University of Virginia Library

8. To my Son Mr. Thomas Cokaine.

You often have enquir'd where I have been
In my years Travel; and what Cities seen
And stai'd in: of the which therefore (in brief)
I (for your satisfaction) name the chief.
When four and twenty years, and some moneths more
Of Age I was, I left our English Shore:
And in a thousand six hundred thirty two
Went hence, fair France and Italy to view.
At Roy July the sixteenth we took Ship,
And on the seventeenth did arrive at Deipe,
Henry the fourths secure retreat; where one
Night having lain I rode next day to Roan;
Thence in a Coach I did to Paris go,
Where then I did but spend a day or two.
Thence with the Lions messenger went thither,
And pass'd through Mont-Argis, Mollins, and Never.
In two days thence we did to Cambray get,
A City at the foot of Eglebet:
At Maurein I din'd, and six days spent
Among the Alpes with high astonishment.
There dreadful Precepice, and horrid sound
Of water, and hills hid in Cloudes I found,
And trees above the Clouds on Mountains top,
And houses too; a wonder to get up.
On Mount-Sinese's top I did ride o're,
A smooth, and pleasant Plain, a League or more:
Upon the which a large Fish-pool there is,
And one o'th Duke of Savoy's Palaces:
At the Plains End, a little Chappel, and
A pretty Inn do near together stand.
That night we did descend 'bove half the way,
Where first we heard Italian spoke, and lay.
Next morn we down to Susa rode, full glad
When Mount-Sinese we descended had:
And that same night to Turin came, where we
Staid but a day the Beauties of't to see.
There we took Coach for Millaine, and (by th'way)
A Dinners time did at Vercelli stay,
And at Novara lay a night, and stai'd
But at great Millaine one; such hast I made:
And but at Crema one, and by the Lake
Of stormy Garda did a dinner take.
Through the low Suburbs of high Bergamo
I rode, and that night did to Brescia go,
For works of Iron fam'd; And having past
Thorow Verona, by Catullus grac't,
Did at Vicenza dine, so forward went
Through Padoa, and (on the banks of Brent)
Saw many Palaces of pleasant Site,
And to the rich fam'd Venice came that night.
Thence (having stai'd there half a year) did go
Unto Ferrara by the river Poe,
Saving some four miles, where a Coach we took,
When Phaetons fatal River we forsook.
I at Ravenna din'd, Rimmini lay,
And the next Night did at Ancona stay;
A long days journey, wherein we betime
Pesaro rode through, did at Fano dine,
For hansome women fam'd; And (in our way)
Rid neer small, well-wall'd Siningaglia.
The next day at Loretto din'd, and there
View'd the Fair Church, and House fam'd every where:
Thorow long Recanati rode, and so
To Macerata in the Even did go.
Next day I din'd at Tolentin, and was
It'h Church of their renown'd Saint Nicholas.
Foligno and Spoletto having past,
Terni, and Narni, took a Nights repast
Within Otricoli, I the next day
Din'd at Rignano 'ith' Flaminian way:
And in the Evening afterwards did come
Thorow the Port del Popolo to Rome;
Where what the holy week, and Easter could
To strangers view afford, I did behold:
Where that old Cities wonders I did view,
And all the many Marvels of the new.
Three weeks I there made my abode, and then
For Naples took my travels up agen:
Of all Frascati's Wonders had a sight,
And thence unto Velletri rode that night;
At Terrachina lay the next. Then through
The Kingdom pass'd at Mola, took a view
Of Old Gaeta, thence to Capua rode,
Where onely I dinners time abode.
So I to Naples came, where three weeks stay
Made me the wonders thereabouts survey.
I at Puzzolo was, there cross'd the Bay
(Fam'd for the bridge of proud Caligula)
To Baja, and that day a view did take
Of Aniana, and Avernus Lake.
The mortal Grott was in, and Sepulchre
Which murther'd Agrippina did interre:
Was in Sybilla's Cave, and on the Ground
Cal'd Vulcans Forge, yielding an hollow sound.
At Pausalip pass'd through that hollow path
Which Virgil for its primest Glory hath.
These and the rest beheld: One day got up
On evermore smoking Vesuvius top;
Vesuvius that two years before did throw
Such death and damage upon all below:
Which burnt up grass, and trees did make appear;
And Torre Griego that did stand too near.
Above three weeks I did at Naples stay,
Then (in a Galley) went to Genoa;
Which (in it) an Embassador did bear
To th'Cardinal Infante landed there,
Sent by the Vice-Roy to salute his hands,
Going t'be Governour oth' Netherlands.
I there remain'd but a few days, but found
A vessel that was for Marseilles bound;
I in it thither pass'd, but by the way
Did at Savona land, and dinner stay.
I at Marseilles but two dayes abode,
And the next after to Avignion rode.
I din'd at Orange, and lay at Vienne,
And so to Lyons did return agen,
There stai'd a day, or two; and then did ride
Unto Roana on the Loyers side:
About three days and nights along that streame
We went by Boat, till we to Briack came.
There we did leave the River, and next morne
Unto Mount-Argis did again return.
The morning after we from thence did go,
And lay that Night at pleasant Fountain-Bleau.
Thence we to Corbiel went, and (on the Seine)
To Paris thence by Boat did come again.
There I above two moneths then made a stay;
Save on Saint Dennis wonders spent a day.
After which time I went to Amiens,
There lay one night, and went to Calice thence.
As my stay serv'd, what ever was of Fame
Or note I visited where ere I came.
Four days I was in Calice, then cross'd over
The Sea in eight hours space, and came to Dover.