Now coming again into our former order leaving the ancient City of Aquino there is on the left hand Roccasecca and on the right hand upon a high Hill is the famous and worthy Monastery of Monte Casino builded upon the ruines of the noble City of Casino an ancient Colony of the Romans and a worthy City of the Latâ—nes which as Livy writeth had a Colony brought together with Minturn the which in the time of the Romans was very famous for that noble and stately Temple of Apollo which had a hundred and fifty high and mighty Pillars The said Monastery was builded by St. Benedict Norsino for his Monks in the year of Christ 5â—0 where Totila King of the Goths going to visit him understanding he had a spirit of Prophesie and purposing to make tryal if that which had been reported were true put on Lackies apparel causing another to go before him cloathed in Kingly Ornaments which feigned himself to be Totila but the Saint knowing of God the deceit sent unto him with a cheerfull countenance to stay with the rest of his company and pointing to the King which was basely appareled requesting him to come into the Monastery But neither this nor other the like signes of sanctity which St. Benedict declared to the Lombards were sufficient to restrain the unbridled fury of these Barbarians that they might not destroy this Monastery the which was foretold to the Monks by their Father St. Benedict It was afterward repaired again upon the first foundations and also enlarged 112 years after by Petronio Petronasso Bresciano through the perswasion of Pope Gregory the second as Paulo Diacono writeth and Elia Capriolo in his third Book of the Brescian Histories The Revenue of these Monks yearly was more then fifty thousand Crowns There lieth with great devotion in the said Monastery the bodies of many Saints and blessed people especially that of S. Benedict Norsino the Founder and Head thereof and of St. Scolastica his sister whose holy bodies were there found in the year 1443. whereby it seemeth that that cannot be true which Paulo Diacono writeth of them saying that in the year 694 in the time of Gisulfo Prince of Benevento the said holy bodies were carried by certain Frenchmen into France where to the honour both of the one and the other were builded two Royal Monasteries The which opinion is so much the less true as that Pope Zachary affirmeth to have seen the bodies of these two Saints with his own eyes in the Mount Casino many years after wherefore we will give more credit to the report of a chief Bishop and to the bodies which were found and seen in the year 1443. then to the opinion of Paulo Diacono Pliny declareth in the fourth Chapter of his seventh Book that in the said City of Casino in the time of the Consulship of Licinio Crasso and of Caio Cassio longo a girl in a certain house bâ—â—â—me a boy which by commandment and advice of their Southsayers was carried 〈◊〉 left in an Island abandoned At the foot of the Mount Casino is Saint Germano a new City so called by the name of a holy Abbot which built it Going farther is Theano called by Pliny and Strabo Theanum Sidicinum a City whether Augustus sent a Colony and not far off is Calvi an ancient City which was builded by Calai the son of Borea which came into these places after the return of the Aragonanti as Silio declareth in his eight book although Livy and Festo affirm that the first Inhabiters were the Ausoni Afterward we come to Piedemonte of Alife a good and a plentifull Country and full of worthy people where through the commodity which they have of the water is made good Cloth of Wooll out of this Country hath risen many excellent men indued with much Learning among the which these are of the greatest note Philippo Francisco of Piedemonte which commented the Poetry of Horace Lodovico Paterno an excellent vulgar Poet but in these our daies the said Country is much renowned by means of certain Gentlemen which being contented with their retired estate live vertuously employing the time in the exercise of Divine Learning and some of them in giving councel to others in the profession of the Laws Of the same Country was Nuntio Tatiaglia which composed the practice of the Civil and Criminal Lieutenantship Following the same way is Lauro situate in a pleasant and delightfull place This City was builded by Ruberto Orsino Count of Nola as Cantalitio the Poet writeth in his fourth Book where he saith that the said Count built it because that great Captain Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova received in the said place the Crown of Laurel after he had the victory of the French This Country hath the title of a Marquis the Lord whereof is Don Scipio Pignatello a most worthy man and of very honourable and vertuous qualities A little farther is Palma which belongeth to the said Marquiss the which Castle was also builded by the said Count of Nola and to this intent I will not omit to speak of the Plain of Palma so much commended for the hunting there where that great Alfonsus the first of Arragon King of Naples built to this purpose a sumptuous Palace which afterward was destroyed by Charls the eight King of France although the reliques are yet to be seen Hard by is the ancient and noble City of Nola so called by Strabo in his fifth book This City was builded as Trogo affirmeth by the Giapigii but according to Solmo by the Tirii It was very great in old time this City as Ambrogio Leoni declareth in his first book of Nola that the Wals thereof as he saith were in compass 2017 paces having twelve parts and was built round Nola may boast that the Emperor Octavius Augustus the Monarch of the world died therein in honour of whom Tiberius his successor in the Empire builded in the said City a stately Temple the reliques whereof are yet to be seen There are also to be seen in this place many reliques of ancient and stately buildings now it is not so great though it be very populous The amorous Flora was of this City who dying left her only heir of all her Jewels and Riches the people of Rome and so much money was there found in her house with the Iewels which they sold as were sufficient to build the Walls of Rome and also to redeem the Commonwealth Wherefore the Romans because she had her beginning at Rome and also had left all her goods to the Commonwealth built a most sumptuous and stately Temple in memory of her from whose name they called it Floriano wherein every year on that day which she died they celebrated the Feast of the Goddess Flora. Suetonio Tranquillo saith that the first Feast which the Emperor Galba celebrated in Rome was the Feast of amorous Flora in the which
very fruitfull three full Meadows abounding with much Grass as Martial affirmeth Near Cascano one of the said Villages is a Vein of Gold which King Alfonsus the first made use thereof but now it is fallen to decay because they say it yields not sufficient profit into the Kings Exchequer yet the Reverend Majesty of the Roman Commonwealth did not so for that they respected no other end then the common utilly caused the Mines to be digged for the relief of those poor people that laboured therein Now turning us into the way Appia as it passeth by the foot of the Hill Massico is the ancient City Sessa called of the Latines Suessa anciently named Pometia and sometimes Arunca builded as some say by Hercules it hath been inhabited by sundry people the first was said by the Arunci and the Ausoni and the Seclecini and after by the Volosci and last of all the Vestini as it appears in sundry places of Livy the Territory whereof is very fertile of all sorts of Fruits but particularly Corn Wine and Oyle which for great abundance the Citizens thereof say proceeds from the excellency of the air and that Sessa was so called as it were Suavis Sessio being so well and so excellently situated and therefore the Emperor Claudius growing sickly and weak went thither to recover his health Sessa was a priviledged City of the Romans that worthy Philosopher and Phisician Augustine Nifo hath in these our daies much honoured this City The Arms of this City is a Lyon Rampant gules in a field or it hath the dignity of a Dukedome the Lord whereof is Don Antonio of Cordova Duke of Somma Nephew to that Noble Lord Consalvo Ferrando of Cordova Going from Sessa by the way Appia on the right hand of Massico eight miles is Carinola sometime called Calâ—no an ancient City joyned on the one side to the Territory of Falerno and on the other to the Hill Massico the Fields Falerni stretch from Carinola to Cassilino which was afterwards called Casteluccio and was here joyned with the Field Stellato more pleasant then any other part of Italy as Livy writeth The Hill Massico stretcheth beyond the City of Tiano and of Calvi called long since Cales even to Cajazza which the Ancients have called Calatia this Hill is extended with a back on the left hand from Calvi to Venafro and from thence directly to Volturno another part boweth on the right hand full of Woods and Caves and goeth to Caianello sometime called Calicula And to Vulturno on the right hand of the mouth of Vulturno was sometime a City called also Vulturno as Livy witnesseth and was where we now see the Land called Castello to the Sea of Vulturno not far from the Sea is to be seen Patria builded upon the ruines of Linterno which was the Town of Scipio Africanus where he made choice to live when he betook himself to a voluntary exile and where he spent the latter part of his life It is said that he caused to be written on his Sepulchre Ingrata patria non possidebis ossa mea There is near Linterno among the ruines thereof the Fountain of water Acidula which water is said to make a man drunken as wine and the Shepherds report that whosoever drinketh of this water is delivered from all pain of the head and we having a desire to make trial thereof found it to savour well as all other and although a certain fume ascendeth up the nose in smelling it as Wine useth to doe yet drinking but a little we could not perceive the effects thereof which it procureth in drinking Five miles from Linterno is Cuma between which two places where the shore is crooked between the Pool and the Sea was the Town of Servilio Vacia of whom Seneca speaketh Cuma was builded by the Galcidesi and the Cumei the leaders of the Colonie which came thither to inhabit were Hippocle Cumeo and Megastene Calcidese which agreed between them that from the one it should take the inhabitants and from the other the name although some say it was named Cuma from the waves for Cuma is as much as to say Onda for being near the stony shore it is full of mighty Rocks continually beaten with the waves of the Sea Near Cuma is the Promontory Miseno where was buried Misceno the Trumpeter of Aeneas and between these two is the Lake Acherusia which is a Moor or Marsh of the Sea very muddy leaving Miseno near under the Promontory is the Lake From thence the shore fetcheth a compass making a gulf where is the Castle Baia and the Baths of warm water no less profitable for health then delight Baia was so called by Baio the Companion of Vlisses which was there buried Near Baia is the Lake Locrino in the time of the Romans within it was the renowned Lake Averno The Lake Lucrino was so called by the profit of the Fishes and Oysters that were taken there Following the shore is the City of Pozzuolo which in former time was the Harbour of the Ships of Cumani builded upon the Hill In the time afterward of the Wars of Hannibal the Romans replenished it with people and of the Ditches named it Pozzuolo Others affirm that it was so named by the ill savour of the water which from Bale even to Gumeo is generally felt Following then that shore from Pozzuolo are seen many Springs of wholsome and medicinable water on the shore near the Ruines departing from Pozzuolo and going by the way which leadeth to Naples are great ruines of buildings on every side for the space of a mile At the end of these ruines is the Court of Vulcan now commonly called Solfatara which is a Plain inclosed round about with smokie Hills in the manner of fiery Fornaces from whence out of divers places arise very stinking exhalations and the Plain is all full of Sulphure and sometime it boileth out more then eight hand breadths in height and being mixed with the earth it seemeth black and in in such sort that it may rather be called dark clay then water Here amongst those natural things that is worthy consideration it seemeth that the watry humour preserveth the Sulphure in such manner that during all the time it continually burneth it consumeth not and the fire abideth in the same holes the water issuing by the same passage This place was also called of ancient writers Campo Flagro as it were a burning field from whence the Poets feign that there was the battel of the Giants with Hercules and that the flashing of their wounds and the Conquest of the Giants do cause such and so great ebolitions of fire and water Bending afterward to the North a little from thence is the Hill Asturno very high in the midst whereof is a Plain very low reduced into a circle being two miles in circuit where is a little Pool with Sulphure water which
issueth out on every side very beneficial to those which are diseased This Plain is compassed with a Hill which every carrieth an equal height in one side whereof is a very thick Wood planted in such sort that all Italy yields not a place more beautifull and more pleasant for hunting This Wood hath great plenty of Acorns and other Fruit and Food for Cattel and is full of wild Hoggs Goats Harts and other kinds of wild Beasts which entring in of themselves or forc'd by others can come no more out again The top of this Hill is very large for it reacheth more then the space of five miles this place is commonly called Listroni a place reserved for the Kings hunting Returning to the way which goeth from Pozzuolo to Naples is seen the place where was the Village of Cicero so named at this present where was buried the Emperor Adrian which died at Baia as Spartiano writeth where the temple was afterward consecrated by Antonio his successor in the place of the Sepulchre Following yet the said way is seen great ruines of the Village of Lucullus which he had near Naples according to Plutarch where likewise he caused to open the stony Hill with the Iron which carried the water of the Sea into the Lake Agnano which was included in those Hils On every side of this open Country appeareth high Rocks near which are the ruins of stately Buildings Passing by the said way to the Lake are the Baths of the Lake Agnano which are certain little closeâ— vaulted Rooms from whence there riseth certain hot vapours in such sort that a man entring in naked presently falleth into a sweat and therefore they are called Sudatorii They dissove the raw and crude humours in man they lighten the body comfort the weak heal the intrails drieth the Fistula and the ulcer in the body and easeth the pain of the Gout Here St. Germano Bishop of Capoa is said to find the soul of Pascasio Cardinal as St. Gregory relateth in the fourth Book of his Dialogues A little farther on the right hand at the foot of the high Rock which compasseth in the Lake very near to the same is a hole not very deep in the Rock nor very large nor high where any living creature being cast in dieth suddenâ—y which afterward being presently taken out and cast into the water of the said lake reviveth again Pliny maketh mention of this hole in his second Book where he saith Alii spiracula vocant alii Charoneas scrobes mortiferum spiâ—atum exalentes The said Lake bringeth forth no other thing but Frogs and in the Spring are often seen many heaps of Serpents which are there drowned and stifled in the water by the providence of God which suffereth them not to encrease being so hurtfull and venomous to the nature of man Afterward we come to Pausilipo which had that name for the pleasantness of the air which so well agreeth with the situation helping much the infirmity of weak minds for the expelling of melancholy Here Cesar had a Fish-Pond wherein a Fish lived sixty years And the bottom of this pleasant Hill was all full of Gardens and Fruits and delightfull Villages and that part towards the Sea was not far from the City of Naples near the shore whereof were an infinite number of Habitations which time hath utterly ruinated After followeth the Cave of Cocceio which some attribute to Lucullo and others to Basso made after the fashion of that of Cuma whose entrance is open and with so great largeness that three Carts may there pass in rang and by little and little the light entreth at the windows in the top which in many places are cut out in the upper part of the hill and in the right side from the passage of the Cave in the way towards Naples is the Sepulchre of Virgil and by that which doth appear this was a Chappel compassed and vaulted with Arches and smoothly walled about with Marble and within were places for Images to stand in without opposite to the Chappel is an Epitaph in white Marble with these modern Verses Qui cineres tumuli haec vestigia conditur olim Ille hoc qui cecinit pascua rura duces Going then towards Naples appeareth the little Hil Olimpia now Piaggia called of the Neopolitans Chiaia where are so many goodly Buildings among the which there is one made by M. Giacomo Sanazaro so great a friend to the Muses as any in these our daies called Merguglino and in Latine Mergeline celebrated by him in his Book De partu Virginis A little farther near unto the City is the little Isle of Megary now called the Castle of Vovo where remaineth a good Garison of Souldiers Last of all is the fair and Royal City of Naples at the first called Sirena where Parthenope arrived carried by the fortune of the Waves who changed the name being newly re-inhabited according to the Oracle of the Cumani which before they had destroyed it flourished and increased again by the union and amity of the Palepoli being alwaies faithfull to the people of Rome under whose Empire it continued with great glory and renown untill it sell together with the rest of Italy into the hands of the Goths and other Barbarians who expelled by the Normans was governed by them and made the Head of the Kingdom from whose Dominion succeeded the House of Suevia by means of the Queen Constance the only Heir from whence it came to pass Charls having killed Tancred and subdued Coradine under the French and after succeeded by means of Queen Ione of Arragon now it remaineth in peace and tranquility under the protection of the Catholick King Philip and so populous that it is not inferior to any other City whatsoever excelling in Nobility and riches all other in the world there continually repaireth sundry Nations from all parts of Europe there are assembled the most part of the Noble Families and there also florisheth the study of the Laws and all good Learning It standeth at the bottom of little Hils which compass it in the manner of a Bow or Arch. The Gulf Cratera is directly opposite unto it so called in ancient time for that Miseno and the Promontory of Minerva now called Campanella with the Isle of Capri compasseth it in the fashion of a Cup. A Cup which may be truly called a Cup or Goblet of Silver since the purity and calmness of the water resembleth in outward shew quicksilver Naples hath on the East side Fields which in length joyn to the Plains Acerram and in breadth pass to the foot of Vesevo now called Somma Strabo saith that in his time did spring at Naples hot waters very commodious to make Baths little inferior to those of Baia but that they were of less quantity The Arms of this City was a Field per fesse or and gu which Arms were given by great Constantine the Emperor
Near Naples is the Greek Tower first called Herculea of Hercules which came thither with many Ships after he left Nontiata near the ancient Stabie At this place standeth aloft that famous Hill of Somma called Vesevo and Vesuvio about which are situated many pleasant Villages except in the top where the Poets feign remain the shoulders of the Giant Porfirius In the time of the Emperor Titus with a general fear to all those in the fields and destruction of them which were nearest it cast out from the top thereof great flames of fire and Balls of Sulphure Mine and burning stones where Pliny died the great preserver of the Latine tongue whilst he desired to see the great exhalations of that Hill which cast the ashes even into Africa Going a little farther is the City of Castel by the Sea of Stabia so named by the City Stabbia which was not far off which had been destroyed by L. Silla this Castle is situated in a corner of the Mount Gauro where it beginneth to stretch towards the West which maketh the Promontory of Minerva Here about the distance of a mile through the delight of the place King Charls the second builded a Royal Palace calling it for the sweetness of the air the Wholsome House which afterward King Rubert enlarged giving it greater beauty and ornament which place is now possest by the Noble Family Nocera King Ferrant the first having bestowed it on Pietro Nocera his chiefest favorite which for his great valour was afterward by King Ferrant the second made General of the Gallies This Country aboundeth with great plenty of clear water and great store of the best Fruits and for the facility and easie access of the place hath much Traffick According to the division of Strabo of Ptolomy and of Sempronio this City should be placed in the Country of the Picentini which is now called the Province of Principato but we have thought best to confine it in the Land of Lavoro because it is situated in the Gulf of Cratero Within a little is the beautifull City Vico builded by the people Equani then followeth the City Sorrento very ancient and Noble situated on the top of the Hill whose prospect is the Sea Although it be not of that greatness as formerly it hath been it hath a very fertile and delightfull Territory garnished with Vines and Oringes and other fruitfull Trees This City was builded by the Greeks and was called Petra Syrenum In this City lived Antonio the Abbot a most holy man and famous for his miracles whose body remaineth even now as a testimony of his divine Miracles as they say towards those which are oppressed with Spirits Then from Sorrento a mile is the City of Massa newly named to the which Paolo Portarello that excellent Poet and great Humanist hath now and alwaies giveth everlasting glory From hence then is seen the solitary Hill Atheneo the which because it joyneth not with any other Hill passeth along towards the West and is otherwise called the Hill Massa it was also called Prenusso Sirreo Minervio and the Hill Equano in the top of the Promontory is to be seen a great part of the Temple of Minerva builded by Vlisses Under the side of the said Promontory are certain desart and stony Islands called the Sirenes in one whereof from that part which lieth towards Surrento in ancient time was a rich Temple where were certain very ancient gifts long since presented by the Inhabitants of the Country for the worship and reverance of that holy place the Reliques whereof are now to be seen Here endeth the Gulf called Cratera included within two Promontories Miceno and Ateneo which lie towards the South which Gulf is almost wholly planted with Houses and goodly Gardens opposite to the which riseth out of the Sea the Isle of Capri the first delightfull place of Tiberius Caesar but now ordained for Exiles and banished people Here twice in a year are Quails taken Directly against Miseno is the Isle of Prochita now called Procita the which according to Strabo is a part of Pitecuse Procita was so called as Pliny saith by the depth thereof for by miracle the said Isle rise of it self out of the bottom of the Sea But as Dionisius of Alicarnaseo affirmeth that it was named by a beautifull young man a Trojau called Procita which came thither to inhabit Whereof Servio upon these Verses of Virgil saith in his 9 Book Tum sonitu Prochyta alta tremit c. Saith that it had that name from Protheus which signifieth spread or dispersed to the which opinion agreeth the Greeks and almost all the Latines Silio the Italian in his 12 Book speaking of Procida saith thus Apparet Prochyta saevum sortita Numanta Apparet procul Inarime quae turbine nigro Fumantem premit Iapetum flammasque rebelli Ore rejectantem si quando evadere detur Bella Iovi rursus superisque iterare volentem Within this Isle is a fair Country well replenished with people which hath the same name and is very famous for the abundance of Corn that is gathered within it and for the taking of Partridges and Pheasants whereof there is great plenty The Lord of this Isle in former time was Iohn of Procida a Phisitian a man very famous who fearing not the power of King Charls of Angio to revenge a great injury took Sicilia with that famous slaughter of the French commonly called the Sicilian evening and he had done greater matters if he had been permitted This Iohn was in great esteem with Iames King of Arragon after whose death King Peter his son knowing the valour of Iohn Le dio dice il Zurita en el Reino de Valencia para el y sus successores las Villas y Castillos de Luxer Benyzano y Palma con sus alquerias He gave him as saith Zurita in the Kingdom of Valentia to him and his successors the Towns and Castles of Luxer Benyzano and Palma with their bordering Villages From this man descended the Family called Procita which are now very great in the Kingdom of Catalogna and enjoyeth the Countie of Almenare In the said Isle in a fair Church with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Margarite the Virgin and Martyre which was carried thither from Antiochia Salvo Selano the Phisician honoureth much this Isle now living in Naples with great renown who hath written upon the Aphorismes of Hyppocrates The said Isle is distant from Naples twelve miles and in composs seven A little from Procita lieth the Isle Ischia formerly called Inarime Pithecusa and Enaria very famous not only for the Fable which the Greeks feigne of the Giant Tipheo strucken with Iupiters Thunder-bolt but also for a Fortress there being so great that it is held the second Key of the Kingdom The said Castle was builded by Alfonsus of Medina King of Arragon first of this name King of Naples who because
a more ancient original say that it was builded by Amalfo a Roman and Captain of the Emperor Constantine in the year 335. And finally others say that a certain worthy Roman Lady called Amalfe the daughter of Marco Marcello Ruffo builded it and that by her name it was named Amalfe It increased in process of time with much people and was govern'd many years as a Commonwealth under Dukes and oftentimes made War with the Salernitani and others which sought to trouble them and often had the better and especially of strangers it became very famous for the Traffick of the Citizens thereof the which for the great number of ships which they had sailing every where had great Merchandize whereupon through the Traffick which they made in the year 1020. obtained the favour of Calife King of Egipt whereby they got safe conduct freely to Traffick into all his Territories through the which favour with large and bountifull gifts which the Merchants of Amalfi bestowed upon him bound him in such manner that they obtained what they would and in particular had licence to build in Ierusalem a Church with a house near to the holy Sepulchre of Christ to receive the Latine Passengers which came to visit those holy places the which Church was consecrated to St. Mary commonly called the Latine for a difference of the other places which they had near about the Greeks and Sorians whereupon in a while after they built another house under the title of St. Mary Magdalene where they received with all true charity and courtesie all women that came to visit that Sepulchre But so great a number of people repairing thither and the place being little and narrow they made an Hospital under the name of St. Iohn Baptist and with the alms which was gathered of other devout people maintained the Hospital in which place they constituted a Head which they called a Governor or Rector whereupon after a certain time a Governor of the said place named Geraâ—do in the year 1099. having a long time govern'd the aforesaid Hospital began to bear together with his associates a white Cross in the midst of the brest on a black garment and instituted and established a rule of life after the Order of St. Augustine The same did Agnesa which was Prioress of the Monastery of women The said Religion was afterward approved by Pope Honorius the second in the year 1127. The rule which was confirmed went so well forward that through the liberality of Princes they got great riches and Ramondo of Poggio was created great Master thereof Ierusalem being afterward taken in the year 1187. by Salandine Emperor of the Turks the said Knights in the year 1189. had for their habitation the Isle of Rodes of Isancio Angelo the second Emperor of Constantinople whereupon by means of their habitation they were called Knights of the Rodes All this we thought good to say for to declare that this Noble and Sacred Religion of the Knights sometime of St. Iohn of Ierusalem afterward of the Rodes and now of Malta have had their beginning from the said Amalfitani Arrigo Pantaleon speaking hereof in his History thus writeth Anno 1020. Interea Amalfitani celebris ac pia gens Italiae varias merces easque in solitas turcis gratissimas in Orientem navibus devexerunt est autem Amalphia civitas exterioris Italiae inter mare montes eminentissimos sita ab Oriente habet Salernum ab occidente Surrentum Neapolim ab Austro Siciliam Tyrrheno mari sejunctam Ob has ergo novas merces Caliphae Aegiptio caeterisque praefectis ac incolis Syriae erant acceptissimi ita ut magistratuum licentia omnes regiones urbes circumire atque merces distrahere omni metu se posito libere poterant Illi autem Christianae religionis paternarum traditionum memores quoties occasio dabatur loca sancta visitabant Quia verò Hierosolymis nullum haberent domicilium ut in aliis maritimis civitatibus amicis collectis Calipham Aegiptium adeunt ac per ejus proceres oblato scripto impetrant ut praesidi Hierosolymorum nunciaretur quo Turcarum amicis in ea parte qua Christiani habitant locus amplissimus ad aedes oportunas construendas designetur Hac occasione oblata pecuniam passim à mercatoribus colligunt ad lapidis jactum ante januam Ecclesiae Dominicae resurrectionis in honorem Dei Virginis Mariae monasterium erigunt quinetiam alias aedes adjungunt quae ad usus monachorum atquae suae gentis hospitium satisfacerent Hoc fundamento jacto ex Amalphia monachos Abbatem â—o transferunt locum ritu Romanae Ecclesiae Deo matri virgini consecrant unde locus ille monasterium de Latina semper dictus fuit Cum autem eodem tempore etiam sanctae viduae omnibus laboribus periculis contemptis ea loca invisirent nec inter se mulieribus oratorium propriam domum extruxerunt ubi postea monasterium Mariae Magdalenae peccatricis fuit constitutumut certus monialium numerus ibidem peregrenantibus foeminis inservirent Paulò post etiam debet Caliphae filius cum Romano Argiropilo â—mperatore Constantinopolitano foedus iniit atque Christianis facultatem concessit templi Dominicae resurrectionis recuperandi itaque Ecclesia illa circa annum salutis millesimum quadragesimum octavum restaurata fuit Constantino Monaco sumptus suggerente c. In Amalfi the year 1300. was found to the glory of the Amalfitani by Flavio di Gioia the Mariners Compass by the vertue of the Adamant stone with the Sea-card so necessary for Pilots and Sea-men the which invention was wholly unknown in former time having no other help then the shadow of the Sun and the North Star as it appeared in that Voyage of Lucano when Pompey after his discomfiture in Thessalia going to Lisbone to fetch his wife Cornelia making a journey afterward by Sea towards Egipt demanded of the Master of the Ship and the Mariners in what manner they guided their Bark in a direct course to perform their Voyages where they knew no other way then what we have said In old time Pilots and Sailers were accustomed every year to offer in the chiefest Church thereof bountifull and rich gifts in a gratefull remembrance of so great a benefit since the beginning of this excellent invention they found out not only the longitude of the distance of every place and the direct way from one place to another but also to avoid contrary winds the traversing of the waters the fear of shipwrack the danger of Rocks and the incounter of Rovers and Pirats whereupon Iohn Pontano calleth the said City Magnetida and Antonio Panormitano in praise thereof made this Verse following Prima dedit nantis usum magnetis Amalphis The said City is very pleasant for the beautifull Gardens that are there and for the great plenty of water which yieldeth great commodity in the making of
round about That R. Padre Matthia Iuono sirnamed Aquario of the Order of Preachers hath given great honour to this Country of the learning of this man many Works written by him are sufficient testimony that is to say certain learned discourses upon all the principles of Logick natural Philosophy Metaphisick and the Soul upon the four Books of Sentences and another book in particular of the exquisite learning of the controversies between St. Thomas and all the other Doctors and Philosophers with a brief discourse de memoria artificiali de significationibus terminorum juxta doctrinam Sancti Thomae The said learned man died in the year 1591. Walking a little forward is the Country of Olivito the natural Country of Camillo Borrello an excellent Lawyer Olivito was so named because the Territory thereof is full of Olives But leaving these Mediterranean places and walking the ruinous way by the shore we come to Agropolo where is reported that through the delicacy of the air women at twelve years of age are capable of husbands like to the Cipriots which at that time lose their virginity After we come to the Castle of Abbate is the Cape of Licosa first called the Promontory of Possidoniate hard by is the Castle of Bruca a relique of old Velia with the River Electe which taketh the name from the City of Elea and hither the Romans sent to celebrate their accustomed sacrifice to Ceres their Goddess Before the Country of Elia are the two little Isles of Enotrie which have two little artificial Havens the one called Isacia and the other Pontia Afterward appeareth upon a high hill Cammerota in a small circuit of ground builded as some affirm by the reliques of the ancient City of Molpa which standeth but a little distant Going afterward some few miles is a goodly Fortress Near Policastro with the Gulf which the Ancients call the Haven Saprico is the City of Sapri now named Bonati Within the Land is Capaccio Novi and the Valley of Diano a litle from whence upon a hill is a Country called Atane on the other side is Polla Tito and Sala so called because the hils are full of Sage whereupon because in this Valley riseth a great Spring of water which the City of Diano takes the name from Atane of Atteone Tito of Titan which is the Sun Apolla of Apollo it seemeth from the resemblance and near affinity of these names and from the pleasantness of the Country the Fable might here have had its beginning of Atteone the son of Aristeo with Diana After followeth the Fenn with the rich Monastery of St. Laurence possessed by the Carthusian Monks and not far distant is Laurino Saponara and Marsico with many other places But to conclude touching this Province it remaineth that I now declare the disposition and nature of these people which are of a strong constitution and naturally merry ready in arms desirous of learning wary in their affairs and given both to pleasure and profit they are also painfull and industrious and inclined to Traffick the Gentlemen are comely and neatly attired nothing differing from the manner of the Neopolitans but the common people respect not so much civility for as much as they cloth themselves with cloth made of course wooll and base attires on the head All the men in general are very jealous both of their honour and their wives whereupon proceeds the old Proverb Picentinorum Zelotypia In bargaining and contracting their affairs it behoveth a stranger to be very wary for what with deceitfull and flattering speeches and many oaths they easily deceive those that buy any thing of them The Arms of this Country is per fesse ar Sa unto a Sea-compass four wings extended and fixed in Salter with the North-star in chief sinister or The which said arms declare unto us that in this Province was found as hath been said the Mariners Compass with the vertue of the Adamant stone and the Sea-card by Flavio di Gioia whereupon the two fields the one signifieth the day the other the night the four wings which are joyned to the Sea-Compass declare the four Cardinal Winds and chiefest in the world that is to say the East the West the North and the South the shining Star signifieth the North Star wherewith through that excellent invention Pilots and Mariners might sail both day and night with any wind The PRINCIPALITY On the other side the third Province in the Kingdom OF NAPLES THe people of the Principality on the other side are part of the ancient Irpini and derive this name from Lupo which conducted them into this Province to inhabit for so much as the Sabines call Lupo Irpo the which Strabo declareth in the end of his first Book saying Ordine de hinc sunt Hirpini ipsi Samniticae gentis Qui quidem ex Lupo nomen adepti fuerunt qui eis in deducenda Colonia Dux oblatus est Samnites enim Lupum vocant Hirpum The limits of these people were on the East Lucania at this present called Basilicata on the South a part of the said Basilicata with the Picentini and the happy Campania on the West the Sabines and the Vestini on the North the Apennine Hils and the Plain Apuglia now called Capitanato with the Saracins and the Peligni There is also contained in this Province a Country now called the dale of Beneventana the principal part of all Sannio where have been done greater exploits and more in number then in any other part of Italy This Country hath higher hils then the Apennine from whence proceed in certain places little brooks and from almost immeasurable Cliffs and Rocks which is the cause of many Rivers Streams Lakes and Springs it stretcheth in length going along by the Apennine 80 miles from the head of Vulturno to the beginning of the River Silare in Basilicata and of so many Rivers which water this Valley except some few all first fall into the River Sabato and afterward into Vulturno so that from the lower part Sabato seemeth a snag or a branch of a Tree among all the other boughs thereof In Matese which is a Promontory of the Apennine did inhabit the most valiant people of all Sannio Of these people which remained upon these hils Livy saith that they were alwailes faithfull to the Sannites neither could the Roman Army go much before them The principal City of this Region is Benevento edified as Servio affirmeth by Diomedes the Greek and Livy saith that it was first called Malvento and that it was made a Colony of the Romans at the same time with Arimino under the Consulship of P. Sempronio and Ap. Claudio The said City was maintained many years in great peace under the Government of the Romans untill the coming of Tottila King of the Goths into Italy who destroyed it with great slaughter and so remaining ruinated for certain years was afterward repaired
Controviero a man of Princely behaviour was in great account with Paul the sixth by whom he was created Bishop of the City of Penna and Vice-Legat of Bologna and had been advanced to greater honour if the death of the Pope had not hindred it Gabriel de Blasio being a man of great vertue was made Judge of the Vicaria and of the Kings Councel Two men of the Family Bilotta have carried great honour in their Country which florished in the time of our fore-fathers the one called Iohn Camillo the other Sâ—ipio of whom the first being a man much learned in many Sciences was by the King imployed in divers honourable affairs and was created the first Exchequer-Advocate of the Vicaria and afterward of the Sommaria And the second was a most vertuous and a good man and was general Commissary of the Kingdom against Malefactors which through his good Government brought them into peace and tranquility and in reward had the Office of Exchequer-Advocate of the Vicaria which his brother held and had enjoyed if untimely death had not prevented it This famous City hath also brought forth many excellent men in Arms of whom omitting to speak I refer the Reader to the Histories which largely discourse thereof among whom two have been very famous in the time of our fore-fathers as Hectore Savariano a valiant Souldier of his age of whom Giovio in the life of Leo the tenth maketh honourable mention And Andrea Candido Prior of Barletta Knight of the Rodes There are in the said City these Noble Families Aquino Avolos Bilotti Bottini Candidi Capassi Calendi Capobianchi Caraccioli del Leone Contestabili Controvieri Del ' Aquila Di Blasio Di Enea Del Sindico della Vipera Egittii Filingieri Grisi Laurentii Leoni Mascambroni Mazzei Mazzilli Monforti Morri Pesci Sallaroli Savariani Tuâ—i Vico Vintimiglia Vitro the Arch-Bishop of this City hath 24 Bishops his Suffraganes which number no other place of Christendom hath equalled This City is situate in a plain place near a Plain full of little brooks of water with many hils round about very plentifull and distant from Naples 30 miles Writers affirm that in the division that was made of the Roman Empire between Charls the great and F.L. Nicesero the Greek the Dukedom of Benevento and the City of Venice were appointed as the limits and confines between the one and the other Now because we have sufficiently discoursed of Benevento we will declare the quality of this Country the which although it be full of hils is nevertheless very pleasant through the variety of the situation high low plain and very commodious for tillage because the Country is wholly inhabited and aboundeth with all good things The Hils are covered with Vines and fruitfull Trees the Dales and Plains with Corn and Gardens there are also thick Woods and watered with many Rivers and store of Cattel of Corn Wine Oyle Flax Apples Chesnuts both great and small Nuts Pears and other fruits of great goodness and perfection whereby in time of Harvest it doth appear that it contends in equal comparison with other plentifull Provinces and above all there is excellent hunting both for fowles and beasts The Aire is subtle and wholsome although cold There are moreover in this Country in the Territory of Prata Mines of Gold and Silver which for that they yield no great profit are not much regarded Distant from Benevento little less then ten miles is the Valley of Caudina where was the ancient City of Caudio the reliques whereof yet appear and not far from thence is the ancient Harpino now called Arpata which is very near to the Gallows of Caudine very famous for the overthrow which the Romans had there where the Consul and the Roman Army by deceit inclosed were constrained by the Sannites to pass shamefully under the yoke the which place the Country-people now call the streit of Arpaia which stands but a little distant from the City the which is indued with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the house of Guevara On the other side of the Valley Caudina are these Countries St. Martino St. Angelo a Scala afterward cometh the same River which joyneth with the River Sabato which riseth from Montevirgine a high and spacious place in the Valley whereof the first Country which is there is Altavilla afterward is the Castle of Montefredano and near the Valley is the ancient City of Avellino which is now written in the Exchequer Roll Avellinensis but in the Books of the Roman Court Avellinus Episcopus and the Territory thereof aboundeth with great store of small Nuts and therefore by the Latines they were called Avellanae nuces The said City is dignified with the Title of a Prince which the family Caracciola the Red possesseth Then followeth Mercuriale now called Mercugliano the Country of the holy Hospital of the Annunciation of Naples and above that Hill is the noble Church and Monastery of Montevirgine of white Monks of the Order of St. Benedict which was builded in old time in honour of Cibele mother of the Gods but changed by the Christians into the honour of the glorious mother of God our Saviour the Virgin Mary a place of so much beauty and sanctity which not only excelleth in fame through all this Kingdom but through all Italy and beyond whereupon at two several times of the year that is to say at Whitsontide and our Lady day in September there concurs and flocks together from far and near places innumerable people bringing all sorts of Presents This Monastery is the head of the said Congregation of Montevirgine and therein are continually resident 200 Monks In the Church there is a Reliquary which the Monks of the same place say that a greater is not in all Christendom for so many bodies of Saints and other reliques that are therein among which there are to be seen as they say the entire bodies of the three children which were put into the flaming furnace There are other notable things as the Sepulchres of Kings and other Princes The Founder of this holy place was William of Vercelli of whose life manners and miracles and of the things abovesaid who desireth to have a full and true satisfaction thereof he may read the History of the Original of the notable things of Montevirgine Six miles from Benevento upon a very high Hill is seen the Country of Montesuscolo where resideth the Kings Audit of the Province and every Sunday is held a Market with great concourse of people And a little distant is the Castle and Montemileto which hath the Title of a County Afterward we come to the Hils of the Apennine which are called Monti Tremoli where ariseth the River Sabato which passing by low places in the end is joyned with the River Vulturno Antonio in his book of remembrance calleth this River Sabbatum but the people of the Country name it the River of Benevento
of all it was robbed by P. Plemnio the Roman Legat. Nevertheless they all sustained the punishment of Divine vengeance the one whilst he went up and down the shore through fear restored the sacriledg was afterward slain by Argus the punishment of the other was imposed upon his son being therefore deprived his Kingdom by God which often punisheth the sins of fathers in their children and the other by authority of the Senate died miserably in prison There are in the Territory of the said City excellent Baths of brinish and sulphure water which help and cure many diseases and are very good for barren women Here are made very fair earthen dishes and great abundance of the best and finest silk excellent oyl capers corianders and most delicate manna But to the end the Reader may be well satisfied I will say somewhat of the said manna which is so much commended by Phisicians Manna then as that learned Mattiolo saith is a certain dew or sweet liquor which falleth in the night from the air upon the leaves and the boughs of trees and upon the grass and herbs and upon the stones and likewise upon the earth the which afterward growing very thick within a certain space of time becometh grainy like gum and this is properly called manna on the leaves and is a small grain transparent and heavy like to a little grain of white mastick and of a sweet and pleasant taste After this that on the boughs holds the second place and the third is that on the stones and on the earth the which hath a bigger grain and nothing so pure a colour and this is gathered in the morning before the heat of the Sun forasmuch afterward as the Sun dissolving it it is easily converted into air and therefore some of them use which gather it when any great plenty falls to cut off the boughs of the trees in the morning betimes and to carry them into the fields in the cold air where through the hardness they gather it wiâ—h the greater ease Averroe was of opinion and many other besides him that the Ancients and especially Galen knew not this manna Manna falleth in the nights in the Summer season when the air is coldest and the day before very hot and dry for the learned interpreters of nature say this proceeds of the light vapours from the earth and the water Forasmuch as being first purified and concocted by the Sun it is to be thought that by the cold of the night following it becomes thick And besides it is to be understood that that Manna which falls upon fig-leaves and the Ash is whitest and most gummie but that which falleth upon the leaves of peaches of almonds or oaks is liquid and in taste and colour like honey Therefore we may easily believe that not by its own nature or of it self Manna becommeth gummy and is made thick like unto mastick but these accidents cause these effects upon the leaves and trees where it chanceth to fall Neither is that to be believed which many report thereof that manna before the canicular daies sweateth in Calauria without falling from the air even from boughs and likewise from the bark of the bodies of the ash and plum-trees and to be ingendred naturally of it self in these trees and to sweat out of them in like manner as gum sweateth from divers other trees wherein they are much deceived forasmuch as that which sweateth from these trees in the canicular daies is no other then the celestial manna descending there in the next succeeding months of May and Iune sucked up by the bark and drawn out again in such manner as a man draweth a drop of oyl out of a piece of woollen cloath that is fallen upon it and so it afterward comes to pass being incorporated with the rine of the tree issueth out again drawn by the violent heat of the canicular starr and is there thickned and becomes grainy in the manner of gum It is evidently seen that that which falleth from the air is better preserved by the ash and the plum-trees then any other kind of Tree or Plant whatsoever and therefore it is not to be admired if the most sottile and thin part entreth and penetrateth through the pores thereof being there preserved doth not corrupt in a long time Manna is according as Avicenne and Mesue relates of an equal temperature more inclining to heat then otherwise But according to Averroe it is hot and moist it loosneth the body although but weakly by it self alone and therefore it is given to women with child and to little children without any hurt or fear being mingled and wrought with medicines it increaseth their vertue It gently and easily purgeth choler taketh away thirst openeth and mollifieth the parts of the brest and of the throat but it cannot be preserved in the true perfection thereof above one year Leaving the said City two miles we come to the River Buthroto whereof Livy maketh mention and not far off is the little Castle of Siderono with the River Locano which is full of fish and a little above is Grotteria which is six miles from the Sea and from Ieraco ten Barrio is of opinion that the said City was builded by Idomeneo King of Candia called by the Ancients Castrum Minervae The Territory thereof is very fruitfull and fertile because that besides the great abundance of fruit of oyl of almonds of silk and of the best hony it hath very delectable and pleasant Gardens full of Oringes Citrons Limons and Pomgranates and in it are Mines of Gold and Lead The said Country is adorned with the dignity of a Marquiss subject to the house of Aragona d' Ayerbe Departing from Grotteria we come to Mottagioiosa called by Pliny and by Mela Ministra where is made good Wine Oyle and Silk and there is also Mines of Salt Near the Sea is Roccella called in old time Amphissia whereof Ovid in the 15 book of Met. maketh mention saying Levibusque Amphissia remis saxa sugit This Country hath lately been honoured with the dignity of a Prince by the favour of King Philip. Following the same way we come to the mouth of Alaro which the Ancients called Sacra after we incounter Mottapaganica we come to Monesteria very famous for the excellent Cheeses and Flax that are made there a little higher appears the ancient Promontory of Cocinto which is now called the Cape of Stilo which according to the opinion of some is the longest in all Italy there are digged round about it many Mines of Gold of Silver and Iron and of Steel From the point of the abovesaid Cape beginneth the Ionian Sea and afterward is Stilo a good and populous Country whose Territory is very rich of Mines of Gold and Silver and other Mettals And there is also made very excellent Flax Capers Saffron Bombace and it standeth from the Sea five miles Tomaso Campanella of the Order of Preachers was
commended for Zeuxses portraying Images in the Temple of Iuno took them for his pattern and for the sports and exercises of Atleta where was Milo so strong that he used to carry a Bull and Egone which in running overtook the young Heifers cutting from them their hoofs and making afterward a present thereof to his Amarillis Walking along we come to the City Cariati which hath the dignity of a Prince and not far off lieth Calopizzato Crusia and the noble and ancient City Rossano built by the Enotri Iohn the 7. Bishop of Rome which was born there honoureth much this City A little farther within the Land is Longobucco where are sound certian Mines of Silver from thence descending towards the Sea we may see Corigliano and not far off is Cassano in so fair and temperate a Country as it is not inferior to the best part of all the Land of Lavoro and here within the circuit of this pleasant Country was the ancient City of Turio which at this present the people of the Country call Terranova Trogo writeth in his 20 book that the said City was builded by Filottete the which was much ennobled by Herodotus having writ therein his Histories in which City he also died as Pliny saith from the same City Octavius Augustus had his beginning And this City hath also been the natural Soil of many Roman Bishops Then appears towards the sea-side Trebisazze Albidona Amendolara and the River Semio called in old time Siri by the City of Siro which stood very near which was afterward named Heraclea to whom the Statue of Minerva bred great wonder in turning and rouling the eyes against the Ionii which sacking and spoyling the City respected it not The men of this Province are of a white complexion of indifferent stature and strong crafty firm and resolute in their opinions hardy and stout much inclined to Learning and Arms they use Daggs Swords and Pikes The Gentlemen attire themselves after the Neopolitan fashion and likewise the women but those which live in Villages are very rude and barbarous The Arms of this Province are per salter or .4 pates gules and on the second partition or so many crosses bastone Sa. The which two Crosses signifie the two Calaurias and the other partitions are the Arms of Aragon These Arms were invented by Don Ferdinando of Aragon Duke of Calauria the son of Alfonsus the first King of Naples for that he would not otherwise express them that although the Region of Calauria was divided by his Father into two Provinces nevertheless he was Lord of them both The Countrey of OTRANTO The seventh Province of the Kingdom of NAPLES THe fair and rich Province of the Country of Otranto called in old time Iapigia as Solon saith of Iapige the son of Dedalus which came thither with many people to inhabit These people had their original from Latii and as others say from the Cretians which with the Illerians came into this utmost bound of Italy This Province was also called Salentina from the Promontory Salentino at this present named the Cape of Santa Maria but as Festus saith of Salo which is to say the Sea which compasseth it almost round about except a little part which joyneth with the firm land others affirm that it was called Salentina of the people Salentini which came with the Cretians hither to inhabit It was afterward called Messapia of the Captain Messapo which came from Peloponesus with a Colony into this Region And not long after it was named by the Creeks Calauria And finally from the City of Otranto all this Region is called the Country of Otranto The figure and form of this Province is an out cape of land which is one of the three angles or corners of Italy wherein endeth one of the two principal capes wherein is a part of the Apennine and here as is commonly thought ends the Adriatick Sea and is united with the Ionian Verily this Province seemeth as another Chersonesus lying under a pleasant air The circuit thereof is little more then 200 miles whose Istmus is between Taranto and Monopoli not exceeding the space of 40 miles in the which Peninsula although the superficial part of the earth for the most part be rough and stony nevertheless being ploughed up discovereth excellent mould and although there be little store of water it yields good pasture for Cattel and bringeth forth Wheat Wine Barley Oats Olives Citrons excellent Musk-millions Figgs Apples Pears Limons Oringes Oxen Asses Mules of the best breed and such abundance of Saffron that it seems to be rather the proper fruit of this Country then of Carthage The great plenty of Oâ—l which is there made seemeth a thing incredible to those which have not seen it whereby all the Kingdom doth not only abound therewith but also the greatest part of Italy and every where is excellent fowling and hunting both for Conies and hares And although the air be very wholsome yet the leprosie is very common by the means as I think of eating Pork and drie Figgs the ordinary food of the common people The springs of water are partly sweet and partly gross and brackish In this Country is bred the Tarantola whose venom is driven away with sound and singing the which Galen also affirms with the authority of Theofrastus of certain other creatures There are also bred the Chersidri and there is no part of Italy more troubled with Grashoppers which devour all things where they come and in one night consume the ripest fields But nature hath provided a remedy by the means of certain Fowls which they call Ganie which destroy this vermin The Hail also much hurteth this Province which almost every year doth some spoil The Thunder is there felt as in the Country of Lavoro both in Summer and Winter But coming to the description of this Province beginning at the River Bradano is Taranto a worthy and an ancient City which some say had that name from the River Tara and others from Tara the son of Neptune and others impute the original to Hercoles This City so increased by the means of Falanto the Spartan who governing under the Democratical Regiment contended sometimes with the Lucani and sometimes with the Senate being alwaies aided by strange Captains having sometines the help of Alexander and sometines of Pyrrhus became so rich that there was no City except Siracusa that brought greater riches to the people of Rome it glorieth much in her Archita that admirable Mathematician which caused a Dove of Copper to fly round about the City and of Aristosseno the Musician Taranto lieth between two Seas whereof the one is called the great the other the little in the lesser which is in compass 18 miles there runneth in many springs and the River Galeso by means whereof and the calmness of the water there are many fishes and no less then in the Sea of Constantinople
Latines Aprutium because it is mountenous and full of wild hoggs Others affirm that a part of Abruzzo being sometimee inhabited by the Precutini time having corrupted the word instead of Precutio was called Aprutio I name this Province Abruzzo as it is by the Kings Court and as at this present it is commonly called changing the letter P. into B. The bounds of Abruzzo had on the East the River Fortore Tronto on the West on the North the Adriatick Sea and on the South the Apennine Hils and moreover also it had on the East the Plain Puglia with the River Fortore on the West part of the Sabines Picentini and Campani with Latium the Equicoli along the Apennine as much on the one side of the said Hill as is on the other It now taketh its beginning from the mouth of the River Pescara and goeth along the shore of the Adriatick sea even to the mouth of Fortore where it ends with Capitanato leaving by that Province the City of Teramo and between the Land with Abruzzo on the other side and that branch of the River Pescara which rising from the streight of Valata passeth by the foot of the Apennine against the Land of Popoli and near it entreth into the Valley called Itramonti leaving all the country which hath the River on the right side and a little higder above the Marsi are the Apennine Hils where the River Sangro springeth which riseth from that obscure Valley of Barrea which they call the Kings Valley in the Plain near the castle of Sangro which divides this Province from the county of Molise This Province is partly plain and partly mountainous and hath great plenty of Rivers and great and thick Woods and the Territory thereof is very fertile for it bringeth forth Wine Grain Oyle Rice Barley and other Corn and everywhere is gathered great abundance of excellent Saffron And although the air be somewhat cold nevertheless the amenity of the country is sweetned thereby with so good a temper and such plenty of fruits and heards of cattel and abundance of wild beasts besides ravenous creatures as wolves and bears Some think that the Frentani were the most valiant people of all Italy but as I think they were much deceived having not first well considered the words of Pliny who describing the Region of the Frentani saith it makes the fourth which from the River Tiferno beginneth the fourth Region of the Frentani so that by these valiant people he meaneth the Frentani themselves and the Marrucini which came afterward and the Peligni and the Precutini and who readeth the Roman Histories may know that the squadrons of the Peligni were preferred before all the Latine Nations The principal city of this Region is called at this Present Civita di Chieti named by Ptolomy Teatea and of Pliny Theate and also of Strabo Theate and was so called by Theata the mother of Achilles Both these said Authors write that this city was the chief and principal head of the Marucini as likewise Silio affirms the same saying Marhucina simul Frentanis aemula pubes Corfini populos magnumque Theate trabebat This city is situate upon a very high hill distant from the Adriatick Sea no more then seven miles it was destroyed by Pepin the son of Charls the great for taking part with the Longobards but it was about two hundred years following repaired again and became so pleasing to the Normans for the most pleasant situation thereof that Gotfredo the brother of Ruberto Guiscardo in the time of Pope Nicholas the second possessing this Province made the said City the head of all the Country of Abruzzo the Territory thereof is very excellent and bringeth forth all necessary things as well for profit as pleasure beyond the River Sangro among the Peligni is the ancient City of Orton upon the Sea being by Strabo called Ortonium and of Cato Ortonum but Ptolomy nameth it Orton And Strabo writeth that it was in old time called Petra Piratorum because the Rovers and Pirats retired hither when they had robbed at the sea in the which City is to be seen in a very stately Church where with great reverence is preserved the body of St. Thomas the Apostle with his ancient Tomb in which Church appeareth alwaies upon the Steeple when any ship is in danger at sea the miraculous light of St. Heramo which the Ancients attributed to Castor and Pollux although Philosophers affirm that it naturally proceeds from the repercussion of the air through the winds and water which seemeth very unlikely because there is not so much as the leaf of a tree that moveth without the providence of God how should this light casually chance the sea presently becoming calm and the sailers in safety which in that perilous state called faithfully upon the name of God Neither can it be by the means of any evil spirits for never is shewed any deed of piety but by some celestial and divine means and especially towards the faithfull Not far distant from Ortona is to be seen Ferentana at this present corruptly called Francavilla because it was often possest by the French this City was according to Razano the head of the Frentani From the River Sangro or Sanguine called in old time Saro four miles distant and as far from the sea is Lanciano a noble City called by Pliny Anxium and of Ptolomy Anxanum Here at two several times in the year that is to say in the month of May and August do Merchants assemble almost from all parts of Europe Asia and from other parts where is a principal Mart or Fair very famous through all the world on the right hand of Lanciano at the foot of the Hill is Maiella and Palumbaro and on the right hand of the River Sangro near the Sea is the Monastery of St. Iohn where sometimes was the famous Temple of Venus and above are these Countries Fossaceca and the Fort of St. Iohn and a little higher on the side of Sangro are seen the great ruines of the City of Bica which the country people call Seca on the right hand cometh the River Aventino and joyneth with Sangro and near the foot of Maiella are these Countries Civitella and Lama and on the right hand of the River Aventino is Palena the word being corrupted in place of Peligno near the which appears the ruines of the ancient City sometimes the chief and head of the Piligni called Superequani This Country is ennobled with the dignity of a Count the Lord whereof is Matteo of Capoa Prince of Couca a very rich Lord and a great lover of Learning But returning behind Lanciano going along the shore of the sea we come to the mouth of the River Foro which riseth from the Mount Maiella where it entreth into the Sea near the which is the Castle Tollo and on the left side thereof near unto it is Miglionico and a little higher is Fara and before it is
river Lofanto on the South the Apennine with the Irpini and Sanniti on the West the Ferentani and Carraceni with the river Frontone and on the North the Adriatick or Ionian Sea Iohn Pontano in his second book of Histories handling many things saith that in the time of the first Normans and afterward the Greeks this Province was called Catapaniata because those that were sent to rule here by the Emperors of Constantinople were called in the Greek tongue Catapini and that afterward by corruption of the word it was called the Province of Capitanata and those that governed it Capitani The words of Pontano are these Apuliae pars ea que ab â—rentone flumine hodie Fortorium est ab Aufidi ripas sua nunc appellatione est Capitanata quae Normanorum prius ac Graecorum temporibus fuerat Catapaniata quòd qui ejus moderatione esset ab Imperatore Constantinopolitano praepositus diceretur Graeco nomine Catapanus quae vox contractis atque immutatis literis recentioribus versa est in Capitanatam quique Catapanus fuerat in Capitinium Quae verò Calabriae pars olim fuit in qua Tarentum Brundusium ac Salentinorum maritima est ora ea ab Hydrunto oppido ad quod est ab Macedonia Epiroque quam brevissima ad navigatio Hydruntina hodie terra dicitur At qui est ab Auâ—ido tractus ad Calabriae hoc est Hydruntinae fines terrae quo intractu sunt ad mare posita Barolum Tranum Vigilae Melficta Iuvenatium Barum Polygnanum Monopolis ab urbe Baro quae caput olim regionis fuit Barensis vocitata est terra regiorum quaestorum constitutione ac jussu Post eam montana loca quaeque olim fuere illinc Lucaniae hinc Apuliae iisdem illis temporibus vocari coepta Basilicata Quae appellatio unde potissimum ducta sit jure anceps est ac dubium Sunt enim qui existiment haud satis tamen certis auctoribus Constantinopolitano olim ab Imperatore regionem eam filiae ac genero traditam dotis nomine veri autem aliis videtur esse similius à Basilio quodam fortissimo viro dictam qui per illa tempora loca ea tenuerit deque regione ipsa tractumque omni Salentino Graecos industria sua pepulerit atque Poenos c. This Province as is said was in old time called Iapygia of Iapyge the son of Dedalus as Herodotus affirmeth but as Servio saith upon this verse of Virgil Victor Gargani condebat Iapygiis agris He saith that Iapygia was a part of Puglia wherein standeth the Hill Gargano which reacheth even to the Adriatick Sea It was also called Mesapia of the people Mesapii which inhabited in a part thereof although others say that it was so named of King Mesapo the son of Neptune Being afterward possest by Dauno the son of Pilumno and of King Danae the Grandsire of King Turnus all that country was called Daunia After him Diomedes coming with a great number of the people Etoli there to inhabit he divided the country between himself and Diomedes Afterward it was named Apulia of Apulo a most ancient King of these places which came hither to inhabit a long time before the Wars of Troy Ptolomy divideth Puglia the one part from Tiâ—erno to the city of Bary called Daunia and from thence unto the Salentini which are the people of the couâ—try of Otronto called Peucetia Puglia came to the knowledg of the Romans rather through Wars then friendship for as Livy writeth with the rebellion of the Sannites the Romans had also Puglia their enemy whose Territory was laid waste and spoiled by them and at sundry times after as it appears in Livy came into the power of the Romans All this region was from the beginning in great prosperity but Hannibal and other Wars that succeeded him destroyed it and left it desolate the which Strabo confirms in his sixth book when writing thereof he saith Priori tempore universae hujus terrae secunda fortuna florebat postea vero Annibal sequentia bella desertam illam reddiderunt This most fruitfull Province bringeth forth great store of wheat barley and other corn and more plentifull then any other part of Italy although many fields are reserved for the pasture of sundry flocks of sheep which are brought from Abruzzo The earth or soil although it be sandy and light and the grass which grows thereon be small and slender it is nevertheless very fruitfull and storeth Naples Slavonia Venice and Tuscane with plenty of flesh This region indureth much water whereupon the Poet Horace saith that Apulia is full of silk and in some places it wanteth trees the air is temperate but in the summer season it is so much 〈◊〉 â—ith heat that it is not only hurtfull to strangers but even to the natural 〈◊〉 of the country All this region is very plentifull of every thing both horses and excellent sheep the wool is softer then that of Taranto but not so fine the hony there is much commended the vallies which lie by the plains makes it a very pleasant country whereby all the Province is much inhabited so that it hath in all ten cities and 52 towns and castles the cities are St. Angelo Manfredonia Siponto Lesina Vieste Ascoli Bovino Volturara Teâ—mole Troia This Province containeth the Hill Gargano with the appurtenances thereof which stretching out as it were an arm of the Apennine towards the Adriatick Sea compasseth in the lowest descent thereof which ends in the plain â—00 miles where appears all the riâ—hes of Puglia with plenty of water it is also very well garnished and also richly furnished with trees and phisical herbs for the which there repairs from far countries iâ—finite Herbalists and Simplisâ—â— whereupon it seemâ— that nature hath indued it with so great perfection 〈◊〉 â—or the pâ—eâ—â—denâ—e and pâ—imaâ—y with all the other Hils of the Orient Diomedes purposed to make the said Hill an Island because the Istmus thereof is no more then two miles broad but this and other works he undertook were left imperfect because he returned home to his own house where he ended his life although some write that he remained here during his life Others feigning report that he vanished into the Isle of Diomedes and that his companions were transformed into fowls In this Country is bred the Tarantola whose venom as is before declared is cured with sounds and singing Here also breeds the Chersidri or the Cavalette which the country people call Brucoli which being dispersed here and there do feed and wholly devour all the fields with infinite hurt and spoil In the top of the said hill is the famous and noble city of St. Angelo from the which at this present for the most part the hill is so called for the Archangel St. Michael which appeared there where is to be seen the most devout and honourable Cave and holy Temple
Church and a Monastery of Carthusian Monks under the name of St. Martin the other Church of St. Hermo stands within the Castle which was builded by Charls the first of Angio King of Naples for a defence and guard of the said City The said Castle was newly fortified by the Emperor Charls the fifth All this Hill is beautified with goodly buildings and other worthy edifices this pleasant Hill yieldeth excellent Wines which are much commended by Galen 5 Salubrium 1 de antid and Martial in Xenia speaking of the Wine Trifolino thus saith Non sum de primo fateor Trifolina Lyaeo Inter vina tamen septima vitis aero It is called the Hill Trifolino by reason of the three-leafed grass which growes there very plentifully Tifata is a Hill which lies above Capoa whereof Sillio speaketh Tifata umbrisico generatum monte Calenum Titus Livius likewise nameth it in the seventh and twentisixth book describing that Hannibal departing from the Brutii came into these places to relieve Capoa besieged by Q. Fulvius and Appius Claudius the Roman Consuls and pitcht his Camp in a Valley but a little distant from the said Hill with the greatest part of his Army and with 30 Eliphants Vesevo or Vesuvio is a hil that stands over against Naples and opposite to the Pompeians divided on every side with high hils and hath at the foot thereof round about many pleasant Woods but in the top is very dreadfull hideous and unpassable in the midst whereof is a great hole made with fire which seems as a Theatre digged even out of the bowels of the Hill from whence in old time did ascend great abundance of fire Of these flames Beroso the Caldean in his fifth book of Antiquities maketh mention saying that in the last year of the King Arli the 7 King of the Assirians the said Hill burned Suetonius in the life of Titus saith that in the time of the said Emperor it yielded also great abundance of fire Of the like fire in the same manner relateth Dion the Greek the said fire burned two Cities that stood near unto it that is to say Erculanio and Pompey After the fire had continued three daies and three nights it cast so many ashes with so great violence that they were carried with the force of the wind even into Africa into Syria and into Egipt whereupon Pliny being desirous to see the cause of these fires went even to the Tower Ottavi and there was stifled with the smoke which rose from the said hill This burning was the cause that the Curati were created in Rome for the Country of Lavoro whose office was to provide for those inconveniencies in all that Country Vesevo is now much tilled and yieldeth excellent Greek Wine and great store of Corn and there is also gathered great plenty of good fruits it is now called the Hill of Somma because it standeth over against Naples On the one side it hath the Fields on the other the Sea at the foot of the hill is the fair City of Somma which is adorned with the Title of Duke Of the said Hill thus saith Sillio Italico in the 12 book Monstrantur Veseva juga atque in vertice summo Depasti flammis scopuli fractusque ruina Mons circum atque Aethnae satis carentia saxa And Martial in the 4 book of his Epigrams Hic est Pampineis viridis vesuvius umbris Praesserat hic madidos nobilis uva locus Haec juga quam Nysae colles plus Bacchus amavit Hoc nuper satyri monte dedere choros Haec veneris sedes Lacedaemone graâ—ior illi Hic locus Herculeo nomine clarus erat Cuncta jacent flammis tristi mersa favilla Nec superi vellem hoc licuisse sibi Some say that Vesuvio was so called for the sparkles of fire which in old time it cast out as it were full of sparkles for in old time a sparkle was called Vesuvia Others say that it was also named Vesbio of Vesbio Captain of the Pelasgi which did domineer and command the said Hill Servio was deceived in expounding those words of Virgil in the 7. saying Et vicina Veseva ora jugo because he saith that Vesevio is not the same that is Vesuvo and that the first standeth in Liguria from whence the River Po floweth and that the second is in Campania felix Nevertheless by the authority and testimony of excellent and grave Writers that hill of Liguria hath been called Vesuvio FENNS THe Fenn Pontana called of the Latinists Palus Pontina was so named as Strabo saith from the City of Pometia sometimes a Colony of the Romans made at the same time with Suessa according to T. Liviâ—s in his 9 book It proceedeth of two Rivers the one called Aufido the other Vfente of the first Virgil maketh mention saying Et in mare volvitur Vfeus And in the 7. Vfeus insignis fama Now it is vulgarly called Aufente and also Baudino This Fenn is so large that as Pliny saith with the authority of Mutiano that there were 24 Cities Titus Livius writeth in his 47 book that the said Fenn was dried up by the Consul Cornelio Cethego and the ground became solid and firm to sow corn But in process of time care being not had thereof it returned to its pristinate state and was all filled with water the which Theodorico King of the Goths noting caused it to be made drie another time At this present the said fields are become for the most part so moorish as well by the means of the said Rivers as the great flowing of the waters which spring from the bottom of the bordering hils round about and there settle and remain their ancient passages being stopt whereby they were wont to depart and pass into the Sea So by this means there is to be seen a great Moor Upon this Fenn or Moor was the City of Terracina called in old time Ansure which was the chief and head City of the Vlosci Strabo saith that in former time it was called Trachina which is to say sharp and rough by reason of the stony â—ils where it is situate Servio saith that in Terracina was adored a little Iupiter called Ansurâ— which in Greek signifies as it were not shaven because he had no beard by reason of his youth whereupon Martial in the 10 of his Epigrams writing to Faustine thus saith O nemus ò fontes solidumque madentis arenae Lictus aequoris splendidus Anxur aqueis And Horace in hâ—s Poetry saith Sterilique diu palus aptaque remis Vnicas urbes alit grave sentit aratrum Servio also saith that not very far from Terracina was a City called Satura Suetonius Tranquillus writeth that Tiberius being invited to a Feast at Terracina in a place called Pretorio suddenly fell from aloft many great stones which kild many of his friends and followers and himself hardly escaped Spartiano saith that Antonino Pio repaired the Haven
of Terracina This City had also the immunities and priviledges of Anzo and of Hostia the which were likewise suspended at the coming of Asdrubale into Italy Acherusa is a Fenn or Moor which is now called Coluccia and are certain waters of a rusty iron colour which amaze whosoever see them and overspread much ground between Capoa and Aversa infecting the air and making the earth unfruitfull through the great abundance in that Plain whereby the Country becomes altogether unprofitable It stretcheth even to Cuma overflowing every place the which is so plain that the water runneth not but in summer is accustomed to be drie Of the which water none in old time would taste believing it was an infernal water which distilled from the near adjacent waters through the great heat of Flâ—giton whereupon they builded there a Temple to Pluto the God of Hell The Ancients have also said that Hercules at his departure from Hell took the Crown from the head of Oppius and planted it for a memorial on the side of the said Moor whereupon the Poets afterward feigned that all the Poppies that grew there had black leaves Pliny makes mention of this Moor in his 3 book Strabo in the 5 book Sill. in the 8. Virgil in the 6 of Eneid saying Vnum oro quando hic Inferni janua regis Dicitur tenebrosa palus Acheronte refuso Of LAKES ANsanto of the Latinists called Amsanctus is a Lake which lieth between Lucania and the Irpini the water whereof yieldeth a stinking savour like Brimstone and therefore all the fowles that fly over it fall down dead to the earth Cicero nameth this Lake in the 1 of Divinat saying Mortifera quaedam pars est ut Amsancti in Hirpinis in Asia Plutonica quae vidimus And Virgil in the 7. of the Eneid Est locus Italiae in medio sub montibus altis Nobilibus fama multis memoratus in oris Amsancti valles Agnano is a Lake which lieth near Pozzuolo and is invironed with high Rocks the said Lake is very deep and yieldeth not any thing but Frogs In the Spring time there are often seen many heaps and bundles of Serpents which are smothered and stifled in the water by divine providence the which permitteth not that they multiply and increase being so pernicious to humane nature Averna is a deep Lake which is three miles distant from Cuma and is called of the Latinists Avernus it was so named as Nonio Marcello saith for the mortal and deadly savour of the water against birds and fowles which incontinently die if they fly but over it It is compassed round about with high Hils except at the entrance Round about it are very delightfull and pleasant places in this Lake were men sacrificed and here also as Homer declareth was Elphenore slain by Vlisses and sacrificed and likewise Miseno by Eneas The water of this Lake hath a brackish and salt taste and a black colour In old time the said Lake was invironed with thick Woods through the shadow whereof it was alwaies obscure and fearfull whereupon Augustus caused all the Woods to be cut down On the left hand in the turning of the Lake is the Cave of Sibilla and a little farther near the water is the Temple of Mercury the ruines whereof are yet to be seen Of this Lake Aristotle maketh mention de admirabilibus mundi Valer. Flac. lib. 2. Seneca in Troade 9. Curt. lib. 8. Dion in 5. of Antiquities Vibio Sequestre Nonio Marcello Strabo Pontano in the 2. and especially Virgil in the 6 saying Inde ubi venere ad fauces graveolentis Avernâ— Tollunt se celeres And a little farther Quam super â—aud ullae poterant impune volantes Tendere iter pennis talis sese halitus arris Faucibus effundens supera ad convexa fetebat Vnde locum Grai dixerunt nomen Averni Very near the Lake Averno is the Lake Lucrino whereof we will speak in its place Andoria is a Lake in Puglia and named by Pliny Mandarium and by Boccas in his book of Lakes Andurium from a Castle very near unto it called Andurio the said Lake is not very far from the shore The Lake Fucino named by Strabo Lacus Fucinus and likewise by other Writers the said Lake is commonly called Celano This lake is in the Country of the Marsi now called Abruzzo on the other side it is in compass 30 miles and is very full of excellent fishes where is also great fowling for Mallards wild-Geese and Swans Round about the Lake are the Castles of St. Apetito and St. Iona and these other places and Cities also Paterno Transaco Giagano Avezzano Magliano and Celano is under the title of a Count a very rich and populous Country from whose name this Lake was also called Celano The River Giovento entreth into the said Lake and runneth upon the water easily to be perceived in such manner that as it entreth in and runneth upon it so also it returns without mingling it self with it In the said Lake was swallowed up the magnificent City Archippa built by Marsia King of the Lidi Iohn Pontano declareth in his book de Magnificentia that the Emperor Claudius maintained eleven years continually 30 thousand men to dam up this Lake the which water Martia in his Edileship conveyed to Rome and called it by his name which was esteemed and commended before any other water that was brought thither Martial besides makes mention of this Lake saying Fucinus pigri taceantur stagna Neronis Lusina is a Lake so called of Lusina a City of Capitanata this Lake is distant from the said City little less then a mile near to the which the River Forâ—ore runneth into the Sea This Lake is forty miles in compass and by Pliny is called Lacus Pantanus which breedeth excellent fishes Lucrino is a Lake near the Gulf of Bain in Campania felix directly against Pozzuolo it is commonly called the Lake of Licola This Lake Lucrino was fortified by Hercoles to keep his oxen he brought from Gerion It was afterward much better amended and ordered by Agrippa Strabo saith that he made it in that sort that boats might pass into it some say that this Lake Lucrino was so called de Lucro that is to say from the gain and commodity that arise of the fishes that are therein taken and from this Lake there goeth a way to Averno In this Lake Lucrino there is plenty of Oysters whereof Martial speaketh Non omnis laudem preceumque Aurata meretur Sed cui solus erit Concha Lucrina cibut And in another place saith Ebria Baiano veni modo Conca Lucrino Nobile nunc sitio luxuriosa Garnum Pliny writeth in the 9 lib. cap. 8. that in the time of Augustus there was a Dolphin in this Lake Lucrino and that a poor mans son which daily went to school to Baia by Pozzuolo seeing him began to call him Simon and very often with pieces of bread which
borders of the Province of happy Campania and the said City is invironed by two little Rivers the one called Atro and the other Tempsa the which are full of fish and the Territory thereof is part plain and part hilly where are thick Woods of Oak and therefore very good hunting both for Fowls and Beasts the plain thereof is almost all full of Olive Trees and Vines and in the desert Hils are often taken goodly airs of strange Falcons Of this City was the holy man St. Antonio a Monk of the Order of St. Benedict who in the year 625 being created by his Monks Abbot in the Monastery of the City Sorrento went thither where living godly there died afterward whereupon in token of his good life God shewed after his death many miracles and in particulars towards those which are visited with evil spirits whose holy body the Sorentini with great reverence keep within their City neither stick they to say that he was their Citizen There are in the said City these noble Families Bernalla Campanino Ciminello Greco Guerrieri de Nigris Viviano Tercasia and others Now liveth with much honour to this City Augustino and Detio Bernalli both Doctors of the Law and very learned and great lovers of vertue The said City was in the time of the ancient Kings indued with the dignity of a Count but in the year 1530. the Emperor Charls the fifth advanced it to the Title of a Marquiss in the person of Honorato Grimaldo Genoway Lord of Monaco under the enstalement to speak like a Lawyer to hold it as a feuditory liegman and not with the succession of inheritance whereby he that is Lord of the Castle of Monaco and shall defend it at the pleasure of the King of Naples doth succeed to the said Marquiship Eight miles distant is the Country of Conturso the which is compassed with the Rivers Sele and Negro it hath a most pure Climat and a plentifull Territory of the said Country was that excellent and learned man Antonio Pepi called by his sirname Peperone which was judge of the great Court of the Vicaria in Naples and writ a book de omni vero officio Iohn Cola Pepi was very inward with the King Farnando which for his great skill and experience in the Laws was by the said King made his Counceller and to Iames his brother he gave the Bishoprick of Capaccio No less learned in these daies is Sertorio Pepi a man singularly qualified and very faithfull This Noble Family hath for a long time ruled the said Country with other Castles Going then four miles is Quaglietta a little Castle and no more then 12 miles distant but from Salerno 18. we come to the fair and ancient Country of Evolo by Ptolomy called Ebulum which was builded by the people Eborini so naming it by the first son of Iupiter King of Athens the said City stands not far from the River Sele and the River Tusciano the current or stream passeth along by the Walls thereof named by the Country people Toliero which Virgil calleth Tanagro when he saith Sicci ripa Tanagri The River Sele called by Strabo Siler riseth in the Apennine where the River Aufido hath his beginning which runneth by Apulia and falleth into the Ionian Sea near Barletta three miles but Sele runneth towards the South and leaving Campania by Basilicata in the end falleth into the Tirrene Sea The said River according to Strabo Pliny and Sillio Italico hath the property to change into a stone whatsoever is put therein keeping the colour and the first form thereof It is reported by grave and credible Authors that in the time of Ione of Angio the first of that name Queen of Naples took the Scepter of the Kingdom a woman of Evâ—li having brought forth a son became her self a man It is also verified that in the year 1460 in the same City a woman called Emilia maried to one Antonio Sponsa after she had lived 12 years with her said husband was changed to a man and Pontano which knew her testifieth that afterward she exercised the office of a man and besides took a wife and that allowing her a dowry by commandment of King Ferdinando the Judge inforcing the said Antonio to yield it her The same Iohn Pontano a man rather divine then mortal witnesseth in his tenth book of Celestial things which Antonio Panormita reciteth that a woman of Gaera after 14 years she had been used by her husband her natural member suddenly altered and she became a man wherefore to avoid the scorns that were made thereof both by men and women became a Frier and so lived all the remainder of her life where the said Pontano affirmeth to have known her and that she was buried in Rome in the Temple of Minerva Therefore that seemeth not so wonderfull which Pliny writeth in the fourth Chapter of the seventh Book of his natural History which things with all that appertain seem rather impossible then miraculous nevertheless for my self I cannot deny the authority of such persons and especially that which Philosophy cannot only not deny but also approve for that according to Philosophers and Phisicians the man differeth not nor is known from the woman by any member but by being either too hot or too cold because the nature of man without all doubt is more hot then that of women and by the power of this heat it so falleth out that nature driveth out that member in men which in women by reason of their coldness remaineth inward whereupon it may be that after some certain time or by some meat or the air or by some other occasion that coldness may be so inflamed and heated that it may now do that which in the birth it could not But returning to Evoli the said City hath very fertile Territories and spacious fields abounding with all good things beneficial for the use of living creatures whereof the said City glorying beareth for Arms the four Elements The bones of St. Berniero lie with great reverence in it in a glorious Church dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle at whose Sepulchre as they say God sheweth wonderfull miracles towards those which are possest with evil spirits From the said Country eight miles near to the River Silare is the reverend Church of St. Vito where resteth his said holy body together with Modesto and Crescentia the Nurse whereupon all those which are bitten with mad-dogs repair hither and by the intercessions of the said St. Vito as they say are presently healed There are in the said Country these noble Families Caravita Clario Corcione Christophero Crispo Fulgione Fiorenza Gentilcore Granato Giuliano Ligoro de Loisio Malacarne Marcancione Mirto Monaco Millone de Novellis Orso Della Porta Perretta Ragoni Raghi Russo Saceo Troiano and others Going from Evoli no more then twelve miles is Aquaro a good Country so called for the abundance of water which invironeth it
Territory is very fertile for it bringeth forth Grain Barley Beans Fitches and other Corn there are also planted great store of Sugar Canes a thing very rare in Italy This Country is adorned with the dignity of a Duke After followeth Soriano whch hath the Title of a Count. Then cometh Arena and ascending up the Apennine is the goodly Monastery of St. Stephen del Bosco built by Rugiero the Norman where is kept as we have said with many other reliques the body of St. Bruno From hence on the right hand appeareth Borrello and Melito an honourable and an ancient City which was builded by the Milesii a people of Asia for as Herodotus writeth in his sixth book Mileto a City of Asia being conquered and overcome by Darius the inhabiters which departed from the ruine thereof being deprived of their natural Country came with their wives and children together with the Sanni into Regio where they were received by Anasilao Lord of the Country to whom he gave so much Territory as they built therein a City to inhabit the which they called as we have said Melito these in process of time the Country being too little many of them went into Messina but being expel'd by the inhabiters of the Country went to the Isle of Malta There is to be seen in the said City of Melito a stately and magnificent Church under the name of the Trinity which is beautified with stately Pillars of Marble which the Duke Ruggiero the Norman caused to be transported from the ancient Hipponio the said Church was by the mediation of the said Duke consecrated by Pope Calisto the second in the year of our Lord 1122. where at this present is to be seen the fair and costly Tomb of Marble of the Duke Ruggiero That holy Paolo of the Order of Preachers was of the said City Walking towards the shore of the Sea is Briatico which hath the Title of a Marquisat and Tropea hath this name from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that ariving there the Current of Faro is turned back very dangerous to Sailers near which Hercoles arived coming from Spain whereupon that place was afterward named the Harbour of Hercoles Here butteth out into the Sea the Cape of Vaticano and near at hand is Ioppolo and Nicotera augmentned by the ancient ruins of Medama and Rosarno there is the River Metramo in whose waves according as the Ancients were accustomed feeling themselves opprest with any sin were freed by their washing themselves therein as Orestes who thought hereby to be purged from the murther of his mother a little farther was the ancient Metauro which boasted much of Stesicoro though with little right the Sicilians challeng him to themselves and after is discovered Tauriano and from hence on the Sea is Gioia A little distant remaineth Seminara a Countrey well inhabited in whose Territory the Frenchmen were overcome by Consalvo Fernandes of Aghilare in the time of Lewis the 12 King of France And near the Mediterrane under a great descent of the Apennine called by the country-people Aspromonte riseth as it were a rock between two Rivers the Country of Sinopoli is adorned with the ancient dignity of a Count the jurisdiction whereof is from the house of Ruffa There was born in this Country that holy man Paolo of Sinopoli Fryer of the Order of Saint Francis called the Minori of Osservanza whose reliques are reverendly preserved in the City of Nicotera Going a little farther is Oppido which hath the Title of a Count and Terranovo a populous City which is adorned with the dignity of a Dukedom Not very far is Polistena against the Castle whereof lie the Isles Eolie the which have this name from Eolo which the Poets feign to be the God of the winds knowing by the nature of the place their change and alteration of these Isles Lipare was only inhabited whose circuit is 16 miles sometimes a Colony of the Gnidii which were very strong at Sea and made long resistance to the improvident assaults of the Toscans and of their first fruits they oftentimes consecrated to the Temple of Apollo at Delphus The said Isle is distant from Sicilia 20 miles Strabo and Pliny call this Isle Meligone which is very famous as wel for the fruitfulness of the ground as also for the delicacy and sweetness of the fruits and the great plenty of Alume which it yieldeth the said Isle was at the first â—nhabited by Lipareo the son of Ausonio King of Italy who being at discord with his brothers came hither with divers soeldiers to remain and here built a City which by his own name was called Lipari the which City was alwaies faithfull to the Kings of Naples from whom in recompence it obtained many priviledges and freedoms but finally in the month of Iuly 1544 it was destroyed with sword and fire by Ariadeno Barbarossa Captain of the Turkish Army but it was suddenly repaired again by the Emperor Charls the fifth The other Isles are not manured nor inhabited whereby their ancient names yet continue that is to say Stromboli and Vulcano from whence continually riseth smoke and sometimes flames of fire with horrible noise and thundring Here we may see Bagnara where the women for their beauty and comliness appear like Nymphs and here is the general fishing for the Sword-fish called by Pliny Xiphia the which is done as Strabo declareth in his first book of Geography in this manner following which manner is also recited by Polybius First of all one is appointed as a spie to stand in a high place being as a common guard or defence for all the fishers the which are dispersed into many little boats of two oars remaining in every one two of them one which guideth the boat with two oars the other to wound the fish with an armed Sphear which he standing on the fore-deck or head of the boat holdeth in his hand so soon as the spie maketh a signe that the fish is discovered rising with the third part of his body above the water he with the oars roweth near the boat and the other preparing his blow wounds him with a wonderful agility then snatching out the sphear the iron remans behind which being broad-headed and so wel accommodated that easily a man may wound with it and as easily leave it in the wound to the iron is tied a long little cord which goes so far with the wounded fish that beating himself and labouring to escape becometh weary Then they draw the fish to the shore or get him into one of their little boats if he be not over-great and if it so fall out the sphear be cast into the Sea it cannot therefore be lost because that being made part of Oak and part of Firr so well joyned together the weight of the oak drawing one end under the water the lightness of the firr causeth the other end to rise up so that it may
easily be taken Moreover it falleth out sometimes that he which roweth is wounded in the boat so great is the sword of the fish and his fierceness that this labour is no less dangerous then the chasing of the wild Boar. Some say that this fishing was learned in the time of Vlysses which came into these places Afterward appeareth upon a great Rock Sciglio by Pliny called Scylleum Oppidum which also holdeth the name of Scilla the daughter of Forco which while the Ancients say should be turned into a Rock according to the Fable was a horrible and hideous Monster which devoured ships noting that great danger of Pharaoh where the roaring and terror of the waves and the fearfull aspect of the sands represent very often to passengers which there sail the great horror and dreadfull fear oftentimes bringing death it self This place was fortified by Anasilao against the Tuscans where Spartaco was overcome by Marco Crasso he in vain purposing to escape in the dead time of the night And the said City is adorned with the dignity of a Prince Continuing the beautifull Coast of this Country we may behold the ancient Cemi now called Coda della Volpe and Catona with Fiumara di Muro and Regio called of the Latines Regium Iulium which is one of the most ancient Cities of all Italy builded as hath been said by Eschenes the Nephews son of Noe to whom the Greeks gave this name because from that place Sicilia was separated from Italy through the violence of an Earthquake the which Virgil confirmeth in his third book of Eneidos saying Haec loca vi quandam vasta convulsa ruina Tantum aevi longiqua valet mutare vetustas Dissiluisse ferunt cum protinus utraque tellus Vna foret venit medio vi pontis undis Hesperium Siculo latus abscidit arvaque urbâ—â— Lictore deductas angusto interluit aesto This City maintained the Commonwealth thereof a long time and was destroyed by Dionisius of Siracusa but being afterward repaired and beautified by Iulius Cesar suffered many ruines and last of all by Ariadeno Barbarossa that famous Captain of the Turkish Navy In the Territory of this City on the right side the Grashoppers make a wonderfull noise and on the left they are still the which by Poets is attributed to the cursings of Hercoles being therewith disquieted in his sleep but more truly it so hapneth by the dew which falleth there in the night because those creatures receive not so much heat to make a noise although some affirm they have another kind of voice then the other where also they declare the Fable which chanced to Ariston and Eunamo the Musician of the Grashopper supplying to the one the sound of the string which he brake in his Citaren the which the Ancients kept in remembrance a long time In Regio is made the best silk and excellent Wine whereof Atheneo in his first book thus saith Vinum Rhegium cum Surrentino pinguius sit usque ad annum quintumdecimum est utile The earthen Vessels that are there made are much commended and in old time also were made excellent dishes and vessels as Pliny reporteth in his 35. book saying Rhegium inquit siglina plastice nobilitatur And in another place saith nobilitatur Rhegium patinis This City had in old time many excellent Philosophers and learned men as Aristides Aristocrates Demostenes Athosione Calais Eurchyde Eliacone Hipporco Mnesibolo Obsimo Phytio Selinusio and Theocle of the which Eliacone Hipparco and Phytio were excellent Philosophers to Hipparco Plato entituled a book de studio lucrandi Androdamo and Theetheo were also of Regio two Philosophers and Lawyers Now going a little further we come to the Promontory of Leucopetra so called by the shining stones that are there which Mariners now call the Cape dell arme Afterward appeareth the Promontory of Hercules which the Countrey-people at this present call the Cape of Partivento A little further is Mendalaia afterward Brancaleone Bruzzano this Cape in old time was called Zeffiro where the Moors arived in the year 1126. which afterward destroyed a good part of the Kingdom Strabo speaking of this Cape thus saith Zephirum Promontorium agri Locri à quo Locrenses Zephiri dicti sunt Pliny saith that in this Promontory is included the first Harbour of Europe from the which the Seas have their name Then follows Bianco from whose Country is had great store of Wine going a little further is discovered Potamia which aboundeth with great store of the best hony and a little below is Motta Bovalina whose Territory is very fertile yielding good Wines and there is gathered no small quantity of Manna and in the pleasant fields do naturally grow great plenty of medicinable hearbs here through the amenity of the air is seen as it were a perpetual Spring and in every place is excellent fowling for Partridges Quails and other Fowls Gismondo Loffredo possesseth this Country which by the grace and favour of King Philip hath besides it newly obtained the Title of a Marquiss Not farr off is to be seen Condoianni called in old time Vria the which Country hath the dignity of a Count. And a little distant from hence is the ancient and noble City of Geraci called in old time Locri. By whom the said City should be built Writers hold divers opinions for Dionisius Aphro in his book de situ orbis writeth that Locri was builded by the Queen of the Locresi and thus saith Hinc ab boream Zephiri quae summa vocatur Sub qua sunt Locri celeres qui tempore prisco Illuc Reginam propriam venere secuti Ausoniamque tenent qua currit slumen Halecus Others hold opinion that it was built by Aiace Oileo or by the Naricii his companions confirming it with the words of Virgil in his third book of Eneidos saying Hic Nariiti posuere moenia Locri This first City used of all others the written Laws of the Greeks and were a long time governed by that commonwealth and grew very famous for the Government of Zeleuco their Lawgiver who was so severe against Adulterers that he refused to pardon his own son taken in adultery he would to the end the rigor of his Laws should be observed which commanded that the proof of this crime should be deprivation of both the eyes he reputing these two as it were one thing was himself first deprived of one eye and his son of another This City also was very famous through Timeo the Philosopher and Eunomo the Musician and Eutimo Atleta who was so strong that he did bear upon his shoulders a stone which two Oxen were scant able to draw Likewise this City hath been very glorious for the sumptuous and admirable Temple of Proserpina whereof Livy maketh such honourable mention in his 29 and 31 book The said Temple was spoiled for the riches therein by Pyrrhus and by Dionisius the Tyrant and last