Selected quad for the lemma: war_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A41525
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The present state of the princes and republicks of Italy with observations on them / written originally in English by J. Gailhard ...
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Gailhard, J. (Jean)
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1671
(1671)
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Wing G125; ESTC R40437
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100,916
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272
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to trouble it and to foment and assist Insurrections in it The second is to foment Divisions between the Nobility and the people and between the Nobility themselves who being all together united could for certain drive them out and though the Napolitans Horse's back be much gall'd if he could gather his strength together he would be able to shake off the Rider The third Maxime is as much as they can doe to make great States fall into the hands of women whom they marry afterwards to Spanish Noble-Men The Chief Families of that Kingdom are at present Caraccioli where of the Duke of Auelina is the Head Caraffa of which Family is the Duke Matalone Pignatelle who had the title of Duke of Monteleone Monaldesqui Aquaviva Brancaccio and several others who have the name of Princes as Marana c. The antient family of the Princes of Salerno is extinct as to the name and their Palace at Naples which was very stately hath these several years been possessed by the Jesuites I shall not say much of Sicily 't is governed by a Vice-King at present the Duke of Albuquerque as Don Pedro d' Arragon is he of Naples This Island is known to be plentiful and as formerly it was the Granary of Italy so 't is still of part of it but specially of Maltha for the Gallies of the Order come almost every week to transport Corn cut of it Messina drives a great Trade of Silks the Inhabitants have still their est non est that is when any thing is proposed by the Vice-King or his Order after a debate had thereupon to satisfie the people they cry out non est if it be not contrary to their Priviledges if it be they say est then every one gets to his Arms. This City hath several priviledges but cannot get them confirmed at Madrid neither do the vice-Vice-Kings dare to trust themselves amongst them therefore they reside at Palermo which was the landing place of Don Pedro d' Arragon when the moneys he had received from Lewis the 9th of France to make war against the Infidels in Affrica he went to drive Charles d' Anjou Lewis's Brother out of the Kingdome whereof he was lawful Sovereign The peoople of this Island speak a very corrupt Italian Language mixed with some words of corrupt Greek as their Luanguage is so are their manners and nature which how treacherous it is let the Sicilian Vesspers bear witness by which action they are become not only odious but also a proverb to Italy having thereby been the author of all the disturbances where-with the Spanish Nation have since afflicted those parts of the world it had been something in withdrawing from the subjection of one who though he was their lawful Prince yet he was of a Forein Nation they had gotten their liberty yet Princes may see of how dangerous a consequence is this president but to leave the bad for the worse 't is to find a pain wherein they look't for a pleasure that is to be no more reasonable than were the Frogs who rejected the Reed to have the Stork to rule over them they should have learned of the Fish how it is better to keep in the Pan though amidst boyling water than to leap out and fall into the burning flames and fire Mount Aetna now Gibello with some of his flames is still to be seen its horrid late casting up stones flames cinders as far as Catania and the running of Rivers as it were of fire and brimstone are known to all Europe Such as we cannot read ever there was the like Syracusa is not very far from it which is much decay'd they shew some old standing ruines of a Castle as they say of Dyonisius they affirm 't was in the shape of a shell in the Centre of which was the Tyrants Closet whence by the means of some pipes which conveyed the voice he heard if we believe the Tradition every word spoken by the prisoners 't is probable that such a thing may be there being things of that nature in several parts though these prisoners were at a great distance from the Closet The Spaniards govern this Land almost by the same Maximes which they use in Naples only they let them have some few Priviledges in consideration of their withdrawing from the French and giving themselves up to them nevertheless the Spaniards are much odious to them by reason of the great and many oppressions they suffer from them for the which no body pities them since they brought it upon themselves however 't is the division of the two Chief Cities Messina and Palermo about precedencie and other things which upholds the Spaniards authority in the Island for when one of these Cities stands up the other stoops and they do every thing in opposition one to another the Spaniard therefore knoweth how much it imports to his interest to see these differences continue he foments it with the best of his skill and to the utmost of his power It were in vain to speak of Sardegna seeing the people in it are become Spaniards in every thing There hapned in it not long since a great division caused by falling out between two of the Chief persons of the Island but having been both transported into Spain the Factions were dispersed and gave way to a general tranquility This is a Kingdome and therefore is Governed by a Vice-King who was lately Prince Ludovisio Of late they have stirred very much having killed a Vice-Roy for which act some have been executed which their Friends and Relations highly rescenting are causing new Disturbances so that the present Vice-King not thinking himself strong enough hath desired more Forces out of Spain specially his Enemies being potent in Cagliari hereby are laid the foundations of an eternal hatred for their Children inherit of the quarrels and desire of vengeance as of the states of their parents this had been a fair occasion for any forrein Enemy of the Spaniard This Island as that of Sicily and Naples maintain a number of Gallies which of late is much diminished for put them altogether with the squadron of the Duke of Tursi they do not come to above twenty The state of Milan VVEsterly it borders with Piemont and Monferrat Sur Southerly with the Republick of Genoa Westerly with the Duke of Parma with the Republick of Venice and the Duke of Mantoa and Northerly with the Valtoline The Dukedome of Milan is as good and as plentiful a Countrey as any in Italy full 300 miles about plain and even ground in it are many Lakes full of Fish and is watered by considerable Rivers which make it pleasant plentiful and strong Po runs by Cremona the Tanaro by Alessandria and the Bormia which is a little one not far off Adda nigh to Lodi and Ticcino by the walls of Pavia by Milan run two Channels one of which is of great use and this goes through it and both for watering of grounds whence it