Lucca, Republick

1695. Thesaurus geographicus a new body of geography by Abel Swall and Tim. Child.

THE Territories of the Lordship or Republick of LƲCCA, are enclos'd within those of the Grand Duke of Toscany: Their utmost extent being 34 Miles long, and 28 broad. And indeed, these Dominions, although of a small compass, are nevertheless very populous, and the Inhabitants acknowledge the Emperour for their Protector, although their Government be Aristocratical. The Country affords great quantities of Wine and Oil, but brings forth little Corn. The Chief Magistrate, termed Gonfalonnier, is elected from among the Nobles every Two Months, and assisted by Six Elders, who are chang'd as he is, six times every Year.

The Grand Council is compos'd of 120 Burgesses. The Publick Revenue is about 100000 Crowns a Year; and upon Occasion, they can raise 30000 Men in a short time.

The Chief Towns are these:

LƲCCA, Bish. Cap. ...Comasore. ...Montignose. ...Minuxiano. ...Castiglione. ...Viareggio.

LƲCCA, Luca, in the Latit. of 42 deg. 50 min. and the Longit. of 33 deg. 20 min. stands on a Branch of the River Serchio, in the midst of a fruitful Plain, which is extended every way 15 or 20 Miles, and bounded with rich and well inhabited Hills. Its first Foundation (as it is suppos'd) was laid by the Toscans, A. M. 1469. and it is at present a Free City, govern'd with excellent Laws in form of a Common-wealth, together with some other adjacent Places. It is only 3 Miles in compass, containing nigh 1800 Houses, but is very populous, having about 30 or 40 thousand Inhabitants, and this number daily encreases. It is also well-fortify'd with 11 regular Bastions, and their Curtains, all lin'd with Brick, and environ'd with very deep Trenches; the Ramparts being adorn'd with several rows of Poplar-Trees set close together. There are also many stately publick Buildings, and among others, the Cathedral dedicated to St. Martin, the Church of St. Fredian, and that of our Lady delle Miracole; besides a great number of Palaces, and Houses of Pleasure round about the City, richly furnish'd, together with their Gardens, and various Apartments; not to mention the Arsenal, which contains Arms kept in good order, and a sufficient quantity of them for so small a Republick.

But the Cathedral is more especially remarkable for the famous Chapel of Volto Santo, which was built on this Occasion: It is reported, That Nicodemus having undertaken to paint a Crucifix, and not being able to perform it, certain Angels that saw him at Work, took the Pencil out of his Hand, and finish'd the Picture. Indeed, it is not well known how this Crucifix was first brought into the Church of St. Fredian; but it is certain (as they say) that it was transported from thence to the Cathedral of St. Martin, and stood in the Air, over the very same Place where it is now to be seen, until an Altar was built for it, on which it immediately alighted, and took up a setled abode. Whereupon a Magnificent Chapel was soon after erected, and the Altar plac'd in the middle of it. This Image does not work so many Miracles as some others, yet every thing done by it is most surprising; and it is the great Object of Devotion among the Luccheses, being stampt on their Coin, with the Arms of the Republick.

In the Church of St. Fredian is shewn a Marble Table 17 Foot long, almost 6 and a half broad, and 14 Inches thick, the History whereof is compris'd in the following Inscription; Whosoever thou art, O Reader, thou art thy self a Stone, unless this Stone excite thee to the Admiration and Worship of St. Fredian, who having got this huge Mass out of the Mountains, four Miles off, for the building of this Church; and being destitute of Strength, but fervent in Spirit, with wonderful facility heav'd it with his own hands and Shoulders, and those of the Canons, into a Cart, to be drawn by a yoke of untam'd Heifers. Afterward, he caus'd the sacred Monument to be plac'd in this Church, in the VIth Century. In the middle of the same Church stands a flat Tomb, on which these words are Engrav'd, Hic jacet Corpus Sancto Riccardi Rega Angliae; i. e. Here lies the Body of St. Richard, King of England: But it is hard to determine who this Prince should be, since Richard the I. Sirnam'd •aeul de Lion, died of a wound in France, after his Voyage to Jerusalem, and was Interr'd in the Abbey of Fontevraut. Richard the II. Depos'd by the Duke of Lancaster, was Stabb'd at Pontefract, brought to St. Paul's Church in Langley, and at last to Westminster-Abbey, where his Tomb is to be seen, Richard the III. was slain in Battel at Bosworth, in Leicestershire, and buried in the Town of Leicester. Neither does it appear that there ever was any King in England nam'd Richard, before the Uniting of the Saxon Heptarchy.

The Inhabitants of Lucca are very much enrich'd by their Trade in Silks, whereof they make divers sorts of Manufactures; and the Government of the City is purely Aristocratical, the Sovereign Authority residing in a Council of 240 Noblemen; but they are divided into Two Bodies, and succeed every half year; having a Gonfalonnier for their Head, who lodges in the Publick Palace, together with his Nine Counsellors, nam'd Anziani. These usually partake of the same Bed and Board there, although their Wives and Families remain in their private Houses. The Office of the Gonfalonnier, or Supreme Magistrate of the Republick, is very like that of the D•ge's of Venice, or Genoa, excepting that it continues only for Two Months, and the Person invested with this Dignity, receives no other Profit from thence than that of his Table. However, he wears the Barretto and Stole, with the Robe of Crimson-Velvet, and the Name of Prince is attributed to him; But he is congratulated only with the Style of Excellency. After an Interval of Six years he may be Elected again, and a Band of 60 Switzers serves for his Ordinary Guard. The City of Lucca stands Eight Miles North-East of Pisa, 24 almost North of Legorn, 46 West of Florence, and 168 North-West of Rome.

Viareggio, Viaregium, is seated on the Coasts of the Toscan-Sea, and defended with a Tower, having also a very small Haven; and indeed it is the only Port of the Republick of Lucca, being distant about 15 Miles from this Metropolis to the West.