had from the King to dispatch in the first place Don Iohn de Nuza y que a un mismo punto le avisasse de su prision y de su muerte who shold have notice at the same instant of his imprisonment and death Don Iohn being thus apprehended was hurried into a Coach and two Jesuits to prepare him for death he askt by vertue of what Sentence hereupon they shewd him that short order which Philip all of his own hand-writing had delivered Don Alonso That Don Iohn de Nuza was the prime Officer of the Kindom of Aragon a goodly fair young man and of a gallant presence therfore his death was very much lamented specially being descended of the most illustrious and ancientst Families of that Kingdom many other persons of quality and the chief Ring-leaders of this Tumult were executed and their heads and members set up in quarters upon the gates of the City Antonio Perez had made his escape from Saragosa two daies before towards France to the Country of Bern where Katherine Queen of Navarr and Mother to Henry the fourth gave him protection and entertainment whereupon a publick Ban was proclaimd that whosoever could bring him alive or dead should have 6000. crowns therfore not finding himself secure so neer Spain he fled to England and thence removd to Paris where he did lead the remainder of his life gazd upon as he passd the streets as a strange Monster of Fortune but cryed up for a person of notable sound parts and politick Speculations A little after King Philip his Generall Don Alonzo having already dispatcht the principalst part of the business before him made a kind of progress to his Kingdom of Aragon and convokd a Parliament to meet at Tarasona but a generall pardon preceded his summons only the Town of Tervel and Albarracin excepted with 145. persons besides which he afterwards forgave so he confirmed unto them such priviledges as he thought he enacted new Lawes and repeald many old so the Kingdom gave him a present of about four hundred thousand crowns so he returned triumphantly from Aragon to Castille having thus deprest the courage of that high crested people And if ever that Aphorism was verified viz. That Rebellion supprest makes the Prince the stronger surely it was in this great Action as may be inferrd out of the former transactions in that Kingdom Upon crushing of this Aragonian Cocatrice in the shell there was a monstrous strange Hydra engendred in France with I cannot tell how many heads The Huguenots began to be potent and turbulent there the Queen-mother Katherine de Medicis with the Guisards were great Bigots and abhorring that faction being most fervent in the advance of the Roman cause they made war against the Huguenots upon those grounds Therupon Philip being the Catholick King could do no less in the quarrell of the holy Church then reach his Arme and assist them which he did by sending order to the Duke of Parma his Governour in Flanders to that end who accordingly rusht into France and pursued his march as far as the walls of Paris At his entrance into France he repaird to the Cathedrall Church of Meaux where he protested and solemnly swore that he came to France with that Army which consisted of 10000. foot and 3000. horse to no other intent but to deliver the oppressed friends of the King then under minority from the violence of Rebells and Heriticks in which quarrell he wold expose his person to any perils whatsoever and he knew every soul under the Banners of his Catholike Majesty which were in this Army wold do the like Having receivd this speciall command and knowledg of his sayd Majesties pleasure accordingly This intricat and mysterious War calld the Ligue lasted by intermissions in France above thirty yeers and it came to such a multiplicity of Interests that every Province became Frontire to one another insomuch that that gallant entire compleat Kingdom was like to be cut into fragments cantonizd Queen Eliz of England was offerrd by the Hugonots a good part but fore-seeing what confusion it wold bring and how much it wold enfeeble the power of that Kingdom which is the greatest one knot of strength and entire power that is able to counterbalance that of the Monarchy of Spain she refused the proffer and rather assisted the preservation of the Regall power in that Kingdom King Philip having don such signall Services for the Roman Catholicks in France having wownd himself out of the Ligue from warring against Heritiks as he calld the Hugonots he turnd his Sword against Infidels he sent a puissant Army both by Land and Sea under Don Francisco de Mendosa who was Commander in chief for the Conquest of Oran upon the Coasts of Barbary which design provd so succesfull that it took effect yet not without much expence of blood and treasure which made the triumph more glorious for Turpis sine pulvere palma Having thus reducd Oran and som Territories circumiacent from Mahumetismie and the half Moon to be under the Standard of the Cross he pursued his good Fortunes and assaulted another Fort in Barbary calld Penion de Velez which he also carried but not without som difficulty After a little breathing from beating the Turk in Barbary he had opportunity to meet him at Malta which being besiegd by Solyman he sent to his Viceroy of Naples and Sicily to make what strength they could to assist the great Master and Knights of that noble
also that of Sicily with the utter Revolt of Portugal and commotions in Catalonia as also the loss of so many Towns about Flanders which were given in ransom for Francis the French King as likewise the rending away of the county of Rossillon hath given so shrewd a ●heck to the Spanish Monarchy that she is still a branling ever since having made her so thin of men at home and mony abroad and plung'd her in such a bottomless Gulph of debt that the whole Revenue of Naples which is above three millions per ann is scarce able to pay the Genoways and other banks their yeerly interest And the Spanish Monarchy is like to continue still in this shaking aguish posture while this fiery Cardinal sits at the French Helm moving upon the principles of his Predecessor who may be sayd to be two fatall ●ngins raisd up to unhi●ge the World I. H. Sen s●o non Segnesco The chief Ingredients that go to the Composition of this Historicall Survey I· THe Scituation of the Citty of Naples II. The names of the severall Provinces and the quality of the Country III. The Customes of the Peeple and the famous men Naples hath producd IV. An account of the Revenues Imposts Donatives and other Perquisits of the Crown V. A History of the Kings of Naples with their Titles and Stile VI. The names of the Barons with their Armes as also of the spirituall power VII A discourse of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and how it is appropriated to the Kingdom of Naples c. VIII An exact relation of the procedures of the Spanish Match with England c. IX The Revolt of Catalonia X. The Revolt of Portugal XI The severall pretentions of Right and Title to the Crown of Portugal XII The Tumults of Sicily XIII The three late horrid Revolutions of Naples XIV Of the Duke of Ossuna Vice-roy of Naples of his Extravagancies and the strange Articles exhibited against Him XV. The Catastrophe of Olivares the great Spanish Favorit and the causes of his downfall XVI A true Relation of the suspectfull death of Don Carlos Prince of Spain never yet so much discovered to the World Upon the CITTY OF NAPLES FIRST CALL'D PARTHENOPE OR THE VIRGIN-CITTY Salve Parthenope Decora salve PArthenope a Citty bright as Gold Or if the Earth could bear a richer Mold Is com to greet Great Britain Queen of Iles And to exchange som Silks for VVooll she smiles To find that Cloath shold wear and feel so fine As do her Grograns she doth half repine That Lemsters Ore and spires of fallow'd Grass The leafs of Mulberries shold so surpass Which so abound in Her with every thing Which Pleasure VVealth or VVonderment can bring That Nature seems to strive whom she shold please Herself or Vs with rare Varieties There her own Bawd to be she may be sayed As if the VVanton with Herself she played Let England then strow Rushes all the way To welcom in the fair Parthenopey For I dare say She never yet came o're In such a Garb to visit any Shore I. H. A Table of the most notable things that are contained in the first part of the HISTORY of NAPLES ACerra a City and why so called 16 Acidola a spring of an admirable nature 8 Adria a City in Apruzzo now called Atri 74 Alphonso the first of Aragon 17 King of Naples 160 Alphonso the second 19 King of Naples 162 Amalfia a City 23. by whom it was built 26 Annibal the Carthaginian falls in love in Apulia or Pugl●a 89 Apruzzo citra the ninth Province of the Kingdom 69 Apruzzo ultra the tenth Province of the Kingdom 73 Aquila Metropolitan City in Apruzzo 76. how many Churches are in it ib. Nature and custom of the Aquilans ib. how many armed men it can set forth upon occasion ib. Adriatick Sea why so called and where it ends 89 Arms of Terra di Lavoro 21 Arechi Dukes of Benevento 22 Arms which the Province of Principato citra carries in its colours 36 Arms of Principality ultra 43 Arms of Basilicata 47 Arms of Calabria citra 52 Arms of Calabria ultra 60 Arms of the Land of Otranto 65 Arms of the Land of Bari 68 Arms of Apruzzo citra 72 Arms of Apruzzo ultra 81 Arms of the County of Molise 84 Arms of Capitanata 93 Ascoli in Apruzzo restored to the Church by Queen Giovanna 80 Asturno a Hill where the Royal hunting is in the Land of Lavoro 9 Aversa a City by whom built and famous men of it 15 B BAsilicata fourth Province of the Kingdom 44 Barletta a famous Town 67 Benevento a City by whom it was built 38 how it came into the Churches hands 40 Basignano and other Towns and Cities in the Province of Calabria 51 Bitonto a City in the Land of Bari 68 Boiavo a City in Capitanata 83 Borrello and other Towns in Calabria ult 54 Brutii whence called 53. Brindisi and by whom it was built 63. Body of St. Nicholas in Bari 67. Bodies of Saints found in the Province of Bari ib. Body of S. Thomas Aquinas 71. Bounds of the Land of Apruzzo 70. C CAlabria citra the 5 Province of the Kingdom 47. Calabria ultra the 6 Province in the Kingdom 52. Capitanata the 12 Province 85. why so called ib. Charls the 1 of Anjou 9 King of Naples 152. Charls the 2. 10 King of Naples 153. Charls the 3 of Durazzo 13 King of Naples 155. Charls the 4. 20 King of Naples 162. Charls the 5 Emperor 26 King of Naples 168. Catanzaro chief city of Calabria 59. Campania the happy why so called 4. Castle of Vovo 10. Casasana a most delicious place built by Charls the second 11. Capua a city 13. sackt and rebuilt 14. Casetta a city by whom it was built 17. Capre of Partivento 56. Castle at Mare Volturno 8. Campo Basso a chief town in the county of Molise 83. Cava a City and its beginning 24. Caliph King of Egipt friend to the Amalphitans 26. Charles the great disguised to see the Princess Arrechi 39. Capa of Palinuro and Molpa 45. Calabria citra a Province why so called 49. Calabria ultra a Province 52. its fertility ib. Cardinal Pascasius his soul 10. Cape of the Pillars 60. Crickets and their properties 56 City of Chie●i Metropolitan of Apruzzo 70 Counts and Dukes of Puglia and Calauria 136. Coronation of the Kings of Naples 174. Coast of Amalfi 25. Cosenza chief city of Calabria 50. Cotrone a city in Calabria 60. County of Molise 11 Province 82. its bounds and things whereof there is plenty ibid. Conradus the fourth Emperor and seventh King of Naples 150. Cuma a city 9. Custom of the sheep of Puglia and the Revenues of it 91. Country-house of Scipio and Lelius 7 Cicero his country-house where the Emperor Adrian was buried 9 Charls 2 King of Naples drives out the Saracins 92 D. DIscourse of the Kings of Ierusalem 176 Donatives given by the kingdom of Naples to
and possest by the Longobards more then two hundred years at which time they became Lords of Italy and established their siege or ●ea● in the said City and named it the Dukedom of Benevento the which Dukedom contained all happy Campania which we now call the Country of Lavoro except Pozzuolo and Naples the greater part of the Sannity of Benevento Isernia and Guasto even to the River Pescara which of the Ancients was called Aterno and all that which was contained under the name of Feligni of Marsi and of Marrucini now commonly called Abruzzi The first Duke of Benevento which began to reign in the year 573 was Zotone which reigned twenty years to whom succeeded in the Dukedom Arechi sent thither by Agisulfo King of the Longobards who ruling 50 years died left his successor Aione his son which died in the year 645. Aione dead Rodoaldo five years quietly possest the Dukedom who died in the year 649. and left Grimoaldo his brother to succeed him a worthy Warrier who became King of the Longobards the year 666. whereupon Romoaldo his natural son remained Duke of Benevento which reigned 16 years and died in the year 681. whom Grimoaldo the second his son succeeded which reigning three years and died the year 694. and left the Seigniory to Gisulfo his brother who having reigned as Erechemperto saith 24 years died the year 707. and left Romoaldo the second his son successor and heir of the Dukedom which held that Seigniory 26 years and died in the year 733. By the death of Romoaldo Gisulfo the second his son succeeded in the State and died in the year 750. After Gisulfo Luitprando took that Dukedome which reigned 5 years died the year 755. and Arechi the second succeeded him which was a valiant and a worthy Prince and as we have elsewhere said was the first of all the Dukes of Benevento which caused himself to be entituled Prince and perhaps Lord of all others which untill that age had but the particular title of Lordship He would also wear a Crown upon his head and caused himself to be anointed by Bishops and in the end of his priviledges and Letters Papents and other writings caused this to be added Scriptum in nostro sacratissimo Palatio the which dignity in what manner he obtained it is not known except it were granted by King Desiderio whose son in-law he was Great were the Wars of this King which he made with the Romans and the Bishops that lived in those daies in Rome so that Adrian which at that time ruled the Apostolick Sea was inforced for his refuge to slie to King Charls for aid of the French in such manner that Stephen the second his predecessor through the to●l and travel which King Astolfo urged him unto was constrained to submit himself unto the power of King Pepin the second father of the said Charls who for his great enterprises was afterward sirnamed the great Then came King Charls in the aid of Adrian and overcame King Desiderio and took him prisoner in the year 774. in the month of May and absolutely took the Kingdom of Italy from the hands of the Longobards the which for the space of 2●6 years possest the same but he thought himself no absolute Conqueror unless he subdued the Prince Arechi especialy for that by the right of his wife he pretended a title to the Kingdom of Italy he made War against him But the Prince knowing his power unable to resist the puissance of so mighty a King which was now come to beleaguer the City of Benevento was constrained to accept such Conditions as were offered unto him acknowledging himself from thence forward to be under the Crown of France Many notable things are written by the Longobards of this Arechi for because that when Charls sent unto him Ambassadors from Salerno to perform the Covenants agreed between them disguised himself through the fame of his great renown into the habit of a Royal Ambassador to see himself the Prince Arechi and having seen the Magnificence and splendor of his Court the number of Knights that attended him his great abundance of Plate his Stables full of excellent Horse and the majesty with the which he gave audience and the wisdom wherewith he answered returned to his people with great admiration often times saying that the Prince Arechi and his Court was far more excellent then the fame thereof He bestowed much labour and great cost to repair and newly to fortifie Salerno that he might have one secure Fortress upon the Tirrene Sea There repaired unto his Court Paolo Diacono when he fled to St. Mary of Trimiti whether he was confined by Charls the great and was by him and his wife well entertained Finally Arechi being of the age of 53 years died the 26 of August in the year of our Lord 787. having reigned Prince 29 years and 5 months Arechi dead Grimoaldo the third his son succeeded in the State which with King Charls and Pepin made great Wars and died the year 807. having reigned 19 years and 6 months By the death of Grimoaldo was created Grimoaldo the fourth son of Delrico which was Treasuror of Prince Grimoaldo but making himself odious to some was slain in the year of our Lord 820. having reigned 12 years lacking 5 months Great contention suddenly arose among the Beneventani about the Principality but in the end Sicone a noble Lord was created which died in the year 832. and reigned 12 years and 6 months Sicone dead his son Sicardo succeeded in the State which made great wars with the Saracins that molested the Kingdom But perceiving afterward they had set foot in Sicilia and therefore doubting left in time they would overrun all the Islands of that Sea sent through all those places to search out the bodies of Saints which were there found and caused them to be brought to Benevento with great reverence Among which the most excellent and worthiest work he did was that he caused the body of St. Bartholmew the Apostle to be brought from Lipare Sicardo was slain the year 839. having reigned 7 years wanting 2 months After the death of Sicardo Radelchi his Treasuror got the Principality of Benevento which reigned 12 years and died the year 850. in whose Principality succeeded Radelgano his son which died the year 853. and left his successor Radelchi his brother though by some Writers he is called Adelgisio which fled into Corsica the year as Regione saith 873. Afterward Gauderi the son of Radelgario got the Principality of Benevento who held it but two years and half and to him succeeded the year 876. Radelchi his Cousin son of the Prince Radelchi and held the Principality 3 years lacking 9 months The Principality of Benevento came into the possession of Aione the year 879. under whose Regiment and the ensuing Lords the Saracins being almost the space of 40 years setled in
Stephen died without any heir Whereupon Charls as husband of Mary was crowned King of that kingdom together with Charls Mart●l his son Robert 11. King of Naples RObert the third begotten son of Charls the second reigned 33 years four moneths and 24 days This Robert was a wise and prudent King he made honorable wars with Henry the seventh Emperour with Frederick King of Sicilia in Tuscane in behalf of the Florentines where in the famous overthrow of Montecatino between the Guelfi and Gibellini he lost Philip Prince of Taranto and Pietro Earl of Graunia his brothers He sent his son Charls sirnamed Without land against Frederick King of Sicilia and went against Castruccio Castricani the head of the Gibellini in the time that the dominion of Fiorenza was given to Charls Without land Robert was a religious King and a lover of the learned whereof two things do sufficiently witnesse the marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the great familiarity with the two Tuscane lights of learning Petrarke and Boccace had with him Robert died the 20 of Ianuary 1343. Ioan 1.12 Queen of Naples JOan 1. of this name Neece to Robert and daughter of Charles Without land called also Famous for his prowesse and valor succeeding in the kingdom was married with Andreasso of Hungary her Cousin germain once removed to whom she gave herself and kingdom in Dowry But afterward she being not able to endure the insolency of her husband oftentimes falling into discord caused him unawares to be hanged by the neck in a Gallery in the year 1346. The which being done was married again to Lewis the son of Philip Prince of Taranto the brother of King Robert After whose death was married anew with Giac●mo of Aragon the Infant of Majorica who living also but a small time Joan in the year 1376. was married once again and took for her husband Otho of Este Duke of Brunswich in Saxonie She afterward favouring the part of Clement Antipope was by the censure of Vrban the sixth deprived of her kingdom and Charls of Durazzo invested therein and so through fear she adopted for her son Lewis Duke of Angio the second begotten son of Iohn King of France Charles of Durazzo being come with a most puissant Army into the kingdom had Ione in his power and caused her to be hanged Ione reigned 39. years 4. months and 12. days DVRAZZO Charls the 3. of Durazzo the 13 King of Naples CHarls of Durazzo the third of this name King of Naples remained absolute possessor of the kingdom he had great wars to preserve and defend it and especially with Lewis of Angio And being afterward called into Hungary to take the possession of that kingdom went thither and was solemnly crowned in Alba Reale but afterward by the means of the old Queen Elizabeth was kild in a Parliament which was in the year 1386. Through the right that Charls had in the aforesaid kingdom all his successors and the other Kings which succeeded in the kingdom of Naples were called kings of Hungary Charls reigned four years three moneths and nine dayes Ladislao the fourteenth King of Naples LAdislao after the death of his father had great troubles by Lewis of Angio. In the year 1403. being requested by the Barons of Hungary to take the Crown of that kingdome as belonging unto him by lawfull inheritance went thither and coming to Zara was received with great joy of all and the fifth of August by the Bishop of Strigonia according to the accustomed order was crowned King of Hungaria Dalmatia Croatia Servia Galitia Lodomeria Comaria and Bulgaria He returned into Italy and after he had setled the affairs of the kingdom being desirous to enlarge his Dominion dominiered even to Rome wherein he entred in triumphant manner being called with the cries and clamors of the Soldiers Emperour of Rome which was the 25 of Aprill in the year 1408. And having in the end disquieted Italy and himself died the sixth day of August in the year 1484. without leaving any child having reigned eight and twenty years eight moneths and thirteen days Ione 2 15 Queen of Naples JOne the second of this name after the death of Ladislao her brother succeeded in the Kingdom But growing afterward into discord with Pope Martin the 5. was deprived of her Kingdom and Lewis the 3. of Angio Duke of Lorain and Bar the son of the second Lewis was proclaimed King The which thing was the only foundation and ground of all the mischiefs which for a long time afterward followed to the miserable and unhappy kingdom For the Queen was constrained being not able to defend herself against the power of Lewis and the Pope to adopt for her son Alfonsus King of Arragon and Sicilia the son of King Ferdinando Alfonsus being called by the Queen abandoned the assault and siege of the Castle of Bonifatio the principal Fort and of greatest importance in the Isle of Corsica and provided 28 Gallies well furnished and other Barks and led with him many valiant Captains and came to Naples in the year 1621. Now began the Queens affairs to appear which before was trod under foot and to change countenance and what through counsel courage and the aid of King Alfonsus the Queen was at liberty and her affairs increased with much reputation But the year following 1423 the Queen growing contentious with him under colour of ingratitude sought to annihilate and disanull the said adoption and adopted for her son calling to her assistance the same Lewis thorow whose war she was constrained to make the first adoption and chased away Alfonsus by force of arms from all the kingdom and so lived peaceably all the rest of her life The year 1434. Lewis dyed and before a year was expired from the time of his death the Queen received continual molestations and prejudice by Iohn Antonio Orsino Prince of Taranto and by Giacomo Caldora and other followers of the Aragonesi thorow the vicinity and neighbourhood of Sicilia where Alfonsus maintained a great Army So partly being oppressed with a feaver and troubled with a discontented mind in the year 1434. the second of February the life the line of Charls 1 of Angio the house of Durazzo of the French blood which only rested in her ended all regality having reigned 20 years 5 moneths and 26 days And because she had no child she made her heir as was reported Renato of Angio Duke of Lorain and Earl of Provence the brother of Lewis her adopted son After the death of the Queen the Neapolitans created sixteen men of the principal in the City which they called Governors because they should have care and charge of the City and of the Kingdom These sixteen Governours in all the business and affairs they dispatched writ thus the Title of their government Concilium Gubernatores Reipublicae regni Siciliae ordinati per clarae
had by a former wife the which Hugo not long after the death of his Father married Isabell the daughter of Henry Count of Ciampania and of his stepmother and not long after the death of Almerick died also the Queen Isabel his wife who by her will and testament bequeathed the kingdom of Ierusalem to Mary her daughter whom she had by Conrado of Monferrato her first husband recommending the tuition of her to the society of the Hospitalers and Templers whom she appointed her Guardians or Overseers Afterward in the year 1222 Iohn Count of Brenne coming to Rome having the title of King of Ierusalem by the right of Mary his wife daughter as is beforesaid of King Conrado of Montferrato being much honored and presented to the Pope going to Pisa to procure aid for his enterprise into Soria gave to the Emperour Frederick the second King of Naples lately excommunicated but now reconciled to the Church his onely daughter called Iole to wife whom he had by Mary his wife and in dowry with her all the right and title he had to the kingdom of Ierusalem Whereupon Frederick and all other that succeeded him in the kingdom of Naples were called Kings of Ierusalem And this is one of the reasons why all the Kings of Naples are invested with the title of Ierusalem Afterward Frederick in the time of Gregory the ninth in the year 1228 being as it were inforced went into Soria yet managed his affairs with such power and authority that he agreed to conclude a peace with the Soldian for ten years who restored unto him Ierusalem with all the territories and kingdom thereof except some few little Castles Whereupon the Easter following in the year 1229. he was crowned in Ierusalem and caused the Citie of Ioppa now called Zaffo to be repaired and newly reedified The Emperour setling and securing all things to his content returned home into his kingdom and in glory of so great triumph and victory brought with him Elephants Panthers Dromedaries Leopards white Bears Lyons Linxes or spotted beasts After this the kingdom of Naples and Sicil came into the power and jurisdiction of Charls of Anjou Count of Provence for the right and title that his predecessors had descended to him as lawfull King thereof But Fortune willing to confirm and establish his right without any crosse encounter it came to passe that Hugo Puite Lubrun Lusignon the second of this name King of Cyprus married Alicia the third daughter of Isabel Queen of Ierusalem and of Count Henry of Ciampaania the which thing discontenting the Princess Mary daughter of Melisenda and Raymond Rupini Prince of Antioch and Borgne complained much of King Hugo that being her kinsman would usurp the title which was her right by Melisenda her mother being the second daughter and not Alicia his wife who was the third begotten Hugo not onely little esteemed her complaints but also otherwise did ill intreat her Whereupon the disdainfull Princess Mary came to Rome pretending her right to the aforesaid kingdom of Ierusalem as the Neece of Queen Isabel the daughter of Almerick naturall King of the said kingdom summoned King Hugo before the Pope and so began the stir and contention of the title and possession of the said kingdom The matter being much debated by the Ambassadors of King Hugo who knowing it to be far more available for them to have the deciding and determining of the cause committed to the Barons and Nobility of the holy Land The Pope at the first instance referred the judgement and deciding of the matter to the Patriark of Ierusalem the Masters of the Hospitall and the Temple and other the Barons and Nobility of the holy Land who were wont to have a voyce in Councell and election of the Kings of Ierusalem the which the Princess Mary perceiving being a woman of great age weary and irksom of travell and the perils of so long a journey being advised by her friends agreed with Charls of Anjou receiving of him a great sum of money renounced all her right and title and resigned wholly unto him all her interest whatsoever to the kingdom of Ierusalem confirming the same by authentick and solemn writings which was in the year 1276. Whereupon Charls afterward by means of the Pope was proclaimed by lawful sentence King of that Realm as well by the ancient right of the Emperour Frederick as also that of Mary Insomuch that by the reasons aforesaid it plainly appeareth that the right and title of the kingdom of Ierusalem lawfully belongeth to the Kings of Naples and to none other and so the supposed titles both of the King of England and also of the King of Cyprus are little or of no worth Wherefore I do not a little marvell that this last right and title was unknown both to Pandolfo Colennuccio that writ a brief Epitome of the kingdom of Naples and also to Iacobo Mainolda who composed that Book of the title of Philip King of Spain Naples and Ierusalem seeing the History is so apparent But to return to the matter Charls for the better security of his affairs sent suddenly the Count Ruggier Sanseverin Governor into the holy Land who took an oath of the Knights of the Temple and Barons of the Realm of ●ealty and homage in the name of Charls and so King Charls enjoyed not onely the said Realm but also by the means of Ruggier and other Captains held a great part of Aegypt And we have often understood of many brethren of St Francis and other persons worthy credit that have been in Ierusalem and in other places in Aegypt that in many stately buildings in those places there is yet seen the Arms of King Charls the which doe manifestly shew the great power and valor of that good King But since occasion is now offered me it will not be amiss if I shew what the Arms of the kingdom of Naples are although we have writ thereof at full in the book of the life of the Kings of Naples but being rather enforced through the envy of some who have written concerning the Arms of the said kingdom and briefly discourst thereon The Ensign or Arms then of this most noble kingdom is a Field Azure replenished with Flour de lices Or which at first was charged with a Labell of four points gules being carried as the impress of Charls the first of Anjou with this Motto or Emblem Noxias Herbas what time he came to the winning of the kingdom of Naples and to expell and drive away King Manfred enemy to the Church whom he overcame and slew Charls in remembrance of so happy a victory beautified the kingdom with these Arms holding that field and flour de lices with the Labell for a particular Arms in memory of the said happy victory Stopping the mouths of those envious backbiters who say the Arms of this Noble kingdom was an Ass devouring his old furniture or
PARTHENOPOEIA OR THE HISTORY OF THE Most Noble and Renowned Kingdom OF NAPLES With the DOMINIONS therunto annexed and the LIVES of all their KINGS The first Part By that Famous Antiquary SCIPIO MAZZELLA MADE ENGLISH By Mr. SAMSON LENNARD HERALD of ARMES The Second Part Compil'd By IAMES HOWELL Esq Who besides som Supplements to the First part drawes on the Threed of the Story to these present Times 1654. ILLUSTRATED WITH THE FIGURES OF the Kings and the Arms of all the Provinces Vidi sub Rupe micantem Parthenopem Egregiam LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the Princes Armes in S. Pauls Church-yard 1654. And as we read of one of her Princes Alphonso Duke of Calabria came and obtaind of Henry the Eight your Progenitor to be made Knight of the English Order of Saint George that thereby he might have protection from him being Soveraign of the Order against Charls the 8th of France as the Laws of the Garter tyed Henry unto so She comes to install herself in your Lordships Favor to be protected and sheltred against any blasts of Obloquy that may chance blow upon Her in this more bleak and colder Clime Lastly She coms with commission to inform the World how much for such frequent noble Favors I am London Calendis Maij 1654. MY MOST HIGHLY HONORED LORD Your obedient and truly devoted Servitor Iam Howell TO THE READER WHEN Rome shrunk into a Pigmies Skin from that Gigantic stature she was once of in those dayes when the Tyber did out-swell the Ocean Naples may be sayd to have stuck closest to Her of any and continues so still for to this day she ownes Her for her Mistress and Lady Paramount In recognition wherof the Spanish King payes Her a Heriot with a Rent of seven thousand Duckets every Saint Peters Eve till which be done he lyeth under the Curse of the Church which is quickly on and off Now the Kingdom of Naples being so delicat a peece of the Europaean Continent and having had such vicissitudes and various turns of Fortune may well deserve for those two respects to have a Chronicle of it self in one entire peece which was not done yet under this Meridian Touching first all do acknowledg that for delicacy of all things either for common use pleasure or wonderment Naples may be call'd Natures Darling who seems to study how to make her self admir'd in divers places Ceres and the God of Wine strive there for Mastery She abounds with Silks Oyles Fruits Flowers Roots Fowl Fish and Flesh with an incomparable Race of Horses as also with such a choice of fragrant Wines that She may be call'd Bacchus his Inner Cellar It is also the Country where Manna is gather'd and She hath the best Medicinall Baths that the Earth affords Now this rare fertility may be impted not so much to the heat of the Air as to the Sulphureous quality and heat of her Soyl also which though it be over-violent in som places causing Incendiums and Earthquakes the one if the irruption of the fire be deep the other if it be neer the Superficies yet this fire dilating it self up and down through her bowels it makes the Womb of the Earth more prolificall Touching the Territories annexed to her Dominions som of them as Apul●a may contend with Her for fecundity but others not specially Calabria which compard to Naples may be sayd to be a course List at the side of a peece of fine Scarlet Now for the Inhabitants wheron the second reason depends they may be sayd to have much of Vertue and no less of Vice and were they cast into a Balance one could hardly discern which Scale wold be traboccant and over-poising They are magnificent both in Houses and Habit they are free and full of Complement yet though the Hall be commonly open the Closet is shut though the face be unclouded Viso sciolto and free yet the Heart is close and reservd The same may be sayd of the Mouth and the Hand when the first open's widest the other is closest shut They are in their Method of Devotion pious and charitable their stately Temples and Monasteries demonstrat the one and their Lazarettos or Houses for the Poor do verify the other specially that of Monte de pietà an Hospital of 60000. Duckets of yeerly Revenue whose Officers upon som Festivals go in Gowns of white Sattin Now for the mass of ordinary peeple as there is a common Saying of England Inghilterra buona Terra mala Gente England is a good Country but the people are bad so there is a worse Saying of the Napolitan that it is Vn Paradiso piantato da diavoli It is a Paradis peepled by Devils Indeed the Napolitan according to the quality of the Soyl is of a fiery boyling Nature which makes the Spaniard ride him with a Bitt and a Martingall he hath as many Whirlwinds in his Brain and quicksands in his Brest as the French or any other Nation Witness else their sundry Innovations for Naples had in two yeers no less then five Kings of severall Countries Insomuch that I have not read of any Politicall Instrument so often out of tune having had forty popular Revolutions in less then four hundred yeers yet none that brought a Ruine with it Touching this last Revolution in the yeer 1647. it was the violent'st of all it was like a Candle burning at both ends the common peeple were all as mad as if they had bin bit by a worse thing then the 〈◊〉 In which Revolution there were so many prodigious things happend that were they not recent and don as it wer but t'other day they wold be held for meer Romances For it requires a strong faith to beleive that in so well a policed Christian Citty so replenishd with Nobility Gentry and Gown-men of all Professions as Naples is known to be there shold be such horrid Barbarismes committed That this Tumult from a small spark shold com to be so huge a fire from a little source shold com to be such a rapid Torrent that from a weak blast it shold so suddenly com to such an impetuous Whirlwind that it shold begin with a score of Boyes pursued and ended with so many thousands of Men That a young barefooted Tatterdemalian Retaylor of Fish shaking off his blew Wascot and red greasy Bonnet shold so suddenly com to have such an ascendent upon the spirits of the peeple as within three or four dayes to govern Naples in chief and being clad in Cloath of silver to ride so triumphantly with naked Sword in hand and his brother as despicable a thing as he in Cloath of gold attended with an Army of fifty thousand men and so march up to the Castle where the Vice-roy kept his Court where he forc'd him to grant whatsoever he proposed That in so short a tract of time he shold mount to such a despoticall or rather Imperiall power for nine dayes
their Kings Court 106 Dukes of Benevento 38. Dukedom of Benevento usurped by the Greeks ibid. Death of Alexander King of the Molossians 50. E. EFfigies lives of the Kings of Naples 139 Euoli a famous town in the Principality Citra 34. The noble Families of the said town 35. F. FRederick the second Emperour and sixth King of Naples 148. Ferrante the first of Arragon eighteenth king of Naples 161. Ferrante the second the one and twentieth king of Naples 161. Frederick 22 king of Naples 164. Ferdinand the Catholick 24 king of Naples 166. Flora and its riches 20. Fertility of the Province of the Prinpality Citra 23. Fairs and noble Families of Salerno 33. Female become male 34. Fountains Rivers and Lakes in the kingdom of Naples 111. Fondi a City in the land of Lavoro 6. Fens and Marshes of the kingdom 127. Fishes bred in the sea belonging to the land of Lavoro 5. G. GAeta a citie and its gulf 17. Giovanna the first twelfth Queen of Naples 154. Gelasius the second the fifth Pope 6. Giovanna the second 15 Queen of Naples 157 Giovanna the third 25 Queen of Naples 166 Giacomo Sanazaro 10. G●avina a citie why so called 67. Gulfs and Capes of the sea in the kingdom 45. Gulf of Salerno 28. Gulf Adriatick where it begins 63. Gulf of the famous citie of Venice ibid. Great Constable 184. Great Admirall ibid. Great Justice 185. Great Chamberlain 186. Great Protonotary ibid. Great Chancellor ibid. Great Steward 187. H. HEnry the sixth King of Naples 147 Hunting of Swordfishes 55. Hills in the kingdom of Naples 1●5 How long the Samnites warred against the Romans 69. I. ISland of Capri 12. Ischia ibid. Islands of Eolia 54. Ionick sea where it begins 60. Iohn of Procida caused the Sicilian vespers 12. L. LAdislaus fourteenth king of Naples 156. Lakes of the said kingdom 128. Lewis the 12 king of France 13 King of Naples 16● Lake of Celano 60. Lake of Averno 9 Lanciano a Citie in Apuzzo 71. Land of Lavoro its praises 6. Lewis king of Italy 30. Land of Otronto seventh Province of the kingdom 61. Land of Lavoro why so called 4. Land of Bari eight Province 66. Lives portraitures of the Kings of Naples 139. M. MAnfredi eighth king of Naples 151. Massa a citie 11. Marigliano 16. Manna what it is and how it is ingendred 57. Matera a citie in the land of Otronto 64. Mines which are in the kingdom 132. Misenus Aeneas his Trumpeter ●0 Miracle of Saint Pantaleon his blood in Ravello 28. Martian water brought to Rome 80. Mines in Calabria 48. Mine of Bolearmonick in the said citie 64. Mines and Bathes in the land of Lavoro 5. Manner of writing used by the Kings of Naples to divers Kings and Princes 181. Mount St. Angelo and its description 87. Mount of Somma 11. Mount Casino 19. destroyed by the Saracens 39. Mount Virgin a famous Monastery 42. Mount of salt in the said Province 50. Mount Leone a place in Calabria 53. N. NAture of the territory of the land of Lavoro 4. Nature and qualities of the inhabitants 6. Naples faithfull to the Romans and its praises and Arms 10 11. Nisita an Island why so called 13. Names of the Viceroys of Naples from the year 1505. 183. Nola a noble citie and its Citizens 21. Of the cattell which had custom paid for them in the kingdom of Naples in the year 1592. 91. Nucera 24. O. ORigine and difference of the crowns of the Noblemen of the Kingdom of Naples 188. Otho the sixth Emperour seeketh to take away the body of St. Bartholomew of Benevento 40. Otranto a citie of the Kingdom 61. How far it is distant from Greece ibid. P. PAtria a Lake 8. Piacenza a citie why destroyed by the Romans 34. Principality Citra second Province 22. Principality Vltra third Province and why so called 37. Procida why so called 12. Philip the second 27 king of Naples 170. Philip the third 28 King of Naples 171. Physicians famous in Salerno 32. Q. QValities of the inhabitants of Basilica●a 46. Qualities of the Inhabitants of Calabria 60. Qualities of the inhabitants of the land of Otronto 65. Qualities of the inhabitants of the land of Bari 68. R. REnato of Anjou 16 king of Naples 159. Reggio a citie of Calabria 55. Revenues the crown of Spain hath in the kingdom of Naples 97. Rivers in the kingdom of Naples 111. Rock of Mondragone 8. Rhodes how it came into the hands of the knights of St. Iohns order 26. Ruggiero first king of Naples 139. Robert the 11. king of Naples Robert Guiseard Duke of Puglia 76. S. SAracens gain a great number of places in Capitanata 87. St. Thomas Aquinas 18. St. German why so called 19. St. Paulino inventes of Bells 20. Sanseverino 24. Salerno why so called 29. Saracins come over into Calabria 30. Sarno a River 33. St. Antony Abbot of whence he was 34. Saint Vito and his body within the demains and Territory of Evoli 35. S. Bartholomew Apostle in Benevento 39. Scituation of Calabria in ancient times 49. Saint Thomas Apostle and his body where they are 71. St. Erasmus which appears to Seafaring men ibid. Sessa a citie and why so called 8 Siccardo Duke of Benevento 29. Sea-compass whose Invention 27. T. TAncred fourth King of Naples 145. Taranto a chief citie 62. Temple Floriano 20. Temple of Iuno in Basilicata 45. Titles of dignity used by the Kings of this kingdom 181. Tower of the Grecian and of the Annunciata 11. Totila King of the Gothes 19. Troy of Puglia by whom built 92. Tremiti anciently called the Diomedean Islands 93. Traietto 7. Tranie a citie 67 V Vlesti a destroyed citie 89. Volturnus a River 8. Vniversity of Salerno by whom founded 32 W. WInes and Oyls made in the land of Lavoro 5. Woods which are in the Kingdom A Collection of the prime Materials that go to the structure of the second part of the History of the Kingdom of Naples with the additions to the first A ALphonso Duke of Calabria made Knight of the English Garter in policy In Epist. ded A strange Prediction of Benincasa before the last tumults in Naples In proem A rare observation in the number seven ib. The Advantage which a due reverence to the Church carrieth with it to a State In proem An Abridgment of the expeditions and exploits of Charls the fift fol. 2 Of Don Antonio of Portugal 8 Of Antonio Perez ib. A cross Alliance betwixt France and Spain 25 A relation of the marriage betwixt them at the confines ib. A Letter from the last King of France to his new Queen with her answer 26 A Treaty of a match betwixt Prince Charls and the Infanta of Spain The Arrival of the said Prince in Spain and the circumstances ib. A high Speech of Olivares at the Princes coming ib. Another Speech of Gondamars 27 An Appearance of the Infanta two daies after in publick with a blew ribond about
a Polititian 24 The Restitution of those Jewels the Prince left in Spain for the Infanta notwithstanding the breach of the Treaty 31 The Reign of this King of Spain less succesfull then of his Predicessors 58 The first Race of the Neapolitans 60 A Remarkable story of the Marquiss Oliverio 61 A Remarkable story of the Neapolitan revenge ib. The Revenues of Naples above three millions yearly in proem Not able to pay the King of Spains interest to Genoa ibid. A Relation of the revolt of Portugal 41 Rome hath more men and Naples more people Rome hath more Comendams and Naples more Cavaliers 24 S THe Sulphurious quality of the Soil cause of the fertility of Naples in proem A Saying of Pythagoras in proem The Shaking condition of the Monarchy of Spain in proem Self-conquest the greatest victory 2 The Strange carriage of a Spanish Captain towards King Philip the second 15 A Strange opinion the Spaniards had of the English since they dserted Rome 20 The Spanish Ambassadors plot against Buckingham in England 37 The Subtil information which they gave King Iames against him 37 The Solemn complaint which Sir Walter Ashton made in Spain against the said Ambassador 38 The whole plot detected in the said complaint 39 The Spanish Ambassadors instead of punishment are rewarded ib. Spain and England break out into a short war ib. Seven Secretaries attended Masanello 50 A Strange Tale of a Neapolitan horse towards his rider 61 A strange Story of Olivares his bastard 59 A Saying of Olivares at his fall 60 T THe Tumults of Masanello like a candle burning at both ends in proem The Conquest of the Philippine Islands by Philip the second 10 The successes of this world compared ib. The disasters of Philip the second ib. The ill successes of Mestogan ib. The ill success at los Gelues ib. The ill success at Granada 11 The ill success at Goletta d' Tumi ib. The notable temper of Philip the second ib. The grounds that Philip the second pretended for invading of England ib. The ill offices which Q. Eliz. did Philip of Spain ib. The disaster of the invincible Spanish Armada 88 12 The taking of Cales by the Earl of Essex ib. The tragical end of Masanello 52 Two pound of brains found in Olivares skul when he was opened 60 A huge Tempest role when he was going to be buried ib. V MOre Vicissitudes in Naples then in any other Country in proem Ve●●vius fires prophetical in proem De Valdes gets Florida from the French 10 The Vow made by Philip the second to build the Escurial 7 The Vastness of that building being called the eight wonder of the world 14 A Very great clash in Naples betwixt the Duke of Matalone and the Prince of Sanza 40 Vasconcellos the Portugal Secretary murthered Viceroy Ognate did notable service in Naples 60 Viceroy of Naples the Duke of Arco's reproached by young Don Iohn of Austria 55 An Vniversal sadness in Spain for the breach of the match with England 31 W THe Wonderfull progress of Masanello in a few daies in proem The Witchcraft of the Mahumetan 10 Wise sayings of Philip the second upon sundry occasions 14 His Wise comportment towards an insolent Captain 15 His Wonderfull temper ib. Of the four VVives of Philip the second 16 His Wise comportment and sayings upon the death of his eldest son 17 A Wise Speech of Charls the Emperour concerning Kings 16 Another touching Spain and England 20 A Wise Speech of this King of Spains Nurse ●8 Waies extraordinary that Olivares had to enrich himself 57 Waies extraordinary to raise the King money ib. Sir Walter Ashtons memorial to the King of Spain for the miscarriage of his Ambassadors in England 37 Wise waies which Philip the second had to decide controversies 16 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF NAPLES THe Kingdom of Naples otherwise called the Great Sicilia which from Faro lieth as it were almost an Island inclosed with three Seas the Tirren Ionian and Adriatick hath in circuit a thousand four hundred and twenty miles being accounted only by land from the mouth of the River Vsent to that of Tronto a hundred and fifty miles These two Rivers the one runneth into the Tirren the other into the Adriatick Seas where are contained besides a little part which there remaineth of Latium many Regions which the people of the Country call for their greatness Provinces the which according to the division made by the Emperor Frederick the second by King Charls the first by King Alfonsus the first by the Catholick King and by Don Ferdinando the Catholick King are these The Land of Lavoro the Principality on this side the Principality on the other side Basilicata Calauria on this side Calauria on the other side the Land of Otronto the Land of Bary Abruzzo on this side Abruzzo on the other side the County of Molise and Capi●anata There are also adjacent unto the said Kingdom under every Province certain Islands very near lying round about as in the Tirren Sea directly against Terracina and at Gaeta are Ponza and Pandaria now called Palmarola by Pliny called Pandatena and by Strabo Pandria and Pandaria and directly against Mola Palmosa is Parthenope so called by Ptol●my now commonly called Bentetiene and against Pozzuolo is Ischia which anciently had three names Inarime Pitacuse and Enaria There are near Ischia Prochita and the Isle Nessi the one now called Procita and the other Nisita There is against the Cape of Minerva the Isle Capri and Sirenusse directly against Passitano which are two little Isles the one called Gale the other St. Peter Opposite to Tropeia and to Ricadi are the Isles Eolie which were only inhabited by the Lipari which compasseth sixteen miles all the rest are solitary and desert and retain also the ancient names of Stromboli and Vulcan from whence continually ariseth fire and smoke In the Adriatick Coast are Rasato and Gargano directly against Varrano and the four Isles of Diomedes which now by one name are called Tremite which are but little but of the two greater the first is called St. Mary of Tremite the other St. Doimo and the two lesser the one Gatizzo and the other Capara These are the Isles of any name except the Rocks which are comprehended in the Confines of the Kingdom of Naples This fortunate and great Realm exceedeth all other Kingdoms not only by reason of the situation lying in the midst of the fifth Climate which is held the most temperate part of the world but also for the great abundance of all good things being not any thing to be desired which is not there to be found of so great perfection and in so great plenty It is Inhabited by people so warlike and generous that herein it gives place not to any other Country I will not say only of Italy but of all the world besides being a thing well known to all men that the most valiant
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 de●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 fa●● 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 Cutinar●o Regent of the Councel of Italy in Spain Marc. of Mauro President of the Summaria In Philosophy
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 R●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 L●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 d●●●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 Discipli●e which would be too teadious to repeat and therefore I re●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 Capos●rosa Candido Cesarini Coriale Carmignano Campobascio de Ferrariis de Elia Freccia Fellecchia Fontana Rosa Del Iodice Ioseph Infante de Gennaro Maffei Marifeulo Morra Mastril●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 Asur●● Cornucope in salter thorow the middle of a Crown the first of ●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 qu●dam maris otia Hic amicti vitibus montes ●aurus Falernus Massicus Pulcherim●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 T●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 Garden● 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
continued Monk and in the year 998 resigned his State to Guaimaro the son of the other Guaimaro In the year after 1038. the Emperor Corrado entring Italy for the displeasure he conceived against the Archbishop of Millan and understanding the injuries and tortures which the Prince of Capoa had do●e to the Monks of Casino being very dishonest and wicked the Emperor came with his Army to the Mount Casino and again understanding the lamentations and complaints of the Fathers incontinently went to Capoa The Prince fearing him retired into the Fort of St. Agata the which he one day doubting his ill dealings had caused to be very strongly fortified whereupon the Emperor being not able to lay hold of him deprived him of the Principality and gave the same to Guaimaro Prince of Salerno Guaimaro being now become a mighty Prince through the uniting together of so many great possessions received Ambassadors from Mainace Lieutenant of the Emperor of Greece desiring him to give him aid of his Normans he being with a mighty Army of Grecians and many Calaurians and Puglians in expedition to expell the Saracins out of Sicilia To whom the Prince sent Guglielmo Dragone and Vnfrido the sons of Tancred with 300 other Normans a small number but valiant people with the which they recovered a great part of Sicilia Now the Prince Guaimaro growing proud with so great felicity ill intreated the Salernitani whereby becoming odious to all they took one day occasion that as he went to recreate himself upon the shore of Salerno to assault him and gave him 36 deadly wounds and afterward in contempt of him they drag'd him a long time about the Walls of the Fortress and the City But Guido Lord of Surrento inviting the Normans to aid him neglected not the revenge of his brothers death having recovered the City and put Gisulfo his son into his Fathers Seigniory executed 40. for the death of the Prince But within a few years following Gisulfo grew into controversie with Ruberto Normando Duke of Puglia his Cousin the Duke with a strong siege begirt Salerno where finding the Prince grievously sick died not long after and so came the Principality of Salerno under the Normans who after with the title of King governed the whole Kingdom from whose dominion in the year 1195. it fell into the House of Suevia by the right of Queen Constance the only heir thereof from whence it came to pass in the year 1265. that Charls of Angio having slain Manfred and overcome Currandine under the French created his first begotten son cal'd Charls the lame Prince of Salerno who succeeding in the Kingdom was the second of that name Afterward the Kingdom came under the Durazze which Queen Ione the second having a desire to recompence in some measure the services which Antonio Colonna had done for her created him Prince of the said City which Seigniory retained certain years untill Alfonsus of Arragon the better to settle his foot in the Kingdom having with large promises drawn unto him Raimondo Orsino Count of Nola a puisant Lord to bind him the more unto him made him Prince thereof which dignity remained no long time in that house for that it fell into the Kings Exchequer by rebellion of Daniel Orsino the which Principality King Farnando in the year 1463. gave to Ruberto Sanseverino Count of Marsico his great Admiral Notwithstanding that Seigniory continued not long with them for that Ferrant the third Prince made rebellion against the Majesty of Cesar whereby all his estate was confiscate and so from thenceforth the said City was made a part of the Kings demesnes now it remaineth peaceable under the protection of the most potent Catholick King Philip. All this I thought good to declare the better to satisfie the Reader how this famous City came under Princes and last of all their Kings But now returning to speak of other things which give no small ornament to this City one thing is the publick and famous School which for a long time hath alwaies florished in every faculty and especially in Philosophy and Phisick for which it was called the City Hippocratica Francisco Petrarea speaking thereof in his Commentary thus writeth Fuisse hic Medicinae fontem testator antiquitas And although it be a most ancient famous Uniuersity nevertheless it is said that in the year of Christ 802. Charls the great instituted it at which time two others were founded by him the one in Paris and the other in Bologna This City is very plentifull of all necessary things for the sustenance of living creatures and in it is the Kings Audit and the Treasury of the Province The Citizens thereof are very ingenious and nice and very much inclined to the exercise of weapons and learning and to all vertuous indeavours they are also very courteous and modest and generally in all appeareth a certain natural civility the Nobility is divided from the people in three Quarters or Courts which they call Seggi and are these Portanova Portaretese elo Campo in the which Seggi are these Noble Families following In Portanova are Aversani Capograssi Comiti dello Iodice Grillo Longo Mazza Morra Pagano Pinto Santo Mango Salernitano de Stafano del Barone d' Accadia Scattaretichi Serluchi Vicarii In Portaretese are these Aiello Coppola Capoano Curiale del Pezzo Guarna Pagliari Pantoliano Prignano Manganaro Porta Rascichi Rugiero and Vivaldo In the Segge of Campo Castellomati Cavaselice David del Regente del Pezzo Granito Guardato Grillo Ruggio Sciabichi Solimeni and Trentacapilli There are also many other ancient and Noble Families the which for that they are not comprehended in any of the said Seggs I think it not amiss at this time to make no mention of them And therefore you are to understand that although of the Family of Pezzo there is mention made in two of these Seggs yet for all that are they not two different Families but one and the same being a thing very manifest that their original came from Collen a famous City of Germany where at this present is a branch of the ancient stock and descended from Iohn del Pezzo a valiant and famous Captain which wandring along time served in the Wars both here and there whereupon by means of the Wars which were in Italy came hither following the faction of the Arragonese and as he was very expert in military discipline shewing much maturity of wit and invincible courage of an excellent mind and incomparable wisdom to resolve the difficulty of the affairs of Warr. He was in great estimation with Alfonsus the first King of Arragon from whom he obtained many bountifull and rich gifts Of the valour and magnanimity of the said Iohn a certain large priviledg maketh sufficient mention which I have seen made by the same King under the date of Castiglione of Peschiera in the year 1448. and 23 of Ianuary in the which priviledg was decreed that one Pietro
de Biscolis should not presume to bear for his Arms a Lion se●ant or with the tail through his legs and turning up towards the head above a fesse ar in a field gu declaring that these Arms were the ancient Ensignes and Coat Armor of the said Family Besides the said Family prospereth in many other Corporations in divers places as Pietro de Pezzo descending of Iohn went to Amalfi to the Government of that State was comprehended in the number of the Nobility of that City and Luke his brother serving the Duke of Amalfi Marquiss of Guasto in the Wars of Lombardy being a Captain of much renown in his return passing by Rome was by the Decree of the Senate made with his successors of the race and line of the Roman Senators the which line is now to be seen in the Segge of the Nobility of Campo in Salerno And Francesco del Pezzo the son of Pirro being by the favour of King Philip created Auditor of the same Province was reckoned among the Nobility of the Segge of Portaretese This Family hath alwaies had excellent men both in Learning and Military affairs And among others Don Ieronimo del Pezzo a noble man well qualified which for his excellent parts was by the favour of King Philip honoured with the Order of the Knights of St. Iames. And among the rest Iohn Andrea Knight of St. Iohn of Malta which valiantly fighting in the enterprise of Zara died there and now liveth with much honour Silvio Knight of the same Malta and of sincere life and singular learning besides the Lord Cesare del Pezzo Bishop of Sulmo What they were in old time their royal issue sufficiently declares the men of this Family have been Lords of many Castles and great revenues But in these daies they possess the Barony of St. Mango in Cilento and the Barony of Prato St. Pro in the County of Aquila● the one is Baron Tiberio del Pezzo descending of Luke a Lord of most pleasing behaviour and a great lover of vertue which is one of the rarest Noble men of these daies the other possesseth Hortenzio del Pezzo Doctor of Law and descended from Pirro before said Now returning to Salerno in whose reverend Churches the bodies of many Saints are in rest whereof Marc. Antonio Marsilio Colonna Arch-Bishop of the same City very largely discourseth Many ingenious and learned persons have given great ornament to the said City as in Phisick Matteo Silvatio who at the instance of King Rubert writ Aphorisms of Phisick Trota or Trotula de Ruggiero a woman of great learning which composed a book De morbis mulierum eorum cura and another de compositione medicamentorum Abella which very learnedly writ two books in Verses the one de Atrabile the other de natura seminis humani Mercurial composed four books the first de Crisi the second de febre pestilentiale the third de cura ulcerum exteriorum and the last de unguentis Rebecca Guarna writ de febribus de urinis de Embrione Boccuccio Grillo writ de differentiis pulsuum de febrium causis Iohn of Proeida although he were Lord of the Isle of Procida notwithstanding he was an excellent Phisician and composed a learned Work of Phisick and was the Author of the Sicilian Evening against the French In the same profession there have been in these latter daies very excellent men as Paolo Grisignano Francesco d' Alfano Antonello and Iohn Cola di Rugiero In the faculty of the Law were very famous Pietro Bailardo of whom the Gloss maketh mention in L. quinquepidum C. finium regendorum Iohn Cola de Vicario an expert Doctor which is much commended by Iohn Vincenza in the deciding and defining of freedoms and priviledges Charls de Ruggiero for his learning was a Counceller of great estimation of whom Afflitto testifieth in his definitions Tomaso de Simeone whose Works not long since were committed to the Press by Sebastian Maffa Iohn Angelo Papia a most worthy and famous Doctor now liveth and hath read 26 years continually in the publick Schools of Bologna Pirro Alfano a man of excellent fame whose writings are a sufficient testimony No less famous have been Iulio Pomponio Lieto Masuccio Guardato Iohn Andrea Longo and Andrea Guarna which composed that excellent and learned discourse entituled Bellum Grammaticale Benedetto Ruggio being a very famous Rhetorician was sent by King Alfonsus Ambassador to the State of Venice where he died whose funeral Marc. Antonio Sabellico performed in the behalf of the said State extolling his singular vertues Moreover this City hath no little fame for the two mighty Fairs which are there every year the one the third of May and the other the 21 of September the first continueth eight daies and the other ten where Merchants come almost from all parts of Italy Sicilia Schianonia Graecia and Asia and other Nations to sell their Wares This City contended with Capoa for the precedence and in the general Assembly of the States in the publick Parliament at Naples which could not be finished for the obstinacy and wilfulness of the Factions the claim and contention the Catholick King Ferdinando moderated so the matter that he appointed Capoa to speak saying that it should speak before Salerno The Arms of this City is in a field Azur under the Evangelist S. Matthew the protector thereof fix barrs Ar. and gu the which Ensignes are the Arms of Hungaria Which Charls the second of Angio King of Naples gave to the said City because his wife Mary the only daughter of King Stephen succeeded in the aforesaid Kingdom of Hungary the said King Charls being before as hath been declared created Prince of Salerno Leaving Salerno and Sanseverino twelves miles off upon the side of a Hill is Sarno the Town lieth beneath in the Plain and the Castle is seated higher upon the Hill which overlooketh both the Town and the Country From hence walking towards Naples about a mile and half we encounter the head of the River Sarno over the which is an entrance or passage guarded with a Tower naturally fortified by the River and the Hill the which place by the Inhabitants of the country is named the mouth of Sarno The said country is adorned with the dignity of a Count subject to the Family Tuttavilla There are in it these Noble houses Abbignente Alteda Balzerani Lupo Pandone Mont●oro Romandia de Specchio and others Six miles after we come to Montoro and not far off is the worthy Country of Montecorvino built in a beautifull valley at the foot of a Hill near the which in a place which they now call Pattipaglia are seen the ruines of the stately and ancient City of Picentia called by Strabo Picentum which was destroyed by the Romans because it was confederate with Hannibal the Carthaginian Eight miles off near Acerno is seen among the Hils Campana a City so called because it is situated in the
a place called Garigliano committed infinite evils through the Country of Lavoro Among other mischiefs which were done in the year 884. they burnt the Monastery of Monte Casino Not long after departed Basilio Emperor of Constantinople the year 886. to whom succeeded Leone his first begotten son in which time the Prince Aione taking occasion by the death of the Emperor the greatest part of his State revolted whereupon Leone having endured this injury certain years at length in the year 891 he sent against him a strong Army under the command of Simbatizio Patrizio who being three months encamped about Benevento happily subdued it 318 years after it had been possessed by the Lombards beginning from Zotone the first Duke of Benevento untill to this time Simbatizio Patrizio having possest the Dukedom of Benevento used the Authority of a Prince after whom came Giorgio Patrizio by whom the said State was Governed 3 years and 9 months Coming afterwards in the year 895 Guido Marquiss of Toscana drove away the Greeks and held the Seigniory about 2 years to whom presently followed Radelebi the which held it two others untill it was possest by At●nolfo Castaldo of Capoa in whose house the Principality of Capoa was joyned with that of Benevento who maintained it a long time in great prosperity Atenolfo being now made Castaldo of Capoa was afterward in the year 899. entituled Prince of Capoa and Benevento in the which house for the space of 163 years that Seigniory remained Atenolfo died the year 914. and Atenolfo and Landolfo his sons succeeded him in the Principality Atenolfo died about the year 946. and the Principality only remained to Landolfo which by that most valiant Prince Luitprando received many overthrows and died the year 951. and left that Principality to his son Pandolfo which was sirnamed Iron-head The Prince Pandolfo departed this life the year 966. and left eight sons whereof Landolfo his first begotten had the Principality and died the year 982. and Landenolfo took the Government of the State which was slain the year 991. The Prince Landenolfo dead his brother Laidolfo succeeded in the Seigniory which continued not long in the Principality in whose place was in the year 996. created Prince Pandolfo of St. Agata his son in which year the Emperor Otho the third was Crowned in Rome under whose Principality Historians recite that the Emperor going about to take away from Benevento the body of St. Bartholmew the Apostle there was given him instead thereof the body of St. Paolino Bishop of Nola of which deceit being informed made War with the Beneventani but growing grievously sick raised his siege and as he much desired returned into Germany little regarding the heat of Summer being come into his natural Country departed this life the year of our Lord 1001. and so the Beneventany were delivered of so grievous a War Henry the second succeeded in the Empire by the election of the Princes of Germany who in the year 1022. levying a mighty Army came into Italy to the prejudice of the Greeks and understanding the ill demeanor and most wicked proceeding of the Prince Pandolfo took the Prince prisoner and carryed him along with him into Germany and the Principality of Capoa he bestowed upon Pandolfo Count of Tiano Henry the Emperor having builded in Bamberg a City of Germany a noble Church in the honour of St. George and desiring that the same might be consecrated as a Cathedral Church Benedict the 7 consenting thereto obtained with condition that the said Church should give by way of tribute yearly to the Bishop of Rome a mark of silver with a white horse well furnished but within a while the Bishop receiving in gift from the Emperor Benevento the tribute from the Church of Bamberg was discharged by this means then Benevento came under the dominion of the Church which we have declared in our History of the lives of the Kings of Naples and after we have declared how Ruberto Guiscard having possest Benevento being desirous to expell the Saracins out of Italy came to the Parlament in the City of Aquila in the year 1060 with Pope Nicolas the second which was much laboured by the Roman Barons and Guiscard having with great humility adored the Pope made peace with him and he restored the City of Benevento and all other places which he held belonging to the Church whereupon the Pope did not only receive him into grace and favour but created him Duke of Puglia and Caulauria and so Ruberto was now made a vassal of the Church Benevento being afterward possest by Ruggiero the Norman King of Naples William his son who succeeded in the Kingdom restored it to Pope Adrian the fourth as a thing properly belonging to the Church whereupon he was by him confirmed in the Kingdom the Emperor Frederick the second and King of Naples having been excommunicated by Gregory the ninth disdaining the same ruinated and made spoil of the said City and threw the Walls even to the ground being afterward repaired by the Citizens thereof was by Charls of Angio the first of this name sacked because they were known to be favourable to King Manfred and although this City sustained so many spoils yet the Citizens thereof alwaies repaired it St. Gianuario Martyr was Bishop of Benevento whose body lieth with great reverence in the principal Church of Naples where as they say are seen many miracles of his holy blood There was born in Benevento Felix the fourth called the third Victor the third and Gregory the eight Bishops of the holy Church of Rome which were of exemplary life and indued with learning Orbillio Grammatico was very famous in the time of Cicero which for his austerity and severe speech was by Horace called the wonder Rofredo and Odofredo Lawyers of great fame were thereof from whence afterward descended the house of the Odofredi in Bologna Alberto Morra Cardinal and Dionisio which was also a Cardinal Angelo Catone a learned Philosopher was Count and Arch-Bishop of Vienna Marino Bilotta was President of the Chamber under King Ferrant the first Mercurio of Vipera was dearly beloved of the Roman Bishops and imployed in divers affairs and afterward made Auditor of Rota Pietro of the worthy Family Candida was Councellor of State and Captain of the principal Fortress of the Kingdom under King Ferrant the first Bartholmew Camerario a famous Lawyer having been from the beginning in most honourable imployments in the service of the Emperor Charls the fifth was made Lieutenant of the Kings Chamber with Title of Keeper of the Patrimony He was in great account with Pope Paul the fourth by whom he was created in Rome Purveyor of the Store and General of the Army he was afterward entertained by King Francis in France and made his Councellor Leonardo Grifo most expert in the affairs of the Church of Rome whereupon he was created Arch-Bishop of this Country Thomaso
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 S●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 Tu●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
the perfect temperature of the air and the ground where they are planted and for the most part were joyned to the Oppi and embracing and taking hold of them stretch out their boughs on every side and in time of Vintage is often seen one only Vine to be able to make a But or Hogshead of Wine Moreover this excellent Country yieldeth in abundance Corn Oyl Hony Wax Annis Corianders Saffron and Bombace of which things the Country of Tursi called in old time Tarsia doth most exceed In this excellent Province through the delicacy of the air the Trees and Roses florish twice in a year where in every place is seen great abundance of divers sweet and pleasant fruits there are also most beautifull Gardens the which for so much as they are watred with pleasant Rivers bring forth excellent Citrons Oringes and Limons On that part which stretcheth towards the Sea the pleasant fields yield no small delight to the beholders thereof and all the year there is excellent hunting both for fowls and beasts And it is no less plentifull in heards of Cattel and Hoggs wherewith the people of the Country make great store of Sausages and Sopressate very excellent and good which the Lucan Latinists so call because they were invented by the Lucani whereupon Martial thus saith Filia Picenae venio Lucanica porcae Plutibus hinc niveis grata corona datur The Sea thereof aboundeth with excellent Fish and yieldeth shel-fish of a delicate and pleasant taste which have within them an excellent Pearl But in describing the Country of this Province I will begin from the mouth of the River Sele where it runneth into the Sea that is to say here from it I will follow along the shore of the Sea even to the River Lavo where it runneth into the Sea afterward I will describe the places of the Medeterrane Departing then from the mouth of Sile and walking along the shore of the Tirrene Sea we come to a place where was the Temple of Iuno the Argive built as Strabo affirmeth by Iason and going from thence seven miles is the place where was Possidonia by Strabo called Pesto which was built near the Sea by the Doresi and afterward magnificently inlarged by the Sibariti Servio reciting the authority of Virgil in the fourth book of his Georgicks saith thus Biferique rosaria Peste He placeth the said City in Calauria wherein he was deceived it standing in Basilicata Also Ovid maketh mention of this City in his first book de arte Amandi saying Caltaque Pestanas vincat odore rosas The Ancients call the Gulf of the Sea which lieth hereby Sinus Pestanus but now Mariners call it the Gulf of Agropoli and others of Salerno the which Gulf beginneth at the shore of the Picentini and so compasseth even to the Promontory of Possidoniato Peste was called by the Greeks Possidonia the which City the Ancient ruinated buildings are now to be seen half in the Sea little more then eight miles farther on the shore is to be seen Agropoli and Castello del Abbate where is made the best Malmsie directly against it is a little Isle called Leucosia by the name of a Sirene which did there inhabit and going no more then nine miles appeareth Castello amare of Bruca with the large and spacious Wood where was the ancient Hyela by Virgil called Velia Opposite to the place where Velia stood are in the Sea to be seen two little Islands called Enotrie the one is named Pontia the other Isacia And for as much as I have written of these six places in the Province of the Principality on this side I will speak no farther thereof and especially having counted them among the places of the said Region though perhaps they rather belong to Basilicata A little farther is to be seen Pisciotta by Strabo called Pyxuntum oppidum And from thence two miles appeareth the Cape of Palinuro named by the Ancients Promontorium Palinuri which was so called by Palinuro the Pilot of Aeneas ship of whom Virgil writeth in his sixth book Having past the Cape of Palinuro there is to be seen upon a Promontory the ruines of Molpa which was by Bellisario Captain of the Emperor Iustinian destroyed Entring now into the Land from the Sea a mile on the side of the hill is to be seen the Emperial Fortress and among the hils standeth Francavilla where is a sumptuous Monastery of Cathusians Afterward at the foot of the Mountain is Noia and farther within the hils is St. Arcangelo Roccanova Castelonova and Episcopia a Country very fertile whereof the ancient Lord is Francesco Antonio of Porta a Gentleman of Salerno whose worthy Family was much ennobled by the Kings of this Kingdom Then followeth Claramont Senisi and the City Tursi distant from the Sea fifteen miles and from the River Acri two and the said City hath the dignity of a Duke which lately King Philip gave to Don Carlo d' Oria the son of Iohn Andrea Prince of Melfi Admiral of the Sea A little farther among the hils is St. Mauro and Ferrandina in a populous Country made by Ferrandino the son of Alfonsus the second King of Naples being Duke of Calauria Walking yet among the hils appeareth Pesticcie and returning by the shore of the Sea is the mouth of the River Vaisento where it falleth into the Sea going a little farther we discover a large and a goodly Plain and half a mile from the Sea is to be seen the ruines of the noble City of Metaponte built by the Pilii which came hither from Troy with Nestor Metaponte was destroyed by the Sannites In the said City dwelt Pithagoras a long time where he died which after his death the Metapontini made of his house a Temple and there adored him as one of the Gods To the which City Ippaso a most excellent Philosopher Disciple to Pithagoras hath given much honour Now upon the said ruinated City is Corn sowed and in the end of the Territory thereof as Strabo declareth ended the limits of Grecia Magna Leaving the place where stood Metaponte four miles and from the Sea but one upon a place somewhat elevated is to be seen twenty high and mighty Pillars of Marble placed in two ranks which the Country people say that there was the School of Archita the Tarantine and passing within the Country is the River Vasente and two miles from the said River at the foot of the hill is Pomarico a good Country and the hill Miglionico and six miles distant stands Grottola adorned with the dignity of a Marquisat the Lord thereof is Alfonso Sances Decano one of the Councel of State and going not far is Grassano and Montescagioso Within a mile of Bradano Descending towards the Sea at the foot of the Hils appeareth Tricarico a very honourable and beautifull City and ascending up the Hils is the City of Montepeloso And ten miles from hence following
Greeks called Hesperia because it is situate in the West Five hundred sixty seven years before the destruction of Troy it was called Enotria by Enotro of Arcadia which with a Colony came to inhabit in the middle of Ausonia where he builded many Cities the principal whereof was Pandosia This name of Ausonia continued many and many years untill Italo was by the Enotri created King from whom they named the said Region Italia This Italo being a man very ingenious taught the Enotri the manner to till and ear the ground and to shear their sheep and lived but nineteen years and left Morgete his son heir of the Kingdom the which ordained that by his name Italy should be called Morgetia Morgete dead and the people not contented to continue his name in as much as he was odious unto them the name of Italy was renewed again and they called the Country Italia the which name continued a long time untill the Greeks came to inhabit there and then they called it Magna Gretia for the frequency of the great number of learned Scholars which came thither to hear the Philosopher Pithagoras but as the Poet Archilao saith t●was so called through the great multitude of Greeks which inhabited there being drawn through the fertility and pleasures of this Countrey whereupon Ovid in his fourth book de factis thus saith Itala nam tellus Graecia major erat It was afterward by the latter Greeks which came thither to inhabit called Calauria which in our tongue signifieth abundance of all good things and truly so is it because there is no place I will say not only in all Italy but in all Europe that may contend with this there being not any thing necessary for the life of man or which may yield delight that is not in great abundance and with all perfection so that corresponding in every part the effects agree with the name thereof as plainly appears that nature it self cannot be more delighted in it self yielding so many benefits as any Country whatsoever All this Country was devided by the Apennine into two parts and that part which was toward the Ionian Sea was called Magna Grecia the which also contained a part of Lucania now called Basilicata and did stretch from Regio even to Taranto The other part was by the Greeks called Bretia from Bretio the son of Hercules and of the Latines Brutia and stretched from Regio to the River Laus now called Laino It hath lately been divided by the Kings Court into two Provinces whereof the one is called Calauria on this side the other Calauria on the other side that on this side containeth a great part of Magna Grecia and of the Brutii and endeth with Basilicata and from the one side where is the head of the River Acri and of the other where runneth the River Lavo stretcheth from one sea to the other except that part which lieth in the East and is joyned with Calauria on the other side As touching those people which dwell upon the Tirrene Sea where the Brutii in old time inhabited are both in nature and manners more temperate and staid then those near the Ionian Sea who are more fierce and craftie as also their colour bewraieth for the other are white and red these dark and brown And for so much by the Kings Court it is divided into two parts as hath been said in the superior and inferior in the one is the Cape Cosenza in the other Catanzaro the one hath 30 Cities the other 16. and in all three hundred sixty seven with Countries and Castles But entring into the particular description of Calauria on this side having past the River Turbolo the ancient bounds of the people Lucani there appeareth Turture in the Territory whereof grow many Sugar Canes almost opposite standeth the Isle of Dimi Scalea and the River Lavo even where the ancient Lucani did arrive Then followeth Cerella Belvedere Bonifati and Citracro where are often made many Vessels through the great commodity of Timber and Pitch whereof that Country doth much abound within upon the banks of Lavo is the City of Lanio built upon the ruines of the ancient Lau and the said City is honoured with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the Family of Cardin●s Not far off is Campotenese which had this word from the ancient Temesini having been their Territory On the right hand is the Hill Apillonio where is such plenty of excellent Pasture that the best Cheese is there made in all those parts on the left side is Morano a populous and a rich Country which Antonio Pio in his Commentaries calleth Summuranum where is made excellent Cloth and every year there is a Fair with great concourse of people there about the Territory thereof is very fruitfull and fertile and there is made very fine Silk and Manna gathered and on the Hill there are infinite store of excellent simples Not far distant from the said Country springeth the River Sybari where was the ancient Syphei the ruies are to be seen whereof Livy maketh mention Going thence four miles is Saracena in a good Country called by Stefano Sestium which was built by the Enotri in whose Territory is made singular Wine and excellent Oyle it hath besides Mines of Gold and of Lead of Alabaster and Cristal Near hand about five miles distant is to be seen the ancient Country of Altemonth called Balbia which is not certainly known whether it was built by the Ausoni or Enotri The Wines which are there made have a very delicate taste whereof Pliny in his 14 book much commends and prefers before all the Wines of Calauria from whence in their most costly and sumptuous banquets was alwaies the Wine of Balbano And Atheneo making mention thereof in his first book thus writeth Vinum Balbinum generosum admodum austerum semper seipso melius nascitur In the principal Church of this Country lieth with much reverence the body of St. Paolo of Malta brother of St. Dominico There are in the said Territory natural Hils of white salt and they are no otherwise cut then if they were stones and there is Alabaster and two rich Mines of Gold of Silver and Iron and the Azured Lazul stone And at the foot of the Apennine in the Territory thereof groweth Cristal and white Chalk and the River Grondo passeth through the said Territory being very full of Eeles and Trouts This Country was given with the Title of a Count in the year 1462. by King Ferrant of Arragonia to Luca Sanseverino Prince of Basignano which now in the said house is maintained Next after followeth the City of St. Mark called by the Latines Argentanum and a little distant is the ancient City Meluito so called for the plenty of Vines which grow there but in old time it was called Temesa in which place by the providence of God
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 O●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
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 Viti●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 ●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 D●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 Pe●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 Pl●●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 cold●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 undernea●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 fa● 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 wh●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 pl●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 Gen●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
Beccarini Gentile del Avantaggio Caverletta Minadois Nicastro Visco Tontoli and others But first before I proceed any farther to declare what the Monte Gargano is here towards the sea I will finish that which lieth upon the River Fortore Above Sanseverino four miles is Torre the great which is a Country that hath the title of a Dukedom subject to the house of Sangro which lieth from Fortore twelve miles and as much above Torre the great is Castelluccio and a little from thence is Monte Rotano and somewhat higher is Celenza which hath a very fruitfull Territory and is adorned with the title of a Marquisat the Lord whereof is Carlo Gambacorta a Neapolitan Gentleman a very famous and worthy Lord whose honourable actions are well known having many years with so much wisdom and valour governed through the grace and favour of King Philip the two Povinces of Principato and Basilicata and at this present with great honour ruleth and governeth this present Province Not far from Cilenza is a country called St. Marco and near that is Volturara which hath a good Territory and the Lord thereof holdeth the title of a Marquiss and not far off is the country of St. Gaudio and a little above is Rosseno and beyond that near the river of Fortore is the Castle Montefalcone The River Fortore runneth into the Sea near the Lake of Lesina which contains 40 miles in compass and a mile from this Lake and four from the Sea is the city of Lesina from whence the Lake hath taken its name the which city was built by the men of the Isle of Lesina of Slavonia some say that the Saracins spoiled the said city Leandro Alberti believeth that the aforesaid Lake is named by Pliny in the 10. chapter of his third book Lacus Pantanus which breeds good fishes and great Eels and at all times there is good fowling for wild Geese Mallards and Swans Within the land four miles above Lesina and within a mile of Fortore upon a high hill is Cerra Capriola in a populous and a civil country the which is well known through all the Kingdom for the toll or custom of cattel which pass through it from divers countries to winter in Puglia and for the custom of sheep where they pay in that place so much for every beast by the head Somewhat higher are these countries and castles St. Martino Colletorto S. Guilian Macchia which is adorned with the dignity of a Count subject to the house of Regina and not farr off is Petra di Cratello Campo di Pietra Geldono and in the top is Circomaggiore near the which springeth the river Fortore then on the left hand of Fortore is St. Nicandro five miles from the Sea and near the Lake of Cesina on that side which is nearest the Mount Gargano then farther within the land is Porcina a populous and a civil country where is also a very stately magnificent Palace made by the Emperor Frederick the second for a retiring house of pleasure after his sports of hunting in those parts Going six miles forward we come to St. Seniero a country very rich noble civil and populous whose Territory is so fertile that it is not inferior to any in this Province the said country hath lately been innobled by the Kings favour with the dignity of a Prince which the Family of Sangro possesseth Strabo writeth in his sixth book that in the Territory of Daunio although that imperfect and corrupt book nameth it Saunio at a hill named Drio in the manner of a Wood was in his time two Temples the one in the very top assigned to Calcante that whosoever came to demand any thing of the Oracle sacrificed a black ram lying down themselves upon the skin The other Temple was dedicated to Podalirio below at the very foot of the Hill distant from the Sea a hundred furlongs From the which Temple did spring a little brook very wholsom and comfortable to cure the infirmities of cattel therefore it may the better be believed that such Temples have been in these places hereabout for Strabo saith In agro Daunio circa tumulum quem Drion nominant basilicae monstrantur una quidem Calchantis in summo ●erti●è cui petentes oracula ingrant●m im●lant arietem strata in pelle dormiunt Altera Podalirii in insima montis radice posita abest à mari stadiorum circiter C. Ex ea rivulus manat ad omnis p●corum morbos salutaris Now it is time to return to the Mount Gargano or rather St. Angelo to the end I may the better describe certain places which are there In the midst then of the said hill where is the fair and spacious plain of ●lorishing and pleasant pasture is to be seen the country of St. Iohn Ritondo where every year on the 11 of Iune are assembled the Bailiffs and Officers thereabout a chief and principal magistrate coming thither in the name of the King the which after they have well considered the store of grain barley and other corn with a general consent they proclaim a price of all victuals Not far from the said place are Cagnano and Carpino which have a fruitfull Territory the Baron thereof is Antonio Nava so honourable and worthy a Lord and so vertuously given as he is generally honoured and loved of every one and hath been the special occasion that this work is published the second time At the foot of the said hill near Manfredonia is St. Vito a very great country but wholly abandoned for the great abundance of Serpens that are therein Not far off is the Castle Arignano and St. Nocandro Departing then from the foot of the Mount Gargano and leaving the places near adjacent we come to Foggia in a populous country which hath a very fertile and fruitfull Territory yielding great plenty of grain barley and other sustenance Some say that it was built of the ruines of the ancient city of Argirippa the which as Strabo●aith ●aith was in old time one of the greatest cities in Italy and was first called Argostippium afterward Argyripa and at the last Arpe and saith that it was builded by Diomedes At this present liveth with great honour to the said city Giovanbattista Vitale a very plausible and pleasant Poet of our age But it is not fit I should smother in silence the custom of the sheep of Puglia which is one of the greatest revenues that the King hath in the Kingdom and consisteth in the rents of the herbage which cometh every year into the Kings Exchequer by the Officers for the pasture of sheep and greater cattel of the which rents in truth some pay 13 duckets for a hundred sheep and some 12. and some 10 and a half and some 9. and some 6. and some 3. and some 15 carlins for a hundred and others 12 crowns for a thousand But of greater cattel some pay 37
duckets and a half for a hundred and others 22 and a half and some 18 duckets and three quarters the hundred whereupon the said receiver satisfieth to the Masters of the herbage according to the quality and goodness of the pasture as it falleth out As in the year 1592. there was allowed to the said custom four millions four hundred seventy one thousand and four hundrey ninty six sheep and of greater cattel nine thousand and six hundred Of which sheep and cattel in general is paid unto the Kings receit six hundred and two and twenty thousand and a hundred seventy three duckets and seven carlins of the which sum is abstracted 380492 duckets for the payment of the herbage to divers particular persons with the alms bestowed upon the poor and other charges yielding to the Kings Exchequer 241264. the which sum of money was carried into the Kings general Treasury This kind of payment of custom hath been very ancient for the like was paid in the time of the Romans as it appears by Varro and other ancient Writers But this Kingdom being invaded by divers Nations the custom decayed through the extremity of long wars untill the time of the worthy and renowned Alfonsus of Aragon first of this name King of Naples who newly restored it in an excellent order and constituted Francisco Malubre Commissary for the reformation thereof and was the first receiver to whom he allowed for his pains 700 duckets with the pasture of a thousand sheep as Marino Trezza in his second book de sub feu the which the excellent Lawyer Carlo Tapia Neapolitan relateth with great learning and eloquence in the first book of his Commentaries in the Rubrick and final Law F●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 ●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
Italians and there are to be seen great heaps of iron pieces of sundry fashions as chains shackles collers and others of like sort to hold prisoners and to inchain men the which were all as they say miraculously delivered and the persons set at liberty through the prayers and intercessions of that worthy St. Leonard both from prisons and the Gallies in the Church resteth his said body Directly against this Province are situate the Isles of Trinity which was in old time called Diomedes which had that name for the Fable which the Greeks feigned upon the companions of Diomedes transformed into fowles being of the bigness of the Magot-a-py seeming also in their tune to imitate a humane voice but not so pleasing according to the fixions of the Poets in the ancient time of the forein Greeks the which declared with their singing and flying the content of their arival being shunned and despised of all others bewraying by the clapping of their wi●gs and their pittifull scrieking the contempt of their company but now in truth they are much available and do great good by their fatness to those which are benummed or swoln in any member with any cold humour There is in this Isle a Fortress and a very fair Monastery of Canonical regular Priests The women of this Province are all in general very fair the men great and well proportioned but inclining to a brown complexion which proceeds of the great heat Their proper language is all after one manner but somewhat rude and impolished They have very strong arms wherefore they often exercise wrestling and the managing of weapons They are not very neat and curious in their apparel but very ingenious and sharp witted they follow not the affairs of the Sea for almost all employ themselves in the profit of the fields They inhabit in Castles and Cities and in the time of tillage and the gathering in of their fruits they go to the fields with carriages of bread and wine and other necessary things for so many daies and with their oxen they remain day and night untill they have tilled and sowed or gathered in their grain barley and other corn that being done they fire the straw and returning with the rest home to their dwellings where they continue till time requires again to manure and sow their ground They are all rich and very courteous and carefull to keep their word and in bargaining very free The Arms of this Province is azure on a mount of Ceres fixed on bass St. Michael or the which arms signifie the apparition of the Angel Saint Michael upon the Mount Gargano and the ears of corn the great plenty of the Province A DESCRIPTION OF THE Kingdom of Naples The second Book WE having finished the first book of the description of the Provinces of this Kingdom it were requisite to speak more particularly as we have promised to the end the reader may be the better satisfied of so much as he desires to know thereof The Kingdom then of Naples as hath been said is divided into 12 Provinces the which contains 2700 popularities of which there are 20 Archbishops and 127 Bishops and 1464 Countries in which places live at least two millions of people for in the Province of the Country of Lavoro was taxed in the Kings Schedule by Families 58152 The Principality on this side by Families 47562 The Principality on the other side by Families 30535 Basilicata by Families 38747 Calauria on this side by Families 50878 Calauria on the other side by Families 55457 The Country of Otronto by Families 50874 The Country of Bary by Families 39141 Abruzzo on this side by Families 27046 Abruzzo on the other side by Families 48689 The County of Molise by Families 15693 Capitanata by Families 20804 Whereupon the abovesaid number of Families being collected together make in all 4834●8 and this is the number at this present of all the Families in the Kingdom in the which number the City of Naples is not comprehended nor the hamlets belonging thereto for the freedom and priviledges which the Neapolitans hold The revenue of the Crown both in the ordinary and extraordinary ariseth very near to three millions of Crowns yet excepting the donative which is now reduced into an ordinary revenue The dignified or titular Barons of the Kingdom in this year 1596. are 155. whereof 20 are Princes 34 Dukes 40 Marquisses and 53 Earls but the Barons without title are about 1400. the which are all bound to serve personally for the de●ence of the Kingdom The Duke of Alba in the year 1556. in the War against Pope Paolo the fourth had 20 thousand footmen 7 hundred armed men and a thousand seven hundred light-horsemen Now at this present the King maintaineth ordinarily for the defence of the Kingdom 4000 Spanish footmen under many Captains with a Master of the Camp and an Auditor and this Corporation of people is called the third of Naples In the Castles of the Kingdom and Fortresses made for the guard and defence of the Sea are held 1608 footmen ordinarily Spaniards comprehending also the Officers which remain in the Castles for the service of them There are also 1020 armed men ranged into 16 companies that is to say five Spanish and eleven Italians 60 men in a company there are besides reserved for the Viceroy-General of the Kingdom a hundred men and 80 for the great Constable But for light-horsmen there is not above 450 ranged into five companies And for the guard and service of the Viceroy he hath an hundred Almain Holbardiers besides a hundred Gentlemen that is to say 60 Spaniards and 50 Italians that are continually attendant whose duty is to frequent the Court to accompany the Viceroy in time of peace and war and therefore they are bound to have their arms and their horses Moreover for occurrences in defence of the Kingdom there is maintained in exercise of the war an Army of 24078 footmen of the Kingdom the which hath not been very long since it was ordained for because that in all the Provinces of the Kingdom there are ordinarily limited five footmen for every hundred Family these footmen in every Country of the Kingdom are chosen by the Electors of that Country therefore if the souldiers named do not please their Captains they ought to chuse others that may content them these footmen are bound both in the occurrences of the Kingdom and out of the Kingdom to serve five years and then in change of them to chuse others And in the same manner is paid to the said souldiers to Captains Ensigns Sargeants for that time which they serve the same pay that is given to Spanish footmen and their Officers These souldiers of this new Army which together are so named enjoy certain priviledges of freedom The strength of the Kingdom consisteth also in 30 Gallies with their helps which are 27. but the principal Fortresses are Naples with three Castles Gaeta la Mantia Trani Cotrone
Gallipoli Monopoli Taranto Bary Brindesi with the Fortress of St. Andrea Barletta Otranto Manfredonia Monte de St. Angelo and towards the Mediterrane Capoa Cosenza Catanzaro Civitella Aquila All the men in general are strong valorous painfull well made and comely ingenious courteous inclined to piety and vertue desirous of novelty litigious given to pleasure religious aad devout the which the many and great magnificence of the Churches and riches of the Clergy do testifie In the wars they declare their valour and courage The Nobility are liberal magnanimous warlike and make particular profession of policy and chivalry Now forasmuch as we have spoken somewhat of the Revenues of the Crown in this Kingdom it will not be amiss to discourse more particularly thereof The REVENUES of the CROWN in the noble and most happy Kingdom OF NAPLES BEfore I discourse of the Revenues which the king of Spain hath in this noble kingdom of Naples it were requisite for the better satisfaction of the Reader first to declare in what manner the kings in former time have received it Therefore to let you understand that under the kings of the Normans the Revenues pertaining to the king was received by a price that is to say for every twelve marks of Revenue was paid three fiorines The which continued untill the time of the Emperor Frederick the second who disliking that kind of payment called a general Parlament where assembled all the Barons and Feuditarie persons of the kingdom subject unto him and thither also repaired all the chief Magistrates of the Cities and Countries after the king had made an excellent Oration in commendation of the kingdom he exhorted them all that for a general benefit and aid and confirmation thereof should be decreed and ordained a certain and ordinary Revenue to the end that the poor might not be oppressed by the rich and mighty but that every one might pay so much as were fit and requisite This Proposition of the King seemed unto all just and convenient and so willing to satisfie the desire of the king desired eight daies respit to consult thereon which was gently granted unto them After which time expired they met the 16 of April 1218. at the Parlament in the Castle of Vovo where was decreed and concluded by all the Barons Feuditaries and Burgises of the Cities and Countries that the Regal Revenues for the aid and defence of the Kingdom should be received by collections per aes libras that is to say he that had most wealth should pay most and who had not should pay least the which payments because they were not sufficient for the supply and succour of the Kingdom they increased it to the number of six collections and these were called ordinary Exchequer payments as Luca da Penna testifies in the L. 1. num 3. C. de indic lib. 10. and Antonio Capece in the invest ver feudorum clausulae ver collectis colum 5. in fi in prin and Andrea of Isernia in c. 1. extraordinaria in prin ●um 62. quae sint reg The which likewise Fabio Giordano Neopolitan in his Chro●●ele thus writeth Post quam Neopolitanum Regnum in Federici secund Imperatoris 〈◊〉 ionem veuit noluit ille ut redditus ad fiscum pertinentes licitacione exiger●t●● quemadmodum à superioribus Regibus factum erat nam usque ad ej●s tempora 〈◊〉 ●●odenis Marchis t●es argentei flor●ni solvebantur hinc animadvertus provi●●●●mperator pauperes haec ratione nimium vexari opprimi anno millesimo 〈◊〉 ducentesimum decimum octavum octavo Kalendas Maias in arcem Lucullia●●● Castellum Normandiacum etiam dictum publica comitia haberi voluit quò convenientibus omnibus fere Regni hujus Regulis feudatariis sic dictis oppidorism dominis atque etiam nonnullis urbis praetoribus Fredericus ex excelsa sede regalique solio elegantem ac doctam in Regni laudem orationem habuit universos abhortatus ut pro publico omnium commodo stabilique Regni quasi praecidio praecipuus ac certus quidam per singulos annos censu● designaretur ne singuli nimis ac ultra modum vexarentur Imperatoris oratio universis placuit à quo satis humaniter octo dierum spacium his fuit concessum ut ea de re inter se maturius deliberarent quo dierum curriculo elapso cuntis Regulis visum fuit ut Regni census post hac non licitacione sed per collectas colligerentur ut qui plura possideret bona plus solveret qui verò pauciora minus hic exactionis modus ad breve duravit tempu● ●am cum non esset satis ad Regni necessitatibus subveniendum procedente tempore crevit usque ad sex collectas quae ab omnibus solutiones siscales vocabantur This manner of receiving of Collections continued untill the time of the most famous and renowned King Alfonsus of Aragon who purposing better to establish the affairs of the Kingdom assembled in Naples the 28 day of February 1442 a general Parlament and required that in place of the six Collections should be levied on every Family ten carlines And although Matteo de Afflitto in the cap. plaustorum num 6. quae sint reg saith that that Parlament was held in the City of Benevento nevertheless in the chapters of the Kingdom cap. 1. Regis Alfonsi appears the contrary because he saith that the said Parlament was held in Naples in the Church of St. Lorenzo In the year following 1449 the 20 of September as it is noted in the Register intituled Literarum curae secundi anni 1451. fol. 133 which is preserved in the Royal Chamber of the Summary the said King being in the Greek Tower caused there a general Parlament to assemble where the King so propounded that he maintaining so great an Army as well by land as sea to no other end and purpose but to secure and defend the Kingdom from the incursions and invasions of enemies which neglected no oportunity to prejudice and indanger it the Royal Revenue of the Kingdom being not sufficient he was inforced either to increase it or to give way to the enemy therefore he had considered that for an universal benefit it would do well that there should be imposed five other Carlines on every Family besides the ten the which payment being not grievous nor heavy but lawfull and honest may be easily supported of all And to the end they may know it is not our purpose to impose new Taxes nor through a covetous and greedy desire to heap treasure together but only to secure them from the Tyranny of others and therefore at this present I promise to give to every Family of the Kingdom a bushel of salt The King having finished this Speech they all cryed out with a loud voice saying Whatsoever your sacred Majesty commands shall be done and in token of faithfull Subjects since that you have vouchsafed to bestow salt
on your most loyal Kingdom we humbly desire that your sacred Majesty will accept of us in behalf of the whole Kingdom two grains more for a Family as a gratification for the said salt which shall be at the appointment of your Majesties Officers the which was accepted of the King the number of which Families as it then appeared in the Royal Taxation with all the Cities and Countries of the Kingdom except 58●4 families of the exempted and disburthened Countries untill this new and last numeration which was in the year 1595. were 475727 families and the sum of money which was gathered of these payments amounted to 719095 duckets under which number of Families the Albanesi and Illirici are not comprehended which under one only name are called Slavoni the which payed no more then eleven Carlins the year therefore they had no salt given them and every year were numbered being lawfull for them to go from one place to another in the Kingdom the number of which extraordinary families were 4451. and payed according to the said taxation every year 4896. duckets and ten grams There are also exempted from the said usual and common payment the Companies which have perpetual free priviledges which import 41510 duckets two carlins and seven grains the which with the noble City of Naples are in all the Provinces of the Kingdom as we have before said in number 54. There are also exempted the Universities which are free for some prefixed time which pay not the said payments which import 2609 duckets eight carlins and eight grains the number whereof are but four They are also excepted which pay by covenant and agreement which import 23794 duckets eight carlins and three grains and are 25 companies Moreover there are exempted many particular men which hold priviledged immunities which import 1203 duckets two carlins and five grains So there is received clearly exempting the priviledged Universities those that are free for a time and the Universities which pay by covenant and the priviledged men 654873 duckets six carlins and seven grains This then is the ordinary payment which the King receiveth every year of all the families of the Kingdom There is likewise another ordinary payment called Adogo which signifies royal service this is payed by the Feudaries in place of personal service because every one is bound to present himself personally before the King when he goeth to war At the which service the feudary was bound personally to be ready with his only person when he possessed an intire fee. It was held an intire fee when the revenue thereof did amount to 20 ounces the ounce is 6 duckets by the which intire fee the said feudary was bound to continue his said service the space of three months at his own charges with three horses and arms as Andrea de Isernia affirms in C. 1. similiter potest nu 14. ver in Reg. Sici de cap. qui cur vend and Capece in the cap. Imperialem praeteraea si quis in feudatus 10 col ver item nota quod quando de prohib feu alie per feder And in the decision 10. nu 14. Neither was the feudatary inforced to serve longer then the said time unless the King would have him near unto him for his service and then the King ought to give him pay the which appears in the Chapters of King Charls the second which begins Item statuimus quod Comites Barones c. The which three months of service which the said feudist ought to do should begin to be counted from the day that the muster was taken the which that great feudist Andrea d' Isernia thus declareth in consti Hostici 3. Col. ver sed quaero quando à quo tempere But if the feudist serve not personally he ought to provide another fit to send in his place that may content the King as was ordained by the Emperor in Cap. Imperialem firmiter de probib feu alien per Feder And this was when the feudist did possess the said whole entire revenue for when the revenue did not arise unto the said quantity of 2. ounces then more fees or tribute were joyned together that might make up the whole fee of 20 ounces and so amongst them sent one souldier with three horses and arms which for three months followed the Kings service from the which conjunction of feudists as Andrea d' Isernia saith in cap. 1. num 9. Versi quantum adoha●●entum de contro feu apud par term This said royal service was called Adogo as it were a uniting And in very truth although the said feudists contribute their money to the said service of the King at that time which they paid for the said whole fee of 20 ounces the half and somewhat more that is to say ten ounces and a half yet for all this they shall pay at this present that is for every hundred duckets of revenue he payeth the half which are 50 duckets and five graines besides for a ducket more which are in all 52 duckets and a half and this payment is meant when the fee consisteth in slaves But if the fee be without slaves because the feudist could not have aid or assistance he ought only to pay six ounces And if the fee consisteth in money that is to say in penal payments or alienated revenues established he payeth only five ounces because that revenue may be augmented as Isernia saith in cap. 1. fin quis dicatur dux Marchio and in the cap. Imperialem firmiter in 2. col ver idem videmus quod solvitur So in like manner to do that royal service when the feudists have not the whole fee they are to joyn together in the manner abovesaid and to pay for one souldier according to the said sum of ten ounces and a half the which the said Isernia saith in the said cap. 1. nu 9. de contro feu apud par ter di vers quantum ad adohamentum And moreover also it standeth in the election of the feudatory if he will personally serve he cannot be inforced to pay for the Kings service but if the feudist be not fit and able or not in health he ought then to send another in his place of sufficient strength and ability the which the aforeleadged Author writeth in the said Chapter Imperialem firmiter nu 32. For these services then which belong to feudists are certain slaves or rather lands to help towards the moyety of the said service held by the Barons at the rate of five carlins a Family for these Families which the Universities are taxed if the land consist not of so many Families which at the rate of five carlins a Family comprehendeth not the moyety of the payment of the said taxation of the Baron that University or Countrey is not bound to any further charge but for so many families as are taxed paying at the rate of five carlins a family and for that which wanteth the Baron is
enjoyned to pay together with some other moiety which he hath But if the number of Families be so many that the payment of every family at the aforesaid rate of five carlins exceed the moity of the contribution which belongs to the University then that overplus which groweth is to be divided among the Families to the end that the only moity which belongs to the aid and help of the Baron may be received Of which Afflitto doth very largely discourse in cap. Caroli 2. which begins Comites Barones sub rubr de subven Vassall The which help of Vassals was thus devided by Charls the second as it is noted in the said Chapter Comites Barones feudatarii sub rubr de subven Vassal Afterward the Kingdom came into the Jurisdiction of Ferdinando the Catholick King who understanding the many contentions and strifes which were in the Kingdome between the Barons and Vassals for the payment of this Imposition of the Adogo to settle things in order appointed that all the Barons and feudists with their revenue should be noted and that all the Cities and Countries and Families of the Kingdom should be newly numbred and ordained that the helps of the moity of the taxations which the vassals paid to the feudists by reason of the Kings service should be no more received by the feudists but by the Kings Treasurers and Officers The sum at this present did amount which was paid every year by the feudists into the Kings Exchequer to 75616 duckets and as many more were received of the vassals But the whole intire Adogo which every Province paid wherein the Barons and feudists of the Kingdom were taxed appears here under-written The Country of Lavoro duckets 18346 The County of Molise duckets 3152 The Principality on this side duckets 12489 The Principality on the other side duckets 10348 Basilicata duckets 14671 Calauria on this side duckets 6962 Calauria on the other side duckets 7317 The Country of Otranto duckets 13495 The Country of Bary duckets 8●42 Abruzzo on this side duckets 7280 Abruzzo on the other side duckets 8651 Capitanata duckets 9669 The sum of the duckets 12056 When it hapneth in the Kingdom to bestow a Donative upon the King the Barons use to examin what every one of them holds deviding the payment by the rate which they pay of the Adogo the which Adogo as we have said which at this present is present is paid is 52 duckets ● 10 for the hundred if the fee consist in vassals but being without vassals he payeth for his Adogo 26 duckets and a quarter which is the moity of the whole fee but if the Baron possesseth a fee that is disinhabited he payeth for the Taxation of the Adogo 30 duckets for a hundred And it is also to be understood that when the Baron or Feudist dieth the heir of the dead doth not pay for the first year the Adogo into the Kings Exchequer but the year ended after the death of the said Baron the heir payeth his Livery which payment is half the revenue which the Baron hath by the year and if it so fall out that the heir do not reveal the death of the Baron the year being past he forfeits nine times the value which the Livery of the Baron importeth therefore when the Livery is paid all the Countries and debts are levied which the dead Baron is found to have The Cities also and Lands of Demains pay the Livery to the King every fifteen year even as at the death of a Baron Thus have I briefly declared the ordinary Impositions which the Families and Feudists of the Kingdom pay Now remain eth to declare the extraordinary payments which every Family paieth yearly into the Kings Exchequer First of all every Family payeth four grains the which payment is received every month This Imposition was made by Don Pietro of Toledo Viceroy of the Kingdom the second of May 1542. the which first imposed three grains upon the Spanish Footmen to pay and appointed the said payment to be received every fourth month as it appears by a Letter of the said Don Pietro inserted in the Letters of the Kings Chamber under the date of the 22. of May 1542. In the year after 1544. in the month of September the said Imposition was increased to four grains as it is expressed in a Letter of the said Viceroy inclosed in a Commission of the Kings Chamber dated the third of September 1544. At the last in the year 1566. Don Perasenno de Rivera Duke of Alcala ordained that the said Imposition should be received of all the Families of the Kingdom according to the former Order th● which even at this present is received The Imposition levied on the free Companies the which pay no other Impositions then above written containeth yearly for the number of ordinary Families 215216 duckets six carlins and six grains and for extraordinary Families 1019 duckets and 8 carlins the which sum joyned together are 216236 duckets 4 carlins 6 grains There is also an Imposition paid for the wages of the Barigelli of the fields which are those that guard and keep the high-wayes and goe against Outlaws This Imposition was made by Don Pietro of Tolledo the third of August in the year 1550. only in the Provinces of the Principality on this side and the other and the County of Molise Capatanata and Basilicata to avoid the robberies which were daily committed for which cause were appointed the Universities to pay all those losses which were there committed It was afterward ordained that the said Imposition should be gathered of all the Provinces except the Land of Lavero but for the service which the said Barricelli did in that Province they should be payed out of the Kings Exchequer The said Imposition was received of every Province diversly the which we have declared in their places This Imposition riseth to 18506 duckets seven carlins and two grains yearly There is another Imposition which is paid for the guard and defence of the Towers and Castles the which Imposition was instituted by Don Perasanno de Rivera Duke of Ascala to the end the Kingdom might be secure from Rovers by the which imposition all the whole Kingdom payed for every Family seven grains and the twelfth part of a grain But the Countries which were distant twelve miles from the Sea payed the half of the said payment the which amounted to 25348 duckets yearly There was likewise gathered of the Universities the payment for the building of the Castles when they were builded and there was received according to the payment which they paid for the guard of the said Castles And because at this present there are not any Castles builded in the Kingdom therefore that payment is no long●r continued There was also gathered another Imposition of three grains of every Family of the Kingdom for the repairing of the streets and high-waies of the Kingdom This Imposition was instituted by the Duke of
Alcala the 20 of Iuly 1539. as it appears by a Letter inserted in a Commission of the Kings Chamber of the Summaria dated the first of Iuly registred in the Royal Register Litterarum Curiae xxi fol. 93. the which payment containeth 41640 duckets yearly The Families also of the Kingdom payed 17 grains for to pay the souldiers and men of arms which guarded and defended the Kingdom this payment in the year 1555. was received 45 grains for a Family in the year after 1559. the Kingdom being augmented by the means of Don Iohn Manriquez Viceroy of the Kingdom the said payment was deducted to 36 grains And last of all because the number of Families were very much increased it was brought to 17 grains a Family the which payment amounteth yearly excepting the free Universities 74900 duckets two carlins and eight grains Finally the Universities and Families of the Kingdom pay two grains through the decay of 5804 Families These are extraordinary payments which the Families of the Kingdom pay into the Exchequer Also the Kings Exchequer receives from the said Kingdom other Revenues and Rents which consist in divers things which are these following The custom of the sheep of Apulia which is one of the principal Revenues which the King hath in the Kingdom the which consisteth in the herbage which the Kings customer renteth every year to the husbandmen for the pasture of sheep and greater cattel whereof some pay thirteen duckets and eight carlins for a hundred sheep and some twelve and some ten and a half and some six and some three and some fifteen carlins for a hundred and some twelve crowns for a thousand but for greater cattel there are some which pay thirty seven duckets and a half for a hundred and others twenty two and a half and others eighteen duckets and three quarters Therefore the receiver satisfieth to the Masters of the herbage according to the goodness and qualitie of the pasture As in the year 1592. there was assigned to the said custom four millions four hundred seventy one thousand 496 sheep and of greater cattel nine thousand six hundred of which sheep and greater cattel is paid into the Kings Exchequer 622172 duckets and seven carlins from the which sum is deducted 380492 duckets and five carlins and two grains for the payment of the herbage given to divers particular persons with the alms bestowed upon the poor and other charges returning into the Kings Exchequer 241264 duckets four carlins and five grains and three quarters the which sum is carried into the Kings Treasury This customary payment hath been very ancient for in the time of the Romans the like was payed as it appears in Varro and other ancient Writers And as we have before said the Kingdom being invaded by divers Nations the custom decayed through the long wars untill the coming of the worthy and renowned Alfonsus of Arragon first of this name King of Naples the which newly restored it in the year 1447. with excellent orders and made Francesco Maluber Commissary for reformation thereof In the year 1501. Lewis the twelfth King of France having devided the Kingdom with King Ferdinando the Catholick King and Apuglia and Calauria being alotted to King don Ferdinando he created Frederick Menidois Neopolitan cust●mer of the sheep who received by means of the rents of the herbage 83280 duckets The French King perceiving so great a revenue challenged the custom saying it belonged unto him through which discord after long wars the Frenchmen were driven out of all the Kingdom Leaving as an example for others that who seeks all commonly loseth all The second revenue is the custom of Silks which is one of the best revenues in the Kingdom and this is in the Province of Calauria for all the silk which was there made and in other places they anciently paid five grains in the pound This custom was in the year 1483. by King Ferdinando the first sold to the Prince of Bisignano for eighteen thousand duckets In the year after 1541. Don Pic●ro of Toledo Viceroy of the Kingdom imposed five tornese more upon the pound and assigned it to the said Prince because of the right which he pretended unto the County of Milito This revenue now yields seventy thousand crowns yearly In the same year the said Don Pietro in the name of the Emperor Charls the fifth imposed five other grains more upon a pound of silk and this he did because of the fortifying of the Castle of Cotrone In the year 1555. Don Berardino of Mendozza being Viceroy of the Kingdom ordained that of all the other Provinces should be gathered one carlin for a pound of silk and appointed that that imposition should be paid in the time that the silk grows Afterward Don Francesco Pacecco Cardinal Saguntino Viceroy of the kingdom imposed in the year 1557 upon all the silk which went out of the kingdom another carlin in the pound Last of all in the year 1580. Don Iohn Zunica Prince of Pietra Pertia purposing to take away the deceits which by means of the said extractions were committed with the will and consent of the kings collateral Councel ordained that even as in the Province of Calauria was received fifteen grains on the pound at sund●y times he would have the same at one entire payment that is to be paid in the time that the silk grows and also he would that in the other Provinces should be received two carlins on the pound By the which order the said revenue was much augmented To the which Imposition is also annexed Saffron of which is paid one carlin the pound The receit of this revenue ariseth yearly to the summe of 148003 duckets The third revenue is the custom and profit of Iron the which Imposition was ordained by the Emperor Frederick the second who made it unlawfull for any man to bring iron into the kingdom to sell except to the kings Paymasters or Tenants and the price was rated throughout all the Provinces The which custom although at sundry times it was diversly received nevertheless at this present for the most part the third part thereof is paid which is the half of the price which is paid for the iron brought into the kingdom to the paymasters Therefore the said price is imposed by the kings Chamber of the Summaria over which before the price was established it caused to be taken in Naples a diligent information of ●hat it stood the Rentmaster in And so goes the fourth part of steel and the fifth of pitch the which revenue amounteth to the sum of 61836 duckets And according to the same rent go the custom of the mercerie wares of Calauria The fourth revenue is the regal custom and the greatest storehouse of the City of Naples because there is received 18 grains by ounce of all the merchandize which are sold by the Merchants by reason of the custom there are received also divers other
payments that is to say 15 grains by the ounce by reason of the storehouse the which custom amounteth to 115025 duckets The fifth Revenue are the Royal Customs of the Merchandize of the Provinces of the Countries of Otranto Bary Basilicata and Capatanata the which revenue ariseth to 97300 duckets The sixth Revenue is the Regal custom of the thirds of Wine which is half the price of the Wine which is paid to the king being called the Custom of the thirds of Wine as a difference from another which is paid to the City of Naples The revenue of this Royal Custome amounteth to 970013 duckets The seventh Revenue is the new Impost of Oyl and Sope which is paid at the rate of one carlin for every stare which is the measure of oyl in Naples so called the which revenue containeth 10400 duckets The eighth Revenue is the new Impost of Wine which is transported out of the Kingdom the which Revenue ariseth to 104000 duckets The ninth Revenue is the custom of playing Cards this new Custom was Imposed in the year 1578. and for every pair of Cards the customer received a carlin which yielded 15310 duckets The tenth Revenue is the Custom of the Marketplace of Maiure called otherwise the place of Small-Wares the Revenue whereof ariseth to 9390 duckets The eleventh Revenue is the Custom of Eggs Kidds and Birds which are brought into the City of Naples which ariseth to 2300 duckets The twelfth Revenue is the Impost of artificial or inforced Manna which is payd at the rate of one carlin the pound which contains 700 duckets The thirteenth Revenue are the two Races of Horses which the Kings Court maintains in Puglia and Calauria which is received by the sale which is made of the said horses and other things 5670 duckets The fourteenth Revenue are the profits forfeitures and compositions which proceed from the Kings Chamber and from the great Court of the Vicaria and from the kings Audit of the Provinces of the kingdom which yearly amount to the sum of 34000 duckets The fifteenth Revenue is the Custom of Horses which are bought of strangers in Naples which importeth 500 duckets The sixteenth Revenue is the due of Ius salmarum for the conveying of Grain Barley and Pulse which is transported into the kingdom the which Revenue ariseth to 4000 duckets The seventeenth Revenue are the Customs which are commonly called the fines of the Annunciata which consist in a certain duty and is received at the four Gates of the City of Naples And in the Market-place of the said City is received the kings due for the slaughter of Cattel And this Revenue of the Fines of the Annunciata was so named because the king Don Frederick of Arragon having taken up a certain quantity of money at Interest of Merchants he agreed with them that they should be paid out of those duties therefore he appointed that they should alwaies be paid by the Masters and Governors of the Hospital of the Annunciata to the end every one might be satisfied his due The which even to this present with great diligence is received by the said Governors paying it to the said Creditors and the overplus of the said Revenue they return into the kings general Treasury This Revenue ariseth yearly to 247001 duckets which dischargeth the said debt the which doth amount yearly to 2247 duckets three carlins and three grains so there remain to the king no more then 2339 duckets The eighteenth Revenue are the helps and aids of Tuscan which do amount to 13000 duckets The ninteenth are the Revenues of the City of Vesti of St. Severino and of the Fee of Tacina and many others the which sum imports 24577 duckets The twentieth Revenue is the new Imposition upon Brimstone which is digged in the kingdom and is paid at the rate of three carlins for a kintal the which commodity is now omitted The 21 revenue is the new Imposition of Hemp which is paid at the rate of 15 carlins for the kintal the which commodity is also omitted The twenty two revenue is a new imposition upon the Infidels which are ransomed and are received in this sort from two hundred crowns downward is paied eight duckets by the poule from two hundred to five hundred is paid ten crowns by the poule from five hundred to a thousand is paid fifteen crowns by the poule and when the ransom is of some quantity the more is paid in respect of the said taxation The twenty third Revenue is the custom of the extraction of Salnitro which is received at the rate of a crown for a kintall the which commodity is omitted Twentifourth Revenue is the industry and labour of Salt and Salt-Pits of the Kingdom and although at this present there is not any commodity thereby nevertheless the King hath a Rent and according to the charge of the said Rent they are constrained to fetch salt out of the Kingdom to maintain their Store-houses furnished and for the provision of Officers and other occasions the Kings Court payeth to the Rent-Masters by the year 17700 duckets and receiveth no profit or benefit by the sale but they are bound to deliver to the Universities of the Kingdom bay salt at the rate of a bushel for every Family by the year and when they give white salt they are bound to give the more according to the rate that the bay salt is valued And so they are enjoyned to give to all the Officers and servants of the Kings Chamber salt answerable to the rate of the charges which they are above enjoyned The twentififth Revenue are the duties for the custom of Grain Barley and Pulse going out of the Kingdom the which is laid up for the store of the Kingdom but being brought out there is great abundance The twentisixth Revenue is the devolution for the dead and the end of the lines of Barons of the Kingdom and of Offices that are void by the death of them that held them but because these things are extraordinary there is no particular account kept of the Revenue thereof The twen●iseventh Revenue are the Liveries of heirs profits of penal amerceaments forfeitures of Statutes Incroachments and other extraordinary Revenues which falls to the King through many and sundry causes which being no certain nor constant revenues I make no distinction of them But as it is judged by Iohn Baptista d' Assaro Cesard d' Acampora and Alfonso Crivella the most diligent and reasonable Arbitrators of the Kings Chamber say the revenue is worth 150000 duckets Moreover the King hath in this Kingdom 24 Cathedral Churches the which held more then fifty thousand crowns yearly He hath also profit from many Abbots which are the ancient patrons of the Kingdom the which yield ten thousand crows yearly The sum of the Revenue which the King hath in all the Kingdom except the donatives is two millions nine
hundred ninty six thousand nine hundred thirty seven duckets seven carlins and four grains 2996937. Thus have I briefly discoursed only to note the greatness of his noble Kingdom the which is not to be wondred that at sundry times there have repaired so many sorts of barbarous Nations from farr and even remote parts of the world as is well known to make spoil thereof But now through the providence of God it remaineth in much peace and secure under the protection of the puissant King Philip 2d the people having never enjoyed so peaceable a times with the great benefit and abundance of all things The Donatives which have been made at sundry times by the Noble City of NAPLES and the KINGDOM to their KINGS AMong other Priviledges which the faithfull City of Naples and the Kingdom holdeth one is that the King cannot for any occasion demand a Donative or assistance nevertheless it hath been known that in times of calamity and the great necessitie of their Kings they have been succoured and assisted with all their strength their money and their men Therefore for these worthy deeds they have deserved to be called no Vassals but faithfull friends I now purposing to discourse of the Donatives which have been made unto the Kings beginning from the year 1507. and having a desire for no other cause there to begin but because from thence I have had a true information of writings being alwaies a more laudible thing to declare few things and true then many and ambiguous In the year then 1507. the last of the month of Ianuary was held a general Parlament by the Deputies of the noble City of Naples in the Monastery of Mount Olivet where met according to the custom the Princes Dukes Marquisses Earls Barons and Feudists and Burgises of the Cities and free Towns in the Kingdom in which general Parlament was concluded that to the Catholick King Ferdinando in respect of the former Wars and the present affairs and to maintain the Kingdom in peace should be given a donative of three hundred thousand duckets the which being propounded the speaker or advocate of the Cities and Common-wealth after he had used some few plausible words desired that besides that day they might have three daies respit to consult thereon And the time being come it was generally concluded that it should be paid in this manner that is to say by the rate thereof the Barons should pay fifty thousand duckets levied by the rate o● the Adogo and that the said sum should be all paid by August 1508 and the remainder the people of the whole Kingdom should pay as well landed men as he Barons eleven carlins a family that is to say three carlins the next months of April or May and three the months of October and November of the same year 1507. and two in the months of February and March in the year 1508. and three in the month of October the same year Of which donative was no man exempted except the noble City of Naples and the Hamlets belonging thereto The 26 of November in the year 1520 was held according to the custom a publick and general Parlament in the which the Barons of the kingdom considering the great charges which Charls the fifth had been at then king of the Romans about his Coronation in Aquisgrane they gave him thirty thousand duckets and concluded that it should be paid within the time of three years levying the first payment of the three at the birth of our Lord next ensuing in the year 1521 and was levied in the selfsame manner which was paid to king Ferdinando neither was it permitted that any person should be exempted except the City of Naples In the year 1523. the first of September was held in the Monastery of Mount Olivet a publick Parlament where was concluded that to the Emperor Charls the fifth for the necessity which he had to pay his Army should be given him two hundred thousand duckets which should be received at three payments that is to say at Easter the birth of our Lord and in August and it was decreed that of this Donative not any person though priviledged should go free except the City of Naples and the Hamlets belonging thereto The 16 of the month of Iuly 1524. in the Monastery of Mount Olivet according to the accustomed manner was held a general Parlament and concluded that to the Emperor should be given 50 thousand duckets by reason of his Army which he had in Lumbardy and of this payment were only freed the venerable Churches and Hospital of the Annunciation with the City of Naples and the Hamlets The 19 of May 1531. was held a general Parlament where having a principal respect to the Wars which the Emperor made with the Turk and although the kingdom had been much exhausted through long wars dearth and pestilence nevertheless the Barons shewing a generous mind to serve the Emperor made a donative of six hundred thousand duckets of which the Barons paid an Adogo and a half not by the way of an Adogo but a pure and free Donative and the remainder the people paid This Donative was levied and paid in four years and thereof was only free the City of Naples and the jurisdictions of the Annunciation The 20 of August 1534. was held according to the accustomed manner in the Monastery of Mount Olivet a general Parlament where with a general consent was agreed that there should be given unto the Emperor one hundred and fifty thousand duckets to the end to chace away the Fleet of the Turks which had given out to invade the coast of the kingdom and this Donative was levied at three payments that is to say at September next ensuing at the birth of our Lord and at Easter 1●35 and the Barons contributed for the aforesaid donative fifty thousand duckets the which payment they paid not by way of an Adogo but as a simple donative and the remnant of a hundred thousand duckets were paid by the people From the which payment was not exempted any person though he were priviledged except the famous and renowned City of Naples and the Hospital of the Annunciation In the year 1536. on the eight day of the month of Ianuary in the Church of St. Laurence was by the Deputies of the renowned Citie of Naples held a general and publick Parlament at the which according to to the usual manner met the Princes Dukes Marquisses Earls Barons Feudaries of the kingdom and also the Burgises of the Cities and free Towns in the which Parlament considering the charge of the Emperor to return into Spain it was concluded there should be given him a donative of a million and fifty thousand duckets and this donative was the greatest that ever was made to any king whatsoever of the said kingdom and was enacted with these Conditions and Covenants following that is to say that the quantity which was to be paid by the Barons might be so much as
would amount to the sum of three Adogoes but yet not by way of an Adogo but as a free donative according to the taxation which at this present is to be seen in the Royal Chamber of the Summaria and the remainder was appointed that the people Cities Countries and Castles of the kingdom should pay Of which donative fifty thousand duckets were levied in a year and the Barons payed thereof one Adogo but for the contribution of the million which was agreed to be paid in five years the two Adogos were not paid and the people discharged the rest The Emperor seeing the great affection which the kingdom did bear unto him purposing in some measure to remunerate their good will towards him granted both to the Kingdom and Cities many priviledges In the year 1538. and the 27 day of March according to the accustomed order was held a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that there should be given to the Emperor a donative of 360 thousand duckets and that of it the Barons should pay so much as did amount to the quantity of half an Adogo not by way of an Adogo but as a simple donative and the remainder to the complement of the said sum the people should pay The which donative was levied and paid in five thirds and the City of Naples was exempted and the Lands of the venerable Church and Hospital of the Annuntiation In the year 1539. the 15 of March was held a publick Parlament according to the accustomed manner in St. Laurence and was concluded that in regard of the Occurrences which the Emperor had to pay his Army should be given him a donative of 260 thousand duckets with condition that the Barons part should be so much as would amount to half an Adogo not by the way of an Adogo but as a free donative and the rest the people Cities Countries and Castles of the Kingdom should pay The said donative was received in three thirds and payd In the year 1540. the 27 of November was held according to the usual manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was agreed that it were requisite to sustain and succour the great necessity and charge which the King was at for the defence and security of the kingdom but the kingdom being greatly exhausted there should be given a donative of the quarter of an Adogo but not by way of an Adogo but as a simple donative and the Cities Countries and Castles should pay 16 grains for a Family In the year 1541. the 29 of Iuly was held according unto the accustomed manner a publick Parliament in St. Laurence wherein seeing the necessity of the King and the great preparation of the Turk to invade the Kingdom to the end souldiers may be entertained and also to fortifie and provide that the Cities and Countries may be able to resist the said invasion it was concluded that there should be given a donative to the Emperor of 800 thousand duckets of which the Barons paid an Adogo and a half yet not as an Adogo but as a simple and free donative and the remnant the people of the Kingdom paid In the year 1543 was held according to the accustomed order a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was agreed that a donative should be given to the Emperor of a hundred and fifty thousand duckets and fifty thousand more to make the compleat sum of 200 thousand and it was ordained that it should be given by reason of the want of money In the year 1545. was held according to the usual manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was decreed that to the Emperor should be given a donative of 600 thousand duckets to pay the Spanish Footmen the repairing of the Streets and Lakes In the year 1546. was held according to the accustomed order a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was concluded that to his Catholick Majesty should be given a donative of 240 thousand Duckets In the year 1548. was held according to the ordinary manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was decreed that for the marriage of the Lady Mary of Austria the Emperours daughter should be imposed five carlins on a Family the which sum importeth a hundred and fifty thousand duckets In the year 1549. was held according to the accustomed manner in St. Laurence a publick Parlament wherein was decreed that there should be given to his Majesty a donative of 600 thousand duckets of which donative the Barons paid 200 thousand duckets and the rest the people of the Kingdom In the year 1552. was held according to the wonted manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was concluded that there should be given unto his Majesty a donative of 800 thousand duckets and 22 thousand duckets was granted which was given unto the Viceroy because he was a great favourer of the Kingdom with his Majesty In the year 1553. was held according to the accustomed manner a general publick Parlament in St. Laurence wherein was decreed that there should be given to his Majesty a donative of 30 thousand duckets In the year 1554. was held according to the accustomed order a general publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that there should be given to his Majesty for the payment of his Army 30 thousand duckets In the year 1555. was held according to the wonted manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that there should be given to his Majesty a hundred and six and fifty thousand duckets to pay the Companies In the year 1556. was held according to the accustomed manner a publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that there should be given to his Majesty 400000 duckets The which sum of money was devided in this manner that is to say the City of Naples should pay 1000 duckets and the Barons 225000 duckets and the rest the people should pay In the year 1557. was held according to the usual manner a general publick Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that for the great necessity which his Majesty had to pay the Spanish Footmen and the Dutch Companies there was granted unto him a hundred thousand duckets and this payment was devided between the Barons and the people of the Kingdom In the year 1558. was held a general Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that there should be given to the King a million of gold and 25 thousand duckets to the Viceroy of the Kingdom and besides nine thousand and two hundred duckets to Signor Marc. Antonio Colonna the which donatives were paid by the Barons and the people of the Kingdom In the year 1560. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that to the Kings Majesty should be given a million and 200 thousand duckets and to the excellency of the Viceroy of the Kingdom 27 thousand and five hundred duckets the which sum of money the Barons and people of the Kingdom paid In
the year 1562. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that to the Kings Majesty should be given a million of gold the which donative the Barons and people of the Kingdom paid In the year 1564. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was given to his Majesty a million of gold and sixty thousand duckets to the renowned Prince of Spain and Duke of C●lauria his son the which sum of money the Barons and people of the Kingdom payed In the year 1566. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was given to the King a million and two hundred thousand duckets the which donative the Barons and people of the Kingdom paid In the year 1568. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that to his Majesty should be given a million and 200 thousand duckets the which donative was paid by the Barons and people of the Kingdom In the year 1572. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that to the Kings Majesty should be given a million and 200 thousand duckets the which donative the Barons and people of the Kingdom paid In the year 1574. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was given to his Majesty a million and 200 thousand duckets the which donative was divided between the Barons and the people of the Kingdom In the year 1577. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that to the Kings Majesty should be given a million and two hundred thousand duckets the which donative was devided between the Barons and the people of the Kingdom In the year 1579. was held a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was decreed that to his Majesty should be given a million and two hundred thousand duckets the which donative was paid by the Barons and people of the Kingdom In the year 1581. was held according to the accustomed manner a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence where was concluded that to the Kings Majesty should be given a million and two hundred thousand duckets the which donative was devided between the Barons and people of the Kingdom In the year 1583. the second day of Ianuary was held a publick and general Parlament and was decreed that to the King should be given a millon and two hundred and fifty thousand duckets the which donative was paid by the Barons and people of the Kingdom In the year 1585. was held according to the usual manner a publick and general Parlament in St. Laurence of Naples where was concluded that to the Kings Majesty should be given a million and two hundred thousand duckets the which donative was paid two parts by the people of the Kingdom and one by the Barons of which payment only the City of Naples and the Territories of the Annuntiation were free In the year 1587 according to the custom was given a donative to the King of a million and two hundred thousand duckets In the year 1589. was given according to the usual custom a donative to the King of a million and two hundred thousand duckets In the year 1591. was given by the Barons and people of the Kingdom a donative to the King of a million and two hundred thousand duckets In the year 1593 was given according to the accustomed manner a donative to the King of a million and two hundred thousand duckets In the year 1595. was given a donative to the King of a million and two hundred thousand duckets A Description of the Rivers Lakes Fountains Baies Mines Hils and Woods which are in this Kingdom A THe River Acida runneth near Niceto now called Donato The River Amaseno runneth near Abbadia The River Alabro runneth near Supino The River Albula otherwise called Matrino runneth near Musignano The River Aterno now called Pescara runneth near to Civita di Chieti The River Avinio runneth near Fratte The River Aventino runneth near the Fort of Rasino The River Alandra runneth near Sala The River Acheronte now called Campagnano runneth near Castello Franco called in old time Pandosia where was slain as he was foretold by the Oracle Alexander King of Molossus whilst he understanding not the deceits of the devil remained secure having escaped another River of the same name in his own Country of Epire. The River Ancitula runneth near Francica The River Alaro called in old time Sacra runneth near Roccella The River Aesaro called also Aesano runneth near St. Severina and the City of Cotrone The River Alex runneth near the City of Alesio The River Areus runneth near Cosenza The River Arentho runneth near Cosenza The River Abuceto hath his original from the Hill Abuceto which is in the Isle of Ischia The River Angitula runneth near Angitula The River Agatha runneth near Regio The River Aterno now called Pescara runneth near Pescara The River Alba runneth near Manupello The River Asinella runneth near Vasto The River Ag●ra is in Calauria and runneth into Faro of M●ssina The River Alore in Calauria The River Au●ido hath his original from the Hils Hirpini and runneth by Canosa and after into the Adria●ick Sea by some it is called Canne in respect of a City of the same name not far off which is very famous for the great victory of Hannibal by the overthrow which he gave to the Roman Army by which victory Hannibal had from the hands of the Roman Knights three bus●●ls of Rings of gold the said River is now called Lofanto The River Anfure now called Ufente runneth near the City of Terracina called in old time Ansure The River Acri runneth near Saponara The River Arnone runneth near Castelluccia B THe River Bathino called in old time Tordino and Juvatino is near Montepagano The River Basento runneth near Cosenza which River is very famous for the Sepulchre of Alaricus the Goth with certain treasure that is there hid and the ●light of the Emperor Otho which was overthrown by Basilius the Greek The River Bato runneth near Scalea The River Bradano runneth through Basilicata C THe River Calore runneth near Benevento and riseth in the Mountains of Crepacore The River Cervano runneth into the Haven of Taranto called the little Sea The River Coraco runneth near Roccella The River Croccia runneth near Simari The River Crate runneth near Cosenza the water whereof maketh hair yellow and woll white The River Cratallo runneth near Catanzaro The River Cacino runneth near Seminara The River Cardono runneth through the territory of Cosenza and is full of golden sand The River Cato Castro runneth near Mantea The River Cochile called in old time Sibari whereupon Sicel●o in the year of the world 2409. saith the ancient City Sibari was builded the which increased through the amenity of the Country in such greatness that it could arm sometimes three hundred thousand men this River runneth near Cassano The River Coloneta runneth near Rossano
terra Lennia and terra Sacra it is much commended by Galen and many other Physitians as an excellent remedy to heal wounds and the bloudy flux and pestilent diseases and the biting of venomous creatures and to preserve a man from poyson and to vomit poyson already taken and for other infirmities There is also a Mine of natural and artificial Salt-peter In the Province of Calauria on this side In the Territy of the Country of Martorano is a Mine of Steel In the Territory of the City of Cosenza near the River Iovinio are Mines of Gold and Iron and in a place commonly called Macchia germana is a Mine of Gold of Lead and Brimstone and a little farther in another place called Miliano is a Mine of Salt and Alume In the Territory of Pietr● fitta near the River Ispica are Mines of Steel Lead and Salt In the Territory of the Country of Regina are Mines of Alabaster of Brimstone and of Coperas In the Territory of the Country of Longobucco are Mines of Silver and Quicksilver In the Territory of Rossano are Mines of Salt and of Alabaster and the Marchesite stone In the Territory of Alto monte are Mines of Gold of Silver of Iron and of Alabaster and there grows Cristal and there also mighty Hils of white salt In the Province of Calauria on the other side In the Territory of the City of Regio are Mines of Alabaster of Brimstone and Saltpeter In the Territory of the City of Taverna is a Mine of Antimonium which is a stone of the colour of lead and very brittle like that which grows in Britany In the Territory of the Country of Agata is a Mine of Iron and Steel and of the Adamant stone In the Territory of Belforte is a Mine of Gold and of Iron and there grows Coprass and Cristal In the Territory of Calatro is a Mine of Iron In the Territory of Belvedere are Mines of Silver of Iron of Brimstone of Alume of Salt and of white and black Alabaster and there grows a stone which shineth like Silver In the Territory of Soriano is a Mine of Quicksilver In the Territory of Nicastro is a Mine of Quicksilver and there are also goodly Hils of mixed Marble In the Territory of Mesuraca is a Mine of Earth which yields a colour called of Latinists Giluus In the City Cotrone grows a Thistle which yieldeth Mastick and also it grows in Castrovillare and in many other places of Calauria And to conclude Calauria is a very goodly Region and yieldeth plenty of all good things The Castles and Forts of defence which are in the Kingdom of Naples with the number of Souldiers which remain in every Guard and their monthly pay The names of the Castles The number of souldiers The pay what it monthly imports In Naples are these 3 Castles   Duckets 1. The new Castle 167 775.2.12 2. The Castle of Eramo 110 452.2.9 3. The Castle of Vovo 25 90.4.11 The Castle of Baia. 69 233.0.13 The Castle of the Isle Ischia 34 116. The Castle of Gaeta 86 322.3.3 The Castle of Capoa 51 200.1.13 The Castle of Aquila 53 197.1.13 The fortified Castle of Brindesi 56 175.3 The Castle of Leccie 54 201.1.13 The Castle of Otranto 86 144.1.13 The Castle of Civitella 94 Duckets 321.0.13 The Castle of Pesara 62 303.2.10 The Castle of Viesti 36 247 1.13● The Castle of Momfredonia 34 137.1.13 The Castle of Barletta 52 194.1.13 The Castle of Bary 28 118.1.13 The Castle of Monopoli 29 140. The Castle of Brindesi 41 151. The little Castle of Brindesi 63 223.4 The Castle of Cosenza hath only a Capt. with the pay of 10 crowns monthly 1 10 The Castle of Gallipoli 30 Duckets 125.1.13 The Castle of Taranto 46 176.0.4 The Castle of Cotrone 39 136.3.6 The Castle of Bi●eglia hath but only a Captain 1 10 The Castle of St. Germano hath only a Captain with the allowance of 200 duckets yearly 1 17 The Castle of Trani hath only a Captain with the pay of 10 crowns monthly 1 10 In the Isle of Nis●ta the Court maintain●th a Ga●ison   Duckets The Fort of the City of Aman●e● maintaineth 6 souldiers 6 20.4 The Fort of St. Cataldo maintain there 6 262. In the Isle of Tipare are two Gunners 2 2 A CATALOGVE Of the Earls and Dukes of Puglia and Calauria and of all the Kings of Naples Normans S●evi Angioini Durazzeschi Aragonesi Castilliani Austriaci ALthough I have more at large written in another book of the lives of all the Kings which have ruled the Kingdom of Naples but being now to speak of the same subject I will handle every thing with as much brevity as may be hoping that as it will be no small ornament to this work so it will give no little contentment to the Reader It is then to be understood that in the year of our Lord 987. the last year of the reign of Lewis the fifth King of France avaliant Norman souldier and of great magnanimity called Tancred having twelve sons which he had by two wives that is to say of Moriella Lucha his first wife he had Frumentino Gotfredo Sarno Tancred Malugero Dragone Godfredo and Alberedo of the second wife called Fresanda Rotaria the daughter or as some write the sister of the Earl of Altavilla he had Guglielmo Feraback Vnfredo Ruberto Guiscard and Ruggieri Bosso with these twelve sons Tancred determined to seek out some new Country to inhabit and to try some new and better fortune with hope to find some other place to live better and more richly through his industry and wit and coming into Italy first arived in Romagna and perceiving that Landolfo Prince of Salerno was much opprest through the excursions and outroads of the Saracins sent in his aid six of his sons who being well provided by the Prince both of horse and arms in three battels wherein they incountred the enemy made an admirable slaughter of them whereupon they returned as it were in triumph to Salerno and were by the Prince and all the people received and with much intreaty were sollicited to remain in that Court But they declaring that what they did was not for any human pomp nor for any other end but the service of God refusing all gifts returned to their own habitation But within a few years following there fell certain controversies between Pandolfo of St. Agata and Guaimaro Prince of Salerno Pandolfo sent Ambassadors into Romagno requesting Guglielmo Dragone and Vmfrido three sons of Tancred with many promises and offers to serve under his pay which that he might the better do in the manner of another Narsetes sent them not only rich furniture for horses and costly apparel for themselves but great store of money These worthy men made no delay to come to the Prince Pandolfo through whose assistance the enemy being foild was forced with shame and sorrow to retire but Pandolfo being brutish and ungratefull made no great account of them
so many Christian Barons French Germans and Englishmen Boemond being of a generous mind and full of magnanimity animated by emulation of the glory of so many honourable men which went in this noble enterprise leaving all things to his brother went with these to the Conquest of the Holy Land where having streightly besieged Antiochia took it and was therefore by the general consent of the Army for that enterprise made Prince and Earl of Tripoli he afterward married Constance the eldest daughter of Philip King of France which brought him a son named Boemund which succeeded in the said Principality But returning to Ruggieri who having held the Dukedom of Calauria and Apulia 25 years died in the year 1110. and left William his eldest son his heir born of Adelandra his wife daughter of Robert Frisone Earl of Flanders This Duke William peaceably possest his State and made Pope Galasio his special friend by whom he was invested in the said Dukedome of Apulia and Calauria in the year 1118. The year following the Duke thinking to marry the daughter of Iohn Comneno Emperor of Constantinople being promised unto him imbarked himself to go thither and committing the tuition of his State to Pope Calisto the second In the mean time the year 1123. Ruggieri Earl of Sicilia his Nephew the sonne of the aforesaid Ruggieri Bosso following so fit an oportunity nothing esteeming the Pope invaded Calauria and before the Pope could well bethink himself how to relieve it he had got the possession of all Calauria and Apulia The Duke William being deceived and returned without his wife retired himself to the Prince of Salerno his kinsman where not long after without leaving any issue he died in the year 1127. The Kings of NAPLES Ruggieri 1. King of Naples RVGGIERI by force of arms and by the right of inheritance being Lord of so great a State with whose power the Pope Honorius the second being not able to contend made peace with him and received of him an Oath of Loyalty and homage and so created him Duke of Apulia and Calauria The said Act was solemnly done and registred in Troia a City of Puglia in the year 1128. Afterward Ruggieri began War with the Prince of Capoa and so afflicted him that in the end he usurped his Principality but growing proud with this great prosperity would be no longer called Duke of Apulia and Calauria and Earl of Sicilia but entituled himself King of Italy the which thing Honorius seemed to dissemble but Innocentio the second which succeeded him could not by any means indure being moved with rage without measuring otherwise his strength raised a sudden tumultuous Army and with all expedition and violence came against Ruggieri which knew nothing of that preparation that he chaced him from St. Germano and through all the Country of Abadia and besieged him being within the Castle Galluccio above Sessa where flying was forced to retire back again The other William son of the besieged Ruggieri understanding thereof with great celerity came to relieve his father and did a very admirable exploit in breaking their forces and taking the Pope prisoner with many Cardinals and at the same instant delivering his father from the siege Ruggieri through his great courtesie and reverence used to the Pope obtained without the Title of King particularly the City of Naples which till this time had been under the Greek Empire Ruggieri perceiving the good will of the Neopolitans created 150 Knights Innocentio being set at liberty returned to Rome and found that in his absence had been created one Pietro an Ante-Pope the son of Pier Leone a very powerfull and factious Citizen of Rome which was called Anacleto the second Innocentio having no doubt thereof with the help of the Pisani past into France Ruggieri went to Benevento and visited Anacleto and obtained the Title and Crown of King of both the Sicilies which was done the 25 of Iuly 1130. and was the first that in this part of Italy had the Title of King and was made a Liegeman and Vassal of the Church the which Instalment as Sigonius noteth was the same that the aforesaid Pope Innocentio afterward confirmed in the year 1139. declaring him lawfull King of Sicilia Duke of Apulia and Calauria and Prince of Capoa Ruggieri having performed many noble enterprises died in the year 1153. being 59 years of age his body was laid in a Costly and stately Tomb of Porphery in the Church of Monreale of Palermo where these Verses are ingraven Si fastus homines si regna slemmata ludunt Non legum recti sit norma Rogerius ist is Est lusus rebus comite à quo nomine natus Virtutem his splendor situs diademàque Regum Vixit ann LIX Regnavit an XXIII Menses V. obiit an MCLII Ruggieri had four wives the first was Airolda the daughter of the Earl of Caserta the second was called Albira daughter of the King of Spain the third named Sibilla sister of the Duke of Burgony the fourth was called Bettrice which was the daughter of the Earl of Resta of his two first wives he had not any children Sibilla brought him Ruggieri which was Duke of Apulia and Amalso and Guglielmo which was Prince of Capoa and Salerno which died both in their fathers time Of Bettrice his last wife he had William Prince of Taranto which was afterward King of Naples and a daughter named Constance who by the advice and Councel of the Abbot Giachimo Calaures the King put her into a religious house of Nuns He had a base son called Tancredi who was Earl of Leccie and King of Naples William the wicked the 2. King of Naples WILLIAM called by his sirname the wicked William the first begotten son of Ruggiero his father succeeded in the Kingdom and in the beginning of his State usurped by force of arms Ceperano with the Suburbs of Benevento and Banco with other places belonging to the Church for which cause he was excommunicated by Pope Adrian the fourth and deprived also of the title of King and discharged his subjects of their obedience towards him William conceiving a most violent hatred against the Pope raised a mighty Army with a purpose to go for Rome but being for his perverse nature hated of his Barons many of them rebeld against him and called the Pope into the Kingdom The which was the occasion that William changed his purpose and converted his fury against the Prince of Capoa which had been the Author of that conspiracy The Pope which saw all the Kingdom in Arms with admirable celerity made a mighty Army pass to Benevento and without any resistance took a great part of the Kingdom by the which victory the Barons which called him did swear unto him loyalty and homage William understanding that Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople and Frederick Barbarossa the first Emperor of Germany made expedition to aid the Pope
therefore he thought it his best way to be reconciled with the Church sent an honourable Ambassage to the Pope wherein much humbling himself desired to be restored to the grace and favour of the Church and possession of his Kingdom and promised to restore whatsoever he wrongfully detained from the Church The Pope willing to extinguish the War went to Benevento and expected William who prostrate at the Popes feet desired absolution and took an Oath of Loyalty and homage and first restoring whatsoever he had taken from the Church was invested in the Kingdom the year 1156. William afterward lived alwaies in peace with the Church but was ever much troubled and molested by his Barons and hated of the people and sirnamed for his evil conditions William the wicked He departed this life the year of our Lord 1167. and lived 47 years and in the principal Church of Palermo near his fathers Tomb was buried He had by his wife Margarite the daughter of Garzia the second King of Navar Ruggieri which was proclaimed King by the Sicilians William Prince of Taranto which succeeding in the Kingdom was called William the good and Henry Prince of Capoa William the good 3. King of Naples WILLIAM Prince of Taranto called the good as differing from his father was after his death Crowned King at eleven years of age and presently pardoned all those which had been Rebels to his father and took away all the grievances imposed by him upon the people defended alwaies the affairs of the Roman Church against whosoever sought to molest it and especially in the time when the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa strongly besieged Pope Alexander the 3 within Anagni Whereupon Alexander ignorant of the coming of William not only with great courage and stoutness maintained the Pontifical dignity but many times foiled the Imperial Army But being afterward perswaded by Philip King of France to retire with his honour from the said siege had from King William a Gally which for that purpose he had secretly sent wherein he being imbarked with certain of his Cardinals went to Clarimont in France for his better security where he excommunicated and deprived the said Frederick of the Empire and aggravated likewise the censure against Octavian the false usurping Pope William strongly armed himself both for Sea and Land against Andronico the Emperor of Constantinople for the injuries done in Italy He afterward defended the City of Tire and with his Navy foiled the Forces of Salandine and afterward cleared the Sea from Rovers And this good King having honourably ended all his actions after he had reigned 21 years and lived 32. died in Palermo in the year of our Lord 1188. his body with great honour Ione his wife sister to King Richard of England caused to be laid in a Tomb of Marble curiously wrought and embossed upon which caused this inscription to be ingraven Hic situs est bonus Rex Gulielmus The said Sepulchre being ruinated and spoiled through the injury of time hath newly been very magnificently repaired and renewed with fair Marble by the Archbishop of Torres where this new Epitaph is to be read In●lita quas verbis sapientum turba recenset Virtutes solus factis hic praestitit omnes Egregius quare bonus est cognomine dictus Vtque bonus magno longe est praestantior illo Major Alexandro sic Rex Guillielmus habetur Artibus ipse etenim pacis bellique fuisti Clarus ut semper justa ac pia bella gerebas Sic quoque laeta tibi semper victoria parata est Et nunc ne vilis jaceas Rex optime praesul Te decurat tumulo hoc Ludovicus Torrius Hoc ipso in templo quod tu Guillelme dicasti Tancred the 4. King of Naples TANCRED Earl of Leccie the natural son of King Ruggieri and Unkle to the good William was by the death of his Nephew which had not any child created King of both the Sicilies in the year 1188 Pope Celestine the third being desirous to bring the Kingdom under the jurisdiction of the Church as feuditory of the Apostolick Sea invested in the year 1191. Henry the sixth Emperor the son of Frederick Barbarossa with these conditions That he should recover at his own charge the Kingdom of the two Sicilies with acknowledging the Church and to pay the accustomed Tribute and to the end it might seem more colourable and be the better done he gave under a pretence of Inheritance as a dowry for his wife Constance the lawfull and natural daughter of the aforesaid Ruggieri whom secretly he caused to be brought from the Arch-Bishop of Palermo from the Monastery of St. Mary in the City aforesaid where she was Abesse being now 52 years of age very unfit for the procreation of children dispensing with her although she had been a profest Nun and Crowned them in Rome of both the Sicilies in the year 1191. The first thing then which Henry did he went to besiege Naples but in the beginning of the third month the Plague growing very hot he returned into Germany without any more adoe The Emperors Army being departed Italy Tancred having recovered his Kingdom at the same time among these affairs his son Ruggieri died which was also Crowned and proclaimed King and had married Irene the daughter of the Emperor Isacio and within a little while after him Tancred his father conceiving so passionately the death of his son growing grievously sick died His body was buried in the principal Church of Palermo and in the same Tomb they laid his son Ruggieri Tancred departed this life in the end of the month of December the year of our Lord 1194. having reigned little more then eight years He left behind him three daughters and one son called William whom Sibilla his mother caused instantly to be crowned King of Sicilia The Emperor Henry understanding of the death of Tancred pretending that the Kingdom appertained to him as before is recited returned from Germany in the year 1195. and with a mighty Army entred the Kingdom of Naples which he finding full of civil discord easily obtained without the loss of much bloud and took prisoner Magarito King of Albania which was come thither in the aid of Tancred He had afterward Sibilla in his hands the late wife of Tancred together with his son William and three daughters that is to say Alteria Constanza and Modonia and sent them all prisoners into Germany and afterward caused William to be gelded to the end he should be unable to beget children and afterward blinded him and then released the said daughters Alteria was married to the Earl Gualtiero of Brenna son of the Earl Girardo of Brenna and brother of Iohn of Brenna which was afterward King of Ierusalem Modonia was married with Iohn Sforza Frangipane a Roman Lord which was Earl of Tricarico Constanza was the wife of Pietro Ziano Earl of Arba and Duke of Venice who being old with the
consent of his said wife became a Munk of the Order of St. Benedict which was in the year 1229. Thus ended the ancient and noble masculin race of the Norman Guiscards in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia which from the time of William Ferabach continued 188 years and governed the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia with much honour and renown SVEVI Henry the Suevian sixth Emperor and fifth King of Naples HENRY the Emperor having extinguished the male-issue and progeny of the Normans and remained absolute Lord of both the Sicilies caused Frederick his son to be Crowned by the Electors of the Empire King of Germany Afterward purposing better to establish the affairs of the Kingdom of Naples sent thither a Lieutenant one of his Barons called Marqueredo d' Amenueder whom within a few months following he created Duke of Ravenna and Romagna and Marquiss of Ancona and at the same tine gave to Philip Duke of Suevia his brother the Dukedom of Toscane with the Lands of the Countess Mattilda So Henry being carefull to range his Army to invade England for certain hatreds conceived against Richard the first King of that Land altered his mind in Messina through his delight in hunting being in the time of Harvest whereupon the Feaver growing grievously upon him ended his life the 8 of May in the year 1197 having ruled the Empire 9 years and governed in peaceable possession the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia four years and one month His body with the stately pomp of solemn obsequies was buried in the Church of Monreale in Palermo in whose sumptuous Tumb of Porphyrie is ingraven this Epitaph Imperio adjecit Siculos Henricus utrosque Sextus Suevorum candida progenies Qui monacham sacris uxoris duxit ab aris Pontificis scriptis hic tumulatus inest Imperavit an 9 men 1. obiit Messanae Anno 1197. Frederick 2. Emperor and 6. King of Naples FREDERICK the second Emperor the son of the aforesaid Henry succeeded in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia and because he was a child and but three years of age Constanza his mother caused him to be Crowned King of both the Sicilies and with him in his name began to govern the Kingdom and had the enstalment of the Kingdom from Pope Innocent the third in the year 1198. Frederick being of perfect age married Iola the only daughter of Iohn Count of Brenna and of Mary the daughter of King Conrado of Montferrato and for her dowry among other things had the title and the right of the Kingdom of Ierusalem and hereupon Frederick and all the rest which succeeded in the Kingdom of Naples were called Kings of Ierusalem In the year 1220. two years after his Coronation of the Empire Frederick being in grace and favour with the Pope Honorius the third and with the Church made and published in Rome that Law which beginneth Ad decus seu nos Fredericus the which Law is registred in the book of the feuds under the Title De statutis consuetudinibus contra libertatem Ecclesiarum the which Law the said Pope confirmed and approved Frederick also made at the same time the constitutions of the Kingdom which afterward the learned Doctor Afflitto expounded Frederick having ordered his affairs in Germany went in the time of Gregory the 9 into Soria and after much wars made peace with Salandine for 10 years and for that cause had Ierusalem and all the Kingdom thereof except a few certain Castles whereupon on Easterday in the year 1229. he took the Crown of that Kingdom in the City of Ierusalem Afterward there grew between him and Pope Honorius great discord because he took upon him to bestow the Bishopricks in Sicilia and Frederick pretending he might lawfully do it and dispose at his own pleasure by reason of a Bull which by Pope Vrban the second was granted to Ruggieri the Norman concerning the Monarchy of the said Isle the Pope misliking the presumption and ostentation of Frederick excommunicated him and deprived him of the Empire and the Kingdom the which censure Pope Innocent the fourth confirmed in the year 1245. Frederick lived five years after in continual trouble and vexation and at length having ruled the Empire 33 years and the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia 51. and that of Ierusalem 28. died of an infirmity that grew in his throat the 13 of December in the year 1250. in the Castle of F●orentino in Apulia having lived 54 years Manfred his base son caused his body to be carried with great pomp and honour into Sicilia to the stately Church of Monreale in Palermo and there buried him in a sumptuous Tomb of Porphiry whereupon these Verses were ingraven Qui mare qui terras populos regna subegit Caesareum fregit subito mors improba nomen Sic jacet ut cernis Fredericus in orbe secundus Nunc lapis hic totus cui mundus parvit arcet Vixit an 54. Imperavit an 33. Regni Hierusalem an 28. Regnorum utriusque Siciliae 5 ● Oblit an Domini 1250. He left of six wives which he had many children of the first which was Constance of Aragon the sister or as others write the daughter of Don Ferdinando King of Castile he had Conrado which died young Henry and Giordiano Henry was King of the Romans who in the year 1236. he put to death because he favoured the Popes faction Of Iola his second wife the daughter of Iohn of Brenna King of Ierusalem he had Conrado which was Emperor of Germany and afterward King of Naples Of Agnese his third wife the daughter of Otho Duke of Moravia he had not any children Of Ruthina the fourth wife the daughter of Otho Earl of Vvolfferzhausen he had Frederick which died in his infancy Of Elizabeth his fift wife the daughter of Lewis Duke of Bavaria he had Agnese which was married to Conrado the Landtgrave of Turingia Of Matilda his last wife daughter of Iohn of England he had Henry which was King of Sicilia and Constance who was married to Lewis the Landtgrave of Nescia Frederick had also by Blanca Anglana of Aquosana his concubine these children Manfred Prince of Taranto and usurper of Naples Enzo King of Sardinia Anfisio of whom he made small account and Frederick Prince of Antiochia Of daughters he had Ann which was married very young to Iohn Dispote of Romania Of Henry and of Margarite the daughter of Lupoldo Duke of Austria was born Frederick which was Duke of Austria and Henry Of Conrado and of Elizabeth the daughter of Otho Duke of Bavaria came Coradine which coming to the conquest of the Kingdom was taken by Charls of Angio King of Naples and beheaded Of Manfred his natural son which married Helena the daughter of Michel Dispote of Romania came Henry Godfrey Aufisio and Elena Conrado the 4. Emperor and 7. King of Naples CONRADO the son of Frederick understanding the death of his father
came with a great Army into the Kingdom and was received with great joy and honour by Manfred in Barletta of Apuglia and being informed that Naples Capoa Aquino and the whole Abby of St. Germano were become Rebels through the instigation of the Earl of Caserta and dinoted to the Church conceived thereat so great indignation and ire that with his Army he wasted and overrun the Country and made Tomaso Earl of Cerra to come and submit himself to his mercy and had by agre●ment St. Germano and all the State of the Earl of Caserta He afterward besieged Capoa and having spoiled and destroyed all the Country took the City and threw the Walls thereof to the ground he did the like to Aquino the which he sacked and burned Afterward he besieged Naples both by Sea and Land and after eight months had it by agreement but they not observing their Covenants he caused afterward the Walls to be ruinated and the Fortresses of the City and many Noble houses of Gentlemen and Citizens he banished Conrado having Naples at the same instant had the rest of the Kingdom He now remaining in peaceable state and given to his pleasures being inhumane and of a cruel nature caused Henry his Nephew to be slain upon the high-way the son of Henry King of the Romans which was come from Sicilia to visit him But that revenge was not long delayed for Manfred his natural brother which endeavoured by all means to become King with a poysoned potion upon a light occasion kil'd him which was in the year 1254. and the 3 of Iune having held the Empire 3 years and 5 months and the Kingdom of Naples and Sicilia 2 years and 19 daies His body was buried in the principal Church of Naples under a little narrow Marble stone Conrado before his death made his Will and ordained his youngest son his heir general born of Elizabeth the daughter of Otho Duke of Bavaria Manfred the 8 King of Naples MANFRED Prince of Taranto the natural son of the Emperor Frederick the second having usurped the Kingdom was by Pope Alexander the fourth excommunicated The said Pope died within a while after and Pope Vrban the fourth a Frenchman was created in his place who fearing the threatnings of Manfred called unto the conquest of the Kingdom Charls of Angio Earl of Province brother of St. Lewis the 9 King of France to whom he gave the oath of both the Sicilies with the right and title of the Kingdom of Ierusalem and at his own charge should maintain the War and conquer it Charls being animated by his brother and others of the Nobility with a valorus courage undertook this famous enterprise In the mean time Vrban died leaving the Papacy to Clement the 4. in whose Popedom Charls with a most glorious Army came to Rome in the year 1265. and was then with Beatrice Berenguer of Aragon his wife in the Church of S. Iohn Lateran by Pope Clement again invested with solemn ceremony and Crowned with an Imperial Crown King of both the Sicilies and of the Kingdom of Ierusalem and made exempt from the Empire with Covenant that neither he nor his successors that should be chosen Emperors should by any means accept thereof the which was done with solemn oath and so Charls was made a Liegeman and Feudary of the Church and promised to pay for tribute a yearly Rent of 40 thousand mark● to the Bishops of Rome Charls towards the end of February in the year 1265. came into the Kingdom and incountred with Manfred and after divers fortunes both on the one and the other side Charls remained conqueror and Manfred was overcome Manfred reigned 10 years 4 months and 16 daies ANGIOINI Charls of Angio the 9 King of Naples CHARLS remaining Conqueror was received by the Neopolitans with royal pomp and proclaimed King and having ordered the affairs of both the Kingdoms was made by Clement the 4. Deputy of the Empire of Italy Understanding afterward that Corradine the Suevian the son of the Emperor Conrado sometime King of Naples was come with a mighty Army to recover the right of inheritance of his Kingdoms made great preparation of War Corradine entreth the Kingdom and after divers and sundry skirmishes at length Corradine was overcome and flying disguised was taken in Asturi by Iohn Francipane Lord of that place which sent him to Charls who after he had kept him more then a year in prison caused him to be beheaded in the midst of the Market-place of Naples which was in the month of October 1269. and so Charls with little labour recovered all the Kingdom He made afterward great Wars with the Saracins and especially with Arageno King of Tunis because that barbarous King refused to pay the Tribute which was accustomed to be paid to the Kings of Naples Charls did in such wise afflict him that he inforced him not only to pay the charges of that War but also doubled the Tribute In the year following 1276. Vgone Lusignano the 11 of this name King of Cypress and Mary the daughter of Melisenda and of Raimond Rupini Prince of Antiochia contending about the inheritance of the Kingdom of Ierusalem Mary being at variance with Vgone came to Rome and caused the said King Vgone to be convented before the Pope the Pope by his decree commanded that the examination and decision of the cause should be determined by the Barons of the Holy Land and the Master of the Hospital and the Temple who were accustomed to have a voice in Councel in the election of the Kings of Ierusalem The which the Princess Mary considering being a woman very aged faint and wearied with travel and the dangers of so long a journey being advised by her friends and by Pietro Manso knight of the Temple his Ambassador compounded with King Charls and receiving of him a great sum of money resigned all her right and Title which she had unto the said Kingdom Whereupon Charls afterward by means of the Pope obtained a favourable sentence and was declared lawfull and absolute King of that Kingdom as well by the ancient right of F●ederick as also by that of Mary Charls afterward for the more security of things sent the Earl Ruggiero Sanseverino Governor into Soria who in the name of Charls received the faith and oathes of homage of the Knights and Barons which were in the kingdom By these aforesaid reasons all the posterity of the said Charls and also all the other Kings of Naples as heirs are always intitled Kings of Ierusalem Charls reigned 19 years 2 moneths and 26 days Charls the second 10 King of Naples CHarls the second son of Charls of Angio reigned 25 years and 17 days Charls was also King of Hungary by the right of Mary his wife the daughter of Stephen the 5. of the name the King of that kingdom who being slain by the Cumani Ladislao the fourth son of the aforesaid
memoriae Serenissimam illustrissimam Dominam nostram Dominam Ioannam secundam Dei gratia Hungariae Hierusalem Siciliae reginam c. Within a little time after rose in the Citie divers contentions because Pope Eugenio the fourth understanding the death of Ione sent a Legate to Naples the Bishop of Recanati and Patriarch of Alexandria giving the Governors to understand and the Councell of the Citie that the kingdom of Naples was fallen to the Church as his Feud or Fee willing them not to bestow the dominion upon any but him whom he shall nominate and invest King The Governors answered that they would have no other King but Renato Duke of Lorain whom their Queen had left as her successor By this means the kingdom understood the admonition of the Pope and the answer of the Governors wherewith many of the Princes and Barons of the kingdom much misliked the succession of Renato and being published that that Will and Testament was falsly forged by the Neapolitans one part of the Barons and people which were of the faction of the Aragonesi called King Alfonsus of Aragon Whereupon through contrary consents and inclinations rose the sactions of the Angioini and Aragonesi The Governors being likewise at discord among themselves the whole kingdom was divided and put into great trouble and molestation In the mean time the greatest part of them sent Ambassadors to Marseli● for Renato That part of the Duke of S●ssa the Earl Venafro and many other Barons called Alfonsus who being full of military courage and inflamed with an incredible desire of glory having his Army ready in the year 1436. came to Gaeta and was received by the Duke of Sessa and besieging the said Citie came with his Navy to battell with Bai●gio Captain Generall of the Fleet of the Genowayes and Alfonsus valiantly fighting was at length overcome and taken prisoner and carried to the custody of Philip Duke of Miltane who afterward knowing the singular vertue of Alfonsus being desirous to hold him his companion and friend made a league with him and suffered him to go at his own pleasure together with the other Lords which were also prisoners ANGIOINI Renato of Angio the 16 King of Naples REnato of Angio being at that time prisoner to Iohn Duke of Burgonie the Neapolitane Ambassadors deprived of all hope to have Renato caused Isabellae his wife to come in his stead a very wise and worthy Lady who made great wars with Alfonsus Afterward Renato being set at liberty by the Duke of Burgonie in the moneth of May 1438. came to Naples whose coming gave great hope and expectation to the Angioini and was royally received and presently prepared all necessary things for the wars and retained many principall and excellent Captains through whose valour he obtained all Calauria and the Dukedome of Mel●i in Abruzzo he had at his command many places In the moneth of Iune 1438. he had from Pope Eugenius the instalment of the kingdom of Naples and Ierusalem Many actions and battels fell out between Renato and Alfonsus but at length the party of the Aragonesi prevailed Alfonsus in moneth of Iune 1442. by the way of an Aquaduct which brought water into the City took Naples and the third day with the will of Renato he had the Castle of Capoa and other forts Renato growing into despair not to be able to recover the kingdom with Isabella his wife and his children returned into Provence where he past all the rest of his life in peace having held Naples and part of the kingdom in an uncertain and troublesome possession four years and ten days Being come to the age of 64 years married Ioan della Valle a noble French Lady with whom too excessively satisfying his pleasure became weak and feeble and so died the 19 of Fbruary in the year 1481. and was buried in Nansi a plentifull place and a principapll City of the Dukedom of Lorane and upon his Tomb these four verses engraven Magnanimum tegit hoc saxum fortemque Rhenatum Mortales heu qua conditione sumus Invidia factis hujus fortuna subinde Ne tanti tanto celsus honore foret ARAGONES I. Alfonsus 1. of Aragon called by his surname The Magnanimous 17 King of Naples ALfonsus King of Aragon and Sicilia after many dangers and infinite travell entred Naples in triumph upon a golden Chariot and by the means of Francesco Orsino President of Rome made peace with the Pope Eugenio and obtained a very large instalment of the Kingdom for he was also invested in the Kingdom of Hungary by the right of Ioan his mother And besides that obtained from the said Pope that faculty and power that Ferdinando his naturall son was ordained his heir and to succeed after his death in the instalment and possession of the Kingdom the which investing was likewise afterward confirmed by Pope Nicolas the fifth Alfonsus was very magnificent in buildings he reduced the new Castle in Naples into the form it now appears truly a very Royall and stately piece of work He enlarged Mola and caused the Fens about the City to be made dry He took the Isle of Zerbi overcame in battell the King of Tunis and made him tributary and subdued certain Cities in Barbary he oftentimes sent Armies against the Turks and at the instance of the Pope chased away Francesco Sforsa della Marca He was very studious in learning and made great account of learned men whereof he kept very many in his Court. And to conclude he was a Prince of great magnanimity He reigned sixteen years one moneth and one and twenty days He died the 28 of June in the year 1458. being 64 years of age He had for his wife Mary the daughter of Henry the third King of Castile surnamed the Weak by whom he had no Childern The Neapolitans buried the body of Alfonsus with a stately Funerall and laid him in a Coffin covered all with cloth of gold the which at this present is to be seen in the Vestry of St. Dominick in Naples and at the foot thereof are these Verses Inclytus Alfonsus qui Regibus ortus Iberis Hic regnum Ausoniae primus adeptus adest Ferdinando 1. of Aragon 18 King of Naples FErdinando the first of this name after the death of his Father succeeded in the Kingdom and was by the Institution of Pope Pius the second anointed and crowned King by Latino Orsino the Cardinall But very often was like to lose it through many wars and espe●ially by Iohn of Angio the son of Renato which had a great Train and Troop of the Barons of the Realm which drew unto them a great number of Rebels In the year 1481 died as is declared Renato of Angio who having no male children made heir of all his state and inheritance Charls of Angio Earl of Main his brothers son who dying within a while after without children bequeathed his inheritance to Lewis the 11. King of France
to whom not onely descended as supream Lord the Dukedom of Angio but also of all Provence Ferdinando having afterward intelligence that Charls the 8. King of France made preparation with a mighty Army to recover the Kingdom of Naples by the right of the Angioini who by the death of King Lewis his father was interessed therein began to make provision of men and being very carefull in the preparation of the war growing sick died the 25 of Ianuary in the year 1494. having reigned 35 years 5 moneths and 25 days Alfonsus 2. the 19 King of Naples ALfonsus the second of this name after the death of Ferdinand his Father obtained the kingdom and in the beginning of the fourth moneth was crowned in the Cathedrall Church of Naples by Iohn Borgia Cardinall of Montereale Legate of Pope Alexander the sixth with greater pomp and majesty then was ever used to any King of Naples But understanding that Charls the 8. K. of France gave order for the pretended war fearing because he was become odious to the people of the Kingdom through his austerity resigned the Kingdom to Ferdinando his son Duke of Calauria a young man much differing from him in nature which every one loved and retired himself into the countrey of Mazara in Sicilia being before time given unto him by Don Ferdinando the Catholique King of Spain where he spent the remainder of his life having reigned one year and three days FRANCES I. Charls the fourth the twentieth King of Naples CHarles de Valois the eighth of this name King of France and fourth of the same name King of Naples came in the beginning of Ianuary 1495. to Rome with a mighty Army Pope Alexander full of incredible fear and anguish fled into the Castle of St. Angelo But the King having no purpose to offend the Pope met with him and concluded friendship and a perpetuall confederacy for the common safety defence Charls was invested conditionally by the Pope of the kingdom of Naples and obtained also from the said Pope Zizimo Gemni Ottoman● the brother of Bajazeth Emperour of the Turks After Charls had re●●●ined a moneth in Rome he past into the kingdom and although some small resistance was made by Ferdinando at length he got the dominion of the whole kingom Ferdinando after that the C●stles of Naples were yeelded departed with fourteen Gallies ill ●rmed into Sicilia Charls after he had pacified the kingdom demanded of the Pope the ●ree installment of the Realm of Naples the which although it were at Rome granted him yet it could not be thought sit in respect of the Aragon●si whereupon the Pope refused to give it him Charls afterward being departed to return into France many of the Barons rebelled through the severity and cruell demeanor of the Frenchm●n Whereupon Ferdinando was recalled who chased away the adversaries Charls reigned ten moneths and 26 days he died a sudden death the ●ight before the 8 of Aprill in the year of our Lord 1497. being returned f●om playing at Tennis He was buried in the Church of St. Denis of Paris in France and on his Tomb this Epitaph was engraven Hic Octave jaces Fran●orum Carole 〈◊〉 Cui victa est forti Brit●nis 〈…〉 Parthenop● illustrem tribuit capti●a t●●iumphu● Claraque Fornovio pug●●● pera●●a sol● Caepit Henricus regno depulsus ajuto Bellare auspici●s sceptra Britan●● tuis O plures longinqua dies si futa d●●issent Te nullus toto major in orbe foret ARAGONES I. Ferdinando the second the ●1 King of Naples FErdinando the second of this name a valiant man endued with Princely qualities of liberality and Clemency who for to strengthen and corroborate his affairs with a more firm conjunction with Ferdinando the Catholique King of Spain took for his wife with the Popes dispensation Ioan his Aunt born of of Ferdinando his Grandsire and Ioan the sister of the aforesaid King and at the same time had of Pope Alexander the sixth the instalment of the kingdom And being placed in great glory fell sick and died the 8. of October in the 1496. He reigned one year 8 moneths and 14 days Frederick the 22 King of Naples FRederick Prince of Taranto the son of Ferdinando the first by the death of his Nephew succeeded in the kingdom in the year 1497. obtained of Pope Alexander the sixth the instalment of the kingdom And being much troubled with continuall war because Charls the 8. King of France died without leaving any children the kingdom fell to Lewis Duke of Orleans as the neerest in blood by the masculine line and was the twelfth of this name This Lewis came upon him with a mighty Army but Ferdinando the Catholique King being confederate with Lewis to his own prejudice for a displeasure conceived against Frederick yet conditionally that Lewis should divide the kingdom with him Frederick that was not able to make head or resist the puisance of so great forces united against him especially finding his kingdom exhaust and ill provided retired into the Isle Ischia neer to Naples with all his Family and afterward gave his kingdom wholly into the possession of King Lewis his enemy not bequeathing any thing to the Catholique King Ferdinando reputing himself to be ill dealt withall by him that in stead of a friend and defender he was come to the contrary to dispossess and deprive him of his kingdom Frederick was very courteously received by Lewis and he assigned unto him the Dukedom of Angio and so much revenue as amounted yearly to thirty thousand Crowns and the French King obtained in recompencee from King Frederick all the right and interest which he had in the kingdom Within a little time following Frederick fell sick at Torse in France where his pain increasing upon him died the ninth of September in the year 1504. He had to his wife being Prince of Taranto the Lady N. della valle Bertania of the worthy Family of Alibret blood in Gasconie the kinswoman of the father of Charls the eighth King of France by whom he had one onely daughter called the Lady Carlotta which was brought up in the French Court and afterward succeeded in her mothers inheritance Of his second wife Isabella the onely daughter of Pirro del Balzo Prince of Altamura and Duke of Andry he had six children that is to say three male and three female the male children were Don Ferdinando Duke of Calauria and Prince of Taranto Don Cesar and Don Alfonsus the which two last died in their Fathers time The women kind the first named the Lady Iulia was married in the year 1533. to Giorgio Paleologo Duke of Montferrato and Marquis of Sanluzo of the noble blood of the Emperours of Constantinople The Lady Isabella and the Lady Caterina were never married The Queen Isabella after the death of King Frederick seeing herself deprived of all humane comfort because that being discharged of that kingdom by the King of France by reason
of the Articles of peace concluded between the Catholique Ferdinando and the said King returned with her children to Ferrara where she was very courteously received by Duke Alfonsus of Este her kinsman where she died in the year 1533 her children remaining desolate and much persecuted by Fortune went to Valentia in Spain where was the Duke Ferdinando their brother and no long time following the one after the other died And in the year 1559. the fifth of August the aforesaid Duke ended his life without leaving any issue And so in him was extinguished the Progeny of the old King Alfonsus of Aragon FRANCES I. Lewis the 12 King of France and 23 King of Naples LEwis the twelfth of this name King of France divided with the King of Spain according to their covenants the kingdom of Naples and obtained of Pope Alexander the sixth the instalment according to the tenor of those conditions which he had made But in the year 1502. their Lieutenants growing into difference about the Confines fell to Arms and at last the Frenchmen were driven out of that kingdom through the valour of that worthy Captain Consalvo Fernando and Ferdinando the Catholique King remaining absolute possessor thereof King Lewis held the Realm of Naples one year and ten moneths but in France he reigned sixteen years and died in the beginning of the year 1514. ARAGONES I. Ferdinando the Catholick 24 King of Naples FErdinando the Catholique remaining absolute Lord of the kingdom maintained it in great peace all the time of his life and obtained of Pope Iulio the second the investing of all the kingdom Finally after many victories atchieved in divers parts he died in Madrigaleio a City of Castile the 22 day of Ianuary in the year 1516. having been King of Naples twelve years and three moneths His body was buried in the Royal Chappell of the City of Granata and upon his Tomb this Inscription was engraven Mahometicae-sectae prostratores haereticae pravitatis extinctores Ferdinandus Aragonum Helizabetha Castellae vir uxor unanimes Catholici appellati marmoreo clauduntur hoc tumulo Ione the third 25 Queen of Naples IOne the third of this name daughter of Ferdinando the Catholique King being now the widow of Philip Archduke of Austria succeeded in the kingdom and having fourteen moneths governed all her kingdoms substituted her heir Charls her eldest son who had scant accomplished 16 years of age Charls remaining at Brussels in Flanders being much exhorted by the Emperour Maximilian his Grandsire reformed in the year 1516. the order of the Knights of the Golden Fleece and so reduced them to the number of 31. And because many through death were void he elected to the said Order amongst others these Lords Francis 1. King of France Don Ferdinando Infant of Spain Emanuel King of Portugal Lewis King of Hungary Frederick Count Palatine Iohn Marquis of Brandenburgh Charls de Lannoi Lord of Sanzelle Moreover Don Lodovico of Vaimonte great Constable of the kingdom of Navarre took in Naples the possession of the kingdom for the said Queen Charls so soon as he was invested by the Queen his mother sailed into Spain and was received of all the people with infinite joy but yet many of the greatest Nobility and principall of the kingdom would not accept him as King but onely as Prince for offering wrong to the Queen Ione since by Testament of the Catholique King her father it was decreed that after the death of Ione Charls of Austria should succeed Upon the which succession grew great tumults and contentions but in the end things were well qualified admitting him for King together with the Queen his mother to be done with this condition That the affairs of the kingdom should be governed in both their names the money stampt and so all other business whatsoever And so once again on the 25. of March in the year 1517. the said Queen confirmed to Charls the former endowment The year ensuing the 13 of April Charles was proclaimed King together with his Mother And the 18 of the moneth of May Prospero Colon●a took in Naples the possession of the kingdom in the name of Charls which was done with all solemnity Charls then being received to the Administration of Spain sent also to the administration of all the other kingdoms In the year 1519. Charls elected into the number of the Knights of the Golden Fleece in place of Gismondo K. of Polonia lately dead Christerno K. of Denmark and Frederick of Toledo Duke of Alva In the mean time died the Emperour Maximilian and the Electors of the Empire assembled according to their ancient custome at Francford a Citie of low Germany for the election of a new Cesar and by a general consent the 18 of June in the year 1520. they chose Emperour Charls of Austria King of Spain Ione having reigned as we have said absolutely 14 moneths and together with Charles the 5 Emperour her son 38 years and four moneths retired herself to Tordezilla a Citie of Spain where within a little while after she ended her life the thirteenth of Aprill in the year 1555. AVSTRIACI Charles 5 Emperour and 26 King of Naples CHarls the fifth Emperour after the death of Ione his mother remained absolute Lord of all his kingdoms and being as is said elected Emperour the same year past the Sea from Spain into Flanders and from thence into Germany where he was received in the moneth of October in Aquisgraue a noble City both for the ancient residence the famous Tomb of Charls the Great with a mighty concourse of people was first crowned In the moneth of January 1526. Charls celebrated his marriage in Hispali with Isabella of Portugal his wife the sister of King Iohn of Portugal Afterward he went into Spain where being arrived proceeded very severely against many who had been authors of sedition all the other he pardoned and discharged And to joyn with justice and clemency examples of gratitude and remuneration in the acknowledging of that wherein he was ingaged to Don Ferdinando of Aragon Duke of Calauraia who having refused the Crown and the kingdom of Spain offered unto him by the States thereof though he were a prisoner set him at liberty and with great honor called him to the Court and married him to the richest Princess then living even the Widow of the Catholique King Ferdinando by which means he much gladded the people and the Duke received honor liberty and infinite wealth and was created for his life time viceroy of Valentia The Emperour without any charge or the expence of a peny got the friendship of the Duke the love of the people and great security to his State The year ensuing 1527. on the 21 of May the Emperess Isabella was delivered of her son Philip in the Citie of Castilia through whose happy birth was made every where generall seasting and triumphs In the moneth of October 1528. the
Emperour by the death of Don Carlo de Lannoi sent for his Viceroy into Naples Don Hugo Moncada a man very expert in Arms and a valiant Captain in the which year Monsignor Odetto Fois Lotrecco went with thirty thousand Footmen and six thousand Horsmen into the kingdom of Naples in the name of King Frances and overcame Melfi Venosa and many other places in Basilicata and Apulia and with the success of victory besieged Naples the which siege continuing certain moneths in the mean time Andrea d'Oria sent the Count Philip d'Oria his Nephew with eight Gallies to annoy the Gulf of Naples wherewith Moncada being much discontented seeking to remedy the same he caused to arm six Gallies and two Foists which were within the Haven and putting therein the very flower and principall of the people that were in the Citie he in his own person with the Marquis of Vasto Ascanio Colonna great Constable Cesare Ferramosca and many other worthy men with a resolution to encounter the enemy and confidently to overcome were imbarked there The Count which suddenly perceived the Imperiall Gallies to go forth of the Haven retired himself presently to the sea and encountring together at the Cape of Orso the Imperiall Forces were overcome and there dying with many others Don Vgo and were taken prisoners the Marquiss Vasto and Colonna the great Constable with other worthy men The Count obtaining the victory presently victoriously went to Genoway to find the Admirall Andrea his Uncle who disdaining the dealing of the French King because he had taken from him the office of the Admiralty and Generall of the Sea and given it to Monsignor Barbigios he agreed by the means of Vasto with the Emperour and brought Genoway and Savona under his Crown Whereupon he went with all expedition into the kingdom in the behalf of the Emperour and discharged the French Army which lay at the siege of Naples Afterward Charls made peace with the French King and gave him for wife the Lady Elinora and the King forsook Barletta and that which he held in the kingdom of Naples and payed to the Emperour for a fine one million and two hundred thousand crowns and yeilded up unto him all the right and possession that he held in the Dukedom of Millane and the kingdome of Naples The Emperour having ended his peace went by Sea to Genoway from thence he past to Bolonia where in the moneth of February 1530. was by Pope Clement the seventh which was come thither with his whole Court to that effect and was solemnly crowned with the Imperiall Crown Afterward the Emperour departed from Bolonia went into Germany and what he afterward did there is written in Histories In the year 1535. Charls having made a voyage to Tunis there subdued M●leasson the lawfull King of the Moores and made him his Feudary with certain conditions went into Sicilia From whence afterward he departing came to Naples the 23 of November in the same year and entred in in triumphant manner where were made him by the Citie many triumphant Arks and huge Colosses with divers and learned Inventions Charls remained with great delight in feasting and tilting all that Winter in Naples where understanding that the French King was entred into Italy with his Army and not knowing to what end and purpose was much moved and displeased with him went to Rome and so proceeded in his journie But at length the Emperour becoming a mortified man and growing into contempt of the world being unwiliing to sustain any longer the heavy burthen of the Empire wisely determined to renounce it And to that end having caused all the Knights of the order of the Golden Fleece to assemble at Brussels and all the States of the Low Countries the first thing he did the 25 of October in the year 1555. he made King Philip his son head of the Knights of the Golden Fleece and after dinner solemnly resigned unto him all Flanders with the other States and Titles and right of Burgony descending unto him from his predecessors Not long after the Emperour continuing his determination resigned and renounced in like manner in Brussels to the forenamed King Philip the kingdom of Spain Sicilia Majorica Minorica with the new Countries called America and the new world reserving onely certain rents and revenues to sustain himself and his family reduced to a small number of servants His Majesty also giving not onely full and absolute power to the King of the Romans his brother to govern and rule as some write the Empire in his place but also freely resigned the Title the Scepter and Imperiall Dignity So Cesar voluntarily deprived himself of his Monarchy a thing truly worthy of consideration that from the Emperour Lotharius till this present never in so many ages chanced the like although Amurath the great Turk resigned the Empire of Constantinople to Mahume● his son In September 1556 Charls departed from Brussels with a great Fleet towards Spain carrying with him Queen Elinor and Queen Mary his sisters and so sailing with fair weather and a prosperous wind they soon arrived in safety Charls constantly persevering in his purpose retired himself to the Monastery of of St. Iusto neer to the village called Sciarandiglia eight leagues from the Citie of Piacenza in the Realm of Castile where living godly and with great devotion he ended his dayes the 21 of September in the year 1558 being of the age of 58 years having ruled even to the time of his renunciation 37 years 2 moneths and 3 dayes the Empire and 37 years and 8 moneths the kingdom of Naples which he resigned to his son Philip. He was married as is before declared to Isabella of Portugall the sister of Iohn King of Portugall by whom he had the Catholique King Philip and two daughters the one called the Lady Mary which with the Popes dispensation was married to Maximilian King of Bohemia the son of the Emperour Ferdinando his brother The other called the Lady Ione was espoused to Iohn the King of Portugals son He had children by another naturall means as Don Iohn and Margarita which was first married to Alexander de Medici Duke of Florence and afterward to Octavio Fernese Prince of Parma and Piacenza Upon the Supulcher of this invincible Emperour are engraven these two Epitaphs 1. LIquisti exuvias gelido sub marmore sed non Quantum eras Caesar marmor urna capit Pro tumulo ponas orbem pro tegmine coelum Pro facibus stellas pro Imperio Empireon 2. Non aurum non marmor erunt non gemma sed omnis Carole terra tui corporis urna decens Conteget immensum quantum patet undique coelum Sol tibi funerea pro face lumine erit Proque tua memori fama pro nomine stabit Aeternum tempus quod tua facta notet Natura effundat lachrymas elementa gemiscent Persitient
tumulum vix satis ista tuum Philip of Austria 27 King of Naples PHilip of Austria the most puissant Catholique King which reigneth with all Triumph and Honor after he was invested in the kingdom and the Title of the kingdom of Ierusalem by the Emperour his Father by reason of the ensuing marriage between him and Queen Mary of England he sent in his name to Naples the Marquess of Pescara to take the possession of the kingdom Afterward in the year 1556. Pope Paul the fourth entring in invaded Marc Antonio Colonna of Paliano and spoyled the rest of his estate and ministred occasion of War to the King Whereupon the Duke of Alva the Kings Lieutenant with an Army of twelve thousand Footmen and fifteen hundred Horsmen invaded the Dominion of the Church and the war ensued called War of Campania of Rome which continued a year Afterward peace was concluded between the Pope and the King In the mean time Queen Mary the wife of King Philip died without leaving any children The King after many controversies had with Henry the second King of France made peace with him in the year 1559. And for a greater confirmation thereof and true reconciliation the Catholique King married Isabella the daughter of the most Christian King who died in child-bed in the year 1568. PSALM 19. Domine salvum fac Regem exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te The Titles of Dignity which all the Kings of this Kingdom have used 1. ROgerius Dei gratia Siciliae Italiae Rex Christianorum adjutor clypeus Rogerii primi Comitis haeres silius 2. Gulielmus Dei gratia Siciliae Rex Christianorum defensor 3. Gulielmus 2. Divina favente clementia Rex Siciliae Apuliae Dux princeps Capuae religionis Christianae adjutor defensor c. 4. Tancredus D. gratia Siciliae Rex ac Aletii Comes 5. Henricus 6. Dei gratia invictissimus Romanorum Imp. semper Augustus ac Siciliae Rex 6. Imperator Fredericus 2. Romanorum Caesar semper Augustus Italicus Siculus Hierosolymitanus Arelatensis foelix victor ac triumphator 7. Conradus 4. Divina favente clementia electus Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus ac Siciliae Hierusalem rex 8. Mansredus D. G. Siciliae Hierusalem rex ac Tarenti princeps 9. Carolus Dei gratia rex Hierusalem Siciliae Ducatus Apuliae principatus Capuae almae urbis Senator princeps Achaiae Andagaviae Provinciae Forcalquerii Corciadoni Comes ac Romani Imperii in Tuscia per sanctam Romanam Ecclesiam vicarius generalis 10. Carolus 2. D. G. rex Hierusalem Siciliae Vngariae Ducatus Apuliae principatus Capuae Provinciae Forcalquerii ac Pedimontis Comes 11. Robertus D. G. rex Hierusalem Siciliae Ducatus Apuliae principatus Capuae Provinciae Forcalquerii ac Pedimontis Comes 12. Ioanna D. G. regina Hierusalem Siciliae Ducatus Apuliae principatus Capuae Provinciae forcalquerli ac Pedimontis Comitissa 13. Carolus 3. D. G. rex Vngariae Hierusalem Siciliae Provinciae Forcalquerii ac Pedimontis Comes 14. Ladislaus D. G. Vngariae Hierusalem Siciliae Dalmatiae Croatiae Romae Serviae Galitiae Lodomeriae Comuriae Bulguriaeque rex Provinciae et Forcalquerii ac Pedimontis Comes 15. Ioanna 2. D. G. Vngariae Hierusalem Siciliae Dalmatiae Croatiae Romae Serviae Galitiae Lodomeriae Comuriae Bulguriaeque regina Provinciae Forcalquerii ac Pedimontis Comitissa INTERREGNO Consilium Gubernatores Republicae Regni Siciliae ordinatis per clarae memoriae Serenissimam Illustrissimam Dominam nostram Dominam Joannam secundam Dei gratia Ungariae Hierusalem Siciliae reginam 16. Renatus D. G. Vngariae Hierusalem Siciliae rex Andagaviae Bari Lotharingiae Dux Pontis Marchio Comitatumque Provinciae Forcalquerii Cevoviam ac Pedimontis Comes 17. Alfonfus D. G. rex Aragonum Siciliae citra ultra Farum Valentiae Hierusalem Vngariae Majoricarum Sardiniae Corsicae Comes Barchionis Dux Atenarum Neopatriae ac etiam Comes Rossilionis Ceritaniae c. 18. Ferdinandus Aragon D. G. rex Siciliae Hierusalem Vngariae Valentiae c. 19. Alfonsus 2. Aragoneus D.G. rex Siciliae Hierusalem et Hungariae c. 20. Carolus 4. D.G. rex Francorum Neapolitanorum et Hierusalem 21. Ferdinandus 2. Aragoneus D. G. rex Siciliae Hierusalem c. 22. Fredericus Aragoneus D.G. rex Siciliae Hierusalem c. 23. Ludovicus D.G. Francorum Neapolitanorum et Hierusalem rex dux Mediolani Ferdinando the Catholique King having divided the kingdom with Lewis King of France did intitle himself so long as he so continued Duke of Apulia and Calauria 24. Ferdinandus et Elizabeth Dei gratia rex et regina Castellae Aragonum Siciliae Granatae Toloti Valentiae Galitiae Majoricarum Hispalis Sardiniae Cordubae Corsicae Giennis Algarbii Gibraltaris et Insularum Canariae Comes et Comitissa Barchinonae Domini Viscayae et Molinae Duces Calabriae et Apuliae ac Athenarum et Neopatriae c. After the said King had chased away the Frenchmen from all the Realm and made himself absolute Lord thereof he used this title Ferdinandus D.G. rex Catholicus Castellae Aragonuum utriusque Siciliae Hierusalem Granatae Toleti Valentiae Galitiae Majoricarum Hispalis Sardiniae Cordubae Corsicae Giennis Algarbii Gibraltaris Insularum Canariae Comes Barchinonae Dominus Vizcoyae et Molinae Dux Athenarum et Neopatriae Comes Rossilionis et Ceritaniae Marchio Oristanii et Gotiani 25. Ioanna 3. D. G. regina Castellae Aragonum utriusque Siciliae Hierusalem Granatae Toleti Valentiae Galitiae Majoricarum Hispalis Sardiniae Cordubae Corsicae Giennis Algarbii Gibraltaris Insularum Canariae Comitissa Barchinonae Domina Vizcayae et Molinae Ducissa Calabriae Athenarum et Neopatriae Comitissa Rossilionis et Ceritaniae Marchionissa Oristanii et Gotiani 26. Carolus 5. Divina favente elementia Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus rex Germaniae et Ioanna ejus mater et eidem Carolus Dei gratia Reges Castellae Legionis Aragoniae utriusque Siciliae Hierusalem Vngariae Dalmatiae Croatiae Navarrae Granatae Toleti Vulentiae Galitiae Majoricarum Hispalis Sardiniae Cordubae Corsicae Murtiae Giennis Algarbii Alzezirae Gibraltaris Insularum Canariae Indiaram et terrae Firmae Maris Oceani c. Rex Archidux Austriae Duc Burgundiae Lotharingiae Brabantiae Stiriae Corinthiae Carniolae Lymburgiae Lucembargiae Geldriae Calabriae Athenarum Neopatriae Virtembergae c. Comes Flandriae Habspurgi Tirolis Barchmonae Archois et Burgundiae Comes Palatinus Hannoniae Hollandiae Selandiae Ferretti Kiburgi Namurei Rossilionis Ceritaniae et Zutphaniae c. Lantgravius Alsatiae Marchio Burgoniae Oristani Gotzani et sacri Romani Imperii princeps Sueviae Cathalaniae Asturiae Dominus Phrisiae Marchiae Sclavonicae Portus Naonis Biscayae Molinae Salinarum Tripolis et Mechliniae c. The Title which Charls used afterward when he was absolute King Carolus 5. Divina favente clementia Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus rex Germaniae Castellae
Legiones Aragoniae utriusque Siciliae Hierusalem Vngariae Dalmatiae Croatiae Navarrae Granatae Toleti Valentiae Galitiae Majoricarum Hispalis Sardiniae Cordubae Corcicae Murtiae Giennis Algarbii Alzezirae Gibraltaris Insularum Canariae Iudiarum et Terrae Firmae Maris Oceani c. Rex Archidux Austriae Dux Burgundiae Lotharingiae Brabantiae Stiriae Corinthiae Carniolae Limburgiae Lucemburgiae Geldriae Calabriae Athenarum Neopatriae Virtembergae c. Comes Flandriae Habspurgi Tirolis Barchmonae Archois et Burgundiae Comes Palatinus Hannoniae Hollandiae Selandia● Ferretti Kiburgi Namurci Rossilionis Ceritaniae et Zutphaniae c. Lantgravius Alsatiae Marchio Burgoniae Oristani Gotzani et sacri Romani Imperii Princeps Sueviae Cathalaniae Asturiae Dominus Phrisiae Marchiae Sclavonieae Portus Naonis Biscayae Molinae Salinarum Tripolis et Mechliniae c. 27. Philippus D. G. Catholicus defensor fidei Hispaniarum utriusque Siciliae Hierusalem Portugalliae Vngariae Dalmatiae Croatiae Sardiniae Corsicae Majoricarum Insularum Canariae Orani Insularum Indiarum Terrae Firmae et Maris Oceani Archidux Austriae Dux Burgundiae Mediolani Lotharingiae Brabantiae Limburgi Lucemburgi Geld●iae Calabriae Athenarum et Neopatriae Marchio sacri Romani Imperii Oristani● et Gotiani Comes Barcinonis Ruscinonis Ceretaniae Flandriae Artesiae Hannoniae Hollandiae Selandioe Namurci Zutpheni Burgundiae Haspurgi et Tirolis Dominus Cantabriae Molinae Phrisiae Mechliniae Vltrajecti Transisalanae Gruningae c. Of the Coronation of the Kings of NAPLES I Have thought it a thing very fit and convenient having declared what the Kings were of this noble and renowned kingdom to receive also the manner and the ceremony which is used in the time of their coronation But before I proceed any further it is to be understood that there are but only four Kings that are crowned and anointed by the order of the Pope as is noted in the Records of the Roman Church the which Alberico de Rosato also confirmeth which are these following the King of Ierusalem the King of France the King of Naples commonly called Sicilia and the King of England All the rest are crowned by their Archbishops or Bishops by a certain custome The Emperour is anointed and crowned in the same manner as are the said four Kings and therefore all the other Kings are called by the name of Highness and not Majesty except those that are annointed by the order of the Pope as is said In the coronation then of the King of Naples the Pope sendeth a Cardinall his Legate or a Patriarch but he must have holy Orders because the said Legate not having the said holy Orders another ought to come which hath the said dignity There also assembles according to the accustomed manner all the Archbishops of the kingdome which crown this Prince with the greatest pomp● and state that may be done to any Christian King The principall thing before the King taketh this dignity the seven Officers of the kingdom which are seven principall secular Lords that meet together at this coronation are cloathed in Purple lined with Ermins with very rich attires upon their heads and repair together with the Recorder of the Citie into the Cathedrall Church of Naples where is the ancient Tomb of Charls of Angio which was the first that was crowned with an Imperiall crown and invested King of both the Sicilles and Ierusalem and there the Apostolike Legate with the other Archbishops pontifically clothed with Miters and Rochets and the other Prelats in Purple Vestments attend the Kings coming at the Church Dore. Afterward when the King cometh that is to be crowned he entreth into the said Church accompanied with all the Princes Dukes Marqueses Earls Barons and Lords of the kingdom and the Legat suddenly kissing his forehead receiveth him and saith unto him with an high and intelligible voyce these words I am come by the appointment of the supream Bishop Pope N. to crown thee King of Naples and Ierusalem After the Archbishop with the other that have charge to say Service in the said Church receive the King at the Altar and there causing him to kneel down and after is made by the Archbishop of Naples of Capoa and of Salerno devout prayers for his Majesty one of the Bishops demandeth of him in Latin if he will promise to maintain always the Faith and Christian Religion Defend the Widows the Fatherless and the Poor Establish the kingdom and minister justice to every one And last of all if he will always yeild due honor to the supream Bishop To all which things the King answering He will two Archbishops take him by the arm and lead him to the Altar where he solemnly sweareth to observe all that which the Archbishop hath demanded of him This done the Archbishop of Naples demandeth with a loud voyce of all the Princes if they will promise loyalty and service to his Majesty Where being answered by all That they will very willingly Then two Archbishops lead him into the Vestry and being there apparelled with Sandalles richly set with Jewels and Pearls with a Surplice like a Minister and a Cope lead him again to the Altar and saying certain prayers the Cardinall Legate accompanied with the Archbishops rising from their seats with Miters on their heads go unto him and finding the King kneeling with a loud and solemn prayer recommend him unto God in whose hands are all Empires that it would please him to make his kingdom stable and perpetuall replenished with victory piety and honor The King remaining on his knees one of the Archbishops goeth to the Altar and beginneth the Letany and devoutly prayeth for his Majesty the Archbishop of Naples with the rest of the Bishops undoing his Surplis with certain zealous prayers anoint his shoulders and his right arm to signifie that he sustaineth the burthen of the affairs of the kingdom and draweth his sword for the conservation thereof And moreover the Royall purple Robe reaching down even to his foot lined with fables and richly embrodered with gold and pearl signifieth Charity That done he still remaining in devout meditation the Apostolick Legat standing the King kneeling before him delivereth into his hand the golden Scepter all wrought in the top with Pearls and Jewels wherewith religiously he commands the people Then he puts a naked Sword into his right hand wherewith he pursueth his enemies in the name of Christ. After that he puts a Ring on his finger and a Bracelet upon his arm to the end he may be faithfull and pure in good works Then he presenteth unto him the golden Apple to figure the kingdome which he ought to govern with singular piety vertue and perseverance And finally he putteth upon his head the Imperial Crown divided into two parts garnished with many Jewels to signifie honor and glory The King religiously remaining on his knees the three Archbishops lifting him up lead him to the Altar where again the Lords that have
the 7 offices of the kingdom cause him to swear to do the duty of a good Prince and to observe the priviledges immunities of the Citie and Kingdom Afterward they lead him to sit on the left hand not far from the Legate in a chair of state covered with cloth of gold and the Legate with a loud voyce proclaimeth him King of Naples and Ierusalem And the seven officers of the kingdom with the Recorder in token of obedience kisse his hand and the like is done by the Princes and Nobility of the kingdom These ceremonies finished the King receiveth the Communion where begins to sound the Organs Trumpets Cornets and other Instruments discharging the Artillery and making great triumph and joy and so Mass being ended the King useth to invest many Lords into their States The King being mounted upon his horse entreth under the Canopy embrodered with gold in the top whereof gently wave up and down the Kings Arms both of the Kingdom of the Citie and of the Provinces carried by men of dignity and honor which at one and the same time succeed in their honors and in their labours Then beginneth the order of the pomp and state to march forward the which I will omit to declare lest I should seem too tedious leaving it to every one to consider thereof And this great King is exempted from the Empire neither acknowledgeth he any superior being a feudist of the Church the which Andrea d' Sormia confirmeth in his Preambles concerning tribute in the ninth column and likewise Mattheo d' Afflitto many other worthy Lawyers discourse thereof the which the most say that the King of Naples is one of the aforesaid four Kings that are anointed and crowned by the order of the Pope Besides he goeth before the elected Emperour being not crowned because that before his coronation he is called King of the Romans but being anointed and crowned he is then called the Roman Emperour Moreover the said four kings do not follow behind the Emperor as other kings that are subject to him but go by his side whereby it appeareth that the King of Naples is one of the great Kings of the world as well in dignity as honor of the Empire therefore I think it not much expedient to take any great pains in expressing it since the reputation thereof is well known to all that have any experience in learning Sufficient is said hereof for the Emperour Charls the 5. in the year 1554. marrying his first begotten son Philip Prince of Spain to Queen Mary of England would not invest him with any other Title then the kingdom of Naples and Ierusalem to the end he should not be inferior to so great a Queen And so much concerning the coronation of the Kings of Naples A brief Discourse of the Kings of IERVSALEM Beginning from Godfrey where is shewed the true cause why the Kings of NAPLES are intituled to that Kingdom THe subject of this Discourse we have here to handle requireth that I also shew and declare the reason and cause by what right all the Kings of Naples have been intituled to the kingdom of Ierusalem a discourse both for the greatness and excellency of the matter worthy to be known from the true understanding whereof every one may evidently see and perceive the great dignity and honor of the Kings of Naples and by what right and title the said kingdom more justly belongeth to them then any other For the better knowledge whereof it is necessary I briefly begin from the first Christian King of that kingdom After the death of Godfrey was Baldwin beforesaid Count of Edissa his brother made King of Ierusalem in his place which was a man of great valor for he wan the Citie of Tiberiade in Galile Sidon Accaron and many more upon the Sea-coast and with the help of the Genoways and Venetians afterward overcame the strong Citie of Tolomaida he had also the Castle of Soball which stands upon the river of Iordan and did much increase his dominion At length having reigned 18 years ended his life without children and was buried in the same Sepulcher with his brother By the death of Baldwin was Baldwin the second of Burges in France made King by the generall consent of the Christians who was cousin germain to the two aforesaid Kings of Ierusalem and in the second year of his reign the Prince of the Turks in Asia minor coming upon Gaza with a mighty Army he valiantly encountred overcame and took him prisoner And in the year following the King of Damasco suddenly besieged the gates of Ierusalem with fifteen thousand fighting men Baldwin couragiously issuing out and valiantly charging them at length put them to flight and slew two thousand of them and took their King with a thousand prisoners and lost but onely thirty men Not long after Balach King of the Parthians arriving with a mighty Army encountred with Baldwin hand to hand overcame him and carried him prisoner to Cairo with many Christian Noble men But at length Baldwin with the said Christian Nobility were released with the payment of a great sum of money and the King returned to Ierusalem where reigning thirteen years died without issue Male and Fulk Count of Anjou his son-in-law succeeded him in the kingdom who had married his daughter Melesina against whom the Barbarians durst never move any war because of his two sons Baldwin and Almerich expert and valiant souldiers who being imployed as Deputies in his affairs executed many great slaughters on the Turks After this valiant King had reigned 11 years running in hunting after a Hare his horse falling with his head downward died presently Whereupon his son Baldwin the Great and third of this name was made King who took Ascalon and Gaza ancient Cities and gave them to the Knights of the Temple Baldwin performing other famous and worthy deeds of Arms after he had reigned 24 years died and was buried in the holy Temple with the other Kings and Almerich his brother succeded in the kingdom a valiant man who had many conflicts with the Turks and took the Citie of Alexandria in Aegypt Afterward he went against the great and mighty Citie Cairo called in ancient time Carra and besieged it and being very likely to win it notwithstanding through the instigations of the Citizens received a great sum of money left the siege and returned again to Ierusalem and not long after died having reigne 12 years leaving behind him three children Baldwin Sybilla and Isabella to whom succeeded in his kingdom Baldwin the fourth of this name his first begotten who though he had the leprosie notwithstanding he did very valiantly and politickly govern the kingdom and having no wife yet because the Realm should not want a sufficient heir to succeed him he married his sister Sybel to William Longspath Marquess of Montferrato and Isabell his youngest sister he promised with
Jewels Treasure to Erfrando of Tours Governor of the Rhodes This Marquess William had the government of Ierusalem but being a weak impotent King did notwithstanding many famous and worthy deeds but he little enjoyed the benefit of his victories for that in the beginning of the second year of his reign he died and left after him one onely son called Baldwin Baldwin the King being desirous to provide for his Nephew married again his sister Sybell to Guy of Puite Lubrun son of Hugh Lubrun Duke of Merchia and Governor of Lusignon in France with this agreement that after his death the said Guy should govern the kingdom till Baldwin his Nephew were of sufficient age But Guy carrying himself haughty and over-proud in the government of the said kingdom was dismist again by Baldwin the King This was in the year 1183. Moreover he procured Pope Lucius the third to annoint and crown his Nephew King Baldwin the fifth being but a child and appointed him Bertrand Count of Tripoly his Governor and protector of the kingdom Thus King Baldwin the fourth reigning 6 years died leaving Count Tripoly Tutor as is said of young Baldwin the fifth but he resigning his charge being withstood by Sybel the mother of the Boy and Guy her husband But in the beginning of the eighth moneth the little king Baldwin died whose death the mother concealed so long as the effecting of her intended purpose required insomuch that what with flattering and fair words and with large gifts she wan the Patriark Eraclio with the Nobility and principal men of authority in the kingdom to create Guy her husband King The Count understanding this fuming thereat being incensed with rage and envying the prosperity of Guy made peace with Salandine King of the Sarasins promising to aid him against King Guy The Salandine being now at peace with the Christians found opportunity by the discord of these Princes to break it because the Christian Prince of Montreale which governed the countrey from that to the river Iordan being on every side inhabited with Sarasins who continually carried their commodities to Ierusalem without the Kings knowledge suddenly brake the truce for the Salandine saw the time was now come which he long expected assembled together fifty thousand Horsmen and an infinite company of Footmen without number and got many cities of the Christians and increasing their Army with the people of the countrey took Ierusalem by covenant after they had besieged it one moneth This was done the second of October 1187 in the third yeare of King Guy having been in the possession of the Christians 89 years Salandine entring Ierusalem caused first the steeples and bells to be thrown down and of the Churches he made stables for his horses onely he reserved the Temple of Solomon which was washed with Rose-water at his first entrance Afterward he went to Tolomayda and besieged it wherein was the King and Sybel his wife with four children who with the children died together of a bloody flux Now as we have said before was promised to Erfrando of Turon Master of the Rhodes a noble young man Isabel to wife the sister of Sybel a virgin and also the daughter of Baldwin the fourth and sixth King of Ierusalem who now by the death of Sybel was next heir to her Fathers kingdom This expectation increased a better regard of the Barons and Christian Princes towards Erfrando But Conrado Longspath Marquess of Monferrato understanding the sudden death of Sibel and her children being desirous of Soveraignty and also enamored of Isabel his neer kinswoman secretly stole her away but with her own consent and conveyed her to Tyre and there privatly married her And so all the right of the kingdom of Ierusalem came to him by his wife Isabel whereupon he was intituled King of that kingdom The year 1190 after Philip King of France had sollicited Richard King of England to go into Soria but King Richard defer'd his going till the year following Richard afterward observing his promise came to Messina in the moneth of September where Philip also was from whence they departed having a prosperous wind Philip in a short time arrived at Tolomayda but Richard by a tempest was driven to Cyprus where Chirsack Duke of the Island denied him harbour whose discourtesie he took with such discontent as by meer force surprized the Island and sacking it planted a strong guard of his own people and from thence passed to Tolomayda to joyn with the Christian Army Not long after he sold the said Island to the Knights of the Temple for a hundred thousand crowns who ill governing the same were forced by the power of the Cypriots to depart thence and so the Knights restored it again to Richard who likewise returned them their money and with the same conditions the year 1193 gave it to Guy of Puite Lubrun Lusignon in France husband to Isabel sister of King Baldwin who before was enforced to flye Ierusalem in consideration whereof he resigned unto him all the Title and Interest he had to the kingdom of Ierusalem and for this cause the King of England began to be called King of Ierusalem and King Guy took the possession of Cyprus and was called King of the said Isle The which right to the kingdom of Ierusalem was nothing because the same by all law now justly belonged to Isabel the daughter of King Baldwin wife of Conrado Marquess of Monferrato therefore can no right or title be attributed to the King of England herein Not long after the King Conrado of Monferrato was slain in Tyre by two Sarazins called Arsacides not leaving any male children but one onely daughter called Mary The Queen Isabel married again and had to her husband Henry Count of Campania who indowed her with the Signiory of Tyre but that unhappy young man living not many years with his wife unfortunately sell from a loft or chamber in his own Palace and so died leaving three daughters Agnesa Melisina and Alicia Queen Isabel remaining thus a widow married again the third time with Almerick Puite Lubrun Lusignon King of Cyprus who by the death of Guy his brother succeeded in the said kingdom and was second King of Cyprus and in the right of Isabell his wife was also called King of Ierusalem by whom he had three children Amarin Sybilla and Melisenda but Amarin died young King Almerick married Sybil to Livon King of Armenia and Melisenda the youngest daughter was married to Raymond Rupini Nephew of the said King of Armenia and his successor in the kingdom the which Raymond was then Prince of Antioch Of this Melisenda wife of Prince Raymond Rupini was born that Mary who in the year 1276 resigned to Charls of Anjou King of Naples the claim and Title she pretended to the kingdom of Ierusalem At length King Almerick died leaving his kingdom of Cyprus to Hugo his son whom he
trappings upon him looked backward for new meaning thereby the instability of this happy kingdom loving always new Governors like the Asses figure which was devised by gross Asses to dishonor and discredit this noble kingdom but it is certain this little kingdom hath sustained great oppression they imputing it to no other sense have feigned this Asinine simplicity which saying the envious have not stuck to publish in books Manner of writing used by the Arragonian Kings of Naples writing to divers Princes KIng Alphonso to the Emperour of Germany was wont to write in parchment in th'infrascribed manner To the most renowned Prince and most excellent Lord Frederick Emperour of the Romans for ever Royall The subscription was thus Alphonsus by th'grace of God King of th' Aragons Sicilie on this side and beyond the Pharos Valentia Jerusalem Hungaria the Majorcas Sardinia Corsica c. greeting and increase of prosperous successes And so in the Occurrences he used to write Most renowned and most excellent Prince we would intreat your Soveraignty or your Mightiness To the Emperour of Constantinople To the most renowned and most excellent Lord Drage Paleologo Emperour of the Romans for ever royall our most dear kinsman The subscription was as above To Prester Iohn of India To the most eminent and most unconquerable Monarch Lord Isaack Prester Iohn sonn of David Lord of the Tables Mount Sinai Aethiopia King of Kings our most dear brother The subscription in the manner aforesaid To the great Turk To the most renowned Prince Amorat Bechi great Lord of the Theucrians our most dear friend To the great Soldan of Babylon To the most Illustrious Prince Abuysac Iamac great Soldan of Babylon To the King of France To the most renowned Prince Charls King of the French our most loving kinsman and friend To the King of England To the most renowned Prince Henry King of England our most dear kinsman and friend To the King of Cyprus To the most worthy Prince Iohn King of Cyprus our most dear kinsman and friend To the King of Castile and Leon. To the most renowned and Illustrious Prince Don Henrich King of Castile and Leon our very dear and very loving Cousin To the Queen of Arragon To the most illustrious Queen our most dear and most beloved Wife and Lieutenantess generall To the King of Portugall To the very Ilustrious Prince Don Alfonso King of Portugall and Algarue our very dear and well-beloved Cousin To the King of Navarre To the most Illustrious Prince Don Iohn King of Navarre our very dear and much beloved Brother and Lieutenant Generall To the King of Granada To the high Prince Don Machand King of Granada our very dear and much beloved friend To the King of Tunis To the most Illustrious Prince Don Octunne King of Tunis our very dear and much beloved friend To the Dolphin of France To the most illustrious Prince Lewis Dolphin of Usania our most dear kinsman To the Prince of Austria To the most Illustrious and our very dear and much beloved Cozen Henry Prince of Austria first born in the kingdoms of Castile and Leon. To the Duke of Cleves To the most illustrious Prince Iohn Duke of Cleves our most dear kinsman and friend To the Duke of Osterlich To the Illustrious and mighty Albert Duke of Osterlich To the Duke of Brittannie To the Illustrious and mighty Peter Duke of Brittannie our most dear kinsman and friend To the Duke of Burgundy To the most Illustrious Prince Philip Duke of Burgundie our most dear kinsman and friend To the Duke of Burgundie his eldest son To the most illustrious Prince Charls first born of the most illustrious Duke of Burgundie and Lord Charlois our most dear kinsman To the Duke of Savoy To the Illustrious and mighty Prince Lewis Duke of Savoy Chablays our most dear kinsman To the Earl of Foix. To the respected and excellent Gascon Earl of Foix our most dear kinsman and friend Names of all the Vice-roys of Naples which began in the year 1505. Year of Christ. Number of Vice-roys   1505 1 COnsalvo Fernandes of the House of Aghilar a Cordonese by Nation Duke of Terranova who for his famous victories was called the Great Captain 1507 2 Don Iohn of Arragon Duke of Ripacursa 1510 3 Don Raimondo of Cardona Count of Albento 1514   * Don Bernardino Villamarino * 1517. Don Francis Remolinis Cardinall of Sorrento were both Lieutenants 1523 4 Don Charls della Noia 1526   * Andrew Carrafa Count of St. Severina was a Lieutenant 1527 5 Don Vgo of Moncada 1528 6 Philibert of Chalon Prince of Orange 1530 7 Pompey Colonna Cardinall 1532 8 Don Piedro de Toledo Marquis of Villafranca 1553 9 Don Lewis of Toledo was Lieutenant 1554 10 Don Pietro Pacecco Cardinall Seguntine     * 1554 Don Bernardine of Mendoza was Lieutenant 1555 11 Don Ernandez Alvarez of Toledo Duke of Alva 1559 12 Bartholomew Cardinall of Cuova     * 1559. Don Frederico de Toledo * 1559. Don Iohn Marique were Lieutenants one after the other 1559 13 Don Perafan Duke of Alcala 1570 14 Antony Perrenotto Cardinall of Granvela 1577 15 Don Innico of Mendoza Marquis of Mondesela 1579 16 Don Iohn Zunica Prince of Pietra Precia 1582 17 Don Peter Giron Duke of Ossuna 1586 18 Don Iohn de Zunica Count of Miranda 1596 19 Don Henry de Gusman Count of Olivares 1599 20 Don Ferdinand di Castra Count of Lemos and of Andrada Marquis of Sarria and Count of Villalua went Ambassador to Rome sent by Philip the second and left in the kingdom for Lieutenant Don Francisco his son who governed with great wisdom The seven principall Offices of the KINGDOM High Constable THere are seven principall or chief Offices in the kingdom The first whereof is the Great or High Constable who stands in place of Generall or the Kings Lieutenant in the wars which happen in the kingdom and in such a case orders and provides for all such things as belong to the Militia This Office lasts as long as the war And when the King creates such a one he puts a golden Truncheon in his hand saying Take this sacred Truncheon in thy hand to drive away and keep back the enemies and opposers of my people And this word Constable much used amongst Tuscan Writers did anciently signifie a Captain of a quantity of Cavallery But in process of time by Constable was meant a Commander of Foot-Soldiers the Captains of Horse beginning to be called Conductors Bembo in his Latin History calls the Constable Centurion of Soldiers In the kingdom of Naples the office of Constable signified not onely a Captain but one of far greater authority it being of the seven offices the greatest And as it hath been always conferred upon great Lords so we see it at this day setled upon the person of N. He by right commands all Martiall persons as well afoot as on hors-back And in Royall Parliaments sits next the King on his right
Exchequer His stipend is two thousand one hundred and ninety Duckets and hath moreover Ius Tappeti of the Captainships which are given within the lands of Demains of the kingdom for the administration of Justice and for some he hath six Duckets a year for some three and for some twelve when they are dispatched He receives also of Barons which pay homage to the Royall Court eight Carlines for an ounce for any such sum the said homages amount unto which one year with another are judged to amount to two thousand Duckets a year He hath moreover from the Royall Court 24 Bushels of Salt and 36 fine Sugar-loaves every year Has Lieutenant hath one thousand Duckets a year stipend and the Presidents six hundred and they also have their emoluments Grand Protonotary THe fifth Office is that of Grand Protonotary to which Office at first belonged to read before the King and keep all his writings Then the Catholick King transferred the care of that to the Secretary of the Kingdom and to the Clerks of Commissions so that whereas this Office was at first of great authority so now there remains nothing to the Vice-protonotary but the creating of Notaries and Judges of Contracts and legitimating of Bastards The stipend he hath is according to the rest He hath moreover the emoluments of Notaries and of Judges of Royall Contracts which are made within the kingdom the legitimations which are granted the dues of which emoluments belonging to him are these For a Notariship two Duckets and six for the judgement when it is all over the kingdom but when it is for a Province four Duckets and for every legitimation a Ducket which emoluments are thought to be worth to him yearly 1●00 Duckets High Chancellor THe sixth Office of the kingdom is that of High Chancellor which serves both for Secretary and Chancellor in occurrent businesses and he keeps the Royall Seal He takes care also when any one will take the degree of Doctor to have him examined by the Colledge of Doctors by which being approved for sufficient in the Kings name he gives him his degree This Office was wont to be given by our French Kings to Prelats His stipend differs not from the other He hath moreover the emoluments of the Students which come to the Doctors of the Law and of Physick which are worth some 2000 Duckets a year He hath power to chuse and appoint his Vicechancellor who paticipates of his emoluments High Steward THe seventh Office is High Steward who hath particular care of providing all things which concern the Kings daily ordinary diet and his Court. The name of such an Office is thought to have come out of France from whence came also that of Marshall which as we may perceive seem to have a kind of conjunction and affinity together Athenaeus a very subtile indagator of Antiquities calls the Steward Elatrus He saith moreover there was such an Office very much respected amongst the Ancients he hath two thousand one hundred and ninety Duckets a year A Discourse of the order and the fashion or form of the Crowns of the Nobility of the Kingdom of Naples FIrst of all before I declare how many and who be the intituled Lords of this famous kingdom I esteem it a thing very convenient briefly to set down forasmuch as the quality of the matter so requireth the differences of the Crowns which they use And although many excellent Lawyers have written thereon nevertheless as I have said the subject thereof so requiring I think it fit to discourse something thereof the better to satisfie the Reader and to leave nothing unperfect Athenaeo then writeth that the Crown was invented by our Ancestors as a badge of honor for the ornament of the head wherein the beginning and foundation of the senses being placed nature hath put as it were in a rock and fortresse of the whole body that power of the soul which we call Reason or Understanding Aristotle was of opinion that the Crown was first invented by quaffers and drinkers to repress the force and inflammation of wine which ascending with the fume into the head moveth some pain in that part the which thing being found to be true it might be then because it gave also ornament and comeliness the means to increase the wonderfull estimation thereof whereupon by some were added certain little birds because pinching another mans forehead suffered him not to sleep it was also in great use among Lovers The Greeks in the solemnity of their sports used a crown of the Pine tree the Achaians Smallage the Cappadocians Mugwort Pliny affirmeth that the first that was crowned was Libero after whom the use of that ceremony so much increased among the Greeks and the Romans that in the end it was brought upon the Altars in sacrifice in victory and in their sacred contentions whereupon ambition always increasing men used to sit with crowns on their heads in their feasts and Bankets At last crowns entring in among Souldiers and men of war Armies began to give it to their Captains to honor them and very often Generals were crowned therewith which carried themselves valiantly in any honorable act either by valor or manhood and the like honor was also done to others by the people and the Senate Whereupon the Lawyers reasoning to this purpose of the crown have written that it was granted sometimes in token of Empire and honor sometimes for industry and military reward and sometimes in sign of spirituall victory Theophrastus describeth three sorts of Crowns one of sweet odoriferous flowers another of flowers that have no scent the third of leaves and green boughs of trees the fourth which was added by the rich Crassus was made of gold silver by the imitation of leaves which he did expose to the view of other men in his sports and games But passing over this ancient barbarous rudeness and resting in the now last use of Crowns which are made of massie gold and silver intermixed with beautifull ornaments of pearls and pretious stones transforming the leaves into sharp poynts and other curious work which yeild a pleasant and beautiful object to the eye The custome of the Athenians was to crown their worthy and vertuous Citizens with a wreath of two Olive boughs But we speaking again of the first crowns which take their names of the effects for which they are imployed for that of Bayes is given to him which goeth in triumph and is called the Triumphale for the Bayes is a token of Joy and Victory Posthumio Tuberto in his triumph for overcoming the Sabins with little blood wore a crown of Mirtle Likewise the Ovale crown was given to him which had got a Citie not by force but by friendship and covenant Moreover he that had delivered a Citie from siege had given him a crown of the grass growing in the territory wherein they were besieged and this crown of grass was called
as we have declared and according as Leone Cardinall and Bishop of Ostia saith in his History Casinense about the year of our Lord 755 Arechi the second 14. Duke of Benevento who having inlarged his Dukedom would have his said State no longer called a Dukedom but a Principality and caused himself to be anointed and crowned by his Bishops and in the end of his Letters and Charters of Priviledge caused them to to be thus dated Scriptum in nostro sacratissimo Palatio Afterward his successors continuing used to do the like Whereupon by their example the Princes of Capoa of Taranto and of Salerno being allured thereunto caused themselves also to be annointed and crowned by their Bishops These titles at the 〈…〉 of the Kings were given unto their children nor any except the blood Royall 〈…〉 partakers of these titles Whereupon of the children of Ruggiero the first King of the kingdom of Naples and Sicilia Ainulfo was Prince of Capoa and Gulielmo which afterward succeeded in the kingdom was Prince of Taranto Charls of Aujou the first of this name King of Naples ordained that his eldest son should be named Prince of Salerno whereupon Charls the second in the time of his father was intituled Prince of Salerno and Charls the son of Charls the second before he came to the kingdom of Hungary was also called Prince of Salerno But because his brother Ruberto and not he succeeded in the kingdom of Naples which was then called Duke of Calauria from thence it so came to pass that from that time forward they were no more Princes of Salerno but the Kings first begotten son was called Duke of Calauria So was Charls called his father living the worthy son of Ruberto so was Ferdinando the son of Alfonsus King of Arragon who first conquered Naples and so was Alfonsus the squint-eyed the son of Ferdinando but it so falling out that old Ferdinando alo living to Alfonsus his son was born a son whom he also named Ferdinando to him because his father Duke of Calauria lived was given the title of the Principality of Capoa The first which was called Prince of Taranto not descending of the blood Royall was Iacobo del Balzo the son of Francisco which was also the first that of no Princely family was called Duke of Andri And so much concerning the title of a Prince which signifying the Dignity Signiory and Jurisdiction which 〈◊〉 holdeth so it is lawfull for them to place over their Scutchion or Coat Armour o●●heir Family a crown made after this fashion In this kingdom after the dignity of a Prince the next is the state of a Duke which taketh place before a Marquess and an Earl These Dukes have above their Arms a round hoop without any points or work above But in place of the points there are certain pearls and round about are certain pretious stones after the manner which here underneath appears The which fashion although it be now decayed I have thought good to declare to the end the truth thereof may be known The first title of a Duke in this kingdom was that of Benevento instituted in the year 573. But after they came under the jurisdiction of the King the first being not descended of Princely blood was Francisco del Balzo as hath been said made Duke of Andri by Queen Ione the first Not long after was Iacobo Marzano made Duke of Sessa by King Ladislaus and so others from time to time whereof the number at this present is very great This dignity of a Duke increased to a very high and eminent degree the which chanced not to any of the other aforesaid dignities because Charls the 8. King of France being possest of this kingdom created Giliberto of Borbona Earl of Montpensier his Lieutenant Generall of the kingdom Archduke of Sessa and so the said Borbana afterward caused to be set upon his Arms a great purple cap garnished with a golden hoop set full of pretious stones with certain points without pearls in the top but onely put in the sides thereof to the end the dignity of a Prince might have its place and that he also might be known for an Archduke The which crowns as well of the Archdukes as the Dukes are to be used in the manner abovesaid that whosoever ascendeth to that dignity ought not to augment it with flourishing or otherwise with the ornament of Jewels or pretious stones for in so doing they seem to usurp a greater dignity then belongs unto them for which as the Lawyers say they ought to be punished And here it is to be noted that they are not pointed in that manner as some of them have formerly used that is to say after that fashion as their ancestors have had them because they as they were free Lords and acknowledged not any superior as before hath been declared in the discourse of the principality on this side might lawfully do it the which is now otherwise the kingdom being under the dominion and jurisdiction of Kings After these the next in degree are the Marquesses the which are adorned with a hoop set with pretious stones without any thing above and with a very small appearance thereof above the Arms after this manner Bi●ndo and Pietro Razzano say that the word Marquess signifieth in the Lombard tongue a perpetuall Magistrate or a perpetuall Lordship but according as Mario Equicola saith in his Commentaries of the Marquesses of Mantua signifieth in the I●alian tongue a President Alciato that excellent Lawyer saith that the word Marquess is a Dutch name and that it signifieth a Master of the Horse forasmuch as the Germans call a horse Marca and in the French tongue Marcare is as much as to say to ride In this kingdom as the name of a Duke and an Earl came the soonest and that of a Prince first before in any other place so that of a Marquess appeared long after for the first was Cecco dal Bargo that was made Marquess of Pescara by King Ladislaus Then follow the Earls called in Latine Comiti because they were sent from the train and followers of the Emperours to rule and govern some province or some part thereof Also an Earle according to Luca de Penna may put upon his Arms in place of a crown a plain hoop differing nothing from that of a Marquess save onely the want of Jewels and pretious stones as the Earls of Altavilla of Aquino of Conza of Marsico of Nola of Isernia of Milito of Potenza of Troja and others anciently have used The Earls had their precedence in the Parliaments of all the other Lords and Barons which had no title being created by the ancient Kings with great state and solemnity as appears in Vgone Falcando where he speaketh of the promotion of Riccardo di Mandra Constable of the County of Molise Comes creatus tubis tympanis cimbalisque de more solenniter prae untibus FINIS CHARLES The
of piety and pitty Thus this great H●ro became a Hermit this glorious Monarch became an obscure M●nk and certainly he well deservd to have worn so many Crowns who did so freely quitt them obeying therin onely the motions of his own soul without any shew of constraint or the lest appearance of suspecting the alleagiance of his pe●ple Now touching that Arthriticall torturing disease which afflicted the Emperour Charles his Son and immediat Successor had much more cause to be subject therunto in regard of his sedentary and reposefull life in regard that he kept for the most part in his Closet wher he wold write himself his own letters dispatches and instructions There he might be sayed to have a Prospective through which he beheld what was a doing in the old and new World yea as farr as the Antipodes His Closet was the center whence the lines of his comands were drawn to the circumference of so many vast remote Regions as will appear in the History of his life which in regard he was a Prince of a strange mould of a close dark nature that his thought could seldom be penetrated I will spend more oyle then ordinary to illustrat his Raign THE LIFE and RAIGNE of PHILIP the Second 27th KING OF NAPLES PHILIP of Austria second of that name succeeded Caesar his Imperiall Father in all his Hereditary Dominions by a voluntary free Resignation wherin he might be sayed not to be beholden to death as other Heirs apparant use to be but to his Fathers free designe But touching the Kingdom of Naples it was transferrd unto him before to countenance his second marriage with Mary Queen of England and Ireland There wanted not som Critiques that wold have derogated from the worthinesse of that spontaneous Act of the Emperours saying That King Philip was overheard to say a while a●ter that The second day after the Resignation was the first day of his Fathers Repentance But sure that could not be if the Historians who were then contemporaries may be beleevd for this was don by a long moulded preceding resolution as they write in regard that the Emperour had a design to do it six yeers before when he was but fifty yeers of age the ground of which proceeded from the speech of an old Captain of his who desiring a Passe to retire from Armes told him Sir he who hath a care of his soul must put an Intervall twixt the affaires of the World and Death And now to the intended task Philip the second was born in Valladolid upon a Tuesdey the 21. of May 1527. in the Chair-ship of Clement the seventh a little before that his Fathers Armie had assaulted and sackt Rome but without the knowledg of the Emperour himself and the consent of his Viceroy of Naples at that time which was the cause that Philip was not baptiz'd with such Ecclesiasticall Pomp and Solemnity that is usuall at ten months and twenty dayes old he was declar'd Prince of Castilia and Aragon in the Monastery of Saint Hierom in Madrid his Parents being present when he had arriv'd to seven yeers of age wherin Nature doth use to make som visible change in the progresse of humane life his Father commanded a house and family to be settled for him At which time Doctor Siliceo who was afterward Bishop of Toledo and Cardinal was appointed to be his Preceptor who taught him to know to love and fear God to read and write to understand the Latin Italian French tongues and to have som knowledg in the Mathematiques His Mother the Empresse Daughter to Emanuel King of Portugal dyed a few yeers after at Toledo where Philip was bred leaving him about twelve yeers of age at which time he began to rule Spain in the absence of his Father being assisted by Cardinal Tabera the Duke of Alua and others At fifteen yeers of age he was sworn Prince of Aragon where he was intitled Governour according to the custom At sixteen yeers of age he maried the Lady Maria Infanta of Portugal Daughter to Iohn the third a Creature of exquisit bewty being of the same age with Philip. Som few yeers after he was call'd by his Father to Flanders leaving the Government of Spain to Arch-Duke Maximilian his Cosen and King of Bohemia and Hungary He pass'd over to Italy in a Fleet of thirty eight Gallies under the command of Andrea Doria and landing at Genoa he pass'd through Milan and Mantova to Germany and so to Brussels Having their receiv'd divers good Documents from his Father taken a survey of the Nether-lands Italy and Germany whither he attended the Emperour his Father to a Diet at Auspurg having purchas'd all this experience he went back by his Fathers order to Spain having receiued a new Commission to govern there in chief and in the Indies also A while after there was an ouverture of marriage made twixt him and Queen Mary of England which was quickly agreed upon therefore he embark'd himself at the Groyn Corunnia in a Fleet of sixty eight Ships wherein was a Regiment of four thousand Spaniards among whom were divers Noble men and persons of quality Being arriv'd in England and royally attended to London the Nuptials were celebrated in great magnificence hereupon King Philip took share with his wife in the Government by the title of King of Naples Hierusalem England and Ireland but afterwards the Parliament when he was departed began a Cavil and wold not have him stil'd King of England but Husband to the Queen of England during his abode in England his Queen and he liv'd in a sweet way of conjugall love notwithstanding their disparity of yeers she being above a dozen yeers elder It was thought once she was with Child therefore she was prayed for at Saint Pauls Cross but in lieu of a Pregnancy it prov'd a Tympany a Tumor or Mole proceeding from indisposition of body All the while he liv'd in England he advanc'd the Roman Religion but being call'd away by his Father to Flanders the reform'd Religion began to take footing again After he was departed from England Calais was taken by the Duke of Guyse who in the dead of Winter did suddenly sit before her and began his Batteries so furiously that the noyse of his Canons were heard as farr as Antwerp neer a hundred miles distant King Philip while he cohabited with his Wife often advisd her to have a speciall care of Calais and afterwards upon a Treaty of peace twixt Spain and France one of the Articles were that Calais should be surrendred to the Queen of England but she dyed in the interim The Family of Caraffa who were neer allied to Pope Paul the fourth wold needs advise his Holines to recouer the Kingdom of Naples for the Apostolicall See the times being propitious to such a work their counsail prevaild in regard that France obligd her self to assist him but though the attempt went very far yet it could not take effect That clowd being
being the eighth wonder of the world let it suffice that it cost above twenty millions the building and after it was finishd the Founder had the T●uition and pleasure of it for many yeers It wold require a Volume of it self to relate what religious houses he built beyond the Seas in his severall Dominions ther wer forty Convents erected in the Indies by his speciall Order and charge and if other Kings are prayed for as being great Benefactors if they built a Colledg or a Church or an Hospitall what prayers and prayses did this King deserve Moreover he causd the holy Bible to be expurgd and to be printed in eight stately Toms upon his own charge Much more might be spoken of his inclinations to piety in his way now touching his Iustice which next to Religion is the greatest colman that supports a Kingdom ther be divers examples therof for he was the common Arbiter of difference betwixt Princes he ended the contest between Ferrara and Luca betwixt the Venetians and the Malteses twixt Genoa and Savoy twixt Savoy and Mantova He was also very munificent and an exact rewarder of Services insomuch that old Commanders knowing his disposition that way wold com and boldly demand Ayuda de costas or a speciall reward from him notwitstanding that they were payed all their arreares before One day there happend a facecious passage twixt an old Captain who had servd him long in the Belgian Warrs and being delayed by the Councell of State he went to find the King who was then at the Escuriall where it happend he was a hunting the Captain takes his Mule and meeting the King single by himself in the field the King began to discourse with him and askd him what he was the Soldier thinking he had bin som privat man told him all how he had servd Don Philip so many years in the Netherlands and now he was com to demand his reward from him the King replied asking him whether Don Philip owd him any thing in point of pay No answerd the Captain then sayed the King you can demand nothing of right being satisfied all your arreares and I beleeve Don Philip having so many Irons in the fire and being deeply in debt himself will hardly give you any thing the Captain broke off abruptly and sayed Pues que me bese la mula in el culo Then let him kisse my Mule in the tayle the King calld him again and askd him what addresses he had made he told him that he had often attended the Councell of State and Warr with his memorialls but he could do no good for he could never light upon the King there well sayed the King the Councell of State and Warr sit to morrow and I shall be there for I am an Officer in that Councell therfore if you com I shall let you in and you shall see Don Philip himself to whom you may make your own tale the King presided himself the next day in the Councell and gave speciall order that if such a man came giving a description of him and his name which he had learnt of him he shold be let in the Captain being entred and seeing the King there and all the Councel bare-headed before him though he knew him to be the same man whom he hed met the day before in the Escurial knew him also now to be the King yet he was not much out of countenance the King askt him whether he rememberd what discourse had passd betwixt them in the field the day before yes Sir sayd the Captain then you remember you sayed That if the King would not give you a reward he might kiss your Mule in the tail Sir answerd he again Senot lo dicho dichio mi Mula esta debaxo a la puertu Sir what I sayd I sayd and my Mule is below at the Court gate The King was not awhit movd hereat but gave him his hand to kiss and commanded a good reward to be given him Yet King Philip gave another kind of answer to another Soldier who petitioning him for som act of bounty he told him si a todos los que me piden daria presto pediria yo If I should give to all those that petition me I shold com to beg my self And it is a rule in Government that he who knows not how to deny knows not how to raign He had a marvailous equality of mind and constancy of disposition which rendred him a great Master of his passions and to have an absolut Empire over them Neither good or bad news could move him or make him go from home or depart from his wonted self neither the one could transport him to extraordinary fits of joy nor the other to dumps of sadness he was of such an admired temper I will produce a few instances The worst newes that ever came unto him was the dismall ill successe of his fleet in the yeer 88 and when the Courtier that brought him the first tidings came puffing blowing with a halter about his neck he was then looking upon a Mason settling a corner stone in the Escurial but before he wold ask him a question or receave the packet he stayed till the Mason had don his business then reading the letter of advice from the Duke of Medina with all the circumstance of tha● deplorable expedition to England without the least motion or change of countenance he sayed onely welcom be the will of God I sent my Cosen the Duke of Medina to fight with men not with the Elements Two of the most comfortable tydings that ever came unto him wer those of the Battail in the gulph of Lepanto the other of the conquest of Portugal when the maiden news of the first was brought him being heightned with much Eloquence and exaggeration of speech yet nothing could move him to go from himself but without the least motion of extraordinary joy he gravely answerd Mucho ha aucenturado mi Hermano Don Iuan my brother Don Iohn last venturd very far and it was the first time he stild him brother Touching that of Portugal when the fi●st intelligence was brought how the Duke of Alua had discomfited the Forces of Don Antonio and made himself Master of Lisbon and so of Portugal one of the greatest additions that ever befell the Spanish Monarchy he calmely sayed el Duque de Alua es un gran capitan y muy hombre de bien The Duke of Alua is a great Captain and a very honest man He was usd to have a saying often in his mouth el tiempo y yo para otros dos Time and I will challenge any two in the world Indeed he was mighty deliberat and cautious in all his undertakings and somwhat slow in councell remembring the saying of his Father the Emperour That Kings shold be like Saturn which as it is the highest so it is the slowest of all the Planets in point of movement now slowness carrieth with it commonly
as to carry two Kings at once shold becom now so weak and meagre that he could not bear a Pigmey one might now tell his ribs his back also was miserably gald by carrying of Panniars and withall he was found full of bunches his feet foundred and one of his nostrils slit yet those who had the chief care of him kept locks on his feet and a strong halter about his neck and face with dark Spectacles on his eyes now there was exquisit search made in the Junta how he was grown so poor answer was made that though he be low in flesh yet he is as high in spirit as ever he was and was ever and anon ready to kick and winch therfore it was fitting that the allowance of Provander which he hath now shold be rather diminisht then mended Therfore the grave members of the Junta appointed that the Rack shold be raisd a span higher and that the third part of his Provender shold be taken off When this hapned their chancd to be present in the Piazza som learned men and Philosophers who resenting much and taking to heart that wofull Spectacle out of pure pitty askt the Junta how they could find in common compassion which obliges every one to be good to his beast to diminish the Nutriment of that poor Animal who was so wasted and worn away that there scarce remained any thing of him but flesh and bone The oldest man of the Junta gave a short answer to the sayed Philosophers telling them that they shold do better to attend their own calling to dispute of Entities and Quiddities then to intermeddle with politicall matters wherin they seemd to be such Simpletons For in case that Caprichious beast were usd better he wold quickly repay their mildness with biting kicks as he had most ingratefully usd som of his former Riders who were so open handed unto him divers of whom he had thrown of into ditches by his excess of mettle and if one shold mend his commons that instable Animal wold foam at the mouth as much as ever and raise tumults and seditions against his benefactors and keepers Therfore whosoever will enter into an exact and judicious ponderation of things and of the tru Mode wherby that flouncing Animal shold be kept he must not look upon the meagernes of his belly or buttocks but upon the mischievous quality of his genius who is still as caprichious a lover of novelty as ever he was Therfore wo be to the Catholic King if that ferocious Napolitan Horse shold have strength and opportunity to put in execution what he doth incessantly cast and chymerize in his own brain against the present government Therfore if any thing be to be complaind of it proceeds from the ill nature of the beast rather then the severity of the Spaniards nor can any deny but it is a high point of wisdom no less of charity with well weighd councels and prudent artifices to take of by way of prevention the means of doing ill from him who alwaies intends mischief and is not capable to judg when one doth use him well and do him courtesies insomuch that there is no medicament can cure the chanchrous humours of the Napolitan then by applying therunto som corrosives of the Spanish severity The same Author proceeds further and fains that Almansor King of Granada meeting casually with the Kingdom of Naples they joyntly condole their calamitous condition of servitude causd by the tyranny of the Spaniards as they walkd and mingld speech a good while together Almansor observd the fashion of that Chain which the Kingdom of Naples carried on his legs because it lookd like a Morisco Manufacture and surely he had seen and handled that Chain before so looking neer upon it he struck his breast in a kind of astonishment saying that he was well aquainted with that Chain for it was the very same wherwith he and his Antecessors the Morisco Kings had kept most of the Kingdoms of Spain the space of seven hundred yeers and upwards in obedience and servility therfore he earnestly desired to know how by whom and when Naples had got on that Chain The Kingdom of Naples answered a most excellent memory hast thou King Almansor for this unhappy Chain which I carry was brought first from Spain by Gonsaluo de Cordova calld the great Captain therfore it is very likely that it is the same you speak of and now it is above an age passd I mean a Century of sad Winters that I am fallen into such a deplorable kind of slavery wherof I know not whether I shall ever rid my self because I find that the Spaniard is mounted to such a height of power that it hath made me loose all hopes I should have in the arme of man for recovery of my lost liberty it is the only omnipotent hand of God can do it by doing such another miracle as he did in the Red Sea Almansor replyed the calculation falls pat you speak of for it was about the very same time that the Spaniard shook off the Chain wherwith you go now bound but let it not be uncouth unto thee most noble Naples to relate how it was possible that the Spaniard shold impatronize himself so easily of a Kingdom so far distant from him by Sea and Land Naples rejoynd It was by fraud that the Spaniard introducd himself to Italy for by pure force he could never have made such acquests so far beyond the proportion of their strength therefore listen well to me and you will be astonisht of the large conscience which one King of Spain carried about him though he made himself appear to the world like another Saint Macarius-painted upon som wall Alphonso my King to draw on his last and my principall ruine gave Isabel his Neece for I will take the rise of my Relation from this unlucky Marriage to Iohn Galeazzo Duke of Milan in marriage In regard of the stupidity of Iohn Lodwick Sforza occupied the state of his Nephew King Alfonso as nature obligd him thought to prevent that usurpation Lodwick knowing well that he could not com to the end of his aimes without the destruction of my Kings took a precipitat resolution to call in the French for the Conquest of me an action which afterwards prov'd so funestous to all Italy My Kings therupon to counterbalance France had recourse to that holy Soul Ferdinand King of Aragon their Cosen who shewd himself so loving a Kinsman and faithfull Confederat that in lieu of chasing away the French he parted stakes with them and divided me amongst them but afterwards they fell out like Dogs about a bone and Ferdinand made the French find their way again ore the Alps to repass shamefully to their Country so Ferdinand made himself my absolute Soveraign and without any scruple of conscience and for my kind invitation he was the first who gave me this Chain you see which as you say is of the Manufacture of
a Treaty commen●d a little after for a cross mariage twixt Spain and France which took ●ffect though there was much opposition in France about it made by them of the Religion and their party The Ceremonies of these reciprocall Nuptials were performd the one at Burgos in Spain the other at Bourdeaux in France In the first the Duke of Lerma married the Infanta by commission from King Lewis In the second the Duke of Guyse married Isabel Daughter of France by proxy from King Philip the exchange of the two Princesses was made upon a River calld Bidasso hard by Saint Iohn de Luz which separates the two Nations There were two stately Barges provided to transport them with divers sorts of inventions of wit the Spaniards on their side had a huge vast Globe representing the world raisd upon a Pavilion very high which made an ostentous shew the Duke of Guyse took exception at it protesting that he wold never bring ore the Princess till the sayd Globe was taken down which was done accordingly the next day the young Queen came to Bayon where Luynes then Favorit to the French King attended her with a Letter all written with the Kings own hand in these words Madam SInce I cannot according to my desire find my self neer you at your entrance into my Kingdom to put you in possession of the power I have as also of my entire affection to love and serve you I send towards you Luynes one of my confidentst Servants to salute you in my name and tell you that you are expected by me with much impatience to offer unto you my self I pray therfore receive him favourably and believe what he shall tell you Madam from your most deer Friend and Servant LEWIS Luynes delivered her also from the King two rich Standerds of Diamonds which she receivd and kissd and from her own Table she sent him a dish of meat In the morning she returnd the King this answer Sir I much rejoyced at the good news Luynes brought me of your Majesties health I com therwith being most desirous to arrive where I may serve my Mother and so I am making hast to that purpose and to kiss your Majesties hands whom God preserve ANNE THe Kingdom of Naples to congratulat the Kings Espousals presented him that yeer with a Donative of two millions Not long after there was a Treaty set on foot for a mariage twixt the Prince of Wales and the Infanta Donna Maria the Kings second Sister but there had bin an ouverture made before by the Duke of Lerma for a match twixt our Prince Henry of England and the eldest Infanta Anne now Queen of France as hath bin spoken This Treaty with England was above ten yeers in agitation it was a Web that lay long upon the Loom of Policy and afterwards was torn off being just wrought to the point of perfection By the endeavours of Count Gondomar in England and the Earl of Bristol in Spain matters were brought to such a hopefull pass that it inducd the Prince of Wales to undertake that hazardous youthfull journey to Spain traversing the whole Diameter of France under a disguise being accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham who was not only his Companion but had bin his chiefest Counsellor herein they came both in an advantagious time to Paris for they were admitted to see a Mask being Carnival time wher the Prince had a full view of the Lady Henri●tta Maria who was designd by Heaven to be his wife afterwards though he little dreamt of such a thing then Thence by the name of Iac and Tom Smith they posted to Spain but two daies after t was discoverd in the French Court what they were therefore being sent after withall possible speed if they had stayed but three hours longer at Bayon Monsieur Gramond had had order to stay them Being arrivd at the Earl of Bristols House in the Court of Spain at the close of the day in the evening he was struck with amazement to see such objects there having no fore-knowledg at all of the Plot saying I am afraid we are all undone The next day there was a buz abroad that som great man was com from England but none imagind he could be the Prince In the evening of the next day the Duke of Buckingham went in a close Coach to the King of Spain where he had privat audience and he was returnd no sooner but Olivares was sent to visit the Prince which was done with extraordinary expressions of joy and complement Oliuares saying that Spain and England wold divide the World betwixt them The next day somwhat late at night the King himself came in a close Coach to visit him but the Prince having notice of it met him half way so they greeted one another with mutuall embraces there were divers great Lords appointed to be the Prince his Officers and a part of the royall Pallace was preparing for his Quarter whither the next Sunday he removd and rod in triumph under a large Canopy of State the King accompanying him all the way and giving him still the upper-hand all the Grandees Noblemen and Officers attended them in the same manner as they usd to do at a Coronati●n Now it seems that Gondamar was the chief man who tracd this journey for the next day after the Prince his arrivall he was made Privy Counsellor and suddenly after coming to visit the Prince he told him that he was com to tell him strange news which was that an English man was sworn that morning Privy Counsellor in Spain meaning himself in point of affection The third day after the Prince had bin there the King of Spain with the Queen and the Infanta who wore a blew Ribon about her left arme that she might be distinguisht came abroad in an open stately way of purpose that the Prince might see his Mistress which he did out of a close Coach wherein Count Gondamar attended him with the English Ambassadors So much for matter of Ceremony now touching the substance of the business it self when the Prince came thither matters had bin brought to that perfection by the activity of Ambassadors that there wanted nothing for the consummating of all things but the Popes dispensation which upon news that the Prince was com to Spain was retarded and som advantages taken to clog it with further clauses The Pope demanded caution for performance of such Articles that were granted in favor of the Roman Catholicks in England upon this match hereupon Sir Francis Cotington rid Post about it from Madrid Touching that point King Iames answerd that he wold take his oath upon the Evangelists to accomplish the said Articles and his Son the Prince shold do the like His privy Counsellors also shold firm and subscribe the sayed Articles and this was all the security King Iames cold give Now wheras the Pope demanded that som Roman Catholic Prince should undertake for him and his Son in point of
Christendom which he knew wel the King their Master did desire with that vehemency so he brought Ashton to joyn with him in pursuance of the busines which was at so fair a pass that they both made of them a great number of rich Liveries against the wedding day the Infanta went by the name of Princess of Wales and the English Ambassadors wold not be coverd before her she had got som extraordinary Masses to be sung for the Prince's safe return to England She had divers new Sutes made for the Prince of rich perfumd Cordovan som embroyderd with Perl som with Gold some with Silk She studied the English language and wore Chapins or high shoos which no young Ladies usd to do in Spain till they are either betr●thd or married Moreover the King of Spain had a purpose to make a Daughter of his a Christian and his Sister a Wife the same day and to that end had commanded that the Baptism and the Marriage shold be solemnizd together to which end a long Tarass was raysd from his Royall Palace to the next Church all coverd with rich Tapistry All the Grandees were summond to be then at Court and the great Ordinance were ordered to be discharged in all the Maritime Towns upon such a day So the long wishd for Ratification came at last compleat and full but as the Stars wold have it as the busines was upon its last period there come four Posts from England within the space of 24 hours with a new Commission from King Iames to the Earl of Bristol intimating that wheras he treated before singly of a match he shold now joyn the Palatinat with it and have a categoricall conclusive answer from the King of Spain for the restitution of it for he wold not marry his son with joy and leave his daughter in tears This struck a strange kind of consternation in the hearts of all men at Madrid who wishd that the Postillions which brought the new Commission to Bristoll had all broke their necks on the way the Infanta retird her self and wore a kind of mourning for som daies and an universall sadness appeard in all faces Hereupon the Earl of Bristol going to the King of Spain to demand a surrender of the Palatinat He answer'd that it was not in his power to do it for hee could not command an Emperour in whose hands it was with whom if England would entertain a Treaty if the Emperour and the Duke of Bavaria wold not com to terms of reason the same arm which got the sayd Palatinat for his Oncle the Emperour shold joyn with the King of England to reconquer it for his son in law But this not satisfying Bristol receiv'd Letters of Revocation and so going to take his leave of the King he pulld off a ring of 1500 l. price off his finger and gave it him sending him afterwards a Cup-board or old Plate valued at 20000. duckets The Prince at his departure left a great rope of Pearl and many boxes of Jewels more for the Infanta valued at 400000. crowns but she would not receive any till the Nuptiall day so they were kept in the custody of one of the Secretaries of State But notwithstanding that intelligence was sent how the two Treaties of Match and Palatinat were dissolv'd by act of Parlement in England and that they were preparing for a War yet the Spaniard comanded the sayd Jewels to be deliverd up to the English Ambassador which after were sent safely to England Out of the premisses it may be inferrd that the Spanyard did really intend a match with England which he saith he hath not broken to this day In Spain the King was young and his Favorit old it was clean contrary in England which made the world abroad to wonder that King Iames shold be transported by the Councell of a young Favorit as to suffer him to strain the conscience of his son so far as to break the Match now most remarkable it is that as the Parlement serv'd him for an Instrument to do it so the Parlement was the chief instrument afterwards of his ruin Thus the Spanish Match which amus'd the world so long and assorded such matter of discours was suddenly dashd that Fabrique which was a rearing so many yeers and brought to such a point of perfection that it only wanted a cover fell down in a moment A little before these times the Duke of Ossuna a little man but of a mighty spirit was Vice-roy of Naples where he had comitted more extravagances then any Vice-roy ever did He raisd a War against the Venetian for a property of Dominion in som part of the Adriatic gulph wherin he causd the Signory to spend much treasure but afterwards it was found that this War was grounded rather upon the Capricio of his brain then any just reason Therupon the King of Spain sent the Cardinall Borja to seize upon the government of Naples and send home the Duke prisoner if he found cause The Cardinall carried the busines very privatly and being com to a little Iland neer Naples the sagacious Duke smelling somthing sent a Bishop to entertain and wait upon him but it was indeed to serve as a Spy to observe his motions The Cardinal made a shew to go a hunting one day in a Sedia wher he had appointed one to be habited just like him in another Sed●a the Bishop being in the Field all the while and seeing a man like him in the Sedia he thought the Cardinal was still there but the Cardinal had privatly got away to the Marine where he had a Soldiers habit for a disguise and a Felucca ready for transporting him to Naples leaving the Bishop waiting stil upon the counterfeit Cardinal in the Field having divers confidents in the Castle where the Duke was he got thither at the close of the day over a small draw-bridg and surprized the Duke so signal being given to the Town the Bells rung and the great guns went all suddenly off so the Collaterall Councell came to salute the new Vice-roy and Ossuna was sent prisoner to Spain with these severall accusations Accusations wherewith the most faithfull Citie of Naples doth charge the Duke of Ossuna I. THat against his Majesties will he entertained a great number of Soldiers who by their miscarriages have committed many outrages rapes and robberies and if any complaind against them the Plaintiffs were sent away with threatnings and checks insteed of satisfaction from the Duke II. He did put his Majesties patrimony in distribution as it appeares by the accounts of the Kings Chamber besides he wasted much of the common treasury of the Town depriving her of many priviledges III. When he sent Soldiers to be billeted in divers parts of this Kingdom the poor people to rid themselves of the trouble charge us'd to resort to the Marchiones of Campolataro whom they were forced to bribe with presents to do them good offices IV. He causd
not denouncd between England and Spain which lasted not long being meerly navall for in the compass of a short time ther was a peace peecd up again twixt the two Crowns insomuch that Trade after this small in e●ruption did res●●rish mightily specially in the Dominions of Naples The Duke of Medina de las Torres being Viceroy in that Kingdom ther hapned an extrao●dinary accident the occasion was given at a Ball where ther was a great confluence of the principall Noblemen and Ladies The Duke of Matalone the chief of the Carassas and potentest Familie in that Kingdom conceivd he had receivd an affront from the Prince of Sanza at the Ball wherupon he hird a Valenton or Swashbuckler to d●y-beat and cane ●im He●upon the Prince went and raised Forces in Campania and so thought to revenge a privat injury in a public way the Viceroy having notice of it raisd another considerable Army which dispersed the other so that the Prince of Sanza was forc'd to fly to ●ome whe● he took Sanctuary The Dukes of Medina and Matalone devisd how they might seize upon him so there was a paction made with Iulio Puzzolo a great Bandito at such a price who going disguisd to Rome about it and understanding who was Prince Sanzas Mistress and where he usd to hear Mass he sent a Message to him into the Church that his sayed Mistre●s was fallen very sick the●fore she desird to speak with him out of hand so going up into the Coach which he thought had bin sent for him that stood at the Church-door the Bandito with his Complices surprizd him and hurried him away to Naples where a little after he was beheaded The Pope sent six hundred Light-horse presently after to redeem the Prince but the Bandito was too nimble for them and wheeling about by infrequented waies had got into the Territories of Naples before whence he carried him away cleer and so receivd his price of blood and they promised reward Philip the fourth entring young into his Government took the Count of Olivares for his Privado and chief Pilot for the conduct of all State affairs a man wonderfull sedulous but not so succesfull for the King grew alwaies to be on the loosing hand while he put him at the Helm One of the first losses he had was that of Ormus the chiefest Mart in the world for all sorts of Jewels so that if the Earth were compard to a Ring Ormus might be calld the Gemm of that Ring It was taken by the assistance of three English Merchants Ships who were then upon the Coasts of Persia The Sophy Embargud and hired them for the Service promising them the spoyles of the Church and of the Monasteries of Ormus being encouragd hereby they fought notably and helped to finish the business so accordingly they had the Plunder of all the Religious houses in Ormus which they carried aboard and it was an incredible masse of treasure they took specially in Jewels but it did not prosper for the English Ship Pearl being the Admiral and laden with that rich spoil perisht in the Port with all her Cargazond the other two making for England one of them was cast away in Alto Mari in open Sea the other being com into the narrow Seas as she set Sail upon a Sunday morning a horrid tempest did rise which was so impetuous that by the fury therof she was carried away to the Coasts of Holland where she perisht but Captain Cartwright had preservd himself with a Girdle of Jewels about him of six thousand pounds value which did not peosper for going to Russia to push on his fortunes he grew to be extreamly poor A little after Goa fell from the Spaniard many Towns in Flanders were lost the Condado de Rossillon at the foot of the Pyrenean Hills with the Kingdoms of Catalonia and Portugal quite revolted from him The first flew off because of the free quarter the Castillian Soldiers took as they passd through Catalonia towards Italy and the Fry grew suddenly so furious that the Vice-roy himself was murthered in his Coach with others the Kings Seals were all broken and they put themselves under the protection of the French Touching Portugal they took the advantage of those comotions in Catalonia and likewise quite revolted from the Castillian whom they hate above all other Mortalls They Crownd Iohn Duke of Braganza for their King under whom the Government in a very short time was so generally establishd as if it had bin a hundred yeers a doing It seems that after the revolt of Catalonia there were som fears had of Portugal and jealousies of the Duke of Braganza therfore to put him out of the way he wa● proferd to be the Governor of Milan but he made a modest excuse Then it was given out cunningly that the King was going in person to Catalonia therfore notice was given that the Duke of Braganza with the rest of the Nobles shold attend the Kings Standard but he still excusd himself Hereupon the King of Spain to endear the Duke or rather to secure him unto him the more sent him a Commission to be Generall of all the Militia of Portugal referring it to his free Election where to fix and in what place he pleasd neer Lisbon the Capitall Citty And withall he sent him for supply of his privat occasions a royall Token of sixty thousand Duckets but it seems t was a Crown that he aimd at not Duckets 〈◊〉 none of these proffers or reall favours could detain him from shaking off all alleageance to King Philip neer whom he was bred most part of his yeers The Dutchess of Savoy King Philips Ant then Governess in Lisbon had formerly sent advices one upon the neck of another how she apprehended som fear of an Insurrection in Portugal but Olivares slighted her Avisos giving out that she was a silly woman fitter to govern a Family then a Kingdom therfore he sent her word that if she did not comprehend the services of State at least she shold not detect them Not long after som of the chief Nobility had a clan●ular close meeting at Lisbon where it was proposed that the Kingdom shold be reduced into a Common-wealth but that design provd but an Embryon which dyed suddenly before it could receive any shape Then the Arch-bishop of Sevill stood up and councelld them to cast their eyes upon the Duke of Braganza the Native and rightfull Heir The motion was approvd of so one Gaston Cotigno a pragmaticall man and a nimble smoothd toungd Instrument for such a business and one who abhorrd the Castilians to the very death was employd unto the Duke then at a privat house of his he told him that now there was a pregnant opprtunity offerd for him to recover his Ancestrall right to the Crown of Portugal that Fortune seldom proffers a man a Kingdom He told him of the fair hope to bring the business about he told him of the generall inclinations
of the Nobility and Clergy specially of the Arch-bishop of Lisbon the universall disgust and hatred of the people towards the Castillian He bid him look upon the present face of things which seemd to smile upon and invite him how that the house of Austria was at a low ebb distracted with Wars on every side the Castillians had work enough cut them by the Catelans nor could he want succours and auxiliaries from France and others that did emulat the greatnes of Spain therfore he advisd him to take time by the fore-top for he is bald behind The Duke after a long pauze thankd him and the Nobility for their good affections towards him but this was a business of that hazard and consequence that it requird som deliberation that he knew well there was no Medium betwixt a Throne and a Scaffold and so shewd himselfe irresolute for the present The next night taking advise of his Pillow and communicating the whole busines to his Wife Sister to the Duke of Medina Sidonia a Female of a Masculine courage and being anxious within himself whether he shold hearken to the proposals of the Nobility or go to Madrid to prevent all hazards His Lady told him My friend if thou goest to Madrid thou dost incur the danger of loosing thy head and if thou acceptest of the Crown thou dost but run the same hazard therfore consider well whether it be not better to dye nobly at home then basely abroad Being incited by these words he sent word presently to the Nobility that he wold conform himself to their Councels and was resolved to live and dy and run the same adventures with them so they securd all places of fastnes in Lisbon and though there were Spanish and Swisse guards there yet there was killd but one Swits in all the bustle besides Vasconcellos the Secretary of State who managd all things before under the Lady Governes or Vice-queen but was extreamly hated so he was murtherd in a Cup-board within his own Chamber where he was usd to lock up all his Letters and Papers among whom he fell being shot with a Pistoll as he had shut himself among them Hereupon the cry went all over Lisbon Viva El Roy Don Iuan el quarto God save King Iohn the fourth yet in all this hurly-burly the Vice-queen was dealt civilly withall and when som of the Nobility came to her she made this discreet Speech unto them being nothing at all daunted That if this Insurrection had no other aime but to revenge themselves of Secretary Vasconcellos the busines was done therfore she assurd them upon returning to their obedience to gain them a generall pardon from the King her Lord and Nephew But they answerd her in short Madam We have now no other King but King Iohn wherof we com to give you notice so they removd the Vice-queen from the Royall Palace to another house leaving a band of Soldiers for her security The Arch-bishop of Lisbon who was the chiefest stikler in this desperat busines to cover this Insurrection with some signal act of devotion came forth in a solemn procession carrying in his hand the chiefest relique of Lisbon which is one of the Nailes wherwith Christ was naild to the Cross Besides it was delivered in a Sermon that in the person of the Duke was verified a certain apparition of Christ to King Alphonso as he was upon point of giving Battell to ●ive Moorish Kings by which he was promised not only Victory but that he and his Successors shold Raign to the sixteenth Generation at which time his Race shold be thought extinct but it shold florish again when it shold be least of all thought upon which Prophecy fell pat upon the motions of the present times There was then in Lisbon the Count de la Puebla Olivares Kinsman with other Castillians who were kept for Hostages for som Portugals that were in the Spanish 〈◊〉 Upon Thursday after the new King made his entrance into Lisbon where the Clergy gave him 600. m. Crowns the Nobility 400. m. and the Cominalty one million of Gold to hansell their new King The carriage and courage of the Vice Queen the Dutchesse of Savoy was very commendable in these confusions for wheras the new King sent her a complement to ascertain her of such civilities that were sutable to a Princesse of her Rank provided she wold forbear all discourse and practises wherby to infuse any opinion prejudiciall to the now establishd Government yet she notwithstanding with much stoutnes but with expressions of thankfulnes to the Duke for she wold not stile him King fell into a large and grave exhortation to those Nobles that were sent to her to lay aside all vain hopes and not to cozen themselves but to return to their old alleagance according as they were obligd by oath not doubting but they should all find pardon Thus what the Spaniard had possessd in so much peace for sixty yeers was snatchd away from him in less then six dayes news hereof being brought to Madrid it strook a strange consternation in the thoughts of all people but Olivares came smiling to the King● saying Sir I pray give me las albricias to hansell the good news for now you are more absolute King of Portugal then ever for the people have forfeited all their Priviledges by this rebellion besides the Estate of the Duke of Braganza with all his Complices are yours by right of confiscation so that you have enough to distribute among your old Loyall Servants by way of reward But herein Olivares did notably dissemble his passion for it was discoverd that these sad tydings sunk deeper into him th●n any The new King Iohn was married to a Castilian the Duke of Medinas Sister who was Governor in chief in Andaluzia therfo●e upon som Ombrages of fear that he might be seducd he was by a plausible message sent for to Madrid but as soon as he came his person was securd and another sent to succeed him Upon the first intelligence that came to Spain how Bragansa had bin proclaimd King Philip sent him a Letter to this effect Duke and Cosen som odd news are brought me lately which I esteem but folly considering the proof I have had of the fidelity of your house give me advertisement accordingly because I ought to expect it from you Do not draw a trouble upon your self and hazard not the esteem I make of your life to the fury of a mutinous rabble but let your wisdom comport you so that your person may escape the danger my Councell will advise you further So God guard you your Cosen and King Unto this Letter answer was made as followeth My Cosen my Kingdom desiring its naturall King and my Subjects being oppressd with Taxes and new Impositions have executed without oposition that which they had oftentimes designd by giving me the possession of a Kingdom which appertains unto me wherfore if any will go about to take it from
me I will seek justice in my Armes defence being allowable God preserve your Majesty DON JOHN the fourth King of PORTVGALL THis huge loss and horrid disaster gave a shrewd alarm to the Spanish Monarchy for there fe●l from her by this revolt the East-Indies the Tercera Islands the Kingdom of Algarve Brasile and all she had in Afric except the Town of Ceuta which is the only appendix that remains to Spain of the large Dominions of Portugal but t is like a small crust left of a Christmas Loaf A little before this revolt there was a portentous strange accident hapned neer the Tercera Ilands which are subject to the Crown of Portugal for in one of them there was a Town built upon the Sea-side under divers Clifts and Rocks among which there was a great Lough which suddenly one day broak out into a fearfull fire proceeding it seems from som bituminous matter in the bottom the flakes of fire and smoak did so darken and obnubilat the whole Region of the Cir●umambient air for many daies that they of the Town beneath thought verily the day of Judg●ent was com for they could go ankle deep in the ashes which the fire drove to the streets at last the huge Lake came tumbling down the Hills and carryed many of them with part of the Town into the Sea This was held to be an ominous thing and to presage som great change but the yeer following there hapned a stranger thing for a new Iland poppd out of the Sea therabouts and peed above water which was never seen before Now ●is worth the while considering what a mighty alteration it hath made in the Christian World to set down the right of title that both the King of Spain and the house of Bragansa hath to the Crown of Portugal therfore we will plant here the Tree of their Genealogy that the Reader may pass his judgment accordingly The fortunat and famous Alphonso having in the yeer 1139. obtaind a mighty battell against the Moors in Portugal by the unanimous consent of the people he was chosen King and solemnly Crownd in Lamego and his Posterity made capable to succeed him to all perpetuity all which was confirmd afterwards by the Pope Among other Lawes which the three Estates being assembled at Lamego did enact one was this Let it be a Law for ever that the King of Portugals eldest Daughter marry a Native of Portugal that so the Crown never descend to a stranger and in case she shold marry to a Prince who is a stranger let her not be Queen for we will never have our Kingdom go out of the Race of the Portugals who have made us Kings by their own valor and by the effusion of their own blood without forraign assistance Now Don Emanuel was the fourteenth King of Portugal from Don Alphonso and had for his Issue six Sons and two Daughters as followeth 1. The Prince Don Iohn his eldest 2. The Infanta Donna Beatrix who was married to the Emperor Charles the fift by whom he had Philip the second 3. The Infanta Dona married to Emanuel Duke of Savoy 4. The Infant Don Luis who left behind Don Antonid an illegitimat Son 5. The Infant Don Fernando dyed without Issue 6. The Infant Don Alfonso Arch-bishop of Lisbon and Cardinal never married 7. The Infant Don Henry Cardinal and Arch-bishop of Dragon ● The Infant Don Edward who left two Daughters the eldest was Mary Wife out of the Kingdom to Alexander Farnesse Duke of Panna the younger was married to Don Iohn Duke of Bragansa After the death of Emanuel succeeded his eldest Son Don Iohn who was named before and was called Iohn the third whose onely Son called also Iohn dying before his Father left behind him Don Sebastian who succeeded his Grand-father and was slain without Issue at that notable battell in Barbary 1578. where most of the Nobility and Flower of Portugal did also fall Upon the death of Sebastian the Crown returnd to the eldest Survivor of his Grand-fathers Brothers viz. Henry the Cardinal whose old age as well as his Function made him incapable of marriage he raignd peaceably two ye●rs After his death there were no less then eight Pretenders to the Crown 1. The People claimd right to elect their own King jure Regni 2. The Pope challengd Iure divino to be Arbiter herein in regard that Alfonso the first King made himself Feudetary to the See of Rome 3. Don Antonio gave out he was no Bastard but his Father Don Luis was lawfully married 4. Katherine de Medici Queen Regent of France claimd a right as descending from Don Alphonso the third since whom al● the Kings of Portugal have bin no better then Usurpers 5. Philibert Duke of Savoy Son to one of King Emanuels Daughters 6. Ranuccio Duke of Parma claimd the Crown in right of his Mother Mary Daughter to Don Duarte King Emanuels youngest Son 7. Katherine Dutchesse of Braganza claimd the Crown as being born in Portugal wheras all the rest were Aliens according to the Primitive Law made in Don Alphonsos time 8. Philip the second claimd the Crown by right of his Mother the Empresse being Heir Male of Don Emanuels eldest Daughter Now touching the first Pretender which was the people it was answerd that untill the Royall Line of a Kingdom be quite extinct there can be no right of Election in them Touching the Titles of the rest they were solemnly debated in many Universities but most concluded for King Philip first in regard that the Kingdom of Portugal had bin before Alphonsos time An 1138. under the protection of the Crowns of Castile and Leon wherof he was King Secondly because he could not properly be calld an Alien because he was born upon the Continent of Spain wherof Portugal is part being calld according to the old division Hispania Lusitanica Thirdly he might claim it a digniori partu because he was the first Male of an Empress who had bin also first Daughter of Portugal Besides this fatall defection of the Kingdom of Portugal with the sundry Dominions far and neer that belongd unto it there were many other cross traverses besides that happend to the Spanish Monarchy There was an illfavourd fire kindled in Palermo in Sicily which by a popular fury did so rage and was like to be so destructive that the Marquess de los Velez the then Vice-roy was forcd to publish a Manifesto wherin to content the rabble he took off and abolishd to perpetuity the Taxes that were layed upon Meat Wine Oyle and Cheese Moreover the people having in the sayed Mutiny broke open the Prisons and let out the Prisoners the Vice-roy was constraind to publish another Instrument wherin he pardond all such Prisoners as also those who let them out and all this was don sub verbo fide Regia The Kingdom of Naples which is also Sicily beyond the Phare a little arm of the Sea and thought at the Creation to be one
the Monastery he was forcd to com out and to shew himself The people then though in the height of fury grew somwhat more temperat saying Most excellent Sir for the passion of God disburden us of these Gabells who suck our blood let us but breath and have no more slavery The Vice-roy giving them the charmingst language he could causd little Cedules signed by himself and seald with the Kings Seal affixed to be dispersd amongst them wherin the sayd Tolls were taken off afterwards he threw som peeces of gold and Rials of eight among them so by that costly cunning be got away from among the Rabble for that time to a Church hard by where they still pursued him and wold not be satisfied till they had a perfect Instrument for the taking off the Tax upon Fruit and bread the confusion grew higher and higher till the Arch-bishop Filomarmi came to whom they shewd som reverence being their Metropolitan and common Father and he at last brought them an Instrument signd by the Vice-roy for abolishing the foresayd Tolls so that gave som contentment for the present but the Torrent encreasd presently with greater floods of water for that Instrument of the Vice-kings being read in the Market-place the cry was that it was imperfect for they wold be free from all kinds of Tolls since the time of Charles the Emperor Hereupon they went to the Prince of Bisignano the chief of the Caraffas desiring him to be their Leader and Advocat to the Vice-roy he went with them and being com to the great Church de Carmine he stood up in a high place with a Crucifix in his hands and conjurd the people for the love of God and the most blessed Virgin to be pacified a while and he promisd them by oath to procure for them from the Vice-roy whatsoever they desird But this wold not quiet them but they rushd into the Prisons and set loose the Prisoners They went to the Dogana or Toll-house for Corn with Faggots on their backs and pitch and fire in their hands in a great fury Prince Bisignano not being able to take them off though he labourd earnestly they put fire on all sides and besides the houses they turnd rich Houshold stuff Sedias and ready money all to ashes The Prince being but crazy in point of health grew weary of heeding such an unruly Rabble therfore he rid himself of them at last by a Stratagem The people hearing that Bisignano was gon wanting a Head they cryed out for Masanello who having accepted of it he began more eagerly then ever to invite the people insomuch that he in lieu of water to quench this fire threw Oyle upon t to make it burn more furious The next day Másanello Captain-like divided the people into Companies and Regiments nothing but clashing of Armes within the City whether the Country Swains came with Pikeaxes Shovels and Spades Nay the women appeard armd with Shovels Spits and Broaches and the common cry went Let the King live and the Toll perish our Gabels our Tolls let them go to the Devill to maintain his Kingdom of darknes let the Raisers of them those Dogs dy who being transformd to Wolfs have devoured the flesh of innocent Lambs let them vomit the blood they have suckd into the Cinders of their burnt Wealth those domestic and insatiable Leeches of Naples let these Drones and Wasps be driven away who have suckd the sweet Hony of the Bees With such cries and screekings they stounded the very air in such pitteous accents which were enough to soften the hardest Marble and draw tears from the Pumice stone Thus horror blood and amazements raignd in every corner so order was sent by Masanello to all the thirty six Precincts of Naples to arm under an irremissible penalty of having their houses burnt Now there being som want of Gun-powder they went to a house to buy som but being refusd they threw fird Matches into the house which taking hold of the Powder-barrels blew up above sixty Inhabitans and it gave such a crack as the Galeon som daies before did in the Port which was blown up being not known whether it was done by chance or by pure malice Then they went to the Kings Magazin of Powder but there was a course taken with that before for the Kings Labourers had put it in water by way of prevention In the Interim the Vice-roy fortifieth himself in Castle nuovo having taken in a thousand Germans at the Gates eight hundred Spaniards with a thousand Italians well armd with Pike and Musket The Vice-roy sent a Note to Masanello the Generalissimo of the Rabble by som of the collaterall Councell wherin he promisd to take off all Gabels as was desird but this wold not suffice but Masanello wold have have a ●estitution of the priviledges granted by Charles the Emperor whose Statue he had over the door of his house he proposd also that the Clerk of the Market shold be nominated for the future by the faithfull people of Naples that the old office of Capo popolo shold be revivd and that he shold be namd by the Citizens without any recourse to the Vice-roys Hereupon the Vice-roy sent the Duke of Matalare with divers other popular Lords to ride up and down the City and to assure them that his excellency was ready to give all possible satisfaction They answerd that they desird no more but to have the priviledges of Charles the Emperor restord wherby it was decreed that no new impositions should he layd upon the faithfull people of Naples without the consent of the holy Apostolic See Now since all Gabels from that time have bin imposd without his consent som few of small consequence excepted it was just they shold be abolishd Moreover the people desird the Original of those priviledges of Charles quinto which was in the Archives of Saint Laurence The Lord chief Prior was employed to find out the sayed Original which he shewd the people but som doubting whether it was a counterfeit one the good old Prior had met with death had he not found a way of escape There was appointed to be about the person of Masanello an old Priest by name Genovino a● also a notable Bandito calld Perrone these two being Coadiutors to Masanello gave out a list of sixty and odd Houses or Palaces rather of them who had farmd the Gabels from time to time who having enrichd themselves and grown fat with the blood of the people it was thought fit that they shold be made examples and a terror to others so the sayd houses with abundance of most costly houshold-stuff as also their Coaches and their Coach-horses were pittifully burnt and with so much order and neatnes of hand that he hazarded his life who shold embezel the least thing therupon one taking away but a little Towell was killd another for the Crouper of a horse had fifty lashes and divers other after they had confessd to their
young Don Iohn of Austria weighs Anchor with a Royal Fleet of Galeons and Gallies made sayl for Sicily having bin so wonderfully fortunat as to extinguish that prodigious fire that had ragd so violently in Town and Country which the Capitall Citty being reducd quickly conformd it self to its old obedience Nor was this youthfull Generall succesfull only in Naples but also in composing the affairs of Sicily which also was in a dangerous disorder Add hereunto the reducing lately of Catalonia by making himself Master of that proud Metropolitan Citty of Barcelona after a bloody stubborn Siege of two and twenty months where the Lord Goring his Lieutenant did signall Services no less heroik then hazardous During these hideous Combustions in Naples there was a notable peece of inhumane Villany discoverd sutable to those times which was this One Francisco Severino a public Notary had a Sister who was a young Widdow but being to pay her six hundred Duckets towards her Dower he clapt her up with a little Daughter of hers in a dark Cave twixt four walls where he fed them with bread and water with som few Roots for seventeen yeers together This Widdow had a Son under the Tutele of an Uncle all the while who being com to yeers demanded of the sayd Notary his Mothers Dowry thinking she had bin dead The rumor hereof flying among the people being in Armes they rushd into the Notaries house the women in the Cave hearing an extraordinary noise began to shriek which being heard they broke down the Wall where they found two women like Savages or Furies with long dischevelld hair dangling about their sholders hereupon the Villany being discoverd the Notary was put to exemplary punishment These Risings of the Napolitan people and those of Sicily with other unlucky Travers●s gave a shrewd shock to the Spanish Monarchy It shook also Olivares the great Favorit of the Catholic King and that so ill favourdly that his utter downfall followd Now in regard that this Favorit slept in the Kings bosom and swayd the Monachy of Spain so long it will not be improper to insert here a short Legend of his life He was born in Rome during his Fathers Embassy there in the unlucky Palace of Nero and being a younger Brother at his coming to Spain he became a Student in the Law in Salamanca and then got a Lay Prebendary in Sevill which was his first preferment Having got som subsistence and knowledge he came to Court and insinuated into the favor of this King then Prince so dextrously that he came afterwards to have an absolute power over his inclinations after the fall of the Duke of Lerma and Don Balthasar de Zuniga upon whose ruines he built his fortunes In a short time after the death of Philip the third he was made Master of the Kings Wardrobe Master of the Horse great Chancellor of the Indies which Offices with som Comanderies he got of the three Equestrall Orders of Saint Iago Alcantara and Calatrava were worth him communibus annis 240000. Crowns But he had other reaches to grow rich for when the Galeons set forth from Sevill and the Caracks from Lisbon every yeer for the Indies he usd to embark in them great Cargazons of Corn Wine and Oyle Custom free all which grew in his County of Olivares and with the proceed of those Commodeties there were Jewels Silks and Spices bought and sold afterward for his account wherby he could not choose but gain many millions For engrossing the Kings Favor more entirely he had a way to restrain the Grandees but whom he pleasd from being about the Kings person and for the Queen she was only Co-partner of the Kings Bed but he kept her from having any power at all in other things He found divers inventions for inhancing the Royall Revenew as that all Offices and Benefices which were bestowd shold pay half a yeers in-com to the King which was calld Mediannates There were waies also found out to decry and raise the value of Coin and not long before his fall there was a project calld Papell Sellado which was that no legall Instrument not so much as a Bill Obligatory shold be of force unless it were written in the Kings Paper with a particular Seal to it and all public Notaries with others were to buy these seald Papers at the rate the King imposd upon them by these means there was a Computation made that above two hundred millions of gold came extraordinary to the Kings Coffers in his time Now these new things being imposd upon Catalonia and Portugal which claim more priviledges of enfranchisements then Castillia it was among other the ground of their Revolt Now there were many things conspird to demolish this Grand Minion of the Catholic Kings First A series or crowd of ill successes which tumbled one upon the neck of another both in the Indies as the loosing of Ormus and Goa as also in Europe and in Spain her self by the revolt of Catalonia and Portugal in Flanders by the loosing of many Towns which Francis the first had payd for his ransom Nor was there any signall Exploit worth the speaking atchievd all his time but that of Spinolas when he took the Palatinat Secondly The disaffection of the Queen whom he may be sayd to have kept to her Needle and Distaff all the while who one day broke out into such a passion against him having done her som ill office a little before that meeting him in a Lobby she took off one of her Chapines and banging him ill favourdly about the Pate sayed That she wold have him know that she was Daughter to Henry the Great as well as wife to the King of Spain But this breach was made up presently by the patience and humble protestations of the Conde never to offend her for the future Awhile after the Kings affairs necessitating him to go in person to Catalonia he left the Queen Governesse of Madrid during which time she wonderfully gaind upon the affections of the people by allaying the austere humor of the Spaniard with the affability of the French At the Kings return she took heart then to speak of his affairs of state of the interest of his Monarchy of the revolt of Kingdome ruine of Armies and how all things went from bad to worse and were like to continue so if they whom his Majesty intrusted most with the management of his affairs did not look better to things This discourse sunk somwhat deep into the Kings brest which made his thoughts to reflect upon Olivares his chief Minister and now the Ice being broken the next night after Donna Anna de Guevara the Kings Nurse took heart of grace to speak also to the King having put her self in a convenient place where the King was to pass where falling on her knees she told him That she was not there to beg any grace at his Majesties hands but to render the Crown of Spain the greatest
Service it cold receive therfore her Motherly affections enforcd her to discover to his Majesty what perhaps others durst not adventure to do for humane respects So she presented unto him the generall affliction of his people the sad condition of his Kingdom the many unfortunat successes which happend by Sea and Land shewing him that these evills were the judgments of Heaven for suffering the Government of his Kingdoms which God Almighty had appointed only for himself to continue in the hands of another she sayd that it was high time for his Majesty to be now out of his Nonage and that he should not incense the indignation of Heaven by suffring his poor Subjects to be longer abusd at least that he wold have compassion on the Prince his Son who ran a hazard to be simple King of Castile or less so she concluded that if she had offended his Majesty she was ready to receive what punishment he pleasd being well contented having given her milk for the good of his Majesty to sacrifice also her blood if need requird The King hearkned unto her all the while with much attention and answerd t is all truth that you have sayd Add hereunto that there was another thing happend that provd fatall to the Duke which was that the Infanta Margarita of Savoy who had bin Governess of Portugal having bin restraind som yeers from coming to the Court by the practises of Olivares at last venturd to com thither and by the Queens favour she was admitted to speak with the King where with stout and pressing reasons she made it appear that the loss of his Kingdom of Portugal was to be imputed principally to the carelesness of the Conde for she had often written to him in what a hazardous discontented state that Country was but to her Avisos and Letters she receivd from him odd uncivill messages telling her that she was fitter to govern a Family then a Kingdom and bidding her that if she comprehended the mysteries of State at least she shold not discover them This Speech made deeper impressions on the Kings heart then any of the rest for it was most home and plain insomuch that this was the mortall wound which was given Olivares Thirdly The designs he had to aggrandize his base Son who had gone many yeers by the name of Iulian Valeasar and had married a common Strumpet being of a dissolute one himself and under that name of Valeasar he had born Arms in Flanders Italy and the Indies where he was like to be hangd Yet Olivares having no Children of his own nor like to have any sent for him for Donna Margarita Spinola a Merchants Daughter and somtimes a Concubine of Olivares took it upon her death that Olivares had got him by Her So being com to Court Olivares had his name changd to Don Henry Pbilip de Gusman he procurd him also to be divorcd from his first wife and proposd a marriage for him with the high Constable of Castiles Daughter Donna Iuana de Velasso prime Lady of the Court which took effect so having provided a great Palace for him the Grandees and Ambassadors came to give Don Henry the conjugall joy treating by the Title of Excellency and sending him Presents he was declard Gentleman of the Kings Bed-chamber and to be president of the Indies But Don Henries carriage was so ridiculous and so unsutable to a Noble-man that there were Libells made of him up and down This strange design of Olivares got him much hatred specially from the Marquess of Carpio who had married his sole Sister by whom he had Don Luis de Haro the Present who was common Heir in Law to Olivares and was like to be deprivd of it by the foresayd Bastard But upon the fall of the Conde down fell also his Bastard and the Constable of Castile sent home for his Daughter saying that he had rather have his Daughter to be reputed a Whore then to continue Wife to such a Rascall Fourthly The just hatred which the Grandees and Noble-men conceivd against him did accelerat his ruin specially the Marquess of Carpio his Brother-in-law whose Son though a very hopefull Gentleman he could not abide though his Nephew by his only Sister Lastly the little Prince Don Balthasar helpd to push him down who though he was fourteen yeers of age yet by the practises of the Duke he had no Court or Servants settled for him but was still left under the Government of women Now it was about the Prince that the King first discoverd his displeasure to Olivares for asking him what Lodgings in the Palace were fittest for him and he answering those of the Infante Cardinal the King replyed and why not yours for they were my Fathers and mine also while I was Prince This struck an Earth-quake in the Dukes brest so that evening the King writ a Note to him with his own hand that he shold intermeddle no more with his affairs but retire to Loches a place hard by Madrid untill further order The next day his wife came weeping to the Queen to intercede for her husband but the Queen answerd her very calmly Lo que hecho Dios lo● vassallos y lot malos sucessos no lo puede deshazer el Roy ni yo Neither the King nor I can undo that which God Almighty the Subjects and ill Successes have done So a few daies after Olivares went to Loches in a close privat Coach at the back-gate of the Court for fear of the fury of the people and he was seated between two Jesuits as if he had bin going to execution which was a true morall one but som two yeers after Death the common Executioner of all Man-kind took him away The next day the King calld a Councell of State where he made a Speech unto them that he had deprivd the Conde Duke of Olivares of his Service not for any Crime that he had committed but to give satisfaction to his Subjects therfore his desire was that the memory of the Conde Duke might be kept in esteem among all men for the good Services which he had so faithfully rendred to the Crown so many yeers protesting for the future not to give the Title of Privado or Favorit to any Minister whatsoever being resolvd that all weighty matters shold pass through his own hands This was the sad Catastrophe of Olivares his Greatnes a man nothing of so candid and debonnair dispositions as his Predecessor witnes his disaffection to his neerest Kindred as also to the Duke of Lerma against whom he discoverd much malevolence to his death Among others one passage was that when the Prince of Wales was to pass by Valladolid where Lerma livd he had a speciall Mandat sent him to absent himself in the interim from the Town till the Prince was gone this went to the heart of the old Duke who sayd therupon that Olivares had done him from time to time many ill offices but this carried more malice then
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 a●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 Mu●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 M● 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
most plentiful i● this countrey The description of this Province Campobasso Campo di pietra Macchia Celentia Riccia Gambatesa The Castle of Motta St Iulian Colletort Gel●ono Circo The river Fortorio Vinchiaturo Baronello Busso M●rrone Gerione Livy lib. 2● Montenegro Riofredo Forolo Fornello The vally Porcina Esernia Andrea of Esernia a famous Doctor of th● law Supino Guilliniaco Lupara Catabuttaccio Lucito Limosano Castelpignano Rocchetta Casal reparande Lespinato Reg●st Reginae anno 134● litera A f●l 117 Boiano Livy lib. 9 10. Slio lib. 8. The hill Fiterno The river Fortore The river Trinio Roceavivara Trivento Iacobo Caldora Salicito Fossaseca Bagnulo Civita nova The nature and condition of the people of the countrey The Armes of this Province and what it signifieth The bounds of Capitanata Why it was called Capitanata P●ntano lib. 2. de bello Neap. Te●r● Hydruntina Barens●is regio B●silicatata Why it was called Iapigia Mesapia Daunia Apulia How Puglia came into the hands of the Romans Hannibal did much harm to Puglia Strab. lib. 6. The things which are most plentiful in Capitannta The nature of the earth The number of the cities countries and castles that ●re in the said Provinces The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 hil Garga●● The city of S. Angelo The Saracins possest th●se places and when they were driven away The description of the holy cave of S. Angelo The cause why this church was dedicated to St. M●chael the Archangel An. 1●4 Pontano lib. 2. Templum S. Michaelis in monte Gargano Laurentio an●●sio Sipontum Vieste Vieste destroyed by the Turks King Ferdinando repaireth again Vieste The end of the Adriatick sea The Citie Salapia where Hannibal was inamored The Lake of Andoria Mansredonia Castelluccio Monte Rotano Celenza St. Marco Volturara St. Gaudio Rosseno Montefalcone Lesina The Lake of Lesina Serra Capriola St. Martino Colletorto St. Iuliano Macchia Campo di Pietra Geldono Circomaggiore St. Nicandro Porcina St. Seniero Strabo lib. 6. The Temple of Calcante of Podaliero St. Iohn Ritondo Cagnano Carpino St. 〈◊〉 Arign●no St. Nicandro Foggia 〈◊〉 The custom of the sheep The number of the cattel that were customed in the year 1592. The custom of the revenue of the sheep made in the year 1592. The payment for sheep hath bin very ancient in the Kingdom Alfonsus of Aragon King of Naples 〈◊〉 to the c●stom of sh●●p Luceria of the the Pagans Paolo Diacono lib. 5. Charls the 2 King of Naples drove the Saracins from Luceria and from all the Kingdom The body of St. Augustine in Luceria By whom Troia was built The Councel of Troia The bodies of Saints in Troia Ascolo di Satriano The Church of St. Leonard given to the Knights of St· Mary of Prusia The Isles of Diomedes now called Trinity The quality condition of the people The Arms of this Province The nature disposition of the people The Royal revenue under the Kings of the Normans was received by a price What a whole intire fee was Andrea d' Isernia Capece A feudary was bound but to 3 months service The Chap. of King Charls The feudary when he served not personally to what he was bound Afflitto Charls 2. Places of Demains which yay the Livery Extraordinary payments on whom and when it is imposed The imposition of 3 grains made by Don The sum of the imposition for the Castles The sum of the imposition for repairing the highway● The sum of the payment for the soldiers and men of arms The custom of the sheep of Apulia The custom of Puglia very a●cient The custom of Puglia newly instituted by King Alfonsus The cus●om of silk sold to the Prince of Bisignano The sum of the imposi●ion upon s●●k and saffron The custom or Iron and by whom 〈◊〉 w●s ●●s●ituted The great custom of Naples and the revenue thereof The sum of th● 〈◊〉 r●venue T●e reven●● of 〈◊〉 cu●●om of 〈◊〉 Of Oyl and Sope. Of Wine conveyed out of the kingdom The custom of Cards Of eggs birds and kidds Of Manna Of the race of Horses Of forfeitures to the King Of horses that are bought Of the conveying of corn The revenue of times why it was so called The aids of Tuscan The revenue of the City of Viesti and others A new imposition upon Brimstone The new imposition on hemp A new imposition on the infidels The due of Salnitro The industry and labour of Salt The duties of the commodities of grain and others The end of the lines of Barons and the Kings Offices that are void The revenue of Liveries of heirs and forfeitures and others The Cathedral Churches of the Kingdom The Abbats of the Kingdom Circes the daughter of S●le and Perse. Totila King of the Goths apparelled like a Page Petronio Petronasso reedified the Monastery of the Hill Casino A girl converted to a male The belief of the Au●h●r The Hill Cibele now called Monte Virgine The bodies of Sidrack Mesheck and Abedneg● preserved in Monte Virgine The admirable 〈◊〉 in Monte Virgine Flesh and milk carried into Monte Virgine become● full of worms The fertility of the Hill Gauro Why it was called the Hill Miseno The hill Miseno called in former time Aereo Aeneas kild his Trumpeter Miseno and sacrificed him to the Gods of Hell The Tower of Faro Octavius Augustus kept his Fleet in Ma●● Morto for the defence of the Tirrene Sea Pompey flouteth L. Lucullus The answer of Lucullus The Authors which make mention of the Hil Miseno The Hil Massico The wine F●lerni in great estimation with the Romans The Author● which make mention of the hil Massico The Authors which make mention of the Wine of Falerno Minervio Maiella Olibano The Emperor C. Caligula caused the hill Olibano to be cut The bath of the rock and the vertue thereof The bath Ortodonico why it was so called Palinuro The City Hielia Why it was called Palinuro Pausilipo Virgils Sepulchre A Bay-tree that grew naturally over the Sepulchre of Virgil. Sarno The Country of Pompeians one of the beautifullest parts of Campagna spoiled by fire of the Hill Vesuvio See Corn Tacitus in 15 book of Histories The Wine of Trifolino Lib. 13. Why it was called the Hill Vesevo Cornel. Cetego the Consul dried up the Fen Pontina Iupiter Ansure The Lake Averno Plin. lib. 2. cap. 106. Plin. lib. 3. cap. 10. The Lake Lucrino why it was so called The History of a Dolphin The Sepulchre of Scipio Africano A Proverb See the Elegy of Giovio in the life of Scipio Afr. Phil. lib. 14. Columella lib. 13. Vegetio l 4. The Saracius possess Sicilia Ferabach maketh Warr with the Greek● Guglielmo Ferabach Count of Puglia The death of Guglielmo 1042 〈◊〉 Count of Puglia The Count of Puglia consumed by the Emperor Henry the 2 to Dragone 1051. Vm●rid● Count of Puglia Anno. 57. Baielardo Count of Puglia Roberto Guiscard Count of Puglia Ruberto Guiscard attributeth to himself the title of Duke of Puglia and Calauria
Nocolas the 2 Bishop of Rome came to the Parlament with Guis●a●do an 1059. Robert Guiscard invested with the Dukedom of Puglia and Calauria The oath of loyalty and homage of Duke Robert● The second oath P●terno taken by Robert Guiscard Salerno taken by Guiscardo in the year 1076. Pope Gergory the 7 con●●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 111● Ruggieri Count of Sicilia the son of Ruggieri Bosso possesseth the Dukedom of Puglia and Calauria An. 1123. The death of Duke William An 11●8 Ruggieri entituleth himself King of Italy Innocent the ● 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 Ci●ilies An 1130. Sig●nius in his ● 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 11●1 ●●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 t●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 Thoma● Earl of Savoy which was married with Charls of Angio .245 the which Bet●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 ●●d 6. li●era A. ●ol 55. Anno 1285. Anno 1309. Anno 1343. Anno 1●81 Anno 1386. Anno 1414 This Alfonsus was the ● ●f that name K. of Aragon and 〈…〉 in the history of the Tu●ks in the 5. Book w●ites that that K. ●lfonsus of Aragon was of the House of Med●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'Ori● 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 Rob● signifieth Charity Tullius Hos●●●●u● King of Rome after he had overcome the 〈◊〉 was the best King that use● 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 An●o● 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 Longa●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 ●ing of Cyprus The death of King Con●●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 ●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 ●●nis honos From whom the use of the crown descended The Bishop of Ostia crowneth the Pope Aurelianus was the first that wore a c●own of gold Lamp●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 elde●● son was intitled Duke of Cal●●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.
hand Pontanus in the fourth book of his History of Naples speaking of the office of the Constable refused that word as too base and abject and not Roman and so named him in Latin Magnus militiae Magister the great Master of the Militia Some would liken the office of great Constable to the Praefectus Praetorio yet there seems to be a difficulty in it seeing the Praefectus Praetorio was always created out of the Knightly order which Rule is not observed in the High Constable who is alwayes selected from among the greatest and most illustrious Barons of the Kingdom I believe their opinion was grounded upon this that the Praefectus Praetorio was next to the Prince a supream office depending upon none else over all the Militia just as the high Constable is amongst us he hath 219● Duckets a year pay and pretends in time of service when the war is without the kingdom he ought to have it double Whereupon there is a consultation depending in the Royall Chamber which is yet undecided High Admirall THe High Admirall is the second Office of the kingdom And though the Great Iustice have pretended to have the second place yet there arising many years ago a controversie for precedencie between the Duke of Somma high Admirall and the Duke of Amalfi chief Justice and the question being which of them should at that time precede it was thus judged That for the present the Duke of Somma as high Admirall should precede the chief Justice and this was done in a summary kind of judgment for the Viceroy who was at that time having called together the Regents before he went to the Chappell on a Sunday morning he caused this question to be resolved standing so far that the Usher was commanded to say That his Excellency commanded the High Admirall should go before the chief Justice not debarring howsoever the chief Justice of any reasons which he might hereafter alledge for himself Signior Agnolo of Costanzo told me that one of those Regents being called by the Viceroy that very morning wherein he had commanded the Usher to publish that Order had told him they were moved to give sentence on the high Admirals behalf because there was a very ancient Record sound in the Kings Chancery by which it plainly appeared that in a Parliament held in the time of Charls the third King of Naples Thomas Marzano Count of Squillace high Admirall preceded Rogger Acclocciamuro chief Justice And this Record is likewise made mention of by Martin Frezza in his first book de Subseudis pag. 54. num 35. And though in the Parliament held by King Alphonso in Benevento they seemed to sit in another order yet because there was no authenticall Record thereof extant as of that of Charls the third judgement was given on the high Admirals side and so much the rather because it seems to be very just that the Generall of the Sea who is the Admiral should immediatly follow the Land Generall which is the Constable This Office alone of all the other seven retains to this hour its jurisdiction which all the rest have lost And from this also hath been taken away the Generalship of the Gallies of the kingdom though there yet belongs unto him a very large jurisdiction both in Naples and elswhere through all the kingdom over all those which any way by industry live upon the trade of the Sea The great Court of Admiralty hath its name of Great even just as that of the Vicaria and its Tribunall is governed by one or more Judges according to the high Admirals pleasure He chuses his Lieutenant who carries in his hand the staff of Jurisdiction as the Regent of the Vicaria doth And he as well as the Judge hath a place in the Royall Chappell next to the last Judge of the Civill Vicaria as Frezza saith lib. 3. pag. 432. num 23. He may likewise appoint fifty men for the guard of his person with fifty Constables on Horseback and 25 Commensali or fellow Boorders and other persons as is contained in his priviledges which may go armed in the Citie of Naples and all the kingdom over with any manner of Arms though they be prohibited by the law He hath also all his houshold Officers and such Officers also as belong to his Court He appoints in every Sea-town a Vice-Admirall a Register and two Marshals and in every Province a Provinciall Vice-Admirall with six Marshals and all subject to his jurisdiction All shipwracks either of Infidels or unknown masters are his When he purposes to keep Court for execution of justice he sets up his Flag hath a Captain of the guard and his Marshals His stipend is besides six Duckets a day which all the other six Officers have which comes every year to 2160 Duckets every moneth a hundred Duckets as he is Generall of the Sea He hath for every Bark or Boat a Carline by reason of their Pennons which are certain little Flaggs with the high Admirals Arms upon them which every master of Boat or Bark is bound to carry by his Lanthorn none can put any vessels to sea against the Infidels without his license for which he is to pay a certain rate and of the prizes also when any are taken there belongs a share to the high Admirall He hath also all the bodies of the vessels which are taken with other pledges and those which by chance are sunk in the sea he hath also I know not how many barrows of Salt of the old measure for his house provision He pays no Custome or Toll nor gives no account for any thing he exports out of the kingdom by sea though others pay for such things He hath moreover very many other prerogatives and preheminencies which may be read in the Orders of the Office of the high Court of Admiralty which for brevity I omit of which to this day the high Admirall is possessed Chief Iustice. THe third Office is that of Chief Iustice which hath the supream place of exercising Justice as well Civill as Criminall in the whole kingdom of Naples His Lieutenant is called the Regent of the Vicaria and hath his Judges both Criminall and Civill and his Tribunall is the Court of the Vicaria The Chief Iustice his stipend is two thousand one hundred and ninety Duckets and the Regent hath six hundred Duckets he hath also the profits of the licenses of the Sword which are two and twenty grains and half for every license which may come every year to two thousand Duckets High Chamberlain THe fourth Office is that of High Chamberlain is so called by reason he hath partciular care of the Royal Chamber and every thing else therby belonging to his King His Lieutenant hath his Tribunall called the Chamber of the Summaria where there is nothing treated of neither by his Lieutenant nor by the Presidents but of such differences as arise between private men and the Kings Treasury or