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 MILLAIN.

THe Dukedom of MILLAIN hath on the East; the Estates of Mantua and Parma on the West, Piemont, and some part of Switzerland one of the Provinces of the Alpes; on the North, Marca Trevigiana; and on the South, the Apennine, which parteth it from Lingria or the State of Genoa. In elder times the Country of the Insubres, one of the greatest Tribes of the Cisal∣pine Galls, from whence it hath the name of Insubrium Ducatiu in some of the neater Modern Writers, but commonly called Ducatus Mediolanensis, from Mediolanum, or Millain, the chief City of it.

Principall Rivers of it, 1 Padus, 2 Addua, 3 Ollius, and 4 Ticinus; of which somewhat hath been sayd already; and besides those it hath also in it the Lake called antiently Lacus Larius, but now Lago di Come (from the City of Com•• which it neighboureth) 60 miles in length.

The chief Cities and places of note are, 1 Modoecum, not far from Millain, of more fame than greatness, the fame thereof arising from the Iron Crown (kept in a Monastery here) wherewith some of the Emperors have been crowned by the Arch-bishops of Millain. A custom taken up from the Kings of the Ostrogothes, who are sayd to have first used the same, in testimony that they had won their Estates by Iron. 2 Pavie, or Papia, seated on the Flood Ticinus, united to Millain by Iohn Galeaze, the first Duke therof; made an University by Charles the fourth, An. 1361. and famous for the Battell in which Francis the first of France was taken prisoner by Charles the

fift, An. 1525. It is seated, as before was sayd, on the Flood Ti••inus, about four miles from the Po or Padus, the River carrying at this City so great a bredth, that the bridge over it is no less than 200 walking Paces long, built of Free-stone, and covered over head with a roof supported all along with pillars. From this River the City it self was antiently called Ticinum, and took the name of Papia from its great affection to the Popes; or, as some say, quasi Patria pioruum (the two first syllables of those words being joyned together) by reason of the many godly men it did produce. It lyeth in length from East to West, a new fair street dividing it in the very middest, on the West side whereof are two handsom Market-places, and a strong Castle built by Galeaze the first Duke of Millain; whose Tomb together with that of Luitprandus King of the Lom∣bards, are here still remaining; the Kings of Lombardy being so pleased with the situation of the place, that they made it the Seat-royall of their Kingdom. The Cathedrall here is one of the best indowed in Italy, if not in Europe, the Revenues of it amounting to 300000 Crowns per annum. 2 Como, the Birth-place of both the Plinies; a rich and handsom Town, situate on the South-side of the Lacus Larius, which from this Town hath now the name of Lago di Como; into which Lake, and thorough it, runs the Addua, and yet the waters do not mingle, that of the Riv••r passing over those of the Lake. About this Lake are many fair houses, and handsom villages, which do much beautifie the place; and in the middest thereof an Iland called Coma∣cina, in which there was a strong Fortress in former times, wherein the Longobardian Kings did preserve their treasurie. 3 Lodi, or Landa in the Latin, seated in a prosperous soyl, and bles∣sed with a painfull and industrious people. 4 Novara, situate upon an high hill, in which live many antient and noble Familyes: of right belonging to the Spaniard, as Dukes of Millain; but at the time when Maginus wrote, consigned over upon some conditions to the Dukes of Parma. But this Town, though it appertained to the Dukes of Millain, is situate within the Dukedom of Montferrat; and so is 5 Alexandria also, once a poor small village, known by the name of Robore∣tum, from a Grove of Oakes adjoyning to it: afterwards being raised to its present greatness by the joynt purses of the Citizens of Cremona, Millain, and Placentia, in honour of the Emperor it was called Caesarea. But in short time these people siding with the Popes, drew on themselves the anger of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who having in a manner desolated the City of Millain, the people thereof at the destruction of the City retired to this Town, calling it in ho∣nour of Pope Alexander the third, whose part they then took against the Emperor, by the name of Alexandria, which it still retaineth. It is now the strongest Out-work of the vvhole Duchy, well fortified against all assaults amd batteries which may come from France. 6 Marignan, situate South from Millain, remarkable for the great defeat here given the Switzers by King Franci•• the first; and now the title of a Marquess. 7 Cremona, situate on the Banks of the River Po, in a very rich and healthy soyl; an antient Colony of the Romans, but a beautifull City to this day; and of such fidelity to its Prince, that it hath got the name of Cremona the faithfull. It was built in the first year of the second Punick War, and burnt to the ground by Vespasians soul∣diers, after the defeat of Vitellius his forces; which defeat was given under the walls of this Town. For when Antonius, Vespasians Generall, first after his victory entered into it, he went into a Bath to wash away the sweat and blood from his body, where finding the water some∣what too cold, he sayd by chance, that it should anon be made hotter. Which words the soul∣diers applying to their greedy desires, set fire on the Town, and spent four days in the Pillage of it. By the encouragement of Vespasian it was again re-edified, and is now famous for the high Tower, from which grew the by-word, Una turris in Cremona, unus Petrus in Roma, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Portus in Ancona. 8 Millain, a fair Town, once the Metropolis of the Province of Liguria, and afterwards of the whole Diocese of Italy (called therefore 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by S. Athanasius) At this time the fairest and the biggest of all Lombardy, having a Castle so strongly fortified, with naturall and artificiall Ramparts, that it is deemed impregnable. A City very populous, containing 200000 persons: and of great Trade, here being private shops equalling the publike store-houses of other places; and the people are so rich, that the wise of every Mechanick will flaunt it in her silks and taffatyes. This City is sayd to have been built by the Galls, 359 years before Christ. It is seven miles in circuit, and honoured with an University, wherein flourish∣ed Hermolaus Barbarus, Caelius Rhodiginus, and Cardanus: seated it is in as commodious a soyl as any in Italy, environed with water by two great channels, the one drawn from the River of Addua, the other from the Tesis or Athesis, which run hard by it, and convey all things to the City in so great abundance, that things there are at very cheap rates; and adde much also to the industry of the inhabitants in the vending and dispersing of their Manufactures, which are of great esteem in most parts of the World. The buildings of the City generally are fair and state∣ly, but three especially commended for their magnificence, that is to say, the Castle, the Hospital, and the Cathedral. For matter of Religion it doth use to glory that Barnabas the Apostle was its first Bishop, and St. Ambrose one of his Successors; that formerly their Bishop stood on even terms with the Popes of Rome, and their Church as much privileged as that; and that since those times they have given unto the world four Popes, that is to say, Alexander the 2, Urban the 3, Celestine the 5, and of late, Gregory the 14.

As for the fortunes of it, it continued in the power of the French, and the Kings of Italy of that Nation, from the destruction of the Lombards till the Kingdom of Italy fell from the house of Charles the Great, and came at last into the hands of the German Emperors. Under them it con∣tinued

till the time of Frederick Barbarossa, from whose obedience it revolted An^o 1161, in be∣half of Pope Alexander the third, the Emperor divers times defacing the City, and the people stil ministring fresh occasions of dislike and quarrel. Beatrix the wife of Frederick comming to see the City, without any ill intentions to it, was by the irreverent people first imprison'd, and then most barbarously used. For setting her upon a Mule, they turned her face towards the tail, which they made her hold instead of a bridle; and having thus shewed her up and down the City, they brought her unto one of the gates, and there kicked her out. To revenge this horrible affront, the Emperor besieged and forced the Town; adjudging all the people to dye without mercy, but such as would undergo this ransom. Between the buttocks of a skittish and kicking Mule there was fastned a bunch of figs, one or more of which, such as desired to live must snatch out with their teeth, their hands bound behind them, as the Mule was pacing thorow the streets. A condi∣tion which most of them accepted: and thereupon gave occasion to the custom used among the Italians, who when they intend to scof or disgrace a man, are wont to put their thumb betwixt two of their fingers, saying Ecco la Fico; a disgrace answerable to that of making horns (in England) to him that is suspected to be a Cuckold. The City after this rebelling, and again ta∣ken by the Emperor, he levelled it unto the ground, pulled down the walls, and caused the whole ground on which it stood to be ploughed up, and sowed with salt; seeming to threaten by that Emblem, that it should never be re-edified. Which notwithstanding, the City was not only new built again, but the Pope with the help of these Millanese, and the Venetians, had at last the better of the Emperor, whom he enjoyned, after a vile submission, to undertake a journey to the Holy∣land. Freed from the Emperor, they began to live after the form of Republick, in which con∣dition they continued about 56 years, when Otho, surnamed Visconti (quasi bis Comes) because he was Lord of Millain and Angerona, assumed the title to himself, and setled it upon that Family after his decease; but so, that for the most part they were under the command of the German Em∣perors, and to them accomptable. Galeaz the first, so called (as some write) because the Cocks crowed more than ordinarily at the time of his birth, added to the Estate hereof the Cities of Crema and Cremona. In the person of John Galeazo it was advanced unto a Dukedom by the Em∣peror Wenceslaus, for 100000 Crowns in ready money; which John increased so mightily in wealth and power, that he had 29 Cities under his command; and dyed as he was going to Flo∣rence to be crowned King of Tuscany. To him succeeded John Maria, and after him his brother Philip; who in his life had maried his only daughter (but illegitimate) to Francisco Sforza, the best Commander of his times, and at his death appointed Alfonso of Aragon King of Naples for his heir and successor. Before Alfonso could take any benefit of this designation, Sforza was quietly possessed both of the City and the loves of the people. This Francis Sforze (I must needs crave leave to tell this story) was the sonne of James Altenduto, a plain Country man, who going to his labour with his Ax in his hand, whilst a great Army was passing by him, compared the misery and unpleasingness of his present condition, with those fair possibilities which a mar∣tiall life did present uuto him. And being in a great dispute with in himself what were best to do, he presently fell upon a resolution of putting the question to the determination of the Heavenly Providence; by casting his Ax unto the top of the tree next to him: conditioning with himself, that if the Ax came down again, he would contentedly apply himself to his wonted labour; but if it hung upon the boughs, he would betake himself unto higher hopes, and follow the Army then in passage. He did so, the Ax hung upon the boughs, he went after the Army, and thrived so well in that imployment, that he became one of the best Captains of his time, surnamed de Coto∣niogla from the place of his dwelling, and Sforza from the greatness of his noble courage. By An∣tonia the daughter of Francis di Casalis the Lord of Cortona, he was the father of this Francis Sforze whom now we speak of; who was so fortunate a Commander in the wars of Italy, that to oblige him to his party, Philip the Duke of Millain bestowed his daughter upon him, and thereby a fair title to this great Estate, which he successively obtained against all pretenders. In his line it con∣tinued till the coming of Lewis the 12 of France, the sonne of Charles, and nephew of Lewis, Dukes of Orleans, by Valentine the sole daughter of John Galeaze the first Duke: who getting Duke Lo∣dowick Sforze, betrayed by the Switzers into his hands, carryed him prisoner into France, and pos∣sessed himself of the estate. Outed not long after by the confederate Princes of Italy, who were jealous of so great a neighbor; he left the cause and quarrel unto Francis the first, his next succes∣sor in that Kingdom: in pursuance whereof it is sayd by Bellay a French Writer, that the use of Muskets was first known. But Francis being in conclusion taken at the battell of Pavie, and car∣ryed prisoner into Spain; for his release was forced to release all claim unto this estate. A release long before endeavouced by some French Politicians, because the pretensions hereunto had brought such damage to that Crown: and no less eagerly opposed by Chancellor Prat (on the same rea∣son that Scipio Nasica did oppose the destruction of Carthage, that is to say) because it did not only keep the French Nation in continual discipline of War, but served for a purgation of idle and superfluous people: yet notwithstanding this release, Francis renewed the War again, and laid siege to Millain, then under the command of Antonio di Leva, and a Spanish Garrison: during vvhich vvar, the vvretched Millanese endured the vvorst of miseries. For first the Governour, un∣der colour of providing pay for his souldiers, got all the victuals of the town into the Castle, to be sold again at his ovvn price: vvhich many of the poorer sort not able to pay, perished of famin in the streets. And on the other side, his souldiers which were quartered in most parts of the City

used when they wanted mony,* 1.1 to chain up their Hosts, and then to put them to a ransom. Such as upon this barbarous usuage fled out of the City, had their Goods confiscate: on which there followed such a disconsolate desolation, that the chief streets were over-grown with netles and brambles. In this miserable estate it continued till Charles the Emperor having totally driven out the French, restored it to Francis Sforze, brother to the last Duke Maximilian, and sonne of that Ludowick, who to advance himself unto this Estate, had most improvidently taught the French the way into Italy. But this Francis dying without issue, and the house of the Sforze failing in him, the Emperor entred on the Dukedom as right Lord thereof, and left the same to his successors in the Realm of Spain. This said, we will sum up the whole story of this Estate, in the ensuing Ca∣talogue of

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mantua.