Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/12

designs of his own without success. At that time the Count of Arc, whose Sister the Viceroy had Marry'd, was chief Minister to the Prince of Mantua; and coming to visit the Viceroy at Javarin, I was appointed to attend him during his stay there. Upon his departure, he told the Viceroy, that the Prince of Mantua had no person about him that understood the Language, and that therefore he might be sure that the Prince would take it for a great kindness, to permit me to attend his person during his stay at the Emperours Court. This was a thing easily granted to the Count of Arc; who thereupon carry'd one along with him to Vienna, where having had the good fortune not to displease the Prince, he testify'd to me at his departure, that he should be glad to see me at Mantua, where he would not forget the services I had done him. This presently infus'd into me a desire of seeing Italy, especially upon the opportunity that offer'd it self not long after.

For Monsieur de Sabran, the King of France's Envoy to his Imperial Majesty, being to go for Venice, and desirous of one that understood the German Language to bear him Company, I laid hold of the occasion; so that in eight days we got to Venice. While we stay'd at Venice, I took a view to my great satisfaction, of that most Celebrated City, and in regard it is in many things like to Amsterdam, as in Situation, Greatness, Magnificence, Commerce, and Concourse of Strangers, my being there did but still reinforce my inclination to Travel.

From Venice I went to Mantua with Monsieur de Sabran, where the Prince being glad to see me again, gave me my choice of an Ensign, or of a place in the Company of the Ordonnance of the Duke his Father. I accepted the latter, as being glad to be under the Command of the Conde de Guiche, who was then Captain. At the Siege of Mantua I had like to have been slain, but for the goodness of a Cuirass which I had chosen out of the Princes Magazin, being hit with two Bullets above and upon the left pap, which had enter'd, had not my Arms been excellent proof: So that after I was recover'd of my Bruises, a longer stay at Mantua did not agree with my desire to travel.

Therefore some time after the Siege was rais'd, I took leave of the Prince, who gave me an honourable Pass, by vertue whereof five or six Horse-men bore me Company back to Venice. From Venice I went to Lauretta, from Lauretta to Rome, from Rome to Naples, from whence returning to Rome again, I stay'd there ten or twelve days. After that I went to see Florence, Pisa, Ligorn, and Genoa, from whence I Embark'd for Marseilles.

From Marseilles I hasted to Paris, where I could not stay long; for being desirous to see Poland, I pass'd once more into Germany through Switzerland, after I had tak'n a survey of the principal Towns of the Cantons. I went by the Rhine by Water, to visit Strasburgh and Brisack; thence by Land crossing Suabia, I passed through Ulme and Anspurgh to go to Munich. There I saw the Magnificent Palace of the Dukes of Bavaria, which William the fifth began, and which Maximilian his Son finish'd, in the heat of the Wars that troubl'd the Empire. From thence I went the second time to Norimbergh, and Prague, and leaving Bohemia I enter'd into Silesia, and pass'd the Oder at Breslaw. From Breslaw I went to Cracovia, one of the greatest Cities of Europe, or rather a Town compos'd of three Cities; the ancient Seat of the Kingof