Page:The Voyage of Italy (1686).djvu/189

Part I. an Army of Forty thousand Foot, Three thousand Horse, twelve Gallies, two Galleasses, two Galleons, and twenty Ships of War.

The Gentry of Florence.

For the Gentry, it's a Gentry dyed in Grain; that is, it's both Witty and Rich. The subtil Air of this Country, and the Academy of the Crusca have sharpened them into much Wit: and their good Husbandry, and under-hand Traffick hath put them notably into Purse. For they think it no disgrace to have a Banco at home, and meet daily at the Exchange about Traffick and Trading; while their wives Lady it in Coach with their handsome Liveries. This makes them hold up their Nobility by the Chin, and not only preserves their Families from sinking, but rather makes them swim in a full Sea of Honour: they being enabled thereby to buy Great Offices for their Children in other Courts, whereby they often make them mount to the Highest Dignities; when they are there, no Man reproaches unto them the way they took to come thither, whether by Water, or by Land; by Traffick, or by the Sword; by the School-Book or Count-Book. If the French Gentry would follow this way, they might have Shooes and Stockings for their Children (which some of them want in the Country) where with to keep their Noble Blood warm in Winter.

Riches.

For the Riches of this Prince, they are about a Million and a half of Piastri, or Crowns. These are his Annual Revenues; besides his Jewels, Forfeitures, and his Datii: which last, are of vast profit to him.