[ VI] THe people of this countrie might iustly hold themselues as happie as any in Europe, if they were not so molested and oppressed by officers; for they haue not onely the infallible aboundance of all things, but they haue also a great commoditie to vent them into the estate of the Church and other Prouinces: and that which may make them liue at their ease, is their nauigation and ancient commerce with the Venetians, to whom the people of Pouille and Calabria shew themselues wonderfully affected for this conside∣ration, [ D] for that the greatest part of their trafficke is with this Nation, without whom, they should indure much, as hath beene seene of late yeares, when as all trafficke was defen∣ded by reason of the plague; besides, the Venetians haue held diuers townes in Pouille, and haue beene held for friends vntill the time of the Norman kings: so as, as well in re∣gard of this remembrance, as of the foresaid interest, the Neapolitans haue a speciall in∣clination to loue them that are vnder this Seigneurie: There is not any Prouince in Ita∣lie that sends forth more things of her owne increase: for she sells vnto strangers great store of nuts and almonds, which they send into Ba••barie and Alexandria: she vents her saffron into diuers places: she furnisheth Genoua and Tuscaine with silkes: she sends oyle to Venice and to other places, wines to Rome, and horses, lambes, and sheepe to [ E] many countries. Pouille doth furnish Venice, Sclauonia, and Tuscaine with flesh. The wine of Saint Seuerin is wonderfully esteemed and of great price at Rome. Base Cala∣bria sends corall to other prouinces, and Manna which is more esteemed than any other. Castra is famous for the oyles which are bought there, and the merchants of Genoua e∣specially make it a good trade.
The king of Spaine drawes out of this realme two millions and 500000 duckats yere∣ly, comprehending the free gift of a million, and two hundred thousand duckats, which is giuen euerie two yeare to his Maiestie, the which is now reduced to an ordinarie rent, like to the one and thirtie graines which are paid for the lodging of souldiers, and enter∣tainement of certaine gentlemen that do accompanie the Vice-Roy, and are called Con∣tinuels: [ F] seuen graines for the gard of Towers vpon the coast, nine graines for the repara∣tion of streets, & fiue graines for the prouost of the field, from which reuenues, deducting a million, and 800000 duckats in pensions and other things which are paid to diuers, the remainder is not sufficient for the garrisons, foot, horse, galleis, and other expences.