Page:The Voyage of Italy (1686).djvu/191

Part I. The Historians.

He that desires to know the History of Florence, let him read Giovanni Villani, Matthæo Villani, Scipione Ammirato, and the Life of Gran Cosimo.

Pistoia.

Having thus seen Fair Florence, we desired to see Ligorne, and make an excursive journey by Pistoia, Lucca and Pisa. Pistoia, is an ancient Town in a plain Country. Of this town is Clement the IX, the last Pope, of the ancient Family of Rospigliosi: and that is all I can say of it: for it looks baldly of itself, either out of pure old age, else by reason of its Neighborhood to Florence, which hath fleeced it, or which I rather think, by reason of its Civil Factions heretofore, which almost ruined it quite.

Lucca.

Lucca is a pretty little Common-wealth yet it sleeps quietly within the Bosom of the Great Dukes State. But that State may wisely fear none, which no State fears; and the Great Duke unwilling to measure his Sword, or take up the Cudgels against little Lucca, lest the World should cry shame upon him, and bid him meddle with his Match. This little Republick looked in my eye, like a perfect Map of old Rome in its beginning. It's governed by Confaloniero and the Gentry. The great Council consists of 160 Citizens who are changed every year. It's under the Emperours Protection; and hath about thirty thousand Souls in it. Approaching unto it, it looked like a pure Low-Country Town, with its Brick Walls, large Ramparts set round with Trees, and deep Moats round about the Walls.

Its Strength

It hath eleven Bastions well guarded by the Townsmen, and well furnished with Cannons of a large size. The Town is three miles in compass; it hath