LAURENCE ALDERSEY ad. 



1581. 



to tary there, for him that was to be my guide. He The descrip- 

 shewed me first the State-house, which is very faire, and ^^J^ °f . 

 beautifull : then he brought mee to the finest garden, and Q^f^^^^i^^ 

 orchard, that ever I sawe in my life : for there was in it 

 a place for Canarie birdes, as large as a faire Chamber, 

 trimmed with wier both above and beneath, with fine 

 little branches of trees, for them to sit in, which was full 

 of those Canarie birdes. There was such an other for 

 Turtle dooves : also there were two pigeon houses joyn- 

 ing to them, having in them store of Turtle dooves, and 

 pigeons. In the same garden also were sixe or seven 

 fishponds, all railed about, and full of very good fish. 

 Also, seven or eight fine fountaines, or water springs, of 

 divers fashions : as for fruite, there wanted none of all 

 sorts, as Orenges, figges, raisons, wallnuts, grapes, besides 

 apples, peares, fillbirds, small nuts, and such other fruite, 

 as wee have in England. 



Then did hee bring mee to the water tower of the 

 same Citie, that by a sleight and devise hath the water 

 brought up as high, as any Church in the towne, and to 

 tel you the strange devises of all, it passeth my capacitie. 

 Then he brought me to another faire garden, called the 

 Shooters hoose, where are buts for the long bowe, the 

 crosse bowe, the stone bowe, the long peece, and for 

 divers other exercises more. 



After this, we walked about the walles of the Citie, 

 where is a great, broade, and deepe ditch, upon one side 

 of the towne, so full of fish, as ever I sawe any pond in 

 my life, and it is reserved onely for the States of the 

 Citie. And upon the other side of the Citie is also a 

 deepe place all greene, wherein Deere are kept, and when 

 it pleaseth the States to hunt for their pleasure, thither 

 they resort, and have their courses with grayhounds, 

 which are kept for that purpose. 



The fift of May, I departed from Augusta towards Venice, 

 Venice, and came thither upon Whitsunday, the thir- 

 teenth of the same moneth. It is needlesse to speake 

 of the height of the mountaines that I passed over, and 



203 



