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 Common-weale of Lucca.

THE COMMON-WEALE [ B] OF LVCCA.

The Contents. [ C]

1 THe beginning of the name of the towne of Lucca. 2. The scituation, circuit, and confines. 3. A crosse of gold of great value in the Church of S. Croix, in∣gaged by the Pis••ns to them of Lucca. 4. The towne of Lucca gouerned by the Gothes, by the Emperors of Constantinople, and by many other Lords. 5. The soile very fruitfull, and in a good a••re. 6. Inhabitants of Lucca quicke witted, courteous by na∣t••re, louing libertie, and their ••••••g••age sweete and pure. 7. Their riches consisting in siluer and tr••fficke in silke. 8. The c••mmon-weale of Lucca weake, and of small resistance. 9. Of the Councell of L••cca, consisting of three sorts of persons: of the Gonfalonier, the chiefe of the common weale, and of his election by the Assorters. Of the Commaunder of the seigneurie, [ D] and of his authoritie. 10. Of the three S••cretaries, and of their power and iurisdiction. 11. Of the co••••cel of the Colloque, consisting of 18. citisens. 12. Of 6men appointed to ouersee the trea∣sure. 13. Of the Rota consisting of three Doctors strangers. 14. Of the court of merchants com∣posed of nine men, and the office called the Aboundance. 15.. Of the commissaries appointed ouer men of war 16. Of the councells of the Descoles, and what their charge is 17. Of the office of lodg∣ing, composed of eight persons, who haue the care of strangers. 18.. Of the guard of the palace.

[ II] LVcca is a very good citie, scituated in Tuscanie, so called of Lucumon king of the Tuscanes. Strabo writes, that the citie of Lucca is neere vnto the mountaines of Luna, and at this day the countrie is cal∣led [ E] Lunagiana. But to speake of our times, I say that Lucca hath about three miles in circuit: it stands in a plaine not far from cer∣taine little hills, vpon the riuer of Seruie: it is enuironed with good walls, which some say were built by Desiderius king of the Lombards. They haue goodly buildings, and the citisens are noble, wise, and discreet: who with their wit haue long maintained themselues in libertie, notwithstanding that they haue beene often troubled by their neighbours. Towards the North, it confines wi••h Carfagnana, a good valley, and full of warlike people, and apt to armes. Of all the other three parts, it is enuironed by the great duke of Tuscanie.

[ III] The cheife Church is called S. Croix, in which Church there is a crosse of gold, which [ F] the Pisans did ingage to them of Lucca, vpon condition to redeeme it, which they haue not yet done. Some hold that it is worth fifteene thousand crownes.

[ IIII] This citie hath had diuers maisters; it was held by the Gothes, and taken from them by N••••fe••es, lieutenant to the Emperour Iustini••n, and so continued vnder the Empe∣rours

[ A] of Constantinople: whose power declining, Boniface became maister thereof, who had married Beatrix, daughter to the emperour Henrie, of whom came Matilda, who was af••••••••ards wife to Godfrey, after whose death she remained heire of a great Estate, and esp••••••••lly of this city. In the time of Pope Honorius the fourth, the citisens recouered their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Emperour Rodolphus for one thousand two hundred florins. After some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vguccione of Fagiola became maister of the citie, who was afterwards expelled by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people, with Neri his grandchild: and after him Castruccio Castracani (who had beene imprisoned by him) tooke vpon him the gouernement: and so in an instant he was expel∣led, and the other which was a prisoner, was made Lord. This man was much beloued ••n ••his worth by Galleazze Viscont, and by Azon his sonne, lord of Milan. He was an ••••••mie to the Florentins whilest he liued: and hauing defeated their armie, he besieged ••••••rence in such sort, as if sicknesse and death had not preuented him, without doubt he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 subdued it: He had also seized vpon Pisa and Pistoya. He left two sonnes, who were ••••pelled out of Lucca by Lewis of Bauaria. Soone after, Lucca was sold by a German ••••rison, which Lewis had left there to Gerrard Spinola a Geneuois, and afterwards recom∣••••••ded to Peter Rosso, by Iohn king of Bohemia, and consigned by Rosso to Mastin de la 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lord of Verona: who sold it to the Florentins, which held it nine moneths. In the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time, the Pisans pretending to haue a greater right than the Florentins, by the concession made vnto them, by the emperour Henrie, besieged it, but in the end they [ C] made an accord. Afterwards, the emperour Charles the fourth, passing into Italie, and comming to Lucca, at his departure he left a French Cardinall for his Vicar, or Vicege∣•••••••• ••ho after his departure sold the Luccois their libertie for fiue and twentie thousand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of gold. Hauing thus obtained their libertie, they presently ruined the Castle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Castruccio.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Luccois preserued the libertie which they had gotten, vntill the yere 1400, when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Guinisi, one of their citisens, made himselfe Lord thereof, and did gouerne it 〈…〉〈…〉 with great felicitie. Hauing gathered together a great treasure of gold, siluer, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pretious stones, and hauing many goodly sonnes, and finding him••elfe in great glo∣••••••, and in the heigth of fortune, and being in great reputation with all the princes of [ D] ••••lie, seeming not onely to him••elfe, but to all others, to be happie in this life, and think∣i••g his Estate to be glorious, firme, & stable, behold fortune presently turnes her wheele, a••d makes him a miserable spectacle and a memorable example to all ••en: For he was tak•••• with his fiue sonnes, by the people (for that he fauoured the Florentins, their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and sent to Philip Viscont duke of Milan, who put them into a darke and ob••cure 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where they ended their dayes mi••erably, in the yeare of Christ 1430, and so in an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he lost the honour, riches, seigneurie, and glorie which he had gotten in so many yeares, with his sonnes and life. The Guinisi being expelled, the citie f••ll againe into ••ombustions: but in the end, they recouered and setled their li••ertie, ••he which they en∣i•••• ••ith great peace and quietnesse vnto this day. This citie hath brought forth many [] worthie and famous men, and it was the first of all the townes of Tuscanie, whi••h recei∣••ed the Christian faith.

¶ The Qualitie.

THe territorie of Lucca is of small extent, but the soyle is good, and yeelds much vnto [ V] the owners. The ayre is good and wholesome, and not much subie••t to diseases.

¶ The Manners.

[] THe men are naturally courteous, modest, and very bountiful, they proceed with great [ VI] freedome in their affaires, ••hey are subtile witted, and prosper well in all arts wh••rin ••hey imploy themselues. They loue their libertie exceedingly, wherefore some hold, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they would imploy all their Estate to preserue it. All the citisens are in a manner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to merchandise. The Italians say, that the Luccois in matter of learning and know∣ledge,

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doe wonderfully affect the studie of diuinitie; that they are kind in the reception [ A] of their guests, and faithfull vnto them; that they are mild in wrongs receiued, and apt to pardon; and that in their trafficke they haue their word and faith in great recommenda∣tion: and moreouer, that their women are most commonly chast. The Luccois lan∣guage is held in Tuscanie to be pleasant and pure, for that it hath not those harsh accents, which are in a manner common to all the townes of this prouince.

¶ The Riches.

[ VII] THere are rich families, for that the men of this towne vse great trafficke, and haue [ B] correspondencie throughout all the Estates of Christendome, and elswhere, but their chiefe trafficke is in silke, for the which they haue great reputation among all Christians, and in the time of Castruccio Castracani, who made himselfe Lord of the towne, many fa∣milies did abandon it, for that they would not obey a tyrant: They that retired themselues carried with them the art of silke, with much other wealth, into diuers parts of Italie, and and they also carried to Florence the art of making of cloth of gold, wherein they excell. This Common weale is not rich, hauing but a small jurisdiction, but there are many pri∣uat men exceeding rich, and all their wealth consists in readie money.

¶ The Forces. [ C]

[ VIII] THe citie of Lucca is strong by scituation, inuironed with good walls, and well furni∣shed with artillerie and munition, containing foure and twentie thousand persons within the circuit thereof; but notwithstanding all this, or that the Gothes, who were within it, had indured a six moneths siege, which was layed before it by N••rfes Gene∣rall to the Emperour Iustinian, yet it is thought that it were not able to make any great resistance against the great duke of Tuscanie, if he would vndertake to make himselfe maister thereof, vnlesse they were assisted by some other. But they hold, that he draws more profit and commoditie, leauing it thus free, than if it were subiect vnto him.

¶ The Gouernement. [ D]

[ IX] THe ground and foundation of this Common-wealth, as of all others, is the councell, for thereon doth depend, and from it doth proceed all other magistrats which are members of this bodie. This Councell doth mannage all the affaires of State and to be short, it is the maister of this Common-weale. It is composed of three sorts of persons; for there are some of the Councell which are ordinarie, and they remaine a yeare in their charges, some others are limited at pleasure, and are not ordinarie, and some others are subrogated in the place of such as die, and they continue a iust yeare in their charges. Fi∣nally, the number of this Councell is of one hundred and sixtie citisens, and most com∣monly they are one hundred and twentie. [ E]

The citie of Lucca is diuided into three parts, which they call Tiercieros; the one is of S. Sauiour, the other of S. Paulin, and the other of S. Martin. The Councell doth chuse the Seigneurie out of the said three parts, or Tiercieros, that is to say, they create three men for euerie third part of Tiercie••o••, which in all make nine: besides the which, they chuse a Gonfalonier, who is the chiefe of the Common-weal••h, and hee is chosen one yeare out of the Tiercieros of S. Sauiour, the second out of that of S. Paulin, and the third out of S. Martin, and so they change successiuely according to the said or∣der. These ten are chosen euerie third yeare, and all, except the Gonfalonier, are called Auncients. The election is made after this manner: they create three men, called Assor∣titori, one out of euerie third: These men haue charge to number the suff••ages and voy∣ces [ F] of such as are chosen, and after that the Councell hath chosen a certaine number of ••en, they chuse the Gonfalonier, and doe alwaies name such a one, as they hold most ca∣p••ple. When the said election is made, the assortitori remaine in a place apart, and r••ckon thei•• suff••ages vntil they come vnto a certain number, which is one hundred and eightie:

[ A] and moreouer they do not publish them that are subrogated, nor the Suffrages in coun∣cell, but it is onely knowne to the Assortitori. And to the end there may be no deceipt in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they haue for assistants two principall rel••gious men, one of the order of S. Domi∣•••••• ••••d another of S. Franci••: these Assortitori haue authoritie to assigne what time the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shal serue, as to appoint one for one moneth, and another for another moneth: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being done by them, who are the chiefe men of Lucca, they keepe it secret, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oath not to reueale any thing.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the Assortitori be chosen, they create the seigneurie, whose charge is to heare matters of justice, and to take notice of petitions, and pardons which are demaunded. [] They which are of this bodie remain continually in the palace, and may not depart, vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of death: the State defraies them. Out of the whole bodie of the abouenamed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they chuse one, who hath the title of Commaunder, and the other nine haue it by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alternatiuely: this charge continues three daies onely, during the which he hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and authoritie to commaund all the rest, yea the Gonfallonier himselfe▪ It is true 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all petitions directed vnto the seigneurie, are presented vnto the Commaunder, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ay if he please, present them vnto the seigniors; yet he cannot dispatch any affaires 〈…〉〈…〉 the authoritie of the seigneurie. If the commaunder propounds his request 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seigneurie, and that it be allowed by two thirds, the Gonfallonier deliuers it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the councell. The authoritie of the seigneurie extends to strangers, but not [ C] 〈…〉〈…〉: and it propounds euery thing, but cannot conclude any thing.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 office of Secretaries, which are three in number, are very important. These haue [ X] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••uthoritie in matters which concerne offences done vnto the maiestie of the 〈…〉〈…〉, and in this regard they are absolute, and aboue the Gonfallonier. But before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any thing, they must make their reasons knowne vnto the great councell: and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it happeneth that the case so requiring, they put in execution and giue their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the councell, after the thing is done, either for that they could not sodenly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the whole counsell, or for that the matter required a speedy execution.

Councell of the Colloque is composed of eighteene citisens, the which are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ XI] the councell. These men in case the seigniors be doubtfull in any matter, and will [ D] ••••easily resolue, they assemble, and consult of that which is to be propounded vnto the ••••••cell, and hauing made their discourses among themselues, they conclude with the ••••••••••urie, if it shall be propounded vnto the counsell or not.

The six men haue charge of the expences, and publicke reuenues, and dispose of all [ XII] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which concerne the treasure, and they are as it were gouernors of the reuenues. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue a Chamberlaine, who doth put their resolutions in execution, and all these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the great councell.

The Rota, which is ordinarie in many townes of Italie, consists of three doctors stran∣••••••, [ XIII] which must come fiftiemiles from Lucca: they change them alternatiuely, and at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of euery six moneths, one of them is made Podestate, the second is Iudge for cri∣••••all [] causes, and the third for ciuile; and he that is Podestate hath first beene Iudge cri∣••••••all, and the Pod••state when he leaues his place, enters into that of Iudge criminall; 〈…〉〈…〉 euery one of them, is Podestate, Iudge criminall, and Iudge ciuile, in his turne. If 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Podestate hath by chance a citisen in his hands, he doth onely frame his processe, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••owne his opinion touching that which the offendour hath deserued, and then they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of force go vnto the councell, which doth allow, or disallow, or doth moderat the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or sentence of the Podestate, who in this case enters into the councell. As for 〈…〉〈…〉, the Podestate may execute his sentence absolutly without any formalitie. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉, these three do also treat of all ciuile causes.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 court of merchants is composed of nine men, wherof they chuse three out of eue∣ry [ XIIII] [] Tierciero or third. They haue for Iudge, a doctor that is a stranger, who is their Asses∣••••, or Assistant: they judge of all matters which concerne merchandise and trafficke, 〈…〉〈…〉 great authoritie in those causes.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue also another office which they call of the Aboundance, it consists of nine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••hich are chosen like vnto the rest, three out of euery third. These men haue charge

to see that the citie may be well furnished with corne, and they heare all matters wh••ch [ A] concerne that businesse.

They that haue the office of munition, haue charge to see that there be prouisi••n of corne, for three whole yeares. They do often visit the magazins and storehouses where they keepe their munition, and they refresh it, and renew it, as it is spent.

[ XV] And for that within the jurisdiction of Lucca, they haue appointed certaine compa∣nies of men, fit to carry armes in any necessitie of war, there are six commissioners which haue authoritie ouer the said troupes; and all matters which shall happen touching that regard, passe through their hands, and they giue sentence.

[ XVI] There are also three Presidents which haue charge of the health of the said citie. They [ B] haue a care that the victualls be good and sweet, that the streets be made cleane, and the filth carried away, and that the inhabitants vse all care and diligence to preserue the towne from the plague, and from all other such like accidents which may come vnto it; and for that in a manner in all towns, there are many persons who liuing idlely and wick∣edly seeke their liuing by all lewd and vicious meanes, and do most commonly practise all things contrarie to the good rules of a politicke and ciuile life: for this cause the Luc∣cois haue a councell which they call of Discoles, that is to say, of men of a lewd life, va∣gabonds of bad example and wicked in their action. This councell assembles one day in the holie weeke, where it is lawfull for all them that enter into the said councell to put in∣to a box (which is prepared for that effect) little tickets, wherein they write that disor∣dred [ C] and lewd fellow which they know, or else they write not any thing in these tickets; and if it chance one name be found in many of them, he is then brought in question for a Discole, to the great councell, where if two third parts giue their suffrages against him, he is banished: and the sentence is, that he shall remaine three yeare fiftie miles off from the towne and jurisdiction: if he do not obey during the said three yeares, but returns contrarie to his banishment, he looseth his life. As soone as they haue giuen their voices against this vagabond, before that the councel breakes vp, they proclaime him for a Dis∣cole by the found of a trumpet, at the foure corners of the market place: and he that is thus banished, must of force be gone the same night. The three yeres being expired, and this banished man being returned into the citie, if he do not amend, his banishment [ D] is renewed with the like order. And in truth this hath some resemblance vnto the Ostra∣cisme which the Athenians vsed; but there is this difference, that at Athens they did ba∣nish for ten yeres, them onely whose greatnesse and power was suspected vnto the people.

[ XVII] There is also the office of Lodging, consisting of eight persons, whose charge is to ob∣serue the behauiour of strangers that come into the towne, and to take knowledge of their businesse; and the hosts are bound to giue in writing, vnto these officers, ••he names of such as come vnto Lucca and lodge in their houses, if they be not of the citie. If by chance any man doth lie, telling one thing for another, they giue him the strappado to draw out the truth: and if he knowes any one within the towne, and names him to these officers, they enquire carefully of him whom they suspect, and if they find him an honest [ E] man they let him go.

[ XVIII] The seigneurie doth make choise of one hundred souldiers which be strangers borne at the least fiftie miles from Lucca, for the guard of the palace. Out of this hundred they draw captaines, and corronells. They are charged vpon paine of death, not to come neere the walls when it is night, neither alone nor accompanied, but to remaine at their guard. As for the walls they are guarded by the artisens and townesmen, who haue wife and children, and these haue three crownes a moneth pay. There are townesmen set to guard the gates, and euery port hath two citisens for commissaries, whereof the one re∣maines from the opening of the gate in the morning vntill noone and then departs, and the other succeeds him, who stayes till the gate be shut. [ F]