This text has been selected for inclusion in the EEBO-TCP: Navigations collection, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
GEnoua is a most famous City, both for buildings and anti∣quity, and by the opinions of divers learned men, it is more ancient than Rome; It is proudly and stately built by the Sea-side; neither is it all plaine, nor all mountaines, but partakes of both, and is six miles in circuit, and there is 30 Parish Churches therein, whereof divers noble men are by Inheritance
Patrons of some of them: And now we will speak something of the Cathedral Church called S. Lau∣rence, wherein is a Chappel dedica∣ted to S. Iohn Baptist: And there is the ashes of the said S. Iohn kept in a silver chest, well adorned and set with precious stones; which ashes work great miracles; among the rest this same particular: That there raising a great storme upon the Sea, to the endangering of the shipping and Port; the said chest being car∣ried by the Clergy of the said Church to the Sea-side, the tempests did immediately and miraculously cease, as my author says.
Likewise there is kept in the Ve∣stry of the said Church, a dish set with Emeralds, of an inestimable price, in the which our Saviour ate his Paschal Lamb, according to the opinion of many Authors; and it was taken and brought thither in the taking of Cesarea, as in the Chronicles of Genoua appeareth more at large.
There is in the said City divers Hospitals built for the reliefe of the sick and the poore, as also for Pil∣grims and Travellers; which are plentifully adorned with Riches for their maintenance: And there are great Monasteries, both within and without the said City, worth seeing; and there is a most faire Ar∣s••nal for building of Galleis and o∣ther Vessels.
There is likewise a most famous Darsena or Mold made of stone out of the Sea, very artificially, by the labour of Man, where the Gallies, and small ships laden with wines, lie, and they may open and lock it at their pleasures, with a chaine for security.
There is likewise the great Mol, which makes the Port for the great shipping to lye secure; which was likewise made of stone, by the hand of man, most artificially, to the great expence of the City.
MIlano a most famous City, in the Provine of Lombardy
in Italy; It being adorned with most stately Churches and Pallaces, and fortified with an invincible Castle, wherein lyes foure or five thousand Spaniards in Garrison, for the defence of the City: And there is a most stately Hospitall, where any Travellers or Pilgrimes have very good entertainment for three dayes, having plenty of meat, drink, and very good lodging: and at his arrivall he shall have his feet washed by the Gentry of the City, who serve by turnes; and at his de∣parture hee shall have a peece of money given according to his qua∣lity.
This City is very plentifull for all kind of provision, and very cheap and reasonable.
Note that a German league is 5 Italian miles, and so is a Spanish league, and a French league is three Italian miles.
In the S. Remo is a great com∣pany of Trees called Melangole, Cypresse trees, Lemmon trees, and Palme trees, wherewith Rome is furnisht against Palme sunday.
And from this place you may go to Monaco, which is but two miles out of the way.
This Rezzo belongs to the most Illustrious Marquess of Gravesena, to the Lord Gasparo, to the Lord Paolo Ant••nio, and to the Lord
Gionan Baptisto, all Brothers unto the said Marquess, who where the first Inventors and Writters of this Book.
And foure or five miles from hence is a most stately Monastery of Cathusians called Casotto, which ••eleives all Pilgrims and Travel∣lers.
Here you may passe the River Te∣cina by Ferry, which is foure miles over.
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This Felizzano is a castle belong∣ing to the Marquessat of Monfer∣rato.
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.
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.
This place is at the foot of the mountaine Mosinis and here you enter into Dolphinato in France, be∣ginning to reckoning by leagues.
THis Avignon is a most faire ci∣ty, and borders upon the river Rodano, and at the entrance of this city you passe over one of the state∣liest bridges in Christendome; this city belongs to the Pope, and is go∣verned by a Vice-Legat, as Bolonia is: Tence you go to Villa nova, a league and a halfe distance.
THis Tolose is a very great and spacious City, being fa∣mous for the University that is kept therein, with most stately buildings and Churches, and amongst the rest is the Church of S. Servino where lyes the bodyes of S. Iacomo the younger, and S. Matheo, and of San. Tadeo, and many other holy Relicks; which bodies are put into a silver chest, all set with precious stones, admirabl•• to behold, and in this city is the chief Parliament kept for all the Province of Langue∣doc, being a very Plentifull and cheap place.
THis Roncevaux is a plaine, half a mile every way, having hils on every side; where Charlemagne, King of France, and Emperor of Germany, fought a battaill with the King of Spaine, in which battell the 12 Peares of France were all slaine, and much blood sheed on all sides,
This is a most famous city where∣in there is a most devout Monaste∣ry, a very stately Hospital, and one of the three Crucifixes made by Nicodemus.
This City of Compostella is in the Kingdome of Gallicia in Spain, where there is a most fair Church, built all with Marble, dedicated to St. Iames the great, an Apostle and Patron of Spain; wherein his body lies, and great Indulgences and Pardons are granted to all those that visit the said Church, and abundance of Relicks, rich set in Silver and Gold, which are shown to all that comes to see that place. And there is a Pillar of Brasse, wherein that Pilgrimes-staffe is kept which St. Iacom•• used to car∣ry with him when he preached up and down the world, which all Pilgrims may touch: Likewise there is the Crosse which he carry∣ed about him when he went about to preach; Likewise there is a bell which did ring out of it self when he did work that miracle concer∣ning the Cock and Hen, which miracle was done at San Domingo de la Calzada, and the Cock and
Hen are kept there till this day. And this is the third Pilgrimage in the world, none exceeding, sa∣ving Rome and Ierusalem. And there is a stately Hospitall, where Pil∣grims and travellers have exceed∣ing good entertainment for meat, drink and longing for the space of three dayes.
Before you come to the City of Castella∣na you passe by the foot of the Mountain of St. Oreste.
Here you passe by the Valley of Topina, which is very dangerous in the time of rain, by rea∣son it will quickly. overflow.
Where you must imbark by Sea to Venice.
Before you come to Baccano, you passe a forrest so called, which is very dangerous by reason of theeves and robbers.
This Castle of Ronciglione be∣longs to the Prince of Parma, and there are very good Innes neer adjoyning, and it doth a∣bound with as good fruits and wines as any in Italy, and as chap.
Which stands neer unto a Lake so called, which affords plenty of very good fish.
Before you come to Viterbo, you passe a small mountain of the Alpes, about 8 miles in length, and very dangerous for theeves and robbers. It is a very fair Ci∣ty, and endowed with brave Fountains, Churches, and Mo∣nasteries, amongst the rest is the Monastery of St. Rosa, where her body lies whole uncorrupt, though the Monastery were burnt, yet the fire had no pow∣er of her body, nor it was no
way defac't, as is apparant at this day, which any traveller may see.
Here you passe the River called Paglia.
Here you passe the River called Loreia.
Neer unto which is Montepuchi••∣no a city, where Ca••dinall Bellar∣myne was born: A pure ayre it produces, and abounds with most excellent wines, and very cheap as also all other provisions.
This is the most Gentile and fa∣mous City that is in all Tuskanie, being adorned with a most sum∣ptuous great Church, all made of Moisaiek work: and there is the best language spoken in all Italy, and the people are most courte∣ous, and the women wonderfull fair. Th••re being a stately Ho∣spitall for Pilgrims, and great plenty of all things, and cheap.
A little from which is a strong Fortresse or Castle, called Poggio imperiale.
This Florence is a most fair and stately city, as any in all Italy, and full of trading, thorow which passeth the River Arno, which goeth into the Sea at Le∣gorne, and it hath four stately Bridges over it, wh••reof one is called the old Bridge, being all built with houses. There are likewise three strong Castles, two stately Palaces, belonging to the Duke of Florence, the old and new, with a stately Gall••ry, which is adorned with all sorts of pictures and statures, and rooms within, wherein are pre∣served the most excellent Cabi∣nets of all sorts of Jewels a••d precious stones, and as much va∣rieties as the world can afford; as likewise a most compleat Armo∣ry both of old and new; as also a most famous Monastery in the
said city called Nuciciata, whose Church is adorned with the Pi∣ctures of many Popes, Kings, Dukes, Captains, Lords▪ and they are done in Statures as if they were alive. And to speak of the great Church and the Ball or Coupala upon the Church, wher∣in eighteen men may stand, and the brasse doores, which were brought from Ierusalem; and St. Laurences Church, where the Great Dukes of Florence are bu∣ried, and that new Church which is building by it to transfer their bodies into it. It would take up a whole volume to d••scrie and set forth the severall Anti∣quities, Statures, Monuments, and Relicks there remaining.
This Mounserate is an high Mountain of 12 miles height, where
there is a sumptuous Monastery of Monks, a place of great devotion, being richly endowed with treasure, that it is the chiefest next to Orlet∣to. Here pilgrims are entertained for three dayes. And there is ano∣ther mountain, two miles higher than this, where there is 12 Hermits live, and there trees and herbs flou∣rish all the winter long, having most curious Springs and Fish-ponds, wherein are great plenty of Fish, and the said 12 Monkes never eat Flesh all the year long, and they have most part of their provisions as Wines, Spices, and such like from the mountain below them; This is a very famous mountain, and wor∣thy seeing of any traveller that shall travell that way, aud he will not repent his pains.
Fabulous sto∣ries of the La∣dy of Loreto.