holy and feast days, signifying their three kingdoms, viz. Candya, Cyprus, and Venice.

If you desire to see the treasure, you must diligently sollicit the Duke's chamberlain; then you shall go into St. Mark's church, through fou iron doors. So soon as you are gone through each one of them, they shut themselves locked, and you are within; they will show you two unicorns horns, of which the red is the male, and the yellow the fe male; then a great carbuncle-stone, which glitters like a candle, three crowns of the kingdoms of the Venetians, twelve pettorali, with oriental stones, amongst which is one standing in the midst, that hath a great saphire and an emerald; two vessels of agate, the one of Chalcedoni, the other of a Turkish; a little granate, a great diamond King Henry the Third, of France, gave the Duke of Venice; a great dish of gold, one ballasso that weighs seven ounces, certain vessels of agate and emeralds, which, in times past, were the Emperor Constantine's, besides many other rich jewels and precious stones, almost not possible to be written in particular, for it is an inestimable treasure; there are especially oriental precious a saphire and an emerald, like unto which there are none to be found.

Further you may desire to see the Duke's private house of artillery, where are rich furniture of gold and silver to arm two-hundred men, a lanthorn all of chrystal, certain apparel come from the New World, and brought thither by the Cyprinenses, and presented to the Duke; then a little coffer, in the opening of which, two pieces, that lie therein, do discharge of themselves, besides divers other curious things. Give some thing to drink.

The church of St. Mark is held to be more rich and stately, built with extraordinary costly pillars of porphyry and marble-stone, than is Santa Sophia at Constantinople, for there are five most great excellent chapels, or round heathenish towers, covered with copper. When you go from St. Mark's under the great dial, you will come into the Merceria, a long street, on both sides full of shops, furnished with all manner of exceeding rich wares, especially with silks; presently after you shall come to the Dutch house, wherein do dwell Dutch merchants, who give weekly to the duchy, one-hundred zechins.

From the Dutch house you will go over the bridge Rialto, whither all the merchants do resort mornings and evenings. There is also a little church, called Santo Jacobo, which is the ancientest church in Venice, and there was the first house built, and the city was named at that time Venetequa, in English, Come hither,' for it was free for every man to build there; and, from that word Venetequa, it is now turned to Venetia.

Then go to Santa Maria Formosa, upon which the Dutch nation are freely privileged to fight out any duel or quarrel.

You may go also to Santo Johanne et Paulo, which is a wonderful fair church and monastery, adorned with excellent fair epitaphs. When you enter in at the door, you shall see on your left-hand the picture of the Virgin Mary, very richly, with ancient historics, fastened into the wall four-square, and the cover over the same, all costly overgilded.

Right without the church doth sit upon a horse cast of bell-metal, all over gilded with pure ducat gold, Bartholome Coglion of Bergen, captain general to the Venetians; by whom Padua was taken in for the seigniory of Venice. The said general afterwards, on his death-bed, did earnestly intreat the Venetian state, in any wise hereafter, to discover their secrets to noue, as they had done to him, saying, that, if he had been disposed, he could have overcome them. The seignory, for his true service, did cause his statue to be erected there on a horse, as aforesaid.

In the famous city of Venice there are eight-thousand gondolas, and, amongst eight-hundred bridges, there are but two of wood. There are also divers laudable companies, or fellowships, touching which it is not here necessary to write in particular. The principal ones are those, near a monastery called Alli Servi, and by Al Ponte de More.

Further, it is but little a way over to Murano, where the purest chrystal glasses are made. So soon as you land on your left-hand, at a corner house, you shall see a glass-maker that hath a whole castle of chrystal, with ordnance on the bulwarks and bastions, as also towers of defence, which is to be sold for twelve-hundred crowns.

In Murano almost all the inhabitants are glass-makers, appertaining to the Venetians, who have their trading therewith. You shall also see very fair gardens with running water-works, and brave statues, especially one above the rest, belonging to a great gentleman named Emo, now dead, which is wrought so artificially, as is scarce to be believed, unless it be seen.

Then, in rowing home again, you will see a monastery on your lefthand, wonderous fairly built in the water by a Venetian courtesana, whom did love a Venetian gentle homo, who lived together like a man and wife; he died before her, and left her all that he had, for which she promised him to build a chapel, in perpetual memory of them both, to have their funerals therein; which chapel cost more than sixty-thousand crowns the building; it is all of white marble-stone, and covered with copper. There are adjoining thereunto four towers of bell-metal; within it is costly set forth, with admirable pictures and histories, of white alabaster oriental, and without are cut out of white marble-stone both their statues or pictures, according to the true proportion of their bodies. After that, she retired herself to a very strict and penitent kind of life, and, before her death, she made her will, having left behind her six-hundred crowns, all which she bestowed upon poor people in hospitals and spittals, and for maintenance of widows and orphans, and appainted a yearly revenue, to that monastery adjoining to the chapel, ever to endure, to the end there might be solemnised yearly vigils for the sake of both their souls.

Hereafter follows what is to be seen between Venice and Ancona, from thence to Santa Maria Loretto; and also how many miles one place is from the other.

You may take a gondola, or ship, and go to Chiozza, a very pleasant town of the Venetians; it lies also in the sea, built with very fair houses.

From thence to Ornaci, an inn, eight miles; then to Coro, an inn, eighteen miles; there you may have horses to hire from Coro to Volani, an inn, eighteen miles; from thence to Magnanaca, an inn, nine miles; that is a very bare and simple lodging; from thence to Primara, an inn, fifteen miles; from thence to Ravenna, twenty miles. Ravenna is an ancient city, which lies on the sea, pertaining to the pope. From thence to Al Savio, an inn, ten miles; from thence to Cesanniro, a little town, ten miles; to Belaere, an inn, fifteen miles; there you may have horses to hire. So to Rimini, a town of the pope's, ten miles; so to Coriano, an inn, eight miles; to Cattolica, an inn, ten miles; to Pesaro, a town, ten miles, which town belongs to the Duke of Urbino, built with very fair and large streets, walls, and bastions, and an exceeding strong castle lying on the sea. It is well provided with all manner of victuals, espe cially with good wine; the duke hath there a very fair palace, and keeps his court therein; it is a very pleasant place, wherein every thing is to be had at a reasonable rate. From Pesaro to Fano, a town nine miles, belonging to the pope, through which no man must presume to pass, unless he will go on foot; it is a very ancient city. From thence to Sinigallia, nine miles; it is also the said duke's; a very strong castle on the sea border, wherein the duke continually maintains a garrison; from thence to Casa Brusciata, an inn, nine miles; it lies upon the stream of the sea; we received there excellent good entertainment. From thence to Ancona, seventeen miles.

ANCON A.

When you come to Ancona, which is a famous city, you shall see a Porta Triumphal, which the Emperor Adrian caused to be built, for a memorial. This city hath a very fair haven of the sea, like unto which there are not any found; for there are brought together divers sorts of commodities from Sclavonia and the Levant; there are brought also brave Turkish horses, and all manner of wares. There is likewise a great traffick, and they do bring many Moors and Schiavons together, to be sold; and, above the rest, there are no want of Jews that travel to and fro, and also have their dwellings in that city.

In the aforesaid city, doth lie the body of Sant Ciriaci Advocati, buried in a little church on a high rock, which is commonly called Sant Ciriaco; and, when the weather is clear, you may discover from thence Schiavonia, and the ships upon the sea.

This city lies but three miles from Monte Alto, where Pope Sixtus Quintus was born.

The famous city Ancona is adorned with excellent fair buildings, and palaces, well provided of all manner of necessaries, to be bought at a very cheap price, and it is well defended by great walls round about. In like manner there is a strong castle hard above the city, made so invincible with bastions and with ordnance thereupon planted, as that it is, in a manner, impossible to be assaulted or won; and, if in case it were, that the city should be gotten, yet could it not be kept, for, from

the castle, every thing therein would be destroyed. So soon as one pope dies, another is elected; the title of Ancona is written in his stile, for it belongs to the see of Rome.

Santa Maria Loretto.

When you go from Ancona towards Santa Maria Loretto, which is fifteen miles, you will see an extraordinary pilgrimage and devotion; especially, note when you come into a long straight street, which reacheth up to the church, you shall see nothing but shops, wherein are made only pater-noster beads. When you come into the church, you shall see, on both sides, long tables standing, on which there are written directions and admonishments, after what part every body may prepare himself to the confession, on each table being written four several languages, to the end, no man may alledge an excuse, that there is no priest to understand his language, for there is ordered to every table a priest that speaks the same language.

When you approach near the choir, or querry, wherein is the chapel of our Blessed Virgin, which (as they say) was carried thither by the angels from beyond the seas, you shall see a rare building, over or above the said chapel, all of alabaster and marble stone, with excellent histories raised.

And, when you are come into that chapel, you shall see upon the great altar the Blessed Virgin, with the child Jesus in her arms, adorned with so many precious jewels, and lamps of gold and silver burning, that a man can scarce see either the Blessed Virgin, or the child.

Then enquire for the Christia, whereon do lie the male robes; there you shall see, on your right hand, the picture of the Margrave of Baden; and there is written the day on which he came thither, with six persons per post, to his devotions, in the year 1584, because, he, having received a deadly wound by a bullet, in the wars of the Low-Countries, did direct his prayers to the Virgin Mary, for her divine help for his recovery; after his prayers ended, he laid him down in bed. In the morning he felt nothing, but was whole and sound again; whereupon he delayed no time, but posted in all haste to this place, and, for a thanksgiving, presented the Blessed Virgin Mary with twelve-thousand crowns, which is no fable.

Loretto is made very strong with many bastions and walls, with great ordnance, and store of ammunition, so that it is sure enough for the Turks coming thither to carry away their inestimable treasure, which (as they constantly affirm) is valued at above five millions of gold, freely given and presented out of mere devotion.

Now, that which is on the way, between Maria Loretto and Rome, is scarce worth the seeing. I will therefore only describe the ways from once place to another; and, in my opinion, you were better turn back again from Loretto, and take the nearest way to Ferrara, and from thence, the open highway to Rome, whereby, both charges and time may be saved.

The direct way from Loretto to Rome.

From Loretto to Recanata three miles, which is a fine pleasant town, built longwise, on a hill, with fair houses and stately vineyards, planted thereabouts; you need not go through the town, unless you please, but may go hard by the wall. From thence to Macerata, a little pretty town, wherein is an university, fourteen miles; then to Tollentino, a little town, nine miles; then to Alla Mancia, a little town, seven miles; then to Piandignano, an inn, seven miles; thence to Varchiano and Samlet, nine miles; thence to Alla Passo de Spoleto, an inn, eight miles; thence to Spoleto, a fine city, lying on a hill, belonging to the pope; it hath been, in times past, dangerous to travel thereabouts, but now not so, ten miles; from thence to Stretura, an inn, eight miles; thence to Terni, a pleasant town, eight miles; thence to Harni, a strong town, it lies high on the one side, and the river Harni runs hard by it, seven miles; from thence to Ottricolo, a little town, eight miles; not far from this, you must set over the Tyber, nine miles; from thence to Rignano, a very good lodging; here leave an old town, called Civita Castellana, on your left hand, it is thither sixteen miles; from thence to Castal Nuovo, a little town, seven miles; thence to Primo Yorto, an inn, seven miles: from thence to the holy city, Rome, seven miles. This is the way from Loretto to Rome, if you please to go the same; otherwise, you may take it in your return back again from Rome.

Hereafter follows the direct way from Ferrara to Malta, and what is to be seen between them.

FERRAR A.

When you are come to Ferrara, lodge at the Bell; they will enquire of you in the gate, what things you carry about you; but tell them, you are scholari, or students; and if you have cloke-bags, or mails, you must bring them into the weigh-house, where they open them,

If you desire to see the city, you must enquire for the Dutch guard; there you shall have one appointed to go about you for a small reward. First, you go to the Duke's Palace, or castle, that hath four fair towers, upon which do strike two clocks. The palace hath within a fine court four-square, which is very stately set out with the descents of the most famous emperors, and dukes that have governed there; as also it is adorned with excellent fair rooms, and pleasant gardens.

After, let him show you the duke's garden of pleasure and art, called Bel Vedere, wherein you shall take great delight to see it, insomuch as you shall admire thereat, garnished with pleasant springs, that both winter and summer remain green; all manner of birds, wild beasts, and an extraordinary house of pleasure. Further the house of artillery, adjoining to the duke's palace, wherein are many pieces of great ordnance, worthy to be seen.