Latium

Sources from old books

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

CAMPAGNA DI ROMA, HERETOFORE CALLED LATIƲM. (Book Latium) NExt Latium offers it selfe to be described, which is a Coun∣try of Italy much celebrated and praised by all Authors. It is thought that Latium was so callen from Saturnus, who flying from his Country in his locis latebat, hid himselfe in these parts. Varro thinketh that this Country was so na∣med, because it lay hidden among the high steepe Rockes of the Alpes, and the Apennine, the Sea, and Tiber. Others say that it was named Latium from King Latinus, some derive it from the Latitude, because there is no Country betweene the Mountaines and the Sea, that hath a greater Latitude then this. It is now called Territorio Ro∣ma•um or Campagna di Roma. The most do make the boūds of Latium on the North the Apennine Mountaine, & the River Anio: on the East Li∣ris: on the South the Tyrrhene Sea; on the West the River Tiber, which doth encompasse the Tuscians, Sabinians, Marsians, Samnites, Praeguti∣anians, and Campanians. It is a very fertile Country, except in some places neere the Borders, where it is stony and mountainous, and hath many Marshes, which doe make the ayre thick and unwholsome. The Sicilians, the Aborginians, the Pelasgians, the Arcadians, the Auruncians, the Volscians, the Oscians, the Ausonians, and others did first inhabit it. So much briefly concerning Latium in generall: now our method requireth that wee should describe it in particular, beginning from that Citty which was heretofore the Compendium or Epitome of the whole world. This Citty sheweth her selfe in an∣cient Latium, as soone as you have passed out of Etruria over Tiberis. It still keepeth her former name. It is situated in a soyle not very fer∣tile, right against the South, and hath an untemperate ayre and cli∣mate. It was three miles in compasse, which was the compasse of an∣cient Rome, but now it is farre lesse. It hath 360. Towres on the walls, and heretofore 750. There are the 14. Quarters and Regions of the Citty▪ but their names are changed. It is watered with the River Ti∣ber and Almo. There are also in many places the ruines of Fountaines, and Aqua ducts, or Conduites. There are divers Market-places, and seven Hills within the walls. Whence some doe call Roma Septicollis, because it is seated seven Hills, Varro calls it Septimontium, and Statius Sc••mgemina. Moreover there are in this Citty above 300. Churches. There are foure Vaults under earth, where when the Emperours did persecute the Christians, they hid themselves. There were, and are 28. Churchyards or burying places. There are five publike Hospitals for Strangers of all Nations, and 20. severall Hospitals for severall Nations, besides an University. And there are Seminaries and Col∣ledges of all Nations instituted by Pope Gregory the third. There are many publike Libraries, three in the Vatican, one of choise Bookes which is shut, and another which is not kept so close, and a third which on Holy-dayes is open two houres for all commers. There are also other Libraries in S. Maries Church, and the Church of the Altar of Heaven, S. Martins, S. Augustines, and other wheres. There are also divers Gardens and Palaces in this Citty which belong to the Pope, and the Cardinals. There are both publicke and private Conduites, Bathes, Triumphant Arches, Amphitheaters, Theaters, Cirques, Gal∣leries, Pillars, Spires, Colosses, or great Images, Pyramisses, Horses, Statues, and many other such like antiquites, which our intended brevitie will not permit us to number or describe. He that behold∣eth these things, and compareth them with ancient Rome, may wor∣thily say,

Qui miseranda videt veteris vestigia Rom•,Ille potest merito dicere, Roma fuit. Hee that the ruines doth of Rome behold,May justly say that this was Rome of old.

And so much concerning Rome from whence as you goe South∣ward, the Towne which the Latines and Greekes call Ostia doth offer it selfe, which hath an unwholesome pestilent ayre, but the soyle beareth great store of Melons. So leaving Ostia, I will take a view of the other chiefe Townes of Latium, which are seated by the Sea. Nep∣tunium is situate on a more fruitfull soyle, where the Citizens have leisure to Hawke and Fish. There is also As•ura which is a memora∣ble place, both by the vnworthy death of M. Tullius Cicero, who was slaine there as he fled from Antony: and also by the fatall death of Cor∣radinus the sonne of the Emperour Frederick the second, whom Charles Eculismensis put to death. There is also Taracina or Tarracina, which Strabo calls Taracina, Ptolemy Tarraecina, Stephanus Tarracine, and Antoni∣nus Tarracina. In the Volscian language it was called Auxur. It is a small Towne but neat and populous. The walls are made of square stone without Mortar or Cemont, the soyle round about is fruitfull and pleasant, abounding with Oranges, Citternes, Lemmons, and such like fruit. Cajeta, which Strabo calls Cajatta, and now Gajetta, is a well fortified Citty having an impregnable Castle on the top of a Mountaine, which in former time, the Frenchmen being expulsed, Ferdinand King of Arragon and Naples, did wall it about. Spartianus reports that there was a famous Haven here, which was much renew∣ed and re-edified by Anton. Pius. But now there is none. The next is Velitra, which Strabo calleth Belitra, and Stephanus Belitre, or as some doe write Belletri, it is an ancient Towne of the Volscians, faire and po∣pulous, and it is a Bishoprick, it hath a delightfull Situation, and a pleasant Prospect, and it is walled about. That which the Latines and Graecians doe call Alba, the ancient Writers doe surname it longa Alba, or long Alba, in regard of the Situation. It is now called Savello, if we may credit Leander, others doe call it Gandolffi, or S. Gandolffo. It was built by Ascanius the Sonne of Aeneas, 30. yeeres after Lavinium was built, but now it is desolate. Now let us describe the more Nor∣therne parts of Latium by the way Valeria Tiburtina. Here the first is that which Ptolemy calls Tiber, Strabo Tibura, and now Tivola. It is a Citty by the River Aniene being 150. Furlongs distant from Rome, having a temperate ayre, and a wholesome situation in regard it hath great store of Waters and Springs, and it is a Bishoprick. Maruvium by the Lake Fucinum, was heretofore the chiefe Citty of the Marsians, now there are some ruines onely remaining, which are commonly called Marvo. The Latines and Strabo doe call it Alba. And Strabo reporteth that the Romanes were wont to assigne Alba, because it was situate in the innermost parts of the Country, and was well forti∣fied, as a Prison for those which were to be kept in custody, but now it is fallen downe, and ruinate. Praeneste, which Strabo calls Praenestus, Ptolemy Praenestum, and now Pilastrina, had heretofore a very pleasant and delightfull situation on a bending Mountaine by the River Vene∣st•is, in so much that when the Romane Empire flourished, the Empe∣rours did often make it their place of retirement and recreation. There is a Castle on the top of the Mountaine, and it is now a Bisho∣prick. Tusculum was famous heretofore, which they suppose by the ruines yet remaining was not farre from Frasca•a. There are more Townes in this noble part of Italy, which for brevity sake wee omit. There are also Lakes in Latium, as the Lake Hostia, which is common∣ly called Stagro. Betweene Marinus and long Alba there is the Alban Lake, which Livy mentions, Lib. 5. it is now called Lago di Castel Gan∣golfo: there is also the Nemorensian Lake, which is now called Lago di Nemo: the Lake Iuturna, or Regillus now called Lago de S. Prassode: the Lake Fucinus, now called Lago di Marsos, Pliny also describeth the Pon∣tine or Pomptine Lake in Latium, which is now called the Lake Au∣fente. There is also the Fundane Lake, the Tiburrine, the Coecubian, and the Simbruine Lakes. The Rivers are Tiber, which I have deli∣neated in the generall description, and divers other Rivers, which having lost their names doe runne into the Sea with it. The other Rivers of Latium as they were anciently call'd are Numicius, Loracina, Stura, Nymphaeus, and Vfens. Moreover besides the 7. Hills aforesaid whereon Rome is seated. Albanus is most famous in all Greeke and La∣tine Writers. The Mountaine Caecubus which reacheth to the Caje∣tan Bay, is noted for bearing excellent rich Wines. There are also the Mountaines Vestinus, Algidus, Aventinus, Lepinus, Catillus. Halicar∣nassaeus doth mention the Ceraunian Mountaines of Latium. The Woods are Feronia, Iupiters Wood, Diana's Wood, the Wood Naevia, the Muses Wood, the cold Wood, the Wood Albuna, the Wood Angi∣tia, and the Wood Furina. The people of this Country even untill these times, except it be in the Cities, are rude, rustick, stout, and strong of body. Mercator doth thus describe the Ecclesiastick government. Rome is the Mother Church, in which the Pope resideth, and hath un∣der him within the Citty 5. Patriarchall Churches, which are these, the Church of S. Iohn of Lateran, S. Peters Monastery, and S. Pauls Mo∣nastery within the walls of the Citty, S. Maries Church, and S. Lau∣rences Monastery. There are 8. Bishops assigned to governe these Churches, the first and chiefest is the Pope, the rest are under him, as the Bishop Ostiensis, who is Patriarke of Campania, and doth consecrate the Pope, unto whom is joyned Velletrensis, or Valeriensis, Portuensis, Sa∣binensis, Tusculanensis, Praenestiensis, and Albanensis. There are also as∣signed for the government of the same Churches 28. Cardinals, namely, by the title of the holy Crosse of Ierusalem, by the title of S. Iohn and Paul, by the title of S. Stephen, in Celio-Monte: by the title of S. Susanna: by the title of S. Peter, by the title of S. Prisca: by the title of S. Siriack: by the title of S. Marcellus: by the title of S. Balbina: by the title of S. Grisogoni. S. Marcellinus, and Peter, S. Anastasia: S. Cle∣m•nt, S. Potentiana, S. Martin on the Mountaines: S. Praxedis: S. Mar∣cus: S. Laurence: S. Mary: S. 4^or. Coronatorum: S. Sabina: S. Nereus, and Archileus: S. Sixitus, S. Eusebius: S. Vitalis: the 12. Apostles Church: S. Laurentius: and S. Cecilia: unto which are adjoyned 18. Cardinals as Deacons. Without the Citty there are in Campania, the Bishops, Agnaninus, Alatrinensis, Fundanus, Tiburtinus, Sagninus, Terracinensis, Veru∣lanus, Feretinus, Soranus, Aquinus. Moreover, the Pope hath under him in other parts of the world foure Patriarchall Churches, unto which all other Churches in the same parts are subject: as the Church of Constantinopole, of Alexandria, of Antioch, of Hierusalem.