Tuscia

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

TUSCIA followeth, which ancient Writers doe cele∣brate by three speciall names, Tyrrhenia, Etruria, and Tuscia: the latter of these three names it still retaineth. For it is commonly called Tuscany. The bounds of it are on the South the Neather Sea, or the Tyrrhene Sea: on the North the Apennine Mountaine, where there is a part of Vmbria, and Gallia •ogata: on the West Liguria, from which it is parted by the River Macra: on the East Tiberis. That part which is neerer to the Sea, is plainer and pleasanter, but the inward parts are more Moun∣tainous; but in generall it is as faire and delightfull as any Country in Italie. It hath spacious flourishing fields, very fruitfull, pleasant Vales, Mountaines, and Hills, which are adorned with faire houses, and Orchards planted with Orange-trees, and Cittorne-trees. It hath abundance of Vineyards, which yeeld excellent rich Wine. The ancient Inhabitants were heretofore generally called Tyrrhe∣nians, Etruscians, and Tuscians. Afterward from Romulus time the Romanes began to warre against the Tuscians, which warre they maintained a long time, so that matters being brought to a dange∣rous estate, they were faine to send out a Dictator against them. But in the yeere from the building of the Citty 474. the Vulsinensians and the Vulciensians the most flourishing people of the Etruscians be∣being overcome by the Consul. Ti. Coruncanius, they were added to the Romane Empire, and so the Empire was enlarged on that side e∣ven to Ar•us. Neither had they afterward any just occasion to warre with the Tuscians. So that being thus subjected they continued faith∣full to the Romane People. But when the Romane Empire began to 〈◊〉, they were oppressed with many calamities, by the Gothes, th• Langbards, the Huns, and others. At length it came to passe that the greater part of Etruria is now subject to the great Duke of Etruria, u•der whose government there are these noble Townes, Florence, Pisa, Sena, Pratum, Pistorium, Volatterra, Mons Politianus, Aretium, Cortona, Pescia, Piertia, Mons Alcinus, Liburnum, Plumbinum, and many other Townes. That which they call S. Peters Patrimony belongeth to the Pope. It beginneth from the River Pescia, and S. Quirie, and so reach∣eth to the Castle Caparanum in new Latium not farre from the River Li•us. Pontremulum neere the Fountaine of the River Marca belong∣eth to the King of Spaine, which heretofore belonged to the Dukes of Millan, also Pertus Herculis, Orbetellum Mons Argentarius, and Plumbini Arx also the Carfenianian or Grasinianian Valley, which lyeth be∣neath the Apennine on both sides of the River Sercia, in which there is the new Grasinianian Castle, with many other Castles and Townes, are subject to the Duke of Ferrara. Sarzan by the River Macra looketh toward Gen•a. Massa and Carraria do belong to particular Marquesses, who are adorned with their Titles. There are also other Townes which were subject to the Romanes, as Bracianum, of which the Ur∣si•es are Dukes. Moreover in Tuscia there are these chiefe Citties: 〈◊〉 very curious Citty, which Trogus, and others call Pisae. The In∣habitants have a very good memory, because the Citty is seated in a thick ayre. It lyeth betweene the Rivers Auseres, and Arnus, as Strabo, and Pliny doe note. Now Arnus runneth by it which hath three Ha∣vens. Dionysius Halic. Lib. 1. doth celebrate and praise the antiquity and nobility thereof. Others doe deliver, that it was usually accoun∣ted one of the 12. chiefe Citties of Etruria, the Duke of Etruria, is often stil'd Duke of Pisa, and the Knights of S. Stephen, who were institu∣ted by this Duke, have a house in this Citty. The Pisanians did build the chiefe Temple which they call Domus, or the House, which is 540. paces in compasse, and supported with 70. Pillars, and also they built the Bishops house with, the spoiles which they brought away after the conquest of the Sarazens at Panormus. The soyle round about this Citty is fitt for tillage; and so fruitfull, that it feedeth all Etruria, and sendeth Corne to other Countries. The Wines are not very good: but there are excellent Melons. There is also Leuca, of which Iulius Sealiger saith, Tuscis delitium, Tuscilaus incluta Coeli: Luca is well known both to Latine and Greeke Writers: Strabo and Ptolemy call it Leuca. It is a faire Citty, and populous, seated on a Plaine, and environed on every side with Hills strongly walled, and well paved, it is not very great, but full of Citizens, and hath continuall traffique and trading. The Inhabitants are neat, wise, witty: who have a long time kept their liberty, albeit their neighbours have often assaulted them. Pistorium, now called Pistoja, is walled about & was much enlarged by Desiderius King of the Langbards. At length the Florentines laid it to their own Territory. Florence is the chiefe Citty and Metropolis of Etruria. It is now commonly called Fiorenza, or Firenza. It is thought that Florence was so called ab Flore from a Flower, in regard that the happy & flou∣rishing estate therof resembleth a Flower, or else in regard of the flou∣rishing excellent wits of the Inhabitants, or lastly, because it was deri∣ved from Rome the most flourishing Citty. It is 6. miles in compasse, and containeth above 90000. Inhabitants, it is seated on a levell plaine by the River Arnus, which cutteth it into two parts which are united a∣gain, & joyned together with faire Bridges, it is paved, & adorned with faire streets, and on the East & North it is encompassed with pleasant Hills clothed with fruit-bearing trees, and on the West side it hath a faire Plaine. It lyeth in a middle Climate between Aretium & Pisa, the former of these Citties doth produce sharpe wits, and the other, men of a strong faithfull memory. The armes of the Appennine doe for∣tifie it against the invasions or incursions of enemies, it is very faire and beautifull▪ insomuch that it is a common saying Florenza la bella, totiusque slos Italiae; that is, Florence the faire, and the flower of all Italy: there are here many sacred, and prophane publike Buildings, which for brevity sake I omit. The Inhabitants are witty, grave, eloquent, and studious of good Arts. They love to get money, & to that end they trade into forraine Countries. The Women are very beautifull, and chaste, and their habit, as also that which the men weare is very de∣cent and comely Volaterra, which Ptolemy calleth Ovolaterrai, and the Itinerary Tables Aquae Volaterrae, is seated on a steepe rugged Rocke. The walls are of Free square stone, sixe foote broad, which are neat∣ly and cunningly built without Morter. This Citty hath five Gates, and at every one of them a Fountaine of pure water. The walls doe shew the antiquity thereof, as also the Sepulchers, Epitaphs in Etru∣rian Letters, and ancient Marble Statues, and also carved stones which are digged forth daily, and other things. That which Ptolemy calls Saena, and the Itinerarie Tables Saena Iulia, is commonly called Siena, being distant from Rome 800. Furlongs, and seated on a high ground, on this side Arbia, having as it were three corners, of which that which looketh Southward is broader than those which are East∣ward and Westward: it hath a good wholesome ayre, but that it is troubled sometimes with blasting windes. Many of the Poets doe call it delitias Italiae, that is the delight and pleasure of Italie, Saena is paved, having strait long streets, and high Towers, and also many no∣blemens houses. The Citizens are very courteous towards Strangers, much adicted to gaine and worldly affaires. That which Ptolemy calls Perusia, and Eutropius and the Itinerarie Tables Perusium, the Italians doe now call Perugia. It is seated on a Hill of the Apennine, and for∣tified by the naturall situation. It hath many faire Buildings both pub∣like and private, Viterbium standeth in a faire spacious place, and hath Cyminian Mountaines behind it, it is built of square stone, and hath many Towers. Among the publike workes there is a famous Foun∣taine, which springeth continually. It hath a good fruitfull soyle, which yeeldeth abundance of Wine and fruits. There are also many Lakes in Etruria. As that which Livie and others call Trasumenus, and Silius Trasimenus, and now it is called from the Citty neere unto it Lago de Perugia, that which Antoninus calleth Lacus Aprilis, is now called Fangosa Palude, the Sea-lake, or the Salt-lake, or Lago d'Orbitello, is cal∣led in their language Lacus Vadimonis, there are also the Ciminian Lake, the Volsiniensian, the Sabatian, the Bientinian, and the Cianian. It hath many Rivers, which are full of excellent Fish, as namely, La∣ventia, Frigidus, Anser, Arnus, Cecinna, Cornia, Alma, Brunus, Vmbro, Osa, Albengia, Floris, Martha, Minio, Eris, Vacina, Sanguinaria, Aron, and some others. It hath also wholesome Bathes, and other waters endued with wonderfull vertue. Here are divers Mountaines, as also the Moun∣taine Ciminus, well knowne to Livie, Vibius, and Virgil. That which Pliny calls Soractis is now called Monte de S. Silvestro. Orosius also pla∣ceth the Fessulanian Mountaines in Etruria. The Cortonensians also are there on the North side of the Lake Transumenus. The Woods are the Volsinian wood, the Ciminian wood, and Maesia. It hath also di∣vers Libraries, as at Pisa by the Dominicans, at Luca by the Francis∣cans, sixe in the Citty of Florence, and one at Saena, and Perusia. More∣over Livy and Diodorus doe report that the Etrurians are the strongest, richest and best governed Nation of Italy. It appeareth by ancient Writers that they were alwayes much adicted to ceremonies, inso∣much that they were the first that invented Sacrifices, Divinations, Southsayings, and Auguries, and so delivered them to the Romanes, as Tully in his Booke of divination and others doe note. Mercator doth reckon these Bishops in Tuscany, Nepesinus, Castellanensis, Montis Falco∣nis, Viterbiensis, Suavensis, Castellanus, Vulteranus, the Archbishop Senensis, Fesulanus, Zarzanensis, Sutri, Ortanensis, Cornetanensis, Tuscanensis, Clusinus, Aretinas, Pientinensis, Pistoriensis, Binensis, Corthonensis, Civitatensis, Bal∣neorigensis, Vrbevetanus, Castrensis, Perusinus, Grossetanus, Lucanus, Floren∣tinus, Arch, Lunensis: the Archbishop of Pisa under whom are Messa∣nensis, Civitanensis, and other Bishops in Corsica.