My fifth Voyage.
My Fifth Voyage into Italy was still from Lyons, but now by the way of Mount Cenis, and Turin, the ordinary Post rode, and I think the easiest way of all the rest.
Parting then from Lyons on horseback, we passed through Verpillier, La Tour du Pin, Beauvoysin (whose Bridge parts France, and Savoy) and came in two dayes to the foot of Mount AiguebelletMount Aiguebellet, the threshold of the Alpes: This is a pretty breathing hill, and may be called, the Alpes foul over, or the Alpes in a running hand and not in that fair Text hand which I found Mount Cenis to be in. It hath all the lineaments and shapes of the great Alpes, that is, much winding and turning; deep precipices, Marons, or Men with little open Cairs, to carry you up and down the Hill for a Crown; and much stumbling work. In fine this hill resembles Mount Cenis, as a proper man may do a Giant.
Having passed this Hill, and by it through the very clouds, we fell as it were out of the Skies, upon Chambery.Chambery the chief Town of Savoy, and where the Parliament resides.
We cast to be there at the solemn Entry, which this Duke made for his new Spouse, the third daughter of the late Duke of Orleans, when she came first into this Country. The Entry of the Dutchess of Savoy.To describe all the Triumphal Arches in the Streets, with their Emblems and Motto's rarely painted; the stately Throne a little out of the Town, where the Duke and Dutchess received the compliments of their Subjects; the rich Liveries of the young Townsmen on horseback; the gallantry of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Country (800 in all) their horses at fine as they: the Parlament men, and other officers of Justice all in black velvet gowns; the Clergy and Religious marching in the mean time humbly a foot and in Procession; the Dukes two companies of horse in velvet coats of crimson colour embrodered with gold and silver; The Pages and footmen of the Duke and Dutchess in Crimson velvet laid thick with gold and silver lace; in fine, the Duke and Dutchess on horseback as brillant as the Sun, would fill a book alone, which I have no minde to do, seeing there is one extant already in a just volumne.
Montmelian.Leaving then Chambery the next day after the Shew, we went to Montmelian to dinner. This is a strong Castle upon a high rock, overlooking the river Isere.Isere, and commanding the passage here which is streight between the hills. The strength of this Castle appeared when it withstood the Royal army of Lewis the XIII. of France for fifteen months, and made him raise the Siege when he had done. Here is still a strong Garrison in it, and store of ammunition, and all things necessary for the defence of a strong place. They shewed us in it their deep Well for fresh water in the midst of a high rock; their excellent pieces of Artillery, one of which is said to carry four miles, that is, to Fort Burreau a little Fort belonging to France, which is two leagues from hence, and which you see from this Castle.
AiguebelleFrom Montmelian we had rough way to Aiguebelle; thence to S. John Morian.S. John Morian, to S. Michel, and at last to Lasnebourg.Lasnebourg, which stands at the foot of Mount Cenis, the highest of all the hills I passed over in my several voyages into Italy, or out of it; to wit, Sampion, Berlin, Splug, and S. Godarde.
This Hill of Mount Cenis parting Savoy and Italy, shall be the place where I will now begin my Description of Italy, having hitherto onely described the several wayes into it.