Relations of the most famous kingdomes and common-wealths thorowout the world discoursing of their situations, religions, languages, manners, customes, strengths, greatnesse, and policies. Translated out of the best Italian impression of Boterus. And since the last edition by R.I. now once againe inlarged according to moderne observation; with addition of new estates and countries. Wherein many of the oversights both of the author and translator, are amended. And unto which, a mappe of the whole world, with a table of the countries, are now newly added.

The State of the Kingdome of Naples.

THe chiefe place hereof in ancient time was Capua, the pleasant situation whereof was the overthrow of Han∣••••bal and his army. Cicero writeth, that the Romans were Lords of three imperiall Cities, Carthage, Corinth, and Capua. The two first being farre off, they utterly ruinated: of Capua they long consulted; in the end they concluded that it were extreme tyrannie to spoile so noble a city of Italy. But for their better security, they confiscated the Ter∣ritories thereof, and deprived it of all forme and Majesty of Common-wealth. They let the buildings stand to serve for receit of those which should till the ground.* 1.1 Naples is now the chiefe seat not onely of Campagnia, but of the whole Kingdome, and is indeed a princely City: it is in compasse se∣ven miles, but narrow: of late times it is much augmented, and would increase continually, if the King of Spaine had not forbidden a further increase by building; whereunto he was moved, partly by the complaints of the Barons (whose Tenants to injoy the liberties granted to the Neapolitans, did forsake their owne dwelling to seat themselves there:) partly by the danger of rebellion, which in so mighty a City cannot easily be repressed. It is strongly walled, and hath in it three Castles, the chiefe whereof is Castle-Novo, builded by Charles of Angcow. The haven is not large nor safe, but that inconvenience is somewhat eased by an artificiall key. It hath likewise an Arsenall, wherein all In∣struments of warre are forged.

Amongst other religious places (of which sort there are many, and those well maintained) there is the house of Piety, called Il monte della pieta,* 1.2 which by ordinary Revenues and gifts, may dispend yeerely 60000. Crownes, where∣with (amongst other charitable workes) it maintaineth

thorow the Kingdome two thousand Infants.

It is one of the regions belonging to the Kingdome of Naples; It is bounded with the River Iano,* 1.3 and the Ter∣rhene and Ionian Seas;* 1.4 it is in compasse above five hundred miles, and is divided into two Provinces; the one lieth on the Terrhene Sea, where in ancient times the Brutians did inhabit, and that part is properly called Calabria; the other lieth on the Ionian, and called Magna Graecia. It is divi∣ded into the higher and lower. Of the higher, the chiefe seat is Cosenza, of the lower Catanzara. Cosenza is a large Citie, Catanzara a strong. Betweene the Cape of the Pil∣lars, and the Cape Alice is Corone, a place of very whole∣some aire. Vpon this territorie, Anno 1551. the Navie of the Great Turke landed and made some stay: which was the cause that moved Charles the fifth to fortifie this Citie. It is a thing worthy to be noted, how much the In∣habitants of this country in former ages, exceeded the num∣bers of this present: for in those dayes this Citie sent more men against the Locrians, than the whole Kingdome of Naples is now able to afford, being numbred to an hundred and thirty thousand. A little above that doe inhabit the Sa∣barits, who were alwayes able to arme thirty thousand.

At Tarent beginneth the Country of Otranto,* 1.5 in ancient times called Iapigia. It containeth all that corner of land almost invironed with the Sea, which lieth betweene Tarent and Brundusium. In it (as Strabo writeth) were once thirteene great Cities, but in his time onely two, Tarent and Brunduse. The aire is very healthfull, and though the superficies of the soile seeme rough and barren, being bro∣ken with the plough, it is found to bee excellent good mold. It is scarce of water, neverthelesse it yeeldeth good Pasture, and is apt for Wheat, Barley, Oats, Olives, Ce∣dars, excellent Melons, Oxen, Asses, and Mules of great estimation. The people are in their manners dangerous, su∣perstitious, and for the most part beastly. The Gentlemen lovers of liberty and pleasure, scoffers at Religion, especi∣ally at that which we terme the reformed: and yet them∣selves

of their owne great blasphemers. For outward shew they live in great pompe, and make the City more stately, because they are not permitted to live in the Countrey: yet (as they dare) they bitterly grone under the Vice∣royes controll; who exerciseth the Spanish pride amongst them, so that in these dayes they come nothing neere their native glory, nor customary wantonnesse. In this Coun∣try is bred the Tarantola, whose venome is expelled with Fire and Musicke, as Gellius reporteth out of Theophrash his History of living creatures. There are likewise bred the Chersidi, serpents living both on the land, and in the Sea: yea, there is no part of Italy more cumbred with Grashop∣pers which leave nothing where they come, but would ut∣terly consume in one night whole fields full of ripe corne, if Nature by sending the birds called the Gaive into those quarters, had not provided a remedie against this misery. The place at all times of the yeare endureth much dammage by Haile: Thunder is as usuall in Winter as in Summer.

This Province is situated betweene two Seas:* 1.6 The Citie is seated in an Island like unto a ship, and joyned to the Con∣tinent with bridges, where the tide setteth violently; on the other side, the two Seas joyne together by meanes of a trench cut out by mans hand, and is of largenesse sufficient to receive a Gally. Where the Citie now standeth was before a rocke, and is holden to be the strongest fortresse of the Kingdome.* 1.7 From thence along the shore lieth Caesaria, now ruined by them of Gallipoli.* 1.8 Gallipolis is seated on a ridge of land, running into the Sea like a tongue; On the furthest point whereof standeth the Citie, and is of great strength by reason of the situation, being fenced with unaccessible rocks, well walled and secured by a Castle; with which motives of encouragement in the warres, betweene the French and the Arragons, the citizens thereof to their great honour, continued ever faithfull to the fortunes of the Ar∣ragons. It hath beene counted one of the chiefest Cities of Italy; it is now by their civill dissentions almost deso∣lated, the cause, as I take it, wherefore the aire thereabouts

is become so unhealthfull: an influence incident to all great Cities. For as nothing doth better temper the aire than the frequencie of Inhabitants, because (by husbandry and industry) they drie up Fennie and unwholesome places, prune such woods as grow too thicke and obscure; with their fires purge noysome exhalations, and with their high buildings extenuate grosse vapours: So on the contrary, there is nothing apter to breed infection than desolation: for so the places are not onely deprived of the aforesaid helps, but even the houses and their ruines are receptacles of infection, and matter of corruption. Which appeareth to be true by the ruines of Aquilea, Rome, Ravenna, and Alexandria in Aegypt. For which inconvenience, the Gre∣cians never built huge Cities; Plato would not that his should exceed 500. families, and Aristotle wished that all his people might at once heare the voice of one Crier.

This Province extendeth from the confines of Brunduse,* 1.9 to the River Fortore. It is divided into two territories;* 1.10 the one at this day called Bari, and by the Latines Peucetia; the other Puglia, and by them Dawnia, divided each from other by the River Lofanto.

In the second part it comprehendeth Capitanato,* 1.11 con∣taining in it many great Cities, places of trade, and Fortres∣ses of good account. Amongst the number whereof is Man∣sredonia,* 1.12 built by K. Manfredi in a high place, & healthfull, with a convenient and safe harbour. It lieth under the hill Gargano, at this day called S. Angelo, because of the appea∣ring of S. Michael, who is honoured there with great de∣votion. It should seeme that in this hill all the riches of Pu∣glia are heaped together: it hath plenty of water, an ele∣ment rare in this Province. The Sarazens finding the op∣portunitie of the situation thereof did there fortifie, & there∣in maintained themselves a long time: for in truth there is no place better to molest the Kingdome, and to command the Adriatike Sea. Puglia is another Province of this King∣dome;* 1.13 it is bounded with the River Fortorie, and the Ri∣ver Tronto: in which circuit are contained many people.

Towards the Sea it is a fruitfull Country, in the middest rough and mountainous, and the coldest Region in the Kingdome. The wealth thereof consisteth in Cattell and Saffron.

The Country of Malsi is divided with the River Pesca∣ra,* 1.14 the Governour thereof resideth in San-Severino. This Province hath no famous place upon the Sea-coast, but in the Inland.* 1.15 Benevento was given to the Church by Henry the fourth in recompence of a tribute which Leo the ninth did release to the Church of Bamburgh, which in those daies, being by divers casualties often usurped, was at last resto∣red againe to the Church by the Armes of the Normans.

It was the habitation of the Lucans, extending from the River Sarvo, to Lavo: it is a territory rough and mountai∣nous. Towards the Sea-coast are Nico, Sorento, Massa, Almasi, and Salerne, the aire whereof is very temperate; in the upland are Cava, Nocera, San-Severino; and more neere the Sea, Peste, where Roses blow twice a yeare; Agropoli, Possidoniat, now Licosa, Policaster, Capace Nov•• Venosa, Accella, and Melsi, holden second to Naples.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Naples.
• * 1.2

  House of Piety
• * 1.3

  Calabria.
• * 1.4

  Compasse and conteinue▪
• * 1.5

  Calabria superior.
• * 1.6

  Situation.
• * 1.7

  Caesaria.
• * 1.8

  Gallipolis.
• * 1.9

  Apulia.
• * 1.10

  The extent.
• * 1.11

  Capitanato.
• * 1.12

  Mansredonia.
• * 1.13

  Puglia and Abruzze.
• * 1.14

  Malsi.
• * 1.15

  Benevento.