The Evropean mercury describing the highwayes and stages from place to place, through the most remarkable parts of Christendome : with a catalogue of the principall fairs, marts, and markets thorowout the same / by J.W. ... ; usefull for all gentlemen who delight in seeing forraign countries, and instructing merchants where to meet with their conveniences for trade.

Stage from Milano to Cune in Piemont.

• First to Biagrasso, m. 14
• Then to Tigenano, m. 6

Here you may passe the River Te∣cina by Ferry, which is foure miles over.

• Then to
  • Mortara, m. 10
  • Cozza, m. 8
  • Cazale, m. 10
  • Aste, m. ••0
  • Alba, m. 12
  • Vittoria, m. 8
  • Trinita, m. 12
  • Cuni, m. 10

Stages from Rome to the Lady of Loreto, and thence to Giacomo di Galitia in Spaine: being the true and right way for all Pilgrims that will go from Rome to the said places; and the Pilgrim or person that intends to tak•• such a voyage,

must first of all, have his passe from the Vicar Generall of Rome or his holinesse; and at Rome there are divers Hospitals for all Nations, as for Spaniards, French, Germanes, and for those which have no Hospi∣tals of their Nation, there is an Ho∣spitall called the holy Trinity, richly endowed with large revenus, and is capable to lodge 500 Pil∣grims in a night; where they are entertained three dayes, both with meat, dring and lodging; and in the Holy Week, the Cardinals (by their turns) come and wash their feet, and serve in the course of meat themselves, and fill drink; and will spend 1000 pounds in three dayes time upon them; each straiving who shal exceed in charity towards them: And this continues for the space of 15 dayes, both in the holy week and Easter week; and for the rest of the yeare they are served in a decent and comly manner,

• From Rome to Prima Porta, m. 7
• ...

• Then to
  • Castel novo, m. 9
  • Rignano, m. 1
  • Civita Castellana, m. 9

Note that in every city or mar∣ket town, there is an Hospitall for entertainement of Pilgrims and tra∣vellers, w••ere some gives only lod∣ging, some lodging and dyet, accor∣ding to the custome of the place; some are good, some bad; but if one be a Scholler or cleanly, he shall be better respected than the common sort: And if he will not go to the Hospitall, let him go to the Mona∣steries of Capuchins Friers, who will entertaine him with meat drink and lodging, never refusing so to do to a man of carriage and behaviour.

• Then to
  • Borghetto, m. 9
  • Tevere, passing the river by barke, m. 1
  • Otricoli, m. 5
  • Narni, m. 8
  • Terni, m. 7
  • Strettura, m. 8
  • Spolletto. m. 8
  • ...

• ...
  • Passo, m. 8
  • Camera, m. 4
  • Varchiano, m. 6
  • Saravalle, m. 10
  • Mucia, m. 8
  • Pulverina, m. 4
  • Valcimara, m. 4
  • Tolentino, m. 6
  • Mercerava, m. 10
  • Ricanati, m. 8
  • Maddonia de Loreto now a city. m. 3

THe miraculous beginning and translation of the Church of the Lady of Loretto, taken out of the Originall which is ingraven in marble with golden letters in the said Church,* 1.1 in all Languages: Verbatim, as follow∣eth, viz.

The Church of Loretto, saith my au••hor, was a Chamber of the house of the Blessed Vi••gin Mary, nigh Jerusalem in the city of Nazareth, in which she was borne and breed

and saluted by the Angell, and therein conceived and brought up her son Jesus to the age of twelve yeares: This chamber after the As∣cention of our blessed Saviour was by the Apostles consecrated into a church in honor of our blessed La∣dy: And S. Luke made a Picture to her likenesse; extant therein to bee seen this very day: It was frequen∣ted with great devotion, by the people of the countrey where it stood, whilst they were catolicks, but when leaving the Faith of Christ, they followed the Sect of Mahomet: The Angels took it, and carrying it into Sclavonia, placed it by a town called Flinnen, where not being had in due reverence, they again transported it over Sea, to a wood in the territory of Recanati, belonging to a noble women called Loreta, from whome it first took the name of our blessed Lady of Loreto: And thence again they carried it by reason of the many

robberies commited) to a mountain of two brothers in the said Territo∣rie: And from thence finaly, in respect of the disagreement about the gifts and offerings to the com∣mon high way, not far distant, where it now remains, without foundation famous for many signes, graces and miracles; whereat the Inhabitants of Recanati, who often came to see it, much wondring, environed it with a strong and thick wall, yet could no man tell from whence it came originally, till in the yeare 1296; the blessed Virgin appeared in his sleep to a holy devout man, to whom she revealed it, and he di∣vulged it to others of authority in this Province; who determining forthwith to try the truth of this vi∣sion, resolved to chuse 16 men of credit, who to that effect should go altogether to the city of Nazareth, as they did, carrying with them the measure of this Church, and compa∣ring it there with the foundation,

yet remaining, they found them wholly agreeable; and in a wall thereby ingraven that it had stood there, and had left the place; which done, they presently returning back published the premisses to be true, and from that time forwards it hath been certainly known that this Church was the chamber of the blessed Virgin, to which Christians begun then, and have ever, since had great devotion; for that in it dayly she hath done and doth many and many miracles. One Frier Paule de Silva, an Hermit of a great San∣ctity, who lived in a cottage neare unto this church, to which dayly he went to Mattens, said, that from ten yeares space on the eight of Sep∣tember, two houres before day he saw a light descend from heaven up∣on it, which he said was the blessed Virgin, who there shewed her selfe on the Feast of her Nativity: In confirmation of all which, two ver∣tuous men of the said city of Reca∣nati,

divers times declared unto me, Pref••ct of Terreman and Governor of the foresaid Church, as follow∣eth; The one called Paule Renal∣duci a vouched that his grandfathers grandfathers saw when the Angels brought it over Sea, and placed it in the fore-mentioned wood, and had often visited it there: The other called Francis Prior, in the like sort affirmeth that his grandfather being a hundreth and twenty yeares old, had also much frequented it in the same place, and for a further proof that he had been there, he reported that his grandfathers grandfather, had a house neere unto it, wherein he dwelt; and that in his time it was carryed by the Angels from thence to the mountaine of the two Brothers, where they plac't it as a∣bove said.

This is the true Coppy in english as it is ingraved in the Church of Loreto. And now this place is be∣come a city having a Bishop and a

Governor, and it doth exceed most Churches in the World for riches and wealth.

Note Reader, that from our Lady of Loreto, you may continue your voyage to S. Giacomo di Galicia in Spaine, by the way of Ancona, being m. 5

Then to Ancona a most famous city that stands upon the Sea-side, being endowed with a faire Port or Haven, where a great trade is keept by Navigation from Levant, and where is a continuall Fayre keept of Turkish horses, slaves, and vari∣ety of all other commodities.

There is a most stately Cathe∣drall Church called S. Ciriaco, which stands upon a mountaine of the s••id city, where the said Saints body lies in••umbed, and is taken for Patron of the said city; Also there lies the bodyes and relicks of above 60 Saints: Amongst the which is the body of blessed Anthony, who was Bishop thereof, being descen∣ded

of noble parents of the said city, whose body hath laid these 300 yeares, both flesh and bone without corruption, as may Author says.

• Then to
  • Singaglia a city, m. 15
  • Fano a city, m. 5
  • Where there are most handsome women,
  • Pesara another city, m. 5
  • Catolica a city, m. 10
  • Rimini a city, m. 15
  • All these cities lye by the Sea-side, and abounds most plentifull with wine corne, and all other provi∣sions, being very cheap.
  • Archangelo a castle, m. 9
  • Savignano a castle, m. 4
  • Cesana a city, m. 10
  • Here note that all these cities are in Romania.
    • Forlin popolo a castle, m. 6
    • Forli a great city, m. 5
    • Faenza a city, m. 10
    • ...

• ...
  • ...
    • Imola a city, m. 10
    • San Nicola a castle, m. 10
    • Bologna a city, m. 15

THis Bologna is a most famous and spacious city of Romania & is the mother of learning, and in∣habited by the chiefe Nobility and Gentry of Italy, who live in most stately Palaces and Houses, having libertas the motto; under their armes and Scutchion, which Armes are set over every mans doore, and through the said city passeth a River, which makes it very plentifull of all things and at easie ra••es, and there are di∣vers faire Monasteries, both within and without the city: As that of S. Dominico where the said Saints body lyes, most stately and magni∣ficently built, as also that of S. Mi∣chael in Bosco, and the Cathusians; And there is two famous Hospitals, for entertainment of Pilgrims and Travellers, comparable, either to that of Rome or Millaine: And the said city is always governed by a

Cardinall, who is the Popes Vice∣gerent, with the title of Legato de Lattere.

• Then to castell Franco, m. 12

Wherein ends the territory of the church; And now there is built a most invinsible castle, for the de∣fence of the territories of the Popes dominions.

• Thence to the city of Modena, m 7

THis Modena is a free State be∣longing to the Duke of Mode∣na, being plentifull of all things, and very cheap, and there are very handsom and faire women, and the best swords and bucklers of all Italy are made there.

• Then to Rubiera, m. 7

Note that before you come to Modena, and likewise before you come to Rubiera, you passe at either place a Ferry.

RUbiera is a most strong castle, and compassed round about with water, and no man is suffred to go into. And out of the said town

about a quarter of a mile is a most stately Hospitall for Pilgrims and Travellers, and where they have meat and drink, and wines of all sorts in abundant manner.

• Then to Reggio, another city of the Duke of Modenas, where there are excellent good spurs made, m. 7
• Then to the city Parma, m. 15

A Free state belonging to the Prince of Parma, being a most famous city and full of No∣bility and Gentry, being an Univer∣sity, and there is one Colledge only for Noblemens sons to live in, and there is likewise a stately Hospitall for Pilgrims and Travellers.

• Then to
  • Burgo San Donim a castle, m. 15
  • Fiorenzuola a castle, m. 8
  • Pontenuro, m. 7
  • Piacenza a city, m. 8
  • Rotofrede, m. 6

THis Piacenza, is a most beauti∣full and str••ng city in Lom∣bardy and hath a strong castle

thereunto belonging, and it was founded by the Illustrious Prince Duke Peter Lewis Farnesse: Prince of Parma; besides it is inhabited with abundance of Nobility and Gentry, and very plentifull of all provisions, and very cheap.

• From Rotofredo to San Giovanni, m. 7
• Then to
  • Stradella, m. 8
  • Schiattezzo, m. 7
  • Voghera, m. 11
  • Tortona a city, m. 10
  • Allexandria de la Paglia a city, m. 10
  • Felizzano, m. 9

This Felizzano is a castle belong∣ing to the Marquessat of Monfer∣rato.

• Then to Aste a city, m. 6

This Aste is a city in Piemont, being a very famous and rich city, and plentifull of all provisions, and belongs to the Duke of Savoy.

• Then to Belloto a town, m. 6
• Then to Poerino a castle, m. 7

• Then to
  • Moncaliere a market town m. 7
  • Turino a city, m. 9

Turino is a most faire city, being an University, and the residence of the Duke of Savoy; and runs by it, a faire river, and it is a very plentifull city, and well watered with sweet springs and a very pleasant place.

• Then to
  • Rivolo a castle, m. 5
  • S. Ambrosio a castle, m. 9
  • S. Giogi a town, m. 7
  • Bossolengo a castle, m. 2
  • Susa a market town, m. 4
  • Siges a town, m. 4

This place is at the foot of the mountaine Mosinis and here you enter into Dolphinato in France, be∣ginning to reckoning by leagues.

• Then to
  • Haron a village, l. 2
  • Susana, l. 3
  • Berenzon, l. 2
  • S. Martino, l. 1
  • S. Crespiate, l. 3
  • Hembron, l. 4
  • Corses. l. 4
  • ...

• ...
  • Talardo, l. 4
  • Sarza, l. 4
  • S. Lazaro, l. 2
  • Emora, l. 2

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fabulous sto∣ries of the La∣dy of Loreto.