The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

The Estate of the great Duke of Tuscanie.

❧ THE ESTATE OF FLORENCE. [ A] [ B]

The Contents.

1 THe scituation of the State of Florence, composed of three bodies of a Common∣wealth reduced into one 2. A description of the cities of that State, and first of the citie of Florence, the great circuit, and pleasant scituation thereof; hir pala∣ces and stately buildings: of Pr••toline, of Pogio, and other houses of pleasure. 3. Of the citie of Pisa, the antiquitie thereof, and other things worthie obseruation. 4. Of Pi∣stoya, [ C] a citie in times past troubled with the factions of the Donats and Cerchis, called the Blacke and White. 5. Of the State of Syena, and the Townes thereunto belonging. 6. The State of Florence commended for the Trebian Wines, the Melons of the countrie of Pisa, and pasture grounds of Pistoya: the Mynes of Alablaster, Azure, Vitrioll, and other Myneralls: Foun∣taines of Salt waters, whereof they make Salt. 7. The subtiltie, craftie wit, and great frugali∣tie of the Florentines; great louers of libertie. The inhabitants of Syena, liberall, magnificent, and curteous; they of Prato sacril••gious; and they of Pistoya, giuen to bloudshed and murder. 8. The fertil••tie of the countrie of Syena, and riches of the Florentines in the traffick of Silkes and Woolls, Serges, and Cloth of gold. 9. The Clergie of the State of Florence, possessing fiue hun∣dred thousand crownes of yearely rent. 10. The reuenews of the great Duke, what summes they [ D] amount vnto. 11. The strength of the great Dukes Estate, consisting in the scituation of the Mountaines vpon the Frontiers, and the Fortresses of Syena, Florence, and Pisa. 12. What number of horsemen he enteraineth. 13. His forces by sea. 14. The order of the knights of S. Stephano, instituted by duke Cosmo. 15. Of the Alliances and Intelligences of the Great duke with neighbouring princes. 16. Of the administration of iustice, and election of the magistrats of this State. 17. Of the Archbishops and Bishops that be in Tuscanie. 18. The Genealog••e of the D••kes of Florence.

[ I] THe Dukes of Florence, hauing vnited the Estates of three Common-wealths in one, namely of Florence, Pisa, and [ E] Syena, possesse at this day the Prouince of Tuscanie, that is to say, the greatest, the noblest, and the goodliest part. I will not trouble my selfe to relate all the ciuile wars, and frequent changes of the gouernement, both because that discourse would be long and tedious, and also a thing su∣perfluous to set that downe here, which is contained in Hi∣stories. But tying my selfe only to the State of things pre∣sent, I say, That like as nature hath endowed this prouince with all the priuiledges which fauourably she vouchsafeth vnto others, so would she haue it no whit inferior in scituation to any; placing it as in the [ F] middest, or to speake better, in the nauil of Italie, compassing it about on three sides, with verie high mountaines, and on the fourth (which is towards the sea, and champian coun∣trie of Rome) where nature is wanting, art hath supplied; for all the State of Syena is ful of Fortresses, as we shall shew in his place.

[ A] This prince hath in his State sixte••ne cities, that is to say, eight in the State of Flo∣••••nce, [ II] which are Florence, Pisa, Pistoya, Volterra, Arezzo, Bourgo of S. Sepulchro, Co••••••a, and Montepulciano. In the State of Siena are eight, which are Siena, Montal∣ci•••• •••• rosset, Soana, Piença, Massa, Chiusi, and Colle.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 citie of Florence is six miles in circuit, and containeth more than ninetie thou∣•••••••• habitants. It standeth in a plaine enuironed wich with mountaines, and seated vp∣•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 riuer Arno, which passeth th••ough the middest of the citie, which is ioyned to∣••••••••er by foure fair•• bridges of stone: it is also paued with square stone, the streets are ••ong and large, and alwaies cleane, and it hath very faire places, and in them diuers sta∣tu••s; [] in a word, it is one of the most delectable cities that a man can see, so as the Itali∣a•••• name it Florence the Faire. Moreouer, the great dukes palace is one of the most ••••••••ly and goodliest buildings of Europe: it occupieth the place of more than fi••tie houses, which were wont to stand there, and in the bodie of the same, is the hall for re∣presenting of comedies: it is capable to lodge a great number of strangers, as Princes, E••bassadors, and others, for whom it is appointed; so as the palace (which did belong 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Pitti) is not inferiour to any in Italie, and surpasseth many palaces of the kings ••••••••ope, both for the g••eatnesse of the building, for architecture, and for ornament; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the beautie of the gardines, fountaines, statues, and other things. This buil∣•••••••• ••as in times past vnadui••edly vndertaken by a gentleman named Luke of the house [ C] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••itti, who erected all the fore part of the same, but hauing impouerished himselfe t••••••••by, was constrained to sell it to duke Cosmo: he was afterwards put to death for mat∣te•••• o•• State. There are diuers other stately palaces, as that of the Medici, the Storzzi, ••nd ••t••ers. Among other sigularities of this citie, the Cathedrall Church is much com∣m••••••ed for the excellencie of workemanship, the steeple whereof is both for stuffe and ••••••••ure very rare, and without this Church it is paued all with m••rble. There is also a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Librarie in S. Laurence Church, built and replenished with exce••lent bookes by the Medici, in the which are many rare manuscripts. To be short, Charles Archduke of ••••••••ria said as he passed through Florence, That it was a citie which should not be seene 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on Festiual daies. Besides this palace, the great duke hath another out of the citie cal∣l••d [ D] Pratoline, where (besides other singularties) are such rare water wo••kes, as it is nor in∣••••••iour to that of Tiuoli, and truely, it is a place of great State. He hath also other houses o•• pleasure, whereof one is called Pogge, ten miles off, and the other C••stro, or Castel∣lo both of great beautie, both for seat and building, and the ornaments of fountaines, and other things; so as goodlier places cannot be desired.

••••••••erra standeth on the top of a hill: the walls whereof are made of squared stone, almo•••• six foot of length, and ioyned together very nea••ly without mo••••er: it hath fiue faire gates, and at euery gate a very faire fountaine: the walls sufficiently manif••st the antiquitie thereof, in like manner doe the sepulchers, the Epitathes in Hetru••cane let∣ter••, the most auncient statues of marble, and many other things.

[ E] Pisa is placed by the auncients among the maritime towns of Tuscanie, and so aunci∣••nt as there be very few authors among the most auncient which haue not made menti∣on [ III] thereof in their hist••ries. It is seated betweene the two riuers of Arno and Lesaro, which now is name•• Serchie, and these riuers in the time of Strabo were ioined together a•• Pisa, and extended themselues so large, and with so great vi••lence, that it was impos∣sible to discerne any thing from one banke vnto the other. But at this present Serchia pas∣se••h to Luca, and is very far from Arno. This citie is very great, diuided by the riuer, and ioyned together with two bridges, others write but one: the walls thereof are very high, and of marble in some places, but most bricke. There is a Church which hath gates of ••••asse, and close by it a steeple built with exquisit and artificiall cunning: for without, it [ F] ••angeth in such sort, that it seemeth as if it would fall downe instantly, and within it is vpright, euen, and leuell. The font for baptisme is one of the rarest peeces that may be ••eene; but the Churchyard much more admirable, being enclosed with walls, and por∣ches, and taketh vp a very great ground, the earth whereof consumeth the deadbodies •••• ••oure and twentie houres. These foure things are builded without and within of ex∣quisit

stones, and are in one and the same street, not all together, nor yet far distant one [ A] from another. In time past it was of so great power, as it contended against the Venetians and Genowaies. It waxed great by the spoiles done by the Sarrazins to them of Genoa, in the yeare 933: for many withdrew themselues thither, as into a place of safetie. At length it was ruinated by an ouerthrow of their armie giuen by the Genoways neere the Island of Giglio; for since, it hath remained so weake, that it was no more able to re∣sist any, but was constrained to yeeld her necke vnder the yoake of the Florentines, from whom hauing re••olted at the comming of Charles the eight the French king, and being againe fifteene yeares after subdued, the citie remained in a manner desert: for the citi∣sens thereof impatient of the gouernment of the Florentines, passed into Sardinia, Sici∣lie, [ B] and other places to inhabit.

But the great duke Cosmo did his best endeauour to repeople it, erecting an Vniuersi∣tie, and building a goodly palace for the aboad of the knights of S. Stephano, giuing many priuiuiledges to the inhabitants; notwithstanding it is at this day so ill built and inhabited, as some hold there are not aboue fourteene thousand persons, and yet it is not much lesse in circuit than Flor••nce.

Pistoya is seated at the foot of the Appennine; but it is ruinated with dissentions, [ IIII] wherein it did also ingage Florence, and almost all Tuscanie. For two young men of good families being grown to words, and so to blows, & the one of them hauing bin very light∣ly hurt, the father of the other (for to appease the quarrell that might arise thereof) sent [ C] his sonne to aske the young man forgiuenesse that was hurt: but a cleane contrarie effect ensued; for the father of him that was hurt, hauing caused this young man to be taken by his seruants, made his hand be cut off ouer a horse-manger, and sending him backe said vnto him, go and tell thy father, that wounds are not cured with words, but with the sword. For this cause a cruell war was kindled betweene these two families, whereof the one was called White, and the other Blacke: they drew into their two factions the rest of the citie, which was often seene goared with the bloud of her citisens.

The Florentines, in stead of putting to death the heads of these two factions, brought them (as it were into banishment) within their citie, where the Donats hauing taken vp∣on them the protection of the Blacke, and the Cerchi of the White; Florence was [ D] wholy diuided into white & Blacke, which disquieted the same a very long time. Arezzo hauing by her long dissentions almost ruined herselfe, was sold by Lewis the first, of An∣jou, for fortie thousand florins of gold to the Florentines, in like manner as Cortona was sold vnto them within a while after by king Ladislaus. There are besides, other good places in the State of Florence, as Prato, Presche, S. Miniat, Empoli, S. Geminian, Fiquene, Pietra-santa, Barga, and vpon the sea coast Liuorne, and further off Plombin, three miles thence.

The State of Florence boundeth vpon Siena, an auncient citie, which hauing beene a [ V] Colonie of the Romanes, subiected vnto it in the end a great part of the countrie. There happened a mortall warre betweene this citie and Florence, after that the Guelphes and [ E] Gibelins, two fatall factions, grew vp in Italie. This is a faire citie, and strong of scituati∣on; but which hath lost, together with her libertie, many of her people and much of her splendour: it is fiue miles in compasse, and containeth about twentie thousand soules, and is distant from Florence but three and thirtie miles. The townes of the State of Si∣ena are Pienza, Montalcino, Quinsi, Saona, Massa, Piença, & Grosset, with six and twen∣tie other places walled about, but slenderly peopled.

¶ The Qu••litie.

[ VI] FLorence is seated in a plaine, girded about with mountaines, and distinguished with little hills, and there is not any countrie tilled with more diligence, curiositie, and care. [ F] In a small plot of ground they gather wine, oile, co••ne, pulse, and fruits, in abounda••ce, and the villages stand as thicke there, as may be possible. There are very excellent wines, ••mong which, that which they call Trebian is the best, and may be preferred in sweetnes before Malmesie.

[ A] The countrie of Pisa is verie fit for corne, and so fertile, that it is able to nourish all Tus∣••••••i••. Notwithstanding since the losse of their libertie, the husbandmen haue beene 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to manure the fields, as the inhabitants haue fayled in the citie. The wines of thi•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are not much esteemed. As for other fruits, it bringeth them forth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ood, but the melons there are most excellent. The sea is neere it, and therefore i•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place fit for trafficke of Merchandise. The ayre there is vnwholesome and daunge∣•••••••• ••specially to strangers. It is thought the corruption of the ayre grows for that the ••••••••••rie is not inhabited.

The countrie about Pistoya is mountainous, but there are exceeding good pasture [] ••••••••ds. Volterra hath a soyle richer in mynes than in fruits: for there is found veynes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 blaster, of Azure, Vitrioll, and other myneralls; and there be fountaines of salt wa∣•••••• ••••ere of they make verie good salt, and in great aboundance: as also, at Grossetta in ••••••••remma, which bring great profit to the Dukes coffers.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 riuer of Chiene runneth through the territorie of Arezzo: It is full of mudd, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••urtfull to them that dwell neere it. True it is, that they labour daily to drie vp 〈◊〉〈◊〉 marishes, and to stop the course of the waters. At the foot of the Apennin, you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 countrie of Mugelle, crossed ouer by the riuer of Syeua, which is pleasant, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great store of fruits: and betweene Arno and the countrie of Arezzo, you haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ne, which is rich in corne, wine, and cattel. But Valdarne aboundeth greatly in [ C] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chianti in wines, and Mugelle in fruits.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 fields about Syena, are imployed to pasture, and feed many Beeues, Bufles, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. They yeeld also good store of wheat, wine, and oyle, and abound in all sorts of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ut to speake in generall of corne, Tuscanie doth not yeeld sufficient to feed the ••••••••••ts, but their wants are often supplied from Sicilie, and other countries.

¶ Their Manners.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 humours of the Tuscans appeare best in the Florentines; for they haue subtile [ VII] ••••wits, are verie frugall, exceeding cunning, & circumspect, diligent, industrious, fit for [ D] ••••••ort of arts, both of warre and peace. They know how to lay hold of the best oppor∣••••••••ie; to stand vpon their aduantage, and not to let any thing be lost, or slip from them. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue defended their libertie to the vttermost; but by the too great subt••ltie of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they haue liued in perpetuall discords, which haue in the end ruined them: for as the ••••ing of Thucydides is most true, That such men as be somewhat blunt of wit, doe b•••••• gouerne a Common-wealth, than they that be of too subtile a spirit. They are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in trade of merchandise, and haue not their like in raising of buildings. They wea••e their apparrell modest and graue, and surpasse all the Tuscans in ciuilitie, and faire ••p••ech.

The inhabitants of Syena differ verie much from the humour of the Florentines: for [] the Florentines are niggardly, and retired; and they of Syena liberall, and curteous to s••••aungers: the first are verie carefull to prouide for the time to come, and are verie hard to fo••go any thing; the other tractable, and liuing as it were from hand to mouth: those ••re attentiuely carefull of their affaires, and can dissemble; these are simple, and by their co••••tenance shew their hearts: they againe, mind nothing but their merchandise and g••••••; and these are content with their reuenews, and with the fruits which their Farmes doe y••eld them.

Moreouer, the Italians attribute certaine qualities to the inhabitants of the Cities of th•••• State, which I will not let passe in silence. They terme the Florentines slow, gorge∣ous and sumptuous, especially when they haue straungers, as none is more prodigal than [ F] the ••iggard. They call them also craftie in the trade of Merchandise. The citisens of Sy∣•••••• are called slow in councells and determinations, and fortunat in warre (but they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 now iustly lost that name, since they were so vnfortunat as to loose their libertie; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Italians may with good reason take from them this title and Epithit) boun∣ti•••••• towards their guests, and their enemies, and resolute in pursuing the reuenge of

wrongs done vnto ••hem. They of Prato commit sacriledge in time of warre. The men [ A] of Pistoya loue to shed bloud, weare poignards in the warres, and are excellent in ward∣i••g of their enemies blowes. They of Arezzo entertaine their guests simply, and almost with their ordinarie faire; and these of Pisa are inconstant in their councells and resolu∣tions. They say that the women of Syena are faire, they of Florence d••licat, of Pistoya gentle, and of Arezzo niggardly and couetous.

¶ The Riches.

[ VIII] THough the State of Florence want wheat, being otherwise verie fruitfull in wine, [ B] flesh, and other necessaries; yet that of Syena, by reason of the fertilitie of the coun∣trie, which is nothing inferiour to that of Apulia, not onely supplieth the necessitie of Florence, but also doth sometimes relieue Genoa, Luca, and other neighbouring pla∣ces, through the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, and industrie of the inhabitants; for this Prouince imparteth many things vnto straungers, hauing little need of any thing from others. For this cause the riches of priuat persons is worthie of consideration, which proceedeth both from their industrie, and from their reuenews. As the riches of the re∣uenews and rents are commonly great in a fat and fertile countrie, where they receiue great profit with little labour; and where the countrie is lesse fertile, we see arts and mer∣chandise to flourish: and hence it commeth, that in the State of Syena, the inhabitants [ C] are rich in rents, and few merchants: and in that of Florence, the inhabitants are much richer by meanes of their industrie. This citie is full of artificers of all sorts, which make with great diligence, and verie workmanly, great store of Sarges of all sorts, Silkes, and Cloth of gold, and siluer nothing inferiour to them of Flaunders. It aboundeth princi∣pally with those that exercise the art of Silke and Wooll, which are set on worke by the gentlemen and rich men of the citie to their profit, and the commoditie of all the people, and these workes are distributed not onely to this State, but to all Italie, and to a part of the rest of Europe, and some of them are transported as farre as the Indies, and they that carrie Serges thither, gaine fiftie in the hundred: some yeares there are made at Flo∣rence two millions of serges, which is a verie admirable thing. These riches of the citi∣sens [ D] of Florence haue beene knowne greater in the time of their libertie, in many warres, and publique expences, and in the great number of sumptuous places builded with royall cost by priuat persons within the citie, but much more without, as may be seene in the plaine, and on the sides of the mountaines which are round about.

[ IX] The Clergie is rich by reason of many Bishoprickes, Abbeys, Prouostships, most rich Hospitalls, and a great number of Monasteries, and all this amounteth (as is thought) to the summe of fiue hundred thousand crownes of yearely rent. This riches of priuat per∣sons augmenteth the Princes treasure, because the riches of priuat persons is nothing else but the treasure of the Soueraigne, diuided into many purses, especially when he hath power to vse the same, as this Prince easily doth by meanes of the charges and im∣positions [ E] imposed in this citie. Contracts of marriage pay eight in the hundred; con∣tracts of bargaine and saile of lands and houses pay likewise the same summe; hire of houses pay the tenth part; They that haue any s••••ts in law and plead, pay a certaine im∣position, which they call Sportola, before they begin their suit; There is a custome also of six pence in euerie two duckats vpon all cattell that is bought and sold, and as often as they are bought and sold; Whenas they weigh any flesh, it payes a Quatrin in the pound, the which doth amount to three pence in the stone of our money. To conclude, there is not any thing carried out of Florence, or made within it, but hath an imposition. Moreo∣uer, the prince in his necessitie makes vse of the money of priuat men with verie great case, after this maner. When he had need of a hundred or two hundred ••housand crowns, [ F] he made a list of all such as had readie money, the which were well knowne vnto the prince, as they are at this day. Among these they made a diuision, assigning to euerie one the portion which he should disburse, more or l••sse, according to the quanti••••e of his meanes: the which did neuer exceed fiue thousand duckats. This sea••ement being

[ A] made, they giue notice to euery one to pay his part by a certaine time, and no man doth passe that day, as well for feare of punishment, as for that he would not loose the prin∣ces fa••or. Euery one hauing deliuered in what was laid vpon him, they assigned as much credit vpon the tax of the whole State, as there was money lent, so as within the time of eig•••• ••nd twentie moneths (for this tax was leuied within that time) they were satisfied th•••• money: and after this manner, the prince did sodenly make vse of priuat mens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his necessitie, the which was no great preiudice vnto them. But the great duke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••his day doth not vse these courses, but liues vpon his impositions, which are excee∣••ing great, there being neither salt, fish, flesh, bread, nor any thing sold within his Estate [ B] bu•• paies a custome, yea men, women, lodging chambers, and Innes are subiect vnto a tol, th•• which make his reuenues to be very great.

The dukes reuenues are esteemed by some to be a million and a halfe of duckats, say∣••••g [ X] that he drawes out of the citie of Florence alone six hundred thousand duckats yere∣•••• ••••om Siena one hundred & fiftie thousand duckats, and from the customes of Liuorne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hundred and thirtie thousand duckats, of the tolle of mill-stones throughout his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Estate, except Siena, one hundred and sixtie thousand duckats: of salt, mines of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••nd siluer, in a manner the like summe. Moreouer he gets much by exchange, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••tinually great store of money vpon the banke. He doth also reape great profit 〈…〉〈…〉 gallions for the transportation of merchandise, and by his gallies, which are com∣••••••••ded [ C] by Monsieur de Beauregard a French gentleman, who hath made great prises of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••eares when he hath beene at sea. Some are of opinion that the dukes yearely reue∣•••••••• ••oth not amount to aboue 1100 thousand duckats, setting downe in particular how it is rai••••d, and what euery chiefe towne doth yeeld. Some hold that the deceased great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••nd about ten millions of gold in his pre••ecessors coffers, and to the value of two 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of iewells: and it is credible that he hath much augmented this summe.

¶ The Forces.

WE may say that the Estate of this prince is of yron, for that besides the naturall [ XI] [ D] strength of the Mountaines, which doth enuirone it of three parts, in forme like ••••to a wall, it hath a good number of forts which are in the East of Siena, seated on that ••••de: among these they do number fiue cities well fortified; the which are, Siena, the which is exceeding strong both by nature and art, hauing a good fort standing vpo•• the No••••h-West part of the towne; Montalcino in like manner is very strong both by scitu∣a•••••• ••nd industrie; but Quinsi, Grossetto, and Soane haue many defects which may be obie••••ed. Besides the townes, there are also in this Estate diuers Forts of good con••••de∣ration, as Radico••ani, Montfalcon, Lucignan Monterison, and others which haue de••e••ts both in forme and quantitie, being very little, and by consequence of small retreat, and ••ble to receiue few men for defence. In the ••state of Florence all the townes from Mon∣tepulciano [ E] vpward are well fortefied, and especially Florence, whose walls although they be not all new, after the moderne fashion, yet hath it two good Forts, the one is cal∣l••d S. Miniat seated vpon a hill which commaundes the towne, the other is the new Castell in a plaine, made in the time of libe••tie. These Forts (built especially to keepe the people in awe) may serue at need for some defence against strangers: but to offend they ••a••e defects in their forme, and they are also but little. The great duke entertaines for••ie souldiers for the guard of S. Miniat, and one hundred in the Castell, in Pisa he hath fif∣••ie, in Siena fiue and twentie, and in Liuorno two hundred and twentie. In this Estate of Florence and Pisa there are other Forts, as Empoli, Prato, Castrocaro in Romagnia, and S••sso: all which like vnto the rest haue defects both in their forme and spatiousnesse. As [ F] for Liuorno, it is built of late yeres, & better fortified after the Mode••ne manner. Touch∣i••g the men of war which the great duke doth raise in his Estate, he hath great numbers o•• ••oot inrolled and mustered, which some hold amount to thirtie and six thousand, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉; but others who haue exactly examined the proportion of the whole, by a p••r••, ••o ••••••••••nke that there can be aboue fifteene or sixteene thousand of these trayned bands.

These men are apt to armes and discipline, being proper to this Prouince, the wh••ch hath [ A] in old time, and doth yet breed very good souldiers: the prince doth cause them to be practised and trained with great care, there being many good captaines imployed to that end: besides, euery man doth practise to shoote in his peece, as well for his owne priuat pleasure, as in regard of the prize which the prince propounds. These trained souldiers are not only drawne out of the countrie, but also out of townes; only Florence is fr••ed, it may be for that the prince doth not hold it fit and conuenient to arme these people, who haue not yet forgotten their former libertie, and therefore they are not suffered to haue any armes in their houses, nor to weare any weapons, vnlesse he be a knight, a soul∣dier, an officer, or hath speciall leaue. No man is freed from this inrollement but priests [ B] and ••chollers, and there are great punishments inflicted vpon them that carrie armes in the citie, or in the dukes Estate, vnlesse they be such as I haue formerly named. These souldiers (besides many other priuiledges and exemptions which are granted vnto them) cannot be imprisoned for debt: and these priuiledges being inuiolably obserued, is the cause that many good old souldiers comming from the wars of Flanders, France, and the East, doe voluntarily cause themselues to be inrolled in those bands; so as, both for number and qualitie, we may say that it is the goodliest troupe of Italie.

Euery souldier is tied to pay for his armes, which are giuen him for his vse, and must keepe them cleane and in good order for all necessities without any charge to the prince. The great duke may vpon euery occasion draw all this companie of souldiers to Flo∣rence [ C] within six or eight daies warning at the most, both for that Florence is almost in the middest of Tuscanie, as the center, and equally neighbouring all the parts thereof, as also for the good order he sets therein, disposing euery thing with great facilitie.

Furthermore, he hath caused a good number of Pioners to be inrolled, whom he vseth also in time of peace, making them to labour in fortifications, and causing them to turne the course of riuers, and to make the lands better.

As for horsemen, this prince entertaineth ordinarily one hundred men at armes, to [ XII] whom he giueth in time of peace seuen crownes the moneth, and in time of warre the ordinarie of the banke. Besides these, the maintaineth foure hundred light-horsemen at three crownes the moneth in time of peace, and in time of war, as the ordinaries of the [ D] banke: all these horsemen are of his owne subiects, and besides their pay, they haue ma∣ny re all & personall immunities; so as there are of them some reasonable companies. And in case there goes forth of Algier any strong fleet of pirats, he trusts not wholly to the garrisons of the towers (which the duke hath for that effect in diuers places, aunswe∣ring one another by signalls) but the towers secure the horsemen, and the horsemen the towers: besides the companies abouesaid, he maintaineth a good troupe of horses. These are the ordinarie forces, but as for the extraordinarie, he may haue a farre greater number, for that the State is populous, and replenished with great numbers of people, as I haue said, and hath as many strangers as he can entertaine in his pay, obseruing the custome of other princes. [ E]

As touching the sea forces, duke Cosmo had in times past very great care of them, [ XIII] knowing how necessarie and important they were, and that a prince cannot be called Great, except he be powerfull at sea. Being therefore moued with these reasons, and soli∣cited by his owne thoughts, which alwaies aspired vnto greatnesse, he procured and ob∣tained by the authoritie of Charles the fift, the resignation of the Isle of E••be, from the Lord of Plombin, who was Lord and Maister thereof, both for that he could not de∣fend it from pirats that had ruined it, and for that it might by meanes of the slender de∣fence thereof, fall into the power of the Tu••kes, and so by reason of the scituation it would be much preiudiciall and hurtfull to all Italy: yet he left all the reuenues to the Lord of Plombin, and vnder his gouernment all the villages and open places. This Island [ F] hath a hauen called Porto Ferrario, capable to receiue any great fleet that shall come thi∣ther; and as a place commodious, we may see arriue there all sorts of vessells, going to the Westerne parts, or comming, and which passing after to Liuorne, vnlade their mer∣chandise to the great benefit of this prince: so that if this Island were in the hands of

[ A] one that had good store of gallies, with courage and will to assayle, he might easily, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the coasts about Barbarie, and vnder Prouence, Genoa, and Tuscanie, make himsel•••• in such sort maister of those seas, as not any one should passe but such as he wo•••••• ••••rmit. The great Duke hath in this Island a little place named Cosmopoli, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••smo. There is for defence vpon the mouth of the hauen two castels seated vpon the 〈…〉〈…〉 of two mountaines, which are esteemed to be exceeding strong, and in a manner im••••••gnable, by reason both of art and scituation. He hath within the same many ca∣••••••••••, and all sort of munitions. The great Duke hath his Arcenall at Pisa, because that ••••••••••••ie aboundeth in wood, hempe, annd other matters for to make and furnish many [ B] gallies, by meanes whereof, the inhabitants of that place in times past did so much inlarge th•••••• ••••me and State. Now, they worke verie little in this Arcenall, and do rather repaire th•••• make new gallies. Besides this, there is another in the Isle of Elbe, where he keepeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 galleasses, and the men that worke there, are for the most part brought vp to it, or ba∣••••••••ed, or allured by wages. He hath twelue armed gallies, fiue galliasses, and two galli∣on••; one of them is great and able to containe many men, the other is little and well 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And since the time that he sent them so farre to sea, vnder the conduct of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Beauregard, he encreaseth this number as much as he can, and maintaineth 〈…〉〈…〉 are alreadie made, in good plight. The galleasses which go with oares, he fur∣•••••••••••••• with slaues and condemned persons, and will not employ freemen, least it should [ C] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••••••diciall to his State: and of these men, the prince sent eight hundred into Africa, 〈…〉〈…〉 Emperours armie, to the enterprise of Pignon de Velez, and the greatest part of them died, as it commonly fareth with fresh water souldiers, with which he is able to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a good number of gallies, whensoeuer he pleaseth to vse them. For men of com∣maund, he vseth the seruice of Frenchmen, Sicilians, Corsicans, and Greekes, and among 〈◊〉〈◊〉, many subiects of the Common-weal••h of Venice. He keepeth for the gallies the like quantitie of skiffes, or a few more than the Seigneurie of Venice, but fewer canons. He ••••useth his biscuit to be made at Liuorn, where he hath ouens for to bake fortie thou∣sand a day. He keepeth also in that place good store of cordage and ankors, and all ma∣ne•• of things fit to accommodat and ••urnish ships withal, to the end they may more freely [ D] come to this port.

Duke Cosmo, desirous to maintaine the sea discipline, and to giue more reputation to [ XIIII] his affaires, instituted an order of Knights, called the Knight of S. Stephano, and obtay∣ned of Pope Pius the fourth and fift many priuiledges, and among others, That they might haue two hundred crownes pension of the goods of the Church, with libertie to marrie, but they are tied to serue in his armies at sea, and also they are not capable of any co••••••••nd, vntill they haue serued three yeares together in the gallies. And to giue the greater reputation to this order, this Duke instituted himselfe great Maister of the same. As for instruments of warre, the great Duke is sufficiently stored, for he hath about an hundred and fiftie field-pieces in the castle of Florence, and his other places are as well [] furnished, principally in the Isle of Elbe. He hath in the same fortresse of Florence good munition of powder, bullets, and victuals, as wheat, millet, powdred flesh, vinegar, cheese, and the like. The great Duke hath for the guard of his person an hundred men, and in his stables about one hundred and fiftie horses of his owne breeding, among which are many Neapolitan Coursers, but more Gennets, and to be briefe, horses of all sorts.

He endeauoureth greatly to maintaine himselfe in the Popes friendship, for that his [ XV] State can no way be more easily annoyed and endaungered, than on that side next the Pope, for the mountaines which compasse Tuscanie on all the sides, sauing that which bordereth vpon the See of Rome (as we haue said) make the entrance and passages diffi∣cult for armies, and principally for artillerie, and if the enemie were entred into it, yet [ F] could be not liue there without the ayd of the State of the Church, because that all the rest of the countrie, excepting that, is no lesse barren than difficult: by reason whereof, if the enemie came with few forces, he would not be able to offend the great Duke, and 〈…〉〈…〉 came with a great armie, he could not maintaine himselfe there, for that in Tusca∣••ie they strictly obserue this order, to bring in time of peace (that it may be the lesse diffi∣cult

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to them in time of warre) the greatest quantitie of victualls they p••ssibly can, into [ A] the cities and strong places, leauing the Champian countrie almost emptie and vnfur∣nished, to the which they giue so much as sufficeth for their daily sustentation. ••ut on the Popes side, besides that by reason of the plaine, and largenesse of the confines of the Churches territories, the enemie might haue much easier accesse, he might also haue a farre greater commoditie of victualls that would come to him through this State, as well from the same, as from out of Lombardie, by the way of Bononia: and the experi∣ence hereof is most manifest, seeing that the citie of Florence hath neuer beene in great daunger, but by the way of the Churches territories, and particularly by meanes of two Popes of the house of Med••cis, namely first of Leo, and after of Clement, who wholly sub∣dued [ B] Florence vnto that Familie. On the contrarie, the great Duke receiueth great good by this friendship, both for the reputation of his State and affaires, which he aug∣menteth by this vnion, and because of the helpes and commodities he hath thereby, do∣ing good to many of his seruants with the riches of the Church. Being then moued with these considerations, and warned by those former euents, he will euer labour to haue such a Pope to be chosen as is some way obliged vnto him, and for this cause he striueth ordinarily to win the friendship of many Cardinalls in diuers sorts, and especially them that are in some estimation. But this amitie is no lesse profitable to the Romish See, by reason of the safeti•• and reputation it receiueth from the vnion of a Prince so neere a neighbour, and so powerfull, and for that the two States are almost but one and the [ C] same: so that their interrests being common, and reciprocall, we must beleeue that this vnion ought carefully to be preserued.

As for the king of Spaine, the great Duke hauing now married his sister in law, it must be thought he hath with him verie good correspondencie, and it is also held that he sup∣porteth the Spaniards, and hath knit a strict league with his brother in law. Yet it is not (after the opinion of many men of judgement) wholly to breake off with France, be∣cause the Queene is too neere allied vnto him, and hath alwayes giuen him great testi∣monies of her loue and friendship. But it might so be, that the soliciting of his wife, or rather of some others, ill affected towards the French, might withdraw him from the amitie which his father bare to the French King and Queene. Moreouer, he seeth that [ D] the French are farre from his State, and that the king of Spaine is neere vnto him, by meanes of Milan, and the realme of Naples; so that this alliance and commoditie might draw him wholly to embrace that partie. Which the French king did euer verie little re∣spect, for that he is a prince that cannot hurt them in any sort.

As touching the Genowayes, they had no good intelligence with the late Duke, by reason of the Spaniards: but since that this Duke hath made an alliance with the king of Spaine, we need not doubt but that this Common-wealth is wholly at his deuotion, and yee••deth him all the testimonies of loue it can. Notwithstanding that the pretence of Corsica, as belonging to the State of Pisa, might hinder this amitie.

As for the Duke of Sauoy, though outwardly there are seene nothing but offices of [ E] amitie and respect to passe betweene them, yet forasmuch as the one enuieth the riches, force, and good hap of the other; and the other, the noblenesse, reputation, and riches of the first, it is sufficiently knowne that whereas great jelousie raigneth, there cannot be any desire of the greatnesse, and aduancement of the competitor.

This prince is in good amitie with the duke of Mantoüa, by reason of parentage, and it is assuredly beleeued, that they runne one course for their preseruation: yet it is not knowne, whether the alliance lately made in Sauoy, will in time withdraw the amitie of the duke of Mant••üa, for some considerations, which is better to conceale than expresse. As for the duke of Vrbin, by reason that he holdeth him inferiour to him in greatnesse and strength, there falls out often times grudgings, such as the limits of jurisdictions do [ F] commonly breed.

Lastly, the citisens of Luca are in the middest of the great dukes State, enclosed on all sides within the same, hauing scarcitie of victualls and all things necessarie: and because they cannot haue them but from the great duke, or by meanes of the passage of such

[ A] things through his Estate, this prince may bring them in subiection without s••ri∣king blow: yet he doth it not, no more than his predecessours haue done, and perhaps will not do it, both because this common-weale being vnder the protection of the Em∣peror and Imperiall chamber, he cannot do it without greatly offending him, and also by reason of the profit he receiueth, perhaps greater by their libertie, than if that com∣m••n-weale were wholly subiect vnto him, because he is assured he may vse it at his plea∣sure whensoeuer he needeth, and shall be ayded with their meanes, by way of borrowing and otherwise, and also with their men, according to their power. Contrariwise if he would make himselfe maister thereof, he might be assured that these men, accustomed to [ B] libertie (which they extreamely loue) and full of vaine glorie, and richer in readie mo∣ney and moueables, than in possessions, forsaking their countrie would leaue the citie destitute of inhabitants; and by that meanes the great duke should lose the commoditie which now he receiueth by it.

¶ The Gouernment.

NOw must I discourse of the administration of justice, of the distribution of magi∣strats, and of all the formes and manner of vertuous and well ordered liuing in this [ XVI] citie. As touching the first part of gouernment, which is of mannaging of affaires of [ C] state, though it consist all in the princes will, yet this duke taketh councell of some that are neere about him, and principally of Don Iohn de Medicis, for that he is young, and hath no great experience in affaires. There are no councellors of state; so as we cannot say that the councell hath censured any thing, but that it is the princes pleasure: and so the resolutions which are made, are more secret and more assured.

As touching the second part, which consisteth in judgements, it is performed by the same magistrats that decided matters in time of libertie, as well for ciuile as crimill cau∣ses: for ciuile processes of suits are determined by a certaine number of Doctors of the Rota, like as at Rome and Bononia; and the criminall causes as asoretime: the place of Confalonner being giuen to one, who changing his name is called Lieutenant. There we [ D] see ordinarie councellours, the magistrat of eight, and all other magistrats of townes, and Podestaries (except the gouernors of the principa••l citie, which are sent thither by the prince, as in like manner the captaines of Forts) as they were wont to be in time of the common-weale: and they are first drawn out of three boxes, distinguishing all into three rankes, according to the conditions of men, and putting all the names of the nobilitie into a box by themselues, whence they are after drawne.

Out of the first box they draw the magistrats of greatest importance, out of the second, the middle sort, and the inferiour out of the third: and when they haue drawne fiue gentlemen for each magistrat, he which hath most voices in the councell is chosen. These boxes are renewed euery fist yeare, and he that would passe from a lesser magistracie to a [ E] greater, must do it at those times. These elections are authorised by the prince, which re∣serueth to himselfe power to confirme them all.

True it is, that he seldome troubles himselfe with matters pertaining to the magistrats, but he hath a secretarie of the criminall, who takes knowledge of all the most impor∣tant crimes in question, and makes report thereof vnto the prince, who giues direction before they giue sentence: the which he doth to the end that magistrats knowing that their acts are knowne, and often examined by the prince, may haue the more care to administer justice duely, for feare of insamie and punishment: and he doth it also for to haue an absolute soueraigntie in all things. He maintaineth this kind of gouernment, for that seeing he must vse persons which administer justice, he will with this little shadow of [ F] auncient libertie satisfie in part the desire of the citisens, for that they haue in some sort the commoditie to content their ambition, by meanes of the profit they reape by ho∣nours and publicke charges.

This is also obserued at Siena, and for the same respect; for there is to be seene the an∣cient magistrats and councells, with the authoritie of the palace and seigneurie, and in

a word the reliques and shadowes of the common-weale that was in former times, and [ A] the great duke entertaineth there a generall gouernour, which immediatly representeth the prince with soueraigne authoritie, who hath an eye to all things, and nothing is done without his priuitie, no not without the princes knowledge, in matters of importance. We see then by this representation the whole gouernment of these cities, as famous now for their noblenesse, as they were in times past happie by their libertie. Now for as much as the glorious splendor which princes haue accustomed to liue in, is that which most representeth their maiestie, the great duke maintaineth a court, or house worthie of obseruation, which surpasseth (to say truely) the bounds of a duke, and yet reacheth not to the magnific••nce of a king: He hath a good number of gentlemen, diuided into [ B] two orders, the one attendeth his person, the other the houshold, with a great number of officers and seruants. Moreouer he hath in his seruice about three score gentlemens and noblemens sonnes, whom he causeth to be brought vp with great care, and to be in∣structed in all manner of exercises: yet as some write there are few tables kept in this princes court.

¶ Their Religion.

[ XVII] ALi the inhabitants of this State are Romish Catholickes, but they of Siena are more deuout, and more affected to religion. Moreouer there is in Tuscanie three Archbi∣shoprickes, [ C] namely of Florence, of Siena, and of Pisa: that of Pisa hath vnder it the Bi∣shoprickes of Massana, and Ciuita, besides the other Bishoprickes which are in Corsica: the Archbishopricke of Siena hath vnder it the Bishoprikes of Soana Quinsi, and Gros∣set: vnder the Archbishop of Florence are the Bishops of Nepe, Castello, Montfalcon, Viterbe, Volterra, Fiesola, Zarzane, Sutri, Ortane, Cornet, Arezzo, Pienza, Pistoya, Bine, Cortona, Castro, Perusa, Luca, and Luna.

A GENEALOGIE OF THE DVKES OF FLORENCE.

[ XVIII] COsmo de Medicis was the first that laid the foundations of the glorie of that great fa∣milie, [ D] and was named by publicke decree, the Father of his countrie. He gouerned the Florentines very fortunatly, and was the refuge of the gallantest men of that age, both for learning and armes. He died in the yeare 1464, after he had liued seuentie and fiue yeares, two moneths, and twentie daies. Fortune was so fauourable vnto him, as he was esteemed the happiest and richest prince of his age.

Peter de Medicis imitator of his father, behaued himselfe in the gouernment of the common-weale more like a priuat citisen, than a Prince. He died in the yere 1472.

Laurence de Medicis, surnamed the Great prince of Florence, gouerned the common-weale with his brother Iulian, called Prince of the youth, or younger sort; which Iulian behaued himselfe in the gouernment as his father and grandfather had done. He died [ E] in the yeare 1492, and his brother Laurence was slayne by the Paccians, in the yeare of Christ 1478.

Peter de Medicis, prince of Florence, degenerating from his father, was expelled from the gouernment, and died in the yeare 1503. Iulian de Medicis, surnamed the Magnifi∣cent, his brother, was also deposed, and died in the yeare 1516.

Cosmo de Medicis, sonne to Peter, was slayne for making loueto married women.

Laurence de Medicis, brother to Cosmo, hauing beene driuen away with his father, was made Duke of Vrbin by Pope Leo the tenth, his vnckle by the fathers side, and died in the yeare 1519.

From Laurence de Medicis issued Katherine de Medicis, wife to He••rie the second the [ F] French king, which died in the yeare of our Lord God 1589. Thus went this braunch, which ended in the bastard Alexander de Medicis, who was slayne in adulterie, after he had receiued of Charles the fist (his father in law) the tytle of Prince, togetherwith the seigneurie.

[ A] But to come to him that now raigneth great Duke, we must take him from another line.

Cosmo de Medicis, surnamed Father of the countrie, had a brother named Laurence, a citizen of Florence, whose sonne was Peter, who liued as a priuat man without any dig••i••ie.

Peter had two sonnes, Laurence de Medicis, and Iohn, who were banished by Peter sonne of Cosmo duke of Florence.

Laurence had a base sonne by a Concubine, called Iulio de Medicis, who was Pope, by the name of Clement the seuenth.

[ B] Iohn, brother to this Laurence, had issue Iohn de Medicis, named at his baptisme Lewis, a valiant and excellent Captaine, who died in the yeare of our Lord God 1526.

Cosmo de Medicis his sonne, at the age of eighteene yeares, substitute to his cousin

Alexander in the principalitie of Florence, wisely gouerned the Common-wealth.

This same, of duke of Florence, was the first that was made Great duke of Tuscanie, by Pope Pius the fift, in the yeare of our Redemption 1569; and these words were written in his Crowne by the Popes commandement, PIVS V. PONT. MAX. OB EXI∣MIAM DILECTIONEM, ET CATHOLICAe RELIGIONIS ZELVM, PRAe∣CIPVVMQVE, IVSTITIAe STVDIVM DONAVIT. He died in the yere 1574. His children were

[ C] Francis de Medicis, second great duke of Tuscanie, who died in the yeare 1587. He mar∣ried first Iane of Austria, daughter to Charles the fift, and afterwards Blanch a Venetian, who liued not aboue fiue houres after her husband. This Prince had (among other chil∣dren) the most illustrious Princesse Marie de Medicis, who at this day is Queene of France.

Ferdinand the brother of Francis, hauing giuen ouer his Cardinalls Hat, was the third great duke of Tuscanie. He married Christina daughter to Charles duke of Lorraine. He died not long since, leauing for successour his sonne

Cosmo de Medicis, who hath married Marie of Austria.