all religious societies, the zealous and fervent are distinguished from the lukewarm, and the strict from the remiss) by a greater averseness to pompous ceremonies and pre-eminences in church and state; by a greater zeal to reduce the practice of the gospel to its pristine purity; by prayers, conversations, and discourses, which seemed to be the result of enthusiasm and inspiration. Their opinions about independency (for they rejected not only bishops, but even synods) procured them a peculiar appellation, and rendered them suspected to the presbyterians, with whom they had some disputes. But, notwithstanding this opposition, the independents, adding artifice, flattery, promises, and good offices to their affected air of sanctity, made such a progress, that they formed a numerous sect of those that had been imposed upon by their hypocrisy; and a formidable faction of ambitious and mercenary men, whom they gained in all the other sects, by their address and policy. It was one among the latter, who afterwards became the chief of the whole cabal, and who was so already, without being taken notice of. A man born without any natural propensity to evil, or any inclination to virtue; having an equal facility to practise all virtues, and to commit all crimes, according as either suited with his designs. By this stroke, Oliver Cromwell will easily be known. His excellent talent for war, already so fatal to the King's party, having added much lustre to his qualification for business, gained him such ascendant over all those of his faction, that he was become the very soul of it. Modesty and devotion, which, of all the virtues he wanted, were those he could best dissemble, had the more solidly established that superiority, as it gave the least offence to the independency professed by that sect, in a man who seemed not to affect it, but rather to have nothing in view, besides the good of religion and the publick.'

Thus it appears, from all the irrefragable testimonics already cited, That, with plainness of truth, the Reverend Dr. Kennet has enquired into, and marked the most visible causes of the civil war, which ended in the murder of King Charles.

Since, by laying before us the true causes of that unnatural civil war, which terminated in the destruction of the monarchy, and the martyrdom of the monarch, he wisely cautions both those who govern, and those who are governed, carefully to avoid any thing that might tend to break, or hurt, our present happy constitution, which God preserve.

A

TRUE DESCRIPTION AND DIRECTION

Of what is most worthy to be seen in all Italy,

ORDERLY SET DOWN,

And in sure manner, as that the Traveller may not oversee or neglect any thing that is memorable in those Countries, but may compass that Journey at an easy and reasonable Charge, and in a short Time, signifying how many Miles from one place to another as followeth First, what is to be seen principally in Venice, and from thence to Rome, Naples, Sicily, and until you come to Malta, from thence back again another Way to Genoa, and Milan.

MS.

VENICE.

THE HE city of Venice hath sixty-two parish churches, and forty-one monasteries of friars and nuns. There are, in Venice, as many channels as streets, over which there are eight-hundred open bridges to pass.

The city of Venice is, in circuit, eight Italian miles; and, although it lies in the sea, yet, nevertheless, it is defended from the raging waves thereof, by a natural bank under the water, compassing the city round about, like unto a constant wall, which repels the storms of the sea, that they cannot assail the city; there are about the city twenty-five islands inhabited by spiritual persons.

When you come to Venice, enquire for the White Lion, or Black Cattle, or else for the Wletta, where (in my time being there) dwelt an host, named Signior Bongratz, which is the chiefest of the three: there you shall have one appointed to go with you, or else take a gondola, and row to the arsenal, or house of artillery.

The House of Artillery.

Before you go to the arsenal, or house of artillery, you must crave licence to see the same, of certain particular gentlemen, deputed to have the custody thereof; and, as then, you must leave your weapons in the porter's lodge, until you come out again.

When you are within, there will be one appointed to go about with you; but my council is, that you provide yourself with single money,

VOL. XII,

to bestow here and there, according to the custom. First you go ove a bridge, through which the ships and gallies do pass, which are to go to sea; over against that, there is a house, wherein are two-hundred persons daily, who do nothing else but make corslets and harness, that are used in the ships and gallies.

Another house, hard by that, wherein there are daily working twohundred persons, making nothing but anchors, and other irons, for the gallies and great ships. A little farther, you shall be led into a cellar, wherein are sixty great vessels, filled with wine, which they give to the workmen, as much as they desire to drink, every day, and you also may drink as much as you please.

Moreover, there are six extraordinary great galleasses, which have been in the battle of Lepanto.

There are also forty-six galleasses, all ready furnished, save only two, laying the ordnance thereupon. Right over-against that, you shall be led into a gallery, about five-hundred paces long; therein are made the cables and ropes for the ships and gallies; hard by that, is another house, in which are forty kettles and ovens, to make salt-petre; bestow there to drink.

Then, a little back again, there is a great house, in which there are two rooms; in the first, is all manner of furniture to arm seventy-four thousand men into the field; here also give to drink. In the other room, there are long guns, pikes, and other armour, to furnish into the field one-hundred and seventy-four thousand men; give to drink. Coming down again, you shall see, in another room, six-hundred pieces of great ordnance, lying on wheels; also, hard by, a mortar, that carries a bullet of six-hundred pounds weight.

Hard by that room, there is another, wherein do lie as many bullets and ordnance, as will serve for two-hundred gallies, which are all ready to be used; drink-money more; there are bullets and ordnance to furnish thirty-six galleasses, there pertaining to every galeass forty-eight pieces of ordnance. Drink-money.

A little further, there is another house, where are three-hundred pieces of ordnance, which were won from the Turks in the Armada, together with the colours, and twenty-four bells of the Low-Countries; drinkmoney,

The galleasses are in length thirty-seven paces, and the gallies thirty. When you have gone about, and seen the gallies, you shall come to the extraordinary brave ship, Bucentauro, which is painted within and without, and richly overgilded. Therein are excellent fine benches made, on which may easily sit two-hundred persons. In that ship doth the Duke of Venice, together with the whole signiora, or council, go, in long crimson-velvet gowns, every year on the Ascension-day, in great triumph, and princely state, to the sea, to a port near a strong fort called Alio: and there the duke doth wed himself to the sea with a very rich and costly ring, for an established dominion. The ring is given to a page of honour, who casteth it into the sea, and, as then, the duke returns home again, and, from the two strong forts, is rung a main peal of ordnance for joy. When a duke is chosen, no nan man know to whom

the election will fall, for it is done by lots, and, therefore, bootless for any covetous man to strive for it, by bribing or gifts.

As you go forwards, you shall see a great house, under which are three rooms; therein may easily be made ready two-hundred ships and gallies with sails. Drink-money.

Go up the stairs, and you shall come into a room, wherein are twohundred old women, daily mending old sails, and sometimes, when need requires, there are seven-hundred daily working.

Further, there are three rooms, one above another; therein may be furnished and armed twenty-thousand men to sea, and there you shall see an admirable number of old harness, used in former times.

Then enquire for the great hall, called Real, in which the lords, in times past, did use to sit in council, but now used for stately banquets and feasts, when some great potentate or prince comes thither,

In the said hall, you shall see flitz-bows, corslets, and broad rapiers, together with other weapons, sufficient to arm two-hundred thousand men; and also, you shall see the colours, which were gotten from the common enemies of Christendom, the Turks.

Not far from thence is a house, wherein do lie so many oars, ready made, as will serve for eighty gallics.

Further, another house, wherein are oars, ready made, for above one-hundred gallics, which were used in the armada aforesaid; on every oar must row eight or nine persons. In the same house, the signiora did sit in council, because the duke's palace was set on fire, by lightning, or a thunderbolt,

There are two-hundred good and sound gallies, all ready furnished, save only the ordnance to be laid therein, and so put out to sea; and also about, two-hundred and fifty, which are daily repaired, and made ready. Drink-money.

In this house of artillery, are twelve great towers, upon which there is kept the watch every night; and, every hour, there goeth a gentleman (appointed by the lords) the round, with thirty-six sufficient armed men, about the house of artillery, to visit the sentinel. The house of artillery is compassed round about with walls, and other buildings, like unto a strong town.

In the same, there are four-hundred masters and servants, who continually do make great ships, and prepare them to be ready. There are belonging to this house of artillery eight thousand persons, fit for all manner of trades. This house of artillery, in my opinion, is as big as the city Canterbury. Now it will be time for you to go home to your lodgings, friendly taking leave at the gates, and, with thanks, bestowing some such reasonable reward, as to the company of gentlemen-travellers, who went in with you, may be found fitting. And thus much concerning the incomparable house of artillery in Venice.

Hereafter follows what is chiefly to be seen within the City of Venice.

Go forward from the house of artillery to the water, or channel, and there you shall see many brave and great ships of war.

T

Not far from thence, a great house, built only to make biskets for the gallies. Therein are fifty ovens, and all Dutch bakers; there pertain to these ovens fifty bakers, but, if it be needful to set out gallies with bread, then there must be one-hundred of them.

Further you will see a new monastery, named Santo Sepulchro, which is naturally like to the holy grave in Jerusalem.

Then you shall come to the Duke's Palace; there take a gondola, and row over to St. George's Monastery, which is built so pleasantly, and with such various cloisters and gardens (which remain winter and summer) as that you have not seen the like; especially the conventhall, wherein the monks do dine and sup. This monastery hath as great a circuit about it, as a reasonable town.

Over-against that is yellow wax bleached, worthy the seeing. Drink

money.

Then you shall go to the Capuchins Monastery, which, in times past, was built in perpetual memory, at the charge of Prince Nicholo di Ponte, ordered on the day of his death; upon which day, there is yearly made a great ship-bridge, that the people may not be troubled to go so far about thither in pilgrimage to offer.

Then row over the channel to St. Stephen's, where you shall see a great spacious place, and there all duels are fought, being a privileged place, where no serjeant or officer dare meddle with them; and also, hard by the church, there is a stable, besides which there is not one stable more within the whole city of Venice,

After which, going homewards, you may ascend up to St. Mark's steeple, from whence you may very pleasantly behold the whole city. As the King of France came thither out of Poland, he rid up this steeple, with his horse, as high as the bells do hang. It was built anno 1146, at which time the Paduans and Venetians were at wars. The ships may be seen from this steeple thirty miles. After, go into the minting-house, which is hard thereby, as also the library, which you shall take great delight to see. Coming out thence, you will see two great pillars erected, which are cast; between those the malefactors are executed.

Also, just thereby is an extraordinary great house, wherein is kept in store double-baked bisket, ready for any armada which is to be set out to sea; and hard by that house is the place, whereout are delivered all their billets, or passes, that intend to travel.

Then go to the Duke's Palace, and up the stairs you shall see two great statues, or pictures of Adam and Eve, of white marble-stone; and, when you come to the top, there is, on your left hand, a quaderpiece, over-gilded and fastened into the wall, on which is written or engraven the manner, day, and hour of the King of France's coming thither out of Poland. Go up higher the stairs, towards the great chamber, wherein is usually held a general council; which, being compleat, consists of sixteen-hundred lords and counsellors, all from the most ancient nobility descended; where they sit in comely order, the duke sitting uppermost, and on each side of him twenty-four. clarissimi, or lords, all in long red velvet gowns; out of which one is elected, when the duke dies, and they cast lots for the election.