Page:The Voyage Of Italy Or A Compleat Journey through Italy, The Second Part.pdf/164

 staveth of all tempts of strangers. France pretends to this Dutchy as heir of Valentia Visconty, who was marryed to Lewis Duke of Orleans, whose house was excluded from this Dutchy by Francis Sforza, who possessed himself of this State.

As for the things which I saw in Milan, they are these.

1. The store of Gentry and Nobility here, which I perceived to be very numerous, because of a hundred coaches (no hackneys) which I saw standing before a Church upon a private Festival day of that Church.

2. Great store of Artisans, as Goldsmiths, Armourers, Gunsmiths Weavers, silk stocking makers, Refiners of Gold, those that work in Crystal, and a world of others: which give occasion to the Proverb, which sayth, that he that would improve all Italy, must destroy Milan first: for if Milan were destroyed, the many artizans that are there, would spread over all Italy, and furnish the other Towns, which want Artizans.

3. The Churches here, and first