Italy in its original glory, ruine, and revival being an exact survey of the whole geography and history of that famous country, with the adjacent islands of Sicily, Malta, &c. : and whatever is remarkable in Rome (the mistress of the world) and all those towns and territories mentioned in antient and modern authors / translated out of the originals for general satisfaction, by Edmund Warcupp, Esquire.

MANTOUA

FOr its antiquity gives place to no City of Italy, being founded not only before Rome, but before the destruction of Troy, (which happened according to Eusebius, Saint Jerome and others, 430. yeers before the building of Rome) Leandro Alberti, shewes that Mantoua was built 1183. yeers before the coming of our Lord into the flesh. And as it was more antient than the rest, so was its Original more noble, being founded by Ocno Bianoro, the most antient King of Tusca∣ny, who was Son of Tiberino King of Tuscany, and Manto Tebena his Queen, and so called it Mantoua from the name of his Mother. It was first inhabited by three noble people, the Tebani, Veneti, and Toscani, as Virgil the Prince of Poets celebrating the nobleness of this his Country testifies in his 10. book of his AEneades.

Ille etiam patriis agmenciet Ocnus ab oris Fatidicae Manthus, & Tusci filius amnis, Qui muros, matrisque dedit tibi Mantoua nomen. Mantoua Dives avis, sed non genus omnibus unum. Gens illi triplex, populi sub gente quaterni Ipsa caput populis Tusco de sanguine vires.

Tis seated among the Marishes created by the River Mencio, is strong by nature and art, large and well built, adorned with sump∣tuous Palaces and fair Churches, noble Piazzaes, spatious recrea∣tive places, and direct streets. Tis a merchandizing City, and co∣pious of all trading through the conveniency of the waters. The people are of an acute genius, and not less disposed to Learn∣ing, Arms, and all Sciences, than to Traffick and Merchandizing.

In the Church of the reverend Fathers of Saint Domenick, is the Tomb of Giovanni de Medici, Father of Cosmus great Duke of Tuscany, where may be read this Epitaph.

Joannes Medices hic situs est inusitatae virtutis Dux, qui ad Mincium tormento ictus, Italiae fato, potius quam suo cecidit. 1526.

In the Church of the Carmelites lies Batista Spagnuolo, General of that order, with this Epitaph.

Reverend. P. Magister Baptiste Mantuanus Carmelita, Theologus, Phi∣losophus, Poeta, & Orator Clarissimus, Latinae, Graecae, & Hebraicae linguae peritissimus.

In the sumptuous Temple Saint Andrea, is some of the pretious bloud of our Lord, and the body of San Longino the Martyr, Mon∣tigna Padouano lies likewise buried here with this Inscription.

Ossa Andreae Mantiniae famosissimi Pictoris cum duobus filiis insepulchro per Andream Mantiniam nepotem ex filio constructo.

And underneath are these two verses.

Esse parem hunc noris, si non praeponis Apelli, Enea Mantiniae, qui simulacra vides.

In the Duomo (where the lngenuity of Giulio Romano a famous Ar∣chitector hath expatiated it self) lies the entire body of San Anselmo Bishop of Lucca. In San Egidio, lies Bernardo Tasso.

Mantoua hath eight Gates, is in compass four miles, hath in it 50. thousand Souls, and the aforesaid Lake or Marish, lies 20. miles round it, near it is the Royal Palace of Te, built by Giulio Romano.

Five miles off Mantoua West-ward, stands a Temple dedicate to the Virgine Mary, filled with presents, and vows, wherein lies the body of Baldassar Casiiglione in a fayr Tomb.* 1.1

Twelve miles distant from it South-ward, is the magnificent and sumptuous Monastery of Saint Benedict, seated in a Plain near the Poe, which was built by Bonisace, Marquess of Mantoua, Count of Conossa, and Uncle of Matilda, in the yeer of our Saviour 984. which for its Magnificense, Riches, and sumptuousness of building, and what more imports, for its observance in Religion, antecedes all the other Monasteries of Italy The Fryers Benedictines have possessed it for 200 yeers, from whom have issued many Religious, filled with sanctity, good doctrine, and grave customs. Its possessions traverse a great space of ground, and from the privileges of Pope Pasquale the second, we may collect they had dominion in spirituals and tempo∣rals, over the Towns Guernelo and Quistello, with 38. parish Chur∣ches in the Diocess of Mantoua, Luca, Bologna, Ferrara, Parma, Mala∣mocco, & Chioza, The most illustrious Countess Matilda, (whom none comes near for her signal benefits conferred on the Roman Church) being 69. yeers old here finisht her days, in the yeer 1161. and was layed in a Marble Sepulchre in the Chapel of the blessed Virgin, which being opened 320. yeers after, her body was found unperisht and untouched, her Effigies upon a Mare (like unto a man) stands upon her Tombe, in a long red Gown, and a Pomgranade in her hand, where among her other Epitaphs, this old one may be read.

Stirpe, opibus, forma, gestis, & nomine quondam Inclyta Mathildus, hic jacet astra tenens.

In that part of the Monastery where now is the common Kitchin below, and Graneries above, was the Palace of Matilda; It hath as much Land as 382. yoke of Oxen can till. It hath a Rampart goes round a great part of its Lands about, 7 miles long, which cost in raising above 27000. Crowns, which in Anno 1560. was made in a few moneths to stop the inundations of the Poe.

Two miles beyond Mantoua at the mouth of the River Mincio, which issues from the Lake, and goes to Ferrara, stands the Bourge Ande now called Pietole, where Virgil was born, beyond that Hostia, and Roveredo, and then Lago Scuro; where you imbark for Venice; hence after three miles travail you arrive at Ferrara.

Notes

• * 1.1

  St. Benedict