‘The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Moscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships’ [‎69] (112/470)

C hap . I. The Voyages of lohn Struys
On the 26 lentred Florence 3 which is feated in a pleafant Valley 5 feb.
and divided by the River ^Arno into two parts, which is thefam e
River that runs by Pifa. On the Weft it hath the Champane land
which is admirably delightfull : on the Eaft the Countrey is Hilly,
and ilored with abundance of Fruit-trees , and on feme part it is for
tified with the ^iopenin Hills. This City is reckoned about 7 miles
in compafs , and enjoys a fubtile and wholfom Air, which renders
the Natives and Inhabitants more acute and of a (harper Genius than
thofe that Inhabit, or are born in places of a grofler : The City which
is divided by the River , is again united by four ftately Bridges,
which fo beautify the T own that perhaps gave the Arch-duke
occafion to fay^that this was a City only to be fecn on Holy-days. The
fertile Hills and rich Valleys wherewith it is environedjaffoard the In
habitants plenty of all nccellaries. Here is the Court and Relldence
of the Duke : The Palace being one of the moft magnificent in all"
Italy 3 yet far more fpacious and fplendid within than without: but
to recount the fpacious Halls , Pompous Antichambre , Marble
Statues and Pictures in the Galleries, with all it's Appendencies, were
an endlefs labour. Right over againft the Pallace is a Lifeguard, con-
lllling of a hundred Germans. Before the Palace is alfo a very ftately
Fountain , adorned with, huge Statues both of Marble and Brafs ,
out of which iprings Water , being all in emblematical reprefenta-
tions. Upon the Merc at 0 Tfoyo is a very fumptuous Building in which
the Citizens, meet and treat about the affairs of Merchandife. The
Palace of the Medici is a ftupendious Fabric, and for artificial car
ved works , afwell in Wood as Stone , and Pictures of the moft
eminent Italian Mailers, feems to emulate the famous Bcfides
thefe are many other inferior Palaces , Bublic Puildings, Churches,
Chap pels and very fpacious Cloyfters , all which would take up
fome moneths to make an exact lurvey of. In many ftreets are Galle
ries or Piazzas , (as in Co-vent Garden , where one may walk to
avoid either Sun or Rain. Here are alio many Houfes buile for Cha
ritable ufes, where the Sick are relieved with what they ftand in need
ofjand every one of thofe Houfes kept very neat and clean, efpecially
the Hofpital adjoyning to the Church T^unctata. Yet above the
many famous Structures which grace Ykrence> the Houfe of Prattelino
outbraves, them all, which was built by Francts The firft
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