the Uenetians succoured the citee of Bari than besieged of the Sarasines Finally after he had dooen many charitable deedes in Uenice he was persuaded by a pilgrimme monke of Gascoygne to forsake the worlde And so habandonyng wife children and friendê staâ—e awaie and died a frier in Gascoygne ¶ Than folowed Vitale Candiano who fallyng sicke renounced the astate became a friere and so died ¶ After whom Tribuno Memmo succeded whiche either for feare of the emperour Ottone or throughe the great debate betwene the families of Morosini and Caloprini than the chiefe of Uenice forsoke the dignitee became a friere and within .vi. daies after sickened and died for sorow ¶ Than folowed Pietro Orseolo who conquered Dalmaâ—ia with the ilandes ioygnyng therunto And therfore obteined the fyrste title of Duke of Dalmatia and Venetia ¶ The emperours Basilio and Alesso graunted hym free passage for the Uenetians throughe theyr dominions without custome paiyng And the emperour Ottone helde his sonne at the crisme and for his sake granted many libertees vnto Uenice ¶ After whose death as a recompense of the fathers merite Ottone Orseolo his sonne of the age of .18 yeres was elected Duke who ouercame the Adrianesi with the kyng of Coruatia and so retournyng victoriousely out of Dalmatia fell into the handes of Domenico Fâ—abenio with others that had conspyred against him who shauâ—d his bearde for despite and finally confined hym into Greece where shortly after he died ¶ Than folowes Pietro Barbolano who endeuoured hym selfe to pacifie the rumour of the people offended for the oultrage dooen vnto Ottone but all in vaine For at length by meane of Orso Patriarke of Grado brother vnto Ottone Barbolano was taken his beard cutte of clothed in a friers weede and banisshed ¶ And because the death of Ottone was than vnknowen the Patriarke Orso supplied the place as his liuetenaunte But incontinently vpon knowlage of his death the Patriarke called a counsaile and after a long Oracion lamentyng the iniurie dooen vnto his brother surrendred the astate ¶ Wherupon craftily and in maner by force Domenico Orseolo toke the dignitee vpon hym But finally beyng expuâ—sed of the people he fledde vnto Rauenna and there miserablie died ¶ Than succeded Domenico Flabenico who made a a law that from thensfoorthe no Duke shoulde take a companion to hym He was the principall cause of Ottones exile as it well appeared after For he found the meane that the familie of Orseoli was clerely put besydes the counsaile And finally hauyng well pacified and refourmed all thynges he died ¶ After whom succeded Domenico Contarini that in his tyme recouered Zara whiche before rebelled by returnyng vnto the obedience of the kyng of Coruatia He ouercame Roberto Guistardo in Puglia and reedified the citee of Grado that was halfe destroyed by Pepo Patriarke of Aquileia and after died ¶ Than was chosen Domenico Siluio the greatest man of reputacion that thitherto had ruled Uenice He maried the syster of the emperour Niceforo and at his requeste sente an armie vnto Durazo against Roberte Duke of Puglia and Calabria whiche armie fyrst preuailed but at length was so discoumfited that Domenico was therfore deposed Though some write that he died in the astate His wife was so delicate a woman that she woulde haue dewe gathered to make hir vaine withall with many other curiouse perfumes and trickes to longe here to reherse and yet ere she died hir fleshe did rotte that no creature could abide hir ¶ Domenico beyng thus deposed Vitale Falero was elected who in fauour of Alesso the Greekish emperour renewed an armie against the forenamed Duke Robert whiche armie was also discoumfited Neuertherlesse he caused the Uenetians to be called lordes of Dalmatia because he valiauntly conquered the same bothe by sea and lande ¶ After whose death succeded Vitale Michele a worthy warriour on the sea in whose tyme the Uenetian nauie was rekened .200 saile armed of shippes and galleis whiche beyng sent into Asia with Michele his sonne fell out with the Pisani a littell besydes Rodes and fought with theim and toke .22 of their galleis ¶ After whiche victorie he and many other Christians went against the Infidels and gatte Smirna Soria and Ierusalem ¶ Finally this armie beyng retourned vnto Uenice was agayne sente out into Puglia and there toke Brundizi and ouerranne all those seas about and so retourned loded with glorie and riche praie ¶ After hym Ordelaffo Falero was created Duke In whose tyme the Uenetians sent an other armie into Soria to succour Bawdewyne kynge of Ierusalem to gette Ptholemaido otherwise called Acres ¶ About the same seasone the emperour Henrie the .iiii. agreed the Uenetians and Padoanes togither for theyr confines after the Padoanes with great slaughter had ben ones discomfited ¶ There chaunced also a fyre begun in the house of one Henry Zeno that burned a great parte of Uenice Whiche fyre was no soner ceased but newes came that Calonâ—ano kynge of Hungarie had passed the mountaines of Coroatia and constreigned the citee of Zara to rebell Wherfore an armie was made out vnder the leading of Ordelaffo who not onely recouered Zara but also passed the mountaynes and conquered the countrey of Coruatia and so victoryously retourned to Uenice where he rested not longe but woorde came that the Hungariens were commâ—n againe before Zara. To the succour wherof he sped hym and there in the fighte was slayne with a darte and his armie discomfited so that the Uenetians were fayne to sue to the Hungariens for truce whiche for .v. yeres with muche adoe they obteyned ¶ Nexte folowed Domenico Michele who at the intercession of Calixto bishop of Rome with .200 sayle toke his waie into Soria â–ª to rescue Ioppe that tyme besieged with .700 saile of Infidelles againste whom he obteined the victorie And folowyng the same went vnto Tyro toke it and gaue it vnto Ualmondo Patriarke of Ierusalem ¶ The prosperouse successe of whyche victories was occasion that Emanuell emperour of the Greekes sent and forbâ—dde him to procâ—de any further But he beyng offended with that commaundemente bent him selfe against the emperour and by force toke from hym the ylandes of Scâ—o Rodes Samo Metellino and Andro and so with great honour retourned to Uenice where he died ¶ Than was Pietro Polano chosen his successour who broughte the citee of Fano vnder the Uenetian obedience and fought first with the Pisani and after with the Padoani bothe whose armies he ouercame so that of the Padoani he brought 35â— prisoners vnto Uenice and after released theim without raunsome ¶ This Duke fauouryng the parte of the emperoure Emanuell against Rogier Duke of Puglia wente in his owne person vnto that enterprise recouered Corfu and ouerronne and sacked all Sicilia And thorough his great trauayle syckened and died was broughte to Uenice and buried ¶ After hym Domenico Morosini entred into thastate who besieged Pola
Roger remained quietely Duke of Puglia and Calabria from the beginnyng of his reigne aboute xxv yeres ¶ Next hym succeded his sonne Guglielmo that thynkyng to marie one of the daughters of Alessio emperour of Constantinople â—oke shippyng to goe thither and commended his astate to the protection of Calixt the seconde than bishop of Rome But while Guglielmo was absent Roger than Erle of Sicilâ— sonne vnto Roger brother of Robert Guiscardo without any regarde of the bishop assaulted Calabria and gotte the better parte ere euer Calixt coulde succour it And albeit the bishop reised suche an armie as the hastie tyme woulde serue and came foorth as farre as Beneuento sendyng a Cardinall before with exhortacions and excommunicacions yet wolde Roger nothyng decline from his purpose but was rather more hotte in his enterprise and fortune so muche fauoured hym that after a noumbre of the bishoppes armie were fallen sicke and many of his deere friendê dead the bishop him selfe sickened so sore that he was caried in a horselitter backe to Rome and all his people desperpled By reason wherof Roger in maner without resistence in short time gatte all Puglia and Calabria into his owne possession and so kepte it that whan Guglielmo retourned deceiued of his pretended mariage findyng him selfe also spoyled of his dominion he was fayne to repayred to his cousen the prince of Saern where not longe after he died leauing none issue ¶ So Roger remaignyng successour by inheritaunce woulde no more be called Duke but entitled hym selfe kynge of Italie whiche Calixt and Honorius next bishop after him dissembled because thei could not chose but Innocence the seconde theyr next successour would not abyde that name and therefore moued of disdeine without measuryng his force sodenlely assembled suche people as he coulde make and went against Roger with so great a furie that ere euer Roger coulde make any preparacion he draue hym from S. Germaines and out of all the abbey laudes where Roger thought to haue defended hym selfe and finally constreigned hym to flee into the castell Galuzzo and there besieged hym till William Duke of Calabria sonne of Roger coming with an army to succour his father discoumfited the bishops power finally toke the bishop him selfe withall his Cardinals prisoners whoÌ„ Roger the father entreated very courtesly and at last licenced them to depart at theyr pleasure In consideracion wherof the bishop graunted Roger all his owne requestes the title of kyng onely excepted and amongest other thinges the citee of Naples whiche till that tyme had alwaies ben the emperours For ioye wherof Roger at his entrie made an hundreth and fiftie knightes But Innocence returnyng to Rome founde a new bishop made in his absence one Peter sonne of Pierleone and was called Anacletus Wherfore Innocence fledde with certaine shippes of Pisa into Fraunce The meane whyle Roger visityng this other bishop Anaclete obteined of him the title of kyng of bothe the Siciles on this syde and beyonde the Faro But within three yeres after Innocence by helpe of the Pisani returned and brought with hym Lothayre Duke of Saxonie whom he crowned emperour After whiche Coronacion they bothe with a puissaunt armie went against Roger and toke from him all that he had gotten in Italie as farre as the Faro di Messina but within fewe yeeres whan Innocent was dead Roger recouered againe all that they toke from hym and did afterwarde many notable feates against Emanuell emperour of Constantinople whose ilandes and townes he toke by force as Corfu Corinthe Tebes and Negroponte and burned the suburbes of Constantinople assaulted the emperours palaice and for a memorie of his beyng there gathered apples in his Orcharde ¶ He also fought with the Sarasines and rescued Lewys the .vii. Frenche kynge out of their handes taken by theim by the waie goyng into the holie lande And so reigning .24 yeres lorde of Sicile he died in the citee of Palermo ¶ Than succeded his sonne William before named who immediately ouerran the churche landes and was therfore excommunicated insomuche that many of his owne barons conspired with Adrian bishop of Rome againste him But finally after muche a doe he humbled him selfe to the bishop of whom he was assoiled and inuested kynge of â—ewe in the dominion of bothe the Siciles And after that made an armie into Barbarie where by force he toke and sacked the citee of Tunyse In his retourne from thense he vanquished the Grekish armie by sea though they were manie moe in numbre than he But because he waxed afterwardê somewhat couetouse and burdeined the people with taxes and subsidies his barons rebelled toke him in his palaice at Palermo and put him in prison Than toke they his eldest sonne Roger and made him ryde through the streetes After whom the people went criyng Life to kynge Roger and death to the tiranne kyng William ¶ But the inconstante people repentyng theim of their errour or fearyng leste Roger woulde reuenge the iniurie done to his father retourned to the palaice with a new rumour and findyng it closed began to assaulte it so that Roger thinkyng to appease them came to a window and as he wolde haue spoken was shotte in to the heade with an arrowe wherof he died ¶ Than was William taken out of prison and restored to his kyngdome wherin after he had reigned in all .21 yeres he died â—euyng his sonne also named William in the astate ¶ This William for his good and peasible gouernance was surnamed The good kynge William For in 26. yeres reigne he neuer had warre with any christian prince excepte that littell that moued onelie of a noble courage he made againste Andronico who beyng lefte tutour to Emanuell the seconde a childe vsurped his empire of Constantinople But the Constantinopolitans theim selfes arose against him and hewed him to peeces creatyng Isaac emperour in his place ¶ Manie worthy feates did this William with his galleis against the infidelles specially in the vâ—age that the two kynges Phillip of France and Richard of Englande made into the holy lande Duryng whose beyng at the siege of Acres the good kynge William died in Palermo without issue of his body ¶ Than the barons fearyng the bishop of Rome should subdue theim whose subiectes thei wolde in no wise be incontinently elected Tancredi bastarde soonne of the last Roger before named to be their kyng But shortlie Celestine the .iii. bishop of Rome founde meane to trouble him on this wise ¶ He crowned Henry the .vi. emperour on condycion that he at his owne charges should conquere the realme of both Siciles to hold it in fee of the churche restoryng certain citees and paiyng a certaine tribute And to make his mattier the better he secretlie toke out of the monastarie of Palermo Constance a nunne doughter of the forenamed Roger and dispensyng withall gaue hir in mariage to this emperour Henrie crownyng them both with the title of the
for artificers But for notable or sumptuouse buildynges it maie not be compared with Uenice Rome or Florence For all be it the houses be great and fayre within yet outwardely it is nothyng of that beautie and pompe that those other citees be by reason that for the most parte the Mylanese buildyng is all of bricke because harde stone and marble is not to be had by a great waie of ¶ Neuerthelesse the Domo of Myllaine beyng theyr Cathedrall churche is one of the rarest woorkes of our tyme built all of fine marble so well grauen and cutte that the woorkemanship is a wonder But it is of so vnmeasurable greatnesse that most men doubt whether euer it woull be finished or not thoughe it haue many thousande duckates of yerely reuenew in good land towardes the continuaunce and a noumbre of woorkemen daiely labouryng theron ¶ But what speake I of the churche the castell of Mylaine being so neere whiche in mine opinion is the worthiest and strongest of all Europe For it hath warde within warde fortresse diuided from fortresse that one maie holde against an other walles of endlesse strength and large dyches well watered as fayre built ouer all as nedeth to be and so well fortified that without famine it is impregnable And this concernyng the countrey citee and people of Myllaine in generall shall suffice ¶ The beginnyng and successe of the State of Myllaine AS Liuie and diuers other authors write the yere before the comyng of Christ .259 from the edificacion of Rome .460 and from the beginnyng of the worlde .4860 in the tyme of Assueâ—e otherwise called Cirus and Longimanus sonne of Xerses and nephew to Dario kynges of Persie The citee of Mylaine was rather augmented than newly built by certaine frenchemen called Senoni or Iusubrij people of low Britaine now called Semans where likewyse is a towne called Myllaine These were the frenchemen that fyrst passed the mountaines and settled them selfes in Lumbardie and that afterwardes went vnder the leadyng of Brenne to Rome burned the citee and besieged the Campidoglio though at last they were discomfited ¶ Finally in processe of tyme beeyng becomen Mylanese and made subiectes to the Romaines Amilcare the Affricane at his comyng into Italy persuaded theim to rebell wherfore they were foughten with and twise ouerthrowen firste by Furio the Pretor and after by Claudio Marcello who in the later conflict slew Mago brother of Hanniball with .37000 Affricanes and Mylanese together and therfore at his returne vnto Rome was receyued with triumphe ¶ Nowe wherfore it was called Millaine be two opinions the one is that it toke that name of the other Millaine in Brittaine the other by reason the forme of a farowyng sowe halfe couered with woulle signifiyng fattenesse was founde at the diggyng of the foundacion they called it Milana as who shoulde saie halfe woulle But howe so euer the occasion therof proceded I finde that it had diuers names as Subria Mesopia Paucentia Alba and Ercolea of Ercole Massimino that furnished it with houses and closed it with walles and also builded a temple in it to the honour of Hercules whiche is nowe conuerted to be the churche of S. Laurence ¶ Thus after the tryumphe of Claudio Marcello Millaine encreased more and more and rested in peace about 500. yeres beyng in maner the chiefe markette of all Italy Insomuche that many Romaines came thither to dwell and many tymes the selfe emperours came thither to solace But at length in the time of saincte Ambrose bishop there whan the secte of Arrians began it was somewhat troubled and shortly after destroied by kynge Attila called of the Italians Flagellum Dei ¶ And albeit that it was after reedified yet by Totila and the emperour Iustinians capitaines it was for the more parte again and again destroied And by the Lumbardes also it was many tymes sore vexed But laste of all Galuano who beyng taken prisoner by the emperour Barbarossa by escape was retourned seeyng afterwardes the same Federico occupied with the Frenche warres reedified it of new and diyng without issue left it to his citesins who with fauour of their neighbours gouerned the same as a common wealth the space of .52 yeres tyll Giouanni Torrigiani a principall citesin vsurped the dominion by force ¶ This Torrigiani as he that was cruell and desyrouse to make his astate durable feigned daiely newe crimes and offences against his citesins and specially against the Visconti to rydde theim out of the waie And though he cloked his crueltee with the beste colour of iustice that he coulde imagine outwardesly so that no man for feare durste withstande hym yet God takyng vengeaunce suffered hym to be discomfited and slayne before Parma where he had ben two yeres generall of the emperours army against the bishop of Rome ¶ Now vpon the death of Torrigiani the Mâ—lanese beganne to contende amongest theim selfes so longe that at laste Martino Turrigiani toke the dominion vpon him and kepte it two yeres in whiche time beyng aduertised that Ezelino lorde of Uerona with many banished Mylanese caâ—e in armes against him he issued out into the fielde with his power fought with Ezelino hurt and toke hym prisoner and so beeyng victoriouse and of the age of .80 yeres died at Souzino ¶ After hym succeded his sonne Philippo who beyng but weake herted and grosse witted made neuerthelesse warre againste the Cremonese sacked Como toke Bergamo and Nouara and finally expulsed the familie of Tornielli After whiche enterprises he died leauyng the astate to his sonne Napoleone that after happened to be slaine Unto whom succeded his sonne named Philippo that by meane of the archebishop Ottone Visconti was afterwardes expulsed ¶ It is to be vnderstand that before the time of Giouanni Torrigiani the house of Visconti was equall with the beste of Millaine beyng descended of the Erles of Angiera that before tyme had ben lordes of Millaine for the name of Visconti was taken of Ottone sonne of Elipandro who by reason he was lorde both of Angiera and of Millaine called him selfe Bisconte as who should say twise Erle ¶ This Ottone being gone in a croisy with other princê to conquere the holy lande foughte there with a Sarasine hande to hande and ouercame him and because the Sarasine for his enseigne caried on his crest an adder with a littell childe in his mouthe Ottone as a perpetuall memory of his victorie vsed the same euer after in his armes ¶ But nowe to come to the purpose aboute the yere of grace .1262 there remained .iiii. bretherne of the house of visconti on liue that is to wete Ottone before named Vberto Iacopo and Gasparo sonnes of Vberto de Visconti ¶ This Ottone the archebishop beyng than a banished man through helpe of his kinsman Gregorie bishop of Rome by force expulsed out of Millaine the foresaied Philippo Torrigiani sonne of Napoleone and finally became lorde therof beyng afterwardes
or three where vnder the fresshe herbers hedges and boowes amongest the delicate fruites they triumph in as muche pleasure as maie be imagined And for the most parte eche man hath his make with some instrumentê of musicke and suche other thynges as serue for his recreacion And if euer the tenaunt haue good daie than lycketh he his lippes of his maisters leauynges As for the women Some be wonders gaie And some goe as they maie Some at libertee dooe swymme a flot And some woulde faine but they can not Some be meerie I wote well why And some begile the housbande with finger in the eie Some be maried against theyr will And therfore some abyde MAIDENS still In effect they are women all Euer haue been and euer shall ¶ But in good earnest the gentilwomen generally for gorgeouse atyre apparaile and iewelles excede I thynke all other women of our knowen worlde I meane as well the courtisanes as the maried women For in some places of Italie speciallie where churchemen doe reigne you shall finde of that sorte of women in riche apparaill in furniture of householde in seruice in horse and hackeney and in all thynges that apperteyne to a delicate Ladie so well furnisshed that to see one of theim vnknowynglie â—he shoulde seeme rather of the qualitee of a princesse than of a common woman But because I haue to speake hereafter in perticuler I woull forbeare to treate any further of theym in this place Of the states of Italie THe greatest prince of dominion there at this present is Charles the .v. emperour of Almaine who for his part hath the realme of Naples and the Duchie of Mylaine whiche realme is diuided into .8 regions and to the entent the readers maie the better be satisfied I haue set foorth as well the auncient names of those regions as the present The realme of Naples ¶ The present names ¶ The auncient Parte of Campagnia di Roma Maremma Latium Terra di Lauoro Campania Principato Picentini Basilicata Lucania Calabria Brutij Grecia magna Puglia terra d'otranto Salentini Calabria antiqua Iapigia Mesapia Puglia Apulia Peucetia Aetholia Apulia Daunia Abruzzo Frentani Peligni Marrucini Vestini Precutij Marsi Valle Beneuentana Samnites As for that parte of the Duchie of Mylaine that the emperour hath it lieth in Lumbardie aunciently called Gallia Cisalpina for the most part on that side of the riuer Pò that was called Transpadana The bisshop of Rome hath for his parte the citee of Rome with these countreys folowyng ¶ The present names ¶ The auncient Parte of Campagnia Maremma Latium Parte of Tuscane Hetruria The Duchie of Sposeti Vmbria Marca D' Ancona Piceni Romagnia Flaminia Emilia The citee of Bononia  The Uenetians for theyr parte haue the Citee of Uenice with those townes in and about their marishe called La Contrada di Venetia La Marca Triuigiana and a great part of Lumbardy aunciently called Gallia Cisalpina on the same side of the Pò that was called Transpadana And parte of the countrey of Istria The common wealthe of Genoa haue the countrey about theim nowe called Jf Genouesato and auncientlie Liguria Tuscane auncientlie called Hetruria is diuided into diuers dominions wherof a small parte the bisshop of Rome hath but the greatest is the Duke of Florence who hath .vii. citees vnder him And than there be two common wealthes Siena and Lucca whose territories are not great The Duke of Ferrare hath parte of Romagnia and parte of Lumbardie The Duke of Mantua is all in Lumbardie And the Duke of Urbine is betweene Marca d' Ancona and Tuscane whose people are called of Plinie Metaurensi The Citees of Parma and Placentia in Lumbardie haue ben of late transposed from the churche vnto the astate of a Duchie but nowe it is diuided agayne as hereafter you shall perceiue ¶ Now here is to be noted that euery perticuler prince and common wealthe of Italie within his owne dominion accompteth him selfe absolute lorde and kyng and lyueth vpon the customes taxes and tallaiges that he raiseth of his subiectes For lightlie they haue littell or no landes at all of theyr owne And generallie they procede all together by the ciuile lawes and are so diligent in the administracion of iustice specially against murderers and theues that I thynke no countrey more quiete than it the realme of Naples and some part of the Romaine territorie excepted where many tymes happeneth muche robbyng by the waies ¶ An abbridgement of the state of Italie from the beginnyng vntill the Romaine empyre was vtterly diuided AFter the generall floudde remaigned no moe but Noe his .iii. soonnes and theyr wifes betweene whom it shoulde seeme the whole worlde was diuided Sem toke the easte parte Cham the southe and Iafet the weast Some write that Iafet was the same Ianus that fyrst reigned in Italie and some that Ianus was Iafettes soonne But whether so it be this Ianus was euer taken for father of the gods and was peinted with two faces either because he was father of two nacions the Greekes and Italians orels because the moneth of Ianuarie whiche hath two respectê one to the beginnyng and an other to the ende of the yeere toke name of hym While this Ianus reigned in Italie Saturne beyng chased out of the realme of Candia by his soonne Iupiter came in a maner naked vnto hym and Ianus not onely receiued hym But also gaue him the halfe of his dominion For memorie wherof either of theim builded a citee to his owne name that is to wete Ianicula and Saturnia from Ianus vnto Numitor were .xxi. kyngê of the latines whose names with the yeres of theyr reigne hereafter folow Ianus Saturnus Picus beyng a great talker was therfore feigned of the poetes to be conuerted into a pie Faunus was after woorshipped for a God of the wooddes Latinus chaunged the name of his people from Laurentini to Latini and gaue his daughter Lauinia to Eneas the Troiane promised before vnto Turnus sonne of kyng Daunus These .v. kynges reigned about .200 yeres Eneas maried the daughter of Latinus and after his death reigned .iii. yeres and builded the citee Lauinia Ascanius sonne of Eneas and of Creusa kyng Priamus daughter reigned .38 yeeres and builded Alba longa to the whiche he brought his fathers idollê called the gods Penates but they of theim selfes tourned iii. tymes backe againe to Lauinia Siluius Posthumius seconde son of Eneas and begotten on Lauinia reigned .xxix. yeres Of whom all the latine kynges afterwardes surnamed theim selfes Siluij and after some authours he was father to Brutus that first named this realme Britaine and that slewe his owne father by mischaunce whiche thyng Polidorus Virgilius doeth not grauâ—t Eneas Siluius reigned .31 yeres Latinus Siluius reigned .50 yeres Alba Siluius reigned .39 yeres and builded Alba whiche he made his royall citee but after it was destroyed by Tullus Hostilius Of that citee descended those that to this daie are called Albanesi though
gotten Rome by suche famine that many mothers did eate theyr owne children ouerranne all Campaigne the realme of Naples and the lande of Brutij and finally died in the citee of Cosenza ¶ After whom succeded his kynsman Athaulfus that maried Placidia sister of the emperour Honorius taken amonge the prisoners of Rome so wise a woman that whan hir husbande folowyng the trade of Alaricus determined to goe to Rome and to rase it to the earthe she with faire wordes dissuaded hym and brought hym to accorde with hir brother in suche wise that throughe the emperours procuremente he with all his nacion of Gothes lefte Italie and wente to conquere Spayne where in the citee of Barcelona he was of his owne folke traiterously slayâ—e ¶ The seconde was Attila kyng of the Hunes who with an infinite numbre of people entred into Italy and puttyng all to fyre and swoorde passed ouer the countrey now called Lumbardie vnto the Appenine hillê and as farre as Florence which he rased to the erth not withstandyng it was yelded vnto hym without resistence But finallie as he was goyng to Rome entendyng to do likewise there Leo the first than bishop of the same met him by the way and so entreated him that ceasyng from further crueltee he withdrewe hym and all his into Hungarie where not longe after he died of a sodeine death ¶ Thirdlie Gensericus entred into Italie with a great numbre of Vandales through this occasion Theodosius the .ii. assigned his cousen Valentinian to rule the weast parte of the empire who died within few yeres so that Maximianus a Romayne by force toke on him the occidentall empieâ— and maried Eudossa late wife of the same Valentinian who disdeigning this Maximian practised secretly with Gensericus then reigning in Affrica and did so much that he came to Rome toke it by force slewe Maximian spoyled and burned the citee and finallie for a worthy rewarde led Eudossa and hir doughter prisoners with hym at his retourne into Affrike ¶ The fourthe was Biorgus kyng of the Alani afterwardes called Alemani who entred into Italie by the way of Trent and ouerran all Istria La Marca Triuisana and a great parte of Lumbardie till at last by Seuerianus one of the emperours capitaines he was fought withall slaine and his host discomfited ¶ The .v. was Odoacrus kyng of the Eruli that sometime were of the countrey of Valachia beyonde the riuer of Danubie who with an infinite numbre of men twise in .xiiii. yere ouerran all Italie callyng him selfe kyng therof till the emperour Zenon sent Theodoricus kyng of the Gothes against him who fought with him discomfited all his hoste and finally slewe him ¶ The .vi. was this Theodoricus him selfe who by the emperour Zenon was inuested kynge of Italie in the title wherof he caused muche slaughter and destruction er euer he vanquisshed Odoacrus but at laste he establisshed his royall seate in Rauenna where he reigned .25 yeres and died of the fluxe leauyng behynde hym a perpetuall fame of his worthynesse and vertue ¶ The .vii. was Gundebalde kynge of Gorgoyne who with a great multytude passed the Alpes ouerranne a great parte of Lumbardie and with an infinite numbre of prisoners and a wonderfull pray of richesse returned into his owne countrey ¶ Nowe ye shall vnderstande that after Theodoriche was made kyng of Italy by the emperours consent his doughter Amalasuntha folowed in succession of the dominion who after the deathe of hir owne son Atalaricus accepted hir cousin Theodatus for companion in hir kyngdome but he rendryng yll for good founde meanes not onely to exile hir but also to make hir die to the entent he myght reigne alone Whiche vnkynde dealyng so muche offended his owne Gothish nacion that they elected an other kynge in Rome named Vitigius who shortlie caused Theodatus to be slaine by treason and yet he hym selfe prospered not longe after For er he had fullie reigned .v. yeres Bellisarius a capitaine sent by the emperour Iustinian recouered all Italie besieged Vitigius in Rauenna and finallie toke hym prisoner and so led him to Constantinople ¶ Whan the Gothes had a litel renewed their strength they made Totila theyr kyng ouerranne all Italie and twise toke the citee of Rome by force reignyng ouer the whole countrey .ix. yeres till Narses an other of the emperours capitaines came puissantly into Lumbardy and in a sore foughten battaile slew Totila with a great numbre of his nacion ¶ Notwithstandyng that discoumfiture the Gothes a fresshe chose theim an other kyng called Teia a veraie valiaunt man that wonderfully defended his dominion against the power of Narses but finally in plaine battaile Narses slew hym and so discoumfited his armie that the Gothes were constreigned to submitte theim selfes vnto the emperours obeisaunce and from that tyme foorthe beyng borne of two or three descenâ—es in Italy they were no more knowen for Gothes but taken for Italians and there ended the Gothishe name Whiche from the comyng of Theodoricus before named had reigned in Italy the space of .72 yeres ¶ A meruailouse mattier to see the instabilitee of these worldely thynges that the Romaine empyre whiche so many yeres before had triumphed in richesse welth ouer the whole worlde should now be subiecte vnto all calamitee and affliction Rome it selfe .iiii. tymes taken by force within the space of .140 yeres the walles in many places throwen to the earth the inestimable goodly buildynges of temples and palaices burned and spoyled the infinite treasures of money iewelles and other ornamentê put to sacke or hidde vnder the ground by the owners where it could neuer be founde neither man woman nor childe spared of the enemies furiouse swoorde and finally brought to that case that it was more than an whole yere desolate without any creature to dwell in it other than the wilde beastes And not Rome alone but also the most parte of all the notable citees of Italie were thus afflicted for the tyme. ¶ But whan the Gothish nacion was thus subdued Italie returned to the obedience of the empyre and was gouerned by the forenamed Narses by the space of .17 yeres till after the death of the emperour Iustinian Iustine the secounde of that name succeded whose wyfe Sophia thorough instigacion of some gentilmen of the court that enuied the vertue and glory of Narses kendled hir housband the emperour so muche that he reuoked Narses from the rule of Italy with iniurious wordes of the empresse that had bosted she would set hym amongest hir women to spinne and to make clothe whiche she saied was meeter for hym than to rule suche a countrey But the noble hert of Narses conceiued so great an vnkyndnesse of this that after he had answeared hir he woulde spinne suche a clothe as nother she nor hir vile housbande should be hable to weare out he secreâ—ly sent into Pannonia to Alboinus kyng of the Longobardi now called Lumbardes exhortyng him to come into Italie how be it ere
the churche than he requyred Pascall to confirme his bishops who refusyng so to doe he with diuers of his cardinals and prelatê were taken spoyled of their myters and copes and so ledde into the armie that laie without the citee and from thense into a stronge holde till the bishop so consented to the emperours will that he not onely crowned him there but also confyrmed his bishops How be it shortlie after the emperours retourne into Germanie Pascall called a counsaile in Laterano and reuoked all his doynges to the emperour because they had ben doen through compulsion and not of free will Wherfore the emperour with a puisaunt armie retourned to Rome and findyng that Pascall was withdrawen into Puglia for feare of displeasure he caused him selfe to be crowned a newe by the archebishop of Barcare of whom he also toke auctoritee to dispose the bishoprikes at his pleasure ¶ Aboute this tyme died the Countesse Matilda that gaue vnto the churche of Rome all the territorie from the riuer Pissea and San Quirico vpon the Senese vnto Ceperano betwene the Appenine hilles and the sea with the Feodariship of Ferrara ¶ And in this bishops tyme was the great viage made of the Christians into the holy lande where Hierusalem was wonne and Godfrey of Boloigne crowned kynge ¶ Gelasius the .ii. succeded Pascall by the clergies election but the familie of Frangipani in Rome which were of the imperiall faction toke hym by force and put hym the fyrst nyght in prison but there was suche a commocion of the people the nexte mornyng that the chiefe of his enemies was faine to kysse his feete and to let hym goe Wherfore shortly after the emperour came so soddeinly to Rome that no man knew thereof till he was in sainct Peters churche so that the bishop incontinently fledde and by boote escaped downe Tyber vnto Ostia and so into Fraunce where he died After whose departure the emperour created the abouenamed bishoppe of Bracare in his place callyng hym Clement and so committyng hym to the protection of the Frangipani retourned into Almaigne ¶ Calixt the seconde before archebishop of Vienna was elected successour vnto Gelasius by the Cardinallê that than were resident in Fraunce how be it he would not take the dignitee vpon hym till he had woorde from Rome that the clergie there were contented withall Upon good aduertisement wherof he repayred thither and findyng the imperiall bishop to be fledde settled his astate there sendyng to the emperour for peace and fauour whiche he easilie obteined ¶ And hearyng that the imperiall bishop was gone to Sutri and there had fortified he made an armie went thither besieged Sutri toke his aduersarie brought hym to Rome made hym ride about the stretes on a camell with the taile in his hande and at last closed him vp in an abbey He trauailed muche for William Duke of Puglia in the defence of his countrey against Roger Erle of Sicile but it auailed not ¶ Innocent the seconde immediately after his coronacion sodeinly reised an army and went against the forenamed Roger that than wrote him selfe kyng of Sicile whom he founde so vnprouided that he made hym flee to Castell Galuzzo and there besieged him till his son William with a great power came to the rescue fought with the bishops armie and toke the bishop withall his Cardinalles prisoners Neuerthelesse they were afterwardes courtesly let goe and accompanied towardê Rome where in the meane season was a newe bishoppe made named Anaclete And this new bishoppe vsyng the iewelles of sainct Peters as his owne made so many friendê that Innocent was faine to flee from thense to Pisa from Pisa to Genoa and so into Fraunce Finally he went vnto Lotharius the .iii. than elected Caesar and by his meanes was restored to his bishoprike againe For the whiche he rewarded Lotharius with the imperiall crowne as the custome was causyng hym afterwardes so to inuade the realme of Naples that Roger who than called hym selfe kyng therof forsoke Italie cleane for a tyme. ¶ The emperour was no sooner retourned into Germanie but the bishop thinkyng hym selfe in peace fell at variaunce with the Romains for chosyng of senatours because somewhat before that tyme the other bishops his predicessours had taken all temporall power clerely from the citesins and vsed it priuately as theyr own In the heate of whiche contencion Innocence died ¶ Eugenius the .iii. incontinently vpon his election forsoke Rome because the Romains were resolutely determyned to mainteigne theyr Senatours and he to the contrarie vsyng his vttermost power constreigned them to crie him mercie and to committe the ordre of all magistrates vnto him Neuerthelesse after his retourne the people that coulde not brooke the losse of theyr lybertees so rebelled agaynste him that he was faine to flee and went into Fraunce where declaryng his case vnto Lewys the kyng he obteined suche succours that in maner by force he retourned to Rome and had his owne will ¶ Adrian the .iiii. an englishman borne constreigned the Consulles and Senatours of Rome to depose theym selfes and to committe all theyr rule vnto the churche He crowned Frederike Barbarossa emperour thoughe afterwardes he did excommunicate hym He also graunted the title of kyng to William the third descended of the Normaine bloud beyng than lorde of Sicile and of the realme of Naples He encreased not a litle the Churches territorie but he was muche hated of the Romains for takyng awaie of their libertees Finally before his death he repented the excoÌ„municacion of the emperour saiyng that there coulde be none so miserable an astate as the Romaine bishoprike gotten with bloudde ¶ Alexander the .iii. had vnto his election the voyces of 22. Cardinalles and Octauian had but .iii. as moste authours agree Neuerthelesse betwene theim two grewe so great a Schisme that the emperour Frederike was faine to call diuers counsayles for the mattyer cityng both the parties there to appeare that the mattier might be rightuously iudged Octauian came at the emperours callyng but Alexander wolde neuer appeare Wherfore the emperour became so muche his ennemie that he was fayne to flee from Rome into Fraunce and other regions to procure helpe of other princes So that there happened much bloudde fyre and destruction for this mattier manie yeres together ¶ Some write that Alexander was so pursued of the emperour that in a cookes apparayle he was fayne to flee vnknowen from place to place till at laste he came to Uenice and there in a monastarie toke a gardeyners wages and serued in the kitchin Where he was discouered by a pilgrime and therupon apparailed and brought in Pontificalibus with procession to S. Markes churche remaignyng there honorably enterteigned till after fore feight by sea betwene the emperour and the Uenecians Otho the emperours son was taken prisoner by whose meanes a peace was made betwene Alexander and the emperour Some writers make no mencion of this historie but saie that by
because the inhabitauntes had hindered the Uenetian passingers and at laste vpon agrement ordeyned that in maner of a trybute the Polani shoulde yerely paie to the churche of Sainte Marke a thousande weight of oyle The like wherof he constreiâ—ned theim of Patenzo to doe Finally hauyng made a leage with William kynge of Sicilia successour vnto the forenamed Rogier of whom he obteined diuers priuileges for the Uenetian merchauntes commoditee he died ¶ Than entred Vitale Michele by whose daies the Veroâ—â—si Ferraresi and Padoani through prouocacion of the emperour Federico Barbarâ—sâ—a did no small domage to the Uenetians For the reuengeyng wherof they made out an armie and toke the Patriarke of Aquileia with .xii. of his canons of the imperiall faction prisoners who were after set at libertee vpon couenaunt to paie yerely tribute vnto the Uenetians at shroftyde a fatie bull and .xii. hogges ¶ This meane whyle the emperour Emanuell entryng secretly into affinitee with kynge William of Sicile toke Spalato Trau and Raugia from the Uenetians Wherfore thei armed and Vitale in person went foorth recouered Trau threw it to the earth with part of the walles of Raugia and so went to Negroponte where by counsail of the gouernour he concluded a peace with the emperour Notwithstandyng the emperour had a little before taken Scio. For concludyng of whiche peace and for the pestilence that his infected souldiours brought home with them the Uenetians at his retourne slew hym ¶ Muche adooe was made for his death but nothyng to effect saue a certeine noumbre were than appoincted vnto the election of the Duke some write .x. and some xl but how so euer it were Orio Malipiero was chosen who refusyng it preferred Sebastian Ziani for his auncientee richesse and wysedome So his refusall was accepted his modestie highly commended and Sebastiano accordyngly elected ¶ This Sebastian erected the two notable pillers of marble that are yet seen in the markette place of sainct Marke whiche with an other greatter than either of them were brought out of Candia but the biggest fell into the water and for his vnmeasurable weight can not be gotten vp againe ¶ The emperour Emanuell who secretely hated the Uenetians constreigned Henry Dandolo their ambassadour to stande so longe daryng in an hotte basen that he lost his sight For what cause he wrought this I finde not And though it muche offended the Uenetians yet the tyme serued not to reuenge it For they had taken part with Alexandre bishop of Rome against the emperour Federike Barbarossa and with an armie by sea Sebastian in person toke Ottone the emperours sonne with certaine galeis and brought him prisoner to Uenice So that through the practise of Ottone there folowed a peace betwene Federike the bishop and the Uenetians And the Duke was rewarded of the saied bishop with licence for hym and his successours to seale in leade to haue a canopie borne ouer hym a waâ—e taper before hym with trumpettes and standardes and finally ones a yere to espouse the sea with throwyng a golde ringe into it All whiche ceremonies the Uenetian Dukes vse vnto this daie ¶ After the deathe of Sebastian the forenamed Orio Malipiero was created Duke who went vnto the enterprise of Zara that lately had rebelled ¶ He also sent an armie into the holy lande that recouered the citee of Ptholemaida with those other placê that the Uenetians before tyme had gotten there Finally he became a frier and so died ¶ Than succeded Henry Dandolo who banished the Veronesi from the trade of Uenice so that the Veronesi for theyr parte wolde suffer nothyng to passe downe the ryuer of Adice â–ª But at length they were faine to agre with the Uenetians and to restore certaine goodes that they before had taken ¶ The Pisani also enuiyng the Uenetian glorie made an armie against them and gatte Pola whiche by the Uenetian army was incoÌ„tinently recouered the wâ—llê rased to therth and the enemies ships burned and before Modone they toke two other Pisane ships laden with merchandise and made Trieste and all Istria tributors ¶ After this they recouered Zara also and semblablie rased the walles therof to the earthe in so muche that many of the inhabitantes beyng fled before with the helpe of the Hungariens renewed an armie and ouerron all Dalmatia But at lengthe they were constreigned to make peace with the Uenetians geuyng theyr children in ostaige submittyng theyr churche vnto the Patriarke of Grado and bindyng theim selfes to geue yerelie three thousande conie skinnes to the Duke for a present ¶ This meane while came Alesso sonne of themperour Isaac than lately expulsed out of Constantinople vnto Uenice for succours who obteined that the Duke with an armie ioignyng hym selfe with an other armie of Frenchemen wente to Constantinople and after manie prosperouse successes by the waie toke it and restored bothe Isaac and his sonne vnto the empire But the emperour liued not longe after and his sonne couetyng to kepe his promyse with the Uenetians was betraied and strangled by Mirtillo or Murcifone one brought vp by his father from lowe degre vnto so great reputacion that after he had murdered Alesso he toke the empire vpon hym Wherfore the Uenetians and Frenchemen abhorryng this vnnaturall crueltee enforced theyr powers of new reuenged the death of Alesso toke Constantinople by assaulte and diuided the dominion betwene theim so that of the Frenche part Baldewine a Flemmyng was made capitaine or emperour and of the Uenetians Thomas Morosini was made Patriarke adioignyng vnto the Uenetian dominion the I le of Candia with the other ilandes of the seas Ionium and Egeum ¶ So whan they had recouered Raugia and established the Greekishe empyre this Duke Dandolo died And was buried in Constantinople ¶ The Uenetians beyng thus entred into an empyre beganne to contende amongest theim selfes whether they were better to remoue theyr common wealth to Constantinople for the encrease of theyr name and power or to remaine still in Uenice But finally it was concluded that better it was to trust to the perpetuitee of the Site of Uenice than to the brittell chaunge of Constantinoples glorie ¶ Than was Peter Ziani elected Duke in Uenice and the armie in Greece on the other syde elected Mariâ—â—o Ziani Potestate of Constantinople on condicion that he shoulde receiue his confirmacion from Uenice ¶ This Peter proued an excellent man he encreased the armie in Greece by meane wherof Corfu Modon Coron Galipoli Nasso Paro Molo Erma and Andro were gotten Negroponte was made tributarie â–ª and the Genowaies armie fought withall and discomfited ¶ He sent also a Colonia of Uenetians to enhabite Candia with officers accordyng whiche many tymes after rebelled ¶ He ouercame the Padoanes and brought .400 of theim prisoners to Uenice Finally he waxyng veraie religiouse renounced the astate and withdrew him selfe into the monasterie of sainct George where he died ¶ After hym succeded Iames Tiepolo who with
he had taken from them in those warres the castelles of Gieradadda onely excepted that the kynge of Naples shoulde do the like to the Florentines Castiglione excepted and the Florentines to doe the lyke to the Senese And that whan anie controuersy shoulde happen of newe betwene them the bishop of Rome should order the mattier without any businesse of warre ¶ The Genowaies were left out of this peace by meane of the kyng of Naples ¶ Federike emperour of Almaine requyred ambassadours from all the princes of Europe to make a newe league against the Turke ¶ But this meane whyle Bartholomeo Marcello retourned from Constantinople with an ambassadour of the Turkes that brought certeine articles of agreement to the senate whiche the Uenetians accepted and thervpon was confyrmed amitee betweene the Turke and theim ¶ After the death of Foscaro succeded Pasquale Malipiero of whom I fynde nothyng of importaunce sauyng that in his time hapned the terrible earthquake in Italie that specially in the realme of Naples did so muche hurte and that emprintyng was than fyrste inuented ¶ After him succeded Christofero Moro in whose time the Turkes wanne by force and rased to the earth the Uenetian walle made vpon Istmus of Morea and after didde in maner what they woulde thoroughout all that region ¶ This Morea aunciently called Peloponnessuâ— is the chiefe parte of Greece a verie riche countrey compassed about with the sea except in one narow place that it seemeth racked vnto the maine lande in whiche place beyng about sixe myle ouer was suche a walle made as with reasonable furniture had been sufficient to resiste a wonderfull power But the Uenetians because they fyrste of Christian princes entred in amitee with those infidelles trustyng to muche in theyr newe friendship attended more to the vndoyng of theyr neighbours at home than to the earnest prouision that so worthie a countrey agaynst so puissaunte an ennemie the Turke requyred So that shortly after the losse of that wall thei were shamefully discoumfited at Patrasso Iames Barbarico beyng theyr Proueditore And than also they loste Negroponte where was suche a slaughter of Christians as woulde make any Christian herte wepe to heare it Besides a huge summe of money that they were constreigned to geue to the kyng of Hungarie to resist the Turkes passage that with an other armie by lande was than comyng towardes Dalmatia ¶ Than succeded Nicolo Trono who was cause of the establishemeÌ„t of Ercole da Este in the duchie of Ferrara ¶ He entred in league with Vsnucassan kyng of Persia whose successour is nowe called Sophie against the Turke ¶ In his tyme the Uenetians gatte the realme of Cyprus by this meane Iames last kyng of the same for the great amitee betweene his forefathers and the Uenetians came vnto Uenice and requyred the Signoria to adopte one of theyr daughters as daughter of theyr common wealth and than woulde he be contented to accepte hir vnto his wyfe ¶ This large offer was soone accepted and Katheryn Cornaro a goodly yonge gentilwoman espowsed to the kynge who therupon retourned into his realme continuyng in peace the tyme of his life At his deathe leauyng his wife great with childe he ordeined that she and hir childe not yet borne shoulde enioy the realme â–ª But the childe after the birth liued not longe Assoone as the Uenetians hearde of the kynges death they armed certaine galleis and sent them with Georgio Cornaro brother to the Quene into Cyprus to comforte hir on the Signorias behalfe with this wile that whan Cornaro shoulde arriue before Famagosta the principall citee of Cyprus he should feigne him selfe so sicke that he might not goe out of the shippe and whan his sister the Quene with hir barons shoulde come to visite hym than shoulde he kepe theim sure from retournyng and sodeinelye entre the citee subduyng it with the whole realme vnto the Uenetian obedience As it was deuised so it happened from poinct to poinct albeit that the Quene was counsailed not to go abourde the galey and that some businesse was made after for it yet in effect the Uenetians preuailed the Quene was brought to Uenice where she passed the rest of hir yeres ¶ Some esteme this doing treason but many men allow it for a good policie ¶ After Trono folowed Nicolas Marcello in whose tyme happened no notable thyng other than the victoriouse defence of the towne of Scodra in Albania against an infinite numbre of Turkes ¶ Next hym succeded Peter Mocenigo whiche at the tyme of his election was capitaine of an armie by sea wherwith he had in Cyprus quieâ—ed a great rebellyon preserued Scodra from the Turkes furie and restored the kynge of Carramania to his astate ¶ For these woorthie deedes and for his other vertues was in his absence first made Proctour of S. Marke and than as I saied created Duke And beyng called home from the armie to gouerne the dominion Antonio Loredano was sent foorth in his stede who deliuered Lepanto frâ—m the Turkes siege and vsed great diligence in the conseruacion of the countrey of Morea ¶ After Mocenigo Andrea Vendramino was elected Duke In whose tyme the Turkes retournyng into Albania came fyrste before Croâ—a and after ouerran all the countreis betwene that and the riuer of Tagliamento in Fâ—riuli so that the Uenetians were faine to call backe the capitaine Carlo Montone who not long before put out of wages was than gone into Tuscane ¶ This Duke attempted a peace with the Turkes but his purpose was interrupted by meanes of the kynge of Hungarie and of Naples ¶ After Vendramino folowed Iohn Mocenigo brother to Peter beforenamed ¶ This man agreed with the Turke after they had warred with him .17 yeres The articles of accorde were that the Uenetians shoulde yelde into the Turkes handes Scodra the principall citee of Albania with the ilandes of Corfu Tenaro and Lemno and besides that shoulde paie him .8000 duckates a yere In consideracion wherof the Turke for his parte graunted theim safe passage for trafficque of merchaundise into the sea nowe called Mare Maggiore and auncientlie named Pontus Euxinus and that the Uenetians shoulde haue power to sende an officer of theirs vnder the name of Bailo to Constantinople to iudge and order all their merchauntes businesse ¶ Not longe after this agreement the I le of Corritta in Dalmatia was broughte vnder the Uenetian dominion ¶ And in the .iiii. yere of this mans rule warre was moued against Ercole Duke of Ferrara for the breache of certeine articles betwene hym and the Uenetians ¶ After that Robert of S. Seuerino was sente with an armie against Ferrando kyng of Naples in whiche enterprise the Uenetians discomfited Alfonse Duke of Calabria sonne of the foresaied kynge But those warres by meane of the other Princes of Italie were soone appeased whan the Duke of Ferrara besides the losse of Comacchio had susteined verie great damage for his parte
of the same and was of so good a nature that he wolde offer no man wronge but rather forgettyng those that were done vnto him he was wonte to saie That sooner and with more ease should a man ouercome his enemy by benefites and curtesie than by swordâ— or vengeaunce ¶ He delited muche in cunnyng men and kept diuers about him as well of learned as of others And finally was so worthy a man that the emperour Federico passyng through his dominion of his owne mocion created him Duke ¶ After the death of Borso Nicolo the sonne of Lionello accordyng to the couenaunt made betwene Borso and his father succeded in the astate ¶ He ruled not longe but the right heyre Ercole before named with helpe of the Uenetians by force expulsed hym in suchewyse that for succour he â—ledde to his vncle to Mantua where after the terme of thre yeres assemblyng about an .800 banished men he attempted to recouer Ferrara and watchyng his time whilest Ercole was foorth of the citee by night skaled the wallê â–ª and came to the market place criyng Vela Vela which was his enseigne but there was none of his friendes so hardy as to aryse to succour him so that Gismondo brother to Ercole seeyng the weakenesse of Niccolo's succours gathered together suche power as that hastie rumour allowed and not onely discoumfited Niccolo's companie but also toke hym with .xx. of his men prisoners and brought hym vnto Lionora the wife of Ercole doughter to Ferrando kynge of Naples who sent for the Duke vnto Bellosguardo And so within .iii. daies after the Duke beyng retourned vnto Ferrara Nicolo lost his head and was neuerthelesse honourablie buried amongest his auncestours ¶ Not longe after the Florentines at that tyme troubled by the bishop of Rome and the kynge of Naples elected this Duke Ercole for theyr generall who accordyngly serued theim verie honourablie ¶ Finally fallyng out with the Uenetians for the breache of certaine articles betwene them what with warre and with hunger he was so oppressed that had he not obteyned the bishop of Romes fauour he myght easily haue lost his astate After whiche enterprises beyng generall of the Uenetians and of the Mylanese bothe and vtterly suppressing his aduersaries the Erles of saincte Bonifacio at last he disposed hym selfe altogethers to religiouse woorkes and amongest all other with his owne handes he daiely distributed to .13 poore men for goddes sake two poundes of flesshe a measure of wyne three loues of bread and a little peece of money vnto euery one of theim and than died ¶ Leauyng his astate vnto his sonne Alfonso who proued so woorthy a man that notwithstandyng he had maried Lucretia daughter of Alexandro bishop of Rome yet whan the same bishoppe by force offeâ—ed to take from hym the countrey of Romagna he resisted so valiantly that the bishop was faine to forgoe his enterprise ¶ The lyke wherof he did vnto bishop Leon the .x. that purposed to haue taken Ferrara from hym ¶ And thus hauyng by Lucretia his fyrste wyfe three sonnes Ercole Hippolito now Cardinall and Don Francesco and by Laura his secounde wyfe two sonnes Alfonso and Alfonsino he died ¶ After whose death Ercole as eldest sonne entred into the astate and at this daie enioyeth the same ¶ And albeit that hitherto there hath happened no notable occasion to trie his woorthinesse yet can he not chose but proue well For he is a goodly man of personage hygh of stature stronge and well proporcionate in all his membres balde on the crowne of the head and amiable enough of countenance He hath a good witte and is somewhat learned and indifferent in the administracion of iustice And one thyng speciall I remembre of hym worthy to be recited Themperour at his beyng in Italie borowed money of all handes And demaundyng amongest the rest .100000 crownes in loâ—e of this Duke he brought hym a bagge of .50000 crownes excusyng hym selfe that to lende .100000 crownes he was not hable but to geue his maiestee those .50000 he could be contended with all his hert and by this shifte kepte the other .50000 crownes in his purse ¶ Finally of religion he is no more earnest than moste princes are and in his life he foloweth the court of loue to lose no tyme of pleasure ¶ He is friendly to faire women and cherisheth change By his fathers daies he maried madame Renea daughter vnto Lewys the .xii. frenche kyng a verie graciouse ladie By whom he hath two sonnes Alfonso and Luigi Hitherto he hath mainteined his dominion in peace and is therfore thought as I haue saied to be very riche He is well furnisshed of artillerie and municion and of deuocion is altogether Frenche So that if there should happen any businesse in Italie betwene the emperour and frenche kyng his part is like to be therin The astate of Placentia and Parma ¶ PLacentia and Parma ar two notable citees of Lumbardie liyng betwene the Appepine hilles and the riuer of Pò whose territory and pastures are so fatte and sweete that it is thought no place of all Europe hable to compare with it for the excellent cheeses it maketh which by the name of Parmesanes are right well knowen ouer all ¶ These two citees of late apperteined vnto the churche of Rome But Paule the thyrde now bishop of the same â–ª a Romaine of nacion of the house of Farnesi to encrease his owne familie founde the meane to separate these two citees with theyr territories from the churches dominion and to geue it vnto his owne sonne named Peter Aluigi creatyng hym Duke therof And in recompence annexed vnto the churche the Duchie of Camerino that he before had taken by force from the Duke of Urbine ¶ This Pietro Aluigi beeyng the yeere of our lorde 1546. entred into the astate beganne to beare hym selfe ouerstoutely against the nobilitie of the same and specially towardê the Signor Ieronimo Pallauicini di Corte Maggiore who rather disdeigning then enuiyng this mans dominion was faine at last to flee and to habandone wyfe and children gooddes and landes Insomuche that this new Duke toke all vnto him selfe and furnished the castell of Corte maggiore beyng a veraie stronge holde with his owne men toke all the rentes beyng .12000 duckates a yere to his owne purse excepte a small porcion assigned to the ladie wife of Ieronimo for hir liuyng with condicion neuerthelesse that if she reliued hir husbande with any part therof she should lose the whole Besides this he oppressed his subiectes causyng theim to bie harneis and to furnishe them selfes for the warre on theyr owne cost But most of all he occupied a great noumbre of labourers in his woorkes beginnyng the foundacion of a stronge castell in the place where the Abbey of S. Bennettes in Placentia stode The monkes wherof he appoincted vnto a spittle hous called sainct Lazares in Champaine And these labourers were taken vp by force from all partes of the Parmesane and