A prospect of the most famous parts of the vvorld Viz. Asia, 3 Affrica, 5 Europe, 7 America. 9 With these kingdomes therein contained. Grecia, 11 Roman Empire, 13 Germanie, 15 Bohemia, 17 France, 19 Belgia, 21 Spaine, 23 Italie, 25 Hungarie, 27 Denmarke, 29 Poland, 31 Persia, 33 Turkish Empire, 35 Kingdome of China, 37 Tartaria, 39 Sommer Ilands, 41 Civill Warres, in England, Wales, and Ireland. You shall find placed in the beginning of the second booke marked with these [3 asterisks in triangle formation] and (5) together with all the provinces, counties, and shires, contained in that large theator of Great Brittaines empire. / Performed by John Speed.

¶ The Description of ITALY.

ITALY is divided from France and Germanie by the Alpes, and stretch∣eth her selfe South-east, betwixt the Tyrrhene and Adriaticke Seas, almost in just proportion of a mans legge. I may spare my Reader her lavish attri∣butes; which he can hardly ba••••e, if he will but looke into any Authour where her name is mentioned. She must (for me) and well may, be content here with the briefe Elogie of Plinie, to which (I thinke) the wit of man can adde but little. Certainly the most blessed seat of man upon earth can deserve no more. Italia terrarum omnium alumna, eadem & parens, numine deorum electa quae coelum ipsum clarius faceret, sparsa congregaret imperia, ritus molliret, tot populorum discordes lin∣guas, sermones, Commercia, ad colloquia distraberet, & huma∣nitati hominem daret.

(2) Yet to speake truth we cannot abate her much of this title. The mother of Countries we may call her, since most Wri∣ters agree, that she was first inhabited by Ianus (or Noah, as some would report him) the father of Nations. It was doubtlesse a very long time, since the world was honest: and deserved the name of a golden age: yet then was she peopled (as Iustine de∣livers out of Trogus) by the Aborigines, whose King was first O∣gyges, then Saturne, a man so just, that under his government there was knowne no tyranny from their Prince, no disloyaltie from the subject, no injurie from the neighbour: They had all one patrimony, one possession: and where all acknowledge no peculiar, there can be but little cause of strife.

(3) I presume not to set downe the just yeare when men were thus ordered: But if you will beleeve the story of the Gen∣tiles compared in Chronologie, by some of late yeares and better trust, as Munster, Quade, &c. Ianus pater hominum & deorum and immediate predecessor to Saturne, was in Italy within 200. yeares after the Flood, and received the aged Chronus into part of his Kingdome with him, being expulsed by his sonne Iupiter out of Crete. Each of them built a Citie and left a sound of his name for their remembrance: the one Ianua, which to this day hath suffered no further change then to Genua: and the other Saturnia; and both in their times gave name to the whole regi∣on: which are not yet fully worne out: though others have since took place: as Latium, quia his latebat Saturnus, Italia ab Italo Siculorum rege. Hesperia from the Westerne starre, A••sonia and Oenotria from her excellent Wines.

( ) But this is the largest scope which we can give to her antiquity. Helvicus and other authenticke observers of time, cuts off (well-nigh) a thousand yeares from this account of the Aborigines, and placeth their Dynastia 2622. years after the cre∣ation: 966. after the Flood: and before Christ 1327.

(5) The first change of Inhabitants was forced by Evander the Arcadian, a man of that admirable eloquence, that he was called the sonne of Mercurie, but had by chance slaine his father, and was therefore expulsed his inheritance, and advised into Ita∣ly by his mother, a great Prophetesse of those times. He remo∣ved the Aborigines from their seat, and planted his companions in the same plot of ground, where after Rome was built: and in the Mons Palatinus founded a little Town, which he called Pal∣lanteum, in memory of his great grand-father. And this was a∣bout the yeare 2710.

(6) About 60. yeares after, Aeneas arrived in this Countrey from the siege of Troy, was entertained as an amorous suitor by Lavinia, with consent of her father Latinus: and after the death of his corrivall Turnus, King of the Rutilians, was settled heire to the Latine Monarchy after his father.

(7) From Aeneas to Numitor the succession went on (not without some rubs,) but suffered no great breach for almost foure hundred yeares. When the title should have fallen to him, be∣ing the elder and true heire, he was spoyled of the Kingdome by his younger Amulius Sylvius: nor could it be recovered till time had given growth and strength to Romulus and Rhemus his grand-children by his daughter Rhea.

(8) The birth and breeding of these two brothers is well knowne, we need not enlarge their Story further then thus. They were the sonnes of Rhea, a Virgin which was cloystered up into the Temple of Vesta, by her uncle Amulius Sylvius, that she might not bring forth an heir to endanger his title. Notwith∣standing meanes was found, so that she conceived at once two children by Mars, and was delivered among her sisters Vestals. For this her selfe (as the censure was upon such delinquents) was buried alive: her boyes exposed to be destroyed: but were preserved by Faustulus the Kings Shepheard, and nursed by his wife Laurentia: or Lupa for her bad life.

(9) When yeares and their supposed father had taught them their pedegree, and the base tyranny of their uncle; they began with revenge upon him, for their mothers quick buriall: for their owne intended murder, and their grandsires injurie. To be briefe, they slew their great uncle Amulius Sylvius, and returned the Kingdome to the rightfull Numitor.

(10) Thus when they had once dealt in disposing of Em∣pires: they could not easily returne to the Shepheards-hooke, but bethought them of the like fortune for their owne advance∣ment: and stirred not farre to make good their purpose, but in the very Mons Palatinus, the place where they suckt their nurse, they drew together a monstrous head of debaucht Shepheards, and built the Citie: which is now called Rome from Romulus, who in strife for the name, or (as some say) for a disdainfull skip over the new walls slew his brother Rhemus, and was left the sole Founder and Commander of this rascall crue, for so indeed it was, and held in that contempt by their borderers, that they could not by intreatie get wives from them to continue their succession, till by a guile they had enticed the Sabines to their pastimes, ravisht their women, and afterward by degrees either made their peace or wanne it with the sword, from the people round about them.

(11) Thus began the Empire of Rome: and was governed at first by 7. Kings in a direct succession to Tarquinius Superbus, who lost both himselfe and Kingdome, by his owne pride, and his sonne Sextus rape upon Lucretia. It was next taken up by Consuls, two annually chosen out of the Patritii or principall Citizens. The third ranke were of Decemviri: but they againe were dispossest for the like rape of Appius upon Virginia, & Tri∣bunes were constituted of Consulary authoritie. Then Consuls againe in another course: and for a while Dictators; which when Caesar had once clasped, he soone made to himselfe a power Im∣periall: and (though after five yeares it cost him his life, which he enchanged with Brutus and Cassius for 23. wounds in the Senate house: yet) the libertie of Rome was never so fully reco∣vered, but that soone after the Government fell upon Augustus, by the death of Autony and deposing of Lepidus, who for a while were joyned with him into the Trium viratus.

(12) This hold was scarce ever lost clearely to this day: though by the changing of the seat Imperiall from Rome to Bi∣zantium, in the raigne of their fourtie-third Constantinus: by the division into the Easterne and Westerne, in the time of Theodo∣sius: by the many invasions of the Goths, Hunnes, Vandals▪ Alani, Burgundians, and Lombards, it comes now farre short of that full glory in which it once shined.

(13) Yet is Italy still as before a happy soyle, pleasant and fertile: at all times moderate weather and healthfull ayre: full of varietie as well of living creatures, as Plants, Corne, Wine, Oyle, Linen, Hearbs, &c. And can afford into other Countries, Rice, Silkes, Velvets, Sattins, Taffaties, Grogram, Rash, Fustians, Gold-wire, Armour, ••llom, Glasses, &c. The rich are very rich: for wealth will come, with much labour, in great abundance: but the poore are extreame poore: for they are most of them very idle.

(14) Her chiefe Rivers are Padus or Poe, Athesis, Rubica, Tyberis, Arnus, &c. And her chiefe Mountains are the Alpes and Mons Appenninus. The first are in height 5▪ dayes journey, cover∣ed with snow, and from thence have their names à nivibus al∣bis. They have two passages from Germany into this Countrey, and three out of France. From Germany by the Valtoline and by Trent. Out of France through Provence and Liguria: through the hills Genura to Lombardy: and through the Countrey of Tu∣raigne. The Appennine Mountaine runs at length with Italy, like the ridge of a mans back, and is called indeed Spina. The mea∣sure of Italy is from Northwest to Southeast about 1010. miles, and from the two Seas crosse in some places 410.

(15) The Inhabitants are of a sad temper, solid judgement, witty, politique, and frugall: yet they are as deeply ingaged to their peculiar vices; hot letchers, and those seldome stand quit from that horrible torture of jealousie over their wives, for it measures others actions by its owne rule. Both in them are in∣credible: and makes treacherie and murder, seeme no fault in their eye, if they be provoked by suspition. Little friendship with them but for advantage: and a man must beware that he venture

[illustration] map of Italy

[illustration]

ITALIA Newly augmented by. I. Speede and Are to bee sold in Pops-head aley by George Humble. 1626.

not further upon those tearmes, then he may well step backe, lest he be betrayed (perhaps forced) to a love worse then their hate: for they are most unnaturall in their lust. The women when they have their free libertie differ not much, but their close keeping either hinders, or at least hides their faults, so as they appeare modest, lovely, and witty, for as much as they dare speake.

(16) For warre and learning, it bred in times past the mir∣rour of both, Camillus, Fabius Maximus, Scipio, Pompey, Caesar, Cicero, Livie, Tacitus, Virgil, Ovid, and many hundreds which yet prompt our tongues and pens with examples of goodnesse in severall kinds. Nor hath it lost that glory in this age. For what Nation directs not their travailes into these parts, to see, heare, and partake of their excellent learning, though they compasse it with great expence, and venture through dangerous hazzards, by reason of their treacherous dispositions, and cruell barbarous usage of such as shall in any light circumstance seem to be averse from their idolatrous superstition. But their Vniversities are ma∣ny and very famous; Rome, Ferrara, Naples, Salernum, Venice, Padua, Verona, Florence, Millaine, Mantua, &c.

(17) I must omit those many divisions of Italy, made first by Cato in Appenninam, Cisappenninā, and Transappenninam. By Plinie in Liguriam, Latium, &c. By Sirabo in Venetiam, Lucani∣am, Apuliam, Romam, &c. By Ptolemy into 45. severall Nations. We will rest in the latest, which best fits the present state, and numbers ten Provinces.

(1) The Kingdome of Naples. (2) The Land of the Church. (3) The Common-wealth of Venice. (4) The Dukedome of Florence. (5) The Dukedome of Millain. (6) The Dukedome of Mantua. (7) The Dukedome of Vrbin. (8) The Princi∣palitie of Parma. (9) The State of Genoa. (10) The State of Luca.

(18) The first is the Kingdome of Naples in the South part of Italy, and is the most fertile: it is bounded with the Seas un∣lesse on that side toward the Papacis. It is of large compasse and comprehends many Provinces. (1) Campania foelix, or terra la∣boris, and in this stands Naples the Metropolis: and Cuma, where the Sibylls Cave was, by which Aeneas went downe to Hell. And not farre off is the lake Avernus. (2) Abrazzo, her chiefe Townes of note are Sulmo, and Aquine, the birth-place of our great Schoole-man Thomas Aquinas. (3) Calabria inferior. The chiefe City Salernum an Academie, famous for Physicke. (4) Calabria superior, called Magna Graecia, from a multitude of Greeke Colonies, which there built Cities, and possest a great part of the Countries. The principall of note was Tarentum. (5) Terra Di'otranto from her Metropolis Otranto, once Hydrun∣tum. And here stands Brundusium, famous for one of the best Havens in Christendome. (6) Puglia, and her chiefe City was Arpinum, Tullies birth-place.

(19) The Land of the Church lyeth on the West of Naples, and South-east of the Common-wealth of Venice: North and South she crosseth from the Adriatique to the Tuscane Sea. Her under-provinces are, (1) Romandiola: and her chiefe Cities Bo∣nonia, and Ferrara, and Ravenna. (2) Marchia Anchonitana, in which stands Loretto, the place where so many miracles are per∣formed by our Lady, as they deliver among the rest of their Le∣gends. Ducato Spoletano: and in this Asis, where Saint Francis was borne. (4) Saint Peters patrimonie, a large portion: and I beleeve more then ever he enjoyed or could leave to his heires. Her ancient Townes, well knowne and oft mentioned in the Roman Stories were Alba, the seat of the Sylvian Kings, and O∣stia, built by Ancus Martius, and Tybur, Proueste, the Gabii, the Veii, and that which bustles for the place above any other in Christendome, Rome her selfe: we will not repeate her begin∣ning: she was then but two miles in compasse: but after she grew fat, she burnished to 50. miles about, upon the walls 740. Turrets, and the Inhabitants innumerable. For those memora∣ble actions which were performed in her under the antique Em∣pire, we will referre the Reader to a particular Description, deri∣ved wholly to that purpose. As it is now, it stands somewhat lower on the bankes of Tiber, in the Campus Martius: she re∣taines yet 11. miles round, and 200000. Inhabitants, a great part Friers, and such odde idle fellowes, which pretend to Religion, for want of other meanes to live: Cloyster themselves up to a single life, onely to avoyd the charge and incumbrances of mar∣riage, not to separate themselves from the world or desires of the flesh: for among them they maintaine commonly 40000. Cur∣tizans in good custome, and so rich, that they are able to pay 30000. Duckets yeerely to the Pope. The buildings, in which they most glory in, are the Church of Saint Peter, the Castle of Saint Angelo, the Vaticane Library, and the Popes Palace. The truth is, there is pride enough to attire the whore of Babylon, as there can hardly be any other meant then Rome: she sits upon the Beast with seven heads: for she was built upon seven Hills, Palatinus, Capitolinus, Viminalis, Aventinus, Esquilinus, Caelius, Quirinalis: was ruled first by seven Kings, and hath beene since subject to seven severall formes of government; if you joyn the Popedome to those former, which I have now mentioned.

(20) The Common-wealth of Venice, on the North of the Papacis, is a large Territory, and is now as famous for State-po∣licie as it hath beene heretofore glorious for warlike atchieve∣ments. The Inhabitants were first a people of lesser Asia, and assisted their neighbour Troians in their tenne yeares quarrell with the Greekes. So long since they were knowne by the name of Heneti: and that differs not much from Veneti as they are now called. Though they have a Duke, yet it is a free State, and go∣verned by an Aristarchie: for he is ordered to the very cloaths on his back, by a certaine number of the chiefe Citizens of Ve∣nice (for that is their Gentry,) and hath his allowance out of their treasury (little enough to keepe him from the thought of tyranny) about 40000. Duckets by the yeare. The Citie it selfe is eight miles round, built upon 72. Ilands, five miles from the firme land, but for convenience of passage is alwaies furnisht with Boats, and hath 4000. Bridges. Their Arsnall keepes in continuall readinesse 200. Gallies. In their Magazin of warre, there is ever furniture for 100000. men at Armes. The younger brothers of the Gentry may not marry to increase the number beyond maintenance: yet to make up their libertie, they allow them stewes. Her Provinces are (1) Marca Trarigniana, and her chiefe Cities are Truisco and Padua (the Vniversitie best fre∣quented by Physicians, by reason of her rare garden of simples,) and Verona, with many others. (2) Frinby. (3) Histria. (4) Part of Dalmatia. (5) The Ilands, Candie, Corsica, Ithaca, Zaus, Leucadia, Cythera, &c.

(21) The Dukedome of Florence betwixt the Appennius Mountaines on the North, and the Tyrrhene Sea on the South, hath on the West Romagna, and Pissco, on the East. A great part of it was Tuscanie, and gives yet to their Prince the title of great Duke of Tuscanie. Her chiefe cities are Florence, where the most elegant Italian is spoke familiarly, and Pisa, which the Floren∣tines besieged and conquered by the valor of our English S^r. Iohn Haukwood, who raised himselfe by his brave carriage in the wars, having beene before but a very poore Taylor in Essex; the third is Pistoya, where first began the quarrell of the Guelfes and Ghi∣bellines.

(22) The Dukedome of Millain in Lombardy, on the South of Tragniana, North of Liguria, West of Mantua, and East of Piedmont. A pleasant and rich Province. Her chiefe City Mil∣lain of seven miles compasse, the seat of Saint Ambrose his Bi∣shoprick.

(23) The Dukedome of Mantua on the East of Millain, is of circuit not much short of Florence: and her chiefe Towne is Mantua, who may still glory in the birth of that excellent Poet Virgil. It is very strongly situated, and fenced on three sides with water a quarter of a mile broad: and the rest is guarded by a firme wall. And to this Principalitie belongs the Dukedome of Mount-ferrat in the South-east of Piedmont.

(24) The Dukedome of Vrbin in the middest of the Papall Territories, and upon the North side of the Appennius Moun∣taines. Her principall City is Vrbino, the birth-place of another Virgil: though not of equall fame: yet one in whom we have somewhat more interest: for he writ an English History, being at that time here resident, and Collector of the Popes Peter-pence. Besides this, here are two hundred Castles. The rocke of Saint Leo, Marivol, &c. Some other Townes as Cabe, Pi∣sanco, &c.

(25) The Principalitie of Parma on the South of Mantua, and the North of the Appennius: East of Millain, and West of Medena: Besides other Commodities, which she yeelds in e∣quall plenty with other parts of Italy: sends a pleasant Cheese in∣to other Countries, which we call Parmasans. And her chiefe Citie is Parma. This Principate carries with it Mirandula and her Territories, a place oft heard of by the common mention which is made of learned Picus de Mirandula.

(26) The State of Genoa is contracted now from that large compasse which heretofore it fetcht in. It contained once Ligu∣ria and Capua, with the Taurica Chersonesus, Hetruria, & a faire company of Ilands in the Greeke Seas. Little left at this time upon the maine Land besides Liguria, and that lyeth betwixt the Rivers Varus and Marca, hath the Alpes on the West, which di∣vide her from Provence: Hetruria on the East: on the North the Appennius Mountaines, and on the South the Tyrrh••ene Seas. She hath her name from the chiefe Citie built by Ianus. It is in com∣passe eight miles: and the houses for two stories high are built with Marble. The people noble minded: and forward to any honourabale action, be it in the warres by Land, or hazzard by Sea. One Christopher Columbus is sufficiēt to make good this Elogy, for whose birth she deserves to be honoured to the worlds end. The women of Genoa are the most happy of any in Italy; for they may see a man, and speak, and be courted, if not too boldly, with∣out suspition of their friends, or jealousie of their husbands.

(27) The State of Luca is in Tuscanie, and comprehends the Territories and Citie Luca, built by Lucumo King of Italy upon the River Serchius. It was once the randevouse of Pompey, Cae∣sar, and Crassus. Here they joyned their forces in their great at∣tempt. This hath beene the Emperours, the Genoa's, the Vene∣tians, the Millanoy's, and the Florentines in their severall turnes. They now rest under the protection of the King of Spaine.