thereunto is a Chappell of his name because it is thought that he being throwne out of the Citie was stoned in the same place Godfrey and Tancred on the West-side and Raymond neere to mount Sion toward the South So soone as the campe arriued certaine skirmishes were made on both sides as occasion serued And the Armie in the meane time wanted no victualls as it did before Antioch by reason of the Sea which was not far of as also for that they possessed diuers strong townes in Palestine They attempted at times during the seege to take the Citie by Scalado but it was in vaine At the last bringing woodden Castles and other warlike engins before the walls the batterie was somewhat more furious than before and a breach being made they marched to the assault which lasted from the day-breake till noone with a great slaughter of our men the which did howerly encrease without anie likelihood of waxing better had not Baldwin followed by a troope of Soldiers mounted the wall on boards which the enemies had there placed to catch our engins which were brought before the walls For a while it was doubtfull what would become of them But the Citie-gate in the meane time being broken open and the wall neere thereunto beaten downe by the Ramme the victors entring on euerie side the enemie retired where at their first entrance they made in all places a meruailous slaughter without exception of sex or age Dauids tower fortified in manner of a Cittadell was forthwith yeelded vp All the furie of the fight was neere to the Temple whither great multitudes of people were retired They fought there with great losse on either side Despaire encouraged the one and shame the other because the Citie beeing taken the Temple was possessed and kept from them by a few Yet neuerthelesse they entred it by force and ranne so couragiously vpon the enemie as beeing thrust forward in front by those which followed them they which first entred were constrained to fight hand to hand with the whole squadron of the Armed enemie and were besides thrust forward by those which were behinde them vpon the points of their swords The enemies in the meane time did valliantly defend themselues whom the imminent danger did constrain to fight with hazard of all things Therefore the fight was verie bloudie not onely at the entrie of the Temple but in the middest thereof And so great was the slaughter aswell of the victors as the vanquished as the bloud which was spilt on the pauement of the Temple was a foot deep In the end the vppermost part of the Temple being not yet taken the retreate was sounded a little before night The next morrow after commandement was giuen not to hurt those that were disarmed they which defended the higher part of the Temple did sodainly yeeld In this manner was the Citie of Ierusalem taken in the yeare of our Saluation 1099. and foure hundred fourescore and ten yeares after it was taken by the Infidels and the thirtie ninth day after the Christians had besieged it Godfrey of Bouillon was by the consent of all men saluted king who after he had receiued all the Roiall ornaments except the Crowne would by no meanes be crowned saying That it did not become a Christian to weare a Crowne of gold in the same place where Christ the soueraigne king had worne a Crowne of thornes Whilst these things were done in Ierusalem fearefull newes was brought that great multitudes of enemies did approach To meete whom Godfrey after he had left a good Garrison in the Citie marched almost as farre as Asdona There they fought a bloudie battaile which for diuers howers space inclined to neither part In the end the enemies were broken and put to flight with great losse Some saie that there died the same daie an hundred thousand men The prisoners that were taken did report That the number of their Armie was fiue hundred thousand fighting men During this happie successe in Syria the Venetians departing from Smyrna after they had coasted the Seas of Lycia Pamphilia and Cilicia they arriued in Syria and kept the Hauen of Ioppa taken before by the Christians But I dare not affirme that the Venetians beeing departed from Smyrna did arriue in Syria before that the holie Citie was taken Neuerthelesse it is certaine that the French beeing encamped before Ierusalem were releiued with victualls comming from the Sea The which I can not see how it should be done by any other but by them at that time seeing that all the coast of Syria was as yet in the enemies power After the Venetians had left a sufficient garrison for the defence of their vessells they departed from Ioppa and marched in order of battaile towards Ierusalem from whence returning they tooke by force the Citie of Ascalon vpon the Sea which the French had a little before attempted in vaine and leauing French-men there in garrison they laid siege to Caypha which is likewise called Porphiria neere to Ptolomais the which siege lasted longer than it was suspected From whence because they would not liue idely they went to besiege Tiberias the which being yeelded by the inhabitants those of Caypha did soone after the like Some Authours attribute these exploits to Godfrey and not to the Venetians But I thinke them to haue beene done by a mutuall consent namely by Godfrey with his Armie by Land after the taking of Ierusalem and by the Venetians by Sea keeping way with him still all-along the coast And from thence it commeth that the Venetian Chroniclers attribute the whole to the Venetians and the French to Godfrey It is certaine that so soone as the Venetians arriued in Syria they ioyned with the French and that the affaires of the Christians were for the space of a whole yeare gouerned in the Prouince vnder the happie fortune of either of them These things being done the Venetian Armie returned to Venice And Godfrey of Bouillon soone after died It is reported that about the same time the bodies of Saint Nicholas and Saint Theodore were brought to Venice the one being laid in Saint Sauiours Church and the other in that which of a long time had beene dedicated vnto him on the banks of the Sea The Normans vnder the conduct of Roger brother to Beamond made incursions on Grecia and Dalmatia The Venetians after they had made a league with Caloman sonne to Geica King of Hungarie marched against the Normans But I know not vpon what ground the Normans at the same time made warre on the Venetians and Alexis The Venetian fleet being strengthned by the succours of the Barbarian passed into Apulia For Caloman had not only made a league with the Venetians but ioyned his forces to theirs I know not vpon what occasion this was done vnlesse it were that the Hungarians did at the same time hold some places in Dalmatia and that it grieued them
possest a little towne neere to Amastra and that they went ouer all the Countrey to meete with the Henetians as if they had beene no where to bee found But all of them doe in a manner affirme that this nation of whom wee speake did come from Paphlagonia The which XENODOTVS did not only maintaine but thought that the Cittie of Amisa was the same which was afterward called Henisa Howsoeuer those which thinke so bring in for their proofes the industrious care which both these nations had to breede Horses and Mules according to the testimony of HOMER who saith And from the Henetians come strong Mules And albeit this great Poet spake then of those of Asia STRABO a very diligent obseruer of Antiquitie maintaines that euen almost in his time the choicest and best Mares came from the Venetians inhabiting a parcell of the Adriaticke Sea which were highly esteemed for their singular pace and swiftnesse These things indeed and diuers others doe cause me to follow the opinion of those which say that the Henetians came into Italie with ANTENOR and were afterward by the altering of a letter called Venetians ANTENORS comming into the Adriaticke Gulphe is not only proued by the Venetians who were his fellowes but because the place where they first arriued was called Troy which name the Burrough hath euer since carried These men hauing first of all driuen away the Euganeans which inhabited this Countrie which lies betwixt the Sea and the Alpes did build the Cittie of Padua After that they did in processe of time so encrease as they did not only make themselues masters of that which did belong to the Euganeans whose power in times past was so great as it contained according to the opinion of CATO in his booke of originals foure and thirtie Citties but of diuers places of Bressia and Furli which they named Venetian For what places soeuer they conquered were afterward called Venice Some haue confined this Countrey with the Riuers of Po and Adda with the lake of La Garda in old time called Benac with the Alpes and the Adriaticke Sea PLINIE comprehended on the East side thereof Aquileia and STRABO on the contrary cuts it off After this sort did the ancient Venetians extend their Dominion in length and breadth in the pleasantest Countrey of Italie But the scituation of the places rather then this peoples manner of life did alwaies procure enuie to the ancient State of the Prouince For on the one side the ordinary thefts of the Liburnians and the fearefull and continuall roades of cruell nations on the other did hinder them from enioying any long rest so as it oftentimes happened that by how much their publicke and priuate affaires did seeme to be increased by some relaxation from forraine warres by so much the more were they miserably ouerthrowne by these sodaine stormes and alarmes This nation without this had beene most happy in regard it wonne by right of warre the goodliest Countrie of Italie for their dwelling For beside that it is enuironed on the south side with a most calme circuite of the Sea which makes it capable to receiue all maner of forraine marchandize it is moreouer watered with most pleasant Riuers by which all that comes from the Sea is easily transported into the middest of the Prouince It aboundes in Lakes Pooles and Forrests the territoric being meruailous fertile in Corne Wine Oyle and in all maner of Fruites It is stored besides with goodly Houses in the Countrie with Townes Castles and Citties very much recommended for their situation and circuit of their walls whereof we will heereafter make mention in his place But let vs now returne to these new inhabitants who from the time that their affaires grew prosperous were seldome freed from forraine warres It would bee too long and tedious a labour orderly to set downe in so ancient a matter their paines and trauaile as also it not being my meaning to insist farther on the deedes of the first Venetians Now after diuers and sundry roads of the Barbarians and that by continuall wars the one against the other from their beginning euen to the time of ATTILA their substance had beene continually wasted and were besides daunted by the fearefull assaults of the Gothes A greater danger than all the rest did on a sodaine assaile them The Huns conducted by ATTILA sonne to Mandluc with a horrible spoile did cast themselues into the Prouince This Nation as saith PRISCVS came from Scithia and dwelt neere to the Riphean mountaines After a long siege they tooke Aquileia spoiled and wholly burnt it They destroyed after the same manner Concorda Altina and almost the whole Venetian Territorie At the fearefull report of these warres the Venetians and the rest of Italy were in alarme long time before But in this trouble the Venetians were more amazed than any others as beeing accustomed euer to endure the first assaults of the Barbarians It is reported that at the same time great numbers of men left the firme Land and retired into the Islands where Venice now stands but at the enemies approach greater numbers ran thither Certaine vnknowen Historians who haue written this Historie haue in such sort ordered the warres of the Huns as it seemeth that Attila did twice enter Italy the which none of the most trustie haue noted but all of them say that neither at the same time nor yet all together went to dwell in one selfe same place The same authors doe affirme that diuers of the choisest men of Padua began the retreate and that vnder their conduct this runaway multitude arriuing at the mouth of the Riuer which was then very deepe whereby the name of Riuo alto remained to that place the fitst foundations of the Cittie were there laid And that those of the Countrie of Padua who fled being possessed with the like feare began to people Chioggia Malamoc and Albiola They affirme besides that diuers of Aquileia withdrew themselues at the same time into the marishes of Grada But so soone as Attila was gone they ranne in troopes from the fieldes along the Sea coasts to the neighbour Islands That the Aquileians put themselues into Grada a place neere to the firme land enuironed with water The runawayes of Concorda possessed Caorli and the Altinoes sixe small Islands neere togeather which they called by the names of the gates of their lost Cittie Tourcella Maiorba Buriana Muriana Amiana and Constantiaca This is in a manner all that which those Authors haue left vs in many words of the originall of the Cittie whom I finde almost to agree in euery point with the rest who haue written the same Historie except in this where they are of opinion that the Huns entred twice into Italy I suppose that this error proceeded from that they did reade that in the time of the Huns they did twice retire themselues from the firme Land to those Islands and
that they would not else haue done so had not the enemies come vpon them But wee will heereafter set downe what wee thinke thereof For from thence in a manner proceeded all the diuersitie in opinions about the originall of the Cittie so as some affirme it to bee built at one time some at an other Diuers doe truely affirme that the yeare of our Saluation 421 it receiued her first foundations at the same time when as at the report of the Huns arriuall all Italy began to be afraid For then or certainly a little before Attila hauing passed the riuer of Danubie ouerthrew in battaile Macrin the Gouernor of Hungarie and Macedonia wherewith beeing puft vp with pride he promised to himselfe the entire conquest of the Westerne Empire Others reiect this opinion as erronious and dare affirme that this Cittie was first of all built about the time that Aquileia and all the Venetian territorie was destroied which hapned as it is very credible certaine yeares after But nothing hinders vs from beleeuing that at the first motions of this warre all the noblest and richest persons accompanied with troopes of houshold seruants began the flight that by their meanes they began to build in those places first possessed and that afterward in tract of time so soone as the enemie was entred Italy they ranne from all parts in great numbers to those Islands whereby of necessity these places were heere and there inhabited that from thence the diuers opinions of the originall of Venice did proceed But to auoid all confusion wee will willingly follow their opinion which beleeue that the Cittie of Venice was builded before the destruction of Aquileia the which wee will declare in order how it hapned The originall of the Cittie of Venice as wee haue learned by reading those authors who haue most faithfully written thereof hapned almost in this manner As the feare of the Hunnes war had already possessed the people of Italy and that the Venetians as the foremost in the danger were also by meanes thereof greatly mooued for all men beleeued that the Hunnes would come into Italy their more than barbarous cruelty towards the Christians was the cause why the ancient Venetians which dwelt in those pleasant places neere to the Adriaticke Sea some of them in their flight seized on the Islands of the Sea next at hand and others consequently on the rest And those who began the flight were honorable persons full of pietie and Religion I cannot warrant ought of other places But it is certaine that from two most excellent Citties of the Venetians Countrey Padua and Aquileia there ran thither from the beginning great multitudes so as in this tumult diuers of Aquileia with their children and richest moueables retired themselues to Grada diuers of the cheefe of Padua did likewise resorte to Rialto Those places whereon at this day the Cittie of Venice is seated were in times past very strait and narrow Islands and neere to one another seperated by the pleasant current of riuers which run turning into the Sea according to the change of her ebbing and flowing There was nothing to be seene in these strait places but Sea-fowle which came thither from the Sea to seeke shelter sometime likewise fishermen but very seldome came thither to rest themselues Now those of Padua which came to the Rialto this place is now almost in the middest of the Citty were the first which began to build and in that place were the first foundations of the new City laid How religiously the same was done may bee coniectured because by how much any one did affect true godlinesse and religion by so much more for feare of the Hunnes whom he knew to hate the Christians and to pursue them with more then a barbarous cruelty he made himselfe head of those who by flight sought a place of safety fortifying it the better to preserue themselues After then they had giuen thankes to Almighty God and performed the vowes worthy their piety and such as was conuenient for such businesse they began in an happie place to raise the happie wals Diuers dare affirme that they began to build in the same place where at this day the golden Church of Saint Marke doth stand All authors doe agree together that the Citie receiued her first foundation on the 〈◊〉 and twentieth of March. If we will curiously obserue certaine exquisite workes of nature which are reported to haue beene done on such a day it will not bee impertinent to say that nothing could on that day be vndertaken which was not admirable great perpetuall and surmounting all humane heigth and excellency The holy Scriptures doe witnesse vnto vs that on such a day the Almighty created our first Father that the Sonne of God a long time after was conceiued in the womb of the most sacred Virgin The greatnesse of this mysterie is thought to surpasse mans vnderstanding whereby it is hard not only to declare it by speech which can not be done but to conceiue it in minde But as we doe religiously beleeue it wee doe likewise wisely and constantly confesse the diuinity to bee ioyned to the humanity and the Eternall incomprehensible holy to be mingled with the corruptible and measurable And we must not meruaile wherefore this great God did do it because it behooued it so to be nor if it were possible to be done in regard it was his pleasure for he can do whatsoeuer pleaseth him But it may be that some will scoffe heereat as at a vaine and ridiculous obseruation and will count it folly to make a differenee of daies Let them thinke what they please I thinke it auaileth very much when we begin any thing to choose such a day wherein nature hath once or twice wrought excellently Now albeit that for the peopling of this new Citie all the most experienced marriners were called thither from all parts with promise of great reward to such as could build all manner of Ships it is neuerthelesse reported that they neuer receiued any man of seruile condition nor a murtherer or of wicked life whereby it appeares that those good founders of this Cittie would not haue hir birth defiled by the accesse of such commers The which some founders of other very renowned Citties tooke no care of but haue freely called the most lewd persons and haue receiued them into their Cittie with all freedome and immunity But those men sought nothing but how to people them whereas these had regard to the sincerity of their manners aud to their ancient Nobility This new Citie did daily encrease both in people and buildings When as fire kindled on a suddaine in a Carpenters house did in a moment consume with continuall burning foure and twenty houses and because the matter which maintained this fire was without order scattered heere and there and that there was no likelihood to quench it by humane strength all the
meanes shake Whereupon those vvhich desired the good and profit of the Common-wealth did resolue sodainely to elect a nevve Duke who should represent the whole honour and maiestie of the State and haue power to assemble the generall Councell at such time as the important affaires of the Common-wealth should be in question to choose yearely Tribunes in euery Island from whence the appeales should come before him and moreouer if any man had obtained any dignitie Prelatship or benefice by the suffrages of the Clergie or of the people hee should not enioy the same without the pleasure of the Duke ¶ PAVLVTIO of Heraclea the first DVKE of VENICE THis thus concluded Paulutio of Heraclea a man of singular iustice was by the consent of all men declared Duke the yeare according to some of the Cities foundation 282. or as others write 297 and yet as some others affirme 276. They all agree that the Tribunarie power did gouerne more than two hundred and thirtie yeares But in this first Dukes election they did not keepe this manner of choosing as wee see to bee at this day obserued in the creation of Princes but they then proceeded therein more simply For ambition being not as yet crept into so religious a Citie no bribing for honors they had not in those elections respect to wealth nobilitie and other such like matters but onely to the vertue of the person by which meanes they obtained it and not by cunning But although vertue and wisedome was respected aboue any thing yet neuerthelesse because men beleeue that wee can be neuer sure enough of that which is deerest vnto vs it is reported that the new Duke was constrained to sweare well and faithfully to prouide for whatsoeuer should be fit for the honour of the Common-wealth and the Venetian name After he had taken his oath this new Magistrate was honoured with diuers noble ensignes whereby that soueraigne dignitie was made more illustrious and yet for all that I will not affirme that all the magnificence which at this day the Prince enioyeth was giuen him at the same time for it is certaine that part of them was giuen him a long time after and taken from else-where Now so soone as this new Duke was fully installed hee determined to free the Common-wealth from this warre And the better to effect it hee entred league with Luitprand some say he ouercame him in fight He extended the limits of Heraclea from the Riuer of Piauo vnto the little streame called Piauicolle By his authoritie rather then by force he brought the Equilines vnder his dominion some name the Iesulans for the Equilines which makes me to beleeue their opinion in some sort to bee true who thinke Equiline and Iesulan to be one selfe-same place though different in name who at the same time had forsaken the Venetians Those of Tourcelles in the meane space builded a sumptuous Temple to the glorious Virgin where they placed the bodie of Saint Heliodore of Altina with diuers other Reliques ¶ MARCELLO of Heraclea the second Duke of Uenice THese things effected Paulutio dyed after hee had reigned twenty yeares and six moneths Marcello of Heraclea was by the common voyce chosen in his sted Wee doe not finde in all the time of his gouernment which lasted nine yeares any memorable matter to haue hapned Which in my opinion caused diuers Historians to leaue him out in the Catalogue of the Dukes naming Horteo Hipates surnamed Vrsus next after Paulutio Howsoeuer they say that he was a vertuous man wise and reasonably well inclined to Armes though his hap was to dye after he had gotten more reputation by peace than by warre ¶ HORTEO called VRSVS the third Duke of Uenice HOrteo whom we say was surnamed Vrsus succeeded Marcello The Lombards at the same time tooke Rauenna a verie ancient Citie The Exarch who commanded therein fled for succour to the Venetians Pope Gregorie did likewise by letters entreate them to aide the Exarch against those insolent Barbarians The Venetians much affecting the Pope willingly graunted thereunto and comming before Rauenna with a mightie Armie did forthwith take it and being taken gaue it to the Exarch It is reported that the name of this newe Magistrate was instituted at the same time by one named Longinus whom the Emperour Iustinian sent into Italie in Narses sted to commaund with soueraine authoritie Prodeus of Vincenza a valiant man and of great reputation among the Garrison of the Citie died in that warre Paulus Diaconus in his Historie of the Lombards sets downe this exploit so doth Bonitendius the Secretarie who hath inserted in his Commentaries the Copie of the Popes letters written to the Venetians to the same purpose The Venetians in the meane time were in tumult round about Grada because Calixtus Bishop of Aquileia disdaining as it is thought that the new Church of Grada should preceed his which was verie ancient ouer-ranne the bounds of Grada But the Pope commanding to desist the matter was forthwith ended There arose after that great dissension which in a manner produced a ciuill warre greatly disquieting the State neere to Heraclea It is said that the Dukes insolency was the certaine cause of this commotion For the Iesulans not being able anie longer to endure his presumptuous pride armed themselues and ioyned battaile This proude Duke marched against them meaning to bring them to reasonable tearmes and they fought on either side with more fiercenesse and hatred than force At the last after diuers losses on either parte the Heracleans being wearie of the warres did on a sodaine turne all their hatred towards the enemies vpon the Duke as one whom they knew to be the author of all those miseries who was vilanously murthered by his owne Cittizens about the latter end of the eleuenth yeare of his Magistracie The Heracleans being amazed at the newes of the Dukes death remooued their dwelling soone after as it is thought to Malamoc no man knowes whether it were because they hated those places for the murther committed on the Duks person or else for that the same place was too neere the firme Land and by that meanes more subiect to the ordinarie incursions of the enemies Some affirme it hapned by reason of the warre which arose betwixt the Heracleans and the Equilins Those which are more curious alleadge cause wholly different from these and denie that these places were thus abandoned by and by after the murther And to speake truly this first cause seemes too friuolous to make so populous a Citie at an instant to change her dwelling The troth is that long after the Dukes murther during the principalitie of Mauritio and Giouanni his sonne Heraclea and Equiline were abandoned as shall be hereafter declared in his place I will now returne to that wherein the Authors agree among themselues For Vrsus being slaine in regard the Islanders could not agree about the creation of a
sides prepared for warre But soone after truce being agreed on betwixt Nicetes who commaunded in that Prouince for the Greeke Emperour and Pepin this Gouernour returned wâ—…th his Sea-armieto Costantinople and comming backe in time with the same Armie into Dalmatia refreshing himselfe in the same Prouince hee resolued to assaile the townes on the Sea coast for the truce was already expired which did obey Pepin So soone as Pepin had notice of these preparations he assembled all his French and Italian forces and tooke Comada rounded on euery side with the Sea and Lakes in forme of an Island for this place was very commodious to bridle the enemies attempts Nicetes comming thither soone after was with great losse of his people brauely repulsed In this encounter diuers Venetians were slaine and hurt But it is not knowne whether this Venetian succour which accompanied the Grecian were sent by the generall consent or whether the Grecian did hire them Nicetes being disapointed of his purpose came to Venice They say that after his arriuall Obellerio and his brother who then gouerned the Common-wealth sought to make an agreement betwixt Pepin and Nicephorus The Venetians power was alreadie so encreased as the two mightiest Empires of the Earth did looke vpon them as on a rocke exposed to the sundrie billowes of the Sea Some in those dayes did thinke that Obellerio during the treaty of peace did practise some treason against Pepin as witnesseth Paulus Diaconus in his Historie of the Lombards by meanes whereof Nicetes and Pepin departed malecontent from Venice so as the French soon after assailed the Venetians Al those in a manner who haue written the Venetian Historie doe impute the cause of this warre to Obellerio who being driuen thence by his brother that was allyed to France by marriage and had married the daughter of Charles as some say did sollicite the Emperour or according to the opinion the crediblest Authors Pepin to take away the libertie of the Venetians Blondus who hath written more of the Historie then any of the Modernes saith that he is of opinion according to Godfrey of Viterbo that Pepin made warre twice vpon the Venetians the first when Heraclea was ruinated of which exploit wee haue heretofore spoken and how that at this first time the Venetians were ouercome and then restored to libertie vpon condition that they should neuer more haue intelligence with the Greeke Emperour The which they not obseruing but vnder-hand practising the friend-ship of Nicephorus by the meanes of certaine Marchants trafficking toward the Propontide on the coaste of the Ponticke Sea Pepin was aduertised hereof which caused him forthwith to come assaile them once againe with the greatest forces hee could gather together as shall bee hereafter declared with the issue thereof But we must first of all refute Blondus who seemeth in some sort to contradict himselfe when he saith that they yeelded themselues at such time time as Heraclea was destroyed If it were so this had not hapned in the time of Obellerio and his brother but in that time of Giouanni and Mauritio the younger seeing that himselfe affirmes in another place that Heraclea was razed in their time Now because all those which haue written the Venetian Historie doe stedfastly denie that the Citie was euer in subiection the matter could not thus haue come to passe that through the Patriarch Fortunato his report made to Charles That the Venetians contrarie to the agreement sworne betwixt him and Nicephorus whereby they were declared neuters should haue practised by their Agents the friendship of Nicephorus Pepin was commaunded by his father to assaile them with all his forces and because he had destroyed Heraclea and Equiline and thereby greatly weakened their whole power the common report was that the Venetians with their Duke were subiected But it is certaine that the Venetians did euer retaine their ancient libertie and that they were freed from that warre on condition wholly to forsake the friendship of Nicephorus Some strife arising soone after betwixt the two Empires concerning Dalmatia the Venetians hauing openly taken Nicephorus part for it is reported that they succoured his Lieutenant Nicetes by Sea and Land Pepin being then incensed against the Venetians came and assailed them with greater forces than before All Authors moreouer doe agree that at such time as the French made warre vpon them Obellerio and his brother Beato were by a ciuill or domesticke broile driuen forth of the Citie and had retired themselues to the enemie whilst Valentin their yonger brother commanded within the towne And the better to vnderstand the state of this fearefull warre we will in breife speake somewhat of the scituation of the Citie beside that which hath beene said in the precedent booke The Citie of Venice is as hath beene said elsewhere scituate vpon Islands verie neere to one another which the continuall ebbing of the Sea doth seuer in a manner by equall spaces and yet in such manner as her shoares on the South-side betwixt the Sea the Lakes are diuided by the space of fortie thousand paces into ten waterie channels and all those shoares cut out after the manner of Islands were at that time wholly inhabited The first of them all on the South-side were the Brondolians after them came the Chioggians Pelestrians Albiolans those of Malamoc and of the Castle where at this day is the Patriarkes seat Those within beeing farther off from the Sea dwelt in the middest of the lakes the cheife of whom were those of Rialto who haue in our time by the great concourse of people and by their owne fame obscured all the rest Pepin hauing opposed his Sea-armie against that side to stoppe the incursions of the enemie and thereby to take from him all hope of hauing victuals did with his forces that he had on land assaile the neerest Islands to the firme land and hauing in part driuen awaie and partly subiected the Brondolians Chioggians and Pelestrians he marched against the Albiolans This siege hauing contrarie to all mens hopes staied him there sometime gaue Duke Valentin and those of Malamoc leisure to retire themselues to Rialto with their wiues and children and whatsoeuer such a like feare would suffer them to carrie awaie not only transporting their particular wealth but soueraine Magistrate and the whole maiestie of their common wealth where it hath euer since then made hir aboade with greater felicitie and encrease of all things But this place inuites vs to speake some-what of the antiquitie of Malamoc All those in a manner who haue written the Venetian Historie do affirme that this Malamoc which is seene at this daie on the left hand going to the Citie from Chioggia neere to the Port bearing the same name is not that ancient one which the first Venetians did build and from whence wee haue said that the inhabitants retired themselues to Rialto for feare of the French but that the
when hee came thither to the aide of king Ferdinand with six hundred horse say that he fought with his armes bare sometimes with an yron Mace and sometimes with a Sword and executed there so many braue exploits as himselfe alone was more feared than all the rest of his cauallerie He after that he had by his owne industrie recouered the principalitie of Albania did so long as he liued with few forces defend it against the whole power of the Turks He had six hundred choice horse with whom he did ordinarily vse to ouerthrow farre greater numbers of his Turkish enemies For which his glorious exploits it is reported that the people after his death in admiration of him as if they had obserued in him somewhat that exceeded humane performance did by Hymnes and Songs solemnize the memoriall of so worthie a Prince Some credible Authors affirme That in the hottest time of the warre when the Turkes filled all places with armes and terrour great multitudes of Virgins would assemble themselues together in those citties where he had commaunded and euery eight dayes would sing the praises of that dead Prince therein imitating those of olde time who in theyr high feasts did publish the acts of notable men that were dead But this as I haue said was done in former time The Turkes likewise made sundry incursions into Dalmatia But because it was done rather to forrage than to fight it is not worthy of memory It had beene good for the Venetians if the Prouinces onely and not Italie had felt their cruell armes who whilest Mocenigo executed his fortunate exploits in Asia did enter the Confines of Italie and came as farre as Vdina About the middest of Autumne a company of Turkish horse in an euening at Sun-set came with great rumour and incamped on the Riuer of Sconcino and many of them had alreadie foorded the streame when on a sodaine they incountered the Venetian troupes For diuers troupes of horse lying in the Villages heere and there vpon the riuer assembled themselues vpon the enemies arriuall to stoppe their passage and although the Venetians vsed great speed the Turkes neuerthelesse by their swiftnesse were gotten before them and some of their cauallerie had alreadie crossed the Riuer when as the Venetians vpon their first charge did beate them into the water and enforced them to returne to the other side to their fellowes The Italian cauallery remained on the riuer bankes most part of the night but through feare of the enemies great number before day they retired into the Isle of Ceruia This place is neare to Aquileia and is made an Island by the circumfluence of the Riuers Ronedula Amosore and Alsa But so soone as it was day and that the enemie had lost sight of the Venetians he speedily crossed the Riuer and with great out-cries made incursions into the Countrey of the Forlani All those in the villages betooke themselues to flight and they in the Townes thought themselues not secure The smoke of the Villages and Countrey-houses which were seene to burne a farre off had greatly terrified the Inhabitants of the cities but much more the sight of the poore Countrie people who dragged their wiues children and cattell to their very gates The Inhabitants of Vdina which at this day in wealth and populousnesse is one of the most renowned of the whole Prouince was greatly affrighted with the approach of the Turks who were come within three miles of the citie no lesse than if the enemie had beene at their gates In which amazement mothers with their children stoode weeping before the Altars and others ranne vp and downe to the Market-place and to the Castle And it was certainely thought That if the Cittie had beene assailed by the Turkes in that generall confusion it might haue beene endangered without any notable danger But so it was That the Turkes fearing some Ambuscado because they knew not whither the Venetian cauallerie was retired went backe the same way they came with great numbers of prisoners and cattell Now the Venetians at the same time were not onely molested in that place but neere to the Po likewise by reason of the troubles of Ferrara After the death of Borsia d'Aeste the Venetians assisted Hercules his brother with men money and shipping for the obtaining of the principalitie of Ferrara against his Nephew Nicolao sonne to his brother Lionello who claimed it and being therein established they maintained him in it by force notwithstanding that in other places they were pressed with the burthen of a greater warre when by the conspiracie of certaine particular persons hee had like to haue lost it In the citie of Venice they called in all siluer coyne which for the most part was counterfet and coyned other bigger peeces of a new stampe which were called Troni by reason of the Princes effigies vpon it After the Persian Ambassadours departure foorth of Asia Mocenigo and the Associates being desirous to spend the small remainder of Autumne in some honourable exploits directed their course towards that part of Asia which is opposite to Chios neere to Thermena a Promontorie of those of Mindos The horsemen and mariners beeing landed in that place and sent vp and downe that Territorie which aboundeth with vines oliue trees and rich villages they made a great spoile and carried away infinite numbers of prisoners The souldiers brought an hundred seauen and thirtie heades of the enemies to the Gallies The prisoners were solde by the sound of Drumme and the mony was equally diuided among the troupes From thence being come to Nasso the Generall of the Kings Gallies for winter approached took leaue of Mocenigo and with his fleet went home into his Countrey The Venetian and the Popes Legate being desirous to attempt some memorable action before winter leauing Nasso sailed directly to besiege Smirna in times past a famous Cittie of Ionia They had intelligence that because it was seated in a Gulph farre off it had not of a long time tasted any misery of warre and that therefore the Inhabitants of the place did liue in all securitie which had bred in them a carelesse neglect of fortifying their Cittie which in many places was much ruinated They first arriued at Psira a desart Island From thence sayling by night they came the third day after in the morning to the strond of Smirna A great part of the Citie standeth vpon the hill but the better halfe of it is in the plaine and yet the hill is most inhabited The troupes being presently landed gaue a furious assault to the walles of the Citie where they found small resistance but so great was the terrour of the distressed Citizens as all their attempts could not long bold out the Christians for whilest they ran vp and downe confusedly the Citie was spoyled by the souldiers and marriners Great was the lamentation of the flying townsmen whilest women with their children ranne into their Temples or
Modon Thither newes was brought him how that the enemie with great forces lay before the Citie of Scutari This Citie standeth in that part of Dalmatia which being possessed by the Epirots was by the modernes tearmed Albania by a particular name it is seated on an hanging hill and in some places the accesse to it is very difficult On the West side is a lake in circuit fourescore thousand paces though Authors make no mention of it The inhabitants call it the lake of Scutari out of which issueth a nauigable Riuer called Boyano Plinie saith That in former time the Riuer Drina did runne on the East side thereof very neere to the Citie walls where at this day the ruines of the bridge are to be seene now the Riuer changing her course it runnes neere to the Island and deliuers it selfe by two channels to the sea ten myles from Boyano The champaine countrey which lieth betwixt these two Riuers and the fields neere adioyning are so fruitfull as seed being cast vpon the ground without any tillage giue a wonderfull encrease and they are enforced to driue their cattell forth of the pastures for feare they should ouerfeed themselues Alongst the sea coast are goodly woods wherewith they build shippes Ottoman who aspired to the Empire of Italie being allured by these commodities resolued to attempt Scutari the chiefe Citie of that Prouince hoping by taking thereof with ease to become master of the rest hee committed the charge of the siege to Soliman the Eunuch whom he made Gouernor of the Prouinces of Europe in his stead who the yeare before was slaine in the Persian warre And besides his other forces he gaue him eight thousand Ianizaries of his owne guard with an hundred Canoniers He hauing assembled great forces forth of all Prouinces subiect to Mahomet had fourescore thousand men in his armie The Citie being besieged he made a bridge ouer the riuer Boyano the guard wherof he committed to Alibeg with his fierce troopes of Tribulls Then he caused foure peeces of ordnance of a wonderfull bignesse to be planted neere the walls to make a breach the munition belonging to those peeces did load foure hundred Camels Hee did besides cause twelue other smaller peeces to be planted to batter the houses of the towne So soone as Mocenigo had intelligence of the siege of Scutary he went to Corfu where he receiued letters from the Prince and a commandement from the Senate to be carefull of the defence of Scutari and of the sea-coast of Albania Therefore he presently passed ouer into the firm land where at the mouth of the Boyano he met with Triadin Gritti his successor and Lodouico Bembo the Prouidator Then although he might haue commaunded alone yet being in no sort ambitious he resolued to doe nothing without their common consent First of all then they sent Leonardo Bolda with foure Gallies to Catharra and commaunded him to goe to Iohn Cernouich who commaunded the Sclauonians neighbours to the Lake and to entreat him from them that he would as became a faithfull associate leuie forces from all parts in some sort to relieue Scutari if it were possible That Leonardos selfe with his vessels appointed for that purpose should together with Ceruouich vse meanes to put some supplies into the towne by water They did afterwards send fiue Gallies by the Riuer Drinon for the guard of the Island The Citie is seated on a plaine and is in no sort strong by Art or Nature The riuer Drinon falling by two channells into the sea makes an Island whither all the Country people of that Prouince which dwelt in the Villages were retired with their wiues and children vpon the enemies comming Now for the defence of this Island the Venetian Generalls sent diuers armed vessells beside the Gallies They did moreouer assure Durazzo with foure gallies and certaine troupes of Albanian horse This cittie was in former time called Epidamnum by the Founders name his Nephew sonne to his daughter added the Hauen to the Cittie and would haue it to be called Dirrachium after his owne name He lost his sonne Ionius in the war against his bretheren vnder the conduct of Hercules who slew him by misfortune and threw him into the neighbour Sea of whom it afterward took the name This is the opinion of the Greeke Authors The Latines do not reckon the place to be of such antiquity and affirme that the Romains named it Dyrrachium in sted of Epidamnum because that name seemed to presage some misfortune to such as went thither It was in old time a very famous cittie and much renowmed during the ciuill warres of the Romans For Pompey in that place made all his warrelike preparations against Caesar but it is now desolate and vninhabited The Venetians kept it for the commodiousnesse of the hauen They did afterwards place garrisons in Buda Antiuari and Olchina which in former times according to Plinie was called Colchina founded by the Colchians who pursuing Medea entred into the Adriatticke sea and Ionian seas Some Authors woorthie of credit affirme That the Inhabitants of that place doe yet retaine the barbarous crueltie of their Ancestours and that among all the Inhabitants of that coast they are most vnciuill to strangers The Venetian Generalls went and encamped with the rest of the armie at Saint Sergius Church in view of the Inhabitants This place is fiue miles from Scutari and foureteene from the Sea The Gallies could not saile vp the Riuer beyond the Church by reason of the shallownesse of the water From thence the fleete gaue signes of encouragement morning and euening to the Cittie by making fires The riuer Boyano diuides it selfe into two very narrow channels beneath the Temple Eschella eight miles from the Armie The Turkes went about to embarre those streights with yron chaines and piles to shut in the Venetian Gallies which would haue mightily endaungered the Venetians had not a fugitiue giuen them notice thereof in time whereat they being somewhat troubled did sodainely saile in order of battell to seize vpon the mouth of the Riuer The enemie vpon the gallies arriuall being landed was encamped vpon the shoare in a close battallion The fight being begunne the Turkes did extreamely afflict the Venetians with their arrows and they them with their ordnance howbeit in the end the enemy was enforced to quit the place with the losse of fiue hundred of his men The victorious Venetians hauing left foure gallies for the defence of the place returned to their campe neere the Temple Many that were present at this exploit affirme that this fight against the Turkes at the entry of the riuer Boyano hapned vnder the conduct of Triadin before Mocenigo his arriuall But whilst this was done vpon the Riuer the Turkes did continually with the cannon batter the city walls and ouerthrew the houses Antonio Lauretano a valiant gentleman commaunded in the city and was Prouidator in the Prouince who as one
Cittie betooke themselues to praiers and so soone as they had made a vow to build a Church to the honor of Saint Iames the Towne was preserued from that danger This Church is at this day to be seene standing in the middest of the Rialto with signes of great antiquity It is to be supposed that these first buildings whereof we speake were very weake and slender as those which the multitude of the people had rather erected in forme of houses then for any shew at all Seeing that diuers had builded houses of moorish substance to serue onely their present neede beeing resolued to returne into the firme Land if the Hunnes had not entred into Italie As also because that Attila made no hast to come for certaine yeares diuers did returne to their ancient dwellings For after the first report of this great warre Subthor brother to Mandluch who was chiefe of the enterprise marched into Germany where he afterward dying Attila who with his brother did succeede him after he had a long time runne ouer France fought a bloudy battaile in the plaines of Tholouse with Aetius the Roman and Theodoric king of the Gothes and going thence halfe vanquished hee went into Hungary where after he had stayed fiue yeares to renew his Army he determined to enter Italy by force And in the meane time that iourney was not short nor without great trauaile for in the same hee subdued a part of Illiria Dalmatia and Histria so as it is supposed that foure and twentie yeares were expired from the first alarmes of the Hunnes and their passage ouer Danubie vntill the totall ruine of Aquileia This new Citie in the meane time began to encrease neere to the Rialto but not very much yet neuerthelesse such as it then was it is certaine that it was gouerned by Consuls as shall be declared in his place But so soone as Attila began with his Armes to molest Italie then did men of all sortes and conditions runne in heapes from all places to the Islands which were neerest them with their wiues children and houshold Euery one beeing enforced by necessity began to build new houses and by continuall labour to ioyne one streete to another so as a man would say that they builded as many new Citties as there were Islands and Streets For they seemed in a small circuit to build sundrie Cities although both in name and effect it was but one And this is the most common and frequent opinion of the originall of Venice approued by diuers moderne writers who affirme this to haue beene after the totall destruction of Aquileia But diuers other doe thinke the first foundation of the Rialto to be the true originall and beginning of the Citie seeing that the buildings since then ought rather to be called encreasements as made not only during the troubles with the Hunnes but by little and little during the tumults of the Gothes and Lombards And although they came at sundry times into those Islands as hath beene said Yet notwithstanding because it hapned in the time that the Hunnes were there that they ranne thither in greater number then before by reason that their Countrey beeing taken and burnt all hope of returne was lost the common opinion was that the originall of Venice was after the destruction of Aquileia albeit that it ought rather to be called an increase than an originall But we haue sufficiently spoken of the foundation of the Citie Let vs now come to discourse to take away all doubts from whence these new Venetians are descended I will briefly shew vnto whom their true originall is to be referred I doe certainly know that if the question be demanded diuers yea almost all men will say that they are issued from the Paphlagonian Henetians which came with Antenor by reason of the name but if we search out the matter from farre we shall vndoubtedly finde that they least of all came from thence Antenor was a Troian so were the Paduans and all those which followed him who werein greater number then the Henetians who beeing arriued in Italy did suffer themselues neuerthelesse to be called Henetians not that they were either in number ordignity inferior to them but only because they thought it more honorable to haue the kingly authority to remaine to Antenor and afterwards vnto his than the title only esteeming much more the thing it selfe then the simple shadow of the name Those which with Aeneas came into Latium did the like who being victors did easily endure to be called by the names of those whom they had conquered Those of Aquileia were afterwards a Colonie of the Latins and Concordia of the Romans These beeing mingled with the ancient Venetians did possesse Grada and Caorli at what time as the Huns arriued they changed their dwellings It is certaine that in processe of time the inhabitants of these two places went to dwel in the Citie that now is This beeing so wee may much more truely say that the Venetians are descended from the Troians from the Latins and from the Romans rather then from Paphlagonia or from the Galles This is it which we haue gathered together the most succinctly that we could both of their antiquity and true extraction I will now set downe what the state of this new Citie was in the beginning what were hir conditions hir frugality and Religion after that I haue called to remembrance that there are some Historians who referre the originall of the Citie to the yeare of our Saluation foure hundred fifty sixe among whom is Blondus the Historian who hath also followed the opinion of those who did thinke the City to be builded after the taking of Aquileia But we may easily perceiue how much they deceiue themselues because that in the yeare of our Saluation foure hundred fifty sixe Aquileia as some thinke was besieged by Attila and they say that the siege lasted no more then three yeares But grant that it lasted longer there is no man so ignorant in humane matters but may perceiue that they began to flie out of Aquileia vpon the report of the Barbarians arriuall and not after that all was lost seeing that the same flight would haue smally profited them and would haue beene to no purpose at all It is then most certaine that some yeares before the losse of Aquilea they began the second time to build in the Islands I will not deny but that the Citie did receiue some beginning in the first troubles of the Goths who were a little before the Hunnes at such time as the Venetian State as hath been said was shaken But we will euer hold that Originall of it to be most true which hapned the yeare of our Saluation foure hundred twenty one Now what the ancient State and condition of this City was may be knowne by many euident proofes but principally by that that the first founders thereof were very honest people noble and rich For those
ancient Venetians in that change after they had carried away with them their wiues and children and the richest goods they had did retire themselues at leasure into the places of most safety But being hindred by the incursions of the Hunnes all along the Sea-Coasts from tilling the Earth the poorest amongst them gaue themselues to fishing and to make salt or else to transport their neighbours Merchandize esteeming that gaine more honest than to till other mens ground some of the richer fort gaue themselues to the â—…raffick of forraine Merchandize others keeping their houses applied their wits to beautifie their Citie with new lawes and customes and yet neuerthelesse such was their care of Iustice and right was so maintained amongst them as in so great a multitude of people no strife could be perceiued The first and cheefest thing they gaue themselues to was the care of Religion and by so much the more as they perceiued any great danger towards from the enemy The presence of certaine Prelates did augment in them this common affection to godlinesse who for feare of the enemie to Christians had with their Countriemen retired themselues thither Their helpe came in good time not only concerning the Ministery of sacred things but to retaine this City as yet ignorant in ancient pietie and Religion from being infected with the poison of the Arrian heresie seeing that contagion did no lesse ouer-runne the whole Prouince than the Armes of the Hunnes After that they did contend and debate among themselues not on voluptuous matters but on pietie and continence Riches and other things whereof men at this day make so much account made no distinction amongst the Citizens for honor but wisedome only They did not regard mens sumptuous clothing but their goodnesse and to such without seeking for it did they freely offer their places of honor In a word a man would haue imagined that multitude not to haue beene fugitiue Citizens but Philosophers at their quiet studie And because wee would not haue any man thinke that wee feigne this matter to embellish our Storie any one that hath the leisure may reade that which Cassiodorus of Rauenna hath written concerning the ancient state of the Citie The poore saith hee and the rich liue there peaceably together vnder one selfe same equality of lawes without any difference of dwelling not knowing what enuie meaneth and ordering their liues in this manner they eschew the most common vice in the World I passe ouer the rest of his long letter which Bonitendius hath inserted in his Commentaries Such was the beginning of the Citie of Venice and after such a kind of life and in such exercises did she spend hir childhood afterward by hir virtue it grew and waxed strong And because wee haue as I thinke amply and sufficiently declared what hath beene the beginning of this great State we will speake some-what of hir first gouernment For I perceiue that those who haue written the Venetian Historie doe likewise varie in this Some of them say that the Common-wealth was first gouerned vnder the Consulary dignity by those who dwelt at Rialto They doe more-ouer affirme that Galieno Fontano Simion Glauco and Antonio Caluo who were then Consuls at Padua at such time as the first foundations of the Citie were laid at Rialto were the first that in qualitie of Consuls did gouerne the Citie at hir birth Some thinke that these men were the Authors of the Paduans flight and that their first arriuall was in that place and likewise the first buildings According to others I finde in these mens stceds Alberto Phalerio Thomaso Candiano and Paulo el Conte The third yeare of the Cities foundation they created new Consuls for two yeares Marino Linio Hugo Fusco and Luciano Graulo They say that these men were likewise created at Padua and sent to Rialto from whence may be easily gathered that the Cities foundation was altogether before the comming of Attila Marco Aurelio Andrea Clodio and Albino Moro were Consuls at the third election for the two yeares following I doe not finde who succeeded them But it is credible that this forme of Gouernement lasted till Attilas comming at which time all Ilands thereabouts being peopled in stead of Consuls they created Tribunes All of them in a maner say that the same hapned a little after Attilas comming and that about the sixtie yeare of the Cities foundation the Tribunarie dignitie began in the Ilands which were already inhabited For the Creation of the Tribunes the businesse was first of all debated as the maner is by a fewe after that it was concluded in a generall assembly of the Ilanders that euery Iland should haue a Tribune the Magistrate to be yearely hee shoulâ—… doe Iustice to his fellow Citizens and punish offences with seueritie But that which concerned the generall State of the Commonwealth was referred to the generall assembly of the Ilanders to be determined of That which we haue hitherunto said if it be narrowly obserued belongs to the Cities originall We will hereafter begin to speake of her infancie For diuers Historians greatly delighted in this kind of writing in number of whom is 〈◊〉 who haue distinguished the increasing of Cities according to the seuerall parts of mans life Infancie Childhood and Youth Now the Tribunarie Gouernment which neerely followed the originall thereof shall be rightly termed Infancie Wee will then set downe in order what passed within and without the Citie during the same after that we haue acquainted the Reader how that in the time of the Lombards which was during this Infancie the Citie receiued a meruailous increase For it hapned that the Venetians hauing scarce time to breathe after the Warres of the Hunnes did perceiue on a sodaine the Lombards so called by reason of their long Beards to be entred into Italy vnder Albinus their eleuenth King who at their arriuall did possesse and subdue all that which had beene shaken they did forthwith sease vpon all that which the Venetians held in the firme Land not daring to assaile them at Sea because they knew their strength to be great or else it may bee they deferred to doe it till a more conuenient time This Nation as it is reported came from Scandinauia an Iland of the Germane Sea who hauing often a long time before enterprised on the Prouince of the Romanes which lies about the Riuer of Danubie vnder Geodich their King he being dead they passed into Hungarie vnder Andouinus his successour then vnder Albinus thirtie eight yeares after their arriuall in Hungarie they came furiously into Italy where their power did so encrease as they haue commanded there more then two hundred yeares At the arriuall then of this people the whole firme Land belonging to the Venetians lost her libertie with the name of Venice and the Venetians State which was in the Ilands was limited from the Cape of Rising so named at this day euen
to the Marshes of Grada as witnesseth Paul Deacon in his Historie of the Lombards Now seeing we haue begun to speake of the deedes and maners of the Venetians we will of set purpose omit the residue of this Nations exploites except so much as may seeme to belong to our Historie I will then declare in order all that which these new Ilanders did in common during this Infancy before the comming of the Lombards The most ancient is as they say a happie Voyage which they made at Sea which gaue beginning to their future Marine Dominion The Histrians and Dalmatians did disquiet the State of this new Citie by incursions and robberies so as the Ilanders could keepe nothing safe from them I know not whether hatred moued them thereunto enuying to see so great a power as that was likely to be in time to encrease so neere them or else whether it were the ancient disposition of that people to robbe and spoyle at Sea Some doe belieue that the same was then done at the intreatie of the Triestines who more then any other grew very iealous of the prosperitie of this new Citie Against these the Venetians with a common consent Armed themselues and hauing met them in the maine Sea they brauely defeated them and by that losse constrained them wholly to abandon the same It is reported that at this Battell certaine games were vowed to the honour of the glorious Virgine Marie but others set downe other occasions of those games much differing and more likely to bee true For they hold that the Countries custome was to be troth then daughters in the Church carying their dowries thither to bee publikely seene It hapned by chance that whilest they celebrated such a ceremonie in S. Peters Church which stands now in that part of the Citie called the Castle the Triestines who had already profest themselues their enemies came in a night from Sea with two Galloyes and ambushâ—… themselues in certaine places neere vnto the Citie Iâ—… the morning about such time as they celebrated the ceremonie they came into the Church and caried away the Priest of the place with a great number of people and much wealth Pietrâ—… Candiano who then was Duke thinking it needfull to vse diligence in so desperate a matter did forthwith man the Gallyes with numbers of 〈◊〉 all sortes and followed the enemies whom they oâ—… Marshes of â—…aorli as they were parting the spoyle They easily defeated 〈◊〉 hauing reskewed the Prelate Citizens and their goods hee entred the second day of Februarie two dayes after his departure into the Citie as it were in triumph But because the feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgine hapned vpon that day it is reported that those games were first ordeined for the happie successe of that voyage But being brought in for deuotion sake they haue beene since depraued and corrupted by the dissolutenesse of those who succeeded who enuying one another haue brought in for the adorning of them an exceeding aboundance of Gold and precious stones Now these Pirates being driuen from the Sea-coasts next vnto the Citie and the Venetian name becomming famous and esteemed of all their neighbours soone after the Eunuch Narses Lieuetenant to the Emperor Iustinian but a man valiant and carefull arriued who being come into Italy in the time of the Gothes to free it from their bondage was with the consent of all men succoured by the Venetians But we are not certaine whether it were with Armour Victuals or Ships which he greatly needed for the passage of the great Armie which hee had brought For so soone as he had sent twelue thousand Lombards whom he chiefely trusted before Aquileia against the forces of Totila who was by the commandement of the Barbarian camped vpon the bankes of the Riuer Adice he resolued to passe along the coast to Rauenna by the Adriaticke Sea which hee could not doe without a great number of hired Ships in regard all those places were either filled from the Marishes which ranne into the Sea or else from the mouthes of great Riuers which held the same course It is most likely that this iourney which otherwise would haue beene most hard and painefull for him was by the Venetians helpe made easie who were men that very wel knew the places and skilful in Sea-matters It is to be noted how that Narses for the great seruices which the Venetians did him in that Warre did build in that new Citie with the spoyles of the enemies two Churches one to S. Theodore the Martyr which at this day ioynes to S. Markes Churche and the other to the Saints Menez and Germinian which is right ouer against it in the Market place This is that Narses who after he had driuen the Gothes foorth of Italy valiantly ouercome so many barbarous Nations and setled peace and quietnesse in the Prouince being iustly moued with the Letters of the Empresse Sophia who at the same time commanded the Easterne Empire by meanes of her husbands basenesse reproaching him with his former condition and calling him home in derision to spinne and weaue like an effeminate Eunuch did solicite by great promises Albinus King of the Lombards to march from Hungary to trouble the affaires of Italy The which he had secretly before then giuen her to vnderstand who had wronged him saying That it would come to passe that he whome to please his detractors shee thought fit to be sent home as a woman to carde and spinne would shortly spinne her such a threed as neither her proud selfe nor those who had so freely slaundered him should be euer able to vntwist And wee must not wonder as hath beene already said that Narses at his comming into Italie was aided by the Lombards who at that time had no power in the Prouince for hee sent for that aide such as it was foorth of Hungarie Wee haue briefly heretofore declared from whence this Nation is descended because our purpose was from the beginning not to straiâ—… farre from the affaires of Venice Now in the time of the Lombards Paul Bishop of Aquileia transported all the treasure reliques and seruice of his Church to Grada where in times past the Church of S. Euphemia had beene builded Pope Pelagius at the request of Helie who succeeded Paul or according to Probin following the opinion of some did decree that in the generall assemblie of all the Prelats the Church of Grada should be Metropolitan of all the Churches in the Venetian countrie and of the Citie called Aquileia the new which some affirme to haue learned by the most ancient letters pattents of the Cittie About the same time did diuers prodigies appeare Armies of fire coloured with bloud were seene in the aire The Earth brought forth a meruailous and incredible aboundance of all manner of fruits There happened besides ouer all the Venetian countries and almost ouer all Trans-alpine Gaule so great a
vp new troubles for his reentrie into the gouernment Partitiatio did forthwith arme a mightie Fleet and went to meete him before he had time to attempt any thing and at his first arriuall surprised him In the meane time diuers of Malamoc incited by their ancient loue towards Obellerio who being of their Citie had beene their Prince did flie forth of the Towne Giouanni being heereat moued did sodainely breake vp his campe and being with his armie returned to Venice came in hatred of those which were fled tooke Malamoc and burnt it Then hauing taken new forces he returned with all speed to Veggia which being taken he caused Obellerio his head to be stricken of Not long after diuers of the Nobilitie conspired against him by the meanes of Carrosio son to Bonico and being driuen thence by reason of this sodaine conspiracie he fled into France Carrosio in the meane time without the consent of the people seized on the Dukes Palace Against him thus brought in by himselfe into the gouernment arose a companie of the chiefe Citizens whose names were Basilio Trasimondo Giouanni Marturio and Dominico Orcianico These men were followed by thirtie other gentlemen who from the beginning did mislike of Duke Giouanni his bannishment They assailed Carrosio tooke him put out his eies and afterward bannished him They slue moreouer Theodato Cyâ—…ri Marini Patritio Dominico Monetario with diuers others of Carrosio's faction The gouernment of the Common-wealth was in the meane time committed to Vrsus Bishop of Oliuollo Basilio Trasimondo and Giouanni Maturio vntill Giouanni were returned out of France who being come home they willingly restored it vnto him This man hauing in proces of time much to doe to appease many secret hatreds against those of the familie of Mastalici being at that time one of the chiefest of Venice was on a day surprised by the contrarie faction neere to S. Peters Church whither he went to heare Diuine Seruice and being despoiled of the ornaments of soueraigne dignitie so soone as they had cut the haire of his beard and head they confined him to Grada in the 8. yeare of his gouernment where entring into holie orders he died soone after ¶ PIERO TRADONICO the 13. Duke of Uenice PIero Tradonico was chosen in his place He was borne at Pola and being driuen out of Equiline in the time of the French-mens warres came to Rialto Pola is an ancient Citie in the confines of Italie and built as Callimachus saith in a gulph of the Sea in forme of an Hauen by the Colchians sent to pursue Medaea Tradonico tooke his sonne Giouanni for Colleague He caused a Church to be built in the honor of Saint Paul the Apostle of the Gentils as costlie as the Cities meanes in those daies would permit and in that place where it is at this daie to be seene with signes of great antiquitie It is said that he made some attempts on their enemies the Narentines but not with great successe Others saie that he sent his sonne against them at times who fought with the Sea-Pyrats with better fortune than his Father The Ambassadors of those of Verona came at the same time to Venice to craue helpe against the inhabitants of the Lake of Benac whom it was to bee thought they could not ouercome without forraine aide Some write that those of the Lake craued this aide The most curious Authors neuerthelesse doe affirme that it was those of Verona who hauing by the aduice of the Venetians furnished the Lake with shippes of warre did the more easily ouercome their enemies For which they did not only thank the Venetians but sent them rich and costly presents to Venice Others saie for there is nothing wherein the Authors doe not almost disagree that after that losse receiued on the Sea of Crotona whereof we will heereafter make mention the Venetians did succour the Veronois the which is scarce credible For there is no Nation how warlike soeuer but would haue beene daunted after so great an ouerthrow In this state stood the affaires of the Venetians beeing more prosperous within the Citie and the places neere to the firme Land than abroad when Theodosius of Constantinople Generall of the Sea-armie of Michael the Greeke Emperour against the Moores arriued at Venice where he laboured with Tradonico to haue the Venetians to send forth a mightie armie against the Barbarians which spoiled the coasts of Apulia They freely graunted his request in honour of the Emperour and they armed threescore Gallies against the Moores In regard whereof Theodosius intituled Tradâ—…nico Protos-pater of the Grecian Empire which dignitie was next to the Emperours Saba the Captaine of the Moores for it will not bee impertinent briefely to speake somewhat of the incursions of this Nation who are reported to be descended from Mauritania at his arriuall in Italie tooke the Sea-port in Tuscanie now called Ciuita Vecchia others terme it Centochiese by the name of a Towne neere thereunto which the Emperour Adrian did very sumptuously build as witnesseth Plinie in his Epistles I dare affirme these men to be the ancient Pirgues the which the name of their Citie doth seeme to shew which is called Vecchia and I would call it the Hauen of Pirgues were it not that hard by as yee goe to Ostia there is a place which the Inhabitants call Pyrgues at this day Now Saba hauing landed his men in that place and left a sufficient Garrison for the Guarde of his Ships marched with his Armie to Rome who after hee had first of all taken the Vatican and spoyled the most renowned Church of the world dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles did besiege the Citie But hauing intelligence of Guido's comming whom Pope Gregorie the fourth had called out of France for the Cities safetie he did on a sodaine dislodge thence and tooke his iourney betwixt Via Appia and Via Latina putting all the Suburbes to fire and sword not sparing the noble Church of S. Paul two miles distant from the Citie The Barbarian turned towards Via Latina and being come to the Forrest of Cassina he tooke by force the Citie which stood therein spoyling and ruinating it The new Citie which was since then builded there is at this day called Saint Germans There is also hard by the same place a very famous Monasterie renowned for the ancient Religion and wealth thereof This did the Barbarians likewise take and burnt the greatest part of it Marching from thence along the Riuer Liris called Garillano at this day they ranne to Sea ward like a storme falling from the Mountaines and driuen by the force of the winds into the neighbour plaines they put all places by which they passed to fire and sword and after they had stuft their Ships which they had sent for forth of Tuscanie with rich spoyles they departed into Mauritania It was not long ere they returned againe For being puffed vp with the
and marched against the inhabitants of Vderza saying that they did wrongfully hold from him certaine lands belonging to his wife Hee did first spoile the Countrie round about then he assailed the Citie which beeing taken hee burned downe to the ground Some Authors affirme that vpon the same occasion he assailed likewise those of Ferrara and that he tooke by force a Citie of their confines These warlike actions made him more insolent For he placed a companie of soldiors in the Dukes Palace for his guard and all his speech and actions sauoured of tirannie The people calling to minde their ancient libertie fel on a sodaine vpon him the seuenteenth yeare of his gouernment as some saie or the eighteenth according to others For the Historians doe much disagree concerning the times of euerie Princes gouernment But with his Guarde defending himselfe valiantly from the top of his house they set fier on the houses next to the Palace on this side the Canall on the same side the winde did blow which being kindled the flame did not onely burne the Dukes Palace but Saint Markes Church Pietro seeing himselfe inuironed with so manie miseries and that he must bee constrained either to giue place to the peoples furie or else to die there he tooke his yonge son which he had by this last wife in his armes and went into that part of the Church which the fier had not yet touched and comming forth by a priuie way he endeuoured to saue himself and his sonne by flight whom he meant to carrie into Exile with him But when he perceiued all the waies stopped with Armed men he then fell to intreaties That they would not fall vpon him as on a cruell beast that they would abstaine from hurting him till he had excused himselfe to the people and then it should be at their choice either to put him to a cruell death if they thought it fit or else to saue his life as by their bountie they had done in times past whilst his Father liued at such time as they accounted him guiltie of Treason He did moreouer confesse that the people might be iustly mooued against him but yet the yonge childe in his armes was innocent that they should doe a most vnworthie deede If for the hatred they did beare to the Father they should murther the innocent creature who neuer yet had offended anie one All these entreaties were vaine and those who assailed him cried out a loud That it was lawfull for them being an holie and iust matter to take awaie a Tirant from the Common-wealth whose excuses could not be but wicked And so rushing vpon him he did in a moment fall downe dead to the ground wounded in diuers places with his yong sonne likewise Some saie that they did cut the childes throate in the trembling nurses armes and that the bodies were by the peoples command throwne vpon the dunghill and there left to bee eaten with dogges but that at the intreatie of Giouanni Gradonico that lamentable spectacle was remoued from the sight of the multitude and the bodies honorably buried in St. Hilaries Church Some thinke that through the counsell of Pietro Vrseolo who was Duke after him the people fired the houses next to the Palace and that it was done onely to hurt the Duke But it fell out otherwise For the force of the winde and the houses neere to the Palace did in such sort feede this fier as besides the Palace the most magnificent Cathedrall Church of the Citie and those of Saint Theodore the Martir and Saint Marie Iubenica with three hundred priuate houses were the same daie burnt The end of the third Booke of the first Decade THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE FIRST DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice ¶ The Contents of the fourth Booke of the first Decad. THe Dukes Palace burnt in the last popular sedition is repaired at VRSEOLO'S cost who succeeded CANDIANO He giues a most rich Table to laie vpon Saint MARKES Altar VITALIS Patriarch of Grada sonne to the deceased Duke CANDIANO flies to the Emperour OTHO ADHELETA a most renowned Ladie and her manie crosses The league renued with those of the Cape of Histria VRSEOLO moued with a Religious desire doth secretly leaue the Citie The Common-wealth endangered by ciuile discorde OTHO the second makes secretwarre on the Venetians whom he first seekes to ouercome by famine Saint GEORGES Churche built right opposite to the great market-place The description of the Countrie of Illiria All Histria and Dalmatia brought vnder the subiection of VRSEOLO The Emperour OTHO the third comes to Venice in disguise and remaines secretly for a time with the Duke The Phaledrini build Saint BENETS Church The Venetian ouercomes the Hadrians neere to the mouthes of the Riuers Po and Adice They fight likewise afterward with good successe in Dalmatia with Heresimus King of Croatia Prince OTHO banished DOMINICO VRSEOLO flies to Rauenna the morrow after he had seised on the Dukes Palace being driuen thence by the people Those of Zara reuolt after they had first yeelded to the Venetians PEPIN Patriarch of Aquileia troubleth the quiet of the Common-wealth From whence the Normans are descended who haue a long time reigned in Italie and Sicilie GISCARD their Captaine The Venetians vanquish the Normans at Sea neere to Durazzo THE Common-wealth hauing by the Dukes death preserued her ancient libertie it was an hard matter to declare whether of these two were the greatest either their ioye for being freed from tyrannie or their sorrow to see so many publique and priuate buildings consumed to ashes by the late fire which did maruellously deface the Cities beautie But fearing least such an astonishment might breed some greater mischeife in the Citie as it is often seene that one new sorrow followeth another at the heeles they forthwith created a new Duke But yet they sought out one differing in humour and qualitie from him that last deceased But they needed not make any farre search being so well furnished neere at hand ¶ PIETRO VRSEOLA the 23. Duke of Uenice THe vertuous wisedome of Pietro Vrseolo being at the same time knowne to all men was the cause that at the generall assembly held at Saint Peters Church for the same purpose which is at this day the Patriarks seat he was with a generall applause declared Prince who refusing this charge tooke it vpon him at the peoples entreatie who told him that he ought not to forsake the Commonwealth in so dangerous a season Yet it is most certaine that hee vnwillingly embraced it For being from his youth brought vp and trained in the loue of Iustice hee was afraid of popular gouernment which seldome or neuer respects the innocent But the affection which hee did beare to his Countrie for the which we are chiefly borne as saith diuine Plato made him not to abandon his fellow-citizens in so great a danger So soone therefore as hee was chosen Prince
all exercises of pietie and taking vpon himselfe the cause of the poore he did comfort their pouertie with a meruailous affection He built besides a deuout Hospitall which is yet to be seene at this day right ouer against the great market-place He did moreouer take into his owne protection and maintained with an incredible charitie the Colledges the Clergie and all Religious sorts of people He did patiently beare whatsoeuer Vitalis who was absent and his adherents did daily practise against him whose wicked deseignes were likewise as some say diuinely reuealed vnto him At the last after hee had spent the yeare in these good exercises vpon a night for Guerin failed not to returne at the prefixed time he left the Citie in disguised habite vnknown to his wife his sonne and all his kins-folkes and went on his iourney When he for sooke his charge and Countrie he was followed and accompanied by Giouanni Gradonico Giouanni Morosini Remoaldo and Marini of Rauenna they all being partakers of his enterprise He led in processe of time so holie and religious a life as after his death in Aquitaine where he passed the remainder of his daies hee was as hath beene said honoured for many miracles ¶ VITALIS CANDIANO the 24. Duke of Uenice THe Citie being depriued of such a Prince was possessed with a meruailous sorrow but their desire to haue him againe was much greater Yet neuerthelesse remembring the Common-wealth they made hast the next day to elect another in his sted that was so much bewailed Vitalis Candiano sonne to Pietro Candiano the third was by the generall coâ—…sent declared Prince At this mans entreatie Vitalis Patriarch of Grada who till then for feare of the people had absented himselfe was called home into his Countrie And was soone after by the Princes meanes sent in companie of the Ambassadours into Germanie vnto Otho who extreamely hated the Venetians for the cruell death of Pietro Candiano This Ambassade was to much purpose for it did appease the wrath of Otho wherein the presence of Vitalis sonne to the murthered Duke did greatly auaile them of whom he had a verie great care taking order for his safetie which he could not haue done if he had dismissed the Ambassadours vnsatisfied In the meane space Duke Candiano fell grieuously sicke a yeare and certaine moneths after his election and imagining hee could not liue long deposing himselfe from his charge and vowing all the remainder of his dayes to a mouasticke life he caused himselfe to bee carried to Saint Hillaries Monasterie where within few daies after he dyed and lies buried ¶ TRIBVNO MEMIO the 25. Duke of Venice TRibuno Memio a great wise man but of few words was elected in his sted This man although he was very wise as we haue said was not verie fortunate in his gouernment For he was at times cruelly assailed by the conspiracies of his fellow-Citizens And moreouer in his time the Morosini and Caloprini two verie noble families fighting one with the other with greater hatred than force caused the people manie times to behold verie vile and bloudie spectacles of the which I know not whether I may reckon that for chiefe and most cruell which in likelihood though not in effect was done by Stephano Calloprini who came with his children allies and diuers others of his faction well armed to assaile the house of Morosini with an intent not onely to kill all the men but wholly to extinguish if it had beene possible the name of the familie This armed troupe marched through the Citie readie to fight with as great boldnesse and hatred as if it had beene against the publike enemie wherat the people being amazed silently attended to see the issue therof when as the Morosini surprised perhaps or else fearing their enemies came not in sight I know not whether they defended themselues in their own houses or whether dispersed through the Citie which some doe affirme they hid themselues in this tumult among their friends and kinds folkes and did not shew themselues But the Citie could not escape that daie from beeing coloured with the bloud of her Citizens For the mischief was that albeit they fought not yet nener the lesse by chance there was a miserable murther committed Dominico Morosino beeing met neere to the Castle was vnluckily slaine by the Caloprini They beeing afterwards called in question for this murther for they were sure that those of the contrarie faction aided by Tribuno did Arme themselues to reuenge this iniurie fledde with their Captaine Stephano to Verona to the Emperour Otho the second vnto whom for hatred of the Prince and the familie of the Morosini they promised that state of Venice Otho did willingly lend an eare to this offer because hee perceiued the practisers to be of the chiefe of the Citie But before hee would assaile them by open warre he would trie whether he could winne them by famine He forth with forbad ouer all Italie anie traffike with the Venetians He caused to be signified vnto them that they should not enter into anie of the Cities of the Empire neither vpon trafficke nor any other pretence If they did any thing rashly hee would holde them afterwards for open enemies By these menaces they soone knew whereunto Otho tended For in shutting all manner of victuals from them he meant to bring them to the last and most intolerable point of all miserie which is hunger But howsoeuer the Citie might be affrighted thereby yet would not the Venetians seeme to bee amazed nor make shew to vnderstand whereunto Otho his desseignes tended dissâ—…mbling their griefe and feare resoluing rather to endure all extreames than to lose their libertie The want of all necessaries grew already verie great in the Citie when those of Capodarger enioying the same priuiledges with them as oftentimes one mischiefe followes an other reuolted against them The inhabitants obtained of the Emperour for their reuolt certaine inheritances of the Lauretans to the end it might serue for a baite for others to doe the like But these things beeing done abroade and the Citie in the meane time pressed with want of all necessaries they began to laie all the fault on those of the faction of the Caloprini which were neere to Otho accusing them that by their meanes and pursuite the enemie laied all these trappes for them Whereupon by a publick decree the houses of the Calloprini were wholly razed to the ground their wiues and children committed to safe keeping and the remainder of their goods confiscate Otho in the meane space perseuering in his selfe-will not to make open war vpon the Venetians nor yet to haue peace with them went to Rome where being stricken with a sodaine disease he within few daies died The Venetians were by his death as at sundrie other times deliuered from a great danger Adheleta after Otho dis decease not willing to abandon
said was the Authour of Otho his banishment and therefore during the gouernment of Vrso Bishop of Grada hee was banished the Citie as an enemie but not long after hee was repealed at the peoples request So soone as he had receiued the gouernment hee propounded to the people that he thought it fit and most profitable for the Common-wealth to driue the familie of the Vrseoli out of the Citie as pernicious enemies to the publique quiet He willed them then to assemble themselues and to declare the Vrseoli vnworthy euer after to execute the soueraigne dignitie or any other Office whatsoeuer or to haue any authoritie to be present at the suffrages and that they should adiudge them common enemies and as such banish them The people being ill aduised hauing alreadie forgotten the sundrie deserts and benefits of this familie making themselues the ministers of an other mans hatred did sodainely consent thereto After this sort this familie till then famous and which had affoorded so many worthie men to the Common-wealth was by this ignominie so deiected as it could neuer after rise againe He did likewise abolish the custome of associating a Colleague in the Principalitie the which as most profitable is carefully obserued vnto this day I find no memorable matter done by him abroad but being oppressed with yeares he departed this life ¶ DOMINICO CONTARENO the 30. Duke of Uenice DOminico Contareno was by the generall consent of all men established in his place Pepin in the meane time had molested all the places round about Grada and for that time there was nothing decreed against him in regard the City was then busied in affaires of more importance Those of Zara had yeelded to the Lord of Croatia or as some write to Salomon King of Hungarie At the report hereof for it was to bee supposed that vnlesse the Venetian Armie did speedily passe into Dalmatia the other Countries which were now readie to rebell would soone after reuolt from the Venetians the Duke with a great fleet sodainely hasted to Dalmatia besieged Zara and tooke it by force The report of the reprisall of Zara auailed much to containe the other Cities in their dutie and fidelitie Pepin in the meane space tooke Grada the second time by assault and did more harme at this entrie than at the former The Venetians iustly moued by this iniurie determined before they would reuenge it to aduertise Pope Benedict of the wrong which Pepin had done them resoluing that if he did not obey the Pope who they thought would redresse it to reuenge the losse of Grada by Armes Pepin sodainely obeyed the Popes commandement but being of an obstinate and turbulent spirit he dyed as some say soone after miserably Some write that Pope Leo came at the same time to Venice But if they sent to Pope Benedict concerning the businesse of Grada as hath beene said following the opinion of diuers I cannot imagine how the Popes name should bee so sodainely changed which makes me to thinke that it hapned by the negligence of some writers who haue set downe Benedict for Leo or on the contrarie Leo for Benedict or that which is most likely that these things were done at sundrie times They say the occasion of his iournie was to visite the body of Saint Marke and they affirme that hee gaue diuers great priuiledges to his Church and to diuers others in the Citie VVee finde also that about the same time those of Apulia fought diuers times with Robert surnamed Guiscard a Norman by Nation whose power at the same time was very great in Italie The which neuerthelesse I dare not altogether affirme because of all those Authours whom wee follow there is but one which makes mention thereof ¶ DOMINICO SILVIO the 31. Duke of Uenice THis is all which hapned vnder the gouernment of Prince Contareno who the six and twentieth yeare of his Principalitie dyed he was buried in Saint Nicholas Church his funerall being followed by great multitudes of people Dominico Siluio was by sodaine acclamation of the people as hee followed the bodie saluted Duke He is reported to haue married a wife from Constantinople so full of arrogancie and greekish pride who as saith Damian was so nice and delicate in her manner of life as shee would neuer wash with ordinarie water shee neuer touched her meate but with a forke of gold her Chamber was perfumed with such rare odours as the senses of those which came into it were ouercome with the sweetnesse thereof But as nothing is of lesser continuance than vnbridled dissolutenesse which is so much the more dangerous as it is most excessiue This most proude and curious manner of life procured her a very loathsome and stinking disease so as she who by her insolent pride would not vse the most necessarie element of water because it was common to euery one could not bee holpen or comforted by the same nor yet by any other meanes to clense the filth and infection of her bodie About the same time Dominico Bishop of Oliuollo deceased Henrie sonne to the last Duke succeeded him who altered the ancient name of Oliuollo and would be called Bishop of the Castle as they are now at this day It is reported that vnder this Princes gouernment the Normans were driuen out of the confines of Dalmatia And because the Venetians haue had diuers warlike incounters with this Nation we must speake something of them They were then as some Authors affirme neere neighbours to the Sea-coasts of Guyenne who after they had a certaine time scoured the Neighbour-Seas entred in tract of time vnder their Captaine Raoul by the Riuer of Loire into France They ouerranne Lorraine and a part of Germanie with fier and sword afterwards returning into France Raoul made a league with king Charles the third surnamed the Simple and beeing by him perswaded to become a Christian of an Enemie hee became his Guest and being named Robert he married the kings daughter By meanes of which marriage Charles gaue vnto him that Prouince lying vpon the Riuer of Seine which hath beene since called Normandie by the name of the inhabitants This man of whom I speake was great Grandfather to that Robert who came with an Armie into Italie of whom we must say somewhat to the end we may the more easily vnderstand that which they haue done there Now at what time this yong Robert began to wex great on the confines of Lucania and Sicill the affaires of Italie were then in meane estate as well by the new receiued losses as by the incursions of the Saracens who ouer-ranne that whole Prouince and Sicill in like manner But it is vncertaine whether this man or some other of that Nation did bring the Normans out of France into Italie For it is certaine that the same great Robert who from the shoares of the Ocean Sea did enter by the riuer of Loire so farre into France
to bee molested by the Normans It may be likewise that they had couenanted so to doe in the articles of their agreement Now the Venetians hauing in a manner at their first arriuall taken Brundusium left a garrison there and scattering their forces on euery side ouer the firme land filled all the Sea-coasts with spoile and terrour And afterwards the fleet being stuft with booties returned to Venice It is said that it was expressely mentioned in the treatie of peace with Caloman that neither he nor any of his successours should pretend any right to Dalmatia About the same time Matilda a noble Ladie of the illustrious family of the Sigefretti being by meanes of the Venetians repossessed of the Citie of Ferrara granted vnto them as to her friends by whose meanes she had obtained the victorie fredome and exemption for euer from all matters within the same Citie Prince Vitalis about the end of the fourth yeare of his gouernment died ¶ ORDELAPHO PHALERIO the 34. Duke of Uenice ORdelapho Phalerio was chosen in his place In the first or certainely in the second yeare of his gouernment a very great fleete was sent againe into Syria The Venetian Chronicles say That they were one hundred Gallies Blondus mentioneth but fourescore The Genoueses likewise about the same time a litle before the Venetians had sent their fleete thither Baldwin called King of Ierusalem after his brothers death was at the same time incamped before Ptolomais a Sea-towne This man being discouraged with the losse of a great battaile in Syria soone after the death of Godfrey durst neuer after attempt any thing vntill that he vnderstood that Beamond was deliuered and returned to Antioch by the industrie and liberalitie of his nephew Tancred his brothers sonne who to free him paid a great waight of gold for his ransome For being then confirmed by the presence of so notable a man he came as hath beene said and besieged Ptolomais called Acon by the modernes and at last Acre by corrupted speech Baldwin being incamped in this place receiued two mightie fleetes called out of Europe vpon faire promises and being strengthned by these succours he shut in the Citie more strictly by Sea and Land by meanes whereof it was taken the twentieth day after Blondus saith that after Ptolomais was taken there was no warlike exploite done vntill that Beamond who was then gone into Italie was returned into Asia Whereby it is apparent that Baldwin made more account of Beamond alone than of all the other Christian Captaines in the Armie But that which Blondus writes of Beamonds comming into Italie seemeth to be verie true Because diuers Annalls make mention That whilest Beamond tarried in Italie the Venetians in fauour of Alexis armed themselues against the Normans who were incamped before Durazzo and that remembring perhaps the losse which they had in times past receiued they durst not assaile the enemie who was in the Hauen but held their course towards Apulia where after they had greatly molested and indangered the enemie they returned to Venice leauing their enterprise imperfect If it bee so we must thinke that the Venetian fleete after the taking of Ptolomais returned into Italie as well because it was Ordelapho as they affirme which marched against the Normans as also in regard so many vessels being busied in Syria they must of necessitie prouide newe to goe against so mightie a King the which could hardly haue beene done It is reported that the occasion which moued Beamond to make warre on Alexis was because that after Tancred had seized on Laodicia the Greekes inuaded and molested the Sea-townes of the Principalitie of Antioch Others say that Beamond was so terrified at the only sight of the Armies of Alexis and the Venetians as he sodainely fell to composition and that by that meanes the siege of Durazzo was raised The Venetian Annalls affirme that after the taking of Ptolomais their fleete sailed to Sydon whither Baldwins forces marched by Land which in few dayes they tooke Sydon stood in times past betweene Berithon and Tyre the three most famous Cities of Phaenicia the most renowned for antiquitie and riches Some set downe the taking of Berithon before that of Sydon because it was the first that was besieged before which they were incamped two whole moneths and being taken with great losse it caused the Christians at their entrance not only to kill those which were armed but such likewise who for age were not able to defend themselues A Christian Colonie was sent thither by reason of the fruitfulnesse of the Countrie And this is all we finde to be done by the Venetians in Syria in the dayes of Ordelapho Some Authours say that the Venetians after the taking of Sydon tooke Faronia by assault which is a Sea-towne neare to the mouth of Nilus and how likewise in that iourney they sunke diuers ships of the enemies which did vse to scoure the Seas In recompence whereof Baldwin gaue the Venetians in the Citie of Acre a Church and a part of the towne with a place where they might doe iustice one to another with like power and authoritie as the French had with diuers goodly priuiledges and that not only in the same place but ouer all the Kingdome of Ierusalem They say besides that Baldwin being puffed vp with the happie successe of his affaires desired farther to extend the bounds of his Kingdome and to the same purpose he caused to bee built on the other side of the Riuer Iordan famous for the baptisme of Christ our Lord the Castle of Soball in a very high place but that soone after the Venetians were returned into Italy hauing lost certaine battailes against the enemie and fortified some places neare to Ptolomais plotting higher matters in his minde he died euen as these warlike preparations were in readinesse Baldwin surnamed Burgensis who was his neare kinsman was declared King of Ierusalem in his stead and for the stronger assurance thereof he was confirmed by Pope Gelasius Others write that vpon the returne of the Venetian Armie from Syria Ordelapho soone after led it against the Norman but they set not downe vpon what occasion nor to what place And I thinke they did vnderstand it to be the iournie against Beamond alreadie mentioned notwithstanding that they affirme how the same enterprise was not against Beamond but against Liemond his sonne The Venetians at the same time did obtaine sundrie great priuiledges of the Emperour Henrie the fourth and they say that for the same purpose Vitalis Phalerio Stephano Morosini and Vrso Iustiniano were sent to Rome who in acknowledgment of that grant promised him in the name of the people a yearely cloake of cloath of gold and a pension of monie which was not verie great Some say they obtained these priuiledges at Verona and that the Emperor willed them to send commissioners to him to treat of the controuersie betwixt
houses neere to the Cittie with firie arrowes which hee shotte from his Gallies The affaires of the Empire being thus troubled Emaâ—…uel by his Ambassadours had recourse vnto the Venetians of whom in respect of their ancient friendship he freely craued helpe in his great need or if he asked it too late that they would yet reuenge the wrongs done vnto him Therefore they prepared a mightie Fleete which being in readinesse in the Hauen after that certaine Gallies which were abroad were by a decree called home the Prince set forward against the enemies But Historians make no mention at what time these Gallies which were called home departed from Venice We must beleeue they were those which the Venetians did entertaine for the defence of the coaste of Syria according to their promise made to Baldwin as some Authors doe affirme The Fleet being departed from the Citie sayling on the maine and grieuously tossed with a mightie tempest did put it selfe into the Hauen of Caorli a territorie of the Forlani where the Prince falling sicke and perceiuing his disease growing worse and worse and that there was no hope of his sodaine recouerie after he had committed the charge of the Armie to Giouanni his brother and Reyniero his sonne he returned to Venice Emanuel likewise had armed a great number of vesselles which hee committed to the charge of one of his Lieutenants with all authoritie at Sea He came by Land with his forces into Albania where he besieged the Citie of Bùtritot But during these atchieuements the Venetians after they had slaine diuers of the enemies and taken many prisoners tooke the Isle of Corfu by force Some neuerthelesse affirme That the Island was rather recouered that they did not fight on the maine Sea and That the Kings Fleete being dispersed and defeated the Venetians tooke foureteene of his Gallies who after they had left strong Garrison for the guard of this Island sailed forthwith into Sicilia where so soone as they arriued there is no sort of crueltie which they committed not They did put all the Prouince to fire and sword burnt diuers Cities cut downe the Trees plucked vp plants by the rootes and carried great numbers of prisoners with them to Venice By meanes whereof the Empire was not onely protected as at other times by the Venetians forces but restored to her ancient splendor and maiestie which would hardly haue beene done without their aide The Princes death which hapned before the Armies returne hindred the publike ioye for such a victorie who deceased the nineteenth yeare of his gouernment Dominico Morosini was by a generall consent chosen in his place ¶ DOMINICO MOROSINI the 37. Duke of Uenice ABout the same time as some write Rogero King of Sicilie deceased who was an enemie to the Venetians This Prince after diuers great atchieuements hauing subiected vnder his power the Citie of Thunis in Africke caused in his life-time these Latine verses to be engrauen on his kinglie sword Appulus Calaber Siculus mihi seruit Apher Which may be thus englished The prowd Calabrian beares my yoake Black Affrica I tam'd Sicilia's Island felt my stroake with'Pulia Naples nam'd Sixe galleies were sent the same yeare to defend the Sea-coasts on which the Pirats made ordinary incursions who sailing on the maine tooke fiue Galleies of Ancona which Guiscard one of the Pirats of his time did commaund who being taken was presently hanged About the same time likewise diuers buildings aswell publike as priuate were consumed with fier in our Ladies Island no man knowing from whence it came Besides at the same time the foundations of the great Tower was laid which is right ouer against the market-place and is a verie admirable peece of worke For it is reported that the foundations of the same great Masse are laid so deepe vnderground as there was more time spent therein than on the whole worke besides The top thereof glistering with gold is of such heighth as a man may not only from thence see round about the Citie but likewise discouer a great way off at Sea towards the South and East in such sort as the brightnesse therof doth appeare like a luckie starre two hundred stadij in length to those which saile from Histria and Dalmatia The Polani with diuers other of Histria did by their thefts trouble the Gulfe The Dukes Sonne with Marino Gradonico were sent against them with fiftie Armed Gallies Pola being besieged by them the inhabitants at their first arriuall sued for peace which was granted them on condition That they should no more robbe at Sea and pay yearlie two thousand weight of oile for S. Markes Church The Parenzans likewise being moued with the like feare promised to giue them aide as oftentimes as the Duke should goe to the wars The Emonians promised as much with a yearelie tribute of oile Some did besides acknowledge them for their Soueraigne Lords promising to free all the Venetian Merchants from subsidies and impositions Those of Aâ—…cona likewise at the same time made a league with the Venetians The like did William King of Sicilie who succeeded Rogero in regard whereof he graunted diuers priuileges and immunities to the Venetian Marchants which frequented the Faires of Sicilie Pope Anastasius at the Venetians entreatie erected the Church of Zara into an Arch-bishops See whereunto he subiected all the Cities of the neighbour-Islands Yet I am not of opinion that the same was done so much in fauour of those of Zara who were not at the same time greatly affectionate to the Venetians as in hatred to the other Cities of Dalmatia which for the most part being reuolted from the Venetians did at the same time obaie the King of Hungarie If this be so as diuers likewise affirme it we must thinke That Dominico Michaeli at his returne from Syria did not recouer Spalatrá Trahu nor any other Citie in Dalmatia but only Zara or else of a certaine That this Archi-episcopall erection was in the daies of Vitalis Michaeli the second in whose time we finde Trahu Spalatra Ragusa and diuers other Cities of Dalmatia to bee possessed by the Emperour Emanuel The Church of the Virgin which the crossed Friers possesse was built at the charges of the Gussoni an honourable familie as that likewise of St. Mathew toward the which Bernardo Cornari did freely giue the ground This is all which is obserued to haue hapned at home or abroade vnder this Princes gouernment who died the eighth yeare of his Principalitie and was buried in the Church of Holie-Crosse ¶ VITALIS MICHAELI the second the 38. Duke of Venice VItalis Michaeli the second succeeded him who after he had wholly rooted out all ancient emulation betwixt the Venetians and the Pisans made a league with them The Venetians vnder this Princes gouernment took part with Pope Alexander the third vpheld by the kings of France and England against Octauian the Anti-Pope who was alone fauoured by
not satisfied with that which he had till then done against them he drew them of Ancona from their alliance who in fauor of him did for a time bar them from their free Nauigation But the Venetians making alliance with those of Ariminium neere neighours to the Anconezans did in such sort shut vp the passages from them as their condition was like vnto theirs who are straightly besieged The Cities treasure being wholly exhausted by means of the great affaires which had hapned it was decreed That the monies of particular men laid in Deposito should be brought to the treasurie of Saint Marke to be imploied and kept in the name of the Common-wealth as neede should be vntill such time as the Citie had recouered her former wealth The which at this day is commonly called a Loane which was as some say deuised by Prince Michaeli From whence as is supposed grew the chiefe reason of the peoples hatred against him and the principall occasion of his death Diuers Ambassadours were sent likewise about the same time from sundrie places to treate af an agreement with the Emperour Thus stood the affaires of the Venetians when as to the end that the Citie might be alwaies busied about weightie matters The Cause of Alexander the third gaue them the subiect of a goodly victorie Some moderne Historians doe in no sort approue this matter But all the Venetian Annalists and some strangers likewise doe make particular mention of it and saie That after diuers secret enmities betwixt Alexander and the Emperour Frederick occasioned because 〈◊〉 the new Schisme betwixt Alexander and Octauian the Anti-Pope the matteâ—…â—…eeing referred to the decision of Frederick Alexander would not stand to his iudgement Fredrick being moued heerewith called Octauian before him and declared himselfe openly against Alexander In hatred of whom he published a Generall Councell at Dijon a Citie in France the which beeing dissolued by reason there was nothing done because Pope Alexander refused to come thither Frederick in rage resolued to returne into Italie Whereupon hauing sent his Anti-Pope before him he marched soone after with great forces beyond the Mounts but before his arriuall Octauian died In whose sted Guido of Cremona being elected Frederick promised to assist him with all his power against Alexander And after diuers exploits executed in the Prouince comming neere to Ancona hee turned towards Rome whither he sodainely marched with an intent wholly to ouerthrow Alexander Who being frighted with his comming making vse of two Gallies belonging to William King of Sicilie hee came first to Cayetta and from thence to Beneuentum Frederick after hee had installed Guido in the holie Chaire returned into Lombardie But Guido likewise died soone after Now Alexander committing the temporall gouernment to the Romans craued no more but to intend Diuine matters Prouided that they of the contrarie faction would permit him to liue in Rome But not being able to purchase his peace on these conditions and despairing of all reconciliation he departed from the Citie But it is hard to determine whither this refusall were the cause of his departure a thing scarse credible that the diuision of the inhabitants could haue constrained him to leaue the Citie the Romans not being interessed therein in regard they had the temporall iurisdiction in their own power or whither it were rather the vniust command of the Emperour whereby he was bannished forth of all Italie and those attainted of capitall Treason which should giue him meate or drinke or receiue him into their houses threatning to ruine those Cities which should giue him entertainement and to make warre on those Lords and Potentates which should fauour him which might be the cause that hauing no place of safetie in all Italie nor any good affiance in William King of Sicilie hee came through Apulia to mount Gargari and from thence taking ship as Obba of Rauenna saith in a vessell of Liburnia he came to Zara And afterwards passing through Dalmatia hee came in disguise to Venice as to the only refuge of all libertie Yet there scarce thinking himselfe in safetie as being vnacquainted with the Venetians loue and affection towards him concealing his estate which he thought best so to doe hee remained so long in the Hospitall of the Charitie in poore raiment called by the name of Commodo as at last he was knowne by a naturall marke vpon his body Some write that the better to liue there in secret he serued for Scullion of the kitchin But it is more credible that he concealed his Dignitie vnder the habit of a poore Priest which by diuers likewise is affirmed Forraine Historians doe affirme That he came to Venice with thirteene Gallies belonging to King William and not like a fugitiue to recouer the Emperours fauour in a free Citie the place hauing beene appointed for the meeting But if it were so as they say What needed so many Gallies which were sufficient not only to haue transported the Popes small houshold which is likely at that time to be but meane but all Rome likewise which in those daies was smally inhabited Besides what needed he to haue made so long and dangerous a iourney As though he had rather to haue trauersed the Sea-coasts with danger than to passe in safetie through the Duchie of Spoleta and marches of Ancona Vndoubtedly hee needed not to haue beene at so great expenses nor yet to haue so greatly hazarded himselfe had it not beene to haue auoided a greater danger For the Emperours decree made all things difficult to him Therefore in disguised habit or in these Gallies for some of our Historians couertly seeme to consent thereunto he must of necessitie come to Venice But how soeuer he arriued there all those whom we follow doe agree That being at the pursuit of Fredericke driuen from the Pontificiall dignitie hee had recourse to the Venetians and that being knowne he was honourably entertained by Prince Cyani and lodged in the Castle of Oliuollo with promise either to reconcile him to the Emperour or else that they themselues would reestablish him in his See First of all they concluded to send Ambassadours to Fredericke to entreate him in the name of the common-wealth to be reconciled with Pope Alexander and that in so doing he should not only performe a matter most profitable for all Christendome but most acceptable to the Venetians who wholly sought the profit and aduancement of Alexander It is reported that the Pope being present when the letters were writing to Fredericke and perceiuing that they sealed them with wax he commaunded in fauour of Ciani his successors That euer after the Duks letters should be sealed with lead the which is obserued euen to this daie Obba of Rauenna who liued in those times as well in regard of the antiquitie of his booke from whence we haue taken this as also because he hath curiously set downe al which passed in this
Emperour with a great and inuincible courage made answere at the same time Non tibi sed Petro. Vnto whom hee replied in choller treading more hard vpon him Et mihi Petro. This was done vpon Ascension day Others say that it was vpon the day that the battaile was wonne and that in memorie thereof the Pope granted great pardons to all who repenting and being confessed should visit euery yeare on the same day Saint Marks Church Not long after the Emperour and the Pope departed from Venice But the Venetian Historians say that both of them tarried there certaine moneths Obba of Rauenna reportes that Frederick came by Land to Ancona and Pope Alexander with Prince Cyani arriued there at the same time the whole Citie running out to meet them And to giue them honorable entertainment the City sent out two Canopies the one for Alexander and the other for Frederick and that then the Pope commaunded a third to bee brought for the Venetian Prince and permitted him in the presence of all the people that he and his successours should for euer vse one as they at this day doe when they walke abroad in solemnitie with the other Ducall Ensignes VVhen they arriued at Rome the Pope was receiued with all gladnesse who obseruing amongest these triumphes siluer trumpets which made a verie excellent sound caused eight of them to be giuen to the Venetian Prince in memorie of his victorie which the soueraigne Magistrate of Venice should euer afterwards vse All the Venetian Chroniclers doe affirme this to be true Cyant taking leaue of the Pope returned with his holy blessing to Venice The Marriners appointed for that purpose went to receiue him in the Bucentauro The Bishop of the Castle with the most part of the Citie went forth to meete him and to doe him reuerence who landing at the Hauen hauing a burning taper of white wax borne before him as the first gift which he receiued of Pope Alexander being at Venice the Canopie the siluer trumpets and the banner being the ensignes which he and his successours had receiued on condition to haue them carried before them euer after he entered the Citie with great ioy This is it which we finde aswell in the Venetian Historians as in strangers touching this so famous victorie obtained by the Venetians against Otho sonne to the Emperour Frederick All which the Venetians who liued long time after would haue to be publikely represented For the whole order of this warre is painted in the hall of the Palace where euerie eight dayes they assemble for the creation of new Officers Cyani being oppressed with old age and ill disposed of his person after that hee had prosperously gouerned the Common-wealth for the space of eight yeares caused himselfe to be carried into Saint Georges Monasterie where in short space he died Hee gaue to the Common-wealth by his testament diuers lands neere to Saint Marks Chuch and some others in the Mercers street neere to Saint Iulians to the Pristes of the Church where he should be buried It is reported That it was hee which did enrich Saint Marks Church with that sumptuousnesse and magnificent cost whereof wee will make so much the shorter mention as we drawe neare to the end of this booke Now this Church is not as diuers other so much recommended for the greatnesse and vnmeasurable extent as it is for the richnesse thereof It is builded in forme like a Crosse whose corners are highly vaulted and couered with lead as all the rest is which is discerned of Sea-men higher than all the buildings of the Citie aboue six-score stadij from thence The whole masse is besides supported by most curious Arches ioyned together by a meruailous skill The inner part from the middle euen to the highest part thereof glistereth with gold and the concauitie of the vaults is enriched with diuers goodly and ancient pictures made after the Greeke manner which with the labour to behold them in respect of their heigth doe present to the spectatators by their sad and venerable aspect a kinde of feare entermingled with pietie and religion That which is from the guilding downe to the pauement is so well compassed and ioyned together with goodly tables of marble as by their pleasant raies in forme of vaines the eyes of the beholders are rather wearied than satisfied The seats below are of a strange red stone like to Porphirie The pauement all of marble engrauen with diuers figures wholly different and of sundrie colours Besides sundrie Columnes and diuers tables of marble Tapâ—…ic Parian Sparâ—…an and Numidian at least resembling them enuiron the high seates on both sides the Quire The comming into the Church on both sides is in a manner of the same trimming Whose guilded Arches are susteined without by more then three hundred admirable Columnes not so much for their greatnesse as for their diuersitie of colours the space betweene those pillers being couered with goodly tables of marble On the heigth of this entrance foure great brazen horses guilded are to bee seene as if they neighed for ioy which is indeede a most excellent peece of worke but not of our time All this beares vp the highest top of the Church diuided into sixe steeples euery of which built like a Piramides hath on the sharpest point thereof standing a white marble statue of a naked man Diuers other representations delightfull to behold and wrought with exceeding skill do greatly beautifie the spaces betwixt these steeples The whole worke aswell on the right hand as on the left is of the same substance and workemanship and all that which is vaulted vnderneath is couered with gold In a word there is no place in the whole Church either within or without but is either trimmed with gold or marble or with some other rich stone so that two Columnes of Alablaster which stand neere to the high Altar and the Calcidonie-stones which are to bee seene in the middest of the pauement of the breadth of a foote and halfe are among so great riches counted as nothing Such is the structure of Saint Marks Church the adorning whereof as I haue said is for the most part attributed to Prince Cyani And because it wholly in a manner glistereth with gold I will not sticke as I haue alreadie done to call it the golden Church as often as I shall haue cause to speake thereof The end of the seuenth Booke of the first Decad. THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE FIRST DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice ¶ The Contents of the eighth Booke of the first Decad. THe institution of the publike Almes by whom and at what time The fourth rebellion of those of Zara. A new iourney of the Christians against the Turkes with the defeate of SALADINE and the recouerie of the Citie of Acre by the Christians The coyning of the money called Aurelia in the Citie Pola surprised by the Pisans The recouerie of the same by the Venetians
surnamed the Fisher Earleof that part of Morea which is called Mailla aided by certaine Gallies of Genoa attempted to take the Isle of Candie from the Venetians But Rayniero Generall of the Armie arriuing there vnlook't for did not only preseâ—…ue the Island but sanke foure Genoa-Gallies that were found neere the shoare in which some will needes affirme that Vetrano was taken and forth-with put to death The Venetians soon after to curbe the practises of the Greekes sent to Candace called Candida by the vulgar the head Cittie of the Island a Colonie namely horsemen of the order of Senators and footmen of the common sort of people The Genoueses in like manner did robbe and scoure the Seas against whom Giâ—…nan Treuisano was sent with nine Gallies well prouided He hauing met with the Fleete of Genoa assailed it with more courage than force and tooke twelue of the enemies vessels By which losse the Genoueses being daunted sued for peace Some Authours affirme that the Genoueses hauing taken a ship from the Venetians Treuisano was commanded to pursue them with two Gallies and two ships of burthen who hauing ouer taken them in the Libian Sea neere to the ruines of old Carthage fought with them and tooke from them foure ships and soone after twentie eight more on the Sicilian Sea About the same time there arose great dissension between the Venetians and the Paduans about a small matter The Treuisans were at the same time by reason of a long peace full of riches and delicacies so as giuing them-selues ouer to all sportes and pastimes as men commonly do in a prosperous estate they inuented pleasant recreations They erected in the Market-place of their Citie a Castle made of verie costly silke compassed about with scarlet in sted of Walls within the which were placed the noblest maidens of the Citie wearing Coronets on their heads in sted of Heâ—…mets and for Curasses verie rich Chaines and Iewels who defended the Castle against yong Gentlemen of the like yeares And the weapons on either side were small artificiall apples made of nutmegs roses and lillies fashioned round like a ball with a sodaine small raine of rose water and diuers other sweete odors This great preparation being published abroad caused diuers who were desirous to see as the manner is to come to Treuiso Diuers Venetians and Paduans being entreated to be of the number came to these shewes But whilst all men were buâ—…ied in assailing the fort and in looking on what side they would begin it hapned that a troope of yong Venetians seized on one of the Castle gates would forthwith haue set vp their ensigne there which certaine Paduans perceiuing who not farre off from thence did assaile the Damsells fearing that the Venetians would carrie awaie the glorie of the fight laid hands on the ensigne wherein was painted the picture of Saint Marke and hauing pluck't it downe did shamefully teare it in peeces By reason of this braue there arose on a sodaine a great quariell and they had fought in the verie place with great slaughter If the Marshalls of the field had not instantly broke vp the games But the Paduans not acknowledging their faults for there was some likelihood that the Venetians would reuenge this iniurie after they had made a league with the Treuisans making shew as if they had receiued the wrong being vsuall with those that will couer their fault began first and without any warlike summons entring into the Venetians Territorie carried thence much bootie The Venetians sending to demand that which they had taken awaie the Paduans insted of hearkening thereunto came and besieged the Tower of Bebia seated at the mouth of the riuer which Prince Cyani had fortified with a strong Garrison vnder the command of Marco Concano a valiant person The Venetians being moued as well at this second as first affront went to armes and comming sodainely to the Tower they assailed brake and defeated them and tooke more than foure hundred prisoners with foure ensignes which did highly content the displeased Citie of Venice The Treuisans who were comming to aid their fellowes and allies vnderstanding that they were defeated returned back all amazed The yerely tribute which those of Chioggia were wont to paie was forgiuen them by a publike decree because they had valiantly behaued themselues in that incounter Soone after this battaile of Bebia by the mediation of the Patriarch of Aquileia a peace followed on condition neuerthelesse That the Paduans should send to the Prince at Venice fiue and twentie of those which began the â—…tir at the games of Treuiso who being deliuered the Venetian sent them home againe without any harme at all This peace lasted not long for both sides fell on a sodaine to Armes The occasion of this new warre grew about the confederates of both these people The Forlani were at strife with the Treuisans about their boundes who presuming on the Venetians aide entred the Territorie of their new enemies Bertoldo their Bishop by whose authoritie the whole matter was managed went for succour to the Paduans But others saie that it was to the Venetians who made him a Citizen of Venice And that which makes me most to beleeue it is the ancient alliance betwixt the Paduans and those of Treuiso But they affirme that at the first beginning of the warre Bertoldo and the Count Gorician came to Venice where after they had agreed vpon truce for fiue yeares the warre was finished About the same time the Episcopall See of Malamoc as some say was translated to Chioggia After that a great Earthquake did wonder-fully shake the Citie whereby a part of Saint Georges Church fell downe to the ground and diuers other priuate buildings This hapned in the places neere to the â—…irme Land But the Venetians power did daly encrease in the Islands Rabanâ—… Carcâ—…io who had seized on the Isle of Nigrepont fearing that he should not be able at his own charges to keep such an Island did freely with his Nephews put himselfe vnder the Venetians obedience promising to paie a yearely tribute Certaine Gentlemen in manner of a new Colonie were sent to guard Corfu among whom were Pietro Michaeli Stephano Foscarâ—… Sigiberto Quirino and Giacomo Seiano Guifred Prince of Achaia who did succeede his Father Mega with Gallus the wrongfull possessor of Cephalenia came and shrowded themselues vnder the Venetians protection Whilst these things were done in the Islands and on the Sea-coasts of Ionia the Emperour Henrie made a league with the Valachians and after hee had married the King of Valachias daughter he did in short space by meanes of that new affinitie recouer all the Townes of Greece which by Baldwins death were reuolted And all matters being peaceable abroade he attempted a verie holy and pious matter in the Citie by fauouring the Popes Nuntio sent expresly to Constantinople to the end he might draw the Greekes to
in this warre which they had against Mastin whereof wee are to speake They had likewise to the end that nothing might bee wanting to their happinesse subiected the Citie of Padua a little before the warre began For Marsilio named by others Vbertino Carrario beeing not able to preserue that Citie in her ancient libertie by reason of their ciuill dissension suffered it to fall into bondage whereunto because hee had so easily consented Escalla permitted the Carrarians to command the Citie in his name Mastin waxing proud with this good successe following humane couetousnesse which knowes lesse how to behaue it selfe in prosperitie than in aduersitie resoluing to disturbe the Venetians speedily built a Fort in the lakes neere to Petabubula which he manned with a strong Garrison The Venetians knowing whereunto his dessignes tended fortified a place likewise which they held not farre from thence Afterwards they consulted by what force or meanes they might tame and daunt this infestuous Tyrant who hauing ouerthrown the neighbouring forces panted as it were with desire to master theirs And therfore there was some likely-hood that after he had assured his owne estate he would forth with make warre on the Venetians To preuent Mastin of his purpose for hee was the eldest of all the familie of Escalla the Venetians hastened the warre His forces as they were the greatest of all his neighbours so were they the most maligned For worldly matters haue this propertie That there is nothing which so much procureth enuie and hatred as too great felicitie Although the number of those who enuied him were verie great The Venetians neuerthelesse had least causâ—… of all men to looke after him in respect that holding nothing as yet in the firme Land they had till then satisfied themselues with being strong at Sea not caring for more esteeming their fortune great enough in regard of their Sea-traffike This then being truth the Venetians had no cause to feare the Tyrant although his forces were terrible to others as to Obisso of Este Philippo Gonzaga Azzo Vis-conte and the Florentines in Tuscanie who because he had taken the Citie of Luca not far from them stood in great feare of his power Pietro Rossis of Parma with his brethren all valiant and braue men were capitall enemies to the house of Escalla for that Mastin vnder pretence of future alliance had driuen them forth of Parma laid plots for their liues which they hauing notice of fled to Pontremolla where Mastin did streightly besiege them at such time as the Venetians with others confedered them-selues against him After diuers Ambassages sent from partie to partie the Florentines and all the Princes of Trans-alpine Gaule who were iealous of the forces of those of Escalla ioined themselues with the Venetians against Mastin and his whole familie But some Authours affirme that the Florentines alone did allie themselues at the beginning aâ—…d that the rest came after the warre was begun Iohn King of Bohem did likewise ioine with them for the recouerie of the Cities which were taken from him in Italie Yet for all that the Venetians were the first motiues of the warre It is reported that they neuer vndertooke warre with more courage not for feare or enuie to them beeing free from both these passions as hath beene said but because they thought it well beseeming people borne in libertie mightie and rich to defend as well the libertie of others and chiefly of their neighbours as their own The end of the first Booke of the second Decade THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE SECOND DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the second Booke of the second Decad. PIETRO ROSSIS the Parmesan being made Generall of the Armie of the League defeateth the Cauallerie of those of Escalla neare to Luca in Tuscanie ESCALLA recouereth Vderza which hee had a little before lost ROSSIS so soone as he had receiued the Enseignes of S. MARKE comes and encampeth before La Mot. The Venetians mercenarie Souldiers slaine by trecherie at Mestra ROSSIS hauing with his Armie passed the Riuer Brente seizeth on the enemies camp The Venetian Armie scattered here and there about the Countrie neare to Padua with the encounter which it had neare to Verona Those of Cognilian yeeld to the Venetians Sedition in Padua Diuers Ambassadours arriue at Venice at one time to treate of peace Padua restored to her ancient libertie the faction of ESCALLA being driuen thence The Gouernement of the Citie of Padua giuen to the Carrarians PIETRO and MARSILIO DE ROSSIS soone die one after another Diuers battailes wonne from the enemies on the confines of Vincenza and Cremona GALEAS Visconte taketh Bergamo and Bressia from those of Escalla Peace with those of Escalla after the losse of the Citie of Treuiso and diuers other places The Citie afterward protected from a great inundation at the intercession of S. MARKE THe league against the Tyrants being concluded the Senate commanded that all those who were able to beare Armes should be enrolled It is reported that at the same time aboue fortie thousand men from the age of twentie yeares to threescore were enrolled with such willingnesse as many of all sorts and ages did voluntarily follow the Armie without any publike or particular pay but only pricked forward with a desire to extinguish this tyrannie which was so neare them Notwithstanding they were not of opinion to assaile the enemie with all their forces at the first but following their ancient custome to beginne sleightly and then to continue it feruently Now whilest these two mightie people of Italie were preparing their Armies it is said That vpon the report of this warre diuers ranne thither out of France and Italie to serue them who being desirous to take the Venetians pay after they had trauersed Tuscanie and Flaminia the passages through Lombardie being shut vp arriued at Rauenna For all places on this side and beyond the Po with whatsoeuer lieth vnder the Alpes Bolognia and Ferrara excepted were against the Venetians For neither Luchin Visconte who commanded in Milan nor Philippo Gonzaga had as yet shewed themselues to bee against Escalla And albeit the Bolognians were at the same time diuided among themselues and excommunicated by the Pope because they had driuen the Legate Apostolicall forth of the Citie they did neuerthelesse freely suffer the Venetians to leuie Souldiers in their Territories with whom soone after they also ioyned their forces Ostasio Polentano at that time Lord of Rauenna affecting the Venetians did willingly receiue the French-men who arriued in the Citie and sent them speedily in small boats to Venice There was prouision made in the Citie neare to the Church of Mendigotis which is one of the farthest parts of the Citie of lodging for those which came thither and of victualls and other necessaries vntill such time as the Armie were readie to march against the enemie There liued at the same time Pietro Rossis of Parma accounted among the
here who vnder thy commaund doe follow the Venetian ensignes to prescribe a Law vnto thee concerning martiall affaires but it belongs vnto thee who art our Generall and by long experience art most expert in martiall discipline to aduise that which is necessarie to be done and afterwards to commandit For it is our dueties which fight vnder thy conduct to follow thy counsell and commaundement At this speech hee made no shew of any sodaine resolution but Pietro Auogadre being come to the Armie did incite him by a vehement Oration The summe whereof was That acquainting him with the state of the affaires of Bressia he told him that vnlesse it were speedily relieued with victualls men anâ—… armour it would come to passe which hee should be verie sorie for that that most loyall Citie through want of timely succour would be forced in despaire to yeelde to the enemie and therefore he earnestly intreated him hauing obtained so faire a way not to abandon so well-deseruing a Citie surpassing all others in constant affection and loyaltie to the Venetian Republike saying That hee needed not feâ—…re the want of victualls seeing that corne was alreadie ripe on the ground which being reaped he for his owne part promised to furnish out of his owne lands a sufficient quantity to feede the Armie for ten daies Sforza being moued by these speeches caused the bridge to bee instantly made whereupon the Armie crossed the Mincia neere to Monzabane which towne being being assailed was forthwith taken and sackt by the souldiers From thence he went to Riuoltella where the inhabitants perceiuing themselues to be streightly besieged by land and water did presently yeeld Contareni drew neere to Sales and Sforza being come to the riuer Celsia encamped within tenne miles of Bressia Thither did Barbaro and the chiefe of the Citie come to salute him From thence Brâ—…norio and Scariot Fauentino being sent with two bands of men at Armes to assault the towne of Sales by helpe of Contaren's nauall Armie they tooke it by force where the Venetian dealt cruelly with the townsmen Those of Caluisa Gauarda Calcina and Bagnols did by their deputies yeeld themselues to Sforza whilest he renained at the riuer Celsia In this fortunate progression the Generall changed his determination and in steed of going to Bressia he resolued to march against the enemie Barbaro whom Sforza highly esteemed exhorted him thereunto telling him that it was much bet-better to pursue the victorie almost wonne than to goe to Bressia which was by newes of his arriuall alreadie sufficiently assured Being come to Bagnols to make incursions on the enemies who were said to be encamped at Manerbia those of Otholenga and diuers other townes sent their Commissioners to him suing for peace and giuing him to vnderstand that the enemies being terrified at the report of his approach were retired from thence The next day a thousand of the gallantest yong men of Bressia came to the Campe to salute the Generall vnto whom for their ancient hatred to Philip they offered freely to follow him and to beare Armes at their owne cost Sforza did courteously entertaine them and willed them to follow the ensignes Vpon the report that was bruted that Lodouico Sanseuerino Ittalus of Friull and Vermio Philips Captaines had fortified themselues betwixt Soncinna and the new Orgies the Generall departing by night went speedily against them and hauing fiercely assailed them being fortified with trenches and two bridges vpon the riuer Oglio sent part of his cauallerie in front his infantery in Flanke to prouoke them with Arrow-shot and warlike engines Then hauing vnder colour of flight drawne them on the otherside of the riuer he returned couragiously to charge theÌ„ He rode vp and downe among his troupes commending those who did valiantly and sharply rebuking those that were backward The enemies likewise did their best for a long time to make good the place But Ciarpelion comming with a band of old souldiers ouer the wodden bridge which lieth on the Oglio hauing filled the trenches and broken downe the Rampiers the victorie eftsoones inclined to the Venetians the which being perceiued by the enemies who were able to make no longer resistance in great disorder they betooke themselues to flight Pasias faith that a thousand of them were either slaine or wounded and twousand horse and as many foot taken Others lessen halfe the number The chiefe of the Armie with those which escaped from the fight fled to Crema Some Authors affirme That the victorious Venetian being mingled with the runnawaies entred pel-mell with them into Soncina and that the Citie was in that sort taken with great numbers of the enemies Others againe maintaine that the inhabitants did voluntarily yeeld after the battaile Borsia d' Aeste lay at the burrough of Ienepalt with fifteene hundred horse which is two miles from the place wheâ—…e the battaile was fought determining in the shutting in of the euening to ioyne with Philips Armie Sforza's souldiers pursuing the enemie gaue in on a sodaine and vnloked-for vpon him who supposing that the whole Armie was there fled hauing lost his baggage and the third part of his cauallerie It is reported by some others that he came to the latter end of the battaile and that he fought there together with his cauallerie but that the victorie inclining to the Venetians and not being able to remedie it he fled with the rest Philips affaires by these defeats being reduced to extremitie those of the new Orgies returned vnder the Venetians obedienâ—… And not that they alone but all the Townes Castles Forts and Villages of the Bressan and Bergamese territories together with the inhabitants of the 〈◊〉 valley The price of victuals did afterwards greatly fall at Bressia Corne and all other fruites were sold for a lower rate by the tenth part than before they were Bergamo likewise had a share in this good fortune The Ambassadors of these two Cities came to Sforza's campe fiâ—…st to congratulate him for his victorie then to giue him thanks for that by his valour and that victorie they had beene freed from so long and redious a siege which had continued almost three yeares at such time as they were 〈◊〉 to haue made no more resistance Therefore they acknowledged and did promâ—…e euer after to confesse That there was none next to the Venetians vnto whom they were so much bound as to himselfe that they did through him alone enioy their safetie and wealth and generally all whatsoeuer they possessed and life it selfe which to men is more preâ—…ious than all things else These speeches were followed with some presents befitting the time and their pouerrie who with teares in their eies entreated him to respect the Bressans loue more than their presents saying that they certainly knew how that a generous Captaine craueth nothing of his followers aboue their means but onely loue and obseruance Now Sforza after his victorie hauing crossed
for his passage into Italy eight thousand horse and two and twenty thousand footmen paled by the Country for sixe monthes and sixe score thousand Florins of the Rhyne for the expence of the Artillery and other ordinary charges Vpon the report of these newes the Venetians were greatly perplexed in their mindes as well as others because they knew not whereon to resolue in regard of the great meanes which euery one of them vsed to winne them to his side The Emperour at the beginning sent three Ambassadors of great place to them to intreat them to giue him passage thorow their territories and to make a more strict alliance with him wherein should be mentioned that they should be participants of the reward of the victory The French King on the other side did not cease by his Ambassadors and by that of Venice which was resident with him to doe all he might to induce them to oppose themselues by armes against the Emperors comming as hurtfull to either of them offering them for this purpose all his forces and to continue for euer their confederate The Venetians who could haue beene well contented to haue liued at quiet as Newters perceiued themselues to be in such sort pressed by the Emperor as they were of necessity either to refuse it or to grant him passage For they feared that by their refusall they should be troubled first and by granting it they should ensring their confederacy with the King And yet neuerthelesse each of the Senators did affirme that it was necessary openly to adhere to one of the sides but they knew not to which and after great diuersity of opinions the remembrance at last of the Emperors continuall inclination to recouer the Cities which they possessed which he pretended to belong to the Empire or to the house of Austria did most preuaile They made answere then to the Ambassadors that their determination was to grant him passage comming without an army and to stop it if he came in armes saying that necessity enforced them so to doe in regard of their confederacy with the French King by which they were bound to assist him in the defence of the Dutchy of Millan with a certaine number of men specified therein Maximillian being frustrate of his hope to haue the Venetians on his side was incombred with other doubts which did wholy delay the effect of his deseignes For first of all That foundation whereon he chiefly builded that the Cities and Potentates of Italy fearing his name and army would come to composition and would furnish him with sufficient summes of money did daily decay Then the conclusions of the Diet of Constance vanished into ayre when they perceiued the great preparations of the French King and the new resolution of the Venetians The Pope likewise who would not shew himselfe more affectionate to the one side then the other did refuse the demand he made that it might be lawfull for him to take a hundred thousand ducats which were leauied in Germany for the warre against the Turkes and were kept in the same Prouince and were not to be conuerted to any other vse without the leaue of the Sea of Rome Yet neuerthelesse in the middest of all these difficulties he forgate nothing which might nourish the report of his comming downe in such sort as all those who stood in awe of him made mighty prouisions in diuers places but they were vncertaine with what forces at what time and from whence he would come The French King had prouided for the Dutchy of Milan and for the frontiers of Burgondy And had besides sent Iohn Iames Triuncle with foure hundred French Launces and foure thousand footmen to Verona to the Venetians aide who had sent the Earle of Petillan to Rouero with foure hundred men at armes and store of foot-forces to the end there to keepe backe those which should come by Trent and Bartholmew Aluiana into the Friul with eight hundred men at armes The Emperour at the beginning of the yeere 1508. was desirous to put in execution the reports which had beene spred abroad of his comming downe and sent an Herald to Verona to summon the inhabitants to prouide lodging for himselfe and for foure thousand horse which he brought with him going to Rome to take the Imperiall crowne The Gouernor of the City by the aduice of the Senate with whom the matter was communicated at Venice made him answere that for his coronation which he mentioned he needed not so many men at armes and such store of Artillery Maximillian vpon this answer being already come to Trent departed thence in a morning before day with fifteene hundred horse and foure thousand footmen not of those which had beene graunted him at Constance but of those of his Court and of his owne state and tooke the way of the mountaines towards Vincenza And the Marquis of Brandenbourge marched at the same time towards Rouero with fiue hundred horse and two thousand foot-men but he returned the next day not being able to obtaine any passage The Emperour by the way of the mountaines being come within twelue miles of Vincenza and hauing taken the territory of the seuen Commons did on a sodaine returne towards Bolsane which is a towne farther of from the confines of Italy then Trent whereat all men did greatly wonder This did awake the Venetians courage did incite them to leauy diuers foot-troupes and to make great preparations vrging the French King to doe the like They chose two Prouidatori Andre Griti George Cornare one of whom went towards the Rheticke and the other into Friull Aluiana was commanded speedily into Friul where George Cornare the Prouidator already was because foure hundred of Maximillians horse and fiue thousand of his footmen being come thither and entred into the vale of Cadora had taken the Burrough and the Castle Aluiana hauing passed the mountaines full of snow came in two daies neere to Cadora where tarrying for his footmen that came after him hee seized on a passage which was not kept by the Germans by which men enter into that valley The comming of Aluiana did encourage those of the Country who did affect the Venetians who sodainely did possesse the other passages of the valey by which the enemies were to retire The Germans perceiuing themselues to bee shutte in and that no hope of safety was left them but in their armes they came with great furie to assaile Aluiana who did brauely receiue them the fight lasted certaine houres with great feruency but at the last the Germans being not able to resist the numbers nor prowesse of their enemies were defeated and aboue a thousand of them laie dead on the place with diuers of them taken prisoners of the Venetians verie few died Before this exploite of warre the Emperor had sent Luke de Renaldis his Ambassador to Venice to entreat the Senators to grant him passage thorow their
of most importance till such time as those great nombers of Suisses should be wasted or else some fresh supplies might come to them from France to make head against them Wherevpon he did put into Bressia two thousand foote one hundred and fiftie lances and a hundred men at armes of the Florentines into Crema fiftie lances and a thousand foote and into Bergamo a thousand foote and a hundred Florentine men at armes he brought the residew of the army to Pontuico which consisted of six hundred lances two thousand French foot and foure thousand Lansquenets But the next day letters came from the Emperour who commanded the Lansquenets forthwith to abandon the French Kings seruice they not daring to disobey departed the very same day because they were all his subiects La Palisse despayring by reason of the Lansquenets departure of beeing able any longer to defend the Dutchy of Milan did in great hast retire to Pisquetona The Venetians in the meane time hauing already taken Valegia and Piscara did still with that Army winne the Contrey as they went along Those of Cremona being wholly forsaken did yeeld to the Cardinall of Syon and gaue him a good somme of money to the end that the Suisses should not enter into their Citty The like did Carauagio and Soncino wherein the Cardinall of Syon placed his owne people in Garrison in steed of deliuering it to the Venetians as it was mentioned in the treaty of the League All other townes neere to the riuer Adda did yeeld to the Venetians the like did Bergamo with her territory by reason that La Palisse had recalled his companies which lay there to ioyne them to the army La Palisse forsooke Pisquetona and went and crossed the Riuer Adda hoping to keepe the enemies from passing the riuer if the footmen which they made account to leauy had arriued But through want of money to pay them none were raised wherevpon he retired to Saint Angello and the day following to Pauia determining to stay there But after that Triuulcio came thither to him and had shewed him the vanity of his opinion and how that it was impossible to hould back so great a ruine seeing there were no footmen in the Army nor meanes to wage new as well for the shortnesse of the time as for that there was no money to pay them he went and made a bridge ouer the Po at a place where it is most narrow to the end that the companies might more commodiously passe holding on their way towards Ast. So soone as the French had passed the Riuer Adda Loda yeelded to the confederates who being come to Pauia beganne to batter the Castle The French like-wise did soone abandon it and came to the stone bridge which is ouer the riuer Thesin fearing least it should be surprised hauing but that place alone whereby to escape from Pauia All the French men with certaine Lancequenets who were not departed with the rest being come forth of Pauia the Cittâ—… promised to pay a great summe of mony to auoyde the sack thereof Milan had already done the like compounding for a great summe and all other townes Bi essia and Coma excepted did with great desire doe the same All matters were gouerned in the name of the holy league for so all men called it and all the profit fell to the Swisses which caused many more of that nation to come downe into Lombardy and to vnite them-selues with the first In this change Parma and Placentia were giuen to the Pope The Swisses â—…eazed on Lucarna and the Grisons on Voltolina and Chiauenna Iano Fregossa by the Venetians aide in whose army he serued went to Genoa and so handled the matter as the French gouernor being expelled it reuolted and created him Duke In the like manner all the townes and Castles of Romagnia did returne to the Pope Bolognia like-wise yeelded to his officers after the Bentiuoles being depriued of all hope had forsaken it The Cardinall of Medicis had already before then escaped by meanes of some stirre which hapned of purpose as hee entred into a boate at the passage of the Po wherevpon hee was taken from the French who kept him who intended flight rather then resistance The Senate in the meane time being desirous to recouer Bressia and Coma solicited the Cardinall of Syon to come with his troupes and their army to beseege those townes who making no hast beeing loth to encrease the Venetians greatnesse came in the end and encamped before Bressia neere to Saint Iohns gate battering at one time both the towne and Castle whether the Viceroy came to them with the Spanish army The Lord of Aubigni who was within it perceiuing that in the end he could not choose but deliuer it thought it best to yeeld it together with the Castle rather to the Viceroy then to the Venetians compounding with him that all the souldiors within should depart with liues and goods The French that were at Legnaga followed the same councell Crema did other-wise which was beseeged by Ranze de la Cere with a part of the Venetians forces vnto whome Benedict Cribario being corrupted by guifts and vpon promise to be made a gentleman of Venice did yeeld the towne by the consent of the Lord De Duras gouernor of the Castle the which he would not doe to Octanian Sforza Bishop of Lodi for in the name of the future Duke Maximilian Sforza being come thither for that purpose with foure thousand Swisses In these interims the Bishop of Gurcia as Lieutenant to the Emperor went to Rome who being receiued with all honor they beganne to treat of the establishment of the common businesse and how to root out particular strife and contentions to the end that Italy being vnited together might resist the French King and the hardest matter of all this was the agreement so often treated of betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians For the Bishoppe of Gurcia demanded to haue Verona and Vincenza to remaine to the Emperor and the other townes to the Venetians for which they should presently pay to Maximilian two hundred thousand florins of the Rhyne and thirty thou sand for euer after yearely in manner of rent The Venetians would not pay rent for those townes which they had enioyed for so many yeares as belonging vnto them nor consent to giue mony and much lesse to deliuer Vincenza for diuers reasons by them alleadged The Pope did what he could to attone them now inciting the Venetians then entreating them sometimes threatning The King of Arragons Ambassadors did all they could the like also did the Swisses In the end the Bishop of Gurcia persisting in his demand and the Venetians in their refusall as well of Vincenza as of the summe of mony the Pope forsooke them protesting to their Ambassadors that he should be enforced to pursue their Republick with spirituall and temporall armes and made a league with the Emperor
army to Biagrassa whilest hee stayed there the Duke of Sauoy with the other commissioners whome the King had left at Verceill had made peace with the Swisses in the Kings name But this peace was almost in one day concluded and broken by the arriuall of new Swisses who being proud for their forepassed victories hoping to carry home with them as great wealth as they saw their fellowes laden with they would not heare tell of peace refusing to yeeld vp the valleis mentioned in the agreement so as by this breach of peace matters returned to their former difficulties and to much greater in regard of the Swisses new forces as also of those of the Viceroy and Lorenzo de Medicis who approched Milan Aluiana in the meane time sent word to the French King that he would so amuse the Spanish army as it should haue no meanes to hurt him and therefore so soone as hee vnderstood that the Viceroy was gone from Verona he left the Pollesin of Rouigo and hauing crossed the Adice he speedily came along the riuer Po with nine hundred men at armes foureteene hundred light horse and nine thousand foot with greate store of artillery neere to the walls of Cremona The King according to Aluianas letters came to Marignan to giue him more easie meanes to ioyne with the royall army and to stop the companies of the Church and Spaniards from doing the like with the enemies For it did greately import the king to haue the enemies force diuided in sundry places The King being come to Marignan stayed there and wrot to the Venetian Senate giuing them notice of his arriuall in Italy and of the fortunate successe of his affaires till then together with the hope hee had that his deseignes would prosper in regard that both their affaires were managed by one selfe-same Vnion and concord But in these interims Rance de Cera who had well demeaned him-selfe against the enemies being mooued with iealozy against Aluiana for that hee would not bee enforced to obey him as Generall if the armies should come to ioyne together craued leaue of the Venetians to depart who being not able to make them friends did freely graunt it Hee was a braue Captaine and could not abide any superior and Aluiana could not endure an equall by meanes whereof they could not agree together wherevpon hauing taken his leaue hee put him selfe into the Popes pay with two hundred men at armes and two hundred light horse Marke Antonio Colonna in the meane time who remayned for the gard of Verona made a sodaine sally with three thousand foot-men and about seauen hundred horse of all sorts and went and scoured the Vincentine Territory spoyling and wasting what-so-euer he met with Albeit this did trouble the Venetians yet could it not diuert them from their former determination which was that Aluiana should ioyne with the French army knowing well that if the French Kings affaires did prosper this could not doe amisse Foure armies were at one time in one country very neere to one another The French army was of forty thousand men among whome were fiue hundred men at armes chosen out of the French Nobillity excellently well armed and mounted who after they had seazed on Nouara and Paula were come to Marignan not farre from them lay the Venetian army of twelue thousand foot and three thousand horse which stayed at Lodi both armies being well stored with artillery Against these two were two other armies of the enemies who for the same reasons were enforced to remaine deuided one from another That of the Pope and the Florentines ioyned with the Spaniards was more esteemed for the old soldiers then for the great number and it was lodged neere to the Citty of Placentia on the banke of the riuer Po. The other was of Swisses which was said to bee forty thousand men who at the pursute and perswasion of the Cardinall of Syon kept the Citty of Milan which was well furnished with all necessaries This Cardinall returning from Placentia whither he was fled wondering that his country-men practized with the French king relying on great numbers of soldiers newly come which did fauor his party he came among them who were al in a manner diuided some of them not enduring to heare tell of war and others not of peace And causing them al to come together on a day he beganne with a very vehement and affectionate speech to incite them without any more delay to go forth the same day and assaill the French King and not to set so much before their eyes the number the enemies horse and artillery as to let it make them to forget the valour of the Swisses and the victories obtained by them against the French That it was not the artillery which gaue the victory but onely the prowesse and valour of the soldier And that besides the giuing of the victory which he assured them of they should consider the great wealth they were to get as well by the spoyle of the French army as by that of the whole state of Milan And therefore hee willed them to aduance their pikes with their vsuall courage and sound their drums and without delaying one houre of time to goe and vse their armes effectually and to glut them-selues with the bloud of those who by their pride would molest the whole world and by their basenesse doe euer become a prey to all men The Swisses beeing incited by these or such like speeches did furiously on a sodaine put on their armes and going forth of the Citty did put themselues in order of battaile and albeit it was neere night they marched towards the French Army with such courage as if they had already obtayned the victory notwithstanding that diuerse of their Captaines thought it great rashnesse and a very dangerous matter to assaile the enemy in his camp who was resolued for battaile But the Cardinall of Sion fearing least delay might produce somthing contrary to his deseignes and that as the desire of fight had easily enflamed their courages it might as easily be quenched by the remonstrance of their Captaines of the contrary part he gaue forth a false rumor among them that the French gathered togeather their baggage and prepared for their departure and that their vantgard was already forth of their Camp to goe and ioyne with the Venetian army to retire afterwards to beseege Milan wherevpon he exhorted them to make hast to surprize the enemy in disorder who little doubted thereof This exhortation was seconded by diuers Captaines of his faction who did greatly praise his councell and incited them to battaile going vp and downe the rankes making the like remonstrances wherewith the soldiers being encouraged marched on with a speedy pace towards the enemies Now the French being aduertized of the Suisses comming towards them albeit they were at the first greatly amazed as it happeneth in matters not foreseene nor premeditated they did
first men thought that he had but feigned For the Emperor thinking it not only dangerous but smally for his honour to depart forth of Italy and to leaue matters imperfect without establishing a sure peace there for a time he beganne to shew that his mind enclined therevnto But because hee plainely perceiued that hee could not effect it without making an accord with the Venetians on whome during these troubles the State of all Italy seemed to depend being yet doubtful whether the French king would ioyne with them who were so much distasted of him by reason that hee did no more care to obserue the Treaty of Cambray now that hee had home his children then hee had done that of Madrill after that hee was set at liberty Hee resolued with him-selfe to make an accord with the Venetians and made this his desire knowne to his owne Councellours the better to finde some meanes to end this businesse in which diuers men of authority did employ themselues Andrew Doria sent Frederico Grimaldi to Venice to offer them freely to employ himselfe in this treaty assuring them that he knew for certaine that the Emperor was desirous of an agreement with them and that if the Senate would be pleased to haue him to meddle in the businesse he did hope speedily to dispatch it The Senate neither accepting nor refusing this offer answered that it had euer desired peace and highly esteemed as it became them the Emperors fâ—…eindship being at the same present of that mind but that they were very desiâ—…ous to see some euident signe whereby they might perceiue the Emperors intention to be such as as he spake of for the keeping of the Lancequenets in hostile manner vppon their State spoiling and wasting the Bressan territory was a token of a contrary affection Soone after Sigismond de la Tour Chamberlaine and Ambassador to the Marquis of Mantoa came to Venice to exhort the Senate in like manner to an agreement with the Emperor affirming the very same that Doria had done how that the Imperiall Maiesty was desirous of an atonement with them entreating them to giue consent to suffer the treaty thereof to bee concluded in the Citty of Mantoa whether he knew that the Emperor would forth-with send his Agents with commissions to that end During these treaties the Emperour prepared for his comming to Bolognia to speake with the Pope according as it had beene concluded at Barcelona All men had great hope of this enteruiew wherein matters of importance were to be decided of which men greatly doubted remaining with attention to see what would be the end thereof especially the Venetians because their affaires were very much intermingled and of great difficulty The Pope seemed greatly to affect them seeking by the meanes of Cardinall Cornare to induce them to lay downe their armes and to come to some honourable composition and therefore hee had already before then sent the Bishop of Vaison his Nuncio to the Emperor at Placentia who was thought to haue greatly preuailed in disposing him vnto peace with all men and cheefely with the Venetians This was the cause why diuers Senators shewed themselues more strict in this negociation some of them being desirous to tarry till it were called vpon in the assembly at Bolognia others of a contraâ—…y opinion propounded that it behooued them to accept of the offer of the Marquis of Mantoa and make present choyce of Ambassadors to send thither to treat of agreement And why should we say they deferre it any longer The Emperor hath a mighty army the forces of the league being broken and dissolued are weake nay rather deâ—…eated the Florentines alone the Duke of Milan and We are left to vndergoe the burthen of such a warre which is indeed a matter very vneasie by reason of our smal meanes after so great expences that we haue beene at and in regard of the great forces that the Emperor hath at this present in Italy and yet neuerthelesse in such an inequallity of things whilest he daily increaseth in hope and we wax weak he is content to treat with vs vpon equall termes and as I may say to humble himself and to be the formost in inuiting vs to peace and friendship and we refuse it and make small account thereof And besides it is not to be doubted but that which Doria first of all and then the Marquis of Mantoa haue so freely offered and promised hath not only proceeded from his owne consent but hath beene done by his expresse commandement for beleeue it they would neuer vndertake to be dealers betwixt such great Princes with such an assurance of their mindes were they not more then certaine thereof and is it then a part of wisdome to let such an occasion to escape which offereth it selfe to doe that which wee haue soe often-times desired and which at this present more then euer is to be wisht for Wee haue had for many yeares continuall warre wherein wee hâ—…ue spent more then fiue Millions of gold so as this Citty and our whole State which did scarcely beginne a little to breath after the forepassed warres is now wholy ruined and all mens meanes consumed and yet for all that a way being opened vnto vs to settle vs hence-forward in rest and quietnesse to our honor and reputation by prouiding as there is hope for our safety and comfort we will hold the matter doubtfull and expose our peace to the hazard of fortune which may as it hath often done produce such an accident as will change the Emperors mind and will or else by his remayning armed here in Italy may encrease our discommodities and dangers or by his departure leauing matters in trouble and confusion keepe vs yet for as many yeares more at as great expence in warre and then God knoweth what will be the end thereof Those which haue hithervnto praised the constancy of this Senate for that without sparing cost and without feare of any danger it hath defended with such great affection the common cause and the liberty of Italy perceiuing now accidents being changed and how needfull it is to change opinions that it doth continue in the same way and desire to dwell in armes and to make warre hauing meanes to auoide it will perhaps change their minds and deâ—…me vs to obstinate and others will repute vs foolish and ill-aduised for that wee will not handle matters not onely by reason but according to our owne will without applying our selues to time and occasion by temporizing and expecting better fortune It is without doubt good and commendable to deliberate maturely on matters which present themselues but we must not excced the limmits of reason least wee come to extremity which is euer dangerous but follow as most proffitable the middle way because it often happeneth that a long delay of his which holdeth matters in perpetuall irresolution and length causeth as much and more danger then an ouer hasty and
Senate to whom of purpose he sent his Nuncio to exhort them therein to interpose their councell authority and forces by intreating the Emperour to harken therevnto and the easier to draw him to it to offer him a summe of money But the Senate being of a contrary minde sought to disswade him from it and in praysing his good meaning they shewed him how that to take armes at such a time and without vrgent necessity was nothing else but to shew that he was afraide of a most iust cause whereof all men were desirous to be assured by preuenting with force the power which the concourse and fauour of the people might bring to the aduerse party That it did not beseeme him who maintained reason and truth to flie from the triall thereof especially by the Scriptures and by the same reason and not to impose a necessity vpon the Protestant Princes to raise their forces and thereby to make their cause to be more fauoured by the people and accounted to haue some shew of honesty by opposing themselues against the violence which would be done to them by comming in armes That the Princes of Italy were whole drawne drie of money by reason of the late wars The Electors of the Empire were doubtfull in such a case what part to take and more desirous of peace then warre as their Ambassadours doe affirme who for the same purpose were sent to the Emperour at Bruxells The free cities of Germany are resolute in no sort to aide or fauour the Emperour if hee should seeke rather to preuaile by force then reason and the Emperour is to weake of himselfe to leauy sufficient forces to ouer-throw the Princes and people being risen The Pope being mooued by these reasons or by the anthority of the Senate to whom he much referred himselfe hauing changed his minde desisted from sending his Nuncio to the Emperour as hee had determined whereby this treatie was broken off And to speake truely it was then thought most fit to consider rather how to resist the Turkes deseignes and to keepe as much as might be the forces of Christendome vnited together and chieflly those of Germany who were to susteine the first attempts of the Barbarians by reason that it was held for certaine that Soliman being proud and haughty could not digest his shamefull discamping from before Vienna which he could not take that he was 〈◊〉 to returne thither with a mightier army the which according to the common report he was already preparing The Emperour in this regard did rather encline to peace then warre and 〈◊〉 making any solid resolution was content for that time to set downe cerâ—… rules concerning religion vntil the next future councell He likewise desired the better to reduce all matters to peace and quiet to end the controuersies which remained vndecided betwixt the Archduke Fedinana and the Republike of Venice wherevpon he commanded to choose vmpiers according to that which they had concluded wherevnto al be it that the Senate did not onely consent but did likewise seeme greatly to desire it by soliciting the deciding of the controuersie yet neuerthelesse nothing succeeded thereof contrary to the desire of both parties by reason of the difficulty they had to name a third person if it were so that the vmpiers could not agree amongst themselues The Archduke chose the Duke of Mantua the Bishop of Ausbourg and the Popes Nuncio residing with himselfe And the Venetians made choice of the Bishop Theatinâ—… the Archbishop of Salerne who was of the family of the Adorni and the Popes Nuncio refiding at Venice but those which pleased one of the parties displeased the other whereby matters remained still in controuersie to the great preiudice and hurt of the subiects on the frontiers and caused an alteration amongst the Princes Besides this the Emperour had not yet surrendred which was the very latter end of the yeere the castle of Milan nor the city of Coma to Francis Sforza as he was bound to doe wherevpon the Venetians being desirous to haue it performed as soone as might be for feare least time might produce some sinister accident and Francis Sforza hauing not altogether meanes of his owne to furnish so great a sum of money as was to be paied to the Emperour they did lend him fifty thousand Ducats to make vp the payment the which they re-embursed vpon a bargain of salt they made with him by which meanes the castle of Milan and the city of Coma were rendred to Sforza to the Venetians great content whose only end was to assure the Duâ—…chy of Milan to the Duke The Venetians great desire to conserue that State for Sforza was the cause that he seeming to haue some distrust of the French entreated the Senate to interpose their authority with that King that he might desist from his great warlike preparations which he was reported to make to renue his old claime to Milan and notwithstanding that they gaue small credit to that report yet neuerthelesse to shew their constant desire of the preseruation and defense of that State and to take from the French all suspition that they would euer separate themselues from the Emperour and the other Confederates they determined to make it knowne to all men as well in France as in the Courts of other Princes But the Emperour being displeased with this declaration did summon them besides to arme the number of souldiers which the Signory was bound to leauy by the treaty of Confederacy The Venetians therevpon supposing that he aimed at some particular deseigne of his owne and would draw them to more then they were tied vnto by the league answered that the affaires of Italy standing at such a stay as there was nothing to be more hoped for then an assured peace they were not to be vrged to so great expences Now at the same time the Venetians supposing that King Francis beeing newly married and hauing recouered his children should rather thinke on feasting and pleasure then on the trauails of warre to make it knowne that they desired to partake some part of his content sent into France Iohn Pisani Procurator of Saint Markeâ—… their extraordinary Ambassadour to reioyce with him in the name of the Republike But he hauing discouered some true likelihoods said boldly that they would not suffer the peace and publike quiet to be troubled or interrupted and they would neuer faile in ought wherevnto they were tied by their confederacy In the Interim of these negociations the Republike enioying an assured peace the Senate tooke care to re-establish it in her ancient preheminences which it had enioyed before the last warres and amongst others to appoint all the Bishops belonging to their owne State for which hauing made many requests to the Pope without receiuing any certaine resolution they seized on the temporalties of diuers Bishoprikes which the Pope had giuen whereat his Holinesse being incensed made shew that he would resent it and
speed and goe to execute that which is commanded them and let others vnto whome some publike charge shall be commited freely accept thereof He that is moued therevnto by his duty encreaseth his owne glory and he that maketh none account thereof let obedience moue him if nothing else can prouoke you yet at least wise let necessity and the present dangers make yee difcreet dilligent and ready in all things The Princes authority and the force of his reasons did confirme diuers who would haue freed them-selues from taking any publicke charge vpon them The Turkes in the meane time the more that they vnder-stood the great preparations which were made to preuent them in Dalmatia the more they made hast to come and assaile it And for their better weakening of the Venetians defences they resolued at one time to assaile all the Principall townes to the end that the one might not helpe the other And hauing assembled great forces at Cluin a towne vnder their obedience they entred with foure thousand horse and as many foote vpon the Territory of Zara and beseeged Nadin the Venetians cheefe Castle seated vpon those confines Sebastiano Sagreda being Gouernor thereof who had an hundred and fifty Italian foote-men with him vnto whome the onely sight of the enemies gaue such feare and terror as they basely yeelded on condition to haue their liues saued without making any proofe of their valour or vse of the places situation and retired to Zara whether they brought more feare then comfort by exalting the enemies forces to couer their owne shame The like befell the Castle of Laurana which was commanded by Vittore Sorance with like number of soldiers as in Nadin who hauing for one whole day sustayned the battery fled away and was taken by the enemies but Zemoâ—… being abandoned by the Iâ—…alian footmen was garded and defended by certaine Sclauonians whome some Venetian gentlemen of the family of the Venieri vnto whom it did belong had placed there The Turkes hauing put Garrisons in Nadin and Laurana went vp and downe scouring the country euen to the gates of Zara so as none durst come abroad although the enemies campe lay farre off The Cities of Antiuare Dulcina and Sebenic were in the same trouble The Sangiach of Scutari went with great forces of foot and horse to Antiuare and did encampe betwixt the sea shore and the walles and had sent part of his forces to beseege Dulcina But Bondulmiero captaine of the Gulphe hauing notice thereof did speedily releeue the Antiuarians the like did the Generall Capello within a while after by sending them souldiers and munition so as the Basha despayring of any speedy or happy successe in his enterprize determined to raise his seege from before Antiuare causing those who at the same time lay before Dulcina to doe the like As for Sebenic part of the forces that were assembled at Cluin went thither at the first and after the taking of Nadin and Laurana many soldiers did goe thither who neuer came neere the city because their number was not comparable to a true army but went scattering vp and downe and spoiled the country The Sibenssans hauing intelligence of the enemies comming resoluing brauely to defend and keepe the towne for the Venetians did assemble themselues together in the market-place where they all swore a sollemne oth that they would not yeeld to the enemy but endure all extremity rather then falsifie their faith But the Turkes being not able to execute their deseignes vpon the other townes so easily as they supposed would not likewise medle with this hauing before bent their thoughts vpon Hungary wherevpon so soone as they had reduced all their forces together and made vp the body of an army leauing three thousand men for the gard of the frontiers they marched towards Bossina from thence to passe into Hungary The Turkes departure forth of the confines of Dalmatia did greatly ease the Venetians and freed that poore people from much calamity But as the alteration of affaires doe easily alter mens deseignes the gouernors and captaines of that Prouince who did badly digest the wrongs which they had susteined by the enemies and most of all because an infamous imputation was laied vpon them for the losse of certaine townes and for suffering them without resistance to scoure and spoile the country made a proposition being desirous to make vse of the occasion which did offer it selfe by reason that the enemies campe was farre off to attempt the recouery of those townes which the Turkes did possesse wherewith acquainting the Councell of Tenne they did affirme that the forces which were in Dalmatia were sufficient for the execution of that enterprize As also because that if the castles nere to Zara were not recouered the city would be still in feare hauing such mighty enemies to their neere neighbours who not stirring forth of their Garrisons did hold it in a manner beseeged These propositions were enterteined in the Senate with great attention where the desire to be reuenged on the enemies caused the more credit to be giuen vnto them next the Duke of Vrbins perswations vnto whom the whole matter was imparted did augment their hope who did not only commend that proposition as a matter of great importance but affirmed that by adding fiue thousand Lansquenets to those Italians that were in Dalmatia and certaine numbers of Italian horse to the Greekes and Stradiots it would be an easie matter with those forces to enter into Bossina and seize vpon some good towne which might open them away to greater conquests That it was better and more profitable to make war in their enemies country then in their owne and that there were but three thousand horse in garrison at Bossina This aduise carried with it a goodly shew and a certaine valour attended by profit wherevpon they concluded speedily to raise the Lansequenets and to this end Constantino Caâ—…zza Secretary to the Councell of the Preguais was sent into Bauaria who by meanes of Duke Lewis a great friend to the Common-wealth did in a short time performe that he was enioyned so as those souldiers hauing receiued their first payment marched forthwith into Friull Camillo Vrsino hauing in the meane time assembled forth of the garrisons of Dalmatia foure thousand foot and fiue hundred horse and taken with him some peeces of ordnance went and beseeged Obrouazza The taking of that towne was of importance it being a place of retreate for the Turkes where they were wont to assemble themselues to enuade the Venetians confines The castle was neither strong nor well manned whereby the enterprize was thought to be as easie as profitable The castle then hauing beene battered two daies one after an other the third day the souldiers went to the assault where after some small resistance they entred by the ruines of the wall Vrsino being Master of the place perceiuing that he could not fortifie it but