The Dukedom of PARMA.
THe Dukedom of PARMA hath on the North the Dukedoms of Millain and Mantua; from which it is parted by the Po; on the South, the Apennine, which divideth it from Liguria; on the East, the Country of Modena; on the West, Montferrat: situate, as Modena is in Lombardia Cispadana, and much of the same nature both for soyl, and air, and other the com∣modities of those parts of Italie.
The principall Cities of it are, 1 Parma, an antient City, and made a Colony of the Romans at the end of the second Punick War, as Mutina and Aquileia at the same time were. It is seat∣ed on a small River of the same name, which runneth almost thorough the middest of it; beau∣tified with very handsome buildings, and peopled by a race of ingenious men, whether they do be take themselves unto Arts or Arms. The grounds about this City are of excellent pasturage, and yeeld great plenty of the Cheese which is called Parmesan. 2 Placentia, seated on the Po, one of the first Colonies which the Romans planted amongst the Cisalpine Galls, and famous for the resistance which it made both to Annibal and Asdrubal, who severally in vain besieged it: made afterwards the Metropolis of the Province of Aemilia; yet nothing the less beautifull for so great an age. The fields adjoyning have the same commendation with those of Parma, for most excellent Cheese; but go beyond for Salt-pits and Mines of Iron, which the other wanteth. 3 Mirandula, a proper Town, built in the time of Constans the sonne of Constantine the Great: the Patrimony of the noble Family of the Pici (of which was Picus de Mirandula that renowned Scholar) but held by them as Feudataries to the Dukes of Parma. 4 Briscello, called antiently Brixellum, not far from the chief City Parma; of no great note at the present time, but memorable in the Roman story for the death of the Emperor Otho, who here killed himself. For hearing here that his Forces were overthrown by Valens and Cecina Commanders of the Forces of Vitellius, then his Competitor for the Empire, he rather chose to fall by his own sword, than that the Romans should be forced for his sake to renew the war. And this he did with so much honour to himself, that many of his souldiers slew themselves at his Funerall Pile, not out of consciousness of crime, on for fear of punishment, but to testifie their affections to him, and to follow such a brave example as was layd before them. So as we may truly say of him, as he is sayd by Tacitus to have sayd of himself, viz. Alii diutius imperium tenuerunt, nemo tam fortiter resiquit. 5 Monticella, in the middle way almost between Parma and Plancentia, and op∣ponte unto Cremona, a chief. Town of the Dutchy of Millain, from which parted by the Ri∣ver Po.
These Towns (as others in these parts) have been partakers of the diversities of fortune, as being (after the declining of the Western Empire) some times under the Venetians, most times under the Millanoys, and at last couquered by the Popes in the confusions and distractions of the Dukedom of Millain, under the two last Princes of the house of Sforza. By Paul the 3d, being of the house of the Farnesis, the Cities of Parma and Placentia with their Appendixes, were given unto his son Petro Aluigi (or Petrus Aloysius, as the Latins call him) with the title of Duke, Ano 1549. The Signeurie of Camerine, which he had lately taken from the Dukes of Urbin, being given in recompence to the Church. This Petro being a man of most vicious life, had amongst other villanies committed an unspeakable violence on the person of Cos••••us Chirius the Bishop of Janum; and soon after poyso∣ned him. For which most detestable fact he received no other chastisement of his Father than this, Haec vitia me non cōmonstratore didicit, that he was sure he had not learnt those vices by his example