Addison, Joseph: Remarks on several parts of Italy: &c. in the years 1701, 1702, 1703 (London: Tonson, 1718)

3 ix The Republick of Lucca.
Twenty or Thirty Thousand fighting
Men, all ready to Sacrifice their Lives for
their Liberty. They have Quantity of
Arms and Ammunition, but few Horfe.
It mult be own’d these People are more
happy, at least in Imagination, than the
relt of their Neighbours, because they
think themselves so 5 tho’ such a Chi-
merical Happiness is not peculiar to Re-
publicans, for we find the Subjects of
the molt absolute Prince in Europe are
as proud of their Monarch as the Luc-
quefe of being subjedt to none. Should
the French Affairs prosper in Italy, it is
possible the Great Duke may bargain for
the Republick of Lucca, by the help of
his great Treasures, as his Predecessors
did formerly with the Emperor for that
of Sienna. The Great Dukes have ne-
ver yet attempted any thing on Lucca,
as not only fearing the Arms of their
Protector, but because they are well as-
sured, that ihould the Lucquefe be re-
duced to the last Extremities, they would
rather throw themselves under the Go-
vernment of the Geneofe, or some strong-
er Neighbour, than submit to a State
for which they have so great an Aver-
sion. And the Florentines are very sen-
sible, that it is much better having a
weak State within their Dominions,
than

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