It is composed with sobriety in a pedestrian style of plainness, and it tells the truth without reserve.

Italy traces her wretchedness to one sole cause, subjection under Spanish rule.
Lascio ch'un re che di real non tiene Altro che il nome effemminato e vile A sua voglia mi reggi, e di catene Barbare mi circondi il pie servile.
This tyrant foments jealousy and sows seeds of discord between the Italian states.

His viceroys are elected from the cruelest, the most unjust, the most rapacious, and the most luxurious of the courtiers crawling round his throne.

The College of Cardinals is bought and sold.
No prince dares move a finger in his family or state without consulting the Iberian senate; still less can he levy troops for self-defense.

Yet throughout Europe Spanish victories have been obtained by Italian generals; the bravest soldiers in foreign armies are Italian exiles.
Perhaps it may be argued that the empty titles which abound in every petty city, the fulsome promises on which those miserable vassals found their hopes, are makeweights for such miseries.