Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

The Dukedom of URBINE.

ENvironed on all sides with the Lands of the Church,* 1.1 save where it coasteth on the Adria∣tick, lies the Dukedom of URBINE, having on the East Marca Anconitana; on the West, Romagna, or Romandiola; on the North, the Adriatick Sea; on the South, the Apennine. It is in length about sixty miles, and some thirty five miles in the bredth: within which round lie in∣termixt some Estates of the Church, of which the Duke is a Fendatary, and to which he payeth 2240. Crowns for a quit-rent yeerly.

The soyl is very fruitfull of Corn, Wine, and Oyl, plentifull of Figs and other fruits of most pleasant tast; and in a word, affording all things necessary for the life of man. But the air is generally unwholesom, especially about Pesaro and Fossombrune, by reason of the low flats and over-flows of the water. The principal commodities which they vend abroad, are the wines of Pesaro, sold in great abundance to the Venetians; and dryed figs which they vend unto Bologue and other places.

The most famous River is Metaurus, (now called Metremo) and a famous one it is indeed, by reason of that great battell fought on the banks thereof, betwixt Asdrubal the brother of Annibal, and his Carthaginians; and the two Consuls Livius and Cl. Nero, in which after a long and hot dispute, the victory fell unto the Romans; there being 56000. of the Carthaginians slain, (as Livie writeth) and 5400. taken prisoners. Polybius speaks of a less number both slain and ta∣ken; and like enough it is, that Livie, to advance the honor of that Family, might inlarge a little. But whatsoever was the truth in this particular, certain it is, that this victory turned the tide of the Roman Fortune, which from this time began to flow amain upon them: the Citi∣zens of Rome beginning at this time to trade and traffick, to follow their affairs, and make con∣tracts and bargains with one another, which they had long forborn to do; and that with as se∣cure a confidence as if Annibal were already beaten out of Italie. This famous River riseth in the Apennine hills, and passing by Fossombrune, a Town of this Dukedom, falls into the Adriatick.

There are reckoned in this Dukedom seven Towns or Cities, and three hundred Castles: The principall of which are, 1. Urbine, one of the most antient Cities of Italie, which both Tacitus and Plinie mention; a fair Town, well built, and the Dukes ordinary seat in Summer. It is sea∣ted at the foot of the Apennine hills, in a very rich and pleasant soyl, built in the fashion of a Miter, and therefore called Urbinas, quod urbes binas continere videbatur. Francisco Ubaldi the first Duke built here a very sumptuous Palace, and therein founded a most excellent Library, replenished with a great number of rare Books, covered and garnished with gold, silk, and sil∣ver, all scattered and dispersed in the time that Caesar Borgia seized on the Estate. Polydore Vir∣gil, the Author of the History of England which passeth under his name, was a Native here: an History of worth enough as the times then were, except onely in such passages as concernthe Pope (the Collector of whose Peter-pence he then was in England) whose credit and authority he preferreth somtimes before truth it self. 2. Pisaurum, now called Pesara, the strongest town of all the Dukedom, two miles in compass, and fortified according to the modern art of war: the fortifica∣tions of it being first begun by Francisco Maria, and perfected by Guido Ubaldi his sonne and successor; the ordinary seat of the Duke in winter, well garrisoned, and therefore trusted with the publick Armorie. It is seated neer the shore of the Adriatick, at the mouth or influx of the River Isaurus, which parts it from Romagna: populous, of handsom buildings, and a very strong wall; the soyl exceeding rich, but the air so bad, that partly in regard of that, and partly by their eating of too much fruits, nothing is more frequent here than Funeralls, espe∣cially in the moneth of August; few of the Inhabitants living to be fifty yeers old. 3. Seno∣gaille, called antiently Sena Gallica, a strong and well-fenced City neer the River Metaurus, over which there is a Bridge consisting of eighty Arches, made of that length, not so much in regard of the breadth of the Channell, as the frequent over-flowings of that turbulent water. 4. Fossombrune, called in old Authors Forum Sempronii, for air and soyl of the same nature with Pisaurum, bought by D. Frederick of Galeazzo Malateste, for thirteen hundred Florins of gold. 5. Cabo, or Cagli, on the Sea. 6. S. Leon, a good Town, and the chief of the Country of Mont∣feltre, which is a limb of this Dukedom. 7. Eugubium, or Augubio, of which nothing famous or remarkable. Of the Castles the principall are, Marivola, and the Rock of S. Leon, which were the last that held good for Duke Guidos Baldo against Caesar Borgia, Duke of Valentinoys, sonne to Pope Alexander the sixt, and the first which did return again under his obedience. For which cause when he fled the second time from the said Borgia, he dismantled all his other Castles, as being more likely to admit than resist the Invader, and these two last being very well fortified, he left to keep possession of the Countrey for him.

Here is also within the limits of this Estate the Dukedom of CAMERINE, an antient and well peopled Town, of a strong naturall situation amongst the hills: an Estate holden of the Church by the noble Family of di Varena, till the time of Pope Paul the third, when Julia di Varena the heir hereof, conveyed it by Mariage unto Guido Ubaldi Duke of Urbin. But the Pope

pretending an Escheat for want of heirs males,* 1.2 made himself Master of it by force of Arms, and gave it to his sonne Piero Farnesi, whom afterwards with the consent of the College of Car∣dinalls he made Duke of Parma, and setled Camerine on the Church, as it still con∣tinues.

In the time of Conradin the last Duke of Schwaben, Urbine was first subdued by the Earls of Montfeltre, whose Successors increasing in power, added the Town and Territory of Eugubio to it. And in the bustles betwixt Lewis of Bavaria the Emperor, and Pope Clement the sixt, An^o. 1345. Gelasso di Montfeltre held it by no other Title but as the Emperors Vicegerent. This Family injoyed it till the yeer 1444. by the Title onely of Earls of Montfeltre, and Lords of Urbine; when Frederick Ubaldi, for his singular and surpassing valour, was by Pope Eugenius the fourth, created the first Duke hereof. A man of such repute for all gallant qualities, that he was by King Henry the sixt made Knight of the Garter; in recompence of which high honour, the English to this day injoy many privileges in these Dominions. Guido Ubaldi this Dukes sonne lost his Estate to Caesar Borgia; after whose death he did recover it again by the power and favour of Pope Julio the second; to whom succeeded Francisco Maria di Rovero, his sisters sonne, in whose Family it still continues, as will appear by this ensuing Catalogue of

The Dukes of Urbine.

• 1 Frederick Ubaldi, of the antient Family de Monte feltro,* 1.3 the first Duke of Urbine, and one of the Knights of the honourable Order of the Garter.
• 2 Ghido Ubaldi, sonne of Frederick, for a while outed of this Dukedom by Caesar Borgia. He was Knight also of the Garter.
• 3 Francisco Maria de la Rovero, sisters sonne and next heir to Guido Ubaldi, was in his own right Lord of Senogallia, and had Pisa••ro from the Pope in reward of his many services done unto the Church, disseized for a while by Pope Leo the tenth.
• 4 Lawrence de Medices, Father of Catharine di Medices the French Queen, and of Alex∣ander, the first Duke of Florence, was for a while made Duke of Urbine by Pope Leo the tenth, (being of that Family) but lost it shortly after to Duke Francisco; who af∣ter the death of Pope Leo, recovered his Estates again, and died possessed of the Dukedom.
• Guido Ubaldi II.* 1.4 sonne of Duke Francisco.
• 6 Francisco Maria II. sonne of Guido the second.

The Revenues of this Dukedom are said to be 100000, Crowns per annum, but might be rai∣sed to a greater sirm, did not the Duke prefer the love and ease of his Subjects before the fil∣ling of his own coffers. He is able to raise 1200. good Souldiers out of his Estate; and more his people would supply if he had occasion. The Arms hereof Azure, a Tower Argent, envi∣roned with Flower de Lyces Or.

Here are in this Dukedom Arch-bishops 10. Bishops 3.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vrbine
• * 1.2

  Venice.
• * 1.3

  1444.
• * 1.4

  1538.